Eating Melons Until I Saw News of My Own Death Chapter 54

The closed door was pulled open a crack, and Meng Xiao stood behind it, peering out.

"What does the time anchor point entering the main world have to do with us?" Meng Xiao fell silent for a long moment before speaking.

Outside the door stood two men, their figures shrouded in darkness.

"Step aside." The man's voice was calm and authoritative, his tall frame blocking the doorway, poised to break in at any moment.

"Give me a reason. There's a no-entry order here." Meng Xiao gripped a dagger in one hand, confronting them.

The man stared at her through the crack, his eyes dark and inscrutable. "Step aside, or we will deal with you for obstructing official duties."

Meng Xiao pressed her lips together. After a few seconds of silence, she stepped aside and opened the door. "Please be quiet. My sister is resting."

The two men entered the room. They wore black uniforms, and the heels of their leather shoes scraped against the floor, making a sound akin to a heartbeat.

They carried weapons in their hands. Strapped to their waists was a strange belt with a miniature camera installed in the center, likely similar to a body-worn camera.

Standing in the room, they glanced around. The main hall was empty, with nothing unusual in sight.

Then, they strode to the bedside, pulled back the heavy curtains, and saw the woman lying half on the bed, nearly unconscious.

"What do you want with my sister?" Meng Xiao blocked the front of the bed, watching them with a guarded expression.

"The instructor's orders are to take Meng Ting to Zone One immediately to await the gene serum injection."

"Wasn't the transaction supposed to start on September 5th? Why now..."

"Step aside."

"Creak—"

Suddenly, the window swayed back and forth in the wind.

Meng Xiao looked in shock behind the two men and warned, "Watch out!"

They both turned simultaneously, just as a watermelon cleaver came slashing down towards them.

With a "thud," the sharp blade buried itself in one man's shoulder, blood spraying out.

The man, now covered in blood, remained remarkably calm. "Mission obstructed. Requesting backup."

"Hum—"

The position on the belt where the miniature camera was installed began to spin rapidly.

Immediately after, the man drew the pistol from his waist and pulled the trigger. A gray baton struck his wrist hard, and the pistol clattered to the floor.

At the same time, a figure silently appeared behind the other man, gripped his chin, exposed his vulnerable neck, and swiftly drew a dagger across his flesh.

"Who are you people?" Meng Xiao nervously raised her dagger. "How dare you attack law enforcement?"

A woman with a full head of pink hair slung the bloodied watermelon cleaver over her shoulder, looking arrogant. "I'm your goddamn grandma!"

"Stop the chatter. Hurry up and kill the woman on the bed. To be safe, kill her and take the body back to the real world."

"Understood!"

"Stop! What are you doing? Don't hurt my sister! She's someone Zone One needs!"

The pink-haired woman sneered. "Someone Zone One needs? She's exactly who we're here to kill."

"Do it!"

"Stop! The officers have already notified Zone One! They'll definitely send others. You can't hurt my sister!"

"Quick! Do it!"

"Sis-

ter!"()

"Dead? Let's go! The plan succeeded. We're heading back immediately!"

"Go!"

Five or six people hurriedly carried the blood-soaked woman out of the room.

"Give my sister back to me!" Meng Xiao, wounded in the arm, clutched her bleeding wound and chased after them.

A few minutes later, the group hurriedly ran into an abandoned building.

"Cough, cough..."

After the strenuous activity, Ye Huai leaned against the wall, covering his mouth as he coughed lightly.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Xu Junyue placed the unconscious Meng Ting on the ground and turned to ask, "This place should be safe now, right?"

To make it look real, Meng Xiao had taken a solid cut to her arm. She nodded. "Yes, the body camera footage has already been transmitted to Zone One."

Tong Yang closed the dilapidated door and walked over to the group.

Before the officers entered, upon learning they were equipped with surveillance cameras connected to Zone One's command base, they had decided to put on an act first and take Meng Ting away.

If she were taken into Zone One, getting her out again would be harder than reaching the heavens.

To prevent Meng Xiao's identity from being suspected, they had specifically staged this scene in front of the cameras.

