Chapter 36: Meet!
The guide, surnamed Li, who was over forty years old, had a honest-looking face, but a scar on his cheek, which was covered with a rough aura, spoiled his reliable appearance, making him look more like a bad person pretending to be honest.
When Yu Yan saw him, he finally understood why the bearded man had repeatedly emphasized during the sales pitch that Li was an inner-talent, and that ability and character were more important than appearance.
“Guide Li, I’ll be troubling you these few days,” Yu Yan said.
Guide Li also took a moment to observe his new employer, noting that he was obviously a city dweller with a comfortable life, fair skin, a tall and upright figure, and a dignified appearance.
Seeing his attitude remained good, it seemed that he was not the type of arrogant person who enjoyed making things difficult for others.
It appeared that the bearded man had indeed introduced him to a good employer this time. Guide Li felt a sense of relief inside.
In his youth, he was a well-known “hunter,” but as he aged and his body suffered various ailments, and with a weak child to care for, he gradually stopped doing dangerous things and only worked as a “guide” for city dwellers.
“Mr. Yu, right? I wonder where you’d like to visit in the underground city today?” Guide Li asked.
The name signed by Yu Yan during the hiring process was “Yu Yan,” and the two bodyguards thought it was a pseudonym used to keep information confidential, as most people in their line of work used aliases.
Yu Yan said, “I want to know if there’s any place here with ‘Rainbow’ in the name.”
With a clear purpose, Guide Li immediately understood that Yu Yan was here to find something specific, rather than a wealthy city young master coming to the underground city to see the world.
But the professional ethics in this line of work dictated that one should not dig too deep and only perform their own duties, so Guide Li did not ask further questions and simply listed a series of names according to the request.
“The underground city is quite large. Just in the surrounding eight districts, the places with ‘Rainbow’ in the name include Rainbow Street, Rainbow Salon, Rainbow Bridge Plaza, Rainbow Cloud Dance Hall…”
After hearing this, Yu Yan said, “Let’s visit these places today.”
He observed each place with curiosity, occasionally buying interesting items as if he were an ordinary person exploring the underground city, rather than someone seriously searching for something.
After a full day of running around, they arrived at the last place, Rainbow Light Grand Theater. The poster outside advertised a mermaid performance. Yu Yan generously bought tickets for everyone, and they went in to watch the show.
To Yu Yan’s surprise, the mermaids were actual humanoid mutants with fish tails. Initially, he had thought they were people wearing fish tail costumes, similar to the person with wings he had seen the previous day. It was only after seeing them swim for a while that he realized they were high-level mutants.
Not having watched the entire performance, Yu Yan asked Guide Li, “Are there many high-level mutants in the underground city?”
Guide Li replied, “There are many. Besides the specialized areas in the inner city that cultivate high-level mutants, the underground city has the highest number of high-level mutants.”
He glanced at the “mermaids” on stage and whispered, “There are those like these, who are kept as novelties due to their weak abilities and attractive appearance, and blend in with the crowd, pretending to be ordinary humans. Then there are also those with strong abilities who even become district bosses.”
Yu Yan pondered for a moment and asked, “Do you know of any places with ‘Rainbow’ in the name that also have a lot of high-level mutants?”
Guide Li thought for a while and hesitated before answering, “I do know of one place, but it’s not in the underground city.”
Yu Yan inquired, “Where is it?”
Guide Li replied, “On the edge of the South Wasteland District, there’s a place called Rainbow Cage Manor, which was built only a couple of years ago. The owner of the private manor is surnamed Song and is said to have some connections with the big families in the city.”
The surname Song reminded Yu Yan of Lu Qiufeng’s family, which also had the surname Song.
“I’ve heard people talk about that place. It’s said that the manor owner often invites people to attend parties,” Guide Li added.
He didn’t explain everything clearly, but Yu Yan guessed, “So the manor owner likes high-level mutants and has collected many of them for amusement?”
Seeing Guide Li nod, Yu Yan said, “Understood. So how can we visit that manor?”
The Rainbow Cage Manor was in the South Wasteland District, while the missing collection team was in the North Wasteland District, in opposite directions. However, Yu Yan had a feeling that he might find information about Lu Qiufeng there.
Without an invitation, visiting Rainbow Cage Manor was still possible by finding someone who had been invited and going with them.
In the end, this issue was resolved by the powerful bearded boss at the Rose Bar, who, after receiving payment, agreed to help.
“Just so happens, a businessman is going to Rainbow Cage Manor. He heard you’re from the city and is willing to take you along for a fee to show you around.”
The large bearded man was thrilled to receive another introduction fee and said, “And just so happens, our top hunter here was hired by that businessman for a hefty sum! What a coincidence!”
The businessman, Mr. Huang, was a new rich person in the Underground City. He had quickly accumulated considerable wealth by leveraging his connections with a certain family in the city and had gained a bit of fame in the underground city. This was why he received an invitation.
Such sudden wealth often attracted many enemies. Mr. Huang had not only hired bodyguards at the Rose Bar but also employed many more from other hunting agencies, totaling more than a dozen individuals to protect himself and his trusted aide.
…
The next morning, they set out. Yu Yan, accompanied by Guide Li and the team of Da Tou and Xiao Fei, went to the underground city exit to meet up.
Guide Li agreed to accompany them for extra money, and Da Tou and Xiao Fei, who initially wanted to advise against it, were persuaded by him one by one. The person in charge only received a notification from Yu Yan and didn’t get a chance to persuade him.
