Chapter 31: Psychotherapy
The next day, on the 81st floor of Vought, inside Madelyn Stillwell's office.
The Deep sat on the edge of the sofa, covering his face with both hands, his voice muffled.
"I think I have a problem."
Madelyn Stillwell looked up, studied him for a moment, and set her pen back on the desk.
"Be specific."
The Deep lowered his hands, his lips a little dry.
"I get nervous when I see a water glass now, I tremble when I hear the water cooler, I'm afraid to close my eyes when I shower, and I've been having nightmares for the past few days."
"It's all water in my dreams."
"And ice."
"And—"
He stopped.
"I don't think I'm in the right state of mind."
"I almost lost it in front of reporters while on patrol. Today, I went to the aquarium to film a segment, and when a seal jumped out of the water, I almost killed it."
"The thing just wanted to kiss me."
Madelyn Stillwell remained expressionless.
"I have absolutely zero curiosity about why it wanted to kiss you."
The Deep swallowed hard.
"That's not the point."
"The point is, I can't sleep or eat, and I feel sick whenever someone mentions the Conference Room."
"I need a doctor."
Madelyn Stillwell opened her schedule and glanced at the internal notes.
"The company's contracted psychological consultant is in Chicago, participating in a military trauma intervention program, and will be back in New York in three days."
The Deep turned pale.
"Three days?"
"I can't wait three days."
Madelyn Stillwell tapped her fingers on the desk.
She didn't like trouble, especially not a useless person breaking down at a critical juncture.
Although The Deep was brainless, his traffic was still valuable.
There were too many things going on recently; The Sevencouldn't afford another member with mental health issues.
She needed someone who could handle this.
Someone who understood The Deep.
Someone who understood Superhuman.
And someone who could keep their mouth shut.
A few seconds later, she thought of the most suitable candidate.
"There's a temporary substitute."
The Deep looked up, as if grabbing a life buoy.
"Who?"
Madelyn Stillwell picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"Li Xing, come here for a moment."
There was a half-second pause on the other end of the line.
"Now?"
"Now."
"Should I bring the dog?"
"Just don't let it shit on my carpet."
"Understood, it can pee instead."
The call ended.
The Deep froze.
He slowly turned his head to look at Madelyn Stillwell, his expression cracking little by little.
"Who did you just... call?"
Madelyn Stillwell looked at him.
"Li Xing."
The Deep stood up, panicked.
"No way."
"Pick someone else."
"Anyone else is fine."
"Maeve, Homelander, the cleaning lady, or the Indian guy selling coffee downstairs—anyone."
"Just not him."
Madelyn Stillwell's gaze grew colder.
"Reason."
The Deep's lips moved.
A reason?
Did he dare say it?
Say that Li Xing was a monster? Say that he had been hung up in the Conference Room like a dried fish? Say that his back went cold every time he heard running water?
He didn't dare.
Because if this got out, regardless of whether Madelyn Stillwell believed it, he would completely lose face.
The Deep had to bite the bullet and make an excuse.
"I'm not familiar with him."
Madelyn Stillwell smiled; this excuse was too lame.
"Didn't you strongly recommend him to accompany Starlight on patrol before?"
The Deep choked.
"That... that was about his work capability."
"Psychological counseling is a different matter."
"Li Xing has been on the periphery of The Seven for three years, accompanied Homelander, coaxed the PR Department, cleaned up messes for Maeve, and even knows what brand of drinks you each prefer."
"He understands you better than any professional doctor."
The Deep took a step back.
"But I don't want to see him."
Madelyn Stillwell's tone didn't change.
"Kevin, I'm not a turtle in a wishing well."
"You have two choices now."
"First, accept the temporary intervention."
"Second, I'll have the PR Department fill your schedule for the next two weeks and see if work can cure your problem."
The Deep's face turned green.
"You're abusing a patient."
"Prove you're a patient first."
Footsteps sounded outside the door.
Not fast.
Very steady.
Accompanied by a familiar smell of cigarettes.
The Deep's scalp tingled instantly.
His gills twitched as if by reflex.
The doorknob turned.
The door opened.
Li Xing walked in wearing a black suit, collar loose, holding an iced Americano in his hand.
Bibi Labu followed behind, wearing a gaudy neckerchief, with half a piece of beef jerky in its mouth.
