“This is the sample you need me to test?” Hill sat on a leather chair, legs crossed, resting her chin on her hand, looking at the items Duan Chen produced with boredom.
Her eyes sparkled.
She looked at the blood and tissue samples Duan Chen had taken out, filled with curiosity.
Duan Chen casually handed them to her. “The lab doesn’t have enough staff, so I might have to trouble you.”
Hill nodded in understanding.
If it weren’t for the lack of staff, she wouldn’t be here.
She yawned, jumped off the chair full of energy, stretched her arms high, and let out a languid yawn. A bright smile spread across her face.
“Leave it to me then.”
Duan Chen nodded and walked outside to wait.
He didn’t necessarily have to wait there, but he had just returned from a mission, and his mind was still a bit scattered, not wanting to take on a new task.
This was both a wait and a chance to give himself time to think.
Duan Chen touched his chin, his expression serious.
He wasn’t sure what he was thinking about.
His mind was a mess.
“Brother Duan Chen, you’re here too?”
Just then, Duan Chen suddenly heard a surprised shout. He looked up and saw Mi Xue’er, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.
He was a little surprised.
“What are you doing here?”
This was the Su City Spirit Hunter Guild. Mi Xue’er shouldn’t be here at this time.
Today, Mi Xue’er was wearing a snow-white dress. Her eyes were large, and her skin was fair and tender, making her look like an angel who had strayed into the mortal world.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Her small hands fidgeted awkwardly at her chest, twisting restlessly, showing her unease and confusion.
Hearing Duan Chen’s question, Mi Xue’er replied a little shyly.
“Because of the recent disaster in Su City, school has been suspended. I’m here to volunteer.”
She smiled brightly, radiating youth and vitality.
“After all, I’m your disciple.”
“Brother Duan Chen is very busy, so I can come and help, right?”
That made sense.
Duan Chen nodded, not dwelling too much on why Mi Xue’er was here. Frankly, seeing Mi Xue’er safe and sound by his side, he also breathed a sigh of relief.
Duan Chen walked over and gently patted Mi Xue’er’s head. Mi Xue’er squinted slightly, enjoying the gesture, and sat down beside him.
“Brother Duan Chen, why did you look so troubled just now?”
Troubled?
Duan Chen smiled faintly, shook his head, and didn’t tell Mi Xue’er what was bothering him.
“Maybe you saw wrong, or maybe I’m just too tired.”
“Is that so?” Mi Xue’er didn’t believe her eyes had deceived her.
She looked at Duan Chen with a hint of hesitation and worry, sighing softly in her heart.
Brother Duan Chen probably didn’t want her to get involved in danger.
A sense of frustration suddenly arose within her. It was indeed because her current strength was too weak, otherwise, why would Brother Duan Chen be hiding the truth from her like this?
But… but… how could she become stronger?
Duan Chen knew what the little girl was thinking. He smiled helplessly, ruffled Mi Xue’er’s hair, and comforted her softly.
“Don’t overthink it. You just need to do your own thing. Some things are destined for some people to do.”
But…
But I want to be the one doing those things with you.
Mi Xue’er gently swallowed the words she wanted to say.
Her eyes welled up slightly as she looked at Duan Chen, forcing a smile. “I understand.”
“Brother Duan Chen, don’t worry, I won’t get stuck in a rut.”
Duan Chen didn’t comment.
It was a good thing that they could meet again amidst the current natural disasters and calamities.
Duan Chen’s interest was piqued. To cover up some of the thoughts that had arisen from his dream, he sat on the chair and chatted enthusiastically with Mi Xue’er.
After a short wait, the door to the laboratory was pushed open. Hill, dressed in a white lab coat, walked out with a serious expression.
She held the experiment report in her hand. The strange samples were either handled by her in the lab or preserved.
Seeing Hill emerge, Duan Chen shot up from his seat.
“How is it? What were the results?”
Hill gently raised her hand and tucked a strand of long hair behind her ear, her gaze towards Duan Chen becoming somewhat cryptic and unfathomable.
Duan Chen felt a little at a loss.
He frowned slightly.
“Is there something wrong?”
Hill shook her head.
“I have the experiment report right here, but I don’t think you’d want to see these written reports. I’ll tell you the results directly.”
Her expression was extremely grim.
“Based on the scent of these strange samples you gave me, their origin is definitely not in Mirror City, which we are familiar with.”
“Impossible,” Duan Chen stated flatly, his gaze towards Hill becoming exceptionally serious.
“You need to be responsible for what you say.”
Hill’s attitude was equally firm.
She said directly, “Of course, I’m responsible for my words. These strange samples could not have originated from Mirror City.”
“The scents are very similar. Those who aren’t well-versed or familiar might confuse them, but with careful distinction, one will find they are completely different.”
“Didn’t you interrogate these abnormalities?”
Interrogate?
How?
Duan Chen’s face turned extremely grim.
He suddenly remembered the magician’s action of killing all the abnormalities upon arrival.
Could he have been destroying evidence?
He didn’t want them to know that besides Mirror City, there were other cities.
Thinking back, although these abnormalities carried the scent of the sea, they were not the same species as the sea monsters in Mirror City. Instead, they were more like a vast species.
Damn it!
Duan Chen slapped his forehead.
How could he have overlooked this?
Hill hadn’t left. Instead, she softened her tone.
She comforted him, “It’s okay, don’t be discouraged. Since the other party could appear once, they will appear a second time.”
“This scent is truly very similar. If it weren’t for me, perhaps no one else could have detected it.”
A strange glint flashed in her eyes behind her glasses. Hill’s lips curled slightly.
“I’ve become quite curious.”