He skillfully accessed the surveillance and pressed the x16 acceleration key.
The footage instantly fast-forwarded. When it reached the midpoint, he pressed the pause button, then rewound a few seconds before resuming normal playback.
In the footage, the tightly closed laboratory door suddenly opened by itself and then closed on its own.
Dr. Olay was puzzled: “Is there a problem? Isn’t it just a faulty door? Contact the logistics personnel for such matters. They will take care of it, and we don’t need to handle these things personally.”
Dr. Camila said solemnly: “A faulty door? Is it really that simple? Take another look at this.”
As he spoke, he manipulated the surveillance, revealing another scene in the room.
It was the door of another laboratory. In the darkness, the door opened again without anyone present, then slowly closed on its own.
Dr. Olay also put away his casual expression at this time: “Is there more?”
Dr. Camila: “Yes!”
In the following time, Dr. Camila continuously displayed scenes where doors opened by themselves.
As the scenes changed, the video finally reached Lab 1.
Under Dr. Olay’s gaze, the door of Lab 1 also slowly opened.
Dr. Camila fast-forwarded until five hours later when Lab 1’s door opened and closed again.
Lin Xiao suddenly looked at Bai Lixin.
Bai Lixin immediately lowered his head.
Dr. Olay: “…”
Dr. Camila looked at Dr. Olay, opened his mouth to say something, but his gaze shifted to Bai Lixin and Lin Xiao the next moment.
Dr. Olay pursed his lips: “The two of you, leave for now.”
Lin Xiao and Bai Lixin walked out of the room but didn’t leave. Instead, they silently exchanged glances and moved to a hidden corner where the camera couldn’t see.
Lin Xiao took something out of his backpack and handed it to Bai Lixin.
Looking at what seemed like a stethoscope, Bai Lixin didn’t ask questions. He imitated Lin Xiao, inserting an earpiece into his own ear.
What Lin Xiao took out was a fusion of a headphone and a stethoscope, with one end being the metal piece doctors put on patients during auscultation and the other end having two earpieces.
When Lin Xiao placed the metal piece on the wall, the previously inaudible sound immediately became clear in Bai Lixin’s ears.
Dr. Olay: “Tell me what you think.”
Dr. Camila: “The strange scenes from last night are not just that. There are issues with the merfolk too. The wounds on their bodies have disappeared. Moreover, I found that all the merfolk have fully recovered.”
Dr. Olay: “All of them?”
After a rustling sound, Dr. Camila’s voice came again, “Look at this. This is footage from inside one of the labs. Watch the movements of the merfolk in the water, what does it look like it’s doing?”
Dr. Olay’s voice reappeared after a few seconds, this time with an uncertain tone: “Like… expressing gratitude?”
Dr. Camila: “Doesn’t it seem like they’re thanking an unseen presence? I suspect… it’s the merfolk’s faith.”
Dr. Olay: “How is that possible?”
Dr. Camila: “Why isn’t it possible? How do you explain the sudden opening of the doors? How do you explain the wounds on the merfolk healing? Most importantly, how do you explain the worshipful look in the merfolk’s eyes?”
“Can’t you see the expressions of these merfolk? Merfolk are indifferent creatures, self-proclaimed nobles of the sea. Even when facing their own kind, they maintain a superior posture. But now, all the merfolk are looking at this mysterious power with expressions of worship.”
“That’s an expression only seen in the presence of gods and faith!”
Bai Lixin: “?”
‘What?
Faith?’
The voice from the wall came again.
Dr. Olay: “What are your thoughts.”
Dr. Camila’s voice suddenly became excited: “Weren’t we always searching for the faith? Now the faith has appeared! What are we waiting for? Faith can heal the wounds on the merfolk. If so, it can also cure the the curse. We’re saved.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Unfortunately, that can’t be cured. Surprised?’
Dr. Olay: “First, go to the first-floor monitoring room for me. I need to confirm what that mysterious force did after entering Lab 1.”
As he spoke, hurried footsteps entered Bai Lixin and Lin Xiao’s ears.
