Don't Look, Don't Be Afraid

Return countdown: 7:00:00.

Evening.

The singing was loud and clear.

"The sun sets in the west, the rosy clouds fly, the soldiers return to camp after target practice, return to camp."

"The red flag fluttering in the wind reflects the colorful sunset, and joyful songs fill the sky."

"I'm crazy about saola, I'm crazy about sao, lasaidao breast ai."

"Joyful songs filled the air."

These are songs that Qing Chen taught the soldiers. He taught them two songs in total: The Internationale and Return from Target Practice.

As the sun set and everyone was in high spirits, it was the perfect time to sing about returning from target practice.

Unlike ordinary people, the more than twenty troop carriers hardly stopped on the road. When the soldiers got tired, they would sit and sleep in the vehicles and then take turns driving.

When going to the toilet in a group, one had to hold it in until the designated time, and everything was governed by military standards.

But the soldiers had no complaints.

Everyone was eager to rush to the wilderness, the new battlefield.

In the back of the truck, Old Li chuckled and asked Qing Ling, "I heard you guys are doing pretty well. You've already gone back to the Secret Intelligence Department, so why are you back in the wilderness this time? You guys are different from us. We're afraid that if we stay cooped up there any longer, we'll just go to waste."

Qing Ling chuckled and said, "In that case, it seems that our Qing family's intelligence agents are even more loyal than you. They would give up delicacies, power, and money to go to the wilderness to fight the boss. This deserves to be reported to the boss and is worthy of praise."

Old Li's face immediately darkened. "When the hell did you start making trouble? There's no such thing as the Li family or the Qing family anymore."

Qing Ling paused for a moment. "I misspoke then. We're all family now. You see us as glamorous, but the internal factions of the Qing family have been completely torn apart because of Li Bingxi's death. The different factions can't stand each other and are fighting to the death. It's okay for other spies to be hiding their identities, but those of us who followed the boss out of the A02 Base are in the open. We're too easy targets, and we can't do anything we want. Even investigating a murder case is being obstructed."

The Secret Intelligence Department is a very secretive organization, and even other factions of the Qing family cannot get involved. The lists of secret agents and Kite Falcon are hidden and kept by Old Shen.

The Shadow orchestrated everything so meticulously that the various factions didn't know where or who to target if they wanted to target the Secret Intelligence Department.

But Qing Ling and the others are different. They are clearly Qing Chen's direct subordinates, which means they are being used as targets in the open.

Qing Ling was well aware of this as well. Rather than having such a pure team unable to thrive in the city, it would be better to start afresh in another location.

Whether they exist or not, the Secret Intelligence Department is still Qing Chen's Secret Intelligence Department.

Only by leaving the Secret Intelligence Department can they truly be themselves.

Facing the setting sun, they covered in just over three days what others took six days to achieve. When they finally saw the towering tree, cheers erupted from inside the car.

This is where the boss sent them.

At this moment, Yang Yang had been sitting in the canopy of the World Tree for several days. She was going to pick up these people and then take them to the settlement 200 kilometers away, the place where the Freemasons were located.

As the saying goes, once you practice the Zhunti Method, you infect two others. If you ask what to do, go and infect two more.

This time, Qing Chen sent Li Cheng and Qing Ling to the settlement to use the power of the Freemasons to "infect" these people with the Zhunti Method and quickly build up a fighting force through initiation.

With too few people during the day, Parent's Association more important things to do, the Freemasons became Qing Chen's only choice.

Qing Chen knew very well that the Freemasons were quietly placed in the wilderness by the Shadow, not because they had any grand schemes. They were not asked to annex the wilderness families, nor were they asked by the Shadow to do anything.

The only task the Shadows gave them was to establish a foothold in the wilderness and build a settlement.

This is the escape route that Shadow left for his younger brother. If Qing Chen fails in his struggle in the city one day, he can come to the wilderness to catch his breath.

The Freemasons' mission is actually only one thing: to build a base in the wilderness for Qing Chen, nothing more.

