Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1233 - 598:

"Zhou Ming, the left reservoir sector will be your and Fang Cheng's responsibility."

"Lin Xue, Fatty, and I will take care of the purification equipment sector on the right."

"Each team will receive one detector and two water guns. Raise an alarm immediately if any situation arises."

Upon hearing these instructions, Zhou Ming’s eyes brightened, and he eagerly approached Wang Lan.

"President, how about I partner with you! I have experience and can offer protection!"

Wang Lan simply rolled her eyes and flatly rejected him.

"Don’t even think about it. Your weak Kung Fu is hardly enough to protect anyone. It’s better for you to stick with Fang Cheng and keep an eye on our new member. Just don’t end up causing trouble."

Zhou Ming immediately slumped like a defeated rooster, dejectedly falling in line behind Fang Cheng.

After the equipment was handed out and the operational precautions were thoroughly explained, the group dispersed in their respective directions.

Fang Cheng accepted the water gun. The delicate handling required stirred an odd feeling within him.

Could this so-called talismanic water truly be effective against such entities?

He and Zhou Ming proceeded cautiously, moving in single file down the left passageway that led deeper into the factory complex.

The concrete floor was riddled with cracks, and patches of green moss had sprouted in numerous places.

Thick cobwebs draped the overhead concrete beams, and the air was heavy with a musty, decaying odor.

The detector in Zhou Ming’s hand pulsed with a green light, emitting a subtle buzzing sound.

Everything appeared to be proceeding without incident.

"Zhou Ming, do you happen to have feelings for Wang Lan?" Fang Cheng suddenly inquired, his voice gently resonating through the silent factory.

Zhou Ming stumbled, nearly losing his footing, his face instantly flushing a deep crimson.

"What, what absurd nonsense are you talking about! I... I merely admire the president. She's a girl who is so courageous and audacious; I hold her in high regard."

He argued feebly, avoiding Fang Cheng’s gaze, his ears burning a fiery red.

Fang Cheng let out a soft chuckle and decided not to press the matter, shifting the conversation instead.

"By the way, regarding that shadow you mentioned seeing at school, did you witness it yourself?"

Zhou Ming visibly eased, resuming his normally loquacious demeanor.

"I didn't see it myself; it was my uncle who had a direct encounter with it."

"Was it similar to the phenomenon Wang Lan described in her story?" Fang Cheng probed further.

"Essentially, yes."

Zhou Ming nodded, his tone growing more somber.

"My uncle was once a soldier stationed at a remote frontier post. One night, while on duty, he was inside their barracks. Outside stretched the desolate Gobi Desert, with distant snow-capped mountains forming the horizon."

"That particular night, after he had just completed his shift and was preparing to rest, he observed a pitch-black shadow stealthily seeping through a narrow crack in the door."

"The shadow writhed unnaturally, lacking any definite form, yet it appeared to possess elongated limbs. At moments, it contorted into grotesque shapes before rapidly retracting into a mere amorphous blob."

"What was most terrifying was its head; it bore no discernible features except for two faint, crimson lights glowing in the oppressive darkness, akin to a pair of malevolent eyes fixated upon my uncle."

"He stood frozen, his body rigid with fear, instinctively reaching for his rifle and firing. However, to his utter shock, the bullets passed straight through the shadow, having no apparent effect whatsoever."

"The shadow then silently flowed along the wall, drifting directly towards him, and the surrounding atmosphere suddenly turned ice-cold."

"My uncle was so terrified that he nearly lost his sanity. Fortunately, the shadow seemed to have no intention of causing him physical harm, although he remained unconscious for several days afterward."

"From that day forward, my uncle was medically discharged and became a profoundly changed man, often muttering inexplicable things that no one else could understand."

"However, he always maintained that he had witnessed something in this world that defied all natural laws."

Zhou Ming's voice rose in volume, a hint of wistful yearning coloring his tone.

"This profound experience is what ignited my fascination with paranormal phenomena, driving my desire to unravel the world’s hidden mysteries!"

His eyes shone with an intense gleam, much like a dedicated explorer embarking on a momentous quest.

Listening to Zhou Ming’s animated recounting, Fang Cheng felt a growing sense of unease.

After a brief period of silence, he cautiously posed a question.

"Did your uncle happen to mention anything about encountering black rain?"

