late at night.
Shen Heng had just finished coordinating matters with the supporting troops and the Supervision Bureau of the neighboring city.
I returned to the Linhai Supervision Bureau, feeling utterly exhausted.
He went to the restaurant, filled a bowl with leftover rice, and placed it by the window.
The spoon had just scooped up a spoonful of rice when it stopped in mid-air.
He recalled the many times he and the captain had eaten breakfast and chatted by the window, and he could almost hear their steady admonitions echoing in his ears again.
My appetite seemed to vanish in that instant.
Shen Heng sighed softly, picked up the spoon again, and forced the rice into his mouth.
After the meal, Shen Heng went to his training room.
The scene inside the training room was no different from that morning; everyone was either silent or in a daze.
The only difference was that there were two more people: the team leader and Wu Cheng's father.
Shen Heng glanced at Old Li, who hadn't left either, hesitated for a moment, and then walked over.
" Old Li, why don't you go back and rest for a while?"
Among the people present, the oldest was Old Li, who was in his sixties or seventies. Even the team leader's father was only close to sixty.
Upon hearing this, Old Li looked up at Shen Heng, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly nodded.
Although he wanted to stay, his health no longer allowed it.
Shen Heng helped Old Li to his feet, then turned his gaze to Dahuang, who was lying at Old Li's feet.
" Dahuang, you take Old Li home today, and come back with me tomorrow."
"Okay, okay," Dahuang replied in a low voice as he stood up.
Shen Heng watched the man and dog leave, then quickly looked away.
He walked back to the stretcher and watched silently.
On the stretcher, the captain and Wu Cheng looked completely normal again.
But I can no longer speak...
Shen Heng walked to the side and sat down.
His gaze swept across the room and settled on Wei Leyang.
Wei Leyang was sitting against a wall, holding a black metal cube with Distortion edges and scorch marks in his hand.
A faint sound came from the side; someone sat down next to Shen Heng.
Shen Heng did not turn his head; his gaze remained fixed on the black metal cube in Wei Leyang's hand.
Is that thing still usable?
" Wei Leyang triggered it briefly today. The basic response is still there, but it's severely damaged and may require a lot of points to repair."
Le Gu Nan sat down next to Shen Heng and said,
"However, it should still be cheaper than exchanging for a new set of Fluid Battle Armor."
"Not to mention..."
Le Gu Nan also looked at Wei Leyang, who was sitting against the wall not far away.
"That was entrusted to him by Wu Cheng."
Shen Heng nodded slightly and looked away.
The two remained silent for a while.
Suddenly, Le Gu Nan whispered:
Do you think... there will be more sacrifices in the future?
Shen Heng remained silent, suddenly remembering what Zheng Anlin had told him during the day.
Resistance, protection, death—this may be the fate of their generation of inspectors.
"Maybe..." he murmured.
For the rest of the time, the training room was completely silent.
No one spoke, no one joked; everyone sat silently in their places, the atmosphere almost heavy.
After a long while, Shen Heng stood up.
Just as I was about to leave, Han Ling's voice came from behind me.
Shen Heng.
"What's wrong?" Shen Heng turned to look at Han Ling face was still somewhat pale.
"Are you going to write the mission report for this mission?" Han Ling's voice was a little hoarse.
"Hmm." Shen Heng nodded slightly.
"Help me write an application," Han Ling said, "For Ability Evolution."
Shen Heng was slightly taken aback, then nodded slightly.
"I see..."
The next day.
Shen Heng returned home.
He glanced at his mother, who was telling Shen Shuning that she was safe, then went back to his room to get a change of clothes and headed towards the bathroom.
When he came out again, Xu Yuqin had already finished her phone call.
" Xiao Heng." Xu Yuqin called out to Shen Heng, who was about to go straight into the room.
"What's wrong?" Shen Heng asked.
His voice wasn't as hoarse as it was yesterday, but it still carried a deep sense of exhaustion.
Seemingly sensing his weariness, Xu Yuqin looked at him for a while, and finally shook her head with a light laugh.
"It's alright, you go inside and get some sleep."
Shen Heng looked at Xu Yuqin and could tell that she seemed to have something to say, but his tired mind left him with no extra energy to ask.
He nodded simply, then walked straight towards his room.
Xu Yuqin sat on the sofa, looking preoccupied.
She thought of Shen Heng's appearance just now. Although he tried his best to act normal in front of her, she could still feel the unyielding heaviness in his eyes.
Suddenly, a news report on television caught her attention.
The news anchor was broadcasting with a solemn expression:
"Recently, Linhai City was attacked by a swarm of rats, which was stopped by Fourth Tier Sharp-Horned Rat..."
"According to preliminary statistics, the death toll is approximately 1,400, including two inspectors who were killed in the operation..."
She suddenly leaned back in her chair.
She thought of the figure she had seen in the thick fog, and of Shen Heng's expression just now...
Several days later, in the municipal conference hall.
Many people were already seated on both sides of the long table.
The group included the head of the Calamity Beast Emergency Management Department, the vice president and office director of the Martial Arts Association, the head of the public security department, and several powerful figures from the municipal government office.
A man who looked to be in his forties, wearing a municipal uniform, turned his head and chuckled in a low voice to Fan Hong beside him:
" Old Fan, you're familiar with the Supervision Bureau, do you know who the director of the Supervision Bureau is this time?"
Fan Hong glanced at him and replied expressionlessly, "What's the rush? We'll know when they get there."
"Of course I know. I just wanted to ask if you're a local from Linhai or sent here from somewhere else?" the man said with a smile.
Fan Hong paused for a moment, then said, "They'll arrive in a bit..."
On the other side of the long table.
Lei Zhijian silently watched the people talking inside the room.
He had experienced firsthand how cultivation could change one's social class.
In the past, even though he relied on himself, he could still see everyone present.
But they were not qualified to sit down and discuss matters with them.
But now...
Before I could finish my thoughts, the heavy double doors of the conference room were pushed open from the outside by two staff members.
All whispers and movements ceased instantly, and everyone's eyes turned to the doorway.
Two figures were standing at the doorway.
One of them was someone they had seen before; it was a specialist sent from the headquarters of the Supervision Bureau.
Another one...
The crowd stared at the figure in surprise.
For no other reason than that he was too young, too young.
If the other party hadn't come with a specialist from the headquarters of the Supervision Bureau, they might have even thought that the other party had come to the wrong place.
But the facts told them that the other party did not seem to have gone to the wrong place.
Because the specialist sent by the headquarters of the Supervision Bureau was still half a step behind him.
His face was expressionless, except for a hint of weariness in his eyes, and a calm, unwavering determination.