Chapter 240: Unusual Transaction and Underground Experiment

Chapter 240: Chapter 240: Unusual Transaction and Underground Experiment

The water in the kettle came to a boil, steam hissing from the spout. To the Evolver Tang Huai, the sound of the roiling water was exceptionally clear. His eyes widened, unable to believe what he was hearing.

Tang Heng’s voice trembled. "Dad..."

Tang Zhengpo nodded slightly. "In a desperate bid for survival, the test subjects imprisoned in the underground laboratory joined forces with a few researchers inside who still had a conscience. They broke through layer after layer of security, charged to the surface, and completely destroyed the lab."

They hadn’t known a thing about such a massive event. Tang Huai was utterly stunned. Tang Heng asked in a low voice, "It wasn’t announced. Was that the base’s decision, or did the order come from the higher-ups?"

Tang Zhengpo replied, "The higher-ups. After the incident was exposed, Hui Yi Base One’s Commander and Vice Commander were replaced. The people in the Research Institute involved in the project were arrested, and the director was replaced as well. The breakout from the underground lab was led by Deng Yufeng of the Fiery Fire Team and Xie Yu of the Green Dragon Team. Your cousin was one of the participants."

Tang Huai’s eyes widened. "They dared to capture people as powerful as Fire Phoenix and Xie Yu?!"

"I don’t know how those two ended up in there. When I saw Deng Yufeng, her skin was deathly pale, and her nerves and blood vessels were purplish-black."

Tang Zhengpo paused for a long time before continuing, "The High Level Evolvers were in relatively better shape. But many of the General Evolvers and ordinary people used as test subjects could no longer survive on their own. They were scheduled for free restorative treatment, but Ah Feng... couldn’t be saved."

The horrific state of the test subjects who escaped the underground lab in the sixth year of the Natural Disasters was more terrifying and heartbreaking than the disasters themselves.

Tang Zhengpo couldn’t continue. He pulled open a drawer, only to find it full of tea leaves, and then remembered he had quit smoking ten years ago.

’No wonder Dad was in such a foul mood for so long after he returned from Hui Yi Base One.’ Tang Huai buried his face in his hands, fighting the urge to curse. He felt absolutely miserable.

With red-rimmed eyes, Tang Heng refilled his father’s cup and asked, "Dad, what roles did Zhang San and Li Si play in this?"

Tang Zhengpo took a sip of hot tea before continuing. "Zhang San was one of the whistleblowers who exposed the crimes of the underground lab, and he was also the person in charge of the restorative treatment program. Yang Jin and Luo Pei coordinated with Xie Yu from the inside and outside to orchestrate the escape plan. Shortly after I arrived at Hui Yi Base One, Yang Jin approached me to join forces and rescue people. Li Si was at the Research Institute at the time. I’m not sure if she was involved in that incident."

"Not long after that, Deng Yufeng publicly announced that she had discovered a Pollution-free Spring Water and moved her team to Fiery Mountain, claiming the spring for herself. For her to be able to monopolize such a precious resource, she must have made some kind of deal with Hui Yi Base One or the higher-ups. After that, Deng Yufeng used the spring to continually grow stronger. She also poached many experts to cultivate High Yi Element plants at Fiery Mountain. Li Si was one of the people Deng Yufeng poached."

"Before leaving the Research Institute, even though Zhang San and Li Si were in different departments, they definitely knew each other," Tang Zhengpo surmised. "Judging by their current conversation, Li Si must have done something to anger Zhang San."

Tang Heng nodded. "That must be it. Zhang San might be petty, but he doesn’t misplace his anger. Otherwise, after refusing to trade with the Second Territory, he wouldn’t have still traded with us. So by that same logic, he wouldn’t take his anger toward Deng Yufeng out on Li Si."

"Wait, that’s not right!" The more Tang Huai thought about it, the more it didn’t add up. "Based on what you’ve said, the Green Dragon Team’s contribution to that incident was no less than Fire Phoenix’s. How could that Iron Rooster Yang Jin let Fire Phoenix take such a huge advantage, while he just led his team away from Hui Yi Base One with his tail between his legs? Also, since Zhang San was a whistleblower, he helped Fire Phoenix. So why would she send Li Si here to cause trouble for him?"

