Chapter 68
Caught off guard, the mutant dog suffered visual impairment, barked a few times, and turned to run away.
Gu Kaizhi: "Trying to run? Dream on!!"
He stomped his foot hard and suddenly flew into the air.
Wu Bing frowned as he watched: "They're actually anti-gravity boots!"
With the aid of the special anti-gravity boots, his speed was incredibly fast, and he arrived in front of the mutated dog in just a few steps.
He then pulled out an energy gun, preparing to finish off the mutated dog.
Unexpectedly, the mutated dog was extremely sensitive to danger.
Even with my eyes closed, I can still sense the danger ahead.
It braked suddenly.
Suddenly, hot air came out of his mouth.
The next moment, accompanied by a surge of heat, a stream of viscous, magma-like red liquid gushed from the mutated dog's mouth.
Gu Kaizhi quickly dodged.
The ground submerged by lava melted instantly, accompanied by a burnt smell and a sizzling sound.
Someone exclaimed in a low voice, "This mutant dog actually has two superpowers!!"
At this, even Luo Yonghui and Huang Xianming's expressions turned serious.
—The fact that it has two superpowers proves that this mutated dog is at least level four.
Gu Kaizhi was embarrassed after making a series of mistakes.
They fired directly at the mutated dog's head, spraying bullets at it.
Unexpectedly, this mutated dog had amazing hearing. The moment the energy swept towards it, it turned its head to avoid a fatal blow.
But his neck was also shot through.
The mutated dog immediately let out a miserable howl.
Under the stimulation of pain, his mutated vision was mostly restored.
It bared its teeth menacingly at Gu Kaizhi.
Gu Kaizhi was displeased.
The fact that he hadn't managed to subdue the mutated dog for so long, and with so many subordinates watching, made him extremely embarrassed.
As Gu Kaizhi was frantically thinking about how to kill the mutated dog, he caught a glimpse of Jiang Shu standing next to Luo Yonghui out of the corner of his eye and snorted inwardly.
An idea took shape in my mind.
At this moment, the mutated golden retriever activated its superpower again, spewing out countless fire stones from its mouth. Gu Kaizhi pretended to dodge and took a few quick steps to the location of Luo Yonghui's team.
The mutated dogs then launched their attack.
Wu Bing: "Damn! Can't you see anyone here?! Why are you all running this way?"
Jiang Shu also dodged the mutated dog's attack with a few leaps.
In an instant, the entire service area was thrown into chaos.
Huang Xianming shouted impatiently, "Captain Gu, stop messing around and take care of it quickly! Don't let it damage our car!"
Gu Kaizhi smiled and replied, "Okay!"
As he spoke, he fired another shot into the mutated dog's leg.
The gun hit its mark directly, but it also drove the enemy into a frenzy.
It helplessly scanned everyone, as if searching for something.
After discovering something, it suddenly barked loudly.
That one sound caused everyone present to lose control.
Chen Shaoting felt herself being led into the convenience store and exclaimed in surprise, "This dog has a third superpower!!"
Everyone quickly realized what was happening.
Some of the more capable individuals have already swiftly used their mental power to resist.
Strangely, after breaking free from the mutated dog's control, its body seemed to be frozen in place, unable to move, as if its hands and feet were bound by invisible ropes.
Luo Yonghui's expression changed drastically.
"This dog can be controlled using mental power!"
In a short while, the scene before them slowly transformed into what it looked like before the Great Cataclysm.
The metal roof outside the gas station is erected, covering the charging stations and parking spaces.
The mirror at the bathroom entrance was polished to a shine and even had handrails for disabled people installed.
Looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the convenience store shelves were piled high, and the water heater was bubbling away 24 hours a day.
The rest area also features plastic benches and massage chairs with QR codes for scanning.
People could even smell the aroma of tea eggs cooking in a rice cooker on the convenience store checkout counter.
This is……
A dozen or so mutants disguised themselves as tourists passing by the service area and waited outside the parking lot.
Several mutants became employees at the gas station, repeatedly refueling cars.
...
The crowd gradually noticed something amiss.
The dog is controlling them... and actually making them simulate working at this gas station?
They were trapped in an illusion!
Jiang Shu, standing at the entrance of the convenience store, had no time to think about anything else.
In an attempt to break free from this illusion, Jiang Shu broke out in a thin layer of sweat, but felt as if countless dogs were constantly barking in his ears.
With each "woof," my consciousness dissipates a little more.
This mutant dog—it's too weird!!
The ginger tree had to expend a great deal of energy to resist this mental attack.
