Cliff City's nightlife was always boisterous and lively, with an endless array of programs like food stalls, late-night BBQ, KTV, and so on, offering a wide variety of choices. Yet compared to other people's colorful and dazzling nights, some individuals seemed desolate and frenzied.

Until at last, close to dawn, the roaring sounds of the underground training ground within the Security Bureau abruptly ceased.

Then, with an expressionless face, Yu Hanguang pushed open the door and left, not even bothering to offer a perfunctory greeting to the staff who had hastened to clean up, as he usually would.

And only long after Yu Hanguang had gone did the chill in the air slowly begin to dissipate.

"Wow, what's got into him?"

The bewildered janitor holding a mop and broom stared in the direction Yu Hanguang had taken, completely baffled. But as soon as he pushed open the door to the training ground, he stood rooted to the spot.

A total mess.

Inside the vast training ground, the alloy steel-covered ground, walls, and dome were littered with scorch marks, some still glowing red hot. The few targets meant for practice had completely melted into pools of molten metal, utterly obliterated!

It was as if a natural disaster had swept through.

The entire training ground, not to mention further use, was utterly transformed into ruins...

"Clean everything up thoroughly, if there are problematic elements, discard them quickly. In these troublesome times, let's not stir up any more trouble!"

Not until he returned to his office did Yu Hanguang's demeanor finally show a hint of darkness as he hung up the phone abruptly and settled back into his chair.

His original fury finally under control, his eyes now held nothing but sheer coldness.

To be severely set up by Wen Wen and take this bitter pill.

He had no choice but to sever his subordinates from all industries associated with that old dog Jiang Jin, the loss immeasurable.

The gains of these past few years could be said to have been entirely wiped out overnight, and then some.

Should she dare capitalize on the situation again, who knows what troubles might still entangle him.

Yet what made him even more vigilant was not Wen Wen.

What of Minerva? That Heavenly Person from Central Capital didn't kill her, she wasn't dead. As long as the other party continued to exist for even a day, or rather, as long as their power remained embedded in the intricate upper echelons of the Federation, Wen Wen at most could only make a scene within her small confines of Cliff City without causing significant chaos.

No matter how strong she might be, in this world, others are strong too. Even the strongest must follow rules or be ousted from the game.

He had never feared Wen Wen, even if she had made him uncomfortable, but the key was... the relationship between Wen Wen and Ji Jue.

The future of a Chosen Summoner was indeed bright and extensive, but so what? If she needed to be eliminated now, it wasn't any more troublesome than crushing an ant.

But if the two were to join forces...

It didn't take a genius to figure out that last night's events couldn't have been orchestrated by Wen Wen, that person fixated on nothing but slaughter and annihilation. Who else could be masterminding his downfall behind the scenes, if not Ji Jue?

It's hard to imagine her placing such trust in someone else.

With that behavior, she practically seemed like a scheming advisor.

Not to say whether the grown-up Ji Jue would become Wen Wen's vigorous support, but even now, a Wen Wen with an external brain was already multiple times harder to manipulate than before. A slightest misstep, and she might rip another piece of flesh off him...

The moment he realized all this, he understood that only Ji Jue was the true threat!

Yu Hanguang's eyes revealed undisguised sternness.

— he must be uprooted as soon as possible!

As for Wen Wen's protection, indeed, it was a bit troublesome.

But why should he act personally?

He didn't have to do anything, nor did he need to.

To target someone like Ji Jue, devoid of any solid foundation, he merely needed to fulfill his duties diligently, write a report based on the informants' clues, and submit it—that would be enough!

In a place like the Security Bureau, riddled with leaks, this naturally triggered endless controversies, each one enough to completely engulf Ji Jue.

Even without solid evidence.

Sometimes, to crush a person, suspicion is enough.

Plus, who doesn't have vulnerabilities?

Classmates, friends, relatives...

There were far too many places to intervene, too many ways to ruin someone. One didn't even need to shed blood; a slight nudge was sufficient for someone to dig their own grave.

Soon, even the Chosen Summoner wouldn't be able to rage for long.

Yu Hanguang sneered, picking up his phone tomake a call, but his palm suddenly vibrated.

An unknown number had bypassed the blocking intercept, reaching his phone. Boundaryless Communication even provided a golden display frame for the caller, highlighting their significant status and internal privileges.

He paused for a moment, then answered the call.

"Who is this?"

"Ye Xian."

A calm voice arose, with direct inquiry, devoid of any fluctuations, "Team Leader Yu, I understand that you have some thoughts concerning my apprentice?"

"…"

In a moment of astonishment, Yu Hanguang's mind raced, and he frowned.

Ye Xian? Who?

He racked his brain for a long time, finally recalling the alchemy master mentioned in the archive files who had come to Cliff City a few years ago...

A craftsman?

He was almost laughed by the audacity; it seemed like everyone dared to overstep their boundaries with him!

