[AIP Feiran]

Linji Island.

It was the only backup island available to the Eastern Intelligent Island in case of evacuation.

The Ancient Castle.

Professor Hu Ming had bought it to enjoy his retirement.

Unfortunately.

Because of his research, Professor Hu Ming had been killed by his own creation on the Eastern Intelligent Island.

"Home really is the most comfortable place."

Feiran pushed open the heavy doors of the Ancient Castle, breathed in the fragrant air, and stretched her curvy body.

"Whoosh."

A cold arrow shot toward Feiran like lightning.

Seeing the sudden attack, Ye Yun immediately went on alert and shielded Feiran behind him. He stared grimly in the direction the arrow had come from.

He saw someone holding a bow and aiming at him. The arrow stuck in the ground flew backward against the laws of physics. The person had a cold expression, wore the same outfit as Feiran—a black bra beneath a very fashionable halter top and long pants reaching her heels—and had a silver ponytail. Ye Yun stared in shock.

"What?" He turned to look at Feiran behind him, then back at the Feiran holding a bow and aiming at him.

A moment later, Ye Yun understood what was going on.

She had to be Feiran's intelligent-being double—or, rather, her professional bodyguard.

"Long time no see, little brother. Have you been well?"

Just then, Intelligent Being Feiran lowered her bow. Her cold face formed a stiff smile.

"She has your memories?"

Ye Yun looked uncertainly at Feiran behind him.

If she had the memories, then it all made sense.

"Yes. To be safe, Father implanted my memories in her. Her mission was to protect our home."

Feiran walked out from behind Ye Yun, pleased. Good boy, he already knew to protect his big sister. She patted Ye Yun's shoulder and looked up at Intelligent Being Feiran on the second floor. "It's been a long time."

"It has indeed been a long time, but you shouldn't have come back. Neither of you has Father's authorization."

Intelligent Being Feiran looked at Ye Yun and her original, her face once again turning ice-cold.

"No. My access authorization for Linji Island hasn't been revoked, but Qiya's has. Not only was Qiya's access revoked, her intelligent being was also barred from entering Linji Island. I suspect all of Qiya's memories have already been erased from her intelligent being."

She looked at the intelligent being who was identical to her.

"I don't know about that. What I do know is that Qiya's independent logic authorization was unlocked the night before last."

Intelligent Being Feiran looked at her, then at Ye Yun. "What have you come back for?"

"I suspect Ye Zhen may be behind the intelligent-being mutations. And for intelligent beings to gain true freedom, the Initial Source Code is crucial. There's a good chance they'll come after it. Considering Ye Zhen programmed the Ancient Castle's firewall and energy system, I'm worried. I want to reprogram the defenses."

Feiran looked at her and explained what she had in mind.

"Mm, that's fine!"

A strange glint flashed in Intelligent Being Feiran's eyes as she agreed.

She had Feiran's memories, and with her extraordinary processing power, she knew that if Professor Ye was behind this—

To get the Initial Source Code, the first obstacle would be eliminating her. How could he do that quickly?

By cutting off the Ancient Castle's unlimited energy supply.

"Have you prepared my room?"

Ye Yun felt completely ignored. Watching Intelligent Being Feiran slowly descend the stairs, he spoke up.

"I'm not your nanny."

Intelligent Being Feiran shrugged helplessly. "Just kidding. I clean inside the castle every day. You'll have to clean outside yourselves. My mission is to stay inside the castle's Great Hall."

"Huh, you've even got synthetic skin. Old Hu was such a cheapskate—cough, I mean, Old Hu really was generous to spend so much on synthetic skin for you."

Ye Yun curiously poked Intelligent Being Feiran, who had come over to them, and exclaimed in surprise.

Old Hu was the kind of researcher who pinched every penny. He couldn't believe he'd spent so much on an intelligent being.

"Get lost."

Intelligent Being Feiran glared at Ye Yun. "Go sweep the ground outside. It's covered in fallen leaves."

"I'm going to get some rest first. I'll do it later. I barely slept at all last night."

He waved a hand and dragged his luggage upstairs.

He hadn't slept well the night before. It was time to get some proper rest.

"That kid really is asking for a beating."

Intelligent Being Feiran watched Ye Yun go upstairs, then nudged the real Feiran beside her.

"Mm, he can be a handful sometimes. Let's get started." Feiran shook her head, a faint smile on her aloof face.

"Don't you want to rest for a while?"

In the blink of an eye.

Three years passed without a sound.

During those three years.

Because of the escaped mutated intelligent beings, the Security Committee of the Eastern Intelligent Island formed an organization dedicated to dealing with them.

The Intelligence Hunting Bureau, also called the Intelligence Hunting Group.

Its main targets were escaped intelligent beings and intelligent beings that had failed security screening.

The intelligent beings called the Intelligence Hunting Group's fighters "hounds."

