Chapter 883: The Orphanage’s Summons

So the Old Director has indeed entered the Dark World.

And he had long known that he was already reunited with these classmates—yet he didn’t seem to care?

He finally appeared. All those past efforts to trace his steps had been in vain, until he voluntarily showed up and invited both himself and these classmates to come over to his place for a meeting…

Is this what you call a class reunion?

……

……

Lu Xin stood beneath the empty Gaoshan Laboratory, his emotions churning uncontrollably.

Not only him—the others by his side visibly felt the weight of pressure; their faces were all drawn tight.

As members of the Tyrant Squad, Vice-captain Gecko, Number Five, and the diligent undercover agents, none of them knew what was happening. Yet they suddenly noticed that everyone from that mysterious orphanage—including Lu Xin—looked as if these terrifying, unreasonable individuals had suddenly withered; their lips pressed into thin lines, and their expressions became alarmingly grim…

As the Vice-captain, Gecko had intended to say something to lighten the mood.

But just as he opened his mouth, an innate intuition silenced him.

Knowing when to speak is a talent; knowing when to remain silent is the true path to survival…

“What was bound to happen has happened…”

Sure enough, after a long while, Number Five lowered her voice and broke the silence among those from the orphanage.

There was a faint sneer on her face. Gecko understood her inner thoughts. Many were accustomed to feigning mockery when discussing dreadful matters, not realizing that such behavior often betrayed their inner terror. Even though it was obvious to everyone that Number Five was extremely nervous at that moment.

Yet she casually remarked, “Ha, I knew he wouldn’t let us off the hook…”

“During the Third Descent, with the whole world in chaos, I thought he would have shown up by now.”

“Not just me…”

She glanced at Number Three and Number Eight, adding, “They feel the same. That’s why we’ve been standing up to these forces all along.”

“I just didn’t expect that from the brink of this world’s collapse to a seemingly stable situation, he restrained himself from appearing—and then, at the moment when we thought all our problems could finally be solved, he…”

She pursed her lips and said, “appeared.”

Listening to Number Five’s words, nobody rushed to respond; an oppressive silence filled their hearts.

“Perhaps his arrival at this moment was inevitable.”

Suddenly, Number Three, who usually spoke little, continued after Number Five, “He would never stop us from fighting the pollution.”

“After all, he’s always despised these forces, hasn’t he?”

“Of course he wouldn’t align himself with such things. Maybe even secretly opposing this pollution.”

“It just means that now that he’s appeared, it indicates…”

“…”

Everyone understood Number Three’s point, and their hearts sank slightly.

The Old Director never did anything without preparation; his appearance clearly signified that he was ready…

This made them feel a chill down their spine. Instinctively, they raised their arms and rubbed their forearms.

A surge of inner uncertainty washed over them.

“He was always meant to show up.”

At that moment, Lu Xin, who had been silently standing aside, suddenly spoke, drawing everyone’s gaze.

Lu Xin stood quietly, looking up at the few remaining, flickering lights atop Gaoshan Laboratory, and said slowly, “Really, there’s no need to worry about why he appears at this moment or for what purpose. He appears now because this is the only time he ever does. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be appearing on his own—he’d be dragged out by me.”

His words made those from the orphanage pause, their eyes blinking in surprise.

A confident, radiant smile slowly broke across Lu Xin’s face as he added, “I’ve been searching for him all this time. Whether it was the undercover agents from Moon Eclipse Research Institute or people in Qinggang, everyone tried every trick to find him. He’s a master at hiding. Even though Qinggang had planted scores of scouts in the Southern Technology Church, no one could catch a glimpse of him. But now, things have changed…”

“Under the Third Descent, Qinggang’s energy radiation is expanding, covering nearly every habitable area. Doll will keep a watchful eye for me; the moment he appears, I’ll know. His space has always been extremely limited. Until recently, he still had Southern and this locale to hide in, but just now, he lost that…”

“He can now only hide within the Southern Technology Church, shrouded by chaotic mental power.”

“So once we settle matters here, we can head directly over there and find him.”

“If not now, then when will he show himself?”

“…”

For many, it was the first time hearing Lu Xin speak with such confidence.

This slightly cleared the gloom hanging over everyone’s hearts.

Amidst the mildly anxious atmosphere, Number Two adjusted his small glasses and asked, “So what do we do now?”

“Should we go?”

“……”

Despite the simplicity of the question, everyone felt an unexpected tension.

Sensing the complex emotions around him, Lu Xin smiled and said, “Of course we should go. We’ve been waiting for this for so long, haven’t we?”

“That’s right.”

