Chapter 368: Foolish Humans
Selina turned around abruptly, only to see a figure hovering in the air not far behind her, right above the fissure in the ground.
Short and small, thin and frail, with a head of curly long hair—it was unmistakably a little boy. And this little boy was baring his teeth in a smile at her.
Selina froze, her breath caught in her chest, the scream suppressed in her throat.
"Don’t panic," the little boy said soothingly with a smile, waving his hand at Selina. "It wouldn’t be good if you made a noise and alerted the people above."
Her teeth chattered a few tis. Drawing on all the courage from her years as a rcenary facing life and death, Selina managed to ask, "You... who are you?"
At this mont, looking at the little boy, Selina wasn’t just afraid.
She was... terrified!
The kind of bone-chilling terror a frog feels when eyed by a giant serpent.
Like a frail hatchling perched on the edge of a wolf’s jaws.
That natural oppression, emanating from a higher order of being, left Selina almost breathless, as if drawing each breath took all her strength.
The little boy gave a slight smile and slowly retracted his aura, allowing Selina’s breathing to ease a fraction.
"We’ve t before," the little boy said, squinting at Selina. "I rember you. Among humans, by your standards of beauty, you’re considered exceptionally rare and beautiful."
"GULP." Selina swallowed hard.
The little boy shook his head. "Alright, now, hand him over to ."
As he spoke, he pointed a finger directly at Chen Nuo’s body, which Selina cradled in her arms.
"I, I, I..."
Selina was internally conflicted.
She wanted to refuse, but the imnse fear in her heart made her dare not voice any objection.
"Is there a problem?" the little boy smiled. "Giving him to might be safer for him, you know."
"But..."
"Ah, right. I haven’t asked yet, how did you manage to find this place?"
Selina’s reasons for finding this place weren’t overly complicated.
Actually, she wasn’t here looking for Chen Nuo. She was looking for Vanel.
After the Antarctica incident, Chen Nuo wasn’t the only one missing.
And for Selina, Chen Nuo’s disappearance didn’t impact her significantly.
But Vanel was different.
After her experience in the Brazilian tropical rainforest last year, Selina had left the rcenary organization. She had learned too many things she shouldn’t have, and out of necessity, she had departed with Vanel, Lu Xixi, and the others when it was all over.
Vanel, through Noah’s Ark, had arranged a new identity for Selina, finding her a safe place to live in seclusion.
For the female rcenary, this outco wasn’t bad at all.
Selina was already thirty. She had spent many years as a rcenary, living a life of constant danger, amidst hails of gunfire.
She had fought anti-governnt forces in the mountains of so country.
She had also helped anti-governnt forces fight against the governnt army.
She had earned huge bounties chasing terrorists in the desert.
Until the mission in the tropical rainforest ended in complete failure, and all of Selina’s subordinates were wiped out.
And when Vanel told her that the Octopus Monster Company had been the secret financier behind her rcenary organization all along...
Selina understood that if she went back, she would likely be killed.
Knowing too much, after all...
She received a new identity and was set up in a safe, secluded corner of the world to live like an ordinary person.
Selina thought it was quite nice.
At least, perhaps, many years later, she could die of old age in her bed.
Not in so cave, or a desert, or with her head chopped off by so anti-governnt forces in the jungles of Africa.
She had experienced and witnessed too much of life and death over the years.
Initially, Selina’s new life was quite good.
Vanel had always taken good care of her.
He arranged her new identity, a new ho, and what seed like a decent job for an ordinary person.
It was a comfortable, leisurely, and most importantly, safe life.
At the sa ti, she joined Noah’s Ark and served as Vanel’s "safe house" and ergency contact.
If Vanel ever found himself in danger, he could flee to Selina’s place for help and refuge.
She had always maintained a secret communication channel with Vanel, contacting him regularly.
Vanel, in turn, would share so of his affairs with her.
He hadn’t told Selina the full details of the Antarctica mission, but she knew where he had gone.
Then, ten months ago, she lost contact with Vanel.
Over a month ago, Selina t an old acquaintance, the Son of the Sun.
The Son of the Sun questioned her about all communication records with Vanel before he went missing, asked nurous questions, and then left.
Before he departed, Selina asked the Son of the Sun, "Is he still alive?"
