Chapter 11 Mending the Blade

A mender of blades acts in accordance with his heart.

So this guy… is he completely led by intuition?

Gu Shen remained silent to every word Yuan Yuan said.

Any response at this moment would be incorrect, so he simply chose not to respond.

Yuan Yuan merely smiled and said nothing more. After all, his intention wasn't to truly ferret out Gu Shen's hidden secrets.

"Captain… what do we do next?"

Li Chen spoke through the command channel.

The entire squad stood on high ground, far from the maze, watching the collapse of the snowy mountain gorge with complex expressions… The Investigation Corps had spent over a decade of "effort" and paid a huge price to explore this maze.

They thought they had seen a glimmer of dawn.

But now, the snowy mountain had collapsed.

So was this maze mission a success or a failure?

Yuan Yuan stared at the collapsed snowy mountain, speechless for a long time.

"From now on, there will be no more maze…"

Su He, who was usually silent, spoke at this moment. He turned around and said softly, "Let's return. Gu Fort is still waiting for us."

Yuan Yuan's mood was also quite complicated.

Every soldier who joined the Investigation Corps was willing to dedicate their lives because they were fighting for the future of humanity… No one wanted to understand the mysteries of the maze more than him.

But.

To come out alive was already the greatest fortune.

"Return."

Yuan Yuan took a deep breath and said, "Old Su is right, Gu Fort is still waiting for us… Our mission is not over yet. Return to the fortress, submit the case files, and… reveal the truth of the last mission."

The already heavy atmosphere of the team became even more somber.

At the end of the maze, they saw Lao Yao's body and the bodies of other explorers.

If it weren't for the blade mark on the Source Armor, then Hong Zhong would still be a hero, a heroic figure that every Investigation Corps member in the Northern Continent would remember.

Now, Gu Fort was probably holding a funeral for this "hero."

"The return should not be delayed."

Gu Shen suggested softly, "We need to give the sacrificed a truth…"

Besides that, there was one very important thing.

Hong Zhong was dead, and the "corrosion power" of the golden spike flower remained in his spiritual sea. At this moment, it was likely to have begun to spread.

Gu Shen didn't know what kind of consequences the serpent's mental toxin would cause.

But he knew that returning to the fortress a day earlier would greatly reduce Gu Fort's losses!

"Mm."

Yuan Yuan nodded slowly. He checked the remaining energy in his Source Armor and said in a deep voice, "All members, the out-of-fortress mission is over. Check your source energy, increase burning power… Advance towards Gu Fort Fortress!"

…

…

"Lieutenant, these past few days… something seems wrong within the fortress cemetery."

Zou Hai had just finished arranging the relevant deployments for the Great Wall combat units.

Two sentries came to report this matter.

Zou Hai frowned, "What could be wrong with the fortress cemetery?"

"The night before yesterday, Lao Zhou and I were on patrol when we saw a 'figure' in the cemetery…" The sentry's voice was low and lacked confidence, "But after a careful inspection, we didn't find anything specific that was amiss."

"At that time, I just thought I was seeing things." He gritted his teeth, "But last night on patrol, the shadow in the cemetery appeared again! This time, not just me, Lao Zhou saw it too!"

Zou Hai shook his head.

These past few days, because of the warning of the "Source Tide" outside the Great Wall.

The entire Gu Fort Fortress had entered a state of first-level combat readiness!

He was exhausted and didn't have time to deal with such trivial matters… Just as he wanted to tell the two sentries to leave quickly, a premonition flashed through his mind.

Zou Hai asked, "Where exactly was that shadow? Did you see it clearly?"

The two sentries' expressions became delighted.

They thought that this report would be severely reprimanded by the lieutenant…

They didn't expect that the lieutenant would also take this matter seriously.

"I remember very clearly, it was near the tombstone that was dug up not long ago."

Lao Zhou added from the side, "The returning hero of the maze mission, Hong Zhong."

"I understand… Tonight, you will patrol as usual, but you don't need to go to the cemetery anymore." Zou Hai said thoughtfully, waving his hand to dismiss the two sentries.

He narrowed his eyes and laughed self-deprecatingly.

"Returning hero…"

At this moment, the study in Gu Fort was unusually lively.

A skinny, blonde young man in a vest was drinking tea in the study. He sat in the guest seat, but his feet were propped up on the desk of the study's owner.

Lin Lin looked calmly at this "uninvited guest."

He wasn't angry. Instead, when the latter put down his teacup, he slowly and methodically refilled it for him.

"Captain Zhongyuan, Gu Fort doesn't have guests. But if it's you, Gu Fort can make an exception to entertain you." Lin Lin rarely said polite words. He sat back in his chair, crossed his hands, and said with a smile, "I hope that if you come to the study, you will honestly be a guest… Don't say things that guests shouldn't say, okay?"

Probably few people would have thought.

That the "famous" Second Squad Captain Zhongyuan of the Investigation Corps was a man less than 1.7 meters tall.

Although he had handsome features and blond hair.

