Deviant: No Longer Human

The protective stance of Josephine\'s mother, coupled with the sudden allowance for this visit, raised more questions than answers.

He knew then that he needed to have a serious conversation with Josephine\'s mother.

Resolved to tackle the issues at hand methodically, Wang Xiao stood up from his seat beside Aisha. He was acutely aware that the situation required his immediate attention, starting with the new arrivals under his care.

"Take care of her," he instructed Josephine, nodding towards Aisha. "I have some work to attend to, and it might take some time. None of you should go outside alone for now," he added, his tone firm.

Josephine offered a bitter smile in response to Wang Xiao\'s instructions before he turned to head upstairs once again.

_____

"Shh!" The sound was faint but caught Wang Xiao\'s attention just as he reached Luna\'s room. He turned, spotting Anran peeking out from another room, gesturing for him to come over.

??

Wang Xiao was puzzled by what Anran might want but, given her insistent signaling, he let out a resigned sigh and decided to see what she needed.

_____

Click!

The door clicked shut behind him. Wang Xiao was met with the sight of Anran, clad only in a towel. "What do you want?" he asked bluntly.

"Are you going to meet that lady you kidnapped?" Anran inquired, a knowing smile on her face.

Wang Xiao was on the verge of losing his patience when she quickly added, "You can\'t meet her."

"Why not?" he asked, his suspicion evident.

"Well..." Anran held up her phone to him. "I sent her photo to Uncle Li... But he couldn\'t find any matching faces in the entire database."

Wang Xiao\'s demeanor shifted, taking her more seriously. "There are more photos?" he inquired.

"Yeah, I sent Aisha and Josephine\'s too..." Anran chuckled nervously, slightly sweating under his scrutinizing gaze.

"You were confirming their identities?" Wang Xiao asked, indifferent to her methods.

"Yes, Josephine and Aisha were fine, but this lady..." Anran\'s voice trailed off, adopting a more serious tone.

"Don\'t get dramatic. What did Li Zhiming say? And what language are you two using?" Wang Xiao questioned.

"Oh, it\'s my native language. I forgot you can\'t read it," Anran realized and smiled apologetically. "As for the lady... She\'s a Ghost."

"Ghost? What\'s that?" Wang Xiao frowned, a mix of confusion and curiosity in his expression. Anran took his hand, leading him to a seat before she began to explain.

As Wang Xiao sat down, Anran\'s expression grew more somber, a stark contrast to her usually playful demeanor. "A Ghost, in the context Uncle Li and I are using, doesn\'t mean a literal spirit. It\'s a term we use for someone who doesn\'t exist in any records, someone who\'s a complete mystery. This lady, whoever she is, doesn\'t have a past that we can trace. It\'s as if she appeared out of thin air."

Wang Xiao\'s frown deepened, his mind racing with the implications.

A person with no past was a dangerous unknown piece in their current situation. "And you\'re sure there\'s no record of her anywhere?" he pressed, seeking confirmation.

Anran nodded, her usual cheer replaced with a seriousness that matched the gravity of the situation. "Yes, absolutely sure. Uncle Li has access to extensive databases, and if he says she doesn\'t exist in them, it means she\'s been incredibly careful to erase her tracks or... she\'s been erased by someone else."

"..."

The room, draped in contemplation, mirrored Wang Xiao\'s deep thoughts. He leaned back, his gaze lost in the distance, mulling over the new layer of complexity added to the situation.

[She is also a Deviant], Yin Yue chimed in, adding a more ominous tone to the already tense atmosphere.

"Huh?" Wang Xiao\'s posture stiffened suddenly, his sharp movement catching Anran off guard. Ignoring her startled look, he mentally questioned Yin Yue, \'Why didn\'t you tell me this before?\'

[I was waiting for the right moment], came the response.

Wang Xiao\'s brows furrowed, his mind racing. \'How strong is she...?\'

Yin Yue\'s answer was unsettling in its uncertainty. [I can\'t ascertain].

Wang Xiao sighed inwardly. [How do you even determine if someone is a Deviant or not?]

Yin Yue explained, [I scan their biological structure for anomalies, like your brain... It\'s drastically different from that of a normal human. I found multiple abnormalities in her body too…]

This discovery answered a long-standing question for Wang Xiao. \'So if a person can maintain a normal body using some trick, or if his power is strong enough to revert to normal when needed... You can\'t detect them?\'

Yin Yue conceded, [That\'s possible... But it\'s rare for someone to have that capability].

Wang Xiao shook his head, realizing he couldn\'t rely solely on Yin Yue to identify Deviants. His gaze then shifted back to Anran, who seemed to be holding back words, likely intimidated by his serious demeanor.

"Do you want to say something?" he asked, redirecting his attention to her.

Anran nodded, her usual lightness replaced by a solemn air. "The Ghosts... It\'s not just a random term. Globally, we\'ve noticed a pattern and given them this name. These individuals seem to be working in groups for unknown employers. We don\'t know the extent of their network, their strength, or their numbers.

I gave the woman you brought in an overdose of sleeping pills to ensure she wouldn\'t wake up before today."

Wang Xiao leaned in, his interest piqued. "So, are these Ghosts part of a separate organization?"

"It\'s likely," Anran replied. "They don\'t appear to be affiliated with any known groups. Their motives are unclear too. But this one... I suspect..."

"This one what?" Wang Xiao prompted.

"This one is after you," Anran declared.

"Me?" Wang Xiao\'s eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

Anran nodded firmly. "I don\'t know the circumstances of how you found her wounded, but Uncle Li mentioned your name is at the top of a most-wanted list. These Ghosts might be hunting you as well. She might have been sent specifically for you."

At that moment, a memory flashed through Wang Xiao\'s mind.

He remembered Luna\'s eyes briefly opening, squinting at him before she fainted again.

Could it be possible that she was indeed sent after him?

How did they even find him?

"It\'s all still a theory... We can\'t be certain," Anran hurriedly added. "I searched her clothes for any clues, but there was nothing connecting her to you. She wasn\'t carrying any communication devices either."