Chapter 4
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After the military personnel responded, the defense system of Turan Academy, which had malfunctioned, restarted. A transparent light membrane as vast as a giant umbrella enveloped the entire academy before fading away from sight.
Qi Yan’s legs grew numb from crouching. When he rose, Lu Fenghan quickly pulled him, saving him from a tumble.
Lu Fenghan surveyed the surroundings. The trees were lush and green, the fountain beside the white sculpture spouted water in a mesmerizing sequence. It was hard to believe that this place had just been ravaged by attack and explosion.
He asked Qi Yan, “Where do we go now?”
“I want to check on the principal.” He only knew the principal had broken his arm and hadn’t had time to confirm if he had any other injuries.
In the makeshift conference room, the principal, upon seeing Qi Yan approach, expressed concern, “How are you?”
Finishing his words, the principal cast another glance at the man trailing Qi Yan. He figured the man was likely tasked with ensuring Qi Yan’s safety.
The man stood casually but with restrained aura, like a deep and unfathomable abyss. Upon entering, he positioned himself within two steps of Qi Yan — a distance that ensured his immediate reaction and protection if needed.
Qi Yan shook his head. “I’m fine. You’re more injured than I am.”
“It’s nothing serious. The medical robots have checked me, just a simple fracture and bruising. Once things settle down here, I’ll go home and rest for a couple of days, and I’ll be back on my feet.” As he spoke, the principal’s gaze involuntarily shifted to the window.
The once elegant and refined edifice had been reduced to a heap of ruins.
Following his gaze, Qi Yan remarked, “Your office is gone.”
“An office can be rebuilt, but it pains me for the loss of those few books on my shelf! All rare editions!” The principal grimaced. “Had I foreseen such a calamity, I would have secured them in a safe!”
Perhaps prior to this moment, no one had anticipated the sudden malfunction of Turan Academy’s defense system. Or rather, no one had expected the rebels to strike at Leto.
Unsure of how to console, Qi Yan remained quietly standing, not saying anything..
In the corridor outside, the military personnel moved about, their reports faintly audible, mentioning confirmations of the launch sites for the photonic pressure bombs.
Having mourned the loss of the destroyed rare books, the principal’s gaze shifted to Qi Yan. “Are you afraid?”
Recalling the scene of the explosion, Qi Yan shook his head. “Not afraid.”
The principal pressed on, “Why? In that explosion just now, had we been seated closer to the glass wall, we might have been struck down by the flying glass shards the moment the wall shattered. Or, if you hadn’t swiftly decided to evacuate before the photonic pressure bomb hit, we would now be nothing more than debris, much like that building.”
He asked again, “Truly not afraid?”
Qi Yan shook his head once more. “I had always been mentally prepared, hence, I’m not afraid.”
At that moment, a military officer approached the principal to inform him, “The answer to your question has been found.” His demeanor was solemn. “Simultaneously, there were twenty-one identical attacks across the four major regions of the entire Alliance.”
The principal’s lips twitched slightly. “What are the specifics?”
“Three researchers are severely injured, five with minor injuries.”
Thankfully, there were no fatalities.
The principal’s held breath finally released.
After the officer departed, the principal sighed ruefully. “The rebels really played a clever move. These widespread attacks will definitely not be kept under wraps. The media and the Starnet will be abuzz for quite some time.”
Qi Yan nodded in agreement. “Their intentions are crystal clear. The larger the scope and attention, the better.”
The principal nodded slowly. “Do you think most people now equate ‘researcher’ with ‘death’?”
Qi Yan didn’t directly address the question, simply stating, “But there are some things that we have to do, even if it means we might die at any moment.”
His tone was flat yet resolute.
Lu Fenghan, who had been standing behind Qi Yan the whole time, leaning against the wall and quietly listening to their conversation, cast a glance at Qi Yan.
Shortly after leaving Turan Academy, all the news headlines were related to this latest attack. The Leto Daily, in particular, featured bold, black letters as its frontpage headline, occupying the entire page.
For several consecutive days, Qi Yan stayed indoors, either engrossed in books or sitting by the window, staring blankly outside, lost in thought.
