Pollutant Disguise Plan (POLLUTANT)
In the shadowy sewer that was illuminated only by a faint crimson glow, the little girl seated atop the bones stared fixedly at the man before her.
She seemed different now, but the fluctuations of contamination around her betrayed her instability. The moment Shen Ji declared her parents dead, she had already begun to unravel.
Pollutants were monsters of obsession, living only for hunger and fixation—more deranged than ghosts.
"Are you lying to me?" The little girl tilted her head. A small ulcer had formed under her eye. A dark red blemish stark against her pale cheek.
Shen Ji had no intention of saying more to her. Pollutants didn't discriminate—just as an ordinary child could transform into a high-level Pollutant and kill countless people, Shen Ji wouldn't show mercy just because the Pollutant took a child's form. That would be a true disaster.
The mycelium spreads across the pipes, finally revealing its menacing form before the little girl. Giving off the visual of being fully armed and ready for battle.
The moment she saw the mycelium, the little girl completely lost control. She let out an enraged scream—clearly, she remembered just how much harassment these little things had caused her.
"It's you! So it was you all along!!"
The girl pointed at Shen Ji. "It's because you kept getting in my way that I couldn't find Mom and Dad! They must be in there!"
Shen Ji's gaze sharpened, his already cold expression turning even more detached. From her words, he realized one thing—and clearly, the system had too.
[She’s had her sights on the containment facility for a while. She needs medical staff to become her family, and the facility is full of them. The night the containment facility’s contamination was exposed was her first attempt.]
[Either the facility took emergency measures, or there was a presence of Hui that forced her to retreat. After that, you were stationed there, so she never got a second chance to spread contamination. This time, she must have found a second contamination point through Song Yuanchang and Zhang Qingli.]
In the original story, when Chen Guo's contamination outbreak occurred, Hui had also left the containment facility—after all, Hui had only been dragged there for a day of volunteer work.
Once Hui was gone, she had planned to carry out secondary contamination. Unexpectedly, she ran straight into Chen Guo’s outbreak, and Chen Guo casually dealt with her as well.
"What a twist of fate. The author may have botched the ending, but at least they followed logic."
Shen Ji raised his hand as the mycelium coiled around his arm. His left eye glowed with a vivid crimson hue, staining his otherwise ascetic demeanor with a trace of allure.
Meanwhile, the little girl was still in hysterics as she kept screaming, "They must be working at the hospital! If I just keep looking, I’ll find them!"
[Contamination levels rising.]
[211, 259, 473… It’s past 500.]
"Not being able to accept the truth doesn’t give you the right to hurt others indiscriminately." Shen Ji snapped his fingers, and the mycelium surged from the ground like soldiers answering a command—they had been itching for this.
Following their master meant starving three times a day. Now that they finally had a chance to eat, they weren’t going to hold back!
The little girl clenched her teeth around her doll, her blood-red eyes brimming with hatred as she watched the pale-red mushrooms flood the entire sewer and surging toward her like a tidal wave.
And it wasn’t just the sewer—the mycelium left behind in the dormitory building also began to stir.
They released the contaminated patients trapped inside and poured en masse into the sewers. The patients left behind had all fallen unconscious, showing no signs of movement after the mycelium’s departure.
Amid this eerie silence, Zhang Qingli groggily opened his eyes.
Before he could even process his surroundings, a powerful wave of contamination hit him with a deafening hum. His vision whited out, and he passed out once more.
[Ah, poor thing. Just rotten luck.] The system sighed.
"What?"
[Zhang Qingli, just woke up only to be overwhelmed by the 'Midnight Singing’' contamination again. This time, he probably won't come around for a while.]
"I'll find a way to make it up to him next time."
A massive mushroom cap stretched across the sewer tunnel. Its thick, fleshy surface serves as a seat for Shen Ji.
At this moment, he seemed nearly fused with the fungi.
Fine mushroom spores dusted beneath his eyes, while tiny translucent pink mushrooms sprouted from his temples and brow. His heterochromatic red-and-white eyes lent him an otherworldly aura. Yet beneath this eerie exterior, he remained impeccably groomed while being dressed in full business attire.
The indescribable blend of ascetic restraint and seductive allure created a complex, vitality-charged magnetism.
The Pollutant recoiled from the advancing mycelium.
These mushrooms were exceptionally ferocious as they kept gnawing at anything within reach. Wherever they spread, they devoured all—living or dead—leaving the area so pristine it seemed no contamination had ever occurred.
Clutching her doll, the girl desperately tried to evade, only for the fungal threads to seize her ankle and drag her down from the towering bone pile.
Shen Ji looked down at her imperiously.
"You're unworthy to stand upon their remains."
"No! Please!" She wept while sitting in the filthy sewer as she raised her doll in trembling hands.
