As the massive gun barrel aimed at the glass, that bastard Xiao Lu was still instructing Huang Sansheng to shoot at the people, and Long Xiang instinctively felt a sense of crisis.
This glass was indeed specially made for ability users, with hardness and thickness reaching a considerable level, but… they had never tested it against such large caliber bullets.
Normal people simply couldn’t do this.
Who exactly is the one who has lost their humanity?!
“Quick, block them!” Long Xiang shouted behind him.
But there was no response.
“What are you dawdling for? Get moving!” Long Xiang turned back in anger, only to find that he was the only one in the room.
At that moment, Long Xiang realized with shock that the guards who had followed his orders to deal with the “little mice” had not returned. These were the exclusive guards assigned to him by the higher-ups, meant to protect him and also to monitor him.
Long Xiang had never had much fondness for this guard, but one thing he was sure of was that the other party was strong; whether it was assassination or stealing confidential materials, they had never failed.
But did it really take this long to deal with a few little mice that had infiltrated the drug room?
Sweat suddenly appeared in his palms, and Long Xiang realized that his situation seemed a bit dire. He wasn’t a combat-type ability user…
At this moment, Huang Sansheng had already aimed at him, his finger about to pull the trigger.
Long Xiang no longer hesitated and turned to run outside.
“Bang—” A crisp shattering sound rang out, glass shards mixed with smoke, burnt smell, and foot odor rushed in, directly pouncing towards him.
Three pairs of footsteps landed, rushing towards him, and it looked like they were about to catch him.
Long Xiang’s feet kept moving as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a metal object, yanked off the pull ring, and threw it back with all his might.
A blinding flash of light and a deafening noise erupted simultaneously, the shockwave from the explosion wreaking havoc in the room.
“Aw—” Huang Sansheng screamed in agony.
The three pursuers were momentarily blinded, their steps slowing down.
Seizing the opportunity, Long Xiang dashed down the corridor. This floor was his exclusive space; he had never liked unnecessary people wandering in front of him. Apart from the guard he had to bring along, the rest of the security team was stationed outside.
The soundproofing between the inside and outside was excellent. Usually, it was quite pleasant to conduct experiments alone; no matter how much the test subjects screamed, it wouldn’t leak out. But now, it had become a hassle.
After running for a while, Long Xiang was already panting. The original owner of this body was not someone who enjoyed exercising, and he himself was not a combat-type ability user. Together, they might not even be able to take down a goose.
After moving forward a bit more and seeing that he had distanced himself from Xiao Lu and the others, he finally took out his communicator to call for help.
Letting the guard team swarm in to deal with the three intruders would definitely be no problem. Even if they couldn’t, they could at least delay for a while, and by then, he would have already slipped away to a safe place.
But before he could press the button, a beam of light rushed in arrogantly, piercing through the communicator and even creating a hole in Long Xiang’s hand.
“Uh—” Long Xiang couldn’t help but cry out in pain.
Before he could catch his breath, a huge stainless steel basin fell from the sky, firmly trapping him inside, and his vision was instantly engulfed in darkness.
Then, Xiao Lu dashed forward, squatting on the basin with a loud “bang,” and maliciously patted it hard.
“Is the game fun?”
“Is pretending to be cool enjoyable?”
“Is being a dad satisfying?”
…
In an instant, the sound of “bang bang bang” echoed continuously, as if Xiao Lu had created a percussion band all by himself, welcoming everyone to the feast.
“……” Long Xiang inside the basin felt like he was about to go deaf.
Damn it, if you want to kill me, just do it quickly!
Huang Sansheng rubbed his slightly swollen eyes and quietly hissed. As expected of Brother Lu, look at how skilled he is at this mental pollution technique.
He stole a glance at Ye Qi. The film emperor was indeed the film emperor; even with the auditory assault, he remained unfazed.
When Xiao Lu was finally satisfied with his antics, he lifted the stainless steel basin and pulled out Long Xiang, who was seeing stars.
