Shi Shi carefully investigated for a while and finally confirmed.

"There's no longer the scent of any living person nearby."

Either they're all dead, or they've all fled.

Jiang Xiao felt that most of them should have fled, considering how long they'd been fighting with that team just now.

It's likely that the higher-ups here fled at the first sign of trouble.

After all, a wise man doesn't stand under a dangerous wall.

No leader would want to linger in the frontline combat zone.

"Over here!"

Shi Shi suddenly stopped and pointed to a dilapidated corner.

There lay the wreckage of a small plane, appearing damaged from some earlier incident.

Jiang Xiao nodded, and the two quickly approached, beginning a careful search.

After some effort, they found a hidden entrance amidst the plane's debris, which led underground.

"Looks like we've found the right place."

Jiang Xiao said softly, a hint of excitement in his voice.

The living unknown creature fiercely stimulated Jiang Xiao's peculiar interest!

Could it be a mermaid or something?

Even if it wasn't, it was probably something similar, right?

After all, the other party seemed intelligent. If it were just an ordinary unknown fish, why would there be such a big fuss?

They followed the narrow passageway downward, eventually arriving in an enclosed space.

Clearly, this was once an underground cage, but it was now in shambles, with various equipment left in disarray by Jiang Xiao's recently unleashed electromagnetic force.

In the center of the cage, there was a massive bathtub filled with murky water.

Submerged in the water was a bizarre-looking creature, resting quietly.

The creature had thick scales, its body a deep ocean blue, with antennae-like appendages on its head, eyes closed, seemingly asleep.

No doubt about it.

The same type of purple markings was on its body, confirming it was the same species Jiang Xiao had initially encountered.

However, the one in this tub still had some signs of life.

As Jiang Xiao and Shi Shi approached, they noticed that the creature's limbs were tightly bound with heavy iron chains, the other ends anchored to the perimeter of the tub.

"It doesn't seem injured."

Shi Shi said softly, a hint of sympathy in her eyes.

Jiang Xiao paused for a moment in silence, then reached out to gently touch the chains.

A faint spark of electricity flickered at his fingertips.

"Huh?"

The chains didn't break?

"Maybe they're resistant to electromagnetic forces, let me try."

Shi Shi grabbed one of the chains and gave it a tug.

Completely unharmed...

She applied more force!

The chain remained utterly unmoved.

Ugh!

Shi Shi lowered herself into a sturdy stance and began pulling the chain with all her might, her face turning purple with effort.

Special material?

Jiang Xiao tried as well, expending considerable energy to barely create a slight crack in the wrist-thick chain.

If they intended to break it cleanly, who knows how long they'd need to pull...

Watching Shi Shi still struggling and groaning over the chain, Jiang Xiao couldn't help but pat her shoulder.

"Dummy! Can you use your brain a bit? The chain is sturdy, but we could just break the wall that's anchoring the chain! Why insist on the chain?"

"Huh?"

Shi Shi's eyes lit up, suddenly admiring her father's intelligent approach.

"I'm still too young, sometimes too rigid in my thinking, looks like there's a lot I still need to learn."

"Uh... who are you...."

A slightly awkward voice interrupted the father and daughter's conversation.

It was the strange creature in the bathtub, probably awoken by Jiang Xiao and Shi Shi's loud conversation.

Jiang Xiao was mildly shocked; this bizarre creature could speak human language?

However, it was an intelligent creature; maybe it recently learned how to speak, who knows.

The tone was evidently still a bit awkward.

"That's right!"

Shi Shi interrupted the creature, her hands on her hips, her little face full of pride.

"I am the embodiment of justice and goodness! The spokesperson for wisdom and bravery! Today, I, Shi Shi, will rescue you!"

Jiang Xiao nodded at the creature as well.

"Don't worry, the bad guys have been chased away, there's no need to be afraid anymore."

The creature: ...

What kind of terrible tone is this?

Are you coaxing me like a child?

And also...

The creature looked at Shi Shi with a peculiar expression.

I admit you seem to be here to save me.

You barely fit the words justice, kindness, and bravery.

But where's your supposed wisdom?

"Actually, the key is on that table over there. If you gentlemen want to save me, perhaps you could use some intelligence?"

Father and daughter: ...

With the chains unlocked, the creature seemed to sense freedom, its tentacles beginning to move with relief, the gray-white pupils gradually turning into a deep blue.

The creature slowly raised its head, its grateful gaze lingering on Jiang Xiao and Shi Shi for a moment.

Then it let out a low, long call, as if expressing its emotions.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Xiao took a deep breath and spoke in a calm tone.

"We won't hurt you, you're free now, but before that, I want to ask you something."

Jiang Xiao asked the creature if it knew what the outside world was like.

"For instance, about the rampant virus and countless deaths..."

"The outside world."

The creature's voice gradually became clear, with a tone unearthly.

The creature shook its head, its tentacles gently swaying, seemingly expressing helplessness.

"No, I don't know what the outside world is like."

"I just know my homeland has been polluted, it was a stretch of sea we depended on to survive, but from some point on, the water quality began to deteriorate, and many companions died because they could not adapt, especially the weak, elderly, and sick who left us first."

The creature's voice carried a hint of sorrow, clearly deeply worried about the changes in its homeland.

"I once wanted to surface and see if I could find a way to purify the water source or seek help, but just as I reached the shore, I was captured by humans."

"They brought me here, chained me up, and never told me what was happening outside."

Jiang Xiao and Shi Shi exchanged a glance, both able to feel the creature's helplessness and confusion.

Shi Shi crouched down, attempting to comfort it with a more gentle tone.

"That's so terrible, but rest assured, we'll help you find your way home."

The creature slowly nodded, its body beginning to sway softly with the water, seemingly relaxing long-tense muscles.

Jiang Xiao stood up, frowning slightly, silently considering how to help the creature return to its homeland, while also figuring out how to address the current situation.

Let's sort things out...

The creature's homeland was polluted, most likely due to toxic waste.

Many of its kind have perished.

And this one, recklessly, attempted to brace the surface to find a solution.

So it meant that their previously speculated timeline was correct.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.