The boy held onto the steering wheel tightly, listening to the radio while the car sped ahead at maximum velocity.

John had performed a complete overhaul on the car, allowing it to reach its peak speed.

From the car radio, the female announcer's voice continued,

[A pollution incident occurred in District 113. The pollutant is a biological entity—Sandworm. Dozens have been injured, two confirmed dead. The Quarantine Center is currently handling the situation. A kind reminder: Please remain indoors at night. If you encounter danger, dial the emergency number immediately—]

The boy's palms were sweating. Please let her be safe…

District 113 did not even have a name. It was just too plain, so plain that no one even bothered to give it one. But to the boy, it held special meaning. The home he shared with his sister after arriving at the base was still there.

Is Chen Chen alright? Did the doctor take care of her properly?

[According to reports, the Sandworm emerged from the basement of an illegal clinic. No victims were found inside, and the doctor is currently missing…]

The boy slammed the gas pedal to the floor.

By the time he returned to the city, the chaos had already settled.

It was already daybreak, and what was left behind were only ruined streets and shattered houses.

"Sigh, rebuilding houses pays better than scavenging. Why bother with trash picking when you can make a living fixing houses?"

A nearby neighbor complained. When he saw the boy, he was startled. "You are back already? Is it over?"

The boy forced a smile but ignored the small talk. He walked into the wreckage and began searching through the rubble.

"Looking for your sister? Don't bother. The Quarantine Center came by last night. No one's here. Both the doctor and your sister are gone. Maybe they got eaten. But the sandworm's body was taken away, so you could still ask the Center to give it back to you."

The neighbor's thoughtless comments hit the boy like a ton of bricks. He slouched, and for a moment, the teenager looked a whole lot older than his real age.

The neighbor quickly shut up and slipped away, clearly unwilling to take responsibility for what he had just said.

The boy stared at the devastated street.

There were massive holes left behind where the worms had burst through the buildings. No one knew how deep they went. It was pitch black inside.

On the street, poorly dressed people bent over collecting scraps while uniformed personnel tried to maintain order and called in earth-type ability users to begin infrastructure repairs.

The Quarantine Center would soon rebuild public facilities, but private damages had to be shouldered by the owners.

His home was gone. Now, even his sister was gone.

His eyes were blank.

"Excuse me, are you a resident here?"

A man in a black uniform with a baby face bent down, wearing a friendly expression.

The boy nodded numbly.

"I am Chen Yihang from the Investigation Corps. Nice to meet you."

The baby-faced man extended his hand. The boy did not take it. Even though the usually elusive Investigation Corps was now right in front of him, he had no mind for polite gestures.

Chen Yihang pulled his hand back without taking offense and remained patient. "We received a report this morning that an S-class pollutant appeared here. I would like to ask a few questions."

The boy's eyes finally moved. "S-class? Wasn't it just a sandworm?"

With the Tower around, how could an S-class pollutant dare to show up? And if there really was one, then his sister's chances of survival were even slimmer.

Chen Yihang shrugged. "I think it's unlikely too, but the detectors don't lie."

The boy's eyes flicked sideways. "Oh."

"Where were you early this morning? Did you notice any unfamiliar faces?"

The baby-faced man took out a notebook.

"I wasn't in the base this morning. I don't have any idea what happened," the boy replied.

Chen Yihang sighed, put away his pen, and turned to the man behind him. "Captain, maybe you should take a look?"

The boy looked up and saw the man behind him.

He was tall, with a fitted uniform that showed off his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His hair was clean and tidy, and his features were sharp and cold. The aura around him was powerful.

The boy's eyes dropped to the man's waist, where he noticed two swords—one black and one white.

In contrast to the busy neighbors, these two newcomers, along with their intimidating presence, stood out.

The man walked forward and immediately looked at the destroyed building that once belonged to the doctor.

"They left not long ago."

"Left?" the boy asked in confusion. "Weren't the sandworms killed?"

The man looked at him calmly. "Those two weren't the only ones."

"Then my sister…" Could she still be alive?

The boy's eyes reddened.

The man said, "Your sister was probably taken away."

