Chapter 142: Hypnotic Drug
“The drug’s effects should have settled by now,” the non-mainstream youth said with a look of disgust. “He won’t be struggling anymore. Put his jaw back in place—watching him drool like that is disgusting.”
It was clear that the burly man also had some knowledge of traditional Chinese bone-setting techniques.
Hearing this, the burly man clicked his tongue but walked over nonetheless. Squatting beside the middle-aged man, he reached out his chubby hand, grabbed the man’s dislocated jaw, and with a slight movement—crack—snapped it back into place.
“All done!”
The burly man clapped his hands, then wiped the saliva-stained fingers on his clothes carelessly before strolling over to the fridge. He retrieved some half-eaten deli food and began gnawing on it again.
The non-mainstream youth shot him a disdainful glance and shook his head.
Then, he lifted the middle-aged man’s eyelids to check his pupils. Confirming that he was stable, he returned to the couch, took out a pack of Huazi cigarettes from the coffee table, and lit one up.
He inhaled deeply and exhaled a swirling cloud of smoke. “Damn, premium cigarettes really do hit different. Way better than the cheap ones.”
“Oh yeah?” The burly man perked up. “Let me try one!”
Grinning, he extended his greasy fingers towards the youth.
“Here.”
The non-mainstream youth casually tossed the cigarette pack to him.
The burly man caught it eagerly, pulled out a stick, and lit it up. He took a drag, then followed it with a big bite of his food, nodding in satisfaction.
“Not bad, not bad. Tastes great!”
The youth rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything.
Time passed.
Eventually, the middle-aged man lying on the floor stirred.
“Cough, cough…“
He slowly regained consciousness, coughing a few times.
Hearing this, both men on the couch turned their heads toward him.
“Yo, that was quick. His body is holding up well,” the burly man chuckled.
“Yeah, solid physique,” the non-mainstream youth agreed.
“Since you’re awake, get up.”
The middle-aged man coughed again, then sluggishly got to his feet. His gaze was unfocused—vacant, like that of a… simpleton.
“Ah, damn it,” the non-mainstream youth muttered, slapping his forehead with a wry smile.
The burly man frowned in confusion.
Since this was his first time witnessing the effects of the drug, he only knew the basics—nothing more.
“Anyone who takes this drug turns into a fool,” the non-mainstream youth explained. “Or rather, it’s like being in a deep hypnotic state. We need a special command to wake him up—to tell him to be loyal to the family, to us.”
With that, he walked over to the dazed middle-aged man and squatted down.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and fiddled with it for a moment.
A haunting melody—dark and eerie—began playing from the speaker.
It was a modified version of Chapter Seven of the Night.
The sorrowful female voice sounded almost like a ghost wailing in the dead of night.
Hearing it, the burly man shivered.
“Shit, who the hell came up with this? This is nightmare fuel!” he swore.
The non-mainstream youth chuckled. “Oh, you know the singer.”
“I do?” The burly man looked puzzled.
“Who?”
“That’s a secret,” the youth replied mysteriously.
“This song is the activation command. We had to modify it this way to prevent someone from accidentally triggering the command and waking up the subject.”
As he spoke, he watched the middle-aged man closely.
Sure enough, as the eerie music played on, the man’s vacant eyes slowly regained focus.
A spark of awareness flickered in them.
“Welcome home,” the non-mainstream youth said with a smile.
“Home?” The middle-aged man murmured. “I’ve come home…”
“Yes, you’re home now,” the youth coaxed. “We are your family.”
“Family…”
The man nodded firmly.
“Get up. Be yourself again.”
The non-mainstream youth extended a hand.
The middle-aged man obediently grasped it and, with the youth’s support, stood up.
“Your phone has been ringing nonstop. Return the call,” the youth instructed, handing the device over.
The man took it, unlocked the screen.
“Here are two photos—both of your wife and child. No matter what anyone says, you must protect them,” the youth added, producing two pictures—one of Axi and Han Xue, before and after their disguises.
“My wife and child…” The man’s expression darkened. “Understood!”
The phone dialed back.
After two rings, the call was answered.
“Hello, is this Mr. Li?”
A voice came through the receiver.
“Yes, this is he,” Mr. Li responded after a brief pause. “Who is this?”
“Hello, Mr. Li. I’m Shi Guang from the Tang City Police Department, Major Crimes Unit,” the caller introduced himself.
“Oh?”
“Officer Shi Guang! Nice to meet you.”
Mr. Li chuckled, his tone relaxed, showing none of his earlier blankness.
“What can I do for you, officer?”
“It’s about your wife and son,” Shi Guang replied. “We need to verify some details.”
The mention of his wife and child caused a sharp glint to flash in Mr. Li’s eyes. His expression turned grim.
The non-mainstream youth’s command had been triggered.
Protecting his wife and child was now his top priority—no matter the cost.
“What happened to my wife and son?” Mr. Li’s voice was deep and tense.
“Nothing serious, just routine verification,” Shi Guang quickly clarified, sensing the sudden change in his tone.
He was careful—one wrong step, and this could turn into a major problem.
(End of Chapter 142)
