More and more mist poured into Ian Song's room, until the entire space was nearly filled with that ghastly green fog.
Knock, knock!
The sound of knocking echoed through the room.
The playful look at the corner of Ian's mouth grew even stronger. He didn't respond, nor did he make any sound.
Outside the door.
A fat man dressed in black stood there, his face barely visible in the gloom, looking especially menacing.
"No response? Looks like he must've been knocked out by my poison fog!"
The fat man thought to himself. Still, to be cautious, he knocked two more times. When there was no answer, he was certain—the person inside had been poisoned.
A sinister grin flickered across his lips. He pressed his palm against the door, and instantly, a cloud of dark red mist surged from his hand.
This dark red mist was highly corrosive. In no time, it ate through the door lock, and he swaggered in as if he owned the place.
Inside the room, only a single candle provided light. It wasn't very bright, and with the mist still lingering, the fat man could only make out a blurry figure sitting at the desk.
"Withdraw!"
Eric Guo stretched out both hands, and instantly, the mist in the room rushed toward his palms, finally flowing into his body.
But after clearing away the mist, Eric looked up at the desk again—and was instantly stunned. The Ian Song he thought he'd poisoned was sitting there, watching him with a faint, mocking smile.
"How... how are you still fine?" Eric Guo asked in a panic.
That's right—the fat man was Eric Guo, the same guy who'd stood on the second floor yesterday, secretly plotting to kill Ian. Ian had noticed him, but hadn't bothered to take him seriously. Who would've thought he'd actually show up tonight to try an assassination?
"Disappointed?" Ian's smile widened. "Come on, tell me—why did you want to assassinate me?"
Eric's eyes darted around. "Song bro, you've got it all wrong! I never meant to assassinate you!"
"Do you even believe yourself?" Ian's smile vanished, replaced by a cold edge. "I've got no grudge against you, so why try to kill me?"
Eric knew there was no talking his way out tonight. His face twisted, and he gritted his teeth. "No grudge? You say that so easily. There are two great hatreds in life—killing one's father and stealing one's wife. You forced me to give up Cindy Ma. That's the biggest hatred between us!"
Hearing that, Ian couldn't help but give a faint, mocking smile. "When did I ever force you? Wasn't it you who decided to break up with Cindy Ma?"
Eric Guo sneered. "Hmph! Even now you won't admit it? You're the boss of the base, and I'm just a small fry. You didn't openly force me, but if I hadn't chosen to leave Cindy Ma myself, you'd have killed me ages ago!"
Ian was almost amused. "You're way too paranoid. Even if you hadn't given up on Cindy Ma, I wouldn't have done anything to you. All this time, have you seen me go after her? I haven't had any feelings for Cindy Ma in ages. If I really wanted to mess with you, why would I bother helping you out and letting you work in the cafeteria?"
Eric Guo gave a sly grin. "Heh! Helping me? You were just putting on a show so people wouldn't talk!"
"Heh."
Ian couldn't help but laugh. "Worried about gossip? What a joke. If I want to kill someone, I just do it. Who have I ever been afraid of? The eight troublemakers in the cafeteria—I ordered their execution myself. And that armed police colonel? I killed him with my own hands. Who's ever dared to say a word?
If I really wanted you dead, do you think you'd still be standing here talking to me right now?"
Eric was momentarily stunned. Thinking it over, Ian really was that kind of person—he killed when he wanted, completely without hesitation. Realizing this, regret welled up inside him, but he still couldn't help asking:
"You really never planned to kill me?"
A look of disdain flashed in Ian's eyes. "Who do you think you are? Just a small fry. If you hadn't secretly plotted against me yesterday, I would've already forgotten you existed! Honestly, you're just making trouble for yourself."
"Small fry, just a nobody!" Eric Guo laughed at himself. "Before the apocalypse, Ian Song, you were just a loser—what gives you the right to look down on me?"
Ian shook his head, but in the next instant, his figure flashed out like a ghost and appeared right in front of Eric, tapping a finger to his brow.
This guy was currently the only Mutant Human around—it would be a waste to just kill him.
Eric had become a Mutant Human, but his spiritual power was low. He couldn't resist even for a second before the Puppet Mastery Divine Art enslaved him completely.
"Tell me, how did you become a Mutant Human?"
Ian returned to his chair at the desk, studying Eric with some curiosity.
Eric replied respectfully, "Master, on the ninth night after the apocalypse started, I suddenly came down with a high fever. When I woke up, I realized I could absorb and release mist! So far, I've absorbed three types: one that paralyzes nerves and knocks people out, one that's highly corrosive, and a third that causes hallucinations!"
"That's a pretty interesting ability."
Ian nodded, then had Eric release each type of mist so he could test them himself.
The first type of mist only numbed his nerves for two seconds before his body returned to normal.
As for the corrosive mist, it was pretty destructive, but it couldn't eat through his true-essence barrier.
The third, hallucinogenic mist barely entered his body before his spiritual power automatically dispersed it.
Of course, none of these mists did much to him, but for ordinary people they'd be deadly.
After asking Eric a few more details about his mutation, Ian waved him off.
Once Eric left, Ian couldn't help but sigh.
It had been less than a month since the apocalypse began, and already there were zombies, mutant animals, and now mutant humans. Who knew what other changes the future would bring?
A few days passed in a flash.
After days of repeated trials and theorizing, Ian finally created a set of saber techniques and sword techniques.
The saber technique was called 'Decapitation Blade,' and the sword technique was 'Decapitation Sword'—both designed specifically for fighting zombies.
The saber technique had nine moves, and the sword technique had twelve.
During those days, Ian also issued an order: all combat personnel were to take Evolution Crystals and push their strength to the human limit. Basically, every combat squad and armed police officer now possessed strength of 1,800 kilograms.
Afterward, Ian personally taught the saber and sword techniques to the seven members led by Karen Guo. Once they mastered them, they would pass the techniques on to the other fighters.
Although both sets of martial arts were straightforward, they couldn't be learned in just a few days.
So, while they practiced the saber and sword techniques, Ian decided to head into the city to check things out.
Don't forget, his third mission was to establish a base with a population of one million, so sooner or later he would have to attack Huahai City.