The manhunt for Tang Woxue, the mastermind behind everything, was already underway. Meanwhile, a report came in from the forensics department.
“The atavist wave left by the hidden accomplice who rescued the mercenary couple was intentionally corrupted. We couldn’t match it to any specific species.”
“No surprise there. For every step forward we take, criminals find a way to stay ahead,” the assistant remarked, taking the report. “Ever since atavist wave identification technology came out, smart criminals have made it a habit to mask or destroy their prints. There are always devices for that being sold on the dark web.”
Just like fingerprints or iris patterns, every individual’s atavist energy wave was completely unique. If they could gather a clean, complete segment, they could cross-reference it with the database and instantly identify the exact lineage. The strength of the wave could even indicate their genetic purity, making it very easy to narrow down suspects.
But just like wiping fingerprints from a glass, an atavist wave could be easily tampered with.
Qiu Fa’s expression didn’t change as he flipped through the file, his face a perfect mask of indifference. The rescuer was clearly working with the information broker. His agents weren’t incompetent enough to let someone snatch two suspects right from under their noses unnoticed, unless the timing was flawless. Only a meticulous planner and a skilled hunter could have pulled off such a clean escape.
And if they were that good, they definitely wouldn’t forget to wipe their tracks.
“Still, this confirms one thing,” Qiu Fa said, leaning back in his chair, his amber eyes sharp as blades. “The accomplice is an atavist already registered in our database.”
The assistant paused, then caught on instantly. “I’ll go check our records for matching abilities right away.”
Exactly. If the accomplice was someone whose identity wasn’t in the system, they wouldn’t have bothered destroying the wave. The mercenary couple, for instance, belonged to unregistered lineages, so even if the department got their prints, it wouldn’t help identify them. The person who rescued them, however, was clearly registered in their database—after all, registration was a mandatory civic duty.
“Do that.”
Tracing the information broker’s real identity through the network had proven incredibly difficult. For some reason, the government hackers had made zero progress in tracking the broker’s location. It was hard to tell whether the broker was simply too slippery, or if other criminal elements were actively shielding them to keep their own dirty secrets from leaking.
But now, they finally had a breakthrough. Once they caught the mouse from last night, Qiu Fa would personally interrogate him to find out where those two wretched mercenaries were hiding. Once he did, the mysterious information broker’s secrets would begin to unravel.
And he would finally have some answers for the little dragon.
Night fell like a heavy shroud. Inside his secret shelter, Tang Woxue peered through a crack in the door, scanning the outside.
Outside was a wild, overgrown mess where nothing could be seen. Tall weeds swayed under the wind, and dried twigs and bark tumbled across the ground, mimicking the sound of approaching footsteps. He realized he was letting his nerves get the better of him.
The place used to be a pasture before it was abandoned, allowing the wild grass to grow taller than a person. The underground hideout was tucked deep inside the field, featuring two hidden entry points—one leading to the sewers outside the pasture, and the other rising right inside the tall grass. It was so well-concealed that average people would never stumble upon it.
He had set up this place years ago. Back then, he hadn’t known if he would ever commit a crime, but he figured that if Yan Jinhua’s illness required him to take a life, he would do so without hesitation. To prepare for any scenario, he had built this refuge. He kept it stocked with modern computers and phones, upgrading them every year. He had even planned for his current physical limitations, building ramps at both entrances instead of stairs.
There was a lot of food stored here, but he couldn’t hide forever.
As he wheeled himself back, a sudden rustle of footsteps from the door behind him made him freeze. His eyes locked onto the door. Was it just the wind playing tricks on him again?
Knock, knock, knock. A slow, deliberate rap against the door.
That definitely wasn’t the wind.
Knock, knock, knock. Receiving no answer, the visitor knocked again and spoke. “Mr. Tang, pardon the intrusion. My master would like to invite you to join our family. We hope to discuss this with you in person.”
Tang Woxue frowned. This wasn’t how the police operated. If they had found him, they would have broken down the door immediately instead of politely asking to chat.
Who was it?
In the end, the heavy, hidden door slowly creaked open.
“I believe you are familiar with our organization,” the visitor said respectfully upon seeing Tang Woxue. After introducing himself, he added with a touch of pride, “We are the Atavist Serum Organization.”
