"Xiao Yezi."
Zhou Zhengde murmured the name as he toyed with a photo in his hand.
It was now afternoon in the Fortress, and Zhou Zhengde had just finished his official duties along with some additional overtime.
Dr. Wei Na appeared on time in the Security Office, knocked on the door, and entered with a stack of paper files.
"How about it, did the sample analysis come out?"
"His blood contained a complex and difficult-to-define energy, no genetic mutations, and the muscular tissues throughout his body underwent changes that medicine can't explain, including the organs!"
Dr. Wei Na said excitedly in a low voice:
"At last, we humans have started to mutate and evolve to fight the Blade Beasts!"
Zhou Zhengde carefully reviewed the files in his hand.
He whispered, "Only the two of us can know about this. Have the equipment data been deleted? I will introduce him directly to my grandfather later, I don't trust anyone else, including the Governor and my mother. I will risk everything to protect him under the threat of the Thirteenth Institute."
"Deleted, in a physical sense, help me order a few new pieces of equipment later."
Dr. Wei Na changed the topic:
"Is everything really okay in Lower City? Don't we need to tell him the follow-up?"
"Do you want him to rashly adventure again and try to take down those Spiritual Ability Users?"
Zhou Zhengde forced a smile:
"The situation has already gotten big enough, I can hardly cover it anymore.
"My mother is particularly passive because of the Ban Wenying situation.
"The Thirteenth Institute has forcefully occupied those facilities, they are protecting their secrets. If I'm not mistaken, the Black Fire Gang is an important source of human test subjects for Biological Institute Thirteen.
"We now need to find that list, or rather, the ledger.
"There are two parts to this list. One part is what the officials and nobles are searching for; they fear ruining their own reputations. The other part is what I want to find, the human test data from the Thirteenth Institute.
"Also, take a look at this, my people found it, the Xiao Yezi that Mu Liang is looking for."
He pushed the photo across the table.
Dr. Wei Na picked up the photo, frowning deeply.
In the photo was a girl in a white dress carrying a suitcase, being led away by two Spiritual Ability Users in combat uniforms, a female Spiritual Ability User holding her hand.
"She is Ye Zi, they inquired the members of the Wanli Gold Gang, Xiao Yezi is quite famous in the Greenhouse Area for being clever and pretty."
Zhou Zhengde muttered under his breath:
"She has been taken to the Spiritual Ability Users' residence in Upper City."
Dr. Wei Na asked, "What does Mu Liang want with Ye Zi?"
"I don't know," Zhou Zhengde shook his head, "probably to just shoot her, wasn't it Mu Liang who said that those orphans were killed by her?"
"Hold on! My brain can't keep up!"
Dr. Wei Na recalled carefully and slowly said:
"Mu Liang lived in that wooden house for a while. He told me personally that he quite liked those orphans, Ye Zi should be the oldest among the orphans.
"He even went so far as to say he would owe you a favor, asking you to reach out to the Wanli Gold Gang for help, to pull these orphans out of this whirlpool.
"But Ye Zi used several kitchen knives to kill them herself.
"This, oh my heaven, this Ye Zi must be more than just mentally twisted... no wonder Mu Liang broke down."
Zhou Zhengde said in a low voice, "Mu Liang also shared with me, in writing, that those kids, although noisy, were not indoctrinated with criminal ideas; they are innocent. How should we help him now? This might seriously affect his mental health."
Dr. Wei Na said, "When I came over, he seemed to be alright, asking me where the library in Middle City was; he has already gone to borrow books."
"Alright then."
Zhou Zhengde pondered:
"How about we make tonight's party as lively as possible? Invite a few more friends?
"The ecological issues in Lower City are the direction of my next efforts, and to solve the ecology of Lower City, the rules set by Upper City must first be reformed.
"The exploitation and oppression of Lower City by Upper City largely stem from the selfishness of those elders.
"Although it's somewhat politically incorrect to say this, being born into different stations without the means to ascend kills the human spirit."
Dr. Wei Na smiled playfully and said, "Alright, naive Zhou, you can strive for your ideals, but don't forget one thing?"
"What?"
"The root issue is the Blade Beasts. Over the past hundred years or so, human civilization has come dangerously close to failure while confronting the Blade Beasts."
Dr. Wei Na murmured softly:
"They are right, you were born in the wrong era. If you were in the era when humans dominated this planet, your background and character would have made you an outstanding party leader.
"But not now.
"Don't discuss politics with a doctor, especially not a female doctor."
She turned on her heel, her shapely figure gently swaying:
"I've given up chasing after Mu Liang, he is really conservative, even more so than you. But I have a few sisters who are also extremely conservative; I will invite them to our party tonight.
"Can you use your connections to get a little bit of alcoholic beverages, Mr. Zhou?"
"I cannot," Zhou Zhengde decisively shook his head, "That would be an inefficient use of food resources."
"Tch, I'll manage it myself."
Dr. Wei Na rolled her eyes and left with a dark expression.
As she left the Security Office, she happened to see that familiar figure.
Wang Jixuan was walking with his hands in his pockets and two books under his arm, his head bowed at a distant corner.
Dr. Wei Na almost called out, but then she held back.
She watched Wang Jixuan's retreating figure, sighed softly, and then a self-assured smile appeared on her lips.
