Chapter 192 - 191: Climb the Wall

Chapter 192: Chapter 191: Climb the Wall

Feng Ling had originally thought Zhou Diao and Wen Xiuyan were in the same boat, both just crazed fans of Ye Zheng. She never expected there was such a backstory between them.

’Someone like that—passionate, loyal, and who would never betray her... How perfect for helping Ye Zheng find the Divine Statue.’

’Too bad his Card Ability is a bit one-dimensional. He’s not the person I need.’

At this thought, Feng Ling asked Su Yuqing, "Do you know anyone with a Card Ability related to Spiritual Control?"

Su Yuqing faltered. "...What are you planning to do?"

"I’m looking for help," Feng Ling explained. "We’ll most likely run into Alien Species while looking for the Divine Statue in the Maze. You know how Ye Zheng tends to lose control at the sight of them, so I need someone to back me up and keep her from suddenly going berserk."

Feng Ling stood by the glass door. She turned to look at the building outside and sighed softly. "This person either has to be very close to Ye Zheng—someone who won’t expose her secret—or a complete stranger who wouldn’t recognize her even if they saw her. It’s a shame Zhou Diao’s Card Ability isn’t a good fit, otherwise I would’ve just asked him directly."

"Someone like that won’t be easy to find." Su Yuqing frowned. "Spiritual-type Cards are rare to begin with. Even if we find a suitable candidate, we can’t verify their character in just two or three days. If they harbor ill intentions and use their spiritual power on their own teammates, it would be a massive liability."

"Of course I know there’s a risk, but it’s not like I have any better ideas," Feng Ling said, spreading her hands in resignation.

Su Yuqing mulled it over for a moment. "If all you want is to calm Ye Zheng down, you don’t necessarily need help. I can get you some sedatives."

"Will that even work?" Feng Ling raised an eyebrow.

’Ye Zheng has the Sky Horse Card inside her. According to Li Qing, that Card has a powerful Self-healing Ability, which means any drug would only be half as effective on her.’

"Don’t worry. It’s a special, high-potency sedative developed specifically to treat Inspectors with excessively high Pollution Values." Su Yuqing paused before adding, "The observation room uses the same model, a sedative spray. That’s why Zhou Diao joked that it was a gas chamber."

’So it’s a new piece of technology.’

Feng Ling nodded immediately, not holding back in the slightest. "Okay, then get me some."

Su Yuqing instructed her, "This sedative is a controlled substance. Aside from internal use at the research institute, each Inspector branch keeps a small inventory to handle emergencies where an Inspector’s Pollution Value spikes. I’ll find a way to requisition a portion of that stock privately and send it to you. Be extremely careful when you use it, and remember to destroy the packaging so you don’t get caught."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Feng Ling said, rushing him. "Just hurry up and bring the stuff over. I need to test its effectiveness beforehand."

Su Yuqing silently considered it for a moment before saying, "Tomorrow. Even as the head of the Qingjiang Branch, I need a legitimate reason to access the medical warehouse. I’ll find an excuse to go in tomorrow and bring out a batch of sedatives for you."

With that said, he turned to leave, as if he were going to start preparations immediately.

Feng Ling blurted out, "Wait, you’re not going to see her?"

’Feng Ling couldn’t understand it. He rushed over here every day, one moment setting up a tropical rainforest environment, the next moment considering adding lights to the building. Wasn’t it all because he couldn’t bear to part with Ye Zheng? Why come all this way just to leave immediately?’

’She wasn’t so dense as to actually believe Su Yuqing was helping her tackle the Maze out of pure selflessness.’

Su Yuqing stopped in his tracks but didn’t turn around. "No, I... I don’t think I’ll see her..."

"Fine, don’t see her. Suit yourself," Feng Ling said with a purse of her lips, her tone dismissive. "Anyway, I’m taking her away in two days. Don’t take this the wrong way, but anything can happen in the Maze. What if she dies in there? This would be your last chance to see her."

The lobby fell abruptly silent.

For a rare moment, the ever-bickering Huangfu Miaomiao and Li Qing exchanged a glance, their faces holding the same complicated expression.

’The hidden boss’s words weren’t just harsh, they were like a knife twisting in Su Yuqing’s gut.’

’But she wasn’t wrong.’

’Once you entered the Maze, life and death were anyone’s guess.’

’They could definitely survive if they just killed mobs on the outskirts of the Maze, like the Alien Species playing a game. But there would be no point in that.’

Su Yuqing started walking again.

—Not toward the metal door this time, but toward the building.

Feng Ling turned, went back to the counter, and resumed chowing down.

Both Huangfu Miaomiao and Li Qing were staring at her.

"What kind of look is that?" she asked between bites.

"Won’t Ye Zheng get agitated if she sees him...?" Huangfu Miaomiao asked nervously.

"She’s asleep, she’ll be fine. Besides, isn’t Baozi keeping an eye on her?" Feng Ling said, tearing open a pack of sandwiches. "And from now on, don’t use the name Ye Zheng. Call her Situ Zhengzheng. We don’t want to get used to it and have it slip out when we’re outside."

"Oh, Situ Zhengzheng... Zhengzheng," Huangfu Miaomiao muttered to herself, repeating the name a few times to practice.

After a few bites of her sandwich, Feng Ling casually rummaged through the remaining take-out bags on the counter and found two boxes of cold chow mein.

She had been eating nonstop for over an hour, and from chewing so much, even her jaw was getting tired.

In the name of storing up energy, she ate everything, regardless of whether it was delicious or disgusting. But after so long, she was getting tired of it—not because of the flavor, but because of the endlessly repetitive act of eating.

"Even eating too much is a burden..." Feng Ling lamented. "If only there were a Card that let me absorb energy without having to eat."

Huangfu Miaomiao almost raised her hand instantly. ’There are tons of Cards like that!’ she thought.

But the words died on her lips.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Huangfu Miaomiao chose silence.

She figured Feng Ling probably wouldn’t be able to stomach the methods. For instance, there were Vampire cards that let you gain energy by consuming blood, and some parasitic-type Cards where you could gain energy as long as you’d implanted so-called "seeds" in other living things.

Setting aside whether those Cards would even be compatible with the Nest’s characteristics, if Feng Ling were to accept that kind of "feeding," then everyone in the city would essentially become her personal pantry.

As Huangfu Miaomiao thought this, her gaze instinctively drifted to Li Qing.

Seeing that Li Qing was also staying quiet, she snorted inwardly. ’Hmph. So cunning.’

’The Maze Administrator must have realized it too, which is why he kept his mouth shut. Good thing I was smart enough not to say anything this time, otherwise I would’ve been outdone by him again.’

"Whatever, I’m done eating." Feng Ling got up. "You two, come help me with the trash."

The leftover takeout containers and bags were piled high, filling three large garbage bags—just enough for one per person.

No sanitation workers came to the abandoned building, so they had to carry the bags outside and walk a few dozen meters to the public bins on the street.

Feng Ling had only walked a short distance when she spotted Zhou Diao at the street corner ahead. He was lurking suspiciously, but the moment he saw her, he immediately stood up straight, trying to look like he was just casually passing by.

’His acting was truly terrible.’

"If you want to see her, just go inside," Feng Ling said as she walked past him, garbage bag in hand. "She probably won’t hit you today."

The expression on Zhou Diao’s face froze for a split second. Then, clenching his fists, he took a deep breath and strode toward the sheet-metal door.

Feng Ling yelled after him, "Just climb the wall! It’s faster than going around."

Zhou Diao stumbled, nearly falling over.