《Naming Technique of the Night》 Chapter 1: 1. The person I want to wait for Chapter 1: 1. The person I want to wait for Volume One. Chapter One of the Night: Sonata. ¡­ 2022, Autumn. The drizzling rain fell from the grey sky, lightly showering the city streets. In this autumn season, one could asionally see pedestrians without umbres scurrying past, shielding their heads with their hands. In the narrowne shared by military and civilians, a young man about seventeen or eighteen was sitting opposite an old man beneath the awning next to the small store of Fortune Supermarket. Outside the awning the whole world was gloomy, the ground had been soaked to a light ck by the rainwater, only the ground under the awning remained a dry patch, as if this was the only purend left in the whole world. A worn wooden chessboardy before them, with the red sign of ¡®Fortune Supermarket¡¯ overhead. ¡°Checkmate,¡± Qing Chen said and then stood up, leaving the old man with thinning hair sitting stupefied. Qing Chen gave the other party a calm look and said, ¡°No more struggling is necessary.¡± ¡°I still can¡­¡± the old man said unwillingly, ¡°We¡¯ve only yed thirteen moves¡­¡± In his words, the old man felt somewhat embarrassed by the situation that had led to his defeat after only thirteen moves. Qing Chen didn¡¯t exin anything, as the chessboard already revealed a killing intent, signaling the final moment when the assassin¡¯s dagger is revealed. The young man¡¯s face was clean, his eyes clear, and just by sitting there in his simple school uniform, it seemed as though he purified the world around him making it a bit more transparent. The old man tossed the chess piece he was holding onto the board, resigning the game. Qing Chen, as if nobody else was around, walked into the counter area of the nearby supermarket and took 20 yuan from the change basket underneath, tucking it into his pocket. The old man cursed as he watched Qing Chen, ¡°To lose 20 yuan to you every day! I just won 20 yuan from Lao Lee and Lao Zhang this morning, and now it¡¯s all lost to you!¡± After Qing Chen pocketed the money, he sat back down beside the chessboard and began to review the game, ¡°If they weren¡¯t already unwilling to y chess with me, I wouldn¡¯t need to win money through you. You need face; I need money; it¡¯s quite fair and reasonable.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve made up your mind about me, huh?¡± the old man grumbled, ¡°The fortune-teller said I would live to seventy-eight, and I¡¯m only fifty now. If I lose 20 yuan to you every day, how much money would I have to pay out?¡± ¡°But I still teach you chess so you can win back your face,¡± Qing Chen replied calmly, ¡°When you think about it, you¡¯re not at a loss.¡± The old man muttered, ¡°But what you¡¯ve taught thesest few days has been useless.¡± Qing Chen nced at him, ¡°Don¡¯t talk about yourself that way.¡± The old man, ¡°????¡± Irritated, the old man set up the chessboard again and then said eagerly, ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s review the game.¡± At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly bowed his head. The time that had just passed seemed to rey in his mind. The cannon that struck without warning, the brave soldiers on the border between Chu and Han echoed one by one in his mind. Not just these. There was also the uncle who walked past them while they were ying chess, carrying four freshly baked biscuits that released a bit of steam into the transparent stic bag, coating it with ayer of white fog. The little girl in a white dress passing by with an umbre had two beautiful butterflies on the surface of her little leather shoes. Above the sky, the wavering rain soaked thene, glistening and translucent. At the end of thene, a 103 bus shed past the narrow alley entrance, and a woman in a beige trench coat ran towards the bus stop with her umbre raised. The sound of footsteps, the sound of rainwater flowing into the drain covers by the roadside, these loud noises made the world seem particrly quiet. All of this, Qing Chen had not forgotten, although recalling it was somewhat difficult. But difficult does not mean impossible. This peculiar memory power was a talent Qing Chen was born with, as if he had simply drawn a save file from the river of time and then read the images from that save tape. Qing Chen suppressed the dizziness in his brain and picked up a chess piece on the board. The old man suddenly fell silent, his eyes intently focused on the board, as reying each game after was a part of the betting agreement. Qing Chen was responsible for teaching chess, while the old man, after losing money, learned chess. This scene was somewhat eerie; Qing Chen did not have the humility and shyness that a younger person should have in front of an elder, instead, he was like a teacher. The other party didn¡¯t seem to mind that at all. ¡°Red cannon from two to five, ck cannon from eight to five, red horse from two forward to three, ck horse from eight forward to seven, red chariot from one forward to one, ck chariot from nine to eight¡­¡± Qing Chen moved the pieces step by step. The old man didn¡¯t even blink; the opening moves were all standard, but he couldn¡¯t understand why, on the sixth move, when he had clearly taken the opponent¡¯s horse, he suddenly found himself in decline. ¡°The essence of the ¡®Horse Sacrifice Thirteen¡¯ move lies in the sixth step of advancing the chariot and sacrificing the horse. It¡¯s the trump card for tearing open the defense,¡± Qing Chen said calmly, ¡°I watched the game you yed the day before yesterday with that old man in Royal City Park. He likes to y a running start. There will be no issues if you use the ¡®Horse Sacrifice Thirteen¡¯ move against him.¡± The old gentleman across fell deep into thought, then asked softly, ¡°Can I really beat him?¡± ¡°If you learn the ¡®Horse Sacrifice Thirteen¡¯ move that I teach you within a week, you¡¯ll be able to reim your face,¡± Qing Chen said, ¡°After all¡­ his y is not that good either.¡± A trace of joy appeared on the old man¡¯s face. But then he suddenly asked, ¡°If I can win against him after studying for a week, how long do I need to study chess in order to beat you?¡± Underneath the awning, Qing Chen thought seriously, ¡°Did the fortune-teller say you can live to seventy-eight years old¡­ then it¡¯s toote.¡± The old man¡¯s expression faltered, ¡°If you talk less, maybe I can live to seventy-nine¡­ Eh, shouldn¡¯t you be in evening self-study now? Why did you get out of school so early today?¡± He knew Qing Chen was a high school sophomore, and it was Tuesday, so the high school two streets away should be in evening self-study at that time. Qing Chen thought for a moment and answered, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for someone.¡± ¡°Waiting for someone?¡± The old man was taken aback. Qing Chen stood up and looked out at the fine rain outside the awning, his gaze drifting in the curtain of rain. The old man said, ¡°Qing Chen, you young fellow y chess so well, why don¡¯t you participate in chesspetitions? Didn¡¯t you say you are short of money? You¡¯d get a reward if you won the championship.¡± The young Qing Chen shook his head, ¡°I just memorized many chess manuals in my mind, that¡¯s all. It doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m that good at chess. Memory Power doesn¡¯t imply analytical power. I can y with you guys, but if I encounter a real master, I¡¯ll show my weakness. My path is not here; chess is only temporary.¡± ¡°All memorized in your mind¡­¡± The old man sighed, ¡°I used to think that photographic memory was just a made-up thing by others.¡± The rain slowly stopped. Just then, the old man suddenly noticed Qing Chen pause, he followed the young man¡¯s gaze to the end of the alley, and saw a couple walking towards them, leading a little boy. The middle-aged woman was wearing an elegant coat and carrying a cake box tied with a pretty purple ribbon. The dull world could not hide the joy on the faces of the three people. Qing Chen turned and walked away, leaving the old man sitting under the awning in front of Fortune Supermarket, sighing softly. The middle-aged woman saw Qing Chen¡¯s retreating figure, she called out his name, but Qing Chen, without turning his head, disappeared at the other end of the alleyway. The walls on both sides of the alley were very old, and after the white ster had fallen off, what was left were patches of mottled red brick. The person Qing Chen was waiting for had arrived, yet he no longer wanted to wait. CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] ¡°Face¡± is a Chinese saying. The meaning is close to prestige/honor [2] In Chinese chess, ¡°Chu River and Han Border¡± divides the two opposing sides and is the center boundary between both yers. To win, a yer has to advance their pieces to the other side and checkmate the opponent. [3] A game of Chinese chess is yed on a board nine lines wide, and ten lines long. The pieces are ced on the intersections, which are known as points. The vertical lines are known as files, and the horizontal lines are known as ranks. Chapter 2: 2. Countdown Chapter 2: 2. Countdown The middle-aged woman hurried to the entrance of Fortune Supermarket, looking at the old man, ¡°Elder Zhang, why is Qing Chening to you for chess again.¡± The conversation suggested that both parties knew each other. But Elder Zhang¡¯s tone was less courteous, ¡°Your own son, and you¡¯re asking me? He¡¯s run out of living expenses and has to earn some pocket money by ying chess to afford meals.¡± The middle-aged woman Zhang Wanfang paused, ¡°But I do send his father Qing Chen¡¯s living allowance every month.¡± That statement made Elder Zhang pause as well, ¡°Then I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on.¡± Elder Zhang pondered, Zhang Wanfang was not impoverished by any means, and it seemed she didn¡¯t skimp on Qing Chen¡¯s living allowance. But why was the boy still living so tightly? Qing Chen didn¡¯t seem to be a wastrel, living each day thriftily and never even taking a sip of soda. ¡°But shouldn¡¯t he be at evening self-study at this time?¡± asked Zhang Wanfang. It was then that Elder Zhang remembered, ¡°He said that he was waiting for someone.¡± ¡°No, I must go back home and check,¡± said Zhang Wanfang. As she spoke, she was about to leave quickly with the cake in hand, but she heard the man beside her suddenly say, ¡°Wanfang, it¡¯s Hao Hao¡¯s birthday today, we¡¯ve already made reservations, and we¡¯re going to take him to the movies afterward!¡± Zhang Wanfang turned to look at the man, ¡°Qing Chen might be skipping sses, I can¡¯t just ignore that.¡± ¡°He¡¯s seventeen and can take care of himself. Besides, he has his real dad, doesn¡¯t he,¡± said the man, before softening his tone, ¡°Actually, you could visit him on the weekend too. How about we focus on Hao Hao today?¡± After hearing this, Zhang Wanfang frowned, but ultimately she sighed, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s celebrate Hao Hao¡¯s birthday today.¡± ¡­ In the shaded path of the Xijia Residential Quarters under the city government¡¯s jurisdiction, Qing Chen walked silently under the camphor trees. Unlike the high-rise buildings typifying modern metropolises, thispound was filled with four-story low-rise buildings from the 1970s¡ªno elevators, no gas, and the sewage system asionally clogged. You couldn¡¯t use high-power electrical appliances at home because they would trip the circuit breaker. Qing Chen walked into the dimly-lit entrance, ignoring the myriad of ads stered on the wall for locksmiths and housing sales, and used his key to open the door on the first floor. The 76-square meter home, with two bedrooms and one living room, had poor lighting because it was on the ground floor. He took out his phone, opened the contacts list, and dialed out, ¡°Hello, Dad¡­¡± The voice on the other end interrupted him, ¡°If you want living expenses, ask your mother. I don¡¯t have money; she¡¯s the one who¡¯s well-off now.¡± During the conversation, the sound of shuffling mahjong tiles could be heard in the background. ¡°I don¡¯t want money,¡± Qing Chen said quietly, ¡°I haven¡¯t asked you for money in a long time.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± the man said impatiently, ¡°Another Parents¡¯ Meeting at school? Go to your mother for that kind of thing¡­¡± Before the other party could finish, Qing Chen hung up the phone proactively this time. He leaned gently against the closed front door, lifting the sleeve of his school uniform jacket. He stared nkly at the white numbers and symbols on his forearm, resembling a liquid crystal disy screen: countdown 5:58:13. The white digits were like fluorescent tattoos embedded in his flesh and skin, immovable no matter how much he rubbed them. On closer inspection, Qing Chen could see that the digits contained special and intricate patterns, like mechanical parts meshing together, radiating a sense of futuristic technology. The numbers were silently changing. Countdown 5:58:12. Countdown 5:58:11. With only 5 hours, 58 minutes, and 11 seconds left, everything seemed to be reminding Qing Chen that in 5 hours and 58 minutes, something unbelievable would happen. Though there was no sound, Qing Chen distinctly heard the ticking of the second hand in his mind. Qing Chen nced at the phone he had hung up and then at the empty room. He didn¡¯t know what kind of life awaited him after 5 hours and 58 minutes, he only knew that the only one he could rely on was himself. ¡­ Time is a profound unit of measurement, marking the length of life and the breadth of civilization. The concept of time exists in everyone¡¯s life. So, when any countdown appears in your life, no matter what it is counting down towards, it will instill a sense of urgency in you. Five hours remained, and no one knew what the end of this countdown would be. Possibly danger? Or maybe another kind of life? Qing Chen couldn¡¯t be certain, and he could only prepare for the worst. Therefore, he had to get some things ready before the countdown ended. If real danger was toe, he wanted to ensure that he had some ability to resist within his capacity. Qing Chen put on a clean grey jacket, using the shadow of the hood to conceal his appearance. He took advantage of the night. He headed out in the direction of the farmers¡¯ market; the skies in Los Angeles City grew dark early in October. From the residential buildings came the sounds of cooking, the explosive noise of vegetables hitting hot oil, followed by the enticing aroma wafting through the air. Scents of eggs, pork, andmb flowed into Qing Chen¡¯s mind like streams of data, to be retrieved from his ¡°archives¡± whenever he needed this information. He bought pliers and a shovel at the hardware store, a bag of rice, a bag of flour, and table salt at the groceries store. He also bought several boxes of antibiotics from a pharmacy, batteries and a shlight, andpressed biscuits from a supermarket. Not knowing what he was going to face, he could only prepare as much as possible. These items almost depleted all of Qing Chen¡¯s savings. After Qing Chen returned home with his purchases, he went straight into the kitchen. He ced all usable knives on the cutting board in the most convenient spots in the room. A kitchen knife under the pillow and a boning knife on the nightstand. Countdown: 2 hours, 43 minutes, 11 seconds. He made sure all the doors and windows were secure, then sat on the edge of the bed and pondered whether to seek help. But whom to ask? His mother had a new family, and his father was a gambler. In fact, when the countdown first appeared on his arm a few hours earlier, 17-year-old Qing Chen instinctively thought about seeking help from his parents. But he then dismissed that idea. Qing Chen took out his phone, trying to capture a photo of the white countdown on his arm, but he discovered the white lines clearly visible to the naked eye weren¡¯t appearing on the phone screen at all. The room was dim, unlit, and the windows weren¡¯t soundproof. Because it was on the first floor, he could often hear the footsteps of passersby outside. The footsteps outside, the breathing inside, the faintly lit phone screen, everything was so tranquil yet eerie. It seemed pointless to seek help from Ordinary People for such a bizarre and outrageous event, and besides, he didn¡¯t have any particrly good friends at school. Even if he did, should he really involve Ordinary People in such matters? So, if he was to seek help, he could only think of other ways. Wait. Qing Chen seemed to remember something, stood up, and began searching in the living room. Two minutester, he silently regarded the Guanyin Bodhisattva pendant in his hand. Then, with gravity, he ced it in front of him and earnestly bowed nine times. Thest of his preparations wasplete. CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] Mahjong is a tile-based gamemonly yed by four yers, typically with gambling/betting aspects involved. yed with a set of 144 tiles which are shuffled by the yers before each game. They also make a distinctive collision sound. Each yer then gets 13 tiles, and the first person to match a hand of 14 tiles ends the game. [2] In Chinese customs, the Guanyin Bodhisattva is the Goddess of Compassion, Mercy, and Kindness, and is also regarded as a mother-goddess and patron of sailors Chapter 3: 3. Shattered World Chapter 3: 3. Shattered World Visiting Bodhisattvas when a crisis is looming may seem like a desperate attempt to seek random medical help. However, Qing Chen felt that this supernatural phenomenon on his arm should indeed be addressed by supernatural beings. As far as Qing Chen was concerned, worshipping wouldn¡¯t put him at a loss anyway. He preferred to take care of preparations beforehand, leaving no room for regrets. The time was 9:30 PM. Qing Chen sat on his bed, looking down at his phone. The bedroom was lit only by this faint light, and WeChat had only a few words sent from his desk mate, Nan Gengchen. There were no messages from anyone else. The quiet WeChat avatar of his mother, Zhang Wanfang, made Qing Chen feel a bit lost. Of course, it was just a slight feeling. He didn¡¯t even know what he was expecting. Actually, he didn¡¯t me his mother. His father had gambled away several properties, was involved in domestic violence, and even cheated. Qing Chen didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with his mother initiating the divorce. On the contrary, having seen his father hit his mother, Qing Chen even felt happy about his mother¡¯s decision. Because it was the right thing to do. On the eve of his parents¡¯ divorce, his grandmother tried to persuade his mother not to go through with it: ¡°How can you, a woman with a teenage son as a burden, ever remarry? Who would marry you again?¡± Hearing all this, Qing Chen chose to live with his father when his parents divorced. He remembered his parents¡¯ astonished expressions, but Qing Chen knew it was the right choice too. Now that his mother had started a new life and formed a happy new family, Qing Chen might feel a bit lost, but he was still very careful not to disturb her. Countdown 2:31:12. Suddenly, Qing Chen thought of a question: if these were thest two and a half hours of his life, what should he do? This question was both serious and romantic. Because it asks you what you truly want to do in your life, but haven¡¯t yet gotten around to doing, or haven¡¯t dared to do. Unexpressed love, people you want to meet but haven¡¯t met, ces you want to visit but haven¡¯t visited, words you want to say but haven¡¯t said¡ªthey all fall within the scope of possible answers. This question cuts straight to the heart. Qing Chen got up, put on his jacket, and chose to leave the house again with little time left on the countdown. He pushed his broken bicycle out of the house and rode towards his destination. The autumn night wind was a bit cool, and there were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the road. Riding on the bicycle, Qing Chen¡¯s expression was calm, his coat pping in the wind on the bridge. He indeed had many regrets in life and many things he was afraid to do. But tonight, he needed no cowardice or fear, just courage. At one point, Qing Chen thought that if he was to die tonight, he should finish what mattered most as there was no time left. First, he went to Peony Grand Hotel, then to Los Angeles Grand Hotel, and finally to Luo Yin Residential Area, but he couldn¡¯t find the person he was looking for at any of those ces. Qing Chen rode his bicycle through alleys, sped across the Qi Li River Bridge, and arrived at the foot of a residential building. When he saw the familiar broken second-hand motorcycle parked downstairs and heard the sound of mahjong ying from the second floor¡­ He picked up his phone and dialed ¡°110,¡± ¡°Hello, officer, I would like to report a gathering for gambling at Longteng Community, LuoJian District, Building 17, Unit 2, Apartment 201.¡± The officer on the other end of the line seemed stunned for two seconds, then responded, ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll arrange for the police to dispatch now.¡± It wasn¡¯t until then that Qing Chen felt relieved, turned around, and rode his bicycle back home. His mind was clear. At home, Qing Chen nced at the white pattern on his arm, countdown 1:02:21. He began to reevaluate his preparations. Wait, should he face that moment at home? Qing Chen had once seen a horror film where the protagonist encounters something filthy, resulting in a ghost finding him every midnight. The protagonist tried hiding everywhere, even in the deep mountains, but the ghost always found him. At that time, Qing Chen wondered why the protagonist didn¡¯t go to a crowded ce. Although ghosts were formidable, people generally felt safer in crowded ces. For instance, the protagonist could stay in a nightclub where at midnight, when ghostse knocking, hundreds of people would be shaking their heads to the roaring music, making it seem like the ghosts should be more afraid¡­ So Qing Chen began to wonder if he should also go somewhere crowded? Or he could just head to the White Horse Temple in Los Angeles City¡­ After all, there were bodhisattvas there. Not only Guanyin Bodhisattva but also Manjusri Bodhisattva and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. It seemed very safe. However, Qing Chen eventually chose to stay at home, feeling that,pared to demons and ghosts, when the countdown ended, zombies or simr creatures were more likely to appear. If that happened, going to a crowded ce would be no different from seeking death, and besides, bodhisattvas didn¡¯t really handle such affairs. Qing Chen had already prepared supplies at home, so if zombies truly attacked, he could still hide at home for a while. Countdown 00:31:49. In thest half-hour, Qing Chen turned on the deskmp and silently wrote a will, leaving it on the desk. If he died today, perhaps one day his family and friends would read his final words. If he didn¡¯t die, then his life might be transformed into a whole new world. Countdown 00:00:12. After finishing the will, Qing Chen sat up straight, clutching the Boning Knife tightly in his right hand. His clear eyes suddenly narrowed. The closer it got to thest moment, the calmer his emotions became. It was as if a tsunami paused just before swallowing a lone ind, with no undercurrents stirring beneath the sea, only deep thoughts and fierce courage remaining! 10¡­ 9¡­ 8¡­ 7¡­ 6¡­ 5¡­ 4¡­ 3¡­ 2¡­ 1. No ghosts, no zombies, no disasters. Qing Chen quietly watched as time around him froze, his cellphone seemingly stuck forever at 12:00:00. The second hand on the wall clock suddenly stopped ticking, and the light outside the window no longer flickered. He stood up, and the frozen time seemed to shatter with his movement, the world in his eyes fracturing like a broken mirror. Qing Chen, holding the Boning Knife, looked around. There was no desk, no room, only darkness remaining. Then, he too was engulfed by the darkness. ¡­ Time seemed to pass indefinitely, yet it felt like only a moment, and suddenly Qing Chen lost all concept of time. In the darkness, shards of the world began to piece together again, forming a brand new world from unknown fragments in an instant. Qing Cheny on a narrow, hard bed in apletely unfamiliar environment he had never visited before. He first looked at his palms, empty, the Boning Knife long since vanished. Then he looked at his arm, only to discover that the white lines there had changed. ¡°Return countdown 48:00:00.¡± 48 hours, or 2 days, Qing Chen pondered. The next moment, the countdown ticked a second: Return countdown 47:59:59. CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] WeChat is a Chinese multi-purpose instant messaging and social media app simr to WhatsApp or Telegram. [2] Qilihe exists in real life, located entirely on the southern bank of the Yellow River, and includes part of Lanzhou¡¯s main urban area. [3] Chinese used ¡°filthy thing¡± to describe a sort of paranormal entity, often linked to ghost hauntings [4] Manjushri Bodhisattva is a bodhisattva, associated with wisdom. He represents the wisdom of prajna, not confined by knowledge or concepts. [5] K?itigarbha Bodhisattva is a bodhisattva primarily revered in East Asia Buddhism and usually depicted as a Buddhist monk. Typically known for his vow to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the six worlds, and his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied. Chapter 4: 4. Not just one Chapter 4: 4. Not just one Return Countdown 47:59:58. Return Countdown 47:59:57. Had he crossed over? So the end of the countdown meant crossing to another time and space, and the return countdown was the time left to g back. Realizing this, Qing Chen let out a sigh of relief; it was a good thing to be able to return. Although no one might be thinking about him there, his mother had a new life and couldn¡¯t spare thought for him, and his father¡­ was probably in a detention center. So he probably couldn¡¯t spare a thought for him either. But even so, he still wanted to go back and see for himself. And now, what he had to do was to stay alive during these 48 hours. So¡­ it was the first day of the countdown. Qing Chen began to re-evaluate the ¡°New World¡± in front of him. The moment the world pieced itself back together, Qing Chen saw the prison uniform on his body and instantly understood his situation. He was in a gray, dim room, except for an Alloy Gate that exuded a technological feel, the other areas werepletely enclosed walls. The door, 90 centimeters wide, had a small window, but it was closed now. The cell was a single room, containing only a bed covered with a thin sheet. Next to it was a rack with nothing more than a quilt, a toothbrush, and a towel. The cell walls were gray, but what Qing Chen couldn¡¯t understand was why the gray walls, under the faint light outside, clearly emitted a metallic luster. Metallic walls? Qing Chen sat up and solemnly touched the wall, wondering what ce would use such a cost-disregarding building material? Clearly, this was no longer the world he had known. He quickly lowered his head to his palms; the fingerprints werepletely identical to his former ones, even the position of the pores on his hands didn¡¯t differ by half a point. This was his own body. After traveling to this world, his Boning Knife had disappeared, the clothes he originally wore had vanished as well, but his body was indeed his own. Fingerprints and pore positions couldn¡¯t be faked. Qing Chen sat on the bed, hugging his knees, staring at the heavy Alloy Gate, not knowing what he was thinking. Gradually, noises started outside, and even the sound of someone forcefully banging on the Alloy Gate could be heard. Qing Chen slowly walked to the door, trying to listen to what was being shouted outside, but before he could make it out, the Alloy Gate emitted a clear pneumatic transmission sound and opened. He looked outside the door, which led to a circr corridor. This square prison fortress had seven floors, each floor densely packed with orderly arranged cells. The open and vast prison fortress had only a few lights on, and from each opened Alloy Gate came dim cells, like beasts caged inside. Qing Chen stood inside the door, it seemed that with just one step out, he would be walking towards an unknowable life. In the vast prison, a broadcast suddenly started somewhere, a pleasant female voice uttered, ¡°Seven o¡¯clock sharp, breakfast time. All inmates, please line up in order and proceed to the dining area for your meal.¡± The voice echoed in the prison fortress, while Qing Chen still stared at the doorstep in front of him. It seemed that with just one step out, everything would be different. He felt that from a certain moment, he had already begun to change. When did it start? Probably¡­ when he thought he had only two and a half hours left in his life and decided to do what he had always wanted to but never dared to do. He had even reported his own father, what else was there to fear? He stepped out of the cell. But the next moment, he froze again. In the not-so-spacious corridor outside, a prisoner stood in front of each cell door. Qing Chen¡¯s pupils suddenly constricted: An old man hunched over looked towards him, and in his eye socket, there was a mechanical eye emitting a faint red glow. The entire right eye socket was mechanically structured, extending to the temple on the right side. The mechanical eye looked unrefined, even a bit crude, but for some reason, Qing Chen felt a sense of oppression from that eye fixed on him. It seemed as if the other party was analyzing the details on his body. Just like he used Memory Power to analyze others. A burly middle-aged prisoner¡¯s right arm was entirely mechanical. The man flexed his fingers, and Qing Chen could hear the metallic sound of the mechanicalponents moving as the man¡¯s hand opened and closed. The robust metal arm, resembling coiled steel muscles, was strong and vtile. In this entire prison fortress, it seemed half of the people had mechanical limbs. Mechanical civilization. Those four words shed through Qing Chen¡¯s mind. Before he could ponder further, he saw the burly prisoner in the next cell smile at him, ¡°Hey, newbie, don¡¯t eat too much for breakfast, or it will look ugly when ites back up.¡± No sooner had he spoken thanughter echoed down the corridor, ¡°Heard thatst night twelve new people arrived; today we can have some fun.¡± ¡°This kid has no mechanical limbs at all, looks like he wasn¡¯t much connected on the outside either.¡± When Qing Chen heard the words ¡°newbie,¡± he was taken aback; he thought the other man knew he had just traversed from Earth. But he quickly realized that ¡°newbie¡± probably meant he had just entered the prison, presumably the other did not know about his Earthling identity. And Qing Chen, frowning in thought, realized that the so-called ¡°fun¡± for the others might spell disaster for him. But the question was, how was he supposed to survive among these mechanical ¡°beasts¡±? He suppressed the restlessness and fear within him, and as a regr high school sophomore faced with a sudden and fierce event, the only thing Qing Chen could do was to force himself not to show any anomalies. Because he didn¡¯t know what consequences it might bring if his origin from another world was exposed. Suddenly, across on the fourth floor of the opposite corridor, a young man became frenzied, ¡°What is this ce! I want to go home! I don¡¯t want to stay in this creepy ce, who are you people? I¡¯m Huang Jixian, my dad is the chairman of the Los Angeles Win Group, stay away from me!¡± With that, the young man began to run wildly along the corridor. The others didn¡¯t move, standing in ce as if watching a spectacle, still lined up ready to head to the cafeteria. Someone asked in confusion, ¡°Where is Los Angeles?¡± Suddenly, Qing Chen heard a buzzing sound overhead; he looked up to discover, high up on the deep ceiling, four drone-like iron boxes detaching from the wall, beginning to descend. Qing Chen¡¯s gaze lingered on the ceiling where the walls, made of alloy material, had neatly integrated eighteen Gatling-like six-barrel gun turrets hanging upside down. As the panicking young man ran, nine of those gun barrels began to rotate! ¡°Please stop moving,¡± a female voice came from the drone, ¡°Warning again, please stop moving.¡± Then, a woman¡¯s voice sounded throughout the prison fortress, ¡°All inmates, stand by in ce.¡± In just over ten seconds, the four drones had cornered the young man in a part of the corridor, each drone¡¯s gun aimed right at him. At the same time, gates opened below in the prison fortress, and 9 robots armed with unnamed firearms were rapidly entering. The young man sat against the wall in terror, while Qing Chen coldly watched it all unfold. The young man¡¯s actions were a bit extreme, but they helped Qing Chen gather a lot of information. Machine guns, drones, robots, mechanical limbs¡ªcountless pieces of information flooded into his mind at once. But what astonished Qing Chen most was his sudden realization while watching the young man¡¯s actions: he might not be the only one from Earth who hade to this ce. Not the first, and likely not thest. (Chapter 4¡ªPlease rmend and vote for monthly tickets) Chapter 5: 5. A transcendent status. Chapter 5: 5. A transcendent status. Qing Chen had also once wondered whether there were other people whose arms also disyed a countdown. It was precisely because of this spection that he was so careful and cautious to take the subway to a distant ce to verify some things, lest he be tracked down in the future by the clues left behind. But then a series of sudden changes followed one after another, almost causing Qing Chen to forget his guess. Now it seemed that his spection had ultimately turned into reality. There must be quite a number of people who had transmigrated from Earth to this world; just in this prison alone there were two, let alone the world beyond the prison. How many transmigrators were there? A few hundred? A few thousand? For what reason had they transmigrated? Qing Chen couldn¡¯t be certain. ¡°The new guy that came this time is quite interesting, isn¡¯t he a fool?¡± someoneughingly said, watching the copsing teenager: ¡°I heard he was sentenced to 7 years for tax evasion? He didn¡¯t cry when he was brought in yesterday, yet only started crying today.¡± ¡°Anyone who dares to mess with the tax authority these days, if not a fool, what could he be¡­¡± Qing Chen looked toward the source of the voice, which was a young man with mechanical legs. Seeing Qing Chen look over, he smirked and said, ¡°Hey, neer, are you ready?¡± The surrounding crowd burst intoughter, as if they were all waiting to see a show. This ce was so sci-fi and advanced, and yet the dark side of humanity seemed to have changed little. Qing Chen frowned but did not respond. He turned his gaze back to the young man surrounded by drones. Perhaps only he knew why the young man hadn¡¯t cried yesterday and started crying today: just like Qing Chen, he had just transmigrated from the ¡°greenhouse¡± of Earth and was struggling to ept this new reality. This was not spection, as he had seen the young man before. Qing Chen was 17 years old this year, a junior at Los Angeles Foreign Language School. And the copsing young man was in his freshman year. The two had never interacted, but Qing Chen had a photographic memory, and it was difficult for him to forget anyone he had seen. This made Qing Chen somewhat surprised. Could it be that the location before transmigration was close, so the locations after transmigration would also be close? He couldn¡¯t be certain. However, Qing Chen did discover one thing: everyone here spoke Mandarin, and not a single person spoke a dialect. At that moment, robotic guards were charging up the stairs, each step taking them up five stairs, apanied by a distinctive hydraulic transmission sound. The young man was already crying inconsbly. Half the people in this prison fortress had mechanical limbs. In such a ce prowled by these steel beasts, encountering someone from Earth felt like meeting a kindred spirit in a foreignnd. Ordinarily, when people meet ¡°fellow townsmen¡± in a strange ce, they feel an inexplicable sense of safety. But Qing Chen felt no such thing. Looking at the teenager on the verge of copse, he realized that a ¡°townsman¡± might not necessarily be of help but, instead, could be a burden. Not everyone could remain calm in the face of this strange new mechanical civilization. What he needed to do now was to survive the first two days after his arrival and then return to Earth to understand what all this was about. Qing Chen quietly observed everything with a low profile, and for some reason, he felt even moreposed at this moment. Until then, all the prisoners remained standing still in their spots. He looked around the prison fortress. Of the nine robots that had just charged from the outside gate of the cell block, three were left in the za below to maintain martialw, while the others went upstairs to take the panicked young man away. The za downstairs was very spacious, about the size of a ser field. The open za was divided into several areas: a dining area, a fitness and entertainment equipment area, a reading area, a multimedia area, and so on¡­ There were no partitions between these areas, resembling arge open space for activities, and around the edges of the za were eightrge steel gates. The gates were sorge they seemed to allow armored vehicles to pass directly through. Suddenly, Qing Chen stiffened. He saw that three people had appeared at the dining table in the za below at some point. A middle-aged man in his forties was sitting, while two young men with smiles stood by his side, then curiously looked up at the prisoners upstairs. In front of the middle-aged man was a chessboard with an endgame set upon it. What was most astonishing was that next to the chessboard on the dining table, therey a cat with tucked paws dozing off, grey with tuffs of pointed hair on its ears, looking a bit like a lynx, but not quite. Maine Coon Cat. You could keep cats in prison?! Qing Chen was somewhat shocked; his attention had been drawn to the ¡°townsman¡± so much that he hadn¡¯t noticed when these three people and the cat hade to the za. At this time, the middle-aged man was intently staring at the chessboard, as if unconcerned with what was happening upstairs. Moreover, what startled Qing Chen the most was that even the robots on the za acted as if these three people and the cat didn¡¯t exist. The solemnity and tension upstairs contrasted sharply with the rxedposure downstairs, as if they were two distinct worlds. Of the three, the two young men were wearing the typical blue and white striped prison uniforms, while the middle-aged man wore a white exercise suit. In this grim and oppressive environment, that touch of white was exceptionally ethereal. Qing Chen pondered, ¡°Could this be the warden?¡± No, that wasn¡¯t right. Although the person was dressed in an exercise suit different from the other prisoners, there was a small ck inmate number embroidered on the chest of the suit. This middle-aged man was also a prisoner in the jail, just the most special one of them all. As if he felt his gaze, a young man beside the middle-aged one suddenly turned his head, returning his look with a smiling nce. Qing Chen immediately looked away. After the copsing young man from Earth was taken away, the prison fortress¡¯s speakers sounded once more, ¡°Line up in order and proceed to the cafeteria for your meal.¡± No sooner had the announcement finished than Qing Chen saw all the prisoners turn right and form a long line, advancing towards the square along the stairs. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that Qing Chen had the opportunity to count the total number of prisoners: 3102, including himself. There were seven levels in the prison fortress, with prisoners on each floor forming one team, led by a prisoner at the very front, orderly proceeding to the cafeteria in sequence. During this time, no one cut in line or left the formation; Qing Chen felt as if everyone here was operating ording to a pre-programmed procedure, everything ¡°restrained¡± by someone. This order persisted until everyone had received their food from the robot server windows. It seemed that after getting their food, they were free to move about. Qing Chen and his fellow inmates resided on the fifth level, so by the time it was their turn to get their food, the people from the first level had already finished eating. He saw two burly prisoners dragging a young man toward a cell on the first floor, closest to the cafeteria, amid a lot of heckling from the crowd. Someone else instructed, ¡°Hurry up and pull him into the cell, don¡¯t injure him in the square, and watch out for the robotic guards intervening.¡± The prisoner dragging the young man responded carelessly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not an idiot like Yang Jie.¡± Meanwhile, the young man was struggling fiercely, yelling, ¡°Let me go!¡± But as he was about to be dragged into the cell, his voice turned to pleading, ¡°Please, spare me!¡± However, no matter what he said, no one paid attention to his request, which only attracted louder jeers. Suddenly, an old man with mechanical eyes in front of him turned around and grinned, ¡°Stop looking around. You¡¯ll be up soon.¡± Qing Chen looked at him calmly, and the old man suddenly felt the gaze from this young neer was somehow different. For some reason, he felt an unexpected tightness in his heart. Formations broke apart after getting their food from the window. Qing Chen noticed three people sidling up towards him as if they intended to take control of him directly! He instantly quickened his pace, and they likewise hastened theirs, surrounding him tightly! In the next moment, the scene in the prison fortress seemed to y in slow motion through Qing Chen¡¯s mind. Eighteen steel beast-like machine gunsy in wait above the dome, like sleeping tigers. Seventy-two drones hung in the alloy ceiling¡¯s slots, resembling hibernating wasps. Two hundred and ten surveince cameras slowly rotated, and three robots stood with guns in the square. Prisoners collected their meals one after another from the windows, someining about the unptable synthetic meat again. Next to the pool, someone was washing dishes, while others washed dishes for someone else. As more and more inmates finished their meals, the square grew busier, with people shuttling back and forth¡ªsome headed to the gym area, others to observe the Neer Ceremony. Yet, everyone subconsciously avoided the middle-aged man staring at the chessboard. The man remained engrossed in the game, with no one approaching within five meters, an oasis of calm and solidity amid the tumultuous sea, where all raging waves and boats must retreat. All of a sudden, Qing Chen, carrying his tray, elerated through the trio enclosing him, heading towards the middle-aged man. Seeing his direction, many people quickly realized what this neer intended to do. Gradually, more and more gazes shifted toward him, whispers spreading, and the expressions on the faces of the inmates seemed to anticipate watching a joke unfold. There were many neers who found the middle-aged man unusual, and many who wanted to rely on him to escape their predicaments; Qing Chen was never the only one. But, in fact, all had failed. Yet, Qing Chen, undeterred by the mocking voices, continued unaffected, holding his tray as he wove through the crowd. Before he could get close, a young man beside the middle-aged one stopped him, smiling as he said, ¡°Neer, I know what you¡¯re nning, but we won¡¯t help you.¡± The man had guessed Qing Chen¡¯s thoughts, and Qing Chen¡¯s gaze drifted past the young man to the middle-aged one beyond. The middle-aged man turned a deaf ear to everything happening around him, as if he heard nothing at all. He looked at the middle-aged man seriously and said, ¡°Forward one with the pawn; I can solve this endgame.¡± Only then did the middle-aged man lift his head, and suddenly the square went quiet, and even the cat opened its eyes. ¡­ Thank you to Sea Soul Clothing for bing a Silver City Alliance member of this book. Thank you to Li Ren, Teacher Ren, the Mouse Who Snores, Da Bing er, the Guy Who Makes Sassy Comments Gets Hot Reviews, Yan Zu Zu, and Wang Jia Ning for bing Alliance Hierarchs of this book! Chapter 6: 6. The Brave Pawn Crossing the River Chapter 6: 6. The Brave Pawn Crossing the River Before the middle-aged man looked up, Qing Chen thought he might be deaf, given that the loud noise nearby hadn¡¯t affected him at all. However, after the middle-aged man looked up, Qing Chen almost thought he himself was deaf because the noisy square had suddenly be silent, without a single extra sound. The astonished expressions in the eyes of the people around, along with an array of inexplicable emotions, seemed to serve as a backdrop for the identity of the middle-aged man. Because in the past, this middle-aged man had never responded to anyone asking for help. Suddenly, Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief, as everything proved that he had gambled correctly. The middle-aged man said nothing to him, but calmly moved the red piece forward on the chessboard, advancing it one space. The middle-aged man, holding the ck pieces, chose to move his elephant from five back to seven, capturing the pawn that had just aggressively advanced. Qing Chen watched the chessboard quietly from afar. This Four Invaders Capture the King endgame was known as one of the most perilous setups on Earth. Typically, an endgame meant that the ck side was sure to win, with the red side not even able to achieve a draw. Achieving a draw meant solving the endgame. But Qing Chen was not satisfied with a draw. The Four Invaders Capture the King endgame was peculiar, with four audacious red pawns having crossed the river to the end line, and both chariots still present. The situation appeared evenly matched at first nce; however, in reality, this endgame was fraught with fatal strategies and traps everywhere. ck needed only one move to win the game, while red could only run around frantically; a moment¡¯s inattention could lead to them thinking they had secured victory, only to be defeated in a counterattack. This was a position full of hope that could slowly drag a person into despair. ¡°Continue,¡± the middle-aged man said tly. Qing Chen said, ¡°Pawn two moves to three.¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes brightened, and at that moment, he seemed truly interested, toozy to touch the chessboard, he closed his eyes and followed along with Qing Chen in a game of blind chess, ¡°King six advances one.¡± Qing Chen also closed his eyes, ¡°Rear chariot advances four.¡± ¡°Elephant seven retreats to nine.¡± By the sixth turn, Qing Chen suddenly said, ¡°Chariot one advances seven!¡± The middle-aged man, whose eyes had been closed, opened them again, astonished, looking at Qing Chen, ¡°Elephant five retreats to seven.¡± During the first five moves, back and forth, everything was unremarkable. But from this sixth step onward, both sides began mercilessly exchanging pieces! You kill mine! I kill yours! Blood flowing like rivers, a field of mourning soldiers! The decisiveness and determination on the chessboard were extremely brutal. Both were like the calmest generals on a battlefield, sacrificing everything for the final victory. The Four Invaders Capture the King setup had fiercely brought out a spirit of valor in them, yet behind this valory their deep calctions. At the beginning, Qing Chen¡¯s red side, with four ferocious pawns crossing the river, looked more aggressive, yet he chose to sacrifice each one for other strategies, keeping only thest one! Chariot one moves to four. King four moves to five. Cannon four moves to five. Chariot three moves to five. By the fifteenth move, Qing Chen finally let out a long breath, ¡°Pawn five advances one!¡± The dagger was revealed when the drawing was finished. Capture the king! It wasn¡¯t until this moment that the charm of solving the chess endgame of ¡°Four Invaders Capture the King¡± finally burst forth, indescribably fascinating. The situation of mutual annihtion along the Chu-Han border made the middle-aged man feel as if he were truly on a battlefield, strategizing against a tactician. This game of chess was perilous at every turn. What astonished the middle-aged man most was that, despite his young age, the youth in front of him didn¡¯t hesitate at all when sacrificing pieces to alter the game. Not abandoning or giving up is indeed important, but war is war, and how can there be a war without sacrifices? He silently watched the young man opposite him, who was also staring back, his expression solemn and stubborn. It seemed as if he was fighting his way out of a desperate situation, carving out a new path in life. The middle-aged man understood, he was ying a chess game, whereas the opponent was striving to survive in an environment encircled by steel beasts, thus their attitudes were inherently different. No one noticed that at that moment, of the 210 surveince cameras in this prison fortress, 81 of them directly turned towards Qing Chen. The ck camera lenses swirled inward as if focusing on Qing Chen¡¯s face. No one knew who was behind the surveince cameras, focusing in on him. The middle-aged man chuckled and ced the ck general upside down on the chessboard, ¡°Interesting, not many people know how to y chess these days, let¡¯s continue tomorrow.¡± Having said that, he walked towards the library area with his hands behind his back, leaving the chessboard on the dining table untouched by anyone. The grey cat at the table stood up and silently followed behind the middle-aged man. When the cat curled up, it resembled a furry ball, seemingly notrge at all. However, when it stretched out, Qing Chen realized that the cat was surprisinglyrge, over a meter long, and exceptionally agile. Typical cats walk with a light and graceful step known as a ¡°catwalk,¡± but this cat moved with the posture of a tiger. Everyone in the square who was watching was stunned, the youth had actually won the game? Honestly, they didn¡¯t understand chess, and when it came down to both sides ying blind chess, they understood even less. In this era, there were too many entertainment activities, each more exciting and enjoyable than chess. They could use chips to directly attain pleasure, and even log their consciousness into virtualworks. It was an era where happiness was incredibly cheap; how many could outsmart artificial intelligence in chess? However, their astonishment at Qing Chen winning over the middle-aged man stemmed from the fact that, in their eyes, how could that middle-aged man possibly lose? Whether it was in chess orbat, how could he lose? Honestly, Qing Chen was also puzzled. This middle-aged man clearly did not have mechanical limbs, nor did his twopanions, yet why was he so highly regarded in this prison rampant with steel beasts? The young man who had blocked Qing Chen earlier winked at him, ¡°Impressive. My name is Lin Xiaoxiao, and this is Ye Wan. See you tomorrow.¡± After speaking, he and another young man called Ye Wan followed the middle-aged man and left together. At this moment, Qing Chen didn¡¯t even know the middle-aged man¡¯s name, only the names of the twopanions; but this was undoubtedly a good start. The tension in the square only began to ease when the middle-aged man, along with Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao, had all gone to the reading area. The prisoner weing new inmates was still pulling new arrivals into their cells, including Qing Chen. Out of the 12 neers, 9 had already been taken in. Now, when Qing Chen looked at those prisoners, they no longer considered targeting him. Suddenly, a young man equipped with a mechanical leg ran up to Qing Chen, speaking hastily, ¡°We are both new here, help me, and I¡¯ll follow your lead from now on.¡± The surrounding prisoners watched coldly. They were still a bit unclear about the situation; Qing Chen was definitely off-limits, but if this young man wanted to protect other neers, they were not willing. However, Qing Chen turned a deaf ear to the young man¡¯s words, his expression as calm as if he heard nothing at all. The prisonersughed and forcefully dragged the young man away. Only to hear the young man yell, ¡°My uncle is a Director at City 17¡¯s Ming Company, you¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, the other prisoners burst intoughter, ¡°Apart from the five major corporations, otherpanies are not worth mentioning. Not to mention you, even if your uncle came to this prison fortress, he would have to behave.¡± Qing Chen silently listened to everything, absorbing all the useful information. He had just been identifying the identities of these neers, trying to see if there were any other Earth people hidden among them. He himself had crossed over, having no memories belonging to this world, and until now, he didn¡¯t even know how many years he had been sentenced. Qing Chen believed that others alsocked memories, so anyone like this young man who could talk about rtionships outside the prison, probably wasn¡¯t from his ¡°hometown.¡± Among the twelve new inmates, it seemed that only that broken young man and he were from Earth. For some reason, Qing Chen didn¡¯t feel discouraged at all, instead, he felt somewhat excited about his radically different¡­ life. A radically different life. The phrase itself sounded very enticing. When your own life is already a mess, and then someone presents a button in front of you saying, ¡°Press this, and you¡¯ll enter an extraordinary life.¡± But pressing it could lead to two oues. It might be better. Or it might be worse. Would you press it? Qing Chen felt he probably would. On Earth, he always seemed superfluous; his father regarded him as a burden, his mother had a new family, and his rtives seldom interacted with him. Qing Chen had already spent two Spring Festivals alone. So, if your past life was all gloom, then no matter how dangerous, unknown, or terrifying the new world is, it would still be somewhat anticipated. This world was different. For Qing Chen,ing here from Earth felt like a rebellious adventure in life, as well as a liberation from the past. If it hadn¡¯t been for this countdown incident, he would have probably focused on his studies, worked hard to support himself, and relied on his unique memory to get into a very good, very distant university, never to return. Yet, that kind of life seemed still somehow uninteresting. He believed that not many people had traveled with him from Earth, and even if there were a few thousand or tens of thousands, it was a very small ratiopared to the total. This made him feel special. Countdown 39:31:29. Qing Chen silently observed his surroundings, intending to record all the information he could see, so that he could slowly analyze it once he was back in his cell alone. Above an alloy gate next to the square, there was a blue holographic projection disying the bouncing time, AM8:29. The three-dimensional holographic image looked so novel and conspicuous, 8:29 AM. Just then, a young man took advantage of the moment when others were distracted, and suddenly came over to Qing Chen and whispered, ¡°You finally came in, just as handsome as the legends say. I am Lu Guangyi, Qing Yan arranged for me toe here three months ago, you can just call me Xiao Lu.¡± Qing Chen: ¡°???¡± He paused for a moment and looked at the other person. This young man named Lu Guangyi was about 24 or 25 years old, with short ck hair, both his right arm and left leg were equipped with mechanical limbs, and he even had mechanical eyes. Qing Chen could even see spiral patterns in his eyes adjusting their focus. His mechanical limbs, unlike those of most prisoners, whether it was their streamlined design or their material, appeared to be of high quality. Qing Chen searched his memories, tracing the other¡¯s actions. Only then did Qing Chen realize that Lu Guangyi had looked at him 21 times in just over an hour, and that was only the times he fell within his own field of view. Qing Chen did not know who this person was, but the way he spoke, it was clear that he knew him, and he even used honorifics. From Lu Guangyi¡¯s point of view, it seemed I was also in this prison fortress with another agenda. But Qing Chen was afraid of exposing his time travel, so he didn¡¯t want to get too involved with Lu Guangyi at the moment, ¡°I don¡¯t need your help for now; I can handle some things myself.¡± Lu Guangyi¡¯s head shook like a bobblehead, ¡°No, no, I must take good care of you.¡± Qing Chen also shook his head, ¡°No one¡¯s character is nobler than anyone else¡¯s; you don¡¯t need to use words like ¡®serve¡¯.¡± At this point, Lu Guangyi said sycophantically, ¡°Come on, just order me around in the future; just think of me as yourpdog, the foot-licking kind!¡± Qing Chen was speechless, what kind of person would say such utterly shameless things, ¡°What if I have athlete¡¯s foot?¡± Lu Guangyi, not embarrassed at all, said, ¡°Then I could lick it better for you!¡± Qing Chen was silent for a long while, ¡°¡­Awesome.¡± Even though he was trying very hard to restrain himself from speaking recklessly, he couldn¡¯t help but be astounded. Qing Chen was a bit confused now; he had clearly traveled through time with both his body and consciousness, so why were there such bizarre past interpersonal rtions? That is to say, did people in this world really think he had been living here for so many years? Seeing that Qing Chen wasn¡¯t talking, Lu Guangyi whispered, ¡°This morning I was wondering why you hadn¡¯te to find me at the first moment; it turns out you nned to approach Uncle Li Dong as a neer, so clever. In this Prison No. 18 fortress, having Uncle Li Dong¡¯s help will make our n much smoother.¡± Qing Chen, ¡°¡­¡± What n. What are you talking about. Can you be clearer?! Lu Guangyi continued as if talking to himself, ¡°I¡¯ve been in here for over three months and have gathered a group of useful people for you; don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t let you down.¡± The young man was chattering incessantly. Qing Chen felt that Lu Guangyi was a bit of a chatterbox, and he just listened silently, unsure of how to respond. It was like ying ¡°Who¡¯s The Spy¡± with a nk card, having to wait for everyone to finish speaking before you could talk; otherwise, if everyone else¡¯s word was ¡°urine¡± and you were the first to speak, suggesting it was drinkable, that would create a big problem. He searched his mind and remembered that at breakfast, there were vaguely a hundred people around Lu Guangyi, each equipped with mechanical limbs. It appeared that these people were the ¡°subordinates¡± Lu Guangyi had recruited aftering here. Seeing that Qing Chen still wasn¡¯t speaking, Lu Guangyi asked again in a low voice, ¡°But be careful with Uncle Li Dong, dealing with such a person is like bargaining with a tiger, and it could put us in a passive position¡­ sorry, I spoke too much.¡± At that moment, Qing Chen realized that the mentioned Uncle Li Dong was probably that middle-aged man. Lu Guangyi thought he had a mission as soon as he came in and went straight to y chess with Uncle Li Dong. But approaching Uncle Li Dong wasn¡¯t for some crappy n; it was for survival. ¡°What instructions did you bring with you this time?¡± Suddenly Lu Guangyi asked. Qing Chen slowly turned to look at the young man, ¡°A monk hase from the south.¡± The young man, ¡°???¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t bother with him any longer and just walked away, leaving Lu Guangyi standing there stunned, ¡°A monk hase from the south? What monk?¡± ¡­ Chapter 6 is up. Please rmend and vote for the month. Thank you, Nan Gengchen, Alpaca Xiao Fierce Xu, God Hidden, Bai Li Tong Yun, and Lonely Lonely Lonely Lonely for bing chiefs of this book! CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] Spring Festival, alternatively known as Chinese New Year, is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisr and sr Chinese calendar. [2] ¡°You¡± here is an honorific. Typically used when addressing someone with respect. [3] ¡°Who is the Undercover¡± is a game where yers have to reveal the undercover among citizens. It assigned citizens with the same word while the undercover has a different but simr word. Mr. White is an additional character who would draw a nk card instead, just like the mc in this case. [4] ¡°Ama came to the south.¡±: This is part of a Chinese tongue twister. Chapter 7: Seven, one Chapter 7: Seven, one Among the 3,102 inmates, they¡¯re now either messing with the new guy or hanging out in the entertainment area; only a small group is pumping iron in the fitness equipment area. It seems that nobody is really interested in reading. So, at this moment, Uncle Li Dong, Lin Xiaoxiao, and Ye Wan seem somewhat out of the ordinary. With a mischievous grin, Lin Xiaoxiao squatted on a chair, barefoot, his shoes scattered beside him. Ye Wan stood rigidly behind Uncle Li Dong, asionally surveying the surroundings. Lin Xiaoxiao, with his delicate eyebrows and bright eyes, looked exceptionally clever, while Ye Wan was rtively more muscr, with a firmer expression on his face. One looked more like a schr, and the other more like a bodyguard. Seeing Uncle Li Dong finish reading the news, Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°Boss, that kid didn¡¯t help the other newbies.¡± Uncle Li Dong nodded, ¡°Not helping is normal. He ys chess with decisive ruthlessness, ready to sacrifice his own arm for survival, let alone help others.¡± ¡°ying chess is one thing, I could also dare to sacrifice a piece on the board¡­ So, Boss, are you going to continue to y chess with him tomorrow?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao pondered and asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled and said, ¡°If not with him, should I perhaps y with you two terrible chess baskets?¡± In the reading area, Uncle Li Dong sat beside a long wooden table, holding a brand-new reader and meticulously browsing through various news from that morning. The big cat once againy down on the table, seemingly to sleep, as if sleeping in different ces was the meaning of a cat¡¯s life. This reading area resembled a small library, but instead of paper books on the ¡°shelves,¡± there were e-readers charging in slots. The shelves were surrounded by dozens of long tables that could amodate nearly a thousand people, but they were eerily empty at the moment. Ye Wan said in a deep voice, ¡°I¡¯m a bit stronger than Lin Xiaoxiao.¡± ¡°But not by much,¡± Uncle Li Dong turned to Ye Wan and tapped the news on the reader with his finger, ¡°Do you remember Guo Huchan that the Chen Corporation caught? His trial process ispleted, and he should be transferred to this Prison No. 18 in the next few days. You¡¯ll contact him when he arrives.¡± Ye Wan nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with him before. Although he¡¯s not easy to get along with, at least he¡¯smunicative.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Uncle Li Dong nodded and then turned to Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°This morning¡¯s breakdown of the neer, what do you think?¡± ¡°I observed him for a long time and something feels off,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao analyzed, ¡°It looked like he was talking nonsense after his breakdown, but when he mentioned Los Angeles City and the Yongli Group, he was very certain, as if there was something real about it.¡± ¡°His identity?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked. ¡°Checked it. Outside, he was just an ordinary high school dropout, ayabout. He worked with the ck Tiger Organization in City No. 18 dealing in mechanical limbs, suspected of illegal seizure of mechanical limbs but without evidence. In the end, he was sent here for tax evasion. We can trace all his past life experiences, but as for the Los Angeles City and Yongli Group he mentioned, really no clue,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said. No one saw Lin Xiaoxiao look up anything, but it seemed like he had dug up everything about the distressed young man in just an hour. That¡¯s the most astonishing part. Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°Keep an eye on him, there must be something else with this young man. Also, what about the one who was ying chess with me?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao replied, ¡°You just finished that game, I haven¡¯t had the chance to check yet, I¡¯ll have an answer for you before lunch break.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Uncle Li Dong nodded and continued to flip through the reader. Lin Xiaoxiao sneaked a nce at Uncle Li Dong and suddenly realized that the boss was taking a special interest in that young man. Just as he was about to continue, Lin Xiaoxiao looked out of the reading area just in time to see Qing Chen slowly approaching, carefully examining the surroundings. Qing Chen first observed Uncle Li Dong¡¯s side, then tried to gently pull a PAD-like reader from the ¡°shelf¡± and pressed the power button. Qing Chen stared at the screen. If there was any way to quickly understand this world, it would surely be to read the books of this world. He hadn¡¯t expected that, in this world, even paper books had been phased out¡ªwhat remained were electronic devices. However, when the reader was turned on, it wasn¡¯t an operating interface, but a login screen. Lin Xiaoxiao came over with a lightugh, ¡°First time in prison, huh? If you want to use this reader, you need to register an ount with your inmate ID. Once you log in, it will show your recent reading history, your personal bookmarks, and the reading preferences and font size you¡¯ve set up.¡± Qing Chen thought to himself that this gadget was quite user-friendly. ¡°Oh, and it also has a built-in artificial intelligence voice. Just call its name, and it can help you find the content you¡¯re looking for, like this,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao also pulled out a reader and said, ¡°Yi.¡± ¡°I am here,¡± a pleasant female voice came from the reader, Qing Chen remembered this voice, it was exactly the same as the one that announced meal times inside the prison fortress. The tone was formalized, yet it didn¡¯t feel stiff. Lin Xiaoxiao said to the reader, ¡°Help me find the book ¡®Brown¡¯.¡± ¡°Okay, ¡®Brown¡¯ has been found for you,¡± the artificial intelligence named ¡®Yi¡¯ responded. ¡°Look,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao handed her reader to Qing Chen, the book titled ¡®Brown¡¯ had already opened its pages. Qing Chen nced at his prisoner uniform, the number 010101. After registering, Qing Chen looked towards Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°Where can I read the news, like the kind you have there?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao turned to nce at the reader in her boss¡¯s hand and then giggled, ¡°Forget it, your reader ount doesn¡¯t have inte ess, not even mine does.¡± Qing Chen understood, it seemed Uncle Li Dong¡¯s status in this prison was truly extraordinary. Just like he could keep a cat in prison. He no longer said anything but thanked her and then began to read the content on his reader. Lin Xiaoxiao returned to Uncle Li Dong¡¯s side and discretely observed Qing Chen. But she suddenly discovered that Qing Chen was flipping through the reader¡¯s pages extremely fast! Normally, one page of the reader contains 800 characters, a regr person would need at least a minute to read it, right? But Qing Chen was flipping pages every two seconds! Lin Xiaoxiao whispered to Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Boss, he isn¡¯t really reading the reader, he probably just wants to get close and seize an opportunity to interact with you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be nosy,¡± Uncle Li Dong said without even looking up, ¡°Never underestimate someone else¡¯s desire to survive. If you were in his ce, you¡¯d probably be even more desperate. Xiao Xiao, you need to learn to see things from other people¡¯s perspectives.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said with a cheeky smile, ¡°I know, I know.¡± Qing Chen found a spot to sit down, continuously memorized the contents of the reader, and then flipped the pages quickly, doing so for over three hours, not even changing his sitting position once. To others, reading might be a leisurely pastime after meals, but for him, it was one of the ways to understand the world and survive. The content on the reader was obviously carefully selected, with almost no important information, 95% of the content was philosophy and motivational quotes¡­ But it didn¡¯t matter, any information was important to him now. Qing Chen had always been someone who valued opportunities. Close to lunchtime, Uncle Li Dong finally set down his reader and logged out of his ount. Ye Wan standing by understood and took the reader, cing it back into the slot on the bookshelf. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao, they were like Uncle Li Dong¡¯s closest attendants. When Uncle Li Dong stood up, he nced at Qing Chen and felt something was amiss. The young man was so engrossed in reading that he seemed to not even notice him getting up, not like he was acting. He suddenly asked, ¡°What¡¯s the third line on the previous page?¡± His voice was smooth and refined, speaking as if one suddenly found themselves in an antique tea room, listening to the earnest teachings of an elder. ¡°When order bes chaos, one must use chaos to maintain order, to save thew,¡± Qing Chen said, looking up. Ye Wan took the reader from Qing Chen, flipped to the previous page, ¡°Boss, he¡¯s right.¡± At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly saw the big cat on the table open its eyes, and he distinctly felt that its gaze was full of surprise as it looked at him. It was as if¡­ the cat could understand everyone¡¯s conversation and was also astonished by Qing Chen¡¯s memory ability. After hearing Ye Wan¡¯s confirmation, Uncle Li Dong paused, then with a smile, called the cat and left, ¡°This is getting more interesting, let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time for lunch.¡± For some reason, Qing Chen always felt that Uncle Li Dong had a unique demeanor as he walked, his light white exercise suit swaying as if he were stepping on clouds. Chapter 8: 8. Shadow Chapter 8: 8. Shadow How to survive in this prison dominated by steel beasts? Qing Chen couldn¡¯t rely on Lu Guangyi, whose origins were unclear, because he feared his identity as a recement for the original owner would be exposed. He also couldn¡¯t rely on other townsfolk from the same time period, as they were in even worse shape than himself. Therefore, Qing Chen candidly revealed his capabilities to Uncle Li Dong to demonstrate that he was someone of use. Without a doubt, Uncle Li Dong was this prison¡¯s most transcendent presence, and although this move was risky, it was the best way out. Uncle Li Dong, with his hands folded behind his back, strolled away leisurely while Ye Wan and Big Cat followed by his side, and Lin Xiaoxiao had disappeared somewhere with a grin. It wasn¡¯t even noon yet not time to start serving meals, but the food window opened early for Uncle Li Dong. Ye Wan went to get Uncle Li Dong and Big Cat their portions of food, and Big Cat picked and chose what to eat. Just then, Lin Xiaoxiao popped out from somewhere, kicked off his shoes, and squatted barefoot on the chair opposite Uncle Li Dong¡¯s dining table. Big Cat nced at him, but Ye Wan frowned and said, ¡°Show some respect in front of the boss.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao rolled his eyes, ¡°The boss didn¡¯t say anything, Mother Ye, you¡¯re meddling too much.¡± Uncle Li Dong chuckled and said, ¡°It seems you¡¯ve found something?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said excitedly, ¡°There¡¯s so much to find. You know, this Qing Chen is squeaky clean outside, I couldn¡¯t find a single suspicious clue, but that made me even more curious.¡± ¡°Because he¡¯s too clean?¡± asked Uncle Li Dong. ¡°Yes, exactly too clean. His records show he¡¯s a high school student from City 18, his parents died in a car ident, he inherited some money, no prior records, no criminal background, no rtives,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said. ¡°What was his crime?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked. ¡°Theft,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°The records state that he stole a liquid crystal phone that just met the criteria for criminal charges. You know, more than half of the prisoners in Cellblock 18 are serious offenders, usually with multiple priors or nabbed by tax authorities. A petty thief like him shouldn¡¯t be here at all.¡± In just a short while, Lin Xiaoxiao had already gone through Qing Chen¡¯s files, a task that would seem almost supernatural to the average person. Lin Xiaoxiao continued, ¡°Moreover, I asked people outside, and his case is controversial. He ims he bought the liquid crystal phone legally and had paid for it, but somehow the seller failed to record the transaction, and the surveince camera broke, unable to clear his name. So, if the phone seller changes his testimony to support him, or if the surveince video of him paying surfaces, he could be released immediately. You see, this is a familiar tactic; most people who ¡®take care of things¡¯ in prison use the same script.¡± Uncle Li Dong thoughtfully asked, ¡°How long was he sentenced?¡± ¡°Six months,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao replied, ¡°This probably is the shortest sentence in the history of Cellblock 18, boss, don¡¯t you think this is problematic¡­ and his surname is Qing!¡± The surname Qing is extremely significant in this era, as five majorpanies monopolize nearly all economic veins, and one of them has the Qing surname. And Qing is also a rare surname, so if you suddenly meet someone with the surname Qing on the street, you would wonder if they are from the Qing¡¯s Family. ¡°Continue,¡± Uncle Li Dong said with a smile. ¡°You also know that Qing¡¯s Group recently sent Lu Guangyi in,¡± said Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°Such things are easy to check. At that time, I just didn¡¯t understand why they would send such a small yer in, what were they nning to do?¡± ¡°I remember that Lu Guangyi,¡± Ye Wan chimed in from the side, ¡°He has been consolidating power ever since he arrived.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao grinned, ¡°After Lu Guangyi came in, he relied on his top-notch mechanical limbs to suppress the local powers in the prison, quickly managing to stand equally against the other two factions within a month. I was puzzled then, whether Qing¡¯s Family sent him to unify Cellblock 18.¡± ¡°Qing¡¯s Family knows the boss is here,¡± implied Ye Wan, meaning that with Uncle Li Dong here, no one could unify the ce. Lin Xiaoxiao squinted his eyes, and in his excitement, nearly went on to pick at his toes, ¡°So, I was wondering if Qing¡¯s Family had gone mad, sending such a small fry to stir up trouble in Cellblock 18. It wasn¡¯t until today that I realized, Lu Guangyi was scouting the way for this kid Qing Chen. Whatever Qing¡¯s Family ns to do, Qing Chen is the main character, and Lu Guangyi is just ackey.¡± At that moment, Lin Xiaoxiao began to muse, ¡°But what are they after bying to Cellblock 18? If this kid Qing Chen really is a direct descendant of the Qing¡¯s Family, why would he be willing toe here?¡± Uncle Li Dong suddenly said, ¡°Qing¡¯s Family might be selecting the next Shadow.¡± Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao both froze, ¡°The next Shadow? Qing Chen is one of the candidates? So he¡¯s here on a mission.¡± The massive conglomerate needed both face and substance. The Family Head of Qing¡¯s Family was the face, while the Shadow was the substance. The Shadow specialized in dirty work, held immense authority, and dominated the underworld of Qing¡¯s Group, uncontrolled by anyone except the Family Head. However, the selection process for each generation of Shadows was exceptionally brutal, much like raising poisonous creatures. ¡°It looks like Qing¡¯s Family is going to stir up trouble again,¡± Uncle Li Dongmented. During the conversation, a prisoner identally came over, and five meters away, Ye Wan suddenly turned her head to look at him. The prisoner was so intimidated by her piercing gaze that he involuntarily turned and walked in another direction. Uncle Li Dong and the other two did not continue the topic, and Lin Xiaoxiao changed the subject, ¡°Boss, even if he is a Shadow Candidate, there¡¯s no need to make his background so clean, as if he has no connection with Qing¡¯s Family at all.¡± By this time, everyone was certain that Qing Chen was one of Qing¡¯s Family¡¯s own. At their level, the least believable thing was coincidence. ¡°Unless, there¡¯s an even bigger secret hidden in Qing Chen¡¯s background,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°Boss, have you guessed something?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously. Uncle Li Dong shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s just that after you mentioned it, I suddenly think he looks a bit like someone.¡± ¡°An enemy? Or a friend? Have Ye Mom and I met him?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously. Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°You haven¡¯t met him, but you will eventually. Xiao Xiao, it would be great if the rtionships in this world could be simply divided into friends and enemies.¡± As he spoke, Uncle Li Dong took the gray cat on the table into his arms and gently stroked its chin. The catfortably closed its eyes,zily lying on Uncle Li Dong¡¯sp. He said to Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°I¡¯m more interested in this Qing Chen now, why don¡¯t you go and test his character?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was shocked, ¡°Boss, you fancy him? But he is from Qing¡¯s Family!¡± ¡°I¡¯m just asking you to test him out, not to do anything,¡± Uncle Li Dongughed, ¡°Besides, isn¡¯t it more interesting to snatch someone from Qing¡¯s Family¡¯s hands?¡± ¡°But I feel he¡¯s not one of us,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao muttered, looking at her own feet. Uncle Li Dongughed, ¡°An organization needs all kinds of people: the mountain-securing tiger, the far-seeing eagle, the battle-ready wolf, the swift leopard, the loyal dog, each with their own duties.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Boss, what am I in the organization?¡± Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment, ¡°The freeloading fish.¡± Ye Wan calmly said from the side, ¡°The stirring stick in shit.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao: ¡°???¡± ¡­ Thanks: Wee to our book and be the leader of our alliance! Big-hearted bosses! May the bosses live as long as the heavens! Chapter 9: 9. Nightmare Chapter 9: 9. Nightmare ¡°I can handle the fish that just go with the flow, but stirring up trouble like this is just nonsense,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao red at Ye Wan, ¡°I can put up with the boss badmouthing me, but why are you causing a scene?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just telling it like it is,¡± Ye Wan calmly replied, ¡°To business now, how do you n to test the kid?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, then smiled meaningfully, ¡°I¡¯ll start by giving him a nightmare.¡± Ye Wan frowned, ¡°Moderation is key.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± At that moment, there was amotion at the back of the line where the prisoners were getting their food, and Lin Xiaoxiao looked over. Prison 18 was like a huge, empty metal box, with 21 armed robotic guards deployed around the perimeter during mealtime. Theycked human emotions and managed all emergent situations within the prison. Compared to the over three thousand prisoners, 21 robotic guards seemed too few, but every prisoner knew that the real threats were the drones embedded in the high dome ceiling and the six-barreled metal storm. Cold and powerful. At noon mealtime, all the prisoners arrived on time and lined up in columns outside the cafeteria, then got their food floor by floor. Furthermore, each prisoner had to stand in their assigned spot. Any neer who forgot their spot in the line was promptly surrounded by the robotic guards for a warning, and if they failed to return to their ce after the warning, the guards would administer an electric shock as punishment before escorting them to their spot. New prisoners who¡¯d just endured a ¡®wee ritual¡¯ in the morning were dizzy and couldn¡¯t remember where they originally stood, so they ended up being shocked one by one. The veteran prisoners, on the other hand, watched the neers make fools of themselves like it was a recurringedy show. Suddenly, the veteran prisoners felt something amiss, how had the young man who yed chess with Uncle Li Dong that morning not been punished? The crowd searched among themselves and then found Qing Chen standing in his own spot, calmly observing everything. It was odd, with each column holding at least five hundred people, amid so many unfamiliar faces, how did this young man manage to find his own spot? And Qing Chen, he was sizing up the ¡°neers¡± who had been imprisoned with him. The neers¡¯ faces bore no marks of injury, yet their walking postures were extremely peculiar, as if enduring pain. It appeared the prisoners were restrained in their approach, not hitting the face, and ensuring it wasn¡¯t fatal. As he walked forward with his tray, a hand suddenly pulled him out of the food line. Qing Chen was startled, he turned to see Lin Xiaoxiao pulling him along and saying, ¡°You don¡¯t need to line up with them anymore. Anyone who can y chess with the boss doesn¡¯t need to stand in line.¡± Qing Chen instinctively looked towards the robotic guards, fearing that stepping out of line might result in an electric shock. However, he realized the robotic guardspletely ignored him and urged the other prisoners to fill his spot! Qing Chen couldn¡¯t understand, even if Uncle Li Dong and others had special status, it surely couldn¡¯t be to this extent, could it?! Lin Xiaoxiao led him through the long rows of queues, getting food, sitting opposite Uncle Li Dong to eat, all in one fluid motion. The surrounding prisoners silently watched this scene, their gazes fixated on Qing Chen. The previously noisy environment suddenly quieted down, as if everyone held their breath. At that moment, they realized, Qing Chen was no longer one of them. Lin Xiaoxiao squatted next to Qing Chen¡¯s chair and said with a grin, ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised. Anyone who can y chess with the boss naturally gets some special treatment. Go ahead, eat, although the food here in Prison 18 isn¡¯t good at all.¡± Qing Chen looked up at Uncle Li Dong across from him, who was slowly eating his meal without any intent of conversation. He then nced at the crowd, where Lu Guangyi in the line was quietly giving him a thumbs up ¡­ Qing Chen didn¡¯t understand. Uncle Li Dong had been only willing to y chess with him that morning, but why was there such a significant change in attitude by the afternoon? Was it because of his identity in this world? ¡­ At 8:40 pm, Qing Chen returned to his cell at the designated time. While the others were lining up to return to their rooms, he tried moving freely out of line, and sure enough, the robotic guards no longer paid him any attention. As long as he was heading toward his own cell, the robotic guards wouldn¡¯t focus on him. The prisoners looked at him with envious eyes; Qing Chen walked along the long hallway like a lone wolf striking its own path. The single upancy cell was empty; once the alloy gate closed, he walked toward the washbasin to brush his teeth and wash his face. But he hadn¡¯t taken two steps before he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to sleep. This sleepiness was not normal, even if he had overexerted his mind during the day, it wouldn¡¯t be to the extent that his willpower couldn¡¯t support him. Something was off! Without further thought, Qing Chen copsed to the floor. In his dream, Qing Chen was consciously standing in the living room of a dimly lit vi. At first, he knew it was a dream, and clearly understood that his body was still in the cell. But two secondster, he forgot everything, as if he were meant to be there, no longer recalling that it was a dream. The living room had a firece burning wood, filling the room with a unique damp smell as the water content was roasted by the firece, rising and condensing on the ceiling. The tall ceiling sported a crystal chandelier, which Qing Chen couldn¡¯t find the switch for after looking around. The room felt eerie. Qing Chen¡¯s pupils suddenly constricted. There were bloodstains on the second-floor staircase. On the living room sofa, there were w marks from a cat; the leather had been torn open by sharp ws, creating several splits. On the firece mantel, there was a picture frame with its ss shattered, and the photo was nowhere to be found. On the wall, there were greyish-blue marks from a knife cut, and as the mes in the firece flickered, those marks on the wall and the cracks on the sofa seemed to twist eerily. On the carpet, therey a blood-stained dagger. Someone had written two conspicuous characters in blood on the floor next to the carpet: ¡°Ghost.¡± Thud, thud, thud¡ªthere came a knocking at the door. Qing Chen took a deep breath. He hadn¡¯t touched anything inside and walked to the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± A rxed voice came from outside, ¡°Police, badge number 27149. Did you call the police? Please open the door.¡± Qing Chen frowned. The voice sounded familiar, yet he couldn¡¯t recall where he had heard it before. Strange, was there something wrong with his Memory Power? He hesitated but opened the door; outside stood a young police officer holding a case file. As soon as the door was opened, the officer saw blood flowing down from the staircase leading to the second floor. He quickly ascended the stairs while saying, ¡°The person who called, please don¡¯t move from your spot, and lock the door!¡± Qing Chen was puzzled; the police officer¡¯s procedure seemed improper and he wasn¡¯t even carrying a gun. But for some reason, he subconsciously followed the instructions. The young police officer went upstairs, and Qing Chen remained standing at the door. Not even half a minute had passed when there was another knock on the door. Qing Chen asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Police, badge number 27149. Did you call the police? Please open the door.¡± Qing Chen startled, hadn¡¯t badge number 27149 already gone upstairs? Then who was outside the door? At that moment, a ghastly voice in his subconscious asked him: What would you do now? Guess, between the inside and the outside of the door, which one is real? Or maybe, neither are real. The police officer outside was urging, ¡°Hello, please open the door.¡± Qing Chen took another deep breath and walked back into the house; he tried to pick up the blood-stained dagger from the floor, but there seemed to be a transparent barrier between him and the dagger. He was only a step away from the dagger, yet he could never touch it. Someone didn¡¯t want him to take the knife. Someone wanted to trap him here. Yet the countdown on his arm was still ticking, and his heart and blood were still beating and flowing. He hade to this cold mechanical world alone and unattached, with no way back. ¡°Get out of the way,¡± said Qing Chen in a cold tone, his pupils constricted again as if he harnessed all his courage into a de to cut through something. A strange sound of ss breaking echoed in the emptiness of the living room, and the barrier between him and the dagger shattered. Someone let out a soft ¡°Huh.¡± Qing Chen picked up the knife and turned towards the staircase. Suddenly, a voice from nowhere asked him: What are you doing with the knife? Aren¡¯t you going to open the door for the officer? Qing Chen answered coldly, ¡°Wait till I kill the one inside then I will.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao: ¡°???¡± At that moment, Qing Chen finally remembered. When he broke the barrier while picking up the knife, he also broke the nightmare¡¯s block on his memory. He recognized the voice as Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s, and the young police officer was also remodeled after Lin Xiaoxiao. He was in a nightmare created by Lin Xiaoxiao. It seemed like this world was getting more interesting. ¡­ Asking for monthly votes, I feel like with a new book I could make it into the top ten! All depends on you! Also, starting tomorrow, new updates every evening at 6 p.m.! ¡­ Thanks to: Penguin in the North Pole Headmaster Loves Tea Shy Actor Ash Drifting Down Gloomily These four bosses have be patrons of the Silver City Alliance! Generous bosses! May your fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your life as long as the Zhongnan Mountain! Chapter 10: 10. Use Fire Chapter 10: 10. Use Fire Lin Xiaoxiao was the one who created nightmares for Qing Chen. This world has never been solely about mechanical civilizations; it has always harbored even more mysterious civilizations up to this point. And tonight, Lin Xiaoxiao created this nightmare entirely based on Uncle Li Dong¡¯s instruction, wanting to test what kind of person Qing Chen really was. In this nightmare named ¡°Twin Ghosts Dilemma,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao wanted to test Qing Chen¡¯s courage and ability to withstand pressure, but he hadn¡¯t expected that Qing Chen¡¯s reaction could no longer be judged simply by his courage or resilience. He suddenly realized that in times of crisis, this young man would undoubtedly confront the situation with the fiercest and calmest attitude. At this moment, Qing Chen showed no signs of trembling, nor did he exhibit the desperate valormon to ordinary people when they fight back. The only thing that emanated from him was calmness. However, Lin Xiaoxiao couldn¡¯t understand why, although he was clearly preventing the other from picking up the dagger, Qing Chen suddenly broke free from the nightmare¡¯s restraints. After all, this was Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s home ground. By then, Qing Chen had already realized that he no longer needed to go upstairs to kill someone. He spoke to the empty living room, ¡°Lin Xiaoxiao?¡± The nightmare hadn¡¯t dispersed, and Lin Xiaoxiao, wearing a police uniform, came down from upstairs with a smile, ¡°How strange, you can still maintain rity in this nightmare. The boss was right; you really are exceptional.¡± ¡°Why? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve offended you,¡± Qing Chen was puzzled. ¡°Because the boss values you, I need to find out what kind of person you are. But now it seems that the nightmare might be ineffective against you,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao exined, sitting on the bottom step of the stairs. ¡°Is this your special ability?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao shrugged, ¡°Just like you have a photographic memory, I have my abilities, and there¡¯s really nothing to hide.¡± Qing Chen felt that this world was bing even more mysterious in his mind. The coexistence of mechanical and mystical studies in the world did not scare him; on the contrary, it piqued his interest even more. And the events that were unfolding were probably why Uncle Li Dong and others held such an extraordinary status in this prison. Qing Chen wanted to explore all this and desired to possess it even more. Seeing Qing Chen deep in thought, Lin Xiaoxiao took the initiative to ask, ¡°Are you from Qing¡¯s Group?¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t answer the question directly but instead asked, ¡°Is it because of the assumption about my identity that I receive special treatment? Why do the mechanical jail guards not care about you?¡± ¡°Naturally, it¡¯s because the boss is special enough that the mechanical jail guards don¡¯t bother us,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to change the subject. Back to your identity,st night I found a surveince video of you talking to Lu Guangyi, who was sent here by Qing¡¯s. He was eager to contact you, so I am certain you are from Qing¡¯s Group.¡± Qing¡¯s Group¡­ Qing Chen noted these four words. At that moment, he felt more rxed. The other party had vast connections in this prison, whereas he felt like a child just learning to walk inparison. If that was the case, then there was no need to be too nervous. Since they still wanted to engage with him after figuring out his situation, it indicated that they too had demands. Qing Chen sat on the worn sofa and asked with a focused tone, ¡°Since you are certain I am from Qing¡¯s Group, why extend an olive branch to me?¡± ¡°Our organization doesn¡¯t care about background; anyone who shares our ideals can join,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said smilingly. ¡°Of course, they must qualify.¡± Qing Chen was momentarily taken aback, realizing all this was actually an assessment to see if he qualified to join. He had thought they wanted to coborate with the power behind him. ¡°You want to recruit me?¡± Qing Chen asked, puzzled. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you qualify yet. Honestly, I feel you are not one of us,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°But the boss said our organization needs all sorts of people: visionary eagles, mountain-steadying tigers, battle-ready wolves. Everyone has their use.¡± ¡°Then what role do you y in your organization?¡± Qing Chen asked. Lin Xiaoxiao didn¡¯t want to answer; he just smirked mysteriously and said, ¡°Guess?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°The production team¡¯s donkey?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao: ¡°???¡± What the heck? It¡¯s not even as good as a swimming fish! At this moment, Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly realized that the other party waspletely rxed while facing this unknown nightmare and unknown self, and was effortlessly navigating it. This teenager was only 17 years old. Lin Xiaoxiao curiously said, ¡°Qing¡¯s Group arranged for Lu Guangyi toe here with such fanfare, and then they arranged for you toe here. What exactly do you guys want to do, or what are you looking for?¡± Qing Chen thought to himself, if I say I don¡¯t even know why I¡¯m here, you certainly wouldn¡¯t believe me¡­ This matter¡­ you¡¯ve got to ask Lu Guangyi¡­ To be honest, Qing Chen was also pondering whether he should find Lu Guangyi to rify the reasons and consequences? However, just thinking about Lu Guangyi, with his nagging and fawning demeanor, gave him a bit of a headache. ¡°It¡¯s alright if you don¡¯t want to talk, I¡¯ll figure it out sooner orter,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°Alright, get some rest. You¡¯ll have to y chess with the boss tomorrow morning.¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth than Qing Chen¡¯s vision darkened, and he was pulled out of the nightmare. He slowly got up from the prison cell floor andy on the cold bed, not knowing what to think. He looked at the thick Alloy Gate, beyond which was a cold and mysterious world. ¡­ Return countdown 20:59:21. Return countdown 20:59:20. Early in the morning, as usual, Uncle Li Dong sat by the dining table, silently studying a chess endgame. It wasn¡¯t yet time for the prisoners to leave their cells, and the whole prison was quiet. Lin Xiaoxiao crouched in his chair and said, ¡°Boss, I tempted himst night using the ¡®Double Ghost Dilemma,¡¯ and guess what, he was ready to pull out a knife and kill one¡­such intense murderous intent.¡± Ye Wan frowned, ¡°I told you to be moderate. Ordinary people can easily break down in the ¡®Double Ghost Dilemma.''¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao replied irritably, ¡°I didn¡¯t go through with it. Besides, you don¡¯t know, that kid actually managed to escape my control in the nightmare.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Uncle Li Dong looked up, ¡°I confirmed he¡¯s just an ordinary person. It¡¯s quite special that an ordinary person could escape your control in the nightmare.¡± Even the big cat resting with its eyes closed on the table nced curiously at Lin Xiaoxiao. Ye Wan asked, ¡°How did he manage that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao shook his head. ¡°Perhaps he has a strong will,¡± Uncle Li Dong did not delve deeper into the matter. Others too had managed to break free from the constraints of nightmares. Crouching, Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°Boss, I still advise you to think carefully. Qing Chen is quite murderous, not our kind of person at all.¡± Uncle Li Dong suddenlyughed, ¡°We lost so many colleagues for this cause, and even the three of us are trapped in this prison. So you see, Xiao Xiao, we can¡¯t use gentleness tobat the dark, we need fire.¡± As he spoke, Uncle Li Dong¡¯s expression turned somewhat somber, ¡°Ye Wan, bring me the harmonica.¡± Dinner time was approaching, and the prison gradually became noisy. The sounds from the steel beasts behind the Alloy Gates, like boiling water starting to bubble. But suddenly, a melodious harmonica sound rose above the prison square, soothing to the soul. The sound of prisoners banging on the cell doors gradually ceased, and everyone listened quietly, as if someone had poured fresh spring water into a dried-up wastnd. Chapter 11: Farewell Chapter 11: Farewell The melody of the harmonica was captivating. Moreover, there seemed to be an inexplicable rhythm mixed within the harmonica¡¯s sound, surpassing ordinary music. It was like the feeling the nightmare had given to Qing Chenst night. But while all the prisoners were immersed in the wonderful music, Qing Chen simply couldn¡¯t suppress his inner shock and astonishment. Because he had heard this tune before¡­ ¡°Send-off¡±. Outside the long pavilion, by the ancient road, the lush grass blends with the sky. Qing Chen¡¯s pupils gradually contracted. Wasn¡¯t this the world he had traversed into? Why would there also be ¡°Send-off¡± here? He once thought, the moment he encountered the mechanical civilization, that it should have no rtion to Earth. But now it seemed he was wrong. Could this be Earth¡¯s future? Qing Chen began to search his memories, trying to find clues in the books he had read in the reading area yesterday. But the result disappointed him again; those self-help books and philosophy could not aid him. The harmonica stopped, and the din returned to Prison 18. At some point, Qing Chen suddenly felt like this prison was a Beast Battle Arena. Behind each alloy gate, there lurked steel beasts representing various desires. When the gates opened, he no longer felt as green and watchful as on the first day, but walked straight past the lined-up prisoners toward the za downstairs. His unteral action did not attract the drones above him, nor did the robotic guards give him an extra nce. Just outside the canteen, Lin Xiaoxiao greeted him with a beaming smile, ¡°Good morning¡­ Did you not sleep well?¡± At that moment, Qing Chen, with dark circles under his eyes, coldly looked at Lin Xiaoxiao, thinking, don¡¯t you know if I could sleep well or not? Some say a dreamsts only about eight minutes, which is extremely brief in the span of a lifetime. However, after Qing Chen awoke from the nightmare yesterday, he checked his countdown and found that the nightmare had trapped him for over two hours; he couldn¡¯t feel the passage of time while in it. Furthermore, after freeing himself from the nightmare, he hadin in bed pondering many things until he finally fell into a deep sleep around midnight. Even though Qing Chen had a photographic memory, he was still essentially an ordinary person, unlike Lin Xiaoxiao who belonged to a special group of people. He couldn¡¯t stay up for most of the night and still be as lively the next day. Uncle Li Dong nced at Qing Chen¡¯splexion and said, ¡°Ordinary peoplee out of nightmares greatly weakened and listless for half a day. But you¡¯re different, you broke free from Xiao Xiao¡¯s control and picked up a dagger in the nightmare. Standing here today is already quite impressive.¡± Qing Chen sat down opposite him and directly asked, ¡°How to be someone like him?¡± Uncle Li Dongughed and said, ¡°You are quite frank, but you can¡¯t take his path. Instead, you¡¯re more suited to take mine.¡± At that remark, Qing Chen distinctly noticed a change in Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s expressions. For some reason, he suddenly felt the atmosphere grow more solemn, even the napping big cat raised its head to look at him. He was curious about Uncle Li Dong¡¯s path. But judging from Lu Guangyi¡¯s attitude towards Uncle Li Dong, this person must be very famous outside, so many people should know what Uncle Li Dong¡¯s path is. As a transmigrator, babbling some nonsense might still be safe, but asking a questionckingmon knowledge could be fatal. Qing Chen skipped the confusion and asked again, ¡°How can I follow your path?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood,¡± Uncle Li Dong said, smiling. When Uncle Li Dong smiled, the traces of time at the corners of his eyes revealed to Qing Chen that his age might be greater than he had imagined. Uncle Li Dong continued, ¡°Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao were a bitte when they met me, so they couldn¡¯t follow my path. And even though I appreciate you now, you aren¡¯t there yet.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Qing Chen nodded. This only made sense. He felt that if someone showed immediate kinship and then imparted all they knew to him, that person might be highly questionable. It might not be an opportunity he was facing, but a danger. However, for Qing Chen, just being able to touch the edge of that Mysterious World was already enough. It was something he had daydreamed about before, something that didn¡¯t exist on Earth. Now, he was very close to those things. ¡°What do you say, will you y chess today?¡± Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be in a good mental state, why don¡¯t we take a day off? The most important thing about ying chess is to have a worthy opponent. It would be meaningless to win while you¡¯re not at your best.¡± As the prisoners lined up for their meals, more and more of them began to freely move about the dining room. Today was different, many prisoners were eating while paying close attention to themotion over at Qing Chen¡¯s side. There were even some who stood up with their trays, eyes glued to the chessboard. In reality, not many prisoners here understood how to y Chinese chess, as it was already an entertainment activity out of its time. But since Uncle Li Dong liked it, everyone felt it necessary to pay attention. What if they also had a natural talent for chess and were noticed by Uncle Li Dong? Of course, this was just wishful thinking, and most people paid attention to the chess game simply because they had too much time on their hands. Before, when Uncle Li Dong studied endgame problems alone, no one dared to stare over here, but now with Qing Chen ying against him, the atmosphere seemed to have be much more rxed, and Ye Wan no longer shot sharp looks at people. Meanwhile, Lu Guangyi, too, watched with great interest, a crowd following him as if he were the center of the universe. Lu Guangyi quite enjoyed this. On either side of the chessboard, Uncle Li Dong waited for Qing Chen¡¯s response, while Qing Chen stood up calmly and said, ¡°No need to rest. For the Defiant Emperor Chess Endgame, move the chariot from two to five, advance the chariot from five to seven, slide the cannon from two to eight, move the chariot from five to six, advance the pawn from four by one.¡± Chinese chess is about back-and-forth moves, but this time Qing Chen simply announced his moves in one go, as if he had already predicted that Uncle Li Dong would follow along, pushing the game quickly to its conclusion. Qing Chen¡¯s red chariot enticed the ck general in conjunction with the final move of advancing the pawn from four, resulting in a checkmate. This was an ingenious move seldom conceived by ordinary people. Others might not understand what Qing Chen was talking about, but Uncle Li Dong certainly did. There was only this one way to break the Defiant Emperor Chess Endgame! Uncle Li Dong looked up at Qing Chen and inverted his own ck general on the chessboard, ¡°I thought you were not in good shape mentally. I would have won by taking advantage of your condition, but it seems I worried unnecessarily.¡± In the crowd, Lu Guangyi¡¯s underlings heard him muttering, ¡°He won again, that¡¯s just too cool. No matter in what aspect, just winning once against a person like Uncle Li Dong would make a lifetime worthwhile, I want to learn chess too!¡± The newly recruited underlings didn¡¯t understand why Lu Guangyi would be interested in something like chess. It was well known that although Lu Guangyi¡¯sbat power stood out in Prison No. 18, his cultural level was definitely at the bottom. At that moment, Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong and asked, ¡°May I ask you a question?¡± ¡­ Thank you to Li Dongze, the Dancing Sword, and students who go by ¡®electric¡¯ for bing leaders of this book. Bosses have such generosity, may your fortune be as vast as the Eastern seas and your lives as enduring as the southern mountains! Chapter 12: 12, Regression Chapter 12: 12, Regression Ye Wan, who was standing by, dispersed the onlookers upon hearing this, allowing the two to talk in peace. ¡°As a reward for just winning that game? That¡¯s fine,¡± Uncle Li Dong replied. ¡°Was it you who yed the harmonica just now?¡± Qing Chen asked. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao were noticeably taken aback; they thought Qing Chen would use winning the chess game as an opportunity to inquire about something significant, yet it turned out to be just about the song? The song was pleasant to hear and had not been circted outside, but it didn¡¯t seem worth wasting such an important opportunity over. Uncle Li Dong, with a smile brimming in his eyes, looked up and said, ¡°It was me. Why, is it the first time you¡¯ve heard this melody?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and responded, ¡°It¡¯s very nice.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Uncle Li Dong, seeing that the crowd had dispersed, nodded and answered, ¡°It wasposed by the founder of our organization, and he also wrote the lyrics.¡± Qing Chen was stunned for a long time and couldn¡¯t speak. He really wanted to say: I guess your founder might be from Earth! And it seems that this founder was somewhat shameless, passing off a carried-over song as his own work. Wait, how long has Uncle Li Dong¡¯s organization been established, and when exactly did that transmigrating predecessor transmigrate? Qing Chen then asked, ¡°Can you sing it for me in its entirety? I want to listen.¡± Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°Sure, but the lyrics for this piece aren¡¯t tooplete. Over the long passage of time, some things inevitably get lost in that long river.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I just want to listen,¡± Qing Chen said. He wanted to confirm whether the song¡¯s lyrics were the same as on Earth. Uncle Li Dong took the big cat from the table into his arms and sang softly, ¡°Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, fragrant grass reaches the sky, evening breeze brushes the willow, flute notes are fading, sunset beyond the mountain peaks. At the edge of the sky, at the corner of the earth, separations are often many¡­¡± After finishing his song, Uncle Li Dongughed and said, ¡°The phrase ¡®separations are often many¡¯ was addedter. It is said that it wasn¡¯t like this originally, but no matter how it¡¯s revised, it seems tock a certain meaning.¡± Qing Chen stood for a long time before suddenly suggesting, ¡°How about recing it with ¡®half of my dear friends have scattered?''¡± ¡°Half of my dear friends have scattered?¡± Uncle Li Dong was briefly stunned. For some reason, he felt that only these five words were truly fitting for this song. Farewell, farewell, people are like the afterglow of the setting sun, dear friends are far horizons. Once young,ughing heartily while drinking freely, life as intense as high summer. But it¡¯s unknown which farewell could be thest, never to meet again. Uncle Li Dong seemed to be sitting in this prison, watching the orange-red sun fall into the horizon, while a friend was waving to him from afar. After waving, he turned and walked away. ¡°Thank you,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°That¡¯s a good addition; it¡¯s as if it were the original lyrics of the song.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Qing Chen said, unabashedly epting the praise. Uncle Li Dong said with some yearning, ¡°Sometimes I¡¯m truly amazed. Our founder was an extraordinary genius. Back then, his songs and lyrics were as numerous as hairs on an ox, each one a ssic that should havested through ages, but they were all lost at the end of thest era, leaving only this one song.¡± ¡°Only one song left? That really is a pity,¡± Qing Chen thought to himself, as Uncle Li Dong outright mentioned thest era, perhaps that transmigrating predecessor hade over a very, very long time ago. An era is not a unit of time, but the beginning of a new civilization. It seemed that the humans here had gone through the transition of an era, but it was unclear what had happened. ¡°There¡¯s another one of which only the name is known, but the melody ispletely unknown. Our predecessors searched many ruins but couldn¡¯t find the score,¡± Uncle Li Dong said, shaking his head. Qing Chen hesitated for two seconds, then tentatively asked, ¡°What is the name of that song?¡± Uncle Li Dong nced at him and said, ¡°Canon.¡± If before Qing Chen was skeptical about the identity of this founder as a transmigrator, now he waspletely certain. However, Canon is actually a musical genre and technique; the Canon technique is used in many symphonic works, such as Beethoven¡¯s ¡°Symphony No. 5¡± and Bach¡¯s ¡°Canon Variations.¡± But if it was directly carried over from Earth, the melody would likely be Pachelbel¡¯s ¡°Canon in D.¡± Qing Chen wondered if by giving the score of Canon to Uncle Li Dong, whose regard for the founder was so high, whether he might earn a path beyond the ordinary. He was uncertain, and even unable to exin where he would get the score from. He¡¯d better wait, as he didn¡¯t remember Canon¡¯s score for now and would weigh the matter after returning. After the conversation, Qing Chen went straight through the crowd to the reading area. He desperately needed to catch some sleep, even if it meant skipping meals to rest first. Only by staying fully alert could he analyze the situation around him at all times. Yet just as he had barelyin on the table in the reading area, Lu Guangyi approached cautiously. Lu Guangyi wanted to talk to Qing Chen but feared being seen, so he paced outside the reading area in distress. Qing Chen looked up expressionlessly at him, ¡°Don¡¯t be so careful; Uncle Li already knows about you and me. But don¡¯t worry, he doesn¡¯t seem to mind. Also, go do your own thing, don¡¯t disturb me.¡± Prison 18 was full of surveince, and inmates had to hide in their cells to hold wee ceremonies for new arrivals, so sleeping in the reading area was safe. Qing Chen actually wanted to engage Lu Guangyi in conversation and figure out what the Qing¡¯s Family had nned. But seeing that his return was imminent, he didn¡¯t want to stir up trouble unnecessarily. So he sent Lu Guangyi away first, nning to consider how to get information from him after returning. However, Lu Guangyi did not leave; instead, he muttered softly, ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve been thinking for the longest time and still don¡¯t know what to call you; ¡®boss¡¯ just rolls off the tongue best.¡± ¡°I guess you¡¯ve heard about me from Qing Yan; life hasn¡¯t been easy for me since I was young. My father even took my kidneys to exchange for money with rich people, recing them with artificial ones. If my own parents don¡¯t care about me, who would? When I heard from Qing Yan that it was you who named me to scout ahead, because you saw something in my abilities, I was over the moon! Rest assured, I, Lu Guangyi, will go through fire and water for you, and would dly die for you if ites to that!¡± ¡°But before I die, there¡¯s one regret. You know I haven¡¯t had much education, but ever since I was a child, I¡¯ve admired those with knowledge¡­¡± Qing Chen finally couldn¡¯t help it, ¡°What on earth are you trying to say?¡± Lu Guangyi, ¡°Could you teach me how to y chess?¡± ¡°Why do you want to learn chess?¡± Qing Chen was taken aback. ¡°Because it¡¯s cool!¡± Lu Guangyi eximed, ¡°Boss, even someone like Uncle Li Dong would be a pawn defeated by your hand; isn¡¯t that cool?¡± ¡°Is winning a game or two at chess that prestigious?¡± Qing Chen shook his head. ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t beat him in a fight, but if I can win against him in a game of chess, that¡¯s also very prestigious!¡± asserted Lu Guangyi matter-of-factly. This did touch Qing Chen for a moment; it seemed, from what Lu Guangyi implied, that Uncle Li Dong¡¯sbat power was quite formidable? Lu Guangyi continued, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect that after you came here, you¡¯d be able to get acquainted with Uncle Li Dong and get along with him so well. Given his status in Prison #18, maybe he even knows where the object we¡¯re looking for is hidden. And, should you inherit his legacy, the battle for the Shadow might just be in the bag.¡± This statement wasden with information, finally enlightening Qing Chen about his purpose here¡­ to find an object. And he was embroiled in apetition. However, Qing Chen still didn¡¯t know what Uncle Li Dong¡¯s legacy was, only that it was extremely important. Qing Chen thought about it and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll teach you chess. Can you step away from me now, please?¡± ¡°Sure, sure!¡± Lu Guangyi scampered off to the entertainment area immediately. ¡­ Nighttime, countdown 00:05:00. Qing Chen sat on the cold bed, quietly watching the white countdown on his arm. Inside the countdown, gears slowly turned, with only thest five minutes left until his return. He wasn¡¯t sure if he woulde back here again; two days felt like a dream to him, having met a few people and witnessed a different world. The unique characteristics of Lin Xiaoxiao and Uncle Li Dong had made him anticipate this world. It was as if a New World had opened its doors to him. Qing Chen thought about it and then used the end of his toothbrush to carve the indentation of the words ¡°Was Here¡± into the wooden bed nks with force. Then he twisted a bruise onto his arm, wanting to see if returning to Earth with an injury would change anything. Countdown. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The world shattered once more, and familiar darkness finally arrived. Returning. ¡­ Only 800 votes away from the top ten monthly tickets, charge! ¡­ Thanks to student Huan Yu for bing the Silver City Alliance of this book; the boss is magnificent, with fortune vast as the Eastern Sea and life as enduring as the Mount of South! Chapter 13: 13. Someone Chapter 13: 13. Someone Compared to the panic before hisst time travel, Qing Chen had be much calmer this time around. He waited for the world to shatter and reassemble, as if waiting for a dream to end. In the cramped and narrow bedroom, Qing Chen still sat on the edge of his bed in the same position as before his time travel, with the night outside and the Boning Knife he had been holding¡­ still in his hand. Everything seemed as if nothing had happened. Qing Chen frowned and took out his mobile phone to check the time. 2022, September 28, 12:00:01. One second past midnight. He clearly remembered that the date of his time travel was also September 28, and the exact time was 12:00:00. Thus, he had spent two days in that world, yet here on Earth, only one second had passed. By the same logic, when he returned to this side, would only one second have passed there by the time he went back? That must be the rule for all transmigrators. For some reason, Qing Chen felt relieved at this thought. It meant he didn¡¯t have toe up with an exnation for his frequent disappearances anymore. It was a very peculiar sense of detachment, as if the world he was now in wasn¡¯t real anymore. Qing Chen looked down at his arm; the artificial bruise of dark purple he had made was still there. On his other arm, the white pattern had changed, disying a countdown of 47:59:45. Countdown 47:59:44. This time, the countdown was for 48 hours, which was right¡ªit meant two days. Only these could prove that everything he had experienced was real. He really had been to a mechanical civilization and had met a person named Uncle Li Dong, was tested with a nightmare by someone called Lin Xiaoxiao, and had encountered a fawning sycophant named Lu Guangyi. There was aposed Ye Wan and a strange big cat. As Qing Chen pondered, his phone suddenly rang with an unfamiliarndline number. ¡°Hello,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡°Hello, this is Royal City Police Station speaking. Your father has been detained for organizing gambling activities. Pleasee over,¡± a female voice said on the other end of the line. Qing Chen was startled for a moment. By his calctions, his gambler father would¡¯ve been caught not too long ago; he didn¡¯t expect the police station to call him this quickly. ¡°Uh, what do I need to do?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°ording to the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, he needs to be detained and fined. Pleasee to handle the procedures,¡± said the officer on duty at the police station. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I won¡¯t being. Please punish him severely. ording to the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, those with severe offenses are subject to detention for more than ten days but less than fifteen days, in addition to a fine of not less than five hundred yuan and not more than three thousand yuan. Please issue the maximum penalty. Thank you,¡± Qing Chen said as he shook his head. The person on the other end was taken aback, ¡°Aren¡¯t you his son?¡± ¡°I reported the case. I¡¯m not his son; I¡¯m the concerned citizen Mr. Qing,¡± replied Qing Chen. The officer on duty was perplexed: ¡°???¡± Without hesitation, Qing Chen hung up the phone. With his gambler father detained for at least ten days, that meant he wouldn¡¯t have to see him before his next journey through time. For some reason, Qing Chen actually felt a bit happy and relieved at this thought. However, for a young man, the experience of a father being detained and publicly chastised is not an easy one to bear. Most young men take their fathers as role models during their adolescent years. When you discover that your father has no dignity and a record of misconduct, it¡¯s like a load-bearing wall in your heart suddenly copses. Taking a deep breath, Qing Chen slowlyy down on the bed. He opened his phone to check his call log and WeChat but didn¡¯t see any messages from his mother. For some reason, at that moment, he even wanted to return to the prison sooner. Even though it was an unknown and dangerous world. It was past one in the morning, and Qing Chen had no desire to sleep. In the dimly lit room, only the glow from his cell phone screen illuminated his cheeks. The cell phone screen disyed the Canon score he had just found, every detail of which he had memorized. To Uncle Li Dong, this piece was a lifelong regret, but for Qing Chen, it hade effortlessly. Perhaps this was the difference between worlds, as the other person also possessed something Qing Chen had longed for in his dreams. But should he give the score to Uncle Li Dong? If so, how would he exin the origin of the score? There was risk involved in this matter, and although Qing Chen wasn¡¯t afraid of taking risks, he was afraid that the risks he took wouldn¡¯t be worthwhile. Therefore, before giving the score, he had to be certain of Uncle Li Dong¡¯s worth! In the end, he still hadn¡¯t received a call or message from his mother. ¡­ First day of the countdown, 7:30 in the morning. Qing Chen dressed in his blue and white school uniform and stepped out, nibbling on instant noodles as he walked. The Los Angeles Foreign Language School he attended had been divided into three campuses in recent years, and the high school section was just a five-minute walk from his home, reached simply by crossing a small road. On Xingshu Road, the breakfast stands wafted the aroma of egg-filled pancakes, with passersby sitting down at the small stalls to eat a bowl of steaming tofu pudding or spicy soup. The freshly fried dough sticks were golden and crisp, and tea eggs were smooth and translucent once peeled. But Qing Chen had no money on him; his modest savings had been spent on supplies for that countdown moment. Even now, the thought made his teeth ache, but he had no regrets; who knew what he would have to face then? ss 3, Grade 11, students ounted for cleaning were sweeping the ssroom, and the fishy smell of water on the floor hadn¡¯t even dissipated, the mop probably musty from long use. Qing Chen sat at thest row when his deskmate, Nan Gengchen, rushed into the ssroom, looking nervous. ¡°Did Teacher Du say anything after seeing me skip ss yesterday?