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Chapter 287 That Unyielding Spirit in His Bones!
on the street.

Chu Kuanglan's muscles tensed instantly, becoming as stiff as iron.

The effects of the alcohol turned into cold sweat that instantly covered his entire body, and the hairs on his back stood on end.

When did this person approach?

He was completely unaware.

This silent, stealthy, and terrifying technique.

Far exceeding his previous expectations in terms of speed
My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, almost shattering my ribs.

But Chu Kuanglan was, after all, a fierce man who had fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and his instinct for survival overcame his fear.

He suddenly shrugged his shoulder and forcefully broke free from the hand.

At the same time, he staggered, using the alcohol as an excuse to turn around, his face showing annoyance and drunkenness at being disturbed, and he cursed and shouted:

"Who the hell are you? Do I know you? Trying to scare me to death by walking so quietly?!"

In the dim light, standing in front of him was a tall, slender young man dressed in ordinary casual clothes with a warm smile on his face.

The smile seemed gentle, but there was a hint of coldness deep in his eyes.

The young man seemed unsurprised by Chu Kuanglan's rude reaction, his smile unchanged, even tinged with apology: "Sorry, sorry, I startled you, Brother Chu. My name is Ji Wuying, from the Security Department of the Internal Affairs Bureau. I noticed you were walking a little unsteadily, as if you were drunk, and I was worried you might fall, so I came to check on you."

"Ji Wuying?"

Alarm bells rang in Chu Kuanglan's mind; this name was on the list that Wei Banmeng had found today.

The Security Division of the Ministry of the Interior held a position of real power.

His face showed a look of realization and a hint of impatience at being interrupted.

Fueled by alcohol, he slurred, "What? You're from the Ji family?"

The probing look in Ji Wuying's eyes seemed to have faded slightly.

But his smile remained impeccable: "Yes, I heard Captain Fang is recruiting?"

He asked the question seemingly casually.

Chu Kuanglan sneered inwardly, but on the surface he wore a matter-of-fact expression, patting his chest and saying, "Yes! He's waiting for my news in the courtyard right now! How about it, Brother Ji? Your skills are definitely up to par, why don't you come back with me and let Qingzi interview you? I'll take care of it!"

He acted like an eager teammate who was eager to take credit, and even reached out to pull Ji Wuying.

Ji Wuying's smile froze slightly, and she subtly took a half-step back.

Avoiding Chu Kuanglan's hand, he waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no! Brother Chu is too kind! My skills are nothing compared to Captain Fang and everyone else. I know my own limitations. I just saw that Brother Chu seemed a little drunk and was worried that something might happen, so I came to check on him. Since Brother Chu is alright, I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned around, and was about to leave.

"Hey! Don't go!"

Chu Kuanglan deliberately raised his voice, his tone filled with regret and the persistent urges of a drunkard, as he waved and called out to Ji Wuying's departing figure, "Brother Ji! You really don't want to give it a try? This is a rare opportunity! Qingzi has high standards, but he might make an exception for someone as talented as you!"

Ji Wuying did not pause at all. Instead, at Chu Kuanglan's urging, her figure swayed and disappeared into the shadows of the alleyway. Her speed suddenly increased, and she vanished around the corner in a few breaths, as if she had never been there.

Only after the other person's figure had completely disappeared did Chu Kuanglan lean against the cold wall, panting heavily.

His inner shirt was already soaked with cold sweat, and the cold wind made it feel icy cold.

Just now, during that brief contact, I felt a subtle sense of pressure emanating from the other person.

It gave him the illusion of facing a third-tier powerhouse.

This is definitely not an ordinary second-order!

"Damn it. We've really been targeted."

Chu Kuanglan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, suppressing the pounding in his heart.

His face regained its drunken, agitated expression, and he muttered "crazy" under his breath before continuing to stagger toward the courtyard.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, the warmth and light dispelled some of the chill.

But Chu Kuanglan's heart remained heavy.

