Perform a Magic Trick

The footsteps echoing back from the guesthouse hallway were unmistakable. Han Qingyu had actually left with the gold brick to turn it in. He hadn't turned back to mess with them, quipping, *I'm Han Qingyu—how could I ever give up a source energy block?*... So, as incredible as it felt, it was really happening. Thinking back, on the vehicle ride to the source energy field for the degree of fusion test back then, Qingzi had once said he might become very strong—a claim that had already come true. Then he had also said that only two paths lay before them: Win together with Azure; or, if they truly couldn't win, possess enough strength to take their families and flee. Looking at it now, deep down, Qingzi still believed in and hoped to win together with Azure. In truth, there was nothing wrong with thinking that way. Though some people in Azure were chillingly disappointing, as a whole it still gave them a sense of belonging... Yet no one knew better than Wen Jifei just how much that gold brick could boost Han Qingyu's strength and safeguard their future security. Thoroughly depressed, he flopped backward onto the bed. With the thin mattress, his head hit the frame with a clatter. Sighing, he sat back up, still looking utterly unwilling to accept it. "Let it go." Seeing Plague-Chicken Fei this disheartened was a rare sight. Liu Shiheng stepped forward, sat down beside him, and comforted, "Since Qingzi has made up his mind... don't take it to heart so much." "I'm actually fine." Wen Jifei reached for his cigarettes and said helplessly, "To be honest, among all of us, source energy blocks matter the least to me." Pausing, he popped a cigarette into his mouth and added, "But have you guys thought about it? Going back to the squad with only twenty blue crystal blocks left like this, how difficult will it be for Qingzi moving forward? How much pressure will he be under?!" "When he went to Nepal and put his life on the line, wasn't it just to build up a bit of a foundation? So that once everyone went down to the squad, they could focus on boosting their strength without worry?" The cigarette was lit. Wen Jifei took a drag, blew out the smoke, and flicked two more out of the pack, handing one each to He Tangtang and Liu Shiheng. Standing nearby, Shen Yixiu hesitated for a moment before looking up, filled with guilt. "I'm sorry. It's all because of me." Wen Jifei waved his hand in a hurry. "No, Rusty Sister, don't overthink it. Overthinking will only wear you out. Besides, wasn't that gold brick something you and Qingzi brought back together? You nearly lost your life for it. So I'm just... I'm just damn heartbroken." "That was something fought and bled for with our very lives! In the past, risking our lives only got us a fifth, a tenth, or even a twentieth of a piece..." When he put it that way, everyone felt the sting even more sharply. And surely, Han Qingyu had to feel it even worse... *** In all the days Han Qingyu had spent at Institute 2, today was the first time he had stepped into such a core section of the administrative area. The office building before him had a solemn, dignified air. It was an annex, but properly and solidly built—somewhat dated and entirely without frills. Rumor had it that only high-ranking figures stayed here, sparing them the frequent disruptions of the main administrative building. The person escorting him stopped at the entrance. In his place, a man in his thirties wearing a suit stepped forward from inside. After carefully verifying his credentials, the man said, "Welcome. Elder Xin is waiting for you upstairs." With that, he made an inviting gesture and led the way. Han Qingyu followed behind. Flanking him on all sides, four security personnel equipped with combat devices and slung war sabers walked with him into the elevator. They rode up to the ninth floor. *Knock, knock.* "Come in." The door opened to reveal a spacious office, practically the size of a small conference room. Xin Mingzhi was not alone. With a full head of white hair, he sat behind a large curved desk, while three institute researchers stood before him, apparently in the middle of a discussion. "Elder Xin, Han Qingyu is here," the staff member said at an appropriate pause in the conversation, his voice measured just right. "Oh, good." Xin Mingzhi looked up and waved his hand. "You may head out first." Then he gestured toward Han Qingyu. "Little Han, have a seat on the sofa. I still have a bit of business to wrap up." "Um... thank you..." The casual tone of the exchange caused Han Qingyu to lower the hand he had