¡± Qing Chen asked in a low voice. But Nan Gengchen seemed distracted and as if he hadn¡¯t heard anything: ¡°Huh? What?¡± ¡°Never mind,¡± Qing Chen shook his head. ¡°Why do you look so panicked?¡± ¡°Panicked?¡± Nan Gengchen startled and then denied. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Qing Chen said nothing more. If the other didn¡¯t want to talk, there was no need for him to probe further. After a moment of silence between them, Nan Gengchen suddenly asked in a lowered voice, ¡°Qing Chen, what would you do if you encountered something really strange?¡± ¡°Strange?¡± Qing Chen was taken aback and then scrutinized Nan Gengchen carefully. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, ¡°What exactly do you mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, just something really strange,¡± said Nan Gengchen. ¡°Then call the police?¡± Qing Chen¡¯s gaze remained locked on Nan Gengchen. Nan Gengchen¡¯s eyes lit up: ¡°Right, the police! Qing Chen, does your family know anyone in the station?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and then said, ¡°My dad just got arrestedst night for gambling in a group.¡± Nan Gengchen: ¡°???¡± Chapter 14: 14. If fortune comes, do not forget each other. Chapter 14: 14. If fortunees, do not forget each other. Nan Gengchen looked at Qing Chen, startled for a moment, ¡°Big brother, I wanted to ask the police uncle at the police station for help, but like Uncle Li being captured, that¡¯s not going to help much.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing we can do,¡± Qing Chen shook his head and asked further, ¡°Have you encountered something very strange? What exactly happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Nan Gengchen mmed up about it. Qing Chen stopped talking. If the other party didn¡¯t want to talk about it, he could only pretend to be unaware. However, he had a vague guess in his heart: the ¡®strange thing¡¯ Nan Gengchen mentioned¡­ could it be that a countdown also appeared on his arm? But the countdown wasn¡¯t visible to others, so Qing Chen could only guess. His own first transmigration countdown appearedst night at 6 o¡¯clock. He skipped ss immediately and didn¡¯t attend the evening self-study. At 12 o¡¯clock at night, he went through his first transmigration. If Nan Gengchen really had a countdown appear on his arm, when would it have appeared? Qing Chen thought that Nan Gengchen, being thin and small, looked fragile, and wondered if he could survive if he really transmigrated to that world. Their rtionship was quite good, not because their personalities meshed so well, but because both of their fathers gambled, resulting in both of their families not being very well-off. They became closer after talking about this matter by chance. Just then, a ssmate who was ying with their phone suddenly eximed, ¡°Holy shit!¡± It wasn¡¯t time for ss yet, and there were only about a dozen students in the ssroom of high school second grade ss 3. Everyone turned their attention to the student, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Guys, check out the trending search. Jacob held a press conference, saying he traveled to a Mechanical Civilization World. Theplete video of his press conference is on the hot search,¡± the shouting student exined. Jacob, an American citizen, was one of the world¡¯s most famous basketball stars, with many fans. Hearing this, the ssmates immediately turned on their phones to check the trending searches, all of them baffled. Only Qing Chen was stunned on the spot, because he knew what this so-called transmigration and Mechanical Civilization was about! But he hadn¡¯t really thought before that people abroad were also experiencing transmigration and countdowns like this. Nan Gengchen had already opened the video, and Qing Chen looked over. In the video, Jacob sat behind a table facing all the media he had called for at short notice. The scene was filled with shing cameras, which were slightly dazzling. But everyone watching the video noticed Jacob¡¯s left arm first, because that arm had beenpletely reced with a Mechanical Arm. In the video, Jacob stood up and took everyone to the basketball court. Then, across the entire court, he effortlessly threw basketballs into the hoop with his left hand, making ten in a row just like that. ¡°Is this special effects?¡± Nan Gengchen murmured, ¡°Is it an advertisement they filmed with special effects?¡± Qing Chen did not respond. The video was transferred from abroad and even had Chinese subtitles provided. In the video, Jacob told the media, ¡°Last night, I identally discovered a countdown on my arm, and when the countdown ended, I was unexpectedly transported to a strange Mechanical Civilization World. It is also Earth, with the sun and moon, but it appeared to be a Parallel Universe with a civilization vastly different from our world.¡± Jacob raised his left arm, ¡°I gained this arm when I transmigrated, as if I had reced someone over there, bing a new version of myself. I don¡¯t understand the principle behind it, but its strength far exceeds my imagination, and it¡¯s incredibly flexible and precise.¡± ¡°The reason I¡¯m holding this press conference isn¡¯t to show off to everyone. That world isn¡¯t as wonderful as one imagines but is instead extremely dangerous. I am holding this press conference here to avoid being secretly taken away for research. I hereby dere that I refuse to be a research subject, and if one day I disappear, please everyone¡­¡± Qing Chen had a sudden realization as he watched this. Jacob was a public figure, so he couldn¡¯t keep a Mechanical limb a secret. The other party was also well aware that the technology of that world was far beyond ours, so he was very afraid of being taken away for research and bing a guinea pig. That¡¯s why he chose a more radical method. This might not be a good approach, and perhaps the other party panicked, which is why they made such a hasty decision. Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, whose skinny, small figure was now frozen like a petrified chicken. And Qing Chen thought, since he had neither managed to bring the Boning Knife over nor the toothbrush back, it seemed the only way to bring something from there was to modify himself, or to hide it inside his body? He also didn¡¯t know where Jacob had appeared when he crossed over: perhaps across the ocean? At this moment, all the students in the ss were in a state of shock and skepticism, finding it hard to tell if this trending topic was real or the result of special effects. However, before everyone had a chance to regain theirposure, a few more bizarre incidents rushed up the trending charts. ¡°An inte executive was found dead at home with precise mechanical structures suddenly appearing on his body, eerily simr to Jacob¡¯s.¡± ¡°Some college student ims he also traveled to another world, where there not only exists a Mechanical Civilization but also Transcendents who surpass ordinary humans.¡± ¡°Some high school student ims he not only crossed over to another world but also acquired an Awakening Ability.¡± Qing Chen frowned looking at these, as the series of news arrived faster than he imagined, and not everyone was as cautious as him. More and more news was telling the world: This was not special effects, not ad copy, it was real. There were indeed people who had crossed over to that unknown and fascinating world. And the transmigrators were not in a small number. Next to him, Nan Gengchen muttered, ¡°Transcendents, Mechanical Civilization¡­ does crossing over mean one has the chance to be a Transcendent?¡± A ssmate asked, ¡°The chances of crossing over don¡¯t seem low, right? Could there also be students from our school who have crossed over?¡± ¡°Maybe someone wille to school with a mechanical limb¡­¡± ¡°I also want to cross over¡­¡± With each passing moment, more ssmates gathered, and whenever someone approached the ssroom, all eyes would turn to see if the neer had any mechanical limbs. You see, at the age of seventeen or eighteen, when curiosity, the thirst for exploration, and vanity are at their strongest, adults might consider whether risks and opportunities are equal, but younger people have more anticipation. When you watch Harry Potter, you hope you could cross through King¡¯s Cross Station, and when you read a novel, you wish you could be whisked away by a celestial guide. But in the real world, under normal circumstances, what wees you isn¡¯t a celestial being, but a celestial trap. So when everyone found out that crossing over would make them extraordinary, they would filter out some of the dangers, and then hope they were one of the transmigrators. The role of the protagonist of the world is inherently alluring. Qing Chen found it hard to be an exception. The difference was, Qing Chen had truly crossed over and had also seen those legendary people who were extraordinary and transcendent, Lin Xiaoxiao and Uncle Li Dong. And probably Ye Wan as well. Gradually, Qing Chen noticed that the panicky look on Nan Gengchen¡¯s face had faded, and he began to perk up. Qing Chen asked casually, ¡°Is that the weird thing you were talking about just now?¡± Nan Gengchen lowered his voice, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you right now, but rest assured, if I get any opportunity, I¡¯ll definitely not forget you, brother.¡± Qing Chen nodded, ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s not forget each other at the peak of wealth and honor.¡± Chapter 15: 15. Clouds Overcast Chapter 15: 15. Clouds Overcast Originally, Qing Chen had just intended to coax some information out of him, but he did not expect Nan Gengchen¡¯s mindset to change so rapidly. Just a moment ago he was all nervous and scared, and after one ss, he was nning to be the protagonist of the world. What could Qing Chen say? If you¡¯re happy, then I¡¯m happy for you. At that time, Nan Gengchen had already started seriously discussing with Qing Chen, ¡°I mean, just suppose, if I could travel back, then I could bring back some high-tech stuff to sell, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Qing Chen, ¡°you might not be able to bring anything back.¡± ¡°Look, they brought back things like mechanical arms,¡± said Nan Gengchen. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if I really make a fortune, I¡¯ll treat you to nice food.¡± Qing Chen knew that world was dangerous. Although as friends they had to keep some secrets, he still hoped his friend would return safely, so he kindly advised, ¡°You see, many transmigrators have said they encountered dangers, so you should be careful and not always think about getting rich.¡± Nan Gengchen fell silent for a few seconds, then asked, ¡°Where do you want to go eat by then?¡± Qing Chen: ¡°¡­¡± In his mind, Nan Gengchen silently calcted his dreams of bing rich, but only Qing Chen knew that you couldn¡¯t just bring things back at will when returning. When Nan Gengchen treated him to a meal, imagine him pulling off his own arm, mming it down on the counter and shouting ¡°Two bowls of Dan Dan noodles!¡± What a festive scene that would be. Suddenly, someone in the ss wondered aloud, ¡°What exactly is the pattern with these transmigrations? So many people have traveled, why haven¡¯t we?¡± Nan Gengchen mumbled quietly beside, ¡°Maybe only those with true talent can do it¡­¡± Qing Chen just raised his eyebrows when he heard that. News about transmigrators was bing more frequent, both domestically and internationally. Gradually, Qing Chen figured out two patterns: First, all transmigrators had a six-hour countdown before leaving and a 48-hour countdown to return. That is to say, the time everyone traveled was consistent, and so was the return time. Then someone stepped forward after seeing the transmigration event, stating they hadn¡¯t traveled but a 48-hour countdown had appeared on their arm after midnight. This should be the second batch. Next time, the first and second batches will travel simultaneously. The second pattern was that all those who had traveled were young, currently between the ages of 10 and 35. Suddenly, a female student said, ¡°A streamer imed they¡¯re a transmigrator and is currently live streaming to show off their mechanical arm. I¡¯ll send the link to the group.¡± These days, students all carry mobile phones, which facilitatesmunication. Everyone clicked on the link, and it was indeed an outdoor streamer showing off their mechanical arm. Qing Chen always felt something was off because he had never seen such a stic-looking mechanical limb¡­ And before the streamer had been showing it for two minutes, the mechanical arm snapped off and fell to the ground¡­ ¡°Is this jerk wearing a model to ride the wave of poprity?¡± Qing Chen was somewhat amused. Whenever there¡¯s a spectacle, all sorts of oddballs show up. At this point, he guessed that Nan Gengchen wasn¡¯t part of the batch from yesterday at noon, but part of the new countdown that appeared early in the morning, otherwise, Nan wouldn¡¯t have been so shocked by Jacob¡¯s press conference. So now there were two possibilities, one was that the number of transmigrators was fixed; if someone died, a new transmigrator would take their ce. The other possibility was that the number of transmigrators was continuously expanding and would increase in the future. Currently, Qing Chen could not estimate how many transmigrators there were nationwide. Gradually, all the ssmates had arrived, and someone eximed, ¡°There¡¯s a transmigrator on the streets of Los Angeles City too, I saw it on my friend¡¯s socials, someone captured it!¡± Upon hearing this, everyone gathered around. The video on the socials showed a young man in a hurry, his cheeks adorned with strange mechanical lines, showcasing a unique technological beauty. Then someone noticed the gray steel ankles revealed as the young man moved. Clearly, this young man¡¯s legs had also been reced with mechanical limbs. The cameraman in the video wanted to continue filming, but then saw the young man suddenly leap onto the rooftop of a nearby four or five meter high building, vanishing without a trace. A female ssmate whispered softly, ¡°So cool.¡± ¡°It¡¯d be great if we had a transmigrator like that in our school; we could directly ask about that world.¡± Just then, Qing Chen suddenly remembered that the school indeed had one person who had transmigrated at the same time as him, the son of Yongli Group¡¯s chairman, Huang Jixian. If he remembered correctly, the other person should be in ss 7 of Grade 11. That day, after the breakdown, he was taken away by the Mechanical Prison Guard and had not appeared since then; logically, he should have returned by now, even if he was dead, his body would have returned. With this thought, taking advantage of the ten or so minutes left before ss, Qing Chen stood up and walked towards the first-year area downstairs. Los Angeles Foreign Language School was bustling at this time, with everyone discussing the transmigrator incident¡ªeven the teachers passing by were scrolling through their phones as they walked. No one probably expected that a certain transmigrator was right beside them. Qing Chen looked at those people and suddenly felt a sense of alienation, as if he had be somewhat different without knowing when. In the past, he might have thought about studying hard, taking time to seriously review and prepare in advance, striving to get into a good university far away from here. But now, it seemed his path was no longer here. Qing Chen arrived at the entrance of ss 1, Grade 7, and casually stopped a bespectacled boy, asking, ¡°Hello, did Huang Jixiane to school today?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t seen him yet,¡± the ssmate replied. ¡°Oh,¡± Qing Chen nodded, ¡°Do you know where he lives?¡± ¡°I only know that he lives in Silver Run Central Garden, but I¡¯m not sure exactly where. Are you looking for him for something?¡± the ssmate asked, ¡°When hees to ss, I can pass him a message.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, thanks,¡± Qing Chen guessed that Huang Jixian probably couldn¡¯t make it anymore. The copsed boy¡¯s spirit had suffered great trauma; it was possible he had gone mad. Qing Chen returned to his ss, lost in thought, and almost all students had lost the will to study during the first period of math ss. During thetter half of the ss, the young male math teacher, Tian Hailong, noticed everyone was distracted and simply started joking with them, saying, ¡°You guys arepletely not paying attention to me now. It looks like I need to get a mechanical arm or something for you to listen to me, right?¡± The ssroom burst intoughter, then, Tian Hailong actually started discussing this trending topic with the students, no longer teaching the ss. If it were an ordinary trending topic, neither teachers nor students would have reacted like this, but what was happening now was different because it was changing the world. During ss, Nan Gengchen had been browsing his phone constantly, and after ss, he suddenly handed his phone to Qing Chen, saying, ¡°He Xiaoxiao posted a guide!¡± ¡°He Xiaoxiao?¡± Qing Chen asked, puzzled. ¡°He¡¯s a major gamer and influencer, known for finding easter eggs and details in games, like how to find hidden plots, hidden orange weapons, and hidden professions. He has quite a few fans,¡± Nan Gengchen exined, knowing that Qing Chen was not much into gaming and therefore unlikely to have followed someone like He Xiaoxiao. Nan Gengchen continued, ¡°He posted a game guide video a few hours ago, but no one had ever heard of the game he was talking about. He was quite serious about providing the guide. With the emerging transmigrator incident, everyone suddenly realized that his game guide might be rted to that other world, and he might be one of the transmigrators.¡± The video had no images, just a dark background and white subtitles. In the video, a young and maic male voice said, ¡°Since this game is quite special, I can¡¯t show you the game video. I¡¯ll call this game¡­ ¡®Inner World.''¡± ¡°And the world we¡¯re currently in is called the ¡®Outer World.''¡± He Xiaoxiao then calmly continued, ¡°Regarding this game, I¡¯ve just entered it myself, so the information I have is very limited.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t found a way to obtain hidden orange weapons yet.¡± ¡°There are currently three known paths to acquire professions. The first is to use technology to modify oneself, which can be directly purchased at a mechanical hospital.¡± ¡°Mechanical limbs are rtively expensive, and since I haven¡¯t found a money glitch yet, I can¡¯t afford to try it. Selling one¡¯s organs seems to be the easiest way to make money here, but I don¡¯t rmend trying it.¡± ¡°The second path is to join the Contraindicated courts, where one can be a new human by injecting a Gic Potion, but I haven¡¯t found the relevant organization¡¯s NPC yet. This organization is quite mysterious.¡± ¡°The third known path to a profession is in Prison No. 18. You need to go there and look for an NPC named Uncle Li Dong. This is currently the highest potential career path known.¡± ¡°If I discover other career paths in the future, I will continue to share them with you.¡± The more Qing Chen watched the video, the more astonished he became. He was certain it was a real world. How could it not be real if even bruises could be brought back? Yet He Xiaoxiao seemed to have be obsessed, treating that ce as a mere game! And treating Uncle Li Dong as an NPC for grinding professions! Qing Chen didn¡¯t know what He Xiaoxiao¡¯s role was in the Inner World, but one thing Qing Chen could be sure of was that Uncle Li Dong¡¯s reputation in the Inner World was indeed high, so much so that He Xiaoxiao heard of him within 48 hours of arriving. And now, He Xiaoxiao had already considered Uncle Li Dong to be the most promising career path. Nan Gengchen, after watching the video, muttered, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the same as saying nothing? Buying mechanical limbs needs money, Contraindicated courts can¡¯t be found, and Prison No. 18 might be essible, but he didn¡¯t say how to get in.¡± Qing Chen suddenly wondered, with the significant impact of this video, would people really rush to Prison No. 18 to explore the Uncle Li Dong route after he traveled back in two days?! If someone really treated Uncle Li Dong as an NPC to grind, the oue might be quite grim, and Uncle Li himself would probably be utterly confused. The buzz about transmigration continued into the afternoon. Until a piece of news appeared: a young male abroad, confirmed to be a transmigrator, was found dead at home. His mechanically enhanced legs, previously featured in a video, had been severed and were missing. This news, like a dark cloud, suddenly overshadowed everyone¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡­ You can also vote with your monthly tickets for the new book now!! We are only 400 votes away from making it into the top ten, let¡¯s go for it! Thanks to Tiny Mao Chestnut, Dream Ting Mei Er, Hero One Ear, and Why Ascend to Heaven for bing the new allies of this book!! Our patrons are generous, their fortunes as vast as the East Sea and their lifespans as enduring as Nanshan! Chapter 16: 16. You only have one life Chapter 16: 16. You only have one life When something transcends the ordinary in life, it tends to be quite romantic. Like an adult¡¯s fairy tale. The Hogwarts eptance letter you never got as a child suddenly doesn¡¯t seem so far away. However, this vicious news was like a bucket of cold water quenching many people¡¯s enthusiasm. Only at this time could everyone realize that the world isn¡¯t as wonderful as they imagined. The world might change, but human nature doesn¡¯t. Future technology is too valuable, not to mention the materials and structures of bionic mechanical limbs; just the technology for connecting mechanical limbs to neurons is enough to drive many people crazy. This is real future technology, and rather than hoping for extraterrestrial tech, it¡¯s better to directly plunder what¡¯s close at hand. And most crucially, those ordinary transmigrators who had returned, despite having mechanical limbs, were still no match for some of the armed organizations. The victim died violently at home, stabbed in the heart from under the ribcage with a dagger. Compared to mechanical limbs, this dagger had no technical significance. This is not a fairy tale, but rather it feels more like a cynical adult fable. Suddenly, many transmigrators who had impulsively revealed their identities due to the hype began to feel afraid. Some who returned with mechanical limbs worried they too might be targeted. Other transmigrators like Qing Chen, who didn¡¯t have mechanical limbs, were rtively okay, but who knew if others might covet something else? Now, there were even spections in the Japanese media that perhaps by killing a transmigrator, one could take over their qualification to transmigrate. This spection was insane! Before it¡¯s proven feasible or not, trust between people would likely bepletely erased. Nan Gengchen, who once was eager, finally stopped thinking about where to take Qing Chen to eat. All Nan Gengchen could mutter quietly was, ¡°It¡¯s not easy to get a chance to change fate, why has it suddenly be a horror survival game.¡± It could be said that Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen were in the same boat, both suffering from fathers addicted to gambling, causing chaos at home. Nan Gengchen fared slightly better, at least his parents hadn¡¯t divorced, and the house wasn¡¯t sold off; his day-to-day life was secure, just without any pocket money. Qing Chen was worse off; he had lost everything. Typically, during ss gatherings, no one would call them, because they couldn¡¯t even afford the fee to y pool. Nan Gengchen had a girl he liked, but without any spending money, he felt somewhat inferior and dared not speak to her. So both were quite eager to make money. Nan Gengchen even tried writing stories to submit to magazines for some article fees, but it was like a stone sunk in the sea. Seeing Nan Gengchen discouraged, Qing Chen instead felt it was a good thing, ¡°You saw the news too. I mean, if¡ªif you ever transmigrated, be extra careful and don¡¯t talk carelessly once you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Yeah, I got it,¡± Nan Gengchen nodded, feeling somewhat emotional, ¡°Why are we so poor, man?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°While others¡¯ dads were working hard, your dad was ying cards.¡± Though Nan Gengchenined about his father, he felt ufortable with Qing Chen¡¯s remarks and retorted, ¡°What about your dad?¡± Qing Chen responded, ¡°Oh, my dad was putting in great effort ying cards.¡± Nan Gengchen: ¡°¡­¡± The two fell into a moment of silence, and after a while, Nan Gengchen asked, ¡°How did your dad get locked up?¡± ¡°I reported him. I hope he can seriously reflect on himself in there,¡± Qing Chen answered calmly. Nan Gengchen was stunned momentarily: ¡°Maybe I should report my dad too?¡± Qing Chen: ¡°???¡± Just then, the bell for ss rang. The second ss in the morning was English, but the teacher who entered was the geography teacher. With ¡°Foreign Language¡± in the name of the Los Angeles Foreign Language School, it certainly ces emphasis on foreignnguages. English teachers hold a higher status, and virtually every English teacher for each ss is outstanding. The school also employs foreign teachers, starting from middle school, students have a ss taught by a foreign teacher every week. Moreover, several sses in the school even offer specialized courses like ¡®Japanese¡¯ and ¡®German,¡¯pletely excluding English. The middle-aged geography teacher, Chen Yandong, announced from the podium, ¡°Your homeroom Teacher Du is off due to some matters, so we are switching to geography for the second ss, and English will be moved to the third ss tomorrow morning.¡± On hearing this, Qing Chen was momentarily stunned. Maybe the day¡¯s events had been too shocking, but he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the homeroom teacher¡¯s leave of absence wasn¡¯t so simple. Could Teacher Du Yihong also be a transmigrator? But if there were so many transmigrators concentrated in Los Angeles, how many would there be nationwide? That¡¯s not right! Qing Chen lowered his head so others wouldn¡¯t see his pupils, which suddenly contracted sharply. Everything that happened today, like scenes from a movie, shed through his mind¡ªall the information summarized, categorized, and sorted in an instant. The second group of transmigrators who just had the countdown appear on their arms. The little girl panicking after learning she would transmigrate, interviewed with her parents by her side. The transmigrator livestreamering out to sell products on air. Pieces of information, like leaves falling from the sky, and Qing Chen plucked the ¡°useful¡± leaves from the air with ease. The next moment, Qing Chen looked up in astonishment. The transmigrators he discovered today seemed to be distributed in a spotty fashion, concentrated in more than a dozen cities. Even residents of certain cities expressed their confusion online as to why they hadn¡¯t seen a single transmigrator in their city. In other words, the distribution of transmigrators could be very concentrated! Concentrated in just over a dozen cities! The analysis was too overwhelming, and Qing Chen couldn¡¯t help feeling dizzy. At five forty in the afternoon, after thest ss ended, Qing Chen skipped ss once again. Before leaving, the ss representative called out loudly, ¡°Qing Chen, tomorrow is the deadline for the book fee, don¡¯t forget.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Qing Chen waved his hand. Then, under Nan Gengchen¡¯s envious gaze, he quickly left the ssroom. In the twilight of early evening, students who had just finished ss rushed to the cafeteria for dinner, waiting for evening self-study to begin. Meanwhile, Qing Chen swiftly moved through the crowd, climbing over the fence at a corner of the school campus. He went home, changed out of his school uniform into clothes he didn¡¯t wear often, and then left with a duckbill cap. He searched for the address of Silver Run Central Garden on his phone; it was about six kilometers from the school¡ªthe residential area where Huang Jixian lived. For some reason, he felt an urge to go there, although he didn¡¯t know which building or unit Huang Jixian was in. He just wanted to have a look, to find out what had happened to Huang Jixian after his return and what he had encountered in the Inner World. Qing Chen didn¡¯t have extra money for a taxi; he had only fifty cents in his pocket, which was all he had until his next chess game with Elder Zhang at the Fortune Supermarket. He decided to run. In the past, Qing Chen didn¡¯t ce much importance on physical exercise; he just participated in the school¡¯s routine exercise. But now, he suddenly realized that he had to work out. To face a dangerous world, he must have a strong physique. You must understand. In Chinese characters, the word for ¡°life¡± has never had a homophone. Perhaps this itself suggests that you only have one life. It must be cherished. Chapter 17: 17. Cross Tracking Chapter 17: 17. Cross Tracking ¡°` The night fell gradually, and a cool autumn breeze swept over the Royal City Bridge, stretching Qing Chen¡¯s body as he ran, with the wind blowing his clothes behind him. Perhaps it was a change of mindset, but he felt as if¡­ The shackles given to him by his family and surroundings were slowlying undone. Qing Chen ran faster and faster. asionally, pedestrians on the bridge would look back at him, everyone could feel this inexplicable youthfulness, impulsive yet rich. Silver Sheen Central Garden is one of the highest-priced residential areas in Los Angeles City, and a well-known wealthy neighborhood. So it wasn¡¯t surprising that Huang Jixian, being a second-generation rich kid, lived here. The property management and security here were rtively strict, and ess required a swipe card. Qing Chen circled around to the back door to see if there was a way to get in. However, before he could figure out how to enter, he saw six men in ck suits walking out of a small path at the back gate of theplex. These men were ramrod straight, each looking as sharp and unstoppable as a bay. As they walked, the six men kept in step, their timing and distance when lifting their feet as if measured by a ruler. Wait, Qing Chen was stunned because amongst the six, he saw a youth being carried¡­ Huang Jixian! At that moment, Huang Jixian looked nk, muttering nonsensical phrases¡ªprison, machinery, monsters¡­ They quickly climbed into two ck SUVs parked outside the back door, and one of them seemed to sense something, turning his head to look towards Qing Chen from the passenger seat. Qing Chen immediately turned his head and casually yed with his phone as if nothing was amiss. The men did not seem to pay much attention to him, and the two ck SUVs sped away into the night. Qing Chen, on the other hand, stood frozen outside the gate of theplex, silently staring at his phone. Who were those people? Why did they take Huang Jixian away? Could it be because of the his identity as a transmigrator? It must be that, Qing Chen refused to believe in coincidence. He turned and headed home. All the way, he pondered the identities of the men in ck, but gradually, he realized something wasn¡¯t right. A young man wearing a ck hoodie was silently following him, having trailed five blocks already. An inexplicable sense of familiarity¡­ he had seen this person before. In an instant, Qing Chen felt all his muscles tense up, an invisible pressure eroding his sense of safety. It was as if he had been fiercely marked by a wild beast. He remembered, when he had encountered the men in ck at the back gate of the Central Garden, that person was nearby, looking at his phone, but his fingers never once slid across the screen. Qing Chen could not analyze every single detail he saw every minute, it was too draining, but he could retrieve memories. With this thought, Qing Chen casually pretended to pick up his phone, and then stopped in his tracks to make a call, ¡°Hello, I¡¯ll be homete for dinner¡­¡± The baseball cap cast his cheeks in shadows. The young man in the ck hoodie kept walking past him without stopping as Qing Chen came to a halt. Qing Chen¡¯s peripheral vision stayed locked on the man, but the other person did not look back even once. This puzzled Qing Chen, and for a moment he even wondered if he was being too paranoid? ¡°` Amidst the bustling streets, the man in the ck hoodie quickly vanished after hanging up the call and continued walking forward. It was fortunate that he had gone home to change out of his school uniform and put on a hat, otherwise just by seeing the uniform, they would have known he was a student from Los Angeles Foreign Language School. Before Qing Chen could rx, at the next intersection¡¯s traffic lights, he noticed a familiar face among the crowd waiting to cross¡ªsomeone he had seen at the main entrance of the Central Gardenplex. It wasn¡¯t a coincidence. It was coordinated surveince. Every person tasked with following him only tracked him for a short distance, each ensuring they blended in like a passerby to go undetected. If the target stopped, the follower would keep walking nonchntly as if nothing happened, and others would take over from behind. This was one of the safest tracking methods. Qing Chen was thankful for all the useful and useless books he had read. He finally understood that when the person in the off-road vehicle looked at him, he had been marked. There were more than six, with additional people hidden in the shadows. Was this some secret organization, so well-trained and so focused on matters rted to transmigrators? Qing Chen suddenly felt that he might not be the first batch of transmigrators; perhaps he was the second, or even the third. If not, even if someone learned about transmigrators today, they wouldn¡¯t be able to respond so quickly on the same day. These people were well-prepared. The youth¡¯s ck pupils were dense and deep¡ªfacing him on the sidewalk was a night runner, an uncle selling rock-sugar gourds at a stall, an elegant woman clicking along in high heels, and the changing light and shadows cast by the nearby yellow streetmp. He took note of every detail, reminding himself not to make a mistake. There were 12 seconds left on the traffic light. The man in ck who had just brushed past him could very likely be taking a detour to position himself behind for the next round of surveince. Based on the detour he would have to take through Wangchun Gate Street, Zhenghe Road, and Kaiyuan Avenue, an adult running at a jogger¡¯s pace would need at most ten minutes. If he wanted to shake off the surveince¡­ Now was the time. The green light came on, and the stalker lifted his foot to cross the street, while Qing Chen suddenly turned around and went back. The follower crossed the street as if nothing were odd and spoke softly, ¡°The target did not cross the street, he turned back. How much longer till you¡¯re in position?¡± It looked like he was talking to himself, but a closer look would reveal a semi-transparent earpiece in his left ear. ¡°No good, I still need two minutes to reach my tracking position.¡± In a sh, the follower crossing the street sensed something was off, and he quickly turned back to look for Qing Chen¡¯s figure but couldn¡¯t find the young man anywhere. ¡°Lost him,¡± the tracker at the intersection sighed lightly. In the distance, a young man in a ck hoodie running at full speedughed in response, ¡°How embarrassing, two people tracking one and you still lost him.¡± ¡°It was you who insisted on following him.¡± The young man in the ck hoodieughed, ¡°Then do you think he realized we were tracking him?¡± A voice came through the earpiece, ¡°I¡¯m sure he did, he¡¯s skilled.¡± The young man in the ck hoodie thought for a moment and said, ¡°That boy didn¡¯t look more than seventeen or eighteen, still probably in high school. If he really noticed us tracking him, that would be quite something. And did you notice? He handled it very naturally. The first time he stopped to make a call, I didn¡¯t even think he noticed me. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve taken control of him right there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious, why did you decide to follow him on a whim? We had a lot on our te today, and there was no need to waste time on a passerby.¡± ¡°Not exactly a whim. Just that when the team was escorting Target 009, I noticed he avoided the boss¡¯s gaze.¡± Chapter 18: Mysterious Organization Chapter 18: Mysterious Organization Compared to transmigrating to Prison No. 18, Qing Chen felt that tonight resembled a real crisis far more. He couldn¡¯t determine who the other party was or what their intentions were. The mere suspicion from the other party had initiated a tail and shadowing, an extremely unsettling feeling. It was as if he had burst out of the greenhouse-like environment of the school and into a world truly ruled by wild beasts. Or perhaps, this was the true face of the world. The night deepened as Qing Chen moved through the green belts, relying on the tall sycamores along the road to conceal his movements. The adrenaline-fuelled tension and pounding heart did not subside until he had walked a considerable distance. When he returned to his residence on Xingshu Road, Qing Chen even sat in the shadows for half an hour, only deciding to go home after confirming no one was following him. Although the autumn air was crisp and temperatures were dropping, the clothes on his back were soaked through. As he walked, Qing Chen opened his smartphone to search for the game streamer He Xiaoxiao, curious if she had posted any new guides. However, He Xiaoxiao, who had said she would make a new overview of the ¡°Inner World¡± tonight, had disappeared. In thement section, fans were asking why she hadn¡¯t started her stream, but He Xiaoxiao hadn¡¯t responded. Could this streamer also have been taken by some mysterious organization? How many such organizations existed nationwide? Qing Chen couldn¡¯t be sure. Suddenly, the sound of police sirens erupted outside theplex, with a police car driving through into the neighborhood. Frowning, Qing Chen followed them, and the police car just happened to stop at his apartment building entrance. From the second floor, a woman¡¯s crying and a man¡¯s screams could be heard. By then, the neighbors had alle out, and people from other residential buildings had gathered in a circle downstairs. Qing Chen blended into the crowd, silently observing. ¡°What happened here, what¡¯s going on?¡± an old man asked, puzzled. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a man in this building who often abuses his wife?¡± an olddy said, rocking a child in her arms, ¡°That woman was beaten and hospitalized before, but the man never changed. Later, when the woman wanted a divorce, the man beat her again and even threatened to kill her whole family if she dared divorce him.¡± ¡°So what happened today?¡± someone asked, confused, ¡°It couldn¡¯t be that the man injured the woman, could it? But it sounds like it¡¯s the man who¡¯s in trouble.¡± ¡°You actually guessed it right,¡± the olddy replied, ¡°I was just about to go up and intervene when I found out that this time it was the woman who beat the man.¡± ¡°What?¡± someone eximed in shock. ¡°The man came home drunk tonight and tried to beat his wife again, but guess what? You all heard about lots of people transmigrating today, right? It seems his wife also transmigrated,¡± the olddy narrated excitedly, ¡°At first, the woman still took the beatings and didn¡¯t dare to fight back, but perhaps she snapped and eventually broke the man¡¯s leg in retaliation. It¡¯s just too bad for their little daughter, who has to suffer at such a young age.¡± Upon hearing this, Qing Chen finally rxed. To be honest, he didn¡¯t have a shred of sympathy for the man and even felt a trace of amusement. Is there anything more pitiful in this world than a man who beats his wife? Beaten at his own game. This family of three lived just above him, and over two years, he often saw the woman, holding her daughter, squatting at the staircase, crying, as he returned home from night study. The woman, appearing to be nearly thirty years old and quite attractive, was frequently assaulted by her husband out of his suspicion that she was seeing another man. Qing Chenter learned from the neighbors that the man would beat his wife whenever he saw her talking to any other man. Now that he was crippled, it was nothing less than he deserved. At that moment, the police had gone upstairs to inquire, and the man was awkwardly carried onto an ambnce. Qing Chen nced over; both of the man¡¯s arms were irregrly bent, clearly fractured. As the ambnce departed, the police waved to disperse the crowd. Qing Chen was about to return home when he saw the little girl sitting miserably at the entrance of his apartment. ¡°Brother, my mom just now asked me to stay at your ce for a while, but I knocked and you weren¡¯t home,¡± the girl said in a tearful voice. Her name was Li Tongyun, and this was not her first time seeking refuge at Qing Chen¡¯s ce. Qing Chen wasn¡¯t one to meddle, but there was once an altercation between the husband and wife upstairs, and the little girl was alone, crying at the staircase entrance. It happened right after Qing Chen finished his night study, and as he was about to pass by the girl, the man came downstairs looking for her, and she asked if she could hide at Qing Chen¡¯s ce for a while. Qing Chen finally agreed. That evening, he made soy sauce fried rice for the little girl and even yed cartoons for her on his phone. Not until everything had calmed down did he bring the little girl back home. The woman upstairs soon learned about this, and from then on, she would send the girl to Qing Chen¡¯s home whenever there was a quarrel. The woman was once a bit embarrassed and said that Qing Chen¡¯s dirtyundry could be sent upstairs for her to wash, but Qing Chen worried about the man upstairs causing trouble and did not respond. At that moment, Qing Chen patted the little girl¡¯s head, ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡± ¡°I had some cookies, but I¡¯m still a bit hungry,¡± the little girl, Li Tongyun, said timidly. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I haven¡¯t eaten either. I¡¯ll make you stir-fried rice,¡± Qing Chen had spent all his savings when preparing supplies, but although he was out of money, he now had plenty of condiments and rice at home, ¡°After you¡¯ve eaten, your mom¡¯s side will probably be fine. Don¡¯t be scared; your dad won¡¯t be able to beat your mom anymore.¡± ¡°Can I stille to your house then?¡± Li Tongyun suddenly asked. ¡°Of course¡­¡± Qing Chen was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed, and he quickly took out the keys to open the door, pulling Li Tongyun inside as well. Li Tongyun looked at Qing Chen with a puzzled face, ¡°Brother, what happened?¡± He quickly drew the bedroom curtain and peeked outside through a small gap. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just don¡¯t talk for now,¡± Qing Chen said. Meanwhile, an SUV drove into the alley outside the building. It was one of the same ones he had seen tonight at Silver Run Central Garden! The people in the car had probably heard about a transmigrator appearing here and had rushed over. Qing Chen¡¯s heart raced, as he had not expected them to react so quickly. Then, two young men jumped out of the car, one in a ck hoodie and the other in a grey coat. They were also the ones who had followed Qing Chen. Qing Chen¡¯s heartbeat quickened, wondering if this was a case of it being a small world? The next moment, the young man in the ck hoodie looked towards the window where Qing Chen was hiding, prompting Qing Chen to immediately retreat backward. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± hispanion in the ck hoodie asked. The one in the ck hoodie smiled, ¡°Nothing, just looking around. I always feel like someone is watching me, but it¡¯s probably just me being paranoid. Let¡¯s go up and handle our business.¡± Qing Chen was somewhat worried about the woman upstairs. To be precise, he was worried that if the woman was taken away, Li Tongyun would be in a desperate situation. Her father had been hospitalized after being beaten, and her mother might be taken away by the mysterious organization. What would she do in the future? Ten minutes passed, and before Qing Chen could think of what to do, the two young men had already left the building. They swiftly got into the car and drove away without taking Li Tongyun¡¯s mother with them. What was going on? Qing Chen was a bit confused now. Weren¡¯t they supposed to capture all the transmigrators? Gradually, the police car also left, and there was a knocking at his door. Qing Chen went to open the door, only to see Li Tongyun¡¯s mother standing outside, her hair messy, the corner of her mouth split, and blood on her face. The woman seemed to realize that she looked disheveled and quickly tied her messy hair behind her ears. She softly said to Qing Chen, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to trouble you again.¡± ¡­ Please vote! Now you can vote monthly for new books too, we¡¯re just 200 votes away from the top ten, let¡¯s go! Thanks to Master Yiping and Xia Tian¡¯s Little River for bing champions of this book. So generous, may your fortunes be as vast as the East Sea and your life as long as the South Mountain! Chapter 19: 19. Restrict travel Chapter 19: 19. Restrict travel ¡°Are you all right?¡± Qing Chen looked at the woman outside the door and said. This was his first time sizing up the other party seriously. Every time they met before, it was in a rush, and because of domestic violence, the woman intentionally avoided other men, including Qing Chen, even though he was just a high school student. This must be the shadow left by the domestic abuse. At this moment, the woman¡¯s hands and arms had turned into mechanical limbs. Qing Chen noticed that her mechanical limbs were more aesthetically pleasing than those of most prisoners in Prison No. 18, with lines that were smooth and elegant yet filled with the beauty of strength. If they weren¡¯t covered by long sleeves, they would probably look even better. To say the woman was indeed beautiful was an understatement, although the corners of her eyes had fine lines, they added a certain charm, and it didn¡¯t obscure the gentle temperament she possessed. The woman looked at Qing Chen with some embarrassment and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to trouble you again this time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Qing Chen shook his head: ¡°I was just about to cook for Li Tongyun. I really like her.¡± The woman nodded her head. She said to Li Tongyun, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Xiao Yun, back home with mom.¡± Li Tongyun said pitifully, ¡°I¡¯m still hungry, and you two wrecked our home. There¡¯s nothing to eat if we go back.¡± The woman got a bit angry after hearing this: ¡°Be obedient, don¡¯t cause trouble for others anymore!¡± However, Qing Chen suddenly said, ¡°Xiao Yun just told me that you haven¡¯t eaten yet, why don¡¯t youe over to my ce and have some food?¡± The woman and Li Tongyun were both stunned. Although Qing Chen had helped them in the past, he had never proactively shown such hospitality. He seemed to be wary of getting involved in trouble. ¡°I¡¯m also curious about the transmigration matter,¡± Qing Chen exined: ¡°So I wanted to ask¡­ um, how should I address you?¡± ¡°My name is Jiang Xue,¡± the woman replied. ¡°Right, I just wanted to ask Aunt Jiang Xue about the Inner World,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡°Is it okay to talk about it?¡± Truth be told, Jiang Xue was only twelve years older than Qing Chen, so calling her ¡®auntie¡¯ might seem a bit aging, but since he knew Li Tongyun first, that was the only way he could address her now. ¡°There¡¯s nothing inconvenient about it,¡± Jiang Xue said. ¡°You can ask about it anytime; it¡¯s no trouble. I just need to go home and clean up some things to cook for Xiao Yun.¡± ¡°Mom, let¡¯s eat at brother¡¯s house,¡± Li Tongyun said in a low voice. Jiang Xue sighed at Xiao Yun¡¯s pleading look: ¡°Then I really am imposing on you.¡± All along, the woman had an apologetic air about her, and Qing Chen could feel her genuine inner guilt. With such a character, could she really survive well in the harsh world of the Inner World? Qing Chen suppressed his own curiosity until he served the soy sauce fried rice on the table, and then finally, as if it was nothing out of the ordinary, he said, ¡°I saw the policee to handle the case, what did they say?¡± Jiang Xue answered, ¡°The neighbors helped exin the situation to them. Initially, they were going to take me with them, but considering I have a daughter and it was an act of self-defense, they let me stay, saying they¡¯d notify me if needed.¡± Only then did Qing Chen ask what he most wanted to know: ¡°Later, two more people came. What were they there for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what they were there for,¡± Jiang Xue shook her head: ¡°The people gathered some information from the police, then had me fill out a form, took a couple of photos of my ID, and left.¡± Qing Chen was taken aback: ¡°That simple?¡± ¡°Right, they also said they might need me in the future and asked me not to leave Los Angeles City recently, but they didn¡¯t specify why,¡± Jiang Xue replied. ¡°The police didn¡¯t interfere with them?¡± Qing Chen was curious. ¡°It seems they showed some kind of credentials to the police,¡± Jiang Xue exined: ¡°I¡¯m not too clear on the specifics, but the police didn¡¯t bother them.¡± This gave Qing Chen a preliminary understanding of those people: First, the other party did not capture transmigrators on sight. Second, the other party had official documents. Regardless, at least the other party was not as heartlessly insane as imagined, which did put Qing Chen at ease a great deal. Suddenly, Qing Chen asked Aunt Jiang Xue, ¡°Aunt Jiang Xue, what was your identity in the Inner World?¡± The Inner World, this name, after being used in He Xiaoxiao¡¯s strategy guides, had gradually spread. It was themonly epted name everyone used for that transmigration world. Jiang Xue answered, ¡°I opened a mechanical clinic in City 18, which actually just helps people install mechanical limbs. But after I transmigrated, I didn¡¯t understand anything. When people came for mechanical limb instation, I could only say we were out of stock.¡± Qing Chen nodded, agreeing that such technical work certainly couldn¡¯t be mastered in just a couple of days. ¡°And these arms of yours¡­¡± he asked. ¡°I already had mechanical limbs when I went there, and they just came back with me upon my return,¡± Jiang Xue replied. Qing Chen then asked, ¡°I saw something about Prison 18 in a transmigrator¡¯s guide. Where is that ce?¡± ¡°It¡¯s on the edge of City 18,¡± Jiang Xue said, ¡°That prison is quite famous, apparently a ce specifically for incarcerating felons, with the highest defense level in the Federation.¡± ¡°A federal system?¡± Qing Chen hesitated, ¡°Aunt Jiang Xue, what else do you know?¡± ¡°I only transmigrated there for two days, didn¡¯t figure out anything,¡± Jiang Xue shook her head. At this moment, the young girl Li Tongyun asked, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s the name of your clinic?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Jiang Xue¡¯s Mechanical Limbs Clinic,¡± Jiang Xue answered, ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Just asking,¡± Li Tongyun said while picking at her soy sauce fried rice. Qing Chen made a note of the name, although he probably didn¡¯t have the ability to help just now. To help, he would have to go through Lu Guangyi or Uncle Li Dong, but how to exin how he knew Jiang Xue to them? He was still unclear how people from the Inner World treated transmigrators; what if Jiang Xue was exposed, wouldn¡¯t he be discovered too? Better wait and see, for now, it looked like Jiang Xue wasn¡¯t in any immediate danger. Jiang Xue looked at Qing Chen, ¡°Why are you so curious about the Inner World?¡± ¡°I¡¯d also like to transmigrate and take a look,¡± Qing Chen said with a smile, ¡°I actually envy you transmigrators quite a bit.¡± Jiang Xue shook her head, ¡°That world is very dangerous. Basically, aside from the people of Li Family, Chen n, Qing¡¯s Family, Jindai, and Deer Ind Group, everyone else lives in misery every day; the Outer World is better.¡± Qing Chen thought to himself, he was from Qing¡¯s Family, yet he was also living in misery. He asked, ¡°What are your ns next?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of taking Xiao Yun to her grandmother¡¯s in Zheng City for a while, leaving tomorrow. Then I¡¯lle back and divorce Xiao Yun¡¯s father,¡± Jiang Xue said. Qing Chen suddenly thought of something, and then suggested, ¡°Then you should buy a ticket first. There are a lot of people traveling to Zheng City every day; they are hard to get.¡± Jiang Xue didn¡¯t think too much and just used a mobile app to buy a ticket to Zheng City. The payment was sessful, but when it came to issuing the ticket, it showed a failure to issue! Just as expected. Qing Chen fell into thought. When he heard that they weren¡¯t letting Jiang Xue leave Los Angeles City without any actual restrictive measures, he guessed there might be other means in y. Perhaps the mysterious organization took a photo of Jiang Xue¡¯s ID card precisely to restrict her movements. Chapter 20: 20. Transmigrators Group Chat Chapter 20: 20. Transmigrator¡¯s Group Chat ¡°It looks like I can¡¯t leave Los Angeles City,¡± Jiang Xue said after failing to buy train tickets and trying for ne tickets with the same oue. Both ticketing attempts failed. This mysterious organization has eyes and ears everywhere, and Qing Chen didn¡¯t want to be confined to one city, so no matter the opponent¡¯s purpose, it was better to keep a low profile for now. Suddenly, Jiang Xue asked, ¡°By the way, Qing Chen, why haven¡¯t I seen your parents around in the past two years? Do you live here alone?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°They got divorced, and I live here alone. By the way, Aunt Jiang Xue, what do you do for work?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an art teacher at the nearby White Horse Primary School,¡± Jiang Xue didn¡¯t borate further and stood up to gather the dishes from the table: ¡°I¡¯ll go wash these dishes.¡± ¡°No need, just leave them there. I¡¯ll wash themter,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡°That won¡¯t do. You already cooked, I can¡¯t let you do the dishes too,¡± Jiang Xue insisted as she headed into the kitchen, leaving Qing Chen and Li Tongyun in the living room. At this moment, the young girl Li Tongyun suddenly lowered her voice and said, ¡°Brother, you used to not even look my mom in the eye. You didn¡¯t invite her over just because she¡¯s pretty, did you?¡± Qing Chen speechlessly replied, ¡°What are you even talking about? Don¡¯t think nonsense.¡± ¡°My mom is indeed very pretty,¡± Li Tongyun muttered softly. Qing Chen was torn betweenughter and tears, thinking the kids nowadays are too cunning. However, it wasn¡¯t because Jiang Xue was pretty; it was because she had information he wanted to know about, like the mysterious organization and the Inner World. Jiang Xue was quick at chores, soon washing all the dishes in the sink. Noticing dirty clothes in the bathroom, she scooped them up, ¡°Qing Chen, it¡¯s not easy living alone. From now on, just bring me your dirty clothes, and I¡¯ll wash them. Come on, Xiao Yun, let¡¯s go home. Brother Qing Chen still needs to study.¡± ¡°Wait, I can wash them myself¡­¡± Qing Chen hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Jiang Xue, pulling Li Tongyun along, left without giving him a chance to respond. Qing Chen stood stunned in the dimly lit small house,pletely unprepared for her actions. He returned to his bedroom and slowlyy down on the bed, pondering what he should do next. In his ss WeChat group, there were already 999 unread messages, all discussing the matter of transmigrators. Even the incidents involving Jiang Xue tonight were slowly bing a topic of discussion among the people of Los Angeles City and might even hit the trending topics tomorrow. Students, office workers, and even the real power yers were all constantly paying attention to the word ¡°transmigrator.¡± He nced at the ss group chat records. Whenever someone discussed the characteristics of transmigrators, Nan Gengchen would chime in saying that these transmigrators must be inherently exceptional¡­ At that moment, to be honest, Qing Chen somewhat hoped that Nan Gengchen would transmigrate into Prison No. 18. Although that would mean he couldn¡¯t conceal his identity anymore, Nan Gengchen¡¯s expression then would probably be priceless. Qing Chen opened the search engine, hoping to see if He Xiaoxiao had released any new guides, but her live streaming room was still dark with no new updates. He nced at his WeChat, and his mother hadn¡¯t sent any messages. Just as he was about to go to sleep, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed: Mom. Qing Chen sat up and answered, ¡°Hello?¡± On the other end, Zhang Wanfang said, ¡°Xiao Chen, I¡¯ve already sent your father the living expenses.¡± However, Qing Chen hadn¡¯t seen any living expenses for a long time. ¡°Mom, this week¡­¡± Qing Chen wanted to mention that he needed to pay for his textbooks, but before he could finish, Zhang Wanfang already interjected over the phone: ¡°Hao Hao suddenly has a fever, so we won¡¯t visit you this weekend. Okay, go to sleep early, and don¡¯t fall behind on your studies.¡± ¡°Yeah, okay,¡± Qing Chen replied and then hung up. He had finally received a call, but it seemed as if she had already forgotten about him skipping sses. But it didn¡¯t matter anymore. At this time. ¡°Qing Chen Qing Chen, are you there, are you there, are you there,¡± Nan Gengchen messaged in the middle of the night. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°I just found a group online that wees all transmigrators for interaction. Are you going? I¡¯ll send you the group number,¡± Nan Gengchen said excitedly, already acting like a transmigrator himself. ¡°We are not transmigrators, what¡¯s the point of joining?¡± Qing Chen said. There was a pause from Nan Gengchen¡¯s end: ¡°Why not join in on the fun? Maybe we can find out something new. Just in case one day we both transmigrate, wouldn¡¯t it be good to have some information ahead of time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going, you go,¡± Qing Chen said. He wasn¡¯t the least bit interested in the transmigrators group now. What if it was a trap set by the mysterious organization, just waiting for everyone to fall into the? It might not be dangerous, but he didn¡¯t want his freedom to be restricted. Only a simpleton like Nan Gengchen would barge into every bustling scene. ¡°If you¡¯re not going, okay then, I¡¯ll go check it out,¡± Nan Gengchen said. After that, Nan Gengchen went silent. A little whileter, just as Qing Chen was beginning to feel sleepy, Nan Gengchen reappeared: ¡°Qing Chen¡­¡± ¡°What now?¡± Qing Chen asked resignedly. ¡°The group admin said they were a transmigrator and even imed they brought back hundreds of pairs of high-tech socks from the Inner World. These socks are not only odor-resistant and sweatproof, but they also enable brisk walking, extend life, and supposedly can stimte acupoints using nanotechnology¡­ Do you want a couple of pairs?¡± Nan Gengchen asked. Qing Chen: ¡°???¡± Socks from the damn Inner World! Scammers these days were getting ridiculously outrageous; theytch onto any trending topic! He knew the transmigrators group was unreliable, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be this bad. Qing Chen asked, ¡°Did you buy any?¡± Nan Gengchen answered, ¡°I don¡¯t have any money, otherwise I might have bought a pair and tried them out¡­¡± Qing Chen managed to say after holding back: ¡°¡­Impressive.¡± Nan Gengchen continued, ¡°There¡¯s also a transmigrator in the group who ims they got their hands on a Gic Potion from the Inner World, which can turn a person into a Transcendent.¡± ¡°Hmm, what else are the people in the group saying?¡± ¡°There¡¯s another transmigrator who said they know a few wealthy matrons in the Inner World who are desperately seeking children, and he can help introduce people to them.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ What else are the people in the group saying?¡± Qing Chen roughly understood now, this group was truly a gathering spot for scammers. He even suspected that except for Nan Gengchen, everyone in the group was a scammer, with Nan Gengchen being the only fool. Chapter 21: 21. Expansion Pack: Shadows Struggle Chapter 21: 21. Expansion Pack: Shadow¡¯s Struggle 7:20 AM, countdown 16:40:00. Qing Chen had run threeps around the neighborhood, and when he returned home, he saw Jiang Xue hanging clothes on the balcony railing upstairs, each piece belonging to him. Because he had been busy with time-travel matters recently, he had umted a lot of unwashed clothes. He had nned to wash them yesterday, but Jiang Xue had taken them. Upon seeing him, Jiang Xue smiled and opened the window to call out, ¡°Qing Chen, I¡¯ve made some in porridge,e up and have some.¡± ¡°No need, no need,¡± Qing Chen quickly waved his hand, then nibbled on apressed biscuit as he headed to school. It had been a long time since anyone had treated him so kindly, so he was not quite ustomed to it. Just as he entered the school gate, Qing Chen saw many people running towards the high school building. He happened to run into Nan Gengchen sprinting, and he curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the ss WeChat group? There¡¯s a transmigrator in the ss next to ours; the guy is currently in the ssroom,¡± Nan Gengchen said, panting. ¡°Wait, how did they find out he is a transmigrator?¡± Qing Chen wondered; there had been no one with mechanical limbs in the next ss yesterday. ¡°He was bragging about it,¡± Nan Gengchen exined. ¡°He held it in all day, but let it slipst night while chatting with ssmates.¡± Qing Chen frowned upon hearing this. What was happening, so many transmigrators in Los Angeles Foreign Language School? The school had about two thousand people, and out of the known transmigrators, four were from this school alone. How many could there be nationwide? Even if only a dozen cities nationwide had transmigrators, the overall number wouldn¡¯t be small. By then, Qing Chen thought, others would probably spot this pattern as well. Would there be arge influx of people into these cities, hoping to be the third, fourth, or fifth wave of transmigrators? Perhaps not right now, but if a third wave of transmigrators were to confirm this suspicion, such theories might turn into reality. In the future, including Los Angeles, those dozen cities would likely be increasingly bustling. Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen ran towards the ssroom, but before they could get a clear look, the dean of students arrived with a group of teachers and took away the student who imed to be a transmigrator. ¡°We¡¯re toote!¡± Nan Gengchen mumbled. Qing Chen decided not to meddle further and turned to pull Nan Gengchen towards their own ss. He guessed that the mysterious organization would soon arrive at the school, and with the transmigration imminent tonight, he didn¡¯t want toplicate matters. He wasn¡¯t sure if the mysterious organization had seen his face. Since they could restrict Jiang Xue¡¯s movements, they could probably check the surveince cameras, right? Although the area where he lived was old and the surveince sparse, and he had deliberately chosen to walk in ces without cameras that day, Qing Chen couldn¡¯t guarantee that they hadn¡¯t found him. Throughout the entire day, Qing Chen stayed quietly in ss, avoiding any encounter with the mysterious organization. Except to use the restroom, he never left the ssroom. It is worth mentioning that their English teacher, Du Yihong, had taken another leave of absence, which only solidified Qing Chen¡¯s suspicions. ¡°Qing Chen, Qing Chen, look,¡± Nan Gengchen said. ¡°He Xiaoxiao¡¯s guide has been updated!¡± Qing Chen¡¯s eyes lit up. So far, among all the transmigrators who¡¯d described the Inner World, He Xiaoxiao¡¯s guide was probably the most captivating. Because others simply provided an overview of the world or some fragmented information. But He Xiaoxiao, a top yer in video gaming, was sharing genuinely useful information. Such as the Contraindicated courts, Uncle Li Dong, and the Gic Potion¡ªstuff that most transmigrators hadn¡¯t evene into contact with yet. However, what had happened when He Xiaoxiao suddenly disappeared and then reappeared? Qing Chen opened the video on his phone. ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m He Xiaoxiao. Due to some special reasons, I couldn¡¯t provide a new guide yesterday.¡± ¡°Today¡¯s guide is about the current expansion of the Inner World game: Qing¡¯s Shadow Contest.¡± ¡°Qing¡¯s Group is one of the top fivepanies in the Inner World¡­¡± ¡°A ¡®Shadow¡¯ in Qing¡¯s Group holds all the power in the underground world.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that this has been a tradition in Qing¡¯s for over a thousand years. Every once in a while, they select a new Shadow, leading to a fiercepetition simr to a royal session struggle. Each Shadow Candidate must undergo the harshest of trials. At the same time, when the new Shadow is chosen, it usually stirs up considerable turmoil in the Inner World.¡± ¡°Currently, there are eight known Shadow Candidates. Each one of them is exceptionally gifted. These candidates are named Qing Huai, Qing Wen, Qing Shi¡­ but there¡¯s one who is extremely mysterious; I haven¡¯t been able to find out his identity yet.¡± Qing Chen watched silently, knowing that an expansion meant new plots and characters opened up based on an existing game, like Red Alert 3: Yuri¡¯s Revenge. He didn¡¯t know that Uncle Li Dong had once spected that he was a Shadow Candidate, nor did he even know himself that he was one. Lu Guangyi had never mentioned it. But now he suddenly understood why he had appeared in Prison No. 18. It must be said, He Xiaoxiao¡¯s strategies had always been of great help to him. Countdown 6:19:29. He waited until the afternoon, but Qing Chen did not see anyone from the mysterious organization at the school. Instead, a ssmate from the next ss had note back, reportedly taken home by his parents for reflection. As the time for time travel drew closer, Qing Chen could clearly feel Nan Gengchen bing increasingly nervous. He didn¡¯t know what to advise him. If this guy really did travel to Prison No. 18, then he would take the risk of being discovered to help him. ¡°If, I mean if you travel tonight, you must be careful. You¡¯ve seen what those people online said, the Inner World is not safe,¡± Qing Chen advised Nan Gengchen. Nan Gengchen¡¯s expression was a bit unnatural. ¡°I, I¡¯m not a transmigrator.¡± ¡°As long as you know,¡± Qing Chen said no more, as the other had managed to keep the secret up to now, it showed he knew what he was doing. In the evening, Qing Chen skipped sses and went home, then calmly waited at home for the countdown to time travel. He closed his eyes to rest. After an unknown amount of time, there was a knock on the door. Qing Chen opened the door and saw Jiang Xue standing outside: ¡°Is something the matter, Aunt Jiang Xue?¡± Jiang Xue hesitated and then said, ¡°You know I¡¯m a transmigrator. The countdown has a little while left until it¡¯s time, the Inner World is very dangerous and I¡¯m not sure if I cane back. If I don¡¯t return safely tomorrow, could you take care of Xiao Yun for a day for me?¡± Qing Chen was stunned. ¡°Why would you say that? You¡¯ll definitelye back safely.¡± Jiang Xue shook her head. ¡°You wouldn¡¯tfort me like this if you knew how dangerous that world is, but I am well aware. There, without the backing of the five majorpanies, a human life is worthless. I¡¯m not asking you to take care of Xiao Yun for long, her grandmother ising over from Zheng City tomorrow¡­¡± ¡°Okay, I promise you, but I still hope you¡¯ll be fine,¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°Thank you,¡± Jiang Xue said, handing Qing Chen a key. ¡°I¡¯ll leave a key with you, in case something happens you can easily open the door.¡± Having said this, Jiang Xue turned and left. Qing Chen was stunned for several seconds. He hadn¡¯t expected her to entrust him with her house key. This must also be a form of trust, right? Countdown 00:9:59. Qing Chen, making the most of hisst moments, held a small USB drive in his mouth. He wanted to test if an item hidden in his body could pass through that wall of time. Then, he once again turned his arm purple. After everything waspleted, Qing Chen took a deep breath. Countdown: 00:00:10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The world shattered. And reformed. ¡­ The monthly tickets are already in the top ten! 45,000-word monthly tickets in the top ten! If I can get into the top five this month, I will immediately add three more chapters! ¡­ Thanks to the group members of Elbow ck and Stupid Group, Bear Children, Autumn Detachment, Beetle Beetle for bing the book¡¯s Alliance Hierarchs. Big shots are generous, may your fortune be as vast as the eastern seas and your life as long as the southern mountains! CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] Nine Dragons¡¯ Contention for Session was a historical event in which the sons of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynastypeted for the throne. [2] Red Alert 3: Yuri¡¯s Revenge is an existing game under the Command & Conquer series, though it is supposed to be the expansion pack for Red Alert 2, not 3. Chapter 22: 22. Welcome to Prison No. 18 Chapter 22: 22. Wee to Prison No. 18 The familiar cell, the familiar alloy walls, the familiar cold bed nks. Qing Chen had never been so delighted, fearing that his second transmigration mightnd him somewhere different, which would render all his previous efforts wasted. The hard-earned goodwill he had gathered from Uncle Li Dong would also go down the drain. It now seemed that each transmigration would be a continuation of thest, meaning the Canon scores he had memorized would stille in handy. Regardless of what role Uncle Li Dong yed, it was confirmed through He Xiaoxiao¡¯s strategy that he was a figure of great importance in the Inner World. At this moment, Qing Chen believed that 90% of transmigrators were still somewhat perplexed, not knowing how to obtain what they desired in this Inner World. Yet, he had already transmigrated next to Uncle Li Dong. Perhaps other transmigrators had already witnessed the magnificent wonder of the outside world, but that was unimportant. Qing Chen spat out the USB drive from his mouth into his palm, a sessful experiment. The fact that he could bring the USB drive along meant that as long as the item was inside the ¡°body,¡± it could pass through the wall of time. He then looked at the purple and green bruises on his arm, simrly, injuries from the Outer World that had transmigrated along with him. This proved that the body, indeed, was the same one that had traveled through time, no mistake. Qing Chen, relying on his methods, was graduallypleting his understanding of this world and the transmigration mechanism. Time ticked away slowly, and the noisy sounds of prisoners banging on the alloy gates gradually rose in Prison No. 18. For some reason, Qing Chen found the mor he hadn¡¯t heard for two days strangelyforting,pared to the ¡°totally uncharted¡± Outer World. He was back. Qing Chen gazed at his arm where the white pattern of meshed mechanics counted down in a different fashion: Return Countdown 47:55:50. The countdown to return was still two days, very brief. However, Qing Chen wondered, would the countdown¡¯s time limit change? Would it be longer or shorter in the future? When mealtime arrived, the alloy gate opened on schedule. Qing Chen no longer acted as cautiously as he did on his first arrival, he simply stepped over the threshold and gazed down below, where Uncle Li Dong, Ye Wan, and Lin Xiaoxiao were already downstairs, with Lin Xiaoxiao even waving at him. And the envying gazes of other prisoners still surrounded him. Qing Chen smiled and greeted the prisoners, some of them hurriedly returning the gesture as if ttered. At some point, the 17-year-old boy had also be a ¡°big shot¡± in the prison. However, Qing Chen was in no hurry to go downstairs; he stood in the shadow of the corridor on the fifth floor, silently observing the prison. Last night at midnight in the Inner World, all prisoners had been locked up in cells, and a group of neers had also been brought in. By now, the second batch of transmigrators in the Outer World should have arrived in the Inner World. Qing Chen intended to stand upstairs to see if he could detect any trace of ¡°transmigrators¡± and pondered how to conceal his identity should actual transmigrators appear. At that moment, eight neers stood bewildered along the second-floor corridor, timidly surveying their surroundings. Qing Chen was startled for a moment because among them was none other than Liu Dezhu, the ssmate from the next ss who had imed to be a transmigrator yesterday! He couldn¡¯t go down now; the other person would surely recognize him. Amid the noise, Lu Guangyi on the sixth floorughed and shouted to the neers, ¡°Got new folks, eh? We¡¯ll have a good timeter!¡± Qing Chen had been somewhat annoyed by Lu Guangyi before, but now that he had returned to Prison No. 18, even seeing this guy felt somewhatforting. Suddenly, someone greeted the new prisoners with a smile: ¡°Wee to Prison No. 18!¡± Qing Chen observed the expressions of the neers and saw Liu Dezhu¡¯s expression gradually change when he heard the term ¡°Prison No. 18.¡± Fear in his eyes momentarily gave way to a hint of glee. It seemed that the phrase ¡°Prison No. 18¡± was exceptionally special. However, Liu Dezhu didn¡¯t make any hasty moves; he silently followed the other prisoners in line downstairs to get food, and along the way, he quietly asked the inmate in front: ¡°Excuse me, which one is Uncle Li Dong?¡± The prisoners around him were taken aback upon hearing this, all wondering to themselves: Is this guy some sort of special connection? After pondering for a moment, one of the inmates pointed him out: ¡°There, the one downstairs.¡± Looking down from the upper floor, Liu Dezhu recognized the unique trait of Uncle Li Dong, thinking to himself that He Xiaoxiao sure hadn¡¯t lied to him. This middle-aged man¡¯s demeanor was clearly that of a boss! After obtaining his meal, he noticed that other inmates were free to move around, and they began to surround him with ill-intent, smiling menacingly. Liu Dezhu had a bad feeling and decisively carried his tray towards Uncle Li¡¯s direction. Yet before he could get close, he was already blocked by Lin Xiaoxiao. Lin Xiaoxiao stood in front of him with a smile and said, ¡°Things have been really strange these past two days. Why is it that every neer darese straight to my boss?¡± Liu Dezhu turned his head to nce at the inmates who wanted to catch him, then whispered mysteriously to Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°I¡¯m here to receive a task, one of our own.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao: ¡°???¡± What the heck? Lin Xiaoxiao was utterly baffled by Liu Dezhu¡¯s words! Tasks? He had never seen this man in the organization! And this guy was behaving as if he was executing some spy rendezvous. Seeing that Lin Xiaoxiao didn¡¯t respond, Liu Dezhu grew impatient, ¡°I really am here to receive a task, a ss change mission!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said impatiently, then waved to the inmates nearby, ¡°What are you standing there for? Take him away!¡± Liu Dezhu was really in a panic now. He shouted toward Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Uncle Li Dong, I¡¯m here for the ss change mission!¡± In an instant, the entire Prison No. 18 fell silent. It was as if someone had suddenly pressed the mute button on Prison No. 18; the inmates stood rooted to the spot, looking at each other. They didn¡¯t know what had happened, but they all felt something eerie was going on! At this moment, Uncle Li Dong was still not lifting his head, staring at the game in front of him. But the big cat sprawled on a table and Ye Wan sitting next to him both instantly looked towards Liu Dezhu. Lin Xiaoxiao squinted his eyes and snickered, ¡°What¡¯s this? Another weirdo showing up?¡± Truth be told, even Liu Dezhu didn¡¯t understand where things had gone wrong. The guide from He Xiaoxiao had only mentioned three career paths, the first two were quite vague, but the Prison No. 18 seemed most feasible. Now that he had transmigrated directly to Prison No. 18, wasn¡¯t this the legendary start for the chosen one? But¡­ this didn¡¯t seem like a ce suitable for a ss change mission. Had he made some kind of mistake? Liu Dezhu didn¡¯t have the chance to think it through, as the inmate beside him was about to forcefully drag him to the cell for a ¡®lesson¡¯ upon Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s gesture. All of a sudden, Liu Dezhu saw an opening and darted out of the crowd. He ran to the Alloy Gate next to the square and started banging frantically: ¡°Let me out! They are going to torture me, let me out!¡± At this time, drones above the firmament began to descend, and the nine Mechanical Prison Guards down below started to move as well. Qing Chen watched Liu Dezhu speechlessly, thinking this kid must have lost his mind. Having just arrived in a New World, shouldn¡¯t he observe the situation first? Chapter 23: 23. Uninvited guest Chapter 23: 23. Uninvited guest The prison had lost its usual bustle, with everyone secretly mulling over the recent events. Only those who had spent some time in Prison No. 18 could understand what kind of status Uncle Li Dong held there. So, it was beyond everyone¡¯sprehension, what kind of fool woulde here and spout nonsense to Uncle Li Dong? The Mechanical Prison Guards approached Liu Dezhu, their alloy skeletons hissing with hydraulic transmissions as they moved. Seeing this disy, Liu Dezhu had already forgotten his aspirations to make a name for himself in Prison No. 18. He hade here today as part of the second group of transmigrators, making his first visit to this Inner World dominated by steel beasts, and was immediately intimidated by what unfolded before him. Facing the blockade of Mechanical Prison Guards and drones, it took just over ten seconds for him to bepletely subdued and escorted to an unknown area outside the square. ¡°Boss, don¡¯t you think things have been a bit strangetely,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao pondered while squatting on the chair, ¡°The day before yesterday, a kid came in and went crazy right away, babbling on about Los Angeles City as if he really were the scion of some conglomerate. And today, another idiot shows up, asking you to assign him a mission¡ªwhat mission can you give?¡± As he spoke, Lin Xiaoxiao involuntarily reached out to pet the big cat on the table, but before his hand could touch it, the big cat gave him a cold nce, and he sheepishly retracted his hand. Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment and said, ¡°Indeed, it is somewhat peculiar.¡± ¡°Oh, where¡¯s that kid Qing Chen,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly said, ¡°Wasn¡¯t he quite eager toe down for meals yesterday? Why isn¡¯t he around today?¡± At that moment, Qing Chen, still walking through the corridors, ignored Liu Dezhu and the Mechanical Prison Guards and headed straight to the sixth floor. He found Lu Guangyi, who was still lined up waiting to go downstairs, and whispered, ¡°After dinner, have your men take control of all the new prisoners and question them one by one about their identities and backgrounds in the outside world.¡± ¡°Right, Boss,¡± Lu Guangyi hurriedly agreed. He figured his boss probably wanted to see if there were other forcesing in topete with them for resources. But Qing Chen was thinking of seeing if there were any other transmigrators hidden among the neers. If there were indeed transmigrators, they certainly wouldn¡¯t be able to fabricate an outside identity. Those who could clearly exin their identity and background were the natives; those who couldn¡¯t, were definitely transmigrators. However, Qing Chen was a bit surprised; he had originally thought that Nan Gengchen would also transmigrate to Prison No. 18, but that didn¡¯t happen. At that moment, Qing Chen seemed to remember something, hesitated for a moment, then said to Lu Guangyi, ¡°I know the wee ceremony is your tradition, but don¡¯t be too harsh. It¡¯s not easy for anyone.¡± Lu Guangyi was taken aback but then responded, ¡°Okay.¡± After a farce, all the prisoners went to line up for their meals. Following Qing Chen¡¯s instructions, Lu Guangyi nned to take the new prisoners to their cells for interrogation. Shortly after, he came back to report to Qing Chen, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s done.¡± Qing Chen listened attentively as Lu Guangyi described each prisoner¡¯s situation, and only after confirming there were no more transmigrators in the prison did he stride over to sit opposite Uncle Li Dong¡¯s dining table, ¡°ying chess today?¡± ¡°Not today; we¡¯ll skip it for the next few days,¡± Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment and said, ¡°I have some things to think over, and a visitor ising.¡± ¡°A visitor?¡± Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°An unexpected guest.¡± Whoever could be referred to as an unexpected guest by Uncle Li Dong was certainly not an Ordinary Person. Qing Chen was not yet ready to involve himself in matters he couldn¡¯t control, so he refrained from asking further. ¡°I just saw something going on downstairs, what happened?¡± he said nonchntly. Uncle Li Dong¡¯s face rarely showed a hint of hesitation, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Qing Chen was both amused and frustrated, the transmigrator had even baffled Uncle Li Dong. It was probably the first time Uncle Li Dong had encountered such a situation. At this moment, only Qing Chen knew that the fool Liu Dezhu, after reading He Xiaoxiao¡¯s strategy, had really treated Uncle Li Dong like an NPC in the game! Countdown 37:00:02, the Alloy Gate emitted a rumbling noise, then lifted upward. When the Alloy Gate was fully opened, a bald man over two meters tall was being escorted in by more than a dozen Mechanical Prison Guards. Around them, there were 9 drones blocking all escape routes for the bald man. Not only that, as the man entered, six of the metal Storms in the sky slowly started to rotate. The rotation angle of these metal Storms was only 90 degrees, not 360 degrees. So, as the robust prisoner moved, every time he left the shooting range of some Storms, new Storms would enter alert mode. They were always firmly locked on to him. This was the first time Qing Chen saw someone being escorted in during the day and the first time he saw the security forces at Prison 18 mobilized to such an extent. The more than three thousand prisoners silently turned their heads to watch, no one spoke. The prison rang with the crisp clinking sound of the chains of the bald man¡¯s alloy shackles scraping against the floor as he walked. The bald man was covered in bronze skin, with traces on his face from being constantly exposed to sunlight, and his exposed skin, like his arms, was marked with ck, tattoo-like patterns, eerie yet magnificent. There was no mechanical structure on him. Qing Chen had thought Ye Wan was already tall and strong enough, butpared to this prisoner, Ye Wan seemed somewhatcking. Once the bald man was taken inside the prison, the Mechanical Prison Guards began to gradually retreat towards the Alloy Gate, without any intention of unlocking his alloy shackles. After the Mechanical Prison Guards had left, the bald man calmly moved his wrists, then picked up a nearby prisoner and asked, ¡°Where is Uncle Li Dong?¡± The prisoner, who had been modified with mechanical parts in seven or eight ces, was toyed with in his hands as if he were a mere ything. The terrified prisoner stretched out his hand to point towards the cafeteria, and all eyes turned to Uncle Li Dong, Qing Chen, and Ye Wan. Big Cat, abandoning its usualziness, stared intently at the tall, bald man from Uncle Li Dong¡¯s arms. Qing Chen also looked at Uncle Li Dong, who smiled at him, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect our guest to be so direct, his name is Guo Huchan, and you should have heard of him. In a moment, you and Ye Wan step back a bit, don¡¯t get hurt.¡± Ye Wan nced at Qing Chen. To have his boss personally remind him of something so minor showed that his boss¡¯s fondness for the young man seemed to exceed his and Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s estimates. At this time, Lu Guangyi, who had been blending in with the crowd, muttered as he looked at Guo Huchan¡¯s shiny bald head, ¡°Guo Huchan¡­ he¡¯se in too, no wonder the boss said a Lama hade from the south.¡± ¡°The boss hasn¡¯t been looking for clues since he came in, just ying chess with Uncle Li and reading, as if nothing¡¯s wrong, turns out he was waiting for Guo Huchan¡¯s arrival to stir up trouble, then we can reap the benefits¡­ Brilliant!¡± Lu Guangyi¡¯s thoughts became animated. Now, in his eyes, Qing Chen was the kind of sage who nned before acting and strategized thousands of miles away. CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] The Chinese characters for ¡°creak¡± can also mean scoffing or sneering at, in this case, the author may have meant that the sounds from their movement sounded like they were scoffing at Liu Dezhu. [2] Metal Storm is a rapid-fire gun prototype that can fire up to 1,000,000 rounds per minute, or 16,000 rounds per second. It was dered by the Guinness Book of Records to be the world¡¯s most intelligent and fastest firearm. [3] Thema here refers to Guo Huchan. The ¡°Chan¡± in his name refers to dhy¨¡na or jh¨¡na. It is the training of the mind,monly tranted as meditation. Lama is a title used in Tibetan Buddhism, which means ¡°highest principle¡±. Chapter 24: The center of the world Chapter 24: The center of the world The prison was eerily quiet, and everyone vaguely guessed that after the bald Guo Huchan entered, there would be friction with Uncle Li Dong, so everyone wanted to see what would happen. At this moment, Guo Huchan, following the gaze of the crowd, headed straight for Uncle Li Dong. He said in a loud voice, ¡°Let¡¯s not beat around the bush. I¡¯m here for the ACE-005 Taboo, just tell me where it¡¯s housed in the prison, and I¡¯ll take it and leave.¡± Uncle Li Dong patted the big cat, signaling it to move aside, and then replied with a gentle smile, ¡°You should be more polite to your elders to avoid losses, huh?¡± Guo Huchan said unconcernedly, ¡°Give me the ACE-005 Taboo, and naturally, I¡¯ll be more courteous to you.¡± Uncle Li Dong curiously asked, ¡°Why has the Spades Organization suddenly be interested in taboos too? From your tone, I thought you had joined the Contraindicated Courts.¡± Guo Huchan slowly walked to a spot five meters opposite Uncle Li Dong and stopped, ¡°My Spades need to oppose those behemoths and cannot overlook any aid, and your Knight Organization should understand our situation since our goals ultimately align.¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled and asked, ¡°But whye looking for the taboo in Prison 18 first?¡± ¡°Rumors say that Chen¡¯s Consortium made a deal with you, promising you absolute freedom inside Prison 18 as long as you can contain and suppress it. Considering it was personally contained and suppressed by you, Uncle Li Dong, it must be exceptionally powerful,¡± said Guo Huchan. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken, I haven¡¯t made any deals with the Chen n,¡± Uncle Li Dong patiently exined, ¡°Don¡¯t make hasty judgments based on hearsay.¡± Qing Chen listened silently, recalling that thest time he saw the words ¡®Contraindicated Courts¡¯ was in He Xiaoxiao¡¯s strategy video. And these Contraindicated Courts seemed to exist specifically for the Taboo. He realized that the Taboo mentioned by Guo Huchan must also be what he was searching for, and it could be the test he faced in the conflict of shadows. At that moment, Guo Huchan took another step forward: ¡°Where is ACE-005?¡± Uncle Li Dong shook his head, ¡°I know, but I won¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Guo Huchan took another step forward, his tattoo-like totem seeminglying alive, the twisting and changing patterns writhing crazily. With a thud, everyone felt the ground tremble slightly as he stepped down. Uncle Li Dong just smiled, ¡°No reason, I just quite like ACE-005.¡± The over three thousand prisoners began to riot, having been stifled inside Prison 18 for too long, constantly monitored by guards, the invisible order binding everyone like shackles. And now¡­ chaos reigned atst. Above in the Iron Sky, 72 Metal Storm devices activated, with 36 of them spinning rapidly into action. The prisoners cried out in astonishment as it typically took a riot of half an hour before mechanical guards lost control and the Metal Storm was deployed. But this time was different; they had activated immediately without waiting for the riot to start! At this moment, apart from the whirlpool¡¯s center of Uncle Li Dong and Guo Huchan, only Qing Chen was undistractedly looking up at the Iron Sky. In the chaos, no one noticed he had taken a few steps back, then turned and walked in another direction. In an instant, Guo Huchan lunged forward, punching out as fast as lightning, his bell-like fist swiftly aiming at Uncle Li Dong¡¯s face. Following his movement, the barrels of the Metal Storms turned, with 36 cold machines beginning to fire indiscriminately, suppressing all the inmates of Prison 18 with gunfire. Not with metal bullets, but rubber ones. These 36 Metal Storms were purely for suppression, while the remaining 36 were the real heavy artillery. Rain-like rubber bullets poured down, throwing the prisoners off their feet. Guo Huchan¡¯s punch thundered like a storm, adding thunder to the rain in Prison 18. But in the next instant, his fist suddenly stopped. There was Uncle Li Dong with a smiling face, raising his hand in front of him, stunningly halting the thundering force of the punch. Uncle Li turned to Guo Huchan, steady as a rugged mountain. He turned back to check if Qing Chen was all right, knowing that this young man was different from them, being just an ordinary person. But suddenly Uncle Li Dong was taken aback. Because right behind him, two meters away, Qing Chen sat calmly at his usual dining table spot, the ce he would sit daily to look at chesspany. Thirty-six Metal Storms peppering the uprising prison with rubber bullets, crisscrossing trajectories densely, yet Qing Chen sat right in the only blind spot of all their firing paths. The only blind spot in Prison 18. The rain poured down. Not a single dropnded on the boy. It was as if the boy was the center of the world. ¡­ The ck rain from the Iron Sky gradually ceased. Apart from Qing Chen, Ye Wan, Guo Huchan, Uncle Li Dong, and Lin Xiaoxiao, all the prisoners were in agony, clutching their heads to the ground. Everyone was in pain, and some who got down slowly were even battered by the metal storm to the point of bruised faces. In contrast to these people¡¯s disheveled appearance, Qing Chen, sitting calmly at the dining table, possessed an almost transcendent and dust-free aura. For some reason, Uncle Li Dong always felt that although he had known this boy for only a few days, he grew fonder of him more and more. The other¡¯s temperament and capabilities were beyond those of his peers. Is this the Shadow that Qing¡¯s Family is about to choose? When would his side be able to find such a sessor? Thinking this, he pushed Guo Huchan¡¯s fist away with his palm¡ªan action that seemed casual, yet Guo Huchan¡¯s figure was thrown back five or six meters before he could barely stabilize himself. Guo Huchan didn¡¯t act rashly anymore but sat down on the spot to regte his breathing. From the beginning to the end of the battle, he had only managed to make the white exercise suit on the other person flutter a few times. There had always been rumors that Uncle Li Dong was a demigod of this era, but he became famous so long ago that younger generation experts like Guo Huchan had never seen him in action. This time, the Spades Organization had sent him to Prison 18 to find the ACE-005 Taboo, and also to see what level of strength Uncle Li Dong had attained nowadays. Now, Guo Huchan understood that the gap between him and Uncle Li Dong was still as vast as a chasm. Uncle Li Dong shifted his gaze from Qing Chen and looked at Guo Huchan with a smile, ¡°Shall we continue fighting?¡± The tattoo-covered bald man, now calm, said in a deep voice, ¡°No more fighting, no more. If I can¡¯t win, why continue? Don¡¯t worry, even if you don¡¯t tell me, I can still find the ACE-005 Taboo.¡± Qing Chen found this bald man quite interesting. Despite the life-and-death situation just moments ago, he suddenly gave in. The other didn¡¯t look as fierce as he appeared; after a fight, he actually lightened up considerably. The transition in attitude was quite drastic. However, Guo Huchan thought that since Uncle Li Dong knew the location of the Taboo, he would follow him¡ªafter all, the other might slip up some time. ¡°No worries, take your time,¡± Uncle Li Dong replied nonchntly with a nod. Without further concern for Guo Huchan, he walked over and sat opposite Qing Chen at the dining table, ¡°Is this position calcted?¡± Qing Chen shook his head, ¡°Although myputational ability is significantly stronger than ordinary people, for now, it can¡¯t handle such massive trajectoryputations. It¡¯s just a rough guess.¡± Uncle Li Dong also shook his head, ¡°A rough guess isn¡¯t enough for you to find this precise position.¡± ¡°A brief calction only narrowed it down to 4 areas, and the ce you sit every day just happens to be in those options, so there was no need to calcte the rest,¡± said Qing Chen calmly. Sitting here was a gamble for Qing Chen, but he guessed right again. Such probability-driven decisions were something he always excelled at. ¡­ The voting rankings named ¡°The Night¡¯s Technique¡± are already in ninth ce, which surprises me, as I seem to be the biggest beneficiary after the website changed its rules¡­ After my new book became eligible for monthly tickets, it skyrocketed to ninth with just fifty thousand words¡­ Awesome, everyone! Thank you, everyone. As promised, I¡¯ll add three more chapters if we enter the top five! I can¡¯t release many chapters all at once during the new book period, but I¡¯ll definitely add more upon the official release! ¡­ Thank you to the reader with therge donation, 1383594256452726784, and to Ai Shuohua De Zhouzi, Tino9494, and Lin Xuan for bing chiefs of this book. You bosses are magnificent, may you be as fortunate as the Eastern Seas and live as long as the Southern Mountains! Chapter 25: 25. The New Nightmare Chapter 25: 25. The New Nightmare ¡°` After the chaos, the prisoners slowly got to their feet, as dozens of Mechanical Prison Guards entered the square with the neat sound of hydraulic transmission, directing the inmates to clean up everything that had been overturned. In the dining hall, Guo Huchan sat cross-legged on the ground not far away, as if he had entered a monk-like trance. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at the ck rubber bullets scattered all over the ground and remarked, ¡°When immortals fight, it¡¯s the mortals who suffer. The ones who fought are fine, but those inmates who didn¡¯t are the ones who really got unlucky. Hey, Guo Huchan, doesn¡¯t everyone say you¡¯repassionate and always do good deeds? So what about those you¡¯ve dragged down with you?¡± Without even lifting his eyelids, Guo Huchan replied, ¡°You talk to me about innocent bystanders in prison? There¡¯s not a single innocent one among them.¡± ¡°Hypocrite,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao twitched his mouth. ¡°Also, I¡¯d like to emphasize,¡± Guo Huchan opened his eyes to nce at Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°I¡¯m not a monk, so don¡¯t use words like passionate¡¯ to describe me.¡± After saying this, he closed his eyes again to seriously adjust his breathing. He seemed unharmed in the fight with Uncle Li Dong, but his internal organs were actually quite ufortable now, as if they had been scorched by a fire. Seeing that he was quietly meditating, the others stopped bothering him. Lin Xiaoxiao gave Ye Wan a look, and suddenly, an invisible force field expanded around them. Qing Chen had seen this ability before. When the ¡°Iron Sky¡± rained ck droplets, all that fell towards Ye Wan was repelled by this force field. Seeing Qing Chen¡¯s puzzled look, Lin Xiaoxiao exined with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our voices won¡¯t carry.¡± Uncle Li Dong sat by the dining table, pulling therge cat into his arms, then said to Qing Chen, ¡°This morning, I saw Lu Guangyi questioning those people during the neer ceremony. That was your doing, right?¡± ¡°It was me,¡± Qing Chen admitted, knowing that the other party was aware of his connection to Qing¡¯s Family and that Lu Guangyi was taking orders from him, he no longer hid the fact. ¡°Why did you interrogate them?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked. ¡°I wanted to see if there were other forcespeting with me for the Taboo,¡± Qing Chen lied, needing a usible reason to exin his actions. Uncle Li Dong nodded, ¡°I appreciate your honesty, but I noticed that Lu Guangyi didn¡¯t mistreat the new inmates this time. Was that also your doing?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡°But I remember when you first came in, you didn¡¯t help the other neers,¡± Uncle Li Dong remarked. ¡°Within my power,¡± Qing Chen responded. Uncle Li Dong smiled and offered no judgment. If his own safety was in jeopardy, Qing Chen would quietly watch others die without lifting a finger; that was his principle. His life was never smooth sailing, so he had learned selfishness early on. It was an attitude toward life bestowed upon him by his experiences, not a choice of his own making. At that moment, Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly nced over at Guo Huchan, who was seated not far away¡­ Qing Chen turned his head and was shocked to see Guo Huchan still sitting with his eyes closed, but his long arms had already dropped to his sides. Using the index and middle fingers of both hands, he propped his entire body up, slightly off the ground. Then, like walking, he inched closer to Ye Wan¡¯s force field with his fingers¡­ It was clear that he realized he couldn¡¯t hear the others¡¯ conversation from where he was, so he wanted to sneak closer. This made Qing Chen chuckle ruefully; a burly man over two meters tall, covered in tattoos, had been fiercely fighting just a moment ago and now pretended to meditate, while in reality, he was trying to eavesdrop on other people¡¯s chats. The contrast was just too great. Feeling the eyes upon him, Guo Huchan nonchntly used his fingers to move back to his original spot as if nothing had happened. The sight even made Uncle Li Dongugh, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s disperse. It¡¯s a pity I didn¡¯t get to y chess today; I¡¯m off to read a book.¡± Before leaving, Lin Xiaoxiao squatted in front of Guo Huchan with a smile, ¡°If you¡¯ve lost, just stay put honestly. We really don¡¯t want to make an enemy of Spade, knowing full well it¡¯s not easy for you out in the wilderness. But could you refrain from causing us trouble, alright?¡± ¡°` Guo Huchan lifted his eyelids, ¡°I didn¡¯t lose to you, so why so smug?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows, ¡°You think I can¡¯t deal with you?¡± Guo Huchan replied calmly, ¡°Touch a hair on my head and see what happens.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao looked at the other person¡¯s shiny bald head, ¡°¡­?¡± Indeed, rumors were just rumors. This Guo Huchan was nothing like what he had heard! Qing Chen paid no attention to their bickering and instead turned to get his food from the window and began to eat voraciously. He had been dirt poor in the Outer World, eatingpressed biscuits for two days since he returned, although his family did have rice, flour, and vegetables, there was no meat¡ªhe couldn¡¯t afford it. The food here was average, but at least the synthetic meat had some taste of real meat. Qing Chen felt somewhat mncholic that the prison food in the Inner World was actually better than what he usually ate in the Outer World. When he absentmindedly looked up while eating, he suddenly noticed that a quarter of the 210 surveince cameras in Prison 18 had silently turned towards him. It seemed that his feat of finding a blind spot in a sh had caught someone¡¯s attention. But he had no idea who was behind those monitors. After Lin Xiaoxiao and Guo Huchan finished their spat, Lin Xiaoxiao stood up, set Qing Chen¡¯s te aside, then grabbed another te and tapped on the window, saying to the robot inside, ¡°The boss has ordered that from now on, he gets real meat, as much as he wants.¡± Qing Chen was stunned, ¡°Why?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao smiled mysteriously, ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough, but it might not be a good thing.¡± ¡­ At night, while Qing Chen was brushing his teeth in his cell, he suddenly felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him and immediately sensed that something was amiss. This time, however, he didn¡¯t copse and fall asleep on the spot like before. Instead, he calmly rinsed his mouth and made sure he was lying in afortable position on the bed board before slowly closing his eyes. The nightmare began. In the dream, Qing Chen found himself in a desert, with two people sitting on the opposite dune. The desert in the nightmare world was filled with flying sand and the sun was scorching hot. In just a few seconds, Qing Chen felt his lips dry out and crack. One of the people across called out pleadingly, ¡°Qing Chen, please give us a sip of the water from your backpack. If we don¡¯t drink soon, we¡¯re going to die.¡± Qing Chen took off his backpack and opened it, indeed finding a bottle of water inside. He didn¡¯t speak. The person across couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, ¡°We won¡¯t drink your water for free, just name your price.¡± Suddenly, a voice whispered in Qing Chen¡¯s ear, ¡°Facingpanions who are about to die of thirst, how would you price your water?¡± Qing Chen looked coldly at the person opposite and said, ¡°I¡¯ll watch the person next to you die of thirst first, then let him name his price.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the person across turned into Lin Xiaoxiao and the other faded away slowly like a bursting bubble. Lin Xiaoxiao said speechlessly, ¡°Are you even human?¡± ¡°I already knew this was your nightmare, so naturally, I would not feel any sympathy,¡± Qing Chen found afortable spot to sit down. ¡°This is truly bizarre,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, sitting opposite him, ¡°You can now remain conscious and retain your memories even after entering the nightmare, so you should be able to resist its call too, right?¡± ¡°Hmm, yes,¡± Qing Chen answered sinctly. Chapter 26: Experience through a painful life, then you will be more superior. Chapter 26: Experience through a painful life, then you will be more superior. Lin Xiaoxiao asked, ¡°Since you can resist the nightmare, why do you still enter? If you endure for five minutes without falling asleep, you naturally would be able to escape the nightmare¡¯s call.¡± ¡°I thought you had something to say, so I came,¡± Qing Chen replied, ¡°What are you testing this time?¡± ¡°From today on, it¡¯s no longer a test, but the boss wants me to take you on a journey,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao answered. ¡°Take me on a journey?¡± Qing Chen puzzled, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°To use nightmares to evolve human nature, to let you experience some tribtions,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°But seeing how easily you resisted the nightmare just now, it looks like nightmares will be of no use in the future, the boss himself has to guide you.¡± Qing Chen pondered thoughtfully. This kind of nightmare was different from thest one; it was more like a lesson a teacher arranges for their students. However, Lin Xiaoxiao then said, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much, the boss still merely admires you for now. Whether you can be the boss¡¯s student in the future is still uncertain.¡± ¡°You are envious of me,¡± Qing Chen stated. ¡°Envious,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao candidly admitted, ¡°Not everyone can be the boss¡¯s student, at least Ye Wan and I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qing Chen could not understand. ¡°Because both of us didn¡¯t get through the first trial,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao exined, ¡°But the boss feels, you should be able to make it through.¡± ¡°Make it through?¡± Qing Chen was momentarily stunned. Lin Xiaoxiao smiled mysteriously, ¡°It¡¯s a path from death to life, where each improvement requires surviving a predicament, experiencing pain once.¡± ¡°Then why me?¡± ¡°Because the boss says you have the courage to be in a desperate situation and yet survive,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao replied. ¡°Since it¡¯s so painful, then why do you still envy it?¡± Qing Chen inquired. ¡°Because it is a path of cultivation with limitless potential, while Ye Wan and I already have our limits set,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said somewhat longingly, ¡°That path might be painful, but you must understand, a life experienced through pain is higher in stature.¡± Qing Chen decided not to dwell on the issue and asked about other doubts he had, ¡°How old is Mr. Uncle Li Dong?¡± ¡°Why ask that?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao wondered. ¡°Just asking,¡± Qing Chen said. He asked this because: If time in the Outer World stood still rtive to him when he came to the Inner World, then that meant he would age faster than normal people. It¡¯s not that his bodily functions aged quickly, but rather that he was dividing his life between two worlds. By the time his contemporaries were only forty years old, he might already have the appearance and bodily functions of someone in their sixties. Therefore, he wanted to know if Uncle Li Dong¡¯s ability that transcended themon could grant longevity. Lin Xiaoxiao nced at him, ¡°Take a guess? The boss¡¯s age is not easy to guess.¡± After some thought, Qing Chen said, ¡°40 years old?¡± ¡°Too low,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao replied. ¡°60 years old?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right.¡± ¡°120 years old?¡± ¡°Stop, stop, stop, don¡¯t guess any more, you¡¯ll guess the boss away,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao interrupted, ¡°The boss is 52 years old this year.¡± Qing Chen was immediately shocked; Uncle Li Dong appeared to be no more than thirty-five or thirty-six years old. ¡°Look at how inexperienced you are, for someone like the boss, even living to over a hundred years old wouldn¡¯t surprise me,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°We followed him when we were very, very little; all these years, I¡¯ve never seen him change.¡± ¡°Why are you following him?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°There¡¯s no particr reason. Me, Ye Wan, and many others are orphans,¡± Lin Xiaoxiaoy on the hot sand, using his arm as a pillow under his head while gazing at the sky. Suddenly, it darkened and the air grew less hot, ¡°Being born into Qing¡¯s Family, you wouldn¡¯t understand how harrowing life can be for people on the outside. Bing an orphan is very easy.¡± ¡°Maybe your parents just happened to run into some gang members while walking down the street and got into an argument, maybe you were targeted right after getting paid, maybe there was a chemical leak at the nt that caused contamination, or maybe you were attacked by hackers while connected to the virtualwork with a neural link. Anyway, people die just like that.¡± ¡°Then you can¡¯t afford the property taxes, the insurancepany refuses topensate, the bank takes your house away and evicts you to the streets, and nobody cares whether you live or die.¡± ¡°At that point, your life has already turned bleak and dark. Gangs want to grab you to be a drug mule, or they might torture you viciously and then record it to sell virtual lives for money.¡± ¡°At such times, someone appears before you and says, ¡®Come with me, I¡¯ll give you a new life¡¯.¡± ¡°No matter who he is, you would follow him.¡± Qing Chen silently watched Lin Xiaoxiao, and in that moment, he truly understood that his own tribtions were nothingpared to the other¡¯s experiences. ¡°Why did he adopt you?¡± Qing Chen asked curiously. ¡°Because we are useful,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao replied, ¡°He can¡¯t do what he needs to do alone.¡± Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. He still didn¡¯t know what the Knight Organization and the Spades Organization¡¯s goals were, nor did he know the colossal entity that Spade was trying to contend against. Was it the five major corporations, or something else? But Uncle Li Dong adopted Lin Xiaoxiao, Ye Wan, and the others with clearly utilitarian intentions, although it seemed as though Lin Xiaoxiao and hispanions didn¡¯t mind. At this point, Lin Xiaoxiao got up, ¡°Alright, rest early.¡± The nightmare dispersed and Qing Chen remained in the dim prison cell, lying on the cold bed board. Now that he had seen Uncle Li Dong¡¯s enigmatic level, would his Canon be enough to trade for an opportunity to open the doors to the New World? Qing Chen was uncertain whether Canon was sufficient leverage, and he also had no way to exin its origins. He needed to wait longer. Waiting and hope, all of mankind¡¯s wisdom could be contained within these two words. ¡­ Countdown 24:00:00. In a corner of Prison 18. ¡°Is anyone there? Let me out, why am I locked up here?¡± A voice fiercely pounded on the Alloy Gate, shouting loudly. Liu Dezhu, a Los Angeles City transmigrator, was being detained in a solitary cell unlike themon prisoners¡¯ cells, equipped with a surveince camera closely monitoring the detainee. Ever since he approached Uncle Li Dong for tasks, he had been locked in this hidden corner, neglected ever since. Devoid of any notion of time and without the sight of sunrise or sunset, Liu Dezhu could only guess the time outside based on the robot¡¯s meal delivery schedule. The sound of him beating on the Alloy Gate dwindled until he had no more strength and his throat was a bit hoarse before he stopped. The prison seemed as if he was the only one left, with no one responding to his pleas and anger. Liu Dezhu couldn¡¯t understand why others in the Inner World seemed to be thriving, with their mechanical limbs and gang memberships, and yet his situation had turned out like this. Moreover, he had just bragged to his ssmates about being a transmigrator beforeing here. After the 24 hours have passed and he returns to the Outer World, what would he say to his ssmates? When they ask, ¡°What was your status in the Inner World?¡± How could he even begin to respond? Should he say that he had a secure job in an administrative unit of the Inner World where he didn¡¯t have to do anything but was guaranteed meals every day? Should he say that he had sessfully changed careers? Turned into a prisoner? Chapter 27: 27. Whistleblower Chapter 27: 27. Whistleblower Early morning. Countdown 16:20:00. Last night, Prison 18 received another batch of new inmates. Under Qing Chen¡¯s instruction, Lu Guangyi went to inquire about the origins of the neers. In the end, Qing Chen confirmed that there were no transmigrators among this group of new inmates. He spected that all transmigrators would enter and exit simultaneously, and no one would transmigrate in the middle of others¡¯ transmigration process. This way, all transmigrants were now on the same timeline. At this moment, Uncle Li Dong was already sitting at the dining table early, ying chess with Qing Chen. ¡°Since you instructed Lu Guangyi to be mindful in his actions, there have been fewer cries and howls from new inmates in the prison,¡± Uncle Li Dong said while looking at the chessboard. ¡°However, have you noticed that the other two gang forces in the prison are already very dissatisfied with Lu Guangyi?¡± Usually, the three gangs took turns hosting the ¡°wee ceremony¡± for neers, which was considered a form of entertainment for everyone. Now that Lu Guangyi monopolized this affair, it naturally provoked dissatisfaction from others. Qing Chen moved a red piece and responded, ¡°I¡¯ve noticed, but I believe Lu Guangyi can handle this matter himself.¡± ¡°Have you ever thought that the neers might not be grateful to you?¡± Uncle Li Dong said with a smile. After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen said, ¡°When you encounter a beggar on the road and throw him some spare change, that money isn¡¯t really enough to lift him out of poverty, but it buys you some inner peace and pleasure.¡± Uncle Li Dong simply smiled without another word. Today¡¯s endgame was called Wild Horses Across the Fields, but Qing Chen, ying the red, didn¡¯t win; instead, the game ended in a draw. In fact, in such chess endgames, it¡¯s usually the ck side that has the advantage, so a draw is already considered breaking the game. Different from the usual spectators, aside from Lu Guangyi¡¯s group of prisoners with unknowable depths, Guo Huchan had joined them. Yesterday, this burly man had sat courteously in the distance, but today, he simply seated himself right next to Qing Chen: opposite Uncle Li Dong. The giant figure over two meters tall made the chair seem like a little stool, an awkward sight. But Guo Huchan didn¡¯t care about that; he just wanted to be by Uncle Li Dong¡¯s side. If you can¡¯t beat them, join them! Moreover, when he saw that Qing Chen¡¯s food included real meat while his own didn¡¯t, he righteously said to Uncle Li Dong, ¡°I¡¯m at least a notable member of the Spade. You guys eat real meat and make me eat synthetic? That¡¯s hardly proper hospitality, right?¡± Seeing his shamelessness, Lin Xiaoxiao sneered, ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re the same as us? Why don¡¯t you fight the boss again, and if you win, you can have it?¡± ¡°Stop always resorting to fighting and killing, it¡¯s not good,¡± Guo Huchan said, stroking his bald head. ¡°And it¡¯s fine for you three to eat it, but why does this chess-ying kid get to eat real meat too? He¡¯s just an ordinary person. Hey, kid, go get yourself another serving and give this one to me.¡± Everyone was taken aback, not expecting Guo Huchan to be so cunning, picking on Qing Chen, the softer target, after realizing he couldn¡¯t provoke Uncle Li Dong. At that moment, however, Qing Chen looked up at Guo Huchan, then towards Lin Xiaoxiao and the others. He noticed that Lin Xiaoxiao, unlike usual, did not retort and send Guo Huchan packing, but instead looked at Qing Chen with a smile, seemingly curious to see how he would deal with the bald muscleman. Qing Chen silently closed his eyes, ignoring the other man. Thinking the youngster didn¡¯t dare provoke him, Guo Huchan brazenly took Qing Chen¡¯s te for himself, ¡°You all saw it, he gave it up on his own.¡± However, at that moment, Qing Chen¡¯s thoughts seemed to return to the day before. The instant Guo Huchan¡¯s fist flew out. The world froze. The prisoners were beaten down by the metallic storm, unable to lift their heads, their prison uniforms pelted by rubber bullets as if the surface of water in the rain, continuously sshing ripples. The slowly rising alloy gate and the swiftly entering mechanical prison guards, the sounds of guns, rubber bullets colliding, and hydraulic drives intermingled. At that time, only Qing Chen was calmly observing everyone. No, that¡¯s not the moment he was searching for. Qing Chen stood in the center of his memories and swiped with his hand, the images of the world reversing like a film yed backward. Rubber bullets that burst from the sky to the ground, now flying back into the barrels of the guns. The prisoners who fell over were now rising in eerie poses. Time passed second by second, the past scenes reying frame by frame in Qing Chen¡¯s mind. Until¡­ the very moment Guo Huchan first stepped into Prison 18. Qing Chen walked slowly through the crowd, listening to everyone¡¯s voices. People in memories don¡¯t talk, but the details on their bodies tell tales. Just as Guo Huchan was about to eat all the meat on Qing Chen¡¯s te, Qing Chen opened his eyes. ¡°Lu Guangyi.¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here, boss, what¡¯s up?¡± Lu Guangyi couldn¡¯t care about hiding his identity anymore and hurriedly responded. Qing Chen said, ¡°I¡¯ll point out a few people, and you pull them out.¡± After speaking, he turned around and started to identify the prisoners, and he pointed out eight people in one breath. As those individuals were pulled out of the crowd by Lu Guangyi, Guo Huchan¡¯s expression became increasingly ugly, and he couldn¡¯t even bother with his food. Qing Chen sat back down and said to Guo Huchan, ¡°These eight, are they your men?¡± ¡°Not all of them,¡± Guo Huchan said with a dark face. ¡°Hmm,¡± Qing Chen nodded, ¡°After you were brought in, your gaze lingered on five of them, and those five made a gesture of extending their index fingers. Although I don¡¯t know what that gesture means, I¡¯m sure it was meant for you to see. The other three exchanged nces at the first opportunity.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan¡¯s expressions changed as they watched Qing Chen. Even they had been too busy dodging bullets to observe everyone¡¯s reactions at that time. It was as if, in that chaotic moment, only Qing Chen was the clear-eyed Observer. Uncle Li Dong said with augh, ¡°Prison 18 is full of mixed characters, it¡¯s normal for people from other forces to be watching me here.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao felt smug, and he asked, ¡°Boss, should we transfer these people to another prison?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Uncle Li Dong shook his head, ¡°Transferring eight people for no reason would invite needless spection if the outside world found out. Ye Wan, iste those eight and interrogate them separately to see who the other three belong to.