Chapter 33: Victim: How Has The World Changed!
“I understand, I’ll have them head over right away.” Yuan Chenyang said thoughtfully.
After the figures were far away, he then said: “That old fox Zhang Hongbo, who knows what he’s thinking this time.”
Sure enough, they were going to search bodies, Su Chen thought to himself.
The two had established preliminary trust, so Su Chen took the opportunity to say: “Teacher, that Zhou Xian clearly has a problem. When they were leaving the academy gates, he was obviously covering something up.”
“So impatient?” Yuan Chenyang said irritably, “Who do you think he is, some random soldier? He’s not that easy to deal with.”
His little scheme seen through, Su Chen felt no embarrassment and continued: “Doesn’t the City Lord have that hypnosis-like ability?”
“The City Lord’s ability can’t be used casually; it causes severe mental damage. Unless there’s solid evidence, and besides, Zhou Xian is the Director of Internal Affairs arranged by Ying Feng…” Yuan Chenyang shook his head, then suddenly paused, looking suspiciously at the pensive Su Chen.
Where did this sly little guy come from?
He changed his tone: “Don’t worry, you’re my student now; he can’t use it on you casually.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Chenyang clearly saw the surprise in Su Chen’s eyes and couldn’t help slamming the table: “Do you take me for an idiot?”
“How could that be? Your insight is brilliant.” Su Chen quickly said.
“Enough…” Yuan Chenyang snorted coldly as he stood up, “I’ll go take a look. You all check it out later.”
Watching Yuan Chenyang leave, he then turned and said: “You’re looking at me with that gaze again.”
Meeting Su Chen’s eyes, Bai Fengxi looked away and said indifferently: “He’s a good person; you don’t need to be so tense.”
“We’re different.” Su Chen shook his head; he had come knocking on the door himself, so naturally he needed to keep a low profile.
“You’ve finally gotten what you wanted.” Bai Fengxi’s words carried a sense of resignation; the current Su Chen was completely different from her impression of him.
But on second thought, who doesn’t wear a mask? Hmm… except Little Pigeon.
“Surviving in the cracks, seeking life from death…” Su Chen’s tone was calm, then he asked again: “By the way, Old Bai, what were those things the City Lord mentioned earlier, Heituo and the Cult of the Strange God?”
Bai Fengxi thought for a moment before explaining: “Heituo is a type of Strange God.”
Before Su Chen could ask what a “Strange God” was, she explained: “Strange Gods are powerful beings with unimaginable strength. Through sacrifice, one can gain strange abilities.”
“But it will also gradually drive the contactor insane, turning them against their own kin.”
Su Chen suddenly understood; it was just a cult.
“Are they the ones who created the mist?” Su Chen thought for a moment and asked.
“I don’t think that’s the case…” Bai Fengxi shook her head.
“Then when did the mist appear?” Su Chen pressed.
“I don’t know that. It’s been so long that everyone is used to it.”
Su Chen nodded thoughtfully; Bai Fengxi didn’t know much either.
“Also, what should you call me now?” Bai Fengxi’s eyes held a teasing glint.
“Uh…” Su Chen felt no shame and called out: “Senior Sister.”
A strange smile that was hard to describe finally appeared on Bai Fengxi’s usually emotionless face. “Who told you I’m Yuan Chenyang’s student?”
“You… aren’t his student?” Su Chen was truly stunned.
Bai Fengxi said reservedly: “Yuan Chenyang is my Senior Brother; he took me as a student on behalf of the Teacher.”
“Ah?” Su Chen was genuinely shocked.
Watching Su Chen’s reaction, the corners of Bai Fengxi’s mouth curved up silently. “This matter is a secret; only the City Lord knows besides you.”
…………
“…One strike instant kill…” Zhang Hongbo bent down to examine the wounds on the lion’s body.
They hadn’t had time to process the dismemberment yet, so the tiny wound on the skull was clearly visible.
“Yes, yes.” Hu Xiang behind him was somewhat nervous. “Brother Su Chen used some unusual method, so he was charging up power from the start of the attack.”
“Not simple…” Zhang Hongbo stood up, smiling ambiguously: “Charging up?”
Hu Xiang kept his head down, yet he heard a chilling question.
“In the battle, you said you’d give Su Chen an explanation. What explanation?” Zhang Hongbo’s tone was flat, but Hu Xiang felt like he had fallen into an ice cave, catching a glimpse of Old Zhao standing nearby out of the corner of his eye.
Colluding with outsiders to secretly harm academy students—that was the City Lord’s taboo.
“This…” Hu Xiang’s scalp went numb, as if plunged into an ice cave.
“You have merit in protecting him, Su Chen spoke up to exonerate you, and you spoke up for him. In any case, merits and demerits cancel out; this matter is over.” Zhang Hongbo said indifferently.
Clatter—
Hu Xiang immediately dropped to one knee, like a drowning man finally reaching shore. The relief of surviving the ordeal made his voice tremble: “Tha-thank you, City Lord.”
