Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Old Turtle had given him a heaping portion, more than Jiang Linchuan could possibly eat by himself. After eating and drinking his fill, he tidied up the untouched food and pushed it through the iron bars to the opposite side.

It wasn’t that Jiang Linchuan was soft-hearted; sometimes, you could discern a lot from how someone eats.

Like now—after Yun Feng took the food inside, he opened it and first handed it to the team member beside him. The food was passed from one person to another until it reached the eldest member in the farthest corner.

That member didn’t hesitate either, taking a piece of grilled dried bread (mantou) from the container and eating it.

There was no way that food would stretch to feed over thirty people, but since most of it ended up with the older member, it was clear he was the leader of the group.

However, for a field operation—especially such a dangerous one—Yun Feng as the leader should have been sufficient. Besides, Yun Feng was already a regimental commander—was there someone of higher rank than him?

Jiang Linchuan leaned back, peering through half-closed eyes as he watched the scene unfold. Then he saw Yun Feng fish through his hair, pull out a blade, and cut open one team member’s arm, extracting something coin-sized that resembled a microchip.

One by one, each team member had their arm cut open, and soon the pieces were assembled into a small device, which was handed to the senior operative.

When Yun Feng finished, he glanced up in Jiang Linchuan’s direction but didn’t seem particularly guarded. After all, they were all prisoners now, theoretically in the same boat.

Jiang Linchuan quickly pieced it together.

Each monster had different characteristics. To deal with them, humans had to identify their weaknesses and tailor their approach accordingly. This Abyss Lord was elusive and hard to pin down. To confront him, they needed to understand him first. So, these thirty-plus people were a suicide squad, and the older one was likely a researcher sent in to gather information on the Abyss Lord.

Monsters were largely indifferent to technology. The underground lab in the factory had been a showcase of human technology, while here, they had simply dug out a room underground. They had no concept of signal shielding or anything of the sort. Yun Feng and his team had devised this plan precisely because of the monsters’ simplicity.

*

Night had fallen. The monsters forced to study had dozed off, all except Shen Jin, who grew more energetic the more he learned. Human knowledge was indeed as vast as the ocean.

But taking in too much information could also be exhausting. Shen Jin stood up and stretched. He was sleepy; it was time to go back and rest.

Before leaving, he decided to check on his imprisoned human.

“You,” Shen Jin pointed at Tu Mi, “go ask that dog Yama. If he agrees to hand over that blue-furred fox of his, he can leave and take twenty humans with him.”

Blue-furred fox?

Tu Mi went down to the underground lab and stood before Jiang Linchuan, arms crossed. “Do you have a blue-furred fox?”

“How did you know?” Jiang Linchuan immediately became alert.

“As long as you hand over that blue-furred one, you can leave and take twenty humans with you.”

Tu Mi didn’t know Jiang Linchuan and had no fondness for the dog Yama, so her tone was cold and unsparing.

Hearing this, the aloe and orchid-headed humans grew excited. “What blue-furred fox? Captain Jiang, save us, please save us!”

Jiang Linchuan glanced at them. They hadn’t been like this earlier when they were envying him his last meal.

These people weren’t the main issue. After all, they only had plants growing on their heads and weren’t in immediate danger.

The main concern was that the Abyss Lord still hadn’t given up on Shen Jin.

Given his abilities, capturing Shen Jin shouldn’t be difficult. So, it was best not to provoke him. They needed a compromise.

Although Old Turtle and the others seemed harmless, Jiang Linchuan still didn’t want Shen Jin to fall into the Abyss Lord’s hands. That brat’s temper was likely to infuriate the Abyss Lord, and it would only be a matter of time before he got eaten.

Jiang Linchuan came to a decision and nodded. “Fine.”

If he refused, the Abyss Lord might go after Shen Jin himself, and that was a disaster they couldn’t avoid.

If he agreed, he could buy some time to go back and hide Shen Jin.

Worst-case scenario: Shen Jin really got captured. Then he could use this incident to play the victim, claiming the humans had betrayed him, and stage a dramatic break with humanity. Maybe the Abyss Lord would go easier on him.

“Hmph, humans.” Tu Mi was utterly contemptuous of his quick agreement. “So treacherous. Pah.”

Jiang Linchuan: “…”

Tu Mi quickly went to report back.

Shen Jin lounged with his legs crossed, a smirk playing on his lips as he waved a hand. “What did he say?”

Tu Mi looked displeased. “That dog Yama agreed. Very readily. Said he’d hand over the blue-furred fox to you.”

“What did you say?” Shen Jin slowly lifted his head, a storm gathering in his eyes.

“He said as long as he’s allowed to leave, he’ll hand over the blue-furred fox.” Tu Mi spat in disgust. “What a piece of work.”

Good. Very good.

Shen Jin laughed.

He’d been prepared to hear Jiang Linchuan vow to protect the fox at all costs. But no—humans were humans, after all. You can't trust them.

Old Turtle frowned nearby. What was Jiang Linchuan up to?

Seeing the black mist dissipate, Old Turtle immediately pushed the meal cart toward the underground lab.

Jiang Linchuan’s meal was still a separate, lavish affair. As Old Turtle handed him the food, he whispered, “He’s gone. What exactly happened just now?”

