Chapter 155
As the main subject, I could imbue them with a core will, such as viewing the mutated cancer cells as mortal enemies, transforming them into something akin to targeted drugs, while also harnessing their formidable capacity for proliferation.
Xiang Xiaoyuan's pupils constricted, and she hesitated, "But how can you ensure that these cancer cells won’t inherit your will and replace Chen Huai'an's consciousness?"
Luo Haisheng sat up, tearing open his hospital gown, and grinned, "Isn't that simple? Just put me in a biological pod and use a neural bridge to separate my consciousness—let my cells act as reinforcements to battle within Chen Huai'an's body. That way, the proliferation advantage of the mutated cancer cells will be nullified!"
"But with our current technology, we can't properly safeguard the separated consciousness."
"I know."
"You'll die."
"I know."
Xiang Xiaoyuan looked at Luo Haisheng with a complex expression.
Given the strength and potential Chen Huai'an had displayed, his value for survival was clearly greater than Luo Haisheng's. She understood well that this proposal would pass no matter where it was placed; the only ones who would struggle to accept it were Luo Haisheng's friends.
Luo Haisheng slammed his fist on the hospital bed, snorting coldly, "I should have died at the feet of the Corpse King, becoming a hero, but that kid stole my thunder. I'm really not happy about it!"
He then fixed his gaze on Xiang Xiaoyuan, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face, "Xiaoyuan, I don’t want to live with guilt. Just think, if I could swap my life for that kid's, he’d definitely treat me like a father from then on. Ha! Having such a powerful godson, just thinking about it makes me feel damn good!"
Xiang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but chuckle at the scruffy man's words.
But as she laughed, tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. She wiped them away and turned her gaze aside, "You should really say less. It tarnishes your image as a director."
"That kid said the same thing, hahahaha."
...
Luo Haisheng's proposal was quickly approved.
He lay back calmly in the biological pod, the neural bridge standing beside him, connecting him to Chen Huai'an in another pod.
"Director Luo, the surgery is about to begin. Do you have any last requests?" Xiang Xiaorong asked, her eyes slightly red, her voice choked as she bowed to Luo Haisheng.
"Light me a cigarette... damn it, after living for decades, I’ve come to love this, and I won’t be able to smoke again. Hurry up and light it."
Xiang Xiaoyuan silently took out the scruffy man's favorite cigarette and lit it for him.
"By the way, give this to that kid." Luo Haisheng took a deep drag, pulled out a badge, and handed it to Xiang Xiaoyuan. "I always hoped that kid would join my team. I made badges for everyone, even that girl with the three zeros... but I guess there won’t be any more chances. Just give it to him as a keepsake."
"Don’t look so glum!" Luo Haisheng said with a smile. "Let’s get started, don’t let that kid lie there any longer; his butt will get cold!"
Xiang Xiaoyuan nodded and closed the lid of the biological pod.
The operating room door shut.
It completely isolated them from the outside world.
The crimson warning lights flickered to life.
...
...
"Captain Zhao, you’ve stirred quite a commotion in C Province this time. When are you returning our Soul-Tracking Compass? It’s about time we got it back."
In the reception room of the C Province Demon-Slaying Division.
Zhao Ying sat across from a group of people, the atmosphere far from friendly.
"The Soul-Tracking Compass is broken," Zhao Ying said, pursing her lips. "An existence like the Corpse King Di Jiang can shatter a compass like it’s nothing. We can’t do anything about it, but we will compensate you for what’s due."
"Alright, Captain Zhao, you’re straightforward. Then let’s have the relics of Di Jiang as compensation."
Zhao Ying frowned slightly.
She knew that the Lin family was looking for trouble. After all, while the Soul-Tracking Compass was precious, it wasn’t the only one, and it could be artificially manufactured, so there was no need to make a fuss. But she hadn’t expected them to be so greedy, coming right out of the gate asking for Di Jiang’s relics.
However, they had come to the wrong place.
Zhao Ying spread her hands, "I’m sorry, but we also want Di Jiang’s relics. However, his tomb and coffin were obliterated in the Thunderstorm, leaving only ashes and melted gold. Are you interested in those? I can give them to you."
