Chapter 14: Nuwa No. 17

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However, Li Kang’s expression remained unchanged as he stepped inside, turning the faucet in the restroom three clicks to the left before opening the valve. Yet, no water dripped from the tap.

From the far end of the restroom, the wall emitted a heavy grinding sound as it slowly shifted aside, revealing a downward stone passage.

After taking two steps into the stone corridor, Chu Zhu sensed something was amiss. He rapped firmly against the wall — metal?

Contemplating this, Chu Zhu proceeded to the bottom, where a brilliant light radiated.

It was a vast chamber shimmering with a metallic sheen, reminiscent of a secret base straight out of a science fiction novel. Every surface—from walls to ceiling and floor—was forged from silver-colored metal.

Despite the absence of visible lighting, the room was brightly illuminated, as if the silver metal itself emitted light.

The interior was spacious and empty, surrounded by numerous doorways, with various instruments placed at the corners.

“Welcome to the Third Base of the Jinghai City Command!” Li Kang turned, bowing slightly, his expression grave. “A Zhu, how did you become a cultivator at the First Realm of Body Refinement?”

“I don’t know! I just came to catch up with you, and then you brought me here,” Chu Zhu replied, spreading his hands with an innocent look. His acting skills, honed through countless resets, were astonishingly refined—enough to thrive even in the highest echelons of ancient politics.

A crude martial man would see no hint of deceit, but Li Kang didn’t need to. He seized Chu Zhu’s wrist.

“Do you think I’m joking? Do you understand what the changes in your body mean? Although I don’t know why the radar alarm didn’t detect you until you entered the police station... the root cause that brought you this far carries an extremely terrifying contamination! It might cause countless people to be—ah?”

Li Kang snapped a metallic wristband tightly onto Chu Zhu’s forearm. At that moment, the silver metallic walls projected a holographic display.

Data streamed rapidly, culminating in two rows:

“Body Strength: 5.8 (First Realm of Body Refinement)”

“Contamination Level: 0”

Li Kang: “???”

Li Kang looked as if he had seen a ghost.

“Impossible! This can’t be right. Is it broken?” Li Kang removed the wristband and fastened it on his own wrist.

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“Body Strength: 39.6 (Second Realm of Body Refinement)”

“Contamination Level: 38.9! (Extremely Dangerous)”

Li Kang: “???”

“It’s not broken!” Li Kang was utterly baffled.

Chu Zhu sensed the suspicion and, though feigning confusion, had a guess in his mind. “So, can you tell me what exactly is going on?”

“...Alright.” Li Kang was silent for a moment, then forced a bitter smile. “Others can’t, but as for you... simply put, you believe there are people in this world who possess unimaginable power... oh, you must already have it! Next topic:

“The power of beings like us originates from a very ominous presence—or some other entity beyond our understanding!”

Chu Zhu nodded calmly. Isn’t that just nuclear radiation? That’s easy to understand... As for why it’s called ominous, well, once contaminated by nuclear radiation, peace is the last thing you’ll have!

“We have sealed off everything related to that. We do not allow ordinary people to come into contact with it, nor even understand it! If an ordinary person gains knowledge of it, they will be marked on our hall’s maps and radar. We locate them through coordinates shared to our tablets and erase their memories of the supernatural! Only those with extraordinary abilities are entitled to know the truth.”

Chu Zhu: “...”

Absurd! This technology is a little too dark... So this is why he never retained memories of supernatural powers? No matter how or why he acquired them, he would be marked and then have his memories erased!

But it seems this time he was only detected once he entered the police station... So, even unofficial supernatural beings who know the truth aren’t marked?

“However, because we have been exposed to that ominous power, our bodies are tainted with contamination that can never be completely removed—only suppressed! But why you...” Li Kang scrutinized Chu Zhu, eyes filled with shock and confusion.

Chu Zhu was no stranger to such emotions... Isn’t this just a worldview collapse?

Countless thoughts flashed through Chu Zhu’s mind as he confirmed that the source of supernatural power was nuclear radiation. As for why he wasn’t contaminated... it would be stranger if he was! After all, he has reset.

The only mystery was why ordinary people without supernatural power, if they learned about it, would be detected? Logically, if they hadn’t come into contact with nuclear radiation, there should be no problem...

“By the way,” Chu Zhu mused, recalling countless novels he had read in the real world, “are you about to forcefully invite me to join the official organization? And then I’ll resist...”

“What kind of daydream is that?” Li Kang interrupted. “No, if you want to join us, that’s not impossible, but you first have to take the civil service exam next door! Only after entering a department can I transfer you to mine! Yes, even cultivators have to do this. Do you really think joining the civil service is that easy? Mr. Zhu, I know your identity in various redevelopment zones is unusual, but the official system doesn’t recognize that!”

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“Do you know how high the unemployment rate is right now? Do you know how many people are competing for a single civil servant position? I remember the exam three days ago had three openings, with six thousand seven hundred candidates—all top graduates. You think just flapping your lips will get you a spot? Even you can’t do that! If I promised you that, the city governor would have me fired.”

“My authority here can only get you an auxiliary police post at best!”

Chu Zhu: “?”

Wait, although he hadn’t planned to join the officials immediately... but as a supernatural being, he still had to take the exam?! That was too much.

He couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Well, although I still don’t understand why! But the situation is you are not contaminated... okay, just register for now and tell me how you became so strong! How did you step onto...”

“I don’t know,” Chu Zhu reverted to his usual tone.

“...Alright.” Li Kang was silent briefly, then sighed deeply, despairingly running a hand through his hair. “I’ll write the report! Fine, it’s none of your business now. Why did you come find me? Say what you had to and then get lost!”

So cold and ruthless? Chu Zhu found it amusing. He had even prepared to take his own life if he couldn’t get away! Now... if you want to join the officials, you have to compete against over six thousand top graduates...

“Um, can I look around here a bit longer? By the way, is this an ancient relic too?” Chu Zhu cautiously asked.

“I knew it!” Li Kang hesitated for a while, then sighed toward the sky. “Consider it a favor owed to you!”

Then...

Though Chu Zhu’s face remained calm, ripples stirred in his eyes, indirectly revealing his inner turmoil.

Because Chu Zhu clearly heard Li Kang utter a familiar phrase: “Nuwa Seventeen!”

“I’m here,” came a gentle voice immediately afterward. And that gentle voice... was in Chinese.