[Alert: This doll carries the highest concentration of contamination on her person, likely representing her contamination ability.]
A lullaby began playing from the doll's interior.
The feminine voice sang soothingly, its tranquil tones inducing drowsiness—as if listeners might surrender their thoughts, their very selves, to embrace assimilation through the melody.
"Mommy," the contaminated girl sobbed softly, "Stay with me forever, like Mommy did."
But how could a mere Level C Pollutant compare to Level S Pollutant Hui? Hui was the most unique of all Pollutants and had consumed countless Pollutants.
All contamination became his sustenance. Shen Ji had even mused: If Pollutants had group chats, Hui would undoubtedly be the ostracized member—the type that people would create separate chats just to complain about.
As the mycelium crept up the girl's arms and her contamination ability proved useless, her weeping intensified.
"Dad, save me!"
[Talent: "Doll's Song"—A contaminated ability born from obsessive thoughts. The doll emits two distinct voices. The mother's voice turns people into Pollutants, while the father's voice compels low-level Pollutants to protect it.]
So the doll let out an unfamiliar male voice, singing a lullaby with laughter, murmuring, "I'll always protect my precious."
Yet it was all in vain—those low-level Pollutants had already been devoured clean by the fungal threads.
They eagerly enveloped the Pollutant and consumed its contamination amidst its agonized screams.
"Stop crying." At the last moment, Shen Ji stepped down from the mushroom and approached the Pollutant that was now cocooned in mycelium.
"It'll be quick. Just close your eyes, and when you open them again, you'll see your mom and dad."
Shen Ji's voice was gentle and pure, as if delivering a final prayer for it.
"They wanted you to live, but surely not like this—neither human nor monster. You were their beloved daughter, not a Pollutant that took countless lives."
No sound came from within the mycelium. Shen Ji didn’t know if she could hear him. But after a few dozen seconds, the fungal threads dispersed with their caps now swollen several times larger. All that remained was a small doll, still singing the mother's lullaby—until the melody abruptly cut off mid-note.
Shen Ji picked up the doll, only to realize it had long run out of batteries.
Of course. After all these years, with the girl transformed into a Pollutant, how could any battery last that long?
[Processing complete.] The system chimed in. [We’ve now dealt with Chen Guo and the root cause of the containment facility’s occupational exposure. The probability of the protagonist discovering us has dropped to 30%!]
[Congratulations! We’re almost free!]
Shen Ji didn’t bring up the jinx again. He just hissed softly.
"Damn it."
[?]
"I forgot to keep a sample." Shen Ji looked troubled. "I told Zhang Qingli I came here to treat contamination disease. But now there’s no Pollutant left—how am I supposed to treat it?"
"Won’t my credibility completely collapse now?"
[…]
It should’ve known. The moment Shen Ji got serious, he’d inevitably slip back into nonsense.
[You can take this doll back, it carries her contamination talent. If there’s a way to analyze the contamination, this doll will work just as well.]
[More importantly, we need to leave. I’m detecting the containment facility interfering with the contamination zone.]
Shen Ji stuffed the doll into his pocket and turned to leave. "The containment facility has methods to interfere with contamination zones too?"
[Don’t underestimate them. It’s an organization established alongside the Anti-Contamination Control Center and the Guard Corps. While they aren’t particularly aggressive, defense is also a form of offense.]
"And yet they still got infiltrated by Pollutants, leading to a contamination leak?"
[In a sense, the containment breach at the facility was also a precursor to the story collapsing—according to the original setting, the facility was nearly impossible to contaminate unless by a Level S Pollutant. The author likely introduced Chen Guo and Hui to patch this plot hole, explaining the cause and diverting attention.]
What is this? Just the author's clever little trick to prevent the story from falling apart!
The mycelium lingered reluctantly. Even after Shen Ji turned the corner of the sewer, they remained feasting voraciously. Despite the death of the Pollutant's main body, the contamination here was still higher than in other areas.
Shen Ji turned back to look at them. "Let's go."
Torn between their insatiable hunger and their master's call, they hesitated back and forth before finally splitting into two groups—one stayed to keep eating, while the other followed their master home. The pale red mushroom caps sprouted black dots, as if wearing chocolate-colored caps.
Perfect!
Shen Ji: "..."
"System, I haven't even used the Undertaker's contamination ability yet, and they've already evolved just for the sake of eating."
[Ah, look at these pitiful yet obedient little mushrooms, working so hard just for a meal. You're not being a very good master, you know.]
"They're getting fatter," Shen Ji observed with finality. "At this rate, they won’t just burst my house—they’ll forcibly take over the entire building as their territory."
[Ah, that is indeed a problem. Your mycelium has territorial instincts—they might expand on their own if they feel cramped.]
[Better put them on a diet then. No more eating!]
Shen Ji: "..."
That’s not what you said earlier.