Tang Zhengpo didn’t scold his son for shouting, patiently answering his questions instead. "I don’t know much either; I’m not clear on how they divided things up between them. However, the Green Dragon Team didn’t come to Hui San Base for the reasons rumored outside. They were invited by General Qi to counterbalance the sole dominance of the Su Feng Team. After that incident, Deng Yufeng repeatedly invited Zhang San to join the Fiery Fire Team, but he refused every time. Her purpose in sending Li Si here is likely still to try and recruit Zhang San."

The most common rumor for why the Green Dragon Team left Hui Yi and came to Hui San Base was that Fire Phoenix had taken a liking to Yang Jin, but he didn’t reciprocate, so he led his team away to escape her.

Tang Heng asked, "Dad, why did Zhang San leave the Research Institute to come here and farm?"

"I don’t have any insider information. The most common reason I’ve heard is that he hated how bad the food at the Research Institute was, but that definitely can’t be the main reason."

The Tang Family Brothers...

’That was classic Zhang San.’

Tang Zhengpo continued, "Although the state issued a strict ban, in the face of enormous profits, there are definitely people who will take the risk and secretly conduct underground experiments. Zhang San traded for the termite mushrooms but didn’t want the mushroom soil, which means the problem isn’t with the mushrooms themselves. He’s not one to meddle in other people’s business, so he must have a reason for getting involved. You two stay here in the territory. I’ll go find Luo Pei and ask him to take me to Territory Land No. 7. With Zhang San’s temper, he definitely won’t see us if we go directly."

Facing his father, Tang Huai showed a rare firmness. "I’m the one who ate the mushrooms behind your and Ah Heng’s backs. You don’t need to get involved in this, and you don’t need to find Luo Pei. You rest. I’ll go find Xiaqing."

Tang Zhengpo was confused. "Why are you looking for Xiaqing?"

Tang Huai replied, "To get her to take me to see Zhang San. Going through her will work better than going through Luo Pei."

His son was already thirty years old. Since he wanted to resolve this himself, Tang Zhengpo didn’t stop him. "Don’t argue with them. Be polite."

After telling two bodyguards to follow him, Tang Zhengpo looked at his younger son, who hadn’t left.

Tang Heng asked in a hoarse voice, "Dad, before our cousin died, she must have told you who was responsible for her capture, right? It was Tang Zhengsu, wasn’t it?"

When his father remained silent, Tang Heng asked again, "Does my sister know?"

Tang Zhengpo nodded slightly and instructed his younger son, "Don’t tell your brother. Suppress all your emotions completely. Act like you know nothing. Xu Pin can sense killing intent from people nearby."

Tang Huai ran all the way to the North Isolation Zone of No.3 Territory in one breath. He crouched down, listened intently for a moment, then casually picked up a fist-sized rock and hurled it fiercely at a large tree in the Third Territory’s Buffer Forest.

BANG!

Carrying a chicken coop and preparing to head home, Xiaqing immediately ducked behind a pile of Injurious Grass and aimed her gun at the North Buffer Forest. Then she heard the sound of something hitting a tree again and saw a large tree trembling in the sunset.

’This is...’

Xiaqing turned her head and saw that the Head Wolf was gone. She said to Sheep Leader and the two remaining wolves, "Leader, Second, Broken Waist, you guys head home first. I’m going to go pick some vegetables."

Xiaqing headed straight north, placed the chicken coop behind her small cabin, and entered the Buffer Forest with her gun.

BANG! On the tenth throw, Tang Huai finally heard Xiaqing’s footsteps and mumbled a complaint, "What took you so long? All that training for noth—AHH!!!"

Tang Huai screamed, stumbled backward, and fell to the ground.

The sudden appearance of an Evolutionary Wolf also startled the two bodyguards. They immediately drew their handguns and stood in front of Tang Huai.

"Xia... Xiaqing, can’t you fucking walk faster!" This Evolutionary Wolf clearly wasn’t friendly, and Tang Huai was so scared his words came out jumbled.