Lu Fenghan couldn’t help but worry that staying indoors every day might drive someone stir-crazy. Just like in the past, when he spent half a year drifting in space in the starship, he would find opportunities to land on a planet and take a breather.
Pouring a glass of warm water and handing it to Qi Yan, Lu Fenghan suggested, “How about going out for dinner tonight? Is there anything specific you’d like to eat?”
After a few seconds, Qi Yan’s attention shifted from his contemplation to the present. He took the offered glass of water and held it, pointing out, “The day I met you happened to be my first day back in Leto.”
So I have no idea what Leto has to offer in terms of food.
“Do you have any preferences for dining establishments?”
Qi Yan pondered for a moment. “Quiet, not crowded, and peaceful.”
Based on the observations over the past few days, Lu Fenghan automatically added to these three criteria: fresh ingredients, delicious dishes, elegant ambiance, and no service robots.
After filtering through the options, only a few restaurants met the standards—restaurants that currently didn’t employ service robots were few and far between.
Lu Fenghan chose the nearest one. “Let’s go, it’s dinner time.”
The black modified hovercar sped along the express lane, leaving only faint traces behind on the road. Finally, it braked precisely at the edge and parked in the designated spot.
Parked nearby was a large red hovercar. Qi Yan’s gaze lingered on it for a couple of seconds through the window.
The car door slid open, and as Qi Yan stepped out onto the ground, he heard someone calling his name, “Qi Yan?”
Qi Yan glanced over.
Red jacket, black ripped pants, three skull-shaped metal studs on the earlobes.
“Xia Zhiyang.”
Xia Zhiyang, with a cherubic face and a radiant smile, approached in a few strides. “I was just telling my friend that the car was speeding so fast, and the final brake was so precise. Impressive driving skills. So I waited a bit to see who would get out, and here you are!”
Spotting Lu Fenghan stepping out from the driver’s seat, Xia Zhiyang turned to Qi Yan again. “Are you guys here for dinner too?”
Qi Yan nodded. “Yes.”
Xia Zhiyang scratched his head. “My friend and I are also here. If you don’t mind, shall we join together? He’s also from Turan Academy.” As he spoke, he gestured towards the person getting out of the car beside him.
Qi Yan didn’t mind. For him, whether it was two people or four, they were all there for a meal.
The group settled into a private room, its interior elegantly decorated. Under the holographic projection, countless burning candles floated in the night sky, creating a splendid and tranquil ambiance.
Xia Zhiyang started with introductions, “This is Qi Yan, Qi as in prayer, Yan as in language. He’s starting his second year at Turan Academy with us.”
The other person immediately understood upon hearing the surname Qi. It seemed this was the Young Master Qi who had left Leto over a decade ago to live with his grandparents in the Messier Region.
Xia Zhiyang continued the introductions, “And this is my good buddy, Chen Mingxuan, also starting his sophomore year. Like me, he’s majoring in Artificial Intelligence.”
Chen Mingxuan had a somewhat mixed-race appearance, with the corners of his mouth habitually upturned. His expression was gentle, giving off a friendly vibe.
Qi Yan greeted him, “Hello.”
The dishes they ordered had not yet arrived, so the group engaged in conversation. Xia Zhiyang asked Qi Yan a few questions about the Messier Region, but Qi Yan’s answers were brief, no matter what the topic was. Sensing Qi Yan’s reserved nature, Chen Mingxuan tactfully refrained from pressing him to speak more.
As they chatted, the topic naturally turned to the explosion at Turan Academy.
“When the news broke, the entire Starnet exploded! I was in the middle of a game when suddenly, the screen was filled with reports about the principal’s injury and the obliteration of an entire office building.” Xia Zhiyang sighed. “I heard that after this incident, Turan’s defense system will be upgraded again. When the principal recovers and returns to school, it’ll definitely be much safer.”
Chen Mingxuan nodded. “The principal will surely return to school. If he is too afraid to show up because of fear, where would the face of the Alliance’s military go?”
