Cat Paw (Chapter 81)
Despite the brutal attack by the Berserk worms on the eastern side of the mitigation zone two days ago, which caused numerous casualties and destroyed many shacks, the people's resilience is remarkable. They have set aside their grief over the loss of loved ones and are rebuilding their homes.
Constructing a house takes time, but it only takes half a day to build a shelter made of wood.
If it weren't for the still unfilled holes in the ground, it would seem as if the Berserk worms had never been there. Under the night sky illuminated by the red moon, each household turned off their lights and fell asleep, maintaining silence.
They await the next morning to continue their quest for food.
As the red moonlight descended, a group of figures in black robes arrived silently. Having scouted the area beforehand, they precisely located their target.
It was a small shelter that hadn't been damaged by the Berserk worms.
The girl living alone inside was the one who had disrupted an important base of the Black Spring Freemasonry.
Although the mercenaries who saved themselves didn't say much about their ordeal upon returning to the base, maintaining the same story outwardly and never mentioning that a girl had returned with them, there are always those who can be bought.
For a certain price, it was revealed that they owed their rescue to a girl.
Her name is Ye Sheng.
She is an orphan living in the mitigation zone.
After falling into a pit during the Berserk worm attack, she stumbled upon the Black Spring Freemasonry's base and managed to wake the mercenaries from a deep coma!
She successfully thwarted the Black Spring Freemasonry's secret plans.
Additionally, the Black Spring Freemasonry lost important research documents and materials. Besides Ye Sheng and the mercenaries, no one else had entered the base, so the documents were very likely with them.
These documents absolutely cannot fall into the hands of the base!
It was a stroke of bad luck that the documents were even at the underground base in the first place; they were supposed to be at a more secret location. However, after the special subject number 35 self-destructed, numerous contaminated creatures were attracted in a short time.
This forced the Black Spring Freemasonry to relocate their research.
But before the new lab could be set up, the documents and materials that had been moved there were lost.
Despite the sophisticated traps in place that not even a bug could get through.
The Black Spring Freemasonry still hasn't figured out how the other party managed to steal the documents...
All the mercenaries who entered the base's safe zone were thoroughly searched, and no trace of the documents was found on them. That left only Ye Sheng, who had not entered the safe zone with them.
So this time, the Black Spring Freemasonry sent an elite team, determined to eliminate Ye Sheng!
They had to retrieve the documents.
Unlike the previous night raid by Li San and his group, this team of black-robed figures was extremely quiet. They wasted no time, taking only a few seconds to dismantle the shelter's door without making any unnecessary noise in the dark.
Then, the lead figure, holding a long knife, rushed inside.
However, before the black-robed figure could strike down Ye Sheng, he suddenly halted.
The dim light from a burning torch hung on an iron frame on the wooden wall illuminated the surroundings, revealing the excited expression on Gu Luoyu's face. Her red eyes, as bright as fresh blood, glowed with a menacing and stunning radiance, reflecting a ruthless intent as she eyed her prey.
A head of pale pink hair cascaded down her back. Her spinal injury had healed, allowing her to maintain a half-lying position.
Leaning against the ugly bedside cabinet that Ye Sheng had made herself, she looked frail and weak—like even a child could knock her down. Yet, there was an inexplicable sense of fear she instilled, as if one were being stalked by a jungle predator.
The lead black-robed figure gritted his teeth, his muscles tensing as he tried to break free from an invisible hold. Despite using all his strength, he couldn't move. The person behind him realized the situation's severity.
"There's a mistake in the intel; there's someone else here!"
Though they didn't know who this pink-haired, red-eyed woman was, she had to die now.
The black-robed figures behind immediately rushed forward, but the next second, their weapons froze mid-air. They were as if bound by countless invisible threads, their bodies stiff and unmoving.
"I've been bored lying around for so many days, and now, little bugs have come to me... The Black Spring Freemasonry deserves praise; this is great."
Gu Luoyu looked at the two black-robed figures she controlled with her psychic powers, her smile growing brighter. Feeling joyful, she couldn't help but hum an unknown tune, while her left hand pinched the cheek of the sleeping Ye Sheng.
She didn't hold back, leaving a red mark on Ye Sheng's cheek, thinking she was rather delicate.
But despite this, Ye Sheng did not wake up.
Instead, due to Gu Luoyu's psychic powers, she fell into a sweet dream, her sleeping face looking adorable like a little angel who had come to the mortal world.
However, as cute as she was, she couldn't hold Gu Luoyu's attention; her focus was entirely on the black-robed figures.
The energy she had absorbed during her recovery had not only healed her injuries but also stimulated her killing intent, which she had been suppressing due to her immobility. It had been really hard for her to hold back!
She couldn't kill Ye Sheng, who still had use.
Now, the Black Spring Freemasonry's people had come to her doorstep, which was a huge help.