After entering, Li Xing glanced at Madelyn Stillwell first.
"So urgent, who's dying?"
Madelyn Stillwell lifted her chin, signaling toward the side of the sofa.
"Him."
Li Xing turned his head.
The Deep was standing there, his face looking worse than a dead fish's belly.
Their eyes met.
The air seemed to have been paused by someone.
The Deep's legs went weak, and he almost sat on the floor right there.
He subconsciously clamped his legs together, his Adam's apple bobbed twice, and even his breathing became erratic.
The dream from last night hadn't dissipated, and today the real person had just popped out from the doorway; this experience was no different from a ghost in a horror movie.
Bibi Labu laughed first.
"Yo, isn't this the Master of the Ocean, Brother The Deep?"
"Why are you acting like you've seen the King of Hell when you see an acquaintance?"
The Deep opened his mouth.
No sound came out.
Li Xing walked two steps closer, placed the iced Americano on the coffee table, and showed a bit of just-right concern, as if he had just learned of the situation.
"Kevin, you look terrible."
The Deep pressed his back against the cabinet, his voice floating.
"What... what are you here for?"
"To treat you."
Li Xing pointed at himself, then at him.
"You're the patient, I'm the doctor."
The Deep's vision went black.
Madelyn Stillwell spoke up at the right moment.
"Li Xing, Kevin's mental state has been unstable lately, and he has obvious stress reactions to water, confined spaces, and the Conference Room."
"The official consultant is away, so you do an assessment for the company first."
"I only care about the results."
Li Xing nodded and took The Deep to another empty room.
"Got it, after-sales service."
The Deep almost cursed out loud.
What do you mean after-sales service?
Isn't it because of you that I became like this?
But he still didn't dare say it.
Li Xing pulled out a chair, sat down, and waved at The Deep.
"Don't be nervous."
"Come, sit closer."
"The first step of psychological counseling: building trust."
The Deep stood still.
Li Xing looked at him and smiled.
"What?"
"Afraid of me?"
Bibi Labu immediately added a jab.
"Isn't that obvious? He's more well-behaved seeing you now than seeing a tsunami warning."
The Deep slowly moved over and sat on the very edge of the sofa, daring only to perch his butt on it.
Li Xing pushed the iced Americano in front of him.
"Drink some water."
Seeing the ice cubes sloshing in the cup, The Deep's hand shook immediately.
"I'm not thirsty."
"Liar, your lips are cracked."
"I'm really not thirsty."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Look at you, bragging again."
Li Xing looked at him for two seconds, then raised his hand and took a sip himself.
"Alright then, let's get to the point."
"You have nightmares, you're afraid of water, afraid of the Conference Room, and afraid of me."
"The core symptoms are very clear."
"You aren't sick."
A glimmer of hope actually appeared in The Deep's eyes.
"Really?"
Li Xing nodded.
"You just need a good thrashing."
The hope on The Deep's face shattered instantly; his chest felt tight with anger, but he didn't dare flip out, so he could only ask through gritted teeth.
"What kind of diagnosis is that?"
Li Xing twirled the cigarette pack on his fingertips.
"It's very simple."
"You aren't afraid of water."
"You're afraid of losing control."
"You aren't afraid of the Conference Room."
"You're afraid of remembering what you looked like kneeling on the ground."
"You don't have psychological trauma."
"You just suddenly realized you're actually a piece of trash, and you can't accept it."
Every sentence was like a slap in the face.
The Deep's face grew redder and redder.
But he couldn't refute it.
Because it was all true.
Li Xing leaned forward, his voice lowering a bit.
"Kevin, pain isn't an illness."
"Recognizing who you are is the medicine."
The Deep gripped the seams of his pants, and it took him a long time to squeeze out a sentence.
"Then how do I get treated?"
Li Xing smiled.
"Be obedient."
"What?"
"Listen to me."
"That way you won't have to experience a second treatment."
The Deep looked at him, his expression changing back and forth.
This isn't psychological counseling.
This is clearly using a medical visit to put a dog leash on himself.
But the scariest part is—he actually thought it made sense.
The Deep was silent for a long time before squeezing out one word from his throat.
"...Okay."
Li Xing nodded with satisfaction, stood up, and patted his shoulder.
The Deep stiffened all over.
"Very good, treatment over."
"From today on, no drinking before bed, no watching movies, and no going to the aquarium to have heart-to-hearts with octopuses."
