Ruan Xing lifted his gaze. “It’s fine, not too late.”

The man with a small ponytail walked in at a leisurely pace and looked around as if he was strolling in his own yard.

Amidst the princess-style décor, the massive bed stood out abruptly. There were marks left by something heavy pressing down on it, along with some unknown liquid stains.

Apart from that, a group of ants struggled within a strange cage in the corner.

"It's a bit late."

Pei Ye squatted down, legs apart, and poked at the legs of the winged ants.

“What the hell is this?!”

Ruan Xing remained expressionless. “Something I picked up in the ant nest. Quite useful.”

“I mean, how did you even manage—never mind. Where’s the Queen?”

As if realizing something, Pei Ye didn’t pursue the question further but pointed at the now-empty bed. “Don’t tell me that a huge monster just flew away on its own.”

Ruan Xing: “Dead.”

Chen Yihang’s eyes widened. “It died so easily?!”

Pei Ye kicked him. “I guess the boss here wasn’t that strong.”

Chen Yihang fell silent. This mission was originally arranged by Fu Zhi for them to mentor an apprentice. However, due to some unexpected events, the apprentice ended up taking down the boss with a single punch. Their presence was practically redundant now, and he wasn’t even sure how to write the report.

Pei Ye stroked his chin with an appreciative expression. “Nice! Saves me the trouble of clearing the map, and I’ll still make it back in time to watch my show.”

After all, the report was Chen Yihang’s problem anyway, not his concern. But this newbie… is a bit too overpowered?

Pei Ye then noticed something on the bed.

Taking a closer look, he saw two longevity locks.

He froze for a moment—he had seen this on Ruan Xing before.

The initially silver locket became pitch black. Moreover, it clearly looked brand new when he first saw it.

He checked their readings and discovered that the values were shockingly low.

Just like that time at the Quarantine Center—somehow, the pollution on these objects had been completely wiped clean. Even if he and Chen Yihang had arrived a bit late, the natural dissipation of pollution couldn’t possibly happen this fast.

It was as if… something had absorbed all the pollution here.

Pei Ye narrowed his eyes.

—

Qiao Zhi was anxiously waiting for Pei Ye’s instructions.

“Hey, little brother, can you stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy.”

A teammate, busy tending to the wounded by a nearby tree, couldn’t help but speak up after watching Qiao Zhi walk back and forth.

They had already evacuated, but Ruan Xing, Pei Ye, and a few others were still inside. How could Qiao Zhi not be worried?

“Sorry, I’ll pace somewhere else.”

Qiao Zhi tried several times to go down the ant nest, but Pei Ye had told him to escort the injured out first while he’d go to the Queen’s chamber to get Ruan Xing.

Ruan Xing actually went to the Queen’s nest alone?!

Qiao Zhi lost focus for a moment, and in an instant, several pollutants collapsed at once.

[Into Dreams] (入夢 rù mèng)

Instantly pull people or creatures into a dream state.

Glancing at his vitals, he saw that his contamination level had already reached 47%. If it exceeded 60%, he would officially be classified as a pollutant.

Even with a specialized protective gear, staying too long in a polluted zone is dangerous because pollution spreads like toxic gas that slowly affects the body.

So even if the monsters were not particularly strong, this place was still classified as high-level.

The area was vast, and its layout was complex. Without a map, getting out was nearly impossible. And if you got lost, you’d either end up as food for the ants or, under the effects of the pollution, become one of them.

“Good thing we had a map and took a shortcut. If we had been a bit slower, these guys would have crossed the pollution threshold and been beyond saving.”

The bald man sighed. “We barely have enough healing potions. Some supplies are still in the car—grab something to eat.”

Qiao Zhi shook his head, his eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the massive door. “I’ll wait a little longer.”

A teammate called out, “Captain Pei just sent a message! He wants those with stable pollution levels to head over.”

Qiao Zhi immediately checked his messages. “What’s going on?!”

—

Thanks to Pei Ye blasting through obstacles, Ruan Xing and the others finally made it out by taking a shortcut.

Pei Ye brushed the dust off his head, then turned to Chen Yihang. “You gonna pull your weight this time?”

Chen Yihang’s expression was grim as he nodded.

Fu Gui didn’t understand what they were hinting at, so Ruan Xing asked for him.

Pei Ye smirked. “Little Crow, do you know what Rule #4 is?”

Fu Gui thought back to the rules they had seen upon entering.

[1. Remember your species. Do not act in ways that contradict your nature.

