Chapter 66: I Can Handle This

Sector One was vastly different from the other sectors.

Rather than one unified territory, it was a sprawling network of connected cities filled with mercenaries, smugglers, strays, hustlers, and independent Espers and Guides trying to survive however they could.

Unlike the polished upper cities controlled by wealthy families and government officials, Sector One was rough around the edges.

But alive.

The streets were louder. The people harsher. The systems far less controlled.

And unlike the CEA or the Old Blood faction, many organizations here belonged to what people called the Free Factions. Groups of Espers and Guides who rejected centralized control and instead operated under their own rules and hierarchies.

Even the Rift Bureau here functioned differently.

Instead of answering to one massive authority like the CEA, the bureau was funded directly by the cities themselves, handling rift suppression, extermination missions, and city protection with far more freedom.

As soon as the airship landed, Wenzhi and Xinyuan separated from Yuzhen and Zhiyao without much discussion.

Through several underground connections, Xinyuan had already secured them a house in Yanjing City, one of the more stable cities in Sector One.

The place was crowded and restless, overflowing with glowing signs, cramped streets, open markets, and people constantly moving.

But scattered between the busy districts were ruins left behind by old rift attacks, broken buildings standing like scars the city had never managed to erase.

Wenzhi found himself unexpectedly impressed.

From Lin Wenzhi’s original memories, this place had once been home.

He had grown up here with his grandmother before her death, specifically within Yanjing City itself.

Maybe that familiarity was why coming to Sector One had not felt entirely wrong.

As far as he knew, there was no family left for Lin Wenzhi here anymore.

Before heading toward the house, Wenzhi dragged Xinyuan into a nearby café.

After nearly two days on the road, he was starving.

Xinyuan kept his order simple with pork chop buns and bubble waffles while Wenzhi went for coffee and cakes without hesitation.

And as Wenzhi finally ate in satisfaction for what felt like the first time in days, Xinyuan spent more time watching him than touching his own food.

Wenzhi shamelessly stole food from Xinyuan’s plate throughout the meal, ignoring every look sent his way.

"We need to lay low here," Wenzhi said eventually while sipping his coffee. "I do not want to get captured because of you."

Xinyuan nodded easily. "I still want to join the Rift Bureau."

Wenzhi nearly choked on his coffee. "I literally just said—"

His eyes shifted past Xinyuan.

Someone familiar sat several tables behind him.

Even beneath the hat and dark glasses, Wenzhi recognized Jiang Zhaohe.

And judging by the curl of her lips, she recognized him too.

Zhaohe pulled off her glasses, dragged over a chair, and sat down casually at their table. "Hello, handsomes."

"How long have you been here?" Wenzhi asked, shooting Xinyuan a suspicious look.

Xinyuan instantly raised both hands. "What did I do?"

Zhaohe burst out laughing.

"I just got here," she said, leaning back in her chair. "Looks like you two survived."

"We met Yuzhen and Zhiyao on the way here," Wenzhi said before taking another bite of cake.

That wiped the amusement from Zhaohe’s face.

"What?" she asked sharply. "Why are they here?"

"They said they quit the CEA," Wenzhi replied. "Apparently they’re joining some organization in Sector One."

Zhaohe’s expression turned serious.

"Speaking of organizations..." she muttered. "The Red Zones expanded again last night."

Xinyuan visibly tensed.

"Three more sectors got swallowed."

Silence settled briefly over the table.

Wenzhi simply continued eating his cake.

"The Old Blood thinks Xinyuan can stop the Red Zones somehow," he said calmly. "Or the monster evolution. Something along those lines."

Zhaohe scoffed. "I also heard Xinyuan apparently fathered a bunch of disaster-class Espers."

"Zhaohe," Xinyuan lowered his head like he wanted to disappear.

Zhaohe laughed outright.

And even Wenzhi ended up smiling despite finding the entire genetic father situation both horrifying and absurd.

"I need a favor," Zhaohe suddenly said.

But she was looking directly at Wenzhi. Not Xinyuan. As if she already knew Xinyuan would eventually agree while Wenzhi absolutely would not.

"No." Wenzhi refused.

Zhaohe sighed. "I haven’t even explained—"

"No." Wenzhi pushed his plate away and rose to his feet. "I’m tired."