The boy's head snapped up, eyes bright. "She's not dead?"

He jumped to his feet and cautiously approached the man who had seemed unapproachable. "You mean she's still alive?"

"She didn't die here," the man said. "There is no sign of a child dying in this place."

The boy felt that this man was not as cold as he appeared. A huge weight was lifted off his chest. "That's great!"

"Was your sister in this house?" the baby-faced officer asked.

The boy nodded vigorously as if he had just come back to life. "Yes. She was staying at the doctor's place. I was out scavenging."

"Scavenging at your age? That's really impressive…" Chen Yihang chatted easily and soon learned more about the boy's background.

After soothing the boy, he turned to Fu Zhi and said, "Nothing unusual found. He's just a normal scavenger. The girl's health is also not great."

Fu Zhi leaned against a tree in the shade, the edges of his pupils glowing faintly blue.

"There's a strange pollution wave on him. Not a pollutant, but also not an ability."

Chen Yihang knew his captain's eyes could see things others could not.

"He's just an ordinary boy. Did we get the wrong person?"

Fu Zhi shook his head. "Not sure. We have been searching for hours with no results. The S-class pollutant might still be in the base. Given how unusual they are, anything could be their disguise."

"I'll go question the other neighbors," Chen Yihang offered.

Fu Zhi walked back to the pile of rubble and scanned it carefully.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on a gap beneath the stones. He crouched down and pulled out a tiny object.

It was a black strand of fur about the length of a finger joint. It looked like it came from a long-haired black animal—possibly a cat or…

Feeling the lingering power on it, Fu Zhi looked around and started walking in a certain direction.

—

The sun was already up in the sky, but Chen Chen was still fast asleep which was starting to frustrate Ruan Xing.

This was the perfect time to leave. But if he left now, and the little girl ran into some creep, what then? He had not forgotten that shoehorn-faced guy's disgusting look.

Ruan Xing could only crouch nearby, hoping a kind passerby would help the girl.

But few people passed through this alley. Even after the sun rose high, no one came. Or maybe they saw the child lying there like a corpse and just didn't want to get involved.

The sun was getting hot. Under its warm rays, Ruan Xing felt sleepy, like a wobbling jelly.

Footsteps approached steadily. Each step was perfectly timed, indicating that the person had strong self-control.

Ruan Xing hid in the shadows and looked at the newcomer.

The man seemed slimmer than before. Ruan Xing remembered that his belt used to buckle on an outer loop, but now it was fastened inward.

But his face was still as handsome as ever. Even the sound of his footsteps felt reassuring.

Ruan Xing shook his head. Ever since he transformed into this form, his personality seemed to be affected.

He tucked himself further into hiding and watched Fu Zhi crouch down, check the girl's breathing, and relax his shoulders slightly.

Her physical state was stable.

Ruan Xing was torn. If he came out now and revealed his identity, he probably wouldn't be killed on the spot—but there was no guarantee he would not end up dissected.

The thought of Fu Zhi possibly handing him over for slicing made Ruan Xing extremely uneasy.

It would be better to wait until he returned to human form and explain everything then.

As for how to return to human form, Ruan Xing had a few ideas. He had to admit his skill tree was clearly messed up.

It was probably—very likely—because of that potion. His internal magical energy flow was all tangled, like a ball of yarn. It was so messed up even he barely recognized himself.

But under emotional stress last night, he'd briefly turned back into a human. It didn't last long, but that meant it was possible!

Ruan Xing boldly guessed that with enough emotional stimulation, he could return to human form again.

He suspected that powerful emotional shocks or stabilizing his magical flow could trigger the transformation again. If he could untangle it, he wouldn't be stuck like this.

Maybe absorbing magic from a pollutant could also help fix his current state.

Curious about the siblings, Ruan Xing turned to leave. But as he walked away, he saw Fu Zhi pick up a thin little object from the girl's body which shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

Wait a second?

That looked like… his fur?

Ruan Xing panicked. If he got caught, it would all be over.

He flattened himself like a black pancake, ready to launch away. But then Fu Zhi's voice rang out.

"Stop."

