Chapter 145: Chapter 145: If

The heavy, white smart door slid shut behind them as they left the lab, and the thick stench of blood finally faded.

C Luo looked at Lu Xiao. Her face was pale, and her once-pink lips had lost their luster. He asked with concern, “Would you like to go back and rest for a bit?”

He had seen Lu Xiao’s vulnerable side before, and it pained him to see her forcing herself to stay composed now.

But Ban Lun acted as if he’d just heard the funniest joke. “She’s so capable. Does she really need a break?”

C Luo’s brow furrowed. Just as he was about to say something, Lu Xiao cut in, “He’s right, I don’t. Let’s go. Stop dawdling.”

Seeing that his taunt had no effect on Lu Xiao, Ban Lun snorted coldly and led the two of them deeper down the corridor.

When they reached the first lab at the end of the hall, Lu Xiao noticed that its heavy smart door was different from the others. This one was silver-gray.

Lu Xiao didn’t understand the significance of the color.

But when the door slid open to Ban Lun’s palm print, Lu Xiao understood. This wasn’t a laboratory. It was a prison cell. Inside were rows of iron cages, each holding a female.

’These females must be what Fred was trying to find here.’

’So they really did kidnap these females, penning them up here like livestock.’

Inside, researchers in white lab coats were injecting a serum into each of the females in the iron cages.

The captive females, whether from being locked up for too long or from the effects of the serum, all looked dazed, as if they had lost the will to resist.

As Lu Xiao was puzzling over this, Ban Lun called out to a researcher inside, “Bring one to Lab 2.”

With that, Ban Lun turned to Lu Xiao. “Didn’t you want to see the serum development process? I hope you don’t get scared and start crying!”

“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you,” Lu Xiao shot back with a cold smile.

Ban Lun’s face soured. He looked like he wanted to lash out, but with C Luo standing right next to Lu Xiao, there was little he could do. He had no choice but to swallow his anger.

As Ban Lun turned away, Lu Xiao rolled her eyes.

’I don’t get what this fatso’s problem is. He can’t win an argument with me, so why does he keep serving himself up on a platter?’

’Is this what they call a glutton for punishment?’

When they arrived at what Ban Lun had called Lab 2, the door opened to reveal a normal-looking laboratory. The researchers inside barely glanced at them, apparently accustomed to Ban Lun bringing visitors.

Lu Xiao noticed two massive containers, one on each side of the lab, both filled with that same yellow liquid.

As Lu Xiao was examining the lab equipment, a researcher entered, leading a female with a vacant expression.

At the sight, Ban Lun shot Lu Xiao a smirk.

Lu Xiao ignored him. Her eyes were fixed on the female, who was led further into the room, strapped to a chair, and then had her head shaved by a researcher. The woman offered no resistance whatsoever.

A sense of unease crept over Lu Xiao. Her brow furrowed. “What are you going to do to her?”

“’Do what?’ he sneered. ’Develop the serum, of course. Where do you think it comes from? The raw materials are all sourced from you females! HAHA! Aren’t you all so high and mighty? Don’t you look down on us males like we’re ants? Since you’re unwilling to offer your precious Spiritual Soothing, you can just serve as the nutrients yourselves and become our cure. What’s so wrong with that?’”

Ban Lun’s eyes were wild as he stared at the woman strapped to the chair, as if admiring his own masterpiece.

The experiment hadn’t even begun, but Lu Xiao already knew what was about to happen.

“You’re murdering an innocent person! Let her go, now!”

“Let her go? Are you offering to take her place?” Ban Lun’s gaze turned sinister as he studied Lu Xiao, desperate to see a crack of fear in her calm facade.

But Lu Xiao just lifted her chin slightly. “Fine. I’ll take her place. If you dare!”

“…” The fat on Ban Lun’s face twitched at her words, making him look particularly grotesque and greasy. And he didn’t dare. Lu Xiao’s value was far greater than these “useless” females. “…Let her go!”

Seeing Ban Lun concede, Lu Xiao quietly let out a sigh of relief.

’It just goes to show. Bullies prey on the weak, but they’re terrified of someone who’s not afraid to die.’

’She had only dared to defy him because she was certain of her own value, certain that Ban Lun wouldn’t dare do anything to her.’

’After all, she wasn’t actually reckless or fearless. You can’t save anyone if you don’t first make sure you stay alive yourself.’

’Still, Lu Xiao knew she had only bought the woman a temporary reprieve. Her own power was limited. The actual rescue would be up to Fred and his team.’

’Her work here was done. It was time to go.’

’If she delayed any longer, her little puppy, Ares, would worry himself sick.’

“I’m going back to rest now,” she announced. “C Luo, you’ll escort me.”

Without another word, Lu Xiao turned and walked away, completely ignoring Ban Lun.

C Luo didn’t say anything either, simply following Lu Xiao out of the room.

Once they were out of the lab, Lu Xiao leaned a hand against the wall and gave C Luo a weak smile.

His heart instantly softened. “Are you all right?” he asked, concerned.

“I’m supposed to say I’m fine, but… C Luo, I was truly scared.”

As she spoke, Lu Xiao secretly gave herself a hard pinch, forcing her eyes to redden. She wanted to look more pitiful and helpless, yet she was still trying to put on a brave face.

“I shouldn’t be telling you this,” she continued. “It’s just… in this place, I feel like you’re the only one I can feel even a little close to. You must have noticed that Ban Lun means me harm. I’m glad you were there. Thank you, C Luo. It’s been an honor getting to know you.”

Lu Xiao delivered these words with such sincerity that they pierced C Luo’s heart.

A wave of guilt washed over him. “Please, don’t say that. If it weren’t for us, you never would have had to come here and suffer like this. We’re the ones who disturbed your peaceful life.”

“Ha,” she chuckled softly. “Just hearing you say that is enough for me. But what does any of this have to do with you? You don’t make the decisions for the higher-ups. Don’t blame yourself, C Luo. You’ve been very kind to me. Let’s go back.”

Lu Xiao gave him a small smile, then turned and started walking back.

Walking behind her, C Luo opened his mouth to speak several times, but always fell silent.

Instead, it was Lu Xiao who suddenly looked back at him. “C Luo, if you could one day leave the Underground City and stand in the sunlight again, have you ever thought about what you’d do?”

The question stunned C Luo. It wasn’t that he’d never thought about it, but those thoughts were from a long, long time ago.

Now, he held no hope of ever leaving.

’For someone who has fallen into the abyss, is there any possibility of escape?’

But faced with Lu Xiao’s question, C Luo still managed a faint smile. “I think… I would come find you.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep