Chapter 102

Chapter 102

Tang Xian'an was actually crying.

Lu Yan froze for a moment, then earnestly consulted his system. "In this situation... should I open my eyes?"

The system was furious. [What?! You're asking me that? Hurting a single system's feelings every day, is there no one in charge here?!]

After a brief consideration, Lu Yan chose to open his eyes and look at Tang Xian'an. The man's silver eyes were speckled with red, his expression one of helpless exhaustion.

Tang Xian'an flinched. The next instant, he held his breath, trying to force the tears back. It only seemed to make them fall faster.

"Don't cry," Lu Yan said.

He wanted to move his fingers, but his weakened body made even blinking a laborious effort.

The last time he'd seen Tang Xian'an, the man had been crying too.

Lu Yan had a feeling if Tang Xian'an kept this up, he might just get hard.

Fortunately, Tang Xian'an regained his composure quickly. A long illness makes a patient their own doctor; after so many years on the front lines, he'd broken every bone in his body and watched countless people die before his eyes. He knew the difference between life hanging by a thread and a severe but recovering wound.

Lu Yan was clearly the latter.

Awakened ones possessed formidable regenerative abilities. A normal fracture could heal in ten days, some even in two or three.

Avoiding the bones prone to misalignment, Tang Xian'an placed his hand over Lu Yan's wounds and held his breath slightly.

The system roared. [This bastard!! Where is he putting his hand?!]

Lu Yan's worst injuries were at his waist and legs.

He'd been bisected fighting the doctor. Later, in the basement, he'd encountered the wife with her steel needles. One thrust, one blood hole. A direct puncture through the tendons of his leg.

[Talent 3 - Time]

This talent held no inherent healing power, but regeneration under the influence of time granted Lu Yan a phoenix-like restorative ability.

His physical wounds closed at a visible rate.

Within mere seconds, damaged flesh was made new, smooth and unblemished without a single scar.

The pain finally receded, though a deep weariness remained. His body temperature began to climb abnormally.

The system said, [Healing the injuries requires energy, and fusing with Wang Yu will also make you drowsy... Sleep. I'll keep watch.]

Lu Yan didn't sleep immediately. He pushed himself up and caught the sleeve of Tang Xian'an's jacket.

"I'm going into hibernation. It might take two or three days to wake. Don't worry. Also, I don't want anyone else to see me while I'm out..."

Mid-sentence, clutching Tang Xian'an's arm, he fell asleep.

His head rested against Tang Xian'an's chest, breathing slow and even.

Unless forced by circumstances, Lu Yan found true sleep nearly impossible in unfamiliar environments. On many official trips, he'd merely lean against a wall and doze, never fully surrendering to unconsciousness. Thankfully, after his Awakening, he didn't need as much sleep. Otherwise, he'd have died from exhaustion long ago.

It was Tang Xian'an's presence that made him feel safe.

Lu Yan's fingernails were sharp, like a cat's that hadn't been trimmed in too long. They scratched against fabric with a pointed sting.

Tang Xian'an glanced down, noticing Lu Yan's unexpectedly slender fingers, which seemed to have an extra joint.

Carefully, he slid an arm under Lu Yan's back and knees, lifting him. He took off his own jacket and draped it over the sleeping man.

If it were just the two of them here, Tang Xian'an would have held him like this indefinitely.

Unfortunately, there was someone else in the water, bobbing up and down, half a wing visible. He couldn't pretend not to see.

He laid Lu Yan on the production table, then fished Michael out of the drainage channel.

A bowl-sized wound gaped on Michael's neck, courtesy of the mature Wang Yu's bite. Patches of feathers were missing from his wings, making him look like a plucked and bled pigeon.

Tang Xian'an rummaged through Michael's pockets, found the special medication, and shoved it into his mouth.

The Research Institute had developed targeted medications for Awakened with high pollution values, tailored to their specific aberration paths. This was why the drugs grew more expensive at higher levels.

The beak threatening to emerge from Michael's face receded. The feathers on his arms diminished.

Under the lingering effects of time, pink flesh buds began knitting together over the hole in Michael's neck.

Michael weakly cracked an eye open. "Is... is this Heaven? Old Tang, did you sacrifice yourself too?"

His pale blue eyes instantly welled up. "When did you die? Are the Homo sapiens extinct... We're finished."

He tried to pass out again.

Tang Xian'an moved fast, pinching the philtrum above Michael's lip. "Don't sleep. At 5 AM today, global pollution values spiked simultaneously. Tracking points to Crohman Manor as the origin. What did you encounter?"

Tears sprang to Michael's eyes from the pinch, but he grew more alert. "What? That serious?"

"Yes. That's why I came from the First District."

A diligent public servant to the core, Michael fought through his headache and gave a thorough account of their expedition, ending with a groan. "This mission was only worth 70,000 contribution points. A total loss. Okay, I'm going back to sleep now..."

Tang Xian'an fell into thought.

He had assumed the wife was the strongest pollutant here. He never imagined it would be the infant she birthed.

When the ghost infant bit Michael, the angel had lent his Holy Light to Lu Yan, planning a desperate trade—his life for Lu Yan's, hoping the message would get out.

By then, Michael had been completely incapacitated and unconscious. So who, in the end, had killed that terrifying little monster?

Tang Xian'an's gaze shifted to the ghost infant's remains. It wasn't tall, only about four feet. It had died standing on its hind legs, now just a skeletal frame.

He reached out, tracing the air above the twisted damage on the creature's skull, mimicking the motion.

A hand had gripped this head. A hand with unusually long fingers. Not quite like a normal human hand.

