C17 Evil

"Brother Ming, who is that? The food's going to get cold if you don't eat soon."

Xiaowu noticed that Ming hadn't moved since he stood at the doorway, her curiosity piqued about who could be outside.

"Go ahead and eat. I need to have a word with this friend," Ming said to Xiaowu as he stepped outside, gently closing the door behind him.

"Looking for a fight?"

Ming Shuang sensed the murderous aura radiating from Ming and went on high alert. The man before her was clearly not as straightforward as he appeared; he had undoubtedly taken lives before.

Ming couldn't understand why he suddenly felt such a strong urge to kill. He fought to suppress the violent thoughts and said, "Come back in two days, and I'll tell you everything I know. But for now, please leave. It wouldn't be good for either of us to start a fight in broad daylight."

"Fine."

Ming Shuang decisively turned and left without further ado. She had come to probe Ming on a personal mission and, as expected, he seemed deeply entangled with the human experiments.

Satisfied with the outcome, Ming Shuang saw no point in pressing Ming further, knowing it would only be a waste of breath.

She didn't trust a word Ming said. Had she not been acting outside of her role as an Origin Guardian, she might have already taken him into custody.

Clever woman! Ming watched Ming Shuang walk away, his eyes narrowing. As a veteran who had navigated society for years, he was well aware that her visit was merely a reconnaissance.

But even though it was a probe, Ming had to play along. Ming Shuang had come too prepared, and feigning ignorance was futile. He was certain that once she reported back, the Watchtower would swiftly move to apprehend him.

Ming was in a bind. He could have used Dream Fulfilled to detain Ming Shuang, but the risk was too great. Without any powerful allies, antagonizing the Watchtower was unwise.

"System, why did I feel so irritable just now?"

Ming recognized that something was off. He wasn't normally prone to such aggression, so why the sudden bloodlust? Moreover, since his return from the derelict area, he felt increasingly on edge.

The ability to make dreams a reality was not governed by the world's rules, and using it came with a high probability of side effects. The system was unable to detect what these side effects might be, so it warned the host to proceed with caution.

The system's impersonal alert tone rang out, weighing heavily on Zhou Ming's heart.

There's no such thing as a free lunch, as the saying goes, and it was proving to be true. Zhou Ming had access to the astonishing power of Dream Fulfilled, but it was clear that there would be a cost.

He had sensed something was off back at the processing plant. It had been his first kill, yet he felt no emotional response, which was definitely not normal. Coupled with the sudden surge of murderous intent in his heart, Zhou Ming had an inkling that his nature might be getting eroded by the violence.

"Brother Ming, what's wrong?" Lin Xiaowu asked, noticing Zhou Ming's distant look. She approached him, shaking her chopsticks.

"Oh, nothing," Zhou Ming replied, snapping out of his reverie. "Xiaowu, I might have to step out for a bit. Could you stay home, please?"

"Sure."

Xiaowu didn't inquire about Zhou Ming's plans and promptly returned to her seat. To her, nothing trumped the importance of a meal.

Zhou Ming pulled out an expense card and handed it to Xiaowu. "If I'm not back tonight, you'll need to buy your own food, okay?"

"When will you come back?"

"It might take a few days. But if all goes well, I could be back tonight."

Gently patting Xiaowu's head, a subtle shade of sadness flickered in Zhou Ming's eyes.

"Alright, I'll wait for Brother Ming to return. You better not lie, let's pinky promise."

Xiaowu extended her pinky with a cheerful grin.

"Still pinky promising at your age?" Zhou Ming chuckled, extending his own pinky to link with hers.

Zhou Ming didn't want Xiaowu caught in the crossfire. He needed to draw as much attention from the Watchtower as possible. The arrival of Ming Shuang was a stark reminder that the ordeal was far from over.

Half an hour later, leaning on the corridor railing, Zhou Ming spotted several Origin Guardians from the Watchtower disembarking from an armored vehicle.

"Remember to stay at home," Zhou Ming instructed Lin Xiaowu.

"Okay, I'll wait for Ming to come back and cook for me," Xiaowu replied, having noticed the Watchtower personnel. She understood that Zhou Ming had his own agenda, and all she could do was wait for him at home.

Zhou Ming leaped down from the second floor and approached the Origin Guardians with an easygoing stride. "Gentlemen, how have you been?"

"Are you Zhou Ming?" A tall man stepped forward, looking puzzled. This was Guan Shikun, who had recently replaced Ming Shuang. He was confused after receiving her message; the records indicated that Zhou Ming was nothing more than a layabout. How could such a person be implicated in human experiments?

Since Guan Shikun hadn't thoroughly investigated Zhou Ming, his impression was based on scant information.

Guan Shikun touched the badge on his black uniform and said, "You're aware of why we're here. Please come with us."

"Sure," Zhou Ming yawned, sauntering into the car.

The Origin Guardians exchanged glances, uncertain if they were there to apprehend or escort him. They had never encountered such a compliant suspect.

"Hey there, gorgeous Ming Shuang!" Zhou Ming exclaimed upon spotting Ming Shuang in the car. He sat down beside her and grinned, "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Ming Shuang detected the sarcasm in Zhou Ming's tone. She produced a pair of dark golden handcuffs and secured his wrists.

Guan Shikun shook his head in disbelief. Ming Shuang was becoming increasingly impulsive, making a big deal out of apprehending someone so insignificant. It was laughable!

Noticing Guan Shikun's gaze lingering on Ming Shuang, Zhou Ming felt a mischievous urge. He whistled at Guan Shikun, "Hey, bro, taken with the beautiful Ming Shuang, are you?"

Guan Shikun jumped, quickly averting his eyes.

"Shut up!" Ming Shuang's brow furrowed. Women are particularly attuned to the way men look at them, and she was well aware of Guan Shikun's attention. She had simply chosen not to address it. But with Zhou Ming's blunt comment, the mood in the car turned awkward.

The Origin Guardians accompanying Zhou Ming were inwardly breaking out in a cold sweat! Zhou Ming was utterly tactless. Guan Shikun was notorious for holding grudges. To be marked by him meant inevitable hardship.

Main Mission: Evade the Watchtower's pursuit. Mission Difficulty: High. Mission Reward: 500 Dream Value. Failure occurs if the host dies.

The system kindly reminded that the main mission was mandatory and could not be failed.

Zhou Ming felt a heavy sense of foreboding. He might have made a grave mistake. His initial plan involved a trip to the Watchtower to share a mix of truth and fiction about the human experiment, which he believed would spare him any trouble. Should they inquire about his abilities, he was ready with a slew of excuses to deflect their questions.

He had his story all lined up, but the system ruthlessly launched the mission at that very moment. It dawned on him that he had oversimplified the situation. Showing up at the Watchtower without a clear purpose could very well lead to his undoing.