Chosen: Beyond Fate

Chapter 16: Gift

When Ji Jue opened his eyes, it wasn’t a strange ceiling he saw.

It was the youngest of the Lu family with a grin with a runny nose, shouting over his shoulder, “Mom, Second Bro’s awake! He’s awake!”

The familiar smell of disinfectant hung in the air, and the hallway was noisy.

Dazed, Ji Jue looked around until he realized he was in a hospital room. On the bedside table, the third child was finishing his homework with tears in his eyes, with no time to sob.

Then he saw Mrs. Lu’s anxious face, looking as if she hadn’t slept all night.

Ji Jue tried to remember how he ended up here, only to find his head throbbing, not just from spirit matter exhaustion, but mostly from drinking. Who knew how much he had drunk last night.

Recalling that chaotic night felt almost dreamlike. The only thing he remembered clearly was someone patting his shoulder at the table while he vomited, laughing until they nearly fell over.

“Ji Ji is hopeless.”

“Come on, one more. I’ll teach you how to become a grown-up[1]...”

“You can still breathe, it’s fine. As long as you’re alive you can still drink. Go ahead, show us how you drink!”

Snapping back to reality, Ji Jue froze. So the criminals didn’t kill him, but the Security Bureau ended up sending him to the hospital instead?

Where’s the justice? Where’s the law?!

Mrs. Lu’s face darkened as she grabbed his ear. Her voice was cold and scolding. “Ji Jue, tell me the truth. What did you do last night? Listen carefully and think clearly. Xiaogou has already confessed everything.”

“Huh?!” Ji Jue was dumbfounded, glancing at Lu Feng behind Mrs. Lu. Bruised and smeared with iodine, he found it difficult to talk. “Uh, well... I might have drunk a bit too much, and then I... Agh. Mrs. Lu, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. E-easy there!”

“You still have the guts to lie?!” Mrs. Lu let out a lion’s roar, deafening, and smacked him right on the back of the head. “Ms. Wen already told me everything! Xiaogou, that punk dragged you out drinking, and you even got into a fight! If it weren’t for the fact that you stood up for someone, I’d have gone straight to the police today, kowtowed, and begged them to write a letter of pardon! And you’re still covering for him?!”

“Huh? Oh, oh! Yeah, that sounds about right!”

Seeing Lu Feng frantically winking at him, Ji Jue broke out in a cold sweat. I thought you found out about how Feng went full massacre mode in someone’s nightclub last night and wiped out an entire criminal gang by himself.

He burst into tears and shifted the blame. “Yeah yeah, it was all Feng’s doing! I’m innocent, Mrs. Lu, you can’t blame me!”

Lu Feng was the one who had killed the gangsters, and that bastard was the one who had collected the heads. At most, Ji Jue just helped wipe the surveillance records and stepped on the gas pedal of the truck a couple times. Other than that, the snake they killed didn’t even look like a protected species.

Didn’t that mean that it basically had nothing to do with him?

Mom Lu really did have a soft spot for the “good kid,” Ji Jue. She didn’t have the heart to take out the rolling pin, mop handle, and broom she normally used on Xiaogou. Even the two half-hearted slaps she landed on the back of Ji Jue’s head mostly hit his neck weakly. There was no trace of the fierce, ruthless force she showed when crushing eggs with her bare hands.

Seeing that Ji Jue admitted his mistake and promised to never do it again, Mrs. Lu’s attitude softened. After a fierce scolding, she finally said, “The doctor told me that with your condition, you’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few more days under observation. For the next few days, you stay put and behave. You’re not going anywhere, got it?” freēwebnovel.com

Ji Jue stared at her. “I feel just fine. Look, I’m full of energy. Wait, Mrs. Lu, wait a second.”

No amount of arguing would help. In this world, there was a kind of illness called “your mom thinks you’re sick.” Mrs. Lu was also a mom, and when she got stubborn, she was scarier than any mom. She didn’t let Ji Jue pay a single cent for the hospital or tests, and even planned to go home, kill a chicken, and make soup to nourish him. As for Xiaogou, who was drooling nearby... that unfilial son would only get chicken bones.

“Pretty lively in here.”

A tall figure leaned against the doorway before knocking lightly on the doorframe, looking in with a half smile. The familiar biker jacket and riding gear sent a shiver down Ji Jue’s spine.

It was Wen Wen.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, smirking. “I’m here to fill out the report. Won’t take long.”

Mrs. Lu grabbed her hand and thanked her profusely. After everyone else left, Wen Wen dragged over a chair, crossed her legs, and sat down. Like magic, she pulled out a can of beer and handed it over.

“Help sober you up?”

Seeing Ji Jue turn pale like he was about to throw up, she shook her head helplessly, opened the can herself, chugged half, and burped. “Ji Jue, you still can’t handle your booze well. You need more practice.”

