Chapter 325: Invisible Passage

“Central City really goes all out, huh…”

Lu Xin and the others descended the mountain about ten kilometers from Water Buffalo City.

They stopped on a winding mountain road, a vantage point perfect for looking down.

It was afternoon, the sky recently washed clean by rain. In the distance, sprawling dark buildings sat upon the verdant plains like a beast crouching on the earth, watching the world with cold indifference.

Before the Red Moon incident, Water Buffalo City must have been a sizable metropolis.

Even now as an abandoned city, its imposing presence could still be felt.

Equally imposing was the military base established outside Water Buffalo City.

From their position, they could clearly see a vast camp had already been erected to the east of the city. Seven or eight helicopters whirred overhead, circling above the encampment. Below lay rows of white tents, black military vehicles, and various newly assembled, complex pieces of temporary equipment.

Truck after truck filled with armed soldiers were establishing a long cordon around the city.

“They must have gotten the news this morning at the earliest, right?”

Gecko was somewhat dumbstruck, instinctively lowering his voice despite the distance. “Even if they left immediately after getting the message, it’s only been a few hours. Have they already set up such a massive base hundreds of miles away?”

“That’s just Central City’s style.”

Chen Jing smiled slightly. “They talk casually but never underestimate their opponents. Especially this time, with the Black Table targeting the Research Institute, they’ve crossed a line. However, because Central City always operates on such a grand scale, their speed inevitably suffers a bit. We still have time. Let’s go, get inside before they completely seal it off.”

Having made the decision, they bid farewell to the convoy, leaving behind a walkie-talkie.

The convoy members, impressed but not fully understanding, treated the matter with utmost seriousness. They unloaded the motorcycle Lu Xin had left on the truck. Gao Ting then waved her hand grandly, procuring one for Chen Jing and Gecko each. Afterward, they all stood by their vehicles, tearfully bidding Lu Xin goodbye…

“What’s with the crying…”

Their tears made Lu Xin uneasy. Were they acting like he wasn’t coming back?

A sudden chill ran down his spine. They wouldn’t just run off, would they?

They still owed him for half a truckload of goods…

…

The three motorcycles turned onto a small path. Once on the plains, they navigated through the wildly overgrown weeds to avoid being spotted from afar. Compared to Chen Jing’s and Gecko’s bikes, Lu Xin’s was clearly superior quality. Listening to the pleasant *putt-putt-putt* of his own engine while observing the sputtering and even clanking sounds from the other two filled him with a sense of pride.

Central City’s camp was established to the east, and they were currently setting up the cordon.

So, they headed directly west toward Water Buffalo City, their tires parting the tall grass into neat lines.

Although they had hurried as much as possible along the way, upon reaching the west side of the city, they still saw armed vehicles already stationed around the city perimeter at intervals of about one kilometer. Major intersections had at least two armed vehicles and a dozen armed soldiers. Yellow cordon tape was being strung up, preventing anyone from entering or leaving the city freely.

Water Buffalo City was originally a gathering place for refugees, lacking even an Administration Hall. It naturally couldn’t resist Central City’s military might.

Of course, Central City likely found this inconvenient too. If Water Buffalo City had an Administration Hall, things might have been easier to manage.

…

Chen Jing and the others parked their bikes in the tall grass far off, observing the city from a distance.

Gecko asked, “Do we just charge straight in?”

Lu Xin glanced at Gecko, thinking, *So barbaric.*

Then he wondered if telling the soldiers he was just visiting family would get him through…

Chen Jing looked at the two of them and gave a cold chuckle. “Whether we charge in or try to negotiate with them, any direct contact with Central City will create numerous complications and put them on alert, hindering our movements.”

“So our principle is: unless absolutely necessary, avoid meeting with Central City personnel…”

Gecko glanced curiously at Chen Jing. “Then…”

Chen Jing smiled. “We told Central City almost all our information and discoveries, but did you forget something?”

“Hmm?”

Both Gecko and Lu Xin thought hard, their faces blank.

Chen Jing looked towards a specific spot. “Come out!”

Where she looked, the air seemed to distort slightly. Then, both Lu Xin and Gecko felt their vision blur, and suddenly a small, blood-red monster appeared on the ground. It was short, with crimson skin like peeled muscle tissue. It had no facial features, only two large ears. Instead of arms and legs, it had octopus-like tentacles.

“Ah, this…”

Lu Xin suddenly realized, his face full of surprise.