Wei Banmeng and Lu Jiuyuan were sitting in the living room talking in hushed tones when they saw him enter, covered in sweat and pale-faced. They immediately stood up alertly.

"Old Chu? What's wrong?"

Lu Jiuyuan quickly stepped forward, supported his somewhat unsteady body, and keenly sensed the abnormality.

"What happened? Are you in trouble?"

Wei Banmeng's usually cold eyes instantly sharpened.

His hand had already subconsciously rested on the hilt of the Xuan Chi Twin Blades.

Chu Kuanglan shook off Lu Jiuyuan's hand, slumped into a chair, grabbed the water bottle on the table and gulped down several mouthfuls before panting heavily and asking urgently with an extremely serious expression, "Has Qingzi returned?"

The two exchanged a glance and both shook their heads: "Not yet. What happened?"

"We've found them! The Ji family of Tianshuang Fortress! They're the prime suspects! And they've probably already discovered our investigation!"

Chu Kuanglan spoke rapidly, recounting in detail the information he had gathered at the dinner table about "Erfu," the origins of the Ji family's worship of Erfu, and the incident of being blocked by Ji Wuying in the alley.

He emphasized Ji Wuying's strange movement and the pressure he felt: "That bastard is definitely not an ordinary second-tier! I even have a feeling that he might be a third-tier in disguise! Or he might have mastered some kind of secret technique! He took the initiative to approach me and even specifically mentioned the Ji family and Qingzi's recruitment, which is definitely not a coincidence! They are investigating us! We must act quickly, or things will change!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Banmeng frowned, her cool face turning frosty: "Ji Wuying is the deputy director of the Security Department of the Internal Affairs Bureau. The fact that he personally came out to probe shows that our investigation has touched a nerve with them. Indeed, they should have realized it by now, and we can't delay any longer."

Lu Jiuyuan's expression turned solemn: "Third rank? If the Ji family can easily send out a third rank member, or has a way to make a second rank member possess combat power close to that of a third rank member, then the waters are deeper than we thought."

The atmosphere in the living room instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Just then, the alloy door of the courtyard was silently pushed open again.

Amidst a chilling aura, Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei walked in.

Both of them looked travel-worn.

"what happened?"

Fang Qingyu glanced at it.

He immediately noticed the heavy atmosphere in the living room and Chu Kuanglan's pale face, and his brows furrowed instantly.

Wei Banmeng succinctly and quickly recounted the key intelligence Chu Kuanglan had brought back and the perilous test she had just encountered with Ji Wuying.

Lu Jiuyuan added a summary of the results of his and Wei Banmeng's investigation inside the Great Wall that day.

It once again points to the Ji clan of Tianshuang Fortress.

"The feeling of Ji Wuying at the third level?"

A cold glint flashed in Fang Qingyu's eyes, and his molten gold vertical pupils contracted slightly.

Walking to the center of the living room, he did not immediately express his opinion on the Ji family's affairs, but instead casually raised his hand and reached out towards the thick shadow at his feet.

His hand seemed to be dipping into water.

They actually pulled out a small, thin figure from the two-dimensional shadows. The figure was wearing the winter combat uniform of a garrison officer, and his body was stiff with fear and despair in his eyes!
It was the lieutenant he had captured at the Skullcrushing Ice Valley camp who had returned to explore the cave.

Ji Lang.

Wei Banmeng and the other two were already used to Fang Qingyu's miraculous skills, and Jiang Wei remained calm.

Their gazes were coldly fixed on the man who had collapsed to the ground.

Ji Lang was like a lamb to the slaughter.

"Who is this?"

Chu Kuanglan asked in a deep voice, though he already had a guess in his mind.

Fang Qingyu tossed Ji Lang onto the cold living room floor like trash and explained succinctly: "The rats who returned to explore the rift after we left the Shattered Skull Ice Valley Ghost Camp. Seventh Garrison Army, Logistics and Communications Company, Lieutenant Ji Lang."

