Leaving the seaside villa, Tong Yang and the group headed for Ningping Prefecture, Wu Pingxue's temporary residence.
Hu Shuo, Zhou Jingyun, and Tao Bai each had their own matters to attend to and parted ways with them upon returning to the capital.
Entering Ningping Prefecture, the man with a weapon hidden in his throat led them to the garden, where Wu Pingxue was sitting leisurely, sipping tea and admiring the flowers.
"You're here?"
Hearing the footsteps, Wu Pingxue glanced back slightly at the group.
"Dr. Wu."
"Dr. Wu."
He Jingjing and Ye Huai greeted him.
Wu Pingxue gave a slight nod, then looked at Tong Yang and asked, "What do you want to do now?"
Tong Yang said, "I want to go to the First World ahead of schedule."
Wu Pingxue didn't show any surprise on his face and asked further, "Why?"
Tong Yang told him about the events of this period, as well as her thoughts and concerns.
After listening, Wu Pingxue fell into deep thought for a long time.
"Doing it this way isn't impossible," Wu Pingxue said after a long while.
Tong Yang said, "I'm not clear about their objectives. Think of a way to let them know I'm in the First World, but not my specific location."
Tong Yang said it as if it were a matter of course. Since Wu Pingxue had the ability to cover her coordinates with virtual ones, he naturally had other methods to achieve this.
Wu Pingxue narrowed his eyes and said, "Even if you successfully infiltrate the First World and operate under their noses, you won't be able to complete the task and make the magnetic field energy disappear in a short time."
Tong Yang frowned, "Why?"
Although she said that, Tong Yang actually never thought she could achieve the goal in a short time. She just wanted to fish some information out of Wu Pingxue's mouth, as this person was too tight-lipped and annoying.
Wu Pingxue glanced at her a couple of times, perhaps seeing through her intention or not, and said, "The condition for destroying the magnetic field energy must be met just as the time dislocation is about to disappear."
Hearing this, Tong Yang's heart sank. "What exactly needs to be done?"
Wu Pingxue said, "Now is not the time to tell you."
"Then when will be the time?"
"At the very least, I will tell you when your abilities convince me that you are capable of doing it."
Tong Yang felt her teeth itch a little and cursed him as an old fox.
The condition for making the magnetic field energy disappear required it to be when the time dislocation was about to vanish. Tong Le from 2036 had said that once the time dislocation disappeared, Tong Yang's timeline would form a closed loop. Since the magnetic field energy needed to be dealt with at that time, did it mean excluding it from the closed loop of this timeline, just like Tong Le from 2036?
"What you want me to do isn't to make the magnetic field energy disappear completely, but to move it outside the closed loop of the time dislocation?" Tong Yang voiced her speculation.
Wu Pingxue's expression froze for a moment. His relaxed shoulders tensed slightly, his pupils narrowed, and he looked deeply at Tong Yang.
"Are you deliberately trying to get me to talk?" Wu Pingxue said meaningfully.
"No, I was just saying it offhand," Tong Yang replied.
Wu Pingxue put down the tea set, his expression becoming much more serious, and said abruptly, "Tong Yang, become my disciple."
Tong Yang: "?"
"In your dreams," Tong Yang answered cleanly and decisively.
Wu Pingxue chuckled. It was indeed just as Tong Le had said. It seemed her current mood wasn't bad.
Wu Pingxue relaxed his body and said, "Tong Yang, things turn into their opposites when they reach the extreme. Being too clever isn't always a good thing."
Tong Yang knew she had guessed correctly. When this timeline formed a closed loop, the magnetic field energy would be excluded into other timelines.
"At least up until now, it has been a good thing for me."
Wu Pingxue smiled, "Fortunately, your abilities match your intellect, otherwise there would be big trouble."
Tong Yang pressed her lips together and did not respond.
The others listened silently to their conversation, watching the old fox and the young fox tussle with each other.
