When it came to this name, Beilian hadn’t really cared much at first.
“You got this name from Jia’er, right? Is it from Shengben’s biography, or a children’s book?”
“It was something I encountered in the Soulstone.”
Xu Chuyao had no idea how much impact her words carried, only that, on the other end of the phone, there was a muffled rustling, like someone urgently getting out of bed, maybe even bumping a lamp onto the bedside.
“Jian Di, are you alright?”
“Don’t say so much, Tang… Are you in Center City? I’ll buy a ticket and come find you so we can talk in detail.”
It seemed this person was involved in something very important. When Beilian realized he was still alive—or perhaps, still conscious—she became extremely emotional.
“There’s no need for you to come to Center City. In a few days, I’ll come to your side.”
Xu Chuyao said she might have to go to Yingxunsi City soon, and after Shen Biao’s persistent request, would be coordinating an investigation.
“…Did something happen to you?”
“It’s all nonsense, I’m being targeted by someone!”
Although Xu Chuyao had indeed secretly carried out the Soulstone experiment, the reporting party was from the Supreme Society, so the evidence couldn’t really be considered valid. With no solid proof, of course she was fine for now.
Beilian didn’t ask much more—perhaps she was truly too exhausted—she just said she’d let her family know, and when the time came, they’d come to provide backup.
Putting down her phone, Xu Chuyao felt satisfied. Even if she had to go over there, at least she wouldn’t be fighting alone in unfamiliar territory.
As for when to go, of course she’d delay as long as she could. She was still young—time was always on her side.
As for Monrose, she really didn’t want to fight for it. Over these days, she’d received several cold visits, and the special envoy had come knocking several times too.
Today, it was said, an official letter from a certain department had arrived, demanding a thorough investigation into the private experiment. Tomorrow, a famous figure would write a letter supporting the Research Institute’s investigation into unofficial activities. The day after, someone would read a ten-thousand-word essay, grandly exhorting Ascension Academy to prioritize the big picture.
Principal Lü’s stance was very firm. Unless an official document was produced, he simply wouldn’t hand her over.
During these days, Shen Biao, after reporting in advance, again took the opportunity to enter the dream, slipping past the white-leaved thunder kite office’s little door, seeking to enter the soul world inside the Soulstone. Unfortunately, that world was vast, and by now there were tens of thousands of souls there. She failed to find any sign of Xinjiang amidst the endless white blossoms and sea of people.
Still, she did run into Huang Mao by chance, who had just squeezed in through the crack of a door and was immediately surrounded by several people. If not for Wang Ji arriving in time and driving away those Neutral Party members who didn’t want trouble, he’d have surely suffered a beating.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.” Huang Mao was still a bit shaken. “I really don’t want to get hurt in here.”
A beating wasn’t much, but if it got too serious and left some kind of injury, he might well end up with some mental aftereffects afterward.
Even without being asked, the still-nervous Huang Mao confessed of his own accord, quickly summarizing the situation: starting a few days ago, for reasons unknown, Val and the Research Institute had increased their manpower, sending more people into the Soulstone, just like him, shuttling back and forth between the two worlds.
Shen Ning immediately understood the reason. A few days ago was when she and her girlfriend managed to escape from Stina and Bill, which let the Supreme Society people realize that she could enter and leave freely. Of course, they’d be anxious.
Unlike the girls, for these “outsiders,” coming in was actually very difficult. First, they had to time the Soulstone activation precisely, then enter a half-dream, half-awake state. Only then did they have a chance of success. Even someone as experienced as Huang Mao had only succeeded for the third time today, but he’d tried more than five times.
Those who managed to come in were hardly lucky, for if they got hurt here, no one could say what might happen when they returned. Huang Mao had even seen a colleague who’d gotten beaten up here, only to turn into an idiot back in reality.
At first, he’d only cooperated with Shen Biao because he was forced to, acting as an undercover. Now, though, he was actually rather proactive—he realized that if he kept working for the Research Institute, he’d sooner or later be killed.
“Don’t worry.” Shen Ning moved on from the last point her girlfriend cared about, and told him, “Your task is to find out what other objectives Val’s Research Institute has, and whether its geographical location has any special significance.”
Huang Mao blinked, stunned for a moment.
“Huh? Me?”
His dumbfounded look made the girl frown slightly. “Is there a problem?”
“It’s not that—mainly, you’re overestimating me.” Huang Mao laughed awkwardly. “If I had that kind of ability, I wouldn’t have been brought here as cannon fodder.”
