Chapter 27: The Source of the Curse

In front of the two stood a giant jar filled with transparent green liquid. Inside the jar was a human-shaped network of neural blood vessels, densely packed and connected to many syringes.

The sight was shocking, far more terrifying than the sight of blood and flesh. "What is this...?" Yang Linlin stared wide-eyed at the jar, unable to speak.

Zhao Yi stroked his chin and said, with an admiring look in his eyes, "This thing is truly a work of art!"

"Stripped of all bones, most of the flesh, leaving only the most important blood vessels and nerves, preserved with nutrients and suitable environment to maintain cell activity, and stimulated by external stimuli to replace the heart for circulation, delivering all energy to the brain."

"This kind of complete nerve stripping surgery can only be completed by one patient I know."

Live broadcast barrage:

"I'm freaking out, what kind of patients does Zhao Yi have?!"

"Is he bragging? How can such a surgery be completed in real life?"

"I graduated from Chuanx University and I responsibly tell you all that this kind of surgery can be done in real life, but the school uses cadavers instead of live patients for experimentation."

"Indeed, I am a surgical doctor with 23 years of practice, and this level of nerve stripping is already completely immune to anesthesia. The process is almost completed while the patient is awake, and it's simply too cruel!"

"This is too inhumane, f***!"

...

On the other hand, Yang Linlin cautiously approached the cultivation jar, unable to help but shiver.

"Zhao Yi... are you saying that... it's still alive?"

Zhao Yi nodded. "Yes."

"These nutrients and machines are extremely expensive. Those crazy researchers wouldn't spend so much effort on a dead person!"

Yang Linlin turned her face, her expression stiff.

This thing in the jar... is still alive?

What kind of feeling is it experiencing now?

Coldness?

Pain?

Despair?

Zhao Yi came to another experimental table, on which was a notebook recording the relevant experimental process. He scanned it roughly, and it was nothing more than how to use all kinds of inhumane means to torture this experimental subject, bringing him endless pain but not allowing him to die.

The first page of the notebook read:

[The Great God said-]

[Concentration is a necessary quality for gathering spirit.]

[Kindness is the lock that seals power.]

[Anger and fear are the keys to unlock it.]

It seemed to be a quotation from some theology or philosophy.

"Zhao Yi, come and see!"

Yang Linlin, who was standing by the cultivation tank, exclaimed. Zhao Yi walked over and followed Yang Linlin's pointing finger to see the back of the tank.

There was an electronic label attached to it.

...

[x-2]

[Subject: Chen Qiong (16 years old)]

[Adaptability: 96]

[Activity: High]

[Brainwave Compatibility: 92]

[Mental Cohesion: Excellent]

...

The name displayed on it startled both of them.

Chen Qiong?

The top student who was expelled from school due to a romantic relationship had actually... transformed into this mess of nerve endings and blood vessels in front of them?

Yang Linlin felt a wave of nausea and dry heaved, her face turning pale!

"Interesting... Chen Qiong has been used to create x-2."

Zhao Yi rubbed his chin, his gaze deep.

As he turned around, he glanced at the list of participants and suddenly noticed a few familiar names!

"Zhang Ya... Pang Xiao... Li Sheng?"

Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow.

His brain started spinning rapidly!

"I understand now!"

"Pang Xiao is not the mayor's son at all, and Zhang Ya is not the goddess of Class 18!"

"They are both experimental subjects disguised as students, helping to find test subjects within the school!"

"These two intentionally approached Chen Qiong one after another, with the goal of unlocking his kindness as recorded in the notes and unleashing the demon inside him!"

"Generally speaking, students with better grades tend to have higher concentration, and it's difficult for those who are distracted to achieve much academically!"

"This top school in the city... is actually aimed at selecting highly focused test subjects!"

"No wonder their names are not on the class roster."

"These two scumbags... probably ran away before the curse happened!"

After Zhao Yi finished speaking, a chilling voice suddenly came from behind.

"You're almost right with your guess."

"But these two scumbags didn't run away, they became sacrifices too."

Both of them quickly turned around and saw Li Sheng, covered in blood, missing an arm, aiming an MP5 at them with a ferocious expression!

Behind him, under the table, there was even a secret passage!