They exchanged a glance, quickly stood up, and hid in the concealed space under the stairs.
They hadn’t hidden for long when Dr. Olay’s door opened, followed by the rapid footsteps of two people. Soon, two pairs of shoes disappeared up the stairs.
Once they were gone, Bai Lixin and Lin Xiao emerged from under the stairs.
After coming out, Bai Lixin unconsciously rubbed his skin.
Because the hidden space was narrow, he and Lin Xiao were close, and Lin Xiao’s cold skin pressed against him.
After getting very close to Lin Xiao, he faintly smelled the mild scent of hospital disinfectant.
Seeing Bai Lixin’s actions, Lin Xiao said in his usual cold tone, “Sorry, I’m a bit cold.”
After rubbing his arms and lowering his hands, Bai Lixin said, “Oh, it’s okay. It’s just a natural reaction.”
Lin Xiao: “Are you the one opening and closing the doors and treating the merfolk?”
Bai Lixin: “Yes.”
A subtle expression appeared on Lin Xiao’s face, “Then, you spent five hours in Lab 1… isn’t that more than enough time?”
Bai Lixin swayed and subconsciously held onto the stair railing, “It’s enough!”
“You two get along really well. I envy you both,” Lin Xiao’s usually empty eyes were a little dazed, “I used to have a lover.”
Bai Lixin: “In the real world?”
Lin Xiao: “Sort of.”
Bai Lixin: “?”
‘Sort of?’
Bai Lixin: “What happened later?”
Lin Xiao’s gaze returned to the initial emptiness, “Later, he died.”
Bai Lixin paused, “My condolences.”
There was no grief on Lin Xiao’s face, “There’s nothing to mourn, it’s all in the past.”
“I’ll go get… uh, the sperm extractor for you.” Lin Xiao paused, “Although Dr. Olay said I should monitor you in the monitoring room, I’m still a passionate young man. Seeing others in love every day might cause some adverse reactions in my body. You can rest assured, I’ll change the direction of the surveillance, so it won’t capture you.”
As he said this, a rare cunning look appeared on his face, and he winked at Bai Lixin.
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Thank you?’
Although he and his husband had a deep bond, being openly discussed like this made him feel awkward.
Today marked the ninth day in this copy, with six days left until it concluded.
After receiving the sperm extractor, Bai Lixin visited Lab 1 once, but Dr. Olay was standing there at the time. Instead of letting him in, Dr. Olay drove him away.
Not seeing his merman husband, Bai Lixin didn’t feel disheartened. He carried the sperm extractor and went to the third-floor dormitory.
When he reached the third floor, he saw someone sitting in front of his door from a distance.
On taking a closer look, he realized it was Xia Chi.
“Xia Chi?” Bai Lixin called out and woke up Xia Chi, who had hidden his head in his clothes.
The moment Xia Chi opened his eyes, Bai Lixin was momentarily stunned.
There were faint dark circles under Xia Chi’s eyes, looking like he hadn’t slept well all night.
Seeing Bai Lixin return, Xia Chi finally stood up, holding onto the door frame. “Brother, you’re finally back.”
Bai Lixin: “Let’s talk inside.”
The two entered the dormitory. The moment he closed the door, he heard Xia Chi wail, “Brother, save me!”
Seeing Xia Chi looking like it was the end of the world, Bai Lixin quickly asked, “What happened? Tell me slowly.”
Xia Chi sniffled and, without a word, began undressing in front of Bai Lixin.
With quick movements, he soon discarded everything, revealing the skin underneath.
The moment Bai Lixin saw Xia Chi’s back, he froze.
There was a large black mark on Xia Chi’s back.
The black color was hideous and terrifying, extending into the pants around Xia Chi’s waist.
Black tendrils also spread across his upper arms and collarbone, almost covering Xia Chi’s entire body.
Xia Chi looked aggrieved, “Brother, I slept until midnight yesterday, and my body started itching. When I looked in the mirror, it was like this.”
“I don’t know why it happened.”
Bai Lixin: “When did you notice this on your body?”
