The shrill sound of sirens passed by; they must be the Hunter reinforcement team.

However, they didn't stop, heading straight for the East Ring wall, where the highest concentration of isolated Pollutioners was found.

If the collective mutations were synchronized, that area would likely be the epicenter of the destruction.

It seemed the riot caused by the Pollutioners wouldn't be easy to suppress.

"Brother Luo..." Gu Fangyi approached, wanting to say something, but Lu Luo just patted his shoulder.

"Don't blame yourself. No one is at fault here; everyone did very well. Because whether it's intelligence, strength, or strategy, we simply aren't on the same level. The Nightmare Demon is a monster that has thrown the entire East Ring into chaos. When it's pulling the strings, no incident is ever minor. So many Soxth Tier experts couldn't solve the problem, let alone minor characters like us. We might just be an insignificant part of someone else's plan. We shouldn't take ourselves too seriously."

Lu Luo carried Bai Yuetong, helped Zhou Kai and Lu Yu to their feet, and placed the other wounded on a cart, using a Mecha to pull them back to the hospital.

Qi Xinzhu had been taken, so the Circular no longer had a Healer.

Given the current situation in the East Ring, ambulances couldn't get through, so Lu Luo had to take them to the hospital himself.

"Let's go. We'll talk more when we get back."

...

Back at the hospital, Gu Fangyi applied medication and wrapped bandages while recounting his battle with Qin Wanyu to Lu Luo. He detailed everything from the hospital to the streets, from his and Qi Xinzhu's joint efforts to the final group fight. Gu Fangyi's account was very detailed, and Lu Luo listened intently.

"Fifth Tier... Black Domain Witch?"

"Yes. She's Fifth Tier now and truly possesses that level of power. If she were Fourth Tier, Qi Xinzhu and I could have handled her, maybe even killed her. But against Qin Wanyu, we stood no chance. Our one opportunity to kill her, she dodged it."

Lu Luo nodded. The name Qin Wanyu left a strong impression on him.

Were these the memories of the body's original owner? Childhood sweethearts, perhaps?

Even after he'd transmigrated, he'd had some interactions with Qin Wanyu. She was beautiful, articulate, and had never hidden her affection for Lu Luo, right from the start.

But the current Lu Luo was no longer the person he once was. Regardless of Qin Wanyu's intentions, her actions were unacceptable to him.

"I understand. Her abilities are indeed very tricky. If I'd been there, things might have been different. Brother Gu, what are you doing?"

Lu Luo asked, puzzled, as Gu Fangyi got to his feet, but Gu Fangyi just shook his head.

"Brother Luo, my injuries aren't serious."

Lu Luo nodded, not even asking where he was going. He knew Gu Fangyi could take care of himself.

Gu Fangyi was a true warrior and one of the fastest to improve. He was probably going to rejoin the fighting in the East Ring.

Lu Luo wanted to go too, but as the leader of the Circular, he couldn't be so impulsive.

"Go on."

Lu Luo stood up and walked towards Zhou Kai's room.

Lu Yu, following behind him, remained silent, seemingly recalling her earlier actions towards Qi Xinzhu. She felt responsible for those mistakes, so she trailed Lu Luo silently, not saying a word.

When Lu Luo reached Zhou Kai's hospital room, Zhou Kai lay on the bed, a twisted smile on his face—uglier than tears.

"Brother Luo, you're here!"

"Lu Yu, could you step outside for a moment?" Lu Luo said, turning to her.

"Huh? Oh, okay. I'll wait for you outside then."

Lu Yu obediently left the room, closing the door behind her and leaving Lu Luo and Zhou Kai some privacy.

SNIFFLE... SNIFFLE!

After Lu Yu left, Zhou Kai lowered his head and began to sob softly.

Seeing the usually boisterous Zhou Kai crying like this, Lu Luo could only sigh inwardly.

"Brother Kane, if I'd been there... maybe..."

Lu Luo found it hard to continue. So many of their brothers had died; words were meaningless now.

Zhou Kai took a deep breath, steadying himself.

"It's no use, Brother Luo. This world... the strong rule, and the weak are just lambs for the slaughter. Our brothers chose to follow you. They were mentally prepared to face the harsh reality of this world. The so-called abyss... once you truly descend, it's just the start of a boundless path. No one wants to stay a nobody in the Fourth Ring forever. They were willing to die not because they were born brave, but because they chose to be fearless."

Brother Kane's Dark Energy Level is increasing, and his arm might be mutating.

Lu Luo knew emotions were the most potent catalyst for mutation. It had been true for Wu En, and for Zhuang Yanshan too.

