Chapter 604: Shadows of Mental Contamination

The room fell silent, and soon after Zhang Weiyu’s cry—filled with confusion, despair, and oppressive sorrow—broke out.

Everyone else exchanged uneasy glances, their once sharp minds now clogged with inexplicable ideas.

Suddenly, they couldn’t believe it—could love really be stolen away?

Could the images in one’s memory be altered?

A single sticky note could make a once kind and pure-hearted girl utterly despise the person she loved most.

And fall in love with someone she had always detested and feared… a pervert?

……

……

“Do you understand now?”

Noticing the group’s inner turmoil and distress, Lu Xin met their eyes steadily and explained softly:

“This is Mental Pollution.”

“It might not be what you think—it isn’t a ghost or a monster; it’s simply a kind of contamination…”

“They aren’t as benevolent as ghosts; they just want to scare you or even kill you.”

“More often, mental pollution doesn’t intend to kill you; it insists that you live—just in a different way, stripping you of the freedom to choose.”

“It changes how you live, robbing you of your ability to choose…”

“……”

Lu Xin’s words sent a shiver down the spines of several people, including Vice President Xiao.

The police officer, who had just taken off his bulletproof vest, instinctively reached out for it; but midway, his hand froze as he realized with a heavy heart that in such situations, a vest was indeed useless.

Originally, Vice President Xiao and his team had followed Lu Xin’s investigation, partly for the thrill of uncovering something new.

If they were to suddenly see a blue-faced, fanged ghost, they might be terrified.

Yet later, the thrill was replaced by a lingering sense of blandness—a mere capital to boast about.

After what happened with Chen Wei and the others, they felt no excitement, only an indescribable, oppressive heaviness in their hearts.

It was a twisted, absurd, and utterly debilitating oppression.

“So then…”

At that moment, Little Meng suddenly spoke up with concern: “If Chen Wei became like this because of that damn sticky note, then shouldn’t we just peel it off to set her right again?”

Hearing him, everyone quickly lifted their heads.

They were indeed worried about the issue.

One sticky note causing such a massive impact—so, would removing it fix everything?

“The sticky note isn’t on her anymore,”

Lu Xin shook his head and whispered, “The moment that thing touched the back of her neck, it did its work. Her memory was altered. The sticky note vanished, like a correct answer being overwritten with a mistake.”

After a few more explanations, Lu Xin left it at that.

Mental pollution comes in various types and intensities.

The deeper the contamination, the harder it is to cleanse.

Shallow pollution can be self-healed, allowing one to quickly adjust.

But once deep-seated pollution fixes itself, trying to correct it on your own becomes nearly impossible, if not forever.

It’s like that old movie—a person trying hardest to forget something ends up remembering it all too clearly.

Memory itself is stubborn and inherently resilient.

“But this shouldn’t be happening…”

Zhang Weiyu suddenly looked up, his voice breaking as he cried, “Xiaowei can’t stay like this forever…”

He lunged at Lu Xin, dropping to his knees and clinging fiercely to Lu Xin’s collar. “Tell me, what must be done to cure her? I’ll pay—really, even if I have to labor for a lifetime, I’ll pay to cure her…”

Lu Xin gave him a long, meaningful look.

A rational thought told him that this man might work his whole life and barely earn enough.

Much like his own struggles at the small company.

For many people, life is literally worthless—perhaps in this world, the only thing that truly matters to him is that girl.

And he was willing to work a lifetime just to cure her.

Perhaps this is what love is?

Allowing a light life to feel its own weight…

At that thought, Lu Xin felt a sudden pang of sorrow—perhaps love was the only thing they could ever truly possess.

But sadly, even that precious thing could be stolen in an instant.

……

“This part shouldn’t cost you anything.”

After a moment, Lu Xin sighed softly and smiled at Zhang Weiyu, saying, “Since this issue has been classified as Special Pollution, experts will handle it. They’re quite capable, so there should be a solution.”

“So, all you need to do is work on maintaining your own relationships.”

“The cleanup of Special Pollution is on us.”

“……”

Even he found his own words a bit strange.

He was a straightforward man—not one to spout rousing words like Chen Jing or Professor Bai.

Yet now, he felt he had to say something.

“Th-thank you…”

Listening to him, Zhang Weiyu’s eyes grew red as his voice trembled.

He was filled with gratitude, yet overwhelmed by a sense of impotence—so all he could say was thank you.

But those two words carried far too little weight…

Meanwhile, Vice President Xiao and the others visibly relaxed, their faces lighting up with a trace of joy.

Little Meng, beaming, pulled Zhang Weiyu up and said, “Brother, don’t worry—Brother Lu’s here. We’re safe.”

Lu Xin couldn’t help but glance at the kid.

In this whole ordeal, some found love, others almost found the one they adored, and perhaps some were even saved.

But this kid, he hadn’t really gained anything.

Yet, judging by his current state, he sure seemed happy.

Or perhaps not entirely empty-handed—after all, that 200,000 bill was his.

……

……

Lost in his thoughts, Lu Xin sighed deeply and turned to leave.

He could already hear the pulsing whir of the helicopter blades above.

It must be people from the Special Cleaning Department arriving.

