Chapter 44: Never Underestimate a Mouse

Han Hao continued to ask about Chen Meng’s location, and Chen Meng dared not conceal anything further.

After hanging up, Chen Meng was about to enter the school when he suddenly felt something pressing against his back—a familiar sensation unmistakably that of a handgun.

“Don’t move, or I’ll shoot you dead.”

The figure behind him spoke in a low voice—a woman’s voice.

This woman was, in fact, Jiang Lan. She had followed Chen Meng out of the Law Enforcement Bureau the moment she saw him leave, hoping to claim greater credit and earn a reward from the Crescent Cult.

If she could kill or capture that rat, she would immediately be promoted to a middle-ranking member of the cult. Then, she would have no worries about obtaining advancement serums before becoming a Tier Three Divine Body. For this, she was willing to take a risk.

“It’s truly hard to imagine that the one who killed Wang Jie was just a high school student. Han Hao really lives up to his reputation as the top case-solving captain in Jiangzhou. He even managed to find this out.” Jiang Lan murmured. She had no idea Han Hao’s luck was simply due to his acquaintance with Chen Meng’s coach, Lu Guang. “Actually, you’re not important. We’re after that rat. As long as you tell me where it is, I’ll let you go.”

At this, Chen Meng laughed. “Sister, I’m not a three-year-old. Since you’ve chosen to reveal yourself, how could you possibly let me go?”

Though frightened, he knew she wouldn’t kill him before finding Mouse Beibei.

Jiang Lan frowned. “Whether I spare you is up to me. If you don’t take me to that rat now, I’ll kill you immediately.”

“Sister, don’t be rash!” Chen Meng jumped at her words. He knew his only value was as a guide; if he refused to lead her to Mouse Beibei, she would kill him in an instant. “It’s just a rat—my own life is far more important.”

“Smart choice,” Jiang Lan snorted.

“By the way, you must be a cultist. Actually, I’ve long admired your cult. My family’s poor, my grades are bad, and I’ll never get advancement serums. I’ve wanted to join for ages. With some merit, I’d have a chance to become a Divine Body too,” Chen Meng said.

Jiang Lan was momentarily distracted; that was exactly why she had joined. She hesitated, feeling a twinge of empathy.

“Sister, which cult are you with? Crescent, Full Moon, Haotian, or Yama?” Chen Meng pressed.

“Crescent.”

“The Crescent shines, the Sacred Faith endures,” Chen Meng recited softly. “Sister, wouldn’t it be a waste to kill me? Why not recruit me? Then we’d be family.”

“We’ll see how you behave.” Jiang Lan seemed to consider it. “Now take me to the rat. My patience is limited.”

“Of course! For the Sacred Faith, for the Primordial Era, we absolutely cannot let another intelligent rat beast appear in China,” Chen Meng declared, patting his chest. “Sister, follow me—let’s go kill that damned rat.”

Jiang Lan was almost stunned as she watched Chen Meng lead the way. What kind of person was this? He sounded even more like a cultist than she did.

Chen Meng, meanwhile, was frantically thinking of a way out. He hoped the old man at the martial arts hall was still there—if he really was a hidden master, this foolish woman would be dead in a heartbeat.

The street was nearly deserted.

Chen Meng led the way, with the woman never more than three steps behind. He knew if he tried to run, she’d empty the clip into him. He wasn’t too worried about being shot in the body—he was wearing combat gear today, and a handgun wouldn’t kill him—but a bullet to the head would be fatal.

You only live once; he didn’t dare risk it.

They soon reached the martial arts hall. Chen Meng found the door tightly locked, as he had left it the night before.

The old man was nowhere to be seen, which chilled Chen Meng’s heart.

“Sister, the rat’s inside. Are you going to do it, or should I?” Chen Meng asked softly, turning to glance at Jiang Lan. Even though she wore a hat, he made note of her features.

You foolish woman, if I survive today, just wait for your own death.

“I’ll do it. You just lead the way,” Jiang Lan said coldly, not about to be fooled by Chen Meng’s words.

Chen Meng opened the door. Its age made it screech loudly. He was sure that Mouse Beibei, now a Divine Body, would hear it. He had told Mouse Beibei yesterday that he wasn’t the only one who might return, so the rat wouldn’t assume it was him and come out carelessly.

