Chapter 756: Lu Xun's Request

"You've met Dr. Chu before," Yang Xiao added. "He was also on this expedition, the quiet one who always stayed close to Old Lu..."

Yang Xiao's description finally helped Chen Ling recall the man. Dr. Chu indeed had a low-key presence; he seemed to be the unsociable type, much like Yang Xiao himself. If Chen Ling hadn't already interacted with Aurora Monarch, he probably wouldn't have paid much attention to Yang Xiao either. Dr. Chu had always stayed by Lu Xun's side; even when they were scattered by the disaster, they were still together, which explained why Chen Ling had no particular impression of him.

"Was Dr. Chu also experimented on, like you?" Chen Ling asked.

"No, Dr. Chu is different from me," Lu Xun shook his head. "He's the one responsible for conducting my experiments, or rather, he primarily handled my experimental data..."

"You're the subject, and he's the experimenter?" Chen Ling was astonished. "What field does Dr. Chu specialize in?"

"Cell biology."

Chen Ling frowned, lost in thought.

"Of course, this turn of events wasn't Dr. Chu's intention," Lu Xun interjected, explaining on Dr. Chu's behalf.

"Dr. Chu's biology lab, like my astronomical observatory, is an institution overseen by Bureau 749. Initially, he thought he was just analyzing cell samples. It was only when the situation gradually spiraled out of control that he lost his say in my experiments... He secretly alerted me about the internal changes within Bureau 749, and it's thanks to his help that I managed to escape this time."

"But he was also part of the expedition team, and he came into contact with the Red Star fragments... Didn't Bureau 749 also conduct experiments on him?" Chen Ling retorted.

"The first time unknown components were detected in my body, Bureau 749 immediately took samples from Dr. Chu for analysis," Lu Xun paused. "However, Dr. Chu's biological samples were all normal."

"All normal... How is that possible?" Yang Xiao murmured to himself.

Whether it was himself, Su Zhiwei, or Lu Xun... everyone who participated in that expedition experienced various anomalies. Dr. Chu should have been no exception.

"Fortunately, Dr. Chu's samples were normal. This led Bureau 749 to believe that not everyone who touched the Red Star fragments mutated; instead, it was an individual anomaly unique to me," Lu Xun said with relief. "That's why they didn't immediately come to apprehend you all."

"They wouldn't really dare to openly arrest people, would they?" Yang Xiao frowned.

"Bureau 749 wouldn't do such a thing, of course... But those who transferred me out of the bureau can practically do anything they want here in Shanghai," Lu Xun said with a serious expression.

"They lack official backing, so they can't mobilize 'white hands.' They have to rely on their connections to contact 'black hands'... Before I arrived here, they were still hunting me across the city."

At this, Chen Ling suddenly remembered the man in the anorak he had left stranded halfway, his expression subtly shifting.

That man also had a divine aura about him, and combined with the phone conversation at the time, it was almost certain he was one of the "black hands" assigned to apprehend Lu Xun. By now, he should have finally made his way to Shanghai.

"So, you called me here because you want my help to escape Shanghai?"

"...No," Lu Xun shook his head. "If I wanted to escape, I would have already left Shanghai. There's no need to play cat and mouse with them here."

"Then you want to..."

"The progress of human civilization requires sacrifice and the courage to confront mysteries. It's not a problem for them to want to gain more information about the Red Star from me, and I'm willing to cooperate... However, I don't want anyone studying me for their own selfish gain."

Lu Xun's voice was calm as he sat in the outdoor cafe, the city's neon lights twinkling behind him like countless stars.

Chen Ling paused for a moment before understanding his meaning:

"You mean you're willing to continue cooperating with the experiments, but you don't want to entrust yourself to those separatists?"

"Yes, I want to talk to the higher-ups at Bureau 749 again. But right now, these people won't let me contact the bureau... otherwise, everything they've done will be exposed."

Lu Xun paused briefly. "Besides that, I've asked you here this time... because I want to ask you to be our safety net."

"A safety net? What do you mean?"

"Although Bureau 749 won't force us into human experimentation, I'm concerned that the secrets of the Red Star are too tempting. Other organizations might target people besides me, such as Yang Xiao, Su Zhiwei, or Wu Tongyuan... I'm relatively safe, but researchers like Wu Tongyuan and Yang Xiao are usually engrossed in their work and could easily be exploited or forcibly abducted if they're not careful. So, I hope someone can secretly protect their safety. I witnessed your strength firsthand in Shennongjia, and this time, the rescue team members on the mountaintop also saw you walking on clouds amidst a sky full of red flowers, like a miracle... While I don't know why you infiltrated the expedition team, at least you harbor no ill will towards us. You're the only 'black hand' I know, and the only one who wouldn't wish us harm. If you, with your great influence, could protect them from behind the scenes once I'm back within Bureau 749, I would feel much more at ease..."

Hearing this, Chen Ling understood.

Lu Xun hadn't sought him out for his own sake this time, but for the other Nine Monarchs... He hoped that if anything unexpected happened to them, Chen Ling would be able to offer assistance.

The convener of the Nine Monarchs was asking him to secretly protect the Nine Monarchs... Chen Ling found fate to be truly remarkable. Lu Xun, in this era, had no idea what the nine of them would come to signify in the future, but in their current undeveloped state, they indeed lacked the ability to protect themselves.

This request undoubtedly aligned with Chen Ling's own wishes. He also hoped for an opportunity to interact with the Nine Monarchs and establish various connections with them... Although he hadn't yet confirmed the era's code with Su Zhiwei, based on current clues, Chen Ling felt there was definitely a strong link between this place and the future era.

"Some of you, however, wouldn't need my protection at all..." Chen Ling slowly began.

Lu Xun was startled, assuming Chen Ling was about to refuse, and immediately tried to say something more. But Chen Ling's next words followed right after:

"However, I can help with the safety of the others."

Lu Xun breathed a sigh of relief.

"And as for your compensation..."

"Dr. Lu, we can discuss compensation later."

Chen Ling suddenly interrupted Lu Xun. He rose from his seat, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at the distant night sky...

"Now... it seems we have trouble."

Buzzing— Lu Xun and Yang Xiao simultaneously froze, turning their heads to look. Against the dark night sky, a helicopter was streaking across, rapidly approaching their location!