Chapter 9: At Home?

Living room.

"You got the money and moved into a house this big; you really know how to enjoy yourself,"

Su Qu crossed his legs and leaned on the sofa.

He was still wearing the black trench coat from yesterday.

Yu Lin ate takeout, swallowed the rice in his mouth, then looked up and said:

"Having money, of course I have to be dashing."

"Otherwise this money would be earned in vain."

"I'm an orphan, and I've just become an adult."

"Likewise." Su Qu nodded, seeming quite agreeable.

He sat up, crossed his hands, and said in a deep voice:

"Then, what have you considered?"

Yu Lin didn't answer directly, but changed the subject:

"Just now a woman came to me; she's the president of the Tianxuan Club, named Ning Ya."

"Did you agree to her?"

"No, I said I'd think about it."

"That's good, don't fall for her Beauty Scheme; she especially likes… hmm? She came to find you herself?"

"Yes."

"Hiss, I didn't expect that; she usually sends others, does she like an old bull eating fresh grass…"

"Old bull eating fresh grass? Is she very old?"

"Uh, can't say that exactly; I don't know her exact age, but when you were in middle school she was already president of the Tianxuan Club, so now she should be about my age, around thirty,"

"Alright, let's stop talking about her," Su Qu didn't continue the topic, but pointed to himself:

"Do you know what the biggest difference between our Civil Affairs Bureau and these civilian groups is?"

Yu Lin was a bit uncertain: "Resources?"

"No."

"It's authority," Su Qu smiled faintly.

"Whatever they do, whatever organizational activities they have, must be reported to us; only after we approve and issue a document can they act."

"Otherwise… it's just a mob disturbance!"

"For example, if they try to seize a Heavenly Bestowed Artifact, unless we're unaware, we can act directly, but they must report it."

"By the time they finish reporting… we would have already taken it."

"If they dare to snatch it, they'll be expelled from Xia Guo!"

"How about it? Feel good?"

Yu Lin didn't answer, but raised an eyebrow and asked:

"What is a Heavenly Bestowed Artifact?"

Su Qu didn't try to hide it and explained directly:

"It's when the Heavenly Bestower pours all of his ability into an object, granting the object partial power that others can use; that's a Heavenly Bestowed Artifact."

"You know the Imperial Jade Seal, right? That's a Heavenly Bestowed Artifact, likely the one tied to your 'Heavenly Grant', but its whereabouts are unknown now."

"But a Heavenly Bestowed Artifact isn't made casually; once the Heavenly Bestower finishes the infusion, his own ability is gone, becoming an ordinary person. How many would be willing to do that?"

"The most painful thing for a transcendent being isn't being killed, but enjoying transcendence and then losing it!"

"Moreover, the infusion consumes the injector's own lifespan, about ten years, so those near death won't dare, fearing they'll die before it's done, making it wasted."

"Also, Heavenly Bestowers are few; for instance, this year in our country only you and three others were born."

"That's why the surviving number of Heavenly Bestowed Artifacts has been very low over the years."

"Compared with a few dozen held by other groups, our Civil Affairs Bureau only preserves a modest seventy‑two, sigh."

He sighed, yet Yu Lin saw no trace of sighing on his face.

"The most important thing is,"

He looked at Yu Lin.

"Those of us who awaken the Heavenly Authority are at least at the senior official rank; someone of your suspected 'Divine Bestowal' level will at minimum become a provincial governor or general… even higher."

"What are you still hesitating about?"

Yu Lin stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then nodded and said:

"Fine."

"A wise decision," Su Qu snapped his fingers, his smile growing broader.

He stood up:

"Rest well tonight; tomorrow I'll take you to the Bureau to meet your colleagues."

"The other three have also joined us, so the above decision forms a squad of four of you."

"We'll discuss other information tomorrow, uh, by the way, here's this for you."

He pulled a ring from the trench coat pocket.

"This is our replica of a Heavenly Bestowed Artifact; though it's only three‑tenths the power of a true one, it's enough for self‑defense."

"It can instantly transport you a hundred meters away."

"That's all, farewell."

The next second after speaking,

He merged directly into the shadow beneath his feet.

Yu Lin lay on the sofa, staring at the black‑gray ring in his hand, his eyes deep, thinking about something unknown.

Until a long while passed.

Only then did he pick up his phone, press the number, and dial:

"Hello?"

"It's me."

"Oh, it's Yu Lin's younger brother. So, have you decided to come to your sister's place?"

"No, I joined them."

"Huh?! Why?!"

"Do you have to report to them before doing anything?"

"... Damn, that's all the Authority they have! And it's only reporting to them within the country; once you go abroad, you can do whatever you want, right? So you were lured by them?"

"Not entirely. They said they'd make me a general later, because my Authority is 'Heavenly Luck'. Could you later let me go to Tiananmen to watch the military parade?"

"... Probably, maybe, perhaps, no... Is the temptation that strong for you?"

"Of course. It's been my dream since childhood. Anyway, I joined them. Let's not keep in touch; I'm afraid they'll misunderstand. That's all."

"Hey, wait, don't hang up. Even though you joined them, it doesn't stop us from being friends privately. More friends, more paths, right?"

"Seems so. Then we'll get in touch if anything comes up."

Yu Lin didn't give her a chance to continue; he hung up, set the phone down, got up, and put away the empty takeout box.

Thinking.

At least two friendly ones came; if...

Thump thump thump.

"Hello, is this Mr. Yu? Your home smart surveillance has arrived; please come out to sign for it."

"........."

Just as he was thinking, someone arrived.

Yu Lin's intuition told him—

Something was off.

He went to the door, his eyes glued to the peephole.

Outside the door stood a man in a delivery uniform, about thirty years old, with an ordinary face, beads of sweat on his forehead that he was wiping with his sleeve, looking as if he had just climbed stairs.

"Mr. Yu? Your smart surveillance has arrived, please sign for it." The courier knocked again, his voice resonating through the door.

Yu Lin made no sound and did not move.

The courier waited a few seconds, then knocked again: "Mr. Yu? Are you home?"

Still no response.

The courier frowned and muttered, "Strange, nobody's home?"

He pulled out his phone, as if checking the address, then shrugged, "Then I'll come back tomorrow."

After saying that, he turned and left, his footsteps fading away.

Yu Lin stared at the peephole until the courier's figure vanished, then waited for a long while longer.

Only then did he turn to fetch his phone, about to dial Su Qu's number—

"So you were home..."

A cold voice suddenly sounded from behind him.

"Why aren't you opening the door?!"