Chapter 758: A New Assignment at Base
by xennovel“Terrifying Demon King?”
Chen Jing nearly dropped her cup when she heard Lu Xin’s words.
Logically, facing such a mysterious Lu Xin, she should have asked, “Who is this Terrifying Demon King?”
But in reality, she already knew about the Demon King.
What happened in Heichao City wasn’t unknown to Qinggang; all the detailed information was already on file.
It was just that Lu Xin had once said the matter had nothing to do with him, so everyone in Qinggang silently pretended not to know…
Yet now, Lu Xin actually planned to bring the Demon King to Qinggang?
Fortunately, Chen Jing had an open mind for new experiences, a broad heart, and a strong constitution.
So she forced herself to calm down.
She spent ten seconds analyzing whether Lu Xin might contaminate the entire base.
The answer was no…
If Lu Xin intended to stir up trouble in the base, it wouldn’t require such complications…
Besides, it surely wasn’t an attempt to steal the base’s research materials on the Midnight Tribunal—after all, the Midnight Tribunal had been taken by him. If he wanted it for himself, there was no need to hand it over from the start.
Moreover, Qinggang had long anticipated this potential hazard, so they decided to make the Single Soldier a partner of the base, allowing Qinggang to retain the research materials simultaneously…
So, ruling out all other possibilities, was Lu Xin truly introducing the Demon King just to serve as security?
Or perhaps to get extra pay?
…
…
“One job, one payment. Isn’t it perfectly normal to demand triple pay for three jobs?”
When Chen Jing gave him a surprised look, Lu Xin remained unruffled.
He wasn’t eager to do the security job himself; after all, he was about to become a multimillion-dollar university student…
But Dad having nothing to do at home wasn’t ideal either.
Since Mom had already set out to earn consulting fees, wouldn’t it be reasonable to have Dad work as security?
After exchanging glances, Chen Jing quickly realized that her hunch was correct.
She was a bit bewildered.
After a long while of weighing various factors, she leaned in and whispered to Lu Xin:
“Is there anything we need to pay attention to with a security guard like this?”
“Anything to watch out for?”
Lu Xin felt that Team Leader Chen Jing, who was usually very professional, was asking an unprofessional question.
Even though the money went directly to her, she still needed to ensure there were no delays in payment…
After all, Dad’s temper was not something to mess with.
…
…
After careful consideration, Chen Jing finally agreed to hire the security guard on behalf of the Special Cleaning Department.
“What have I gotten myself into…?”
She watched Lu Xin leave and then fretted quietly to herself.
She recalled that during the initial recruitment of the Single Soldier, when she learned about his condition, there were even whispers that Team Leader Chen Jing’s recruitment was a huge success—recruiting one soldier ended up with four doing the work…
She never imagined that this joke would one day become reality…
But it seemed one person was still missing.
Could it be because someone was too young and didn’t meet the work requirements?
“Sigh…”
After a long moment of helplessness, Chen Jing wrote up an application and an explanation, sending it with the Secretary to Professor Bai.
She pounded on the desk and earnestly instructed the one sitting beside it—Mizang, dressed in a pink suit with a plaid short skirt: “After you deliver this, give him a call so he knows you’ve been there, and then make sure he checks it on the spot…”
“Otherwise, if you just drop it off and leave like before, they’ll always forget about it…”
“…”
Meanwhile, Mizang stood there holding a cup of tea, looking slightly indignant.
He had just prepared tea for Lu Xin, but the cup was left untouched as Lu Xin departed.
Upon hearing Chen Jing’s instructions, he quickly nodded seriously, waving his little tentacles in assurance.
Looking at that tiny pink creature, Chen Jing felt a lot of pressure melt away.
…
…
“What? You want me to guard the base?”
After finally securing a job for Dad through Team Leader Chen’s channels, he was now dissatisfied—and his anger flared up.
“That’s right…”
Lu Xin replied, “These are special times in Qinggang. Everyone needs to pull their weight.”
“Even though you don’t have a Qinggang ID, you’ve lived here for so many years…”
“…”
“Heh heh…”
Dad shot a sidelong glance at Lu Xin, “Why don’t you do it yourself?”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Lu Xin explained, “We’re tied up with our theoretical research work.”
“Heh heh, isn’t research all about pinching every penny?”
Dad sneered before adding, “Then tell me, how exactly do you plan to protect them?”
“Can we use deep contamination?”
“…”
“Well…”
Lu Xin was surprised, “Is there a difference?”
“Of course there is.”
Dad coldly laughed, “If deep contamination works, then I’ll be their master, living off their mental power.
But if it doesn’t, then I’m just their security, draining my strength to protect them.”
