The metal plates behind her creaked and groaned, a sound as chilling as nails on a chalkboard. Turning back, Bai Cha saw Xiang En, transformed into a spider-man, rapidly approaching her.
Bai Cha tensed, ready for anything, but Xiang En planted his six spider legs firmly on the ground, then lowered himself, arms outstretched as if to embrace her.
Hesitantly, Bai Cha didn't refuse. Her gaze flickered behind her. The soul and the monster, who had been fiercely opposed to her moments ago, were now like a sacrificial wave, blocking the explosion as if to protect her and Xiang En.
What was going on?
The monsters were twisted beyond recognition, and Bai Cha couldn't begin to guess. All she could feel was Xiang En's embrace, his body supporting her as he expertly opened a ventilation duct in the corner that Bai Cha hadn't even noticed.
His practiced movements made Bai Cha suspect that Xiang En had escaped through here countless times before.
With that, Xiang En scooped Bai Cha up, cradling her protectively. His six spider legs supported him as he sprinted at an incredible speed, carrying Bai Cha into the ventilation duct.
"Master? Master?" Lucifer's anxious calls came from the other end. Even without direct monitoring from outside, the shockwave of the explosion had been captured.
"It's okay." Bai Cha was held quite tightly by Xiang En, the wind whistling past her ears. She managed to gather her breath to respond to Lucifer. Before she could say more, the explosion behind them intensified, a wave of heat washing over her, causing Bai Cha's body to stiffen.
Xiang En glanced at Bai Cha in his arms. Seeing the explosion about to catch up to them, he gritted his teeth and held Bai Cha even tighter. His six spider legs folded behind him, and with a deafening resonance, they were blasted a considerable distance away.
Even shielded by Xiang En, Bai Cha's vision blurred, her ears ringing from the impact.
Bai Cha had initially thought that despite their close relationship, Xiang En, now a monster, would inevitably be abandoned to the inferno. At least, Xiang En's consciousness had seemed muddled before. But Bai Cha never expected Xiang En to save her.
This meant Xiang En still had his own consciousness, and therefore Bai Cha had to help him, whether out of responsibility or bloodline.
Fortunately, the exit wasn't far, and a light was visible. Bai Cha struggled to pry open Xiang En's hands, dragging the half-dead spider-man and kicking open the iron door to pull him out.
However, the moment they emerged, they were surrounded by a group of people. The one at the forefront raised a handcuff, intending to shackle Bai Cha. But Bai Cha reacted faster, seizing his wrist and twisting it, forcing the handcuff onto his own hand.
Seeing Bai Cha's cold, mocking smile, the group dared not speak a word.
They reacted quickly, just like when she had resonated with the demon dragon before, wanting to apprehend her again.
But unfortunately, she had been prepared.
"What's going on! Why are you all gathered here!" Gong Yuechen's voice cut through the air. Behind him, a group of people moved in orderly, well-trained steps, quickly surrounding the group.
Gong Yuechen strode forward, his expression grim as he looked at the people holding stun batons, firearms, handcuffs, and various other weapons. "Are these all privately owned? Illegal possession of prohibited items. You have quite the nerve. Take them away."
"It's Bai Cha! She's been secretly conducting human experiments!" someone interjected. The person who spoke wasn't exactly composed, their voice trembling as they said, "We just discovered a small, illegal laboratory and intended to destroy it. We didn't expect Bai Cha to be inside, and she even rescued an illegal test subject from it. It must be her doing."
Bai Cha smiled.
"That's right! We only start work at five-thirty. Bai Cha must have secretly used our laboratory," another person quickly chimed in. "The most dangerous place is the safest place. Miss Bai must have been conducting illegal experiments beneath us."
Bai Cha continued to smile.
"..."
These people, in their synchronized accusations, were clearly frightened but had clearly rehearsed their lines.
However, the newly arrived soldiers from the neutral faction looked at the "script" Bai Cha had sent them en masse with strange expressions.
Before they had arrived, Bai Cha had suddenly sent them a "Bright Faction Blame-Shifting Script." They had been bewildered at first, but then realized that the words on the script were identical to what these people were saying.
This level of foresight was simply unreasonable. Who could hear this and not feel suspicious? Who could see this and not feel awkward? She had predicted their predictions, so why were they crying foul now?
The underground laboratory had been completely destroyed by explosions reaching thousands of degrees, likely leaving only ashes. It would be strange to find any evidence here. If it were anyone else, the blame would have stuck, but now, the atmosphere was incredibly awkward.
Bai Cha raised an eyebrow and tapped her belt a few times. Within two seconds, a miniature printer connected to her augmented eye, and a photo was printed, silencing everyone present.
That photo was the seal of the Bright Faction, which Bai Cha had deliberately captured from a scattered experimental log.
In fact, there were quite a few seals and markings on these experimental logs, as these experiments required internal approval. If there were no such seals, how could they ensure that other undercover agents hadn't infiltrated at some point?
Although technology was advanced, synthesizing seals was too easy for AI imitation. Therefore, paper-based random signatures and seals remained a good method for confidentiality. But who would have thought it would fail here?
What on earth? Bai Cha had only been inside for less than thirty minutes? Everything inside was a failed experimental subject that had escaped. Bai Cha had managed to accomplish so much and still had time to take photos? In such a short, urgent time, seeing something twice would have been good enough, so how could she have possibly taken a picture? Yet, Bai Cha had actually produced a photo.
The Bright Faction researchers were instantly silenced, completely unable to comprehend how Bai Cha had done it.
The photo was also stained with blood, with the same finger as Bai Cha's glove and the date clearly visible. Those people couldn't even change their story now.