Yeah, practice, otherwise how could anyone compare to a human beer barrel like you? Ji Jue complained inwardly.

He decided to test the waters. “Supervisor Wen?”

“Why so formal? My role at the Security Bureau isn’t something I can just shout about on the street. Just call me Mrs. Wen, no need for all the formalities.” Wen Wen leaned back in her chair, waving her hand casually. “Don’t worry, I know what young people like you get worked up about. The on-site report and investigation are already done, and neither you nor your brother are involved. The Security Bureau has everything handled. You guys just act like nothing happened and go on with your lives.”

“Oh wow, thank you so much!” Ji Jue was overjoyed, so much so that he almost wanted to climb out of bed and kowtow to her. With a heart that big, she definitely wouldn’t mind his little bit of internal trash talk earlier.

After hesitating for a while, he asked, “Um, so, those people... what exactly were they? Vampires or something?”

In a calm voice, Wen Wen explained, “They were affected by Bloodlust Syndrome. In the hospital... well, in some hospitals’ classification, it’s a plague virus ranked 109 in social threat level. Explaining the Nine Sins and Benevolences to you now would just confuse you. Just think of it as a zombie-vampire infectious disease. Someone is secretly spreading this virus in Cliff City to stir up trouble.

“Basically, the people who attacked you were all infected. Most of them, once they get sick, they go see a doctor. Some hide out of fear. And then there are those who... think of it as a gift from heaven. They even try to use it for... something, and as you’ve seen, it doesn’t end well. They degrade into beasts and become ugly without even realizing it. When they’re alive, they’re puppets of others; when they’re dead, only parts of their body remain. They’re reduced to nothing more than offerings.”

Ji Jue swallowed, goosebumps rising all over his body.

Putting aside why something this insane was only ranked 109 and whether there were one hundred eight even worse horrors ahead of it, the fact that Bloodlust Syndrome was being deliberately spread in Cliff City was enough to make him unable to sit still, as if his ass was on fire. He wanted to immediately convince Mrs. Lu and the others to pack up and run.

“Relax. Just stay put and wait to be discharged. Go to school when you should, go to work when it’s time. Live your life the way it’s meant to be lived.” A confident smile appeared on Wen Wen’s lips. “I can’t talk about the investigation details, but those Dragonrite Society bastards won’t be hiding much longer. Give me a few days. Once I crush that bastard, it’ll be over.” Her smile then took on a sly edge. “Of course, if you’re still uneasy and want to get personally involved, I wouldn’t mind.”

Ji Jue shook his head like a rattle drum. “No no no, I’m useless. I’m utterly useless! I’m too weak. If I joined, I’d just end up costing the Security Bureau more. No thanks!”

“Really? That’s a pity.”

Wen Wen said it was a pity, but she clearly didn’t care much. She didn’t probe further into the abilities or oddities he showed last night. Instead, she just patted his shoulder.

“Since you’re sick, get some proper rest. Oh right, this is for you. Consider it a souvenir.”

She pulled out a sealed bag from her pocket and casually tossed it onto Ji Jue’s bedside. It landed with a sharp click, making his eyelid twitch.

Ji Jue glanced at it and froze. He rubbed his eyes, then looked again. No matter how much he stared at it, inside the transparent sealed bag was a women’s wristwatch. And it seemed to be, sort of, maybe, possibly... the same Red Wing model that Zhu Hong had been wearing last night.

5.1 million?!

The moment that number flashed through his mind, Ji Jue felt as if he’d been electrocuted. His ears started ringing. “Th-this... is this really fine?”

He stared at Wen Wen, starting to suspect this woman to be lusting after his looks, or maybe he’d gone insane.

This watch was worth 5.1 million. That was a lot of money! It was enough to raise a hundred Ji Jues from orphanhood to adulthood, or for seven Ji Jues to pay off Tianmen University’s student loans in one go, or for one Ji Jue to sell the watch, buy a big seaside apartment in the city and get a Mustang with Universal parts he used to only wipe down at the shop. No, he decided not to buy a car. Instead, he’d use the money to buy a storefront and rent it out and become a proper upper-class city man.

So... Was it too late for him to bow his head right now, pledge his allegiance, and work like a slave for the Security Bureau?

He fell silent, his eyes glued in place. After a long while, all he wanted to do was slap himself, look away, and wave his hand. “I can’t take this... really.”

Please take it away. I will regret it. Stop this.

Wen Wen wasn’t surprised, and she didn’t care. This was something the people at the station had brought over to her as a “gift” after cleaning the scene, following “custom.” And it wasn’t just this either. They’d even added extra, hoping she’d show mercy and not cause trouble for anyone else.

