Setting Out, A New Journey

Countdown 720:00:00.

It's another long regression cycle.

Perhaps many more Time Walker with mechanical limbs will start to worry about charging.

For Qing Chen, this journey was long and painful.

But for most Time Walker, a month passes in the blink of an eye.

In the blink of an eye, it wasn't even enough time for them to solve their charging problem...

Qing Chen sat in the darkness of the bedroom.

He heard hurried footsteps coming from inside the villa, then all the footsteps stopped in front of his door, and then hesitated without knocking...

He breathed silently, savoring the long-lost freedom.

But Qing Chen was not happy. He felt as if he were still in that filthy pigsty, where someone had just died for him.

The stars in the distant sky all seem very lonely.

They're finally back.

But returning is not an end; for Qing Chen, it is a new Qidian.

He was about to embark on another long journey.

But there are still some things to take care of before setting off.

Qing Chen pushed open the door and went out.

The outside light shone into the dark bedroom.

Inside Villa No. 11.

Luo Wanyai suddenly sat up in the darkness and then hurriedly ran outside.

The security personnel in the villa were stunned. They had worked with Luo Wanyai for over ten years, and this was the first time they had ever seen their elder brother so anxious.

Even when Luo Wanyai was captured in the Inner World and had nowhere to turn, he was not this out of control.

"Hey Luo, what's wrong?!" one of the brothers asked.

Luo Wanyai glanced at them. "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask, and get out of the way!"

"What's going on? Are we going to have to run away again?" The brothers were a little confused.

"Get out of here! Stop talking such unlucky things! Martial law! Hide all the guns the boss gave you on your person! No one is allowed near Bai Zhou's villa without his permission!" Luo Wanyai put on his coat and rushed out of the villa.

Soon, the atmosphere outside the villa during the day became tense.

Security personnel were everywhere.

Currently, what happened to Qing Chen in the Inner World is only known to the intelligence community and high-ranking officials; ordinary people are still unaware of this level of struggle.

The power struggles of that world are irrelevant to most people; some may never even know the truth about certain things in their entire lives.

Of course, ignorance is bliss. Those rich kids from Los Angeles Foreign Language School are quite happy in Prison No. 10 these days.

But Luo Wanyai is different. He took over Bai Zhou's intelligence system, and the tentacles of the Parent's Association have already reached every corner of City No. 10 and City No. 18. How could he not know what happened to Qing Chen?

So he got anxious.

Perhaps it was because he didn't want to see the person he had just latched onto get into trouble, perhaps it was because he admired the boy, or perhaps he had developed feelings for Bai Zhou; in any case, he became anxious.

Luo Wanyai's obese body trembled as he ran.

When they arrived at the door of Villa No. 12, the door had already been opened, and Liu Dezhu was waiting at the door.

Luo Wanyai paused for a moment. "Waiting for whom?"

Liu Dezhu glanced at him and said, "We've been waiting for you. Come in quickly, Brother Chen said you would definitely come."

Luo Wanyai paused for a moment, then followed them inside. It was just a small detail, but it made him feel... that person seemed a little different.

Upon entering the house, Luo Wanyai, a man who Jianghu for decades, was stunned.

Even though he had seen countless storms and waves, he had never witnessed such a scene.

The boy stood there, took off his upper body clothes, and let Jiang Xue treat his wounds.

The boy in Luo Wanyai's eyes remained silent. He had originally wanted to ask what had happened, but there was no need to ask anymore; the scars all over his body were perhaps the best explanation.

Knife wounds, bite marks from wild wolves, whip marks, and frostbite on his hands are interspersed on the boy's body.

Jiang Xue applied the black ointment to the wound, leaving black streaks that resembled a cruel totem.

Luo Wanyai couldn't even find a single intact spot on the other person's body.

He didn't know how much suffering this boss had endured, but he saw no trace of pain on the boy's battered face.

This may be why he admires the other person.