“With over twenty consecutive explosions this time, every major region has been turned into a sieve. Does the Alliance’s military even have any face left?” Xia Zhiyang sighed again. “The rebels are truly despicable! But the top twenty on the blacklist are mostly using aliases, making it impossible to determine their real names. The rebels can’t find them, and they don’t even know if the aliases represent one person or a group. They must be tearing their hair out!”
Chen Mingxuan: “Being turned into a sieve isn’t necessarily the case, but there’s word going around that this time it was an insider traitor. With things blowing up this big, the military will definitely clean house from top to bottom.”
Leaning back in his chair, Xia Zhiyang drawled, “Who knows when the military will step up and wipe out the rebels. When that happens, I’m determined to find out who’s behind the alias ‘God Y,’ whether it’s one person or a group!”
His expression became excited at the mention of this alias. “The letter ‘Y’ is quite common, isn’t it? But no one dares to share the name with him! Three years ago, the alias ‘Y’ emerged out of nowhere and skyrocketed to the top of the blacklist, where it has remained for the past three years! The reason I gritted my teeth and begged my dad to pay for my tuition to Turan was so that I could get closer to God Y!”
“Stop going crazy every time God Y is brought up. You’re thinking well, but judging from the situation on the frontlines, it’s going to be a while.” Chen Mingxuan swirled the drink in his cup and recalled, “My dad talked to me again a couple of days ago, asking me to change my major. He said it’s too risky to pursue research now. One wrong move and you’re done for.”
Xia Zhiyang burst into laughter, nearly tipping over his chair. “I’m telling you, Mingxuan, with your abysmal grades floating just above the ground on every final exam, even if you pursued research for a lifetime, you wouldn’t make it to the bottom of the blacklist! Tell your dad he’s worrying too much!”
Laughing, Chen Mingxuan cursed, “Get lost!”
Qi Yan held an iced drink, feeling the chill on his fingertips. He thought to himself that this was probably what the principal meant when he said that in most people’s minds, the “researcher equals death” had already been established.
Xia Zhiyang and Chen Mingxuan’s conversation covered a wide range of topics, from leisure activities in Leto to the latest news updates and gossip in their social circles, leaving nothing untouched.
“By the way, I received an invitation from the Qi family a couple of days ago. Seems like they’re hosting a celebration.” Xia Zhiyang, knowing Qi Yan didn’t reside with the Qi family, asked cautiously, “Are you going?”
Qi Yan recalled his previous conversation with Qi Wenshao and expressed disinterest, “I’m not going.”
“Then count me out too,” Xia Zhiyang nudged the person beside him with his elbow, “Mingxuan, what about you?”
Chen Mingxuan raised an eyebrow. “Celebrating Jiang Qi’s admission to Turan? It’s quite a stretch. Who of us would throw a party for getting into Turan? Only Jiang Qi would make a big deal out of something so small. I’m not going. I’ll just find you to play games later.”
They spoke like this mainly to show their stance in front of Qi Yan.
From their perspective, Qi Yan had not been in Leto before, and Jiang Qi was the child brought into the Qi family when Jiang Yunyue married Qi Wenshao. Now that the legitimate young master had returned, Jiang Qi naturally became insignificant.
Feeling aligned with Qi Yan, Xia Zhiyang cleared his throat and couldn’t help asking, “Qi Yan, who’s that?”
He gestured towards Lu Fenghan with his eyes.
He had noticed since they got off the car that this man had been following Qi Yan, showing no intention of greeting them.
Once they entered the private room, Qi Yan didn’t introduce him, and Xia Zhiyang felt awkward to ask.
Feeling a bit closer now, Xia Zhiyang felt less hesitant and decided to ask.
Qi Yan turned his head slightly towards Lu Fenghan.
Lu Fenghan’s agile legs shifted apart, his posture relaxed, hands in his pockets. He lifted his chin towards Qi Yan, lips curling into a smile, “I’m here to ensure his personal safety.”
Xia Zhiyang: “Qi Yan, where did you find this bodyguard?”
He was tall and long-legged, with a handsome face and an extremely oppressive aura. His muscles were not too conspicuous, but they clearly contained a strong explosive power.
There was also a faint unfamiliar aura emanating from him, which made Xia Zhiyang subconsciously shrink back slightly, feeling inexplicably intimidated.
