......
It was also during this ti that Chen An unintentionally unlocked his aperture and beca a Cultivator of Qi.
After fleeing with Qu Ningyan for a full day and night, the relationship between the two quickly ward.
Originally, Qu Ningyan and Chen An weren’t from the sa world.
But once Chen An beca a Cultivator of Qi, the gap between them shrank.
His relationship with Qu Ningyan also shifted from ordinary classmates to friends.
Later, Chen An joined the 749 Bureau, and the Qu Family sent rare spiritual treasures as thanks for his care and help during the escape with Qu Ningyan.
It was also thanks to these treasures that Chen An, at the starting stage, surpassed most of the newly awakened.
Plus, he was naturally gifted.
With one strong step, he kept gaining montum, the snowball grew larger and larger, and with other things in between not worth ntioning in detail, he eventually secured second place in last year’s Yunng Combat Trials.
Then he went on to the advanced training grounds for further developnt.
The reason why their story beca common knowledge in Yunng,
was because when Chen An took second place in the Combat Trials, he had publicly confessed to Qu Ningyan—who was there as a guest with her father—right there on the arena stage.
And then... got gently rejected—not in a way that made him lose face, but everyone got the ssage.
What happened between the two after that, no outsiders knew.
Anyway, ever since then, there were few Cultivators of Qi in Yunng who didn’t know that Chen An liked Qu Ningyan.
To the outside world, admiring such a genius young lady was perfectly normal.
But to Chen An, it didn’t feel normal.
He and Qu Ningyan had always gotten along well, they went through so much together—why did she reject him back then?
That question had never been answered, and he couldn’t figure it out.
He’d asked Qu Ningyan, deliberately or not, many tis, but never got a real answer.
Until now—he felt like he finally understood sothing, but he didn’t dare believe it.
Those few colleagues from the 749 Bureau started talking to him.
"Chen An, you... don’t overthink it, she... had secret ties with the Tianli Cult. Just let it go."
Soone tried to persuade him.
Chen An took a step back, unable to believe it.
His Adam’s apple bobbed: “So she... died?”
The others nodded helplessly, not saying much more.
Chen An frantically fumbled for his phone in his bag and opened the 749 App to check the detailed info.
After a long while, he gave a bitter smile.
He understood—Chen An understood everything. He understood why Qu Ningyan had rejected him.
If it were just that the 749 Bureau and the children of Cultivator clans weren’t the best match, there was at least no clear rule against being together.
But a 749 investigator and a cult mber—that was natural-born enmity, fire and water could not mix!
Under such circumstances, how could they possibly be together?
Even though the facts were right in front of him, Chen An still didn’t want to believe it.
“Why... why would you secretly align with the Tianli Cult? Didn’t they ambush you before? Didn’t we flee together for a whole day and night under their pursuit... why...”
Chen An’s eyes reddened, and he slowly raised his head: “Do you know where Lu Ding is?”
“Chen An, don’t do anything stupid. Lu Ding was acting within protocol. Don’t go looking for trouble with him.”
“Do you know where Lu Ding is?”
Chen An repeated again.
The colleagues from Yunng’s 749 Bureau shook their heads and sighed.
Chen An didn’t ask further, just turned and left, pulling out his phone, scrolling through sothing.
anwhile,
on the other side,
Lu Ding, Bai Hen, and Qiu Si were eating hotpot.
Amidst the boiling heat, they took a sip of cold beer.
“Ha～～～～”
That hit the spot.
But as they were eating, Qiu Si checked his phone, and his expression gradually turned serious.
Turns out Chen An had used his senior investigator clearance to access Yunng’s Sky-Eye surveillance system.
He’d found video footage of Qiu Si driving,
and also saw Lu Ding in the passenger seat.
Chen An was now on his way.
Qiu Si downed the rest of his beer in one go, the glass hitting the table with a thud.
Lu Ding popped a big piece of at into his mouth, looked up.
After two chews and a swallow, he refilled both their glasses.
