"Professor Zhuo, Zhang Chulan is currently busy and has been temporarily reassigned with Feng Baobao to the South China region for a mission. He's not in Jinmen right now."
Zhao Fangxu's voice came through the phone.
Zhang Chulan, Feng Baobao, South China...
Qingshui's eyes narrowed. He remembered some things and connected many more.
"South China, you say? What's Liao Zhong busy with then?"
"Old Liao... he probably can't respond at the moment."
"At the moment, or forever?"
Zhao Fangxu fell silent.
Meanwhile, the computer screen in front of Qingshui displayed an image.
Bai Ze, the AI, was forcefully accessing some of Nadou Tong company's secret files.
Qingshui had given Bai Ze instructions long ago to monitor information related to Liao Zhong, Nadou Tong's head in the South China region.
One reason was to know when Chen Duo's defection would signal that Ma Xianhong's situation had erupted. The other was to see if Liao Zhong could be saved.
Although they hadn't interacted much, Old Liao was a decent person. If he could be saved, it would be good to do so.
But now...
A picture of Liao Zhong's gruesome death by gu poison clearly appeared on the screen.
Bai Ze hadn't detected this before.
This indicated that there was also a powerful presence in the network domain on the other side, specifically blocking this information from the AI.
In the world of Hitori no Shita, there was probably only one person capable of this.
Gao Yushan, nicknamed Er Zhuang, is from the Gao family, one of the four major families. She's the second daughter of Gao Lian, the head of the Northeast region, and also a Temporary Worker for the Northeast region. She has the innate ability to manipulate radio waves and once trained in the Quanzhen Wuliu sect.
Although the lower half of her body was damaged for unknown reasons, she combined her innate anomalous ability with her ability to manifest her soul, making her almost an intelligent entity of the internet.
Sorry, Uncle Bi, Professor Zhuo's AI is very powerful. I couldn't stop it.
Bi Youlong looked at the message Er Zhuang sent on WeChat, then turned his phone around to show it to Zhao Fangxu.
Zhao Fangxu said gravely, "I apologize, Professor Zhuo. It seems you already know. However, we temporarily kept it from you because we considered your past acquaintance with Village Head Ma."
"I understand."
Zhao Fangxu breathed a sigh of relief.
"But I don't intend to forgive you either."
Zhao Fangxu remained silent.
In truth, they didn't want Qingshui to interfere too much with Nadou Tong's management.
He was too young, held too high a position, came from the Mohist Sect, was on good terms with Longhu Mountain, and might even have connections with certain individuals in the Anomalous Human World. If someone who committed a crime happened to be connected to Qingshui, how would the company handle it then?
Although Qingshui held the title of a Nadou Tong director, his job was to research the anomalous abilities of Anomalous Humans, not to meddle in the company's frontline affairs.
Nominally, Qingshui couldn't command Zhao Fangxu and the others.
Even if his actual status and the power he could wield were greater than Zhao Fangxu's.
"You've gathered all the Temporary Workers?"
"Yes."
Zhao Fangxu nodded in response.
Go ahead and talk. Anyway, you're in BJ now, and Zhang Chulan and the others are in Guizhou, half a country away. Even if you fly, you'd be too late.
You don't have the Golden Light Escape or Fire Release, do you?
"What's the objective? Catch Chen Duo, or kill her?"
"Chen Duo, as a Temporary Worker, killed a regional head. This matter is serious. Even if other Anomalous Humans in the circle dared to kill a regional head, the company would completely besiege them. Chen Duo is even more so."
"Anything else?"
"As for the rest, I presume Professor Zhuo, you already know, perhaps even since the beginning of this year, about the Body Cultivation Furnace."
"So, what are your opinions?"
"This ability, which allows ordinary people to gain anomalous powers, will inevitably cause social unrest. The company will not allow such things that are detrimental to stability to happen. Therefore, I have issued an order to destroy the Body Cultivation Furnace and bring Ma Xianhong back to the company."
"That would truly be a waste, Chairman Zhao. I have some news, and I believe someone of your rank should also be aware of it. The country across the ocean, their Behemoth's Regeneration Serum has already developed to the twelfth generation. Although there haven't been any Anomalous Humans of the caliber of Sean or the Hanged Man, the success rate has significantly increased.
As long as they're willing to sacrifice lives, they'll soon be able to build an Anomalous Human army with excellent modern warfare skills. We can't fall behind here; if we do, we'll be vulnerable to attack."
