The Shadow faction in Country Z is currently at the height of its power, even more so than before. Their assertiveness and influence are undeniable.
Previously, Bai Cha considered the overall situation and was willing to concede or avoid conflict. After all, in a true struggle, the people would suffer. The actions of high-ranking officials were like ripples on the sea; even without wind, the waves were three feet high. Bai Cha did not want innocent people to endure unforeseen consequences.
However, the current Shadow faction operates without reason and with an ironclad attitude. The Guangming faction once attempted to confront the Shadows, but the very next day, a large laboratory was smashed. It is estimated that three major experimental projects will be halted for five to ten years, potentially causing Country Z's overall technological progress to stagnate for three to five years or even longer.
This is a severe blow in an era of global technological advancement. In the past, even if Bai Cha didn't consider the Guangming faction, she would have considered Country Z. But now, the people of the Shadow faction are like fanatics without faith, and no one can do anything about them.
The meeting concluded. The Boss’s office remained spacious and bright, but the person standing before him was no longer Bai Cha, but the young Xiang Nan. The similar peach blossom eyes gave the Boss a moment of disorientation.
“It’s all organized. Here are the names and files of all the traitors and those with ulterior motives. You might need to verify them.” The Boss handed a chip to Xiang Nan.
Long before the World Championship began, when someone attempted to infiltrate and steal data, Bai Cha had stopped them. At that time, Bai Cha and the Boss had reached an understanding.
【I’ll handle everything. You just need to observe who is acting suspiciously. You’ve been a commander for so many years; you can handle this small matter.】
【What do you intend to do?】
【You don’t need to worry. Just do your job… Oh, and it’s best if you don’t alert them during this period. I know you care about me, but since you’re in this position, you must prioritize the bigger picture. Just give me the names when the time comes.】
Watching Xiang Nan put away the chip, the Boss leaned back in his chair, feeling a touch of weariness. He had done everything, but in the end, he couldn't hand the names over to her himself.
He missed his old friend.
The Boss recalled his days at Jun Yao. He had contracted a low-level C-class dragon, whose assistance in combat and even lifespan was meager. However, his focus was on theoretical studies, and he was the top student in the entire school.
Different majors participated in the same competitions. In theoretical political and military competitions, he was first. Ye Feng was second. The Boss had never believed anyone could be so all-rounded – first in combat and first in theory. Yet, Ye Feng was that genius.
Ye Feng came in second in that competition, but the Boss had personally seen Ye Feng leave the last major question unanswered, and yet his score was only one point lower than his own.
“Hey, let’s be friends. Your theoretical knowledge is truly impressive. Many of your ideas are different from mine, yet your scores are so high.”
That day, the Boss remembered feeling a bit down. He studied diligently and strove for excellence, but Ye Feng, the prominent figure, never attended evening self-study and spent his days dating Bai Qing Yuan, the campus belle and second-ranked student in the school.
However, that night, Ye Feng specially climbed over the wall to find him in the dormitory, saying he wanted to be friends. The Boss had had a bit to drink that day, and the wind made him feel dizzy. He ended up having a long talk with someone he barely knew, lasting through the night.
They talked joyfully that day, wishing they could become sworn brothers. The Boss had never imagined that someone whose thought processes were so completely different could still feel like an instant kindred spirit.
Despite not knowing each other well, Ye Feng seemed like his confidant, understanding his concerns and worries, even appreciating his ideas. They complemented each other, drawing inspiration from one another, and talked through the night until dawn, when Ye Feng prepared to climb back over the wall.
“Then we’re friends from now on. Come on, let’s exchange contact information. If we go out later, you can’t refuse my invitation.” Ye Feng was full of spirit back then. The Boss clearly remembered Ye Feng had a mole near the corner of his left eye, which was exceptionally captivating when he winked.
“Geniuses are truly enviable. Did you deliberately leave a major question blank? To boost my reputation, right?” The Boss was also young then, and young people often spoke directly. “You know I’m participating in the election. Is this your way of supporting me?”
“Yes, being able to defeat me is always a very convincing experience. Plus, I can use it as an excuse to become friends with you. Isn’t that great?” Ye Feng was unbothered when his intentions were revealed, smiling as freely as ever. “Besides, I’m not that much of a genius. My top ranking in combat was also helped along.”
Also helped along?
The Boss, being an exceptional individual, immediately understood what Ye Feng meant. Everyone in the academy knew that Ye Feng and Bai Qing Yuan, Jun Yao’s golden couple, were ranked first and second respectively, and were a couple. If Ye Feng was being boosted, it meant Bai Qing Yuan was even stronger.
“Hey, it can’t be helped. My wife spoils me. How could someone like me, who came from an orphanage and learned through unorthodox means, possibly defeat a young lady from a prestigious family? I’ll probably be stronger in the future, but for now, I can only be bullied by my wife.” Ye Feng smiled casually, flaunting his affection and dazzling the Boss.
However, in reality, the top twenty were all from prominent families, with Ye Feng being the only outsider holding the top position. Only the celestial beauty Bai Qing Yuan could surpass him.
Everyone was young that year. The Boss felt that such a spirited genius would surely soar above all others, just as Ye Feng told him once while they were drinking.
Ye Feng said they would always be good brothers. The Boss would be responsible for governing the country, and he would be the blade to assist.
And now, whenever the Boss drifted off, he felt as if everything were a dream, as if Ye Feng had never existed, his traces starting to fade. This gave him an indescribable sense of dread.
Perhaps time truly erodes everything. He wondered if Bai Cha was happy now.
