Light Fortress
Chapter 145 - 133 Happy Birthday

Chapter 145: Chapter 133 Happy Birthday

The lady’s expression froze for a moment.

She did not speak, merely lowered her eyes... This question was not so easily answered.

"In a few days, there will be an internal nomination within the council. As for the vacant seat in Da Du, I have already arranged the trivial matters... You just need to give a speech in the normal course of events and state your position," Zhao Xilai said softly, "Go back and prepare well, you should understand what I mean."

"...Yes."

The lady took a deep breath.

"Little Cui, take Gu Shen to see the ’New World’ tomorrow," the old man left this last piece of advice. Just as he was about to leave in his wheelchair, something came to his mind, and he once again instructed in a low voice, "Regarding the case of the Changjiu Foundation... Zhou Jiren, I hope you resolve it quickly."

Mr. Shu calmly said, "Rest assured... I won’t leave Da Du until I catch that big fish."

Cui Zhongcheng pushed the wheelchair, slowly leaving.

Mr. Shu laid his hand on Gu Shen’s shoulder, gazing into the distance as the two departed.

The lady did not leave, staying thoughtfully by the river.

Lu Nanzhi slowly closed her umbrella. At this moment, she no longer seemed like the imposing lady who Da Du feared, but rather a kind and amiable sister, her tone gentle and sincere, "Tonight... I thank you on behalf of Song Yingji."

Gu Shen was taken aback.

He remembered what Song Ci had previously said to him.

If tonight, he was willing to take action for Crow... then after tonight, he would win the lady’s trust.

"Thank you," the lady spoke again, "If in the future... you need my help, please feel free to speak."

Not until Zhou Jiren patted Gu Shen firmly on the shoulder did Gu Shen come to his senses. He hurriedly bowed slightly as a gesture of respect and earnestly said, "Thank you for your promise, I will treasure it."

The lady took up her umbrella and left again.

Only the master and disciple pair were left isolated by the river.

"About Chen Mei’s matter... I don’t understand..."

Gu Shen, looking at the vine-wrapped coffin, cut to the chase, "Is this truly your doing, or was someone reminding me?"

He wanted to know the truth behind this affair.

Because he had almost fallen into Chen Mei’s hands.

And having ultimately won the big gamble today, Gu Shen needed to know whether it was his own good luck, or if the chips on the table had been rightly placed.

"Just a few hours ago, Tang Qingquan proposed to the council to handle the cases jointly... Since it was the renowned Yinghai Chief Justice who made the request, coupled with Zhao Xilai’s vigorous support, the council approved the proposal immediately and established a special action group for the case, with me serving as the commander-in-chief," Zhou Jiren glanced at Gu Shen and said indifferently, "Catching ’Chen Mei’ tonight was just the first step."

Gu Shen’s expression grew complicated.

A special action group... If he remembered correctly, Zhou Jiren had just submitted an application to transfer him to this special system that wouldn’t normally receive orders unless there was an issue.

After the great fog on Yuan Dan Street, a "special action group" was directly established to combat the conspiracies of the Changjiu Foundation.

And obviously, Zhou Jiren was the commander-in-chief.

And himself... could not escape being one of them.

"Congratulations, you’ve become a member... of the special action group," Mr. Shu patted his disciple’s shoulder, "I’ve picked several other young people in the three institutions, all one in a hundred talents. If an event like the Yuan Dan Street fog happens again, you won’t be fighting alone."

What an Old Fox indeed.

Having just been transferred to the special action group, he had encountered an uncommon joint mission.

Gu Shen now suspected that Zhou Jiren was also quietly planning a grand strategy.

"I know what you’re thinking..."

Zhou Jiren saw the somewhat resentful look in his disciple’s eyes, and he laughed helplessly, "You must be cursing me as an Old Fox in your mind."

"Not at all..." Gu Shen wouldn’t admit it, simply responding with a forced smile, "You’re not afraid of exposing ’Truth Ruler’ by transferring me to the special action group?"

"Do you have the ability to expose it?" unexpectedly, Zhou Jiren countered with that question.

This question, on the other hand, made Gu Shen pause.

"Zhao Xilai is investigating the ’Truth Ruler’... because in his understanding, it’s an extraordinarily powerful Sealed Object. But what is it in your hands?" Zhou Jiren posed questions casually, "All those Transcendents selected through layers of screening and seen as promising by me, ultimately joining the special action group, each has their own unique encounters, each holds a few lifesaving cards. Even if your ’Truth Ruler’ is used during a mission... can it really draw the attention of others?"

Gu Shen fell into silence.

"I originally thought that by transferring me into the special action group... you wanted me to focus on cultivating," he said softly, looking down, "and that what followed would be a peaceful life, allowing me to properly forge my Jingzhe Breathing Technique."

