[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lawful-tyrant":3,"chapter-lawful-tyrant-lawful-tyrant-chapter-104":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lawful Tyrant",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2284988,4469,"Chapter 104: Hallucination","lawful-tyrant-chapter-104",104,"\u003Cp>“Not from Earth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Lin Qing’s mind surfaced many doubts that had once flashed by and now suddenly made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, on the surface, he remained calm, pretending to know nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once you reach headquarters, don’t casually scan others with your mind power,” Lin Qing rubbed Zhao Jiayi’s head, “not everyone who can sense mind power is a mind power awakener.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiayi mumbled something under her breath, then said, “Fine, I promise you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing grunted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, you know she’s a mind power awakener?” Chen Guang’s voice echoed in Lin Qing’s mind, “She trusts you this much? Even tells you this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing led Zhao Jiayi into the elevator, said nothing, and pulled out his phone to open the notes app, typing: Is that strange?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang could only communicate with him through the Star-Transmission Tower inside his body, unable to perceive his thoughts—he couldn’t engage in mental communication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course it’s strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang said, “My father once said that Zhi Star Group once signed an agreement with Earth: all mind power awakeners below the Primordial level are to be trained by Zhi Star Group and are considered Zhi Star Group’s talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing typed: No refusal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Compulsory order. No refusal,” Chen Guang said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder mind power awakeners are so rare… Lin Qing finally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, Earth people who want their own mind power awakener have only two options.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang said, “Either hide your mind power awakening until you evolve into a Primordial Being, or wait until you’ve evolved into a Primordial Being before attempting to awaken mind power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing pondered, then typed: Can you tell what dialect she just spoke? “Don’t know,” Chen Guang confirmed, “but it’s definitely not any known Earth language or dialect, nor Zhi Star language. She’s likely an illegal immigrant from another extraterrestrial civilization—if Zhi Star Group finds out, she’ll be captured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Illegal immigrant? Lin Qing froze, typing a question mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know the details, but Earth does harbor illegal immigrants from other civilizations—only Zhi Star people are legal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang said, “The World Government established a patrol system to search for all anomalies—really, it’s to hunt these extraterrestrial immigrants. If you report an extraterrestrial mind power awakener to Zhi Star Group, you’ll receive a huge reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This girl’s got guts… Lin Qing couldn’t help glancing at Zhao Jiayi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiayi instinctively touched her cheek—she’d washed her face before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing,” Lin Qing felt a quiet exasperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Jiayi had helped him too much—he could never report her, and if not for helping him, he’d never have discovered she was a mind power awakener.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headquarters patrol officers were staying at Hongxing Hotel, arranged by the city bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing brought Zhao Jiayi straight to the hotel’s top floor—this largest suite was Tang Wanqiu’s residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After opening the door, he found Tang Wanqiu’s three senior patrol captains also present, all sitting quietly in the suite’s living room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here,” Gong Ming stroked his beard and said, “Patrol Chief Tang is waiting inside. Go in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Ze, who rarely hid his double-door refrigerator, couldn’t help warning, “The Patrol Chief is still recovering—try to say less when you go in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Patrol Chief was injured?” Lin Qing was surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The man who stole the bio-weapon yesterday was truly powerful,” Gong Ming sighed. “The Patrol Chief was caught off guard and badly wounded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing said nothing more, knocked on the inner door, heard “Enter,” then stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Wanqiu was reclining against the headboard, pale-faced, her right arm wrapped in thick plaster casts, looking quite weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Patrol Chief Tang,” Lin Qing sat beside the bed, unable to hide his shock: “What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ambushed,” Tang Wanqiu sighed. “Professor Soge and another from the Primordial Research Institute attacked together—they took the bio-weapon, but I severely wounded Soge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Primordial Research Institute is truly insane,” Lin Qing frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night, some members of the Primordial Research Institute entered the underground research facility—but there must have been others outside as backup; otherwise, they’d have been trapped like fish in a barrel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because they’re backed by the Illuminati.