Chapter 17 The Gray Dome Tower 17 Counterattack.
Since entering this bizarre world, this is not the first time Nanmen Jue has encountered a deadly crisis, but this time is different from the past.
The feeling of death approaching is different from the feeling of knowing death is coming but not knowing when it will come. Nanmen Jue thought to himself, trying to find some humor in his bitterness.
"Aren't you supposed to have long legs? Aren't you supposed to be good at fighting? Aren't you supposed to be powerful? Then keep going."
His hand, gripping her hair, trembled slightly, not out of fear, but out of the excitement of finally having his prey under his control. Such a powerful and beautiful prey was in his hands, her life or death hanging in the balance. His eyes were bloodshot with excitement.
Nanmen Jue braced her arms on the stair railing with difficulty. The slightest movement caused her head to be pulled so hard that she grimaced in pain. She tried her best to reach the stairs next to her with her toes, while stalling for time.
"No, no, my legs aren't as long as yours. Why don't we calm down and have a proper talk?"
“You didn’t seem to have this attitude before, little girl. From the first time you opened your eyes in the car, your eyes were full of arrogance and unruliness. You’re so beautiful, so beautiful that I want to dig it out with my tongue and make it into a specimen that will never fade.”
As he spoke, Zhu Wenjie slowly lowered his head closer to Nanmen Jue's face. When he finished speaking, his lips pressed against Nanmen Jue's temple. His rough stubble pricked her skin, but this discomfort was nothing compared to the life-or-death crisis. As he stuck out his tongue, Nanmen Jue tightly closed her eyes.
His wet tongue licked her eyelids, and Zhu Wenjie chuckled softly. His breath was like an inflating balloon, growing louder and louder until it exploded with a bang at the peak.
He grabbed Nanmen Jue's head and slammed it hard against the metal handrail.
"You just didn't tell me you were a woman, were you deliberately playing me for fools?"
"Go ahead and be arrogant! Do you think I didn't see it? From the moment you opened your eyes, you've been looking at me like I'm trash!"
Bang, bang, bang.
Nanmen Jue's head slammed into the metal, and a warm, wet sensation flowed down from the painful spot. She tried to open her eyes, but all she saw was a blood-red vision.
state.
"Why do you look down on me? Why do you all look down on me? Is it because you're good-looking? Is it because you're of noble birth? We're all just struggling survivors, and only those who live on are superior!"
Zhu Wenjie seemed to have completely gone mad. He kept slamming Nanmen Jue against the handrail and screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Didn't you look down on me? You, all of you, are all dead by my hand! Hahahaha! I am the one who holds your lives in my hands! Hahahaha!"
Nanmen Jue remained silent. His voice must have already traveled out. Based on what she had seen in the past few days, the guards should have arrived within five minutes of the chaos. Why hadn't they arrived yet?
Delaying the inevitable was no longer an option; to survive, she had to save herself.
She braced her toes against the edge of the stairs, freed one hand to grope around for a few moments, and finally pulled a scalpel from her pocket. Her head injury had made her lose her sense of space, and she instinctively thrust upwards with all her might.
With a crisp clang, Nanmen Jue's pupils contracted.
This is definitely not the sound of metal hitting skin.
Zhu Wenjie's movements and laughter stopped. Nanmen Jue slowly raised her eyes and looked up. Through her own blood, she saw Zhu Wenjie's ferocious smile.
She hit the mark; the scalpel did indeed pierce his neck, but the sound was crisp and clear, like the sound of metal clashing.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside, and the guards finally arrived.
"Isn't it surprising?" Zhu Wenjie leaned closer to her face and whispered, "So this is all the veterans are capable of? This is how veterans protect themselves."
Bang! The door to the stairwell was kicked open.
"Don't move!"
"South Gate!"
Zhu Wenjie smiled at her, "Farewell, Miss Nanmen, who once amazed me."
In Nanmen Jue's wide-eyed gaze, he let go of her hand.
The spot where Nanmen Jue hooked her hand was not strong enough to support her weight. Her hand flared aimlessly, and she fell through the gap in the stairs.
"South Gate—"
Zhang Chuxi's voice was drawn out, and Nanmen Jue's ears went "buzz," like he was drowning. During those long two seconds of stunned silence, Nanmen Jue's heart skipped a beat.
She suddenly came to her senses.
The location of the stairs is fixed; if she doesn't do something soon, she'll fall all the way to the bottom of the tower!
Falling so fast, Nanmen Jue had no idea where her hands were reaching. She frantically grabbed at the side, her skin aching from the friction. Finally, she grabbed a railing from some unknown floor, leaving her hanging in mid-air.
Gravity caused her arm to dislocate.
Cold sweat soaked her entire body, and her eyes, hidden beneath her bangs, were fierce and clear. She gritted her teeth, gripped the railing with her other hand, swayed her waist, and hooked one foot onto the stairs.
Having escaped from a life-or-death situation once again, she leaned against the wall, panting heavily, just like she had in the car. She braced her shoulder against the wall and snapped her arm back into place.
She sent Zhang Chuxi her coordinates and slowly wiped the blood off her face.
Her head was unusually hard; the way she was hit didn't break through it. The wound and the tumor in her brain throbbed with pain. Nanmen Jue stared straight ahead and suddenly laughed.
Zhu Wenjie, you'd better pray they sentence you to humanitarian execution.
She curled herself up and quietly waited for rescue.
There was no sound or heating on this floor, and Nanmen Jue's body quickly teetered on the brink of hypothermia. She blinked and vaguely saw a woman squatting in front of her, her usually calm eyes looking at her with concern.