Jiang Xue and Li Tongyun helped apply the black ointment to the wound, crying uncontrollably as they did so.

Qing Chen smiled and said, "Don't cry, I'm fine."

"You call this nothing?" Jiang Xue wiped away her tears.

Qing Chen shook his head, closed his eyes and pondered, "Luo Wanyai, I'll tell you, remember. The place I'm in is called A02 Base, and it belongs to the Kamishiro Corporation. It's in the northwest."

"According to the time in the Inner World, the sun is directly overhead at 18 degrees south latitude, and the point of direct sunlight is shifting northward. Judging from the length of the shadow I observed at High Noon, my location should be at 52 degrees north latitude. There are larch and birch trees around the base. Of the three secret military bases of the Kamishiro Corporation, only one should meet this condition, and that's where I am."

"Old Luo, I need you to tell Li Dongze and Qing Zhun from the Intelligence Department One this news after you return to the Inner World."

Luo Wanyai pulled a dagger from his waist and cut his palm. "I will deliver the message, even if it means my death."

Qing Chen was both amused and exasperated. "What are you doing?"

"The rules of the underworld dictate that if you've drawn blood, you must fulfill your promise, even if it costs you your life," Luo Wanyai said.

Qing Chen waved his hand helplessly. "Aunt Jiang Xue, please apply some medicine to him first..."

In fact, he knew one thing very well: the Kamishiro Corporation had not killed him or used any more ruthless methods against him; they had only subjected him to mental torture.

The other party must have found a way to possess me.

If the other party knows that Shadow and Li Changqing are both looking for them, then they must have made preparations.

If he were to reveal the clues about his base to Li Shutong at this point, it could very likely lead to his master also being put in danger.

But Qing Chen didn't act coy.

That master had seen much bigger storms and was no less intelligent than him; what he could think of, the other party could certainly think of as well.

He only had two things to do upon returning to the Outer World.

One is to give it your all to overcome the next Life and Death Trial challenge.

The other one is to call for reinforcements.

Luo Wanyai was overwhelmed with emotions. Based on the intelligence he had obtained, he didn't even know how Qing Chen could escape.

"I'll take the Parent's Association up north; maybe it can be of some help?" Luo Wanyai said.

Qing Chen shook his head. "You can't help much, you just need to develop quietly."

"But..."

However, at that moment, a voice came through Luo Wanyai's Bluetooth headset. "Old Luo, someone has come to visit Bai Zhou."

Luo Wanyai was taken aback. "Did they reveal their identity?"

The security personnel said, "Ji Guanya Time Walker under Li Changqing of the Li family. And Si Nianhua Time Walker under the shadow of the Qing family."

These two have always been shrouded in mystery. Many people know that there are several hidden forces in the Outer World, such as the Time Walker controlled by the Li, Qing, and Chen families.

These people clearly influence the Outer World, yet they rarely appear in public and maintain an extremely low profile.

Back then, it was these two who made a deal with He Jinqiu, and then they orchestrated and executed the sensational event between Japan and Goryeo.

Now, they are back.

The townhouse area of Guobao Garden.

Qin Shuli sat in his living room, panting. He was not injured, but he was a little excited and nervous about his first return.

Zhang Wanfang stood by, and for her, time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.

"How are you? Are you in danger? Did Luo Wanyai help you?" Zhang Wanfang asked worriedly.

Before she traveled through time, she sent her son Haohao back to his maternal grandparents' house, worried that if Qin Shuli were to encounter an accident, the child might see it.

She looked Qin Shuli up and down and found that he was not only uninjured, but also seemed to have become younger.

In the Outer World, Qin Shuli stayed up late every day and drank alcohol to support his business. The price of raw materials for their mechanical processing business kept rising, and competitors were constantly pressing in, leaving him exhausted every day.

As a result, his life became much easier in the Inner World.