And for the first time in a while, he genuinely sounded exhausted.

"People keep trying to drag me into things. The Old Blood wants him. The CEA wants me dead. We just blew up a headquarters, started a faction war, and barely escaped."

His grey eyes narrowed. "I cannot deal with anything else right now."

Zhaohe gave him a look of pity. "Wenzhi..."

Wenzhi hated that expression.

He didn’t want pity. He wanted silence. Peace. One moment where nobody needed something from him.

Even if that was impossible now.

"Zhaohe," Xinyuan said quietly, "leave him alone."

She raised both hands. "Alright. Sorry."

Then she sighed and leaned back in her chair. "It’s just... there’s something I need handled, and I trust you two more than anyone else right now."

Her voice softened. "But I get it. We’re all trying to survive this mess."

Wenzhi grabbed his bag. "Let’s go."

He turned and walked straight out of the café.

Xinyuan gave Zhaohe a look that very clearly said,’Look what you did.’

Then he grabbed both their bags and hurried after Wenzhi.

Zhaohe watched them leave before rubbing her face tiredly.

"...Yeah," she muttered to herself. "That could’ve gone better."

By the time Xinyuan caught up with Wenzhi, they had already reached the quieter streets leading toward the house that had arranged for them.

Neither spoke for most of the walk.

Wenzhi still looked irritated.

Xinyuan stayed beside him quietly anyway.

The house itself was far better than Wenzhi expected.

A spacious two-bedroom place tucked deeper into Yanjing City, clean and fully furnished with nearly everything they needed already prepared.

Courtesy of Zhaohe.

Wenzhi ignored Xinyuan completely, picked a room for himself, and slammed the door shut behind him.

He locked it immediately.

Cursing under his breath, he pulled out his clothes and arranged them before heading into the shower. The hot water poured over him for a long time while he stood beneath it silently, fingers combing through his damp hair.

He was wanted now.

Not just by the CEA, but by the Old Blood faction too. And sooner or later, other factions would start hunting him as well.

The only comforting part was that Xinyuan would never let anything happen to him.

But comfort did not equal trust.

Wenzhi still did not trust him completely. He was not sure he ever would.

The plot had already derailed far beyond the original novel. At this point, Wenzhi could no longer rely on what he remembered. This was not a story anymore. It was simply his world now.

And one thing had become painfully clear.

Either the Red Zones would destroy the world first or Xinyuan would.

Wenzhi let out a frustrated breath and pressed both hands against his face.

Oddly enough, that was not even the part depressing him the most.

What truly irritated him was the fact that he was hiding. Running. Surviving.

When all he had wanted after transmigrating was to enjoy his damn life peacefully.

"Fuck this," he muttered under his breath.

Why was he letting all of this crush him?

He had survived worse.

Probably.

"...No. I can handle this," he told himself firmly. "I’m not losing myself over this nonsense."

Eventually, he stepped out of the bathroom and dried himself off before changing into a pair of loose pajama pants.

Dropping onto the bed, he checked his phone.

There were dozens of unread messages.

Most were from Duan Ze and Ru Yi.

Even after he told them to cut ties with him, neither of them listened.

Pei Luo, however, had sent nothing.

Wenzhi was not surprised.

The Pei family estate had been destroyed because of everything surrounding him and Xinyuan. Even if Wenzhi kept telling himself it was Xinyuan’s fault and not his, the guilt still lingered somewhere beneath the surface.

Ru Yi’s messages were mostly questions asking if he was safe. She mentioned that she had already left Belium City and was currently staying with Duan Ze and Kaiwen.

That at least eased some of Wenzhi’s worry.

Duan Ze’s messages were much of the same.

But Wenzhi still refused to reply.

Distance was safer for them.

At some point, exhaustion dragged him into sleep.

He did not know how long he slept before he suddenly sensed a familiar presence nearby.

His eyes snapped open.

Warm brown eyes stared back at him through the darkness.

Wenzhi immediately pushed himself upright on the bed, confused.

Xinyuan stood silently near the bedside with slightly damp hair, loose black pants, and a long-sleeved shirt hanging off his frame.

He looked strangely relaxed.

"Xinyuan?" Wenzhi called.

No response.

Xinyuan simply stood there staring at him quietly before his gaze slowly lowered.