HLnovel Chapter 353 Anomaly Found
Chapter 353 Anomaly Found
The next morning, the atmosphere in the shelter was as peaceful as ever. Morning light streamed through the windows, casting shadows on the ground, and the air was filled with the faint scent of grass and trees. However, beneath this tranquil surface, a subtle and unsettling feeling lurked.
Zhang Yuanshan got up early and methodically organized his equipment. His movements were still practiced, but upon closer observation, one would notice that his demeanor was too "perfect." There was no sign of fatigue, nor any emotional fluctuation, as if everything had been precisely calculated.
When Xi Wuxu entered the dressing room, his gaze swept over Zhang Yuanshan, who was tidying up his equipment, and he frowned slightly.
"Old Zhang, how was the patrol last night?" Xi Wuxu asked casually.
Zhang Yuanshan raised his head, a calm smile on his face as always: "Everything is normal, no abnormalities have been found."
Xi Wuxu nodded, but a strange unease rose in his heart.
He knew Zhang Yuanshan quite well; although this team member was conscientious and responsible, his personality always carried a hint of laziness and casualness. But the current Zhang Yuanshan seemed to have lost some of his humanity in his words, and gained an indescribable indifference.
"Is that so?" Xi Wuxu didn't press further, but simply patted him on the shoulder. "Then let's remain vigilant today. The situation on the periphery isn't looking too good lately."
"Understood, Captain." Zhang Yuanshan nodded, his tone calm.
At this moment, another team member, Wang Tinghan, walked in yawning. He was the youngest member of the Fifth Division, with a lively personality, and often liked to make harmless jokes with Zhang Yuanshan.
"Old Zhang, didn't you sleep well last night? You look so energetic, you don't look like you stayed up all night at all." Wang Tinghan patted Zhang Yuanshan on the back with a smile.
Zhang Yuanshan turned his head and smiled: "Young man, staying up late is common, you'll get used to it."
Wang Tinghan was taken aback for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Come on, with your stomach, you must have secretly eaten something again last night, right?"
Zhang Yuanshan didn't reply, but just smiled slightly and turned to leave the lounge. His steps were steady, and everything seemed normal, but his back view gave Wang Tinghan a strange chill.
"Strange, Old Zhang seems a bit different today, but I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong with him," Wang Tinghan muttered to himself, scratching his head.
Wu An sat in the corner, silently wiping his weapons, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Zhang Yuanshan's back. He didn't speak, but his brows furrowed slightly.
......
"Old Zhang's a bit over the top today, isn't he?" Man Meng walked over and said half-jokingly, "Are all the people in your Fifth Division this curled up?"
Xi Wuxu forced a smile: "Maybe I was too focused on patrol last night and haven't recovered yet."
Man Meng shook his head: "Something's not right. I just noticed that his eyes were a bit strange, like he was looking at us, but also like he was looking at something else."
Xi Wuxu was startled, but remained outwardly calm: "Really? Perhaps you're overthinking it."
"I hope so." Man Meng shrugged and turned to leave.
After training, Xi Wuxu called out to Zhang Yuanshan: "Old Zhang, come here for a second, I have something to ask you."
Zhang Yuanshan stopped and turned to walk towards Xi Wuxu. His gaze remained calm, but his eyes sent a chill down Xi Wuxu's spine.
"Captain, what's the matter?" Zhang Yuanshan asked calmly.
Xi Wuxu stared into his eyes and tentatively asked, "Did you really not find anything unusual when you were on patrol last night?"
Zhang Yuanshan was slightly taken aback, then nodded: "No. Captain, are you doubting me?"
Xi Wuxu shook his head: "It's not that I suspect anything, it's just that the situation on the outside has been a bit strange lately, and I want to confirm it."
Zhang Yuanshan was silent for a moment, then gave a faint smile: "Don't worry, Captain, I'll be careful."
Xi Wuxu nodded, but his doubts deepened. Watching Zhang Yuanshan's departing figure, he couldn't help but ask Wu An beside him, "Old Wu, what do you think of Old Zhang today?"
Wu An was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Captain, I feel like Old Zhang is acting a bit strange today. His movements are too perfect, like... like he's being controlled by something."
Xi Wuxu's gaze sharpened slightly: "You think so too?"
Wu An nodded: "I suggest that he temporarily refrain from participating in patrol duties tonight."
Xi Wuxu pondered for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay, let's observe first. If he really has a problem, we must deal with it decisively."
Late at night, the shelter was silent. Xi Wuxu sat alone in his room, reviewing the recent patrol logs. Zhang Yuanshan's expression and movements kept replaying in his mind, and he felt that he had overlooked something.
Suddenly, a soft footstep sound came from outside the door. Xi Wuxu looked up and saw Zhang Yuanshan standing in the doorway with a faint smile on his face.
"Captain, haven't you rested yet?" Zhang Yuanshan's voice was deep and calm.
Xi Wuxu put down his notebook, looked up at Zhang Yuanshan, and asked in a calm tone, "What's wrong? Why aren't you asleep so late?"
Zhang Yuanshan smiled slightly, walked into the room, and casually closed the door. His movements seemed casual, but the soft "click" sounded alarm bells ringing in Xi Wuxu's mind.
Zhang Yuanshan turned around, looking intently at Xi Wuxu with a cryptic smile on his face.
"Captain, I feel like the atmosphere at the shelter has been a bit off lately," Zhang Yuanshan said slowly, his tone low and calm.
Xi Wuxu leaned back in his chair without changing his expression, his sharp gaze fixed on Zhang Yuanshan: "Oh? You've noticed something?"
Zhang Yuanshan nodded, slowly walked to the table, and looked down at Xi Wuxu. A strange light flickered in his eyes, and his voice was so low it sent chills down one's spine: "Captain, have you ever considered... that danger might already be lurking nearby?"
Xi Wuxu's hand subtly moved towards the weapon at his waist, but his expression remained calm: "What do you mean?"
Zhang Yuanshan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a strange smile: "I just feel that... some people in the shelter are no longer the same as before."
These words were like a sharp knife, piercing Xi Wuxu's nerves. He instantly became alert, but outwardly remained calm: "Old Zhang, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Zhang Yuanshan did not answer, but slowly reached out and pointed to Xi Wuxu's chest. His movements were slow and determined, and his eyes revealed a chilling coldness.
"Captain, do you think you... are still yourself?" Zhang Yuanshan's voice was low and hoarse, as if two voices were overlapping.
Xi Wuxu's pupils suddenly contracted, his hand already gripping the short knife at his waist, his body tense, ready to strike at any moment. Just then, Zhang Yuanshan suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with mockery and derision.