The day after the Black Fire Gang was cleared out.
In the thirteenth floor treatment center.
Outside the medical room, Zhou Zhengde looked through the glass at Wang Jixuan, who lay quietly on the hospital bed.
Anyone could see that Wang Jixuan was in a terrible state. He had taken off his nano mask, revealing his true appearance as Mu Liang. Before coming here, Zhou Zhengde had already deleted the character "Zhou Tiantian" from the database, leaving no trace behind.
Wang Jixuan lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Thoughts of the girl in the white dress and the vengeful spirits floating around her kept crossing his mind.
"Why didn’t I shoot at that time? She had clearly fallen into darkness..."
"Did I just let the demon back into the mountains?"
Wang Jixuan bitterly smiled to himself, trying to suppress his thoughts and heal the cracks in his heart.
The landlord lady, Thomas, Ban Wenying, Wen Heisen, Yezi...
He realized he had underestimated the power of the human heart, thinking that cultivation could create everything.
He began to vaguely understand the purpose of refining one’s heart in the mundane world.
This was not an ordinary world, nor was it the cave where he had been in seclusion for over a hundred years. No one had to follow the path he envisioned; every being had its own way.
The way of humans is hidden here.
The way of heaven ends in the mysterious.
"I have my own path."
"If I can ascend one day, I should take down the powerful beasts of this world before I leave. That way, my journey here wouldn’t be in vain. As for other matters... I shouldn’t think too much."
"I regret what happened with Yezi, but she has fallen into darkness and must be dealt with soon."
Tap, tap.
The sound of high heels clicking against the concrete floor approached.
Zhou Zhengde turned to see Wei Na walking over and quietly asked, "What’s wrong with Mu Liang? Didn’t we win? He was responsible for eighty percent of this miraculous victory; we only contributed twenty percent."
"I don’t know."
Wei Na shrugged, crossing her arms.
"When I found him, he looked a bit dazed. I brought him back right away. Maybe he got hurt fighting the telekinetic ability user, An Qian? Don’t they have a skill that causes mental shock?"
"Ah, there’s no doubt that Mu Liang is a hero. He single-handedly took out one-fifth of the Black Fire Gang’s members, eliminated a D-level ability user who illegally entered the lower city, and severely injured another D-level user who broke the rules. He really did a lot."
Zhou Zhengde muttered this to himself, trying to simplify the situation, then changed the topic.
"There are still some things we need to ask him. Ban Jie is missing. The last signal from her heartbeat was on the forty-ninth floor. Many people have been sent to search for her, and now there’s suspicion that a charred body found in a car wreck is Ban Wenying; they’re doing a genetic analysis.
"The boss of the Black Fire Gang died alongside the old goat, Thomas, and they were burned to a crisp.
"I have some bad guesses—Ban Jie might have been borrowing resources for something beyond our limits, and it backfired. My mom has already sent people to investigate the information Ban Jie left behind.
"Also, in that wooden house, we found the bodies of several children, each stabbed through the heart with kitchen knives. They had a large amount of sleeping pills in their systems. We don’t know who killed these orphans."
Wei Na frowned, "What about the Thirteenth Institute? Aren’t they making a lot of noise?"
Zhou Zhengde sighed, "Our informant at the Thirteenth Institute said their leader is in a bad mood."
Wang Jixuan’s voice echoed in the room, "That leader has problems... Come in, I’ll tell you what happened."
Zhou Zhengde and Wei Na immediately pushed the door open, their expressions lightening a bit.
Wang Jixuan continued, "No need to whisper. If you have questions, just ask. I chose to come back here because I trust both of you."
Zhou Zhengde and Wei Na exchanged glances, feeling a bit guilty.
Zhou Zhengde pulled up a chair and sat by the bed, while Wei Na leaned against the door to prevent anyone from barging in.
Zhou Zhengde asked, "What’s wrong, Mu Liang? Are you feeling unwell?"
"It feels like I had a nightmare."
Wang Jixuan raised his hand to cover his forehead.
