Chapter 97

Chapter 97

After that day, Lin Juan didn't let Lu Yanzhou near him for a full week. No matter how good his stamina was, he couldn't withstand that kind of wear and tear.

Lin Juan felt it was necessary to discuss the issue of a more sustainable pace with Lu Yanzhou.

Before he could find Lu Yanzhou to talk, Director Liu called.

"Mr. Lin," Director Liu's tone was solemn, "we've discovered dozens of S-class pollutants that have been lying low for days at the Yunnan border."

"How many did you say?" Lin Juan gripped his phone, his voice rising. "Over a dozen? Since when did S-class pollutants become mass-produced goods?"

"We don't have an exact count yet. According to reports from Yunnan, more than twenty have been found so far."

The number was staggering.

These were S-class pollutants.

Not just random C-class or B-class ones. In today's world, where the total number of S-class pollutants doesn't exceed the fingers of one hand, to be told that dozens were suddenly discovered, all concentrated in one place... If not for the clear data, Director Liu would have suspected Yunnan was playing a joke on him.

Unfortunately, it wasn't.

"Headquarters has already dispatched two S-class ability users. Mr. Lin, we were wondering if we could ask you to go and take command."

The matter was of great importance. After a meeting of the PSAO top brass, they unanimously decided to see if they could ask Lin Juan for help.

Dealing with a single S-class pollutant was already no easy task, let alone facing dozens this time.

Dozens.

Just thinking about that number made Director Liu's vision go dark.

This world had already diverged from the original novel's plot. Lin Juan wasn't sure if a similar situation had occurred in the original storyline. However, his relationship with the PSAO had always been pretty good, and he didn't want to see this beautiful world turn into the chaotic mess of the novel's later stages.

"When do we depart?"

Director Liu knew Lin Juan had agreed and let out a huge sigh of relief.

Seeing his relaxed expression, others in the office eagerly wanted to ask something. Director Liu made a silencing gesture and spoke into the phone, "Time is urgent. We depart tonight. I'll send someone to pick you up."

After the call ended, the expressions of the other leaders in the office simultaneously eased.

"With Mr. Lin there, our odds of success are better."

"What about those people abroad..."

"The news can't be kept secret. When S-class pollutants appeared before, they tried to muscle in. They likely won't pass up this opportunity either."

"S-class pollutants... they must have a death wish."

In Yunnan, thousands of miles away.

Lu Yanzhou was under constant protection by PSAO personnel. Joseph couldn't forcibly take him abroad, nor could he even try anything underhanded against him.

Neither open nor secret methods worked. The people above him could only think of other ways.

It was at this moment that Joseph heard the news about the gathering of S-class pollutants in Yunnan.

A call came through from headquarters.

"Got the news?"

A disguised voice came through. Joseph was taken aback. "Did you do this?"

"How could we have that kind of power? This is a rare opportunity. This time, don't let me down."

"Yes."

That night, Lin Juan flew to Yunnan with Zhuang Yufeng and others.

Zhuang Yufeng looked rough. His face was pale, as if he were still reeling from a major blow.

Zhuang Yufeng couldn't put his feelings into words.

Everything had changed, so why was a situation that hadn't even appeared in the latter part of his previous life occurring now?

Lin Juan came back with a drink and nudged Zhuang Yufeng. "Dr. Zhuang."

Zhuang Yufeng snapped out of it and turned to look at Lin Juan.

Lin Juan handed him the drink. "Don't worry too much."

Zhuang Yufeng took the drink and fell silent.

Lin Juan was also a wild card in this world.

When it came to the future, he could no longer provide accurate answers based on his previous life experiences.

After getting off the plane, Lin Juan turned on his phone. A whole list of missed calls appeared on the screen.

All from Lu Yanzhou.

Lin Juan had left in a rush, only having time to send Lu Yanzhou a single message.

"I need to call him back."

Walking to the side, Lin Juan dialed the number.

The person on the other end seemed to be waiting, as the call was answered as soon as it rang.

"Juanjuan."

"Lu Yanzhou, listen to me first. I'm in Yunnan. There's something I need to deal with here."

The man sitting leisurely in his office chair suddenly straightened up. "I'm coming to you."

"No need, you..." Halfway through, Lin Juan suddenly remembered that Lu Yanzhou wasn't the defenseless human he used to be. "Wait for my message first. I need to get to the bottom of the situation here."

Lin Juan needed to figure out the reason behind the sudden appearance of so many S-class pollutants, and more importantly, whether this would affect Lu Yanzhou.

Knowing Lin Juan's identity, the person in charge in Yunnan hurriedly welcomed him inside.

On the flight over, Lin Juan had already gotten up to speed on the situation in Yunnan from the internal network.

The anomaly was discovered half a month ago.

Yunnan is located on the edge of China, with dense forests everywhere. The deep mountains are full of poisonous insects, so few people venture in. As a result, no one knows exactly when the anomaly first appeared.

A team of herb gatherers entered the forest.

"It's been a while since we last came. I hope we find something this time." The old man leading the team took a puff of his pipe.

"Stop smoking, watch out for fire."

The old man stubbed out his pipe.

The deeper they went, the quieter it became. Apart from the rustling of leaves in the wind, only their footsteps could be heard.