Now, with Freemasonry, the Zhunti Method, Forbidden Zone No. 002, Whale Island, and a series of other factors converging, this place is no longer just a "way out".

It will be one of the engines that Qing Chen uses to change the world, and its roar will one day deafen the world.

At this moment, Qing Ling looked through the binoculars and saw Yang Yang leap from the crown of the World Tree and then fly towards them with her arms outstretched.

Qing Ling exclaimed, "This must be the girl who helped the boss take down the A-Class Airship, kill Kamiyo Yunhe, and capture Kamishiro Seisho alive! She and the boss are a perfect match!"

Li Cheng raised an eyebrow. "What, you're itching to flatter the boss since you can't get your way?"

"Get lost," Qing Ling said irritably.

Upon arriving at the boundary of Forbidden Zone No. 002, everyone disembarked.

Yang Yang landed in front of them and said with a smile, "Password."

Li Cheng said, "Zard and Little Yu are best friends for life, reply."

Yang Yang laughed and said, "Zard, are you mentally challenged?"

The password and response are like a conversation...

At that time, Qing Chen was talking to Li Cheng about serious business via satellite phone. When they got to the topic of passwords, Zard suddenly leaned in and said something like this. Qing Chen replied with something similar, and that became Li Cheng's password and response code.

This is something most people wouldn't think of, but they use it anyway.

Yang Yang said, "You've worked hard. Follow me to Forbidden Zone No. 002. We'll walk along the edge of this place and continue south."

"Okay," Li Cheng said cheerfully and followed.

At this moment, Little Yu, Zard, and others also ran out and even enthusiastically helped everyone carry their luggage and distributed yellow fruits.

However, just after everyone entered the Forbidden Zone, someone suddenly turned around and saw four warriors smiling as they watched them leave, while he himself did not enter.

Two from the Qing family, and two from the Li family.

Li Cheng had a bad feeling. "What are you doing?"

One of the four soldiers smiled at Old Li and said, "Old Li, I'm sorry, it was too tough back then, I couldn't make it."

As he laughed, tears streamed down his face. "I'm sorry."

Old Li was stunned. These four soldiers had all defected before. Because of the hardships and difficulties of life, they chose the path that was easier for them.

Another person said, "But don't worry, Old Li. Although people from the Divine Era threatened to reveal our spy identities if we didn't give them information after we left, we didn't say anything. Now that we're out of that hellhole, we don't want to be dogs anymore. Every time I think back to how I surrendered because life was too hard, I feel so ashamed that I don't even dare to look at myself in the mirror."

As Li Cheng walked towards them, he said, "I understand, I understand everything. Those kinds of days are truly unbearable for humans. I've also thought about surrendering."

"We wanted to spend more time with you all along the way, but you all rushed on day and night as if you were in a hurry to be reborn," a soldier said with a laugh, wiping away tears. "What should have been a six-day journey was squeezed into three days by you... Three days is too short, we didn't even have time to say a word to each of you."

"I'm sorry, we can't go any further, and we don't have the right to go any further."

One of the Qing clan's Kite Falcon laughed, "I remember when I first enlisted, my recruit company commander, Qing Ling, told me, 'If you have no hope on the battlefield, then you should leave the hope to others.' Old company commander, I haven't forgotten those words. Farewell, brothers."

"No!" Qing Ling rushed over with eyes wide open in horror.

Before he could reach his opponent, he saw four soldiers simultaneously draw their sidearms and pull the triggers at his chin.

This was a choice they had agreed upon: to end the stain on their lives with death.

This journey south was like the most beautiful memory of their lives, just like when they first joined the army, when the recruit company commander led them on a five-kilometer cross-country run with weights. It was a tough time, but it felt sweet when they thought about it.

Three days was the final deadline the soldiers had given themselves.

The soldiers charged back at them with desperate cries, but all they found were four corpses.

At this moment, Zard seemed unusually normal. He covered Little Yu's eyes in advance and whispered, "Don't look, don't be afraid."

What I see before me is the cruelest scene in the world.

