Hui Tian Ch16

Chapter 16

‘I’m lacking, but I’ll still do it’ by Bai Sheng.

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“Level-one lockdown of the surrounding area! Seal all evidence!”
“Move the entire hospital bed. Be careful not to touch the cellular residue on it, and preserve as much DNA as possible!”
“Careful, careful, careful…”

“Senior,” Chen Miao asked worriedly in a low voice, “are you okay?”

Lights from vehicles flashed across the wilderness. Cars from the Shenhai City Supervision Office and nearby inspection offices had all arrived. Staff in white uniforms hurried about, and the scene was a clamor of voices.

The A-grade potion could only maintain his physical state for 40 minutes at most, and its effects had now completely worn off. Shen Zhuo’s face was slightly pale, which made his eyes and brows appear even darker. He shook his head, signaling that he was fine.

“Senior, I really think you should stop using that from now on.” Seeing that no one nearby was paying attention, Chen Miao couldn’t help but lean forward anxiously. “The research and development for this project were never even completed. Who knows when the side effects might suddenly erupt? What if…”

Shen Zhuo cut him off with a wave of his hand, indicating he didn’t need to say more, and got into the command vehicle without another word.

The vehicle door slammed shut, isolating him from all the external noise and prying eyes. The interior of the vehicle was dim and quiet.

Shen Zhuo let out a hoarse breath and undid the buttons of his shirt one by one.

On his lean, flat abdomen, the hideous, unhealed knife wound from the overpass a few days ago was already seeping blood. Even breathing caused a tearing, dull ache in his internal organs.

This was normal. After all, the potion couldn’t cause true evolution. Once its effects faded, the pain and injuries naturally returned with interest.

Shen Zhuo pressed a hand to his abdomen and half-lay on the seat. Just as he turned to adjust to a slightly less painful position, a strong hand suddenly reached out from behind, its palm covering the back of his.

Immediately, a warm and soothing healing power passed through his hand, enveloping the wound in his abdomen.

Shen Zhuo turned his head, his lips nearly brushing against Bai Sheng’s chin.

“I was wondering why you were hiding in the car all alone, undressing the moment you got in.” Bai Sheng knelt beside the seat, looking down at Shen Zhuo from a close distance in the dim light. His voice was low and magnetic, yet it carried his familiar, frivolous smile. “We’re so close. Why didn’t you come find me immediately if you needed something? You’re treating me like a stranger. It’s truly heartbreaking.”

Their hands were pressed together over Shen Zhuo’s abdomen. Shen Zhuo tried to pull his hand out from under Bai Sheng’s palm, but it wouldn’t budge. He could only tilt his head back slightly. “I have a question.”

Bai Sheng immediately replied, “I do.”

“…If you have a healing ability, why don’t you heal your own injuries?”

Bai Sheng’s fingers were extremely long; his fully opened palm could almost cover Shen Zhuo’s waist. Even in such dim light, the dried blood on his fingertips was visible. His fingernails were cracked from when he had torn open the spatial coffin with his bare hands.

A spatial ability was unequivocally a rare and powerful A-class ability. In other words, Bai Sheng’s ability to break the coffin with his bare hands was quite formidable. If it had been one of the non-combat-type, weaker S-class individuals from overseas today, they likely would have been in over their heads.

“Oh, it’s like this.” Bai Sheng examined his hand and explained politely, “It’s because I am a noble, pure, and a person of high moral character. My healing ability is exclusively for the benefit of others and not for myself. In short, it’s rather weak and only works on other people, never on me, which fully proves that my nature is to benefit the people.”

The “people”, by the name of Shen Zhuo, fell silent for a moment. “…Next time, you can just say your healing ability’s evolution is incomplete.”

“I’m not a dedicated healer, you know.” Bai Sheng chuckled and asked, “What about you, Supervisor?”

“What?”

“How did you get your ability?”

They were so close their breaths were audible to each other. In the darkness, the distant car lights reflected in their eyes.

In this posture, with one kneeling and one lying down, half of Bai Sheng’s body was leaning weightlessly over Shen Zhuo. Although he was smiling, Shen Zhuo knew that if an S-class wanted to make a move, it would be over in the blink of an eye.

