Volume 2: Winter’s End
As the night deepened, the last faint glimmer struggled before succumbing on the horizon, plunging the entire sea into a profound and majestic darkness. On the islands, apart from the fluorescent glow of white snow, no other colors were visible. The surroundings were filled with blurry architectural outlines, accompanied by the dry cold temperature that made breathing slightly easier.
It wasn’t until late into the night that Shu Xun and Ye Qian still hadn’t located the exact position of the research institute. Since this secretive research facility was ranked above the Micro City level, its scale must be significant. However, despite searching almost all the large-scale buildings on the islands, there was no trace of any research institute. If it weren’t for the turnover documents discovered earlier, Shu Xun would almost doubt whether they had misjudged the direction.
Considering the meticulous and cautious mindset of the designer, the likelihood of the research institute being located in the middle of the islands was very high. Shu Xun took two deep breaths, calming his inexplicable restlessness. After a slight rise and fall of his chest, he began to deduce the location of the research institute.
Since the surface of the island appeared to be a routine urban lifestyle, it indicated that the research institute was deliberately concealed. The residents on the island were probably unaware of its existence. So, there must be a place with high daily foot traffic, where people commuting to work possess highly specialized skills, which wouldn’t raise suspicions. It had to occupy a large area, not too close to the outer perimeter of the island. The distance from the police station shouldn’t be too far, and it should be conveniently located in proximity to authoritative institutions. Ideally, it should have inconspicuous special transportation…
“We’ll go back to the hospital and recheck.” Shu Xun, with a serious expression on his round face, suggested. He could only speculate that it was the hospital if such a place existed. Although they had searched it before, Shu Xun couldn’t think of any other possibilities. Individuals in different professions each had their own temperament and habits, and those involved in scientific research often possessed some medical skills, making their presence in and out of the hospital inconspicuous. Moreover, geographically, the hospital’s position on the island seemed most appropriate – convenient transportation and within the protective range of various institutions.
Without any hesitation, Ye Qian immediately turned around and headed back to the hospital they had visited once before. After a moment, the two stepped through the gates of this large hospital, now eerily empty and appearing exceptionally gloomy and cold in the darkness. The pitch-black corridor seemed endless at first glance as if leading to an unknown realm.
In such circumstances, Shu Xun’s vision was severely limited. However, Ye Qian continued to stride confidently, unaffected by the darkness. After entering the gaming world, the game system would impose strict limitations on players’ physical abilities based on the game’s background. Yet, Ye Qian seemed undisturbed by the darkness, indicating his inherent strength.
During their previous visit to the hospital, the two meticulously searched every corner but found nothing unusual. Reflecting on possible oversights, they recalled the hospital’s underground floors— one for storing miscellaneous items and the other for bodies and various specimens. At that time, they had focused mostly on the surrounding walls and ground, checking for hidden spaces or secret doors. However, besides the already explored areas, there was no additional space underground or around the hospital.
Ye Qian took purposeful steps towards the staircase, clearly understanding Shu Xun’s thoughts. In the silent space, only the almost inaudible rhythm of their footsteps echoed. Shu Xun had once been curious about this, wondering if Ye Qian, when walking, transformed his feet into pads, as his rapid pace made no sound. However, it seemed inaccurate, as Ye Qian was wearing shoes.
Soon, in complete darkness, Ye Qian descended the stairs and reached the storage area on the basement floor. Unlike a standard hospital warehouse, this floor stored various miscellaneous items, and many rooms were locked. During the previous search, these doors had been opened, and now they stood wide open, revealing the contents.
Following Ye Qian, Shu Xun slid down using Ye Qian’s clothes, searching the rooms separately to expedite the process. Ye Qian didn’t object; Shu Xun knew the boundaries well and wouldn’t venture too far, only searching the adjacent rooms.
As time passed silently, unnoticed, the surroundings subtly brightened, and when Shu Xun realized his field of vision had widened, he understood that the frozen footsteps were gradually closing in.
Waving his little claws faster, Shu Xun concentrated, carefully inspecting everything in the room, including various items.
At the moment when Shu Xun was engrossed in his examination, a massive black shadow silently approached. It was the outline of a giant wolf, crouching slightly, its paws landing on the ground without making a sound. Shu Xun was oblivious, still furrowing his little brow, earnestly focused on his work.
The live stream chat was filled with horrified expressions, urging Shu Xun to escape and calling out to Ye Qian. Although the sudden appearance of a giant wolf was puzzling, its size clearly didn’t match Ye Qian’s, and Ye Qian was still searching in another room.
