Xia Chi stopped immediately.
At the same time, the little merman stopped and pointed to a corner before suddenly plunging into the sewage.
Everyone looked towards the spot where the little merman disappeared, only to see a blue fish tail emerging from the murky water. The tail that was incompatible with the surrounding sewage flicked on the water’s surface before disappearing.
It happened so quickly that Xia Chi stood still for two seconds before asking in a daze, “Did he just leave like that?”
Bai Lixin picked up a brick from the ground and threw it towards the corner. The moment the brick was thrown over, they heard a “click-click” collision sound, then a powdery substance flew out from the corner, presenting itself like a shower of blossoms.
Seeing the scattered powder, the young man’s face didn’t show any signs of astonishment, as if he had expected it.
Under Xia Chi and Lin Xiao’s puzzled eyes, he calmly said, “We can proceed, but be careful and walk slowly.”
Seeing Bai Lixin pick up his steps again, Xia Chi followed him. This time, he did not continue to rush forward, but slowly followed Bai Lixin, walking slowly and cautiously.
Bai Lixin stopped walking when he went past the corner, and his clothes and hair fluttered in the wind.
Xia Chi came over and leaned over Bai Li Xin’s shoulder, looking ahead.
A strong gust of wind suddenly hit his head. Something blew into his eyes, causing him to instinctively close them, and he subconsciously reached out to rub them.
Just as he was about to raise his hand, there was a flash of white light in his mind, and simultaneously, a hand pressed down on his hand, stopping his movement.
Bai Li Xin’s voice came to his ears, “Xia Chi, don’t stretch your arm forward. Slowly rotate your eyes to wash away the dirt with tears.”
Obediently following Bai Li Xin’s words, Xia Chi chose to rotate his eyes.
When the stinging sensation in his eyes subsided, Xia Chi opened his eyes and finally saw what was in front of him. A drop of cold sweat formed on his forehead.
Before him was a high-speed fan rotating rapidly.
The fan was firmly embedded in a cylindrical duct. Its speed was so fast that it had lost the trace of blades, yet miraculously, there was no sound of rotation, only a faint sound of wind.
The fan was so close it was almost touching his face. If Bai Li Xin hadn’t pressed down his hand, his arm would have been caught in the fan when he reached forward.
The fan seemed to have faint shadows.
Xia Chi squinted his eyes.
Soon, he realized that what was in front of him was not a single fan but numerous fans arranged side by side.
The brick Bai Li Xin threw turned into powder under the agitation of these fans and was blown into the sewage.
They could see these fans, but the wastewater and garbage in the sewer couldn’t. Swept by the water flow, these things quickly reached the fans and Xia Chi witnessed these things being stirred in the fans and immediately turned into powder, scattering in the air.
Bai Li Xin: “…”
This was the reason for the sudden disappearance of the locator.
These fans were like tireless guards, blocking the last line of defense at the sewer exit. Anyone attempting to pass through would be crushed into powder and blown away.
Looking through the gaps in the fans, they could see the boundless sea outside. Just leaving this place would lead them to the sea, but this short distance felt like an insurmountable gap.
In the midst of their contemplation, there was a prompt from the private chat window.
Bai Li Xin opened the chat window and found a message from Glasses in the group chat.
Glasses: [Are you coming back soon? I think I heard footsteps just now, and it’s almost five in the morning. People are starting to get up. If you don’t come back soon, I won’t be able to hold on.]
Bai Li Xin: [Alright, we’ll come back right away.]
After marking the location here, the three increased their speed to return the way they came.
Having walked the path once before, it was much easier to return this time. They only spent half an hour on the journey back.
Bai Li Xin sent a [Open] message in the group chat. With a “click”, the tightly closed circular sewer entrance above them opened, and dim light streamed down.
The three climbed up one after another, and Bai Li Xin was the last to ascend.
After Xia Chi and Lin Xiao climbed out and looked down, they saw Bai Li Xin stopping on the upper half of the metal ladder.
