Chapter 50: [Feigned Death]

Chapter 50 "Death Fake-Out"

Li Zhiyan has the scariest Ability in the world.

His Talent is called "Mimic Butterfly," which seems like just a simple illusion, a mind trick, but in reality, it is a raging inferno that simultaneously burns all pollution.

He is not a Healing-type mutant, so he cannot heal pollution; nor is he a purifier, so he cannot eliminate pollution—he can only ignite all pollution.

He has the world's most terrifying destructive Ability.

Even worse: this destructive Talent cannot distinguish between friend and foe. Once unleashed, everyone within its range will be harmed.

That's why Li Zhiyan hardly ever uses his Pollution Talent on a large scale.

In his earlier years, when his control was lousy, he accidentally burned many things.

New weapons successfully developed by the Academy of Sciences, polluted flowers he kept in his yard because they looked beautiful, or even idiots from the Pollution Prevention Center who messed with him because they had a problem with him.

If the other party’s Talent level hadn’t been too low and the fire hadn’t been big enough for Li Zhiyan to control, that guy would've been burned to a crisp.

But Shen Ji was different.

"He could handle it before," Li Zhiyan muttered to himself at the mouth of the pollution rift. "He ate so many little butterflies, and those are the same as the flames."

"Why not this time?"

Chu Ye didn’t know what Li Zhiyan was muttering about. The massive flames kept roaring higher, and Li Zhiyan wasn’t running on empty yet. The pollution from the rift was endless, so the fire wouldn’t die down anytime soon.

He could only frown and look around.

"Li Zhiyan," Chu Ye asked, "Where’s Doctor Shen?"

"Why haven’t I seen him?"

Li Zhiyan didn’t answer. He just turned to look at Chu Ye, his pale blue eyes filled with a lost look, like he didn't know how to say it.

Chu Ye looked at Li Zhiyan’s expression and froze.

A few seconds later, Chu Ye looked over at the pollution rift that Li Zhiyan had been staring at.

His voice trembled, "...In, inside?"

It was totally normal and common for Pollution Prevention Center staff to die in polluted areas. When they chose this profession, they knew the risk was dying in unknown regions at some point, especially since this was the territory of an S-class pollutant.

But that was Shen Ji!

A Healing-type mutant who was very likely S-class, a strong and righteous good person, the Savior who stood up during Q City’s pollution disaster.

Most importantly: he was the person Li Zhiyan loved.

Li Zhiyan was weird and a loner. Despite being the strongest S-class mutant in the Pollution Prevention Center, he barely had any friends, and Chu Ye had never seen him be into anyone.

Shen Ji was an exception.

Whether for the world or for Li Zhiyan himself: Shen Ji was very important.

But now, Shen Ji was in the flames? Or in the flames of Li Zhiyan’s burning pollution?

This was a disaster.

"Li Zhiyan, calm down!" After the shock, he quickly began to soothe Li Zhiyan.

"This isn’t your fault. Don't let this mess you up. Just talk to me first, and I’ll help you figure it out. Maybe you just saw things, and Doctor Shen never fell in!"

Emotions can affect pollution; extreme emotions can cause pollution to spread rapidly.

Even for mutants, extreme emotions are a kind of poison.

Li Zhiyan was already an S-class mutant. If this broke him, humanity wouldn’t just lose a suspected S-class Healing-type mutant but also an S-class offensive mutant.

"Li Zhiyan, don’t jump to conclusions so quickly!"

Li Zhiyan and Chu Ye locked eyes. After a long time, he finally spoke, "Chu Ye, don’t worry, I’m very calm."

He shifted his gaze away from Chu Ye and looked at the still-burning pollution rift. "I’m really very calm."

He calmly started thinking why Shen Ji couldn’t avoid the Gardener’s attack, why Shen Ji was trapped in the flames, why he'd turned into a black blob, and why the black blob... was burned to ashes.

But it was true that he watched Shen Ji get dragged in, and he felt Shen Ji’s pollution melt into a black mass.

