Deus Ex Machina: Chapter 13

Chapter 13

This is an inconspicuous basement on the edge of the city, very dim inside, but fortunately not as damp and dirty as one might imagine. As a temporary refuge, it was surprisingly clean, indicating that its owner had a rather serious case of cleanliness obsession.

“Put him on the bed,” Bai Yunci calmly directed Yang Jin, speaking coolly. “I’ve set up signal jamming here, so no one should be able to track us for now. Hand me the toolbox from the cabinet, let me see his wounds…”

Yang Jin swiftly passed the toolbox to Bai Yunci. Bai Yunci used scissors to cut open Shi Yixi’s clothing, then gently used a scalpel to open up his wound. “The bullets used by the assailant are quite special, small caliber with low penetration. Strange… the bullet is stuck inside; I need to extract it. No anesthetic, so bear with me.”

Shi Yixi was in so much pain that his consciousness was fading; he could barely hear Bai Yunci’s words. Ying Si anxiously interjected, “Are you going to cut into him? He’ll be in agony!”

Bai Yunci glanced coldly at Ying Si, gripped a surgical knife, and was about to lash out when Yang Jin restrained his wrist.

“Don’t,” Yang Jin said firmly. “He’s just a talkative little demon, don’t mind him, no need to kill him. Lao Bai, focus on saving him first.”

Ying Si was so terrified by the murderous intent that he fell silent.

“Hold him down, don’t let him move,” Bai Yunci instructed Yang Jin.

“Got it.” Yang Jin embraced Shi Yixi in a restraining manner, exposing only his injured shoulder. Bai Yunci used a sharp scalpel to cut into Shi Yixi’s skin, and the intense pain instantly assaulted Shi Yixi’s nerves. He could only utter a muted “uhh” through gritted teeth, gripping Yang Jin’s clothes tightly.

“It’s okay, it’ll be over soon,” Yang Jin whispered to Shi Yixi. “You’ll be fine, don’t be afraid.”

The sound of tools cutting through skin was subtly disturbing. Shi Yixi was in so much pain, sweating profusely. He wanted to scream, but for some reason, he couldn’t seem to let it out. All his agonized moans were stifled, turning into muffled groans.

Yang Jin was used to hearing hysterical screams, but seeing this young man grit his teeth, eyes half-closed and unfocused, losing consciousness gradually, made Yang Jin uneasy. He had to say to him, “If it hurts, just scream.”

“It hurts…” Only this simple word escaped Shi Yixi’s lips, soft and sincere. It seemed he didn’t know how to do anything else, obediently following Yang Jin’s instructions even in his suffering.

It was truly pitiful.

“Ding!” A bullet dropped to the ground. Bai Yunci swiftly sutured the wound; despite modern technology, he chose the primitive method of stitching, making the incision look less grim. Finally, he applied a protective layer to prevent infection.

Yang Jin stood up from Shi Yixi, seeing him lying there with closed eyes, pale. He looked at Bai Yunci, who said, “I gave him a sedative to let him rest; it hurts more when he’s awake.” Bai Yunci turned to fetch a clean sheet, saying, “Give me a hand.” Yang Jin had to lift Shi Yixi up, watching Bai Yunci change the sheet and gently lay Shi Yixi back down, covering him with a blanket.

Bai Yunci tossed the blood-stained sheet aside and began to clean his hands.

Yang Jin had calluses on his eyes from watching this performance.

“Why are you here?” Bai Yunci asked.

“I could ask you the same question,” Yang Jin replied.

Bai Yunci glanced at Ying Si and asked Yang Jin, “Who are these two?”

Ying Si, who was mentioned, finally snapped out of the shock of nearly being killed earlier. His gaze fell on Bai Yunci. This man was tall and composed, appearing older than Yang Jin, always with a slight frown that carried undeniable pressure. This formidable presence made it impossible for anyone to feel any goodwill toward his handsome appearance; instead, it made one want to run for fear that he might take a life with a single word or action.

