182: The Lost Territory, Qinghai
As autumn set in, the weather became increasingly unpredictable. Many had already started preparing for winter – curing sausages, stocking up on grains, sewing cotton clothes. According to the meteorological experts from the Academy of Sciences, this year's winter was forecasted to arrive at least 40 days earlier, with temperatures colder than any recorded in human history.
"The glaciers of Antarctica are devouring the oceans. Though compared to the vast expanse of the sea, the glaciers' spread of just over a hundred kilometers seems trivial, once winter arrives, temperatures will drop, and their pace will accelerate. We can only watch helplessly as the sea freezes into ice, forcing marine life to surge inland. We are powerless," Tang Tingzhi pointed to a slide on the wall with a thin antenna.
"The glaciers' route runs from the Southern Ocean, through the South Pacific, and ultimately, the North Pacific. Of course, it won't even need to reach the North Pacific. If the glaciers make it to New Zealand, the world would be devastated," Tang Tingzhi continued.
Liu Fengyu gestured, "Looking at the map, it doesn't seem too far from New Zealand."
"On the map, it's just the distance of a finger to New Zealand, but in reality, it's three thousand kilometers away. However, as long as the glacier advances a few hundred nautical miles, it will have a catastrophic impact on the marine biosphere. If this trend isn't curbed, within two years, New Zealand and Australia will be overtaken by marine life," Tang Tingzhi explained.
"So, the situation in Oceania is more dire than our South China Sea?" asked Zhuang Yao.
"Currently, it seems so. But they don't have the Puppet Jade like we do. In their pursuit of evolution, marine creatures will rush towards the South China Sea. We're so close to them, why wouldn't they come? They'll view the people of Oceania and the Southeast Asian islands as appetizers, until they reach the South China Sea.
However, the marine life in the South China Sea, due to the presence of the Puppet Jade, will experience better evolution than the newcomers. In their quest for a better living environment, they might even wage wars beneath the ocean's surface, with the Puppet Jade at the center. Regardless of their intelligence, they possess biological instincts. They'll grow larger and stronger simply by being near the Puppet Jade – they'll be drawn to it," Zhuang Yao elaborated.
Deng Xiao slammed the table, "Why don't we just nuke Antarctica now?"
Zhuang Yao cast him a glance, "If that happens, the fragmented ice will melt, causing sea levels to rise, and our demise will be even swifter."
Impatiently tapping the table, Liu Fengyu exclaimed, "Weren't we supposed to have a day off today? And you show us this? This is called resting?"
"I did intend for you all to rest, but Colonel Tang wanted to show you this..."
"I'm showing you this because you asked me why this winter is exceptionally cold. Originally, I wanted to explain the relationship between the oceans and climate, but you said you couldn't understand and wanted to see visuals." Tang Tingzhi gestured towards the slides. "The visuals you wanted."
Rolling his eyes, Liu Fengyu retorted, "Colonel Tang, what brought you here? It can't be that you're pressuring us about the South China Sea before we've even been to Qinghai, right? Or is it because we're making steaks today?"
"Not at all. I'm here to inform you that Iron Man, the natural force evolver from the United States, will arrive in Beijing today."
"Today?" Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow slightly. "What do you need us to do?"
"Attend the welcome dinner organized by Commander Cao tomorrow, for the Russians and this American. Additionally, I'm personally informing you because one of the associates of the 'Iron Man'—Mellon Babot—is half Dragonblood."
"Dragonblood? Does the United States have many Dragonblood individuals as well?"
"I've told you before, when the 'Sea Dragon' was discovered, the American technicians who assisted us with offshore oil drilling brought back a portion of flesh and blood. Their Dragonblood population isn't as extensive as ours, and they don't have pure-blood Dragonbloods. However, the overall count is at least 30 or more. Among them is a leader of the Dragonbloods, Colonel William House. He was forever banned from entering China for attempting to deceive Shen Changze out of the country. But times have changed. While William House is a Dragonblood, he's also a second-stage mutant skeletal evolved human—one of the most formidable mutants in the United States. I'm here to remind you to be cautious of this man. He excels at hiding behind a rough exterior."
Cong Xia said, "Understood. I don't think we'll have much interaction with him."
Leaning back in his chair, Cheng Tianbi crossed his arms, "What kind of person is McRaven Babot? Any information?"