Just as he was about to call them back, the mycelium suddenly stirred before clustering together in agitation. Before Shen Ji could speak, they surged toward him en masse and darting into his body as if fleeing a predator. The sewer was emptied in an instant.
"Hm?" Shen Ji poked the little black mushroom on his wrist. "Why the sudden retreat?"
The mushroom swayed slightly, as if pointing in a direction.
Shen Ji turned to look.
In the pitch-black pipe, a faint light suddenly flickered to life. His eyes widened slightly, and he even adjusted his glasses with a finger to see more clearly.
A glowing blue butterfly fluttered gracefully through the pipe—followed by a man so familiar it made Shen Ji’s skin crawl.
Shen Ji: "..."
Why is this edgelord spawning in the sewer?!
Li Zhiyan stepped forward, still clad in that familiar black-and-blue uniform. "Didn’t expect to run into you here."
Shen Ji ignored the remark, first scanning the surroundings to confirm this was indeed just an ordinary sewer.
"Mr. Li?" Shen Ji asked skeptically. "What are you doing here?"
He gestured around. "You can see this is a sewer, right?"
Li Zhiyan fell silent for a few seconds before replying, "My car broke down and the manhole cover was stolen—it’s not that strange to accidentally fall into a sewer, is it?"
When reading this novel, Shen Ji had always viewed it from Li Zhiyan’s perspective—after all, he was the protagonist.
From that omniscient viewpoint, Shen Ji had never found anything amiss about Li Zhiyan. But after transmigrating into the book and becoming Li Zhiyan’s rival, Shen Ji found himself plagued by countless questions about the man.
For example: Is he even human? How does someone this abstract survive? Is it because he's mentally ill that he's an S-class Mutant?
"Then...you didn't climb up?"
"I was planning to climb straight up, but then I saw a strange fat mushroom. The thing actually ran away the moment it saw me. Something that interesting was definitely worth following."
Li Zhiyan was even more matter-of-fact than Shen Ji. "That mushroom acted alive and seemed terrified of me. Could it be a Pollutant?"
Shen Ji: "..."
[...]
[I get it now. The mycelium has already been expanding because you allowed it to devour the contamination here. Naturally, it claimed this place as its territory and spread rapidly—until it ran into the protagonist.]
[Your subconscious wants to avoid the protagonist, so the mycelium also adopted a 'Warning! Best to evade!' mentality toward him. Upon detecting him, it chose to retreat.]
Li Zhiyan extended his hand, and a blue butterfly alighted on his fingertip. The glowing spots on its tail illuminated the sewer, making his long white hair shimmer as if lit from within.
With amused interest, he met Shen Ji's gaze. "But when I chased it, I found you instead. Did you see that mushroom running like a person? This is the first time I've encountered something like this."
"Fascinating.”
Shen Ji's expression turned odd. "You didn't even ask why I'm in a sewer."
"Not my concern."
Li Zhiyan could be intensely intimidating at times. He liked looking people in the eye and locking gazes with them—a display of unshakable confidence.
When Shen Ji first started working, he used to do the same, until his superior pointed out that staring too directly would only make others uncomfortable.
Apparently, the protagonist of this book didn’t care whether he annoyed people or not.
With a tone that could either be serious or joking, Li Zhiyan added, "The only reason I came this way was for that mushroom. You don’t often see one that plump—looked delicious."
Shen Ji: "...?"
"Just kidding. That thing was obviously poisonous. I wouldn’t eat it."
Oh? So the pot of toxic mushrooms wasn’t tasty? You seemed to enjoy it just fine. Pity it didn’t kill you—truly baffling.
Shen Ji adjusted his glasses, feigning solemnity. "Your tastes are...unique, Mr. Li."
"Are you mocking me?"
"Of course not. I deeply admire you, Mr. Li. Not just as a formidable S-class Mutant, but also for protecting so many civilians. Everyone respects you." Shen Ji’s voice carried genuine awe, as if he truly meant it. "If you were to sacrifice yourself, people would surely erect statues and memorials to honor your contributions."
Li Zhiyan: "..."
What kind of talk was this? Why was he suddenly dead?
But judging by Shen Ji’s earnest, admiring gaze, it didn’t seem intentional.
[Reporters really have sharp tongues.]
After a pause, Li Zhiyan replied, "I’m not fond of statues or memorials. How about just a whole chapter in the history books? I want one all to myself."
Shen Ji: "..."
Impressive. Truly impressive.
The system couldn’t help but remark, [Protagonists really have no shame!]
There was no point in dragging this standoff with Li Zhiyan. Besides, Shen Ji had only come to deal with the Pollutant to keep his distance from the protagonist. Running into Li Zhiyan here was pure coincidence—blame the thief who stole the sewer cover. After mentally consoling himself, Shen Ji continued on his way out.
