The past

“Xingxing.”

Nie Chuan saw that He Qixing collapsed on the ground, and he immediately reached out to help.

“What’s wrong with you?”

He Qixing shook his head gently. “Don’t worry about that for now.”

“My father’s in the security system’s control room. Let’s catch up quickly. Maybe we can find out something. Also, inform General Mo Xiao about this news.”

He Qixing didn’t know if General Gu Huan had betrayed the country or if he was the subordinate of that super SSS-level fugitive. But his father was evidently connected to the escape of General Gu Huan.

Appearing at the Interstellar Court before the General’s escape and being able to access the security system, his father was the most likely person to assist General Gu Huan. Moreover, after returning, he did two things: first, he told him that he wanted to take him on a trip, and second, he returned to the Interstellar Court to “maintain” the system.

There was only one explanation for his actions.

He wanted to take him away after destroying all the traces he left behind.

The more determined his father was to take him away, the more He Qixing felt that danger might be imminent here.

He didn’t know how much weight he had in his father’s heart, but since his father was willing to take him away after returning, it proved that he, as his son, still had some significance.

He Qixing smiled bitterly.

Then, he supported his somewhat weak thighs and stood up immediately. The Interstellar Court didn’t interfere with the optical network, so Nie Chuan was able to quickly contact General Mo Xiao.

He then received a piece of news.

The Interstellar Court had already been surrounded by the armies of Jialin and the Crown Prince’s Special Guard.

They were instructed not to act recklessly or do anything unusual. If they wanted to protest, they could continue to do so.

Just stay in place and don’t move closer to the dangerous person, He Yunan.

Why did Xingxing’s father suddenly become a dangerous person? Nie Chuan subconsciously looked at He Qixing, but he didn’t ask. He Qixing, who previously had a sunny face, looked a bit serious at the moment.

This time, he didn’t come alone; he brought dozens of people with him.

He Qixing quivered his lips.

“No, I have to go see, or I’m afraid I’ll never understand what my father is hiding from me.”

Nie Chuan patted He Qixing’s shoulder. “I’ll go with you.”

“This is a matter between my father and me.”

He Yunan was his father, and he shouldn’t harm him. But the same cannot be said for Nie Chuan.

“He is still an old friend of my father, right? This is the first time I heard my father’s name from someone else. It’s considered having some connection.”

What does that connection count for? He Qixing didn’t know what to say.

“You are hard to argue with.”

Nie Chuan immediately informed General Mo Xiao of their planned actions and reported that they had mechas, which might be able to surround He Yunan within the court for an internal and external attack.

This plan was quickly approved by General Mo Xiao.

Nie Chuan handed the sign he was holding to Lin Shuyan who was not far behind him, telling him that he and He Qixing were about to leave.

Lin Shuyan immediately disagreed, and his usually gentle voice sounded a bit angry. “Nie Chuan, where are you going? These people were brought by you, and you can’t leave. If you leave, everyone’s hearts won’t settle down.”

“Now, the most important thing is not the protest; there might be a huge change inside the court. Here, the two of us, Jialin’s reserve mecha soldiers, might be the only fighting force.”

“Major General Mo Xiao also approved our actions.”

Approved by a Major General? Lin Shuyan’s pupils slightly contracted. He tightly pursed his lips, glanced at the students not far away, and asked Nie Chuan, “What about the other students? Do you want to tell them?”

To express that they came only for peaceful protest, none of them brought weapons. They didn’t even have energy guns on them. If danger occurred, and the enemy had weapons, they would have no resistance except death.

Nie Chuan rubbed his head. “This is the problem I’m worried about. If danger occurs, the people I brought with me will probably be the first batch of cannon fodder.”

A group of unarmed noble-born students; was there a better hostage option than this?

“Stick together. Relying solely on me and Xingxing won’t be enough to protect so many people.”

Nie Chuan, when serious, had a rare alpha-like decisive demeanor.

“So we must rush out and directly face the ‘dangerous elements’, stopping the danger before it approaches unarmed people.”

The mature look in Nie Chuan’s dark eyes made Lin Shuyan feel a bit touched. He had never considered Nie Chuan as an alpha before, and now, suddenly, his heart stirred. But this obviously wasn’t the right time to be concerned with romance.

Nie Chuan patted Lin Shuyan playfully. “So, Vice President, help me stabilize public opinion. Make some noise, hey yo!”

He Qixing had already walked more than ten meters away.

Nie Chuan immediately caught up, jokingly questioning as he ran, “Xingxing! How can you leave with your father? I disagree with this. Come back to me. Do you hear me? If you leave today, I’ll cut ties with you.”

Lin Shuyan watched the two leave and, when classmates and media surrounded him, explained.

“Classmate He Qixing finally decided to leave with his father, and the president wants to bring him back.”

“Everyone, continue protesting. The president will be back soon.”

---

Relying on He Qixing’s identity as the son of Dean He, he smoothly infiltrated the court, but Nie Chuan was stopped.