¡± Just then, as Qing Chen looked at Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s smug appearance and remembered how he had been an amused bystander, he stood up again and pointed out more than twenty people. This time he didn¡¯t say anything, but Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly felt a bit of a toothache and whispered to Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Boss, this kid has picked out all our people¡­¡± Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen with admiration and said, ¡°Although you are not a Transcendent, your memory and analytical abilities are iparable to many Transcendents.¡± Guo Huchan saw that Qing Chen had also pointed out the Knight¡¯s men and immediately realized that the young man was not one of the Knights: ¡°Young brother, how may I address you?¡± Qing Chen nced at him, ¡°Qing Chen.¡± ¡°Qing¡¯s Family?¡± Guo Huchan was stunned, ¡°How did the Knights get involved with Qing¡¯s Financial Group?¡± ¡°Does having the surname Qing necessarily mean belonging to Qing¡¯s Family? Even if one is from Qing¡¯s Family, that doesn¡¯t mean they have to stay there for life,¡± Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, ¡°In the wild, there is also a very famous person with the surname Qing.¡± Guo Huchan¡¯s eyes flickered, and his attitude immediately took a 180-degree turn. He silently pushed his meal te back in front of Qing Chen and then warmly said to Qing Chen, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, what¡¯s your impression of Spade?¡± ¡°Not much of one,¡± Qing Chen replied coldly. He still couldn¡¯t figure out what kind of person Guo Huchan was, someone who appeared big and strong, yet whose mind was exceptionally agile and whocked principles. Moreover, the man was here topete with him for the Taboo, so of course, he wouldn¡¯t show any good expression. Today, with the help of Uncle Li¡¯s power, he managed to cut off some wings that the opposition had pre-arranged, which was a gain. Meanwhile, there was amotion nearby. Qing Chen looked over to see Ye Wan frowning. The three non-Spade Members he had just identified were already lying on the ground, their lips and faces turning a purplish blue. This was the ssic symptom of death by asphyxiation. Ye Wan took off his shirt to wrap around his hands and then crouched down to gently pry open a dead man¡¯s mouth, looking up at Uncle Li, ¡°Boss, it was a poison sac hidden behind the mr; there¡¯s a faint bitter almond smell when the mouth is opened, it¡¯s cyanide.¡± Guo Huchan said, ¡°These three aren¡¯t my Spade Members.¡± ¡°Death warriors,¡± Uncle Li said calmly, ¡°This is indeed a bit of a surprise.¡± No one knew who had arranged for them toe in, nor what they wanted in Prison 18. Qing Chen silently watched, his face showing no reaction. Only his tightly clenched fists betrayed his tension. He opened his palms to see the red marks scratched by his nails and the sweat within them. Whether in the Outer World or the Inner World, this was his first encounter with death. Concealing poison behind a tooth was something he had only seen in movies. The drastic measures of the three Death warriors pulled Qing Chen back to reality, making him realize once again that this was indeed a world ruled by fierce beasts. The countdown read 15:21:59. His return was imminent; he could not afford any furtherplications. ¡­ Seeking rmendation tickets, seeking monthly tickets! The situation is great; let¡¯s charge!! ¡­ Thank you to student Xiao Gong for bing the new ally of this book. The boss is generous; may your fortune be as vast as the Eastern seas and your life as enduring as the Southern mountains! Chapter 28: 28. Return Again Chapter 28: 28. Return Again The Mechanical Prison Guard in prison 18 carried away the bodies of three Death warriors. The prison was somewhat quiet, everyone silent. Qing Chen sat by the dining table, his face somewhat pale, lost in thought. This was the first time he had felt fear. The unease in his heart slowly turned into physical difort, even the breakfast he had just eaten couldn¡¯t be digested. At school, the teachers had taught him what a function was, what a subject and predicate were. At home, his parents had taught him how to use chopsticks, how to wash clothes, how to take care of himself. But no one had ever taught him what death really was. This kind of thing, you only understand how shocking it is to see life fade away before your eyes if you witness it yourself. As for witnessing Death warriors biting into poison capsules tomit suicide, if he told others back in the Outer World, they would probably think he was making it up. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen and asked, ¡°Witnessing death for the first time?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qing Chen pursed his lips in response. ¡°Are you scared?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked. ¡°A little,¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°You know, every person has two lives,¡± Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, ¡°The second life begins when you realize you only have one.¡± From that moment, you start to tell yourself about the importance of time and clearly realize how much time you have wasted. For some reason, the more fearful Qing Chen was at this moment, the calmer he became inside. He scrutinized his past and envisioned his future. Uncle Li Dong looked at him and asked, ¡°These three Death warriors were likely targeting me, so by helping me find them, you¡¯ve earned a favor from me. You can exchange it for something here, what would you like?¡± Ever since they had started ying chess, Uncle Li Dong had asked him several times what he wanted in exchange. Qing Chen said, ¡°I want a list of members of Li¡¯s Financial Group.¡± ¡°Strange,¡± Uncle Li Dong remarked. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask for the method to be a Transcendent? There aren¡¯t many people in the world who can owe me a favor, but you¡¯re the only one who doesn¡¯t seem to cherish such an opportunity.¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°Because such a small matter is not equivalent to the value of your secret. It¡¯s impossible to exchange such a thing for a chance to be Transcendent.¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°How will you know if you don¡¯t try?¡± Qing Chen continued, ¡°Besides, when the time is right, you¡¯ll give it to me on your own. I won¡¯t need to exchange it.¡± Uncle Li Dong¡¯s smile deepened, ¡°You¡¯re smarter than I thought, and more patient and prudent. You¡¯re right, some things aren¡¯t for trading; when the time is right, they naturallye to you. Although I¡¯m a bit disappointed that you haven¡¯t seen blood, I thought it over and realized that if you were indifferent to life, I would actually find it boring.¡± After finishing his words, he had Lin Xiaoxiao fetch the list of members from Li¡¯s Financial Group, ¡°I¡¯m very curious, what do you want with this document?¡± ¡°I suppose I don¡¯t need to exin its use, do I?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Never mind, I won¡¯t ask,¡± Uncle Li Dong said with a resignedugh and waved his hand. ¡°This favor is yours to use as you wish.¡± ¡­ At night, Qing Chen awaited the countdown to his return in his cell. He had thought Lin Xiaoxiao woulde today for the nightmare test, but that didn¡¯t happen. Perhaps the other party felt he was no longer bound by nightmares, so the test was unnecessary. Or perhaps, Uncle Li Dong felt it was no longer necessary to test him. Somewhere deep down, Qing Chen felt that the path to bing a Transcendent was getting closer. The countdown hadn¡¯t reached zero, yet hey down on the cold bed and closed his eyes to sleep. Unlike the previous anxious waits for his return, this time Qing Chen had witnessed death and his mindset had be even more serene. By the time he opened his eyes again, he was already lying in his little house on Xingshu Road, with the chirping of birdsing from outside the window, and daylight had broken. He nced at the white pattern on his arm, countdown 40:20:21. It looked like another two days had passed. ¡°The process of transmigration is silent, so silent that not even a sleeping person could be woken,¡± Qing Chen mused to himself. After a tense two days, Qing Chen felt a release of pressure upon returning to the Outer World, much more rxed. However, he already started to look forward to transmigrating again, as there were still more opportunities waiting for him there. He dressed in his school uniform, ready to leave, but upon opening the door, he immediately saw Jiang Xue leading Li Tongyun. ¡°Good morning, Aunt Jiang Xue, was the transmigration¡­ okay?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Jiang Xueughed, ¡°I was just about to take Xiao Yun to school. Come over to our house after school tonight, I¡¯ll buy some fish and ribs to celebrate.¡± ¡°Celebrate what?¡± Qing Chen wondered. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you tonight; you¡¯ll understand when the timees,¡± Jiang Xue said with a smile before leaving, leaving Qing Chen pensive. On the way, Qing Chen opened his cellphone to browse the trending searches, eager to see what novelties had emerged after this transmigration. Indeed, a trending search caught his attention: foreign news reports stated that the Dark Web imed that killing a transmigrator would not grant one the opportunity to transmigrate. Qing Chen was stunned upon seeing this news, for those few words implied the end of a vibrant life. Reality often proved bloodier than what words could convey. When he got to school, he noticed that the adjacent ss had again gathered arge crowd. Qing Chen pulled over Yu Junyi, a busybody ss representative, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening? What is everyone looking at?¡± Yu Junyi exined, ¡°Didn¡¯t they say a transmigrator was in the ss next door? Liu Dezhu. He just arrived at school, and everyone is asking him about his transmigration experiences.¡± Qing Chen was startled; he hadn¡¯t expected the other toe to school. He knew that the guy had been taken away by the Mechanical Prison Guard as soon as he arrived, and during the two days of transmigration, he had never seen him again. Qing Chen had guessed he might end up with a psychological scar and take a leave of absence like Huang Jixian. Unexpectedly, he was now sitting in the ssroom as if nothing had happened. At that moment, Liu Dezhu was surrounded by ssmates, and someone loudly asked, ¡°Where did you appear after you transmigrated?¡± ¡°Yeah, what identity did you assume when you transmigrated?¡± ¡°Howe you don¡¯t have a mechanical limb? I¡¯ve seen that many transmigrators have them.¡± ¡°Did you really transmigrate, or are you just joking?¡± Everyone bombarded him with questions, and Qing Chen elbowed his way forward, eager to hear what had happened to the other guy after the Mechanical Prison Guard took him and what he had experienced since then. However, Liu Dezhu seemed pressured by the barrage of questions: ¡°I really did transmigrate!¡± ¡°Then howe you don¡¯t have a mechanical limb?¡± Liu Dezhu stiffened his neck, ¡°There are still many people without mechanical limbs, and having mechanical limbs is a good thing? Let me tell you, I was transmigrated to Prison Number 18 and met Uncle Li Dong!¡± The ssroom suddenly quieted down. He Xiaoxiao was a very famous game streamer, whose reputation soared especially among students after the transmigration incidents. So everyone knew that Prison Number 18 was a significant ce, and Uncle Li Dong was a very important person in the Inner World. Chapter 29: 29. True and False Chapter 29: 29. True and False When Liu Dezhu said he had transmigrated to Prison 18 and had already met Uncle Li Dong, to everyone else, it sounded like: ¡°I¡¯ve yed the unreleased beta version of this game, and I¡¯ve even obtained the unique orange-grade weapon in the game, as well as the most powerful hidden ss.¡± In just an instant, Liu Dezhu became a god-like figure in the students¡¯ hearts. Qing Chen silently observed their reactions, but it was none of his business, and there was no need to expose the other party. Students asked, ¡°What does Uncle Li Dong look like?¡± Liu Dezhu considered before answering, ¡°He¡¯s quite special in the prison, unlike the others who all wear prison uniforms; he¡¯s the only one dressed in an exercise suit for practicing Tai Chi. I guess he might be the warden or something? He also has two followers, one thin and always smiling, and the other more robust and stern-faced.¡± ¡°That sounds like a big shot¡­¡± a student remarked. ¡°Right,¡± Liu Dezhu said, ¡°He also keeps a cat, a really big one, with tufts of hair standing up on its ears, looking like a lynx.¡± Seeing Liu Dezhu describe it so vividly, the others gradually began to believe what he said. At this point, someone asked, ¡°Did you learn how to change sses from him?¡± Under the influence of He Xiaoxiao, many students were using gaming terminology to describe the Inner World. However, upon hearing this, Liu Dezhu started to falter, ¡°It¡¯s not that easy to change sses. You¡¯ve also heard from He Xiaoxiao that Uncle Li Dong is no ordinary person. Gaining his trust definitely won¡¯t be easy.¡± The students nodded in understanding; that made sense after all. Thinking it over, they realized that Liu Dezhu might not be certain to get a ss change opportunity. ¡°But,¡± Liu Dezhu quickly added, ¡°now that I¡¯ve transmigrated to Prison 18, I certainly won¡¯t miss this opportunity. Moreover, I¡¯ve already spoken with Uncle Li Dong!¡± Eagerly, everyone¡¯s interest was rekindled, ¡°What did you talk about?¡± Liu Dezhu continued to prevaricate, ¡°Just exchanged some pleasantries¡­¡± At this moment, only Qing Chen knew what Liu Dezhu had said to Uncle Li Dong: ¡°Give me the ss change quest.¡± Another student asked, ¡°So, being transmigrated into Prison 18, are you a prisoner there? Isn¡¯t that dangerous and tough?¡± Liu Dezhu replied, ¡°Not really, I¡¯m a bit different from the other prisoners.¡± Qing Chen knew that was actually true; he was indeed different from the other prisoners, especially since the others weren¡¯t in solitary confinement. Hearing this, he turned and went back to his own ssroom, it seemed unlikely that he would find out any useful information from him. Liu Dezhu probably spoke like this due to youthful vanity. It is said that when God created humans, His attendants were concerned: ¡°You¡¯ve given humans curiosity, wisdom, and courage; they might be too powerful.¡± So God thought it over and replied, ¡°Then give them some vanity and jealousy as well.¡± Qing Chen felt that having vanity wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing, but revealing oneself as a transmigrator in the current environment was an incredibly foolish choice. Especially iming to know one of the most important figures in the Inner World. At least ording to He Xiaoxiao¡¯s guide, Uncle Li Dong was indeed such a figure. However, obtaining a method to transcend the ordinary from Uncle Li Dong wasn¡¯t as easy as the guide made it seem. Qing Chen knew he had made so many efforts and had onlye close. Amid the exmations and envy of his ssmates, Qing Chen passed by some students who had just arrived to join in the excitement. He didn¡¯t intend to enjoy such glory; the gazes of others were irrelevant to him. Moreover, he suspected that a mysterious organization was probably on its way soon. They had not shown upst time, but they would definitelye this time. Yet as he moved against the flow of the crowd, he suddenly saw the timid figure of Nan Gengchen looking down at the back of the group. ¡°Nan Gengchen,¡± Qing Chen called out. ¡°Ah? Who¡¯s calling me?¡± Nan Gengchen looked up. And so, Qing Chen saw Nan Gengchen looking entirely deted. ¡°What¡¯s happened to you?¡± Qing Chen wondered. ¡°Did someone hit you?¡± ¡°No, no,¡± Nan Gengchen quickly lowered his head and shook it. ¡°I just didn¡¯t sleep well.¡± Qing Chen scrutinized him. There were no mechanical limbs, nothing else out of the ordinary, except he looked a bit under the weather. He pulled Nan Gengchen back to the ssroom and asked softly, ¡°Did someone torment you when you transmigrated?¡± ¡°Transmigrate? What transmigration?¡± Nan Gengchen feigned confusion. This made Qing Chen suspicious. He was certain the other had definitely transmigrated. But what exactly had this guy gone through in the Inner World that changed him from his previous cocky self to his current, disheveled state? ¡°What on earth did you do after you transmigrated?¡± Qing Chen muttered. ¡°I didn¡¯t transmigrate! Whoever says I did, I¡¯ll be upset with them!¡± Nan Gengchen said. Alright, since Qing Chen couldn¡¯t get any more information, he decided not to probe further. He had no idea where the other had transmigrated to or what identity he had taken; there was no way he could offer help. It wasn¡¯t until just before ss started that Nan Gengchen finally whispered, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you, there¡¯s a group for transmigrators?¡± ¡°Yeah, you mentioned that,¡± Qing Chen nodded. This kid wasn¡¯t one to have deep schemes; something as big as transmigration, with no one to confide in, he surely couldn¡¯t keep it to himself. Then Nan Gengchen said, ¡°Did I tell you that someone was selling socks from the Inner World?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fake,¡± Nan Gengchen said. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me how I know; just know that he isn¡¯t a transmigrator. You simply can¡¯t bring back socks from there.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Qing Chen nodded. Nan Gengchen continued, ¡°Did I tell you about a transmigrator who said they could put you in touch with a wealthy patron?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°That transmigrator is real.¡± Qing Chen became solemn, ¡°!!!¡± He stared at Nan Gengchen, shocked, unable to utter a word for quite some time. To be honest, his own reaction wasn¡¯t even this strong the first time he had transmigrated. So, Nan Gengchen¡¯s listless state was because, after going in, someone had put him in touch with a wealthy patron? After blurting out more than he intended, Nan Gengchen realized he had said too much and quickly tried to backtrack, ¡°It¡¯s just what others in the group were saying, I¡¯m not a transmigrator, okay.¡± ¡°Yeah, I understand,¡± Qing Chen nodded, epting his feeble excuse. Both fell into a long silence. Qing Chen suddenly asked, ¡°¡­Was the payment good?¡± Nan Gengchen¡¯s face changed drastically, ¡°I told you, I¡¯m not a transmigrator.¡± Right then, the bell rang for ss. But the students¡¯ attention wasn¡¯t on the teacher who had just entered the ssroom; instead, it was on the corridor outside the window¡­ where four figures d in ck stood. Qing Chen used Nan Gengchen¡¯s figure to shield himself as he quietly observed the scene outside. The ck-d figures were apanied by the head of the academic affairs office heading towards the ssroom next door. The students whispered amongst themselves in surprise, even the math teacher couldn¡¯t help but stand in the hall to get a better look. Only Qing Chen wasn¡¯t surprised, because he had seen these people before. Chapter 30: 30. How to Make Money Chapter 30: 30. How to Make Money After the ck-d figures appeared, everyone¡¯s attention was focused on them. It wasn¡¯t just Qing Chen¡¯s eleventh-grade ss three, but even people in the teaching building across the way had noticed themotion, with students one by one clinging to the windows and looking over here. In fact, it¡¯s no wonder the students were surprised. When Qing Chen first encountered them, the oppressive feeling they gave him was still fresh in his memory. This unique and sharp temperament stood out exceptionally in the school. Qing Chen had always kept himself hidden by Nan Gengchen¡¯s side, but he worried too much. They didn¡¯t even nce in the direction of his ssroom. By now, Qing Chen had a rough guess: an organization that could cooperate with the head of the school¡¯s academic affairs office must have an official background, which put one somewhat at ease. However, after the ck-d figures took Liu Dezhu away, they returned him just before the end of the first period. As soon as the ss was dismissed, students from surrounding sses all rushed over, crowding around Liu Dezhu and asking, ¡°Who were those ck-clothed people?¡± Liu Dezhu was also stunned, ¡°I don¡¯t know who they are either. The academic affairs director Shi Qingyan just told me to cooperate with them.¡± ¡°What did they want with you?¡± the students asked. ¡°First, they made me register my home address and contact information, as well as the phone number of an emergency contact,¡± Liu Dezhu recalled, ¡°Then they told me I couldn¡¯t leave Los Angeles City now, andter they might have to give us transmigrators some sort of special training. They¡¯re still preparing and aren¡¯t sure when they¡¯ll be ready.¡± ¡°Are there many transmigrators in Los Angeles City?¡± the ssmates asked. ¡°Seems like there are quite a lot,¡± Liu Dezhu said. ¡°Did they ask you anything else?¡± ¡°Oh, right,¡± Liu Dezhu suddenly seemed to remember something, ¡°They had a few photos from crossroad surveince cameras, asking me if I had seen someone. The person in the photos didn¡¯t seem old, and since the photos were taken at night they¡¯re a bit blurry. The person was wearing a gray hoodie and a cap, so their face wasn¡¯t clear.¡± While the other students were still listening eagerly, Qing Chen suddenly furrowed his brows. Because the person Liu Dezhu described was none other than himself, right? ¡°Why are they looking for him?¡± the ssmate asked. ¡°The ck-d figures said he might also be a transmigrator who had appeared at the doorstep of another transmigrator,¡± Liu Dezhu said, ¡°They were quite forthright, only saying that this transmigrator was somewhat special, with strong evasion capabilities, not something an ordinary student like me would match. They said that if anyone saw someone resembling the photos, they should call the ck-d figures first, and not to approach casually on their own.¡± Qing Chen fell silent; he hadn¡¯t expected to leave such a strong impression on the ck-d figures, perhaps they had checked the surveince afterward and confirmed his evasive action. However, why would they ask Liu Dezhu? Before he had time to think it through, a ssmate asked, ¡°So why did they ask you about this?¡± ¡°Oh, they said that based on the surveince footage, the person¡¯s area of activity should be within these three kilometers, but since our residential area is old, the roads are also narrow and old, a lot of ces don¡¯t have working cameras or the cameras are broken, so the trail went cold,¡± Liu Dezhu exined. Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief in his mind, the loss of the trail was not a coincidence, but because he had purposefully changed into a jacket he hadn¡¯t worn for two years and avoided surveince cameras. It seemed that his effort to always be prepared had not been in vain. Liu Dezhu continued, ¡°They didn¡¯t just ask me, they also questioned some of the teachers in the school. They suspect that if the transmigrator is still a student, it¡¯s very likely they¡¯re in our school. Yet the teachers didn¡¯t recognize anyone either.¡± Because a transmigrator had appeared, stories were buzzing through the Los Angeles Foreign Language School. During the breaks between sses, there were always groups of students ¡°casually passing by¡± Liu Dezhu¡¯s ssroom door. Among them, there were quite a few attractive girls whispering outside the ssroom, greatly satisfying Liu Dezhu¡¯s ego. Nan Gengchen sat inside the ssroom, watching enviously outside the window: ¡°One bes a big Boss after crossing over, even talking to the Boss, maybe bing superhuman one day. Why is there such a big difference between people?¡± Qing Chen nced at him, ¡°Envious?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you envious?¡± Nan Gengchen muttered, ¡°You were talking about making a lot of money and treating me to a meal, but now it looks like that¡¯s not possible either.¡± ¡°Then just focus on your studies. There are so many ordinary people living good lives, and it¡¯s not necessary to be a transmigrator,¡± Qing Chen said. Nan Gengchen hesitated, wanting to say more. He didn¡¯t want others to discover that he was a transmigrator and put himself in danger, but as a teenager, he also wanted others to admire him. So, he kept hopping back and forth between the identities of a transmigrator and an ordinary person, like burying his head in the sand. When it was almost evening, the ssmittee member came looking for Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen: ¡°Qing Chen, you two are the only ones who haven¡¯t paid the book fees.¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°My parents aren¡¯t home, so I want to pay it a few dayster.¡± Themittee member nodded and turned to Nan Gengchen, ¡°What about your book fee, Nan Gengchen?¡± Nan Gengchen said sheepishly, ¡°I¡¯ll also pay itter¡­ in a couple of days.¡± Themittee member didn¡¯t say anything else and left. In fact, everyone in ss knew that the family conditions of Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen were not very good, but no one thought too much of it. They didn¡¯t invite them to ss gatherings, knowing that they were short on cash and wouldn¡¯t attend, not out of contempt. The proportion of students who were snobbish during high school was indeed quite small. Moreover, Qing Chen was a top student; top students in high school already carried an invincible aura around them. Many people might think high school students are always thinking: this ssmate is so rich, I want to hang out with him, that ssmate is so poor, I don¡¯t want to hang out with him. But the truth is, the thoughts of high school students are not thatplex. Everyone is concerned about the same things: Who the hell invented functions? Huh? Let me see who got only 15 points on the multiple-choice test, dammit, it¡¯s me! At this moment, Qing Chen looked at Nan Gengchen, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring the book fee either?¡± ¡°My mom was so mad at my dad that she went to stay at my grandma¡¯s ce, and I have to ask my dad for the money,¡± Nan Gengchen grumbled. ¡°Didn¡¯t your dad give it to you?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°No.¡± ¡°What did he say?¡± Nan Gengchen replied, ¡°He told me to return the books to the school¡­¡± Qing Chen: ¡°???¡± All of a sudden, a book fee became an insurmountable problem for two struggling transmigrator boys. It also reminded Qing Chen that it was time for him to start making money. He could continue to fleece those old men at Chinese chess, but the problem was that it wasn¡¯t enough; moreover, everyone had gotten wise and wouldn¡¯t y him anymore. Therefore, he had to figure out how to make money from the Inner World. It made no sense to live near a mountain of treasure ande back empty-handed time after time. ¡­ Please rmend and vote for monthly tickets! The monthly tickets are very stable in the top ten right now. As a token of my gratitude, if we stay in the top ten until the end of the month, I¡¯ll add three more chapters~ If we enter the top five, I¡¯ll add another three chapters~ I mean what I say! Chapter 31: 31. Lis Financial Group Chapter 31: 31. Li¡¯s Financial Group Night had fallen, and skipping ss had seemingly be a habit for Qing Chen. Logically speaking, with so many absences, his parents should have been called in long ago. But the key issue was that his homeroom teacher, Du Yihong, had been on leave ever since the transmigration event and hadn¡¯t shown his face even once. The other teachers didn¡¯t pay any attention to Qing Chen either. So, whenever there was a chance to skip ss, he took it without hesitation. By the time work ended, the narrow Xingshu Road had alreadye alive with vendors selling roasted sweet potatoes, watermelons, and cold dishes all setting up their stalls. When he was a child, if his mother, Zhang Wanfang, went back to her parents¡¯ home, his father wouldzily take him out to eat a bowl of rice noodles that cost one yuan and fifty cents. Back then, Qing Chen felt his father was just brushing him off, but now, looking back, those might have been the best times of his childhood. At that time, his father hadn¡¯t started gambling, his parents hadn¡¯t divorced, and his grandparents hadn¡¯t scorned him. The rice noodles that used to cost one yuan and fifty cents now cost fifteen yuan, and it seemed as if everything could never go back to the way it was. As he entered the fourth courtyard, he suddenly noticed two men squatting by the roadside, smoking. The sky was gradually darkening, and Qing Chen couldn¡¯t make out their faces, only the red sparks of their cigarettes flickering on and off. At first, Qing Chen thought these were mysterious organization operatives keeping tabs on him, because they looked out of ce, asionally ncing around restlessly. Butter he realized that they didn¡¯t react at all as he walked past. Upon entering the building, Qing Chen smelled the delicious aromaing from upstairs. Li Tongyun was already waiting at his door. ¡°Brother, mother is almost done cooking; she asked me to wait here for you.¡± ¡°What if I was attending the evening study? You guys shouldn¡¯t wait for me,¡± Qing Chen said as he patted Li Tongyun¡¯s head. ¡°But you haven¡¯t been going to the evening study these past few days,¡± Li Tongyun replied as she pulled on his sleeve and led him upstairs. As soon as he opened the door, Qing Chen noticed that the furniture that had been broken before had disappeared, and the house had shed its former squalor, as if many things had been reced with new ones. Jiang Xue was bustling around the kitchen in an apron. Without turning her head at the sound of the door, she said, ¡°Is Qing Chen here? Hurry up and sit down; I¡¯ve just one soup left to finish.¡± Qing Chen looked at the dishes on the dining table: sweet and sour spare ribs, stir-fried beef, minced pork with sour beans, hot and sour potato shreds¡ªthey all looked very appetizing. Compared to the tasteless meals in Prison No. 18, this was a real improvement. ¡°Aunt Jiang Xue, what are we celebrating?¡± Qing Chen asked, puzzled. Jiang Xue came out holding the soup pot, a smile lifting her eyebrows. ¡°I told you before that I opened a mechanical limbs clinic in the Inner World.¡± ¡°Yes, I remember you mentioning it,¡± Qing Chen said as he stood up to help take the soup pot and ce it on the table. As she went back to the kitchen to serve the rice and fetch the chopsticks, Jiang Xue continued, ¡°This clinic had been giving me a headache. Since one doesn¡¯t inherit memories after transmigration, when people woulde asking for modifications to their mechanical limbs, I had no idea how to go about it.¡± Qing Chen listened in silence. He heard Jiang Xue continue, ¡°Those who came to get their mechanical limbs modified all looked so fierce and menacing, and the security in City No. 18 was particrly bad at night. After eight o¡¯clock, it wasn¡¯t safe to walk the streets, so I¡¯ve been quite worried.¡± This had been the reason Jiang Xue wanted to leave Li Tongyun with Qing Chen temporarily, because she didn¡¯t know if she would be able to return after transmigration. ¡°But now things are looking up,¡± Jiang Xue said with augh. ¡°I don¡¯t know how it happened, but people from Li¡¯s Financial Group suddenly approached my little clinic and said they wanted to invest in it.¡± ¡°Li¡¯s Family¡­¡± Qing Chen murmured to himself. ¡°I¡¯ve also told you, in the Inner World, the conglomerates are like the sky, as long as a business is part of a conglomerate¡¯s portfolio, all the criminals will steer clear of it,¡± Jiang Xue said excitedly as she sat beside the dining table, ¡°They not only gave me a sum of money but also reced my clinic¡¯s sign with one that bears the Li Family emblem, so now I¡¯m much safer in the Inner World.¡± Qing Chen smiled, ¡°With the help of Li¡¯s Financial Group, that¡¯s indeed something worth celebrating.¡± ¡°Now I won¡¯t need to trouble you anymore, Xiao Yun¡¯s grandparents also won¡¯t have to leave their hometown,¡± Jiang Xue was very satisfied with the current situation and even said to Qing Chen with a smile, ¡°Weren¡¯t you envious of transmigrators before? If you do transmigrate one day, juste find me in the 18th city. Aunt Jiang Xue might not be able to do much else, but I can certainly protect you.¡± Qing Chen sighed to himself; he was actually in the 18th city, but unfortunately his situation was not something ordinary people could help with. The struggle for the Qing¡¯s shadow and the inheritance of the Knight Organization were matters far beyond theprehension of ordinary transmigrators. ¡°By the way, Aunt Jiang Xue,¡± Qing Chen asked, ¡°have those people in ck sought you out again?¡± ¡°They haven¡¯t looked for me, but I sought them out,¡± Jiang Xue said, ¡°After entrusting Xiao Yun to you, I thought of getting in touch to see if I could get their help in the Inner World.¡± Jiang Xue continued, ¡°However, they mentioned their organization has just been established and it¡¯s difficult for them to make any significant impact in the Inner World, so they couldn¡¯t assist me.¡± After dinner, Jiang Xue went to wash the dishes, leaving Qing Chen sitting at the table with Li Tongyun. It was then that Qing Chen suddenly asked, ¡°You¡¯re a transmigrator too, aren¡¯t you?¡± Li Tongyun blinked and asked, ¡°What are you talking about, Brother Qing Chen?¡± ¡°Last time, you specifically asked for the name of your mother¡¯s clinic and now it just so happens that Li¡¯s Financial Group has invested in her clinic and is offering suchprehensive protection,¡± Qing Chen said, ¡°You can deny it, but I could also share these clues with your mom.¡± Li Tongyun caved in instantaneously, ¡°Please don¡¯t tell my mom!¡± Qing Chen breathed a sigh of relief; he hadn¡¯t guessed wrong. Before returning yesterday, he had reviewed all of his recent memories and that¡¯s when he noticed something strange. Upon learning that her mom had opened a clinic, Li Tongyun¡¯s first reaction wasn¡¯t curiosity about the Inner World but to inquire about the name of the clinic, clearly a deliberate question. That¡¯s why he had used up a chance for a transaction yesterday, asking Uncle Li Dong for the Li¡¯s Financial Group membership list. Indeed, the name Li Tongyun was on the list. Shuttling between two worlds, with her name and body being her own, there was no mistake. Qing Chen asked in a low voice, ¡°Why not tell your mom?¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t many people who dare to control me in the Inner World, but if my mom finds out, she¡¯ll definitely manage me in both worlds,¡± Li Tongyun said timidly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell my mom, I can give you money. I have quite a lot of change in the Inner World.¡± Qing Chen said without hesitation, ¡°I¡¯m not a transmigrator, what would I do with money from there?¡± Seeing his straightforward refusal, Li Tongyun was puzzled, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a transmigrator?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Qing Chen denied, ¡°That¡­ how much change do you have in the Outer World?¡± Li Tongyun was taken aback, ¡°You want to swindle a child¡¯s money?¡± Qing Chen: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 32: 32. Criminal Chapter 32: 32. Criminal ¡°Actually¡­ I wasn¡¯t really after your pocket money, I just asked casually,¡± Qing Chen said somewhat awkwardly. At this moment, even he felt a little sheepish. Really getting obsessed with money here¡­ However, Qing Chen had realized that Li Tongyun was also suspecting him to be a transmigrator. Perhaps it was because of his keen interest in the Inner World, always asking questions, or maybe because he had guessed her secret. When he unhesitatingly said he did not need the Inner World¡¯s money, the other party dismissed their suspicions. Overall, Qing Chen had quite a fruitful evening, at least confirming Li Tongyun¡¯s identity as a transmigrator. Now that he was involved in the Qing¡¯s Family shadow struggle, having one more friend was better than none. Even though Li Tongyun was only ten, she might be of help someday. Just like when he first transmigrated and prayed to the Buddha, the preparation work had to be done beforehand. Taking advantage of Jiang Xue still not having finished washing the dishes, Li Tongyun whispered to Qing Chen, ¡°I really don¡¯t have much pocket money in the Outer World, why don¡¯t you change the condition, Brother Qing Chen?¡± ¡°Change to what condition?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but you can¡¯t tell my mom,¡± Li Tongyun pressed her voice lower again. ¡°All right, you owe me one for now,¡± Qing Chen nced at Jiang Xue¡¯s silhouette in the kitchen: ¡°Remember to take good care of your mother in the Inner World, I hear it¡¯s pretty chaotic in there.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry,¡± Li Tongyun said contentedly: ¡°When you have a chance to transmigrate to the Inner World in the future, I will protect you guys!¡± Qing Chen was somewhat amused; the promise of a child was so pure and simple. He said goodbye to Jiang Xue and went downstairs, finding his own home much lonelier inparison. No family and no one to talk to. Qing Chen opened his phone and nced at the ss group. Inside, there was still blind and uninformative discussion going on. There are probably only him and Nan Gengchen as transmigrators in ss 2-3, right? He opened Weibo and immediately noticed two trending topics rapidly climbing: an overseas mysterious organization was offering a hefty reward for purchasing mechanical limbs and future technology items from the Inner World. Someone posted a screenshot online, and the organization even listed an inventory of items: NECE anti-aging drugs, EDE-002 gic potions¡­ Among them, there were even various targeted drugs for cancer, none of which had been developed in the Outer World yet. The list of these future technology items actually sharedmon characteristics: life-saving, life-prolonging, maintaining youth, and enhancing physical functions. The organization imed to have tested the effectiveness of the drugs, which indeed worked on Ordinary People from the Outer World. They even openly taught transmigrators methods for carrying the items: wrap the tablets with protective film and ce them in the mouth or swallow them, or insert them into the rectum. Qing Chen frowned upon reading this, these people resorted to using a drug mule¡¯s methods to bring things back from the Inner World. You have to understand, the value of targeted drugs, anti-aging medications and the like are incalcble. If a wealthy person was dying of cancer and their only hope was a life-saving drug from the Inner World, what price would they pay? What price is equivalent to a life? Of course, there are many other life-saving items like bionic kidneys and hearts, but those can¡¯t be transported. Qing Chen was somewhat reflective, just when he was still figuring out how to be a Transcendent, some people had already started doing business. But this method, he couldn¡¯t use it right now. If you want to do a physical transaction, you¡¯ll inevitably expose your identity. Of course, you could also bring back technology on a USB drive, but what ordinary transmigrator could ess the core technologies of the Inner World? Maybe in the future, but it seems there¡¯s no one like that now. So far, Qing Chen had hardly been able to ess outside information from within that No. 18 Prison. The most important thing was to build a good rtionship with Uncle Li Dong. Wait, Qing Chen suddenly realized, the mysterious organization was also buying mechanical limbs! A few days ago, a transmigrator had their legs cut off, and now these people are paying sky-high prices to purchase something, which likely would further encourage such crimes against transmigrators! At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly remembered the two strange men he had seen in the courtyard on his way home from school! He moved quietly to the window and carefully pulled back the curtain to peek outside. However, the two men who had been squatting outside were now nowhere to be seen. Qing Chen hesitated only for three seconds before he immediately dialed 110, ¡°Hello, my address is Building 12, No. 4 Xingshu Road courtyard; I spotted two very suspicious men in the evening, and I think they have bad intentions.¡± He hesitated because if he was wrong, he would have made a false rm. The female dispatcher on the other end of the phone confirmed, ¡°You are at No. 4 Xingshu Road courtyard, right? Let me confirm with you again, you have seen two strange men in themunity¡­¡± Before she could finish, a piercing scream from Li Tongyun suddenly came from upstairs! ¡°Please dispatch the police immediately, thank you!¡± Qing Chen said and then hung up the call. His judgment was not wrong; these two people were indeed targeting Jiang Xue. When he had passed by the two men, they had looked in four directions, and one of those was towards Jiang Xue¡¯s home window! Qing Chen grabbed the entrenching shovel he had purchased earlier from the kitchen, and as he was about to leave, he hesitated again. He was just an ordinary 17-year-old student; he had seen death, but he was still only an ordinary person! The assants were two grown men, possibly even more; could he handle them? With a click, Qing Chen turned the doorknob and, holding the entrenching shovel, burst out the door. He was not some kind of saint; he was quite selfish, as he had been unmoved by the sight of his ssmate going mad in Prison No. 18. But to stand by as a child like Li Tongyun faced harm, Qing Chen couldn¡¯t do it! At one point, he thought if he had gained supernatural abilities but did not have the courage to match, such abilities would be useless. But just as he opened the door, he saw that a middle-aged man had just tumbled down the stairs. The man¡¯s arm was twisted in an unnatural way, he had already copsed unconscious on the sloped staircase. A spring knifey scattered by his side. When Qing Chen looked up, he saw Jiang Xue, her face smeared with blood, standing above on the stairs; her white long-sleeved T-shirt stained with lines of blood. One of the woman¡¯s sleeves was torn, revealing a mechanical arm glowing with blue light, slender yet powerful, beautiful but tough. She was trembling all over, but her eyes were gradually firming up. The emotion of a mother protecting her daughter is something ordinary people can¡¯t understand. At that moment, Jiang Xue had a unique allure, somewhat hardcore. Jiang Xue nced at Qing Chen, then at the entrenching shovel in his hand, and calmed down before saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± She knew Qing Chen hade to help, and she had to remember anyone who would lend a hand in such a situation. ¡°Was there only one of them?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°There was another, he ran away,¡± Jiang Xue replied. ¡°Is Xiao Yun okay?¡± asked Qing Chen. Jiang Xue said, ¡°She got scared.¡± Qing Chen frowned, ¡°You take care of Xiao Yun first.¡± After speaking, he rushed out of the stairwell just in time to see a figure sprinting away in the night. Jiang Xue wanted to stop him, but before she could even speak, the youth had already disappeared into the night. However, she suddenly realized that the man was running in a different direction. Chapter 33: 33. Mechanically Amputated Limb Chapter 33: 33. Mechanically Amputated Limb In the shroud of night, Qing Chen quickly scaled the low walls of two courtyards, maneuvering through the environment he knew best. In an instant, the entireyout of Courtyard Four appeared in his mind like a three-dimensional image. The autumn breeze was cool, carrying a slight dryness from the day. The next moment, the young man silently calcted the frenzied speed of the other¡­ It wasn¡¯t enough. He needed to be faster! Qing Chen felt his lungs burning, his blood boiling. Suddenly, he came to a stop in a shadow at a corner. And he held his breath. The soughing of the sycamore leaves in the courtyard, the shadows of the leaves trembling on the ground. The sound of footsteps not far away, the lights extinguished in countless homes. None of it mattered now. 3. 2. 1. Now was the moment. The young man swung a trench shovel with all his might in the darkness, aiming it into the air beyond the corner. With a thud, the middle-aged man sprinting around the corner was struck on the legs and tumbled forward! Qing Chen didn¡¯t look back at the man; instead, he turned and quickly vanished into the shadows between the buildings, striking and fleeing. Only after he had left did the middle-aged man¡¯s cries of agony echo throughout the neighborhood, lighting up countless windows. People looked out but could only see a criminal clutching his legs and wailing. The middle-aged man¡¯s right leg was broken, bleeding profusely. Slowly, many people gathered at their windows to watch, yet they could no longer see Qing Chen. Even the criminal hadn¡¯t yet grasped what had just urred. By the time Qing Chen returned to Jiang Xue¡¯s home, he saw Li Tongyun shivering in her arms. Qing Chen asked, ¡°Xiao Yun, are you hurt?¡± ¡°Just frightened, I¡¯m calling the police now to handle them.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ve already called,¡± Qing Chen said. At the sound of his voice, Li Tongyun looked up with tears in her eyes and said, ¡°Brother, there was one who got away.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I found him,¡± Qing Chen replied. Only then did Jiang Xue notice the web of cracks in Qing Chen¡¯s hand from the trench shovel. She suddenly realized he must have encountered the criminals and even engaged in a direct confrontation. However, as she examined Qing Chen, she found no other wounds besides his hand. ¡°You¡¯ve injured your hand. Just wait, I¡¯ll get you some gauze and iodine,¡± said Jiang Xue. ¡°After all, I¡¯m just an ordinary person,¡± Qing Chen said, looking down at his hand, inwardlymenting that despite his brilliant mind, his body did not match. He needed to elerate his process of gaining abilities in the Inner World! ¡°Don¡¯t bother, Aunt Jiang Xue,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡°I have some at home.¡± By now, the neighbors had heard themotion and came out. They hadn¡¯t dared to earlier, but now that the noise suggested all was clear. Seeing more people gathering, Qing Chen quickly said, ¡°The police will be here soon, I¡¯m going back inside. Remember, I wasn¡¯t involved tonight.¡± Jiang Xue hesitated for a moment, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡­ The disorderly discussions from outside, the wailing of police sirens, and the bustling footsteps all seemed unable to affect Qing Chen anymore. Hey in bed, deep in thought. The moment he swung that trench shovel felt like he was greeting a new chapter in his life. Qing Chen had pursued the criminal partly because he couldn¡¯t bear to see a kid like Li Tongyun harmed. On the other hand, he felt that if hecked even this courage, then he had no business longing for a life in the Inner World. He slowly drifted off to sleep until a series of knocks startled him awake. Qing Chen, bleary-eyed, opened the door and was surprised to see Li Tongyun standing outside. ¡°Brother Qing Chen, can youe to my house for a bit?¡± Li Tongyun timidly asked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qing Chen wondered. ¡°Please help my mom,¡± Li Tongyun said urgently. Qing Chen went upstairs, but saw Jiang Xue sitting helplessly by the dining table, her arms hanging limply at her sides. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°No, it¡¯s not an injury,¡± Jiang Xue replied, ¡°¡­ it¡¯s that the mechanical limbs have run out of energy.¡± This truly stunned Qing Chen; he had never really considered the operating mechanism of mechanical limbs, assuming it involved some sort of advanced technology from the Inner World, like hidden antimatter reactors or something. It turned out that Jiang Xue¡¯s overuse of the mechanical limbs the previous day had led them to bepletely inoperative. Simply put, they had run out of power¡­ ¡°Wait, their durability is that poor?¡± Qing Chen puzzled, ¡°How do people in the Inner World handle high-intensity battles?¡± Jiang Xue exined, ¡°You haven¡¯t been there, so you wouldn¡¯t know, but the entire Inner World has already upgraded to wireless charging. You can see nuclear reactor condensation towers at the city edges, and all the electricity they generate is distributed to the entire city via ¡®Yun Liu Towers¡¯ located throughout.¡± ¡°In the Inner World, whether it¡¯s vehicles,munication devices, mechanical limbs, rice cookers, or lights, 90% of the electronic devices have abandoned wired connections. Thework is the same; it¡¯s like there¡¯s a giant WIFI covering the entire city.¡± ¡°Everyone has their own payment sequence number, just like an ID number. As long as you pay monthly, you can enjoy a convenient life. Consortiums charge based on each individual¡¯s power usage.¡± ¡°City 18 has about three hundred Yun Liu Towers operating at full capacity, so the concept of ¡®charging¡¯ doesn¡¯t exist there anymore, because everyone¡¯s devices are constantly being charged.¡± Wireless charging? Qing Chen was curious; wasn¡¯t this the dream of the scientist Nik Te? At this moment, Qing Chen¡¯s nerd identity came into y, and he quickly analyzed the situation. Charging fundamentally involves the transfer of energy. In fact, the Outer World also has such technology, as illustrated by Xiaomi¡¯s new product, which can charge devices wirelessly across an entire room. Xiaomi can achieve wireless charging because of breakthroughs in rectifying technology and positioning technology, urately capturing millimeter waves emitted by the charger. Among these technologies, positioning is the most crucial; without it, the charger would just spread spherical waves instead of directing them precisely into a phone. In short, without positioning, the charger would just be an open ¡°microwave oven.¡± That would be terrifying. And the technology in the Inner World must be different from that in the Outer World, having no doubt broken through numerous technological levels. Would this be harmful to the human body? The answer is trivial because the radiation it emits is even less than that from a cellphone. As long as the positioning technology is advanced enough, there should be no effects. Of course, Qing Chen hadn¡¯t specifically studied the transmission principles of the Inner World, so he wasn¡¯t sure if they had achieved Te¡¯s dream or something simr to the current wireless charging technology in the Outer World. However, being able to achieveprehensive wireless charging was still quite novel. At this time, Li Tongyun suddenly asked, ¡°So, does this wireless charging emit radiation? Justst month, both an old man and an old woman from the nextmunity forced the carrier to remove a cell tower because of it. Wouldn¡¯t the radiation from this be even greater?¡± Jiang Xue hadn¡¯t thought much about it before, but following Li Tongyun¡¯sment, she also became worried. She asked, ¡°So many social media ounts im that even cellphone radiation is very harmful to people; won¡¯t Yun Liu Towers affect our health?¡± Indeed, too many social media ounts were spreading information about the dangers of radiation. Many people had actually believed them and had even had many carriers¡¯ base stations and cell towers removed¡­ After thinking about it, Qing Chen said, ¡°I guess the amount of radiation varies from person to person.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Li Tongyun was confused. Thinking further, Qing Chen said, ¡°The lower the education, the greater the radiation.¡± Li Tongyun: ¡°???¡± Jiang Xue: ¡°???¡± ¡­ Thank you to fellow author Xie Ri Guai for bing the Alliance Hierarch of this book, a boss as vast as the eastern seas and long-lived as the southern mountains! Also, are there any other bosses who wish to receive my blessing for a long and healthy life? Chapter 34: Kunlun Guest Chapter 34: Kunlun Guest ¡°There are Yun Liu Towers in the city, but what if you need to leave the city?¡± Qing Chen asked about other matters. ¡°Generally, leaving the city is quite troublesome. You can go out, but you need to go through customs¡± Jiang Xue replied, ¡°It seems because smuggling is rampant, the tax collection agency has set up customs checkpoints. The tax agencies in the Inner World are extremely powerful,parable to corporate military forces.¡± ¡°The tax agency is that formidable?¡± Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. ¡°Yes, they not only have a powerful enforcement division but even have their own intelligence department,pletely different from the Outer World,¡± replied Jiang Xue. ¡°So what if you go through customs and really leave the city?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°I heard that on the wilderness roads, there are also Yun Liu Towers scattered about,¡± Jiang Xue exined, ¡°As for mechanized limbs, there are models withrger energy storage, just like how we buy mobile phones in the Outer World with 64G, 128G, 256G options ¡ª the more durable ones are more expensive. Generally, people don¡¯t worry about durability, so they choose the cheaper options.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just driving consumer choice,¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°In the Inner World, a lot of young people pursue mechanized limbs, just like how some kids in the Outer World chase after sneakers and new cell phones,¡± Jiang Xue exined, ¡°Not only that, many people also decorate their mechanized limbs with beautiful gold lines and edges, or iy them with gems and diamonds.¡± Qing Chen remarked, ¡°I get it, it¡¯s like the skins in games¡­¡± Jiang Xue thought for a moment, ¡°In that sense. it¡¯s not incorrect¡­¡± Suddenly, Qing Chen recalled the prisoners in prison number 18. It seemed that many people¡¯s mechanized limbs had gold decorations. Gems and diamonds were rare, but gold was quitemon, like Lu Guangyi, for example! Qing Chen ventured to ask, ¡°Those iid gold lines, gold bars, are they real gold?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Xue nodded. ¡°Then¡­ is the gold in the Inner World the same as in the Outer World?¡± Qing Chen asked again. ¡°It should be the same,¡± said Jiang Xue, ¡°The five major financial consortiums banks in the Inner World all issue currency based on gold reserves.¡± Now, Qing Chen finally knew how he could make money from the Inner World! He even clearly remembered who had how much gold! Other items might be difficult to liquidate or could expose one¡¯s identity, but gold did not have this problem. At this moment, Lu Guangyi might still be unaware of what he was going to face. Qing Chen asked, ¡°What is the transportation on the wilderness, is it electric vehicles?¡± ¡°The military uses diesel engine vehicles,¡± Jiang Xue answered. Diesel engines, with their high power output, low revolutions per minute, and high torque, are more suitable for military use and heavy-duty off-roading. Moreover, diesel engines barely have any electrical circuits, and can bepletely started by cranking or pushing, making them more suitable for severe environments and climate conditions. Qing Chen hadn¡¯t expected that the Inner World was still using diesel engines¡­ Jiang Xue added, ¡°Of course, the military also has more powerful aircraft, powered by liquid oxygen meth¡­ meth, something I¡¯ve forgotten. Wealthy people in the city also use hover cars as transportation, which also use this fuel.¡± ¡°Liquid oxygen methane?¡± Qing Chen inquired. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it,¡± Jiang Xue¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Aerospace fuel, huh,¡± Qing Chen mused, ¡°This stuff is what Musk¡¯s SpaceX rockets use nowadays.¡± Jiang Xue said to Li Tongyun, ¡°Xiao Yun, you must study hard just like your brother Qing Chen. See, I just mention part of a name, and he can guess what I want to say.¡± Jiang Xue was gradually bing aware of Qing Chen¡¯s schstic aptitude. Whether it was his earlier interpretation of wireless charging or now instantly understanding liquid oxygen methane, one definitely couldn¡¯t do this without a rich reservoir of knowledge. This was a unique feeling, as if there was nothing the young man didn¡¯t know. For Qing Chen, the appearance of the two transmigrators, Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, filled some gaps in his knowledge. In prison number 18, he had to avoid exposing his transmigrator identity, so he could not ask too much. After returning to the Outer World, the noisy information was hard to discern as true or false. Now, hearing the true ¡°Inner World¡± from Jiang Xue excited him somewhat. Jiang Xue¡¯s mechanical limb clinic was frequented by all sorts of people, making it a good ce to gather information. Suddenly remembering something, Qing Chen asked, ¡°So¡­ When Xiao Yun called me, did she want me to help with something?¡± Li Tongyun replied, ¡°My mom can¡¯t lift her arm anymore. Could you please help take care of my mom for a day?¡± At that moment, Jiang Xue¡¯s arms hung by her sides, and Qing Chen could see that she hadn¡¯t washed her face that morning, still had sleep in her eyes, her hair wasn¡¯t tied back in its usual ponytail, and she hadn¡¯t prepared breakfast for Li Tongyun; she looked quite disheveled. Having a mechanical limb run out of power was indeed troublesome. In the Inner World, one could recharge it anytime, anywhere, but in the Outer World, one had to be more conservative with its use. Qing Chen also remembered that there was another transmigrator in Los Angeles City who, in order to evade a tail, had jumped several meters up to a rooftop. He wondered what had be of them, whether they had ended up paralyzed on the ground¡­ But this was perhaps for the better, as at least the modifiers of mechanical limbs would have to be more cautious in the Outer World. He looked at Li Tongyun¡¯s hopeful eyes and then at Jiang Xue¡¯s apologetic expression, and sighed, ¡°But I don¡¯t know how to take care of people.¡± It was Sunday, no sses, so he had plenty of time, but Qing Chen only knew how to take care of himself and had never really taken care of anyone else. Jiang Xue quickly said, ¡°No need, no need, you don¡¯t have to take care of me. It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t cook for Xiao Yun today, could you please help take care of her a bit?¡± It was evident that Jiang Xue genuinely felt guilty. Li Tongyun said pitifully from the side, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, could you cook something for us? I¡¯m hungry.¡± Qing Chen smiled, ¡°I can certainly cook.¡± No sooner had he spoken than a knocking sound came from outside, ¡°Hello, is anyone home?¡± Standing in the living room, Qing Chen nced out the window and was shocked to see the mysterious organization¡¯s off-road vehicle. ¡°Xiao Yun, go open the door for the guests. I¡¯ll go to the kitchen to cook,¡± Qing Chen said and then headed into the kitchen, tying on an apron, leaving only his back visible from outside. Xiao Yun opened the door and two young men in ck suits entered. They addressed Jiang Xue, ¡°Hello, I am Lu Yuan. We have met before, from the Kunlun people.¡± Kunlun? Qing Chen paused in the kitchen, realizing that the name of the organization was Kunlun. Then he heard Jiang Xue say, ¡°Please have a seat. Xiao Yun, please pour some water for our guests.¡± The Kunlun members asked with curiosity, ¡°What happened to your arm?¡± ¡°The mechanical limb has run out of power,¡± Jiang Xue exined. ¡°Make a note of this,¡± the young man said to hispanion after understanding the situation with the mechanical limb, seeming unaware that mechanical limbs could run out of energy. Listening secretly in the kitchen, Qing Chen guessed that the other party, as Jiang Xue had said, might indeed be a newly formed organization, thus not very familiar with the Inner World. Jiang Xue inquired, ¡°What brings you two here?¡± ¡°Oh, we wanted to ask about something,¡± one of the Kunlun members said, ¡°Last night there were two criminals, and one of them, after fleeing from your residence, had his leg¡¯s shin bone broken in an attack in the neighborhood. Do you know who did this? Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re not here to press legal charges. We just want to understand the situation.¡± Qing Chen¡¯s heart suddenly raced. CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnotes: [1] Author likely uses the words ¡®corporation¡¯ and ¡®financial groups¡¯ interchangeably. In the past, the raws used were ¡®corporation¡¯ and asionally ¡®financial group¡¯ [2] The raws for Lu Yuan can be tranted as ¡®A far road¡¯ or ¡®Distant Journey¡¯. It might be a codename instead of the character¡¯s real name. If it¡¯s a codename I will amend it in the future. Chapter 35: 35. Seeking Qing Chen Chapter 35: 35. Seeking Qing Chen ¡°Do you know who did it?¡± Lu Yuan asked. As these words were spoken, the living room fell silent all at once. The air in the room seemed to turn into tranquil water, slowing everyone¡¯s movements. In the kitchen, Qing Chen also instinctively held her breath. Jiang Xue adjusted her sitting position and said slowly, ¡°I don¡¯t know who did it, perhaps it was someone acting out of a sense of justice. Why do you ask, why are you investigating this?¡± Jiang Xue actually had a clear idea; the other party was here to investigate Qing Chen. But no matter what, she was unwilling to let others trace it back to Qing Chen because that youth had been avenging her daughter. The image of the youth carrying a shovel in the night, and their cracked palms, seemed so close at hand, giving her a sense of security from an outsider for the first time. Lu Yuan exined with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, we are notw enforcement, so we don¡¯t intend to do anything to the person who acted out of a sense of justice.¡± The Kunlun member beside him said, ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s just that from the description of the criminals, we¡¯ve found that this person¡¯s timing in acting and ambushing is extremely tricky, not something an ordinary person could do, so we want to find him to see if he is a transmigrator.¡± Lu Yuan continued, ¡°We aren¡¯t certain that he is a transmigrator, just that we pay attention to any recent abnormalities.¡± The two men were in perfect sync, as if they had rehearsed their dialogue. At that moment, Li Tongyun said obediently, ¡°After the incident yesterday, my mom and I have been at home the whole time and haven¡¯t gone out, so we don¡¯t know who did it.¡± Qing Chen was startled in the kitchen. In this world, most people subconsciously believe that children do not lie. Li Tongyun suddenly speaking up undoubtedly increased their credibility. Qing Chen thought for a moment, realizing that this young girl might not be simple. At first, when the young girl sought refuge at his doorstep, she was timid yet hard to turn away. And now, after bing a transmigrator, even her own mother was kept in the dark. This was not a coincidence. Having grown up in a family with constant quarrelling and domestic violence, a child raised in such an environment often turns out to be quite different from ordinary people, either being reclusive, precocious, or exhibiting other psychological traits. He himself had grown up in such a family environment, and Li Tongyun was the same. For some reason, Qing Chen suddenly felt like he had encountered a kindred spirit, A kindred spirit who, beneath a calm exterior, had a turbulent, violent heart. It was his intuition. Li Tongyun then suddenly asked, ¡°Uncle, that uncle or auntie who acted out of a sense of justice helped us, right? Why are you looking for them? Are you going to catch them? Are you bad guys?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Lu Yuan¡¯s colleague exined somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, child.¡± Lu Yuan exined, ¡°Maybe it really was just someone acting out of a sense of justice. Once again, we have no ill intentions. Since the Kunlun organization is just starting up, we are looking to find and recruit like-minded talented individuals.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Jiang Xue said. ¡°Also, there are certain organizations in the Inner World, as well as some consortia that have discovered the existence of the Outer World. ording to our statistics, 21 transmigrators have died under mysterious circumstances, tortured before their deaths, and more than a dozen transmigrators explicitly stated they had been imprisoned by Inner World organizations, so Ms. Jiang Xue, we advise you to remain vignt and avoid detection,¡± Lu Yuan cautioned. ¡°Although these are covert operations, they are enough to remind us of the dangers of exposure.¡± ¡°Okay, I understand,¡± Jiang Xue nodded. Hearing these numbers from Lu Yuan, she felt a surge of fear in her heart. So revealing one¡¯s identity in the Inner World could be this terrifying. Just then, Lu Yuan¡¯s colleague¡¯s phone rang. He looked at it and said, ¡°He Xiaoxiao has appeared again.¡± Jiang Xue looked puzzled. ¡°Is He Xiaoxiao that person who posts guides on TikTok?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lu Yuan nodded. Li Tongyun asked sweetly, ¡°Uncle, who is this He Xiaoxiao brother? He seems to know a lot.¡± Lu Yuan perked up, ¡°You know about He Xiaoxiao too, youngdy? We are also looking for him, but he is very good at concealing himself. We haven¡¯t been able to find out who he is yet. He should have left some clues, but now all traces rted to him have been erased¡­ I¡¯ve said a bit too much. We won¡¯t bother you any longer. Goodbye.¡± Jiang Xue rose to her feet and said, ¡°I¡¯m not so mobile right now, so I won¡¯t see you out.¡± ¡°No need to see us out,¡± Lu Yuan said with a smile, as he walked to the door. He suddenly looked at the door and asked, ¡°Oh, whose sneakers are these at the entrance?¡± Jiang Xue replied calmly, ¡°They¡¯re my husband¡¯s.¡± Li Tongyun also said, ¡°Right, my dad¡¯s.¡± ¡°Ah, sorry,¡± Lu Yuan said before he opened the door and left. After the click of the door closing, Jiang Xue and her daughter Li Tongyun finally let out a sigh of relief. Qing Chen emerged from the kitchen, ¡°Sorry for causing you trouble.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that, we¡¯re the ones who troubled you,¡± Jiang Xue said. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for our issues, you wouldn¡¯t have been pulled into this mess.¡± ¡°Hmm, what would you like to eat? I just checked the fridge and found out we¡¯re out of vegetables,¡± Qing Chen stated. Jiang Xue had Li Tongyun take out two hundred yuan from her wallet, ¡°We need to buy more vegetables, maybe get some ribs? You and Xiao Yun are still growing, so you need to eat some meat.¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment, took the money, and then left the house. In the old corridor, with its walls covered in small advertisements and peeling paint, he stood in the shadow of the stairwell, his fingers tapping on the iron railing, producing a tat-tat-tat sound. The noise had a strange rhythm to it, as if his fingers were capable of thought. The next moment, Qing Chen went back home to change his shoes before heading out to the farmers¡¯ market. However, before he could even leave the residentialplex, he saw a ck SUV parked on the side of the road, with someone inside quietly observing him, waiting for him to walk past. Lu Yuan¡¯s gaze swept up and down Qing Chen¡¯s figure, lingering a bit longer on his shoes. The two people in the car silently watched until Qing Chen had walked far away, then Lu Yuan suddenly said, ¡°It¡¯s not him.¡± ¡°You knew there was someone else in the house just now, seemingly hiding from us. Why didn¡¯t you rush in to check? It¡¯s such a hassle,¡± hispanion wondered. Lu Yuan replied helplessly, ¡°Boss Zheng just instructed us that since Kunlun¡¯s inception, we are to maintain a good rtionship with transmigrators, not use strong-arm tactics.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s better to absorb all the transmigrators into the organization first.¡± Lu Yuan shook his head, rolled down the window, and lit a cigarette, the orange-red sparks mixing with the misty vapor inside the car. He exhaled all the smoke from his lungs, ¡°Kunlun isn¡¯t somece for any Tom, Dick, or Harry. The boss also said what we¡¯re going to do in the future ¨C if you¡¯re not one of us, it just won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± his partner asked. ¡°Wait here a bit longer. If we don¡¯t find him, then let it be,¡± Lu Yuan said as he snuffed out the cigarette butt. ¡°A new era has begun; some people are destined not to be ordinary. Maybe we don¡¯t need to look for them, they will appear on their own.¡± ¡­ Qing Chen reached Jiandong Road Farmers¡¯ Market before he slowly took out his phone and started searching for the name He Xiaoxiao on TikTok. From the conversation at Jiang Xue¡¯s home, Lu Yuan had revealed a lot of information: Even Kunlun didn¡¯t know He Xiaoxiao¡¯s identity, and she hadn¡¯t been recruited by Kunlun. Furthermore, she had the means to erase her own traces. Considering today¡¯sworked society, how difficult is it to erase one¡¯s traces? Your registered phone information, your identification documents, are almost all interconnected and can be found anywhere. With Kunlun¡¯s ability to restrict movements, how could they not find the identity information of a game streamer through technical means? Unless, that person possessed technology or abilities beyond this era, something the people of the Outer World still couldn¡¯t understand. ¡­ Hey, the double monthly ticket event has started. I¡¯ll update two chapters first, and there will be more tonight! I¡¯m begging for monthly tickets!! I¡¯ve already dropped out of the top ten on the monthly ticket rankings, ah!! Chapter 36: 36. The New Strategy (third update, extra chapter today) Chapter 36: 36. The New Strategy (third update, extra chapter today) He Xiaoxiao¡¯s identity remained a mystery. But what Qing Chen was most curious about was how the other party managed to do that? He also wanted to hide his identity, but now he could only rely on clumsy methods. Perhaps after he traveled to the Inner World tonight, he could tentatively ask Lu Guangyi? Without overthinking, Qing Chen opened TikTok and found He Xiaoxiao¡¯s video. It was still a ck background with white subtitles, without any other information. A young man¡¯s voice said slowly, ¡°Since many people in thement section asked how to reach the Inner World, this episode will focus on how to obtain the beta ess to the game.¡± ¡°Everyone refers to the yers as transmigrators, but I prefer to call those who obtain beta ess ¡®Time Travelers.¡¯ Because when you enter the Inner World, time in the Outer World stops for you. When you return, time in the Inner World will also stop for you. No, it stops for all Time Travelers.¡± ¡°Currently, the birthces of known Time Travelers are concentrated in 19 cities: Wucheng, Jingcheng, Nancheng, Los Angeles City, Chuan City, Zhongcheng, Shencheng, Kuncheng, Haicheng, Jicheng, Zheng City, Hangcheng, Fucheng, Guangcheng, Lancheng, Xian City, Hucheng, Jincheng, and Taicheng.¡± ¡°There might be scattered Time Travelers in other regions, but the chances are slim.¡± ¡°Therefore, I personally suggest that yers who want to gain beta ess should move quickly to one of those 19 cities before the beta channel closes, which will increase your chances of bing a Time Traveler. Though the improvement is slight, at least there¡¯s hope.¡± ¡°It is known that the third batch of Time Travelers will be born tonight, and it¡¯s still unclear when the beta channel will be closed, so please cherish this opportunity.¡± ¡°Additionally, as the game in the Inner World is extremely difficult, I suggest all Time Travelers form teams within the Inner World to explore together, to improve your chances of survival.¡± ¡°As usual, you can leavements on the strategies you most want to know, and I will choose the most popr topic to cover in the next video.¡± ¡°Atst, do not expose your identity in the Inner World, do not expose your identity in the Inner World, it¡¯s dangerous!¡± The video ended here. The other party¡¯s final warning was in bold red font, very eye-catching. Qing Chen suspected that the other party might be aware that some transmigrators¡­ Time Travelers had exposed themselves and suffered very serious consequences. That¡¯s why he made a point of warning everyone. This also fell within his expectations, after all, not all Time Travelers were so clever. Qing Chen felt a sense of crisis because the 18th Prison contained a danger like Liu Dezhu, who simply couldn¡¯t withstand interrogation. What should he do? And this time, what He Xiaoxiao mentioned about the strategies matched Qing Chen¡¯s own predictions perfectly. Qing Chen also knew that as soon as arge number of transmigrators¡­ Time Travelers appeared, these patterns would inevitably be summarized by people. He just didn¡¯t expect the other party to still insist on treating the Inner World like a gaming world and to keep using gaming terminology to create strategies. Moreover, He Xiaoxiao, by himself, expedited the process of the eager crowd converging towards those 19 cities! One could foresee that as the most famous Time Traveler, He Xiaoxiao¡¯s strategies would stir quite an uproar nationally. Qing Chen opened hisment section and was astonished to find the top-likedment asked: What¡¯s the best way to obtain a career path from the 18th Prison? It seems that everyone is quite interested in the 18th Prison. Thementer¡¯s ID was a string of numbers. Qing Chen visited thementer¡¯s homepage and found that many of their liked videos were rted to Los Angeles City, including one of the sports meets at the Los Angeles Foreign Language School. Qing Chen thought to himself, couldn¡¯t be such a coincidence, could it? That better not be Liu Dezhu! But actually, Liu Dezhu wasn¡¯t important to him. What mattered was, would He Xiaoxiao visit the 18th Prison because of thisment? Hard to say. Currently, the known method to get into the 18th Prison was throughmitting a crime¡­ He Xiaoxiao probably wouldn¡¯t take that risk. Qing Chen nced at the otherments again. In thement section of this TikTok, many people were wishing that He Xiaoxiao would show his face, or were curious about his identity within the Inner World. Even several people imed they were also Time Travelers and wanted to form a team with He Xiaoxiao¡­ However, none of thements received a reply. What was more absolute was that under thosements of Time Travelers asking to form a team with He Xiaoxiao, there were people asking them if they had boyfriends or girlfriends. Even more shockingly, there were inquiries asking if they were in need of a son¡­ Reading through thements with a furrowed brow, Qing Chen mused that this generation ofizens was truly something else. ¡°` However, one can also see the passion people have for time-traveling from here. Perhaps most people, unable to leave the city they live, work, and study in, would justugh off thements on the inte, return to work after scrolling through TikTok, and carry on with their lives as usual. Everything is still on its original track. But among the billions of people in the country, there must be those willing to go to one of the 19 cities and wait for an opportunity. After all, surpassing the ordinary is ultimately the most romantic dream of humankind. Of course, the Inner World incident has also bred its fair share of scammers. After the foreign mysterious organization offered a reward for the anti-aging gic potion, someone in the country started publicly selling anti-aging drugs: the same task that Qin Shihuang sent Xu Fu with three thousand boys and girls to aplish and failed, can now be bought for a bit of money¡­ Just now, Nan Gengchen also sent a WeChat message to Qing Chen saying that someone in the transmigration group was selling the elixir of immortality that Xu Fu had developed. The price was not too expensive since they were offering it at a wholesale rate. Qing Chen was puzzled, ¡°How do you know if the medicine is real or fake? And Xu Fu is from our side, right? What does he have to do with the Inner World?¡± Nan Gengchen replied, ¡°He ims he is Xu Fu.¡± Qing Chen: ¡°???¡± His entire being wasn¡¯t okay at that moment. God damn it, Xu Fu time-traveled with boys and girls. Then Nan Gengchen continued to text, ¡°He said that back then, he didn¡¯t go to the Ind Country but directly took the three thousand boys and girls through time!¡± ¡°Good for you,¡± Qing Chen turned off the phone screen. Honestly, he was starting to have trouble telling whether Nan Gengchen was genuinely foolish or just pretending to be. Countdown 13:08:19. When Qing Chen finished grocery shopping and returned to the neighborhood, the ck SUV was gone without a trace. He prepared a meal for Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun and then watched Li Tongyun dutifully feeding her mother. For some reason, he felt envious of this mother and daughter pair. Jiang Xue, who was originally a bit meek, had chosen to make herself stronger in order to protect Li Tongyun. Li Tongyun, to take care of her mother, had chosen to be more mature and sensible. He believed that Li Tongyun would definitely arrange the best mechanical limbs for her mother this time she transmigrates, the kind that canst the longest. As for Qing Chen, he only had himself. If someone were to give Qing Chen a choice now, and you could only continue to live in either the Inner World or the Outer World, he had to pick one. Qing Chen felt that he would probably choose the Inner World. At that moment, Jiang Xue asked, ¡°Xiao Chen, we hardly ever see your parents. Are they really busy?¡± ¡°Yeah, they must be pretty busy,¡± Qing Chen answered. Jiang Xue thought for a moment and said, ¡°I see that your washing machine is broken. We¡¯ve be so familiar with each other; you should bring your dirty clothes over, and Auntie will wash them for you. Don¡¯t be polite with me anymore. And don¡¯t cook for yourself after school either. Juste and eat at my ce. Even if you don¡¯te, I still have to cook for Xiao Yun. It¡¯s just a matter of adding a pair of chopsticks.¡± After thinking it over, Qing Chen replied with a smile, ¡°Okay, thank you, Aunt Jiang Xue.¡± ¡­ Nighttime. Qing Chen went to bed early, not waiting for the countdown to reach zero. He was getting more and more adept at this time-traveling thing. ¡­ No more dawdling, I¡¯m dropping a bomb update for votes, three more chapters tonight! A six-chapter burst today, all for monthly votes! The rest is up to all of you! ¡­ Thank you to Li Dongze for bing the silver Alliance Hierarch of this book, boss is so generous! Thank you to Charging Up Makes You Stronger and Star Dream Horizons for bing Alliance Hierarchs of this book, boss is so generous! May the bosses be as fortunate as the Eastern Sea and live as long as Mount South! ¡°` CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] The ruler of the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang, feared death and sought a way to live forever. He entrusted Xu Fu and an entourage of 3000 virgin boys and girls with finding the secret elixir of immortality. [2] Ind country refers to Japan in this case, ording to the story of Xu Fu. Chapter 37: 37, People from Sichuan State (Fourth Update) Chapter 37: 37, People from Sichuan State (Fourth Update) ¡°` A familiar voice. Someone was forcefully pounding on the Alloy Gate, and steel beasts roared within the cell, ¡°Neers, wee to Prison 18!¡± Qing Chen sat up from the hard-nk bed, a slight smile spilling from the corner of his mouth. In his heart, he silently repeated, ¡°Neers, wee to Prison 18.¡± For some reason, the moment he transmigrated back, Qing Chen truly felt a burst of tion and excitement in his heart. Here were familiar faces, familiar rules, and hopes for the future. It was as if he belonged to the Inner World rather than the Outer World. Here, there were no past memories he did not want to recall, no people he needed to worry about. All he needed to do was move forward, everywhere was a new direction. He nced down at his arm but was taken aback. Return countdown 160:20:09. Minus the time he slept, the countdown this time was actually seven days! This was too unexpected. Qing Chen had even gotten used to a 48-hour countdown, but the rules had suddenly changed. Why? Was there any pattern? It seemed he still needed to explore the rules of transmigration. Qing Chen approached the Alloy Gate, which opened in response, greeting him with precise timing. The prisoners outside the corridor saw him and slightly bowed their upper bodies, greeting him with a nod. Compared to the Outer World, it felt more like his home ground here. Qing Chen stood in the corridor and gave Lu Guangyi a nod from afar, which thetter immediately understood. After all the prisoners lined up and went downstairs, Lu Guangyi immediately got to work controlling the new prisoners, He knew this was what Qing Chen wanted. Although this might infuriate the other two factions, leading to a possible conflict any day, he came to Prison 18 specifically to pave the way for Qing Chen. To be a pawn, one must have the consciousness of a pawn; a pawn that has crossed the river cannot retreat. Sess brings life, failure brings death, and gloryes at the cost of one¡¯s life. At the moment, Uncle Li Dong also tacitly consented to Lu Guangyi¡¯s actions; he seemed to want to see what Qing Chen nned to do. Today, seven new prisoners arrived. While Lu Guangyi was seizing new prisoners, six of them seemed to be second-timers, who chose to ept their fate right away. Experienced prisoners knew it was better to endure; fighting back would likely make things worse. However, as Lu Guangyi was about to grab thest new prisoner, thetter kept dodging desperately. But this prisoner had not a single cybeic limb on him, how could he, an ordinary man, outrun those steel beasts? Just as Lu Guangyi was about to catch him, the new prisoner became frantic, ¡°Don¡¯t fucking touch me! What the hell do you want grabbing me, fuck off!¡± While dodging and running, he kept cursing, ¡°Don¡¯t fucking mess with me! I¡¯ll p you to death, you unborn god!¡± Qing Chen: ¡°???¡± He waspletely taken aback by the authentic Sichuan dialect, as in the Inner World, dialects didn¡¯t exist, everyone spoke Mandarin! Not just Qing Chen but Lu Guangyi and the others were also baffled, ¡°What the hell is this guy saying? Can you guys understand?¡± Everyone looked at each other, ¡°We can kind of understand, but notpletely.¡± When the whole world spoke in the same ent, a dialect felt so out of ce and jarring¡­ Qing Chen quickly realized this man was a transmigrator! Because Qing Chen spoke Mandarin and Mandarin was rtively widespread in Los Angeles City, he hadn¡¯t realized that dialect was actually the biggest threat to exposing the existence of the Outer World¡­ At that moment, Qing Chen could even imagine what sort of situation those transmigrators carrying a dialect would face. But this guy spoke in a Sichuan dialect, how did he transmigrate to Prison 18? ording to the pattern Qing Chen and He Xiaoxiao had summarized before: transmigrators only appeared densely in 19 cities across the country, and the same transmigrator seemed to always transmigrate to almost the same location, so it should be people from Los Angeles City transmigrating here to Prison 18. ¡°` Could there be a problem with the pattern I¡¯ve concluded? Are thending points of transmigration random? No, there must be special circumstances. He nced at the three individuals downstairs, Uncle Li Dong and his twopanions; their expressions had clearly changed, all bing grave. Qing Chen felt that unless the other party was an idiot, they would definitely perceive something from these continuous unexpected events. The people of the Inner World learning about the Outer World was only a matter of time, because there were just too many transmigrators! Uncle Li Dong, looking at the farce nearby, turned to Lin Xiaoxiao and said, ¡°Catch him and interrogate him carefully, including the earlier Huang Jixian and Liu Dezhu. I think they might alle from the same ce.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said gravely. A unique Sichuan dialect clue helped Uncle Li Dong link all the strange events that had urred recently. This time, he did not sit back and do nothing, but instead directed Lin Xiaoxiao to take action immediately. As soon as his words fell, the man from Sichuan copsed to the ground, falling into a nightmare. Lin Xiaoxiao walked up to Lu Guangyi and said calmly, ¡°Step aside, hand him over to me.¡± However, even faced with someone like Lin Xiaoxiao, Lu Guangyi stiffly retorted, ¡°Only if our boss says so.¡± Saying so, Lu Guangyi turned his head to look at Qing Chen, who was still in the shadows of the third-floor corridor. The prisoners were stunned¡ªwasn¡¯t Lu Guangyi the boss? Who else could be the boss? Only at this moment did the prisoners around Lu Guangyi understand that Qing Chen was not just a lucky youth who happened to meet Uncle Li Dong by chance. He himself was a True God. His surname was Qing, and he was Lu Guangyi¡¯s boss! Thinking of this, many prisoners who had once had designs on Qing Chen immediately shivered with fear. Anyone living on the Eastern Continent of the Inner World could not ignore the colossal entity that was Qing¡¯s Family. It was an era where everyone could only live in the shadow of the five major financial conglomerates. When nothing was amiss, everyone could indulge in pleasure. But when they truly encountered this colossal entity, everyone would remember the fear of being dominated by the conglomerates at some point in their lives. No one could escape unscathed. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Lu Guangyi and smiled, ¡°You know who my boss is and still dare to stand in the way. You do have some backbone, which is good.¡± Qing Chen did not wish to put Lu Guangyi in a difficult position, so he nodded his head, signaling for him to let Lin Xiaoxiao pass. Lin Xiaoxiao pushed through the crowd, lifting the man from Sichuan with one hand and walked out. Qing Chen watched as the heavy alloy gate of the prison slowly opened for Lin Xiaoxiao, and only closed slowly after he had passed through. It seemed that Uncle Li Dong and hispanions coulde and go freely in Prison No. 18! But if they were free toe and go, why didn¡¯t they leave this ce? He slowly descended the stairs and sat down opposite Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Where did Lin Xiaoxiao go?¡± ¡°There¡¯s been an unexpected incident,¡± Uncle Li Dong, holding the big cat in his arms, said slowly, ¡°Although I still can¡¯t make sense of what the incident is, it seems to be something beyond my imagination. In the past, if one after another, people of unknown identity appeared around me, I would think someone had a meticulous n to get something from me, but this time is different. The other party doesn¡¯t have a n, and it seems¡­ alsocks a brain.¡± Qing Chen fell silent for a long while after hearing this. At this moment, Qing Chen realized he did not have much time left. Let alone the fellow townsman from Sichuan, Liu Dezhu alone would certainly not be able to withstand Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s interrogation. Firstly, Liu Dezhu was just a coddled student, not strong-willed. Secondly, Lin Xiaoxiao possessed a mysterious power of nightmares, which could inadvertently make someone reveal the truth during an interrogation. The exposure of the Outer World was inevitable, and it would happen soon. But there was nothing he could do. He had the Canon score, but he was well aware that against a decisive person like Uncle Li, a score could not change anything. Qing Chen could only wait. ¡­ Thank you for supporting me as a Silver City Alliance member of this book. Thank you for your generosity, boss; may your fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your life as long as the Southern Mountains. CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Lordbluefire Footnote: [1] The neer was speaking in Sichuan ng. [2] The raw for the word ¡°rascal¡± is seemingly the short form for ¡°turtle¡¯s grandson¡±, which in Chinese ng refers to unworthy rascals or b*stard. Chapter 38: 38. Qing Chens Secret (Fifth Update) Chapter 38: 38. Qing Chen¡¯s Secret (Fifth Update) In Prison No. 18, the sudden disturbance had scared the prisoners into silence. Even those who used to enjoy lifting weights began to handle the dumbbells with extra care, afraid to disturb the behemoth in this prison. In the past, there was only Uncle Li Dong in this prison. Although he couldn¡¯t be offended, the good thing was this True God never bothered with anyone. As long as you knew the rules in his underground world, you wouldn¡¯t die. But now things were different. Only a fool wouldn¡¯t realize that Qing¡¯s Family had no reason to send someone to the prison for no reason. With Guo Huchan here, Qing¡¯s Family had arrived, heralding a storm. At the dining table, Guo Huchan also got to eat real beef, wolfing it down, while Qing Chen ate more slowly. Ye Wan stood behind Uncle Li Dong and suddenly asked Guo Huchan, ¡°Stop focusing on eating, was that guy one of yours just now? I heard there are still a few ces in the wilderness where they speak a strangenguage.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not one of us, and that kid doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s from the wilderness,¡± Guo Huchan said, wiping his shiny mouth: ¡°When have you ever seen a wilderness person with such delicate skin?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Ye Wan frowned. ¡°Our people have already been found by Brother Qing Chen, don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m here on my own now!¡± Guo Huchan said cheerfully: ¡°Can you also get some meat for those five brothers of mine?¡± ¡°Is there a shortage of real meat in the wilderness?¡± Ye Wan said disdainfully. Guo Huchan sighed, ¡°Facing a corporate raid every other day, who has time to raise livestock? And with two more Taboo Lands in the wilderness almost causing fatalities, the living space isn¡¯t as big as you think. Of course, Brother Qing Chen, the food always follows you.¡± Qing Chen paused for a moment, Taboo Land, another new term. It sounded like it had some connection to the Taboo. Then, Guo Huchan turned and put his arm around Qing Chen¡¯s shoulder, saying, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, why don¡¯t youe with me to the wilderness? I can¡¯t promise anything else, but with your talent, you¡¯ll want for nothing and eat whatever you crave!¡± Uncle Li Dong wondered, ¡°Are you so eager to take him to the wilderness? Didn¡¯t you see he¡¯s with Qing¡¯s Family? Isn¡¯t it better for him to faithfully serve as Qing¡¯s Family¡¯s shadow than your wilderness?¡± ¡°How can it be the same?¡± Guo Huchan said dismissively: ¡°The matter of him being a shadow isn¡¯t even certain yet. The shadow selection is extremely dangerous, why take that risk? With me in the wilderness, you¡¯ll have everything, why bother with all that effort?¡± Uncle Li Dongughed, ¡°What do you have in the wilderness? Why should anyone follow you?¡± Qing Chen, on the other hand, said, ¡°He has the pie he has drawn.¡± Guo Huchan: ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, Qing Chen seemed calm, but in reality, he knew best. Lin Xiaoxiao would be back soon, and he was about to face the most dangerous test of his life. Although Qing Chen had lived two lifetimes since he transmigrated, he still had no trump cards. He knew what he was up against, but he couldn¡¯t hide. Nor was there any ce to hide. ¡­ In a corner of Prison No. 18, Lin Xiaoxiao sat in an interrogation room, quietly watching the transmigrator from Sichuan Province, Jian Sheng, across from her. The interrogation room was dim and murky, with dust floatingzily in the white beams of light from the LEDmp overhead. Jian Sheng was asleep, and Lin Xiaoxiao had just invaded his dreams with her nightmare ability, only to be rudely awakened by his insults¡­ This person is indeed irritable, Lin Xiaoxiao concluded. To tell the truth, she was a bit curious as to where this talented person hade from, seeing as he was able to hurl insults non-stop for half an hour without repetition. As Jian Sheng gradually woke up, he saw Lin Xiaoxiao and opened his mouth to curse: ¡°You son of a¡­¡± ¡°Stop,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao interrupted with a dark face: ¡°Don¡¯t talk yet. Just hearing you talk gives me a headache. Can¡¯t we have a proper conversation?¡± ¡°I ought to box your ears¡­¡± Lin Xiaoxiao: ¡°¡­¡± Just as Jian Sheng was about to continue cursing, Lin Xiaoxiao hurriedly activated his nightmare ability, and Jian Sheng felt another wave of drowsinessing over him, and he fell into a deep sleep. ¡°What a sin!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao sighed and turned to walk into the adjoining interrogation room, where Liu Dezhu was sitting shakily inside. This time, Lin Xiaoxiao didn¡¯t waste any words. He directly took Liu Dezhu to see Huang Jixian¡¯s current state. Huang Jixian¡¯s hands and feet were bound to the bed in the infirmary with alloy locks, one moment he was muttering to himself, and the next, he was struggling violently. Lin Xiaoxiao said to Liu Dezhu, ¡°See that? I¡¯ll ask and you answer. If you tell lies, you¡¯ll end up like him, got it?¡± Liu Dezhu didn¡¯t have much backbone, ¡°I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯m a high school student who crossed over from another parallel universe¡­¡± Seeing that the other party spilled everything like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. If he had known it would be this easy to interrogate this guy, why the hell did he bother with that Jian Sheng! ¡°Where is Los Angeles City?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked straightforwardly. ¡°Los Angeles City is just a city where we live,¡± said Liu Dezhu. ¡°How many of you have crossed over?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, ah, some say a few thousand, others say it¡¯s already over ten thousand.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s voice became stern, ¡°What¡¯s your purpose for crossing over? Why did you approach Uncle Li Dong, my boss?¡± Liu Dezhu was almost in tears, ¡°We were randomly transported, nobody knew where we¡¯d end up or what identity we¡¯d take on before crossing over. We really had no intention. I approached Uncle Li Dong because someone said that finding Uncle Li Dong in Prison 18 could lead to a career path¡­¡± This time, he spent a full three hours interrogating Liu Dezhu. During this period, Jian Sheng in the next room woke up three times, cursed at him twenty-seven times, and was knocked out three times again. Lin Xiaoxiao originally didn¡¯t believe in the transmigration events, but everything Liu Dezhu said withstood logical scrutiny. He believed that Liu Dezhu, the kind of fool who treated bosses like NPCs to be exploited, couldn¡¯t havee up with such a logically consistent construction of the Outer World. So now he had to believe, even if he didn¡¯t want to, that Liu Dezhu indeed spoke the truth. The most inconceivable thing in this human world had truly happened. The interrogation room seemed to have plummeted into an eternal silence, with Liu Dezhu trembling and not daring to speak. After a very long time, Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly asked, ¡°Have you ever heard of a song called ¡®Farewell¡¯?¡± Liu Dezhu was also momentarily stunned, ¡°Yeah, I know it.¡± ¡°Is there a line in it that goes ¡®Friends part, half are scattered¡¯?¡± ¡°Yes, how do you know?¡± Liu Dezhu asked, puzzled. A look of relief finally crossed Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s face. He knew. At this very moment, thousands of transmigrators hade to his Inner World, taking the ce of original inhabitants and continuing to live on. These people came from various backgrounds, and their destinies had only just begun to intertwine due to a strange event. But that wasn¡¯t the most important thing. The most important thing was that he had discovered the secret of Qing Chen. ¡­ Seeking monthly tickets, there will be a big chapter update around 8 o¡¯clock tonight. Chapter 39: 39. Of all the shortcuts, the furthest path (Part 6) Chapter 39: 39. Of all the shortcuts, the furthest path (Part 6) Lin Xiaoxiao was a clever and agile person butcked deep cunning. When the other returned to the restaurant and refused to discuss the results of the interrogation, Qing Chen already had his answer. Because that information wasn¡¯t something that couldn¡¯t be discussed, the Inner World would know about the transmigrator¡¯s affairs sooner orter. Unless¡­ the results of the interrogation involved a secret concerning someone present. Qing Chen wondered how the people of the Inner World would view the Outer World. Speaking of others, Uncle Li Dong, a very controlling superior, wasn¡¯t someone who would let things spiral out of control. No matter how much goodwill had been umted previously, it was worth nothing in front of a superior. Qing Chen wasn¡¯t certain that Uncle Li Dong would kill him but had prepared for the worst scenario. However, Uncle Li Dong was also extremely smart, Lin Xiaoxiao didn¡¯t have to say anything, and he understood. ¡°Xiao Xiao, take our friend from Spade elsewhere,¡± Uncle Li Dong instructed. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± Guo Huchan suddenly realized there might be big secrets here. However, Ye Wan abruptly deployed a transparent force field, engulfing Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen within it. Guo Huchan, who tried to eavesdrop, was unprepared and was bounced staggeringly away by the force field. By the time the bald man tried to rush back, he found Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao already blocking his way. Lin Xiaoxiao said with a smiling face, ¡°If you still want to stay here looking forTaboo item ACE-005, don¡¯t move forward.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t listen!¡± Guo Huchan said angrily. Right then, Uncle Li Dong calmly looked at Qing Chen and asked, ¡°So, these past few days you had Lu Guangyi interrogate the new prisoners to find them, didn¡¯t you?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°You are calmer than I expected,¡± Uncle Li Dong remarked, ¡°When I was your age, I wasn¡¯t like you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not calmness but that panicking is useless,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡°Although Xiao Xiao hasn¡¯t told me the results of the interrogation, I know it must be a big secret,¡± Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°I¡¯m ruthless when facing uncontroble situations; have you ever thought that you might not survive tomorrow?¡± ¡°I have,¡± Qing Chen looked up, observing his surroundings. The fascinating steel dome, the gleaming ck metal storm, and the mechanical prison guards standing armed and stationary around the prison. There were also the prisoners, some limping, grinning, and grimacing neers. Qing Chen wasn¡¯t sure if he would still see all this, so he wanted to take a longer look. He suddenly looked down at Uncle Li, smiling, and said, ¡°These days have actually been quite pleasant; if possible, I wish we could get to know each other again.¡± ¡°You beat me at chess on the first day, so I actually owe you a request. You can make it now,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. Qing Chen thought for a moment, ¡°Can I hear the farewell tune one more time?¡± ¡°Not trading for your own life?¡± Uncle Li chuckled. ¡°My life, it cannot be traded even if I wished to,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ve always liked your courage. This song is my gift to you, and you can make that request anytime,¡± Uncle Li Dong had Ye Wan bring a harmonica. The farewell song seemed like one Qing Chen chose for himself; the melodious tune somewhat calmed the atmosphere of the prison. ¡°Thank you,¡± Qing Chen said. Having said that, he went back to his cell alone andy on the cold bed silently waiting. Time ticked away slowly. From daytime to nighttime. Qing Chen heard the prison¡¯s broadcast reminding all prisoners to line up and return to their cells, then one by one the alloy gates closed, and the sound of hydraulic transmission marked the end of the day¡¯s noise in Prison 18. Secluding everything. The next moment, the entire prison suddenly plunged into total darkness. Then, the alloy gate of Qing Chen¡¯s cell reopened. In the darkness, someone put a ck hood over his head and carried him to an unknown location. Minutester, the two people carrying him left him somewhere and then left one after another. The hydraulic sound rang again, as if closing something, further isting it. Qing Chen silentlyy in the darkness; he didn¡¯t even get up to see where he was. The only sounds were his breathing, and the only light was the countdown only he could see, which couldn¡¯t illuminate anything. Time was slow and heavy. Qing Chen knew what reaction a person might have when confined in a dark, enclosed space. You don¡¯t know where you are, can¡¯t talk to anyone, and in these moments, loneliness and fear canpletely consume a person. And make them lose their sense of time. The absence of time is the most terrifying. Many can¡¯t even withstand 24 hours. There was an experiment offering a million to stay there for five days, but no one could im that million. Money is tempting, but 99% fall before 72 hours arrive. However. Perhaps Uncle Li and others didn¡¯t realize that Qing Chen had never feared loneliness. Ever since his parents divorced, he had been apanied by loneliness. Qing Chen was sharply aware thatck of water would be his greatest enemy. Return countdown 146:09:02. The countdown on his arm could help him keep track of time. The first day. Qing Chen slowed his breathing rate; he started recalling movies in his mind, first watching ¡°The Shawshank Redemption,¡± then ¡°Babilon,¡± all about prison break and faith. Those were all films he had memorized in his mind, yet no device was needed to rey them. Due to theck of water, his neurons confused the need for food and water, and he began to feel fatigued. Return countdown 122:09:02. The second day. Qing Chen slept and rewatched eight movies in his mind. He silentlyy on the floor with his eyes closed, enjoying the darkness. Hunger and thirst began to creep in, but he was like someone who had discarded his senses, unmoved. Return countdown 98:09:02. The third day Hunger began to burn his will, eroding his spirit. Qing Chen watched 12 films this time, not sleeping for a minute. The loss of water content tortured him, as his body suddenly went from cold to hot; his skin also began to dry out. His memory power started to decline, and the movies in his mind turned into intermittent slideshows. Memories of old times began to shine through. Qing Chen couldn¡¯t sleep anymore. Return countdown: 74:09:02. The fourth day. Qing Chen¡¯s hunger began to subside, and he opened his eyes to look at the endless void and darkness, not knowing what he was thinking. He hadn¡¯t checked the time for a long time; it seemed pointless to do so. However, from start to finish, Qing Chen had not uttered a word nor let out a shout. In the darkness, the world remained silent. He hadn¡¯t counted how long he had been without sleep, but it seemed unimportant. With his silence, Qing Chen fought against the world¡¯s silence and darkness. ¡­ It was already a dim night in Prison No. 18, with the lights inside the fortress turning into a faint glow. Even the drones on the Hive seemed to have fallen into a slumber. Uncle Li Dong sat at the end of the dim reading area¡¯s long table with his eyes closed, meditating, and Lin Xiaoxiao nced at the time and said, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s been four days.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Uncle Li Dong nodded. At that moment, a weak knocking sound came from afar, and Lu Guangyi muttered continuously from behind a door, ¡°Uncle Li Dong, where have you confined my boss? I, Lu Guangyi, won¡¯t let you off, neither will Qing¡¯s Family.¡± From the first day of Qing Chen¡¯s disappearance, Lu Guangyi noticed something was wrong, caused amotion in Prison No. 18, and nearly triggered a second Metal Storm. So, Qing Chen had been missing for four days, and Lu Guangyi had been confined in his cell for those four days. Only on this fourth day did Lu Guangyi finally quiet down a bit. Lin Xiaoxiao ignored Lu Guangyi¡¯s cursing and continued, ¡°Boss, Qing Chen has been inside for four days, hasn¡¯t said a word, and shows no signs of breaking.¡± ¡°He is an extremely intelligent man. He began by slowing his breathing rate to avoid rapid loss of water, it¡¯s not surprising hested through the fourth day,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°Even so, enduring quietly for four days is rare, he doesn¡¯t seem to be suffering punishment, rather, it looks like he is waiting. But he hasn¡¯t had water for four days now, he¡¯ll die without it,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said anxiously, ¡°Boss, you value talent, let him off the hook, please.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao, who originally couldn¡¯t stand the arrogance exuded by Qing Chen, was now pleading on behalf of the young man. Because he too knew what Qing Chen was experiencing. Ye Wan suddenly said, ¡°Boss, the ck Cell might not be able to handle him, let him out.¡± However, after thinking it over, Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°Switch to water torture.¡± ¡°Boss, he¡¯s extremely dehydrated now. The sight of water will cause him to instinctively drink, and he will die,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao panicked. Water torture involved cing a towel over the prisoner¡¯s face and then pouring water onto the towel. It acted like a one-way valve. Water poured in continuously while the towel prevented spitting it out, forcing you to breathe once. Even if you held your breath, it still felt like the air was being sucked away, like a vacuum cleaner. Lin Xiaoxiao knew well that no ordinary person could withstand water torture, let alone someone who had been thirsty for four days? The moment water torture began, a severely dehydrated person would desperately drink. However, the water filtering through the towel would not only quench Qing Chen¡¯s thirst in his stomach but would also flood his lungs, crushing hisst bit of life. Yet, it seemed Uncle Li Dong had made up his mind. ¡°Whether he lives or dies is up to him. Without seeing real death, how can he walk my path,¡± Uncle Li Dong said calmly. ¡­ Countdown 50:09:02. The fifth day. The ck Cell was opened, and Qing Chen, showing no signs of distress, was carried out. Someone ced him on a chair and then covered his face with a thick towel. Cold water was poured onto the towel, blocking all oxygen and vitality. Qing Chen sat quietly on the chair without moving, pursing his lips. He struggled against his own urge to drink water, not allowing himself to be destroyed by the temptation before him. Aside, Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan exchanged nces, surprised that at this time, Qing Chen could still maintain a clear will, aware of what he was facing, using hisst bit of willpower to fight for a chance to live. Qing Chen felt water flowing into his nostrils, filling up his body. He felt as if he had had a dream. In the dream, his young self was led by the hand, which was warm and soft. In the park. It felt as if the warm seawater enveloped his body under the sun, with the golden sunlight slowly undting. The woman holding his hand suddenly asked without turning her head back, ¡°Xiao Chen, your dad has someone else now; he doesn¡¯t want us anymore.¡± ¡°Mom, I want candied hawthorn,¡± the young him quietly said to the woman in front of him. The woman turned around and stared at him for a long time, ¡°Alright, mom will buy you candied hawthorn.¡± Her eyes reddened as she bought candied hawthorn for him, ¡°Xiao Chen, eat your candied hawthorn here, mom will go to the restroom.¡± But she never came back after that. Qing Chen waited from noon until dusk. He started crying, but crying was of no use. Someone helped him to get the police, but Qing Chen didn¡¯t want to go with them because he believed his mom woulde back. Until it turned dark, the woman came back, holding him and sobbing loudly. The young Qing Chen thought she had just got lost and finally found him now. Amid the water torture, Qing Chen¡¯s mind gradually became clear; it turned out this wasn¡¯t the first time he was abandoned. It seemed his peculiar memory power also began from that time. But, having a good memory was not necessarily a good thing, for he remembered every type of pain. Clearly and distinctly. Qing Chen felt his brain suffocating, and his limbs convulsing while the water began to pour into his lungs, but he stayed sitting there like a statue. He neither struggled nor pleaded. In the darkness, someone said, ¡°Come with mom.¡± Qing Chen responded softly, ¡°No need, mom.¡± The voice in the darkness said again, ¡°Come with mom.¡± Qing Chen¡¯s voice became firm, ¡°No need, I said no need, mom.¡± Suddenly, the wet towel over his face was removed. The dim light now seemed somewhat ring; he hazily saw Lin Xiaoxiao, anxiously patting his back. Uncle Li Dong quietly stood in front of him and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you plead; I still owe you a request.¡± Qing Chen, facing the blinding light, defiantly looked at him, coughed out the water in his windpipe, and then firmly said, ¡°Because you don¡¯t need a weak person.¡± At a certain moment, Uncle Li Dong suddenly recalled the first time the other yed chess. It was simrly fearless and obstinate, like a lone wolf wandering in the wilderness. He knew then, this was the person he was looking for. Uncle Li Dong asked again, ¡°Can you forget everything I did to you today?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t forget,¡± Qing Chen said, ¡°But I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Very honest, good,¡± Uncle Li Dong turned and walked towards the outside of the interrogation room, ¡°Starting tomorrow, I will teach you myself, I will take you on the longest of all the shortcuts in this world.¡± Chapter 40: 40. Decrypt Chapter 40: 40. Decrypt Uncle Li Dong left with the big cat, only mentioning that he wanted to personally teach Qing Chen, but not what he intended to teach. However, Lin Xiaoxiao, who knew the boss well, understood that the boss was in a very good mood at the moment. Very, very good. The knight¡¯s legacy had almost ended with Uncle Li Dong¡¯s generation. Although he never mentioned it, Lin Xiaoxiao had witnessed him selecting one sessor after another, only to see each attempt fail. Lin Xiaoxiao knew the boss was anxious. The path was too difficult to walk, so much so that he and Ye Wan couldn¡¯t even begin to tread it. At this moment, Qing Chen¡¯s prison garb waspletely soaked, his hair dripping with water, gasping nonstop. The agony of water torture can leave psychological scars. ¡°I really admire you,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you managed to endure four days in the tiny dark room. I couldn¡¯t handle it beyond 36 hours, Mother Ye did a bit better, 47 hours.¡± ¡°A bit better?¡± Ye Wan nced at him. ¡°A lot better, all right?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said impatiently. Qing Chen gradually caught his breath. ¡°You were also locked up in the tiny dark room?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao nodded. ¡°For ordinary people, it is a form of cruel punishment; for us, it¡¯s just a test, a necessary one. When the boss had us lock you up in the tiny dark room, I knew he had chosen you, but he wouldn¡¯t mind seeing you die if you couldn¡¯t make it. The boss has seen too much life and death; his heart has hardened.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao continued smilingly, ¡°But having a hard heart is essential in this era. Don¡¯t me him for it.¡± Ye Wan handed Qing Chen a soft, thick, dark blue towel. ¡°Wipe yourself off. There aren¡¯t many people who can remain as tough as you during water torture. It¡¯s perfectly normal for people to lose control of their dder and bowels.¡± Apparently, this wasn¡¯t the first time Ye Wan had subjected someone to water torture. And now, he had trulye to ept Qing Chen. At this time, Lin Xiaoxiao brought in a tray from outside the interrogation room, which contained a bowl of rice, a serving of sweet and sour pork ribs that smelled as good as it looked, and a bowl of white rice porridge. After some thought, Qing Chen picked up the bowl of porridge. Ye Wan said to Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°I win, you owe me a thousand bucks.¡± Qing Chen was stunned, ¡°You were betting?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said helplessly. ¡°Your blood sugar is extremely low right now, seeing food in front of you, you should really want to take a bite of something sweet. That¡¯s what your body is telling your brain, so I bet you¡¯d first take a bite of the sweet and sour pork ribs.¡± Ye Wan said, ¡°But you haven¡¯t eaten for four days. A smart person would choose to drink the porridge first, resisting his body¡¯s instincts, and informing himself what the best choice is. I bet that someone who could endure the tiny dark room and the water torture wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to eat the ribs first.¡± Qing Chen slowly drank the white porridge, feeling his chilling body gradually warming up. In the past, in the Outer World, even the most painful experiences paled inparison to what he had been through these past few days. His peers were still in ss, dating, ying games, while he had already embarked on a journey into the unknown. Even he didn¡¯t know where he would end up. Suddenly, Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°So, you actually didn¡¯t know you were from Qing¡¯s Family when you entered here, and that¡¯s why you tried to y chess with the boss to extricate yourself?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Qing Chen nodded, there was no point in hiding it now. Lin Xiaoxiao asked again, ¡°So essentially, you have no connection to Qing¡¯s Family right now, having never lived with them and feeling no sense of belonging?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Qing Chen nodded again. Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°That¡¯s actually good. I guess the boss thought about this too, which is why he decided to ept you.¡± Ye Wan said to Qing Chen, ¡°You can rest assured that only I, Lin Xiaoxiao, and the boss know about your identity from the Outer World. Even Li Dongze won¡¯t be told. We will keep your secret.¡± Qing Chen sighed in relief, ¡°Thank you¡­ Who is Li Dongze?¡± ¡°Heng Society¡¯s Li Dongze,¡± Lin Xiaoxiaoughed. ¡°The Heng Society is an organization under our Knight, and the Knight¡¯s power is probably greater than you can imagine. It seems you know nothing about the outside, we need to educate you in the next few days.¡± Ye Wan said, ¡°By the way, Lu Guangyi is quite loyal to you. He has been through a lot for you these past few days, nearlying to blows with the boss.¡± ¡°Hmm, thanks for the reminder,¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°Do you know Liu Dezhu and Huang Jixian, and that guy who likes to curse, Jian Sheng?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked. ¡°I know Liu Dezhu and Huang Jixian, well, not exactly know them, they were my high school ssmates,¡± Qing Chen exined. ¡°Wait, were you just an ordinary high school student in the Outer World?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was shocked, even though he knew some things about the Outer World, he thought Qing Chen would be quite impressive in that world too. Given the abilities and willpower that Qing Chen had shown, he shouldn¡¯t have been just an ordinary student. Qing Chen said, ¡°The Outer World is a rtively peaceful world with no Transcendents, no mechanical limbs, no gang organizations, stable and peaceful. Even being an ordinary person isn¡¯t bad there; there aren¡¯t any life-threatening dangers.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really envious,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao remarked. Qing Chen asked, ¡°Where is the person who spoke in dialect being held?¡± ¡°Just a few rooms away from this interrogation room, why?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked. ¡°Can I go ask him a few questions?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Of course you can,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, smiling cheerfully, ¡°We¡¯re all in this together now, there¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t do. From now on, you can wander around Cell Block 18 as you please.¡± After thinking it over, Qing Chen tied the towel he had used during the water torture over his face and asked Lin Xiaoxiao to bring him a reader before heading to the cell where Jian Sheng was held. The alloy gate opened, and Ye Wan went in first to subdue Jian Sheng. This fellow Earth townsman was roughly in his thirties, Jian Sheng began to curse, ¡°I¡¯ll give your child¡­¡± Before he could finish, Qing Chen, silent, wrote three words on the reader, which made the other stop cursing: ¡°Kuan Zhai Alley.¡± Jian Sheng paused for a second, ¡°You¡¯re from Earth?¡± ¡°I need to ask you a few things,¡± Qing Chen continued to write, ¡°Aren¡¯t you from Sichuan Province? How did you end up here, and are you in Los Angeles City?¡± ¡°I was doing some business in Los Angeles City, and somehow I just ended up here,¡± seeing that he was talking to a fellow Earthman, Jian Sheng answered more cooperatively. ¡°What¡¯s your profession?¡± Qing Chen wrote again on the reader. ¡°Scalper,¡± Jian Sheng replied. ¡°Are you also from Los Angeles City?¡± However, Qing Chen had no intention of answering his question but turned and walked away. Only then did Ye Wan let go of Jian Sheng. Jian Sheng, watching the alloy gate slowly close, suddenly realized that his fellow townsman had no intention of saving him, and he started cursing again. But Jian Sheng paused to think that something was amiss. Considering that this young man was from Earth, why did he seem to hold such a high position in this world? The Lin Xiaoxiao who had interrogated him before, and that burly strong man, were both cooperating with him. Were there already such powerful individuals in the Time Traveler? Meanwhile, outside the door, Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Qing Chen, first at the towel on his face and then at the reader in his hand. This young man had just undergone solitary confinement and water torture, yet he still maintained such a cautious demeanor?! Chapter 41: Retirement Home Hitman Chapter 41: Retirement Home Hitman Countdown 48:00:00. Qing Chen walked through the silent and deserted No. 18 Prison with Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao. This was his first time seeing the prison after 9 PM, open and tranquil. Four mechanical prison guards stood silently in the square, their mechanical eyes also extinguished, as if they were in hibernation. By now, Qing Chen had confirmed that his and He Xiaoxiao¡¯s spections were not wrong, Jian Sheng had also traveled to No. 18 City because he appeared in Los Angeles City. Wherever a Time Traveler traveled to, from there their life in the Inner World would continue. Ye Wan said, ¡°The day the transmigrator arrived, we didn¡¯t capture you immediately to avoid others making the connection, so you don¡¯t have to worry about blowing your cover. Xiao Xiao publicized that you coveted the ACE-005 guarded by the boss, so you received a light punishment.¡± ¡°Hmm, you¡¯ve thought it through quite well,¡± Qing Chen understood that Uncle Li Dong had been prepared from the start to ept him into the organization. Whether he could survive was his own matter. At that moment, a feeble and hoarse voice came from somewhere in the prison, ¡°Uncle Li Dong, release my boss¡­¡± Qing Chen was startled, ¡°Have you had him locked up for four days?¡± ¡°Yeah, otherwise he woulde out looking for trouble with the boss again. If it wasn¡¯t for hismendable loyalty, the boss would have gotten rid of him a long time ago,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao exined, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, someone has been sending him food and water during these four days.¡± ¡°What did he used to do before? Did you investigate?