Translator: CinderTL
"Yo, Jiang Weiwei, long time no see."
"Didn't expect to see you in such a sorry state. Where are your driver and bodyguards?"
At the exit of the high-speed rail station, the woman in the beige trench coat beside Chen Yun was stopped.
"Zhang Quan!"
Her expression darkened. She hadn't expected to run into this nuisance while visiting Nanjiang.
Following her gaze, two figures came into view.
One was a young man dressed in a casual coat and suit, looking every bit the refined gentleman.
Behind him stood a tall man in a black suit, his face cold and stern, casting a broad shadow on the ground under the sunlight.
"Heh, didn't expect this, did you?"
"You looked down on me back then, but now? Even your father has to call me 'Director Zhang,' right?"
The young man sneered, his eyes filled with mockery.
The woman named Jiang Weiwei's face grew increasingly grim, while Chen Yun beside her was still trying to process the situation.
What's going on? She was puzzled, but then she noticed steady footsteps approaching from the opposite side.
"Don't worry, I'll be in Nanjiang for a while."
"I heard your father was sent here as a project manager. Heh, just wait. There'll come a day when you'll be on your knees begging me—"
Tap.
The sound of leather shoes hitting the ground echoed as a figure in a black trench coat brushed past them.
"Sis."
Chen Feng addressed Chen Yun, not sparing a single glance at anyone else.
"Xiao Feng..."
Chen Yun nodded quickly, looking at him, feeling as though he had changed somehow.
His calm expression, the thin trench coat.
Her eyes lit up with surprise, her thoughts momentarily frozen. She instinctively wanted to ask if he was cold dressed so lightly, but she quickly realized the situation was somewhat unusual.
Glancing to the side, she saw the young man who had blocked their way frowning, clearly displeased.
Her friend Jiang Weiwei was also urgently signaling with her eyes, urging her to take Xiao Feng and leave, not wanting them to get involved.
"It's fine, Sister Yun."
Cao Tong, who had somehow appeared, took the pink suitcase with a grin.
Though he was older, the way he addressed her came naturally.
TL/N: He used the term "Jie" to refer to her, which usually means Older Sister as a form of respect.
Chen Yun was stunned, while the young man who had been completely ignored finally lost his temper.
"You!"
Snap.
The Bronze-grade Cyborg bodyguard behind him quickly reached out to stop him.
"Old Xu, what the hell are you doing?"
The young man cursed, but soon.
Old Xu, who was usually cold and stern, was now shaking his head repeatedly, his eyes filled with fear, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his face.
Finally, the young man snapped out of it.
Trembling, he turned to look back. The young man in the black trench coat was now glancing at him sideways.
A single glance, indifferent, calm.
Yet, he felt as though his heart was being squeezed, his breath caught in his throat, on the verge of suffocation.
"This..."
He wanted to speak but found himself trembling, his muscles spasming, unable to utter a word.
Until finally.
Tap! The sound of footsteps echoed again as the young man in the black trench coat turned and walked past him once more.
The sense of impending death washed over him, his face rapidly paling, while the body of the Cyborg behind him creaked ominously, as if on the verge of bursting.
Trembling, Chen Yun finally managed to regain her composure.
Seeing that the person blocking their way was no longer there, she quickly pulled her dazed friend along and left.
Tap! Finally, the footsteps faded into the distance.
"Haah! Haah! Haah!"
The young man gasped for breath, clutching his throat, coughing several times where he stood.
Turning his head, he saw the figure in the black trench coat had already gotten into the car, as had Jiang Weiwei, whom he wanted to take revenge on.
"Who exactly was that, Old Xu?"
The young man asked, only then realizing that his clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
His heart was a mix of emotions, and fear was evident on his face.
Someone who could make Old Xu not dare to move or speak.
Could it be... Silver-grade?
"It's that Grandmaster."
The middle-aged bodyguard's stern expression softened, replaced by a complex mix of relief and fear.
Fortunately, he had made some inquiries before coming to Nanjiang, otherwise today... He shook his head slightly and turned to look at the young man.
He could see the young man's eyes widen, as if all his guesses and thoughts had instantly shattered at that moment.
---
Vroom! The black business car drove away from the high-speed rail station. Chen Yun sat in the back seat, comforting her friend while glancing at the trench-coated figure in the front.
She wasn't stupid. Now that she had calmed down and thought about it carefully, she could naturally sense the real reason why the provocative young man hadn't dared to block their way.
And this car, the burly man who followed, the respectful address... Everything indicated that her brother was no longer as ordinary and simple as he once was.
She wanted to ask, but considering her friend was beside her, she could only suppress her curiosity and instead inquired about what had just happened.
"Zhang Quan used to pursue me when I was still in Lake City."
