Chapter 18

Luo Li’s hair stood on end in an instant.

When he whipped his head around, the shadowy figure had vanished. The mirror reflected only his own face, pale with terror.

For some inexplicable reason, the surroundings felt off. The pitch-black depths of the bathroom seemed even darker now. The shadows writhed as if alive, twisting in eerie contortions.

He rubbed his eyes, and the movement ceased.

Was it just his imagination?

His mind kept replaying the figure he’d glimpsed in the mirror: a deep blue jacket, seemingly layered with an old coat—clothing that matched Meng Hu’s from memory.

At the same time, voices drifted in from outside the door.

“I told you he couldn’t be here,” someone said. “We haven’t even escaped the maze yet. Why would Wado head to the outskirts?”

“Why not?” Ling Yu replied. “The task says ‘escape the maze and find Wado.’ Not ‘escape the maze, then find Wado.’ Why assume it’s sequential instead of two separate objectives?”

Kang Xun paused. “Damn, playing word games? They wouldn’t be that sneaky, would they?”

Andrei chimed in, “If that’s the case, searching would be way too difficult. The maze is a web of passages—Wado could be hiding anywhere… Kang, what are you thinking?”

Kang Xun looked up. “Speaking of which, do you guys remember Meng Hu?”

They had already exchanged intel earlier; now it was time to dig deeper.

Kang Xun pulled out the file knife.

“That guy was killed by something inhuman. I initially suspected Fu Shiyue’s ability, but on second thought, as a doctor, he’d have cleaner ways to off a patient without a trace.”

Ling Yu narrowed his eyes. “You mean… Wado?”

If Wado could freely traverse the maze, slipping into the Second Floor would be a breeze for it.

“But why Meng Hu, specifically?”

Luo Li’s heart leaped into his throat.

Yeah…

Meng Hu had been killed by that unknown monster ages ago. How could he possibly show up here?

So that figure he’d just seen was…

His soft palm pressed against the mirror, sweat slicking the gaps between his fingers. Luo Li didn’t dare look directly into the glass. He bowed his head sharply, staring at his shoe tips in a desperate bid to avoid seeing what he dreaded.

The bathroom tiles gleamed stark white, faintly mirroring a shadow—his trembling ankles.

The edges of that shadow seemed poised to devour the light, and it looked like it was moving again.

No. Not “looked like.”

The shadow was moving.

Tap-tap.

Footsteps drew closer. Heels clicked dully against the tiles, emerging from that mass of darkness, approaching the sink.

Overwhelming dread hung over him, yet Luo Li couldn’t stop himself from turning around.

The man in workman’s overalls approached slowly, his body shrouded in drifting black mist.

Meng Hu’s eyes were swallowed by blackness, save for golden pupils gleaming within. Already burly as a laborer, his frame had swollen even further now—muscles bulging, height nearly scraping the ceiling, towering over his previous self.

How tall was this guy now?

Over six foot three, at least?

Luo Li’s mind went blank. Black vapor steamed from Meng Hu’s rippling muscles, those monstrous golden beast-eyes gazing down at him, appraising prey.

The golden light in the pupils flickered, as if stirred by something. Meng Hu raised his hand, his right palm landing on Luo Li’s shoulder.

Luo Li froze, his legs turning to jelly.

“Don’t kill me… sob…”

A strong arm encircled his waist. Meng Hu hoisted him up effortlessly with one arm, bringing their eyes level.

They locked gazes, and Luo Li felt the man’s slow, heavy breaths washing over his cheek—scalding hot.

Up close, Meng Hu’s face seemed subtly changed. Black veins snaked up his neck, his features more rugged and imposing, the oppressive aura far stronger than before.

Why was he still staring like that…?

What did he want?

Meng Hu leaned in closer, his large hand pressing into the small of Luo Li’s back. Then, he parted his dry lips.

A rough, wet-hot tongue emerged, brushing Luo Li’s lower lip.

Luo Li jolted in shock, twisting his head away in desperate resistance. But Meng Hu gripped his neck, his tongue lapping insistently at those soft pink lips.

The sweet, yielding little mouth clenched shut at first, but Meng Hu soon found a seam and plunged into the hot, slick cavern beyond.

The boy was small all over, his mouth no exception—short, narrow, and tight. It was easy to suck at that dripping pink tongue, leaving no room to spare.

Luo Li’s struggling gasps filled his ears, his throat thick with moisture, tender enough to fray the nerves.

Likely from lack of air, that palm-sized face flushed red in moments. His watery almond eyes curved in distress, brimming with aggrieved tears.

Meng Hu released him briefly for air, then dove back in for another deep kiss.

His arms were astonishingly strong; even after holding him so long, there was no hint of fatigue. Escape was impossible for Luo Li. His mind clouded under the relentless kiss, oblivious even as Meng Hu’s hips began thrusting rhythmically—growing more unnatural by the second.