Qingshui lowered his eyes, speaking to Zhao Fangxu on the other end of the phone.
At this point in time, the confrontation between the two great powers had gradually become overt.
Just two months ago, in the South China Sea, there was the most dangerous standoff between the two great powers since the end of the Cold War.
This was comparable to the Cuban Missile Crisis of '62.
The two sides will soon engage in various forms of confrontation outside the military sphere, and within a year or two, an economic war will even begin.
The general public isn't fully aware of this yet, but someone at Zhao Fangxu's level certainly is.
Both sides have already entered into a full-scale confrontation across all domains: technology, culture, and economy.
This time, with more advanced chips created using the electronic etching technology brought by Qingshui, along with artificial intelligence and a series of highly impactful achievements like Regeneration Serum, the Eastern side will have a significant advantage.
And the technology for mass-producing Anomalous Humans is also crucial.
In fact, one could say that in a world with genuine, tangible superhuman individual power, the importance of this technology might be comparable to some of Qingshui's major breakthroughs.
"I know, which is why I only instructed them to destroy the Body Cultivation Furnace and kill Chen Duo, not Ma Xianhong. After the mission, Ma Xianhong is to be escorted to headquarters. If any related research is to be conducted, Professor Zhuo, you will undoubtedly lead it, with Director Huang as your assistant. Oh, and I recall you also know Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements? So, this Body Cultivation Furnace..."
"I can't build it. That's not solely within the capabilities of Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements." Qingshui replied.
The Body Cultivation Furnace was a product of Ma Xianhong's Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements combined with Qu Tong's Dual Hand.
"Professor Zhuo, I've made the most suitable choice for the current situation. The company is different from Behemoth. The company's missions have always been clear: be accountable to superiors and maintain stability in the Anomalous Human World. Mass-producing Anomalous Humans is not Nadou Tong's responsibility. The fact that we're willing to keep Ma Xianhong is already an action taken with that consideration in mind."
"Chairman Zhao, please have the Temporary Workers stand down for now."
"I'm afraid that's not possible."
"Tsk, it seems I can't persuade you, Chairman Zhao."
"My apologies, Professor Zhuo. Perhaps you and Ma Xianhong have a personal connection, but connections are one thing, and official business is another."
"I know, I know. But since official business is official business, if I have a better solution here, shouldn't we at least give it a try?"
"Professor Zhuo, I don't understand what you mean."
"What I mean is, I will take responsibility for this matter. Whatever consequences arise, I will bear them. Likewise, if anything else comes up later, I hope the company won't interfere too much, because I'll be handling it."
Zhao Fangxu abruptly looked up.
He didn't care about what Qingshui said next, but the first half of the sentence caught his attention.
Qingshui taking responsibility himself.
What did that mean? Was he going to the front lines himself?
If that national treasure of national treasures were to get injured, or even suffer a greater accident, how could he not be held responsible, even if procedurally he hadn't made a mistake?
"Professor Zhuo, from Beijing to Liupanshui, that spans more than half of China. You..."
"I know, which is why I'm already hurrying there. I should arrive in about half an hour."
As Qingshui spoke, the silver Platinum Armor began to encase his body.
Half an hour was a conservative estimate, a very conservative estimate.
His body, strengthened by Qi, could withstand speeds far beyond ordinary people. If he could learn a body-refining technique to strengthen his physical form, he could probably go much faster.
Half an hour...
Zhao Fangxu sighed inwardly and shook his head at Bi Youlong, who sat silently opposite him.
"Alright, Professor Zhuo, please hold off for a moment. I'll have Zhang Chulan and the others temporarily stop so you can have a video call with Ma Xianhong, and then you can make the decision. How does that sound?"
"No."
Zhao Fangxu frowned slightly.
"Chairman Zhao, this matter isn't as simple as you think. Do you remember how I was attacked by Chai Yan there last time?"
A sharp glint flashed in Zhao Fangxu's eyes.
Of course, he remembered that.
"Are you saying this matter is related to that person?"
"That person" Zhao Fangxu referred to was the traitor in the company's upper echelons whom Qingshui had hinted at last time.
Chai Yan's behavior, and Lu Ci and Lu Ping's attitudes, further corroborated the existence of a defector within the company.
Since Bi Youlong couldn't yet be ruled out as a suspect, Zhao Fangxu didn't explicitly name them, only using "that person" as a placeholder.