But such a height made it difficult to look up to him on a physical level.

Rumor had it that his swordsmanship was extremely high. Ten years ago, he was a genius recognized by the General, but he had been stuck in front of the huge chasm of "title" for too long, and he had not yet received the "bestowal" granted by the Federation.

Some also said that Zhongyuan's strength was enough to compete with "titled" individuals.

As for "bestowal," it wasn't that important for captains of the Investigation Corps.

However, these were just rumors after all.

Among the entire Investigation Corps, the only people who knew Zhongyuan's true strength should be the "Corps Commander," and the Captain of the First Squad, who often sparred with him and was recognized as being stronger than him.

"If you truly treat me as a friend, then I am a guest today."

Zhongyuan put down his teacup, his golden pupils looking at Lin Lin.

The atmosphere in the study was already somewhat tense.

The two top experts below the Sealed Realm looked at each other, and there was a faint birth and friction of their domains.

The Labrador dog squatting next to Lin Lin had its fur standing on end, its four paws on the ground, ready to go, and was ready to fight.

"Stop it…"

Lin Lin was a little helpless.

Zhongyuan and he were friends of many years. When he first entered Gu Fort, the White Lizard General's troops had conducted several armed exercises with the fortress.

And during the exercise, two young geniuses stood out.

One was him.

The other was Zhongyuan.

The two young geniuses had known each other ever since, and had maintained contact for a long time… The Northern Continent had strict control over the [Deep Sea] permissions of lower-level soldiers. At that time, Zhongyuan would write a letter every week and send it to Gu Fort, and Lin Lin would also prepare a reply, but the contents of the letters from these two young men were not pretentious.

Zhongyuan would brag about which geniuses he had defeated in the White Lizard General's camp.

Lin Lin would list his recent achievements.

This wasn't an exchange of letters.

It was more like… a challenge.

After that day, the two talented teenagers, separated by thousands of miles, worked hard in unison. In the end, Zhongyuan became the most dazzling young star under the White Lizard General, and at the request of the Corps Commander, he was sent to the Investigation Corps.

Lin Lin became the guardian of Gu Fort Fortress.

As well as the youngest Brigadier General in the Northern Continent.

Neither of them wore shoulder straps, but their shoulders were full of honor.

"I should congratulate you on successfully conquering the 'Duluo River Disaster Zone'." Lin Lin said solemnly, "This is likely to be the most worthy of bragging about large-scale battle in the Northern Continent this year."

It was said that it was a super-large disaster zone that was no less than "Piyue City Fortress."

Of course… the Duluo River Disaster Zone could only be compared to the ungrown "Piyue City."

The General took action, as well as the Queen's apostle, and elites from all continents. They broke through layers of difficulties and finally removed it.

"You should congratulate General White Lizard and Corps Commander, they contributed the most."

Zhongyuan said lightly, "My elite team is at best a pawn in the Duluo River battle. They are the strategists who make decisions from afar."

"Even the most powerful chess player needs sharp chess pieces." Lin Lin smiled, "Without the elite team, no matter how powerful the General and the Corps Commander are, they can't just conquer cities and seize territories by themselves…"

This was a sincere truth.

Zhongyuan's "elite team" was a very important part of the Duluo River Disaster Zone.

This was indeed an era where "personal force" determined the size of one's right to speak.

The Gods were high above.

The authority of the Supreme Council was greater than everything.

Because those few in the Supreme Council did have the terrifying strength to clear millions of obstacles with their own strength.

But such magnificent power was only possessed by a few people in the entire Five Continents.

They were invincible, they stood at the pinnacle.

But there was only one of them.

The collapse of order that occurred every day in the Five Continents was increasing, and it was already countless… Even if every God's apostle was constantly running around for this, they couldn't take care of everything.

The scales in this world were fair. One end of the scales was all living beings, and the other end was "God."

All living beings needed "God."

Similarly… God also needed all living beings.

"Since you are sincerely congratulating me, why not take 'Hong Zhong's' corpse as a gift." Zhongyuan lowered his eyes and said gently, "This is an old figure from the Second Squad, I must take him away…"

Lin Lin sighed softly.

"Otherwise?"

"Otherwise… many people will be disheartened." Zhongyuan raised his head and looked at his old friend.

The transcendents of the Investigation Corps had dedicated everything they had.

However, what they could get was very little.

The most powerful of these was the Corps Commander's resounding promise—

["If you die in a foreign land, you will definitely be given a grand burial!"]

The next batch of explorers to depart would do their best to bring back the bodies of "heroes." Their souls would float in the sky above the Northern Continent, gazing at the land and the young people they had sheltered, growing up freely and independently.

"Their bodies may rot."

"But their spirit will last forever."

Lin Lin suddenly chanted in a low voice. This was the Queen's famous saying. At the last military parade on the border of the fortress, the Queen mourned the heroes of the Investigation Corps who died for the Northern Continent.

