On a sunlit afternoon, the Jiangnan Landscape Residential Area, a haven where HR Alliance members could relax and socialize, unfolded before the world like a carefully composed painting.
Inside the residential area, leafy trees cast deep shade, and crisp birdsong occasionally rang out from among the branches. Birds skimmed over the rippling surface of the artificial lake or perched in elegant wooden pavilions, creating a scene of tranquil beauty.
Lately, this picturesque community had grown a little livelier. Another new member had moved in, and according to the people who fished at the nearby park every day, this newcomer was a very high-level fighter.
"Hey! I already know about him. He's an Advanced War General-level Psychic. They say Glinda really likes him, so she made sure to put his house right next to hers!"
A fishing enthusiast said this beside his villa. The onlooker beside him was puzzled.
"Another Advanced War General-level Psychic? Do you know where he came from? Why did he choose to join the HR Alliance? What exactly is his relationship with Glinda?"
The onlooker was clearly not satisfied with that bit of gossip and pressed the fishing enthusiast for more.
"Ha! You still don't know me? I may not catch any fish, but I know everything else! His background is, well, pretty complicated..."
The fishing enthusiast put away the fishing rod he had never once caught a fish with and continued chatting with the person beside him in a meaningful tone. But he seemed to be putting on airs more than anything; he didn't actually know why Glinda valued the new member so highly.
As the fishing enthusiast's words drifted away, a conspicuous moving scene was unfolding in front of a villa in the distance.
A group of movers in neat blue uniforms, beads of sweat glistening on their foreheads, carried all kinds of furniture and boxes in an orderly fashion under the direction of a blonde woman.
The woman wore a well-tailored black dress, its hem swaying gently with each step and outlining her graceful figure. A few strands of hair fluttered in the breeze, adding a touch of carefree charm. Meanwhile, Liu Yun had only just hurriedly jumped down from the car, as if he were an outsider.
"Liu Yun, you're finally here." Glinda's voice brimmed with delight, as though she were greeting an old friend she had known for years. She took Liu Yun by the hand, chatting cheerfully as she led him into the villa.
Inside, a spacious, bright living room came into view. Its decor was modern yet elegant, revealing the owner's taste and style in every detail. Glinda and Liu Yun sat side by side on the sofa, and their conversation grew more in-depth. They talked about everything, from the alliance's future plans to their personal cultivation experiences.
"I know your strength goes far beyond this, Liu Yun. Your arrival will undoubtedly be a tremendous boost for the HR Alliance." Glinda's eyes shone with trust and admiration as she spoke softly. "Besides, I've always felt there's some kind of special connection between us. I've felt it ever since the first time I saw you."
Liu Yun was left utterly bewildered by her words. What special connection? That was complete nonsense! He couldn't understand why this woman was being so enthusiastic, either.
"I don't feel anything special. If you have nothing else to do, you can leave. I never expected to be assigned a villa next to yours."
He spoke to Glinda without the slightest politeness. At his words, her expression darkened, but she showed no sign of leaving—in fact, she became even more enthusiastic.
"I was the one who arranged for you to be assigned here. I already know you're a War God Level Psychic. I promise you that the HR Alliance will offer you even more benefits in the future!"
Glinda smiled at Liu Yun. The light in her eyes hadn't dimmed at all despite his coldness. After all, she believed he was worth investing in.
The whole thing had been an accident. During one of his training sessions, Liu Yun had failed to conceal his strength, and Glinda, who was also a War God Level Psychic, had noticed that his mental power was extraordinary.
After that, Glinda had gone out of her way to take care of Liu Yun. She had insisted on arranging his house beside hers and had even come over to help him move.
Liu Yun had finally managed to send Glinda away after much persuasion. He had abandoned most of his old friends, and at the moment, Glinda was the only one helping him move.
What good were friends? At most, they just drained each other! Liu Yun didn't want to make it public that he was a War God Level Psychic. When a tree grew too tall, the wind would bring it down; with his strength advancing so quickly, he would surely arouse suspicion.
Besides, you always needed to hold some strength in reserve. That was how you avoided being set up. As long as his enemies didn't know exactly what he could do, they couldn't truly frame him.
The HR Alliance was certainly powerful and wealthy, but it still had very few War God Level Psychics. Liu Yun's standing in the alliance was obvious.
Liu Yun paid no mind to Glinda's attentions. All he cared about was upgrading his Machine Race Base as quickly as possible. That was the priority. He soon put Glinda out of his mind and calmly prepared for the important task ahead.
He wrote an email to Liu Ling. Because of the monsters, travel had become extremely difficult, and it would be a very long time before he could return. Still, he had a responsibility to let her know.
Next, he had to head out on a mission. He had accepted a mission on the HR Alliance's internal network to hunt an Intermediate Beast General-level monster in the mountains of southern Huaxia. Apparently, a flying Undying Fire Bird had been attacking humans passing through the area.
The reward was generous. All he had to do was submit the monster's head to the alliance as proof, and a successful kill would earn him as much as 200 million Huaxia Currency! More importantly, the flying Undying Bird had caused serious disruption for people passing through. It had even blocked a major road, so killing it would also earn him 200,000 mission points. That made the job even more appealing to Liu Yun.
Liu Yun figured that, as a Psychic, dealing with an Intermediate Beast General would be a piece of cake. He packed the supplies he had prepared and soon set out.
He first arrived at a base in the wilderness, where the Military asked him what he planned to do out there.
The Military told Liu Yun he should form a four-person team at the very least before venturing into the wilderness, as that would give him a much better chance of survival. But Liu Yun rejected their advice outright.
"I can handle it alone. Don't worry! I'll finish the mission and be back soon. Nothing serious will happen."
That was what Liu Yun said. The Military personnel could only think, "You can't reason with someone bent on dying," and said nothing more.
Liu Yun got an off-road pickup, a heavy machine gun, a four-tube rocket launcher, and plenty of ammunition. After checking that nothing was missing, he set out alone.
Everyone there figured Liu Yun would probably end up buried in the wilderness. Some even felt sorry for the pickup, which would be wrecked out there. But Liu Yun insisted on taking a vehicle, and there was nothing they could do to stop him.
The remains of Huaxia's old highways still crossed the wilderness. Liu Yun raced along one of them without a second thought, unaware that someone had been watching him from behind all along.
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