Old Li, the manager, realized that the new researcher, Kang, though seemingly easygoing, was actually more spontaneous and self-willed in action compared to Researcher Lu.
The underground city exit was in the opposite direction. The vehicle driven by Yu Yan and his team reached the exit and smoothly joined Mr. Huang’s convoy.
After driving for a while on the bumpy road, the convoy stopped to rest, and Yu Yan finally met Mr. Huang.
Mr. Huang, who could not be called ugly but was rather plain, brightened up when he saw Yu Yan and approached him with enthusiasm.
“Mr. Yu, you clearly look like someone from the city. I’ve been to Central District before; it’s really wonderful there, unlike the underground city. It’s a pity I can’t live there all the time… Are you also from Central District, Mr. Yu?”
He rambled on about the splendor and convenience of Central District, becoming somewhat noisy. Yu Yan smiled and engaged in polite conversation for a while before excusing himself to deal with personal needs and stepping aside for some fresh air.
Most of Mr. Huang’s bodyguards leaned against their vehicles, smoking and chatting idly. Only one sat at the windward side, far from the others, as if he was indifferent to the cold, allowing the icy wind to billow his cloak.
Yu Yan had intended to rest in the vehicle but stopped in his tracks when he noticed the figure in the distance.
The silver-gray hair and the familiar silhouette, along with the semi-transparent data display above his head, confirmed to Yu Yan from afar that it was indeed 012.
Yu Yan was surprised to encounter 012 here, after having been separated for over half a year.
“That’s Yin Hui. Bearded Boss should have mentioned him to you—a very young hunter with an astonishingly high task completion rate,” Guide Li said, noticing Yu Yan standing by the vehicle, gazing at the figure in the distance.
Yu Yan’s expression was strange and subtle. “So, he’s the top hunter at the Rose Bar that Bearded Boss spoke of?”
Guide Li, unable to understand Yu Yan’s peculiar mood, said seriously, “Yes, he’s the one. He replaced the previous district boss in just a few months. Although he’s very capable, he’s cold and hard to approach, and he has a heavy hand with killing. I suggest you keep your distance from him.”
He added quietly, “Your two bodyguards probably wouldn’t stand a chance against him, so don’t provoke him.”
It sounded like anyone who had provoked 012 had met a grim fate.
“Got it,” Yu Yan said with a smile, but his feet moved directly towards 012.
Guide Li: “…”
012 sat alone in the wind, which was strong in the Wasteland District but just right for him. Leaning against an old tree battered by sand and wind, he took a bag of plasma from his pack.
He preferred to consume blood plasma away from others’ gazes, as most ordinary humans would react with fear and unease upon seeing him drink it.
012 didn’t care about their attitudes, but he knew it would help avoid some trouble.
Blood plasma had a consistent smell, but this time, as 012 removed his mask and prepared to drink from the bag, he detected a faintly familiar scent.
He lowered his head and brought his nose close to the blood plasma bag to search for the scent, but the strong wind soon carried away the faint residue.
He thought it might be an illusion but quickly recalled the shop clerk’s words, “not long ago,” “someone from the city”… It was him! He had come to the underground city!
012’s silver-gray pupils stirred with emotion as he suddenly stood up.
Almost like an illusion, a laughing voice came from behind him.
“This wind is so cold. What are you doing here alone, Yao’er? Don’t let the strong wind blow you away.”
012 turned around abruptly to see a man in a windbreaker walking up the slope, smiling at him.
The cloak on the man’s body fluttered in the wind, and 012 suddenly stepped forward, quickly walking down the slope. He reached Yu Yan in a few strides and embraced him with open arms.
Yu Yan: “Hey!”
The familiar, intense scent filled 012’s nostrils, and he couldn’t help but tighten his grip, holding his human partner tightly.
Yu Yan was lifted off the ground, his feet dangling, and he instinctively placed his hands on 012’s head.
At such a close distance, Yu Yan could clearly see the data display above 012’s head.
While the other stats were the same, the affection level was surprisingly higher than when he left over half a year ago, reaching 95.
Yu Yan suspected that if they hadn’t met again, 012’s affection level would gradually decrease over time, but he was surprised to find it not only unchanged but actually increased.
The data seemed unscientific. Was there an error? Yu Yan wondered.
Sensing his skepticism about the system’s data, the nearly invisible System 06 suddenly interjected:
[The data is updated in real time and no anomalies have been detected. Regarding Mr. Yu Yan’s doubts, System 06 provides the following explanation: The increase in affection is due to longing…]
Yu Yan: Alright, alright, I get it. No need to explain further.
He sighed silently and gave 012’s feathery hair a firm rub. The feathers covering the back of his neck were still very smooth.
Noticing the movement on his head, 012, who had buried himself in Yu Yan’s embrace, loosened his hold.
Yu Yan, finally back on the ground, adjusted his clothes and said, “Yao’er, you’re being a bit too affectionate.”
Could it be that he missed him so much?
012 removed his gloves, and his large hands slid through Yu Yan’s wind-blown short hair, smoothing it like a comb.
Yu Yan’s teasing words were suddenly cut off as memories of the mutant ribbon bird videos he had watched flashed through his mind.
When out foraging and returning to the nest, ribbon birds usually don’t immediately handle the food they bring back. Instead, they first nuzzle their partner and primarily groom the feathers on the other’s body.
It was a way of expressing affection and longing.
With an indescribable emotion, Yu Yan didn’t pull away, allowing 012 to carefully groom him for a while.
**TN
Back to 2 updates a day starting tomorrow. >_<