The Son of the Sun thought for a mont, then told Selina, "There’s not much hope."
"So there is still a little hope, isn’t there?" Selina whispered.
The Son of the Sun stared at Selina for a while, frowned, and then whispered, "You... and him?"
Selina didn’t speak, just quietly looked at the Son of the Sun.
Finally, the old man nodded and whispered, "Yes... there’s still hope."
Before the Son of the Sun left, he told Selina sothing. "Noah’s Ark is looking for Vanel, and also for Chen Nuo. They’ve even issued a substantial bounty.
"Vanel disappeared with that guy, so his chances of survival are much higher. We all know that kid. I always feel he’s not the type to die easily. Plus, being with him, they might both make it out alive."
The little boy looked at the female rcenary before him, feeling a mix of curiosity and surprise.
If judged purely by strength, Seed considered this human female almost negligible.
Seed knew many people had co searching this region.
The Octopus Monster had expended enormous resources, manpower, and effort in their search.
Then, that fellow, the Son of the Sun, had co looking.
Most importantly, the most formidable woman among humans had also co.
She had searched here for a very, very long ti but found nothing and eventually had to leave, disappointed.
—So many people, far more powerful than this female rcenary, had co and gone.
Yet, in the end, it was this seemingly weakest woman who had found the place.
Seed watched Selina, and Selina stared back at Seed.
That familiar feeling of fear... it felt like sothing she had experienced sowhere before.
"What I’m curious about," Seed said, "is that your companions, who are much stronger than you, must have searched here already, and none of them found it. If they couldn’t find it, why did you still co?"
Selina pursed her lips and shook her head. "If I don’t see for myself, I’ll never be at peace."
"HMM... Human emotions and feelings are so dull," Seed sighed. "However, it seems that, at tis, they do have so unexpected uses."
Interesting...
Seed watched the female rcenary, a slight smile playing on his lips.
So many strong humans had co here searching, yet in the end, it was the weakest one who found this place.
"Alright, now, hand him over to ."
Seed gestured to Selina.
The rcenary’s face was pale, her eyes filled with a desperate struggle as she looked at Seed.
Suddenly, she made an astonishing move!
The rcenary abruptly pushed Chen Nuo, who was in her arms, out toward the deep fissure—The Abyss!
Then, her right hand flashed to her waist, and with lightning speed, she drew a pistol hidden there!
Years of training allowed the rcenary to draw and aim with lightning speed and practiced precision!
But just as the muzzle was aid at Seed, her finger already squeezing the trigger... but nothing happened. The muzzle remained still, as if sealed, utterly silent.
And Chen Nuo, pushed into The Abyss as a distraction, didn’t fall as Selina had expected. Instead, he floated there quietly.
Seed watched Selina with considerable interest.
"You pushed him down so casually... was it to attract my attention so you could ambush ?"
Selina stared, speechless.
"You used him as bait. If he had fallen, do you realize you might have died a very grueso death?"
Selina remained silent.
"I know a woman, a very formidable one, whose strength could be considered among the greatest of you humans. She seems to care a great deal about this fellow. If you had pushed him down... even if I didn’t harm you, you would still die a very grueso death if you encountered her later."
Selina trembled but stubbornly pulled the trigger several more tis. Then, she helplessly lowered the gun and looked at Seed in despair.
Seed’s eyes suddenly lit up!
"Ah, I understand now... you’re not here for him, are you?" Seed said, pointing at Chen Nuo. "He’s not your goal, right?"
Selina’s voice trembled. "There’s soone called Vanel, do you know him? Very tall and burly, with very short hair... um..."
Hearing this, Seed actually paused for a mont, then laughed.
"What a coincidence. I happen to know where he is."
Selina’s face suddenly lit up with surprise.
But Seed didn’t say anything imdiately. Instead, with a few casual flicks of his finger, Chen Nuo, who had been floating there, slowly drifted back towards the glacier’s surface.
As the surrounding ice lted, Chen Nuo’s body sank back into it. He seed to be enveloped, layer by layer, by so unseen force before the water around him slowly began to freeze solid again.
Selina’s eyes widened as she suddenly understood.
"Did you create this place?!"