Tang Tingzhi blinked, "It's said... he's a naive man."
Liu Fengyu couldn't help but chuckle, "Naive? Is he a man or a boy?"
"Twenty-nine years old, so you could call him both a man and a boy."
***
"I scoured all the malls in Beijing to find this brand of hair gel. Even though it's two months past its expiry date, it still works perfectly fine." A-Qing proudly held up the box of hair gel like a treasure in front of Liu Fengyu.
Liu Fengyu reached out to take it, but A-Qing hid the hair gel behind his back. "I can't give it to you. It only holds value when it's in my possession. No matter how much money you offer, I won't sell it. Just keep employing me if you want to use it."
Xiao Wang sneered, "Sly merchant."
A-Qing gave him a disdainful look, "For someone who earns a monthly wage of two hundred yuan, even those electric taxi drivers outside are sly merchants."
Xiao Wang wrinkled his nose and sullenly stepped aside.
Cheng Tianbi didn't look too pleased because someone was messing with his hair above him. He gritted his teeth, "Do we have to go through this every time?"
Liu Fengyu asserted firmly, "Yes, otherwise, it would be too embarrassing for me to take you out. We have an endless amount of money, after all. But every single person, every single one of you, wears the same clothes year-round. Do you want everyone in Beijing to think you own thirty sets of the same outfit?"
Cong Xia whispered, "Brother Liu, I don't have the same clothes."
Deng Xiao chimed in, "Neither do I."
"Your tasteless, worn-out clothes all look the same to me. Every time Abu receives my gifts, he's delighted. Give me a smile as well." Liu Fengyu grabbed a suit and tossed it onto Tang Yanqiu, "Wear this today."
Tang Yanqiu took the clothes and went to the adjacent room to change.
Zhuang Yao rolled his eyes, "It's a cat. Even if it weighs six tons, it's still a cat. It would be happy with a lump of dirt, let alone a bell."
Deng Xiao grumbled, "Don't look down on dirt. Abu had a blast playing with it in the northeast."
Zhuang Yao clenched his teeth, "Yeah, after playing, its fur was as dirty as a rag."
A-Qing patted Deng Xiao's face, and the scissors he used to trim hair swayed in front of his eyes. In the mirror, A-Qing squinted at Deng Xiao, "We spent eight hours bathing and grooming it. Turns out, it was you who did it, you little rascal. Although I said we won't charge for bathing Abu in the future, do you think you're taking too much advantage of that?"
Deng Xiao shivered, "I can pay you. I have an allowance..." He trailed off, speaking more quietly, then looked at Liu Fengyu, "Brother Liu, do I still have an allowance?"
Liu Fengyu glanced at him, "It's all spent. I've spent all your allowance. What's the matter?"
"Nothing..."
"Liu Fengyu." Tang Yanqiu emerged from the inner room in the suit, "This outfit is too tight." He moved his arms to demonstrate his restricted movement.
Liu Fengyu squinted at Tang Yanqiu, scanning him from head to toe, taking in his broad chest, lean waist, and long legs. It put him in a great mood.
Tang Yanqiu furrowed his brow. While the others were busy with their hair and unable to turn their heads, he pointed at Liu Fengyu and warned with his lips, "Don't look at me like that."
Liu Fengyu smirked and also used his lips to reply, "How should I look at you?" He raised one of his long, alluring peach blossom eyes, oozing an irresistible charm.
Tang Yanqiu felt his face getting warm. He turned and left the makeup room, heading towards the changing room to switch into another outfit.
Liu Fengyu followed him inside and casually closed the door behind them. "Doesn't fit well, huh? Let me help you pick one."
Tang Yanqiu regarded him cautiously, "You..." He wanted to ask why Liu Fengyu came in, but it felt like something a woman might say, and it just wasn't appropriate to say it aloud.
Liu Fengyu picked up a suit jacket and slowly approached him. "What's wrong? Are you scared?"
"Ridiculous, why should I be scared of you?"
"Then why is your face turning red?"
Tang Yanqiu instinctively touched his face, only to see a glint of mischief in Liu Fengyu's eyes. Tang Yanqiu felt a little embarrassed and snatched the clothes away. "This one, let's not waste my time on such boring things."
