Chapter 131 : Chapter 131
Chapter 131
With the commission complete, the team disbanded.
After taking in Xie Chang’an and Jiang Cuo’s lively exchange for a while, Ji Qing immediately prepared to slip away. The task left to him was still arduous, and he had no time to remain here.
But before that, Ji Qing smiled faintly and said, “Then I’ll be leaving first.”
Jiang Cuo, who had been fooling around with Xie Chang’an, abruptly looked up when he heard that. “You’re not staying for another meal, Valedictorian—”
Xie Chang’an, meanwhile, froze on the spot.
Ji Qing waved a hand dismissively. “No. I hope you all have fun.”
“Then I’ll leave too,” Zhou Que chimed in.
Although this period of teamwork had improved the relationship between him and Xie Chang’an, it still could not compare to the bond he shared with Ji Qing. Zhou Que thought simply: since Ji Qing had decided to leave, he might as well leave too.
That way, he could go back and ask Liu Mu whether he was free.
If he was, then they could just take on a Team Commission together next. Zhou Que realized that he was already looking forward to the next A-Rank Commission.
Just as Zhou Que turned around and prepared to catch up with Ji Qing, he suddenly heard a familiar, flustered male voice from behind him. “Wait—”
Both Ji Qing and Zhou Que turned back.
Miao Miaonian, who had been standing behind his father without saying a word the whole time, awkwardly tugged at the hem of his clothes and said uneasily, “Zhou Que, could you… could you stay and talk with me for a little while? Just a little while is enough…”
As he spoke, Miao Miaonian’s voice grew softer and softer, until he finally fell silent altogether.
I’m such an idiot. Miao Miaonian cursed inwardly.
Just as he was about to force out an awkward smile to smooth things over, Zhou Que said calmly, “Okay.”
He knew it. He had felt like he had forgotten something just now. So it was Miao Miaonian.
That made sense, Zhou Que thought.
It was about time for him to talk things out with the other party.
Standing by the office door, Ji Qing’s lips unconsciously curved into a gentle smile, though he quickly restrained it again. He blinked playfully. “Then I’ll head out right away on my side.”
“All right, Mr. Ji,” Miao Miaonian said respectfully.
“No, Valedictorian— you can’t—” Jiang Cuo reached out with tearful eyes to stop him, but the left foot he had stepped forward with never actually moved. Clearly, he was only making a polite attempt to persuade him and had no intention of delaying Ji Qing’s decision.
Xie Chang’an shot Jiang Cuo a speechless glance, then turned and said solemnly, “Until next time, Ji Qing.”
“Bye~”
Hearing the round of farewells, Zhou Que also waved happily.
Compared to the other two, Zhou Que’s thoughts were much more at ease. He did not think this would be the last time he saw Ji Qing. He and Ji Qing still had many, many meetings ahead of them. After all, they were both in the Federation, and both were S-rank Ability Users…
Sooner or later, they would meet again, just like this time.
Seeing that, Ji Qing could not help but smile. In a light tone, he said, “Mm, then see you later.”
After saying that farewell, Ji Qing pushed open the door and left.
Click—
The wooden door shut with a muted sound, separating him from everyone inside.
It was early morning, and the warm sun shone brightly.
Ji Qing slowly opened his green eyes, which stung slightly under the strong light, and calmly took in the surrounding scenery. They were currently at the processing plant where Miao Miaonian had first brought them to familiarize them with the details of the commission.
Because they had arrived too late last night, the group had chosen to rest for a night before settling the payment.
It just so happened that both Zhou Que and Jiang Cuo wanted to take a look at Xie Chang’an’s new Tang Saber, so Ji Qing had accompanied the three of them to the processing plant to find Miao Weiyong. The one who received them first, however, was Miao Miaonian, and afterward Miao Miaonian directly brought the four of them to the second-floor office of the processing plant.
Miao Weiyong had been especially delighted to see them.
“In that case, let’s just settle the payment face-to-face,” Miao Weiyong said happily. “I also happen to be too lazy to make a special trip to the Hunter’s Guild. You youngsters should remember to check the amount of the payment on your side.”
After saying that, he hurriedly opened the computer and operated it for a bit.
And thus, the earlier scene had taken place.
Tap, tap, tap…
His boots made a few light sounds on the concrete floor.
Clear birdsong came from the shrubbery near the processing plant, and the breeze that blew over carried the fragrance of flowers and grass. Ji Qing lifted his head in the direction the wind was blowing from and suddenly caught sight of tiny flower buds hidden among the grass.
Spring had already arrived, he thought.
Ji Qing’s mood immediately became especially bright. As he recalled what he had gained from this trip, along with the change he had just witnessed, he could not help wanting to hum a light tune.
His revenge plan was advancing smoothly, and his plan to recover his memories had also taken a major step forward. Ji Qing believed that if things continued like this, then sooner or later, one day, he would recover the memories he had lost. Yet at this moment, what made him happiest was the change in the people around him.
He had always been worried about Zhou Que before, but he had never expected Zhou Que to finally face it in the end.
It truly had not been easy.
He had avoided it before the commission even started, kept avoiding it all the way through, and only spoke once the commission had ended. Ji Qing was left dumbfounded, and at the same time inwardly sucked in a cold breath. It was not exactly worry. He simply felt that this was not good.
Just as Shao Huayu had said himself, he could not protect Zhou Que forever.
As Zhou Que’s friend, Ji Qing could not interfere through words or actions, but he still felt gratified by Zhou Que’s change.
