Heroes Return

After saying this, Leng Yan pointed to five fingers. The others present might not know what this meant, but Gear knew exactly what Leng Yan's gesture signified. It meant she would lose five percent of her research funding.

"Wait! I know! I'll send her back to the Hero Association, okay?" Hearing Cold Flame's words, Gear sighed helplessly: "I'm doing this for great research, why doesn't anyone understand!"

"Even if it's research, you shouldn't treat the teacher like this, sister!" Tifa said to Gear with a displeased expression.

"So, you're the one who helped Leng Yan and the others find my location? Come to think of it, only you can freely enter and leave my house!" Tifa said as she walked towards Lin Jie. "Don't worry, we have a general understanding of the situation. Don't worry about the teacher; the Hero Association will protect you. They won't let you fall into the hands of any bad women."

"Oh!" Although he was a little disappointed, Lin Jie still followed Tifa over.

Before leaving, Lin Jie's gaze turned to the gears.

"Well, actually, I don't think there's any need for me to do any more research. And I don't think this approach is a good thing. So even if you're going to do something like this in the future, do it with someone you truly like. I don't think this casual approach is a good thing."

"Hey! I'm not some kind of promiscuous woman!"

"That's why you should do this with someone you truly care about, someone you love in return." After saying this, Lin Jie turned and left Gear's floating mothership. Only after learning about Lin Jie's situation did Gear realize what was going on.

"Damn it! Did I get dumped?" Gear asked himself, looking annoyed, before walking into the room. "Tch, I can have any kind of man I want..."

It seems the only way to ignite his desire next time is with some stimulants. But will the drugs really work for him? I'll try it out sometime, starting with an elephant's worth of dosage. If that doesn't work, I could try some mechanical or displacement-based hypnosis. Do you really think you can make me give up on you just by saying a few words? No way!!

Lin Jie was unaware of the soliloquy behind the gear; he was simply following Tifa to the Hero Association.

Captain Justice, Torus, Cold Flame, and Master of Miracles were already waiting for him there. Angela was also waiting there. Clearly, Angela had used her connections with the Hero Association to find Lin Jie.

"Hey, are you planning to get involved in their affairs too?" Lin Jie sighed helplessly as he watched Leng Yan and the others leave.

“I don’t plan to get involved! So I’ll protect you until they calm down, Brother Lin Jie,” Angela suddenly said to Lin Jie with a smile.

"Huh?" Lin Jie was taken aback when he heard Angela's address. Then he couldn't help but say, "Ah! So you're that little girl from the underground boxing ring back then!!"

"Finally remembered? That's really too much!" Hearing Lin Jie's words, Angela couldn't help but say, "But you were still a student back then, right? Come to think of it, most people in the world probably wouldn't believe it, right? The person who saved the world so many times was actually a student in his chuunibyou phase."

"Sorry, I didn't recognize you at first. I didn't expect you to have grown so much from a little girl in just a few years. So, the father you were looking for in the underground boxing ring back then was actually Captain Justice?" Lin Jie suddenly realized what she meant when she heard the other person's words.

"It seems you never pay attention to other people! Back then, Dad's opponent in the final was Mr. Rocky! But because you took down the gangs behind both sides, they decided to become heroes!" Hearing Lin Jie's words, An Qi smiled and said, "But it seems I didn't pay enough attention to these things back then! After all, you were going to face Ivan."

"Sorry, I didn't recognize you."

"Fine, I forgive you." Hearing Lin Jie's words, Angela still looked at him and said, "I already know why you wanted the power of miracles. Since you failed, she can't be resurrected. Aren't you really planning to start a new relationship?"

"A new relationship? I'm really ready to force myself into a new relationship."

"Really!?"

“Yes, but not you.” Faced with Angela’s slightly excited words, Lin Jie suddenly said, “I’m not the kind of male protagonist who flirts with multiple girls at the same time and is indecisive at the same time! I’m sorry, I don’t have any feelings for you. So I think it’s impossible for us. Besides, I already have someone in mind.”