As they walked, Li Zhiyan suddenly spoke up, "So why were you in the sewer?"
Just moments ago he'd said it was none of his business, yet now he was asking.
"Trying to find a way out. The dormitory was locked down, so I went into the sewers to see if I could escape. Unfortunately, I got lost."
Shen Ji lowered his voice, injecting a note of regret into his tone. "I wonder how everyone still in the dorm is doing. Running into you was really fortunate, Mr. Li. I imagine you could find the way out immediately."
"When the obvious path is blocked, take the hidden route?" Li Zhiyan nodded. "Excellent strategic thinking."
Shen Ji ignored him and followed the route from memory back to the original sewer entrance. Climbing up the ladder, he finally saw light.
He exhaled softly in relief.
Dark places truly weren't meant for humans—cramped, narrow, and endless. Such environments only amplify psychological pressure and accelerate the spread of contamination.
[They're coming.] The system suddenly announced.
'What?'
[Containment facility interference. Look beside you.]
Shen Ji turned toward the dormitory door just as a deep hum reverberated—like a temple bell striking directly into their skulls, instantly dizzying them.
Cracks abruptly appeared in midair and spiderwebbing from the sky down to the ground. With a sharp crack, the atmosphere shattered like invisible glass. After a moment of chaos, like a mirage dissipating, familiar scenery and faces gradually came into view.
Containment personnel and security teams swarmed forward.
"It's open?" Shen Ji sounded surprised. "That easily?”
Li Zhiyan finally crawled out of the sewer at a leisurely pace and yawned as he emerged—only to speak up after hearing Shen Ji's words. "It's a Spatial-type Ability.”
Shen Ji turned to look at him.
"I remember the first director of the Containment Facility was an S-class Spatial-type Mutant. He left something behind when he departed, probably also related to space." Li Zhiyan shielded his eyes with one hand as he gazed into the distance.
"The Containment Facility could fill an entire chapter in history books."
Dr. Wang rushed into the dormitory building with his team and spotted Shen Ji immediately. He darted over like a gust of wind.
"Xiao Ji! Are you alright?!"
Dr. Wang inspected him from head to toe, left and right, only letting out a long sigh of relief after confirming he wasn’t contaminated or injured.
Shen Ji let him examine him, the picture of an obedient junior.
"Dr. Wang, I'm fine."
Wang Anle took out his communicator to report back to the facility. Just as he finished and was about to scrutinize Shen Ji again, he suddenly noticed someone standing behind him.
He nearly jumped out of his skin and even almost dropped the communicator.
"Mr. Li?!" Wang Anle exclaimed in shock. "What are you doing here?!"
Li Zhiyan calmly pointed at the nearby sewer. "I came up from here. Are you going to ask why I was in the sewer? Because people can’t always control whether they fall into one at some point."
Wang Anle: "...I don’t get it."
But Wang Anle was well aware that Li Zhiyan had some connection to Shen Ji—he might even be responsible for protecting this rare Healing-type Mutant. So he’d probably rushed over after sensing Shen Ji was in trouble and arriving even before the containment facility.
Terrible, just terrible. Would Mr. Li thinks their facility is useless now?
Before Wang Anle could explain, Li Zhiyan’s communicator beeped. He pulled it out and answered the call.
"Boss! Where the hell are you?!" A wailing voice came through.
"You suddenly fell into a sewer, fine, but then you went off the grid?! Where are you?!"
"Stop yelling. Come pick me up." Li Zhiyan turned and started walking away. "I’ll send you the address."
Mid-stride, he suddenly stopped and glanced back at Shen Ji, who was watching him.
It was a scrutinizing, observant gaze—Shen Ji met his eyes without hesitation, his dark pupils devoid of any reverence.
From the very first second their eyes had met in the East District, Li Zhiyan had noticed this.
The kid seemed earnest, easygoing, and a good listener—pleasant to be around. His appearance matched too: buttoned up to the top, glasses polished to a shine and sleeves meticulously rolled.
But the coldness in his eyes and the sharp edge he couldn’t quite conceal were unmistakable, like a free-flying bird looking down at those still bound to the ground.
Li Zhiyan liked observing people’s eyes, and Shen Ji was no exception. Beneath that mild exterior, his gaze was as sharp as a needle.
That was the biggest reason Li Zhiyan had taken an interest in him. He could be sharp, even arrogant—but he hid it well. He could make everyone like him.
"Oh, right," Li Zhiyan said. "Do you want to eat fried flower petals?"
Shen Ji frowned slightly before relaxing again, puzzled. "...Did you fry the flowers from this morning?"
Li Zhiyan neither nodded nor shook his head, only murmuring gloomily, "So you did see the message this morning—you just didn’t want to reply to me."
Shen Ji: "..."
Is he out of his mind?
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