“The rat’s hiding in the back hall,” Chen Meng said, leading the way. “Sister, I really do want to join the Sacred Faith. By the way, you must be with the law enforcement, right? I never imagined our cult had infiltrated even the Bureau.”

“Of course,” Jiang Lan replied smugly. “There are cultists everywhere in China now.”

Chen Meng was speechless. Even the Law Enforcement Bureau couldn’t be trusted these days. Who knew how many cultist moles were inside, besides Jiang Lan herself.

He had planned to seek help from the Bureau after escaping her, but now he hesitated. What if the next group sent to help included more cultists? They could shoot him dead on the spot.

“Sister, I’ll call the rat out.”

In the back hall, Chen Meng’s nerves were taut. He knew that as soon as Mouse Beibei showed itself, he’d lose all value.

“Hey, rat! Come out already—where are you hiding?” Chen Meng shouted. “Don’t you see someone’s got a gun on me? If you don’t show yourself, I’ll get shot. Who’s going to buy you roast chicken then?”

He made sure to mention his predicament, hoping Mouse Beibei would understand. His plan was simple: as before, he and the rat would work together. Mouse Beibei would try to disarm Jiang Lan, and if he could grab the gun, he might turn the tables.

But as soon as he finished, the eastern room’s door creaked open, and a familiar figure trotted out.

Chen Meng was dumbfounded. Had the rat not heard his warning?

No, maybe it had, but the mention of roast chicken had overridden all reason.

He shouldn’t have brought up roast chicken—now the rat’s mouth was already watering, its intelligence wiped clean by the thought.

“So it really is an awakened rat,” Jiang Lan murmured. Such a large rodent, with eyes far too bright for an ordinary rat.

Chen Meng panicked, glancing at Jiang Lan. She’d probably shoot any second—what was he supposed to do?

“The Crescent shines, the Sacred Faith endures. Sister, to show my loyalty, let me handle this and prove myself,” Chen Meng blurted out. “Here, give me your gun. I’ll show you what a true rapid-fire shot looks like.”

He turned, reaching for the gun.

Jiang Lan, still under the influence of his earlier persuasion, was slow to react. But as soon as Chen Meng gripped her gun, her eyes turned cold, murderous intent flaring.

“Not good!”

Chen Meng realized something was wrong. He didn’t hesitate—pulling hard, trying to snatch the gun.

At the same time, he shouted, “Beibei, kill her!”

“Courting death!”

Jiang Lan, already a Divine Body, was far stronger than an ordinary person. With a twist, she flung Chen Meng aside like a rag doll.

But at that moment, Mouse Beibei leapt at her, aiming straight for her throat.

Startled, Jiang Lan staggered back, firing three shots in quick succession at the black blur. But Mouse Beibei, agile as ever, dodged every shot.

“A Divine Body!” Jiang Lan realized in shock. The rat had somehow advanced, though just yesterday, the tests had shown otherwise.

Chen Meng crashed to the floor, bruised and battered, but there was no time to worry about that. He saw that the wall of the back hall was right beside him and tried to scramble behind it. But Jiang Lan now knew he had been faking all along. He’d seen her face and learned she was with law enforcement—she couldn’t let him go.

She aimed at his retreating figure and fired twice.

One shot missed, but the other struck his thigh.

Chen Meng screamed, tumbling behind the wall. He clutched his leg and found, to his relief, that his combat uniform had protected him—the bullet hadn’t penetrated, though the force left his leg numb.

“Squeak! Squeak!”

Mouse Beibei called out, body arched like a bow. Seizing the opportunity, it leapt onto the crossbeam above, then sprang down squarely onto Jiang Lan’s back.

Chen Meng was dumbfounded. This rat was something else.

“Damn it!” Jiang Lan had hoped to shoot Mouse Beibei before it came close. She had only just become a Divine Body herself, and her strength was about equal to the rat’s.

But who would have thought Mouse Beibei would be so nimble, exploiting the perfect moment to climb onto her.

“Squeak! Squeak!”

Mouse Beibei lunged for Jiang Lan’s neck, vicious and wild. Its claws tore bloody furrows down her back. Jiang Lan tried desperately to grab the rat with her free hand—the one still holding the gun. Anticipating this, Mouse Beibei bit down hard on her thumb.

Crack!

A sharp snap, followed by Jiang Lan’s agonized scream.

At that moment, Chen Meng had only one thought: Never underestimate a rat—especially one that has become a Divine Body. Such a rat is more than capable of taking a life.