When they said that merely proving his current self to be a fraud could shatter the faith of the Azure Council and all mankind, Han Qingyu felt a crushing weight upon his shoulders for the first time. He grew somewhat flustered, though the feeling remained vague and indistinct.
When news came of the death of his old friend, Commander Zhang, Han Qingyu felt sorrow from the grief radiating off Wen Jifei and the others, perhaps mixed with the mournful ache an ordinary person felt over the passing of a hero—yet even that sorrow felt indistinct.
He was Major Qing, and yet he was not.
Han Qingyu remained silent throughout the return journey aboard the airship. The novelty and excitement of the initial days after waking from his coma had long since dissipated. Now, real problems were beginning to confront him.
What Han Qingyu lacked right now was actually more than just his memories. More importantly, he lacked the influence that cold-blooded, powerful, greedy, and shameless super Yanxiu had exerted on his personality since childhood.
The last time he was nineteen, he could calmly stage an ambush when suddenly attacked, slicing two Pure Purgatory assassins to death with his blade and remaining utterly unfazed afterward.
Yet in his current nineteen-year-old state, he was filled with helplessness and panic.
"You must be feeling terrible right now too, aren't you? I think you must be someone who treasures bonds deeply, which is why so many people treat you as a friend, a brother.
"Yet I don't even know what you once said to Commander Zhang. I don't understand the bond between you two, much less what you would say or do right now if it were you. Nor can I shed tears for your friend in your place."
Han Qingyu lowered his head, his hands rubbing the two legendary, renowned war sabers as he studied them closely.
He had watched video footage of that guy in battle more than once. He felt it would be nearly impossible for him to replicate, nor did he know how that guy would face such immense pressure—carrying the faith of humanity on his shoulders.
*Maybe he was strong enough that he wouldn't worry at all?*
"But I can't. I'm not up to it. Today, I probably disgraced him. In the dining room of that Maple Leaf Nation hotel, facing blades and bullets, all I could do was dodge in a panic.
"And the truth is, that so-called top combat power assassin couldn't even beat Tangtang.
"Those two bullets were like children's toys before Wu Xu.
"Can't you wake up sooner? The chubby doctor clearly said it would be soon. I'm afraid if it takes any longer, something terrible will happen..."
"Qingzi." Wen Jifei reached out and patted him firmly on the back of his shoulder.
Han Qingyu turned his head woodenly.
Both of Wen Jifei's eyes were still red. Straining to muster a smile, he said, "Feeling a lot of pressure? Actually, you never cared."
"What?" Han Qingyu was taken aback, for Wen Jifei had said *you never cared*, not that he was fearless because he was strong.
"You only ever do what you've decided in your own heart, unswerving and indifferent to life or death. You never cared what expectations this world or anyone else placed upon you," Wen Jifei looked into his eyes and spoke earnestly.
*That guy is so formidable. No, the future me was so formidable.* For the first time, Han Qingyu came to understand his other self from an angle unrelated to combat power or fame. So that guy called Major Qing had a mentality that formidable as well. *Makes sense. Otherwise, he might never have survived those years, much less achieved all those things.*
"What are you thinking about?" Seeing him keep quiet, Wen Jifei pressed softly.
"I was thinking," Han Qingyu said after a moment's thought, "about that chubby doctor. Should we get some payback?"
"...Damn, that really is in your bones," Wen Jifei chuckled with mock annoyance.
"What?"
"Holding grudges."
"I held grudges a lot later on, too?"
"Later on, you were petty and vindictive to the extreme. But nobody genuinely spoke ill of you."
Wen Jifei understood Han Qingyu all too well. No matter which Han Qingyu it was, just a few simple lines of conversation had eased his tension considerably.
However, when the airship finally touched down at Shenghai's Azure Military Airfield...
Dozens of ground crew and reception personnel stood at the end of the runway. Their eyes strained to appear steadfast and unwavering, yet they couldn't suppress their curiosity as they peered toward the airship, scrutinizing it.
It was as though they could see that face right through the airship's armor.
The atmosphere seemed somewhat off.
As Wen Jifei was the first to descend the boarding stairs—
"Second Lieutenant Wen," an officer stepped forward from the formation, jogged over, saluted, and whispered, "There are a lot of reporters outside right now, many of them from civilian media outlets. The world has opened up, giving these people far too much freedom... What I mean is, does Major Qing need to take a special passage? We have already arranged it."
As he spoke, he couldn't help glancing several times toward the hatch behind Wen Jifei.
Wen Jifei furrowed his brow.
The officer quickly withdrew his gaze.
"Has the news of Major Qing's assassination attempt this morning leaked?" Wen Jifei asked.
"Yes." The officer nodded, hesitated for a moment, and pulled a nameless color newspaper from his coat, holding it out to Wen Jifei. "And that's not all."
*Not all?*
Wen Jifei was anxious inside, but his hands remained steady. Calmly taking the newspaper, he unfolded it.
"Chubby Zhe works fast," Little Prince Zhu Jiaming said softly as he appeared behind Wen Jifei, looking at the newspaper in his hands.
Both of them could converse without any shifts in gaze or expression, even if the matter they were discussing was a gun pressed against the back of their heads.
"Yeah, she took several steps ahead of us," Wen Jifei replied with a nod. "I reckon the text here was already drafted beforehand, and then they rushed to pair it with follow-up pictures before printing."
By now, the newspaper in his hands was fully spread open. Across two full broadsheet pages ran a single headline: *This World No Longer Has Major Qing*.
[This world actually no longer has Major The Qing. I believe no one is willing to accept this fact, nor are we, but we have a duty and must tell the world the truth.
For this concerns the future and destiny of all human civilization.]
The article opened bluntly, practically declaring that Major Qing was dead.
The writing style of the article didn't carry the formality of an official report; perhaps to grab more attention, its narrative read more like an investigative case-breaking piece in a story magazine.
[He sacrificed himself, falling tragically after that strike during the Zenith War. Yes, this world's most powerful and brilliant nova, the one in whom we could place our highest hopes, already perished along with the Great Spike Daie half a year ago off the coast of Australia.
And as we all know, above Daie, the Great Spikes possess higher ranks—more than just one tier above.
Due to the motives of a select few, we were not even "permitted" to mourn and pay our respects to him.
We do not know whether this fraud was born of good intentions or malice, whether it was the gentle manipulation of Azure politicians or an ugly cover-up staged by certain fanatics to satisfy their personal ideals.
Yet the truth remains as it is: the so-called prolonged coma of Major Qing afterward, looking back now, was merely a tactic by those individuals to buy time and seek a substitute, all to maintain the "inspiration" Major Qing offered us.]
Up to this point, the entire article reeked of dogmatism and conspiracy theories. Most people reading it would likely scoff in contempt.
And yet, at the same time, they would be unable to stop the surge of curiosity, tension, and unease rising within their hearts.
Chapter 738