At this moment, Long Xiang was almost rolling his eyes, like a fish that had been dead for three days, completely motionless in Xiao Lu’s hands.
Xiao Lu pinched his neck and asked, “Who is behind you? Where is he?”
Long Xiang remained silent, looking as if he was determined to resist to the end.
Seeing him like this, Xiao Lu raised an eyebrow and asked Huang Sansheng behind him, “Ah Huang, do you still have any socks?”
Huang Sansheng recalled, “I should still have some. I remember I haven’t washed my socks for the past three weeks.”
Originally, Xiao Lu wanted him to take out a sock and stuff it in Long Xiang’s mouth as a threat, but hearing this made him hesitate.
If a week without washing socks was this terrifying, three weeks… Forget about Long Xiang, Xiao Lu suspected he would break down first.
Before Xiao Lu could express his thoughts, the feigning death Long Xiang couldn’t hold back any longer.
Unlike other disheveled Altered Ones, he was a refined fellow. Being a quick learner, he even had some understanding of human fashion trends, as evidenced by his well-groomed hairstyle and carefully coordinated outfit.
The original owner had a cleanliness obsession. Because of his special ability and the presence of guards around him, he had lived a clean and tidy life since arriving on Earth, naturally developing a habit of cleanliness.
Stinky socks!
Three weeks without washing them! Is this something a human can do?
Do you people even have any shame? Why are your methods so filthy?!
Xiao Lu naturally noticed Long Xiang’s muscles tense up suddenly, a sly smile appearing on his face. “You know? We humans have researched many punishments for dealing with our kind, from targeting the body to tormenting the mind, so many that they are countless.”
“Just so happens that we have everything we need at hand. What are you afraid of? We can try them one by one.”
He lowered his voice, his tone as cold as a snake spitting venom: “You shouldn’t expect us to let you go. Whether you die easily or painfully depends on your own choice…”
Ye Qi and Huang Sansheng also walked over, one with a cold expression and downcast eyes, the other forcing a grin that resembled a midnight butcher, as if he was about to take off his shoes at any moment.
“I… I’ll tell you,” Long Xiang finally compromised for a dignified death.
He gestured with his eyes for Xiao Lu to let go of his neck, but unfortunately, Xiao Lu remained unmoved, looking as if it would be useless no matter how much he screamed.
Xiao Lu: “You can’t create such a large Altered One base by yourself. Who is behind you?”
Helpless, Long Xiang could only confess in this awkward position: “It was the leader who arranged for me to conduct experiments here, and he also sent someone to help me control Chen Yu, as well as collect ability users from various places.”
“What about those people you captured? Don’t tell me they’re all here.” Xiao Lu asked.
Long Xiang: “I’m not clear about their specific whereabouts. That’s not within my purview. I don’t know how many people they’ve captured; I just need to receive them directly each time.”
Xiao Lu narrowed his eyes, revealing a hint of disdain for the uselessness.
Long Xiang immediately felt a surge of survival instinct and added, “However… I have overheard some conversations. Some successful test subjects are sent to the Shadow City, where… is our base.”
Shadow City, a metropolis famous for its film industry.
This place is the filming location for countless classic movies and the origin of almost all major film awards. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s a gathering of stars. It’s filled with dreams and ambitions; an unknown person serving food on the street might one day rise to become a popular actor.
But now, it has actually become a base for the Altered Ones.
In the original plot, the territory of the Altered Ones also included Shadow City, but it was unexpected that it was actually the first city to be occupied by the Altered Ones.
Xiao Lu: “Where is your leader?”
“He…” Long Xiang seemed to hesitate.
“Hum.” Huang Sansheng sneered, reaching for his shoes.
Long Xiang jolted and immediately said, “I really don’t know his exact location! Ever since I was defeated by him, I’ve been arranged to stay here, and there have always been his people guarding me. I can’t possibly know more about him.”
