Chapter 141

If ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍one were to ask who he had chosen as reinforcements, it was naturally someone both of them knew.

Though ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it sounded rather unexpected, the only friends Ji Qing had made in this identity whom he could entrust with an important task were the people from Class S. The rest of his time had been spent handling Dawn Society missions and analyzing and organizing the manga’s developments, so he had never had the time to make new friends.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍on the surface, Ji Qing only put on a mysterious expression and shushed him. “Secret.”

At ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the sound of You Xingluo clicking his tongue in displeasure, Ji Qing revealed a sly smile. After briefly exchanging the key information, Ji Qing quickly withdrew from the area. The longer he stayed there, the greater the risk of exposure.

Without ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍knowing the Azure Dragon Gang’s true background, Ji Qing had no intention of taking that risk.

Ji ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Qing quickly returned to the area near the hotel where he was temporarily staying.

Because the local social climate was so vicious, the hotel he had chosen this time ranked among the best in Xucheng. After briefly dealing with the traces left on his body, Ji Qing steadily walked toward the hotel entrance.

His expression was cold, and his bearing was composed. Very few people dared to cause trouble for him.

Although he had not been in Xucheng long, Ji Qing had already more or less figured out the rules for surviving in this town: if he wanted to live here without trouble, the first thing he had to do was make sure that no one dared look down on him.

Not a single person in this town.

Scrape—

Ji Qing pulled out the chair in the room and sat down at the desk.

Ji Qing took out the paper and pen he had stored in the Pure White Space and carefully wrote down everything he considered important, along with the Azure Dragon Gang intelligence that You Xingluo had provided. Although the kidnapping had caught both of them off guard, both of them were still doing everything they could to find a solution.

You Xingluo was trying to be rescued.

Ji Qing was trying to rescue him.

Ji Qing had a feeling that even if he had not appeared, You Xingluo would still have found a way to contact the outside world and bring in help. It was just that, compared with Ji Qing making a move himself, the ending would have been more circuitous and far more unbearable to look at. Such an ending might still have achieved the result Ji Qing wanted, but it would have gone against the process he had envisioned.

Since he was already here, why should things still be so complicated?

Was not a Cheat Ability supposed to serve its proper purpose precisely when either he or his friends needed it most? Ji Qing did not have the sort of mindset that deliberately made things unpleasant for himself. Besides, “getting things settled quickly” had always been what he wanted.

Ji Qing did not have that much time to waste in Xucheng.

Raven’s assassination list, the Dawn Society’s routine missions, the investigation into the Human-Triggered Black Tide, the school’s Final Assessment, the collection of manga feedback… the number of things he needed to deal with was practically as countless as the stars in the sky, and all of them had been chosen by himself.

If he had not agreed to the system’s invitation back then, perhaps he would have been living a little more easily now.

That thought suddenly surfaced in Ji Qing’s mind.

That was normal, Ji Qing thought calmly.

Anyone faced with such a tedious schedule would have thoughts of irritation like that. Ji Qing was only an ordinary person. He did not like work, and he did not like being busy. It was only natural for him to have such a thought.

But—

He had to believe that what he was doing now had value.

Ji Qing continued recording the intelligence in meticulous detail.

This written information would help the reinforcements arriving later understand the current situation. Just as Ji Qing set down the final period, the Terminal on his wrist suddenly lit up.

The reinforcements had finally seen his message.

Ji Qing smiled helplessly at that. “Looks like she is busy too.”

Feng Youyou: 【I am very sorry, Ji Qing (hands pressed together.jpg).】

Feng Youyou: 【I was busy comforting a client just now, so I only saw your message now!】

Feng Youyou: 【Yes, I am in Haiding City right now. I left Xucheng five days ago, so I still know the situation around Xucheng fairly well. Did something go wrong with your commission? Do you need me to head back? But before that, may I ask how you knew where I was?

