The Frail Guide Who Devoured an Entire Pollution Zone

"How could this be?" Elder Chen roared, standing up and stepping out of the shadows.

Contrary to what Xu Qingsui expected, he showed no signs of malicious intent or wanting to fight. Instead, his face was filled with urgency.

Xu Qingsui took this opportunity to finally get a clear look at this Elder Chen.

Compared to the other four elders she had met, Elder Chen actually looked even older.

His temples were completely white, and not even a single black hair could be seen in the small goatee on his chin.

His face didn’t have many wrinkles, yet he gave off an impression of extreme age and exhaustion.

Right now, he was staring at Lu Jingyu, his urgent expression making it seem like he was about to rush to the medical bay to check the situation himself.

"Lu Jingyu, you should know I hate jokes, especially when they’re about Alliance matters."

Lu Jingyu looked helpless. "Do you really think I’d joke with you about this?"

Elder Chen’s expression was grim. Still not believing him, he suddenly shouted toward the door, "You, outside! Get in here!"

Hearing Elder Chen’s words, Xu Qingsui was stunned. ’There’s someone else outside? How did I not sense them with my spiritual power? Don’t tell me we’ve been followed this whole time?’

As Xu Qingsui’s heart pounded with panic, Lu Jingyu secretly took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, telling her not to worry.

A moment later, a man who looked like a servant rushed in, holding a cattail leaf fan.

He must have been lighting a fire or cooking, as his face was still smudged with soot.

"Master, what are your orders?" The man’s words confirmed Xu Qingsui’s guess.

"Is there something you haven’t reported to me?"

The servant froze for a second. He glanced at Lu Jingyu, and as if he understood something, his expression suddenly turned sour.

"Speak! What exactly happened?" Elder Chen roared, and Xu Qingsui felt the whole room tremble.

"Master, more Mutants appeared after... after that. The scene was chaotic. We didn’t get the Mutants under control until more than half of the members present were casualties!"

The servant’s words confirmed what Lu Jingyu had said, and Elder Chen’s face turned completely dark.

"Who gave you permission to hide things from me?"

The servant, terrified, bowed his head, not daring to look at Elder Chen again.

But his meek voice still piped up.

"Master, I... I wouldn’t dare hide things from you. It’s just that for so many years, you haven’t concerned yourself with Alliance affairs, spending all your days personally caring for the Young Master. I took the liberty of not letting these matters disturb you."

Xu Qingsui silently noted the titles the servant used, piecing together the relationship between Yun Fei and Elder Chen.

At the same time, she grew even more curious about what had happened between Lu Jingyu and Chen Yunfei to make Elder Chen hate him so much.

After hearing the servant’s explanation, Elder Chen didn’t erupt again. He sighed and said calmly, "Alright. Take a year’s wages and leave. I don’t need people who act on their own initiative around me."

The servant was dumbstruck. His whole body trembled, and his lips opened and closed several times before he finally let out a sigh. He bowed deeply to Elder Chen and said, "I understand. Please, Master, allow me to finish brewing this dose of medicine for the Young Master. Then I will pack my things and leave."

Elder Chen just waved his hand, dismissing the servant, which seemed to be his way of agreeing.

After Lu Jingyu’s words were confirmed, Elder Chen looked at him coldly. "As long as Yun Fei doesn’t wake up, you are his assailant. I’ll have someone send the medicine. We won’t trouble Captain Lu."

Elder Chen’s clean-cut reply finally made Xu Qingsui understand Lu Jingyu’s description of him from before they came.

Because of some incident, Elder Chen hated Lu Jingyu and thus wanted someone to replace him.

But Elder Chen also had the Alliance’s best interests at heart, so he would definitely give his all to help once he learned of the crisis.

It was just...

"Alright, you can go now! And I’ll say it again: until Yun Fei wakes up, you’d better not set foot in here again. Otherwise, I can’t be sure I’ll be able to restrain myself from taking your life."

Lu Jingyu sighed silently. "Elder Chen, on behalf of today’s wounded, thank you for your help. When I have time, or if I think of a way to help Yun Fei, I’ll come see him again."

"Get out!"

He must have been through this many times and knew Elder Chen was about to start cursing. Lu Jingyu had already pulled Xu Qingsui out of the room before the elder could say more.

Once they had left the residence, Xu Qingsui couldn’t wait to ask the questions burning in her mind.

"That was Yun Fei on the bed, right? Elder Chen’s son? He must need the medicine too, shouldn’t he? Is it really appropriate to ask Elder Chen to contribute his supply?"

"Yun Fei’s spirit was damaged. Ordinary medicine is useless for him, so it makes no difference."

Xu Qingsui nodded. Seeing that Lu Jingyu seemed to be handling it well, she cautiously asked again, "What exactly happened between you and Chen Yunfei? Why does Elder Chen have such a huge problem with you?"

At this question, Lu Jingyu’s body clearly tensed up. But seeing the intensely curious look in Xu Qingsui’s eyes, he sighed and decided to tell her.

Besides, he had been bottling up some things for so many years. Talking to someone about it would be a good way to vent.

"It’s a long story. Let’s talk as we walk."

Xu Qingsui nodded, following Lu Jingyu to the next elder’s home while listening to the story of the past.

Elder Chen’s real name was Chen Chang’an. If people like Qiu Fang and Qi Qin were elders of the Heiyu Alliance, then Chen Chang’an could be considered its founder.

As an A level Sentinel, Chen Chang’an possessed power that bordered on that of an S Level Sentinel! In his berserk state, he could easily take on an S Level Sentinel.

Under Chen Chang’an’s leadership, the Heiyu Alliance gradually took shape and grew to a considerable size.

In the beginning, people like Qi Qin all followed Chen Chang’an’s orders.

While Chen Chang’an was exceptionally capable, his greatest frustration was having no heir. It wasn’t until he was fifty that he finally had a son in his middle age, Chen Yunfei.

Having a son so late in life, Chen Chang’an doted on the boy quite a bit. But Chen Yunfei didn’t grow up to be arrogant or unruly. On the contrary, he was always polite, intelligent, and sensible, and he had his own opinions when faced with problems.

This made Chen Chang’an adore his son even more. After Chen Yunfei’s mother passed away from illness when he was fourteen, Chen Chang’an poured all his energy into his son.

Like father, like son—at eighteen, Chen Yunfei tested as an S Level Sentinel.

Chen Chang’an was overjoyed and spared no effort in training Chen Yunfei, hoping he would one day take over his position and lead the Heiyu Alliance in defending Zone 9.

Everything was heading in the right direction until six years ago, when Lu Jingyu arrived in Zone 9 and joined the Heiyu Alliance.

At that time, Chen Yunfei was in his twenties and could already stand on his own, leading teams in his father’s stead to clear out Mutants and brave dungeons.

Back then, it was the unspoken consensus within the Alliance that Chen Yunfei would be the next leader.

But after Lu Jingyu handled a few incidents, the chatter from the outside began to change.