Peace (Chapter 2)
Hearing the voice, Ye Sheng immediately looked up and saw Dr. Na Nali, whom she had encountered a few days prior, standing in the crowd, vigorously waving in their direction with a bright smile on his face.
?
At this sight, a big question mark involuntarily surfaced above Ye Sheng's head. She quickly turned to Gu Luoyu, not speaking but asking with a puzzled look in her eyes, what on earth was going on?
Dr. Na Nali held considerable influence within the research institute, indicating his high status there. For such a formidable scientific talent to be hitching a ride...
Did that mean he was joining the team to explore the ocean?
Don’t be ridiculous!
As long as the base officials weren’t out of their minds, they would never agree to let Dr. Na Nali participate, lest they risk losing an outstanding talent in a disastrous outcome.
“Let’s go over and find out.”
Gu Luoyu, however, remained unruffled. Even upon seeing Dr. Na Nali, she showed no particular curiosity, merely offering Ye Sheng a reassuring word before steadily driving the vehicle toward where Dr. Na Nali stood.
The people surrounding Dr. Na Nali did not disperse. Instead, they eyed Gu Luoyu and Ye Sheng with wary stares, their expressions sour, as if encountering competitors trying to poach their client, exuding an air of hostility.
Amidst the crowd, Dr. Na Nali said nothing further, merely adjusting his glasses with a smile still on his face. Yet, a glint of amusement flickered in his eyes, as if waiting to see how Gu Luoyu would handle the situation.
This was also a special observation, something he could note in his research records.
Regarding the manic symptoms of espers.
Had this been the old Erensu, she would have simply killed these annoying people without a second thought, consequences be damned. After all, the base wouldn’t impose severe penalties on a esper over a few ordinary people.
Not even if they were fellow team members...
But the current Gu Luoyu made a different choice. She glanced at Dr. Na Nali, a hint of mockery flashing in her crimson eyes, and spoke plainly, “Apologies, Dr. Na Nali, but my vehicle doesn’t welcome other passengers.”
How utterly devoid of sentiment!
Yet, this outcome seemed well within Dr. Na Nali’s expectations. He showed no sign of disappointment, while the surrounding people scrambled to speak up, each trying to elevate their importance in the doctor’s eyes.
“How dare you refuse Dr. Na Nali! Such arrogance!”
“Who do you think you are? Which family do you belong to? Aren’t you afraid of your clan’s reprimand? Even Erensu herself would treat Dr. Na Nali with respect!”
“Dr. Na Nali choosing your vehicle is an honor! How dare you reject him, what ingratitude!”
“Doctor, ride with me instead! My seats are much more comfortable!”
Perhaps because Dr. Na Nali was still present, their words remained somewhat restrained, avoiding outright vulgarity. Soon, the situation devolved into a scramble to win the doctor’s favor.
Watching this, Ye Sheng couldn’t help but laugh. Knowing Gu Luoyu wouldn’t resort to killing in front of her, though others might treat her as if she were invisible, she couldn’t resist a bit of mischief.
As the crowd fought over Dr. Na Nali, Ye Sheng cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and shouted, “How did you know she isn't Erensu?”
Silence fell instantly.
The people who had been fawning over Dr. Na Nali froze in place. When they finally regained their senses, they turned horrified gazes toward Gu Luoyu, never imagining that one of these two women was the infamous Erensu herself!
Some instinctively reached up to touch their necks, confirming their heads were still securely attached.
And they couldn’t help but feel relieved they hadn’t uttered anything worse, otherwise, they might as well have canceled this expedition right then and there.
After all, “accidents” had a way of happening on the road.
But they weren’t entirely unfamiliar with Erensu’s information. Why, then, had they failed to recognize her in person? It was as if she had been just another inconsequential figure.
Now, knowing her identity, looking back, they could see it clearly.
Their mouths opened and closed, but in the end, none dared to speak. They could only scatter in shame, no longer daring to crowd around Dr. Na Nali. Though Dr. Na Nali, as a high-ranking researcher, held considerable authority, he paled in comparison to the merciless Erensu.
After all, when weighed against uncertain status and power, survival took clear precedence.
Meanwhile, Dr. Na Nali, briefly experiencing the fickleness of human nature, felt a twinge of disappointment. He noted that Gu Luoyu seemed far more stable now than before her disappearance.
Perfectly at peace.
But this peace wasn’t conducive to research. Extreme emotional volatility was far better for recording data fluctuations... Yet, considering Gu Luoyu’s current strength, opposing her would be decidedly unwise.
Even if she appeared gentle and harmless now, Dr. Na Nali didn’t believe a wolf that had once killed could ever become a dog.
She was merely hiding her fangs well.
Afterward, Dr. Na Nali showed no sign of awkwardness. He stepped forward with undiminished enthusiasm, explaining his presence: the base officials believed he could communicate effectively with Gu Luoyu, facilitating cooperation in critical moments to improve the team’s survival odds.
Additionally, as a researcher, he could provide professional assistance in gathering crucial data.
Once Dr. Na Nali finally left, Ye Sheng exhaled deeply in relief. For some reason, though the doctor always wore a smile, he gave her an inexplicable sense of dread, like something was watching her from behind, sending chills down her spine.
Still, recalling the cowardly behavior of those people, Ye Sheng couldn’t help but snort.
Then, frowning in sudden realization, she straightened up and pressed Gu Luoyu, “Ah Yu, has your psychic energy stabilized?”
It had taken her a while to consider this possibility. Otherwise, given the information network of the base’s inner-city residents, there was no way they wouldn’t recognize Erensu, at least, the version of her that had reappeared in the base.
But failing to recognize her even face-to-face... There was only one explanation: Gu Luoyu’s psychic energy had fully upgraded and stabilized, restoring its former function of making others naturally overlook her.
Gu Luoyu smiled and nodded. She had expected the stabilization process to take much longer, but it had actually resolved itself two days prior. At the time, Ye Sheng had been engrossed in exploring the inner-city area, and since it wasn’t particularly urgent, Gu Luoyu hadn’t mentioned it.
Now that her true identity was out, the rest hardly mattered.
Indeed, unstable psychic energy had previously made her true strength unpredictable, much to Ye Sheng’s frustration. But since Gu Luoyu had reclaimed her identity as Erensu, there was little left to worry about.
Still, having full control over her psychic energy was undoubtedly a good thing. Just as Ye Sheng opened her mouth to speak, their vehicle was abruptly struck by a forceful knock.
A voice followed:
“So you’re Erensu?”