EDEH Chapter 6

[007 Diary Entry 4]

 

[The little evil dragon met observation subject 006—Hill, a lady very similar to Dr. Anya.

 

Gentleness is the most powerful quality in peaceful times. It’s still admirable in the collapse era, but perhaps lacks some sharpness.]

·

 

Huo Yanji left.

 

The hospital room was empty, and Sang Jue finally had a chance to exchange information with 007.

 

Sang Jue asked: “The spacecraft is still two hundred kilometers away from me… is it inside the city?”

 

007 said: “Although the main city’s area is far more than two hundred square kilometers, you’re not currently in the central area. The spacecraft could be inside the city or outside.”

 

007 added: “I’m infiltrating the surrounding network domains and will load the main city’s map as soon as possible. But due to the main city’s low computer technology level, it needs some processing time. You don’t need to rush—you can go do whatever you want to do first.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Sang Jue didn’t do anything stupid like pulling out the IV needle the moment Huo Yanji left. He obediently waited for the drip bottle to empty before pressing the bedside bell to call a nurse to help remove the needle.

 

The nurse gave him a cotton swab: “Press it for a while longer.”

 

Sang Jue: “Thank you.”

 

The nurse’s heart softened, and she rubbed his head: “Be more careful in the future. I don’t want to see you in the hospital again.”

 

Sang Jue obediently responded: “Mm!”

 

After the nurse left, he went to the mirror to check his body. All the messy bandages he had applied himself were gone, and the scrapes were all protected by neat new bandages.

 

Only the band-aid Huo Yanji had put on him remained.

 

Actually, Sang Jue’s self-healing ability was very strong. Small injuries basically didn’t need treatment, and scrapes like these would heal in a day or two at most.

 

But not wanting to arouse suspicion, even though the bandage on his neck was uncomfortable, Sang Jue didn’t remove it.

 

He came to the floor-to-ceiling window of the hospital room. Gray high-rises reflected in his eyes as he carefully observed the main city of humans on this planet.

 

The architectural colors here were very different from the cities on his home planet. Perhaps because they were in the apocalypse, humans no longer had much energy to improve their living environment.

 

The uniform gray high-rises looked very oppressive, crowded and dense, building against building, suffocating.

 

The distance between the two buildings across from each other was probably only about the shoulder width of two adults. You could jump from this balcony to the ventilation unit across the way.

 

Thieves would probably love this place.

 

Even though it was morning, it didn’t make one feel like breathing was any easier.

 

Last night’s torrential rain outside the city continued into the city, making splashing sounds against the glass.

 

Every step on the ground created a puddle, splashing raindrops, but few people carried umbrellas. There was even someone wearing a worn leather jacket, bare-chested, drinking while looking up and letting the rain pour on him freely.

 

Within two seconds, the drunk leather-jacket man startled and dodged aside as an iron rail car approached from behind, stopping beside a flashing blue sign not far away.

 

Looking carefully, he discovered that every road on the ground had single-line rails—this was the main city’s only public transportation.

 

“Knock knock.” Someone knocked on the hospital room door.

 

“Mm…?” Sang Jue turned around. The visitor was a gentle young military officer.

 

“I’m Zhang Min, adjutant to General Huo Yanji.”

 

“…General?” Sang Jue had guessed that Huo Yanji’s position might be high, but hadn’t expected it to be this high.

 

“Yes. Thank you for your report. Supervisor Terrell is under investigation.” Zhang Min smiled and handed over a certificate. “You can take this to the Creation Office to apply for an identity card. Normally you’d have to queue for a long time, but the General opened a green channel for you.”

 

“Thank you…”

 

Zhang Min took out a small backpack that better fit Sang Jue’s frame: “This is what the General asked me to prepare for you. Inside are two sets of clothes and some nutritional supplements.”

 

Worthy of fragrant Huo Yanji—truly a good person.

 

Sang Jue reminisced for a second: “Can I see him again?”

 

Zhang Min had already heard about last night’s commotion.

 

Even seeing the person involved, he found it hard to imagine the youth acting spoiled toward his superior.

