Chapter 039: The Insect with Hands

The residential area had caught the eye of a major corporation and was slated for redevelopment. Each household, including Yang Kai’s, received a considerable sum in compensation. With the regional government overseeing the relocation payouts, no one dared to tamper with the process. Yet, after purchasing a modest apartment of a few dozen square meters in the city, little money remained; their large family still needed food and sustenance, and the meager funds would not last long.

For this reason, after becoming a professional martial artist, Yang Kai did not choose a martial arts school or a company, but instead sought out a mercenary corps. His motivation was simple—the mercenary corps allowed members to bring their families to live with them. But he had too many to bring—over thirty people. Who would agree to such a burden? Even if Tang Mubai’s father were still alive, he would not have consented. Now, however, the Miracle Mercenary Corps had plenty of rooms at their base.

After Yang Kai finished explaining his situation, Tang Mubai described the mercenary corps, and Yang Kai was both moved and deeply grateful. He understood well that Tang Mubai held the power in this matter. It was one thing for the rooms to sit empty, but if they failed to find a place within three days, they would be forced to leave the residential area and move into the shelters provided by the government—rudimentary shacks intended for the elderly without family, the destitute, and the impoverished.

These shelters were freezing in winter, sweltering in summer. Located on a wasteland at the city’s edge, they were densely packed, the environment wretched, and rife with chaos and disorder. In fact, the city’s residents referred to this area as the “slum.”

Tang Mubai’s willingness to take Yang Kai and spare his community from living in the slum filled Yang Kai with immense gratitude. What he did not know was that Tang Mubai’s decision was based on Yang Kai’s character. In the new world, few professional martial artists would willingly burden themselves with thirty dependents. Yang Kai’s willingness proved his loyalty and filial piety, traits Tang Mubai sought in recruits.

The two were mutually satisfied, making their conversation particularly easy and pleasant. After lunch, they first went to the relevant department to register Yang Kai’s name on the Miracle Mercenary Corps’ roster. Then, returning to the base, Tang Mubai switched to a large truck and drove with Yang Kai to his residential area to begin the move.

The truck’s primary purpose was to transport the beasts and giant insects hunted outside the region, and its cargo bed was vast enough to accommodate the possessions of a dozen households; if one trip was not enough, two would suffice. Yang Kai guided the route while Tang Mubai drove.

When the truck pulled into the old neighborhood, its residents erupted in excitement. Once Yang Kai explained the process—that they could move to the mercenary corps’ quarters—everyone was overjoyed, and the children bounced and leapt with glee. The eldest among them grasped Tang Mubai’s hand, thanking him incessantly. After much effort to calm the crowd, Tang Mubai urged them to begin moving at once.

More than thirty people got busy immediately. Aside from two elderly members who could barely walk, the rest—young and old—scurried up and down the stairs in excitement. Tang Mubai initially tried to organize the placement in the truck bed to maximize the load. But upon seeing the movers bringing down even their broken, bulky furniture, he could only smile wryly and step out to persuade them not to bring such items, assuring them that everything they needed would be provided. With Yang Kai’s help, the elders and children finally agreed to carry only small belongings.

Tang Mubai lent a hand as well. In the midst of this bustle, a seven- or eight-year-old boy suddenly ran out from behind the apartment building, shouting, “Something’s wrong! Something’s wrong! Xiao Xi was taken by a bug!”

“What?”
“How could Xiao Xi be taken by a bug?”
“There are bugs in the back hills? I had no idea!”
“You kids are always going to the back hills—now we’re about to leave, and something terrible has happened!”
“……”

Those carrying items happened to hear the cries; some were anxious, others furious, and some scolded the children.

Tang Mubai emerged from the stairwell carrying two large bundles, heard the commotion, immediately set his packages down, tapped his toes, and leapt to the boy’s side, taking his hand and rushing toward the back hills.

“Don’t worry, I’ll bring him back. Little one, show me the way!”
With that, Tang Mubai disappeared with the boy before the crowd’s eyes.

The frightened boy suddenly sensed he was “floating” above the ground, stunned for a moment before he recovered and hurriedly began to guide Tang Mubai.

The two quickly ascended “Monkey Hill,” heading toward the rear. They stopped before a heap of large rubble, where the boy pointed to a corner densely covered in vines, his voice trembling with fear. “There… right there. Xiao Xi passed by, and a long bug suddenly rushed out and dragged him inside.”

“Are you sure he was dragged, not swallowed?”
Tang Mubai deliberately emphasized the difference.

The boy hesitated, scratching his head as he recalled, “The bug was really fast. I only saw it had very long arms, then everything blurred and Xiao Xi was gone.”

“...Alright, a bug with arms!”
Tang Mubai drew a deep breath, patted the boy’s head, and instructed, “Stand over there. Unless I call for you, don’t come closer.”
He pointed to a spot ten meters behind—a half-destroyed stone monkey statue.

“Okay.”
The boy obediently ran over, leaned on the statue, and stared at Tang Mubai without blinking.
“Good luck, big brother!”
He waved vigorously.

“Don’t worry. I’ll rescue Xiao Xi.”
Tang Mubai replied, crouched at the vine-choked corner, and began to clear the foliage. Soon, he discovered a burrow.

It was a downward-sloping hole, about a meter and a half in diameter. As he peeled away the vines, a sticky, fetid stench wafted from within. Tang Mubai bent to test the opening, confirming he could fit inside.

He closed his eyes, focused his mind, let his sixth sense guide him, and crawled in.

The dark tunnel’s walls were slick with the mucus left by the giant insect’s passage. Indeed, only a giant insect could abduct a child. The boy had not seen clearly and assumed it was a long bug. But ordinary worms could never carry off a child.

Not all giant insects preyed on humans; some preferred wood or stone. Those that abducted people usually did so to feed their larvae. Not only humans—other animals, too, would be seized if discovered.

Once taken, the giant insect would use the person or animal’s body as a “nutrient nest,” injecting eggs inside. When the eggs hatched, the larvae would feed on the host’s essence and grow rapidly.

In other words, Tang Mubai had to find Xiao Xi quickly. If the giant insect injected its eggs, the consequences would be dire.