Chapter 279: 275: The Monster Messenger and the Boy, Qi Ming Beats the Villains (A Massive 5,000-Character Chapter)

This was a forgotten corner of the city, beneath a gray, hazy sky, where withered weeds swayed in the wind, and occasional discarded plastic bags rattled against bare branches.

In the distance, a few leaky, low single-story houses leaned crookedly, their peeling plaster revealing mottled red bricks like scars gnawed by time; the asphalt road cracked into a spiderweb pattern, from which stubborn clumps of wild mugwort pushed through.

A ragged boy gripped a rusted iron shovel and mechanically dug into the earth, his strange behavior drawing many startled glances.

At that moment, three middle schoolers on bicycles, looking lazy and insolent, arrived near the boy.

"Hey, where are you from?" asked a boy named Tai Zhi, slouching on his bike with a sneer.

The boy said nothing and kept digging.

Seeing the boy ignore them, the three middle schoolers grew annoyed: "Hey, talk! Why do you dig this hole every single day?"

The boy shouted like a hedgehog: "Don't get in my way! Go away!"

Seeing him dare to talk back, Tai Zhi stormed forward aggressively: "What did you say?"

The shortest of the three, a chubby boy, smirked wickedly: "Hey, check out his stuff—maybe we can figure out who he is."

"Alright, let's go! Check out his house," the other two students immediately agreed, walking toward the dilapidated shack behind him.

"Stop! Don't go near!" The boy panicked, dropped his shovel, and lunged forward, blocking the door with his body.

"What's the harm in taking a look?" said the third student, making it clear he had no regard for the boy.

The boy stood firm: "No means no!"

"Enough nonsense—move, you brat!" Tai Zhi, the ringleader, shoved the boy to the ground and barged into the house.

The boy rose to his feet and began screaming wildly, assuming a strange posture.

The next instant, something miraculous happened.

The boy in front, Tai Zhi, was lifted into the air by an invisible force; he screamed in terror, thrashing helplessly: "Help me! Someone, help me!"

A person was floating in midair—was it this ragged, beggar-like boy who did this?

The other two companions shuddered and fled outside immediately.

Half a minute later, Tai Zhi crashed back to the ground and bolted away in a flash.

The three delinquent students hid nervously in the nearby grass, watching the boy; they saw him stand still for a while, then return to digging.

"You okay?"

"Just fell down. This guy made me float in the air—could he be an alien?"

"Even if he is an alien, he can't be that strong—why bother digging such a big hole then?"

After some discussion, the three born troublemakers cautiously tested the boy again.

Upon realizing he could only scream wildly to scare them off, with no other effective means, they once again entertained malicious thoughts.

"Does it take him a long time to activate his ability?"

"Looks like a weak alien."

Thinking this, the three students believed that if they could defeat an alien, they would become heroes of human society.

Their teachers and classmates would look at them with new respect; beautiful girls would confess their feelings.

This fantasy thrilled them; the three sly, delinquent boys charged forward again, pinned the boy down, and forced him onto the ground.

The boy struggled, but he had no strength to resist three fifteen-year-old students.

"Good! This guy really isn't our match."

"Let's see what else he's got—go ahead, use your powers!"

The three middle schoolers buried the boy in the hole he'd dug, leaving only his head exposed, then used cardboard to scoop up muddy water and poured it over his head.

Despite this treatment, the boy did not struggle or scream; his expression was blank, silently enduring.

"Hey, why aren't you fighting back? Transform! Use your powers!" Tai Zhi shouted, hurling stones at the boy's face.

The chubby student filmed the scene with his phone, eager to capture proof of the alien's superpower.

Even as muddy water flowed over his face, the boy made no resistance—only closed his eyes quietly.

Some nearby onlookers couldn't bear it: "That's too much."

But the three middle schoolers defended themselves:

"Idiots! He's an alien—do you want him to bite off your head?"

"If we don't deal with him, we're done for!"