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°We did,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao replied, ¡°He used to work as a thug in an old age home for the He Lian Society.¡± Qing Chen¡¯s mouth slowly widened, ¡°Old age home¡­ thug?¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t know about this,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao nodded, ¡°In the poverty-stricken areas of the Inner World, there is no customary support for the elderly. Everyone sends them off to old age homes after they turn sixty, while their children squander their parents¡¯ retirement funds.¡± ¡°Then why hire thugs? To beat up the elderly?¡± Qing Chen was shocked. ¡°No, no,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao exined with a halfugh, ¡°They collect protection fees from the elderly. The elderly pay them to send robust youths with the most mechanical limbs to pretend to be their grandsons. This is to intimidate and scare other elderly residents so they are not bullied in the old age home.¡± Ye Wan added, ¡°These old age home enforcers even have a famous slogan: ¡®He Lian Society¡¯s Elderly Services, guaranteed to respond faster and serve better than your son. After all, we¡¯d worry about not making money if you died, but your son wouldn¡¯t ¨C because he¡¯d inherit everything once you¡¯re gone.''¡± Qing Chen hesitated, ¡°Is this industry doing well?¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao answered with a nod, ¡°At least it can sustain a society, but we at the Heng Society look down on this type of business.¡± At this point, Qing Chen felt it strange why Qing¡¯s Family would assign an old age home thug to assist him in the crucial matter ofpeting for the Shadow Candidate. After some thought, Qing Chen said, ¡°Can I go see him?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao led Qing Chen to where Lu Guangyi was confined. After greeting the camera at the door, the alloy gate opened. However, Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan did not enter, instead giving Qing Chen space to speak privately with Lu Guangyi. Lu Guangyiy motionlessly on the cold floor, with his food tray touched a little but mostly uneaten. The moment he heard the sound of the alloy gate, he scrambled up, and when he turned around and saw Qing Chen, he burst into tears, ¡°Boss, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± said Qing Chen softly. He felt somewhat weak and simply sat down on Lu Guangyi¡¯s bed. Lu Guangyi squatted beside him, concerned, ¡°But Boss, how have you lost so much weight? Did they torture you? When Qing Yanes to visit in a few days, I will tell him about this!¡± ¡°No need to tell Qing Yan,¡± Qing Chen shook his head, ¡°I hear you went looking for trouble with Uncle Li Dong?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Lu Guangyi nodded, ¡°Is it just because he coveted his ACE-005 that he should torture someone like this? Guo Huchan coveted it before too, and he was fine. It¡¯s probably because they think Qing¡¯s Family won¡¯t make a big fuss over a mere Shadow Candidate like you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. When you¡¯re under someone¡¯s roof, you don¡¯t have a choice but to bow,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡°That won¡¯t do, I¡¯ll have to face Uncle Li Dong in a showdown tomorrow!¡± Lu Guangyi dered with righteous indignation. ¡°Enough, there¡¯s no need to pretend,¡± Qing Chen said with a mixture ofughter and tears. ¡°Pretend¡­ I¡¯m not pretending,¡± Lu Guangyi hesitated for a moment. Qing Chen¡¯s clear eyes met his gaze until Lu Guangyi became increasingly guilty and eventually deted, sitting on the ground, despondent. Even if his opponent¡¯s body was fitted with Qing¡¯s Family military mechanical limbs, it couldn¡¯t withstand the aura of defeat that a small-time character radiated. Qing Chen felt somewhat emotional; he had only known Lu Guangyi for a few days, and even if he were as formidable as Cao Cao or Liu Bei reincarnated, he didn¡¯t have the charismatic aura of a king that could make people submit on sight. His past life experiences had bestowed upon him not only suffering but also an ability for meticulous observation and thought. So he was actually very clear that Lu Guangyi knew he wouldn¡¯t reallye to harm and was just putting on an act of loyalty. If Lu Guangyi did nothing during the time he was imprisoned, he would be marginalized sooner orter after Qing Chen¡¯s release. In this world, there is no such thing as love and loyalty without reason. Qing Chen was exceptionally familiar with human nature. But then he heard Lu Guangyi muttering in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯ve seen right through me, boss. This is just the way we small folks survive.¡± Qing Chen sighed, ¡°You don¡¯t need to tter me; I¡¯m aware of what you¡¯ve done these past days. Rest assured, as long as you don¡¯t betray me, I won¡¯t treat you as a disposable piece.¡± Lu Guangyi suddenly looked up, ¡°Really, boss?¡± ¡°Really,¡± Qing Chen nodded. Qing Chen pondered for a moment before saying to Lu Guangyi, ¡°However, there is one thing I must make clear: if you follow me, you must act more discreetly and can no longer be as ostentatious as before.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard from Qing Yan before that you are very low-key, boss, and it¡¯s really true!¡± Lu Guangyi immediately became obedient: ¡°Boss, if there¡¯s anything you want me to improve, just say the word, and I¡¯ll definitely change.¡± Qing Chen fell silent for a moment: ¡°First, take off those gold strips you¡¯ve affixed to your mechanical arm, be more in.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lu Guangyi said without hesitation as he tore off the gold strips. The gold strips were t and long; calling them strips was actually more urate than calling them bars. About 1 millimeter thick, 2 centimeters wide, and ten centimeters long. In just a moment, the originally exquisite mechanical arms looked a ss cheaper¡­ Qing Chen nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ll keep the gold strips for you for now. Remember, don¡¯t be ostentatious.¡± Lu Guangyi didn¡¯t think too much about it; in the average citizen¡¯s view of the Inner World, would the direct descendants of the five major conglomeratesck money? They have the means to print it. ¡°You should rest,¡± Qing Chen said subtly as he took the gold wire from Lu Guangyi¡¯s hands, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into his pocket before leaving the room. Only after the Alloy Gate behind him closed did the young man slowly exhale a sigh of relief. Qing Chen¡¯s brain worked rapidly, calcting that this was probably 2 cubic centimeters of gold, and with gold¡¯s density at normal temperature being 19.23, that meant it was over thirty grams¡­ What was the price of gold in the Outer World now? Lin Xiaoxiao asked, ¡°Is there anything else that needs to be dealt with?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment, ¡°Yes, I have a n to confirm something.¡± Chapter 42: 42, Killer Chapter 42: 42, Killer Countdown 40:20:00. Qing Chen walked out of the Alloy Gate as usual, noticing the prisoners looking at him with unusual eyes, seemingly surprised to see him reappear after five days. But this time, he didn¡¯t walk through the corridor; instead, he simply stood still. He waited for the prison broadcast and then followed the queue downstairs to get his meal. Prisoners immediately believed the rumors from thest few days, ¡°This young man had angered Uncle Li Dong, was locked in the ¡®dark room¡¯ for several days, and had even endured some torture.¡± Thus, this young man had now lost the special treatment he had in Prison No. 18. However, the prisoners still didn¡¯t dare to provoke him easily, because Uncle Li Dong might offend Qing¡¯s Family, but they couldn¡¯t. During the meal, Lu Guangyi and Qing Chen sat far from Uncle Li Dong. Qing Chen bowed his head and ate, carefully chewing his food, making sure everything was thoroughly chewed before swallowing. His stomach was now fragile, and he needed to be cautious. Throughout the meal, Qing Chen didn¡¯t speak a word; there was nothing but silence. On his side, on Uncle Li Dong¡¯s side, the separation was clear. It was as though they were close friends just a few days ago, but today, they were strangers. The prisoners whispered among themselves, gossiping about what exactly had happened. Had Uncle Li Dong fallen out with Qing¡¯s Family? They spected about what the taboo item guarded by Uncle Li Dong might be, something worth such caution and irritation. At that moment, only Guo Huchan seemed carefree and indifferent. He sat down next to Qing Chen with his tray, grinning as he said, ¡°How did you manage to offend Uncle Li Dong to the point he tortured you like this?¡± Qing Chen looked up at him, ¡°Sitting by my side, aren¡¯t you afraid of offending Uncle Li Dong?¡± Guo Huchan seemedpletely unconcerned, ¡°I¡¯m not even afraid of Qing¡¯s Financial Group, why would I be afraid of Uncle Li Dong?¡± ¡°Then why are you looking for me?¡± Qing Chen seemed uninterested in Guo Huchan, the burly man who made empty promises and ran his mouth off, so he didn¡¯t even nce at him while they talked. ¡°I¡¯m different from others, others might value the Qing¡¯s Family behind you, but I value your capabilities!¡± Guo Huchan said earnestly, ¡°I¡¯m serious, I want to invite someone ambitious like you.¡± ¡°Not interested,¡± Qing Chen said calmly, then stood up. He handed his tray to Lu Guangyi for washing and then walked alone towards the reading area. He hadn¡¯t walked two steps when he seemed to falter as if losing strength and almost fell to the ground, but he managed to brace himself with his hands just in time to avoid embarrassment. Qing Chen got up and continued walking forward. Unbeknownst to him, two prisoners had followed him from behind at some point and were casually closing in on him. However, in the next moment, the previously frail-looking Qing Chen suddenly turned and faced the two men. The young man¡¯s gaze was clear but oppressively piercing, as if he saw right through them. The two prisoners hesitated for a moment, they looked at each other as if making a decision, and then suddenly, each of them pulled out a sharpened toothbrush handle from their waistbands and charged at Qing Chen. In Qing Chen¡¯s eyes, the hydraulic shafts on their Mechanical Legs suddenly powered up; he could even see steam ejecting from their steel limbs. It wasn¡¯t a physical reaction caused by their mechanical limbs, but rather, some mechanical structure inside the mechanical limbs hadpressed the air, instantly vaporizing the moisture in the air! But just as they leaped toward him, both simultaneously closed their eyes and passed out. Qing Chen sidestepped slightly, letting the two men brush past him, flying behind him and tumbling over the ground more than a dozen times before finally stopping. The two couldn¡¯t get up again; their consciousness was firmly gripped by Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s nightmare. Qing Chen knelt beside them to observe, while Lu Guangyi came over with his Mechanical Arm, pried open their mouths, and forcibly extracted their back mrs. The prisoners were all stunned; no one had seen clearly what had happened, everything had urred so quickly. They didn¡¯t understand why these two prisoners had attacked Qing Chen, nor how they had been taken down. Lu Guangyi held a back mr in his hand for Qing Chen to see; it was clearly a silver poison capsule. At that moment, Qing Chen understood that the three Death Warriors who had died before were not there for Uncle Li Dong; the target¡­ was himself. These two death warriors hade in five days ago, along with Jian Sheng from Sichuan Province. At that time, everyone¡¯s attention was on Jian Sheng, but even in that immense chaos, Qing Chen noticed something odd about these two individuals. Initially, he didn¡¯t pay much attention, but on the fourth day in the dark cell, the more isted Qing Chen became, the clearer his mind grew, to the point where he revisited all the unusual urrences in his mind. Therefore, he gave them a chance, a chance where he was alone and vulnerable. In doing so, he aimed to confirm for whom these death warriors hade. If these two individuals did not take action, he would expose them regardless; if they attacked, the answer would immediately be clear. Calcting the time, the first batch of death warriors hade in with him. So, actually, from his first day here, there had been people wanting to kill him. If he hadn¡¯t found Uncle Li Dong immediately, allowing thetter to feel wary, he would have already been dead. These subsequent death warriors seemed to be under a death order, desperate enough to risk their own lives just to kill him. Who exactly wanted him dead, other Shadow Candidates? Qing Chen couldn¡¯t be sure, but this was the most likely answer. It seemed the struggle for the position of the Shadow was more dangerous than he had imagined. In Qing¡¯s Financial Group, those Shadows specifically handling dirty jobs are ruthless, and only those who dare to eliminate their rivals are fit to be Shadows. This dark race among nine people was never about who performed tasks better, but who was more vicious and decisive. At that moment, four Mechanical Prison Guards uniformly sprinted over. However, they did not trouble Qing Chen but directly carried these two death warriors out. Qing Chen knew they would face very harsh interrogation and punishment, as he had just experienced. ¡°Boss, what now?¡± Lu Guangyi asked. ¡°Wait for them to talk,¡± Qing Chen said and then exchanged a nce with Lin Xiaoxiao across the air before heading to the reading area. ¡­ At night, Prison No. 18 returned to tranquility. As Qing Cheny on his bunk pondering, the alloy gate of his cell opened on its own. He was not surprised but quietly walked out, with Uncle Li Dong, Ye Wan, and Lin Xiaoxiao waiting for him in the downstairs fitness area. This was agreed upon, as what Uncle Li Dong had to teach him must not be known to others. Fortunately, after 9 p.m., all prisoners were forced back to their cells, giving Qing Chen ample time to learn¡­ how to be a Transcendent. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen before him and asked, ¡°Got any questions? You can deal with other things before we start learning.¡± ¡°Who wants to kill me?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Not interrogated out yet,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said nearby: ¡°These two have tough bones, still clench their teeth even in nightmares. They reallymitted crimes to get here, no one arranged that, so it¡¯s hard to trace anything from that angle. Their mechanical limbs seem to be specially reced to prevent tracking down their sale and production locations. But don¡¯t worry, give me 7 days, and I¡¯ll have an answer for you.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Qing Chen nodded. Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment and said, ¡°It must be those young ones from the Qing family who want to contend for the position of the Shadow. Facing dangers is an inevitable path, and you need to be mentally prepared for this.¡± ¡°Why does everyonepete for this position of the Shadow?¡± Qing Chen puzzled: ¡°Even at the risk of dying nine out of ten times?¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled and said, ¡°Because, since some generation, the rule in the Qing Family has been that only those who have been a Shadow can be the Family Head.¡± ¡­ Asking for monthly votes, please! Just let me stay in the top ten, or I am going to drop out again! ¡­ Thanks to ¡°Second Brother Not Taking the Journey¡±, ¡°Lord of Cloud Skies¡±, ¡°Endless Night Fire ¡°, ¡°Flying Little Crow¡±, ¡°Mimo Seven Tones¡±, and ¡°A Shivering Student¡± for bing the new Alliance Hierarchs of this book, thank you, bosses, you are all so generous! Thanks to Li Dongze and Yuan Zhang for the new million bounty, thank you, bosses, you are all so generous! May the bosses have blessings as vast as the East Sea and a lifespan as long as the South Mountains. Yesterday was such a surprise, gaining so many new Hierarchs! Chapter 43: 43. Breath Chapter 43: 43. Breath ¡°Shadows can be the Family Head?¡± Qing Chen was puzzled. Up to now, he had no clear concept of the Shadow Struggle, and because he couldn¡¯t reveal too much, he could only feign understanding, as if he knew everything. Finally, he could resolve many doubts. Ask directly! Uncle Li Dong, knowing that he wasn¡¯t from the Inner World, began to exin in detail like a teacher, ¡°It is said that during thest human civilization era, Qing¡¯s Family existed. Back then, a Shadow was merely a disposable role within Qing¡¯s Group, usually assigned to those Descendants of Qing without any background, and they didn¡¯t hold as much Power as they do now.¡± ¡°However, one incredibly talented Shadow overthrew the master and set a new rule.¡± ¡°Every Family Head must have been a Shadow, to have witnessed the filthiest things in this world. And those who have been Shadows, the n will never abandon; they will be provided for until the end of their days.¡± Qing Chen was puzzled, ¡°How many Shadows are there?¡± Uncle Li Dong answered, ¡°On average, a new generation is selected every decade or so, and a single Family Head may have apanied over a dozen Shadows.¡± He continued, ¡°Nowadays, medical technology is quite advanced; a Family Head can live for a hundred years, some even over a hundred and fifty. Hence, when a Family Head steps down, he has to choose his sessor from among the dozen or so Shadows he has known.¡± ¡°And the other Shadows?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°They transfer power,¡± said Uncle Li Dong, ¡°but they can live out their twilight years in peace. Having been a Shadow not only qualifies one for the position of Family Head but also grants an immunity from death.¡± ¡°I always find this system a bit odd. Since that Qing Family Ancestor had been a Shadow himself and knew the suffering, why would he establish such a parasitic system?¡± Qing Chen wondered. ¡°Oh, the rule of the nine fighting for the position wasn¡¯t set by him; it was set by his son. It seems his son chose several Shadows who turned out to be useless, having no one capable by his side, so he let the subordinates fight amongst themselves. The winner would naturally be the strongest,¡± Uncle Li Dong exined. ¡°Didn¡¯t the Qing Family Ancestor stop his son?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°At first, the Shadow Struggle was just aboutpleting tasks; the one with the greater abilities won,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°But as nearly a thousand years have passed, the Shadow Struggle gradually degenerated, bing a matter of survival¡ªonly those who can stay alive be the Shadow.¡± Qing Chen nodded; this made sense. The ancestral familyw reflected idealism, but all ideals gradually decay over time. Nothing is immutable, for the human heart is everchanging. ¡°Since then, the practice of the Shadow Struggle has continued,¡± Uncle Li Dong said with a smile. ¡°Perhaps all the Family Heads of Qing¡¯s Family understand that without ferocity, how can they hold their ground in this Inner World?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Qing Chen nodded, ¡°so I must be careful about my own safety, since all nine Shadow Candidates want to eliminate the others.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Uncle Li Dong nodded, ¡°to be honest, this has surpassed my expectations too. I didn¡¯t expect someone to attempt eliminating the others so quickly; it usually doesn¡¯t happen this fast. Unless someone feels threatened by you.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m close to you?¡± Qing Chen analyzed. ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not right. The Death warriors had already started following me even before I met you.¡± ¡°No need to overthink it, with time, you will naturally understand,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°Can I drop out of the Shadow Struggle? Does being in Qing¡¯s Family and joining the Knights conflict?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°No conflict,¡± Uncle Li Dong shook his head, ¡°but it¡¯s still better to keep it a secret that you¡¯ve joined the Knights. Haven¡¯t you seen that I¡¯ve been locked up here? I will teach you at midnight like now, and continue as we do during the day. And I wouldn¡¯t rmend you drop out of the Shadow Struggle; you haven¡¯t yet seen just how great the Power of a Shadow can be.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Qing Chen nodded. He wasn¡¯t someone without courage. Since Uncle Li Dong advised not quitting, he would just y along with the other candidates. At this moment, Prison Number 18 was particrly empty, and Qing Chen felt a sense of freedom without the usual constraints. Uncle Li Dong sat cross-legged on the ground, with the big cat snuggled up to him asleep, and Qing Chen also sat cross-legged opposite him. ¡°Do you have any more questions?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked. ¡°I see that the standard weaponry in the Inner World is still firearms. Are there more powerful weapons?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°There are, but not many,¡± Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°There are small EMP grenades specifically against mechanical limbs, and special weapons mounted on mechanical limbs, but the military of the conglomerates still mainly uses firearms, and the bullets are basically made of copper.¡± Qing Chen was puzzled, ¡°Given the Inner World¡¯s advanced technology, why are its weapons simr to those in the Outer World?¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled and said, ¡°Because to kill a person, one bullet is enough.¡± Qing Chen understood that everyone continued to use them because they are the most cost-effective weapons, and they are sufficient. The word ¡°sufficient¡± is very key. It¡¯s like how some say that mirrors in the Inner World aren¡¯t as high-tech as imagined, aside from being able to defog, they don¡¯t have any other additional functions. That¡¯s because the function of a mirror is just that simple. It¡¯s not that the moreplicated the technology, the moreplicated the everyday items will be. ¡°Alright, enough of the trivial matters, let¡¯s talk about the important issues,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°The longest path among all the shortcuts in the human world?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Right,¡± Uncle Li Dong nodded, ¡°Stretch out your right hand.¡± Qing Chen spread out his right hand in front of him, only to see Uncle Li Dong suddenly grab his wrist. In just an instant, he felt his breath hitch, as if a strong spiritual will was controlling the rhythm of his breathing, even the speed of his blood flow. The pulse that Uncle Li Dong grasped felt as if it had been locked in shackles. The next moment, Uncle Li Dong¡¯s breathing rhythm changed, and Qing Chen watched as he exhaled a white breath, followed by a Fire Rune pattern extending from his cheek to the side of his ear. Qing Chen was stunned! All of this disyed by the other partypletely defied biologicalmon sense! But before he could react, Qing Chen felt his own breathing rhythm also being forcibly changed, his heartbeat, his breathing, all be different! Qing Chen only felt that when he breathed, it was like a fiery surge rolling into his throat, then spreading through all his alveoli, the terrifying temperature sweeping through his body, followed by heart-wrenching pain! It wasn¡¯t actual temperature, but the illusion of pain caused by the inexplicable agony. Gradually, Fire Rune patterns began to appear on Qing Chen¡¯s cheeks as well, with the pain spreading along the patterns into his brain. He wanted to pull away the wrist that Uncle Li Dong had mped, but Ye Wan at his side said firmly, ¡°Endure it.¡± Qing Chen gradually calmed down, no longer struggling or pleading. Just like when he experienced water torture yesterday. Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°Remember what I told you? Those who have experienced painful lives can ascend to a higher level.¡± Chapter 44: 44. Face the Pain Chapter 44: 44. Face the Pain The burning illusion, the boiling blood, the thunderous heartbeat. Qing Chen felt as if the world was roaring around him, his life igniting along with it. However, the burning sensation soon began to subside. With each breath, while the fire rune still marked his and Uncle Li Dong¡¯s cheeks, the air he drew into his lungs had be a soothing breeze, no longer apanied by pain! Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly reminded him, ¡°Hold onto your consciousness, those pains you once forgot will soon sweep through your mind, all the pain, remember it¡¯s all the pain. The moment it begins, you will start to crumble, and if you cannot withstand this, no one can help you.¡± Qing Chen¡¯s mind shivered, for the pain Lin Xiaoxiao spoke of surged into his mind in an instant: His first time living alone, the finger he cut while trying to cook, the moment of the cut, the slow drag of the knife edge across his skin, even the feel of each fingerprint being split was remembered. During water torture, the icy water streaming through his lung lobes like toxic saplings, their frigid roots piercing into his lung lobes. In the dark room, the dryness of dehydration shed with the pain of water torture just a second before. And the sunset on the day his mother left. As well as the silhouette dragging a suitcase under that sunset. All of it swept in like a tide, as if it intended to smash the cliffs by the sea into pebbles. The dark waves, fine as knives, emitted hollow howls and moans. Qing Chen felt as if he was back during the water torture, closing his eyes. He plunged into a void of darkness once again. Beneath the abyss, a gentle voice called out, ¡°Come with mom.¡± Qing Chen replied, ¡°I¡¯vee so far on my own, I will walk the rest of the way by myself as well.¡± It seemed as if only a moment had passed, and he opened his eyes again. No wonder Uncle Li Dong had said, if you can¡¯t endure that trial, you can¡¯t walk his path. All of it was for this moment. Qing Chen¡¯s breath zed like a fierce fire. That ze seemed to burn away all past events in an instant, and from then on, he understood his choices, no longer needing to me himself, no need to look back. His remaining life was all about the path ahead. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao beside him also changed expressions, standing straight and exchanging nces, seemingly surprised that Qing Chen still kept his rity to this point. They too had experienced this kind of pain, knowing well what it felt like when the heart begins to copse as all the pain converges. Only those who have directly faced each pain can step over that profound ¡®questioning soul¡¯ abyss, severing their past from their future, and move forward. Lin Xiaoxiao muttered, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because Qing Chen never forgets what he sees, so those pains, he¡¯s never truly forgotten¡­¡± The human brain has protective mechanisms that let you intentionally forget certain things, thus allowing you to live better. However, the state of Super Memory gave Qing Chen an extraordinary talent as well as endless pain. This pain, revisited year after year, he had long since grown ustomed to. Qing Chen was never the greenhouse¡¯s favored child; he had long been a disciple of pain. And that abyss, he had stepped over long ago. Uncle Li Dong slowly released his palm, remarking, ¡°That trial went smoother than I imagined.¡± For some reason, as he realized what was happening, he started to feel a pang of sympathy for the young man before him. No one knows what another¡¯s life is truly like, or what burdens they bear while enjoying their talents. The Fire Rune on Qing Chen¡¯s cheek began to fade as he asked, ¡°What is the purpose of this Breathing Technique?¡± The reason he asked was that he hadn¡¯t felt any significant changes in his body. He only felt spiritually invigorated and extremely rxed, the weakness from fasting for four days rapidly dissipating. ¡°It¡¯s just a supplementary method,¡± Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°The Breathing Technique is simply different breathing frequencies. You can¡¯t use it alone yet. After I guide you through it a few more times, you¡¯ll remember its rhythm.¡± However, no sooner had Uncle Li Dong spoken than he saw the Fire Rune on the face of Qing Chen, who was sitting opposite him, not only stop fading, but begin to spread once more! He couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly for the first time, ¡°I forgot that you can enter a Super Memory state and memorize the breathing rhythm directly.¡± It must be said that Uncle Li Dong was truly feeling helpless now; his own teacher had to guide him over forty times just for him to barely remember the breathing frequencies, and even then, no mistakes were allowed. But the young man in front of him got it in one try. Uncle Li Dong then said, ¡°Since I don¡¯t need to guide you on this anymore, let me tell you about the inheritance of the Knights for now. As for the functions of the Breathing Technique, we can talk about thatter.¡± ¡°At the beginning of the Knight Organization, it was the founder who discovered the secrets of the Gic Lock.¡± ¡°ording to his findings, after humanspleted eight life-death thresholds, the Gic Lock would open by itself.¡± Uncle Li Dong continued, ¡°In the earliest days, you had toplete these eight life-death thresholds to be considered a qualified Knight. Once the Gic Lock was opened, one became transcendental.¡± ¡°Back then, there were many Knights. They followed humanity through the era of great cmities and, together with the surviving humans, forged a new civilized epoch.¡± ¡°Butter on, Knights became increasingly rare, not because there were no suitable candidates, but because one of the life-death thresholds had to bepleted at sea, and the entire sea had turned into Taboo Land. It used to be a narrow escape from death, but now it became certain death.¡± ¡°With one life-death threshold missing, the Gic Lock naturally could not be opened.¡± ¡°However, the new leader of the Knights at that time, Ancestor Qin Sheng, was also extraordinarily talented. He developed a new Breathing Technique to assist such that followers discovered that if they used the Breathing Technique during challenges, they could unlock part of the Gic Lock after finishing each threshold instead of having toplete all to unlock it.¡± ¡°Though a Knight who onlypleted one life-death threshold could not be as powerful as those whopleted all eight, by the time everyonepleted the sixth threshold, their strength fully surpassed that of the older generation of Knights.¡± ¡°If ssified ording to the levels in the Inner World, that would be six levels from A to F, with thepletion of the sixth being A-ss.¡± Qing Chen was stunned for a moment; he hadn¡¯t expected that the Transcendents of this world were also divided into strength levels. He suddenly asked, ¡°Then, teacher, what level are you?¡± Ye Wan said from the side, ¡°The boss is S-ss.¡± Because Uncle Li Dong had alreadypleted seven life-death thresholds, only one short of the final one. ¡°But what exactly is so miraculous about this Breathing Technique that it can help unlock the Gic Lock?¡± Qing Chen asked. At that moment, his heart was thrilled because he had already touched the gateway to the New World, but he was still somewhat puzzled. ¡°You should know about endorphins,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. Although Qing Chen had a photographic memory, he hadn¡¯t really focused on this subject before. He could only rely on the information in his memory to say, ¡°Like dopamine, it¡¯s a secretion that provides pleasure, but there is a difference: the dopamine from ying games, winning the lottery, or gambling provides a hit, whereas the exhration and rxation after exercise are provided by endorphins.¡± Uncle Li Dong shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s what soul-soothing phrases im, but dopamine doesn¡¯t directly make people happy; it¡¯s just a neurotransmitter that transports serotonin, which can make people happy. However, to put it simply, saying dopamine provides happiness isn¡¯t wrong, but understand this: it¡¯s not happiness it provides but an addictive craving.¡± ¡°What about endorphins?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Endorphins are substances that offer a sweet relief after bitter pain. They bind with morphine receptors in the body, providing an analgesic effect, but that¡¯s just their basic function,¡± Uncle Li Dodng exined, ¡°Ancestor Qin Sheng conducted very strict tests and discovered that when Knightspleted certain life-death thresholds, arge amount of endorphins were secreted in their bodies.¡± ¡°So, he believed that dopamine is the poison that drags people down, while endorphins are the key to unlocking the Gic Lock.¡± ¡°Thus, a new creed was born within the Knight Organization: Only those who have experienced painful lives can ascend to higher realms.¡± Chapter 45: 45. Taboo (Vote for me for the monthly ticket!) Chapter 45: 45. Taboo (Vote for me for the monthly ticket!) Qing Chen, while listening to Uncle Li Dong¡¯s stories about knight traditions, could imagine how many brambles the knights¡¯ ancestors had to cut through to forge a new path. Because the sea environment no longer allowed them toplete the eight life-and-death trials, they had to find their own way out. He asked, ¡°What is the rtionship between the Breathing Technique and endorphins? Why can the early unlocking of the Gic Lock be aided by the Breathing Technique?¡± ¡°Because the Breathing Technique enables you to secrete endorphins instantly after feeling pain, which is itself a skill to control your body. If you use the Breathing Technique to train your body, you can cover in three months what others take several years to achieve,¡± Uncle Li Dong answered, ¡°So when youplete the life-and-death trials entirely with the Breathing Technique, the level of endorphins in your body is far above normal levels.¡± ¡°Are there other effects?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°When you finish the first life-and-death trial, I will tell you the rest of its effects. Knowing them now wouldn¡¯t be meaningful,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°Can¡¯t endorphins be injected directly?¡± Qing Chen asked, believing that the technology of the Inner World was likely advanced enough to extract and inject endorphins without side effects. Uncle Li Dongughed and said, ¡°This is an era where even love can be faked with phenylethmine chips, but you need to understand that any action that relies on external force is ineffective for us. There were ancestors who tried to inject endorphins directly without using the Breathing Technique, but they failed to unlock the Gic Lock even after passing the life-and-death trials.¡± ¡°We can understand the principle of endorphins, but still cannotprehend the Gic Lock. To this day, the secrets of the Gic Lock remain sacred and untouchable to knights.¡± ¡°We can only use the most foolish method, adhering to the old rules, so I said, this is the longest path among all shortcuts in the human world. And there is only one path to the divine throne, which is the painful cultivation.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it,¡± Qing Chen said, ¡°Then what will happen after Iplete all eight life-and-death trials with the assistance of the Breathing Technique?¡± ¡°That question is meaningless,¡± Uncle Li Dong shook his head. ¡°It has meaning,¡± Qing Chen looked at him and said, ¡°Because in the Outer World¡¯s oceans¡­ there is no Taboo Land.¡± He watched as Uncle Li Dong showed a look of astonishment for the first time; he always seemed to have everything under control, as if nothing really concerned him. But when he heard this statement, his state of mind was visibly disturbed. ¡°Yes, there were no Transcendents in your ce, so how could there be a Taboo Land,¡± Uncle Li Dong mused, ¡°So, you could pass all the life-and-death trials in another world.¡± ¡°What exactly are the Taboo Land and the Taboo items?¡± Qing Chen finally voiced the question. Seeing that her boss was pondering, Ye Wan exined on his behalf, ¡°The origin of both the Taboo items and the Taboo Landes from the same entity: the Transcendents.¡± ¡°The Transcendents?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Right,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°When a Transcendent dies unexpectedly, their abnormal and potent blood seeps into thend, nourishing the creatures there: ants, centipedes, scorpions, any existing insects. It also revitalizes the nts and even the microbes that grow there. As a result, the creatures of thend of the dead evolve, and thend of the dead bes the Taboo Land.¡± ¡°The reason the Inner World¡¯s oceans are so fearsome is, ording to the suspicions of the Deer Ind Financial Group¡¯s investigation, that a transcendental species of whale had aged, fell ill and died. Then its blood and bones nourished the entire ocean,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao exined. ¡°How did they find out about it?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Deer Ind built unmanned submarines to explore the ocean, to see if there was a possibility to sail out and find a new continent. Before the creatures of the ocean destroyed the unmanned submarines, they captured footage of a gigantic whale skeleton on the sea floor,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao exined, ¡°This was a ssified file from hundreds of years ago that was dessified decades ago.¡± Qing Chen asked curiously, ¡°How big was that whale skeleton?¡± ¡°Uh,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words, ¡°Really freaking huge?¡± ¡°Speak human,¡± Qing Chen¡¯s face darkened. ¡°The unmanned submarine¡¯s wide-angle lens was over three hundred meters away from it when filming, and it couldn¡¯t even capture its skull in the entire frame,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said. Qing Chen eximed, ¡°It¡¯s really fucking huge.¡± From then on, humans onnd never again entertained the thought of setting sail. ¡°And what is that Taboo?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°A Taboo is an extraordinary power a Transcendent possessed in life that mutates into a different form for a period of ten to a hundred years after their death,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao exined. ¡°Can you give me some examples?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Some Taboos are direct manifestations of a Transcendent¡¯s powers from when they were alive. For example, there¡¯s always a six-carriage ck steam train roaming the wilderness near City 16, and few know where it¡¯s headed. It asionally stops, and if you throw a Gold Coin through the window into the headcar, it will take you anywhere you want to go and won¡¯t stop until it reaches the destination.¡± ¡°Gold Coins¡­¡± ¡°Yes, its headcar is filled with Gold Coins, and many organizations like to use it for smuggling goods, although finding it is not easy.¡± ¡°What if you steal its Gold Coins?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°It will close off the carriage and trap you inside until you die, which is why thest carriage is filled with skeletons,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said cheerfully: ¡°So, if you evere across it one day, don¡¯t ever steal the Gold Coins.¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°There are also Taboos that have nothing to do with the Transcendent¡¯s abilities and might even be mysterious creatures with infinite life,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao continued, ¡°If you have a way to contain it, it might serve you.¡± ¡°And if you don¡¯t have a way to contain it?¡± ¡°Then it can be extremely dangerous.¡± At this moment, Uncle Li Dong seemed to havee to some sort of realization, stood up, and said, ¡°In the face of Taboos, we¡¯re like Hunters in a forest with a Longsword in hand, aware that there are fierce beasts in the woods, mindful that these beasts are different. We¡¯ve learned to ssify these beasts and have experience in dealing with them. We know which beasts we can fight and which we must avoid. But now there are more and more beasts, so we need specialized Hunters to deal with them, which led to the formation of the Contraindicated courts. They are enemies of both the fierce beasts and those who would keep them.¡± ¡°Not only do they contain Taboos, but they also contain Transcendents who might produce Taboos, because they don¡¯t want the day toe when there are so many fierce beasts that they could destroy humanity.¡± Qing Chen pondered upon hearing this. Uncle Li Dong looked at him and said, ¡°Starting today, Ye Wan will teach youbat skills, train your physical endurance, and the techniques for the eight challenges. I am envious that you were born in the Outer World, but that¡¯s not important. What matters is that you might change an era. Begin now, I can¡¯t wait to see that day.¡± After speaking, Uncle Li Dong left. In the gloomy darkness of Prison 18, Qing Chen suddenly felt that,pared to the bright sunshine of the Outer World, he really preferred it here. Even though he was in a prison, he felt hope and freedom. ¡­ Starting on May 1, additional updates willmence, ending on May 7; thest few hours of April are upon us, seeking monthly votes to keep us in the top ten! Charge! ¡­ Thank you to the students with tales of wine, I am not silver light, ah, and Fortress Treasure for bing this book¡¯s Alliance Hierarchs, your generosity is as vast as the Eastern Sea and your longevity as enduring as Nanshan! Chapter 46: 46. Family Visit (Additional update for Sea Soul Clothing Alliance) Chapter 46: 46. Family Visit (Additional update for Sea Soul Clothing Alliance) Training began unexpectedly. Right there in the fitness area, Ye Wan took out a constant-temperature lunchbox. The lunchbox even had an LED screen, disying the inside temperature, as well as options like heating, humidifying, air frying, and cooking rice. Qing Chen thought to himself, isn¡¯t this just a rice cooker that doesn¡¯t need to be plugged in? It seems that there is also a Yun Liu Tower near the prison. When Ye Wan opened the lunchbox, inside were neatly arranged slices of beef. ¡°Eat,¡± Ye Wan said. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to be training, wouldn¡¯t eating now upset the stomach?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°We¡¯ll be training with the Breathing Technique. If you don¡¯t eat, your body will break down because the consumption is too great,¡± Ye Wan exined. As Qing Chen experienced the wonders of the Breathing Technique, he suddenly asked, ¡°Wait, when I use the Breathing Technique, I clearly feel an inexplicable breath moving through my body. It doesn¡¯t seem to help my body much, and it¡¯s intangible, but I feel like I can control it.¡± Ye Wan shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. You can ask the boss.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t ask any further. The next morning, the countdown read 20:20:00. Lin Xiaoxiao, sitting at the table, asked Ye Wan, ¡°How didst night¡¯s training go? Usually, people can¡¯t withstand high-intensity training when they start. How long did hest?¡± Ye Wan nced at him, ¡°Full load, from 11 to 3 in the morning.¡± ¡°Wait, he looks like he¡¯s never trained before, and hested until 3 AM?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned, ¡°Mother Ye, don¡¯t train him to death!¡± ¡°What¡¯s to fear with the Breathing Technique,¡± Ye Wan shook her head. ¡°Before training, I made him eat a whole box of beef, and he burned it all off during the training. The boss specifically instructed this, don¡¯t worry, I know my limits.¡± Ordinary people starting high-intensity training typically couldn¡¯t endure it this way; they could even end up with rhabdomyolysis. ¡°Even with the Breathing Technique, he must be tired,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao mumbled. Ye Wan shook her head again, ¡°It¡¯s as if he can separate his body from his spirit, only pursuing the training goal, irrespective of the body¡¯s exhaustion. I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. If he wasn¡¯t a Time Traveler who hase through, with that kind of willpower, he probably would have awakened into a Transcendent long ago.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good thing. If he had awakened earlier, he would no longer be an ordinary person, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to follow the boss¡¯s path,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said. By this time, Prison 18 had reached the morning mealtime, and one alloy gate after another opened with a nk, as prisoners lined up and walked downstairs. Qing Chen stood in line obediently, still without any sign of privilege. Lin Xiaoxiao looked over towards Qing Chen and was surprised to see him looking spirited, even the aftereffects of four days without food had disappeared. He turned to Uncle Li Dong and said, ¡°Boss, the Breathing Technique is really that miraculous, isn¡¯t it? How about you give it a try on me tonight? I feel like I can still be saved.¡± Uncle Li Dong, not lifting his head from the chessboard, said, ¡°When I gave you the chance to try it back then, you didn¡¯t dare. Now it¡¯s toote, you¡¯re too old.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only twenty-seven years old¡­¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said. ¡°The longer you live, the more you suffer inside,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°After twenty, worldly sufferings pile up, and using the Breathing Technique, you can¡¯t pass the examination of conscience. We always thought we suffered a lot in our youth, but as adults, we understand that the two kinds of suffering are different.¡± When it was Qing Chen¡¯s turn to line up ande downstairs, he still sat far from Uncle Li Dong, who felt a bit mncholic, ¡°Although I told him to pretend to be ostracized, now no one will join me to break stalemates.¡± During the conversation, an announcement suddenly rang out in Prison Number 18, ¡°Inmate number 010101, inmate number 002199, inmate number¡­ your family members are here for visitation. Please follow Mechanical Prison Guard 03 to the visitation area.¡± 010101 was Qing Chen¡¯s number. He was stunned for a moment; it was the first time someone hade to visit him since he¡¯d been in the Inner World. So much so that he had forgotten that family visitations even happened in prison. Lu Guangyi said from across him, ¡°Boss, it must be Qing Yaning for family day.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Qing Chen nodded and stood up. He lined up with more than eighty inmates, passed through therge alloy gate, and walked along the long corridor. The walls of the corridor were also made of metal, and on the ceiling were two white strips of light, which made it seem like walking in a tunnel through time and space. Along the way, an inmate teased another, ¡°Han Linshan, your sister must be here to see you again. Get a photo from your sister for me. I¡¯ll borrow it tonight!¡± The inmate named Han Linshan ahead cursed back. If it wasn¡¯t visiting time, they would definitely have started a fight. The inmates were noisy, but as long as they stayed in line, the mechanical prison guards did not intervene. Among the crowd, only Qing Chen remained calm and quiet. No prisoner dared to joke with him, even those behind him intentionally kept their distance. Arriving at the private visitation room, Qing Chen pushed open the door and saw a young man sitting inside. The man appeared to be about 25 or 26 years old, with short ck hair, looking very fit. This must be Qing Yan, who was wearing a gray suit, with only his palms being mechanical prosthetics. However, these were probably the most exquisite mechanical prosthetics Qing Chen had ever seen. The surface of each finger looked as if it had been meticulously polished, with golden lines iid on both sides, and the back of the hand adorned with beautiful ginkgo leaf patterns, reminiscent of the ck mafia¡¯s scepter. The ginkgo leaf was the symbol of Qing¡¯s Family. Qing Chen sat down in front of him, and Qing Yan coldly said, ¡°The second and fourth houses have already submitted aint against you to the Family Tribunal, saying you provoked Uncle Li Dong for no reason and caused his animosity. Although we Qing¡¯s Family are not afraid of Uncle Li Dong, we have no intention of making enemies with the Knights or Heng Society. I hope you¡¯ll behave yourself in Prison No. 18 and stop causing any more trouble.¡± Qing Chen was startled. Prior to this, when Lu Guangyi mentioned Qing Yan, he had thought he was an ally. But now it seemed that was not the case. He thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Qing Yan said coldly, ¡°Have you thought about your own situation? All the other candidates have support, yet you alone do not. What makes you think you canpete with them? The second and fourth houses are determined to win this time; don¡¯t be cannon fodder for others. Listen to my advice, go ahead and marry Jindai Kongyin from the Jindai family. You¡¯ll still have a ce in Qing¡¯s Family.¡± Qing Chen looked at him expressionlessly, but his mind was racing. What kind of strange turn was this? He even had an arranged marriage in the Inner World? And from the name, it didn¡¯t sound like it was of Chinese descent. Jindai¡­ must be one of the top fivepanies, Jindai. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°I still n to give it another try.¡± Qing Yan seemed surprised by Qing Chen¡¯s reply. He straightened his suit and said withposure, ¡°Whatever you say. Then I must tell you, although the Judgment Tribunal has not yet given a punishment verdict against you, the family won¡¯t be helping you out any further. The n didn¡¯t intend for you to participate in the Shadow struggle; it was your insistence on joining and consequently knocking out the third house¡¯s spot. So don¡¯t expect more support. If you canplete the mission, great; if not, you might as well stay in Prison No. 18 until you¡¯re released.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Qing Chen calmly got up and left, without saying much more to this elegantly dressed Descendant of Qing. Seeing this, Qing Yan became somewhat annoyed, ¡°Did you even listen to what I said?¡± Qing Chen said to the Mechanical Prison Guard outside the door, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m done here.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Qing Yan moderated his tone, ¡°Jindai Kongyin came with me to visit you, you should at least see her. Otherwise, it¡¯ll be difficult to exin to both families.¡± Qing Chen: ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Qing Yan left, and after five minutes, someone else came in. It was a girl around 17 or 18 years old, not stunning in appearance but somehow exuding a fresh aura. The girl was wearing formal attire on top, with a skirt that reached just to her knees, looking like a very formal meeting. But the girl did not seem used to wearing such clothes and appeared somewhat restless. Qing Chen observed the girl, who had a small mole beside her nose and no trace of makeup on her skin. After sitting down, the girl did not make eye contact with Qing Chen, asionally ncing at him stealthily without speaking. And so they sat in silence¡­ Until the announcement came from the broadcast that visitation time was over. The girl then muttered softly, ¡°Sitting quietly like this does have its appeal, but the silence of this boy is truly beautiful.¡± ¡°What?¡± Qing Chen was puzzled. The girl smiled and said, ¡°Never mind.¡± The Mechanical Prison Guard escorted Qing Chen away, and on the way back, he pondered. What Lu Guangyi had told him earlier, that he personally requested to have Lu Guangyi assist him in Prison No. 18, might not be the whole truth. No wonder, with something as important as the Shadow struggle, Qing¡¯s Family only sent him an enforcer from a retirement home for assistance. It turned out he had been abandoned by the family in the Inner World as well. However, what was the story with this out-of-the-blue arranged marriage? ¡­ May has begun, and I¡¯m asking for basic monthly support by way of votes! Seven days starting from May Day, additional updates areing! Chapter 47: 47. Cyber City Chapter 47: 47. Cyber City Returning to prison cell 18, Lu Guangyi approached and asked, ¡°Boss, did Qing Yan say anything?¡± ¡°No,¡± Qing Chen shook his head. ¡°Continue with my n.¡± The so-called ousting by other forces of the Qing n or the struggle within the Shadows currently mattered little to Qing Chen. Today, he had also not countered any of Qing Yan¡¯s aggressive remarks because only when one is powerful does the response carry any value. The Breathing Technique had brought him a surprise that was not merely about unlocking the door to bing a Transcendent. Last night, he had been so tired that he could barely walk, but when he woke up this morning not only was he brimming with spirit, but his body moved freely without any trace of fatigue. This feeling was magical, something he had never experienced, seen, or heard of in the Outer World. Lu Guangyi asked in a low voice, ¡°Did you really have a falling out with Uncle Li Dong?¡± Qing Chen nced at him, ¡°Yes, we had a falling out, but we were never intending to rely on external forces to carry out our mission, were we?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Lu Guangyi said, ¡°Boss, you still have me.¡± ¡­ At night, the countdown read 5:59:59. Area 7 of City 18. Jiang Xue was slowly walking through the city as its lights began to shine, a ce that seemed to her like a gigantic maze. When she looked up at the sky, she saw not smog, blue skies, or white clouds, but a towering Steel Forest, and a dizzying array of colorful Holographic Neon. The holographic sign of a barbecue restaurant rotated in the air, and from a distance, pedestrians could see giant synthetic meat skewers and even smell the cumin drifting from the store. Suddenly, a Mechanical Dolphin appeared in the sky as if it had burst forth from the ocean depths. As it gently glided over the buildings, its tail flicked and holographic blue waves sshed up. Those waves would fall toward the ground, and anyone seeing it for the first time would instinctively cover their head to avoid the ssh. However, after falling more than ten meters, the waves turned into dazzling fireworks and dispersed. Only then did the sky reveal the illusionary and dazzling advertisement: ¡°Pomelo Phones, for the best Holographic Communication Experience.¡± Between the buildings, countless bridges connected them. From the ground, these bridges seemed like ropes tying all the buildings together. As Jiang Xue walked, she passed by numerous people from the Inner World, all of whom would unconsciously clear a path upon seeing the propitious cloud emblem on her chest. That was the symbol of Li¡¯s Family. She entered an elevator in a building and pressed for the 32nd floor. The transparent elevator climbed swiftly; she turned and looked down as building after building appeared and then hid from view, with the asional Hover Cars roaring past the elevator in the air, their destinations unknown. The silver Hover Cars had sleek lines with four turbines instead of wheels, emitting blue fire. With a ding, she arrived at the 32nd floor. Jiang Xue stepped out of the elevator and walked towards the ground floor of the Cloud Mist Building where her clinic was located. But before she could enter the building, someone stopped her at the door: ¡°Hello, Ms. Jiang Xue.¡± The person was dressed in a precise, impably tailored suit, with a distinguished gold tie clip adorned with the auspicious cloud emblem. Moreover, behind him stood two individuals each carrying a ck sealed box. Jiang Xue paused for a moment; this was Zhang Zongyu, a peripheral member of Li¡¯s Financial Group who had previously invested in her clinic. ¡°Hello, is there something you need?¡± Jiang Xue asked tentatively. ¡°It¡¯s like this,¡± Zhang Zongyu spoke elegantly, ¡°thepany is pleased with your smooth cooperation and to show our appreciation, I¡¯ve been instructed to deliver thetest model of Mechanical Arm from Li¡¯s Financial Group. Not only that, but we have also arranged for an expert in mechanical limb instation to provide you with special training¡­¡± Jiang Xue felt more and more uneasy as she listened. Time Travelers from the Outer World often talked about how terrifying the corporation was, yet she found thepany to be incredibly benevolent; they not only invested money but were also offering a mechanical limb for free and even providing her with the best expert for training as if they knew shecked experience in installing mechanical limbs. She was starting to have doubts. Suddenly, Zhang Zongyu said, ¡°I see you¡¯re a bit skeptical, so let me exin; two years ago, you inadvertently helped a middle-ageddy who is a member of our Li¡¯s Financial Group. She searched for you for two years and only recently found your information. All this is her way of showing gratitude.¡± Jiang Xue nodded vaguely, ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± As for whether she had helped someone two years ago, how could she know? This very point exploited the memory blind spots of the Time Travelers by Li Tongyun, knowing that Jiang Xue was clueless about her own past. Moreover, she was very aware that her mother, even if confused, wouldn¡¯t dare to ask too many questions, effectively clearing her from any involvement. At this moment, Jiang Xue no longer had any doubts and joyfully epted Li¡¯s Financial Group¡¯s gifts, ¡°These two mechanical arms¡­¡± Zhang Zongyu exined, ¡°These are the highest-end products on the market now, not only embedded with high-energy weapons but also possessing a long battery life, with a neuron connection synchronization rate that can reach 97%.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you so much!¡± Jiang Xue was even more delighted. ¡­ Countdown 00:30:00. Only half an hour left. In the gym, Ye Wan was guiding Qing Chen through sit-ups andbining them with six sets of training moves to enhance his core explosive strength. After the core strength training, there was targeted training for cardiorespiratory function. The night was long, and the training was harsh. ording to Ye Wan¡¯s estimated timeline, with just another half-month of training, Qing Chen should be ready to begin weight-bearing training; that would be the real test. However, time seemed to be tearing him apart; he was still undergoing Ye Wan¡¯s training, but in half an hour, he would have to return to the Outer World. Then, after how many days, he would return in the middle of the night to continue training¡­ At that moment, Uncle Li Dong suddenly appeared in the gym. He looked at Qing Chen and asked, ¡°Are you returning to the Outer World in a moment?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qing Chen nodded, ¡°What is it, teacher? Is there something you need?¡± Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°I want to see this miraculous spectacle of world crossing with my own eyes; who knows, I might discover some secrets.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Qing Chen, soaked with sweat, thanked Ye Wan as he handed him a nutritional supplement and beef for sustenance during his training. It must be said, while the Breathing Technique was useful whenbined with training, it consumed a tremendous amount of bodily energy. If he didn¡¯t eat something shortly, Qing Chen felt terribly hungry. He ate and trained like a ravenous beast, furiously consuming and exercising. At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly noticed a hint of hesitation in Uncle Li Dong¡¯s expression. Out of curiosity, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, teacher? Is there something else?¡± ¡°That¡­ well,¡± Uncle Li Dong paused, then said, ¡°Could you bring me back more chess endgame books?¡± Qing Chen was stunned for two seconds, thenughed and said, ¡°No problem.¡± At this moment, he realized that Uncle Li Dong¡¯s usualmanding presence had faded slightly, reced by something more human. Under the watchful eyes of Ye Wan and Uncle Li Dong, Qing Chen ced the USB drive in his mouth. Then, with a thought, he pulled out a gold bar from his pocket, which had been crumpled into a ball. Ye Wan eximed, ¡°So that¡¯s where Lu Guangyi¡¯s gold bar went.¡± Uncle Li: ¡°¡­¡± Instantly, the Fire Rune on Qing Chen¡¯s cheeks spread towards his ears, and the energy that had once roamed inside him wrapped around the gold bar under his willful control. A look of astonishment appeared on Uncle Li Dong¡¯s face. Countdown 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The world turned to darkness. Chapter 48: 48. Scapegoat, Liu Dezhu Chapter 48: 48. Scapegoat, Liu Dezhu When the darkness dissipated, Qing Chen was still drenched in sweat. He nced at the night outside the window and his little house on Xingshu Road. He had only been away for a second, yet he found himself already missing that eerie prison. Qing Chen spat out the USB drive from his mouth, then took another look at his palm, where the gold orb that was supposed to remain in the Inner World was still in his hand. This was a delightful discovery since it meant he had an advantage over others while traveling between the Outer and Inner Worlds. He looked down at his arm, where the countdown read 168:00:00. Another seven days. Thest return was 7 days, and this time it was a 7-day transfer, seeming as if the Time Traveler¡¯s duration between the two sides was getting longer. How long would it be in the future? Would a daye when he would stay there for a lifetime and never return? He did not know. Qing Chen smiled, not going to sleep but insteadying out a sheet on the ground, continuing the training Ye Wan had taught him. Even without supervision, the practice was his own. Having said that he would train until 3 AM every day, he should continue to do so even after returning to the Outer World. Taking a deep breath, he followed the strange breathing rhythm, and the Fire Rune pattern on his cheek bloomed once again! No matter if it was the Outer World or the Inner World, self-discipline was the greatest freedom. Hold on, he seemed to have forgotten something very important. After finishing his exercise, Qing Chen sat on the ground drinking water, letting his sweat drip continuously. He took out his phone and found the simultaneous interpretation app, then tried to recall every word Jindai Kongyin had whispered. The phrase, muttered softly in Japanese, always made Qing Chen feel that it must be hiding a lot of information. It was like¡­ if you went somewhere on a trip, and the locals wanted to curse at you, they would definitely use a dialect you didn¡¯t understand. Recalling from memory, Qing Chen spoke into his phone¡¯s microphone word for word, ¡°¤³¤ó¤Ê¤Ë¾²¤«¤Ë×ù¤Ã¤Æ¤¤¤ë¤Î¤â¤è¤µ¤½¤¦¤Ç¤¹¤¬,¤³¤ÎÉÙÄê¤ÎÉòüa¤Ö¤ê¤Ï±¾µ±¤Ë¤­¤ì¤¤¤Ç¤¹¤Í.¡± The trantion app quickly disyed the subtitles, ¡°Sitting so quietly seems nice, and this boy¡¯s silence looks really good.¡± Qing Chen was stunned on the spot. What did the other person mean by this? Moreover, didn¡¯t the Jindai family also speak Mandarin? What was this Japanese all about? Was she a Time Traveler from the Outer World? Or did the Jindai family still retain the Japanesenguage inheritance? But if she really was a Time Traveler, how would one exin her fluency in Mandarin? Surely not many people from the Ind Country could speak Mandarin so fluently. The next morning, as soon as Qing Chen woke up, he saw non-stop shing messages on WeChat on his phone. He opened it and saw that Nan Gengchen had sent him a message, ¡°Qing Chen Qing Chen Qing Chen! Do you know how amazing our ssmate Liu Dezhu is?¡± Qing Chen was momentarily dumbfounded and sat up straight from his bed, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You need toe to school!¡± Nan Gengchen said. Qing Chen put on his blue and white uniform and ran to school. Before stepping out, he checked himself in the mirror, reassured that the aftereffects of his fasting had disappeared, and then left with confidence. Upon arriving at school, he saw the entrance to the ss next door was packed with students; dozens of them were waiting outside the ssroom of the second year, Grade 4, as if waiting for something. ¡°Over here,¡± Nan Gengchen¡¯s short figure was tiptoeing and stretching his arms high in the crowd, trying to get Qing Chen¡¯s attention. Qing Chen squeezed through and asked in a low voice, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Did you see the trending search?¡± Nan Gengchen flips open Weibo to show him. To his surprise, upon looking, he was stunned. A man from Sichuan, named Jian Sheng, traveled to Los Angeles City on a business trip and identally became a Time Traveler, transmigrating to Prison No. 18 in the Inner World. However, he was soon recognized as a Time Traveler and detained in a secretive solitary cell. Transmigrated for 7 days, locked up for 7 days. ording to Jian, there was already a Time Traveler in Prison No. 18 who had be a person of great importance, even able to move freely in and out of the cells, ordering Transcendents to serve him. Jian Sheng hoped to find this Time Traveler, whether it was through negotiations or paying money, hoping that the person could persuade the authorities in Prison No. 18 to let him out. Qing Chen was taken aback; he hadn¡¯t expected Jian Sheng to be so bold as to seek out the media for help, attempting to reach out to him for assistance in getting out of his predicament. It seemed that being confined to a solitary cell for 7 days had driven him desperate. It must be said that Liu Dezhu and Jian Sheng were truly unlucky, having be Time Travelers, yet they were forcefully imprisoned. While other Time Travelers led lives full of variety, enjoying holographic images in the cities and wandering through Cyber Cities, these two ended up squatting in prison instead¡­ They might as well have stayed put and not traveled through time at all. And at this moment, Qing Chen suddenly realized why everyone had gathered at Liu Dezhu¡¯s ssroom door. Even though Liu Dezhu had not arrived at school yet, everyone was willing to wait for him. Last time he returned, Liu Dezhu admitted to save face that he had traveled to the 18th Prison and also told everyone that he had spoken with Uncle Li Dong! When ssmates askedter, Liu Dezhu kept a mysterious face and said nothing, as if to say: It¡¯s confidential, don¡¯t ask. The less he said, the more everyone liked to specte. Consequently, many believed that Liu Dezhu was about to receive Uncle Li Dong¡¯s legacy and be a Transcendent. After the incident with Jian Sheng came out, ssmates who saw the hot search on Weibo immediately thought of Liu Dezhu! Because in everyone¡¯s minds, the only Time Traveler in the 18th Prison besides Liu Dezhu was nobody else! As the hot search climbed higher, a student finally replied in thements, ¡°My ssmate is the Time Traveler he mentioned, he¡¯s about to receive Uncle Li Dong¡¯s legacy!¡± Originally, Jian Sheng¡¯s hot search ranked just over forty, but with thatment, the search shot into the top ten within three minutes. The heat was even still rising. In the current opinion of the Outer World, barring mysterious figures like He Xiaoxiao, there are not many known Transcendents. And that¡¯s Uncle Li Dong we¡¯re talking about, the career path with the highest potential in He Xiaoxiao¡¯s strategies. Now, virtually everyone who saw the hot search andments was convinced that Liu Dezhu was the mysterious big shot Jian Sheng mentioned¡­ Just as everyone was whispering amongst themselves, Liu Dezhu arrived upstairs with his backpack. He had just turned into the corridor when the sea of people in front of him turned his face pale with fright: ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The crowd was resigned; it seemed the main character himself didn¡¯t know what was happening. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the hot search? Even if you didn¡¯t check the hot search, at least look at your phone,¡± said a ssmate. ¡°Someone named Jian Sheng said he met you in the 18th Prison and hopes you could put in a good word with Uncle Li Dong to get him out of solitary confinement.¡± Liu Dezhu¡¯s mind buzzed at that moment. He had been in solitary confinement for seven days, and he was so exhausted after returning that he barely managed to get to sleep in his soft bed. Waking upte, he had ridden his bike to school without looking at his phone. He hurriedly turned on his phone to check the hot search. But the more he read, the more something seemed off. ording to Jian Sheng, that mysterious big shot had visited him alone and asked several questions. But that person was not him. So, besides himself and Jian Sheng, there was a third Time Traveler in the 18th Prison, and that person was the genuine big shot. He was just the fall guy! ¡°I would sure love to beg that big shot to let both me and Jian Sheng out, okay?!¡± Liu Dezhu cried inwardly. Now he wanted to deny his identity, as the situation had blown up. Liu Dezhu tried to say, ¡°Actually, the person Jian Sheng mentioned isn¡¯t me, it¡¯s someone else.¡± A ssmate asked, puzzled, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say yesterday there were no other transmigrators in the 18th Prison?¡± To Liu Dezhu, who had traveled for seven days, yesterday in the Outer World was already seven days ago. Qing Chen silently watched this scene. He thought it wasn¡¯t bad having someone draw the attention away from him. Still, it wasn¡¯t good for the two of them to be cooped up in solitary confinement for so long. Perhaps he should let Uncle Li Dong transfer them to another prison. At that very moment, four news vehicles pulled up outside Los Angeles Foreign Language School, and the reporters rushed towards the school. The two security guards at the school gate tried to stop them but couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Seeing this, Qing Chen immediately grabbed Nan Gengchen and turned to head back to ss. Thest thing you wanted at times like this was to be caught on camera. Time Travelers maintained the same appearance in both the Inner and Outer Worlds; once you¡¯re on TV, you¡¯d be remembered. ¡­ There¡¯ll be more tonight! First day of May, asking for monthly votes, I want to be in the top ten! ¡­ Thanks to Hu Erniu for bing a silver patron of this book, the boss¡¯s generosity is much appreciated! Thanks to silver patrons: Little Piggy Treasure Be Happy, Fu Heima Dali, Liuyun Sui Feng, Fengxiao, Book Friend 20210301106583826684, Hua Bilui for bing major patrons of this book. Thank you, bosses, the bosses are generous! May the bosses make a fortune in May! Chapter 49: 49. Fierce Bandit (Added chapter for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Chapter 49: 49. Fierce Bandit (Added chapter for the Gold Alliance Penguin) ¡°Why leave? I want to hear what Liu Dezhu has to say!¡± Nan Gengchen muttered. Qing Chen nced at him, ¡°What¡¯s so interesting about that? Are you a Time Traveler? If not, there¡¯s no point in listening.¡± Nan Gengchen choked a bit, ¡°But this is first-hand information from the Inner World. What if we¡­ end up time-traveling in the future? It might be useful.¡± ¡°Not interested,¡± Qing Chen said nonchntly. ¡°Time traveling would be so interesting,¡± Nan Gengchen said. ¡°If both of us traveled to the Inner World, we could be Transcendents or even transform ourselves with mechanical limbs and be superheroes. Then I¡¯d form a League of Troubled Fathers with you. Sounds exciting, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Qing Chen: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, a group of teachers blocked the reporters at the downstairs, the school is a ce for learning, how could they let outsiders stir up trouble? During the first period break, a figure stealthily climbed over the school¡¯s fence. He grabbed a student on the yground and asked, ¡°How do I get to the senior year two, ss four?¡± The student was clearly stunned by the dialect but still pointed him in the right direction. The middle-aged man thanked him and headed to the ssroom. He stood at the entrance of senior year two, ss four and said, ¡°How do you say, ¡®can¡¯t keep him¡¯?¡± The students at the entrance took a moment to reply, ¡°You mean Liu Dezhu?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, Liu Dezhu!¡± Jian Sheng pped his forehead. A student pointed him out, and Liu Dezhu, feeling uneasy, stood up and attempted to run. Jian Sheng rushed forward, grabbed him, and said urgently, ¡°I know you were powerful in Prison 18, even that Transcendent followed your lead, your status must be high!¡± Liu Dezhu panicked, ¡°It¡¯s not me, you¡¯ve got the wrong person!¡± ¡°Damn it, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t mess you up¡­¡± Jian Sheng was speaking when two teachers arrived and dragged him out of the ssroom. ¡°I¡¯ll give you money!¡± In the hallway, Jian Sheng¡¯s curses echoed as the students all turned to look back at Liu Dezhu¡­ At that moment, Liu Dezhu was about to break down, having never expected that a mere lie would lead to so much trouble. Truly, what he desired most now was to find out the third Time Traveler in the prison! He wanted to see who had caused him to carry such a big burden! At this very moment, the one carrying the burden, Qing Chen was sitting in the ssroom as if the outsidemotion had nothing to do with him. He saw Nan Gengchen take out aputer programming textbook and asked, ¡°Why are you suddenly reading this?¡± ¡°No¡­ no reason,¡± Nan Gengchen said. ¡°Just wanting to pick up a skill. How about we cozy up to Liu Dezhu, and if we get on good terms, maybe we could benefit in the Inner World.¡± ¡°Not necessary,¡± Qing Chen responded. ¡°I¡¯m not a Time Traveler.¡± But at that moment, he suddenly lowered his head and began to ponder. He certainly knew that Liu Dezhu was an imposter, but Time Travelers like Nan Gengchen didn¡¯t know. Considering Time Travelers from all over the country might total up to tens of thousands, could someone be drawn to Los Angeles City by Liu Dezhu¡¯s ¡°identity¡±? Because this was the most reliable method known so far to find ¡°trustworthy teammates¡± in the Inner World. He Xiaoxiao had suggested that everyone should team up in the Inner World, but the difference between useless teammates and reliable ones was significant. However, what Qing Chen couldn¡¯t understand was. After such a big incident today, why members from the Kunlun organization had not appeared yet. Was Uncle Li Dong¡¯s legacy not enough to draw attention? Definitely not. There must be a problem. Until the evening study session, Qing Chen had not seen Kunlun¡¯s figure, always feeling that something was about to happen, but not knowing what it was. ¡­ At 9:20 PM, the juniors and seniors from Los Angeles Foreign Language School rushed out of the campus. The night campus, under the dim street lights, had a unique beauty. Students, in their uniforms, walked on the path, conversing in pairs. Those with bicycles beside them said goodbye before dashing into the night. Some girls walked ahead while the boys who secretly liked them would follow behind, roughhousing with their friends to catch their attention. It seemed like this was how youth was supposed to be. At that moment, Liu Dezhu said goodbye to his ssmates and pushed his bike out of the shed, heading in the direction of Xinglong Garden. He was reviewing the day¡¯s events, feeling more aggrieved the more he thought, yet after a long while, he didn¡¯t know what to do. As he was passing Yellow River Road, he suddenly felt something was amiss. A ck van rapidly approached him from nearby. He turned his head and was shocked to see that both people in the front of the van were wearing sunsses, with the passenger even turning to look at him. Liu Dezhu¡¯s heart sank. Just as both parties were about to enter an unmonitored underpass, the driver of the ck van suddenly steered towards Liu Dezhu, attempting to ram him with the body of the van. He frantically tried to dodge to the sidewalk, but the ck van drove onto the sidewalk, hitting Liu Dezhu and his bike, sending them flying. The screech of tires grinding against the pavement filled the air along with Liu Dezhu¡¯s screams. The skewed ck van stopped on the curb, and with a click, someone pulled open the van door, and a man¡¯s cold voice could be heard from inside: ¡°Make it quick, take him.¡± Two men wearing sunsses jumped out of the van, heading straight for Liu Dezhu without hesitation. Their expressions were fierce, resembling the ruthless criminals from Hong Kong films. But most critically, Liu Dezhu clearly saw that both men were equipped with cybeic limbs! ¡°Help!¡± Liu Dezhu was terrified, screaming desperately. Suddenly, a blinding high beam lit up from behind, shining on everyone present. The roar of an engine, growing rapidly louder, sounded like a steel beast running rampantly on the concrete road¡­ With a crash, a ck SUV brazenly mmed into the rear side of the ck van! The ck van rolled over from the impact! The two thugs who had earlier left the van changed expressions and immediately lunged at the ck SUV, their cybeic arms releasing long knives. But before they could reach the SUV, a blurred figure leaped down from the overpass, six meters above. Someone had been waiting here! The figurended swiftly and fiercely, striking directly above the heads of the two thugs. Metallic legsnding on the shoulders of the two thugs forced them heavily onto the ground. Blue sparks flew as the cybeic limbs on the shoulders of the thugs shattered, exposing the electronicponents inside. The descending figure turned to Liu Dezhu and asked, ¡°Are you alright? Hello, nice to meet you for the first time, I am Zheng Yuandong, the person in charge of Kunlun.¡± Chapter 50: 50. Tacit Understanding (Extra update for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Chapter 50: 50. Tacit Understanding (Extra update for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Liu Dezhu sat nkly on the ground, looking at the agile Zheng Yuandong in front of him and his sophisticated mechanical limbs, suddenly feeling a strong sense of security. Actually, Liu Dezhu hadn¡¯t seen many mechanical limbs. Initially, when he was transferred to Prison No. 18, he hadn¡¯t gotten the chance to appreciate the mechanical civilization before he was taken away to solitary confinement. But he could tell at a nce that the mechanical limbs on Zheng Yuandong¡¯s body were different. The arms were no longer exposed hydraulic tubes, butpletely covered in alloy skin, with blue light strips like blood vessels on his arms, the purpose of which was unknown. Compared to Prison No. 18, this was what the Outer World had once fantasized about as cybeic limbs. Seeing Liu Dezhu silent, Zheng Yuandong turned and walked toward the overturned ck business vehicle, his arm ejecting a dark red de and slicing through the car body with a swing of his hand. The steel car body dissolved like a candle meeting a red-hot knife. In the midst of action, more ck off-road vehicles surrounded the area, and Lu Yuan jumped down from one of them, ¡°Boss, I didn¡¯t expect it to be exactly where you predicted they would strike.¡± Zheng Yuandong looked at the four unconscious people inside the business car and slightly nodded to Lu Yuan, ¡°Liu Wenqin, Xin Qiuzi, Cui Qiang, Huang Hanyi, all are registered; it seems Liu Wenqin brought them together. Take off their mechanical limbs and bring them back, call for people to tow the car, as soon as possible.¡± As the Kunlun leader spoke, he seemed to know about the individuals and even identified who the mastermind was. ¡°You are wise, boss. When I heard this morning that they disappeared from Wucheng, I knew they were targeting Liu Dezhu,¡± Lu Yuan responded, ¡°But these guys really have guts, daring to do such a thing ind?¡± Zheng Yuandong said, ¡°Some people stay in the Inner World for a while, where the chaotic order makes them increasingly bold. They live on the edge in that ce, and once they return to the Outer World with abilities surpassing ordinary people, they want to challenge the existing order. What we need to do is let them understand that the order of the Outer World cannot be challenged, at least not within our territory.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Lu Yuan nodded, ¡°Maybe we could recruit more Time Travelers?¡± Zheng Yuandong shook his head, ¡°The purity of the organization and the importance of faith are far greater than strength. At least, strength gained through blind expansion is not what Kunlun ought to pursue.¡± In fact, as Qing Chen suspected, when an important Time Traveler like Liu Dezhu appeared, it was very abnormal for Kunlun not to show up. At the very least, they should havee to inquire. But Kunlun did not do so. When they received the message, they realized the importance of Liu Dezhu, and Zheng Yuandong also knew that other Time Travelers would target Liu Dezhu. Who is Uncle Li Dong? He is the current leader of the Knight Organization, a man even Li Dongze from the Heng Society calls boss, and in the Inner World, how hard is it to get close to such a person? As difficult as reaching the heavens. But now there was an immediate opportunity in front of them, who could resist being tempted? Anyone with even a slight understanding of the Inner World and Uncle Li Dong would probably know the value of Liu Dezhu. Even though Liu Dezhu had not yet truly obtained the legacy. Thus, Zheng Yuandong had immediately positioned undercover agents around the school and arranged for personnel to receive Liu Dezhu on his way home, and finally, waited for this gang of desperados. He walked toward Liu Dezhu; at that moment, a Kunlun member was examining the youth to see where he might have been injured. Zheng Yuandong asked, ¡°Is he injured?¡± The Kunlun member replied, ¡°Arm, right leg, right face, there¡¯s superficial damage, but it¡¯s not severe.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Zheng Yuandong looked at Liu Dezhu, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, we came here tonight specifically to protect you. We will also strictly monitor immigration information going forward, and if there¡¯s any anomaly, we will give you 24-hour protection.¡± Liu Dezhu said frantically, ¡°Thank you!¡± Zheng Yuandong nodded, ¡°You¡¯re wee. You should also be careful yourself. Call us immediately if anything unusual happens; I¡¯ve already given you the phone number.¡± After speaking, Zheng Yuandong turned and boarded an off-road vehicle without looking back. Suddenly, a tow truck arrived, and police cars arrived, all handling the scene. Liu Dezhu stared nkly at the departing SUV, stunned. Had it just left like that?! The other party hadn¡¯t asked anything else, nor had they tried to recruit him. Why was that? In the distance, on the SUV heading to Kunlun Headquarter, Zheng Yuandong suddenly asked Lu Yuan, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit strange?¡± ¡°How strange, boss?¡± Lu Yuan asked. ¡°This student has no courage at all andcks the most basic vignce. How could such a person be valued by Uncle Li Dong?¡± Zheng Yuandong wondered. ¡°Perhaps Uncle Li Dong did not ce much importance on him?¡± Lu Yuan ventured. ¡°No, ording to Jian Sheng, even Transcendents are serving that mysterious Time Traveler. The other party must have been esteemed by Uncle Li Dong,¡± Zheng Yuandong shook his head. ¡°I suspect there¡¯s a third Time Traveler in Prison No. 18, but that doesn¡¯t match the information we have. We¡¯ll see, the answer wille sooner orter.¡± ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you nning to recruit Liu Dezhu into Kunlun?¡± Lu Yuan asked. Zheng Yuandong rolled down his window and lit a cigarette, slowly saying, ¡°He doesn¡¯t qualify.¡± Lu Yuan seemed to recall something, ¡°Right, boss, He Jinqiu proposed a meeting next month¡­¡± Zheng Yuandong shook his head, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that now.¡± ¡­ At 10 PM, Qing Chen started training at home. Without the fixed schedule of the prison, he even extended his training time by an hour. However, one difference was that in prison, he had enough beef and eggs to eat. Back in the Outer World, it was not the same¡­ he couldn¡¯t afford it. At that moment, the gold he had brought back from the Inner World was hidden under his bed. Qing Chen felt he needed to find a way to convert the gold into cash, or he couldn¡¯t afford the food expenses. Just as he was covered in sweat, there was a sudden knock on the door. He stood up to open it, seeing Li Tongyun holding a dish of fried dumplings, Qing Chen could even smell the aroma of chive and egg inside. Li Tongyun sweetly said, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, these are freshly fried by my mom; she asked me to bring them to you.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t hold back this time. As Li Tongyun turned to go upstairs, Qing Chen asked, ¡°You are quite smart, aren¡¯t you? You know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± Li Tongyun slowly turned around, wearing a red and white dress, and sweetly smiled at Qing Chen, asking, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, you are a Time Traveler too, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°On what basis?¡± Qing Chen asked with a smile. Li Tongyun lowered her voice and said, ¡°Because the day mom beat up dad, after you took me into the house, you hid behind the curtain to secretly watch people from Kunlun. You¡¯ve seen them, and you¡¯ve been avoiding them.¡± Qing Chenughed. Ever since he realized Li Tongyun was anything but simple, he knew he couldn¡¯t keep the truth from this little girl; the details had already betrayed him. It wasn¡¯t that he was foolish, but rather he had not realized that this girl, who also grew up in a dysfunctional family, possessed a precocious and wise heart. Who would bother suspecting a child, after all? Then again, he already knew her identity from the Inner World, yet it would be hard for her to find out his. Now, it seemed the Outer World was getting interesting too. The two, one old and one young, looked at each other and smiled, seemingly reaching an unspoken agreement. Chapter 51: 51. The Transfer Student (Extra update for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Chapter 51: 51. The Transfer Student (Extra update for the Gold Alliance Penguin) Time Travel Countdown: 6 days. When Qing Chen stepped out of his house, he was startled to find that the door of Room 102, across from his own, was wide open, with stic dust sheets sprawled all over the ce. Inside, a group of workers were renovating the floor and walls, different from the workers he usually saw. They were dressed neatly, and their uniforms all bore the logo of ¡°San Chi Decoration.¡± Qing Chen had never heard of such a renovationpany locally. He approached one of the workers and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± The worker nced at him and replied with a smile, ¡°Moving in.¡± As if it were nothing, Qing Chen asked again, ¡°What about the owner? They¡¯re going to be neighbors, after all. Couldn¡¯t hurt to say hello.¡± The worker responded, ¡°Don¡¯t know, we¡¯re just here to do the job. No idea where the owner is.¡± Qing Chen found it strange. Room 102 across from him had been unupied for a long time, so howe a new neighbor had suddenly arrived? It wasn¡¯t just Room 102 opposite him; he could hear noiseing from upstairs as well. When Qing Chen went upstairs to check, he realized with surprise that Room 202 was also being renovated. What was going on? Two new neighbors at the same time? This definitely wasn¡¯t normal. Yet, there were only movers here, Qing Chen hadn¡¯t seen any sign of the homeowners. Outside in the hallway, people were unloading furniture and everyday items from a truck. These items were meticulously categorized into protective wrappers and bags; breakable items, books, clothing, and more varied categories. Moreover, each box was also covered with a dust bag. In just an instant, he deduced that the new residents who had moved in were either rich or nobility. He nced at the shabby old building behind him and then back at the luxurious moving arrangements¡­ Would a rich person move in here? What a joke. Everything he was seeing was out of ce with where he lived! Although theyout of the apartment across from him was different from his, at most it was 92 square meters. Plus, with the old building structure, using high-powered electrical appliances could trip the circuit breaker. A rich person would have to be crazy to move in here. Unless, of course, the person was here for something else¡­ the Inner World. In this building, besides him, the only Time Travelers were Li Tongyun and Jiang Xue. If he had managed to stay well-hidden, then the person must being for Jiang Xue. At that moment, Jiang Xue, leading Li Tongyun, stepped out of the door. They exchanged nces, and Qing Chen said, ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Jiang Xue nodded in agreement. After Qing Chen arrived at school, he first passed by Liu Dezhu¡¯s ssroom door. However, he paused for a moment, only to see Liu Dezhu sitting listlessly in the ssroom, with bandages all over his arms and face¡­ What was it with today and all these strange urrences? First there were two mysterious new neighbors out of nowhere, and then Liu Dezhu looked as if he had been beaten up. Qing Chen unconsciously opened the trending searches, and sure enough, he discovered that the news of Liu Dezhu¡¯s injury had already gone viral¡­ In the trending Weibo post, there were not only photos of Liu Dezhu¡¯s injuries but also journalists¡¯ spections. The photos were taken at the school entrance, and judging from the angle¡­ the photographer must have been crouching in the greenery opposite the school. Paparazzi, it seemed. Qing Chen felt somewhat helpless. He had never imagined that the time travel incident would escte to the point where it would rm the paparazzi. It makes sense, after all, paparazzi chase the hottest news trends, going wherever the buzz is. Once they get the material, they can sell it to marketing ounts within minutes. And right now, what¡¯s hotter than the Time Traveler? Not even celebrities and inte personalities canpare. In the trending searches these past few days, even Teacher Wang¡¯s new concert tour couldn¡¯t make it into the top ten. The top ten were basically all rted to the Time Traveler. Qing Chen was genuinely relieved that he had hidden himself well enough. Let alone the dangers of being exposed, just the thought of being hounded by the media was unbearable to him. Right under this trending search, another piece of news caught Qing Chen¡¯s attention: He Xiaoxiao¡¯stest strategy guide. He returned to his own ssroom, opened TikTok, and searched for He Xiaoxiao¡¯s ount. This time, the background was still pitch ck, still only subtitles and a male voice: ¡°Today, I bring you an introduction to the Taboo Land instance.¡± ¡°As we currently know in the Inner World, there are a total of 139 Taboo Lands scattered across the wilderness. Of course, there are also newly formed Taboo Lands that have not been recorded officially.¡± ¡°ording to investigations, the formation of the Taboo Lands is closely linked to the Transcendents of the Inner World¡­¡± ¡°In the Inner World, many cutting-edge biotechnologies and gic technologies have made breakthroughs by obtaining samples from the Taboo Lands. If you clear a Taboo Land instance, you could possibly receive a substantial mary reward from the conglomerates.¡± ¡°The Taboo Land instances are extremely dangerous, and He Xiaoxiao here kindly reminds everyone to team up before proceeding.¡± Qing Chen silently finished watching the strategy guide. This time, his information had finally gotten ahead of He Xiaoxiao. It is worth noting that the other party once again reminded Time Travelers of the need to team up. He took this as a friendly reminder. ¡°Qing Chen, look,¡± his desk mate Nan Gengchen shook his arm. As Qing Chen looked up, the early morning sunlight happened to nt through the doorway, illuminating two unfamiliar girls standing there. The two girls were simr in height, both with long, slightly curly hair that shone almost blindingly porcin white in the sunlight. One girl wore a casual ck and white baseball shirt paired with slim-fit jeans, her legs long and straight. The other girl was dressed in a loose, baggy long-sleeve T-shirt, looking as though she had thrown on a few random pieces, but at a nce, she seemed especially easy on the eyes. Nan Gengchen, sitting next to Qing Chen, couldn¡¯t take his eyes off them. Meanwhile, mathematics teacher Tian Hailong announced from the podium, ¡°Two things, folk. Your homeroom teacher Du Yihong can no longer teach your ss, so I will temporarily take over in that role. If you need anything, juste to me.¡± Tian Hailong continued, ¡°The second thing is, we have two new transfer students in our ss. I hope everyone will be supportive and united. Now, please let the two of them introduce themselves.¡± The girl in the baseball shirt stepped up to the podium with a smile and said, ¡°Hello everyone, my name is Wang Yun, and I¡¯m from Haicheng.¡± The other girl introduced herself, ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Bai Waner, also from Haicheng. Please take care of me.¡± Warm apuse filled the ssroom, with Nan Gengchen pping the most vigorously. ncing around the ssroom, Tian Hailong pointed to the space adjacent to Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen and said, ¡°You two will sit over thereter. Qing Chen is one of the best students in our grade academically, so feel free to ask him if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand. Let some of the boyse with me to the storage room to move two sets of desks and chairs here.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, several boys eagerly stood up. One boy cleared his own desk and ced it next to Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen, then said to Wang Yun, ¡°You can use this one.¡± Wang Yun asked with a smile, ¡°What about you then?¡± The boy said, ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll go and get one for myself from the storage.¡± Qing Chen genuinely marvelled at how emotionally intelligent this ssmate was¡­ he would probably go far in the future. Wang Yun thanked him and sat down next to Nan Gengchen. Just as Nan Gengchen¡¯s simple heart was racing with excitement, Wang Yun poured cold water on all his passion with a single question, ¡°Um¡­ do you know Liu Dezhu from the ss next door?¡± ¡­ Chapter Six, asking for monthly votes!! An extra chapter for ¡°Penguin in the Arctic,¡± our Gold League, considering the new book period. After consulting with the league, the remaining three chapters will be added after they are published. Such generosity!! Chapter 52: 52. The New Neighbor Chapter 52: 52. The New Neighbor ¡°ssmate, do you know Liu Dezhu from the ss next door?¡± This sentence took only 0.001 seconds to prate Nan Gengchen¡¯s heart. Two such beautiful female ssmates, it took Nan Gengchen just an instant to feel he was in love. Then, there was no more after that. It was as though Cupid originally intended to shoot him with an arrow, but he watched as the other changed the arrow of love for an RPG rocket. It was too sudden. Nan Gengchen was silent for a long time and then suddenly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know him¡­ but I can get to know him.¡± Wang Yun smiled, said nothing more, and focused on organizing her desk. The two girls didn¡¯t bring much to school, just some stationery and textbooks fornguage, math, and foreignnguage sses, and nothing else. Qing Chen found that he didn¡¯t recognize thebels on their clothing. Although his range of knowledge was wide, his poverty meant he naturally left out luxury brands when it came to storing knowledge. How poor were he and Nan Gengchen? Let me put it this way, their friendship could even be used to prove their moral standards. They were both forced to detach from low-level tastes. After one ss, Qing Chen was very clear that Wang Yun and Bai Waner were probably Time Travelers too, and their reason for transferring schools was actually aimed at Liu Dezhu. In 45 minutes, Wang Yun couldn¡¯t help but look at her arm 6 times, Bai Waner 5 times, both at the countdown spot. It¡¯s worth mentioning that Nan Gengchen looked at his 21 times. After ss, Wang Yun and Bai Waner walked out of the ssroom, and in the corridor, there were already two boys waiting there. These were two boys Qing Chen had never seen in school before, one tall and clean, wearing gold-rimmed sses, with the air of a cultured scoundrel from the movies. The other was demurely wearing ck-framed sses. The four of them stood in the corridor, whispering about something, drawing the sidelong nces of countless ssmates in the corridor. In the floor that Qing Chen¡¯s ss is on, there are a total of six sses, 452 students. But these four people standing there seemed to be the focus of the entire floor, forcing everyone¡¯s gaze to turn to them, creating a feeling of being shamed by their presence. The boy with gold-rimmed sses seemed to be the leader of the four, as he spent the most time speaking calmly while the others listened. At that moment, Nan Gengchen hurried back to the ssroom and, in a lowered voice, said, ¡°These four transfer students are together, I asked the ss next door, and those two boys transferred to their second year ss four.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Qing Chen said, ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°The one with the gold-rimmed sses is named Hu Xiaoniu, someone saw him driving the other three here this morning,¡± Nan Gengchen said, ¡°The other boy is named Zhang Tianzhen.¡± ¡°Driving?¡± Qing Chen was stunned. For boys as hard-up as them, who had seen a ssmate drive to school before? Isn¡¯t that something only found in soap operas? However, Qing Chen suddenly felt that Liu Dezhu had really be a target now, and perhaps in the future, many more woulde because of the three words ¡°Uncle Li Dong.¡± And Liu Dezhu would slowly be the center of a maelstrom, continually attracting new Time Travelers. All day long, Wang Yun and Bai Waner barely spoke to any ssmates, and between sses, they would go outside the ssroom to chat with Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. They hardly gave the school¡¯s students any chance to interact with them. Throughout the day, the two girls spoke a few words to Nan Gengchen, such as asking for the teacher¡¯s name, the progress of the teaching, and some information about the school¡¯s facilities and customs. As for Qing Chen, they didn¡¯t speak a word to him. Qing Chen could tell that these two girls performed better in their studies than one might expect. Bai Waner took out a 2021 TOEFL real test book directly from her bag during English ss, which Qing Chen had worked on before. Meanwhile, Wang Yun was tackling physicspetition problems and barely paid attention to other sses. These Olympiad problems Qing Chen had never seen before, they were definitely proprietary teaching materials from some educational institution. Moreover, when Qing Chen passed by the hallway on his way to the bathroom once, he distinctly heard the four of them speaking English. This must have been a deliberate choice to prevent their ssmates from understanding. Qing Chen couldn¡¯t eavesdrop, but he still picked up on some keywords: Time Traveler, travel, how to get from City 7 to City 18. In the afternoon, when it was time for the evening self-study session, Qing Chen whispered to Nan Gengchen, ¡°I¡¯m leaving early. Text me on WeChat if there¡¯s anything at school.¡± Wang Yun and Bai Waner watched Qing Chen leave the ssroom, and one of them asked Nan Gengchen, ¡°Is he skipping ss?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Nan Gengchen replied sorrowfully. ¡°Isn¡¯t he a good student, why is he skipping ss?¡± Bai Waner wondered. ¡°That¡¯s the privilege of being a good student, I guess. To this day, no teacher has ever spoken to him about it,¡± Nan Gengchen said. No sooner had he spoken than he saw Wang Yun and Bai Waner also stand up, pack their things, and skip ss without looking back. Nan Gengchen sat alone, destely, in thest row. As Nan Gengchen watched the sunset outside the ssroom, he suddenly felt a touch of mncholy¡­ ¡­ Qing Chen walked home. He was going to change into clothes he hadn¡¯t worn in a long time¡­ and then go to an underground shop that illegally bought gold to sell the gold he had exploited from Lu Guangyi. The Breathing Technique was too taxing on his energy, so he had to sustain his diet. However, he wasn¡¯t sure if gold from the Inner World would test differently from gold in the Outer World. Although he had tested the densities using the suspension method yesterday, and they were the same on both sides, he was still a bit uneasy. The so-called gold suspension test involved suspending the gold in water to determine its volume, and then calcting its density based on the weight. The method was very simple. The density of gold at room temperature is 19.23 grams per cubic centimeter. If the density is nearly the same, it is genuine gold. Qing Chen, having prepared everything, slung his backpack over his shoulders and pushed open the door, only to run into Wang Yun, Bai Waner, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen. He realized then that his new neighbors were indeed them. Wang Yun and Bai Waner lived on the second floor, opposite Jiang Xue. Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, on the other hand, were directly opposite him. The others had indeede for Liu Dezhu, but forming a connection with Jiang Xue too was a good opportunity. This was the sole reason they chose to live in this dpidated building. Wang Yun froze for a moment when she saw Qing Chen and then smiled, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to live here too.¡± Wearing gold-rimmed sses, Hu Xiaoniu smiled and asked Wang Yun, ¡°And who is this?¡± ¡°This is our ssmate from Grade 11 ss 3,¡± Wang Yun exined, ¡°the teachers say he¡¯s one of the top students in our grade.¡± Hu Xiaoniu turned to Qing Chen, ¡°Hello, Hu Xiaoniu. Please take care of me.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Qing Chen nodded calmly, ¡°Please take care of me too.¡± After saying that, he quickly disappeared into the twilight, with no intention of further interaction with them. Chapter 53: 53. Top Student and Study God Chapter 53: 53. Top Student and Study God Hu Xiaoniu watched as Qing Chen left, sensing a familiar vor. It¡¯s not that he had met Qing Chen before, or that Qing Chen resembled someone, but rather it was the other¡¯s attitude of rejecting people from a thousand miles away. It was just like how they themselves would exclude some ssmates from their circle: superficially polite and courteous on the surface, yet proud deep down. This actually took Hu Xiaoniu by surprise. He nced at the building where Qing Chen lived, then asked, ¡°Have you guys noticed anything strange about him?¡± The bespectacled Zhang Tianzhen by his side said, ¡°Wang Yun and Bai Waner are both quite pretty, and they¡¯re both his new ssmates and neighbors, but he doesn¡¯t even give them a nce and seems to have no interest in talking.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Wang Yun nodded, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like the usual shyness of an ordinary boy, more like he wants to avoid us.¡± ¡°I asked Nan Gengchen next door today; he said this ssmate¡¯s grades have always been stably in the top three of the grade. It¡¯s pretty normal for him to be a bit proud. Aren¡¯t all top students like that?¡± Bai Waner smiled, ¡°The ¡®gods of study¡¯ at our ¡®Haizhong¡¯ are also like this.¡± Hu Xiaoniuughed and shook his head, ¡°A top student from a small city has too low of a ceiling.¡± In fact, Hu Xiaoniu wasn¡¯t deliberately mocking, but they were all very aware of just how much more advanced the education was in the super first-tier cities aspared to smaller cities. A top student from a small city might be okay at reading English, but their spoken English and listening would be far behind, even in a school like the Los Angeles Foreign Language School that carried the name of anguage institute. But in some top schools in the big cities, practically anyone you pulled aside at the school gates couldmunicate in English with ease. They¡¯ve won countlesspetition awards and spend every winter and summer vacation experiencing life in the Arctic. It was as if they were living inpletely different worlds. ¡°Let¡¯s forget it, we don¡¯t need to worry about top students or ¡®gods of study¡¯ anymore. We¡¯re not going to have that much to do with him anyway; he just happens to be a neighbor living close by,¡± Wang Yun said, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and talk.¡± As they spoke, they had already opened the door to room 102. The workers had already left, and the room had undergone a transformation in just one day. There was no new renovation inside, since there wasn¡¯t enough time, so they had rushed toy fixed carpets on the floors and conducted anti-damp spray treatment on the walls, followed by a freshyer of wallpaper. For the four of them, it was barely livable. ¡°Actually, we could just stay in a hotel. It¡¯s not like we absolutely have to live here. Our target is Liu Dezhu, and so far, Jiang Xue seems to not have anything special,¡± Bai Waner said. Hu Xiaoniu replied, ¡°Don¡¯t be so shortsighted. Since we decided to move from City 7 to City 18, we should try to make as many friends as possible in City 18. Didn¡¯t you see He Xiaoxiao¡¯s strategy? Try to form a team.¡± Wang Yun still seemed a bit mncholy, ¡°You guys insist on slowly building a good rtionship with Liu Dezhu, but in my view, it¡¯s also possible to just buy information and resources with money.¡± Zhang Tianzhen shook his head, ¡°Since we chose toe to Los Angeles, we should be prepared for hardship. This was agreed upon by Xiao Niu and me from the start. We have no foundation in City 7, so what we can do is to use the energy of the Outer World to influence the Inner World.¡± Hu Xiaoniu was the backbone of the group. He nodded and said, ¡°Now we need to figure out how to get on good terms with Liu Dezhu, so let¡¯s put away everyone¡¯s usual behavior. Although money is essential, it isn¡¯t omnpetent. You must understand that there are many people in the world who are richer than we are. When others decide to spend money to buy resources from Liu Dezhu, our cordial rtions will be our greatest advantage.¡± ¡°By the way, how are things on your end? We originally said that the four of us would be in the same ss, but then they insisted that ss 4 of the second year was full,¡± Wang Yun asked. Hu Xiaoniu answered, ¡°Liu Dezhu is pretty easy to get along with, but when probing him with many questions, he¡¯s unwilling to say much.¡± Zhang Tianzhenmented, ¡°You see, he seems easy to get along with, but the problem is he doesn¡¯t want to reveal anything to you. He appears to be simple and naive but is actually very shrewd. He¡¯s someone who is wise but appears foolish.¡± ¡°Hmm, ¡®wise but appears foolish,¡¯ that¡¯s a good assessment,¡± Hu Xiaoniu summarized. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Wang Yun suddenly said, ¡°have you heard? Yan Yan is also nning to transfer schools.¡± ¡°Yan Yan?¡± Bai Waner and the others were startled. Yan Yan, as in rice seedling. A very simple name, yet by the reactions of Bai Waner and the others, it seemed like this name held a unique ce in the top middle school of Haicheng by the sea, which was why it was so surprising to everyone. Zhang Tianzhen suddenly said, ¡°Wait, I remember someone saying that Yanyan¡¯s grandparents are in Los Angeles? She wouldn¡¯t have also transferred here, would she?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not think about this for now, and we haven¡¯t heard about Yanyan bing a Time Traveler,¡± Hu Xiaoniu said. ¡°Let¡¯s go and visit our new neighbor.¡± With that, he dug out an exquisitely crafted box as a housewarming gift and led the others upstairs. Knock knock knock, Hu Xiaoniu knocked on the door. A voice came from inside: ¡°Xiao Yun, go open the door, it might be your brother Qing Chen.¡± Then, Xiao Yun¡¯s sweet voice could be heard: ¡°Brother Qing Chen, please wait a moment, I¡¯ming to open the door for you.¡± Click, the door opened. Wang Yun said with a smiling face, ¡°Hello there, little friend.¡± Bang, the door was closed again, and Li Tongyun said from inside, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not Brother Qing Chen.¡± Jiang Xue asked, puzzled, ¡°Then who is it?¡± Li Tongyun replied, ¡°Not important.¡± The soundproofing of the room wasn¡¯t very effective, and Hu Xiaoniu heard the sound of the PAW Patrol cartoon from inside, and then the door truly did not open for them again. Wang Yun and Bai Waner looked at each other: ¡°Brother Qing Chen¡­ Why does this name sound somewhat familiar?¡± At this time, they still hadn¡¯t realized that one of their neighbors in this building was the direct descendant of Li¡¯s Financial Group, while the other was the sole apprentice of Uncle Li Dong. They had traveled all the way to Los Angeles, yet they didn¡¯t find the right person. ¡­ At this moment, the Qing Chen whom Li Tongyun had been talking about was standing in an alley on the south side of Los Angeles Cross Street. The small alley had been around for some years, with the architecture being traditional Chinese and the streetsid with bluestone tiles, nked by gray walls and ck roof tiles. When it rained, the water would gather on the roof tiles and then fall down along the edges. The entrance to the Old Gold Shop was decorated with two rednterns, and a ckboard was ced at the door, reading: ¡°We buy gifts, gold, caterpir fungus, ginseng at high prices.¡± Qing Chen, with his hoodie hood up, asked, ¡°How do you buy gold?¡± The old man who was weaving a bamboo basket inside nced at him and said, ¡°Do you have a receipt?¡± ¡°No,¡± Qing Chen shook his head. A receipt referred to the purchase receipt for gold, which could prove the origin of the gold. Normally, gold buyers require this to prevent trading problematic gold. Regr pawn shops wouldn¡¯t ept gold without a receipt. The old man looked at him and put down the bamboo basket, saying, ¡°Without a receipt, it¡¯s tough. If you truly want to sell, I¡¯ll give you 220 per gram, and I won¡¯t ask where you got it from.¡± The current gold price was 380 per gram. Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Deal, 39 grams.¡± 8580 yuan was already a substantial amount of money for him, at least enough to alleviate his pressing needs. Chapter 54: 54, Life cannot be restarted, but it can be replayed. Chapter 54: 54, Life cannot be restarted, but it can be reyed. Qing Chen had never seen more than eight thousand dors in his life, and he didn¡¯t opt for a bank transfer but insisted that the other party bring cash. The old man in the gold shop counted the money and muttered, ¡°Such a young age yet so cautious, but it¡¯s right to be careful in your line of work. Next time youe by with more gains, I¡¯ll give you an extra 5 yuan per gram if it¡¯s arge amount¡ªI¡¯ll take whatever you¡¯ve got.¡± The old man seemed to think Qing Chen was a thief, but Qing Chen didn¡¯t argue. As he handed the money over to Qing Chen, he watched him manually verify each bill under the light, checking for watermarks, security threads, intaglio prints, andtent images¡ªand he didn¡¯t miss a single detail. In the end, Qing Chen pulled out two notes: ¡°This 50 and 20, please exchange them.¡± The old man¡¯s teeth hurt a little: ¡°People in your business usually just take the money and leave, not many are as meticulous as you.¡± With that, he opened a drawer beside him and swapped the notes with new ones. ¡°If you want to do business properly, don¡¯t try to swindle people with fake notes,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡°All right,e often,¡± the old man said resignedly. Qing Chen took the money, turned, and left. The elderly gold shop owner, with missing teeth and advancing years, watched his departing figure and thought to himself that this young man would definitely go far in the future and be a king of thieves. He turned seven or eight corners in the alleyway before boarding the bus home. He also bought more than ten pounds of beef, three pounds of eggs, and some vegetables at the farmers¡¯ market. Ye Wan once said that he now had to be a fierce carnivore. When he arrived back at the building, he looked up and saw Li Tongyun secretly waving at him from the second floor. Qing Chen thought for a moment and then waved back at Li Tongyun, signaling for her toe down if she had something to say. Jiang Xue was a Time Traveler known publicly, and visiting her home might draw attention, but Li Tongyun was just a little girl, and it wouldn¡¯t be so conspicuous for her toe to his ce to talk. As soon as Li Tongyun entered the door, she said, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, who are the new neighbors, have you talked to them?¡± ¡°They¡¯re from Haicheng, here for Liu Dezhu,¡± Qing Chen shared his information: ¡°I¡¯ve heard them speaking English; Haicheng should correspond to Inner World¡¯s city number 7.¡± ¡°Brother Qing Chen, you can understand English?¡± Li Tongyun asked doubtfully: ¡°Is your listening that good?¡± ¡°It¡¯s decent,¡± Qing Chen said, not borating further, and continued: ¡°They¡¯re here definitely for your mother, those people have no foothold after traveling to city number 7, so they want to look for opportunities in city number 18. Of course, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that simple. They might even have enemies in city number 7.¡± Whether one has enemies in the Inner World after arrival is not for a Time Traveler to decide. If they had no enemies, then why not seek help directly from other Time Travelers locally in Haicheng, given their influence there? ording to Qing Chen¡¯s information from the inte, Haicheng had a Transcendent and a spokesperson for the Green Dragon Society from city number 7, which should be quite formidable. Yet Hu Xiaoniu and the others did not spend money to seek help from these figures but instead went out of their way to Los Angeles City to find Liu Dezhu. They must have provoked someone that the Haicheng Time Travelers couldn¡¯t handle. Li Tongyun thought for a bit and then said, ¡°City number 7 is the territory of Chen¡¯s Consortium, and city number 18 is the home ground of Li¡¯s Financial Group. Could they have provoked the Chen n?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. They are openlymunicating in English now¡ªI¡¯ll keep listening and find out.¡± ¡°They just talk about it in front of you?¡± Li Tongyun asked, looking up. Qing Chen patted her head and smiled: ¡°Because they¡¯re not as smart as you are.¡± At that moment, Li Tongyun ran to Qing Chen¡¯s bathroom, grabbed the clothes he had changed out of, and ran off: ¡°Mom told me to take your dirty clothes upstairs to wash. Don¡¯t make it hard for me, brother¡ªI¡¯m just following mom¡¯s orders.¡± After she spoke, Li Tongyun opened the door and hurried upstairs¡­ Qing Chen smiled and then turned to look at his empty home, beginning his solitary training. There was no one to supervise him, no one to apud. All Qing Chen could do was to tell himself not to stop, to keep moving forward. He had heard it said that those who live in istion are either Gods or beasts. Since he couldn¡¯t yet be a God, it wasn¡¯t bad to be a beast for now. ¡­ Five days countdown. Qing Chen arrived at school early to swap his desk with Nan Gengchen, so he became Wang Yun¡¯s desk mate. After Nan Gengchen entered the ssroom, he gave Qing Chen a knowing smile, then whispered, ¡°I thought you really had no interest at all, but you¡¯re surprisingly proactive. If you had said so earlier, I would have swapped with you yesterday!¡± Qing Chen nced at him, knowing that Nan Gengchen thought he switched desks to be closer to Wang Yun. In fact, he just wanted to listen to the conversation between Wang Yun and Bai Waner. However, it was best that Nan Gengchen thought this way. He hoped Wang Yun would think the same. That way, when Wang Yun and Bai Waner spoke in English, they wouldn¡¯t be mindful of him. Nan Gengchen, seeing Qing Chen not replying, thought he was shy and changed the topic to gossip in a low voice, ¡°A master joined our time travel group yesterday. He imed that he learned the tech divination technique from the Inner World¡­¡± Qing Chen asked, ¡°Did you get a reading?¡± ¡°Of course, it was only 5 yuan,¡± Nan Gengchen said. ¡°The fortune-teller told me I woulde into a huge fortune at 65, an amount I¡¯ve never seen in my life.¡± Qing Chen hesitated, ¡°Was it money your son burnt for you?¡± Nan Gengchen: ¡°¡­??¡± Qing Chen said annoyed, ¡°Can you quit that time travel group of yours? It¡¯s headache-inducing just to hear about it. They don¡¯t have a single genuine Time Traveler. No, wait, there is one, that guy from the Inner World who pimps for cougars.¡± Nan Gengchen stubbornly said, ¡°But what if there is a real one?¡± At this moment, Wang Yun and Bai Waner walked into the ssroom. As expected, they paused for a moment upon seeing Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen had switched ces. Bai Waner asked in English, ¡°Why did those two swap ces?¡± Wang Yun chuckled, ¡°Who knows, let¡¯s not worry about them.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Bai Waner asked again, ¡°Didn¡¯t the teacher say he¡¯s good at studying? Could he understand what we¡¯re saying?¡± Wang Yun turned to look at Qing Chen earnestly. She saw Qing Chen looking down at the mathpetition test paper, continuing to check and fill in answers without pause. Wang Yun, the top student from Haicheng, even followed Qing Chen¡¯s problem-solving steps for a while, then confirmed that every step he took was correct, and he wasn¡¯t just pretending. Only then did Wang Yun say, ¡°Teacher Haizhong said that even if students from small cities do well in English, it¡¯s very difficult for them tomunicate in English because they only learn it for exams, and the college entrance exam listening test isn¡¯t included in the official grades. Look, he¡¯s so focused on the test paper and wouldn¡¯t be able to listen and calcte so quickly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Bai Waner nodded. Suddenly, Wang Yun expressed her concern in English, ¡°Do you think we can really avoid Chen Leyou by going to the 18th City as Hu Xiaoniu said?¡± Bai Waner shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know, at this point we can only take one step at a time.¡± Ten minutester, when the two finally stopped conversing, Qing Chen slowly set down his pen. As expected, these four had enemies in the 7th City. He was right in his judgment. Of course, Wang Yun wasn¡¯t wrong either. Even someone like Qing Chen would find it hard to check math problems with high intensity while simultaneously eavesdropping and analyzing a conversation. But what made him different was that he could remember all the sounds that ever happened in his mind. His life indeed couldn¡¯t restart, but it could rey. ¡­ There¡¯s still a fourth update tonight, seeking monthly tickets! Chapter 55: 55. Probing and News (Extra for the President of the Silver League) Chapter 55: 55. Probing and News (Extra for the President of the Silver League) During the break, Wang Yun, Bai Waner, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen met up in the corridor. The majority of the studentsing and going were dressed in uniforms, while these four, due to not having received their uniforms yet, were in their own clothes and stood out markedly. However, as students passed by them, they would deliberately keep some distance. The logic was simr to how on a bus with many empty seats, if a beautiful woman sat alone in the back, most people would not choose to sit next to her unless there were no other seats avable. Hu Xiaoniu nced at his pure gold Daytona watch on his wrist¡ªit was 8 minutes before ss started¡ªand asked softly, ¡°Let¡¯s start with your side, any anomalies?¡± Bai Waner smiled and looked at Wang Yun, ¡°No other anomalies, just a male student switched seats specially for Wang Yun.