Chapter 847: The Unyielding Confrontation

When Lu Xin asked the question, not only Number Five on the television, but also Number Eight strapped to the operating table and even Fourteen—who was grinning as he watched Number Eight’s fate and kept urging him to calmly accept it—suddenly fell silent.

The phrase “Old Director’s Plan” became a forbidden term, instantly silencing the few people who had just been chattering noisily.

It was like a rowdy student in the back of class suddenly turning around to see the teacher’s face pressed against the back door’s window, the teacher’s icy stare instantly freezing everyone’s nerves.

Lu Xin’s gaze was filled with anxious urgency as he watched Number Five on the TV.

After a long silence, Number Five slowly withdrew the scalpel from Number Eight’s head.

A little blood still clung to its blade.

The burly man stiffened as he turned his head, facing Lu Xin head-on, and Number Five’s head peeked out from behind his left shoulder.

“Number Nine…”

Number Five’s voice was icy as he said, “So you really want to oppose the Old Director?”

“Yes.”

Lu Xin hesitated, unsure of what to say.

In the end, he spoke exactly what he felt in his heart.

When one is uncertain about what will come of a matter, honesty is often the most reliable approach.

“Besides, it’s not that I want to oppose him—it’s just that he has never stopped tormenting me.”

“…”

“Heh…”

Number Five on the TV let out a cold laugh and said:

“Of course he won’t let you go. After all, you are the key piece in his mad plan…”

“…”

“So…”

Number Five’s response sparked a flicker of hope in Lu Xin, though looking at Number Five on the TV made him too hesitant to voice it.

“Number Nine, I’ve heard about your situation.”

All the while, Number Five’s gaze never left Lu Xin’s face; seeing his hesitation, a trace of disappointment flashed across his features.

In a low, somber tone, he said, “Back when we were in Heichao City, I witnessed that wild, terrifying side of you. I know your abilities are strong now—almost as formidable as when you were a kid—but trying to take on our Orphanage Director…”

She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper: “Even as a child, you were controlled by him, trapped in his experiments.”

“Now you’ve grown up, yet you’ve become weak.”

“You’re not even as fearsome as you were back then. Where do you get the confidence to oppose the Old Director?”

As she spoke, the cold sneer in her voice grew ever darker:

“Take this, for instance—I actually have some insight into what the Old Director intends to do.”

“But, if I were to tell you that he might suddenly decide to kill me to silence me…”

“With your current abilities, can you really guarantee that I won’t die?”

“…”

Lu Xin was momentarily stunned, suddenly realizing he had no answer.

He was strong now—confirmed by Director Xue Jia of the Moon Eclipse Research Institute.

Above all, his ability to destroy on the surface was unmatched.

Yet he understood all too well that the influence from the very first layer of the Abyss still weighed on him relentlessly.

In such a state, he was barely managing himself.

And when it came to opposing the Old Director…

No matter what, he couldn’t confidently promise anyone that he could pull it off.

After all, it was the Old Director…

No one in the Orphanage’s children was unafraid of the Old Director—not even him.

……

……

“I think I understand…”

After a long silence, Lu Xin quietly nodded, the anxiety on his face gradually fading.

In its place, a subtle sense of loss took over.

“…”

Number Five suddenly furrowed his brow and, in a low voice, muttered, “You really have changed.”

“The old you would probably have gripped our necks, forcing us to do your bidding, right?”

“Or maybe just a single glance from you would make everyone tremble with fear, willing to serve you.”

“…”

His words left Lu Xin feeling a twinge of awkwardness as he shook his head, replying, “I wouldn’t do that.”

“Actually, I came here more to see how you all…”

“to see if you’re truly still alive, to find out whether you’re doing well…”

“…”

“There’s no need for that!”

Before Lu Xin could say any more, Number Five abruptly interrupted him.

This left Lu Xin at a loss for words, unsure of how to continue.

“Look at me now—I’m not doing well at all.”

