Chapter 206 - 205: Nesting Again

Chapter 206: Chapter 205: Nesting Again

Since the Star Association is an organization, it must have a hierarchy.

When Feng Ling had accompanied Pei Xianjue to a bodyguard interview, the Alien Species they encountered had cried out to "Xing Guang" for help. So, Feng Ling reasonably suspected that this Gu Insect Master, with its head full of threadworms, would also seek help from the so-called Xing Guang.

Of course, even if it didn’t go looking for Xing Guang, it would definitely seek out a higher-up in the organization. ℯℯ𝑙.

That’s why Feng Ling felt that letting it go was a worthwhile trade-off.

As for whether letting this threat go would lead to her own information being leaked or invite retaliation, Feng Ling hadn’t considered it.

Humans were in the open, while the Alien Species were in the shadows. Information leaks were bound to happen sooner or later. Feng Ling didn’t care.

As for retaliation—it had never stopped, nor would it ever stop. Ye Zheng’s current state was the very result of their revenge.

"Feng Ling, the Eye of Horus isn’t here," Li Qing said.

Feng Ling wasn’t surprised. For something good, she was willing to be a little more patient.

’That said, having a Maze Administrator around is really convenient. I finally don’t have to just stare at these Cards and guess what they do anymore.’

"There are a few Cards here that might be useful to you." Li Qing stood in the middle of a pile of Cards, looking left and right. "...They might not fit the Nest’s characteristics, but I think they’re suitable for incubation."

Feng Ling walked over and asked, "Which ones?"

Li Qing pointed them out to her. "Split Ear Rabbit, possesses super-enhanced hearing. Undead Crow, has a form that can coalesce and disperse, good for reconnaissance. Goblin, skilled at shooting and throwing, can compensate for a weakness in long-range attacks. Undying Knight, its ability is the Undying Body..."

The first few Cards sounded unreliable to Feng Ling; it felt like her Nest was just a glorified scrap heap. When she heard "Undying Knight," she couldn’t take it anymore.

"Then how did it die?" Feng Ling asked.

Li Qing looked down at the ground.

It was a gory mess of flesh and blood, with chunks of corpses piled on top of each other, making it impossible to distinguish anything.

Li Qing surmised that this player had probably had his heart ripped out by Ye Zheng first, then been parasitized by the Gu Insect Master, followed by being decapitated by Feng Ling, and finally, blown up by a grenade.

It couldn’t have been this gruesome otherwise.

He thought for a moment before explaining, "An earthworm has some regenerative ability. If it’s cut in half, it can still grow into a new worm. But if it’s minced, it’s probably beyond saving."

Feng Ling: "..."

’So the Undying Body just meant it had strong regenerative abilities, not that it was truly immortal.’

"Are there any other usable Cards?" Feng Ling sighed and asked him.

Li Qing swept his gaze over the scene again. The Cards shimmered with a silver light in the darkness.

"That Viper Card might be compatible with the Nest’s characteristics. Digesting it could give you infrared sensors."

He paused, then continued, "The reason Huangfu Miaomiao was discovered by the player earlier was likely because of this Card."

Feng Ling was unimpressed.

Infrared sensors sounded practical, but in reality, that kind of ability could be easily replicated with technology.

She wanted to digest stronger Cards, preferably with an ability that modern technology couldn’t replace. Otherwise, increasing her Pollution Value for such an optional ability didn’t seem worth the cost.

’Then again, if there really were any powerful Cards here, the Alien Species wouldn’t have died so anticlimactically just now.’

After a moment’s consideration, Feng Ling reached out and took the Undead Crow and Undying Knight Cards.

She gave her wrist a slight shake, and the Cards WHIZZED over, wrapping around it like a spinning silver bracelet.

She was nesting again.

’I hope I don’t have that dream about being heavily pregnant again after this nesting.’

Feng Ling waved toward the truck. "Hey! You guys come pick some Cards too! There are plenty, no need to turn them all in."

On the truck, Xu Yiming felt rather embarrassed, as if he’d been slacking off the whole time, only for his teammate to enthusiastically tell him to go pick up loot.

But declining in this situation would seem coy, so he got out of the truck with a blush, along with Huangfu Miaomiao.

"When you’re picking Cards, if you’re not sure, just ask the Daoist. He knows his stuff," Feng Ling added before leaving the Card-dense area and getting back on the truck.

Not long after, Han Xu arrived.

He brought not only the Inspection Team, but also a large group of Cleaner Fish.

Because there were so many corpses, Han Xu was worried they wouldn’t finish in one night and had even called in the Cleaner Fish interns.

Some team members entered the KTV to investigate, while others used equipment to collect the Cards at the scene.

The Cleaner Fish followed close behind, putting the various corpses and severed limbs into standard body bags for incineration, using chemicals to clean up bloodstains, high-pressure water guns to wash the ground, and spraying disinfectant in the vicinity.

The cleanup work proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Han Xu stood under a streetlight, lit a cigarette, and exhaled a puff of white smoke. He quietly admired the rolled-up aluminum siding of the truck, and finally, his gaze swept over several obviously non-human creatures inside the truck bed.

He clearly could have just asked Feng Ling directly, but he only watched in silence, as if he had his own methods of gathering information.

Feng Ling asked him, "Can you find me a mechanic?"

Han Xu looked at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "I’d better just get you a new truck."

With this level of damage, a mechanic probably wouldn’t know where to start.

Feng Ling frowned at the severely deformed truck bed. "It needs ventilation holes and an air conditioner installed. Also, find me a place to stay. I can’t sleep in this truck tonight."

Han Xu nodded. "Sure, I’ll try to arrange it."

He said "sure" because Feng Ling had given him a huge, pleasant surprise. Forget a truck; even if she asked for the moon right now, Han Xu would agree without hesitation.

He said "try to arrange" because he’d never done this kind of work—waiting on someone hand and foot—so he’d actually have to try.

All in all, Captain Han was in a very good mood tonight.

"Guangshan City is a nice place. Why don’t you stay a few more days," Han Xu said to Feng Ling.

Feng Ling glanced at him. "If I really do stay a few more days, you’ll regret it."

The identity of a hidden boss would certainly intimidate some players, but it would also attract another, more troublesome kind.

Feng Ling didn’t believe the Star Association would remain indifferent to her actions. They would come for her sooner or later.

But to rein herself in because of that? She couldn’t do it.

Han Xu had probably also considered that Feng Ling might attract retaliation. He silently tapped the ash from his cigarette, his brow turning gloomy once more.

"These monsters... there’s no end to them," he said.

No one knew when this war would end.

...

As the night deepened, the cleanup work drew to a close.

The new truck Han Xu had arranged arrived. It only had two temporary vents cut into it, and the air conditioner hadn’t been installed yet, but it was more than enough for transportation.

Feng Ling prepared to take the truck to her accommodations, planning to use the travel time to see where that Gu Insect Master had fled.

Just as she was about to get in the truck, an uncertain voice called out from behind her:

"Feng... Feng Ling? Are you Feng Ling?"

Feng Ling turned and saw a man in a standard Cleaner Fish uniform standing not far away, an astonished expression on his face.

"Feng Shao?" She was even more surprised than he was.

To think that in a situation like this, she would run into a childhood friend from the orphanage.