11: Chapter 11 The Mist Beast Tide

One step.

Two steps.

Wang Lin walked up to Wang Xiaoyue, his monstrous maw nearly touching her face.

The warm air from his throat was blowing against the wisps of hair on his sister's forehead.

Wang Xiaoyue wrinkled her small nose and mumbled softly, "Gege, are you done yet? Your breath is so hot..."

Wang Lin didn't move.

He just stood there, looking down at the little girl who barely reached his waist.

...

Meanwhile, somewhere in the city's outskirts.

This was an inconspicuous old factory building, looking abandoned for years from the outside, overgrown with weeds, with most of its windows shattered.

But a hundred meters underground, it was a different world.

The huge circular conference hall was brightly lit, with complex runes carved on its dome, subtly indicating energy flow.

In the center was a large black marble round table, surrounded by twelve high-backed chairs.

Twelve people sat in the chairs.

Each wore an animal mask.

Sitting at the head was Wang Lin's father, Wang Dashan, whose mask was the Dragon.

Next to him sat the Snake, who was Wang Lin's mother, Li Xiulan.

The Dragon spoke, his voice deep: "How are the recent Reserve Member selections going?"

Sitting opposite him was the Rat.

The Rat's mask was small, with two front teeth slightly protruding, looking somewhat comical.

But no one could laugh. Among the Twelve Zodiacs, the Rat was in charge of intelligence, with connections everywhere, having entered the Night Watchers Investigation Bureau's archives more than once.

The Rat opened the booklet in front of him: "More people signed up than expected."

"Most are desperate Calamities, wanted by the Night Watchers."

"There are also some Awakened who have grievances with the Night Watchers, or whose philosophies don't align, and are looking for other paths. A total of 248 people."

The Dragon nodded slightly: "More than expected."

The Rat nodded: "A large number is normal. The mist has been expanding recently, and mutations are intensifying."

"Newly Awakened Calamities can only prey on humans by instinct, otherwise they will completely lose themselves and turn into monsters."

"And those man-eating Calamities are being hunted by the Night Watchers—"

"Hey, hey, hey."

A rough voice interrupted him.

The Tiger leaned back in his chair, his eyes behind the mask glancing at the Rat: "What's wrong with Calamities eating people? The way you say that, you know more than half of us here are Calamities."

The conference hall fell silent for a moment.

The Rat's tone remained unchanged, still calm: "I apologize, I didn't mean to target any of you."

"I'm referring to those Calamities dominated by the instinct of hunger. I believe everyone here understands what I mean."

The Tiger snorted and said no more.

The Dragon spoke: "For Calamities, try to pick those with strong willpower."

"Not those whose minds are clouded by hunger."

"Also, we don't accept Calamities who enjoy eating people."

The Rat nodded, making a note: "Understood. We've always selected people according to requirements."

The Dragon paused, then added: "Also, for this selection, I want my son to participate."

When his words fell, the conference hall was silent for a moment.

Then someone laughed aloud.

The Monkey tilted his head, the Monkey face on his mask showing a half-smile: "Dragon, you must be joking, right?"

"Didn't you say last time that your son hadn't Awakened even at 18?"

"A normal human participating in the selection? Aren't you afraid he'll die in there?"

The Snake, Li Xiulan, slowly spoke: "My son Awakened a few days ago."

The Monkey was stunned for a moment, then laughed even harder: "He just Awakened and he's already participating in the selection?"

"You're probably trying to send your son to his death, aren't you?"

"I suggest you let him gain some experience for a few more years, don't rush him into the fire pit."

The Snake said nothing, her eyes behind the mask looking at the Dragon.

The Rabbit coughed softly, her voice gentle but with a hint of sharpness: "This is the Twelve Zodiacs, not a family organization."

As she spoke, she glanced at the Dragon, intentionally or unintentionally.

The Dragon merely sat there quietly, and only after everyone had finished speaking did he slowly begin:

"According to reliable sources, in two months, there will be a Mist Beast Tide."

The conference hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on the Dragon.

The Dragon's voice was unhurried: "At that time, the mist will fill the entire town."

"Mist Beasts will attack on a large scale. I just want my child to understand the truth of this world in advance, to be prepared."

"So that when the Mist Beasts come, he won't be completely bewildered."

Mist Beast Tide.

These four words were like a giant rock thrown into calm water, plunging the conference hall into a deathly silence.

The Rat's pen stopped on the booklet, unmoving.

The Tiger's body tensed, his eyes behind the mask wide.

The Monkey put away his smile, his fingers gently tapping the armrest.

The Rabbit lowered her eyes, lost in thought.

Even the Ox, who had always been inconspicuous, slowly raised his head.

After a long time, the Rat finally spoke, his voice somewhat dry: "Is the news reliable?"

"Reliable."

Another silence.

The Dragon stood up and looked around: "Therefore, I need him to grow up as quickly as possible."

"Even if it's just to gain a bit more self-preservation ability."

He turned and walked towards the door.

The Snake stood up and followed him.

When he reached the door, the Dragon stopped, without turning back:

"The selection will proceed as usual."

"My son will participate as an ordinary contestant. Whether he survives or not is up to him."

With that, he pushed the door open and left.

In the conference hall, the remaining people exchanged glances.

The Monkey scratched his head and muttered, "Damn it, Mist Beast Tide... This life is unlivable."

No one responded.

Because everyone knew in their hearts that if the Dragon was telling the truth, then no one could escape this beast tide.

...

Moonlight streamed in diagonally through the window, falling on the dining table.

As Wang Lin, in his Calamity form, opened his huge maw,

"Grrrrumble."

A hungry stomach growled.

It was Wang Xiaoyue's.

Wang Xiaoyue, with her eyes closed, mumbled softly: "Gege, are you done yet... Xiaoyue's tummy is hungry..."

Wang Lin's huge maw paused in mid-air.

He looked down at the little girl, who was not yet ten years old.

She sat properly, her small hands on her knees, her eyes tightly shut, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Even though her stomach was grumbling with hunger, she didn't open her eyes, didn't peek, just waited obediently.

Because Gege said to keep her eyes closed, and Gege hadn't said she could open them.

Because Xiaoyue listened to Gege the most.

Wang Lin's gaze went past her, falling on the dining table.

The dishes on the table were neatly arranged, untouched.

The braised pork was still steaming, the green vegetables were vibrant, and the egg drops in the tomato egg soup were evenly distributed.

Four sets of bowls and chopsticks were neatly laid out, and next to her portion was her favorite spoon with the little Rabbit pattern.

She had been waiting.

Waiting for him to come back.

Even though she was hungry, she hadn't eaten first.

Because Mama had said to wait for Gege to come back and eat together.