There were footsteps in the corridor outside the door. Xia Chi whispered, “Brother?”
Bai Li Xin moved again.
He agilely grasped the ladder, swiftly climbing out of the opening.
At the same time, there was a knock from outside the door, “Who? Is someone inside? Why do I hear movement inside?”
As the words were spoken, the locked door was forcefully pushed, and the already flimsy door emitted a faint shaking sound. Dust even started to fall from the connection between the door and the wall.
Through the door frame, the voices from outside continued.
“What’s happening?”
“I heard a noise inside just now.”
“Huh? Noise? Isn’t this someone’s room? Didn’t he move upstairs?”
“Yeah, so I’m confused too. Could it be someone sneaking in to steal something? Should we call the guards?”
Xia Chi, who heard this outrageous conversation: “…”
‘Stealing? Here? Is there anything worth stealing here?!
Stealing a five-piece cleaning kit to clean the house?’
“Don’t really break in. You’re right, let’s call the guards.”
Just as the NPC outside suggested calling the guards, the tightly closed door opened with a “click” from the inside, revealing an impatient face, “What are you making noise about?”
Outside, four or five people had gathered. They glanced at each other and then turned their gazes toward Bai Li Xin. Through the crack of the open door, they saw a few men standing awkwardly beside the bed.
Looking at Bai Lixin’s somewhat disheveled clothes, their eyes gradually became meaningful, and they started teasing, “What are you guys doing here… are you doing some shady business?”
Bai Li Xin straightened his clothes, “Stop talking nonsense, get lost.”
Without waiting for the people outside to speak again, he directly closed the door.
The voices outside continued for a while.
“Could it be what I’m thinking?”
“Tsk tsk, you can’t tell. This man is so charming, not only seducing fish but even researchers.”
“But with the good dormitory upstairs, why come here?”
“Why do you care? They are probably afraid of being discovered upstairs, right? Speaking of which…what special hobbies do they have?”
“Hehehehe.”
The increasingly frivolous voices gradually disappeared at the end of the corridor. Bai Li Xin turned to look at the others and said calmly, “Alright, nothing happened. Let’s go upstairs.”
Xia Chi: “…”
“Did I accidentally become my brother’s rumored boyfriend just now?
Um, brother-in-law wouldn’t kill someone just to vent his anger, right?’
After Bai Li Xin returned to the dormitory, he took a hot shower and changed into clean clothes. By now, it was already dawn and the institute’s bell started ringing.
In the following days, Bai Li Xin completed a few auxiliary tasks as requested by Dr. Olay. During this time, his second task was unknowingly completed.
The fact that they went to the basement was exposed. Although those NPCs didn’t find out what they truly did in the room, rumors about him spread like wildfire, and eventually reached Dr. Olay’s ears.
To protect the innocence of merman No.1, Dr. Olay sternly demanded that Bai Li Xin refrain from going out without reason at night, assigned someone to monitor him, and angrily warned that if there was a next time, he would be expelled from the institute.
This made him have to lay low for the next few days. Except for completing task 2, the investigation on the merfolk’s faith came to an end for the time being.
Time quickly came to the eighth day. On this day, a speedboat approached the small island. Dr. Olay and Dr. Camila left the institute near dusk, boarded the speedboat and left.
They were away for a day, and when they returned on the second day, they packed up their things, appearing to be going on a long journey.
Before leaving, Dr. Olay sought out Bai Li Xin, telling him to complete the semen extraction within three days, otherwise, he would have to use force again to extract semen.
Bai Li Xin was sure that Dr. Olay wasn’t lying.
However, from Dr. Olay’s words, he also gained several pieces of information.
Firstly, they had to leave for three days.
Secondly, because three days is the final ultimatum Dr. Olay had given to him, it should also be the ultimatum given by the buyer to Dr. Olay’s team. The buyer couldn’t wait any longer.
Third, this also meant that his plan to rescue the merfolk must be put on the agenda quickly.
