"Ruan Xing!" Fu Gui let out a sharp cry.

Ming Zhi and Ming Rui immediately rushed over. When they saw the knife in Ruan Xing's back, Ming Rui's face flushed red with rage, and he punched the little boy.

The boy was instantly knocked to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Ming Rui's furious fists came down like a storm, giving him no chance to dodge.

Although Ming Rui didn't seem very strong compared to an ability user, he had lived through times of war. His strength was far greater than that of an ordinary person, and after just a few punches, the boy could no longer move.

At the same time, the mycelium slid down from Ruan Xing's hair, wrapping slowly around the boy's neck, ready to decapitate him at Ruan Xing's order.

Ming Zhi reacted quickly, pulling a tourniquet and medicine from her storage space to administer emergency treatment to Ruan Xing.

Ruan Xing spat out a mouthful of blood, his cold gaze fixed on the boy. In those eyes, he didn't see a child's innocence, but a malicious satisfaction, as if what had just happened was an entertaining game to him.

Ming Zhi's hands trembled. Ruan Xing stopped her, placed his right hand over his chest, and cast a healing spell. Looking at the boy held down by Ming Rui, he asked aloud, "Who are you?"

The boy looked at him, seemingly unsurprised that he had survived. His eyes lingered on the blood at Ruan Xing's lips, and he licked the corner of his mouth. "Thank you for your mercy, Ruan Xing. This is our first meeting. Do you like the gift I gave you?"

If Ruan Xing hadn't shown him kindness, the boy would never have had the chance to succeed so easily.

"It's fine. We'll meet again soon."

The mycelium let out a sharp cry and instantly tightened, digging in almost halfway through his neck. Blood gushed from the wound, but it was not bright red: it was dark red.

So this was why his body was so cold. Was it because he was already dead?

The boy's smile did not change as he stared at Ruan Xing, but the light in his eyes gradually dimmed, turning gray and lifeless.

Ruan Xing frowned.

His pupils turned from dark to light green as he cast a tracking spell. At the moment of death, a person's soul had not yet been dispersed. If what the boy said was true and they would meet again, it meant his soul hadn't vanished and might even return to its original body. Ruan Xing intended to find out who was behind this.

Ming Zhi helped support him, her expression full of concern. "How are you?"

Ruan Xing shook his head slightly. "Just a small injury."

Although the ambush looked serious, it wasn't immediately fatal. It was more likely a test from whoever was behind it. This so-called "gift" from the boy... spare his life?

Ruan Xing's expression was as cold as ice.

The commotion quickly drew attention, but since the boy had died inexplicably, they couldn't obtain any information. Even Chen Fu and the man in the suit couldn't help.

After this brief incident, Ruan Xing had no intention of staying in the Quarantine Center. Fu Zhi still hadn't found Pei Ye.

Chen Fu suggested he rest and focus on staying alive, but after being stabbed and then dragged into Pei Yi's mirror space earlier, Ruan Xing's temper had reached its limit. Right now, he wanted to launch the Tower straight into space.

"No need to say more." Ruan Xing filled the car with fuel and handed the fuel canister to the man in the suit. "I'm fine."

He also took the boy's corpse with him. His dark green eyes turned apple green, and at the same time, a small red dot flashed within them.

Sure enough, the occupant of this body hadn't actually died. Normally, a human soul couldn't remain outside the body for long unless preserved by some special method. For example, protecting Fu Zhi's soul had cost Ruan Xing great effort.

In his experience, soul-transfer magic was rare but not unheard of. The cost was high, and the risks were even higher.

If Fu Gui were describing it, the word would be simple: possession.

When the car engine started, Ming Chen stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, and gently reached through the window to hold Ruan Xing's hand. "XingXing, have a safe journey."

After saying this, her previously rosy complexion paled, but she still forced a smile.

Ruan Xing placed his right hand lightly over hers and patted it gently. "Thank you."

The roar of the car faded into the distance.

Ming Rui held his sister's thin body, his expression complicated. "Why did you use your ability? Your body is so weak."

Ming Chen smiled. "Brother Xing has helped us so much. It's fine."

Ming Rui felt puzzled. Was his sister's attitude toward Ruan Xing changing a bit too quickly?

Nervously, he asked, "Chen Chen, tell me, have you fallen for him?"

Ming Chen froze, then laughed. "How could that be?"

Only then did Ming Rui breathe a sigh of relief. "Good. He already has someone."

Ming Chen watched the departing car vanish from sight. She had only just confirmed Ruan Xing's identity.

That bundle of snow-white mycelium. She had seen it before on the little black furball.

