NOVEL WEB Chapter 169
Chapter 169: The Dark Boundless Realm Part 24
Tang Guan put his mobile phone in his pocket and observed the girl.
She stood against the light on the rusty stairs, her hood covering her forehead, and her face concealed by a black mask. In her hands, she carried a waist pouch and two black plastic bags, which looked slightly cumbersome compared to her neat appearance.
“Passing through.” Given that the other party had shown some goodwill, Tang Guan explained himself clearly, despite his explanation being no more than two words.
His voice was young and unadulterated.
Kuixin did not want to speak. Unlike the Second World’s residents who wore voice changers, she didn’t want to reveal her identity… but the person facing her was someone she recognized. She knew him well indeed.
“Extraordinary Abilities, Symbiosis, B-Class…” Kuixin only knew one person who possessed the “Symbiosis” extraordinary ability—that was Tang Guan.
When they captured him aboard the Kraken previously, Tang Guan had been apprehended by the Mechanized Dawn squad. He had been incarcerated in the laboratory for extensive human experimentation and torment.
When Kuixin visited the laboratory, Doctor Long—who was leading the research project—mentioned that Tang Guan’s periods of consciousness were becoming shorter. A monster was progressively taking over his mind, and one day, the monster’s consciousness would completely engulf his. Tang Guan was an exceptionally unique individual; when the monster parasitized him, it did not consume him. Instead, he reached a bizarre state of symbiosis with the intelligent xenomorphic entity sharing his body.
While Tang Guan himself lacked flesh regeneration like a heterogenous-blooded individual, his powers stemmed from the symbiotic entity within him.
The physique of the person across from her differed from the Second World’s Tang Guan. The Second World’s Tang Guan, who long refrained from sleeping to the point of being emaciated, appeared gaunt-eyed and thin. This person, though slim, exhibited a healthy human figure.
Recalling Tang Guan’s voice, Kuixin felt it quite familiar.
Adding the extraordinary ability of symbiosis, there was a ninety percent chance it was truly Tang Guan.
Suppressing her turbulent emotions, she could hardly fathom that Tang Guan was still alive and had arrived in Tonglin City.
Simultaneously, she wondered if the monster with whom Tang Guan shared a symbiotic relationship had followed him back to the First World.
Kuixin wasn’t too concerned about Tang Guan recognizing her. Her age differed between the two worlds due to their respective timelines; to someone unfamiliar, this contrast would be noticeable. Especially since, during her capture, she was encased in full armor, her voice disguised, and her interaction with Tang Guan in the lab occurred during a time when he was not fully coherent. Kuixin herself usually wore some form of disguise during most of her time at the Mechanized Dawn headquarters.
Tang Guan perceived her caution and reluctance from Kuixin’s silence. Not wanting to disclose herself, she typed on her mobile phone. But Tang Guan needed to interact with her; he had questions he wanted answers to.
“It isn’t easy meeting a kindred spirit,” Tang Guan said. “I’m here to investigate.”
He scrutinized the bags in Kuixin’s hands, sensing a blood scent mixed with the fishy smell—a distinct mix among similar odors. Tang Guan discerned the differences almost immediately.
As Man-Face Ghost had suggested, the girl undoubtedly knew something. She seemed well-prepared and had made an appearance in the area with the strongest xenomorphic presence at night. Organ parts, he assumed, were likely being used as bait.
His gaze fixed on Kuixin’s bags. He tentatively asked, “Are you here to investigate as well?”
After a moment of consideration, Kuixin softly acknowledged, “Yes.”
“Has anything been uncovered?” Tang Guan asked straightforwardly.
“You asked what? Do you think she would just tell you?” responded Man-Face Ghost, coaxing, “Capture her! Question her! You have the power to do it! A weak little girl surely would spill everything out of fright.”
Ignoring Man-Face Ghost, Tang Guan calmly awaited Kwixin’s response.
“I caught a mutated rat,” Kuixin said. This was the first thing she said tonight.
“What did it look like?” Tang Guan followed up.
“Without fur, red eyes, limbs triple the length, swift action,” Kwixin described. “Have you found anything?”
“No, I’ve just arrived.” Tang Guan calmly replied. “Did you notice any abnormal phenomena?”
Kwixen looked downward at Tang Guan beneath the stairs, “Such as?”
“Like time-space distortions.” Tang Guan raised his head. “Exactly like how it’s been talked about on the forums.”
“Yes, I heard it,” Kuixin assessed, confidently stating. “We’re both witness to it.”
“Yes, I was nearby, standing outside the tobacco factory when the faint barrier appeared and vanished at midnight.” Tang Guan stated. “You were inside the tobacco factory?”
Kuixin deflected, calmly saying, “When it appeared, I heard muffled murmurs, roars, and flickering shadows.”
Tang Guan, without noticing Kwixin’s avoidance of his question, was serious, his fist unconsciously clenching.
“Ha-ha, want to know what it is?” Man-Face Ghost prompted. “I can tell you.”
“On what condition?” asked Tang Guan.
“Half of your control over your physical body in the First World will be mine,” said Man-Face Ghost.
Once again, Tang Guan ignored Man-Face Ghost.
