Consolation

That day, after Mo Heng returned from his business trip, feeling rather pleased with himself, he discovered a leave request from Xilin left in the studio. Mo Heng's expression immediately turned from sunny to overcast, causing everyone in the Research Department to fall silent. They all knew Old Master Mo was in a very bad mood, extremely bad.

Knowing some details about the military operation, Mo Heng held back from contacting Xilin. It wasn't until he heard the operation was nearing its end, and that Xilin alone had analyzed and synthesized over a hundred types of antibodies, overpowering more than fifty base researchers, that Mo Heng's mood improved slightly. In the words of Vice Principal An Ting, the old fox's tail had perked up a bit.

However, Mo Heng hadn't expected to hear that Xilin had gotten into trouble the moment the communication was connected. Old Master Mo's previously cloudy mood instantly turned into a storm. Listening to Huoding's explanation from the other end, Mo Heng's face grew even more somber.

"You're telling me my disciple made such a huge contribution while injured, only to be ambushed by someone?!"

Huoding remained silent. Based on his understanding of Mo Heng, it was best not to speak at this moment.

"What's the situation now?" Mo Heng's voice deepened, becoming heavy, so heavy it was almost unbearable.

"After the rescue, the attending physician said he's stabilized a bit..."

"I'm not at ease. I'm bringing some people over now..."

Huoding was communicating from a rest room next to the emergency room. Just as Huoding was sweating profusely, trying to handle Mo Heng, a medic knocked and entered. Huoding had previously told him to notify him as soon as there was any progress from the emergency room. Seeing Huoding on the communicator, the medic handed him the electronic notebook.

Upon seeing the contents of the electronic notebook, Huoding immediately felt a bit more confident.

"Old Mo, I just received news. Xilin is out of danger."

Seeing Mo Heng's clearly distrustful gaze, Huoding took the communicator into the emergency room and showed Mo Heng the life data on the instruments, and then looked at Xilin's complexion. After scrutinizing for a long time, Mo Heng finally believed him. However, he still insisted on sending Xilin back to Qiyao as soon as possible, otherwise Mo Heng wouldn't be at ease.

"Let me tell you, even if all those people at the base were fed to rats, this old man wouldn't bat an eye! The combined value of all of them is far less than my disciple! Why should someone else pay the price for a major accident caused by their own incompetence? Ptooey, ptooey, to hell with paying the price... Why should someone else clean up their mess?!"

When Old Master Mo got angry, his rogueish nature surfaced. His son, General Mo Qing, had inherited his father's true nature. Back then, Huoding and Gerard had experienced General Mo's rogueishness. Once that rogueishness kicked in, no one could stop him from doing what he wanted, and his pronouncements were the complete opposite of tactful.

For someone like Mo Heng, when he was in a good mood, he would usually put on the guise of a kind and approachable senior academic. But if he lost his temper, you could only pray for your own fortune.

"Great people have great tempers" perfectly described this situation. The world they faced was vast, but the world in their hearts wasn't necessarily so. Therefore, when they were protective of their own, don't try to stop them. Huoding knew this very well, so he could only remain silent about Mo Heng's extreme and biased remarks. He would forget them the next moment, lest they spread and affect Old Master Mo's amiable image...

Fortunately, he had asked the medical personnel to leave when he came in earlier. Otherwise, alas, it's best not to mention it.

After giving Huoding further instructions, Mo Heng reluctantly ended the communication. However, Huoding had to report Xilin's condition to Mo Heng every hour, otherwise Mo Heng would personally bring people over. Huoding wouldn't dare to trouble Old Master Mo.

Mo Heng's expression didn't improve much after ending the communication. Ever since he decided to take Xilin as his direct disciple, he had investigated the Daongs Family. He knew about the schemes and dirty dealings within the family's competition. The Daongs Family had considerable influence in Trade District 10, but to Mo Heng, it was of no use. Mo Heng valued personal ability, not background or the benefits brought by someone's status. He even wished Xilin could leave the Daongs Family, preferably with no background at all, to avoid getting entangled in those sordid struggles.

However, now that something like this had happened, Mo Heng wouldn't stand by and watch his disciple suffer. Some people would have to pay the price.

Although Mo Heng was involved in academia, the old man actually had a heart of steel. Just look at General Mo Qing. How could someone who could raise a general like Mo Qing be a soft-hearted character?...

Mo Heng adjusted the signal transmission code of the communicator and dialed a number...

Some people have their hands stretched too far. They've been running rampant in Trade District 10 for so long that they don't know how big the universe is!

Huoding, Knight, and others began investigating the attacker. Before long, they heard that the woman had committed suicide by injecting cyanide in the medicine warehouse. She didn't even avoid the warehouse's surveillance cameras, injecting a large dose of cyanide right in front of them. Her mission failed, she exposed herself, and she had no way out. In her dying moments, she couldn't understand how Xilin was still alive, even though so much time had passed since the injection.

How did this woman get into the medical ship? And who was helping her cover for her? The selection and screening of medical personnel were quite strict. She definitely had accomplices, and certainly more than one. It could be a soldier, a researcher, or a medical staff member...

Huoding also knew the complexity of the matter. Thinking of the promise he made to Mo Heng, Mo Heng immediately decided to let the ship send the injured back to Qiyao first. Xilin, Pride, and others would send dedicated personnel to guard them, and not a single mistake could be made, otherwise, the epaulets on his shoulders would have to be removed.

While everyone was busy, Xilin, though asleep, had a clear mind. He knew what was happening around him, knew Mo Heng's concern for him, and knew that Knight, Hard, and Saqi had been guarding the door at that time.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't moved. When Xilin was very young, Yuanye had told him that humans were social animals. Among the countless billions of people who traveled through the Star Systems, brushing past them or catching their eye, only a handful truly cared for you. This was a treasure that no amount of money or time could buy. Even those who preferred to be alone had a hidden concern deep in their hearts.

This play was unfolding as Xilin had predicted. He had anticipated that those people would have a backup plan. The moment he saw the woman holding a medicine tray on the monitor, he knew the backup had arrived. Therefore, he kept his Communicator on, leaving clues for Knight to investigate. Even if they couldn't track it, it would force the Assassin to their death. Such an Assassin, after failing a mission and exposing themselves, was bound to die.

However, this incident also made Xilin feel that long-lost warmth. Since Yuanye and Hena had left one after another, this was the comfort he had felt again. As he lay on the hospital bed, on the other side of the door, at least someone was watching over him.

Compared to his peers, he had experienced too much.

Recommending a friend's book, also science fiction, and it's also a strong recommendation in its category.

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