Chapter 97

The name Wang Yafei was something Shang Jianyao had just heard this morning.

When he attended the gathering of the "Life Sacrifice" cult, a member mentioned this person, saying that he supported the establishment of "birth centers" to ensure that all children came from artificial wombs.

The member also said that because she always argued with Wang Yafei about this matter, she was deliberately suppressed by him, who was her supervisor, and was given the most arduous cleaning job as an excuse.

At that time, the "Guide" Ren Jie's response was:

"God will punish the sinners."

Less than four hours after these words, Wang Yafei died suddenly at his workplace due to cardiac arrest.

If Shang Jianyao hadn't heard the relevant conversation beforehand, he wouldn't have found anything unusual about this news—within "Pangu Biotech," people often died suddenly from illnesses, which was a normal occurrence.

If Wang Yafei had died two or three years later, Shang Jianyao wouldn't have considered it particularly abnormal and would have treated it as a coincidence.

But now, on the same day Ren Jie said, "God will punish the sinners," the "sinner" Wang Yafei died of illness.

Shang Jianyao suddenly stood up, took off his previously hung coat, and put it on.

He quickly walked out the door, heading straight for Area C.

As he walked, his pace gradually slowed, soon returning to his usual speed.

Approaching the "Activity Center," Shang Jianyao glanced around and saw Shen Du standing in the shadow of the side wall, immersed in the dim light.

He stood there in a daze, his eyes looking forward but completely unfocused, so he didn't notice Shang Jianyao approaching.

"Uncle Shen," Shang Jianyao called out.

Shen Du shivered, slightly turned his head, and looked at the source of the voice.

"Little Shang..." He managed to force a smile.

Shang Jianyao said in a very calm tone:

"Wang Yafei is dead."

Shen Du's face turned slightly pale, and the muscles on the sides of his mouth twitched.

"I know."

His voice was very low, as if he was afraid of disturbing something invisible.

Shang Jianyao looked at him and asked directly:

"Is this divine punishment?"

Shen Du shivered again, his expression instantly becoming blank.

"I don't know..." His gaze passed over Shang Jianyao, and his eyes seemed to lose focus again.

Just as Shang Jianyao was about to ask more, a five or six-year-old boy ran over, grabbed Shen Du's hanging hand, and shook it, saying:

"Dad, Dad, it's time to go home!"

"Okay, okay." Shen Du responded, turned his head to Shang Jianyao, and said, "I'll go back first."

"Goodbye." Shang Jianyao waved politely.

Shen Du looked back at his child, and a gentle smile gradually appeared on his face.

He held the child's hand and met his wife, who was coming out of the "Activity Center," and they walked back to Area B step by step.

Shang Jianyao watched his back for a long time without turning his head.

During several gatherings of the "Life Sacrifice," he used his "talent" to build good relationships with many members and listened to their reasons for joining the cult.

Among them, Shen Du had a child who died young and had always been unable to let go. When they had their current child, he became even more worried about similar issues, fearing that he wouldn't be able to raise the child.

Ren Jie noticed his situation, befriended him, and taught him a lot of parenting knowledge.

Later, as his child grew up and became healthy, Shen Du increasingly believed in the god that Ren Jie spoke of, and ultimately joined the "Life Sacrifice" cult.

After a while, Shang Jianyao收回目光，走向“活动中心”的大门。

此时，因为已经开始广播节目，外面几乎没有人行，只有里面传来打牌和聊天的声音。

当然，如果仔细打量四周，还是能在各个阴暗处发现一些成双成对的身影。

Shang Jianyao was about to pass through the gate when he suddenly saw two familiar figures coming out.

The woman on the right, about 27 or 28 years old, was Jian Xin, the cult member who had complained about Wang Yafei during the "Life Sacrifice" gathering this morning.

She had beautiful features and a delicate appearance, making her a very attractive woman.

—This was thanks to the widespread use of gene improvement drugs.

The other person was her husband, Zhuo Zhengyuan, who was also a member of the "Life Sacrifice" cult.

At this moment, Jian Xin's face was pale, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness.

She looked very nervous, as if any slight disturbance would startle her.

Her husband, Zhuo Zhengyuan, had a gloomy expression, giving off an aura that suggested he did not want to be approached.