“I plan to inspect the factory,” Kwixin shared her intent.
Tang Guan contemplated for a second, “Can I join?”
“Sure.” Kwixin accepted.
“Work together or divide tasks?” inquired Tang Guan.
“Let’s work together, starting from the ground floor,” Kuixin stated.
This was a good opportunity to observe Tan Guan’s behavior and gauge his danger.
Nodding, Tang Guan stepped back to give Kwixin space as she descended the rusty stairs.
Descending, Kwixin did not lead the way immediately. She glanced at Tang Guan, “It’s already past midnight. Perhaps you should go over the math problems with your sister first. It’s not good for kids to stay up late.”
Tang Guan hesitated, receiving Kwixin’s kindness. He replied after a moment, “I’ll go make a call. I’ll be back in five minutes.”
He swiftly left, and Kuixin tilted her ear, hearing vague murmurs of a rabbit-and-chicken puzzle.
…
From the ground floor to the second story of the tobacco factory, nothing much was discovered except for a few bloodstains on the ground.
Having already located this place, instead of letting him investigate the tobacco factory alone and discover the bloodstains, Kuixin led him here to uncover them.
Tang Guan crouched to examine the traces minutely and whispered, “Fresh, but not from today. Probably from yesterday or the day before…”
He stood up and turned to look at Kuixin nearby.
In the vicinity, she was the only living person. Considering her actions, Tang Guan had essentially determined that she was behind the killing of the mutated creature last night.
She was not a naive girl. Who would venture alone to an abandoned factory past midnight?
“What would I call you?” Tang Guan didn’t ask if Kuijin killed the mutant creature, instead asking another question.
She glanced at him, “Code-name, Máo Tóu Fú [Pit Viper].”
Tang Guan’s eyebrows rose slightly, somewhat surprised. After a moment, he said, “Then call me…White Pigeon.”
“Alright, White Pigeon,” she agreed.
It was obviously an impromptu code name; neither wished to reveal their real names.
Their patrol continued around the tobacco factory. They maintained a respectful distance throughout their night patrol, neither too close nor too far.
Until Tang Guan reached the spot where Fang Zhi died. “That’s it!” Man-Face Ghost exclaimed in his mind, “Someone died here, an abhuman… Still a higher-grade one. Even though dead, their power didn’t dissipate but rather formed coordinates…”
Looking at the dark brown bloodstains, Tang Guan stared for a long while then shifted his gaze to Kuijin.
Kuijin stood composed, gazing back, “Is there a problem?”
“There is,” Tang Guan pointed to the ground, “This seems like the source.”
“Source?” echoed Kuijin.
“The origin of the anomaly.” Tang Guan said, “I don’t know specifics… but a high-grade abhuman died at this place. In the Second World, high-ranking abhumans are often blessed by deities. Their followers can communicate through special rituals, and the gods mark their souls.”
“What does the marking do?” Kuijin zeroed in on this point.
“Sorry, I’m not sure. My knowledge of these things is limited.” Tang Guan paused, then added, “But it seems the marking might act like a coordinate…”
Coordinates are points that fix spatial positions.
Kuijin’s expression turned stern, “Are you an abhuman?”
“I’m an Awakened; I understand abhuman-related knowledge.” Tang Guan looked at Kuijin and took out a small knife, making a cut on his arm.
The wound bled but showed no signs of healing. Most forum players knew that abhumans usually had flesh healing abilities, quickly recovering from injuries. By intentionally cutting himself, Tang Guan was validating his status.
He’d endured extreme pain from endless human experiments; a single cut meant nothing.
“I understand now,” Kuijin surveyed, “We don’t know what negative impacts the space distortion might cause here. We need to leave quickly after our inspection.”
Tang Guan agreed, “Good.”
Tang Guan did not ask Kuijin if she was involved with the abhuman and mutant creature’s death, nor did Kuijin inquire how Tang Guan knew about abhumans or sensed the abnormality. Acting like strangers who encountered each other unexpectedly, they cooperated temporarily out of necessity.
A few hundred meters away from the tobacco factory, they simultaneously stopped to look at each other once more.
Tang Guan hesitated, opened his mouth but remained silent, yet did not walk away.
Kuijin carefully examined him for a moment, stood still for a while, then told Tang Guan, “Temporary team-up, is it alright?”
Tang Guan promptly replied, “Sure.”
He seemed keen to pose this question earlier.
“Contact information…?” Kuijin looked at him, “Forget it, if you wish not to add me, we’ll discuss later.”
Tang Guan relaxed slightly, nodding.
Discussing later meant establishing some trust before delving deeper. Now, it was merely a temporary cooperative arrangement.
“Tomorrow I’ll conduct a night patrol nearby,” Kuijin mentioned. “Let destiny decide if we meet.”
She moved swiftly, vanishing into the darkness.
Tang Guan watched the direction she disappeared towards unintentionally reflecting on how the names ‘Máo Tóu Fú’ and ‘Black Snake’ seemed to have a peculiar connection…
“Maybe they’re acquaintances,” hummed Man-Face Ghost. “In my opinion, the forum user number 233 is either in Tonglin City or has someone trustworthy there. For such significant matters, non-participants are impossible.”