Chapter 9 The Gray Dome Era 9. People are driven by basic human needs, such as food and sex.
An awkward silence fell over the corridor. After a moment, Zhao Huai-ren said, "You can leave now."
Nanmen Jue turned around and looked at him unexpectedly.
“I will arrange for you to leave the tower. You exposed this matter in public, so President Lin probably won’t keep you,” Zhao Huai-ren said. “I will prepare some protective clothing and gas masks for you, and also give you a car. As for where you can go after you leave, and whether you live or die, I can’t do anything about it.”
Nanmen Jue stared at him silently.
Zhao Huai-ren tried hard to smile, but it only deepened his wrinkles, and he stopped, exhausted.
“Over the years, I’ve been very strict with you, which has made you distant from me. So much so that even at this critical moment of life and death, you didn’t want to believe me.” Zhao Huai-ren gazed at her. “So many years have passed in the blink of an eye… In my heart, you’ve always been that stubborn little girl. I asked you if you wanted to come with me. You looked up and asked me if you could get enough to eat if you came with me. I said yes, and you took my hand and came with me.”
These were memories that Nanmen Jue never had. She listened, her eyes remaining completely unmoved.
“It was your eyes that attracted me back then, that stubborn, cold, persistent look, that look of never giving up until you achieve your goal. It was as if nothing could stand in your way, making me feel that you were the most suitable person for this era. Now you have proven to me once again that you were right.” Zhao Huai-ren handed her a bracelet and gently pushed her. “Let’s go, child. Once they realize what’s happening, you won’t be able to escape.”
Nanmen Jue gave him a deep look, then turned around and said, "Don't get close to Qi Mo before your rebirth."
Zhao Huai Ren: "Qi Mo?"
"Consider it a way of repaying a debt; I don't like owing people things." Nanmen Jue strode forward.
Zhao Huai-ren would assume this was a reward for his years of nurturing and would not arouse his suspicion.
After their rebirth, the fate of these reincarnated beings will be revealed: they will either leave alive or die here. Once they have all left, naturally no one will want to kill Zhao Huai Ren.
Alliance? She didn't betray Qi Mo; it was just a failed side quest. He's a veteran player with a blue name; he won't die.
Nanmen Jue ran towards the door. Just as he rounded a corner, he bumped into a white-helmeted soldier. Without slowing down, Nanmen Jue lowered his center of gravity, intending to rush over and deliver a sweeping kick. A familiar voice came from behind the mask.
"It's me!"
It's Zhang Chuxi.
Nanmen Jue pulled back his strength and grabbed Zhang Chuxi's arm, dragging her into another corridor.
Zhang Chuxi, panting, took off her mask. "I've been looking for you for ages!"
Nanmen Jue said, "Are you here to arrest me, or to come with me?"
A look of horror flashed in Zhang Chuxi's eyes. "So, what you said is all true?"
Nanmen Jue pointed to the chaos outside, "Isn't this chaos enough to prove whether what I said is true or false?"
Zhang Chuxi gasped and bit her lip hard. "It's over, all over. My secondary mission was to inject fifty White Helmet soldiers with antiretroviral drugs, but now that stuff has malfunctioned, the mission is ruined too."
Her expression was panicked and uncertain. As a newcomer who had only experienced one world and had no special abilities, her only hope was to complete more main and side quests to get the minimum points. If she was not careful, she would risk losing all her points and her life. Nanmen Jue's commotion meant that she was definitely going to lose those 5,000 points.
Not only her, but Nanmen Jue has probably ruined all the side quests for all the reincarnators.
But Zhang Chuxi did not reprimand Nanmen Jue; she just looked at her, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Seeing the struggle in her eyes, Nanmen Jue took the initiative to ask the question she was agonizing over, "You want to know, who is my mission to deliver the chip to?"
Without side quests, she has to complete the main quest to avoid losing all her points in this round.
Zhang Chuxi looked at her hesitantly. In the interplay of light and shadow, her delicate face appeared somewhat fragile, but her eyes became resolute.
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” she said. “The chip isn’t on you. You should escape first. We can talk about anything else after you survive.”
A smile flickered in Nanmen Jue's eyes. In front of Zhang Chuxi, she lifted the hem of her clothes, dug her fingers into the sewn gap, and, to Zhang Chuxi's horror, pulled out a thin metal piece with two fingers.
Zhang Chuxi stopped breathing. "This, this is..."
Nanmen Jue placed it in Zhang Chuxi's trembling palm. "This is the chip. Give it to the chief and get the points for the main storyline."
Zhang Chuxi slowly raised her eyes to look at Nanmen Jue. Nanmen Jue was wiping the blood from her fingers onto her clothes. Noticing her gaze, she glanced over and raised an eyebrow at her.
"You suspect I'm lying to you?"
“…No.” Zhang Chuxi managed to squeeze out the word, “Why…?”
Why did he hand over the chip to her at a time when he had managed to deceive everyone, when he was about to escape, and when completing this task was as simple as eating and drinking for Nanmen Jue?
Doesn't she want her points anymore? Compared to her, Nanmen Jue is the one who's penniless and more likely to lose all her points!
Isn't she afraid of dying?
“Go ahead,” Nanmen Jue simply said. “If you want to thank me, just tell me where the armory is.”
“I went to the supply depot on the 32nd basement level last night when I came back.” Zhang Chuxi was still staring at her.
Nanmen Jue nodded, turned to leave, and Zhang Chuxi quickly followed.
"I do not understand."
"No need to understand."
You will die!
"I won't."