Seed glanced at her. "Otherwise? Did you think you were really that skilled? That you found this place on your own? Did I follow you in here? Don’t be ridiculous, human. Even the best luck has its limits."
"So... you froze him—no, preserved him. You preserved him here? Why?"
Seed wore a peaceful smile, speaking lightly, "To wait for his return.
The temperature here is just right for preserving a body, and it’s not easy for people to find.
I don’t like dealing with too many people, nor do I like troubleso matters.
Here, no one cos to disturb or cause trouble.
In fact, if you hadn’t run in here, I was just about to draw myself a bubble bath back ho."
Selina’s eyes widened. "So, when others ca here searching before, they never found..."
Seed simply smiled faintly, then a hint of helplessness crossed his face.
"You’re an unexpected variable.
Those other guys... the old man who told cookies were tasty, and that incredibly powerful human woman.
They all trust their own strength too much.
They trust the perception of their spiritual power too much, so deceiving them is easy.
What I didn’t expect was for you to actually stumble in here and see this place with your own eyes."
Selina shrank back a bit. "Are you going to... kill to silence ?"
Seed just looked at her.
"May I ask if Vanel is still alive?"
Seed blinked at Selina a few tis, then suddenly flashed a row of white teeth in a terrifying grin. "The person you’re talking about? I ate him! The at was tough, quite chewy indeed!"
Selina’s eyes imdiately rounded in shock.
But she quickly realized the kid was tricking her.
Seed touched his own face. Alright, sohow this feels a bit off. Perhaps it’s because at "ho," I’m always treated like a child, and Fox drags to watch cartoons with her every day. After watching so many, even I sotis can’t help but think of myself as a human child.
"Alright, you can leave now.
When you get back, it’s best not to tell anyone about this place.
Of course, if you really insist on telling soone, I don’t actually care. If those guys get wind of it and co looking...
They can’t beat anyway."
At this point, Seed looked at Selina seriously. "If you don’t want your friends to suffer, it’s best not to tell them, especially that cookie-loving old man and that powerful, ill-tempered woman.
If you tell them, and they find this place, the best outco for them would be getting a beating from ."
The guide above finally lowered a rope.
The assistant below was shouting frantically.
The narrow entrance had been chiseled open a bit more by the guide and another team mber.
Soon, the rope below began to sway.
Selina, pulling the injured assistant, climbed up the rope. With a concerted effort from those above, the rescue was finally completed.
Once on top, the assistant imdiately told everyone about the dangerous actions of the woman called Linda down below.
"She’s gone mad! I don’t know what she saw, but she insisted on going down into the glacier crevasse! I couldn’t stop her!!!
Luckily, nothing terrible happened, otherwise..."
The guide and the others looked at Selina with displeased expressions.
Selina couldn’t be bothered with them anymore, letting the guide rage and scold her while she remained silent.
In her mind, however, she kept replaying what had happened below.
Especially the words the little boy had spoken as he let her go.
"Vanel is still alive. It’s just that he temporarily can’t return to et you. His condition is good, just a bit... special."
As long as he’s alive...
Selina turned a deaf ear to her companions’ angry reprimands, glancing back at the distant fissure...
Because of this accident, the expedition’s original goal of reaching the South Pole was completely ruined.
The assistant’s fall and injury ant the team could not proceed.
With supplies dwindling and an injured mber in tow, the team had no choice but to begin the return journey.
As the expedition’s snowmobiles slowly turned to leave, Seed’s figure, hidden in the blizzard above the crevasse, quietly watched them depart.
Then, he turned and dived back into the fissure.
Within the glacier’s crevasse, Seed’s body hovered silently outside the ice encasing Chen Nuo, and he sighed helplessly.
Then, his figure vanished on the spot.
When he reappeared, it was in a bathroom.
He reached out to touch the bubble-filled water in the bathtub and pursed his lips.
The water had grown cold.
There was a knock on the bathroom door; Fox was on the other side, banging forcefully.
"Seed!!! You’ve been in there for over an hour! How much longer are you going to bathe?!"
Hearing the little girl’s shouting, Seed chuckled and called out loudly, "Almost done!"
When the bathroom door opened, Fox was standing right outside, eyeing him suspiciously.
