The Natives of This World Are Fierce

Cui Ying and Mo Shaoge’s injuries were recovering at an astonishing rate. It wasn’t so miraculous that everything grew back instantly, but after two weeks, their internal muscle layers had regained function, and their nerves had begun to mend as well.

They were no longer in that state of numbness, unable to even lift their hands.

Although they were still wrapped in bandages, the foul stench from before was gone, and their wounds were getting better by the day.

By today, two weeks later, a thin layer of scabs had formed over their wounds. It wouldn’t be a huge issue even if the bandages were removed for good.

The risk of infection from the lack of a protective skin layer—the medical experts’ biggest worry—never materialized. In fact, the inner layers of skin had already begun to gradually regenerate.

Many experts speculated that the new skin might be slightly different in color from the surrounding tissue, but other than that, they might not even be left with scars. The subcutaneous scar tissue wasn’t proliferating; instead, its growth remained minimal. The constant, balanced rates of healing and tissue dissipation left the experts marveling at the phenomenon.

Although the two petals of the Flower of Life had been chewed and their juices extracted, there was still some residual material left.

It was less than anticipated, but still enough for preliminary research. The petals had a miraculous effect on wound recovery, but aside from providing nutrients and a numbing effect on the body, the principles behind its other properties remained a mystery.

Cui Ying and Mo Shaoge were now able to get out of bed and walk around. At their request, Huang Jiutian took them to visit Lü Bing, who was still in a coma.

Although Lü Bing had only led the team for the money, he was a decent guy. Plus, strictly speaking, he wouldn’t have gotten into trouble if not for her, so Cui Ying felt a bit guilty about his condition.

However, Huang Jiutian cheerfully told her not to worry.

Given Lü Bing’s physical condition, he would have slowly been corrupted, eventually suffering the same fate as that wild boar.

But when the Witch from Dawn came to pick up the Monkey, she helped him out as well. As a result, Lü Bing’s misfortune might turn into a blessing, which put Cui Ying and Mo Shaoge’s minds at ease.

Neither Cui Ying nor Mo Shaoge showed any signs of physical enhancement. Since they were strongly requesting to be "discharged" and go home, the Special Security Team didn’t make things difficult for them. Strictly speaking, they had even rendered a great service.

After signing a confidentiality agreement, they were allowed to go home and return to their jobs.

...

In a small riverside park in Shen City, Cui Ying and Mo Shaoge strolled hand in hand.

The bandages couldn’t block the sensation of each other’s touch.

After this ordeal, Mo Shaoge had finally gotten his wish. By sharing in adversity and showing a comforting optimism, he had truly won Cui Ying’s heart.

Although Cui Ying said they were still in a "trial period," Mo Shaoge was an old hand at the game of love. He hadn’t met many people he’d truly clicked with, but he had plenty of experience. He knew that a woman like Cui Ying, who had never had a boyfriend before, would be giving her whole heart once she finally decided to date someone.

Normally, he wouldn’t pursue a woman like her, but with Cui Ying, he felt he had found true love.

"Yingying, that article you’re planning to publish about the changes in the forest... won’t those guys from the Special Security Team shut you down?"

Mo Shaoge didn’t forget to squeeze Cui Ying’s soft hand as he spoke. ’Aside from her small chest, she’s perfect in every way,’ he thought.

"We’re just giving the public a heads-up, telling them not to go running into the mountains for no reason. Besides, our publication doesn’t have a huge audience. I think it’ll be fine. Worst case, if they say something, I’ll just change it!"

Cui Ying now had a connection, however slight, to the Special Security Team, which gave her a bit more confidence. ’At least they probably won’t throw us in a cell,’ she thought, ’unless we do something really out of line.’

Meanwhile, at the Ying’s Desire Editing Department, many of the male editors were sighing in dismay.

"To think our dear Yingying was snatched up by some wild punk..."

"Sigh... So much for having an inside advantage!"

Count chuckled from the side as he tapped on his keyboard, his face lit up with a brilliant smile, showing no trace of bitterness.

"Come on, you guys. You were all just too chicken to make a move because she’s the boss. How could you let someone else come and pick the fruit from your own backyard!"

The female hikers from the mountain trip had started worshiping him like some big shot, constantly fawning over him in their group chat. This led many other girls in the group to jump on the bandwagon, assuming he was a huge catch.

Some even hinted at going on a private camping trip with him.

Count was on cloud nine from all the attention but didn’t dare respond to any of them, because in real life, he and Little Sister were starting to hit it off. All things considered, he was the real winner here.

Count’s taunt was met with another wave of sighs.

Little Sister and the female editors just chuckled softly.

"BEEP-BEEP! BEEP-BEEP!"

The doorbell to the office rang. Since there was no receptionist, someone had to get the door.

"Who’s going to get the door? Probably a delivery."

"I’ll get it, I’ll get it! I bought a bunch of stuff, it’s probably my packages."

A young man eagerly scampered to the door. Outside, a deliveryman was waiting with six or seven boxes of various sizes.

"Here, just sign for these."