Li Zhiyan closed his eyes, sinking under the weight of emotions he couldn't control.

If Shen Ji really died, then he had personally killed someone he cared about, even if it wasn’t his intention.

If Shen Ji wasn’t dead and was just putting on this act in front of him, Li Zhiyan would still frantically ask himself: why did Shen Ji have to stage this act in front of him, making himself 'die'?

What had he done wrong to make Shen Ji so desperate to get away from him?

Not far away, Shen Ji fell onto a small hill, coughing as he stood up, a deep frown on his face.

"That was way too risky," Shen Ji said. "Faking death in Li Zhiyan’s flames—if I’d been even slightly careless, I really would have died."

"But it didn’t happen, right? And we have the Undertaker’s pollution, so faking death was a piece of cake." The system began summarizing: "Now, our progress is completely consistent with the original work!"

"In the original, the protagonist discovered the pollutant and met it, after which the pollutant died in a bizarre way. In reality, we fought alongside the protagonist after being exposed, but due to a mistake, the pollutant *fell* into the protagonist’s pollution-burning flames and died."

"It's a perfect fit!"

Shen Ji frowned slightly. "I didn’t actually want to make it this extreme."

"Okay, I was wrong." The system apologized very quickly.

"It’s not your fault." Shen Ji stood on the hill, looking at the still-raging blue flames. "I also know that it was indeed the best moment to fake death. Your decision was correct."

But, but...

Shen Ji could vaguely see Li Zhiyan kneeling on one knee at the edge of the cliff.

Li Zhiyan faced the still-burning pollution rift. Even though he could only just make out his silhouette, one could sense his sorrow.

Shen Ji didn’t know what Li Zhiyan was like in the original work.

But indeed, the pain Li Zhiyan was feeling now was given by him.

"The protagonist’s pollution level is spiking." The system suddenly spoke strangely. "Huh? Why?"

"Probably due to emotional fluctuations."

"...Ah, right, intense emotional fluctuations can indeed cause the pollution level to rise."

Shen Ji tilted his head, let out a soft sigh, and finally knelt on one knee, touched his fingers to the ground. He didn’t mind the dirt staining his pale fingers.

Silver spots flowed from his eyes, down his cheeks to his neck, then along his arms into the soil. Moving with his intent, they wandered from the hilltop and quietly took root in that hot and horrifying place.

Li Zhiyan snapped his eyes open.

He saw a small flower blooming on the ground where he knelt.

The flower was crystal clear and white, smaller than a grown-up's fingernail. It stretched comfortably, like someone luxuriously stretching.

As if confirming it had been seen by Li Zhiyan, it vanished into thin air.

In that instant, Li Zhiyan felt all his suppressed emotions just melted away.

He suddenly laughed.

Chu Ye was startled by his laughter and jumped, startled.

"Li Zhiyan, don’t do anything stupid!"

"What are you talking about?" Li Zhiyan got to his feet, brushing himself off dismissively. "Let’s go. We need to find a way out and come back later to deal with the mess."

"Huh?" Chu Ye was stunned by Li Zhiyan’s sudden optimism.

He watched as Li Zhiyan actually began searching for an exit, growing increasingly anxious as he sat there.

"It’s over, it’s over. He’s really lost it."

Chu Ye’s tone grew more panicked. "Should we find him a psychologist? Or maybe a Healing-type mutant?"

"No, no. A Healing-type mutant would definitely set off painful memories for him! Better to go with a psychologist."

"Li Zhiyan!" Chu Ye scrambled to his feet and chased after him. "When we get back, I’ll introduce you to a good doctor!"

"The protagonist’s pollution level has returned to normal," the system sighed. "After all the effort to set up his death, you go and bloom a flower right in front of the protagonist. That’s so naive."

Shen Ji: ...

That counts as pure?

"More importantly, System, we’re free now. Our actions are no longer limited by the plot!"

"True. Well then, let's figure out where to go next."

