Because of the fog, the subtle changes in Yuan Que’s skin were obscured from the three outside.
They could only make out his general movements.
He staggered, struggling upright, his center of gravity unstable, as if he might collapse at any moment.
The temperature display remained fixed at [ 38], the compressor still humming loudly. Voices had to be raised to be heard.
“Yuan Que, what’s wrong with you?” Weilang shouted. “Why aren’t you coming out? Can you hear me?!”
Yuan Que stumbled forward, nearly falling. One hand braced against the cabinet as his elbow and body slowly sank.
“Yuan.. ” Lu Pei stepped forward, only to be stopped by Lu Xun.
“Back off. Keep your distance,” Lu Xun said. “Did you bring a sampling tube?”
“Yes.”
They retreated a few steps toward the corridor. Lu Xun took the tube, disabled the alarm by the door, took a breath and entered the fog alone.
Within seconds, he returned, tossing a thumb sized sample device to Lu Pei. With his other hand, he dragged the unconscious Yuan Que out and shut the storage room door.
After a few more steps, Lu Xun released his grip, letting Yuan Que collapse onto the floor.
Lu Pei rushed forward to check, Yuan Que was still breathing, his skin warm.
He wore half a glove, embedded with reflective fragments, glass shards. He had crushed the vial… which meant he had lost consciousness instantly.
Seeing his rival in danger and the major general stepping in to save him without hesitation, Weilang felt deeply moved. Lu Xun’s image rose once again in his mind.
Weilang crouched beside Yuan Que. “What happened? Did he freeze and pass out?”
“Seracibin is normally stored at 2 to 6 degrees. At minus ten, it vaporizes rapidly,” Lu Xun said. “The vials cracked due to rapid freezing. At least twenty vials broke. The vaporized Seracibin was inhaled.”
“So he passed out from inhaling drug gas?!” Weilang exclaimed.
“Yes.”
“…Ah…” Weilang looked worried. “Will he… get addicted?”
“Not necessarily. Seracibin has relatively low addictive properties. Withdrawal is possible,” Lu Xun replied.
Lu Pei frowned. “Why?”
Weilang thought he hadn’t understood. “It just means he got knocked out by the gas. No need to worry too much”
“Under normal conditions it’s a liquid but at low temperature it becomes a gas. Why would energy release cause molecular motion to increase? That contradicts the typical solid liquid gas transitions. Could it be related to pressure changes?”
Weilang blinked. “…?” What is he even mumbling about?
“His structure is unusual. At low temperatures, it exhibits higher activity,” Lu Xun said.
“‘Cold expansion’… similar to the cold preferring traits of the ancient virus? Is there some kind of connection between the two?” Lu Pei asked.
“That’s a widely held speculation. There’s no direct evidence at present.”
Weilang waved a hand. “Please switch to the kids’ channel.”
Lu Pei’s academic focus was history and philosophy; his grasp of science was, at best, superficial. Though questions still lingered, he figured even his brother wouldn’t be able to explain it clearly at a theoretical level, so he let it go.
Yuan Que lay before him, eyes shut tight, brows knitted. His chest rose and fell unevenly, as if he were trapped in an unbearable nightmare. When Lu Pei touched his arm, the body temperature felt even higher than before.
It feels like… Lu Pei thought. Like that time he had drunk “Banjiu” (popular Chinese clear liquor) and been poisoned.
Unconsciousness. Struggle and next… sleepwalking without awareness?
“What?” Lu Xun asked.
Lu Pei made something up casually. “I was just wondering why the cabinet suddenly malfunctioned. Pretty strange.”
“Zhou Zu did it,” Lu Xun said. “He never intended for it to be put into use. He also knew you would come to take it.”
“Why though?” Weilang asked. “If Zhou Zu plans to sell Forget me Water underground, why would he destroy his own goods?”
Lu Pei replied, “The hospital and his distribution channels aren’t the same. You can think of it as him trying to secure exclusive distribution rights.”
“They conduct regular inspections. Don’t waste time,” Lu Xun said.
The implication was clear: leave immediately.
But Yuan Que was still lying unconscious on the ground.
Weilang tried to hoist one of his arms and was instantly shocked. “Holy shit! Why is he so heavy?! Two hundred jin at least! Ruby, give me a hand!”
Lu Pei turned hopeful eyes toward Lu Xun.
Lu Xun stood to the side in his hospital gown, posture straight, unmoving.
Lu Pei grumbled, “You social Darwinist… looking down on people just because you’ve read a few books… actually Yuan Que… ”
The moment the name “Yuan Que” left his lips, something in the air seemed to ripple.
A sudden sharp pain struck Weilang’s shoulder.
The arm that had been hanging limply over him suddenly pressed down with force, almost crushing him. Before he could react, it withdrew just as quickly, like something had kicked off him for leverage and launched away.
The sudden shift in weight sent Weilang crashing to the ground.
“Ow, what the-”
A dark blur lunged forward!
Lu Pei was still mid sentence, hadn’t even finished blinking, when his brother yanked him back.