“…Sister?” She felt as if she hadn’t opened her mouth, but she heard her own voice.
Where is she? At the hospital? Or at the police station? She's gotten into trouble again. Did those people call her sister over? Every time her sister comes to visit, she tries to find worry in her eyes, something other than blame and disappointment. Whenever she gets hurt, it always shows up first in her sister's eyes.
Just like now.
"elder sister……"
Nanmen Jue reached out his hand to her, but it passed right through her face.
"...It's an illusion."
The icy aura seeped into her bones through the wall. After realizing that the sister who was squatting down to look at her was an illusion, Nanmen Jue stood up, leaning against the wall.
The stairwell door on this floor was locked. Nanmenjue glanced at it in a daze and took out a wire from his pocket.
It took several tries to get it into the keyhole.
"You're still got it, classmate. No wonder you were a genius who could break into the teacher's office and steal confiscated novels back in elementary school."
She kept talking to herself to stay conscious, and opened the pried-open door. All she saw was darkness. Nanmen Jue thought she had fainted in an instant.
But no, it's just that the lights weren't on.
The intense heat hit you in the face, accompanied by the hissing of steam. This seemed to be the heating system of the gray tower, and generally no one would come down here.
Nanmen Jue dared not go in, worried that she would not be able to see the way and fall into the steamer, but the heat inside was just what she needed. She groped her way to sit down by the door and hugged herself tightly.
"Sister, I'm not feeling well," she said softly.
She shook her head vigorously, but felt increasingly dizzy. She scratched at the wall behind her with her fingernails, and after a few scratches, a piece of metal fell down.
"...Is the wall old?"
Nanmen Jue was a little dazed. Only when she spoke did her body tremble slightly, giving her a sense of being alive. She subconsciously stuffed the fallen fragments into her pocket and continued to curl herself into a ball.
If she were to die here… No, she wouldn’t. An astonishing willpower sustained her faltering consciousness. She stared wide-eyed at the ground before her until she heard hurried footsteps approaching and Zhang Chuxi calling her name. Only then did she finally faint with relief.
When she woke up again, she was unsurprisingly back in her hospital room.
Zhang Chuxi saw her open her eyes, her red eyes brimming with tears again, "Nanmen."
Nanmen Jue touched his head and found it was indeed wrapped in thick bandages.
“They’ve already locked Zhu Wenjie up, on charges of intentional homicide,” Zhang Chuxi said. “Watching you fall, I really thought you would… Thank God.”
“He almost succeeded,” Nanmen Jue said. “He was willing to become a red name to kill me. It seems I attracted a lot of hatred, but I was just unlucky and he let me live.”
Zhang Chuxi grinned, almost crying, but was amused by her and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You just escaped death, and you still have the mind to talk like that."
"It's something you get used to after escaping death once in a while," Nanmen Jue said, propping himself up to sit up.
"What are you doing? I'll get you whatever you want, don't move!" Zhang Chuxi quickly helped her up.
“Help me to the mirror and give me a pair of scissors,” Nanmen Jue said.
Zhang Chuxi didn't understand why, but seeing Nanmen Jue's look, she did as he said.
Nanmen Jue was staying in what could be described as the highest-standard ward in the Gray Tower, like a small suite, complete with a private bathroom. Zhang Chuxi helped Nanmen Jue inside and gave her a pair of scissors.
Nanmen Jue untied the bandages from his head, circle by circle.
You still have a head injury!
"I'll tie him up again in a bit." Nanmen Jue examined the wound on her head; it was smaller than she had expected. She stroked her long hair. "What will they do with Zhu Wenjie?"
“They suspect he’s gone mad from excessive stress and is temporarily locked up in jail. We’ll ask him more about the situation when you wake up.” Zhang Chuxi looked at her and couldn’t help but say, “Some of your hair was pulled out, but it will grow back quickly and you’ll be just as beautiful as before. Tie it back up quickly so you don’t bleed again.”
"Beautiful? Do you think I care about that kind of thing?"
To Zhang Chuxi's astonishment, Nanmen Jue picked up a pair of scissors and cut off his long hair.
She was cutting her hair, and her narrow, dark eyes gleamed with a cold light, revealing her stubbornness and ruthlessness.
Large swathes of her long hair fell down, as if cutting away all her previous self-righteous foolishness and arrogance.
"I was wrong. I hadn't adjusted my mindset before. This isn't the real world. Losing your sense of intensity can have fatal consequences."
The scissors, stained with a few drops of blood, were thrown into the pristine white washbasin.
Looking at the person in the mirror with messy short hair, a pale face, and a sharp expression, Nanmen Jue smiled faintly.
"Don't rush, the game is only just beginning."
Seeing Nanmen Jue's expression in the mirror, Zhang Chuxi was frightened. She took two steps back, her face even paler than Nanmen Jue's.
Nanmen Jue wrapped the bandage back around and around. In the process, her expression gradually returned to normal. Whether it was a genuine return to normal or just a facade, no one but herself knew.
She turned to look at Zhang Chuxi, who was about to leave the restroom, and asked, "Afraid of me?"
Zhang Chuxi, her face pale, nodded honestly, then shook her head vigorously. "I sense a terrifying aura emanating from you... just like I once felt from Zhu Wenjie, but you are different from him." She spoke urgently, her eyes darting away and lowering.
Nanmen Jue didn't mind and said good-naturedly, "In a way, he did transfer a part of himself to me."
Zhang Chuxi looked up at him in alarm.
“‘We are all reincarnated beings struggling to survive, and only those who survive are superior.’” Nanmen Jue repeated this sentence. “That’s so well said. If I hadn’t been inconvenienced at the time, I would have liked to applaud him loudly.”