He paused and said, "If Hong Zhong is really a hero, then Gu Fort will return him to you, everything you want… But so far, I cannot admit to the 'hero' title given to him in the Northern Continent forum."

Zhongyuan raised his eyebrows.

He had already heard everything about his Second Squad Vice-Captain Yuan Yuan's arrival at Gu Fort Fortress.

Because of the Corps Commander's arrangement.

The Second Squad had drawn out nearly half of its elite force to be responsible for the new round of maze missions.

And after Yuan Yuan arrived, he directly clashed with Lin Lin on the matter of "hero!"

"I don't want to argue with you about my vice-captain for the time being… But about Hong Zhong's 'hero' title…" Zhongyuan calmed down and slowly said, "If you want to erase his glory, you better give me a convincing reason."

"Sorry. I don't have one."

Lin Lin shook his head.

He sincerely pointed to his head and said, "I just feel like something is wrong."

It was a premonition.

After many years of friendship, Lin Lin had nothing to hide. He had mentioned to Zhongyuan more than once that his premonitions were very accurate.

The color in his beautiful golden eyes, deep in his pupils, was obviously dim.

Zhongyuan raised his eyebrows.

Not long ago, the Second Squad Vice-Captain Yuan Yuan arrived at Gu Fort Fortress… he had already heard everything.

Because of the Corps Commander's arrangement.

The Second Squad had drawn out nearly half of its elite force to be responsible for the new round of maze missions.

And after Yuan Yuan arrived, he directly clashed with Lin Lin on the matter of "hero!"

"I don't want to argue with you about my vice-captain for the time being… But about Hong Zhong's 'hero' title…" Zhongyuan calmed down and slowly said, "If you want to erase his glory, you better give me a convincing reason."

"Sorry. I don't have one."

Lin Lin shook his head.

He sincerely pointed to his head and said, "I just feel like something is wrong."

It was a premonition.

After many years of friendship, Lin Lin had nothing to hide. He had mentioned to Zhongyuan more than once that his premonitions were very accurate.

Those beautiful golden eyes, the color deep in their pupils, had clearly dimmed.

Zhongyuan took his legs off the table.

He sat up straight, opened his mouth again, and slowly confirmed, "So… you detained 'Hong Zhong' just because your premonition told you to do so."

Lin Lin nodded, "Mm."

"Is your premonition accurate?"

Zhongyuan narrowed his eyes, picked up his teacup, and blew on the heat.

The tea mist rose up.

It was impossible to see what kind of complex look was flickering in his golden pupils at this moment.

Lin Lin sighed again, he knew that this reason was really hard to accept.

Premonition.

The most ethereal thing in the world was premonition.

"Very accurate."

Lin Lin looked at his old friend seriously, "Over the years, it has never been wrong."

Silence.

After a brief silence.

Zhongyuan suddenly splashed the hot tea in his hand out, he acted extremely fast, the tea in the cup that was still being blown on just a moment ago, was now blooming like a flower.

The moment before the hot tea splashed out.

Lin Lin, who was sitting on the other side of the long table, gently pushed the edge of the desk, the wheels of his chair rubbed against the ground and moved quickly to the side, the hot tea splashed out, brushing past his shifting and rotating chair, and scattered outside the window…

The two actions happened almost simultaneously.

And after Lin Lin and the chair rotated once, what he saw was a frozen frame that contained a chilling intent—

Zhongyuan, who was sitting upright, jumped onto the long table like a cheetah, he pulled out the dagger from his waist, the tip of the dagger was pointing at the position of Lin Lin's brow after he had moved.

"So… is your premonition really accurate? Besides splashing tea, did you also guess that I would draw my blade?"

Zhongyuan said calmly.

Lin Lin's expression still didn't change.

"Of course."

He said lightly, "Avoiding the tea was just because I didn't want to get this suit dirty. I didn't avoid your blade because… you wouldn't really stab down. I know you too well, you're a tough-talking but soft-hearted guy. The purpose of your trip to Gu Fort is just to complete the task of bringing Hong Zhong back by applying pressure, not to really solve the problem with force. Of course, if you really want to draw your blade, you can try… try to see if I can dodge at this distance."

Zhongyuan fell silent.

He put away his dagger and silently sat back in his seat.

The two looked at each other.

Lin Lin was a little ashamed, "Zhongyuan…"

Before he could finish his words, Zhongyuan acted again.

There was still a cup of tea on the table, it was Lin Lin's own tea.

Lin Lin's pupils shrank slightly…

With a "splash" sound.

Zhongyuan grabbed this cup of tea like lightning and splashed it out.

This time.

Lin Lin, who was sitting in the chair, didn't dodge, he was soaked all over.

Zhongyuan used this decisive, simple and crude method to interrupt what Lin Lin was about to say.

Then he walked out of the study without any hesitation.

And Zou Hai, who was standing outside the study door, had a look of astonishment on his face.

He watched the Second Squad Captain, who was not tall but had an amazing aura, walk out of the study with a gloomy expression.

And inside the study, sat the Brigadier General with a complicated expression and a soaked chest.