Until a “plink” sounded—something hitting the floor.

Luo Li glanced down to see a shiny button on the tiles.

Then came the unmistakable rasp of a zipper straining open.

Meng Hu slowly withdrew from the kiss, their tongues parting with a glistening strand of saliva.

Luo Li’s face was flushed, his body limp as he slumped against the man’s shoulder. Vision hazy, he dimly noticed Meng Hu’s belt undone.

His button had popped off.

Luo Li stared blankly, uncomprehending.

Meng Hu’s gaze burned hotter still upon him. He freed one hand.

Toward that exquisite, delicate face—lush and soft—Meng Hu clenched his jaw, a thick grunt rumbling from his throat.

Luo Li saw his arm muscles tense sharply, forearm pumping up and down. His body began to quake rhythmically.

Mumbled syllables tumbled hoarsely from his lips, guttural and inhuman.

007 suddenly spoke: “Close your eyes.”

Seeing Luo Li still dazed, it raised its volume and snapped, “Close your eyes!”

Luo Li shuddered and squeezed them shut.

All he heard now were Meng Hu’s low endearments, lips brushing his earlobe, sucking wetly.

…

“Something’s up.”

Andrei halted at the bathroom door, listening intently.

He signaled Kang Xun and Ling Yu to hold back, pressing his palm to the door. An unnatural heat seeped through.

It felt like something was barricading the door, muffling all sound.

He reached for the handle—and then heard it.

The sound of running water.

More precisely, water splashing forcefully against porcelain—a toilet bowl. It went on for a good while before stopping.

The door’s heat faded. The handle turned loosely; the lock simply gave way.

They flicked on the lights and froze.

The bathroom stood empty—no one, not even a scrap of clothing. The faucet dripped steadily into the sink, as if someone had used it in haste or agitation and left without shutting it off.

And a strange scent permeated the air.

All three glanced at the toilet and floor tiles. Similar splatters marked both—evidence of extreme, reckless release.

As grown men, they knew exactly what it meant.

Andrei snapped out of it first, shining his flashlight into the corner. There, he spotted the mark from before—one left wherever Wado had lingered.

“Looks like it was here, and left not long ago.”

Ling Yu turned slowly, murmuring cryptically, “If Wado killed Meng Hu, shouldn’t it know what Meng Hu did before dying?”

“Same question for you two: Do you think it can learn?”

Andrei frowned. “What did Meng Hu do before he died?”

Kang Xun’s expression turned peculiar. Under their stares, he finally muttered, “…Jerked off.”

“Thinking of that little nurse’s face while he did it.”

The uncultured laborer had been crass about it, joking with Kang Xun right before entering that bathroom.

Could Wado learn?

If so, why do this here?

The mood shifted sharply. They exchanged uneasy glances and shut the door.

Andrei fell silent for a moment. “We should split up. Sticking together is too slow.”

Kang Xun and Ling Yu nodded in agreement.

As they turned away, the break room door swung open.

Fu Shiyue held an energy drink in one hand, a rifle materializing in the other.

“Where’s Lili?”

…

Rain pounded outside the window.

Thunder roared, lightning shattering the clouds and slashing chill-inducing bolts before the massive floor-to-ceiling glass.

The youth in its arms trembled violently, cradled close. His pristine stockings bore dirty stains; he tugged awkwardly at his skirt hem, trying to hide them.

The perpetrator’s gaze remained scorching. It cupped his small rear gently, settling him onto a chair.

Wherever it passed, it left scorch marks in its wake. Luo Li was certain now—this thing was definitely not Meng Hu.

Sure, it shared Meng Hu’s rough manners, reckless nature, and freakishly immense strength.

But there were no player indicators on it… which meant it was either an NPC or a Boss.

In a small voice, Luo Li asked, “You… who exactly are you…?”

He wasn’t holding out much hope. After all, it was anyone’s guess whether the thing could even understand him.

To his surprise, it sat down beside him and let out intermittent sounds from its throat.

“Wado.”

“Name. Is.”

Wado?!

Luo Li was dumbfounded. Wasn’t this supposed to be a Pollution Source? How come it looked so human-like…? Shouldn’t Wado be some massive virus monster or something?

From the looks of it now, the guy only checked the “massive” box.

Right—right, he still needed to get the Top Floor Gate Key from it.

Luo Li remembered his Advanced Skill. Since Wado was a Boss, it ought to work.

If he could just make it obey him, he’d snag that key.

Lacking confidence, he raised his hand to activate the skill.

Wado’s eyes flickered. Suddenly, it leaned down toward him.

Then, with practiced ease, it placed its head beneath that soft, pale, tender little hand of his.

…just like a big dog begging for a pat, nuzzling its head against his palm.

Luo Li was utterly dumbfounded.

He hadn’t even used the skill yet!