“My two students, now teammates,” Yang Jin joked. “But you can ignore them, they’re just dragged oil bottles ¹.” He paused and turned serious. “Qianfan Base was bombed, and I’m the only survivor. Today was supposed to be a rendezvous with the Intercontinental Alliance, but we encountered an assassination attempt instead. That’s the story. Now it’s your turn. Weren’t you sent out on a mission? What’s the situation?”

Bai Yunci nodded and said, “Our mission, all twelve of us, was to investigate the potential secret laboratory of the Sanctum and neutralize their regional firepower. But halfway through the mission, just as we were about to pinpoint the core area, something unexpected happened. Our location was compromised…” He took a breath. “At the time, I was in the rear as medical support. I managed to escape alone, but my terminal was damaged during the escape.” Bai Yunci shook his arm, showing nothing on his wrist. “I haven’t been able to contact Qianfan temporarily, and I suspect there was an internal issue, so I didn’t return hastily. Instead, I hid in Fenghuang City to gather some information, but unexpectedly ran into you. And then you told me that Qianfan had been bombed.”

Yang Jin scrutinized Bai Yunci and said, “So you didn’t know Qianfan had been destroyed before this… You don’t seem surprised by this news.”

“Yes, yesterday’s earthquake alerted me,” Bai Yunci snorted coldly. “How could an earthquake happen for no reason?”

Yang Jin chuckled and mused to himself, “It would be strange if Buddha does not pity the world was surprised about dead people. Ai, what am I thinking?”

“W-what do you mean?” Ying Si, who had been listening to their conversation with confusion, finally found an opportunity to ask.

“Oh, let me introduce you,” Yang Jin remembered that Ying Si had no idea who this person was. “This is Qinafan’s renowned miracle-working doctor, rising from the dead, the resurrection of Hua Tuo ², Bai Yunci.”

“What a damnable name,” Ying Si commented.

Bai Yunci tilted his head slightly, his gaze icy as he looked at Ying Si. Yang Jin hurriedly said, “Young man, I advise you to choose your words carefully. If you argue with me, I’ll just scold you. If you argue with Doctor Bai here, he might actually decide to put a scalpel in your neck without a second thought. How about it, you want to give it a try?”

“Buddha does not pity the world” was the nickname given to Bai Yunci.

In the minds of many people, doctors always played the role of angels, kind-hearted healers who saved lives and were always surrounded by a gentle aura… This might be the image of many doctors in Qianfan, but not Bai Yunci.

To Bai Yunci, saving lives and taking them were one and the same. Calm, rational, and highly skilled in medicine, he had saved many lives, earning the praise and admiration of many. However, he did not possess a heart of compassion ³. To him, life was nothing more than a series of moving shells. He stood above others but never felt love or pity for them.

Whether to save or not was entirely up to his whim.

“Don’t try to provoke the demon uncle,” Yang Jin quietly warned Ying Si, “people really do die.”

Bai Yunci told Yang Jin, “You’re next.”

Ying Si swallowed hard, for the first time swallowing back words he had been about to say.

Instinctively, he felt that Bai Yunci was truly not someone to mess with.

Despite being small, the basement was fully equipped with living essentials. Bai Yunci even took some time to prepare some food for Yang Jin and Ying Si. The two, having not eaten and just escaped a harrowing pursuit, felt their hunger acutely. They devoured Bai Yunci’s meal, leaving nothing behind. Yang Jin even considered licking the plate.

“Don’t embarrass yourself,” Bai Yunci refused.

“I’m really starving,” Yang Jin asked Ying Si, “Little trash, is Uncle Bai’s cooking good?”

Ying Si, holding his empty bowl, looked up, moved his mouth but said nothing.

“I’ve never seen you so quiet,” Yang Jin stood up and stretched. On the nearby bed, Shi Yixi was still asleep, his cheeks slightly flushed. Yang Jin walked over and touched Shi Yixi’s forehead, saying, “He seems to have a fever.”

“A fever is normal,” Bai Yunci said, “but given he’s studying at Nufeng Academy, his immunity should be fine.”