Anyway, the fact that Tong Yang had entered the parallel world had already been discovered.

"What do we do now? Didn't that guy request backup before he died?" Chu Shiyu asked.

Tang Shuyan put away his telescopic baton and said nonchalantly, "Since we've been discovered, what are the chances of successfully stealing the premium gene serum by sneaking into the safe zone now, Tong Yang?"

"Zero percent," Tong Yang said.

"Then, then what should we do?" Yan Qing asked, trembling.

Xu Junyue and Tong Yang had moved too quickly earlier, thoroughly frightening the kid, who now clung pitifully to Chu Shiyu, refusing to leave her side.

Tong Yang asked, "Meng Xiao, will my location be detected immediately every time I enter the parallel world?"

Meng Xiao frowned and shook her head. "No, we can only detect your position within the Shadow World."

Tong Yang nodded. "Then someone tipped them off."

"Tipped them off?" Xu Junyue was surprised. "Who?"

Tong Yang indicated she didn't know and continued asking, "How long does it take to get from Zone One to here?"

Meng Xiao said, "Zone One is the farthest from here. Even with transportation, it would take at least half an hour."

"We've been in the parallel world for less than half an hour, and Zone One already knew before we even entered."

Chu Shiyu said hesitantly, "A traitor... in the real world?"

Xu Junyue, however, walked up to Meng Xiao with a questioning look. "It wasn't you, was it? Trying to get us to take Meng Ting back to the real world by staging this yourself?"

Meng Xiao looked at her and said, "I have no reason to do that. Moreover, I also hope you can obtain the premium gene serum to cure my sister."

"Tong Yang, do you think she's trustworthy?"

Xu Junyue pondered for a while but couldn't decide.

Tong Yang said, "It's not her. Taking Meng Ting to Zone One early offers her no benefit."

"So now we're forced into a corner and have to take Meng Ting back first?"

Tong Yang fell into silence. Before they entered, Zone One had already received the message, but the timeframe shouldn't have been long. Moreover, it seemed they didn't know their true objective, their exact location, or even that they had already reached an agreement with Meng Xiao.

That's why they came to take Meng Ting away rather than directly settling accounts with Meng Xiao.

Therefore, the informant wasn't Police Officer Lin or anyone from Department 749, and certainly not anyone among them who was fully in the know. Could it be the Meng family?

But why? There's no benefit for them in doing this. Whether Tong Yang and the others succeeded or failed, the Meng family stood to lose nothing. A rational businessman in such a situation would choose to wait and see.

So, the informant must be someone who only had partial knowledge of their mission.

Who could it be? It's actually not hard to guess.

Someone who knows they entered the parallel world, but isn't clear on their specific plan.

At the same time, it's also possible they know the plan but haven't had the chance to leak it to the First District.

For this person, the clues are just too obvious.

A cold wind blew into the room from the window, creating an eerie atmosphere.

"Why did you all suddenly stop talking? What should we do?"

Yan Qing, clutching Chu Shiyu's arm, asked nervously.

"Quiet, I'm thinking," Xu Junyue said with a serious expression.

"Qingqing, come here," Tong Yang beckoned to her.

Yan Qing asked, puzzled, "Sister Tong Yang, what is it?"

"I want to tell you something. Did you hear what I said to them before we came in?" Tong Yang asked.

Yan Qing said, "What words? I was worried about being discovered, so I only came out of the bathroom after you all closed your eyes. I didn't hear what you said."

Tong Yang nodded. "That explains it."

So she only has a half-baked understanding of everything.

"Huh? What?"

Tong Yang didn't answer, instead giving a slight nod towards Chu Shiyu.

While Yan Qing was still confused, a sudden sharp pain shot through her shoulder. A sharp dagger was plunged into the arm she was using to hold Chu Shiyu.

"Ah! That hurts..."

Xu Junyue walked behind her and kicked the back of her knee, forcing her to kneel halfway to the ground, then leveled a machete against her neck.

Yan Qing was stunned. "Wh-what are you doing?"