After a while, Wu Pingxue said, "Your idea isn't bad. I don't object to you entering the First World."
Tong Yang nodded, "Good, then arrange it as soon as possible."
Wu Pingxue looked helpless and said, "Let me finish."
"It's too early. You going in alone is one thing, but the others cannot enter with you. Otherwise, it would be a dead end for them."
Tong Yang said, "I know. I wasn't planning to take them in."
Wu Pingxue said, "I do have a way to conceal your coordinates, so even if they know you're in the First World, they won't be able to find your specific location."
"That's good."
"After entering the First World, try not to draw attention to yourself. Understand the situation and social structure of the First World, blend in. When the time is about right, I will tell you what to do next."
Tong Yang's expression turned solemn, and she nodded, "I understand."
Wu Pingxue cautioned, "The reason I am not familiar with the situation in the First World is because they are absolute aggressors. They never intended to spare any of your lives. I disagreed with them and was declared permanently banned from entering the First World."
"If in the parallel worlds, everyone except the upper class is livestock, then in the First World, the lower class is a massive slaughterhouse. You need to start adapting from the bottom. Take care."
Tong Yang lowered her eyes and said, "No need to adapt. I originally come from the very bottom of society."
No matter what the situation in the First World is, compared to before, Tong Yang at least now has sufficient confidence.
Wu Pingxue said calmly, "People at the bottom of the real world can turn their lives around through various means. In the First World, unless one is a once-in-a-millennium talent, it is absolutely impossible to achieve that."
"I understand."
Wu Pingxue asked, "When do you plan to leave?"
Tong Yang said, "The sooner, the better."
"Alright, then come back to the 749 Bureau with me tomorrow."
"No problem."
Having reached a consensus, Tong Yang and the group prepared to leave.
Wu Pingxue invited them to stay for lunch, but Tong Yang declined.
On the way back, Xu Junyue said, "I was thinking of going with you."
Tong Yang asked, "Aren't you going to participate in the special forces selection?"
"I am, but I think the First World sounds more interesting."
Chu Shiyu sighed, "I'd really like to go too."
Tong Yang glanced at her sideways, "You haven't experienced much hardship. You want to go suffer?"
Chu Shiyu retorted, "How many peaceful days have I had since knowing you?!"
Tong Yang shrugged, "So, you should seize this good opportunity. By then, those things from the parallel worlds will be chasing after me into the First World."
"That seems true too. So, will the real world be quiet for a while?"
"Probably."
He Jingjing said, "You're leaving just like that, but that idiot Chu Shiyu and I still have to keep looking for coordinates of other parallel world humans."
"It's not really troublesome anyway."
"Flying around all day is troublesome."
He Jingjing tightened her lips, remained silent for a moment, and said, "Tong Yang, since you're entering the First World, can I ask you a favor?"
Tong Yang rarely heard her use this tone with her. She raised an eyebrow and said, "Let's hear it, but I never work for free."
He Jingjing said, "I can give you money. I can give you all of the five million US dollars reward from after Hack Island."
Hearing this, Tong Yang's expression turned more serious. Five million US dollars was no small sum.
"Does it have to do with He Jingjing (Sister)?"
He Jingjing nodded, "Yes, it's related to Jingjing (Sister)."
"Tell me the details."
"After I started cooperating with Dr. Wu, the people from the parallel world sent Jingjing (Sister) to the First World for imprisonment. Dr. Wu said he thought of a way; they didn't directly kill Jingjing (Sister). If there's a chance, I'd like to ask you to help inquire about Jingjing's (Sister) situation."
After He Jingjing (Sister) fell from the Xili Mall, the parallel world wanted to recruit He Jingjing to work for them. They injected both He Jingjing and He Jingjing (Sister) with inferior gene medicine to keep He Jingjing (Sister) alive.
Later, Wu Pingxue was expelled by the parallel world and told He Jingjing about the inferior gene medicine. At the cost of two doses of high-quality gene medicine, he had He Jingjing work for him.