Who knew what kind of rumors were floating around about her being a killing maniac out there. Either way, she had no intention of sparing a single one of the chickens that needed killing. As for the monkeys who weren’t involved, if they learned to behave, she wasn’t about to go slaughter entire families either.

She wanted to remind them to not covet what they shouldn't. If they learned that lesson, all the better.

“Chill. If you don’t want it, those idiots at the Bureau will just sell it for cash anyway. Might as well give it to you. Think of it as compensation. Besides, didn’t you bravely fight evil forces, too?” She patted his shoulder, her smile strange. “I still remember that famous line of yours. It’s truly jaw-dropping. Even my colleagues were hella impressed by you when they heard it.”

“Stop, please, stop.” Ji Jue wanted to clutch his head, dig a hole in the bed to crawl into, preferably all the way to the earth’s core, and howl in despair. “I was possessed! That wasn’t me, really! I’m not usually that cringey!”

“Cringey or not, doesn’t matter. But I really liked that line.” Wen Wen’s expression turned serious. “Ji Jue. These days, people who can awaken on their own and be chosen by fate without relying on secret rites are extremely rare. Someone like you, even more so. But aside from you, I’ve seen too many Chosen Ones act like the world revolves around them. Some start off full of ambition, thinking their power makes them invincible. After setbacks, they grow extreme. In the end, they say things like they had no choice, or they did it for everyone, for the future, and then they spiral down a dark path. Others sprint straight toward destruction from the very beginning. They live well by themselves, but won’t let anyone else live. Ultimately, they end up harming others and themselves in endless disasters...”

Slowly, emphasizing every word, Wen Wen added, “They all died.”

Ji Jue wanted to ask for details, but looking at Wen Wen’s calm, almost indifferent expression, it felt like he already had the answers to many of his questions.

There was no need to ask.

“Don’t forget what you said, Ji Jue. And don’t use your abilities to do bad things.” Wen Wen raised her hand and waved her delicate fist in front of him. “Don’t end up like them.” fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Ji Jue stared at her pale palm, her long fingers, and that seemingly harmless little fist, and swallowed dryly. He nodded furiously, as obedient as a chick.

“Good. Then this trip wasn’t a waste, after all.” Wen Wen pushed her chair back and waved goodbye. “See you, Ji Jue. I hope you grow up to be someone who can truly make a difference.”

Ji Jue wanted to get up and walk her out, but hearing her final words, he froze in place. He nodded and told her, “I will.”

Wen Wen smiled before turning around and leaving.

The hospital room was now empty save for Ji Jue. A faint ticking sound came from the table. Inside the sealed bag, the gift that had already been carefully cleaned and properly prepared by professionals continued to tick along steadily, its hands moving as usual as it waited for the favor and care of its new owner.

Although Ji Jue was overjoyed, a migraine hammered in his skull as he held the watch.

Over five million! Over five million!!!

He had never seen this much money in his life. He just had to slip the watch into his pocket and visit the black market once. Then, he could buy anything... Okay, obviously that wasn’t going to work. Without purchase records and proper packaging, he would definitely get butchered by middlemen. He’d be lucky to sell it for a third of its value. He might not even get the bag and instead get targeted by thieves. He’d just bring himself endless trouble.

I’m not going to keep it and wear it myself, right? Wait. I already have a watch. If I wear another, will Mr. Watch get jealous? Besides, people will just think that someone as broke as me is wearing a fake anyway. No one will believe it.

Wait... maybe that’s not so bad after all?

He subconsciously looked up toward the doorway, where heavy footsteps were approaching.

A burly woman walked toward the ward, one hand holding a full thermos of hot water while the other carried a big bag of snacks and supplements. Even with bandages on her head, she still wore a smile, like no hardship could ever knock her down.

Ji Jue smiled back. “Mrs. Lu? Feng and I saved up to buy you a little gift. Here, it’s not worth much. It’s all flashy. Don’t worry about it, it’s pretty cheap. Go on, try it.”

“Oh? You know how to suck up to me now?” Mrs. Lu put the snacks down, pinched Ji Jue’s cheek irritably, and took the watch. “Don’t think flattering me will get you off the hook. You still have to stay in the hospital. And don’t keep buying this kind of stuff. It’s a waste of money.”

She was grumbling, but when she put on the watch, she could not help but beam. She fastened it at the thinnest part of her sturdy wrist, moved it around a bit, then felt that something so exquisite did not quite fit her. “Does it suit me?”

Ji Jue leaned back on the bed, taking in Mrs. Lu’s smile. “Of course it does. It suits you better than anyone.”

1. “登dua郎” is an internet slang term that comes from a mishearing of the Minnan (Hokkien) phrase “转大人,” which means “become an adult.” ☜