Liu Fengyu narrowed his eyes, suddenly lunged forward, and pinned Tang Yanqiu against the wall. Their faces were so close that Tang Yanqiu dared not move, as if their lips were about to touch.
"What makes something boring? No one's ever dared to say being with me is boring." Liu Fengyu wrapped an arm around Tang Yanqiu's neck, licked his lips, "Hey, fool, I suddenly feel like kissing you. What should I do?"
Tang Yanqiu grabbed his arm, spun him around, and pressed him against the wall. Liu Fengyu was taken aback and instinctively tried to push him away, but Tang Yanqiu's hands were as strong as a pair of pliers. Those hands were used for archery, and Liu Fengyu couldn't move an inch.
Liu Fengyu tilted his head with a smile, "Really? Are you trying to be more assertive?"
Tang Yanqiu panted heavily, whispering with a low voice, "You're teasing me again. I've tolerated you time and time again because we're comrades. Don't think I won't dare..."
"If you want to hit me, go ahead. I'm not that fragile."
Tang Yanqiu became furious. He clenched his fist tightly, but couldn't bring himself to strike. Liu Fengyu's face was indeed very handsome, strikingly handsome, especially his eyes, which seemed to be constantly seducing people.
Liu Fengyu smirked, hooked his arm around Tang Yanqiu's neck, and forcefully kissed his lips. His wet tongue slid over Tang Yanqiu's lips, attempting to pry them open and delve deeper.
Tang Yanqiu's fist trembled slightly in the air, but he didn't push Liu Fengyu away. He wanted to try... to see if what Liu Fengyu said was true, if men would truly feel... pleasure from such an act.
Liu Fengyu wasn't shy about exploring his lips thoroughly. After the kiss, he grinned at Tang Yanqiu, his heart brimming with delight. "Do you enjoy kissing? You didn't refuse this time."
Tang Yanqiu looked at him silently, "Why did you kiss me?"
Liu Fengyu responded quickly, "Because I like you."
"You're talking nonsense. You enjoy teasing me, and you act the same way with everyone."
Liu Fengyu messed up his hair, smiling, "I enjoy teasing the people I like, especially you. It's so much fun."
Tang Yanqiu clenched his teeth, "You have no idea what liking someone means."
Liu Fengyu's playful expression faded, and he raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Do you know?"
Tang Yanqiu panted heavily, his tone stern, "Liking someone means... loyalty, it means not abandoning them, like my parents did. Staying together until the end, growing old together. Do you understand? Can you show that kind of liking? When you were a celebrity, your lovers could fill every room in the third district. You... why should I believe you when you say you like me?"
Liu Fengyu's face darkened, his lips trembled slightly. After hesitating for a few moments, he finally spoke, "Those people are different, they're not like you..."
"I'm certainly not like them, and I'm not like you either!" Tang Yanqiu gritted his teeth. "We're different, so don't bother me anymore. I'm your comrade in arms, but I won't become your lover. If you humiliate me again..."
Liu Fengyu growled lowly, "Is me liking you an insult?!"
Tang Yanqiu's tone turned fierce, "What you want to do to me is indeed an insult!"
Liu Fengyu's heart raced with anger. He grabbed the collar of Tang Yanqiu's shirt and said fiercely, "I'm an actor. If I wanted to fake sincerity and innocence, it would be a piece of cake. But I've never tried because I've pretended too much in front of those 'lovers.' Only with you am I truly myself. I like you because I like you. You're my comrade, that's right. So your position is irreplaceable by anyone else for a lifetime. If you dare to like me, I'll be committed to you until the end. Do you dare? If you think what I want to do to you is an insult, then you do it to me. How about you being on top of me? I haven't let anyone be on top of me yet."
Tang Yanqiu looked at him in shock, his breath a bit unsteady.
Liu Fengyu gritted his teeth, "You don't even dare to be on top of me? You don't dare to let me like you, and you don't dare to let me touch you. You're so full of fear, Tang Daxia. Is this the kind of coward the Tang family produces?"
Tang Yanqiu pinched his chin forcefully, his voice stern, "Are you looking to die? Are you trying to provoke me by saying all this?"
Liu Fengyu tilted his chin up, smiling, "Exactly, let you f**k me. Are you up for it? I haven't let anyone do that to me yet."
