Chapter 676: All Are Acquaintances

"Captain Yue!" Qi Hengyu waved at Yue Chengzhang, and he was still more accustomed to calling him that rather than Director Yue.

"Long time no see, you all. Looks like you're doing well on the surface?"

In front of the outstanding juniors, Yue Chengzhang's director's bearing vanished instantly, as if he reverted to the talkative senior who cared for his juniors.

"Sigh, are you staying in Tianmian City this time? Good timing—would you consider joining the Special Division? We're a bit short‑handed lately, and the Special Division's conditions are also quite relaxed..."

Just as Yue Chengzhang was about to elaborate on how good the Special Division's conditions were, Shen Zexi hurriedly spoke up to stop him.

"Director Yue, we're here to carry out a secret mission for the Special Division and would like to ask you some questions."

He didn't state whether they had joined the Special Division, but handed over the Special Division's specially approved pass, which Yue Chengzhang recognized at a glance.

"Sure, you seem to be doing well on the surface as well."

Yue Chengzhang patted Qi Hengyu on the shoulder in encouragement, swiftly inspected the group's passes, and after confirming they were in order, spoke.

"Alright, just ask whatever you want to know directly."

He knew that normally Shen Zexi would represent the team at this moment, but this time Shen Zexi stepped back half a step and looked behind.

"Cough." Yang Yixie was forced forward, and Shen Zexi took on the role of the slacking overseer, a true slacker being compelled to do the work that should have been his.

"Just one question: do you know where Mu Linyuan lives now?"

Yue Chengzhang glanced at Yang Yixie, found him somewhat familiar, and then looked at Shen Zexi.

"A newcomer in your team? Why ask about the Pope's residence after his retirement?"

Shen Zexi didn't answer immediately, but glanced at Yang Yixie; in fact, he wasn't sure of Yang Yixie's intentions either.

Yue Chengzhang's gaze lingered on Yang Yixie's face for a moment; he felt he had seen that face somewhere before.

His fingers instinctively rested on the hilt at his waist; as if recalling something, his body moved first, a long sword flashing from its scabbard, its blade shimmering with a yellow‑white aura, the tip landing precisely beside Yang Yixie's neck.

Yang Yixie didn't move, even though he could already feel the faint chill emanating from the sword.

Shen Zexi, seeing the scene, touched his nose and explained.

"Uh... an old acquaintance."

Yue Chengzhang recalled that when they unexpectedly encountered each other in the Black Stone Mountain Range, he had obtained the Mercenary Corps information for the "Version Answer", and the person registered by their regiment leader was...

Ying Duo.

Yue Chengzhang's sword remained there, his gaze fixed on Yang Yixie; though he had a face, it didn't look like the same person at all.

"A doppelgänger?"

Yue Chengzhang took Yang Yixie's pass, noting that even the name was different.

"Seems it really was a misunderstanding."

Yue Chengzhang began to wonder if he was being overly sensitive, yet his intuition still screamed wildly about the stranger's oddity.

"... Silver Avenue, Section 501."

Finally, Yue Chengzhang spoke.

"After abdicating, he lives there, has no public schedule, occasionally a few old comrades visit, but most of the time he doesn't see outsiders; even if you go looking for him, he may not be willing to receive guests."

Then, he looked at Yang Yixie, his back straight, yet he still lowered his head.

"I apologize for what just happened; when I saw you, I thought of someone else, and my body drew the sword involuntarily."

At this moment, Yue Chengzhang seemed to have shed the senior brother demeanor, instead emphasizing his role as the Special Division's department head.

There's no proof he shouldn't have acted on his own; just now his body outran his mind.

"It's fine; you didn't make a mistake anyway."

Yang Yixie shrugged nonchalantly, seeming to think Yue Chengzhang truly knew nothing about any secret plans.

It seemed someone was deliberately keeping him in the dark, or rather, Yue Chengzhang's role in their scheme was to become a protective umbrella for Tianmian City's people after the integration; if a worm appeared, he would be the first to eliminate it.

Thus, Yue Chengzhang only needed to focus on himself; the Church's dark side kept him out.

Yang Yixie, being quick to joke and run, left with the others before Yue Chengzhang could grasp what his words meant.

The group moved quickly, as if a beast were chasing them from behind; even Chen Mo Zhi's shoulder accidentally brushed the doorframe.

"What's going on?" Yu Cai couldn't help asking, unsure whether she was questioning Yue Chengzhang's sudden move or the group's hasty departure.

Yue Chengzhang just stood there, the sword sheath's strap hanging loosely.

"... That's Ying Duo," he said.

Yu Cai froze completely, her expression blank for a moment.

She had once, in a corner's shadow, watched the Co‑Absorption cultists swagger away—a scene that had haunted her ever since.

——————————————

"A Qiu—!"

Mu Linyuan suddenly sneezed, and nearby teacher Li Ya immediately showed concern.

"Are you alright?"

Li Ya had come to give Mu Linyuan a physical exam, but upon checking, she was instantly shocked.

Mu Linyuan's body was severely voided, his life energy completely depleted; they had even specifically asked the Divine Oracle at the Dome to come, but he was utterly powerless regarding Mu's condition.

Mu Linyuan had forcibly converted his life energy into power, over‑drawing it, causing obvious aging—an irreversible process.

During the examination, she also uncovered a terrifying fact.

Now Mu Linyuan's underlying law has been restored, yet it still cannot halt his body's aging; in fact, had the law not been restored, his condition would be even worse.

Thus, Mu Linyuan now appears the same as before, but in reality he is nearly as old as a septuagenarian.

Suo Xing, the young Pope, had left himself an exit; after dissolving the Church, he stayed only in this modest room, preparing to spend his remaining time quietly.

"Your body has no major issues; just try not to force energy any more, and get plenty of rest."

After briefly briefing him, Li Ya prepared to leave together with Su Jingchuan, who had accompanied her.

Originally Su Jingming was also scheduled to come, but was held up by work on the other side, so only the two of them came.

It was just that as soon as the two of them stepped out, they ran into a group of people outside the house.

"501… 501… it's definitely this household." Qi Hengyu located the house number from the address, and when he looked up, he saw two familiar faces.

"Teacher Li Ya, Teacher Su?"