Everything was progressing smoothly until an unexpected incident occurred this morning.
Ren Zhong was "injured" in the abandoned mine pit, and it wasn’t light.
While Lin Wang was leading a team for a routine patrol and hunt, a gigantic Third Level sandworm suddenly burst out from the underground.
The abyssal maw directly swallowed Si Mawan.
Ren Zhong, from behind, lunged forward, pushing Si Mawan ahead, saving her life, but he himself was completely devoured by the sandworm.
Then the sandworm twisted its body and swiftly burrowed back into the pit wall, escaping quickly.
By the time Lin Wang and the others found Ren Zhong, more than half an hour had passed.
Ren Zhong lay slanted against the edge of the pit wall, gripping dual guns tightly, the gun tips stained with green, blue, and gray insect tissue fluid.
At this moment, Ren Zhong had no obvious injuries, thanks to his Third Level exoskeleton, which provided excellent protection.
But he was extremely weakened, his gaze unfocused.
Beside him were the corpses of two Ruined Beasts, one being the sandworm, the other a notorious, aberrant Level Four Ruined Beast in the abandoned mine pit—the Dream Weaving Maze Stink Bug.
Lin Wang made an immediate judgment with just one glance.
"He’s still alive, but he’s been hit by the mental attack of the Dream Weaving Worm. His mind is injured."
Bei Lihui sighed, "Ren Zhong is indeed impressive, being able to take down both a Third Level sandworm and a Fourth Level Dream Weaving Worm all by himself."
Si Mawan, who was dismantling crystal chips nearby, commented, "It’s also thanks to the good equipment given by the captain. If he still had his old exoskeleton, he’d be dead for sure. Alas. Actually, he didn’t need to rescue me like that; my combat suit has its own cutting and escape system to deal with the sandworm."
Lin Wang waved his hand, "Let’s not speak pointless words. End the hunt early and get him to the Miracle Clinic quickly."
Sun Miao provided a diagnosis.
Brother Sun, with a worried expression, said, "The mental impact of the Dream Weaving Worm is not like an ordinary Ruined Beast. Ren Zhong, driven by a survival instinct, forcibly killed the Dream Weaving Worm. But he absorbed too many special particles released by the worm, falling too deep into the nightmare. The worm was killed by him, but his consciousness hasn’t yet escaped from the mental trauma."
Lin Wang asked, "What can we do? Are there any treatment methods?"
Sun Miao shook his head, "The hardest illness to cure is a mental one. Mental illnesses have been a major problem for Source Star people since ancient times. Whether he can recover depends on his own will."
Lin Wang: "What if he can’t recover?"
Sun Miao rolled his eyes, "Captain Lin, haven’t you driven a lot of people crazy before? Haven’t you seen madmen? Can’t you understand what happens to them?"
Lin Wang smiled awkwardly, saying, "Those are just rumors from outside."
Just then, Ju Qingmeng, who had just learned the bad news, suddenly pushed open the clinic door.
She first leaned over Ren Zhong, gazed at him closely for a long time, then stood up straight, gave a bitter smile, and glared angrily at Lin Wang.
"Ren Zhong is your team member, is this how you protect him? Lin Wang, you are the strongest professional captain in the town, how can you let him get hurt ?"
Lin Wang shook his head, "Manager Ju, you’re too emotional. Hunting and marching are no different, accidents can happen every day. I didn’t want Ren Zhong to end up either. My other team member, Xing Ming, died miserably in the abandoned mine pit not long ago; you can’t say that I consecutively caused two deaths, right? I know no matter what I say, you won’t believe it, but I believe Ren Zhong will wake up and tell you what happened. We really did our best."
Ju Qingmeng turned her face away, unwilling to deal with Lin Wang, then gritted her teeth, lifted Ren Zhong by the waist, and carried him out of the clinic, placing him in the front passenger seat of the Beetle Hovercar parked outside.
Lin Wang sighed, didn’t say anything more, and picked up the Third Level exoskeleton that was stacked nearby, putting it into the Beetle’s trunk.
Once everyone had left, and the clinic door was closed, Sun Miao returned to the underground laboratory, watching the boiling smelting pot.
Brother Sun thought, if one day a crew came to Starfire Town looking for extras.
With the acting skills of the iron triangle—Ren Zhong, himself, and Ju Qingmeng—the main leads would be out of a job instantly!
Alas, we all chose the wrong industry and wasted our talent.
In the villa bedroom, Ju Qingmeng poked the forehead of Ren Zhong, who was playing dead on the bed, laughing uncontrollably while clutching her stomach.
"You really got me there! Your acting earlier was terrifying; if I hadn’t known in advance, I might have believed it."
Ren Zhong sighed, "There was no other option. I have to take the Star Origin Injection Liquid tomorrow, and there will be a long period of excessive eating and drinking needs throughout. I really can’t stay with them anymore, or it will arouse suspicion."
"Hmm, you’ve thought it all through."
While they were chatting, Ju Qingmeng received a communication request, this time from the White Wall guards.
"Manager Ju, there’s a group of Scavengers wanting to see you; do they have a reservation?"
Ren Zhong: "It’s Zheng Tian and his group."
Ju Qingmeng nodded, "They have a reservation; let them through."
Guard: "Alright! You guys, once inside, you must walk along the designated route, only going to Manager Ju’s villa. Understand?"
Ending the communication, Ju Qingmeng spoke with some concern, "Lin Wang was caught off guard this time, didn’t react. But I reckon he’ll visit you in the next two days to do a formality. With his suspicious nature, I fear you will eventually slip."
Ren Zhong laughed and said, "No rush, I have another plan."
"Chen Hanyu is not only a Demolition Master but also a master of disguise."
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