This made him involuntarily shiver slightly, feeling a bit scared for no apparent reason.
Qi Yan: “Picked him up on the side of the road.”
Thinking Qi Yan didn’t want to reveal the origin of this person and made up a random excuse, Xia Zhiyang didn’t press further. Chen Mingxuan spoke at the right moment, “By the way, I heard that Meng Ge will also attend the celebration hosted by the Qi family.”
Xia Zhiyang: “Meng Ge? Qi Wenshao is really going all out to boost his dirt cheap son’s reputation!”
In his peripheral vision, Qi Yan noticed that Lu Fenghan’s expression subtly changed upon hearing the name “Meng Ge,” but then he quickly regained his nonchalance, as if trying to conceal something.
Qi Yan: “Who is Meng Ge?”
Xia Zhiyang: “He’s a military man who has been in charge of coordinating with the front line and handling internal information. It’s said that he’ll be promoted soon.”
After speaking, he felt a bit worried that Qi Yan might feel upset.
The partiality at home had become quite extreme, he thought. On the day of the celebration, should he invite Chen Mingxuan to take Qi Yan out for something fun to take his mind off things?
Seeing Qi Yan’s interest in Meng Ge, Chen Mingxuan continued from Xia Zhiyang’s remark, “But ever since the major defeat on the front line, his position in Leto has been somewhat precarious. It’s hard to say whether he’ll get promoted.”
Lu Fenghan remained silent.
The army facing off against the rebels on the front line of the Southern Cross Region did not belong to the Fourth Army but was instead the Expeditionary Force sent by the Central Army.
Hence, there was a specific department in Leto responsible for coordinating with the front line.
However, this department found itself in a somewhat awkward situation.
The Expeditionary Force were situated in Leto, hence, they naturally answered to the Central Army. The Central Army, on the other hand, was the mouthpiece of the Expeditionary Force, standing on their side. If the front line faced defeat, they would undoubtedly face criticism from all sides.
Lu Fenghan remembered this person named Meng Ge because his adjutant had mentioned him several times in front of him.
Thinking of this, the dying screams of his adjutant echoed in his ears again, the taste of blood in his throat, “Commander, something must have gone wrong… Our jump point has been exposed. They couldn’t have known in advance, they must have ambushed us outside the jump point!”
Yes, how could they have known in advance?
All the seemingly impossible possibilities might just be the facts.
If it wasn’t foresight—
It could only be deliberate.
In that moment, Qi Yan sensitively sensed that Lu Fenghan’s demeanor had turned extremely cold, like a predator lurking in the jungle, quietly gathering its strength in the shadows.
Qi Yan lowered his gaze, pondered for a moment, then said to Xia Zhiyang, “I will attend.”
Lu Fenghan’s gaze suddenly shifted towards Qi Yan.
Xia Zhiyang was momentarily puzzled. “The celebration banquet? “
“Yes, the celebration banquet.”
Xia Zhiyang exchanged a glance with Chen Mingxuan.
Qi Yan had just returned and was unfamiliar with the surroundings, yet he was about to enter the enemy’s lair…
Thinking about it, Xia Zhiyang felt a strong sense of responsibility bubbling inside him. “Then we’ll go with you! Besides, the chefs at Qi’s mansion are pretty good, let’s go and taste their food.”
They ordered over a dozen dishes for this meal. Qi Yan picked and chose, barely finding two he could eat, and he was the first to stop eating.
Observing this, Lu Fenghan’s understanding of Qi Yan took another step forward.
Too sweet, wouldn’t eat. Too spicy, wouldn’t eat. Too hot, wouldn’t eat. Too sour or salty, wouldn’t eat.
Oh, too bland, also wouldn’t eat.
Lu Fenghan was a bit curious. How did Qi Yan manage to survive for the past eighteen years?
No wonder his wrists were so slender.
Before leaving, Lu Fenghan asked the waiter to inform the kitchen to make another portion to take away.
Carrying the takeout box, Lu Fenghan thought that if Qi Yan got hungry at night, it could be a midnight snack.
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Thanks for the chapter! I like that we also have the ML’s POV. Our MC is mysterious.
Thanks for the update