226: Chapter 226 Mei Wushuang with Money

"Su Wan has lost contact?"

Lu Cheng's voice sank slightly.

Inside the light screen, Mei Wushuang sat in her office.

On the map behind her, the Northwest region was magnified separately; the Cold Wind Defense Line, the Northern Wasteland Zone, and the rift coordinates were all circled with red markers.

Mei Wushuang looked at Lu Cheng and said:

"The Northwest region has had a very high number of Beast Tides recently."

"At first, the Military District thought it was just an anomaly in the migration of beast herds in the Northern Wasteland Zone."

"Later, they sent a reconnaissance squad to explore deeper and discovered a spatial rift in the depths of the Northern Wasteland Zone."

Lu Cheng frowned.

"A spatial rift?"

"Yes."

Mei Wushuang moved the data to the center of the light screen.

"The initial assessment rating for the rift was Low-Risk."

"The Source Qi fluctuations inside were stable, the pollution index was low, and there were no obvious high-Rank beasts guarding the entrance."

"According to the joint training protocols of the Military District and the Academy, such rifts are opened for elite students from major academies to explore."

"It not only provides training for students but also supplements the Military District's peripheral exploration forces."

Lu Cheng understood the general idea.

Such things are not uncommon in the Dragon Kingdom.

Small rifts often appear near the borders.

If the Military District's high-Rank powerhouses had to explore every single one personally, there wouldn't be enough manpower.

Therefore, Low-Risk rifts are usually opened as academy missions.

Students get academic credits, and the Military District gets intelligence and resources.

Both sides benefit.

Mei Wushuang continued:

"Su Wan happened to be near the Northwest Cold Wind Defense Line."

"She accepted an academy mission and entered the rift with the second exploration team."

"The first exploration team came out within three hours, bringing back preliminary topographic maps and a small amount of ice-attribute Source Crystals."

"After the second exploration team entered, over forty-eight hours have passed, and no one has returned."

Lu Cheng tapped his fingers lightly on the desk.

"What about communication?"

"It's cut off."

"What about rescue teams?"

"Two were sent."

Mei Wushuang's voice grew colder.

"The first one lost contact near the entrance."

"The second one only went in for twenty minutes before retreating."

"They said the spatial structure inside has changed; the originally Low-Risk rift has turned into a maze-like frozen wasteland."

Lu Cheng was silent for a moment.

Then he looked up at Mei Wushuang.

"That's not the main point, is it?"

Mei Wushuang did not deny it.

Lu Cheng's tone was very calm.

"To put it bluntly."

"Given the current situation, Su Wan is just an academy student with good talent."

"I will certainly care about her losing contact. But this matter is not enough to make you come to me personally, much less make me go to such a dangerous place."

Mei Wushuang nodded.

"You are right."

"The real problem is that the son of Commander Li of the Northwest Military District is also in the second exploration team."

Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow.

"Commander Li?"

"One of the highest-ranking officials of the Northwest Cold Wind Defense Line."

"War Emperor Realm."

"A powerful figure in the Military District."

Mei Wushuang pushed a list of personnel to Lu Cheng.

In the second exploration team list, Su Wan's name was in the third column.

But in the first column, it clearly wrote—

[Li Chenzhou]

[Identity: Son of Commander Li Shanhe of the Northwest Military District]

[Realm: Hua Hai Realm Early Stage]

[Affiliation: Northwest Military Martial Academy]

Lu Cheng looked at the name and was silent for a moment.

"The military doesn't send its own people in?"

Mei Wushuang said:

"They can't send anyone too high-level."

"This rift is relatively fragile, and the internal space hasn't fully stabilized yet."

"If a Martial Artist above the Battle General level enters, it could easily trigger the rift to collapse."

"The Military District tried having a Peak Battle General approach the entrance, and the rift immediately showed unstable fluctuations."

"If someone above the Battle King level forces their way in, the entire rift might collapse on the spot."

Lu Cheng understood.

"So the highest level that can enter is Hua Hai Realm?"

"Correct."

Lu Cheng leaned back in his chair.

"So, you thought of me."

Mei Wushuang looked at him.

"It's not that we thought of you."

As she said this, she paused, seemingly realizing that this phrasing wasn't quite right.

She rephrased it.

"To be precise, the Military District also thought of you."

"And your current true combat power far exceeds the Meridian Opening Realm, and you have a record of defeating a Battle General... They could be considered to be asking for your help."

Lu Cheng looked at Mei Wushuang.