"Didn't expect this, huh?"

"Despite countless difficulties, I still made it in!"

"My life wasn't meant to end. You two bastards... the game ends here!"

Li Sheng's eyes were bloodshot, showing signs of hysteria.

But his bruised lips indicated that his condition was extremely poor!

With the gun pointed at them, Yang Linlin immediately raised her hand, while Zhao Yi continued walking as if nothing had happened.

"Stop!"

"If you move, I'll shoot you!"

Li Sheng's condition was critical, but he still threatened Zhao Yi. However, Zhao Yi remained unfazed and shrugged.

"Go ahead, shoot?"

"If you had bullets, you would have shot already. I don't believe you can hold back."

Bang!

Li Sheng fired a shot, hitting Yang Linlin's left leg!

Yang Linlin let out a groan and fell to the ground, clutching her leg, tearfully saying:

"I didn't provoke you. Why did you shoot me?"

Li Sheng panicked and said:

"Ah, I'm sorry!"

"He aimed at Zhao Yi again, with a ferocious expression on his face. However, he was suffering from heavy bleeding and his vision was blurred.

Bang!

Yang Linlin's leg exploded into a spray of blood again.

"My leg!" Yang Linlin screamed.

Li Sheng: "..."

Zhao Yi: "..."

Live broadcast barrage:

"Haha, this gun must have some personal grudge."

"Is this gun called 'Widow's Sorrow'?"

"I admit I laughed until snot bubbles came out."

"Let's mourn for the goddess Linlin...hahaha sorry sorry."

"..."

"Well, you tricked us once, and we'll trick you once. To be frank, you owe us a favor now."

"Okay, what can I do for you?" Zhao Yi talked confidently, shamelessly leaving Li Sheng almost suffocating.

Damn, I wish I could shoot you if you weren't useful to us. "Since you're here, it means you roughly understand what's going on."

"Yes...we did it!"

"That includes the curse of this school!"

"To leave this place, you must find a way to shut down the curse!"

Li Sheng dragged his gun to the front of the instrument.

The material of this jar was very special. Even armor-piercing bullets couldn't leave a mark on it!

He was about to operate in front of the instrument, but Zhao Yi stopped him!

"If you shut down the device, x-2 will lose its energy supply, and the ghosts in the mist outside will quickly flood into the experimental base. Do you think you can withstand their attack?"

Li Sheng's eyes were gloomy, and his face was ashen.

"As long as the life support system of x-2 is shut down, the rioter x-2 will die, and the remaining mutants will not pose a threat. The organization will soon send people to shut down the curse and clear them all out!"

"I participated in this experiment and have access to confidential data they don't have. I am of high value, and the organization will not easily abandon me!"

Zhao Yi replied:

"Self-deception."

"If you were really so important to them, they would have sent someone to rescue you long ago."

"You are trapped in the curse, and can even contact them, yet you are still alone until now."

"Expecting the organization behind you to save you is less reliable than trusting us."

"At least for now...we are barely on the same boat."

Li Sheng was infuriated. He held his MP5 tightly against Zhao Yi's forehead, his eyes bloodshot, and gritted his teeth:

"Shut up!"

"If you dare to say another word, I'll blow your brains out!!!"

Zhao Yi's eyes showed no panic. He raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a creepy smile.

"It must be terrible to be abandoned, right?"

"You were loyal like a dog, but ended up in such a situation!"

"They promised you the world when they needed you, but treat you like trash when they're done with you... Don't be foolish, it all comes down to whether you want to live or not."

"Now, only we can help you... If you kill me, it's the same as killing yourself!"

Li Sheng's hand trembled as he held the gun, his gasps filling the air. Yang Linlin and the viewers in the livestream room were on edge, afraid that one wrong move would result in Zhao Yi's head exploding!

The completion of this level was within reach, and many puzzles were about to be solved. It would be such a pity to fail at this point!

Finally, Li Sheng closed his agonized eyes.

He put down the gun.

Exhausted, Li Sheng sat on the ground, his fierce expression turning into despair.

Slowly, he reached into his pocket and took out a cigarette, placing it between his lips. He then pulled out a lighter and lit it for himself.

The scent of smoke dispersed the tension in the air.