 

However, Sang Jue’s appearance was indeed very advantageous—it was hard for people to show him a bad attitude.

 

“If fate allows, you’ll meet again.” Zhang Min chuckled, saying meaningfully, “The General personally leads patrols in the city every Sunday.”

 

“Thank you.” Sang Jue understood and blinked.

 

Zhang Min walked out of the hospital room and looked back: “See you again if fate allows.”

 

After Zhang Min left, Sang Jue took off the loose hospital gown and put on the clean clothes from the backpack. Si Fu’s backpack was indeed a bit big for Sang Jue, so he moved everything inside to the small backpack Zhang Min had brought.

 

He muttered to himself: “First go get the identity card, then go to the research institute to get the mission completion certificate.”

 

He left the hospital room and hadn’t walked two steps when he bumped into Dr. Eugene coming out of the adjacent room.

 

Sang Jue glanced inside. Lu Tiancong, the Team Eight captain that Dr. Eugene had mentioned earlier, was leaning against the hospital bed, staring blankly at the torrential rain outside the window.

 

One of his legs was gone, his left thigh wrapped in gauze at the root, his right leg hanging limply beside the bed.

 

Seeing his curiosity, Eugene explained: “Lu Tiancong chose simian contamination genes. The fusion wasn’t particularly successful and left some surface characteristics that couldn’t be removed, like excessively vigorous hair growth. But fortunately, he perfectly gained simian abilities—agility, speed, strength, and could even kick through a moving human body with enough velocity.”

 

Kicking away and kicking through were two different things. Many people could kick someone away, but to kick through a person with one leg required incredible speed…

 

But Lu Tiancong had lost a leg. He could never do what he used to do.

 

“He was trained toward evolution from childhood, went on missions with others at sixteen, and for fourteen years until now, he’s maintained his sanity without losing order. Suddenly losing a leg means erasing the meaning of his existence.”

 

Eugene sighed softly: “He must be thinking now that even sacrificing himself in the waste water would be better than living out the rest of his life in decadence.”

 

“Waste water?”

 

“A very dangerous place…” Eugene sighed. “If it’s not resolved, the waste water will become a super-large artificial contamination source, more troublesome than the cracks.”

 

Sang Jue couldn’t really empathize with these things.

 

He asked: “Excuse me, how do I get to the research institute?”

 

“You don’t seem troubled at all.” Eugene laughed and gave a brief description. “Just go downstairs and take rail car 45-2, but before that you need to have an identity card. The Creation Office is three kilometers away.”

 

Having learned the general route, Sang Jue said goodbye.

 

“Ding—” The elevator door opened.

 

Sang Jue stood by the roadside, and an unfamiliar feeling arose spontaneously.

 

The towering, closely packed high-rises gave him a stronger sense of oppression than the forest ruins outside. This was the first time he had seen so many people, coming and going, all kinds of people.

 

Everyone here was different from him, even the ordinary people without aberrations.

 

Regardless of gender, physical training was something they experienced from childhood. Even an ordinary resident might face the risk of Deviant creatures breaking through the city defenses someday, so even if they didn’t need to fight, they had to learn how to fight.

 

No one was as frail, pale, and lacking in muscle as him. Even the fist of a roadside drunk was almost bigger than his face.

 

A man with long tentacles entered Sang Jue’s field of vision. He was holding a woman in his arms, walking while using his deep purple tentacles to explore under her skirt, flirting and bantering as they walked into an alley.

 

Sang Jue couldn’t help but steal several glances.

 

A bit lewd.

 

Such situations were common, mostly involving low-level fusion Deviants who couldn’t change their external form. Ordinary people always kept their distance from them.

 

Sang Jue tried to walk close to the roadside. There were many small taverns around, and the heavy rain poured down, raging unrestrained throughout the city.

 

However, the residents didn’t mind. They either stood in the rain or drank strong liquor while talking about dangerous incidents from their missions, then looked at each other and laughed heartily.

 

Combined with the colorful neon lights, it seemed absurd and decadent.