Xia Chi: “Just as I said, in the middle of the night. I was sleeping peacefully, then suddenly I woke up itching. When I looked in the mirror, I was scared on the spot. It was so late, and I didn’t want to bother you. I had to wait until morning to find you, but you weren’t here. Do you know how helpless I felt, Brother? Am I going to die soon? Wuuu, I don’t want to die. I’m still so young. I was a good student in school, I listened to my parents at home, I listened to teachers at school, and followed Tan Yue’s words outside.”
“I’ve never been in a relationship.”
“Several girls confessed to me before, but Tan Yue said that early love would make you stupid and unable to pass the police academy entrance exam. So, I persisted and didn’t date.”
“I don’t want to die in this copy. Wuuu.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Let me correct that, early love doesn’t make you stupid. A love brain does.’
Bai Lixin: [What’s going on, Sister System?]
Escape System: [Someone used a special prop card on him.]
Bai Lixin: [What special prop card?]
Escape System: [Someone transferred their negative debuffs onto Xia Chi, causing the curse on Xia Chi to suddenly become so severe overnight.]
Bai Lixin’s eyes became cold: [Who did this?]
Escape System: [I don’t know, but this prop requires physical contact to take effect. You can ask him who he had contact with yesterday.]
Bai Lixin looked at Xia Chi, whose complexion was terrible, and asked in a deep voice, “Did you have any contact with anyone yesterday?”
Xia Chi: “After chatting with you, I went to find Lin Xiao and then Song Yun. However, during dinner, I met several players, and we gathered to discuss the progress of the tasks.”
“But they were the ones who called me over, and I didn’t want to refuse, so I went.”
Bai Lixin: “Who was there during the discussion?”
Xia Chi: “It seems… everyone was there.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
“Then do you remember who had physical contact with you?”
Xia Chi scratched his head, looking somewhat flustered for not remembering the details, “I didn’t pay attention to that detail, Brother.”
“Why are you asking me these questions? Could the black things growing on me be related to the person I had contact with?”
Bai Lixin smiled, “No, I’m just asking casually. Don’t think too much.”
While comforting Xia Chi, Bai Lixin asked in his mind: [How serious is Xia Chi’s condition?]
Escape System: [From a rough estimate, it should be above 70%. Master Bai Lixin, you need to find the merfolk’s faith as soon as possible. Only the blessings from merfolk’s faith can help lift the curse on him.]
Bai Lixin: [Okay, understood. Thank you.]
After speaking with the system, Bai Lixin’s smooth chin lifted slightly, and his gaze shifted to the window, landing on the endless deep blue sea.
As far as the eye could see, everything was blue.
The sky today was somewhat dark, hinting at the calm before an impending storm.
The dense sea merges with the profound sky, forming a stifling web that extends in all directions, enveloping this small research institute.
Beneath the boundless ocean and sky, all beings appear minuscule and helpless.
“Xia Chi, I plan to explore the deep sea again tonight. Come with me. Trust me, you’ll be fine.”
Bai Lixin’s calm demeanor quickly influenced Xia Chi. Xia Chi rubbed his face with both hands, and said, “Okay, Brother, let’s go together!”
——————————–
In the live broadcast room.
[Poor little sun, how did he end up like this? Is the growth speed of the black curse too fast?]
[Yes, it was tiny when we watched the livestream yesterday, and today it’s this large.]
[I hope God Xin can find the faith to lift Xia Chi’s curse.]
[He surely can! With God Xin’s strength and Xia Chi’s luck, they’re invincible!]
[Uh, what if it’s the other way around? God Xin’s luck plus Xia Chi’s strength—Xia Chi’s strength isn’t much, but God Xin’s luck could be a game-changer, right?]
[…Bah, bah, bah, crow’s mouth!]
————————-
Around five in the afternoon, the sun began to set in the west.
By six, the sun had vanished, and everything was shrouded in a hazy darkness.
The institute’s gate silently opened on its own, and then, from the empty outside, came the abrupt sound of breaking branches.