Ignore the fearful whimpers coming from Ji Lang's throat.

Fang Qingyu took out a phone, opened a video, and shoved the screen directly in front of Ji Lang's eyes.

The scene shows the dozen or so kidnappers, under Shenxiao's control, staring blankly as they pick up daggers or their fingers and slowly, consciously and cruelly inflict a thousand cuts on themselves.

The silent scene was more chilling than any scream.

Flesh peeled away, bones exposed
Ji Lang's pupils dilated to their limit instantly, his body trembled violently like a leaf, a choking "hoarse" sound came from his throat, and his crotch was instantly soaked, with a fishy smell spreading everywhere.

Fang Qingyu's voice rang out calmly:
“I have ways to make you tell the truth, and I can even make you, like them, soberly watch yourself being cut into pieces. This process will be very long.”

Fang Qingyu leaned down slightly, his golden eyes fixed on Ji Lang's devastated eyes.

"But I can give you a chance. A less painful chance."

“If you answer my questions honestly and without missing a single word right now, I can hand you over to a federal military court.”

"According to the law, you may die, or you may only be imprisoned for life in the abyss."

"But no matter what, at least we won't go through the process shown in the video."

Fang Qingyu's voice carried a seductive quality.

"Of course, if you lie or try to hide something."

His finger lightly swiped across the phone screen, pausing the image and freezing it on a face contorted in extreme pain.

"I guarantee that the time you spend before you die will be ten times longer than his. And it won't just be a slow, agonizing death. So, are you willing to seize this opportunity?"

Ji Lang's psychological defenses completely collapsed the moment he saw the video.

Upon hearing about the slim yet real glimmer of hope that would be given to the Federation, the intense will to survive instantly overwhelmed the fear.

Tears streamed down his face as he nodded with all his might.

He made urgent "uh uh" sounds in his throat, afraid that Fang Qingyu would change his mind if he was too slow.

Upon seeing this, Fang Qingyu's fingertips twitched slightly.

The golden arcs of electricity that had been wrapped around Ji Lang receded as if they were alive.

The restraints on his throat muscles were released.

But it still firmly locked the strength of his limbs, leaving him only able to speak while paralyzed.

Almost simultaneously, Fang Qingyu's own phone vibrated.

He glanced at it and saw it was a notification from Regiment Commander Qin Bin about the transmission of encrypted files. Inside were all of Ji Lang's detailed files since he enlisted, his job transfer records, his complete communication records for the past three months, and a list of all the people who had been in close contact with him.

Fang Qingyu quickly browsed through the biographical information about Ji Lang that had been uploaded to his phone.

As the interrogation began, his voice returned to its cold, indifferent tone:
"The first question is, did you sell those captured second-tier grandmasters to the Ghost of Fate, or give them to the Ghost of Fate?"

Fang Qingyu emphasized the word "send".

Ji Lang coughed violently a few times, greedily inhaling the air, his voice hoarse and trembling: "I...I don't know if I received any money. I really don't know!"

"How could we lowly underlings possibly know what's going on above us?"

"But I have never heard of any orders to collect money! The money and resources we receive after finishing our work are directly distributed by the contact person, who says it is a hardship fee and a family subsidy."

"I don't know if this is a cut from selling people or just what the higher-ups do."

His eyes were filled with bewilderment, not feigned.

Fang Qingyu nodded expressionlessly, seemingly unsurprised by the answer, and then posed the crucial question: "Is the Ji family of Tianshuang Fortress in charge of this matter?"

Ji Lang answered quickly this time, but then shook his head vigorously: "Yes! But it wasn't just our Ji family! It was with another aristocratic family! I think their name was something like 'Luo'? Or something like that. I really can't remember!"

"I only heard from afar once that the people from above and those sent from over there were arguing about the division of the goods and who was responsible for the safety of the transfer route! It was a very fierce argument!"

He tried to recall, his face contorted with pain.

"Luo?"

Fang Qingyu noted down the word and continued to press for answers, his voice suddenly turning cold.

