The news of Tang Xiao's departure was not kept secret for long. Since he never showed up at the celebration banquet, Xiao Bai and the others checked the base's surveillance footage. What they saw was the entire process of him escaping with the experimental subject.
Their hearts sank instantly. They quickly sent people to capture Lodge and interrogated him about what had happened.
“Why did you open the base's main gate? Where did you even get that level of clearance?” Xiao Bai slammed the table, his usual cold and distant demeanor cracking apart, his eyes burning with anger. “Do you have any idea how dangerous it is outside? Why did you let Tang Xiao leave—along with the experimental subject? What the hell is going on?”
No matter how they questioned him, Lodge remained silent.
Dawson said, “From the surveillance footage, it looks like he willingly helped the experimental subject defect.”
“Ah, but maybe it’s not necessarily defection,” Aberk couldn't help but speak up for Tang Xiao. “Maybe Dr. Tang had his reasons. Besides, what could he possibly gain from this? I just can't figure out why he'd do this—he's already a world-renowned scientist. And given the current tense situation, there's no safer place than the Third Eye.”
Dawson, who had been quietly playing the role of the skeptic, carefully observed Lodge’s reaction. After a brief moment of thought, he asked, “Experimental Subject 428 and Dr. Tang… their relationship isn’t simple, is it?”
Xiao Bai, Feng Shuyun, and Aberk all looked shocked.
Lodge still remained silent, but Dawson, ever perceptive, caught subtle traces of expression on his face—hints of a hidden truth.
“So it’s true,” Dawson murmured. At that moment, all the clues in his mind clicked into place.
Si Tejun, a being never seen before inside the base, lacking common knowledge, possessing an almost untainted, childlike purity.
And his intense, almost obsessive love for Tang Xiao.
A complex mix of emotions swirled in Dawson’s heart. Wait a second… was he really giving relationship advice to a non-human? And not just any non-human, but a mushroom?
Had he seriously provided romantic counseling to a mushroom?
Dawson burst into laughter. “Hahaha.”
The world had officially gone mad.
Xiao Bai frowned deeply, watching Dawson suddenly break into hysterics. “What ‘special relationship’? Tang Xiao has always had an obsession with 428, but that’s because of Savant Syndrome.”
Dawson turned his blank expression toward Xiao Bai. “That doesn’t contradict anything. In fact, it’s entirely possible that Dr. Tang's obsession with the experiment subject led to the development of this twisted emotion. And on top of that, he concealed information about the experiment subject.”
“Wait, wait.” Aberk, as an outsider to the situation, looked utterly confused. “What kind of ‘special relationship’ are we talking about? It’s not what I think it is, is it?”
Dawson glanced at him, then at Feng Shuyun, who also looked utterly stunned. He nodded. “At the very least, Experimental Subject 428 is in love with Dr. Tang. Though to most people, that might sound unbelievable. As for Dr. Tang himself, I’m not sure. But based on what you all are saying, maybe it’s his genetic condition that drove him to take an experiment that was about to be destroyed—or maybe…”
They love each other.
Dawson didn’t say it outright, but everyone present could hear the unspoken words in his tone. And that was precisely why they found it so hard to believe.
“Well, this is certainly some interesting intel.”
Just then, the door to the interrogation room swung open. Leon stepped inside, his fox-like eyes narrowing with an unreadable expression. No one knew how long he had been listening outside.
“Leon,” the room tensed instantly.
Leon entered the interrogation room with his subordinates. He didn’t say anything at first—just walked straight up to Lodge and threw a punch at him. “You really had the nerve to use the clearance I gave you?”
Lodge took the punch head-on, his lip splitting open. But he still didn’t say a word. Instead, he lifted his head and stared directly at Leon.
“Leon, we’re just speculating,” Feng Shuyun said nervously. She knew about Leon’s past relationships with Xiao Bai and Tang Xiao. And there had been previous cases of scientists defecting with experiment subject or research materials—but all of them had ended in tragedy. The Third Eye treated scientists well, but it was brutally unforgiving toward traitors.