"I don't know why, but I keep getting the creeps."

"Something's wrong," the experienced old man stopped in his tracks. "It's too quiet. The forest shouldn't be this silent."

"Let's get out of here!" The two made a snap decision and turned back.

But... it was already too late.

"Aaaaaahhh!!!"

"What is that?!"

"Such a huge venomous bug!!"

A spider as tall as a person emerged from the woods. Unlike ordinary spiders, this one was covered in fleshy tumors on its back and legs.

The sky darkened.

The old man stared at the tumors on the spider's legs. Suddenly, a tumor burst open, and a long tongue extended from within.

A teeth-grating chewing sound echoed.

The team's families waited for days, but no one returned. Unable to find any trace of their whereabouts, they could only report it to the police.

After several twists and turns, the matter reached the Yunnan branch of the Paranormal Special Affairs Office.

The branch sent people into the forest to investigate. They encountered an S-class pollutant and lost most of their team; the survivors escaped with severe injuries, bringing back news of the S-class threat.

Out of caution, the Yunnan branch dispatched several espers skilled in reconnaissance into the forest.

The information they gathered grew increasingly shocking.

The Yunnan branch quickly reported the findings to headquarters, requesting reinforcements.

The office walls were lined with screens of various sizes, each displaying information and images of an S-class pollutant.

"A spider..." Lin Juan's gaze fell on one of the screens.

On the screen, a massive spider was hunting. Though its form differed, it gave Lin Juan a feeling similar to the "Human-back Spider" he had eliminated before.

Lin Juan looked at each one in turn.

Zhuang Yufeng followed behind him and asked the person in charge, "Gathering this information must have caused significant casualties, right?"

"It was manageable. We were well-prepared. There were casualties, but not many."

"We have to go in," Lin Juan stated.

They had come precisely for this matter, so Zhuang Yufeng naturally didn't object.

Apart from Zhuang Yufeng, the others who came this time were all Lin Juan's old acquaintances. Once again, Sheng Tianzong led the team. The top-tier combatants formed a sharp blade, heading straight for the heart of the Eerie Forest.

Along the way, pollutants of various sizes were easily dealt with.

"It's really strange. Outside, we couldn't detect any pollution value from this forest at all. But once inside, the levels are noticeably higher."

"It's as if there's an invisible barrier containing all the pollution within the forest."

"The pollutants here are more frenzied than those outside but less powerful, making them easier to handle."

The group briefly shared their findings.

"I noticed this earlier," Lin Juan stood under a massive tree trunk. "The branch's casualties don't match the pollutant levels. The destruction caused by a normal S-class pollutant would never be this low."

"Right," Zhuang Yufeng agreed. "Whether it's 'Holy Snake Mountain' or 'Annihilation,' either one on its own would cause far more destruction than this."

"If it were just one case, you could call it a coincidence. But with dozens of cases like this, it can't be explained away as a coincidence."

"The S-class pollutants we just dealt with weren't much stronger than A-class ones from outside. It's as if their levels were forcibly boosted."

"Another point: the pollutants here can't get out. They're confined to the forest."

"Doesn't it seem like a large cage, trapping pollutants of all levels inside like prey caught in a trap?"

Lin Juan's words plunged everyone into silence.

The analogy was too accurate.

"Let's keep moving inward and see if we can find anything new."

The further in they went, the higher the level of pollutants they encountered, and the harder they were to deal with. Besides aggressive pollutants, they also came across many pollutant remains.

"Can you feel it?" Lin Juan stopped walking.

"This energy affects our abilities. I can feel my own power increasing."

"I feel it too."

"Is this where the problem lies?" Lin Juan focused, feeling the unknown energy washing over his body, carrying away all his chronic ailments and fatigue.

The others also sensed the miraculous nature of this energy.

They were all frontline fighters, inevitably carrying various injuries. After being cleansed by this energy, all their old wounds and chronic ailments instantly improved. No one could remain calm.

What is this energy?

Can it be harnessed?

If so, wouldn't it be a tremendous boon for humanity?

Lu Yanzhou didn't heed Lin Juan's advice. When he couldn't reach Lin Juan again, he called for his private jet and flew to Yunnan.

As the plane landed, a plainly dressed man in an inconspicuous corner pressed his earpiece and spoke softly, "He's arrived."

After Lu Yanzhou's previous incidents, and with the agreement of both Lin Juan and himself, he was constantly under the protection of the Office. Director Liu soon learned of Lu Yanzhou's arrival.

Knowing his public identity was that of an ordinary person, Lu Yanzhou didn't force his way to the front lines. Instead, he chose a hotel not too far and not too close to stay.

The door of the presidential suite closed from the inside. Lu Yanzhou pulled off his tie and took a few steps forward.

A deep purple vortex appeared in the room, and Lu Yanzhou stepped into it.

He disappeared in an instant from the room.

At the same time, within the sinister woods, an invisible, heavy pressure spread out. Whether hunting or otherwise occupied, all tainted creatures stopped in their tracks.

Pressed down by the immense pressure, they crouched low, nearly scraping the ground.

They were unable to move, pinned in place.

Thick tentacles extended from the void, randomly snatching up the helpless prey.

Lin Juan suddenly turned around.

A black tentacle whipped past.