raised to salute, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. "Not sure how to address me, are you? Just call me Grandpa, then. I don't hold any military rank or government title these days, and all that 'Elder this' or 'Elder that' probably feels awkward on your tongue... You look to be about the same age as Qiaoqiao, so calling me Grandpa hardly means I'm taking advantage of you." Xin Mingzhi chuckled. He had initially planned to keep a stern face today, not minding throwing around a bit of official weight. However, he had just reviewed Han Qingyu's detailed file—from Lao Jian's account of how the boy conducted himself upon leaving home, all the way to Wu Xu's surgery and Shen Yixiu's injuries a few days ago. He had gone through every single detail. Even then, reading it had stirred Xin Mingzhi's blood with deep admiration, and now seeing the young man in person, he could hardly be more pleased. Thus, warmth came naturally to him. Still, since he didn't fully understand Han Qingyu's personality yet, he figured he might leave him sitting a while longer to observe him. "Thank you, Grandpa Xin." Han Qingyu addressed him as suggested and took a seat where Xin Mingzhi had casually indicated, looking thoroughly well-behaved. Just like that, discussing while quietly observing, Xin Mingzhi soon reached a conclusion. He thought to himself: *He looks every bit the honest country boy. What's all this nonsense about being wooden? Those women are simply far too demanding. An honest lad and a brave soldier who stared death in the face—isn't it only right that he's free of pretension and flash?!* Han Qingyu indeed seemed very well-behaved, but he was actually listening intently. From the conversation between Xin Mingzhi and the researchers, he quickly gathered that they most likely hadn't found any impression left by the large metal block inside the python cave. Thinking about it, that made sense. In that chaotic clash back then, the rice cooker had been smashed all over the place; things inside must have been turned upside down long ago. It would have been strange if they *had* noticed anything. Right now, they were discussing the source energy supply of small-scale source energy fields, proposing all sorts of theories and hypotheses without reaching a conclusion... "Oh, right, I almost forgot we have an Azure soldier right here who was the very first to enter the python cave," Xin Mingzhi suddenly said with a smile to the other three. "Why don't we just chat together?" In truth, regarding the situation inside the python cave, staff members had already questioned Han Qingyu and Shen Yixiu more than once. Xin Mingzhi leaned forward slightly with a kindly smile. "Little Han, did you come to see me today for a private matter? Or is there something about the cave you wanted to report to me privately?" Han Qingyu pondered for a moment and stood up. "There is indeed a situation I need to report." "Oh?!" Having only asked offhandedly, Xin Mingzhi hadn't expected there really was one. He was caught somewhat off guard. "What kind of situation requires you to speak with me in private?" "It's a very miraculous, hard-to-understand situation." Han Qingyu paused, then said, "I'm not well-educated, so I can't explain it clearly right now. How about I demonstrate it for Grandpa Xin and everyone... Let me, uh, perform a magic trick?" All four researchers present, Xin Mingzhi included, were momentarily stunned. "A magic trick?" "Yes, something like that." "What kind of magic trick?" Han Qingyu naturally couldn't say he was going to fuse metal blocks into a whole—that would ruin the whole game. He vaguely said, "Multiplying metal blocks." "..." "Ten blocks can expand into twelve blocks," Han Qingyu said earnestly. So this was the secret of the cave? Impossible. Grounded in their scientific knowledge, self-confidence, and rigor, all four researchers instinctively refused to believe in this so-called expansion trick. And yet, they couldn't help their curiosity. What was he trying to do? As for the other three in the room, they were all Xin Mingzhi's students. They had also picked up on the fact that this reputedly genius young soldier had no small connection to the Xin family; perhaps when they visited the Xin household to pay New Year's calls in the future, he would be one of the people sitting inside. So none of them spoke, merely directing their gazes toward Xin Mingzhi. Xin Mingzhi had no idea what Han Qingyu had up his sleeve either. What could be so troubling that he had to beat around the bush like this to tell him? "Then let's have a look."