Tang Yanqiu stared at him in astonishment, his voice slow and deliberate, "Listen carefully. I will only... I will only do that with my wife. Not with someone like you."
Liu Fengyu laughed, his eyes reddening, his voice trembling, "Damn it, why are you so righteous? I really want to punch you."
Tang Yanqiu looked at the reddening circles around Liu Fengyu's eyes. Suddenly, he froze. He felt a strange discomfort, a twinge of... guilt? Why would he feel guilty? He stared blankly at Liu Fengyu, at a loss.
Liu Fengyu pushed him slightly and tossed the clothes onto him. "Get changed." He turned to walk away.
Tang Yanqiu reached out and grabbed his shoulder, whispering, "Do you really like me?"
"Enough nonsense."
"Why?"
"Because my taste has deteriorated, and it's really a disaster."
"Do you still... Do you still like someone else?" Tang Yanqiu clenched his fist, his heart pounding like a drum.
Liu Fengyu pushed his hand away and glared at him, "Since you don't like me, I'll go try elsewhere. Do I have to hang myself on your tree?"
Tang Yanqiu lowered his eyes, not sure what he was feeling. When it came to emotions, he could never believe Liu Fengyu. He couldn't allow himself to be a grown man toyed with by another man. He also couldn't imagine being with a man... but when he thought about that man being Liu Fengyu, it didn't seem so awkward. Watching Liu Fengyu storm off, Tang Yanqiu felt like his head was about to explode.
Everyone was dressed and ready. Even Abu had a new navy blue and white-striped bow tie with a sparkling golden bell attached, jingling with each step.
"Meow." Abu raised a paw, waving it like a beckoning cat to them. It was an action he had learned and associated with humans doing.
Deng Xiao shouted, "Abu, let me teach you another one." He extended his arm and made a V-sign with his fingers, then pointed at Abu's meaty paw, laughing heartily. "You learn, you learn! Hahaha!"
Zhuang Yao kicked him in the butt. "Are you an idiot?"
Cheng Tianbi put one arm around Zhuang Yao and the other around Deng Xiao, and pushed them both onto Abu. "Let's go."
The six of them rode on Abu's back, making their way to Cao Zhixian's Mansion.
The reception banquet today had very few attendees. Aside from some cerebral domain evolvers from the Science Academy, there were high-ranking military officers, as well as natural force evolvers from the city. It had gathered most of the influential figures in Beijing. The line of cars outside the Commander's Mansion extended hundreds of meters. Since the post-apocalyptic era, they hadn't seen so many still-operational cars in one place. Even Yao Qianjiang's banquets couldn't compare.
As they entered the gate, Qiao Shan rushed out like a ghost, confidently handing over a voice recorder. She bombarded them with questions, and her photographer took plenty of pictures. Given their interactions, the group cooperated. Their interactions continued until Cao Zhixian's adjutants ushered them into the banquet hall.
Inside the hall, they saw Zhuang Yu and Zhou Fenglan, who they hadn't seen in a long time. Of course, there was also the short-statured but imposing Xu Ying.
Zhuang Yu raised her wine glass and smiled at them, while Zhou Fenglan coldly watched them.
Cao Zhixian walked over, patting Cheng Tianbi's shoulder and boomed, "Old Xu, take a look at my son. He's tall, sturdy, and handsome. Isn't he?"
Xu Ying smiled slyly, "Oh, he's good. Young man, he's good. What's his name? Cheng something? Hey, how come he doesn't have the same surname as Brother Cao?"
Cao Zhixian laughed, "Fortunately, this kid didn't take my surname; otherwise, he might not have been able to evolve."
The two exchanged insincere smiles, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall tensed up for a moment.
Cheng Tianbi stood like an ice pillar, his eyebrows hadn't moved a bit from start to finish. He stayed beside Cong Xia, close to his companions.
Cong Xia glanced around, spotting many familiar faces – Shen Changze, Yao Qianjiang, Li Dao'ai – they had all come. Each had brought important members from their organizations. The most noticeable was the brilliant blond hair of Al Moray. And thinking about the other important foreign guest they were about to meet, Cong Xia felt just as curious as everyone else in the room.
There were a total of three cerebral domain evolvers from Russia, accompanied by their entourage. Cong Zhenzhong and Tang Tingzhi were in charge of receiving them. Cao Zhixian went over to greet them, and they sat at their designated table. They were seated with members of the Dragon Blood Clan.