"If you don’t want to give it, just say so."
A middle-aged man in martial attire beside the old man snorted coldly, "Stop making up excuses. The relics of such an existence can’t be so easily destroyed!"
"Wu'er, don’t be rude!"
The old man waved the middle-aged man away, but there was no reprimand in his tone. His bright eyes were fixed on Zhao Ying: "Since the relics are gone, then give us Chen Huai'an. We’re very interested in the body of this resurrector... If that’s not possible, you can give us his accompanying spirit object."
Zhao Ying’s eyes narrowed, and she was filled with rage.
"Who dares to call me a corpse?"
Just then, a lazy voice rang out from behind everyone.
They turned to see a young man leaning against the door of the conference hall, tall and clad in a hospital gown, his sharp eyes crackling with electricity.
"Old man, you’ve lived a long life, haven’t you?" Chen Huai'an fixed his gaze on the elderly man at the center of the sofa, sneering, "Cursing me as a corpse? Do you want to die right now?"
...
...
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Chapter 166: Do You Have Money? (Fala Niu +1)
Ten minutes earlier—
Chen Huai'an watched as Luo Haisheng's body withered into a skeleton in the morning light.
He reached out and removed the cigarette butt from the skull's mouth.
"I can’t stand guys like you," Chen Huai'an muttered, staring into the hollow eye sockets of the scruffy man. "Always shouting about protection and redemption, doing all those self-indulgent things. Who cares about you? How long will your name be remembered? People should think of themselves first; if you don’t care for yourself, heaven will punish you. And now look, you’re gone."
"You’re just a gambler," he suddenly scoffed at the nutrient pod that now contained only ashes. "Betting your life to trade for mine? Did you even ask if I was willing to play this game?"
The smell of disinfectant mingled with a hallucinatory hint of tobacco.
Chen Huai'an clenched the arm of the biological pod tightly, arcs of electricity dancing between his knuckles: "You talk about being a godson... now I can’t even find your bones to offer incense!"
Scattered across the dissection table were the analysis reports of Luo Haisheng's ashes.
He grabbed a nearby petri dish and slammed the dark red mutated dragon cell sample against the glass. The viscous tissue fluid trickled down the rain-like patterns, reflecting his eyes, which sparkled with lightning.
"You gambled your life to give me these activated cancer cells, and now they’re playing Russian roulette with the remnants of the dragon."
Chen Huai'an pressed his forehead against the cold glass, his eyes reddening as he gritted his teeth:
"Do you know what’s most ironic? You could have just given me the cells, but you had to add a personal touch. When these activated cells devour the dragon cells, they’ll play your smoking tunes— they’re even singing 'Tian Mi Mi' in my head!"
Lightning split the night sky.
The dragon cells in the petri dish proliferated wildly.
But the moment they touched Chen Huai'an's fingertip, they disintegrated into ash.
He stared at the drifting embers between his fingers,
Faintly seeing Luo Haisheng’s temple pierced by the neural probe in his final moments.
Chen Huai'an’s emotions calmed as he pocketed a diamond-shaped crystal next to the biological pod. According to Xiang Xiaoyuan, the biological tissue within the crystal contained part of Luo Haisheng’s separated consciousness.
But it was uncertain whether this consciousness was viable.
So this crystal could only be considered a glimmer of hope.
With the ongoing revival of spiritual energy, there might be a way to reassemble and awaken this consciousness in the future.
But not now.
"Scruffy, don’t think you can just walk away.
I don’t owe anyone anything, and I don’t recognize anyone as a godfather.
So, one day, you’ll have to come back to life... and apologize for the 'Tian Mi Mi' in my head!"
He took one last look at the ashes in the biological pod.
Then he turned and left.
...
Outside, Xiang Xiaoyuan’s eyes were still red. When she saw Chen Huai'an come out, she quickly wiped her eyes and handed him a badge: "Director Luo made this badge when he first met you. He hoped you would become one of his team members."
Chen Huai'an took the badge. The front bore a swirling 'An', while the back displayed the Demon-Slaying Division's emblem—a sword cleaving through flames, with the number
"Thanks," Chen Huai'an nodded at Xiang Xiaoyuan.
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