Ruan Xing's slipped. His body, which had been ready to spring upward, twisted mid-air and shot sideways—straight into Fu Zhi's arms.

Ruan Xing: …

Later, the boy returned to the car and used it as a cover to pull out a few bottles of water from his space. These were his most precious stash—unpolluted water, which was incredibly rare in the outer city. Not essential, but extremely luxurious. He had intended to use them as bribes to pull strings if necessary.

Tucking two bottles into his coat, he returned to the clinic. The tall man was gone; only the baby-faced young man remained.

"Sorry about earlier. I got a bit emotional."

The boy bowed deeply in apology. Chen Yihang quickly waved his hand. "It's understandable. No need to apologize."

The boy pulled out the two bottles of water and shoved them into the man's arms. "Just a small token. Please accept it."

Chen Yihang looked surprised. "Really, it's not necessary. This is our job."

The boy said, "Actually, about this incident, I have a selfish request. Please help me find my sister. I know it's not the Investigation Corps' responsibility, but we rely on each other, and now that she is missing, I'm just too worried—"

Chen Yihang interrupted, "You don't need to worry."

The boy was confused. "Huh?"

Chen Yihang pointed outside. In the tall man's arms, the pale little girl was curled up.

"We've already found your sister," the baby-faced officer said with a smile.

The boy stared blankly, eyes welling up with tears as he looked at the man.

"Is this your sister?" the man asked, walking over.

The boy fumbled. "Yes, yes, it's her! But how…"

Fu Zhi said, "She was drugged, but it's nothing serious. She'll wake up after a while."

The boy sighed in relief. "Thank you! Thank you so much! I really don't know how to repay you!"

He was so polite, unlike most kids in the outer city. He seemed more like someone from the inner city.

Fu Zhi asked, "Did you grow up here?"

A flash of nervousness appeared on the boy's face. "I—I moved here later."

Fu Zhi raised an eyebrow. "From the inner city?"

Faced with eyes that seemed to see through everything, the boy gritted his teeth. "No, I used to live in District 13."

In the outer city, District 13 was considered a decent area. It was close to the Quarantine Center, had convenient transport, and even had a school on the street.

Fu Zhi nodded slightly and didn't press further.

The boy finally let out a breath of relief.

After taking the two bottles of water he offered, Chen Yihang gave the boy his contact information and told him he could call if he ever needed anything.

The boy was caught completely off guard by the gesture.

As they stepped outside, Fu Zhi noticed the surrounding people casting glances in their direction—curious and nervous but mostly focused on the siblings.

Walking behind him, Chen Yihang ignored the strange looks and explained, "That kid's identity chip only has records from the past two years. Most likely undocumented."

Which meant it was virtually impossible for him to be living in District 13 of the outer city. No ID meant no schooling and no eligibility for standard tests.

Two years of identity records allowed basic movement within the city, but there was no way someone like that could make any progress at the base. He would not qualify for any decent job.

—And scavenger wasn't exactly a decent job.

Fu Zhi said, "Keep an eye on him."

Chen Yihang nodded.

After returning to the inner city, the two entered the headquarters office. It was quiet and gloomy inside.

Ever since Su Xiaona returned, the office atmosphere has been in a constant slump. Bai Xu had taken a solo mission to escape, Pei Ye was still out and unaware of the situation, and Su Xiaona was still hospitalized.

Other people who were aware of the situation all reacted with disbelief.

No one expected the rising star, who had been in the spotlight, to turn things around in the final moment of the mission—charging ahead, sacrificing himself to protect his teammates.

The team was in an uproar. Everyone who talked about it was filled with regret and disbelief.

Qiao Zhi had visited the First Squad's office more than once, asking for updates on the search, but progress had been dismal. After all, this was the result even after Fu Zhi himself had searched day and night.

Fu Zhi entered the inner office. Chen Yihang followed behind, carrying a tablet.

"The Enforcement Division sent over condolence funds… uh… for Ruan Xing."

Fu Zhi's brow furrowed, clearly displeased.

Chen Yihang hesitated. "You should take a look at the document."

Fu Zhi did not take it. "Didn't I report him as missing?"