On the other hand—
As someone bound to the Manga Forum system and also a reader of 《Ability Hunter Academy》, Ji Qing felt immense satisfaction at the smooth conclusion of this volume. The escort commission had begun because of Zhou Que and Miao Miaonian’s childhood friendship, and it ended with a conversation between the two of them.
Although he could not personally witness their final talk, wasn’t there still the manga?
Ji Qing sincerely hoped that Zhou Que would grow a little because of this. He did not need to become all that different from before. It would be enough if he could gain just a little insight of his own. Perhaps this was also the reason Shao Huayu had chosen to enroll in the Third Ability Academy.
But speaking of Shao Huayu and the others… he really had no idea what the two of them were busy with.
Ji Qing’s eyes shifted thoughtfully, but he soon tossed the matter to the back of his mind. After all, he had his own things to do, and he truly had no time to study the movements of a few classmates. But just in case, Ji Qing still chose to call out to the system in his heart.
Ji Qing: [System, remember to keep an eye on what those few are up to.]
The system immediately responded: [Understood. I’ve been watching them all along.]
[But, Host…] the system asked hesitantly. [Do I need to watch Xie Chang’an too?]
Ji Qing blinked after hearing that.
As the protagonist of the manga, Xie Chang’an naturally was not someone who needed much attention. Every major event he encountered would be faithfully drawn by the manga artist Yuexia Cao into a manga called 《Ability Hunter Academy》.
Ji Qing could even see the figures of other classmates he had not seen in a long time through Xie Chang’an’s daily life. For example, Feng Youyou had appeared at the beginning of this volume.
After receiving Gu Lingxue’s consent, Feng Youyou had specially run over to meet with Gu Lingxue.
At the train station, the three of them lamented how treacherous the world could be, shared what they had gone through after leaving school, and only then hurriedly bid each other farewell as the whistle announcing the train’s departure sounded. Although the manga had not depicted that matter in detail, Yuexia had still drawn two or three panels of it.
—As an explanation for why Gu Lingxue was not there.
To be honest, Ji Qing found this sort of experience rather novel.
He was like someone who occasionally peeked at a classmate’s social feed. He could often spot the figures of other classmates in the public posts Xie Chang’an made, learn what Xie Chang’an had recently gone through, and learn about his interpersonal dealings as well.
Those classmates who were not active in Ji Qing’s own life were very active in Xie Chang’an’s life.
But…
Ji Qing let out a soft laugh. [Still, keep an eye on him too.]
After all, although Xie Chang’an was the protagonist, most of the small things that happened to him would not be recorded by Yuexia. What was more, if something really happened to Xie Chang’an, he could not possibly infer Xie Chang’an’s location from the clues shown in the manga panels, could he?
The system’s positioning was definitely more reliable.
The system replied: [Understood, Host.]
For the time that followed, Ji Qing directly chose to take a train out of Huangtie City. Although he still did not know what his next arrangement would be, deep down he did not want to run into Zhou Que, Xie Chang’an, Jiang Cuo, or any of the three again.
Ji Qing no longer wanted them latching onto him again.
Because Emerald could not read human writing, ordinary text-based communication was unsuitable for him. Ji Qing deliberately found a safe and concealed place to communicate with him by phone. And when Emerald learned that “the Black Tide could be triggered by human hands,” he was not surprised.
Ji Qing: “You already knew?”
Emerald: “My king, had that not already been made clear long ago?”
That was true. Ji Qing could not help letting out a long sigh.
As the master of the Tree Sea, an S-Rank Danger Zone, Emerald definitely knew about the situation on the Aberrant side. What was more, the Black Tide itself was caused by the Aberrants, and he had definitely told Emerald about that before as well… So was their objective only the participants’ list?
A mocking curve suddenly rose at the corner of Ji Qing’s lips.
The more he understood the internal situation among the Aberrants, the more pitiful he found humanity’s future circumstances. While human society was still surging with undercurrents, the Aberrants were slowly integrating the forces on every side and waiting for the succession to end.
The Dawn Society, the infection-linked organization with the highest danger rating on the Federation’s wanted list, had not been founded for humanity’s sake in the first place.
But sorrow could wait until later.
Ji Qing said calmly, “Although we already have the list of participants, we still do not know how deeply each person, or the family behind them, was involved. Next, I will hand this list over to White Night in the leader’s name.”
“White Night will be responsible for the investigation. Raven and Red Heart will be responsible for the assassinations. You will continue to remain stationed in Licheng and maintain the Dawn Society’s normal operations.”
“If the subsequent fallout continues to expand, then your side will protect White Night’s safety.”
And there was also… Ji Qing’s heart suddenly began to pound violently.
Ji Qing thought of many, many things. For example, there might be omissions in the list of names. For another, the assassinations might not go as smoothly as imagined. And beyond that, there were still many doubtful points between Old Master Miao’s belief in a “human-triggered Black Tide” and Ji Qing’s own understanding that “the Aberrants killed his family.” But none of that mattered. It was fine, fine…
Because they had already successfully pried open a crack. All that remained now was to wait.
The investigation could proceed slowly, and mistaken understandings could be corrected slowly as well.
Ji Qing’s lips lifted because of that.
He could not help bending those green eyes and said coldly, “An operation like this is bound to alert certain existences. After this… it is time to put an end to these twenty-one years of waiting.”
“I shall obey your command, my king,” Emerald replied humbly.