Leon turned away, his voice calm. “I know. We’ll find out the truth once we catch them.”
He wasn’t just speaking to the people in the room—his words were also directed at the Masked Unit who had just arrived. The leader of the group nodded.
“Dr. Tang's location has been confirmed. We’ll begin tracking as soon as the blizzard weakens.”
One of the masked man was a tracker-type ability user. As long as they had a blood sample from the target, they could pinpoint a general location.
Meanwhile, outside the base.
The raging blizzard had turned the world into a vast expanse of white.
When Tang Xiao regained consciousness, he found himself inside a cave. The surroundings—and even the way he and Jun Tesi were positioned—felt so eerily familiar that for a moment, he thought he had unknowingly reloaded a save file.
“Jun Tesi?”
“I'm here.” Jun Tesi was still holding him in his arms, trying to preserve as much of his body heat as possible. A small fire crackled in front of them.
Under the warmth of the fire, Tang Xiao slowly recalled what had happened before he blacked out.
“I passed out just now, didn't I?”
“Yeah.”
After leaving the base, Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi had planned to travel as far as possible under the cover of the blizzard. But before long, Jun Tesi realized that Tang Xiao couldn’t last—his own body was fine, but Tang Xiao’s temperature had started dropping at an alarming rate, and he was showing signs of confusion and fading consciousness.
Jun Tesi had immediately decided to find shelter. By sheer coincidence, the cave they found was the same one where they had previously fought the King of Mushroom.
“We can only leave once the blizzard stops,” Jun Tesi said.
Tang Xiao couldn't help but sigh—he had just left the base, and things were already off to a bad start.
“Xiaoxiao, you can still go back,” Jun Tesi said.
Tang Xiao was stunned for a moment and instinctively looked up, but he could only see Jun Tesi’s chin, unable to tell what he was thinking.
“You want me to go back?”
“I don’t.”
Jun Tesi’s voice was muffled.
But as the initial thrill of leaving the base gradually faded, Jun Tesi realized just how difficult it would be for Tang Xiao to survive in the outside world.
Not to mention the harsh environment and the ever-watchful mutant beasts and infected, based on past experience, if Tang Xiao were to get injured and bleed in the wild, there was a high chance that the King of Mushroom would sense it.
In reality, the Third Eye's base had been a shelter protecting them. Both Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi were well aware of this.
The road ahead was filled with danger and uncertainty.
But even if the future was unknown, Jun Tesi still wanted to be with Tang Xiao.
“I feel the same way.”
Jun Tesi looked down in surprise, locking eyes with the young man’s pitch-black gaze—dark as the night sky, but this time, filled with an unguarded tenderness. "Even if the future is uncertain, I still want to be with you."
Jun Tesi trembled uncontrollably and buried his head into the crook of Tang Xiao’s neck.
“Xiaoxiao, you're cheating—you can read minds.”
Tang Xiao paused, then chuckled and patted Jun Tesi on the head. “Yeah, well, I'm just that smart.”
This was a journey without a destination. Every step they took could lead to their final stop.
Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi both knew this well. But as long as they had the present, they wouldn’t think too far ahead.
That said, Tang Xiao thought to himself—there was one thing he needed to test.
Jun Tesi was completely unaware, still nuzzling against Tang Xiao's exposed shoulder, breathing in his scent obsessively. At the same time, he was careful to control his pace, afraid that Tang Xiao would notice.
It was Tang Xiao’s scent.
They had been apart for more than a week. A whole week without seeing each other—his Xiaoxiao energy levels were critically low.
Suddenly, Jun Tesi felt something brush against his waist muscles. He thought it was just his imagination, but then that cold hand didn’t retreat—it moved straight to his abs.
Jun Tesi hissed, nearly jumping in shock, and grabbed Tang Xiao’s hand. “Xiaoxiao, if you do that, I won’t be able to control myself.”
“Who said I wanted you to hold back?” Tang Xiao replied expressionlessly, his eyelashes trembling slightly, his ears already burning red. “Once the blizzard stops, the pursuers could catch up at any time. We need to take advantage of this time to experiment—whether my genes can slow down or even heal your collapse.”
