Free Web NovelChapter 374: Chapter 281: A Suggestive Action
The researchers present listened to the assignments from the director of the Spiritual Energy Research Institute. None had any objections, and they all nodded in agreement.
Then, under the director’s supervision, the junior and mid-level researchers who had received the red mushrooms left one by one. This left five senior researchers, including Zhao Tianfu.
"I’m out," a senior researcher with salt-and-pepper hair said, explaining, "The project I’m currently working on isn’t finished, so I don’t have time to study this Mutant Beast corpse."
"Now that you mention it, I’m realizing my project’s deadline is pretty tight. I’m out too..." a bald senior researcher chimed in.
Prompted by these two, the remaining senior researchers—with the exception of Zhao Tianfu—also pulled out, all citing tight deadlines on their current projects and an inability to spare the time.
Zhao Tianfu had originally been thinking, ’If I don’t get picked in the drawing later, I’ll just have to negotiate with one of my colleagues to let me participate.’
But now, as things stood, his colleagues had all backed out. There was no need for a drawing; he would be the one to take on this rather peculiar Mutant Beast corpse by default.
"Zhao Tianfu, do you have time?" The director of the Spiritual Energy Research Institute asked, turning to Zhao Tianfu, who was staring at the corpse. He’d just seen the other four senior researchers pull out of the drawing, all citing a lack of time.
"My current project is in its final stages. I should be able to wrap it up in a day or two," Zhao Tianfu replied with a smile.
The implication was clear: he would have more than enough time to study this strange Mutant Beast corpse.
The director of the Spiritual Energy Research Institute nodded and announced, "Very well. The Mutant Beast corpse is yours to research.
But be careful. A phenomenon like this—sprouting mushrooms in just a few short hours—is a first for me. We don’t want any accidents."
"Don’t worry, Director. I’ll be careful," Zhao Tianfu said with a nod. He then moved the Mutant Beast corpse from the platform onto a handcart and pushed it back to his personal laboratory.
Once back in his lab, Zhao Tianfu transferred the Mutant Beast’s body from the handcart to his examination table. He put on a mask and gloves, then began dissecting the corpse of the giant owl Mutant Beast and performing a series of analyses.
...
As the sun set, a soft light filled the sky.
The brilliant red sunset stained half the sky, and its gorgeous colors now painted the glistening sea. In the distance, the water and sky seemed to merge into one.
"CAW! CAW! CAW!"
A large flock of seagulls circled in the sky, every so often diving headfirst into the sea.
They would emerge with small, silvery-white fish in their beaks and fly back toward the shore, carrying their catch home to feed their newly hatched chicks.
The endless waves crashed against the reefs on the shore, kicking up white sprays of foam.
Nearby, a man and a woman in swimsuits walked along the soft sand of the beach.
It was the last day of Lin Li and Su Yue’s trip to Qiong City. Tomorrow morning, they would be catching a flight home.
The two had made a pact: on the evening of their last day before returning to Rongcheng, they would face off in the sea. The appointed time had come, and so they had made their way to the beach.
During their days in Qiong City, Lin Li would go down to the sea to practice his swimming every evening after they returned to the hotel from a day of sightseeing. Su Yue saw it all. She praised his efforts out loud, but inwardly, she didn’t think much of it.
She figured there was no way Lin Li could beat her after just a few days of last-minute practice. She was still brimming with confidence.
But after several days of training, Lin Li was a completely different swimmer.
He looked at the ever-confident Su Yue and thought, ’After I win, I’m definitely going to rub it in a little.’
"Su Yue, what’s our finish line?" Lin Li asked.
Su Yue raised a slender arm, extended her index finger, and pointed to a buoy floating on the water in the distance.
"We’ll use that buoy as the turning point. Swim there, then swim back. First one back to the beach wins."
Lin Li estimated the distance. The round trip would be about 1,500 meters. He nodded. "Alright, let’s start!"
"Wait,"
"What is it?"
"Let’s do some warm-ups before we start the race," Su Yue said.
Hearing this, Lin Li knew she had learned her lesson from the leg cramp she’d gotten in the sea before, hence the suggestion.
"Alright."
And so, the two of them began their warm-ups on the beach.
Su Yue was wearing a light purple two-piece swimsuit, her silky hair tied up in a bun. Her enviably fair skin, captivating face, and voluptuous figure made many passersby on the beach turn their heads for a second look.
Meanwhile, Lin Li, who stood beside her, was naturally overlooked by everyone.
"Alright, the race is on!" Su Yue announced after quickly finishing her warm-ups, speaking to Lin Li, who was still stretching beside her.
Without waiting for a response, she immediately ran a few steps, dove into the sea, and began swimming rapidly toward the distant buoy.
"Hey?!!!"
Lin Li, still in the middle of his warm-ups, watched as Su Yue dove into the water and shot toward the distant buoy like a nimble mermaid. He was completely dumbfounded.
