Chapter 00067: Decision
# Decision
Chapter 67
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 67: Decision
"Not bad, that's the way to do it," Fang Chong said with satisfaction as he watched his wind blade split a piece of wood in two.
Aixi was equally pleased.
She had thought she was the only genius who had created the wind blade technique.
She hadn't expected Fang Chong to be so skilled as well.
His "One Yang Finger" technique consumed even less energy and was just as silent when used to ambush an opponent.
"Aixi, Fang Chong, I knew I'd find you here," came a slightly aged voice.
"Dean," Aixi and Fang Chong quickly greeted the elderly man who approached.
They held deep respect and admiration for Dean Zhang Yongcheng.
Zhang Yongcheng looked at the shattered wood in the distance, the result of Aixi and Fang Chong's practice, and nodded.
"Good, good. I'm very pleased with your progress."
"Dean, did you come looking for us for something?" Fang Chong asked, knowing that the old dean wouldn't have sought them out without a reason.
Zhang Yongcheng nodded.
"Yes, the human corridor defense line is in need of strong reinforcements. Your seniors have already gone, and many of them have given their lives there..."
Before Zhang Yongcheng could finish, Fang Chong loudly declared, "Dean, I, Fang Chong, am willing to go, regardless of life or death."
Hearing Fang Chong's decision, Aixi quickly added, "I'm willing to go too."
She had been waiting for Ding Huan here.
Although Ding Huan hadn't arrived yet, she had already learned most of what he had taught her.
Not only that, but she had also developed the wind blade technique.
"Good, good..."
Zhang Yongcheng said repeatedly, "You truly are students of the Great Han Yi Academy, brave and determined. Here, both of you go and collect three energy stones each. Use this time to further improve your strength. We'll set off in half a month."
...
Qu Yi finished her cultivation and stepped out of her room.
Today, she planned to practice the fireball technique.
Unfortunately, she was out of energy stones.
If she had some, she could have advanced to a fourth-level gene cultivator in just a week.
"Yi Yi, someone is here to see you," Qu Yi heard her father, Qu Yonghe, call out as soon as she stepped out.
Qu Yi felt a bit uneasy.
Could it be about the incident where she killed that Lei Weiye?
When she reached the living room, she saw her father and Aunt Xing sitting with two guests, sipping tea.
Qu Yi immediately realized they weren't relatives.
One was a middle-aged man, and the other was a young man.
"Qu Yi, hello. My name is Dou Qingzhi," the middle-aged man stood up and greeted her with a smile.
Dou Qingzhi? That name sounded familiar.
Qu Yonghe quickly stood up as well.
"So it's Director Dou. I didn't recognize you at first."
Qu Yonghe was genuinely surprised.
He hadn't expected Dou Qingzhi, the director of the Hua Xia Security Bureau, to visit.
"You're Director Dou?" Qu Yi was equally astonished.
Her heart eased a bit.
If Dou Qingzhi himself had come to their home, it couldn't possibly be about the Lei Weiye incident.
"Yes, and this is Wang Qiusheng from Pu Hai," Dou Qingzhi introduced the young man who had also stood up.
Qu Yi quickly greeted them, "Qu Yi greets Director Dou and Director Wang."
Although she hadn't met Wang Qiusheng before, she had heard of him.
He was the head of the action team at the Pu Hai Security Bureau, a man of real power.
"Let's all sit down," Dou Qingzhi said, noticing Qu Yonghe's nervousness after learning his identity.
Once everyone was seated, Wang Qiusheng spoke apologetically, "Miss Qu Yi, what happened to you in Pu Hai was our responsibility. We failed to protect our citizens. On behalf of the Pu Hai Security Bureau, I apologize."
Qu Yi and Qu Yonghe remained silent.
They knew this wasn't just about an apology.
Sure enough, Dou Qingzhi continued, "The scale of the gene beasts in South America is too large, and they're growing stronger. Our director, Zong Han, led a team to the human corridor defense line months ago. He was severely injured and nearly lost his life."
Hearing this, Qu Yi felt a deep sense of gratitude.
Without these people's protection, the gene beasts might have already invaded their homes.
"Miss Qu Yi, we know you have a unique ability to transform internal energy into blades. That's why I'm here today—to invite you to join the Security Bureau and come with us to the human corridor defense line to support the front lines..."
Before Dou Qingzhi could finish, Qu Yonghe quickly interjected, "Director Dou, our Qu Yi is still recovering from her injuries. She was severely hurt before, even losing her sight. She's only just started to recover. She can't go to the front lines."
After her father finished speaking, Qu Yi stood up.
