Chapter 15: Human Experimentation

"Ugh... huff..."

After a long while, the young white man slowly regained consciousness.

"Who... who on earth are you people? Why did you kidnap me? What exactly do you want?"

Surveying the laboratory, the young man was filled with terror and helplessness. Everything that had happened over the past few days felt like a nightmare. First, he was abducted by a monster, then subjected to an inexplicable chase, and finally sent to this place that clearly wasn't normal. It was all nearly enough to break him.

"There is no need to be nervous. We mean you no harm. What is your name?"

Looking at the young man standing up from the bed and shouting, Li Yang offered a slight smile, his voice soft and slow, carrying a heavy, suggestive tone.

"I... I am Michael Corvin."

Staring at the Oriental man who possessed only an upper torso and sat in a metallic wheelchair, Michael’s pupils constricted violently. He could not fathom how a person with only an upper body could possibly be alive.

"Michael, is it? Very good. The reason we invited you here is simply to have you cooperate with us in an experiment. Of course, the compensation will be very generous; you will certainly not be disappointed."

Li Yang smiled, unbothered by the man's gaze, and explained slowly in a measured tone.

"Oh... my God. You call this an invitation? Honestly, your methods of inviting people are truly beyond imagination."

As the conversation with Li Yang continued, Michael’s tension gradually subsided. He shook his head with a bitter smile and continued, "I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t think I can help you. I don’t want to participate in any experiments, nor do I want any compensation. I just want to go home."

"Stop!"

Just as Michael reached the door, two burly black guards standing outside blocked his path and pushed him back.

"No, guys, take it easy. Are you sure this is how you treat an 'invited' guest?"

With the guards pointing guns at his head and shoving him back into the room, Michael raised his hands and backed away in fear.

"Stay calm, my friend. I think you understand that the situation is somewhat complex, and you probably won't be able to leave for the time being."

Seeing the young man pacing at the door, still unwilling to give up, Li Yang chuckled and turned his wheelchair toward him, offering words of comfort.

"Your Excellency, the blood test report is out! He is the perfect hybrid carrier we have been looking for!"

At that moment, Dr. Yorkson burst into the room, looking ecstatic, holding a stack of test reports in his hand. His face was filled with joy and excitement.

"Oh... what a perfect creation. I never imagined that such a miraculous blood source could exist in the world. It is truly astonishing."

Looking Michael up and down, Dr. Yorkson seemed to be examining a rare treasure, his eyes gleaming with greed, longing, and disbelief.

"That is enough, Doctor. You are frightening him. How long will it take to produce the serum using his bloodline?"

Watching Michael, who was visibly uncomfortable under Dr. Yorkson’s intense, predatory gaze, Li Yang chuckled and asked.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, it will not take long. We have already completed all the preparatory work. Now that we have the crucial blood source, three days will be more than enough to synthesize the serum you require."

Hearing Li Yang’s question, Dr. Yorkson replied with absolute confidence.

"Very good. Then I shall await your good news. Doctor, if you need anything, just ask; I will do my utmost to satisfy your requirements."

Having confirmed the authenticity of the "Perfect Blood," Li Yang was in a great mood, his expression shedding its usual coldness.

"Your Excellency, the laboratory is running low on test subjects. Perhaps..."

"I will have someone arrange that. However, all of you should be cautious for now. You know the current situation; it is not suitable for us to conduct large-scale operations."

After a moment of contemplation, Li Yang looked up at the expectant Dr. Yorkson and said.

In the past, Lucian had been responsible for capturing test subjects, usually targeting gang members. However, as Li Yang began to hoard resources aggressively, the frequent actions of the werewolves and vampires had triggered the vigilance of human authorities. Recently, Li Yang had halted all external operations. Given the current state of both clans, it was truly unwise to stand in direct opposition to humanity.

...

"Angie, notify Selene to come and see me."

In the manor’s grand hall, Li Yang pondered for a while and decided that capturing test subjects was a task best left to Selene; he trusted her the most. Currently, his subordinate Lucian, who led the werewolf clan, was too brutal and impulsive, making him ill-suited for such a delicate task at this critical juncture. Amelia managed the vampires' finances and had only a small number of guards. Only Selene, with her calm, steady, and meticulous nature, as well as her wealth of experience, was the most suitable candidate for external missions.

"Click, click, click... You summoned me?"

Following the crisp sound of footsteps, Selene, dressed in black leather, walked into the hall, her face cold as she looked at Li Yang.