“…It was a potion from the Central Research Institute back in the day. By combining active meteorite extracts with human cells through injection, it could induce abilities of different levels. Even an ordinary person could temporarily use an ability for a few minutes,” Shen Zhuo said coolly, averting his gaze. “But the side effect is that it puts a great strain on the human body, so research and development were quickly halted. I only have a few doses on hand, as a means of self-preservation in emergencies.”

“Wait, wait.” Bai Sheng caught the illogical part of his statement. “The genes of ordinary humans don’t evolve even with contact with meteorites. How could injecting a meteorite extract grant them abilities? The logic doesn’t hold up, does it?”

Shen Zhuo replied offhandedly, “It involves the issue of evolutionary interferons, chromosomal binding methods, and epigenetic modifications of genes. It’s very complex, and I can’t explain it to you in just a moment.”

“…”

The last time Bai Sheng had opened a biology textbook was before his college entrance exams. He was a bit skeptical. After a moment, he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “…Is this potion really a meteorite extract?”

“What, do you want me to pull out the classified files from my office drawer for you to see?” Shen Zhuo sneered. “Sure, as long as you can understand them. When we get back, find me and I’ll help you review biology, starting from your final year of high school. Optimistically, you might be able to understand the first page of the potion’s R&D project proposal before you turn forty. You can do it. I have faith in you.”

Bai Sheng was speechless.

You wouldn’t notice it at first, but after a few more encounters, you’d discover that Shen Zhuo had an unrestrained, sharp tongue and a cutting nature. And he had a rather brilliant quality: most cutting people are only condescending to their subordinates, but he administered a crushing blow to everyone equally. Whether the other person was fabulously wealthy or wielded immense power, they were all the same in his eyes.

One wouldn’t develop such a disdainful attitude without being accustomed to being chased after, fawned over, and even adored by countless people since childhood.

Bai Sheng felt his teeth itch. He sized up Shen Zhuo’s indifferent face from above. The distant lights outlined the corners of his eyes, which were like an ink wash painting, the color fading from dark to light, like the arc of a crow’s wing drawn across the snow.

In that instant, Su Jiqiao’s emotional remark echoed in Bai Sheng’s ears: “If we hadn’t been lucky enough to evolve, people like us probably wouldn’t even have the right to say a single word to Senior Shen in our entire lives…”

Something seemed to gently nudge Bai Sheng’s heart, stirring an indescribable feeling, a faint, tingling itch mixed with a sourness.

I’m a real glutton for punishment, he thought.

Everyone likes the gentle, considerate, and understanding sweet-and-seemingly-innocent types, yet I find this person who won’t even give me the time of day devastatingly attractive. And I’m even chasing after him. Is there something fundamentally wrong with me?

“…Alright, you promised you’d show me the files when we get back.” A snort of laughter escaped Bai Sheng’s nose, but his expression remained unchanged. He casually patted Shen Zhuo’s side. “Speaking of which, I’d advise you to stop being so secretive. There’s probably a reason why that guy surnamed Rong keeps sending people to capture you, and it might have something to do with this potion of yours. You’d better come clean with me sooner rather than later—”

His phone suddenly rang. It was Yue Yang.

A subtle look flickered in Shen Zhuo’s eyes. He made a shushing gesture at Bai Sheng and let the phone ring without answering.

The call naturally disconnected, then immediately started ringing again. He still didn’t answer.

“Why are you…”

Shen Zhuo raised an index finger, signaling for him to stay out of it.

Only when the phone rang for a third time, ringing urgently while messages popped up continuously, and just as it was about to disconnect, did Shen Zhuo unhurriedly press the answer key, offering a single, stingy word:
“Hello?”

A barrage of questions came from Yue Yang on the other end of the line. “Why didn’t you answer the phone just now? I saw the system report a level-one alert in the Shenhai suburbs. How are your injuries? Where are you now? Are you safe?”

“…” Bai Sheng was utterly amazed. I’ve really seen it all, he thought.

The fact that Director Yue hasn’t gone insane after so many years of this mental torture shows his tolerance is far beyond that of an ordinary person. I wonder if he dug up Shen Zhuo’s ancestral graves in the Central District back in the day.

Shen Zhuo stood up and waved a hand at Bai Sheng in a perfunctory gesture of thanks. Then he pulled open the door and strode out of the vehicle. From a distance, Bai Sheng could still hear Yue Yang’s heavy, urgent voice from the phone:
“I just called Chen Miao. He said you handled it yourself. Why didn’t you directly notify the Central District and ask for reinforcements…”

“It’s already been handled.” Shen Zhuo walked on the muddy, overgrown ground, moving away from the crowd to a spot not far away. Standing in the wilderness of the deep night, an unreadable smile touched his lips. “Thanks to Mr. Bai’s help, it was resolved very smoothly.”