He asked the question that had been lingering in his mind the most: "The third question: Why? Why did your Tian Shuang Fortress Ji family, and that Luo family, go to such lengths and take such great risks to capture the Federation's precious second-tier combat power and hand it over to the Ghost of Fate?"

Once the question was asked, the entire living room fell silent.

Even Chu Kuanglan temporarily suppressed his anger, his brows furrowed.

Yes, what is the motivation?
Trying to please the ghosts of fate? This little bit of stuff is a drop in the ocean compared to the army of ghosts of fate.

In exchange for resources?

The risk and return are completely disproportionate.

Simple evil?
That further undermines the ability of such a large and sophisticated organization to operate for so long.

Ji Lang was also taken aback by the question; he had clearly never thought about it in depth before.

He was bewildered for a while before stammering, "I...I heard a drunken cousin of mine, who's a bit higher up than me, mention it. It seems like it's because a very, very special 'royal offspring' has recently arrived at the Fate Ghost's side."

"We urgently need fresh humans who have reached a certain level of strength. What exactly they'll be used for, I really don't know! Maybe...maybe as food? Maybe for experiments? Or...as sacrifices?"

His voice was filled with uncertainty and fear.

"A royal bloodline? A newly emerged human powerhouse?"

Hearing this vague and evasive answer, Chu Kuanglan's temper finally flared. He abruptly stood up, his burly body looming over Ji Lang with immense pressure. His massive fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and his eyes blazed with fury as he roared, "You son of a bitch! You don't know anything! What use are you, you piece of trash?! You don't even know why you yourselves are dogs?!"

Spit almost landed on Ji Lang's face.

Fang Qingyu raised his hand, stopping the enraged Chu Kuanglan.

He put down his phone and calmly looked at Ji Lang, who was trembling on the ground. There was no anger in his eyes, only a coldness that seemed to see through everything.

"I'll give you one last chance."

Fang Qingyu's voice was as soft as a sigh, yet it sent a chill down Ji Lang's spine.

“Tell me something you know that's actually useful.”

"First, who are your people inside the Great Wall on the Arctic front? List, positions."

"Secondly, how did you accurately obtain information about the individual missions of those second-tier grandmasters and send out third-tier teams to capture them? Who was your source of intelligence?"

"Third, who exactly is the third-tier team responsible for the arrest? What are their names and strengths?"

"This is your final value."

Ji Lang's body trembled, and he closed his eyes in despair. A few seconds later, he suddenly opened them, his eyes filled with nothing but a desperate madness and a sliver of hope for survival.

Without further hesitation, it was like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

With a hoarse voice, he began to read out one name and position after another: "Ji Lie! Deputy Battalion Commander of the Third Battalion of the City Defense Army! Responsible for the delineation of some outer patrol areas."

"Ji Feng! A scout in the city defense reconnaissance squadron. He's responsible for selecting 'suitable' target routes and times."

"Ji Hong, Ji Yuan! A technician from the Logistics Equipment Department has used his access to the positioning system to temporarily block or interfere with emergency communications in a specific area."

"Ji Wuying! Deputy Director of the Security Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs! He is responsible for handling some accidents, such as witnesses."

"Ji Wen! Level Two Supervisor of the Confidential Communications Section. All non-top-secret field mission briefings and communication records pass through him. He is one of the most important intelligence sources."

"The deputy section chief of the logistics department's dispatch section, surnamed Liu, is not surnamed Ji, but he accepted a large bribe and was responsible for providing convenience in the transportation process."

"Zhao Meng, the rotating commander of the beacon towers in the Eastern Seventh District of the Garrison, is responsible for 'ignoring' abnormal signals in certain areas at specific times."

"besides."

The list was long, and Ji Lang read out the names and positions.

This includes not only the seven core members of the Ji family of Tianshuang Fortress, whom Wei Banmeng and the other two are focusing their investigation on today.