"The Security Bureau operates independently; I think it unnecessary to explain to others." He spoke coldly, "Unless there's something else, I'm hanging up."

"Is that so?"

On the other end of the phone, a helpless sigh was heard, "Team Leader Yu, I don't know if you are aware, but in alchemy, there is a saying... if the mood is not good, it will interfere with the spirit, and if the spirit is not good, it will affect the body."

She said, "People with a poor physical condition should rest more."

Absurd!

I couldn't understand what she was talking about at all!

Yu Hanguang sneered coldly, not wanting to continue the conversation, and as he was about to hang up, he discovered... that his fingers couldn't move.

That thread of icy numbness, like a knife's edge, spread from his fingertips, engulfing his whole body in an instant, stripping away his control of his flesh, and then suddenly spreading widely.

It was like a rushing tsunami's cold wave, devouring everything.

In a moment of convulsion and twitching, Yu Hanguang couldn't help but cough violently, and what sprayed out was actually bright red blood.

Mixed with it were clearly visible grains of iron sand and iron shards!

The iron sand and iron shards fell onto the table, still sizzling and scattering dazzling electric sparks!

Yu Hanguang's eyes widened as he stared in disbelief.

That was his... Matrix?!

But in that instant, his matrix had actually spun out of control!

Like encountering Mutated Pollution, the intense turbulence twisted out of control, a violent clash of powers and blessings sparking an internal explosion-like trauma within him!

It wasn't severe; just a few days of rest would completely restore the original state.

But... what if, it could be severe?

What if, it could be even more severe?!

He had always prided himself on absolute control of his abilities, but now, his own abilities had turned against him!

In that moment, a bone-chilling cold completely devoured him, making him tremble uncontrollably, an unprecedented level of terror!

"You're tired, it might be due to overwork. Start resting for a few months from today."

On the other end of the phone, that calm voice bid farewell, "I have a bad temper and don't like people speaking to me impolitely, so I hope the Security Bureau pays more attention too..."

She said, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."

With that, the call was disconnected.

In the deadly silent office, there was only the echoing busy signal left, and Yu Hanguang's heavy breathing.

He was unable to rise from his chair for a long, long time, drenched in sweat.

He didn't even have the strength to make a sound.

Like a hyena whose tail had been crushed under the foot of a tyrannosaur.

...

"Last night, you really caused a big stir."

In the morning, Ji Jue finally saw Ye Xian in the workshop who had been busy for days. Professor Ye still held his tea cup, sipping the bitter tea leisurely and said indifferently:

"Since this morning, the Security Bureau has been continuously sending accountability my way, making it tough for a lone craftsman like me to hold up."

"My mistake, Professor, I'm sorry."

Ji Jue was stunned for a long time before he could hide his shame.

On one hand, the situation yesterday was urgent, leaving no time to think carefully, but on the other hand, he still lacked sufficient understanding of his own identity.

He had not expected his actions would involve the Professor... involving the Security Bureau, even if the Professor was a master of the Taiyi Ring, it was unknown how troublesome being wrapped up in this mess could be.

Dammit, that bastard Yu Hanguang...

After mentally noting this deeply, Ji Jue solemnly said, "I assure you it won't happen a second time."

If there really is a next time, I'll wear a mask, clear my identity, and then go kill that bastard...

"Okay, the day I recruited you, I was prepared for this, these useless words and promises don't need to be said again. A capable person always stands out, an unqualified person hopping around is just seen as a buffoon. If you can become a Grandmaster in the future, who can say there was anything wrong with my choice today?"

Professor Ye glanced at him and said lightly, "Don't disappoint me."

"Understood." Ji Jue nodded frantically, wishing he could write a pledge.

What shocked him even more was that, contrary to expectations, there was no difficulty and scolding; the matter of yesterday was just lightly glossed over.

He hadn't even asked for details.

Ji Jue secretly breathed a sigh of relief and then mentally noted again for that bastard Yu Hanguang: Wait till your daddy gets strong, then just wait to die, stupid asshole!

After reviewing Ji Jue's progress and assignments from the past few days, Professor Ye waved her hand disinterestedly, "Mediocre goods, they only match the scraps used underfoot.

Compared to that, even the technical content of the Superior Emblem drawn on that gun with a makeshift probe like a pair of pliers is higher.

Didn't bring it?"

"Uh, that was borrowed, I returned it on the way here." Ji Jue toed the ground awkwardly, not expecting his spontaneous misbehavior to catch Professor Ye's eye.

"What about the others?"

Professor Ye did not hide her curiosity: "And what about that living motorbike with the ability to suppress the Chosen One and the Shadow Beast? I saw you ride it here today, right?"

She adjusted her glasses, a passionate gaze originating from a craftsman's instinct emerging, "To be honest, I haven't had such an eye-opening experience in years..."

His own student, no, before even being an apprentice, managing to create something so exaggerated?

It was truly a surprise!

No, it should count as, a shock…

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