"...Is that so?" Upon hearing Lin Jie's words, Angela's face showed a heartbroken expression.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to waste your time on this, so it would be better to explain it to you as soon as possible." Seeing Angela's disappointed expression, Lin Jie said somewhat apologetically, "I think that continuing to drag this out without giving you an answer is not a good thing."

"What a cold-hearted person," Angela suddenly said. "But I don't think I'll give up until you get married."

"Hey, is this really worth it?"

"Who knows? No matter who the opponent is, you'll never know until you try." Angela smiled again. "In a way, that's what I like about you! I don't really like people who are hesitant and indecisive! Even if you're married, you can still consider having an affair."

"Hey! You're being a little scary." Lin Jie couldn't help but say, looking at Angela's slightly trembling hands.

"Is it that scary? It's nothing." As she spoke, Angela's slightly tug-of-war hand hovered between the teapot and the fruit knife several times.

"That's really scary."

"I'm sorry, but hearing your loved one's straightforward reply is quite a shock." Facing Lin Jie's slightly concerned expression, Angela tried her best to remain calm and said, "Anyway, the man I've set my sights on isn't someone I'll give up on so easily."

"But what you feel for me, is it love or gratitude?" Lin Jie suddenly asked. "If it's because of the help I gave you back then, then there's no need to continue like this. After all, you've already repaid me."

“It’s love,” Angela suddenly said firmly. “I can be absolutely sure it’s love! Don’t try to brush me off with things like I don’t actually love you. That won’t work! Do you think I’m some kind of gullible little girl?”

After saying this, Angela handed Lin Jie a glass of water: "Alright, have some water. I've already said, the Hero Association will protect you. As for your rejection, it won't move me! Even though you've rejected me like this, I won't give up easily. At least not until you get married."

"Is this really a good thing?" Hearing Angela's words, Lin Jie couldn't help but sigh: "I'm not exactly the kind of person that girls would like. I'm usually lazy and a homebody."

“But you’re a hero who saved the world, so powerful and handsome.” Hearing Lin Jie’s words, Angela suddenly spoke up, “And most importantly, you’ve always been very devoted. I like that too.”

"..." Hearing Angela's words, Lin Jie was momentarily speechless. He never imagined he'd have the chance to be liked by a girl like her. However, Lin Jie knew very well that promises he couldn't keep and decisions he couldn't make were unacceptable. Otherwise, things would only become more complicated.

But what's more troublesome is that even after Lin Jie made it clear, the other party still refused to give up.

……

On the other side, members of the ancient Lin family suddenly appeared near the Hero Association where Lin Jie was located.

"Are we really going to bring him back to the family this time? It's really unexpected that Lin Jie is actually Zero." One of the Lin family elders said to another, "Besides, we'd better be careful this time."

“Don’t worry, he was too arrogant in the desert battle and has now lost his power. He’s just a cripple and is no longer the ruthless Zero he once was,” another elder said.

“Of course I know that,” the elder said again. “After all, this is the Hero Association, and there are many experts here. But I didn’t expect that this kid, who was so popular in the family not long ago, would be caught and punished so soon.”

"Hmph! After all, he killed so many family members, including many of my relatives. Anyone who can do such a thing deserves to be killed." The leading elder turned to the two elders behind him who were discussing, and said, "If we don't bring him back, we won't be able to give the other families an explanation."

Chapter XIII

"Speaking of which, he seems to possess a powerful treasure like the Immortal Slaughtering Sword!" An elder of the Lin family suddenly spoke up, as if he had just thought of something.

"The Immortal-Slaying Sword?" The leading elder sneered. "He possesses more than just that one powerful treasure. But he has lost his power. I don't need to elaborate on what that means, do I?"

Hearing his words, the other two elders nodded. They both knew what this meant. Lacking power yet possessing something coveted by others, the ultimate fate is simply to be killed and robbed. The world is often that cruel. If Lin Jie still possessed that power, even knowing his identity, the Lin family would likely remain silent, wouldn't they? But now Lin Jie has lost his power, meaning he has no value to the Lin family. The divine artifact he possesses, however, is priceless to the family.