Under the intense gaze of the audience, the giant wolf’s pair of emerald green eyes fixedly stared at the little dumpling in front. Then, in an instant, it pounced fiercely, directly grabbing the back collar of the dumpling. Amidst the audience’s screams, it accurately seized the dumpling and swiftly ran away…
In the live stream chat: “…”
After a brief silence, the live stream chat exploded.
“It’s Bai Ya, that idiot! Ye Qian! Ye Qian! Someone stole the little dumpling!”
“Ye Qian! The dumpling got snatched away!”
“Hey hey hey! This time, Bai Ya didn’t directly jump up to cling to God Ye’s thigh. Unscientific!”
“Apparently, giant wolves are all fans of cute things! The dumpling got stolen! I predict Bai Ya will have a miserable end! God Ye has already noticed!”
At the moment when Bai Ya pounced, Ye Qian in another room paused, turned around, exerted force on his feet, and burst forth with explosive power, causing the floor to almost crack. In the blink of an eye, he reached the door. However, Bai Ya, being a member of the military professional team, obviously had formidable strength, especially in beast form, with very rapid movements.
Shu Xun still held a small bag he had found during the previous search, and now he was swaying it with a bewildered expression. By the time Shu Xun reacted, he had already been snatched to the staircase, clearly aiming to escape upstairs. Shu Xun, who regained his senses, acted without hesitation. He swung the small bag in his hand backward; not knowing where it hit, the wolf carrying him paused noticeably. Without waiting for any other reaction, Shu Xun sharpened his claws and delivered a swift backhand slash.
The claws of the treasure-seeking mouse were incredibly sharp, even causing setbacks for the Emperor Butterfly’s fiery sun. Immediately, a howl of pain erupted behind, and Shu Xun’s back collar loosened, finally breaking free from the fate of swaying left and right. Aiming for the ground, he deftly rolled upon landing, evading another attempt by the wolf to bite him. Swiftly maneuvering his short legs, he ran in the opposite direction.
The giant wolf, injured tongue and all, immediately halted. Shu Xun could almost hear the grating sound of the sharp claws scraping the floor behind him. His fur stood on end, and without looking back, he ran towards Ye Qian.
However, even if the little dumpling was agile, short legs were still a disadvantage. After running a short distance, the towering shadow of the giant wolf once again loomed over him. Shu Xun exerted a bit of force with his chubby little hands, preparing for another struggle. But just as the wolf’s mouth was about to close in, a thunderous bang echoed, and the nearly two-meter giant wolf was sent flying, sliding several meters on the smooth floor. At the same time, Ye Qian scooped up Shu Xun and placed him back in his pocket.
Shu Xun finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking down, he saw the giant wolf that had been kicked away getting up again, tail drooping, ears flattened, assuming a low position as if about to be flattened like a pancake.
Shu Xun: “…”
Ye Qian cast a cold glance at the giant wolf, but surprisingly, he ignored it, stepping forward to continue searching the remaining rooms. Shu Xun scratched his head, suddenly realizing that Ye Qian knew this giant wolf, and the wolf posed no threat. No wonder he didn’t sense any danger when he was suddenly grabbed.
After Ye Qian checked another room, a slender man with a limp walked in. Upon getting closer, Shu Xun could see the man’s appearance. Unlike Lie Yang, the Emperor Butterfly, and Ye Qian, this man had captivating phoenix eyes that softened his handsome face, adding a touch of allure. However, this charm vanished instantly when the man rushed over to ask for a team-up, especially after being kicked away by Ye Qian once again.
Shu Xun slightly opened his small mouth in mild surprise. Clearly, such a rough way of meeting left him feeling quite intrigued. He stared fixedly at the man who resiliently approached again, limping visibly, and appeared particularly pitiful. Especially at the corner of his lips, there were three claw marks and faint traces of blood. Shu Xun scratched his head.
“Ye Qian! It’s okay if we don’t team up, but can you let me team up with this one?” The man said with a pitiful expression, but his eyes, bright and intimidating, looked at Shu Xun.
Shu Xun: “…” Why did he suddenly feel like a piece of meat, not to be eaten, but to be licked occasionally?
Ye Qian coldly raised his eyes. “Heh~”
Bai Ya: “!!!” Ye Qian actually smiled! Bai Ya never knew Ye Qian could smile, and it was so terrifying! How to describe it other than horrifying! The previously high-spirited Bai Ya suddenly became meek, and he could only watch Shu Xun with a reluctant expression. In his heart, he pondered why this adorable little dumpling belonged to someone else, and this person was an existence he couldn’t beat or steal from.