"If you act stupid again next time, I don't mind treating you properly again."
Bibi Labu's tail was wagging so fast it was almost flying off.
"Awesome, making bullying into psychological counseling these days counts as industry innovation."
Chapter 32: Do You Want To?
Faith Expo.
Long lines stretched outside the venue.
A massive banner hung over the main entrance of the stadium.
"God grants heroes, heroes protect America."
Below that was Homelander's smiling face.
Further down was a promotional photo of Starlight wearing her platinum suit, holding light in her hands.
Hughie stood in the crowd, holding a temporary pass in his hand.
In the surrounding stalls, there were Bibles for sale, crosses for sale, and Starlight-style bracelets; anything remotely related to faith could be found here.
Hughie was silent for two seconds.
"They really turned faith into merchandise."
Starlight shrugged.
"Vought won't let any opportunity to print a logo slip by."
Hughie watched a little boy nearby, who was hugging a Homelander doll and asking his father to pay for it.
The little boy was very happy.
The father looked at the price and was not very happy.
A piece of junk that cost at most 5 dollars wholesale, and they dared to sell it for 199.99 dollars.
Even the most heartless capitalists back home would have to say it's impressive.
Hughie whispered.
"Are you really going on stage later?"
Starlight nodded.
"First Ezekiel will give a speech, then Homelander, and finally my youth faith sharing session."
"And you?"
"I'll be waiting backstage."
"I'll try my best not to cause you any trouble."
Starlight glanced at him.
"I get the feeling you're very nervous today."
Hughie swallowed hard.
"There are too many people."
"Really?"
Hughie didn't dare to look into Starlight's eyes.
He was, of course, here with a mission today; Butcher had recorded what Ezekiel had done at that bar.
Today, Hughie's purpose in coming here was to threaten Ezekiel into revealing the whereabouts of compound v.
Hughie was just about to continue explaining.
A voice suddenly sounded from the side.
"Yo, isn't this my brother Hughie?"
Hughie's body stiffened.
Starlight turned her head.
Li Xing walked over from the crowd.
He wore a black trench coat, his shirt collar unbuttoned, and he was carrying a milkshake in his hand.
Bibi Labu was squatting at his feet, with a mini cross hanging around its neck.
A small cigar was hanging from the cross.
Hughie's expression changed on the spot.
"Li?"
Li Xing spread his arms.
"Brother, I've missed you to death."
Before Hughie could react, he was given a solid hug by Li Xing.
The force wasn't great.
But Hughie's back was drenched in sweat.
He knew.
Li Xing knew about the wiretap.
This guy hugging him now was like an angler telling a small fish underwater, 'Don't worry, I won't eat you.'
Starlight was stunned.
"I didn't realize you two were so close."
Li Xing released Hughie and patted his shoulder.
"Old friends."
"He has a particularly precious quality."
Hughie swallowed.
"What quality?"
Li Xing said seriously.
"He looks very easy to bully."
Bibi Labu nodded.
"Yeah, when I was in school, I specifically picked on guys like this."
Hughie: "..."
Starlight couldn't help but laugh.
Hughie forced an ugly smile.
"Why are you here?"
Li Xing looked at the cross-shaped light sign in the center of the venue.
"Attending a religious event."
Hughie paused.
He really couldn't help it.
"Why would Satan come to attend Jesus's sermon?"
Starlight raised her hand to cover her mouth.
Bibi Labu laughed out loud.
"This kid is alright; he really dares to ask anything."
Li Xing took a sip of his milkshake, his tone very flat.
"Because Jesus loves the world."
"Satan is also part of the world."
"So I came to mooch a bit of love, is there a problem?"
Hughie opened his mouth.
He didn't know how to refute that.
Li Xing added another sentence.
"Besides, the ticket for this place is 190 dollars."
"If Satan doesn't come, who's going to inspect the quality of their scam?"
Starlight looked at Li Xing.
She originally wanted to say something.
But Li Xing had already turned to her.
"Annie, you look beautiful today."
Starlight's smile faded a bit.
"Thank you."
Starlight asked.
"Will you go on stage today?"
Li Xing wasn't sure.
"Depends on John's mood."
"If he needs a friend, I'll go up and say a few words."
"If he doesn't, I'll just sit below and applaud for him."
