Chapter 4: Turning the Tables

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Dark clouds veiled the moon, and a chilly wind whispered through the night. The mottled shadows of trees swayed with the breeze...

Clang, clang—

After a bumpy ride inside the truck’s cargo hold, it finally came to a halt at the back entrance of the city hospital.

Thud, thud, thud—

Heavy footsteps sounded as a group of people lined up in front of the vehicle, waiting to be assigned.

Qianyu Hua, dressed in a flowing crimson gown, lifted her delicate chin slightly, closed her eyes for a moment, and took a deep breath.

At this point, the blade was already pressed against her neck, yet this madwoman seemed utterly indifferent to her impending fate.

Then, the enigmatic youth Yu Kongcheng unexpectedly removed his hospital gown and draped it over Qianyu Hua’s shoulders.

For a moment, the hazy moonlight bathed Yu Kongcheng’s robust, glowing muscles, inspiring envy in all who saw him.

The seemingly fragile, mad girl extended her slender hand and gently adjusted the thin garment, still warm from his body.

Then, Qianyu Hua looked up into Yu Kongcheng’s gentlemanly smile and softly said,

“Thank you.”

Their eyes met, and in that silent exchange, the two resembled lovers reunited after a long absence. Though no words were spoken, a subtle shift passed between them.

At that moment, the armed captain known as “Little Bee” pressed the communication device beside her helmet.

“This is Little Bee at the Control Center. We have returned to the hive. Preparing to initiate night mode!”

“...”

“Thank you!”

After receiving a clear confirmation, the captain glanced at Li Hetang across from her.

Without wasting words, he merely nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then, along with the operative code-named ‘O,’ led the children rescued by Brother Cat toward the city hospital.

Xiao Yulou, clad in a black Taoist robe, supported the unconscious Gu Mo, his face grave as he looked up at the city hospital under the night sky.

Memories flooded him like a rising tide.

With a sigh, he flicked the sleeve of his robe and lifted Gu Mo, following the group’s pace.

The scene shifted to the group arriving in front of the underground parking lot’s freight elevator.

Beep—

Little Bee pressed the elevator button.

Moments later, the heavy metallic doors slid open with a whoosh.

Inside, the pristine elevator cabin appeared remarkably spacious, easily accommodating thirty to forty people at once.

Li Hetang led the group in single file as the armed guards stood alert at the elevator’s threshold, guns ready.

Wham—

The heavy doors closed with a decisive thud. Little Bee removed her tactical gloves and smoothly slid her finger across the control panel.

The inconspicuous panel revealed a fingerprint scanner, as if it were a sliding cellphone.

Seeing this futuristic sight, Xiao Yulou smiled faintly, curling his lips.

Apparently, the city hospital had long fallen under the jurisdiction of the 749 Foodstuffs Company. Such a large-scale investment was truly astonishing.

Little Bee pressed her palm against the scanner, and the elevator descended slowly into the underground.

When the doors opened again, the group was met with a long, spotless glass corridor.

They stood in two lines within the corridor.

With a hiss, the airtight glass doors sealed behind them.

Fear rippled among the children, but seeing Qianyu Hua at the front, they remained silent.

Suddenly, a sharp hiss erupted as a blast of dense, white cold air surged forth, filling the glass corridor with swirling mist.

The group covered their mouths and noses, enduring the sterilizing fog in silence.

Seconds later, the dense vapor dissipated.

Li Hetang, standing at the front, spoke without turning back, “Do not be afraid, everyone. This is just a disinfecting fog.”

Understanding dawned on the group.

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Click, click—

The clean glass floor echoed crisply beneath various heels.

At the corridor’s end stood another glass airtight door. When it opened, four or five staff members in white lab coats awaited them.

Li Hetang, dressed in polar combat gear, smiled slightly and spoke:

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“Just a brief inquiry with the children; be careful not to frighten them.”

After speaking, Li Hetang glanced at Yu Kongcheng and ‘O.’ Seeing this, ‘O’ led the children toward the conference room.

As for the madwoman Qianyu Hua, she was escorted to a small, solitary room.

A closer look revealed the room’s furnishings to be starkly minimal.

A black desk, a black stool, and a black desk lamp; the entire room was enveloped in darkness.

Yet, in one corner, a crimson light glowed—indicating the space was under surveillance.

Seated squarely at the desk, Qianyu Hua, in her blood-red dress, stood in sharp contrast to the somber surroundings.

Click—

The door opened, pouring pure white light into the room. A tall, shadowy figure stood at the threshold.

