Chapter 81

After Zhou Chenhao spoke, the scene fell into silence.

If I laughed at this moment, I would be killed, right?

Xia Xiaoxi tried hard to purse her lips, thinking of countless sad things in an instant, trying to press down the upturned corners of her mouth.

"Pfft, hahahaha!" The one who laughed out loud was surprisingly Yuan Lan. He laughed so hard he was bent over, his eyes and brows filled with a joyful smile, "Haha, do you find it strange? Little Xuechao did this for me, I think it's quite cute."

As he spoke, he lifted that foot and even wiggled his toes.

The five toes first spread out, then the little toe moved on its own, followed by the big toe moving on its own. It didn't end there. He turned his foot to the side and hooked his big toe, as if giving a thumbs-up with his hand, and then the big toe flexed nimbly a few times.

Xia Xiaoxi's composure broke because of his toe-wiggling action. A laugh she couldn't hold back escaped her throat. She glanced at Yuan Lan a bit nervously, only to find that he didn't care at all.

Bai Xuechao: "..."

There shouldn't be many characters this unhinged in the work, right?

Xiao 6 also admired Yuan Lan's thick skin. It had felt embarrassed for Yuan Lan the moment Zhou Chenhao said those words, but unexpectedly, not only was this guy not embarrassed, he even put on a performance.

Holding Yuan Lan's character profile, it complained to Bai Xuechao: "Bai Guzi's profile for him is born a bad seed, I do as I please, no sense of shame. His embarrassment threshold is so high, it must have developed from having no sense of shame! If I had toes, I could cringe so hard for him that I'd carve out a three-bedroom apartment!"

Just then, Zhou Chenhao let out a long "Oh~" and exclaimed with wide eyes: "Your toes are so flexible!"

Help me, there's even someone here to play along.

Xia Xiaoxi couldn't take it anymore and rushed over to cover his mouth: "Stop talking, stop talking!"

Daring to tease a high-level special ability user who was just an enemy, did he not want to live anymore! ...Wait, did Zhou Chenhao even realize he was teasing him?

"I think so too, super——flexible." Yuan Lan was still smiling.

He smilingly wrapped his arm around Bai Xuechao's neck, bonelessly, pressing almost his entire body weight onto Bai Xuechao.

Although Bai Xuechao temporarily couldn't feel pain under the effect of Yuan Lan's special ability, his physical condition hadn't improved. He was still very weak and couldn't bear Yuan Lan's weight of over a hundred Jin, so he stumbled back a step.

He estimated from his years of experience that if he didn't replenish some sugar and get some proper rest in his current state, he would faint in ten minutes at most.

Yuan Lan lost his support and his body tilted. He casually pulled Bai Xuechao back, his hand still resting on the other's shoulder, all clingy without any sense of boundaries. He tilted his head to look at Bai Xuechao. He had already noticed Bai Xuechao's physical discomfort during the previous battle and teased, "Can't stand properly? Do you need me to hold you?"

Bai Xuechao typed out a row of ellipses in his mind, not wanting to bother with him.

At that moment, Yuan Lan's peripheral vision caught Ling Feng secretly sending a message on his phone.

Puppet threads suddenly appeared and coiled around the phone.

Ling Feng was startled and subconsciously reached out to snatch his phone back, but he was a step too slow, and the phone was already snatched away.

"Hmm? You're reporting an emergency." Yuan Lan casually glanced at Ling Feng's phone screen, which displayed the interface of the SAIDB's internal software.

Bai Xuechao was right beside Yuan Lan, so he could see the content on the screen——

【ID 0270210025 [Ling Feng]】

【(Checked) Emergency】

【Squad 272507 encountered a high-level special ability user attack at A Port's Dream Game City. Estimated level is 7 or above, characteristics are】

Yuan Lan continued editing the message Ling Feng had already typed. Without even looking up, the puppet threads severed the vines Xia Xiaoxi had sent to retrieve the phone, and he uploaded the information with practiced ease.

"Alright, back to you~" Yuan Lan smiled leisurely and tossed the phone back to Ling Feng.

Ling Feng caught the phone and quickly found the information he had uploaded.