It also included six other people with the surname Ji who were not from Tianshuangbao but were on the previous list.

Even more alarming, the list includes more than a dozen names that were not previously included in the investigation.

These people are distributed in logistics, city defense, communications, and even some front-line combat units, and almost all of them have a certain amount of real power or are in key positions.

Wei Banmeng was taking notes rapidly, her face growing paler and paler.

The shocking nature of this list is far beyond imagination.

If these people were to launch an attack simultaneously, even if it only creates chaos or paralyzes parts of the system, the impact on the entire Arctic Great Wall defense line would be catastrophic.

Until the very end, Ji Lang's voice became extremely hoarse from fear and screams.

"There's one more. I don't need to tell you, you can probably guess it already."

"Tian Shuang Fortress, Ji Wuyai, the patriarch of the Ji family?"

The name struck like a heavy hammer, pounding into the hearts of everyone in the living room.

Although I was mentally prepared that there might be a fourth-order entity behind the scenes.

But when a fourth-order being actually intervenes.

It still put a lot of pressure on everyone.

After a brief silence, Wei Banmeng took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the turmoil in her heart.

He quickly accessed the shared information database within the Abyss Hunt and then said, "We've found Ji Wuyai, the commander-in-chief of the Garrison Army's Cold Bone Canyon War Zone! He's currently stationed at the frontline command post in that war zone, directing the battle against the Frostbone Legion, the main force of the Fate Ghosts!"

Cold Bone Fjord.

This was one of the areas with the greatest pressure and the most intense fighting, as Shanming had previously reported.

Upon hearing this, Fang Qingyu's expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected this answer.

Looking at Ji Lang, who was slumped on the ground as if his spine had been removed, he asked the last question, which was also the question that had been lingering in his mind: "Then why? Why would your Ji family, and that Luo family, choose to do such a thing?"

"With a fourth-tier ancestor in charge, your family could have become a heroic family in the Federation, respected by thousands, with resources and status readily available."

"You couldn't possibly be unaware of the risks involved in betraying humanity, colluding with the demons, and selling your own kind! Once exposed, it's utter destruction! Why choose this deadly path?"

Ji Lang was taken aback when he heard the question.

Then a bitter smile appeared on his face.

He struggled to lift his head, glared fiercely at Fang Qingyu, and hissed:
"Why? Hahaha. A family of heroes? Revered by thousands?"

"Captain Fang! The lofty and aloof Captain Qianlong! Of course you wouldn't understand!"

"Do you know what the average mortality rate of our Ji family members is on the Arctic front?! It's more than five times the average mortality rate of other units and martial artists of the same rank!! Five times!!"

"Do you know what positions we Ji family members hold?! We're the vanguard suicide squad with the highest mortality rate! The most dangerous deep-penetration missions! The outposts most vulnerable to attacks from high-level ghosts!!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, as if he wanted to pour out all his resentment and bitterness.

"Supporting them with resources? Positions earned at the risk of their lives?! Ask them!"

He pointed sharply at the long list that Wei Banmeng had recorded, "Which of these people on the list didn't get their positions by the blood of countless members of our Ji family, using several times more money and resources than other families?! Do you really think that the Great Wall of the North Pole is a monolithic entity, united as one?!"

"Are the others clean? Those who sit in the safe back, deciding who gets to die with just a few words, aren't they getting paid little?! Why didn't any of you know about the Ji family before? Why is it only your newly arrived team that's investigating?! Have you thought about that, Captain Fang?!"

"enough!"

Chu Kuanglan was furious and could no longer contain himself. He suddenly stepped forward from the side, and with a whooshing sound, his large, fan-like hand slapped Ji Lang hard across the face.

"Snapped!"

A crisp slap echoed in the living room.

Ji Lang's head lolled to the side from the blow, half of his face instantly swelled up, and he spat out two bloody teeth.

"Don't you know how many of the names you just read out were appointed to important positions on the front lines? This is what you call not valuing you?!"