Apart from Ye Huai resting by the wall, the others all gathered around her.

"Traitor!"

"You're the traitor!"

"What? What are you talking about? The knife... the knife! Move it away..."

Tong Yang walked up to her, arms crossed, wearing an expression of disgust. "I have never called you 'Qingqing'."

Xu Junyue rubbed her shoulder. "Stop calling out, it's disgusting."

"Huh?" Yan Qing looked utterly incredulous. "What on earth are you talking about?"

Seeing she still refused to give up, Tong Yang said, "The purpose of our trip here is not to kill Meng Ting."

Yan Qing froze. "I... I know that. Don't you want to get the high-quality gene serum?"

"You only found out after we entered that we are cooperating with Meng Xiao to obtain the gene serum. But you've been with us the whole time and haven't had a chance to inform the people from the First District. That's why the enforcers only know we entered the parallel world. They don't know the specific location, nor do they know Meng Xiao contacted us."

"Am I right?"

Yan Qing's face turned pale and then flushed. "You're talking nonsense! I didn't!"

Xu Junyue asked curiously, "Do you think she's like Jingjing(Sister), sent to the real world from a young age? Hasn't experienced the harsh realities of the parallel world, which is why she's so full of holes?"

Tong Yang said, "She and the real-world Yan Qing are not the same person."

It seems that what Liang Xi said that day was indeed half-truths. Besides Meng Xiao, whom both she and Yan Qing knew, the "Yan Qing" from the parallel world who became her friend also truly existed.

"Tong Yang, what do we do now?"

Tong Yang looked down at "Yan Qing" and nodded. "She already knows our real objective. Before she leaks it to anyone else, finish her off."

The cold blade of the machete pressed against the skin of "Yan Qing's" neck, sliding slightly. A stinging pain followed.

"Yan Qing" opened her eyes wide in terror and shouted, "Wait! Wait! I... I can help you!"

Tong Yang raised an eyebrow and raised her hand, signaling Xu Junyue to stop.

"So you admit it?"

Tears welled in Yan Qing's eyes as she looked timidly at Tong Yang. "I... I just wanted to go find Liang Xi to play, and I happened to run into you all. I know your identity, and I know Meng Xiao approached you. When I found out you were coming to the Main World, I told my dad. I really don't know anything else! I didn't even have time to tell my dad that you met with Meng Xiao..."

"Don't kill me! Please!"

Tong Yang narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing her, and realized the Yan Qings from both worlds shared the same foolishness.

"Who is your dad?" Tong Yang asked.

"Yan Qing" fearfully turned her head away, but mindful of the machete at her throat, didn't dare make the movement too obvious. "What do you want?"

"Just answer the question honestly when asked. Don't say anything unnecessary."

Tong Yang walked to her side and pulled the dagger out of her arm, discovering the wound was healing at a visible rate.

"Whoa? Are you a vampire? Your wounds heal on their own?" Xu Junyue said in amazement, then snatched the dagger from Tong Yang's hand and made a cut on her other arm.

"Let me try that again."

"Ouch! That hurts!"

She grimaced in pain and shot Xu Junyue a glare.

Tong Yang looked down for a moment, then asked, "Have you been injected with the high-quality gene serum?"

"Yan Qing" looked up at her, then immediately lowered her head again. "So what if I have?"

"I'll ask one more time. Who is your dad?"

"...An instructor from the First District."

Tong Yang looked at her with a half-smile. "A First District instructor... meaning he should have other doses of the high-quality gene serum on hand, right?"

"Yes! Let me go back, and I'll get my dad to give you the gene serum!"

Tong Yang gave a noncommittal nod. "I imagine your dad must dote on you a lot?"

"Yan Qing" raised her chin proudly. "Of course! Scared now, aren't you? I know you've killed many people in the Main World. If you dare hurt me, my dad will definitely not let you off."

"Is that so," Tong Yang said meaningfully.

"So you'd better let me go now, let me go back to my dad, and he'll give you the gene serum."

Everyone looked at her as if she were an idiot.

"Are you really from the parallel world? Are you this stupid?" Xu Junyue marveled.