Bibi Labu looked up, face full of disbelief.
"Seriously, they even have electronic versions of indulgences here."
"I just scanned the QR code, the lowest tier is 9.9 dollars."
Hughie looked at Bibi Labu.
"Impressive, right."
At this moment, a woman's voice came from behind.
"Annie!"
Starlight's body paused.
She turned around.
A middle-aged woman in a light-colored suit walked over quickly.
Her makeup was exquisite.
Her hair was well-groomed.
She hugged Starlight, her smile warm.
"My dear, you look so beautiful today."
Starlight was a bit uncomfortable.
"Mom."
Hughie immediately stood up straight.
"Hello, I'm Hughie."
Donna looked at Hughie, her eyes sweeping over his clothes, shoes, and pass.
Her smile didn't change.
"Hello."
She quickly looked at Li Xing again.
In that instant, the smile on her face paused for half a beat.
Vought's people.
She recognized Li Xing.
A new member of The Seven, Satan.
Unruly and speaking in a rogue manner.
Li Xing nodded at her.
"Ms. Donna."
Donna smiled even harder.
"Mr. Li, I didn't expect you to come too."
"I didn't expect it either."
Li Xing glanced at Starlight, then looked at Donna.
"This place suits you very well."
Donna didn't understand.
"What do you mean?"
Li Xing's tone was very casual.
"Faith, money, stage, applause."
"Plus a little bit of motherly love that packages her own daughter as a commodity."
"It's practically like coming home."
The air froze.
The smile on Starlight's face vanished instantly.
Hughie was also stunned.
"Li, what do you mean by that?"
Donna's fingers gripped her bag strap.
The color on her face faded a bit, but she quickly put the smile back on.
"I don't understand what you are talking about."
Li Xing looked at her.
"Of course."
"Not understanding is a good thing."
Starlight frowned.
She stood in front of Donna.
"That's enough."
"You can't just attack my mom as soon as you show up."
Hughie also spoke up.
"Yeah, this is too much."
Li Xing didn't explain.
He just looked at Donna.
Donna also looked at him.
Neither of them spoke again.
Only Donna knew.
Li Xing wasn't joking.
He knew everything about compound v, knew about the documents signed back then, and even more so, knew that she had handed over baby Annie to Vought for injection.
Everything was just to make her daughter a "miracle granted by God."
Donna had sacrificed everything, and even her family had been forced apart.
Donna forced herself to look away.
"Annie, we should go backstage."
Starlight glanced at Li Xing.
There was dissatisfaction and confusion in that gaze.
She pulled Donna away.
Hughie followed for two steps, then turned back to look at Li Xing.
"Why did you say that just now?"
Li Xing looked at him.
"Some things, if I told you, you wouldn't be able to accept."
Hughie's heart sank.
Li Xing stepped closer and lowered his voice.
"Also, stop wearing your guilt on your face."
"It's very easy for people to tell that you've just done something you shouldn't have."
Hughie's face turned pale.
Li Xing patted his shoulder and smiled.
"Relax."
"Today is the Lord's day."
"The Lord will forgive you."
Bibi Labu passed by and added a jab.
"But Li Xing won't."
Hughie stood in place.
His palms were slowly sweating.
Li Xing walked towards the main venue with his dog.
The venue was already full of people.
Lights shone on the stage.
The big screen started playing a Vought promotional video.
Children's hospital.
Disaster relief.
Homelander flew out of thick smoke holding a flag.
The audience applauded.
Someone cried.
Someone shouted "Thank God."
Li Xing found a seat near the front and sat down.
Bibi Labu jumped onto the empty chair next to him and took out a bag of popcorn.
"I have a feeling."
"Jesus is going to have to work overtime today."
Li Xing leaned back in his chair.
"Jesus can't control this place."
"But I can."
On stage, the host walked out.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this year's Faith Expo!"
Applause erupted.
After a few rounds of warm-up.
The lights dimmed.
A name lit up on the big screen.
[Ezekiel]
The whole audience cheered.
A man in a white suit walked onto the stage.
He had a bright smile and spread his arms.
"Brothers and sisters, God loves you! God loves America!"
"Why could Jesus walk on water?"
"Why can Homelander fly?"
"Why can A-Train run so fast?"
"Why were we chosen by God? Because God needs us to save America! Because we believe!"
The applause grew louder.
Ezekiel continued his speech.
