Chapter 35 — Jiuning
This morning, while reading the comments on the trending topic, Hua Mian saw netizens analyzing the most likely locations where that laboratory could be built.
Right now, her biggest problem was how to quickly find the exact lab and go there to rescue Yu Jin.
At this moment, Yu Jin was hiding inside a gene fragment analyzer. Back when he was in university, he had learned how to operate this instrument out of interest, so he knew that there was actually a hidden compartment inside it.
Normally, that space was used to store a special solution for stabilizing gene fragments, but it was only used when the instrument needed to be transported.
Most researchers didn’t even know this compartment existed. Although the space wasn’t large, it was barely enough for him to hide in.
Yu Jin was already at the end of his strength. Because of blood loss, his consciousness was growing fuzzy, and his body was increasingly cold.
Fortunately, he had stitched up his wound earlier. Worried that anesthetics would impair his ability to move, he had simply bitten down on gauze and stitched himself up raw.
After stitching, he could barely even walk. For now, he could only hide inside the machine and hope the video he posted earlier this morning could have some effect.
Using females and beastmen as experimental subjects, and conducting illegal genetic modification experiments… something so utterly bottomless — the Empire had to intervene eventually.
He couldn’t go to the heavily guarded area near the entrance of the lab, but he had explored almost every other place the researchers could access.
Aside from the innermost lab marked D1, which required the highest level of clearance and which he couldn’t enter, he found no trace of Hua Mian anywhere else.
However, from the attendance logs, he discovered that no females had been brought in this past week, so he concluded that Hua Mian wasn’t inside the D1 lab.
Because there were too many guards at the entrance and their shift rotations were frequent, he had no way to leave. His only option was to break the situation from the inside. The optical brain he used to send the video was a backup device a certain researcher had secretly carried.
The identity he used was also a fake one prepared by that same researcher.
Right now, he felt like a bird trapped in a cage — wings intact yet unable to fly. No matter how anxious he was, he could only wait for someone to come open the cage.
Yu Jin silently prayed:
“Wife… please be safe.”
Suddenly, he felt the bond on his neck — their contract — weakening. Alarmed, he opened his eyes wide.
He kept praying in his heart, hoping Hua Mian would survive.
Even if it cost him his remaining lifespan, it didn’t matter.
As long as she lived.
As long as she was safe…
Hua Mian clutched her chest and spat out a mouthful of blood. Under the moonlight, the bright red looked strangely dark.
She struggled to breathe, then slowly sat down on the ground. Half an hour later, she forced herself up, cleaned up the traces of blood, and left that place.
She was the one who suggested coming to Ilika Star, and Yu Jin had treated her well. She had to bring him back.
She didn’t know how long she had been walking, but the sky was gradually brightening.
“Hey? Little female, why are you alone out here?” a rough voice asked.
Hua Mian’s body stiffened. She hurriedly began organizing her words in her mind, preparing to turn around and deal with the situation.
Before she could, a small beastman suddenly leaped out of the bushes ahead.
“Big sister! Don’t be mad at my brothers anymore. I’ll take you home. There are lots of bad guys outside!”
Hua Mian stared in surprise as the small beastman ran up and tugged her sleeve. Her gaze involuntarily fell on his somewhat ugly flesh-colored long tail.
“Jiuning?”
“Big sister, it’s me! Please don’t be angry, okay? My brother really didn’t mean it.”
Seeing the little beastman blink at her frantically, she couldn’t help but feel a warmth in her heart.
“Alright. The moment I walked out, I regretted it. Wuu wuu… I actually wanted to tell him I was pregnant, but not only did he refuse to listen, he even tried to force water down my throat!”
When the beastman behind her heard her say she was pregnant, something flashed in his eyes and he slunk away immediately.
In the beast world, every pregnant female was monitored via their optical brain, and the Matching Center’s main branch kept track of their vitals and location.
Unless someone had a death wish, no one dared harm a pregnant female.
Hua Mian heard the footsteps behind her gradually fade away and secretly let out a breath of relief. Her body swayed slightly.
“Big sister, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Thank you.” She truly hadn’t expected to run into Jiuning — and for him to help her out of trouble.
“You’re welcome.” Jiuning peeked around her curiously. “Where’s that really handsome big brother?”
Hua Mian froze, knowing he meant Yu Jin. Her heart tightened.
“He’s behind me,” she said, pointing vaguely backward.
“Oh, oh. I thought…”
“Hm? Thought what?” she asked, unable to hear his mumbling clearly.
“N-nothing. I’m just surprised Orange-Ear brought you all the way to Zone Nine.”
Hua Mian’s eyes moved slightly. “It wasn’t him. I argued with that handsome big brother last night and ran off. Then I randomly boarded a spacecraft… and somehow ended up here.”
Jiuning’s round eyes widened. “How could you go out alone? It’s really dangerous here! Lots of bad people!”
“I didn’t know…” Hua Mian’s eyes reddened as she played the role of a naïve, sheltered young lady to perfection.
“What do we do then…?”
Jiuning sighed like a little adult, then glanced at her thin clothing.
“If you don’t mind, you can come to my home and drink some hot water. I’ll help you find that handsome big brother and have him come pick you up.”
“Really? Thank you, Jiuning, you’re so kind!”
Hua Mian gave a sweet, radiant smile and even pinched Jiuning’s cheek affectionately.
Jiuning’s face turned red. Then, embarrassed, he said, “Big sister… um… there are a lot of people at my house, so…”
“It’s okay! Hot water is enough.”
But once Hua Mian followed him home, she understood why he said that.
When she sat down, she was still a little dazed.
Anyone would be stunned if, upon opening the door, they were greeted by a bunch of giant gray rats almost as tall as a person.
“Big sister, I—I forgot to say… I’m a rat beastman. My brothers are too. And everyone likes to stay in beast form and play around at home, so…”
Jiuning nervously twisted the hem of his clothes.
He never thought much of it before, since he also liked playing in beast form with his brothers. But he hadn’t expected it to scare this female — the one who didn’t even mind his ugly tail.
This wasn’t what he wanted.
“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Hua Mian pulled her scattered thoughts together and finally had the mind to lift her cup of warm water and look around.
She was in a two-story wooden house. The moment one entered, there was a carpeted living room. The sofas were pushed into corners, rarely used.
Everything was old and simple, with faint traces of dust still on the armrests.
The entire place was dry and warm, smelling of wood and hay — simple, but tidy.
“How far is this place from Zone Eight?”
Jiuning answered, “It takes an hour by spacecraft.”
“And Zone Seven?”
“Three hours by spacecraft.”
Spacecrafts were far faster than modern airplanes. If it took three hours, then it must be extremely far.
“That long?”
“Yes. There was a huge collapse in Zone Seven many years ago. Lots of people died. After that, the area was abandoned, and very few transportation routes go there anymore,” Jiuning explained honestly.
“What are you two talking about?”
