Shangguan Wen hesitated for a long time before finally gathering the courage to step forward and whisper beside her, "Eldest Miss, do you perhaps… have feelings for Dr. He?"
Bai Xi's spoon, which had been stirring her cereal, paused for a fraction of a second. Then, she calmly looked up and stated, with complete composure, "No."
Upon hearing Bai Xi's response, Shangguan Wen breathed a sigh of relief. "Eldest Miss, I know I have no right to interfere in your personal matters, but… I have a feeling that Dr. He is someone we need to be cautious of."
Bai Xi looked at him, puzzled, and remained silent.
At this moment, they stood at the mouth of the cave. Outside, a howling cold wind blew, so fierce that it felt as if ice crystals were forming on their eyelashes.
This whistling wind also perfectly masked their voices, making it impossible for anyone other than themselves to hear them.
Seeing Bai Xi looking at him, Shangguan Wen gritted his teeth slightly. "Eldest Miss, there's a reason I was able to become the overall commander of Hai Dao City. It's because I can sense the qi in others."
Qi is the essence of a person, unique to each individual.
It changes subtly with shifts in emotions, though the general tone remains consistent.
For instance, a person harboring anger will have their qi surge.
Someone with murderous intent will have their qi retract inward.
A person filled with joy will have their qi become gentle and soothing.
…
This was something he had painstakingly observed and researched over the years.
It was precisely because of this that he could discern whether someone was good or bad, honest and upright or cunning and deceitful. Or perhaps, someone who approached them with ulterior motives, smiling to their face but harboring a hidden dagger, constantly plotting their assassination.
Bai Xi's brow furrowed slightly.
In the Dark Department, everyone above the rank of Intermediate Commander, in addition to their exceptional combat prowess, possessed some unique specialty.
For example, Xuan Feng’s strength, Liu Yue’s instantaneous mastery of disguise, or her own ghostly speed that astonished others… Each person had their own innate talent, and it was this talent that allowed them to better complete their missions.
However, how was he supposed to explain this to the God of War?
Would the God of War even believe him?
Thinking this, he felt a pang of unease. "Eldest Miss, I am not trying to sow discord, nor am I jealous of Dr. He… I genuinely sense something unusual about him, which is why I spoke up."
After saying this, he immediately regretted it.
His explanation made it sound even more like he was deliberately causing trouble for He Mu.
With this thought, he couldn't help but feel dejected.
"So, what exactly did Commander Shangguan discover?"
A soft question brought Shangguan Wen back to his senses, and he looked at Bai Xi.
At this moment, Bai Xi was also looking at him, her gaze serious.
The God of War… believed him?
Overjoyed, he didn't forget to convey what he had sensed to Bai Xi. "I sensed two currents of qi emanating from Dr. He, something that is completely unheard of in ordinary people."
Shangguan Wen's eyes were serious as he looked at Bai Xi.
At this moment, he could also sense Bai Xi's qi.
Bai Xi's qi was vast and grand, sacred and flawless, clean and pure. She was the undisputed God of War of the Dark Department. Even though she appeared cold and detached, in reality, she bore the world in her heart and felt compassion for all living beings.
His ability to sense a person's qi was not an active skill for him.
He could only perceive it when he focused intently on the other person.
When he first met He Mu, he simply saw him as an unremarkable doctor. But as they journeyed together, He Mu’s gentleness and kindness compelled him to look at him more closely. Furthermore, he harbored deep admiration and affection for Bai Xi.
This feeling was not sacrilege, but rather profound reverence for Bai Xi.
As long as he could see her standing high above, he was content.
And then there was Dr. He…
He looked towards He Mu, who was not far away.
Currently, He Mu was lying in his sleeping bag, peacefully asleep.
However, the two currents of qi emanating from him were still present.
Normally, aside from external energy influences, qi was proportional to a person's energy.
The greater a person's energy, the stronger their presence, and the more apparent their qi.
Just like the God of War, her qi was incredibly potent.
Among their group, the weakest qi belonged to the burly subordinate.
As for He Mu… besides possessing peculiar dual qi, the state of his qi was very strange.
One was a faint yellow aura, incredibly weak, clinging almost to his body. The other was a powerful black aura, like a savage, dancing demonic flame, flickering and swaying, threatening to consume him entirely.
This was the first time he had ever encountered such qi, and it filled him with unease and fear.
Moreover, he felt that this time, when he looked at He Mu, the black qi had become significantly stronger than when he first saw him.
Was this his imagination?
It shouldn't be!
Even if a person's qi could change with their growth.
For instance, if someone achieved great power and status through success and happiness, their qi would strengthen. Or if misfortune befell their family, someone passed away, or they themselves suffered a severe injury, their qi would change accordingly.
But such a rapid transformation was something he had never witnessed.
Even more so… the person was currently asleep.
At such times, a person's qi should logically be at its slowest and weakest.
Yet, He Mu before him… filled him with increasing dread.
Bai Xi, hearing this, also looked towards He Mu.
Perhaps it was a coincidence, or perhaps He Mu possessed exceptional sensitivity, but upon feeling their gaze, he opened his eyes and slowly looked in the direction of Bai Xi and Shangguan Wen, offering a slight smile.
This smile was gentle and warm, like that of a friendly elder brother.
But in Shangguan Wen's eyes, the black qi had become even more vigorous as He Mu awoke, almost completely obscuring all the blackness. The qi coiled upwards, like a demon extending its sharp claws.
Shangguan Wen stood in the wind, his deep eyes growing more displeased. His Adam's apple moved involuntarily as he said softly, "Eldest Miss… what I'm saying is true. I implore you to be extremely cautious."
Bai Xi was currently watching He Mu, saying nothing more.
The weather in the Ice Ridge Mountains was always this way, characterized by extreme blizzards and bitter cold.
Snow piled up layer by layer, as if attempting to obstruct the path of those moving forward. However, the travelers were single-minded and pressed onward.
After another dozen or so hours of travel, they finally reached their destination.
The largest mountain cave within the Ice Ridge Mountains.
The group proceeded inside, venturing deeper.
As he walked, the burly man clutched his arms. "Damn it, why is it so cold in this cave when there's no wind or blizzard!"
The refined man glanced at him with disdain. "All brawn, no brain."
The burly man glared at him resentfully. "Don't push it!"
The refined man merely raised his eyebrows, his expression dismissive.
Just then, He Mu took out a bottle and handed it to the burly man. "This is medicine I concocted last night. Taking one pill can invigorate the qi and blood, warm the interior, and dispel the cold. It won't make you warm instantly, but it should protect your body from being invaded by the cold."
The burly man paused for a moment, then quickly took the medicine and was about to consume it without hesitation, but Shangguan Wen intercepted him. "Dr. He, you were busy for half the night yesterday. Was this what you were doing?"
He Mu nodded in acknowledgment of Shangguan Wen, smiling faintly. "Yes, my physique is far inferior to yours, and I didn't want to be a burden, so I developed this."
Shangguan Wen's eyes remained fixed on the bottle of medicine, his brows conveying a clear sense of vigilance and interrogation. "Since Dr. He has this capability, why didn't you use it from the start?"