“Damn it, I’m starving!”
*Grumble…*
Her stomach let out a firm protest. Gu Lian, her face twisted in a mask of pain from the hunger, smacked her lips and turned her head, searching for something to eat.
As she turned, she caught sight of the full-length mirror beside the bed. In the reflection stood a young girl with grey hair. Between her pale skin, long phoenix eyes, and azure eyes that were as clear as the sky, she was simply too adorable.
Yes, she was the type that was “viciously” cute.
Wait… that wasn’t right!
‘How did I become a girl?!’
The thought sent a wave of panic through Gu Lian. She remembered her pale hands being tied to a chair earlier, looking nothing like her own.
To verify her fear, Gu Lian reached down toward her legs. By the time her hand reached her inner thigh, her heart had already sunk halfway. Her male characteristics had truly vanished!
They were gone… they were gone…
Those words echoed in her mind like a brainwashing loop. Gu Lian simply let her body fall backward, lying straight out on the bed. She was exhausted. This world had no love left to give; she might as well just lie flat.
Then again, why did she feel like saying “again”?
“Doctor, is she all right?”
“There are no major issues now. She just needs some quiet recuperation.”
“Thank you.”
The voices of two mature women drifted in from outside. Lying on the bed, Gu Lian’s ears perked up. Even though the voices outside were very soft, she could hear them with perfect clarity.
“Mom, when will that little sister wake up?”
A more delicate voice came from outside the door. These words pulled Gu Lian back from her dazed state.
*Grumble…*
Her stomach issued another unique protest. Gu Lian’s face flushed red. She turned to observe her surroundings, looking for anything that could fill her belly.
“…”
Gu Lian scratched her head, only to suddenly realize there was a metallic texture to the claws scratching her scalp.
Pausing, Gu Lian lowered her hands. Her fingernails grew and became sharp. Her pale palms began to turn black starting from the fingertips. This darkness rapidly spread up her arms, emitting a metallic luster until it reached the middle of her upper arms. The tips of her five fingers were exceptionally sharp, looking exactly like steel claws from a video game.
Turning to the mirror once more, she saw that her neck was covered in a purplish-black hue. Crimson, circuit-like patterns extended to both sides of her cheeks and were still crawling upward.
‘Am I… a Weiyi?’
In this world, there were two types of supernatural phenomena — Transcendent Abilities: Lieshou and Weiyi.
Gu Lian didn’t know why her transformation into a Weiyi had been delayed after her resurrection, but it didn’t really affect her. She would run when she needed to; after all, she couldn’t beat those Lieshou anyway.
Both Lieshou and Weiyi were born from the Guimi. The difference was that after being infected by the Guimi, Lieshou successfully adapted to its power, whereas Weiyi underwent a mutation.
Lieshou were somewhat similar to police, but with differences. They were individuals who possessed Transcendent Abilities and were collectively known as Lieshou. They usually carried high-tech weapons and patrolled various districts to deal with anomalies.
As for the Weiyi, they appeared in various forms and possessed great combat strength. The most representative Weiyi were ghosts, mutated beasts, and the like.
To determine if someone was a Weiyi, one first looked at their appearance and second at whether they had a special wavelength. A normal Transcendent’s wavelength was relatively smooth, while a Weiyi’s fluctuations were as unstable as an electrocardiogram.
A light breeze blew the white curtains. Gu Lian’s attention then shifted to the calendar sitting on the bedside cabinet.
**[Alliance Era, July 11, 714]**
‘Has one month passed already?’
Raising her claws, which now felt like metal, Gu Lian grabbed the calendar and flipped through it haphazardly in front of her eyes.
*Grumble…*
The hunger in her gut made Gu Lian freeze. Staring at the calendar in her hands, she somehow felt like this thing was edible…
*Slap, slap.*
She tapped the calendar board twice. The feedback sound proved that it shouldn’t be edible, but… wasn’t it normal for a Weiyi to eat a calendar? Besides, why did this thing smell a bit fragrant?
‘Why do I feel like this resurrection is a bit of a scam…’
Gu Ye’s lips twitched. After a moment of hesitation, she took a bite. As a human, this sort of thing was impossible to eat, but…
She had clearly moved beyond the scope of humanity, and the object smelled quite good, so…
“To hell with it. If it’s inedible, I’ll just spit it out!”
Gu Lian opened her mouth and began gnawing on the calendar. It didn’t have the strange taste she expected; instead, it felt like biting into a sandwich cookie.
*Crunch, crunch.*
The sounds were terrifying in the quiet hospital. The plastic board and paper were chewed with a sound that would set anyone’s teeth on edge. Once the last small remnant of the calendar was tossed into her mouth, Gu Lian chewed twice and swallowed.
“I’m not full.”
She patted her belly, which showed no change. Gu Lian’s gaze swept around, trying to find something else she could eat.
Suddenly, faint footsteps echoed from the hallway outside. Even though they were weak, Gu Lian could still catch them.
Thinking of the Lieshou in this world made Gu Ye feel a headache coming on. Before her resurrection, the term Lieshou was something far beyond her reach. Since real monsters existed in this world, if she were seen like this, wouldn’t she be slaughtered as a monster?!
With her claws, she tore away the wires connected to her body. Gu Lian propped herself on the windowsill with one hand and jumped out.
*Click.*
The hospital door pushed open. A young girl with tawny hair, wearing a white dress, timidly walked into the ward.
