Mu Ye Xingchen’s eyes held a hint of cynicism as he looked at Shu Feizhang with a smile.
Shu Feizhang glared at him, continuing to listen to Gu Ya.
Gu Ya spoke with composure and seriousness, “Now, the most important tasks are the following three.”
“First, find and research the subterranean technology.”
“Second, find the cause of body shrinkage. Third, find a way back to the surface.”
“The first task is the most dangerous, and I will be solely responsible. I have Hei Yang and my consciousness clone; one person can do the work of three.”
“You two will be responsible for the second and third tasks. It’s fine if there’s no progress; the main thing is to ensure your own safety and that of your teammates. I will contact you after I finish my investigation.”
“The combat mechs and the arsenal will be placed in Shen Jingming’s private spatial storage, and can be retrieved for self-defense when necessary. Try to act discreetly and do not kill innocent people indiscriminately.”
Mu Ye Xingchen let out a soft chuckle, thinking, “Of the four of us, it seems only Gu Ya would kill indiscriminately…”
Shen Jingming said calmly, “The second and third tasks are actually the same problem. The most direct and effective method is to find the Tonsaxin main city; only the Tonsaxin people possess the cross-spatial energy matrix technology.”
“Alright!” Gu Ya tapped the tabletop with his right hand, five fingers moving in a rhythmic pattern, and said with composure, “The last two questions: where is the Tonsaxin main city, and how do we contact them.”
Shen Jingming said, “Utilize the sun.”
Everyone was stunned. They had been in the underground world for so long, yet they had overlooked the incongruous problem of why there was a “sun” underground.
Shen Jingming continued his explanation, “In my memory, the Tonsaxin main city is in the distant East, but its exact location is unknown.”
“The sun in the underground world is artificial; its core is a giant spherical mech.”
“Its surface is made of ultra-pure plasma material, utilizing artificial high temperatures to reverse into pure plasma energy. The equipment inside uses pure plasma energy to achieve total energy, transforming back into ultra-pure plasma material. This achieves a closed-loop cycle, continuously releasing energy.”
“In the underground world, a neutral signal station is established every five hundred kilometers to monitor the sun’s trajectory.”
Gu Ya nodded. After hearing these two sentences, he knew what he needed to do.
“No time to delay, let’s go!”
Shen Jingming and the other two emerged from the hidden cabin and retreated outside the city in three separate directions.
Gu Ya used his self-created miniature drones to monitor their rear until he had safely seen all three of them out of the city, only then did he feel relieved.
On the outskirts of Lanyue City, Shen Jingming and the other two regrouped and headed east.
Mu Ye Xingchen smiled, his tone playful, and joked, “Old Shu~ I think Gu Ya is more like the captain.”
Shu Feizhang said with a serious expression, “Those with the ability bear more responsibility. If Gu Ya is capable, I don’t mind giving up the captain’s position.”
“Oh?” Mu Ye Xingchen smiled even more broadly, saying, “Aren’t you jealous?”
“Are you deliberately provoking me? I’ve been watching you since the meeting, and you’ve really been asking for it!” Shu Feizhang said coldly.
Mu Ye Xingchen dropped his smile, but his tone remained playful, “I’m just finding a bit of amusement in these boring days waiting for death.”
“I have a premonition that when we complete our mission and return safely to Xianxia, Xianxia will reveal my true identity to the public and execute me. For someone like me, who is about to die, it’s not too much to crack a few jokes to relax my nerves.”
These words were clearly meant for the two of them. Mu Ye Xingchen’s casual tone carried a sense of regret and despair for the future.
Shu Feizhang and Shen Jingming fell silent. They were in the same boat now; perhaps Xianxia really did intend to eliminate them. In the face of national interests, individual lives seemed insignificant.
Shu Feizhang said, “I still can’t quite believe that the high command of Xianxia would consider killing those who have served. I, Shen Jingming, and Gu Ya have all made significant contributions to Xianxia.”
“Even if we possess abilities that defy heaven, and are not controlled by Xianxia, our hearts are still with Xianxia.”
“How would this make other contributors feel? How would the people of Xianxia feel? This shakes the very foundation of the nation!”
“Old Shu,” Mu Ye Xingchen said faintly, “Perhaps I am overthinking it.”
“Ah, yes, when it’s my execution day, remember to come and watch.”
“I… I’m actually quite afraid of being alone.”
…
After sending off his three teammates, Gu Ya rested in the hidden safe house until midnight. Then, he changed into clothes suitable for movement, put on a multi-functional bulletproof vest, donned a thick trench coat, and quietly slipped out.
His destination was the Evernight District, a place to buy and sell Tonsaxin people.