“If you find my bodyguard, maybe he will know.”
Xiao Lu: “Where is he?”
Long Xiang: “Not long ago, someone invaded the drug room, and I sent him to handle it, but he hasn’t returned. He might have been killed by you guys.”
“You’re not as loyal to your leader as I thought.” Xiao Lu found these Altered Ones more interesting than he had imagined; it turned out they weren’t all of one mind.
Long Xiang glanced aside: “In the face of power and status, there are things you humans can’t do, let alone other races.”
“True.” Xiao Lu smiled, “Last question, what is your leader’s name?”
Long Xiang decisively replied this time: “His name is Duan Kai, originally the youngest son of a film industry boss in Shadow City.”
Hearing this expected name, Xiao Lu’s expression remained unchanged. It was something he had almost confirmed; asking was just a formality to prevent any surprises.
No wonder Duan Kai was the first to occupy Shadow City; it turned out he had the advantage of identity.
Long Xiang suddenly spoke, his voice lowered: “I also know a secret about Duan Kai…”
The more he spoke, the quieter his voice became, and Xiao Lu couldn’t help but lean down, getting closer to him.
At that moment, the star patterns on Long Xiang’s body suddenly became extremely bright. He suddenly raised his hand to grab Xiao Lu, and the star patterns on his body seemed to come alive, spreading towards Xiao Lu.
Ye Qi sensed something was wrong and a cold blue barrier appeared, slicing through Long Xiang’s throat like a blade.
Half of Long Xiang’s neck was spewing blood, but his expression was resolute.
His previous confession was merely to lower Xiao Lu and the others’ guard.
Xiao Lu was strong, stronger than all his test subjects. As long as he controlled Xiao Lu, he wouldn’t have to worry about dealing with the other two. He could even use him to further his ambitions—competing for the position of leader.
He knew that the star patterns on Xiao Lu were of the prince level, the same level as Duan Kai! They could easily become the sharpest weapon pointing towards the throne.
As for the injuries on his body, as long as he didn’t die, he had plenty of ways to heal!
He just needed to hold on through this!
“It seems you don’t want to tell me Duan Kai’s secret.” Xiao Lu, half-covered by the strange star patterns, appeared calm.
“Once you… belong to me… I’ll take you to see.” Long Xiang’s voice was damaged due to the throat injury, but he was still desperately invading Xiao Lu’s consciousness, making one last effort.
Finally, he arrived in Xiao Lu’s consciousness world, but here was only a vast expanse of dark green mist, with no discernible origin, no tangible objects, and not a shred of useful information to be gleaned.
What is this thing?!
Long Xiang felt an immense pressure and fear from this boundless mist.
The mist seemed to be a giant beast lurking in the consciousness world, and upon discovering the intruder, it surged forward rapidly, violently expelling him.
Long Xiang was still in shock but had already been thrown out of the consciousness world.
At this moment, he realized that Xiao Lu was far away from him. How could it be so far? It was as if he was standing in a corner watching the other party.
As his gaze shifted down, Long Xiang saw the light blade that Xiao Lu had not yet dissipated, as well as the headless corpse that had fallen in front of him.
That was his body.
Long Xiang felt his strength rapidly draining away. Such severe injuries could not be repaired. Even if the star patterns had strong vitality, if the host body died, they could not survive alone.
He was about to die.
At the last moment, he used the little strength he had left to speak: “At the very bottom… in the secret room… there’s something to deal with… Duan Kai…”
A smile appeared on his gray face: “Go… find trouble with him…”
As his voice fell, the smile froze in an arc filled with anticipation and malice.
Huang Sansheng was somewhat puzzled: “What does he mean? Is he trying to trick us, or is he trying to trick his boss?”
Xiao Lu stood up: “Perhaps this is how a corporate worker feels about a heartless boss.”
Huang Sansheng scratched his chin and sighed: “The world of working people is truly terrifying.”