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Wanqiu shook her head slightly. “Professor Soge and the other man are both ranked in the double digits within the Primordial Research Institute—they’re truly powerful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Double-digit ranks?” Lin Qing realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even someone like Chu Tianyao—or any patrol captain—might not get a rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only those approaching senior patrol captain level in strength or potential could receive a rank, and even then, only a four-digit one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How powerful a double-digit rank must be—obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Qing, her injury is fake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang’s voice suddenly echoed in Lin Qing’s mind: “She’s completely unharmed. Her aura remains at peak. She’s faking it—most likely setting a trap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faking? Lin Qing was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re returning to headquarters tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Wanqiu sighed. “Too bad—we still haven’t found Xu Qiu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not looking anymore?” Lin Qing asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve searched every corner of Lin’an City,” Tang Wanqiu said helplessly. “But the other end of the underground research facility does connect to a tunnel leading outside the city—she was probably transported out already. Continuing the search here is pointless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing paused, then asked, “Have you found the number-one leader of the Yuanhong Society?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No leads,” Tang Wanqiu shook her head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have a suspicion,” Lin Qing said. “I suspect the number-one leader is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d barely said “I suspect” when Tang Wanqiu suddenly frowned and raised a finger to her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smoothly changed course: “…one of the members who broke into the underground facility. He must have already infiltrated the research center and been lying low in Lin’an City, which explains how fast he acted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Wanqiu then spoke: “Yes, that’s exactly what I think too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, a faint glow shimmered at her fingertip, quickly writing three glowing characters in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Don’t get involved】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’s worried about eavesdropping? Lin Qing glanced at Tang Wanqiu’s phone, then said, “By the way, I’m heading to headquarters at month’s end—will the Special-Class Merit award and promotion to Senior Patrol Captain be given in Lin’an City, or at headquarters?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait until you reach headquarters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Wanqiu said, “This mission was issued by headquarters. The Special-Class Merit shouldn’t be awarded by Lin’an City Bureau, and promotion to Senior Patrol Captain can only happen at headquarters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright,” Lin Qing sighed. “I’d planned to go with Xu Qiu—but now I’ll go alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Wanqiu smiled. “Don’t worry. Your Lin’an City Chief will accompany you to headquarters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” Lin Qing blinked. “Yuan Anping?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Tang Wanqiu said. “He’s undergone gene awakening. By regulation, any patrol officer who awakens their gene potential qualifies for training at headquarters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gene awakened?” Lin Qing was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last night, while leading a search, he encountered hidden Primordial Research Institute members and was surrounded by several equally powerful criminals. To survive, he forcibly attempted awakening,” Tang Wanqiu sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing’s mind stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Primordial Research Institute had attacked even the Patrol Chief last night to seize the underground facility—killing a patrol captain would be normal too. Yet… “His luck was incredible. With only a Shiji  percent success rate, he succeeded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Wanqiu remarked, “Though he’s only a weak gene awakener, if he improves greatly in combat techniques, he can compensate somewhat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At month’s end, headquarters will send someone to pick you up,” Tang Wanqiu said. “Just go with him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the Patrol Chief’s hotel, Lin Qing took Zhao Jiayi to the city bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lin’an City’s patrol captain, he naturally had a private office at the city patrol bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going to make a call.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing told Zhao Jiayi, then went to the adjacent meeting room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After closing the door, Lin Qing glanced around the rarely-used meeting room and asked, “Is there surveillance here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Chen Guang said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing then spoke freely: “You said earlier—the Patrol Chief’s injury is fake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Chen Guang said. “When you were closest to her, exactly thirty centimeters apart, I sensed her condition through the Star-Transmission Tower—no injury at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing paused, then said: “I’ll give you some unknown information—Chief Yuan Anping might be the number-one leader of the Yuanhong Society. His true strength is immense—even a puppet formed solely from his gene ability rivals a Senior Patrol Captain…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second, when he attacked me, he had zero intent to kill—just putting on a show.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Lin Qing asked: “Based on all this, what conclusion can you deduce?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang fell silent briefly, then said: “Most likely… Yuan Anping is a mole planted by the Patrol, but the Illuminati also planted him within the Patrol.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suspected the same,” Lin Qing nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve reviewed Lin’an City patrol records. A few days ago, you and another patrol captain were ambushed by the number-one leader of the Yuanhong Society.