Chapter 116: The Filthy Bride (Part 1)

Regarding the former deputy captain of the Criminal Investigation Division’s Second Squad—

During the special case interrogation period, he repeatedly violated regulations, used violence and irregular methods on suspects, causing severe negative impact—Comrade Luo Shaotian is hereby given a warning disciplinary action, removed from his position as Deputy Squad Captain of the CID, and placed under a one-year internal observation period.

When Captain Zhang finished reading this sentence, it meant everything was already settled. Wan Xiaohu’s heart sank. Although he had long expected the outcome wouldn’t be great, he still felt his chest tighten uncomfortably.

Honestly, he shouldn’t even be inside the room—he was supposed to stay in the car. But Captain Zhang insisted he be present as a witness for the reading of the decision.

Sigh… still, this result isn’t too bad. He evaluated silently for Luo Shaotian.

• A warning—

• Not demotion, not dismissal, not expulsion.

Being removed from the position was also a neutral measure. There would always be chances to return later.

He secretly glanced at Luo Shaotian. The man who always stood as straight as a spear now had his head slightly lowered, his broad shoulders visibly drooping. Clearly, for Luo Shaotian, his expectations for himself were far higher than Wan Xiaohu’s were.

“Hmph.” Captain Zhang finished reading and slammed the document onto the table—a crisp “PAH,” as if he were tossing away a burning piece of garbage. He finally lifted his eyes, his murky yet razor-sharp gaze stabbing directly into Luo Shaotian’s face.

“You heard the result. Any opinions?”

“No, Captain.” Luo Shaotian’s voice was calm. He lifted his head, met Zhang Zheng’s gaze, and bowed deeply. “I accept all disciplinary decisions made by the organization.”

“That’s it? Nothing else?”

“…and thank you.”

“Thank me? What, your brain short-circuited?”

Luo Shaotian’s mouth twitched slightly. “I know… that considering the consequences caused by the period when I lost control, a dismissal from public office would’ve been more than justified. So for it to end like this… there must’ve been people quietly—”

“Stop! I don’t have time to listen to your nonsense. Your imagination sure is rich.”

Captain Zhang let out a cold, mocking laugh. He leaned forward, elbows resting heavily on the table. “Hey. I don’t get you anymore. A few days ago, this wasn’t the tone you used. When you slammed the table at the investigators, you acted like even the King of Heaven couldn’t intimidate you. What happened? You get suspended for a month and suddenly grow a new personality?”

Faced with his mentor’s interrogation, Luo Shaotian didn’t refute, nor avoid it.

“Captain Zhang… I might’ve been… not quite right during that period.”

“What’s ‘not right’?”

“I felt… like there was something else inside my body.”

“What something?” Captain Zhang’s brows instantly tightened, and even Wan Xiaohu stared wide-eyed in confusion.

“I can’t explain it well.” Luo Shaotian seemed to be searching for the right words. “It’s like… a fire. A fire I couldn’t put out. Burning constantly in my head. Making everything I looked at irritating—making me want to destroy everything in front of me… I couldn’t control myself.”

“Every time I came to my senses, things had already happened. It felt like someone in my head kept urging me to do the most violent, the most extreme things.”

The office fell into dead silence. Wan Xiaohu listened, utterly lost. His immediate reaction was: Did Luo-ge’s stress finally break him? Is he having mental issues?

But in Zhang Zheng’s deep, sunken eyes—a sudden, sharp gleam flashed.

Others might think it was madness. Might think it was an excuse. But he—he caught a hint of something from these absurd-sounding words.

Could it be… that in one of his cases, Luo Shaotian had unknowingly brushed against the true darkness hidden within this city? And that his month-long loss of control wasn’t just psychological?

Zhang Zheng’s voice subconsciously lowered: “That thing you’re talking about… when did it start—”

Before he could finish—

“BOOM!!!”

A terrifying explosion erupted outside without warning! The entire office building shook violently, as if struck by a colossal invisible fist! The ashtray and tea cup on Captain Zhang’s desk jumped, then shattered on the floor. Dust rained from the ceiling. Emergency alarms blared through the building in a deafening chorus!

“Holy—!” Wan Xiaohu was so frightened he fell straight onto his butt, face turning pale.

Luo Shaotian reacted instantly. He yanked open the blinds—and sucked in a breath of cold air.

What he saw was a scene straight out of hell—

The parking lot below had become a sea of fire. Orange-red flames and thick black smoke twisted together, forming a blazing barricade that completely sealed the building’s main exit. Explosions erupted one after another. Police cars ignited like torches, bursting into burning heaps of scrap.

And amidst the distorted firelight and choking smoke—a colossal silhouette was slowly standing up.

