The Natives of This World Are Fierce

Tao Xingzhi’s desire to get to Shen City had now become even more urgent.

After arriving at the airport, he got off the helicopter and practically flew to the private jet, his feet barely touching the ground. He immediately transferred to a flight heading south.

It was still night when he arrived in Shen City.

Liu Yue was at the scene managing the situation. Meanwhile, Huang Jiutian was driving along Shen City’s sewer lines, using his Perception to detect any changes below. So, the ones who picked Tao Xingzhi up from the airport were students from Liu Yue’s current special training camp.

More people would be attempting to go down and investigate the next day.

In the car, Tao Xingzhi got a detailed account of the entire incident from two active-duty soldiers, who were said to have had outstanding results in their training.

’I’m still a little excited,’ he thought. ’Although what that plant said could still be a lie, verifying it won’t actually be that hard.’

’All we have to do is compare the dozen or so spikes we found later with the remains from the lab.’

’Maybe the behavioral logic of mutated monsters or special creatures is mostly different from that of humans, but the basic instinct for survival should be the same.’

’It appeared twice at the site of a mutation, both times connected to that mysterious faction. The first time, it was even severely wounded.’

’If they really are one and the same plant, then aside from its own story—which is the only temporary explanation we have—it can’t be that it just has a natural death wish, can it?’

’In any case, if the comparison results check out, the credibility of the information we got tonight will increase dramatically.’

The car sped all the way to the "battlefield" from before.

Firefighters were still there, blasting away bloodstains with high-pressure hoses.

Tao Xingzhi glanced around. Under the glare of the searchlights, he could see patches of stubborn crimson that were hard to wash away. Not far off, several metal manhole covers lay bent and deformed from the impacts. The air still held the lingering scent of roasted meat.

All these signs made it easy to imagine the fierce, tense battle that had taken place.

"Tao, you’re here!"

When Liu Yue saw that Tao Xingzhi had arrived, he took a sip of unsweetened coffee to wake himself up before stepping out of the command vehicle.

"Jiutian is driving around the city now. So far, he hasn’t found any sign of that Thorns creature."

"What about the rats?"

"Jiutian’s Perception isn’t very sensitive to rats. It’s mainly because it’s hard to distinguish between normal rats and mutated ones. But right now, within a ten-kilometer radius of the sewer network centered on our position, there isn’t a single rat to be found."

Tao Xingzhi nodded, habitually reaching into his pocket for a cigarette.

"That means the Thorns did a very thorough cleanup."

His hand came out empty. He remembered that he had been in such a hurry that he’d smoked his last one on the way here and hadn’t stopped to buy more.

As if anticipating this, Xiaoliu quickly handed over a soft pack of cigarettes.

"This doesn’t count as bribing a superior, does it?"

"Of course not. Consider it a strategic resource."

The two of them stood there in the night breeze, discussing in low, excited tones the mysterious entity or faction they had been monitoring for so long. It was highly likely that humans were in charge of it!

On the building under construction, the power of a Secret Realm swirled.

Qin Xiaoxia and the others hadn’t left yet. He was waiting for Tao Xingzhi.

He’d met Norton before. As for the leader of Hua Country’s special department, he had often heard Huang Jiutian mention him, and it seemed Jiutian had a very good impression of the man.

"It’s him! I’ve seen him before!"

Doudou suddenly cried out.

Now both Qin Xiaoxia and Su Su were curious.

"I’ve never even met him. How could you have?"

"It’s true! I saw him last time at Ruixing Supermarket. He was buying cigarettes. Back then, I noticed he had the distinct aura of various things from the Outer World on him. So he’s the big spy chief!"

Qin Xiaoxia thought for a moment and figured it was probably related to the Winding Loach River incident.

"What spy chief? He’s your Mrs. Huang’s direct supervisor!"

Su Su teased.

Down below, Tao Xingzhi lit his cigarette and took a deep drag. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been in such a good mood. It might have been when he first discovered Huang Jiutian.

He looked up at the moon. It felt like the first time he’d truly looked at the brilliant night sky since summer began.

Doudou grew a little nervous, watching Tao Xingzhi look up in their direction.

"Big Bro, can he see us? Or can he just sense it whenever I talk bad about someone now? I don’t remember ever making a wish like that..."

