SDT 13

SDT 13 Vulnerability

Manjing Second Hospital.

The doctor frowned at the new medical report, silent for a long while.

“Just tell me straight,” Yu Xiaowen propped his face up, looking at the doctor. “How much time is left?”

The doctor pondered for a moment before telling him, “Possibly a few months, less than half a year.”

After a moment, he added, “If you’re willing to try that targeted chemotherapy drug I mentioned last time, it might extend your time a bit.”

Yu Xiaowen: “The one that requires long-term hospitalization and causes hair loss?”

Doctor: “Yes. Honestly, you should start inpatient treatment now. If the subsequent results are favorable, there’s a chance you could be discharged later…”

Yu Xiaowen shifted his gaze from the doctor to the window.

He was silent for a while, lost in thought.

Then he said, “Forget it. I can’t stay hospitalized. Hospital life is so boring.”

He looked at the doctor again. He was silent for a while, lost in thought.

Then he said, “Forget it. I can’t stay in the hospital. It’s so boring.”

He gazed out at the streets lined with lush green leaves dotted with fiery red berry blossoms, tilting his chin slightly. “I still have so many things I want to do.”

After leaving the hospital, he didn’t return to the police station. Instead, he took a bus straight to the commercial center in District S. After the last lead they were following vanished, they had no choice but to investigate another source of pharmaceuticals. According to one of Yu Xiaowen’s informants, highly suspicious individuals connected to the case had been spotted there recently.

On the bus, he browsed web pages, things like “How to Properly View Death.” Whenever he came across a sentence that struck a chord, he’d take a screenshot and save it.

Whenever he encountered certain profound, emotionally resonant philosophies, his muscle-bound brain would oscillate between moments of sudden clarity and moments of utter incomprehension. He’d inexplicably think of the victim. And in that instant, he’d suddenly feel fortunate. He’d also recall that morning days ago, in the soft, faint light, the gentle whisper of “Good morning” close by. He remembered reaching out from under the covers to tug at the victim’s clothes or feet.

But he was too shy. The interaction never happened.

This shouldn’t be.

The dead are supreme.

Yu Xiaowen is supreme.

He messaged the victim: [Puppy emoji]

Victim: What’s wrong?

Yu Xiaowen: I miss you.

Victim: I’m busy.

Yu Xiaowen: Did I ask you?

The victim went silent again.

“…” Yu Xiaowen considered typing another message when the train pulled into the station.

He cursed under his breath and tucked his phone away.

…

Lu Kongyun emerged from the treatment room, followed by Dr. Gao Yuting.

“Take your medication on time. Also, even though you don’t usually wear the suppressant device, remember not to remove the wristband until this entire susceptibility period is over,” Dr. Gao instructed as he closed the door.

“Got it.”

The two entered Dr. Gao’s private clinic reception area. After sitting down on the sofa, Lu Kongyun reapplied the bite inhibitor over his mouth and fastened the clasp at the back of his neck.

Dr. Gao poured himself a cup of tea. He considered offering one to his guest, but upon seeing the tightly sealed device over his mouth, he realized drinking would be impossible and set the teapot down.

“This susceptibility period came on rather suddenly for you,” Dr. Gao remarked, taking a sip of tea.

Lu Kongyun remained silent.

Dr. Gao continued, “The strongest Alphas always have their issues, aggressive, promiscuous, often twisted and perverted… Because the Alphas with the highest pheromone levels, like the alpha wolf in a pack, must be the most ruthless and fertile to reach the top, possessing authority and more offspring. Frankly, we AOs are all humanoid beasts that didn’t evolve properly. You need to face your biological nature.”

He set down his teacup. “Isn’t there a particularly large clubhouse in Manjing? I hear many S-rank officers frequent it. It has everything you could want, guarantees satisfaction, and is both secure and discreet. You should go if you can. Why keep coming to my clinic for business? My rates are pretty steep.”

“I don’t need it,” Lu Kongyun said. “Besides, military personnel aren’t allowed in those kinds of places.”

Dr. Gao sighed. “You’re an insider yourself. You must understand. An Alpha of your caliber needs his own release method to maintain stability.”

“I’m stable,” Lu Kongyun replied.

Dr. Gao tutted. “Oh? Bringing a bite-blocker to see the doctor first thing in the morning, how ‘stable’ is that?”

“Knowing to see a doctor proves I’m stable.” Lu Kongyun replied. He glanced around the waiting room and casually asked, “Did my brother come see you? He asked for your your contact information.”

Dr. Gao paused, set down his teacup, then stood up, motioning for Lu Kongyun to follow.

