Trap

Yue Shi raised an eyebrow. "Why would the Su family research that?"

Qiao Xu sneered. "The Su family is one of the old-guard transcendent families, but they've been on a steady decline for years. The reason is simple—the awakening of supernatural powers is far too random."

"In these so-called transcendent families, many members aren't actually born with the Su surname. The direct descendants of the main family control the resources. They cast a wide net to catch as many fish as possible, selecting transcendents who awakened at a very young age. They bring them back to the Su family for brainwashing and conditioning, turning them into loyal dogs."

"There aren't many people who truly carry the Su bloodline. The main family uses various means to bind the branch members to prevent them from spinning out of control."

"The Su family used to expand and develop steadily this way. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, a violent internal struggle broke out among the direct descendants. Powerful transcendents were killed or maimed, and the 'fake' Su family members from the branch lines began to get restless."

"You can't blame them for resisting. When the Su direct line sees a promising prospect, they use any means necessary to bring them in. Most children do forget their past during the brainwashing process and serve the Su family with total devotion. Those who can't be tamed... all become corpses."

"But there are always a few rare exceptions—natural actors who fool everyone, hiding their hatred deep in their hearts while waiting for their chance."

"Wow... that's quite a juicy bit of gossip!" Yue Shi marveled.

Qiao Xu waved a hand. "This isn't some earth-shattering secret. Many transcendent families face similar conflicts; some have even collapsed because of them."

"But newly formed transcendent families still choose similar paths. At the end of the day, it's because supernatural powers cannot be inherited."

"The children of transcendents have the same probability of awakening as ordinary people. In this regard, all living beings are truly equal."

"The research project to 'make supernatural powers inheritable through bloodlines' has existed for a long time. The Su family is just one of many pursuing it. Unfortunately, progress has always been minimal, as if the world carved this rule into its base logic."

"However, as the research deepened, they found plenty of byproducts. The most common are various supernatural items. An ordinary person holding a powerful supernatural item can still subdue supernatural creatures or even easily kill other transcendents."

Yue Shi asked, "Is that how you used a supernatural item to lock the director in the restroom?"

Qiao Xu didn't deny it. He simply said, "The director of this sanatorium is very bizarre. He can establish 'rules' within a certain range, and everyone—including himself—must follow them."

Yue Shi asked, "Why are you staying here? Are you afraid of being hunted down, or do you have another purpose?"

Qiao Xu chuckled. "This was my only choice when I had nowhere else to go. The director and patients here are supernatural creatures transformed from humans. Their abilities are unique, and no one dares to barge in recklessly. Actually, those people are also eyeing this sanatorium, but it's a pity they're all spineless cowards..."

Yue Shi asked, "Where exactly is the lab located now?"

Qiao Xu pondered for a moment. "The original lab was located in the wilderness outside Chijing City, built hundreds of meters underground. The entrance was extremely well-hidden; only a few high-level officials knew its true location."

"Ordinary researchers like me weren't allowed to enter or leave freely. However, a major accident occurred at the lab. An experimental subject escaped and nearly destroyed half the facility. I took advantage of that chaos to run away."

Yue Shi asked, "Why did you run? Would you have been held responsible for the accident?"

Qiao Xu didn't answer.

Yue Shi didn't press him. Instead, he asked another question: "The supreme leader of the lab—that old fossil with a red birthmark on his forehead—wasn't he killed during the chaos?"

"You mean Su Yuanhe? He's incredibly powerful. How could he die so easily?" Qiao Xu said as if it were obvious.

A second later, Qiao Xu realized something was wrong. "Wait! How could you know Dr. Su, let alone describe his facial features so specifically?!"

"You weren't hired to find me at all... You're one of the experimental subjects who escaped back then!"

As he spoke, a strange sense of excitement suddenly flickered across Qiao Xu's face.

In the next instant, however, Yue Shi kicked him over and stomped hard on his pinky toe.

"Agh!" Qiao Xu let out a blood-curdling scream. The piercing pain brought tears to his eyes instantly.

"Why talk so much nonsense? You're only making yourself suffer," Yue Shi mocked.

"Hahahaha..." Qiao Xu laughed, though it was entirely out of place.

"Knowing you're an experimental subject is wonderful news for me. Sorry, I just couldn't help myself."

"Reporting the location of an escaped experimental subject is enough for me to redeem myself for my past mistakes—it might even get me a promotion!"

"Aaaah!"

Qiao Xu let out another shrill scream as one of his ears was ripped off by hand!

Yue Shi shook his hand, tossing away the bloody piece of flesh. His cold face was now masked with cruelty and malice, radiating ill intent without any restraint.

Clutching his bleeding wound, Qiao Xu finally felt fear. He tried to bluster: "You don't know yet, do you? Most of the escaped subjects have already been recaptured. Only four are still at large."

"I can send my location at any time to let the Su family know a subject is here. Once they surround this place, you'll either be arrested or trapped here until you die. So, I advise you not to do anything rash."

Yue Shi was amazed by Qiao Xu's lack of situational awareness. He reached out and grabbed his other ear. "Do you realize that saying things like that only makes me want to kill you more?"

Ignoring the pain, Qiao Xu chuckled. "If you dare to kill me, you'll be permanently marked!"

Yue Shi smiled as well and tore off the other ear. "Fine. I won't kill you. But I can leave you half-dead. For instance, I could shave off every protruding part of your body."

Qiao Xu's body shuddered violently. Yue Shi gently stroked his head. "I want the truth. You're just a piece of bait, aren't you?"

Qiao Xu spoke hurriedly, "I really was hunted before, but I was caught very quickly. They didn't kill me. Instead, they offered me a deal. If I helped them recover the missing subjects, they would overlook everything I'd done and promised me many rewards."

"The rumor of an 'escaped researcher who knows the secrets' was a lead they leaked on purpose. Experimental subjects seeking revenge are very easy to fool. After all, those subjects were driven half-mad by the torture long ago."

"A transcendent with cursing abilities placed a curse on me. If I die, the killer will be marked. The person who kills a piece of bait like me is most likely an escaped subject."

Yue Shi frowned slightly. "Then was the information you gave me about the lab true?"