"Handcuff them. Illegal possession of firearms warrants detention and sentencing," Gong Yuechen commanded with a cold face. The group immediately looked dejected. "Unauthorized illegal experimentation. Detain them pending further action!"
The group gnashed their teeth in fury, forced to swallow their pride and their blood.
If anyone else had detained them, they could have been released with a little influence. But Major General Gong was different. Not only was he upright and just, but he was also clearly aligned with the Shadow Faction. This time, they would likely face a substantial prison sentence.
The critical point was that their experiment had failed! Their investment and hopes had all gone down the drain!
"That was almost too late." Bai Cha glanced at the time and glared at Gong Yuechen. "I told you to take the back road, didn't you listen to me?"
"Uh, I didn't expect anyone to actually dare block the military's path," Gong Yuechen said, a bit embarrassed. He had to admit his respect for Bai Cha. She had actually predicted that someone would block her, and even the location was not far off.
Bai Cha had, of course, calculated it. She had already guessed that the leader of this group was someone with a mind of their own, as seen from the Sky Island incident. However, the method of their escape was slightly different from what she had anticipated.
She had initially planned to be injured by the explosion and crawl out from there, which would have allowed her to accuse the Bright Faction of harming her. But she hadn't expected to be protected by an experimental subject.
Thinking of this, Bai Cha bent down to provide first aid to Xiang En. Xiang En's six spider legs had been blown to pieces, and his heart was visible through his back, chilling Bai Cha to the bone.
Did she have to seek out Mo Yun Tian again? The healing arts of the Holy Dragon were unparalleled. Uriel and Michael could barely treat this injury, but Mo Yun Tian would hardly help her against his own faction without reason.
Last time she saved Freya, Bai Cha had agreed to spare the others in the Bright Faction. Would she have to pay the same price this time?
Bai Cha hesitated for a moment before proceeding with first aid, rapidly weighing the pros and cons in her mind.
"Handcuff them all?" Gong Yuechen was in the process of handcuffing everyone when he suddenly spotted a figure and looked at Bai Cha hesitantly.
Hearing him, Bai Cha looked up, glancing at a golden figure in the crowd and irritably tapping her ear.
"Handcuff them all. If you still support me, I'll skin them alive," Bai Cha snorted coldly. "This is not the first time. How many times has it been? This time, at least one of the Bright Faction's wings must be clipped."
"You can't, Xiao Bai!"
This voice was all too familiar. If Mo Ziye had truly remained among the crowd pretending to be mute, Bai Cha would have turned a blind eye. But Mo Ziye was impatient and tactless. Just as Bai Cha was feeling annoyed, he jumped out again.
"Who asked you to come back?" Bai Cha interrupted Mo Ziye, her expression grim.
It was Mo Ziye again. Every major mission, he was the one causing trouble. Did this little boy really like her, or did he just like to add to her problems? He claimed to like her, yet every time she had something to worry about, he was there to "help."
"No, no, it's not like that. An experiment requires my iris to be activated, so I had to come back," Mo Ziye explained flusteredly, then quickly added, "Xiao Bai, you're not letting personal feelings dictate your suppression of other factions, are you? How have you become like this?"
An experiment requires activation?
This was likely just an excuse to call Mo Ziye. That person had counted on her good relationship with Mo Ziye. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Here they come again, the enemies she couldn't see.
Bai Cha could feel "his" presence. Her keen sixth sense sometimes alerted her to being trapped in a loop, but most of the time, Bai Cha could counterattack immediately.
The two had engaged in silent battles several times. However, Bai Cha was in the open, and he was in the shadows. Each time, Bai Cha confirmed this person's existence.
She first suspected it during the incident where Ye Feng was victimized. It was a premeditated act, and by using Mo Yun Tian to make Bai Cha promise leniency towards the Bright Faction, they had been given a chance to breathe.
That time, Bai Cha did show leniency, but she destroyed most of the Bright Faction's data and infrastructure. Their post-war reconstruction took a long time, significantly delaying the Bright Faction's plans and development.
"He" successfully killed the pillar of the Bai family, while Bai Cha also successfully created a window for her own side to recover and turn the tide.
Back at Sky Island, when Cang Liu and Yun He were captured one after another, given the ending of "East, West, North, South," if Bai Cha had been a step slower, these two would likely have been used as experimental subjects. The Shadow Faction's physique was much higher than that of ordinary people, and their minds were exceptionally resilient, making them excellent material for human experimentation.
For example, Bai Ze. Even after his death, people dug up his grave, coveting his corpse.
"He" used Bai Ze to disrupt Bai Cha's mind, intending to rescue the person from the Tu family. Unfortunately, Bai Cha reacted quickly and thwarted the plan again. Later, the Tu family brothers were dealt with discreetly by Bai Cha, but it was a pity that no more useful information could be obtained.
This time, Bai Cha's sharp sixth sense issued another warning, making it impossible for Bai Cha to believe that "he" was not involved.
"Who asked you to come back?" Bai Cha could barely suppress her frustration. She felt that if she didn't interrupt Mo Ziye, with his usual behavior, he would immediately make her even more annoyed.
"Xiao Bai, what did you mean by clipping the Bright Faction's wings just now? Are you suppressing them out of personal vendetta? How have you changed?" Mo Ziye ignored Bai Cha's words, his expression agitated. "This incident might not be their fault. How could they do anything illegal? There must be some misunderstanding; they're not like that!
They are all people who have contributed to science. You can't clip them because of this one incident! The Shadow Faction has done so many shady things in private, yet they are still fine!"