Chapter 56: Genetic Disorder

“What?”

Lin Qing exclaimed: “Captain Xiao has been poisoned and collapsed? What happened?”

The patrol officer reporting said: “Just now, Captain Xiao’s watch triggered an alarm—his vital signs dropped rapidly. Analysis suggests he was exposed to some kind of neurotoxin. After a patrol team switched into anti-toxin suits and entered, they found Captain Xiao unconscious on the floor.”

"Where?" Lin Qing asked, pretending not to know.

“At the end of the underground arena’s office area—in that retro-style office.”

The patrol officer added: "Oh, by the way, there are two safes in that office. One is empty and equipped with a high-pressure gas injection device. The other contains a large quantity of extraterrestrial currency—still unvalued, but likely in the eight-digit range."

Lin Qing nodded slightly and said: “Understood. Prevent any toxin leakage. Get Captain Xiao to the hospital immediately.”

After the patrol officer left, Yuan Anping walked over with a murmured sigh.

“You’ve got some luck, kid.”

Yuan Anping spoke with a strange expression: “Just now you were saying Xiao Peidong was your mortal enemy—that he wouldn’t rest until he got rid of you. And now he’s poisoned himself into the hospital.”

He shook his head in wonder: “This is really...”

“Looks like I’ve got good luck.”

Lin Qing smiled, then turned to Zhao Jiayi, who had been playing with her phone in the corner, and said: “Jiayi, it seems my luck’s even better than yours.”

Zhao Jiayi’s face was pale; she forced a weak smile.

“Why are you so pale?” Lin Qing frowned slightly. “Should I take you home first?”

“Now?”

Zhao Jiayi blinked in surprise. “But the search isn’t finished yet.”

“It’s nearly done.” Lin Qing turned to Yuan Anping. “Commandant, I’ll take my friend home first—is that alright?”

“I’ll stay here. Go ahead and take her.”

Yuan Anping waved dismissively. “But you’ll need to come back later. With Xiao Peidong in the hospital, only you can take command and submit the summary.”

“Understood.” Lin Qing nodded.

“Alright, go.”

Yuan Anping glanced around the underground arena and muttered: “Today’s really your lucky day. The credits you’ve already racked up are substantial—probably at least two Second-Class Merits, plus a heap of bounties—all yours. Your luck’s making me jealous.”

Lin Qing twitched his lips but said nothing.

Yet as he glanced at Zhao Jiayi beside him, the heart hidden beneath his smile grew heavier.

He knew.

This wasn’t luck at all.

The moment he heard about Xiao Peidong’s poisoning, he had confirmed it.

Because...

When assigning search duties, he deliberately omitted the office area, giving Xiao Peidong the chance to search Zhou Yang’s office.

That setup also gave Xiao Peidong the opportunity to grow cautious and hesitate.

He had deliberately made his conflict with Xiao Peidong clear in Zhao Jiayi’s presence.

Under these conditions, the only person with both motive and capability to poison Xiao Peidong... was Zhao Jiayi.

Is Zhao Jiayi a telepathic awakener?...

By the roadside.

This stretch of road was a bustling area, with vehicles flowing nonstop.

Lin Qing and Zhao Jiayi stood quietly by the curb, watching unmanned cars speed past.

“Jiayi.”

Lin Qing stared at the road and suddenly said: “My current speed is fast enough—I could cross this road in 0.2 seconds. Do you think... even at that speed, the laser sensors on the unmanned cars would still have time to adjust and avoid me?”

“Probably not...” Zhao Jiayi said, puzzled. “And that’s way too dangerous.”

“I think it’s possible. My speed should be safe enough now—perfect chance to train my movement. I’ll try.”

Lin Qing took a deep breath, activated his combat technique, and in a flash appeared beside the road, watching the speeding vehicles with eager anticipation.

“What?”

Zhao Jiayi froze, alarmed: “But that’s dangerous! You haven’t trained any defensive combat techniques—what if something happens?”

“I’m just testing. Nothing will happen.”

Lin Qing stared straight ahead, his gaze fixed on the opposite side of the road, as if already resolved.

Zhao Jiayi bit her lip, took a deep breath, and whispered, watching him: “This is truly dangerous. You’ll get hit. Please come back.”

In that moment, Lin Qing suddenly felt a strong intuition and sense of danger.

As if his subconscious warned him: if he did this, something bad would happen.

Lin Qing narrowed his eyes slightly.

Thought I was being manipulated—turns out it’s only this level?

Something like subconscious guidance or communication? If that’s all it is, then once aware of potential influence, staying vigilant and ignoring abnormal intuition—relying purely on reason—should be enough.

