PTGWD Chapter 19: First Encounter

First Encounter

Institute of Anomalous Research.

This high-security dangerous facility is hidden beneath the coastal sea, with the only connection to the city being a secret underground tunnel. The tunnel starts from a central institution in the city, descending 30 kilometers into the depths, with protective doors every 2 kilometers. Whether human or classified entities, everyone must pass through multiple security checks to enter this highly secure, impenetrable underwater fortress.

The last time Lu Jianchuan visited the Institute of Anomalous Research was ten years ago.

Ten years ago, he was detected as anomalous by the special agents while blending in with humans. The institute initiated the highest level of alert, nearly mobilizing the entire staff to hunt the “jellyfish” in the suburbs near the university.

Lu Jianchuan did not harm any special agent and easily escaped the encirclement, making the hunt seem like a joke.

The institute felt deeply humiliated and planned a second, third… up to the seventh jellyfish capture plan, all ending in failure. Each time, Lu Jianchuan merely escaped, never retaliating, showing an unusual friendliness towards humans.

The eighth time, after thoroughly researching Lu Jianchuan’s behavior patterns, the then-director made a bold decision.

They negotiated with Lu Jianchuan, and the negotiation was extremely smooth, resulting in the first agreement between humans and a “monster” in human history.

Since then, Lu Jianchuan became the most special classified entity in the institute. He accepted the institute’s identification number, allowed their surveillance, and even occasionally collaborated with them to handle some tricky problems.

In exchange, the institute assisted him in integrating into human society. They helped him obtain documents, arranged “parents” and “family” for him, and provided various human courses, allowing him to live in the city as a true human.

This harmonious relationship lasted for ten years.

In these ten years, Lu Jianchuan had become a mysterious symbol, passed down among generations of special agents.

So, when Li Xuan brought him into the institute’s hall again, the hall was filled with all kinds of fresh flowers and a bright, enthusiastic banner.

“Congratulations to Mr. ‘Jellyfish’ on your engagement! Wishing you a happy and prosperous union, and many children!”

Seeing the banner, Li Xuan felt an urge to cover his face.

“Everyone likes you,” he forced a laugh, “The check-up is arranged on the top floor, let’s hurry.”

Lu Jianchuan happily took a photo of the banner, followed him out of the hall, and into a long, narrow corridor.

This corridor, made of high-strength transparent pressure-resistant material, is the only way to enter the confidential area. Walking inside, one can clearly feel the deep sea pressing in from all directions—vast, silent, and bottomless—making humans appear lonely and insignificant, showcasing the designer’s dark humor.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the overly quiet surroundings.

Because of Lu Jianchuan’s visit, the entire institute had been sealed off a day in advance. Today, except for the check-up personnel, no one was on the first six floors.

Li Xuan couldn’t bear the silence and confided, “I actually like walking through this corridor. It reminds me that although human power is small, when gathered together, it can conquer the ocean.”

Lu Jianchuan’s gaze fell on his profile.

Li Xuan turned to look, meeting Lu Jianchuan’s interested gaze, as if he were studying an intriguing book. Yet his expression was cold and aloof, making his non-humanly beautiful face as dangerous and unfathomable as the deep sea behind him.

Driven by a strange impulse, Li Xuan asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Lu Jianchuan blinked.

“Ah, nothing in particular,” he said casually, “Just thinking, if my egg can’t find a job in the future, maybe it could try its luck at the institute. You have official positions, right? How are the pay and benefits?”

Li Xuan: “…”

The eerie, cold atmosphere dispersed in an instant.

Lu Jianchuan’s son… His thoughts were inadvertently diverted, and he subconsciously glanced at the flat stomach beside him.

Can humans and monsters really successfully breed a next generation? Was it right to give Lu Jianchuan the “queen ant” ability? And what about the “it” in his belly—will it be an enemy or a friend?

Li Xuan was silent for a moment, cautiously probing, “I thought you wouldn’t care about such things, considering you haven’t worked until now.”

Lu Jianchuan shrugged, “I don’t care much, but your words just now touched me.”

Li Xuan shifted his gaze to his face.

Lu Jianchuan: “Even weak humans have evolved to this point. They should also accept modern education, let go of outdated high-handedness, and learn how to start a new life. After all—this world no longer has true gods. Whether humans or what you call ‘monsters,’ they are all just remnants of the gods’ blood and curses.”

Li Xuan’s eyes slowly widened, pupils shrinking. He couldn’t understand the meaning of his words, as if something was blocking his ears and brain, preventing him from absorbing this information.

“…What?” he murmured.

Lu Jianchuan smiled beautifully, “Nothing. You still haven’t answered me. Does the institute have official positions?”