 

In the era of collapse, alcohol was perhaps the only spiritual supplement and a powerful anesthetic.

 

No matter who was lost today, no matter what was seen outside today, it could all be numbed with alcohol—tomorrow would be a new day, and even if it wouldn’t be better, it wouldn’t be worse either.

 

His stomach was getting a bit hungry. Sang Jue was attracted by the aroma of fried food—it was a small shop making potato strips.

 

There were many people in line, and it looked delicious—but he had no money.

 

There were still a few nutritional supplements and two or three packets of compressed biscuits in his backpack, but they were both hard to swallow and insufficient. At most, they would last two meals.

 

“Little guy has no money to eat? I’ll treat you…”

 

An oily voice came from behind, and a greasy hand touched Sang Jue’s shoulder.

 

Sang Jue instinctively twisted back with his hand, and the man who came into view let out a piercing scream: “Ahh!!”

 

He smelled the desire on the man.

 

Sang Jue was very troubled. He was a male evil dragon—why did all these people want to mate with him?

 

Sang Jue said unhappily: “You scared me. You need to compensate me for emotional distress.”

 

The man clutched his wrist, trembling in pain: “I haven’t even asked you to pay for medical expenses!”

 

Sang Jue: “The one who makes the first move is despicable. This is self-defense.”

 

The man wanted to argue further, but seeing a supervisor patrol team approaching in the distance, he had to leave resentfully.

 

He was an Deviant—those annoying supervisors definitely wouldn’t side with him.

 

Sang Jue didn’t pursue him either, continuing to look at the potato strip shop.

 

Now it was time to stare at potato strips to stave off hunger.

 

A woman who had watched this farce from afar walked to his side: “Want some potato strips?”

 

Sang Jue turned around and was stunned. This woman had the same long, beautiful curly hair as the doctor, but a different color—the doctor’s was deep chestnut, hers was golden.

 

Sang Jue said honestly: “I don’t have money.”

 

The woman smiled and said: “It’s okay, I’ll treat you.”

 

She went to order two servings of potato strips and turned to ask Sang Jue if he wanted them spicy.

 

Sang Jue, who had originally wanted to refuse, couldn’t resist the temptation: “I’ll pay you back—make it spicy.”

 

So the two sat down at a shabby little table by the entrance. Sang Jue picked up one and ate it—it tasted quite good.

 

He had thought the two servings were one for each person, but the woman had no intention of eating.

 

“Why aren’t you eating?”

 

“This is too oily, doesn’t suit my taste.”

 

She quietly watched Sang Jue, as if she had many things to say, but in the end didn’t utter a word, just accompanied Sang Jue as he finished the potato strips: “Still hungry?”

 

Sang Jue shook his head: “Not hungry anymore, thank you.”

 

“Did you lose your identity card?” The woman smiled. “The city provides meal subsidies every month, and this is only the first day of the month.”

 

Sang Jue hesitated and told a small lie: “During a mission, my identity card was lost outside…”

 

Theoretically, entering the city required identity card verification. The woman didn’t expose his clumsy lie, just reminded him: “If it’s lost, you should go to the Creation Office to get a replacement as soon as possible.”

 

Sang Jue obediently responded: “Okay.”

 

He was always well-behaved toward fragrant people.

 

The doctor was fragrant, Huo Yanji was fragrant, and this woman was also very fragrant.

 

As soon as they finished speaking, cold broadcasts echoed through all the streets of the main city.

 

“Please note, residents must carry their identity cards at all times. All residents please follow regulations and cooperate with inspections.”

 

The patrol team that had scared away the pervert earlier arrived, stopping at the shop entrance to check everyone one by one. It was almost Sang Jue’s turn.

 

He clenched his hands, somewhat nervous, not knowing if the certificate Zhang Min had given him would suffice.

 

However, the soldier first checked the woman who had treated him to potato strips. After just one glance, he immediately saluted: “Dr. Hill, on behalf of all members of Patrol Team 27, I greet you.”

 

“Thank you.” Hill smiled. “I’m chatting with a friend about some matters. Could you…?”

