One person: Senior brother Zhang Zhiwei, the Celestial Master begged me to descend the mountain.

Passing through the heavy blast-proof door, the interior of the villa wasn't as menacing as it appeared from the outside.

The interior design is typical of Chinese style, with mahogany furniture, landscape paintings and calligraphy, and even an exquisite fish tank in the entryway, where several goldfish swim leisurely.

If you ignore the array of drones still flashing pink lights outside the door, this place looks like the home of an ordinary wealthy businessman.

Zhang Taichu walked straight into the living room, his gaze sweeping over the expensive rosewood sofa. Without any ceremony, he chose the main seat and sat down.

He crossed his legs, casually picked up a plate of washed grapes from the coffee table, plucked one, and popped it into his mouth.

"Hmm, the sweetness is just right."

Zhang Taichu leaned back on the sofa, looked at Gao Lian who followed him in, and pointed to the seat opposite him:

"Don't just stand there, this is your home."

"It's like I'm the host and you're the guest."

Gao Lian had already slung the modified assault rifle over his shoulder, but his bloodshot eyes remained fixed on Zhang Taichu.

That look in his eyes was like that of an old wolf protecting its cubs—warning, fearful, yet tinged with a hint of helplessness.

He glanced at the few security cameras in the corner of his living room.

The indicator lights above were flashing in a cheerful rhythm, clearly indicating that control of the entire villa remained in the hands of his beloved daughter.

"call……"

Gao Lian let out a heavy sigh and sat down opposite Zhang Taichu.

The imposing presence that comes with years of holding a high position simply vanishes in front of this seemingly lazy young Taoist priest.

After all, if anyone had just heard that the other party had wiped out one of the Ten Elders' families, no one could put on airs in front of him.

"Master Zhang."

Gao Lian placed his hands, clasped together, on his knees; his knuckles were slightly white from the force of the movement.

"You are a master, an elder of Longhu Mountain."

"Although my Gao family are well-connected, we're also considered half-insiders in this circle."

"I've already heard about what happened at the Wang family last night."

Gao Lian paused, his voice becoming low:

"If your trip to Tianjin is for company matters or because of that list, just come to me."

"Erzhuang, she..."

"Although she has some special abilities, she is in poor health and cannot withstand much stress."

At this point, Gao Lian's tone even carried a hint of pleading.

As a father, when faced with an overwhelming force, dignity no longer matters.

Zhang Chulan and Wang Ye, who were standing to the side, exchanged a glance and both saw a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.

Is this still the same person who was rumored to be impartial and ruthless in charge of the Northeast region?

"Can't withstand the strain?"

Zhang Taichu popped another grape into his mouth, looking at Gao Lian with a half-smile:

"Those turrets and drones that were supposed to turn us into sieves, she seemed to be having a lot of fun with them."

"and……"

Zhang Taichu sat up straight, his languid expression softening slightly.

"Gao Lian, don't play the victim with me."

"I am not here to cause trouble, nor to kill anyone."

"I've come to deliver good fortune."

Upon hearing the words "sending good fortune," Gao Lian paused for a moment, his brows furrowing even more deeply.

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Taichu didn't answer directly, but instead raised his hand and pointed to the floor beneath his feet:

"I already greeted that girl online."

"Souls are interesting, but this place they live in..."

Zhang Taichu shook his head:

"It's too crowded."

"Lead the way."

"Let me see what that girl really looks like."

Gao Lian's body jolted violently.

He stared intently at Zhang Taichu, his eyes filled with struggle.

basement.

That was the Gao family's biggest secret, and also his greatest pain.

Apart from him and a few absolutely trusted confidants, no one had ever gone inside.

Let outsiders see what Erzhuang looks like now...

Ding dong.

Just as Gao Lian was hesitating, the home theater system in the living room suddenly turned on automatically.

The huge projection screen slowly descended.

The screen lights up.

A giant pink emoticon appeared above:

(｡･∀･)ﾉﾞHi!

Immediately afterwards, a line of text appeared:

[Dad! Bring them down!]

I want to meet this handsome Taoist priest! He's incredibly popular online!

And... I also want people to see what I'm really like...

Looking at the words on the screen, Gao Lian's eyes instantly reddened.

He remained silent for a long time, and finally, as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders, he slumped onto the sofa.

"well……"

Gao Lian stood up and walked somewhat heavily toward the bookshelf on one side of the living room.

He pressed a button on a thick encyclopedia.

Rolling rolling—

A low, mechanical grinding sound rang out.

The bookshelves slowly slid to the sides, revealing the elevator door behind them, which gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen.

"Since Erzhuang has said so..."

Gao Lian turned his head and looked at Zhang Taichu and the other two, his voice hoarse:

"Please, everyone."