In the original plot, Xiao Keyang had several fortuitous encounters, almost all of which were specifically prepared to deal with Duan Kai. But that planner never appeared until the end of the story.
Perhaps it wasn’t that he didn’t want to appear, but that he couldn’t for some reason, such as death or imprisonment.
Seeing Long Xiang constantly making small moves under Duan Kai, it was hard not to raise suspicions. Yet, his fragile and weak body made it hard to have faith in the outcome of his struggle against Duan Kai.
Long Xiang’s spirit of resistance might be rare, but he was still an invader who disregarded human life. Regardless of who won between him and Duan Kai, it would be equally disastrous for humanity.
·
The three decided to take a look in the secret room at the very bottom.
They rummaged through Long Xiang’s office area, taking almost everything that looked like a passage tool.
Avoiding the guards along the way, they safely arrived at the lowest level.
There were no guards on this floor, but there were several thick security doors that could only be opened with Long Xiang’s exclusive identity card.
As they moved forward, Xiao Lu gradually felt a strange sense of oppression, as if some invisible weight had dropped onto his heart.
“Brother Lu, am I nervous? Why do I feel a bit out of breath?” Huang Sansheng clutched his chest.
Xiao Lu glanced at Huang Sansheng and then turned to Ye Qi: “Do you feel the same way?”
Ye Qi didn’t speak, just blinked, and Xiao Lu took that as confirmation.
It was impossible for all three to feel unwell at the same time, and Ivan hadn’t jumped out to warn them of dangerous substances in the air. The commonality among the three was— they were all ability users.
Recalling Long Xiang’s last words, the things hidden on this floor that could deal with Duan Kai might not only be effective against him but could also affect all those with star pattern abilities.
At that moment, something flashed through Xiao Lu’s mind—Starship.
Starships are the vehicles used by star patterns while wandering in the universe. They can protect star patterns in the cosmic environment while also suppressing the abilities of the star patterns, forcing them into a deep sleep until they reach the next planet.
However, the use of starships is limited; only prince-level powers can utilize them.
In the original plot, Xiao Keyang discovered one in a ruin, and it naturally became one of his trump cards.
Unexpectedly, at this plot point, the starship was actually in Long Xiang’s hands. No wonder he thought it was a weapon against Duan Kai and actively tried to take action against Xiao Lu.
Perhaps the reason he could detach the star patterns was due to the starship’s ability.
At the end of the passage was a spacious room, dark and empty, with a half-human-high platform quietly displaying a palm-sized transparent crystal, surrounded by thick, specially made glass barriers.
This was the starship; star patterns have no physical form, and this size was already sufficient to contain all star patterns within.
Xiao Lu gradually approached the starship, and the nameless sense of oppression became even more pronounced.
But at the same time, there was also a vague attraction, as if it was calling him closer.
“What are you doing here?” A familiar voice suddenly sounded from the darkness.
Faster than the voice was the light that rushed towards Xiao Lu.
This beam of light came with great force, and even though Xiao Lu sensed the crisis and quickly dodged, he was still grazed on the cheek.
Xiao Lu raised his hand to touch the bloodstain on his face, which came from the same source of power—Xiao Keyang.
Xiao Keyang’s figure emerged from the shadows, walking briskly as if he were taking a stroll.
He looked at Xiao Lu, his gaze scrutinizing: “I thought I was the only one who could find this place. It seems I underestimated you.”
At this moment, Xiao Lu keenly sensed that something was different about Xiao Keyang. The radiant power was more abundant, and his attack speed was significantly faster than before.
Clearly, when he had fought with him before, Xiao Keyang hadn’t been that strong.
What had happened to Xiao Keyang in such a short time? Was it another fortuitous encounter brought by the protagonist’s halo?
Xiao Keyang stepped closer, but he was alone; the person who had been following him like a tail was nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Lu frowned: “Where’s Chai Yige?”