Chen Yihang replied, "The Minister said that people rarely survive A-class polluted zones after missing. Since it was time to settle accounts, they issued the payout."

Fu Zhi said coldly, "I will talk to the Minister."

Chen Yihang did not respond. He was just as upset. "Ruan Xing has no family left. The money is meaningless now. It would be better to honor him properly…"

Realizing he was also assuming Ruan Xing had died, Chen Yihang fell silent.

Fu Zhi's voice was icy. "Go back to work."

Chen Yihang sighed. "Alright."

After the baby-faced officer left, Fu Zhi opened a drawer. Inside was a file with one blank section at the bottom that still had not been filled out—Final Status.

In the upper right corner was a photo of a young man with messy black hair and a faint smile—so full of life.

It was the only photo Fu Zhi had of him.

He still refused to remember the moment Su Xiaona gave him the news after they returned from the mission.

Ruan Xing was missing.

So, the moment Fu Zhi returned to the base—still wearing his combat gear, covered in dirt and injuries—he immediately boarded the first aircraft to the site.

His heart had been pounding the whole way. Maybe it was the altitude, but he could barely breathe.

Su Xiaona's panicked expression made his heart sink. He hadn't even known what face to put on in front of his team.

"Xingxing is gone…"

It felt like a piece of his heart had suddenly vanished. He felt light, hollow as if none of it were real.

He could still remember the first time he met the young man. He was cornered by a monster, with no way to escape, but his eyes still burned with fierce determination—like a desperate cat showing its claws to protect itself.

Fu Zhi's index finger gently rubbed the photo. His eyes were full of emotion, but he remained silent.

The pendant around his neck started to glow faintly.

Fu Zhi frowned and pulled it up. Why was it glowing now?

Then, as if something clicked in his mind, he opened his waist pouch—only to find a tiny black blob gasping for air, staring at him in panic with dark green eyes.

Ruan Xing had almost died from fright. When Fu Zhi caught him earlier, he thought for sure that he was going to be dissected in a lab.

Considering how strict and by-the-book Fu Zhi was, Ruan Xing never expected to end up in his office.

He had overheard them talking about him outside—saying he was dead?

When did he die? He was right here!

Ruan Xing wanted to speak up and prove he was alive, but the thought of being dissected made him instantly deflate.

Only now did Ruan Xing realize how stuffy it was in the pouch. It turns out that, even in this form, he still needed air despite not needing food or water.

He could feel the magic inside him starting to go haywire again. His emotions were getting unstable.

Luckily, just before he suffocated, Fu Zhi remembered the thing in his pouch and opened it, allowing Ruan Xing to immediately gasp for air.

With thumb and forefinger, Fu Zhi gently pinched the little blob, which wobbled like a fat water droplet under gravity.

He placed it on the desk and leaned in.

Ruan Xing saw Fu Zhi's ridiculously handsome face up close.

Nope, too close. He could feel the man's breath on him. Even his fur was moving with Fu Zhi's breathing. Ruan Xing backed up a few steps to keep some distance.

Fu Zhi straightened up. "What exactly are you?"

The black blob's eyes narrowed in annoyance. That question clearly rubbed him the wrong way.

Fu Zhi was a little surprised. "So you can understand me? Are you a pollutant?"

He could not see any spiritual flame on the creature. His wristband also remained calm—no spikes in pollution levels. It was probably not a pollutant, but definitely not a normal life form either.

Understanding speech meant intelligence. But could it talk?

Fu Zhi reached out and poked it. The creature's body was soft, jiggly like jelly, but its texture was warm and fuzzy—like a kitten's belly.

Suddenly, the blob spun around and opened its tiny pink mouth, revealing sharp little teeth. It bit down on Fu Zhi's finger, clearly displeased at being prodded.

Fu Zhi pulled his finger back and watched as the tiny blob tumbled and flopped. Its eyes scrunched up so tight it looked like it could crush a fly.

Not knowing what this creature was, Fu Zhi was at a loss.

"Maybe I should send it to the lab," he muttered.

The black blob's eyes widened in horror, and it shook its head wildly.

"Not willing? That complicates things."