……

The elevator descended.

The numbers on the display screen kept changing: basement level 1, basement level 2, basement level 3...

The elevator finally came to a slow stop on the fifth basement level.

As the elevator doors opened, a blast of chilly air rushed out.

A unique smell permeated the air.

It smelled of high-purity nutrient solution mixed with some kind of chemical agent. Although it wasn't pungent, it made people instinctively feel depressed.

If the upstairs is a cozy home, then this place is a cold, future laboratory.

Various sophisticated instruments, whose names Zhang Chulan couldn't even recall, were operating silently, their indicator lights flashing alternately and emitting a soft buzzing sound.

Countless cables of varying thicknesses, like black blood vessels, covered the ceiling and floor, eventually converging in the center of the hall.

There.

A huge cylindrical glass tank stands there.

The tank was filled with a pale green, transparent liquid.

And within that liquid, a figure was suspended.

The moment Zhang Chulan saw the figure clearly, his pupils suddenly contracted to their maximum size, and he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

"this……"

"This is……"

Wang Ye lowered the brim of his hat, but for a moment, his hand trembled involuntarily.

Even those who are used to life and death would find it difficult to remain calm in the face of this scene.

That's not a complete person.

That was just a torso.

It has no arms.

It has no legs.

Even part of the lower jaw is missing.

The girl with long pink hair lay there naked, her mutilated body quietly immersed in the nutrient solution.

Countless thin catheters and electrodes were inserted into her paper-white skin, connecting her spine, brain, and remaining internal organs.

With the rise and fall of the ventilator, her chest trembled slightly, the only sign of life in this body.

And in front of her eyes, she wore a huge, specially made VR headset that covered most of her face, leaving only her pale nose and lips exposed.

This is Gao Erzhuang.

This is the daughter of the head of NaDuTong's Northeast region.

This is the price to pay.

The price of innate superpowers and mutations.

"Erzhuang..."

Gao Lian walked to the glass tank, reached out his hand, and gently stroked his daughter's mutilated figure through the thick bulletproof glass.

This tough guy, who had just been holding a gun and daring to fight Zhang Taichu to the death, was now shedding tears.

"This is Erzhuang's true form."

Gao Lian did not turn around, his voice choked with emotion:

"When she awakened her innate superpowers, her body began to break down."

"To save her life, I have no choice but to..."

Gao Lian couldn't continue speaking.

The pain of having to manually amputate his daughter's necrotic limbs and watching her become like this tormented the father every moment.

The hall was silent.

The only sound was the ticking of the instruments.

Looking at the mutilated body trapped in the glass jar, Zhang Chulan felt a sudden surge of indescribable sorrow.

He remembered the heart-shaped formation made of drones that he had just seen.

I remembered that lively emoticon on the screen just now.

What kind of powerful soul could maintain such an optimistic and playful attitude in this broken body?

sizzle-

Just then.

A giant display screen directly opposite the glass tank suddenly lit up.

A two-dimensional girl with pink twin tails and wearing an adorable Lolita dress appeared on the screen.

She blinked her big eyes and made a face at everyone:

(๑ • ̀ ㅂ • ́) و✧

Hey! Don't be so serious!

[Dad! Honestly, stop crying! The guests are still here!]

[Look at me, I'm doing great! I don't need to eat, I don't need to go to the bathroom, and I can go wherever I want!]

A synthesized girl's voice came from the speakers, carrying a hint of playfulness and coquettishness.

The more relaxed and cheerful she appeared, the heavier the mood became for everyone present.

Zhang Chulan lowered his head, his fists clenched tightly.

Wang sighed, turned his head to the side, and couldn't bear to look anymore.

Zhang Taichu walked up to the glass tank.

He reached out, his slender fingers gently touching the cool glass wall.

A faint golden light seeped into his fingertips and spread throughout the nutrient solution.

The two strong men inside the glass tank seemed to sense something.

The head wearing the helmet moved slightly.

The anime girl on the screen stopped making faces and stared wide-eyed at the man standing in front of the tank.

Zhang Taichu withdrew his hand, turned around, and looked at Gao Lian, whose face was covered in tears.

"The house is really too dilapidated."

"It's drafty, leaky, and doesn't keep you warm."

Zhang Taichu's voice was soft, yet it echoed clearly in the empty underground hall:

"Such an interesting soul, living in this dilapidated house."

"It is indeed a bit of a waste."

Gao Lian stared blankly at Zhang Taichu, seemingly not understanding what he was saying.

Zhang Taichu clapped his hands, as if he had made a decision:

"Gao Lian."

"If I said I could get her a new house."

"Or perhaps..."

Zhang Taichu pointed to the mutilated torso:

"Fix this house."

Do you believe it?