Chapter 75: City of Order

Chapter 75

It was unprecedented for the king to be changed mid-way in the Power Lust Layer—especially when the new king was someone none of them recognized.

After the confusion, everyone started quickly asking around who this person was. Could he be not from the City of Order?

The former king was present, but everyone was looking at Zhou Xiangzhe. Every pair of dog eyes held shock and confusion. For someone like him, who had just entered the Power Lust Layer and was immediately chosen as king—it was incredibly rare, practically impossible.

Shen Wang tossed aside the former king and walked over to Zhou Xiangzhe.

“How do you feel?”

Zhou Xiangzhe hesitated for a moment, then said, “It’s not that, I just feel like I don’t have the power to change the world.”

“Of course it won’t change right away...” Zuo Chensheng, who had just recovered from suffocation on the ground, clutched his chest and sat up. “Before the wheel picks a new king, it spends hours restoring the world to its original state, then grants the new king the power to change the world.”

Still coughing, Zuo Chensheng spoke haltingly. “Today, before the king was chosen and everyone turned into dogs, there was a buffer period too.”

Shen Wang shot Zuo Chensheng a flat glance. “You still dare to speak?”

“Don’t you know I hate you?”

Zuo Chensheng quickly raised a paw to cover his dog mouth and didn’t dare say another word.

He knew Zhou Qing and respected him because he knew Zhou Qing was a Grade S Mutant. When he saw Shen Wang and Zhou Xiangzhe, their unfamiliar faces made him assume they were just ordinary Anti-Contamination Center members who came with Zhou Qing. He never imagined one of them was actually a Grade S Mutant!

This must be a new S-grade the Anti-Contamination Center had recruited in recent years. Maybe the other one is too...

What’s worse than being hated by a Grade S Mutant? It’s that he had looked down on him before, got into a conflict with this S-class mutant, and even insulted him.

Just then, the dog in the former king’s arms dissipated into the air. The frail man, sickly and dazed, stared at the empty air, then scrambled up from the ground and threw himself onto Zuo Chensheng, biting and clawing at him. Zuo Chensheng still hadn’t fully recovered, and he was yelping in dog-like cries from the attack.

His subordinates hurried over to pull the former king off, but a person bent on revenge couldn’t be stopped.

Watching the chaotic scene before them, Shen Wang took Zhou Xiangzhe’s hand and led him out of that street.

They hadn’t gone far when Shen Wang and Zhou Xiangzhe saw Zhou Qing, holding the child’s hand with one hand, anxiously searching for them. The moment he spotted them, Zhou Qing quickly raised his hand.

“Over here, over here!”

Shen Wang and Zhou Xiangzhe went over, and Zhou Qing didn’t waste any time—he immediately led them away from that area and into a house.

The house was similar to Zhou Qing’s office—cramped and shabby, but relatively clean and tidy inside. After entering, Zhou Xiangzhe started scrutinizing everything, as if measuring the dust level.

“Oh, come on, don’t let your neat-freak tendencies kick in. This is the only place I’ve got,” Zhou Qing complained.

Zhou Xiangzhe looked at him calmly. “I wasn’t.”

“Fine, that’s not the point. How did you get picked as the king?!” Zhou Qing’s face was full of worry.

He’d dropped everything—skipped his meal, ignored Qi Run—and rushed out with the child in his arms just to find them because of this.

“This is no joke!”

Mutants and Contaminants have similarities. According to the Tyrant: Contamination is a kind of uncontrolled energy. In the early stages, Mutants can control the Contamination, but as it accumulates, it’s like an overflowing cup—once the cup breaks and Contamination runs out of control, you become a Contaminant.

A Mutant’s talent is called a talent, but a Contaminant’s talent is called a Contamination Talent.

The word ‘contamination’ isn’t added lightly, and it’s not just an ordinary distinction.

When a Contaminant uses its talent, it carries intense, uncontrollable Contamination that directly affects humans—especially a top-tier Grade S Contaminant like [Order].

“If you become king, [Order] will give you the power to change the world. That power is determined by its Contamination Talent—in other words, it will place a contamination mark on your body.”

Zhou Qing said urgently, “Your Contamination Level right now absolutely can’t take any more external Contamination!”

