Chapter Sixty-Four: Ji Shangyan

Meeting with Grandpa Xu was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise; Ye Chong had never imagined he would encounter Grandpa Xu in such a way. The police officer who arrived later turned out to be A Fei, the very one who had come to Grandpa Qian’s shop looking for Ye Chong that day. Upon noticing the two finger marks on the middle-aged man’s neck, A Fei quickly found an excuse to pull him away—heavens, who could know when that madman might lose control? If he went wild in the street, things would get out of hand!

Grandpa Xu’s granddaughter, Sun Xuelin, and Ah Xiu appeared rather reserved, while Ye Chong and Grandpa Xu chatted and laughed, occasionally delving into academic discussions. These moments gave Ye Chong a rare sense of belonging, as if he were back among the Auroras.

But once outside, Ye Chong reverted to his usual calm demeanor.

Hailan Star was a planet advanced in both economy and technology, with a permanent population of six hundred million. The society was open-minded and prized freedom, and coupled with its exceptional natural environment, it attracted many residents to settle there year-round.

Ye Chong lived in the Jiesha District, the largest and most prosperous of Hailan Star’s three major districts. It was already late when he returned to Grandpa Qian’s home. After finishing his chores, he retired to his room, convinced that he needed a deeper understanding of this society. Too many things here felt alien to him. The sooner he familiarized himself with this world, the better his chances of survival. Without a doubt, Mu was the only teacher he could rely on.

Ye Chong began, “Mu, let’s continue our conversation from earlier today. What is the law here that you mentioned?”

Mu replied, “According to the data, it is a system of rules established by those in power—perhaps that makes it easier for you to understand.”

“The powerful?” Ye Chong asked. “Stronger than me?”

Though Mu’s tone remained even, it barely concealed his disdain: “The difference in your abilities is so vast, there’s simply no comparison between you and them.”

Ye Chong pressed, “What would happen if I had killed that man today?”

Mu answered, “According to Article 11 of Hailan Star’s Criminal Code, a murderer will be sentenced to a minimum of forty years’ imprisonment, and in severe cases, to death.”

Ye Chong frowned. “Who enforces this?”

Mu replied, “Under Hailan Star’s Security Regulations, all police officers, military personnel, and security agencies are authorized to arrest offenders, and all citizens are obliged to assist in apprehension.”

Fortunately, Ye Chong wasn’t so arrogant as to see himself as invincible. With so many people, not to mention experts, even ordinary folk would be more than he could handle; he began to truly appreciate the sheer power of the forces of order. Yet, a crucial question soon occurred to him: “What if I act with absolute secrecy?”

Mu replied, “If they cannot obtain evidence of your crime, you cannot be convicted.”

“Evidence?”

“Anything—objects, people, or circumstances—that can prove you committed the crime.”

“So, if my methods are clever enough and they cannot obtain any evidence, does that mean I can escape the law?”

“In a sense, you are correct. However, I must warn you: they possess many practical and sophisticated means of investigation and a significant chance of discovering your activities.”

“Oh, so it’s a contest between the two sides, then?”

“In a sense, you are correct…”

…

Ji Shangyan hummed a cheerful tune, skillfully maneuvering his mech—an asset of astounding value—through the air. Although his name might suggest otherwise, Ji Shangyan was every bit a man. His androgynous, delicate features often led to misunderstandings; beneath his silver hair, his blue eyes radiated an almost otherworldly charm, and the faint smile at the corner of his lips left countless women enthralled.

His mech was painted in blue-gray, with golden accents at key points. The smooth armor, deep and restrained in its dark blue, combined with robust gray legs, gave the machine an imposing solidity. The slightly protruding chest section was clearly reinforced, imparting a sense of steadfastness and composure.

Ji Shangyan’s piloting skills were exceptional, allowing him to weave nimbly among the dense buildings of Jiesha District.

If this visit to Old Xu proved successful, he would have accomplished a major feat. But Old Xu was proving a tough nut to crack—completely unmoved by any approach. Ji Shangyan rubbed his brow in frustration; he hadn’t come up with a solution yet. His older brother had failed miserably last time, and now the responsibility had been dumped on him. Still, he was determined to win Old Xu over, no matter how many attempts it took.

Old Xu lived alone—his wife had passed away the year before last, and they had no children. Now, facing an empty house day after day, he often felt a pang of melancholy. It seemed that only immersing himself in research could bring him comfort. Ironically, this had led to significant breakthroughs in his field in recent years, and his reputation had only grown. Yet now, with age, many of his youthful ambitions had faded.

Suddenly, his neural interface alerted him to a visitor. Through the holographic feed, Old Xu saw a handsome young man he didn’t recognize—a puzzling sight.

He activated the home intercom. “Who are you looking for?” he inquired. Instantly, his image was projected onto the entrance outside.

Ji Shangyan saw the elderly figure. According to his intelligence, this was indeed the Old Xu he was meant to visit. He replied respectfully, “You must be Professor Xu. My name is Ji Shangyan. I’ve attended your lectures and would like to ask you some questions about mechs.”

“Oh?” Old Xu pondered for a moment. He was used to seeing people—mostly middle-aged or older—seeking him out for academic discussions, but it was the first time someone this young had come.

“Ji Shangyan?” Old Xu suddenly seemed to recall something. “Your surname is Ji?”

Ji Shangyan’s heart skipped a beat—this was not good. Still, he could only answer, “Yes.”

“You’re from the Ji family?” Old Xu’s expression changed.

Ji Shangyan cursed his luck but remained silent.

Old Xu snorted coldly. “People from the Ji family? Don’t even think about it. Don’t waste your efforts—I will never cooperate with your family. You’d better give up!” With those words, Old Xu terminated the intercom connection, and his image vanished abruptly from Ji Shangyan’s view.

It seemed his brother had truly offended Old Xu last time, and now, Old Xu’s dislike for his brother had extended to the entire Ji family. Persuading him to cooperate with the Ji family would now be even more difficult.

After a moment’s thought, Ji Shangyan took out his communicator and said to the person on the other end, “Keep a close watch on Old Xu—track everything he does and everywhere he goes. Identify all his visitors—their backgrounds and addresses. Don’t slack off for even a moment. I want the most detailed report possible. Remember, it must be thorough.”

With the communicator off, Ji Shangyan felt troubled once more. What method could he possibly use to make Old Xu agree?