Seeing the completely resigned Bai Ya, Ye Qian nodded satisfactorily. It seemed that sometimes, problems that violence couldn’t solve could be resolved with gentle means, such as a smile.
Shu Xun and Bai Ya obviously couldn’t sync with Ye Qian’s thought waves, completely unaware of Ye Qian’s true feelings. Otherwise, they might have directly collapsed.
Ye Qian, feeling satisfied with solving the problem with a smile, continued searching the remaining two rooms on this floor. However, he still found nothing. The items in the rooms seemed fine, and there were no hidden doors or suspicious areas. Ye Qian left the room with an expressionless face, proceeding to the next floor, which was the morgue, completely ignoring Bai Ya.
The timid Bai Ya didn’t mind Ye Qian’s reaction, or perhaps he had long been accustomed to it. Observing this, he naturally followed with his long legs, speaking as he climbed the steps. “I just searched this floor. Apart from various specimens and the morgue, I found nothing else. But it’s strange. All the clues we gathered point to this island, and we’ve searched all the large buildings, yet found nothing. Could it be that there is no research institution here? If we miscalculated, it’s bad. Leaving by boat now probably won’t make it in time…”
Bai Ya seemed quite used to talking to himself, almost not giving Shu Xun a chance to inquire. He quickly narrated his experiences and findings. Shu Xun’s eyes flashed with a hint of contemplation. Almost everyone who arrived on this island was from military professional teams. This person’s every move exuded a kind of killing intent and seriousness uncommon in ordinary people; he was clearly a soldier. According to common sense, such individuals valued secrets the most and wouldn’t easily disclose information. So, why did he seem so defenseless against Ye Qian?
When Shu Xun first encountered Ye Qian, he pondered over Ye Qian’s possible identity. Later, with more time spent together, he stopped thinking about this issue because Ye Qian was, to him, a companion. However, now, Shu Xun suddenly realized that perhaps Ye Qian was not just a simple gaming deity.
The live stream chat was also buzzing with fervent discussions.
“Unexpected! Bai Ya’s first choice target is no longer Ye Qian, but he’s going after the little dumpling!”
“Hahaha! Wanting to snatch the little dumpling away from Ye Qian while limping is really lenient!”
“Every time Ye Qian smiles, I feel like the world is collapsing.”
“What exactly is Ye Qian’s identity? Why does it feel related to the military?”
“Upstairs just realized? Although Ye Qian’s identity is officially confidential, he’s already recognized as the strongest human. How could the military not try to recruit him? It’s just that so far, there’s no concrete information; everything remains in the speculation stage.”
Amid the audience’s lively discussion, the three of them had reached the bottommost floor of the hospital. Shu Xun tugged at Ye Qian’s clothes and then pointed to the morgue. Ye Qian understood, took a step, and walked over. Bai Ya followed closely behind. Although Bai Ya had just searched the area, he clearly didn’t doubt Ye Qian’s actions, even though it appeared that the guidance came from the soft little dumpling.
Approaching the morgue, the first thing they saw was the large iron drawers neatly storing bodies on the entire wall. Although the hospital’s power supply had long ceased, and the refrigeration equipment in the morgue had already failed, stepping into this place still inexplicably gave off an eerie and oppressive feeling that was hard to put into words.
Apart from that, there was also a faint, lingering smell of decay that made people extremely uncomfortable. Obviously, bodies were stored here, and not just any bodies, but those that met their end before reaching the final destination. Bodies that had naturally died before the end wouldn’t disappear. Although the winter temperatures were extremely low, there were still slight signs of decomposition on the bodies, all of which Ye Qian and Shu Xun had noticed during their previous inspection.
Shu Xun shrank his head, pulling his pockets tighter to bundle himself up. “Check all the drawers, look for bodies with no signs of decay.”
No need for Shu Xun to say more; Ye Qian had already begun inspecting the drawers. Bai Ya paused for a moment, a realization passing through his eyes. Clearly, he had figured something out, his expression turning more serious, and he swiftly checked all the drawers.
The morgue was quite large, considering the hospital’s scale. However, compared to the island, it seemed unusually spacious, especially with a considerable number of bodies stored here. Although Shu Xun had felt a bit strange before, he hadn’t grasped the key aspect.
However, after a thorough search, no traces of a large research facility were found. Shu Xun suddenly realized that perhaps this secluded island wasn’t researching Amber Crystal, but Blue-Eyed Ones. That would explain why they had to hide in the darkness, being so cautious, and the hospital served as an excellent cover.