Now she could indulge in a good slaughter!
"Who are you!"
Realizing their bodies were being controlled by some mysterious power, the black-robed figures were filled with dread. Those in the rear tried to retreat, but before they could take a few steps back, they found themselves frozen in place.
Only their eyes and mouths could move, reflecting their deep-seated fear.
The lead black-robed figure was utterly shocked.
He stared intently at the woman with pink hair and manic red eyes. As a core member of the Black Spring Freemasonry, he knew many important details, and suddenly, a bold guess came to his mind.
Just thinking about that possibility made his heart nearly stop from fear.
"You... you're Erensu!!!"
As soon as the lead black-robed figure spoke, the others fell silent.
The mere mention of the name Erensu filled them with terrified disbelief. They couldn't believe the notorious, elusive Erensu was hiding in a broken shack in the mitigation zone.
Upon hearing the name, Gu Luoyu's smile grew even brighter.
Despite her beautiful face, there was something eerily terrifying about it at that moment.
She then nodded generously, with an expression that said, "You're smart," and admitted, "That's right, I am Erensu. It's a hassle not wearing a mask, but since you're all going to die here today, it doesn't matter."
Gu Luoyu raised her left hand, her red eyes full of playful intent. She made a gun shape with her thumb and index finger, pointing at the lead black-robed figure, and said, "Bang!"
The next second, the lead black-robed figure felt a sharp pain in his head and lost consciousness entirely.
His body finally broke free from the control, but he became lifeless, he collapsed softly to the ground.
The remaining black-robed figures were horrified, struggling desperately to break free from their bonds, but to no avail. Their terrified expressions only made Gu Luoyu laugh even harder.
She continued her macabre play, making several "bang" sounds, and more bodies fell to the ground.
The thrill of wielding the power of life and death over others was exhilarating for Gu Luoyu, whose body had not yet fully recovered. The suppressed bloodlust broke free, and she could no longer control it.
With a slight curl of her lips, she used her psychic abilities like a puppeteer's strings, making the remaining black-robed figures turn on each other. They slashed and cut, breaking flesh without any blood flowing out in a bizarre scene.
Though they were locked in fierce combat, the black-robed figures' eyes were filled with terror.
They could only watch helplessly as they grew weaker, feeling the agony of bones breaking and muscles tearing. Filled with fear and unwillingness, they finally closed their eyes and fell into the abyss of death.
After enjoying the spectacle of these "bugs" killing each other, Gu Luoyu left three black-robed figures alive, marking their minds with psychic imprints.
These marked figures, now under her control, carried the bodies outside and disposed of them. After a few trips, Ye Sheng's small shelter was cleaned up.
The three remaining black-robed figures then tidied the place and reattached the door they had taken down.
Gu Luoyu casually waved her hand, instructing them to shut the door and go to the dumping site to commit suicide.
Thus, the Black Spring Freemasonry's night raid ended in complete failure, with no survivors.
Psychic Esper possess more than just enhanced physical abilities; their most potent power lies in controlling humans or contaminated creatures and using psychic energy as a weapon, killing invisibly.
Unfortunately, most current psychics focus only on enhancing their physical capabilities.
Very few understand the true potential of psychic abilities.
But Gu Luoyu was different.
Despite the base authorities' orders limiting her absorption of energy to prevent her from becoming more unhinged, and requiring her to undergo daily energy checks at the research institute, she secretly absorbed a significant amount of energy. Rather than using it to enhance her physical abilities, she continuously strengthened her psychic powers.
She was unlike other psychics.
Even though her mental state worsened, she didn't resort to suicide.
Instead, she killed others.
Since the base couldn't detect psychic abilities, she continued to grow stronger, exploiting this loophole. However, to avoid exposure, Gu Luoyu never used her psychic powers openly.
The base authorities turned a blind eye to her "madness" because of her ability to hunt S-level contaminated creatures. As long as she didn't go on a killing spree in the safe zone, they prioritized the greater good.
However, if her psychic abilities were exposed, she would inevitably become a subject of research.
That wouldn't be good.
Although she could survive in the wilderness with her abilities, Gu Luoyu's main interest, besides the small joy of killing, was fighting stronger contaminated creatures!
Collaboration with the base offered that opportunity.
Venturing into the deep wilderness alone, even with her current abilities, she couldn't guarantee her survival.
She needed to keep getting stronger!
The excitement of killing hadn't yet faded, but Gu Luoyu had overestimated her physical recovery. With her body still heavily injured and lacking sufficient energy circulation, she could not sustain her psychic abilities.
After the three black-robed figures committed suicide, the mental imprints in their minds were released.
The next moment, Gu Luoyu felt a sweet taste in her throat, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. The aftereffects of overusing her psychic abilities left her disoriented, with a bloodlust that transformed her into a human-shaped beast.