Number Five spoke in a tone laced with icy detachment: “That’s why I don’t want to see the old versions of you.”

“The closer you are to who you once were, the less I want to see you.”

“I’d rather see you struggle than see you thrive…”

“…”

“Uh…”

Number Five’s reply suddenly left Lu Xin stunned.

What he said was so offbeat—it lacked any hint of nostalgia…

Yet the odd thing was that, as he thought that, he could almost understand Number Five’s feelings.

“Besides, do you have some sort of compensatory vendetta against us?”

As Lu Xin mulled over this question, Number Five suddenly shifted his tone and looked directly at him:

“I heard from Fat Fourteen that you’re making quite a bit of money these days?”

“…”

“Well…”

Lu Xin paused, a hint of panic rising as he recalled Number Three’s method, but internally he remained resolute. After a brief hesitation he nodded calmly, “Yes.”

“Over the past few years, I have indeed made some money. If you need it…”

“…”

“Heh…”

Number Five’s face darkened further as he sneered, “How much money do you have? If I asked for 300 million, would you pay up?”

Lu Xin nodded, replying, “Yes, I would.”

“Hm?”

Number Five was taken aback for a moment and then quickly rephrased with a cold laugh, “Then how about 1 billion?”

Lu Xin hesitated and said, “I don’t have that much money.”

“Who said you don’t?”

Number Five chuckled softly, “Isn’t your life worth 1 billion?”

“So she even knows about that…”

Lu Xin fell silent for a moment before looking up at Number Five and saying:

“If it really takes 1 billion to make amends, then I’ll work hard to earn that 1 billion for you.”

“But my life is still mine to keep.”

“Because I still need to find the Old Director and settle the score—both for myself and for all of you.”

“And, just like we promised when we were young, help you escape from his lab.”

……

……

Lu Xin’s voice was low but sincere.

These words forced both Number Five and Fat Fourteen into silence, and even Number Eight appeared slightly moved.

“Phew…”

On the TV, Number Five’s face suddenly took on a look of melancholy.

“But what can you use to get us out?”

After a long pause, she shook her head gently and said, “You have no idea just how terrifying the Old Director is…”

As she spoke, her face grew increasingly animated, even showing a hint of agitation:

“Number Nine, have you ever considered why you were the only one who could kill me back then, and even kill Number Two—who was relentlessly haunted by nightmares?”

“And have you ever thought about why the ones you killed could be brought back by the Old Director?”

“Why is it that his influence on us has been reduced to almost nothing?”

“…”

“Swish!”

Number Five’s words sent a slight chill down Lu Xin’s spine.

Her remarks hit the nail on the head, touching on a question that had long gnawed at him.

When he was in Flame City, he encountered Number Two.

Number Two, unable to bear the torment of his nightmares, begged him to kill him, for only he could do so.

Why was it that only he could kill him? And why could the one he once killed be rescued by the Old Director?

Teacher Xiao Lu’s legs were broken by his own hands.

His lifelong dream had been to heal her legs, but with the medical condition in Qinggang, it was impossible.

Even now, with his formidable mental power, he couldn’t help her.

He could easily help Mizang alter superficial appearances, yet he was utterly powerless when it came to erasing the scars on Little Nineteen.

These may seem like minor issues, but together they form a massive problem.

What is the true cause of all this?

What hidden connection lies within?

He even suddenly associated it with a more direct question:

“Could it be that this is why Mom had me find the children at the Orphanage?”

……

……

“Stop thinking about repaying us—Number Nine, it isn’t necessary.”

Seeing the hint of horror on Lu Xin’s face, Number Five let out a soft sigh, then, with the burly man behind her, reached to the back, removed her glasses, massaged her eyes, and put them back on. Only then did her expression change as she looked at Lu Xin:

“I believe you are a kind person now.”

“From our conversation until now, you haven’t even tried to defend yourself. The one who harmed us wasn’t the real you.”