He rushed over several times, reaching out.

“He Qixing, come over here! Let’s have a fight, you traitor. As soon as your dad scolds you, you leave? Are you still protesting? Go home already, you milk-drinker!”

“You’re just afraid of losing to me, so you deliberately went inside, right? Heh, you’re so afraid of me since losing to me in the last competition.”

He Qixing furrowed his brows and seemed irritated. “Who’s afraid of you?”

The two were arguing in the hall. One was in front of the security checkpoint, and the other was behind it. Suddenly, two groups rushed out from the side, knocked out the guards on both sides, and applauded the two stupefied students.

“Stop acting like you’re turning against each other here. Hurry up and go in. We’re General Mo Xiao’s people.”

Nie Chuan choked on his next lines.

It turns out Major General Mo Xiao had long prepared a plan for an internal and external attack.

“Yes, sir.” Nie Chuan saluted respectfully.

“Can my father survive? There is currently no evidence indicating that he committed any other serious crimes.”

“Your father modified the security system here and wanted to activate the self-destruct device.”

“If he succeeds, this place will become ruins within half an hour.”

Considering He Qixing’s identity, they softened their words a bit.

“Of course, your father’s intention to disable the self-destruct program for you might serve as a basis for a reduced sentence.”

He Qixing bit his lower lip tightly.

“All right, I understand.”

“General Mo Xiao let you in because it seems that He Yunan still has a trace of conscience. If you can persuade your father to surrender, the punishment might not be death.”

“You have mechas on you. If there’s a battle, make sure to protect yourselves first. We’ll be right behind you. If you can’t handle it, we’ll step in.”

He Qixing felt a bit relieved. Not resorting to violence was the best option.

“Alright, I’ll definitely try to persuade him.”

<hr>

With his sharp eyebrows slightly furrowed, Gu Huan asked, “What does this have to do with Nie Cen?”

“This matter has to start with the Zerg Crystal.”

“Nie Cen invented the Zerg Crystal.”

He always thought that the box of Zerg Crystal marbles given to Nie Chuan to play with was a scheme by He Yunan to frame Nie Cen. But according to Chu Fengyuan, Nie Cen was indeed related to the Zerg Crystal.

Could it be that they misunderstood Nie Cen?

Chu Fengyuan shook his head, and his long fingers supported his chin as he scraped it.

“If I had known about the relationship between Nie Cen and Nie Chuan, I wouldn’t have been deceived by He Yunan until today. Compared to the time and effort spent on the twin experiment, it’s much more convenient to snatch Nie Chuan away.”

Seeing Chu Fengyuan’s deep resentment, which didn’t seem fake, Gu Huan continued to listen.

“You should know by now. Not all Zerg Crystals can control the Zerg.”

“Zerg Crystals are divided into two types: one made with your spiritual power and the other made with… other people’s spiritual power.”

“They look similar, but ordinary Zerg Crystals can at most store some surplus spiritual power and convey memories from when the spiritual power was applied. Otherwise, they’re just useless stones.”

“However, Zerg Crystals made with your spiritual power can control the Zerg and control humans with spiritual power levels C and below.”

When saying these words, Chu Fengyuan looked at Gu Huan with eyes like a tomb raider discovering gold in an ancient tomb – a gaze that, even knowing the danger, still coveted and didn’t forget.

Gu Huan glanced coldly over, and Chu Fengyuan withdrew his gaze.

“The value difference between these two types of Zerg Crystals is enormous.”

“Like the two sides of a coin. Nie Cen only saw the worthless side of the Zerg Crystal; he didn’t know how valuable the thing he created was.”

“He Yunan knew the value of that Zerg Crystal.”

“Who do you think benefited the most from the death of the Nie Cen family?”

It was He Yunan. Gu Huan pursed his lips.

As long as the Nie couple was alive, if the Zerg invaded the capital, the existence of the Zerg Crystal would be immediately exposed. With the Nie couple dead, even the time they’d lose to find a scapegoat was saved.

He Yunan had more reasons to kill Nie Cen than Chu Fengyuan did, and it was even more logical.

“Impossible.”

Gu Huan quickly discovered the loopholes in Chu Fengyuan’s words.

“Even if you didn’t know that the person hiding there was Nie Cen,”

“The Zergs suddenly appeared during the incubation period.”

“You couldn’t have not searched for the remains of that Zerg. How could you not have found out that the Zerg was being controlled by someone?”

Chu Fengyuan was a very cautious and prudent person. Faced with such an unusual event, he couldn’t have just ignored it.

Chu Fengyuan clapped his hands. “You truly deserve your reputation.”

“I said he might be related to the Zerg Queen because at that time, I immediately sent someone to investigate, to search through the remains of the Zerg, and they found no Zerg Crystal in that Zerg’s corpse.”

There were only two possibilities.

“Either it was a genuine accident, or…”

“The relationship between He Yunan and the Zerg is unclear.”