A few minutes later, two almost indistinguishable shadows appeared on the mountain road.
Moving effortlessly and swiftly in the darkness, they quickly crossed the barren woods and hills, arriving at the foot of the island.
Bai Lixin took out the submarine from his backpack, placed it in the water, and he and Xia Chi quickly entered.
He had refueled the submarine once in the last few days, and S419M had already blocked the tracker on the submarine.
The submarine quickly submerged, its propeller spinning behind and propelling them towards their destination.
Halfway through, red dots appeared on the submarine’s detector. The location was more than twenty nautical miles behind them, in the same direction they were heading.
S419M’s voice echoed in Bai Lixin’s mind: [Lord Host, it’s people from the institute.]
Bai Lixin: [I know, I’ll find the location before they do.]
S419M: [I can temporarily interfere with their navigation. You can take advantage of this time to create a safe distance.]
Bai Lixin: [Okay, thanks, you’ve worked hard.]
S419M: [Protecting the Lord Host is the system’s duty, it’s not hard at all!]
S419M might be a bit quirky on regular occasions, but in critical moments, he never fails.
Half a minute later, the red dots on the detector started randomly moving around, and some even began to move backward.
Xia Chi, who had been nervously watching the detector, now looked somewhat surprised, “Huh, why are they running around? Don’t they know the shortest distance between two points? No wonder they couldn’t find the merfolk’s faith for so long. They’re so stupid, Brother.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘You’re smiling a little gloatingly, Xia Chi.’
Following the previous coordinates and the navigation, Bai Lixin quickly arrived at the passage surrounded by the green skinned monsters, and patiently waited for the tide to come.
He waited patiently for about fifteen minutes. When the red dots appeared on the screen again, the tide also arrived.
Having experienced it once, he was mentally prepared this time, but Xia Chi wasn’t.
Even though he had warned him to be careful, at the moment the vortex approached, Xia Chi was still stunned.
Xia Chi: “…”
‘Wow, it feels like my life has reached its peak.
Bleurgh!!!’
He skillfully accessed the surveillance and pressed the x16 acceleration key.
The footage instantly fast-forwarded. When it reached the midpoint, he pressed the pause button, then rewound a few seconds before resuming normal playback.
In the footage, the tightly closed laboratory door suddenly opened by itself and then closed on its own.
Dr. Olay was puzzled: “Is there a problem? Isn’t it just a faulty door? Contact the logistics personnel for such matters. They will take care of it, and we don’t need to handle these things personally.”
Dr. Camila said solemnly: “A faulty door? Is it really that simple? Take another look at this.”
As he spoke, he manipulated the surveillance, revealing another scene in the room.
It was the door of another laboratory. In the darkness, the door opened again without anyone present, then slowly closed on its own.
Dr. Olay also put away his casual expression at this time: “Is there more?”
Dr. Camila: “Yes!”
In the following time, Dr. Camila continuously displayed scenes where doors opened by themselves.
As the scenes changed, the video finally reached Lab 1.
Under Dr. Olay’s gaze, the door of Lab 1 also slowly opened.
Dr. Camila fast-forwarded until five hours later when Lab 1’s door opened and closed again.
Lin Xiao suddenly looked at Bai Lixin.
Bai Lixin immediately lowered his head.
Dr. Olay: “…”
Dr. Camila looked at Dr. Olay, opened his mouth to say something, but his gaze shifted to Bai Lixin and Lin Xiao the next moment.
Dr. Olay pursed his lips: “The two of you, leave for now.”
Lin Xiao and Bai Lixin walked out of the room but didn’t leave. Instead, they silently exchanged glances and moved to a hidden corner where the camera couldn’t see.
Lin Xiao took something out of his backpack and handed it to Bai Lixin.
Looking at what seemed like a stethoscope, Bai Lixin didn’t ask questions. He imitated Lin Xiao, inserting an earpiece into his own ear.
What Lin Xiao took out was a fusion of a headphone and a stethoscope, with one end being the metal piece doctors put on patients during auscultation and the other end having two earpieces.
