Mutated Tao

Orange Isle was deserted at night, but that didn’t mean it was crowded during the day. It was empty all day long. The sunlight only made the paint on the half-built buildings look brighter, highlighting the work of unvirtuous real-estate developers.

Li Huowang saw that Wu Qi’s RV and Qing Wanglai’s sports car were already there. He was late.

He brought Yang Na up the half-built building’s concrete stairs to their meeting place. Everyone was discussing something.

“We need to do something, but you keep telling us that we can’t do this or that. We can’t just sit around!” Chen Hongyu’s voice echoed around the place.

Qing Wanglai nodded at Li Huowang and Yang Na. “Of course we can’t just sit around and do nothing. We need to act first and seize the initiative. Zhao Lei has confessed, and we now know where their temporary base is. We need to attack them before they relocate.”

“Really?” Li Huowang perked up. He would finally have the chance to retaliate after having been passive for a long time.

“How many guns can you get for us?” Li Huowang asked Qing Wanglai impatiently.

“Not a single one. It’s not like we can buy illegal firearms here.”

“Tsk.” Li Huowang took out all the tasers he had. “We can’t win with just these. We need some bladed weapons, or maybe a crossbow or two.”

Qing Wanglai sighed. “Li Huowang, we live in a society. We can’t brandish our knives or wave our guns around just because we’re facing a slight difficulty.”

“You want to subject them to the law? You think that’s possible? We already killed once. Do you really think the law would apply here?”

“I’m ready!” Qian Fu excitedly pulled a plastic tarp off the corner of the wall, revealing several rebars that had been ground until they were sharp.

It was clear that Qian Fu had taken them from this building after seeing the concrete on the rebars.

“Wait a minute!” Chen Hongyu stopped them. “Do you think we can solve this problem if we go and kill all of them? They’re an organization that wants to rob our special powers. The people we are attacking will just be their pawns. There’s a chance that the organization's higher-ups are giving instructions through a satellite phone.”

Everyone was shocked to hear that.

Li Huowang said, “Since we finally have the initiative, we should make the first move. We need to strike them first to gain as much advantage as possible before settling it once and for all.”

“I agree with Chen Hongyu,” Qing Wanglai said. “No matter their projection, we cannot just look at the surface. It’s not as easy as we think. We also have to look into their interior. Still, if we manage to deal with it at the root, we can naturally escape this danger together.”

Li Huowang looked at Chen Hongyu and then at Qing Wanglai. “Then what do you want us to do if we don’t fight? You think they would surrender if we pleaded with them?”

Qing Wanglai took a test tube from his pocket. The test tube was sealed, and the liquid sloshed inside.

“Evaporates easily, odorless and tasteless. It will render a person unconscious and relax all of their muscles. It will also cause temporary memory loss.”

Li Huowang’s eyes widened when he heard the effects of the drug. “You really have something like that? Where did you get it?”

It was much stronger than a taser.

“Through a legal channel,” Qing Wanglai said as he placed the test tube back into his pocket. “It’s best if we don’t have to fight. We can try to negotiate with them. This way, both of us can reap some benefits. Even if our negotiations fail, we will still get to know what their goals are. It will help us solve the mystery of their projection.

“Alright. Let’s not waste any time. We should go now.”

Li Huowang, however, held onto his tasers and rebars. He needed to make sure that he had some weapons in case Qing Wanglai’s drug failed.

All of them walked down as they carried the things together.

While they were heading down, Li Huowang asked Qing Wanglai, “Since Zhao Lei confessed, will you send him out of this country?”

“No,” Qing Wanglai shook his head. “Since Zhao Lei betrayed them, he will die if he gets out. It doesn’t matter if he’s willing—he will return to us even if I let him go. He has no choice but to stand with us.”

“How can you be so sure? Do you know him that well?”

“Not really, but he used to stand by our side.”

As they chatted, Qian Fu quickly passed by them, keeping his head low.

They turned around the corner, and Li Huowang caught a glimpse of Qian Fu’s eyes. His eyes were filled with dread.

“Qian Fu, wait. I have something to ask you.” Li Huowang sensed something was wrong. He slowly reached his hands into his shirt to take the taser.

Qian Fu ran faster.

“Quick! Chase after him! His personality changed again!” Li Huowang immediately ran after Qian Fu.

Li Huowang got closer and closer to Qian Fu, who was ultimately forced into a corner of the building. Qian Fu grabbed one of the sharpened rebars and started stabbing at everyone.

Li Huowang and the others retreated slightly as they blocked the surrounding exits.

“What are you crazy bastards trying to do? You guys are crazy! Why are you dragging me into your mess? I’ve already suffered enough! What do I need to do for you to let me go? Go away! I want to go back to the hospital! I want to get my treatment!”

“Qian Fu, don’t be rash. Look at me,” Qing Wanglai said as he slowly approached him. “Do you remember who I am? We’ve met before.”

“Who are you? You guys are a bunch of psychos, and you, Qing Wanglai, are the craziest of them all! Stop trying to fool me! I know you were the one who killed the two nurses! You are framing others for your crime too!”

Qing Wanglai frowned and whispered to Li Huowang, “This is tricky. Qian Fu’s condition is too unstable.”

“Is that so?” Li Huowang glanced at Qing Wanglai but said nothing.

“I’ll say it again! You guys are the crazy ones! Stop trying to drag me into your mess! Go away!”

“Alright, we will move. Don’t get too agitated.” Qing Wanglai gestured for the others to move away from the staircase leading downwards.

Qian Fu was about to run when a shiny object fell and shattered in front of him. He froze, then realized it was the test tube with the chemical.

He attempted to escape, but his consciousness was quickly fading. His limbs went limp and he collapsed to the ground.