"Director Dou, I agree to go with you to the human corridor defense line..."
"Yi Yi!" Qu Yonghe was shocked.
Even Yan Quan, who had been eavesdropping, couldn't hold back and rushed out.
"Yi Yi, are you out of your mind?"
Both Qu Yonghe and Yan Quan knew how high the mortality rate was at the human corridor defense line.
Even though one could gain immense honor there, it meant nothing if you were dead.
Qu Yi spoke slowly, "Dad, Mom, the reason we can live so peacefully here is because others are carrying the weight for us, bearing the disasters that come our way. When I was powerless, I could only watch silently as they fought and died to protect us from the beasts. Now that I have the ability, why shouldn't I do the same for others?"
Hearing her daughter's words, neither Qu Yonghe nor Yan Quan could say anything in response.
Qu Yi continued, "I've always believed that the soldiers and protectors who carry the weight for us are the most beautiful sight. I long for that beauty, so I want to go to that human landscape and do what I can. If I don't, then what's the point of my cultivation? Wasn't this the very reason I worked so hard to get into one of the top ten academies on Blue Star?"
"Good," Dou Qingzhi stood up.
He hadn't expected Qu Yi to have such a broad perspective.
Yes, Hua Xia had many people like Qu Yi, which was why it remained a global benchmark.
"Qu Yi, if you want to attend any of the top ten academies on Blue Star, just let me know," Dou Qingzhi said, moved by Qu Yi's words.
Qu Yi smiled, "Thank you, Director Dou, but I don't need to go to the top ten academies anymore. I've already learned what I wanted."
"This is a small token of our appreciation. Stay home and cultivate for the next half month. We'll depart from Pu Hai in half a month," Wang Qiusheng said, placing a small bag in front of Qu Yi.
"I don't need this..."
Qu Yi picked up the bag, intending to return it, but as soon as she touched it, she realized it contained energy stones.
"You do need it. Consider it compensation from the Security Bureau. We'll see you in half a month. You'll go with Wang Qiusheng and lead a team from the Security Bureau to the human corridor defense line," Dou Qingzhi stopped her from returning the bag.
After seeing Dou Qingzhi and Wang Qiusheng off, Qu Yonghe looked at Qu Yi anxiously.
"Yi Yi, you've only been cultivating for a few months. Even if Teacher Ding taught you some powerful techniques, it's only been half a year."
Qu Yi looked at her parents.
"Dad, Mom, I know you're worried about me. But if everyone thought like me, who would protect the defense line? Who would protect us? Sooner or later, the beasts would be at our doorstep."
...
Ding Huan looked at the two bottles of gene potion in his hand and let out a long sigh.
Even with the Devouring Technique for useless gene fragments, creating the Great Desolate Golden Ape's Great Desolate Eye gene was incredibly difficult.
But he had succeeded, even if it took a lot of time.
"Huh, you're still alive?" Ding Huan turned to see the little creature he had tossed aside earlier, still blinking at him.
The food and water he had left for it were gone.
Just then, his spiritual sense detected Kong Dan at the door.
He opened it.
Kong Dan, holding a lunchbox, said excitedly, "Teacher Ding, you're finally out."
"Clean up inside. I'm going to take a shower and then continue with the experiments. Oh, and make sure that little thing has water and food. Just leave it here."
Ding Huan patted Kong Dan on the shoulder.
Kong Dan was a determined and good-natured person.
Once Ding Huan finished his gene experiments, he would help Kong Dan improve his physical condition, effectively taking him on as another disciple.
Kong Dan was overjoyed.
"Teacher Ding, don't worry. I'll make sure everything is spotless."
...
Back at his residence, Ding Huan took a shower and had a quick meal before taking out one of the Great Desolate Eye gene potions.
After swallowing the potion, Ding Huan felt two waves of intense heat rush to his eyes.
It felt as if his eyes were being wrapped in warm water.
Ding Huan quickly took out a medicinal herb and ate it raw.
In Ding Huan's opinion, even the Great Desolate Golden Ape would have consumed the herb raw—there was no other way.
After swallowing the herb, the heat in his eyes intensified, as if warm water was continuously pouring over them.
This was different from what Ding Huan had expected.
He knew about the Great Desolate Eye and that it was actually the Great Desolate Golden Ape's third eye, which should have appeared on the forehead.
But after fusing with the Great Desolate Eye gene potion, there was no reaction on his forehead—only his eyes were affected.
An hour later, his eyes returned to normal.
Ding Huan looked around, and everything seemed a bit clearer.
But that might just have been his imagination.
In reality, he didn't feel any significant change.
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(End of Chapter)