CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 79 WHY EXACTLY ME (COMBINED)

EDITOR: DRAGON BOAT TRANSLATION

"Ren Ying..."

Ren Qingqing looked at the girl on the screen, her mind somewhat hazy.

Her roommate patted her on the shoulder and said, "Come clean. Were you a child star? Look, this female character, she’s basically the child version of you."

It was Friday at noon. "Over My Dead Body" had already released its 25th episode, advancing the timeline to AD 214.

The second Family Head, Ren Nu, passed away in the autumn of 211. The current Family Head was the third-generation head, Ren Ying, who was... 10 years old at the time.

Ren Ying was the daughter Ren Nu had in 204 through a Spiritual Exchange with the Qingqiu Ground Spirit. Although it was hard to understand why the position of Family Head would be entrusted to the underage Ren Ying while other adults of the second-generation bloodline were still around, the people of Mysterious Country quickly rationalized it: the main branch versus collateral branches.

It was like the imperial throne. If the Emperor died and the crown prince was not yet of age, it would seem more appropriate for the throne to pass to an adult Prince, right? Yet, ever since Mysterious Country entered its feudal dynastic period, it was usually Princes seizing thrones from their nephews; cases of a younger brother succeeding an older brother were extremely rare—seen only in the Yuan Dynasty, ruled by ethnic minorities, and during the Song Dynasty’s ’Oath of the Golden Coffer.’

Conversely, scenarios with a young emperor ascending the throne and ministers aiding in governance were quite common.

Though the Ren Family didn’t hold an imperial throne, becoming the Family Head was equivalent to wielding a superpower that transcended the mundane world, so hereditary succession by the direct line was only natural.

Moreover, for some unknown reason, whenever a legitimate eldest son became Family Head, their Talent far surpassed that of their peers. Not to mention the ’Inheritance’ that occurred between Family Heads, where the previous generation’s power was transmitted to the next. Thus, as long as the legitimate eldest son matured, they would almost certainly become the strongest Cultivator.

It made sense for the future strongest Cultivator to become the Family Head.

Online discussions about "Over My Dead Body" were already plentiful. Combat power comparisons had emerged, such as posts debating ’Is Ren Woxing stronger or is Ren Nu stronger?’, comparing father and son. The Ren Family’s system, shaped by a mysterious curse, also sparked intense debate among countless people.

The background setting of Spiritual Energy’s resurgence cast the historical figures of the Three Kingdoms under the veil of Cultivators.

In the show, Zhao Yun, much like in the epic tales, could charge in and out of enemy lines seven times. Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu could genuinely predict the weather. The fierce generals, damn them all, could each fight a hundred enemies alone, while the strategists engaged in a wondrous game of recursive mind-reading traps: ’I know what you’re thinking,’ ’I know you know what I’m thinking,’ and ’I know you know I know what you’re thinking.’

Many people affirmed, "This is the best Three Kingdoms fantasy adaptation TV show in recent years." It skillfully wove the Ren Family Cultivators into the history of the Three Kingdoms. Through the premise of Slaying Monsters and Demons, it also opposed the wars of feudal warlords, revealed the disasters war brought upon the people, and extolled the preciousness of peace, and so on.

However, for Ren Qingqing, it was just a very entertaining TV show.

Until Ren Ying in the TV show gradually grew up, Ren Qingqing found that she and the character seemed... very similar.

Actually, she had known for a while that a character in the show resembled her; after all, the character had appeared in the opening theme. But it wasn’t until Ren Ying appeared properly that Ren Qingqing realized the resemblance wasn’t just in adulthood. Even as children, their eyes and brows were already seventy to eighty percent similar.

However, Ren Qingqing merely sighed, "I never thought someone with my looks would have a star’s appearance. You really can’t judge a book by its cover."

Her roommate looked exasperated. "Are you seriously using ’can’t judge a book by its cover’ to describe yourself?"

RRING RRING! RRING RRING!

Ren Qingqing’s cell phone, lying on the desk, suddenly rang. She answered, hummed a couple of times, and hung up. Her roommate asked, "Scam call?"

"A call from the blood donation center," Ren Qingqing said. "These past few days, the campus blood donation station, Luoyang Central Hospital, and the 150 Hospital have all called, hoping I’d donate blood... It seems they found out my blood type is quite rare?"

