Chapter 202: Human

"Husband!"

Outside the chemical plant, the pale orange information toxin faded, and the crowd gradually recovered from paralysis.

Ding Qing was pierced through the chest by the electric knife Lu Chang threw; Duan Min screamed in anguish and rushed forward to catch the falling Ding Qing.

Lin Xian tossed aside the black spear, then decisively gripped his weapon and advanced, preparing to eliminate the couple.

"No."

Seeing this, Duan Min immediately threw herself in front of Ding Qing, pleading in terror: "Please, spare us! We'll give you all our convoy's supplies and weapons!"

"Isn't it a bit late to say this now?"

"Lin Team Leader."

Miao Lu stepped forward and reported: "The convoy that attacked our train has been completely wiped out—roughly forty-plus individuals. The remaining escapees have been cleared by Shu Qin and the others."

Hearing this, Ding Qing's face turned ashen, staring at Lin Xian in disbelief.

"Impossible!" Duan Min cried out beside him: "We didn't…"

Before she could finish, her expression froze, then she turned to look at Ding Qing.

Luo Rui.

Both realized it at once.

Learning that the Wuxian had stabilized, Lin Xian relaxed and immediately chambered a round, aiming straight at Ding Qing's forehead, his voice icy: "Good news is, once we kill the beast inside, you two won't have to be skinned and turned into pseudo-humans."

"Wait!" Duan Min panicked and explained: "We didn't send anyone to attack your train—actually…"

"Duan Min!" Ding Qing, blood dripping from his mouth, cut her off. Seeing her confused gaze, he said: "No need to explain. We struck first. Victory or defeat—there's no room for negotiation."

His demeanor was worn, his life draining rapidly. He looked at Lin Xian and whispered: "I just want to know—do you really think these few people can kill that thing?"

Lin Xian's gaze flickered: "Since you mentioned the Night Curse, you must know we have no choice."

Ding Qing frowned, agitated: "This is just throwing your own people's lives away! Why not accept this safe haven, wait until you're ready, then strike back?"

Lin Xian looked at Ding Qing: "The protection you speak of—is it feeding people to it every day?"

Ding Qing fell silent for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh, a look of relief crossing his face as he faced Lin Xian's gun.

"Shoot."

"You haven't told me where your sanctuary is located."

Ding Qing opened his eyes, sneering dismissively: "So you plan to slaughter them all? The executioners were my men—they're already dead in your hands. The rest are innocent civilians. Why kill them?"

Lin Xian said grimly: "Can someone who's eaten people still be called human?"

Ding Qing said nothing, closed his eyes, and held tightly to the sobbing Duan Min, his face stern, waiting for Lin Xian to pull the trigger.

Wooo~

At that moment, the sound of a drone flew overhead—a PX-05 engineering robot passed above them and landed behind Lin Xian.

Ding Qing opened his eyes, seeing this, his face changed drastically: "What did you do?!"

Kiki stepped forward, clapping her hands: "What? Installing bombs? Didn't you know this chemical plant is a giant explosives depot?"

Lin Xian said: "You don't have to tell me. Blow up this plant and the beast—when night falls, the people in town without shelter will taste the consequences of their own folly."

At these words, Ding Qing's pupils shrank sharply; he began coughing violently, blood spraying as he glared at Lin Xian.

"No! You can't do this! You'll kill everyone!!"

Hearing Lin Xian's plan to detonate the plant, Ding Qing finally shattered. His eyes pleaded desperately as he pointed to his powered armor: "Young brother, I know you want this armor. It has voiceprint authentication—only I can activate it. I can unlock it for you. I only ask one thing!!"

Kiki scoffed: "Hmph, authentication? I—"

But Lin Xian raised his hand to stop her, then turned to Ding Qing.

"Speak."

"You can take everything from my convoy—just leave us a few vehicles so they can escape. They're just ordinary people. Let them live! Let them live!"

Blood and foam spewed from Ding Qing's mouth; he screamed these final words with all his remaining strength.

"Husband…" Duan Min, tears streaming down her face, held Ding Qing close, looking at Lin Xian with a pleading tone: "All the evil we've done. There are 191 people in the underground parking lot beneath the cinema—many women and children. Please spare them."

Lin Xian raised his gun, his gaze cold: "One thing you said was right."

Duan Min lifted her head.

Bang!

Inside the chemical plant, a gunshot rang out.

Lu Chang, Miao Lu, and Kiki all flinched slightly.

Lin Xian lowered his gun and said slowly: "I do intend to kill that beast."

Vvvv~

Outside the chemical plant, two motorcycles sped away—Lin Xian carrying Kiki, followed by Lu Chang and Miao Lu, heading toward the town.