Shen Changze's expression was somewhat solemn, and Shan Ming and Al weren't relaxed either. Though their expressions didn't suggest they were facing a major threat, they were certainly cautious.
Cong Xia sat next to Shan Ming. "Shan-ge, Major Tang told us that there will be Dragon Blood people from the United States coming."
"Yeah, a damn bastard," Shan Ming replied bluntly.
Cong Xia was accustomed to Shan Ming's way of speaking. "Is he dangerous?"
"He's troublesome. Just don't get close to him." Shan Ming looked at Shen Changze. "We're on our turf. If House tries anything funny, you'll kill him, won't you?"
Shen Changze said slowly, "I will."
Al chimed in, "Knowing his purpose for this trip, what is House coming to China for? It's definitely not just to accompany McRaven Babot."
Shen Changze squinted. "We'll find out." He looked at Tang Yanqiu and whispered, "Protect your bowstring well, don't let anyone find out."
Tang Yanqiu nodded. "Don't worry."
The Moscow experts took their seats as well. The doors of the banquet hall opened once more, and several tall white people entered. They were here to welcome the main attraction of tonight's banquet – the Golden Natural Force Evolver, McRaven Babot.
Cong Xia looked towards the entrance. The young man at the front was handsome, with a mane of pure golden hair and emerald green eyes. His face bore a warm smile, as radiant as the sun, dazzling like a Greek deity. In reality, Cong Xia hadn't met many foreigners, only Al Moray and the man before him.
They were both stunning, almost like statues, but their auras were entirely different. Al embodied the elegance of a British aristocrat combined with the slyness of an international mercenary – a combination that should be contradictory, yet he pulled it off perfectly. As for McRaven Babot before him, he believed the descriptions people had given. He was a man who exuded warmth, confidence, openness. Despite his robust appearance, his smile resembled that of an innocent child.
At least, that was the first impression McRaven Babot gave him.
McRaven burst into laughter. "Hey, Commander Cao, thank you for your hospitality. Oh, and Professor Cong, Colonel Tang, I'm really famished. I've never been to China before, but they say the food here is excellent." He chattered away in a rapid-fire manner, while the translator beside him swiftly conveyed his words.
Everyone politely welcomed him, and McRaven looked around as he walked. "Where's Mr. Zhou? Where's the natural force-evolver Mr. Zhou? I can't wait to meet him."
Cao Zhixian's expression changed slightly, but he calmly led McRaven over to the table where Zhou Fenglan was sitting. Zhou Fenglan stood up, raising an eyebrow as she looked at the tall American man.
Upon seeing Zhou Fenglan, McRaven's eyes lit up, and he excitedly exclaimed, "I can feel it, it must be him! I can sense my energy boiling over. Goodness, it's like meeting your first love. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend." McRaven took big strides towards Zhou Fenglan and greeted in somewhat accented Chinese, "Hello, Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Fenglan was an easy person to please, but he felt a bit conflicted about the person before him. He had thought he was the only one capable of controlling the power of gold, but now there was another person with the same ability. Although the new person wasn't an enemy and might even be an ally, Zhou Fenglan couldn't help but feel a bit like an only child suddenly discovering he had siblings. This left him feeling uncomfortable, but he had no choice but to meet McRaven.
McRaven seemed oblivious to Zhou Fenglan's internal conflict. He enthusiastically extended his hand, and Zhou Fenglan reluctantly did the same.
Cong Xia's eyes widened. "Stop!"
A massive surge of energy erupted, and the nearest individuals, Zhuang Yu and Cao Zhixian, were forcefully pushed away.
182: The Lost Territory, Qinghai
As autumn set in, the weather became increasingly unpredictable. Many had already started preparing for winter – curing sausages, stocking up on grains, sewing cotton clothes. According to the meteorological experts from the Academy of Sciences, this year's winter was forecasted to arrive at least 40 days earlier, with temperatures colder than any recorded in human history.
"The glaciers of Antarctica are devouring the oceans. Though compared to the vast expanse of the sea, the glaciers' spread of just over a hundred kilometers seems trivial, once winter arrives, temperatures will drop, and their pace will accelerate. We can only watch helplessly as the sea freezes into ice, forcing marine life to surge inland. We are powerless," Tang Tingzhi pointed to a slide on the wall with a thin antenna.