"Do I look pitiful now?" Li Sheng exhaled the smoke, bitterly smiling.

Yang Linlin limped over, clutching her injured leg, and angrily scolded, "Do you have the nerve to call yourself pitiful?"

"What about those students you tortured and brainwashed? What about the families you destroyed? Aren't they more pitiful than you?"

Li Sheng let out a long sigh, leaning his head against the counter, his eyes vacant.

He finished one cigarette and lit another.

In just that short moment, his face aged significantly.

"My daughter is in their hands."

"Seven years ago, my wife passed away from cancer. Before she left, she entrusted me to take care of our daughter."

"I failed my wife."

"And now... I'm about to fail my daughter too."

As he spoke, he started laughing as if he had gone insane.

Yang Linlin, seeing his pitiful state, felt her hatred diminish by half. She suddenly remembered the letter she saw on the severed hand outside earlier, the one written for her daughter. She asked, "Are all of your wives and children controlled by that organization?"

Li Sheng closed his eyes, his breath weakening, and tossed the gun aside.

"Otherwise, what do you think?"

"Killing a pig is just a matter of one knife, but those young students out there are treated worse than pigs..."

"You think we have no choice and are unforgivable, but do we really have the right to choose?"

"If you were given the choice between sacrificing your family or a stranger, would you choose your family?"

Yang Linlin fell silent.

She looked down on Li Sheng, considering him a despicable criminal.

But if she were in Li Sheng's shoes, she feared she would make the same choice.

People are inherently selfish.

"If you managed to infiltrate this school, you're probably not ordinary people... If you're willing to do me a favor, I'll tell you how to break the curse."

Zhao Yi smirked with his hands in his pockets. "Don't tell me you want us to save your daughter?"

Li Sheng shook his head, sarcastically replying, "With the likes of you?"

"And save my daughter... Once you get close to the organization, you'll be discovered and dealt with swiftly."

Pausing for a moment, he glanced at Yang Linlin.

"Of course, if you don't bring along this foolish woman, with your cunning, you might survive a little longer."

"Yang Linlin angrily exclaimed, 'You're the stupid one!'

'Your whole family is stupid!' 

Li Sheng couldn't be bothered with her.

Zhao hesitated while looking into Li Sheng's eyes.

'What do you want us to help you with?'

Li Sheng struggled to get up from the ground and stumbled to a inconspicuous corner of the laboratory, where he opened a cabinet.

He tore open a wallpaper that had the same color as the rest.

There was a small hole behind it.

Inside was a metal safe.

Using his fingerprint, Li Sheng opened the safe and handed a strange green reagent to Zhao.

'What is this?'

'It's a product from another project, the means are still immature, but its danger is no less than... x-2!'

Li Sheng handed it to Zhao, his lips turning darker.

'The organization won't let this thing go. It might take months or years, but when this place becomes a complete ruin, they will definitely send people to search for it!'

'Once this thing falls into the hands of the organization...'

He didn't continue speaking.

The dizziness in front of him became more severe due to excessive blood loss.

Li Sheng shook his head, trying to stay conscious, panting heavily.

'Everything about the curse... comes from a magic box.'

'If we close that box, the curse will disappear!'

'That box... is in... the center of the mist...'

'The ominousness in the mist... won't attack things that appear dead. If you can minimize your emotional fluctuations, perhaps you can... reach there!'

'They... don't have eyes, noses, or ears... They judge whether something is their target of attack through the brainwaves emitted by living creatures' emotional fluctuations...'

'Remember... no matter what you see in that mist... don't be surprised... don't be afraid...'

'Once you show significant emotional fluctuations... the nearby demons will smell the scent of flesh...'

Li Sheng, in a daze, managed to finish his last sentence before going into shock.

Yang Linlin hurriedly approached and took out some bandages to stop his bleeding.

Zhao shook his head and said, 'Don't waste your efforts.'

'Long-term hunger has weakened his body to the extreme. The adrenaline has also exerted secondary pressure on his body during the escape. With so much blood loss now, unless there's a proper hospital nearby that can immediately give him a blood transfusion, even Hua Tuo reincarnated won't be able to help.'

'Put away the bandages. They're useless now.'"