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± Wang Yun hit Bai Waner¡¯s arm lightly, ¡°what if he didn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡± ¡°You know exactly what I mean,¡± Bai Waner said in a suggestive tone. However, at that moment Hu Xiaoniu suddenly asked, ¡°Is he a Time Traveler? Did he move next to you because he figured you were Time Travelers?¡± In fact, Hu Xiaoniu was well aware that high school boys, even if they developed a crush, would not go so far as to switch seats on the first day to get close to the girl they liked. So, Hu Xiaoniu immediately felt something was off. Wang Yun and Bai Waner exchanged nces, ¡°Probably not?¡± ¡°You have to remember this is Los Angeles City, one of the neen gathering ces for Time Travelers, it¡¯s quite normal to have Time Travelers hidden around,¡± Hu Xiaoniu analyzed, ¡°be careful, it could be a big deal if he understands our conversations in English.¡± ¡°He probably doesn¡¯t understand,¡± Wang Yun said, ¡°We talked about him to his face and he didn¡¯t stop working on his math problems.¡± ¡°Like this,¡± Hu Xiaoniu said, ¡°next ss, observe whether he frequently looks down at his arm. You get what I mean, right? If a countdown suddenly appears on someone¡¯s arm, out of curiosity or novelty, he will check it from time to time. This habit will only slowly change once he getspletely used to it.¡± Wang Yun thought for a moment and agreed, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll observe.¡± After ss, the four met up in the corridor again. ¡°How did it go?¡± Hu Xiaoniu asked. Wang Yun shook her head, ¡°For 45 minutes, he didn¡¯t look at his arm once, even when he was idly daydreaming, he didn¡¯t nce at it.¡± Hu Xiaoniu sighed in relief, and Zhang Tianzhen asked, ¡°Could it be that he guessed someone might observe him, so he deliberately didn¡¯t look at his arm?¡± Hu Xiaoniu pondered for a moment, ¡°For now, let¡¯s rule out the possibility that he is a Time Traveler. Generally, young people don¡¯t have such controlled restraint, nor would they think soprehensively. If he really did what you said, that would be terrifying.¡± Zhang Tianzhen joked, ¡°Then he might truly like Wang Yun.¡± ¡°By the way, how are things on your side, any progress?¡± Wang Yun asked. ¡°None,¡± Hu Xiaoniu shook his head calmly, ¡°Liu Dezhu is great at ying dumb. We still can¡¯t find a weakness in him, we must slowly build up a rtionship.¡± ¡°Why not try to find a breakthrough with Jiang Xue?¡± Zhang Tianzhen suggested, ¡°This way, at least before we reach City 18, we can learn about the current situation of City 18 through her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the only option, but it seems she¡¯s also not easy to get along with,¡± Bai Waner said, ¡°Wait, do you remember the little girl who called Qing Chen ¡®brother¡¯ yesterday? It must be our ssmate Qing Chen; these two families must be very close.¡± ¡°Shall we start with this Qing Chen then?¡± Zhang Tianzhen asked. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s start with Qing Chen and then get to know Jiang Xue through him,¡± Wang Yun nodded. ¡­ During the second long break, Qing Chen was sitting in the ssroom, head down, scrolling through his phone, recording all information rted to Time Travelers. At that moment, a voice came from beside him, ¡°Qing Chen, Nan Gengchen, here, this is the water we just brought back from the school supermarket for you.¡± Nan Gengchen turned to look, and it was indeed a Farmer¡¯s Spring water just taken out of the fridge, the bottle covered with a denseyer of condensation. Because their fingers were wet, the other person¡¯s slender, fair fingers looked even more crystal clear. ssmates stealthily nced in their direction, wondering when Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen had be so familiar with the transfer student? The transfer student even bought them water. Nan Gengchen asked nkly, ¡°Is this¡­ for me?¡± Bai Waner answered with a bright smile, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you!¡± Nan Gengchen became excited. Just at that moment, Qing Chen was looking down at his phone, as if he hadn¡¯t heard anything. A news alert on his phone read: Authorities in the country sessfully dismantled a site of illegal detention and rescued 12 ¡°Time Travelers¡± who had previously disclosed their identities online. Among them was a well-known inte celebrity who had suddenly disappeared. The report stated that the criminals had kidnapped these 12 individuals to an abandoned factory in the suburbs, where they used threats and intimidation to extract their Inner World identity information. They then coerced the Time Travelers into smuggling items using their bodies, by inserting medicine into their rectums, stomachs, and mouths to travel between the Inner and Outer Worlds. At the crime scene,w enforcement seized arge quantity of Inner World medicines, primarily consisting of Gic Potions. Reportedly, the two types of Gic Potions found at the scene couldn¡¯t enhance physical strength but could ameliorate hereditary gic diseases: congenital deafness and congenital heart disease. The authorities have arrested four suspects, but nine others remain atrge; ording to the confessions of the detained suspects, all nine fugitives are Time Travelers. This news was truly shocking. Previously, crimes involving Time Travelers were reported abroad, but now such unimaginable incidents were urring domestically as well. Now, surely no one will dare to publicly im they are Time Travelers anymore, right? Starting today, all Time Travelers must remain silent. It¡¯s as if everyone is living in the Dark Forest. ¡°Qing Chen?¡± Wang Yun waited for a while next to him, and when Qing Chen didn¡¯t respond, she spoke up again to remind him. Qing Chen snapped back to reality and took the mineral water: ¡°Thanks, but you don¡¯t have to be so formal next time.¡± ¡°We¡¯re neighbors after all, let¡¯s look out for each other,¡± Wang Yun said with a smile as she sat down. The ssmates erupted upon hearing this; what was going on, Qing Chen and these two transfer students were neighbors?! Qing Chen sat quietly in his seat, quickly figuring out what the others were nning. He didn¡¯t pay attention to the envious or strange looks from his ssmates, nor did he react to the jeers from some of the boys. He just slowly began to understand the characters of Wang Yun and Bai Waner. These people, under the halo of elite education, had seen the world too soon and had made their own calctions. However, deep down, they hadn¡¯t really experienced true hardship; the depth of their cunning was only what they learned from adults and had not yet been tested by society. So, just a few hours ago they were aloof, and a few hourster they suddenly changed their attitude, making it seem particrly awkward. At that moment, Wang Yunughed, ¡°What are you looking at so intently? You didn¡¯t even respond when I called you?¡± Saying this, the girl bent down to get a closer look at his phone, and when she suddenly came close, a faint scent of perfume from her body rushed into Qing Chen¡¯s nostrils. It seemed intentional. But when the girl saw the news on the phone, her body stiffened. ¡­ Fourth update, seeking monthly passes! No one has burst updates like a new book; crowdfunding event has started, begging for monthly passes!! Chapter 56: 56, two bosses Chapter 56: 56, two bosses This was news concerning all Time Travelers, because if you were not careful, you might end up detained in a mysterious ce just like the 12 Time Travelers mentioned in the news. Bing someone else¡¯s means of transportation. Merchants used to sell goods from the south to the north and from the north to the south. But now, with so many differences between the Outer World and the Inner World, there were too many things that could be trafficked. The only thing limiting this business was transportation efficiency and space. At the moment, if you did not want to be someone else¡¯s mule, you had to make yourself strong. Or hide well. At this time, Qing Chen was thinking that the person who ambushed Jiang Xue might have had this in mind. At that moment, Wang Yun slowly recovered from her shock. In the ssroom, the other students also started paying attention to the news, no longer discussing Qing Chen and the transfer students bing neighbors. The focus had shifted. But ordinary people watched the news as if they were watching a fire across the bank, not really connected to it. Qing Chen, however, noticed that at the end of the news it was reported, ¡°The crime syndicate conducted transactions using virtual crypto-currencies, and the buyers of the Gic Potion had not been traced yet.¡± He stood up to go pay the book fee with the ss monitor, taking Nan Gengchen with him. It wasn¡¯t that Qing Chen was particrly righteous, but after he became a Time Traveler, the other had immediately wanted to treat him to a meal. Now that he had some money, he didn¡¯t mind covering for the other. This gesture deeply moved Nan Gengchen, who was tearful and promised to repay Qing Chen as soon as his mother returned from her parents¡¯ home. As time gradually passed, the crime news spread quickly nationwide, affecting every Time Traveler. ¡­ Deep within an ancient alley at Los Angeles Lijing Gate, a young man in a ck trench coat walked through. Historical records stated that Lijing Gate was built during the Sui Dynasty, consisting of the gate tower, barbican, arrow tower, city wall, and moat¡ªnow a famous ancient site in Los Angeles City. The young man wore sunsses and his shiny ck shoes shed with the ancient buildings around him. It was as if a modern city dweller had suddenly traveled back in time, stepping into history. The alley was deserted, and the young man¡¯s shoe heels tapped rhythmically on the bluestone road. Further in, a small courtyard with red columns and gray tiles had a que hanging over the doorway, bearing the moderately-sized characters for ¡°Kunlun.¡± The young man lifted the animal-head knocker on the door and knocked. A head peeked out, sizing up the young man with confusion, ¡°Who is it?¡± The young man took off his sunsses and smiled, ¡°Kyushu, He Jinqiu.¡± But then the head quickly withdrew and called out, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s He Jinqiu from Kyushu!¡± After a moment, with a creak, the red wooden door was pulled open. Over a dozen individuals in ck stood on both sides, all looking sternly at He Jinqiu. He Jinqiuughed, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so afraid of me, where is Boss Zheng?¡± ¡°The boss hasn¡¯te back yet,¡± Lu Yuan said with a smile, ¡°With Boss He gracing us with his presence, please have a seat and enjoy some tea. The boss will be back soon.¡± He Jinqiu made himself at home. He walked to the grand armchair in the hall with a smile and said, ¡°This Chinese-style furniture is too hard, it¡¯s not veryfortable to sit on. By the way¡­ do you have any alcohol? I don¡¯t drink tea.¡± During the conversation, the Kunlun members looked at each other, seeing He Jinqiu so unceremoniously sitting in Zheng Yuandong¡¯s ce. Some wanted to say something but were stopped by Lu Yuan. ¡°Alcohol, yes,¡± the voice came from outside the door as Zheng Yuandong, with a loud voice, walked into the courtyard and said, ¡°When guestse, there¡¯s alcohol and meat, and when jackalse, there¡¯s also a gun.¡± He Jinqiu adjusted his ck coat but did not rise, ¡°The day before yesterday, I invited Boss Zheng to a meeting, but he refused, so I had to fly here from Jingcheng specially.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter that¡¯s so urgent?¡± Zheng Yuandong asked as he firmly sat in another grand armchair, wearing a Zhongshan suit and tightly covering his mechanical limbs underneath. He Jinqiu smiled at him, ¡°Boss Zheng, did you watch today¡¯s news?¡± ¡°Hmm, I know you just rescued 12 Time Travelers,¡± Zheng Yuandong nodded, ¡°But you don¡¯t need toe here to Kunlun to take credit for that.¡± ¡°Taking credit isn¡¯t necessary, but I just wanted to ask how you have considered my proposal,¡± He Jinqiu calmly asked, ¡°Nowadays, Kunlun under your leadership not only hasn¡¯t grown, but it has been shrinking, which doesn¡¯t meet the needs of the times. With more and more Time Travelers, how are you going to manage them with so few people?¡± ¡°Our philosophies differ,¡± Zheng Yuandong said, ¡°You in Kyushu want to take all the Time Travelers under your control and manage them, while I don¡¯t see the necessity. An organization filled with all sorts of characters isn¡¯t a good thing.¡± ¡°Do you know how many more Time Travelers will be harmed if they¡¯re not all brought under control? Today¡¯s event is an example,¡± He Jinqiu¡¯s voice gradually became more oppressive, ¡°If you don¡¯t gather them and inform them what the Inner World is like, how will they know how dangerous the Inner World can be?¡± Zheng Yuandong did not answer that question, but instead asked, ¡°Is He Xiaoxiao in your hands?¡± He Jinqiu was silent for two seconds thenughed, ¡°What do you think?¡± Zheng Yuandong straightened his posture and said, ¡°What exactly do you want to do? Is it just for the power in your hands, or do you really care about those Time Travelers?¡± He Jinqiu stood up and walked outside, ¡°I already know your answer, Boss Zheng. As for what I want to do, you¡¯ll know this afternoon.¡± The Kunlun members who had been watching in the courtyard made way. At that moment, Zheng Yuandong suddenly said in a severe tone, ¡°I hope when there¡¯s an external enemy, we will still berades in arms.¡± He Jinqiu paused in his tracks, ¡°We will, old squad leader.¡± As the voice faded, this young Leader of Kyushu turned and walked into the ancientne outside, with the clicking sound of his leather shoes growing fainter and fainter. ¡­ In the afternoon, just as the heat from the previous news had not yet subsided, another news piece about He Xiaoxiao rapidly climbed in the hot search rankings. In TikTok, He Xiaoxiao said against a ck background, ¡°Considering the recent malicious detainment incidents involving Time Travelers, I advise all yers who have obtained the public testing qualification to be cautious about their personal safety.¡± ¡°The Inner World is highly enjoyable, and can even change one¡¯s fate, but if one¡¯s life is lost, there will be no fate left to change.¡± ¡°I am currently organizing a group chat system for Time Travelers, which is being prepared with the technology of the Inner World. When it¡¯s established, the group chat will be open to all Time Travelers to share information and help each other.¡± ¡°To reassure everyone, this chat system will establish 12 dynamic Data fortresses across the country, protecting all identities of Time Travelers from external technological invasions in the Outer World.¡± ¡°Once the group chat is established, my strategies will only be released in the group.¡± Upon the release of this message, it caused a sensation across the country. Chapter 57: 57. Data fortress Chapter 57: 57. Data fortress Qing Chen frowned. Who exactly was He Xiaoxiao, to dare setting up a Time Traveler group chat directly? But his guess wasn¡¯t wrong; the other party indeed possessed some technology from the Inner World and had used it to erase his identity information. Given the short amount of time everyone had traveled through, how could He Xiaoxiao master the technology of the Inner World so quickly? Had he sessfully brought back devices from the Inner World? The equipment to build a data fortress certainly couldn¡¯t be small, right? How had he brought it back? Or perhaps! He Xiaoxiao wasn¡¯t just one person. It would be difficult for one person to bring back a whole device, but if several people worked together, carrying back parts piece by piece, that seemed feasible. Qing Chen didn¡¯t know much about information technology, so it seemed he could only consult Uncle Li Dong in the Inner World about this matter. He dared not join such a chat group, unless¡­ he could also conceal his identity. Because, in He Xiaoxiao¡¯s video, she only mentioned that outsiders couldn¡¯t intrude, but the key point was that He Xiaoxiao herself could easily obtain most people¡¯s information. This group chat system was like a crab-trapping cage, and He Xiaoxiao was like an skan Crab Catcher. All she needed to do was to float around the northern waters of Nethend Harbor in her Time Pirate Ship, tossing iron cages into the deep sea and waiting for the King Crabs to crawl in themselves. That night, Qing Chen skipped ss again. He went to the dessert shop and bought a cake for Li Tongyun as a gift, along with some fruits and vegetables. Jiang Xue had washed his clothes several times during this period, and he couldn¡¯t always visit someone¡¯s home empty-handed. After entering the residential area, Qing Chen casually scanned around with his eyes several times to make sure there were no paparazzi hiding anywhere before entering the building. In Los Angeles City now, there were over thirty exposed Time Travelers, but Jiang Xue seemed to be the least conspicuous and hadn¡¯t attracted much attention. When he knocked on the door, Qing Chen heard Li Tongyun¡¯s cheer from inside, ¡°Brother Qing Chen is here!¡± She opened the door and asked in a lowered voice, ¡°What about your ssmates?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know, don¡¯t worry about them,¡± Qing Chen said with a smile as he patted her head. ¡°Come and see my mom¡¯s new mechanical limbs; they¡¯re so pretty,¡± Li Tongyun, pulling on Qing Chen¡¯s sleeve, led him inside. Jiang Xue, who had been cooking, reluctantly became the object of observation. Previously, Jiang Xue¡¯s arms resembled mechanical steel pipes joined together, but now they looked more like real human arms. The connections at her fingers, wrists, and elbows were seamlessly integrated. Qing Chen asked curiously, ¡°Is this new? How is its battery life?¡± ¡°The battery life is more than ten times that of my previous one,¡± Jiang Xue said with a smile, ¡°I consider myself quite lucky. Before I traveled through time, my Inner World identity saved someone two years ago, who was a big figure in Li¡¯s Financial Group. All of these are her way of showing gratitude.¡± Qing Chen nced at Li Tongyun nonchntly. The girl hurriedly pulled him out of the kitchen, ¡°Mom, you go ahead and cook, I¡¯m hungry!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll be ready soon,¡± Jiang Xue responded with a smile. Lately, she¡¯d be much more cheerful, as if doing anything was unbounded, and everything was getting better. In the living room, Li Tongyun lowered her voice, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, are you asking about these to guess my identity?¡± Qing Chen shook his head, ¡°No, I was just asking casually.¡± Li Tongyun¡¯s eyes darted around, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, you haven¡¯t told me yet, what was your identity in the Inner World?¡± ¡°Guess?¡± Qing Chen had no intention of telling her. ¡°How about we exchange secrets then? I¡¯ll tell you my identity, and you tell me yours?¡± Li Tongyun suggested with a smile. Qing Chen shook his head again, ¡°No deal.¡± Actually, he already knew quite well that Li Tongyun was the only daughter of the second house of Li¡¯s Financial Group, so there was no need for an exchange. ¡°Boring,¡± Li Tongyun pouted as she sat on the sofa, ¡°You must already know my identity, huh? Not even telling a kid.¡± Qing Chen smiled, ¡°You¡¯re not just any kid.¡± At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Li Tongyun hopped off the sofa to answer it. She only opened the wooden door on the inside, without even opening the iron security door. Outside stood Wang Yun and others, who said with a smile, ¡°Hello there, little friend. We are your brother Qing Chen¡¯s ssmates, and we¡¯re quite close to him.¡± Li Tongyun turned back, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, are you close with them?¡± Before Qing Chen could reply, she turned again and said, ¡°He says he¡¯s not.¡± With a bang, the door once more separated the people outside from the world within. The four stood outside, looking at each other in bewilderment. They hadn¡¯t expected to be turned away not once, but twice. Why could Qing Chen get along so well with this family, but not them?! Before they could speak, the gentle Jiang Xue reopened the door, apologizing, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m sorry, the child doesn¡¯t understand. You must be the new neighbors, pleasee in.¡± Jiang Xue was wearing a white long-sleeved T-shirt with a ck apron tied around her waist, perfectly outlining her figure. However, what caught Hu Xiaoniu and the others¡¯ attention was Jiang Xue¡¯s hand. Before opening the door, Jiang Xue had deliberately pulled her sleeves tight to hide her arms. But her hands were still exposed. All four were Time Travelers, and they had seen many mechanical limbs in City Number 7, yet they felt Jiang Xue¡¯s hands were somehow different from other mechanical limbs. Now that they were visitors, they couldn¡¯t keep staring at her hands, so the four withdrew their gazes. Meanwhile, Li Tongyun was sitting on the sofa, looking sulky, with no intention of greeting the guests. Wang Yun was the first to enter. She asked politely, ¡°Should we change into slippers?¡± ¡°No need, no need; just sit anywhere. We don¡¯t have that many slippers to go around,¡± Jiang Xue replied, ¡°Xiao Yun, go pour some tea for our guests.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Li Tongyun got up reluctantly. Hu Xiaoniu and the others ced their items on the dining table. Wang Yun brought a teddy bear as a gift for Li Tongyun; Bai Waner had bought a Paw Patrol toy; Zhang Tianzhen brought two bottles of champagne, and Hu Xiaoniu had brought a bottle of whiskey packaged in a wooden box. Hu Xiaoniu said to Jiang Xue with a smile, ¡°Hello, it¡¯s our first visit so we¡¯ve brought some gifts. This bottle of whiskey, I brought it back specially from the Ind Country; it¡¯s probably not seen on the market here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too valuable,¡± Jiang Xue politely said, ¡°You should take it back. We¡¯ve never drunk whiskey and don¡¯t know how to drink it either. I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s quite particr. Xiao Chen, have you drunk whiskey before?¡± After recalling for a moment, Qing Chen neither feigned poverty nor lied, ¡°I have, there was a bottle at home once. It seems my dad bought it to decorate the entryway.¡± Seizing the opportunity, Hu Xiaoniu quickly searched formon ground, keenly saying, ¡°Many people like to add a little water, or drink it neat. But nowadays, young people prefer a more open style of drinking. For instance, I like to mix green tea with my whiskey. What about you?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°Then I guess I am a bit different from you, I like to drink whiskey with green tea.¡± Hu Xiaoniu: ¡°???¡± Chapter 58: 58. It was wrong from the beginning Chapter 58: 58. It was wrong from the beginning The first visit between neighbors didn¡¯tst long, and both sides exchanged friendly and warm greetings. Apart from a minor incident with whiskey, everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, once Hu Xiaoniu and the others returned to their own home, the four of them sat quietly on the sofa in silence. Because each of them was well aware, behind this warm enthusiasm, there was still an insurmountable politeness. In Jiang Xue¡¯s eyes, they were guests, not friends. But if they were merely guests, they couldn¡¯t possibly receive any help from the other party in City 18. In this situation, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were the rtively calm and rational ones, whether it was transferring schools or moving from City 7 to City 18, it was these two who came up with the ns. At this time, Hu Xiaoniu looked at everyone seriously and said, ¡°Maybe we were wrong from the start.¡± Everyone looked at him. Hu Xiaoniu pointed to their sofa and said, ¡°We came all the way from Haicheng to Los Angeles City, and we even had real leather sofas air-shipped here. Now look at the opposite side, those old fabric sofas. I¡¯m not talking about the wealth disparity, but we need to shed the pride in our bones.¡± Zhang Tianzhen took off his ck framed sses and said, ¡°I agree with Xiao Niu.¡± ¡°Moreover, we have nothing to be proud of,¡± Hu Xiaoniu said. ¡°Have you noticed Jiang Xue¡¯s mechanical arm? The details of that arm are extremely intricate, probably something only a syndicate could afford. So although we possess wealth in the Outer World, in the Inner World, it is Jiang Xue who is truly wealthy.¡± Hu Xiaoniu continued, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because we carry that inherent pride that we can¡¯t be friends with people like Qing Chen, Jiang Xue, Li Tongyun, and Liu Dezhu.¡± ¡°But we are indeed stronger than them,¡± Bai Waner noticed Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s serious expression and reluctantly changed her tone, ¡°Alright, so what should we do?¡± ¡°The first thing tomorrow is to collect our uniforms. No one is allowed to wear watches anymore, switch to ordinary Casio digital watches,¡± Hu Xiaoniu said. ¡°Then lower your attitudes, and interact normally with ssmates. No, I didn¡¯t use the right words¡ªit¡¯s not about lowering your attitudes, but rather realizing that we came to Los Angeles City in search of hope, and we have nothing to be proud of.¡± Wang Yun muttered, ¡°But the uniforms at Los Angeles Foreign Language School are so ugly. Can¡¯t we wear our own clothes? I shipped so many over.¡± ¡°No,¡± said Hu Xiaoniu emphatically. He looked at the two girls who had fallen silent and suddenly sighed internally. ¡­ Countdown 4 days. Qing Chen woke up from a dream, and when he got up to wash, he suddenly noticed in the mirror that the lines on his abdomen were gradually bing defined. They were not the sharply defined abs of a fitness expert but the early form of abdominal muscles. Considering that he had only been exercising for five days, this was noteworthy. He finally felt the magic of the Breathing Technique. Standing in front of the mirror, with a strange breathing rhythm, fire patterns burst out on the sides of Qing Chen¡¯s face in the mirror. The day before yesterday, he had spent more than five hundred dors on thirteen pounds of beef, which he had consumed in just two days. He was now like a ck hole for food, the Breathing Technique rapidly burning through the energy in his body and quickly breaking down newly acquired nutrients to reshape his physique. As the Fire Rune faded, Qing Chen marveled at why Uncle Li Dong said that with the Breathing Technique, a person who had never exercised could reach a level in three months that would take others five years to achieve. This thing was truly miraculous. Upon arriving at the ssroom in the morning, Qing Chen was momentarily startled. He saw that both Wang Yun and Bai Waner had changed into their uniforms, freshly dressed, which made them look less like top students from Haicheng and more like the dream girls of their male ssmates. Nan Gengchen, sitting at a desk, would asionally sneak nces at them. After Qing Chen sat down, Wang Yun suddenly smiled and said, ¡°ssmate, the teacher said you are the best student in our grade. I have a math problem here that I don¡¯t quite understand. Could you exin it to me?¡± Qing Chen nced at it and saw it was a hyperb equation problem, but the problem was full of traps and was not easy for an average student. However, he knew very well that these two girls were also top students, even tackling physicspetition problems; couldn¡¯t they solve a hyperb equation? He thought for a moment and then said, ¡°I need to preview today¡¯s lessons now, why don¡¯t you ask Nan Gengchen?¡± It wasn¡¯t really about previewing; he just didn¡¯t want to waste time on something pointless. Seeing his attitude, Wang Yun pursed her lips, but then she thought that since Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen were close, it might be good to first build a rtionship with Nan Gengchen. Hu Xiaoniu had said that they must befriend these people with a normal attitude and no longer carry any pride. Thinking of this, Wang Yun simply moved her chair next to Nan Gengchen, then smiled and said, ¡°ssmate, can you exin this problem to me?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Nan Gengchen immediately responded with enthusiasm. Wang Yun looked at him expectantly, but Nan Gengchen stared at the problem in thought for a long while before turning to her and saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know how¡­¡± Wang Yun: ¡°¡­¡± From the side, Qing Chen nearlyughed out loud; although Nan Gengchen¡¯s studies weren¡¯t bad, they weren¡¯t great either. Wang Yun¡¯s first earnest attempt was totally in vain and ended in failure. Feeling disheartened, she returned to her seat to contemte her strategy, while Bai Waner whispered, ¡°Our goal is to be friends with them. Since he can¡¯t do the hard ones, why don¡¯t you pick an easy question for him? It¡¯ll make you two get familiar with each other.¡± Wang Yun¡¯s eyes brightened. That was indeed a good n. She picked the easiest question from the workbook and moved her chair back next to Nan Gengchen, ¡°ssmate, could you exin this question?¡± This time, it was Nan Gengchen¡¯s turn to be excited as he knew it! As a result, Qing Chen watched as Nan Gengchen took a very simple geometric progression problem and dragged the exnation out for ten minutes, all the way until the bell rang for ss. Exhausted both mentally and physically, Wang Yun returned to her seat. A problem she knew well, yet she had to sit through and pretend to listen intently for ten minutes, which was truly tiring. However, she felt that the effort was worth it, if it meant bing friends with these two. During the break after the first ss, Wang Yun went to the corridor to share her progress with her mates: although Qing Chen was tough to approach, Nan Gengchen seemed rather naive and probably easy to deal with. When she returned, she suddenly overheard Nan Gengchen asking Qing Chen behind his back, ¡°What do you think, is this new student easy to get along with?¡± ¡°Pretty easy to get along with,¡± Nan Gengchen hesitated for a moment before suddenly saying to Qing Chen, ¡°But these two transfer students don¡¯t seem to be very good at studying. They couldn¡¯t even solve such a simple question.¡± Wang Yun: ¡°???¡± Upon hearing this, she almost had a fit of rage right there! ¡­ There will be another update tonight ¡­ Thanks to the new members of this book, Youthful Eight Brother and Desert Moon, you are wonderful! May the bosses thrive and prosper! Chapter 59: 59. Suspicion (Extra for the shy actor in Silver League) Chapter 59: 59. Suspicion (Extra for the shy actor in Silver League) Wang Yun, top student at Haicheng High School. Without any surprises, she should have been across the ocean participating in the world-renowned AAPT PhysicsBowl physicspetition on March 30 next year. Then, she would have smoothly been rmended for admission to nationally renowned colleges or perhaps studied abroad at Ivy League schools. If it weren¡¯t for wanting to be closer to Liu Dezhu, she should have transferred schools to be a science student. However, Wang Yun was now trying to get closer to Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen by choosing a simple geometric sequence problem, but they saw her as the one who was the worst at studying. Her pride couldn¡¯t ovee this hurdle! Just as Wang Yun wanted to argue with Nan Gengchen, Bai Waner timely grabbed her and whispered, ¡°A small impatience spoils a great n. Have you forgotten what Xiao Niu said? Hold back!¡± ¡°Hold back,¡± Wang Yun took a deep breath and sat back down in her seat. At that moment, Nan Gengchen was whispering next to Qing Chen, ¡°Do you think she asked me to exin the problem to her because she likes me?¡± Qing Chen had no intention of taking up that conversation but suddenly asked, ¡°Did you get into the hacker industry in the Inner World, otherwise why are you always looking at programming?¡± ¡°No,¡± Nan Gengchen said guilty, ¡°It¡¯s just a hobby, learning for fun.¡± At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly realized that he probably should also learn something. Although the technology of the Inner World was far advancedpared to the Outer World, this didn¡¯t mean that knowledge had no effect on the Outer World. For example, chess was his stepping stone in Prison 18. Wait, Qing Chen suddenly knew what he needed to learn¡ªJapanese. He had gained a mysterious family background in the Inner World and he could only understand others through trantion. For the past decade, Qing Chen had always maintained a thirst for knowledge to change his destiny and sever all ties with his past. This habit, even theing of the Inner World wouldn¡¯t change. First, he opened his mobile phone and searched for basic Japanese learning materials and impulsively bought four books on Taobao. At this moment, Qing Chen felt impelled, and searched the web for ¡°Jindai Kongyin.¡± He was stunned. This Jindai Kongyin, who had an engagement with him in the Inner World, was indeed a Time Traveler in the Outer World! This was so surprising, he had never thought such a thing could happen before. She might think he was a native of the Inner World, so she spoke Japanese without much concern. But the problem was, his identity in the Inner World was bing increasingly confusing. Moreover, why was this girl named Jindai Kongyin so fluent in Chinese? Was it because she grew up in China, or was there a Chinese person in her family? He scrolled further down. Sure enough, she was of Chinese and Ind Country descent. Her father was Chinese and her mother was from the Ind Country. When Wang Yun saw his phone from the corner of her eye, she curiously said, ¡°So you like this Ind Country girl, watching her for so long.¡± Qing Chen looked up at her, ¡°No.¡± Wang Yun thought he was just being stubborn and didn¡¯t continue the conversation. However, inside, Qing Chen was stirred up. He had searched for Jindai Kongyin just trying it out, but he hadn¡¯t expected to actually find her. The girl from the Jindai family who silently sat with him in the interrogation room. In the photo, the girl was running through a sunflower field under the sunlight, her long hair fluttering as she looked back, smiling radiantly. Such a smile was charming, innocent, naive, as pure as a mountain stream. The information showed. The girl¡¯s father was of Chinese heritage, and her mother was from the Ind Country. No wonder she spoke bothnguages. Last year, she won the Best Supporting Actress at the Ind Country Film Academy Awards for ¡°Hibiscus¡± and this year, she starred as the female lead in Director Iwai¡¯s film ¡°Aoi¡±. Although she acts in niche art films that are not well known abroad, domestically, some have rated her as ¡°potentially bing one of the three pirs of the future movie industry¡±. Qing Chen often browsed Weibo and news to stay updated on societal trends, but he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the entertainment industry of the Ind Country, and indeed the person wasn¡¯t very famous yet. So he had never seen her before. Now, after checking his search results, Qing Chen was bewildered¡ªhe couldn¡¯t understand how he had gotten involved with such a person. At this moment, Wang Yun kept sneaking nces at him and thought disdainfully, ¡°If you say you don¡¯t like her, why do you keep staring at her for so long then?¡± However, it would probably be difficult for a boy from a small city like Los Angeles City to interact much with a girl from the Ind Country. Wang Yun had seen ¡°Hibiscus¡± and ¡°Aoi¡±, so she knew that Jindai Kongyin was quickly rising in the Ind Country¡¯s entertainment industry; it was quite normal for her to soon be the representative Goddess of Forest. Such a girl was far too distant for a boy from a small city. At this time, Qing Chen was thinking that, ording to the information he had now, the Jindai family wasn¡¯t separated from other ns by the sea. After all, Uncle Li Dong had said that the entire ocean had be Taboo Land, and if the Jindai family was on an ind, they couldn¡¯t possibly cross the sea to the maind. So, would the Ind Country¡¯s Time Travelers, travel to a maind with domestic Time Travelers? Up to now, Qing Chen had never seen a map of the Inner World; he could ask Lin Xiaoxiao for one during his next time travel. The ss had finished, and Wang Yun and Bai Waner went into the corridor to meet up with Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen. Hu Xiaoniu asked, ¡°Any new developments?¡± Wang Yun shrugged, ¡°Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen are both acting like fools. There¡¯s no need to talk about Nan Gengchen, but Qing Chen spent the whole ss staring at a female celebrity from the Ind Country.¡± Bai Waner wondered, ¡°Didn¡¯t the teacher say Qing Chen is a good student? He doesn¡¯t look like one at all, obsessing over celebrities like this¡­¡± ¡°Who knows,¡± Wang Yun sighed, ¡°A lot of good students start to lose focus when their hormones kick in during their second year of high school. It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t seen this before. Remember the two top students in our ss who fell in love and both dropped off their pedestals?¡± At this point, Hu Xiaoniu frowned, ¡°What did we talk about yesterday? Please put aside your pride. If you keep regarding them both as fools in your mind, how are you going to make friends?¡± Wang Yun was slightly annoyed too, ¡°Then let¡¯s switch sses. I¡¯ll deal with Liu Dezhu, and you can be friends with Qing Chen.¡± At that moment, the ss monitor Yu Junyi suddenly ran upstairs from downstairs and told Qing Chen at the entrance of ssroom High 2 ss 3, ¡°Qing Chen, the foreignnguage teacher is calling you toe over.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m on my way,¡± Qing Chen replied. At Los Angeles Foreign Language School, there were foreign teachers, but they only taught one ss per week. The content wasn¡¯t substantial; it was mostly just chatting with the students and ying the guitar. This was essentially a ¡°face-saving¡± act for Los Angeles Foreign Language School with no real educational value. As Qing Chen went downstairs, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly asked Yu Junyi, ¡°Hello, what does the foreignnguage teacher need Qing Chen for?¡± The ss monitor Yu Junyi chuckled, ¡°How would I know? They are friends; Qing Chen used to often practice speaking with the foreignnguage teacher. Eventually, only Qing Chen could speak normally with the teacher, and they gradually became familiar. The teacher often brings him little gifts from abroad, like the choctes he brought for Qing Chen¡ªI¡¯ve tried them.¡± Hu Xiaoniu and the others were momentarily stunned; this alone was enough to prove that Qing Chen¡¯s English speaking and listening skills werepletely fine, nothing like what they had imagined! Hu Xiaoniu took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m starting to suspect he is also a Time Traveler! Let me confirm with you again, did he overhear any of your conversations?¡± Bai Waner thought for a moment and said, ¡°First of all, we can confirm that he was indeed doing math problems and didn¡¯t overhear anything.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t rule out suspicion,¡± Hu Xiaoniu calmly said, ¡°I need to find a way to make sure.¡± ¡­ Fourth update. I¡¯m asking for monthly tickets! Also! Double crowdfunding starts at 8 PM! Furthermore! Thanks to BarcaRay ssmate for the generous donation, hope the boss prospers this year, buying houses, cars, and RVs! Also, are there any other bosses who would like to be blessed at the end of the chapter? *jokingly* Chapter 60: 60, Came back Chapter 60: 60, Came back In the evening, Qing Chen went to buy himself a new pressure cooker because he needed it to cook beef; it wouldn¡¯t do without one. The little house on Xingshu Road had been neglected for too long, the pressure cooker was leaking, and the washing machine was broken. Now that he had obtained gold from the Inner World, he naturally wanted to rece them with new ones. Just as he was about to leave the appliance market, he suddenly saw a Haier washing machine on sale. Qing Chen hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not make the purchase. At this very moment, Wang Yun and Bai Waner were visiting at Jiang Xue¡¯s home. This time, they didn¡¯t bring futile gifts like champagne or whiskey; instead, following Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s instructions, they bought some vegetables and brought them over in a down-to-earth manner. While Jiang Xue cooked, the two of them apanied Li Tongyun like big sisters, watching cartoons with her. As an episode of ¡°Paw Patrol¡± came to an end, Wang Yun smiled and asked Li Tongyun, ¡°Little friend, can your sister ask you a question?¡± Li Tongyun replied sweetly, ¡°If I answer the question, will I get some candy?¡± ¡°Of course you can,¡± Wang Yun quickly produced a piece of chocte from her pocket and offered it to her, ¡°Will this do?¡± Li Tongyun smiled and said, ¡°Thank you, sister, I love chocte the most.¡± ¡°Then sister will ask you,¡± continued Wang Yun thoughtfully, ¡°Is Brother Qing Chen the same as your mom, a ¡®Time Traveler¡¯, the really cool kind?¡± Li Tongyun looked confused for a moment, shook her head, and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Have you ever asked him?¡± Bai Waner asked, feeling that Li Tongyun¡¯s reaction was natural; if she insisted Qing Chen wasn¡¯t, then they might have reason to suspect. And after all, how could a ten-year-old lie? With her head tilted, Li Tongyun recalled, ¡°I did ask Brother Qing Chen, but he didn¡¯t say whether he was a ¡®Time Traveler.¡¯ He only told me, instead of fantasizing about unrealistic time travel, it¡¯s better to study hard and get into a good university.¡± ¡°Did he say anything else?¡± Wang Yun inquired. ¡°He said that there¡¯s nothing so great about those ¡®Time Travelers,''¡± Li Tongyun said diligently eating her chocte. Wang Yun and Bai Waner exchanged a nce, both disying a hint of delight. Truth be told, Li Tongyun hadn¡¯t given them a direct answer, but they had already found out what they wanted to know. If Qing Chen truly was a Time Traveler, why would he say ¡°¡®Time Travelers¡¯ are nothing special¡±? That seemed more like jealousy and envy in a certain context, and a self-constion. Then Bai Waner too pulled out a piece of chocte from her pocket, gently patted Li Tongyun¡¯s head, and said, ¡°Xiao Yun is such a good girl.¡± With that, the two of them stood up to say goodbye to Jiang Xue. It wasn¡¯t until they were outside the door that they spoke in hushed voices, ¡°Do you think the little girl was telling the truth?¡± ¡°Such a well-behaved little girl must be telling the truth. Plus, a little girl couldn¡¯t make up this sort of thing,¡± Bai Waner analyzed. ¡°It seems Qing Chen really isn¡¯t a ¡®Time Traveler¡¯ then,¡± Wang Yun spoke, ¡°This will put Hu Xiaoniu at ease.¡± They didn¡¯t see the moment the door closed, Li Tongyun quietly spit the chocte into the trash can and rolled her eyes skyward. In fact, she did not like the taste of chocte. Her dad always liked to buy her chocte, but ever since she witnessed her dad hitting her mom, she had started to deeply detest that vor. Nevertheless, there was one piece of chocte she hadn¡¯t thrown away, casually pocketing it as if nothing happened. ¡­ Late at night, shortly after Qing Chen got home, he heard a knock on the door. He opened it to let Li Tongyun in, ¡°Come in and talk. What¡¯s up this time?¡± Li Tongyun looked at the unpacked pressure cooker he had bought, ¡°You could have had my mom help you cook the beef. We have a pressure cooker at home, and my mom¡¯s beef is really delicious.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I believe in self-reliance,¡± Qing Chen replied with a smile. ¡°Here, this is for you,¡± Li Tongyun stuffed the chocte into his hand and said, ¡°Those two sisters came today to ask me if you are a ¡®Time Traveler.¡¯ Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve fobbed them off for you, but Brother Qing Chen, you should be careful. There must be some detail that made them suspicious.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Qing Chen was well aware that it was because of the incident with the foreign teacher, ¡°Where did you get this chocte from?¡± Unperturbed, Li Tongyun answered, ¡°I bought it for you, a gift.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Qing Chen chuckled. In consideration of Li Tongyun¡¯s assistance, Qing Chen also gave something in return, ¡°From my observation, these individuals have indeed made enemies in City No. 7, someone named Chen Leyou, likely from the Chen n.¡± ¡°So they ran so far from City No. 7 just to escape the Chen n¡¯s control,¡± Li Tongyun pondered, ¡°but I don¡¯t need this information.¡± ¡°What do you want, then?¡± Qing Chen asked curiously. ¡°I want your identity, Brother Qing Chen,¡± Li Tongyun said, batting her eyshes. ¡°No way,¡± Qing Chen mercilessly refused. ¡°Then, Brother Qing Chen, help me with my homework,¡± Li Tongyun looked at him with puppy dog eyes. ¡°That¡¯s not happening either,¡± Qing Chen tly refused. How could he, a grown man, do such a shameful thing! ¡°So boring!¡± Li Tongyun felt disappointed. ¡°Brother Qing Chen, those people are always watching us since they live next door, it¡¯s annoying. Should wee up with a way to drive them off?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not good to chase them away; it might expose us instead,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve always felt that these four people could be useful.¡± Being suspected by others was indeed troublesome, but trying to cover it up would only make things worse. The best approach was¡­ to divert their attention. Since they were here because of Liu Dezhu in the first ce, naturally Liu Dezhu should be used to shift their focus back to him. It wasn¡¯t just about diverting attention. On the four rich heirs that Hu Xiaoniu belonged to, there were the Outer World¡¯s money and influence that he urgently needed. It seemed that he had to have a good talk with Liu Dezhu this time. ¡°By the way, Brother Qing Chen, National Day is in just a few days. Let¡¯s go out and have fun,¡± Li Tongyun looked at Qing Chen with anticipation. Qing Chen was a bit puzzled. ¡°Why bring up going out all of a sudden? I¡¯ll have to think about it, maybe we can talk about it in a few days?¡± ¡°All right, you must think about it,¡± Li Tongyun said before happily going upstairs. In the dead of night, Qing Chen yed a Japanese tutorial on his phone while painfully practicing his Breathing Technique. ¡­ In the remaining countdown time, not a single ripple stirred in the Outer World. The world seemed to have suddenly quieted down, as everyone awaited the next crossing, waiting for He Xiaoxiao¡¯s group chat preparation to end. Meanwhile, Qing Chen kept an eye on the illegal detention case. The nine fugitive suspects had still not been apprehended, and this might be the reason everyone was keeping silent. Everyone dreaded for their own safety. Countdown 00:00:10. In the final moment, Qing Chen put the USB drive with the copied endgame chess positions into his mouth and, while activating the Breathing Technique, clutched a kitchen knife in his right hand. He quietly awaited the world to shatter, darkness to descend. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The darkness came and went, and Qing Chen opened his eyes to see Uncle Li Dong and Ye Wan still standing in front of him, as if he had never left. Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°Back already?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Qing Chen nodded, ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± He noticed that only the handle of the kitchen knife remained in his hand. This experiment had been effective; at least he now knew how much he could take with him. ¡­ There are three more parts tonight. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 61: 61. Showing You the Sights (Additional update for BarcaRay in the Silver League) Chapter 61: 61. Showing You the Sights (Additional update for BarcaRay in the Silver League) Countdown 47:59:59. Two days. It was still the familiar Prison 18. But this time, things seemed a bit different. It was no longer the cold cell and solitary confinement, someone was waiting for his return. Mother Ye held a temperature-controlled lunch box in her arms, containing beef she had stewed herself. The three people opposite looked at him as if they were waiting for him toe home. This home was a bit dim and empty, but it was enough. ¡°Teacher, here¡¯s the chess manual I brought for you,¡± Qing Chen spread his palm and handed Uncle Li Dong the USB drive. Uncle Li Dong looked at it curiously, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this interface before, can you handle it, Xiao Xiao?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao replied, ¡°No problem, the key to storage devices is the chip.¡± ¡°Teacher, can you tell if there¡¯s any change in me when I time travel?¡± Qing Chen asked. He had previously relied on finding patterns by himself, but now with an observer, he might discover some other details. ¡°You said before that after you traverse, one second passes in the other world, which is not urate,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°In my perception, there was a change in the force field the moment you traversed, and this change was fleeting, perhaps only 0.1 seconds, or even shorter. It was in that instant that you disappeared, and when you reappeared, the gold bar in your hand was gone.¡± ¡°I see,¡± thought Qing Chen, realizing he indeed physically traveled through. But the question was, where did the Qing Chen from the Inner World go? Was he directly obliterated from existence? Qing Chen asked, ¡°Teacher, the fire inside me¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not time to exin that yet,¡± Uncle Li Dong shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s just that it appeared sooner than I had expected.¡± While speaking, Ye Wan walked up to Qing Chen and lifted the hem of his shirt. When he saw the contours of Qing Chen¡¯s abs, heughed and said, ¡°Xiao Xiao, I¡¯ve won again.¡± ¡°What bet did you ce on me this time?¡± Qing Chen asked curiously. ¡°I bet him that even without supervision, you would increase your training intensity,¡± Ye Wan said. ¡°We¡¯re both trained individuals, and these ab lines can¡¯t be developed with even a day of rest.¡± ¡°Starting tomorrow, you¡¯ll train with weights,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°Ye Wan, thank you for your dedication, I haven¡¯te across such a self-disciplined kid in many years.¡± ¡°Alright, boss,¡± Ye Wan nodded in agreement. Qing Chen looked to Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Teacher, aren¡¯t you going to look at the chess manual first?¡± ¡°Checking the chess manual is not urgent, nowe with me,¡± Uncle Li Dong told Qing Chen. Qing Chen was puzzled as he looked at him, ¡°Where to?¡± Uncle Li Dong turned and walked towards the exit, ¡°I¡¯m taking you to see the world outside.¡± ¡°Why are you showing me the world outside?¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t understand. Uncle Li Dong turned around and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about the world outside?¡± Qing Chen paused. Of course, he was curious. From the first day of his return, he had seen others mention it on the inte, how wondrous and magnificent that world was. Some said the cities were in the clouds. Some said the cities were like a true Steel Forest. Some said the massive holographic projections in the sky were mesmerizing. Others imed that the virtual life experience blows away all the movies in the Outer World, as if you were in the movie, living through another legendary life. Those people were navigating through a vivid and colorful cityscape. And he himself had traveled to a ce called Prison, nothing more than an iron box. Qing Chen was just a 17-year-old boy; he was naturally curious and envious. However, looking at Uncle Li Dong, Qing Chen replied, ¡°While curious, I also know that now is not the time to enjoy the scenery.¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°Youth should have its ambitions. Before you embark on this journey alone, as a teacher, I can¡¯t let you fall behind others.¡± Qing Chen was taken aback, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The scenes other Time Travelers witnessed, my student from the Li Family should also experience. Tonight, I will take you to see the best views of City 18,¡± Uncle Li Dong spoke with a rxed and capricious tone. The icy prison had acquired a hint of human warmth. Next to the prison square, the heavy alloy gate slowly lifted for them, the metal storm overhead remained still, and the drones in the Hive continued their slumber. Ye Wan handed him the cat face mask she had prepared early that morning, ¡°This was prepared by the boss, you are not yet suitable to reveal your identity.¡± The cat face on the mask seemed to be smiling, its red and white striped pattern both eerie and mysterious. Qing Chen suddenly looked towards Uncle Li Dong¡¯s retreating figure. It turned out the freedom he had longed for was within reach. ¡­ Midnight. City No. 18, District 1. Above the clouds, on the 88th floor of the Eternal Building, inside the revolving Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant. In that beautifully ornate restaurant, strains of cello music flowed gently, yet all the seats werepletely empty. At the entrance of the restaurant, several people were arguing with a waiter. The waiter wore a crisp white shirt and a shiny ck vest, his cor neatly adorned with a tie. The young waiter exined to the customers with friendliness and politeness, ¡°Good evening, the Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant has been booked out from midnight tonight. Since we are unable to provide you with quality service, Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant will offer you two vouchers, valid for lunch and dinner except on Saturdays and Sundays.¡± Arguing with the waiter was a couple, the man was somewhat older, while the woman was still in the prime of her youth. The man said with a stern face, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of the Sunlight Pavilion being booked out before, you¡¯re not joking with me, are you?¡± The waiter smiled apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, sir, there hasn¡¯t been one before, and I was also surprised when I received the notice today.¡± At that moment, they looked through the ss wall of the Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant, and indeed not a single customer was inside. The Sunlight Pavilion is the highest located restaurant in City No. 18, almost overlooking the entire city, and so it is the most expensive; the privileged elites of City No. 18 flocked to it. The middle-aged man pondered, ¡°Is the booking by the Li Family or Qing¡¯s Family?¡± ¡°No sir,¡± the waiter told the truth. The young woman seemed slightly upset, her colorful earrings dazzling the man as she pouted. The man thought for a moment and asked, ¡°In that case, may I know who has booked the ce? I¡¯m aware that whoever can book this ce must be a very important person, but perhaps I could speak to them myself if I happen to know them.¡± The man was tactful and not foolish. When he encountered someone troublesome, he would first ask himself if he could do what the other person had done. If not, he wouldn¡¯t embarrass himself; it would mean they were not on the same level. However, being someone with a reputation in the city, he still wanted to use personal connections to save some face. The waiter went to consult with the manager briefly, then returned with a ck business card. The card had no contact information, only five words: Heng Society, Li Dongze. Seeing this business card, the man led his partner to the elevator without another word. In the elevator, the woman whispered inint, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say we were going to greet someone? Why did we leave without a word?¡± The man sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll find you another ce, and I¡¯ll make up this dinner at the Sunlight Pavilion to you another time.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you sayingst month that you knew Li Dongze?¡± the womanined. ¡°That¡¯s a different matter,¡± the man grew impatient as well, ¡°He isn¡¯t even in City No. 18 today; he booked the ce for someone else.¡± At that moment, the man did indeed think of the most vital issue. But he couldn¡¯t figure out at once who was worth such a grand gesture from Li Dongze. The man was usually low-profile and seldom indulged in high-profile actions like booking an entire restaurant. As they were taking the panoramic elevator down, a ck Samurai Hover car was slowly floating towards the rooftop of the Sunlight Pavilion Restaurant. Uncle Li Dong stepped out of the hover car with Qing Chen, with a waiter already waiting to offer Uncle Li Dong a warm towel to wipe his face. Qing Chen, wearing the mask, gestured that he did not need one. ¡°Mr. Li, your table has been prepared, the cameras in the entire Eternal Building have just been turned off, and the braised pork that Mr. Li Dongze said you like most is ready,¡± the waiter whispered. Uncle Li Dong said to Qing Chen, ¡°Perhaps one day you will get used to it, in this world, as long as you have money and power, everything can be just perfect.¡± ¡­ This is the second update for today, two more toe at 6 pm. Chapter 62: 62, A net Chapter 62: 62, A Qing Chen stood on the tarmac, the whirring turbines of the hover car stirring up a tumultuous wind. Suddenly, in the distance. A light rail was moving through the sky between the cities, its densely packed windows emitting white light, like a white steed. More wondrous still, it was traversing through the dense buildings. It wasn¡¯t passing through the gaps between the buildings, but rather, holes had been hollowed out in the bodies of these tall structures. The light rail seemed to shuttle through tunnel after tunnel, piercing through the buildings. This city mysteriously came to life. ¡°Since you cane out at any time, why stay in Prison No. 18?¡± Qing Chen suddenly asked. ¡°Because the prison is quieter than here,¡± Uncle Li Dong replied without a direct answer. As the waiter turned to lead the way, Qing Chen asked in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s already one in the morning; is the restaurant still open?¡± Uncle Li Dong gave him a look: ¡°The life of Night City is just beginning.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t anyone need to sleep? Don¡¯t they have to work tomorrow?¡± Qing Chen wondered. ¡°Qing¡¯s Family previously discovered a unique function of the neural connection technology; it can simte the neural wavelengths outside the brain, helping people enter deep sleep. Just two or three hours of sleep each day is enough,¡± Uncle Li Dong exined. ¡°Are there no side effects to this technology?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Of course, there are,¡± Uncle Li Dong said: ¡°After using this technology for a month, even if you wanted to sleep in, you wouldn¡¯t be able to.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit harsh,¡± Qing Chen reflected, for although he worked hard, he asionally enjoyed the pleasure of sleep. ¡°Technology is a double-edged sword; no one knows whether it brings a blessing or a curse to humanity,¡± Uncle Li Dong said to Qing Chen. ¡°For example, the Li Family once developed gically modified fast-growing timber, corn, and soybeans, which resulted in swathes ofnd that could no longer grow nts thirty yearster. Deer Ind Financial Group, which originally had a thriving livestock industry, discovered after gene modification that their transgenic livestock lost the ability to reproduce after three generations.¡± As humanity continually reaps the benefits of technology, it also continuously suffers from the bacsh of intelligence. Uncle Li Dong continued: ¡°When humans no longer needed to sleep as much, the efficiency of production did not really improve, but it led to a void in the human spirit.¡± Of course, Qing Chen felt that the Outer World hadn¡¯t yet suffered such fierce bacsh, possibly because they were not as aggressive as the Inner World. At that moment, Qing Chen saw a huge flower boat sailing between the buildings under his feet, its illuminations full of splendor yet emitting a sinister aura. He couldn¡¯t understand the totems on the boat at all. Uncle Li Dong followed his gaze: ¡°Don¡¯t bother looking, it¡¯s a procession ship of the Mechanicus. Every second it ejects liquid oxygen methane, it uses the sweat and blood of its followers.¡± As he spoke, Uncle Li Dong¡¯s face was expressionless. The two sat in an exquisite and luxurious restaurant, where an elegantly dressed waiter served a te of braised pork to Uncle Li Dong. There was only one pair of chopsticks. ¡°What about mine?¡± Qing Chen was puzzled. ¡°You¡¯re wearing a mask, you can¡¯t eat,¡± Uncle Li Dong nonchntly picked up a piece of braised pork. Qing Chen: ¡°¡­¡± After a while, Uncle Li Dong looked up and smiled at him: ¡°Hungry?¡± ¡°A bit,¡± Qing Chen said. To his surprise, Uncle Li Dong actually called over the waiter: ¡°Bring him a bowl of Zhajiang noodles.¡± ¡°Right away, Mr. Li,¡± the waiter responded politely. Even though Sunlight Pavilion never made Zhajiang noodles. Once the noodles were ready, Uncle Li Dong dismissed everyone and then said to Qing Chen, ¡°Take off your mask and eat the noodles.¡± Qing Chen mixed the noodles while looking out the window. This must be one of the tallest buildings in City No. 18. As he surveyed the area, only two distant towers stood with it against the sky. ¡°That¡¯s a building owned by the Qing¡¯s Family and the Li Family,¡± Uncle Li Dong exined. Qing Chen looked down again; among the dense buildings, interconnected corridors and walkways spiraled, making the whole city look like a gxy, with lights and neon signs as the stars within. asionally, a hover car would fly by, its jet mes resembling shooting stars. At one moment, standing in the skyscraper on the 88th floor, Qing Chen felt as if he was suspended between heaven and earth, vast and magnificent. ¡°Is this the most beautiful scenery in the 18th city?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Eternal Building is built atop six towers; it¡¯s because of those that it has its current height and beauty. If you disregard the graffiti, urine stains, sewage, and crime on the lower-level buildings, then yes, this is the most beautiful view,¡± Uncle Li Dong replied, ¡°Today I brought you to see the most beautiful side. If there¡¯s another chance, I can show you the ugliest side of this city.¡± As he spoke, Uncle Li Dong pointed to the side: ¡°There¡¯s a telescope next to the window, provided specifically for diners to enjoy the view. You can have a look.¡± Qing Chen walked over to the telescope. He saw the never-ending flow of vehicles on the ground and the yful, raucous crowds. Some were spray-painting strange but trendy images on walls, while the white smoke from a barbecue restaurant and gs from a pub fluttered in the wind. Suddenly, he saw two ck helicopters slowly descending onto the za below, from which more than twentybat team members jumped out, rushing into the Eternal Building in tactical formation. There were also two mechanical dogs rapidly running alongside them. These men were armed to the teeth, carrying weapons Qing Chen could not name. They were clearlying for Uncle Li Dong. Qing Chen turned to look at Uncle Li Dong, who just smiled calmly and said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Qing Chen said, concentrating on his noodles. Now Uncle Li Dong seemed more interested: ¡°Not afraid?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time a teacher has taken a student out to see the scenery; surely you wouldn¡¯t let your student die halfway through the trip. Otherwise, that would be a rather unqualified teacher,¡± Qing Chen said matter-of-factly. Uncle Li Dong¡¯s heartyughter echoed outward. He was truly growing more and more fond of Qing Chen. At this moment, inside the building, the more than twentybat team members split into two groups¡ªone took the elevator towards the 87th floor, while the other entered a safe escape passage to search on foot. Outside the Eternal Building, the two ck Kite-01 armed helicopters once again ascended towards the sky. They hovered slowly around the 70th floor of Eternal Building, ready to provide heavy fire support at any moment. In a temporary military base farther away, more than ten armed helicopters and airships had just taken off. Even farther away, Qing¡¯s Family¡¯s ¡®Land Cruiser¡¯rge airship began to load new solid fuel pods amidst the bustling logistics personnel. All of this was like a that was tightening gradually. At the very moment when the was tightening, a squad leader on themunication channel calmly said, ¡°Stop, check the charge status of each mechanized limb on the spot and report back to me.¡± After speaking, he signaled to all the tactical squad members in the stairwell of the security passage to enter a silent state, temporarily shutting down allmunication systems. Once he was certain that no sound would carry back to themand center, he said calmly, ¡°Boss Chen specified that if we want to live through the night, we shouldn¡¯t fire a single shot. Remember, don¡¯t drag anyone else down.¡± ¡°Squad leader, I don¡¯t understand,¡± one of thebat team members hesitated. The squad leader said, ¡°You¡¯ll understandter. Repeat, do not fire; repeat, do not fire.¡± But before they could reconnect theirmunication devices, a silent shadow silently descended among them on the staircase. Fierce, powerful. ¡­ Third update Chapter 63: 63. Find an opportunity to come out and play again Chapter 63: 63. Find an opportunity toe out and y again No one noticed what was happening in the security corridor, which seemed like a deep abyss that swallowed everything. Outside the restaurant, the sound of solitary footsteps could be heard. A young man dressed in a dark blue suit slowly walked into the Sunlight Pavillion Restaurant, his cuffs embroidered with a small white turbine pattern. Uncle Li Dong had finished a whole portion of braised pork and was quietly watching the youth eating noodles with soybean paste. From the young man¡¯s perspective, he could see Uncle Li Dong¡¯s face, but only Qing Chen¡¯s back. Just as he was about to say something, he saw Uncle Li Dong gently raise his hand to stop him. And smiling, he pointed at Qing Chen and said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait for him to finish eating before discussing anything.¡± The young man paused for a moment and gave an unusual nce at the back of Qing Chen. Because Qing Chen was facing away from him, he was unable to recognize his identity. He was curious about what kind of person could make Uncle Li Dong wait so patiently. Moreover, even though someone was waiting, Qing Chen continued to eat at his own pace. As if he hadn¡¯t heard the loud noise outside the window from ck Kite-01 or seen the dozen airships hovering around Eternal Building, not to mention the Strange bombs mounted on the airships. These flying weapons hovered around. Like small asteroids orbiting a star. ¡°I¡¯m done eating,¡± Qing Chen wiped his mouth and put on his Cat Mask again, looking at his teacher. Uncle Li Dong smiled toward the young man outside the door, ¡°Chen Yehu from the Chen n? I heard you¡¯ve been promoted to A-ss.¡± ¡°My rank isn¡¯t important, right now we have no intention of starting a war with the Knights or the Heng Society, we just want to ask you to return to Prison Number 18¡­ no need to cause a huge uproar,¡± Chen Yehu bowed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll sit here and chat for a bit and then leave, not making it hard for you,¡± Uncle Li Dong said smiling. ¡°That¡¯s good, I won¡¯t disturb you further, we¡¯ll leave after you,¡± Chen Yehu left the Sunlight Pavillion Restaurant, as the tactical team downstairs began to stand down, while armed helicopters began to hover in ce. Even the helicopters turned off their searchlights, bringing the engine noise to the lowest possible level. It seemed the matter just ended simply like that. But it was actually not that simple. Uncle Li Dong looked towards Qing Chen, ¡°Once I step out from Prison Number 18, it will disturb the nerves of too many people, so you know why I did note out, right?¡± ¡°Are they afraid of you?¡± Qing Chen asked. Uncle Li Dong shook his head with a smile, ¡°In this era, even stepping into Demigod does not make one invincible, they are not afraid of me, but of fire. Let¡¯s go, home.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Qing Chen followed Uncle Li Dong to the rooftop. With the Cat Mask on, Qing Chen stood in the night wind atop Cloud top, taking another look at the gxy in the city and the helicopters circling below his feet. He knew that one day he would return. ¡­ Chen Yehu stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, calmly watching the ck Samurai Hovercar disappear into the night. He asked, ¡°Has thatbat team been found?¡± Someone behind him replied, ¡°Found them, all unconscious. ording to my estimation, someone attacked them in the security corridor and then left unscathed.¡± Chen Yehu chuckled, ¡°This is telling us, the we¡¯re weaving is still not tight enough. Let¡¯s retreat, go home to sleep.¡± While the involved parties went home to sleep, those whose nights had been disturbed simply couldn¡¯t sleep. Who knows how many people entered remote teleconference rooms in the middle of the night, or how many analytical reports were made. Theworks were transmitting this important news, and the media began to report it feverishly. Some analyzed, the person who met with Uncle Li Dong is unknown, possibly a representative of an external power. Some analysts im that with the recent frequency of transmigrator incidents causing turmoil in the Outer World, Uncle Li Dong has once again entered everyone¡¯s field of vision, nning something new. Tonight, it might cause an unpredictable impact on the entire Federation. Most people actually lean towards the first guess: Uncle Li Dong stepped out of prison after eight years specifically to meet someone important and discuss a very important matter. Although no one knows who this person wearing the Cat Mask is, they must be extremely important. Based on physique, could it be Qing Xun or Rama from the Qing¡¯s Family? Lee Jungjae from the Deer Ind Financial Group? Or perhaps Jindai Imada from the Jindai Consortium? It¡¯s uncertain. However, what they don¡¯t know is that Uncle Li Dong, upon leaving the No. 18 prison, was simply sitting, watching armed helicopters and artillery aimed at him. And it was merely to show Qing Chen a view. Just as he himself said, if others have seen a view, his student should see it too. That¡¯s all. And the reason he ate braised pork was simply because he wanted to eat braised pork. On the way back, sitting in the soft seat of the hover car, Uncle Li Dong asked him, ¡°Do you know why I had you wear the mask?¡± ¡°Because you don¡¯t want the outside world to know I¡¯m connected to you,¡± Qing Chen replied. Uncle Li Dong then asked, ¡°Do you know why I¡¯ve taken you as my student, yet hesitate to admit it? Does it feel somewhat unfair to you?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Qing Chen calmly shook his head: ¡°You know it¡¯s hard to remove the shackles on yourself, so you worry those shackles will also bind me. Thank you, Teacher.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve always been very intelligent, with limitless potential,¡± Uncle Li Dong praised: ¡°And of course, that is why I think you shouldn¡¯t have to carry any burdens as you enter this battlefield.¡± Uncle Li Dong thought, as a teacher, his role was never to tie his students to fight alongside him. But to apany Qing Chen for a while, then watch how far he could go on his own. Qing Chen did not continue this conversation but suddenly asked, ¡°Will we have another chance toe out in the future?¡± Uncle Li Dong, curious, asked, ¡°Do you still want toe out and y?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qing Chen nodded, ¡°because I may need to race against time, or perhaps against other Time Travelers.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s find another opportunity toe out and y in a few days,¡± Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned by tonight¡¯s spectacle. This middle-aged man seemed never to have been afraid of anything. At the moment, it was only 3 a.m., and he had just traveled back three hours ago. But Qing Chen felt these were probably the most exhrating three hours of his seventeen years of life. ¡­ Meanwhile, Zheng Yuandong quietly arrived at the mercenary bar in City No. 18, where Lu Yuan had been waiting early. Zheng Yuandong asked, ¡°You saw the news, right?¡± Lu Yuan said, ¡°I did, boss. I think we should still try to contact Liu Dezhu again. Uncle Li Dong is too important a figure in the Inner World for us to ignore, even if you dislike Liu Dezhu, we must consider that right now he is the closest person to Uncle Li Dong.¡± Zheng Yuandong still shook his head: ¡°I trust my instincts, and they¡¯re growing stronger. You have to understand, Lu Yuan, a person like Uncle Li Dong would never be interested in someone like Liu Dezhu. There must be a third Time Traveler in prison No. 18.¡± ¡°So, what do we do?¡± Lu Yuan asked helplessly. ¡°Find him.¡± ¡­ Fourth update, asking for monthly tickets!! Double crowdfunding begins at 8 PM, everyone is wee to participate! Thank you, wish you all a safe and peaceful life! ¡­ Thanks to ¡®Rain All Night,¡¯ ¡®Rainy Night with a Knife Luo,¡¯ and ¡®Cheese Loves Cheese¡¯ for bing new allies of this book. Generous bosses, may you make a fortune and buy cars, houses, and RVs! Chapter 64: 64, Two calm people Chapter 64: 64, Two calm people ¡°` Countdown 44:30:00, 3:30 a.m. Cyber City, Ninth District. In a small street at the bottomyer of the city, a young man in a gray suit strolled along with ease. The puddles on the ground acted as mirrors, reflecting hisposed demeanor. This ce bore none of the bustling scenes one might imagine; water and garbage could be seen everywhere on the streets, and the walls were graffitied with colorful obscenities and protest slogans. It didn¡¯t resemble the high-tech city of one¡¯s imagination but rather looked likelier to be a slum. Yet, as the young man walked here, he did so as if he were on the streets of Ennd, casual yet gentlemanly. He arrived in front of a clothing store. The owner, a woman in her thirties, was lounging with her legs crossed, engrossed in the Inner World news on her transparent phone. In fact, the Outer World also had many such bizarre little clothing stores, always selling outdated clothes, seldom with any customers. You wouldn¡¯t know on what revenues these stores survived, but they never went out of business. The owner seemed not to care whether customers came. But perhaps no one would have expected that these little shops had more going on beneath the surface. And now, they were being brought into the Inner World. The young man stepped through the door; the owner didn¡¯t react, seemingly unaware of anyone¡¯s arrival. He stood in front of the counter, his smile revealing a sharpness as he tapped the surface with his fingers. The owner looked up hurriedly and stood up, a bit panicked, ¡°Mr. He, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t notice youing in.¡± He Jinqiu chuckled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, I¡¯m here with two pieces of news you need to pass on quickly; first, Dong Suyue and Tian Xiaomiao have been discovered by the consortium as identities of the Time Traveler, tell Xiao Xiao to cut off contact with them for now, we¡¯ll discuss everything after the return.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the owner quickly memorized the instructions from He Jinqiu. ¡°Second, tell Xiao Xiao to collect as much information on Uncle Li Dong as possible, I¡¯ve found that his power is even greater than we assessed before, the fact that he could emerge unscathed from such a major incident is inconceivable.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the owner responded once more. He Jinqiu muttered as if to himself, ¡°Looks like we need to enlist Liu Dezhu before making our move on Kunlun, we need him.¡± Then, He Jinqiu turned with a smile and said, ¡°I hope you understand the mission we are shouldering, if such apse in vignce urs again, the organization will punish you. I¡¯ll find someone to rece you once we have a suitable candidate. After the return, go and see Instructor Zhang Zongyu for additional training, any objections?¡± The owner bowed her head, ¡°No objections.¡± ¡°Good, then we¡¯re agreeably decided!¡± Having said that, He Jinqiu left. The owner then slipped into the storage room, ready to send the messages in some unknown way. The slums are one of the few ces in Cyber City without surveince, no one would notice a special visitor here, He Jinqiu looked back at the clothing store; such a hidden spot was most suited for passing on messages and concealing identities, yet there were still too few people from Kyushu, and even fewer who could be of use. It seemed necessary to quicken the pace. ¡­ ¡°` Early in the morning, the familiar banging on the door began. The alloy gate buzzed with the prisoners¡¯ pounding, as if on the verge of resonating. These people were always brimming with energy, with no outlet for release. Qing Chen didn¡¯t leave his cell; he was waiting for Lu Guangyi to search for the Time Traveler among the new batch of inmates. Surprisingly, no new prisoners had been escorted to Prison No. 18st night. He turned over and went back to sleep,pletely ignoring the chaos outside. At this moment, Uncle Li Dong was still sitting calmly at the dining table, looking at the recently acquired chess endgame positions, showing no signs of fatigue. Even Lin Xiaoxiao marveled that while the outside world was in uproar over the events ofst night, their boss was seemingly unconcerned, not giving it a second thought. The bald and shiny-headed Guo Huchan quietly approached, whispering to Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°What exactly did you and your boss dost night? If there¡¯s something exciting, count me in next time, I¡¯m really good at fighting.¡± ¡°Eh, how did you find out,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked curiously. Even though there was amotion outside, Guo Huchan had no means ofmunication here; how could he know what happened? He squinted at the bald man and said, ¡°Did the psychic Transcendents from Spadee as well? How many of you arrived? Aren¡¯t you afraid the consortium would wipe you all out in one fell swoop?¡± ¡°Just me alone,¡± Guo Huchan responded with a smirk, ¡°Seriously though, give me a heads up next time you guys have a mission.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao looked down on him, ¡°I don¡¯t know what game you¡¯re ying. Are you just waiting for us to go out so you can take advantage of Boss¡¯s search for ACE-005?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Guo Huchanughed heartily, ¡°Look at you, always thinking too much. I just want to know, what exactly did Boss Li dost night?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao nced at him, ¡°If I told you he just wanted to eat some braised pork, would you believe it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. With such a big fuss, could there not be something serious?¡± Guo Huchan looked incredulous. Lin Xiaoxiao sighed, knowing that the whole world wouldn¡¯t believe that their boss had no serious businessst night. It was just a matter of wanting to take Qing Chen out for some fun. People remembered that their boss was a dangerous contemporary Demigod, but they forgot that he was also a very capricious and carefree person. Of course, Lin Xiaoxiao was also amazed that the other main character in this affair, Qing Chen, was still sound asleep until noon, just like nothing had happened. The boss could be nonchnt, but how could a seventeen-year-old boy be so casual? ¡­ As Qing Chen was dozing off in his sleep, suddenly, the loudspeaker in the prison announced, ¡°Inmate number 010101, you have a family visit.¡± He slowly sat up, somewhat puzzled. ording to the Inner World¡¯s timeline, hadn¡¯t Qing Yan just visited yesterday? Why was he here again today? Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Guo Huchan was asking Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t it normal for visits to be once every three months? I remember this kid had a visitor just yesterday.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao, appearing unconcerned, replied, ¡°Our boss doesn¡¯t like him, so I¡¯d suggest you¡¯d better not get too close to him and not pry too much. Besides, he is from Qing¡¯s Family, the consortium has to extend some privileges.¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t hurry out immediately; he took his time getting ready, seemingly indifferent to the visit. In his view, since it was clear that Qing Yan was not an ally, there was no harm in making him wait. Half an hourter, Qing Chen, apanied by a Mechanical Prison Guard, slowly pushed open the visitation room door, only to be stunned: inside was not Qing Yan. It was Jindai Kongyin. Chapter 65: 65. The Link to the Outer World Chapter 65: 65. The Link to the Outer World This time, the girl wasn¡¯t wearing a formal suit but something more casual instead. She had on a loose-fitting white sweater, a long pleated skirt underneath, and a pair of little leather shoes. When she sat down there, Qing Chen could see her slender legs wrapped in white socks. It seemed that she had changed into attire she was more ustomed to. Jindai Kongyin no longer seemed restless, but was quietly observing Qing Chen with herrge eyes, which looked as if they could speak, seriously taking in the youth¡¯s appearance. Qing Chen sat down across from her, the two separated by an iron table. The gray metallic walls surrounded them, bleak LED strip lighting above, but for some reason, the originally somewhat gloomy environment seemed somewhat refreshed by Jindai Kongyin¡¯s presence. Actually, the girl wasn¡¯t particrly beautiful, but after looking at her for a while, you would feel extremelyfortable, as if basking in the sunlight. Qing Chen hesitated before asking, ¡°Why have youe?¡± ¡°To see you, to bring you some food,¡± Jindai Kongyin said, picking up a small cloth bag from beside the chair which contained a thermal lunch box, more exquisite than the one Ye Wan had. Qing Chen silently opened the lunch box, which was neatly filled with three pieces of nigiri sushi and a side of beef bowl. Jindai Kongyin said, ¡°I asked around, the prison food doesn¡¯t seem very good, so I made you something.¡± Qing Chen asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯m a convict?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re on a mission,¡± Jindai Kongyin said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m curious, we don¡¯t seem that close, certainly not close enough to visit me in prison every day,¡± Qing Chen said calmly. Although it was nice to be cared for, Qing Chen never believed in unconditional love in this world. This was the World Within, and she was a Time Traveler; from these two points alone, it was destined that the first thing Qing Chen felt upon seeing her was not affinity, but caution. After a moment¡¯s thought, Jindai Kongyin spoke softly, ¡°This time I came to City No. 18 with my elders. They asked me to interact more with you, and¡­ being with them is somewhat ufortable.¡± The two fell into silence, and Qing Chen picked up the chopsticks prepared by the girl, silently finishing all the food in the lunch box. It had to be said that the girl¡¯s cooking skills were very good. Then, they fell into silence once more. Throughout this time, Jindai Kongyin¡¯s gaze never left the youth, until the end of the thirty-minute visit. So much so that even Qing Chen, who faced such a formidable arrayst night without panic, became somewhat restless. At that moment, Jindai Kongyin muttered softly, ¡°Ëû¤Î¡¸ÑYÊÀ½ç¡¹¤ÎÈˤÈͬ¤¸¤è¤¦¤Ë,´ÖÒ°¤ÇÒ°Âù¤Ê¤Î¤Ç¤Ï¤Ê¤¤¤Ç¤·¤ç¤¦¤«.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Qing Chen asked, puzzled. ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s anguage only our n understands,¡± Jindai Kongyin smiled and stood up, ¡°Well then, Qing Chen, see you next time.¡± The girl seemed to have gotten used to their silence, and the game of speaking anguage the other couldn¡¯t understand, revealing her small thoughts, seemed to bring her joy as well. ¡­ At the same time. Lin Xiaoxiao, who was sitting bored in the reading area,mented that ever since the boss required Qing Chen to conceal his identity, the prison seemed to have lost some of its fun. He wanted to chat with Qing Chen, but they all had to pretend to be indifferent. He wanted to chat with Ye Wan, but Mother Ye¡¯s personality was such that you couldn¡¯t get a peep out of her all day. This made Lin Xiaoxiao feel a wave of loneliness¡­ As for Guo Huchan¡­ he wished that baldy would stay far away from him. Just then, the alloy gate next to the square slowly lifted, and two Mechanical Prison Guards were seen escorting Liu Dezhu back to the square. ¡°Damn,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao pped his forehead, feeling like he had forgotten something. ording to the prison¡¯s punishment rules, today was the day Liu Dezhu was supposed to finish his solitary confinement. But the problem was, Liu Dezhu couldn¡¯te back because Lin Xiaoxiao knew he couldn¡¯t let the kid see Qing Chen¡¯s face! ¡°Boss, this guy can¡¯t be released,¡± he said to Uncle Li Dong. Uncle Li Dong lifted his gaze from the chessboard, then said, ¡°Then lock him up again, we¡¯ll talk about it tonight.¡± No sooner had he spoken than the two Mechanical Prison Guards directly escorted Liu Dezhu away from the alloy gate and towards solitary confinement. No one knew how Uncle Li Dong managed that, nor did anyone know who had heard Uncle Li Dong¡¯smand and then issued the order to the Mechanical Prison Guards. Just like no one knew how he managed to leave City No. 18¡¯s prison. Liu Dezhu, the mechanical prison guard, was suspended in the air by his legs, and he roared, ¡°Wait, wasn¡¯t I supposed to be put back in the square? What¡¯s this about, why am I being put in solitary confinement again? What crime have Imitted?¡± But no matter how much he struggled, he was ultimately taken back to the solitary cell¡­ Liu Dezhu felt rather dejected inside. For a modern person, a day without the ability tomunicate with the outside world, without a cell phone, without games, was simply too hard to bear. Liu Dezhu really wanted to end it all, but he couldn¡¯t. Every time the countdown to time travel ended, he would be forcefully pulled into the Inner World by the world¡¯s rules and then spend several days in prison. He never imagined that at such a young age, he would bear all that he shouldn¡¯t have to bear. Suddenly, the alloy gate in front of him opened, and in the hollow and dim corridor stood someone wearing a Cat Mask, silently watching him. ¡°Who¡­ are you?¡± Liu Dezhu hesitated for a moment; he was somewhat afraid, but upon closer inspection, he saw that the other person didn¡¯t have any weapons, and still held a prison reader in their hand. This was the prison¡¯s third Time Traveler, Liu Dezhu realized. Qing Chen slowly stepped into the solitary cell, and with a hydraulic release sound, the alloy gate slowly closed behind him. ¡°What do you want to do?!¡± Liu Dezhu felt a surge of fear in the enclosed space. After a few seconds of silence, Qing Chen slowly wrote a message on the reader: ¡°I saw the news; you¡¯ve been mistaken for me.¡± Liu Dezhu¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°Big brother, I didn¡¯t mean to steal your thunder. I¡¯ve made up my mind, I¡¯ll never boast again. When I get out, I¡¯ll admit that I¡¯m not the Time Traveler Jian Sheng encountered.¡± Qing Chen wrote on the reader: ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Liu Dezhu thought, following his own logic, that he had taken the limelight from this mysterious figure, which is why they might be unhappy, but it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case. He thought for a moment, then asked weakly, ¡°Then what do you want to do, big brother?¡± ¡°Admit it publicly,¡± Qing Chen answered with the reader. ¡°No no no,¡± Liu Dezhu¡¯s head shook like a rattle-drum: ¡°I¡¯m already scared of being harassed. Big brother, you don¡¯t know, I live on the second floor, and the day before yesterday, I forgot to close the blinds while showering, and when I turned around, I saw someone on the building across with a camera pointing at me! Also, when I was cycling home, there were paparazzi following me in a car,ining I was riding too slowly and saying I should go faster for a better shot!¡± Qing Chen ignored hisints and responded on the reader: ¡°Do you know how many years your sentence is? It wasn¡¯t dictated by me, it was sentenced by Court No. 18 of the Inner World.¡± Liu Dezhu was startled; he indeed didn¡¯t know the specifics of his sentence, having been in prison ever since he arrived. Qing Chen wrote on the reader: ¡°99 years and seven months.¡± Liu Dezhu: ¡°???¡± Qing Chen exined: ¡°ording to the news, you¡¯vemitted robbery, theft, smuggling, drug trafficking, and attempted murder, with cumtive punishment for multiple crimes.¡± ¡°Damn!¡± Liu Dezhu nearly threw up at that moment. At this time, Qing Chen also pulled up the news of his trial on the reader, which belonged to Uncle Li Dong, hence had the authority to read the news. Liu Dezhu dumbly watched the reader, which clearly stated his deeds and mentioned that it was the longest sentence in City No. 18 in the past two years. He felt somewhat desperate, having harbored a sliver of hope that after enduring for a while and serving his sentence, everything would be fine. Qing Chen continued to write: ¡°Of course, I think¡­¡± Suddenly, Liu Dezhu asked, ¡°Big brother, you always use writing tomunicate with me, afraid that I¡¯ll recognize your voice, right? So, are you someone I know, or someone close to me?¡± At that moment, Liu Dezhu showed his true intelligence, that of a person whose mind hadn¡¯t been muddled by time travel, who had regained his normal human intellect after calming down in solitary. Qing Chen looked at him coldly, and then spoke from beneath the mask: ¡°That¡¯s not important. What¡¯s important is that Uncle Li Dong and I believe that you were set up by the Society to take the me. The World Within Society often does this; after the Federal Public Security Management Committee catches wind of them, they randomly pick an unlucky person to shoulder all the me.¡± In an instant, Liu Dezhu felt that the other¡¯s presence had changed, as had their momentum. An invisible pressure made it involuntarily hard to breathe normally. The voice was somewhat androgynous but very captivating. Liu Dezhu pondered; if he had heard this voice before, he would definitely have remembered it. But there was no such recollection in his memory. Qing Chen asked, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve heard my voice, can we continuemunicating?¡± ¡°Sorry, big brother, it was my misunderstanding,¡± Liu Dezhu¡¯s demeanor weakened again. Qing Chen looked down at Liu Dezhu: ¡°I came to see you to make a deal. You will impersonate me, and I will help you clear the charges.¡± He had first shattered Liu Dezhu¡¯s hopes, and now he was offering them back. He did so because Liu Dezhu, as of now, couldpletely be his link to the Outer World. Chapter 66: 66. A Deal about the Outer World Chapter 66: 66. A Deal about the Outer World Many people wille to Los Angeles City because of Liu Dezhu. Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, Wang Yun, Bai Waner, and there will be even moreter. You have to know, these people are truly wealthy! Qing Chen continued, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not going to exonerate you right now, but I can assure you that, after I leave Prison 18, I will help you get out as soon as possible.¡± ¡°How will you help?¡± Liu Dezhu asked. ¡°Find the real culprits and have them turn themselves in,¡± Qing Chen responded. After thinking it over, Liu Dezhu said, ¡°But even if you don¡¯t help me after you leave, there¡¯s nothing I can do, right?¡± ¡°Do you have another choice?¡± Qing Chen asked calmly. Liu Dezhu was silent for a moment, finally resigned, ¡°I agree to this deal, what do I need to do?¡± ¡°I believe someone will be attracted by your apparent identity. You need to understand their needs and make them believe they can buy what they want from you,¡± Qing Chen said, ¡°In short, I want to keep them connected through you.¡± ¡°Boss, I can¡¯t just do this without any benefits, right¡­¡± Liu Dezhu weakly asked. ¡°You¡¯ll get a share or reward from each transaction, such as improved meals in the Inner World, the ability to watch outside news even from the solitary confinement room, or moving the entertainment zone¡¯s virtual life equipment to your solitary confinement room,¡± Qing Chen promised. Liu Dezhu was astonished; he hadn¡¯t expected that this third Time Traveler would have such great power inside Prison 18. He hesitated and then said, ¡°But boss¡­ if I take on your identity, I will be extremely vulnerable in the Outer World.¡± Qing Chen just looked at him quietly. ¡°Boss, you might have seen the news too. I got injured on the second day of my return,¡± Liu Dezhu pulled up his sleeves and trousers, ¡°Look, they¡¯re just starting to scab over.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Qing Chen just then remembered, he had been wondering how the other had gotten injured and what had happened, ¡°Tell me more about it.¡± ¡°ording to what the Kunlun organization told me, someone was targeting my role close to Uncle Li Dong, wanting to use me to get closer to Uncle Li Dong,¡± Liu Dezhu exined, ¡°They set out from Ezhou in the morning, and by evening, they made their move on me in Los Angeles City. Kunlun hadid an ambush outside the school, catching them all.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Qing Chen nodded. No wonder Kunlun didn¡¯t appear at the school that day. No wonder Liu Dezhu went to school with injuries out of nowhere; it was all because of the hidden dangers lurking in the Outer World. Now, the nine people involved in the illegal imprisonment case still haven¡¯t been apprehended; those are the overt dangers. Besides, many others are fiercely eying all Time Travelers; those are the covert dangers. Having said that, Qing Chen felt it was indeed dangerous to have Liu Dezhu take the fall for him. It wasn¡¯t that he cared about Liu Dezhu, but having finally found a suitable link, it would be a pity to let him die just like that. Qing Chen looked at Liu Dezhu and asked, ¡°What kind of strength enhancement are you talking about, for instance?¡± ¡°Gic Potion,¡± Liu Dezhu chose another path in his career. Qing Chen closed his eyes, deep in thought, and his meditationsted ten minutes. In silence, Liu Dezhu suffered terribly. The next moment, Qing Chen suddenly opened his eyes, ¡°I can give it to you, but I hope you prove that you are worthy of this Gic Potion, and also understand what working with me entails.¡± ¡°Just watch my performance, sir. I¡¯m telling you, there are already four people trying to cozy up to me, but I previously ignored them,¡± Liu Dezhu immediately became excited, ¡°You don¡¯t know how rich they are. I heard even a watch costs hundreds of thousands. It¡¯s unbelievable that students would wear watches worth hundreds of thousands. I¡¯ve never heard of that before!¡± Qing Chen looked bemused; he was talking about Wang Yun and the others. Liu Dezhu continued, ¡°I¡¯ll go back and understand their needs, see how I can wring some money out of them. Or, should I get his watch for you?¡± Qing Chen reminded, ¡°Don¡¯t bring cash, and no watches either. I only want unmarked gold bars.¡± Paper currency can be traced through its serial numbers, and valuable watches also have serial numbers, making them easily traceable clues. Some people think virtual digital currency is secure, believing that virtual transactions can effortlessly hide one¡¯s identity, but that¡¯s not the case. If you want to conceal your virtual currency transactions, you must go through a mixing pool. A so-called mixing pool is a ce where your cryptocurrency is mixed with arge amount of currency, making it difficult for outsiders to trace the flow of funds. However, mixing pools are managed by third-party tforms, and if those tforms disappear, the holders might lose their investment entirely. Therefore, for Qing Chen, gold bars are still the safest option. ¡°By the way, you know I¡¯m at Los Angeles Foreign Language School, right?¡± Liu Dezhu said. ¡°Hmm,¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°I¡¯m in senior year ss 4, and there¡¯s this idiot in the next ss, senior year ss 3, who keeps trying to cozy up to me. He added me as a friend through our ss WeChat group. I heard he was poor so I didn¡¯t ept at first, but after he added me twice more, I finally epted,¡± Liu Dezhu said, ¡°and just two days after he added me, he inexplicably pulled me into a group where they were selling socks and offering to introduce wealthy women¡­¡± Qing Chen¡¯s expression grew even stranger¡ªwho else could it be but Nan Gengchen? If he hadn¡¯t been wearing a mask, Liu Dezhu might have been able to guess the clue from his expression! ¡°Boss, how should I contact you in the Outer World?¡± Liu Dezhu asked cautiously. Qing Chen smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will contact you.¡± After speaking, he turned and left the solitary confinement room. Only after the alloy gate behind him had closed did Qing Chen slow his breathing. Behind the mask, the fire rune on his cheek was fading quickly. Voice changing, the second application of the Breathing Technique. Beforeing here, Qing Chen had thought that Liu Dezhu would inevitably be suspicious about his unwillingness to use his voice formunication. However, if he had used a reader thest time and then spoke out loud this time, it would not be appropriate. So, letting Liu Dezhu discover the problem himself, and then resolving it, would be more persuasive in dispelling his suspicions. Honestly, he was quite worried that Liu Dezhu would never notice the issue¡ªotherwise he would have to keep using the reader to write¡­ Too tiring. ¡­ In the lonely confinement room, the closed alloy gate where Liu Dezhu was, stood idly. His mind was filled with that eerie cat mask. The mask¡¯s red patterns interwove perfectly with the white, creating a mysterious aura that seemed to be staring right at him. Powerful and mysterious. Liu Dezhu thought idly that although he hadn¡¯t mixed with Uncle Li Dong, mixing with the sessor of Uncle Li might also be a good choice. He had realized that he wasn¡¯t the protagonist of this world. Perhaps the owner of the cat mask was. Outside the door, Uncle Li was waiting with Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan. ¡°Is this your ssmate? I thought everyone from the Outer World was like you, which really scared me. But after seeing him, I¡¯m not scared anymore,¡± Uncle Li asked with a smile, ¡°How did it go?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment, ¡°I need a gic potion.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 67: 67. Paparazzis Sleepless Night (An Additional Update for Brother Yans Silver League) Chapter 67: 67. Paparazzi¡¯s Sleepless Night (An Additional Update for Brother Yan¡¯s Silver League) ¡°Gic Potion?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked in surprise, ¡°For the person inside?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°Why,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao wondered, ¡°making gic potions is quite difficult, aren¡¯t we just giving it away for free?¡± ¡°I need to use him to prove to people from the Outer World that I can indeed bring them what they desire. Moreover, he should have some self-protection capabilities; otherwise, it would be too easy for him to be captured and tortured,¡± Qing Chen replied. Liu Dezhu had no spine, Lin Xiaoxiao interrogated him once, and he confessed everything. Letting such a person act as his firewall to face those from the Outer World, Qing Chen still felt somewhat uneasy. So he changed his angle of thought: since he would confess if captured, just make it so that he can¡¯t be captured! Lin Xiaoxiao, after thinking it over, remarked with a sense of realization, ¡°That seems to make sense¡­¡± Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, ¡°I need to erectyers uponyers of fortresses around myself to ensure my disguise and safety. Liu Dezhu may be a weak firewall, but he is all I can use right now.¡± By Qing Chen¡¯s side were Jiang Xue, Li Tongyun, and Nan Gengchen, but these were his friends. Using them as firewalls and fortresses would kill them. Therefore, Liu Dezhu was the best choice right now, and it was a choice that Liu Dezhu made himself. He turned to Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Teacher, you still owe me one condition exchange; I¡¯ll use it to get a gic potion.¡± Uncle Li Dong asked with interest, ¡°You are already my student, there¡¯s no need to exchange conditions.¡± ¡°One can¡¯t be supported by others for a lifetime,¡± Qing Chen responded. ¡°Interesting,¡± Uncle Li Dong suddenly felt that perhaps it was because of the other¡¯s rity and stubbornness that he finally chose him as his sessor. This was a very excellent quality that could take one further. Uncle Li Dong said again, ¡°However, you brought me a chess manual, so now I owe you one more time. So, I can find you the gic potion this time, but I still owe you a request.¡± ¡°Thank you, teacher,¡± Qing Chen said earnestly. ¡­ The next day, with only 1 hour left in the countdown, the alloy gate in front of Liu Dezhu opened again. He saw the familiar Cat Mask and the briefcase in the other¡¯s hand. ¡°This is¡­¡± Liu Dezhu was astonished and bewildered. ¡°Remember what I am about to say,¡± Qing Chen coldly looked at him, instructing him on what to pay attention to after returning to the Outer World. Not until he finished speaking did he open the case, revealing two refrigerated syringes inside. One was for a skin test, to see how the body rejects the potion. The other was the gic potion, with its blue liquid tightly sealed within the syringe¡¯s transparent ss walls, rippling with captivating waves. On the syringe, there was also the inscription ¡°Li Family-FDE-005.¡± Leaving the case behind, Qing Chen said before he left, ¡°First, take the skin test. If you feel a tearing pain, that means the potion is not rejected and you can take the second injection. The first injection will be painful for 15 minutes, but the second might be painful for 5 hours. However, if you don¡¯t even have the courage to inject, then you are of no value.¡± Li Family FDE gic potions, from numbers 001 to 005, to continuously strengthen oneself one must start with 005, then sequentially inject 004, 003, 002, 001. Each injection must be spaced one month apart, advancing step by step, growing progressively stronger. If one were to take FDE-001 on the first try, a human would die on the spot. Originally, when Lin Xiaoxiao handed them to Qing Chen, there wasn¡¯t even a case, and it was only at his request that the other person found a case. Qing Chen exined that gic potions in a case just look more imposing. This type of gic potion had significant advantages: low rejection rate, quick effect, and no damage to body organs. However, this kind of gic potion also had its ws. If 005 corresponds to F-ss, then 001 would be B-ss. That was the ceiling of FDE gic potions. Moreover, FDE-001 and FDE-002 potions were extremely scarce and almost impossible to find on the market. Lin Xiaoxiao said it was the fastest route among all the shortcuts in the world but also the shortest. That¡¯s when Qing Chen understood that the path he was taking, although the furthest, was also the longest. ¡­ ¡°Hey, do you think he¡¯ll inject himself with the gic potion after the skin test?¡± In the dim corridor outside the cell, Qing Chen asked in a low voice. He had not gone far after leaving but quietly waited instead. Ever since 15 minutes ago, Liu Dezhu¡¯s screams hadn¡¯t stopped. To be honest, even Qing Chen had somewhat underestimated the power of that skin test injection; just by the sound of Liu Dezhu¡¯s screams, he could guess how painful it was. ¡°Hard to say,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao replied, ¡°The pain from the gic potion pierces the bones. Many give up after the skin test because they have no faith they can endure the second injection¡¯s five hours.¡± Ye Wan said from the side, ¡°Everything gained in this world has its price, and wanting to enhance one¡¯s strength inevitably brings pain, even with the fastest-acting Gic Potion.¡± ¡°What about Awakeners?¡± Qing Chen suddenly asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it said that Awakeners might transcend the ordinary overnight?¡± ¡°Awakeners are mostly subjected to extremely strong external stimuli,¡± Ye Wan exined. ¡°It¡¯s also possible that they¡¯ve umted pain over years of suffering in harsh environments.¡± Gradually, Liu Dezhu¡¯s screams finally ceased. The three of them stood quietly in the corridor, whispering amongst themselves, waiting for the next scream to indicate that Liu Dezhu had mustered the courage to give himself the second injection. However, Qing Chen had overestimated Liu Dezhu¡¯s willpower. After enduring the skin test, he no longer had the courage to take a second shot. Many people always dream of bing stronger, and even think they are ready to face the price of gaining strength. But it¡¯s only when the real paines that they understand what they¡¯re up against. And then they back down. At that moment, Ye Wan suddenly took out a gold bar from his pocket and handed it to Qing Chen, ¡°Here, the boss asked me to give this to you.¡± Qing Chen shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve said before, I don¡¯t want to be helped along.¡± Ye Wan stuffed the gold bar back in his pocket and said in a stony voice, ¡°Just like the boss thought, you wouldn¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°Then why offer it?¡± Qing Chen asked, puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s a symbolic gesture¡­ The boss said you can refuse it, but as a teacher, he can¡¯t not have offered.¡± Qing Chen: ¡°¡­¡± At this time, Lin Xiaoxiao took out two thin ck devices from his pants pocket, each about half the size of a palm, resembling miniature smartphones. He stuffed them into Qing Chen¡¯s hands, who asked in confusion, ¡°What are these?¡± ¡°One for you, one for Liu Dezhu. This thing is a pseudo base stationmunicator that possesses independent channel modeling, channel estimation, equalization, detection, decoding, CSI feedback, precoding, modtion, and channel coding abilities. However, its usage is very straightforward; it can only send text messages to each other. In the Inner World, it¡¯s mostly used by spies to avoid interception of their information through base stations,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao answered. Ye Wan added, ¡°But you¡¯ll need to be careful, as it uses Inner World wireless charging technology, and you won¡¯t be able to charge it in the Outer World. Remember to bring it back with you each time you cross over, and do the same with Liu Dezhu¡¯s.¡± ¡°How did you know I needed this?¡± Qing Chen asked Lin Xiaoxiao. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who gave it to you, it was the boss who told me to,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao shrugged. ¡°The boss said, as a teacher, he always needs to think ahead for his students. This device can help you conceal your identity in the Outer World, which with your personality, you¡¯ll definitely need. Though the boss also said this device is yourst trade offer, if you want the boss¡¯s help in the future, you¡¯ll have to trade something from the Outer World. As for what from the Outer World is valuable, that¡¯s for you to consider.¡± Trade, like a little game Uncle Li Dong, as a teacher, yed with his students. He knew Qing Chen¡¯s pride was strong, and he didn¡¯t want to be a beggar for spiritual support. He was happy to protect that pride. Qing Chen looked at themunicator in his hands, then turned and asked, ¡°I will definitely need it, with my character¡­ What is my character exactly?¡± Ye Wan suddenly said from the side, ¡°The boss probably thinks you¡¯re quite shrewd.¡± Qing Chen: ¡°¡­¡± After a long silence in the corridor, Qing Chen nced at the countdown timer, which had only 1 minute left, ¡°It seems he won¡¯t inject himself, let¡¯s do it.¡± Amidst speaking, Liu Dezhu, drenched in sweat and nearly faint, watched in dread as the Alloy Gate opened again. Then Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao rushed in. ¡°No, no! We can talk this out!¡± Liu Dezhu bellowed. The next moment, Ye Wan firmly held him down on the bed, while Lin Xiaoxiao grabbed the syringe and fiercely jabbed it into his buttock. ¡°Fuck!¡± Liu Dezhu¡¯s body, lying on the bed, tensed up all at once! Not only that, but while he was still opening his mouth to wail, Ye Wan stuffed themunicator into his mouth¡­ Countdown 00:00:00. Zero. Liu Dezhu hadn¡¯t even had the chance to let out his scream in the Inner World before the world of the Time Travelers plunged into darkness. The pain was not swallowed by the darkness, it would apany Liu Dezhu back to the Outer World. Qing Chen believed that when the other party got back and opened his mouth, he would definitely wake up all the neighbors in themunity. For the paparazzi of Los Angeles City, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night. ¡­ The fourth update, asking for monthly tickets! Thank you to student simon0911 for bing the new member of the Silver League, what a generous boss! Thank you to brother Bus¨¨ for bing a member of the Silver League, what a generous boss!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om May the bosses make a fortune! As for adding more updates, allow me to take it one day at a time¡­ Chapter 68: 68, just shout "666" and thats okay. Chapter 68: 68, just shout ¡°666¡± and that¡¯s okay. ¡°Aren¡¯t people from the ¡®Inner World¡¯ just as rough and barbaric?¡± ¡°I wonder if he¡¯ll be as rude and barbarous as the other people from the Inner World.¡± This was the second time Jindai Kongyin had quietly spoken in Japanese. As soon as Qing Chen returned to the Outer World, he tranted it immediately. To be honest, he couldn¡¯t quite understand what this girl¡¯s intentions were. ¡°I really need to learn Japanese properly,¡± Qing Chen sighed. The other party always yed these little games right under his nose, yet he had to return to the Outer World to understand what she meant, which made Qing Chen feel somewhat passive. From what the news suggested, it seemed that only people from the Ind Country and Goryeo had traveled to the Federation where he was located. People from other overseas regions had directly traveled to the other side of the great ocean in the Inner World. The Forbidden Seay between them all, with no possibility of ship travel. So far, there have been no cases of foreigners traveling through time in China, and some self-media have reported that many foreigners are nning to return to their countries, perhaps in time to catch the ¡®public beta¡¯. Qing Chen searched for news about Jindai Kongyin, and for the time being, nobody in the Outer World had discovered she was a Time Traveler. This was somewhat inexplicable; the girl was a celebrity in the Ind Country, after all. Even a small-time celebrity was still a celebrity. How could nobody have noticed her? Or was it that she had always kept a low profile in the Inner World and ordinary people never had the chance to encounter her? At that moment, the bedroom was just about the same size as the visitation room. He always felt that she didn¡¯t seem very happy in the Inner World, which might be why she chose to visit him. But the primary reason for her visits wasn¡¯t for him; it might be that she wanted to escape the outside world. And suddenly, Qing Chen felt that sitting opposite the girl in the visitation room was also a rare moment of rxation for him. They didn¡¯t need to say anything, nor did they need any camaraderie or scheming. No need to think about how to survive in the dangerous Inner World. The half-hour in the visitation room was unrted to the outside world. It was like finally having a chance to catch his breath. Perhaps, that¡¯s what she was thinking too. Qing Chen nced at his arm, countdown 47:55:01. Another two days, and the countdown to his next journey jumped around erratically, with no discernible pattern. The broken kitchen knife stilly on the ground; it was the handle he had taken to the Inner World on hisst trip, leaving behind the broken de. Qing Chen remembered that he hadn¡¯tpleted his training for the day, so he searched for a Japanesenguage course video online and trained while listening. In the early hours after 3 am, he had just finished showering and walked out of the bathroom when he opened his phone and felt like the world had exploded. All tforms were continuously refreshing with news. ¡°Liu Dezhu returned to the Outer Worldte at night, only to scream in his home!¡± ¡°The screamssted for 3 hours. What exactly happened to the boy many see as the protagonist of the Inner World!?¡± By dawn, Liu Dezhu¡¯s doorway was already filled with paparazzi. Liu Dezhu felt like walking to school was like walking the red carpet, surrounded by camerasrge and small. In the past, the paparazzi were somewhat restrained, but now, they seemed to wish they could cram the lens in his face. But he wasn¡¯t dressed in a sharp suit; instead, he pushed an old bicycle. The rear wheel of the bicycle was a bit bent, a consequence of being ambushed under the overpass that night,cking any imposing presence whatsoever. A reporter intercepted Liu Dezhu¡¯s path: ¡°Hello, I am Xue Shuanglong from the Los Angeles Daily. Can you tell me what exactly you experiencedst night, and whether you were injured in the Inner World?¡± ¡°No,¡± Liu Dezhu said hastily, pushing his cart and heading out. ¡°If you weren¡¯t injured, then why the screams?¡± reporter Xue Shuanglong pressed on. Liu Dezhu shut his mouth and didn¡¯t utter another word, straining to push through to the outside. More and more onlookers gathered, not just reporters and paparazzi but also neighbors from themunity. While watching the excitement, theymented, ¡°Look at that guy, he was howling until five in the morning. Heard he was pretty formidable in the Inner World.¡± Liu Dezhu¡¯s face flushed with heat until, no longer able to bear it, he shoved forcefully and saw the reporters and paparazzi blocking his path tumble down, several of them falling over, with someone¡¯s camera even getting smashed. The onlooking crowd was stunned, and so was Liu Dezhu himself. At least seven or eight people were standing in front of him, and even if they werepletely unprepared, the force of his casual shove was too great. Liu Dezhu panicked a bit, and seizing the moment the crowd parted, he quickly mounted his bike and rushed to school. However, once he broke free from the crowd, he fell into deep thought. Actually, he wasn¡¯t as panicked as he imagined, because the Time Traveler wearing a Cat Mask had already told him in advance what might happen today and taught him how to disy his strength seemingly unintentionally. To disy strength was to tacitly admit that he had indeed received the inheritance of Uncle Li Dong. As for what exactly the inheritance of Uncle Li Dong was, no one really knew anyway. Or perhaps it wasn¡¯t the inheritance he received, but just acknowledgment. Liu Dezhu thought to himself that the Time Traveler always seemed to act wlessly, no wonder he received Uncle Li Dong¡¯s acknowledgment and not he. He had seen many Time Travelers im that the Gic Potion was very hard to find, but all he did was make a request, and the Time Traveler with the Cat Mask found it for him. In one day. This kind of extraordinary ability suddenly gave Liu Dezhu a new confidence. Just like ying a game, it didn¡¯t matter if you were bad at it, as long as you clung to a strong yer and could cheer them on, you could level up! Still, Liu Dezhu couldn¡¯t quite determine the extent of how awesome this big shot really was. Confined to a cell almostpletely cut off from the world, he couldn¡¯t get any news from outside. Although the transformation from the Gic Potion had left him in such painst night that he almost died, in just an hour, Liu Dezhu was revitalized as if he had been fully healed, brimming with energy. Upon arriving at school, Liu Dezhu walked into ss and immediately sensed that the atmosphere was off. But this time, it wasn¡¯t him people were looking at; they were staring at their phones. Someone had shared a news item in the group chat ¡ª a Douyin user with the ID ¡°Charger King¡± had suddenly posted about a piece of news regarding the Inner World:n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Uncle Li Dong stepped out of prison after 8 years and went to dine on the top floor of the Eternal Building with a man wearing a Cat Mask. Uncle Li Dong had a serving of braised pork, while the man in the Cat Mask had a serving of zhajiangmian. It was reported that on the same night, Chen Yehu, the eldest grandson of the Chen n and an A-ss expert, personally went to persuade them, hoping they would return to Prison No. 18. At the same time, reactions came from Qing¡¯s Family and Li¡¯s Military Base, with eyewitnesses iming to have seen Qing¡¯s Family¡¯s Airship, ¡°Land Cruiser,¡± take to the sky. As everyone knows, the Land Cruiser has always been used by Qing¡¯s Family to contain the Taboo item ACE-009, but no one has ever seen what this Taboo actually is. Thus, Qing¡¯s Family likely wanted to activate this Taboo to deal with the suddenly reemerging Uncle Li Dong. To date, the identity of the man in the Cat Mask remains a mystery, as is the reason Uncle Li Dong stepped out of prison, and this incident has already caused an uproar throughout the Federation. Liu Dezhu silently watched the news item, or to be precise, he was transfixed by the sentence ¡°went to dine on the top floor of the Eternal Building with a man wearing a Cat Mask.¡± He finally understood that his knowledge of the big shot was still far from clear. Chapter 69: 69. Can I stay at your house? Chapter 69: 69. Can I stay at your house? ¡°` Dare King, the owner of this ID seemed to possess a lot of information. Even Qing Chen, who was involved, did not know about Qing¡¯s Family¡¯s Land Cruiser Airship, and the ACE-009 Taboo. Although it was unknown what that thing was, it must have been incredibly terrifying since it could be brought out to deal with Uncle Li Dong. But who exactly was Dare King?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om In the current Outer World, the most authoritative source of information within the country was He Xiaoxiao, who worked on strategy guides, but Dare King seemed more like a war correspondent. Compared to each other, Dare King undoubtedly had the edge in terms of timeliness. In just two hours, the number of followers of the Dare King ount had surpassed thirty million! Qing Chen sat in the ssroom, following the direction of the news. Due to the exposure of the illegal imprisonment case, the Time Travelers had collectively gone silent, fearful of drawing attention to their Time Traveler identity. However, it seemed like Dare King chose to speak up precisely when everyone else had fallen silent. Thus, he quickly attracted a lot of attention. Qing Chen deduced that anyone who woulde forward at this time would be no fool; either they had the backing of an organization like Kunlun and were unafraid of lone wolves, or they were like He Xiaoxiao, possessing technology or abilities to conceal their tracks. Time traveling was a matter of survival of the fittest. Liu Dezhu, who started off ostentatiously, would have probably died long ago if he hadn¡¯t been protected by the prison¡¯s mechanism. Just like those transmigrators who were interrogated to death by the Inner World organization, upon return, all that came back were battered corpses. Qing Chen was waiting to see if someone would reveal Dare King¡¯s identity. Previously, a Time Traveler had tried to be mysterious, but in just over an hour, they were hacked, revealing their IP address and even a string of personal information, including kindergarten ssmates iming to have been beaten up by the online celebrity¡­ This was the information age; without the King Kong drill, it was only a matter of time before someone would be found out. Yet, the morning passed and Dare King remained a mystery. This was enough to illustrate the issue. ¡°It seems that more and more Time Travelers will emerge soon,¡± Qing Chen judged internally: ¡°Unlike the previous inte celebrities, these Time Travelers possess technology to counter the Outer World and have their own stealth techniques.