Watching the yacht carrying Dr. Olay sail away into the distance, Bai Li Xin opened his task bar.
[Task 1: Survive for fifteen days and fifteen nights. (8 days and 8 nights completed)]
[Task 2: Assist the laboratory in studying merfolk’s habits (100% progress)]
[Task 3: Find the merfolk’s faith. (35% progress)]
[Task 4: (To be released)]
The bad news was that their time was running out.
The good news was that Dr. Olay had finally lifted surveillance on him, and he could continue to act at night.
On the night Dr. Olay left, he used the invisibility card to sneak into the first-floor laboratory.
Xia Chi had mentioned seeing a shadow flash past the end of this corridor that day and disappeared at the end of the corridor lights. Because his cleaning tasks are on the second floor, he had no time to act on his own during the day except interacting with his husband under Dr. Olay’s supervision. These nights, he was under confinement, so there was no time to explore.
Finally, he had the opportunity this time and wanted to see what was at the end of the corridor.
The peculiarity of this institute wasn’t just the lab hidden in the sewer; it also extended to the research institute above.
Even though people usually work during the day and rest at night, it doesn’t mean the institute is entirely deserted at night.
Yet, this institute achieved that.
Late at night, this institute became completely empty.
Only a few foggy lights illuminated the corridor, providing low visibility.
Beneath the yellowish light above, Bai Li Xin walked towards the end of the first-floor corridor.
Before reaching the end, he saw a suspicious figure huddled in the corner.
After pondering for two seconds, Bai Li Xin approached and found the person was an acquaintance.
Glasses sat in the corner, looking lifeless. His eyes were red, as if he had just cried.
His looked dazed, Bai Li Xin was almost st his side but Glasses was still unaware.
He was hugging his legs, looking distressed. He looked pitiful, like a flower weakened by a shower of rain.
Bai Li Xin: “…”
After staring at Glasses for two seconds, Bai Li Xin was hesitating on whether to call him when Glasses suddenly jumped up from the corner. He looked into the distance with a terrified expression, “Who? Who’s there?”
Following his gaze, Bai Li Xin saw a vague figure standing at the dark corner.
He was a bit stunned.
This figure…
When did it appear?
He didn’t even notice its presence.
Under Glasses’ questioning, the figure shook slightly, then slowly walked out of the darkness.
When Glasses saw the person’s face, his expression relaxed, but Bai Li Xin’s gaze became somewhat profound.
The person emerging from the darkness was Lin Xiao.
This wasn’t the first time Lin Xiao caught his attention.
The first time he noticed Lin Xiao’s abnormality was in the dining hall – his hands were chilling.
Such a temperature couldn’t be explained by a cold constitution, his body temperature was even lower than that of a merfolk.
To put it simply, a merfolk’s normal body temperature is around eighteen degrees, and when he touched Lin Xiao, it was around five degrees or even lower.
This was not a normal human body temperature.
The second time he caught his attention was in the underground sewer.
When those catfish monsters chased them, despite fleeing together, the catfish monsters targeted him and Xia Chi. Lin Xiao, on the other hand, seemed nonexistent to the catfish monsters.
The third incident that made him concerned was when Lin Xiao was waiting for them.
He remained in the same exact spot where they left him when they returned.
This position wasn’t a general location but an exact point that has not changed at all.
They were away for a whole hour, and Lin Xiao maintained a military posture for an hour.
Moreover, Lin Xiao’s tone of speech, including the frequency of blinking and lifting his head, was peculiar.
His tone exuded indifference, and sometimes when he blinked or raised his head, there was a stiffness.
Then there was this time.
Bai Li Xin was confident in his strong ability to sense other life forms. Basically, he could detect someone approaching immediately.
Lin Xiao’s position just now was indeed behind him, but that wasn’t a valid reason.
Even if someone is behind, he wouldn’t fail to hear it.
Either Lin Xiao had a special technique to eliminate his presence, or Lin Xiao simply… didn’t breathe.