The other end of the line fell silent. Shen Zhuo waited, almost with relish, for the other’s reaction.

“…” After a long pause, Yue Yang finally spoke. Aside from being a bit dry, his voice was masked with calm composure, hiding all emotion. “That’s good. Thank you, Mr. Bai, for your righteous act.”

As if he hadn’t noticed the complex undertones in the other’s words at all, Shen Zhuo nonchalantly changed the subject. “I have something to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Have you ever heard the name Rong Qi?”

Yue Yang frowned. “Not at all. Why?”

Shen Zhuo said, “On May 10th, three years ago, the night before the Qinghai Experimental Site explosion, Fu Chen and Su Jiqiao left the Central District. They went to the Quanshan County Health Center to see a patient named Rong Qi. You didn’t know about this?”

Given Fu Chen’s status back then, there would definitely have been a record of him leaving the Central District. Yue Yang thought for a few seconds, then said hesitantly, “I really don’t remember. Perhaps it was for official business? I’ll probably have to pull the mission files from three years ago.”

“Then go pull them. Find a way to investigate this Rong Qi’s identity and family background,” Shen Zhuo paused, then added flatly, “This matter is very important to me.”

He lowered his head, about to hang up. Yue Yang must have sensed it and blurted out hastily, “—Shen Zhuo!”

Shen Zhuo’s movement paused.

The other end of the call fell quiet. Only Yue Yang’s deep and shallow breaths could be heard. He seemed to want to say something several times but hesitated, finally speaking impulsively after a long pause:
“Shen Zhuo, I’ve actually always—”

The chaotic sounds of the distant scene were carried away by the night wind, fading into a faint background hum.

A moment later, Yue Yang spoke again, and it was clear he had forced himself to change the subject. “…I wanted to ask you something. Last time, didn’t you say you were going to expel that Bai Sheng from Shenhai…”

“What?” Shen Zhuo let out a laugh, the warm breath from his lips almost seeming to brush against Yue Yang’s ear, “Are you trying to show concern for me on behalf of your deceased brother again, Director Yue?”

In an instant, Yue Yang froze, unable to say a word for a long time.

“Bai Sheng is part of Shenhai now. As long as I don’t kick him out, he will stay in Shenhai. As for when to expel him, or whether to expel him at all…” Shen Zhuo glanced back at the command vehicle in the distance and said lazily, “I’m the only one who gets to decide.”

“…I understand.” A long time later, Yue Yang’s low, hoarse voice came from the other end of the phone. “I’ll go check the departure records for Fu Chen and Su Jiqiao for May 10th, three years ago.”

Shen Zhuo directly ended the call.

The wilderness night was vast, the starry sky above was boundless, and the Milky Way stretched across the heavens, flowing towards an unknown universe.

Shen Zhuo stood there quietly, his back to the lamplit scene in the distance, gazing at the endless darkness before him that was like a long river. The wilderness was empty, and no one could see the Shenhai City Supervisor’s expression at that moment. After a long while, he let out a long breath and closed his eyes.

The wind swept through the vast expanse of wild grass, the rustling sound like the rising tide in the dead of night, bringing with it scattered and distant memories that flooded every inch of his senses.

—The Qinghai Experimental Site explosion.

No one knew the various signs that preceded the cataclysmic event. All the ominous clues were obliterated in the explosion, only occasionally flashing a strange, faint light from the depths of time.
…

“Isn’t Director Fu a bit too attentive to our Director Shen? At his beck and call every day. He gives blood whenever he’s asked to?”

“Can’t be helped. If the HRG project didn’t have the serum from those high-level evolutionists, it probably couldn’t even complete the first phase of data simulation…”

Whispers came with the wind, then howled away.

The laboratory was orderly, with researchers coming and going hurriedly. Fu Chen was leaning back in a chair, his muscular arm exposed, crimson blood flowing through a soft tube into a centrifuge.

“Director Shen,” an assistant walked over quickly, his voice soft and tense. “We can’t draw any more; it’s already at 100 cc. Something will happen if we keep going!”

The 26-year-old Shen Zhuo had his hands in the pockets of his white lab coat. His features were as elegant as ink on snow-white paper, and his expression held an innate coldness and detachment.