2. Do not attempt to harm your "leaders." If they become angry, the consequences are your own responsibility.
3. Do not trust your teammates. They may not be on the same side as you.
4. Always maintain ——.]

The first few rules made sense to the crow, and it could barely make sense of the third one due to different departmental "alignments," but the fourth rule had been obscured by time and was unreadable.

"So, you're saying that the fourth rule is very likely a loophole in the system?" Ruan Xing repeated Fugui’s question.

Pei Ye explained, "Normal ants die within ten minutes without oxygen, and these mutated ants have retained that characteristic. I guess the full sentence of the last rule should be: 'Always maintain ventilation.'"

Fu Gui recalled how much the ants in the breeding room and mycelium chamber valued oxygen and nodded his little head.

Chen Yihang moved to a slightly more open area and called out, "Alright, I'm summoning it now."

Pei Ye made an "OK" gesture.

Chen Yihang pulled a small green notebook out of his pocket, flipped through it casually, and mumbled under his breath. A moment later, a piece of paper flew out from the notebook.

The paper grew larger and larger before suddenly unfolding with a "bang," revealing a strangely shaped machine.

It resembled a massive trumpet, with a silver-white body compacted into a palm-sized box, giving it a top-heavy appearance.

[Good Housewife Vacuum Machine]

A must-have appliance for every household cook! Equipped with powerful suction—once it locks onto a target, it won’t stop until the job is done!

Remaining summons for today: (0/3)

Watching the scene unfold, Ruan Xing couldn't help but feel like he was witnessing some kind of summoning magic.

Chen Yihang let out a hiss as the numbers on his wristband skyrocketed, jumping from 39% to 51% in an instant.

His face paled slightly, and the green-covered notebook in his hand squirmed restlessly. He quickly pressed it down and smiled when he noticed Ruan Xing’s gaze. "This thing really increases the pollution level."

"Well, it is a large-scale device after all." Pei Ye patted his shoulder. "Good work, Magical Girl."

Then, he lowered his head to contact the team members.

Each use of an ability is a battle against pollution—it drains life force and causes pollution levels to surge dramatically. The more an ability is used, the stronger the side effects become.

Ruan Xing glanced at the green notebook in Chen Yihang’s hand. That thing didn’t seem like a harmless tool, either.

"Relax, this isn't even your limit," Pei Ye put down his wristband.

The earth-type awakened were ready.

"All the necessary exits have been sealed. Let's do this."

The team carried the oddly shaped machine to the remaining open tunnel.

The massive vacuum nozzle was aimed directly at the underground tunnel.

With a sharp beep, the machine roared to life.

Pei Ye lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a smoke ring.

Ruan Xing wanted to get a closer look but was stopped.

"Do you know what happens to these ants in a vacuum under negative pressure?"

Ruan Xing shook his head. "No idea."

Pei Ye tried to scare him. "They explode!"

As if to prove his point, muffled explosion sounds echoed deep within the tunnel, accompanied by the eerie screams of unknown creatures.

Fu Gui clicked his tongue.

An hour later, the vacuum machine stopped working.

Chen Yihang put away his notebook and waved at them.

Pei Ye stubbed out his cigarette. "Great, I'll still make it home in time for the show."

The sky brightened slightly, transforming from deep indigo to a clear, cloudless expanse as they began their journey back.

Upon reaching the city, they were once again greeted by the same researcher from last time.

The researcher was stunned when he saw Ruan Xing. "Do you need special services?"

Pei Ye, who was handling the wounded, immediately scowled at the comment. "Hey, don’t corrupt our kid!"

The researcher scratched his head. "I meant the same project Major General arranged last time..."

"Is it okay?"

"Of course, Major General specifically instructed it."

Fu Zhi?

Ruan Xing paused.

—

Inside the examination room, the researcher adjusted the equipment while Ruan Xing lay inside, slowly being moved into the scanner.

With a soft beep, the researcher glanced at the readings—then rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

What was the lowest recorded pollution level after a mission again?

17%, right? And that was only possible because it was Fu Zhi.

But the number he was seeing now—

11%!

The researcher nearly pressed his face against the screen. He ran the numbers multiple times, but they remained the same, and his jaw nearly hit the floor.

Even if this rookie stayed completely out of the polluted zone and avoided direct involvement in the cleanup, such a low pollution level would still be impossible. Even spending a few hours outside the base would cause an increase, so there was no way it could be this low!

Besides, no matter how much of a VIP someone was, they wouldn’t be completely exempt from all tasks—at the very least, they’d still have to do minor cleanup duties, right?