 

The patrol team captain understood her subtext and left without checking Sang Jue.

 

—After all, who would have thought that Dr. Hill, who had developed countless crops suitable for apocalypse cultivation and ensured survivors no longer went hungry, would be chatting with a little evil dragon without an identity card?

 

Hill was very gentle: “Go get it replaced quickly. Getting caught without one means going to jail.”

 

Sang Jue had already realized who she was: “Are you treating me to potato strips because of Wu Ke?”

 

Hill was the researcher who appeared in Wu Ke’s diary, the one Wu Ke had been thinking about constantly.

 

“I came to see you because of him, but I’m treating you to potato strips because I like you.”

 

The youth, frailer than anyone else, stood obediently at the snack shop entrance, looking at the oil-splattered pot without any ulterior motive—not to gain pity, but as if he had nowhere to go and was just looking at plums to quench his thirst.

 

Very endearing.

 

“Thank you for liking me. The potato strips were delicious.”

 

Sang Jue rummaged through his backpack and took out Wu Ke’s belongings: “This is Wu Ke’s diary, clothes, and a maple leaf badge.”

 

Hill took the diary and flipped through two pages.

 

She gently caressed a certain page and line for a while, then pushed it back to him.

 

Sang Jue asked in confusion: “Don’t you want it?”

 

“Wu Ke and I weren’t lovers, we just met a few times. This morning, the forget-worry vine and a humanoid creature were sent to my laboratory, but he didn’t appear.”

 

Sang Jue thought for a moment and comforted: “Don’t be sad.”

 

“I’m okay, I just never knew he liked me. The humanoid creature that impersonated him not only consumed his genes but also devoured his longing.”

 

The humanoid creature, no longer in human form, made broken, hoarse sounds, constantly calling her name: ‘Hill, Hill…’

 

Hill said calmly and gently: “I think understanding his complete feelings for me is one of the few respects I can offer.”

 

So she had actively sought out Sang Jue.

 

Hill said: “Wu Ke was a child born in the underground city, with no parents or family. His belongings have nowhere to go. If they’re useful to you, he would be very happy.”

 

Sang Jue accepted the record book—he could use it to record things himself.

 

“As for this maple leaf badge… perhaps you could help deliver it to the lighthouse.” Hill handed him a bag and stood up. “This umbrella is for you, along with the mission completion certificate.”

 

Sang Jue: “Thank you…”

 

Hill looked back with a smile: “Goodbye, little one.”

 

She opened another umbrella and walked into the rain.

 

Her elegant silhouette was very much like Dr. Anya’s. They were equally gentle and beautiful, but Sang Jue knew she wasn’t—just somewhat similar.

 

The rain grew heavier, and people gradually took shelter under awnings. Sang Jue sat among the chaotic crowd, with the gray city and torrential rain as backdrop, writing in his diary—

 

[Missing the doctor, day one. Woke up in the hospital room.

 

Saw the planet’s main city. So crowded, but the land beneath their feet is one of the few uncontaminated refuges they have left.

 

They live so hard.

 

In the adjacent hospital room was a very pitiful patient who lost a leg and can no longer fight. Dr. Eugene said he lost the meaning of life.

 

If this were a peaceful era, life could have many meanings. Here, it seems there are none.

 

After leaving the hospital, I also met Wu Ke’s secret crush. She’s very much like the doctor and treated me to potato strips. The potato strips were delicious—would be better with more chili peppers. Suggest improvement.

 

Finally, about Huo Yanji who brought me into the main city. He’s a human general, very young and capable, but he suspects I’m not human. I’m somewhat angry.

 

But I really am not human… Well, I forgive him.

 

Huo Yanji also smells very good. Want to eat him.

 

Could he be my prince?

 

If not, can I eat him?

 

Evil Dragon, December 1st]

 

Sang Jue’s expression of liking things was always straightforward. He liked gems and also liked eating gems.

 

By extension, humans he liked could also be eaten.

 

Once eaten, they would be his forever, never fading with time.

 

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