Black Box

In Qing Chen's imagination, the cyberpunk world should be forever immersed under a gray sky.

Soil erosion, leading to increased weathering and smog, has plunged the world into natural disasters.

However, the truth is that as technology has advanced to its current state and energy has shifted to highly efficient nuclear power, the sky has actually become clearer.

In cities, electric vehicles have replaced gasoline-powered cars, resulting in less severe exhaust emissions, and people can even see the stars when they look up at night.

In the wilderness, soil erosion is not so severe, and the lush vegetation in these Forbidden Zone has become a line of defense for humans against wind and sand.

Sometimes Qing Chen would think, what if this world really became a Forbidden Zone one day, with giants like Ding Dong running wild in a green ocean, and phoenixes perched in the huge tree canopies? That would be so beautiful.

Giants like Ding Dong, born in Forbidden Zone, are not subject to the rules.

Countdown 2. In his home on the 132nd floor of the Luoshen Building, Qing Chen took off the expensive suit issued by the Li family and chose a set of white sportswear from a closet that his master had bought for him to change into.

He put on his baseball cap and then looked at his sofa.

There were signs that someone had sat on the sofa, but his door hadn't been touched before he came back.

In Qing Chen's memory, the only person who could enter the house without touching the outside door was Qing Shi Yingzi.

This reinforced Qing Chen's conclusion: the Forbidden Item that could open the Shadow Gate must be able to go to places the host had been to or seen.

When the Qing family's shadow first entered, it had to go through the main entrance, but it wouldn't be necessary afterward.

Qing Chen strongly suspected that during his time at the Li family's Banshan Manor, Qing family shadows would come to rest for a while every day while he was away from home.

The kettle at home had been used to boil water, and there were fine tea leaves around the cup, indicating that the other person had also brewed tea.

The bathroom has been used by people, some have even taken a bath in it, and the bathtub has also been used.

This shadowy figure from the Qing family seemed to treat himself as an outsider at all...

Qing Chen sighed inwardly. Having someone like this, who comes and goes as he pleases, is truly a headache.

But what exactly does the other party want? Could my involvement in the Shadow Struggle also be part of their plan?

But what exactly does the other party want?

Qing Chen didn't think too much about it, pulled down the brim of his hat, and pushed open the door to go out.

This time, he listened carefully to the sounds outside the door to avoid startling the silver-haired girl Zheng Yi, again.

However, when Qing Chen waited for the elevator, the silver-haired girl exclaimed in surprise again as the doors slowly opened, and she even reached into her small handbag, as if it contained some kind of weapon.

For example, pepper spray.

Qing Chen didn't know if the pepper spray in the Inner World would be more ferocious than that in the Outer World.

The silver-haired girl only breathed a slight sigh of relief when she realized the person outside the elevator was Qing Chen. She asked curiously, "Why haven't you been going to school lately?"

Qing Chen thought for a moment and replied, "My family might not be able to afford my college tuition, so I'm planning to start working and earning money early."

Zheng Yi paused for a moment. "There will be a way, but you must go to school. The convenience store where I work is hiring night cashiers. How about I recommend you for the job? You'll definitely be able to save enough for your tuition."

"Thank you, I'll think about it," Qing Chen said with a smile as he stepped into the elevator. "Go home and rest now."

"Mmm," the silver-haired girl said, taking a couple of steps after getting off the elevator before turning back. "You really need to think this over carefully. The job isn't actually that hard."

"Hurry home," Qing Chen said with a smile and a wave.

As the elevator doors closed, he turned to look out the transparent glass window.

In this city, girls like Zheng Yi have to risk their lives to secure an uncertain future.

The other person goes to school in the morning, attends tutoring classes in the afternoon, and works in the evening.

I'm willing to do anything to get into university.

But after entering university, the best way out is to continue working for a conglomerate and then die suddenly at work.

This is a meticulously designed world where all the rules of the game are in the hands of conglomerates.

Qing Chen thought that his master, Li Shutong, and his friends must have seen too many people suffering like this before they were determined to change the world.

He put on an earpiece, and a voice asked, "You should go back to the Outer World. The Data Fortress I promised you during the second transaction is in your left pocket. Just plug it into your computer's USB port when you get back. By the way, in 14 days, Li Changqing will be watching you inject gene serum number 003. Have you thought about how you're going to handle it? Are you really going to grit your teeth and get the injection, or just run away?"

Previously, Qing Chen refused to receive the gene injection because he had just received the 004 injection and would have to wait another 18 days before receiving the next injection.

Four days have passed now, and this injection can't be avoided by simply dodging it.

Qing Chen didn't answer that question, but instead asked something else, "What exactly is the origin of the knight?"

One answer, "It originated from extreme sports."

"Extreme sports?" Qing Chen knew that every Life and Death Trial was like a kind of extreme sport, but he always thought it was just a coincidence.