"I didn't agree, of course, not because he didn't have money back then..."
The girl named Jiang Weiwei quickly explained, glancing at Chen Feng's back with a complicated tone: "But I felt we weren't suitable, and I didn't have any feelings for him."
"After that, he never appeared again. I heard from friends that he's doing quite well now, even started a big company, but I never expected to run into him today..."
She explained with a bitter smile, and Chen Yun nodded repeatedly, offering comfort.
Chen Feng didn't speak throughout. To him, this was just a minor episode, even insignificant.
If that person hadn't involved Chen Yun, he definitely wouldn't have let it go so easily.
Buzz!
His phone vibrated, and he looked down.
Zhou Wuren, who hadn't replied for a while, finally sent a message.
[Zhou Wuren: The unity of essence, energy, and spirit is profound and mysterious. Even the Saint Sect doesn't have a related method, only the experiences summarized by successive leaders.]
[When the former leader Zhang celebrated his 60th birthday, he once revealed some key points to us.]
[He said that as long as you thoroughly comprehend what you've learned and touch the ultimate limit of the human body, essence, energy, and spirit will naturally merge.]
He shared all the secrets he knew, which also made Chen Feng completely abandon the idea of visiting the Saint Sect.
Without a method, he could only rely on himself.
"Touch the ultimate limit of the human body..."
Looking at this message, the panel appeared before his eyes, revealing his skills.
Giant Tiger Technique, Bronze Statue Technique, Heavenly Flame Technique, Life Seed Awakening Method... Comprehend what he had learned and touch the ultimate limit of the human body? What did that mean? He was puzzled, but soon Zhou Wuren sent another inquiry.
[Zhou Wuren: I'll probably be going to Suro in the next few days. Are you ready?]
[I heard it's quite chaotic there now, even the Red Guard has sent a Flying General to take charge...]
Flying General? Chen Feng was surprised.
He already knew the hierarchy within the Red Guard.
The Red General was a Fifth-Tier Cyborg, while the Flying General was a Sixth-Tier existence, extremely rare, capable of overseeing an entire province and controlling the overall situation.
For such a powerful figure to be dispatched, it showed how serious the situation in Suro was.
Then, he exchanged a few more words with Zhou Wuren.
After learning some things about Suro, he finally put down his phone and looked out the window.
It was rush hour, and the streets were congested with cars coming and going.
Crowds of commuters stood packed at the bus stops, and the honking of car horns filled the air. After the earlier incident, Jiang Weiwei had temporarily given up on her dinner plans, wanting to meet her so-called father as soon as possible.
When they parted ways, she thanked Chen Feng gratefully before quickly pulling her suitcase and walking into the Superhuman Group building.
"Xiao Feng, where are we going?"
Chen Yun asked, recognizing that this wasn't the way home.
"Our new home."
Chen Feng replied with a smile as they arrived outside a villa community.
The security guard saluted and let them through, and the business car slowly drove in.
Still processing the situation, Chen Yun looked at the rows of detached villas, her eyes not filled with excitement but rather with concern and confusion as she stared at Chen Feng.
"This is..."
"Master gave it to me."
Chen Feng explained, knowing that Chen Yun was worried he might have taken the wrong path.
However, this was actually one of the two properties Li Tong had gifted him when he first became his disciple. It was regularly cleaned and maintained.
But since he was used to living in his old house and later stayed at the Martial Hall and the mountain sect, he hadn't moved in until now.
"Master gave it to you?"
"You became a disciple? Really? Such a big house..." Chen Yun was still in a daze, her mind reeling from the news.
Cao Tong, who was nearby, quickly stepped in to explain, "Sister Yun, Junior Brother Chen is the direct disciple of our sect leader. He holds a high status in our Martial Hall."
"This house was indeed given to him by the sect leader. It has a dedicated meditation room, which is beneficial for martial arts practice."
He didn't mention the Grandmaster, as Chen Yun wasn't part of the Martial Arts World and wouldn't be familiar with such titles.
Even so, Chen Yun was still shocked.
A direct disciple?
Although she didn't understand martial arts and wasn't part of that circle, she was aware of the reputation of the Flame Tiger Martial Hall in Nanjiang, which was on par with some of the local large corporations.
"Then it seems your master treats you very well, Xiao Feng. You must be grateful and train hard..."
Chen Yun finally managed to regain her composure and repeatedly reminded him, believing Cao Tong's words.
She had always thought highly of her brother, and Chen Feng had previously hinted at his martial arts talent.
But even so, she was still hesitant.
First, the place was too luxurious, and she wasn't used to it.
Second, she was worried that her living here might displease Chen Feng's master.
"We'll live here."
Chen Feng said firmly, leading her into the detached villa.
