“Roar—!”
It let out a bizarre growl. It sounded like the screams of countless people being forcefully squeezed together and forced out of a rotting throat.
The lights in the laboratory flickered in unison.
Immediately after, the heavy dragging sound echoed once more. The monster was chasing after her. Cen Yao ran even faster.
Outside was a very long corridor. The walls, which should have been painted white, were now covered in mold and stains.
On both sides, iron doors stood at intervals. Most were tightly shut, and some had curled warning signs pasted on them.
【Experimental Area. No Unauthorized Personnel Allowed.】
【Do Not Feed.】
【Cultivation fluid for Dock 7 has been replaced.】
【Do Not Approach the Viewing Window.】
The last warning sign was mostly torn off, leaving behind only four words: “Do Not Approach.”
As Cen Yao ran, she couldn't help but complain internally.
The staff of this laboratory are truly dedicated to their duties. Even with monsters on the loose, they didn't forget to leave warning signs.
She sprinted around a corner.
The dragging sound behind her gradually faded.
The monster's body was indeed clumsy. It was fine in the wider environment of the laboratory, but once it entered the narrow corridor, the tentacles on its back kept hitting the walls, slowing it down instead.
Cen Yao didn't dare relax, running until her lungs began to burn before she finally stopped.
The corridor fell quiet again, with only the echoes of her own footsteps reverberating through the empty passage.
Step after step.
Cen Yao leaned against the wall, trying to calm her breathing.
“Orb.”
“Is that thing still chasing me?”
“Not for the moment,” the orb replied.
“Its energy fluctuations are currently lingering near the laboratory you just escaped from, Host. It has not continued to move.”
Cen Yao frowned. “Did it give up?”
“The possibility of it waiting in ambush cannot be ruled out.”
“That's even scarier than it chasing me,” Cen Yao muttered under her breath.
She stood up straight and warily scanned her surroundings.
This place was no different from the corridor she had just left. It was just as dilapidated and freezing.
Only half of the ceiling lights were on; the other half had long since broken, dividing the entire passage into alternating patches of light and shadow.
There were many sharp claw marks on the walls. One after another, they stretched from waist height to the ceiling, looking as if some large animal had repeatedly scratched them with sharp claws.
The deepest gouge was embedded deep into the wall, with dark black residue still clinging to its edges.
Cen Yao leaned in to take a closer look. It wasn't blood, but resembled some kind of tar left behind after corrosion.
The floor was equally filthy. Layers of dried blood were piled up, and an unidentified black liquid had solidified in the corners, emitting a strong, rancid stench.
She held her breath, not wanting to smell it any longer. However, the quieter it became, the more hair-raising it felt.
Just how big is this laboratory? Besides that tentacle monster from earlier, how many out-of-control test subjects are there in these corridors?
Suddenly, a faint noise came from the corner ahead and to her right.
It sounded like something was rummaging around on the floor.
Cen Yao's body tensed instantly.
Lowering her stance, she slowly took half a step back toward the wall.
Her fingers curled slightly. Without her wand, she could only rely on herself. Wandless casting...
Cen Yao tried to channel the magic power within her body.
The magic power, like a warm stream, slowly spread from her chest to her limbs.
But without a wand to guide it, the magic felt somewhat scattered, like a flock of birds just released from a cage, refusing to obey her commands.
She grit her teeth. Don't panic.
Rustle, rustle... The sound drew closer.
Cen Yao looked up, forcing down the trace of panic in her eyes. Her gaze became cold and sharp.
No matter what came out, as long as it wasn't a monster, she still had a chance.
Just as she tensed her muscles and prepared to turn and run, a figure suddenly rolled out from the corner ahead and to her right.
Literally rolled out.
The person seemed to have tripped over something. They first braced a hand against the wall, but their foot slipped, and they tumbled awkwardly from the corner into the middle of the corridor.
“Ouch!” A clear, slightly annoyed male voice rang out.
“What the hell was that? How dare it trip me up?”
Cen Yao: “...”
The wariness in her eyes only intensified.
In a place like this, the appearance of a human was not necessarily more reassuring than a monster.
The person on the ground scrambled to his feet.
He first patted the dust off his hospital gown, then adjusted his collar, as if the person who had just rolled all over the floor wasn't him.
Under the dim light, an excessively delicate face was revealed.
It was a young man who looked to be around twenty years old.
He had conspicuous, curly golden hair that shimmered with a soft light under the lamps.
His skin was so pale it was almost bloodless, yet his features were as beautiful as a meticulously carved piece of art.
His brow, nose, and lips were all perfectly shaped.
He was so good-looking that even standing next to Pei Tinglan, his presence wouldn't be overshadowed.
The only flaw was his eyes. Those light-colored eyes were devoid of any luster.
His gaze lacked focus, and his eyes did not actually land on Cen Yao.
A guess surfaced in Cen Yao's mind. Is he blind?
Just then, the young man suddenly raised his hand and waved accurately in Cen Yao's direction.
“Hello there, friend.”
“Hey! Hello, friend.”
“My name is Xie Zhouxing.”
Cen Yao: “???”
A fake blind guy?
Xie Zhouxing's hand remained suspended in midair.
The corridor was so quiet that only the crackle of electricity could be heard.
Perhaps because he hadn't heard any response, he slowly lowered his hand and tilted his head slightly.
“Why aren't you speaking? Could it be you're dazzled by my peerless beauty?”
Cen Yao: “?????”
What on earth?
Rate on N.U.
