Chapter 7: The Alluring Corpse

After the Heteromorphic Beast was dealt with, Liu Xingluo and the others, who had taken refuge in the underground shelter, returned to the surface, ready to resume the tasks they had left unfinished.

As for the corpse of the Heteromorphic Beast, it would, of course, be recovered by a specialized agency, as such remains held considerable research value.

Naturally, the general public was aware of the Heteromorphic Beasts’ existence, allowing recovery operations to proceed openly. However, to prevent reckless individuals from acting foolishly and because some Heteromorphic Beast corpses could still affect the surrounding environment, recovery personnel would set up warning tape around the area, cautioning non-professionals to keep their distance.

Witnessing the staff recover the Heteromorphic Beast’s corpse was, for Liu Xingluo, normally an unremarkable event; after all, it had nothing to do with a law-abiding citizen like him. Having seen such scenes countless times, there was truly nothing captivating about it, and the old Liu Xingluo would have undoubtedly held his nose and briskly walked away.

Yet, today, Liu Xingluo was strangely different. For some unknown reason, as he passed the警戒区域 (TL Note: Warning/restricted area), his gaze fell upon the Heteromorphic Beast’s corpse and became utterly transfixed.

“Xiao Luo, what’s wrong? Why did you suddenly stop?”

Seeing Liu Xingluo abruptly halt, Liu Ruyan turned, her expression etched with bewilderment.

Liu Xingluo, however, seemed not to hear her words, his eyes still fixed intently on the Heteromorphic Beast’s body. Puzzled, Liu Ruyan followed his gaze, though she still couldn’t fathom what he found so utterly mesmerizing.

“Xiao Luo, what exactly are you staring at?”

After watching for a full thirty seconds, discerning nothing, Liu Ruyan had no choice but to press Liu Xingluo again. Still, he remained as before, completely oblivious to her presence, as if his soul had detached from his body.

Left with no other recourse, despite her reluctance to resort to such measures in public, Liu Ruyan realized that allowing him to remain in such a state on the street was simply not an option. She lifted her hand and delivered a sharp slap across Liu Xingluo’s right cheek.

“Slap!”

“Ah! That hurts, that really hurts! What was that for, Sister? Why did you suddenly slap me?”

It was undeniable that while violence was not always the best solution, it often proved to be the most effective. Under the impact of Liu Ruyan’s palm, Liu Xingluo smoothly snapped back to his senses.

“Whose fault is that? You were just standing there like an idiot, and you didn’t hear me call your name several times! What were you looking at just now? What had you so completely engrossed?”

With hands on her hips, Liu Ruyan aggressively questioned Liu Xingluo about what could have so thoroughly captivated him. She pointed out that even when she caught him watching adult films, he hadn’t displayed such profound concentration.

“Huh? Was I really that engrossed? I didn’t even notice. But if you’re asking what I was looking at, I suppose it was just the Heteromorphic Beast’s corpse.”

“Really? Are you lying to me? What’s so special about a Heteromorphic Beast’s corpse that could make you so utterly absorbed?”

Liu Ruyan clearly didn’t believe Liu Xingluo’s explanation. If he could become so captivated by a Heteromorphic Beast’s corpse, she would have noticed this abnormality long ago. Yet, Liu Xingluo had never exhibited such peculiar behavior in his entire life.

“Hmm… even if you ask me, I don’t know why.”

‘However, if I were to truly pinpoint what attracted me to that Heteromorphic Beast’s corpse, it might be some enticing scent it emitted. Upon seeing the body, Liu Xingluo somehow found himself thinking, ‘It looks like it would taste quite good.’

‘Of course, Liu Xingluo dared not confess this to Liu Ruyan. Simply telling her about the bracelet had already made her suspect he was unwell; if he were to add that he felt an appetite for a Heteromorphic Beast’s corpse, she would undoubtedly drag him to the hospital for a comprehensive examination, no matter what.’

‘It wasn’t that he considered this anomaly in his body unimportant. Liu Xingluo was primarily concerned about the exorbitant cost of a full physical examination. It was a substantial sum. Moreover, he had only just successfully completed his interview today. If his sister were to drag him for a full check-up today, it would only be her money being spent. As a man of dignity, Liu Xingluo had no intention of using his sister’s money for his own comprehensive examination. Besides, merely having an appetite for a Heteromorphic Beast’s corpse wasn’t a particularly severe ailment; as long as he could suppress this abnormal craving, it wouldn’t impact his daily life.’

‘If he absolutely had to get a full check-up for his current condition, he would wait until he received his first month’s salary and pay for it with his own money. He couldn’t always rely on his sister like this.’

“Xiao Luo, are you hiding something from me? Don’t conceal it; tell your sister honestly.”

Liu Ruyan, having raised Liu Xingluo from childhood, could immediately distinguish between his truths and his lies. And it was abundantly clear that Liu Xingluo had just lied to her; he was definitely concealing something.

“No, really, I’m not. Oh, Sister, let’s just hurry home! My stomach is rumbling; if we go back now, perhaps the beef stew with potatoes won’t have cooled down yet, and we can still eat it. Come on, let’s go, let’s head back quickly!”

Unwilling to continue this conversation with Liu Ruyan, Liu Xingluo changed the subject while simultaneously pushing her quickly in the direction of home.

However, for Liu Ruyan, Liu Xingluo’s tactic was not so easily employed. She immediately shrugged off his hand pushing her from behind, then turned to face him with a solemn expression.

“I’m being serious with you, Xiao Luo. What exactly are you hiding from me? Is there something wrong with your body? How about I take you to the hospital right now for a check-up?”

“No, no, Sister. I’m perfectly fine! Look, aren’t I completely normal?”

To prove his perfectly normal state, Liu Xingluo even began performing calisthenics in front of Liu Ruyan, demonstrating how healthy his body was and how there was absolutely no need to waste money on a comprehensive hospital examination.

Yet, the more Liu Xingluo resisted, the stranger Liu Ruyan found his behavior. If he were truly healthy and saw no need for a hospital visit, he would have long since made a joke like, ‘Sister, do you have so much money you don’t know what to do with it? You want to just hand it over to the hospital? It’d be more worthwhile to give it to me so I can spend 648 (TL Note: A common denomination for in-game purchases in Chinese mobile games, often referencing 648 yuan) on a mobile game instead.’

“Sister?”

Seeing Liu Ruyan remain silent, Liu Xingluo’s heart began to pound. It seemed his attempts at deception were futile, and a comprehensive hospital check-up was now inevitable.