Chapter 241: Mutation
Chapter 241: Mutation
After the knife-wielding man left, the silver-haired man leaned back in his seat, awaiting the resolution of the situation. He suspected that the anomaly was likely caused by that young troublemaker, and believed that eliminating him would put an end to the anomaly.
In reality, most anomalies were like this, especially in remote areas where few people had proper citizen status, making it easy to handle.
However, after waiting for a while, a gunshot echoed from a distance. The silver-haired man frowned and inquired through his Boundary Vessel:
"Da Chen, what's going on?"
A voice immediately responded in his ear, "There's a fighter inside, and he has implants. They also have guns, so it's a bit troublesome."
The silver-haired man cursed, "This rundown place is always full of trouble."
He turned and asked, "An Dan, can you interfere with them?"
Sitting behind him was a short-haired woman with purple eye makeup, looking somewhat languid. An implant extended from her neck to her back and the back of her head, adorned with exquisite decorations.
She nodded slightly at his question and closed her eyes, seemingly making a connection. After a while, she said, "Alright, I've transmitted false cognitions to the fighter's implant, and I've also severed his Boundary Vessel's field link."
"Good."
The silver-haired man then instructed Da Chen, "Hurry up and take care of it." He summoned his favorite music through his Boundary Vessel and began to play it. Instantly, a long howl echoed in his ears.
This was his favorite song by the Wolf Legend Band - "The Legend of the Wolf." As the music played, his body swayed to the rhythm:
"Madness, surging like ocean waves..."
"Arrogant, unrestrained, like a lone wolf..."
"Under the vast sky, I am a running wolf..."
In no time, Da Chen returned, his knife covered in blood.
The silver-haired man opened his eyes and looked out the car window, "Is it done?"
Da Chen nodded.
"Let's go," the silver-haired man said.
Da Chen sheathed his knife and got into the car, and the off-road vehicle turned around and left.
On their way back, Chen Chuan and Lao Qi encountered a light drizzle, and the sky grew dark. The headlights of passing vehicles and neon lights reflected through the rain, creating blurry patches of color on the car windows.
Chen Chuan asked, "Lao Qi, do you know where I can buy a map of the Central City?"
Lao Qi thought for a moment and replied, "About two kilometers from here, there's an old magazine shop that sells maps."
"Then, could you take me there? I might also buy some other things. We're not far from the Academy now, so I can walk from there. You should head back early too."
Lao Qi agreed, and after three or four minutes, the car pulled up to the entrance of a shop and slowly parked on the side of the road. Chen Chuan bid farewell to Lao Qi and got out of the car. Soon, he found a small shop with a narrow entrance about ten meters away, where he successfully purchased a map.
People like him, who wore mid-range Boundary Vessels, could easily find their way by searching on the platform. However, maps were essential for many others who didn't have much money and could only afford second or third-hand Boundary Vessels with limited dialogue functions. When visiting unfamiliar places, they either had to rely on nearby boundary point inquiries or use maps.
Chen Chuan bought the map to facilitate his search for the address his parents had left him.
He couldn't use his Boundary Vessel to search, as it would leave a trace.
Even if he found the location, he didn't plan to go there immediately. Instead, he intended to wait for a while, as he wasn't sure if anyone else was monitoring the situation.
At that moment, the rain was falling from the sky, but he didn't rush back. Instead, he strolled along the street sheltered by a glass canopy, surrounded by bustling crowds. The surrounding lightboxes flashed with bright words and patterns, and the damp wind occasionally brushed against his cheeks. In the distance, lights twinkled.
He stopped at a tram station, and a sound caught his attention. Turning around, he saw a giant silhouette of a man and a woman appearing on the wall of a building. Their bodies displayed various implant advertisements, and their gentle voices took turns introducing the conveniences brought by implants.
Soon, the tram arrived at the station.
As Chen Chuan was about to board the tram with the crowd, Lao Qi's contact icon began to flash. He took a look and answered the call, asking, "Lao Qi, is something wrong?"
Lao Qi's voice sounded anxious, "Chen, Brother, Chong Dage just sent me a message, but it cut off halfway. I tried asking again, but there was no response. Is there a problem?"
Chen Chuan's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked, "Lao Qi, have you reached home yet?"
"Not yet. Do you want to go back and check? I'll come and pick you up right away."
"Is everything okay at your home?"
"Yes, I've already informed them."
"I'm at the station. I'll send you my location."
After ending the call with Lao Qi, Chen Chuan pondered for a moment. The haunting tale had been buried, and as long as Xiao Man didn't personally dig it up, there shouldn't be any further issues.
Unless...
He hoped it wasn't the case.
In just a few minutes, Lao Qi's car arrived, and Chen Chuan got in. Lao Qi said, "I wonder what happened to Chong Dage?"
Chen Chuan replied, "We'll know once we get there."
In less than half an hour, they returned to the slum district they had just left. Looking over, the entire area was dark, with only a few spots of light visible.