"Aren't you afraid Wu Pingxue is lying to you?" Tong Yang asked.
He Jingjing shook her head, "Dr. Wu has no reason to lie to me. Right now, I'm not very useful to him."
Tong Yang didn't respond. Indeed, Wu Pingxue had no need to deceive her, as he was already cooperating with the Z government and no longer needed He Jingjing to help him integrate into the real world.
Tong Yang remained silent. He Jingjing, thinking she was unwilling, continued, "You don't need to take any risks. Just help me ask if you get the chance. If there's no opportunity, forget it. I can give you the money right away."
Tong Yang said solemnly, "After injecting the high-quality gene medicine, when the magnetic field energy disappears, won't her body be affected?"
Once the magnetic field energy disappears, everything related to it will vanish, let alone something like gene medicine.
He Jingjing said, "Dr. Wu said that after the magnetic field energy disappears, wounds already healed by the gene medicine won't be affected. It's just that healing can no longer occur afterward; she'll become like an ordinary person."
Tong Yang nodded, "I understand. I'll help you inquire if I get the chance. As for the payment, let's talk about it after I find out news about He Jingjing (Sister)."
He Jingjing breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you."
"When does Wu Pingxue plan to give you the gene medicine?" Tong Yang asked.
"After entering the First World."
"Alright."
The group casually found a restaurant for lunch, then went their separate ways to attend to their own matters.
Before leaving, Ye Huai said, "I'll accompany you to the base tomorrow."
Tong Yang said, "No need, you focus on your own work. We'll be in touch."
However, the satellite signals of the First World and the parallel world probably aren't the same, so whether we can actually get in touch is uncertain. We'll figure it out then.
Ye Huai pursed his thin lips slightly, looked at her, and said, "It's fine, I'll go with you."
His tone made Tong Yang raise an eyebrow slightly. She didn't insist further, "Suit yourself."
Hearing this, Ye Huai paused mid-motion as he bent to get into the car.
A moment later, he sat in the car, looked up at Tong Yang, smiled, and said, "See you tomorrow."
"Okay."
The driver closed the car door, and the vehicle sped away.
"Let's go." Tong Yang turned back to Chu Shiyu and the others.
Immediately, she noticed the others looking at her with very strange expressions.
"What?" Tong Yang asked, bewildered.
"You really don't get it?"
"Get what?"
"Even I understand what CEO Ye means."
"What does he mean?"
"...Clueless about romance."
"?"
The three of them shook their heads with a sigh.
"Indeed, God is fair. He gave you intelligence and wisdom, but always shortchanges you a bit in matters of emotion."
Tong Yang narrowed her eyes, carefully replaying her recent conversation with Ye Huai in her mind.
Ye Huai wanted to accompany her to the 749 Bureau research base tomorrow. Making the trip back and forth for several hours, with nothing for him to do there, would just be a hassle for him.
So she politely declined.
Then Ye Huai insisted on going. Tong Yang herself wasn't one to listen to advice, nor did she like persuading others, so she told him to "suit himself."
Was there a problem with that?
No problem.
Tong Yang felt there was absolutely no problem.
Ye Huai hadn't shown any signs of there being a problem either.
Since the people with the problem weren't her or Ye Huai, then it must be Chu Shiyu and the other two who had the problem.
Tong Yang said nonchalantly, "Think whatever you want."
Chu Shiyu: "..."
He Jingjing: "..."
Xu Junyue asked curiously, "Boss, you and CEO Ye, what's your relationship now?"
Tong Yang said, "Guess."
After Xu Junyue and He Jingjing left, Tong Yang and the other person returned to Yang Lin's parents' place. Coincidentally, Grandma Yu was also there.
Tong Yang told them she would be leaving for a while and probably wouldn't be back for a year or two. Their faces immediately fell.
"Tong Yang, what exactly are you going to do? I never asked you before, but I feel what you're doing is too dangerous," Yang's mother said seriously.