The house was fully furnished, with four or five bedrooms.
A delicate chandelier, a coffee table made of patterned stone, a leather sofa, and a projection screen floating in mid-air.
There was a smart housekeeper, as well as a middle-aged aunt transferred from the mountain gate, responsible for cleaning and other chores.
Knowing that Chen Yun was coming back, Chen Feng had informed Li Shi in advance to arrange everything.
He was used to a simple and ordinary life and never complained or was picky about his environment.
But now that he had reached this position, he wanted to ensure that his loved ones could live better.
Whether it was material comfort or emotional well-being, he wanted it all.
Not to mention, the security here was much better than in their old neighborhood.
"Even our parents' photos are here!"
Chen Yun was led into the house, where many of her belongings from the old house were placed.
Including photos of her parents, family portraits, her favorite teddy bear, and so on. Basically, everything had been moved here by Li Shi under Chen Feng's instructions, to make Chen Yun feel less unfamiliar.
She clearly sensed Chen Feng's intentions and gradually stopped resisting.
Soon, she was being shown around by the middle-aged aunt.
Chen Feng withdrew his gaze and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, looking at the greenery and night view within the villa community.
"Brother Cao, did Senior Sister Lin agree?"
He asked specifically, and Cao Tong grinned.
"She agreed. Senior Sister Lin said she was more than willing and will come to meet Sister Yun tomorrow."
"Good."
Chen Feng nodded, his expression softening slightly.
Lin Xiaoyun had already broken through to the True Intent realm. Having her temporarily act as a bodyguard would ensure Chen Yun's safety and prevent any unwelcome incidents.
For example, if he hadn't been present today, things might have taken a turn for the worse.
After a few more brief instructions.
Cao Tong tactfully excused himself and left with his men.
Chen Yun had also somewhat familiarized herself with most of the villa's layout, leaving just the two siblings alone.
"What would you like to eat?" Chen Feng asked.
They had been so focused on moving her into the new house that they hadn't eaten yet.
"I'll cook."
Chen Yun smiled gently, having noticed the meat and vegetables prepared in the fridge earlier.
Without refusing, Chen Feng nodded.
Soon, the sounds of pots and pans clattering filled the air, and after about an hour, steaming dishes appeared on the dining table.
Steamed fish, roasted chicken, and stir-fried beef. The siblings, who hadn't seen each other in a while, chatted over the meal, with Chen Yun actively sharing her recent experiences.
"At first, I wasn't very used to Yun Port, but Weiwei took good care of me, and we became roommates."
"The classmates around me are all very talented, elites from all over Feng Province, some even with experience working in mega-corporations."
Chen Feng listened quietly, mostly to Chen Yun's initial experiences at Radiant Star Academy in Yun Port.
It was one of the top academies in the Red Nation, located close to the provincial association headquarters, in an area often referred to as the small inner city.
"I was lucky. There was a national-level special project that needed people, and my research in the field of metals happened to fit the gap, so I was transferred midway."
"I feel like I've learned a lot, the people there are really impressive."
"During the New Year, the project team gave everyone a short break, so I returned to Radiant Star Academy. Coincidentally, Weiwei was also coming to Nanjiang, so we traveled together. After the New Year, I'll have to go back."
Chen Yun said with a smile, and Chen Feng nodded gently.
However, when she mentioned the research project, he became a bit curious.
"Is it about modifications?"
"Yes."
Chen Yun nodded, but her expression showed some hesitation.
"If it's inconvenient to talk about, then forget it."
Chen Feng shook his head. He had heard from Lin Hao that Chen Yun's project might involve some confidentiality agreements.
"Some things I can share."
After some consideration and noticing his curiosity, Chen Yun decided to tell him a few things.
"Xiao Feng, have you heard about the Ancient Civilization Ruins at the Martial Hall?"
Chen Feng raised an eyebrow and finally nodded.
"It seems the Flame Tiger Martial Hall is really impressive. I only learned about these things after joining the research project team."
Chen Yun smiled faintly before continuing, "The project team discovered a very unique metal refining technique inside, as well as a cutting-edge mechanical technology."
"If the experiment succeeds, it could significantly raise the current upper limits of cyborg enhancements."
After she finished speaking, Chen Feng furrowed his brows slightly.
A new metal refining technique? Cutting-edge mechanical methods related to cyborg enhancements?
Hmm? Instinctively, he recalled the dream he had entered in the Underground Labyrinth of the Cloud Dream Forest, later known as the inverted pyramid.
The apocalyptic scene of the Ancient Taiduo civilization being invaded.
Besides cyborgs, there seemed to be an incredibly powerful technological force.
Mecha?
Mecha warriors?
(End of the Chapter)
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