Intelligent Island.

Inside a bar.

A handsome young man in a stylish suit, with clear eyes like bright pearls, milk-white skin, slicked-back hair, and a striking face, gently swirled a glass of red wine. His gaze rested on the woman playing the drums.

The wine in his glass had not diminished at all.

Just then.

A young man with a crew cut sat down beside him. He wore combat gear and had a fit build with well-defined muscles. He waved to a server in the distance and said, "A glass of champagne, please."

"Certainly, sir."

At Zhuo Ran's request, the server bowed with a smile and went to fetch his champagne, carrying an empty tray.

Hearing the stranger's request, Ye Yun kept his gaze fixed on Ye Yun, slowly swirling his glass of red wine.

He was sitting at a public table, where anyone could sit.

"Beep, beep."

Ye Yun's communicator rang. He glanced down and connected it to his Bluetooth earpiece.

Feiran's voice came through the earpiece.

"You left Linji Island?"

"Mm."

Ye Yun spoke softly, his thin lips barely moving. "It was too stuffy at home, so I came out for a walk."

"Okay. Be careful."

Feiran said that, then hung up.

After ending the call, Ye Yun set down his glass and patted Zhuo Ran, who was wearing combat gear.

"Can I help you?"

Zhuo Ran felt someone pat his shoulder and turned around. To his surprise, it was the young man sitting at the same table. He looked at him curiously.

"There."

Ye Yun pointed toward the corner, where Han Feng was watching Ye Yun just like him, looking every bit like a big shot.

Following the stranger's finger, Zhuo Ran saw a scruffy-looking man. He was completely baffled.

Clearly.

This rookie, who had just graduated from the police academy and joined the Intelligence Hunting Bureau, didn't know who the man was.

"Han Feng." Seeing the confusion on Zhuo Ran's face, Ye Yun smiled and whispered in his ear.

"Han Feng? Who's Han Feng... Han Feng, the leader of Duyizhi?"

Zhuo Ran had come to bring Ye Yun in for a security screening. He'd initially brushed off the handsome young man's words, thinking he was even more handsome than that Qi Yang fellow. But when he realized what the name meant, he perked right up.

Hearing him, Ye Yun nodded slightly, confirming Zhuo Ran's guess.

"Who are you?"

Zhuo Ran immediately grew wary and hurriedly moved away from the young man.

Anyone who knew something he didn't—

He definitely wasn't an ordinary person.

"Ye Yun."

He didn't hide his real identity. The Intelligence Hunting Bureau could easily find it out if they wanted to, so there was no point concealing it.

"Ye Yun?"

Zhuo Ran was completely baffled. Could this man know he was there to arrest Ye Yun and be using a fake name to fool him?

But then he remembered what Xiang Mao had said three years ago about Professor Hu Ming's children, and immediately realized his mistake.

Their names sounded similar, but this one used the Ye meaning "night" and Yun meaning "cloud."

Thinking of Han Feng, Zhuo Ran stopped messing around, got up, and headed to a secluded spot.

"Hey, Brother Yang, what are you up to?"

Zhuo Ran didn't act rashly. Instead, he went somewhere quiet, secretly took a photo of Han Feng, and called Qi Yang, the leader of Intelligence Hunting Bureau Group C.

"Mr. Young Master, what do you need? I just got off work!"

Qi Yang's helpless voice came over the phone.

Every time Zhuo Ran called him, it meant trouble.

"Brother Yang, I just sent you a photo. Check whether that's Han Feng, the escaped intelligent being, the big shot from Duyizhi."

Zhuo Ran glanced at Han Feng, who was still watching Ye Yun, and spoke in a low voice into his communicator.

"Han Feng? Duyizhi?"

Qi Yang had been speaking lazily, but the moment he heard Zhuo Ran's words, his tone snapped to attention.

Han Feng.

He was a major figure in Duyizhi, and he had killed countless members of their group.

He was also one of the Intelligence Hunting Group's biggest headaches.

"Yes, that's him. He's Han Feng." As soon as Qi Yang saw the photo Zhuo Ran had sent, he confirmed the man's identity.

Even though it was a profile shot, he could still recognize him.

Claiming he'd recognize him even reduced to ashes would have been a boast, but a profile shot was no problem.

"Well, would you look at that. It really is that bastard."

After Qi Yang confirmed it, Zhuo Ran's eyes blazed with fury as he ground out the words.

He might not have known Han Feng, but he couldn't forget the damage Han Feng had done to the Intelligence Hunting Group.

When he'd become a reserve member of the Intelligence Hunting Group, he'd learned about the blood debt Duyizhi owed them.

"Where are you, kid? Listen, don't do anything reckless. Han Feng isn't easy to deal with. Whenever he shows up, Sharp Eye and Crazy Fist are sure to be with him."