In an underground base.
Telephones were ringing non-stop and even on new year's day, every employee from top to bottom was present.
On top of that, they seemed to be even busier than usual days.
"Reporting! There is news from different locations with sightings of unusual bodies!"
"There is an inferno man appearing in Musical City. He has caused widespread fire and there are 23 casualties as of now..."
"Citizens from Black River City have reported sightings of an iceman walking on the surface of water..."
The police of Mountain Ocean City have caught a mass murderer with skin as hard as rock. He is impenetrable and in a single fight, he had killed 1 and injured 13 others..."
News of unusual sightings poured in, making everyone feel vexed.
In the headquarters, a middle-aged man frowned as he looked at a screen before him.
On a static screen, a normal looking young man started to hold his throat and cough vigorously.
"Rumble!"
A ball of flames shot out from his mouth as though he was a fire-spitting dragon.
The middle-aged man was stunned and expressionless. Slowly, he looked at the other screens. Finally, he froze on his chair and started to read a printed copy of a thesis on his table:
Before the arrival of the Spiritual King Comet, there were 4 instances of spikes in the radiation of spiritual energy. I shall call them occurrences!"
"I the year 994, the first world war began and that was the first occurrence!"
"The second occurrence will come in the year 1004 and will bring about many changes to humans, including the concept of life itself... It is not simply the strengthening of one's physical body, but the improved usage of energy..."
As the middle-aged man read through the thesis, he had a solemn look and went through every single word in detail.
After a long while, he seemed to have snapped out of his trance as he plucked the telephone from the desk. "... That's right! It's me! I order you! Immediately protect this scientist! At all costs! That's right, now!" Also... Immediately seal the information on the thesis and guard against it from being stolen or leaked out. Everything on the thesis is now classified!"
After passing down his orders, he hung up and pressed his palm on his forehead, depressed. "D*mn it... Without sealing up all these information timely, I'm sure that some of it would have leaked out... Those subordinates are too slow when performing their duties..."
However, he knew that his subordinates had treated the thesis as a joke. If not for Director Zhou's report, this thesis would not have landed in his hands.
At this point, the middle-aged man finally smiled. "Old Zhou... He is still talented in scouting the gifted."
In the night, there was hardly any peace.
"Baka!"
In a normal-looking Chinese courtyard house, a dim light covered the four corners.
This was a form of protection as it would sound an alarm as soon as there were trespassers.
The middle-aged couple living here were but an act. In an underground room, the owner of the house peered through his presbyopic glasses and examined the thesis on his hands. He had a ferocious but passionate look on his face. "How could someone even predict this? What a genius... Mr Fang, why are you not our countrymen!"
Even in the Middle Continent, Chinese Country had its competitors.
Although living in seclusion, this country was still strong.
"Director, what should we do next?"
A woman stood straight and enquired respectfully. If Fang Yuan was here, he would find this woman familiar, for she was Thomas's translator - Little Night of the Plains.
"It's already too late to mobilize him!"
The director rubbed his eyebrows and revealed a demonic look. "Activate all our spies to invite him to our country..."
"Must we... must we do this?"
Little Night shuddered. This would mean that all their arrangements in the capital would be for nought.
"He... he is worth this. He might be the hope that our country needs to rise up once again. Everyone has the duty to sacrifice themselves for the country. I can even give up my own life without hesitation!"
The middle-aged man retorted.
"I understand!"
Little Night knelt down and kowtowed. "Please pass any instructions you have for me!"
"No! You and the other 'Nightingales' will not have to participate in tomorrow's activation. Conversely... I want the few of you to stay in ambush. If our plan were to fail, the few of you will be the backup plan!"
The middle-aged director was solemn. "We need to try all means and ambush that young man or even the people around him who are informed of the classified information. Even if we have to complete this mission like a dog, we will still do so!"
"May our country live forever!"
A burning fire of passion raged in Little Night's eyes.
"The whole night was filled with the sirens of the police. It seems like this city was not so peaceful last night..."
Fang Yuan sat up on his bed and stretched himself.
The evolution brought about by the spike in spiritual droplets was not something normal people were able to control.
Those naturally-born evolvers would not be able to control themselves and therefore create chaos. This was the problem of the realm!
If there was the existence of the internet, the headlines would be filled with news of these evolvers.
It was not simply becoming stronger, but there was the development of completely new special abilities.
Even in this era, the speed at which information was transmitted was still extremely quick. In such a rapidly-evolving age, it was already impossible to cover up news.
'However...'
