Chapter 18: Chapter 18
the highly aggressive merfolk swimming in the lake retreated of their own accord.
Even though many of their companions had been killed, they showed no intention of chasing us… or rather, it seemed they lacked the privilege to come ashore.
After several minutes of intense escape,
even the well-trained Edmond and his team were left panting and immediately began checking themselves for injuries.
They took out a soft vial from the inner pocket of their coats,
applying the liquid from the vial to their skin to clean off the blood and lake water accumulated during the fight.
Edmond even offered a vial to Yichen.
“William, want some?”
In his room, Yi Chen locked the door, placing the candles in each corner of the bathroom. Once the scent of incense filled the air, he began his “work.”
There were a few things Yi Chen needed to understand:
1. Why did this sheriff, after falling into the water, drown instead of transforming into one of those swimming “merfolk” at the lake’s bottom?
2. What kinds of physical changes does the lake water induce in a person?
"Exhale…" Having never done anything before, he couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.
Yi Chen pressed both hands to the sides of his face.
Tiny green plant shoots sprouted from his fingertips, intertwining and weaving into a homemade plant mask.
Whether it was the stench of corpses or the scent of candles, the mask purified it into fresh air.
“This biological mutation ability is truly handy… According to Mr. Wilbert, as long as I pass the assessment, I’ll be able to examine this ability in detail and might even continue developing it further—perhaps reaching a level where roots become spears, tendrils form legs, like those undead creatures.”
He found it quite interesting; even if there was a risk of death, it was much better than being stuck in a lab, writing papers day and night.
After these recent experiences, Yi Chen felt his true nature gradually being awakened, fully realizing that this world was where he truly belonged.
He continued weaving delicate plant fibers into a pair of natural gloves, took a sharp tool he’d bought at a store, and started working. Perhaps due to the innate talent of “William Behrens,” this body's previous owner, the process of handling the “corpse” felt incredibly smooth, even as familiar as conducting experiments in previous life.
Gradually, he immersed himself in it, feeling utterly captivated, to the point that even Little Grape was surprised by his intense focus.
After several hours had unknowingly passed, he looked at the corpse before him, now dissected in a way that defied all medical logic. The body cavity was full of mucus, with organs shifted out of place, clinging to each other, and the rib bones had become thin, sharp, with additional bony branches sprouting, piercing through flesh and blood.
Yet, some areas retained the original human structure; the transformation was incomplete… almost as if it were a “failed evolution.”
A clue emerged, potentially connected to the root cause of Green Lake Town’s “scaly skin disease.”
“If that’s the case, everything makes sense.”
Yi Chen felt satisfied with the dissection results and even bowed in gratitude to the “sheriff.”
He packed the remains, quietly dragged them away, dug a hole, buried them, and finished the task as midnight approached.
“Let’s try taking a bath~”
He turned on the bathroom faucet at full blast, washing off the remaining tissue fragments and sticky fluids. At the same time, he removed his clothes, exposing his body to the cold water, letting it rinse away sweat and fatigue.
The reason for bathing was twofold: first, during the battle at Green Lake today, he’d had contact with lake water, confirming his skin could withstand external contamination from it. Secondly, he saw this as a necessary adaptation for possible future encounters with the lake.
During the wash, Yi Chen could feel plant roots moving within him, autonomously forming a defense system.
“No problem… Even if I face danger and fall into the lake later, I can ensure my body won’t be invaded.”
Feeling refreshed, he collapsed onto the bed and quickly fell asleep.
However, tonight was far from peaceful. In his sleep, Yi Chen was jolted awake again. Unlike the previous night, it wasn’t due to plant stimuli this time but by the sharp, almost throat-tearing scream coming from outside the door—specifically, from the “sister’s room” at the end of the corridor.
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