Chapter Fifty-Two: Hostage

Following the direction of Fatty's finger, Zhou Yi indeed spotted a figure in his line of sight—a tall, thin man, whose build was unmistakable even with his head lowered, hidden beneath a hat.

Zhou Yi started the car and instructed Fatty, “Have those people I told you to find follow us. We'll switch out the tails later. Today, we can't afford to lose him. If he goes to ground, it'll be even harder to find him.”

Fatty nodded and hurriedly pulled out his phone, dialing a number.

“Hey, it's me! Cut the chatter. Get in your cars and head towards Shanda. I’ll give you the exact location. Take two vehicles.”

He hung up. Zhou Yi didn’t start the engine right away; since Cheng Zhi was on foot, any sudden movement could arouse his suspicion.

After some distance, apparently sensing nothing out of place, Cheng Zhi stopped lowering his head so much, released his grip on his collar, as if fishing for something in his pocket, then quickened his pace toward the main gate.

Zhou Yi wasted no more time and started the car, moving forward swiftly, while Fatty kept his eyes fixed on Cheng Zhi.

“He’s across the street now, in that unlicensed Santana. Let’s slow down and see which way he goes.”

Zhou Yi decelerated as Cheng Zhi started his car and headed east. Zhou Yi turned the wheel and followed.

Night had already fallen, making it hard to distinguish details. At an intersection, they stopped a car’s length away. Fatty’s phone rang.

He checked the direction and quickly answered.

“Where are you now? Oh, do you see our car? The unlicensed Santana ahead of us is the target. We’ll follow for a bit, then you move in. Don’t startle him. Just find out exactly where he’s going.”

After hanging up, Fatty watched the lights change and Zhou Yi quickly caught up. They drove several blocks before the target car suddenly accelerated. Zhou Yi didn’t dare press too close and eased off.

Fatty’s men overtook them, tailing the target closely with Zhou Yi following behind.

They switched like this twice, and finally, in front of a newly built complex, Zhou Yi pulled over.

Cheng Zhi's car had just entered. Fatty had already instructed his men to get out and follow, warning them not to alert their quarry.

About ten minutes later, Fatty’s phone rang again.

“Boss, the target entered Building 3, Unit 4. We’re watching from below. He went up to the second floor, but we can’t tell if he went into the east or west apartment—both have lights on.”

Zhou Yi followed Fatty’s pointing finger. Near the western edge of the complex, Building 3 stood, and sure enough, both second-floor units in the westmost Unit 4 were lit.

“Good. Keep your eyes on him. I’ll pay you extra later. Leave one man hidden downstairs, the rest rotate shifts. I want to know who lives with him, and what they do if they go out.”

“Boss, why don’t we just go up and rough him up a bit? Wouldn’t that be easier?”

Fatty sounded annoyed as he barked, “I’m the boss here—just do as I say. Don’t startle them yet. Call me with any updates. If you’re hungry, grab something to eat in your car, but don’t turn on the lights—he’s on alert!”

After hanging up, Fatty looked at Zhou Yi.

“So, do we wait here or head back?”

“You drive. Let’s get something to eat first.” Zhou Yi unbuckled his seatbelt, got out, and slid into the passenger seat.

Fatty didn’t argue, quickly switching seats and driving off. After their meal, Zhou Yi asked for a napkin, wrapped the stone in it, and sat in the car, lost in thought.

Becoming a Chosen One had been a bizarre ordeal for Zhou Yi. From retaining his memories to the manifestation of his mark, everything was tinged with the fantastic.

According to Sophia, Base 72 hadn’t produced a Chosen One in a long time. Most current residents were slaves; the Chosen Ones were just people sent by Time City.

Yet this stone held an irresistible allure for Zhou Yi, as if someone were calling him. Without that outer shell, its aura had receded, and so had its temptation.

This was what baffled Zhou Yi most. Had the stone deliberately lured him up there, intending for them to take it away?

Though he had no way of knowing what the stone actually was, it had clearly sought him out. Cheng Zhi, too, seemed to sense something unusual about it.