Chu Kuanglan's voice was like a thunderclap.

"Trying to be a prostitute and still want to maintain a virtuous image! Making the betrayal sound so aggrieved?! You son of a bitch!"

Fang Qingyu looked at Ji Lang, who seemed to be going crazy, then at the furious Chu Kuanglan, and at the shocking names and positions on the list. The last trace of inquiry in his eyes disappeared, leaving only cold indifference.

He shook his head, not wanting to hear any more of this twisted explanation.

He gave Chu Kuanglan an extremely indifferent look.

He turned around, put his hands behind his back, and looked out the window at the ever-burning lights of the city.

Upon seeing this, Chu Kuanglan grinned into a ferocious smile.

He walked step by step toward Ji Lang, who was lying on the ground, somewhat dazed from the slap, but was instantly gripped by immense fear upon seeing Chu Kuanglan's expression.

"No, no! You said it! You said that if I confessed honestly, you would hand me over to the federal court! You said it!" Ji Lang screamed like a dying beast as he watched Chu Kuanglan's approaching shadow, looking desperately at Fang Qingyu's back.

Chu Kuanglan's large hand had gripped Ji Lang's neck like an iron clamp, lifting him off the ground like a chick. He brought his face close to Ji Lang's, which was turning purple from suffocation, and grinned maliciously, saying each word slowly and deliberately:

"Qingzi agreed, but I didn't."

"In your next life, remember to be a human being."

The words have not yet fallen.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of a neck bone breaking rang out.

The terror, despair, and resentment in Ji Lang's eyes froze instantly. His head tilted to one side at an eerie angle, and his body went limp like a broken sack, falling silent.

Chu Kuanglan threw the corpse on the floor like trash and shook his hand.

The living room was deathly silent, save for the crackling of the fireplace and the faint howling of the evening wind outside the window.

Wei Banmeng and the other two stared at Ji Lang's corpse without any change in expression.

Letting him go is impossible.

From the moment he became involved in trafficking his fellow countrymen, his fate was sealed.

The problem now is that the clues point to Ji Wuyai, a fourth-tier Martial Venerable, which involves an unknown "Luo" family.

It might even touch upon higher levels of existence.
What to do next?
All eyes turned solemnly to the silent figure standing by the window.

Fang Qingyu.

Fang Qingyu gazed at the street scene outside the window.

There was silence for a long time.

He slowly opened his mouth, his voice calm and without a trace of emotion.

"Wait a minute."

at the same time.

Deep within the headquarters of the Great Wall Garrison.

Inside an office with simple furnishings but exuding a profound atmosphere.

Grandpa Hong Qitian was sitting in front of a large, old-fashioned tea tray, his expression focused and his movements meticulous as he went through the intricate tea-making process.

Boiling water was poured into the purple clay teapot, and wisps of steam rose, blurring his weathered face.

Opposite him sat Jiang Ying, dressed in an elegant white robe, her bare feet dangling in the air.

At this moment, however, the gentle and refined head of the Jiang family, the deputy minister of Yuan Shou, wore an unusually serious expression.

"Old man."

Watching Hong Qitian's fluid movements, Jiang Ying finally couldn't help but speak, her voice cold yet carrying a hint of disapproval, "Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to treat Fang Qingyu like this?"

She paused, carefully choosing her words: "Whether from a public or private perspective, your manipulation of his mind is a bit too much. This doesn't align with the Federation's standards for treating top geniuses, especially someone as unique as him. Moreover, he is Fang Qingyu. His potential, his dual systems, and his value to the Federation deserve to be treated with more honesty and protection, rather than being used as a dagger to probe the path, or even a stone to throw into a reef."

Hong Qitian seemed not to hear, remaining focused on the teapot in his hands.

Until a clear tea soup was steadily poured into the warm white porcelain cup in front of Jiang Ying.

The amber-colored liquid emitted a refreshing aroma before I slowly put the teapot down.