As this thought formed, a chill, unnatural wind swept through the basement.

The skeleton before Tang Xian'an swayed. The monster's skull dropped to the floor, shattering into dust. The entire skeleton collapsed like sand.

Tang Xian'an stared, motionless.

The logistics team finally arrived with stretchers, belatedly.

The place was far safer than they'd anticipated.

Blond medical personnel lifted the two patients, preparing to transport them to the local Research Institute for emergency care.

Tang Xian'an addressed them in English. "Two of the Awakened on this mission are from the First District. I'm responsible for taking them back."

A staff member from the Third District Pollution Disease Prevention Center looked uncomfortable. "But, Mr. Tang, their injuries require quiet recuperation..."

The main issue was that the investigation wasn't complete. Letting key personnel return to the First District meant losing control of the situation. Furthermore, sending them to the Third District's research institute would allow them to obtain some precious samples...

Tang Xian'an cut in. "I've examined them. Their bodies are already in recovery. They'll receive better treatment back home."

"But—"

Tang Xian'an's golden eyes fixed on him. "This is a notification."

The blond staff member's heart chilled. He lowered his head. "Understood."

*

Although the Third District's work efficiency was generally low, the First District diplomats stationed there operated with impressive efficiency.

That very afternoon, Tang Xian'an boarded a passenger plane home with his charges.

Lu Yan woke briefly mid-flight to drink some water.

The high fever left his lips pale, his brow furrowed even in sleep.

Fortunately, the plane had a bunk, allowing Lu Yan to rest lying down.

Also on board were researchers from home, specifically the Seventh Research Institute, whose focus was the edible modification of plant-based pollutants. They were intensely interested in Yan Bei.

Yan Bei, however, remained aloof, mostly listening to the researchers' monologues. Though places like the First Institute—full of fanatics—were rare.

Seeing Yan Bei's disinterest, the researchers switched to professional mode and began treatment. Even in the rudimentary environment of the plane, they successfully prepared a nutrient solution to Yan Bei's liking.

Yan Bei looked genuinely surprised and murmured a quiet, "Thank you."

The flight from the Third District to City A took eleven hours.

Yan Bei would be escorted by staff back to the Prevention Center headquarters. Once his pollution value stabilized, he'd file the required mission report.

Tang Xian'an, who had only conducted search and rescue without engaging in combat, had already completed his own report on the return journey.

Driven by an inexplicable intuition, he omitted the handprint he'd seen on the small monster's skull.

Tang Xian'an took Lu Yan to his own home.

Lu Yan was still filthy. After a moment's hesitation, Tang Xian'an used warm water to gently wipe the grime from his exposed skin.

Hours before, during the peak of his fever, scales had covered Lu Yan's body, his breathing erratic—sometimes rapid, sometimes dangerously slow.

As Tang Xian'an cleaned him, Lu Yan unconsciously nuzzled his head against the damp towel, and consequently, against Tang Xian'an's hand.

Tang Xian'an froze by the bedside. After a pause, he pressed his lips together tightly.

If his tail were out, it would probably have been wagging mid-air.

……

……

Lu Yan woke on the second night back in the country.

His throat was parched. Thankfully, a thermos on the bedside table held water. He drank half the bottle and surveyed his surroundings.

The room was familiar—Tang Xian'an's place. He'd stayed here for a while before.

Lu Yan headed to the bathroom for a shower, the hot water finally making him feel human again.

He wiped the steam from the mirror and looked at his reflection.

The physical signs of aberration had faded from his body, except for his eyes. The dark irises were gone, replaced by a striking silver.

Silver irises, with pupils the color of deep red.

Like a crimson moon reflected on the still, dark surface of a lake.

The system chimed in. [Congratulations, host. You have successfully assimilated a new Wang Yu. The corresponding body part for this fish is the eyes. The dropped skill book is Talent 14—Mental Reconstruction.]

[Mental Reconstruction refers to the restructuring of mental space. Memory, cognitive ability, the five senses—anything related to the brain falls under its domain. It is the most powerful talent a psychic-type Awakened can possess.]

[Although the skill you've unlocked is incomplete, it is an exceptionally rare and potent talent. In fact, if not for… certain circumstances, you should have received its lesser substitute: Hypnosis.]

[These eyes will significantly increase your immunity to psychic-type pollution.]

[Serious reminder: Pay close attention to the disparity in spiritual power thresholds and pollution values when using it.]

Lu Yan blinked several times, confirming he couldn't make the red in his pupils fade.

He wrapped a towel around himself and went to look for the hairdryer. A knock sounded at the door.

[Tang Xian'an is outside. He's been keeping watch for two days. Honestly, in the middle of the night, I don't recommend letting him in. What kind of decent person knocks on a door at three in the morning?]

Lu Yan didn't consider himself particularly decent either.

He changed into casual clothes and opened the door.

Tang Xian'an stood in the hallway.

His gaze landed on Lu Yan, hair still damp. "I heard movement. Came to check on you."

"I was worried."

Lu Yan's tone was even. "I'm fine."

Tang Xian'an's eyes fixed on Lu Yan's unusually long, slender fingers. "For future missions… can I come with you?"

He'd lost count of how many times he'd endured this awful feeling.

It had been so close. Lu Yan had almost been gone.

The world was too dangerous. Even Tang Xian'an couldn't guarantee he could solve every problem. But at the very least… if he was by Lu Yan's side, he could die first.

His voice was steady, devoid of any extreme emotion.

Yet Lu Yan had the inexplicable sense that Tang Xian'an sounded… deeply aggrieved.