The researcher was deeply puzzled.

Could this be the reason why Fu Zhi treats him differently?

"It's best to report this," he hesitated for a moment, then he organized his documents and sent them out.

After the examination, Ruan Xing went to the emergency ward.

Chen Yihang and the other injured members were receiving urgent medical attention there.

Ruan Xing asked if there was any problem with his pollution level.

Chen Yihang’s round baby face brightened with a smile. "I drank a potion earlier—it’s back to a normal level now."

He extended his wristband, showing a value that was just over 20%.

Ruan Xing glanced at his own pollution value and felt a little uneasy.

It seems… a little too low.

—

Under the blood-red moon, a black-winged pollutant floated in the air, laughing eerily. "Human! You can't escape! This is my domain! No matter how strong you are, you can't possibly break through—"

Before it could finish speaking, the man raised his blade, slicing through the black pollution field with a single strike, revealing a glimpse of the bright blue sky beyond.

The creature suddenly froze. Its expression was filled with horror, as if someone had grabbed it by the throat. "Impossible! The rule here states that humans can't destroy a domain. What on earth are you—"

Its vision blurred before it could finish its sentence. The next moment, a cold blade gleamed right before its eyes as the man had vanished from sight. Its perspective flipped—spinning a full 7200 degrees.

Under the pull of gravity, the monster's severed head rolled to the side.

The man flicked the red liquid off his black blade, slowly sheathed it, and glanced at the fallen head. "Noisy."

The bat-like monster disintegrated into dust in a mixture of anger and disbelief.

With the domain broken, the external signal came through, and messages popped up on Fu Zhi’s wristband.

When he opened it, a familiar photo appeared on the screen.

The sender was the Research Institute.

11%?

Fu Zhi narrowed his eyes. After completing a mission, was it even possible for a normal human to have such a low pollution level?

—

"Ruan Xing? The child of Ruan Zhi?"

A middle-aged man’s voice sounded.

On the other end of the call, the researcher at the Quarantine Center replied respectfully, "Yes, we all think it's very unusual."

The middle-aged man leaned back in his chair and rotated slightly. At that moment, the bright fluorescent light reflected off his balding forehead with an almost blinding glare.

"Alright, I got it. He's the child of someone I know. For now, don’t let this news spread." His bushy mustache twitched slightly.

"Understood, Director."

"It's Deputy Director," the man corrected.

The researcher hesitated, then flattered him, "Soon-to-be Director."

The bald man let out a hearty laugh. "Alright, get back to work."

After hanging up, he stared at the photo on his computer screen, muttering to himself.

Ruan Zhi’s kid… Didn’t he already leave the city?

He opened his wristband and contacted someone on his list. "Hey, Xiao Liu, what was the name of that really useful plugin you mentioned earlier…?"

After receiving emergency treatment, Ruan Xing and the others were transferred to the Specialized Hospital.

Seeing Ruan Xing return just two days after his last visit, the receptionist nurse was slightly surprised but still processed their admission with professionalism.

Ruan Xing and Pei Ye shared a hospital room.

When Ruan Xing came out of the bathroom, Pei Ye had already turned on the TV, watching with great interest.

It was a modern drama starring a highly popular actress named Su Su. She had a graceful and elegant demeanor, an alluring smile, and, in the misty background, stood out as the brightest touch of color.

Ruan Xing lay down, pulled up the blanket, and showed little interest in the show.

Although his pollution level was low, his injuries were very real, so he had to stay in the hospital until he fully recovered.

Moreover, the doctors were intrigued because of this rarity. They remarked on how unusual it was to see a patient with such a low pollution level these days and even called in a group of interns for observation.

It was Ruan Xing’s first time being studied like a specimen at a zoo. He wanted to complain but felt it was inappropriate.

Pei Ye lay beside him, smiling with a remote in hand. "The captain used to go through this too. Every time he came to the Specialized Hospital, people would crowd around. At first, they were mostly doctors, so he didn't mind. But later, when it was mostly women and 'zero's,' he stopped letting them examine him."

Ruan Xing finally managed to send the doctors away. Hearing this, he turned his head and asked, "What’s a ‘zero’?"

Fu Gui landed on his shoulder and whispered, "Someone like you."

Ruan Xing: ???

Fu Gui: I have Fiery Eyes and Golden Gaze!¹

¹ 火眼金睛 (Huǒyǎn Jīnjīng) refers to Sun Wukong's supernatural ability to see through disguises, illusions, and falsehoods.