A canyon appeared in the desert. The mountains on either side were tall, and the only path forward was through the middle. The crawlers behind them had not pursued, and only then did Ah Hu and the others lower their guns. "That's great, Boss, they're not chasing us."
Chu Ling, however, was somewhat uneasy. The giant crawler leader hadn't been killed by her, and the sudden retreat of the crawlers didn't seem to be because of her—it felt as though they were afraid of something else.
This canyon was a necessary route, but this time, Chu Ling had a bad feeling about it. "Quickly drive through the canyon."
However, night was already falling, and this canyon felt much longer than the ones they had traversed before. As they drove, they found that there were no monsters in the canyon. The canyon was about ten meters wide, and the cliffs on either side were approximately a hundred meters high. The cliff walls were made of yellow soil blocks, marked with traces that seemed to be left by something rubbing against them.
"Were there so many scratches last time we came here?" Before Chu Ling could take a closer look, Gu Jingbo's voice came through the communicator.
"Miss Chu, our convoy needs to rest and check for any damage."
Chu Ling had intended to refuse, but to her surprise, Qian Li suddenly braked and came to a stop. Chu Ling glanced at her, puzzled, since she hadn't yet agreed. Qian Li rarely acted on her own initiative.
"The road ahead is blocked."
Only then did Chu Ling notice a boulder a dozen meters away, obstructing the road. There was only a narrow gap big enough for a person to squeeze through. Left with no choice, the convoy had to stop and rest.
Chu Ling got out of the car to inspect the boulder blocking the way. It appeared to be an ordinary rock, though she couldn't tell where it had fallen from. Chu Ling looked at the cliffs on either side. There didn't seem to be any other stones above. Strange—there hadn't been a boulder here last time.
As the convoy stopped to rest, Gu Jingbo and Gu Xiyan also came forward to inspect the rock.
"Miss Chu, didn't you guarantee that everything would go smoothly?"
Gu Jingbo had been thoroughly frightened by the crawlers earlier and now sought to reclaim some dignity from Chu Ling. Chu Ling glanced at the rock and said, "Of course, it's all under control. Look, everyone's fine, aren't they?"
"You…"
Chu Ling always spoke in a teasing tone, her gaze toward Gu Jingbo full of indifference. "However, President Gu doesn't seem to have been entirely forthcoming with me. Just what equipment is loaded on that truck to make the crawlers avoid it? Investigating new energy sources shouldn't be this complicated, right?"
Gu Jingbo frowned secretly. Little did he know his reaction had already betrayed him. He hadn't expected Chu Ling to be so observant. "When did you figure that out?"
Chu Ling smiled harmlessly and answered casually, "Just now."
Only when Gu Jingbo questioned her did Chu Ling confirm her suspicions were true.
Gu Jingbo realized he had been tricked and shouted angrily, "This isn't something you need to know. Just do your job."
"Of course, of course. It's just a boulder; moving it isn't a big deal." Chu Ling glanced at Qian Li, who gave a slight nod in response.
Gu Xiyan listened to the conversation between the two, silently reading Chu Ling's thoughts. This person was far more calculating than she appeared on the surface.
{What is the Gu family planning? What are they trying to obtain in the ruins? Could it be that crystal stone?}
Crystal stone?
Chu Ling knew of the crystal stone's existence. Gu Xiyan withdrew her gaze. This time, the Gu family had indeed received news that fragments of the four great meteorite relics might be in the Yellow Sand Ruins. They had only used the guise of exploring new energy sources as a pretext. However, she hadn't expected Chu Ling to know about it.
Just as Chu Ling was about to deal with the boulder, a noise suddenly came from the gap beside it. Everyone immediately tensed up. Ah Hu and the others aimed their annihilators at the source of the sound, ready to pull the trigger at any moment.
Unexpectedly, a person emerged from the gap. Dressed in a black cloak that obscured their figure, they showed no fear despite having guns pointed at them. Instead, they exclaimed in delight, "I didn't expect to find people here. I'm saved!"
As they spoke, they removed their hood, revealing long, jet-black hair. Their face was gentle, constantly wearing a smile like an angel. A tear mole sat quietly beneath their left eye.
Just by looking at her, Chu Ling thought of one word: saintly. Radiating an aura of salvation, this face would undoubtedly be saintly-class if she joined the church.
The woman suddenly noticed Chu Ling and looked momentarily surprised. "You're still alive?"
Looking at her face, Chu Ling felt an inexplicable aversion but was sure she didn't know this person. She disliked showing emotions, so she merely smiled and asked, "Do you know me?"
The woman seemed to relax upon hearing Chu Ling's question and shook her head, her saintly aura shining through. "No, you just remind me of someone."
Then, with great enthusiasm, she stepped forward and extended her hand to Chu Ling. "Nice to meet you, I'm Liang Liang."
Chu Ling's smiling expression twitched slightly. Oh, so this is Liang Liang. Holding herself back, she shook hands with Liang Liang. "Hello, I'm Chu Ling." So, this is what the novel's protagonist aura looks like.