"There are only two side quests in this world: one is to deliver the chip to the corresponding ruler, and the other is to inject the anti-retroviral agent into a certain number of people. You are a traitor, so your quests should both be for the resistance, right? If you can't complete either of these, even if you survive to your rebirth, all your points will be deducted!"
"Looks like you're terrified, but you're still pretty quick-witted."
"Nanmen Jue!"
Nanmen Jue stopped, because Zhang Chuxi was glaring at her angrily like an enraged bull, showing none of her previous gentleness.
"I'm older than you, I'm the older sister. Even if I'm useless, I can't step on your life to get out!"
Nanmen Jue smiled, extended her hand to Zhang Chuxi, and gave her an encouraging look.
Zhang Chuxi hesitated before placing her hand in her palm, but was pulled forward by her.
"Don't linger here too long, I'm a wanted criminal now."
Zhang Chuxi shut her mouth, grabbed him, and ran ahead, saying, "I'll take you to the supply station!"
“You misspoke about something just now.” Despite being injured, Nanmen Jue kept up with her pace with ease. “Besides the main quest, there are more than just two side quests.”
Zhang Chuxi was momentarily stunned. "You mean?"
“Killing radiation monsters, you get 100 points for each one,” Nanmen Jue said. “Ten of them are 1,000, and a hundred are 10,000. It’s a good deal.”
"Are you crazy?" Zhang Chuxi said. "Those are mutated monsters! Every time Gray Tower fights them, many people die..."
"But they are not invincible conceptual gods; they are mortal beings and can be killed."
Nanmen Jue's tone was very calm, and it was precisely because of this calmness that it was so impactful.
Zhang Chuxi was so shocked that she was speechless, and she couldn't utter another word until they arrived at the supply station.
She swiped her ID to verify her identity and watched as Nanmen Jue went in and picked through the items with an air of importance, looking at her as if she were a madman.
Nanmen Jue didn't care that she was right at the door. He took off his coat in a generous manner. His tall figure looked slender, but in fact, his muscles, which contained strength, covered his long limbs. Underneath his simple sports vest, his clear abs were hidden at the edge of his pants.
A powerful tension, a blend of sexiness and strength, washed over her, and Zhang Chuxi's gaze immediately changed. She stared intently for a few seconds before quickly looking away.
Having witnessed Nanmen Jue's skills before, I knew she was definitely not the delicate type, but when her extremely beautiful body was partially revealed, the impact was still greater than I had imagined.
Humans are driven by basic human needs, such as food and sex.
Zhang Chuxi touched her nose and was secretly relieved to find that she hadn't bled. Suddenly, she realized something and abruptly turned to look at Nanmen Jue. At this moment, Nanmen Jue had already put on a white helmet army combat uniform and picked up a helmet, but she felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
"You..." she asked, her breath coming in gasps, "You're a girl?"
Nanmen Jue, carrying a large bag stuffed with guns, ammunition, and a first-aid kit, couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.
"Why did it take you so long to realize?"
"I, I didn't, I didn't..." Zhang Chuxi fell silent, her gaze towards Nanmen Jue changing repeatedly.
Nanmen Jue didn't seem to care. "I need to leave quickly. There are surveillance cameras here. Once they realize they've tracked me down here, I won't be able to get out."
Zhang Chuxi gripped the chip she always held tightly in her hand, until it hurt her palm.
"you……"
"Don't worry." Nanmen Jue strode up to Zhang Chuxi, reached out and patted her head. "Live well."
Zhang Chuxi stared wide-eyed, looking up at Nanmen Jue, who was a head taller than her. Nanmen Jue smiled at her and was about to turn and leave when suddenly the lights in the entire gray tower went out. After half a second of extreme darkness, a blinding red light suddenly shone on!
Immediately afterwards, an urgent voice came from the radio.
"Level 1 Alert! Level 1 Alert! All residents, return to your homes and do not leave. Security teams 3 through 18, assemble on the ground floor!"
"I'll repeat myself: all residents, stay home and don't come out. Security teams three through eighteen, go to the ground floor..."
The two looked at each other, and Zhang Chuxi murmured, "Was this to find you?"
“Finding me doesn’t warrant a Level 1 alert; that’s only for major incidents.” Nanmen Jue narrowed his eyes, thought for a brief two seconds, and said, “Go back to the White Helmet Army; it’s safer there.”
Are you leaving?
“Unlike you, it’s more dangerous for me to stay here. I’ve exposed what they’re trying so hard to hide, and Your Excellency the President is probably itching to take my life.” Nanmen Jue put on his helmet, disguising himself as an ordinary White Helmet soldier.
“But weren’t you caught on camera?” Zhang Chuxi said nervously. “They will definitely close the tower gates and search for the White Helmet Army.”
Nanmen Jue patted the large bag on his body, his voice coming from inside his helmet.
"I also took a set of guard uniforms. I'll find a corner without surveillance cameras to change into and blend into the team on the ground floor. Maybe I can get out with them."
Zhang Chuxi was shocked by the multiple plans she had made in the blink of an eye. She had nothing more to say, so she could only give her a deep look.
Nanmen Jue found a corner to change his clothes. Because he was carrying a large bag, he couldn't openly attract attention, so he sneaked to the ground floor, ready to wait for an opportunity to make his move.
She didn't even take the elevator, but ran up the stairs. Right in front of the last door leading to the ground floor, something rolled to her feet.
A tattered and gruesome corpse, covered in blood, barely recognizable as wearing a guard uniform.
Nanmen Jue slowly raised his head. A... or rather a writhing mass of flesh was curled up in the corner, its fascia and muscles all stuck together in a bloody mess. From what was indistinguishable as a head or something else, a huge mouth full of sharp teeth bared out, letting out a silent roar at Nanmen Jue.
A note from the author:
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