It was true. The power to change the world was bestowed by [Order], and to become king and have that power, you had to be contaminated. When Zhou Xiangzhe took a flyer in the Layer of Greed, he’d nearly had a problem from that alone.

Zhou Xiangzhe thought for a moment. “Actually, maybe we could let it give it a try...”

After all, his body already contained [Devour], a talent with a 90% Contamination Level, and the 100% pure Grade S Contaminant [Deer God]. Adding an [Order] didn’t sound like a big deal.

Zhou Qing froze for a moment, and a hint of something odd crept into his gaze as he looked at Zhou Xiangzhe. Zhou Qing might seem carefree, but he was actually perceptive and sensitive.

Zhou Xiangzhe thought it was a bit strange.

He’d always taken some risks in the past, but he’d always had a solid plan. Why was he saying ‘let it try’ this time? Wasn’t this a matter of nothing but harm with no benefit?

But before Zhou Xiangzhe could finish, a low voice came from beside them.

“Who did you say should give it a try?”

Zhou Xiangzhe instantly put his hands behind his back. “...No one.”

Shen Wang walked over and pulled his hand out. He had already returned to his original appearance, his black eyes carrying a subtle edge. He looked harmless, his peach blossom eyes seeming to hold affection, and his voice always sounded like he was smiling—but that tone was subtly laced with a threat.

That kind of threat was far more terrifying than someone who was naturally cold-faced.

Shen Wang reached out and pinched Zhou Xiangzhe’s chin. “Repeat what you just said to me.”

Zhou Xiangzhe: ...

He was so used to making decisions that harmed himself that he couldn’t change overnight, so Shen Wang was always catching him. As the one in the wrong, he didn’t dare argue and could only obediently take the scolding.

Zhou Qing looked from one to the other, then covered the child’s eyes with his hand and started openly mocking Zhou Xiangzhe.

“Haha! Finally someone can rein you in! Well done, Shen Wang!”

Ignoring Zhou Qing’s gloating, Zhou Xiangzhe lowered his head and apologized. “I’ll try to fix it. I didn’t realize it just now.”

“I mean it.”

Shen Wang let out a laugh. “I get the feeling your intentions aren’t pure.”

Zhou Xiangzhe blinked. “Intentions not pure?”

“Last time when you had a contamination issue, the treatment I gave you...”

Before Shen Wang could finish, Zhou Xiangzhe nearly lunged at him. He wrapped one arm around Shen Wang’s waist and covered his mouth with the other hand, looking as guilty as a thief.

“It’s not that.” Zhou Xiangzhe was uncharacteristically flustered. “There’s a child here, and a monk.”

As soon as he said it, Zhou Xiangzhe felt a damp warmth against his palm. It took him a couple of seconds to realize it was because he’d pressed too hard—his palm was against Shen Wang’s lips, stained with the warmth of his mouth.

In an instant, his hand trembled. A tingling numbness spread from his palm all the way up to his elbow, even reaching his face. Zhou Xiangzhe felt half his face burning up and had no idea if it was visibly red.

He really couldn’t let go, but he couldn’t not let go either.

Zhou Qing listened to them with a puzzled look.

A long while later, he finally caught on. Cursing, he scooped up the child and bolted out of the room.

“You dog men!” Zhou Qing cursed as he ran. “Showing off your love like this will get you struck by lightning! There’s a child here!”

“This humble monk is going to find a temple to squat in right now! This is all your fault!”

After cursing and running out, Zhou Qing exhaled deeply, his expression turning somewhat helpless.

Zhou Xiangzhe had always been the best at hiding things. Even with such a high Contamination Level, no one had ever detected his mental abnormality. He was too good at concealing himself and didn’t like to confide in others, so his issues had always been bottled up inside.

But things were better now. He’d gotten married and had a lover who trusted him so completely.

He’d give them some space to comfort each other.

Watching Zhou Qing run off with the child, Zhou Xiangzhe finally released the hand covering Shen Wang’s mouth.

“...He seems to have misunderstood something.”

“It’s fine, a little misunderstanding doesn’t matter.” Shen Wang casually found a spot to sit. “Besides, the fact that he left means he’s no longer worried about you. Would you rather stay here and listen to Zhou Qing recite sutras at you about his bitter grudges?”

Of course he wouldn’t like that, and there was no need for it. Zhou Xiangzhe’s Contamination Level was an objective problem. They had come to the City of Order in the first place to find a way to control Contamination Levels.