Xia Chi stopped immediately.
At the same time, the little merman stopped and pointed to a corner before suddenly plunging into the sewage.
Everyone looked towards the spot where the little merman disappeared, only to see a blue fish tail emerging from the murky water. The tail that was incompatible with the surrounding sewage flicked on the water’s surface before disappearing.
It happened so quickly that Xia Chi stood still for two seconds before asking in a daze, “Did he just leave like that?”
Bai Lixin picked up a brick from the ground and threw it towards the corner. The moment the brick was thrown over, they heard a “click-click” collision sound, then a powdery substance flew out from the corner, presenting itself like a shower of blossoms.
Seeing the scattered powder, the young man’s face didn’t show any signs of astonishment, as if he had expected it.
Under Xia Chi and Lin Xiao’s puzzled eyes, he calmly said, “We can proceed, but be careful and walk slowly.”
Seeing Bai Lixin pick up his steps again, Xia Chi followed him. This time, he did not continue to rush forward, but slowly followed Bai Lixin, walking slowly and cautiously.
Bai Lixin stopped walking when he went past the corner, and his clothes and hair fluttered in the wind.
Xia Chi came over and leaned over Bai Li Xin’s shoulder, looking ahead.
A strong gust of wind suddenly hit his head. Something blew into his eyes, causing him to instinctively close them, and he subconsciously reached out to rub them.
Just as he was about to raise his hand, there was a flash of white light in his mind, and simultaneously, a hand pressed down on his hand, stopping his movement.
Bai Li Xin’s voice came to his ears, “Xia Chi, don’t stretch your arm forward. Slowly rotate your eyes to wash away the dirt with tears.”
Obediently following Bai Li Xin’s words, Xia Chi chose to rotate his eyes.
When the stinging sensation in his eyes subsided, Xia Chi opened his eyes and finally saw what was in front of him. A drop of cold sweat formed on his forehead.
Before him was a high-speed fan rotating rapidly.
The fan was firmly embedded in a cylindrical duct. Its speed was so fast that it had lost the trace of blades, yet miraculously, there was no sound of rotation, only a faint sound of wind.
The fan was so close it was almost touching his face. If Bai Li Xin hadn’t pressed down his hand, his arm would have been caught in the fan when he reached forward.
The fan seemed to have faint shadows.
Xia Chi squinted his eyes.
Soon, he realized that what was in front of him was not a single fan but numerous fans arranged side by side.
The brick Bai Li Xin threw turned into powder under the agitation of these fans and was blown into the sewage.
They could see these fans, but the wastewater and garbage in the sewer couldn’t. Swept by the water flow, these things quickly reached the fans and Xia Chi witnessed these things being stirred in the fans and immediately turned into powder, scattering in the air.
Bai Li Xin: “…”
This was the reason for the sudden disappearance of the locator.
These fans were like tireless guards, blocking the last line of defense at the sewer exit. Anyone attempting to pass through would be crushed into powder and blown away.
Looking through the gaps in the fans, they could see the boundless sea outside. Just leaving this place would lead them to the sea, but this short distance felt like an insurmountable gap.
In the midst of their contemplation, there was a prompt from the private chat window.
Bai Li Xin opened the chat window and found a message from Glasses in the group chat.
Glasses: [Are you coming back soon? I think I heard footsteps just now, and it’s almost five in the morning. People are starting to get up. If you don’t come back soon, I won’t be able to hold on.]
Bai Li Xin: [Alright, we’ll come back right away.]
After marking the location here, the three increased their speed to return the way they came.
Having walked the path once before, it was much easier to return this time. They only spent half an hour on the journey back.
Bai Li Xin sent a [Open] message in the group chat. With a “click”, the tightly closed circular sewer entrance above them opened, and dim light streamed down.
The three climbed up one after another, and Bai Li Xin was the last to ascend.
After Xia Chi and Lin Xiao climbed out and looked down, they saw Bai Li Xin stopping on the upper half of the metal ladder.