A sharp gust of air sliced past his arm.
What just happened…? Lu Pei froze for a second.
The shadow that had attacked him landed not far away.
The forefoot touched down first, the arch compressing, pulling the muscles of the legs and core upward, like folding wings as it landed lightly.
It was Yuan Que.
……
Sunny Day Hospital, Pharmacy Department.
“Qiuge, thanks. I’ll head home now. I’ll cover your shift next week.”
A colleague slung a bag over their shoulder, offering Lin Qiuge an apologetic smile.
“No problem,” Lin Qiuge replied.
Once the colleague left, he pulled out a mini tablet hidden beneath a book. On its screen was a live feed from the second floor of the pharmaceutical building.
He had replaced the security room’s footage with pre recorded clips to cover Lu Pei’s infiltration. Only he could see the real footage.
Five minutes earlier, he had spotted the group of four, including Lu Xun himself. He didn’t know why stealing medicine required so many people but more people meant his sample was practically guaranteed.
Now, he switched to the live view.
Camera 1: a white haze, warning lights flashing red and blue on the medicine cabinet.
Camera 2: shattered vials scattered across the floor, as if a tornado had swept through.
Camera 3: black afterimages darting around too fast for the camera to capture, like a haunting. Slowing it down eight times, he could barely make out that it seemed to be two people fighting, judging by their hair, it was Lu Xun and Yuan Que.
What the hell was going on? It was supposed to be a simple theft, how did it turn into this…?
Lin Qiuge panicked.
His phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, Jiang Gelei, his heart nearly leapt out of his throat.
Tablet and phone in hand, he hurried into the men’s restroom and answered.
“Hello…”
“Working overtime?” Jiang Gelei asked.
“Yes.”
“Has anyone come looking for you? Ruby, Weilang, or Yuan Que?”
“Absolutely not!!” Lin Qiuge blurted.
He wasn’t sure what Jiang Gelei was doing, perhaps traveling or evading pursuit. Three minutes later, she asked, “Do you know where Weilang is?”
Cold sweat broke out across Lin Qiuge’s back. “I… uh… I’m working overtime… hehe…”
On Camera 3, Weilang was crawling on the ground. Just as he managed to push himself up slightly, a black blur flashed past and kicked him over again. He flipped onto his back like a turtle.
Those two were still fighting.
“I think I just heard Weilang’s voice,” Jiang Gelei said.
“Impossible!” Lin Qiuge checked nervously, the feed was muted.
“Heh,” Jiang Gelei said. “Lin Qiuge, you don’t want me walking into the men’s restroom to drag you out, do you? Come out. I’m at the door.”
“….”
It was over. Lin Qiuge felt his world go dark.
……….
Lu Xun and Yuan Que were fighting.
Weilang was unintentionally dragged into the fray. No matter how he tried to avoid it, he kept getting kicked, once in the back, then in the rear, rolling around on the floor in misery.
“Yuan Que, what the hell are you doing?!” Weilang shouted, face twisted. “Wake up, man! Stop attacking your own people!”
But in the brief moments when Yuan Que paused, they could see his eyes, unfocused, vacant, sometimes even closed.
The inhaled Seracibin had put him into an extremely aggressive sleepwalking state.
“Can’t wake him!” Lu Pei judged based on prior experience. “We have to wait until it metabolizes!”
“Get down!” Lu Xun shouted.
Lu Pei immediately crouched, covering his head. Another gust of wind sliced past above him. He was far luckier than Weilang, having avoided being caught in the crossfire, mainly because the entire fight revolved around him.
He didn’t realize it himself.
This was the first time Lu Pei had seen his brother at a disadvantage in combat.
At the military academy’s annual open day, during commendation ceremonies, Lu Xun would be showered with awards, record breaking titles and stand as the representative speaker, adorned with medals. No one of his generation dared challenge him.
In the afternoon’s exhibition matches, he would effortlessly defeat opponent after opponent, standing victorious at the end and collecting yet another medal.
But now, facing Yuan Que, Lu Xun was almost entirely on the defensive.
“Was he expelled because of rabies?” Lu Xun remarked.
“Why are you suddenly making personal attacks?!” Lu Pei snapped. “The door’s open, let’s go!”
Yuan Que turned his neck, his body pivoting toward Lu Pei.
He was closer to Lu Pei than Lu Xun was. From the rear flank, Lu Xun flicked his wrist, sending a knife flashing through the air.
Yuan Que had to dodge, buying Lu Xun time but he twisted his body like flowing water, evading the blade while still charging forward.
Too fast.
Lu Xun shielded the back of Lu Pei’s head. In that instant, Yuan Que subtly adjusted his angle, avoiding Lu Pei entirely and drove an elbow toward Lu Xun’s arm.
The moment their elbows collided, Lu Xun heard a crack.
His forearm fractured.
And yet, Yuan Que remained unharmed.
…What terrifying force.
The pain forced a slight grimace from Lu Xun. With a muffled groan, he pushed Lu Pei away, no longer hesitating. He drew his pistol and fired.
