168: Chapter 168 Returning to the Eastern Capital

Chapter 168 Back to Dongdu

To—ot————

Accompanied by the loud sound of a ship's whistle, a cruise ship fully loaded with tourists slowly sailed out of the port.

The striking blue hull gleamed against the morning sun.

Even inside the training camp base located on the hillside, it could be seen very clearly.

On the second day after the Sea Sacrifice Festival, the ocean currents returned to normal, and the shipping route leading to Yongan Island was also restored.

But there were still quite a few tourists who chose to stay behind, remaining in this utopia that could bring peace to their Souls.

Inside the seventh-floor office.

Two figures stood in front of the window, gazing at the scenery in the direction of the port.

"Jiandong, you've been wronged this time."

Gazing at the gradually receding ship, Zheng Hongxin suddenly spoke in a deep voice.

Instructor Chen Jiandong's shoulders trembled slightly, and then he shook his head and said:

"After joining the Zhenxiang Society, my true family is actually the partners within the society. Grandpa is too muddled; since he took the wrong path, he should be punished, otherwise it's unfair to the dead..."

Hearing this, Zheng Hongxin said with a sense of relief:

"I will let him be euthanized. As for the matter of defecting to the enemy, only a few of us top executives know about it."

Instructor Chen Jiandong nodded silently.

Zheng Hongxin patted his shoulder and sighed.

Chen Hui was also considered someone he watched grow up. In order to obtain a longer lifespan, he chose to join the Zhenxiang Society, laying down the Foundation for the Zhenxiang Society on Yongan Island; it could be said he made great contributions.

Now, however, in order not to turn into a monster, he listened to others' nonsense and defected to that mysteriously-originated Noah Organization.

However, there is no gain without reason in this world; while obtaining something, one must also pay an equivalent price.

As for the psychological impact produced, it is even more impossible to erase it from a fundamental level.

Because it is not just a matter of a lifetime!

The anchoring effect of the truth stele is only to alleviate the negative impact as much as possible, guiding the Soul consciousness of members after death so they don't get lost in the Chaos darkness, allowing them to smoothly achieve Reincarnation.

The Noah Organization uses so-called "mental potions" to forcibly suppress chronic mental ailments. Accumulated like that, when it erupts, it will instead be even more terrifying.

Thinking of this, Zheng Hongxin said again in a deep voice:

"I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on for much longer. In the future, the Zhenxiang Society will still have to rely on you to maintain..."

Hearing this, Instructor Chen Jiandong couldn't help but be moved.

At this moment, a loud voice suddenly rang out:

"Old Zheng, this is the inventory list after our salvage team tallied and confirmed it. Take a look at it."

It was Feng Kehai walking into the office, handing him a receipt.

What was recorded on it were all kinds of valuable things salvaged from around the seabed fissure.

Among them were the ancient remains most valued by the Zhenxiang Society, as well as sundries like shipwreck antiques.

There were also seaweed and tentacle-like meat lumps surging up from the deep sea, which were the excellent ingredients used by the cafeteria to brew flavorful fresh soup.

After glancing at it, Zheng Hongxin instructed:

"Send the ancient remains to the altar for safekeeping first, and handle everything else according to the old rules."

Feng Kehai then asked for instructions: "What about those captives? How should they be dealt with?"

Zheng Hongxin's gaze instantly turned slightly cold:

"Come to think of it, our Zhenxiang Society hasn't had a blood sacrifice in a long time. For the next Sea Sacrifice Festival, let's use them as sacrifices."

Hearing this, Feng Kehai immediately perked up, appearing quite excited.

Afterwards, he couldn't help but ask one more question:

"Old Zheng, although that girl provided us with intelligence, she is the culprit responsible for the damage to the truth stele. Why not seize the opportunity to capture her?"

Zheng Hongxin shook his head and smiled:

"What's the use of capturing her? The fact that she successfully obtained abilities back then shows that the truth stele has actually already approved of her."

After pausing his tone, he instead asked Feng Kehai a series of questions:

"Don't you think she looks a lot like an old acquaintance? Have you ever thought about why the truth stele would approve of her?"

"Why did she appear at a critical moment to help us? Perhaps even that Masked Man knows her..."

"You mean, she is..."

"Shh, just know about this matter in your heart."

Zheng Hongxin made a soft shushing sound, appearing unfathomably mysterious.