"The glaciers' route runs from the Southern Ocean, through the South Pacific, and ultimately, the North Pacific. Of course, it won't even need to reach the North Pacific. If the glaciers make it to New Zealand, the world would be devastated," Tang Tingzhi continued.
Liu Fengyu gestured, "Looking at the map, it doesn't seem too far from New Zealand."
"On the map, it's just the distance of a finger to New Zealand, but in reality, it's three thousand kilometers away. However, as long as the glacier advances a few hundred nautical miles, it will have a catastrophic impact on the marine biosphere. If this trend isn't curbed, within two years, New Zealand and Australia will be overtaken by marine life," Tang Tingzhi explained.
"So, the situation in Oceania is more dire than our South China Sea?" asked Zhuang Yao.
"Currently, it seems so. But they don't have the Puppet Jade like we do. In their pursuit of evolution, marine creatures will rush towards the South China Sea. We're so close to them, why wouldn't they come? They'll view the people of Oceania and the Southeast Asian islands as appetizers, until they reach the South China Sea.
However, the marine life in the South China Sea, due to the presence of the Puppet Jade, will experience better evolution than the newcomers. In their quest for a better living environment, they might even wage wars beneath the ocean's surface, with the Puppet Jade at the center. Regardless of their intelligence, they possess biological instincts. They'll grow larger and stronger simply by being near the Puppet Jade – they'll be drawn to it," Zhuang Yao elaborated.
Deng Xiao slammed the table, "Why don't we just nuke Antarctica now?"
Zhuang Yao cast him a glance, "If that happens, the fragmented ice will melt, causing sea levels to rise, and our demise will be even swifter."
Impatiently tapping the table, Liu Fengyu exclaimed, "Weren't we supposed to have a day off today? And you show us this? This is called resting?"
"I did intend for you all to rest, but Colonel Tang wanted to show you this..."
"I'm showing you this because you asked me why this winter is exceptionally cold. Originally, I wanted to explain the relationship between the oceans and climate, but you said you couldn't understand and wanted to see visuals." Tang Tingzhi gestured towards the slides. "The visuals you wanted."
Rolling his eyes, Liu Fengyu retorted, "Colonel Tang, what brought you here? It can't be that you're pressuring us about the South China Sea before we've even been to Qinghai, right? Or is it because we're making steaks today?"
"Not at all. I'm here to inform you that Iron Man, the natural force evolver from the United States, will arrive in Beijing today."
"Today?" Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow slightly. "What do you need us to do?"
"Attend the welcome dinner organized by Commander Cao tomorrow, for the Russians and this American. Additionally, I'm personally informing you because one of the associates of the 'Iron Man'—Mellon Babot—is half Dragonblood."
"Dragonblood? Does the United States have many Dragonblood individuals as well?"
"I've told you before, when the 'Sea Dragon' was discovered, the American technicians who assisted us with offshore oil drilling brought back a portion of flesh and blood. Their Dragonblood population isn't as extensive as ours, and they don't have pure-blood Dragonbloods. However, the overall count is at least 30 or more. Among them is a leader of the Dragonbloods, Colonel William House. He was forever banned from entering China for attempting to deceive Shen Changze out of the country. But times have changed. While William House is a Dragonblood, he's also a second-stage mutant skeletal evolved human—one of the most formidable mutants in the United States. I'm here to remind you to be cautious of this man. He excels at hiding behind a rough exterior."
Cong Xia said, "Understood. I don't think we'll have much interaction with him."
Leaning back in his chair, Cheng Tianbi crossed his arms, "What kind of person is McRaven Babot? Any information?"
Tang Tingzhi blinked, "It's said... he's a naive man."
Liu Fengyu couldn't help but chuckle, "Naive? Is he a man or a boy?"
"Twenty-nine years old, so you could call him both a man and a boy."
***
"I scoured all the malls in Beijing to find this brand of hair gel. Even though it's two months past its expiry date, it still works perfectly fine." A-Qing proudly held up the box of hair gel like a treasure in front of Liu Fengyu.
Liu Fengyu reached out to take it, but A-Qing hid the hair gel behind his back. "I can't give it to you. It only holds value when it's in my possession. No matter how much money you offer, I won't sell it. Just keep employing me if you want to use it."
