33: Cheating

He looked towards the door upon hearing the sound.

Sure enough, two middle-aged people, around forty to fifty years old, dressed in simple clothes, and bearing a faint resemblance to the sisters Wenya and Wenqian, were being held outside.

Chen Wenqian and Chen Wenya, who had been curiously watching the various instruments in the researcher's hands, immediately scurried to the door upon hearing the commotion.

“Dad, Mom, why are you back so early today?”

The couple looked at their daughters, then at the researchers in protective suits, and for a moment, they didn't know what to do with their hands.

“Old… Old Wang called me and said a group of people in protective suits came to our house, and it seemed like something big happened.”

“Your mom and I were worried something happened to you, so we rushed back.”

Saying this, Chen's father pulled Chen Wenya aside and, somewhat confused, looked towards the house.

“What’s going on?”

Chen Wenya opened her mouth, unsure of where to begin.

However, Lin Mo, who had heard the commotion, came over to them, resolving Chen Wenya’s dilemma.

He first took out his identification to state his identity, then said,

“Mr. Chen, the situation with your family is quite complex and can’t be explained in a short time.”

“How about this, why don’t you come back to the Public Security Bureau with me first, and we can talk slowly?”

At this point, he turned back to glance at the house, which had been reduced to a battle-damaged wreck under the ravages of the Mutated Cockroach.

“As for your house, we need to temporarily appropriate it for a few days. During this time, you can stay with relatives or at a hotel.”

“During this period, we will provide Mr. Chen’s family with a housing subsidy of 300 yuan per person per day.”

“If any renovations or furniture are damaged during the appropriation period, we will also compensate for them at their original price.”

Chen Defa looked at the house, wanting to say something.

But the words caught in his throat, and he ultimately just nodded.

He was just an ordinary assembly line worker.

The officials had already clearly stated their intention to appropriate his house; where did he have any choice?

Moreover, the officials were even providing a subsidy.

For a family of four, that added up to 1200 yuan per day.

This was more than double his and his wife’s combined salaries.

He should be content.

Seeing Chen Defa agree, Lin Mo immediately waved to Shi Sheng, who had finished retching nearby.

“I’ll take Mr. Chen’s family back to the Public Security Bureau first.”

“There’s nothing major here for now, so you stay and keep an eye on things.”

After instructing Shi Sheng, Lin Mo looked at Yang Dian.

“As for you, Little Yang, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to work a little harder.”

“You’re the most capable person on our team, so if there’s trouble elsewhere, we’ll need you to provide support.”

Yang Dian spread his hands.

“Captain, I feel like you’re ‘KFCing’ me.”

“Also, I can’t fly.”

“If the distance is too far, I might not make it in time.”

Lin Mo smiled.

“I’m just saying.”

“The brothers from the Public Security Bureau and Martial Security Bureau aren’t slacking off either.”

“Out of 300-plus people, they’ve already captured over 290, with only two or three stragglers still out there.”

“The likelihood of needing support is low.”

Yang Dian naturally understood this.

He could also see the mission progress.

Saying this to Lin Mo was just a joke.

“I understand, Captain.”

“If support is needed, I’ll rush over immediately.”

...The situation unfolded as expected.

Before 11 PM, all cross-infected individuals were brought under control and sent to the City’s Ninth Hospital.

Which was the psychiatric hospital.

The infected would undergo craniotomy there to remove the Mutated Parasites parasitic in their brains.

Yang Dian, having received the mission complete notification, called Lin Mo. After a brief chat, he stated that he needed to go home tomorrow and take a day off.

Lin Mo didn’t refuse.

Yang Dian, having received his holiday, contentedly finished his work and returned to Pingshui Street, which was still bustling with people and lively.

He passed by the Young Misses waving at him under the pink lights.

Returning to his rented room, Yang Dian scratched his head as he looked at the brand new door.

“Tsk, I still need to get the key from Second Uncle.”

He knocked on the door of the neighboring room, where light was seeping through the cracks.

After getting the key from Second Uncle, he exchanged a few pleasantries with him.

After rambling about everything under the sun and complaining about how difficult work was nowadays, Yang Dian bid Second Uncle goodnight and returned to his own room.

He used his foot to push himself onto the bed.

Hugging the flattened pillow and rubbing against it, a hint of contentment appeared on Yang Dian’s face.

“As expected, the bed is the most comfortable.”

After being a slacker for a while, he flipped over and looked at the ceiling.