About half an hour later, four drawers were pulled out, and just like the other two Blue-Eyed Ones Shu Xun had seen along the way, the bodies inside showed no signs of decay. They seemed to be peacefully sleeping, with serene expressions. However, upon undoing their clothing, one could see the numerous stitched scars on their chests. Their bodies had been dissected and sewn back together.
Ye Qian raised his hand, gently pressing Shu Xun’s little head back into the pocket. He quickly examined the four bodies. When Shu Xun peeked out again, the bodies had reverted to their original appearance. Neither Ye Qian nor Bai Ya explained the cause of death for these four individuals, and they remained silent.
“Go check inside the drawer compartments.” Shu Xun already understood that these four people had evidently died unnaturally, and the manner of their deaths was likely grim. He could imagine that before the harsh winter’s end, the constant disappearance of the populace had caused widespread panic, leading to severe rejection of the Blue-Eyed Ones. Both the world’s inhabitants and the Blue-Eyed Ones were under immense pressure, and in such a high-pressure situation, uncontrollable events would inevitably occur.
“I found it.” Bai Ya’s voice echoed in the silent room, and at the same time, a very fine crack appeared in the wall of the drawer compartments. Then, the seemingly integrated wall of drawers opened from the middle, slowly revealing an entrance, much like a door.
The independent space they had been searching for was actually built behind countless bodies. The door to this space was also constructed from the accumulation of bodies. Even they felt a heavy weight upon realizing this situation.
After the door opened, the three of them stepped into this extremely unsettling entrance. Beyond the morgue drawers was a space of about three hundred square meters, intricately planned with countless dazzling instruments and devices.
The most eye-catching element in this vast space was a long sign hanging in the center. Written in bright red, it boldly declared: “Remember the path you take every day and the door made from piled corpses. We hide behind the bodies, not stand on top of them!”
Even in the dim light, the vivid words stood out prominently, as if warning those who worked in this space. On both sides of the space, there were two more signs, each bearing the words: Reverence, Dedication. Never forget, Never abandon.
Seeing these words, Shu Xun couldn’t help but feel a fervent fighting spirit ignite in his small chest. He could almost imagine how those who entered and exited this laboratory every day maintained a sense of reverence while fighting for a slim chance of survival in the face of impending doom. They likely overcame the hardships in their hearts, paving a path of life with the corpses of their kind.
Amidst impending doom, there was always uncontrollable darkness and sorrow, but hope, like the most tenacious grass, would desperately grow wherever there was a crack.
Bai Ya sighed deeply. “I thought… well, even though it’s the same outcome, at least what we see now is a better process.”
Shu Xun scratched his head, looking puzzled.
Seeing this, Bai Ya chuckled, risking a potential kick by quickly patting Shu Xun’s small head with his fingers. “Little guy, you’ve seen too little of the world. You’ll understand in the future.”
Shu Xun turned his head, making a snorting sound, evidently not forgetting the scene where he was suddenly grabbed by the back of his collar and carried away in a mad dash. At the same time, he flexed his chubby little claws, displaying his “fierce” strength. Bai Ya couldn’t help but laugh helplessly again, and his mesmerizing eyes shimmered with countless glimmers.
Navigating through the complex instrument area, the three arrived at the innermost part where documents and research results were stored. Neatly organized files filled the cabinets on the left, while the right side of the wall showcased a row of sturdy-looking cabinets, each with square drawers. The lower drawers were much larger than the upper ones, and all the drawers were securely locked.
Ye Qian and Bai Ya turned to study the unlocking mechanism of the cabinets, while Shu Xun was placed by Ye Qian on the file cabinet to examine the documents.
The files in the file cabinet were meticulously categorized, covering not only Blue Amber Crystals and Blue-Eyed individuals but also various related topics. It seemed to integrate research findings from almost the entire country, and Shu Xun knew that there likely wasn’t a more detailed and comprehensive source.
Shu Xun’s initial focus was on the records related to Blue-Eyed individuals. Instead of going through each one individually, he directly perused the experimental summaries. Upon opening the file box, several sheets of cut-out paper appeared before him. These didn’t seem like experimental reports but rather pages cut from some book. Soon, Shu Xun’s entire attention was captured because the content recorded on these pages appeared to overturn their understanding of the world.
According to the information on the pages, Blue-Eyed individuals were the original inhabitants of this world. Research indicated that the genes and physical composition of Blue-Eyed individuals bore astonishing similarities to the elemental composition of this planet. Moreover, the eyes of Blue-Eyed individuals contained a unique chemical element found only in the deep layers of the planet’s crust. This element was said to exist in the deepest layers of the crust, the same layers where Blue Amber Crystals were initially discovered, tracing back to the ancient insect era.