"Yan Qing" widened her eyes in disbelief. "You're insulting me?"

Xu Junyue rolled her eyes. "Use your brain. Do you really think we'd just let you go back like that?"

"Why not? I promised you! I'll get my dad to give you the serum!"

Chu Shiyu couldn't help but remark, "I never thought there'd be such a fresh, unused brain in the parallel world."

"Yan Qing" slowly turned her gaze to her. "Are you insulting me too?"

Chu Shiyu smiled, her eyes curving. "What do you think, little sister?"

"And I thought you were the nicest one among them!"

Chu Shiyu looked at her with pity, then asked Tong Yang, "What should we do?"

Letting her go back was absolutely out of the question. Moreover, judging by her demeanor, she must be pampered even in the parallel world, unaware of how cruel reality can be.

Her father is a First District instructor and injected her with the high-quality gene serum, meaning he definitely has more than one dose. Using "Yan Qing" to threaten him on his home turf in the parallel world would be far too risky for them. By then, forget getting the serum, even surviving to return to the real world would be uncertain.

After all, having entered the parallel world voluntarily, their actions wouldn't be restricted.

The best course was to obtain the high-quality gene serum without anyone knowing, then return to the real world without attracting any attention.

Tong Yang asked, "Does your dad only know we entered the parallel world?"

"He probably also knows you want to disrupt the transaction..."

In that case, things just got easier.

"Let's return to the parallel world first," Tong Yang said.

"The First District doesn't know our true objective. They think our mission is complete once we kill Meng Ting, so we'll first create the illusion of leaving, and conveniently bring Meng Ting and 'Yan Qing' back with us."

"Meng Xiao, your identity hasn't been exposed yet. Stay behind and relay this message to the First District."

Meng Xiao replied in a deep voice, "I understand."

"No! I won't leave with you! Let me go! I won't tell my dad! If that's not enough, I'll help you steal the gene serum, okay?"

Tong Yang said, "Don't say such foolish things."

"I'm not going to the Shadow World! Let go of me! Anyway, you can't do anything to me if I don't obey..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Tong Yang pushed Xu Junyue aside and wrapped an arm around her neck from behind.

"Then I'll have to ask you to take a nap."

"Hey! No! Wait! Sister Tong Yang! Let's discuss this, discuss..."

Before she could finish pleading, Tong Yang tightened her arm, cutting off her airway. Under the intense suffocation, she lost consciousness completely in less than twenty seconds.

"Carry her," Tong Yang tossed the person to Tang Shuyan, then looked at Meng Xiao. "We're heading back first. With Meng Ting taken by us, the transaction can't proceed. We'll temporarily stabilize the Meng family. You figure out a way to bluff your way through. Once we're prepared, we'll enter again. You won't need to worry about what comes after that."

Meng Xiao was taken aback for a moment. "You've thought of a solution?"

"Yes."

Xu Junyue asked, "What solution?"

Tong Yang said, "We'll talk about it after we return. Let's go."

Ye Huai stood up from the corner and walked over to them. Having experienced what just happened, his face was noticeably paler.

Five minutes later, they returned to the real world.

Carrying the unconscious "Yan Qing," they walked out of the mall. Less than an hour had passed since they entered the parallel world.

Police Officer Wan, who was guarding the entrance, saw them emerge and immediately rushed over in surprise.

"Why are you out already?"

"Are you injured?"

"Did you get the gene serum?"

"Not yet, we were discovered as soon as we went in," Tang Shuyan shrugged.

Police Officer Wan frowned. "The plan failed? What about Police Officer Lin over there..."

"No, the plan's chance of success is already at fifty percent," Tong Yang interrupted him.

"What?" Police Officer Wan was stunned.

Not only was Police Officer Wan caught off guard, but even Chu Shiyu and the others who had just been through the parallel world with her looked completely bewildered.

"Police Officer Wan, lend me your phone."

"What for?"

Although puzzled, he took out his phone and handed it to Tong Yang.

