They traveled through time at the same time, but the villainous scientist

Chapter 362 Disposal
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chulan felt a cold sweat instantly break out on his back, trickling down his spine and bringing a cool, itchy sensation.

He knew that this was the real test.

His mind was racing at an unprecedented speed, countless thoughts churning, colliding, and then bursting like bubbles in boiling water.

How should I respond? Should I continue to play the submissive role and lower my stance even further? Or should I righteously declare that Sister Bao'er is innocent and request leniency?

His gaze unconsciously drifted to the girl beside him.

She remained in that dazed state, her clear eyes reflecting Zhuge Qing's smiling face, showing no emotional fluctuation.

A tremendous sense of powerlessness welled up in Zhang Chulan's heart.

For the first time, he hated his own "cleverness" so much, because it made him see the perilous situation and the insurmountable gap between himself and Zhuge Qing.

In the face of such absolute power, any strategy seems pale and ridiculous.

Perhaps... the only way to break the deadlock is not to break it at all.

Just as he was about to bite the bullet and try to gloss over the question with his best jokes, Feng Baobao tilted her head and spoke.

"Your question is a bit strange. How you want to deal with me is your problem, why are you asking me?"

Her voice was as flat as ever, with a strong Sichuan accent.

For a moment, Zhang Chulan felt his heart stop beating.

It’s over.

Only those two words remained in his mind.

This woman's intermittent bout of wit struck again, and it happened at the most critical moment!
To outsiders, isn't this kind of response a provocation?
However, the expected wrath of thunder did not come.

Zhuge Qing's smile deepened, a pure curiosity and appreciation, like discovering a novel toy.

"Immortality, that's something so many people dream of... Aren't you afraid I'll arrest you, lock you in a lab, and study you inch by inch?"

His voice was soft, yet it carried a chillingly seductive quality.

Zhang Chulan's heart jumped into his throat again.

This question is even more insidious than the previous one, as it directly presents the most bloody possibility on the table, forcing Feng Baobao to confront her fears.

But the word "fear" doesn't seem to exist in Feng Baobao's dictionary.

"Zhang Chulan said if you wanted to arrest someone, you would have done it already..."

She answered in a serious tone, as if stating an objective fact.

Zhang Chulan covered his face in pain, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Sister! My dear sister! Can you please stop blurting out all the truths?!

Doesn't this mean telling the other person, "We've figured out what you're thinking, so stop pretending?"

"Fatty Zhao also said that you are different from the others."

Feng Baobao completely ignored Zhang Chulan's breakdown and continued to explain in her unique tone.
Others may covet my abilities, but you will probably try to find out about my situation.

I also want to understand what happened to me, so in a sense, we have the same goal.

After saying that, she fell silent, simply watching Zhuge Qing and waiting for his reaction.

The office fell silent again.

But this silence was completely different from the suffocating oppression of the past.

Zhang Chulan could feel that the invisible pressure that had always been hanging over his head was quietly dissipating.

He secretly observed Zhuge Qing's expression through his fingers.

"Heh~ This is interesting~"

Zhuge Qing chuckled softly, his laughter clear and melodious.

He straightened up, no longer looking down at Feng Baobao, but looking at her again with an attitude of equality.

This girl is truly extraordinary.

She possesses a purity that can be described as "the Way," unmoved by external things, unswayed by words, and pointing directly to her true self.

This trait, rather than immortality itself, was what interested him more.

Become!

A huge weight lifted from Zhang Chulan's heart, and his tense nerves suddenly relaxed, giving him a dizzying, almost exhausting feeling. Forcing himself to stay awake, he forced a fawning smile and tentatively asked:

"President Qing, about... Sister Bao'er's matter..."

“Feng Baobao is right,”

Zhuge Qing shifted his gaze from Feng Baobao to Zhang Chulan's face, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "As for immortality, that's not a big deal..."

He shook his head, his tone as indifferent as if he were talking about something trivial.

"Forehead……"

Zhang Chulan's smile froze.

Is this even human language? Immortality, the ultimate goal that countless cultivators dream of, has become "nothing" to you?
This act of showing off is so refined and elegant that it doesn't even make one feel jealous.

"Heh~ Cultivation seeks the truth, it is the inner exploration of life and self, immortality, and supernatural powers are merely byproducts of this process." Zhuge Qing saw through his thoughts and explained with a light laugh.