At this moment, Qin Shuli opened his mouth, spat out a small medicine bottle, and excitedly said to Zhang Wanfang, "This is a beauty medicine I brought back for you from the Inner World. Just take one a week. It is said to contain gene inhibitors that delay aging, which is the RED Agent that was all the rage on social media a while ago."

Zhang Wanfang was stunned.

She was still worried about Qin Shuli, but she didn't expect that her husband was not in danger and was even able to bring back medicine.

RED Agent is very popular, and celebrities are all looking for Time Walker to buy it.

Because it can only be carried through the mouth, only a small amount can be brought back each time. Netizens joked that this is the real "import and export" trade.

"Wait, this must be very expensive in the Inner World too. Are you very rich in the Inner World?" Zhang Wanfang asked in a daze.

"I wasn't exactly rich," Qin Shuli thought for a moment, then said with great interest, "I did encounter some very dangerous things at the beginning, and I almost died!"

"Huh? Tell me quickly, what happened? Did Luo Wanyai save you? Then don't give me this medicine, take it and sell it to pay him back!" Zhang Wanfang said anxiously, "Didn't you say he charged a lot of money?"

Qin Shuli laughed, "When I first transmigrated, it was extremely dangerous; someone wanted to kill me. I hesitated for a moment about whether to call Luo Wanyai, but ultimately I did, wanting to try my luck. I didn't have high hopes initially, after all, why would a complete stranger help me? But guess what happened?"

Qin Shuli didn't keep him in suspense for long. "As a result, my family rushed over in droves and rescued me! I even dreamed about that heart-stirring scene last night, and I still get excited thinking about it now."

"Huh? Family? Did anyone else in our family travel through time?" Zhang Wanfang was stunned for a moment. "Did our second uncle save you?"

Qin Shuli laughed, "No, no, it's because I joined Luo Wanyai's organization in the Inner World, called 'Parent's Association,' where members all call each other family."

Zhang Wanfang hesitated for a moment before saying, "Could this kind of organization, formed by students' parents getting together, be any powerful organization?"

Qin Shuli shook his head and quickly explained, "You misunderstood. Although I don't know why it's called Parent's Association, it has nothing to do with the kind of the Parent's Association we hold for Haohao. Luo Wanyai and the others are very capable, and Bai Zhou is even more capable."

Qin Shuli continued, "There are several levels in the Parent's Association. I've already joined the Blue Family, so I don't have to worry too much about making a living. I'm doing very well in the Inner World. At first, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to pay Luo Wanyai's money. But later I realized that I was overthinking it. He never mentioned money to me at all; he just wanted to help me."

Zhang Wanfang hesitated. "But what people are saying is that Luo Wanyai..."

"It's all rumors," Qin Shuli said firmly. "Spreading rumors is so easy these days. As the saying goes, it only takes a mouth to spread a rumor, but it takes a lot of legwork to refute it. How could such a good person as Luo Wanyai be spread like that? Let's go. Luo Wanyai should have just returned. I need to go and express my gratitude."

Zhang Wanfang nodded. "I should thank them."

The two put on their down jackets and went out. On the way, Qin Shuli was still sighing, "The Parent's Association's Association has connections everywhere in the Inner World. They've caused quite a stir with an organization called the Cult of the Mechanical God Cult. I heard that the conglomerates in City No. 10 and City No. 18 are siding with them. I heard it's because someone in Daylight has a very good relationship with the conglomerate and holds a very high position. I wonder when I'll have the chance to meet a member of Daylight..."

Qin Shuli spent a month in the Inner World, and his biggest feeling was... the daytime was too powerful.

It seemed that there was nothing in the entire City No. 18 that couldn't be solved by daylight.

Qin Shuli continued, "Our lives will get better soon. When that happens, I'll bring things back from the Inner World to sell. That business will be much more profitable than our current machinery processing and exporting to Brazil."

"I'm glad you're safe," Zhang Wanfang and Qin Shuli said, walking happily through the villa area, making the winter feel warmer.

When Qin Shuli arrived at Villa No. 11, he was still quite a distance away, curiously looking at Villa No. 12, Bai Zhou.