“Mother of—…” Wan Xiaohu’s mouth trembled uncontrollably, as if nailed to the window.

It was a massive humanoid monster. At least two stories tall. Bloated—like a drowned corpse left soaking in river water for weeks.

“Corpse swelling”—yes. That was the closest description.

Its swollen skin carried that corpse-like bluish, purple tone, resembling rotten human remains.

And covering its body—strips of filthy human skin, crudely stitched together, stained with dried, blackened blood. Dragging behind it, long and heavy—like a trailing gown. The gown scraped across the burning vehicles, leaving a nauseating trail behind.

But the most disgusting thing—was its “head.”

Because that… was not a head.

It was a swarm of black insects. So many packed together they formed a writhing black cloud. The horrifying buzzzzz—even through the window—felt like it drilled straight into the nerves.

“Ugh—!!” Wan Xiaohu finally couldn’t hold it. He clutched the wall and dry-heaved violently. “Cough— cough— what the— what the hell is that?! Is this a joke?! Are we filming a horror movie?!”

Even Captain Zhang’s face turned pale. But his experience and instincts pulled him back to focus quickly.

No mistake. No, absolutely no mistake. It’s that thing! The secret buried beneath Xinhai City—was that thing! He never expected the answer he’d chased half his life to deliver itself at his doorstep.

Inside the police station, everyone finally snapped back to reality.

“Armory! Anyone still standing—get weapons from the armory!” A commander roared across the hallway— “Request unlock for all conventional weapons! Maximum fire suppression! MOVE!!”

They were, after all, the state’s machinery of force—the first line of defense protecting the city. Extreme terror gave way to duty and determination.

On the second and third floors, windows slammed open. Gun barrels extended outward like steel fangs aimed at the monster.

“OPEN FIRE!!!”

“DADADADADADADA——!!!”

In an instant—dozens of blazing muzzle flashes erupted, weaving into a roaring metal storm that tore toward the lumbering giant! Bullets ripped through the human-skin gown, punching fist-sized holes into its body. Rotten pus and chunks of flesh splattered everywhere—pieces even tore off and slapped onto the ground with wet “splats,” melting into twitching sludge.

“It’s working! Focus fire! Hit the torso!” Frontline officers shouted excitedly.

But Captain Zhang’s pupils shrank to a pinpoint. No… No, something was wrong! Those wounds—they weren’t reacting like injuries… It was more like tearing apart decayed meat. The monster—from beginning to end—didn’t emit a single cry of pain. It didn’t care.

As expected—a second later—the wounds ripped open by gunfire began to writhe. Countless white maggots and fresh pink flesh buds surged outward, crawling over each other in a frenzy. Within seconds—the wounds healed completely.

“Ugh—” As if annoyed by the futile attack, the monster slowly raised an arm. Before their horrified eyes—the arm withered and rotted rapidly, until its palm bloomed into a cluster of sickly green fungi—a “funeral flower.”

Then it waved lightly toward the building.

A soft whff—

Billions of green, glowing spores burst outward like a massive shotgun blast, coating the entire building exterior in an instant.

What followed was unbelievable. The walls struck by the spores began to sprout fungal growth—fast, aggressive, cancer-like. They twisted and spread in seconds, sealing windows completely.

“What the hell?! My—my hand—AHHH!!!”

“The wall is moving! F**k! The wall— the wall is eating me!! AHHH!!!”

Behind the fungal-sealed windows, panicked screaming erupted.

But the real nightmare was just beginning. The monster lumbered forward a few steps, its buzzing head lowering slowly. That “face” made of countless lips suddenly tore open—

It emitted a silent scream—

A sound no human ear could perceive, but every mind could feel.

HUMMMMM——

A psychic shockwave blasted outward.

“Ugh…” A young officer behind the wreckage of a police car—just about to reload—froze instantly. All fear and anger drained from his expression. His face went blank. Emotionless. Like a wooden puppet.

He dropped his gun. His empty eyes stared ahead. Ignoring the desperate shouts of his comrades—he stood up.

One step.

Another step.

He walked toward the towering embodiment of decay and death.

“Xiao Wang! Get back! Are you f**king crazy?! GET BACK!!”

But Xiao Wang didn’t hear anything. He walked straight to the monster—and opened his arms.

“Grrrrrrrhhhhh—” The monster’s skin-gown suddenly writhed violently. Slimy, mucus-coated tendrils slithered out, wrapping around the young officer.

There was no scream. No struggle.

In the horrified stares of everyone—the young man was dragged beneath the gown. Gone. Completely swallowed.

The gown twitched once. As if it had gained… a fresh new piece of “fabric.”