These words struck Zhang Chulan like a thunderbolt.

He stared blankly at Zhuge Qing, speechless for a moment.

Seeking truth... exploring oneself...

"That's true, but not everyone thinks that way..."

After a long while, Zhang Chulan finally found his voice and shook his head bitterly.

As the inheritor of the Eight Extraordinary Skills, he was all too aware of the greed and madness in human nature.

In pursuit of power and immortality, these people will stop at nothing and abandon all humanity.

“In the past, Copernicus, who proposed the heliocentric theory, was condemned as a heretic, and those who possessed supernatural powers were regarded as witches and burned at the stake.”

"Because of incomprehension, there is fear; because of fear, there is a desire to kill these outcasts."

Ultimately, it's simply because human cognitive abilities are insufficient..."

Zhuge Qing shook his head and replied.

"Whoo~"

Zhang Chulan let out a long breath; this time, he was truly and completely relaxed.

He knew that Zhao Fangxu had made the right bet, and so had he.

He adopted a friendly, overly familiar expression, leaned closer, and chuckled.
"It seems Chairman Zhao was right, Brother Qing, you really are something else!"

The way he called him "Brother Qing" was so natural, as if they hadn't just been engaged in a life-or-death struggle, but were old friends who had known each other for many years.

"Heh~ Humans are instinctively curious about the unknown. I'm just a little more curious than others."

Zhuge Qing smiled noncommittally, seemingly not offended by Zhang Chulan's "taking advantage of the situation".

He stood up, straightened his shirt cuffs, and gestured to the two of them:
"Come with me."

Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao followed Zhuge Qing out of the incredibly elegant office.

The corridor outside remained silent, but Zhang Chulan's state of mind had changed drastically.

Along the way, people in various uniforms kept passing by them.

Everyone who sees Zhuge Qing immediately stops, stands at attention, bows respectfully, and addresses him as "Leader" or "General Manager Qing".

Zhang Chulan's face remained expressionless, but her heart was in turmoil.

He saw an elderly man with gray hair and wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

If he remembers correctly, this should be Wang Deming, one of the top materials scientists in China. He had even seen a picture of this gentleman in a university textbook.

At this moment, however, the look in this national treasure-level scientist’s eyes as he looked at Zhuge Qing was filled with heartfelt respect and fervor, like a believer looking up at a god.

He then saw a middle-aged man dressed in a general's uniform with a gleaming star on his shoulder.

The man exuded an aura of iron-blooded ruthlessness, clearly a seasoned military veteran. Yet, before Zhuge Qing, he concealed all his sharpness, adopting a humble demeanor like a new recruit.

There were also many researchers in white lab coats, and other people with special badges... They came from different fields and had different identities, but without exception, they all showed heartfelt respect for this young man who looked much younger than them.

Zhang Chulan's heart sank little by little.

He finally realized how superficial his previous understanding of Zhuge Qing's power had been.

He represents a vast, complex national organization that integrates the three major fields of technology, military, and superhuman abilities.

And yet, he had somehow managed to break into the core of this behemoth with Feng Baobao by his side.

The initial relief and ease from winning the bet vanished instantly, replaced by a deeper sense of awe and unease.

Faced with such a torrent of the times, neither Zhang Chulan nor the Eight Extraordinary Techniques, nor even the Eight Extraordinary Techniques themselves, are worth more than a grain of sand.

This is the general trend of the times...

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Zhuge Qing stopped in front of a huge alloy door.

The door slid open silently to both sides, revealing the scene inside.

It was a much larger space than any hall I had ever seen before, with a dome that seemed to stretch to the horizon, and countless complex robotic arms and pipelines crisscrossing like a steel jungle.

At the very center of the space stood a colossal creation that defied description.

It was a stove.

A gigantic furnace.

Its main body is dark gold, and its surface is engraved with countless complex and ancient runes. These runes seem to be flowing slowly and emitting a faint glow.

But in stark contrast to these classical elements are the countless pipes and cables wrapped around the furnace body, and the screens embedded everywhere, flashing with dark blue data.

Classical mystery and futuristic technology are perfectly blended together here in a strange yet harmonious way.

This furnace is naturally a body-cultivation furnace, but it's a version improved by Zhuge Qing using Ares technology.

His purpose in bringing Feng Baobao here was, of course, to uncover the secret she held...

(End of this chapter)