Naturally, while capturing Lin Jie and bringing him back for questioning, the ultimate goal was also to obtain all the divine artifacts in Lin Jie's possession.

"Gentlemen, it seems we need to quicken our pace. It appears that not only our family will be coming this time, but the other three families will likely also make their move," the last elder said to the other two.

"Hmph! Lin Jie is ultimately a member of my Lin family. It's not up to anyone else to deal with him!" Although she said this, she was really just trying to prevent the treasures in Lin Jie's possession from falling into the hands of other families.

In fact, the other families had also secretly sent experts to search for Lin Jie. After several attempts to probe him and discovering that Lin Jie showed no signs of power fluctuations, the four ancient families finally couldn't hold back any longer and began to make their move.

……

While the three elders were exchanging these thoughts, Dao Qizhan, far away in the sky, encountered something unexpected.

Just as he boarded the alien spaceship, he unexpectedly discovered that all the aliens were wearing clothes similar to those worn by Dao Qizhan. Even though many of the aliens didn't have human forms, they still insisted on wearing something resembling a human.

The moment Dao Qizhan appeared, all the aliens began to bow to him. Although each alien race had a different way of bowing, Dao Qizhan was certain that all of these aliens worshipped him.

Although he didn't know exactly how he was being worshipped by these aliens, Dao Qizhan couldn't just ignore these causes and effects.

Thus, under the seemingly divine influence of these aliens, Dao Qizhan began teaching them how to use swords. These aliens, utilizing their various strange technologies, concocted different forms of space swords and began learning swordsmanship from Dao Qizhan.

No one knows that these extraterrestrials practicing here today will become legends scattered throughout the universe in the future.

The name 'Starry Sky Sword Hall' became one of the most mysterious and powerful organizations in the Interstellar Federation, where countless powerful star swordsmen were born. The aliens present all became renowned mentors. Dao Qizhan's name, along with the title of Sword God, has been passed down through the ages in this galaxy.

Of course, Dao Qizhan was unaware of all this. He simply felt that there seemed to be some karmic connection between him and these aliens. In order to resolve this karmic connection, Dao Qizhan passed on some of the sword techniques he had comprehended to these 'extraterrestrial demons'. As a member of the cultivation world, to be worshipped as a god by these so-called extraterrestrial demons—in this respect alone, it is estimated that only Dao Qizhan has accomplished this in the entire history of the Sword Hall.

While Dao Qizhan was teaching his swordsmanship to the aliens, the Earth's Interstellar Defense Agency was in a state of panic. They were detecting signals of alien spaceships appearing and disappearing almost daily. It had to be admitted that humanity's surveillance systems at this time were still completely deciphered by alien civilizations.

……

Meanwhile, as Lin Jie was sipping coffee at the Hero Association, a voice suddenly reached his ears. It was clear that it was a highly skilled telepathic technique.

"Lin Jie! Come down quickly and pay your respects to the three elders!"

"Huh? Elder?" Although a little puzzled, Lin Jie greeted Angela and ultimately left the Hero Association. After all, since she had invited him, it wouldn't be right for him not to meet her. Besides, Lin Jie was also curious about these people who claimed to be elders.

When Lin Jie arrived at a secluded spot on the outskirts of the Hero Association, he finally saw the three old men before him. The moment he saw the three old men appear, Lin Jie's expression turned bored.

"Are you elders of the Lin family? What do you want with me?" Lin Jie asked the three elders present while picking his nose.

"Since you know we are elders, why don't you bow? Don't you, a junior, have any manners?" one of the elders asked Lin Jie with dissatisfaction.

"It's alright! No need for formalities. Now that you've guessed our identities, I think you should know why we've come to you, right?" the leading elder asked Lin Jie.

"I don't know, what do you want with me?"

"Hmph! You don't want to admit it?" Upon hearing Lin Jie's words, the leading elder merely sneered, "What great skill you have! Great hero Zero!"