"Do I have to sign for all of them?"

"Nope, just this one sheet I’m holding."

The deliveryman handed over the pen. As the young man signed, the deliveryman sniffed the air.

"Why does it smell so strange in here?"

"Strange smell? What strange smell? I don’t smell anything."

The deliveryman thought for a moment.

"It’s like the smell at a zoo... Yeah, like the musky scent of a wild animal."

The young man handed back the form, and with the deliveryman’s help, they moved the boxes inside.

"We don’t keep any dogs here, so how could there be an animal smell? You must be woozy from working in this heat. Go take a break."

"No rest for me! I’ve still got a lot more packages to deliver!"

After the deliveryman took the elevator down, just as the young man was closing the door, he suddenly caught a whiff of that musky, or rather, rank smell himself.

He didn’t pay it much mind, though, and simply closed the door and carried the packages inside.

Beside the large potted plant near the elevators, Su Su rolled her eyes and turned her head away.

"You shameless monkey!"

The Monkey King was currently peeing into the potted plant, expertly shaking back and forth in a half-moon arc to water it evenly.

"What’s so shameless about it? When you gotta go, you gotta go. It’s not like I peed on the floor. If you need to go, I’ll give you the spot!"

Su Su thought viciously, ’Why couldn’t Doudou have kept this Monkey as a "pet" back then?’

The two of them had been waiting here for a while. They had come looking for Cui Ying and Mo Shaoge, but unfortunately, the couple was out on a walk, engaging in some public displays of affection. Having missed them, they decided to just wait.

Su Su didn’t want to waste Magic Power on a divination for something so trivial. The power she was accumulating would be very helpful for her upcoming physical "Elfification."

After waiting for nearly an hour, Sun Monkey got bored and started playing with the leaves of the potted plant. He plucked them off one by one, and in less than a minute, he’d turned the small tree into a collection of bare twigs.

Su Su: "..."

It felt like she’d only looked away for a second, and when she turned back, the little tree was completely bare.

"DING!"

The elevator doors opened again. This time, it was Cui Ying and Mo Shaoge, returning hand in hand.

"Why is this tree bare?"

It was impossible not to notice. The tree had been fine when they left, but now the floor was covered in leaves, and the plant itself looked like it had been shaved clean.

"And can you smell something funny, too? Mwahahahaha! Ah-hehehe!"

The Monkey’s uniquely wicked laugh echoed through the hall.

At the same time, he and Su Su revealed themselves.

With his lustrous, golden-brown fur, tall and imposing figure, fluffy body, and long tail, the standing monkey was an incredibly conspicuous sight.

"A mon-mon-Monkey King!"

"It-it’s talking!"

Cui Ying and Mo Shaoge each blurted out a phrase, completely ignoring Su Su, who was standing to the side.

"I have to thank you two. Oh, and that other unlucky fellow. If it weren’t for you, this Old Sun might’ve charged right through death’s door!"

Although the Monkey King’s tone was as flippant as ever, his words were sincere. He then gave the two of them a deep, traditional bow.

The two of them swallowed hard, stunned and unsure how to respond. His demeanor, his way of speaking, and especially his use of "Old Sun"... it was just like the Beautiful Monkey King, the Great Saint Sun Wukong. The resemblance sent shivers down their spines.

Only then did they notice a figure in a robe and cloak standing a short distance from the Monkey King. However, Su Su’s current aura was completely different from that of the Witch they remembered, so they didn’t recognize her.

"You’re from the Dawn Association!"

The experience of having their wounds treated was unforgettable, and it was then that they had learned of this mysterious organization.

The most prominent clause in the confidentiality agreement they had signed was the one forbidding them from leaking any information related to "Dawn."

"That’s right. We’re here to..."

"We’re here to see if you’re interested in joining the Association! The one who went back last time mentioned you to our Mentor, little reporter!"

The Monkey spoke faster than Su Su, gesticulating wildly as he did.

"Oh, and another thing! With your special constitution, if you can’t protect yourself, you’ll attract even stronger Demons sooner or later. You really need to think this through! And you," he said, pointing to Mo Shaoge, "she’s your mate now, right? She’s the one who’ll bear your children! You have to think about this carefully!"

Wanting to repay their kindness, he knew how serious the situation was. Even he couldn’t fully guarantee his own safety against some Demons. He was genuinely afraid that the couple would refuse to join Dawn out of fear, and that if they did, the Mentor might not extend the offer again.

"This Old Sun is only looking out for you!"

Seeing that they were silent, he added.

He didn’t realize, however, that the two of them were simply too shocked to speak.

’A talking Monkey King who calls himself "Old Sun" is shocking enough,’ they thought. ’But now the mysterious, unfathomable Dawn Association—an organization that even the Special Security Team and the government treat with extreme caution—is inviting us to join?’

Cui Ying could only think of one reason. ’The Monkey King must know about my special constitution,’ she realized. ’This is his way of repaying his debt to us!’

PS: Chapter three for Wednesday. That’s all for tonight, seven more Chapters owed.