The Boss leaned back in his chair, quietly feeling the sunlight outside the window.
He missed his old friend.
In a sunlit clearing in the woods, Bai Cha was sleeping soundly, cradling a large cat.
Bai Cha rested her head on the belly of a large black cat, holding a smaller one in her arms, dozing off.
Ever since Bai Cha and Lucifer rescued the injured black panther cub, the mother and cub had become quite familiar with them and often came to Lucifer’s place for food, consuming large quantities. This forced Lucifer to prepare extra portions.
“Master, it’s time to go to the other side.” Lucifer gently shook Bai Cha.
Bai Cha had been asleep for four hours. She had said she was tired around eight or nine o’clock when they arrived at this clearing and had fallen asleep with the two black panthers.
Bai Cha was not accustomed to sleeping late and waking up late. Therefore, after Lucifer set a rule for Bai Cha to sleep early, Bai Cha would wake up very early every morning. Only in the recent days had it slightly improved, and Bai Cha had developed a slight habit of lingering in bed.
Today, because Bai Cha wanted to go to the other side of the island, and the journey was a bit far, they had woken up a little too early. Lucifer thought Bai Cha just needed a little more sleep due to waking up too early, but he didn’t expect Bai Cha to sleep for a full four hours. It was already lunchtime.
“Master… Master?”
Lucifer frowned. He had called Bai Cha several times, but Bai Cha showed no signs of waking up.
As a weapon, the vigilance accumulated over many years was not just talk. Even if she was too relaxed now, she wouldn’t be sleeping so soundly after being called so many times. However, the little panther in Bai Cha’s arms nudged her a few times.
Lucifer immediately sensed something was wrong. When he touched Bai Cha’s hands and feet, they were ice-cold.
Not to mention that it was sunny here, but given the body heat of the two panthers, one held in Bai Cha’s arms and the other under her head, Bai Cha shouldn’t feel cold.
Lucifer’s expression changed. He picked up Bai Cha and hurried back to the villa at top speed, with the two black panthers following closely behind.
Bai Cha slept for a long time that day, not waking up until six in the evening. She felt a slight pain in the back of her hand. Looking up, the little panther was indeed beside her.
“I told you not to lick me all the time. The barbs on your tongue really hurt,” Bai Cha mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
The little black panther whined and circled, looking a bit wronged, then nudged Bai Cha’s leg again.
But Bai Cha froze. The previously soft and warm sensation felt blurry. She was very familiar with the feeling of being nudged, but now Bai Cha felt as if her legs were numb and had lost all sensation. There was only a faint, almost imperceptible touch.
Bai Cha lowered her head. The little black panther was indeed rubbing her leg with force. Bai Cha hesitated, then pinched her thigh.
The sensation was faint, as if her body had gone numb. Although she could still move, it was as if she had lost her sense of touch.
What would happen next?
Bai Cha was unsure, but she forced herself to walk downstairs as if she were normal and sat at the dining table.
As soon as she sat down, Lucifer pushed open the kitchen door and brought out the last dish. Seeing Bai Cha arrive, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Master, are you feeling unwell anywhere?” Lucifer asked with concern.
Bai Cha shook her head. To make her numb body appear more normal, even walking required a great deal of effort. However, the two black panthers seemed to possess an unspoken understanding, especially the smaller one, which curled up in her arms, still allowing her to feel a trace of warmth.
From this day on, Bai Cha seemed to dislike going out. She appeared to have become lazier, sleeping for long periods and preferring to sit on the sofa and read.
“Master.” Lucifer pushed the serving cart over. Bai Cha didn’t look up, seemingly engrossed in her book. It wasn’t until Lucifer handed her the milk that the sweet milky fragrance brought Bai Cha back to her senses.
“Master, have some milk.” Lucifer said with a hint of helplessness. “You’re too engrossed in your book.”
Bai Cha stared at Lucifer’s lips for a moment, then burst out laughing.
“What can I do? The book is so good!” Bai Cha touched her neck, shrugged, took the milk, and drank it down in one go. “I wonder how they are doing.”
“Do you miss them?” Lucifer asked. “Or rather, are you still worried about them?”
“How could I be? Their abilities are quite remarkable…” Bai Cha leaned back on the sofa, looked out the window for a long time, and then sighed softly. “Perhaps a little, yes.”
After all, her first half of her life had been them – their boisterousness, their laughter, everything was etched into her bones. Now, it was like a dream, evoking nostalgia and sadness.
“Then, would you like me to tell them? I can have them visit you.” Lucifer turned around and placed the glass cup down, but he didn’t receive a response from Bai Cha.
Lucifer turned his head. Bai Cha was still looking out the window, seemingly lost in thought. Noticing Lucifer looking back, Bai Cha blinked.
“What is it?”
“No, nothing, my Master.”
It had rained heavily for the past few days. Bai Cha seemed to have become captivated by the sound of the rain, often pressing her ear against the window to listen to the raindrops pattering against the glass, before drifting into a gentle slumber.
Bai Cha’s complexion seemed to have improved recently. She smiled more often and became exceptionally gentle, appearing like a different person compared to before.
Today was curry. Bai Cha ate a whole plate, then leaned back in her chair, eyes half-closed in contentment.
“I added chili today. I thought you might not get used to it.” Lucifer looked at Bai Cha’s languid demeanor, and his mood also brightened. “It seems you like it very much.”
Bai Cha paused for a moment, then quickly smiled. “Everything you make is delicious. And the spiciness really adds flavor. Sweating a little is good for you too.”
Lucifer: “……”