Chapter Two: The Young Old Meng

“Old Meng?”
“Temporary worker Old Meng?”
“So this is the one ranked just below the top?!!”

The infant gazed steadily at the man before him, the more he looked, the more familiar his face seemed, until finally a memory surfaced.

However, the Old Meng before him was much younger than the one from the animated series—only in his twenties.

He felt as if the world was playing a colossal joke on him.

First, he had been transported into the world of “Hua Jianghu: The Outlaws,” nearly becoming a “blood reserve.” Then, somehow, he was thrust into the world of “The Outcast,” almost meeting his end in a deadly trap.

Two consecutive unlucky traversals—he must be the most unfortunate traveler ever recorded!

Come to think of it, he even had a splitting headache trying to recall how he had crossed over in the first place.

Ah yes, it was because of a mud truck’s reckless performance!

In his previous life, he was an orphan named Lu Chun, taking the surname of the orphanage director. The director hoped he would remain pure and innocent, but once he stepped into society, reality set in…

Well, these were all painful memories best left unspoken.

There was nothing truly worth clinging to. The only thing Lu Chun worried about was that he hadn’t deleted the data on his phone.

Though he had been alone in his past life, Lu Chun still hoped to keep his reputation “pure.”

As for now, Lu Chun had accepted the fact that he had crossed into “The Outcast” world, but his current status was that of an undocumented person—a black market identity with no birth certificate.

What awaited him next? Either he’d be sent back to the orphanage like before, or…

Well, the infant glanced at Old Meng, who was quietly bowing and explaining his leave of absence to the zoo director while holding a small portable phone.

Though not as downtrodden as his animated counterpart, the pressures of life had bent his back nonetheless.

He admitted that he had set his sights on Old Meng—not just wanting to be adopted by him, but more so drawn to Old Meng’s abilities.

People always seek the most advantageous path amid adversity. Don’t blame Lu Chun for thinking this way; it’s only human nature.

After all, this was the world of the Outcasts. Since he had arrived here, who wouldn’t dream of becoming an Outcast themselves?

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Moreover, Old Meng was a beast master—a rare breed among the Outcasts—able to communicate with and control animals through his qi.

The arduous training of a beast master was not for self-enhancement but for strengthening animals, something ordinary Outcasts could hardly understand.

This was likely one reason for Old Meng’s social awkwardness.

Being a beast master was considered a disgrace in the Outcast world. The qi they cultivated did not bolster themselves, and coupled with Old Meng’s kind nature, he was undoubtedly bullied by unruly children during his youth.

Still, Old Meng’s talent was undeniable. As a temporary worker, he possessed exceptional skills.

Many supernatural powers had atrophied in the modern age, but Old Meng’s had evolved thanks to contemporary technology.

He was a beast master who kept pace with the times, adept at leveraging scientific advances. Later, he could even be called a biologist.

As knowledge of biology advanced, he realized that most creatures could be communicated with through qi. The higher the creature’s intelligence, the harder the communication but the lower the energy cost; the less intelligent, the easier the communication but the greater the energy expense.

In the animated series, middle-aged Old Meng’s limit was controlling bacteria.

He could not control viruses, as bacteria and viruses were fundamentally different.

Bacteria were prokaryotes, whereas viruses lacked cellular structure altogether, differing in form, size, and reproduction methods.

Hence, Old Meng claimed bacteria was his current limit.

Even so, mastering bacteria control made Old Meng a hidden powerhouse, capable of killing unseen. Among temporary workers, he might be the deadliest.

Unless facing a supreme master like the Heavenly Master, Old Meng could likely devise countless ways to dispatch opponents within the same realm.

Yet, in the anime, despite possessing such incredible skills, Old Meng appeared as a man in midlife crisis, completely bent by life’s burdens.

Perhaps once he was ambitious and spirited, but time had taught him to yield to reality.

For survival, Old Meng had smoothed off his edges, becoming accustomed to enduring mockery and scorn in silence.

In his previous life, online critics said Old Meng’s endurance was escapism; others said he had been so tormented by life that he forgot how to be angry.

After experiencing life’s hardships, Lu Chun believed Old Meng wasn’t incapable of anger—he simply chose not to stir trouble over trivial matters.

Given his nature, he certainly disliked the dangerous work of a temporary worker, was honest and soft-hearted even toward enemies—ill-suited for a profession steeped in violence.

He was like a middle-aged office worker with a wife and children at home.

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Recalling memories from Chen Duo’s arc, Old Meng expressed gratitude to Liao Zhong for introducing him to the temporary worker job, which allowed him to support his family. To provide a better life for his wife and child, he swallowed all hardship and grievance quietly.

An ordinary father with children, a kind man carrying secret skills—Old Meng was not the most charismatic among temporary workers, but certainly the most genuine.

At least, Lu Chun highly identified with this truth.

A sign of maturity is learning to accept defeat, but is that truly maturity or merely a few scars from life's storms?

What was admirable was that Old Meng never lost his kind heart.

And it was this kindness that Lu Chun intended to use.

After all, he had crossed from “Hua Jianghu: The Outlaws” into “The Outcast” world—would he return to the Outlaw world again?

Was his crossing forced or random?

When would he traverse next?

All unknown.

What Lu Chun needed to ensure was that he could protect himself in the Outlaw world; he did not want to become a beggar or a vagrant like Li Xingyun, constantly bullied.

One must keep climbing upward, especially when threats linger. Besides, behind him lurked Yuan Tiangang, who eyed his Li Tang bloodline covetously.

Thoughts swirled chaotically.

Clearly, the infant’s mind could not sustain such deep contemplation. Soon, he fell into a deep sleep.

Only Old Meng remained, just scolded by the director, looking at the sleeping infant with a sigh, staring at a number on his small phone.

After much hesitation, he still did not make the call.