【Squad 272507 encountered a level 9 special ability user attack at A Port's Dream Game City. Judged to be Apocalypse Society boss, name Yuan Lan, male, characteristics are white hair, golden eyes, estimated height around 185cm, special ability can use puppet threads to attack and control others.】

Yuan Lan had stopped just short of taking a selfie on the spot and uploading it along with the info.

Ling Feng was shocked after reading it and blurted out, "Why would you do that?"

Who would voluntarily send their own intelligence to the SAIDB?

"I did it because I felt like it." Yuan Lan lowered his head slightly, an unreadable expression veiled under his lowered brows. He smiled and said, "My information won't remain a secret for long anyway. Letting you all know now can be considered a teaser."

While he was speaking, Xia Xiaoxi also took out her phone, logged into the SAIDB's internal software, and found the emergency report Ling Feng had uploaded.

Her eyes immediately scanned Yuan Lan's level. She was shocked and cried out, "Level 9?!"

Zhou Chenhao was also shocked and gave a dry laugh: "Can we get a discount on a group purchase of urns now?"

They didn't think about escaping, because it was obvious without thinking. A level 9 special ability user trying to stop level 4 special ability users from escaping, wouldn't that be simple?

Ling Feng repeated, "Won't remain a secret for long?"

However, Yuan Lan didn't seem to want to reveal anything more. He slightly raised his finger—in fact, he didn't need to move his finger to use his special ability; Bai Xuechao suspected he was just doing it to look cool—and puppet threads flew out from all directions, attacking the four people other than him and Bai Xuechao.

Bai Xuechao asked Xiao 6 in his mind, "Does Yuan Lan have a big move in the upcoming plot?"

"Ying, I'll have my pay docked for spoilers if I say it." Xiao 6's answer indirectly confirmed Bai Xuechao's thoughts.

Xiao 6 couldn't reveal the future development of this world, which meant spoiling the subsequent plot direction, but when issuing tasks, it could reveal some things that were about to happen in the next chapter (plot). Xiao 6's answer indicated that Yuan Lan's big move was at least one chapter away.

It wasn't urgent intelligence, but it was still useful.

Bai Xuechao felt more and more that he should go with Yuan Lan to gather some information.

As he was thinking, he suddenly noticed his hands were trembling slightly, and he had some heart palpitations, indicating his physical condition was getting worse.

...He had to think about how to save these four people and prevent them from being killed by Yuan Lan before he passed out. And in his current state, even if he used his special ability, he could probably only help or save them once.

Tsk, this is troublesome.

Should he give up on leaving with Yuan Lan?

But after breaking free from the control of the puppet threads, he would have to endure a body that could collapse at any moment and the headache from the side effect of his special ability, while leading the protagonist group of four who were still rookies at level 4, plus Ji Chuanze who was currently half-blind, to fight against Yuan Lan, who was one level higher and in good condition. This was really not realistic.

Actually, he could probably do it if he pushed himself, but the price would be too high. He could be sent to the emergency room on the spot.

Xiao 6 watched the battle between Yuan Lan and the protagonist group and Ji Chuanze, and said anxiously: "Host, what should we do? The protagonist group can't die here."

"Let me think," Bai Xuechao replied. He was still being controlled by Yuan Lan's puppet threads, and his thinking had become a bit sluggish, slower than before.

He had to find a way to both go with Yuan Lan and save all four of them.

Over there, the four members of the protagonist group and Ji Chuanze were still fighting against the puppet threads. Yuan Lan was toying with them like monkeys.

Under the guidance and coercion of Yuan Lan's puppet threads, Ji Chuanze was doing a bit better by being able to sever the threads, but the protagonist group was forced to dodge in various strange and inexplicably monkey-like postures, only to be suddenly hit. The wounds weren't fatal, but they were bleeding.

Yuan Lan let out a few low laughs and said in a gentle voice filled with extreme mockery, "Little Xuechao, look at them, don't they look like a group of dancing gorillas?"

While thinking, Bai Xuechao was also paying attention to their situation. Hearing this, he felt a lump in his throat.

Xiao 6 voiced the reason for his choked feeling: "Ahhh, help me, why is that so accurate!"

Bai Xuechao thought to himself, it's because Yuan Lan made them do it.

