When “206’s Old Man” appeared online, Su Mo’s heart skipped a beat—he knew it was Ye Qingyi logging in.
Why is she suddenly checking the school forum? Did her training end?
Eagerly, he opened the messaging app and typed out a long paragraph, only to hesitate before sending it.
Copy to clipboard.
Delete.
Su Mo: “What’re you up to?”
Ye Qingyi: “You spent all that time typing just three words and a punctuation mark? (。・`ω´・)”
Su Mo: “Don’t sweat the small stuff. 【Dog Head Emoji】”
About a minute passed.
Ye Qingyi: “Look, I’ve lost weight. 【Picture】”
Su Mo tapped the image—a selfie.
The boy in the photo had a determined gaze, his maturity belying his age. Sweat-dampened strands of hair clung to his forehead as he brushed them aside, his sharp jawline even more pronounced now.
Just as she’d said, he had lost weight.
But he also looked more mature. More striking.
Su Mo fell silent for a moment. “Must’ve been rough.”
Ye Qingyi: “Yeah.”
A pang of worry shot through him. Without thinking, he hit the video call button—never mind whether his roommates would gossip.
The ringtone dragged on before finally cutting off. Call declined.
Su Mo: “Why’d you hang up?”
Ye Qingyi: “Can’t talk right now.”
If it was really inconvenient, why let it ring so long?
He realized he’d somehow inherited a girl’s innate sensitivity—something felt off.
Was she in danger? Was that her way of saying goodbye?
Ugh. Bad thought. Knock on wood.
Ye Qingyi: “Seriously, I’m with the logistics team getting supplies. We’re heading back in soon. Next time, okay? (≧ω≦)/”
Su Mo: “You didn’t actually get a girlfriend, did you? Worried she’ll misunderstand? 【Shocked】”
Su Mo: “Tch. Player.”
Su Mo: “???”
……
No more replies came. She really must have been busy.
“If she’s working this hard, what right do I have to slack off?” Su Mo muttered to himself.
Decision made.
Grind. Keep grinding. Grind like your life depends on it.
He opened the Beidou Organization app. A flame icon on the homepage signaled an urgent mission. As expected, the Special Operations group chat would notify them soon.
Sure enough, within ten seconds, a user named “Ethylene” posted:
*”@everyone Unknown supernatural creatures spotted in the moat at the Ancient City’s east gate. Strength ranging from C to E-rank. Estimated count: 60. All personnel still in Jing City, report immediately!”*
At the same time, a private system message arrived with identical details.
Unknown supernatural creatures.
Had the river fish undergone a collective awakening due to the spiritual resurgence?
Group announcements were usually made by Wang Ye, the deputy team leader. The fact that Yang Jie was handling it this time meant the situation was serious.
Akun: “Roger!”
Week Eight: “Roger!”
Yi E Ye: “Roger!”
Brother Yi: “Roger!”
……
This was the first time so many members had responded at once.
He tossed a quick “Keep an eye on your phone” to Xia Qingqing before leaving, ignoring the bewildered looks from the other two.
Xia Qingqing froze, then immediately understood and checked the app.
Urgent mission.
She rushed out too—though her destination was different. Her orders were clear: Assemble first, then move out.
Yin Xiaowan frowned. “Both our dorm’s superhumans just left. Something big must’ve happened.”
Lin Rou shrugged. “No point worrying. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.”
“You’re way too chill…”
……
Ancient City East Gate.
Brown, frog-like creatures—bulky as oxen—leapt from the water, their wide eyes scanning the surroundings as if seeing the world for the first time.
“Ribbit… ribbit…” They croaked excitedly, limbs flailing, utterly indifferent to human terror.
Traffic and pedestrians bottlenecked on the moat bridge. A few reckless onlookers edged closer, some even pulling out phones to livestream.
“Check it out, folks—Jing City’s latest attraction…”
Most people fled in panic, but the gridlocked streets left them trapped. Fear spread like wildfire.
The frog-men seemed fascinated by human technology. One lashed out its long tongue, snatching a phone mid-livestream.
“Ribbit…” Its grotesque face filled the screen, sparking a flood of question marks in the comments.
The creature stared at its reflection, then—in a burst of excitement—crushed the device.
Their elastic tongues were deadly weapons, capable of snatching humans from over ten meters away. To them, a full-grown adult weighed no more than an insect.
“Don’t push! Evacuate in an orderly manner!” A young traffic cop fought through his own fear, struggling to direct the crowd.
“Dude, are you insane? Stop filming! Is your life worth the clicks?”
“Everyone behind—turn around! Emergency ahead!”
The chaos was beyond one person’s control.
He’d had a partner, but the guy had bolted at the first sight of the monsters.
Gritting his teeth, the cop—badge number *1028*—watched as more frog-men surged into the crowd, wreaking havoc. The thought of retreat crept in.
Mom’s waiting at home with dinner…
His phone rang.
Hands trembling, he checked the caller—Mom.
He didn’t answer. But the call made him hesitate.
Should I leave?
I’m just one person. Not even a superhuman. What can I do against them?
His resolve wavered.
In just five minutes, dozens of frog-men had emerged, fanning out to hunt.
Humans were fragile in the face of these creatures—reduced to mere prey in seconds.
The swarm’s numbers stabilized. A larger, green frog-man—likely the leader—stationed itself at the center, directing the slaughter.
“Ribbit… ribbit…” The shrill croaks were as nauseating as the stench of blood.
Suddenly, a siren blared, diverting some attention.
“Everyone, follow my lead!” The cop’s voice cracked on the last word.
Perhaps reassured by the siren, people began cooperating.
One by one, the crowd dispersed, avoiding stampedes.
But another bottleneck formed ahead, leaving many with nowhere to run. They ducked into shops and hotels lining the street—only for the frog-men to follow.
Another siren sounded there, gradually quelling the panic.
The scene repeated block after block.
“Unit 1028, respond.”
*”1028 here. East gate moat overrun by frog-like creatures. Civilian casualties severe. Requesting backup.”*
“1028, withdraw immediately. Special units are en route. Prioritize your safety.”
“Copy.” The young cop prepared to retreat.
“Officer, my mom’s missing! Can you help find her?” A little girl tugged his sleeve, her dirt-smudged face streaked with fresh tears.
Unit 1028’s heart clenched. As the monsters drew nearer, he bit his lip. “Come with me first. We’ll find her later.”
“But what if the monsters eat her…?” Her voice trembled.
“They won’t.” A clear voice cut in. “Go with the officer. I’ll find your mom.”
Both turned toward the speaker.
A tall, strikingly beautiful girl stood there. Though young, her poised demeanor radiated quiet authority.