Lv Cheng seemed to understand Qi Yuan's question, and he cleared his throat before continuing.
"My master said that, thanks to the extensive propaganda by the Dragon Country, people are aware that even creatures born recently in the Fusion Zone would prey on humans."
"Some try to cooperate with these creatures for power, while others attempt to tame them for their own use. But they all know that these creatures are deceitful."
"However, the breeders in Gebi City trust that their creatures have never preyed on humans. My master has encountered such situations before; he once saw underground organizations selling creatures in the black market. Those sellers claimed to have completely erased the creatures' minds, leaving only instinct. They assured buyers that these creatures were no different from mutated animals and could be purchased with confidence."
Pausing here, Lv Cheng gave Qi Yuan a chance to ask questions.
Qi Yuan indeed had some questions. Curiously, he asked, "Where is the black market?"
Lv Cheng was speechless; he had never asked his master about it, so he truly didn't know.
Seeing his reaction, Qi Yuan understood the answer and sighed regretfully.
Every time he read a novel, the protagonist could easily find the black market and make some gains there, which made Qi Yuan yearn for it too.
He also wanted to try his luck in the black market.
Seeing Lv Cheng eagerly waiting for him to ask questions, Qi Yuan thought for a moment and changed the subject.
"How do you erase the minds of these creatures?"
Lv Cheng: ...I have no idea about that.
How can you not know anything?
Qi Yuan's silence spoke louder than words, leaving Lv Cheng feeling helpless.
"I have no more questions; please continue."
Not only did he fail to impress, but he also seemed like a burden. Lv Cheng weakly supplemented the final information.
"Capturing these creatures is quite difficult, and the distance from Shen City to Qipan City is not short. We speculate that this underground organization behind it has considerable power. My master sent me, smart and clever as I am, to investigate the situation in Qipan City to prevent alerting the enemy."
Qi Yuan ignored Lv Cheng's personal digressions about erasing creature minds and his concern about Fu Rong noodles. Connecting the two, he quickly drew a conclusion.
"So you believe that Fu Rong noodles are related to them?"
Lv Cheng showed agreement, "Yes, if they capture beautiful people and erase their minds, then sell them to unsuspecting individuals who then develop Fu Rong noodles on this basis..."
He added afterward, "Of course, this is just speculation."
"Can minds really be erased?"
Qi Yuan doubted the reliability of this. It's not something easily exposed, but as a secret weapon used privately, it's not impossible.
In the end, the dead can never surpass the living.
And as a secret weapon, if it's sealed by the country, it's difficult to leak out.
"Of course not. My master specifically pulled up the Gebi City case files. The files showed that this creature, despite supposedly having its mind erased, preyed on humans while its breeder remained unaware. This proves that even if their minds are truly erased, creatures will gradually awaken."
As expected, Qi Yuan sighed with frustration, "I understand."
"So what's your next plan?"
Lv Cheng eagerly rubbed his hands together.
Knowing there might be a ticking time bomb under his feet, he couldn't just stand idly by.
Reporting the matter to the authorities didn't help much when reported again.
He knew his options were limited, so how to help was still a question?
He pondered for a moment, "I haven't decided yet, but I have a general direction in mind."
Lv Cheng felt relieved; he knew Qi Yuan wouldn't be without a plan. Fortunately, he arrived early.
...
On a night when the moon was dark and the stars were sparse,
The lively and bustling streets, adorned with colorful neon lights, captivated the eyes of passersby. The aroma of various snacks along the street tantalized people's taste buds, making this place a bustling commercial center.
Lv Cheng stood on the street, feeling somewhat dazed and unreal.
Two or three hours ago, Qi Yuan told him, "We can't delay any longer; I plan to take action directly."
So, he followed Qi Yuan all the way here.
As the sky grew dark, Lv Cheng speculated that Qi Yuan intended to take advantage of the night to infiltrate the Tiger Club and investigate the ins and outs.
He was stealthily concealing himself,
But unexpectedly, Qi Yuan walked straight through the bustling street to the front desk of the entertainment city.
He politely inquired, "Hello, can I schedule a meeting with Wu Xiong?"
