[Reunion with Jie Xing]

"I've got the general picture."

Feiran sat beside Ye Yun and looked toward Professor Qin Hui. "If he leaves the Ancient Castle and that causes a large number of Duyizhi AIP to attack, resulting in a loss of Initial Source Code, who will make up for it?"

Her words

immediately calmed the anxious Professor Qin Hui.

The importance of the Initial Source Code

was self-evident.

If his daughter's situation caused anything to happen to the Initial Source Code,

he would never be able to atone for it, even in death.

"The Initial Source Code is in the Ancient Castle. How would Duyizhi AIP know it's here? Besides, hardly anyone outside ever mentions the Initial Source Code."

Ye Yun looked at her uncertainly. "We only learned about the Initial Source Code from Hot Mom and Professor Qin Hui after we arrived on Linji Island."

"Heh, you should ask your father, Ye Zhen, about that."

A cold smile curled Feiran's lips.

"Was it really him?"

Professor Jianjie, who had been checking Ye Qiao Er's condition nearby, suddenly stopped what she was doing. She looked up at Feiran in disbelief.

She had originally only suspected that Ye Zhen might have had something to do with the intelligent-beings' transformation three years ago.

But she hadn't expected—

"I was eighty percent sure before. But after seeing you all, I'm a hundred percent sure."

Feiran said coldly, "Back then, you followed your father in researching Jie Xing, and you were very familiar with the underlying architecture of the Initial Source Code. Bypassing the logical permissions through vulnerabilities in that architecture would've been easy. If I remember correctly, Professor Jianjie and Professor Ye Zhen were responsible for the Firewall Program."

"This..."

For a moment,

Professor Qin Hui stared at Professor Jianjie, his mouth dry and disbelief filling his eyes.

He finally understood

why Duyizhi had gone to such lengths to obtain the Firewall Program in Professor Jian's hands.

After all,

even if they got the Firewall Program, it would be useless.

The Intelligent Being Firewall Program had been researched by the world's top scientists.

Even if he got his hands on it, he couldn't crack it easily.

Unless he was extremely proficient in Firewall Programs

and absolutely confident in his ability to crack the Intelligent Being Firewall.

Then

the missing Ye Zhen came to mind.

He was one of the world's top experts on Firewall Programs.

"I suspected it was him a long time ago, but I never imagined..."

Professor Jianjie sighed, disappointment filling her eyes.

Actually,

she had suspected it long ago.

The Green Valley Dock incident back then

had been Ye Zhen's doing.

But after following the clues one by one,

there was no way she could deny the truth, however much she didn't want to admit it.

"But why would he do something like that?"

Ye Yun trembled slightly, still clinging to hope.

He was her most beloved father.

"This has to do with the two of you, Professor Jianjie and Professor Qin Hui." Feiran nodded toward them.

"With us?"

At that,

the two exchanged a look, bewildered.

They didn't have any secrets, as far as they knew.

Besides,

they rarely kept in touch. They each had their own work and careers.

"Jealousy can make a person, but it can also destroy one."

Feiran nodded slightly and said, "Both of you were Professor Hu Ming's students, and along with Ye Zhen, you were regarded as his three most outstanding students."

"Professor Jianjie is the chief scientist at Eastern Intelligent Island, renowned worldwide. Her patents alone bring in substantial royalties. She's a brilliant, career-driven scientist, and the woman of countless men's dreams."

"Professor Qin Hui is the chief scientist at DRE Company and one of its major shareholders. He's also renowned worldwide. He may not be as famous as Professor Jianjie, but of the three, he's done quite well for himself and has a happy family."

"Ye Zhen had a happy family too, but he remained obscure. His wife's brilliance overshadowed the acclaim that should've belonged to him. Without her, no one would've even known Professor Hu Ming had a student like him."

"Do you think Ye Zhen felt pressured, with the two of you as his classmates? Wouldn't it have been possible for him to take a desperate gamble?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you: the day after the intelligent-beings' transformation at Green Valley Dock, Yi Xing rushed to the Ancient Castle on Linji Island to look for something. Doesn't that strike you as suspicious?"

"One last thing: Sharp Eye's Chip contains a tracking program. After analyzing it, we found a lot of traces of Ye Zhen in its code. There are also many techniques from Professor Jian, but those were deliberately included, and several sections bear Ye Zhen's distinctive coding style."

