Attitude

"Director Lin is here."

A voice rang out in the Underground Training Ground, instantly breaking the hubbub.

"Which Director Lin? Why are you so excited?" A Martial Artist stopped the person who had rushed into the training ground, shouting excitedly.

"Who else? Director Lin Chenxing. He's finally awake, and Miss Xi Qing is bringing him over now."

At those words, two different reactions spread through the training ground. Some people looked delighted, while others grew worried.

A few minutes later, Xi Qing pushed a wheelchair to the entrance of the training ground. Lin Chenxing sat upright in it, looking thoughtful.

As they entered the training ground, a crowd surged toward Lin Chenxing, greeting him one after another.

"Hello, Director Lin."

"Director Lin, you're finally awake! We've been waiting for you to wake up and give us some pointers."

"Director Lin, do you remember me? Now that you're awake, we can finally relax."

After a round of greetings, Lin Chenxing apologized. "I've only just woken up, and I still can't control my body properly. I can't stand up and talk with everyone. I'm truly sorry. I hope you'll understand."

"It's all right, Director Lin. You should focus on resting."

Everyone present shared the same attitude, understanding what Lin Chenxing had been through over the past few months.

Lin Chenxing smiled and said, "Miss Xi Qing just told me that everyone's grown much stronger thanks to the Five Hearts Toward Heaven Cultivation Method. Could I ask you to show me what you can do? It would help me get a sense of how things have changed."

After hearing Lin Chenxing's request, many people volunteered. In the end, Lin Chenxing simply picked one of the strongest at random.

As an Advanced Warrior, one's punch force generally ranged from 4,000 to 8,000 kilograms, and one's speed from 60 to 90 meters per second.

The Advanced Warrior he selected displayed strength right around the middle of that range, with a punch force of just over 6,300 kilograms and a speed of 78 meters per second.

After asking the Martial Artists about the problems they encountered in their daily training, Lin Chenxing left, pleased, and prepared to head to the office building to find Gao Zheng.

Many people saw Lin Chenxing and Xi Qing on the way, but they only exchanged quick greetings before hurrying off, as if something major had happened.

Lin Chenxing paid it no mind and continued forward at the same unhurried pace.

A large crowd suddenly poured out of the training ground's exit behind them, all heading toward the office building.

Xi Qing stopped a Martial Artist and asked, "What's going on? Why is everyone in such a hurry to get over there?"

"The Rescue Team and the Law Enforcement Team are about to fight again. We need to hurry over and break it up. Miss Xi and Director Lin, you can take your time," the Martial Artist replied, then hurried away.

Lin Chenxing watched the crowd rush toward the office building with interest and said to Xi Qing, "There's no need to hurry. I'd like to see how Brother Gao and Chairman He handle this. I also want to find out how my team members are doing."

Xi Qing was a little confused. The Law Enforcement Team members were all Lin Chenxing's loyal subordinates, yet they were about to fight the Rescue Team. And he was treating it like a show. But since Lin Chenxing had said so, she didn't feel it was her place to say more.

After nearly twenty minutes, Lin Chenxing and Xi Qing finally reached the plaza in front of the office building.

A fierce battle was underway in the plaza, but only two people were fighting. Everyone else stood around the edge, and not one of them seemed inclined to intervene.

Lin Chenxing's arrival brought everyone to a halt. Though three months had passed, his former prestige remained. As one of the founders of the base, his presence couldn't be ignored.

"Go on, keep fighting," Lin Chenxing said with a smile, looking at the two men who had stopped fighting in the middle of the plaza.

But no one was going to continue under the circumstances. They simply watched in silence.

When Lin Chenxing saw that no one reacted, he said to Xi Qing, "Looks like my being here is making them uncomfortable. Let's go to the Chairman's Office."

Xi Qing pushed Lin Chenxing's wheelchair straight across the middle of the plaza, between the two fighters, and into the office building.

Once they were out of sight, Lin Chenxing sighed. "Those people were clearly putting on a show for me."

Xi Qing smiled. "I think they just wanted to see where you stand. Besides, you're presenting yourself as half-paralyzed. They can't exactly force you to make a choice."

"All right, then. Let's not go to Brother Gao's office. This is depressing. Let's go to my office first. It's probably gathering dust by now." Lin Chenxing pressed a hand to his chest and said with a helpless expression.

Although Lin Chenxing had changed his mind and didn't much feel like seeing Gao Zheng, He Qishun, and the others, Gao Zheng and the rest were waiting for him in the Chairman's Office, growing rather frustrated.

They waited and waited, but Lin Chenxing still didn't show up at the Chairman's Office. Gao Zheng and the others exchanged glances.

Fortunately, Lin Chenxing's office was on the same floor, very close to Gao Zheng's. After thinking it over, Gao Zheng sent Li Yueqi to take a look. Sure enough, Lin Chenxing was sitting in his own chair, with nothing to do.

Gao Zheng led all the directors to Lin Chenxing's office and pushed his way in, saying, "You little rascal, you came here to hide? What, you were going to leave us waiting over there?"

Lin Chenxing spread his hands. "I don't remember saying I was going to come find you. Can't I come to my own office and try to get a feel for the place again? I haven't been back in so long."

Gao Zheng looked at He Qishun and said with a wry smile, "Look at the idea you came up with. Our Young Director Lin is upset with us now."

He Qishun narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile. "Young Director Lin truly is the core of our group. Even after being unconscious for so long, he's still just as sharp as ever."

Lin Chenxing leaned back in his chair and said, "Tell me, what was going on downstairs? We know each other so well. Surely you wouldn't go to the trouble of staging something like that for no reason."

Gao Zheng cleared his throat. "Let me explain. We arranged that scene partly because Old He and I wanted to test you and see where you stood on the matter. But more than that, we wanted the people who keep deepening the rift and stirring things up to see what you, Lin Chenxing, as the core of our group, think of their behavior."

He Qishun continued, "Old Gao and I are indeed competing for power and influence, but we don't want the entire base descending into chaos, especially in times like these. We're letting things run their course for now so that, after the initial turmoil, we can restore order and establish our absolute authority. Some people are already preparing to replace us."

Lin Chenxing's brow furrowed slightly. He hadn't realized things ran so deep—that some people actually wanted to take their place. In the current world, that was a troubling sign for the base's future.