Her crazed red eyes slowly focused on Ye Sheng, and a wide grin spread across her face. She reached out with her left hand, tracing Ye Sheng's face with her index finger, down to her neck.
She wrapped her hand around the slender neck, her thumb pressing against the throat, ready to crush it with just a little force!
The scent of death seemed intoxicating and alluring.
At that moment, regardless of Ye Sheng's potential usefulness, Gu Luoyu only wanted her dead!
[Emergency protocol initiated: preventing harm to the designated Lucky One due to excessive use of psychic abilities by the Human Savior.]
As Gu Luoyu's finger touched Ye Sheng, a line of text slowly appeared in midair. Unfortunately, Ye Sheng, who could see the text, remained asleep.
Just as Gu Luoyu was about to act, the space behind her suddenly tore open, and a cat deity statue, resembling a lucky cat, appeared. The statue's raised paw came down hard, knocking Gu Luoyu unconscious. She released her grip on Ye Sheng's neck and collapsed onto the straw mattress, her mad red eyes closing.
The cat statue, after delivering the blow, had a crack appear on its paw. It was then absorbed back into the rift in space, leaving the small shelter in peace once more.
...
When Ye Sheng woke up, she felt sore all over. Whether it was from running away from the Berserk worms or climbing stairs at the Black Spring Freemasonry's hideout, she couldn't be sure. Her body ached everywhere.
Especially her neck—it felt like someone had been strangling her...
Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, Ye Sheng got up, careful not to wake the sleeping Gu Luoyu. She grabbed a basin and some towels, then headed outside to wash up.
As she opened the door, Ye Sheng let out a surprised "Huh?"
The door, which had been wobbly ever since the thugs led by Li San had taken it off, now stood firm. Ye Sheng's limited carpentry skills meant that the door was once reattached but it had always been unsteady. She hadn't been too picky about it, figuring a wobbly door was still usable.
But today, the door was perfectly steady!
How odd...
Carrying her basin to the water source, Ye Sheng spotted a downcast Zhou Lin and called out, "Zhou Lin!"
Hearing Ye Sheng's voice, Zhou Lin looked up. Her previously somber face brightened as if coming back to life. She excitedly waved and hurried over with her washing gear.
After fetching water, the two went to brush their teeth.
While brushing, they chatted.
"Sheng Sheng, I never want to go into the wilderness again! It was terrifying. My third uncle and aunt died. If it weren't for my big brother protecting me, I'd be dead too."
Recalling the previous day's events, Zhou Lin was still scared, her eyes turning red. Encountering a single green frog was one thing, but facing a swarm of Berserk worms was much more dangerous.
Zhou Lin's luck was truly something else.
She encountered attacks from polluted creatures twice in a row, and the casualties in the team were more severe each time.
"In a team of two hundred people, only a dozen of us survived. Fortunately, we happened to encounter a mercenary group fighting a berserk worm, which saved our lives."
Zhou Lin didn't want to dwell on yesterday's events, so she briefly recounted what happened.
Then she looked at Ye Sheng curiously and asked, "Sheng Sheng, I saw you fall with my own eyes. How did you make it back?"
To be honest, Zhou Lin had thought Ye Sheng was dead. But when she came back heartbroken, she found out that Ye Sheng had returned home even earlier than they did...
Zhou Lin was utterly shocked. If her big brother hadn't stopped her, she would have gone to find Ye Sheng to chat, even if it was nighttime!
"I was lucky. After falling, I landed in an underground cave, hid there for half a day, and then was rescued by some passing mercenaries who brought me back to the mitigation zone."
"That's great, we were both saved by kind mercenaries! After we encountered the berserk worm attack, my brother doesn't want me to go into the wilderness anymore. He's arranged for me to report to the outer city of the safe zone next month."
Previously, Zhou Lin was full of excitement when talking about work.
Now, however, her face was calm she was trying to smile but unable to lift the corners of her mouth.
Seeing this, Ye Sheng knew the young girl had been badly frightened yesterday. She didn't say much, just patted Zhou Lin's shoulder and comforted her, "They say good things come after hardship, Zhou Lin. Your good days are still ahead!"
"Mm."
Zhou Lin wiped her eyes and nodded vigorously.
She was grateful to her brother for helping her get a job in the safe zone.
She was determined to repay him in the future!
After chatting with Zhou Lin for a while, Ye Sheng finished her morning routine and went home. Feeling lazy, she grabbed a watermelon-flavored nutrient drink and gulped it down.
Then she smacked her lips, thinking that watermelon and strawberry flavors weren't much different!
Both were overly sweet.
Ye Sheng took a sip of water to dilute the sweetness, then went to help the little one wash up, saying, "Gu Luoyu, wake up, it's time to get up!"
She called out a few times, but the little one didn't wake up as usual, which made Ye Sheng suspicious.