From this, it was clear that Yuan Lan's control over his special ability and his prediction of movements were both terrifyingly good.

Ling Feng had already noticed Yuan Lan's guidance and teasing, but he was powerless.

The other one who noticed was Ji Chuanze. He finally found a chance to break through the encirclement of the puppet threads and rushed out, roaring unhappily, "Stop looking down on people!"

He quickly closed in on Yuan Lan, his Tang Hengdao whistling through the air continuously.

Ji Chuanze had grown a lot in his battle with Yuan Lan. Even though he couldn't see the puppet threads clearly now due to the acute onset of his permanent side effect, he could still rely on his hearing, touch, and other senses, as well as his combat instincts, to dodge and block. Although part of the reason was that Yuan Lan was intentionally holding back, Bai Xuechao could see that he had really improved.

It wasn't easy to meet a suitable opponent. With a high-level, skilled special ability user like Yuan Lan "feeding him moves" while holding back, it would be too untalented not to improve.

The protagonist group had also improved, seemingly gaining a lot of combat experience.

After hearing Ji Chuanze's roar, Yuan Lan sighed, a gentle, almost compassionate look on his face as he said, "Alright, I'll be a little more serious then."

Before his voice had faded, several puppet threads had already shot towards Ji Chuanze, who was less than a meter away. The predictive attacks included in them had even anticipated Ji Chuanze's third and fourth steps. Even if Ji Chuanze could see clearly, he wouldn't be able to dodge, let alone now when he couldn't.

Ji Chuanze dodged two puppet threads to the left and right, raising his Tang Hengdao to sweep towards the blurry figure in front of him, while simultaneously jumping to avoid the puppet thread from below.

The moment Ji Chuanze jumped, two puppet threads pierced through his wrists, traveled up along the muscles and meridians of his arms, and emerged from his shoulders. At the same time, another puppet thread pierced horizontally through both of his knees!

This was a predictive attack by Yuan Lan. At a glance, it looked as if Ji Chuanze had intentionally jumped up to receive his puppet threads with his body.

"Ugh!" Ji Chuanze let out a low, pained grunt.

Yuan Lan raised his hand, and Ji Chuanze was hoisted up by the two puppet threads that had emerged from his shoulders, hanging about a meter in front of him like a slaughtered and hung animal. Then, the ends of the puppet thread that had pierced through Ji Chuanze's knees also rose, slowly pulling his legs higher.

The entire weight of his legs was supported by his two small kneecaps. One could imagine how painful it was, but Ji Chuanze clenched his teeth and made no sound.

He wanted to cut the puppet threads on his body with his blade, but his hands and arms were controlled by the puppet threads, unable to move. It was already a struggle just to hold the blade.

Just as Ji Chuanze's body was about to be laid flat, Yuan Lan manipulated the puppet thread passing through his knees and yanked it forcefully. Ji Chuanze's kneecaps were severed along with the pained roar from his throat. This pain was no different from the ancient punishment of patella removal!

His body suddenly fell as the pulling force from his knees vanished, only to be yanked back up by the puppet threads through his arms, nearly tearing his arm muscles completely. This made him want to roar in pain again, but he bit his teeth with great fortitude and held back all subsequent sounds.

Ji Chuanze's body was already covered in numerous scars. Now, the reopened wounds bled continuously, and the wounds on his knees were so deep that bone was almost visible.

Xiao 6 couldn't watch anymore and hugged the code, screaming, "Ahhhh, save Ji Chuanze, he's going to be done for!"

Bai Xuechao's fingers moved slightly, his blood-red eyes looking towards Ji Chuanze.

He found that Ji Chuanze was also looking at him.

But because he couldn't see clearly, Ji Chuanze's eyes were unfocused, the originally gray-crystal-like eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of dusty color. Did he know that he was making eye contact with Bai Xuechao right now?

He was clearly in extreme pain. His right hand gripping the Tang Hengdao was so tight that his fingers turned white and trembled slightly.

Bai Xuechao's physical state at this moment allowed him to act only once, so he had to be cautious and not use his special ability casually. He had to use it at the most critical moment.