Even though Zhang Chuxi didn't witness the scene of the two of them confronting each other high in the sky, she had personally seen the circumstances under which Nanmen Jue fell. When Nanmen Jue casually mentioned that it was "not convenient" at the time, her face turned a little pale.
"No matter how despicable someone is, as long as they can survive in this world, they are superior to others," Nanmen Jue said calmly. "In the face of life and death, there is no such thing as high or low status. The senior member of Lanming personally taught me this lesson and made me pay the tuition. I have remembered it thoroughly."
Looking at her calm and composed face, Zhang Chuxi felt a chill run down her spine and couldn't help but shiver.
For some reason, she felt even more terrified of Nanmen Jue now than when she saw her pick up a gun and shoot people without hesitation.
Just like encountering a wild animal isn't scary, but seeing a bear walking upright and waving at people from afar would definitely scare you to death.
However, this fear only lasted for a moment. When Nanmen Jue turned his head to look at her, the terrifying feeling had passed.
"I'm hungry, Sister Chu Xi," Nanmen Jue said softly. "I'm so weak... Please get me something to eat."
Her hair had become shorter, but for some reason, her looks and temperament suddenly soared. Zhang Chuxi looked at her, and her face involuntarily became a little hot.
Humans are indeed driven by basic human needs such as food and sex!
Zhang Chuxi pressed the call bell and summoned the special patient meal prepared for Nanmen Jue: the staple white bread was gone, replaced by a soft, glutinous paste that she couldn't name.
The white bread won't disappear; it will simply be transferred to Zhang Chuxi's plate.
Nanmen Jue never dreamed that one day she would envy others eating white bread to such an extent. She silently scooped up a spoonful of the paste and put it in her mouth.
Food in this era was already tasteless, and hospital meals were even less so. With these two buffs combined, Nanmen Jue felt like he was eating paper.
Just as he was chewing with difficulty, he heard Zhang Chuxi sigh.
"What crime do you think they will sentence Zhu Wenjie to?"
"In short, it can't be the death penalty."
In this era of sparse population and with the presence of radiation and mutations, the death penalty is not easily imposed, especially since Nanmen Jue is still alive.
Zhang Chuxi's expression was somewhat subtle. Nanmen Jue glanced at her and asked, "You think it's a pity?"
Zhang Chuxi crumpled the white bread in her hand, then crumpled it again, and said hesitantly, "Dead people are scary. I still can't get used to people I know dying just like that, even if they are bad people... But if he doesn't die, we will be in danger."
Nanmen Jue knew she was afraid, but a wicked smile crept across his face. "Wouldn't it be less interesting if he died so easily?"
Zhang Chuxi stared blankly at her.
"Don't worry, he won't die so easily," Nanmen Jue said meaningfully. "He's a veteran, and those who look down on veterans will pay a heavy price."
Here it comes again, that chilling feeling. Zhang Chuxi lowered her head and silently shoveled the breadcrumbs into her mouth.
I heard that Nanmen Jue has woken up, and someone sent a message saying they want to discuss Zhu Wenjie's sentence with her.
It seems that Nanmen Jue's identity is still useful. At least on the surface, if anyone wants to deal with Zhu Wenjie, they have to ask Nanmen Jue, the person involved, for his opinion.
Nanmen Jue looked at the list of people coming to discuss the matter and revealed a subtle expression.
She woke up in the evening and replied that she was tired after eating and that they would talk about it tomorrow. So the next morning, as agreed, the two of them went to her hospital room.
Because Nanmen Jue was still a patient, the number of visitors was kept extremely low. The two people who came were Xu Yang, representing the president and the court, and He Hua, the captain of the Order Maintenance Guard Team to which Zhu Wenjie belonged, who was also He Ting's father.
Xu Yang still maintained his refined and kind demeanor, dressed in a suit and looking quite presentable. He Hua, on the other hand, had very strong features, even somewhat too angular. When Nanmen Jue saw him enter, he felt as if he were looking at a walking marble slab.
She almost burst out laughing.
However, he does have a very upright appearance.
The two sat down on the sofa. Nanmen Jue didn't get out of bed. His head was wrapped up like an Arab's and he was on an IV drip. He looked pale and his expression was unreadable.
He Hua spoke first: "Dr. Nanmen, you saved my son's life before. I was away on a mission and never had a chance to thank you in person. Now that the guards have hurt you, I will definitely hold them accountable to the end."
“Captain He, this is not your fault,” Nanmen Jue said. “The entire guard force has tens of thousands of people. How could they possibly manage every single one of them?”
"Ahem, ahem." Xu Yang gave a soft prompt from the side. In a proper setting, it would usually be his turn to speak at this point.
However, Hehua continued, "My subordinates committed crimes, which is my dereliction of duty. I will apply to the court for punishment. You don't need to make excuses for me."
Xu Yang: "Cough, cough."
Nanmen Jue had no particular feelings for Xu Yang, but when she saw He Hua's face becoming increasingly angular and sharp as she spoke very seriously, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Xu Yang's face instantly turned dark.
Nanmen Jue didn't explain, but said casually, "Secretary Xu, if your throat is sore, drink more hot water, or even some lava."
Xu Yang gave a forced smile, "Dr. Nanmen is indeed lucky. You've escaped several life-threatening crises. It seems you have a bit of luck on your side."
“That’s right, I am the chosen one. Those who do not listen to me will be abandoned by the god of fate,” Nanmen Jue said. “If you now convert to my sect, I can forgive and forget your past mistakes.”