"Sit down. There is indeed something I need you to do."

Li Yang did not mind Selene’s lack of decorum. In truth, he rather disliked formalities, but as a superior, even if he didn't like them, he could not actively reject them. Some things existed because they were functional; the hierarchy between superior and subordinate was subtle. Sometimes, a small act could lead to the loss of a subordinate’s awe. While Li Yang did not fear that, he found it troublesome.

"How is the reorganization of the Death Dealers and the Night Walkers coming along?"

Looking at Selene, who was seated below him, Li Yang asked.

"What do you think the Death Dealers and the Night Walkers are? They are the elite, handpicked from the vampire clan, the result of centuries of accumulation. In our race, only the elders possess the strong, transcendent physique required. Those newborn vampires have no qualifications to enter combat units."

Selene had complex feelings toward Li Yang. On one hand, he had helped her avenge her family; on the other hand, it was his cold commands that had caused many of her comrades to die, leaving her units nearly wiped out.

Although she appeared cold on the surface, she was never a cold-blooded machine. On the contrary, compared to those kin whose humanity had been eroded by time, her inner humanity had not only remained but had grown more fervent, though she was never good at expressing it. Having fought side-by-side with her comrades for centuries, the depth of their bond was obvious, yet because of Li Yang’s orders, she had been forced to watch them fall before her eyes. She had pleaded with him and tried to reason with him, but received no response. She had even contemplated defecting with her remaining men, but in the end, she was held back by the promise she had made.

"You don’t need to worry about that. I once said that I would bring about a transformation in your kind. The time is now ripe; soon, you will no longer have to worry about the source of your soldiers."

Li Yang was unaware of Selene’s inner thoughts. In his mind, Selene had always been a persistent, cold-hearted night assassin—an impression he had carried over from his past life. This was evident in how she had obsessively hunted the werewolves for six hundred years. In reality, he did not know that it was precisely because of the constant deaths of her comrades in the war against the werewolves, and witnessing countless acts of werewolf brutality, that she had grown to hate them so deeply, vowing to hunt them for the rest of her life.

"Heh... a transformation. You truly live up to the name of a great god of blood alchemy. In your eyes, are we vampires just ants? Does their death and injury not stir even a shred of pity in your heart?"

Looking at Li Yang’s self-righteous expression, Selene sneered, her voice icy and filled with deep sarcasm.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Facing Selene’s mockery, Li Yang’s good mood was instantly destroyed. A person’s character changes subtly with their environment. Such changes are often imperceptible. Even Li Yang had not realized that as his cultivation increased and his power grew, living daily in an environment where he was revered and no one dared to challenge his will, his personality had become increasingly tyrannical. He had become intolerant of the slightest criticism, moving toward a state of solipsism—a sense that he alone was supreme.

In the end, no matter how strong his cultivation was, he could not escape the weaknesses of human nature. Especially after losing the constraints of his past—the love of Zhao Yuehua, the friendship of Chen Yulou, and the guidance of the Purple-Heaven Daoist—he began to let go of himself. He had even forgotten these things, choosing instead to immerse himself in the pleasure of being supreme, holding the power of life and death over all living beings.

Li Yang did not know that the path he was walking was unprecedented. He was the pioneer of this road. With every increase in cultivation, he should have remained vigilant, for no one had walked this path before. One misstep and he would lose his way. And he was now drifting further and further down that path of losing his way. Until he completely shed his humanity to achieve his own divinity, he might possess invincible power to suppress the world, but would he still be himself?

"I only mean to say that if there is no necessity, I ask you, great Excellency, to give us, these 'ants,' a way to survive. We have lives and emotions, too; we are not merely the tools you see us as."

Facing Li Yang’s icy gaze, Selene did not show weakness. She lifted her slender, fair neck, her eyes growing increasingly firm. For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to solidify. Even the vampire maids serving outside felt an inexplicable pressure, as if a massive stone were crushing their chests.

"Hahaha... interesting. You have changed my established perception of you. Perhaps I should re-examine you. From today on, you are a maid in my manor. As for the Death Dealers and the Night Walkers, let Vivienne handle them for now."

Looking at Selene’s stubborn eyes, Li Yang laughed in anger, though he still retained some rationality. Despite being extremely annoyed by her attitude, she had, after all, served him well. Since she did not wish to be a cold, unfeeling machine, Li Yang did not mind indulging her.