"Zhengde, we’re partners, so I’ll tell you what happened last night. I won’t say everything, but I need you to help me find someone. Her name is Xiao Yezi, a girl about twelve or thirteen years old, wearing a white dress and carrying a suitcase... She’s extremely dangerous. If she resists with a weapon, you must take her down immediately."
"Got it," Zhou Zhengde quickly replied, pulling out a communicator. "I’ll send the cleansing squad to look for her."
Wang Jixuan said, "I was confused at the time and made a mistake by not eliminating her right away. It might leave some hidden dangers."
"Is she an ability user?"
"No, but she is responsible for the deaths of those orphans. She’s well-read and very smart. I really don’t understand her motives..."
"That’s a relief," Zhou Zhengde sighed. "It’s good that she’s not an ability user."
Wang Jixuan slowly sighed, "Let me first tell you about Thomas..."
He decided to be honest.
A few minutes later, the medical room was silent, except for the sound of a needle dropping.
Wei Na looked shocked, "The head of the biological department at our 76 Fortress, the representative from the Thirteenth Institute, is biologically related to the guy I took down, Big Mouth Hua?!"
Zhou Zhengde suddenly stood up, like an angry lion, and turned to storm toward the bathroom. Soon, his roar echoed from inside:
"Mom!
You need to explain this to me! Why are there cameras all around me?! Do you love me?
I’m over thirty! I have my own life! You’ve gone too far!
We shouldn’t see each other for a while! Ban Wenying is colluding with Thomas; she’s trying to stir up faction conflicts to find political opportunities for herself!
Yes!
I found it! That charred body is her! Ban Wenying and Thomas had an internal conflict!
Thomas took her out! Thomas had a conflict with the Black Fire Gang boss! Thomas took out the Black Fire Gang boss too!
In the end, Thomas was taken out by my people! And you still dare to say Ban Wenying is on your side... You can’t even see what your own secretary is doing!
That’s humanity!
Humanity includes the part that can easily be corrupted by power! You handle it! Don’t let Ban Wenying’s matter disturb us on the thirteenth floor!
If you can’t handle it, I’ll go find my grandfather!"
Bang!
Zhou Zhengde kicked the bathroom door open and stormed out of the room. "Search my office! Find all the cameras! The gang installed cameras in my office!"
Several security team members rushed out.
Zhou Zhengde took a deep breath, returned to the room, and squeezed his eyes shut.
He walked to Wang Jixuan’s bedside, smiling apologetically.
"I'm sorry. I didn’t know I was being used by Ban Wenying all this time. My mom has a lot of responsibility in this too... Remember, it wasn’t you who took out Ban and that old lady; it was Thomas. You just killed Thomas, and that will save a lot of trouble later."
"Okay."
Wang Jixuan sighed lightly, "Right now, my mind is confused. I can’t tell what’s right or wrong, what’s true or false."
"Mu Liang, the situation with Yezi has hit you hard, hasn’t it?"
Wei Na noticed this and said softly, "Think about it. Who did your landlord lady raise?
"Some researcher, Thomas, and Wen Heisen should also be related to her.
"This old lady is a black hole in the lower city, a black hole of humanity. The closer you get to her, the more easily you’ll be twisted. Xiao Yezi is just an extension of her evil thoughts... This kind of twisted personality is clearly described in the fortress’s mental illness manual."
Wang Jixuan smiled, "I’m not that fragile; I just couldn’t accept it for a moment. This is my first time dealing with such things."
Zhou Zhengde hung his head, "Alright, I was completely played by Ban Wenying. I even called her sister and thought about helping her get a position in the council."
Wang Jixuan asked, "What’s going on with the Black Fire Gang?"
"Overall, it’s resolved," Zhou Zhengde perked up. "I still have a lot to do, just these matters."
Zhou Zhengde shrugged, "My mom is actually just a good accountant and organizer. Many people have helped her get to where she is now.
"But she’s too strong-willed; only when my grandfather scolds her does she calm down.
"I can foresee that because of Ban Wenying’s matter, my mom will end up in a passive position, and so will we. I still need to find a way to turn this around."