But Zhou Yi’s greatest concern was whether the so-called Hunters had arrived in this world of 2000 because of the stone. Once the thought took root, he couldn’t shake it.

With a sigh, Zhou Yi was roused by Fatty poking him as he brought over a cup of tea.

“Why the long face?” Fatty asked.

Zhou Yi shook his head, set down his chopsticks, and took a sip of hot tea, feeling considerably better.

“There’s something I can’t figure out. In my original world, 2020, I was a doctor. Technology was advanced, and those two Awakened had power and influence. They framed me for manslaughter and got me thrown in jail. But even they didn’t hide themselves this thoroughly.

“Cheng Zhi’s actions show he knows exactly what’s coming for him, and now he’s gone completely to ground. If he’s come out, it must be for something important. He doesn’t act like an ordinary Awakened.”

Fatty nodded; he understood Zhou Yi’s reasoning.

“I get it—you think these Hunters are helping him. But even if that Meng Xiaojiao is a Hunter, she can’t be around all the time. How much help could she possibly give Cheng Zhi?”

Zhou Yi set down his cup and glanced toward the hotel entrance.

“That’s just it. Unless there’s someone else helping him, it can’t just be Meng Xiaojiao.”

Fatty’s gaze fell on the napkin-wrapped stone in Zhou Yi’s hand, and he blinked.

“If that’s the case, we’d better hide this stone egg well. It’s strange—just a nondescript black rock, yet it’s so compelling. It doesn’t even look like a meteorite. What is it really?”

Zhou Yi shook his head; he couldn’t make sense of it either.

“If the geology department kept it, it must have been examined. We don’t know the details, but when we visit other mission worlds in the future, we can check out meteorites.”

Fatty didn’t seem concerned, shaking his head.

“And if we find something? We’re inhabiting these mission worlds as copies, not our true selves. It’s no different from those transmigration stories—how could we possibly take anything back with us?”

Zhou Yi pressed his lips together. He’d considered this. Since acquiring the stone egg, its strange allure had faded more and more. He didn’t know why. If it was some kind of energy, maybe he’d absorbed it without realizing.

Just then, Fatty’s phone rang. The caller ID was an unfamiliar landline. Fatty quickly answered.

“Hello, who’s this?”

“This is Meng Xiaojiao. Is this Captain He?”

Fatty glanced at Zhou Yi.

“Ah, Meng Xiaojiao. Finished your exam?”

“Yes, all done. Everything looks fine. The psychiatrist gave a diagnosis. Do you need to see the report?”

“Where are you? Hand the report to us—it’ll serve as proof.”

Meng Xiaojiao quickly gave an address, not far from the restaurant where Zhou Yi and Fatty had eaten. Fatty hung up and looked at Zhou Yi.

“Should we both go? Or I can get the report myself and you wait here. The address is just across the street; no need to take the car.”

Zhou Yi nodded. “Be careful. Watch for anything unusual with Meng Xiaojiao. I’ll wait in the car.”

Fatty handed his phone and keys to Zhou Yi.

They left the restaurant. Zhou Yi sat in the car by the curb, and Fatty, hands in his pockets, strolled across the street.

It was an old residential complex, the streetlights dim. In front of a small grocery store stood a white-clad figure.

Zhou Yi didn’t start the car. He took out his binoculars and peered through them.

Sure enough, the woman in white was Meng Xiaojiao, holding a file folder, stamping her feet against the cold, blowing on her hands, glancing around nervously.

Fatty jogged over. Meng Xiaojiao seemed startled by his sudden appearance, but after exchanging a few words, they moved into a spot where the light didn’t reach.

Zhou Yi frowned. Meng Xiaojiao no longer seemed as nervous and frightened as she had that afternoon, but he couldn’t say what exactly was different.

Just as he hesitated, Meng Xiaojiao suddenly seized Fatty by the collar and struck him at the neck. Zhou Yi froze, his hand going for the car door.

At that moment, a van screeched to a halt in front of Meng Xiaojiao. Fatty was thrown inside, and the vehicle sped eastward.