Old Man Feng let out a long breath, finally relaxing. "I... I'm fine," he said shakily. "Thank you, Mr. Liang."
Yi Chang, still quiet, reflected on the situation. He didn't fear the DMCO, but he now understood them better. They weren't just law enforcement—they were a mechanism to control the balance of power between martial artists and ordinary people.
"Thank you for your help," Yi Chang finally said.
Liang Huiyan waved it off casually. "No need to thank me. But be careful from now on. The DMCO doesn't let things slide easily, and they'll definitely keep an eye on you both." He studied Yi Chang for a moment, then added, "I also suggest you register your Martial Arts Identity with the DMCO. It's better to stay on their radar willingly than them having you on the ill radar."
Yi Chang's eyes narrowed slightly, but he kept his thoughts to himself. He knew Liang Huiyan had been researching about him ever since he sold his inheritance, and with the Liang family influence it made sense to that Liang Huiyan knows of the martial artist—which made him think Yi Chang was a martial artist, and Old Man Feng, in his eyes, must have been Yi Chang's master.
Liang Huiyan continued, his voice dropping slightly. "I have to admit, I never saw it coming. I've known you for some time now, Yi Chang, and always wondered why you were so nonchalant about parting with such an inheritance. Now I know why. You're a martial artist, and people like you don't value wealth the same way the rest of us do." He glanced over at Old Man Feng. "Oldman Feng must be your master. It must be quite strong given the way the DMCO officers reacted when he woke up."
Old Man Feng raised an eyebrow but didn't correct the assumption, and neither did Yi Chang. It wasn't necessary at this point.
"You mentioned the DMCO earlier," Yi Chang said, steering the conversation in a different direction. "Who are they exactly?"
Liang Huiyan looked at him carefully before answering. "The DMCO—Department of Martial Cultivation Oversight—was established by the government to monitor and control the activities of martial artists. Martial artists possess power far beyond that of ordinary humans, and the state can't afford to have such individuals running unchecked. The DMCO ensures that martial artists don't interfere with the lives of regular citizens and maintain the state's governance over them. It's a delicate balance, and they are the ones who enforce it."
Yi Chang processed this, his mind turning over the implications. The DMCO wasn't just an oversight body—they were a safeguard against martial artists who might disrupt society's normal functioning. This understanding deepened his perception of the power structures in this world, but such force doesn't seem enough to control cultivators.
"I've heard rumors about the DMCO," Old Man Feng muttered, finally breaking his silence. "But I never thought they were real. I thought they were just a myth, a story to pass time."
Liang chuckled. "Oh, they're very real. And very powerful. The fact that neither of you have registered with them yet is surprising. Especially you, Old Man Feng. You must've been a martial artist for a long time, haven't you? And you don't seem registered with them and now you've introduced Yi Chang to this world, which makes you responsible for him."
Old Man Feng looked taken aback, and Yi Chang remained calm, his gaze steady. "I understand," Yi Chang replied, his voice composed. "It's clear that the DMCO plays a vital role in maintaining order. We'll handle the registration process, but how do we do that?"
Liang Huiyan nodded approvingly. "Good. I can help you navigate that if you need it, but once you're in their system, you'll be expected to follow their rules. The DMCO doesn't tolerate rogue martial artists."
Yi Chang met his gaze, his resolve unshaken. He wasn't afraid of the DMCO, but he needed to understand this system they had built. It seem to be a powerful organization if all martial artist obey them atleast in the open that ensured balance, and for now, he would play along.
Liang Huiyan smiled, sensing Yi Chang's confidence. "You're smarter than most," he said. "Just make sure not to cross them. The DMCO isn't an enemy you want."
Yi Chang nodded, appreciating the warning. "I'll keep that in mind." He glanced at Old Man Feng, who still seemed shaken by the encounter.
Liang Huiyan's smile widened. "Wise choice. And remember, I'm always here if you need anything." He glanced at his watch. "I should head out. Take care of yourselves."
As Liang left the room, Yi Chang and Old Man Feng exchanged a look. They both knew the path ahead had just gotten more complicated, but Yi Chang was already planning his next steps. The DMCO wasn't a threat—just another piece of the puzzle he would master in time.
Liang Huiyan shifted uncomfortably before finally asking the question that had clearly been on his mind. "So, about that beast... I heard rumors that you two hunted a Grade 2 beast. You know, only Grade 2 beasts have cores, right? That's part of why I rushed over."
He paused, glancing at the police officers before continuing. "The DMCO found the dried corpse of the beast and confirmed it was indeed a Grade 2. The core had been extracted, but they figured that you two were attacked, which is why you were found unconscious. They assumed someone took the core from you after the fight."
Liang rubbed the back of his neck, looking somewhat embarrassed. "The truth is, I was hoping you could tell me what happened. The core of a Grade 2 beast... It's extremely valuable. My grandfather is getting on in years, and with the right techniques, the qi from that core could help revitalize him. I wanted to use it as a gift for him. That's part of the reason the DMCO had been pushing too hard. They are trying to get their hands on that core. They want to know who attacked you and take the core since it wasn't found at the scene, but..." He hesitated. "Well, I also want to know."
Yi Chang's expression tightened at the mention of the core. Memories of the aftermath rushed back to him. The beast core hadn't been stolen—it had been absorbed into the mysterious egg which then vanishged into his dantian. The realization struck him once again: the mysterious egg is still in his dantian.
His sudden change in demeanor didn't go unnoticed by Old Man Feng, who watched him carefully. Yi Chang stood up slowly, his mind racing. "Old Man Feng," he said, his tone urgent yet calm, "we are heading home. Now."
Old Man Feng, though still rattled, trusted Yi Chang's instincts. He nodded without question and stood up, before turning his attention back to Liang Huiyan.
Liang looked puzzled, clearly confused by the abrupt change in atmosphere. "Wait... what's going on? Did something happen? Was it the person who attacked you?" His voice had a mix of curiosity and concern. "I understand if you want to keep the details private, but... is there any chance you hid the core somewhere? We can still negotiate. Maybe—"
But Yi Chang cut him off with a polite yet firm tone. "Mr. Liang, I appreciate your concern and your help, but we need to leave now."
Liang was left standing there, baffled and uncertain as to what had just happened. In his mind, he was trying to figure out what caused the sudden urgency. Had the attacker mentioned earlier scared them into leaving? Or had they hidden the beast core somewhere after all? He couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper was going on, but Yi Chang and Old Man Feng gave him no further explanation as they made their way out of the hospital room.
As they exited, Yi Chang's thoughts were locked on the egg within his dantian. The power it held, the mystery of its origins, and the way it had absorbed the core—all of it pointed to something far beyond what he had anticipated. He knew one thing for certain: the situation had become far more complex than he had initially imagined.