Fu Chen’s face was already starting to turn pale. As if sensing something, he turned his head from the reclining chair to look over.

—At that exact moment, a smile suddenly appeared on Shen Zhuo’s indifferent face. He looked at Fu Chen encouragingly, the curve of his lips perfect, his eyes full of warmth. The assistant beside them was stunned.

“S-class. They don’t die that easily.” Shen Zhuo’s tone was so cold one would never guess it from his expression. “Keep drawing.”

Beep-beep-beep—

The blood pressure alarm blared urgently, causing a commotion in the lab. Researchers stood up one after another. “No, we can’t draw anymore!” “Stop! Stop!”

Someone ran over with glucose. “Thank you, Director Fu, thank you, Director Fu. This has really been hard on you…”

Shen Zhuo seemed a little disappointed but didn’t show it. He quickly stepped forward to support Fu Chen, frowning with concern. “Are you alright?”

Fu Chen’s entire arm was cold. He let out a hoarse breath and suddenly reached out, pulling Shen Zhuo in!

In an instant, the world spun. Shen Zhuo was pressed onto the reclining chair. Fu Chen looked down at him with a smile. “What good would it do you if I died from you drawing my blood, hmm?”

Shen Zhuo pushed against him with one hand and staggered to his feet.

“Drink this bottle of glucose and rest for a while.” As if he hadn’t heard anything, Shen Zhuo straightened his clothes, his expression as composed as ever. “I’ll walk you out.”

“…No way, Director Shen is too ruthless.” “100 cc…”

Only after Shen Zhuo had personally escorted Fu Chen out of the lab and their figures had disappeared into the distance did the researchers dare to voice their awed discussions.

The early summer sky was full of stars, and the sound of insects chirped by their feet. The fragrance of distant locust blossoms drifted on the wind, passed through the tree-lined path, and vanished into the night.

Their shadows were stretched long by the streetlight. Fu Chen smiled and asked, “How have things been recently?”

Shen Zhuo was clearly the type to use and then discard someone. With the serum in hand, he couldn’t be bothered to put on an act anymore, not even bothering with a few pleasantries. “The first phase of theoretical simulation calculations has been successfully completed. The next step is to start small-scale development of the finished product. However, this potion currently cannot escape its heavy reliance on Evolutionist’s serum, so the most crucial thing is to maintain confidentiality. We have to tell the UN Security Council and the International Supervision General Administration that we’re still trying to break through and that the prospects are not promising.”

Fu Chen nodded, frowning as if he wanted to say something. After a moment, he couldn’t help but ask:

“But why do I hear that the project’s progress has been secretly leaked again recently?”

Shen Zhuo let out a breath and remained silent.

Fu Chen got his answer from the silence. “Leaking secrets time and again, is there a mole in the research institute?”

“The intelligence department has already conducted a carpet search three times. They can’t find out who the mole is,” Shen Zhuo said flatly. “Too many people are watching the HRG project. The Security Council wants it to succeed, the International Supervision General Administration wants it to fail. Spies from all sides are intertwined, all staring at this laboratory…”

“Shen Zhuo.” Fu Chen suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking at him and emphasizing each word. “You’re going to die if this continues!”

Shen Zhuo didn’t answer.

“No one wants a Sword of Damocles hanging over their head. Once the secret of the potion’s theoretical success is leaked, they will do everything they can to stop the HRG project from continuing, even resorting to assassination. You will live under the threat of assassination every single second, do you understand?”

“…”

“Have you ever thought that full human gene regeneration might one day be realized, but you might not live to see that day?”

The Milky Way in the night sky was endless, and distant stars moved in their ancient orbits. Shen Zhuo looked up, hands in his lab coat pockets. After a long moment, he suddenly asked, “Do you think peace can exist between humans and evolutionists?”

Fu Chen was taken aback.

“It can’t,” Shen Zhuo gave his own answer. “Peace only exists under nuclear deterrence. Without the atomic bomb, there is no peace.”

“There are seven billion ordinary people on this planet. In the eyes of evolutionists, they’re no different from seven billion ants. One of the ants must stand up and become the deterrent. That is the most crucial meaning of the HRG project.”

Shen Zhuo’s voice was naturally not loud, nor did he speak quickly. His build was not strong, but rather a bit thin. But when he stood there, he often gave people a sense of power, as if he could stand alone against the current even if faced with raging winds and furious waves.