He was surprised to find that there were twice as many security personnel outside the villa during the daytime.

Moreover, everyone looked serious, and the sticks they were holding had been replaced with knives. Some people even had their hands casually placed under their armpits, like bodyguards in a movie who were ready to draw their guns at any moment.

"Um... I'd like to pay a visit to President Luo," Qin Shuli said, showing off the two bottles of Moutai in his hand.

The security guard glanced at him expressionlessly. "Please leave. Mr. Luo is not receiving guests today."

Just then, Qin Shuli suddenly saw a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class slowly drive out of the courtyard of the Bai Zhou Villa.

The driver was still Luo Wanyai, and the person sitting behind the privacy glass in the back was still not clearly visible.

As the luxurious executive sedan drove past Qin Shuli and Zhang Wanfang, Luo Wanyai originally didn't intend to stop, but then Qing Chen's voice came from the back seat. "Stop for a moment."

The car came to a stop, and silence fell inside.

Qing Chen looked out the car window at Qin Shuli and Zhang Wanfang, who were all smiles, and felt as if he didn't belong in that world.

Qin Shuli didn't know why Luo Wanyai would save him for free, nor did he know who the real big shot in the daytime was, nor did he know what Qing Chen was enduring while they were enjoying their happiness.

Qing Chen smiled and said, "Let's drive to the airport."

When Qin Shuli and Zhang Wanfang saw the car stop, they thought Luo Wanyai would roll down the window and say a few words to them, but to their surprise, the car drove away again.

Luo Wanyai hesitated for a moment and said, "Boss, seeing them so happy makes me feel a little awkward."

Qing Chen smiled and said, "It's alright."

At this moment, Qing Chen said earnestly, "Old Luo, I want to ask you for a favor."

"Boss, please speak," Luo Wanyai said in a low voice.

Qing Chen said, "I hope that from now on, you can give up your brainwashing methods and sincerely develop the Parent's Association. Sincerely help some people and earnestly experience that era."

Luo Wanyai was taken aback. "Why, boss? That might slow down the development of the Parent's Association a lot."

Qing Chen said, "Sometimes, in order to achieve a certain goal as quickly as possible, we subconsciously rationalize some improper means, and even find all sorts of excuses for ourselves, but that's wrong. Lao Luo, I want a clean and honest Parent's Association, so that one day when I lead you to plant our flag all over the northern land, I can stand tall."

Luo Wanyai was stunned for a long time before saying, "I understand, boss."

This local tycoon, who had been navigating the Jianghu for a long time, suddenly felt that the daytime was different.

In the past, the days were aimless. If there was any goal, it was to find a way to preserve oneself, develop stealthily, and stay calm and avoid recklessness.

Now, Qing Chen must have a clearer goal in mind.

It's not ambition.

That is the goal.

This boss's mind seems to have become purer.

In He Xiaoxiao's group chat.

The ID "Haicheng Wu Yanzu," which was suspected to be Chen Sui, the owner of the Matrix, said, "The Matrix recently brought back new virtual engine technology from the Inner World. Maybe one day we'll be able to create something like Virtual Life in the Outer World... What's that popular term again? Right, Metaverse!"

"Wow, really?" The boss of the Red Umbrella Organization, "Jian Shou Qing," was particularly enthusiastic. "When I was in the Inner World, I was particularly addicted to virtual life. I could do whatever I wanted in there. With brain-computer interfaces, it was much more interesting than real life."

Actually, everyone knew that Chen Sui wanted to show off the information business empire he was building, and most of the members in the group joined in the fun by offering a few words of praise.

All that's missing is sending some flower and clapping emojis.

At this moment, the Chuang Wang suddenly said, "What kind of time is this to be concerned about such trivial matters? It's petty, it shows a narrow-minded perspective."

Chen Sui calmly retorted, "Then what constitutes a big deal? Let me see how broad your perspective is."