She put down the broken basin she was holding and sat beside the little one, shaking her gently. But still, the girl didn't wake up.
Her red eyes were closed, her face pale.
The sunlight shining through the roof illuminated her face, revealing the delicate veins under her fair skin, making her look fragile, like slipping sand that couldn't be grasped.
This scared Ye Sheng.
No matter how deep a sleep, it shouldn't be like this!
Upon closer inspection, she saw blood at the corner of the girl's mouth, making Ye Sheng quickly check her pulse. Thankfully, it was still beating!
But why couldn't she wake up?
Doctors were very scarce in this wasteland world, especially in the poor mitigation zone.
Apart from various potions available at the swap shop, people with severe illnesses could only wait to die.
Ye Sheng had no other choice but to seek help from her "golden finger" ability.
"Lottery space, what's wrong with her? Please save her!"
The lottery space did not respond.
Ye Sheng gritted her teeth and continued to plead for help.
"If you can wake her up, I'll give you as many points as you want!"
[Detected: Lucky person's points: 420. Unable to deduct double points.]
"Not enough points? I can owe you! Lottery space, do you know why she's unconscious?"
[Psychic power overuse detected. To remove the negative state, there are two options: One, spend 300,000 points to completely eliminate the abnormal state caused by absorbing & energy. Two, use double points to draw a related potion to alleviate the pain.]
Reading the words that appeared before her, Ye Sheng fell into a moment of silence.
Quickly, she reacted with a flurry of question marks in her mind.
How much!!!
Three hundred thousand lottery points? Even if she sold all her organs and soul, it wouldn't be enough!
Is the lottery space being unreasonable, or does Ye Sheng not have the courage to fight back anymore?
After asking the girl yesterday, Ye Sheng had been relieved, thinking that the little one wouldn't develop suicidal thoughts from absorbing energy stones. But now, she was faced with psychic power overuse!
Sigh!
Giving up the idea of spending 300,000 points to completely eliminate the negative state, Ye Sheng considered the option of using a potion to alleviate the pain.
"I choose the second option, use double points to draw the potion!"
Even though, with little one by her side, she could use 1,000 points to draw by touching her, the lottery was random, not specific.
In simple terms, to get a potion that could alleviate mental power overuse, she had to use double points.
After several experiences with the lottery, Ye Sheng had figured out that having item specificity was a hidden buff of the double points draw, though it mostly yielded one-time or time-limited items.
[If the lucky person cannot repay 1,580 points within half a month, a kidney, brainstem, and one heart will be taken as collateral.]
As usual, there was a threat regarding organs.
Afterward, Ye Sheng felt a weight in her hand and found herself holding a black box.
It was slightly open.
Ye Sheng opened the lid and took out a potion.
[Psychic Soothing Potion (Small): A special potion from an interstellar civilization, effective for treating psychic power overuse. However, it cannot be directly used; instead, a healthy warrior must drink the potion and engage in close contact with the injured person to gradually repair the damaged mental power.]
Ye Sheng: ......
Huh???
This Psychic Soothing Potion can't be directly given to the little one?
Ye Sheng held the small potion, which looked like a glucose drink, she felt completely baffled. Then, more detailed information about the potion appeared in her mind.
The effectiveness of the Psychic Soothing Potion is related to its level. The higher the level, the more pronounced the effect. The potion Ye Sheng received, a basic version, could be upgraded to a medium-level potion by consuming nine more doses, and so on...
After drinking the potion, it grants a special ability, but it specifically targets the damage done to mental ability users and doesn't help with enhancing one's own strength. Additionally, the reactions after drinking the potion can vary based on individual constitution.
(? _? )
Ye Sheng glanced at the still-unconscious girl and sighed helplessly. She then opened the potion, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one go.
Hmm... it tasted like a slightly sweet cold remedy.
Ye Sheng waited for the potion to take effect, but after a few minutes, she was still sitting there without any noticeable changes. She looked at herself in confusion, noticing no fever, no change in skin color, and no mutations... However, her skin seemed whiter and smoother.
Previously, her pale complexion was the result of not seeing sunlight for a long time, with a slightly yellowish tint. Now, her skin was fair and tender, like a peeled egg.
And, to her surprise, her previously flat chest had developed a slight curve!
Instinctively, Ye Sheng touched her chest and realized she wasn't mistaken; it had indeed grown... Was this Psychic Soothing Potion actually a beauty-enhancing potion???
Just as Ye Sheng was processing her surprise, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist tightly.
Ye Sheng looked up in delight, realizing that the little one had finally woken up!
But before Ye Sheng could say anything, the now-awake Gu Luoyu blinked, leaned in close, and, as if smelling the most wonderful scent in the world, or like a cat who had just sniffed catnip, looked at Ye Sheng with bright eyes and softly said, "You smell so good."