"Should we still go to the Three Bureaus? The Containment Facility, the Guard Team, or the Pollution Prevention Center?"

"Those places are way too easy for the protagonist to track us to. We need somewhere with less ties to him."

"Where would be suitable?"

"How about the Pollution Harmless Treatment Center?"

"...Ugh, you really want to avoid him but are also afraid he won’t be able to find you."

"Alright, alright. I’ll look for a suitable place. Let’s take the small mushroom and be free!"

Shen Ji smiled, took one last look at Li Zhiyan in the distance.

I hope that the next time we meet, I’m no longer the story's villain, the pollutant, just plain Shen Ji. And you’re no longer the protagonist of this novel, just Li Zhiyan, a member of the Guard Team.

Then, we can start from scratch.

My friend, I look forward to seeing you again.

He turned and left, just as Li Zhiyan walked in the opposite direction.

Li Zhiyan judged that there might be a way out over there—call it a hunch.

Though walking away from each other, it was like an embrace.

/

Chu Ye didn’t dare leave the cleanup to Li Zhiyan, and the Pollution Prevention Center didn’t dare leave it to Chu Ye either.

The Pollution Prevention Center packed Chu Ye off to the F City Containment Facility and directly messaged Zhou Ye to come help with the cleanup.

They didn’t trust those with low Pollution Talent, and using Pollution Prevention Center personnel risked strangers not understanding Li Zhiyan’s way of thinking, so they simply called in Zhou Ye.

Zhou Ye had to abandon his half-done beauty salon appointment and tearfully take over the botanical garden cleanup.

The F City Containment Facility took Chu Ye’s case very seriously, especially Director Bai Xuyue.

She personally oversaw Chu Ye’s pollution issues, carefully reviewed the details of the contamination incident, and administered medication cautiously.

Just as Li Zhiyan was about to leave, Bai Xuyue suddenly stopped him.

"Mr. Li," Bai Xuyue asked gently, "Do you know, has Doctor Shen left F City to return to Q City? I haven’t seen him."

Li Zhiyan stared at Bai Xuyue for a few seconds before replying, "You’re looking for him?"

"Yes, I’ve been looking forward to seeing him again." Bai Xuyue smiled. She was quite elderly, and her face crinkled when she smiled, but you could still feel her kindness and warmth. "I wanted to tell him: the patient he was responsible for has made significant progress and has woken up."

"Really?"

"I had actually prepared for the worst. I’d already signed the documents to send the patient to the Harmless Treatment Center. If Doctor Shen said he couldn’t treat him, I would have sent him away immediately."

As she spoke, Bai Xuyue smiled through tears. "But I never thought Doctor Shen would actually pull it off."

"He only came twice, but those two visits brought the patient’s pollution level down from the critical limit to 52. It’s still quite high, but it’s manageable now."

"The patient is actively receiving treatment after waking up. I believe his pollution level can still decrease further."

"So I really want to thank him in person."

Li Zhiyan nodded. "I understand. I’ll pass on the message next time I see him."

Bai Xuyue understood what Li Zhiyan meant.

"Pass on the message" meant she wouldn’t be seeing Shen Ji for now.

She had already prepared herself for this.

Shen Ji was such a powerful Healing-type mutant—it was only natural that the Pollution Prevention Center would tightly protect him. His ability to stay at the Q City Containment Facility before was due to both Director Wen and Li Zhiyan covering for him.

Now that he was back under the protection of the Pollution Prevention Center, it made sense.

"Thank you very much," Bai Xuyue said, bowing to Li Zhiyan.

After parting ways with Bai Xuyue, Li Zhiyan headed into the Containment Facility’s ward area. Chu Ye was currently in Ward III.

However, his pollution level was gradually decreasing. According to Bai Xuyue’s predictions, he would likely drop to Pollution Stage II within a week and fully recover to become a normal mutant within a month. Still, his Pollution Talent had suffered some damage, and his rank might drop from B to B-.