Tong Yang said, "I'm not doing anything bad."
"I know you're not doing anything bad. You're a good kid, but..."
Tong Yang pressed her lips together and said, "I'm working for the national government. There's no danger. They will protect me, and I will protect myself."
Hearing this, the three of them looked astonished.
"How could that be..."
"Why... what matter requires a child like you to handle?"
Tong Yang said, "I'm sorry, I can't tell you the specifics, but I promise you, I know what I'm doing. Chu Shiyu has also been involved, which is why we have firearm permits."
"Shiyu too..."
Chu Shiyu said, "I won't be leaving with her for now. Grandma, Aunt, Uncle, don't worry. Tong Yang can protect herself. She can even protect all of you."
Grandma Yu said with a stern face, "What about your studies?"
Tong Yang said, "I might have to take a leave of absence."
Grandma Yu glared at her, "No need for a leave. I can apply for online exams for you, but if you don't earn enough credits, you'll have to make them up yourself after you return."
Tong Yang's eyes lit up, "Thank you, Grandma."
Tong Yang disliked wasting time. Taking a leave of absence was, to her, a waste of precious time. She believed she had the ability to balance studies and missions, as she had managed it before.
Grandma Yu shot her a sidelong glance, "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Why so rushed?"
"To save time."
Grandma Yu snorted coldly, "Remember to call to let us know you're safe."
"Okay."
Since Grandma Yu had spoken, Yang Lin's parents naturally couldn't say much more.
They spent a few hours with them at home. As it approached school dismissal time, Tong Yang and the other person went to the Peking University Affiliated Elementary School to pick up Tong Le and Yang Lin and bring them home.
After dinner, they took the two little ones out to the park and casually told them that Tong Yang would be leaving the next day.
Tong Le had probably guessed it already and didn't seem surprised, only asking when she would return.
"Probably not within a year."
Based on the time flow differential, the misalignment of the two time-space continuums might converge around 2027. For the members of the gossip group, it might only be a year or even a few months, but for Tong Yang, there were still about two years left.
Tong Le held her hand, lowered his head, his emotions not as intense as the previous few times.
"Sis, when will everything be settled?" Tong Le asked in a muffled voice.
Tong Yang couldn't help but ruffle his hair, saying, "After we leave this time and come back, things will be resolved."
"Really?" Tong Le looked up at her, full of hope.
"Really, when have I ever lied to you?"
Tong Le's eyes curved into a smile. "Sis has never lied to me."
"Mhm."
Tong Yang held his hand and continued walking, an image of Tong Le from the year 2036 surfacing in her mind.
Once the temporal dislocation ended, he would only exist on another timeline, all alone.
He should have known from the start. Why did he still choose to enter the time travel? Wouldn't it have been better to stay on the 2036 timeline?
"Tong Le..."
Tong Le looked at her. "Sis?"
Tong Yang said softly, "I'm sorry."
Tong Yang never believed she was the one at fault.
The ones in the wrong weren't her, but the First World and even the parallel worlds.
Her apology stemmed from her feeling of helplessness towards the Tong Le existing on the 2036 timeline.
Tong Le stared blankly. "Sis..."
That night, Tong Le and Yang Lin insisted on squeezing into the same room with them.
Tong Yang and Chu Shiyu slept on the bed, while the two boys made do with bedding on the floor beside it.
The next morning, after breakfast, the Ye family car was already waiting at the entrance to the residential compound.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Tong Yang left Yang Lin's parents' home.
Getting into the car, Ye Huai said, "Good morning."
"Good morning," Tong Yang replied absently.
"Let's go," Ye Huai said to the driver uncle in the front.
"Yesterday..." Tong Yang suddenly began.
Ye Huai glanced at her, his gaze gentle. "What about yesterday?"
Seeing his expression, Tong Yang shook her head. "It's nothing."
Ye Huai smiled. "Is that so? I thought you had something to say."
Tong Yang pondered for a moment. "If there's anything about me that you find annoying..."