From Jesus to Superhuman, from Superhuman to America.
He said men should be men, and women should be women.
When he talked about homosexuality, his voice rose.
"We must use love to correct them!"
"We must tell them, God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!"
Someone in the audience laughed.
Someone applauded.
In the audience.
Li Xing raised his hand.
Bibi Labu immediately perked up.
"Here it comes, here it comes, Satan has raised his hand to request to speak."
Ezekiel was at the climax of his speech when he saw someone in the front row raise their hand.
He smiled and stopped.
"It seems a brother wants to share."
The camera cut to Li Xing's face.
His smile appeared on the big screen.
The venue started to stir.
Someone recognized him.
"Is that Satan? What is he doing here?"
"The one from The Seven?"
"He even has a dog with him!"
Ezekiel also recognized Li Xing.
He was stunned for a moment, then quickly put on an even warmer smile.
"Mr. Li, I didn't expect you to be here too."
"Of course."
Li Xing stood up and took the microphone handed by a staff member.
"I have a question about faith."
Ezekiel smiled.
"Please, go ahead."
Li Xing looked at him on stage.
"You just said that God created Adam and Eve."
"Yes."
"Then I'm very curious."
Li Xing paused for half a second.
The whole venue went quiet.
Starlight suddenly had a bad premonition.
Hughie also opened his mouth.
Don't.
Please don't.
Li Xing continued.
"Mr. Ezekiel, do you want to lick my badge?"
Chapter 34: Baptism
The Diamond Club was in the annex building behind the stadium.
The front of the venue was still in chaos, but the back had already regained its decorum.
There were no cheap plastic crosses here, no believers crying for the cameras, and no children holding Homelander dolls.
Here, there was only champagne, carpets, whispered prayers, and faces that looked incredibly wealthy and easily fooled.
Hughie stood at the entrance, clutching that gold-stamped ticket, his palms slick with sweat.
The attendant at the door checked his ticket and waved him through with a smile.
As soon as Hughie stepped inside, he smelled a mixture of disinfectant and perfume.
Hymns were playing in the hall, kept at a low volume.
A group of people in high-end evening wear stood around, talking about God while their eyes were busy assessing each other's net worth and social circles.
To put it bluntly, it was just a high-end version of a pyramid scheme cocktail party.
It was no wonder that rich people could get reeled in.
Hughie had barely taken two steps when his body froze.
Ahead, by the long table.
Homelander was holding a glass of sparkling water, standing in the middle of a crowd.
His blue and red cape hung behind him, and his face wore that standard, impossibly standard smile.
It wasn't the smile from the stage. It was closer, and more dangerous.
Beside him, Li Xing was leaning against the corner of the table, grabbing a handful of salted crackers and tossing them into his mouth one by one.
Bibi Labu was squatting at his feet, with a small sign hanging around his neck that read "Do Not Disturb," munching on some cheese balls from the venue.
Hughie's scalp tingled instantly.
It's over.
Today is hell mode.
Li Xing saw him first.
He chewed on a cracker, wearing a smile.
"Yo."
Homelander turned his head, following his gaze.
When those eyes landed on Hughie, Hughie felt like he was being scanned.
From head to toe.
Even his heartbeat felt like it was being heard.
Li Xing spoke with a smile.
"John, let me introduce you."
"Hughie."
"A very gutsy little friend."
Bibi Labu looked up and added.
"Also a poor sap with terrible luck."
Homelander took a step closer.
Very slowly.
The smile on his face didn't change.
"Is that so?"
"I've always liked gutsy people."
He looked at Hughie, his eyes carrying a hint of something else.
"How do you know Annie?"
Hughie's throat felt a bit dry.
"We met by chance."
Homelander nodded.
"By chance."
Hughie bit the bullet and continued.
"We're just ordinary friends. I was only able to come here by riding on her luck."
Beside them, Li Xing went crunch as he bit into another cracker.
"See?"
"How humble."
Homelander chuckled.
"If ordinary friends can get into the Diamond Club, it seems Annie is very good to her friends."
Hughie forced a smile.
"She's always been a good person."
Homelander stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly reached out and patted Hughie on the shoulder.
Not hard.
But Hughie's entire body tensed up.
"Relax, Hughie."
"This is the Lord's night."
"No one is going to get hurt here."
Just then, the lights in the center of the hall turned on.
