Chapter 181 - 180: New Home

Chapter 181: Chapter 180: New Home

After several hours on the road, Feng Ling finally returned to Qingjiang City.

By the time she arrived at her new home, the Qingjiang Financial Center Building, it was already midnight.

The entire city was pitch-black. The only light came from the powerful, large-scale searchlights surrounding the building, which illuminated the high-rise and its vicinity as if it were broad daylight.

The other Su Yuqing, the one with white hair, was standing in front of the blue sheet-metal fence, waiting for them.

Bao Changzhi was there too, standing beside Su Yuqing.

Feng Ling got out of the truck, greeted the two of them, and then pulled the rear doors open wider to make it easier for Ye Zheng to get out.

As she disembarked, a portion of her mutated, slender legs peeked out from beneath the blanket.

Su Yuqing’s facial muscles tensed for a moment.

He struggled to control his emotions, impassively leading everyone through the construction site’s sheet-metal gate.

As she walked, Feng Ling tilted her head back to look up at the building.

The high-rise, over six hundred meters tall, stood like a giant in the heart of the city. Its pointed spire at the very top resembled a sharp sword thrusting straight into the sky.

This was to be her new home.

Beyond the construction site’s sheet-metal gate was an open expanse of concrete.

Building materials were stacked neatly along the fence. The landscaped strips on either side were already taking shape, planted with unidentified shrubs, and a very large, circular fountain sat in the absolute center.

Further ahead was the brightly lit sales office.

To match the prestige of the nation’s tallest building and to attract investors, the developers had originally decorated the sales office like a high-end art gallery.

Its design featured minimalist geometric shapes and massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Upon entering, the eye was drawn to a light fixture with a fluid, aerodynamic aesthetic. It formed a spiral vortex high above the atrium-style lobby, its reflection in the mirrored ceiling creating the illusion of infinite space.

The lighting design within the lobby was also exquisite. It was warm, clear, and bright, with not a single dark corner nor any harsh glare.

The second floor, once a space for negotiating purchase contracts, had been partitioned by Su Yuqing into seven or eight separate, fully furnished bedrooms. It would basically suffice for Feng Ling’s housing needs.

The air carried the unpleasant, lingering smell of recent renovations.

But Feng Ling had to admit, Su Yuqing had been incredibly efficient to get the sales office set up like this in just a few days.

Feng Ling didn’t inspect the living quarters too closely. After a quick tour of the second floor, she hurried back downstairs and led Ye Zheng into the infamous, unfinished high-rise itself.

"You’ll stay here for now," Feng Ling said to Ye Zheng. "I’ll have Cat Spider and Cat Owl keep an eye on you. If your condition worsens, they’ll notify me at once. Let us know if you need anything, and we’ll get it for you."

Ye Zheng slowly shook her head.

Beside them, Su Yuqing looked like he wanted to say something but held back, his expression grim.

’There’s no water or electricity here, no air conditioning or heating, not even a bed! How could anyone live here? There’s nothing but concrete and steel rebar.’

’There are more than enough rooms in the sales office. Why is Feng Ling making Ye Zheng stay in the main tower?’

He couldn’t bear to see Ye Zheng suffer the slightest hardship, but he held his tongue. It wasn’t the right time to speak. Ye Zheng refused to acknowledge him, and exposing her identity now would be no help at all—it would only wound her pride.

In the next moment, Su Yuqing understood Feng Ling’s reasoning.

Ye Zheng let the blanket fall from her shoulders—

Two moth wings, covered in dense down, unfurled. The slender legs of her lower body were mottled with blood. She shuffled forward a few steps, then beat her wings, using the brief moment of lift to scale a concrete wall, where she hung motionlessly.

Like a giant moth.

Genetic pollution had changed Ye Zheng’s body, and her habits with it.

The typical human postures of sitting, reclining, and lying down were no longer suitable for her.

Or perhaps... she was no longer human.

As Su Yuqing watched, it felt as if his heart stopped for a beat. The world swam before his eyes.

He subconsciously grabbed onto a nearby concrete pillar for support, feeling as if all the strength had been drained from his body.

’I thought I was prepared for this... but seeing her with my own eyes... I can’t take it!’

’This has to be a joke, right?’

’She must have made a mistake.’

’There are all sorts of Pollution Bodies in the Maze. Maybe Feng Ling got the wrong person. Maybe she... it... isn’t Ye Zheng...’

His vision blurred as his glasses were suddenly clouded by tears.

Su Yuqing took off his glasses to wipe them, but his fingers wouldn’t stop trembling. Not wanting anyone to see him in such a wretched state, he turned and rushed out of the building. His lungs burned as if starved of oxygen, and he was forced to gasp for air...

Then, he heard Feng Ling’s voice from inside the building, speaking to Bao Changzhi. "Let her rest tonight. Tomorrow, I need to ask her some questions. It might make her emotionally unstable, so I’ll need you to be there to calm her down."

"Got it." Baozi nodded. "Deputy Pei gave me a general rundown of the situation before I came. I’m prepared."

"How is she emotionally right now?" Feng Ling asked Baozi, her gaze flicking sideways toward Su Yuqing outside.

"...Not great. But I can sense that she’s trying hard to suppress it herself." Baozi couldn’t help asking, "Ms. Ling, what’s the story with this Pollution Body?"

Feng Ling answered casually, "A Hunter I met during a cleanup operation. Best not to ask for a name. It would have a bad fallout if it got out."

"That’s true. If her old family and friends found out, they’d be heartbroken." Baozi sighed. "It’s torture for those left behind..."

Su Yuqing walked away slowly, his retreating figure a picture of desolation.

Feng Ling silently retracted her gaze and continued speaking to Baozi. "I’ll be relying on you for the next few days. If the mental strain gets to be too much, tell me ahead of time. Don’t overdo it."

Baozi nodded again and again, thinking to himself, ’Ms. Ling is so nice. She’s one of those "cold on the outside, warm on the inside" types.’

Feng Ling stretched her arms and said to the group, "Go get some rest. Take your pick of the rooms on the second floor."

’Finally, I can get a peaceful night’s sleep.’

’I’m not spending the night in the Maze, so I probably won’t have all those bizarre dreams.’

She turned and headed out. Huangfu Miaomiao, Li Qing, and Baozi followed her back to the sales office.

In the vast, empty lobby of the main building, Ye Zheng clung to the rough concrete wall, quietly listening to the sounds from outside.

She heard the low rumble of an engine starting.

Then the sound gradually faded... farther and farther away...

Su Yuqing had left.

She closed her eyes, pressing her forehead gently against the cold concrete. ’It would be better to just be insane...’

’At least when you’re insane, you don’t feel pain.’

......

...

「The next day. Overcast.」

The muggy, oppressive air hinted at a coming downpour.

Feng Ling and Huangfu Miaomiao came to the main building to see Ye Zheng, bringing a few bags of Little Jelly with them.

Confused, Ye Zheng asked Feng Ling, "What is this?"

"Your meal," Feng Ling said with a smile. "You used up a lot of energy fighting me yesterday. You must be hungry by now, right? I don’t have any fresh flesh and blood for you, so you’ll have to eat this. It will fill you up and help you regain your strength."

Ye Zheng saw the familiar smiling face on the package and frowned. "This is from the Alien Species."