They clinked and drank together.
He asked, “Director Qiu, what’s the deal?”
Qiu Si pulled out a cigarette, passed them around, lit one for himself, and after taking a deep drag, exhaled a thick cloud.
“Lu Ding, tell —do you think what you did today was wrong?”
“I don’t think I did anything wrong.”
“Right, I don’t think you did either. She tried to take your life. And what are you? You’re a 749 investigator. Trying to kill you is the sa as provoking 749.”
“What is the Tianli Cult? The Tianli Cult is a cult.”
“She tried to take your life, you take hers. That’s normal.”
“If the Tianli Cult provokes 749, then 749 kills them. That’s also normal.”
“I don’t get why Chen An just doesn’t get it.”
Qiu Si’s tone started getting a little irritated.
Hearing that na, Lu Ding thought of the info on Qu Ningyan.
“Yunng 749’s last Combat Trials runner-up?”
Qiu Si nodded: “Yeah, that’s him. He’s on his way here now.”
Lu Ding found it amusing: “Didn’t Qu Ningyan reject him?”
“I wanna know too. She already rejected him, so what’s he coming for now? To question you, or question ?”
“To ask why you killed Qu Ningyan? Or to ask why I allowed you to kill her?”
Qiu Si was exasperated. No comparison, no hurt—
He looked at Lu Ding, then at his own investigator, sigh... couldn’t even be bothered to complain.
The tone he used carried more of a “why can’t you be better” disappointnt.
Lu Ding leaned back in his chair: “So, Director Qiu, what do you want to do?”
Qiu Si was tired. He waved dismissively, “Do whatever you want. Just don’t kill him. Even if he’s barely breathing, that’s fine. Let him wake the hl up.”
“If he’s got the guts to co, then he’d better be ready for the consequences. I know your temper and personality.”
“I’m just his superior, not his dad. When it cos to outsiders, I protect him—that’s my job.”
“But in a case like this, if I still protected him, then I’d be dumber than him.”
Just as they were talking, Chen An arrived.
He barged through the door into the private room.
His eyes first fell on Qiu Si, who just gave a cold snort.
Then he turned to Lu Ding.
Chen An held back his emotions and asked, “Lu Ding, can I see your law enforcent recorder?”
Bang!!!
Qiu Si’s beer glass smashed straight down on the table.
“Why the hl should he show you anything!? Get it through your head—Lu Ding’s not even in our district. By regulation, not even I can casually look at his law enforcent footage.”
“If I wanna see it, I have to go through the proper channels!”
Chen An lowered his head, fists clenched: “I just want to know—why did she have to be executed on the spot.”
“She was once ambushed by the Tianli Cult. Maybe there was so hidden reason behind it. Couldn’t she have been arrested and interrogated first? Why did it have to be like that....”
“Ergency Self-Defense Clause for 749 Investigators—haven’t you studied it? Did you or didn’t you, answer !!!”
Chen An: “I did.”
“In ergency conditions, if there’s no binding restriction, a 749 investigator has the authority to determine life or death of a target based on personal safety assessnt.”
Qiu Si laughed: “I thought you’d forgotten. Since you can recite it yourself, then right now, turn around, go back, and give a 2,000-word self-criticism report.”
Chen An didn’t move. Qiu Si shook his head and said no more.
Lu Ding knew—Qiu Si had said all he could. Now it was his turn.
He stood up: “What you’re saying cos purely from your relationship with her. You’re using my safety to apply your standards—not 749’s standards.”
“I just...”
Chen An tried to speak, but Lu Ding raised a hand to cut him off.
“I don’t want to hear your excuses.”
As he spoke, Lu Ding lit a cigarette, took a single drag, then handed it back to Bai Hen.
“If, before this cigarette burns out, you’re still standing—forget it, that might be too hard on you.”
He changed his wording:
“If you can still move before the cigarette burns out, I’ll let you see it.”
User Comments
0 comments from readers