There were footsteps in the corridor outside the door. Xia Chi whispered, “Brother?”
Bai Li Xin moved again.
He agilely grasped the ladder, swiftly climbing out of the opening.
At the same time, there was a knock from outside the door, “Who? Is someone inside? Why do I hear movement inside?”
As the words were spoken, the locked door was forcefully pushed, and the already flimsy door emitted a faint shaking sound. Dust even started to fall from the connection between the door and the wall.
Through the door frame, the voices from outside continued.
“What’s happening?”
“I heard a noise inside just now.”
“Huh? Noise? Isn’t this someone’s room? Didn’t he move upstairs?”
“Yeah, so I’m confused too. Could it be someone sneaking in to steal something? Should we call the guards?”
Xia Chi, who heard this outrageous conversation: “…”
‘Stealing? Here? Is there anything worth stealing here?!
Stealing a five-piece cleaning kit to clean the house?’
“Don’t really break in. You’re right, let’s call the guards.”
Just as the NPC outside suggested calling the guards, the tightly closed door opened with a “click” from the inside, revealing an impatient face, “What are you making noise about?”
Outside, four or five people had gathered. They glanced at each other and then turned their gazes toward Bai Li Xin. Through the crack of the open door, they saw a few men standing awkwardly beside the bed.
Looking at Bai Lixin’s somewhat disheveled clothes, their eyes gradually became meaningful, and they started teasing, “What are you guys doing here… are you doing some shady business?”
Bai Li Xin straightened his clothes, “Stop talking nonsense, get lost.”
Without waiting for the people outside to speak again, he directly closed the door.
The voices outside continued for a while.
“Could it be what I’m thinking?”
“Tsk tsk, you can’t tell. This man is so charming, not only seducing fish but even researchers.”
“But with the good dormitory upstairs, why come here?”
“Why do you care? They are probably afraid of being discovered upstairs, right? Speaking of which…what special hobbies do they have?”
“Hehehehe.”
The increasingly frivolous voices gradually disappeared at the end of the corridor. Bai Li Xin turned to look at the others and said calmly, “Alright, nothing happened. Let’s go upstairs.”
Xia Chi: “…”
“Did I accidentally become my brother’s rumored boyfriend just now?
Um, brother-in-law wouldn’t kill someone just to vent his anger, right?’
After Bai Li Xin returned to the dormitory, he took a hot shower and changed into clean clothes. By now, it was already dawn and the institute’s bell started ringing.
In the following days, Bai Li Xin completed a few auxiliary tasks as requested by Dr. Olay. During this time, his second task was unknowingly completed.
The fact that they went to the basement was exposed. Although those NPCs didn’t find out what they truly did in the room, rumors about him spread like wildfire, and eventually reached Dr. Olay’s ears.
To protect the innocence of merman No.1, Dr. Olay sternly demanded that Bai Li Xin refrain from going out without reason at night, assigned someone to monitor him, and angrily warned that if there was a next time, he would be expelled from the institute.
This made him have to lay low for the next few days. Except for completing task 2, the investigation on the merfolk’s faith came to an end for the time being.
Time quickly came to the eighth day. On this day, a speedboat approached the small island. Dr. Olay and Dr. Camila left the institute near dusk, boarded the speedboat and left.
They were away for a day, and when they returned on the second day, they packed up their things, appearing to be going on a long journey.
Before leaving, Dr. Olay sought out Bai Li Xin, telling him to complete the semen extraction within three days, otherwise, he would have to use force again to extract semen.
Bai Li Xin was sure that Dr. Olay wasn’t lying.
However, from Dr. Olay’s words, he also gained several pieces of information.
Firstly, they had to leave for three days.
Secondly, because three days is the final ultimatum Dr. Olay had given to him, it should also be the ultimatum given by the buyer to Dr. Olay’s team. The buyer couldn’t wait any longer.
Third, this also meant that his plan to rescue the merfolk must be put on the agenda quickly.