Liang Liang felt Chu Ling squeezing her hand with unusual strength but simply smiled and let go. She then turned to Gu Jingbo, approaching him with a flattering demeanor. "Aren't you the famous President Gu of the Empire?"
Her words satisfied Gu Jingbo's fragile ego. Though he was in a better mood, he wasn't foolish and remained cautious. "Who are you, and why are you here?"
"I'm just an ordinary mercenary. Someone as distinguished as President Gu wouldn't know my name. I got lost and came to check out this boulder blocking the road, only to encounter your convoy."
This was the kind of attitude a mercenary should have. Gu Jingbo was very pleased with Liang Liang's flattery.
"If you're lost, you can travel with us. We'll ensure your safety." Displaying gentlemanly manners, Gu Jingbo once again showcased his gallantry. As expected, Liang Liang appeared both surprised and delighted. "President Gu, you're like a god. Of course, I must repay your kindness."
As she spoke, the boulder suddenly lifted into the air and landed firmly atop the cliff. This movement revealed two other individuals who had been concealed from view. Liang Liang introduced them with a smile, especially the large man. "This is my subordinate, A Yong. He's a B-rank ability user with the power of telekinesis. Moving this boulder was a piece of cake."
Chu Ling's gaze settled on the muscular giant. Bald, with a heavily built physique, his appearance screamed raw strength, yet his ability was telekinesis. If someone told her he was just physically strong, she'd believe it. Beside him stood another figure, cloaked and wearing a terrifying ghost mask, clearly unwilling to reveal their identity. Chu Ling found the two of them oddly familiar but couldn't place them.
Gu Jingbo, astonished by the boulder being lifted, once again marveled at the abilities of power users. "This is B rank strength?"
Liang Liang quickly laughed and replied, "A Yong is still young. He just turned 18 and is still adjusting to his awakened ability."
Chu Ling looked at the giant, who stood over two meters tall, grinning innocently like a gorilla. This guy, 18?
"Miss Liang, you certainly have some skilled subordinates."
"Not at all. Compared to the Gu family's technological weapons, abilities are nothing. Besides, I'm not an ability user myself. I'll still need to rely on President Gu."
Liang Liang indeed wasn't an ability user. Her system was technological weaponry. Once upgraded, it would surpass even the Gu family's technology. If not for Gu Xiyan developing new weapons to counterbalance her, Liang Liang would have no equal.
Moreover, Liang Liang despised ability users. After leveraging Gu Xiyan to rise to power, she began systematically eliminating them, disregarding those who had helped her. She was a staunch advocate of technology.
Gu Jingbo, basking in her praise, turned a bit smug. Liang Liang then turned her attention to Gu Xiyan, who had been quietly observing from a distance, and approached her.
"This must be the Second Miss Gu. I've only heard rumors about how you never leave home and are dedicated to research. I didn't expect to meet you in person today. What an honor."
Gu Xiyan's gaze swept over Liang Liang's face. This face had once been her closest companion. Her eyes lingered on the tear mole beneath Liang Liang's eye. Liang Liang had once joked, asking what part of her Gu Xiyan liked the most. Gu Xiyan had said it was the tear mole, like a cinnabar mole marking her heart.
Now, as she looked again, this wasn't a cinnabar mole. It was clearly a mouse dropping, ruining the whole pot of porridge.
Gu Xiyan coldly smirked at Liang Liang's extended hand. This hand had once pulled her from hell, only to shove her into another.
She withdrew her gaze and brushed past Liang Liang without any intention of shaking hands.
Liang Liang's hand froze midair. Even her perpetually smiling face faltered slightly. Out of sight from the crowd, her suppressed hatred flickered.
One day, you will be mine.
Chu Ling observed their interaction, inwardly panicking. What should she do? Liang Liang had appeared earlier than expected, and they had met on the way to the Yellow Sand Ruins. She hadn't managed to prevent their encounter.
As Gu Xiyan walked past Chu Ling, she suddenly stopped and scanned her.
{What to do? Liang Liang is so beautiful. What if Gu Xiyan falls for her at first sight…}
Gu Xiyan's pause interrupted Chu Ling's anxious thoughts. Ultimately, she lacked confidence. After all, Liang Liang carried the protagonist's aura.
Gu Xiyan suddenly scribbled something on her tablet and handed it to Chu Ling.
[Don't worry] Gu Xiyan would never fall for Liang Liang again.
The four simple words were cryptic and left Chu Ling puzzled, unsure of what Gu Xiyan meant.
Gu Xiyan's gaze lingered on Chu Ling, noticing the small mole perfectly centered on her earlobe, resembling an ear piercing. But Chu Ling didn't have pierced ears.
As if drawn by it, Gu Xiyan suddenly reached out and pinched the tiny earlobe. Chu Ling trembled, startled and at a loss, while Gu Xiyan's fingers toyed with the lobe, watching it slowly turn red.
I still like cinnabar moles.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Gu Xiyan turned and walked away, leaving a bewildered Chu Ling behind. She touched her now-warm earlobe, feeling as though she'd just been molested.
What was that about? Flirting with an innocent girl?