Chapter 37: The Item in the Left Pocket (TEOTW)
The room was small with walls on all four sides, and a high-wattage ceiling light illuminated the space with bright, glaring white light. Su Weishang sat nervously on a cold, hard metal stool, avoiding direct eye contact with the person in front of him.
"You also came from B City? What a coincidence. I used to spend some time in B City before, and now I look back on it with nostalgia," a pleasant and crisp male voice rang out, sounding as if neighbors were chatting closely, with a gentle tone.
Su Weishang's heart gradually relaxed as he heard, "I didn't expect you, Mr. Qi..."
Qi Yang smiled warmly and said, "Yes, it's fate to meet here. In such a cruel post-apocalyptic world, only powerful evolvers like you and Mr. Wu Jiqing can cross mountains and rivers to come to S City."
A few words gradually eased Su Weishang's tension, and the sharp blade that had been hanging over his head slowly began to lower.
Upon entering the room, Qi Yang had someone take Wu Jiqing to the other side, leaving Su Weishang alone to talk. Initially, Su Weishang was very cautious, unconsciously clutching his pants. But to his surprise, Qi Yang didn't ask about the previous events in the test area. Instead, he started...
Engaging in casual conversation!
Yes, just casual chatting!
They kept chatting for over half an hour, with Qi Yang chatting happily as if he hadn't seen anyone for ages, while Jing Xia on the eastern side of the room kept dozing off, and the little black ball on his head had long fallen asleep without giving any face.
Jing Xia furrowed his brows in confusion, not quite understanding Qi Yang's intentions.
Seemingly sensing the young man's confusion, Ji Chuancheng glanced at him, lips slightly curved, and explained, "Qi Yang is trying to close the psychological distance with Su Weishang. Su Weishang is very defensive, and it takes time to break through."
Jing Xia suddenly understood, "He wants Su Weishang to feel like... we are all on the same side?"
Ji Chuan heng chuckled, "That's one way to put it. From Su Weishang's perspective, he can't see us; he only sees a room enclosed by walls on all sides. In such a repressive and tense environment, his psychological pressure is undoubtedly very high. This is the first hint to him - danger."
Jing Xia nodded in understanding and continued, "At this point, Qi Yang deliberately sent Wu Jiqing away, leaving only himself and Su Weishang in the room. This is the second hint - 'I am the only one you can rely on and trust'?"
Looking at Jing Xia with admiration and surprise, Ji Chuancheng couldn't help but praise, "Your intelligence is shining through."
Jing Xia, in a fit of anger, punched Ji Chuancheng's chest, "Ji Chuancheng!!!"
Without avoiding the punch, Ji Chuancheng took it firmly, his eyes hiding a hint of amusement. He then held Jing Xia's hand in his palm and said, "Alright, stop making trouble. Even though the soundproofing of the walls is good, it doesn't mean you can shout as loud as you want."
Letting go of Jing Xia's hand, who turned his face away with a huff and ignored him, Ji Chuancheng helplessly turned his gaze to Su Weishang on the other side of the wall. His probing gaze stayed on the slender figure of the young man for a long time. Gradually, his eyes became colder and more dangerous, as if they were solidifying into substance, able to pierce directly through the thick walls and into the young man's heart.
S-Class White Lotus Variant -
Su Weishang.
Silently reciting these words in his mind, Ji Chuancheng calmly withdrew the intense pressure he had exuded earlier and looked towards Wu Jiqing behind another wall.
In this situation, what role would he play?
"Why is Wu Jiqing's expression getting stranger?" Jing Xia raised his arm and nudged Ji Chuan Cheng next to him.
Wu Jiqing, who was standing behind the wall, was staring at Su Weishang and Qi Yang in the center of the room with a peculiar expression. His face was very serious, as if he was annoyed about something.
The walls of this room were very cleverly made. From the inside, you couldn't see through any of the walls, but from the outside, you could see into the room from both sides. Moreover, from Wu Jiqing's side of the wall, he couldn't see what was happening on Jing Xia's side. On the other hand, Jing Xia could clearly see every move Wu Jiqing made.
After pondering for a while, Jing Xia asked, "Could this be the third hint set by Qi Yang?"
Ji Chuan Cheng lowered his head with a blank expression, "No, it's just a... prank."
Jing Xia: "Eh?!"
Ji Chuan Cheng's face was expressionless, his eyes like a poisoned knife, directly scraping against Qi Yang's back, "He's stupid and boring. He enjoys seeing others jealous."
"..."
When the conversation was nearing fifty minutes, Qi Yang finally seemed to casually bring up, "I heard about you at the research institute in S city, Weishang. Your abilities are not strong, and your combat power is not high.”
