Chapter 52: Awakening

“Is that so, team leader?”

After hearing the team leader’s words, Nie Huaishang fell silent for a moment, then looked up and pleaded:

“Team leader, I’d like to take a few days off to settle Ma Qitong in. Is that possible?”

“Sure. You’ve worked hard this past month—let Zhang Xiaofan cover for you in the Red Blood Cell squad for a few more days.”

The team leader agreed without hesitation; he trusted Nie Huaishang, after all—the kid had always been reliable, with his own principles and boundaries.

He completed missions excellently and never made mistakes.

On the other side, Ma Qitong, having had no involvement in any drug trafficking, was quickly released by police.

Watching the bustling streets, she sighed—her father and older brother had been arrested; her lover was gone, her family was gone.

Nearby, hidden from view, Nie Huaishang watched Ma Qitong, his heart aching as if cut by knives—he had followed her all along, but he simply lacked the courage to go over and greet her.

After all, he had used her. He’d better settle her in properly. Thinking this, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number he hadn’t contacted in four years.

In Donghai City, Zhang Haiyan enthusiastically handled company affairs; since the K2 organization had been dismantled by Nie Huaishang and his team five years ago, she no longer feared exposure of her identity.

Suddenly, the phone on her desk rang. Seeing the caller ID, Zhang Haiyan felt dizzy—Nie Huaishang.

Honestly, the last people she wanted to see were the officers who had captured Black Cat—they knew her true identity for real.

Still, she answered the call, and straightaway asked:

“What do you want? How much money? Name your price.”

Hearing this, Nie Huaishang let out a wry smile:

“Director Zhang, you’re overthinking it. What happened five years ago is over. I intend to take it to my grave—I won’t say a word.”

Zhang Haiyan clearly didn’t believe him, but Nie Huaishang offered no explanation. Instead, he spoke in a conciliatory tone:

“I’m calling today hoping you’ll remember how I helped you out of a major mess five years ago, and give a friend of mine a job.”

“You called just to ask me to give your friend a job?”

Zhang Haiyan asked in disbelief. In her view, Nie Huaishang was a major, held damning evidence over her, and had specifically called her expecting a hefty bribe—yet all he asked for was this.

Though puzzled, she still agreed.

That same day, Ma Qitong received an interview invitation from Zhang Haiyan’s company. With no money and needing work to survive, she immediately traveled to Donghai for the interview.

With Zhang Haiyan herself as the final authority, the interview went smoothly—Ma Qitong found her first day at work quite pleasant.

Her coworkers were friendly, the work was light, and the pay was excellent.

“Is this arrangement acceptable?”

Zhang Haiyan teased Nie Huaishang from nearby.

“Thank you, Director Zhang.”

Nie Huaishang thanked her and turned to leave.

“You’re just leaving? Don’t you want to say hello to her?”

Zhang Haiyan asked Nie Huaishang. From the way he looked at Ma Qitong, she knew he had fallen for the woman.

Nie Huaishang gave a self-deprecating smile and shook his head:

“She probably hates me now. It’s better if I don’t see her.”

With that, Nie Huaishang turned and walked away. Leaving the company building, he glanced back one last time and muttered to himself:

“Tongtong, goodbye. I hope you never meet a man like me again.”

He turned away and strode off— Congci ， Tayumaqitongxiangwangyujianghu 。

When the Red Blood Cell squad saw Nie Huaishang return with a renewed demeanor, they erupted in cheers.

“Huaishang, where did you go these past few days? We were all terrified for you!”

He Chenguang couldn’t help but complain.

“Sorry to worry you, but as you can see, I’ve moved on from that relationship.”

Nie Huaishang quickly apologized to them.

Li Erniu, hearing Nie Huaishang had fully recovered, grinned and said:

“Huaishang, since you’re completely over it, tonight I’ll cook up a feast to celebrate your triumphant return—and to toast your future leadership of the Red Blood Cell squad to new glory!”

“Good!”

Nie Huaishang led the others in cheers. After training ended that night, everyone celebrated heartily before finally calling it a day.

When the two returned to their dorm, they logged onto the chat group to update Guo Jing and Zhang Chu’an.

Nie Huaishang: “Brothers, your Director Nie has returned in triumph.”

Guo Jing: “Huaishang, weren’t you on leave? You bounced back this fast?”

Zhang Chu’an: “Yeah, I thought you’d need at least a month to recover.”

Nie Huaishang: “Nah, after settling Ma Qitong in, I was already over it. Besides, who am I? I’m Director Nie.”

Zhang Chu’an: “That’s right! Director Nie is awesome! Director Nie, take me along on missions and show me how to be cool!”

Guo Jing: “That’s right! Director Nie is awesome! Director Nie, take me along on missions and show me how to be cool!”

Zhang Xiaofan: “That’s right! Director Nie is awesome! Director Nie, take me along on missions and show me how to be cool!”

Nie Huaishang: “Enough with the flattery. Let’s discuss our next mission.”

Guo Jing: “What’s there to discuss? We’ve taken out Ma Yunfei, the Scorpion, and Black Cat—all the big bosses. The mission’s basically done.”

Zhang Chu’an: “Should we submit the mission now?”

A silence fell over the chat group. Honestly, after spending so long in this world, they felt reluctant to leave.

Nie Huaishang: “Cut the sentimentality, guys—we’re not leaving this world yet.”

Zhang Chu’an: “But our mission’s nearly done—we can submit it anytime. Why aren’t we leaving yet?”

Nie Huaishang: “Come on, with our current strength, what can we actually handle?”

Nie Huaishang: “In ‘Below One Man,’ there are countless people who could kill all four of us. In ‘Zhu Xian,’ the masters are everywhere. In ‘Mo Dao Zu Shi,’ we’re just minor players.”

Nie Huaishang: “Even in the safest world—the ‘Legend of the Condor’ world—do any of you have the ability to command an army? Can any of you defeat Genghis Khan, the Son of Heaven?”

Nie Huaishang’s questions silenced the group. True, they had accomplished their special forces mission brilliantly.

But whether it was the Scorpion or Ma Shichang—no matter how impressive they sounded—they were merely bandits. In contrast, Wen Chao and Jin Guangyao from ‘Mo Dao Zu Shi,’ Genghis Khan from ‘Legend of the Condor,’ or Pu Zhi and Cang Song from ‘Zhu Xian’—they were unquestionably rulers of their worlds.

Compared to them, were Ma Shichang and his bandits even worthy of mention?