Lu Yan initially got his driver's license for convenience, opting for an A1 license. While everyone else at the driving school was aiming for a C1, he was the only one paying the most but driving the oldest car. His instructor found it puzzling, especially considering Lu Yan's profession as a doctor. After all, an A1 license allowed for long-distance driving, so what use did Lu Yan have for it?
But now, as Lu Yan maneuvered his camper van along the mountainous roads, he truly admired his foresight. If he hadn't chosen the A1 license, for safety reasons, he wouldn't be driving the camper van and would have had to rely on his own two legs to navigate through the mountains. Trekking these paths could exhaust anyone. Who knows, without the vehicle, he might not have made it out before the three-day deadline, and Zhou Kaiwen and the others would have faced consequences due to the wrath of the Dragon Maiden.
Driving for about two hours, Lu Yan's phone signal finally returned at a service area. He decided to dial the unified customer service number provided by the Disease Prevention and Control Center.
Initially contemplating if anyone would be available at 5 AM, Lu Yan was surprised when someone picked up within a minute—a familiar voice.
"Mr. Lu," Su Fufeng's voice, as always, was gentle. "I happen to be on duty as customer service today. How may I assist you?"
["Wow, what are the odds? Looks like he got promoted to be your exclusive liaison."]
Not everyone was cut out for the Special Action Department. Firstly, they needed a clean background with no unforgivable records. Secondly, their talents had to be useful—specifically against pollutants. Combatting pollutants was more perilous than imagined, with the department's staff mortality rate consistently high. If they sent individuals with no fighting capacity, it would be a death sentence.
Although there were sixty thousand registered Harbingers on the forum, accounting for those abroad and those with useless talents, the Special Action Department's members numbered less than five hundred. Hence, behind each member stood numerous support personnel, from research institute scientists to the most inconspicuous cleaning staff at the Disease Prevention and Control Center.
Su Fufeng, as an exclusive liaison customer service representative, was available 24/7.
Lu Yan stated, "I'm trying to locate someone. If possible, arrange for a swift meeting with him and me. I've already activated my location."
"His name is Zhao Cheng."
[X City resident, ID number]
As an outsider, Lu Yan having this much information was evidently unusual. But after a brief consideration, he still disclosed the ID number. Time was of the essence, and 'Zhao Cheng' was too common a name; there wouldn't be enough time for a thorough file search. If need be, he could always pass the task to the Dragon Maiden.
"Alright, Mr. Lu," Su Fufeng sounded somewhat puzzled. "May I ask why you're looking for him?"
"I and a friend went to a white pollution zone..." Lu Yan briefly summarized the situation, "If you find him, inform him that we've found his daughter and wish to take him to see her."
There was no need to conceal this matter, especially with three other people still in the village.
Su Fufeng's expression immediately turned serious: "Are you saying there's a pollutant in the Dragon Maiden Village with a contamination level exceeding 7000?"
His other hand had already activated the headquarters' emergency assistance line.
"Yes."
"Okay, I'll immediately request headquarters to dispatch a team to address the contamination."
Lu Yan's brows slightly furrowed. "She has been in Dragon Maiden Village for a long time, hasn't left for over a decade. Always staying by Dragon Maiden Lake, seeking revenge against those who harmed her back then. If possible, I hope you won't take any unnecessary actions."
"Mr. Lu, don't view pollutants from a human perspective; they are just distorted monsters," Su Fufeng's tone was somewhat urgent. "Showing kindness to pollutants is cruelty to our kind. Please don't retain such ignorant goodwill."
Lu Yan's brows furrowed slightly. "Perhaps for low-level pollutants, but I've encountered advanced pollutants a few times. In my eyes, they are beings that can communicate..."
Su Fufeng, well-trained, became more intense in his attitude. "Pollutants have primal desires for human flesh. Without consuming, they'll fall into a state of hunger. Humans are just their food. No one can endure hunger for long, and pollutants can't either. They won't starve, making them easily driven by this hunger to hunt. Would a lion feel guilty about killing a gazelle?"
[He's got a point. Pollutants indeed crave consumption. But who says the food source can't be their own kind? Pollutants often prey on humans simply because humans taste good and are convenient to hunt.]
"Mr. Lu, you appear calm and principled in my eyes, but I don't think your actions are mature—" His words were cut off.
A tumult of voices came through the phone, soon replaced by another unfamiliar male voice.
"Hello, Mr. Di Ting. I'm Li Zhiming, Deputy Director of the Pollution Disease Prevention and Control Center in K City."
"Apologies for the unpleasant experience. Su Fufeng's father died at the hands of pollutants. He was rescued by members of the Special Operations Department in a ruins area, leading to his strong aversion to pollutants."
"Perhaps he's right," Lu Yan sighed. "But this is my deal with her. My companion is still in her hands. I don't want anything to provoke her."
"Please wait a few minutes. We'll send staff to contact Zhao Cheng." Lu Yan waited about ten minutes before receiving a call from the Prevention and Control Center.