Tang Woxue’s eyes narrowed. “The masterminds behind the mutant outbreaks appearing in various cities over the years?”
“Indeed. But those were essential experiments. For our grand cause, such sacrifices are necessary.”
What shameless hypocrisy, Tang Woxue thought. He wondered how his friend would react if she heard them say such things.
“You are a wanted man now. Even with the lightest sentence, you’ll spend at least four or five years behind bars. We believe letting a talent like yours rot in a cell is like throwing gold into the ocean. That is why we sincerely invite you to join us.”
Tang Woxue fell silent for a moment, studying the group. Then he gave them a warm, bright smile that held a surprising depth. “You are absolutely right. I accept.”
The following morning, a large figure carrying a small boy on his back pushed through the dense weeds, locating the entrance to the hidden bunker. Without even stepping inside, Mo Weiwei knew it was empty.
“We’re looking for Tang Woxue, right?” Mo Weiwei said, refusing to slide off Tao Ze’s back because he hated the muddy ground. His eyes scanned the faint, broken tracks around the entrance. Even though the visitors had tried to cover their trails, the scattered details clicked together in Mo Weiwei’s mind, forming an instant analysis.
“He was taken around nine last night. He went on his own. The ones who came for him were all atavists, but they weren’t from the Tribunal Division. That means it had to be one of the criminal syndicates. Tang Woxue is a famous and brilliant doctor. His greatest assets are his mind and his heart, but his human heart is useless to atavists. It must have been the Atavist Serum Organization.”
Tao Ze pulled out his phone, typed up Mo Weiwei’s analysis, and sent it off.
Once the message went through, he gave the young boy a gentle upward nudge on his back and said, “Let’s go. It’s about time we head to Yunjin Prefecture.”
“Whatever,” Mo Weiwei murmured, resting comfortably against the broad, sturdy back of the man who felt like a father to him. He sounded like a contented cat having its fur stroked.
As long as he was with family, it didn’t matter where they went.
Jing Pei received the text, letting out a relaxed sigh as she learned Tang Woxue had been safely picked up by the Atavist Serum Organization. She fell backward onto her soft bed, stretching her arms comfortably.
Tang Woxue was a genius with a unique heart, but at the end of the day, he was just an ordinary human. Yet he was a vital piece in this battle of destiny—a chess piece that had to return to its designated spot on the board.
If he didn’t, the main plot would simply pull in some random stranger to take his place and fulfill his role, making the future impossible to control.
It was just like when she arranged for news of Xiao Cheng’s pregnancy to reach Miss Hong. Mei Yanlan thought she had done it only to get the unborn child tested with advanced equipment and save them from a dark fate. In truth, that was merely a bonus. Her real goal was to make sure Mei Yanlan entered the bubble exactly as the original novel described, putting her back on the plot’s proper path.
Once there, Jing Pei could alter the most critical moment of the ending and save Mei Yanlan.
Basically, she was helping the story run its course, preventing the system or the plot from introducing wild, unexpected variables just to force everything back into place.
You want to follow the script so badly? Fine. I’ll help you play it out until you have no other choice left.
But this also meant she had to prepare for absolutely everything. If any unexpected detail slipped through, the final outcome would be sealed in an instant, leaving no room for a second chance.
It was like a duel that appeared to be settled with a single strike. In reality, long before the final blow was dealt, the two opponents had already fought a thousand invisible battles, testing each other’s minds, spirits, and endurance to the limit.
In the original novel, Tang Woxue joined the Atavist Serum Organization to create a cure for Yan Jinhua. He eventually succeeded in developing the perfected Atavist Serum, but in doing so, he plunged the world into utter chaos, leaving countless casualties in his wake as a cold-blooded executioner walking on a mountain of corpses.
This was a vital part of the main storyline. Yet, she had intercepted this crucial player early on, using the rumor that a dragon’s horn could cure Yan Jinhua to draw him to her side.
He still needed to join the organization to carry out his research, especially since turning Zhang Simiao and the other mutants back into humans depended on him. However, he couldn’t enter it as he had in the original story, as a hollow, numb shell of a man with nothing left to live for. He had to enter on her terms: as her ally and her mole.
And now, that crucial step was finally complete.