"No, he’s just admiring the moon and getting sentimental."

Qin Xiaoxia chuckled.

"Alright, we can head back now."

As he finished speaking, the Secret Realm Technique Engraving on the rooftop faintly lit up. Inside the Qingzhen Secret Place, the Red Demoness, who had been playing by the river, sensed something. She immediately stood and took control of the Secret Realm’s operation.

With a tremor in space, Qin Xiaoxia and the other two vanished from the spot.

Compared to last time, Qin Xiaoxia’s understanding of Secret Realm lore had skyrocketed. His Engraving this time was far more practiced and skillful.

Aside from the engraved spot being cleaner than the surrounding area, the rooftop was left with almost no trace.

A gentle breeze swept over it, and even this last trace of difference gradually vanished under a new layer of dust.

"Was anyone on top of that construction building?"

Tao Xingzhi suddenly asked Liu Yue as he smoked.

"Not anymore. We had a few sniper teams up there a little while ago."

"Oh."

...

Mumu huddled timidly in a corner of the Shen City sewers.

’How could Kemando forget about me...? I’m not home yet...’

It kept dialing a number on its simple phone.

"We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is busy. Please try again later..."

’Oh no, did I play too many games? Is the battery already this low?’

Not giving up, Mumu tried calling Doudou.

"We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is busy. Please try again later..."

’Time to try Su Su!’

The call was answered after just two rings.

Mumu breathed a sigh of relief. ’Su Su is the best. Next time I grow fruit, I’ll give it to her!’

"Hey, Su Su! I’m not back yet! I’m still at the Technique Array’s location! Yeah, that’s right! Ask the master to pull me back! If he’s tired, you can just tell the Red Demoness to do it!"

Su Su stole a glance at the three people eating a late-night snack at a barbecue stand.

It went without saying for Doudou and Qin Xiaoxia, but even the Red Demoness, despite her elegant movements, was making the skewers on her plate disappear at an incredible rate. ’If I keep talking, there won’t be any left for me!’

"Uh, Mumu, the Mentor said you did such a great job earlier... So, in light of how hard you worked, he’s decided to give you a reward!"

"Really? Really?! Is he finally going to buy me a smartphone?!"

Ever since their minds had become linked, Mumu’s most desperate wish was to have its own smartphone, just like Doudou, but its requests were always denied for lack of merit.

"No... He wants you to completely exterminate every rat in the Shen City sewers. Yes, every last one, don’t leave a single one behind. Oh, and he also said he’ll inspect your Demon Vine Seeds when you get back. Aside from the ones you used tonight, if any more are missing, he’ll make you go catch all the rats in the Qiantang sewers too... Also, be careful not to run into any of the sewer maintenance crews."

’A reward? Is this a fucking reward?’

"Wait, Su Su! Is the master there? Can you put him on the phone? I just want to say a couple of things to him..."

"No need. We’ll leave it at that. Besides, you still need to go get that piece of your body back. If you haven’t finished the mission by then, we’ll meet up. I’m going back to my barbecue!"

Then Su Su suddenly took a few steps away and lowered her voice.

"And one more thing. I’m warning you so you don’t ask for trouble next time. When it comes to the Mentor, unless he specifically told you to say something, don’t go improvising..."

The line went dead.

When she got back, Su Su would add another entry to her little notebook with the heart sticker on it: *Sometimes, the Mentor holds a grudge.*

Mumu wanted to cry but had no tears. It didn’t even have tear ducts, or real eyes for that matter. It stared down the narrow sewer tunnel. Its main body wasn’t small, and it had plenty of thick branches, making some spots very difficult to squeeze through.

’But Shen City is huge! It’s basically impossible for me to exterminate all the rats. Not to mention, even if I kill all the ones underground, more will just come down from the surface. Whose fault will that be?’

’Good thing I already catalyzed a dozen or so seeds. Otherwise, I’d be screwed!’

’The phone’s battery is down to one bar. As long as I don’t make calls or play games, it should last a good while on standby.’

Just as it was about to put the phone away, Mumu received a text message.

Master: "I’ll buy you a new smartphone when you get back this time."

RAWRRRRR~~~~

’It’s just all the rats in the city!!!! BRING IT ON! WHO’S AFRAID OF WHO?!’

PS: Chapter Three.