Ye Huai looked at her, listening attentively.
"...then you'll just have to bear with it, because I definitely won't change," Tong Yang said sincerely.
Ye Huai couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, I understand."
"However, I admire this part of you," Ye Huai said with a smile.
Upon arriving at Ningping Mansion, Wu Pingxue had already prepared a helicopter in advance.
The pilot was also an old acquaintance, Tang Shuyan.
"Long time no see."
"Long time no see. I heard you're getting married?" Tong Yang asked.
Tang Shuyan's face darkened. "Who told you that?"
"Xu Junyue. Didn't she say you were going on blind dates every day recently?"
Tang Shuyan sighed, exasperated. "That was because my dad was pressuring me with his life on the line."
"And now? He's not pressuring you anymore?"
"One day, on a whim, I wanted to read his fortune. He kicked and shoved me out the door," Tang Shuyan said nonchalantly. "Thought he wasn't afraid of death."
Tong Yang and the others sat in the back, Wu Pingxue took the co-pilot seat. There were only the four of them on the helicopter.
After closing the cabin door, the helicopter slowly ascended.
With their previous experience, they easily found their way into the research base upon arrival.
Tang Li and the others weren't at the base; they were reportedly on another mission.
"Dr. Luo."
"Follow me."
Dr. Luo, already informed of their visit, led them directly to where Yan Qing from the parallel world was located. It was the same tunnel with glass rooms, but different from before, Yan Qing from the parallel world was now living together with Liang Xi.
Dr. Luo explained, "Yan Qing has been very cooperative lately. Plus, they're around the same age, and with no one else to talk to normally, we've temporarily let them live together."
Arriving in front of two adjacent glass rooms, they saw the wall between them had been opened up. Besides beds, there were desks, a sofa, a dining table, and some recreational facilities.
The two girls, wearing matching pajamas, sat side-by-side at the desk, drawing or writing something, their expressions looking very focused.
Dr. Luo said, "Liang Xi's body has been completely repaired."
Liang Xi sat upright, her hair tied in a ponytail. Having been out of the sun for too long, her skin held a sickly pallor. No traces of injury were visible on her upper body; she looked no different from when Tong Yang first saw her.
Dr. Luo lowered the glass wall. Both occupants in the room looked up simultaneously.
"Sis Tong Yang! Brother Ye Huai! Dr... Dr. Wu..."
Not having seen outsiders for a long time, Yan Qing from the parallel world called out excitedly.
Upon seeing Wu Pingxue, her excited expression turned timid. She muttered quietly, "Why are you here too?"
Wu Pingxue said with a smile, "It seems I didn't leave a very good impression on you."
Yan Qing from the parallel world immediately bristled like a cat. "You think?!"
Wu Pingxue said, "What a pity."
Of course, no trace of pity could be seen on his face.
"Teacher Tong, Dr. Wu." Liang Xi stood up and bowed politely to them.
Tong Yang said, "Long time no see."
Liang Xi gave a serene smile. "Teacher Tong, I've always wanted to thank you."
"Why?"
"I didn't want to become a monster, nor did I want to hurt Yan Qing. At that time, I didn't know what came over me. I'm sorry."
Tong Yang said calmly, "You don't blame us for locking you up here?"
Liang Xi said, "I have no right to blame you. And as things are now, I'm already very content."
Tong Yang shifted her gaze away, saying nothing more.
She had only met Liang Xi a handful of times.
"Teacher Tong, I hope you can convey a message for me, to Yan Qing."
"What message?" Tong Yang asked.
Liang Xi lowered her eyelashes. "I'm sorry for frightening her."
"At that time, I was very scared and had nowhere to go. I wanted her to take me in."
Tong Yang nodded. "Alright, I'll convey that for you."
After that incident, Yan Qing's life had returned to normal. Perhaps because she was young, her emotions came and went quickly, leaving no significant psychological scars.