Xu Yang looked at her, and she looked at Xu Yang. If there were special effects at this moment, the background would probably be filled with crackling lightning and thunder.
Zhang Chuxi stood behind Nanmen Jue, not daring to breathe loudly. No matter how many times it happened, she admired Nanmen Jue for daring to confront anyone regardless of their status.
He Hua seemed to have figured something out. He glanced thoughtfully at Xu Yang and said to Nanmen Jue, "Dr. Nanmen, how do you want this matter handled?"
Here comes the important part.
Nanmen Jue looked at Xu Yang, "According to the laws of the Gray Tower, how should this be handled?"
"Zhu Wenjie committed intentional assault and was caught on the spot. According to Gray Tower law, he should be stripped of his guard status and political rights for three years and imprisoned for one year." Xu Yang pretended to open his bracelet and flip through the documents.
He Hua said, "Based on the records at the scene, this was probably not intentional injury, but murder. There were many guards who could testify to this."
“He did drop the object at the time. According to his testimony, he only lifted Dr. Nanmen into the gap between the stairs to scare her. His subjective intention was not to kill her,” Xu Yang said hypocritically. “Of course, if Dr. Nanmen wants to prove that he committed intentional homicide, then the testimony of a lowly security guard—no, he is no longer one now, but a lowly citizen—can be altered through some means.”
No one spoke in the room. If He Hua wanted to fight for more treatment for Nanmen Jue, it would be like stepping into a trap set by Xu Yang. Anger showed on his square face as he glared at Xu Yang.
Xu Yang smiled and gave Nanmen Jue a slight bow. "Dr. Nanmen, how do you intend to handle this?"
Nanmen Jue also smiled, and the two looked at each other, like a big fox staring at a little fox.
Nanmen Jue said, "Let him go."
Upon hearing this, the three people in the room were stunned, and Xu Yang's smile froze on his face.
"What did you say?" he asked incredulously.
“We just had a little argument. Since he didn’t want to kill me and it was just an unintentional mistake, wouldn’t it seem petty of me to hold it against him? Besides, Zhu Wenjie is a soldier who has made meritorious contributions to the Gray Tower. Although I am an important researcher, I can’t be too arrogant and domineering.” Everyone could tell that it was a lie, but Nanmen Jue said it with extraordinary naturalness and sincerity, as if it came from her heart.
Xu Yang's lips twitched, and he was about to say something when he glanced at He Hua and saw that she looked deeply moved, so he fell silent.
No, you actually believed her empty lies?
"I never expected Dr. Nanmen to have such a broad mind at such a young age," Hehua said sincerely.
Xu Yang: "..."
He narrowed his eyes, his gaze towards Nanmen Jue becoming much more cautious. "Dr. Nanmen, let me confirm, do you want Zhu Wenjie, who almost cost you your life, to be released without charge?"
Hehua glanced at him, then changed her tune, saying that Nanmen Jue almost lost his life.
“That’s right. It would be such a waste for a brave and loyal warrior to lose his identity and the opportunity to continue serving the Gray Tower because of my personal affairs, and end up wasting his time in prison.” Nanmen Jue looked at Hehua. “Why don’t we let him work overtime and take on more cleaning duties outside the tower? That would be a way to make amends for his past mistakes. What do you think?”
Radiation monsters roam around the Gray Tower year-round, so in addition to monster sieges, a guard team must be sent out every day to clean up the surrounding area, which is a routine cleaning task in the Gray Tower.
In He Hua's view, the guards were supposed to be cleaning outside, but Nan Menjue not only didn't revoke Zhu Wenjie's status as a guard, but also punished him by making him "work overtime," which was basically the same as no punishment at all!
His gaze toward Nanmen Jue grew increasingly respectful; he even stood up and gave Nanmen Jue a proper salute.
"On behalf of Zhu Wenjie, I thank Dr. Nanmen."
Xu Yang: "..."
He hadn't said anything yet, and these two people had already made the decision?
However, he really couldn't say anything more. Nanmen Jue had already been extremely magnanimous, and if he continued to make trouble, he would seem too foolish.
He glanced thoughtfully at Nanmen Jue, who responded with an even more perfect fake smile.
"Does Secretary Xu have any further comments?"
“...Since both Dr. Nanmen and Captain He think this is better, the court will respect your opinions,” Xu Yang said.
Hehua said, "Starting tomorrow... no, starting today, Zhu Wenjie will be responsible for cleaning duties for six consecutive months. Dr. Nanmen, what do you think?"
"Six months is too long; prolonged exposure to the elements is dangerous," Nanmenjue said. "Two months should be enough."
Xu Yang's gaze became increasingly strange.
The cleanup took two months, but if the guards went on a long trip, it could take even longer. On the surface, this punishment was practically nonexistent.
Nanmen Jue, what are you thinking?
Hehua also felt that the punishment was too lenient, but Nanmen Jue insisted on it, so they had no choice but to agree to it.
After the two left the ward, Zhang Chuxi finally let out a slow breath.
“You all have such strong presences,” she said. “Nanmen, are you also the son of some important figure in real life?”
Nanmen Jue smiled and said, "The second generation of the jinx, I suppose."
Her parents died early, and her older sister was also dragged into this kind of place by her. Calling her a jinx is not an exaggeration at all.
Zhang Chuxi was confused, but Nanmen Jue didn't want to talk about it anymore. She nodded her chin and asked, "How likely do you think it is that Xu Yang is a reincarnator?"
“…It’s a big deal,” Zhang Chuxi said. “He’s protecting Zhu Wenjie.”
“Yeah, why would they go to such lengths to protect a crippled guard if they’re not even related to any of the natives?” Nanmen Jue said. “An item to hide names… How interesting.”