In an instant, the mutated dog rammed Gu Kaizhi, who was blocking its way, and ran towards Chen Shaoting and Jiang Shu.
Chen Shaoting sensed something was wrong. Although she was fully conscious, she still slowly walked towards the staff dormitory.
Jiang Shu was also controlled and slowly followed behind Chen Shaoting.
While trying to break free from the control with his mental power, Jiang Shu asked, "Sister Shaoting, is there any way? That dog is coming!"
This bizarre attack caught everyone off guard.
As the mutated dog, with its calf-like body, squeezed into the staff dormitory,
Chen Shaoting was immediately horrified. "What does it want to do?"
Jiang Shu's heart pounded.
This was the first time he had faced death so closely.
He couldn't help but wonder what Ah Zhi would do if she were here.
Just as he was racking his brains trying to figure out how to break the deadlock, his gaze suddenly met two eyes that looked like black pearls.
Those eyes were like they were filled with warm, syrupy water, glistening as they looked at you, brimming with a warm longing for a pat on the head and a treat.
Compared to its previous ferocity, its eyes now resemble those of an ordinary dog seen before the Great Cataclysm of the Ginger Tree.
Jiang Shu was taken aback.
Did this dog have an owner before it mutated?
Combined with the fact that those people outside are being controlled and repeating the daily work at the gas station...
Jiang Shu couldn't help but wonder—could this golden retriever be imagining itself as its owner?
In a flash, Jiang Shu remembered the diary he and Jiang Zhi had just seen.
He tentatively called out, "Er... Er Shun?"
The mutant dog was stunned when the name was mentioned.
Seeing that things were looking promising, Jiang Shu quickly called out again, "Ershun!"
This time, the golden retriever got excited.
The dog's face changed rapidly.
It barked at the ginger tree several times. Its large tail thrashed like a propeller, kicking up a cloud of dust inside the house.
The golden retriever took a few steps closer to the ginger tree, opened its mouth, stuck out its pink tongue, and panted, its face clearly saying, "Come play with me!"
Compared to its blood-stained body, the expression on its face looked completely off.
Seeing this, Jiang Shu breathed a sigh of relief.
It really is Er Shun, whom I mentioned in the diary.
Chen Shaoting, who was standing to the side, also noticed something.
She cried out, "Big Tree, this dog has fallen into its own illusion."
"This won't do! If this mutated dog doesn't wake up, we won't be able to get out of this illusion!"
Jiang Shu stiffened, and his expression turned grim.
Er Shun was suddenly disturbed by Chen Shaoting. Her obedient eyes changed, as if her beautiful dream had been shattered, and she suddenly became furious.
It glared at Chen Shaoting.
The newly grown fur on its body bristled like feather dusters, and it let out a low growl.
Its tail was stiff and stopped wagging, it bared its teeth and glared as if it wanted to devour the other party whole, its front paws pawing the ground, ready to pounce at any moment, it was a veritable powder keg.
Jiang Shu, fearing it might harm Chen Shaoting, instinctively commanded, "Ershun! Don't bite anyone!!"
The golden retriever, which had been looking fierce, shrank its neck and became quiet, turning its head to look at Jiang Shu pitifully.
Ginger Tree: ...
Chen Shaoting was surprised and uncertain that Jinmao would listen to Jiang Shu.
"This dog..."
—Are they still in a hallucination?
The mutant dog that was just a killing god is now as docile as a pet dog?
Perhaps it was because Jinmao had regained consciousness, but Luo Yonghui and the others outside suddenly felt the restraints on their bodies loosen, and they all broke through this mental control in one go.
The mutated golden retriever that was originally squatting in front of the ginger tree suddenly coughed up blood as if it had suffered a backlash.
This completely shattered the scene that everyone had imagined.
The gas station has returned to its dilapidated state.
Chen Shaoting reacted immediately, and a ball of sparks shot out from her hand as she swiftly flung it toward the mutated dog.
The mutated dog whimpered, its ears drooping as it offered no resistance, its eyes wet and misty.
The flames burned the new hair on its body, giving it a foul odor.
Chen Shaoting wanted to continue attacking, but the mutated dog shrank back to the size of an ordinary dog.
Ignoring its injuries, it rushed to the ginger tree and wagged its tail.
"Woof woof!"
For some reason, Jiang Shu felt a little soft-hearted at that moment.
He has always liked dogs.
This golden retriever doesn't seem to have completely lost its mind.
The reason they ran over here is probably because they thought their owner had come looking for them...
"Jiang Shu! What are you standing there for? Attack it before it can react!"
