Ruan Xing was busy rummaging through things.

Over the years, the boss had accumulated quite a lot—the parchment contracts alone were several sheets thick, all related to “skin-swapping” agreements. He even spotted the names of Su Su and others.

Honestly, compared to regular paper contracts that could be torn up at any time, these magically binding ones were clearly more suitable for shady deals.

The contract paper had been modified to work with the language of this world and still carry magical weight.

Ruan Xing recognized it immediately, and that familiarity only made his heart ache. He didn’t know who had changed it, but the parchment that once held soul-binding magic could only bind the physical body now.

Crafting these contracts took enormous effort. To see them wasted like this made Ruan Xing want to drag the boss up from downstairs and beat him all over again. He probably couldn’t even make two blank contracts with everything he owned right now.

Learning magic consumed a massive amount of resources. Every mage was practically built from a mountain of treasure. That’s why, whenever Ruan Xing thought of all the magic materials stacked sky-high in the mage tower’s warehouse, he would nearly forget how to breathe.

Glass cases filled with strange creature parts and bizarre minerals held little appeal for ordinary people. Still, a few magical items inside caught Ruan Xing’s attention. He grabbed a big bag from the luxury section and started stuffing it full.

A blank contract paper, a weird crystal rock, a skull of some unknown creature… Ruan Xing stuffed it all in without changing expression, and soon, the bag was bulging.

And just as the boss’s skin finished burning to ash, something seemed to slowly take shape in the air.

Ruan Xing chanted a spell, and a surge of invisible force exploded downward.

His black hair whipped around wildly and his clothes fluttered. He stood in the wrecked room as the wind danced around him. Dust and ash swirled into intricate three-dimensional patterns around his body, pulsing with a rhythm that guided the flow of magic.

Sitting in the corner, Fu Gui spat out some soot: “Is this his B-King transformation arc?”  (T/N: Bking = someone who is the top-level show-off or simply "the king of acting pretentious.")

Ruan Xing, who had just been roasted by Fu Gui, was hurting all over.

Even though his soul had altered his current body, a regular human shell still had its limits.

It was like a bucket of water—no matter how much you pour in, once it reaches the brim, the rest just spills out.

The skin-swapping monster was not particularly powerful, but it was extremely obsessive. After years of hoarding magic, it had stored up quite a bit. The flood of energy made Ruan Xing feel like he was about to explode.

Cracks split open across his skin like exploding popcorn, blood seeping from each gash. These wounds moved, contracting and expanding—as if they were breathing.

He was doing his best to fully activate his magic circuits, spinning like a high-speed motor to absorb the raging magic.

Even the crow's feathers were quivering from the overflow. It had been relaxing a moment ago, but now it was struggling.

Ruan Xing’s body couldn’t handle all the magic, so some of it spilled over into the Fu Gui. It had basically become an external hard drive and was about to blow too.

Luckily, Ruan Xing was experienced. He quickly managed to suppress the surging power, and the wind inside the room gradually died down.

The mysterious patterns faded, the black residue turned to normal ash, and the young man opened his eyes. His apple-green pupils sparkled with joy. He looked like someone who had just finished stuffing himself at a buffet—barely able to walk, but hey, at least he's full, right?

Turning his head, Ruan Xing saw Fu Gui leaning against the wall. His once slender, proportionate figure was now shaped like a basketball. Only his bird head stuck out, and his thin legs were poking out from the bottom of the round belly. It looked ridiculous, wobbling and off-balance.

Ruan Xing: Oh crap, I forgot this guy doesn’t know magic.

Fu Gui panted heavily with its ballooned belly, then suddenly felt his body rapidly deflating.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

He saw Ruan Xing chanting and couldn’t help but raise his voice. “This is all your fault! You just had to eat, eat and eat! You slimmed down and dumped all the suffering on me!”

Ruan Xing quietly healed himself.

Fu Gui pretended to be mad, but inside, he was grinning like crazy.

After absorbing the magic, his body was now even stronger than before. If he had been a 40-year-old human before, now he was 25! A massive upgrade in both strength and stamina!