Light and shadows flickered on his retina, and a light blue panel, much richer than before, appeared in Yang Dian’s eyes.

— — — —

Cultivation Technique:

Dragon Claw Hand (Copper Bones Iron Skin, 0.32%)

Heaven and Man Unity Skill (Not yet initiated, can be initiated by consuming 695 energy points)

Iron Shirt (Not yet initiated, can be initiated by consuming 17 energy points)

Grass Tread Flight (Not yet initiated, can be initiated by consuming 3 energy points)

Hun Yuan Strength (Not yet initiated, can be initiated by consuming 131 energy points)

Energy: 399.5

— — — —

“For close combat, there’s Dragon Claw Hand, and for Cultivating Qi and blood, there’s Heaven and Man Unity Skill.”

“Iron Shirt for defense, Grass Tread Flight for escaping, and then Hun Yuan Strength to control the surging power.”

“Once the merits are credited, I’ll choose a blade or sword technique, and a movement technique for shifting positions.”

“In terms of martial arts Cultivation Techniques, I’ll pretty much be fully equipped.”

Thinking this, Yang Dian touched the pistol on his thigh.

“I also need to practice my marksmanship.”

“After all, in a short distance, a gun is still faster beyond seven steps.”

“As for within seven steps, the gun is both fast and accurate.”

After a brief review for omissions and deficiencies, Yang Dian shifted his attention to Iron Shirt.

As the thought of ‘learn it’ fell, 17 points of energy instantly decreased.

At the same time, an inexplicable comprehension surged into Yang Dian’s mind, causing him to involuntarily show a look of sudden realization.

“So that’s how it is…”

After a while, the comprehension was fully absorbed, and Yang Dian pinched his arm again.

Just as he pinched his arm, the energy on the panel instantly decreased by 0.01 points.

‘Under the premise of relying entirely on energy to Cultivate, it takes 100 energy points to Cultivate the first characteristic of Iron Shirt…’

‘That’s a bit much.’

‘But it’s not without advantages.’

‘After simplification, it only requires massaging the body to consume energy and strengthen the corresponding parts, directly avoiding the pain of flesh.’

‘Hmm, isn’t this equivalent to enhancing the Iron Shirt?’

‘After all, ordinary people wouldn't dare to Cultivate vulnerable points like the eyes.’

Thinking this, Yang Dian reached out and groped around.

‘Alas~’

‘To avoid Iron Shirt leaving any vulnerable points.’

‘Jade-Faced Little Dragon, it’s time to re-enter the Jianghu!’

Amidst his thoughts, Yang Dian’s gaze fell upon Grass Tread Flight again.

With a thought, that inexplicable comprehension once again surged into Yang Dian’s mind.

It was as if the goddess of knowledge had opened her arms to him, allowing him to take whatever he desired.

The feeling was so wonderful, it was simply indescribable.

However, the time it took to learn Grass Tread Flight was much less than the time needed to learn Iron Shirt.

It took Yang Dian 17 minutes to learn Iron Shirt.

But it only took him 3 minutes to learn Grass Tread Flight.

‘Hmm, speaking of which, it seems it took 7 minutes to learn Dragon Claw Hand back then.’

‘So, 1 point of energy corresponds to 1 minute of ‘Epiphany’?’

His peripheral vision swept across the panel.

Then his pupils slightly contracted, and a surprised expression appeared on his face.

— —

Cultivation Technique:

Iron Shirt (0.01%)

Grass Tread Flight (0.00%)

Hun Yuan Strength (Not yet initiated, can be initiated by consuming 129 energy points)

— —

On the panel, Iron Shirt and Grass Tread Flight were already in the initiated state, gaining experience.

This was correct.

But what surprised Yang Dian was Hun Yuan Strength.

He hadn’t done anything, yet the energy required to learn Hun Yuan Strength had decreased by two points.

‘No, it’s not that I didn’t do anything.’

‘Just now, I spent 3 energy points to learn Grass Tread Flight, and gained a lot of knowledge about how to exert force with the legs and how to adjust breathing rhythm while running.’

‘So, some of this knowledge can also be effective in Hun Yuan Strength?’

While marveling at the ‘cheat’ being so user-friendly, Yang Dian also got up and walked to the small bathroom.

What needed to be learned had already been learned.

Grinding for experience was a task for tomorrow.

He had been busy all day, and now the important task was...

…to wash up.

And then sleep soundly!