Chapter 53: Reunion

Two photographs lay spread across the center of the mahogany table. The first depicted a colossal flower with vibrant yellow stamens and petals as white as driven snow. Its dark green stem was as thick as a tree trunk, making it look like a plant that could never exist in the real world.

Wen Xi braced both hands on the table, swept his gaze across the room, and began, "A few days ago, our esper squad discovered this mutated plant, and then... they were completely wiped out."

Murmurs of doubt and surprise rippled through the people gathered around the long table. Completely unbothered, Wen Xi held up the second photograph. "The mucus sprayed by this giant flower is extremely corrosive to flesh and blood. Anyone who comes into contact with it without immediate treatment ends up like this."

The photograph showed shattered bones soaking in a blue liquid. Even from the picture, it was evident that the mucus was still actively corroding the bone fragments; before long, perhaps even the bones would completely vanish.

"If any of you don't believe it, you can take a look at this." Wen Xi glanced sideways at Qin Ji.

Qin Ji nodded and brought over a cage from the corner. Inside the cage was a grey mouse with a long, thin tail, squeaking and darting about in a panic.

Wen Xi took the glass bottle handed to him by Qin Ji. Holding it upside down, he let a deep blue, viscous liquid slide through the gaps of the cage. Almost instantly, the squeaks of the mouse escalated sharply, turning into a shrill, agonizing cry.

A harsh sizzling sound erupted simultaneously. The onlookers held their breath in unison. In a mere five minutes, nothing was left of the mouse that had been darting around so energetically moments before, save for a single skull.

The corrosive action of the blue liquid had yet to cease. Wen Xi lifted the cage away, his lips pressing into a slight downward curve. "Too sickening. Seeing this much is enough."

Now, no one could possibly harbor any doubts.

Someone asked, "Does this mutated plant possess consciousness?"

"None detected so far," Wen Xi replied in a steady voice, calmly stating the facts. "As for the future, I can't guarantee anything. Much like zombies—initially, no one could have anticipated they would develop intelligence."

Silence descended upon the room for a moment, until broken by a voice:

"Mr. Wen, could you let me take a closer look at the first photograph?"

"Of course." Wen Xi passed over the picture of the giant flower.

Chen Yuning took the photo. Sitting close to Su Ting, she leaned in even tighter, whispering affectionately, "Sister Su, let's look at it together."

The photograph was not particularly clear; the petals of the giant flower practically blended into the accumulated snow. Su Ting stared at the image, unconsciously pressing her lips tight.

"Has Captain Su seen this before?" Wen Xi suddenly asked.

In an instant, all eyes converged on Su Ting. Her expression remained completely unchanged as she shook her head. "Just feeling a bit curious."

Whether Wen Xi believed her or not, he arched an eyebrow with an inscrutable expression. "Dangerous things like this—the fewer around, the better."

Today's gathering of several bases was held precisely to address the matter of the mutated plant. Wen Xi held nothing back; as he had stated earlier, the bitter days of living in constant terror could not be borne by the Shuangcheng base alone.

Just as he finished putting the photos away, someone asked coolly, "I recall that the leader of Shuangcheng is surnamed Qin. Why has Mr. Wen been the one speaking the entire time?"

With somewhat rough movements, Wen Xi tossed the photographs into a drawer, then forced a smile. "Shuangcheng certainly cannot compare to the autocratic rule of Yuanshan. City Lord Wu, being so accustomed to despotic control in Yuanshan, naturally wouldn't understand the atmosphere we have in Shuangcheng. Am I right, Leader?"

He tilted his head and winked playfully at Qin Ji, who was standing by the window, his expression teasing.

Qin Ji pressed a hand to his lips and gave a low cough. "Mhm, everything you say is correct."

Wen Xi turned back around to face Wu Lang. "Does City Lord Wu have any further questions?"

Wu Lang shrugged. "Consider my previous question unasked."

"Very well. Because the giant flower is of massive proportions, I only had people bring back a small portion of its trunk. Please follow me, everyone, and I will take you to see the physical remains of the giant flower."

Pushing the door open, Wen Xi made a polite gesture. Watching the others file out one by one, his expression relaxed, and he reached behind to massage his lower back.

He had barely rubbed it twice before his hand was caught by another. Without looking back, his face darkening with annoyance, he snapped, "Get lost."

Qin Ji, standing right behind him, remained unfazed, merely easing the pressure of his grip slightly. "Is this better?"

It was indeed more comfortable than doing it himself, but Wen Xi refused to admit it. "Playing the good guy now? Whose fault is it that my back hurts like this? Don't you have any self-awareness?"

"My fault," Qin Ji conceded with good nature. "My mistake, I'm sorry."

Wen Xi brushed his hand away. "Alright, hurry up and come out, lest the others think the two of us went off to do something scandalous."

The group emerged from the conference room. Outside the window, the snow had eased considerably. Standing by the door looking crestfallen was Cheng Ran. Catching sight of Wu Lang stepping out, he whimpered plaintively, "Chief."

Wu Lang looked straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge him.

Cheng Ran refused to give up, hovering eagerly. "Chief, Yan Zhuo won't release anyone."

The mere sight of this exasperating fellow gave Wu Lang a toothache. "Don't talk to me about it. I can't handle it."

More dejected than ever, Cheng Ran shrank back against the corner and finally shut his mouth.

The laboratory storing the giant flower was located in another building. As the group descended the stairs, hurried and heavy footsteps echoed from ahead, coming closer step by step.

Wu Lang instinctively adopted a defensive posture, only to realize that the person running toward them veered off to the side, clearly not targeting him.

"Xiao Ting... It really is you! I knew it—I just knew it, I couldn't possibly be mistaken." Song Chengfeng wore an expression that was half-laughing, half-crying. His hair was disheveled by the wind, and snowflakes melted against his shoulders, leaving damp trails of water. He looked utterly unkempt.

"Song Xian—Chengfeng?" Su Ting faltered, deliberately halting the movement of stepping backward.

The slightly estranged tone hinted at something underlying. Song Chengfeng's fingers curled slightly, and seconds later, he flashed a perfectly arched smile. "I've been searching for you these past two years, but unfortunately, I never got the slightest news. Seeing that you're safe and sound now, I can finally rest easy."

An air of familiarity tinged with strangeness hung between the two. Curious, Chen Yuning asked, "Sister Su, do you know each other?"

Su Ting avoided the gaze laden with far too many emotions, then replied, "Yes, we... are husband and wife."

"Husband and wife?" The only one whose expression completely shattered from shock was Chen Yuning. She looked back and forth between Song Chengfeng and Su Ting in sheer disbelief, as if struck by a massive blow.

Qu Yan and Yan Zhuo, who had followed behind, also witnessed this scene. Qu Yan studied Su Ting and said thoughtfully, "This Captain Su seems somewhat repulsed by Song Chengfeng."

Compared to the emotional Song Chengfeng, Su Ting was unnervingly composed, her instinctive reactions even geared toward dodging him.

Yan Zhuo stated calmly, "She is from the Yefeng Research Institute."

If the intelligence Wu Lang had uncovered was true, then since Su Ting belonged to the Yefeng Research Institute, her background was unlikely to be entirely clean.

"Clap, clap—"

The sound of applause rang out. Everyone turned toward the source.

Wen Xi was leaning against the wall, his eyes slightly narrowed, as he exaggeratedly lamented, "A reunion of husband and wife! How utterly touching!"