Using the nearby streetlights, Tong Yang took a photo of Meng Ting, who had also come to the real world, then returned the phone to Police Officer Wan, saying, "Please send this photo to Police Officer Lin. Tell her we've brought the Meng Ting from the parallel world back, and to stabilize the Meng family."

"This..."

"Just do as I say."

"Alright."

"Now can you tell us what you plan to do?" Tang Shuyan asked.

Tong Yang said, "I want to infiltrate the First District directly."

“Use Yan Qing directly to threaten the First District instructor?”

Tong Yang shook her head. "If we're in the parallel world, the initiative will definitely be in the hands of the First District. Besides, Yan Qing has been injected with the high-quality gene serum. Her wound healed completely in just a few minutes. Using her to threaten the First District probably won't be as effective as we imagined."

Xu Junyue nodded. "If her dad goes berserk and drops a missile, she might recover, but we'd be gone."

Chu Shiyu said, "Have her lead us to infiltrate the First District?"

"No, once in the parallel world, she could find a chance to escape at any time."

"Then what do we do?"

"We need to both infiltrate the First District and ensure we have leverage in hand..."

Ye Huai said, "We can't tell people from the parallel world apart, and the First District might not be able to distinguish us either."

Tong Yang's expression was somewhat complicated as she said, "Having the real-world Yan Qing impersonate her to lead us into the First District is the best method. If we're not recognized and successfully obtain the high-quality gene medicine, everyone's happy. If we are recognized, with the parallel world's 'Yan Qing' held here as leverage, even if we can't get the high-quality gene medicine, it shouldn't be difficult for us to retreat safely. Then we can use her to negotiate with the First District."

"However, Yan Qing is just an ordinary student. Dragging her into this isn't a good thing."

Police Officer Wan, listening in a daze, pointed at the "Yan Qing" on the ground and exclaimed, "She's from the parallel world?"

"Right? Can't tell the difference, can you?" Xu Junyue said.

Ye Huai leaned against the wall, breathing lightly. "Dragging her in is indeed not a good thing, but it's the simplest, lowest-risk method that still leaves us a way out."

“Though it requires one premise: the parallel world Yan Qing must hold a very high place in her parents' hearts,” Chu Shiyu said.

Tong Yang looked at the unconscious "Yan Qing" on the ground, pondered for a moment, and said, "That's not a concern. The fact that they could raise her to be this foolish in the parallel world is enough to show that the First District instructor never let her come into contact with any danger."

"What do you plan to do?" Ye Huai looked up at her.

Tong Yang took out her phone and said to them, "First, wake her up and ask what communication device she uses. Be tough with her; she responds to hard tactics, not soft ones."

"I'll call and ask Yan Qing."

Yan Qing was a night owl, often staying up late binge-watching dramas or playing games. She probably wasn't asleep at this hour.

Tong Yang walked to the side alone and called Yan Qing.

Just as she expected, the call was answered after a few rings.

"Sister Tong Yang? You're looking for me?"

Tong Yang said, "You're not asleep yet?"

"Binge-watching a drama! What's up?"

Tong Yang paused for a few seconds before asking, "Do you think parallel worlds exist?"

Yan Qing stated firmly, "They exist! You're lying to me! Parallel worlds definitely exist! Isn't that Meng Xiao proof? I'm almost sixteen, you still think I'm an idiot?"

"If there was a chance to enter a parallel world right now, would you be willing?"

"I would! Of course I would! Sister Tong Yang, are you going to a parallel world? Take me! Take me!" Yan Qing's voice was full of excitement, as if she wished she could fly to Tong Yang's side immediately. "When are we going? I want to go!"

Tong Yang furrowed her brows and said, "You've seen zombie movies, right? The parallel world is pretty much like that, very dangerous. You could die at any moment. Can you handle that?"

Yan Qing's voice softened a bit. "Sister Tong Yang, if it's so dangerous, why are you going?"

"Because something happened. If we don't go, the real world will become very dangerous."

"Wow! Can we save the world? Then I want to go!"

Tong Yang said helplessly, "It's not that grand. Think it over carefully. It's really dangerous over there."

