FATE: Target of Grand Master

To Linghu's rather enthusiastic words, Shi simply replied with an indifferent "Oh".

"Huh? Xiao Shi, you seem unusually cold today. Is it because you were scolded earlier?" Linghu asked with concern.

"No. I'm just simply tired of these experiments."

Linghu sat down on his single bed and asked, "What is the purpose of these experiments? Will we, the experimental subjects, ever have a chance to leave? I really want to see the outside world."

Every time this topic comes up, Linghu will show a sad and helpless expression.

Without needing to say more, Shi understood that she would neither get the answers to these questions nor be allowed to leave, but she quickly composed herself and said, "Then read me a story."

Linghu smiled and said, "Alright. Which story should I read?"

The Death of King Arthur

"Didn't you say you weren't going to read this one anymore?"

"That's because you spoiled the plot about Guinevere and Lancelot last time, so I stopped watching."

"Oh, I'm sorry, last time I thought you had already finished watching it, so I wanted to talk to you about your feelings about the character of King Arthur. So why do you want to watch it again now?"

"Some things, even if they are destined tragedies, must be faced, right?"

Linghu was somewhat surprised that the young girl could utter such philosophical words, and he fell silent.

"What? Are you intimidated by my words? I'm not bragging, but if you let me out, I'll definitely become a renowned female sage."

Although the poem's wording was somewhat classical, making its words sound a bit comical, Linghu was genuinely shocked by the poem's growth. However, considering what they were doing to these young men and women, Linghu's conscience prevented her from replying to the poem at this moment.

"Let's go back to school."

A moment later, Linghu opened the storybook and began reading from the page with the bookmark.

Another month passed, and for some reason, Shi felt that Linghu had been appearing less and less frequently lately, and every time he did appear, he always seemed to be carrying an undeniable sense of fatigue.

"Subject 26, go to Lab 3."

As usual, I only need to go to the lab and be tested by those incomprehensible instruments for a while before I can return to my room. But for some reason, I have a feeling of unease about today's poem.

"hurry up!"

The doctor in the white coat who came today was very rude, but Shi still quickened her pace.

As long as you don't make mistakes or go against the grain, you can just be a good little bunny.

Poetry comforted him in his heart.

The laboratory door opened, and Shi was somewhat surprised because the laboratory was unusually lively today.

In the past, there was only one round testing instrument waiting for her, but today there were three people in blue lab coats wearing masks, gloves and hats inside.

One of the men in the blue coats pointed to a bed next to them that they could lie down on and said, "Take off your clothes and lie down on it."

The poem was written obediently.

Click!

However, as soon as Shi lay down on the bed, her neck and limbs were locked by metal rings, which made her feel very awkward.

"Excuse me, what is today's experiment?"

Shi knew she shouldn't ask that question, but the unease in her heart still made her hope that someone could give her an explanation.

But the men in blue coats nearby seemed not to hear her and ignored her.

One of the "blue coats" inserted a syringe into a bag, drew out a small tube of clear liquid, gently squeezed out the air from the tip, and said, "Anesthesia is ready."

"Let's get started. This client is getting a little impatient. After this is done, I'm going to take a good vacation," said another "blue coat" holding a small, sharp-looking knife.

"I also want to take a vacation. I feel like I'm going to get depressed from being cooped up in this research institute every day."

The man in the blue coat holding the anesthetic needle wiped the skin on the inside of Shi's right elbow with an alcohol swab and aimed the needle at the vein there.

Just as the needle was about to pierce Shi's skin, the laboratory lights suddenly went out.

"What's going on? Ouch!"

Boom!

"what!"

Boom!

In the darkness, the two men in blue coats who had been talking earlier each let out a scream, followed by the sound of two heavy objects falling to the ground.

The sudden darkness made Shi, who was lying on the operating table, sit up. The rings that had been binding her seemed to have opened due to the power outage.

"Little Poem, hurry up!"

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Shi's wrist in the darkness. Although Shi couldn't see the other person's face, she recognized them by their voice.

"Linghu, is that you?"

"It's me. I can't talk right now, come with me."

Without hesitation, Shi ran out of the laboratory without even putting on clothes, led by Linghu.

"Warning! Power failure at the research institute. Backup power will be activated in 30 seconds. All personnel are required to remain in place and refrain from moving to avoid collisions."

The institute's loudspeakers broadcast the voice of artificial intelligence.

However, Linghu ignored the voice's advice and, relying on the emergency exit signs emitting a green glow at the bottom of the walls on both sides, led Shi along the corridor to another room whose purpose was unknown.

Previously, the door to this room was always locked, but after the power was cut off, Linghu turned the mechanical switch and opened it directly.

The moment the two stepped into the room, the backup power came on, and the entire research institute was illuminated once again.

"Linghu! Do you know what you're doing?! This is a breach of contract! This is betrayal! You'll send all of us, including yourself, to hell!"

Along with the restoration of power, surveillance covering the entire research institute was also restored, clearly indicating that Linghu's unauthorized removal of the poem was an extremely serious matter.

The cold male voice that had always been heard in previous experiments rang out, but this time, unlike its usual icy tone, the man's voice was tinged with obvious anger.

Linghu ignored the voice and pulled Shi away in one direction.

The room they were in was large but extremely empty, with nothing except for a pipe-like entrance on one side of the floor. Linghu and Shi's destination was that pipe entrance.

The angry man on the loudspeaker shouted, "Deploy the guards! Subject 26 must be brought back! Anyone who obstructs the capture will be killed without exception."

At the man's command, the sound of leather boots stomping on the ground immediately echoed down the corridor.

Linghu took off his blue coat and draped it over the naked Shi, then swiped his card to open the electronic switch at the pipe entrance.

"Poetry, listen to me, don't you want to go see the outside world?"

Seeing Linghu's anxious expression, Shi nodded blankly.

"Okay, then you go into this pipe and slide all the way to the bottom. Although this pipe is a bit dirty, it will allow you to leave the research institute. Remember, once you reach the bottom, don't look back, immediately run forward as far as you can."

"Linghu, what about you?"

Shi sensed that Linghu might not leave with her.

Linghu smiled gently and patted Shi's hair.

"I'll catch up right away."

After saying that, without waiting for Shi to speak again, he pushed her into the pipe.