This is just out of personal curiosity, nothing else (well-behaved.jpg).】

This question was entirely within expectations.

Before setting out, Ji Qing had already guessed that a classmate might ask him about this, which was why he had agonized over how to explain it. The reason Ji Qing had chosen Feng Youyou was, on the one hand, because Feng Youyou herself was the sort of person who did not mind being disturbed and was happy to help others. On the other hand, she had recently been active around Xucheng.

There was already no more suitable candidate than Feng Youyou.

But if one were to ask how Ji Qing had learned of Feng Youyou’s whereabouts, the answer was naturally that the system had revealed it to him. Earlier, Ji Qing had deliberately asked the system to keep an eye on the movements of the students in Class S, and that naturally included Feng Youyou’s movements.

Ji Qing could not reveal the system, but as for everything else…

A composed smile immediately curved Ji Qing’s lips. In a casual, teasing tone, he typed: 【So I am not allowed to read a news report written by a classmate? Although this is a little late, let me still say it: congratulations on getting an internship slot at the Federal News Agency.】

Feng Youyou: 【！！！】

She was clearly extremely shocked by that reply.

After sending that string of exclamation marks, Feng Youyou said nothing more. But since Ji Qing was still staying on the chat screen, he could very clearly see the top of the conversation box switching back and forth between 【Feng Youyou】 and 【The other side is typing…】.

She was probably organizing her words, Ji Qing thought.

After all, this really did sound rather horrifying. Not long ago, she had obtained an internship slot at the Federal News Agency through sheer luck, and then, before even her own parents knew, a classmate she never usually contacted had somehow found out first.

But that was simply the easiest explanation, was it not? Ji Qing thought helplessly.

Thanks to the system’s reminder, Ji Qing had learned that after Feng Youyou left Xucheng, she had published a news report about Xucheng under her real name. And as someone currently trapped in Xucheng, Ji Qing noticing Feng Youyou’s report while searching for information on Xucheng was entirely reasonable.

Everything else would naturally follow from there.

But in order to avoid wasting too much time, Ji Qing went straight to the point: 【I need you to come here. You Xingluo has been kidnapped by a gang in Xucheng. I cannot rescue him alone, so I need your help.】

And besides, you are also the classmate closest to Xucheng right now, Ji Qing silently added in his heart.

Just as Ji Qing had said in front of You Xingluo, he had no room to choose.

Shao Huayu was far away in Central City. Given his position as the Young Master of the Shao Family, he was highly likely to attract the attention of the other Noble Houses in Central City. Although the enemies on the surface in this rescue operation were the Azure Dragon Gang and the informants they had spread throughout Xucheng, there were also forces from Central City lurking behind the scenes.

As for the others, either they were too far away from Xucheng, or they were not suited for fighting in Xucheng…

Ji Qing had even specifically asked You Xingluo what he thought.

You Xingluo first took the initiative to tell Ji Qing about his identity, then admitted frankly that he was also deeply conflicted over the identity of the mastermind. On the one hand, too many people wanted him dead. On the other hand, he knew that the mastermind would not take action again in the short term, which made it very difficult for him to determine who was truly behind it.

If the mastermind made even the slightest move right now, it would be very easy to leave behind evidence. They would do everything they could to avoid that development.

The You Family and the Federation would be even less likely to search for him openly.

His identity had been deliberately concealed from the start. Even the people of the Azure Dragon Gang did not know his true identity. The Federation would definitely weigh the risks of an open search. And then there was also this…

“I do not think there are many people who genuinely want to save me,” You Xingluo said tactfully.

Was that not a little too pitiful? Ji Qing had clicked his tongue repeatedly at the time.

“Still, I have thought about why it erupted at this particular time.” You Xingluo let out a long sigh.

“Have not a lot of members of the Noble Houses, as well as government officials, been assassinated lately? And has it not already been confirmed that many of those cases were done by the Dawn Society?”

