Chapter 32: The Seventh Plotline
The moment those words fell, the car fell silent.
Qi He seemed not to have heard clearly and turned his head. “What did you say?”
Yan Chuanbai took a deep breath, eyes fixed straight ahead, and almost against his will, answered, “I said—can’t you just delete him?”
Qi He: ?????
Why on earth would he delete Guan Shangchun?
In his mind, the system let out a silent scream: ‘This moment… it’s finally here, isn’t it!?’
In the driver’s seat, Yan Chuanbai closed his eyes briefly, hand tightening on the wheel—
—Gong Lianyu.
So that’s why there hadn’t been any obvious signs at first.
There must be a truth-inducing ability-user from the opposing military traveling with them.
The gaze from beside him lingered still, full of habitual thought and suspicion.
Now was not the right time to lay things bare.
Yan Chuanbai lowered his voice. “…Don’t talk to me for a while.”
Qi He frowned in thought. “System, what’s wrong with Yan Chuanbai? Is it part of the plot? A chain reaction?”
The system said nothing—just let out a cold, wordless laugh.
Qi He stared at him for a few seconds, then, true to form, rebelled against the silence:
“Why would I delete Guan Shang?”
A vein twitched on Yan Chuanbai’s temple. “I don’t like him.”
“…” Qi He blinked. “Then you delete him.”
The person beside him said nothing more.
Qi He mulled over his earlier words again: Green tea?
His only understanding of that term came from the character archetypes in dating sims—someone who appeared soft and harmless on the surface but was secretly manipulative and calculating, all to fight for the player’s attention.
Who was that supposed to mean?
Guan Shangchun?
Soft and harmless, sure—his combat power was basically zero.
But secretly manipulative? Fighting for whose attention?
Qi He looked toward Yan Chuanbai. “He attacks you behind your back?”
Yan Chuanbai let out a cold laugh. “He provokes me.”
Qi He thought for a moment—then believed it. “He’s provoked me, too.”
“……”
So Guan Shangchun specifically targeted S-rank combat division members to provoke.
That probably meant he genuinely wanted to get noticed by Headquarters, aiming for a front-line assignment.
Qi He didn’t dislike people with ambition—as long as they didn’t use underhanded means.
He said evenly, “You’re still working together. If you can’t get along, just avoid dealing with him privately.”
Yan Chuanbai ground his molars. “Can’t avoid him at all.”
His spiritual energy surged violently, fighting against the ability pressing down on him.
Outside the vehicle, the road began to “shhh—” frost over in a thick sheet of ice.
Luckily, his spiritual strength was higher than Gong Lianyu’s, and the copied ability’s effect had weakened; that uncontrollable urge to blurt out the truth was easing—slightly.
He couldn’t keep talking like this.
Suddenly, Qi He spoke again. “But someone like Guan Shang—I don’t dislike him.”
Besides, he still needed to contact him. Deleting the comms was out of the question.
“Don’t dislike him?”
The suppressed impulse surged back up instantly.
It didn’t feel purely like the ability’s influence anymore—it was as if that obsessive, possessive streak in him had been tugged awake.
Yan Chuanbai said, “So that means you like him, then?”
Qi He paused. “Not exactly.”
“Then compared to me—how?”
The car fell silent.
Qi He’s heart gave a small jolt. The atmosphere suddenly turned… strange.
The question was at once blunt and ambiguous—it could be read as a rivalry between two people at odds, yet under another light, it carried an undertone of intimacy, teetering right on the edge.
He turned toward him, uncertain. “What do you mean—how?”
By then, the ability’s effect had completely faded.
But since the words were already out, Yan Chuanbai didn’t bother trying to take them back.
One hand rested casually on the steering wheel, his fingertip brushing the smooth leather surface as he followed up naturally:
“Compared to him—how do I measure up?”
Qi He felt a faint flicker in his chest.
There was no fixed standard for a question like that; it could only be measured by the weight one held in another’s heart.
He didn’t interact much with Guan Shangchun—and if it came down to where his focus and energy went, it was, of course, toward Yan Chuanbai.
So he said, simply, “We’re a bit closer.”
A long breath left Yan Chuanbai’s chest; the restless fire in him finally eased.
The corner of his mouth lifted—barely. “Mm.”