Fang Yuan opened his door and gazed at the people outside. "What are you guys intending to do?"
"Comrade Fang Yuan!"
A female soldier in her uniform gave Fang Yuan a military salute and handed to him a document. "You have been assigned a job. Please follow us!"
"... An investigator from the Research Centre of Supernormal Humans...."
Fang Yuan looked at them and was speechless. "Alright... Although you guys did not go through the university and delivered this personally to my hostel, I still very thankful for it. However, why do we have to leave now? I have only just woken up and have yet to brush my teeth..."
"We can settle these issues along the way! My name is Ye Yingzi and I am in charge of your safety!"
With a stern voice, Ye Yingzi spoke once more. "Is there anything else that you need to pack?"
"Just my clothing."
"Do we really need... to resort to this?" Fang Yuan knew the answer, but he asked anyway.
"Yes we do. Comrade Fang Yuan, you are now different. Your wisdom is the country's greatest asset and therefore, your personal safety is of paramount importance!"
Ye Yingzi quickly called for a few soldiers to enter and help Fang Yuan to pack up. She was a little confused. "Are there any documents that we have to bring along?"
"Nope, they're all right here!"
Fang Yuan knocked on his head and walked out of his hostel.
Along the road outside, 6 jeeps were parked and guards equipped with rifles were standing in their positions, extremely still.
"..."
Seeing this, Fang Yuan let out a bitter smile. "Did you guys waited for an entire night here?"
"2 hours and 37 minutes!"
"Alright... It seems like I will never return here in the future!"
Fang Yuan shrugged his shoulders. "The aunties from the neighbourhood committee must think that I am a dangerous fugitive to be able to activate so many soldiers to capture me on new year's day!"
"If you think that this is a problem, we can explain to the neighbourhood committee...."
"Forget it!"
Fang Yuan climbed up the jeep parked in the middle.
The jeep was specially manufactured and the windows behind were completely tinted and unable to see through.
"I'm sorry... This was an urgent order from the headquarters!"
Ye Yingzi sat beside Fang Yuan. A fragrance smell filled the jeep as she took out a few bags. "This is your breakfast..."
"Oh, thank you very much!"
Fang Yuan opened the bag, revealing dough fritters, soup dumplings and roasted donkey meat. It was the standard breakfast which he had gotten used to.
As he ate the breakfast, he felt a sense of familiarity but was not surprised.
With the country's power, he could never hide his background and they would be able to get all the information about him, even the breakfast which he liked.
"Where are we going now?"
"The research base!"
"Do we really need so much security? Are we overdoing things?"
"This is according to the requirements of the headquarters, so we are not overdoing things!"
After a full meal, Fang Yuan probed further and started to understand more about his predicament.
The jeep drove steadily. Although Fang Yuan could not see the surroundings outside clearly, he knew that he had already left the city and was in the countryside.
"Rumble!"
Suddenly, there was an explosion and flames broke out in front.
The huge vibration broke the neat line of jeeps and even flipped Fang Yuan's jeep.
"Da da! Da da!"
Amidst gunshots, Fang Yuan and Ye Yingzi climbed out and were surrounded by blood and fire.
They were in a wilderness and the remaining soldiers formed a defensive circle around Fang Yuan.
The illusionary silhouette of the enemies appeared from all directions. Accompanying roars from a few wild beasts, a few black dogs the size of bulls rushed forward, fearing nothing.
"It's an ambush!"
From her earpiece, she had just received news of an ambush. Ye Yingzi's expression changed. Gritting her teeth, she plucked out the gun from her waist, held Fang Yuan in her other hand and slowly shifted her position.
"The enemy's firepower is very strong and they seemed to be controlled by a puppet master from Japan... D*mn it, what are the brothers at immigration doing? How could they let so many dangerous spies enter our country?"
Ye Yingzi held Fang Yuan and retreated.
"We finally meet... The power of this heat weapon..."
Fang Yuan was extremely nimble and could still pay attention to his surroundings.
"Such firepower... if we were in a undulating terrain, we will still have a chance to escape by casting spells. However, face to face, we would be shot and our bodies would be full of holes!"
"Let's go!"
Ye Yingzi knew that they were disadvantaged as well and brought Fang Yuan to hide in a forest. "This is our home ground. Reinforcements will arrive shortly. Comrade Fang Yuan?"
"Mmm, I'm fine!"
Fang Yuan lightly slapped himself as though he was a normal human in shock.
However, he was observing Ye Yingzi who had a face of justice. He wondered if she would still risk her life for him if he were to be abducted away.