Number Three slipped his hand into his pocket and remarked, “There’s no dodging it.”

“Let’s go, let’s go…”

Number Five gritted her teeth, the lean muscles on her face twitching, “Sooner or later, we’re all going to take this knife hit…”

“If we don’t act now, when will we ever truly be free?”

“……”

Number Eight, seemingly the most resolute of all, remained calm and said nothing out of turn.

Only after everyone had made up their minds did he smile and roll up his sleeves.

Little Nineteen, who seemed to take a while to understand what was happening, quietly stepped forward and grasped Lu Xin’s hand.

“Honestly…”

Lu Xin sighed softly and said, “After all these years apart, I’ve missed him terribly…”

The group exchanged glances and nodded softly.

Indeed, they were all in the same situation…

……

……

The Old Director had sent out an invitation. As those nurtured by him, how could they possibly refuse?

Lu Xin and the others quickly reached a consensus—there was no need for further discussion.

Of course, the exact timing and manner of the trip would be decided by Lu Xin.

Even among the Tyrant Squad, when facing the strange challenges of the Third Descent, those from the orphanage seldom followed his lead. They spent their days holed up in vehicles playing cards, with many tasks personally handled by Lu Xin. Compared to the Vice-captain of the Tyrant Squad and the team members from Qinggang, their discipline and obedience were far inferior.

Yet when the Old Director’s shadow emerged, their trust in Lu Xin surged.

They even placed all their hopes in him.

Just like years ago when they pinned their hopes on that most terrifying monster.

Lu Xin spoke up precisely because he understood what they felt inside.

He had to make sure others knew just how powerful he was.

Otherwise, these classmates might never muster the courage to stand up to the Old Director…

And regarding the matter of attending this meeting, Lu Xin had made his decision: they would go.

But first, he needed to wrap up his current work.

Pfft, pfft…

The oppressive mood of the Tyrant Squad was shattered as the Ghost Train dashed across the mental realm and returned to Qinggang in record time.

“I don’t have much time.”

Facing the convoy led by Mr. Su and Professor Bai, as Lu Xin stepped off the train he said directly to Professor Bai, “This time, I’ve come back mainly to record the latest information we’ve gathered. After that, we head south. Everything on our end has been pretty much taken care of. I think it’s time we also attend to some personal matters.”

“Personal matters?”

Hearing Lu Xin mention ‘time is short’ and ‘south,’ those in Qinggang, who had been waiting to celebrate, were rather startled.

“That’s right.”

Lu Xin nodded and then smiled at them, “A class reunion.”

……

……

Without further explanation amid the astonished stares of those in Qinggang,

they promptly called back to postpone the celebration dinner slightly.

Immediately, experts and personnel from the Special Cleaning Department were summoned for a meeting.

The meeting’s classification was set at the highest level in Qinggang—top secret.

The meeting lasted for about three hours.

Lu Xin shared every detail—from the types of pollution cleared by the Tyrant Squad, their levels, and the distribution of remaining forces, to everything he had learned about the original plan and the First Researcher.

Before this, Lu Xin had never imagined that one day, even after learning about the Old Director, he wouldn’t rush over immediately.

But now, he felt this was the right thing to do.

Work had to be properly wrapped up.

This information brought Qinggang a huge surprise. In fact, Qinggang had already been in a critical stage of gathering intel—especially since Doll had been promoted to the new Ultimate, her level had changed significantly. The scope of what she observed, and the world she sensed, had all shifted dramatically. She provided Qinggang with a wealth of truth regarding mental alterations.

Now, what Lu Xin brought back was another layer of truth.

All these things were intangible assets—a foundation for Qinggang’s future success.

After carefully sifting through his memories to ensure nothing was overlooked, Lu Xin took out the small notebook from his bosom, laid it flat on the table, and said, “As for these, they’re records of the mental monsters and pollution sources we cleared this time. Not many in number—the total count is under ten thousand. Many were accidentally broken, so I had to weigh them out by the pound…”

“As for the total price… heh heh…”

Coughing forcefully and stifling a laugh, he said, “Math isn’t my strong suit—I can’t quite figure it out.”

“You can do the math in more detail yourselves!”

He looked up earnestly at the big shots in Qinggang and said, “By the time I get back, it should all be figured out, right?”

Seeing Lu Xin’s sincere expression left everyone momentarily stunned.

Especially those researchers, still nervously cross-checking the details Lu Xin had provided. Just a moment ago they were trembling, afraid of recording even a single word wrong—and suddenly, the conversation veered to financial matters.

