CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: SECRET IDENTITY

Man Suling awoke. Her first reaction was to spring to her feet, agile as a civet cat. Her hands pressed against the ground like forepaws, her legs coiled, feet braced to push off, poised to unleash terrifying power at any moment.

Then, she looked around and discovered her opponent’s body.

She let out a sigh of relief and cautiously moved forward to check, confirming the opponent was indeed long dead. She searched the opponent’s pockets but found nothing. Man Suling’s expression changed. Then, checking the wound on her lower abdomen, she discovered it had already healed!

Someone has been here! She was keenly aware of her injury; she had been treated. Could it be the Boss? No, if it was the Boss, he would have taken me with him directly.

She was mystified but had nonetheless received a life-saving favor.

She cautiously crawled out of the basement. It was now nighttime. In the small courtyard, she called Gao Mengjiu. He answered the moment the call connected, "How are you?"

Man Suling said, "Still alive, Boss. There’s something strange about this incident..."

"Where are you? I’m coming to pick you up immediately!"

"No need, I’m near the company."

"Alright, let’s meet at the company then."

Many people were still working overtime at Tengu Records. The two met in Gao Mengjiu’s office. Man Suling had already changed into clean clothes.

Gao Mengjiu asked, "Was it someone from the Bureau of Mystic Security?"

"No, just a Vulture," replied Man Suling. They referred to lone, unlicensed hunters as Vultures.

After Man Suling reported what had transpired, Gao Mengjiu frowned. "Don’t dwell on it. This person saved your life and, at the very least, showed goodwill. If they share our ideals, they’ll contact us sooner or later."

Man Suling nodded. "Boss, this place isn’t safe anymore. You should leave immediately."

"You’re coming with me. We’ll announce that I’m going to write songs for you, and you’ll accompany me to find inspiration."

Man Suling didn’t demur. "Okay."

Although she had escaped death this time, her strength was greatly depleted. She, too, needed time to lie low and recover.

Gao Mengjiu opened a very discreet safe in his office. He took out a palm-sized metal box, inspected its contents, then tucked it into his breast pocket. "Let’s go."

Inside the box was an ancient badge: Radiant Bow and Arrow.

...

When the weekend was over, Chen Gu returned to school. Chen Zili found him and roughly shoved a lunchbox at him. "My sister made it."

Chen Gu smiled. "She still has some sense of filial duty." He then jabbed at Chen Zili, "More conscience than you, at least."

Chen Zili’s eyes bulged, but in the end, he didn’t dare challenge his overbearing grandfather. Puffing his cheeks, he walked away.

So what! Isn’t it just that I’ve never eaten a bento personally made by my sister until now, and that guy got there first? This young master doesn’t care! This young master is a second-generation scion; in the future, plenty of girls will make bentos for me! I’m not jealous, I’m not bitter, I’m perfectly fine. I’ll go back to class and hit on the girls, get them to make me a breakfast made with love!

But when he returned to the classroom, he just buried his head in his arms on his desk.

Today, an important piece of news appeared on the Lubei dark web: He’s back.

Zhao Junzhi had returned to class, finally ending his "convalescence."

As a result, the Lubei dark web forums erupted. Everyone was speculating how Zhao Junzhi might retaliate against Chen Gu. However, some students who had seen Chen Gu’s bodyguards and car suspected Zhao Junzhi wouldn’t do anything too drastic.

Coincidentally, the last class this afternoon was again the combat exchange class.

After the last morning class, Chen Zili headed to the cafeteria with his entourage. Looking back, he saw only two lackeys following him and asked in surprise, "Where are Jiang Yue and Gu Chaoning?"

The two lackeys exchanged a glance and stammered, "They... they went over to Zhao Ergou’s side..."

A surge of anger rushed to Chen Zili’s head. He wanted to erupt with curses but quickly realized this would only make him seem like he was throwing a powerless tantrum.

They don’t think our family will make it either, huh? Chen Zili sneered. The two lackeys hurriedly said, "Don’t worry, Chen, we are absolutely loyal to you."

Chen Zili found it odd. Why would those two switch sides now, of all times?

One of the lackeys sighed inwardly and said, "News has already spread. Zhao Zhenhuai is going to retire and assume the position of Deputy Chief of the Municipal Police Department. When the old Chief retires next year, he will officially take over as Chief, controlling the entire Wuzhaoyin City police system."

Chen Zili was stunned for a moment. Has my dad really lost?

Among the few paths available to retired military personnel, the police system was undoubtedly one of the best. Moreover, retiring directly into the role of a municipal police chief was extremely rare throughout the Confederation.

"That Zhao Ergou’s old man really knows how to pull strings!"

Chen Zili headed to the cafeteria in silence. The largest table in the center was already surrounded by people. Besides Jiang Yue and Gu Chaoning, who were fawning on the periphery, Chen Zili also spotted Zhou Yiteng.

The Zhou family was a local power in Wuzhaoyin City, deeply entrenched and influential. Zhou Yiteng had previously been on good terms with Chen Zili. However, after Chen Jixian was removed from the priority development list, Zhou Yiteng stopped associating with him. But now, he was sitting there, chatting and laughing amicably with Zhao Junzhi. This clearly signaled that the matter was settled and had even swayed the Zhou family’s stance.

...

The boundless wasteland stretched as far as the eye could see. Its surface was strewn with jagged, yellow-red grotesque stones. Mountain ranges and ravines were tangled together in a deadly embrace, winding away into the far distance.

Several steam-powered mechanical species belched thick smoke, their roars deafening, as they lumbered about, gnawing on rocks rich in metallic elements.

These were a peculiar type of silicon-based, steam-powered lifeform. They resembled wild beasts, possessing low intelligence but formidable combat strength. Their temperament was as volatile as their steam-powered heart-furnaces.

These were the indigenous life forms of Empire River Star.

Empire River Star was a third-class colonial planet. It initially possessed a terraformable atmosphere, but its surface environment was harsh and barren, though indigenous life had already emerged.

One of the terror-pig-like steam-powered mechanical species suddenly sensed something. It jerked its head up to look towards a distant, colossal, ring-shaped structure it could not comprehend.

In the words of Wuzhaoyin City’s inhabitants, this enormous, ring-shaped composite-armor outer wall was the city’s guardian deity, known as the ’Peace Ring.’

Inside the Peace Ring lay the urban zone; beyond it was the dangerous wilderness.

Besides the steam-powered mechanical species, various dangerous and bizarre alien life forms roamed. Moreover, the Alien Insect Race could land outside the city at any moment to launch terrifying assaults.

Approximately twenty kilometers outside the Peace Ring, a chain of outpost military forts was arrayed.

Chen Jixian stood on the highest platform of one such fort, gazing into the distance. The telescope on his helmet was merely for show; as an Abyssal Blacksmith, his physical abilities far surpassed those of ordinary humans. Chen Jixian could see farther with his naked eyes than any telescope could.

Chen Jixian was currently observing that terror-pig-like steam-powered mechanical species.

His adjutant, who had loyally served Chen Jixian for ten years, stood beside him and said in a low voice, "Sir, the delivery of the six standard units of ’Sky Spear’ missiles you requisitioned will be delayed by three days."