Furthermore, [Order]’s expansion was growing increasingly severe. The Anti-Contamination Center wouldn’t let [Order] keep expanding, and dealing with [Order] was urgent.

“From now on, hold my hand and don’t let go.” Shen Wang extended his hand to Zhou Xiangzhe. “Under necessary conditions, you can kiss me.”

“That way, when Order tries to contaminate you, I’ll be able to sense it. The more contact area, the more effective it is.”

After a moment of hesitation, Zhou Xiangzhe stepped forward, took Shen Wang’s hand, and quietly sat down in front of him, gazing at him. His golden eyes reflected Shen Wang’s figure. They were so close that Shen Wang could catch the faint scent of laundry detergent on him.

Zhou Xiangzhe had a cleanliness obsession and loved being tidy, but he wasn’t wasteful. Every piece of his clothing was washed frequently and carried a fresh, clean scent—well-suited to his naturally cool demeanor.

Sometimes Shen Wang really liked that scent on him. It felt like a human warmth that was completely different from the person’s status and personality.

“Hm?” Shen Wang met his gaze.

Zhou Xiangzhe shifted his position, interlocking their fingers, then spoke.

“Under non-necessary conditions... can I kiss you?”

Zhou Xiangzhe lowered his eyes, raised Shen Wang’s hand in their interlocked grip, and very, very lightly kissed the rings overlapping on their fingers.

After the kiss, Zhou Xiangzhe lifted his gaze to Shen Wang again. “Under non-necessary conditions, can I kiss you?”

His voice had turned a little hoarse, the cold tone completely gone, replaced by a magnetic seriousness. His golden eyes were full of cherishment, but if you looked closely, you’d see the deep-seated obsession beneath.

Shen Wang didn’t pull his hand back. He just watched Zhou Xiangzhe lazily, and only after hearing the question did he laugh and say, “Why do you want to kiss me?”

“Because I want to kiss you.”

Zhou Xiangzhe kissed the corner of Shen Wang’s lips—a very simple, pure kiss, without a trace of desire.

Once the kiss ended, Zhou Xiangzhe spoke. “You said before, if we’re misunderstood, then we should make it true.”

Shen Wang: ...

He was learning fast now.

Why had the Power Lust Layer chosen Zhou Xiangzhe as king? Was it because Shen Wang had changed the rules of the King’s Wheel? But in the Layer of Greed, the rule Shen Wang changed became the key for him to enter the Power Lust Layer, earning him that Resident Card. So, maybe that wasn’t the reason.

He was chosen as king perhaps because he was about to lose his mind.

According to Qi Run, the King’s Wheel selected a new king based on the residents’ mental condition.

In that case, he was the one with the most precarious mental state.

An extraordinarily high Contamination Level came with an extremely severe mental abnormality. He was holding on to a crumbling mental state, and only when he was with Shen Wang could it ease a little.

Zhou Xiangzhe closed his eyes and leaned against Shen Wang, embracing him.

“Shen Wang,” he said, “I really want to be with you forever.”

“Of course you can be with me forever.” Shen Wang answered calmly, “We’re already married. We got our certificate. We’re legally husbands. No one can separate us.”

“That’s wonderful.” Zhou Xiangzhe breathed in Shen Wang’s scent, feeling all his taut nerves relaxing. He even felt a bit sleepy.

Shen Wang was his cure. He believed that with his whole life.

/

Close, intimate contact was the best tool to soothe Zhou Xiangzhe.

To avoid leaving too obvious a mark, Shen Wang bit him on the wrist. Whenever Zhou Xiangzhe reached out, the cuff of his sleeve would ride up a little, revealing the bite mark there—faint, a light pink, and very suggestive.

Mental abnormality also had its episodes. For example, Jing Chunjun only fell into endless weeping after using his talent.

The previous Contamination Level surge had still caused problems for Zhou Xiangzhe, making his mental abnormality attacks more and more frequent.

For all Mutants, mental abnormality was something they could notice and be aware of themselves. But even if they noticed it, they couldn’t change it, and even intervention was difficult. Someone like Zhou Xiangzhe, who came and went from Sector S freely without ever being discovered to have a mental abnormality, was the sole exception.