For Chu Ye, every piece of news was incredibly positive. He had even prepared himself for the possibility of becoming an ordinary person in the future.

He never expected he would still have the chance to maintain his B-level Mutant status.

"It must be because of the treatment Dr. Shen gave me earlier," Chu Ye said. "I owe him two lives."

Li Zhiyan nodded. "Indeed."

Chu Ye glanced at Li Zhiyan, observing his completely indifferent expression, and hesitantly probed, "About Dr. Shen... should we report it?"

Of course, he was referring to Shen Ji's sacrifice.

"I'll register him as missing later," Li Zhiyan said with a smile. "I'm holding a grudge against him, so I won't mark him as dead."

"I'll keep his identity intact until we find him."

Chu Ye: ...

But didn't he... die?

Seeing how enthusiastic Li Zhiyan was, Chu Ye couldn't bring himself to lay the truth bare.

This was the first time Li Zhiyan had liked someone so much—so much that he refused to accept the reality of his death, insisting on labeling him as missing and pretending he was still alive.

Even this abstract man seemed to have gained some humanity.

"No helping it," Chu Ye muttered softly to himself. "I'll play along. We have to stabilize his emotions somehow."

"What are you saying?"

"Nothing, I'm saying I support you!" Chu Ye quickly replied. "So, are you going to look for Dr. Shen later? What reason will you use?"

"The two of you don't seem... particularly close?"

Call it poaching, but Li Zhiyan still hadn't successfully poached Shen Ji. Call them friends, but Shen Ji had hardly collaborated with Li Zhiyan. In fact, they had only known each other for a few months.

Li Zhiyan really needed a reason for his behavior. Even though he knew Dr. Shen was dead and any search would be futile.

He couldn't possibly use something as terrifying as "I'm searching for my lost lover," right?!

"The abandoned husband."

Li Zhiyan spoke outrageously. "Doesn't that sound imposing?"

Chu Ye: ...?

Noticing the confusion on Chu Ye's face, Li Zhiyan revised his wording. "Then how about the abandoned widow?"

Chu Ye: ...?!

Have you no shame at all?!

"Anyway, I have to tie myself to him. From now on, I am a good man mourning his lover," Li Zhiyan declared. "And my cold-hearted boyfriend cruelly abandoned me, disappearing right before my eyes. I must find him and make him reflect on his actions!"

Chu Ye closed his eyes in agony and buried his head in his arms.

I'm sorry, Dr. Shen! Even in death, you have to suffer this guy's harassment!

I'll definitely burn more paper money for you!

Or maybe you could just come down and take this guy with you.

/

"Your identity information has been updated."

The System shared with Shen Ji. "Your identity hasn't been deleted or registered as deceased. Instead, you're listed as missing. Missing!"

"So, did our death fake-out succeed or fail?"

"...Why do I feel like you're taking great pleasure in this?"

Shen Ji clicked his tongue. "And do you really think Li Zhiyan won't figure it out? Little Mushroom has eaten so many of Li Zhiyan's butterflies—those butterflies are part of Li Zhiyan's pollution too. We might have fooled him while his mind was muddled, but once he comes to his senses, won't it be even worse?"

The System refused to beat around the bush with him. Arguing with someone like this would only lead to digging oneself into a hole.

"All this talk just means you don't want to deceive him. You're just making excuses to fool me, the System."

Shen Ji: ...

Just then, the door creaked open, and someone walked in.

It was a stern-looking middle-aged man wearing protective gear. His protective mask covered most of his face, leaving only his intensely intimidating eyes visible.

"So you're here for the job application?" the middle-aged man sat down opposite Shen Ji. "Well, I need to understand your basic information. First, your Talent."

Yes, this was Shen Ji's job interview.

True to his word about faking his death, Shen Ji, along with a bunch of plump Little Mushrooms that had eaten their fill, began searching for a new territory. After careful consideration, he and the System both chose the Pollution Harmless Treatment Center.

But not a branch in some city—they went straight for the Headquarters.