Mr. Su was taken aback. He discreetly peeked at the numbers on the small notebook.

Then his expression changed drastically. He sat back down, quietly fished out a Heart-saving Pill.

Professor Bai, meanwhile, exchanged a knowing glance with Mr. Su as he removed his reading glasses without a word.

Amid this suddenly tense and slightly awkward atmosphere, Lu Xin rested his hands on the conference table.

“But if I don’t come back…”

He paused, then said, “then all the money—as well as what’s in my account—goes to Red Moon Elementary School.”

“So that those children without a home have a safe place to grow up.”

“……”

“Whoosh!”

Just as everyone’s nerves had been on edge, their scalp tingled as they nervously looked at Lu Xin.

This unexpected remark even caught them off guard.

Facing their baffled stares, Lu Xin smiled, nodded at them gently, and then turned to leave.

“Jiu Ge…”

In the corridor, Lu Xin saw at the far end a portly figure almost filling the space.

It was Number Nine. Having stayed behind in Qinggang as an intelligence analyst, he had come specifically to see Lu Xin. Presumably, he had already heard about the Old Director’s invitation. Looking at his slightly anxious, chubby face, Lu Xin smiled and said, “I’ve finished tying up my work here. Go notify the others—we leave tomorrow at six sharp.”

“Oh.”

Number Nine hesitated, then slowly backed away.

After leaving the Special Cleaning Department’s building, Lu Xin stood on the steps. He waited a while but didn’t see anyone appear.

After some thought, he stubbed out his cigarette and stepped forward.

Down the corridor, Han Bing was hurrying over. Just as he was about to call out to him, Lu Xin’s figure advanced—and just as he stepped forward, it was as if he had passed through an invisible door, vanishing before the steps. Han Bing felt a tinge of loss.

In the next moment, Lu Xin’s figure emerged in a room where the reinforced glass wall had just been taken down.

Doll’s room was in disarray—toy fragments and fallen socks scattered everywhere.

At that moment, Doll was wearing warm underwear, packing clothes into a large backpack. Lu Xin stood behind her, watched for a while, then couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. He went over, grasped her arm, and whispered, “Stop tidying up. Tomorrow’s matter is between me and our orphanage mates. You stay in Qinggang and wait for me.”

Doll fell silent for a moment, then broke free from his grip and continued stuffing an oversized pillow into her bag.

Just then, a member of the Nanny Teams quietly entered. Startled to see someone in Doll’s room, he instantly tensed, his hand hovering over his gun holster. Realizing it was Lu Xin, he quickly retracted his hand and quietly closed the door.

“It’s really not necessary.”

Lu Xin released her arm in sync with Doll’s movements, his tone now more resolute.

Doll paused and looked back at Lu Xin, her eyes shining with worry.

She softly whispered two words, “Dangerous…”

“How could it be?”

Lu Xin laughed, “It’s just a class reunion. I’ll be back soon.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but wonder who had mentioned the matter to Doll.

Even in Qinggang, no one would likely know about this—not Doll, who was too clumsy, for instance…

As that thought flashed through his mind, Doll gently raised her hand, pointing at Lu Xin.

“Me?”

Lu Xin was momentarily taken aback.

At that moment, as if his mental power had taken on a life of its own, the energies shared between him and Doll vibrated ever so slightly. He then understood Doll’s worry and feelings.

In his eyes, he saw a girl staring at him with endless concern—a concern born not of someone else’s words but from the weight in his own heart.

That’s why she silently returned to pack up, preparing to come with him tomorrow.

This made Lu Xin fall silent for a while; his inner turmoil gradually settled, and his mental realm became imperceptible again.

Then a smile slowly spread across his face as he comforted, “It’s alright. I…”

Doll abruptly turned away and continued packing.

Lu Xin, a bit embarrassed, said, “Really, it’s fine. There are plenty of us…”

But Doll didn’t hear him.

Lu Xin continued, “This is our orphanage’s matter, so…”

Doll didn’t hear.

Growing anxious, Lu Xin raised his voice slightly, “I told you, you can’t go…”

Doll retorted, clearly annoyed, “But it’s dangerous.”

Refusing to lose his resolve, Lu Xin replied, “If you go, you’ll only trouble us more.”

Doll snapped back, “I won’t be a burden!”

Lu Xin countered, “Staying back is the only way to avoid trouble…”

Doll declared, “I won’t stay behind!”

……

……

“What’s going on?”

Outside the room, voices suddenly grew louder. The Nanny Teams gathered at the door grew tense—especially when their captain, holding a razor and sporting pants rolled up with shaving foam on them, rushed over nervously as if to scream, “Call the police!”

