Chapter 840: The One Who Didn't Come Back (3/10, please subscribe)

Fang Yue narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling something was off about this whole thing.

Although Yuan Jie's personality was somewhat brash and careless, she actually didn't have many friends—otherwise she wouldn't have gotten so close with him, a kid who had once lived under someone else's roof.

It was precisely because they lived together that Yuan Jie got to know him and their relationship grew close. If it were anyone outside, Yuan Jie had always kept her distance from people at work.

"This guy—could he be someone sent from above to specifically get close to Yuan Jie?"

After thinking it over, Fang Yue didn't say more, only telling Yuan Jie that he'd be heading to Hai Yu City these next few days and wouldn't be staying in Jianghai City.

"Huh? But I heard it's really dangerous out there! If we go to the next city now, isn't that too risky?"

"Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Fang Yue gave a faint smile. With him around, he wouldn't let any anomaly harm so much as a hair on Yuan Jie's head.

"Hai Yu City—you, you guys, could you take me along?"

Just then, Pao Ru, lying on the hospital bed beside them, suddenly spoke up cautiously, blinking her eyes as she looked at Fang Yue.

"I'll ask the president and the others."

Fang Yue's tone immediately flattened.

The Alliance's headquarters wasn't somewhere just anyone could be taken out of at will.

To take someone from headquarters, he still had to ask what those people up top thought about it.

That was a completely different matter from him taking Yuan Jie away himself.

After confirming Yuan Jie was fine, Fang Yue told her to finish her checkup and get back to her room to rest early.

And just then, Qiu Dugu happened to return, so Fang Yue went back to find Qiu Dugu.

After Fang Yue left, the two girls started whispering.

"So that's the A-Yue you mentioned? He's a bit different from how you described."

"He wasn't like this before. Later, something happened…"

Yuan Jie didn't continue. Bai Xiaoya's death—she still couldn't let it go even now.

"Mm… is that so? Anyway, if you're going to Hai Yu City, take me with you. I've been wanting to go back to my hometown for a while now."

"Sure, sure! I'll have A-Yue go talk to them for us. It should be fine. A-Yue seems to be some kind of executive in the Alliance—his position is pretty high."

"That's great!"

Pao Ru clapped happily, but when Yuan Jie was called away to pick up her checkup report, the look in Pao Ru's eyes suddenly went still as dead water.

Excellent. Successfully approached the target.

Lord Xia Xiyu, I will definitely complete the mission!

……

The Alliance, laboratory.

A middle-aged man with drooping ears, dressed in a bagua-patterned robe, stared at the data flickering on the screen, frowning in thought.

Suddenly—bang—the door was pushed open.

"Vice President?!"

The droopy-eared man's face shifted slightly, and he hurriedly spoke with deference.

"How's the situation? Have you figured anything out?"

"The situation… it's hard to say. Based on the blood we drew, the analysis shows that Fang Yue is just an ordinary person, with nothing special about him at all."

"An ordinary person?"

The Vice President immediately raised his voice.

"An ordinary person who hacked a Cheater to death? Are you even competent? We all tested the anomalous item Fang Yue got back then—anyone else holding it gets no physical enhancement or anything like that! So it's Fang Yue himself who's the problem, understand?"

"I know, I know the situation, but the research results show that Fang Yue is just an ordinary person. Anyone could put a gun to his head and kill him easily!"

"…Really?"

"Really!"

"Looks like our approach was wrong. Maybe it's only during combat that his blood or body tissue undergoes intense changes. We should install monitoring equipment on him."

"Install monitoring equipment… how would we even manage that? He's very guarded against our people…"

"We don't need to do it ourselves. Just have that Yuan Jie 'help out.' Then put him in danger so he unleashes that power of his. You get it?"

"…Understood. I'll arrange it properly."

"Good. Remember—next time, I want to see data!"

The Vice President turned and left.

He had originally thought that, with Fang Yue's blood, he could study it and manufacture more warriors.

The footage of Fang Yue slaying the Cheater back then had left a deep impression on him. That kind of power was exactly what they needed—and if they could mass-produce it…

Then the coming crisis, and the issue of the Cheaters awakening, would no longer be problems!

"I have to find a way to get Fang Yue's secret!"

……

Back in his room, Fang Yue took out his phone and checked again—Tail still hadn't replied to his message.

As for Qiu Dugu, he'd already met with him.

After briefing Qiu Dugu on the situation, he didn't need to worry about the follow-up. Something this small, Qiu Dugu could still handle for him.

Glancing at the night outside, figuring Jing Yan and Qingchen should both be back by now, Fang Yue lay down on the bed and entered the game.

Hopefully the two of them could bring back some useful intel.

He closed the door properly and told those two guards not to open it for anyone.

Only then did Fang Yue enter the game.

Back in the game, just like in reality, night had already fallen in there too.

However, being inside Qi Huang Fu, Human Soul lamps were hardly in short supply all around; even at night it was bright as day.

The pebble path alone on the ground, with a Fluorescent Bead embedded every so often, was enough to provide light and drive away the Cold Night.

Returning to the game, Fang Yue was still the same as when he had logged out before, sitting in the pavilion, motionless.

Only his listless eyes had regained their sparkle.

"Xiao Ye, you're back."

"Mm."

Glancing at Lin Ling, Fang Yue gave a slight nod.

He knew that since he had gone offline, Lin Ling had stayed by his side the entire time, never leaving even a step, keeping him safe.

Too bad no one in reality could protect him like this; otherwise he wouldn't have to stay at the United Hands Society headquarters and still worry something might happen.

Steward Ke and the others had already left, leaving only a few maids and guards to keep him company.

Seeing Fang Yue "awaken," a servant immediately withdrew to go report to Steward Ke.

Fang Yue paid them no mind and asked Lin Ling directly: "Where are Jing Yan and the others?"

Lin Ling's expression stiffened slightly; she turned her face a little and said softly: "They... haven't come back yet."

Haven't come back?!

Fang Yue's face changed abruptly.

"What do you mean? They still haven't come back?"

"Mm. After you entered the entranced state, I had the steward keep an eye on the gate—if Jing Yan and the others returned, we were to be notified immediately. But until dark and night fell, we still hadn't waited for the two of them to come back."

"..."

Fang Yue fell silent, his expression gradually darkening.

"Let's go find Steward Ke."

No sooner had Fang Yue finished speaking than Steward Ke was seen walking over from afar.

"Lord Ye, Lord Lin, the evening meal has been prepared; you may dine now."

"Eat? I'm in no mood to eat right now! Answer me—have Jing Yan and Qing Chen really not come back since evening?"

(End of chapter)