“…”
Lu Xin suddenly understood. Though he didn’t like Dad’s pettiness—after all, despite living together for so long, their mindset was still so narrow—in the end, they needed his help. He tried to persuade, “There’s really no need to worry so much. You’ve got more than enough power. Just look at how much you stored up during that confrontation with the Sword Bearer…”
As he spoke, he glanced back toward the kitchen.
On the kitchen shelves hung rows of unidentified meats, packed to the brim.
Every time Dad went out on a mission, he’d bring back a bit here and there.
Over time, it had become quite substantial.
Although during the battle with the Sword Bearer he had volunteered to deplete his reserves to protect Qinggang, Lu Xin had seriously intervened before the contamination could fully erupt, so Dad’s losses were minimal.
“Hm?”
Seeing Lu Xin glance toward the kitchen, Dad suddenly became alert, shifting slightly to block the view.
His tone grew tentative, “If you keep talking like that, things might get awkward.”
“But you already promised to retrieve the original items for me…”
“…”
Lu Xin nodded, expressionless, “I did say that.”
Noticing his unusual tone, Dad snapped, “You’re not planning on bailing on your promise, are you?”
“Not at all,” Lu Xin replied with a smile as he looked at him, “But you wouldn’t refuse this job, would you?”
Dad glared at Lu Xin for a long while before finally agreeing.
“That’s the proper way to think about life…”
Lu Xin’s mood instantly lifted, and he felt deeply moved.
Before leaving with Dad, he made sure to remind his Sister that he, Mom, and Dad were off to work and support the family, and that she should stay home and avoid trouble.
At first, looking at Sister’s expression, it seemed she wasn’t too happy being left alone. But in a twist, she surprisingly agreed cheerfully.
Observing his Sister’s sly smile, Lu Xin felt a tinge of unease.
Then again, given how sensible she was, she probably had no ill intentions.
He eventually left, feeling relieved.
…
…
When Dad officially took over security at the base, everyone inside experienced an unprecedented sense of novelty. Whether they were hidden Ability Users within the research team, multi-identified freelance informants, or risk-burdened Agents, one silent night they suddenly heard laughter.
“Heh heh heh heh…”
“I can see you. I’m waiting for you…”
“…”
Startled awake by the sudden sounds, they discovered a tall figure in a raincoat lurking in the corner of their tent.
Their throats felt as if they were being choked, struggling to breathe.
Cold sweat drenched several layers of their clothes.
By the time they fully stirred, the searchlights outside illuminated the tent and the stars twinkled overhead.
Everything from before felt like an unreal nightmare.
Only the damp clothes and racing hearts still loomed over them.
The next day, numerous researchers with uncertain affiliations voluntarily left the base.
The remaining inhabitants visibly changed; even at the canteen they began to queue up obediently.
…
…
“Dad’s ability is truly formidable…”
Lu Xin, inside the base, witnessed the changes brought about by Dad’s presence.
He couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
If the emergence of Ability Users rendered many tricks of ordinary people useless, then wasn’t Dad’s power something unparalleled even among them?
Qinggang’s previous concerns and analyses were proven correct—no amount of strict checks and regulations could curb the ambitions and greed of various factions. But Dad’s power seemed capable of…
Erasing all those hidden tactics and schemes the moment he appeared.
After resolving all internal risks at the base, Dad’s gaze then turned to the wasteland.
Beyond the barbed wire lay vast stretches of weeds and an empty, desolate ground. Yet when Dad looked there, he could clearly see sinister movements stirring in the open fields, darting about.
It was like wildfire, revealing even the tiniest of creatures that normally went unnoticed.
Even though Lu Xin had mastered the power of ‘Hallucination’, he couldn’t help but marvel at the effect.
“That genius who leapt from a hundred-story building at the Research Institute once made three prophecies.”
In response to Lu Xin’s astonishment, Mom softly said, “The second prophecy was that with the emergence of mental mutations, the societal structure and order of this world would face an unprecedented upheaval. It’s a reminder to humanity—shed your ignorance and arrogance, and accept reality without needless sacrifices.”
“Qinggang has handled this aspect very well.”
“And after this, I’m sure people elsewhere will come to understand as well…”
“…”
As she spoke, Mom donned her jacket and walked out of the camp alongside Lu Xin, gently looping her arm through his.
“Where to?”
Lu Xin sensed that Mom intended to take him out and asked in mild surprise.
“You have now reached the fifth step.”
“This step is called the Illusory Land. As the center of this land, you are its king.”
“…”
Mom chuckled and explained, then placed her hand on her chest gracefully, “So now, of course, I must take our Majesty out to inspect our kingdom…”