Wu Pingxue smiled. "Finished catching up? Can we talk business now?"
Yan Qing from the parallel world asked warily, "What business? Didn't I already tell you all the human coordinates from the main world?"
"We're here for something else today."
Tong Yang said, "I'm going to the First World."
"The First World?" Yan Qing from the parallel world frowned deeply. "What are you going there for?"
"None of your business," Tong Yang said.
Wu Pingxue said, "The method of entering the First World is different from entering a parallel world. You need to go through a temporal anchor point; otherwise, you'll be identified as an external invader."
"How do we hide coordinates on a large scale?" Tong Yang asked.
Wu Pingxue said, "That also requires a temporal anchor point to accomplish."
Yan Qing from the parallel world asked curiously, "Tell me! Sis Tong Yang, what are you going to the First World for? My parents said it's extremely dangerous there."
Wu Pingxue said, "She's going there on a mission."
"What mission?"
"To destroy the energy magnetic field and rebuild the world barrier. When that happens, you'll all be able to leave here and return to your respective worlds," Wu Pingxue said.
Tong Yang's pupils narrowed slightly. Her intuition told her this old fox Wu Pingxue was up to something again, actually revealing such information so easily to Yan Qing from the parallel world?
Yan Qing from the parallel world frowned. "Destroy the magnetic field energy? Then what about us?"
Wu Pingxue said, "The gene therapy in your bodies will become ineffective."
Yan Qing from the parallel world shuddered, her expression turning anxious. "No! What about Xi Xi? The magnetic field energy can't disappear. I won't help you!"
Tong Yang shot her a glance.
Yan Qing from the parallel world was somewhat afraid of her but still mustered her courage. "I... I won't help you!"
Wu Pingxue smiled gently and said, "Don't worry. Although the gene therapy will become ineffective once the magnetic field energy disappears, it won't affect wounds that have already healed."
Yan Qing from the parallel world immediately let out a sigh of relief.
Wu Pingxue then changed her tone. "However, you cannot stay in the real world. There's already one of you here."
Hearing this, Yan Qing from the parallel world looked stunned. "Then... then can I still come to see Xi Xi in the future..."
Wu Pingxue shook her head. "No. By then, every world will return to its original order. It will no longer be possible to cross the barriers between worlds."
Yan Qing from the parallel world's eyes reddened. "That won't do. I don't want to be separated from Xi Xi. Let me stay in the real world. I... I won't go anywhere, I can stay in a glass room my whole life!"
Wu Pingxue didn't speak, instead turning to look at Liang Xi.
Liang Xi gently patted Yan Qing from the parallel world's shoulder, comforting her. "It's alright."
Then, she looked at Wu Pingxue and asked, "Dr. Wu, if Qing Qing can't stay in the real world, can I go to the parallel world?"
Wu Pingxue said, "You can. But you need to think it through carefully. Once you stay in the parallel world, you can never return."
Yan Qing from the parallel world looked at Liang Xi cautiously, feeling nervous.
Liang Xi said with a smile, "It's fine. Qing Qing is the most important person to me in this world. I don't want to be separated from her."
"Me too! Xi Xi is also the most important person to me."
Wu Pingxue narrowed her eyes contentedly and said, "Once the magnetic field energy disappears, the structure of the parallel world is bound to be reshuffled. I'm afraid it will be very difficult for the two of you to survive."
Hearing this, the two of them pressed their lips together, not saying a word.
Dr. Wu was right. It would be extremely difficult for the two of them to live in the parallel world.
"In that case, you can follow me from now on. For Tong Yang's sake, I can protect your lives."
Yan Qing from the parallel world asked timidly, "Is... is that really okay?"
"Of course it is. I am a kind-hearted old woman."
Liang Xi said gratefully, "Thank you, Dr. Wu."
Tong Yang felt like she had just watched a good show; these two kids were far too green in front of Wu Pingxue.
Who knows what scheme that old fox Wu Pingxue is cooking up.