"Then he must be an extremely powerful veteran, possibly even the highest-ranking among us." Zhang Chuxi said, her face pale. "Are you really going to deal with him?"
"He's the one who wants to get me, baby. I was just defending myself." Nanmen Jue sneered. "If it were another world, I might consider it, but in this world I have a unique and privileged identity, so it's not impossible... What's with that expression?"
“…Is it really that obvious?” Zhang Chuxi covered her flushed face, her eyes slightly dreamy. “I’m sorry, it’s a little hard for me to control myself when you call me ‘baby’ like this.”
Nanmen Jue: "..."
This girl isn't very bold; all she exudes is lust.
"Ahem, ahem." Zhang Chuxi tried her best to remain serious. "So, what do you plan to do?"
Nanmen Jue's two long legs dangled off the bed. "Let's tidy up and go to the rest area to watch Zhu Wenjie's cleaning performance."
...
As Zhang Chuxi mentioned before, there is a large screen in the public rest area on the ground floor that shows the scene outside the tower in real time. It also displays the scene of each cleaning, so that the public knows how terrible the radiation monster is and prevents anyone from running around recklessly.
Although the Grey Tower built a colossal structure several kilometers high to confine humans, it did not deprive them of their ability to perceive the outside world.
Nanmen Jue took off the deliberately exaggerated Arabic headscarf from her head, leaving only a bandage. Her loose hair stood out, giving her a rather unruly look. She bought a glass of carrot juice from the food area and sat down on a chair in the viewing area with Zhang Chuxi.
Ignoring the dome that blocks out outside light, the layout here resembles a large open-air plaza. The tables and chairs are made of plastic and can be moved around freely. Around the plaza are screens of all sizes, making it look like a command headquarters.
Aside from the guards, the people inside the tower basically never have the chance to leave, so there are always a lot of people here, and everyone relies on these screens to learn about the outside world.
"He went out." Zhang Chuxi was the first to spot Zhu Wenjie.
Although he wore full protective gear and a helmet to cover his face when he went out to clean, everyone else was working in groups, while he was working alone in a separate area, so he could be easily spotted if you paid a little attention.
Nanmen Jue, sipping his straw, stared intently at the screen where Zhu Wenjie was. He saw that Zhu Wenjie had encountered the radiation monster, but compared to the other groups of three or five warriors, he seemed to be dealing with it much more easily.
No wonder she suffered a loss; she dared to fight a veteran with only 20 points of health left. It's only thanks to her parents' blessings that she's still alive.
Thinking this, a strange smile appeared on her lips.
Zhang Chuxi accidentally caught a glimpse of her expression. Even though they were the weaker party, she inexplicably wanted to light a candle for Zhu Wenjie in advance.
She looked around, pulled the stool closer to Nanmenjue, and lowered her voice, "Your plan is to let him go out and be killed by the radiation monster?"
It's not incomprehensible. If Zhu Wenjie remains imprisoned, the members of their life society can't intervene. If Nanmen Jue wants Zhu Wenjie dead, the only way is to get him out first.
"Hmm..." Nanmen Jue responded vaguely, "Let's see how things go first."
Zhang Chuxi opened her mouth, then silently closed it again, her face showing some disappointment.
Nanmen Jue didn't look at her, but he pinpointed the exact question: "Unhappy?"
“I just… feel so useless. I couldn’t help Sister Terra before, and I can’t help you now,” Zhang Chuxi said in a low voice. “I’m like a parasite, I can only live by sucking your blood.”
Nanmen Jue looked at her, spitting out the straw from his mouth, "How old are you again, 22?"
Zhang Chuxi nodded, "I am a third-year architecture student."
"A harmonious and happy family?"
"It's still relatively harmonious..." Zhang Chuxi didn't understand how the topic had jumped to this point, and her tone was confused. "Although my parents are divorced, my stepfather is still quite nice to me, and I don't have... a younger brother or sister."
She paused for a moment, but Nanmen Jue didn't notice.
"Then what ability do you expect to have to solve a crisis?" Nanmen Jue said bluntly. "People need to experience crises to solve them. You are well protected in a peaceful society, and you are still well protected in a post-apocalyptic world. Do you expect to suddenly unlock your full potential and become the protagonist of a wish-fulfillment novel?"
"I don't."
Zhang Chuxi had always known that Nanmen Jue's words were sharp, but this was the first time he had directed them at her. Helplessly, she gripped the cup in her hand and lowered her eyes, "...Then why are you still willing to protect me?"
Why would anyone protect someone who is so useless?
"If I don't take you out, won't I lose my ticket to Iron Drill?" Nanmen Jue turned his head away.
Zhang Chuxi was taken aback. Looking at Nanmen Jue's beautiful profile, she smiled.
She saw it; Nanmen Jue's ears turned red.
After a moment of silence, Nanmen Jue spoke again, this time in a much calmer tone.
“In this kind of world, no one can protect you forever. As you can see, there are many people who want to kill me. I can barely protect myself, and following me might actually lead to your quicker death.”
“I know,” Zhang Chuxi said gently. “Thank you, Nanmen.”
Nanmen Jue bit the straw again and remained silent. Feeling a little awkward, she put her hand into her pocket and suddenly touched something hard.
She was stunned. Her clothes had definitely been changed, but the person who changed her clothes didn't dare take her things. They put everything that was in her pockets back in untouched. She remembered the piece of wall she had pried off in the boiler room.
As he traced its outline, Nanmen Jue had an idea in mind.
When Nanmen Jue wanted to use the laboratory, not only did no one object, but many people were actually delighted.