“Gone? Didn’t he say he’d release me?” Had he gone to capture Shen Jin instead?

Jiang Linchuan grew worried. “What else did he say?”

“Nothing. He just left. Didn’t say anything about releasing you.” Old Turtle was equally confused. “What blue-furred fox? Since when did you raise a fox?”

What was going on?

Jiang Linchuan frowned deeply. Logically, this shouldn’t be happening.

“Don’t overthink it. Get going, quick.” Old Turtle secretly handed him the cell keys and then left.

Yun Feng and the others were still hungry, staring eagerly at Jiang Linchuan’s leftovers. Though Jiang Linchuan had no appetite, he forced himself to finish every last bite. He’d need the energy for the escape later.

Seeing not a grain of rice left, Yun Feng sighed. “A gentleman does not eat food given contemptuously.”

Jiang Linchuan retorted irritably, “A petty man only deserves to beg for food.”

Yun Feng: “…” He decided not to argue.

“Hey, what’s the deal with that blue-furred fox? You wouldn’t give it to me before, and now you’ve landed in trouble.”

Jiang Linchuan tossed the empty food container at him.

Yun Feng, too weak to dodge in time, was splattered with sauce.

…

Aside from Old Turtle, other monsters did come down to the underground lab. They would prune the plants and occasionally patrol the area.

Jiang Linchuan was anxious about Shen Jin, but could only bide his time patiently. After the next round of patrols passed, he seized the opportunity, stood up, and took out the key, intending to escape. Just then, a loud metallic clank echoed from the ceiling.

Everyone instinctively looked up and saw the ceiling split open, with several people dropping down and landing on the floor with a series of thuds.

Jiang Linchuan withdrew his hand, his face twisted in frustration.

Lying on the ground were Zheng Jian, Wu Yao, Chen Lanzhi, and several members of the Special Operations Brigade.

Jiang Linchuan asked, "What are you doing here?"

Yun Feng also gripped the bars, watching. "What happened? How did you get captured too?"

The newcomers were dizzy and disoriented, unable to hear Jiang Linchuan and Yun Feng's questions as they were puking their guts out.

The prison door swung open, and Ji Feiyu, with his silver-white hair, swaggered in arrogantly, flicking his wrist. He kicked Zheng Jian's backside with the tip of his shoe. "So you thought you could capture me? Now you’ve fallen into my hands, huh! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Ji Feiyu glanced sideways at Jiang Linchuan in the cell. "Well, well, if it isn’t Captain Jiang? What a coincidence."

Jiang Linchuan narrowed his eyes.

The Abyss Lord had gone to the Special Operations Brigade, released Ji Feiyu, and brought back Zheng Jian and the others. But what about Shen Jin? And the little one?

Had Shen Jin resisted?

Jiang Linchuan clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands.

He had been careless. He should never have tried to apply normal logic to monsters—they never played by the rules.

"Where is my fox?" Jiang Linchuan asked coldly.

"What fox? I have no idea," Ji Feiyu snorted. "You fucking King of Hell, didn’t I tell you my husband is incredibly powerful? Now you’ve seen it for yourself... ah—"

Ji Feiyu was suddenly grabbed by the neck and slammed against the iron bars by Jiang Linchuan. In his agitation, Ji Feiyu’s hands instantly transformed into bird-like claws, swiping wildly at Jiang Linchuan.

Jiang Linchuan dodged sideways, pinning him firmly. "Speak! Where is my fox?"

"Husband~ save me~" Ji Feiyu flailed and shouted in a whiny tone.

"Let him go," a familiar voice rang out.

Jiang Linchuan froze and looked up.

A man with black hair, dark eyes, dressed in a white tracksuit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, ducked through the prison doorway, slightly stooping as he entered.

Yun Feng was also taken aback, instinctively glancing at the instrument hidden under the bed. The data for this devastatingly handsome man matched that of the blue-furred fox.

Shen Jin lifted his eyelids, his face unreadable, and strode slowly toward Jiang Linchuan. Jiang Linchuan’s gaze followed his every step.

What was going on?

Shen Jin stopped in front of Jiang Linchuan, his long fingers gripping Jiang Linchuan’s chin and tilting it upward. His thin lips parted slightly. "Jiang Linchuan, did you betray me?"

"I..." Jiang Linchuan had no idea what act this was or what had happened, so he remained silent.

"Husband~ How could you touch another man?" Ji Feiyu reached out to pull them apart. "Don’t touch him, he’s disgusting."

Shen Jin kicked Ji Feiyu, sending him crashing against the wall with a sickening thud, where he hung limply. Then, staring into Jiang Linchuan’s bewildered eyes, Shen Jin said darkly, "I’ve pledged allegiance to the Abyss Lord now. From now on, I’m the warden here, and all of you are under my control."

"You’d better behave," Shen Jin narrowed his eyes, his gaze filled with undisguised fury. "Otherwise, I’ll make sure your son suffers a fate worse than death. He’ll pay a terrible price."

Jiang Linchuan: "?"

"Tch." Shen Jin withdrew his hand and brushed it off disdainfully. "Humans. All of you deserve to die."

"Husband, you’re so right! Well said! You’re the best, babe!"

Jiang Linchuan: "???"