Dean He
by M1zushiedited by shay
It’s also possible that he’s not the General.
After all, it’s not uncommon for anyone to use someone else’s appearance on the optical network.
He’s encountered many individuals claiming to be “General” in these past few days, so it’s not surprising.
Nie Chuan comforted himself, but… he already has a hunch that others might be fake, but the one coming towards him is definitely real.
As for why…
He met this person throughout his whole vacation. He can’t possibly be mistaken!
“Ge… General.”
Losing in front of others and losing in front of an idol are completely different things.
Nie Chuan’s face turned red in an instant.
But Gu Huan didn’t criticize him, only offering encouragement.
“After you return to the First Military Academy, don’t slack off in your training, keep working hard.”
After watching two rounds of the competition, Nie Chuan and He Qixing’s performance wasn’t bad. Their opponents were indeed strong, and their strength was peculiar, which even caused He Qixing, who excels in calculations, to suffer a big loss.
No criticism!
Did he do well? Nie Chuan replied spiritedly, “Yes, General.”
“Oh, General, let me introduce you to the opponents we just fought against, they…”
As Nie Chuan was about to introduce the new acquaintances, he turned his head and belatedly realized, “Huh? Where are they?”
He Qixing twitched his mouth.
“Fool, when you were paying attention to the General just now, they had already left.”
“Huh?”
Are they really that shy?
Hearing their conversation, Gu Huan looked towards He Qixing and softly said,
“Major He, come with me for a moment.”
He Qixing’s gaze flickered slightly, and he nodded slightly.
“Yes, General.”
Gu Huan opened his personal profile in the optical network, and a white door immediately appeared within the competition arena.
Each individual had their own personal profile in the optical network. In the real world, it might be just a two-dimensional introduction interface, but within the virtual space of the optical network, it became a private space where one could invite others.
“Please come in.”
Gu Huan invited the young man into the space. He Qixing maintained a respectful but slightly distant distance, not daring to sit even when he saw the couch, standing rigidly.
Gu Huan had a small robot bring in two cups of coffee and placed them on the table.
“It’s fine, please have a seat.”
“Yes, General.”
The young man sat upright on the opposite couch, his hands resting on the top of his thighs, just as he would in a military setting.
A faint, gentle smile appeared on the corners of Gu Huan’s lips.
“Truly an exceptional soldier. Exemplary at all times,” Gu Huan nodded slightly.
He Qixing lifted his head slightly.
“Thank you for your praise, General.”
“If only Nie Chuan was as dedicated as you,” Gu Huan shook his head slightly.
Hearing the General mention Nie Chuan, He Qixing pursed his lips and recalled the conversation he had with Nie Chuan. After a moment of hesitation, he clenched his pants and finally spoke up.
“General, I know you gave Nie Chuan special training.”
“Do you want to train together as well?”
Gu Huan asked in a knowing tone.
He Qixing’s shallow complexion turned slightly red.
“Yes.”
Gu Huan’s fingers traced his jawline, propping his chin slightly. His brows furrowed with a hint of distress.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
He Qixing’s gaze dimmed instantly, and he bit his lip.
“I’m sorry, General, I was presumptuous.”
He had just told Nie Chuan that the General couldn’t share the method with everyone.
“It’s not that I don’t want to teach you, but that kind of method may be something only Nie Chuan can learn.”
He had already experimented with Mo Xiao and a few others, and meditation was simply ineffective for him.
Nie Chuan was an exception.
Perhaps because Nie Chuan was also an experimental subject.
He Qixing didn’t think Gu Huan was deliberately brushing him off, as the General could have simply refused him if he didn’t want to teach. There was no need for the roundabout approach.
Nie Chuan might truly have his unique aspects.
It was an innate limitation, and though he felt somewhat disappointed, He Qixing accepted the reality. However, after accepting it, he thought about the two girls he met today.
“The two girls I met on the competition field today seem to be able to surpass their own limits.”
“Do you know them?”
Gu Huan shook his head and then furrowed his brows tightly. He asked, “I saw you talking to them for a while. Do you know who they are?”
Because it had just happened, He Qixing recalled the details and blurted out, “I don’t know them, but I know their names. One is named Cheng Dui, and the other is Cheng Zhao. They are twin sisters. Cheng Dui doesn’t have a mole on her face, while Cheng Zhao has a mole.”