This was an experiment he had never tried before. Since the genes of mutant beasts could delay Jun Tesi’s body deterioration, then his own genes, which were even more compatible, should have an even better effect.
Tang Xiao believed his reasoning was purely logical, but for Jun Tesi, the sheer surprise sent shockwaves through his mind, scrambling his ability to speak. “C-can we really?”
The young man seemed amused by his reaction. He straightened up in Jun Tesi’s embrace, turned around to face him, and spread his knees to straddle him, arms looping around his neck.
The fire in the cave cast a warm glow on Tang Xiao’s face. His peach blossom eyes, filled with emotion, were as captivating as flowers blooming in spring. His striking features created a vivid contrast, and even the faint mole at the corner of his eye seemed to pull at Jun Tesi’s nerves.
“Warm me up, Jun Tesi.”
The last thread of rationality in Jun Tesi’s mind snapped.
He still held Tang Xiao, unmoving, but beneath his skin, horrifying blood-red mycelium began to sprout. They slithered like vines, slipping through the seams of his clothes.
Suddenly, the mycelium pressed against his waist, and Tang Xiao shuddered. He instinctively leaned closer, lips parting slightly as if asking for a kiss.
Jun Tesi, naturally, accepted the offering without hesitation, deepening the kiss as an unbidden, daring thought surfaced in his mind. “Xiaoxiao, I want you to ride me.”
Tang Xiao froze at first, then suddenly realized what he meant. He yanked his hand up, covering Jun Tesi’s mouth, his face turning impossibly red. “Don't even think about it. No way. I can’t do that.”
Jun Tesi blinked and whined softly in his ear, coaxing him, “Xiaoxiao won’t have to do anything tiring. I’ll use my mycelium to support everything. You just have to trust me and let your body relax.”
Tang Xiao stared at him suspiciously, sensing an ominous premonition. Jun Tesi knew he couldn't win through force, so he kept up his gentle persuasion. Tang Xiao couldn’t hold out. “Fine, fine—but you have to insulate the ground first.”
Last time, his blood had seeped into the earth and attracted the King of Mushroom. He wasn’t making that mistake again.
“I know.” Jun Tesi had already considered that.
Reluctantly, the mycelium withdrew from Tang Xiao’s body. At the same time, a layer of red mycelium spread around Jun Tesi, completely sealing off the ground in a one-meter radius. As the layer thickened, it formed a dome, enclosing them in a small, private sphere.
Tang Xiao looked around in amazement, realizing they were now inside a tiny room where even the howling blizzard couldn’t reach. The mycelium wall sprouted several thin, tube-like structures that resembled IV lines. Seeing Tang Xiao’s curiosity, Jun Tesi whispered, “These are life-support devices I made.”
Tang Xiao looked at him in confusion. Jun Tesi licked the corner of his lips, carefully hiding the desire in his eyes. “Xiaoxiao can stay here forever. The pipes will supply all the oxygen and nutrients humans need.”
Tang Xiao: “Keep dreaming.”
“qaq,” Jun Tesi whined. “But at least we don’t have to worry about blood or other fluids leaking out now. That’s useful, right?”
“We can continue without worries.”
In the end, the clothes still came off.
The red fungal carpet emitted a faint warmth, so it wasn’t too cold. Tang Xiao was already exhausted by the time it was over, and he fell into a deep sleep. The red carpet, which had remained still, sprouted tiny fungal threads that greedily absorbed whatever was left behind, even acting as an automatic cleansing mechanism, cleaning Tang Xiao up without him needing to lift a finger.
What Jun Tesi hadn’t told Tang Xiao was that this so-called room he created was actually part of his body.
After all, his true form was a network of mycelium. Sometimes, his humanoid shape was nothing more than a mushroom that had grown out of it.
Laying Tang Xiao down on the mycelium, Jun Tesi had no intention of dissolving the spherical cocoon. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Tang Xiao and closed his eyes.