When Lin Xiao placed the metal piece on the wall, the previously inaudible sound immediately became clear in Bai Lixin’s ears.
Dr. Olay: “Tell me what you think.”
Dr. Camila: “The strange scenes from last night are not just that. There are issues with the merfolk too. The wounds on their bodies have disappeared. Moreover, I found that all the merfolk have fully recovered.”
Dr. Olay: “All of them?”
After a rustling sound, Dr. Camila’s voice came again, “Look at this. This is footage from inside one of the labs. Watch the movements of the merfolk in the water, what does it look like it’s doing?”
Dr. Olay’s voice reappeared after a few seconds, this time with an uncertain tone: “Like… expressing gratitude?”
Dr. Camila: “Doesn’t it seem like they’re thanking an unseen presence? I suspect… it’s the merfolk’s faith.”
Dr. Olay: “How is that possible?”
Dr. Camila: “Why isn’t it possible? How do you explain the sudden opening of the doors? How do you explain the wounds on the merfolk healing? Most importantly, how do you explain the worshipful look in the merfolk’s eyes?”
“Can’t you see the expressions of these merfolk? Merfolk are indifferent creatures, self-proclaimed nobles of the sea. Even when facing their own kind, they maintain a superior posture. But now, all the merfolk are looking at this mysterious power with expressions of worship.”
“That’s an expression only seen in the presence of gods and faith!”
Bai Lixin: “?”
‘What?
Faith?’
The voice from the wall came again.
Dr. Olay: “What are your thoughts.”
Dr. Camila’s voice suddenly became excited: “Weren’t we always searching for the faith? Now the faith has appeared! What are we waiting for? Faith can heal the wounds on the merfolk. If so, it can also cure the the curse. We’re saved.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Unfortunately, that can’t be cured. Surprised?’
Dr. Olay: “First, go to the first-floor monitoring room for me. I need to confirm what that mysterious force did after entering Lab 1.”
As he spoke, hurried footsteps entered Bai Lixin and Lin Xiao’s ears.
They exchanged a glance, quickly stood up, and hid in the concealed space under the stairs.
They hadn’t hidden for long when Dr. Olay’s door opened, followed by the rapid footsteps of two people. Soon, two pairs of shoes disappeared up the stairs.
Once they were gone, Bai Lixin and Lin Xiao emerged from under the stairs.
After coming out, Bai Lixin unconsciously rubbed his skin.
Because the hidden space was narrow, he and Lin Xiao were close, and Lin Xiao’s cold skin pressed against him.
After getting very close to Lin Xiao, he faintly smelled the mild scent of hospital disinfectant.
Seeing Bai Lixin’s actions, Lin Xiao said in his usual cold tone, “Sorry, I’m a bit cold.”
After rubbing his arms and lowering his hands, Bai Lixin said, “Oh, it’s okay. It’s just a natural reaction.”
Lin Xiao: “Are you the one opening and closing the doors and treating the merfolk?”
Bai Lixin: “Yes.”
A subtle expression appeared on Lin Xiao’s face, “Then, you spent five hours in Lab 1… isn’t that more than enough time?”
Bai Lixin swayed and subconsciously held onto the stair railing, “It’s enough!”
“You two get along really well. I envy you both,” Lin Xiao’s usually empty eyes were a little dazed, “I used to have a lover.”
Bai Lixin: “In the real world?”
Lin Xiao: “Sort of.”
Bai Lixin: “?”
‘Sort of?’
Bai Lixin: “What happened later?”
Lin Xiao’s gaze returned to the initial emptiness, “Later, he died.”
Bai Lixin paused, “My condolences.”
There was no grief on Lin Xiao’s face, “There’s nothing to mourn, it’s all in the past.”
“I’ll go get… uh, the sperm extractor for you.” Lin Xiao paused, “Although Dr. Olay said I should monitor you in the monitoring room, I’m still a passionate young man. Seeing others in love every day might cause some adverse reactions in my body. You can rest assured, I’ll change the direction of the surveillance, so it won’t capture you.”