He looked at Ji Chuanze and calmly judged in his heart. Although Ji Chuanze's injuries looked tragic, it wasn't as if he hadn't been injured more severely on missions before. As long as Ji Chuanze was still breathing, even if he couldn't return to the organization in time from A Port, Jiang Yunyi had the ability to find a healing-type special ability user to cure him.

"Now is not the time," Bai Xuechao replied to Xiao 6.

While torturing Ji Chuanze, Yuan Lan didn't spare the protagonist group either. The four of them received many more wounds of various sizes, none fatal, but blood was flowing from them.

He seemed to have had enough fun and showed a look of waning interest. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned his head and asked Bai Xuechao, "Do you like watching duets?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Xia Xiaoxi let out a pained scream.

Puppet threads had pierced Xia Xiaoxi's elbows and wrists and were wrapped around her legs!

Xia Xiaoxi was wearing the SAIDB uniform, which included a black pleated miniskirt that reached mid-thigh. The puppet threads wrapped around her legs, cutting deep into her skin, and blood slowly seeped out from the marks.

"Xia Xiaoxi!" Zhou Chenhao shouted and was about to rush forward when he was caught by a puppet thread and thrown against the wall.

Immediately after, Ling Feng was thrown next to him by another puppet thread, crashing into the wall with him.

After they landed, they were tightly bound by puppet threads, unable to move, and could only watch helplessly as Xia Xiaoxi was suspended by the puppet threads.

Xiao 6's tears instantly streamed out: "The protagonist group, ahhh! They're not going to die here, are they?! Is it still not time? Save them quickly! The plot is going to collapse!"

Bai Xuechao looked at Xia Xiaoxi's slightly drooping puppy-dog eyes. Those green pupils were now filled with pain.

He remembered another pair of slightly drooping puppy-dog eyes, and his pupils couldn't help but dilate, his breathing quickening for a moment before he suppressed it.

"Eh?" Yuan Lan seemed to have noticed Bai Xuechao's fleeting emotion just now. He moved closer and asked, "Do you care about this girl?"

Bai Xuechao calmly said, "No."

"Okay then." Yuan Lan didn't press the matter either. He trusted his own judgment and opened his arms with a smile, pointing to one person each, "Next up, this lovely young lady and this blind gentleman will perform a waltz for everyone~"

The puppet threads writhed in Ji Chuanze's palm. His fingers went limp, and the Tang Hengdao fell to the ground with a metallic clang.

He and Xia Xiaoxi were suspended by the puppet threads, forced into a waltz position.

They faced each other, one hand clasped. Ji Chuanze's other blood-covered hand was controlled by the puppet thread passing through his arm, wrapped around Xia Xiaoxi's slender waist. Xia Xiaoxi's other hand was pulled by the puppet threads at her wrist and elbow, forcing her arm up to rest on Ji Chuanze's blood-soaked shoulder.

As if due to pain, Xia Xiaoxi's fingertips twitched twice.

Ji Chuanze still clenched his teeth tightly, so hard that his cheeks bulged slightly.

Manipulated by the puppet threads, they were forced to turn in circles, stiffly dancing the waltz.

"Tsk, it's so ugly." Yuan Lan was not satisfied with their dance moves and added a few more puppet threads to them, planning for more precise control.

The puppet threads shuttled between their muscles and joints. Xia Xiaoxi was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face. The cold sweat on Ji Chuanze's face mixed with the half-dried blood and dripped down.

Bai Xuechao felt a throb in his temple as he watched.

He couldn't wait for Yuan Lan to implant the puppet threads into Zhou Chenhao. Who knew what other heinous things this pervert would do before he did what he had predicted.

He had to guide him a little.

He didn't want to do this before because Yuan Lan seemed to be too much at ease, not needing to compromise, and he wasn't sure if it would work.

Now he could only try.

Yuan Lan continued to use the puppet threads to pull Xia Xiaoxi and Ji Chuanze into a waltz.

After adding a few more puppet threads, the two's dance movements became noticeably smoother. The dense web of puppet threads on their bodies glowed faintly white under the lights.

Yuan Lan was finally satisfied. He smiled and turned his head to Bai Xuechao, "Little Xuechao, look—"

The smile on his face faded slightly because Bai Xuechao's body was clearly trembling, looking as if he was about to collapse.