"So... the Military District wants me to save Li Chenzhou."

Mei Wushuang nodded and continued:

"For the military, they belong to an absolutely neutral organization."

"Your father, Lu Changfeng, has good personal relationships with some people in the military. But this personal relationship is not enough to make them stand completely on our side."

"Certain actions by Origin and the Black Seed have indeed crossed the red line. But there are also some military personnel who maintain an attitude of tacit approval toward them."

Lu Cheng frowned.

"Tacit approval?"

Mei Wushuang's voice was calm but tinged with chill.

"Because they bring immediate combat power."

"Origin's human modification and the Black Seed's pollution enhancement can allow some people who originally couldn't go to the front lines to possess combat power in a short time."

"This kind of power overdrafts life, pollutes the spirit, and turns people into monsters. But in some extreme war zones, a temporarily enhanced squad might be able to block a Beast Tide."

"So some people will pretend not to see it."

Lu Cheng was silent.

This is war.

Many things seem simple when viewed from a safe place.

But when standing on the front lines, with cities, ordinary people, and millions of lives behind you, some people will make very dangerous choices.

They might know it's wrong. But they will also say, at least it saved people at the time.

Mei Wushuang looked at Lu Cheng.

"So your trip to the Northwest this time is very significant."

"If you can rescue Li Chenzhou, at least the Northwest Military Command will lean toward us."

Lu Cheng nodded slightly.

Mei Wushuang's voice softened:

"However, the final decision remains with you."

"The risks are high."

"First, the situation inside the rift is unknown."

"Second, the Black Seed and Origin may be waiting for you."

"Third, not everyone within the Military District can be trusted."

Lu Cheng leaned back in his chair and listened quietly.

Then he smiled.

"Aunt Mei, since you've put it this way, can I even say I won't go?"

Mei Wushuang looked at him.

"You can refuse."

"No one will force you to go."

Lu Cheng shook his head.

"Su Wan is inside."

"This line with the Military District is indeed important."

"And..."

He looked down at his own hands; the Hundred Shadow Killing Formation and Ten Thousand Souls Prison Suppression had just been pushed to the Origin.

Now, he truly needed a real battlefield to test himself.

And... Su Wan was someone he was protecting...

Lu Cheng looked up.

"I'll go."

There wasn't much surprise in Mei Wushuang's eyes.

She seemed to have guessed long ago that Lu Cheng would choose this way.

"I won't let you go just like that; I can provide you with an unlimited number of Battle General-level mechanical hired hands as combat support for this mission."

Lu Cheng was stunned for a moment.

"Huh?"

Mei Wushuang's tone was very natural.

"I know you have a spatial secret treasure."

"Load up as many as you can."

"After these mechanical Puppets leave my Source Power enhancement, each one can only operate for one hour."

"Once activated, their combat power stabilizes between the Early Stage and Middle Stage of the Battle General level."

Lu Cheng's eyes lit up.

"Unlimited?"

Mei Wushuang nodded.

"Provided you can carry them."

Lu Cheng gasped.

"As expected of Aunt Mei."

"Generous indeed."

Mei Wushuang glanced at him indifferently.

Most mechanical Puppets from the Mechanical Institute require the owner's Source Power to be maintained over a long period to reach the corresponding combat level.

Ordinary Materials cannot support high-level combat, and the energy cores are extremely expensive.

In the entire Dragon Kingdom, there should be no one other than Mei Wushuang who could say such words.

"I'll go back to the academy now and get your hired hands."

Mei Wushuang nodded slightly.

"I'll wait for you at the Mechanical Institute in an hour."

The communication hung up.

Lu Cheng stood in place, briefly silent.

He didn't waste any time and went directly to find Tang Fuyuan to explain the situation.

After Tang Fuyuan finished listening, his expression immediately became serious.

"Northwest Military District?"

"Miss Su has lost contact?"

Lu Cheng nodded.

"I need to return to the academy, then go to the Northwest."

Tang Fuyuan did not try to persuade him otherwise.

He knew that Lu Cheng was no longer someone who could be kept by the Tang Family.

After the Tang Family boarded the ship, the things Lu Cheng would do would only grow larger.

"As for the Tang Family, don't worry."

"The Southwest Alliance is already stable."

"With the Old Master overseeing, the Qin Family won't dare to make any moves easily in the short term."

"If you need any Materials, let us know in advance, and I will have Zhiwei prepare them for you."

Lu Cheng said:

"Just prepare some general poisons and hidden weapons. There might be pollution in the rift."