In fact, if Bi Youlong truly were the traitor and could analyze the meaning of Qingshui and Zhao Fangxu's words from this brief message and leak the information, then so be it. Because that would directly confirm him, Bi Youlong, as the traitor.
"Yes, the person behind Ma Xianhong, the one who used him and guided him to this point, is that person's collaborator, or at least an ally. That individual targeted me and even attacked me back then, so I have no intention of letting her go. This incident with Ma Xianhong is the perfect opportunity, a great chance to catch them by the tail."
"How do you plan to proceed?"
"On your end, just continue as planned. Don't reveal my presence. Then, have Senior Lu Ci come over with the Lu Family experts skilled in the Soul-Illumination Technique to assist."
"I understand what you mean. But since Mr. Lu Ci is already arranged to help, you won't need to get involved, right?"
"No, when it's time to act, I still have to. I acknowledge Senior Lu Ci's skills, but he's not the Old Heavenly Master after all, so I need to be present. Moreover, this matter requires speed to catch the person behind it off guard. By the time the Lu Family arrives, it might be too late."
On the other end of the phone, Qingshui explained as his armor ascended.
Bai Ze, on Qingshui's behalf, also sent a notification to the aviation authority, stating that a high-tech flight experiment was underway.
Chairman Zhao immediately felt a headache coming on.
Seriously? Even a powerhouse like Lu Ci, who's practically second only to the Old Heavenly Master, couldn't handle this, and you, a research scientist, want to get involved?!
"Don't worry, I'm not made of mud. Unless the Old Heavenly Master shows up in person, I should be able to handle everyone else with ease."
Listening to Qingshui's voice on the phone, Chairman Zhao genuinely wanted to blast Qingshui with one of his earth-shattering palm strikes.
Aren't you making things difficult for me?!
Perhaps Qingshui's strength truly was formidable.
At the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, he had overwhelmingly defeated Zhang Lingyu, the top talent among the younger generation, to claim the championship. Before that, he had even taken down Chai Yan, an old master of internal cultivation.
But that's no reason for you, a great scientist, to just run off and cause trouble!
Zhao Fangxu spoke again:
"Then please make sure to bring all necessary security measures. I will also arrange reliable personnel to assist with your protection. That way, perhaps you won't have to rush so much?"
If Qingshui truly intended to go, Zhao Fangxu had to be fully prepared.
"No, no, no, Old Zhao, if I drag this out any longer, and you report it, I estimate that certain people higher up will start calling to dissuade me. Then how will I ever get out? With so many people knowing, will the secret even remain a secret?"
Zhao Fangxu felt a sudden headache.
Qingshui's achievements were too great, his status too high, and he usually acted with composure, which made everyone overlook one thing.
This guy was only in his twenties, at an age where he was still young, flamboyant, and wouldn't listen to advice.
Especially someone so young who had already accomplished great things—they were even less likely to listen.
Forget it.
Damn it, Chairman Zhao could only go along with Qingshui's wishes this time. He would instruct the Temporary Workers to cooperate with Qingshui and handle the matter perfectly, so there wouldn't be any negative repercussions.
Forty-odd minutes later.
When Qingshui arrived at Biyou Village, he immediately saw a group of people "twerking" by the village entrance.
"Spin for me~ keep spinning~ or I'll bury you~ spin for me~ Dei Dei Dei Dei Dei~"
A few Temporary Workers were showcasing Nadou Tong's corporate culture at the entrance, dancing a rather crude, hyped-up dance.
Across from them, at the village entrance, Old Ma, Zhao Guizhen, Fu Rong, and several other "Upper Root" individuals looked at the Temporary Workers, exchanging bewildered glances.
"Ahem, Village Chief Ma, you really shouldn't say anything about not welcoming them. Haven't you realized yet? These guys are all nuts. If they get riled up and go crazy, it won't look good for anyone."
Zhang Chulan lifted his tourist sunglasses and casually sidled up to Ma Xianhong, whispering.
"You must be Zhang Chulan, right? I… huh?"
Ma Xianhong had just opened his mouth when he looked up at the sky.
A figure trailing exhaust quickly flew from the distant horizon and landed on the ground.
"—or I'll bury you…"
The DJ sound abruptly cut off.
Feng Baobao stared blankly at the Platinum Armor that had landed, pressing the pause button on her phone's audio player.
"Oh, what a lively scene. Everyone I know is here."
The Platinum Armor's faceplate automatically retracted, revealing Qingshui's face.
"Old Ma, it's been over half a year since we last met, hasn't it? You haven't changed a bit."
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