Deviant: No Longer Human

Hidden deep within Wang Xiao's body was a remarkable secret, one he had guarded closely, revealing it to no one, not even his closest confidants.

Following their last deadly encounter with the poisonous flowers, something extraordinary had occurred.

He had seemingly gained immunity to all types of poisons.

Every single variety!

This newfound resilience allowed him to effortlessly navigate through the deadly barrier of flowers that had previously concealed the hidden passage below.

Yet, the existence of the hidden passage had become redundant for him.

He could now stroll past the barrier without a trace of fear, but still, his curiosity persisted.

After all, for ordinary humans, the notion of walking through that treacherous barrier unharmed was unfathomable.

Wang Xiao's strategic brilliance shone through.

Whenever Mei Leiyan conducted tests on his body, he skillfully feigned vulnerability to poisons and intoxication.

Assisted by the knowledge he had acquired from Yin Yue, he flawlessly acted the part of a susceptible individual.

In truth, he had long achieved immunity to such substances.

But there remained one perplexing question: why had he pretended to be unconscious?

It was a carefully calculated move on his part.

Understanding a person's true intentions was a daunting challenge.

Even spending a lifetime with someone didn't guarantee insight into their thoughts and motives, as they rarely unveiled their innermost feelings when you were conscious.

So, he had acted unconscious, not only to gauge Mei Leiyan's reactions but also to unveil all of Bing Xueli's concealed schemes and secrets. It had been a laborious endeavor, spanning five long years, but Bing Xueli had remained on his ever-growing list of suspicious individuals.

As long as Bing Xueli didn't commit any acts of betrayal behind his back, Wang Xiao was willing to let certain matters slide.

However, she had crossed the line by committing the very crime she had managed to avoid for years.

In doing so, she had essentially dug her own grave.

Intentions held little weight for Wang Xiao; it was the actions that spoke volumes. If she was capable of such deception today, she could very well repeat it tomorrow.

Whether her motives were pure or not held no relevance for him.

Wang Xiao had diligently assessed both Bing Xueli and Mei Leiyan, recognizing that people often revealed their true colors when they thought no one was watching.

Sometimes, it was advantageous to appear oblivious. In social gatherings, he had developed a habit of turning on voice recording on his phone before temporarily leaving the table.

He would place the phone upside down, then return and engage in conversation while discreetly monitoring what was said behind his back.

This practice had become second nature to him.

He employed it at the school, in his home, and even at parties.

Whether it was family, a girlfriend, a wife, or the person he trusted most, Wang Xiao believed it was crucial to understand how they acted in his absence.

The world was far too vast to be careless, and he was determined to stay one step ahead.

Wang Xiao was resolute in his determination not to fall into a situation like the one he had experienced before. He understood that life was far too unpredictable to rely solely on miracles.

____

As Wang Xiao walking nonchalantly through the dense forest, the soft earth cool under his bare feet, a sudden burst of gunfire shattered the night's stillness.

His brow furrowed in confusion and concern.

"What's happening here?" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely a whisper against the darknesss of the night.

The forest, a labyrinth of towering birch trees, stood like silent sentinels in the moonlit night. Shadows danced eerily as flashes of gunpowder illuminated the scene in staccato bursts. Wang Xiao's eyes, adjusting to the sporadic light, discerned two clashing forces.

On one side, a group of soldiers in crisp military uniforms held their ground with disciplined precision. Their faces were set in grim determination, rifles crackling as they returned fire with methodical accuracy.

"Stand firm! Protect the perimeter!" barked a grizzled sergeant, his voice sharp like a knife.

On the opposite side, a ragtag band of mercenaries was advancing, their movements wild and unpredictable. Their clothes were mismatched and worn, telling tales of many battles. The leader, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, barked orders, his voice rough and commanding.

"Push forward, lads! Victory is ours!" he yelled, his voice laced with a rough, unyielding edge.

Wang Xiao crouched low, his mind racing.

"Should I step in, or simply watch?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the mix of gunfire and shouts.

Suddenly, a familiar, ethereal voice echoed in his mind, chilling yet oddly comforting. Yin Yue, spoke with a sense of urgency.

[Wanf Xiao, you are no longer hidden. Stop trying to blend with the shadows.]

Wang Xiao "What do you mean?" his eyes instantly scanning the chaos for any sign of exposure.

Yin Yue's voice was a cold whisper in his mind. [Another hell spirit is here. It has sensed your presence.]

His brows furrowing, Wang Xiao spoke slightly surprised "A hell spirit... like you? Where is it?"

[Look at the mercenaries' leader.] Yin Yue's directive was sharp, filled with an unspoken warning.

Wang Xiao's gaze shifted to the mercenary leader, a man named Jake, whose figure had now retreated from the frontline. The air around Jake seemed to warp, creating a sinister aura. His eyes, previously hidden in the shadows, were now eerily visible, glowing a deep, blood-red, fixated directly on Wang Xiao.

Yin Yue's voice turned frantic. [Run, now!]

!!

Ivan, a slight thin man with a scar across his left hand, called out to his leader in confusion. "Boss, where are you going!?" His voice was laced with concern as he saw Jake veering off the path, abandoning the frontlines.

Without turning back, Jake shouted over his shoulder, his voice resonating with a dark, chilling edge. "Take care of the frontlines! I'll be back soon!" His sinister laugh,void and cold, cut through the chilly night, causing a shiver among his men.

Jake's eyes, now glowing an ominous blood-red, were fixed in the direction Wang Xiao had fled. A predatory smile crept across his face. "Running won't save you," he murmured to himself.

Boom!

In an instant, his body underwent a startling transformation. Muscles bulged, tearing through the fabric of his pants as a surge of supernatural energy coursed through him. With the power and grace of a cheetah, he launched himself forward, his speed astonishing as he pursued his prey.

Whoosh!

The forest blurred around Jake as he followed Wang Xiao's trail, his senses heightened, attuned to every movement, every sound. The distance between them closed rapidly until they were far removed from the chaotic sounds of gunfire, deep in the heart of the forest.