“Thank yourself.” Zhang Hongbo’s figure passed by his side as he went to meet Yuan Chenyang.
“This student of yours is no simple matter…” He pointed at the pile of lion corpses and praised: “Twelve First Order Mutants, fifteen ordinary Mutants, all killed in one strike, battle lasting no more than ten minutes.”
That impressive?
Yuan Chenyang was also startled inside; he didn’t yet know the details of the battle.
He had thought it was a hard kill with the City Patrol Guards’ help, but it turned out to be Su Chen’s solo show. Was that profession really that powerful?
“Su Chen has good talent; I’m giving him special focus in cultivation.” He said nonchalantly.
Zhang Hongbo seemed casual: “Seems like a physical body profession. What level talent? Bronze? Or Brilliant Silver?”
Yuan Chenyang’s expression didn’t change: “Brilliant Silver.”
“The pillar of our South Wind City…” Zhang Hongbo’s eyes flickered slightly as he sighed.
Yuan Chenyang didn’t want to dwell on Su Chen and asked: “City Lord, how to handle Zhou Xian?”
“Handle?” Zhang Hongbo frowned. “Found evidence?”
“No.” Yuan Chenyang shook his head.
Zhang Hongbo said dissatisfied: “Even the son isn’t involved, so why are you so sure the father is? What father would use his son to transport something so important?”
“I understand.” Yuan Chenyang nodded as if he had expected it.
Zhang Hongbo sighed: “Ying Feng’s people are almost here; we’re all colleagues, we should help each other.”
Yuan Chenyang fell silent and then asked: “Why the sudden body search? Did you find something else?”
“Zhou Xian thinks that since there’s Tang Chen, there might be other followers in the team. Check thoroughly.” Zhang Hongbo explained simply.
“That’s all?” Yuan Chenyang frowned.
Zhang Hongbo glanced at him: “Four months ago, Yun Lan sent a joint investigation notice; three Space Crystals were lost, with clues saying they flowed to our side.”
“Wasn’t it already investigated?” Yuan Chenyang knew about this.
Zhang Hongbo looked at the camp where everyone was busy: “What if? Since the Holy Word Stone was being sent out, Space Crystals might be too.”
………
Long lines formed in the camp, men and women separated. The Exploration Guards conducted detailed “checks,” while some guys silently moved through the tents.
It was just stripping down and scanning with some instrument. It was soon Su Chen’s turn, and nothing unusual was found.
“No abnormalities at all?” Zhou Xian listened to the Exploration Guard’s report, his cheek twitching faintly.
Zhang Hongbo shook his head, disappointed: “Head back.”
Packing was mostly done; the group set off to return. With a South Wind City bigshot along, nothing unexpected happened on the road.
…
Three days later
“Finally back.” Su Chen looked at the grand city walls ahead, cheers rising one after another beside him.
The team had swelled quite a bit; to accommodate these students, it had taken several extra days overall.
However, he hadn’t idled; with Yuan Chenyang’s endorsement, he’d been training on the way back, and the Black Flame Potion was fully consumed.
【Molten Stone Training Method—Mastery: 10%】
【Void Ripper Warrior: 36%】
Zhang Hongbo approved three days’ leave; the other students naturally cheered and dispersed.
Hu Xiang chatted with him, went back to tally the Green Scaled Lions’ value, and after processing, delivered the money.
News of the students’ return immediately caused quite a stir; this City Patrol had been too short, and they even returned with the City Lord.
Many well-informed people immediately started inquiring, wanting to figure out what had happened.
………
“What the hell are you doing!”
In the room, Zhou Xian’s face was full of bloodshot eyes in his pupils. Zhou Zong’s corpse lay on the metal platform, the missing half of his head especially striking.
“That Su Chen is a refugee!?”
Qi Chuan, kneeling on the ground, was drenched in sweat, still unaware of what happened. As soon as he was called, he saw Zhou Zong’s corpse and the furious Zhou Xian.
Zhou Xian’s voice was hoarse: “Qi Chuan, you’ve disappointed me greatly this time.”
“Hm?” Qi Chuan was startled inside and carefully asked: “Could you tell me what exactly happened?”
“Su Chen killed twelve First Order Green Scaled Lions in ten minutes.”
“How is that possible!” Qi Chuan exclaimed, his expression dramatically shaken: “He’s clearly just a refugee; how could he…”
“Still calling him a refugee!” Zhou Xian angrily interrupted, crackling electric arcs filling the air. “He—he’s Yuan Chenyang’s student!”
“That old bastard somehow caught on and had Su Chen quietly embed in the City Patrol team.”
“Zhou Zong’s death is definitely tied to him!”
Su Chen was Yuan Chenyang’s student?
Qi Chuan was dumbfounded; he hadn’t expected the guy to just leave the city and return with everything flipped.
Zhou Xian looked down coldly at Qi Chuan: “I want to know everything about him—everything. This is your last chance.”
Shadows enveloped Qi Chuan as he steeled himself and agreed: “Rest assured, I will definitely give you an explanation!”