The nutrients he had absorbed granted his decaying body a momentary reprieve. Before long, Jun Tesi’s consciousness sank into the depths of his subconscious, focusing entirely on repairing himself.
At that moment, Tang Xiao opened his eyes. He reached out and touched Jun Tesi’s forehead, then listened to his heartbeat.
If only they were in a lab, he could confirm exactly how much Jun Tesi had recovered.
Trying to judge it with just his eyes was too unreliable.
Tang Xiao sighed, closed his eyes again, and rested.
Tomorrow would be exhausting. He needed to recover his energy quickly.
The next day, the snowstorm had stopped.
Before leaving the base, Tang Xiao had removed his bracelet and let Jun Tesi check his entire body to ensure there were no tracking devices left on him.
However, he wasn’t sure if the base had any superpower with tracking abilities. He could only take things one step at a time.
Suddenly, while they were traveling, Jun Tesi abruptly grabbed Tang Xiao and rolled them both to the ground.
An invisible blade sliced through the snow where they had just been standing. A team of masked mans emerged from the forest, frowning as they stared at the two of them. “You dodged that pretty fast.”
The pursuers had arrived.
Tang Xiao stared at their masks calmly. He quickly noticed that the mask of the leader had two extra unique markings.
What does that mean? Does it indicate a A-Level superpower?
He seemed to remember hearing that A-Level superpower had distinctive masks.
“Sorry, Xiaoxiao,” Jun Tesi murmured. In the past, he would have sensed an enemy force approaching long before they got close. But now that his body was deteriorating, it took everything he had just to maintain his human form. He could no longer control mycelium too far from his body.
“What are you apologizing for? Just run!”
“Dr. Tang,” the leader, Xiang Yifei, called out loudly. “If you’re able to move, come over to our side quickly. If you get caught in the battle, that’ll be a problem.”
Tang Xiao ignored him completely. He slapped Jun Tesi’s arm. Jun Tesi understood immediately, scooping Tang Xiao into his arms and sprinting away.
“Tch.” The masked man clicked his tongue and pressed a finger to his earpiece. “You all saw that, right? Dr. Tang left of his own volition.”
“Bring them back,” came Leon’s calm order over the communication.
“Understood.”
Xiang Yifei got serious. His ability allowed him to form invisible blades and launch them. These blades had almost no energy fluctuations, making them extremely difficult to detect. He could control them within five meters; beyond that, they would deviate from their path. His ability was nearly impossible to defend against in assassination scenarios.
And he wasn’t the only one. The moment Leon gave the order, several bullets laced with inhibitors and tranquilizers were fired at Jun Tesi. Without even turning his head, Jun Tesi sprouted eyes on his back and dodged with uncanny agility.
However, the pursuers had one major advantage—snow-traveling equipment.
The masked mans had devices attached to their feet, similar to hoverboards or sleds, allowing them to glide freely across the snow at high speeds. Paired with auto-targeting heat-seeking guns, they quickly closed the distance.
Jun Tesi noticed their gear and reacted instantly. His legs morphed into ski-like structures, and his speed shot up.
“Head east,” Tang Xiao whispered in his ear.
“Not happening.” Xiang Yifei was the first to catch up. The moment he got within five meters, he activated his ability. Invisible blades slashed across Jun Tesi’s back, leaving deep wounds that nearly pierced through.
“Jun Tesi!” Tang Xiao’s pupils contracted sharply.
“I’m fine,” Quintes grunted, not making a sound of pain. His back wounds healed automatically. But his gaze shifted to Tang Xiao’s shoulder—despite blocking most of the attack, a thin line of blood still appeared there.
A new voice crackled over Xiang Yifei’s earpiece—Xiao Bai. “Be careful with your attacks. Dr. Tang is a valuable asset to humanity. He is not to be harmed.”
Xiang Yifei clicked his tongue in annoyance. “We’re in the middle of a battle. My ability isn’t exactly easy to control.”
An argument broke out on the other end of the earpiece. Eventually, Leon’s voice cut through. “Do whatever you want with the experiment, but Tang Xiao’s brain must remain intact. No crippling injuries allowed.”