Su Weishang's smile slightly stiffened, then he lowered his head in disappointment, "Well, my strength is indeed not high." As he spoke, he reached into his left pocket, lightly touching something unseen by others.
Qi Yang gently glanced at Su Weishang's left hand movements, then smiled and said, "However, your luck is exceptional. You always manage to escape from dangerous situations unscathed. Luck is also a form of strength, which I admire."
These words lifted Su Weishang's somewhat dim expression, and he tightened his grip on the jade stone in his pocket, looking proudly pleased, "Thank you for your praise, Qi Yang."
"Less than an hour and Weishang and Qi Yang are already on a first-name basis?" Jing Xia complained indignantly. He then looked at Wu Jiqing on the opposite side, who seemed to be frowning, "Ah Chuan, I think Qi Yang is just playing with Weishang's feelings, isn't he? Look at how he keeps calling him 'Weishang,' it's annoying..."
"Watch Su Weishang's movements," a deep, magnetic voice suddenly interjected, interrupting Jing Xia's complaints. Ji Chuancheng's sharp eyes closely followed Su Weishang's left hand, his elegant brows slightly furrowed, "Within 52 minutes, he put his hand into his pocket twelve times, with each time Qi Yang said something insightful.”
Jing Xia was taken aback, "Isn't that just a habitual gesture?"
"No," Ji Chuancheng looked expressionlessly at Su Weishang, who once again took his hand out of the pocket and was talking to Qi Yang with a smile. "Repeating the same action twelve times in just 52 minutes, especially when experiencing emotions like sadness, nervousness, doubt, and fear, is not normal."
Listening to Ji Chuancheng's explanation, Jing Xia became more serious. He carefully observed Su Weishang's left hand, and after a while, he widened his eyes in surprise, "Ah Chuan! Look, there are some white marks on the palm of his left hand!"
Ji Chuancheng immediately looked down.
In the middle of the young man's fair palm, there was an elliptical tear mark about half an inch long. The mark wasn't deep, barely noticeable unless closely examined, and it completely disappeared after half a minute.
Ji Chuanxheng decisively concluded, "Approximately an inch long elliptical spherical object, with smooth edges, likely a stone or jade."
Jing Xia suddenly had a realization, "...So that's what it is. It's not anything special. I guess it's a green jade stone left to Su Weishang by his mother. The jade quality isn't very good, but he treasures it since childhood, using it as a talisman."
Ji Chuancheng was slightly surprised but remained silent. He pressed a red button on the wall, and Jing Xia was puzzled by his actions. Suddenly, a red warning light started flashing on the ceiling at the southwest corner of the room, casting a light red glow on the wall.
Su Weishang and Qi Yang looked up.
"It seems like there's something I need to attend to. Weishang, can you wait for me for ten minutes? I'll be back soon." Qi Yang stood up apologetically, "I'm really sorry. I'll have someone bring you a cup of coffee, please wait a moment."
Su Weishang nodded in understanding, and Qi Yang then opened the metal door and walked out.
As he stepped out, he turned a corner and pushed open the door to the neighboring room. The friendly smile that had been on his face vanished in an instant, and he raised an eyebrow, "What's the matter? Have you discovered something I haven't?"
Ji Chuancheng looked at him expressionlessly, "I need something, it's in Su Weishang's left pocket."
Qi Yang was taken aback, then after a moment, he chuckled strangely, "Major Ji, when did you stoop to stealing others' things?"
Jing Xia: "..."
Ji Chuancheng coldly glanced at Qi Yang, who was clearly teasing, and paid him no further attention.
Jing Xia helplessly explained, "In less than an hour, Su Weishang has repeatedly put his left hand into his pocket. Ah Chuan suspects there might be something unusual in his pocket. Personally, I believe it's a green jade stone that Su Weishang has carried from childhood. But Ah Chuan wants to see it for himself."
"Jade?"
Jing Xia nodded, "Yes, it should be jade."
Being the tallest among the three present, Ji Chuancheng looked down at Qi Yang and said, "You're used to these things, go and get it. We'll study it for half an hour and then return it." His tone was calm and composed, as if he were just asking someone to buy some cabbage.
Jing Xia was about to reprimand Ji Chuancheng for his blatant criminal behavior, but before he could speak, he saw Qi Yang nod with a faint smile and push up his glasses, "Alright, at most an hour, don't cause any trouble."
Jing Xia: "..."
After a while, when Jing Xia held the warm green jade stone in his hand, he stared at it blankly for a long time, unsure of what to say.