He hopped onto Ruan Xing’s shoulder and pecked at his hair. “How was the harvest?”

Ruan Xing replied, “Hmm, I think I got two intermediate spells this time.”

Fu Gui’s eyes lit up. “Show me, show me!”

Ruan Xing glanced at him, then took a step forward.

In a blink, Fu Gui found himself four or five meters away from where he just was.

【Haste】

A status buff that dramatically increased speed while active.

Fu Gui: “Perfect for running away.”

Ruan Xing deadpanned: "Wow, impressive."

Fu Gui: “Just kidding! But seriously, if you run into that skin-swapping creep from the convenience store again, you’d be faster than him for sure. You could blast poison gas in his face and, poof, send him off.”

“And the other one?” Fu Gui pressed. “Come on, I wanna see!”

Ruan Xing: “You sure?”

Fugui: “Yes, yes, yes!”

Ruan Xing smirked, parted his lips, and released a melodious tone. It wasn’t in this world’s language, but the emotions were clear.

It was filled with a sense of hope and beauty—like a sunny day with a breeze over a vast meadow or a quiet summer night with cicadas chirping and a swaying rocking chair.

Fu Gui’s eyes glazed over, and he collapsed.

Ruan Xing quickly slapped him awake.

Fu Gui shook his head. “What song was that?”

Ruan Xing: “It’s not a song. It’s magic.”

【Aria】

An aria from an unknown world with two forms:

【Holy Aria】 — dulls the enemy’s mind, letting them die peacefully in a dream.

【Death Aria】 — drives the listener's mind to madness, making people prefer hell rather than hearing it again.

In his past life, Ruan Xing had been a renowned archmage known for attack and soul magic. Now, he had to rely on stacking buffs just to survive.

He sighed.

This body was at its limit. There would be more formidable enemies ahead. He had to take action.

He started thinking about modifications—how to give ordinary people magic or how to enhance magic apprentices with poor talent. He had done a lot of research on that in his previous life. He hadn’t considered it earlier due to a lack of time and materials, but now, with his body full of magic, it felt like the right time. He needed to survive and find a place to live.

Fu Gui had no idea about Ruan Xing's plan and just chirped happily, “Your magic is amazing! That last one’s perfect for insomniacs—chant a bit, and boom lights out!”

Fu Gui always approached magic from weird, unconventional angles...

—

Quarantine Center.

Su Su, looking exhausted, stared at the interrogator with teary eyes. “You’ve been holding me for days. Didn’t you say it would only be 24 hours?”

The man across from her gripped his water cup. “Originally, yes. But we suddenly received a coordination letter from the Investigation Corps. You might need to wait a bit longer. You’ll be released in two hours.”

He was one of the Investigation Corps members who had spoken with Ruan Xing before.

Su Su’s eyes brightened. “Thank you.” She glanced at his wrist and noticed a bracelet with a chibi version of herself on it—clearly a fan item.

She smiled slightly. “Are you my fan?”

The man looked at her—she was stunning—and nodded, his face turning red. “If you have time, could you sign something for me?”

Su Su agreed instantly. “Sure.”

He handed her a cup of water and sat across from her, carefully watching her. When she noticed, he blushed and looked away shyly.

Su Su kept smiling on the outside, but inside, she felt disgusted. This guy was so ugly, and he had the nerve to look at her like that? Once this was over, she would absolutely expose the Quarantine Center and the Investigation Corps online. Let her crazy fans deal with them for keeping her in this dump for so long.

She took a sip of water and flashed another smile, earning another dazed stare.

Two hours later, it was time.

Su Su smoothed her outfit and stood up gracefully. “Thanks for taking care of me these past few days. Here’s a reward!”

She grabbed the pen from the table, bit off the cap, and signed her name directly on his forearm with a flirtatious flourish. Afterward, she blew on it softly.

The dark-faced man looked like a train that was about to explode.

Su Su chuckled. “Bye.”

As soon as she turned around, her smile vanished. She even dry-heaved a few times.

Damn it. Filthy men like him belong in the gutter, worshiping me from below.

Clicking away in her heels, she posted a quick update to reassure her fans. Likes poured in.