“Bang!!”
At this range, dodging was nearly impossible. Yuan Que barely managed to twist his body, taking the shot in his right chest.
The recoil knocked him back slightly. Before he could react, Lu Xun fired again.
“Bang!! Bang!!”
Both shots struck his legs.
Yuan Que stopped.
The gunshots rang in their ears. Lu Pei covered his ears. “That’s enough! Don’t kill him! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Lu Xun said, lowering the gun.
Yuan Que looked down. The bullet had hit his right chest. He raised his arm, veins bulging, muscles tightening.
With his fingernails, he dug out the bullet. The blood stained metal clinked onto the floor.
The wound, a deep cavity, stopped bleeding the moment the bullet was removed.
It even began to close.
The sight was unbelievable. The three of them stood frozen.
“Did I inhale some too? Am I hallucinating? Drugs are terrifying…” Weilang muttered.
“…,” Lu Xun repeated his earlier question. “Where did you find this person?”
“I… I just… picked him up somewhere…” Lu Pei stammered.
The next second, Yuan Que’s face appeared inches from his own.
Like a horror movie jump scare.
“Ah!” Lu Pei cried out.
The bullets in Yuan Que’s legs hadn’t slowed him at all.
Adrenaline surged. Lu Pei’s heart pounded wildly as he was suddenly lifted, literally, Yuan Que hoisted him up, leapt to evade another shot and vanished into the stairwell corner.
Those arms could easily snap his neck.
But Yuan Que didn’t.
Behind them, Lu Xun immediately gave chase.
A sudden thought struck Lu Pei. “Ge, don’t move!”
Lu Xun stopped.
Yuan Que slowed as well, wary, watching the surroundings carefully.
Across the turn of the stairwell, the two of them faced off from a distance.
Several seconds passed before Lu Pei finally dared to be certain. “…I’m fine. Yuan Que seems to still have a tiny bit of awareness, he recognizes me. He’s more hostile toward you. Don’t come closer, I’m afraid you’ll provoke him.”
Lu Xun: “…Alright.”
Lu Pei tried to communicate with him. “Yuan Que?”
Yuan Que’s ear twitched faintly.
Lu Pei tested again, calling softly, “Yuan Que? Can you put me down? Okay?”
Yuan Que lowered his arms. Lu Pei slid down from his shoulder, immediately dizzy from the shift but another hand instantly came up to support his back.
Before he could even feel the drop, he was caught firmly.
Lu Pei landed in his arms.
One of Yuan Que’s hands supported the hollow behind his knees, the other braced his back, holding him in a horizontal carry.
Lu Pei: “…Wake up? Do you still remember who I am?”
Yuan Que’s palm pressed against him, nudging his body forward, lifting him slightly higher and in doing so pulling them closer together.
Yuan Que leaned in. Lu Pei could feel it, he was sniffing him.
From the side of his face, the nose brushed downward to his neck, warm breath spilling along the path, raising tiny goosebumps across his skin.
Then Yuan Que paused at his collarbone, inhaling deeply several times, rubbing the hollow of his neck until the skin there turned warm and unbearably ticklish.
“Hey, Yuan Que, that’s enough,” Lu Pei struggled.
The moment he moved, Yuan Que’s fingers tightened, as if to restrain him but his grip lacked control, squeezing too hard. It hurt. Lu Pei shouted twice, “Let go of me!” but Yuan Que ignored him completely.
Yuan Que’s face shifted from his collarbone to the hollow of his shoulder. His nose pushed aside one side of Lu Pei’s collar, leaving it hanging loosely off the exposed shoulder, while the other side remained awkwardly tugged tight.
Lu Pei slapped the head buried against him. “Get off!”
The blow seemed to confuse Yuan Que slightly. He lifted his head.
His eyes were still veiled in a haze, lingering on Lu Pei’s face for a moment but not truly focusing on him.
Just as Lu Pei wondered whether he was regaining consciousness, Yuan Que suddenly lowered his head and bit his cheek.
Lightly.
But Yuan Que’s canine teeth were sharp, there was a definite sting.
Lu Pei: “??”
Lu Pei: “What are you doing?!”
Lu Xun’s voice came from nearby. “What’s wrong?”
There was no way his brother could see this. Lu Pei felt an inexplicable surge of embarrassment. “N no, no, Lu Xun, don’t come over! Just stay there, don’t move… mmph?!”
As if retaliating against him for speaking to someone else, Yuan Que released his cheek, only to bite down again, this time on his lips.
The tip of his teeth pressed against Lu Pei’s lower lip, applying a slight pressure.
Lu Pei was so shocked he couldn’t speak. His breathing halted as his eyes slowly widened.
As though sensing his stiffness and tension, Yuan Que eased the pressure, still holding Lu Pei’s lips between his teeth. Then, as if soothing him, he licked lightly over the soft flesh of his lips.
From only a step away, Lu Xun’s voice sounded again:
“Xiao Pei, are you alright?”