As Tu Zi had mentioned in idle chat before, the Cleansing Faction's Snow Lotus might even be ahead of Azure in certain aspects, while possessing secrets that not even Azure knew.
After all, its founder was named Ne—a man who, in that era, bore all of Azure's hopes for scientific research.
Even if he had later walked out and stood on the opposing side, his past research discoveries and contributions could never be denied or erased.
So why had he suddenly defected?
For longevity?
To explore the universe and the unknown?
Between the two, the temptation of the former was eternal to humankind. As for the latter, to a scientist standing at the pinnacle, the temptation was perhaps even greater than life itself.
Two hours passed. Perhaps longer.
Without revealing any concrete details about Snow Lotus, the voice in the dark spoke painstakingly and slowly, incessantly expounding on the philosophy he held—about culling, selection, and evolution...
Like a patient mentor, he constantly attempted to enlighten and guide Han Qingyu.
Even though Han Qingyu barely responded, let alone asked questions.
*So, why did Qi Shantong want me to listen to this? Is he Cleansing Faction too...? Is he trying to recruit me, and in such a blatant way?!*
This was the confusion in Han Qingyu's heart. Feeling a bit hungry, he stood up, turned around, and began walking back.
"Are you... not going to kill me before you leave?" the voice behind him asked after he had walked some distance.
Han Qingyu paid him no mind; this was not something he needed to do.
He continued forward in the darkness.
"May you witness the new world. Then you will understand that we are the ones who are right. Do not attempt to resist... the descent of god."
Behind him, the voice took on a prayer-like tone, sounding almost hysterical.
In that instant, the tone and posture filled Han Qingyu with utter disgust.
"Forgot to tell you: according to your philosophy, I shouldn't be the kind of person you consider chosen. I come from the very demographic you consider worthless—the kind meant to be sacrificed, enslaved, and eliminated."
"To hell with your superior human beings."
Walking through the long passageway, Han Qingyu saw Qi Shantong once again.
He was in a room just below the entrance to the corridor, leaning forward on a wooden sofa and smoking alone. There was light here, and nothing about him looked out of the ordinary.
"You're back? You listened for quite a while... So, is there anything you'd like to ask me now?" Seeing Han Qingyu appear, Qi Shantong turned his head and asked with a smile.
"Are you with the Cleansing Faction? Snow Lotus?"
"...No. Hahaha, of course not." Qi Shantong stubbed out his cigarette and stood up with a loud laugh. "We're fighting the Great Spikes just the same, bleeding and dying for Azure."
His words seemed to assert unity, yet distinctly carved out a division.
So Han Qingyu asked, "'We'?"
"Yes, we. People who share Azure's overall goals and principles, but hold differing perspectives on certain matters." Qi Shantong admitted candidly. He tilted his head back, stretched, and explained, "You must understand that Azure is vast. Even with the same ultimate objective, people will advocate for different ways to achieve it."
He finished speaking, turned his head, and looked at Han Qingyu.
"Oh. If the big shots don't see an issue with that... then fine," Han Qingyu said. "But I'm just a soldier swinging a blade at Great Spikes. I don't think I need to know any of this."
He wanted to take his leave, having no interest in hearing more.
"You do need to. A normal coalition soldier probably wouldn't, but given your performance and potential, you are almost guaranteed to become a backbone among Azure's young officers. Because of that, you must have a philosophy of your own."
"My philosophy is just source energy blocks and staying alive."
"...Hahaha!" Qi Shantong burst out laughing. "There's more to it than that. It can't stop there. You only think this way because you haven't seen enough yet, haven't reached that height... But you'll stand there sooner or later. Especially when you happen to know two specific people."
"Who?" Han Qingyu asked.
"Tu Zi. Xin Yaoqiao." Qi Shantong stated the two names without hesitation, then added bluntly, "The current Azure is ignorant. The current resistance is laughable... Change it."
At this point, Han Qingyu was finally certain: Qi Shantong was recruiting him into a certain faction within Azure.
"So what does this have to do with you having me talk to that Snow Lotus guy?"
"Because some of the things he said are actually correct. I thought it might be more convincing coming from an enemy. The Great Spikes are a crisis, but they're also an opportunity... a chance for a leap forward on humanity's evolutionary path after thousands of years of hunched, slow crawling... perhaps even our chance to enter the interstellar age. Except it won't be achieved through surrender, but through victory. Even the most horrific, bloody victory will be worth it."
His manner had grown somewhat manic as he spoke.
"So what do you people want to do?"
This was the first time Han Qingyu had shown any "interest"—at least in Qi Shantong's eyes.
"Sit." Looking somewhat excited, Qi Shantong watched Han Qingyu sit down, then sat opposite him. "Do you know how Azure currently operates and how it is structured?"
Han Qingyu gave a slow nod. "More or less."
"Inefficient. Passive. Conservative. Destined to end in failure." Qi Shantong uttered four denunciations in rapid succession.
Han Qingyu looked at him, puzzled. "Are you guys really not going to be lined up and shot?"
"..." Qi Shantong had no idea why this kid always managed to amuse him, much less comprehend his train of thought. "No. We haven't been openly preaching this, have we? We simply make our own efforts while sharing the same trenches, making sacrifices, and fighting side by side... Azure is tolerant enough to accommodate that."
"Oh."
"In fact, it's not just us. There have always been quite a few people within Azure who advocate breaking this isolation and forging closer cooperation with national governments," Qi Shantong said.
Han Qingyu answered honestly, "But our instructors used to say that as long as the timing of a large-scale Great Spike invasion remains uncertain, Azure is actually a dangerous force."
"Yes, that's true. Under these circumstances, if a massive invasion doesn't come for several centuries, Azure might turn into a weapon for competition, or even war, between nations."
"Then..."
"Azure should unify this world first."
"..."
"Eliminate governments. Eliminate national borders... Only then will we have a chance to win."
Qi Shantong stared at Han Qingyu, eyes burning with fervor.
"...I'm getting a little hungry." Han Qingyu smiled faintly. "Major General Qi, you might have misunderstood me. I'm not suited for pondering grand affairs, let alone executing them."
With that, Han Qingyu stood up and excused himself. He felt uneasy. He only wanted to live a modest, ordinary life, even if it was lived on the razor's edge between life and death.
"You're just not ready yet, that's all," Qi Shantong called from behind him. "When mutual selection comes, join White Eraser first... This is an official invitation."
Han Qingyu paused for a moment, turning over the implication of those words.
"No rush." Qi Shantong walked over, clapped Han Qingyu on the back, and said, "Come on, let me give you a gift first."
With that, he nudged Han Qingyu forward.
Han Qingyu had briefly thought Qi Shantong was going to give him a crate of source energy blocks. He had gotten his hopes up for nothing.
The two left the underground corridor and returned to the surface. They walked for quite a while through the base, which had already grown dark.
Eventually, they reached a corner of the Ninth Army's logistics and living quarters.
"This was Old Wu's home in Azure," Qi Shantong said, pointing at the building before them.
Chapter 79