That seemed reasonable.
During her time at the Academy, most people Shen Ning and her girlfriend interacted with—along with her own friends—were hardly ordinary. In cases like these, she’d seen it before: her girlfriend would point at Xiao Si Nuo and say, “You, go check this person.” Xiao Si Nuo would just nod, “Alright, you wait, I’ll have it in a few days.”
Scenes like this had made the girl rather used to a certain kind of ease.
After thinking about it, she changed her tone: “Just keep an eye out, don’t worry about investigating deliberately. If you notice anything suspicious, remember it and tell me if you get the chance.”
“Got it.”
This mission was still pretty easy.
There were no other gains from this time in the Soulstone world. Shen Ke, Mo Xin and the rest awoke one after another, and their homeroom teacher, Teacher Yu, with Xiao Si Nuo’s help, used the Soulstone transfer technique to bring them back.
As for Li Ya, it was too early for her—she just couldn’t wake up.
Several days later, the weekend.
“This is an official order.”
After a few days, the special envoy once again arrived at Shengling Academy, standing in the hall and presenting the document to Principal Lü and the others.
“As a mid-level official of the Security Department, Xu Chuyao must cooperate with the investigation to determine if there was any overstepping of authority. In addition, the Security Department’s top leader, Minister Long, has already signed off.”
He was quite pleased, but not because he had completed his mission. Rather, he knew this would be his last time coming to Shengling Academy. From the beginning until now, he’d never had to work so hard for an assignment—not even Lord Tuli’er had pulled so many strings.
Principal Lü took the document, glanced at it, then exchanged a look with Xu Chuyao. The girl’s expression was calm, as if saying: let’s just go with it.
About the matter of the letter, Minister Long had already explained to her the other day. There was no reason to refuse, either emotionally or logically. Besides, this was just to go through the motions in Yingxunsi City. Refusing would only cause more trouble.
“Understood. Special Envoy, please return. We’ll arrange for Xu Chuyao to depart as soon as possible.”
After sending off the special envoy, Principal Lü returned to the hall, sighing to his beloved student. “There’s no helping it now—you’ll have to go.”
“Then I’ll go. I have contacts over there and everything’s arranged already.”
Xu Chuyao wasn’t the least bit worried.
Since she had everything arranged, Principal Lü didn’t say much more. As before, he assigned two teachers to accompany her, as an extra safeguard for the trip.
Shen Ning absolutely insisted on going with her girlfriend. Xu Chuyao didn’t refuse—she even wanted to bring more people, but almost everyone in the Crisis Response Team was already out on internships, so she brought only Xiao Si Nuo. She didn’t bring Flower, since ordinary people’s physical abilities were average at best, and she didn’t want to drag her into this.
“I really don’t want to leave you, but I have to go. Officer, if you miss me, I’ll feel it, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Xiao Si Nuo, in the Crisis Response Team office, told Flower this. But the moment he boarded the plane, his whole demeanor changed, and he was filled with excitement.
“Squad Leader, are we really working with the Holmes Family? My goodness, this is incredible! I never imagined I’d one day stand on the same side as them!”
Xu Chuyao glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “And what about that promise you just made to Flower…?”
“Ahem, a real man’s ambitions should span the world! A business trip is just part of life.”
This time, Teacher Cheng also gave him a sidelong glance. However, as he stared, Teacher Cheng’s gaze grew a little melancholy.
Even a junior student is in love these days…
He quietly glanced at Yu Jing and sighed.
Yu Jing had no interest in her colleague’s emotions. Once the plane took off, she got up and walked over to where the students were seated.
“I had no idea you all formed a Special Intelligence Group at some point, and you’ve carried out several big operations already.” She added, “You even managed to catch a few high-ranking threats from the three defenses.”
She was referring to Duan Weina, Wen Fang, and the others.
Xiao Si Nuo quickly credited everything to the team leader’s good guidance. Xu Chuyao modestly said the group members were diligent and attentive, and of course, her own directions were flawless. After all, as the world’s top seer, if she said someone was a problem, then there must be a problem.
“Oh right, Teacher Yu,” Xu Chuyao remembered, “Last time you mentioned you had a task for us? As it happens, Xiao Si Nuo is available now—what is it?”
Yu Jing had come over for this very thing, and was pleased by her students’ thoughtfulness.
“It’s about something that happened twenty years ago. Back then, the place I belonged to was called the Spark Squad…”