“Yes, sir.” Xiang Yifei nodded in resignation. He had no intention of harming Dr. Tang in the first place—his ability was just too destructive to control perfectly.
Fine. He’d aim for the experiment’s legs instead.
Once again, invisible blades slashed toward Jun Tesi’s lower limbs. The moment he glanced downward, Tang Xiao narrowed his eyes and whispered into Jun Tesi’s ear. “Jump.”
Jun Tesi instinctively jumped in place, avoiding the attack.
What the hell… Xiang Yifei cursed under his breath. Since activating his ability required full concentration, the distance between them widened once more. He ordered his squad to keep firing at Jun Tesi, forcing him to dodge while he himself quickly closed the gap. However, no matter which direction he attacked from, Jun Tesi always seemed to anticipate it, dodging every strike. Even when Xiang Yifei deliberately avoided locking onto him with his gaze, Jun Tesi still evaded as if he had foreseen the attack. At most, he only sustained injuries that healed instantly. As a result, the distance between them only grew further.
At this point, even Xiang Yifei wasn’t foolish enough to ignore what was happening. Someone was helping Jun Tesi. After a brief moment of contemplation, he immediately changed his orders. “Drive them in the other direction.”
“Xiaoxiao.”
“It’s fine. Just keep running that way.”
With intelligence approaching the limits of human capability, Tang Xiao quickly understood Xiang Yifei’s intentions. After their previous encounter with the King of Mushroom, he had memorized all the surrounding topographical maps before their escape. If his prediction was correct, up ahead should be—
Finally, they arrived.
Seeing the prey successfully driven into the designated location, Xiang Yifei breathed a sigh of relief and pressed his earpiece. “Form a perimeter.”
Just as expected, Jun Tesi’s speed began to slow down. Tang Xiao also saw what lay ahead.
A cliff. And unlike the one where they had been cornered by the King of Mushroom, this one was even higher—hundreds of meters tall, with an endless forest stretching below.
The wind blew even more fiercely now, and the snow, which had previously stopped, began falling again. The unpredictable weather made the pursuit even more treacherous.
“Stop running, Dr. Tang!” Xiang Yifei shouted through the storm. “There’s nowhere left to go! Come back with us—humanity needs you!”
Jun Tesi halted and looked at Tang Xiao. Tang Xiao licked his fingertip, tested the wind direction with his eyes closed, then nodded at Jun Tesi.
With that, Jun Tesi set him down.
Seeing them finally separate, Xiang Yifei let out a breath of relief and continued persuading, “Third Eye is willing to let bygones be bygones. If you come back, you’ll still be a renowned scientist. Third Eye will grant you a special fast track—an instant promotion by five levels. Dr. Xiao has already explained to everyone that the experiment subject’s abilities merely influenced you. We’re here to rescue you.”
The implication was clear: if Tang Xiao returned with them, he could remain the great scientist without a single blemish on his record. Everything that had happened would be blamed on the experiment subject.
Suddenly, Xiang Yifei’s words stopped. His eyes widened in shock.
Before him, Jun Tesi’s body began to shift and transform, turning into a massive red hang glider. And right at that moment, the wind direction changed—perfectly, as if timed to precision.
Dr. Tang could even calculate the weather?
Xiang Yifei’s mind momentarily blanked, his perception of high intelligence completely reshaped. Realizing what was about to happen, he immediately prepared to activate his ability. But before he could, Tang Xiao stepped in front of Jun Tesi, making all of them hesitate.
“Sorry,” Tang Xiao spread his arms slightly, wearing a faint, helpless smile. “Tell my teacher, Dr. Feng, and Lodge… I won’t be coming back. I’m sorry.”
Mycelium transformed into a rope, wrapping around Tang Xiao’s waist. Jun Tesi took him and leaped off the cliff.
Xiang Yifei’s heart skipped two beats. He rushed forward, only to see the red hang glider catching the wind, carrying two figures into the distance.
Even the wind and snow seemed to be bidding them farewell.
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