"I didn't expect Zhan Zhongxiao to be so formidable," Yang Ruoyun said with emotion after Yang Ruoyun and Hu Mengyao left.
"Oh? You know him?" Hu Mengyao asked, surprised.
"We've met a few times." Yang Ruoyun indeed knew Zhan Zhongxiao, and also Chen Wenhui, as they had visited Liu Nanfeng's home. At that time, she was just a cat.
"And you? How do you know him?"
"I don't know him. But he and Liu Nanfeng rescued me from the people of the Tide Society that day. He must be Liu Nanfeng's friend, I assume."
Yang Ruoyun nodded and continued, "What about you now? Are you still planning to rescue your sister?"
Hu Mengyao fell silent. Alone, she had almost met her end. Now, she truly had no confidence at all.
"If it's impossible, report it to Department Nine," Yang Ruoyun suggested. She felt that Hu Mengyao's sister's matter was different from the Tide Society's; Department Nine wouldn't ignore it.
But Hu Mengyao shook her head. Because of what her sister had done, if it wasn't investigated, there would be no consequences. But if it was discovered, she would definitely be held accountable.
Seeing Yang Ruoyun's confused look, Hu Mengyao didn't hide anything and told her the truth. Yang Ruoyun was stunned speechless. In all her time in the world, she had never heard of such a thing. However, after thinking about it, she couldn't help but laugh.
"Your sister is quite something."
"What's so surprising? Do you know Han Xiangning of the Han Group?"
Yang Ruoyun nodded. Of course, she knew her; she was the mortal enemy of the Su sisters.
"It's rumored that she has several zombie factories in Southeast Asia. They don't need rest, don't require wages, and only need a small amount of blood to work for her, generating massive profits."
Yang Ruoyun: ...
"That's not all. They even have a mature industrial chain. First, they get people with strong vanity to take out loans, then through SMS scams, they trick them out of all their money, and then they harvest kidneys for debt repayment. Of course, it's not limited to kidneys; other organs can be taken too. The bodies are then sold to Han Xiangning after death, where she turns them into zombies to work in the factories. And the prices of these bodies vary. The most expensive are Black people and Westerners, as their skin is tough and their flesh is dense, making them more durable. The cheapest are poisonous insects, whose bodies are basically hollowed out. Even if they become zombies, their utility value is the lowest."
Yang Ruoyun's eyes widened, and she subconsciously swallowed. This was even more ruthless than capitalists.
"You know so much," Yang Ruoyun swallowed again.
"Fourth Sister told us all this. She often used Han Xiangning to scare us, saying that if we weren't obedient, she would send us to Han Xiangning."
Yang Ruoyun smiled awkwardly. It felt a bit like adults scaring children, saying they would be eaten by a big tiger if they didn't behave.
"Actually, Han Xiangning treats demons quite well. If you go there, you can basically get a management position," Hu Mengyao said.
Yang Ruoyun gained some insight, but it also made her sigh that the development of this world was beyond her comprehension.
"If that's the case, can you find a few helpers? Otherwise, with our combined strength, I'm afraid..."
"Oh, no need, no need. I can go rescue Fourth Sister by myself," Hu Mengyao quickly waved her hand.
"If the two of us aren't enough, and you go alone, won't you be walking into a trap? If it's really impossible, why don't you go back to your clan and call for some reinforcements?" Yang Ruoyun suggested.
Hu Mengyao was silent for a moment before saying, "The younger generation of our clan is not as strong as me. There are two clan elders, but their lifespans are also nearing their end."
"Forget it, I'll find a friend. With her, it should be fine," Yang Ruoyun said after some thought. She didn't have many friends and didn't want to lose Hu Mengyao as a friend because of this.
"Ruoyun, thank you." Hu Mengyao was truly grateful for Yang Ruoyun's kindness.
However, Hu Mengyao still shook her head and refused, "But no, you shouldn't get involved."
"It's okay, my friend is very strong. With her dealing with it, it should be fine," Yang Ruoyun said excitedly.
"Really?"
"Of course, it's true. Would I lie to you?"
"Will it cause trouble for her?"
"No, her background is very deep. If the enemy knew her identity, they would probably be even more afraid to provoke her casually."
Hearing Yang Ruoyun say this, Hu Mengyao felt relieved, but her curiosity about the other party's identity grew even stronger.
"Let's go."
No sooner said than done, Yang Ruoyun pulled Hu Mengyao and headed straight for Erlong Mountain near Jiangcheng. The name Erlong Mountain sounded imposing, but there were no dragons there; it was very ordinary. It was originally a thorny mound. In recent years, Jiangcheng had developed and built a large park on the mountain, which made it somewhat famous. On weekends, locals in Jiangcheng liked to bring their families to hike and visit the park.
However, it was already night, and the park on the mountain had long been closed. Down the mountain, in the square, some elderly ladies were still dancing.
"Does your friend live here?" Hu Mengyao asked curiously.
"No, it's just that it's convenient for me to contact her here."
Yang Ruoyun pulled Hu Mengyao into the dark shadows. Using the cover of the grass and trees on the mountain, the two quickly reached the highest point of the mountain. At this moment, Yang Ruoyun took out a short flute and placed it to her lips, playing a melodious tune that broke through the night sky. The surrounding flowers and trees seemed to be infected, undulating like waves, cheering and dancing in the moonlight.
Just then, a beam of light suddenly appeared under the moonlight, and then a glowing creature came charging towards them through the air.
***
"What are you laughing at?" Zhan Dundun asked with a hint of dissatisfaction, seeing Chen Wenhui laughing heartily.
"I'm laughing at your silly appearance, but you have so many thoughts."
"You're overthinking it. Recording your journal is just my habit. But speaking of which, it was truly because of you that I embarked on the path of biological research," Chen Wenhui said with emotion. Seeing Dundun after she transformed had planted a seed in Chen Wenhui's heart, leading her to choose biology as her major years later.
Seeing Chen Wenhui's open and generous demeanor, Dundun also gave a slightly embarrassed smile. Just then, Chen Wenhui suddenly leaned her face closer, their distance being almost a finger's width, and they could even smell each other's breath. Dundun instinctively leaned his head back slightly, feeling a little uneasy.
But it was clear that Chen Wenhui had no intention of letting him go. As he leaned back, she moved forward, a mischievous smile on her face. She suddenly said, "Do you like me?"
Dundun's mind went blank. His heart pounded like a drum, and sweat began to bead on his forehead. It was even more nerve-wracking than a major battle he had just fought. He opened his mouth, not knowing how to answer for a moment.
But Chen Wenhui stared intently into his eyes and said with a smile, "Think carefully before you answer, or don't blame me for not giving you a chance."
Although Dundun was simple-minded, he was not foolish; in fact, he was extremely intelligent. Hearing these words, he instantly understood what she meant, and an overwhelming joy surged from his heart, engulfing him like a wave. He didn't know where the courage came from. He threw his arms around Chen Wenhui and shouted, "I like you."
"If you like me, then like me. Don't get handsy," Chen Wenhui said coquettishly. She then playfully stepped on Dundun's foot.
Dundun only then reacted and quickly released Chen Wenhui. Seeing that she wasn't angry, he breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled foolishly again.
"For the sake of friendship, I'll give you a chance. You'd better seize it," Chen Wenhui said.
Dundun quickly nodded, his mind completely clouded by immense joy. He would agree to whatever Chen Wenhui said.