Zhao Huai-ren had previously tried to persuade Nanmen Jue to join the research group to solve the problem of retrograde hormone, but Nanmen Jue didn't need to refuse forcefully; her many misfortunes made Zhao Huai-ren sigh and give up.
The problem of tumors, which cannot be solved even in peacetime, is even more intractable in the apocalypse. Nanmen Jue knew that Zhao Huai Ren had discovered her illness, but he said nothing. Perhaps the environment of the apocalypse had made him accustomed to the pain of separation and death. He simply stopped trying to persuade Nanmen Jue to do anything.
It felt like I wouldn't bother her for the rest of her days, and that I could let her do whatever she wanted.
As soon as the news of Nanmen Jue entering the laboratory spread, Zhao Huai-ren received the news immediately. Before he had even finished changing his clothes, Zhao Huai-ren rushed over.
The two looked at each other through the glass, and Zhao Huai-ren opened the door directly.
Nanmen Jue was helpless. His clothes were soiled halfway through changing, and he would have to change them all over again later.
"Xiao Jue," Zhao Huai Ren glanced at Zhang Chu Xi beside him, "what are you trying to do?"
“There’s something I’d like to figure out,” Nanmenjue said.
Zhao Huai-ren frowned. "Not bringing an assistant?"
"It's just a small experiment, I can handle it myself." Nanmen Jue smiled and pushed the old man's shoulder, leading him towards the door. "Don't you trust me? I won't blow up your lab."
"You...sigh." Zhao Huai Ren was pushed out the door, and the look in his eyes when he turned around made Nanmen Jue think that she saw her sister for a moment.
There wasn't a deep emotional response, nor overwhelming sadness, but looking into his eyes was enough to move one to tears.
Can computers really express such delicate emotions?
"Don't... tire yourself out," Zhao Huai-ren said. "If you don't trust your assistant, I can do it for you."
Nanmen Jue smiled slowly, "You're busy enough. Okay, go ahead and do your thing. I'll call you if I need anything."
She closed the door, and Zhao Huai-ren stood outside for a while before he heard her footsteps leaving.
"Disinfect and change clothes again," Nanmenjue said.
Zhang Chuxi said, "This is the first time I've seen an NPC show such obvious...feelings" towards a reincarnator?
"First time?" Nanmen Jue was a little surprised. Wasn't this game supposed to generate NPCs based on the individual circumstances of the reincarnators?
She squinted, even more determined to succeed in the experiment she was about to conduct.
As she changed her clothes, Zhang Chuxi grew increasingly nervous. "Don't you really need to find a more professional assistant? I've never been to a lab before."
"It's nothing, it's just a very small experiment, there's no danger at all. The reason for this setup is just to keep other people out."
Nanmen Jue armed the two of them according to the highest experimental standards, and nodded in satisfaction as he looked in the mirror.
"Come."
Zhang Chuxi's tension subsided, replaced by curiosity. "What are you going to do? Why do we need to conduct experiments?"
This is the first time I've heard of someone conducting experiments in a post-apocalyptic world.
“I’m still very concerned about that question.” Nanmen Jue walked to the lab bench and took out the fragment from the sterile bag. “I just want to know, where did the history of this world go?”
Zhang Chuxi paused for a moment, then said, "I don't mean to oppose you... but is this question really that important?"
"What?"
"I know you're studying medicine. Are all medical students this... inquisitive?" Zhang Chuxi looked at her. "Whether this world is real or fake, whether it has history or not, the stories between NPCs won't affect us reincarnators. We just come in to complete our missions, survive, and then leave, right?"
You're right.
Nanmen Jue nodded in agreement. After a little research, she knew how to turn on the fluorescence spectrometer of this era. The screen gradually displayed the components contained in the metal wall: molybdenum, nickel, tungsten, lead, and some element names she had never heard of. It didn't matter; with what she knew, it was enough to analyze what she wanted to know.
"What happened in the history of this world, what conspiracies there are, is indeed unrelated to our mission, but I'm a stubborn person, and if I want to know something, I will always find a way to find out."
With a clang, Nanmenjue threw the remaining waste into the cleaning solvent.
...
The instrument analysis would take several days, which disappointed Nanmenjue. She thought she would know the results that day, but considering that this was the end of the world, it was only natural that the instruments would not work properly.
With nothing else to do, Nanmen Jue went to watch Zhu Wenjie fight monsters every day, and as he watched, he would sigh, "I'm so envious."
Zhang Chuxi: "?"
"I'm so envious. There are so many monsters to fight," Nanmen Jue said quietly. "These are all points. I gave him a great opportunity to earn points for free. I'm such a good person."
Zhang Chuxi: "..." She felt it was best for her not to speak.
While watching Zhu Wenjie fight monsters, Nanmen Jue would occasionally glance at something on her bracelet. A week passed like this, and then she suddenly said, "It's about time."
That evening, after finishing his cleaning, Zhu Wenjie returned to the tower. As he passed the radiation detection instrument, the bright red light emanating from it was dazzling and attracted the attention of everyone at the entrance.
With a whoosh, the people who were originally waiting for inspection behind and in front of him scattered in all directions at lightning speed. In less than two seconds, the soldiers on duty, fully armed, surrounded Zhu Wenjie.
Zhu Wenjie froze, then his expression changed drastically, and he shouted, "I didn't!"
In this era, the method for detecting radiation levels is to test with detection instruments, record the data, and upload it to a monitoring system. The data is updated in real time after each test, and once the dangerous value is exceeded, an alarm will be issued on the spot, and the system will record the data as red.