She stashed her phone in her bag and looked up while waiting for her assistant. A tall figure caught her eye, and her expression lit up.

Why was he here?

“Fu Zhi!” she called out.

People turned to look, eyes darting between the two of them.

She just called the major general by name?

Su Su enjoyed the attention, especially since it was Fu Zhi.

The man looked as cold and distant as ever, but Su Su knew he had another side.

She hadn’t seen him smile in a long time. Except for that one time years ago when he saved her and gave her a comforting smile, he barely smiled at all.

Just thinking about that moment made her heart race.

She needed status to stand by his side. The boss had offered her that, so she signed a contract.

No regrets.

She followed Fu Zhi into the office, where another person she didn’t know was present. She greeted them casually but kept her eyes on Fu Zhi. “What brings you here today?”

Fu Zhi frowned slightly. “Why are you here?”

His concern made her heart flutter. “I’ve been stuck at the Quarantine Center since my performance. Your assistant got me in trouble. If he understood respect, I wouldn’t be here.”

Fu Zhi turned to the office director. “Why was she released?”

The man broke into a cold sweat. “Ah… maybe someone lower down made the decision without knowing the full story.”

Su Su was stunned. “The checks were fine. Shouldn’t I be allowed to leave?”

She’d been detained for days, practically dying, and Fu Zhi could say something like that?

He only glanced at her—cold as a winter wind. She’d seen that look before—when he’d faced pollutants.

Su Su turned pale and backed away in fear.

Did he find out?

Fu Zhi moved faster. His blade was half-drawn, the tip slicing a line across her neck—but no blood flowed.

Su Su noticed his pupils briefly turned blue. Or maybe she imagined it.

“You’re a pollutant.”

The words sent her spinning.

Thinking back to when he’d sweetly reminded her to take her medicine, Su Su realized—he had known something was off.

She had never harmed anyone directly, and the pollution wasn’t intense. She always used a blocker and took anti-pollution drugs before seeing him. Maybe that’s why Fu Zhi thought her levels weren’t fully cleared and told her to cooperate with treatment.

But she’d changed long ago. For a pollutant, drinking those drugs was like drinking acid. Yet Su Su endured it daily just to see him.

The office supervisor panicked. “We really didn’t know! It’s not the Quarantine Center’s fault!”

Fu Zhi sheathed his blade. Su Su’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.

He looked down at her with disappointment. “You’ll remain at the Quarantine Center for now.”

Su Su met his gaze—his disappointment hit like a blade.

Something wet slid down her cheek.

Was she crying?

The pain in her chest confirmed it.

How could he be disappointed in me? Can’t he see I did it for him?

—

The office director watched as Su Su’s quiet sobs turned into full-blown wails. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

“Uh, wasn’t Meili Building supposed to be the priority? Should I send some people over?”

Fu Zhi lifted his eyes. “Start with the Research Institute.”

As soon as Su Su was back in the Quarantine Center, her name shot up the trending topics. People speculated like crazy about what had happened—until she later posted that she was safe and sound.

So it was just a routine investigation? Phew. Fans breathed a collective sigh of relief.

But no one expected that what happened next would blow everyone’s minds.

Meili Entertainment had many artists. Some were still out doing gigs, but almost all of them were suddenly detained by the Quarantine Center. Someone leaked the information online, and it instantly went viral.

What was going on? Were Meili Entertainment’s artists all doing drugs?

At least Su Su was okay. As the company’s top star, she had a massive following. If anything really happened to her, it would cause a major uproar. That’s what many people thought.

Then came the Quarantine Center’s official announcement, which shattered any remaining hope.

[Due to links with pollutants, all artists under Meili Entertainment, including Su Su, have been arrested. She is, without a doubt, a pollutant.]

"How is that possible?!”

The dark-faced man who had been with Su Su earlier jumped to his feet, knocking over his water cup. Her autograph was still fresh on his arm, and he could still feel the lingering pressure of her pen.

Now, it all just felt like a cruel joke.

He stormed off to confront his superior, only to be met with a cold stare. “You got affected too?”