It rubbed its fuzzy body against his palm. Those emerald-green eyes looked at him with a hint of pleading.

Round eyes slightly drooping, jewel-like pupils, fluffy black fur…

It looked a lot like… Ruan Xing.

Fu Zhi paused, not quite sure why that thought crossed his mind.

Ruan Xing would never make such an expression.

But if he wasn't human… then yes, this was exactly what Ruan Xing would look like.

The black blob seemed afraid of being taken to the lab. It leaned into Fu Zhi's hand, nuzzling affectionately.

Once someone wore a body that didn't belong to them, their dignity often went out the window. Ruan Xing was no exception. He silently told himself to suck it up and act like a non-human.

Ruan Xing: I'll endure this. No one knows who I really am anyway.

His jelly-like body grew even softer.

Fu Zhi propped his chin with one hand, looking slightly conflicted. What should he do with this thing? As the fuzzball nuzzled closer, a rare smile flickered in his eyes.

Ruan Xing didn't realize that this was the first time Fu Zhi had smiled so softly since learning he had gone missing.

"Since you don't want to go to the lab, come home with me for now."

Out in the front office, Chen Yihang was surprised to see Fu Zhi leaving early.

Something must have happened. He looked... different. His expression was relaxed, his eyes soft, and his eyebrows curved in a gentle arc.

"Captain—?"

"Help me take the day off. I'm going home early today."

Chen Yihang immediately agreed, looking genuinely relieved. Though he didn't know what happened, it was good that the captain was finally moving on.

He picked up the phone to make a call.

The person on the other end was shocked too. "The Major who never leaves on time unless he is on a mission, who even stays late voluntarily, is actually going home early?!"

Long after this day, this moment would become a legendary tale in the HR office.

—

Meanwhile, Ruan Xing sulked in Fu Zhi's pocket. Why was he leaving work already? Back when he had to sit at a desk, it was always until 6:30 in the evening!

And he had just "died"! Why was everything so casual? Did Fu Zhi hate him that much?

The thought depressed Ruan Xing.

After changing out of his uniform, Fu Zhi did not put the little ball back in his pouch—clearly remembering how suffocated it had been. Instead, he placed it gently in his chest pocket.

As a result, Ruan Xing was able to enjoy the perspective of a tall man. Strangely, the height from the shirt pocket was about the same as his view in his human form.

Was Fu Zhi always this tall?!

Ruan Xing nestled into the pocket. Just then, the mycelium quietly slipped out of the belt pouch and crawled into the shirt pocket.

When Ruan Xing was pulled out earlier, he told the mycelium to hide to avoid exposing his identity.

Fortunately, Fu Zhi didn't notice.

The mycelium circled Ruan Xing, then curled into a tiny ball and sat on top of him.

This was the closest Ruan Xing had ever been to Fu Zhi. He could hear the steady beating of his heart through the fabric—intense and hot like it could melt someone.

Do all strong ability users have this kind of body heat?

Ruan Xing grumbled in his heart, then found a comfortable position and closed his eyes to rest.

Fu Zhi unlocked the door and stepped inside.

Ruan Xing poked his head out of the shirt pocket to take a look around.

The place had changed a lot since he last saw it. The floor damaged by poison had been completely replaced with wood. The chaotic walls had been repainted, and the furniture had been replaced with soft-toned, modern pieces. Even the vases, art, and sword rack were new.

Fu Zhi undoubtedly spent a considerable amount after the incident.

The man set down his bags by the entrance, changed into slippers, and walked into the house.

"Welcome home, my dearest master!"

A flattering voice rang out. A plump black crow flew from the bedroom, clearly well-fed during Ruan Xing's absence.

"My dear master, you must be tired from work. Let your lovely Fu Gui give you a massage! Caw!"

The crow bowed on top of the TV. The way it sucked up to Fu Zhi was worlds apart from the arrogant act it used to put on around Ruan Xing.

Then Fu Gui looked up—and locked eyes with the black blob poking its head out of Fu Zhi's pocket.

The crow froze in horror.

At this moment, Fu Gui had no idea what kind of nightmare he was about to face.