But because his Contamination Level was climbing rapidly, he was gradually finding it hard to control his words and actions—Zhou Qing had even caught on just now.

Zhou Xiangzhe leaned lazily against Shen Wang, not wanting to move. Shen Wang sensed he hadn’t been sleeping, and when he looked down, he saw Zhou Xiangzhe staring at the bite mark on his wrist. Before Shen Wang could tease him, Zhou Xiangzhe placed his other hand over the mark and dug his short nails into it.

Shen Wang immediately sat up and pinned his hand down.

Zhou Xiangzhe visibly jolted, then looked at his hand as if coming back to himself.

A few seconds later, Shen Wang let go.

“I didn’t notice.” Zhou Xiangzhe frowned at the wound. Even he felt something was off.

“It never used to be like this.”

Zhou Xiangzhe wasn’t a masochist. He was very aware that something was wrong. In the past, he would never harm himself in front of anyone. That was precisely why everyone only saw Zhou Xiangzhe as a ‘self-sacrificing’ good person, rather than a lunatic obsessed with self-destruction.

But now, he was losing control, even unconsciously enlarging the wounds on his body.

He could control his death wish, but he couldn’t control his unconscious self-harming actions.

Shen Wang watched Zhou Xiangzhe for a long moment, then said, “I signed the agreement.”

Zhou Xiangzhe looked up at Shen Wang.

“It’s my responsibility to bear all of your actions, including your mental abnormality and Contamination Level.” Shen Wang said, “I won’t let you reach the worst possible outcome.”

“...Shen Wang.”

“I’m thinking I might not be doing enough, maybe I’m not trying hard enough. There has to be a faster, better way.” Shen Wang stood up and started pacing the small room. “Right now, we don’t even know where Order’s main body is. We’re just following its rules blindly. That won’t work.”

“The first layer is the Layer of Greed, the second is the King’s Wheel. The Layer of Greed is crucial, so the King’s Wheel should be crucial too.”

Zhou Xiangzhe could sense Shen Wang’s sudden urgency. Even from his own perspective, this state was way too dangerous.

Shen Wang loved him, so Shen Wang worried about him and became impatient because of it.

“I’m sorry.” In the midst of Shen Wang’s muttering, Zhou Xiangzhe apologized. Shen Wang turned to look at him.

“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have to bear any of this.”

“What are you talking about?” Shen Wang frowned and tugged his silver hair. “I figured this out and accepted it before I decided to marry you. You think if I hadn’t married you, I wouldn’t have to worry about this? Of course I would.”

“As long as you’re Zhou Xiangzhe for even one day, I will consider it.”

“Because I can’t stop worrying about you.”

Even back in the orphanage, Xiao Shiwu couldn’t stop worrying about Xiao Qi. That guy was always so innocent and naive, kind-hearted as a little lamb. Without him protecting him, how could he survive in such a harsh world?

Shen Wang suddenly thought of something. He turned his head abruptly to look at the massive King’s Wheel outside.

“I’ve got it.”

“I smashed the Layer of Greed and ended up getting an opportunity. This King’s Wheel is similar to the Layer of Greed. I can just go demolish it. Why pick a king? There’s nothing to pick without the wheel.”

Zhou Xiangzhe: ...

Zhou Xiangzhe thought for a moment, then nodded approvingly. “That’s a really good idea.”

When they left the small house, Zhou Qing was outside playing with the child. He was trying to entertain her with a toy, but the child just stared at him expressionlessly and wouldn’t take it, which made Zhou Qing feel very awkward.

As he raised his hand to wipe away sweat to hide his embarrassment, Zhou Qing caught sight of Shen Wang and Zhou Xiangzhe coming out from the corner of his eye.

“Hey? Where are you going?” Zhou Qing called out to them in surprise.

“I’ve got a good plan,” Shen Wang said. “Since the King’s Wheel has chosen Zhou Xiangzhe and it can’t be changed, rather than trying to stop this wheel from making Zhou Xiangzhe the king, we’ll just go destroy the wheel first.”

Zhou Qing: ?

Zhou Qing was completely dumbfounded. He’d been in the Power Lust Layer for so long, and he’d never once thought about wrecking the King’s Wheel.

No way, for real?