The man froze in shock, realizing what he had done. He remembered his current position and broke out in a cold sweat. “I was just curious.”

The superior pressed a button on his desk. “Come in. We’ve got another one.”

Several strong men entered and quickly restrained him. He struggled. “No! We’re colleagues! You can’t arrest me! I haven’t been polluted!”

One of them just pulled up his sleeve and held a scanner to the autograph. The numbers spiked rapidly.

Definitely not clean.

Stunned, the man collapsed, no longer resisting as he was dragged away.

The superior sighed. “What a mess!”

Director Gu made a call, demanding a full investigation. The damage was too severe. There was no way the Tower wouldn’t get involved. It would probably trigger another massive purge like a few years ago—nobody wanted that.

Clearly, a full inspection was inevitable now.

—

A black-haired man walked down a long, empty corridor. Nothing was on the walls, only his reflection bouncing off the polished floor and ceiling. His footsteps echoed steadily.

He stopped in front of a door at the far end of the hall. The door was pristine white, decorated with ornate carvings and inlaid with a large red gemstone at the nodes.

He raised his slender, gloved hand and knocked. Tap tap.

A gentle voice answered from within. “Come in.”

The man pulled the golden handle and entered.

“You’re supposed to be resting. Why are you here?”

The room was spacious and sparse—just a distant sofa and a desk facing the door. Behind the desk sat a man with smooth blond hair and silvery eyes, concern written on his face. “Did something happen with the mission?”

The black-haired man closed the door behind him. “No issues with the mission. But on my way back, I passed the Specialized Academy…” He explained everything.

“There’s pollution inside the inner city?” The blond man was surprised.

“Yes. A lot of people have been affected.”

He set down his pen, resting his index finger against his chin, deep in thought. “That’s going to be a problem. The public must be terrified.”

The black-haired man nodded. “They’re scared.”

The blond stood up, walked to his side, and looked up at him, silver eyes gentle. “I don’t know what this world would become without knights like you. Pei Yi, let me thank you on behalf of the people.”

Pei Yi looked taken aback. “You’re too kind.”

The blond man smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “The Investigation Corps has been shouldering most of the burden. Those parasites in the city have had it easy for too long. Time for a wake-up call.”

Pei Yi hesitated.

“What is it?”

“He… already went over there to investigate the quarantine center. He suspects someone there is trying to kill one of his teammates.”

“Oh? Let him handle it. Fu Zhi’s always been protective of his own—you should know that better than anyone. He used to be your captain, after all.” The blond man’s smile deepened.

—

When Ruan Xing met up with Bai Xu, his condition was unexpectedly good. Bai Xu clicked his tongue in admiration.

“Damn. People who’ve been marinated in the entertainment industry really are different—your complexion is glowing.”

Ruan Xing picked up on the sarcasm.

“It was a fruitful trip,” he replied.

Sincerity: eternal ultimate weapon.

Bai Xu felt no satisfaction and pouted. “These two said they know you, so I brought them along. You figure out what to do with them.”

Li Yuan and Chen Fan waved. “Didn’t think you were with the Investigation Corps.”

Ruan Xing nodded. “You two alright?”

They both said yes. Li Yuan pointed to his neck. “Luckily, Mr. Bai here helped take off my restraint collar.”

Bai Xu puffed up proudly. “I’ve dealt with electric fences before—this voltage was nothing.”

Ruan Xing gave him a thumbs-up.

Inside the building, more trainees were being carried out. Some were still salvageable and loaded into ambulances. But many had already slipped into unconsciousness—on the brink of being completely polluted.

The specialized hospital even sent a giant medical bus to pick up victims. Because the targets were numerous but weak, it made good material for case studies. The doctors looked thrilled. “Jackpot! More stuff for our lab classes.”

Outside the tower, a crowd of ordinary citizens had gathered. Black metal plates had been posted on the walls to isolate the pollution. When it came to urban pollution events, the Quarantine Center always had more experience.

Ruan Xing asked, “Just you and the Quarantine Center people?”

Bai Xu replied casually, “Yeah, who else were you expecting?”