Dr. Gao led him down a corridor, pushed open a door, and entered a relatively secluded space. Further inside was another room. Dr. Gao walked over, stood at the doorway, and pointed to the observation window.

Lu Kongyun peered inside through the window.

The treatment room was brightly lit, filled with various medical instruments. In the center, a man sat in a wheelchair. A bite-blocker covered his face, and his limbs were restrained to the chair. He had kept his head bowed, his features hidden. But when Lu Kongyun’s gaze fell upon him, the man seemed to sense it and looked back.

His state was dazed and weak, yet his eyes held an instinctive focus and a cold gleam.

“This is the one your brother sent over the other day. He called me late at night in the rain, specifically to deliver him. Said you recommended him.”

Lu Kongyun: “Mhm.”

“Heard he’s a spy from M Country. Your brother drove him mad,” Gao Yuting murmured with a hint of amusement. “Look at your brother, he sure knows how to find amusement in his work to release his own stress.”

“He wasn’t seeking amusement. Lu Qifeng has always been accustomed to using any means necessary to achieve his goals.”

“There must be something else on this man he absolutely needs to obtain, which is why he sent him in for treatment.” Lu Kongyun withdrew his gaze and looked at Dr. Gao. “That madman excels at making people wish they were dead. If my brother needs you to do anything later, try not to make it too painful for them. That shouldn’t be too hard for you.”

“…”

The Lu family possessed a hereditary gene that transcended ordinary levels, a secret neither too great nor too small. For every gift comes its own curse. While they displayed extraordinary talents and flawless appearances in public, behind closed doors lay a savage, frenzied instinct beyond imagination.

If Lu Qifeng was a madman, then Lu Kongyun who had to suppress his nature, wasn’t he just another kind of aberration?

Dr. Gao looked at him, he wanted to say something but held back.

He only replied, “Alright. I understand.”

Dr. Gao glanced at the digital clock. “Shall we grab lunch together? It’s almost mealtime.”

Lu Kongyun exhaled.

“I have a blind date today.”

Dr. Gao froze. “…A blind date with a bite control device?”

“Yes. I have urgent business and can’t delay,” Lu Kongyun replied.

Lu Kongyun left the clinic and drove toward the commercial center in District S. Lu Qingchuan’s assistant had reserved a table at a high-end restaurant there for his lunch meeting with his blind date, Ms. Chen from the Finance Department.

To reach District S, he had to drive through the city’s old quarter. He passed the Carp Seafood Food Stall again. Without the daytime bustle of tables and noisy diners, the cramped dilapidation of the old buildings became more apparent, as did the haphazardly parked cars clogging the road.

As he gradually passed the spot where he had parked, the crisp sound of raindrops hitting a flimsy transparent umbrella seemed to echo overhead once more.

Upon reaching the parking lot, he pulled out his phone and replied: I’m busy right now. What’s up?

This time, the blackmailer didn’t respond.

…

Yu Xiaowen bought a bottle of water, broke two painkillers, and swallowed them with a gulp. After a moment’s rest, he returned to the tree. The informant was crouched beneath it, leaning against the trunk.

Informant: “Captain Yu, when will you pay my fee?”

“When I’m convinced this lead can reel in a fish instead of just knitting sweaters.” He took another sip of water.

Informant: “Captain Yu, it’s so hot today. You went to buy water but didn’t get me a bottle?”

Yu Xiaowen: “Captain Yu not making you pay for your own water puts you ahead of 90% of officers. Count yourself lucky.”

Informant: “Captain Yu, you’d make a great stand-up comedian. How about we form a duo?”

Yu Xiaowen knew these low-level grunts rarely got to interact with Omegas… even the most inferior ones. Especially officers who had to use them, always wanting to chat a bit more. When Yu Xiaowen was in a good mood, he’d banter with them; when he wasn’t, he’d make sure their asses got a few shoe prints.

Though fresh out of the hospital, his overall mood remained upbeat during these morally bankrupt days of extortion. He casually replied, “What’s a crosstalk?”

Informant blinked: “An art of spoken word. I heard it when I traveled to Country C. It was hilarious.”

Yu Xiaowen chuckled as he screwed the cap back on. “Wow, you’ve been abroad? I’ve never left the country in all my years. Even leaving the province was part of a joint manhunt.”

The informant immediately lit up. “Then I highly recommend you go. It’s fantastic. The place I visited is called Jiang City. It snows there, heavily.”

Yu Xiaowen: “Snow.”

“Yeah. Never seen it before, huh?” The informant looked up. Just moments ago, the midday sun had been shining brightly, but now dark clouds were rolling in, signaling an impending rain.