¡± During the first break in the afternoon, Qing Chen went to the restroom and happened to notice the expensive watch that Hu Xiaoniu once wore. It was now on Liu Dezhu¡¯s wrist. Moreover, Hu Xiaoniu, Liu Dezhu, and Zhang Tianzhen were chatting andughing merrily, as if they had be good friends overnight. Qing Chen frowned and went back into the restroom to close the door; he had specifically said not to take the watch, yet Liu Dezhu had clearly ignored his advice. He hid in a stall and sent Liu Dezhu a message: ¡°That group of four transmigrants from Haicheng you mentioned earlier, any progress inmunicating with them?¡± It wasn¡¯t until the next break that Liu Dezhu snuck into the restroom to reply with a message: ¡°Big boss, don¡¯t worry, these four people are wealthy but stingy, so there¡¯s no progress for now.¡± Qing Chen was both amused and exasperated; at first, he thought the other party hadn¡¯t understood his suggestion, but now it seemed that Liu Dezhu intended to keep the watch for himself. The guy nned to cheat more stuff out of Hu Xiaoniu, only to deliver a portion to him, and then try to get more advantages from him, such as the Gic Potion. In the end, Liu Dezhu would be making a fortune while Qing Chen and Hu Xiaoniu would be his tools for making money. Qing Chen couldn¡¯t help but feel that Liu Dezhu¡¯s intelligence had suddenlye online! If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he was in the next ss over, he might have truly been hoodwinked by him. ¡°` Liu Dezhu may never have guessed that the third Time Traveler would be in the ss next door. After all, even Los Angeles City, with its poption of over six million residents¡­ In fact, Liu Dezhu¡¯s reaction was within reason; no partnership can sail smoothly forever. In the process of cooperation, everyone has their own agenda; this is the reality of people, the reality of the world. It¡¯s unreasonable to expect someone to be a willing target or firewall for you just because you¡¯ve offered a bit of intimidation and benefits. However, Qing Chen knew that Liu Dezhu was not a tough nut to crack. At that moment, Liu Dezhu sent a message: Boss, the students from Haicheng want to know how to quickly get a foothold in City No. 18, what can we offer to help? Shall we give them some incentives first? Qing Chen replied, ¡°Like what, a watch perhaps.¡± Liu Dezhu, who had been squatting in the bathroom sending messages, suddenly looked up. The word ¡®watch¡¯ was so crucial that he immediately understood the other party knew everything. Was this third Time Traveler a ssmate in his own ss, or perhaps an alumnus? Memories of students passing back and forth in the corridors, and the teeming crowds on the yground during the break. But Liu Dezhu felt a chill as if a pair of eyes were silently watching him from an unknown ce through the crowd. Liu Dezhu¡¯s hands trembled as he replied to the message: ¡°Boss, I was wrong, please punish me, be assured, I¡¯ll return the watch right away, and I won¡¯t b¡­¡± A few minutester, Liu Dezhu came out of the bathroom, Hu Xiaoniu was waiting for him, slightly puzzled: ¡°Why did it take you so long? How about going to a bar tonight? I haven¡¯t been to one since I came to Los Angeles City.¡± Taking a deep breath, Liu Dezhu said, ¡°Let¡¯s skip the bar, I want to wish you an early New Year¡¯s, first for all your heart¡¯s desires toe true, and second for your family¡¯s health¡­¡± Hu Xiaoniu looked at Liu Dezhu dumbfounded: ¡°¡­???¡± After speaking, Liu Dezhu stuffed the watch into Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s hand and whispered, ¡°The cooperation continues, but from now on, we trade in gold bars.¡± Truth be told, Liu Dezhu was full of regret at this point. He wasn¡¯t sure if the other party had seen the truth nearby. Or if it was all a bluff. But he didn¡¯t dare to gamble. The mere thought of what he might face upon returning to the prison in a day and a half¡­ ¡­ Just as he had dealt with Liu Dezhu, Qing Chen¡¯s WeChat suddenly received a friend request, and it turned out to be Li Tongyun who had added him. But as he remembered, Li Tongyun didn¡¯t have a cellphone before. Qing Chen epted the friend request, and Li Tongyun immediately sent a message: ¡°Qing Chen, brother, Kunlun has sent a warning message to my mom, saying those nine fugitives are likely to have entered Los Angeles City. In the past 24 hours, two Time Travelers have already gone missing; you must be careful.¡± Suddenly, an ominous premonition arose in Qing Chen¡¯s heart. ording to the news, those nine fugitives were extremely brutal, and their arrival in Los Angeles City meant that many Time Travelers might be in danger. He replied to Li Tongyun, ¡°Can you still contact your mom now?¡± Li Tongyun replied, ¡°I¡¯m with my mom now, she¡¯s not in danger. I just wanted to ask if I could stay at your ce tonight, brother Qing Chen. My mom and I can sleep on the floor.¡± Chapter 70: 70, The Noise Upstairs Chapter 70: 70, The Noise Upstairs Li Tongyun was with Jiang Xue at this time. Ever since Kunlun sent out the message, notifying all registered Time Travelers, Jiang Xue had gone to pick up Li Tongyun from school and stayed in the mall. Thinking of countermeasures. Moreover, Jiang Xue had specifically bought Li Tongyun a cell phone for easy daily contact. Nowadays, the world had be more dangerous, having a cell phone would make things much more convenient. Li Tongyun copied the message sent by Kunlun to Jiang Xue and forwarded it to Qing Chen without any changes. Qing Chen analyzed every word and sentence, trying to understand what had happened. In the message, Kunlun specifically reminded everybody that the three missing Time Travelers in Los Angeles City had unintentionally exposed their information online, which could possibly lead to the leakage of their home addresses. With more than two hundred Time Travelers now in Los Angeles City, nearly one-fifth of them were in danger, and everyone was urged not to reveal information easily and to be sure to pay attention to safety. Kunlun did not mention providing protection for everyone; it seemed they were also short of personnel. Qing Chen pondered: He hadn¡¯t expected that so many Time Travelers had been registered, and there must be even more hiding quietly. Those people hade to Los Angeles City in such a rush that they didn¡¯t have time to investigate more detailed information, so as long as they were not at home, the opposing side wouldn¡¯t be able to find their targets. For example, they knew Jiang Xue¡¯s home address, so they came to kidnap Jiang Xue. But if Jiang Xue was not at home, at most they could only kidnap loneliness¡­ It had to be said that Li Tongyun¡¯s line of thought waspletely correct; Qing Chen even wanted to praise her for it. But¡­ was it appropriate for them toe to his ce to stay¡­? Now was not the time to think about this. Li Tongyun had already made her request, and they were in a covert coboration. In the future, they would have many intersections in the Inner World, so he definitely had to help with this favor. Alright, Qing Chen admitted that even if there would be no future coboration, he still had to help: ¡°It¡¯s Friday today. I¡¯ll leave early and we can meet at the entrance of themunity at 5:40 PM. I¡¯ll go back first to scout the area and make sure there are no suspicious people before we proceed.¡± In the afternoon, just before school was about to let out, Liu Dezhu suddenly took the opportunity to send Qing Chen a message: ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve made a breakthrough with the transfer student here. We haven¡¯t talked about the deal in detail yet, but they are willing to pay a gold bar in advance as a show of sincerity¡­ Uh, Boss, I don¡¯t want a cut of the gold bar, but can you improve the life in the solitary confinement room for me? I¡¯m really going to go crazy just sitting there doing nothing.¡± Qing Chen found a secluded spot to nce at the message and simply replied with a ¡°Depends on your performance,¡± before pocketing themunicator and skipping ss. ¡­ Number 4, Xingshu Road, was still quiet, with not many pedestrians around. Qing Chen, carrying his groceries, walked slowly down the tree-lined path. Early autumn had passed, and the leaves of the ne trees lining the road were beginning to fall¡ªtoday, Number 4 courtyard was perhaps looking its best. This time, the nine suspects seemed different from the previous loose soldiers and mercenaries; they were nned and organized, and despite the passing of so much time, they had not been caught. Such criminal organizations were the most dangerous. Qing Chen kept his gaze straight ahead but silently took note of all the people he encountered, each one a neighbor he had seen in themunity before. There were no strangers. He nced again at Jiang Xue¡¯s balcony out of the corner of his eye, noting that all the arrangements remained untouched and even the creases in the curtains were unchanged from the morning. There were no ambushes in the house. Standing in the corridor, Qing Chen sent a message to Li Tongyun, ¡°Come in, the door is ajar, you can just walk in.¡± Not long after, Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, onerge and one small, quietly slid the door open a bit and sidled into the house. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that the young Li Tongyun finally breathed a sigh of relief, looking incredibly cute. Qing Chen said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m not a Time Traveler, and even if someone wanted to kidnap the Time Traveler, they wouldn¡¯t find their way here. They are fugitives; they definitely don¡¯t want to cause a big scene.¡± Li Tongyun sneaked a nce at him and thought to herself that this brother Qing Chen was really natural at lying, without even a blush or a heartbeat! Jiang Xue chuckled, ¡°Thanks to you this time, even though I know we could hide outside as well, but being away from home never feels safe. You watch TV with Xiao Yun for a bit, I¡¯ll go cook for you.¡± With that, the woman rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen. Qing Chen felt a touch of emotion, Aunt Jiang Xue was always so gentle and tender. Li Tongyun suddenly said, ¡°My mom is very virtuous, right?¡± Qing Chen ruffled her hair and asked in a low voice, ¡°Did you hear about Uncle Li Dong in the Inner World? Can you tell me about it? How does the Consortium view this matter?¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t much to say,¡± Li Tongyun sat on the sofa, her short legs dangling off the edge: ¡°I heard from my sisters in the Inner World that Uncle Li Dong has been out of the picture for many years. His sudden reemergence is bound to cause a stir.¡± Qing Chen took a nket out from the cab. Although the room was a two-bedroom apartment, the other room was empty, without even a bed, and still piled up with the misceneous items he had bought before. He said to Li Tongyun, ¡°You and your mom will sleep in my room tonight, squeezing into my small bed, and I¡¯ll sleep in the living room.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°That¡¯s really embarrassing,¡± Li Tongyun said politely, but she did not refuse, her eyes curving into joyful crescents: ¡°Oh, by the way, brother Qing Chen, where were you when Uncle Li Dong was dining at Sunlight Pavilion?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Qing Chen looked at her, ¡°I was on the light rail train. I only saw the airship flying towards Eternal Building.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Li Tongyun didn¡¯t ask anything more: ¡°The Consortium¡¯s view on this matter is very vague, it seems like everyone is waiting to see the reactions of the other families, nobody wants to make the first move.¡± Qing Chen asked, ¡°By the way, why was Uncle Li Dong imprisoned?¡± Li Tongyun nced at him and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s not appropriate for someone my age to ask for his file. Alright, I¡¯ve shared quite a lot of information now, it¡¯s your turn to exchange some information, brother Qing Chen.¡± After some reflection, Qing Chen said, ¡°The information I can share is from the Outer World. I think it¡¯s necessary to join the group chat that He Xiaoxiao mentioned. However, before joining, it¡¯s imperative to obtain the Data fortress program from the Inner World. That¡¯s the only way to avoid being located by him. Right now, I suspect that He Xiaoxiao is not an individual but an organization that is systematically rounding up all Time Travelers. Of course, it¡¯s just a guess.¡± Li Tongyun cocked her head and said, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, you only share Outer World information because if you disclosed Inner World intelligence, it would be too identifiable and expose you, right?¡± Qing Chen smiled, ¡°What do you think?¡± However, at that moment, both of them heard¡­ the sound of a chair falling over on the floor above their heads. The building was so old that the sound instion between neighbors was very poor, not to mention the noise of something smashing on the floor. But the problem was, both Qing Chen and Li Tongyun knew very well that there should be no one in the room on the top floor at the moment. Chapter 71: 71. Midnight Outing (Extra for Li Dongze and the Silver League) Chapter 71: 71. Midnight Outing (Extra for Li Dongze and the Silver League) ¡°Shh!¡± Qing Chen whispered to Li Tongyun. The little girl looked up in terror at the living room ceiling, her body shrinking into the couch bit by bit. Despite her precocity, she rarely encountered such situations. Last time, the shadows of two intruders who had broken into their home hadn¡¯t fully dispersed, and now there were intruders again. Li Tongyun instinctively wanted to turn off the TV with the remote control nearby, but Qing Chen stopped her. The autumn sky darkened quickly, and they had turned on the lights early. The intruders must have noticed this, which is why pretending no one was home could lead to trouble. Qing Chen patted the little girl¡¯s hand and silently mouthed, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± Li Tongyun wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and nodded. Everything in the house seemed to continue normally, with no changes. Qing Chen turned and went to the kitchen, signaling Jiang Xue to continue cooking. He wrote on a piece of paper for Jiang Xue to read, ¡°The intruders are upstairs now. From this moment, all of us must act as before, like normal people. Don¡¯t panic yet, they won¡¯t expect you to be downstairs.¡± The entire building had four floors with eight households. It was unlikely that the intruders were insane enough to search the entire building. Only when Jiang Xue patiently finished cooking and brought the dishes into the living room did she, suppressing her fear, write on a piece of paper, ¡°What do we do now?¡± No sooner had she written this than the sound of ss shattering came from upstairs, apanied by heavy footsteps that just happened to pass over their heads. A sinking feeling hit Qing Chen¡ªit was the weight of a mechanical limb. An ordinary person couldn¡¯t possibly make such heavy footsteps. Gradually, strange friction sounds came from the ceiling overhead. Qing Chen searched his memory,paring simr sounds¡­ this was the sound of a zipper scraping against the floor. Right now, someone was lying on the floor, listening! It was as if, in the dark of night, a demon had arrived behind you, whispering, exhaling the stench of blood. Qing Chen sat on the couch, motionless; there was no need to attract attention at such a time. It was better to sit quietly and wait for the other party to leave. In the forest, if you are the prey and facing a skilled hunter, you must first learn how to hide your scent. Don¡¯t try anything risky, because the other side has guns. When the friction sound of the zipper against the floor arose again, the person on the top seemed to get up, then the heavy footsteps headed towards the kitchen. The TV broadcast the news program that had just begun; the host¡¯s crisp voice echoed in the room. Qing Chen wrote to Jiang Xue, ¡°Contact Kunlun on WeChat? Don¡¯t call, it might be heard.¡± Jiang Xue took out her phone, turned it to silent mode, then sent a message to Lu Yuan. Unexpectedly, Lu Yuan did not reply. Qing Chen wrote, ¡°Forget about Kunlun for now, let¡¯s just wait patiently.¡± Li Tongyun cuddled in her mother¡¯s arms, gradually calming down. She gently tapped her porcin bowl with her chopsticks, making the normal sounds of eating. However, just then, the sound of a door opening came from the corridor, followed by Hu Xiaoniu and others talking as they went upstairs. Qing Chen exchanged nces with Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun; everyone realized what was happening. This was Hu Xiaoniu and his group, definitely going up to visit Jiang Xue¡¯s home! Knocking on the door. Then came Wang Yun¡¯s voice, ¡°Aunt Jiang Xue, are you home?¡± Immediately after, sudden exmations and the sounds of collision came from upstairs, along with the sound of something heavy suddenly crashing to the ground. The sounds came rapidly, but they also faded quickly, as if the intruders had quickly ended the fight. Then the four people were slowly dragged into the house. Qing Chen was surprised; he had underestimated the suspect¡¯sbat ability. Even though Hu Xiaoniu and the others were just ordinary people, they shouldn¡¯t have been subdued so quickly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°What should we do? Should we save them?¡± Jiang Xue wrote on the paper, her fear evident. If those four students encountered a criminal, everyone could guess what would happen next. Qing Chen looked at Jiang Xue, then at Li Tongyun. The young girl suddenly pulled on his sleeve and wrote on the paper, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, you must have a way, you¡¯re so smart.¡± The girl paused in her writing before continuing, ¡°But you must stay safe.¡± Qing Chen sighed. It was likely that Hu Xiaoniu and the others were not dead; given the suspect¡¯s modus operandi, they would probably see the Time Travelers as an asset and would not kill them easily. ¡­ There was still time. He suddenly closed his eyes; his pupils narrowed in the darkness behind his eyelids. The streams of information that had once shed through his mind were now being scrutinized one by one. If someone asked him what was in the old times of the past, Qing Chen would calmly tell them, ¡°There, you¡¯ll find the treasures you once forgot.¡± ¡°ording to reports, there are still nine suspects atrge¡­¡± ¡°Hello, do you know Liu Dezhu¡­¡± ¡°Four transfer students havee from Haicheng¡­¡± Qing Chen seemed to have found something. What had Liu Dezhu told him in the istion cell? ¡°Kunlun learned of the Ezhou people¡¯s whereabouts and ambushed outside the school ahead of time¡­¡± ¡°The person in charge named Zheng Yuandong said, someone would protect me.¡± Qing Chen suddenly opened his eyes, turned his back and took out amunication device to send a message to Liu Dezhu: ¡°Take a taxi now to 12th floor, 4 Xingshu Road and stake out. Go immediately!¡± Liu Dezhu replied right away: ¡°Boss, what¡¯s this for? Why am I staking out there?¡± Qing Chen replied, ignoring the question, ¡°Remember to tell Hu Xiaoniu, the first transaction ispleted; he should pay with a gold bar.¡± The moment Liu Dezhu received the message, he was stunned. What did he mean, and why bring up Hu Xiaoniu all of a sudden? Still, he replied, ¡°Okay, departing now.¡± Qing Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t want to harm Liu Dezhu by having hime here. Instead, he had realized that perhaps Jiang Xue, an insignificant Time Traveler, might not be able to contact Kunlun, but Liu Dezhu certainly could. It wasn¡¯t that Liu Dezhu had to make the contact himself but rather that Kunlun was definitely lurking nearby at this time. Qing Chen didn¡¯t need Liu Dezhu; he needed Liu Dezhu to bring Kunlun to him. Slowly, the sound of a girl¡¯s faint crying came from upstairs, indicating someone had woken up. ¡­ In Xinglong Residential Area, several Kunlun members who were staking out below Liu Dezhu¡¯s building were chatting. Liu Dezhu sneaked out of the building, looked around quickly, and then ran out of theplex to take a taxi waiting at the entrance. A Kunlun member whispered into the headset, ¡°Attention, attention, ¡®Sparrow¡¯ has taken flight, ¡®Sparrow¡¯ has taken flight, Sparrow has boarded Xiao Ying¡¯s car.¡± In the mysterious night, Liu Dezhu sat anxiously in the back of the taxi and said, ¡°Master, to Xingshu Road, number 4, please hurry.¡± Lu Yuan¡¯s voice came through the headset, ¡°Everyone, follow suit, Sparrow has given the address, check for anomalies. Wrench, Hawthorn, speed up, get there ahead of time and find a ce to hide.¡± Liu Dezhu had no idea that his actions had agitated so many people. ¡­ The fourth release, asking for monthly tickets! The double release is about to end, hurry and cast your votes~! Chapter 72: 72, Explosion! Chapter 72: 72, Explosion! In front of the gate at 4 Xingshu Road, a taxi slowly came to a halt. As Liu Dezhu paid, the young driver, casually remarked, ¡°14 yuan, handsome guy, this used to be a big governmentpound. What brings you here?¡± While scanning the QR code, Liu Dezhu said subconsciously, ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up some gold bars¡­¡± At that moment, his mind was full of thoughts about the gold bars, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it and hurriedly shut up and got out of the car. After he entered themunity, the young driver put on his headset, ¡°Calling Kunlun, Sparrow says he¡¯s here to pick up gold bars.¡± Lu Yuan, who had already entered themunity and was hiding in the shadows, stubbed out his cigarette, ¡°Picking up gold bars? Could it be that he has struck a deal with a Time Traveler?¡± ¡°Possibly, he has a special identity in the Inner World, capable of helping many,¡± analyzed a Kunlun member, ¡°If someone is paying for resources from the Inner World, that¡¯s pretty normal. Road Team, remember a few days ago in Taicheng, there was a case where the buyer received the medicine but didn¡¯t pay the bnce and nearly got someone killed. Our brothers in Kunlun there had a real headache.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Lu Yuan nodded, ¡°It must be that kind of situation. Damn it, I have to stay up in the middle of the night to guard him, to prevent him from being kidnapped by suspects, and here he is,ing to pick up gold bars.¡± In the darkness, Liu Dezhu carefully crept deeper into themunity, ncing left and right, like a thief sneaking into a vige to steal chickens. But he was unaware of how many people were silently observing him. As Liu Dezhu headed towards Building 12, over twenty Kunlun members silently interwove their paths forward, always keeping him at the core. Lu Yuan watched coldly from the side, thinking no wonder Boss Zheng didn¡¯t rate this guy. He also felt that Uncle Li Dong would be foolish to value him. Yet reality was a bit face-pping, as just that morning, Liu Dezhu had demonstrated extraordinary strength. The only way for him to obtain superhuman abilities in Prison 18 was through Uncle Li Dong. ¡°Huh? Why is he squatting down, squatting in front of Building 12?¡± a Kunlun member wondered aloud. Lu Yuan turned his head and saw with rity that Liu Dezhu was squatting in front of Building 12, motionless. The guy had his arms crossed inside his sleeves, looking like a fool waiting for roasted sweet potatoes. ¡°What the hell is this guy doing?¡± a Kunlun member whispered. ¡°Silence,¡± Lu Yuan suddenly said. He sensed a dangerous atmosphere. ¡­ Time ticked by, and the whole world seemed to fall into amunications ckout. But just then, from the shadow of the hallway, slowly emerged a man in a ck jacket. He wore a Bluetooth headset in his ear and scanned his surroundings silently with utmost alertness, his right hand resting subtly on his waist. The man¡¯s palm was exposed to the air, his metallic mechanical hand especially strong and powerful. His gaze slowly swept around, and when he slowly turned his head, he saw Liu Dezhu squatting not far away, staring nkly at him. For a moment, their eyes met, and the atmosphere turned eerily quiet. The thug watched Liu Dezhu silently, the air thick with an invisible pressure. After ensuring no one else was around, the thug took steps toward Liu Dezhu, his clothes emitting a faint hydraulic whirring sound with each step. Liu Dezhu silently watched the man approach step by step. As the thug walked, he spoke to Liu Dezhu, ¡°Friend, why do you look so familiar to me? Are you¡­¡± After two seconds of silence, Liu Dezhu twisted his mouth, drool also escaping, ¡°Abba abba abba abba¡­¡± While babbling, he pretended to casually turn and walk away. The thug pressed his Bluetooth headset, ¡°Something¡¯s up.¡± As the thug spoke, Liu Dezhu walked faster, eventually breaking into a run, ¡°Abba abba abba¡­¡± The sound of running footsteps faded into the distance. The criminal initially wanted to chase after him, but suddenly, he stopped in his tracks as if he had discovered something and returned to the shadows of the stairwell. Under the intecing shadows of the trees in the residential area, Lu Yuan suddenly looked up in the dark. At that moment, behind a second-floor window, someone was coldly watching him through the ss! ¡°We¡¯ve been spotted, surround the area,¡± Lu Yuan said in a low voice, ¡°Be careful, the opponent is extremely dangerous.¡± Kunlun members slowly approached building number 12, but then a sound of shattering ss came from behind the building. The man who had been staring at Lu Yuan emotionlessly turned away from the window, disappearing from sight. Lu Yuan¡¯s expression changed: ¡°They¡¯re nning to escape by jumping out the windows at the back!¡± The person who had just appeared was the fugitive suspect they were looking for! Lu Yuan had been here before; he knew that the second floor was Jiang Xue¡¯s residence! They moved around to the back of building 12 from both sides, just as Lu Yuan and his team turned the corner at the stairwell. At the end of the street, a tin garbage can suddenly burst into mes. With a loud bang, Lu Yuan only had time to shield his neck and head with his arms before he and his team were blown away by a st of hot air. The explosion thundered into the sky, tearing the tin garbage can apart. This was explosive material that the criminals had hidden beforehand. They had secretly ced it inside the garbage can as a dying tactic before stealthily infiltrating Jiang Xue¡¯s home. If their action was discovered, they would break the rear window to draw attention and then detonate the explosives on the road to cause injuries and chaos. That way, everyone involved would have enough time to withdraw calmly. The n was meticulous, as if someone was coldly observing everything from behind the scenes, controlling the course of events. Lu Yuan struggled to his feet from the ground, shook his head, and asked a team member beside him, ¡°Any injuries?¡± The team members got up from the ground: ¡°Only one member was hit in the leg by a piece of metal; no one else was directly injured.¡± All team members probably had slight concussions, but at that moment, they couldn¡¯t worry too much about it.N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°Hurry and chase,¡± Lu Yuan said in a low voice, ¡°If we let this group get away, who knows how long it will take for Time Traveler to suffer!¡± The Kunlun organization continued the chase around the back of the building, but Lu Yuan suddenly stopped: ¡°Something¡¯s not right!¡± He felt something was amiss. These criminals were here to kidnap Time Traveler, and as far as he knew, their mechanical limbs were not sophisticated enough to withstand the impact of jumping directly from the second floor. Maybe the criminals could jump down themselves, but it definitely wouldn¡¯t work with someone in tow! Lu Yuan abruptly turned back, everything from the initial sound of breaking ss, the mysterious person on the second floor deliberately seen turning away, to the road explosives, were just to divert them from the front entrance. Once everyone was affected by the explosion, with their minds in disarray, they would follow their initial target and have no time to think carefully. This way, everyone went to chase at the back, allowing the criminals to easily walk out the front door! ¡°Follow me back!¡± Lu Yuan roared. A team member asked, ¡°Team Leader, aren¡¯t we chasing them?¡± ¡°Stop talking, Sparrow, have you arrived?¡± Someone spoke in the earpiece, ¡°Almost there, almost there!¡± Lu Yuan sprinted again, knowing if his judgment was wrong, that would mean personally allowing the criminals to escape from the back. But he trusted his judgment! Chapter 73: Beat him up! Chapter 73: Beat him up! Lu Yuan sprinted madly, as if he had grasped the most crucial point amidst the chaos; despite the pain, he was exhrated. Looking down, he noticed that his thigh was also bleeding, with tiny shards of metal embedded in his muscle. He had been injured as well. Butpared to catching the criminal, pain was inconsequential at this moment. When he rounded back to the front entrance, he happened to see a minivan slowly driving towards the entrance of building 12. As expected. From the shadows of the corridor, four criminals were calmly walking out, each carrying a heavy ck woven bag that seemed to distort the synthetic fibers from the weight. The leading criminal coldly nced at Lu Yuan; the man seemed a bit surprised that Lu Yuan could react so quickly, but he was unconcerned. They threw the ck bags into the van and sat down in the back of the minivan in session. One of them stayed behind, pulling out a cold pistol from behind his waist and aimed it at Lu Yuan. With a sudden surge of enormous power in his legs, Lu Yuan even managed to reverse his original momentum! He moved to the right in advance, anticipating the trajectory of the bullet, and dodged the first shot! Humans can¡¯t be faster than bullets, but they can be faster than the speed of the gun muzzle¡¯s movement! Lu Yuan¡¯s running shoes split instantly, with his toes bursting out. But he paid no attention to that and shouted with all his might, ¡°Xiao Ying, ram the fucker!¡± Then, he leaped up. At the end of the alley, the roar of an engine erupted like thunder; a taxi suddenly drifted into view, with Xiao Ying at the wheel, flooring the gas pedal to the max. The taxi, still swaying from inertia, and Lu Yuan, who was soaring through the air with ws bared ready to pounce on the criminal¡ªif one could freeze this moment, it would be memorable. It was like a blood-pumping segment from a certain moment in life. The next second, the taxi brutally collided with the front of the ck minivan, Xiao Ying¡¯s head mming into the steering wheel and knocking him unconscious. The gunman was caught off guard for a moment. By the time he turned his head back, Lu Yuan¡¯s leaping figure was already rmingly close, crashing down on him like a cannonball! Before losing consciousness, he even heard the sound of his bones shattering. Inside the car, a criminal tried to jump down to help but ended up being kicked back into the van by Lu Yuan, who had gotten up. The criminal¡¯s body was propelled back by the kick, mming heavily against the other side of the car. The next moment, everyone in themunity heard Lu Yuan¡¯s furiousmand: ¡°Beat the shit out of him!¡± ¡­ Unseen by Lu Yuan and the others, Qing Chen had been silently watching through the slits in the curtains. He pondered secretly, realizing that Lu Yuan was also a Transcendent, but he couldn¡¯t be sure if the man had injected a Gic Potion, or was an Awakener or an heir. If it was a Gic Potion, he couldn¡¯t determine which one had been used. There are many types of Gic Potions, such as FDE, FDD, and FEE, all avable within Li¡¯s Financial Group. The one Qing Chen procured for Liu Dezhu was designed to maximize the potential for explosive power and the muscle groups in the lower limbs. It allowed a person to burst forth with greater strength and run faster. In short, Qing Chen knew that if Liu Dezhu were caught, he would confess, so he made him run a little faster to avoid capture. At this moment, he saw the Kunlun members converging and eventually subduing all the criminals. Lu Yuan was injured and taken away by an ambnce, along with Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and the others. Based on Qing Chen¡¯s observation, Hu Xiaoniu and the others didn¡¯t seem to have any significant injuries¡ªthey appeared to have been only knocked unconscious. Many areas within themunity were cordoned off with police tape, and professionals were responsible for checking every corner to see if any explosives had been left by the criminals. This was an extremely heinous crime, with four suspects apprehended and five still atrge. This incident also made Qing Chen and his group fully realize that this organization was more cunning than they had thought. They were no ordinary ragtag bandits. Although the individualbat power of the opposition wasn¡¯t high, they carried out criminal activities in an organized and nned manner. Of course, Qing Chen suspected that among the remaining five fugitives, there must be those with higherbat power. Qing Chen turned back, looked at Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun with a smile, and said, ¡°It¡¯s all right now, but we can¡¯t go out yet, so let¡¯s just eat our meal in peace.¡± Jiang Xue looked at the teenager in front of her, ¡°Thank you. Without you, Xiao Yun and I might have been in trouble¡­ I¡¯ll go warm up the dishes.¡± Since Jiang Xue had finished cooking earlier, the three of them had been too apprehensive to eat, resulting in all the dishes going cold. In the living room, Li Tongyun felt there was something different about her brother Qing Chen, who seemed to turn the impossible into the miraculous no matter the situation or ce.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°Qing Chen brother, how did you get Kunlun toe?¡± asked Li Tongyun, blinking her eyes. ¡°I called them with my mind,¡± Qing Chen replied with a smile. He knew he might have revealed too many details today. Outsiders might not suspect anything, but maybe Li Tongyun could eventually piece together some inside information through the details. However, Qing Chen didn¡¯t seem to mind this little girl knowing some secrets. He patted her head, ¡°Are you still scared?¡± ¡°A little,¡± Li Tongyun responded, ¡°Qing Chen brother, I know you don¡¯t want your identity discovered, but if I am in danger in the Inner World, will youe to save me?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and answered, ¡°I will.¡± Li Tongyun nodded contentedly but then muttered quietly, ¡°It¡¯s too much to keep it from everyone else, even from me. I¡¯m just a child. What harm could a child do?¡± Qing Chen just smiled without responding to the question. High-level Hunters always appeared in the guise of their prey. Ever since the Inner World had opened, everyone lived with danger as their constantpanion. Qing Chen always believed that before bing truly powerful, it was not wrong to disguise oneself as weaker. Tonight, Li Tongyun and Jiang Xue must have noticed something unusual: how did he call Kunlun? They didn¡¯t know that Liu Dezhu hade to the scene and Kunlun wouldn¡¯t reveal that secret to just anyone. So for the time being, Li Tongyun couldn¡¯t connect the dots to the full story. But if one day she discovered the link with Liu Dezhu, even if she couldn¡¯t guess the whole truth, she would be closer to it. Jiang Xue stood in the kitchen, her fingers still trembling slightly. If Li Tongyun had suddenly turned off the television. If Qing Chen hadn¡¯t reminded Jiang Xue to keep cooking. They would still have been in danger. Jiang Xue brought the heated food back, and for some reason, the kind aunt didn¡¯t seem too frightened anymore, her face was rather filled with smiles, ¡°Let¡¯s eat, let¡¯s eat. It¡¯s a pity you two are too young to drink, otherwise we really should pop open a bottle of beer to celebrate our narrow escape from disaster, Xiao Chen is too amazing!¡± Li Tongyun joined in the excitement, ¡°Qing Chen brother is old enough, he can drink!¡± Qing Chen took a bite of his dish, his expression turning strange. Seeing him like that, Jiang Xue quickly took a mouthful of egg, and the next second she knew what had happened. She was too scared while cooking and forgot to add salt. Her face flushed, she was at a loss for words, but Qing Chen quickly said, ¡°Being scared at that time is normal, I was scared too.¡± Li Tongyun muttered under her breath, ¡°As if you were scared, that¡¯d be the day.¡± The food not being to their taste didn¡¯t affect the atmosphere; in fact, it made the asion even livelier. Chapter 74: 74. The Truth Chapter 74: 74. The Truth Los Angeles Second People¡¯s Hospital, emergency department. The previously quiet department was suddenly filled with Kunlun members. These young warriors had been lively and vigorous while catching criminals, but after the fight, they ally in bed wailing, moring for the nurses to give them painkillers. However, their injuries were just minor scratches. At first, the nurses thought they were pretending to be pitiful to strike up a conversation, a type of patient they had seen often. They were about to purposely give them a few messy injections. But when they heard that they had been injured while saving others, they didn¡¯t go through with it. Moreover, they discovered that these young warriors were genuinely in pain. In fact, this type of pain has a specific term in the Inner World: post-overload syndrome. Ordinary people might experiencectic acid build-up when they over-exercise, which feels sore but satisfying. But for those injected with low-numbered gic potions, the pain is more direct and neural. For instance, Liu Dezhu would experience pain now if he overexerted himself, because he had only taken the FDE-005 potion.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om If he subsequently took 004 and 003, the aftereffects would gradually disappear. The nurses had never seen this condition before, but Hu Xiaoniu had in the Inner World. Although he hadn¡¯t injected gic potion, he was notpletely ignorant about it. Hu Xiaoniu thought to himself that the Kunlun organization seemed to have significant strength. They had managed to obtain so many gic potions not long after time-traveling had started. That Mr. Zheng in the Inner World must hold a significant position. At that moment, Lu Yuan was thest one to be brought off the ambnce. Nearby Kunlun members winked and said, ¡°Road Team, should we arrange a private ward for you? Xiao Ying said that thest time he was in a single room, the nurse was really beautiful.¡± Xiao Ying, the taxi driver who had collided with the criminals¡¯ car. He was also the one who had previously driven an SUV to overturn a business van under the bridge when Liu Dezhu was kidnapped. Among the Kunlun, he was known for having tough luck. Lu Yuan frowned and said, ¡°No, move me next to Hu Xiaoniu.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The Kunlun member was stunned for a moment, ¡°That ward is really noisy, though.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that,¡± Lu Yuan thought for a moment and said, ¡°I still have some things I haven¡¯t figured out and need to ask our four new friends. By the way, have Spanner check their identities.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The Kunlun member wheeled the treated Lu Yuan into the ward. This member watched as Lu Yuan, who had been calm a second before, suddenly started crying out in pain the moment he entered the ward, instantly getting into character. Once Lu Yuan was lying in the bed next to Hu Xiaoniu, he continued to ignore him, writhing in pain. Hu Xiaoniu hesitated for a long while, then turned to Lu Yuan and said, ¡°Thank you for arriving just in time to save us.¡± ¡°Thanking us is natural,¡± Lu Yuan turned over, grimacing in pain from the wounds on his legs, waist, and back, ¡°Did you see how heroic I was when I saved you guys? I was calm andposed in the face of the criminal¡¯s gun¡­ Oh, wait, you were in the sack then, you couldn¡¯t see.¡± Hu Xiaoniu: ¡°¡­¡± Lu Yuan sighed, ¡°If Mr. Zheng had seen it, he would surely promote me and give me a raise!¡± Hu Xiaoniu changed the subject: ¡°But how did you know we were in trouble?¡± Lu Yuan replied, ¡°It wasn¡¯t us who found out you were in trouble, it was someone else. We just happened to be there. Of course, capturing those criminals was our responsibility.¡± Hu Xiaoniu asked curiously, ¡°Someone else? Who?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say,¡± Lu Yuan shook his head, indicating he needed to adhere to the confidentiality agreement. A Kunlun member walked into the ward with a ck stic bag, ¡°We found these four cell phones in the criminals¡¯ car, are they yours? im them please?¡± Hu Xiaoniu took out his own phone from the stic bag. The passcode was intact and the phone was unharmed. He turned it on and immediately saw a WeChat message from Liu Dezhu: ¡°Consider this the first transaction. Remember to pay in gold bars.¡± Hu Xiaoniu was stunned. This WeChat message linked everything together: it was Liu Dezhu who realized he was in danger and thus created the opportunity for Kunlun to intervene, catching the criminals and saving them. Thus, Liu Dezhu had dered that the first transaction waspleted, which essentially meant saving his own life. In an instant, Liu Dezhu¡¯s image became enigmatic and imposing. How did the other party know he was in danger, and how did they mobilize Kunlun? He couldn¡¯t figure it out. Hu Xiaoniu thought for a moment and sent a message back to Liu Dezhu, ¡°Thank you, this cooperation was very pleasant. I¡¯ll pay double the price for our initial transaction.¡± Upon reading the message, Liu Dezhu was overjoyed. What kind of miraculous partner was this, who agreed to double payment just like that? Could this be the world of the wealthy? Moreover, this time he should be able to pocket a gold bar without anyone noticing, right? At that moment, Lu Yuan suddenly asked Hu Xiaoniu, ¡°By the way, how were you captured? At first, I thought the criminals had taken Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, but when I opened the sack, it turned out it wasn¡¯t them. I hadn¡¯t seen you guys before either.¡± This was one of Lu Yuan¡¯s curiosities. Liu Dezhu went to Xingshu Road No. 4 Court seemingly without cause, as if he was waiting for the criminals. The taxi driver Liu Dezhu used to get to Xingshu Road was a Kunlun member,ter known as Xiao Ying, who had collided with the criminals. At that time, Xiao Ying had tried to probe why Liu Dezhu was there, and Liu Dezhu said he was there to get a gold bar. It waster discovered that the crime scene was at Jiang Xue¡¯s home, but instead of Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, Hu Xiaoniu and his group were present. Before and after the fight, there were too many dubious points. Hu Xiaoniu exined, ¡°We are new residents on the 12th floor, students from Los Angeles Foreign Language School. Today we were visiting our neighbors in suite 201. We didn¡¯t expect to encounter the criminals inside and got captured.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t Time Travelers?¡± Lu Yuan questioned. ¡°Just a coincidence?¡± ¡°Yes, just a coincidence,¡± Hu Xiaoniu nodded. Lu Yuan smiled without saying a word. At that moment, a Kunlun member approached from outside, handing a stack of documents to Lu Yuan and said, ¡°We¡¯ve found Jiang Xue. She and her daughter moved to a friend¡¯s house after receiving a notification. We sent you a message beforehand, but you didn¡¯t respond.¡± Lu Yuan paused, ¡°I didn¡¯t receive any messages.¡± The Kunlun member hesitated for a moment: ¡°Road Team, your phone was out of credit¡­¡± Lu Yuan muttered to himself annoyed, ¡°Damn it, the sry is so low, I can hardly afford the phone bill. I wonder if this counts as a work injury? It should, right?¡± Hu Xiaoniu hesitated for a moment, surprised that Kunlun members were not paid well. Considering this department dealt with bizarre incidents and high danger, who would risk their lives for a low sry? With the Gic Potion and extraordinary abilities, one could easily make millions annually even just as a bodyguard for the wealthy. This was indeed the era where money could push the devil to mill the stone. After pondering for a moment, Hu Xiaoniu earnestly said, ¡°If possible, I would like to make a personal donation to Kunlun¡­¡± ¡°Stop right there,¡± Lu Yuan interrupted Hu Xiaoniu, ¡°If you make a donation, and at some point both you and an ordinary citizen are in danger, who do I save first? I¡¯d have to save the nearest one, right? But if at that time you really are the closest to me, our integrity at Kunlun would be questioned¡­ This isn¡¯t me talking, it¡¯s what our boss said. Don¡¯t worry, our boss Zheng is very capable, he¡¯ll find the funds himself.¡± Lu Yuan finished speaking and opened the documents, which clearly contained the identity information of Hu Xiaoniu and others. The Kunlun member leaned over and whispered in his ear, ¡°His father is¡­ transferred to Liu Dezhu¡¯s ss¡­¡± Lu Yuan was stunned, no wonder he was ready to give money away, so wealthy! Suddenly turning his head, Lu Yuan asked intently, ¡°Hu Xiaoniu, how many gold bars and what weight did you promise to Liu Dezhu?¡± Hu Xiaoniu was taken aback; at that moment, Lu Yuan was staring at him, as if he knew everything. He hesitated for two seconds, ¡°100 grams of gold bars, giving two this time.¡± Lu Yuan thought to himself, that was right, Hu Xiaoniu was Liu Dezhu¡¯s buyer. The counterpart, wealthy and powerful, seeking to buy Inner World resources through Liu Dezhu, made sense. He told the Kunlun member, ¡°Register all four of them for me, count every one of them as Time Travelers, no doubt about it.¡± At that moment, Lu Yuan felt he had uncovered the truth. Chapter 75: 75. Beyond the Stage (Adding more for Buddhas sake to my own Silver League) Chapter 75: 75. Beyond the Stage (Adding more for Buddha¡¯s sake to my own Silver League) Lu Yuan was a bit overexcited. He had basically figured out the rtionship between Liu Dezhu and Hu Xiaoniu, as well as the sequence of events for the evening. Thus, he immediately sent his thoughts to Zheng Yuandong: Hu Xiaoniu had first invited Liu Dezhu to make a trade, and during the process of retrieving the gold bars, Liu Dezhu inadvertently encountered the thugs with Kunlun. All four of Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s group were time travelers, while Liu Dezhu had already qualified to trade with others. However, just as Lu Yuan was eagerly waiting for his boss¡¯s praise, Zheng Yuandong¡¯s reply poured cold water on him, ¡°Your analysis is incorrect.¡± Lu Yuan was puzzled, ¡°Boss, where did I go wrong?¡± ¡°After Hu Xiaoniu made an appointment with Liu Dezhu, instead of waiting at home, he even went to visit a neighbor. Would you go visit your neighbor before making an important transaction?¡± Zheng Yuandong asked. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t make sense behaviorally,¡± Lu Yuan suddenly realized what his boss meant, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re saying that Hu Xiaoniu didn¡¯t actually know Liu Dezhu woulde, and they didn¡¯t have any appointment at all.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Zheng Yuandong then asked, ¡°If you were in Liu Dezhu¡¯s shoes, and someone depended on you, would you willingly crouch downstairs for over twenty minutes without getting angry?¡± ¡°No, I would feel that the other party was too arrogant. I broke up with my ex-girlfriend because she dilly-dallied too much. Every time we went out, she would make me wait for half an hour,¡± Lu Yuan replied. Zheng Yuandong asked, ¡°What if I make you wait for half an hour? Would you wait?¡± Lu Yuan guiltily said, ¡°Boss, would I dare not wait¡­ You mean, Liu Dezhu has another boss!¡± Zheng Yuandong said, ¡°So, do you think your previous conclusion was correct?¡± Lu Yuan suddenly saw the light. Yes, he had indeed found many clues earlier, but they couldn¡¯t withstand close scrutiny. Although the clue about Liu Dezhu getting the gold bars matched up with Hu Xiaoniu, no one knew if Liu Dezhu was faking it, or if he deliberately created some coincidence to mislead others. Indeed, Liu Dezhu was obsessed with gold bars because Qing Chen had mentioned them to him. At this moment, Zheng Yuandong replied, ¡°Someone deliberately hid a clue, leading you to the wrong conclusion. This clue is the most elusive yet critical: who was it that brought Liu Dezhu to No. 4 Xingshu Road, who discovered the traces of the viins, and who made Liu Dezhu willingly squat for over twenty minutes.¡± Lu Yuan said nkly, ¡°Tonight¡­ there¡¯s someone we don¡¯t know of, working behind the scenes.¡± He suddenly felt a chill down his spine, as if he had been performing earnestly on stage, yet someone was quietly watching from the shadows beyond the stage. You don¡¯t know who he is, and you don¡¯t even know if he¡¯s watching you. Zheng Yuandong replied through WeChat, ¡°This person should be the third time traveler in Prison No. 18 that I mentioned. He manipted Liu Dezhu¡¯s behavior tonight and ingeniously connected us together. But don¡¯t worry, at least for now, it seems he is friendly.¡± Lu Yuan felt his brain wasn¡¯t quite keeping up; maybe only a person like his boss could deal with that mysterious time traveler¡­ ¡°Boss, should I take the opportunity to interrogate Liu Dezhu? That way we might find out who it is.¡± Zheng Yuandong replied, ¡°That would turn a potential friend into an enemy.¡± ¡­ Countdown 23:50:00. At 11:50 p.m., Qing Chen couldn¡¯t sleep. Hey quietly on the living room floor, on a mat that Jiang Xue had prepared for him. Jiang Xue¡¯s home had been smashed, and with five suspects still atrge, the mother and daughter ultimately decided to temporarily stay at Qing Chen¡¯s home. The room on the first floor was dpidated and dim, asionally apanied by a damp smell. Ants asionally scurried out of the kitchen, which Qing Chen never bothered about. Jiang Xue had thoroughly cleaned the room that night, as if to silently express her gratitude for Qing Chen¡¯s protection. Qing Chen couldn¡¯t sleep, something anyone would understand given all the events that had transpired. He reviewed everything that had happened that night, confirming that, for the time being, no one could discover the role he had yed. Even if Liu Dezhu were tortured, others would only learn that behind Liu Dezhu was a mysterious figure, yet unable to ascertain who. The events of the night seemed unrted to him, yet he was the one connecting the myriad threads of cause and effect. This feeling was quite extraordinary. It was like a game of chess¡ª he had always been better suited as the chess yer, not the piece. And he refused to be just a piece. Soft noises came from the bedroom; Li Tongyun, holding her nightgown, tiptoed out and sat down beside Qing Chen, ¡°Big brother Qing Chen, you¡¯re not asleep either.¡± Propped on his arm, Qing Chen looked at her, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep yet? Where¡¯s your mother?¡± Li Tongyun said softly, ¡°My mother¡¯s asleep. Have you thought more about the matter I asked youst time?¡± Qing Chen asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°What are you pretending for? With your memory, you definitely know what I¡¯m talking about,¡± Li Tongyun said, counting on her fingers, ¡°Today is September 29, tomorrow¡¯s the 30th, and the day after is National Day!¡± As if he had just remembered, Qing Chen said, ¡°Oh, that¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go out and have some fun. After all that¡¯s happened, we need to clear our minds!¡± Li Tongyun had the heart of a child. When she talked about going out to y, her eyes sparkled even in the night. ¡°If you want to go out and have fun, then go. Why do you have to drag me along?¡± Qing Chen said with a mix ofughter and helplessness. Li Tongyun hung her head, ¡°If you don¡¯t go, my mom won¡¯t either. She says it¡¯s too dangerous to go out now, but I think it¡¯s more dangerous to stay in the city. It¡¯s safer outside. The news said that the organization still hasn¡¯t caught five people; they must be targeting the Time Travelers in the city!¡± Qing Chen thought there was some truth to that, but then he asked, ¡°Do you just want to go out for fun?¡± ¡°Well, not exactly,¡± Li Tongyun admitted with her head down. ¡°If I don¡¯t go out during National Day, I¡¯ll end up having to attend tutoring sses again¡­ With so much homework already, and tutoring adds another pile on top of that. It¡¯s so annoying! Every time there¡¯s a Parents¡¯ Meeting, that Zhang Chaoyun¡¯s mom boasts about all the great tutoring sses she signed Zhang Chaoyun up for, and that makes my mom force me to go too.¡± Qing Chen was taken aback. Compared to Li Tongyun¡¯s cleverness, agility, and maturity, this was more like a child¡¯s worry. Even with the transmigrator incident, the children couldn¡¯t escape tutoring sses, even if they were direct descendants of the Li¡¯s Financial Group from the Inner World¡­N?v(el)B\\jnn He smiled and said, ¡°Where do you want to go then? I might not be able to convince your mom either.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be an issue, as long as you agree, I will convince her!¡± Li Tongyun¡¯s determined gaze fixed on Qing Chen, ¡°She just thinks it¡¯s not safe to go out, but with you there, it will be safe!¡± wless logic. Li Tongyun continued, ¡°We won¡¯t go far, just around Los Angeles City, like Laojun Mountain? I heard the sunrise there is really beautiful.¡± For Li Tongyun, the destination wasn¡¯t what mattered. What mattered most was escaping the city and the tutoring sses. Seeing her hopeful expression, Qing Chen smiled and said, ¡°Okay, I agree. But if your mom doesn¡¯t consent, I won¡¯t be able to help you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal!¡± Li Tongyun, contented, cheerfully picked up her little nightgown and went back. However, just at that moment, a message from Nan Gengchen suddenly came: ¡°Qing Chen Qing Chen Qing Chen, are you there are you there are you there?¡± Qing Chen asked, ¡°What is it, in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°It¡¯s National Day the day after tomorrow. Wang Yun has invited some ssmates to go watch the sunrise at Laojun Mountain. Are you going?¡± Nan Gengchen said over WeChat: ¡°I heard Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Liu Dezhu from the next ss are going too. Everyone heard that Liu Dezhu would be there and wanted to join in.¡± Nan Gengchen added, ¡°Apparently it¡¯s Hu Xiaoniu treating everyone, so it won¡¯t cost us a dime.¡± Qing Chen paused for a moment ¨C what a coincidence? Laojun Mountain again. The four others must have organized this trip as an opportunity to deepen their friendship with Liu Dezhu. After all, Liu Dezhu had just saved their lives. But while Wang Yun invited Nan Gengchen, she hadn¡¯t invited him. This situation was somewhat peculiar. Logically, after connecting with Liu Dezhu, both Qing Chen and Nan Gengchen should have lost their value to them. But while they had ignored Qing Chen, they were still very enthusiastic about Nan Gengchen¡­ It didn¡¯t add up. He messaged Nan Gengchen on WeChat: ¡°Does she know you¡¯re a Time Traveler?¡± Nan Gengchen replied: ¡°I¡¯m not a Time Traveler, okay!¡± Qing Chen sighed, ¡°Alright, you¡¯re not.¡± This guy usually all but had ¡®Time Traveler¡¯ written on his face; Wang Yun must have spotted Nan Gengchen¡¯s secret. That¡¯s why she would invite such a fool. ¡­ This is the fourth update for today, cough cough, the previous chapters were out of order, but they have now been restored to normal. ¡­ Thanks to ¡®Lu Lu from the Stupid Team in the ck Elbow Group¡¯ for bing the newest ally of this book. The boss is generous, may the boss sessfully find a partner this year! Moreover, it¡¯s thest day of double rewards, I need monthly passes, please! There are also double updates from the Golden League and Silver League that, due to the new book period, will all be released on the day the bookunches! Don¡¯t worry, bosses! Chapter 76: Dont make enemies with others. Chapter 76: Don¡¯t make enemies with others. Countdown 17:00:00. In the morning, the chirping of birds came from outside the window. Qing Chen turned over and also heard the sound of cooking in the kitchen. He got up, the bedroom door was still closed, and Jiang Xue had gotten up early to cook for them. Seeing him, Jiang Xue smiled and said, ¡°It seems like you often cook at home too, you have all kinds of seasonings.¡± ¡°Yeah, eating out is too expensive,¡± Qing Chen exined. Jiang Xue said, ¡°Your parents really, just leaving you alone without care. Don¡¯t worry, from now on Auntie will cook for you, you won¡¯t have to do it yourself. Just focus on your studies. By the way, do you attend any tutoring sses? Maybe I can rmend one to you.¡± Qing Chen was somewhat amused. Was she already starting to arrange tutoring sses for him? No wonder Li Tongyun had started nning the ¡°escape¡± early¡­ But he really didn¡¯t need any tutoring sses. Last year, when Qing Chen was in his first year of high school, he used to go out and do part-time work at night, and he was always so tired during the day that he would rest his head on the desk. Back then, when the math teacher Tian Hailong was lecturing, if Qing Chen suddenly looked up, Tian Hailong would subconsciously reflect on whether he had exined something incorrectly. Jiang Xue, smiling, asked Qing Chen, ¡°Xiao Yun told me you agreed to go to Laojun Mountain with her, did you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qing Chen nodded. ¡°You really spoil her too much. She said she wanted to go, and I didn¡¯t agree, but now that you have, she insists on going,¡± Jiang Xue said, though without a ming tone. Thinking it over, Qing Chen said, ¡°After all, having just gone through two dangers, it¡¯s a good idea to go out and clear our minds. Children her age haven¡¯t experienced such things; we shouldn¡¯t let it leave a psychological scar.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Jiang Xue nodded, ¡°then this afternoon, after your school ends, we¡¯ll take a coach bus there. It takes just over two hours. We¡¯ll stay there overnight and climb up to the summit the next day to watch the sunrise, then head back. I checked the ratings on Meituan, and a few inns have good reviews, and their meals are especially tasty.¡± Qing Chen nced at her; she clearly seemed to have already made all the ns. He asked, ¡°If it¡¯s just for two days and one night, won¡¯t it be too rushed?¡± Jiang Xue thought for a moment, ¡°I thought we¡¯d go early and return early, so Xiao Yun can make it back for her tutoring sses. But if you think we should stay a few more days, then let¡¯s give Xiao Yun a proper holiday.¡± ¡­ Qing Chen arrived at ss early to find that Nan Gengchen and Wang Yun were already whispering together early in the morning, while Bai Waner hadn¡¯t arrived at school yet. Yesterday, none of these four had been seriously injured; they¡¯d just been knocked out and sacked. After being rescued, they were symbolically given some saline in the hospital and then sent home. At this moment, Wang Yun was talking with red eyes to Nan Gengchen about everything that had happenedst night, and asionally, Nan Gengchen wouldfort her. This scene looked more like a date¡­ Suddenly, Qing Chen felt like he had missed a lot because of skipping ss. It was like going to the movies and wanting to use the restroom, leaving when the male and female leads were still embracing and dreaming of the future, and returning to find that the male lead had be the female lead¡¯s second uncle. Magical. You don¡¯t know if there¡¯s something wrong with the movie or with that pee of yours. Then Nan Gengchen asked, ¡°Qing Chen, have you decided yet? Are we going to Laojun Mountain?¡± Before Qing Chen could respond, Wang Yun whispered a reminder, ¡°Xiao Nan, we already have enough people. The bus Hu Xiaoniu rented can only hold 47 people. Both sses have filled up their reservations, and there are still four or five people who want to go but can¡¯t.¡± Qing Chen smiled and said to Nan Gengchen, ¡°You guys go ahead. It so happens I have other ns for the National Day holiday.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°Oh,¡± Nan Gengchen nodded, ¡°then I won¡¯t go either. What are your ns for the National Day? Can you include me?¡± Wang Yun¡¯s expression changed slightly, but she saw Qing Chen pat Nan Gengchen on the shoulder, ¡°Why miss out on a treat from someone? I indeed have things to do, otherwise, I would have agreedst night. By the way, when are you going?¡± ¡°Tomorrow,¡± Wang Yun, seeing that Nan Gengchen didn¡¯t insist further, breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°We¡¯re gathering at the school gate at 7 AM tomorrow. It¡¯s regrettable that you can¡¯t join us this time, Qing Chen. We¡¯ll definitely invite you in advance next time.¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t bother with the polite gestures. When he heard that their schedules didn¡¯t coincide, he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. After all, Laojun Mountain has only one spot for watching the sunrise. If everyone had left tonight, they might well have encountered each other at the highest point¡¯s Jinding observation deck tomorrow morning¡­ After the violent incidentst night, Liu Dezhu¡¯s status seemed to have risen again. As soon as it was break time, he saw Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, Bai Waner, and others whispering excitedly around him. However, Liu Dezhu seemed somewhat distracted, looking around from time to time as if he were searching for someone. Hu Xiaoniu was the first to notice this and asked curiously, ¡°Brother Liu, who are you looking for?¡± This call of ¡®Brother Liu¡¯ had quite the social ring to it. Yet Hu Xiaoniu pondered for a long time over what to call him, mainly because the name was so distinctive. Calling him by his full name, Liu Dezhu, seemed impersonal. Calling him Dezhu seemed to imply he was a bit dim-witted. Calling him Zhu (pir) felt like they were about to go pick corn in the field together. ¡°Huh?¡± Liu Dezhu came to his senses, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, I¡¯m not looking for anyone.¡± Only Liu Dezhu himself knew that the mysterious boss might be watching him from somewhere. The feeling of walking on eggshells wasn¡¯t pleasant, but he had already tasted the sweet fruits of cooperation. Coborating with the big boss had satisfied his vanity and brought him tangible gold bars, which could improve his life if he returned to prison. His hopeful future relied on clinging to this big boss¡¯s coattails. At that moment, as if he had remembered something, Liu Dezhu seriously warned Hu Xiaoniu, ¡°There¡¯s one thing you need to pay attention to, um, at this school, never make enemies with anyone!¡± Hu Xiaoniu looked puzzled, ¡°Brother Liu, why suddenly bring this up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Liu Dezhu sighed inwardly. He was just afraid you¡¯d provoke someone you shouldn¡¯t and ruin the business. ¡­ At this moment, He Jinqiu, dressed in a gray suit, was walking in the yard at 4 Xingshu Road. He suddenly stopped on the sidewalk, looked up at the French ne tree above him. In autumn, the entire ne tree¡¯s leaves had turned yellow, and with any breeze, leaves would swirl down. He Jinqiu suddenly became lost in thought, standing there for over an hour as if admiring the scenery was his most pressing task, with everything else unimportant. Not knowing how much time had passed, someone suddenly asked behind him, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you staying in Jingcheng? Why waste time in such a small ce?¡± He Jinqiu came back to his senses and, looking back at Zheng Yuandong in his neatly pressed Zhongshan suit,ughed and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t Mr. Zheng here as well? It seems we¡¯vee to the same conclusion.¡± Chapter 77: 77, ACE-099 Chapter 77: 77, ACE-099 Representatives of Kyushu and Kunlun stood opposite each other under the ne tree. One was a young man, the other a middle-aged man. One wore a gray suit, while the other was dressed in a ck Sun Yat-sen suit. The world seemed to split apart from the trunk of the ne tree between them, forming a stark and intense contrast. Formerrades, yet now rivals. ¡°I¡¯m curious, you are far away in Jingcheng yet youe to Los Angeles City twice a month. Is there something attracting you here?¡± Zheng Yuandong asked calmly under the ne tree. He Jinqiu smiled, ¡°Mr. Zheng is joking. Last night, Kunlun sessfully captured four criminals. How could Kyushu note to take a look and also offer congrattions?¡± ¡°This is an internal matter for Kunlun, no congrattions are necessary,¡± Zheng Yuandong responded casually, ¡°And with five more still atrge, no one has time to celebrate.¡± ¡°An internal matter¡­¡± He Jinqiu smiled, ¡°Is Mr. Zheng reminding me that Kyushu has recently broken the rules?¡± Since the establishment of the two organizations, they had delineated different functions. Kunlun dealt with foreign affairs, Kyushu with domestic. It was like the difference between the CIA and the FBI. The CIA, even though it controlled 70% of overseas intelligence and could even independently n minor wars, had no legitimate power domestically. The same was true for Kyushu. But it seemed that He Jinqiu had never intended to follow this rule. In neen cities, the two organizations, Kunlun and Kyushu, interspersed, asionally leading to unexpected conflicts. In Jingcheng, the two sides nearly shed over a time traveler girl named Jiu Ran. At that moment, He Jinqiu suddenly asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Mr. Zheng worried at all?¡± ¡°Worried about what?¡± countered Zheng Yuandong. ¡°Once He Xiaoxiao¡¯s group chat is established, time travelers nationwide will flock to Kyushu. With no people left in Kunlun, how will you fulfill your duties?¡± As he spoke, a ne tree leaf spiraled down from the sky and He Jinqiu gently pinched it in his hand, ¡°I do know that Mr. Zheng can obtain Gic Potion, so even ordinary soldiers can be greatly useful. But have you told the little friends in Kunlun about the side effects of those Gic Potions?¡± Zheng Yuandong said, ¡°Everyone makes their choices; once chosen, there¡¯s no need for regret.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, why has Kunlun ssified all of Liu Dezhu¡¯s data as top secret?¡± He Jinqiu asked, ¡°Even though he traveled to Uncle Li Dong, a big figure in the Inner World, I always feel something isn¡¯t right.¡± Zheng Yuandong shook his head, ¡°I refuse to answer.¡± He Jinqiu¡¯s fingertips suddenly flipped a Gold Coin, ying with it, the coin jumping ceaselessly between his slender, bony fingers, from the little finger gap to the index gap and back, as if it had a soul. The face of the Gold Coin bore a circr pattern made of wheat stalks, while the back featured two crossed longswords. Looking at Zheng Yuandong, he asked, ¡°I personally observed Liu Dezhu. With your discerning eyes, you definitely would not regard him highly; so why elevate his security clearance to the highest level? Is it to protect him, or through protecting him, to protect someone else? Or is it to mislead me?¡± On the ground between them, leaves suddenly swirled, as if an invisible breeze was gently stirring them. Without Kunlun¡¯s ability to block information, He Jinqiu could not understand the details ofst night. But, he understood Zheng Yuandong. ¡°Old squad leader,¡± He Jinqiu said, ¡°You¡¯re not trying to protect Liu Dezhu, are you?¡± However, Zheng Yuandong did not answer the question but rather looked at the Gold Coin in his hand andughed, ¡°Who knows which extraordinary left behind ACE-099 Taboo, also called ¡®The Right Gold Coin¡¯, capable of discerning truth from lies.¡± The Gold Coin settled steadily in He Jinqiu¡¯s hand, and he eximed in surprise, ¡°Squad leader, you really know everything.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°Although the Taboo item ACE-099 has been missing for a long time, its function is no secret,¡± Zheng Yuandong replied. ¡°Well, it seems I won¡¯t find out much today, but,¡± He Jinqiu¡¯s smile grew broader, ¡°I haven¡¯te away empty-handed.¡± Having said that, He Jinqiu turned to leave, the Gold Coin in his hand lowly growling. Only when he had settled into the back seat of a ck sedan parked beside Xingshu Road did he leisurely pull out a 100-gram gold bar from his bosom. He Jinqiu gently touched the gold bar to the Taboo item ACE-099. In an instant, the gold bar seemed to melt and streamed into the Gold Coin, yet the size of the coin remained unchanged. Gradually, the pattern on the Gold Coin also started flowing like liquid, resembling a cidke. He Jinqiu said softly, ¡°My debt is repaid.¡± In the blink of an eye, the face of the Gold Coin recongealed into a wheat sheaf circlet, returning to tranquility. He Jinqiu looked out the window, having brought the ¡®correct gold coin¡¯ with him, but that Mr. Zheng had not afforded him the chance to inquire further. ¡°The prerequisite of spinning the coin on the back of one¡¯s finger is indeed a bit too conspicuous,¡± he sighed. The driver in the front nced at the rearview mirror and asked, ¡°Boss, our people couldn¡¯t find those five fugitives, and it seems that Kunlun has some leads from their interrogation. Should we try to get our hands on them?¡± He Jinqiu shook his head, ¡°This is Mr. Zheng¡¯s home ground, let him handle it himself.¡± ¡­ Due to the next day being National Day, the students were distracted by afternoon, all discussing ns to visit Laojun Mountain. At three in the afternoon, the ss teacher, Tian Hailong, suddenly announced an early dismissal: ¡°Although an advance vacation is given, I hope you understand this is already the second year. So, adjust your attitude properly, and don¡¯t go wild.¡± Qing Chen was surprised, as he didn¡¯t need to skip sses today. He left the ssroom early and after meeting up with Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun, they boarded the bus to Laojun Mountain. Li Tongyun, the young girl, had her small backpack filled with snacks. However, what Qing Chen didn¡¯t know was that Hu Xiaoniu and others¡¯ schedule also changed due to the early vacation, and the rented bus stopped in front of the school by five o¡¯clock. At 5:20 p.m., the students of ss 3 and ss 4 from the second year first went home to pick up their belongings, then gathered in front of the bus. Someone asked Nan Gengchen, ¡°Hey? Xiao Nan, isn¡¯t Qing Chening?¡± ¡°Right, he doesn¡¯t seem to be in our travel group,¡± someone said. ¡°Oh, he said he has other ns for National Day, so he isn¡¯ting,¡± Nan Gengchen sighed. Not far away, two Kunlun members who had been tailing Liu Dezhu watched the scene and immediately reported back to headquarters, ¡°There is something unusual with Liu Dezhu; they seem to be renting a bus for a trip. Any instructions? Should we send reinforcements?¡± The colleague on duty at headquarters responded, ¡°Road Team received the message; suspects resembling criminals have appeared in Meng County to the north of Los Angeles City, and they seem to be leaving the city; they¡¯ve gone to pursue them now. Road Team advises you two to follow Liu Dezhu, no additional reinforcements for now. Several of our brothers are on injured leave, and once they return from their vacation tomorrow morning, they¡¯ll rush to relieve you; hang in there for today.¡± ¡°Okay, it¡¯s not too hard,¡± the two Kunlun members responded. Meng County, where the suspects appeared, and the home of Laojun Mountain in Song County, lie in the north and south respectively. Chapter 78: 78, Before taking action Chapter 78: 78, Before taking action ¡°` By the time Hu Xiaoniu, Liu Dezhu, and others were gathering, Qing Chen had already reached Laojun Mountain one step ahead of them. The ce was teeming with people, and Li Tongyun was the first to jump out of the car, stretchingzily in the parking lot. Her small backpack hung loosely on her back, as if it would fall off at any moment, yet it never did. Jiang Xue followed her with a smile, preparing to get out of the car, but at the next moment, Qing Chen reached out a hand and forcibly pulled her back inside the bus. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Qing Chen,¡± Jiang Xue, almost unable to keep her bnce from Qing Chen¡¯s pull, turned her head to look at the youth¡¯s profile, but found him staring intently out the window. Jiang Xue hesitated, ¡°Is there danger?¡± Qing Chen silently stared outside, where he now saw five people holding ck briefcases stepping out of a nearby ck Buick van. Each of them wore sunsses and non-uniform casual clothes, but on their feet were identical ck leather boots. He had seen these ck leather boots before, on the feet of four criminals at 4 Xingshu Road. As if they were purchased in bulk. Inside the bus, an impatient aunt behind them spoke up, ¡°Are you getting off or not? If not, make way.¡± Qing Chen ignored herment. Not until he confirmed that the five individuals had entered the scenic area did he turn back to the passengers behind him and apologize. If one remembered everything in their life, then they would never believe in coincidences. Too many things happened under the guise of coincidence, yet harbored far too many hidden motives. The same boots, the same five people. Suddenly, Qing Chen felt like he understood something, but wasn¡¯t sure. They were not here for tourism; no one would have the leisure for tourism while being on the run. On Laojun Mountain, there was only one road up and down the mountain. If they were discovered by Kunlun, escape would be difficult. A truly smart criminal would not put themselves in such a dangerous ce, but they had stille. They must havee for Time Traveler. Just in these past days, across the ocean, the news had reported that a Time Traveler had brought back a cancer-targeting drug, which had been confirmed as effective. Targeted drugs usually cost tens of thousands of yuan for a bottle, enough for a month¡¯s supply. Yet the drug that Time Traveler brought back had been auctioned off for a sky-high price: ten million US dors. The buyer was not a wealthy individual fighting cancer but a pharmaceuticalpany, which purchased the drug for research purposes. In fact, the targeted drug wasn¡¯t unique; other Time Travelers could also bring back the same thing. Otherwise, that one bottle could possibly sell for a billion yuan. On the day the pharmaceuticalpany publicly auctioned the targeted drug, its stock price rose by 32%. Between the Outer World and the Inner World, therey immensemercial value. Wealthy people buy lifelines, techpanies buy technology, and somepanies buy publicity stunts, each with their own needs. And this visible mary value directly created a huge gray interest chain. There would always be those willing to risk everything for it. By now, the sky in Laojun Mountain had gradually darkened, and the crowd, vast as the sea, was pouring in, quickly concealing the traces of all the criminals. Once Qing Chen got off the bus, Jiang Xue hurriedly took Li Tongyun¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°What did you see, Qing Chen, what¡¯s happening?¡± Jiang Xue still wore a pair of ck silk gloves to cover her mechanical limbs. ¡°I spotted five people, very likely the five fugitive suspects still atrge,¡± Qing Chen said, surveying the surroundings: ¡°But first, you can rest assured that they¡¯re not here for you, otherwise we¡¯d already be cornered on the bus.¡± ¡°` Jiang Xue asked, ¡°So what should we do, shall we go back?¡± ¡°We were on thest bus; there are no more buses to return now,¡± Qing Chen exined. ¡°The media coverage of you previously only revealed your address unintentionally, but your photo was never exposed, so we are quite safe at the moment.¡± Qing Chen and the others were not wealthy, so they took public buses, while Hu Xiaoniu and his group rented vehicles and were not restricted by time or schedules. Standing aside, Li Tongyun said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry, let¡¯s just listen to Brother Qing Chen.¡± After pondering, Qing Chen said, ¡°Let¡¯s head to our amodation first, and skip climbing the mountain tomorrow. As soon as it gets light, we¡¯ll take the first coach back to Los Angeles City.¡± Upon arriving at the lodge Jiang Xue had booked, Qing Chen didn¡¯t go to his own room but stayed in the room with Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun. He first went to the bathroom to send a message to Liu Dezhu: Stay home during the seven-day National Day holiday, don¡¯t go anywhere. Qing Chen didn¡¯t say not toe to Laojun Mountain, since that might give away their position. However, as long as Liu Dezhu didn¡¯t show up, he believed Hu Xiaoniu would probably cancel his trip too. But Liu Dezhu hadn¡¯t replied to him. Returning to the room, Qing Chen drew the curtains closed and then stood silently behind them, quietly observing the outside. He did this for several hours, showing no signs of fatigue. Upon seeing him stand for too long, Jiang Xue asked, ¡°Xiao Chen, why don¡¯t you rest for a while? I¡¯ll watch by the window.¡± Qing Chen shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t know what they look like, Aunt Jiang Xue. Just make me and Xiao Yun a bowl of instant noodles and take out the beef jerky from my bag. I¡¯m a bit hungry.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he wanted to eat, but Qing Chen realized that if he didn¡¯t eat, Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun were too nervous to eat anything themselves. From the neighboring lodge, a faint mix ofughter, drumming, and music could be heard. In contrast to the neighboring happiness, theirs seemed a bit cold and deserted. Li Tongyun silently brought over a chair and stood behind Qing Chen, using her small hands to gently knead his shoulders and neck, helping to ease his fatigue. ¡°Brother Qing Chen, aren¡¯t you tired? Why don¡¯t you rest a bit? You said they¡¯re noting for us, so there¡¯s no need to be so tense.¡± Qing Chen still shook his head, showing no intention to rest. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I can handle it.¡± Jiang Xue, watching the young man¡¯s silhouette, suddenly felt a sense of security. She said, ¡°How about we¡­¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Qing Chen interrupted Jiang Xue¡¯s unfinished words. At that moment, he saw that familiar figure outside the window. Two criminals, vignt of their surroundings, slowly passed the front of Qing Chen¡¯s lodge. With walkie-talkies attached to their chests, one of the criminals was saying something into it with a serious look. As they walked, their right hands never left their waists. After the two disappeared in front of the lodge, Qing Chen nced at his phone, 11:55 PM. Countdown 00:05:00. The final five minutes. Qing Chen frowned, the criminals had entered a state of alert. It was a stance ready for battle at any moment. ¡°The criminals¡¯ target might be the inn next door,¡± Qing Chen said. Jiang Xue froze: ¡°Cloud Inn? There are a lot of people there, they¡¯re in danger.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°Yeah.¡± Qing Chen let the curtain fall and stepped into the bathroom to nce at themunicator, only to see that, several hourster, Liu Dezhu still had not replied to his message. ¡­ Thank you to True Weird Uncle for bing the Alliance Hierarch of this book. Boss, your generosity is boundless, may you make a fortune! Chapter 79: 79. Lure the tiger away from the mountain Chapter 79: 79. Lure the tiger away from the mountain Jiang Xue suddenly said, ¡°It¡¯s time to cross over, Xiao Chen, can I offer any help in the Inner World?¡± In fact, the implication of her words had already shown that she knew of Qing Chen¡¯s identity as a Time Traveler.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om But that wasn¡¯t important, because during the night of the rescue, he had indeed exposed too many details. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°Aunt Jiang Xue, it¡¯s better not to get involved in this kind of thing, by the time we return, I might already have a solution.¡± Li Tongyun was blinking her eyes nearby, ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Qing Chen looked at her and felt somewhat amused; at this point, this youngdy had hidden her identity the best. Apart from himself, it seemed that no one else knew her identity as a Time Traveler. Meanwhile, in Meng County to the north of Los Angeles. Lu Yuan led his team through the rugged mountain roads to Dazhuang Vige, where 7 SUVs were sttered with mud. In the vige, three people had called to report separately iming that five strangers, carrying backpacks, entered the mountain, having ankles or arms like steel. The callers didn¡¯t say these five people were wanted criminals, only that they acted suspiciously. Lu Yuan asked the vige head to call these three people over, then ordered his men to take them to individual rooms for questioning; he interrogated the first caller himself. The caller had a face full of wrinkles and dark skin, clearly a true farmer. Lu Yuan asked, ¡°When did you see them?¡± In the simple brick house, the old man with a drifting gaze said, ¡°It should be around three or four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, I called the police as soon as I saw them.¡± Lu Yuan suddenly felt that something was amiss, ¡°What kind of clothes were they wearing?¡± ¡°The kind of outdoor sportswear worn by city people, what¡¯s it called, right, storm jackets!¡± the old man answered. ¡°Were there any women?¡± Lu Yuan¡¯s expression grew serious. The old man paused for a moment, ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± ¡°What color were their storm jackets, answer me within 10 seconds!¡± The old man stuttered and said he couldn¡¯t remember. ¡°How much money did you take to make this false report?¡± Lu Yuan angrily stood up, ¡°Do you realize how many people could be killed by falsely alerting?¡± There was no need to ask any further, a real informer would never act like this. If Lu Yuan didn¡¯t have this level of discernment, he needn¡¯t have stayed in Kunlun. He turned and walked out of the room. A Kunlun team member asked, ¡°How did it go on your end, road team? Something seems off on my side, his wife said he suddenly took home a stack of brand-new money yesterday.¡± ¡°A diversion,¡± Lu Yuan stood quietly outside the door pondering, but what was the point of this diversion? Even though six Kunlun members remained on duty in the city, it couldn¡¯t be that the enemy could escape unscathed once they made a move. Not right! Lu Yuan suddenly looked up, Laojun Mountain! The enemy had gone to great lengths to lure him to this remote area just so that he couldn¡¯t make it to Laojun Mountain in time! From here back to the city, it would take 4 hours, and from the city to Laojun Mountain, it would take nearly 3 hours. The criminals had done all this just to gain these 7 hours. Thus, the enemy¡¯s n tonight would conclude within 7 hours. The night was deep. They had to race against time in the darkness. The countdown hit zero. Countdown to return: 48:00:00. When the darkness had dissipated, Qing Chen was still wearing the Cat Mask. Standing in the dim corridor. Meanwhile, in the prison cell, Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao had just injected Liu Dezhu with the Gic Potion. The Liu Dezhu who had traveled with them was startled by the two beside him, and he spat out a gold bar and said, ¡°Can you two heroes untie me first? The injection is already done!¡± Qing Chen slowly walked into the cell and coldly asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you reply to the messages?¡± Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao exchanged nces and retreated to one side, unaware of what had transpired in the Outer World with these two. Liu Dezhu, lying cautiously on the bed board, responded, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to reply to you, but I was always with my ssmates, and I had no chance to check themunicator.¡± Actually, Liu Dezhu was lying. He could have replied to Qing Chen when he went to the restroom, but his ssmates were having so much fun during the trip, and they had even gathered for a bonfire party afterward, so he had forgotten about themunicator. Unaware of all this, Qing Chen instructed, ¡°After this return, don¡¯t go out for the seven days of National Day, understand?¡± Liu Dezhu was stunned for a moment, ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve already reached Laojun Mountain, can I wait to hide at home after I return from Laojun Mountain?¡± This time, it was Qing Chen¡¯s turn to be stunned. At that moment, all 47 ssmates of Liu Dezhu had already arrived at Laojun Mountain. Moreover, under the organization of Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, they were ying games. Right up to the second before the countdown reached zero, they were still ying the game of passing the flower by the bonfire in the courtyard; whenever the drumming stopped, the person who received the flower had to perform. In the Outer World, the drumming continued. Qing Chen was silent for quite a while, ¡°You went to Laojun Mountain? Which guesthouse are you staying in?¡± Liu Dezhu replied, ¡°It¡¯s called Cloud Top Guesthouse, it seems quite famous on Laojun Mountain. There were 47 of us ssmates, and a transfer student from Haicheng paid for everyone to stay there for three days.¡± Qing Chen asked, ¡°Was this a trip nned a long time ago? Why have you never mentioned it to me?¡± Seeing that the boss seemed angry, Liu Dezhu hurriedly exined, ¡°It wasn¡¯t nned long ago; it was a spontaneous idea by the transfer student from Haicheng. Originally, we were supposed to leave on the morning of October 1st, but since the school holiday started earlier, we went ahead.¡± At this point, Liu Dezhu was muttering in his heart, it seems like the boss isn¡¯t his ssmate after all, otherwise, he would have known about Laojun Mountain. Meanwhile, behind the Cat Mask, Qing Chen¡¯s expression hadpletely calmed down. Cloud Top Guesthouse, Jiang Xue had mentioned it before. Originally, Jiang Xue had nned to book this very guesthouse, but it was rtivelyrge and seemed to only amodate groups during the National Day period. The most critical point was that Cloud Top Guesthouse was right next to theirs. Qing Chen looked at Liu Dezhu and thought, so theughter and drumming just now was all your doing¡­ Unbelievable! The myriad voices mingling together, from over fifty meters away, even Qing Chen couldn¡¯t discern some of the familiar tones. It seemed the criminals were here for Liu Dezhu. On Laojun Mountain, there was no Time Traveler more valuable than Liu Dezhu himself. But Qing Chen couldn¡¯t understand how the criminals knew in advance that Liu Dezhu and the others woulde to Laojun Mountain. They had obviouslye prepared, even knowing exactly which guesthouse Liu Dezhu and the others were staying in. ¡°There¡¯s an insider,¡± Qing Chen said calmly, ¡°Someone has provided the criminals with your itinerary, not only knowing which guesthouse you¡¯re staying in but even telling the criminals that you arrived a day early.¡± Liu Dezhu looked at the Cat Mask in front of him, ¡°Boss, what are you talking about?¡± Chapter 80: 80, there is an insider. Chapter 80: 80, there is an insider. The term ¡°insider¡± was so far removed from his life as a student that even Liu Dezhu dared not believe it. Qing Chen pulled up a chair and sat down opposite him, saying, ¡°The words I¡¯m about to say, I hope you remember them exactly as they are because they concern your life.¡± ¡°Right now, my people are telling me that those five fugitives are surrounding the Cloud Inn. They are armed with firearms, seemingly preparing to take hostage everyone inside. He is only watching from a distance and isn¡¯t aware that you are also inside.¡± Liu Dezhu was shocked. Just a second ago, he was prepared to deal casually with Qing Chen, and then to test him to see if the boss knew that he had actually epted two gold bars. But a secondter, he realized that he might not even be able to ensure his own safety.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Liu Dezhu got up from the bed, nearly bursting into tears, ¡°Boss, are your men nearby? Please, have them save me! People from Kunlun have said those men are particrly cruel and ruthless!¡± Qing Chen looked at him with disdain, ¡°Calm down. At least you can live for another two days, and if they capture you, they¡¯ll want to use your identity in the Inner World to their advantage, they won¡¯t kill you.¡± Liu Dezhu said, ¡°But that¡¯s not good enough, boss. Being used as a mule is still dangerous. Moreover, people from Kunlun said these criminals would kill any ordinary people who know too much, to get rid of the witnesses. There are over forty of my ssmates here, that¡¯s over forty lives!¡± Qing Chen paused, ¡®Kill ordinary people to silence them?¡¯ That¡¯s bad. Nan Gengchen is in danger! The criminals do not know that Nan Gengchen is also a Time Traveler. After a moment of silence, Qing Chen said, ¡°When you get back, I need you to do two things.¡± ¡°Boss, you say,¡± Liu Dezhu sat up straight. Qing Chen said, ¡°First, the moment you return, have all your ssmates scatter and run immediately. That way, they can avoid being trapped and wiped out by the criminals at the entrances. Also, don¡¯t seek help from other tourists in a panic; it would involve innocent people. The criminals have guns. Their targets are you Time Travelers, not ordinary people.¡± Liu Dezhu asked nkly, ¡°Boss, can we really get away?¡± Qing Chen said, ¡°You only have to bet they haven¡¯tpleted their encirclement yet, you have no other choice.¡± Liu Dezhu silently remembered the first thing. Qing Chen continued, ¡°Second, if you all can¡¯t escape and end up being held together, I need you to find a chance to ask separately those transfer students from Haicheng about the night they were captured; if any of them were taken aside alone. Also, you must remember during these two days of time travel, if anyone had left during the party or was constantly sending messages on their phone.¡± Liu Dezhu thought for a moment, ¡°Are you suggesting that the mole might be among them?¡± ¡°As far-fetched as it sounds, that¡¯s the most likely scenario,¡± Qing Chen replied. Because, over these days, the only known people who had contact with the criminals were these four. Even though the criminals who had contacted them had been captured and presumably cut off from the others, who knew what had happened after everything concluded? ¡°Of course, other ssmates can¡¯t bepletely ruled out either. You don¡¯t have anything else to do in these two days, just focus on thinking about how to save yourself,¡± he added. After saying all this, Qing Chen turned and left the cell. There were two days left before the return countdown; he needed to think carefully about what he could do. But just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned around and stared intently at Liu Dezhu. Qing Chen always felt like he had overlooked something. An essential piece of information! Suddenly, Qing Chen¡¯s pupils changed, and his blood seemed to boil. He wandered in his memories. There must be a clue there wanting to betray. Footsteps, explosions, gunshots, fragmented yet tense. Qing Chen seemed to arrive at Jiang Xue¡¯s destroyed home, quietly observing everything around him and thinking: After the criminals came to Los Angeles City, they had sequentially kidnapped three Time Travelers, Jiang Xue was the fourth. The criminals had never intended to go after Liu Dezhu! Because they didn¡¯t dare, and it wasn¡¯t worth it. They thought Liu Dezhu was a student of Uncle Li Dong. If they captured Liu Dezhu, they¡¯d have to gamble that during everyone¡¯s transition to the Inner World, Uncle Li Dong wouldn¡¯t find them first and kill them there. Should they lose the gamble, they¡¯d lose their lives too. Moreover, these criminals always controlled the mules in both the Outer and Inner Worlds before they could securely transport items. Liu Dezhu being in prison meant that they couldn¡¯t control him there. Therefore, their real target was not Liu Dezhu, but Hu Xiaoniu and the others. This group of Haicheng students couldn¡¯t just be mules to transport items; they could even be directly extorted for ransom from their families. And the reason they hadn¡¯t made a move before midnight was probably to avoid this transition period, so Liu Dezhu would cross over and return without knowing. This way, they¡¯d have at least two days to calmly handle him before the next transition. Liu Dezhu would be their first target to silence. Qing Chen opened his eyes and asked Liu Dezhu, ¡°Who suggested changing the itinerary?¡± Liu Dezhu weakly replied, ¡°It seems to be the transfer student from the next ss, named Bai Waner.¡± Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, Bai Waner? This didn¡¯t make sense. He didn¡¯t ask any more and left the solitary confinement room. In the dim corridor, Ye Wan curiously said, ¡°It seems a lot has happened these past two days?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qing Chen nodded, ¡°Someone wants to kidnap a group of Time Travelers to transport items for them, ruthless and brutal. Nine people were caught, and now, the remaining five have surrounded the guesthouse where Liu Dezhu is staying.¡± ¡°What is a guesthouse?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a hotel on the mountain,¡± Qing Chen exined. ¡°Are you in danger yourself?¡± Ye Wan asked. ¡°I¡¯m not yet sure if this will affect me,¡± Qing Chen said as he took off the Cat Mask, ¡°I don¡¯t care whether Liu Dezhu is dead or alive.¡± He spread out the gold bars in his hand. Now that Liu Dezhu had established a presence, he had just started making money, and his own revenue stream was about to end. But that was not important. What mattered was that Nan Gengchen might die. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Qing Chen said to Ye Wan. Ye Wan was stunned for a moment, ¡°Go where?¡± ¡°To train, of course,¡± Qing Chen said matter-of-factly. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao exchanged nces. They hadn¡¯t expected Qing Chen to be so mentally strong. One moment he was dealing with a crisis. The next, he could continue his training as if nothing had happened. Seeing their surprised expressions, Qing Chen calmly said, ¡°Even if I don¡¯t train, I can only anxiously wait for the return. I might as well use the time to be stronger, so that I don¡¯t feel so powerless when facing such situations in the future.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao felt internally moved; this young man was indeed the most suitable person to take over the boss¡¯s mantle. Although he hadn¡¯t faced much life and death, he could suppress his panic with absolute calm. Then, at aplex, chaotic crossroads, he would choose the most correct path to advance. Chapter 81: 81, The fragility of life Chapter 81: 81, The fragility of lifeN?v(el)B\\jnn The prison number 18 at night was, as ever, peaceful. When Qing Chen returned to the training area, Uncle Li Dong stood steadily atop the parallel bars, quietly watching the reader, which disyed the Outer World¡¯s endgame chess positions exported by Lin Xiaoxiao. Seeing Qing Chene back, the older teacher smiled and said, ¡°Judging by yourplexion, it seems you¡¯ve encountered some trouble?¡± Qing Chen tossed the USB drive in his hand to Lin Xiaoxiao, then said to Uncle Li Dong, ¡°This contains all the ssical music sheets I could find in the Outer World; it should be enough to trade for a chance with teacher.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Uncle Li Dong became interested, ¡°So what do you want to trade with me this time, to help you through this difficulty?¡± Qing Chen shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve said it myself, one must walk their own path, so this trading opportunity, teacher, you can just owe it to me for now.¡± Uncle Li Dong leaped down from the parallel bars, his body floating gently in the air, light as a weightless feather. Hended without making the slightest sound. He spoke with a smile brimming with meaning, ¡°I¡¯ve hardly ever owed anyone in my life, so the feeling of owing someone is truly ufortable. You should quickly think over what else you might need during this time, so I can repay this favor to you as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Has teacher ever owed anyone before,¡± Qing Chen asked curiously. ¡°I have,¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°The other party now hates me to the bone, so meeting again wouldn¡¯t be ideal. I guess I¡¯ll have to repay them in the next life.¡± Qing Chen felt there was a story there. He listened as Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°I can tell that you¡¯ve run into a major problem this time. But I won¡¯t help you, even if you use this trading opportunity with me, I still won¡¯t assist. The fact that you didn¡¯t ask for my help also shows that I wasn¡¯t wrong about you.¡± Qing Chen understood, Uncle Li Dong would help him to stand on his own in both the Inner and Outer Worlds, to expand his roots and wings. But when faced with real danger, the other party would not interfere. Off to the side, Lin Xiaoxiao muttered, ¡°Boss, you really do not care, I wonder if you¡¯d feel sorry if he died in the Outer World.¡± Uncle Li Dongughed, ¡°There¡¯s a type of eagle in this world called the Qing Shan Falcon. Once they¡¯re adults, even airships stand no chance against them. But as chicks, they are timid and afraid to fly. So the adult Qing Shan Falcons take the chicks to the edge of a cliff when the timees, seven in a nest, and push them off one by one.¡± ¡°Those that spread their wings live; those that continue to cower will fall to their deaths below the cliff. On average, it takes about two broods for a single Qing Shan Falcon to survive,¡± Uncle Li Dong continued, ¡°But the one that does survive, from the moment it learns to fly, bes the master of the skies.¡± Qing Chen was curious, ¡°There¡¯s no Qing Shan Falcon in the Outer World, are they that formidable?¡± ¡°Of course, formidable,¡± Uncle Li Dong recounted, ¡°Even humans, without A-ss airship escorts, wouldn¡¯t dare provoke them. Years ago, when I was passing my third life-and-death trial, I identally entered their territory and was chased by one of them for more than thirty miles, nearly dying there.¡± Qing Chen, thinking of a character like Uncle Li Dong being chased haphazardly around thend when he was younger, found it very interesting¡­ At that moment, Uncle Li Dong suddenly said, ¡°It¡¯s not just Transcendents whose death gives rise to Taboo Lands; some powerful creatures can too, such as these Qing Shan Falcons. After their death, the nts around their bodies grow even stronger, and even develop aggressiveness, because powerful nts need more nutrients.¡± ¡°Is there now a way to suppress the Taboo Lands?¡± Qing Chen asked, ¡°It sounds very much like a state of increasing entropy; if left unchecked, won¡¯t Earth be devoid of soil for human existence in a few hundred years?¡± Entropy increase, used as an example in the case of the Inner World¡¯s Taboo Lands, probably means that it is always increasing in disorder and will not decrease due to naturalw. Until one day, it engulfs the whole world. Even the Contraindicated Tribunals can only contain the speed of its increase but cannot eliminate it. ¡°There¡¯s no way to suppress it,¡± Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°This might be Earth¡¯s purification principle. Perhaps one day, creatures asrge as dinosaurs will reappear on Earth, and raptors like the Qing Shan Falcon will be akin to the ancient pterosaurs. By then, Earth will bepletely different.¡± ¡°How do humans survive?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Perhaps, only the Transcendents will be able to survive by then,¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled. ¡°Humans always think they are the masters here, but time will tell you, there is no real master. Do you want to go out and have some fun? I can take you to see the real Taboo Land.¡± Qing Chen shook his head. ¡°Maybe next time, teacher. I need to think about how to deal with the things after my return these next couple of days.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao clearly noticed a look of regret on Uncle Li Dong¡¯s face. Then Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°Have you figured out how to deal with it?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Kill.¡± ¡°Do you know how to kill?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I can learn,¡± Qing Chen answered. Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan felt beside themselves, thinking how damn straightforward the conversation between the two was. Qing Chen said, ¡°I figured out a method, that is to practice with Ye Wan these next two days. I want to memorize all thebat techniques and all the reactions an enemy will make when I fight. By enumerating all possibilities, I want to gain the upper hand in battle. Butter, I realized, the method is feasible, but there¡¯s not enough time.¡± ¡°Like ying chess, right?¡± Uncle Li pondered. This so-called enumeration is just a brute force way of solving problems. When someone makes a move, you think of ¡°all¡± the possible counters, as well as all the subsequent variations your opponent might make, then choose the best solution. When Qing Chen ys chess, he remembers all the variations of the endgame. The moment his opponent makes a move, he knows how many ways there are to respond. Ye Wan asked, ¡°You have the Breathing Technique, and with your relentless personal training, your physical fitness indeed now has a soldier¡¯s foundation. But if the opponent has mechanical limbs, you still don¡¯t have any advantage.¡± ¡°Is it enough?¡± Qing Chen inquired. ¡°It¡¯s enough,¡± Ye Wan replied. ¡°But can you keep up with your reactions? I mean, once your mind understands how many choices you have, can you quickly select the most correct one and then have your body react?¡± At that moment, Uncle Li Dong interrupted, ¡°The human skeleton has many parts: 29 bones in the skull, 51 bones in the trunk, including 26 vertebrae. The upper limbs have 64 bones and the lower limbs have 62.¡± ¡°The human body has 12 major joints and 210 minor joints.¡± ¡°The muscles in the human body add up to about 639,posed of about 6 billion muscle fibers,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°The human body is moreplex than chess, so don¡¯t try to enumerate all variations within two days. In fact, to kill, one move is enough.¡± Listening, Qing Chen heard Uncle Li Dong continue, ¡°Ye Wan, you only need to teach him one move, and then tell him how many reactions the enemy could have. This way will be much simpler.¡± Ye Wan thought for a moment, ¡°Boss, is one move really enough?¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°It¡¯s enough, after all¡­ life is very fragile.¡± Qing Chen thought and said, ¡°Two evenings might still not be enough.¡± Uncle Li Dong waved his hand carelessly, ¡°Then just lock up the prisoners in their own cells, only letting them out to eat, and the rest of the time they can roll back where they came from. That way, you can train during the day as well.¡± Qing Chen was taken aback on the spot. Though the other party said they would not help him, they still made such a fuss. ¡­ Thanks to Ze Yuan for bing a new patron of this book, the boss is generous! (I¡¯m a bit curious who Ze Yuan is¡­) Thanks to A Trembling L and Strange Uncle Shu for the generous tips, the bosses are generous! May the bosses make a fortune! Chapter 82: 82. Key Points and Bionics Chapter 82: 82. Key Points and Bionics With over three thousand people in the prison, Uncle Li Dong made sure the students had ample study time over these two days, and if he said they were not toe out, then they would stay in. It was as if the very existence of the prison was solely for Qing Chen. After Uncle Li Dong went back to his room to sleep, Lin Xiaoxiao expressed some emotion, ¡°The boss is still as willful as ever.¡± Ye Wan thought for a moment and responded, ¡°After all, he is the only heir of the Knight Organization now. It¡¯s not exaggerated for the boss to act this way.¡± ¡°By the way,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°The two Death Warriors we caught earlier are dead by my hand.¡± Qing Chen: ¡°¡­?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, before their deaths, I managed to get a confession. It was most likely Qing¡¯s Family Branch Four that was behind this, but as to why they want you dead, we have no idea.¡± It was only at times like this that Qing Chen realized the ever-smiling young man before him was actually quite cold-blooded and ruthless. He was only cold when facing enemies, but he was warm and friendly with friends. At that moment, Ye Wan suddenly said, ¡°There is something we always found very strange. It seems the upper echelons of Qing¡¯s Family are aware of your existence, and you even have a marriage arrangement with the Jindai family. The problem is, very few people outside have heard about you. Before you came to this world, you never participated in n activities, never showed up publicly. It seems you are the only one.¡± Qing Chen frowned slightly, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m not important? That¡¯s why I¡¯m not well-regarded.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao shook his head, ¡°To say you¡¯re not important, yet you could rece the third house¡¯s spot and take part in the Shadowpetition. To say you¡¯re important, even Qing¡¯s Branch lines wouldn¡¯t be treated this coldly.¡± ¡°Additionally,¡± Ye Wan said, ¡°You can¡¯t find any information about you online at all, you¡¯re like an invisible person. It¡¯s not that you¡¯re too obscure, but rather that someone deliberately erased something. It¡¯s very contradictory.¡± Having said that, Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Qing Chen. Qing Chen raised an eyebrow, ¡°Why look at me? I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on either.¡± ¡°Sigh, how boring,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao walked away disappointed, ¡°I¡¯ve been curious about this for a while, and I thought you could give me an answer.¡± Ye Wan said, ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time, and start training. Before we begin, I want to reiterate what the boss said was correct, life is indeed extremely fragile. If you master one method, it can be enough to kill a person.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om A shattered sternum would result in obstructed breathing, ruptured alveoli, and ultimately suffocation and death. A ruptured spleen causing bleeding is even more deadly, leading to death in a short amount of time. So hitting any part with enough force would suffice to incapacitate an opponent. However, times have changed, and many warriors now modify their bodies to reduce their fatal weaknesses. Some people imnt bionic alloy skin around their neck to prevent getting their throats slit. Others modify their joints to withstand greater impact. But one thing often neglected by mechanical warriors is organ protection. Qing Chen felt something wrong upon hearing this, ¡°Wait, we all know organs are very important, so there must be many people getting bionic skin there.¡± Ye Wan said, ¡°Oh, the main issue is that nanobiologic skin is extremely expensive, costing over a hundred thousand for just one square centimeter. Normally, not many can afford to protect all their organs because it covers toorge an area.¡± Qing Chen was astonished. So, was it poverty that limited strength? Ye Wan continued, ¡°ording to what you described, those thugs¡¯ leg mechanisms weren¡¯t the best out there, so I deduced their organs are unprotected.¡± In other words, Ye Wan felt they couldn¡¯t afford such arge area of bionic alloy skin. ¡°The spleen is different, primarily because its location is very tricky; the spine can¡¯t protect it, and the ribs can¡¯t protect it either. You can stab into it from either the back or the abdomen,¡± Ye Wan exined, ¡°And most crucially, very few people know how to guard it.¡± Moreover, once you have confirmed you¡¯ve stabbed into the opponent¡¯s spleen, you don¡¯t need to bother with them anymore¡ªthey will surely die. Ye Wan asked, ¡°Will you be able to find a knife when you go back?¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment, ¡°Will a fruit knife work?¡± ¡°No,¡± Ye Wan thought for a moment, ¡°If it¡¯s just an ordinary unsharpened fruit knife, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t even pierce through a thug¡¯s clothes.¡± Saying this, he went up to the sixth floor, opened an alloy gate, and retrieved a spring knife from one of the cells. The inmate inside was still sleeping. Awoken by the sound of the alloy gate opening, he dazedly watched Ye Wan enter, take the knife, and leave, all in one smooth motion. Ye Wan ced the palm-sized spring knife into Qing Chen¡¯s hand, ¡°Based on what you said, this should be something you can hold and take back with you. Use this for real-life practice.¡± Qing Chen was stunned for a long while, ¡°Don¡¯t I get something more technologically advanced?¡± Ye Wan shook his head, ¡°The boss doesn¡¯t allow it.¡± ¡°Do we also need to use real things for sparring,¡± Qing Chen asked again. ¡°Yes,¡± Ye Wan nodded, ¡°You need to familiarize yourself not only with all the methods of attack and your opponent¡¯s defensive tactics but also with the weapon you are using, its feel.¡± ¡°Okay, what do we do now?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°If you want to attack the vital points, you first need to know where they are,¡± Ye Wan said, ¡°But because everyone¡¯s height is different, weight is different, and even their bones are different, so are their vital points. You need to have killed a lot of people, practiced many times to find them with precision.¡± With that, Ye Wan handed him a pair of sses, ¡°Put these on, they¡¯re for night vision.¡± Then, the entire prison suddenly darkened, plunging the world into darkness. Ye Wan took Qing Chen to the door of a cell, and once the alloy gate opened, Mother Ye went in first, pinning the inmate down on the bed with a force like that used on Liu Dezhu. He ignored the inmate¡¯s desperate struggles and simply pointed to an area below the inmate¡¯s ribs, telling Qing Chen, ¡°You see, his spleen¡¯s vital point is right here, a stab and he¡¯s doomed to die.¡± Afterward, Ye Wan took Qing Chen to the next cell. There were no wasted words to save time. Once again, he pinned down a fearfully bewildered inmate, exining to Qing Chen how this person¡¯s vital point differed from that of thest, why it was different, and how to deduce these differences based on the opponent¡¯s physique. From 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., Ye Wan spent a full five hours taking Qing Chen through the entire prison¡¯s poption of more than three thousand inmates. Qing Chen felt like he was studying anatomy, but unlike medical students without bodies to practice on, he had over three thousand ¡°bodies¡± to gain experience from. For Qing Chen, it was a fruitful night. But for the inmates of Prison No. 18, it was a night of terror. They each experienced almost the same thing: their cell gate suddenly opened, and the world was pitch-ck. Then a strong man tookplete control of them with overwhelming force and said to another, ¡°Look, this is the position of his spleen; pierce it with a knife here and he¡¯s a goner.¡± This was more harrowing than the most thrilling films in the cinema of virtual life. Chapter 83: 83, Combat and Insight Chapter 83: 83, Combat and Insight If your strength is inferior, then the best way to attack is by surprise. However, Ye Wan said that it¡¯s not always possible to keep oneself in a dominant position, and while surprise attacks are important, solely pursuing how tounch them would only be considered opportunistic trickery. Qing Chen kept trying attack movements relentlessly, showing no signs of fatigue. In his hand, he held a genuine Spring Knife, and his opponent was not the air, but the flesh-and-blood Ye Wan. Ye Wan was like a mountain, no matter how fierce Qing Chen¡¯s attacks were, he was able to block them with ease.N?v(el)B\\jnn If the first step was to identify the vital points, then now it was the second step: Routines. Logically, there aren¡¯t many angles for striking the spleen, just a few. But what Ye Wan taught him was how to feign one¡¯s intent, making the opponent misjudge the intended target, and then open the path to the spleen for you. ¡°If you reveal your intent directly, then you¡¯ll always be at a disadvantage inbat,¡± Ye Wan said, ¡°When your strength isn¡¯t sufficient to crush someone, then feints are your most effective killing technique.¡± Qing Chen thoughtfully considered this. He had previously thought of it too simply, assuming it was just about practicing straight stabs and diagonal shes. What he hadn¡¯t expected was that Ye Wan was teaching him routines. For example, how to cleverly exert force toward the opponent¡¯s neck with a knife swipe, and then, in the moment the opponent makes a defensive move, coordinate the power from his waist and elbow to change the dagger¡¯s trajectory, piercing the opponent¡¯s spleen. Ye Wan taught him over sixty such routines. More than ten of them included two feints. Ye Wan said, ¡°Keep in mind thatbat is always devious and ever-changing. You see many battle masters who can strike numerous times in a second, but actually, only one is a real attack.¡± Close-quarterbat is a perilous game of psychological warfare. What Ye Wan could do was teach these practical routines to Qing Chen, giving him the most basic killing ability in two days. And what Qing Chen needed to do was to keep all of this in his mind. The third step, also thest one: Realbat. It wasn¡¯t enough to simply know; Ye Wan believed that Qing Chen also needed to be clearly aware of what his body could do. One had to have a clear understanding of one¡¯s own strength and speed. Knowing the enemy wasn¡¯t enough; you must also know yourself. This method of training, with all his might each time, exhausted Qing Chen in just three hours. Adding to that he stood by the window the previous night for the first half, by 9 a.m., his reactions had grown sluggish. By this time, 2 hours and 40 minutes had passed since mealtime. The prisoners in the jail gradually noticed something was wrong and began frantically banging on the alloy gate. But no matter how hard they banged, there was no response. It was as if everyone¡¯s gates were broken. Guo Huchan banged on the gate the hardest, as if he were trying to smash it open. It wasn¡¯t until Uncle Li Dong warned him at his gate that the bald strongman calmed down. Guo Huchan, inside his cell,ughed instead of being angry and asked enthusiastically, ¡°Boss Li, what secret operation are you pulling off? Tell me about it, or let me out to give you a hand? I¡¯m also a master strategist in Spade.¡± But Uncle Li Dong had no intention of giving him any attention. Gradually, all the prisoners calmed down again, recalling the fear of the previous night, and suddenly felt that the prison seemed a bit different. This ce was full of felons, with more than half having lived here for over five years. Prior to this, they had never experienced anything so bizarre. But what they didn¡¯t realize was that all this was because a young man needed to face a crisis, and his mentor was trying to buy him a bit of time, that was all. When Ye Wan said they could take a break, Qing Chen simply tilted his head and fell to the ground, sound asleep. Lin Xiaoxiao came over with a tray in his hands. As he watched the Fire Rune on Qing Chen¡¯s face gradually fade, he hoisted the other man up, ¡°Don¡¯t let the prisoners out just yet. If only Qing Chen doesn¡¯te out for meals, that will raise suspicions. We¡¯ll talk about dinner after he wakes up.¡± Ye Wan nodded, ¡°But he¡¯s definitely going to sleep until dinner, the prisoners are going to miss two meals.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, the boss said they won¡¯t die if they go hungry for two meals.¡± Actually, ever since Qing Chen came into contact with Uncle Li Dong and the others, everyone had already adopted a rtively amiable attitude. Even today, he has yet to encounter the other side of the Knights and the Heng Society. The cold and cruel side. ¡­ By the time dinner came around, the alloy gates of all the cells were opened only after Qing Chen had gotten up. During the meal, the prisoners were extremely cautious and dared not make a sound, for fear of stirring up trouble and possibly being used for practice in the middle of the night again. What if¡­ it wasn¡¯t just talk this time?! After dinner, the prison¡¯s broadcast advised everyone to return to their cells, and the prisoners did so one by one. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen with interest, ¡°How is it? Have you got a basic grasp?¡± Qing Chen pondered, ¡°Not bad, Memory Power and cognitive abilities y a bigger role inbat than I had imagined. It¡¯s just that the training time for the Auxiliary Breathing Method is short, and my physical fitness is stillcking, I will train even harder from now on.¡± Even if one day of Auxiliary Breathing Method training was equivalent to half a month for others, his training time was too short, in total it was only around ten days. This was still the result of his training volume significantly exceeding Ye Wan¡¯s n. Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Ye Wan, ¡°By your standards, how is his training progress?¡± Ye Wan thought for a moment and said, ¡°Ordinary People are definitely far behindpared to him. For example, when I first learned the Tactical Dagger Routines, it took me three months to reach his current level. The Super Memory state is truly terrifying. Train a bit more tonight, and then again during the day tomorrow, killing a person or two should be no problem.¡± ¡°And the downsides?¡± asked Lin Xiaoxiao. Ye Wan replied, ¡°The downside is that he stillcks realbat experience, and his approach is too formic. It¡¯s fine when facing Ordinary People, but when he encounters a real master, he will suffer greatly. This has to bepensated with perceptiveness.¡± It was the same when Qing Chen yed chess with Uncle Li Dong; even though Qing Chen knew the permutations of the chess games, sometimes he still couldn¡¯t beat Uncle Li Dong. He could have won, but always ended up being forced into a draw. This was also the reason he didn¡¯t participate in the chesspetitions back then. Ye Wan grinned at Qing Chen, ¡°Did you have a good sleep?¡± ¡°Well-rested, I can continue,¡± Qing Chen nodded, the Breathing Technique had revived him fully. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll spar with you,¡± said Lin Xiaoxiao cheerfully. After speaking, he willingly stood in the center of the ring and beckoned to Qing Chen. Qing Chen pondered briefly and then, with sudden force in his legs, he stepped forward. The Spring Knife in his hand swiftly stabbed at Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s thigh. Lin Xiaoxiaoughed, ¡°Such a childish feint¡­ hiss! That was a close call!¡± Qing Chen¡¯s dagger stuck in his leg, but fortunately, he reacted quickly, pinching the de between two fingers. Otherwise, he would have been bled out. Qing Chen was stunned for a moment. Lin Xiaoxiao had said before that he was not abat type, but rather functional. But even so, this ability to catch a de between two fingers was unbelievably astonishing. The gulf between Transcendents and Ordinary People was insurmountable, the only ones who could engage in closebat with Transcendents were other Transcendents. Or those Battle Masters equipped with the most advanced mechanical limbs. At that moment, Lin Xiaoxiao shouted angrily, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to aim for the spleen? Just now you had all the power in your waist, why didn¡¯t you lift the de? What happened to the agreed feint and fake movements?