After a quick meal of half-cooked meat to replenish his protein, Gu Ya directly infiltrated the Evernight District. Here, no one, not even a seemingly harmless little girl, could be trusted.
The Evernight District was located in the unlit zone beneath the cluster of high-rise buildings in the city center. The dark streets had no streetlights; the holographic neon lights from the towering buildings and sky bridges only made the area appear more dim. Along the streets, low-rise houses built beneath the buildings offered glimpses of shifting lights through their windows. There were few pedestrians on the streets; most had their collar turned up, their wide hat brims obscuring their eyes as they hurried along.
Gu Ya glanced behind him and then used the miniature drones flying around to check if anyone was watching him. Confirming he was unobserved, he swiftly grabbed a pedestrian and dragged them into a dark alley. Pulling out a cold dagger and pressing it against the pedestrian’s neck, Gu Ya said coldly, “How do I get to the place where Tonsaxin people are bought and sold?”
The person wore a thick trench coat and a gas mask. When Gu Ya’s hand brushed against their chest, he realized it was a woman. The woman looked at Gu Ya with a resolute, sharp gaze, remaining silent.
“Won’t speak? You want to die!” Gu Ya pressed the dagger closer.
The woman finally spoke, “I’ve seen many people like you…”
With a loud “clang,” Gu Ya violently knocked her unconscious and quickly exited the alley.
After grabbing two more people and executing one who dared to draw a weapon, he finally obtained useful information. This man, terrified and having soiled himself, stammered, “Spare me, spare me! I… I’m a decent person! I just came here for some excitement! I… I can give you my authentication card, please don’t kill me!”
Gu Ya punched out the man’s front teeth, then knocked him unconscious again. After tying him to a ventilation pipe, Gu Ya walked out of the alley with the man’s authentication card. As soon as he emerged, someone bumped into him head-on, and an icy gun barrel was pressed against Gu Ya’s chest from within the trench coat.
“Come back to the precinct with me,” the woman said fiercely. She was the same woman Gu Ya had just knocked unconscious.
Gu Ya quickly raised his hand, blocking the muzzle with his thumb, and ruthlessly snapped the gun barrel, saying sternly, “Whether you’re legal or illegal, if you dare to obstruct me, I’ll kill you.”
The woman was startled and asked, “Are you from the National Blade Bureau?”
Gu Ya pondered for a moment and adopted an expression that neither confirmed nor denied. The woman instantly released her hand, but then immediately wrapped her arm around Gu Ya’s neck and pulled him to the side of the street, both burying their heads within their high collars.
The woman calmly said, “Don’t move, it’s their patrol.” The clean, fragrant breath exhaled by the strange woman entered Gu Ya’s nostrils. Two burly men in studded leather jackets walked past them, heading deeper into the alley.
After confirming it was safe, the woman released Gu Ya, linked her arm with his, and they walked forward.
“I’m a special investigator from the Peace Enforcement Bureau, responsible for investigating cases of buying and selling Tonsaxin people,” the woman whispered. “Recently, the disappearance rate of Tonsaxin people has increased. Normally, we’d turn a blind eye, but with tensions high due to the external war, the authorities suspect collusion with foreign enemies, with attempts to launch attacks from within the city.”
Gu Ya asked calmly, “You haven’t confirmed my identity yet, but you’ve revealed your purpose. Aren’t you afraid I’ll harm you?”
The woman smiled faintly and said, “No. You can’t escape my discerning eye. You are young and mysterious, which fits the style of the Blade Bureau perfectly.”
“But I don’t want anyone to drag me down,” Gu Ya said indifferently.
The woman said, “From my preliminary reconnaissance, the frequency of some high-ranking individuals appearing has also increased. Bringing a well-mannered lady with you into these establishments can lower suspicion.”
Gu Ya thought to himself that if a lady was needed, Hei Yang could easily impersonate one. He was still unsure of this female detective’s capabilities.
“Just call me Zhen Li. What should I call you?” the woman asked faintly.
“Jude,” Gu Ya replied nonchalantly.
“Oh, right. It seems like this is your first time on this kind of mission. Their organization is called ‘Night Dragon,’ one of the major illegal organizations in Lanyue City.”
As they spoke, they arrived outside a single, rusty iron door. Zhen Li lightly knocked three times, then followed with five rapid knocks. The small window on the iron door opened, and a pair of dragon-shaped pupils cautiously scrutinized the two of them. After glancing at the authentication cards in their hands, the window was firmly closed.
“Dragon-shaped pupils… how unique…” Gu Ya mused. The iron door opened, and Gu Ya and Zhen Li sidestepped inside. A single glance at the gatekeeper inside made Gu Ya slightly startle.