Chapter 37: The Item in the Left Pocket (TEOTW)
The room was small with walls on all four sides, and a high-wattage ceiling light illuminated the space with bright, glaring white light. Su Weishang sat nervously on a cold, hard metal stool, avoiding direct eye contact with the person in front of him.
"You also came from B City? What a coincidence. I used to spend some time in B City before, and now I look back on it with nostalgia," a pleasant and crisp male voice rang out, sounding as if neighbors were chatting closely, with a gentle tone.
Su Weishang's heart gradually relaxed as he heard, "I didn't expect you, Mr. Qi..."
Qi Yang smiled warmly and said, "Yes, it's fate to meet here. In such a cruel post-apocalyptic world, only powerful evolvers like you and Mr. Wu Jiqing can cross mountains and rivers to come to S City."
A few words gradually eased Su Weishang's tension, and the sharp blade that had been hanging over his head slowly began to lower.
Upon entering the room, Qi Yang had someone take Wu Jiqing to the other side, leaving Su Weishang alone to talk. Initially, Su Weishang was very cautious, unconsciously clutching his pants. But to his surprise, Qi Yang didn't ask about the previous events in the test area. Instead, he started...
Engaging in casual conversation!
Yes, just casual chatting!
They kept chatting for over half an hour, with Qi Yang chatting happily as if he hadn't seen anyone for ages, while Jing Xia on the eastern side of the room kept dozing off, and the little black ball on his head had long fallen asleep without giving any face.
Jing Xia furrowed his brows in confusion, not quite understanding Qi Yang's intentions.
Seemingly sensing the young man's confusion, Ji Chuancheng glanced at him, lips slightly curved, and explained, "Qi Yang is trying to close the psychological distance with Su Weishang. Su Weishang is very defensive, and it takes time to break through."
Jing Xia suddenly understood, "He wants Su Weishang to feel like... we are all on the same side?"
Ji Chuan heng chuckled, "That's one way to put it. From Su Weishang's perspective, he can't see us; he only sees a room enclosed by walls on all sides. In such a repressive and tense environment, his psychological pressure is undoubtedly very high. This is the first hint to him - danger."
Jing Xia nodded in understanding and continued, "At this point, Qi Yang deliberately sent Wu Jiqing away, leaving only himself and Su Weishang in the room. This is the second hint - 'I am the only one you can rely on and trust'?"
Looking at Jing Xia with admiration and surprise, Ji Chuancheng couldn't help but praise, "Your intelligence is shining through."
Jing Xia, in a fit of anger, punched Ji Chuancheng's chest, "Ji Chuancheng!!!"
Without avoiding the punch, Ji Chuancheng took it firmly, his eyes hiding a hint of amusement. He then held Jing Xia's hand in his palm and said, "Alright, stop making trouble. Even though the soundproofing of the walls is good, it doesn't mean you can shout as loud as you want."
Letting go of Jing Xia's hand, who turned his face away with a huff and ignored him, Ji Chuancheng helplessly turned his gaze to Su Weishang on the other side of the wall. His probing gaze stayed on the slender figure of the young man for a long time. Gradually, his eyes became colder and more dangerous, as if they were solidifying into substance, able to pierce directly through the thick walls and into the young man's heart.
S-Class White Lotus Variant -
Su Weishang.
Silently reciting these words in his mind, Ji Chuancheng calmly withdrew the intense pressure he had exuded earlier and looked towards Wu Jiqing behind another wall.
In this situation, what role would he play?
"Why is Wu Jiqing's expression getting stranger?" Jing Xia raised his arm and nudged Ji Chuan Cheng next to him.
Wu Jiqing, who was standing behind the wall, was staring at Su Weishang and Qi Yang in the center of the room with a peculiar expression. His face was very serious, as if he was annoyed about something.
The walls of this room were very cleverly made. From the inside, you couldn't see through any of the walls, but from the outside, you could see into the room from both sides. Moreover, from Wu Jiqing's side of the wall, he couldn't see what was happening on Jing Xia's side. On the other hand, Jing Xia could clearly see every move Wu Jiqing made.
After pondering for a while, Jing Xia asked, "Could this be the third hint set by Qi Yang?"
Ji Chuan Cheng lowered his head with a blank expression, "No, it's just a... prank."
Jing Xia: "Eh?!"
Ji Chuan Cheng's face was expressionless, his eyes like a poisoned knife, directly scraping against Qi Yang's back, "He's stupid and boring. He enjoys seeing others jealous."
"..."
When the conversation was nearing fifty minutes, Qi Yang finally seemed to casually bring up, "I heard about you at the research institute in S city, Weishang. Your abilities are not strong, and your combat power is not high.”