¡± Uncle Li Dong looked at Ye Wan with a smile, ¡°What do you think of his perceptiveness?¡± Ye Wan replied, ¡°I wasn¡¯t as good as him back then.¡± ¡°Keep training, don¡¯t ck off,¡± Uncle Li Dongughed heartily and went off to the reading area. ¡°Hmm, training seems effective enough for now, it¡¯s time to teach him assassination techniques,¡± Ye Wan responded. Chapter 84: 84. Sneak Attack and Visit Chapter 84: 84. Sneak Attack and Visit How to maximize gains in a battle where one faces five opponents? Even people who have never fought could answer this question: stealth attack. In an unknown location, delivering a fatal blow from a strange angle is the way to fight that uses the least energy yet inflicts the most damage. And Qing Chen, in the battle he was about to face, would inevitably choose the way of stealth to reduce the number of thugs as much as possible. But Ye Wan, who was fully aware of this point, kept dying teaching Qing Chen these skills. Qing Chen had his doubts, but he did not ask.N?v(el)B\\jnn The fight with Lin Xiaoxiao proved Qing Chen¡¯s aptitude. Since then, Uncle Li Dong no longer cared about this matter, captivated every second with the newly acquired scores. Training for six hours, resting for one, Qing Chen supplemented his training with the Breathing Technique, honing himself in apletely inhuman state. After enduring this almost spirit-crushing intensity, his strikes became faster and more precise. Over three thousand inmates were still locked in their cells, but this time, everyone was silent. On the second midnight after Qing Chen arrived, the inmatesy on their beds in despair, silently enduring the familiar process once again. This time, Ye Wan spared himself the effort of controlling the inmates and directly ordered in the darkness, ¡°Lie face down on the bed.¡± The inmates obediently turned over andy face down. Consequently, Ye Wan said to Qing Chen, ¡°Yesterday I taught you to identify the front; today, I¡¯ll teach you to recognize from the back. Actually, finding the spleen from behind is a bit more difficult, and to ensure a faster thrust, you might need to use your left hand to wield the knife.¡± The inmates, lying on their beds one by one, shed tears of humiliation. They didn¡¯t know whether the other party would return the next midnight to distinguish how to find the spleen from the side. The countdown to return read 15:00:00, 9 o¡¯clock in the morning. The prison¡¯s Alloy Gate suddenly opened. Two Mechanical Prison Guards strode into the square and said to Qing Chen through the amplifiers in their skulls, ¡°Inmate number 010101, you have a family visit.¡± Ye Wanughed, ¡°They even sent two Mechanical Prison Guards.¡± Qing Chen turned and asked, ¡°Does that make a difference?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Ye Wan exined, ¡°The One evaluates the danger level of an inmate and then dispatches a corresponding number of Mechanical Prison Guards; previously one was enough to take you away, now they sent two.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°It seems it also considers you more ¡®dangerous¡¯ now.¡± The One? Qing Chen puzzled internally, wondering if the entire prison was actually managed by that artificial intelligence. That¡¯s why he had never seen any human prison guards in this prison. At that moment, Uncle Li Dong¡¯s gaze lifted from the ssical scores, seriously sizing up Qing Chen, ¡°It must be that youngdy from the Jindai family, you¡¯re soaked in sweat, you should change into a fresh set of clothes before meeting her.¡± Qing Chen shook his head, ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Uncle Li Dong was taken aback, ¡°Don¡¯t you care about your appearance? After all, she¡¯s your fianc¨¦e, and by the way, I¡¯ve looked into it for you, the girl is clean, nothing like some hypocrites of the Jindai family.¡± Qing Chen then exined, ¡°The entire prison poption has been confined to conceal my identity. Although they haven¡¯t left their cells, they can guess that Ye Wan is teaching me assassination techniques; they just can¡¯t know who I am. If I meet her now, andter someone checks the time, everyone will know that it¡¯s me Ye Wan is teaching.¡± Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li, ¡°So teacher, I can¡¯t go to see her. Let¡¯s continue training.¡± ¡°Uh,¡± Uncle Li Dong, seeing the earnestness in Qing Chen¡¯s expression, gradually showed a look of astonishment, ¡°You make a lot of sense!¡± Countdown to return 9:00:00. Ye Wan walked barefoot on the ground while Qing Cheny on his side on the floor, quietly watching, his eyes moving back and forth in sync with thoserge feet. As if every change during the movement of the soles contained unique secrets. Ye Wan¡¯s feet wererge, surprisinglyrge. But Qing Chen had discovered that no matter whether the other was walking or running, they didn¡¯t make any sound. Such ability was too eerie; every muscle fiber would exert force in sequence, from the foot soles, to the ankles, then to the calves, and thighs, as if every movement had been calcted. However, Ye Wan didn¡¯t possess such terrifying calcting abilities. This was the ¡°experience¡± and ¡°memory¡± that the other had umted over years of training. Qing Chenmitted all this to memory, knowing that thisst lesson was the most important. Unconsciously, Qing Chen closed his eyes. It was as if he were asleep, yet it seemed he was deep in thought. Beside him, Lin Xiaoxiao whispered to Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Boss, he¡¯s training too hard. We don¡¯t necessarily need to rush this; why don¡¯t I get him some lethal weapons he can take back? We might not be able to bring back much, but surely a grenade or a pocket pistol should be okay.¡± Uncle Li Dong shook his head, ¡°The first time one draws blood in a kill, they must exert all their strength, even if they have to clench their teeth until they break. They must remember clearly what it feels like to take a life with their own hands. When the dagger pierces the enemy¡¯s body, blood flows down the hilt into one¡¯s hand, carrying the body warmth of the other. Only such a unique sensory experience can make him remember what death truly is.¡± Countdown to return 2:00:00. Thest two hours before the return. Strange sounds of hydraulic movement started up in the darkness, incredibly uniform. Along the long and dimly lit corridor, 21 solitary confinement cells opened in turn. Jian Sheng had already been transferred by Uncle Li Dong to another prison, leaving only Liu Dezhu to reside here. Liu Dezhu looked outside timidly. Through the opened door, he peered into the pitch-dark world, ¡°Is anybody there?¡± No response. He raised his voice, ¡°Is anyone there, why is the door opened?¡± Still no response. After a long while, he finally mustered the courage to step outside. The corridor was empty. The door leading to the prison yard had been opened for him, and Liu Dezhu tentatively moved forward. Just then, he suddenly felt something was amiss and quickly turned around. But there was nothing behind him in the murky corridor, only faint lights from each of the solitary confinement cells, creating intersecting shadows. At this moment, Liu Dezhu felt like he was ying a game called Silent Hill, where the world had changed in an instant, terrifying yet tranquil. In this entire world, there were only him and this eerie corridor, where a deadly threat might appear at any moment. He began to run out of fear, constantly looking back as if something was chasing him. But Liu Dezhu couldn¡¯t hear footsteps or see any figures. From time to time, he could hear breathing, continuous and meticulous, with a bizarre rhythm. Sometimes he could also hear footsteps other than his own, but every time he turned around, he saw nothing, which only intensified his terror. Panting, he ran to the reading area, hid behind some bookshelves, and cautiously peeked out from behind them, but still saw nothing. The next moment he turned back in panic, only to see a Cat Mask looming right in front of his eyes. ¡­ Thank you, DesWong, for bing the new Alliance Hierarch of this book! Boss is generous, and may the boss make a fortune! Asking for monthly tickets! Also, starting tomorrow, the updates will stabilize at 6 PM every evening! Chapter 85: 85, Screaming and Silencing Chapter 85: 85, Screaming and Silencing ¡°Fuck!¡± Liu Dezhu¡¯s soul nearly flew out of his body, almost knocking over the bookshelf as he staggered backward. In the dead of night, within a dim and eerie environment, turning around to see a sinister mask was horrifying. The feeling was too terrifying. It was like living through a horror movie. At that moment, Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao stepped out from the shadows of the bookshelves. Liu Dezhu realized what was happening, so these three decided to let him out in the middle of the night just to tease him? He said in deep distress, ¡°You three are going too far in bullying people!¡± ¡°Quit your yapping, this is all you¡¯re good for anyway,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao picked up Liu Dezhu and took him back to the solitary confinement room.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Ye Wan then said to Qing Chen, ¡°There¡¯s significant progress in the details, but the training time was too rushed, it wasn¡¯t done very well.¡± Qing Chen listened intently. Ye Wan continued, ¡°The most important aspect of a sneak attack is not being discovered. You were too hasty the first time you approached Liu Dezhu. There are subtle changes in the air and sounds in the corridor. Liu Dezhu might not notice it himself, but his body will warn him.¡± ¡°After that, when the target moved quickly, you failed to control your breathing and footsteps. To my ears, those sounds were as loud as drumbeats, even Liu Dezhu sensed something. If he were reced by a trained soldier, you¡¯d be dead.¡± ¡°Hmm, I will continue to work hard,¡± Qing Chen said, his bare feet pressing against the floor. The greatest secret to eliminating footstep noise lies in how one masters exerting and retracting force with each step. However, his own shoes were too cheap, and the rubber soles too hard, which made it impossible to control properly no matter what. Ye Wan reminded him, ¡°You haven¡¯t been learning for long, so you can only manage to walk without making a sound. Remember, don¡¯t run. You can¡¯t manage to run without making noise yet.¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve got it,¡± Qing Chen said. Ye Wan nced at his feet, ¡°ording to what you said, after you return, you¡¯ll be in the mountains. If you haven¡¯t walked barefoot through them before, I fear your feet will be raw and bloody after one night.¡± Qing Chen shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s not important, injuries will eventually heal.¡± ¡°Being tough on yourself is good, but after this is over you should still buy a pair of suitable shoes as soon as possible,¡± Ye Wan said, ¡°Anything else you want to ask?¡± ¡°Actually, in this battle, the most crucial lesson for me is the art of sneak attack, why teach itst?¡± Qing Chen asked curiously. ¡°Sneak attacks are not like ying a virtual game on simple mode where enemies stand around like NPCs in a game, dumbfounded waiting for you to kill them. Then, until you kill them all, by the time you take down the second person, you¡¯re very likely to be discovered,¡± Ye Wan exined. ¡°Next, the remaining three will be aware of your presence and will use all their means to kill you. You¡¯ll have no choice but to engage in directbat, and that¡¯s when it gets most dangerous.¡± ¡°When enemies are unaware of you, killing the first two is easiest. That¡¯s why the time spent teaching you how to hide your tracks was the shortest. However, when they discover you, that¡¯s when you¡¯re in the most danger, and why I spent the most time teaching you directbat.¡± ¡°But,¡± Qing Chen suddenly said, ¡°I have no intention of exchanging my life for someone else¡¯s. If it¡¯s too dangerous, maybe I will give up.¡± ¡°I support you in that,¡± Ye Wan said, ¡°In this world, your own life is the most important thing. There¡¯s no need to risk your life just to save an agent and a ssmate of yours. But you must understand, if you could control something like fighting spirit, then it wouldn¡¯t be spirit anymore. Sometimes, it¡¯s only when you truly face something that you understand your own choices.¡± Ye Wan continued, ¡°The boss said you have an innate spirit in you, simr to when you dared to challenge the boss to a game of chess on your first day. It belongs to you, indelible and unforgettable. Remember your chess game with the boss, Crossing the River? Once the pawn crosses the river, it¡¯s not that it doesn¡¯t want to go back; it can¡¯t.¡± Qing Chen reflected upon these words. At that moment, Ye Wan moved a chair from the neighboring reading area in front of Qing Chen. Qing Chen, curious, asked, ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± Ye Wan thought for a moment and said, ¡°You¡¯ll understand soon¡­ no, in two days you¡¯ll get it.¡± Ye Wan said, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing the boss didn¡¯t say, so I¡¯ll take the liberty of saying it for him.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Qing Chen wondered. Ye Wan smiled, ¡°Come back alive.¡± ¡­ Countdown 00:05:00. The final five minutes. Qing Chen approached Liu Dezhu and asked calmly, ¡°Repeat the two things I¡¯ve instructed you.¡± Liu Dezhu replied anxiously, ¡°First, after returning, tell all the ssmates to run for their lives. Second, if they can¡¯t escape, find a way to ask who was taken away alone by the bad guys before.¡± ¡°Hmm, have you remembered any details these past two days? For example, anyone constantly checking their phone for messages, or who went to the bathroom midway,¡± Qing Chen asked. Liu Dezhu weakly answered, ¡°They all went to the bathroom, and as for checking their phones, I guess they did quite often¡­ Boss, I was only focused on ying games at the time, I really didn¡¯t notice anything.¡± Qing Chen sighed, knowing that if he had any better choices, he wouldn¡¯t have appointed this person as a proxy. ¡°Remember, the bad guys must be very interested in the secret you carry. But you must understand one thing, the moment they discover your secret is the moment you die.¡± Qing Chen continued coldly, ¡°Your fault this time is unforgivable. When you return next time, I will help you reacquaint yourself with this cruel world, of course, if you¡¯re still alive to tell the tale.¡± After finishing, he nced at the time on his arm. Countdown, 00:00:01. Return. In the darkness, the sound of drums andughter were heard. The time in the Outer World, which had been sliced and paused, finally began to tick forward again. One second it was the dim istion room, the next second, the world was lit by the orange-red glow of the bonfire, with shadows flickering rapidly. Liu Dezhu¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the bonfire in front of him and the crowd cheering around him, struggling to adjust. The gloom and the brightness were cut off from each other, as were the tension and the merriment. Even Liu Dezhu himself seemed to be cut off from his smiling ssmates. In his mind, it seemed as if someone were reminding him: Danger! He remembered Qing Chen¡¯s words and immediately stood up, yelling, ¡°Run! Everyone run! There¡¯s danger!¡± However, the scene he imagined where everyone would scatter and flee didn¡¯t happen; they just looked at him with a confused expression. The ssmates couldn¡¯t understand why Liu Dezhu, who had been chatting andughing a moment ago, now looked so flustered and frightened. It was Hu Xiaoniu who reacted first because for the ssmates, time was continuous and coherent. But for those Time Travelers like them, they had already spent two days in the Inner World. So, Liu Dezhu¡¯s warning wasn¡¯t without reason; he had experienced something special in the Inner World! Hu Xiaoniu stood up and asked, ¡°Brother Liu, what happened?¡± As Liu Dezhu was pushing past the ssmates next to him, he said, ¡°It¡¯s toote if we don¡¯t go now, there are bad guysing to surround this ce, forget it, if you won¡¯t go, I will!¡± Yet, even after he spoke so clearly, the ssmates still looked at him in bewilderment. Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s face changed, and after giving Zhang Tianzhen a meaningful look, he quickly followed Liu Dezhu. However, just as they reached the courtyard entrance, two middle-aged men in police uniforms asked, ¡°Hello, student, where are you going in such a hurry?¡± Upon seeing the police uniform, Liu Dezhu was overjoyed, ¡°Police officer, there are bad guys nearby!¡± The two middle-aged men in police uniforms nced at each other, then pulled out pistols from their waists, stepped forward, and pressed them against the chests of Liu Dezhu and Hu Xiaoniu. One of themughed softly, ¡°Bad guys, eh? I don¡¯t see any.¡± The other one looked coldly at Hu Xiaoniu, ¡°Open your mouth to call for help, and I¡¯ll shoot you dead. Go back!¡± Hu Xiaoniu stared nkly down at the gun pressed against his chest. There was a silencer on the gun! Chapter 86: 86, 7 suspects Chapter 86: 86, 7 suspects Hu Xiaoniu, when in Haicheng, spent years frequenting domestic legal shooting ranges, so he had seen these things and had listened to the exnations of shooting instructors. Not to mention how these thugs had gotten their hands on guns, the key was that it was too difficult to secretly acquire silencers in the country, and even smugglers rarely dealt in such things. Moreover, most firearms, when fitted with a silencer, are notpletely silent like in the movies; at best, the sound is reduced from 140 decibels to 120 decibels, without any substantial change. Silencers have always been mythologized by film and television. But there are a few firearms that, when paired with subsonic ammunition, can indeed minimize the sound of gunfire. The Glock 34 in the hands of the thugs was one of them. Hu Xiaoniu suddenly realized that the opposition was extremely professional and might even have ties to international professional mercenaries. Liu Dezhu was in despair, the turn of events came too suddenly; the boss had only warned him about the thugs, but did not mention that the thugs would switch into police uniforms!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Hu Xiaoniu took a deep breath and said, ¡°Do as they say.¡± The three of them were forced to retreat into the yard with the guns pointed at them. At the same time, five other people were holding guns, taking the staff, the boss, and two Kunlun members hostage from the hotel building and stepping outside. These people moved faster than Qing Chen had anticipated, having already scoped out the area before midnight, and finally took action after the return. The reason they chose to take action after the return was to prevent the Kunlun members from leaking the news in the Inner World, thereby buying themselves ample time. A few girls screamed on the spot. However, one of the thugs simply squeezed the trigger, and the bullet struck the calf of a Kunlun member cleanly and efficiently. The Kunlun member fell to the ground, yet he kept his mouth tightly shut, not uttering a cry of pain. The thug then pointed the gun at Hu Xiaoniu and Liu Dezhu, and said coldly, ¡°Shut up, or your ssmates will die now, and many innocent people outside the inn will die as well. You see, thisrade of Kunlun is very smart; he knows his cries of pain would attract people from outside, but here on Laojun Mountain, no one can save you. Attracting people from the outside would only increase casualties needlessly.¡± ¡°And he is well aware that the ones who can save you will take at least six hours to arrive, so keep quiet, and don¡¯t bring trouble upon yourselves.¡± The Kunlun member on the ground silently closed his eyes, intense pain causing a fineyer of sweat to form on his forehead, but he remained silent. At that moment, one of the thugs dressed in a ck coat stood before the students, smiling and saying, ¡°I¡¯m delighted to meet everyone here on Laojun Mountain, but don¡¯t panic. I¡¯m not interested in ordinary people; once I find all the Time Travelers among you, I will take them away. So, please cooperate, okay? If everyone cooperates, this will be over very quickly.¡± From the crowd, Wang Yun suddenly said, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t panic, and don¡¯t get Hu Xiaoniu and the others killed.¡± Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen exchanged nces, unsure of what to think. And in Liu Dezhu¡¯s mind, there was only one thought: there were more than five thugs; the boss¡¯s information was wrong. At this time, the students were filled with immense fear, yet the terror of gunfire and the threat to their ssmates¡¯ livespelled them to maintain some semnce of sanity, sobbing quietly with their hands covering their mouths. The previous screaming from the Cloudtop Inn seemed to have alerted the people outside. The owner of a neighboring guesthouse, who had been preparing vegetables for the next day, wiped his hands on his apron and walked out of the yard. He stood on the road in front of the door, looking towards the neighboring entrance. But he saw someone dressed in a police uniform standing at the door, seeming to be on duty. The curious innkeeper approached and asked, ¡°Officer, what¡¯s going on next door?¡± The middle-aged man in a police uniform replied, ¡°We¡¯ve got a drunk causing a disturbance. That¡¯s enough, no need to stand around; go back inside.¡± ¡°Oh, okay,¡± the innkeeper nodded and prepared to return to the entrance of his guesthouse. As he walked, he felt something wasn¡¯t quite right. The innkeeper subtly clenched the phone in his pocket, intending to call the police for information as soon as he got back to his guesthouse. However, before he could reach the entrance of his ce, he felt the cold de of a dagger slide between his ribs, diagonally piercing his heart and lungs. A hand d in ck gloves tightly covered his mouth, dragging him into the Cloud Inn. Following that, the criminal in the police uniform stepped out again, closing the door of the Cloud Inn from the outside and stationing himself by the door, unmoving. His hand remained at his waist throughout. At this moment, everyone in Cloud Mountain Guesthouse was herded into the courtyard. The students, terrified and shivering, huddled together, while the criminal went around with two ck stic bags, confiscating their phones. Before tossing the phones into the stic bags, the criminal meticulously turned off each one. Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen were also shoved back into the crowd, and a man with a scar on his face approached them, opening the ck stic bag silently with both hands. With no other choice, the three of them reluctantly handed over their phones, but the criminal did not leave, continuing to stare emotionlessly at Hu Xiaoniu. With an inward sigh, Hu Xiaoniu pulled out another phone from his left pocket and threw it into the stic bag. The criminal let out a coldugh and pushed the three of them back into the crowd. The man in the ck trench coat approached Liu Dezhu and jovially said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance. Tell me why, after your return, did you suddenly be aware of our operation and precisely know that we are surrounding this ce?¡± Liu Dezhu kept his mouth shut and shivered, unusually defiant by remaining silent. The criminal chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t feel like talking, huh? Well, let me guess¡­ Outside of Cloud Inn, you have apanion who is a Time Traveler, right?¡± All of a sudden, Liu Dezhu realized that even though the man had guessed the truth, he didn¡¯t seem panicked. Could it be that the man had another ace up his sleeve? Or perhaps, the criminals present were not the only ones involved. ¡­ At this very moment, Qing Chen silently stood in the room, clutching the Spring Knife he had brought back, with Jiang Xue, who had also just returned, behind him. Qing Chen heard a faint mechanical clicking, but he didn¡¯t know that it was the sound of a silencer-equipped pistol. It was just that the owner of their guesthouse had gone out and had note back. The woman, seeing the knife in his hand, had a moment of realization, ¡°Xiao Chen, what are you nning to do?¡± Qing Chen took off his shoes, turned, and headed for the door. ¡°Aunt Jiang Xue, you stay here with Xiao Yun, keep the door locked and don¡¯t go out. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Jiang Xue called out from behind, ¡°Maybe I can help you with something. I have a mechanical arm!¡± But Qing Chen suddenly turned and looked directly at her, ¡°But youckbat experience. Trust me, I¡¯lle back.¡± After saying that, he disappeared outside the door. Chapter 87: 87, added three more Chapter 87: 87, added three more The wind had risen in the mountains. Laojun Mountain, with an elevation of over two thousand meters, lies between the Funiu Mountain Range. The nights here are sharply cold and windy. The air is dense with fog, and by morning, all the outdoor furniture surfaces would be coated with ayer of moisture. In the courtyard, someone had thrown fresh firewood into the bonfire, dimming the light it cast as the new logs smothered the mes. The flickering firelight, refracting through the slowly swirling fog, seemed like the mesmerizing y of light and shadow in the night. Among the shadows, a youth with a knife stood silently at the intersection of the thin mist and darkness, sizing up a lone thug outside the courtyard. It was not until this moment that he understood what Ye Wan had said: Life is indeed very fragile¡ªa knife thrust into the heart, and no matter how important the person is, they would die. But killing was not easy. Because what you have to face is the most vicious thing in human affairs. Qing Chen tied a stolen scarf over his face and remained silent. The mobile signal atop the mountain was intermittent, but, to be cautious, the thugs all switched to police walkie-talkies clipped to their left chests. Qing Chen silently counted, noting that every ten minutes, the thug would lower his head to press the talk button on his walkie-talkie and respond to something. Suddenly, a gust of mountain wind rushed in, and the bonfire piled with firewood in the courtyard red up brightly, illuminating the outside world as well. At that moment, from his hiding spot in the corner, Qing Chen suddenly saw the thug outside the gate seem to notice something by the light of the fire. He looked confusedly in his direction and began to approach incrementally. Qing Chen tensed. However, just then, Li Tongyun appeared outside the inn¡¯s main gate. She stood timidly at the doorway and said to the thug, ¡°Police uncle, have you seen my mother?¡± The thug hesitated for a moment, ¡°Your mother? I haven¡¯t seen her, little girl. Come here, let the police uncle help you look for your mother, alright?¡± In an instant, he sensed something was wrong! Ambush! The thug subconsciously raised his left hand to swing a baton to one side, while his right hand reached towards his waist, ready to draw his gun. In the flickering shadow cast by the fire over the wall, the youth had silently arrived beside him through the mist. They were within close reach, a knife¡¯s distance. Suddenly, Qing Chen ducked to avoid the oing baton, twisting like a gust of wind in front of the thug. Qing Chen¡¯s dagger aimed for the thug¡¯s left hand, which was about to draw his gun. Realizing he was toote to reach for his gun, he instinctively ducked. The youth¡¯s de shed downwards, and the thug instinctively reached down with his arms, trying to grab the youth¡¯s hand. But Qing Chen seemed to have anticipated this, stepping back slightly. The thug¡¯s swiping left hand and baton hit nothing but air. Not good! The thug looked up in shock into the night. But all he could see were the youth¡¯s eyes, coldly staring at him. At this moment of utter exertion, the vicious youth¡¯s dagger pierced once again through the mist. Through the gap between his arms. ¡°Breathe.¡± Uncle Li Dong had said that in the battle between beasts, the most important thing is to breathe. It¡¯s the key to controlling your body¡¯s oxygen levels and your alertness. Once you understand the significance of breathing, you will control yourself, and eventually everything else. Be the hunter or the hunted, it¡¯s your choice. In the blink of an eye, the edge of Qing Chen¡¯s scarf with its fire rune suddenly burst forth! It was as if all his strength surged and converged on his right hand, then traveled to the tip of the knife, fiercely stabbing into the thug¡¯s spleen. The thug¡¯s eyes widened in shock. In that brief moment, what had happened? The masked youth¡¯s movements flowed smoothly, seamlessly, as if everything had been calcted beforehand. He knew the thug would swing his baton, knew he wouldn¡¯t dare continue reaching for his gun under the feint, knew the trajectory of his arms iling in confusion. The youth had evaded everything, giving no chance for direct contact. Only when the dagger pierced his spleen did they truly touch. In this close-quarter battle of psychological maniption, every move he made had been anticipated by the youth. It was as if he had yed right into the plot the youth had written. The youth had scripted his ending long ago. Knowing he didn¡¯t have much time left, the thug struggled to reach for his walkie-talkie. But he saw the youth ruthlessly pressing his body forward, pinning him against the courtyard wall. Qing Chen covered the thug¡¯s mouth with his left hand, while his right hand stirred furiously with the knife. The thug¡¯s mechanical limbs in his legs tried to kick out, but the intense pain flooding his brain nearly blocked all coherent thought. The spleen is a blood storage organ; in an instant, arge amount of fresh blood flowed from the thug¡¯s ruptured spleen, then down the de to Qing Chen¡¯s hand. It was warm blood, the quickly fading warmth in the cool night reminding Qing Chen what death truly was. It was only when the criminal¡¯s heartbeat and breathing ceased that Qing Chen slowly withdrew the dagger. The masked young man stood gasping in front of the body, silently pondering something. Blood dripped from the knife¡¯s tip in his hand, dropping drop by drop onto the concrete road. So, this was what killing felt like. Qing Chen¡¯s panting was not due to exhaustion or cardiovascr strain, but rather from an inexplicable fear and panic within him. He then realized why Uncle Li Dong had said that one must use a knife the first time they kill. Killing with a gun, a shot from dozens of meters away, and the person was gone. In such cases, your emotions and reactions blur due to the distance, it doesn¡¯t feel like you¡¯ve killed a person, it¡¯s more like hitting a target. You wouldn¡¯t see what the blood looked like, you couldn¡¯t feel the heartbeat fading away. You wouldn¡¯t have any reverence for life. As a teacher, Uncle Li Dong couldn¡¯t witness his student¡¯s first kill, but he had taught Qing Chen the most important lesson: how to revere life. ¡°Brother Qing Chen,¡± Li Tongyun called out in a timid, low voice. Her voice pulled Qing Chen back to reality, like a hand tightly grabbing his sleeve before he fell into the abyss. The young man turned his head to look at Li Tongyun, not far away. The little girl stood still, speechless, as if frightened by what had just urred. She had witnessed the masked young man ruthlessly killing, seen life fading before her eyes. Qing Chen walked over and crouched in front of her. He did not remove the scarf covering his face, just softly asked, ¡°Are you scared?¡± With tears in the corners of her eyes, Li Tongyun nodded slightly, ¡°A little.¡± ¡°Why are you out here, where¡¯s your mom?¡± Qing Chen asked. That¡¯s when Jiang Xue hurriedly ran downstairs, apparently looking for Li Tongyun. Even though Qing Chen¡¯s face was covered, she could recognize the young man instantly because the scarf he wore was hers. Thus, when she found Li Tongyun with Qing Chen, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Xue arrived at the door and exined to Qing Chen, ¡°I had just gone to the bathroom, and when I came out, she was gone. Xiao Yun, you scared mommy to death!¡± Li Tongyun lowered her head, ¡°I just wanted to help Brother Qing Chen.¡± Qing Chen was caught off guard; her presence here wasn¡¯t a coincidence, she was actually trying to help him. He thought to pat Li Tongyun on the head, but then remembered his hands were covered in blood and slowly retracted his arm. But before he could fully pull it away, Li Tongyun grabbed his hand and ced it on her head, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, be careful, mom and I will wait for you toe back.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Qing Chen smiled, ¡°I promise.¡± After speaking, he asked Jiang Xue to help pull the criminal¡¯s body into the guesthouse courtyard, then handed Jiang Xue the gun from the criminal¡¯s waist, ¡°I n to sneak into the Cloud Inn. Shooting there, even with a silencer, would attract attention, so you keep this.¡± Jiang Xue shook her head, ¡°You take it. You¡¯re in more danger. Once ites down to life and death, who cares if it attracts attention, just shoot.¡± Qing Chen hesitated for a moment, then smilingly took off the gun holster from the criminal¡¯s waist and tied it around his own. Although he had never touched a gun or knew how to use one, and firing it would alert other criminals and lead to being surrounded¡ª Having a gun was still better than not having one.N?v(el)B\\jnn Uncle Li Dong had said that a Knight must use a knife the first time they kill, and he had now aplished that. Killing again wouldn¡¯t count as the first time. He could use a gun. Qing Chen patted Li Tongyun on the head, ¡°Be obedient this time, and wait for me to return.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Li Tongyun nodded her head. Just then, the walkie-talkie on the dead criminal¡¯s chest crackled to life, ¡°Begin counting now, 1.¡± The criminals¡¯ voices chillingly came through, ¡°2.¡± ¡°3.¡± ¡°4.¡± At this moment, there was a slight pause, and Qing Chen immediately activated his Breathing Technique, perfectly mimicking the criminal¡¯s voice with his perfect memory, ¡°5.¡± He was about to turn off the walkie-talkie when the speaker issued another count. ¡°6.¡± ¡°7.¡± ¡°8.¡± Qing Chen suddenly froze. The number of criminals¡­ had increased by three! ¡­ Please support with monthly votes! Chapter 88: Art of Reaping Lives Chapter 88: Art of Reaping Lives Everything that had happened today seemed to be telling Qing Chen one thing: the oue of a battle is decided by the ¡°future,¡± never calcte based on ¡°past¡± information, or it will lead to an irredeemable doom. While Kunlun was after five criminals and Qing Chen had only seen five on the bus, the person reporting over the walkie-talkie now was announcing there were eight. No wonder the enemy had so easily taken control of two Kunlun members; their team was growing as well. In this world, there are so many people willing to take risks for money.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Yesterday, Lin Xiaoxiao hade to have a chat with him. Squatting on a chair, she said with a smile, ¡°Qing Chen, when you return to the Outer World, remember never to trust anyone, as interests can change rtionships dramatically. Humans are profiteers and you should never underestimate their greed. Guess who invented the base stationmunication equipment you and Liu Dezhu use?¡± Qing Chen guessed, ¡°A spy?¡± Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head cheerfully, ¡°No, it was invented by two stock traders from City One to avoid being caught for insider trading. You see, that¡¯s the power of interest, it even drives the progress of technology.¡± At that moment, Qing Chen suddenly felt that, perhaps, more and more people in the Outer World would be drawn into its dark side for profits. Because too many people needed such an opportunity to change their lives. He tucked the walkie-talkie into his pocket, then waved to Jiang Xue and walked into the night. Jiang Xue squatted down and hugged Li Tongyun, ¡°Were you scared just now? Are you still afraid?¡± Li Tongyun thought for a moment, ¡°I was really scared, but I wasn¡¯t scared anymore after Brother Qing Chen patted my head.¡± The little girl recalled how Qing Chen, in the darkness, had calcted and struck in one go¡ªas if the young man were effortlessly performing some kind of art in front of the criminals. The art of reaping lives. ¡­ The soles of human feet are probably the softest among most animals. Wanting to fight barefoot is harder than one might imagine; even a small pebble on the ground can make a person wince in pain. If there were any other possibility, Qing Chen would not want to fight barefoot. But he had no choice. Qing Chen was silently crouched in a loquat tree by the road, using the dense canopy to conceal his figure, and had turned the volume of the walkie-talkie down to the minimum. From time to time, the flickering campfire in the courtyard would cast mottled shadows on him through the gaps in the leaves. This was the best ce he could remember, high in the trees and at a distance from the Yunshang Inn. ¡°There are 6 people in the courtyard, and there should be another one watching the back door,¡± Qing Chen murmured to himself; dealing with seven people was simply unrealistic, especially when the criminals were gathered together. He looked down at the bloodstains on the soles of his feet, uncertain what state his feet would be in after tonight. In the courtyard, Liu Dezhu sat on the ground timidly, while the leader of the criminals squatted in front of him, pressing a gun to his forehead, seemingly interrogating him about something. The more than forty hostages were huddled together in a group, surrounded tightly by the six criminals, with no chance of escape. To Qing Chen¡¯s surprise, he saw one of the Kunlun members lying on his side on the ground, his forehead soaked with sweat. The conspicuous gun wound on the member¡¯s calf was oozing blood, which was slowly seeping out, staining the cement floor a dark purple. Yet, despite such pain, the member¡¯s right hand was gently ced next to his pocket, his index and middle fingers tapping out a rhythmic pattern, as if sending a message to the outside world. Tap, tap tap. Tap, tap, tap¡­ The index finger represented a short sound, tapping quickly, while the middle finger represented a long sound, tapping slowly. It seemed like Morse code, but Qing Chen didn¡¯t know who the message was being sent to. Another member of his team? Qing Chen took note of the tapping frequency and turned his attention back to the courtyard. Then, he saw one of the criminals searching through the crowd, eventually saying something to arade with a smile on his face. After speaking, he grabbed Wang Yun by the hair and pulled her out of the group. Wang Yun struggled desperately on the ground as she was dragged toward the inn, but ultimately she was taken inside. The ssmates watched the scene with dread; Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and a few others tried to stand up several times, only to be forced down again by the cold, dark muzzle of a gun. The uninjured Kunlun member erupted in anger but was quickly punched in the stomach by a nearby criminal. He fell back to the ground, curling up like a shrimp and sucking in cold air, unable to make any sound. Beyond that, no one else dared to resist. But at this moment, morality couldn¡¯t be used to take anyone hostage; self-preservation in the face of danger is a human instinct, and the students, who had not received professional training, were right to feel fear. What they did not know, however, was that from the outset, the assants had no intention of leaving a single Ordinary Person behind. Qing Chen watched everything expressionlessly, yet he did not make a move. He found this somewhat illogical because the assants were trained warriors. Doing such a thing at a time like this seemed exceedingly foolish. But clearly, they couldn¡¯t be that foolish. After a while, one of the assants walked out of the hostel, patting hispanion on the shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s your turn now.¡± Upon hearing this, the students immediately shrank back in fear. The assant, wearing a sly grin, let his gaze wander over the crowd. The female students all lowered their heads, hoping that by doing so they would not be noticed. However, in the next instant, the assant¡¯s gazended on Nan Gengchen! The assant pushed through the crowd, grabbed the frail Nan Gengchen, and started to drag him into the building. Qing Chen stared nkly at this scene: ¡°¡­¡± He finally figured out something. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He didn¡¯t even know where the assant was hiding by the back door, but he couldn¡¯t wait anymore. This was the best opportunity. ¡­ The Cloud-top Hostel was built against a mountain; behind it was not a t ground, but a forest that sloped upward, along with the mountain itself. An assant leaned quietly against the back door, smoking a cigarette. The Red tip of the cigarette ebbed and glowed in the darkness, and in the silence, one could even hear the hissing sound of the tobo burning. Unlike the assants at the front door, he had taken out his Glock 34 equipped with a silencer early on, ready to deal with any crisis at a moment¡¯s notice. Suddenly, the sound of pebbles hitting the ground echoed through the darkness. However, the assant¡¯s first reaction was to look in the opposite direction of the sound, his gun pointing toward where the sound came from. No matter which side someone was on, he was ready to react quickly, which was the correct way to handle the situation. There was no one there. His tense muscles slowly rxed. The assant discarded his cigarette and looked around calmly with his gun, trying to find the source of the pebble sound. Just then a voice came through the walkie-talkie: ¡°Sound off, 1.¡± ¡°2.¡± ¡°3.¡± The assant pressed the walkie-talkie and said, ¡°4.¡± In that second, his attention was on the walkie-talkie, and his concentration and hearing were somewhat dispersed. He let go of the walkie-talkie and continued to survey his surroundings. In an instant, the assant¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, but he was already being silenced by a hand covering his mouth from behind, and a cold dagger stabbed into him like Thunder from behind his waist, piercing through his spleen and lodging in his lung. The next moment, he heard someone standing right behind him, pressing the walkie-talkie and saying, ¡°5.¡± The hand slowly released its grip, but the only sound the assant could make was a hoarse, gasping sound. Numbers were still being called out through the walkie-talkie. ¡°6.¡± ¡°7.¡± ¡°8.¡± No one noticed that two of theirpanions had already died. Chapter 89: 89. Courage Chapter 89: 89. Courage In the clouds above the inn, Nan Gengchen was dragged into a room on the second floor, wailing and howling to the heavens. Outside the window, the flickering light of a bonfire was visible, yet he felt as though he had plunged into hell. Nan Gengchen screamed, ¡°Boss, please don¡¯t touch me, I beg you, really, that Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen look better than me, find them instead!¡± While he cried and shouted, he secretly strained with all his might in his lower abdomen. He had read online that in such a critical moment, if one could manage to soil one¡¯s pants in time, it might just spoil the perpetrator¡¯s appetite and save one¡¯s safety. He just never imagined that he himself would one day have to resort to this tactic. However, the anticipated sound of the other person unbuckling his belt didn¡¯t happen. The criminal wore a ck leather jacket with a clean shaven head. A ck dragon tattoo extended from his neck to his chin, giving him a ferocious look. The criminal slowly took off his gloves, revealing the rough mechanical limbs underneath. He moved his fingers, which, due to ageing, made a creaking sound as they clenched and unclenched. It was enough to make one¡¯s teeth sour. The criminal stood coldly opposite Nan Gengchen, watching him until his sobbing gradually subsided, then calmly asked, ¡°Kid, I¡¯m not interested in men. Now, I¡¯m going to ask you questions, and you¡¯re going to answer. Cooperate well and you might just save your life, got it?¡± ¡°Got it, got it!¡± Nan Gengchen hurriedly nodded his head. ¡°What¡¯s your identity in the Inner World?¡± the criminal asked. Nan Gengchen was startled; he thought he¡¯d be brought into this room for ruin, but he didn¡¯t expect the other party would suddenly ask about his identity in the Inner World. This was totally different from what he had imagined, and it seemed that the perpetrator¡¯s actions until now had been just for show. But he couldn¡¯t figure out why there was this twist, or how the other person knew he was a Time Traveler. He had hidden it so well, no one knew! Yet, the criminal pressed the gun muzzle against his forehead, ¡°I¡¯m asking you a question?¡± With teary eyes, Nan Gengchen said, ¡°I¡¯m a hacker¡­¡± ¡°Hacker?¡± the criminal muttered under his breath with irritation. They knew that traversing to the Inner World didn¡¯t carry over knowledge, so technical-type Time Travelers were the least valuable in their eyes, all status and no actual skill. And this status might even be a burden. The criminal continued to question, ¡°Which city do you live in?¡± ¡°City number 18,¡± Nan Gengchen answered. ¡°Which district?¡± ¡°The First District,¡± Nan Gengchen said quickly, adding, ¡°I just moved there too.¡± The criminal whistled, ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re a rich man living in The First District. Why did you just move there?¡± Nan Gengchen said with aggrieved bitterness, ¡°I¡¯ve just been taken care of recently.¡± The criminal was taken aback; what was this all about? He continued to ask, ¡°On Red Fountain Square in The First District, what¡¯s the recent holographic projection?¡± Nan Gengchen said, ¡°It¡¯s a projection of three Tiger Whales leaping out of the water.¡± The criminal thought for a moment, then pressed his chest inte, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s confirmed, he¡¯s a Time Traveler from city number 18 in The First District. Proceed with cleaning up the scene.¡± After he spoke, he released the inte and was about to drag Nan Gengchen out the door. Just then, in Nan Gengchen¡¯s view, as the criminal bent over to grab him, a masked youth appeared behind the otherwise obstructive figure of the criminal. The youth¡¯s face was covered with a scarf, but Nan Gengchen could still see the fiery red lines extending from below the scarf to the corners of his eyes. He didn¡¯t know when the young man had appeared; neither he nor the criminal had noticed the other¡¯s approach. No footsteps, no breathing. Absolutely nothing. The criminal seemed to also detect something off from Nan Gengchen¡¯s expression, but he was already rendered immobile. The spleen is the body¡¯s blood bank, and once struck by an external force, the victim will bleed out rapidly and die. The speed is second only to having one¡¯s carotid artery slit. The criminal only felt his body rapidly cooling, and he could even hear the sound of his own blood dripping onto the ground. Blood frothed slowly from his mouth as the viin attempted to reach for the inte. But someone had already gently reached out from behind, plucking the inte from his chest. ¡°Who¡­ are you?¡± Nan Gengchen asked in shock. Qing Chen calmly looked at him, ¡°No need to pretend you don¡¯t recognize me,e with me, I don¡¯t have time to chat right now.¡± ¡°Okay, Brother Chen¡­¡± Nan Gengchen said excitedly. It didn¡¯t surprise Qing Chen that Nan Gengchen recognized him. The two had been ssmates since their first year of senior high school, not only that, they had been deskmates after being sorted into liberal arts and science sses. The two hardworking boys had always been best friends. Qing Chen, even though he had masked his face and deliberately messed up his hair, just needed one look at his eyes, his contour, and Nan Gengchen could immediately confirm Qing Chen¡¯s identity. As Nan Gengchen prepared to follow Qing Chen and leave, he muttered excitedly, ¡°I never thought you¡¯de to rescue me. If you hadn¡¯t shown up, I might have been taken away by them¡­¡± Just as Qing Chen nned to lead Nan Gengchen out the back door, the sound of rapid gunshots suddenly erupted outside the window. Someone shouted, ¡°Run, they¡¯re going to silence us!¡± Qing Chen abruptly turned to look outside the window. It was the distinct sound of firearms equipped with silencers. The bonfire outside zed like a sea of mes against the sky, the students¡¯ screams boiling like water. He pulled out his handgun and walked to the window. The innkeeper and waitstaff of Cloud Inn alreadyy in pools of blood, students terrified and fleeing in all directions. Two Kunlun membersy shot, no one knew when, and the inn¡¯s main door had been opened at some unknown time, with students taking the chance to escape in the chaos. One Kunlun membery face up on the cold concrete floor, chest mutted, eyes forever open. Another Kunlun member knelt askew by the door, eyes closed in death. He held a gun in his hand, beside him a viiny breathless, further away another corpse of a viin. The two viins had taken four bullets between them, while the Kunlun member was soaked in blood, making it difficult to discern how many bullets had hit him. It seemed he had desperately opened the door, creating a lifeline for the students. At this moment, students were struggling to their feet, heedlessly fleeing outside. Qing Chen did not know what had happened in that instant, even the strongest minds seemed to struggle to catch up. By the time he reached the window, everything had already happened. In just a few breaths, so many had died. Qing Chen silently observed the two blood-drenched corpses. Because he had not witnessed it with his own eyes, his emotions also arrived a bit slower. There was no sadness, nor was there any sense of being moved. It was just something suddenly stuck in his throat, he himself didn¡¯t know what it was that was lodged there. In the chaos, the remaining few viins were not chasing after the students but instead coldly tied up Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, and Zhang Tianzhen, nning to blend in with the students and leave with the Time Traveler. Indeed, the viins¡¯ target was the Time Traveler, and now that their n had gone awry, the prospect of silencing all students was no longer possible. The best option for them was to cut their losses in time. A voice came through the inte, ¡°Lao Wu is nowhere to be found; he may have already met with an ident. Lao San, you and Lao Si bring down those two from upstairs, we¡¯ll meet in the parking lot.¡± Lao Si and Lao Wu were already dead. Qing Chen silently watched everything unfold and suddenly remembered something Ye Wan had said, ¡°If one could control their hot blood, then it wouldn¡¯t be called hot blood. Sometimes, you only truly understand your choice when you¡¯re facing a situation head-on.¡± ¡°Stay here, and remember, I wasn¡¯t here tonight. If I don¡¯t make it back¡­ don¡¯t tell my parents either,¡± Qing Chen said softly, then headed outside. In reality, he didn¡¯t want to take any more risks either. After all, Nan Gengchen had been rescued, and it was a good opportunity for him to leave. But Qing Chen wondered, had he really tried his best? If he turned around and left now, would he remember his retreat today every time he fought from this day forward? At that moment, he felt Mother Ye¡¯s words were very true; once across the river, soldiers smeared with blood could not turn back. Irrespective of rules, military orders, or pros and cons. That was courage.N?v(el)B\\jnn Chapter 90: 90. Inside Ghost Chapter 90: 90. Inside Ghost Outside the inny a chaotic world; inside, the corridors were already deserted. Qing Chen was walking toward the outside, carrying a Glock 34. In fact, what Ye Wan said was quite right; Qing Chen was cautious, but he nevercked boldness. Just like after his journey through time to prison number 18, he never pleaded with anyone to let him off, even in the ck box or when facing water torture. With sheer boldness, he forged his own path with an attitude that thrived on the brink of death. This was the fundamental reason why Uncle Li Dong valued him. Compared to the talent of Super Memory, Uncle Li Dong was always more concerned about one¡¯s character. Perhaps it was because there was never anyone waiting for him, or maybe it was because he never dwelled on the past, Qing Chen had always been on a path of relentless progress, without ever looking back or regretting. At that moment, Wang Yun ran out from one of the rooms. When she saw Qing Chen, her eyes filled with surprise in the corridor, but she wasn¡¯t familiar with Qing Chen, so she didn¡¯t recognize him. Qing Chen looked coldly at her, noting that her clothing was neat, without a hint of being ravished; her makeup was still pristine. ¡°You¡­¡± Wang Yun was startled upon seeing the masked Qing Chen. The next moment, Qing Chen raised his hand and fired four shots, two missed, but thest two hit the girl precisely in her left and right legs. Then without a moment¡¯s pause, he continued forward. Qing Chen suddenly realized he had a talent for using firearms. Most people need a lot of ammunition to ¡°feed¡± their feel for a gun. The feel for a gun is getting used to the recoil, the familiar speed of the bullet leaving the barrel, the familiar process of correcting the bullet trajectory, the familiar reaction of one¡¯s arm muscles when firing a shot. But all this, Qing Chen needed just a few shots to firmly grasp and retain in his memory. So his first two shots at Wang Yun strayed, but the next two shots were precisely corrected for the trajectory. Wang Yun wailed in pain behind him. Yet Qing Chen¡¯s heart did not waver. Many things connected in that moment. On September 30th, of the four who typically went to school together, only Wang Yun arrived at school alone and early, having made arrangements with Nan Gengchen. That entire day, during breaks, Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, and Bai Waner gathered in the corridor, but Wang Yun did not leave the ssroom. Instead, she spent the whole day sullenly at her desk. So when Qing Chen perceived that an insider had informed the criminals of their schedule, which they might have even altered at thest minute to coordinate with tonight¡¯s operation, he asked Liu Dezhu: who had suggested changing the schedule. At that time, Liu Dezhu answered: Bai Waner. But unconsciously, Qing Chen thought that didn¡¯t make sense. Because in his memory, Wang Yun was the most suspicious one. Bai Waner was not the answer he was looking for. Now it seemed clear that something must have happened on the night the criminals visited Jiang Xue¡¯s home, leading to her change of demeanor the next day and a distancing in the rtionships among the four of them. Finally, when the criminals illogically took Wang Yun away and then suddenly Nan Gengchen, Qing Chen had already confirmed his suspicions. The criminals couldn¡¯t be so foolish as to lose their heads to lust in such a critical situation. They certainly intended to take Wang Yun away to exchange information at a suitable location. However, after taking Wang Yun, they immediately took Nan Gengchen as well. Qing Chen believed this was no coincidence. So, when he encountered Wang Yun in the corridor, he chose to shoot without hesitation. This might have been the coldest aspect of Qing Chen, yet it was also the most fiery. For some reason, when he thought of the bodies littering that courtyard, he felt this girl should not be allowed to leave unscathed. Qing Chen wasn¡¯t seeking revenge for anyone. After all, he had no deep rtionship with those two Kunlun members, nor with the innkeeper. It was just that he thought, someone had to pay the price for this incident. ¡­ Laojun Mountain, a tourist area hidden within the mountains, would be devoid of pedestrians after 1 AM even on its busiest days. The restaurants on the street would also close, leaving only the streetlights still lit. However, themotion at the Cloud Inn was too great, disturbing all the inns and bed and breakfasts on that street. The students ran out in a frantic escape, while the criminals, having changed their clothes, followed unhurriedly behind them. They were left with four people¡ªLiu Dezhu, Zhang Tianzhen, Hu Xiaoniu, Bai Waner¡ªdragging them along, their hands bound and covered with clothes. On the road, Hu Xiaoniu calmly said, ¡°You won¡¯t be able to escape with the four of us in tow, because things have gone beyond your n. There¡¯s only one road leading up and down the mountain, and Kunlun might have already set up roadblocks.¡± The leader of the criminals didn¡¯t interrupt him but listened with interest instead. Hu Xiaoniu continued, ¡°Release the four of us, and you can head straight into the mountains. The expanse of Funiu Mountain is vast, even immortals wouldn¡¯t be able to catch you. But if you take us with you, we¡¯ll only hold you back. Leave me an ount number, you¡¯re only after money, I promise to transfer the money to you after I get back.¡± The leader chuckled, ¡°I do appreciate your concern for us. But you¡¯re worrying too much.¡± After speaking, he gestured to an aplice to open a stic bag full of more than a dozen ready-made Molotov cocktails.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The next moment, the leader pulled out a lighter, lit a cigarette for himself, and then ignited the cloth wick of a Molotov cocktail. ¡°Number Six, throw it,¡± he said calmly to the other criminals. A criminal swung his arm and threw the Molotov cocktail straight into another roadside bed and breakfast. Suddenly, fierce mes burst into life in an instant. The criminals walked on, tossing as they went, watching as a whole row of guesthouses caught fire. Countless tourists were jolted awake from their sleep, rushing out onto the streets half-dressed. But this was not enough. The leading criminal turned back to Liu Dezhu with a smile, ¡°To be honest, I¡¯d really like to take you with us, but I¡¯m also afraid of you returning to the Inner World. If you were to tell everything to Uncle Li Dong, and if he¡¯s really willing to go to great lengths to find us, that would be frightening. So, let¡¯s say goodbye here. With you dead, these tourists will start running around in panic.¡± The leader said to someone behind him, ¡°Lao Qi, take off the silencer, empty a magazine, and let these lovely tourists run even more cheerfully!¡± But no one responded. The leader turned sharply, only to see that Lao Qi, who was supposed to be guarding Bai Waner, was already lying in a pool of blood in the mist not far away. Blood gushed from his lower back, all his blood spurting out from the ruptured wound in his spleen. No one knew when Lao Qi had died, nor did they know who had dealt the deadly blow! It was as if hidden within that mist lurked a hunter, and they had turned from hunters into the prey. The criminal¡¯s face turned cold as he removed the silencer and pulled the trigger at Liu Dezhu. But at that very moment, faced with a life-and-death decision, Liu Dezhu suddenly burst forth with immense courage. He bent over, pushing the criminal beside him away, and quickly ran into the night, dodging as he fled. His speed was incredibly fast, his explosive power immense! The physical conditioning from the Gic Potion saved his life. The criminal leader seemed to have not expected this constantly cowering man to suddenly muster the courage to resist. At the same time, a gunshot sounded from somewhere, hitting the criminal who had been holding Liu Dezhu in the thigh. Before the wounded criminal could fall to the ground, the hidden hunter fired again, piercing his skull with a bullet. The criminal leader¡¯s expression darkened as he started shooting wildly into the crowd of tourists without any further hesitation. The crisp gunshots woke all the tourists who, upon seeing the victims on the ground, began to flee chaotically! The leader and another criminal, taking Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen with them, quickly made their way toward the parking lot amidst the crowd. Too many unexpected events had urred that night. What was supposed to be a meticulous n had fallen apart due to unforeseenplications. Out of eight criminals, only two remained. They had to leave quickly. ¡­ Thank you to student Yishi for bing a new ally of this book. Boss, you are generous; may the boss strike it rich! Are there any other bosses who wish to receive my blessings? Chapter 91: 91. Another Time Traveler Chapter 91: 91. Another Time Traveler Therge fire that ignited in more than a dozen bed and breakfasts soared into the sky! With the mountain wind blowing, the fire continued to spread further afield. What was supposed to be a pleasant National Day holiday tourism turned into a dangerous farce. Even the sky was illuminated, as if ayer of sunset had drifted out from the midnight canopy. Countless tourists ran out of their inns to take emergency precautions, and then endured a shooting, all frantically scrambling to escape. Thest two criminals hid in the crowd, pushing Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen ahead of them as they hurried towards the parking lot. The Time Traveler had no more hostages to take, and lostpanions could be reced. At this moment, all they needed to do was drive away from Laojun Mountain, and everything was still salvageable. However, just as they were about to escape, the leader of the criminals suddenly looked back.N?v(el)B\\jnn His gaze passed through the chaotic crowd andnded on a young man with his face covered, who was also looking back at him through the crowd. Noisy, panicked tourists surrounded the young man, and behind himy the raging fire. But in the opponent¡¯s eyes, there was none of this chaos, only him. A chill went through the leader¡¯s heart, suddenly filled with an ominous premonition. He knew he was being targeted; the opponent wouldn¡¯t rest until he was dead tonight. The leader recalled the scene of Six being cleanly shot just moments ago and felt an inexplicable chill. If it hadn¡¯t been for Hu Xiaoniu being between them, he might have been the one to die then. ¡°Dongzi, if we don¡¯t kill this kid today, we certainly won¡¯t get away,¡± the leader said. ¡°Watch my lead once we¡¯re in the parking lot.¡± As he spoke, the leader, dressed in a ck windcoat, actually pulled out a gun and fired two shots at Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen¡¯s abdomens, letting them slowly fall to the ground. ¡°Big Brother, what are you doing?¡± Dongzi eximed in surprise. ¡°That kid might know these two students; let¡¯s see if they can help buy us some time. Moreover, if we want to ambush the opponent, we can¡¯t be dragging dead weight,¡± the leader said before he dropped Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen and dashed into the parking lot. This ce was filled with hundreds of buses, which naturally provided cover. It was like a maze blocking the view. Qing Chen silently approached Hu Xiaoniu, and upon confirming that he was still breathing, immediately took out Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s phone to dial 120. There were medical facilities in the scenic area; those doctors and nurses probably hadn¡¯t seen gunshot wounds, but the shots Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen took were in the stomach area, not fatal. As long as the medical staff arrived promptly, hanging on to life shouldn¡¯t be a problem. He said to Hu Xiaoniu lying on the ground, ¡°I¡¯ve called for help, the paramedics will be here soon. I¡¯ll stand guard, don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not a fatal wound, you¡¯ll be okay.¡± But Hu Xiaoniu suddenly struggled to sit up and grabbed Qing Chen¡¯s sleeve; his lips were pale, and his voice trembled as he spoke, ¡°I know you¡¯re very skilled, please help kill those two criminals!¡± Qing Chen nced at the parking lot resembling a maze. Before he could respond, Hu Xiaoniu suddenly said, ¡°You¡¯re with Liu Dezhu, right? Please help take revenge. Likest time, I¡¯ll pay Liu Dezhu double the gold bars! The two heroes from Kunlun must not have died in vain! Don¡¯t worry about us!¡± Qing Chen was silent for a long while; he didn¡¯t know what had happened at that moment that made Hu Xiaoniu so agitated, eager for revenge even at the expense of his own life. He spoke softly, ¡°Stay here, don¡¯t move, and keep pressure on the wound. Rest assured, they will definitely die today.¡± After speaking, he looked at the maze-like parking lot and stepped inside. This was a moment fraught with peril, for he was well aware that the criminals were waiting for him inside. Using the maze as a battlefield gave whoever entered first a definite advantage: vision, terrain, timing. It seemed every element of battle was against Qing Chen. But Qing Chen wasn¡¯t focused on the gold bars this time; he just wanted to kill tonight. After a moment¡¯s thought, he used his hands and feet to climb onto the roof of a bus. Though the bus roof was made of thin metal, he made no sound as he stepped onto it. Just as he moved to the other edge of the roof, he was shocked to see a viin fixed in ce below. The opponent seemed to be stuck in thick glue, struggling to raise his gun muzzle even by ten centimeters. Qing Chen suddenly looked to the other side. There, a person wearing a hoodie and a hood stood in the shadows, wearing a ck mask. The person stretched out an arm, spreading their palm towards the viin on the ground. It was as if they controlled a person¡¯s fate with just one hand. Time Traveler! And a legendary Transcendent at that! Qing Chen pondered, was this ability rted to gravity? The hooded Time Traveler in the darkness tilted their head to the east, ¡°This one has been betrayed and another has deserted him; I leave him to you.¡± A female voice came from behind the mask. Qing Chen paused, and he instantly realized: The two viins hiding behind the vehicle must have nned to ambush him, but they were firmly controlled by this unknown Time Traveler instead. Due to the opponent¡¯s bizarre abilities, the leader of the viins had deserted his own people and fled. Qing Chen sized up the opponent, roughly 176cm in height, with a slender and well-proportioned figure, but he couldn¡¯t make out her face as she stood in the darkness. Initially, seeing her tall stature and the loose hoodie that obscured her figure, Qing Chen subconsciously thought she was a man. But to his surprise, it was a girl with a very young voice. ¡°What are you standing there for, if you keep hesitating, he will escape,¡± the mysterious girl said. From afar, engine sounds were already audible, and Qing Chen saw the van he had seen before starting up. The leader of the viins sat in the driver¡¯s seat and floored the gas pedal, driving towards the winding road leading out of the scenic area. Qing Chen didn¡¯t think twice; he leaped off the bus¡¯s roof, seized the viins¡¯ handgun, and began to sprint. The girl in the darkness kept her gaze fixed on Qing Chen as he left, and when she saw his bare feet covered in blood, she was stunned. The young man seemed to feel no pain at all. She slowly walked out of the shadows and stood beside the viin, silently watching as he slowly kneeled on the concrete ground. The next second, her continuously open palm suddenly closed. The viin kneeling on the ground immediately screamed in agony, his legs brutally pressed against the road, the immense pressure causing a bone-crushing sound from his knees. ¡°This is some punishment for the people who died tonight,¡± the girl said softly, then tucked her hands into her hoodie pockets and walked back into the shadows. In the parking lot, only the viin with shattered knees remained, along with his wailing. ¡­ The ck van drove down the winding mountain road. Due to the numerous U-shaped bends and their narrow angles, the viins couldn¡¯t pick up speed. The sound of gunfire persisted from the back of the vehicle, instilling fear in the viin; this young man¡¯s shooting skills were excellent, able to urately hit the vehicle even while it was in motion. But what he probably didn¡¯t expect was that I had specifically chosen subsonic bullets to match the Glock 34 and silencer, to reduce the noise of gunfire. These bullets, aside from pairing with the silencer, had no advantages; their effective range, even after using a silencer, was less than 20 meters. They could only be used for extremely close-range assassination-style shooting! At this moment, the viin felt somewhat fortunate they were using subsonic bullets, or he might have already been dead! The sound of gunfire gradually ceased, as the young man seemed to have run out of bullets and had no choice but to discard his firearms. However, Qing Chen still did not stop his pursuit. In the rearview mirror, the viin watched as the masked young man, like a lone wolf, relentlessly chased him down, as if determined to maul him to death right there. Chapter 92: 92. The Dust Settles Chapter 92: 92. The Dust Settles In the van, seeing that he couldn¡¯t shake off Qing Chen, the gang leader ruthlessly decided to slow down gradually. He still had a gun, but the other man was unarmed now. As they approached a turn, he suddenly pressed the window button. The moment the vehicle swerved, the gang leader poked the gun out of the window and aimed it at Qing Chen as he pulled the trigger! However, what the gang leader hadn¡¯t anticipated was that the moment he started to slow down, Qing Chen had pulled another pistol from his waist and fired at the same time. Qing Chen had two guns on him! The act of intentionally firing all his bullets and throwing away his gun earlier was also a deliberate disy for the gang leader, knowing he could hardly catch up with the vehicle. It was better to make the gang leader slow down himself, or evene back to kill him. The gang leader panicked, ducking his head as he fired, which caused the gun to deviate from its course. A numbness hit the gang leader¡¯s ear, as if something had pierced through, and he could even smell his hair being singed by the bullet, Midnight gunfire echoed on the winding road, and Qing Chen was also shot. Even though his opponent had lost his aim, a bullet still grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep gash on his right arm. Qing Chen lost his bnce and fell to the ground, the huge momentum of his run and the slope of the downhill causing him to roll continuously on the ground. He clenched his teeth, got up again, and coldly watched the car¡¯s silhouette grow more distant on the winding road. To close the gap with the van, Qing Chen had crossed the forest between the roads barefoot! Running through the mountain paths, he hoisted a rockrger than his head. His foot¡¯s nerves shrieked rms as he stepped on twigs and stones. At some point, his once smooth soles were now a bloody, mangled mess, dark with blood mixed with dust, looking brutally cruel. Yet he paid no attention to the gashes bloodied by branches on his cheeks, nor the gash on his shoulder. He ignored the gravel and twigs underfoot as well. All he could do was block out all sensory pain from his mental fortitude. Then make the perpetrator pay for tonight. Qing Chen ran faster and faster. Through the mountains, the world seemed to turn into a giant chessboard. At this moment, he was no longer a chess yer, but a fearless pawn crossing boundaries! Full of bloodied bravery! This mountain-road chessboard gradually became a model in Qing Chen¡¯s mind, as he silently calcted his own speed and that of the opposing vehicle. Strands of information intertwined in Qing Chen¡¯s mind. The next moment, Qing Chen dashed to the high edge of the forest. Below, more than ten meters down, was the gang leader¡¯s winding road, his hair tips sparkling with beads of sweat. ¡°Breathe.¡± ¡°Control.¡± ¡°Dominate.¡± Here, there was not only the fearless pawn crossing the river but also the cannoning head-on! In an instant, he didn¡¯t even check where the van had reached, as he let go of the rock in his arms. The stone, tossed from a great height, traced a precise parab towards the inevitable path of the van over ten meters below. The rock tumbled in the air, picking up speed as gravity pulled it faster! The gang leader¡¯s pupils suddenly constricted! He mmed on the brakes toote, the ck van crashing into the airborne stone as if it had driven right into it. With a thunderous crash, the gang leader was smashed in his driver¡¯s seat as the van lost control and collided with the mountain beside the road. In the darkness, no one noticed the car ident that had just urred on the winding mountain road. The gang leader sat silently in the car, his face covered in blood from hitting the steering wheel. He looked immensely ferocious. The car¡¯s hood was irregrly twisted, and a hissing sound wasing from inside, as if something was leaking. The gun had flown off to who knows where. He used his shoulder to force the door open and staggered out of the car, intending to walk into the mountains on foot. Without the car, the road was no longer passable; otherwise, Kunlun would have reached him before he could even make it down the mountain. However, the gang leader suddenly saw a masked young man appearing at the turn of the winding road. The ce where the opponent threw stones had a drop of more than ten meters, so he had to take a detour to chase after them. But the gang leader couldn¡¯t understand why, with his feet already a bloody mess, the other party still relentlessly pursued him! The next moment, the young man¡¯s speed increased, and he began to run again! The gang leader felt a chill at this instant, as he himself had a mechanical limb but couldn¡¯t muster the courage to confront the opponent head-on! He turned to run but hadn¡¯t taken two steps before losing his bnce and falling to the ground. The recent car ident seemed to have affected his cerebellum; he couldn¡¯t maintain his bnce while walking. The gang leader struggled to his feet, his heart hardened as he saw the young man approaching. He straightened up and roared, ¡°Come on! Don¡¯t you want to kill me? Come on!¡± But the young man remained silent, saying nothing. Suddenly, the young man flipped out a Spring Knife and viciously stabbed at the gang leader¡¯s neck. The gang leader was startled inside; his strong mechanical limbs quickly crossed in front of him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om However, in the blink of an eye, the knife in the young man¡¯s hand had already turned mid-air, the sharp de grazing past the mechanical limbs, sparking a trail of sparks. The gang leader was amazed and perplexed, the opponent withdrew so quickly, it was as if his neck had never been the real target. But then the young man stepped back, sinking his hips, and his dagger swept towards the gang leader¡¯s thigh. This time, the gang leader was a step faster, his powerful mechanical limbs acting swifter than his movements. If he could just catch the young man¡¯s wrist wielding the knife and crush it, he would still emerge victorious in this fight. But the gang leader¡¯s instincts blurred his vision, and this time, the masked young man¡¯s attack was still a feint! As he grabbed the arm, the young man had already stepped to his left side, where he waspletely exposed! Before he could react, the Spring Knife had already stabbed deeply into his spleen. At that moment, the gang leader suddenly felt as if he had returned to the battlefields of Southeast Asia, facing a master of knife fighting. Since the fight started, he hadn¡¯t even managed to touch the opponent¡¯s body. Even though he was injured and had hit his head, it was still unbelievable. The opponent was like a gust of wind, uncatchable and intangible. But deadly. The young man was executing a precise strategy, step by step luring him to expose his vulnerable side, while every move he made yed into the opponent¡¯s n. It was like art, he thought with dread. The young man pulled out the Spring Knife and turned to walk away. The gang leader felt the blood in his body flowing out like it was a gate that had been opened. He watched the young man¡¯s indifferent departing figure, as if he was just a minor character unworthy of conversation. Apparently, the young man had endured the pain in his feet while pursuing him, simply to ensure his death, leaving no possibility of his survival. ¡°Why?¡± the gang leader struggled to ask, puzzled. Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, ¡°I promised someone that you would definitely die tonight.¡± After saying this, the young man turned to leave. At that moment, the gang leader¡¯s phone in his pocket started ringing. The departing figure of the young man paused, seemingly puzzled. Chapter 93: 93, A New Beginning Chapter 93: 93, A New Beginning In the wee hours past two o¡¯clock, all the aplices of the culprit had died. Who would call the gang leader at this hour? He walked over to the car and gently took the cellphone out of the other party¡¯s pocket, pressing the call button. The number disyed as ¡°Unknown Caller¡±. Throughout this time, Qing Chen kept his finger of his other hand on the phone¡¯s camera, preventing anyone from capturing his face through the phone, even though his face was covered. On the call, the person on the other end didn¡¯t speak, seemingly waiting for the gang leader to speak first. However, Qing Chen on this side of the phone also remained silent. The person on the other end caught on and started to chuckle lightly, ¡°They¡¯re dead, aren¡¯t they?¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t speak. The voice on the phone continuedughing, ¡°Well, since they¡¯re dead, why don¡¯t we have a chat?¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t linger. He used the gang leader¡¯s coat to wipe off his fingerprints from the phone, imprinted it with the gang leader¡¯s, stuffed it back into the leader¡¯s coat, and then slowly walked into the dark night. He thought to himself, these were just seven criminals who couldn¡¯t even afford synthetic skin, and yet they had nearly cost him half his life. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that Qing Chen suddenly realized his bizarre life seemed to have just begun. ¡­ By early morning, the fire on Laojun Mountain had been brought under control, leaving a whole street¡¯s worth of guest houses reduced to a swath of charred ruins. Some tourists were crying on the street, while others sat on the curb, their expressions nk. Seven ck SUVs sped up the mountain. They first made a brief stop at the scene of a car ident on the winding road, then left one car¡¯s worth of people to conduct a thorough search, while the rest continued up the mountain. Lu Yuan arrived at the entrance of the Cloud Inn, staring at the ckened building, lost in thought. In front of him were the bodies of two Kunlun members, and a few steps awayy several more bodies of the criminal ringleaders. Lu Yuan forced himself not to look at his fallenrades and instead crouched down to conduct a preliminary examination of the criminals¡¯ corpses. ¡°In total, eight criminals. The mastermind on the winding road had his spleen pierced during his escape. We found other people¡¯s footprints on the mountain, but what¡¯s puzzling is that it seems like the killer was barefoot.¡± ¡°We found bloody footprints on the ground; the blood samples have been sent back for DNA analysis.¡± ¡°There were seven criminals near the guesthouse, one in the parking lot had his kneecaps crushed but was still alive. The assant clearly had the ability to kill him but didn¡¯t, as if he was purposely left for us to interrogate.¡± ¡°Of the other six criminals, two were burned beyond recognition by the fire, one was shot by a firearm, and the remaining three, without exception, had all been stabbed through the spleen, with extremely precise methods, most likely the work of a professional assassin.¡± ¡°Road Team, some students reported that Wrench and Hawthorn helped open the gate before they died. Otherwise, over forty students wouldn¡¯t have escaped¡­ They didn¡¯t let Kunlun down.¡± Lu Yuan silently listened to the report from his subordinate, as a gust of mountain wind blew by, suddenly making his nose tingle. The wind wailed and howled, whipping up the ashes from the burned remnants. Lu Yuan wiped his nose; now was not the time for sentimentality. He crouched down on the ground to examine the wounds of the criminals, as well as the locations of the corpses marked by his subordinates. The location of the first corpse was found next to the Cloud Inn, but that wasn¡¯t the site where the crime had happened. Kunlun members found traces of blood and dragging marks on the road outside the door. ¡°It seems someone killed him on the road in the cover of darkness, and then dragged him to the next yard,¡± Lu Yuan said calmly. ¡°The fire burned the building but didn¡¯t spread to the yard.¡± At this moment, as Lu Yuan looked at the wounds on the culprits, his heart grew more and more astonished. His subordinate¡¯s analysis was not wrong, each of these culprits had been killed with a single blow. Moreover, whether the knife entered from the back or the front, the tip always precisely pierced the spleen. ¡°Strange, why only target the spleen,¡± Lu Yuan pondered with some confusion. ¡°Could it be some sort of peculiar habit or preference?¡± He followed the locations marked by his subordinates all the way to the back of the yard. This should be the second crime scene. The killer took down the second culprit here before entering the yard. Lu Yuan asked, ¡°How are those students doing?¡± His subordinate replied, ¡°Three are seriously injured, two named Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were hit in the abdomen by the culprits. Fortunately, only their intestines were hit, they¡¯ve been taken down the mountain for surgery, their lives should definitely be saved.¡± The subordinate continued to report, ¡°There¡¯s also one named Wang Yun, but this girl¡¯s wound is very strange. ording to her, a masked culprit shot her in the legs. It was a student named Nan Gengchen who dragged her out of the inn, otherwise, she would have been burned to death inside.¡± Lu Yuan frowned, ¡°Masked?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the subordinate nodded. ¡°I suspect this person is not one of the culprits, but the one who killed them.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to suspect, it¡¯s definitely him, and you should pay attention to this Wang Yun, there¡¯s something wrong with her. Our vindicator who killed the culprits wouldn¡¯t have shot her twice without reason,¡± Lu Yuan said. ¡°By the way, why was Nan Gengchen inside the inn?¡± ¡°It¡¯s said he was dragged into the inn by the culprits tomit violence,¡± the subordinate exined. ¡°But he looks neat and tidy, not like someone who¡¯s been through an ordeal.¡± ¡°Then he must have seen the killer, or perhaps the killer saved him on a whim,¡± Lu Yuan analyzed. ¡°Did you get anything out of him?¡± The subordinate answered, ¡°He said the killer should be about 176 cm tall, barefoot, with slight crow¡¯s feet at the eyes, looking like he¡¯s in his thirties.¡± Lu Yuan nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s search within this range for now. Nan Gengchen is the first eyewitness, his testimony is the most reliable.¡± Everyone returned to the front door where the bodies wereid out. Lu Yuan looked at the devastated street and pondered thoroughly. Seven out of the eight culprits were dead, one shot, one kneeling in the parking area, one killed by a Kunlun teammate. The remaining four died of a ruptured spleen, meaning the adversary struck four times and seeded each time. This person was extremely dangerous, but Lu Yuan suddenly felt a reluctance to continue the pursuit because this individual had avenged his teammate. On the road of pursuit, the Kunlun members discovered countless blood footprints, and it was hard for him to imagine what kind of willpower the killer had, using his tenacity to kill each of the culprits. Lu Yuan nced at the other corpses and suddenly noticed a detail, ¡°Only the culprit at the door is missing a walkie-talkie, he must have been the first one to die¡­ No other walkie-talkies were found at the scene, so that missing walkie-talkie should still be on the killer.¡± The next moment, Lu Yuan suddenly picked up the walkie-talkie from another culprit¡¯s body, took a deep breath, and pressed the talk button, ¡°Hello, this is Lu Yuan of Kunlun.¡± But no one answered him through the mountain wind. ¡­ Please vote for a monthly ticket!!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Chapter 94: 94, Take care Chapter 94: 94, Take care At Laojun Mountain, inside the room of a rural homestay. The walkie-talkie Qing Chen had ced on the table suddenly rang out, ¡°Hello, I am Kunlun¡¯s Lu Yuan.¡± But it was ignored, left to rest quietly where it was. At this moment, Qing Cheny on his back on the pristine white bed, biting down on a towel, his face pale. At the foot of the bed, Jiang Xue, with several bottles of iodine and cotton swabs she had bought in the morning, was cleaning Qing Chen¡¯s wounds on his feet and legs while crying.N?v(el)B\\jnn Tiny slivers of wood, fragments of ss, soil. Cleared away by Jiang Xue, bit by bit. Large beads of sweat rolled down Qing Chen¡¯s forehead, and Li Tongyun was tirelessly wiping them away at his side. The young girl was also crying. It wasn¡¯t due to fear or other emotions, they were simply too heartbroken for Qing Chen. Last night, the youth had mustered his strength to return outside the guesthouse. In order not to let others track him down by his barefoot traces, he even endured the pain to put on shoes and found another rural homestay to settle down in. He had fainted as soon as he entered the room. Exhaustion, the fear and panic after killing for the first time, and the cost of the adrenaline rush behind his bloodlust, all came flooding in at once. He had been using the Breathing Technique throughout the entire fight, and the copious amounts of endorphins secreted from the pituitary nd afterward had temporarily made him forget the pain. But in the morning, when Jiang Xue was cleaning his wounds, the pain woke him up again. Originally, Jiang Xue had wanted Qing Chen to rest a bit longer, but the wounds had to be tended to immediately, they couldn¡¯t be dyed any longer. ¡°What¡¯s the point,¡± Jiang Xue said as she wiped away tears, ¡°you¡¯ve hurt yourself like this to save a bunch of strangers. Look at the gash on your shoulder, a little more to the side and your shoulder de would have been broken.¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t speak, he simply bore the pain in silence. In fact, his injuries looked scary, but he knew they were just superficial and would heal quickly. Especially since he had been using the Breathing Technique during the entire fight, and the lost energy had already started to recover by dawn. Perhaps it was because he always used the Breathing Technique in normalbat and had experienced tremendous pain. Qing Chen faintly felt that the energy inside him seemed to have grown a bit stronger, what might have been the size of a fist before was now the size of one and a half fists. Moreover, his body seemed to be undergoing a transformation; behind the soreness all over his body, even his bones seemed to be making subtle crackling sounds. Was the gic lock about to be unlocked? Probably not yet. After three hours, Jiang Xue finally confirmed that she had finished cleaning the wounds on Qing Chen¡¯s feet. She said to him, ¡°You should sleep a little longer, I will go borrow the kitchen to make you something to eat and replenish your strength.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you Aunt Jiang Xue,¡± Qing Chen spoke weakly. Li Tongyun at the side said, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, you almost scared mom and me to death when you came back in the wee hours. We thought you were leaving us.¡± Qing Chen hummed in response. Then he heard the young girl continue, ¡°Then, mom checked your injuries and found that only your shoulder and feet were severely wounded, and we were a bit relieved. Please don¡¯t push yourself so hard next time, I would be scared if something happened to you.¡± Qing Chen managed a weak smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be in trouble.¡± Once Jiang Xue had left, Li Tongyun spoke softly, ¡°Brother Qing Chen, I think I might have guessed your identity, it¡¯s just a little different from the information I had before. I need to confirm it.¡± Qing Chen was taken aback, it seemed that during his unconsciousness, something had been discovered by the other. ¡°` But that wasn¡¯t important, he actually didn¡¯t mind the young girl knowing his identity. He was just a bit curious, ¡°Why are you so determined to find me in the Inner World?¡± But he heard Li Tongyun continue, ¡°I can¡¯t tell Mom about bing a Time Traveler, and you weren¡¯t by my side, I would be very scared sleeping alone in the big mansion at night. Once I find you, I won¡¯t be scared anymore. Brother Qing Chen, do you know, I was all alone in that Inner World¡­¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment, ¡°Have you started ying the pity card?¡± Li Tongyun pouted her lips, ¡°That¡¯s boring!¡± ¡°Have you made any new friends in the Inner World?¡± Qing Chen asked curiously. ¡°There¡¯s an older brother and sister who are quite nice to me, and the Li Family¡¯s grandfather is especially kind to me. But the family¡¯s old butler said that while the grandfather and sister are truly kind, I should be careful around that brother called Li Xiuqi,¡± Li Tongyun muttered, ¡°The Li¡¯s Financial Group seems to be quiteplex. And that very kind old grandfather is in poor health, with many people sneakily discussing what will happen after he leaves.¡± Qing Chen pondered, the brother, sister and grandfather mentioned should all be key members of the Li¡¯s Financial Group. He had heard from Uncle Li Dong that the current Family Head of the Li family was 163 years old, his health was deteriorating, and even anti-aging medications were no longer effective as his cell division had reached its limit. The Deer Ind Family Head was probably the oldest, at 221 years, but the way he extended his life didn¡¯t seem to be very honorable. Qing Chen didn¡¯t want to think about these things for the moment. He turned his head to look at his shoulder, where a fresh bandage had already been applied. All of this in front of him was a reminder that it was all in the past. But it seemed that there were things that hadn¡¯t passed yet. ¡°Xiao Tongyun, can you help me get some paper and a pen?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°I have them in my backpack,¡± Li Tongyun said. She came to take a holiday for the National Day, but she still had to carry a backpack filled with homework. With her assistance, Qing Chen slowly leaned against two pillows. He searched on his phone for a way to decipher Morse code and then, relying on memory, drew out the Morse code tapped by the Kunlun members that night. A tap with the index finger was a dot, a tap with the middle finger was a dash, and each set of taps represented a letter or a number. For instance, one tap with the index finger followed by one tap with the middle finger was the letter A. And those seemingly random sequences of taps were pieced together into an important message. Qing Chen didn¡¯t know why he suddenly wanted to decipher that Morse code; he just felt like he had missed something extremely important. An event that made wealthy men like Hu Xiaoniu risk their lives to have him avenge two Kunlun members. Qing Chen rapidly recalled the rhythm of the taps in his mind and deciphered them. He drew each Morse character on paper and then annotated the tranted letter beside it. ¡°No regrets in this life, brothers take care.¡± ¡°Dah dah dah, dah, dah.¡± (I will repeat thest part.) ¡°No regrets in this life, brothers take care.¡± This was the message conveyed by an injured Kunlun member to anotherrade present. Sitting up in bed, Qing Chen suddenly thought that from the moment the other was shot, he had already resigned to his fate. He looked out at the bright blue sky outside the window, the sky above the mountains seemed lower than in the city and more vast. But for some reason, Qing Chen felt his mood start to fall. He folded the deciphered piece of paper and had Li Tongyun help stuff it into his wallet. ¡°` Chapter 95: 95, Keywords Chapter 95: 95, Keywords On the mountain path of Laojun Mountain, Zheng Yuandong, dressed in a ck Zhongshan suit, was slowly walking on the path. The ground had one blood footprint after another, guiding him to rey the events of that night. Scattered on the highway were 9 subsonic bullet casings and bullet holes in the ears of the gang leader, evidence of a gunfight that had urred there between the chaser and the shooter. Kunlun had also collected two blood-stained bullets, but blood samples showed that the blood on these bullets came from different individuals. This indicated that the masked man who killed the gangsters had also been injured. Zheng Yuandong stood where Qing Chen had thrown the stone and said to Lu Yuan behind him, ¡°He was injured on the highway, then knew he couldn¡¯t catch up to the gangsters on the highway, so he crossed the forest we just passed to get here and threw the boulder.¡± Lu Yuan frowned, ¡°And then it hit the van driven by the gangsters? That throw was too precise, a height difference of over ten meters, how urate must one be to predict that?¡± ¡°Hmm,pared to the ability to precisely stab into the spleen, this is his most impressive skill: calction,¡± Zheng Yuandong said. ¡°Has the DNAparison result from the bloode back yet?¡± Lu Yuan shook his head, ¡°The results are back, but there isn¡¯t a DNA sample from the same person in the database.¡± ¡°Check for a simr type then, we might find his rtives,¡± Zheng Yuandong suggested. ¡°Alright,¡± Lu Yuan nodded. ¡°It might take a bit longer, but we should have an answer in three days at most.¡± Zheng Yuandong said, ¡°If we find him, be courteous, Kunlun now needs such people, those who can stand on their own.¡± ¡­ Qing Chen and his twopanions settled down on Laojun Mountain and weren¡¯t in a rush to return to the city. On one hand, Qing Chen¡¯s foot still couldn¡¯t endure long walks; on the other, after such a major event, Jiang Xue also wanted the young man to rx here and avoid the hustle and bustle. As for tutoring sses, following the events of the night, Jiang Xue felt they seemed less important now. Everything could wait until Qing Chen¡¯s injuries healed. Jiang Xue re-applied the medicine for Qing Chen, ¡°If I had known you would be injured, I would¡¯ve bought some special trauma medicine from the Inner World; the medicine there is definitely better than in the Outer World. I could put the medicine in a small bottle and carry it back in my mouth.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Aunt Jiang Xue,¡± Qing Chen smiled. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt that much anymore.¡± ¡°Moreover,¡± Jiang Xue suddenly worried aloud. ¡°You left so many blood footprints at the scene, someone could definitely use a DNA match to find you. Although your DNA hasn¡¯t been registered, your father has been detained¡­¡± Nowadays, blood samples are collected from those detained. However, Qing Chen shook his head, ¡°No, I¡¯m sure of it.¡± Jiang Xue looked at Qing Chen, surprised. She sensed there was more to the story, but the young man in front of her wasn¡¯t willing to say much. In the whole incident, there were two key factors that might expose Qing Chen¡¯s identity, one was Nan Gengchen, and the other was the blood sample. However, regarding the former, Qing Chen believed that Nan Gengchen would at least not blunder in this matter and would certainly mislead Kunlun. As for thetter, Kunlun would not be able to find a matching gic sample forparison, as it involved some old secrets. Otherwise, Qing Chen wouldn¡¯t dare to chase a killer barefoot. Qing Chen said, ¡°Aunt Jiang Xue, I¡¯d like to be alone for a while, I have something to deal with.¡± ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll take Xiao Yun out for a walk. Call me if you need anything, I won¡¯t go far,¡± Jiang Xue said. Once Li Tongyun and Jiang Xue had left the room, Qing Chen finally took out his mobile phone andmunication equipment. He first unlocked themunication device, which was full of messages from Liu Dezhu: ¡°Boss, your men are too awesome, theypletely wiped out the gangsters!¡± ¡°Boss, thank you for the timely reminder, thanks for your men saving me, I, Liu Dezhu, am definitely ready to go through fire and water for you, without hesitation!¡± ¡°Boss, after this night, I am truly devoted to you. From now on, any danger others dare not face, I will face it for you, just upon yourmand, even if it¡¯s a ce where birds don¡¯t poop, I¡¯ll go poop there!¡± ¡°Boss, why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± ¡°By the way, boss, we have already returned to Los Angeles City. In the morning, my ssmates might visit Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen together. Then, I¡¯ll help you collect the money!¡± Qing Chen nced at the time, 9:00 in the morning. Countdown 39:00:00. Only nine hours had passed since thest return. This time travel was so hasty that he didn¡¯t check the countdown after returning and just took a knife and went out to kill. With a little more than a day left, plus the two days or seven days of traveling, by the time school started, his wounds should be no issue. Qing Chen replied to Liu Dezhu, ¡°Just woke up, let me check with my people about what happened first.¡± On the other side of themunication device, Liu Dezhu was respectful. The boss was truly the boss, he could sleep even after such a major event, but that¡¯s expected, a figure at the boss¡¯s level naturally stays calm, not carried away by external joy or sorrow¡­ In this incident, Liu Dezhu noticed a few details: First, the boss didn¡¯t know that he wasing to Laojun Mountain, nor did he know that he needed toe early, because when the boss gave instructions in the Inner World, it really didn¡¯t seem like an act. So, temporarily ruling out the guess that the boss is next to him, the boss must be an alumnus from the school, possibly a senior from the third year. Second, could the masked murderer fromst night be the boss himself? Starting from a personality analysis, it doesn¡¯t seem likely, because the impression the boss always gave was of a scheming, cunning character. Dark, very dark. However, the personst night seemed to act out of a desire for vengeance for the Kunlun members, disying a very bloody aspect. This is not quite the image of the boss Liu Dezhu had in mind. So all in all, Liu Dezhu tentatively decided, although not ruling out suspicion, that the masked murderer fromst night was probably not the boss himself. So, it seems that the boss has already developed his own forces and subordinates in the Outer World, that¡¯s too terrifying. ¡­ At this moment, Qing Chen did not rush to reply to Liu Dezhu, but decided to pretend to be gathering information and hung him up to dry for a while. He opened his phone and found that his ss chat group was already blowing up. Many ssmates were saying that Liu Dezhu and his mysteriouspanion had saved everyone. Although Liu Dezhu himself did not admit it, nobody believed his denial. ss delegate Yu Junyi said with emotion, ¡°Back then, before the criminal appeared, Liu Dezhu had already perceived it from the Inner World and told everyone to run fast, but at that time, nobody believed him. I even thought he was crazy, now, thinking about it, I feel ashamed.¡± A female ssmate said excitedly, ¡°That criminal leader even pointed a gun at his head, asking where hispanion was, but Liu Dezhu was really tough and didn¡¯t reveal any information to the other party.¡± In fact, she did not know that at that time Liu Dezhu really had no idea where the mysterious boss and his mysterious subordinate were; even if he wanted to say, he couldn¡¯t! Later, Bai Waner spoke up in the ss group about what happened, pushing the discussion to a climax: the criminals originally nned to take four of them away amid the chaos, but Liu Dezhu¡¯s subordinate arrived just in time. The subordinate first secretly killed the criminal escorting them and then killed the one escorting Liu Dezhu. She had been with Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen all along. Bai Waner said, in the middle of the night, Hu Xiaoniu had regained consciousness briefly and kept mentioning wanting to thank Liu Dezhu and his subordinate. Not only had they saved lives, but they also avenged the two Kunlun members. Suddenly, when she mentioned the two sacrificed Kunlun members, everyone involved went silent. Even though everyone had survived a disaster, it was not a moment to express joy. Qing Chen suddenly thought that actually, Hu Xiaoniu had a very good nature. Now that Liu Dezhu was bing increasingly well-known, could he use this guy to rope in some reliable Time Travelers? Whether it was to conduct business with them or help each other out, it might be useful at some point. He closed WeChat and opened other tforms. Last night, right when the fire began spreading, the incident at Laojun Mountain had already spread nationwide. Weibo, TikTok, Bilibili, videos, and news of the fire at Laojun Mountain were everywhere. But in this incident, most were describing the scene after the fire, and no one stepped forward to reveal what had happened. They only knew from an ID named ¡°Kunlun Lu Yuan¡± that all the arson criminals had been killed and the case of the Time Traveler¡¯s abduction was also temporarily concluded. Only then did everyone realize that the arsonistsmitting the crime were actually the culprits behind the much-discussed Time Traveler abduction case. No one mentioned the masked murderer, nor who had killed the criminals, because Qing Chen hid too well, and the few people in the know seemingly had no intention of exposing it on the inte. Such as Nan Gengchen, the mysterious girl in the parking lot, Li Tongyun, Jiang Xue¡­ Today is the first day of the National Day, and tourists who originally nned to visit Laojun Mountain all canceled their tickets upon hearing the news. Many tourists, without even watching the sunrise from the summit, hurriedly left the scenic area on buses. Apparently, the first morning bus from Laojun Mountain was already packed to capacity, and the area¡¯s transportation system was temporarily paralyzed. As Qing Chen reviewed everything that happenedst night in his memory, confirming that no one but Li Tongyun and Jiang Xue could identify him, he suddenly remembered something very important¡ªthe gold bars. Last night, amid the chaos, Hu Xiaoniu had said something very important. Someone else might forget or overlook it due to the tension. But Qing Chen wouldn¡¯t. Now in his mind, the gold bars were an extremely special keyword.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Chapter 96: 96. Liu Dezhus Choice Chapter 96: 96. Liu Dezhu¡¯s Choice Meanwhile, Liu Dezhu came to the Los Angeles Third People¡¯s Hospital with his ssmates. This is the best triple-A hospital in Los Angeles City. Last night, Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen underwent simple wound treatment at a clinic. Then, they were transferred to the county hospital for emergency treatment and as soon as their conditions stabilized in the early morning, they were moved to a city hospital for moreprehensive treatment. Now, their conditions had just stabilized, and they were still in the ICU of the Third People¡¯s Hospital. It seemed that because the money was in ce, every medical facility they used was the best, and over ten doctors were involved in the expert consultation. To prevent these injuries from leaving any sequ. Their parents had taken a private jet to Los Angeles City early in the morning and were now standing outside the ward. When Liu Dezhu and his ssmates arrived at the door of the ward, they saw six or seven men in ck suits, each wearing a clear headset. These must be the bodyguards of some big shot. One bodyguard stopped the students, and a dignified-looking middle-aged man asked them, ¡°And you are?¡± The head of ss Four in Grade Two, Xie Xun said, ¡°Hello, Uncle, we are friends of Xiao Niu and Tianzhen and came to visit them.¡± However, the middle-aged man was taken aback, ¡°May I ask, which of you is Liu Dezhu?¡± Liu Dezhu in the crowd was also surprised, ¡°I, I am.¡± The middle-aged man strode over, extending his right hand, ¡°Thank you, young man, thank you for saving Xiao Niu¡¯s life. He mentioned it to me as soon as he regained consciousness, that you and your men saved him, or else he would have been taken away or killed by the criminals by now.¡± Liu Dezhu was silent for a few seconds, then shook the man¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Uncle, I really didn¡¯t do much.¡± Perhaps because Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s condition had stabilized, the middle-aged man¡¯s mood had rxed a lot as he said, smiling, ¡°It¡¯s good for young people to be modest, but being too modest isn¡¯t good. How do young people say it these days? Right, ¡®Versailles¡¯!¡± Indeed, Hu Xiaoniu had regained consciousness that morning, so he had recounted roughly what happened. Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father, a prominent businessman, initially had little reverence for the Time Traveler, but among the seven bodyguards outside, there was one Time Traveler. Such people, even without speaking, naturally exude an aura, and ordinary Time Travelers really can¡¯t pose any threat to him. But after Hu Xiaoniu and three others encountered danger in City Number Seven, his mindset changed. At that moment, he realized that all the wealth and status he possessed in the Outer World could scarcely do anything for his son. The wealth of the Outer World could buy many things from the Inner World, but it didn¡¯t mean wealth could purchase everything in the Inner World. This was also why he agreed to transfer Hu Xiaoniu to a school in Los Angeles City. To look for a Time Traveler named Liu Dezhu. Furthermore, a Time Traveler like Liu Dezhu, who could foresee and avoid disasters in advance and restore situations afterward, was exceptional. Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father was a visionary; he knew Liu Dezhu might not seem like much now, but he had seen Liu Dezhu¡¯s future. This grand, tens of thousands-strong transmigration had only just begun¡ªwho knew what a glorious future the other might have? Worth investing in. Of course, this might also be because the middle-aged businessman had not seen Liu Dezhu¡¯s performance in the face of adversity, otherwise he might have changed his view. At least for now, Liu Dezhu seemed like a normal person¡­ Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father thought about it and said, ¡°I discussed with Xiao Niu this morning. I wanted to transfer him back to Haicheng High School, but he didn¡¯t agree. I think he wants to be closer to you, so I thought maybe I could transfer you to Haicheng as well. There, we have better educational resources, and also¡­¡± When wealthy individuals make a move, they do it differently. While others were thinking about how to get closer to Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father was considering how to take Liu Dezhu away, keeping him close by his side. Yet, Liu Dezhu tly refused, ¡°Uncle, I don¡¯t n to move to Haicheng yet. This ce is where I was born and raised, and besides, my parents and friends are all here.¡± Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father said, ¡°I can prepare an apartment for you in Haicheng, and you can move there with your parents. I¡¯ll also give you some extra money for settling down.¡± ¡°No need, Uncle,¡± Liu Dezhu shook his head again, ¡°Thank you for your kindness.¡± By this point, Liu Dezhu had already weighed the pros and cons in his mind. A house in Haicheng, plus a resettlement fee, sounded very tempting indeed. But his boss was in Los Angeles City. Everyone thought he had saved Hu Xiaoniu, but in reality, without his boss¡¯s henchmen intervening, he would have probably died on Laojun Mountain. Keep in mind, the criminal had intended to kill him outright, not use him as a mule! Inparison, it was damn well better to be a mule. First off, he could move to Haicheng, but he doubted his boss would. If someone tried to kidnap him again or coveted something he possessed, he would be doomed. Moreover, during hisst escape, Liu Dezhu had realized the importance of strength. Many Time Travelers on the inte said that even with money, you might not find a way to get a Gic Potion in the Inner World; some had bought counterfeits on the ck market. But the boss with the Cat Mask was different, his products were always genuine. His own injection of the FDE gene sequence even had the numbers 004, 003, 002, 001, his entire futurey in the boss¡¯s hands. He wasn¡¯t asking for too much, just toplete the entire gene sequence of the Gic Potion and be a B-ss expert. It¡¯s said that even in the Inner World, B-ss experts were considered significant, and A-ss experts were rare. By then, wouldn¡¯t getting a house in Haicheng be a piece of cake? Plus, Hu Xiaoniu had doubled hispensationst time, and he had pocketed half of it. This time, if the other party could give even more, it would be even sweeter, since the boss didn¡¯t know how much he had kept anyway.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om As the saying goes, one must look at the bigger picture; Liu Dezhu felt this line of work held more strategic value than just a house. Moreover, even if he moved to Haicheng, the boss would still use him for business, but what if someone more handy appeared by the boss¡¯s side? Wouldn¡¯t his efforts be a total waste? When being a sycophant, it¡¯s essential to stick close, remote sycophancy just doesn¡¯t work! However, just then, themunicator in Liu Dezhu¡¯s bosom vibrated, and he said to everyone, ¡°Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.¡± He ducked into a toilet stall and opened themunicator only to see Qing Chen¡¯s inquiry: ¡°I heard from my men that Hu Xiaoniu told them the other party offered double thepensationst time and that it would be the same this time?¡± One second Liu Dezhu was secretly delighted, the next, he was covered in cold sweat. He had no idea such a thing had happenedst night! Hu Xiaoniu, brother, why do you have to spill everything! This was the second time he was embezzling money, first a watch, now a gold bar; Liu Dezhu didn¡¯t know what kind of treatment he would receive in the Inner World next time. He dejectedly replied from the restroom, ¡°Boss, this time I¡¯ll bring the gold bar with me when I cross over, please punish me¡­¡± Outside the restroom, everyone was whispering, wondering why Liu Dezhu was taking such a long time. Just then, Liu Dezhu suddenly opened the door and came out. Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father looked at him, his face beaming with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking, you¡¯re still young, so maybe you don¡¯t like stuff like houses. I understand, young folks like more thrilling things. How about this, you tell uncle what you like, and I¡¯ll make sure to arrange it for you.¡± Liu Dezhu hesitated and then said, ¡°Uncle, you might not know, but I like to wish people a happy new year when I¡¯m idle¡­¡± ¡­ Thanks to Remember to Forget who is a new ally of this book, Wish you great fortune ahead! Chapter 97: 97, Revenge Chapter 97: 97, Revenge ¡­a New Year¡¯s greeting? Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father didn¡¯t respond immediately, he didn¡¯t even understand how their conversation had turned to this subject. The fellow students were also a bit confused; the Liu Dezhu before their eyes didn¡¯t seem to fit the image of a powerful expert they had in mind. Alongside them, a student from ss 3 of Grade 2 whispered to the ss monitor Yu Junyi, ¡°Hey, do you think he might have a ¡®system¡¯?¡± ¡°A system?¡± Yu Junyi was puzzled; he didn¡¯t understand what that meant. In ss 3 of Grade 2, Yu Junyi had always been someone who neither yed games nor read novels, so he had no idea what a system was. The ssmate patiently exined: ¡°It¡¯s like the systems in web novels, where the system issues all sorts of messy tasks to the host, and then makes the host stronger.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Yu Junyi was stunned. At that moment, the student continued, ¡°But in the novels, usually only the protagonists get that kind of treatment, could it be that Liu Dezhu is the protagonist of our world? But without a system, you can¡¯t exin why he can be so awesome and yet so dumb at the same time¡­¡± It must be said, this ssmate¡¯s judgment was very urate. In a way, Qing Chen was Liu Dezhu¡¯s ¡®system¡¯¡­ Except there wasn¡¯t really any reward forpleting the mission, it was purely a punishment for his greed. Because Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen were still resting, the students made a brief visit and then left. After everyone left, Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father turned and went into the sickroom. Hu Xiaoniu slowly opened his eyes and asked in a somewhat weak voice, ¡°Dad, what do you think about this Liu Dezhu?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too early to say,¡± Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father shook his head. ¡°I couldn¡¯t see the true face of the man before going through a crisis,¡± Hu Xiaoniu said, ¡°but after this time, I always feel there is something off. To say he¡¯s ipetent, he¡¯s already obtained the precious gic potion. To say he¡¯s capable, yet he doesn¡¯t look capable at all. Dad, would someone like him really be valued by Uncle Li Dong?¡± Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father said, ¡°There are two possibilities, son. Do you know how many ipetent eunuchs in history there were? Ming Dynasty Eunuch Wang Zhen nearly brought down Ming Yingzong by his lonesome and caused the loss of the Ming Dynasty¡¯s elite troops, yet he held immense power. Why? Maybe because he was good at ttering, or perhaps his loyalty won over those above him.¡± ¡°Not all the people around a wise ruler are strong soldiers; there¡¯s all sorts of people.¡± ¡°Of course, there¡¯s another possibility,¡± Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father continued, ¡°He is being put forward as a puppet by others, just as someone holds certain shares on behalf of our family.¡± ¡°Dad, which possibility do you think is more likely?¡± Hu Xiaoniu asked. ¡°` However, Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father shook his head, ¡°There¡¯s no need to jump to conclusions this early. Regardless of the situation with Liu Dezhu, this is an opportunity for you. Don¡¯t worry, the n will fully support you, so you should not have any concerns. I know you envy your brother for starting to take over some of the n¡¯s affairs, but you are still young, and what he can do, you may not be able to do. Plus, in the future, your brother might even need your help.¡± Suddenly, Hu Xiaoniu asked, ¡°By the way, Dad, why did you tell me not to give the other party too many gold bars at once? They saved my life twice, so logically, even giving a hundred gold bars wouldn¡¯t be too much.¡± Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s fatherughed, ¡°Let¡¯s assume that Liu Dezhu is a puppet put forward by someone. In that case, the other side must be very short of money right now, otherwise they would not only have eyes for gold bars. But if you give him a hundred gold bars in one go, what will you have left to give him once he no longer needs money? At that time, he wouldn¡¯tck anything that you could offer.¡± ¡°But what if someone else offers a higher price?¡± Hu Xiaoniu was puzzled. ¡°Then you must be friends with him before someone else offers a higher price,¡± Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father said meaningfully. ¡°I understand,¡± Hu Xiaoniu suddenly remembered something, ¡°What about Wang Yun?¡± ¡°During the crime, her legs were broken by someone, so she was sent to the hospital for treatment. You were still unconscious at that time. Although Kunlun had doubts, they didn¡¯t think too much of it. This morning, her parents arrived in Los Angeles City, bribed the on-duty doctors and nurses at the hospital, and secretly took her away,¡± Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father answered, ¡°It¡¯s not Kunlun¡¯s fault. Although everyone sensed something was off with her, no one expected her to y such a vile role in this matter.¡± Hu Xiaoniu woke up early in the morning and immediately informed his father about Wang Yun, but by that time, Wang Yun had already escaped with her parents¡¯ help. ¡°But Bai Waner must have guessed she was the mole, so why didn¡¯t Bai Waner speak up?¡± Hu Xiaoniu frowned. ¡°Perhaps she couldn¡¯t bear to see a good friend go to jail,¡± Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father said calmly, ¡°Xiao Niu, you must remember, when the other party bes an enemy, all acts of forgiveness are not kindness but cowardice.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll remember that,¡± Hu Xiaoniu said.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father spoke, ¡°Now, Wang Yun has vanished without a trace, and I haven¡¯t found her. What¡¯s more critical is that only one thug named Dongzi is left, and he insists that he knows nothing. Furthermore, there¡¯s no evidence of contact between the thugs and Wang Yun, it seems, their connection was all managed by another person hiding behind the scenes.¡± Hu Xiaoniu found it strange, ¡°I¡¯m also puzzled. The four thugs who captured us that day were all caught by Kunlun. How did they manage to contact Wang Yun? However, I¡¯m about to cross over again soon, and I will find her in the Inner World.¡± Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s father looked at him, ¡°Do you want to find Wang Yun for revenge?¡± Hu Xiaoniu was silent for a while, ¡°Can I?¡± The middle-aged businessman smiled, ¡°Of course you can. But I want to know why you¡¯re so adamant about seeking revenge this time. Tianzhen woke up in the morning and said thatst night you were so bent on revenge you even told the assassin it didn¡¯t matter if you died; that doesn¡¯t sound like you.¡± He knew his son well: somewhat clever and wise, yet without having been tempered by society. There were traces of integrity in his character, but he still hadn¡¯t quite figured out what kind of person he wanted to be. However, Hu Xiaoniu then said, ¡°When I was little, Grandpa used to tell my brother and me about his wartime stories, especially about how his oldpanymander bravely sacrificed himself to cover the retreat of others. I am quite selfish, or perhaps because the era of war is so distant, I always thought Grandpa was exaggerating. But Dad, it was only yesterday that I understood that there really are such people in this world. I may not be someone like that, but I hope to do something for them.¡± ¡°Dad, yesterday those two friends from Kunlun fought desperately to make way for the students. Later, when I was taken away by the thugs, I looked back in the darkness and saw a look of relief on his face, with no regrets.