The night wind was cold. In the room, the breeze lifted the white curtains. Beneath the fluttering fabric lay an empty bed. The wires connected to the electrode pads were scattered across the white tiles, and most notably, there was a savage claw mark on the bed.
The little girl took a few steps back in fear. She then ran into the hallway in terror, crying out, “Mom, a monster took the little sister!”
The young girl had just heard some noise coming from Gu Lian’s room. Being clever, she quickly realized the little sister had woken up, so she wanted to run over and see the sister she had just gained.
Her parents had already decided to adopt Gu Lian. On the day of the incident, many police officers had intervened, but they couldn’t find Gu Lian’s so-called guardian. Furthermore, after an investigation, they were shocked to find that Gu Lian didn’t even have a registered household!
Seeing the scarred Gu Lian being carried out on a stretcher and hearing their daughter’s desperate pleas, the parents decided to adopt Gu Ye. Their family didn’t lack money, so raising one more child didn’t matter.
But as soon as she entered the ward, she saw the empty bed and the claw mark. Naturally, the little girl was terrified, tears streaming down her face.
“A monster? Sweetie, tell Mommy exactly what happened.”
“Waaah, the little sister is gone, and there’s a huge claw mark on the bed.”
‘Claw mark…’ The mother’s expression froze. She quickly scooped up her daughter and sprinted toward the hospital exit.
“Someone come quickly! There’s a Weiyi!”
*Wrrr—Wrrr!*
The hospital’s alarm was triggered. The once quiet hospital suddenly became a scene of chaotic noise.
Outside the window, Gu Lian, whose four limbs had turned into metallic beast claws, was gripping the wall tightly to anchor herself. Her eerie, purplish-red pupils seemed to have a fire burning within them.
The wind brushed her long hair back from behind. Gu Lian couldn’t be bothered with whether she was female or not anymore; as long as she was alive, it was enough.
With a slight swing of her hand, her sharp fingertips pierced into the wall. Like a gecko, Gu Lian used her fingers to dig into the wall and slowly crawl downward, leaving several holes in her wake. The hospital was six floors high and built against a mountain, so as long as she reached the ground, she would be safe.
As she passed a window on the third floor, an inviting aroma drifted through the air. Gu Lian’s nose twitched, and her eyes lit up. It was the scent of roasted meat!
*Grumble…*
Her stomach immediately issued a violent protest. Gu Lian hesitated. She truly hadn’t eaten in a long time; she had been so hungry earlier that she had even swallowed a calendar.
‘I shouldn’t… be that unlucky, right?’
Gu Lian licked the corner of her mouth. As she crawled toward the window, she quickly checked inside. Once she confirmed no one was there, she pushed the window open with her bare hands.
On all fours, Gu Lian rushed toward the source of the smell. As she passed a potted plant in the room, she grabbed a handful of dirt and smeared it over her face.
Gu Lian’s petite body ran on all fours, leaving terrifying claw marks on the floor.
She could smell the spice and the tempting roasted meat from dozens of meters away. Gu Lian’s eyes grew brighter and brighter, and saliva unconsciously dripped from the corner of her mouth.
*Sizzle—*
As she ran, the sound of searing meat soon reached her ears. After crossing an empty corridor, she reached a door. A pungent, spicy fragrance wafted from ahead, a scent she had never experienced before.
Gu Ye suddenly raised a front claw to push the door. Her sharp fingertips carried arcs of black light, and the sound of breaking wind crackled.
“Found you.”
*Bang!*
Suddenly, a deep voice came from the side. A gunshot followed immediately, shattering the hospital’s silence.
Fired by the combustion of gunpowder, a scorching bullet flew from the black muzzle, pushing through the air in a wave of pressure.
The sudden sound caused Gu Lian, who was about to push the door open, to leap away. Her seemingly frail limbs exploded with terrifying power.
*Clack.*
The red-hot bullet pierced through a tile, leaving a web of cracks on the smooth surface. Gu Lian’s fingers dug into the ceiling to secure her body. She bared her teeth, revealing a cold, metallic glint.
“What… do… you… want?!”
Staring at the bald man in front of her who was biting an unknown, smoking object, Gu Lian’s eyes narrowed. He had tried to kill her just now. That shot had been aimed right at her heart; there was no mistake.
But it made sense. If they weren’t of the same race, they were bound to have different hearts. Since she was a Weiyi, it would be strange if this Lieshou didn’t try to kill her.
At this thought, a sudden burst of rage flared in Gu Ye’s heart. It felt like fire churning in her chest, and a voice in the back of her mind urged her to kill the human before her!
With a *click*, the empty shell was ejected. The bald man spat out his cigarette, his face full of determination. “Human speech? A Special-class Weiyi?”
“…”
Gu Ye remained perched on the ceiling, cold intent swirling in her narrowed eyes. Since this bald man wouldn’t stop until she was dead, there were only two possible outcomes.
Either she died, or he did. If she didn’t kill this man, she would only be hunted down without a moment to breathe.
“…”
During the standoff, the bald man dropped his magazine and pulled a new one from behind him. With a *clack*, the gun was chambered.
“Don’t go looking for trouble!”
A raspy hiss that made her gender indistinguishable sounded out. The moment Gu Lian issued the warning, the bald man raised his pistol. Lightning erupted from the muzzle. Simultaneously, a red light flashed in Gu Lian’s eyes, and she lunged forward, kicking off the ceiling.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Lightning flared as three consecutive gunshots rang out. White smoke puffed from the pistol as three lines of electricity slammed into Gu Lian’s chest.