Now, Brother Kane's arm had become plant-like, tendrils spreading like uncontrolled vines across the room. He lacked the regulatory mechanisms of a Fusioner or a Devourer, and Lu Luo genuinely feared he might undergo a severe mutation. His eyes turned pure white, like someone with leukoma—a precursor to complete mutation.

Seeing Zhou Kai's state, Lu Luo frowned and grabbed his vine-like arm.

"Brother Kane, steady yourself!"

Zhou Kai glared at Lu Luo with his white eyes.

"Steady myself? How can I..." He broke off. "Wait, Brother Luo, you?"

Zhou Kai felt something strange flowing from Lu Luo's palm into his own.

Sequence D-189-Seed. Effect: Create a seed that belongs to you.

The seed Lu Luo created needed nourishment to grow; typically, it would need to be planted for proper cultivation. The only exception was Zhou Kai. His plant-based physiology allowed him to nourish the seed, taking the place of soil or a cultivation chamber. Besides Lu Luo's potent toxins, the seed also carried a very balanced Life Energy.

Once the seed entered Zhou Kai's plant-like arm, this balanced energy quickly stabilized his emotions. The vines began to retract into Zhou Kai's palm, and his eyes gradually returned to normal.

Zhou Kai scratched his head, embarrassed, apparently realizing he hadn't been himself.

"Brother Luo, just now, I...?"

"You were mutating."

"Damn it! I always thought of myself as human. Now it's over. I've really become an Exotic Species."

Zhou Kai looked troubled, but Lu Luo seemed unfazed.

"As long as you still feel human, you are. You don't need anyone else's approval."

That's because you realized long ago you weren't entirely human yourself; you were just too stubborn to admit it. That's why you can say that. Brother Kane will need time to adjust to his mutation.

Hearing Lu Luo's words, Zhou Kai nodded slightly.

Brother Luo is always right. And if, one day, he's wrong, I'll just pretend I didn't hear him.

Zhou Kai lifted his hand, carefully examining the green seed nestled in his plant-like palm.

"This thing... it looks like a seed? Why do I get the feeling it's poisonous?"

Lu Luo nodded.

"It is. It carries my Exotic Species' potent toxins—Fire Poison, snake venom. This seed will absorb nutrients from your body to grow, and in turn, it can grant you toxic abilities. It will also absorb the unstable Dark Energy in your body. So, from now on, like me, you can walk in the rain without worry."

Hearing this, Zhou Kai burst out laughing.

"Something this awesome, why didn't you give it to me sooner?"

Lu Luo shook his head.

"Did you think it came without side effects? This is my seed, after all. Its power is essentially an extension of me. Brother Kane, I had originally hoped you could develop on your own."

This was what Lu Luo truly believed. He wanted his companions to grow independently. He wasn't some transcendent being. He didn't want a day to come when people looked at him with only awe in their eyes, devoid of any other emotion.

However, hearing Lu Luo's words, Zhou Kai seemed to take it in stride.

"Is that all? Brother Luo, you're overthinking it. If I could really latch onto a sugar mommy, I'd have stopped struggling ages ago. Next time something this good comes up, remember me! I don't mind at all."

Brother Kane certainly knows how to live!

"Alright then. If you can accept it... this seed, aside from being planted in the ground, can only really be cultivated in you."

After some more conversation, Zhou Kai's mood stabilized considerably, but the smiles on their faces gradually faded. Because as they talked, the conversation inevitably returned to the grim reality.

"Brother Luo, we lost a lot of brothers... their families' compensation..."

"Double the standard compensation," Lu Luo stated firmly.

The smooth operation of the Circular was Zhou Kai's lifeblood. Lu Luo knew Zhou Kai must be grieving; it was an unavoidable pain.

"Thanks, Brother Luo."

"Don't thank me. It's what we should do. Even though we're all risking our lives in the Fourth Ring, I want our brothers to feel their sacrifices weren't in vain, that they have no regrets."

Zhou Kai nodded slightly.

"Brother Luo, you're actually a pretty good boss."

"Why say that all of a sudden?"

"You've shown us a clear path, you know how to make money, you understand planning, and you never recklessly interfere with the Circular's operations. A boss like that is a rarity in the Wasteland Alliance."

Hearing this, Lu Luo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He punched Zhou Kai lightly on the shoulder.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Seriously, Brother Luo. I've always believed that whoever you meet, they're meant to appear in your life. It's never by chance. They'll definitely teach you something. Just like how I met you, and how the brothers in the Circular met me. That's why I believe that no matter where I go or what happens, that's where I'm meant to be. I'm meant to experience what I'm meant to experience and meet the people I'm meant to meet."

Brother Kane has matured.

