[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-paradise-of-reincarnation":3,"chapter-paradise-of-reincarnation-paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-84":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Paradise of Reincarnation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273942,4446,"Chapter 84: Ghoul × Investigator","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-84",84,"\u003Cp>After resting for several hours in the secret chamber, Su Xiao opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This chamber isn’t a place to stay long—it’s only for temporary rest; the environment here is too poor and could cause wound infection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna sat beside him, her head now resting on Su Xiao’s shoulder, emitting soft snores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao nudged Yuna’s shoulder; she jolted awake and rolled up to her feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? Are there ghouls?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna’s reaction was normal—in District 24, failing to stay alert means certain death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those ghouls are already gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao stood up and approached the gap in the flesh wall, slipping through sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna, who suffered from claustrophobia, hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and entered the gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back inside District 24’s underground tunnels, everything was silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao had faced countless dangers the first time he entered District 24.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since entering the ghoul world, this had been his most dangerous experience—clearing ghouls in District 14 was child’s play compared to this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao used his hand-drawn map to orient himself and continued moving toward the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He memorized every tunnel he passed and left markers inside them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two hours of navigating the labyrinthine tunnels, Su Xiao stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you stop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve been here before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the “12” carved into the ground with a knife, Su Xiao marked an arrow on his hand-drawn map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current direction was wrong—it wasn’t leading to the surface, but deeper into District 24.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a clear direction, getting lost was routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao wasn’t discouraged; as long as he kept trying, combining his hand-drawn map with the markers, he’d soon find his way out of District 24.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thud.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A muffled sound came from the side, behind a flesh wall—someone was fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s Ma Gui—those are the massive electric discharges from ‘Ming Shen.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna cheered—fighting meant Ma Gui hadn’t died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao said nothing, listening carefully to pinpoint the sound’s origin. Reuniting was good—Ma Gui was now an ally; without him holding the rear, Su Xiao would already be dead in District 24.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao quickened his pace, shifting from brisk walking to running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Navigating the maze-like tunnels, his steps grew faster—he’d already memorized the general layout of the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battle sounds drew nearer; after rounding a corner, Ma Gui appeared in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui no longer bore the dignity of a god—he was shirtless, his white hair stained with blood, his glasses gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? Why won’t you speak to us? Has talking to us become a disgrace in your eyes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An elderly ghoul with snow-white hair stared at Ma Gui, heartbroken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t waste your breath—he’s no longer one of us...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another elderly ghoul began to speak, but Ma Gui raised his “Ming Shen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang. Bang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two electric orbs shot out; the two elders weren’t weak—they dodged nimbly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “ixa” in Ma Gui’s left hand surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Squelch. Squelch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Part of the “ixa” had already deformed and burrowed underground; now it erupted, impaling both ghouls like skewers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why... why did you...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One elder ghoul stared at Ma Gui, still trying to speak, but his life force drained rapidly—he could no longer talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui’s lips moved silently, uttering something without sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Su Xiao’s angle, he could see Ma Gui’s profile—his expression seemed almost sorrowful? Sorrow over killing those two ghouls?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao frowned—the two dead elders had seemed to hold some respect for Ma Gui?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, respect—as if Ma Gui had once been their leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The CCG’s strongest investigator was once a ghoul’s leader? That sounded absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ma Gui.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna called out tentatively—she sensed something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui turned, facing Su Xiao and Yuna; his right eye was shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here. This exploration ends now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere felt strange. Su Xiao said nothing—the CCG was full of mysteries; Ma Gui surely had secrets too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His priority was to earn enough CCG contribution points to exchange for [Human Gene Enhancement Fluid] and [Shatter Sprite] at the District 24 temporary branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together, they cost 28,000 CCG contribution points—Su Xiao had only earned a fraction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now wasn’t the time for suspicion; danger lurked constantly in District 24. From Ma Gui’s actions, he showed no sign of betrayal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least since entering District 24, Ma Gui had only killed ghouls—no signs of abandoning allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless Ma Gui intended to defect from the CCG, he wouldn’t turn against Su Xiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ma Gui, what happened with those two ghouls?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna, the neurotic girl, had no guile—she asked outright what she wondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They were my old friends. They once disguised themselves as humans—I was young then and didn’t realize. It was many years ago. I never expected to meet them again, now as ghoul and investigator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bitter smile touched Ma Gui’s lips; blood dripped from his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see. I had friends like that too—my classmates. I killed them myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghouls mingled among humans; it occasionally happened that investigators and ghouls became friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An investigator was just a job—they dressed like ordinary people. Ghouls concealed themselves, striving to blend into human society.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And cases of investigators and ghouls accidentally becoming friends were common—even in the original story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna believed Ma Gui’s words. They’d cooperated for half a year, shared life and death—friendship like that wouldn’t be shattered by this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But could things really be this simple? At least Su Xiao wouldn’t fully believe it—he wouldn’t pry either. Everyone had secrets; those who spent every day digging into others’ secrets usually ended up isolated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao led the way with his hand-drawn map; Ma Gui and Yuna followed behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a compass, his hand-drawn map was invaluable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao recorded every tunnel they passed; his map grew more complete, the red arrow stretching longer—pointing toward the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Footsteps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao stopped, staring ahead into the dim tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Run—it’s the White Reaper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over a dozen ghouls had just appeared; upon seeing Ma Gui, they turned and fled instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao and the others stood still—all three were exhausted, and they must minimize combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui’s reputation wasn’t empty; in District 24, most ghouls fled at the sight of him—no one dared fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This undoubtedly accelerated their progress; an hour later, Su Xiao saw the metal door they had entered through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui opened the metal door; after all three exited, he slammed it shut and locked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was to prevent ghouls from escaping District 24 and spreading to the surface—whether it worked, no one knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They passed through the straight tunnel; blinding light appeared ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was sunlight. Su Xiao had been underground too long—he was unaccustomed to its glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squinting, he stepped out of the tunnel and returned to the surface—to the human world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his time in District 24 had been brief, he felt as if he’d stepped out of another lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath—the air above was exceptionally fresh, free of the faint, metallic stench of District 24.\u003C\u002Fp>",1156,"2026-06-19T23:49:42.795Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a6952efc5dd5bc6c8f22c0304bb9d2b72b17f7919a9ecdd526b3c72c776a621f","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-85","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-83",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fparadise-of-reincarnation-cover.jpg"]