But a telepathic awakener couldn’t possibly be limited to just this?

After waiting a while longer and confirming she could do no more, Lin Qing deactivated his technique and turned to Zhao Jiayi. “Alright, you’re right. Better to value life.”

Zhao Jiayi exhaled in relief, rubbing her aching temples. At that moment, the ride-hailing car Lin Qing called pulled up to the designated waiting zone.

Inside the speeding autonomous vehicle, Lin Qing glanced at Zhao Jiayi beside him and saw her slumped wearily against the seat.

Probably due to mental energy depletion. “Jiayi.”

Lin Qing spoke: “I’ll likely be promoted to full team captain next month. If you have time, take the patrol professional exam. I recall the requirement for a captain’s executive assistant is patrol officer rank.”

“Oh, okay...” Zhao Jiayi nodded half-asleep, clearly exhausted.

Lin Qing looked at her and added: “I still owe you one Third-Class Merit. Once this mission’s credits come in, if I have enough, I’ll transfer three to you—then you can learn a combat technique.”

“Three?” Zhao Jiayi’s eyes snapped open. “I only borrowed one from you.”

Lin Qing fell silent, then asked: “If you had a chance to earn a Second-Class Merit, would you give it to me?”

“Of course... I mean, probably.”

Zhao Jiayi felt she’d sounded too certain and coughed lightly, then added: “You’re a combat technique genius—you’ll protect me after learning it... we’re friends, right?”

“Friends?” Lin Qing glanced at her. “You’re that generous to your friends?”

“It’s not a big deal...”

Zhao Jiayi suddenly realized she was just a lowly patrol officer and added: “I mean... friends shouldn’t count every little thing. I only have you as a friend.”

Lin Qing fell silent, then asked: “What about other colleagues? I see Han Ying talks to you often—isn’t she your friend?”

“Well...” Zhao Jiayi nervously scratched her head. “She’s nice enough, but her qualifications don’t match. I can’t be friends with her.”

“Qualifications?”

Lin Qing paused, then said: “So you only befriend people who meet certain criteria?”

“It’s not about eligibility,” Zhao Jiayi sighed helplessly. “I have a genetic disorder—I can’t get too close to others...”

“Genetic disorder?”

Lin Qing didn’t understand. “If you can’t get close to others, why are you close to me?”

“Because your qualifications match,” Zhao Jiayi groaned, rubbing her temples. “I just... I don’t know how to explain it. Dad told me not to talk about this.”

Lin Qing glanced at her, then shook his head slightly. “Fine. Don’t tell me.”

At that moment—

“Ding!”

“Destination reached.”

The car’s voice system chimed.

“Get out.”

Lin Qing looked at Zhao Jiayi. “Also, since you consider me a friend, I’ll tell you something.”

“Mm, go ahead.” Zhao Jiayi nodded.

Lin Qing paused, then said: “Even friends are independent individuals. First, respect each other. Do you understand?”

Zhao Jiayi blinked, softly: “I don’t quite get it. I’ll ask Dad when I get home.”

“Alright. See you tomorrow.” Lin Qing sighed.

After Zhao Jiayi exited, the ride-hailing car sped off, returning to its origin.

Lin Qing sat silently inside.

He didn’t know if Zhao Jiayi was telling the truth—or what her true intentions were as a telepathic awakener.

Of course...

Reviewing recent events, he knew she had been helping him—but he couldn’t grasp this unexplained kindness. It only made him more uneasy.

For him, “friend” had long become a luxury word.

In those years of the apocalypse, he’d been betrayed and abandoned by one so-called friend after another. Had it not been for the advantage granted by the Entropy Reversers, he’d be dead.

Though humans are social creatures who cannot endure true loneliness, he hated being manipulated and observed.

He despised testing human nature, unwilling to verify whether friends were real or fake.

“A distant friendship... isn’t impossible...”

Lin Qing slowly closed his eyes. “But only if I have sufficient self-preservation capability...”

He didn’t even dare directly expose Zhao Jiayi’s identity as a telepathic awakener.

Because telepathic awakener were exceedingly rare—even the Patrol Headquarters knew little about them, and that clearly indicated something was wrong.

If he exposed the other’s identity, he didn’t know what would happen.

So, better wait a while.

Since he couldn’t avoid it, and the other was temporarily benevolent, he could only try to accept it.

“After this mission’s reward comes through, I’ll ask if there’s any way to resist psychic awakening.”

Lin Qing took a deep breath and glanced again at what was in his arms.

He also needed to test whether this Super-Sense Original Liquid was real—if it was, he could enter the original Sunrise Training Method in a short time.

(End of Chapter)