Ever since the devastating destruction of the Walhua Pharmaceutical Plant, Red Fox City had been under a semi-lockdown. Han Xingqian showed his IOA ID to the police officer at the highway exit before being granted passage.
Bai Chunian sat in the passenger seat, his elbow resting on the open window sill, letting the cold wind ruffle his hair.
“It’s been ages since I’ve been out. I’m going stir-crazy.”
“Close the window. I’ve got the AC on.”
“Let me breathe some fresh air first.” Bai Chunian took a few deep breaths. “Your car smells like roasted sunflower seeds. It’s making me hungry just smelling it.”
Han Xingqian gave a light cough.
Bai Chunian shot him a curious glance. “Sunflower pheromones?”
Han Xingqian gave a soft chuckle.
“Oh…” Bai Chunian rested his hands behind his head and leaned back in the seat, licking his sharp canine teeth. Those in the know would understand.
They first went to Jin Xi’s home, following the address provided by the Technical Department. That was his name before he was transformed into an immortal undead.
The address provided by the Technical Department was located in a relatively expensive neighborhood in Hongli City. The residential complex had exquisite landscaping, and Jin Xi’s family was fairly well-off—his mother was a chief physician at the city hospital, and his father was the vice president.
However, they came up empty-handed; no one was home.
Han Xingqian glanced at his watch: “ “He must be at work at this hour.”
Bai Chunian turned and rang the doorbell of the neighboring house. Public safety in Hongli City had indeed been a cause for concern lately, and the resident didn’t open the door until he presented his ID badge.
The door was opened by a housekeeper wearing a headscarf, a mop in her hand. She eyed the two unfamiliar Alphas—who towered a head and a half above her—suspiciously through the door crack.
Bai Chunian began asking about Jin Xi’s family.
The nanny glanced at them and chattered away: “Their child has been missing for a year. They reported it to the police the very night he went missing, but the police said there wasn’t enough evidence to open a case. After the case was filed, they saw on surveillance footage that he’d been taken away by a truck. There was nowhere to look, so they were told to just go home and wait for results. “At first, the couple searched the streets all over. They didn’t come back until midnight. The mother cried all night and stopped going to work. But they had to make a living, didn’t they? After six months with no results, she went back to work, but she still often cries in the middle of the night. It’s really taken a toll on her health.”
“Do you know that child?”
“I’ve seen him a few times. He was a very polite, honest kid, and did well in school. It’s such a shame.”
“Did they have frequent arguments at home?” Han Xingqian asked.
The nanny thought for a moment: “Arguments? That’s impossible. The boy was so meek—he spoke so softly, like a mosquito. His parents were good people too. Family members of patients would often bring gifts to thank them, but they never accepted them. However, they did have a fight the night the boy went missing, and they even smashed some things.”
Bai Chunian stroked his chin. “So, ma’am, do you know why they were fighting?”
“It seems the boy snuck out to get a tattoo and got scolded by his parents.”
“Alright, thanks for your help. You go ahead and get back to work.”
Bai Chunian went back downstairs to ask around, and the accounts he heard were all similar.
“Let’s go check the hospital.” Bai Chunian slung his arm around Han Xingqian’s neck and glanced at his watch. “Should we call first? Doctors seem pretty busy during their shifts.”
Sure enough, the nurse at the hospital front desk said both doctors were in surgery.
“Then let’s head to the school first.”
Han Xingqian started the car and drove toward the school using the coordinates provided by the technical department.
They parked at the entrance of Hongli City First High School. After showing their IOA ID cards to the security guard and explaining their purpose, the two entered the campus.
It was 3:00 p.m. The students were all out on the playground during recess. The school entrance and the academic buildings were deserted, with only a few janitors wiping down the stair railings.
As they went upstairs, Bai Chunian caught a glimpse of the school’s honor roll posted on the wall, filled with the top students in each subject from past years. Next to each graduation photo was a message of encouragement for the younger students.
Bai Chunian quickly scanned the entire wall of messages and suddenly spotted Jin Xi’s name next to the photo of a student named Chen Nan.
The message left by this graduate read: “Thank you to Jin Xi for your help; it’s because of you that I achieved what I have today. I will pass this kindness on in the future.”
“Jin Xi was only a sophomore when he went missing. Was he really that good at school? Could he have tutored a graduate?” Bai Chunian pondered inwardly, feeling that something just didn’t add up.
Han Xingqian pointed to another graduate’s message: “He’s thanking Jin Xi, too.”
They went upstairs and found the sophomore office.
The homeroom teacher for Class 1 of the sophomore year was in the office, preparing lessons while holding a thermos. Two plainclothes Alpha agents walked in holding their badges; their presence was slightly intimidating. The teacher hurriedly set down the thermos, stood up, and stared at them blankly.
As soon as she heard they were there to inquire about Jin Xi, the homeroom teacher adopted a knowing expression—clearly, she’d already answered numerous questions about him before.