As Chen Shaoting spoke, another ball of fire attacked.
This golden retriever is also stubborn.
Whether it believed that Jiang Shu was its master or not, it didn't even try to dodge the fireball that flew towards it.
The fire struck the dog's head, only eliciting a series of "woof woof" sounds.
Rationally, Jiang Shu knew he should listen to Chen Shaoting, but when he met Er Shun's pleading eyes, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Just then, a powerful spiritual force suddenly enveloped them.
Chen Shaoting was overjoyed, "Team Leader Lin is back!"
Jiang Shu gritted his teeth and pushed away Er Shun, who was lying on top of him with his forelegs.
He said viciously, "Your master is long dead!! Get out of here! Or I'll deal with you!!"
Chen Shaoting was stunned. "Jiang Shu! What are you doing?"
Jiang Shu pursed her lips.
He felt pity for the golden retriever.
But it was also clear that if this mutated dog stayed here, it would only face certain death.
Even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance of it posing a threat, the warriors outside will not let it go.
Jiang Shu is not a saint.
But this golden retriever's pitiful appearance is just too much like the yellow-haired mongrel my family had when I was a child.
He couldn't bring himself to do it.
Er Shun looked at the fierce-looking Jiang Shu, his ears immediately drooped like two wilted leaves, his tail tucked between his legs and trembling, his watery eyes staring at him, and his nose twitching.
This surprised even Chen Shaoting.
She had encountered domesticated mutant animals before, but without exception, they were all hostile to humans.
This was the first time she had ever seen a mutant beast like the Golden Retriever that showed such strong emotions towards humans.
Seeing that the golden retriever was trying to get closer to him again, Jiang Shu simply picked it up and threw it out the window.
The golden retriever was thrown out, rolled twice on the ground, and then slowly stood up and looked at Jiang Shu.
The way they were trying so hard to please others made them look even more pitiful.
Her eyes even miraculously shed a string of tears.
Jiang Shu couldn't bear to watch any longer. Seeing his teammates about to rush in to help, he grabbed a pile of pebbles from the corner and threw them at them, yelling, "Get out! Get out! I'm not your master! Get out!"
The golden retriever tucked its tail between its legs and took a few steps back, but after only moving its front paws a couple of steps, it hurriedly turned back.
Those wet eyes stared straight at Jiang Shu, and a whimpering sound came from his throat. Jiang Shu shooed him away a couple more times with the bone stick, and then he drooped his ears and slowly moved towards the woods not far away.
Jiang Shu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it understood.
Chen Shaoting, who was standing to the side, put away her supernatural powers and walked over to follow Jiang Shu to look at the golden retriever outside the window.
The mutated dog would occasionally glance back, its paws rubbing against the ground, its tail drooping so low it almost swept into the mud.
Chen Shaoting sighed: "This mutant dog seems to regard you as its owner. It looks quite sad that you chased it away."
Jiang Shu looked away, embarrassed.
"Sister Shaoting, I'll have to trouble you to cover up what happened earlier."
Chen Shaoting smiled and said, "It let me off the hook just now, so it's only fair that it got away with it. It escaped on its own merits, and there's nothing I can do about it."
She was referring to the fact that after Jinmao was scolded by Jiang Shu, he stopped attacking her.
Jiang Shu breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, he was with his team this time, otherwise he wouldn't know how to save the golden retriever.
Just then, Wu Bing rushed in, looking anxious, and asked, "Shao Ting! Are you alright?"
Chen Shaoting rolled her eyes.
"If something had happened, would I still be standing here?"
Jiang Shu teased, "Uncle Wu, why don't you ask me?"
Wu Bing was immediately a little embarrassed and asked awkwardly, "Young Jiang, you should be alright too, right?"
Chen Shaoting ignored the two of them and walked straight out of the staff dormitory.
By this time, both squads and the soldiers had recovered. Upon seeing Chen Shaoting, they all came over and asked, "What happened? Why did that dog suddenly take back the illusion?"
Chen Shaoting shook her head: "I don't know, I guess he was shot twice by Captain Gu and couldn't keep up with his strength."
Jiang Zhi and Jiang Shan, not seeing Jiang Shu, quickly walked past them and headed towards the convenience store.
The father and daughter had already learned about the situation from others.
Although Jiang Zhi had already learned from the dashboard that the mutated dog posed no threat when she returned, she still couldn't help but feel anxious.
Just then, Jiang Shu also came out, and Jiang Zhi quickly ran over, "Brother! Are you alright?"