“Oh?” Ji Qing’s expression instantly turned grave, though a trace of confusion quickly flashed through his eyes. “But what does that have to do with this?”

You Xingluo said coldly, “Because they suspect I am an accomplice.”

“……”

Ji Qing was left speechless.

“Do not think that is impossible. The Council has already tested the waters with me.” The moment You Xingluo thought of this matter, he became so speechless he almost wanted to laugh. He sneered, “I truly do not know where they got such an absurd idea. Just because the Dawn Society seized a World Book, and using a World Book requires a Seer?”

His tone turned even colder. “If I had even the slightest connection to them, I would already have run away.”

“……”

The more Ji Qing listened, the more guilty he felt.

Damn it, so part of the reason was actually him as well?

But when Ji Qing calmed down and thought it through, he suddenly felt that the Federal Council’s suspicion was reasonable. Although the theory Li Xuehua had raised in the manga was terrifying, the World Book’s function at the time it was taken away had still been Interpreting Destiny.

Strengthening the effects of an Ability Item was not something that could be achieved in a short time, yet the Dawn Society had moved with unexpected speed.

Under such circumstances, the Federation would naturally place the focus of its investigation back on the World Book’s original function—Interpreting Destiny.

And the authority to carry out Interpreting Destiny had always rested in the hands of the Seer.

As the youngest Clan Head of the You Family, and the most exceptionally gifted Seer of his generation in the Federation, You Xingluo was naturally on their list of suspects. And the fact that You Xingluo had chosen to leave Central City, enroll in the Third Ability Academy, and repeatedly stand in opposition to the other Noble Houses only deepened the Council’s suspicion of him.

What was more—

The members of the Dawn Society frequently appeared at the places where the Black Tide originated, while You Xingluo himself was a Seer of the Black Tide.

“Hiss…”

At that thought, Ji Qing could not help raising his brows.

If Ji Qing had not been the leader of the Dawn Society, he would have suspected You Xingluo on the spot as well. You Xingluo was simply too suitable to become a member of the Dawn Society. The gift of Prophecy he possessed was exactly what the Dawn Society needed.

However… Ji Qing knew very well that he could not do that.

If You Xingluo really became connected with the Dawn Society, the road ahead of him might very well become even harder than it already was. And what kind of place was the Dawn Society internally? The Infected were practically all desperate fugitives whose lives or deaths no one cared about, and the only two remaining were not even human.

As the leader of the Dawn Society, Ji Qing himself was even more of a “werewolf” hidden among the crowd.

Ji Qing had no intention of letting his relationship with You Xingluo become strange. Besides, although You Xingluo held quite a few grievances against the Federation, everything he was currently leading was for the sake of making the Federation better. You Xingluo’s position had always been firm—

He was, without question, humanity’s Seer.

Just as Ji Qing was lost in thought, Feng Youyou suddenly sent a rapid barrage of messages through the Terminal:

Feng Youyou: 【Something happened to You Xingluo?!】

Feng Youyou: 【All right, I am leaving immediately!】

Feng Youyou: 【Mm… but can I ask one thing first? Will there only be two people in the rescue? Is that safe with just two people? Should I bring one more person, or even more? Is You Xingluo injured right now? Do you need me to also%￥##……】

When Ji Qing saw this, he interrupted her: 【Just tell me who is with you right now.】

Feng Youyou: 【……Xie Chang’an.】

Ji Qing was taken aback for a moment, then could not help letting out a quiet laugh.

He had originally thought it might be Ling You’er or Gu Lingxue, but unexpectedly, it was Xie Chang’an again. Ji Qing found this deeply amusing. Counting this time, he had already run into Xie Chang’an by chance three times. Xie Chang’an was practically haunting him.

Was this the mighty hand of Yuexia’s plot at work again?

But the next moment, Ji Qing’s expression returned to its usual cold indifference. He typed: 【Good. We happen to be short one driver.】