The topic didn’t go any further.
Qi He replayed the earlier exchange in his mind. “System, lately he’s been saying the most unexpected things.”
The system replied lazily: [He’s been influenced—too much time near ink, and you’ll turn black yourself.]
—
They returned to base the next day at noon.
The sun was blazing overhead, shadows short beneath their feet.
Two figures waited by the gate.
As the vehicle screeched to a stop, Qi He got out first—Yu Tianxing greeted them with a grin, hand raised in a friendly wave, while beside him, Guan Shangchun’s damp, bright eyes lit up.
“You… you’re back.”
Qi He nodded.
Bang!
The driver’s side door slammed shut hard enough to shake the air.
Yan Chuanbai stepped down, a cold smile tugging at his lips as he glanced over.
Guan Shangchun didn’t even look at him. He just said to Qi He, “It’s only been four days, but it feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
Qi He thought for a moment. “You’re out of training.”
Guan Shangchun: “…”
Yan Chuanbai laughed—openly, without the slightest politeness.
Guan Shangchun quickly steadied himself and nodded along with Qi He’s words. “You’re probably right. I’ll have to trouble you for some extra training then.”
A sharp gaze immediately swept in his direction.
Before Qi He could even respond, the person beside him suddenly spoke—to Yu Tianxing instead: “Arrange it. We need a full-body examination.”
Yu Tianxing’s smile twitched. “…Again?”
Guan Shangchun froze for a second, then asked in concern, “Qi Qi, are you feeling unwell?”
Qi He replied, “I’m fine. Just a routine check.”
The other man visibly relaxed.
Yu Tianxing’s eyes darted between the two of them, though he didn’t question it aloud.
After all, they’d gone on missions countless times before—but never had they taken this many “routine” full diagnostics afterward.
He turned toward the base. “Come on, we’ll talk inside.”
—
On the way, Yan Chuanbai briefed Yu Tianxing on the mission handover, including what had happened with the hybrid species.
“The plant specimen wasn’t completely destroyed. We left it for your analysis.”
Yu Tianxing nodded. “We’ll send it to the cultivation lab. Shouldn’t take long to get results.”
They returned to the research wing.
Guan Shangchun was called away by the lab team, leaving Qi He and Yan Chuanbai to head upstairs for their physicals.
No warning alarms from the plot system—Qi He already had a rough idea what that meant.
An hour later, the reports printed out on the spot.
As expected, both results read: All data normal.
Yu Tianxing stood by the door, report sheets in hand.
“Not only are you two fine, your mental energy’s recovered pretty well too.”
Yan Chuanbai replied offhandedly, “Mm. We were healed by Xiao Hai’s near–S-rank ability.”
“Ha—!” Yu Tianxing’s smile cracked wide, the papers rustling tightly in his hand.
“So you weren’t testing your health—you were testing my patience, is that it?”
Both of them: “……”
Qi He pressed the communicator on his wrist—beep!—and lifted it as if checking a message.
“Meng Yan’s looking for me. I’ll head off first.”
Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and left.
His footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Behind him, the system glanced at Yu Tianxing—on the verge of snapping—and Yan Chuanbai, whose gaze had gone dark and unreadable.
[Guess what the two of them are thinking right now?]
Qi He refused flatly. “I don’t look back at explosions.”
—
Cultivation Base, Research Wing
This branch mainly handled biochemical research.
When Qi He arrived, a group of researchers in white coats were just stepping out.
Whether by coincidence or intent, the one assigned to analyze the hybrid specimen turned out to be Meng Yan.
When she spotted Qi He, she tilted her head in surprise. “I was just about to call you.”
Qi He followed her into the office. “How did it turn out?”
The door clicked shut. Meng Yan sat down and pulled out a freshly printed report, handing it over.
“The plant sample shows mild contamination,” she said.
“Its genetic structure has partially fused with that of an external mutant strain.
At this stage it’s not infectious to humans, but it’s best not to have further contact with it.”
Qi He skimmed through the report—confirming his earlier hypothesis.
The system sounded genuinely baffled: [How did you know the moment you saw it that it wasn’t something good?]
Qi He smiled faintly. “Because the two story fragments contradicted each other.”
He lifted his gaze toward the office windowsill.
