Chapter 231

Chapter 231 – The Scales At Both Ends 12

Kui Xin did not alert anyone; she stopped calling for the nurse as well.

Yu Hansue had her own secrets, Kui Xin knew this. She too possessed secrets, and thus would not pry into Yu Hansue’s affairs unless told directly. Knowing too much about another’s secret was sometimes no good. Yu Hansue was not absolutely safe in the Second World, neither was Kui Xin. They both could not guarantee their secrets would remain intact under any circumstances.

Yu Hansue was incredibly stubborn in some aspects; once she decided on something, nothing could change her mind. In a way, she was someone who persisted until she hit a wall.

She left the hospital tonight, risking being discovered. Where was she heading? What was she going to do?

The night nurse on duty dwindled, the medicine Yu Hansue needed had been administered during the day, so the nurse wouldn’t need to check on her. As for the caretaker… it seemed she might not wake up for a while.

There were no injuries visible on the caretaker’s body; she hadn’t been knocked out. The hospital had all sorts of medications, perhaps Yu Hansue managed to obtain them and make the caretaker temporarily fall asleep. She couldn’t have given the caretaker too much medicine and would return soon enough.

Yu Hansue possessed A-level Extraordinary Abilities, her abilities tied to time. With self-preservation assured, ordinarily, she wasn’t foolish. Given that the descent of the Dark Realm wasn’t in the provincial capital—a huge city without Mutated Beings or Xenomorphs—Kui Xin wasn’t overly worried about her safety.

After a few moments of thought, Kui Xin walked to the bedside and touched the sheets. The blanket was still warm, indicating Yu Hansue had just left about five minutes ago.

Kui Xin initiated Data Manipulation, data cascading before her vision. She connected to the interface effortlessly, controlling the hospital’s computers to review surveillance footage from five minutes earlier.

The footage played at an accelerated pace. Kui Xin searched frame by frame for Yu Hansue’s trace.

Once the hospital’s monitoring systems were scanned, there wasn’t a sign of Yu Hansue.

Expanding her search radius, she began examining the surrounding urban cameras.

Yu Hansue lacked Shadow Transition’s ability to hide her form through obstacles. Large cities were saturated with surveillance; one might find clues…

Moments later, Kui Xin caught a suspicious scene.

It was from a small convenience store security camera around the hospital. A rapid black shadow flashed at the edge of the camera. Reading through the frames, Kui Xin recognized the black shadow as a person, but the speed was abnormal, almost comparable to Kui Xin’s instantaneous Shadow Transition.

The Wheel of Time could accelerate wound healing, a micro-level improvement resulting in rapid cell division. On a macro level, could it also enhance Yu Hansue’s movement speed?

Kui Xin felt she was close to uncovering the truth.

She didn’t wait, disappearing momentarily to land steadily from the third story window. There was no one around, and she usedShadow Transition to leap down securely.

Deciding to find Yu Hansue, Kui Xin wasn’t curious about her secrets but sensed impending trouble—she had a bad feeling something significant would happen tonight, prompted by her innate “Absolute Prediction.”

—

Yu Hansue pushed herself to hurry, running non-stop for twenty minutes until she finally approached the agreed location. It was roughly three hundred meters away. Breathless, chest heaving, throat and lungs burning, she felt a sharp pain. Since the sports exam ended, she hadn’t engaged in such strenuous exercise.

In the SecondWorld, her physique was average, simply a researcher, having no extraordinary battle talent or exceptional constitution. While her condition had improved slightly with her Extraordinary Abilities, only recovery rate and strength increased—not enough for her to match professional fighters. Thus, Yu Hansue could only rely on her Extraordinary Abilities to hasten travel, covering considerable distance within the brief span of twenty minutes which strained her.

Following high school PE teacher techniques, Yu Hansue adjusted her breathing. Five minutes later, her breath returned to normal.

Strengthened, she flexed her arms and took out her mobile phone to check a private message:

Augus: “[Image] Cargo placed here. Password: 0316.”

Suppressing her racing heart, Yu Hansue headed to the specified location.

Under dim streetlights, metal trash cans stood quietly along the road, no one around, the air eerily silent.

Yu Hansue approached the bins meticulously.

Opening one, she saw inside—a twenty-eight inch suitcase. The case was large and weighed heavily; trying to pull it out, its wheels accidentally brushed the bin, producing a loud noise.

“Boom!”