When the instrument emits a red light, it means that the radiation level has exceeded the danger range. Unlike the critical level of Nanmenjue, it may change in the next second, and this is no joke!
Therefore, Zhu Wenjie was extremely nervous. He stared at the gun barrels surrounding him as if facing a formidable enemy and shouted, "I was perfectly normal yesterday, not even at the critical point. How could I have broken the value today? This is impossible!"
“The equipment isn’t malfunctioning.” The lead guard remained unmoved. “Put down your weapons immediately, put on the isolation gowns, and proceed to the isolation room to await your fate! Hurry!”
"I really don't! Do you see any signs of mutation in me, you bunch of idiots! I'm perfectly normal!" Zhu Wenjie roared.
The guards are very experienced in dealing with this situation.
"Three warnings, one, two..."
If they don't obey, they really will shoot.
Zhu Wenjie gritted his teeth, his muscles bulging. He glanced around; the chances of escaping were practically zero.
He had no choice but to slowly squat down, hand over his weapon, and raise his hands high.
Chains and isolation barriers were put on him, and he was restrained with bloodshot eyes and taken into an isolation room.
For suspected mutants whose mutations exceed the threshold, the treatment is not as good as it was for Nanmen Jue. The isolation room is brightly lit, illuminating everything in the room in detail. This is to monitor the people inside and record every detail of their mutation into monsters.
At this point, people are no longer people, but monsters, experimental subjects, or experimental subjects who contribute to human research on radiation.
No one who enters this place has ever come out alive.
Zhu Wenjie sat on the empty ground, his facial muscles twitching from time to time, and a hint of fear showing in his eyes.
He certainly didn't feel like he was going to mutate, but machines don't lie. What if it was true? What if he couldn't sense it simply because he didn't understand the energy system of this world?
Will he... really mutate? Turn into one of those bloody, disgusting monsters where you can't tell the difference between a head and a butt?
Zhu Wenjie stared at his hands, which began to tremble.
He didn't know how much time had passed, his heart was constantly being tormented by boiling flames, and finally, the intercom on the wall was opened. After a faint electrical sound, a voice he would never forget rang out.
"Zhu Wenjie, how have you been these past few hours?"
Zhu Wenjie suddenly looked up in the direction of the camera, and the moment that voice rang out, he understood everything.
His face contorted, his body swelled to the color of a pig's liver, and humiliation, fear, shock, and rage intertwined into a deafening roar.
"Nanmen Jue—"
Outside the isolation room, in the monitoring area, Nanmenjue, wearing a headset, showed a disgusted expression as if his eardrums had been vibrated.
Even so, the corners of her mouth were turned up high, showing no restraint in expressing her joy.
Inside, Zhu Wenjie had already stood up. He tried to jump in front of the surveillance camera and shove his hideous face right in front of Nanmen Jue's nose, but the ceiling of the isolation room was very high. He jumped angrily, but he couldn't hit Nanmen Jue even a little bit.
The isolation chamber is made of the same special material as the entire tower, so that ordinary radiation monsters cannot damage it, let alone human beings.
"How did you do that? How is that possible? How did you get me up?!"
Nanmen Jue took off his headset, rubbed his aggravated ears, and brought his lips close to the microphone, "Be quiet and I'll tell you, okay?"
Her tone was full of mockery, the kind of condescending and disdainful attitude that Zhu Wenjie hated most, but he had no choice. His bloodshot eyes stared straight at the camera, his chest heaving violently.
Nanmen Jue put his headset back on and could only hear heavy breathing inside.
“It’s actually very simple. I have very high privileges in the tower, especially in the Life Council. I can say that I have unimpeded access and can enter any system,” Nanmen Jue said. “Your data is uploaded every day, and the machine does not make mistakes, but—humans can change the machine.”
Zhu Wenjie understood, "You changed my data."
Nanmen Jue leaned back in her chair with a smile, watching Zhu Wenjie inside, who was incredulous, furious, and raging, yet helpless. She chuckled softly.
"You beast!" Zhu Wenjie roared at the monitor, "I'm going to tell other people about this. Do you think you can cover up everything here?!"
“You can scream as loud as you want, as loud as you can,” Nanmen Jue said with a smile. “Anyway, no matter how loud or how long you scream, only I will hear your voice.”
She personally took over the surveillance of this area. Zhang Chuxi was the only person beside her. Looking across the entire corridor, apart from the monsters being monitored, there were only the two of them alive.
Upon understanding Nanmen Jue's meaning, Zhu Wenjie was truly terrified.
“…You won’t succeed, you can’t kill me,” he said viciously.
"Oh, really?" Nanmen Jue said casually. "I think you mean Xu Yang?"
Zhu Wenjie revealed a pair of eyes that looked like those of a demon from hell.
“Then you can wait and see,” Nanmenjue said, “and see if he can get his hands on the Society of Life.”
"Don't worry, he might move in and become your neighbor soon."
The certainty and confidence in her tone pierced Zhu Wenjie's chest like a knife. Yes, he knew all too well Nanmen Jue's position in the Life Society. If she could manipulate even the system's recorded data, what difficulty would it be for her to manipulate one more person?
He stood there blankly for a few seconds, then suddenly knelt down in front of the monitor and began to weep bitterly.
"I know I was wrong, Sister Nanmen Jue, please forgive me, I won't dare to go against you again, I really won't, please let me go..."
He wasn't stupid; he had already figured out Nanmen Jue's entire plan.
Nanmen Jue specially got him out of prison, not because she was being kind and forgiving, but because she couldn't reach him in the guard's prison. Now that he's in the isolation room managed by the Life Council, his life or death is entirely up to her.
