Her tone had just been full of teasing and banter.
But when she heard her granddaughter mention Mutant Beasts, her expression changed instantly.
"I watched the footage and read the report from back then. The Fierce Beast we encountered this time perfectly matched those characteristics.
It was identical to the Blood Wolf from forty years ago.
These Fierce Beasts becoming like this was not mutation at all."
The car had already started moving, and Xia Zhao began explaining her discovery.
At the mention of Mutant Beasts, her grandmother's heart filled with lingering fear.
Thinking of the flippant remarks she had just made, she almost wanted to slap her old face.
"As long as you're safe, that's all that matters.
I never expected Mutant Beasts to appear again after all these years.
It looks like your brother and the others will have to get busy.
No one can bear another tragedy like the one forty years ago."
Xia Zhao looked at her grandmother. There was something even more important that she had not yet mentioned.
"Grandma, the Mutant Beasts aren't the greatest danger this time.
There are traces of people behind these Mutant Beasts.
These so-called Mutant Beasts may very well be the work of humans!"
At those words, even this elder, who had weathered all manner of major events, froze unconsciously.
The accidental mutation of Fierce Beasts was not a natural disaster, but a man-made calamity?
On further thought, that explanation did seem more reasonable.
Everyone knew that mutations brought more harm than benefit and came with countless uncertainties.
Yet in both of these mutations, the Fierce Beasts had gained similar traits.
Their aggression had become extraordinarily high, they felt no pain, their skin festered, and they carried toxins.
Why would accidental mutations in nature be so similar?
And this time, the mutated creatures had been Vicious Hounds. They could not possibly have been descendants of those Blood Wolves.
Reproductive isolation still existed among Fierce Beasts.
But if some force was causing trouble behind the scenes, then everything made sense.
Xia Zhao's grandmother fell silent for a long time after hearing this, considering many things.
"For the next three months, you must report to the family in advance wherever you go.
When you go out, have Aunt Lin accompany you."
Xia Zhao nodded. She knew this was a serious matter.
She was no rebellious little girl. There could be no willfulness where her own safety was concerned.
With the serious matter settled, Xia Zhao casually asked her grandmother about things at home.
After asking a few questions, Xia Zhao suddenly brought up Uncle Liu's son.
"Didn't you say you weren't interested in getting to know anyone?
Your grandmother already turned him down before. What's this now? Do you think he's not so bad after all?"
Xia Zhao still appeared casual, as though she were merely asking on a whim.
"I heard that the sector he oversees can access a great deal of information.
I want to check who entered Qijia Town over the past month."
At this point, Xia Zhao's grandmother merely assumed she was investigating the Mutant Beasts.
Though she felt it would not be of much use, it was not a bad thing for Xia Zhao to have some contact with Young Master Liu.
She immediately agreed and said she would contact him for Xia Zhao.
In truth, Xia Zhao did want to investigate the Mutant Beasts by looking into this.
But more than that, she wanted to find someone...
Although she had given him her contact information, Xia Zhao felt that someone would not contact her anytime soon.
She could tell that he carried a trace of inferiority in his heart.
After accepting her contact information, he was probably planning to wait until he had achieved something before reaching out to her.
Xia Zhao understood that. It was a man's pride.
Men might talk about wanting to be kept, but when faced with a woman beyond their reach, every one of them would hide away.
Other than the few men who made a living that way, most had a clear understanding of their own worth.
Xia Zhao wanted to investigate Li Yuan's identity and find out what kind of organization Wuling Education really was.
She had no intention of suddenly appearing before Li Yuan and offering a few seemingly comforting words.
What Xia Zhao wanted was to find Wuling Education and secretly provide him with some help.
During those half a month of fleeing for their lives in the wilderness, Li Yuan had displayed astonishing talent in martial arts.
With such talent, and with her secretly providing him some cultivation resources...
Perhaps the two of them really had a chance.
At 7:40 in the morning, the high-speed train arrived at the station.
Li Yuan returned to Lingshan City.
Looking at the familiar streets around him, Li Yuan was not particularly interested.
He first bought a reasonably priced phone.
Phones these days all performed well enough. Unless someone was an avid mobile gamer or had especially high demands for photography,
it really did not cost much to buy a satisfactory phone.
Once that was done, Li Yuan immediately headed home.
On the way, he called Chen Yong first to let his friend know he was safe.
Chen Yong told Li Yuan about the recent situation in Class Nine and Class Fourteen.
The two classes had performed far beyond his expectations over the past half month.
Students usually became somewhat undisciplined when their homeroom teacher was absent.
Even the Advanced Classes at Lingshan No.1 High School were no exception.
But Class Nine and Class Fourteen, the two classes Li Yuan oversaw, had maintained remarkably good discipline.
The two agreed to have a meal together tomorrow, leaving today for Li Yuan to get some more rest.
Chen Yong was rather understanding of Li Yuan. Every time he returned home from a long trip, he felt exhausted all over.
In his view, Li Yuan probably felt much the same.
After calling Chen Yong, Li Yuan thought it over and decided to call Deputy Director Zeng Chang as well.
He reported that he was safe and told him that he had returned from his training.
After all, Deputy Director Zeng Chang had secured this training opportunity in Qijia Town for him.
Whether or not he still had confidence in him, Li Yuan should still express his gratitude.
The call connected quickly. Zeng Chang told Li Yuan to head directly to the Provincial Gymnasium on the morning five days later.
The martial artists from Lingshan City participating in the Youth Martial Tournament would gather there and then depart together for the competition venue.
"Do your best. Don't put too much pressure on yourself.
Over the past half month, I've come to terms with it.
There's only one director's position. Someone will always be passed over, and it's better to know the outcome early.
I already have fewer resources than others. It's only natural that it would be difficult for me to rise any further."
Zeng Chang comforted Li Yuan over the phone. As for the position of next director, he had essentially given up.
At this year's Youth Martial Tournament, he and Li Yuan would definitely take the blame.
Zeng Chang had already received word that Jin Fan, who was competing on behalf of Chishan City, was even stronger than they had previously seen.
Perhaps to make Lingshan City regret it, some words had spread from Jin Fan's side.
He wanted to win first place for Chishan City.
Though taking first place individually did not represent Chishan City's final result,
with a first-place winner leading the way, as long as Chishan City's other competitors performed decently, their team ranking definitely would not be poor.
Chishan City should be able to get its wish and obtain an inspection quota.
Over the next two years, it would surely receive some policy support and enjoy substantial development.
By then, the person who had invited Jin Fan to compete would receive some commendation as well.
"Rest assured, Director Zeng. I'll do my best. There may not be no turning point in this Youth Martial Tournament."
Li Yuan actually had some confidence in the Youth Martial Tournament.
Especially after what he had experienced in Qijia Town, his confidence had grown even stronger.
Deputy Director Zeng Chang gave a few simple replies from the other end of the call.
It was clear that he still lacked confidence.
Or rather, he had already given up.
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