Xiao Keyang’s expression didn’t change: “He had a little discovery along the way, so he split off from me.”
“Liar.” Xiao Lu saw through Xiao Keyang’s lie at a glance.
Only he knew Chai Yige’s purpose in following Xiao Keyang. A person who was solely focused on how to cling to a big shot would never separate from his life-saving charm just because of a discovery. He couldn’t take anything from this world.
Chai Yige couldn’t have voluntarily left Xiao Keyang.
They had only been separated for a few hours, and in such a short time, Xiao Keyang’s strength had surged; there must have been some fortuitous encounter.
Perhaps it was the drug room that Long Xiang had mentioned earlier.
Then, Chai Yige’s disappearance at this moment was somewhat intriguing. Perhaps he had seen something that made Xiao Keyang feel wary, so…
Xiao Lu: “Is he dead?”
Xiao Keyang revealed a sardonic smile: “I didn’t realize you cared so much about him.”
This reaction made Xiao Lu certain: “You killed him.”
For a moment, no one spoke.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Keyang’s smile widened, appearing somewhat sinister in the dim room, the answer was self-evident.
Huang Sansheng couldn’t help but speak: “You even turned on your own teammate, Char Siu Brother, you’re not human.”
Xiao Keyang glanced at him.
Xiao Lu quietly gestured behind his back to Ye Qi, signaling him to take Huang Sansheng away.
Compared to Long Xiang, who was absent in the original plot, he had always been more wary of Xiao Keyang.
Xiao Keyang was not the kind of righteous protagonist; he wasn’t even a good person. He was quite self-centered, treating others with a kind of inherent indifference and coldness. In the original plot, under the teachings and regulations of Mo Yisheng, this trait wasn’t so prominent, but now that he had joined the Night, his cold-hearted nature had become particularly evident.
Facing the protagonist who had gained strength through fortuitous encounters was not an easy task, especially for those like them who had past grievances with the protagonist.
Perhaps, with a flash of the protagonist’s halo, one of them would be chosen as a sacrificial lamb.
Unfortunately, all three of them were sacrificial lambs.
Confronting the protagonist was Xiao Lu’s own choice; he didn’t want to put his two friends, who had walked with him to this point and were already battered, in danger.
“Brother Lu—” Huang Sansheng was unwilling to leave.
“Go.” Xiao Lu didn’t look back, his gaze fixed on Xiao Keyang.
Xiao Keyang looked at Ye Qi, who was covered in bloodstains, then glanced at Huang Sansheng, who was burnt and dusty, and at his blistered hands, his tone cold: “Did I allow you to leave?”
Xiao Lu stepped closer to him, the star patterns on his body glowing: “Do I need your permission?”
“With me here, can you still keep them?”
Xiao Keyang’s gaze wandered between the three, ultimately returning to Xiao Lu: “Let the unrelated people leave; it’s fine for us brothers to catch up.”
Ye Qi understood Xiao Lu’s meaning and actively pulled the reluctant Huang Sansheng away. Just as they were about to exit the room, he cast a steady glance at Xiao Lu.
That gaze was somewhat complex, like a calm surface concealing turbulent undercurrents beneath the sea.
Unfortunately, at that moment, everyone had different perspectives, and only Xiao Keyang could see that expression.
“Ye Qi, take Ah Huang out, and don’t think about coming back,” Xiao Lu said without turning around, yet it was as if he could see all of Ye Qi’s movements.
“I will come find you,” Xiao Lu stated calmly.
“……” Ye Qi took one last look at Xiao Lu’s back and left with Huang Sansheng.
Only the two brothers remained in the room.
“You really are confident, my dear brother,” Xiao Keyang said with a half-smile.
“Of course, have you forgotten who helped you with your assignments and songs? My little brother who can only score 31 in math,” Xiao Lu replied with a smile.
Xiao Keyang may be stronger but he’s dumber! Screw that lousy excuse of a protagonist
Hahaha stupid