"I remember," Jiang Xiao said, his voice carrying a determination he had never felt before.
"Pennywise, I won’t forget."
Du Lala looked at Jiang Xiao, her uneasiness gradually giving way to relief.
It seemed that the memory imprint of Project 88 was a success, and Jiang Xiao was ready to face Pennywise once again.
Du Lala’s voice was tinged with nervousness as she stepped closer to Jiang Xiao and asked with concern,
"How do you feel? Is there any discomfort?"
Jiang Xiao took a deep breath, trying to assess his body.
His mind was clear and his memory sharp, yet there were indeed subtle changes meandering within him, like an undercurrent stealthily flowing through his bloodstream.
"A bit... a bit dizzy."
Jiang Xiao said, his voice calm but his eyes harboring a flicker of uncertainty.
The researchers immediately sprang into action, surrounding Jiang Xiao and commencing a series of complex tests.
Gauges twitched, data streamed across screens, and everyone watched the results with intense focus.
During the testing, sporadic images flickered through Jiang Xiao’s mind, fragments of memory related to Pennywise that were new and unrehearsed.
Honestly, he did feel both surprised and puzzled, unsure where these memories had emerged from.
It was meant to be a first encounter, yet it felt as though he was meeting an old acquaintance.
"Hisss, something seems off..."
Apart from familiarity, Jiang Xiao... actually felt a sense of rivalry and respect towards Pennywise, as if they were equals.
Could it be that he and Pennywise were cut from the same cloth?
Of course, his emotions of "hatred" towards Pennywise still dominated.
Du Lala noticed Jiang Xiao’s odd reaction and quickly exchanged glances with the researchers, discussing quietly.
They analyzed how these new memory fragments might affect Jiang Xiao’s psychological state and considered whether he needed further psychological guidance.
But Jiang Xiao seemed uninterested in lingering. His gaze was resolute and urgency filled his tone.
"We don’t have time, I must act."
Du Lala tried to persuade him, "Jiang Xiao, you need to rest, we must ensure there’s nothing wrong with your body or mental state."
The researchers chimed in, "Yes, we cannot take risks, your psychological state might be unstable."
Jiang Xiao fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded, agreeing to their suggestion.
"Alright, I’ll rest here for a bit, but only for a bit."
Du Lala and the researchers exhaled in relief, preparing a quiet resting room for Jiang Xiao to observe and rest, to ensure he was in optimal condition to face the imminent terror.
Jiang Xiao lay on the bed in the resting room, eyes closed, but his mind was anything but at peace.
Images of Pennywise flashed incessantly in his mind, who seemed to be his archenemy, his mission to kill.
No sooner had Jiang Xiao stepped over the threshold of the resting room than a series of hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.
His heart skipped a beat, an inner intuition telling him this was no coincidence.
"Jiang Xiao!" b2’s voice was tense and frantic, his face pale as if he had just seen a ghost, "Pennywise, It... It has appeared."
Jiang Xiao’s eyes hardened instantaneously, all exhaustion and dizziness replaced by a towering rage.
This anger was unprovoked; merely hearing the name Pennywise, he wanted to kill It!
His voice was low and uncompromisingly harsh.
"The Children’s Health Institute."
b2 gasped, clearly having run all the way here.
"I didn’t expect Him to act so swiftly. We must take immediate action, the situation is extremely critical!"
Jiang Xiao didn’t hesitate for a moment, his body already fine-tuned to optimal condition by Project 88’s hypnotic effects, every nerve readying for the imminent confrontation.
They hurried out of the laboratory, racing toward the direction of the Child Healthcare Facility.
Even with the prospect of facing Pennywise, a strange calm filled Jiang Xiao’s heart, a sensation he had never felt before, as if everything was under his control.
The entrance to the Child Healthcare Facility was already sealed off by the emergency team, cries of children and the panicked screams of parents could be heard from the crowd.
It seemed the incident had escalated, even affecting the general public.
Jiang Xiao’s eyes grew cold as he pushed his way through the crowd, quickly approaching the facility’s building.
The emergency team, upon seeing him, cleared a path. They knew this man was their only hope.
Inside the building, the situation was worse than imagined. The corridor was fraught with an unbearable stench, and the walls were crawling with black tentacles searching for something.
Jiang Xiao didn’t know, nor did it matter.
He took a deep breath, his gaze once again filled with unwavering determination, no hesitation shown.
He stepped over medical staff and parents lying on the floor, heading straight for the deepest part of the nursery.
The door burst open, and Jiang Xiao’s eyes fixed on a sole target—the clown figure twisted in shape standing beside a baby’s crib.
Jiang Xiao shouted, his voice echoing through the empty room, filled with irresistible authority.
Pennywise turned slowly, his face so contorted yet somehow familiar.
"Jiang Xiao, you’ve come."
Pennywise’s voice was deep and malevolent, his eyes twinkling with a cunning light.
Jiang Xiao showed no fear as he strode forward, each step firm and heavy.
The mark from Project 88 seared in his mind became red-hot in that moment. He was fighting not only for himself but for all the innocent lives.
The atmosphere between them tensed and dangerous, like the calm before a storm. The air around seemed to freeze, waiting only for the final tempest to erupt.
Jiang Xiao locked eyes with Pennywise, his heart filled with resolve.
Pennywise seemed to sense the change in Jiang Xiao, his grin growing even more grotesque as he let out an ominous, low chuckle.
"Hee hee hee, such fiery spirit, my kin."
Jiang Xiao’s surging combativeness stumbled for an instant.
Those two words hammered heavily against his heart.
"Upon returning, I gave it much thought. If I’m not mistaken, you must be the Demon Child, right?"
A strangely familiar name...
Jiang Xiao suddenly remembered, the smartphone he had brought out from Kaidan, belonging to the old Wang of Madman Villa’s video watching device.
He had received a cryptic encrypted file not long ago.
Code: "Awakened Spirit!"
Assigned by: "Huang!"
And the file was simple, containing only sixteen characters.
"When the time comes, take action, do not impede the Demon Child!"
Am I that damned Demon Child?