“…”

“…”

Fat Fourteen looked a bit surprised as he and Number Eight on the operating table turned to look at Number Five.

Lu Xin, too, was taken aback, puzzled as he stared at Number Five.

“We all know in our hearts that you have no need to compensate anyone.”

In saying that, Number Five’s calm tone carried an unusual sense of determination and acceptance:

“In our orphanage, there were plenty of mentally altered people and monsters, but not a single idiot.”

“We all know what happened back then.”

“Especially after I conducted so much research and so many experiments, it became clear what your state was at the time.”

“We all know who was responsible for the tragedy, and we understand that you were never someone we should hate—you were one of us, or rather…”

“…one who suffered even more than we did.”

“And that is precisely why I wanted to see you…”

A wry, ambiguous smile crossed her face: “I wanted to see what the most miserable person from the orphanage looks like.”

“…”

By this point, the atmosphere in the room had grown oppressively heavy.

Outside, there were faint sounds of commotion and muffled gunshots, but no one paid any heed.

After saying all that, Number Five’s expression turned both pitiful and nonchalant as she stated, “So, in the end, everyone selected by the Old Director’s plan—those used as lab rats—who can really blame whom?”

“No one owes anyone any compensation.”

“I refuse your request not because we hate you or for any other reason, but because we are afraid.”

“Compared to you, we fear the Old Director more…”

“Yes, he has always controlled us—I can feel it. But being controlled and managing to eke out a little more life, hiding and comforting ourselves with thoughts that perhaps he won’t come after us, is far better than impulsively seeking revenge with our laughable abilities, only to be brutally defeated and tossed into that bottomless pit of Hell…”

“Who would choose the latter?”

“…”

“…”

After listening to Number Five, a long silence fell over the room.

Lu Xin suddenly felt a moment of epiphany and, with a hint of sadness, looked at Number Five on the TV.

In that moment, everyone seemed to be shrouded by an invisible shadow, their hearts weighed down heavily.

“Boo hoo…”

Number Eight on the operating table suddenly began to struggle, as if desperately protesting.

But Number Five just stood there impassively, ignoring him completely, her face resigned.

Lu Xin remained silent for a long while before nodding and saying, “I understand.”

“Number Five, I…”

“…”

“No, you still don’t understand.”

Before he could say anything more, Number Five abruptly spoke again, interrupting him with a deep, piercing look.

“Number Nine, you’ve truly changed. You’re not only less powerful than you were as a kid, you’ve even acquired the naivety and illusions of an ordinary person.”

“You have no idea just how terrifying the Old Director is, nor do you understand the danger you’re in…”

“As an old classmate, let me warn you: don’t even mention the Old Director. The Black Spade Office is far more terrifying than you think.”

“They have the backing of those top researchers in the world, and their influence reaches far beyond what you imagine. There are many behind the scenes willing to work for them. Never forget, in this world, not only do mentally altered people possess power—true power lies elsewhere…”

“You must remember, the bounty they’ve placed on you isn’t a joke.”

“You might create a grand illusion of strength by stealing a fragment of divine power, but never forget that this world is full of madmen—people capable of devising the most unexpected ways to try and kill you…”

“As humans, we tend to subconsciously consider certain intangible concepts as powerful…”

“Like monsters. Like superhumans. Like the mob. Like… gods!”

“But they don’t realize that the truly terrifying thing in this world is always people—crazy yet rational people.”

“You have indeed mastered a part of divine power while still walking in the real world.”

“But even gods have been slain before—how much more so you?”

“…”

“…”

Listening to Number Five, Lu Xin suddenly felt a heavy emotion welling up inside him.

Number Five’s words were brutally direct, tearing down his facade.

Somehow, they hinted at a truly terrifying secret.

This left him feeling increasingly uneasy as he slowly stood up, his eyes nervously scanning the surroundings.

“Where are Sister and Little Nineteen now?”