"If it weren’t for that compass, maybe it would be," Zhou Jiren spoke leisurely, "But now the situation is right in front of you... Do you want to become the next ’Zhou Yu’? To live a peaceful life, you have to be ready for a death that comes quietly and unnoticed."

Gu Shen’s eyes shook.

"Deep Sea has produced an analysis report, suggesting that the owner of the compass, the one manipulating the Changjiu Foundation from behind the scenes, the plan they’ve been executing over the years... is not destruction, but rather foraging, or hunting," Zhou Jiren said softly, "Back then, Zhou Yu was almost an ’S’ level Transcendent. He was the mainstay of a major region, and then he just died, and the case that had been closed until today was only just reopened. If it’s man-made, everything has happened too exquisitely. The person who caused this must have planned for a long time."

"Foraging... hunting..."

"Yes. It feeds on talent, hunting those Transcendents with top-tier gifts and formidable potential," Zhou Jiren’s voice was soft: "That guy has an incredibly keen sense of smell, and he’s unusually cautious, only acting in the ’nights’ when the Judgement Institute is off-guard... That’s why I call him."

"Owl."

The night owl, a predator of the dark, silently captures its prey.

Yes, that indeed fits the characteristics of the Compass owner...

"Relax." Zhou Jiren patted Gu Shen on the shoulder and took out an exquisitely packaged small box from his chest, saying, "We are the Owl Catchers standing in the light, each bullet extinguishing a ghost or a snake god."

"...What is this?"

Gu Shen took the box, unexpectedly light. When he opened it, there lay a bullet as pale as snow, pure and flawless.

"The review report says you’re quite good with a gun, perhaps due to the assistance of spiritual power when aiming... If so, you keep this ’Bengxue.’" Mr. Shu spoke softly: "As long as you shoot accurately, you can use this bullet to kill almost anyone in Da Du you wish."

After hearing this, Gu Shen suddenly felt the box was very heavy.

There was a hole in the tail end of the bullet, and a red string was also inside the box, seemingly a piece of jewelry.

Indeed, Bengxue looked as pure as jade, resembling a delicate pendant.

"This is a gift from an old friend long ago... but I’m not good with guns, nor do I like to carry one with me," Zhou Jiren said softly: "I’ve always carried this bullet with me, as a peace charm, perhaps its presence has given me many years of safety. Now, it’s yours."

"It’s too valuable..." Gu Shen shook his head, "I can’t accept it."

Bengxue, as Zhou Jiren described it.

This bullet, as long as it hits, could kill anyone in Da Du.

It was evident... that included Zhou Jiren himself.

Gu Shen was all too aware of the condition for "killing"... Qi Lv’s Purple Silver Bullet might veer off even when targeting himself, and in the clashes among Transcendents, to hit with a lethal bullet was exceedingly difficult.

But leaving all that aside, this was, after all, a bullet that could kill the Titled!

"Take it."

Zhou Jiren’s voice was soft: "That fire case long ago, drawing you into the Judgement Institute, becoming your teacher, even before beginning to teach and resolve doubts, I threw you into Da Du... I always felt a sense of guilt. Giving you this bullet is to say, what I said to them tonight, I meant it."

"You are my Closed-door Disciple."

There was a flicker of light in Mr. Shu’s eyes, he showed a rare tenderness, patted Gu Shen on the shoulder, and gazed at the river scenery: "I am serious."

...

...

After Mr. Shu left with that wooden coffin.

Gu Shen was left alone.

He threaded Bengxue through the heart with the red string, then hung it around his neck. With this "peace charm," he inexplicably felt a wave of relief.

He hoped he would never need to use this bullet.

And when he fired his gun, he hoped it wouldn’t be in vain.

After doing all this, Gu Shen crouched down, scooped a handful of water, and vigorously washed his face. Looking at his tired reflection in the river, he realized his "mission" had lasted far too long. He had been intensely focused for several hours, so much so that he had lost track of time.

The cold wind blew.

Lonely in the heart of the river.

He walked toward the riverbank. Far away, lights were off, sounds were off, the whole world was plunged into absolute silence, all arguments had ceased, all fighting had ceased, too.

The river still surged relentlessly.

Still as clear as a mirror.

Every water droplet that splashed and tumbled over the river surface reflected the solitary figure of the young man moving away into the long night.

Until a voice sounded by his ear.

In Gu Shen’s world, there was no longer just washed-out black, but a new splash of color.

"The current time is November 26th, zero hours, zero minutes, zero seconds."

Chu Ling, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up again.

This wasn’t the first time she had reported the time during tonight’s operation.

All along, Gu Shen had lived through many such days, fulfilling, bustling, perhaps none as thrilling and stressful as today.

But the outcome was the same, reverting to solitude.

Until this moment.

Chu Ling reminded him of the significance of today.

"Gu Shen, happy birthday."