Yan Qing asked, "Sister Tong Yang, didn't you not want me to know about the parallel world?"

"Yeah, but I need your help now."

The phone was silent for a few seconds. Yan Qing let out a deep sigh, and then rustling sounds followed, as if she was getting out of bed.

"Where are you? I'll come find you right now!" Yan Qing's voice still couldn't hide her excitement.

"Have you thought it through? You might die, and it's terrifying. But no matter what, I'll make sure you come back alive."

"I believe you! Hurry, hurry, tell me! Where are you?"

The mall wasn't far from Half-Moon Villa. Tong Yang told her to wait at the residential area's entrance and went to pick her up.

Seeing her hang up, everyone's eyes stayed on her. "What did she say?" they asked.

Tong Yang nodded. "I'll go pick her up."

"Okay, we've woken the other one up."

Tong Yang headed to Half-Moon Villa and saw Yan Qing peeking around at the entrance.

She was carrying a white crossbody bag, wearing casual clothes, her hair in a high ponytail. Seeing Tong Yang walk towards her, she waved vigorously.

"Sister Tong Yang!"

Tong Yang said, "Come on out."

Residents of Half-Moon Villa used access cards to enter and exit. Yan Qing stepped out.

"What about your parents?"

"They're not home. Auntie Liu is asleep, but I left her a note. Anyway, I don't have class tomorrow."

"Mm, let's go."

Tong Yang took her to the mall.

"Are you scared?" Tong Yang asked.

Yan Qing first nodded, then shook her head. "A little, but not much."

"But I'm really curious, and I want to help you!"

Tong Yang glanced at her sideways. "Be mentally prepared. First, I'll take you to meet the parallel world version of you."

"The parallel world me?"

"Yeah."

The two returned to the mall. The other "Yan Qing" had already been woken up by them.

"It's just this phone, no other contact methods! Really!"

"You have to believe me! Most of us communicate via phone too, just like you..."

The other "Yan Qing" was backed into a corner by Xu Junyue, who was brandishing a large watermelon knife, wearing an expression of utter despair.

"I don't believe you," Xu Junyue stated categorically.

"You've searched me all over, there's nothing else!"

"Then tell me, what method do you use to enter the real world?"

"I can't say... Wait! You—you put that knife down! That's the one thing I can't tell you, or I'll definitely die!"

Xu Junyue raised the watermelon knife, eager to try something. "That's the one thing you can't tell us? As if you know so much. Isn't it more like you know nothing at all when we ask?"

The other "Yan Qing" crouched in the corner, covering her head and shrinking back. "That's because, that's because..."

"Sister Tong Yang! Save me!"

Seeing Tong Yang and the other walking side by side towards her, the other "Yan Qing" immediately acted as if she'd seen a savior.

"Huh? You're back?"

Xu Junyue turned to look. The other "Yan Qing" took the chance to slip past her.

"Sister Tong Yang..."

Suddenly, seeing the stunned Yan Qing next to Tong Yang, her voice trailed off.

The two Yan Qings stared wide-eyed at each other, too shocked to speak.

The others' gazes also shifted between the two.

"Exactly the same."

"Can't tell them apart. Not at all."

"Not just us, I bet even her parents couldn't tell."

The other "Yan Qing" had traveled between the two worlds multiple times, always to meet Liang Xi, and had never run into her counterpart from the other world. Seeing her now, she realized even their moles were identical.

Yan Qing was flabbergasted. "You're the parallel world me?"

"You're the shadow world me?"

"Wow! You look just like me!"

"You look just like me too!"

Tong Yang's gaze moved between the two. She could only tell which world they were from by their clothing. Perhaps Yan Qing could deceive her parallel world parents and get the high-quality gene serum from them.

Then, they could secretly swap them back to their respective worlds.

"Tell us what information you know," Tong Yang said.

The other "Yan Qing" wrinkled her nose. "I don't know much. My parents usually don't let me get involved in these things."

"Then answer a simple question: how do we get the high-quality gene serum?"

The other "Yan Qing" frowned tightly, seeming to find it difficult. She hesitated for a long time without speaking.