By the light, Qianyu Hua nonchalantly flipped through a newspaper.

Click—

As the door closed behind him, the tall figure sat on the stool and immediately caught a strange floral fragrance.

Snap!

The desk lamp was switched on, emitting a piercing beam directly at Qianyu Hua.

She furrowed her brow slightly but continued reading as if unfazed.

What a scene—was this a Hong Kong cop thriller?

Couldn’t they vary their interrogation methods?

Would they next crank the air conditioner to freezing and serve a cup of bitter, cheap coffee?

But honestly, this madwoman had nerves of steel.

At such a critical moment, she remained as unshaken and indifferent as ever.

One wondered what she had endured to cultivate such a mindset.

Suddenly, a heavy voice came from behind a thick black mask:

“Name!”

Qianyu Hua kept her eyes on the newspaper, replying coldly without raising her gaze,

“Qianyu Hua.”

“Age?”

“Thirty.”

“Gender?”

At this, she twitched her brow and, after a brief pause, retorted,

“Who names a man that?”

Before the words faded, the black desk lamp jolted with a dull thud as the table trembled.

The glaring light flickered in unison.

Clearly, the interrogator was growing angry.

“Behave yourself! Don’t think you’re untouchable just because someone’s got your back!”

At this, Qianyu Hua curled her lips into a sly, wicked smile above the newspaper.

“You mean that man from before?”

The shadow across the table shuddered violently. Though his expression was obscured by backlighting, it was clear it wasn’t a pleasant one.

Suddenly, Qianyu Hua tapped her finger discreetly.

A barely perceptible green glow flickered in the dim room.

The strange floral scent intensified.

A moment later, she folded the newspaper carefully and placed it on the desk.

“What is that man’s name?”

The shadow hesitated, then answered,

“Yu Kongcheng, code name K.”

Upon hearing the name, Qianyu Hua wasted no time.

“Age?”

“If I’m not mistaken, twenty-seven.”

Satisfied, a genuine smile touched her face.

“Older women carry gold bricks... quite fitting!”

She smoothed her short hair with a sinister grin.

“What exactly is Yu Kongcheng’s role in your company?”

The shadow seemed like a puppet on strings, revealing everything without restraint.

“K Brother belongs to the Special Operations Unit of the 749 Foodstuffs Company. He answers to no one and is bound by nothing.”

Qianyu Hua smiled faintly.

“Independent and tyrannical... quite the personality.”

She slapped the desk lamp, blinding the man.

Revealed was an ordinary armed guard wearing a mask.

Feeling belittled, Qianyu Hua leaned back arrogantly, crossing her arms with a cold snort.

“To send a rookie to interrogate me? They really don’t take me seriously!”

Having taken control, the madwoman grew intensely interested in Yu Kongcheng.

“What’s his background?”

The dazed man responded like a scripted doll.

“Yu Kongcheng, code K. Rumor has it he’s the son of a high-ranking executive and has grown up at headquarters. Because our rank is low, we don’t know the details.”

Qianyu Hua’s smile turned eerie.

“Apart from that, what else?”

The puppet answered,

“K Brother underwent experimental abilities as a child, gaining the power to transform into a werewolf.

On the battlefield, by absorbing enemy blood, he can temporarily master their abilities.”

Hearing this incredible intel, Qianyu Hua nodded with a faint smile.

“Definitely a bit overpowered...”

Before she could issue further commands, the man spilled more information like an overflowing river.

“A year ago, K Brother led a special ops team overseas on a mission.

The mission failed, resulting in the annihilation of the entire team except for him.

That’s why the higher-ups demoted him to Beihuang Town.”

Hearing this, Qianyu Hua frowned, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“Where is the 749 Foodstuffs Company headquarters?”

“Lobu*!”

The mysterious name struck a chill even into the deeply scheming Qianyu Hua.

The scene shifted abruptly to the surveillance room, where a hysterical voice shattered the tense silence.

“K Brother, something’s wrong!”

Yu Kongcheng, clad in a white lab coat, strode to the monitor.

“What’s the panic?”

A female staffer with thick glasses pointed at the screen.

Seeing Qianyu Hua conducting the interrogation while taking the lead, Yu Kongcheng smiled slightly.

“Please get me a latte, light sugar, with milk. Thanks.”

Though puzzled, the woman complied without complaint.

After she left, Qianyu Hua glanced toward the camera with a ghostly smile.

Yu Kongcheng, watching this, curled the corners of his mouth.

“This is interesting.”

...

(The chapter ends.)