Her roommate asked, "Panda blood?"

"I don’t know. They just called hoping I’d go for a detailed check-up. But I went mountain climbing last week, and my traveling Skill is on cooldown, so I didn’t feel like going."

"Still on cooldown, huh? Are you going to upgrade to Lv2 and change your class to ’Successful and Showy Person’ in the future?"

After watching the 25th episode, it was time for her lunch break, so Ren Qingqing planned to go to bed. Just then, her phone received another text message: [Package Number 03456464878 has been placed in Beehive Locker No. 2 under Building 16 of the Qilin District. Pick-up code: 0316.]

"A package?" Ren Qingqing blinked. I don’t remember buying anything online recently.

But it’s possible someone sent me a gift, or Mom and Dad sent some tasty treats, Ren Qingqing thought. So, she headed straight down from her dormitory building, intending to pick up the package and then go to sleep.

The noon sun was scorching. Most students had returned to their dormitories or were studying in the library. Ren Qingqing saw hardly anyone on her way to the Beehive Pickup Locker. Just then, a black sedan happened to approach as she was crossing the road, forcing her to stop and wait for it to pass.

However, the black sedan slowed, looking like it intended to stop. As it drew level with Ren Qingqing, the door of the still-moving car suddenly swung open.

Before Ren Qingqing could react, a man leaped out. With lightning speed, he clapped a handkerchief over her mouth and, in less than a second, dragged her into the car, slamming the door shut.

The car, engine still running, immediately accelerated and quickly sped away from campus.

"They made their move, after all."

In a black sedan parked not far away by the curb, a man and a woman watched the direction the other car had taken. The woman in the passenger seat pressed the microphone on her collar. "License plate Lian A-WSSD79. Left from the West Gate, heading towards Lianhu Road. Intercept them."

"Understood."

Turning off the microphone, she took out her cell phone and dialed another number. "Captain Han, you can make the arrests. All medical staff involved in this incident from the campus blood donation station, Luoyang Central Hospital, and the 150 Hospital—arrest them all under the charge of endangering national security."

"Got it, Director Gu."

After the woman had issued all her orders, the man in the driver’s seat casually remarked, "Don’t worry, they won’t be caught."

The woman paused, then asked, "What do you mean?"

"The ones who bribed the medical staff have likely already fled Mysterious Country. As for the people in that car just now, I’m afraid they were hired underworld figures, local thugs. They probably used an excuse like ’a rich heir has taken a fancy to a college girl’ to hire them to kidnap Ren Qingqing."

"Thanks to modern web novels and tabloids, such an excuse is easily believable."

The man continued, "It was anticipated that Ren Qingqing would draw attention. Even if we had reacted quickly enough to encrypt the Ren Family’s files, there are too many vulnerabilities in the household registration system. Other nations, if they put their minds to it, can still uncover the lineage of the Ren Family members."

"Not to mention, scholars within Mysterious Country have researched the Luoyang Ren Clan. Even though these scholars are now under complete protection, their previous statements have long since leaked and can even be found directly on Google. Finding Ren Family members doesn’t actually require much effort."

"But the problem is, they didn’t look for anyone else; they specifically targeted Ren Qingqing... You should understand what this implies, Director."

The woman closed her eyes until a report came through her headset: "...A total of three individuals were involved in this kidnapping. All three are from Luoyang, aged 17 to 26, and are unemployed drifters... Ren Qingqing is largely unharmed, merely rendered unconscious by a cloth soaked in a rare, ether-like substance. She has been sent to the hospital for a check-up."

After listening to the report, the woman said, "Continue, Qiu Changqing."

Qiu Changqing shrugged. "This is a probing attempt."

"They must know that Ren Qingqing’s appearance is extremely similar to ’Ren Ying’ from ’Over My Dead Body.’ But what does that prove? Nothing. Plenty of people look alike."

"They’re probing us."

Qiu Changqing took out his phone, opened an app, and found the video for ’Over My Dead Body.’

"It’s a cultivation drama about ancient Mysterious Country, broadcast worldwide simultaneously, a drama released by ’Ren Naiser.’ Considering the first two videos Ren Naiser released, no country would ignore this organization—suspected hackers who actually possess technology far beyond our current era."

