chapter 50

Jiang Li opened her eyes again and found herself back at Jinshan Mental Hospital, where she had originally been.

She was lying in bed, dressed in a mental patient’s gown.

On the bedside table sat a container of foul, sour slop, crawling with maggots-the same revolting leftovers Dai Chunli and Jiang Lianlian had specially brought her during their last visit.

Just looking at it was enough to make one’s stomach turn.

For clearing the stage perfectly this time, her reward was three days of Aberration suppression within Huaguo, a 100% boost in her stamina, and one additional chance to rest.

Jiang Li sat up, scanned the room, and finally her gaze settled on the phone lying beside her pillow.

It was a message from Li Jie.

He told Jiang Li that Jiang Lianlian had run away from home for many days, and was now injured and staying in the hospital.

Jiang Li gave the message a quick glance, then turned off the phone.

Calmly, she got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and walked to the window to take in the view outside.

For the past few months, with Aberrations resurging, the sky over Huaguo had always been a murky red.

It had been ages since she had seen such a blue sky as today.

Just as Jiang Li was lost in thought, a familiar angry shout erupted behind her.

“You little bitch! I finally caught you!!”

A woman with a blinded left eye was standing at the door, roaring with rage.

From her disheveled features, it was clear this was Jiang Li’s stepmother, Dai Chunli.

Dai Chunli held a Black Cat in her hand.

Right in front of Jiang Li, she furiously smashed the Black Cat against the wall by Jiang Li’s bed.

“Meow! …Meow awoo…”

The Black Cat hit the white wall and let out a piercing, agonized scream.

It convulsed, gave two weak cries, and then went completely still.

This was the Black Cat Jiang Li had raised.

Jiang Li looked down at the lifeless cat.

Its Eyes had already been gouged out. All four legs looked as though they’d been smashed with a hammer, nothing but mangled flesh.

It was clear what kind of torment the Black Cat had suffered before it died.

Jiang Li stared at the cat for a couple of seconds, then raised her gaze, her eyes now sharp as blades.

“Do you really think killing a cat would be enough to anger me to death? Heh, you’re overestimating yourself.”

Her tone was cool and unaffected, as if this was just a trivial matter.

“Still pretending! You little slut, wasn’t this dead cat your favorite creature? Hahahaha… You loved it, so I tortured it and killed it!” Dai Chunli’s eyes flashed viciously.

She simply didn’t believe that Jiang Li wouldn’t feel pain at the Black Cat’s death.

Let her cry in secret if she wants!

A shadow of coldness flickered in Jiang Li’s eyes. She crossed her arms and looked at Dai Chunli with a mocking smile.

“Tsk tsk,” Jiang Li shook her head. “Did you really think this Black Cat is still the same one? Haven’t you noticed that your daughter Jiang Lianlian has been missing for quite a while now?”

At Jiang Li’s words, Dai Chunli seemed to suddenly make a connection.

Her expression changed dramatically.

“You-you mean…” Dai Chunli stared at the Black Cat whose Eyes she had gouged out and whose limbs she had smashed, dazed for a moment.

Was this Black Cat actually Jiang Lianlian after being polluted?

“Impossible! You’re lying to me!! Lianlian couldn’t possibly be it… absolutely not…”

Though Dai Chunli’s words said otherwise, tears were clearly brimming in her eyes.

Jiang Li fanned the flames: “With Aberrations invading, what’s impossible?

Jiang Lianlian has been unreachable for so many days-why do you think that is, if not because she became a cat and couldn’t speak?

Dai Chunli, didn’t you notice how the Black Cat’s voice sounded like it was calling you ‘Mom’ while begging for mercy?”

“Ah!!!” Dai Chunli screamed in agony.

She suddenly remembered the torture she had inflicted on the Black Cat and her legs gave way, sending her slumping to the floor.

“Lianlian! Wuwuwu… My Lianlian, it was your mother who hurt you… I deserve to die! Ah wuwu, my daughter…”

Dai Chunli covered her tear-streaked face, her defenses collapsing as she wailed in despair.

She crawled on her knees to the Black Cat’s corpse, carefully cradling the ruined flesh, her whole body shuddering with anguish.

Jiang Li took a few steps to the side, giving the crazed woman a wide berth.

She went to the bedside table, took a key, and quickly left the room, locking the door behind her.

Before leaving, she thoughtfully changed the sign at the door to “Do Not Disturb.”

For the next twenty-four hours, the nurses wouldn’t check on the patients in the room.

Meals would be left at the door, but since Dai Chunli couldn’t get out, she wouldn’t be able to get any food at all.

If she was hungry, she could just eat the maggot-infested slop on the bedside table.

After all, she had prepared it herself-it was only fitting that all her scheming was put to use.

Jiang Li turned and left the ward.

As she exited the building, she saw several black sedans pulling up at the entrance of the hospital.

One after another, the sedans stopped in a grand display right before Jiang Li.

The doors opened and a group of men stepped out, all in black suits and sunglasses.

“Ms. Jiang, we are from the Intelligence Department.

The higher-ups have sent us to provide you with round-the-clock protection.”

The man in the lead recognized Jiang Li immediately as he stepped out of the car.

He walked up to Jiang Li with a respectful air and explained politely.

Jiang Li glanced at him and gave a faint nod.

“Alright. I’d like to go home for a bit. You can take me.”

“Yes, Ms. Jiang!”

The man responded at once, briskly went over to open the car door, and escorted Jiang Li into the vehicle.

Twenty minutes later, the sedans pulled up in a convoy at the entrance to an old apartment complex.

Jiang Li got out and headed straight for a shabby building.

As soon as she opened her front door, a wave of stench assaulted her nose.