The Chuang Wang, "I'll tell you a few major things that will scare you to death."

Previously, Chuang Wang was the one who loved to show off the most in the group, but now that Chen Sui has joined, Chuang Wang feels that his position has been challenged...

The Chuang Wang said, "Let's start with the first thing. The Li family's Qingshan Aerial Fortress has already taken off and hasn't returned to its base yet. It's said that Li Changqing, that woman, has blockaded the entire airspace, and we don't know what she's up to. At first, it was just a blockade, but now the Li family's army has set off directly northward. I feel that the Federation's second civil war is probably about to begin very soon."

"The second thing is that the Qing Clan's Deity's Scepter Aerial Fortress took off just two days ago! Not only that, the Qing Clan's troops are also moving north, just like the Li Clan's, and have even had some minor skirmishes with the Divine Era's troops."

The Chuang Wang said, "However, what I don't understand is that despite such a big commotion, the Li and Qing families don't seem to intend to act immediately. They're just making preparations, waiting for something. Moreover, this war came so suddenly, it seems there's no reason at all. Didn't they just sign a ceasefire agreement?"

The fact that Qing Chen has been arrested is still a secret within a small circle, so the Chuang Wang is unaware of it.

Based on this, he was not a high-ranking officer in the Group Army, but at most a mid-level officer.

The Pao Ge gang, Shancheng Laziji, also said, "The Group Army movements in the southwest are also strange; it seems they're heading north as well."

However, at this moment, the usually silent but talkative Zard suddenly spoke up, "You can't even give me a clear piece of information. Do you know why the situation has become tense again? It's because one of the members of Daylight Clan has been captured by Kamishiro. The commotion caused by the Li and Qing clans is an attempt to distract the main battlefield and bring him home!"

Upon hearing this, Chuang Wang, Chen Sui, Shancheng Laziji, and the others were all stunned.

Daytime?

How did something so big happen in the Federation get involved with Daylight? Isn't this the Time Walker organization from Los Angeles? Although there are legends of Daylight in the Outer World, how could such a small organization have such a big influence?!

Zard continued, "What are you guys doing with this Metaverse? When the Federation civil war breaks out, they'll blow your heads off. What will you use to reconnect your brain-computer interface then? Many of you should have heard about what the Li and Qing families did recently, like the airspace blockade and the Qing family's internal purge. Back then, the Divine Era captured someone from Daybreak and was fleeing north. The airspace blockade was to capture them and rescue this person. The Qing family's internal purge was to wipe out the Divine Era's intelligence agents in the Central Plains. Understand?"

After a long pause, the Chuang Wang asked, "Who exactly are the people you've arrested?"

Zard: "I can't reveal that, that's all I can say. The unusual movements of the Li and Qing families are not accidental; they are all caused by this matter. As for why the Li and Qing families are so excited, well, this member of Daylight is quite important... It's another day for people to want to join Daylight."

Huan Yu: "Stop playing tricks. Just say Qing Chen was arrested, what's the point of you covering it up for him?"

Which side are you on?!

Zard: "If I ever do switch jobs to Daylight Entertainment, wouldn't this give me a good impression on my new colleagues beforehand?"

Huan Yu: "..."

Chen Sui suddenly felt uncomfortable; he was still immersed in the praise he had just received.

As a result, compared to the commotion caused by the daytime, what the matrix is doing now is simply like children playing house!

Chuang Wang: "Wait, then Qing Chen should have returned too, right? Where is he now? Ice Eye, hey, are you okay?"

However, Ice Eye did not respond.

At this moment, Qing Chen has changed his appearance and identity. He is sitting at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, waiting for a flight to Osaka, Japan.

That place is one of the three major gathering places for the Time Walker of the Kamishiro Corporation.

This is also the place where he is about to face his next Life and Death Trial.

Qing Chen's injuries were still throbbing slightly, but it was alright.

He only has thirty days; this time, he has to race against time.

Two chapters combined