With that, Tai Zhi mounted his bike and tried to run the boy over with the wheels!

If this guy dies, he'll reveal his true alien form—and then I'll be famous—he thought.

At the last moment, a figure appeared and blocked the bike: "Hey, what are you doing! Why are you bullying someone like this!"

It was Officer Kishida, on patrol.

Tai Zhi shouted: "That guy's an alien—we're going to kill it!"

"An alien?" Kishida eyed the boy skeptically: "What proof do you have? You didn't just make this up, did you?"

The other two students: "No! He has superpowers—he made someone float! There's no mistake!"

Kishida strongly disliked these insolent students; he spoke coldly: "Alright, I'll handle this. You leave now."

"Fine." Facing the legendary undefeated Victory Team officer, the three students dared not be too bold.

They picked up several stones from the ground and threw them at the boy's head in anger, cursing him as " Chusheng," " Hundan," and " Chouyuzhouren," then left with smug satisfaction.

After the three students left, Kishida turned to the boy: "I'll pull you out now. You dug deep—what's this hole for?"

The boy: "If you're only saving me to ask that, then don't bother me!"

Kishida paused—this kid had quite a temper.

He pulled the boy out with both hands: "Even if you won't tell me, I'll find out anyway."

After being rescued, the boy clearly said, "Thank you," then ran toward his dilapidated little house.

Just before entering, he turned to Kishida: "I'm not an alien! I was born in Esashi, Hokkaido!"

"Esashi, Hokkaido…" Kishida repeated.

His portable recorder had already captured the boy's face; with that, tracing his identity would be easy.

………………………………

The next day, after hearing that the Victory Team officer had "let the alien go," the three middle schoolers returned to the boy.

This time, they brought a vicious large wolf dog, confronting the boy as he cooked, coughing violently from the smoke.

"So, alien scum eats too, huh?" Tai Zhi kicked over the cooking pot; the thin porridge spilled across the ground.

The boy stared blankly, reached out, gathered the porridge mixed with mud and dirt, and returned it to the pot.

The chubby student recoiled in disgust: "You're really going to eat that? Aliens are so unhygienic."

Tai Zhi, meanwhile, stomped on the porridge with his shoe, grinding it repeatedly.

The boy finally broke down; tears welled in his eyes.

"Oh! The alien's crying! You're upset, you bastard alien? Hahaha!"

Watching the boy's suffering, the three middle schoolers felt a surge of pleasure.

"Bastard!" The boy finally exploded, lunging at them.

The students thought the alien was about to activate his power and quickly retreated behind the wolf dog: "Go, John! Kill him!"

The wolf dog lunged at the boy, pinned him down, and tore at him; the boy cried out: "Help! Save me!"

The next instant, the wolf dog stopped tearing.

It was lifted into the air by some unseen force, then exploded into fragments.

"Here it is! I got it!" The three students behind were ecstatic—they had finally captured the crucial evidence.

But their dog was dead, proving the boy had lethal power; the three instantly froze in place.

After a moment's hesitation, the three students left, deciding they needed to bring more people.

Meanwhile, Seruburo, possessing Shinoda Ryosuke, watched this scene from nearby, his eyes glowing red.

He glanced across the river, where beneath the earth, he sensed the presence of a kaiju.

"I feel great now."

………………………………

On the other side, Victory Team Command Room.

Kishida: "We've confirmed it—the boy's name is Sakunimon Ryo. When he was ten, his father vanished and his mother died; he's lived alone ever since."

Those around him had just heard Kishida's full account; Shu Sei commented: "So this little Ryo, orphaned like this—how much hatred does he harbor toward his father? How desperately does he crave paternal love?"

Nishi Taki and Emi were both moved by this.

Qi Ming's gaze turned strange: "You say he keeps digging holes, and those three brat students bully him, right?" Kishida: "Correct. But I still don't understand why he digs."