Seed’s hair was wrapped in a towel, and he wore a bathrobe that tightly enveloped his frail body.
"What were you doing in there?" Fox frowned. "You weren’t... doing sothing disgusting, were you?"
Seed shook his head. "Don’t try to understand with your human ways of thinking."
"Don’t think I don’t know what boys your age do when they hide in the bathroom..."
Fox followed Seed all the way to his room, then sat down on a chair, resting her chin on her hands as she scrutinized him.
"Why are you staring at ?" Seed looked at the little girl with a gentle smile. "Although I understand you’ve reached adolescence, as a human female, I am not a suitable object of affection."
Fox’s eyes widened. "Are you insane? I would never fall for a... a... um..."
Seed shrugged. "A boy who looks even thinner and smaller than you? A non-human monster? Or a freeloader who’s been crashing at your place for ten months?"
Fox was taken aback for a mont before she said slowly, "Lately, I’ve been feeling more and more that... sothing is off about you."
"Off?"
"Yeah, not suspicious, just... different from when you first arrived."
Seed frowned, looking seriously at Fox. "What’s different?"
"You... you’re becoming more like a human."
The smile vanished from Seed’s face.
He bowed his head, pondering for a mont, then looked up, frowning. "Is that so...?"
"Actually, it’s not necessarily a bad thing," Fox said with a nod. "When you first arrived, I really didn’t like you, and I was a bit scared of you.
Now, I increasingly feel you’re not so bad. Sotis, it’s like our family really gained a little brother."
Seed’s expression suddenly beca very animated. "...A brother?"
"Yeah, I’ve actually always wanted a little brother."
Seed stared at her, lost for words.
"Especially when you fight with over candy, you really seem like my little brother."
Seed massaged the bridge of his nose, then walked into the closet to change his clothes.
Fox didn’t leave. As if used to it, she casually turned her back to Seed.
anwhile, the girl continued, "Every ti we fight over candy or the TV remote, I feel like you’re my own little brother, even though you never let win.
And you listen to talk about school, all those boring things, and sotis you even give bad advice..."
"Bad advice?" Seed’s voice ca from behind her. "Like when you took revenge on that cheerleader by locking her in the girls’ restroom? I’ve changed my clothes."
Fox turned around. Seeing Seed in a loose, old sweater with frayed cuffs, she nodded. "The cuffs are a bit frayed. I’ll ask Mom to fix them for you tomorrow."
After a pause, Fox continued, "But wasn’t that your idea?"
"I got it from TV," Seed said, spreading his hands.
"But..."
Before Fox could say more, Seed had already approached her. He suddenly placed his hand lightly on top of her head, stroking her hair.
Fox looked at Seed, surprised. "Wh-what are you doing?"
Seed looked into Fox’s eyes and spoke slowly, "I... I might be leaving soon."
Fox’s face tightened instantly, and she pressed her lips together firmly.
"Didn’t you say that since you have nowhere else to go and nothing else to do, you might as well stay with us?"
"Yeah, I did say that."
"The Antarctica business is over, isn’t it?" Fox asked in a low voice. "I went to that place with you, and you said you’d done what you needed to do. Doesn’t that an... it’s finished?"
Sighing softly, Seed’s voice beca enigmatic.
"No, it’s not over...
Rather, it’s about to begin."
"Begin... begin what?"
Seed touched the girl’s slightly wavy, soft hair and murmured,
"A little mouse, thinking it’s clever but actually being foolish, is trapped in a cell by a powerful rodent. It’s trying every trick to outsmart the big mouse and escape.
But you see..." Seed stopped abruptly.
Fox naturally prompted, "But what?"
"...But, you see..." Seed released her hair and walked to the window, gazing outside. He seed to be speaking to Fox, yet also as if muttering to himself.
"...But, you see... this little mouse doesn’t realize it’s not actually a mouse.
It is... a cat.
That seemingly powerful big mouse? In front of the cat, it’s nothing more than a single mouthful, easily swallowed!
Hmph, foolish humans.
Too trusting in their own thoughts and spiritual perceptions.
Even true Spiritual Life Forms dare not trust their senses so completely.
And humans, who haven’t even touched the threshold of Spiritual Life Forms, are so superstitious about their perceptions..."
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