Lose that little belly, find a new handsome guy!
And set up Mu Liang with a beautiful girl, lest he really ends up waiting until he's 25 for a genetic match, only to reproduce for the sake of producing quality offspring.
That's what Dr. Wei Na thought.
...
'Their analysis report should turn up nothing, the human civilization here lacks the use of Qi.'
Wang Jixuan felt the Qi flowing within him as he looked at the card in his hand, searching for his new dormitory.
He had accepted the protection offered by Zhou Zhengde and decided to also prepare some Life Extending Pills for Zhou Zhengde along with the much sought-after Essence Building Bone Strengthening Pill for ordinary men.
Essence Building Bone Strengthening Pill.
It was a fantastic elixir that could instill abundant confidence in Zhou Zhengde.
The new dormitory wasn't too far from Central Circular Park and was located on a well-surveilled street. Wang Jixuan only had to take a couple of turns to find it.
No sooner had he entered this capillary path than he frowned.
A few thugs were surrounding a young man, forcibly taking an emergency food bag from his hands.
Blood-squeezing.
Wang Jixuan slowly moved forward, standing in a doorway, and pulling a few nuts from his pocket.
A loud voice suddenly erupted at the end of the corridor:
"Fuck! What are you doing! Looking for death, huh?"
A few thugs dressed in blue sport shirts sprinted over.
The blood-squeezing thugs were pinned against the wall, and both sides immediately started hurling accusations at each other's direct relatives.
Gang turf conflict?
Wang Jixuan silently pulled out a few more nuts.
These nuts had been with him in Lower City and had seen big scenes, making this minor skirmish seem hardly worth mentioning.
He was just about to make his move when he suddenly heard a familiar male voice by his ear.
Lazy yet somewhat cocky:
"Here we go, blood-squeezing again. Didn't I say this area is my turf, and there should be no more blood-squeezing incidents here?"
"Didn't I hit your boss hard enough last time?"
The gang of thugs instantly fell silent.
Wang Jixuan forehead was marked with several question marks, and he peeked around slightly.
At the end of the corridor, four young men and women wearing blue sports shirts marched forward, reaching the site and turned around, standing against the wall with hands behind their backs, they shouted in unison:
"Yu, bro, hello!"
The blood-squeezing thugs shook a bit and stood obediently against the wall, as docile as kindergarten kids.
At the end of the corridor, a thuggish leader wearing a black tank top and capris, sporting a buzz cut, strolled over.
After some training, the already muscular thuggish leader now exhibited noticeable muscle bulges, and his two silver-grey mechanical prosthetics nimbly clenched and unfolded.
His face still looked as punchable as ever.
He spoke languidly:
"What's this, said it but didn't listen, need me to cripple you all?"
Buzz, buzz!
The two prosthetics clenched and lifted their palms, continuously colliding.
"Didn't your boss attend the convalescent home volunteer work yesterday?
"I told him to give out one-third of his food share to those old folks, and he didn't do it, right?
"Very well, good."
He chuckled lightly, having already reached the few thugs, and suddenly extended his right hand flatly, grabbing one thug by the neck.
The engines of the mechanical limbs whirred at high speed.
The thug's body slowly rose while the others, scared, quickly crouched and held their heads.
"Go back and tell your boss, the entire Thirteenth Floor is under the protection of Zhou Zhengde, my big brother Lan Yuzai.
"My big brother says no blood bags, no bullying, no trafficking. If your boss disagrees, let him come fight me. I'll give him one last chance, get him to the convalescent home for volunteer work now!"
Lan Yuzai violently flung the thug away, his body flying several meters as the other thugs scrambled away.
Lan Yuzai slightly curled his lips while his blue-shirted followers applauded in sync.
"Thanks, Brother Yu!"
The young man who had been rescued excitedly shouted:
"Brother Yu! Can I hang out with you from now on?"
"Hang out? Hang out what? Just live a good life, asshole! Being able to live decently in this era is already great, okay?"
Lan Yuzai cursed begrudgingly:
"I'm protecting you guys as penance, otherwise, when I see my boss's big brother, I wouldn't even dare greet him. Scram now!
"Continue the patrol!
"Listen up, everyone!
"The things the security team handles, we help!
"The things the security team doesn't handle, we also handle!
"Authorized by Captain Zhou! Guided by the big boss! This is... the Good People Gang!"
"Brother Yu, that was so domineering!"
"You bet, that was written by Dr. Wei Na, and there's an even more domineering part. Let me get into the mood, cough cough..."
Lan Yuzai led his underlings toward the edge of the Thirteenth Floor.
Wang Jixuan couldn't help but raise a hand to his forehead, a million complaints whirling in his mind, unsure of where to begin.
He chuckled to himself, a brighter light adding luster to his calm eyes.
Daoist Wang was just about to find his room when his Spiritual Sense suddenly twitched.
Qi.
Plenty of Qi, patchy Qi!
He tensed his body, pressing against the door frame, then quickly relaxed and faced the doorway, his own Qi sinking into his limbs, motionlessly holding the room card and comparing it.
Intense footsteps echoed by his ear.
A group of Spiritual Ability Users passed through the capillary pathway at the end of the circular area, advancing towards the security station on the Thirteenth Floor.