“They’re arguing…”

Several members, straining to listen at the door, whispered, “They’re arguing intensely.”

“Doll has already spoken three sentences in a row…”

“……”

“This…”

The Nanny Teams’ captain was visibly shocked, then her face lit up, “Excellent.”

The other team members glanced over at her.

The captain waved them off, signaling them not to eavesdrop. In the restroom, while continuing to shave the hair on her leg, she said, “You’re all too nervous. Think about it—arguing is good. Who hasn’t had a fight while dating?”

“Back then, our Doll was always the one to make the first move, while the boy was rather clueless. I just thought it was unreliable. Just like Professor Chen analyzed, their relationship is different from ours. Others start with superficial attraction and slowly deepen into genuine bonds, until their emotional frequencies synchronize and a lasting connection is formed.”

“But for them, it’s all about reaching emotional resonance on a deeper mental level first, which then gradually influences the external impressions—resulting in a relationship completely unlike that of normal people…”

“Because they—sigh, actually Doll takes the lead—achieve such deep mutual mental radiance that they never get fed up with each other. It’s like an old married couple who never harbor resentments because they’ve accepted each other innately. And since they can sense each other’s inner thoughts on an emotional level, misunderstandings are nearly impossible and communication unnecessary.”

“This ensures their purity, free from the complex twists and turns typical of normal relationships.”

“……”

The nearby Nanny Teams members nodded slowly, though their expressions remained puzzled.

Not only was Doll cared for by their team—Professor Chen, even more so than the Nanny Teams, had secretly formed a ‘High-Level Mental and External Emotional Needs Research Group’ (the High External Group) to collect every bit of data from Doll’s interactions with Single Soldier, analyzing every detail and comparing it with the latest research. Ultimately, they reached this conclusion.

In the end, with a sorrowful look, they shook their heads, “It’s hopeless.”

“But…”

Although they understood what the captain meant, their doubts only grew: “What does this have to do with what you just said?”

“It means that…”

The Nanny Teams’ captain paused, then scoffed, “Old Chen doesn’t know a thing. His mates were all assigned during city construction…”

“In my view, regardless of any models, dating always goes through a few stages: one side takes the initiative, the other follows; then there’s a phase of adjustment, followed by a fight, one party feeling wronged, the other apologizing, and finally a counterattack that secures emotional dominance…”

“Heh heh…”

She slowly wiped the last bit of foam off her leg, her smile both arrogant and confident, “So, the fight has begun.”

“That means Doll is taking the lead…”

“……”

“Ah…”

A group of Nanny Teams members suddenly brightened, exclaiming, “No wonder you’ve been showing Doll those female lecturers lately…”

“Shh…”

The Nanny Teams’ captain immediately raised her finger, “This is top secret!”

……

……

At the same time, Lu Xin noticed tears swirling in Doll’s eyes, and he was suddenly frantic.

He knew he wasn’t at fault.

He merely didn’t want her to join him in a risky venture.

But why was she crying?

Why did her tears feel like they were all his fault?

A tingling, helpless sensation surged through him. Ever since joining the Special Cleaning Department and handling over five-digit strange cases and mental monsters as part of the Tyrant Squad, he now felt an unprecedented crisis—a sudden collapse of logic. His limbs trembled as he stood by the bed. He then sighed deeply, placing a hand on Doll’s shoulder, his tone softening:

“Will you come out for a walk with me?”

“……”

Stubbornly, Doll sniffed and then reluctantly nodded.

They walked out onto the streets of Qinggang Main City—half in the mental realm and half under the bright glow of streetlights.

Walking slowly as the wind passed through the city, they kicked small stones along the path.

After a long, quiet walk, Lu Xin finally turned to Doll in the light of a streetlamp and said:

“You still can’t come with me…”

“……”

Doll halted and turned to head back.

“Wait…”

Lu Xin quickly called after her, “But I have something very important to give you.”

Doll stopped in her tracks and listened intently.

After a long silence, Lu Xin said, “This time, as part of the Tyrant Squad’s business trip, I’ve given all the commissions to the Orphanage.”

Doll blinked, as if asking if he was about to borrow money again.

“But…”

Lu Xin suddenly continued, “Actually, I still have one bank card with my savings from all these years…”

Under the streetlamp, half-hidden in shadow, his expression was solemn and resolute, tinged with reluctance. He slowly retrieved the warm bank card from the innermost pocket of his coat, then gently took Doll’s hand.

He pressed it into her palm, giving it a gentle pat as though marking a solemn ritual,

“It’s yours now…”

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