Xu Junyue paused her knife-sharpening motion against the wall, gripped the handle, and took two steps towards them.

"In my dad's safe!" She looked at Xu Junyue in terror and suddenly blurted out.

Xu Junyue showed a regretful expression and went back to sharpening her knife against the wall. The sound of metal scraping against the wall was sharp and grating. The other "Yan Qing" even felt like she was sharpening her bones.

"Where is the safe?"

The other "Yan Qing" hunched her shoulders, hiding behind Tong Yang, apparently thinking she was safer than Xu Junyue.

Seeing this, Xu Junyue shook her head disdainfully. Who was really safer here?

"I... I..."

She stammered, indecisive.

Tong Yang's patience was wearing thin. Although she had brought Meng Ting back to the real world, stopping the cooperation between the parallel world and the Meng family, she didn't know how Police Officer Lin was doing over there, or if his negotiations with the Meng family were going smoothly. It was better to get the high-quality gene serum as soon as possible.

"I won't tell you, but... Ah!"

Before she could finish the first part of her sentence, Tong Yang, as if by magic, produced a dagger and expressionlessly thrust it towards her eye. The move was too fast; the other "Yan Qing" didn't even have time to blink. The tip of the blade almost hovered over her eyeball.

Her breath hitched, her body froze in place, a cold sweat breaking out all over. She didn't dare move a muscle.

"...I can take you there."

She reflexively completed the sentence she hadn't had time to finish.

Yan Qing was startled by her sudden move. Recovering, she immediately felt gleeful. "I advise you not to beat around the bush. Just answer whatever Sister Tong Yang asks."

"Where is the safe?" Tong Yang's face showed no expression, her hand holding the knife not trembling in the slightest.

The other "Yan Qing" swallowed. Originally, she had wanted to negotiate with Tong Yang. Now, forget negotiation; she even felt that compared to her, that awful woman with the watermelon knife might be gentler.

"In my dad's study."

Tong Yang withdrew the dagger. "The safe combination."

"I don't know..."

Tong Yang gave her a cold look.

"I swear! I really don't know! My dad only has one dose of the high-quality gene serum left, and I never asked for the combination. I don't need that stuff anyway!"

Seeing her look like she was about to cry from anxiety, she probably wasn't lying.

But without the safe combination, unless they made her dad open it himself, they couldn't get the gene serum.

Tong Yang pondered other solutions, her expression inscrutable.

The other "Yan Qing," probably thoroughly frightened now, thought she was brewing some bad idea and timidly said, "It can also be opened with a key."

"Where's the key?"

"My dad always carries it with him."

Tong Yang frowned. To get the key, Yan Qing would have to make close contact with her parallel-world father, which was far too risky for them.

"I... I can help you get the key," she said cautiously.

If she could return to her dad's side, of course she wouldn't help these terrifying people get any safe key. She'd have her dad arrest them immediately—that would teach them to scare her!

Tong Yang looked at her with a half-smile. "All your little schemes are written all over your face."

"No, no! I wasn't thinking anything!"

Tong Yang said, "Give it up. I won't let you return to the parallel world until we get the premium gene serum."

"Yan Qing" pouted, her eyes reddening with feigned grievance, and muttered, "You're all bad people. I didn't do anything wrong; I just came to play with Liang Xi."

"You did do wrong," Tong Yang said, her gaze turning cold. "Your mistake was recklessly crossing spatial boundaries and entering our world."

"Yan Qing" froze for a moment, then slowly lowered her head, tears falling one by one.

"Where is your home?"

"Yan Qing" turned her head away and said sullenly, "My house is covered in surveillance. If you're thinking of going directly to my house from the shadow world, just give up. You'd be discovered immediately."

"How can we enter your house openly?"

"Yan Qing" glanced back at Tong Yang, sniffled, and complained quietly, "No need to be so fierce."

She pointed to her schoolbag. "There's an ID card. It grants free access to any location in District One, and as long as I have it, no one dares to harm me."

"This one?" Chu Shiyu took a golden ID card from the bag.