Zhou Ming paused, a look of surprise flashing across his face.

"Black rain? How could you possibly know about that?"

"Indeed, my uncle did mention it. He said that it began to rain black on that very night."

"But when I inquired further about the nature of this rain, he struggled to provide a clear description, only conveying that it was profoundly unpleasant and emitted a foul odor."

"Yet, I personally have never witnessed this black rain, Fang Cheng. Have you?"

At Zhou Ming's words, Fang Cheng's heart constricted with a sinking dread.

While Zhou Ming had not directly experienced the black rain, his uncle had, and Fang Cheng himself had seen its effects with his own eyes.

The persistent swelling on the back of his hand had not yet fully receded, a stark reminder of the corrosive touch of the black rain.

Could it be... that only a select few individuals, those with a peculiar disposition, possess the ability to perceive these unnatural occurrences?

Individuals like himself and Zhou Ming’s uncle?

Suddenly, a terrified scream pierced the air from a distance, disrupting Fang Cheng’s contemplation.

"Ah—"

"That was Wang Lan! Something must be wrong over there!"

Zhou Ming’s face turned ashen. He brandished his water gun and exclaimed, "Hurry, let's go investigate!"

Fang Cheng also sprinted towards the source of the sound, his heart a mixture of unease and intense curiosity.

Experiencing a supernatural event firsthand felt far more impactful than any tale or rumor he had ever encountered.

It further solidified his conviction that he was on the verge of uncovering a profound truth.

The two of them plunged through a partially demolished wall, entering a new section of the factory.

This was the water factory's pump room, where colossal water pumps lay scattered like enormous, rusted beetles.

Wang Lan and Lin Xue were pressed against a wall, their stances radiating palpable tension.

The detector clutched in their hands emitted a jarringly rapid "beep beep."

This urgent beeping signaled a potent anomaly in their immediate vicinity.

"What’s going on?"

Zhou Ming hurried over, his voice laced with urgency.

Wang Lan’s gaze was fixed intently on a dark corner, her eyes wide.

She held the talisman-infused water gun in her left hand while her right fist was clenched, poised to strike at a moment's notice.

"Can you see it? The ghost is right there!"

Wang Lan pointed into the inky blackness, her voice trembling slightly, yet undeniably tinged with excitement.

Following her pointed finger, Fang Cheng and Zhou Ming peered into the gloom.

Indeed, a mass of undulating shadow was barely discernible, seeming to detach itself from the wall.

"Quick, fire the water gun!"

Zhou Ming yelled, raising his weapon and squeezing the trigger.

"Splash—"

A stream of white liquid arced through the air, striking the shadowy mass with precision.

Yet, the shadow that was hit by the talismanic water remained utterly unaffected.

The detector's alarm shrieked relentlessly, its sound nearly deafening.

Believing the spray lacked sufficient force, Wang Lan swiftly raised her water gun again and unleashed another powerful blast at the shadow.

"Hold on a second!"

Fang Cheng suddenly perceived that something was not right.

The shadow was unnaturally still, remaining entirely immobile.

Squinting, he took a few steps forward and finally discerned the true nature of the supposed "shadow."

It was nothing more than ragged scraps of canvas draped over a pipe, with the dim lighting deceiving Wang Lan’s perception.

Before Fang Cheng could even explain, the others also realized their error.

"What about this then?"

Lin Xue held up the detector, its screen still flickering erratically, the alarm continuing its incessant wail.

Fang Cheng's gaze roamed over the surrounding pumps as he began to explain:

"These older water pumps contain large internal magnets that can easily interfere with highly sensitive detectors like this one."

"Uh..."

Wang Lan slowly lowered her arm, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment:

"It seems I made a mistake. It’s just too dark in here."

Zhou Ming chuckled, the earlier tension evaporating:

"I knew it couldn't be that simple to find the real thing!"

Lin Xue also let out a sigh of relief, momentarily deactivating the detector.

As the group shared a moment of relieved laughter, Fang Cheng suddenly became aware of an absence.

"Where’s Fatty?"

It was only then that they registered Li Dazhuang’s disappearance.

"He said he was going to the restroom; why isn't he back yet?"

Wang Lan inquired, a note of concern in her voice.

Could something have genuinely happened to him?

Everyone's hearts grew heavy, and they quickly began retracing their steps, searching for any trace of Li Dazhuang.