With that,

Feiran quietly watched them, waiting for them to absorb what she'd told them.

"This is impossible. Everything you say and do is deliberately steering the conversation toward my father. What are you really after?"

Ye Yun still couldn't believe it. She glared at Feiran.

Her father—

How could he have done something like that?

Besides,

she was his daughter.

He had no reason to kill her too.

Feiran had to be deliberately deceiving them.

"Enough. Let's stop talking about who's behind all this for now and focus on rescuing Qin Yan for Professor Qin Hui."

Feiran waved her hand.

"Thank you, thank you." Professor Qin Hui's haggard face lit up with excitement, and he thanked her repeatedly.

Beside him, Professor Jianjie

said nothing, sinking into deep silence.

"Wait. I have a condition."

Feiran raised her hand to keep him from celebrating too soon.

"No problem, no problem. If it's within my power, I'll agree to anything." Professor Qin Hui nodded eagerly.

"Once we rescue Qin Yan, I want her to stay in the Ancient Castle and protect the Initial Source Code for at least a year!"

Feiran said.

"What are you doing?"

Nightcloud had a bad feeling. He leaned toward Feiran and whispered in her ear.

I was only joking.

You don't have to take me seriously.

In response,

Feiran merely shot him a glare, then turned back to Professor Qin Hui.

"What? Xiao Yan is still just a child. How could she have the strength to protect..." Professor Qin Hui was taken aback and immediately objected.

You can't be serious.

Xiao Yan is still a child.

"That's an interesting thing to say, Professor Qin. Do you know who'll be responsible if leaving the Ancient Castle leads to losses? Let me be clear: if one child's actions cause the whole world to fall into an intelligent apocalypse, can you bear the consequences?" Feiran said righteously.

Just then,

Professor Qin Hui felt someone tug at his clothes. He turned and saw Professor Jianjie giving him a pointed look.

"Fine, I agree."

Seeing Professor Jianjie's expression, Professor Qin Hui nodded in agreement.

No matter what,

he first had to bring his daughter back safely.

"I object."

But the next moment,

Nightcloud's firm refusal echoed through the Great Hall. He put a hand on Feiran's shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze.

You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?

"You...?"

Professor Qin Hui stared at him, stunned.

Hadn't I already agreed to your condition?

Why are you going back on your word now?

"Whoever agreed to it can deal with you."

Nightcloud looked at Professor Qin Hui calmly.

I never agreed.

"You people..."

Anger appeared on Ye Yun's face. You're treating us like monkeys.

"Come on, little brother, don't mess around."

Feiran looked up at him and pinched his leg.

What are you doing?

Don't you like Qin Yan?

I'm just creating a chance for you to bring her here and slowly grow closer to her.

What are you doing now?

"Uh..."

He felt the pinch in his leg, and his expression stiffened.

That really hurt.

He pressed down harder on Feiran's shoulder, then pulled her jade-like hand away from his thigh and nodded solemnly. "Stop messing around. I really don't have time."

"No time? What do you have to do?"

Feiran raised her head and gazed at him, watching him in silence.

She wanted to see

what he could possibly have to do.

All he ever did was laze around. She didn't believe he had anything important to handle.

"Didn't you ask me to help bring those Intelligent Beings back? There are more than twenty of them, and they're really heavy. It'll take at least a few hours to carry them all."

Nightcloud lowered his hand from her smooth shoulder, pulled her hand away from where it was pinching his thigh, and nodded with righteous conviction.

"Didn't you say you weren't going?"

Feiran frowned. "This is a matter of life and death. Go rescue Qin Yan first, then help me bring the Intelligent Beings back. Han Feng and his bunch can't be trusted to keep their word."

"Are you serious?"

Nightcloud looked at her deeply, his expression grave.

"Yes."

Feiran gave a small, certain nod.

"Fine."

His eyes darkened. He turned and headed upstairs, his voice echoing through the cavernous Great Hall.

"I'm going upstairs to change my shoes."

Watching Nightcloud go upstairs, Ye Yun shrugged and said, "If it's too much trouble, we don't have to force him."

"It's fine. He's already agreed, so he'll keep his promise."

Feiran nodded confidently.

"Thank you, truly, thank you so much."

Professor Qin Hui thanked Feiran repeatedly, his eyes full of excitement.

Being able to get his daughter back safely was such a relief.