As he said this, a rare cunning look appeared on his face, and he winked at Bai Lixin.
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Thank you?’
Although he and his husband had a deep bond, being openly discussed like this made him feel awkward.
Today marked the ninth day in this copy, with six days left until it concluded.
After receiving the sperm extractor, Bai Lixin visited Lab 1 once, but Dr. Olay was standing there at the time. Instead of letting him in, Dr. Olay drove him away.
Not seeing his merman husband, Bai Lixin didn’t feel disheartened. He carried the sperm extractor and went to the third-floor dormitory.
When he reached the third floor, he saw someone sitting in front of his door from a distance.
On taking a closer look, he realized it was Xia Chi.
“Xia Chi?” Bai Lixin called out and woke up Xia Chi, who had hidden his head in his clothes.
The moment Xia Chi opened his eyes, Bai Lixin was momentarily stunned.
There were faint dark circles under Xia Chi’s eyes, looking like he hadn’t slept well all night.
Seeing Bai Lixin return, Xia Chi finally stood up, holding onto the door frame. “Brother, you’re finally back.”
Bai Lixin: “Let’s talk inside.”
The two entered the dormitory. The moment he closed the door, he heard Xia Chi wail, “Brother, save me!”
Seeing Xia Chi looking like it was the end of the world, Bai Lixin quickly asked, “What happened? Tell me slowly.”
Xia Chi sniffled and, without a word, began undressing in front of Bai Lixin.
With quick movements, he soon discarded everything, revealing the skin underneath.
The moment Bai Lixin saw Xia Chi’s back, he froze.
There was a large black mark on Xia Chi’s back.
The black color was hideous and terrifying, extending into the pants around Xia Chi’s waist.
Black tendrils also spread across his upper arms and collarbone, almost covering Xia Chi’s entire body.
Xia Chi looked aggrieved, “Brother, I slept until midnight yesterday, and my body started itching. When I looked in the mirror, it was like this.”
“I don’t know why it happened.”
Bai Lixin: “When did you notice this on your body?”
Xia Chi: “Just as I said, in the middle of the night. I was sleeping peacefully, then suddenly I woke up itching. When I looked in the mirror, I was scared on the spot. It was so late, and I didn’t want to bother you. I had to wait until morning to find you, but you weren’t here. Do you know how helpless I felt, Brother? Am I going to die soon? Wuuu, I don’t want to die. I’m still so young. I was a good student in school, I listened to my parents at home, I listened to teachers at school, and followed Tan Yue’s words outside.”
“I’ve never been in a relationship.”
“Several girls confessed to me before, but Tan Yue said that early love would make you stupid and unable to pass the police academy entrance exam. So, I persisted and didn’t date.”
“I don’t want to die in this copy. Wuuu.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Let me correct that, early love doesn’t make you stupid. A love brain does.’
Bai Lixin: [What’s going on, Sister System?]
Escape System: [Someone used a special prop card on him.]
Bai Lixin: [What special prop card?]
Escape System: [Someone transferred their negative debuffs onto Xia Chi, causing the curse on Xia Chi to suddenly become so severe overnight.]
Bai Lixin’s eyes became cold: [Who did this?]
Escape System: [I don’t know, but this prop requires physical contact to take effect. You can ask him who he had contact with yesterday.]
Bai Lixin looked at Xia Chi, whose complexion was terrible, and asked in a deep voice, “Did you have any contact with anyone yesterday?”
Xia Chi: “After chatting with you, I went to find Lin Xiao and then Song Yun. However, during dinner, I met several players, and we gathered to discuss the progress of the tasks.”
“But they were the ones who called me over, and I didn’t want to refuse, so I went.”
Bai Lixin: “Who was there during the discussion?”
Xia Chi: “It seems… everyone was there.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
“Then do you remember who had physical contact with you?”
Xia Chi scratched his head, looking somewhat flustered for not remembering the details, “I didn’t pay attention to that detail, Brother.”
“Why are you asking me these questions? Could the black things growing on me be related to the person I had contact with?”
