Zhan Dundun stopped the group because although the laboratory was severely damaged, some things were not completely destroyed.
For example, the data storage devices, which were smashed to pieces, could still be repaired with careful work. Zhan Dundun had stopped them precisely for this purpose.
Zhan Dundun squatted, searching through the rubble, while Liu Nanfeng and the others also looked around curiously.
The entire laboratory was circular, then divided into eight zones.
The most gruesome part was probably around the experimental tables. Although they were regularly cleaned and disinfected, a strong smell of blood still lingered.
Welding wires on the floor formed a dark red pattern on the large experimental table, hinting at how many innocent lives had ended there, soaked in so much blood.
Instruments and culture tanks were also scattered around.
However, the instruments were smashed, and the water from the culture tanks had spilled everywhere, rendering them worthless.
After scanning the area, Liu Nanfeng was about to turn and leave when he noticed a transparent cylindrical jar rolling near the leg of an experimental table.
"What is this?" Liu Nanfeng picked it up curiously.
From the outside, it was filled with small, colorful cubes, like sugar cubes.
The ends of the container were made of steel, with only the middle being transparent. It was unclear what material it was, neither plastic nor glass.
Liu Nanfeng shook it gently, and half a box of "sugar cubes" floated inside the bottle, looking very beautiful.
"Brother-in-law." Su Huamei appeared at the doorway at some point, peering inside with a frown.
"What's wrong?" Liu Nanfeng asked.
"Let's go back. Did you find anything?" Su Huamei asked curiously.
"I don't know what this is," Liu Nanfeng said, handing the jar to her.
Su Huamei looked inside curiously, also unsure of what it was. As she was about to figure out how to open it, she heard Su Huamei say, "Let's go."
"Let's study it after we get back," Liu Nanfeng said, leading the way out.
At this moment, Zhan Dundun was holding a large pile of machine parts, carrying them in a big bag.
"These are good things," Zhan Dundun said with a smile.
Much of the equipment in the laboratory couldn't be bought elsewhere. To Zhan Dundun, this was an unexpected windfall. Although most of it was destroyed, with some repairs, there might be pleasant surprises.
The three of them returned to the place where the test subjects were kept.
The test subjects in the cages along the left wall showed little reaction to their return, their eyes vacant, as if the events that had transpired had nothing to do with them.
Many, injured from hitting the cages earlier, lay motionless inside, appearing lifeless.
As they walked towards the exit, nearing the elevator shaft, Zhan Dundun, who was walking last, couldn't help but look back.
He was startled to find that all the cages were empty, with no test subjects in sight.
He couldn't help but glance at Liu Nanfeng, who was walking ahead, feigning nonchalance.
His lips moved, but ultimately, he didn't ask any questions.
"I'll go up first."
Zhan Dundun stepped on the green liquid covering the floor and stomped his foot in disgust.
"Okay, we'll follow," Su Jinxiu nodded.
Zhan Dundun crouched slightly, exerting force with his thighs, and then shot upwards rapidly.
"Let's go too," Su Jinxiu said, putting her arms around Liu Nanfeng's neck.
Then Liu Nanfeng felt Su Jinxiu float upwards towards the elevator shaft, which felt very magical.
Watching the two embrace, Su Huamei, who was following behind, couldn't help but roll her eyes before levitating and chasing after them.
When Liu Nanfeng emerged from the elevator shaft, Zhan Dundun was gone. He looked around and found him outside the door, staring blankly in one direction. It was still raining heavily.
"Looking at...?" Liu Nanfeng walked over curiously and asked.
But before he could finish, Liu Nanfeng realized what he was looking at.
The normally lush and vegetated test base was now bare. Not only had all the plants disappeared, but the other buildings were also gone. It was a ruin, and even the tall tower had been reduced to a pile of scrap metal.
"Did the Dragon King and his crew do this?" Liu Nanfeng asked in astonishment.
"No..."
Su Jinxiu, who had caught up from behind, waved her hand, parting the rain. The scene in the distance was revealed.
On the distant river, stood a middle-aged man in scholarly attire. He stood with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face, gazing at the rolling river.
As the river churned, peculiar underwater devices emerged onto the bank.
As if sensing their gaze, the middle-aged scholar looked up at them, nodded slightly, and the rain curtain instantly resumed, once again obscuring their vision.
"Who is this person?" Liu Nanfeng asked in surprise.
Zhan Dundun was also curious; the man looked quite impressive.
"Nan Caicheng, one of the twelve presidents of the Ninth Division," Su Huamei said from the side.
"So he's Nan Caicheng," Liu Nanfeng said with dawning realization.
When Zhu Yuchan had come to discuss matters with them, she had mentioned Nan Caicheng visiting Little Koi's mother, and it was because of a promise made to Nan Caicheng.
"Let's go back," Su Jinxiu said.
She then linked her arm with Liu Nanfeng's and walked towards the rain curtain, instantly merging with the raindrops and disappearing without a trace.
Su Huamei quickly followed, also using the rain to escape.
Zhan Dundun: ...
What the hell, they just left like that? He was powerful, but he didn't know any evasion techniques. Truly not human.
Zhan Dundun, looking dejected, dashed into the rain curtain and sped away. His powerful energy pushed the rain away, leaving him completely dry.
He vowed to learn an evasion technique at the first opportunity; otherwise, it was just too uncool.
This whole "qi turning into horses" thing was absurd.
The evasion technique was incredible; in a few breaths, Liu Nanfeng was back in the residential complex.
It was pouring rain, so no one noticed their sudden appearance.
"It ended anticlimactically like this?" Su Huamei appeared beside Liu Nanfeng, saying with a lack of interest.
Su Jinxiu shook her head and said, "It seems we were all manipulated by President Nan. He tasked us with the invasion, to lure the fish out, so he could catch them all in one net."
"People in government are all insidious and cunning," Su Huamei said with dissatisfaction.
"Alright, let's go back first," Su Jinxiu said.
She then led the way into the building's entrance.
Upon returning home, Liu Nanfeng glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost eight o'clock. Their outing had taken over seven hours.
However, it wasn't entirely without reward. Liu Nanfeng summoned his scroll.
The scroll, which had previously been obscured by mist, now revealed large areas of scenery.
But relative to the entire painting, it was still too small, making the whole scroll appear as if it were stained with countless blemishes.
Liu Nanfeng ignored these, immersing his consciousness into the scroll, browsing through it one by one.
He saw a mermaid swimming in the water, her pale, waterlogged skin slowly beginning to recover.
He saw a dog-headed man squatting in a patch of grass, silently licking his wounds, the bloody gashes slowly healing.
He saw a sphinx-like test subject sitting on a large rock, staring blankly into the distance, large patches of its fur falling out.
...
Until Liu Nanfeng's gaze fell upon a small figure on a mountainside.