Su Weishang's smile slightly stiffened, then he lowered his head in disappointment, "Well, my strength is indeed not high." As he spoke, he reached into his left pocket, lightly touching something unseen by others.
Qi Yang gently glanced at Su Weishang's left hand movements, then smiled and said, "However, your luck is exceptional. You always manage to escape from dangerous situations unscathed. Luck is also a form of strength, which I admire."
These words lifted Su Weishang's somewhat dim expression, and he tightened his grip on the jade stone in his pocket, looking proudly pleased, "Thank you for your praise, Qi Yang."
"Less than an hour and Weishang and Qi Yang are already on a first-name basis?" Jing Xia complained indignantly. He then looked at Wu Jiqing on the opposite side, who seemed to be frowning, "Ah Chuan, I think Qi Yang is just playing with Weishang's feelings, isn't he? Look at how he keeps calling him 'Weishang,' it's annoying..."
"Watch Su Weishang's movements," a deep, magnetic voice suddenly interjected, interrupting Jing Xia's complaints. Ji Chuancheng's sharp eyes closely followed Su Weishang's left hand, his elegant brows slightly furrowed, "Within 52 minutes, he put his hand into his pocket twelve times, with each time Qi Yang said something insightful.”
Jing Xia was taken aback, "Isn't that just a habitual gesture?"
"No," Ji Chuancheng looked expressionlessly at Su Weishang, who once again took his hand out of the pocket and was talking to Qi Yang with a smile. "Repeating the same action twelve times in just 52 minutes, especially when experiencing emotions like sadness, nervousness, doubt, and fear, is not normal."
Listening to Ji Chuancheng's explanation, Jing Xia became more serious. He carefully observed Su Weishang's left hand, and after a while, he widened his eyes in surprise, "Ah Chuan! Look, there are some white marks on the palm of his left hand!"
Ji Chuancheng immediately looked down.
In the middle of the young man's fair palm, there was an elliptical tear mark about half an inch long. The mark wasn't deep, barely noticeable unless closely examined, and it completely disappeared after half a minute.
Ji Chuanxheng decisively concluded, "Approximately an inch long elliptical spherical object, with smooth edges, likely a stone or jade."
Jing Xia suddenly had a realization, "...So that's what it is. It's not anything special. I guess it's a green jade stone left to Su Weishang by his mother. The jade quality isn't very good, but he treasures it since childhood, using it as a talisman."
Ji Chuancheng was slightly surprised but remained silent. He pressed a red button on the wall, and Jing Xia was puzzled by his actions. Suddenly, a red warning light started flashing on the ceiling at the southwest corner of the room, casting a light red glow on the wall.
Su Weishang and Qi Yang looked up.
"It seems like there's something I need to attend to. Weishang, can you wait for me for ten minutes? I'll be back soon." Qi Yang stood up apologetically, "I'm really sorry. I'll have someone bring you a cup of coffee, please wait a moment."
Su Weishang nodded in understanding, and Qi Yang then opened the metal door and walked out.
As he stepped out, he turned a corner and pushed open the door to the neighboring room. The friendly smile that had been on his face vanished in an instant, and he raised an eyebrow, "What's the matter? Have you discovered something I haven't?"
Ji Chuancheng looked at him expressionlessly, "I need something, it's in Su Weishang's left pocket."
Qi Yang was taken aback, then after a moment, he chuckled strangely, "Major Ji, when did you stoop to stealing others' things?"
Jing Xia: "..."
Ji Chuancheng coldly glanced at Qi Yang, who was clearly teasing, and paid him no further attention.
Jing Xia helplessly explained, "In less than an hour, Su Weishang has repeatedly put his left hand into his pocket. Ah Chuan suspects there might be something unusual in his pocket. Personally, I believe it's a green jade stone that Su Weishang has carried from childhood. But Ah Chuan wants to see it for himself."
"Jade?"
Jing Xia nodded, "Yes, it should be jade."
Being the tallest among the three present, Ji Chuancheng looked down at Qi Yang and said, "You're used to these things, go and get it. We'll study it for half an hour and then return it." His tone was calm and composed, as if he were just asking someone to buy some cabbage.
Jing Xia was about to reprimand Ji Chuancheng for his blatant criminal behavior, but before he could speak, he saw Qi Yang nod with a faint smile and push up his glasses, "Alright, at most an hour, don't cause any trouble."
Jing Xia: "..."
After a while, when Jing Xia held the warm green jade stone in his hand, he stared at it blankly for a long time, unsure of what to say.
