Chapter 19: Dark Moves

Qian Rushan carefully scrutinized the couple before him.

Strange.

It seemed that Father Shen and Mother Shen had no idea what had just happened.

The incident at the police station ...

Could it be that Shen Ye hadn't told them?

With this thought, Qian Rushan tentatively asked,

"Shen Ye had a mock test at school today, did he tell you about his scores?"

"He didn't mention it to me," Zhao Xiaochang said.

Qian Rushan looked at Father Shen, then at Mother Shen, and saw that their expressions were the same as usual, calm and composed.

He then turned his gaze to Shen Ye.

Shen Ye lowered his head to drink his tea, giving him a discreet glance.

Understood.

Father Shen and Mother Shen still didn't know what happened today, thinking he was at school the whole time.

—Shen Ye didn't want to say.

Qian Rushan's eyes twinkled, and he immediately said,

"Our Human Martial Arts Group has many facilities, including specialized tutors and fully equipped rest rooms. How about Shen Ye starts living at my place from today?"

"—After all, he is now a member of the group, and we will fully support him in achieving good results."

Father Shen looked towards Shen Ye.

Shen Ye naturally cooperated with a nod and said, "I've visited and checked it out, the facilities and environment are indeed top-notch, I'd like to study there."

Well done, Old Qian!

I really need a secure environment!

Shen Shi'an pondered and said, "We'll go and have a look too. If it really is good, then you can study for your exam at the Human Martial Arts Group."

"Wait a moment, I haven't finished reading the contract," Zhao Xiaochang said.

"No worries, please take your time," Qian Rushan replied.

Half an hour later.

Zhao Xiaochang finished reading the contract and solemnly signed her name as the guardian.

The contract was sealed.

"Please follow me!" Qian Rushan said.

By then, two cars were already waiting outside.

Father Shen and Mother Shen got into one car.

Shen Ye, however, went to the other car with Qian Rushan.

"How are things at the police station?"

As soon as he got in the car, Shen Ye asked.

"A big battle, many people died, and we caught a live one," Qian Rushan said nonchalantly.

Shen Ye looked out the window.

The police station was half a city district away from here.

Outside, people strolled through the streets lazily, vendors hawked snacks and umbrellas, and various clothing stores were open for business.

Everything seemed utterly normal.

Who would have thought that half a city district away, a battle had erupted, and numerous humans had perished?

Such incidents are usually concealed.

Ordinary people have no idea what happened, unless—

The situation gets completely out of control.

Once it reaches that stage, it's too late for normal people to escape; they can only count on luck.

Beep beep beep!

Qian Rushan's phone began to ring.

He glanced at it and joyfully said, "All missions completed, I've slain that guy and earned 5 military merits."

Military merits are valuable; they can be used as currency to exchange for various items that aren't available on the market, such as Cultivation Techniques, materials, intelligence, weapons, and so forth.

"Do I have any?" Shen Ye asked.

"Although you reported the entire incident, you don't even have a job yet, so you probably won't receive any military merits," Qian Rushan explained.

"That's really disappointing," Shen Ye sighed.

Before he could finish, his phone also started ringing.

On the phone's screen, a prompt popped up, quickly revealing lines of text:

"In this battle, you made a significant contribution."

"For minors, the government has a more reasonable reward system."

"Your parcel has been shipped, please collect it at the lobby of the Renjian Wudao Building in the coming days."

"—United World Government Military Merit and Rank Management Department."

What could it be?

Shen Ye was truly curious and couldn't help asking Qian Rushan.

Qian Rushan smiled and said,

"Middle school students only improve their physical fitness, comprehend spiritual power, and learn cultural and scientific knowledge; only in high school do they learn actual professional skills."

"So I guess it's a decent Cultivation Technique."

"I really am lacking in offensive abilities," Shen Ye reflected.

Time passed quickly.

After Shen Ye's family arrived at the Renjian Wudao Group Building, they were enthusiastically received.

Qian Rushan personally showed them around various training and cultivation facilities, the armory, and had face-to-face conversations with career trainers.

They also visited Shen Ye's dormitory.

—His living area was over a hundred square meters, complete with all kinds of furniture and appliances.

Finally, Father Shen and Mother Shen were reassured enough to leave.

Shen Ye stood at the door of the building, waved goodbye to his parents, and watched as they got into a car from the group and were driven back.

"Are you planning to keep everything from them?" Qian Rushan asked.

"There's no need to worry them," Shen Ye replied.

The two returned to the building and stepped into the elevator.

"President Qian, someone wants to kill me," Shen Ye said.

"Who?" Qian Rushan waited for his response.

"—It's quite baffling, I don't know why my head is so prized, they've already tried to kill me several times," Shen Ye replied.

"I'll look into it right away. It's best if you don't go out if you don't have to," Qian Rushan said thoughtfully.

The elevator ascended all the way to the 135th floor, piercing through the clouds and reaching the top.