Director Li said, "Your proposal has been carefully considered by the headquarters. The final decision is to dispatch an experienced member of the Special Operations Department to accompany you. If the pollutant is deemed dangerous, removal measures will be taken. Is this solution acceptable?"
"It is."
"Good. Please stay where you are and do not move. Also, do not turn off the location system," Li said warmly. "We are arranging a small aircraft and pilot to head to your location."
Lu Yan looked around, considering the rugged mountain road. It didn't seem like a place where an aircraft could land.
Not knowing how long he'd have to wait, Lu Yan took out an eye mask and earplugs, closing his eyes in the camper.
The system said, "[Go ahead and sleep. I'll wake you if something comes up.]"
Lu Yan wasn't sure how long he slept, but when the sky was dimly lit, he was awakened by the sound of helicopter propellers.
Taking off his eye mask, he stepped outside. Above, a helicopter was hovering.
The sun rose, and a crimson dawn broke on the horizon.
The helicopter's door opened, and Lu Yan spotted a man holding another person, leaping straight down from the sky.
From this height, a regular person falling would probably end up in a funeral parlor nearby.
Backlit, Lu Yan couldn't make out the person's face, just witnessing in mid-air the sudden spread of their jet-black wings.
The morning sun illuminated the scales on the wings, a strangely beautiful sight.
Tang Xunan landed smoothly on the ground, folding away his nearly four-meter-wide wings. Though different from the dream's image, identifying him wasn't hard, especially with those golden, dazzling eyes.
Honestly, having seen his own face in the mirror every day, Lu Yan had grown somewhat numb to "good-looking humans." Still, Tang Xunan's striking appearance stood out.
Different from the dream, Tang Xunan's face bore a muzzle, half of it shadowed by a metallic contraption.
"Hello," Tang Xunan presented his work credentials. "Special Operations Department, Tang Xunan."
He seemed much more serious and professional than in the dream.
Zhao Cheng was experiencing skydiving for the first time. Despite Tang Xunan's controlled movements, his legs trembled uncontrollably upon descent.
Moments later, as Zhao Cheng caught his breath, he pulled out a cane, frantically tapping the ground, his heart racing, "Where's my daughter?"
His gaze had lost focus, groping around aimlessly.
Tang Xunan explained softly, "His daughter is missing. Zhao Cheng lost his eyesight to tears a few years ago. We found him in a community nursing home."
Lu Yan pursed his lips, "Uncle Zhao, I'll take you to see her."
Allowing a human to meet a pollutant was quite a risky move. Hence, Tang Xunan brought along the yellow dust intentionally. He wasn't much of a talker, having spoken more to dogs than people in recent years, making the journey rather silent, despite the turmoil within.
Several hours later, they returned to Dragon Maiden Village.
Zhao Cheng found the time too lengthy, repeatedly asking, "How much longer till we're there?"
The surrounding air grew increasingly damp. The camper van traveled all the way to the lakeside of Dragon Maiden Lake.
At the lake's edge, Zhou Qiming and two others were engrossed in a game of cards.
Not just them, Dragon Maiden had adhered to the agreement.
As the car came to a stop, Zhao Cheng couldn't wait, fumbling to get out of the car, shouting, "Yuanyuan! Dad's here!"
From the lake waters, Dragon Maiden emerged once more. She hadn't expected Zhao Cheng to arrive so quickly, a hint of panic crossing her otherwise expressionless face.
She reached out to Zhao Cheng, but suddenly noticed her razor-sharp nails and scales on her hand.
In the next instant, Dragon Maiden made a move that even Tang Xunan found shocking.
She bit off her nails, then tore off the scales, crimson blood mixing with the lake water beneath.
All of this happened in just under a minute.
Dragon Maiden laboriously crawled to the shore.
One unable to see, the other unable to speak.
Yet, as if connected by an invisible thread, Zhao Cheng unerringly reached Dragon Maiden.
The moment he touched her hand, he burst into tears, "Yuanyuan, it's Dad!"
Zhao Cheng's face turned crimson, choked with sobs. He feared this might all be a dream. Yet, the sensation he felt was so vivid.
Seventeen years later, if not for Zhao Yuan becoming a pollutant, they would be separated by life and death.
Dragon Maiden opened her mouth, attempting to speak, but only emitted a few hoarse, croaking sounds.
Lu Yan didn't have many emotions about this, but he found the scene beautiful.
A blood-soaked monster and an elderly man nearing the end of his days together formed a picture so stunningly beautiful it was awe-inspiring.
Lu Yan explained, "Uncle, her voice is gone. She can't speak."
Indeed, Dragon Maiden couldn't speak. Her throat structure differed from humans'. She had no vocal cords, only the ability to swallow.
Yet, the next moment, a faint, raspy female voice echoed in Lu Yan's ears.
Struggling as if speaking for the first time, Dragon Maiden uttered, "Dad... Dad..."
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