Yi said, "According to the knight history that my father completed, my grandfather, who was the founder of the Knight Organization, initially just liked extreme sports. Later, when he became a leader in various extreme sports and completed the eight Life and Death Trial challenges, his Gene Lock was suddenly unlocked. It was from that time that the eight Life and Death Trial challenges became a path of cultivation."

Qing Chen knew that before the creation of Breathing Technique, knights needed to complete eight Life and Death Trial challenges to become true knights and unlock their Gene Lock.

Before completing the eighth item, everyone was just an ordinary person.

Before completing the eight challenges, Yi's grandfather Ren He, had no idea that this was a path of spiritual practice.

Suddenly, Yi said, "Li Shutong felt so much empathy for your ancestors in the Outer World because the Knight Organization always knew that before the founder embarked on this path, he knew nothing about the era he was about to create, nor did he know that he could become a superhuman."

"Why did the founder have to complete these eight challenges?" Qing Chen asked curiously.

"Because of your love and belief in life," Yi replied, "Actually, Li Shutong accepted you as his apprentice in a very hasty manner. According to the normal process of a knight accepting an apprentice, you should have gone through all the extreme sports first, but he was too hasty, and you are too smart, so he skipped this process."

Yi continued, "In the lives of Li Shutong and others, the path of knighthood was a process of self-cultivation and self-improvement, a process of challenging oneself time and time again. But for you, it is more of a path of self-cultivation. Therefore, you cannot say that you truly understand what the Knight Organization is."

Qing Chen seemed to be deep in thought. His motivation for taking this path was more pragmatic, so he couldn't truly appreciate the meaning of the journey.

However, he had been moved by the blazing sunrise over the Green Mountain Cliff and felt an urge to walk the same path his master and his companions had taken over the years.

Extreme sports.

This was something that Qing Chen had previously found unfamiliar, but it was also something he had to become familiar with.

He had already figured out how to deal with Li Changqing.

But within 14 days, he must complete the next Life and Death Trial challenge.

Last time, his master led him on the path of chivalry; now he himself will embark on a long journey.

Heavy snow fell in the City No. 18, with the snow on the ground accumulating to a depth of 30 centimeters, and there were almost no pedestrians on the streets.

In a dilapidated apartment in District 6, where the countdown to the return had begun, Liu Dezhu sat anxiously waiting. He wasn't the only one in the room; Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen, who had just arrived in City No. 18, were also there.

Compared to Liu Dezhu, who kept shaking his leg, Hu Xiaoniu was noticeably more composed.

But then Liu Dezhu was seen holding a long Black Box in his arms, rubbing it constantly with both hands.

The Black Box is about 1.6 meters long and extremely heavy.

It was so heavy that when Liu Dezhu held it and sat on the sofa, he would sink into the sofa.

The dilapidated apartment was fully equipped with all the necessities for daily life, including hot water available 24 hours a day.

However, none of the three people in the room were paying attention to anything else, and they were just trying to pass the time.

Zhang Tianzhen asked curiously, "Isn't the boss coming yet?"

Liu Dezhu would glance at the time on his phone every now and then. "The boss said he would come before the return, he will definitely come."

"Okay," Zhang Tianzhen looked at the Black Box in Liu Dezhu's arms again. "What exactly is this thing? After we met up in City No. 18, I saw you holding it the whole time."

"This belongs to the boss," Liu Dezhu said warily. "Let's do our job and not ask questions we shouldn't. I haven't opened this thing since I got it, and I don't know what's inside."

"Brother Liu, I feel you've changed a lot. You're less slick, and you never used to talk about the boss so much," Hu Xiaoniu asked curiously. "By the way, has the boss agreed to see us?"

"Of course, would I let you come over if he didn't say anything?" Liu Dezhu replied, "Just wait patiently, he definitely has something to tell you."

"What does the boss look like?" Zhang Tianzhen asked curiously.

Liu Dezhu's face darkened slightly. "Didn't I already say, don't ask questions you shouldn't ask?"

"Oh," Zhang Tianzhen said dejectedly.

Hu Xiaoniu looked at Zhang Tianzhen seriously. "As Time Walker, our first priority is to maintain confidentiality. No matter how cautious the boss is, it's not excessive. We just need to do our own job well."

"Yes, I understand," Zhang Tianzhen nodded.

In a sense, the three people in this room are among the Time Walker who have appeared around Qing Chen and have been tested over a period of time, so they are relatively reliable.

Qing Chen also decided to meet Hu Xiaoniu and Zhang Tianzhen after careful consideration.

Just then, the sound of pressing the combination lock came from outside the door.

The three people in the room looked up and saw a mysterious Cat Face Mask.

Qing Chen asked in a deep voice, "Everyone's here."

After saying that, he turned his gaze to the Black Box in Liu Dezhu's arms.

Liu Dezhu presented the Black Box with both hands as if it were a treasure, his eyes filled with tears. "Boss, without you, I'm afraid I would have spent my whole life in prison. I've brought you the contents, and I swear to you, I absolutely haven't opened it."

Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "Well done."

Have some food, there'll be another chapter tonight.