Chapter 72: Unmasking the Madness

She’s really lost it…

Hearing Mr. Xu’s explanation, Lu Xin couldn’t help but sigh softly.

He finally understood why Mr. Xu, after seeing his daughter’s condition, wasn’t focused on finding a cure but rather on the potential damage to his reputation… It was indeed the kind of situation that could tarnish a family’s name.

“Mr. Lone Soldier, please understand… I’m not comfortable going into detail…”

Mr. Xu began hesitantly, “I can only give you the basics… When she first came home, she seemed fine. But that night, I… I caught her with one of the servants. Since she’s engaged, I just… dismissed the servant and scolded her. She seemed normal then, just said it was a moment of impulse…”

“I didn’t realize how serious it was then,” he continued, “but… soon after, she became hysterical. When I found her, she was… carrying on with people in a bar. I… I literally had to drag her out of the crowd. And she started losing control…”

Listening to Mr. Xu’s halting account, Lu Xin grasped the situation.

He nodded sympathetically, silently encouraging Mr. Xu not to force himself to continue.

He turned his attention back to the young woman, his brow furrowed in concentration.

He knew why Mr. Xu had called him. When it came to handling situations like this, he was still a rookie. His abilities probably weren’t as strong as some of the other Ability Users in Qinggang City. And as for theoretical knowledge about Mental Pollution? Even the cleaning lady at the Special Pollution Cleanup Department likely knew more than him. So why him?

But Lu Xin suspected another reason – his unique ability to directly perceive Mental Monsters…

So, without needing Mr. Xu’s reminder, he observed her intently.

However, after watching for a long while, he couldn’t detect anything out of the ordinary.

…

…

“Mr. Lone Soldier,” Mr. Xu asked, his voice tight with a mixture of worry and hope, “have you… have you noticed anything?”

Lu Xin watched a moment longer before slowly shaking his head.

Mr. Xu’s face instantly turned pale.

Lu Xin thought back to his previous encounters with Mental Monsters. It seemed he couldn’t always see them directly, at least not until they made a move. Like that time in the coffee shop – the waiter had looked perfectly normal until he tried to ‘pollute’ Lu Xin, only then revealing his abnormality.

And during the 041 incident, he only saw the ‘Human-shaped Fruit Tree’ after the Pollution Source had fully erupted.

So…

Frowning slightly, Lu Xin asked, “Can you release her?”

“Release her…”

Mr. Xu hesitated noticeably. “If I release her, she’ll just… cause a scene…”

…

Lu Xin considered this. “I think I can handle her…”

Mr. Xu still looked worried, giving Lu Xin a long, searching look. “She might lunge at you…”

Lu Xin nodded again. “I can manage.”

Meeting Mr. Xu’s apprehensive gaze, he patted his bag. “Besides, I have a gun!”

…

Mr. Xu shot Lu Xin an odd look. After a moment, he said, “Shooting her shouldn’t be necessary…”

It was unclear what internal struggle Mr. Xu went through, but finally, clenching his jaw, he leaned on his cane, approached the case, took a deep breath as if steeling himself, and slammed his hand onto a button on the back. Inside the glass-and-steel case, all the straps binding his daughter instantly retracted.

“Hhha…”

His daughter, who had been constantly twitching, suddenly collapsed to the floor as the restraints vanished.

She paused for just a second before scrambling back up, her bare feet padding on the tiled floor. Stumbling like a drunkard, her eyes bloodshot, her gaze swept the room and landed squarely on Lu Xin. A guttural growl, like that of a wild animal, escaped her throat as she charged him recklessly, arms outstretched.

“Mr. Lone Soldier, be careful!” Mr. Xu cried out instinctively, his voice laced with panic.

Lu Xin merely frowned, watching the young woman approach, remaining firmly seated on the sofa.

Only when she was about to pounce did Lu Xin suddenly hook a nearby stool with his foot.

Thump!

The girl went sprawling, hitting the floor hard.

Mr. Xu couldn’t help but glance at Lu Xin again.

After falling, the girl immediately tried to scramble up again, determined to grab Lu Xin.

But Lu Xin stood up abruptly, pressing down on her back with one hand, forcing her back onto the floor. She struggled violently, putting all her strength into it, nearly throwing Lu Xin off. He quickly brought his knee down onto her back.

The pressure from his knee, combined with his body weight, finally kept her pinned and unable to turn over for the moment.

But the girl clearly wasn’t giving up. The hissing growl in her throat grew louder, and she clawed wildly at Lu Xin. From his position, however, Lu Xin easily twisted his hand and caught her wrist, avoiding injury.

Mr. Xu stood frozen, lips trembling, watching the scene unfold with mounting anxiety.

Suddenly, Lu Xin looked over at him.

The look held a strange mix of reproach and indulgence, and it made Mr. Xu deeply uneasy.

…

…

Finally, under the pressure of Lu Xin’s gaze, his Sister, who had been having a grand time playing inside that oddly designed glass-and-steel case, reluctantly crawled out. She squatted beside the struggling girl, tilting her head curiously as she examined her.

Only when his Sister was close did Lu Xin finally relax.

Through his own eyes, he could now faintly perceive something wrong with the girl’s body.

He hadn’t dared take any risks while his Sister was further away.

Letting out a breath, he suddenly yanked hard, tearing away a large piece of the pajama top covering the girl’s back.

Seeing this, Mr. Xu shot Lu Xin another look.

Lu Xin paid him no mind, his attention fixed solely on the girl’s now bare back. He soon noticed a long, raised shape moving restlessly just beneath her skin. It was like a snake hidden beneath the flesh, growing increasingly agitated, its movements quickening.

The twisting trails left by its movement subtly combined, outlining the shape of a face.

This crudely drawn face opened its mouth, appearing to give Lu Xin a bizarre, unsettling smile.

Intrigued by the face, Sister leaned in closer, offering it a smile of her own.

Seeing his Sister’s adorable expression, Lu Xin couldn’t help but smile as well.