…

No wonder it felt like something was missing. He’d forgotten about this piece of physical evidence…

But thinking carefully, it wasn’t exactly forgotten. Recalling closely, it seemed the monster had been near them all along, timidly following Chen Jing. When they picked him up, it squatted obediently by Chen Jing’s feet. While he was recalling information at the chemical factory, it wandered around bored, watching everyone else busy.

Even when they were discussing visiting family in the car earlier, it was listening nearby.

When they rode the motorcycles to the city’s edge, it had actually been sitting obediently on the back seat of Chen Jing’s bike.

Yet, he hadn’t noticed it at all…

At the chemical factory, what Chen Jing had crossed out from his report was actually the part about it surfacing.

…

“As long as everyone around it simultaneously shifts their attention away, it enters a state of being ignored.”

Chen Jing explained with a smile, “After you caught it, because the people in the convoy and Li Gang were constantly watching it, it never had a chance to disappear. It wasn’t until I met with them and sorted through all the physical evidence that I realized the room supposed to hold something was empty. Even the memory of this whole incident was already fading…”

“But luckily, the report I had reminded me that there was still such a… person.”

“…”

“Then… how did you find it again?”

Because Lu Xin had been detained yesterday, he hadn’t had the chance to fully understand this monster’s capabilities.

After his sister left the little monster yesterday, it vanished again. Even he couldn’t always see it. Thinking back now, last night was actually quite dangerous. If it had already disappeared from that room, how did Chen Jing find it?

“Our abilities are just different.”

Chen Jing said, “You can only see it if you touch it or continuously pay attention to it.”

“So, once others lose focus on it, it disappears and becomes very difficult to find again.”

“However, my ability doesn’t require me to pay attention to it or touch it.”

She smiled, adjusting her sunglasses. “I just need it to see me. That’s enough.”

Lu Xin finally understood.

When Chen Jing realized the empty room actually held a small monster, she must have immediately used her ability on the empty space. Influenced by her power, the little monster would appear in her vision and obey her. More importantly, Chen Jing’s ability was continuous. As long as the influence hadn’t dissipated, she could keep seeing it.

A leader truly is a leader. A monster that caused him so much trouble was dealt with so easily by her…

“So now we…”

Lu Xin now understood Chen Jing’s plan and looked down at the little monster.

Meeting his gaze, the little monster recoiled in fear, its slender, soft tentacles wrapping around Chen Jing’s calf as it trembled.

“It has already done us a big favor. The information about Water Buffalo City was overheard by it.”

Chen Jing smiled. “I originally wanted it to gather more information for us from Central City’s meeting place, but unfortunately, it’s a bit timid.” She looked down at the little monster. “Get us into the city. But remember, you mustn’t make us lose consciousness. If you do well, I’ll consider taking you back to Qinggang and even giving you a job…”

As she spoke, her pupils faintly glowed red.

This imbued her words with an irresistible charm.

Though it seemed unnecessary, as the little monster started nodding vigorously the moment she began speaking, looking extremely obedient.

“This counts as putting waste to good use, I suppose…”

Lu Xin couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

He simultaneously recalled something: at the Qinggang Special Cleaning Department, Chen Jing was not only responsible for cleaning up special pollution but also for newcomer recruitment…

Hearing Lu Xin’s words, the little monster clearly showed signs of sadness.

Slender tentacles extended, wrapping around the wrists of Lu Xin, Gecko, and Chen Jing. Lu Xin instantly felt a strange sensation envelop him—a sorrow born of being forgotten. He had experienced this feeling once before when he first encountered the monster. This time, he deliberately controlled himself, not resisting the emotion.

After a while, his state stabilized. He looked down; he still looked the same.

Sunlight shone down, casting his shadow. Touching himself, he could feel his body.

Brushing the wild grass beside him still produced a rustling sound. It seemed like nothing had changed.

But as the three of them and the little monster walked directly down the main road towards the city entrance, they noticed the difference. They passed many people—ordinary folks trying to enter the city, and Central City’s armed soldiers who had set up the blockade preventing entry. These people were right in front of them, yet they couldn’t see them.

Even when someone’s eyes met theirs, their gaze seemed empty, completely oblivious to their presence.

…

“Little brother, I don’t know why, but I felt a connection to you the moment I saw you.”

Once they were a bit further from the others, Gecko quietly said to the little monster, “When we get back to Qinggang, I’ll take you around.”

“You probably don’t know, but the bathhouses in Qinggang are huge…”