Chapter 291: Survivor

It was several blinding tactical white lights that were almost enough to cause blindness.

The light column sliced through the dim fog in the hallway like a sharp sword, pinning itself firmly onto Su Ming.

But the moment that heavy fire door was forced open and its hinges let out a mournful wail, the calm indifference on Su Ming's face had already melted away like snow under a scorching sun, leaving no trace.

In its place was a pallid, terrified, even slightly twisted face from extreme nervousness.

The instant he saw those pitch‑black muzzles, his body shivered violently like a newly hatched quail.

The mop handle with a Watermelon Knife tied to it clanged onto the cement floor, producing a crisp crack in the silent hallway.

"Don't... don't shoot! I'm a person! I'm alive!"

Su Ming raised his hands, his voice even carrying a perfectly timed crack, while his legs continued to swing.

Even if an Oscar‑winning actor arrived, they'd still have to give this acting a nod.

These fully armed Special Forces gave him no chance for any idle chatter.

"Don't move! Hands over your head! Crouch!"

The leading Special Forces member was a hulking figure, clad in a black Exoskeleton combat suit, his face covered by a full‑face tactical mask; his voice, processed through a megaphone, sounded even less human than that man‑eating monster earlier.

Two pitch‑black muzzles pointed at Su Ming's head.

Su Ming obeyed perfectly, even kneeling with extreme cooperation, his hands clasped tightly behind his head, the movement flowing like water.

"Captain, by the looks of it, he's indeed a survivor."

The hulking Special Forces member shouted something as he turned, but the muzzles still didn't move off Su Ming.

A steady set of footsteps approached.

Captain—Lei Yu pushed aside the soldier blocking the way; his eyes, seen through tactical goggles, swept over Su Ming like a scanner.

The young man was wrapped up tightly all over, even a bit bulky.

Lei Yu said nothing, merely raising his left hand.

A white device resembling a large smartwatch rested on his wrist—a portable Weird Wave Detector.

This gadget is now standard issue for the Federal Weird Investigation Bureau, capable of sounding an alarm before those filthy things erupt and harm anyone.

If the terrified young man before him were already contaminated, or some kind of mimetic monster, the device's needle would instantly flash red.

"Beep—"

【5】 The detector's probe swept over Su Ming from head to toe.

The instrument's probe scanned Su Ming from head to toe.

The indicator on the screen flickered twice, then settled steadily in the reassuring green zone.

Reading: 0.05.

Lei Yu's perpetually tense brow relaxed just a fraction.

But he could never have guessed that this seemingly "absolutely safe" youth harbored a dormant Time Marrow Worm inside his body.

It was precisely because of that that his identity as a Yujie was not detected.

"Stand up," Lei Yu said, lowering his wrist; his tone softened slightly but remained cold and hard.

Su Ming shakily stood up, still pretending his legs were weak and swaying twice.

At that moment, a nearby soldier picked up the weapon Su Ming had dropped on the floor.

"Captain, look at this."

The soldier handed over the mop‑spear.

Lei Yu took it and gave it a weigh.

It had some weight.

The mop handle was solid wood, with a sharpened Watermelon Knife tied to its front; the joint was wrapped tightly in black industrial insulating tape, with no sign of looseness.

This binding method was very professional, the mechanical structure stable, even accounting for resistance when stabbing.

He glanced again at Su Ming's exposed arm.

From the cuff of the assault jacket, a strip of colorful greenish copper‑plate paper was visible.

It was a fashion magazine.

Lei Yu reached out and pinched Su Ming's forearm; it was hard as a board.

At least three layers.

This makeshift armor is nonsense against bullets, but against those small Mutation creatures that only claw and bite, it works better than a several‑thousand‑dollar Kefla Anti‑Stab Suit.

"Did you make it yourself?" Lei Yu tossed the simple spear back to Su Ming, his eyes now tinged with curiosity.

An ordinary plain‑haired civilian, when faced with such a sudden disaster, would mostly hide under the covers trembling, or run around like a headless fly.

Those who can stay calm enough to craft weapons and armor, and dare to step out, certainly possess extraordinary mental fortitude.

Su Ming caught the spear as if it were his only lifeline, clutching it tightly to his chest.

"It…" Su Ming swallowed, stammering, "With so many terrifying monsters, I just… wanted something for self‑defense."

His words were airtight.

Lei Yu stared at Su Ming for two seconds.

The youngster's fear didn't seem feigned; that physiological tremor couldn't be faked.

Perhaps he's just a fan of post‑apocalyptic survival shows? Or a handy otaku?

"Since you're scared, why not stay inside the house?" Lei Yu suddenly posed a sharp question.

It was a logical trap.

If it were an ordinary person, being terrified to death would make them weld the doors shut, not rush outward in a big pack.

Su Ming's eyes flickered.

He obviously couldn't admit he was a reborn one, knowing the building was about to become a living coffin that devours people.

He tightened his throat and, in an uncertain, slightly neurotic tone, said, "Intuition… I feel something's wrong inside. Really, sir, the wallpaper… looks like it's bleeding. I can't stay; I think staying inside will get us eaten."

Lei Yu was stunned for a moment.

Bleeding wallpaper?

He subconsciously glanced at the surrounding walls.

Although nothing seemed unusual yet, as a veteran who had dealt with many Weird incidents, he knew clearly that some highly intuitive people could indeed produce a beast‑like premonition before a great horror struck.

Such "intuition" sometimes works better than detectors.

Just as Lei Yu was about to press for two more questions, his earpiece suddenly crackled with the urgent urging from the command center.

"Hawk Squad! This is command center! The Red Light Frequency in B‑zone is changing—move faster, all observable buildings are becoming increasingly unstable! Soon… all buildings will generate a Secondary Weird Realm, turning into a breeding ground for Rule Ghost Stories!"

The crackling static made the order sound especially grating.

Lei Yu's face changed.

No time to dawdle.

Lei Yu glanced at Su Ming, waved his hand, and said, "Follow us. We're the official rescue team; we'll guarantee your safety."

Su Ming, as if pardoned, nodded repeatedly and hurriedly squeezed himself into the middle of the team.

That spot was the core and safest area of the entire tactical formation.