"That's it. There's a raised red button on the front. If you press it, my parents will know I'm in danger and come to rescue me."

Tong Yang took the ID card. It was surprisingly heavy, likely equipped with a tracking function.

"Why haven't you pressed it?" Tong Yang asked.

"Yan Qing" lowered her head and mumbled, "When would I have had the chance? Besides, my parents don't even know I sneaked out. They usually don't let me leave the house."

"But your house has surveillance?"

"The surveillance is to prevent intrusions, not specifically to watch me."

Tong Yang looked at the golden ID card. It might come in handy. She put it in her own bag.

"You have one hour. Draw a map of District One and your home's location, and tell her everything you know."

"Yan Qing" widened her eyes. "You want her to replace me?"

"Yes, until we get the premium gene serum. Until then, you'll have to stay here. If anything happens to us, you won't escape death either. Even if your body can recover, we can make you wish you were dead. So, you wouldn't try any tricks and give false information, would you?"

Tong Yang tapped the girl's cheek lightly with the flat of her blade and smiled. "Be good and cooperate. I'll let you go back once it's done."

"Yan Qing" shrank back fearfully. "You'll really let me go back?"

If she could get home safely, it was just one vial of premium gene serum. Her life was far more important. Even if her body could heal, the pain was still very real.

Tong Yang's expression was neutral. "If you cooperate, I won't hurt you."

"Okay..."

Having Police Officer Wan bring paper and a pen, Tong Yang handed them to her, then stepped back to watch the two of them.

Yan Qing didn't seem afraid; on the contrary, she seemed faintly excited, which reassured Tong Yang somewhat.

She was feeling tired and sat down leaning against the wall.

Ye Huai stood beside her, drinking hot water from a thermos. He took out two black pills and swallowed them with the water.

"Are you okay?" Tong Yang asked.

Ye Huai nodded, pursing his lips. "Mm, I'm fine."

"The air over there isn't great, is it?"

"I brought two oxygen tanks, just in case."

"Oh."

Tong Yang propped up one leg, resting her elbow on her knee and her chin in her hand, watching Yan Qing and "Yan Qing" thoughtfully.

The two similar-looking girls, equally young and naive, with many personality similarities, were also different from others. There was no mutual wariness or hostility between them. One spoke, the other listened—an eerily harmonious scene.

To be honest, Tong Yang hadn't expected someone as normal as "Yan Qing" to exist in the chaotic and bloody parallel world.

Meng Xiao was about the same age but was already accustomed to harsh reality, her hands probably stained with the blood of her own kind.

"Tong Yang, Police Officer Lin has negotiated with the Meng family. They can give us a few days. We need to get the gene serum by midnight on September 6th."

Tong Yang gave a slight nod. "Did the Meng family set any conditions?"

"Police Officer Lin said they just want to cure Meng Ting's illness. Trading with us or someone else makes little difference, but they can give us priority."

"Good." Tong Yang acknowledged and fell silent.

It was now the early hours of September 4th. They had nearly three days. If things went smoothly, they might even get the premium gene serum today.

"If things go well, are you going to let her go back?" Ye Huai asked.

"Yes."

"She has significant research value. It might lead to breakthroughs for Department 749."

Tong Yang said, "Sometimes you have to know when to stop. If we don't end this, endless danger will surround Yan Qing. It would be like playing with fire."

"Even so, District One might not let you off."

"They were never going to let me off anyway."

Ye Huai said, "Because you're the temporal anchor point?"

Tong Yang glanced at him. "Yes."

After a few seconds of silence, Ye Huai asked, "Is it all for self-preservation?"

"Yes. Is that strange?"

Ye Huai looked down at the reflective surface of his thermos, his expression detached. "What if it could be transferred?"

"What?" Tong Yang was taken aback.

Ye Huai said, "The anchor point could be reset. Then they wouldn't be fixated on you anymore."

Tong Yang shook her head. "I don't know."

If the anchor point could be transferred, was there anyone more suitable than her?

Tong Yang didn't dwell on it further and closed her eyes to rest.