A beam of light fell onto the pool in front.
It wasn't a swimming pool, but rather some kind of modified baptismal pool. With white stone edges, clear water reaching the waist, and a huge golden cross standing behind it.
Ezekiel had changed into a white robe and walked to the edge of the pool, his smile looking like it had just been photocopied from a printer.
You couldn't tell at all that he had been stripped of his underwear in public just a few hours ago.
Amazing.
With that kind of mental fortitude, he deserves to be able to scam people.
Ezekiel spread his arms.
"Brothers and sisters, the little disturbance tonight only proves one thing."
"The devil has always been trying to interfere with true faith."
"But the light will not be extinguished by darkness."
Someone in the audience immediately applauded.
It was clear that the people here had been screened.
They were the type whose brains hadn't fully developed, and whose cerebellums were underdeveloped.
Ezekiel continued.
"Tonight's baptism will be presided over by a special guest."
"He is the symbol of strength, and the guardian God has bestowed upon this country."
"Homelander."
The applause was even louder than before.
Homelander put down his glass, adjusted his cape, and walked to the front of the pool.
Li Xing didn't go over.
He swiped another plate of fried chicken nuggets from the long table, eating as he watched, like he was there to see a paid performance.
Homelander stood by the pool, his voice steady.
"Those who have come here tonight are the chosen ones."
"You are closer to faith than those people outside shouting slogans."
He scanned the crowd.
Everyone straightened their backs.
"Now, answer me."
"Do you accept our priest as your savior, and accept his son, Jesus Christ?"
The first to step forward was a middle-aged woman.
Her eyes were teary, and her voice trembled.
"I accept."
Homelander nodded.
"Very good."
"Then, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I shall baptize you."
He held the back of the woman's neck and pressed his hand down.
Splash.
The woman was pushed into the water.
Three seconds.
Four seconds.
Homelander pulled her up.
The woman gasped for air, but her face was full of excitement, as if she had been touched by God himself.
Ezekiel immediately followed up.
"Your sins have been washed away."
"Christ is with you."
"Amen."
The crowd responded in unison.
"Amen."
One after another.
Men, women, young people, wealthy merchants.
Everyone said "I accept," everyone was pushed into the water for a few seconds, and then they came up looking moved.
The process was standard, the movements practiced, like an assembly line for purifying souls.
Hughie stood in line behind the crowd, his hands and feet growing colder and colder.
Li Xing watched with great interest.
He picked up a glass of juice and raised it toward Hughie.
"Don't be nervous."
"It's just a hair wash."
Hughie glanced at him, almost cursing out loud.
It's easy for you to say while standing there.
Soon, the line shortened.
It was Hughie's turn.
Homelander saw him, and his smile became more pronounced.
"Hughie."
"Ordinary friend."
The people around all looked over.
Hughie had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk into the pool.
The water was a bit cold.
After he stood steady, Ezekiel stood to the side, looking as if he didn't know him at all, looking ridiculously holy.
Homelander looked down at him.
"Do you accept?"
Hughie's throat tightened.
"I accept."
Homelander leaned down, moving closer.
"Accept whom?"
Hughie was stunned.
Homelander was still smiling.
But Hughie could feel something scratching at him beneath that smile.
"The priest."
"And... Jesus Christ."
Homelander nodded.
"Good boy."
The next second.
His hand pressed onto the back of Hughie's head, pushing him directly into the water.
Splash!
Water instantly filled his ears.
The first second, Hughie was still enduring it.
Standard procedure.
Just a few seconds.
The second second, the third second.
Homelander's hand was like an iron clamp, holding him down tightly.
Hughie began to struggle.
The fourth second, the fifth second.
His chest felt tight, his lungs felt like they were on fire.
The sixth second.
He kicked his legs and grabbed Homelander's wrist, but couldn't budge it at all.
The seventh second.
Water poured into his nasal cavity, and his mind went blank.
The eighth second.
The sounds around him all vanished, leaving only the sound of water and his own heartbeat, which felt like it was about to explode.
The ninth second.
He really thought he was going to die.
The tenth second.
Homelander finally pulled him up.
Hughie coughed violently, bent over to spit out water, his entire face bright red, tears and water streaming down.
The surroundings were quiet for a moment.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Ezekiel raised his hand.
"Your sins have been washed away."
"Christ is with you."