—

Pei Yi coughed lightly and tucked the handkerchief in his pocket.

Fu Zhi's ability seemed to have grown even stronger. If Pei Yi hadn't abandoned a section of the mirror world, that flame could have burned straight through the front mirror and infected his real body.

It was rare for Pei Yi to be this badly injured. He stood by the window, gazing out at the smoke-filled outer city.

The inner city had the largest population, but Pei Yi had his own thoughts. He didn't follow Will's orders to flood it with pollution.

Footsteps approached, and a researcher in a white coat came in, addressing him, "Mr. Pei, there is a problem on Mr. Zhou's side. You might need to go there."

"I understand."

These people were researchers working at the Tower. Some logistics staff managed their daily needs and also served as messengers, since Will didn't use a smart wristband and most messages had to be delivered manually.

Zhou Zheng had gotten him into trouble again.

Because he was too upright, Zhou Zheng knew nothing of the Tower's secrets and was excluded from certain circles. But that didn't stop his zeal.

Protecting the public and defending the Tower. His ideals were always noble, but those two goals often clashed.

Hearing no footsteps leaving, Pei Yi frowned. "Is there something else?"

The staff member spoke cautiously. "Mr. Will also said you might want to prepare yourself… because Fu Zhi and Pei Ye have both come to find you."

Pei Yi's expression darkened.

He knew that this day would come, but he had hoped it would be much later.

"I'll handle it."

Only then did he hear the footsteps retreat.

At that moment, Zhou Zheng was heading to the outer city. Although his ability had no decisive effect in such a highly contagious pollution event, he could still help some people.

From a distance, he saw the overwhelming sight ahead, like a massive sandstorm. Even with his experience, he felt the pressure.

Still some distance from his destination, a giant moth rushed out into his path.

He got out of the car, his body covered in a layer of ice armor, and sneered at the moth towering as tall as a man.

The moth released a yellow cloud of dust, drifting toward him on the wind.

Zhou Zheng's figure blurred as the ice armor blocked the powder. The melting ice crystals made the phosphorus dust damp, weakening its ability to spread.

Taking the opportunity, Zhou Zheng charged at the moth and slammed his massive fist into its head.

Red and white fluids slid down his fist, but they did not contaminate him, as there was a thin layer of ice on his skin.

When the ice melted, the mixed liquid dripped down his knuckles, splattering on the ground.

The moth let out a shrill scream as a destructive force poured into its body through the wound, tearing it apart from within. Its huge wings trembled violently.

This was Zhou Zheng's purification ability. Any pollutant he got close to would be shredded like a meat grinder.

Shaking his hand, Zhou Zheng contacted the Quarantine Center, gave them a scolding, and told them to hurry over to clean up.

Just after he hung up, a new message came from the Tower.

"What? They want to kill Pei Yi?!"

Zhou Zheng yanked open the car door and dropped into the seat. "Are they crazy?"

"It's true. Pei Ye and Fu Zhi have already gone over," the researcher he often spoke with informed, while sounding urgent.

Zhou Zheng's fists cracked audibly. He wasn't close with Pei Yi, but he couldn't just watch a colleague be killed.

The car shot forward instantly.

Zhou Zheng hung up in a rush, but the person on the other end didn't immediately lower his wristband.

He hummed an unfamiliar tune under the bright sunlight, which glinted off his golden hair.

In his eyes, several differently colored points were about to converge.

"Things are starting to get interesting again."

—

Driving, Pei Ye's mind was blank, filled with memories of Pei Yi from the past.

One moment, the brothers were sneaking out of the city to fish, only to be caught by the pond's owner. Another moment, they were stealing corn from the research base's fields, getting lost in the stalks until they were dizzy with hunger. And then, Pei Yi's bloodstained face, his cold expression, and the knife he had stabbed into his own brother.

Pei Ye didn't know what expression to wear. He wanted to talk to Pei Yi properly, but the other always avoided the topic and even refused to see him.

His younger brother no longer listened to him.

Pei Ye slammed the horn, the loud sound echoing down the empty streets.

There was no one outside. Being near the entrance, the people in this area had already hidden in the shelter: a massive underground fortress hundreds of meters below, absolutely safe.

Noise on the surface couldn't reach them.

This shelter had been dug out when the base was first established. There was no such place in the outer city, because back then, the outer city was the largest Quarantine Center. An area meant to be temporary and disposable.

As Pei Ye sped along, the car suddenly roared violently, and then his vision lifted sharply upward.

A cold and violent force swept in, hurling the entire car into the air!

It kept rising, and when it was more than ten stories above the ground, the invisible force suddenly vanished.

The car plummeted toward the ground with a crash.