People who have just embarked on a better life are unable to look back at the road behind them.

Because there are dirty hands behind them, ready to drag them into an abyss.

However, the people of the Age of Gods probably never imagined that those who had once bowed to life and fate would now have the courage to end their own lives.

There are no myths in this world, and the worries of the Li and Qing families are not unfounded. Everyone knows very well what will happen in that cruel environment.

However, the four soldiers made their own choice so as not to put their comrades in a difficult position.

Li Cheng stood beside their bodies for a long time. "Bury them. Don't say a word about this. They weren't traitors. That way, the Li and Qing families will continue to send money to their families."

"Yes," Qing Ling nodded.

The group buried the four warriors in Forbidden Zone No. 002.

Li Cheng suddenly shouted, "This is the world we have to face. It's cruel, and it will always be cruel. Keep moving forward!"

After saying that, he turned around and led the way to Yang Yang: "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Yang Yang shook her head, turned around without saying a word, and led the way.

To be honest, for a moment she envied Qing Chen, because the troops he brought out from A02 Base, although no longer in their prime, had become one of the most resilient troops in the world after more than ten years of training.

The wasted ten years can be made up for by the Zhunti Method.

And this sword, honed over ten years, is about to be drawn from Qing Chen's sheath.

The group arrived deep within the Forbidden Zone, where Ding Dong was already waiting. Yang Yang said, "Everyone, walk slowly over and place your hand in his palm. Just a moment is enough for us to know if there are any spies in the group."

Li Cheng and Qing Ling exchanged a glance. They had thought Qing Chen was going to use some cruel method to test them, but they didn't expect it to be so simple.

Li Cheng took the first step forward and placed his hand in Ding Dong's palm.

After only two seconds, Ding Dong laughed and waved at him, signaling him to keep walking.

Qing Ling also stepped forward, imitating Li Cheng's manner, and Ding Dong waved to let them pass.

The soldiers passed by Ding Dong one by one, undergoing this wondrous selection process.

After everyone had finished their selections, Ding Dong said to Yang Yang, "Ding Dong!"

The problem is, Gu Dong, who can translate Ding Dong's language, has gone to continue its conquests, and Qing Chen has already set off for City No. 10. So, among everyone present, there isn't a single person who can understand Ding Dong's language...

In the past, Zard would have already come over to offer to help with the translation, but today, for some reason, he remained silent and stood to the side with Little Yu.

Yang Yang said to Ding Dong, "I'll ask you questions, just nod or shake your head. Are there any spies in the team?"

Ding Dong shook her head with a laugh.

Yang Yang smiled.

Li Cheng and Qing Ling, among others, remained calm, but their fists clenched tightly; their innocence had been hard-won.

Moreover, their own innocence is no longer important.

This incident also proves that the brothers who had worked as spies have indeed voluntarily left the team.

Among them, no one hid in the crowd out of cowardice or wishful thinking; there were no cowards.

Yang Yang said earnestly, "Congratulations everyone."

Li Cheng asked, "What do we need to do now?"

"To usher in a new era, New World."

Return countdown: 1:00:00.

In the Caramel Bar in the District 5, a teenager led a little boy into the bar.

When the bar door was pushed open, it hit the wind chimes on the door, making a tinkling sound.

"Two glasses of water, please," the boy said, sitting at the bar.

At that moment, a woman saw the boy's appearance and her eyes lit up as she tried to come closer.

As she stood up with her wine glass in hand, someone accidentally bumped into her, spilling the wine in her glass.

The woman was angry, and the person who bumped into her smiled, apologized, and led her to a corner, away from the boy who had just come in.

The bartender in front of the boy smiled and said, "Boss, you're back. That woman was a walk-in customer; we'll help you get rid of her."

The bartender's expression betrayed his excitement. The Shadow's farewell battle was a secret, and it only began to surface in recent days as Kashima began preparing for Li Bingxi's funeral.

The entire Secret Intelligence Department only learned today that Shadow had taken away a demigod and almost took away two others.