"Are you not going to make it?" Yuan Lan asked. Seeing no reaction from Bai Xuechao, he temporarily stopped controlling the two and gently poked Bai Xuechao's shoulder.

His poke seemed to have drained all of Bai Xuechao's strength.

Bai Xuechao actually followed his extremely light force and went limp, falling backward, only to be caught in his arms as he reacted in time.

"You don't seem to be doing well." Yuan Lan's hand pinched Bai Xuechao's chin and shook it left and right. Seeing that Bai Xuechao's gaze was somewhat unfocused, he showed a slightly troubled expression, "Your body is even worse than I thought. There's no other way, let's just get this over with quickly. It just so happens I've had enough fun too."

...It actually worked.

Bai Xuechao thought, it seemed his status as a "new toy" was somewhat important. He didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

The puppet threads dragged Zhou Chenhao in front of Yuan Lan.

"Ah, is it happening again." Zhou Chenhao seemed to know what was about to happen.

The last time the puppet threads almost entered his body, Bai Xuechao had saved him. Zhou Chenhao glanced at the almost unconscious Bai Xuechao, thinking that this time, he would have to leave it to fate.

At the same time, Bai Xuechao was also organizing information in his mind.

He had broken free from control once when the puppet threads were first implanted. Later, while being controlled, he had used his special ability twice to help Ji Chuanze, both times being stopped by Yuan Lan. There was also the time he helped Zhou Chenhao cut the puppet threads, where he had broken free from control for a moment and used his special ability.

Based on these four attempts, he could confirm that, apart from breaking free from the puppet threads' control which Yuan Lan would sense, if he used his special ability alone, Yuan Lan would only stop it after seeing it.

In other words, if he used his special ability alone without breaking free from control, Yuan Lan wouldn't feel it.

Moreover, his breaking free from control had some effect on Yuan Lan. At least his reaction speed would be a little slower, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to cut the puppet threads so smoothly.

Next, he could use time stop, combined with his water special ability to condense high-pressure water in advance, and fire it the moment time stop was released, creating the illusion for everyone that he had burst out with a high-pressure water stream instantaneously. At the same time, he would break free from control, affecting Yuan Lan's reaction.

Bai Xuechao concluded that his plan was feasible.

Over here, Yuan Lan stretched out a hand and clutched Zhou Chenhao's throat.

The puppet threads flew out from between their touching skin, turned a corner, and were about to drill into Zhou Chenhao's neck—

Now!

Bai Xuechao used time stop!

He now had 6 seconds to prepare.

Bai Xuechao condensed some water behind everyone, ensuring it was in Yuan Lan's blind spot so that Yuan Lan couldn't see it immediately after the ability was released.

It took 5 seconds to prepare. He then actively released the ability.

Time stop consumed a large amount of special ability power every second. By actively releasing it himself, he could save 1 second of power and also slightly lessen the side effects, since he used it for 5 seconds instead of 6.

The instant the ability was released, several high-pressure water streams shot out simultaneously.

Bai Xuechao also broke free from control at the same time the water streams were fired.

The puppet threads on Ji Chuanze, Xia Xiaoxi, and Ling Feng were all severed by the high-pressure water streams. The puppet thread about to drill into Zhou Chenhao's neck and the ones on his body were also cut.

Yuan Lan slowly lowered his head, looking at his chest which had been pierced from behind by the high-pressure water stream and was now bleeding. He smiled silently, as if very happy.

From the moment Bai Xuechao broke free from control, he felt dizzy and his head throbbed with pain. There was a very dry and itchy feeling in his throat, making him unable to stop coughing. As he coughed, fresh blood welled up in his throat and was coughed out by him, staining his lips and teeth red.

Coughing, and pulmonary hemorrhage, these were the side effects brought by time stop.

He could feel that the connection of his special ability with Yuan Lan hadn't completely disappeared. If he gave up struggling now, he could return to the state of being controlled and not feeling pain.

He needed to hold on for a few more seconds before he could completely break free.

But there was a danger now. He admitted that he was taking a gamble.

He was betting that while he was breaking free from control, Yuan Lan could not draw his life force to heal himself, nor could he draw the life force of other puppets.

If Yuan Lan could draw his life force, he would probably die on the spot. If, during this period, Yuan Lan could draw the life force of other puppets to heal, he could also easily kill him.

Yuan Lan was still smiling. He maintained the posture of holding Bai Xuechao with one arm.

Blood gushed from the hole in his chest, flowing onto Bai Xuechao's body, dyeing his suit jacket a patch of crimson and exuding a sweet, creamy scent.

He murmured, "This is great, really great!"

Bai Xuechao coughed so hard he was about to faint. His vision went black, and blood kept pouring out of his mouth. The bright red blood stained his lips, flowed past his pale chin, and continued down his slender neck, forming a long, vibrant red streak.

Zhou Chenhao only felt that the puppet threads on his body had disappeared in the blink of an eye. When he came to his senses, he immediately pulled Bai Xuechao out of Yuan Lan's arms.

"I'll call an ambulance!" he fumbled for his phone.

The sight of Bai Xuechao coughing and vomiting blood was too frightening. He looked even more seriously injured than the group of them who had been tormented by Yuan Lan.

9 seconds.

To completely break free from Yuan Lan's puppetry, he needed to maintain the state of breaking free for 9 seconds.

As Zhou Chenhao took out his phone with a cracked screen and prepared to make a call, the 9 seconds were up.

Bai Xuechao's gamble paid off. Yuan Lan was indeed unable to heal himself while he was breaking free.

The moment he sensed the control of the special ability disappear, Bai Xuechao forced himself to use his ability again. A sudden gush of water pushed Zhou Chenhao away, preventing Yuan Lan from attacking him first. He himself remained where he was to complete the final step of his plan.

He thought, that pervert Yuan Lan must be very excited right now.

Xiao 6 was not as calm as Bai Xuechao and was screaming in fear: "Help, Host, your heart rate has soared to 146! I'm getting alarms here!"

"I won't die," Bai Xuechao replied weakly.

Xiao 6 could only whimper and believe in its host.

The hole in Yuan Lan's chest healed, and the first thing he did was grab Bai Xuechao.

Bai Xuechao's eyes were half-closed weakly, his snow-white, thick eyelashes lowered, vaguely revealing the pigeon's blood ruby-like pupils beneath them. He was still coughing, his head was splitting, he was drowsy, and his throat was dry and itchy, unable to speak.

Fortunately, the human lungs have no pain receptors, otherwise, he would have to endure the pain of a lung injury as well.

Yuan Lan's golden eyes, like sunlight, were wide open, his pupils dilated with extreme excitement. The corners of his smiling mouth were raised high, and his voice trembled: "I like you so much, you're the first person to break free from my special ability!"

Bai Xuechao felt that if Yuan Lan got any more excited, he really wouldn't make it.

It seemed he had to be the one to carry on with the plan.

Bai Xuechao gathered his last bit of strength to condense a ball of water beside him. The ball of water grew larger and larger, churning, but Yuan Lan completely ignored it.

"Bai Xuechao—!" Ji Chuanze heard the sound of water and seemed to understand something. Because his kneecaps were broken, he could only lie on the ground and roar, "I don't need you to save me!"

As soon as his voice fell, the ball of water suddenly erupted, forming a column of water.

In the previous battle, three of the four walls of the room had been broken, and one of the walls facing the street had a large hole in it.

The column of water washed both Bai Xuechao and Yuan Lan out of that large hole. It looked very much like Bai Xuechao was sacrificing himself to save everyone, leading Yuan Lan away alone.

They fell from the top floor of the Dream Game City.

Yuan Lan held onto Bai Xuechao and used his puppet threads to catch himself.

Perhaps the cold water had woken him up. He finally broke free from his state of extreme excitement, glanced at the completely unconscious Bai Xuechao, and without hesitation, directly held him with one arm and leaped between the buildings, moving at high speed.

By the time the four members of the protagonist group staggered to the large hole and looked out, there was not even a single figure to be seen in the night view illuminated by the streetlights.

Ling Feng said gravely, "Bai Xuechao must have been taken away by Yuan Lan."

He heard a curse from behind him.

Turning around, he saw Ji Chuanze's blood-stained face filled with hostility as he slammed his fist on the ground.

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