Hughie leaned against the edge of the pool, panting heavily.
Homelander stood in front of him, his face wearing that sickly smile that made one's blood run cold.
"How does it feel?"
Hughie couldn't speak.
Homelander bent down and smoothed back his soaked hair.
His movements were as gentle as a brother's.
"You were too nervous just now."
"I was just helping you wash a bit more away."
Li Xing leaned against the outside, finished the last sip of his juice, and slowly applauded.
"Washed very clean."
Hughie looked up and saw Homelander's eyes.
There was no faith in them.
Only probing, interest, and a little bit of malice that could crush him at any moment.
Homelander said softly.
"Hughie."
"In the future, when you have time, feel free to come with Annie more often."
"I like gutsy people."
Chapter 35: Bursting Open
The Diamond Club emptied out quickly.
The big shots were busy tweeting, doing damage control, and pretending nothing had happened that night.
The believers left with flushed faces, clinging to the sense of honor of having been personally pushed into the water by Homelander.
The hymns stopped.
The waiters began clearing away the glasses.
The water in the pool was still gently rippling, and the water stains left by those who had just had their heads pushed in hadn't dried yet.
Hughie stood behind a pillar, his clothes half-wet, his hair plastered to his forehead.
He didn't leave.
He was waiting.
Ezekiel didn't leave either.
He had changed out of his white robe, thrown on a dark coat, and was standing by the pool, whispering to two staff members.
The two nodded quickly and turned to leave.
A few seconds later, even the security at the entrance had cleared out.
The hall was completely empty.
Except for Hughie.
And a thin layer of mist above the ceiling.
That mist clung to the light strips, as quiet as the air conditioning.
No one looked up, so naturally, no one knew that Li Xingwas dispersed up there.
Bibi Labu hadn't followed him in.
It found the hymns here brainwashing and had run off to the kitchen to find some meat.
Hughie took a breath and walked out from behind the pillar.
His footsteps were a bit abrupt in the empty hall.
Ezekiel turned his head, saw him, paused for a moment, and then put on that professional, business-like smile.
"Child, the baptism is already over."
Hughie stopped three meters away.
"I'm not here for the baptism."
Ezekiel looked at his soaked collar.
"Then what do you want to do?"
Hughie's throat still hurt; those ten seconds in the water made his voice raspy when he spoke.
He had prepared many opening lines, but when it really came to this moment, his mind was blank.
Butcher was right.
Threatening people wasn't just about memorizing tough words.
Without strong psychological fortitude, you really couldn't do this job.
Hughie stared at Ezekiel.
"I know what you did."
The smile on Ezekiel's face didn't falter.
"I don't understand what you mean."
"The bar."
"East 29th Street."
The air went quiet for a moment.
The bit of gentleness in Ezekiel's eyes slowly faded.
Hughie felt his palms were sweaty, but he continued anyway.
"There were three people there."
"You were covered in oil."
"You grabbed me, and your arms... were very long."
"You also touched my ass."
"That thing of yours was very soft, twisty, like a snake."
After saying this last part, Hughie himself wanted to crawl into a hole.
On the ceiling, that layer of mist shivered slightly.
Ezekiel stared at Hughie, the smile on his face completely gone.
"What kind of crazy talk is that?"
Hughie gritted his teeth and continued.
"You said, 'Don't be nervous, you will make me feel the Lord's love.'"
"You also said my ass was round and felt good, and that it would surely be comfortable when you came from behind."
"You also said that God had a purpose when He created everyone."
Ezekiel's breathing skipped a beat.
Hughie knew he had guessed right.
He suppressed the urge to turn and run, and took a step forward.
"You know what I'm talking about."
"You fucked me."
"I have proof."
Ezekiel was silent for two seconds, then suddenly laughed.
The laugh no longer sounded like a priest's, but more like a rot that had been peeled open.
"So what?"
"You want money?"
"Or do you want me to kneel and beg you?"
Hughie shook his head.
"I want the location of compound v."
The expression on Ezekiel's face changed.
"You know what that is?"
"I know more than you think."
"Is that so?"
The moment those words dropped, Ezekiel's right arm suddenly shot out.
Like a rope being flicked.
It was too fast.
Hughie only had time to raise his hand, but that hand had already clamped onto his throat, dragging him off the ground and straight to the edge of the baptismal pool.
Bang!