As evening approached, the sky remained a clear blue.

Qian Rushan personally handled all of Shen Ye's paperwork and then had dinner with him before bidding farewell.

"I'm going to look into the situation and then deal with some official business, so I won't be able to accompany you for the time being. Contact me if you need anything,"

he said.

Without delay, Shen Ye said,

"Thank you very much, President Qian, for all the hustle today, and for all the help. Later on, my family will treat you, and I'll have my dad accompany you for a good drink."

Qian Rushan's smile became much more vivid as he said,

"From now on, you are a member of the group. This month's subsidy funds have already been transferred to your personal account. Spend it as you see fit."

"I'll have someone take you to your room."

"You are free to move about, but I suggest you get some good rest. After all, it's been quite a long day, and your spirit needs to relax."

"Thank you, President Qian," Shen Ye said.

With a wave of his hand, Qian Rushan immediately had several capable men and women walk over and accompany him toward the helipad outside the top floor.

A roar of engines.

The airplane left the building.

As soon as Qian Rushan boarded the plane, he started working, quickly reviewing dozens of documents and holding a brief meeting.

After the meeting ended, he was looking at a document when his female assistant quietly came over and whispered a few words.

Without looking up, Qian Rushan said,

"I don't want to see anything that damages the group's image."

"Understood, sir," the subordinate said.

The female assistant nodded and gracefully left.

"Also, check Shen Ye's social relations and see who has borne a grudge against him."

"Yes," another assistant said as they turned to leave.

Elsewhere.

Hospital.

Outside the ward.

Zhao Yibing swiftly scrolled through her phone, watching the videos she had posted online.

"Malicious bullying, ruining a classmate's future!"

"Top student of the grade, because he missed one exam, becomes psychologically twisted, retaliating against society, hurting classmates!"

"The police have already been involved, there must be a response to this matter!"

Good.

The incident was starting to gain attention.

Sun Ming was weeping in the videos, and the tragic states of several other classmates were also uploaded, drawing the concern and comments of many people.

Generally, once it reaches this level and garners widespread attention, the person involved will definitely be dealt with.

In this way, once I ascend to a key high school, this sensational and controversial incident will still be circulating around me, discussed by my classmates in the key high school.

It was Shen Ye who harassed me, beating up the boys who pursued me.

I stood up for justice online.

That's enough.

Zhao Yibing thought for a moment, then quickly typed a text message:

"I have exceeded the task you assigned to me."

She clicked send.

Now, she just had to wait to reap the rewards.

"Bingbing!"

Sun Ming's teary voice came from the ward.

A flash of disgust flickered in Zhao Yibing's eyes as she turned and walked toward the staircase.

Once she went down the stairs and left the hospital, she picked up her phone and dialed Sun Ming's number.

"Bingbing," Sun Ming's voice came through the receiver.

"Don't worry, Sun Ming, I've posted it online, and the police will definitely bring him to justice," Zhao Yibing said softly.

"But my leg's broken, and I can't take the next Zhongkao," Sun Ming said in despair.

"You have me. Once I enter a key high school, I will take care of you," Zhao Yibing said.

"Really? You mean—" Sun Ming lit up with unrealistic hope.

"Of course, we're best friends," Zhao Yibing tried to make him see reason.

"Bingbing..."

"I can't talk now, someone's looking for me; I'll contact you later."

"But—"

The call ended.

Zhao Yibing quickly put Sun Ming and several other boys on her block list, intending to delete them completely—

Ring, ring!

Her phone rang again.

An unknown number.

Zhao Yibing thought for a moment before pressing the answer button.

"Hello, who is this?"

"A reporter?"

"Yes, I'm standing up for them. We must not let Shen Ye bully his classmates."

"An online interview? Um... no problem."

"OK, we'll connect later."

What a headache.

I can't delete Sun Ming yet.

With this level of attention, he is still useful.

Zhao Yibing quickly unblocked the several people from her blacklist.

I'll keep them a few more days, and delete them after the Zhongkao is over.

The only thing I hadn't anticipated was that Shen Ye could fight them all by himself.

Seems like his level is still up there.

—But what's the use of that?

If you can't get into high school, you can't learn the moves, nor have weapons, armor, elixirs, or Evolution Liquid.

You won't receive any inheritance.

With just a single move from me, you wouldn't be able to resist.

Moreover—

He has lost the opportunity to take on a higher career.

From now on, he will become a Normal person like Sun Ming and the others, separated from me by an insurmountable gap.

Ultimately, we are people from two different worlds.

The phone suddenly buzzed several times.

Was it the online interview connection?

Zhao Yibing tidied up her makeup slightly before picking up her phone.

But what she saw were several system messages:

"Your posts have been determined to be rumors and have been all blocked."

"The police have issued a notice about the matter."

"The high school mentioned in your post has also issued a message, please take note."

"In addition, please stop spreading rumors. Otherwise, the platform and the Human Martial Arts Group reserve the right to hold you responsible."