The resounding impact echoed clearly in the night, freezing Yu Hansue in place. She raised her head cautiously, scanning the area until convinced of no abnormalities, then safely placed the case on the ground.

Kneeling, she entered the password 0316 on the luggage lock. With a click, the case opened. Holding her breath, she unzipped it.

An overwhelming stench, followed by a stark white face behind the zipper, forced a retching reflex from her.

Coagulated blood and pungent odors emanated from a living adult male, bound like a worm, compressed inside the suitcase, face distorted, tightly taped around the mouth.

Yu Hansue re-zipped the suitcase.

Pulling her phone out, she replied to Augus, “Receipt confirmed.”

“Are you satisfied with the goods? Remover 9908,” said a voice in the dark.

Not in Chinese.

Yu Hansue turned abruptly, facing the left side where someone stood.

Alert and observant, she had just checked the surroundings moments ago. That person seemingly materialized there.

Hands resting on the suitcase, she scrutinized him, silent.

Augus lit a cigarette, lighter flaring and fading, embers glowing intermittently in the darkness. “No need to be tense, I came to discuss business,” shrugging, “I guessed beforehand what your identity might be. Like Remover 233, you’re a lady. Perhaps we share common interests.”

Speaking with a hoarse voice, “Goods are satisfactory.”

Hiding her injured hand, she avoided Augus noticing.

“Good. You should kill him quickly. His healing speed is unusually fast; regular drugs barely affect him…” Augus took a deep drag, “Moreover, I need some validation. I must verify if the Wheel of Time truly lives up to the claim, worth trading a B-level Heterogeneous Blooded individual for.”

Gauging him over, “How do you want to validate? Show me or…”

“Not necessary…” Augus said composedly, “I can do the validation myself.”

His hand moved, revealing a gun fitted with a silencer, aimed at Yu Hansue.

Instantly alarmed, eyes widening before she could react, Augus efficiently pulled the trigger. A burst of flames shot out, smoke filling the air. Spots of blood exploded across Yu Hansue’s body; the shot struck her, sending her collapsing backward, the powerful firearm even piercing her torso.

After emptying the clip, Augus observed Yu Hansue’s body on the ground, anticipation reflecting in his eyes.

As expected, wounds vanished like they were erased, akin to rewinding time. Blood reverted back into her body; life returning to her stiff body, it twitched, regaining vitality.

Eyes snapping open, she slowly rose from the ground, eyes filled with sinister intent locked on Augus.

Disguised clothing concealed her features, yet eyes spoke volumes.

Indifferent, Augus exclaimed, “Can’t afford to take chances. Confirmation is key. This ability satisfies me, needing how many low-level ones to reach your tier?”

Yu Hansue’s left hand moved, sliding out a gleaming silver scalpel.

Manipulating time, her outline blurred. In mere instants, a silver light flickered at Augus’ corner of the eye. An invisible force field rapidly expanded, air becoming gelatinous and elastic. With a collision, Yu Hansue bounced off, sent flying over ten meters away.

Tumbling to the ground again, she swiftly stood upright.

Raising his hands, Augus responded, “Ready for a fight? No issue with trading that wheel for my weapon.”

His tone joking, the implication clear.

Lowering her head, Yu Hansue clenched her knife, silent.

Puzzled, Augus watched her.

Gathering herself, she lifted her gaze, demeanor easing.

“No one enjoys being shot, just a bit frustrated, Remover 777,” Yu Hansue replied in a friendly manner, “We’re better as partners, mutual benefit. No need for infighting.”

Collecting herself quickly, a different persona emerging.

“You’re right,” Augus laughed heartily, “Glad you see our connection, 9908.”

“As a friend, I’ve one more trade,” Lowering her eyes, she settled on the gun in his hand. “Seeking a weapon, strong enough.”

Laughing even more, Augus countered, “Merely a minor detail, friend.”

Pulling a magazine from somewhere, he tossed the bullets with the gun.

“To you, all yours,” smiling.

Reaching for the gun, she examined the hefty metal with a puzzled look.

“Did you bring more friends, 9908?” Augus sounded surprised.

Yu Hansue was stunned, “None.”

“Means unrelated guests intruded,” He turned toward the dark street corner, “Won’t come out to greet us?”

Yu Hansue spun, spotting a figure in the shadows.

Taking two steps forward, she squinted at the silhouette, recognizing loose attire concealing identity.

Hand holding a bag.

Looking closer, bag contained two packets of spicy sticks and two of fried noodles.

Yu Hansue froze.

—