His back hit the stone platform, and his vision went black.
Ezekiel's arm stretched longer and longer, his five fingers digging into his throat, his voice turning cold.
"Do you know who you're threatening?"
Hughie pried at that hand with both hands, but couldn't budge it at all.
His face began to turn red, his toes kicked at the ground, and his breathing became intermittent.
"You... you wouldn't dare..."
Ezekiel leaned in, his eyes fierce.
"I wouldn't dare?"
"Too many things happened here tonight; no one would care if one more ordinary person died."
Hughie's brain felt swollen.
While panicking like hell, he almost pissed himself.
But since things had come this far, he couldn't back down now.
"If I don't make it back."
"The video... will immediately be posted online."
"Everyone will know..."
"Know that while you preach against homosexuality, you're more depraved than anyone behind closed doors."
Ezekiel's expression grew uglier by the second.
He was still choking him.
But he didn't increase the pressure.
Hughie knew he had won half the bet.
"Where is compound v?"
Ezekiel stared at him, as if calculating whether it was worth choking him to death right now.
A few seconds later, he slowly let go.
Hughie crashed back to the ground, clutching his throat and coughing violently, almost coughing his lungs out.
Ezekiel cursed under his breath.
"You piece of trash..."
Hughie lifted his head, gasping for air wildly.
"The address."
Ezekiel turned around, walked to the long table nearby, poured half a glass of wine, and downed it in one gulp.
Hughie was stunned.
Ezekiel stared at him, his eyes full of murderous intent.
"Neonatal intensive care units, lists of partner welfare agencies. Vought screens a batch of infants every year."
"Some parents sign."
"Some don't."
"Those who survive become commodities."
"Those who die don't even leave a name behind."
Hughie didn't speak for a moment.
He knew Vought was disgusting.
But being this disgusting still made his stomach tighten.
"Which hospital?"
"The most recent batch, Midtown, Mercy Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit."
A drop of water suddenly dripped from overhead.
Plop.
It landed on the shards of the wine glass.
Then, a second drop.
A third drop.
Ezekiel looked up.
Beneath the lights, that layer of mist began to sink.
Water vapor gathered in the air, first the shoulders, then the arms, then the face.
Li Xing landed on the edge of the baptismal pool, his shoe tips stepping into a puddle of water.
He yawned.
"Well said."
Hughie looked at him sharply, freezing completely.
"You've been here the whole time?"
Li Xing smiled.
"Yeah."
"You really should learn how to threaten people."
"If it were me, I wouldn't believe it."
Hughie: "..."
He didn't feel praised at all right now.
Ezekiel took a step back, his face turning pale.
"What do you want?"
Li Xing looked at him.
"I have some business with you, too."
Ezekiel stared at him, his peripheral vision already searching for an exit.
"I've already told you everything you wanted to know."
Li Xing nodded.
"Yeah, I heard."
"So you're useless now."
As soon as those words fell, Ezekiel turned and ran.
He didn't even dare to look back.
His arm shot out, hooking the side door handle, trying to fling himself out.
The next second.
Ezekiel's stomach suddenly bulged.
Very lightly.
Like someone had tapped the skin from inside his body.
He froze.
Hughie also froze.
Because after that, Ezekiel's chest, abdomen, and neck began to swell at a speed visible to the naked eye.
It wasn't a shape-shifting ability.
It wasn't self-healing.
It was water.
The water in the pool began to pour incessantly into Ezekiel's body.
Ezekiel opened his mouth to scream.
But the sound was blocked by water just as it reached his throat.
"Urgh—gurgle..."
Water spilled from the corners of his mouth.
Then from his nostrils.
Eye corners.
Ears.
Hughie's face went white instantly.
He heard a very faint sound.
Creak.
Not bones breaking.
It was the sound of flesh and skin being stretched by water pressure.
Ezekiel's body was still expanding.
His clothes were the first to tear; buttons popped off one by one, hitting the stone pillars by the pool with a crisp sound.
His skin was stretched tight and shiny, the blue veins underneath looking like threads about to burst.
Li Xing stood in front of him, his tone still flat.
"You're not a rubber man; let me see how much water you can drink."
Ezekiel could no longer answer.
He was like a full leather bag, his limbs twitching uncontrollably.
Li Xing raised a finger and tapped his chest lightly.
"Bang."
He exploded.