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang said, “Reconstructing events from later developments, this was likely Yuan Anping discovering the Illuminati’s plan to open the underground facility. So he first made Xu Qiu disappear, then ambushed you, deliberately escalating the situation to force headquarters to intensify the search and prevent the Illuminati’s success.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?” Lin Qing thought carefully—and realized it did make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, these deductions rely on the unknown information you provided.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang said, “He must genuinely have had no intent to kill—just acting—otherwise other possibilities remain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just deduce from this,” Lin Qing said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Order Level’s changes never lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, he deliberately broke through—becoming a weak gene awakener.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang said, “This was likely the Illuminati’s doing. The greatest secret in Lin’an City was this underground facility. Now that it’s been opened, Lin’an City has lost its value. The Illuminati probably think keeping him here is a waste of talent, so they’re using this chance to make him a gene awakener and send him to headquarters as a mole.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last night was indeed the most logical time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang said: “Members of the Original Research Institute are indeed hiding in Lin’an City. It’s normal for him to encounter a few during a search—only a life-or-death crisis would push him to attempt gene awakening. Otherwise, with only a Shiji  percent chance, attempting awakening during peacetime would be utterly unreasonable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing fell silent for a moment, then asked: “What about Xu Qiu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s most likely still alive—otherwise there’d be no reason for her disappearance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang said: “Xu Qiu was probably used by the Guangminghui  as leverage against Tang Wanqiu. Perhaps they’ve already used it—otherwise, they wouldn’t have seized the bio-weapon so smoothly last night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused, then added: “If my guess is correct, we’ll soon find Xu Qiu—seemingly by coincidence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing shook his head slightly. “The situation really is complicated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I advise you not to get involved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang said: “Yuan Anping didn’t expose the underground research facility—it’s too important. He must have a larger scheme. That’s why Tang Wanqiu warned you not to interfere; she likely received hints from above and is cooperating with Yuan Anping in this performance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing grunted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Original Research Institute of the Guangminghui  now probably inherited part of my father’s legacy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Guang said: “It’s a pity your current strength is still too weak. Otherwise, with my help, you might have tried seizing a portion of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll talk about it when I’m strong enough,” Lin Qing said. “My principle is always caution. If I lack sufficient certainty, I won’t step in. If one path is blocked, I’ll find another.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood,” Chen Guang replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, the Inspection Team left Lin’an City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From that day on, Lin’an City seemed to settle completely. Underground factions disbanded; the Yuanhong Society vanished entirely and never reformed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing spent each day training and paying off his debts, while also studying the Star Refining Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By month’s end, he’d repay the “Shunguang” debt—and then he could advance-purchase the Star Refining Art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each day, he also practiced the Divine Transformation techniques during his spare time. With one session per day at the Mind Meditation Class, his progress in the Divine Transformation series was quite rapid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a month later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a routine search, the inspection team from Kuaiji City in this province accidentally discovered a hidden underground space—and there, they found Xu Qiu, unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Xu Qiu was seemingly rescued by coincidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Days passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, it was June 26th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomorrow was the day he would depart for the Inspection Headquarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After rising, Lin Qing went as usual to the Mind Meditation Class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today might be his last time attending—there’d likely be no time in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the strange rhythmic tapping faded away, all the students opened their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing opened his eyes, gazing at the middle-aged man ahead, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, it’s your final day. Aren’t you going to ask him clearly?” After class ended, Chen Guang couldn’t help reminding him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing fell silent for a moment, then stepped forward, walking quickly to the middle-aged man and said: “Teacher, today is my last time here. May I ask you one question?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man smiled gently and said: “Come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Qing shook his head slightly. “Is it necessary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?” The middle-aged man smiled at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing sighed, his gaze sweeping over the students wearing wooden masks. “They’re all just illusions anyway. Why bother avoiding them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2236,"2026-06-20T02:41:34.488Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d90080e313f220bfbed342fc527555e61d8b2d40537e09932cdae9b7fc4ac77d","lawful-tyrant-chapter-105","lawful-tyrant-chapter-103",442,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flawful-tyrant-cover.jpg"]