Wei Na added, "Aunt Zhou is actually a nice person. After all, Zhengde is raised by her, but in the fortress, you know, everyone might have a little bit of abnormality."
Zhou Zhengde said seriously, "I got into the upper city law enforcement team through my own abilities, passing an anonymous exam. I’ve solved several major cases and became the deputy captain."
"Yes, your abilities," Wei Na scoffed, "as if ordinary people could take that exam."
Zhou Zhengde was at a loss for words.
Wang Jixuan’s thoughts turned slightly.
He smiled, "So can I quietly cultivate and return to a peaceful life now?"
"Of course!"
Zhou Zhengde rubbed his nose, "But before that, I want to confirm one thing: we’re friends now, right? Comrades, friends, buddies."
"Yes," Wang Jixuan confirmed.
Mainly because he owed this guy too many favors.
"How about we celebrate tonight? Just at my dorm, Wei Na and one of her female colleagues will join us. We can have a small gathering to celebrate our victory over the Black Fire Gang."
Zhou Zhengde smiled, "There are still many things in the lower city, but I promise they won’t threaten you again. The cleansing squad will be stationed in the Black Fire Gang’s territory for three months.
"I’ve submitted a proposal for the standardized operation of blood products, treating the blood products supplied to the Joint Defense Army as a legitimate business, directly managed by the authorities. The secretary of the governor said it sounded good.
"Although this will only have a partial effect, it’s better than doing nothing.
"Also, Mu Liang, that large-caliber sniper rifle and the remaining grenades have been sent back to the military. Other items like handguns, protective gear, and helmets, which are less powerful, have been placed in your new dorm.
"You are now the 'Deputy Team Leader of the Thirteenth Floor Security Patrol.' Your weekly salary includes a general supply quota of 45, food quota of 40, medical quota of 10, and legal gun ownership rights.
"There's also a critical point of interest: your landlord lady has a secret account and list... Do you remember?"
Account and list?
Wang Jixuan nodded slightly, "I’ve heard of the landlord lady’s list."
"Yes, it contains the evil records of the elderly in the upper city and the Thirteenth Institute of the 76 Fortress," Zhou Zhengde sighed. "With this, I can send them to prison."
Wang Jixuan thought for a moment, "I can go down to find that thing, just to return your favor."
"Don’t go! The ability users from the Thirteenth Institute have already rushed down. They are also looking for that list, and various forces have stormed into the forty-ninth floor."
Zhou Zhengde shook his head, "Your safety is more important.
"That dirty list will definitely be a top priority. Three high-ranking officials have secretly inquired about it; otherwise, I wouldn’t have noticed. I’m afraid it will cause some ripples later.
"During the fierce gunfight last night, the upper and middle levels of the Black Fire Gang were all wiped out, leaving no survivors, including Wen Heisen... This was intentional by the cleansing squad, and the ability users from the Thirteenth Institute cleared out some of the Black Fire Gang’s thugs.
"I wish a couple of them could have survived."
Wang Jixuan smiled, "I hadn’t considered that list before; I was too heavy-handed."
"This is good; you’re doing the right and just thing!
"Don’t blame yourself for these matters; we’re not gods. Your efforts have had a positive impact, successfully contributing to the revival of human civilization."
Zhou Zhengde clapped his hands, "I’ll keep an eye on things and prepare a small party, a very serious party, just to celebrate our victory over the Black Fire Gang."
After saying that, he hummed a cheerful tune and strode away.
A party?
Wang Jixuan just wanted to find another peaceful place to cultivate, like the Wanlijin greenhouse area.
Wei Na muttered beside him, "Can I ask, if I want to invite a female colleague, do you personally prefer her in a long dress or a short one, black stockings or white ones, younger or more mature? Conservative or open-minded? To be more precise, do you think a good waist-to-hip ratio is more important, or longer legs or a fuller chest? My younger colleagues wouldn’t refuse to date young officers from the security team."
Wang Jixuan replied seriously, "The soul; a pure soul is the most important."
Wei Na secretly gave him the middle finger before leaving.
Out of Wang Jixuan’s sight.
(End of chapter)