Was this the approach he intended to take?
Lv Cheng was dumbfounded; he hadn't expected the so-called plan to involve a direct visit.
Ignoring Lv Cheng's thoughts, Qi Yuan found out from Wandu that the Tiger Club often frequented here at night, as it was one of their industries.
He had thought it through; sneaking into the Tiger Club with Lv Cheng was not only risky but also against the law.
However, if he directly requested to meet with the other party, their thoughts would be laid bare through mental connection.
Most importantly, he would be going there openly; if anything happened, the duty team could bail him out.
Apart from the possibility that the Tiger Club might refuse to see him, this plan was simple, efficient, and low-risk.
The receptionist was initially stunned by Qi Yuan's handsome appearance, but upon hearing his words, her cheeks blushed slightly as she asked in a gentle tone, "May I ask what business you have with General Manager Wu?"
More talk, more mistakes; he might as well listen to the other party's thoughts first and adjust accordingly.
With this in mind, Qi Yuan lied without batting an eyelid, "That's for him to answer."
The receptionist only pondered for a moment before immediately understanding.
"This person has extraordinary demeanor; General Manager Wu is probably preparing to develop a new client by meeting at the entertainment city."
"Are you a friend of General Manager Wu?"
The world of adults is indeed difficult to understand; are friends equivalent to clients now?
Qi Yuan quickly calculated in his mind; unsure if it was a secret code, he denied the possibility first.
After all, the instinctive reflex couldn't be sensed through mental connection; if he disrupted Wu Xiong's business, it wouldn't be so easy to leave unscathed.
"No."
"Not a friend?"
The receptionist was surprised by her own misjudgment and quickly apologized.
"Sorry, may I ask about your identity?"
Qi Yuan reached into his pocket and took out the Superpower License, just as he was about to hand it over,
Someone arrived at the front desk.
He knocked on the table with his knuckles, making a crisp sound, and looked inside the entertainment city, ignoring the receptionist.
"We'll have a guest later; take him to the private room where we'll be."
"Alright, Mr. Song. Is the guest you're referring to Mr. Qi Yuan?"
"So fast? Wait, Qi Yuan? How is he here?"
It was only then that Song Jing noticed Qi Yuan standing beside him.
If we talk about someone in Qipan City that the Fierce Tiger Association shouldn't mess with, Qi Yuan would definitely be one of them.
Not to mention the mysterious background of the Qi family, Qi Yuan's personal strength alone was enough to make the Fierce Tiger Association hesitate.
That lizard person, even if all three of them teamed up, couldn't guarantee a quick victory.
Amidst a thousand thoughts racing through his mind, Song Jing, while contemplating, managed to maintain a professional and pleasantly surprised smile.
"I've heard of Jin Tong's outstanding youth, exceptionally handsome. Seeing you today, your reputation is well-deserved."
Qi Yuan nodded, modestly saying, "You're too kind. May I take up a few minutes of your time?"
"No need to be so polite. As long as you're here, I, Song Jing, am at your service," Song Jing waved his hand. "Feel free to command."
"Then I'll be grateful."
Lv Cheng stared in disbelief as the two unfamiliar individuals exchanged pleasantries, once again leaving him in awe.
What exactly is the Qi family involved in?
How come they seem to know people everywhere?
Seeing Qi Yuan's composed demeanor, Song Jing temporarily pushed aside his suspicions and tapped the table again.
"Xiao Zhong, take care of our young friend here. Make sure he feels at home."
He gestured towards Lv Cheng.
After speaking, he graciously led the way, leaving Qi Yuan to follow with a charming smile.
Qi Yuan wanted to say a few words for Lv Cheng, but upon second thought, he felt it unnecessary. The top priority now was to unravel the truth behind Furong's face; getting tangled in such trivial matters seemed misplaced.
Lv Cheng watched the two leave, and only he knew the bitterness he felt.
How did I become the little brother?
I'm at least a student at Shen City University, a member of the Pillar Plan.
Although I can't compare to Brother Yuan, it shouldn't reduce me to a little brother, right?
Don't you guys have any friends?