Tang Fuyuan nodded immediately.

"I understand."

When Tang Zhiwei learned that Lu Cheng was leaving, she was organizing the Alliance list.

After listening, she was silent for a few seconds.

"I'll take you back to the academy."

Lu Cheng looked at her.

"No need."

Tang Zhiwei looked up, smiling faintly.

"I'm just taking you to the shuttle station. I'm not going into the rift with you."

She paused, her voice softening.

"Don't worry, I know my limits."

Lu Cheng did not refuse again.

Half an hour later.

The Tang Family shuttle took off.

The Bashu mountain city gradually faded into the clouds.

Tang Zhiwei sat opposite Lu Cheng and handed him a small black box.

"There are three things in here."

"The first is the Hundred-Antidote Pill, which can suppress most poisons and Early Stage reactions to pollution."

"The second is the Thousand-Mechanism Poison Needles, which work very well with your Clone."

"The third is Scent-Seeking Powder; once sprinkled on a target, you can track the scent for three days."

Lu Cheng took the box.

"Thanks."

Tang Zhiwei looked at him.

"Brother Lu."

"When you get to the Northwest, don't try to be a hero."

Lu Cheng smiled.

"Do I look like someone who tries to be a hero?"

Tang Zhiwei stared at him for two seconds.

"Yes."

Lu Cheng: "..."

Tang Zhiwei chuckled softly.

"You always say you know your limits."

"And then every time, you cause a huge incident."

Lu Cheng shook his head and didn't speak.

The shuttle arrived at the Navigator Academy.

Outside the Mechanical Institute, Mei Wushuang was already waiting.

Behind her, about twenty tall mechanical Puppets were neatly arranged.

Each one was over two meters tall, with a shell made of dark gray alloy, and a blue-white energy core embedded in its chest.

Some carried heavy cannons.

Some had giant shields for arms.

Some had honeycomb-style micro-missile silos deployed on their shoulders.

There were also a few with lighter builds, waiting on the ground like cheetahs, clearly geared toward reconnaissance and speed.

Lu Cheng stood in front of them, his eyes growing brighter.

"These are the Battle General-level mechanical hired hands?"

Mei Wushuang nodded.

"All in a fully energized state."

"After each one leaves me, the independent activation time is one hour."

"If you can find Ore in the rift, perhaps you can extend it."

Lu Cheng walked around the mechanical Puppets.

"Aunt Mei, your inventory is a bit scary."

Mei Wushuang said indifferently:

"The place that burns the most money in the Mechanical Institute is right here."

"It's a pity most people only see that the finished products are cool, and don't see the bills."

Lu Cheng smiled:

"Then I won't be polite!"

He raised his hand and waved.

The System space opened.

One mechanical Puppet disappeared.

A second one.

A third one.

Until the twelfth one was stored in the space, Lu Cheng felt that the System space was almost completely filled.

Apart from the kusanagi sword, some Source Stones, and some common supplies, it was almost entirely occupied by mechanical Puppets.

Lu Cheng clapped his hands.

"It's full."

Mei Wushuang looked at him.

"After arriving in the Northwest, don't rush to enter the rift."

"See Commander Li first."

"Then wait for Shen Guhong to contact you."

"The situation inside the Military District is complex; not everyone is that friendly."

Lu Cheng nodded.

"Understood."

Mei Wushuang handed a small communicator to Lu Cheng.

"Conventional military communications might fail."

"This is a short-range quantum beacon specially made by the Mechanical Institute."

"When encountering spatial interference, it might not be able to transmit complete information."

"But at least it can send out a coordinate pulse."

Lu Cheng took the beacon and put it away.

Mei Wushuang gave a hum.

"Go."

On the academy's shuttle pad, the military shuttle heading to the Northwest had already started.

The silver-gray fuselage gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Beside the cabin door, two military soldiers were waiting.

Lu Cheng, holding Snow Spirit and carrying a simple pack, walked toward the shuttle.

After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned back.

Mei Wushuang stood at the entrance of the Mechanical Institute, her white hair blown by the wind.

She didn't wave.

She just watched him quietly; this little thing looked quite like his father.

Lu Cheng smiled.

"Aunt Mei, go back, don't set any flags!"

Mei Wushuang's eyes flickered slightly.

A moment later, she nodded.

"Alright."

Lu Cheng turned and boarded the shuttle.

The cabin door closed.

A roar sounded.

The shuttle shot into the sky and sped away toward the Northwest.