40. The Dark Side of the Martial World

“Please come this way, the three of you. We are now arriving at the factory where the Confucian Sect manufactures heavy weaponry.”

Led by a disciple of the Confucian Sect, Chen Shang and his companions entered the first military factory. As soon as they crossed the threshold, their eyes were met by intricate and sophisticated assembly lines, workers bustling to and fro, and armored tanks in the midst of assembly.

The disciple pointed to a nearly completed tank and introduced, “This is our latest development, the ‘Hongru-114 Amphibious Tank.’ It can reach speeds of up to one hundred kilometers per hour, is equipped for remote operation, and boasts an endurance of thirty hours.”

“Impressive,” Chen Shang commented with feigned interest.

“By the way, we sent your company a few samples of this tank last month. Were you satisfied?” The disciple, now chatty, followed up.

“I don’t handle that department,” Chen Shang replied with a smile.

“Oh, I see… I was being too forward,” the disciple said, dropping the topic.

After touring the tank factory, the disciple led them through the production facilities for firearms, military robots, and combat prosthetics.

It had to be said—the Confucian Sect’s ingenuity in military design was nothing short of genius. Few realized that fifty percent of Radiant Bird Corporation’s annual new products were designed by the Confucian Sect.

“Though everything’s rather odd, this really just looks like an ordinary military factory...” Chiyo muttered to Chen Shang after their tour.

Chen Shang did not respond to her, but instead turned to the disciple, “I’d like to see your ‘experimental factory.’”

“The experimental factory?” The disciple hesitated, cautious. “Are you sure you want to go there?”

“Since I’m here, I might as well inspect everything,” Chen Shang rubbed his hands together, wearing the shrewd smile of a businessman. “That way, it’ll be easier to write my report when I get back.”

Hearing this, the disciple readily agreed. “No problem! We just received a batch of ‘subjects’ a few days ago—perfect timing for your review!”

“Experimental factory? Subjects?” Chiyo was thoroughly confused, mumbling to herself.

“Sounds like they’re turning people into lumber,” Black Carlis quipped quietly.

Guided by the disciple, the three arrived at a small, hidden factory deep within the territory. As soon as they stepped inside, they were assaulted by waves of agonized screams.

“Help… Help me!”

“It hurts… Mama… it hurts!”

“You monsters, you’ll be cursed by heaven!”

“…”

Hearing the cries, Chiyo and Black Carlis frowned deeply. Chen Shang, meanwhile, had already activated his calming hormones.

“Where’s that sound coming from?” Chiyo demanded, irritation plain in her voice.

The disciple immediately bowed apologetically. “Forgive me! I’ll contact the staff to turn on the soundproofing equipment!”

“No, there’s no need,” Chen Shang stopped him. “It’s their first time here—they should get used to it.”

“Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Love,” the disciple apologized again, then led them to an elevator.

He took out a staff card and scanned it at the elevator’s screen. Moments later, the doors slid open. Once inside, he swiped his card again at the panel. All the button lights went dark except for one, which flashed: B5.

He pressed the button, and the elevator swiftly descended. With a rumbling halt, the doors opened onto a pitch-black iron corridor.

“It’s dark here, please watch your step,” the disciple’s voice echoed through the passage.

After walking for about five minutes, they finally reached their destination—a subterranean laboratory clad in alloy panels, lined with compartments fitted with glass windows. Each doorway bore a different sign.

Meanwhile, the screams grew louder, unmistakably emanating from within these compartments.

“What on earth is this?” Chiyo Yasoji whispered in shock.

Black Carlis, unsettled, instinctively clenched her clothes at her chest.

“Are you two feeling uncomfortable?” The disciple, perceptive, kindly inquired.

Chen Shang, however, draped an arm around his neck. “Never mind them. Show me around, tell me about this place.”

Of course, Chen Shang knew perfectly well the purpose of this “experimental factory.” His question was merely to let the two girls learn the truth.

The disciple led them to a compartment’s glass window and pressed a red button beside it.

Instantly, the curtain inside was pulled away, revealing the scene within.

“This… impossible!” Chiyo gasped, nearly collapsing.

“Ah… ahhh!” Black Carlis shrieked, stumbling back two steps.

Inside was a chemical laboratory. Confucian Sect disciples, clad in white coats and gas masks, were mixing chemicals at a workstation.

Not far from them, several patients lay strapped to beds, their bodies grotesquely decayed, riddled with wires and IV tubes.

No—“decayed” hardly described them. Not a patch of skin remained unscathed. Some limbs were grotesquely swollen, others emaciated to bone and skin. Maggots crawled from wounds, and their faces were unrecognizable as human.

Soon, a disciple filled a syringe with the prepared solution and approached one of the patients.

“No… please, don’t inject me again… kill me instead!”

Through the glass, they heard the patient plead, teetering on the brink of despair.

The disciple switched on a camera and, emotionless, announced, “R Virus Project, Experiment 105. Beginning now.”

He plunged the needle into the patient’s mangled flesh, injecting the solution in one go.

Soon after, the patient began to scream in agony. His already distorted body swelled visibly, veins bursting beneath the skin and spraying foul blood.

Just as his flesh was about to burst the restraints, his struggles ceased, and the heart monitor beside the bed flatlined.

“Experiment 105, failed. The subject’s body swelled to twice its original size, then the heart stopped.”

The disciple lowered the camera, his voice as cold as if he’d killed a mere lab rat.

Outside, the guiding disciple proudly explained, “This is the Sect’s biochemical laboratory. Their current research topic is the ‘R Virus.’”

“The R Virus?” Chen Shang asked, intrigued.

“Yes. It’s an order from your Radiant Bird Corporation.” The disciple explained, “Your company wants us to develop a new military enhancer, and provided us with over a hundred subjects for experimentation.”

Chiyo, clutching her mouth, nearly retched. “So… subjects are…”

“They’re living people!” Black Carlis finished, her voice trembling.

Their reactions aroused the disciple’s suspicion. “Strange, aren’t you with Radiant Bird? You didn’t know about the subjects?”

Chen Shang quickly rubbed his hands and smiled. “They’re new hires, children of the executives. Please understand~”

“Ah, I see.” The disciple nodded, giving a knowing smile. “Let me show you some other labs, like our quantum decomposition lab and the human modification lab—”

“No, let’s go back up!” Chiyo interrupted hastily. “The air down here is too stifling.”

“I’m not feeling well either—the magnetic field here is too strong,” Black Carlis grumbled.

Seeing this, Chen Shang didn’t push further. He instructed the disciple, “That’s enough for today. I’m very satisfied with your facilities.”

“Let me see you out!” the disciple said warmly, guiding them to the exit.

At the door, Chen Shang quietly asked Black Carlis, “Did you finish mapping?”

“It’s done. Let’s get out of this hellhole!” Black Carlis whispered back.

Chen Shang cleared his throat, then said politely to the disciple, “What’s your name, brother? I’ll ask my superiors if we can transfer you to headquarters.”

“Really?!” The disciple was overjoyed. “My name is Li Furui. Thank you so much, sir!”

“Brother Furui, I’ll remember you~” Chen Shang replied offhandedly, then hurriedly led the two dazed girls away.