"But for foreigners, understanding ’Over My Dead Body’ is already quite difficult, let alone discerning its authenticity. The challenge is just too great for them. Perhaps scholars from Flourishing Sakura, across the sea, could do it, but... only facts one has managed to verify through their own efforts are worthy of trust."

"Forget foreigners; even ordinary citizens of Mysterious Country wouldn’t speculate that this TV drama could be ’real.’ How could a historical drama be real? The people from that era are all dead. How could it be filmed?"

"However, what have *we* done?" Qiu Changqing spread his hands. "Recently, all domestic archaeologists specializing in the Han Dynasty, Jin Dynasty, Three Kingdoms, and similar periods have been secretly summoned."

"This can’t be hidden. The scope is too large, with too many targets. If they just monitor a few scholars, they’ll realize they’ve all disappeared. Naturally, they’ll also deduce that Mysterious Country is investigating ’Over My Dead Body.’"

"So, what about the results of that investigation? They don’t know. That’s why they’ve turned their attention to Ren Qingqing. Her appearance and age make her a very close match for the ’Ren Family Bloodline’ profile. So, they made their move before the TV series showed ’Ren Ying’ growing up."

"That’s why they hired people to probe our reaction." Qiu Changqing held up two fingers. "Outcome one: We *don’t* protect Ren Qingqing. She’s abducted, they test her, and get the results they want. Outcome two: We *do* protect Ren Qingqing. They see how highly Mysterious Country values her, and from that, they deduce that Mysterious Country has confirmed the authenticity of ’Over My Dead Body.’ Otherwise, our focus on an ordinary college girl would be inexplicable."

"Of course," Qiu Changqing said, "these are just my speculations, Director Gu. Until they make their next move, we have no way of knowing what these foreign spies will actually do."

Director Gu immediately asked, "Based on your assessment, what will they do next?"

"Obtain blood samples from Ren Family members. Obtain a Ren Family member younger than 24," Qiu Changqing said calmly. "Even if they can’t capture one alive, they’ll do anything to secure the body!"

Director Gu immediately made a call.

However, she soon put the phone down, her expression somewhat peculiar.

"All Ren Family collateral branches have already received special protection. Ren Qingqing, who possesses cultivation aptitude, will directly become one of the first students at the Sky Capital headquarters, receiving personal Teaching from the Teacher."

The Teacher?

Qiu Changqing was momentarily taken aback but then understood.

"That’s right. The one in Sky Capital is the person who cares most about this. The other Ren Clan members could be considered his last blood relatives, and also his... Key to survival."

"He definitely wants to know why only his lineage experienced an Awakening of their bloodline when Spiritual Energy resurged, and why... the other collateral branches were unaffected."

...

...

「In an underground research institute in Sky Capital.」

A frail, pale young man sat slumped in a wheelchair, watching a 4K-quality TV drama on the LCD screen before him.

He watched intently, meticulously, not missing a single second of the opening or closing themes. When he finished the latest episode, he turned his wheelchair to look at another display.

This screen showed the profile of a 46-year-old man named Ren Weiguo. The young man spent three seconds on it before continuing to browse.

At the very end were three red-tagged documents, specially highlighted as items of particular interest.

Ren Qingqing.

Ren Jiajie.

Ren Suo.

The first two were discovered to possess cultivation aptitude during a ’national cultivation aptitude screening.’ The last, Ren Suo, was a member of the Tactical Bureau who had been identified as having cultivation aptitude during a civil servant physical examination and subsequently transferred to the Bureau.

Blood samples from all three had been sent to the institute for analysis using state-of-the-art equipment capable of testing even foundational Talent. However, of the three, Ren Qingqing’s Talent was the best, Ren Jiajie’s was second, and Ren Suo’s was the worst.

Yet, even Ren Qingqing’s Talent, the best of theirs, was like the faint gleam of a firefly compared to the bright moon when measured against his own.

Soon, Ren Qingqing and Ren Jiajie would appear before him. He would have ample time to observe the detailed process of their Qi Cyclones forming and maturing...

As for Ren Suo, his Qi Cyclone had already matured, his Talent was too ordinary, and there was a break in his family records, casting doubt on his lineage. He wasn’t of much observational value.

However, regardless of their gender or appearance, he envied these three individuals immensely.

Because they could practice Cultivation and were free from the bloodline curse.

"Why... why me?"