Shang Jianyao took a few steps and stood in front of them.

Jian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan stopped simultaneously, their bodies trembling slightly.

Shang Jianyao lowered his voice and said:

"Wang Yafei is dead."

Jian Xin, with her short hair, reflexively said:

"It's a coincidence, definitely a coincidence..."

Her voice gradually became lower, leaving only a faint echo, filled with an inexplicable sense of panic and confusion.

Zhuo Zhengyuan swallowed and said in a deep voice:

"The preliminary autopsy results are out. It was indeed a sudden cardiac arrest, with no external cause."

Shang Jianyao nodded:

"Quite a coincidence."

He then moved aside, allowing Jian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan to pass.

After the couple had walked a distance, Shang Jianyao turned to look at them.

Under the fluorescent lights, the shadows of Jian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan swayed slightly, appearing somewhat frail.

Shang Jianyao remembered that they joined the "Life Sacrifice" cult because Jian Xin had miscarried twice and had only managed to conceive a third time with great difficulty.

Now, their child had been born without any issues and had inherited most of the advantages of the previous generation's gene improvements.

This would allow the child to gain better talents in subsequent drug adjustments.

Apart from her tendency to argue about birth issues, Jian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan were good people. They were kind-hearted, loved children, and always comforted other members during gatherings. They never ignored those who needed help.

Once, when Shang Jianyao's comment about "not having enough" made Ren Jie feel a bit embarrassed, Zhuo Zhengyuan even offered to share his unfinished communion with him.

Shang Jianyao slowly withdrew his gaze and entered the "Activity Center."

He looked around but did not see Li Zhen or other cult members. Only the "Guide" Ren Jie was still in her usual spot, chatting with a group of women in their forties.

Ren Jie, with her hair in a bun, seemed to notice his gaze and turned her head to look over.

Seeing a familiar face, she smiled slightly and nodded warmly.

Shang Jianyao returned the gesture with the same action.

He did not approach her but found a random spot and watched the people playing cards, listening to the broadcast that was always influenced by various sounds in the place.

Time passed slowly, and the streetlights were about to turn off, signaling the approach of night.

Ren Jie glanced at her old electronic watch, stood up, and smiled at the surrounding women:

"Let's go, let's go, someone is waiting for you!"

The group laughed and chatted for a few moments, and Ren Jie left the "Activity Center," heading in the direction of her home.

Shang Jianyao stood up and followed her casually.

After turning into another street, Ren Jie, seeing no one around, slowed her pace, allowing Shang Jianyao to catch up and walk beside her.

"Little Shang, what's up?" Ren Jie asked in a low, conversational tone.

Shang Jianyao's eyes gradually darkened:

"Aunt Ren, look:

"We live on the same floor;

"We are both members of the cult;

"So..."

Ren Jie initially listened with a bit of confusion but gradually understood:

"So, we should build a closer relationship, like..."

As she spoke, her eyes gradually became strange, and her face turned slightly red, as if she was thinking in a certain direction.

Shang Jianyao's eyebrows twitched, and he decisively called out:

"Mom!"

Ren Jie was taken aback, and her expression returned to normal.

She chuckled:

"Then I'll take you as my godson.

"If your parents were still alive, they would be about my age."

After recognizing him as her godson, her attitude became noticeably warmer.

Shang Jianyao controlled his expression and repeated his previous words:

"Wang Yafei is dead."

Ren Jie tilted her head slightly, looked at him, and after a few seconds of silence, asked:

"Do you feel fear and unease?"

"And surprise," Shang Jianyao added.

Ren Jie smiled slightly:

"Do you suspect that this is the punishment from the god for the sinner?"

"Or a reward?" Shang Jianyao's thoughts involuntarily jumped.

Ren Jie almost lost the rhythm of their conversation, but after a moment, she laughed:

"I cannot answer your question on behalf of the god.

"I can only say that the god of fate is always watching us, rewarding the good and punishing the evil.

"As for whether this is the case, I don't know, but if it's not the god's punishment, I don't think it would be such a coincidence."

Shang Jianyao pressed further:

"Then who knows if it is?"

Ren Jie's expression immediately became serious:

"The Holy Master."

PS: First update of the day, seeking monthly votes~