Chapter 27: The Corpse in the Lake

Perhaps sensing he couldn’t help and wanting to steer clear of danger anyway Qin Ran had dutifully stayed ashore during the entire examination of the lakebed. He watched Lu Xin handle the sudden mutation and the three Investigation Team members excavate the Pollution Source, finding some cover and peeking his head out now and then to check on their progress.

Now seeing the figures by the lake suddenly stop and turn towards the shore he slowly stood up. Apparently just as anxious for the results he waved vigorously and shouted, “Find anything?”

Then he saw Lu Xin and the three Investigation Team members slowly walk towards the shore.

The three team members clutched their guns tightly their eyes behind the glass visors looked incredibly tense.

“What’s wrong?”

As Qin Ran watched them approach he noticed their positioning—subtly surrounding him. Coming from the Wasteland he was highly sensitive to such maneuvers and asked warily.

“Who are you?”

Lu Xin stared at Qin Ran asking slowly.

Qin Ran looked utterly baffled. “What do you mean by that?”

It was clear he was genuinely confused as if completely unable to comprehend.

Corporal Han Bing’s voice came over the channel: “Suggest confronting him directly then observe his reaction!”

“Agreed!”

Chen Jing’s cold voice followed, “Investigation Team, stay alert!”

“If you are Qin Ran…”

Lu Xin began slowly turning back towards the lakebed, “…then who is the corpse we just dug up?”

“What corpse?”

Qin Ran’s expression turned slightly unnatural as he asked slowly.

“We found the Pollution Source. It’s a corpse!”

Lu Xin explained patiently, meticulously, “That corpse… is you…”

Qin Ran’s face seemed somewhat stunned his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Lu Xin continued asking slowly, “So if you died long ago then who are you now?”

As he asked this Lu Xin’s mind raced. He recalled every detail of Qin Ran’s behavior: constantly eating in the office, seemingly never full; how quickly he’d reached for his gun at the slightest provocation; and even the cellar where the four people were held captive—the body parts inside seemed fewer than expected.

“No… impossible…”

After a long moment Qin Ran finally muttered, “If… if you dug me up then who… who am I?”

Lu Xin just watched him quietly.

The three Investigation Team members tightened their grip on their guns.

In the distance under rows of high-intensity spotlights the City Patrol Soldiers maintaining the lockdown remained utterly silent. The silence was heavy, oppressive.

Only the red moon hung in the sky its stark glow like hanging threads of red silk.

“I…”

Qin Ran looked even more panicked. He looked at Lu Xin as if seeking help, “Little Brother you tell me! Who am I?”

“He’s very similar to those fruits…”

Beside him Lu Xin felt a cool touch on his palm—it was his sister grabbing his hand.

Hearing her words Lu Xin immediately understood.

During his struggle with the shadows from that ‘weird tree’ earlier he’d already noticed that those shadows had looked incredibly familiar.

But at the time he hadn’t paid much attention nor could he make the connection.

Only now did it suddenly strike him: all those shadows looked like Qin Ran.

They varied—tall or short, fat or thin—but they all gave Lu Xin a sense of familiarity. The reason was that their indistinct features or movements resembled Qin Ran just various versions of him!

But the more he realized this the less he could tell Qin Ran who he truly was.

…

…

“I am… I am…”

Under the countless gazes fixed upon him Qin Ran suddenly seemed to become frantic. His Adam’s apple bobbed he cried out twice but his voice was hoarse. Abruptly he dashed madly towards the lake. All the guns swiveled to follow him with a clatter but since Chen Jing hadn’t given the order in the channel every gun remained pointed at him unfired.

All eyes watched as Qin Ran rushed to the lakebed beside the corpse.

He stared intensely at the corpse’s face then let out a sudden howl completely losing it.

He suddenly screamed, “Fake! It’s all fake! You’re all trying to harm me…”

“I knew it! Nothing good ever comes from entering the High-wall City…”

“You want to harm me…”

…

Shouting he violently kicked the corpse then bolted towards the other side of the lake.

On the other side of the lake not far away stood the High Wall.

He was actually running straight for the High Wall seemingly intending to climb over and escape.

Moreover his movements looked somewhat strange and his running speed increased rapidly.

“Capture him alive!”

Chen Jing gave the urgent order over the channel.

The three Investigation Team members immediately raised their guns aiming for Qin Ran’s legs.

But just then gunfire also erupted from atop the High Wall.

The surrounding area was already secured by soldiers including those stationed on the High Wall. Seeing Qin Ran charging towards them especially at a speed that was unnervingly faster than normal they didn’t hesitate to open fire on the crazed man.

Thud! Qin Ran’s running body pitched forward and hit the ground.

He struggled twice more then lay still.

Seeing this Lu Xin and the three Investigation Team members waved their hands and hurried towards the High Wall. Arriving beside Qin Ran’s body they saw three bullet wounds in his chest blood gushing out—clearly fatal. It seemed this ‘Pollution Source’ was dealt with surprisingly easily yet everyone’s mind was filled with endless questions: What exactly just happened?

In fact Lu Xin almost wished Qin Ran had turned into a monster at the end. At least that would have explained things. But he hadn’t. He just seemed slightly frantic at the end and his running speed just seemed slightly unnatural…

Thinking back carefully he even began wondering if his exaggerated speed was just an illusion.

What confused him even more now was:

If this Pollution Source was Qin Ran then what about the people seeking revenge against Qin Ran before?

As Lu Xin’s mind swirled with thoughts he felt his hand being shaken. He looked down and saw his sister curiously peering at Qin Ran’s corpse. Glancing over subconsciously he felt a jolt of shock. Blood was still pooling out from the gunshot wounds staining the mud red. But as the blood flowed the corpse began to shrivel.

His figure stooped his features withered transforming rapidly into someone else entirely.

“Who is he?”

Startled Lu Xin alerted the Investigation Team.

They had also noticed the change hastily taking photos and transmitting the data via the electronic devices on their arms.

Soon the sound of files being rapidly searched echoed in the channel.

Then Han Bing’s voice unable to hide her astonishment rang out: “That’s… That’s Cui Wang!”