Chapter 118: The Mad Experiment

The second person to mention is Lu Zuzhi. Li Tianque had long since listed him as a primary suspect, keeping six key clues about him in mind:

First, the abnormal white spots on Lu’s body.
Second, the distinct changes in Lu’s physical and mental health before and after capturing the black-soled earwig.
Third, the strange incident in the laboratory after Lu came into contact with the Shi’erwu sample, and his peculiar attitude toward that specimen.
Fourth, the insect-face mask.
Fifth, the predator-prey relationship between the black-soled earwig and the roaming tiger beetle.
Sixth, the incident where Lu locked himself in the laboratory, followed by his screams.

Li Tianque’s deduction of the case was built entirely upon these six points. The story of these clues begins with Lu’s discovery of the black-soled earwig by the Siweiwei River. In truth, the specimen Lu captured was a derivative of an unknown nuclear insect. This meant that, like the Shi’erwu (the roaming tiger beetle) that appeared later, the black-soled earwig Lu caught was also a mutation triggered by the nuclear insect. This mutated earwig possessed a parasitic capability, allowing it to enter a human body and manipulate the host’s will. Consequently, after bringing the creature back, Lu himself became its host.

For a time, Lu lived in a daze, plagued by nightmares and haunted by seductive, whispering voices in his mind, often leading him to mutter incoherently. No one on the research team knew this secret—until Lin Ya discovered it. Although Lin Ya deeply respected and admired Professor Lu, she secretly harbored a desire to surpass him. Upon realizing the truth, instead of helping him, she conceived a horrific and deranged idea: she wanted to turn this into a research project.

Because of her obsessive fascination with entomology, she immediately resolved to use Professor Lu as a living specimen. She intended to treat his body as an experimental medium, keeping the earwig trapped within him to observe the creature’s effects through the changes in Lu’s daily life.

Lu, however, remained unaware of her true intentions. He only knew that his body was behaving strangely and his mental state was deteriorating. When he confided in Lin Ya, his most trusted assistant, she promised to help. Through her observations, she realized the earwig inside him was still in the early stages of infestation. She instructed Lu to coat his body in Xuelanke powder, a substance with insect-repellent properties, lying to him that it would alleviate the mental interference.

By this point, Lu’s mind was severely compromised, and his capacity for independent thought was fading. Yet, his own willpower continued to struggle against the parasite for control of his body, preventing the insect from achieving absolute dominance. In his confused state, he followed Lin Ya’s advice. He failed to realize that while the powder could repel the insects externally, it was useless once they were already inside; instead, it acted as a barrier that kept the parasite trapped within his body.

Rather than restoring his sanity, the powder only worsened his condition. His body became a prison for the mutated earwig. The eerie, seductive voices in his head grew louder and more insistent. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Ya suggested he wear an insect-face mask she had prepared. She had borrowed it from Grandma Zhuoma, who used it for sacrificial rituals. To show her devotion to the Emperor Tiger Beetle, Zhuoma would smear the mask with secretions from the beetle’s salivary glands before every ritual. Over time, the mask became saturated with the scent of the Emperor Tiger Beetle.

When Lu wore the mask, the black-soled earwig inside him sensed the scent of its natural predator—the roaming tiger beetle—and was seized by intense terror. This made it difficult for the parasite to attempt to escape through Lu’s head, and its strength was suppressed. With the mask on, Lu’s own willpower could barely hold its own against the insect, yet he remained unable to stop the physical mutations.

The transformation progressed rapidly. Two days later, stiff bristles began to sprout from his limbs, and insect-like adhesive pads grew on his palms and soles. To keep this secret, Lin Ya manipulated him, warning that his condition was critical and that he must stay hidden in the lab. She insisted he avoid all contact with others and stay put until she could arrange for the team to return to the county.

Thus, Lu spent his days in self-imposed isolation, ostensibly conducting research while actually hiding. He wore the mask constantly and took the "inhibitory" medication Lin Ya provided. Because of the pads on his hands, he could crawl across walls like an insect. To avoid suspicion, Lin Ya stopped entering the lab alone; instead, she had Lu crawl to the window of the women’s dormitory, where she would feed him his medication.

During this time, the rest of the team grew resentful that only Lin Ya could enter the lab, and Liang Zhichao grew suspicious, though he could never extract the truth from her. Even during their intimate moments, Liang would subject her to "interrogations," yet Lin Ya always seemed to enjoy the torture without ever revealing the secret.

While she kept the professor's secret, she did give Liang a warning: if he ever accidentally discovered her secret, he must never speak of it, or he would face a gruesome death. She added that if she were ever in danger, she would send him the name of her killer. Liang, not taking her seriously at the time, continued his abuse. It was not until the day of the incident, when he accidentally witnessed a horrific scene, that he finally learned exactly what secret Lin Ya had been hiding.