“…I understand.”

Fu Chen gazed at him, and after a long moment, he sighed deeply and said in a low voice, “Since you’ve already made your decision, then no matter what happens, I will do everything in my power to protect you. I will never let you die.”

Shen Zhuo glanced at him but gave no response, simply lifting his foot and walking forward.

Following the flower-scented path out of the campus gate, a special car from the Central Supervision Office was already waiting under a streetlight not far away.

“By the way.” Fu Chen didn’t walk towards his own car immediately. Instead, he stopped, looking at Shen Zhuo as if he wanted to say something. After a moment, he let out a laugh. “We’re leaving for the Qinghai Experimental Site next week. It’s your first time out on a mission. Have you packed everything?”

Shen Zhuo grunted in acknowledgment. “What’s wrong?”

“…” Fu Chen seemed not to know how to begin. After a moment, he still couldn’t hold back and cleared his throat. “Well, there’s one thing.”

Shen Zhuo raised an eyebrow.

Fu Chen took a deep breath, finally making up his mind. “Look, we’ve known each other for so long, and you know what our superiors want. After we get back from Qinghai this time, could you perhaps just… with me…”

Beep beep!

A car not far away suddenly honked. The window rolled down, revealing Su Jiqiao’s smiling face. He pointed at his watch and said with a laugh, “—It’s ten o’clock! Hasn’t the research institute’s gate closed yet?”

Fu Chen froze.

He didn’t seem to expect Su Jiqiao to be in the car. A trace of unnaturalness flashed in his eyes, but it was just a fleeting detail.

Shen Zhuo imperceptibly took a half step back. “Go on, Director Fu. I’m going back to the lab.”

“…Ah, you’re going back?” Fu Chen hesitated for a moment, clearly reluctant. He took two steps, then couldn’t help but turn back to remind him, “Then I’ll talk to you again after we get back from Qinghai. You remember that, okay?”

Shen Zhuo didn’t answer, his gaze shifting lightly past Fu Chen. Su Jiqiao, who had always been gentle, kind, and popular since his school days, was now staring at him motionlessly. His gaze was gloomy and direct, and deep within his eyes, there seemed to be something indescribable.

But Shen Zhuo had always treated Su Jiqiao as if he were invisible. He turned and walked back the way he came.

Even after walking a great distance, he could feel the other’s gaze still fixed on his back, chilling and cold, following him like a shadow.
…

That was the last short interlude before fate took its turn.

A few days later, Fu Chen and Su Jiqiao mysteriously appeared at a remote township health center and saw Rong Qi, who was unconscious and emaciated in a hospital bed. No one knew what they were there for.

Just 24 hours later, the Qinghai Experimental Site exploded. Fu Chen’s body was never found. Su Jiqiao suffered a severe brain injury and was left in a vegetative state.

Shen Zhuo was subjected to extralegal torture but narrowly escaped death. He was then expelled from the Central Research Institute, and the project for full human regeneration was forced to be shelved.

When the newly appointed Global Top Ten Supervisor, Shen Zhuo, arrived in Shenhai City, the evolutionists were wary of him, feared him, and hated him with gritted teeth. They spoke maliciously of his rare, beautiful face and made all sorts of bloody and sordid speculations, but no one knew the details of what had happened on that deep early summer night before fate’s dramatic turn.

Shen Zhuo let out a hoarse breath, pressing down hard on the knife wound on the back of his left hand as he opened his eyes.

“Supervisor,” a rustling sound came from behind him. A supervisor was walking quickly through the dry grass, asking in a low voice, “The scene has been secured. The wireframe bed that might have DNA residue has also been moved to the vehicle according to bioweapon standards. Do you have any other orders?”

“…”

The Shenhai City Supervisor stood in the vast night. His expression was hidden from behind. After a long moment, the supervisor heard him ask, “Where is Liu Sanji?”

“He’s still breathing, in the ambulance. Bai-ge is asking if we can head back now.”

Shen Zhuo repeated, “Bai-ge?”

The supervisor almost bit his tongue. “I-It’s Mr. Bai… Bai…”

Shen Zhuo gave a slight, mocking laugh and finally turned around, walking towards the brightly lit scene in the distance.

“Go back and find Witch Italdo. Tell her to use her healing ability,” he said flatly. “Your ‘Bai-ge’ has injured his hand.”

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