"It's 'The Monster Messenger and the Boy' from Jack…" Qi Ming thought to himself: "He's digging to find the spaceship of the alien who lived with him."

Emi: "If he's not a threat to humanity or Earth, he shouldn't endure such bullying."

Nishi Taki also supported rescuing him from discrimination.

Qi Ming stood up: "Commander, let's go to the scene."

Shu Sei nodded, and together they headed out.

"Is that…?" On Flyer One, Shu Sei stared at the wooden baseball bat Qi Ming held, and a host of bad premonitions arose.

Qi Ming: "This is the 'mysterious magical tool' I'll probably need soon."

Soon, the two arrived at the dilapidated shack; when the boy saw Qi Ming and Shu Sei trying to enter, he blocked the door: "Don't come in!"

Qi Ming did not force entry; he called up to the second floor: "May we come up?"

Shu Sei, having learned the truth from Qi Ming on the way, shouted loudly: "We mean no harm—we're here to help you!"

A weak voice came from upstairs: "Please come up."

But the boy still blocked the doorway, believing the members of Victory Team would harm his relatives inside the house.

Qi Ming said carefully: "If we truly wanted to eliminate the Metzians, we could just fire a laser from afar using Fly Yan II—why go through all this trouble?"

The boy froze: "You know the uncle inside is a Metzian!"

Qi Ming: "I know. But I'm not one of those beasts who persecute the different."

"Among humans there are evil people who need to be purged; among aliens there are good ones worth helping. I understand this simple truth."

Zhu Zhu Xingtuan nodded: "We are not people who confuse right and wrong. Earth welcomes all kind cosmic beings as guests."

Hearing this, the boy stood dazed, silently stepping aside and no longer blocking the door.

Qi Ming walked straight inside, where at the end of the hallway hung a rope that looked like a noose.

The two went upstairs and found an elderly man slumped in the corner, gasping for breath.

Zhu Zhu Xingtuan hesitated: "Sir, you are a guest from Metz, aren't you?"

The old man weakly nodded and told them everything.

He had come to Earth to study its climate and terrain, landing during a heavy rainstorm a year ago in his spaceship.

First, he used telekinesis to sink his spaceship underground, then saw the boy Zoujiu Zoujiu Wenliang being chased by the monster Muluqi, rescued him, and sealed the monster beneath the earth.

The man suspended in midair and the dog blown apart were both his doing—telekinetic acts performed secretly to protect Zoujiu Zoujiu Wenliang.

"I've lived with Xiao Liang like family. I thought it might not be so bad to live out my days on Earth."

"But my body is being corroded by this polluted air, growing worse by the day."

"If I don't leave Earth soon, I won't have many days left…"

Hearing this, Zhu Zhu Xingtuan nodded deeply, moved.

He understood that this Metzian was much like his own role as a "Planetary Observer"—kind-hearted, empathetic, ready to aid the weak.

The boy, who had followed them up, said: "So we must dig up Uncle's spaceship quickly—I can go with him to Metz."

Zhu Zhu Xingtuan nodded: "All right, we'll help. Wait—you want to leave Earth?"

Qi Ming pulled Zhu Zhu Xingtuan aside and told him not to say something so ill-timed.

Qi Ming lowered his voice: "That child grew up under skeptical eyes, and after years of bullying, he's lost all faith in humanity."

"This Metzian is his family. Metz is his redemption, his only hope for life."

Zhu Zhu Xingtuan opened his mouth to speak, but finally let out a heavy sigh.

"Let's go. I'll check how deep the spaceship is buried." Qi Ming went downstairs.

Seeing the noose hanging on the first floor, he frowned and slashed it with a palm strike, severing it cleanly.

…………………………

Defense Force Headquarters.

"What? You saw an alien?" Minister Minister Jiantong beamed at the man before him, Zhen Tian Liangjie.

Zhen Tian Liangjie nodded: "I saw it with my own eyes—the dog was lifted by something like telekinesis, then exploded into pieces."