Bai Lixin smiled, “No, I’m just asking casually. Don’t think too much.”
While comforting Xia Chi, Bai Lixin asked in his mind: [How serious is Xia Chi’s condition?]
Escape System: [From a rough estimate, it should be above 70%. Master Bai Lixin, you need to find the merfolk’s faith as soon as possible. Only the blessings from merfolk’s faith can help lift the curse on him.]
Bai Lixin: [Okay, understood. Thank you.]
After speaking with the system, Bai Lixin’s smooth chin lifted slightly, and his gaze shifted to the window, landing on the endless deep blue sea.
As far as the eye could see, everything was blue.
The sky today was somewhat dark, hinting at the calm before an impending storm.
The dense sea merges with the profound sky, forming a stifling web that extends in all directions, enveloping this small research institute.
Beneath the boundless ocean and sky, all beings appear minuscule and helpless.
“Xia Chi, I plan to explore the deep sea again tonight. Come with me. Trust me, you’ll be fine.”
Bai Lixin’s calm demeanor quickly influenced Xia Chi. Xia Chi rubbed his face with both hands, and said, “Okay, Brother, let’s go together!”
——————————–
In the live broadcast room.
[Poor little sun, how did he end up like this? Is the growth speed of the black curse too fast?]
[Yes, it was tiny when we watched the livestream yesterday, and today it’s this large.]
[I hope God Xin can find the faith to lift Xia Chi’s curse.]
[He surely can! With God Xin’s strength and Xia Chi’s luck, they’re invincible!]
[Uh, what if it’s the other way around? God Xin’s luck plus Xia Chi’s strength—Xia Chi’s strength isn’t much, but God Xin’s luck could be a game-changer, right?]
[…Bah, bah, bah, crow’s mouth!]
————————-
Around five in the afternoon, the sun began to set in the west.
By six, the sun had vanished, and everything was shrouded in a hazy darkness.
The institute’s gate silently opened on its own, and then, from the empty outside, came the abrupt sound of breaking branches.
A few minutes later, two almost indistinguishable shadows appeared on the mountain road.
Moving effortlessly and swiftly in the darkness, they quickly crossed the barren woods and hills, arriving at the foot of the island.
Bai Lixin took out the submarine from his backpack, placed it in the water, and he and Xia Chi quickly entered.
He had refueled the submarine once in the last few days, and S419M had already blocked the tracker on the submarine.
The submarine quickly submerged, its propeller spinning behind and propelling them towards their destination.
Halfway through, red dots appeared on the submarine’s detector. The location was more than twenty nautical miles behind them, in the same direction they were heading.
S419M’s voice echoed in Bai Lixin’s mind: [Lord Host, it’s people from the institute.]
Bai Lixin: [I know, I’ll find the location before they do.]
S419M: [I can temporarily interfere with their navigation. You can take advantage of this time to create a safe distance.]
Bai Lixin: [Okay, thanks, you’ve worked hard.]
S419M: [Protecting the Lord Host is the system’s duty, it’s not hard at all!]
S419M might be a bit quirky on regular occasions, but in critical moments, he never fails.
Half a minute later, the red dots on the detector started randomly moving around, and some even began to move backward.
Xia Chi, who had been nervously watching the detector, now looked somewhat surprised, “Huh, why are they running around? Don’t they know the shortest distance between two points? No wonder they couldn’t find the merfolk’s faith for so long. They’re so stupid, Brother.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘You’re smiling a little gloatingly, Xia Chi.’
Following the previous coordinates and the navigation, Bai Lixin quickly arrived at the passage surrounded by the green skinned monsters, and patiently waited for the tide to come.
He waited patiently for about fifteen minutes. When the red dots appeared on the screen again, the tide also arrived.
Having experienced it once, he was mentally prepared this time, but Xia Chi wasn’t.
Even though he had warned him to be careful, at the moment the vortex approached, Xia Chi was still stunned.
Xia Chi: “…”
‘Wow, it feels like my life has reached its peak.
Bleurgh!!!’