“Their normal mental strength should be at the A level, just like mine. However, in the later stages of the competition, when they are angry or in intense emotions, they seem to reach the SS level.”
This was different from what Nie Chuan, taught by Gu Huan, could achieve, as Nie Chuan could control when to unleash his power.
But the emotions of those twin sisters grew stronger, and their mental strength increased as their emotions intensified.
Gu Huan hadn’t expected He Qixing to analyze so much. Truly, he was a strategic thinker who could estimate and use direct attacks to force opponents to reveal themselves. Such a mind was invaluable.
After discussing their recent lives in the military area, Gu Huan watched He Qixing leave his personal space.
Then he fell silent for a while before opening his light-brain interface.
“Xiao Ling, use my privileges to investigate the information of the two participants in the mecha competition.”
He had some suspicions that those two girls might be experimental subjects like Nie Chuan.
If there were other experimental subjects besides Nie Chuan, that could only mean one thing.
The person assisting the Imperial Uncle in researching Zerg control might not be Nie Chuan’s deceased parents.
There were others conducting research, and that person had all the data related to him. Furthermore, they further refined the research and discovered the method to control the Zergs.
[Imperial Palace]
Inside the palace, the man who should have been seated on the throne was now slumped on the ground, one leg curled up, his temples streaked with white hair.
If it weren’t for the crown on his head, it would be difficult to recognize him as the former authoritarian and overbearing emperor.
A researcher in a white coat entered the palace and half-knelt on the ground.
The emperor raised his eyes slightly and, upon seeing the visitor, smiled faintly.
“Dean He, you’re here.”
“I didn’t expect to see you in this state.”
He Yunan, the director of the research institute, had a very reserved expression, his face framed by a pair of glasses. His gaze was calm and distant. With a beckoning motion from the Emperor, he rose from his kneeling position.
Chu Shengyun shook his head with a bitter smile.
“If I had known it would come to this, I should have heeded your advice and not pursued that experiment.”
“Your Majesty, it’s all in the past. There’s no need to bring it up again.”
Chu Shengyun’s blue eyes fell on the person standing below, and he felt a slight sense of emotion.
When these words came from anyone else, they would be mere superficial consolation. But He Yunan was different. He was one of the few people who could both say it and do it.
Back then, he had invited He Yunan to participate in that experiment together, but He Yunan had flatly refused. Enraged and humiliated, he had directly expelled He Yunan from the Research Institute and sent him to a basic level research facility.
The senior researchers in the institute were all geniuses with high ambitions. Normally, after being demoted for a few years, it should have been difficult for him to come back and lead the institute. But He Yunan didn’t do that. He never brought up past grievances and truly let go…
He’s truly worthy of being Gu Nan’s most respected senior brother. His magnanimity was something that ordinary mortals like him couldn’t compare to.
“Have all the research data related to No. 0 been destroyed?”
“They have all been completely destroyed.”
Chu Shengyun nodded.
“All the recent research directions seem to revolve around how to create better weapons. That young fellow, Chu Xinglin, has grown up. He does whatever he wants, and I can’t control him. He sees farther than I do.” Chu Shengyun tilted his head back. “I’m already old.”
“Don’t say that. You still have a long time ahead of you.”
Chu Shengyun shook his head.
“I’ve grown old. Now, I often think about how to leave this world alongside Gu Nan. It’s as if only death can wipe away the cowardly things I’ve done before. But I also want to see the day when the Zerg disappear completely, to give Gu Nan an explanation before I leave.”
“I don’t know what else I can do as a father…”
“Even if the Crown Prince dislikes you, he would never be willing to part with you,” He Yunan said.
“Right now, you just need to live well, and that’s already helping.”
Chu Shengyun looked up at the grand dome of the palace in silence, offering no comment. He just grabbed a nearby glass of red wine and took a deep gulp.
“You may go now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Watching He Yunan’s departing figure,
Chu Shengyun lowered his head and murmured,
“Can people truly be free from desires?”
He didn’t know.
Back at the home in the Capital Planet,
He Yunan paused at the doorstep, then turned his head to look at another flying car parked at the entrance. A young man got out of the car and, upon seeing him, opened his mouth in surprise.
“Back already? Qixing,” he said, taking the initiative to speak.