"Huh? You already know?" Lin Jie was somewhat surprised to hear this. But thinking about it carefully, it seemed normal. After all, the Lin family seemed to be quite capable, so it wasn't surprising that they could obtain this information.

"Since you've admitted it, you shouldn't deny the massacre of our ancient clansmen back then, right? Many of my Lin family members were also killed by you. You won't deny that, will you?"

"Ah! That matter, it was indeed me. I did kill quite a few people here back then." Hearing the three elders' words, Lin Jie's expression remained completely casual. He felt absolutely no remorse for killing his fellow ancient clansmen. So much so that he felt no remorse when the three elders came to question him.

"You beast! As a member of the Lin family, you are worse than an animal! You are capable of killing your own people! Do you know that many of them are your own blood relatives!" Hearing Lin Jie's straightforward admission, an elder shouted at him, "You still show no remorse."

"I don't think I did anything wrong. This kind of thing, no matter how many times it happens, I would still kill." Lin Jie's expression remained lazy; the only difference was that he picked his nose and flicked it aside. "You guys came to find me just for this kind of thing?"

"Exactly! Now that we know you are Zero, we just need to hold you accountable! Will you leave on your own, or will the three of us take you away?" Seeing Lin Jie's expression, the leading elder's face also darkened.

However, to their surprise, a girl's voice interrupted their conversation at that moment.

"No! Mr. Lin Jie must come with me." Immediately, Shi Kong appeared out of thin air beside the Lin family elders. Ignoring the three elders, Shi Kong said to Lin Jie, "Can you come with me for a moment?"

"Hey! Were you summoned here too?" Seeing the appearance of the time-space portal, Lin Jie couldn't help but feel a bit of a headache.

"Girl! You want to take her away from us? It's not that easy!" The Lin family elder said, reaching out towards the space-time continuum...

Then all three of them were frozen in place. Time and space had no interest in dealing with them, so it simply stopped their time. The three old men were thus left in place, frozen in time.

"Hey! What do you want?"

"Hmm..." Shi Kong tilted his head and looked at Lin Jie before saying, "My sister wants to see you. So I came over."

After saying that, Time and Space grabbed Lin Jie and disappeared from the spot. As for the three elders? They were forgotten by Time and Space, and this place was too remote. By the time their time officially started operating again, it would be ten years later. By then, their surfaces were covered in so much dust that they looked like statues.

……

When Shi Kong and Lin Jie reappeared, they were already in a café at an amusement park. Pandora was sitting opposite them.

"I've found you, Mr. Lin Jie."

"Hey! You really don't need to participate in this kind of game, do you? Is it really okay?" Looking at the vanished spacetime and Pandora sitting opposite him, Lin Jie sighed helplessly.

"Can't I participate?" Pandora suddenly asked after hearing Lin Jie's words. "Senior Lin Jie fought against the entire Hero Association for my sake. Isn't it normal for me to be infatuated with you?"

"Why do I feel like my luck with women has exploded at the same time these past two days?" Lin Jie sighed helplessly before speaking to Pandora.

"Haha." Seeing Lin Jie's expression, Pandora just smiled and said, "Don't worry, Senior Lin Jie, I won't force you or anything. I just want to thank you properly! Besides, I don't really think I can compete with those people."

"I'm sorry," Lin Jie said helplessly upon hearing Pandora's words.

Compared to the other girls, Pandora didn't ask for much. She just hoped Lin Jie would go to the coffee shop with her as usual, and then have some fun at the amusement park. For a while, their casual conversation was quite pleasant. Then a handsome man in a suit appeared.

"I didn't expect to see you here, but it's a pity. This amusement park is actually one of our properties." As the man spoke, he sat down next to Lin Jie and said, "You're really living the high life, having such a beautiful girl with you. But we've been looking for you for a long time. After all these years, we finally have the chance to settle accounts with you. You killed quite a few members of our Feng family back then."

"Um...who are you?" Looking at the man's arrogant expression, Lin Jie asked with a puzzled look, "The one selling jianbing guozi next door?"