¡± ¡°` Chapter 98: 98, must be taking it very seriously Chapter 98: 98, must be taking it very seriously ¡°` Unbeknownst to all, the moment had once again arrived for the Time Travelers to traverse time. The outside world buzzed with discussions about the case, with a student from beyond the federation exposing the specifics. As a result, the masked murderer Qing Chen portrayed entered everyone¡¯s line of sight. But what everyone knew was that he had almost wiped out the entire gang of criminals and that it was he who sought vengeance in the night. Yet no one knew who he was. Some said he was a henchman of Liu Dezhu, others spected he was just passing by¡ªthere were all sorts of theories. But, unquestionably, a new figure had joined the ranks of the most famous Time Travelers in the country. And just as mysterious as He Xiaoxiao. Countdown 00:10:00. Ind Country, Osaka. Beside Shinsaibashi, in the top-floor suite of the St. Regis Hotel. A girl sat curled up in a chair next to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, dressed in light green shorts and a white T-shirt, looking down at her phone. The news of the kidnapping case of the Time Traveler from Laojun Mountain had spread to the Ind Country, causing a significant stir. At this moment, there were already over a hundred cases of Time Travelers falling victim to crimes. Some had their mechanical limbs snatched away by force, others had just brought back medicine only to be murdered by friends. Surprisingly, the proportion of criminal offenses among friends and rtives was extremely high. Initially, everyone was more worried about the threats from certain ck organizations in the dark web, but in reality, they underestimated the human heart and overestimated the bonds of kinship and friendship. Jindai Kongyin looked at all of this and felt a whisper of bewilderment in her heart. She had simply wanted to be an artist, yet somehow found herself entangled in these matters. And it was these issues that made her feel very insecure. In the Outer World, she worried that others would discover her identity as a Time Traveler. In the Inner World, she had to be cautious in dealing with the Jindai family, to prevent being found out. A few days ago, the Jindai family had conducted a thorough investigation within the n and subjected the seven Time Travelers they discovered to horrific torture. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Jindai Kongyin¡¯s parents in the Inner World had passed away early, leaving her to live on the fringes in solitude, making some information difficult to scrutinize. If it weren¡¯t for her sensing the danger early and doing her homework. If it weren¡¯t for her being of mixed Japanese and Chinese descent, having learned Mandarin since childhood. She might have been discovered in that investigation a few days ago. In that screening process, the most crucial aspect was ¡°Mandarin.¡± Because the Jindai family had long ago integrated into the Federation, they adopted Mandarin following local customs, with only the direct lineage members of the family retaining their mother tongue. They considered this the most noble of traditions, using Mandarin for externalmunication, but using Japanese for family records and n rituals. The Time Travelers from the Ind Country who had infiltrated the Jindai n, except for Jindai Kongyin, didn¡¯t speak a word of Chinese. So, they collectively met their demise. Due to the arranged marriage, Jindai Kongyin happened to be brought to City No. 18 to meet a youth named Qing Chen. The Jindai family cared greatly about the oue of this arranged marriage and the benefits after it, so they didn¡¯t investigate her too thoroughly. Thinking of the arranged marriage, Jindai Kongyin suddenly typed ¡°Qing Chen¡± into the Chinese search engine on her phone. But, just like the previous times, there was still no useful information. ¡°` ¡°At the moment, we still can¡¯t confirm if that young man is the Time Traveler¡­ I didn¡¯t see himst time I went, and I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be able to this time. Huh? If I keep visiting him frequently, will he think I¡¯ve fallen for him? Should I y it cool and wait a bit longer before going again?¡± ¡°But it seems like I¡¯m about to head back to the n with those people soon. If I don¡¯t go, it might be really hard to see him again.¡± The bustling night scene of Osaka sparkled like a neb, while the girl¡¯s thoughts flickered through the night sky. The countdown hit zero. ¡­ As the dark and shattered world began to reassemble, Qing Chen returned to the dim prison cell, letting out a stifled groan as he almost fell to the ground. He had been standing when he leftst time, so the injury on his foot split open immediately upon his return. Fortunately, Qing Chen had prepared mentally in advance, which prevented him from falling. After steadying himself, he nced at his arm. Return countdown: 167:59:55. ¡°Back already? Looks like you¡¯ve been seriously hurt,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said casually, ¡°Buting back is good news.¡± Ye Wan smiled and nodded, ¡°Nothing is a big deal except life and death. Just that a split second before midnight, you were fine, and suddenly you¡¯ve be so wilted, it¡¯s not easy to get used to.¡± As he spoke, Ye Wan patted the chair in front of him, ¡°Sit down and let¡¯s talk.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om At that moment, Qing Chenughed. It turned out that Ye Wan had anticipated that he would wreck his feet and had prepared a chair for him in advance. Just like how Ye Wan had predicted that, despite Qing Chen¡¯s ims that those people weren¡¯t worth the risk, he ultimately couldn¡¯t suppress his fiery nature. Uncle Li Dong¡¯s assessment was spot on; indeed, buried deep within his cool and powerful brain was an unimaginable passion. Contradictory, yet harmonious. Uncle Li Dong, as if seeing through Qing Chen¡¯s thoughts, patted him on the shoulder with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re usually so mature for your age, it really isn¡¯t what people expect. Perhaps life has tormented you, causing you to rein in the exuberance of youth early. But young people should be a bit reckless; there are things if you don¡¯t do now, you¡¯ll realize you missed out on them once you reach my age.¡± Youth is the age of passion and naivety. During this time, you might make some mistakes, even many mistakes. But actually, the moment when youth ends, you¡¯ll realize that making those mistakes is one of the beautiful and radiant reasons for youth¡¯s existence. In those moments, you are impulsive, entric, fearless, and without regret. After Qing Chen sat down, Ye Wan had him remove his shoes and shirt, ¡°Let¡¯s see how badly you¡¯re hurt. Xiao Xiao over there has prepared some ointment for you.¡± When everyone saw the dense wounds on the soles of Qing Chen¡¯s feet and the deep gash on his shoulder, they could almost imagine what the young man had gone through in the past two days. The wounds on the soles of his feet signified the distances Qing Chen had walked barefoot. The gash on his shoulder represented the armed enemies he had faced. For an ordinary young man, this would have constituted the extreme of danger, but he had still returned safely. Lin Xiaoxiao said, ¡°Congrattions, you¡¯ve ovee the toughest hurdle.¡± The hurdle he referred to was one¡¯s first battle in life. A battle that scars the memory. In fact, those with experience knew well that the first battle in life is very important; it determines future achievements. Not that it significantly improves your strength, but whether you¡¯ll back down when you face other enemies in the future? Whether you will still possess unmatched courage and fervor. Strength determines the lower limit; it¡¯s the heart that determines the upper limit! Ye Wan, looking at Qing Chen¡¯s feet, remarked sentimentally, ¡°Qing Chen, who treated these wounds for you? They¡¯re done very meticulously. At first, I thought we might need to treat them again, because walking barefoot, you would have gotten a lot of tiny particles embedded in the flesh, potentially causingplications. But now it looks like whoever treated you was very careful. They must be quite devoted to you.¡± Chapter 99: 99, Punishment that must be accepted Chapter 99: 99, Punishment that must be epted ¡°It¡¯s a friend; I helped her twice,¡± Qing Chen was a bit surprised, too, at how careful Jiang Xue was, to the point even Mother Ye had to praise her. Ye Wan didn¡¯t say much else and started applying the ointment to him directly. Qing Chen only felt a burning and itching sensation in both of his feet, which was extremely painful, This was nothing like what he had expected; he thought the medicine from the Inner World would make him feel a bit better. Lin Xiaoxiao said from the side, ¡°Endure it. This thing doesn¡¯t have an analgesic effect, but it promotes recovery very well. Of course, fast recoveryes at a price; nothinges without a price.¡± Uncle Li Dong asked, ¡°You said before there were five enemies. How many did you kill?¡± Qing Chen replied, ¡°I killed six.¡± Ye Wan looked at Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°Pay up; it¡¯s more than four.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said reluctantly, ¡°Hey, kid, aren¡¯t you a bit too ruthless¡­ Wait, five thugs, six killed, did you sacrifice a ssmate to the heavens or something?¡± Qing Chen: ¡°¡­No, the number of thugs exceeded expectations. There were a total of eight.¡± ¡°I see.¡± By then, Qing Chen, who had gotten used to these two making bets about him, asked curiously, ¡°How many did you bet I¡¯d kill?¡± ¡°Three. I thought if you could manage to kill three, that would be quite impressive. This was your first time taking a life, after all!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao sighed, ¡°Don¡¯t you hesitate at all when you kill?¡± In the midst of this conversation, Uncle Li Dong suddenly looked at Qing Chen with a serious expression. The young man hesitated momentarily before saying, ¡°Although saying this might make me seem indecisive, when I killed the first person, feeling the blood on my hands, I did hesitate, even felt a bit scared, and wanted to flee from there.¡± Uncle Li Dong chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s the normal reaction. If you didn¡¯t hesitate at all, I¡¯d be the one regretting it. I taught you to face the world fiercely, but you should always maintain some reverence for life in your heart.¡± ¡°Mm, I understand what you mean, Teacher,¡± Qing Chen responded.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°Then, do you have any pressing matters to deal with upon returning?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked, ¡°Teacher can handle them for you.¡± ¡°There are indeed two things,¡± said Qing Chen, ¡°I¡¯ll resolve the first issue first.¡± Saying this, he checked that the ointment had been properly applied, then bore the pain and put on his shoes, heading in the direction of the confinement room. Initially, his manner of walking was awkward, but as he walked, he forcibly endured the pain and resumed his normal gait. Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled, ¡°This kid is really tough on himself; doesn¡¯t even mind that his feet hurt. But the tougher one is on oneself, the tougher one can be on the enemy, which is a good thing.¡± Qing Chen put on the mysterious Cat Mask again, and the moment the door of the confinement room opened, Liu Dezhu inside was already obediently presenting three gold bars, behaving extraordinarily well. But Qing Chen didn¡¯t even go to take the gold bars; he calmly asked, ¡°Exin your mistakes.¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have ignored mymunicator for so long,¡± Liu Dezhu said submissively, ¡°nor should I have thought only about escaping myself, and I definitely shouldn¡¯t have pocketed the gold bars.¡± Qing Chen silently sneered behind the mask, and he asked, ¡°I know Kunlun contacted you alone. What did they say? Tell me everything.¡± Liu Dezhu pondered, what exactly is the boss¡¯s identity in the Outer World, to know even the movements of Kunlun? At that moment, he also had some new conjectures, could it be that the boss has many subordinates, like the Assassin on Laojun Mountain? Could the incident where he secretly kept the watch also have been revealed to the other party by one of the boss¡¯s men? It¡¯s a possibility. He made this guess because he always felt that the boss¡¯s methods of dealing with things didn¡¯t seem like those of a high school student. High school students should be like him, afraid when they encounter danger, wanting to hide when they see a crisis, as none of them had experienced such terrifying things. Even elite students like Hu Xiaoniu were afraid that night, weren¡¯t they? To be precise, Liu Dezhu felt that there shouldn¡¯t be someone like Qing Chen among high school students who could orchestrate everything from behind the scenes. Actually, Qing Chen didn¡¯t know that Kunlun had approached Liu Dezhu. He simply deduced that Kunlun would definitely look for him. At that moment, Liu Dezhu said, ¡°They asked me if I knew your subordinate. I didn¡¯t answer. They said it was nothing else, just that they had found a phone at the scene. It seemed like the leader of the miscreants had taken a mysterious call before dying, but they couldn¡¯t trace its origin.¡± At this time, Liu Dezhu¡¯s gaze was still wandering around Qing Chen¡¯s feet. In fact, Kunlun had also mentioned they found bloody footprints, suggesting the murderer must have been severely injured in the foot. But he noticed that the mysterious boss in front of him walked without any abnormality, so it looked like the other party really wasn¡¯t at Laojun Mountain at that time. And indeed, the boss had such a fierce subordinate. ¡°Why would they ask you about the call the miscreant took?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Oh, they said that the fingerprint was added afterward. A normal phone has hundreds of fingerprints, but that phone only had about a dozen,¡± said Liu Dezhu. ¡°They think that the killer must have taken that call.¡± Typically, a phone used regrly would be picked up and put down frequently, covered with countless fingerprints. But by that time, Qing Chen was on the verge of fainting and didn¡¯t have the time to create that many fingerprints. Sure enough, he couldn¡¯t deceive the smart people in Kunlun with this small trick. Liu Dezhu continued, ¡°Kunlun approached me just to ask what was said in that mysterious call and who it was with. They suspect that it was the appearance of this person that led Wang Yun to be a mole. This person, hidden behind the miscreants, might collude with others harboring ill intentions to cause even bigger problems.¡± He then added, ¡°Boss, should I ask your subordinate and tell Kunlun what was said on the call?¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t take the bait but instead asked, ¡°Do you have anyst words?¡± At this moment, Qing Chen felt that it was very difficult to obtain any more useful information. Liu Dezhu was stunned, then immediately burst into tears, ¡°Boss, are you asking me for myst words?¡± Qing Chen countered, ¡°Do I still need to keep you? Do you think you are worth keeping?¡± As he spoke, Liu Dezhu wished he could kneel down directly to Qing Chen, ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve brought all the gold bars I previously hid in my mouth, and I promise that I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly to serving you in the future. Please don¡¯t kill me, I can be useful! I could be your decoy to attract Time Travelers from all over the country, I could be your Puppet to win them over!¡± Liu Dezhu was acutely aware of one thing ¨C even if the boss decided to kill him now, he would probably not face any legal consequences. Nobody in the Outer World would know how he died! Qing Chen stood up, ¡°It¡¯s toote to say these things now. Remember, when you do something wrong, there will always be consequences. Although you are just a high school sophomore and have not experienced the harsh realities of society, nor do you understand how dangerous this world is, since you¡¯ve entered this game, you must learn some rules.¡± With that, he stood up and walked out as if nothing had happened. In silence, Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao seemed to understand without words, walking into the confinement room. They carried Liu Dezhu to the ck box where Qing Chen had undergone his test. Of course, this was just Qing Chen¡¯s way of scaring him. Liu Dezhu couldn¡¯t die yet, but he had to be punished. ¡­ Thank you to the student who reads books and ys games every day for bing a new ally of this book. The boss is generous, may the boss make a fortune! Chapter 100: 100. Find the Mole Chapter 100: 100. Find the Mole In the sealed ck box, Qing Chen had movies to watch and a strong will to endure, but Liu Dezhu absolutely could not bear it. ording to Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s estimate, this guy would break down after more than 48 hours. To be honest, if any other sophomore were in Liu Dezhu¡¯s position, they certainly wouldn¡¯t be stronger than him. However, this guy was greedy and fearful of death; if he weren¡¯t just an ordinary high school student, he possibly deserved a more dire fate. In Qing Chen¡¯s view, if this guy had stopped goofing around a few hours earlier and checked themunicator, the incident at Laojun Mountain would have never happened. In the dim corridor, Liu Dezhu¡¯s pleas for mercy echoed, but Qing Chen was utterly unmoved. As Lin Xiaoxiao said, he had already crossed the hardest hurdle in his mind, knowing now how to face that cruel, cold world. Uncle Li Dong said to him, ¡°Sometimes when we make decisions, we need to discard judgments based on worldly standards like ¡®cruel¡¯ or ¡®merciful.¡¯ On the journey of life, you only need to make the most correct decision.¡± Qing Chen sighed, ¡°But this Liu Dezhu has too many ws; sometimes, I really want to give up on him.¡± ¡°Give up? Why?¡± asked Uncle Li Dong with interest, ¡°If you were to choose a representative for the Outer World, then Liu Dezhu is quite suitable as of now. He has cunning and greed butcks decisiveness. Hecks courage but has vanity. If you choose someone decisive, ambition-driven, self-disciplined, and courageous, would they willingly be your puppet?¡± Qing Chen seemed thoughtful. Uncle Li Dong asked, ¡°Alright, the first matter has been resolved; what¡¯s the second one?¡± ¡°Resolve a long-standing grudge, ask a question,¡± Qing Chen said. ¡­ Countdown 163:00:00. Just five hours had passed since this time travel, the sky above was grayish-white, about to wee the first light of dawn. In the Ninth District of City 7, a young man was pushing a wheelchair with a long-haired girl whose legs were injured sitting in it. They walked under the buildings on the dim streets, which looked like another worldpared to the brilliant holographic neon above in the sky. The damp ground made a ¡®pitter-patter¡¯ sound as their shoes contacted the surface while walking. Graffiti was everywhere on the buildings beside the road; homeless people covered with stic sheets were sleeping, surrounded by piles of garbage. There were also rusted, yellowing, and unmaintained pipes. This was the bottomyer of Cyber City, everything looking so downcast and decrepit. Rebellion slogans and a decaying smell were omnipresent. shing with the world above the sky. The girl quietly surveyed her surroundings, her expression somewhat panicky and fearful. The young man pushed the girl past two streets, seemingly avoiding something. ¡°Wang Yun,¡± a cold voice came from behind them. Wang Yun suddenly turned around, startled to see Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen also seated in wheelchairs, theirplexions still weak and pallid. The person pushing the wheelchairs was a Time Traveler hired by the Hu and Zhang families. Although these individuals couldn¡¯t solve the troubleing from the Chen n, they managed some more routine matters. Hu Xiaoniu asked softly, ¡°Thest time you returned, you left alone because you were afraid this scene would happen today, weren¡¯t you?¡± Wang Yun pursed her lips and said nothing. ording to the n, she was to join a convoy and travel across the vast Jianghuai in outside the city, heading to City 3 along the edge of the Taboo Land at Road 119. This deviated from their original n to go to City 18, but she had no choice but to leave as soon as possible. And this escape route was also something her parents had spent a lot of money on in the Outer World. At that moment, Wang Yun looked at Hu Xiaoniu with immense panic, ¡°How did you find me?¡± Hu Xiaoniu calmly exined, ¡°You were waiting for the Time Traveler hired by your n to meet you and help you escape in the vehicle. By chance, before I traveled here, I found one of them and paid double the price to learn your whereabouts. It was easier to find them than to find you.¡± After speaking, the young man behind Wang Yun whispered an apology and then released the wheelchair, silently leaving. In the narrow space between buildings, on a dimly lit narrow path, the injured girl sat alone in her wheelchair. ¡°What do you want?¡± Wang Yun asked quietly. ¡°Why betray us?¡± Hu Xiaoniu asked with low emotion, ¡°We¡¯ve been ssmates and friends for over a year.¡± Wang Yun countered, ¡°Then what did I do wrong that made you guys choose to ostracize me from that day on?¡± Hu Xiaoniu knew that Wang Yun was referring to the night they were caught at Jiang Xue¡¯s Home. At that time, Wang Yun had awakened earlier, so she was the first to be interrogated by the kidnappers. She couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure and revealed that all four of them were Time Travelers, even breaking down in tears begging for mercy. Latterly, the other three woke up and witnessed Wang Yun begging for mercy. Hu Xiaoniu hesitated and then said, ¡°We didn¡¯t ostracize you. Everyone just didn¡¯t talk much to you because they felt you must be suffering inside, so they left you alone to cool off, with no intention of ming you. Later, you let Bai Waner suggest a change in the itinerary, and everyone thought you just wanted to leave the painful ce to clear your mind, so we immediately changed the n.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°Don¡¯t give me that pretense,¡± Wang Yun sitting on the ground, tears slowly streaming down her face, ¡°Maybe you didn¡¯t look down on me, but Bai Waner did. The day after the incident, she told me she wanted to move out and live alone. She said she couldn¡¯t live with someone who had betrayed her own!¡± Hu Xiaoniu was silent. Wang Yun¡¯s voice grew louder, ¡°I was just the first to wake up, so I was the first to be interrogated. Do you think only I couldn¡¯t withstand the interrogation? It just wasn¡¯t your turn yet. If you were interrogated, you wouldn¡¯t have withstood it either. What right do you have to look down on me?!¡± By the end, her voice had sunk again, ¡°I just wanted you to experience the same thing, so you wouldn¡¯t have any right to despise me from on high.¡± Wang Yun couldn¡¯t bear the sight of her own disgrace being witnessed, so when someone approached her afterwards and promised a bright future, she was tempted. Zhang Tianzhen suddenly asked, ¡°Then why did you go to extremes, even telling the kidnappers about Xiao Niu having two cell phones? I can asionally understand your feelings, but your actions were not merely about gaining psychological bnce, right? There were benefits driving you too.¡± Just then, many footsteps approached from outside the small path, and several men in ck quickly appeared. They were somewhat surprised by the scene on the small path, but they still stood behind Wang Yun. The other Time Travelers hired by Wang Yun¡¯s family had arrived. In a moment, both sides formed a standoff. Wang Yun¡¯s people were more numerous than expected, Hu Xiaoniu¡¯s side had only 3 people, but the other side had received reinforcements of 6 people. Wang Yun finally felt a sense of security,posed herself, and looked at Zhang Tianzhen, ¡°Yes, I indeed did it for some benefits, benefits neither you nor Liu Dezhu could offer me. Now please step aside. After today, we are still ssmates.¡± Behind Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, the three Time Travelers hired by their families exchanged looks, all showing signs of backing down. The Hu Family and Zhang Family indeed provided some money aspensation in the Outer World, but it was not worth risking their lives over. Chapter 101: 101. Taboo ACE-017 Chapter 101: 101. Taboo ACE-017 Zhang Tianzhen looked nervously at Hu Xiaoniu, but thetter did not intend to retreat, just stubbornly staring at the girl in front of him. The Time Traveler hired by the Wang Family slowly advanced, the atmosphere bing incredibly tense. Still, Hu Xiaoniu did not back down. Wang Yun turned her head as if she could hardly bear it, and in the end, she whispered to Hu Xiaoniu, ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more chance. We were friends before, don¡¯t make me do this.¡± Hu Xiaoniu slowly said, ¡°You¡¯re just a selfish person, aren¡¯t you? Whether it¡¯s betraying us or now wanting to kill us, you¡¯re just finding excuses for yourself to cover up your hypocrisy. I could retreat today, but I¡¯d rather show you through my actions that if I¡¯m the first to wake up and be interrogated, I won¡¯t sumb. Your people are right here, let¡¯s prove it with facts.¡± Hu Xiaoniu continued, ¡°I really want to back down, but these past two days, every time I fall into a groggy sleep, I dream of a friend from Kunlun shouting to hurry and leave. I dream that this friend stubbornly blocks the door, watching us escape one by one before closing his eyes with a smile. I, Hu Xiaoniu, am not particrly strong-willed, but if I back down today, I fear I won¡¯t be able to sleep ever again!¡± Wang Yun said softly, ¡°You¡¯re forcing me. Kill them.¡± But before the people behind her could react, a strange sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the narrow alley. The footsteps grew from distant to near, sometimes seeming to be on the left, yet the next step would be on the right, and at one moment, everyone felt the footsteps were right behind them. But when everyone turned back, they saw no one. Gradually, a figure at the end of the small road became clearer. A man in his thirties, as if oblivious to everyone else, entered amid them all. He calmly surveyed the tense surroundings and quietly asked Wang Yun, ¡°You are Wang Yun, right? Easier to find than I expected.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Wang Yun was stunned, ¡°Who are you?¡± The man was dressed in a ck coat, beneath which was a neat suit, with an old-fashioned pocket watch that seemed out of ce in the cyber age pinned to his chest. His hair was half-long,bed back, and tied into a small bun. He wore a pair of ck leather gloves. When his fingers moved, the friction from the leather made a creaking sound. ¡°I?¡± the man pondered, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since someone asked me who I am. So, let me introduce myself. Heng Society, Li Dongze.¡± As he spoke, dense footsteps also came from several alleys outside the path, seemingly encircling the narrow road. Li Dongze stood on the path, as if everything revolved around him. Wang Yun whispered in shock, ¡°Heng Society¡¯s Li Dongze?¡± ¡°This kind of exmation is quitemon. But let¡¯s not dwell on that,¡± Li Dongze thought for a moment. ¡°The boss sent me to ask you a question¡ªwho exactly is the mastermind behind this kidnapping case? Think carefully, I must have an answer today.¡± Wang Yun was stunned, she spoke hesitantly, ¡°I really don¡¯t know who it is. The day after the incident at Jiang Xue¡¯s home, a letter suddenly appeared in my bag. The envelope had a Devil¡¯s Stamp on it, and the letter said he would contact me. I was very scared because I didn¡¯t even notice when the envelope was slipped into my bag. Someone with such divine skills could easily kill me!¡± ¡°Understood, it¡¯s Taboo ACE-017,¡± Li Dongze nodded. Wang Yun asked timidly, ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯re here for?¡± Li Dongze nodded calmly, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m here to kill you.¡± Wang Yun¡¯s expression began to slowly change,plex as if a palette of oil colors had been spilled on the ground. ¡°What have I done wrong!¡± she suddenly burst out hysterically. ¡°Why do you all want to kill me!?¡± Li Dongze thought for a moment, ¡°I don¡¯t know either. The boss just said to kill you; I didn¡¯t ask why.¡± Having said that, he raised his hand in a feigned grip. The next moment, Wang Yun felt like the air around her was being sucked away, as if she had entered aplete vacuum. Her blood vessels burst one by one under the skin due to some inexplicable pulling force. Swift. Direct. ¡­ Meanwhile, Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve fulfilled the exchange condition I owed you. Li Dongze should have already killed that insider you mentioned.¡± Qing Chen was stunned for a moment, ¡°Wait, are you saying Li Dongze took action personally?¡± In his impression, Li Dongze was a high-status figure in the Inner World, after all, he was someone who could reserve the entire Sunlight Pavillion Restaurant. It seemed excessive for him to personally kill Wang Yun. By his side, Lin Xiaoxiao cheerfully said, ¡°Li Dongze is the closest person to the boss. Whenever the boss wants someone killed, he always does it himself. He values rtionships a lot.¡± A few minutester, Lin Xiaoxiao¡¯s reader suddenly received a message containing only the letters and numbers ACE-017. ¡°Your reader can still receive external information?¡± Qing Chen asked, puzzled. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m in charge of helping the boss make contact with the outside world,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao cheerfully said. ¡°It seems like the mastermind contacted Wang Yun via ACE-017. This should solve your puzzle. This person behind the scenes is no simple character, managing to acquire a taboo object in such a short time.¡± ¡°What is ACE-017? A code for a taboo object? What does it do?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Ah, the taboo object ACE-017 is also called the Devil¡¯s Stamp,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao said. ¡°Once obtained, it requires a one-time feed of 1600CC of fresh blood, allowing it to recognize its master and parasitize the chest of the host. Within the first 24 hours, no foreign blood should appear in the host¡¯s body. Afterwards, each time the host cuts a finger and drops blood onto an envelope, the blood will turn into the pattern of the Devil¡¯s Stamp. Then, the envelope will go to any destination you want it to reach. However, it seems there¡¯s a limit to this destination, and you can only write one sentence.¡± Qing Chen was taken aback. Normal humans would show symptoms like paleplexion, cold sweats, and cold limbs when losing 800CC of blood, and losing more than 1500CC would lead to insufficient blood supply to the brain. This was a matter of life and death. That meant, to be the master of the Devil¡¯s Stamp, one had to gamble with their life. Seeing what Qing Chen was thinking, Lin Xiaoxiao exined, ¡°It¡¯s said that the stamp¡¯s pattern changes, and if someone doesn¡¯t survive the 24 hours, the Devil¡¯s Stamp¡¯s pattern will resemble the deceased¡¯s face. Some say, it¡¯s the soul being collected by the stamp.¡± Ye Wan nodded, ¡°This taboo item was previously in the hands of the 4th President. Later, in hister years, he was killed, and the Devil¡¯s Stamp went missing.¡± Suddenly, Qing Chen thought that Wang Yun bing an insider could also be partly due to being frightened by this letter. But that was not an excuse for his betrayal. ¡°Does this stamp have any other functions?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Like evoking the recipient¡¯s evil thoughts or dark side?¡± ¡°What are you thinking,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao countered. ¡°I don¡¯t know; I¡¯ve never seen this thing. However, the abilities of taboo objects are mostly singr; perhaps the Devil¡¯s Stamp only has the function of sending letters. Only a few taboo items have multiple abilities.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Qing Chen was curious. ¡°Like¡­ what Guo Huchan is looking for, ACE-005,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Qing Chen and winked. Chapter 102: 102. The code of the Taboo Chapter 102: 102. The code of the Taboo The magic of taboo items lies in the fact that their rules are impartial to everyone, not fussy about the host¡¯s quality or mindset, whether they are righteous or evil. As long as one can grasp their containment conditions, one can make them serve oneself. Steam trains that can reach any destination, Devil¡¯s Stamps that can send letters to any ce. They are like the special cases in the world¡¯s rules, both favored by the world and a representation of cmity. Possessing even one such thing seems to bring a great advantage to oneself. ¡°Teacher,¡± Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, ¡°I used the Breathing Technique continuously during the battle without any interruption.¡± Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen, ¡°Without a single interruption?¡± One must know that breathing is a human instinct; when you do not consciously remind yourself, the breathing frequency will proceed instinctively, rather than ording to the Breathing Technique. Thus, this was somewhat surprising to Uncle Li Dong because it also took him over a year of practice to gradually keep the Breathing Technique constant.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om It is only at that moment that the candidate Knight can go through the life-and-death challenge. Because during the assessment, the Breathing Technique must not stop for an instant; even a single pause in breathing is considered aplete waste of effort. Qing Chen continued, ¡°After the battle ended, I felt an extreme sense of calm as if I were in a tranquilke. I think that might be the effect of arge secretion of endorphins.¡± ¡°Hmm, your guess is correct,¡± Uncle Li Dong nodded. Qing Chen then asked, ¡°But after the battle ended, I felt my bones and muscles seemed to be undergoing changes, and casually moving would cause snapping sounds within my body. What¡¯s that about?¡± Uncle Li Dong suddenly looked at him seriously, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Qing Chen nodded. Uncle Li Dong paced back and forth in the prison courtyard, deep in thought. He said to Qing Chen, ¡°Your situation has never been encountered by anyone in the Knight Organization; you¡¯ve just gotten a hold of the Breathing Technique, and there is already Qi within your body, and even without going through any life-and-death challenges, there are already signs of the Gic Lock opening.¡± The so-called life-and-death challenges are always about specific tests. No other than these eight tests will do. In the past, other Knights had tried to find an alternative way, thinking that since unlocking the Gic Lock¡¯s key was obtained through using the Breathing Technique in life-and-death crises and extreme hardships. Would it be possible to avoid a certain life-and-death challenge by experiencing almost the same hardships, dangers, and pains? Because the great sea turned into the Forbidden Sea, the predecessors of the Knights tried one after another to forge a new path for those who woulde after, hoping uing generations would not have to repeat their regrets due to uncontroble factors. But everyone failed. No matter how much everyone tried, there was never a sign of the Gic Lock loosening. At the moment, the crackling sounds Qing Chen spoke of in his bones were the clear signs of the Gic Lock loosening! Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen and said, ¡°Get ready, I¡¯m going to take you out for another trip. I wanted to wait a bit longer, but now we can move the n ahead.¡± ¡°Where to this time? The lower levels of City 18?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°No,¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°This time, the ce I¡¯m taking you to is one most Time Travelers probably don¡¯t have the opportunity to visit now.¡± Qing Chen realized that it seemed because he had shown signs of the Gic Lock opening prematurely, so his teacher had also moved up a certain n. ¡­ ¡°` Countdown 160:40:00. 7:20 a.m. The prison was now devoid of the sound of prisoners banging on the alloy gates, which Qing Chen was still not quite ustomed to. Because of the training he needed over the past two days, the inmates had been obediently staying in their cells. After experiencing two nights of the ¡°Game of Searching Spleens,¡± everyone was still in a state of anxious panic. Each of them was as docile as a quail, afraid that something unfortunate might happen to them. Qing Chen casually asked Lin Xiaoxiao, who was beside him, ¡°By the way, I¡¯m not exactly full of womanlypassion, but I do wonder if this impact might not be too good? After all, we¡¯re talking about more than three thousand people.¡± ¡°Actually, this isn¡¯t much, considering he¡¯s the sole survivor of the Knights. What the boss is doing right now isn¡¯t as extreme as it could be. If it was Chen Jiazhang in charge, it might be crazier,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao shrugged. Qing Chen, puzzled, asked, ¡°And who is this Chen Jiazhang?¡± ¡°The boss¡¯s senior, Chen Jiazhang,¡± Ye Wan answered. ¡°But he¡¯s been missing for a long time. It¡¯s said that he was never able toplete the seventh life-and-death challenge, so he went off to cultivate on his own.¡± To tell the truth, it was the first time Qing Chen had heard the name Chen Jiazhang. He had always thought there was no one else left in the Knight Organization. He looked at Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan in wonder, ¡°Is there anything else that I should know but don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± said Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°the boss also has a junior named Wang Xiaojiu. But she¡¯s quite young, only a little girl. Eight years ago, the boss took her as a disciple on behalf of his teacher. She seems to have just passed her fifth life-and-death challenge.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± Qing Chen asked with an expressionless face. ¡°That¡¯s all, that¡¯s all,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao cheerfully said, ¡°There are some things we can¡¯t remember right off the bat. We¡¯ll tell you more as we think of them.¡± ¡°This is too unreliable,¡± Qing Chen sighed. Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, then changed the subject, ¡°Things in the prison will definitely go back to normal eventually, at least they can¡¯t keep missing several meals because they¡¯re hungry. But don¡¯t feel sorry for them. What Guo Huchan said wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªaside from a few, every one of these guys deserves to die a lot more than they have.¡± ¡°Deserve to die a lot more than they have?¡± Qing Chen questioned, ¡°Is that an exaggeration?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao shook his head, ¡°those who arrive here are all heavy criminals. Do you remember the convict with the red mechanical arm, the one whose hair looks like a bird¡¯s nest?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Qing Chen nodded. Lin Xiaoxiao continued, ¡°That bastard killed more than ten people on the outside and trafficked children¡¯s corneas. Even saying they deserve to die a lot more than they have doesn¡¯t satisfy the anger. But the currentws of the Federation have no death penalty, so they just get sentenced to more than a hundred years, which is meaningless.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there people like Liu Dezhu who take the me for others?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Oh, for people like that, we¡¯ll gradually investigate. For example, we¡¯ll find a way to transfer someone like Liu Dezhu to other prisons. Lu Guangyi is actually in the same situation. If it weren¡¯t for Qing¡¯s Family arranging for him, he would have been transferred long before,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao exined, ¡°With your memory power, you must have noticed. Though prisoners are continuously brought in, the total number is decreasing.¡± Indeed, when Qing Chen first came in, there were 3102 people in Prison 18. Now there are only 3009 left. But this exnation only further confused Qing Chen, as he realized Lin Xiaoxiao was intentionally leaving behind those who ¡®deserve to die a lot more than they have.¡¯ It surely wasn¡¯t for the purpose of raising gu, was it? When Qing Chen inquired further about the matter, Lin Xiaoxiao did not answer anymore. ¡­ I¡¯m begging for monthly votes! I¡¯m begging for monthly votes! We¡¯re just 900 votes away from making it into the top three! ¡°` Chapter 103: 103. New Time Traveler Chapter 103: 103. New Time Traveler Countdown 159:00:00. The prisoners were still confined in their cells. Because Qing Chen still had one important thing left undone: Early this morning, more than thirty neers arrived all at once, and Ye Wan had just finished interrogating each one of them. This was originally Lu Guangyi¡¯s job, but now, to keep the outside world from knowing that Qing Chen had be a student of Uncle Li Dong, Lu Guangyi too had to stay honestly in the cell. Ye Wan returned to the dining table and said, ¡°In this batch of neers, there seem to be quite a few Time Travelers. Out of 37 people, 5 couldn¡¯t ount for their origins in the Outer World. Two tried to bluff their way through, iming they lived in District 7 of City 18. They could describe anyndmark building there, but became vague when it came to their family rtions.¡± Qing Chen sighed, ¡°Now, Time Travelers have gotten smarter. Once they notice the countdown on their arm, they quickly rely on inte information to fabricate an identity for themselves to avoid being discovered immediately after time traveling.¡± By now, various organizations in the Inner World had started to investigate ¡®Time Travelers,¡¯ and moreover, most organizations didn¡¯t treat Time Travelers kindly. For instance, in the two cities controlled by the Jindai Group, Time Travelers were very unlucky. Since they all traveled from the Ind Country, nearly all of them couldn¡¯t speak Mandarin. One by one, the Time Travelers had been identified and then put under concentrated surveince. ording to the news, there was now a craze for learning Mandarin in the Outer World¡¯s Ind Country, with the cost of a Mandarin ss reaching hundreds of thousands of yen. The situation was simr in the territory of the Deer Ind Group, only the Lee family of Deer Ind spoke Korean. Head of the Lee family of Deer Ind, Li Bingzhe, and Head of the Li Family of the Central ins, Li Xiurui, were twopletely unrted ns, with Tong Yun currently in the Central ins Li Family. At this moment, Time Travelers, whether in the Outer World or the Inner World, were not very safe. So much that every Time Traveler acted like they were spies, desperately hiding their identities to avoid fatal danger. ¡°How are we going to handle these five Time Travelers?¡± Ye Wan asked, ¡°We could just transfer them directly to another prison.¡± Qing Chen thought for a moment, ¡°Bring them to the interrogation room. I¡¯ll ask them some questions one by one; maybe there will be someone we can cooperate with. And since we all lived in the same city in the Outer World, it would be easier to recognize themter.¡± ¡­ The interrogation room was a dull, gray room, its walls made of alloy construction, and the ceiling¡¯s harsh white LED light arrays emitted a blinding brilliance, instilling an unconscious fear in any prisoner within. On one wall, there was even arge metal one-way mirror embedded. Qing Chen stood calmly next to it, and from his angle, the mirror waspletely transparent, allowing him to see the unsettled Time Travelers inside. However, this mirror was somewhat different from those in the Outer World. It also disyed the Time Travelers¡¯ body temperature, heart rate, and breathing frequency, with those fluctuating numbers changing every second. This was to aid the interrogators in observing the prisoners¡¯ conditions. Ye Wan brought a Time Traveler into the interrogation room, and Qing Chenughed the moment he saw the neer ¡ª wasn¡¯t this Yu Junyi, the studymittee member from his ss?!N?v(el)B\\jnn From behind the one-way mirror, using a Breathing Technique to alter his voice, Qing Chen asked, ¡°Name.¡± Yu Junyi, sitting on the chair cautiously, said, ¡°Yu Junyi.¡± ¡°Gender.¡± ¡°Male.¡± ¡°What was your identity in the Outer World?¡± ¡°Officer, I was just an ordinary student there,¡± Yu Junyi said fearfully, ¡°a high school sophomore.¡± He mistook the interrogator for a prison guard because he called him an officer. After all, he couldn¡¯t imagine a scenario where a prisoner was questioning another prisoner. Qing Chen suddenly asked, ¡°Do you still have other Time Travelers around you?¡± Yu Junyi answered, ¡°Yes, there are 6, one is named Nan¡­¡± At this point, Yu Junyi suddenly stopped speaking. ¡°Why did you stop talking,¡± Qing Chen asked. He was thinking that the six Yu Junyi mentioned must be Nan Gengchen, Liu Dezhu, Hu Xiaoniu, Wang Yun, Bai Waner, and Zhang Tianzhen. Indeed, probably only Nan Gengchen believed that he was well hidden¡­ Yu Junyi answered, ¡°I have no Time Travelers around me, sir.¡± ¡°You want to protect them, don¡¯t you? You¡¯re afraid that if you reveal their names, you will expose their identity as Time Travelers?¡± Qing Chen asked. Yu Junyi didn¡¯t speak; that was indeed what he thought. The news in the Outer World these days also said that once Time Travelers exposed their identities, most of them didn¡¯t end well. Therefore, he didn¡¯t want to implicate his ssmates. Qing Chen asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of my harsh interrogation? This is a prison, killing one or two people wouldn¡¯t make any difference.¡± Yu Junyi¡¯s mind was racing. He definitely didn¡¯t want to be tortured, and he knew all too well how terrifying that could be, but he also didn¡¯t want to betray his ssmates. Suddenly, Yu Junyi looked up and asked, ¡°May I ask, is this Prison 18?¡± Qing Chen calmly replied, ¡°Yes, it is.¡± Yu Junyi recalled what Liu Dezhu had bragged about on the bus earlier. The other party had said that Uncle Li Dong here was no different from the Warden, and Liu Dezhu was now a favorite of this big shot! Moreover, at that time, a ssmate had asked Liu Dezhu: Does Uncle Li Dong know you are a Time Traveler? Liu Dezhu¡¯s answer was: He knows, but he doesn¡¯t care! At this moment, Yu Junyi clung to a lifeline, ¡°Sir! I am a ssmate of Liu Dezhu, one of your own people!¡± Lin Xiaoxiao looked towards Qing Chen, and Qing Chen¡¯s expression turned strange¡­ Honestly, he hadn¡¯t expected such a twist. Just how much had Liu Dezhu bragged about himself to make Yu Junyi think that by just mentioning that guy¡¯s name in this prison, he could get off scot-free¡­? Qing Chen pondered for a moment; he suddenly had a new n. The status of Liu Dezhu in the prison had always been blown out of proportion by the man himself, which was one-sided. Now, Qing Chen could find someone to corroborate that for him. He had Ye Wan take Yu Junyi back to his cell, then summoned four other Time Travelers for interrogation. However, disappointingly, these remaining four were just ordinary employees of privatepanies and didn¡¯t have much utility. ¡°There¡¯s still use in keeping them now. Once I finish up my tasks, I¡¯ll have them transferred to another prison,¡± Qing Chen told Lin Xiaoxiao. Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled in response, ¡°I really do want to see the expression on the faces of those people in the Outer World when they one day discover your role in these matters. I wish I could travel through time to see that.¡± Qing Chen asked, ¡°By the way, how is Liu Dezhu doing?¡± ¡°Oh, this guy has even less backbone than I expected. He was on the verge of breaking down just nine hours in,¡± Lin Xiaoxiao replied: ¡°I¡¯ll send him back to his previous solitary confinement soon.¡± Qing Chen was speechless. If not for his concern that appointing Nan Gengchen as his proxy would bring the young man danger, he would definitely make Liu Dezhu rot in jail. However, having said that, now that Nan Gengchen knew his true identity, it made him unsuitable to be a proxy because his own identity might be exposed during an interrogation. It wasn¡¯t that Qing Chen didn¡¯t trust Nan Gengchen, but an interrogation is inherently a cruel affair, and very few could withstand it. Liu Dezhu, however, was different. Even if someone caught him, they could only learn that someone was still pulling the strings behind the scenes, but couldn¡¯t figure out exactly who. Chapter 104: 104, the problem is not big Chapter 104: 104, the problem is not big In the quiet solitary confinement cell, Liu Dezhu quietly curled up in the corner. The terror of the small dark room is understood only by those who have truly experienced it, a torment to the soul. The alloy gate in front of him slowly opened, and Liu Dezhu nkly looked up at the figure in front, the mysterious person wearing the Cat Mask. ¡°I know, every person has their little schemes,¡± Qing Chen calmly said, ¡°But greed can harm others and oneself. This time is just to let you understand what the price of betrayal and deception is. Next time, it won¡¯t be so simple. What I give you, you can take; what I don¡¯t give you, you must not steal.¡± Liu Dezhu¡¯s eyes gradually regained some luster, ¡°Boss, as long as you don¡¯t kill me, everything is negotiable!¡± Before, Liu Dezhu almost thought he would die today. However, the punishment hadn¡¯t ended, at least in Qing Chen¡¯s view, it shouldn¡¯t end this easily. He was very aware that he was facing a cruel world, so he must also make Liu Dezhu fully realize this. Qing Chen said calmly, ¡°In my opinion, looking at the whole situation this time, if you had checked themunicator in time, those two from Kunlun might not have died. So, this punishment is still not enough.¡± With that, he waved his hand for Ye Wan to hold down Liu Dezhu, then Qing Chen personally covered Liu Dezhu¡¯s face with a towel and poured a bucket of cold water over him. Liu Dezhu struggled furiously, but no matter how much he struggled, it was useless. Not until he gradually weakened did Qing Chen finally lift the towel to let him cough out the water. ¡°Boss, I know I was wrong,¡± Liu Dezhu cried out, ¡°I really understand now.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The expression on Qing Chen¡¯s face remained unchanged. Before Liu Dezhu could catch his breath, Ye Wan once again held him down, and the water torture was repeated. Qing Chen poured the water little by little onto the towel until Liu Dezhu nearly wet himself, and only then did the punishment stop. This time, Liu Dezhu was truly frightened. He choked for quite a while before he could breathe and cry out, ¡°Boss, I really regretted it when I went home. Every time I think of the two heroes from Kunlun, I hate myself for being weak, I really know I was wrong!¡± Qing Chen looked at him coldly through the Cat Mask. This was the first time he had inflicted punishment on another person, and for a normal person, even the act of punishing was an ordeal. But he was learning, learning how to be ruthless, learning how to be a true beast. ¡°Now I need you to do something,¡± Qing Chen said, ¡°Number 18 Prison has received a few more Time Travelers, I need you to put on a show for them.¡± Liu Dezhu timidly asked, ¡°Boss, what do you need me to do?¡± ¡°Make them believe that you really hold a high position here,¡± Qing Chen answered. Liu Dezhu said pitifully, ¡°Boss, I can¡¯t act.¡± After thinking for a moment, Qing Chen said to Lin Xiaoxiao, ¡°Get me a miniature earpiece, let him wear it, I¡¯ll direct his performance.¡± ¡­ Countdown 157:00:00. At 10 a.m., one-fifth of the prison cells quietly opened. The more than six hundred prisoners were randomly selected; only after they had eaten and returned to their cells would another random group of six hundred plus be let out to eat. This was a new rule changed by Qing Chen. When Lin Xiaoxiao asked him why he did this. Qing Chen answered, ¡°Teacher will probably take me out for a long time this time, and with my consortium background, I¡¯m too conspicuous here. If I disappear, someone will definitely notice. By letting the prisoners eat in batches, they won¡¯t be able to tell who is missing.¡± In this way, the forces outside would not be able to identify his identity. They couldn¡¯t keep the prisoners locked up without food indefinitely, so the current method was the best choice. At this moment. Uncle Li Dong sat quietly at the dining table, looking at ssical music scores, while Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao chatted while eating, discussing current events outside: it was said that the old man from the Deer Ind family secretly extended his life again; it was said that the old master from the Lee family had no ns to force a life extension, and might not have much time left¡­ At this table, only one person seemed out of ce: Liu Dezhu. This guy sat opposite Uncle Li Dong, looking around curiously with an inquisitive face. Though he¡¯d been transnted directly to Number 18 Prison, to be honest, he hadn¡¯t had the chance to really take a good look around here¡­ The prisoners queued up for their food, and seeing such a stranger sit opposite Uncle Li Dong, they were all quite intrigued. After all, not just anyone could sit face-to-face with Uncle Li Dong. One of the prisoners with a good memory suddenly recalled something and muttered in a low voice, ¡°We¡¯ve seen this chap before, he¡¯s the idiot who said he was going to find Boss Lee to get a task, and even told Lin Xiaoxiao that he¡¯s one of us.¡± ¡°So he really is one of us¡­¡± one of the prisoners remarked emotionally. ¡°Wait a second,¡± another prisoner realized something: ¡°We were guessing during dinner time about who was using us for practice.¡± ¡°Yeah, the one holding us down must have been Ye Wan, and the one Ye Wan taught must be him!¡± Liu Dezhu looked around bewildered at some people secretly pointing at him, utterly clueless as to what was going on¡­ He vaguely sensed that the mysterious big shot might have pinned a huge ck pot on his head again. Suddenly, Uncle Li Dong looked up at him and asked, ¡°Do you still find the food to your liking?¡± Liu Dezhu was ttered: ¡°It¡¯s to my liking.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao asked from the side, ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ll have the kitchen prepare some real meat for you, just order whatever you want to eat.¡± As the other prisoners lined up and came over, the three who had previously ignored Liu Dezhu suddenly became enthusiastic, while Qing Chen was nowhere to be seen. The next moment, someone in the crowd of prisoners excitedly called out, ¡°Liu Dezhu!¡± Liu Dezhu turned his head nkly, just in time to see Yu Junyi, the ss monitor from the neighboring ss; they had gone to Laojun Mountain together! At the same time, there were four others beside Yu Junyi who also came over. In an instant, Liu Dezhu had a revtion, these were the five Time Travelers the mysterious big shot talked about, and his task was to make them believe in his status in the Inner World! ¡°Er, did you time travel too?¡± Liu Dezhu adjusted his sitting posture and said with a nonchnt demeanor, ¡°Sit down and talk.¡± Yu Junyi looked at Ye Wan, Uncle Li Dong, and Lin Xiaoxiao next to him and hesitated, ¡°May I sit?¡± Liu Dezhu patted Lin Xiaoxiao on the side, ¡°That¡­move over a bit to give them some space.¡± Lin Xiaoxiao was momentarily stunned, nearly injuring his ego with thatment. Ye Wan, who was usually calm andposed and sitting across from him, almost burst outughing. However, before Ye Wan couldugh, Liu Dezhu suddenly said to him, ¡°That¡­could you move over too, thanks.¡± Ye Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Lin Xiaoxiao: ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, the expression on Liu Dezhu¡¯s face was almost tearful; he kept indicating with his eyes to the two big shots that it was all instructionsing through the earpiece¡­ It had nothing to do with him. Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao exchanged nces, deeply suspecting that Qing Chen was taking the opportunity to deliberately disgust them. Nevertheless, the two of them eventually got up and moved their seats slowly, with Lin Xiaoxiao saying with a half-hearted smile, ¡°Take your time chatting.¡± Uncle Li Dong stood up and went to the reading area, and before leaving, he said to Liu Dezhu, ¡°These people are your friends, right? So they¡¯re one of us. Have a good catch-up.¡± Seeing this, Yu Junyi felt emotional that Liu Dezhu indeed wasn¡¯t bragging! He took the lead and sat down next to Liu Dezhu, saying, ¡°Brother Liu, I didn¡¯t expect everything you said before to be true.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Liu Dezhu replied modestly. A middle-aged Time Traveler asked, ¡°The one who just left, was that Uncle Li Dong?¡± Liu Dezhu nodded: ¡°Yes, it was him.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so awesome, we actually met Uncle Li Dong!¡± someone eximed. Liu Dezhu maintained an enigmatic demeanor throughout. But inside, he was also overwhelmed by turmoil: Just how high in status must that mysterious big shot with the Cat Mask be to have these three willingly y along? In some respects, he was even more shocked than Yu Junyi and the others! Regaining hisposure, Liu Dezhu instructed Yu Junyi, ¡°That¡­when you get back, try not to spread the word, keep a low profile. But rest assured, with me here in this prison, no one dares to touch you.¡± Yu Junyi asked excitedly, ¡°Do I have a chance to be a Transcendent?¡± Liu Dezhu calmly replied, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Chapter 105: 105. Went out to play again Chapter 105: 105. Went out to y again Because they ate in batches, breakfast dragged on until noon. Throughout the meal, Liu Dezhu made a spectacle of himself at the dining table, capturing all the attention as if the more he performed, the more engrossed he became. Once all the prisoners had returned to their cells, everyone felt they had guessed the truth: there was now a big boss in the prison who was untouchable, and his status seemed to be above that of Ye Wan and Lin Xiaoxiao. Some prisoners with organizational ties had already started figuring out how to spread this news. The prison yard gradually returned to quietness, and Liu Dezhu turned his head, only to see Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan watching him expressionlessly. With a smack, Liu Dezhu knelt on the ground and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± This scene left Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wan bewildered. Lin Xiaoxiao muttered quietly, ¡°This ability to stoop and bow is quite suitable for an agent. Anyone with a bit of backbone or ambition wouldn¡¯t want to be a puppet.¡± Liu Dezhu tilted his head and removed a miniature earphone, hurriedly exining, ¡°All those things just now were instructions from the earphone, please don¡¯t mind it.¡± While speaking, Qing Chen, wearing a cat mask, walked out from the kitchen, ¡°The performance was a bit tense, but good enough to handle those new Time Travelers. Go back to your cell. There will be more acting required from youter. Remember what I said, greed will kill a person.¡± ¡°Understood, understood,¡± Liu Dezhu nodded vigorously. After Liu Dezhu had left, Uncle Li Dong, with a smiling face, walked back from the reading area, ¡°If I had walked overter, I couldn¡¯t have held back myughter. It¡¯s quite interesting, maybe this is the fun of staying behind the scenes.¡± Qing Chen removed his mask and looked at Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Teacher, thest task ispleted.¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°Not yet, there¡¯s still one left.¡± As he spoke, two mechanical prison guards approached Qing Chen and said, ¡°Prisoner 010101, you have a family visitation.¡± Qing Chen turned his head in astonishment; he did not expect Jindai Kongyin toe again so soon after he had declined herst visit. On the side, Uncle Li Dong said, ¡°Go on, we¡¯re going to be here for a while. Next time shees, I will have the guards refuse her visit directly. Who knows when you would see her again.¡± In the visitation room, Jindai Kongyin wore a gray pleated skirt that just reached her knees and, due to the colder weather, she also wore leggings. On her feet were a pair of ck leather shoes. This outfit made her look more her age, neen. Two years older than Qing Chen, but still far from maturity, she exuded a youthful vibe. When she saw Qing Chen enter the room with the mechanical prison guards, she quickly opened the two thermos boxes in front of her. One box contained exquisite sushi, and another was filled with grilled beef rice. Only when Qing Chen sat down across from her did Jindai Kongyin smile and say, ¡°Howe I didn¡¯t see youst time?¡± Qing Chen replied softly, ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened in the prison, but suddenly they locked all the prisoners in their own cells, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jindai Kongyin quickly shook her hand,ughing, ¡°What are you sorry about? It¡¯s not your fault. Let¡¯s eat! I made every piece of sushi myself!¡± ¡°Why bring two lunch boxes?¡± Qing Chen wondered, ¡°It seems like a bit much.¡± ¡°Becausest time I saw you ate everything so cleanly, it seemed like you hadn¡¯t had enough,¡± Jindai Kongyin said with a cheery smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, you finishing it all is apliment to me!¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Qing Chen didn¡¯t say much else, just lowered his head and ate. Across the table, Jindai Kongyin propped her chin and skewed her head to watch Qing Chen muttering, ¡°I don¡¯t know what impression he has of me, but he eats so elegantly.¡± (I don¡¯t know what he thinks of me, but his eating manners are very refined.) This time, Qing Chen pretended not to hear and was toozy to ask. This was just the first day across, and it would still be several days before he could solve the puzzle. Yet, she seemed to relish ying these little games. He pondered what her expression would be if she one day found out that he was also a Time Traveler and had tranted every word she said¡­ Actually, quietly watching someone show off has its aftereffects, like after he saved Nan Gengchen and the guy safely returned to Los Angeles City but didn¡¯t dare speak a word to him. Perhaps this is what they call social death. Inyman¡¯s terms, it means being too embarrassed to show your face. At that time, Jindai Kongyin said, ¡°Yesterday I visited some of the elders from Qing¡¯s Family, but it seemed like they didn¡¯t like you much. I memorized their names; one is named Qing Li, the other Qing Hui. They kept speaking ill of you! They even said they hoped the Jindai family could choose a different fianc¨¦, but I refused!¡± Qing Chen looked up at Jindai Kongyin, ¡°Why tell me this?¡± ¡°Because I think you¡¯re better than them,¡± Jindai Kongyin said with a smile. ¡°If anyone else speaks ill of you, I¡¯ll take note and tell you!¡± Qing Chen reflected, despite being a transparent, peripheral figure, why was he being targeted within his family? Was it because he had taken the Shadow candidate spot from the third house? It was possible. But he always felt there was a deeper reason, perhaps rted to someone having erased traces of his existence. Qing Chen looked at Jindai Kongyin earnestly and said, ¡°Thank you. Is there anything I need to do?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Jindai Kongyin quickly waved her hand. ¡°After youplete your task and get out of prison, you could invite me to dinner. By then, I might have already returned to the Jindai family. You¡¯re wee to visit.¡± There were still 3 years until the marriage agreement was due to be fulfilled, and during this time, Jindai Kongyin would still need to return to the north to live. The visitation time ended. As the girl left, she turned back and said with a smile, ¡°Qing Chen, I¡¯m returning to my family. I truly hope I can see you againter.¡± (Qing Chen, I¡¯m returning to my family, and I truly hope to see you again in the future.) Qing Chen noticed when the girl smiled, there was a small dimple on her right cheek, fresh like a blooming lily. ¡­ Countdown 144:00:00 Midnight, in Prison 18. ¡°How is your foot?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked. Qing Chen replied, ¡°The medicine Mother Ye applied hurt at first, but it¡¯s healing quite fast. The wound that would normally take a week to scab over has already done so today, though it still hurts a bit.¡± ¡°Can you walk?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked. Under normal circumstances, Qing Chen should have rested a few more days, especially since the injuries on his shoulder and foot had not healed yet. But Uncle Li Dong seemed unconcerned about these matters; he simply asked, ¡°Can you walk?¡± Qing Chen smiled, ¡°Yes.¡± Uncle Li Dong nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± With that, he walked into the dining area. Ye Wan arrived in front of the cold storage door and pushed open the heavy steel gate with effort. The cold air rushed toward him like fog and then settled slowly at his feet. Next, Ye Wan came to a freezing pool and punched through the iceyer over a meter thick, revealing a steel te underneath. He lifted the huge, heavy steel te to reveal a staircase leading down. ¡°This is a passage leading out of the prison,¡± Ye Wan said to Qing Chen. ¡°Very few people know about its existence, and it¡¯s the first time someone is using it to leave. No consortium knows about this path, and no one monitors it.¡± Speaking, Ye Wan pulled arge backpack from the corner and put it on Qing Chen, ¡°This contains the things you and the boss will need next.¡± The backpack was nearly as tall as a person, packed with numerous items. Qing Chen suddenly understood; this journey seemed like it would be a long one, longer than he had expected. Maybe when he returned, everything would be different. Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Teacher, aren¡¯t you taking a bag?¡± Uncle Li Dong led the way down the deep stairs, ¡°With a student here, there¡¯s no reason for a teacher to carry a bag, my stuff is in your bag.¡± Qing Chen followed behind him and asked, ¡°Teacher, where are we going?¡± The reply came from the darkness, ¡°To a ce that has be Taboo Land.¡± ¡­N?v(el)B\\jnn Begging for monthly votes, still 90 votes behind the top three! Chapter 106: 106, Wilderness Chapter 106: 106, Wilderness City 18 was adjacent to City 10. Two numerically nonconsecutive cities, yet geographically, they were only a little over two hundred kilometers apart. This was because the cities were not ordered by importance but by the sequence in which they were established. If the Federation were likened to a circle, then City 18 and City 10 together would form the circle¡¯s center. Of course, this metaphor wasn¡¯t urate, as the Federation was not a regr circle. Qing Chen had once asked Uncle Li Dong for a map of the Federation. It could be said that the map of the Outer World and the Inner World were not much different, except in the coastal areas. If these two worlds really were parallel worlds. Then the crust of the Inner World must have undergone violent movements to have transformed into its current state. City 18 corresponded to Los Angeles City, and City 10 to Zheng City. Regardless of whether it was in the Inner World or the Outer World, they were always in the Central ins. Without the strategic importance of coastal ports, City 7, corresponding to Haicheng, was nowhere near as prosperous as Haicheng in the Outer World. Within the Federation, the most prosperous cities were City 18 and City 10. City 18 was the economic center, and City 10 was the political center. One was in the west, the other in the east, known together as the Federation¡¯s Gemini. The line connecting them seemed to directly divide the north and south of the Federation. Countdown 96:00:00. Another midnight. About a hundred kilometers south of City 18, more than ten people were gathered around a campfire for warmth, with eight men and four women chatting andughing in the flickering mes. A cross of branches on the fire held an iron pot, in which a thick noodle soup bubbled and steamed. Someone pulled a piece of cured meat from their pocket and used a small knife to cut off several pieces and throw them into the pot. This was a small temporary campsite. Nearby, on an open ground, there were nine dark green canvas tents. The night wind was strong, and two old pickup trucks faced the wind to protect the small temporary camp from the fierce cold wind. It seemed like there were goods covered with canvas in the bed of the pickup trucks, but it was not visible what was inside. Windproof rocks were stacked near the campfire, yet despite this, the orange-red mes still flickered unsteadily. ¡°The thing that the employer wants us to catch is not easy to find, we¡¯ve been turning around this area for a month and haven¡¯t seen even one,¡± an elderly man by the campfire said: ¡°Why not, let¡¯s head to the edge of ¡®that ce¡¯, we don¡¯t necessarily have to go in, the edge isn¡¯t that dangerous, I¡¯ve been there years ago.¡± The old man was named Qin Cheng, and he was the leader of the group. The people around the campfire were mostly blood rtives. They worebat suits sourced from who knows where, some with patches on the elbows, knees, pant legs, and buttocks, and the sizes were sometimes a poor fit. ¡°Dad, is the price the buyer is offering worth the risk we are taking?¡± a young man asked. ¡°You know, the other side is offering 200,000,¡± the old man Qin Cheng wrapped tobo with his somewhat patchy mechanical hand, the nano-ted coating was king off his fingers: ¡°With that money, we can get you and Xiao Yi better mechanical limbs, enough to support one operation.¡± ¡°Dad, this isn¡¯t what we urgently need, and it¡¯s not worth risking our lives for,¡± the young man said. ¡°Hmm,¡± the old man plucked a half-burned stick from the fire and brought it to his lips to light his cigarette: ¡°The other party also promised a dose of Gic Potion, a box of BVC antibiotics. Your brother is reaching adulthood soon, our family should have someone less dependent on mechanical limbs, I want to get him some Gic Potion, it¡¯s a rare opportunity.¡± As the echo of his words faded, the young man beside him looked at his brother in disbelief, opening his mouth but speaking no more. A middle-aged woman next to Qin Cheng said, ¡°Xiao Tong, don¡¯t think your dad is biased. He wanted to get you one too back in the day, but he was deceived.¡± The young man, Qin Tong, paused to think and said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t overthink it. I didn¡¯t mean that. I have mechanical limbs, and my brother doesn¡¯t. If there¡¯s a Gic Potion for him, that¡¯s only fair. Plus, having the Gic Potion might make it easier for him to find a wife.¡± During their conversation, the sound of snapping dry branches suddenly came from the woods outside the camp. Old man Qin Cheng suddenly fell backward into a pile of fallen leaves. In an instant, he swiftly pulled out a handgun from his bosom, pointing it towards the source of the sound. This agile movement didn¡¯t seem like it came from someone of his age at all. Meanwhile, the others quickly left the side of the campfire and each found a tree trunk to hide behind. ¡°Hello, no offense meant.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om From outside the camp, a voice arrived first. In the darkness of the woods, two figures slowly emerged, both dressed in ck assault jackets. One was middle-aged, and the other a youth, who also carried arge backpack on his back. Both of them zipped up their jackets, and the raised cors covered much of their faces. The middle-aged man in the assault jacket raised his hands, smiling as he spoke, ¡°Just passing through. We saw you had a couple of cars that could break the wind, so we wanted to borrow a spot.¡± In saying so, the middle-aged man nced at the youth beside him. The youth then took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and tossed it near the campfire from a distance, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you disagree. The cigarettes are yours to keep; we¡¯ll leave.¡± Watching from the ground, old man Qin Cheng hesitated for a moment, then slowly stood up, his gun still loosely aimed at the two in front of him, ¡°From the city?¡± ¡°Yep, from City Number 10,¡± the middle-aged man chuckled. ¡°Where are you headed?¡± the old man asked cautiously. ¡°Don¡¯t know yet, just taking a walk,¡± the middle-aged continued. The old man pointed to an area about twenty meters away, ¡°You can camp over there, but you can¡¯te near us. If you want to borrow a spot, a pack of cigarettes isn¡¯t enough. Got any medicine?¡± ¡°We do,¡± replied the youth in the assault jacket, saying so as he also threw a small white bottle next to the campfire, seemingly prepared beforehand. This was hard currency in the wilderness. Having thrown it, the two then went to a nearby open space. At the campfire, a young girl watching the youth in the assault jacket whispered to Qin Tong beside her, ¡°Brother, that young man is quite handsome.¡± Qin Tong nced at the back of the youth, ¡°He¡¯s covering half of his face with that assault jacket, and you still think he¡¯s handsome?¡± The girl said, ¡°Some people can tell someone is handsome without seeing their whole face.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think about it too much,¡± Qin Tong added a couple of sticks to the fire, ¡°Did you see their jackets? Just those two jackets alone could trade for both of my mechanical limbs. These peoplee to the wilderness to travel, wee to survive. We¡¯re just from two different worlds.¡± The girl pouted, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried you might get entranced by such rich kids,¡± the young man spoke earnestly, ¡°Those wealthy folks living in the upper 3 district, not a single one is good news.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I get it,¡± the girl said impatiently. All the while, her gaze still lingered distantly on the youth. Chapter 107: 107, Middle-aged and Youth Chapter 107: 107, Middle-aged and Youth The wilderness night at the camp always brought a sense of novelty when a stranger arrived. Nearly everyone by the bonfire was sizing up the middle-aged man and the young man, more or less subtly. The young man threw his heavy backpack onto the ground with a thud, and everyone could tell from the sound just how heavy it was. The middle-aged man made no attempt to help; instead, he simply found a rock to sit on and waited for the young man to start a fire and cook. The girl always felt that this young man was not the kind of rich son described by her brother, but more like a servant to the middle-aged man. Old man Qin Cheng saw this and said, ¡°That young man is probably not some rich son. I can tell from the sound that the backpack must weigh at least 50 pounds. The nearest city is more than a hundred kilometers away, and the nearest Federation forward base is over forty kilometers away. Carrying 50 pounds for more than forty kilometers, which rich son from District 3 could endure such hardship?¡± By then, the young man had skilfully taken out a folding stool from his bag. The middle-aged man settled securely on the stool while the young man handed him an e-reader. By the bonfire, young Qin Tong suddenly hesitated, ¡°He really doesn¡¯t seem like a rich son.¡± During their conversation, the young man took a silver thermos out of his backpack, expertly brewed a cup of tea with its lid, and handed it to the middle-aged man. The middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction and continued to focus on the e-reader, as if oblivious to the world outside and intent solely on refreshing the news. It was only at this point that the young man seemed to finally catch his breath¡­ He sat on arge rock and rested for just a few seconds, then took a hatchet from his backpack, chopped down the thinnest tree trunk nearby, and collected some dry branches to pile up. He even deftly constructed a tripod from the branches over the pile of kindling and hung a small pot ready to cook. ¡°His camping skills are quite adept,¡± Qin Tong spoke up from the bonfire, ¡°But it¡¯s strange, the boy¡¯s skin is so fair, he must seldom venture into the wilderness.¡± In contrast to the paleness of the middle-aged man and the young man, Qin Tong and Qin Cheng had darkplexions, a clear sign of living under the harsh sun and wind year-round. The intense ultraviolet rays had peeledyer afteryer of their skin, leaving behind tough but rough skin. That¡¯s why, the moment the young man appeared, he exuded a distinctly different aura. He had a fairness and delicacy rarely seen in the wilderness. The girl sat by the fire, silently watching, as if her gaze were transfixed. The young man took a ck box out of his backpack and then pinched six ck needles from it. As they spoke, the young man stood a piece of firewood upright and used the back of the hatchet to hammer the six ck needles into the top of the firewood until they were fully embedded. Soon, the needles began to heat up, and thin wisps of white smoke drifted from the wood. Qin Tong looked at the old man, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s Qing¡¯s Family¡¯s nanotechnology.¡± Qin Cheng nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve seen that thing.¡± Anyone with wilderness survival experience knew that firewood was hard to ignite. Sometimes you could work for an hour and only just manage to create a spark in the wood. And when the spark dide, the one who started the fire had to keep blowing on it, ending up with smoke-blinded eyes and a ckened face. But these six ck needles, having absorbed the force of the young man hammering them into the wood, generated continuous heat at the core, igniting the firewood in just ten minutes. Qin Tong said, ¡°Last time I went to check out outdoor gear in City 18, I saw this nano product from Qing¡¯s Family, I think it was called Thor. I asked about it, and it¡¯s really expensive, six inconspicuous needles could trade for an entire set of my mechanical limbs.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om But it was at this moment that Qin Tong truly understood that what he considered very expensive was actually nothing in the eyes of others. The old man, Qin Cheng, opened the cigarettes that the young man had just given him, took one out to smell beneath his nose, and then stuffed the cigarette back into the pack. In the wilderness, this pack of cigarettes could sometimes be bartered for quite a few good things, such as rough maps, beast pelts, life-saving herbs. It could even be traded for the characteristics of certain strange animals in the Taboo Land. The wilderness is nothing like the city; there are many unknown dangers here. Money is hard to spend out here, you have to trade with hardmodities. At the campfire, the young girl silently watched the busy boy; the middle-aged man did not offer to help at all, acting like a pampered big boss. The boy poured clean water and white rice into a small pot to cook porridge. Not only that, he even added raisins and red dates to the porridge, making it look especially delicate. But the boy himself did not drink the porridge, instead, he sat off to the side silently gnawing on a tasteless synthetic protein bar. These protein bars are generally eaten only by those scratching out a living in the wilderness, one bar can rece a day¡¯s worth of nutritional intake, and the boy ate four of them in a row. When the porridge was ready, the boy carefully brought it over to the middle-aged man¡­ The girl felt somewhat indignant, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that middle-aged man have hands or feet? Why does he make others wait on him like that?¡± At that moment, the girl by the campfire suddenly realized that the boy, who had sat down on the ground, had taken off his mountain boots, and the white socks inside were already dyed red with blood. The boy slowly peeled off his socks, revealing feet covered in blood clots that seemed to be full of wounds and blisters. With alcohol and cotton swabs, the boy cleaned his wounds, then applied ointment to himself. Throughout this process, he remained silent despite the clear pain he was in, merely frowning tightly. Moreover, just before, hisplexion was normal and there was not the slightest abnormality in his walking posture, as if the wounds on his feet did not exist. Thinking of how he endured the pain to serve that middle-aged man made the girl feel a bit heartbroken. Suddenly, the girl said, ¡°Should I go help him, Dad? Look, his feet are broken from walking and he still has to do heavy work.¡± Qin Cheng frowned and said in a grave tone, ¡°He¡¯s a Servant, that¡¯s what he¡¯s supposed to do. You stay put right where you are. If you really start to fancy a Servant, there¡¯s no saving you. They are people without freedom, understand?¡± The girl felt a little wronged but said no more. She just watched from a distance. At this time, the boy was sitting on the ground, continuing to tend to the wounds on his feet. Although the cor of his windbreaker covered most of his face, the girl somehow felt that the boy¡¯s profile was very handsome. ¡°Dad, you said he¡¯s a Servant?¡± the girl asked. ¡°Mmhmm,¡± nodded the old man, Qin Cheng, ¡°You¡¯ve seen these people in the city too. They¡¯ve sold their lives to the powerful, and they can¡¯t escape the fate of being bound for a lifetime.¡± The term Servant is not unfamiliar in the Inner World, and is almost synonymous with ve. Chapter 108: 108, Midlife Health Care Chapter 108: 108, Midlife Health Care Servants are not ves, just products of capital exploitation. Some families are so poor that they can¡¯t make ends meet, so they ¡°sell¡± their children over 14 years old topanies. Thepanies pay them a sum of money and then sign an 80-yearbor contract with the children, agreeing to provide them with wages, food and lodging, and entrusted training among other benefits. During these 80 years, the children are obligated to serve thepany as the party of the second part. If they want to terminate the contract within this period, they must pay a huge sum in damages to thepany. A sum they simply cannot afford to pay. Eighty years is the maximum contractual period mandated by the Inner Worldborws, while fourteen is the minimum age for signing abor contract. If a servant starts serving at the age of 14 and doesn¡¯t die by 94, they gain their freedom. But in fact, it¡¯s rare for servants to live to 94. Hence, over time, the term ¡°servant¡± was born. It¡¯s not that humanity in the Inner World has regressed to the era of very; it¡¯s that when thew no longer protects the vulnerable, you realize just how powerful capital is. There are actually quite a lot of these servants, mostly people who are desperate and sell themselves into wealthy households. So, when the old man, Qin Cheng, saw the young man¡¯s demeanor, he thought of the status of a servant. At this time, after the middle-aged man had finished his rice porridge, the young man tidily cleared away the utensils and pitched a tent for the middle-aged man. The leisurely middle-aged man crawled into his tent to sleep, while the young man just found a wind-sheltering rock to lean against and closed his eyes to rest. In that gigantic backpack, there seemed to be only sundries needed by the middle-aged man and nothing for the youth¡ªnot even a single-person tent; there was only one¡­ From time to time, the young man would open his eyes, add some wood to the fire to keep the area around the tent well-lit. Truth be told, even the Hunters by the campfire felt that the young man¡¯s situation was quite wretched. The middle-aged man seemed to not even regard the young man as human. The wind picked up at midnight, bringing a chill that seemed to wick away the warmth from the campfire. Qin Cheng nced at his eldest son, Qin Tong, ¡°Don¡¯t mess with these two. Anyone who dares venture into the wilderness is no fool. That middle-aged man at a nce looks wealthy, and he might havepleted a full sequence of Gic Potions to reach B-ss.¡± Qin Tong nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad, I¡¯m not stupid.¡± At this time, the middle-aged woman beside Qin Cheng said, ¡°That young man doesn¡¯t look like he has been injected with Gic Potions, nor does he have mechanical limbs. A servant of someone important wouldn¡¯t be this weak; maybe that middle-aged man is just C-ss.¡± Qin Cheng shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate him. Even if he¡¯s C-ss, he¡¯s not someone we can afford to provoke.¡± The old man then rolled himself a cigarette, reflected silently for a long while, and then said to Qin Tong, ¡°Go get a nket from the car for that young man. We can¡¯t reach the big shots, can¡¯t fawn over them, but we can make connections with servants. Sometimes a servant bes the boss¡¯s confidant, and a little something falling through their fingers is enough for us to live on for two or three years. Plus, he has ess to the big shots, and our business is essentially capturing pets for them.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Qin Tong nodded, standing up. But before he could fully rise, the young girl beside him grabbed him, saying, ¡°Brother, I¡¯ll go get it.¡± With that, the young girl ran off towards the pickup truck, and Qin Tong sighed behind her. A girl who¡¯d grown up in the wilderness was uncontroble by parents and older brothers, wild in nature. The young girl approached the young man cautiously and with some curiosity, holding a nket in her arms. But just as she came within two meters of the young man, he suddenly exploded into action, causing leaves on the ground to be whipped up by the wind. The boy produced a dagger from somewhere, only stopping it from slicing the girl¡¯s neck at thest moment. His movements were crisp and clean, not at all the harmless demeanor he had shown before. With a whoosh, over ten people from the neighboring camp stood up, as if ready to rush over to rescue. Meanwhile, the girl took a close look at the boy without a hint of fear, ¡°I came to bring you a nket, afraid you might catch a cold.¡± The boy looked at her calmly and replied, ¡°Thank you, but I don¡¯t need it.¡± Throughout this, the girl showed no intention of resisting, just gazing directly at him. ¡°The weather is quite chilly now, you¡¯ll get sick if you sit outside all night,¡± the girl persisted. ¡°Hmm, thanks for your kindness, but it¡¯s not necessary,¡± the boy settled back against the rock. ¡°Well then, just so you remember, my name is Qin Yiyi,¡± the girl said, taking the nket back to her own camp. Qin Tong frowned and said, ¡°Do you realize that was very dangerous just now?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± the girl turned to look at her brother, ¡°He didn¡¯t have any intent to kill.¡± Besides, she had seen his profile clearly when the boy sat down just now. He was indeed very good-looking.N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°What do you know about murderous intent, girl,¡± said the old man Qin Cheng, pondering for a moment before speaking, ¡°It seems he doesn¡¯t want to deal with us, so let¡¯s not bother. I¡¯ve decided, starting from tomorrow, we¡¯ll head to ¡®that ce¡¯ and search for traces of prey at the edge.¡± With that, he pulled a ck box from beside him and opened it; four drones inside quietly flew up into the sky, spreading out towards the perimeter of the camp. Once they reached their designated areas, each drone cast a soft white light below, illuminating the vicinity. Red beams stretched between the drones, ready to automatically defend and raise an rm should any unknown creatures enter the area. Hunters must have ways to protect themselves while making a living in the wilderness. ¡­ At dawn the next day, Uncle Li Dong emerged from his tent, fresh and alert, and said with a smile to Qing Chen, who was sleeping against a rock, ¡°How¡¯s your foot injury? Any better?¡± ¡°Much better,¡± Qing Chen nodded, ¡°Though the wound keeps reopening from the long trek, the ointment is miraculous, and the injury is healing. I estimate¡­ it¡¯ll be fully healed in two more days.¡± ¡°Since the injury is healing,¡± Uncle Li Dong said with a smile, ¡°let¡¯s start preparing breakfast!¡± He nced at the neighboring camp, where porridge was already being cooked and someone was chopping cured meat into a pot. Qing Chen looked up at Uncle Li Dong and said, ¡°Although the teacher nned to put me through hardships, it¡¯s a bit too much to only pack your personal belongings in the backpack. Also, why did you even bring something like a stool? Can¡¯t we just sit on a rock?¡± ¡°Oh, sitting on rocks can be quite chilly,¡± exined Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Moreover, it was because Ye Wan weighed the backpack and said it wasn¡¯t even 60 pounds that I had him stuff the stool in there. Practice must look like practice. You haven¡¯t trained for long and are already out with me on a journey, we can¡¯t neglect training on the road. With the help of the Breathing Technique, trekking with a heavy load will allow you to grow at an astonishing rate. By my calctions, your physical fitness should be just about adequate by the time we reach Taboo Land 002.¡± ¡°But you could¡¯ve thrown away the raisins, red dates, goji berries, and packed some supplies for me instead,¡± Qing Chen grumbled a little. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly young,¡± Uncle Li Dong said earnestly, ¡°The teacher needs to maintain his health.¡± Qing Chen took out a thick paper book from the backpack and said with a pained expression, ¡°So, did you also have Ye Wan stuff a health knowledge manual in there? It must have been quite hard to find a paper book these days!¡± ¡­ Thanks to Windprint King and HؼDesign for bing new allies of this book, thank you, bosses. The bosses are grand, may they make a fortune! Chapter 109: 109, Autumn Hunt Chapter 109: 109, Autumn Hunt Having left Prison No. 18, Qing Chen followed Uncle Li Dong through a long tunnel, traversing the prison¡¯s surveince perimeter and walking deep into the mountain. Qing Chen once asked: why is there a secret passage inside the prison? Uncle Li Dong exined to Qing Chen: Prison No. 18 was constructed by the Li Corporation. When the Li Family built the prison, they left a lifeline in case one day their own n members became prisoners, to prevent dying within its walls.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om At that time, the corporation¡¯s influence over the Federation wasn¡¯t as substantial, and it was possible they could be the victims of power struggles. Afterwards, the workers responsible for constructing the tunnel, on their way to City No. 10 for another project, all died in andslide. Thus, the secret of the tunnel remained known only to a select few within the Li Family. Latterly, as the Li Family slowly grew more powerful, the original engineering blueprints in their possession somehow got lost, and even they forgot that their ancestors had left them a path to survival. As the Li Family stood firm within the Federation, it seemed they no longer needed such a level of a safety. After Uncle Li Dong brought Qing Chen out, he made him carry a very heavy backpack, regardless of the boy¡¯s injured feet, and they proceeded at a forced march pace. ¡°Have you heard that crackling sound in your bones again?¡± Uncle Li Dong asked. ¡°No,¡± Qing Chen shook his head: ¡°It hasn¡¯t happened again.¡± Like all knights before him, since Laojun Mountain, there had been no activity from his gic lock. Uncle Li Dong smiled: ¡°No worries, there will always be some other gains from this outing.¡± ¡°By the way, teacher,¡± Qing Chen asked, ¡°our food will be gone in two days. What will we eat after that?¡± Uncle Li Dong looked at the boy: ¡°How should I know? That is certainly something for you, the student, to consider!¡± Qing Chen: ¡°¡­¡± ¡­ Early in the morning, the young girl Qin Yiyi got up, folded her tent, and threw it onto the vehicle. From a distance of more than ten meters, she quietly observed the boy, only to discover that he was already cooking for the middle-aged man. ¡°Brother, do servants really not have a chance to regain their freedom?¡± Qin Yiyi asked Qin Tong. ¡°There are basically no servants who regain freedom,¡± Qin Tong said, ¡°Servants are those closest to the powerful figures, hence they know a lot of secrets. So even if they are disabled, thepany won¡¯t let them leave; it¡¯s more likely they¡¯ll just kill them outright.¡± Qin Yiyi sighed. Such a fine young man, yet he had be a servant. What kind of family would sell their child to apany? The Qin n might live somewhat harshly, with many children to care for, but she¡¯d never heard of any ns to sell a child from Qin Cheng. Thinking back to the night before, when the boy calmly applied medicine to her feet, Qin Yiyi thought that the boy must have endured many hardships to be able to face pain with suchposure. Just then, the sound of engines and loud music suddenly erupted from the north of the woods. The music¡¯s rhythm was especially exuberant, as if it could unsettle the heart from afar. Before the northern convoy arrived, Qin Cheng saw over a dozen drones fly overhead. ¡°Those are the Chen n¡¯s Border-011 model drones, armed with weapons! Hurry, get our own drones packed up!¡± Qin Cheng shouted. But it was already toote. The drones that had suddenly appeared surrounded their camp, and over a dozen armed drones directly shot down Qin Cheng¡¯s drones. Qin Yiyi felt a pang of heartache; those drones had been hard-earned through the exchange of game. With a few drones in hand, everyone could finally get a good night¡¯s sleep when they went out hunting. Qin Cheng took a deep breath and said, ¡°Raise your hands, do not try to resist. It¡¯s the Autumn Hunting Fleet of the Li and Chen ns, we can¡¯t escape.¡± Everyone in the camp dared not move as the more than ten Boundary-011 drones patrolled around them, like scouts for the fleet. Qin Cheng and the others were likembs to the ughter, raising their hands in preparation to be carved up at will. In the blink of an eye, the fleet from the north zoomed in, its massive tires kicking up billowing dust on the ground. Qing Chen and Uncle Li Dong pulled up the cors of their assault jackets and silently watched. Uncle Li Dong said in a low voice, ¡°Let¡¯s not reveal our identities for now, I do not wish to kill them yet.¡± Qing Chen nkly gave his teacher a look, ¡°¡­¡± The fleet consisted of more than thirty vehicles, 29rge SUVs with super-sized wheels, and seven pickups as supply vehicles, quite immense. The exhaust of the off-road vehicles was not at the rear but mounted on either side of the vehicle. In the midst of deafening music, someone revved the engine during a lull, cheering as the exhaust pipes on either side suddenly spat out mes. Qing Chen felt some novelty; previously, Jiang Xue had told him that, because it was not possible to build ¡°Yun Liu Towers¡± extensively in the wilderness, most vehicles used in the wilderness were powered by diesel engines. Now, Qing Chen suddenly realized that the diesel engine Jiang Xue spoke of¡­ seemed a bit different from the diesel engine he had imagined. At the front of the fleet, a man wearing a mechanical eyepatch sat in the co-driver¡¯s seat, controlling all the drones single-handedly through a neural interface. Normally, such a person in the fleet was called ¡°the First Mate,¡± responsible for all scouting and alert duties, camp security, and defense, acting as second-inmand in the fleet. From the back of a vehicle, a young man got off and walked slowly towards the camp, but when he saw Qin Cheng¡¯s two pickups, he cursed loudly. Someone in the vehicle asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The young man replied loudly, ¡°These are Wilderness Hunters with a license from city number 18,wful citizens, we can¡¯t kill them.¡± The pick-ups were spray-painted with a wolf¡¯s head and a series of numbers, the legal identification number for the Qin family¡¯s authorized exit from the city. Someone from the fleet suddenly said, ¡°It should be fine though, I see that their hunting recorders are off, the data centers in the rear won¡¯t know. Let¡¯s kill them, consider it an offering to the Autumn Hunt Sacrificial g.¡± At that moment. The voice of a woman from inside the car said, ¡°You say you¡¯re out here for the hunt but here you are bullying these ordinary citizens, that¡¯s pretty low.¡± With that, the car window rolled down, revealing a tall and sturdy woman at the driver¡¯s seat of one of the off-road vehicles. The young man beneath the vehicle whistled and burst intoughter, ¡°Yino makes sense, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Wait,¡± said the sturdy Li Yinuo, pensate them for the drones we destroyed.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The young man took out two bundles of money from his waist bag and threw them onto the ground, then everyone turned and got into their vehicles. The massive fleet hit the road again, leaving behind the camp, dusty and in disrepair, with everyone inside looking somewhat disheveled. In the camp, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Tong sat down on the ground, powerless, with a young woman nestling in his arms, sobbing softly. Common folk faced with high-ranking individuals are so powerless. Qin Yiyi turned back and noticed that both the middle-aged man and the young man had always been standing behind the tree trunks, in ces that easily blocked the line of sight from others. Chapter 110: 110, there is another target Chapter 110: 110, there is another target The convoy that just arrived was full of ns¡¯ scions, the real big shots in the city. The young girl thought that these two avoiding the financial groups probably weren¡¯t big shots either, otherwise, they would havee out and acknowledged each other already. After all, those n scions had threatened to kill them, and if they truly knew each other, they at least would havee forward and said something. At this thought, Qin Yiyi was a bit happy¡­ It was good that these were not the big shots. Her whole family disliked those city big shots. Those big shots never regarded people like them as human beings. However, Qin Yiyi suddenly noticed that the young boy seemed to be furrowing his brow, pondering something. Not far away, Uncle Li Dong looked at his prized student, ¡°What is it? What did you see to make you so serious?¡± Qing Chen turned his head and whispered softly, ¡°Teacher, I saw my ssmate.¡± When the woman named Yino rolled down the car window, the person Qing Chen saw from the passenger seat was none other than the timid Nan Gengchen¡­ The woman with a robust physique, a dominating huge SUV, and the silver exhaust pipes spitting mes ¨C all this made Nan Gengchen, who sat in the passenger seat, appear somewhat out of ce. So¡­ Qing Chen suddenly found himself feeling a mix ofughter and tears; was the muscr Li Yinuo the rich woman keeping Nan Gengchen? No wonder he moved into District 1, he indeed hadtched onto a big shot¡­ Only the taste of this Li Yinuo seemed somewhat peculiar, strong herself, yet she preferred weak boys. At this moment, while everyone else was enjoying the rhythmic music, Nan Gengchen sat in his seat with a deste expression. His eyes were lifelessly staring at the windshield¡­ He even wanted to cover his ears at one point. This must be the price of being kept. The poor guy hadn¡¯t even noticed that his desk mate was hiding in the nearby woods. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen, ¡°Do you remember the name Li Yinuo?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Qing Chen nodded, ¡°It¡¯s on the list of Li¡¯s Financial Group you gave me, Li Yinuo, the beloved eldest daughter of the Lee family¡¯s third generation.¡± Tong Yun once mentioned that she had an elder sister in the Lee family who was very kind to her, not sure if it¡¯s this one though. The third generation of the Lee family had many children, with Tong Yun having more than ten older sisters and brothers. The little girl didn¡¯t mention a name, so Qing Chen couldn¡¯t be sure. He looked at Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Teacher, what is this Autumn Hunting Team for, hunting wild beasts?¡± Uncle Li Dong shook his head, ¡°They dare not hunt wild beasts, they only dare to hunt humans.¡± ¡°Humans?¡± Qing Chen was stunned, he truly hadn¡¯t expected that. ¡°There are many like Guo Huchan, who don¡¯t have legal identities, wandering in the wilderness,¡± Uncle Li Dong exined, ¡°some are prisoners who escaped from the city, and others are civilians who live in the wilderness unwilling to be oppressed by the financial groups. They live just outside the borders of the Taboo Land and whenever financial groupsunch raids, they escape into the edges of the Taboo Land and y cat and mouse with the army.¡± So, the so-called Autumn Hunting is not about finding wild beasts, but about hunting down illegal wilderness dwellers! All along the way, Qing Chen had also seen scattered settlements in the wilderness. There, humans were responsible for assisting intelligent machinery in productionbor, but now, productionbor seemed to have beenrgely reced by machinery, and not many humans were needed anymore. Before, Qing Chen had summarized that not only 19 cities experienced the emergence of Time Travelers, but other ces also sporadically witnessed them. So, those sporadic appearances, must correspond to the few settlements in the wilderness. ¡°Why do we need to raid the wilderness people?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Because they always like to seize the opportunity to loot those production bases. Guo Huchan was captured while leading a raid on production base 1192,¡± Uncle Li Dong said. ¡°Teacher, what level is Guo Huchan?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°B-ss,¡± Uncle Li Dong answered. ¡°That¡¯s why in the recent Autumn Hunting Team, there definitely were B-ss Experts from the corporation hidden among them, protecting these young people.¡± ¡°Are all these people direct descendants of the corporation?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°No,¡± Uncle Li Dong shook his head. ¡°They are just some spoiled descendants, the real direct heirs are either serving in the Federation¡¯s corporate army or holding significant positions inpanies. These in the Autumn Hunt are just coteral members of the family with no hopes of ascending.¡± As he watched the departing convoy, Qing Chen suddenly thought of the term ¡°Eight Banners¡¯ descendants¡±: ¡°So, are there many corporate elites in the Federal Army?¡± Uncle Li Dong said with augh, ¡°Heng Society also captured quite a few Time Travelers and extracted numerous details. Interestingly, many people in the Outer World think that the corporations directly control the entire Federation, but that¡¯s not the case. They indirectly hold power over the Federation through various sectors. Fundamentally, they still im this ce is democratic.¡± ¡°Democracy is not about the corporate descendants killing whomever they want,¡± Qing Chen said calmly. Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°The Emperor has never disappeared; they just changed clothes.¡± The terms Inner World and Outer World were gradually catching on in this region. Actually, there was no difference, having names to distinguish both worlds was sufficient. At that moment, Uncle Li Dong, watching the departing convoy said, ¡°But, they started the Autumn Hunt early, which means I can¡¯t take you to walk there slowly. Otherwise, by the time we¡¯d arrive, the dinner would be cold.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om After speaking, Uncle Li Dong walked over to Qin Cheng and asked, ¡°Could we get a lift? I see there¡¯s still space on your pickup; the two of us can sit in the back. We¡¯ll pay.¡± The young girl Qin Yiyi suddenly pointed at Qing Chen and said, ¡°You can ride, but you have to treat him well.¡± Uncle Li Dong was startled; that was an unexpected turn. He had not realized that his student was quite popr wherever he went. However, Qin Cheng pulled Qin Yiyi away, then politely said, ¡°The little girl doesn¡¯t know better, she¡¯s gotten wild living in the wilderness. Yes, you can hitch a ride, but where do you need to go?¡± Uncle Li Dongughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s up to fate where we go. How about this, let¡¯s just ride along and when we want to get off, we¡¯ll settle the fare based on the distance traveled.¡± Qin Cheng hesitated for a moment, then Qing Chen took out a bottle of antibiotics from his bag and handed it to him: ¡°A deposit.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Qin Cheng agreed. During the conversation, Qing Chen nced at his teacher. The man clearly didn¡¯te out here without a purpose. Uncle Li Dong knew very well that the corporation¡¯s Autumn Hunt was beginning, and he even knew where Qin Cheng¡¯s family was heading. However, he couldn¡¯t understand why, given that the teacher had said he would take him to try to unlock the firstyer of his gic lock, it now seemed he had another goal in mind. Chapter 111: 111, Wilderness Chapter 111: 111, Wilderness Before setting off this time, Qing Chen was no longer alone in packing up the campsite. Qin Yiyi didn¡¯t even bother to help with her own campsite; instead, she quickly helped him fold up the tent and the small stool. She even found the six ¡°Thor¡± fire-starting Divine Artifacts from the extinguished campfire for Qing Chen. The young girl approached Qing Chen, handed him the cleaned ¡®Thor,¡¯ and said, ¡°If you start riding in the car, you won¡¯t aggravate the wound on your foot.¡± After speaking, the girl returned to Qin Cheng¡¯s side and whispered, ¡°Dad, how much is the penalty for a Servant breaking a contract?¡± Old man Qin Cheng red at her annoyedly and said, ¡°You just sit in the car and behave, stop talking to that young man.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Qin Yiyi dered and then climbed into the back of the truck, utterly uncontroble. Girls from the wilderness are wild by nature, like little wildcats, and beyond parental control once they reach a certain age. Though they were city folk, Qin Yiyi had spent years following her parents in the wilderness, and had more or less gone savage herself. Qin Cheng sighed at the sight of his rebellious daughter, then said to Qin Tong, ¡°Go sit in the back of the truckter, and keep an eye on your sister so no one takes advantage of her. She might listen to you a bit, she certainly won¡¯t listen to me anymore.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Qin Cheng sighed as well. Sitting in the car, Qing Chen noticed that the pickup truck behind them had a green tarp covering a cage, which waspletely empty. And in the car he was in, there were tools for trapping animals, repairing cars, scattered all about. The roar of the pickup¡¯s engine was like a wild horse galloping, full of power. He took out the stool from his backpack for Uncle Li Dong, who sat down naturally on it. No matter how much the pickup truck jostled on the dirt road, Uncle Li Dong sat perfectly steady. At that moment, Qin Yiyi, hugging her knees, asked, ¡°Uncle, what ss are you to dare to venture into the wilderness with just the two of you, and even head south?¡± Currently, they were still considered to be on the outskirts of the city. There were many production bases around, and the Federal Second Grouped Army was stationed nearby, with troops asionally patrolling the area, so it was not very dangerous. However, further south it was different, even if not approaching the Taboo Land, it was dangerous for Ordinary People. Justst night, Qing Chen had asked Uncle Li Dong: Are the people in the neighboring camp a family? Uncle Li Dong answered that they were. Qing Chen was puzzled: Why would a family travel together in such a dangerous ce as the wilderness? What if they all fell into danger, especially considering that there were women not skilled inbat in the neighboring camp? Uncle Li Dong replied: They had been driven out of the city to earn a living because they couldn¡¯t find any other work. The reason for the whole family sticking together was that in such a dangerous ce as the wilderness, one couldn¡¯t trust anyone other than those rted by blood. If a team were to camp in a deste ce and someone stealthily drove the car away in the middle of the night, it would be no different than waiting for death for the ones left behind. The abandoned would immediately go from being the Hunter to the hunted. In this era, even family members might not always be trustworthy, let alone strangers. ording to Uncle Li Dong¡¯s judgment, old man Qin Cheng was the leader of this group, with the remaining strong and young men either his sons or his nephews. At this moment. Uncle Li Dong looked at Qin Yiyi with a smile and asked, ¡°What ss do you think I am?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Qin Yiyi thought about it and said, ¡°C-ss.¡± Uncle Li Dong shook his head, ¡°I am S-ss.¡± Qin Yiyi pouted, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, fine, stingy.¡± In the girl¡¯s eyes, Uncle Li Dong had just made up a lie to cate her. Qin Cheng sat on the side, silent all this time. He watched his sister chatting with Uncle Li Dong, truly sweating bullets inside. However, his sister had always been smarter than her peers and was better at reading people. She probably talked to this middle-aged man because she could tell that he had a rather pleasant temperament. While everyone was chatting, Qing Chen sat in the vehicle, turning the pages of a reader. Qin Yiyi nced at it and saw that the reader disyed photos of nts, each apanied by brief descriptions. It was something Lin Xiaoxiao had obtained for Qing Chen, to help him memorize all the known nts of the Inner World. There were edible ones, ones that could be used to extract fresh water, ones for treating external wounds, medicinal herbs that could be used as remedies, and antidotes for poison, among others¡ªquite a variety. Qing Chen was making a note of this to handle any emergencies he might encounter in the wildernesster on. As he looked down at the reader, a slender hand entered his field of vision, holding a bright red apple. Qing Chen observed silently. The hand had many small wounds and calloused knuckles, clearly the hand of someone who engaged in manualbor year-round. Qin Yiyi spoke up, ¡°Here, this is for you.¡± Without waiting for Qing Chen to refuse, she stuffed it directly into his embrace. Qin Yiyi continued, ¡°Earlier, about 30 kilometers west of the camp, there¡¯s an apple orchard that doesn¡¯t belong to any production base. Wild apples are usually very sour, but the apples from that orchard are bothrge and sweet. Our family has been picking apples there for three years in a row, they¡¯re very delicious, you should try one.¡± Usually, for fruit trees to bear fruit, they must be fertilized and pruned, like sugar tangerines that also require girdling the trunk to sweeten the fruits. So normally, wild jujubes and wild apples tend to be small and sour, as they aren¡¯t cared for by fruit farmers. But Qin Yiyi said that was a wild apple orchard. It didn¡¯t make sense for it to yield sweet fruits. Uncle Li Dong turned to Qin Tong and said, ¡°Tell your father to be more careful the next time he goes to that apple orchard.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qin Tong was somewhat surprised. ¡°There are already signs of it bing a Taboo Land. Perhaps decades ago, a Transcendent died there. Even though it isn¡¯t fully formed yet, it already covers more than thirty square kilometers. The Transcendent who died must have been at least B-ss,¡± Uncle Li Dong thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Right now the fruits are still fine, but maybe in a few more years, the fruits might have hallucinogenic effects. After eating them, you might see dragons flying in the sky, insects crawling on your body¡­ Mild hallucinations are nothing major, but if they¡¯re severe, you won¡¯t have time to get help.¡± The most critical issue is that the insects and wild animals within the Taboo Land could also mutate into unpredictable evolutionary paths. These years, the number of Taboo Lands had been steadily increasing. ¡°So are these apples still safe to eat now?¡± Qin Yiyi asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Uncle Li Dong nodded, ¡°The Taboo Land hasn¡¯t formed yet.¡± Qin Yiyi then offered an apple to Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Here, this one¡¯s for you, too.¡± Uncle Li Dongughed, ¡°You didn¡¯t give me one just now, howe you are giving me one now?¡± Qin Yiyi sneakily nced at Qing Chen, ¡°I¡¯m giving it to him, not you. I was worried that you would secretly trip him up.¡± Uncle Li Dong burst into heartyughter, suddenly feeling that this journey would be very enjoyable. Meanwhile, Qing Chen thought about Nan Gengchen, that guy who was brought into the dangerous wilderness. He hoped nothing untoward happened to him. But then he reconsidered¡ªwhat he should really be worried about was whether that kid could withstand Li Yinuo¡¯s robust physique¡­ Chapter 112: 112. The VIPs Pet Chapter 112: 112. The VIP¡¯s Pet It was said that the northern wilderness was covered in yellow sand. But in the southern wilderness where Qing Chen and his group were, there was actually a lot of vegetation, which wasn¡¯t much different from the southern mountains and forests of the Outer World. The sky here was extremely blue, looking utterly refreshing. After driving on the mountain roads for several miles, the two pick-up trucks finally turned onto the highway. This was the first time Qing Chen had seen a highway in the wilderness, as Uncle Li Dong had always taken him through less traveled paths before. By now, the disappearance of Uncle Li Dong must have slowly started fermenting within the Federation. However, everyone was in the wilderness, and there was nowork coverage here. Beforeing out, Qing Chen had asked his mentor if, being such a significant figure, he¡¯d be recognized wherever he went. Uncle Li Dong had replied that during his lifetime, very little of his image data had been made public. Consortiums might recognize this reclusive man, but ordinary people wouldn¡¯t. Thus, when the Autumn Hunting Fleet came before, Uncle Li Dong had pulled up his cor, and once they had left, he took it back down. Of course, he also exined that pulling up the cor wasn¡¯t because he was afraid of being discovered, but mainly because he was toozy to silence them. That must be what an intense life looked like, and Qing Chen had also thought about such a life. Iron wires fenced both sides of the highway, just like the freeways in the Outer World. Seeing the curiosity in Qing Chen¡¯s eyes, Qin Yiyi exined, ¡°These wires are to prevent wild animals from entering, as some of the beasts are quiterge, and if you¡¯re driving too fast, you won¡¯t have enough time to dodge them. There are underground culverts every few kilometers on the highway, specifically for these animals to cross and migrate. This way, they won¡¯t damage thes.¡± The girl was a bit curious; this boy seemed to be in the wilderness for the first time, but the efficiency with which he worked did not seem like a first-timer; he was very skilled. Along the roadside, Qing Chen asionally caught sight of Yun Liu Towers, huge ck ¡°mushroom¡± towers standing beside the road, appearing as a uniquendscape. But these Yun Liu Towers seemed to have been abandoned, covered in rust. It seemed that some of Jiang Xue¡¯s prior general knowledge was hearsay; she had never actually been to the wilderness herself. Just like Uncle Li Dong had mentioned weapons of the Inner World before. He had said that one reason humans still used firearms was based on a very simple logic: if you want to kill someone, a bullet is enough. The diesel engine seemed to be such an existence. Qin Yiyi said, ¡°A long, long time ago, you could still see electric cars on the highway, butter everyone found that diesel engines were more practical in the wilderness, so for long trips, people still choose diesel cars. Gradually, Yun Liu Towers lost their function, and the consortiums no longer bothered to maintain them.¡± ¡°How about mechanical limbs?¡± Qing Chen asked. ¡°Carry a wireless charger on your own vehicle,¡± Qin Yiyi pointed towards the pick-up behind them: ¡°Next to the iron cage, there¡¯s a ck box containing a Morning Star-3 type lead-bismuth alloy reactor. That thing is really expensive, my dad got it from the ck market. Apparently, it used to be the power source for a ¡®Mountain¡¯ main battle tank.¡± Qin Tong nced at his sister and coughed. His message was clear; even if you like this boy, you shouldn¡¯t reveal everything about your family¡¯s assets. Qin Yiyi nced at her brother, ¡°Why are you coughing? Uncle here wouldn¡¯t care for the junk we have.¡± Uncle Li Dong cooperatively looked at Qin Tong and said, ¡°Right, I wouldn¡¯t care for it.¡± Qin Tong: ¡°¡­¡± He now wished to sit back in the vehicle again, out of sight, out of mind. Qin Yiyi curiously sized up Uncle Li Dong, ¡°Uncle, I think you¡¯re a pretty good person. Why are you so harsh on him? Even if he¡¯s a servant, you should still treat him like a human. Look, his feet are all bloody.¡± The young girl pointed at Qing Chen. Uncle Li Dong asked with interest, ¡°Are you defending him against me?¡± ¡°Not exactly defending,¡± Qin Yiyi thought for a moment and said, ¡°I just feel sorry for him.¡± Girls from the wilderness spoke very straightforwardly. Qing Chen changed the topic, ¡°What do you hunt for? Do you need the animal hides?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Qin Yiyi¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Hides are barely worth anything. That¡¯s what low-end wilderness hunters do, and they don¡¯t even have to go to ¡®that kind of ce¡¯!¡± Qing Chen knew they were going to Taboo Land. He was surprised that ordinary people were even reluctant to mention Taboo Land directly. Qin Yiyi said, ¡°We specialize in capturing live creatures, belonging to the mid-level wilderness hunters!¡± ¡°Capture live creatures?¡± Qing Chen was curious, ¡°For the corporations to do research?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Qin Yiyi exined, ¡°The corporations can just use the military to capture whatever they need. What we capture is for the city¡¯s big shots to use as pets. Those big shots are strange, some like lizards, snakes, and some even like spiders the size of a head, but those kinds of spiders are only found in ¡®that kind of ce¡¯. However, ¡®that kind of ce¡¯ is not only dangerous because of these visible threats.¡± Just then, a roaring sound came from the north of the highway. Almost simultaneously, Uncle Li Dong and Qing Chen, both master and apprentice, made the motion of pulling up their cors¡­ Everyone turned their heads and were shocked to see a convoy rushing up at full speed, then overtaking two pickups and heading south. Eight ck off-road vehicles, all bearing white designs. Qing Chen recognized it at a nce¡­ It was Mount Fuji. Honestly, he never expected to see Mount Fuji in the Inner World. Qing Chen asked in a low voice, ¡°What is this?¡± Uncle Li Dong replied softly, ¡°This is the Jindai family¡¯s fleet; your fianc¨¦e is probably in one of those vehicles.¡± Qing Chen was surprised, ¡°Huh, she said she was going back to her n.¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°The Jindai family brought two girls this time, led by Jindai Yasuhito, each to be allied through marriage with Qing¡¯s Family and Chen n. From the direction they¡¯re heading, it looks like they are going to the southern Chen n territory, which is their stronghold.¡± At that moment, Qing Chen whispered again, ¡°I thought they were also going to the Autumn Hunting Festival.¡± ¡°No,¡± Uncle Li Dong replied, ¡°The Autumn Hunting Festival is a tradition for the young generations of Li Family, Qing¡¯s Family, and Chen n; it generally does not extend invitations to the Jindai and Deer Ind families.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Uncle Li Dong continued, ¡°On one hand, it¡¯s because Jindai and Deer Ind are in the north, while the hunting festival generally takes ce in the south. On the other hand, the hawkish young generations of the Li, Qing, and Chen families believe that Jindai and Deer Ind are foreign ns, so they have always advocated for fully annexing or even destroying these two families. Among them, the Li Family holds the firmest stance.¡± Qing Chen thought to himself, no wonder Jindai is seeking marriages with two ns; they must be feeling a sense of crisis. Suddenly, Qin Yiyi tilted her head curiously and asked, ¡°What are you two whispering about?¡± Uncle Li Dong smiled, ¡°Nothing.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!