Morning, woke up on time.
Feng Mu habitually felt the chill in his chest. The chill had spread along the ribs and spine, enveloping the torso and extending towards the arms.
The arm that was strained yesterday could feel a subtle chill seeping through and wasn't as painful anymore.
"The covered area seems to have extended by about a knuckle's length," Feng Mu thought.
Dressing and washing took no more than two minutes.
And, for the first time in a while, he enjoyed the satisfaction of using the toilet, feeling a renewed sense of being human.
"It seems that the half-food, half-iron ratio is appropriate, didn't feel that hunger like transforming into Calamity Corpses last night."
Feng Mu looked at his face in the mirror, noticing some changes compared to a week ago.
His face had lost some weight, the jawline was more pronounced, and his skin had notably become paler, making him appear colder.
Having breakfast, going out, riding a bike, with Iron Beads in his mouth, swallowing one from time to time.
The bike tires screeched to a halt on the ground, coming to an emergency stop.
Looking up, Feng Mu saw a few youths blocking his path.
Not very tall, with dark, rugged faces, wearing tattered clothes, and the air one meter around them was tainted with a rancid smell.
Feng Mu frowned, "What do you want?"
"Food!" The tallest, darkest one stepped forward, his voice hoarse, "You gave us a meal box a couple of days ago."
Feng Mu vaguely recollected that these were the scavengers who were fighting stray dogs for food at the time.
Feng Mu remained silent, got off the bicycle, and stuck one hand into his pocket, clutching a cold touch, his eyes full of alertness.
"Food, it's gone, still want more!"
Another youth, as if he hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time, stammered three times in one sentence, yet his eyes fiercely fixated on Feng Mu.
Feng Mu understood, feeling absurd.
He replied coldly, "It's gone."
The youths exchanged glances and closed in.
The tall, dark one pulled out an empty food box from his arms, returned it to Feng Mu, and said, "Tomorrow morning, fill it and bring it."
Feng Mu licked the Iron Bead in his mouth with his tongue, dispelling the absurdity in his heart, raising a ruthless resolve, his gaze turning somber.
"Mistake, wasting food isn't wrong, donating food to others is the mistake."
"In a world where people eat people, kindness might invite gratitude, but more likely, you'll be devoured as food."
Feng Mu's mind raced, coming to a deeper understanding of the world's true nature.
He took the food box and tossed it forcefully into a stinking trash can, retorting harshly, "I don't have any here, if you want to eat, rummage in the trash can."
"You!"
The tall, dark one flew into a rage, reaching for the bicycle, while the surrounding youths ambitiously clawed their grimy hands at Feng Mu's clothes.
Feng Mu drew out his dagger, slashing in a circle.
"Get your filthy paws off," Feng Mu snarled coldly, flinging a streak of blood off the dagger, not knowing which pair of paws he had cut.
All hands that had gathered round pulled back, the youths now glared at him venomously as they retreated in unison.
Feng Mu felt a chill on his scalp, but his face showed no fear; instead, he gripped the dagger tightly, pausing in front of each person's face for a moment.
He adjusted his breathing, letting his voice carry a flat yet icy threat.
"You can rush together, but someone will definitely get stabbed by me."
"The one who gets stabbed may not die today, but in a couple of days, the wound will rot, and then you'll end up in the trash can as food for wild dogs."
"You don't think you'll be discarded when injured, do you?"
After speaking, Feng Mu paused briefly, then mounted his bicycle, heading straight for the guy clutching his hand.
The latter's expression was extremely venomous, but the retreat of his feet betrayed his cowardice; the bicycle hit a gap and rode off in a blaze of speed.
Peddling crazily all the way, Feng Mu finally slowed and stopped on the roadside after about ten minutes, swallowing the sticky Iron Beads in his mouth.
"Damn, what a disaster out of nowhere."
"No, in the end, it's my lack of bloody lessons about this world's rules; this world has turned many people into ghosts."
"I need to take this as a warning, I can't hold onto past perceptions, I must learn to view some people as ghosts, maybe it's not people becoming Calamity Corpses, but rather, Calamity Corpses are the true form of humanity?"
Feng Mu shook his head, taking out a handful of Iron Beads from his pocket and popping them into his mouth.
This world is filled with absurdity and threat, only a blood-stained dagger and cold Iron Beads provide him with any sense of security now.
Passing by the entrance of Academy 47, Feng Mu noticed a few tattooed men, each holding a stack of papers, comparing them to every passing student, occasionally stopping someone to ask questions.
Feng Mu dared not linger, rode past quickly, catching a glimpse of the papers in those men's hands.
Vaguely saw some names and photos, like a student enrollment roster.
While riding, a sinking feeling crept over Feng Mu.
He guessed those tattooed men belonged to the Cyan Wolf Gang, meaning the gang somehow obtained student information from Academy 47, comparing and investigating one by one.
Such a thing in past life seemed like a distant fantasy.
But, in this world, it is anything but rational.
And the purpose of Cyan Wolf Gang's investigation was evident...
"Looking for the killer." Feng Mu mused inwardly, "They're looking for me!!!"
The Cyan Wolf Gang clearly doesn't believe the conclusion given by the Patrol Office.
Feng Mu felt a bit irritated, not expecting that his fabricated crime scene had easily fooled the Patrol Office's Chief Constable, but couldn't fool a gang leader.
Why is it that a gang leader is better at solving cases than the Chief Constable, just because he's the victim's father?
Damn it, it doesn't seem fair.
On his way to the crematorium, Feng Mu was pondering several questions.
Firstly, what suspicion does the Cyan Wolf Gang hold now, do they think Zheng Hang was falsely accused and missing, or do they believe he's dead?
Secondly, is their suspicion founded or merely wishful thinking on his father's part, or have they found some evidence?
Lastly, what is the scope of the Cyan Wolf Gang's investigation, are they investigating only Academy 47's staff and students, or beyond?
If only investigating Academy 47, are they investigating everyone, or have they narrowed it down to a specific range?
That is to say, is the Cyan Wolf Gang casting a wide net, trying their luck indiscriminately, or have they already pinpointed some suspects.
What's the logic behind their suspicion, and crucially, am I among them?
"Too few clues, can't think of answers, must figure out a way to get a handle on the Cyan Wolf Gang's investigation progress."
Originally, Feng Mu thought the Patrol Office issued a warrant and Zheng Hang's body was cremated by him, considering the matter perfectly concluded.
Didn't expect, things never go as hoped~
The two events today, whether the unforeseen disaster or the unresolved end of the murder case, both made Feng Mu's mood sour.
"A series of unfortunate events, like a harbinger of the disruption of a peaceful life."
From the day Feng Mu activated the system, he was mentally prepared, but he still hoped the disruption could come a little later.
"At least, let me max out the first level of Iron Eater."
"At the very least, let me get through this week, until the Iron Cover fully envelopes my skeleton."
Every passing day, Feng Mu's ability to withstand risk increases a little, but can life really unfold as he wishes?
Feng Mu didn't know, all he could do was grab every free moment, desperately practicing Body Forging Exercise...