“Jin Xi isn’t very outgoing; he’s quite quiet. He doesn’t like to answer questions in class, and he doesn’t go out to play during breaks. However, his classmates don’t dislike him—they’re actually quite kind to him. Our class has a very positive atmosphere, and school bullying simply doesn’t exist here,” the homeroom teacher said confidently.
“Has he shown any negative behavior? Like violent tendencies?”
“Not at all. Although he’s very introverted, he’s always willing to help others. Not only does he volunteer at the school infirmary, but he also built a shelter for the stray cats on campus. The principal personally commended him at the last grade-level assembly.”
Han Xingqian asked, “What exactly does he do at the school infirmary?”
“Usually, when the school holds large-scale sports events, students occasionally get injured. He helps carry and care for the injured students. He really enjoys doing these things and is always happy to help.”
“I noticed several graduates on the message board outside, all thanking Jin Xi in their messages. What’s the story behind that?”
“Oh, those two students are patients of his parents—one has acute leukemia, and the other has kidney failure. Jin Xi’s parents are highly respected; everyone who knows them holds them in high regard.”
Han Xingqian raised an eyebrow slightly. “These aren’t conditions that can be cured in the short term.”
“Did anything unusual happen at the school before he went missing?”
The homeroom teacher’s expression suddenly darkened, and he cleared his throat.
Bai Chunian, who was a master at reading people, immediately seized on the opening and pressed him relentlessly.
“The IOA Investigation Division holds the same authority as the Alliance Police Department. If you fabricate or conceal the truth, we have the right to arrest you and seal off the school.”
The homeroom teacher hesitated for a moment before whispering, “A year ago, a student fell to his death from the rooftop while roughhousing with classmates. Both students’ parents had connections, so I heard they just processed his withdrawal. I don’t know anything else.”
“What was Jin Xi doing at that time?”
The homeroom teacher thought for a long time, then pulled out last year’s attendance roster and glanced at it. “Oh, he took a sick leave and returned to class two days later. His performance in class was rated very low by me; he seemed to be in a terrible mood, and I didn’t know what had happened. By the way, many top medical universities sent him admission offers—some proposed lowering their admission standards, others offered direct admission with full scholarships—but the boy was very stubborn and didn’t accept a single one. I asked him why, and he just said he didn’t like the profession. I can understand that—my own child doesn’t want to be a teacher either.”
Bai Chunian turned to Han Xingqian and instructed, “Notify the police station to send someone to investigate this matter.”
Han Xingqian nodded and sent a message to the technical department.
They walked around the school grounds and questioned several students, but the students’ accounts were embellished and couldn’t be taken entirely at face value. Moreover, the students who had been injured at the sports meet had already graduated and were currently unreachable, so they could only leave the investigation to the technical department.
Back in the car, Bai Chunian remained deeply puzzled. Everyone described Jin Xi as “honest and mild-mannered,” but in what way was the Eternal Spirit actually honest? The Jin Xi described by teachers, classmates, and the nanny bore not a shred of resemblance to the Eternal Spirit—in fact, he was the exact opposite.
“I’ve already submitted the request. The police should send someone to investigate soon,” Han Xingqian said as he shifted into reverse. “Let’s head to the hospital first and see what Jin Xi’s parents have to say.”
“Give me a break. I know better than anyone how efficient the Alliance Police Department is.” Bai Chunian grabbed the lapel mic and shouted, “Tell the prosecution team to send people straight to the police station. Those bastards won’t be able to take a single step without being dragged and pulled. I want to see who has the kind of influence to shut the police station’s mouth—let’s drag them all out.”
Bai Chunian was visibly agitated. He turned off the microphone, took a few deep breaths, took a sedative from the first-aid kit, bit down on the rubber tube, and injected it into his arm. Emotional turmoil could worsen his condition, so he had to be careful at all times.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I know what I’m doing.” Bai Chunian took a moment to catch his breath. “How can the death of a student just be swept under the rug? That’s just making a mockery of them.”
“Don’t get so worked up.” Han Xingqian kept his eyes on the road as he slowly turned the steering wheel. “You’ve only been living among us for four years, so you’re not used to it yet. Humans are connected by a dense web of relationships; it’s only natural for that web to harbor all sorts of filth.”
“It reminds me of something the nanny said before,” Han Xingqian mused. “It’s not unusual for a patient’s family to bring gifts when they come to visit. Some families have connections and can get a doctor’s contact information and home address. But there are usually two reasons for these visits: one is when the patient recovers, and the family comes to express their gratitude; the other is when the patient is critically ill, and the family comes to plead for mercy.”
Bai Chunian injected the sedative, then unhooked the rubber tube and tossed it back into the medical kit. With his other hand, he flipped through Jin Xi’s medical records:
Jin Xi, Hydra gland type. Prior to her disappearance, her differentiation level was J1, with differentiation potential rated A3. The differentiation ability for J1 is “Angel of the Clouds.” This gland type, resulting from a mutation following parental union, is extremely rare—as rare as Han Xingqian’s Pegasus gland. Hydras are organisms with extraordinary vitality, possessing self-healing abilities that even surpass those of experimental subjects.