On the other side, Shu Qin and Lu Xingchen finished clearing the battlefield and drove into town to meet Lin Xian.

"Lin Team Leader, we checked—the main force of the Golden Team is gone. Some may still be hiding, but we haven't found their positions yet." Shu Qin said as she stepped out of the car. Lin Xian stopped his motorcycle and turned to look at the distant chemical plant: "Get ready. The explosion will be massive—the town will be affected. It might even shake the pseudo-humans out of hiding."

"Perfect! We can burn them all at once—no need for the Master to hunt them down." Lu Xingchen, who hadn't fought today, was itching for action.

"Lin Xian, what if it doesn't die?" Kiki asked. "That thing isn't a C-rank anomaly anymore—it must have insane stamina."

"If it doesn't die, we'll wear it down."

Lin Xian said: "We'll see how it goes. If it truly has no mobility, as Director Ding said, we'll take our time. If it does move, we'll just run. It's daytime—we won't be as helpless as last night."

Shu Qin and the others nodded. Attacking a large anomaly head-on was something they'd never dared imagine. Everyone here, except perhaps the oddball Lu Xingchen, felt tension tightening their chests.

Lin Xian took the powered armor off his motorcycle and activated the mechanical scan.

【Scan complete. Acquired TRP-4 Special Industrial Active Exoskeleton Powered Armor (Blueprint).】

【Armor System Integrity: 100%】

He removed his standalone mechanical prosthetic and stowed it in his backpack, then donned the powered armor. This exoskeleton wasn't fully enclosed—it offered no heavy defense, no flight or weapon modules. Its strength lay in mobility: granting exceptional jumping, sprinting, and shoulder-lifting torque. Only the hand and spine structural components used high-hardness Tungsten-Titanium Alloy Type-I; the rest was lightweight forged steel and carbon fiber, designed for agility.

Lin Xian's physical attributes already far exceeded normal humans; with this armor, his mobility surged dramatically.

!

Most importantly, he could retrofit weapon and defense modules onto its frame, and upgrade the blueprint via the R&D center.

【Program Initiated】

After putting it on, Lin Xian activated the armor's system.

【New user recognized. Please enter user information.】

"Lin Xian."

【Hello, Lin Xian. Confirm whether to retain user (Ding Qing)'s personal data.】

"Delete…"

Lin Xian was about to delete, but caught a glimpse of something—his expression flickered.

"Whoa, so cool! Lin Xian, make me one too!" Kiki walked over, delighted: "I want black. Red's good too."

"Okay." Lin Xian nodded, his gaze distant.

"What's wrong? Oh—what are you going to do about the people under the cinema?"

Lin Xian exhaled slowly and turned to Shu Qin: "Shu Qin, there are over a hundred people in the parking lot beneath the town cinema."

"Huh?"

"So they were hiding there!" Lu Xingchen perked up: "Brother Lin, leave this to the Master!"

Kiki's expression turned uneasy as she looked at Lin Xian: "Lin Xian, you really plan to…"

"I mean," Lin Xian said to Shu Qin and Lu Xingchen,

"Leave the Golden Team's vehicles for them. Let them leave before the explosion. They're just ordinary survivors."

The group paused, startled. Shu Qin nodded quickly: "Got it. I'll send people right away."

Kiki, hearing this, exhaled softly, her gaze lingering on Lin Xian.

"You changed your mind?"

"I just want to save bullets." Lin Xian walked toward his motorcycle.

On the screen, Ding Qing's journal entries scrolled one by one.

【21st: Xiao Jia didn't want to spend her 8th birthday underground. We suggested taking her out for one hour of sunlight—need to arrange someone to check the external environment first.】

【23rd: Lack of antibiotics. Chen Zhihui led a team into town to search—lost one person.】

【24th: Duan Min is two months pregnant. She told me she wants to leave. I promised her.】

【25th: The beast in the chemical plant is agitated again. Luo Rui told me Granny Zhang's health is worsening. I understood his meaning—our team is falling apart.】

【27th: Someone is spreading rumors about blood rations. Arguments have broken out below. Looks like others, like Duan Min, want to leave too.】

【28th: All functional vehicles in town have been gathered—eighteen total. Most need repairs. Current fuel isn't enough to get everyone to Hengshan Pass.】

【29th: A train arrived at the platform—Luo Rui lured it. The passengers were powerful psychics. I attacked only them—they escaped. Good. I hope they don't come back…】

【…】

"Delete."

【Deleting user (Ding Qing)'s journal data.】

【Deleting… Deletion complete.】

(End of Chapter)