“We’ve fallen into a trap. You could say everyone has.” Zhou Xiangzhe said, “Ordinary people think the City of Order is the whole world, that the world changed by the King’s Wheel is their entire world. That’s because of the mental contamination from the S-grade contaminant. And our trap is believing we have to live by the City of Order’s rules.”

Zhou Qing scratched his bald head. “So... we can actually just not follow the rules?”

“Don’t let your thinking be confined. Our goal is not to become residents of the City of Order, nor to live in this City of Order.” Zhou Xiangzhe said, “We are Mutants from the Anti-Contamination Center. We’re here to cause destruction, to cleanse this City of Order.”

Zhou Qing inhaled sharply. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Our original purpose for coming here was to eliminate the Contaminant!”

What were they doing now?

Climbing up according to the City of Order’s rules? What’s the use of climbing higher? It’s just passing selection after selection by [Order], becoming whatever [Order] wants you to be.

Seeing that Zhou Qing understood, Shen Wang and Zhou Xiangzhe left immediately.

The people they encountered on the way were gradually turning back from dogs to their normal forms, with only the dog ears on top of their heads not yet fully regressed. The two avoided these people and arrived at Central Street. The street was already packed with people, everyone looking up at the King’s Wheel in the center. A low buzz of voices kept drifting over.

‘Who is he? Why did the King’s Wheel select a new king so quickly this time?’

‘Could it be that the former king died? He was already crazy, looking like he was about to kick the bucket.’

‘If a king dies, is the next king chosen quickly?’

A dangerous glint instantly flashed in some of the dogs’ eyes.

The two ignored these mentally contaminated people. The King’s Wheel had no steps leading up, and it was high up. For them, it wasn’t going to be a simple matter.

Shen Wang placed his hand on the wall. The next moment, his pupils turned red, and blood-colored thorns rapidly climbed up the wall. The tough thorns formed a series of steps for climbing. Shen Wang reached out and grabbed the thorns. Zhou Xiangzhe instinctively moved to grab his hand, afraid he’d get hurt.

“I’m fine, this is my talent.” Shen Wang said, “Stay here and wait for me.”

Zhou Xiangzhe wanted to reach out and grab the thorns, but the moment his hand went out, he realized and immediately pulled it back.

He’d get hurt. Shen Wang would be upset. So, no.

Zhou Xiangzhe forced himself to nod. “I’ll wait for you right here.”

He said, “Come back quickly.”

Shen Wang climbed up swiftly. Halfway up, he instinctively looked down and saw Zhou Xiangzhe still standing in the same spot, looking up at him. Those golden eyes, unblinking, held him right in the center. When Zhou Xiangzhe saw Shen Wang looking down, he smiled involuntarily—even a glance back was enough to make him happy.

Shen Wang let out a soft breath, turned back, and continued upward.

Hurry up and demolish this King’s Wheel, then come back and reunite with the lover who would feel sad if separated from him for even a second.

Zhou Xiangzhe stood still, watching until Shen Wang’s figure vanished. He looked down, reached out a finger, and poked the thorns on the wall. In an instant, his finger bled. Only after the bead of blood welled up did Zhou Xiangzhe seem to come back to his senses.

Zhou Xiangzhe thought guiltily, At least it’s just a small wound. It’ll be healed by the time Shen Wang comes back.

Just then, the people gathered on Central Street suddenly started crying out in alarm.

“What’s that?”

“How come there’s someone up there?”

“What is he trying to do to the wheel?! Somebody! Where are the guards of the City of Order?!”

“Thief! Bandit!”

Zhou Xiangzhe turned to look at those panicked dogs who hadn’t fully turned back into humans yet.

A faint golden mist seeped from those golden eyes and merged into the air. The Contamination Suppressor on Zhou Xiangzhe’s wrist let out a strained sound, and with a click, it shattered into two pieces and fell to the ground. But at the same time, those gathered people suddenly stopped talking, as if their voices had been seized.

Their gazes went blank as they lowered their heads, then turned and walked away step by step, as if nothing had happened here at all.

The higher the Contamination Level, the more severe the mental abnormality. And mental abnormality was not static—when a person’s mind was sick, it wouldn’t manifest in just one way.

Zhou Xiangzhe’s gaze flickered. He could feel his intense, uncontrollable possessiveness toward Shen Wang surging and swelling within him at this moment.

He couldn’t even bear to hear those victims of the City of Order say a single bad word about Shen Wang...