"Good! Good! Good!" Minister Minister Jiantong nodded vigorously. Only two days had passed since he made the announcement, and already there was a lead.

"We'll gain instant public acclaim for such a swift discovery! My superiors will surely take notice too."

"Long, you'll lead the team. Eliminate this alien under the cameras and public gaze—let the world see the Defense Force's efficiency!" Minister Jiantong ordered Xiang Yuan Long.

………………………………

"It's deep." Outside the house, Qi Ming used his 【See Through】 ability to locate the spaceship.

The spaceship lay twenty meters below ground—digging by hand was impractical.

"No matter how deep, I won't give up. I must go to Metz with Uncle," the boy muttered, digging furiously.

Qi Ming: "I'm not asking you to give up. But in this case, it's easier to bring in the 'Subterranean Pipa Tank.'"

As he pulled out his communicator, a large crowd of men wielding clubs rushed toward them—their leader being the three delinquent students.

These were the people they'd called.

Among them were even several police officers carrying handguns; the mob surged forward, shouting.

"Aliens must be destroyed!"

"That's right—we can't coexist with aliens!"

"That kid's an alien. If Victory Team won't act, we will!"

The mob surged forward, pinning Zoujiu Zoujiu Wenliang to the ground. Zhu Zhu Xingtuan tried to intervene but was blocked by others.

Zoujiu Zoujiu Wenliang struggled violently: "What are you doing! What have we done wrong!"

Zhu Zhu Xingtuan shouted: "Everyone, I'm the captain of Victory Team. There's been a misunderstanding. This boy is no criminal—he's done nothing!"

"How can Victory Team say that!" Others ignored him. Tai Zhi pressed a wooden stick against Zoujiu Zoujiu Wenliang's neck, preparing to drag him along the ground.

Inside the house, the Metzian watched all this with dim eyes, expressionless—but radiating a heavy sorrow.

"Qi Ming, is there any way!" Zhu Zhu Xingtuan cried out—his plea signaled his tacit approval of Qi Ming's actions.

"There is, Captain. There is." Qi Ming pulled out a baseball bat: "Since reason won't work, let's talk physics."

He lunged like a tiger descending the mountain, smashing the bat into Tai Zhi's wrist with a crack like a snapped branch.

Before Tai Zhi could react, the second swing crushed his jaw—three bloody teeth flew into the crowd.

"Ahh!!" Tai Zhi collapsed to his knees, clutching his sunken right cheek as thick blood oozed between his fingers.

Qi Ming stomped on his back and swung the bat again: "Can't listen, can you?"

"Wait! We were just—" The short, fat student tried to plead, but Qi Ming reversed the bat and smashed it into his knee.

A sickening crunch echoed—the once-bullying thug rolled three meters away, screaming like a slaughtered pig as his left leg twisted into a grotesque angle.

The onlookers shuddered at this terrifying display.

The third student turned and fled. Qi Ming sprinted after him and swung the bat into his knee pit.

"Thud." The student collapsed to his knees.

Qi Ming grabbed his collar and delivered three brutal knee strikes to his face—blood spurted, and the boy collapsed like a sack of rags.

"Victory Team's beating people!" Tai Zhi wailed. The crowd recoiled in terror.

"Beating people?" Qi Ming grabbed Tai Zhi's right leg and twisted hard.

"Crack." A clear bone-break echoed. Tai Zhi shrieked in agony.

His leg was broken.

"This is the fate of those who interfere with Victory Team's mission!" Qi Ming said coldly.

Then, at six swings per second, he charged the police who had seized Zhu Zhu Xingtuan, smashing them until their heads bled and they screamed in terrified pleas.

The Metzian inside the house stared wide-eyed at the scene.

Beside him, the boy Zoujiu Zoujiu Wenliang's numb expression faded—his face lit with grim satisfaction.

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(End of Chapter)