He didn't answer Jiang Ying's question immediately. Instead, he picked up the cup of tea in front of him, brought it to his nose and gently smelled the aroma before turning his head to look at the snowstorm outside the window.

"Our Time"

Hong Qitian's voice was low and hoarse, "Not many left."

Jiang Ying's expression hardened, and she leaned forward slightly: "Is it the battlefield over there? Or..."

Hong Qitian nodded slowly.

"Yes. Last time, my son came to see me in person."

The "kid" he was referring to.

Naturally, this refers to Director Zong of the Bureau of Divine Management, currently the top person in the Federation.

A complex, even bitter smile appeared on Hong Qitian's face, as if he were recalling the scene from that time.

He said, "People are dying, and we must reveal the truth to the world as soon as possible and activate the final contingency plan, otherwise it will really be too late."

The old man sighed silently.

"I've never really asked anyone for help in my life. That time was the first time I truly asked him for help."

He stroked the warm teacup.

"In the end, at most, we can only postpone it until after the New Year."

"After the New Year?"

Jiang Ying's pupils suddenly contracted, and a storm brewed in her usually calm eyes.

She exclaimed in disbelief, "So we only have...five months left?!"

Hong Qitian didn't turn around, but simply nodded silently.

A barely audible response escaped his throat: "Mmm."

Silence spread like a cold tide.

The sound of wind and snow outside the window seemed to grow even louder.

After a long while, Hong Qitian slowly stood up and walked to the huge viewing window.

Outside the window, an endless blizzard raged under the Arctic night, swallowing up all light.

He had his back to Jiang Ying.

His figure appeared somewhat hunched in front of the huge glass window.

"Jiang Yatou," Hong Qitian's voice rang out again, breaking the heavy silence, his tone carrying an almost appreciative smile.

"Don't let that kid's seemingly nonchalant demeanor fool you; he seems indifferent to everything except his own cultivation and the chance to become stronger."

"But actually, he has a reckless and unruly spirit hidden in his heart."

"A fearless and ruthless spirit, daring to pull the emperor off his horse—I reckon even he himself may not have fully realized this."

Hong Qitian turned around, in the dim light.

His eyes, however, were unusually bright, carrying a hint of expectation.

"And once we launch the 'nationwide conscription plan,' we will face the impending storm that will sweep across the entire world."

At this point, the old man's voice suddenly became strong and resonant.

"The leaders and flag bearers of this younger generation can't lack that fearless spirit."

"Without that ruthless and reckless spirit to question everything, to overturn the table, and to wield a knife against the deepest darkness, how can we lead the rest of the people to survive?!"

Jiang Ying's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.

A few drops of scalding tea splashed onto the back of her hand, but she seemed not to notice.

She stared, completely stunned, at the complex and unfathomable light in Hong Qitian's eyes, and instinctively asked, "Are you sure... it's him? Fang Qingyu?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Qitian seemed to have heard something amusing. The wrinkles on his face smoothed out, revealing a smile that was both playful and wistful. He countered with, "Then what else?"

"Minister Jiang, can you find me another young person who can integrate both systems?"

Jiang Ying was speechless, only able to roll her eyes dramatically in exasperation, and said helplessly, "I can't find one! There isn't a second one in the entire Federation! I'm afraid..."

She paused, her tone tinged with worry, "You're so obviously using him, pushing him to the forefront to crash into the iceberg. He'll resent it and even become disappointed in the entire Federation. After all, he doesn't owe the Federation anything. Whether it's the Glazed City incident or this matter, he's the one cleaning up the Federation's mess."

Hong Qitian's smile gradually faded, and he slowly shook his head.

I turned my gaze back to the blizzard outside the window, which was engulfing everything.

His voice was deep and resolute, as if he were explaining to Jiang Ying, or perhaps speaking to himself:
"Will not."

"The more obvious and undisguised I am, the less he will be offended."

The old man's deep and complex gaze was reflected in the windowpane.

"Because of that kid."

"He understands what this old man is really thinking."

(End of this chapter)