“He’s different,” Yang Jin didn’t know where to start about Shi Yixi, hesitated for a long time, and could only summarize briefly, “He’s the only student with potential regression. Incredibly stupid, and a bit of a blank slate, he understands nothing.”

“I can see that,” Bai Yunci joked, “Guanjing City didn’t consider dissecting him?”

“Maybe… just missed it,” Yang Jin sighed, “anyway, Guanjing City is dead now.”

“Let me do it then,” Bai Yunci quickly moved to the bedside, took out a scalpel, and tapped Shi Yixi’s forehead with the back of the blade, “Let’s cut him open and see what’s inside, might be a major medical discovery, benefiting humanity.”

“Lao Ge ⁴, don’t, don’t, don’t,” Yang Jin stopped him and changed the subject, “By the way, is his arm okay? It won’t be crippled, right?”

“Even if it is, so what?” Bai Yunci retorted, “I can help him remove the arm and replace it with a mechanical one. Mechanical limbs are much more functional than flesh, and they don’t break.”

The advanced technology of human-machine integration had brought great convenience to many with severe disabilities, allowing them to live like normal people. In some fields, the superiority of human-machine integration even surpassed that of fully able-bodied individuals. Some extremists even chose to replace parts of their bodies with mechanical ones.

The flesh was too fragile—it could feel pain and decay, but machinery never would.

Every time Yang Jin thought about Bai Yunci’s twisted hobbies, he felt a chill.

The basement was temporarily safe, and Yang Jin asked Fan Fan to pull up the news reports about the intense battle they had just experienced. In this era, nothing traveled faster than information, and almost immediately after the first gunshot, news of the gunfight at the White Horse Hotel had been released.

However, the news footage did not capture any of the involved individuals, showing only the unlucky CA56 lying in a pool of blood.

Since they couldn’t find the culprits, people naturally blamed the Sanctum for the incident. Fenghuang City, usually peaceful, had never seen such a bloody event, prompting peace-loving citizens to take to the streets in protest against the Sanctum’s actions.

“I don’t think it’s that simple,” Yang Jin remarked.

“Do you know who attacked you?” Bai Yunci asked.

“Honestly, I don’t know anything right now,” Yang Jin said. “Actually, the moment I entered that restaurant, I sensed something was off. Think about it, are the Intercontinental Alliance people idiots? Why would CA56 sit in such an obvious spot by the window? Was this meeting supposed to be an interview for reporters? And it was such a coincidence that all the windows were pulled back. I know this kind of environment too well; the moment I saw it, I instinctively felt there was danger. As it turns out, my instincts were spot on. If it were anyone else, the story would have ended right there.”

“So, you suspect CA56?” Bai Yunci asked.

“No, I don’t know who to suspect. There are too many possible suspects right now,” Yang Jin said. “You mentioned that your position was exposed during your mission. Such highly classified mission directives aren’t something just anyone can access. Coupled with what happened today… it’s very suspicious. Maybe we have a significant information leak internally, or a traitor… And once an enemy exploits such a leak, the consequences are unimaginable.”

Bai Yunci said, “That’s why I didn’t return to Qianfan immediately; I feared the worst-case scenario. But it’s also possible that the enemy has simply grown stronger without our knowledge, strong enough to confront us directly.”

“You’re right, the Intercontinental Alliance chairpersons said something quite true,” Yang Jin said. “Right now, no one can be trusted.”

Bai Yunci fell into deep thought.

“There are too many mysteries now,” Yang Jin said. “To find out the truth, we may have to venture into danger.”

“Are you planning to confront the Sanctum directly?” Bai Yunci asked.

“Single-handedly? You’re overestimating me, my Bai Gege,” Yang Jin laughed. “Look at our current situation: one DPS without weapons or equipment, a healer who only likes to kill, and two lying down bosses ⁵. What can we do? Get ourselves killed?”

Though he said it jokingly, the reality was indeed grim.