“I think I have a rough idea of what happened,” Bai Chunian said, resting his chin in his hand as he watched the street trees rush by outside the window. “It’s just that this school’s uniform is black and white, so I didn’t think much of it.”
“Like the souls he summons, the Eternal Spirit possesses only three colors: black, white, and gray.” Bai Chunian pulled up the footage from that time and examined it closely. “The only thing with color is the praying angel in the mirror at his feet.”
They arrived near the hospital and waited for Jin Xi’s parents’ surgery to finish, staying until 7:00 p.m., when the Inspection Division of the Prosecution Bureau sent a response first:
“We have arrested the officer involved. According to his statement, regarding the Red Fox No. 1 High School student’s fall from a building, the student responsible for the incident has transferred schools, while the student who was supposed to have fallen to her death has fully recovered and is currently attending No. 13 High School in Jiutan City. The truck seen in the surveillance footage taking Jin Xi away belongs to an employee of the responsible student’s parents, which is why the police department decided not to pursue the matter further.
Upon verification, although they did indeed take Jin Xi away, they quickly returned her unharmed and paid her a million yuan as a token of gratitude. Jin Xi’s disappearance occurred after that; she ran away from home at night and was taken by the Gland Hunters, which has nothing to do with either of the two students’ parents.”
After reading this, Bai Chunian was convinced that his speculation was correct.
He called again to inquire, and the receptionist transferred the call to Jin Xi’s mother, Ms. Sun.
Ms. Sun had just finished performing surgery. Upon hearing that an agent from the IOA Investigation Division had taken over her child’s missing person case, she was so overcome with emotion that her voice choked up. She hurried downstairs to assist with the investigation. Mr. Sun, too, didn’t even bother to take off his surgical gown; he stumbled down the stairs and, as soon as he saw Bai Chunian, grabbed his shoulders. His large, calloused hands gripped him tightly, and tears welled up in his aged eyes.
Bai Chunian somewhat coldly brushed his hand off his arm, led them to a secluded spot, turned, and said sternly, “Please don’t get too worked up. We’ve already pinpointed Jin Xi’s location. But you should know that once the IOA takes over a case, it means the situation has already reached a point where the fallout is beyond repair. “I don’t care what statements you gave to the police. I want you to tell me the whole truth here, without holding anything back.”
Ms. Sun opened her mouth, then swallowed the words before they could escape. Her face grew pale: “We all loved him so much. I regret it so much. If only we had communicated with him more instead of arguing…”
Bai Chunian interrupted her sobbing: “Ma’am, please control your emotions. This kidnapping and disappearance case has already been filed, and the Alliance Police Department will provide you with the final investigation results. Right now, I don’t care about your feelings. Jin Xi’s behavior is currently having a serious negative impact on the city, and my mission is to find a way to control him, so I must know the reason behind his madness. Do you understand?”
Upon hearing this, she slumped against Mr. Jin’s side, her lips trembling constantly. Mr. Jin beat his chest in anguish and, choking back tears, told her everything.
Jin Xi’s J1 differentiation ability is “Angel of the Clouds,” a healing-type ability. When the severity of his injuries matches that of a target within his vicinity, it triggers a resonance healing effect, leading the injured person to recover alongside him. Jin Xi cannot die, nor does he fall ill; any injury he sustains heals on its own. From childhood onward, those around him have considered him incredibly lucky to have mutated into an ability that others couldn’t even buy with money.
Chen Nan, a senior at the same school, was diagnosed with kidney failure. After a donor kidney was found, an emergency surgery was performed, with Jin Xi’s father personally serving as the lead surgeon. The operation went smoothly at first, but later, a rejection reaction set in. The student’s condition became critical, and his parents wept uncontrollably in the hospital, kneeling before Mr. Jin and begging for mercy.
Driven by a physician’s compassion—and with his most critical medical exam just around the corner—Mr. Jin went home to discuss with his son whether they could save the boy’s life. Jin Xi agreed to donate one of his kidneys and help Chen Nan grow a new one. To him, it was merely a matter of spending a few days in a hospital bed—nothing to worry about. After all, the anesthesia would numb the pain, and he would recover in no time.
After Chen Nan recovered, other patients came to plead with Mr. Jin. Jin Xi agreed to every one of these endless requests, and Mr. Jin’s career continued to rise steadily.
Mr. Jin had always considered his son his pride and joy, believing he would one day follow in his footsteps. So he couldn’t accept it when his son went to a tattoo parlor, got a row of skulls inked on his neck, had his ears pierced, and came home shouting that he didn’t want to be a doctor.
A huge fight broke out between father and son. Jin Xi wrapped his white scarf around his neck, grabbed his backpack, and stormed out of the house. The family never saw each other again.
An Alpha with such powerful regenerative abilities was bound to be a target for gland hunters. Although the IOA’s crackdown had nearly wiped them out—and the few remaining operated with extreme caution, rarely striking—a teenager with A3 differentiation potential was worth the risk.
“To be perfectly honest, you really had it coming…” Bai Chunian blurted out, only to have Han Xingqian cover his mouth and drag him back into the car, whispering a warning: “Mind your image as an IOA agent.”