But Professor Jianjie beside him watched Feiran, a strange light flickering in her eyes.

It seemed Feiran had ulterior motives concerning Old Qin's daughter.

But Professor Jianjie didn't call her out.

It wasn't her business. As long as they brought Qin Yan back safely, that was all that mattered.

Soon,

while they were chatting,

Nightcloud came downstairs.

"Let's go."

He looked at Professor Qin Hui and said.

"If they're not going, I'll go with you." Ye Yun stood up from her chair and headed out of the Ancient Castle.

Ye Yun's lips curled into a cold smile.

Interesting.

Noon.

Eastern Intelligent Island.

Abandoned Library.

Ye Yun looked at the vast library before her and held out her hand to Leng beside her.

"Here. This is the computer and Crazy Fist's Chip."

Leng was straightforward, handing the computer over to him.

"The area's already surrounded by gunmen. Once you've got the people, leave immediately."

He glanced down at Professor Jianjie's computer.

How many people had died over one little computer like this?

"Understood."

Leng gave a slight nod, staying on alert.

She knew just how dangerous this trip was.

"Creak."

The abandoned gate swung open with a grating squeal, like a saw catching on a nail as someone cut through wood.

They entered the library.

It was like stepping into a church. Rows upon rows of neat wooden seats filled the place.

If not for the bookshelves lining the area, someone might have thought this was a church or a people's assembly hall.

The wooden seats were covered in layers of dust.

It seemed this library had been abandoned for a long time.

"Old friend, we meet again."

Just then, in the empty library, the sound of clapping rang out, followed by a voice tinged with surprise and a sigh.

They looked toward the sound.

On the library's second floor stood a steel-like monster—a metal being with a head full of red hair.

"I didn't expect you to get here so quickly. And Professor Qin Hui even brought along you, old friend."

Jie Xing's figure flashed, as if he'd teleported, and he was suddenly standing before them, having come down from the second floor. His gaze roamed over Ye Yun as he said, "Miss Ye, it's been so long. I've missed you."

"I have no desire to see you."

Ye Yun looked coldly at Jie Xing. This was the one who had killed her and Qiao Er. "Professor Qin Hui was afraid an AIP like you would go back on your word."

"Enough talk. Where are they?"

Ye Yun cut straight to the point, watching Jie Xing coldly.

"I have to see the goods before I let you see the people, don't I?"

Jie Xing smiled noncommittally at Ye Yun's words, then looked toward Ye Yun, who posed a threat to him.

This guy seemed to have gotten even stronger.

"Here are Crazy Fist's and Sharp Eye's Chips. The Intelligent Firewall Program is on Professor Jian's computer. Where are they?"

Ye Yun took out Crazy Fist's and Sharp Eye's Chips, along with the computer containing the Intelligent Firewall Program.

"And more!"

Jie Xing's Electronic Eye blinked. He didn't let Ye Yun see the people right away, instead standing two meters in front of him as he said confidently.

"Jie Xing, have you lost your mind? Or is there something wrong with your circuit board? I've already shown you the goods. Now it's time for us to see the people."

Ye Yun's gaze remained calm and composed, as if she were discussing something ordinary.

"Right, right. Look at me, getting confused."

Jie Xing's Electronic Eye blinked repeatedly. He waved a hand, and Qin Yan, Zhuo Ran, and Qi Yang appeared in the distance, all three with their heads hanging low.

"What's the idea? Are you planning to make me leave with a few corpses?" Ye Yun glanced at the three with their heads bowed. She could tell they were fine; they were just unconscious.

"Come on, old friend. I wouldn't do that."

Jie Xing waved again. Two Intelligent Warriors carrying assault rifles went over and slapped the three awake.

They opened their eyes groggily. Through their blurred vision, they saw three figures.

"Mm! Mmmph!"

When Qin Yan, Zhuo Ran, and Qi Yang recognized Ye Yun and Leng standing face-to-face with Jie Xing, they cried out excitedly. But transparent tape sealed their mouths, so they couldn't speak.

"Keep still."

The Intelligent Warrior beside them raised his rifle butt and smashed it toward Zhuo Ran and Qi Yang, barking at them.

Ye Yun was indifferent to what had happened to the three. She pulled another Chip from her pocket and tossed it toward Jie Xing along with Crazy Fist's and Sharp Eye's Chips. "Let them go. You'll get this only after they've left here safely."