Jiang Shu showed off his biceps, saying, "Don't worry, little sister, I'm perfectly fine."
Jiang Shan, who was behind him, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his son was not injured: "It's good that he's alright."
Jiang Shu wanted to share what had just happened with his younger sister and father, but there were too many people around, so he could only wink at them as a token of his interest.
Jiang Zhi:......
It seems like everything is really alright.
Jiang Shan frowned and scolded the man: "Behave yourself, what kind of behavior is this, grinning like that?"
Luo Yonghui and his group were reporting the incident to Lin Yuan when they realized that the mutated dog actually had three different abilities, and that they had almost been trapped in the final illusion. Their expressions turned grim.
“A level 5 mutated beast with three different abilities…” Professor Shen, the mutated creature research expert, pondered for a moment, “is indeed rare. The base currently has no information on this. It’s a pity you couldn’t capture that mutated dog, otherwise you could have conducted further research.”
Luo Yonghui and his companions felt somewhat ashamed.
They were indeed careless.
Not only them, but everyone present subconsciously felt that mutated creatures below level 6 had at most two superpowers, which caused everyone to fall into the illusion.
If they had been more careful and attacked together, the mutated golden retriever wouldn't have had a chance to activate its illusion, and they wouldn't be in such a passive position this time.
"We don't know enough about the evolutionary speed of mutated organisms, so we can't rely solely on the information the base gives us," Professor Shen said. "If something happens that is beyond our understanding, it can easily put ourselves and our teammates in danger, so everyone should be as careful as possible."
After Professor Shen finished speaking, Lin Yuan nodded and said, "Professor Shen is right. Next time we encounter a mutated creature that is above level 5, let's have several teams work together."
Everyone nodded.
Several mutants in Gu Kaizhi's team were injured. To avoid attracting the attention of other mutant creatures, the group cleaned up the bloodstains and quickly got into their car and left the service area.
The group headed north along the dilapidated highway.
With a large concrete road as a foundation, the cars leading the way had a much easier time this time.
And you can also see some signs on the roadside from time to time.
This greatly reduced the time they spent searching for directions.
To get to Hunan Province, you have to leave Ancheng first, cross the neighboring Nanshi, and reach the border of Zhejiang Province.
But they've already spent a whole day and have only just left Ancheng; their progress is too slow.
In the jeep carrying several professors, Jiang Shan sat in the back seat, opened an old map, compared it with the map, and said to Lin Yuan:
"If you want to go faster, it would be best to take the Hangrui Expressway or the Hangchang Expressway. We are closer to the Hangrui Expressway now, but based on the terrain there, the Hangchang Expressway would probably be easier to travel."
Most people would choose to take the easier-to-drive Hangzhou-Changsha Expressway.
But they are pressed for time now. If they want to take the Hangzhou-Changsha Expressway, at their current speed, they probably won't be able to reach it until the day after tomorrow.
At this point, the other professors usually don't interrupt.
Professor Yang reiterated: "No matter which route you take, as long as you arrive safely within the agreed time, that's fine."
Lin Yuan immediately decided, "Let's take the Hangrui route. It's shorter and crosses Nanshi in the middle, making it easier than taking the mountain route."
Jiang Shan's eyes flickered.
Hangrui Expressway...
Their original base was right next to the Hangrui Expressway.
The road ahead was not easy for them either.
The area where they were located was hilly, and the surrounding mutated trees and wild grasses made the highway look like a desolate wilderness.
It wasn't until the afternoon that the group saw the highway toll station in Nanshi.
Seeing the familiar scene, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
In any case, once you enter the city, you can find some ruins.
Spending the night in ruins is better than being in the wild.
The vehicles leading the way slowed down noticeably.
Even Jiang Zhi couldn't help but hold her breath.
This is the first time they have entered the ruins of a human-built structure since the Great Cataclysm.
I felt a little excited.
Jiang Shu sat by the car window, his head practically sticking out to get a clear view of what was happening outside.
Outside the car window, waist-high weeds sprouted from the cracks in the road in front of the toll station. A dilapidated sign was crooked, and the faded words "Toll Station Ahead" fell to the ground and were mercilessly crushed by the car.
The cement platform inside the toll station was already covered with moss.
The group carefully drove into the tollbooth.
The roof looked rusty, and the faded "Payment in Progress" sign drooped askew. A red plastic bag, blown by the wind, sank into the ground, mixing with the mud.
A thick layer of dust covered the payment counter. Several crumpled receipts and a half-empty, moldy mineral water bottle rattled in the wind. Weeds grew wildly all around, cracking the cement floor.
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