Subsequently, Qing Chen and his men defeated two air forces of the Southern Fleet, as well as a Field Division and two Field Brigade.

Such achievements are truly remarkable, and the colleagues in the Secret Intelligence Department are also proud of them.

After all, who wouldn't want their boss to be more capable?

Qing Chen smiled and shook his head, "Tell me, has anything happened in City No. 10 recently?"

Now that Qing Chen has taken over the Secret Intelligence Department, all 30,000 spies, Kite Falcon, and informants in the entire Federation will be under his command.

However, Qing Chen has now handed over all the daily affairs to Qing Ye and Qing Qu. Just like with the Shadow before, he chooses to unconditionally trust these two former right-hand men of the Shadow.

While mixing drinks, the bartender said in a low voice, "In the past few days, there have been a few minor incidents in City No. 10. The first is that a certain councilor was exposed for using prohibited substances. We found out that the Li family felt he was not obedient enough, so they planned to destroy him. The second is that a councilor protested the recent frequent federal exercises, which he said were a waste of military spending, but nobody paid any attention to him."

Qing Chen retorted, "You're already a member of parliament, are you still so naive?"

"Indeed," the bartender continued, "The third thing is that Qinghe University's entrance exams are approaching. Currently, over 40,000 students from all over the Federation have gathered in City No. 10 to study and prepare for the exams, making the hotel industry extremely busy. The fourth thing is that the annual boxing championship finals are about to begin, and many spectators have driven thousands of miles to watch. Even celebrities who are out on assignments are returning to City No. 10. It's like walking the red carpet; many celebrities are waiting for this wave of attention. It's estimated that City No. 10 will welcome 130,000 tourists in the coming period. It's also around this time of year that espionage activities in City No. 10 are most frequent."

Qing Chen asked, "Is it possible to find all these spies?"

The bartender paused for a moment. "It's definitely not easy to completely eliminate them, but killing a batch and collecting some interest is no problem. You know, there are all sorts of tourists among the more than 100,000 visitors, so finding spies isn't easy. I'm sorry, boss."

"It's alright, I understand the difficulty. We can't underestimate other people's spies... I'll take care of finding them," Qing Chen said with a smile. "You tell Qing Yi to prepare the armed forces, and then he only needs to strengthen the martial law and search in the upper six districts of the city and drive those spies to hide in the Lower Three Districts."

"The Lower Three Districts?" The bartender paused for a moment. "If a spy manages to infiltrate there, it'll be hard to find them."

Qing Chen smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have a plan."

Humans have an instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm. If the search and spy operations in the Upper Sixth District are very strict, then the spies will involuntarily move to the Lower Three Districts to live. In people's common sense, the Lower Three Districts are the most suitable places for spies to hide.

But that's not the case now.

The Lower Three Districts City No. 10 now have a networked joint Joint Defense... that's where the Parent's Association are in charge.

Nowadays, the Parent's Association the Lower Three Districts is so strong that even Qing Chen, the founder, feels a sense of dread. Every little thing that happens every day is bound to be noticed by the Parent's Association.

You should know that all the landlords in the Lower Three Districts have designated contacts; whoever rents their property is required to immediately report to the Parent's Association every day...

Of course, the Parent's Association is still officially called the Association of Societies...

The bartender looked at Qing Chen. Although he didn't know what his new boss was going to do, he was still excited at the thought of wiping out the spies from several other organizations in this city.

"By the way, boss, the rat infestation in City No. 10 has been quite severe lately, and it's said that quite a few people have died from it. The federal government is afraid that there won't be enough tourists to hold those two events smoothly, so they've suppressed the matter," the bartender said. "But Old Shen said that this matter is not so simple."

Qing Chen pondered for a moment, "I understand. Also, tell Qing Yi and Old Shen that I'm back."

After saying that, he drank the water in his glass in one gulp, and led Zhang Mengqian into the night outside the bar.

The countdown has reached zero.

The world was plunged into darkness.

A 5,000-word chapter, 12,000 words updated today. Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets.