Chapter 40: When in Doubt, I Have a Teammate...

As in the original story, the plot followed the aftermath of the battle in "The Grudge." Exhausted, everyone returned to their respective rooms to recuperate, and upon returning to the Main God’s plaza the next day, they were met with the same golden stele.

According to the lore, the text on this stele was left behind by the previous reincarnation team. They speculated that the Main God created team battles to prevent overly powerful reincarnators from destroying the real world, thus using these conflicts as a means to thin the ranks of the reincarnation teams.

To Wu Xian, however, this was pure nonsense—a joke to be taken lightly, for anyone who took it seriously had already lost.

"...When a team accumulates three or more humans who have unlocked the genetic lock, that team will randomly encounter teams from other continents' 'Main God' spaces within horror movies. The reward points gained from killing members of the opposing team will be..."

A detached, monotonous voice echoed, devoid of any emotional fluctuation. It was Chu Xuan reading the inscription on the stele. The light reflecting off his glasses grew increasingly dazzling, as if he were equipped with his own special effects, leaving Wu Xian speechless.

Just then, the pillar of light bathing Zhan Lan finally dissipated.

Supported by an invisible force, she landed gracefully. She walked over to Wu Xian’s side, cast a slightly awkward glance at him, then turned her gaze toward the golden stele and asked curiously, "Captain, is this what you mentioned earlier—the situation where we might clash with other reincarnation teams? According to this, team battles only trigger once there are three people in the team who have unlocked their genetic locks. Is it because of me...?"

"That’s part of it, but not entirely."

Wu Xian cut her off and looked at Chu Xuan. "Even if I hadn't helped you unlock your genetic lock during 'Alien,' our Zhongzhou team would still have had three members who unlocked it... wouldn't we, Little Chu?"

"Wait... Chu Xuan has also unlocked the genetic lock? When did this happen?" Zhan Lan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She trusted Wu Xian’s words implicitly, but that only made her astonishment grow. She knew that although Chu Xuan had displayed incredible intelligence and strategy during "Alien," he had been nothing more than an ordinary person without any enhancements.

Having personally experienced the unlocking of the genetic lock, Zhan Lan knew exactly what that sensation was like. The severe side effects that followed could only be described as a fate worse than death. It was no exaggeration to say that if she hadn't already enhanced her mutant healing factor, coupled with the genetic recovery serum Wu Xian provided, it was doubtful she could have survived the process.

On the other side, hearing Wu Xian’s remark, Chu Xuan did not refute it. He simply pushed up his newly exchanged plain-glass spectacles and said calmly, "I did indeed unlock my genetic lock in the real world. It has to do with my background. If you are interested, I can tell you."

"Hold on!"

Wu Xian raised his hand and turned his focus to the Main God, communicating with his thoughts. A few seconds later, a pile of colorful snacks, fruits, and three drinks appeared on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

Wu Xian signaled for Zhan Lan to sit beside him and gestured for Chu Xuan to join them. "No rush. We’ve been working for hours; let’s eat while we talk."

Chu Xuan didn't respond immediately. He looked at the vibrant snacks and fruits on the table, then nodded after a moment. He moved to sit opposite Wu Xian and picked up a bright red apple to start eating.

"Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Chu Xuan, a military officer of the People's Republic of China with the rank of Colonel. I am directly under the Longyin Base in the capital—the second most classified military base in the country..."

Thus, in a flat, matter-of-fact tone, Chu Xuan recounted his origins. He shared the secret of his status as a genetically modified human and the fact that, due to genetic defects, he lacked all sensory input beyond hearing and sight, as well as the emotions typical of a normal person.

Wu Xian, having read the script, was not surprised. He merely put on a thoughtful expression, appearing deeply moved by Chu Xuan’s experiences. As for Zhan Lan, perhaps due to her feminine intuition and an inexplicable capacity for empathy, her eyes began to well up when Chu Xuan described the story of his childhood and his foster father.

It was only because the occasion wasn't appropriate that she didn't seek a shoulder to lean on. As for whose shoulder she might have chosen... well, you can guess.

"Ahem!"

A moment later, after Chu Xuan finished, Wu Xian coughed into his hand and said with a sigh, "Little Chu, I deeply sympathize with your past. It’s clear you were already weary of your life, or the Main God wouldn't have invited you here."

"But now that you’re in the Main God’s space, those things no longer matter. There will certainly be a way to solve your problem, to let you truly experience the sensations and emotions of a normal person, and to understand what joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are."

"...First of all, please call me Chu Xuan," he said, casting a glance at Wu Xian. "Secondly, while we were still in 'Alien,' I learned of the Main God’s existence and capabilities from you and the other veterans. I had hoped the Main God could solve my problem, but unfortunately, at least according to my search just now, no such exchange option exists."

"That’s only because you lack the authority. To search for specific items based on the characteristics of a condition, only the Captain can do that," Wu Xian waved his hand dismissively and smiled. "And as for your situation, I’ve actually met someone similar before. I’ve long had an effective method in mind."

"Who?" Chu Xuan’s brows twitched, betraying a trace of unconscious curiosity.

"A former teammate of mine..."

Wu Xian spun a lie with ease. No matter what questions Chu Xuan had, a "friend who doesn't exist" could solve them. After all, he was the most senior member of the Zhongzhou team; there was no one left to verify his claims. As for whether Chu Xuan believed him... and even if he didn't, it wouldn't change the fact that the information was "true."

"The issue with you, Chu Xuan, lies in your genetic defects. To fully repair them, the most direct and effective method is to develop the intensity of your genetic lock."

"I won't dwell on the first three stages; in summary, they correspond to combat instinct, muscle control, and brain development respectively."

"Up to that point, one is still at the level of a mortal. But the fourth stage is a true qualitative leap, and it is the key to solving your problem, Little Chu."