New Home

"Because of the fire, the place you used to live in has been burned down, but if it's burned, it's burned... You didn't have anything valuable anyway. Out with the old, in with the new."

In Da Teng City, in front of an apartment door.

"What do you mean 'if it's burned, it's burned'?" Gu Shen stood at the door, his attention drawn to the fingerprint and iris dual-recognition lock. He was leaning down, squinting, trying to calibrate the function, and hearing this, he was unhappy. "Am I the kind of person who likes the new and dislikes the old?"

He fiddled with it for a long time, not knowing how to use it.

This door lock... it's quite advanced.

"Oh?"

Nan Jin glanced at the young man, swiped her card, and strode in, pushing the door open.

The large flat apartment, nearly two hundred square meters, had excellent lighting. The windows were bright and clean, neat and tidy. As the door opened, layers of lights turned on, and a full set of smart home appliances were fully equipped. The curtains were blown by the wind, revealing the sunset from the twenty-ninth floor.

The woman in a trench coat and sunglasses stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, bending slightly, making a symbolic welcoming gesture like a waiter. "Here, the distinguished homeless Mr. Gu Shen... Come and take a look, the New Home I've prepared for you."

"Wow..."

Gu Shen was stunned by the scene before him. Although he had thought on the car that... Zhou Jiren, this Old Fellow, would definitely give him some benefits, he couldn't easily fall for it no matter what.

After all, one apartment had been burned down, and the landlord would probably still come looking for trouble.

At least they should arrange a similar place for him to live!

Seeing Gu Shen's expression, Nan Jin smiled silently.

Those who knew her well knew that she was actually an ice mountain woman who rarely smiled. For her, the most important thing in life should be Blade Training... Mr. Shu had kept her File very well. Almost no one in the Tribunal knew her origin, only that she was a Desperate Fighter, giving her all in every mission.

So everyone speculated that someone so desperate probably had a very lonely background.

While taking care of Gu Shen, Nan Jin read Gu Shen's File.

This young man was the truly lonely one. He had been fostered in a Welfare Institute since childhood, living on the meager subsidies provided by the government. After the age of sixteen, he left the Welfare Institute and earned money to support himself.

The thinner the File recording Gu Shen's Past seventeen years.

The more heartbreaking the young man's background was.

"How does it feel?"

"It feels..."

Gu Shen tried hard not to let his Gaze dart around, stubbornly saying, "This place... I can only say it's not bad. It's barely livable, fitting my status."

But three seconds later, because he couldn't resist the urge to see the whole house, he broke down.

"Okay... I admit I'm a country bumpkin." Gu Shen shamelessly agreed, "Big brother, you're absolutely right, out with the old, in with the new. That fire yesterday was wonderful. It's just... what about the landlord?"

"I've already taken care of it for you, just paid a little money."

After saying this, Nan Jin's image in Gu Shen's eyes became as tall as a great Buddha.

He suddenly had the urge to hug her leg...

"Oh, right."

Gu Shen suddenly remembered something. His Truth Ruler, and the Orange Cat... were still in the Old Building!

Just as he was about to speak, he heard a soft thudding sound from the bedroom.

"Meow..."

A light Orange Cat, tiptoeing, slowly came to Nan Jin's feet, rubbing its head against her pants leg, rolling over to expose its belly, and purring affectionately.

"Purr purr..."

The cold woman in the trench coat actually squatted down cooperatively, her five snow-white fingers gently scratching the Orange Cat's chin. "Everything in that Old Building was almost burned down. When we arrived, this cat was still alive. It was lucky, only some of its fur was burned off."

Seeing Chu Ling appear, Gu Shen's first reaction was tension... but he quickly relaxed.

Looking at this rather undignified posture, the one rolling and seeking affection now should be the clumsy cat body he brought back. For some reason, the consciousness of the girl Chu Ling had left this Orange Cat.

"After the fire... nothing was left of my home except this cat?" Gu Shen asked tentatively.

"What else do you expect to be left?" Nan Jin raised an eyebrow. "Besides a broken table and a broken bed, what else did you have?"

"...That's true." Gu Shen scratched his head.

It seems they didn't find the "Truth Ruler"... was it hidden by Chu Ling?

"You can rest well these few days." Nan Jin rubbed the Orange Cat hard twice, then picked up the little guy and stood up. "Regarding your Transcendent Ability, the Tribunal is still evaluating it... There will be a Review in a few days, which you can undergo when your body has recovered enough."

"Review? What Review?"

"Everyone's awakened Transcendent Ability is different, and the degree of danger is also different... Although based on Mr. Turing's Theory, the danger level of Transcendent Strength is related to the degree of development, there are always some people who are a big step ahead of others as soon as they open their eyes. Some people's awakened Transcendent Ability can only bend spoons, while others... can easily burn down an entire building." Nan Jin used a simple analogy, reminding him meaningfully, "The scene of the Great Fire last night was truly astonishing. The Tribunal is likely to give you an S-Rank Strength rating."

"..."

Gu Shen covered his forehead, suddenly feeling extremely guilty. "To be honest... I might not be as powerful as you think."

"Don't underestimate yourself."

Nan Jin shook her head, her Gaze burning. "I've seen the photos of the Rooftop. The Lethality is terrifying, far exceeding most newcomers. Qinghe District hasn't seen a monster like you in a long time... What kind of ability is this? Can you use it again?"

Gu Shen looked at his hands.

Without that Ruler, he was just an ordinary person... how could it be related to Transcendent Strength?

Having stumbled into this situation by chance, Gu Shen only felt the troublesentwine him growing larger.

When the review day arrived... the truth about him not having Transcendent Strength seemed likely to be exposed.

What should he do?

He fell into deep thought.

"It seems you haven't fully grasped this Strength yet... It's alright, just take your time," Nan Jin said softly, as expected. "But there's something else I need to tell you. This time, in order to fight for your ownership, Teacher and the Tribunal Head of the Prison Institute almost came to blows... Because the 'Amnesty Decree' was used, many people within the Tribunal expressed dissatisfaction."

"For those dazzling, brilliant things... there are always people who are jealous, resentful, and hostile; there are always people who want to tarnish them, make them fall, make them crash," Nan Jin put down the cat, looked directly at Gu Shen, and said slowly, with an incredibly slow pace, "The more people try every possible means to crush you, the more it shows that you have infinite potential and a promising Future. Instead of shrinking back, giving up, and willingly becoming mediocre, it's better to rise up, fight, and carve out a Transcendent path."

The Orange Cat meowed and jumped away.

Nan Jin said word by word, "He who would wear the crown, must bear its weight."

He who would wear the crown, must bear its weight.

Gu Shen looked up thoughtfully, "Did... Mr. Shu say these words?"

"Because of the Amnesty Decree, Teacher is still busy dealing with those old fogeys in the Tribunal, completely overwhelmed."

"That was my improvisation just now." Nan Jin's sunglasses slid down, revealing a cunning look. "After all, you've already acknowledged me as your Big Brother. I have to comfort you, this newcomer. How was that speech?"

"Big Brother said it well..." Gu Shen praised seriously, then changed the subject, "Don't say it again next time."

"Tch."

The woman in the trench coat was unimpressed, pushing her sunglasses back up. While checking the Hanging Blade under her trench coat, she said, "I have important matters tonight, so I won't stay with you. You should rest well."

Before leaving, she threw him another card.

"Here, the password is your birthday. There's some money in this card, consider it compensation for selling yourself. It's enough for daily expenses. Teacher asked me to tell you to relax... The review result isn't that important. After all, he had already taken a liking to you before that Great Fire."