"Why not take a hunting trip outside? The mutated beasts are starving out there. It's their vulnerable period now. Oh, and remember, starving beasts can turn to humans for food. With an only 10% success rate in our current experiments, they wouldn't stand a chance against a beast tide. Maybe we should gather more test subjects."

Ren Zhiyuan responded, trying to keep his temper, "You're too greedy, Doctor. Your techniques aren't even stable, and you want more subjects. If someone goes missing from our base, it will be noticed. Let's discuss this after the winter."

"Well, I don't mind. Aren't you worried the base won't survive this unusually severe winter? Thankfully, the laboratory you built is safe. I have nothing to fear."

The word "laboratory" made Zhou You frown. Whatever experiments were ongoing, they were not ethical. Ren Zhiyuan, a military district commander, was involved. Who knows how many would suffer because of it.

Zhou You was now sure that what Shao Qi had been investigating was related to this. It made sense that he went south alone to face such formidable foes.

Their conversation wasn't long. Ren Zhiyuan opened the window, letting in cold air. He sobered up a bit, "Doctor Jiang, you should head back. At your age, you need to take care of yourself. I'll visit soon, hoping to see satisfactory results."

"I'll await your visit then," Doctor Jiang bid his goodbye and left. The window was closed, and Zhou You climbed down from the fifth floor, taking cover behind a snow vehicle.

After Doctor Jiang boarded a vehicle, it started, and Zhou You, sticking close to the ground, was taken along by the moving snow. To fend off the cold, he circulated his inner energy and extended his spiritual senses to discern their direction.

Chapter 092: Tail

Zhou You kept track of their direction, noticing the vehicle wasn't heading towards the inner city but rather leaving it. This didn't match his initial thoughts since Miao Miao's investigation suggested Shao Qi hadn't left the city.

As Zhou You debated whether to follow, the vehicle slowed and stopped by the city gate. After a brief exchange with the guards, it passed through.

Zhou You even heard a guard's voice behind him, "Why would Doctor Jiang leave the city this late? What's he up to?"

His companion yawned, "Who knows? I've heard Doctor Jiang is researching a plant growth inhibitor. If successful, we could control plant growth rates. We might be able to grow some vegetation within our base. He has an external research facility."

"Yeah, there's a military contingent stationed there. It's just a bit risky."

"It's not too far. If anything happens, they can retreat to the base."

Zhou You quickly calculated the time. After leaving the city, the car drove for another fifteen minutes or so along the city wall before coming to a stop. Zhou You's keen sense of smell detected a pungent odor, not of something specific but reminiscent of a garbage heap.

Someone from the vehicle got out, and the car restarted. Zhou You noticed a pair of leather-booted feet and suspected it was Dr. Jiang. So, when the car turned, he let go and lay straight in the snow, waiting for the car to recede before standing up.

He glanced around and realized he was at a waste disposal facility. What could Dr. Jiang be doing here in the dead of night?

Zhou You started to follow, hoping to see where Dr. Jiang went. But in the short span of time, Dr. Jiang had vanished.

The man surely hadn't left the area, but where had he gone? Zhou You closed his eyes and tapped into his psychic ability. Soon, he spotted him in a pitch-dark elevator that was descending underground.

"So, this is his research base. Who would have thought of it?" Zhou You was taken aback; someone had established their secret base in a waste disposal site.

The facility had several buildings, dedicated to sorting waste mechanically. During the day, garbage trucks and workers came and went, but it was silent at night. After all, sanitation workers couldn’t stay outside the city.

Zhou You's psychic reach was limited. He hid in the shadows, contemplating whether to follow down. Given the proximity to the orphanage beyond the city walls, he reckoned Dr. Jiang might have been here, even if he wasn't currently.

Just as Zhou You was about to sneak in, a small stone whizzed towards him. He instinctively dodged, looking for the thrower. But outside the disposal site was a vast, snowy expanse with no signs of anyone.

It struck him that from where he stood, one could easily spot anyone approaching the site—a clear advantage for the elusive Dr. Jiang. The waste disposal site was an unlikely place for visitors, and the surroundings offered clear visibility.

The stone had definitely been thrown by someone. Zhou You ran in its direction of origin, stopping only when the facility was a mere dot in his view.

From this distance, one could hardly spot an individual near the waste facility.

"Shao Qi?" Zhou You called out.

A snowball came hurtling from behind. Dodging with a backflip, Zhou You dashed towards the origin but suddenly lost his footing and tumbled into a snow pit.

Inside the pit, he found himself staring into the eyes of a creature that nudged its face against his, trying to lick him.

"Little White, stop it!" Zhou You exclaimed, picking up the small white tiger and caressing it. He then addressed a man sitting nearby, "Have you been hiding here all along?"