I Start with a Mysterious Island

Chapter 354 - 271: A Cunning Rabbit’s Three Burrows

The flat-headed man, who was getting ready to run, had no intention of explaining to Wang Jing that he was just an elite member of an intelligence division.

As for how a mere elite member like him had a mutated vine typically reserved for high-ranking cadres of the Canglan Society, it was a gift from a close friend—one with whom he shared a bond forged in life and death—who had just been promoted...

"Since you already know this is a mutated vine developed by our Canglan Society, I don’t need to explain any further.

You’d better deal with it fast. You know what’ll happen if you don’t... I’m outta here. Good luck." The flat-headed man wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, shot Wang Jing a smug grin, and then turned to flee.

Wang Jing watched the flat-headed man escape but didn’t give chase. Just as he’d said, dealing with the relentlessly growing mutated vine was far more important than pursuing him.

In the brief time they had spoken, the Canglan Society’s mutated vine had absorbed the ambient Spiritual Energy in the air and grown another meter. Its dozen or so vines, covered in sharp barbs, had multiplied to over twenty.

...

WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH...

The previously motionless mutated vine suddenly sensed other creatures approaching and began to writhe.

Its thorny, barb-covered vines lashed out like whips toward the approaching creatures, drawn to the aura of life they emitted.

SLICE...

Three Investigators approaching the mutated vine swung their Spiritual Longswords, which glowed with a faint golden Spiritual Light, severing all the thorny vines lashing toward them.

The severed vines fell to the ground, where they writhed for several seconds before finally going still.

To everyone’s shock, the spots where the mutated vine had been damaged regenerated almost instantly. In just two or three seconds, it was whole again and resumed its attack on the three Investigators.

Seeing her teammates trying to destroy the mutated vine, Wang Jing called out to them.

"Get back! Don’t go any closer! This thing’s regenerative ability is incredibly strong. Attacking it like this is just a waste of your strength and Spiritual Energy."

SLICE...

The three Investigators sliced through another wave of attacking vines, then quickly retreated to Wang Jing’s side.

Before their very eyes, the mutated vine rapidly healed itself once more, completely regenerating in a matter of seconds.

Now that the three Investigators were outside its Perception range, the vine could no longer detect any living creatures nearby. It fell still once more, quietly absorbing the ambient Spiritual Energy from the air to continue its rapid growth.

One of the Investigators, blood seeping from a wound on his arm, stared at the ever-growing mutated vine and said anxiously,

"We need to deal with this thing, and fast. If we let it keep growing, its attack range will expand. Eventually, it’ll start attacking the residents who haven’t evacuated yet."

Wang Jing watched the relentlessly growing mutated vine with a calm and composed expression. She then turned to her team.

"We can’t handle this thing on our own. I have to call the Bureau for backup."

With that, she pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed a special number.

"Hello?" A deep voice answered on the other end of the line.

"Deputy Director, we’ve run into some trouble. We need backup," Wang Jing said.

The Deputy Director of the Superpower Administration Bureau, who had a deep voice, was in his office catching up on paperwork. He was slightly surprised to hear his most capable agent requesting backup, and he asked,

"I thought you were leading a team to capture a Canglan Society intelligence operative tonight. What kind of trouble did you run into?"

Staring at the ever-expanding mutated vine, Wang Jing quickly explained the situation to her superior.

"A mutated vine, you say? To think the Canglan Society would bring something so dangerous into the city. How reckless of them...

I understand. You all stay put. I’ll arrange for backup immediately.

Be careful, and don’t let any civilians enter the vine’s attack range. Your top priority now is to protect the public."

"Yes, Deputy Director."

After hanging up with her superior, Wang Jing turned to her teammates, who were watching her expectantly.

"I’ve reported to the Deputy Director. He said he’s sending backup immediately. For now, let’s spread out and form a perimeter. Don’t let any civilians get within the vine’s attack range."

"Understood." The three Investigators nodded, then quickly dispersed, each taking a position and scanning the surroundings with sharp, watchful eyes.

Time ticked by. The mutated vine grew from its initial height of three meters to six or seven, while the number of newly-sprouted, barb-covered vines on its body continued to multiply.

As the mutated vine grew and its attack range expanded, Wang Jing and her team, who had it surrounded, were forced to continuously move back.

’Where’s our backup? If this thing keeps growing, it’s going to be much harder to deal with.’

Watching the mutated vine grow larger and larger, with still no sign of the backup from the Bureau, Wang Jing and her team couldn’t help but grow anxious.