The potted flower there was still thriving under Meng Yan’s care—so much so that she had even propagated it into several smaller pots arranged neatly beside it.
Once it was confirmed that the plant’s chemical composition was harmless, there was only one possibility left that mattered—its structure.
So he had Meng Yan run another test—and soon enough, the results came back: it was a plant that had never been crossbred, never watered by the contaminated rain, its cellular structure leaning toward the most primitive, natural state.
Something stable and harmless—yet the plot forbade Yan Chuanbai from touching it.
Then anything the plot insisted he touch was, more likely than not, something dangerous.
He said quietly, “That’s why I pushed Yan Chuanbai away.”
The system sounded almost sheepish: [I thought you were just being your usual rebellious self, refusing to follow the script for the sake of it.]
Then, after a pause: [But if that plant really isn’t good—why would the plot want Yan Chuanbai to come into contact with it? He’s the protagonist, isn’t he? I don’t buy it. Even if something bad happens, he’s too strong—he’ll pull through somehow.]
Qi He gave no clear answer, only lowered his eyes. “Maybe.”
—
After confirming the results, he headed back.
To get from the cultivation base to the main tower, he had to pass by the research institute.
As Qi He was walking past its entrance, a familiar figure emerged from within.
Yan Chuanbai, still in uniform—he must’ve just finished a meeting with the military.
He held a communicator in one hand, typing out a message with his head slightly bowed.
Sensing a gaze, he looked up.
Their eyes met, and Qi He’s steps paused.
A few strides later, Yan Chuanbai was in front of him.
“Just came from Meng Yan’s place?”
Qi He nodded. The communicator in front of him chimed a few more beep-beep alerts.
He glanced down. “Something urgent?”
“No.” Yan Chuanbai’s lips quirked faintly as they began walking toward the tower together.
“It’s from Gong Lianyu. The liaison from Base II got replaced at the last minute—by General Gong himself.
He’s currently sending me an essay-length thank-you message… for reuniting him with his son.”
“?”
Qi He turned his head slightly. “Meaning—you just did a good deed.”
Yan Chuanbai’s expression didn’t change. “Comes with good character, I suppose.”
Qi He had no interest in prying into Gong Lianyu’s family affairs, so he didn’t ask further, simply continued walking beside him.
The sun was setting.
A streak of red-gold light clung to the edges of the high-rise walls; under the amber sky, their shadows stretched long behind them.
Qi He squinted against the glow. After days of constant travel, this small sliver of peace felt almost like a luxury—
Until—
Beep!
A crisp tone rang in his head.
[System loading…]
[■■■ Load complete ■■■]
[Key plotline will initiate in 1 minute. Please prepare yourself.]
Qi He froze mid-step. “…”
Beside him, Yan Chuanbai halted as well, glancing his way.
The system stammered, trying to comfort him:
[At least… it’s not as sudden as the last two times, right?]
Qi He’s smile was sharp as a blade. “Right. A whole minute to prepare. Yan Chuanbai within arm’s reach. Truly blessed.”
He added drily, “That wasn’t sarcasm—just self-awareness.”
The system shut up at once and silently threw the script at him:
『After being detained for disrupting the battlefield, you’re finally released today. This time, you no longer dare to bother Yan Chuanbai.』
[…]
Qi He: “…”
He stared, expression dark, at the very much within reach Yan Chuanbai.
『The two S-ranks you offended on the battlefield are also ones you now avoid. But your bad habits die hard—this time, you’re about to set your sights on yet another S-rank target—』
Yan Chuanbai, sensing the weight of that stare, lowered his eyes slightly. “…What is it?”
Qi He didn’t have time to answer him — the three S-rankers he’d used last time were all unavailable now.
There was less than a minute left. He couldn’t possibly ask Yu Tianxing to—
Just as that thought flashed by, a sudden beep! came from beside him.
Yan Chuanbai’s communicator lit up, one notification after another exploding across the screen — Gong Lianyu’s barrage of messages.
Qi He froze.
Then, with a gaze as gentle as a spring breeze, he slowly turned his eyes that way.
—————————————————————
Author’s note:
Gong Lianyu (hair standing on end): ???
Qi He: Wonderful. Close my eyes, open them again, and there’s a brand-new S-rank.
Yan Chuanbai: Why is he looking at me with that “useless” expression…
