After a brief explanation, Niu Jieshi returned to his own room.

As for Old Niu, Jiang Xiao felt rather reassured.

Having exceptional strength is one thing, but being such a freak, who could withstand that?

As for Shi Shi, for safety reasons, Jiang Xiao instinctively stayed in the same room with her.

Hearing that this young boy wanted to sleep together with his father, a vague meaning flickered in the eyes of the short-haired woman.

Niu Jieshi gently closed the door and looked around.

The room was simply yet practically furnished, without unnecessary complexity.

He walked to the bedside, took off his shoes, and lay down on the bed.

Truth be told, the quilt was soft and comfortable, with a faint freshness. In a post-apocalyptic environment, it was a rare luxury. These accommodations were even more comfortable than his rural hometown.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.

Even though Niu Jieshi forcibly relaxed his body, his mind remained exceptionally alert.

At his level of peculiarity, he no longer knew what "tired" felt like.

His body was like a precision, high-efficiency machine that didn't need rest, only a minimal energy supply to keep functioning.

However, Jiang Xiao instructed him that he must lie down and pretend to be asleep, otherwise "someone" might be too afraid to make a move.

Niu Jieshi knew this was a probe, an actively set trap.

They needed to uncover the secret hidden behind this quarantine zone...

Niu Jieshi's breathing gradually became even and rhythmic, as if he'd truly fallen asleep.

However, his ears would occasionally twitch slightly, capturing the almost inaudible sounds from outside the room.

Niu Jieshi's sensory perception was extraordinarily keen, and even the faintest footsteps and whispers couldn't escape his ears.

Time ticked by second by second, the room remained silent and still.

Yet, Niu Jieshi felt no anxiety in his heart, only endless patience and calm.

He not only planned to bait them but had even decided to directly infiltrate the lion's den and see what kind of mischief the other party was up to.

The saying goes, "The higher the skill, the bolder the heart," and Niu Jieshi was confident that within five hundred miles, apart from Jiang Xiao himself, he was invincible.

As for Wang Dayong, although Niu Jieshi had never fought him, his perception suggested they were about evenly matched.

Just then, Niu Jieshi heard faint footsteps in the hallway, gradually approaching and then stopping outside his door.

They've come!

Niu Jieshi's mind jolted, then he took a deep breath, his heartbeat unchanged, maintaining that calm rhythm.

First, a peculiar scent wafted into the room.

Niu Jieshi savored it slightly; it should be something like a sedative or knockout drug.

The aroma suggests high quality, but honestly, not to mention affecting him, even Shi Shi could inhale this smoke as if it was oxygen.

Then came the 'click click' sound of a key turning in the lock.

Next was the slight turning of the doorknob, followed by a sliver of light shining on Niu Jieshi's face as the door slowly opened.

Niu Jieshi sensed someone entering the room, but he made no response, maintaining his sleeping posture.

He could even feel the person standing by the bed, silently staring at him.

A sly smile flashed in Niu Jieshi's heart, but his face showed no change in expression.

He knew the game had just begun.

Who is the hunter and who is the prey... we'll find out soon enough~

The person outside seemed to hesitate for a moment before finally making a decision, gently patting Niu Jieshi's cheek.

They obviously wanted to confirm if Niu Jieshi was truly in a deep sleep.

Niu Jieshi felt their touch, but his body was like a heavy stone, showing no reaction.

After confirming that Niu Jieshi was "dead asleep," the person outside appeared to signal to their companions.

Soon after, the door was fully pushed open, and several shadows slipped in silently.

They moved skillfully, clearly not for the first time handling such a task.

Three to five people together, they carefully lifted Niu Jieshi from the bed, almost as if afraid to disturb him.

Niu Jieshi felt himself being moved but continued to maintain the perfect "sleeping" state.

He knew well that he could erupt at any moment and take down these uninvited guests.

But he didn't, understanding that the current situation was a golden opportunity for him.

He wanted to see what these people were up to, where they intended to take him...

Niu Jieshi was deeply insightful, he knew that although direct action could yield some information, it was too straightforward.

Moreover, there's no guarantee that these people would reveal their purpose, and it might even alert the true mastermind, allowing them a chance to escape.

Hence, he chose the simplest method—continue pretending to sleep.

He made his breathing even more regular, even letting out a few unintentional snores while being carried, leading these shadows to believe he was indeed fast asleep.

They carefully carried Niu Jieshi out of the room, moving slowly and steadily along the hallway.

Niu Jieshi's sensory perception was still active; he could feel the air flow around him, and even the nervous heartbeats of those shadows.

Thus, Niu Jieshi was taken into a corridor he had never walked before.

The walls were dimly lit, and the air was filled with an indescribable atmosphere.

They passed through several doors, ultimately stopping in a seemingly ordinary room.

The door opened, and Niu Jieshi was gently placed on a bed.

He heard people whispering, but their voices were so low it was as if they were trying to avoid being overheard.

Taking this opportunity, Niu Jieshi cracked open his eyes to survey the surroundings.

The walls of the small room were nondescript, with no windows or doors, seemingly a sealed space, inducing a sense of suffocation.

Accurately speaking, the layout here resembled a cell.

The walls were covered in thick dust, with some dark red stains, as if blood had once spattered on them.

The floor was hard, seemingly composed of large stones with gaps in between, possibly serving as vents.

All around were rows of metal pillars, numerous screws fastening them firmly into the ground, each as thick as a thigh, gleaming brightly.

Judging by these pillars, this small room resembled a cage, lifeless, exuding a sense of decay.

The entire space was so dim it was nearly invisible, only the faint glow from the corners offered any visibility.

The atmosphere here was oppressive and terrifying, as if confining people within steel walls and barriers.

Something's not right...

Niu Jieshi furrowed his brow, feeling intensely uncomfortable with the ambience here...

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