Chapter 219: Is the Divine Machine Hundred Refinements Really That Important?

Inside the underground interrogation room of the Na Du Tong Company, the cold fluorescent lights stretched everyone's shadows long. A suffocating sense of oppression filled the air; Qiu Rang was handcuffed to a specially made chair, the shackles on his wrists and ankles gleaming with a cold metallic light. Although his face was haggard, his eyes still flickered with a stubborn glow.

Zhang Chulan stood before him, beads of sweat on his forehead reflecting tiny points of light under the lamps. This interrogation had already lasted for nearly four hours, yet they still hadn't obtained any valuable information.

"Qiu Rang," Zhang Chulan tried to suppress the restlessness in his heart, his tone as calm as possible, "Is the matter of the Divine Machine Hundred Refinements really that important to you? Worthy of guarding with your life?"

Qiu Rang raised his head, his mouth pulling into a mocking smile: "Kid, you don't understand at all. Some things, once made public, will cause disaster. What do you think your Company wants this secret for? Naive!"

Standing in the corner, Xu Si silently lit a cigarette, the smoke curling in the air. As an experienced veteran, he could see that kind of unyielding determination in Qiu Rang's eyes. For a person like this, conventional methods wouldn't pry his mouth open.

"Let me try." Feng Baobao suddenly spoke, her voice sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet interrogation room.

"Sister Bao'er, wait—" Zhang Chulan wanted to stop her, but it was already too late. He worried that Feng Baobao's directness might make things worse.

Unexpectedly, however, Feng Baobao just tilted her head, looking at Qiu Rang with those pure eyes: "Why be so stubborn? Is it because of fear, or because there is something more important to protect?"

This seemingly naive question was like a sharp knife, piercing directly into the deepest conflict in Qiu Rang's heart. He was clearly stunned, a trace of wavering flashing through his eyes.

"Interesting," Xu San whispered to Xu Si from the side, "Sometimes the simplest questions are the hardest to answer."

Qiu Rang was silent for a long time, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh: "You will never understand. The Divine Machine Hundred Refinements is not just a technique; it concerns the balance of the entire Outsider world. If this power falls into the hands of those who shouldn't have it, the consequences will be disastrous."

"Then why don't you trust us?" Zhang Chulan pressed, "The Company has the ability to ensure the safety of this secret."

"Trust you?" Qiu Rang's voice suddenly turned sharp, "Just like how you treated Ma Xianhong? Just like how you destroyed Biyou Village?"

This sentence was like a heavy hammer, leaving Zhang Chulan speechless. He suddenly realized that in this complex Outsider world, everyone had their own stance, and behind every choice lay irreconcilable contradictions.

Meanwhile, in a five-star hotel on the other side of the city, Wang Ye lay on a king-sized bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Outside the window, the city was brightly lit; the glow of neon lights shone in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting mottled shadows on the carpet.

"True Person Lin Xuan..." he muttered to himself, recalling the feeling of being watched while at Biyou Village, and still couldn't help but tremble inside. That wasn't an oppressive feeling brought by an ordinary powerhouse; it was a sense of presence that transcended the scope of ordinary human understanding.

"Why would he appear at Biyou Village? And with those two beauties..." Wang Ye turned over, "Clearly not a coincidence, but what is the purpose?"

What concerned him even more was the whereabouts of Ma Xianhong. Who was it that took him away at that critical moment? The timing was grasped so precisely; it was clearly premeditated. But the question that worried him most was another—after experiencing the upheaval at Biyou Village, would Ma Xianhong still treat them as friends?

"That feeling of being betrayed, that pain of losing everything..." Wang Ye sighed, "I'm afraid it has changed him forever."

"Take it one step at a time," he finally consoled himself, but the unease in his heart would not go away.

And on the other side of the city, inside an equally luxurious hotel suite, a more private storm of the heart was unfolding. In the room late at night, moonlight spilled in through the half-open curtains; Zhuge Qing suddenly struggled violently, cold sweat soaking his pajamas.

In his dream, the Inner Scene space presented a scene of chaos. A person identical to himself stood opposite, a heart-palpitating smile on his face. This was a duel with the self, but no matter how hard Zhuge Qing tried, he could not defeat that "self."

"Why?" the Zhuge Qing in the dream roared in a rage, "Why can I never beat you?"

"Because you are too weak," the other self sneered, his voice full of mockery, "Your indecisiveness, your lack of resolve, your fear of taking responsibility—these are the reasons you cannot defeat me."

Zhuge Qing launched a more violent attack, mobilizing the Qi throughout his body, but every offensive was easily neutralized. That sense of powerlessness, that deep frustration, was almost enough to crush him.

"No!" Zhuge Qing jolted awake from the dream, gasping for air, cold sweat sliding down his cheeks.

"A-Qing?" Fu Rong was startled awake and immediately sat up. Under the moonlight, she clearly saw the expression of pain on Zhuge Qing's face, "Did you have a nightmare again?"

Zhuge Qing's body was still trembling slightly; that dream was too real, and the sense of powerlessness from the dream seemed to linger in his body. At this moment, he felt unprecedentedly fragile.

Fu Rong didn't ask more, just gently hugged him. She could feel Zhuge Qing's violent heartbeat, could feel the struggle and pain in his heart. This man who always appeared composed in front of others was, at this moment, so in need of comfort.

"It's okay," she whispered, her voice as gentle as the night breeze, "I'm here."

Zhuge Qing gradually calmed down in her embrace. Fu Rong's body temperature, the faint fragrance on her, all helped him dispel the shadows brought by the nightmare. But the meaning of that dream, that unconquerable self, still circled in his heart.

"A-Rong," he raised his head, looking at the girl's worried eyes, a warm current surging in his heart, "Thank you."

Fu Rong didn't answer, but instead kissed his lips lightly. This kiss was gentle and lingering, as if it could smooth away all pain. At this moment, all worries and all conflicts seemed to have temporarily dissipated.

The night grew deeper, and the moonlight still shone gently on the two embracing figures. Zhuge Qing knew that the self in the dream was right; he indeed still had many weaknesses to overcome. But at least for now, he was no longer alone. With Fu Rong by his side, he felt he didn't seem so fragile after all.

"Sleep," Fu Rong gently stroked his back, "No matter what happens, I will be with you."

Zhuge Qing held her tighter. On this sleepless night, at this moment full of unknowns, at least they still had each other. And that duel in the dream might just be foreshadowing the challenges he would have to face in the future. But this time, he was no longer alone.

The night was deep, and the city's bustle gradually subsided, but everyone hid their own stories and secrets in their hearts. On this seemingly calm night, the gears of fate were turning silently, weaving a complex and profound web of destiny. And behind all this, perhaps even greater secrets were hidden, waiting to be unveiled.