Zhu Wenjie lowered his tear-streaked face. In the shadow of his disheveled hair, his eyes were filled with intense hatred and humiliation, while his mouth uttered the softest pleas for mercy.
"Please, have some compassion! I have a younger sister, someone I need to take care of in real life. She's only fourteen. How can she live alone?"
Upon hearing this, Nanmen Jue's cold gaze flickered slightly.
Zhang Chuxi shuddered. "This kind of person actually has a younger sister..."
"Please, please, I can't die for my sister's sake, please..."
"...What should we do?" Zhang Chuxi turned to look at Nanmen Jue. "Or, how about we just lock him up here and wait for the time to come, then he'll automatically return to the space hall and won't cause us any more trouble...?"
Nanmen Jue said, "How can you be sure that what he said is true?"
"I……"
“I really do have a younger sister, I swear! Her name is Zhu Wenjun, and she studies at Anhua No. 1 Experimental Middle School!” Zhu Wenjie said eagerly, realizing that this might be his only chance to survive. “I told her I was away on a business trip, and she was still waiting for me to come back at home!”
Zhang Chuxi couldn't bear to listen any longer, "South Gate..."
Nanmen Jue took off his headset without saying a word.
The noise disappeared, and only Zhu Wenjie's mouth on the screen continued to open and close, as if he were trying his best to say something.
Zhang Chuxi called out again, "South Gate...?"
“Let’s deal with the other one first.” Nanmen Jue stood up. “There’s an accomplice outside who also wields power. It’s too early to talk about pity now. If we’re not careful, we’ll be the ones locked up here.”
She strode out, and Zhang Chuxi glanced back once more before quickly following.
“I’ve prepared everything as you instructed,” she said.
Nanmen Jue smiled slightly at her, "I have great confidence in having a top student from the architecture department do this."
Zhang Chuxi's cheeks flushed slightly. "You medical students really have a wider range of applications... By the way, which medical school are you from? If I could exchange this back to reality, I'd like to come and see you."
“The medical department of the capital university,” Nanmenjue said.
Zhang Chuxi suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Nanmen Jue turned around and saw Zhang Chuxi's expression. She realized something, "You are also...?"
"Let's get to know each other again. I'm Zhang Chuxi, a third-year student in the Department of Architecture at the Capital University." Zhang Chuxi said quietly, "Thank you for your help, junior."
...
Two days later, First Secretary Xu Yang gave a speech in Shangta District, in which he explained and reassured the grassroots people about the previous relapse incident.
Although the previous chaos has been suppressed, the impact of this matter is too great. It's like a thorn stuck in the palm of your hand; if left unattended, it will bleed and eventually rot. Therefore, Lin Suwen specially sent her first secretary to explain the situation, which can be seen as a statement of the Gray Tower's higher-ups' attitude.
The location is on the 120th floor, the same place where those who previously doubted Lin Suwen gave their speeches.
A temporary platform was erected in the square, with a prominent banner behind it that read, "The Grey Tower will never abandon its loyal people." Before the speech even began, the square was already packed with people. The square alone couldn't hold them all, and even more people gathered in the circular corridor, listening intently to the address.
Before even getting on stage, Xu Yang couldn't help but take out a handkerchief, cover his mouth, and cough softly.
The person in charge asked with concern, "Secretary Xu, are you feeling unwell?"
"Maybe it's just a slight cold, nothing serious." Xu Yang put down the handkerchief, revealing a slightly tired and haggard face, but still wearing his habitual gentle smile.
He's been coughing and drowsy for the past few days, but thankfully he hasn't had a fever, so it's not a big problem.
Perhaps I've been mentally and physically exhausted lately.
Thinking of Zhu Wenjie, trapped in the isolation room, his fate unknown, a hint of impatience flashed in Xu Yang's gentle eyes. Sure enough, one couldn't expect these small fry to accomplish anything. Zhu Wenjie was ruthless, but his abilities and understanding were limited; he even fell for Nanmen Jue's obvious scheme.
He completely ignored the fact that Zhu Wenjie had no way of paying attention to this matter, and that only he himself could handle it and there was still a chance. He just frowned in disgust.
How can someone who has never held power know how powerful it can be? Ordinary people die in vain.
However, Nanmen Jue, this newcomer, is unexpectedly difficult to deal with. There are few capable people in this world, so Zhu Wenjie's death would really have some impact on him...
"Secretary Xu, it's time for you to go on stage."
Xu Yang snapped out of his thoughts, a flawless smile plastered on his slightly pale face. "Okay, thank you."
He was humble and always greeted people with a smile. He was highly regarded by the people of Grey Tower; otherwise, President Lim Su Wen would not have entrusted him with such an important speech.
He cleared his throat and, under the respectful gazes of those around him, stepped onto the makeshift podium.
"Fellow citizens, to all the pillars of the Gray Tower who support its operation, I am Xu Yang..."
He read the prepared text slowly and deliberately, but after only reading the beginning, he suddenly noticed a look of fear in the eyes of the people closest to him.
As a seasoned reincarnator, he reacted extremely quickly. The moment he realized something was wrong, he swiftly turned around to avoid the spot. Something brushed past his body and fell down. At the same time, he smelled a subtle chemical fragrance.
"I'm sorry, the banner wasn't hung up properly. We'll get at it right away... Secretary Xu!"
Amid the gasps of the crowd, Xu Yang felt something slowly flowing down his nose. He reached up and wiped it, finding it covered in bright red blood.
Suddenly, he felt dizzy and collapsed onto the podium.
-----------------------
Author's Note: A few words a day (calm and collected) (flicks sleeves and leaves) (hiding trembling hands)
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