Ruan Xing had only asked offhand, but Bai Xu’s answer made him think of someone. That person always seemed to show up at the end of missions, no matter how busy.

Bai Xu squinted suspiciously. “Are you dating someone?”

Are you kidding me?!

Ruan Xing rolled his eyes. “Killers tend to have a twisted psychology. They like to return to the crime scene. Their base got wrecked—don’t you think they’d want to check it out?”

Bai Xu looked horrified. “You already killed the boss, but is there still a mastermind behind him? What is this, villain nesting dolls?”

Ruan Xing described what he’d uncovered, prompting Bai Xu to size him up. “Damn. Are you made of gold or something? Why do people keep coming after you?”

Ruan Xing: “Beats me.”

They were about to leave in the Quarantine Center’s vehicle when a bulletproof Investigation Corps car cut them off with an air of authority.

Bai Xu: “Whoa, someone came to pick us up!”

The door opened. Fu Zhi got out and strode over, clapping Ruan Xing on the shoulder. “How’d it go?”

Ruan Xing nodded. “All good.”

“I went straight to the Quarantine Center when I got your message.”

The moment Ruan Xing received the wristband, he messaged Fu Zhi with a brief report. He said he didn’t need backup and had handled things, but that Su Su should be detained, and if possible, they should keep an eye out for a hidden mastermind stirring up trouble.

Bai Xu howled, “You went in person? The Tower let you go?”

Ruan Xing frowned. “Wait, were you at the Tower recently?”

Fu Zhi glossed over it. “There was an emergency here, so I came over.”

Ruan Xing: “Hope I didn’t interrupt your work.”

Fu Zhi: “Not really—”

Bai Xu: “Aww, Captain, you treat me so well, just like a little brother. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you in your old age. You’ll never be left to rot—I mean, I’ll make sure you live peacefully to the end!”

Fu Zhi looked at him with a murderous glare.

Once they were in the car, Ruan Xing received a report—the results from the mycelium samples Fu Zhi had sent to the lab. It turned out they were just highly active regular fungus tissues. The only things worth noting were their exceptional resistance to pollution and strong toughness.

These mycelium threads had mutated, which made them naturally highly polluted. But the value was—possibly due to Ruan Xing’s magical control.

The report concluded that it was a mutated mycelium. If it could be controlled, it might become a powerful weapon, opening up new possibilities for human combat systems. The researchers also noted they’d further explore the feasibility of weaponizing mutated plants.

Ruan Xing was mildly disappointed. He’d hoped for deeper insights into the power’s origin. But such subtle secrets remained out of reach under this world's technology.

Thinking of the Research Institute, Ruan Xing said, “I suspect the person who gave Meili Entertainment protection is from the Research Institute. Whether it was technical support or loopholes in the process, only they could cover both ends.”

Fu Zhi nodded. “I’ve already sent for them. You’ll see them soon.”

The way he issued commands so naturally—it was like the Quarantine Center worked for him.

Was that confidence based on ability? Or was it the elite status granted by the Tower?

No one spoke on the ride except for Bai Xu, rambling about what he’d seen, keeping the air from falling completely silent.

At the Quarantine Center, Ruan Xing followed Fu Zhi past the interrogation rooms. Through a window, he spotted Su Su.

She no longer looked glamorous. Her face was pale, her limbs shackled by restraints, and small wounds covered her arms. When questioned by the staff, she remained silent.

Ruan Xing: [She looks… off.]

Fu Gui peeked and nodded. [Yeah, it kinda looks like she got dumped.]

Ruan Xing didn’t really get it, but he was shocked.

Su Su noticed him outside the door and suddenly grew agitated. Ruan Xing couldn’t hear her through the glass, but whatever she was saying clearly wasn’t pleasant. Then, the restraint collar zapped her, and she collapsed to the floor.

They passed through a long corridor and reached another interrogation room. The Quarantine Center’s director was already waiting.

“Major Fu, we meet again.” The middle-aged man greeted Fu Zhi.

Fu Zhi frowned. “Why are you the only one here? Where’s Deputy Director Luo?”

The director made a bitter smile. “He ran.”