Feng Kehai immediately shut his mouth, but his expression appeared even more ecstatic.

...

The cruise ship cleaved through the waves, sailed out of the harbor, and entered the vast, blue ocean.

On the open-air viewing deck, many tourists stood leaning against the railing, gazing at the gradually receding Yongan Island.

A flock of seagulls flapped their wings, constantly calling as they circled behind the ship, as if seeing them off happily.

"What a pity——"

Pan Wendi let out a long sigh and said with lingering enthusiasm: "We didn't get the chance to go to the volcano to soak in the hot springs; this is Yongan Island's most popular tourism project."

Lin Chuqiao couldn't help but glare at him reproachfully:

"You really treated it as a tourism trip. This time, thanks to Fang Cheng's help, otherwise how could we smoothly return to Dongdu."

As she spoke, she brushed aside her hair blown messily by the sea breeze, gazed intently at the figure of the man standing beside her, and then said softly:

"Anyway, next time I wouldn't dare bring you out again, lest I get scolded by Aunt."

Hearing this, Pan Wendi's expression instantly collapsed.

Listening to the conversation between the two, Fang Cheng wore a smile.

Raising his eyes to look at Yongan Island, which had already turned into a blurred outline, he thought to himself inwardly.

I will still come back in the future. This place is an excellent place to Cultivate that belongs to myself.

Perhaps with money, buying a sea-facing villa on the island and coming here every winter for vacation and practice would be a pretty good choice.

No errors, first release, internal content, check one by one!

On the deck, tourists leisurely enjoyed the sea view, waiting for the voyage to reach its final stop.

In the cabin, inside a certain VIP guest room, the atmosphere was nearly frozen.

Minister Luo Lie's complexion was incomparably gloomy as he glanced at the remaining four elite team members around him.

His gaze subsequently fell on a fat and slick-looking fellow.

The former person-in-charge of the Yongan Island stronghold, Tang Dayuan.

This fellow was also lucky; relying on his mental ability, he feigned death to fool those mermen, narrowly escaping with his life.

From his mouth, Minister Luo Lie learned the specific situation at the time, knowing how his sworn brother had actually died.

This mission lost an entire pursuer team and even dragged in an Advanced cadre; the matter would probably be very difficult to cover up.

Toward that Masked Man who ruined his good deeds, Minister Luo Lie couldn't help but grit his teeth in hatred.

In a flash of thought, he had another huge headache, wondering how he should explain things to the board of directors after returning.

Because of this, he had lost quite a bit of hair over the past two days.

...

Evening time.

The setting sun reflected off tall buildings, and the sunset glow dyed half the sky red.

A yellow taxi passed through the narrow street and stopped against the flower bed.

Fang Cheng carried a cross-body bag on his shoulder and ducked out of the car door.

Promptly taking out a travel bag from the trunk, as well as an off-white metal box.

Then holding the bag in one hand and hugging the box in the other, he raised his head to look at the Tubular Building he had been away from for more than a week.

In his heart, a trace of emotional stirring couldn't help but arise, giving a sense of exceptional familiarity.

When passing through the first-floor passageway.

Fang Cheng specially took out a few specialty products bought from Yongan Island and knocked on Wen Xin's door.

As a result, no one responded, and the lights inside were also turned off.

Thinking that Wen Huiyi should not have gotten off work yet, he gave up and continued walking upstairs.

Reaching the ninth floor, seeing that the Zhou family's door was open, he shouted inside.

The only one who came out to greet him was Grandma Zhou alone.

Fang Cheng was slightly surprised, asking her where Zhou Xiumei had gone.

However, Grandma Zhou was hard of hearing and just kept expressing her warm regards and concern.

Seeing that the answer didn't match the question, Fang Cheng could only hand the purchased gifts over to her, then turned around to go home.

Opening the door, putting down the bag, a familiar aura rushed towards his face.

Returning home, his body and mind instantly felt an incomparable sense of peace, coupled with a faint hint of fatigue, making him want to have a good rest.

Fang Cheng stretched his limbs, opened the window to let in fresh air, and tore off several pages from the calendar on the wall.

Today is January 24th, the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Previously, while talking on the phone with his mother on Yongan Island, he learned that his grandfather's surgery was scheduled for the 25th, which was tomorrow.

Although the itinerary was somewhat delayed, he just managed to arrive in time.