Watching the yacht carrying Dr. Olay sail away into the distance, Bai Li Xin opened his task bar.
[Task 1: Survive for fifteen days and fifteen nights. (8 days and 8 nights completed)]
[Task 2: Assist the laboratory in studying merfolk’s habits (100% progress)]
[Task 3: Find the merfolk’s faith. (35% progress)]
[Task 4: (To be released)]
The bad news was that their time was running out.
The good news was that Dr. Olay had finally lifted surveillance on him, and he could continue to act at night.
On the night Dr. Olay left, he used the invisibility card to sneak into the first-floor laboratory.
Xia Chi had mentioned seeing a shadow flash past the end of this corridor that day and disappeared at the end of the corridor lights. Because his cleaning tasks are on the second floor, he had no time to act on his own during the day except interacting with his husband under Dr. Olay’s supervision. These nights, he was under confinement, so there was no time to explore.
Finally, he had the opportunity this time and wanted to see what was at the end of the corridor.
The peculiarity of this institute wasn’t just the lab hidden in the sewer; it also extended to the research institute above.
Even though people usually work during the day and rest at night, it doesn’t mean the institute is entirely deserted at night.
Yet, this institute achieved that.
Late at night, this institute became completely empty.
Only a few foggy lights illuminated the corridor, providing low visibility.
Beneath the yellowish light above, Bai Li Xin walked towards the end of the first-floor corridor.
Before reaching the end, he saw a suspicious figure huddled in the corner.
After pondering for two seconds, Bai Li Xin approached and found the person was an acquaintance.
Glasses sat in the corner, looking lifeless. His eyes were red, as if he had just cried.
His looked dazed, Bai Li Xin was almost st his side but Glasses was still unaware.
He was hugging his legs, looking distressed. He looked pitiful, like a flower weakened by a shower of rain.
Bai Li Xin: “…”
After staring at Glasses for two seconds, Bai Li Xin was hesitating on whether to call him when Glasses suddenly jumped up from the corner. He looked into the distance with a terrified expression, “Who? Who’s there?”
Following his gaze, Bai Li Xin saw a vague figure standing at the dark corner.
He was a bit stunned.
This figure…
When did it appear?
He didn’t even notice its presence.
Under Glasses’ questioning, the figure shook slightly, then slowly walked out of the darkness.
When Glasses saw the person’s face, his expression relaxed, but Bai Li Xin’s gaze became somewhat profound.
The person emerging from the darkness was Lin Xiao.
This wasn’t the first time Lin Xiao caught his attention.
The first time he noticed Lin Xiao’s abnormality was in the dining hall – his hands were chilling.
Such a temperature couldn’t be explained by a cold constitution, his body temperature was even lower than that of a merfolk.
To put it simply, a merfolk’s normal body temperature is around eighteen degrees, and when he touched Lin Xiao, it was around five degrees or even lower.
This was not a normal human body temperature.
The second time he caught his attention was in the underground sewer.
When those catfish monsters chased them, despite fleeing together, the catfish monsters targeted him and Xia Chi. Lin Xiao, on the other hand, seemed nonexistent to the catfish monsters.
The third incident that made him concerned was when Lin Xiao was waiting for them.
He remained in the same exact spot where they left him when they returned.
This position wasn’t a general location but an exact point that has not changed at all.
They were away for a whole hour, and Lin Xiao maintained a military posture for an hour.
Moreover, Lin Xiao’s tone of speech, including the frequency of blinking and lifting his head, was peculiar.
His tone exuded indifference, and sometimes when he blinked or raised his head, there was a stiffness.
Then there was this time.
Bai Li Xin was confident in his strong ability to sense other life forms. Basically, he could detect someone approaching immediately.
Lin Xiao’s position just now was indeed behind him, but that wasn’t a valid reason.
Even if someone is behind, he wouldn’t fail to hear it.
Either Lin Xiao had a special technique to eliminate his presence, or Lin Xiao simply… didn’t breathe.