Yes, Brother Kane had matured. But he was only twenty-one.

Lu Luo patted Zhou Kai's shoulder.

"Brother Kane, you're still young. Don't be so sentimental all the time. Get some good rest. I'm going to check on Bai Yuetong."

"Go on."

...

When he reached Bai Yuetong's room, Dumb Hair was lying there quietly, as if waiting for him.

Seeing Lu Luo, Bai Yuetong lifted her head and frowned, trying to sit up.

"Don't force yourself. Your injury is very serious."

Bai Yuetong had a penetrating wound in her chest. For an ordinary person, such an injury would likely be fatal.

Seeing Lu Luo stop her, Dumb Hair didn't insist. She had little strength and couldn't have pushed past him anyway. Instead, she quietly grasped Lu Luo's finger, pinching it with all her might.

However, this amount of force was hardly painful for Lu Luo. He let Dumb Hair hold his finger, waiting for her to speak.

"Lu Luo, Qi Xinzhu was captured. I'm supposed to be happy about that, right?"

The question caught Lu Luo off guard, but he answered truthfully.

"Probably. Maybe. Yes."

"Then why can't I feel happy?"

Could it be she's developed some... indescribable feelings for Qi Xinzhu? Lu Luo – Danger!

Danger my ass, Lu Luo thought for a moment. "Probably out of frustration," he said.

"Frustration? What do I have to be frustrated about?" Bai Yuetong retorted, a little defiant.

"When you encounter a problem you can't solve, isn't that frustrating?"

Lu Luo's expression was calm, but Bai Yuetong caught the implication in his words.

"Are you frustrated too?"

"Is it that obvious?"

Lu Luo tilted his head with a mock-puzzled expression. Bai Yuetong finally smiled, and Lu Luo smiled back.

After looking at Lu Luo for a few moments, she lowered her head again.

"She was taken away... Are you sad?"

As she spoke, Bai Yuetong's grip on Lu Luo's hand tightened, but she stopped pinching, like a child who had misbehaved.

Lu Luo patted Dumb Hair's head, his expression unperturbed.

"The Nightmare Demon played matchmaker for me, even prepared the wedding and the bride. Why would I be sad? It's only a little over a month away. The time will pass quickly. When the time comes, I'll just bring Qi Xinzhu back. Though, she didn't give me any betrothal gifts, so I guess I lost out there!"

Lu Luo's expression was perfectly calm, showing no hint of sadness, which somewhat relieved Bai Yuetong.

"Do you really think of her as your wife?"

"If I don't consider her my wife, I'd have no reason to attend the wedding ceremony organized by the Nightmare Demon. We can't always choose our circumstances in this world, Miss."

Hearing Lu Luo's words, Bai Yuetong felt much better. She lowered her head again and said cautiously, "There's a set of equipment at the company that I prepared especially for you. You must need it now. I was planning to give it to you for the New Year, but given the current situation, I don't think we can wait that long."

"Thanks. Get some rest."

Bai Yuetong grabbed Lu Luo's arm.

"You have to bring her back!"

"I will."

Lu Luo patted Bai Yuetong's head and left the room.

When Lu Luo rejoined Lu Yu, he found she too was crying softly.

"Second Brother, I remembered so many things... I was the one who hurt Sister-in-law... Is it all my fault?"

Lu Luo suddenly felt helpless and exhausted. Everyone needed his comfort, but there was no one to comfort him.

Could he blame Lu Yu? No. She had been waiting to have breakfast with him when Netherflame took control of her; if anyone was to blame, it was himself for being late. Then, at the hospital, Qin Wanyu tricked Lu Yu, and she was controlled a second time. And even at the end of the battle, Qi Xinzhu was ultimately captured because he, Lu Luo, had arrived a step too late.

So, Lu Luo couldn't blame anyone but himself.

"Stop crying. All this talk of blaming yourselves... why do you all insist on feeling this way? Let me tell you, if anyone's to blame, it's me, not any of you. Besides, when a problem arises, you should be thinking about how to solve it, not who to blame. If you trace this back to its source, it's all just a game between the Nightmare Demon and me. Whether any of you made mistakes or not is irrelevant to the outcome."

"Is that really true?"

"It's true."

Lu Luo felt incredibly weary, not a physical fatigue, but a deep emotional exhaustion. He had so much on his mind but no one to confide in—a burden familiar to many responsible, middle-aged men.

After comforting Lu Yu, Lu Luo prepared to leave again.

"I need to go to the Public Security Bureau to report this. You rest well here."

"Second Brother, please be careful. I hear there are still many Exotic Species in the east."

"Don't worry. Your Second Brother is strong."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.