After parking the car, the two men headed inside. However, after just a few steps, they saw someone lying on the road, their body convulsing. Lao Qi exclaimed in shock, "What happened here?"
Chen Chuan glanced at his Second Self, where signs of dematerialization were evident. Old Qi's vision doubled, and he clutched his head, "I feel a bit dizzy."
Chen Chuan grabbed him, his dark eyes fixed on the scene, and said, "Old Qi, don't go any further. I'll go in alone."
Old Qi was surprised, "Is it the same thing as before?"
Chen Chuan's expression turned serious, "It's the same, but some things have changed." He turned and said, "Old Qi, you used to be in the Mystic Sect, right?"
Old Qi nodded.
Chen Chuan said, "Can you get these materials?" As he spoke, he sent a list of ritual materials and their required quantities through the Boundary Vessel.
Old Qi hesitated and said, "I can!"
"How long will it take?"
Old Qi clenched his teeth, "Leave it to me. I'll have it ready by midnight at the latest!"
Chen Chuan took out a stack of money from his pocket and stuffed it into Old Qi's hand, saying, "If it's not enough, use mine first."
Old Qi said, "This is enough, Little Brother Chen. I'll take care of this." He tucked the money into his pocket and hurried towards the car.
"Old Qi."
Chen Chuan called out to him again.
"What?" Old Qi stopped in his tracks.
Chen Chuan looked at him and said seriously, "Don't force yourself. Your safety comes first."
Old Qi waved his hand, "I know."
As Chen Chuan watched him leave, he headed deeper into the slum district. Along the way, he saw people lying unconscious on the ground. He quickened his pace, reaching out to pick up those within his line of sight and carrying them to the edge of the affected area.
Some people had collapsed inside the shacks. At this point, there was no need for formalities; he kicked open the doors and dragged them out.
The rain from above constantly soaked his body, but the heat from his body instantly evaporated it, turning it into wisps of steam that rose into the air.
This slum district housed over a thousand people, but the main affected area was a circle extending outward from the shack where Xiao Man lived.
He could only carry out those on the outer edge who still had a chance of survival, while those closest to the affected area had already died.
In total, he brought out more than twenty people. Some residents nearby witnessed his actions, and some tried to help, while others, possibly with family members inside, rushed in anxiously, only to collapse after a few steps and be dragged back to safety by Chen Chuan. Eventually, no one else dared to approach.
More and more people gathered around, silently observing Chen Chuan's figure as he repeatedly entered and exited the affected area.
After evacuating those he could save, Chen Chuan headed towards the central location. Throughout the process, his Second Self showed signs of dematerialization, and even the Boundary Vessel couldn't function properly. The light and shadows in front of him flickered, and the sounds he heard were intermittent. So, he turned it off.
When he reached the shack where Xiao Man lived, Chong Dage's body lay at the entrance, his throat slit as the fatal wound. A pool of blood had formed beneath him, and not far away lay a pistol—the one Xiao Man had been holding.
Chen Chuan raised his gaze, and on the opposite wall, there were several bullet holes. He walked slowly to the backyard, where a dummy model held the body of a young boy in the rain. The dummy's hollow eyes stared upwards, and behind the boy was a bloody gunshot wound.
Chen Chuan observed for a moment, took a deep breath, and realized that this haunting tale was not something that could be easily resolved.
As time passed, the haunting's influence might spread further. He couldn't say for sure about other places, but the entire slum district would likely fall within this range.
The simplest solution was to relocate everyone.
However, Chen Chuan knew that these people had nowhere else to go. This slum was the only place they could stay and be accepted.
He turned and walked out. There was still time, and before the influence fully expanded, there was another chance to bind it.
By the time it was around 11 p.m., Old Qi finally returned. He carried a large box from the car and approached Chen Chuan, "Little Brother Chen, everything you asked for is here."
Chen Chuan took the box with one hand and said, "Old Qi, you've worked hard."
"It's nothing." Old Qi surveyed the situation around them and said earnestly, "Little Brother Chen, are you going to set up a ritual? I'll help you."
Chen Chuan said, "Old Qi, you can't go in there. Go and rest first. I'll handle the rest."
"Okay, Little Brother Chen. I'll wait for you in the car."
Chen Chuan carried the box back to Xiao Man's shack. He glanced at the dummy, opened the box, took out the tools, and began drawing the ritual patterns on the surrounding walls.
This was his first time setting up a Mystic Sect ritual, but fortunately, the binding ritual had been refined and simplified by the Mystic Bureau, making it less complicated. He just needed to follow the drawings.
The crucial part was that the person drawing the ritual patterns must understand the ritual's purpose and the intended outcome, which Chen Chuan was clear about.
As a fighter, his hands were exceptionally steady, and each stroke he drew was precise and accurate. He also paid attention to areas that required varying thicknesses.
Fortunately, the rain had stopped by now; otherwise, drawing might have been more challenging.
After several hours of busy work, as dawn approached, he put down the final stroke.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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