The reason? Only the Headquarters could trigger the appearance of the protagonist.

The original plot had no storyline involving the Pollution Harmless Treatment Center, and the protagonist never once visited. Shen Ji decided to test how long it would take for Li Zhiyan to discover him here.

So, he disguised himself (just changed his hairstyle and glasses, then used the Gardener's pollution to slightly alter his face) and came to apply for the job.

"Let's go with the pollution Talent we agreed on earlier."

"My pollution Talent is sensory-type," Shen Ji said. "But I'm only D-level."

The stern middle-aged man looked at him in surprise.

Outwardly unremarkable but critically important pollution Talents weren't common. Aside from healing-type Talents, another was sensory-type. Shen Ji had already pretended to be a healing-type before, though he realized it belatedly. Now, he would pretend to be sensory-type. Pollution sensing could be cheated with the System's help.

Keep the level low to avoid being exposed like last time from treating highly polluted patients.

"Sensory-type Talent?" the middle-aged man asked curiously. "Why didn't you join the guard team or a shelter? They're in desperate need of sensory-type Mutants."

"I have social anxiety."

The stern middle-aged man: ...?

Shen Ji kept a straight face but his eyes were sincere. He repeated, "I have social anxiety."

"I only want to deal with corpses, not people."

The stern middle-aged man: ...

"Flawless!"

The system remarked, "The excuse you came up with is just as lame as the protagonist's—so ridiculous you can't even find fault."

Shen Ji didn't care. 'As long as it works.'

"Oh, oh, I see now."

The middle-aged man looked down blankly. "I understand."

He absolutely did not understand!

The Pollution Harmless Treatment Center was chronically understaffed, so much so that they had resorted to using convicts from prison as volunteers. Logically, anyone applying for a job should be hired immediately. But as mentioned earlier, very few mutants were willing to work here, so the sudden appearance of an applicant left them totally shocked.

And then... social anxiety? Only wanting to deal with corpses?

The middle-aged man took Shen Ji's signed documents and file, instructed him to wait for a phone notification, and left utterly bewildered.

As he walked away, the man wondered: Was the generation gap between him and today's youth really that big?

Shen Ji walked out of the Pollution Harmless Treatment Center, and as he did, his phone chimed.

When he opened it, he saw an anonymous text message listing some precautions for working at the Pollution Harmless Treatment Center.

Seeing this message, Shen Ji knew his employment was practically guaranteed.

"Of course, their 'wait for notification' is just being polite. The Pollution Harmless Treatment Center is so desperately short-staffed that even a ghost could be put to work, as long as it isn't a pollutant."

"Oh wait, you are a pollutant."

Shen Ji: ...

What a shame.

Just then, Shen Ji's phone vibrated again.

He looked down at the screen—a new message from a familiar name.

The sender was: Li Zhiyan.

Yes, Shen Ji hadn't deleted Li Zhiyan's contact information, but he also hadn't expected Li Zhiyan to message him again.

"Troublesome protagonist: Tonight, I plan to have a mushroom hot pot to get revenge..."

Since he hadn't opened the message, only part of it was visible. Shen Ji could only see the word "revenge," with the rest cut off.

The system asked curiously, "Why aren't you opening it?"

"Because opening it would mark it as read, and if it's marked as read, wouldn't that prove I'm still alive?" Shen Ji said matter-of-factly.

"..."

What kind of logic was that? Even though I know you know I'm not dead, I still have to put on a show to avoid awkwardness?

If he really opened the message and marked it as read, it would indeed be extremely awkward.

Shen Ji turned off his phone and continued walking. "Ignore him. Let's find a place to stay first. Does the Pollution Harmless Treatment Center provide dormitories?"

Behind him, the mushrooms lined up in a long row, huffing and puffing as they rolled along, like a group of children marching in single file.

New turf!

Heave ho! Let's conquer new territory!

No big butterflies, no little butterflies, boo hoo!

Will there be tasty snacks in the new territory?

Master, we want to eat!