“Here, it’s just rain, rain, rain all the time. It’s bloody annoying.” “

Yu Xiaowen: “But lots of people come to Manjing for vacation.”

The informant shook his head: “They don’t live here. Once they get too hot, they head back.”

Yu Xiaowen chuckled.

The informant chuckled too. Then he fixed his gaze on a distant figure, focusing intently. Yu Xiaowen followed his line of sight.

“That guy? You sure?”

The informant nodded emphatically. “I’ve seen him twice at our boss’s events. No way I’d mistake him.”

…

For the second time, Lu Kongyun sat across from Ms. Chen. The restaurant remained upscale, the atmosphere still elegant. Only the bite-blocker clamped over his mouth marred the scene, forcing him to sip his drink through a straw, his lips pressed against the guard’s slit.

“What’s going on with you?” Ms. Chen seemed intrigued. “Is this your susceptible period? You, Lu Kongyun, having a susceptible period?”

Lu Kongyun set down his drink. “I’m a fully functional Alpha. Of course I have a susceptible period.”

“Oh?” Ms. Chen leaned forward to look at him. “So, how do you usually handle it?”

“Many ways,” Lu Kongyun replied.

Ms. Chen chuckled. “Tell me. I’m curious how an S-class Alpha relieves his susceptible period.”

Lu Kongyun: “Like going to the S-House Club and doing whatever I please. Or finding a same-sex partner to play the most thrilling games in the most primitive settings. Or venting by subjecting certain criminals from opposing nations to unpleasant acts during experiments.”

Ms. Chen chuckled. “Nonsense. My brother is one of the club’s directors. I asked him about it before, and he told me you’ve never been there.”

Lu Kongyun: “I see. Then I’ll make a point of visiting more often to support Mr. Chen’s business.”

He pulled out the project proposal and handed it to her.

“This project has received state approval to support my lab’s research. All that’s missing now are the signatures from the Ministry of Finance and the Military Affairs Department.”

Ms. Chen took it, glanced at the proposal, then set it down.

“Hmph. I knew you were here for this. Director Lu, you’re an S-class Alpha in your receptive phase. Bringing a big dog-mouthed guy along to ‘date’ an Omega for work? How polite is that?”

“If you find this kind of date offensive, Director Chen, perhaps we should just treat it as a meeting.” Lu Kongyun handed the project proposal back to her. “Review it carefully. If any part doesn’t comply with the approval process, you can reject it, and I’ll redo it. If not, just sign it.”

Ms. Chen stared at him for a moment before opening the proposal to examine it.

After a moment, she pulled out a pen and signed.

Then she said, “The Military Affairs Department requires my father’s signature. You can drop me off at home now and pick him up for the signature. How about it?”

Lu Kongyun considered it and replied, “Alright.”

As they left the restaurant, rain began to fall. Lu Kongyun opened his umbrella, covering both their heads as they walked toward the parking lot. A slight distance separated them, and Ms. Chen still wore high heels that were inconvenient in the rain. Lu Kongyun shifted the limited space of the umbrella to cover more of her side, leaving part of his own shoulder exposed.

Ms. Chen glanced at his damp shoulder, she smiled as she carefully stepped around puddles.

“You’re not that uncivilized… uh.”

They stopped in their tracks, staring at the scene unfolding not far ahead.

Through the rain curtain, two mud-covered figures thrashed in a puddle. Then one lunged forward, pinning the other down.

“Fucking… cop…”

The scene was intense, resembling two bulls locked in a mating season fight.

The one pinned beneath gasped for air, but as he seized his opponent’s arm, he swiftly drew a pair of gleaming handcuffs. With two sharp clicks, he expertly locked the other’s hands behind his back. Then, driving an iron knee into his opponent, he made him scream. The bottom fighter instantly jumped up, reversing the situation, pressing down on his opponent’s neck to subdue him.

Ms. Chen gasped. One of the mud figures lifted his head, breathing heavily.

He saw Lu Kongyun, froze for a moment, then quickly wiped the muddy water from his cheeks with his palm.

Even more muddy.

He stared at Lu Kongyun’s bite-blocker for a moment before immediately shifting his gaze to the female Omega beside him. Ms. Chen felt a chill run through her at the sight of this bull-like mud man, instinctively taking a step back to hide behind Lu Kongyun.

The pinned man cried out, struggling to resist. The mud-covered figure wiped rainwater from his eyes with the back of his hand, then lowered his head to press down on him again with force.

“I told you to stay still. You’re handcuffed, trying to run will just leave you broken and begging for mercy.” His voice was hoarse as he spoke.

Lu Kongyun studied the man’s face, then reached for his wrist, increasing the suppression level on the wristband.