“Does this one know nothing as well?” Bai Yunci asked, pointing at Ying Si.

“Pretty much,” Yang Jin replied.

Bai Yunci scrutinized Ying Si with a gaze that made him extremely uncomfortable, like a coroner examining a corpse. Ying Si tried hard to avoid Bai Yunci’s eyes. Bai Yunci tapped the table and asked, “You have an Eastern surname, but you don’t look the part. Your hair color is strange too. Is it dyed?”

“Of course not!” Ying Si exclaimed. “It’s natural.”

Bai Yunci shook his head. “No.”

“Why would I lie to you?” Ying Si argued. “Why can’t a mixed-race person look like this?”

Yang Jin added, “Only his nails are dyed.”

Bai Yunci spread his hands. “You really can’t do anything?”

Ying Si thought for a moment and replied, “I can fix some things.”

Bai Yunci looked at Yang Jin and said, “When I escaped, I only brought some common tools with me. If we want to take the initiative against the Sanctum, a couple of scalpels won’t suffice.”

“At least get a gun,” Yang Jin said. “Fan Fan, babe, can you forge a bank card to get some money so I can buy weapons on the black market?”

Fan Fan said, “Are you looking to die?”

“Speaking of the black market,” Bai Yunci said, “I do know someone.”

“Who?” Yang Jin asked.

“His name is Feng Mang, a well-known underground weapons dealer around here.”

“How do you know that?” Yang Jin asked. “I’ve never heard of him.”

“Of course, you haven’t,” Bai Yunci said. “You have access to the best resources at Qianfan and rarely operate around here. I heard about him when I was hiding here. The nanoneedles I used to destroy those drones were from him, traded for one of my scalpels.”

His scalpel wasn’t just a surgical tool; it had a complex, precise design that made it a lethal laser blade.

“Weren’t you afraid of exposing yourself?” Yang Jin exclaimed. “Selling weapons is against the rules.”

Bai Yunci raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you planning to break Intercontinental Alliance rules to do your own thing?”

“So where do we find him?” Yang Jin asked.

“His home is in Sunset Manor on the east side of Fenghuang City,” Bai Yunci said. “But he’s not easy to meet.”

“Then what’s the point of this conversation?” Yang Jin was exasperated.

“But if you tell him you’re Yang Jin, you might see him right away,” Bai Yunci smiled.

If you're enjoying the story don't forget to support the author! You can also support me on KOFI for site maintenance, raws purchase or as an energy boost~ 

 

AFFILIATE AD

Want to develop your career or work on a new hobby but don't have the financial resources? Check out these courses encompassing all aspects and topics. Want to build your own website or app, but don't even know what <!DOCTYPE> is, how about these IT Courses. Don't want to keep waiting for slow translators to update? 别担心！中文课程来拯救你了! Did you just become a Teacher and have NO idea what the f*ck you're doing? Early Childhood Education For Dummies 101 is in session! Lied on your CV that you can work under pressure but are now hiding in the bathroom playing ostrich? You still have to come up for air anyways so how about taking a Self Development course to manage stress and improve mental health. Whatever you're interested in, at the click of a button. And the best thing it's all for free! And...you can get an accredited certificate! START LEARNING BEFORE YOU'RE TOO OLD TO RETAIN ANYTHING OR GET FIRED FROM YOUR JOB! Or if you are fired, Build A New Resume to reel in the next one~

 

 

Translator Notes

1. Derogatory term for children brought from a previous marriage[↩]
2. Hua Tuo (c. 140–208), courtesy name Yuanhua, was a Chinese physician who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty.^[1] The historical texts Records of the Three Kingdoms and Book of the Later Han record Hua Tuo as the first person in China to use anaesthesia during surgery. Besides being respected for his expertise in surgery and anesthesia, Hua Tuo was famous for his abilities in acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine and medical daoyin exercises.[↩]
3. Bodhi heart – enlightened heart[↩]
4. Old elder brother[↩]
5. Basically a useless teammate who can only be carried to win[↩]