Seeing this, CEO Xiao, Little Meng, and the others grew anxious, exclaiming, “Brother Lu, where are you headed?”

“Since it’s been confirmed that this matter is connected to that so-called ‘Love Sticky Note’…”

Lu Xin replied as he walked out the door.

The police still lingering in the corridor immediately stepped aside, forming a wide passage for him.

Lu Xin glanced back at Vice President Xiao and the others and smiled, “Of course I’m going to seal off that shop.”

“Honestly, investigation isn’t my specialty.”

“Handling these monsters and mysterious sources is what I excel at.”

“……”

“!”

The whole room was suddenly stirred with an inexplicable excitement as they watched Lu Xin speak.

Especially Vice President Xiao and Little Lu, whose eyes seemed to sparkle like stars.

Brother Lu’s words were so cool…

This was the image of an official, masterful ghost hunter!

……

……

“I can’t stand this kind of pollution…”

As Lu Xin made his way to the rooftop, he mulled over the issue.

He couldn’t hide his genuine dislike for this form of contamination…

Every person is defined by their memories—they know who they are because of them.

Everything in a person is built on that foundation.

Otherwise, one might even forget what they despise and what they cherish…

If your memory is altered, what remains of you?

There was one more thing he loathed with every fiber of his being.

It was the fact that he himself had always been influenced by his own memories.

If the missing memories of his childhood at Red Moon Orphanage were due to not wanting to recall them, then the chaotic period after leaving the orphanage and meeting Teacher Xiao Lu was truly a muddle…

…What exactly transpired during that time?

…That was perhaps the most crisis-inducing and soul-crushing period for Lu Xin.

……

“Mr. Lone Soldier.”

As Lu Xin reached the rooftop, he saw members of the support team in white protective suits carrying a cabinet and a case. Upon seeing him, they immediately snapped to attention, saluting before hurrying off again.

“Hello to you all.”

Lu Xin returned their greetings one by one, then made his way to the top where he saw Chen Jing standing on the platform with crossed arms.

Surprisingly, she had come in person.

Was this because the pollution incident was more serious than anticipated?

Quickening his pace, Lu Xin walked up to her and said, “Team Leader.”

“Headquarters has ordered that once the source of the pollution and its logical chain are determined, it should be cleared as soon as possible.”

Chen Jing turned, her face obscured by large sunglasses, her short hair tousled by the wind stirred by the still-spinning helicopter blades.

In a stern tone she stated, “Our Heaven’s Kingdom Plan has now entered its mid-phase. Previously, a large number of Ability Users and mysterious entities hiding in Qinggang were discovered—or detected their own danger and quietly left Qinggang…”

“Now, this incident is considered an accident.”

“It’s likely because memory-type pollution is extremely deep—buried so far that the Doll’s Mental Power hasn’t been affected deeply enough, so it was left hidden. But regardless of the nature of this contamination, while other pollutions instinctively distance themselves from Qinggang as our plan is implemented, it remains…”

She paused before continuing coldly, “It’s nothing short of a provocation against Qinggang!”

……

“Huh?”

Listening, Lu Xin couldn’t help but admire, “Team Leader, you look so cool—when you speak harshly, you outshine everyone!”

Chen Jing then turned her head, “So you got the address, huh?”

“Yes,”

Lu Xin replied quickly, “24B Qingpo Road, beside the corner of a small garden, near the small door at the facade.”

“Good.”

Chen Jing confirmed, picking up the walkie-talkie and ordering loudly, “Immediately seal off three access routes around Qingpo Road.”

“Also, to prevent the Pollution Source from fleeing with the crowd, do not evacuate the citizens.”

“Have the Doll stand by and monitor the area around Qingpo Road to protect any innocent civilians who might be affected.”

“……”

After finishing her orders, she looked at Lu Xin and asked, “Are you ready to clean up this Special Pollution?”

Lu Xin nodded, crouching to tie his shoelaces. “I’m ready.”

“Much appreciated.”

Chen Jing nodded—having worked together more than once, there was no need for further explanation.

Lu Xin agreed and about to set off when he suddenly remembered something and called back, “By the way, what level is this mission?”

Chen Jing hesitated before answering, “B-Rank.”

Only then did Lu Xin let out a long sigh.

He remembered clearly that B-Rank missions typically paid only 300,000…

……

……

Feeling considerably uplifted, Lu Xin strode straight toward the edge of the Security Hall’s rooftop.

With the support team already sealing off the area, a sense of urgency filled the air. Lu Xin, however, bypassed the stairs inside the hall and instead proceeded in a straight line toward the shop that Cao Ye had mentioned.

The uneven buildings didn’t seem to hinder a Spider-type’s movements…

Crossing his bag over his shoulder, he reached the building’s edge and began to scale the wall effortlessly.

Peering through a window, he noticed Vice President Xiao and the others stretching their necks out in curiosity.

Lu Xin smiled and waved at them, only to see them panic and scatter.

Faint shouts of ‘Ghost!’ echoed through the corridor…

“These folks are so timid. They get scared stiff by a Spider-type clambering a wall and yet have followed us on this investigation for days?”

“……”

Lu Xin couldn’t help but feel a bit amused—couldn’t they just be playful and lighthearted?