It took a while until they finally reached the end of the long corridor.

Li Xuan’s ears were still buzzing, his memory inexplicably chaotic. He vaguely felt that Lu Jianchuan had just said something extremely terrifying, but no matter what, he couldn’t recall it.

He shook his head.

“You mean official positions,” Li Xuan belatedly continued the topic, “Yes, there are. The pay and benefits are quite good in human society, but the work is too dangerous, and there’s little time to spend with family. It’s not exactly an ideal job.”

“Hmm,” Lu Jianchuan nodded, looking thoughtful, as if genuinely worried about his son’s future job, “Indeed, being human is not easy.”

Li Xuan was at a loss for words.

During their conversation, they entered the top floor. The check-up personnel, fully prepared, stood in front of the medical room, gesturing for Lu Jianchuan to come in.

Even though they were wearing protective suits and special masks, Lu Jianchuan accurately called out each of their names and greeted them politely.

The tense atmosphere eased significantly, and a staff member brought him hot tea and fruit, their voice excited and friendly through the thick mask, “Welcome home, Mr. Jellyfish. I am your pregnancy doctor, Yan Xin.”

Lu Jianchuan identified him through his unique scent.

This researcher had been working at the institute ten years ago, a fervent scientist who lost his legs in an accident as a child. He later transplanted and cultivated monster cells onto his stumps and successfully grew two new legs.

Lu Jianchuan glanced down.

His height was close to two meters, most of which were legs. Despite being covered by a white coat, the non-human shape of those legs was still evident.

Lu Jianchuan took a sip of tea and nodded at him, “What do I need to do now?”

“Please lie down on this bed,” he said, “We want to see the ‘little jellyfish’ you are carrying.”

Lu Jianchuan obediently lay on the bed, and the humans in the room all left, entering the adjacent observation room.

After a moment, a mechanical arm thoughtfully covered him with a soft blanket, and Li Xuan’s voice came through the loudspeaker, “We are ready to start. Can we take an image first?”

Lu Jianchuan adjusted to a comfortable position, “Yes.”

With his permission, the equipment suspended above the bed quietly operated, the probe moving around his abdomen repeatedly.

He could feel a faint energy wave from the equipment, bringing a gentle warmth that dispelled the cold of the deep sea, making the thing in his belly feel comfortable.

Lu Jianchuan’s abdomen moved slightly.

Even through the thick radiation-proof glass, he could hear the researchers’ excited screams outside.

Lu Jianchuan smiled, unable to help imagining Fang Xingzhou’s reaction to this. His usually calm wife might get so excited upon knowing about the egg’s existence that he would give him a passionate kiss.

Lost in his wonderful imagination, he didn’t notice the changing tone of the screams outside.

The excitement gradually disappeared, and the researchers began talking quickly, their voices trembling, as if the exciting image had turned into something extremely terrifying.

In less than ten minutes, Li Xuan’s voice came through the microphone again. Even though he tried to control it, a faint fear still crept in, “Mr. Lu, you can get up now.”

Lu Jianchuan: “Is it over?”

Li Xuan: “Yes, you can come out and see.”

The door of the enclosed room automatically opened, and Lu Jianchuan left, belatedly noticing that the researchers’ faces were pale, staring at the monitor with fear and excitement.

Following their gaze, he looked up.

On the screen, the black, white, and gray outlined Lu Jianchuan’s internal organs, and in the center was an abrupt pure black shadow. Deep within the shadow, a distorted human face faintly appeared, smiling eerily, seemingly looking maliciously at everyone in the room through the monitor.

Lu Jianchuan didn’t react immediately.

“What is that?” he asked.

Li Xuan was silent for a few seconds before speaking in a heavy tone, “We think… it is the little jellyfish and its surrounding embryonic fluid.”

Lu Jianchuan: “…Ah.”

Another researcher quickly added, “This might be a small prank. Initially, when we located it, it was just a cute cluster of cells, stretching its tiny body in your belly, seemingly in a good mood. But gradually, it seemed to sense our probing, maybe even felt displeased, so it transformed into its current form to scare us.”

The other researchers nodded, making excuses for the little jellyfish:

“We must have frightened it.”

“It’s so small, how could it have any bad intentions?”

“Kids being mischievous is normal.”

Their voices still trembled, clearly shaken by the earlier scare.

Lu Jianchuan: “…”

He couldn’t help but frown, looking again at the eerie smiling face on the screen, thinking of the snake swarm from this morning, and feeling an inexplicable itch in his palm.

This was his first time seeing “it” with his own eyes.

So troublesome, he thought.

With such a nasty personality, who does it take after?

 

Author’s Note

Deer: Being human is not easy, having to work every day.

Li Xuan: .

Me: ..