Xiao Wang sneered, "Sly merchant."
A-Qing gave him a disdainful look, "For someone who earns a monthly wage of two hundred yuan, even those electric taxi drivers outside are sly merchants."
Xiao Wang wrinkled his nose and sullenly stepped aside.
Cheng Tianbi didn't look too pleased because someone was messing with his hair above him. He gritted his teeth, "Do we have to go through this every time?"
Liu Fengyu asserted firmly, "Yes, otherwise, it would be too embarrassing for me to take you out. We have an endless amount of money, after all. But every single person, every single one of you, wears the same clothes year-round. Do you want everyone in Beijing to think you own thirty sets of the same outfit?"
Cong Xia whispered, "Brother Liu, I don't have the same clothes."
Deng Xiao chimed in, "Neither do I."
"Your tasteless, worn-out clothes all look the same to me. Every time Abu receives my gifts, he's delighted. Give me a smile as well." Liu Fengyu grabbed a suit and tossed it onto Tang Yanqiu, "Wear this today."
Tang Yanqiu took the clothes and went to the adjacent room to change.
Zhuang Yao rolled his eyes, "It's a cat. Even if it weighs six tons, it's still a cat. It would be happy with a lump of dirt, let alone a bell."
Deng Xiao grumbled, "Don't look down on dirt. Abu had a blast playing with it in the northeast."
Zhuang Yao clenched his teeth, "Yeah, after playing, its fur was as dirty as a rag."
A-Qing patted Deng Xiao's face, and the scissors he used to trim hair swayed in front of his eyes. In the mirror, A-Qing squinted at Deng Xiao, "We spent eight hours bathing and grooming it. Turns out, it was you who did it, you little rascal. Although I said we won't charge for bathing Abu in the future, do you think you're taking too much advantage of that?"
Deng Xiao shivered, "I can pay you. I have an allowance..." He trailed off, speaking more quietly, then looked at Liu Fengyu, "Brother Liu, do I still have an allowance?"
Liu Fengyu glanced at him, "It's all spent. I've spent all your allowance. What's the matter?"
"Nothing..."
"Liu Fengyu." Tang Yanqiu emerged from the inner room in the suit, "This outfit is too tight." He moved his arms to demonstrate his restricted movement.
Liu Fengyu squinted at Tang Yanqiu, scanning him from head to toe, taking in his broad chest, lean waist, and long legs. It put him in a great mood.
Tang Yanqiu furrowed his brow. While the others were busy with their hair and unable to turn their heads, he pointed at Liu Fengyu and warned with his lips, "Don't look at me like that."
Liu Fengyu smirked and also used his lips to reply, "How should I look at you?" He raised one of his long, alluring peach blossom eyes, oozing an irresistible charm.
Tang Yanqiu felt his face getting warm. He turned and left the makeup room, heading towards the changing room to switch into another outfit.
Liu Fengyu followed him inside and casually closed the door behind them. "Doesn't fit well, huh? Let me help you pick one."
Tang Yanqiu regarded him cautiously, "You..." He wanted to ask why Liu Fengyu came in, but it felt like something a woman might say, and it just wasn't appropriate to say it aloud.
Liu Fengyu picked up a suit jacket and slowly approached him. "What's wrong? Are you scared?"
"Ridiculous, why should I be scared of you?"
"Then why is your face turning red?"
Tang Yanqiu instinctively touched his face, only to see a glint of mischief in Liu Fengyu's eyes. Tang Yanqiu felt a little embarrassed and snatched the clothes away. "This one, let's not waste my time on such boring things."
Liu Fengyu narrowed his eyes, suddenly lunged forward, and pinned Tang Yanqiu against the wall. Their faces were so close that Tang Yanqiu dared not move, as if their lips were about to touch.
"What makes something boring? No one's ever dared to say being with me is boring." Liu Fengyu wrapped an arm around Tang Yanqiu's neck, licked his lips, "Hey, fool, I suddenly feel like kissing you. What should I do?"
Tang Yanqiu grabbed his arm, spun him around, and pressed him against the wall. Liu Fengyu was taken aback and instinctively tried to push him away, but Tang Yanqiu's hands were as strong as a pair of pliers. Those hands were used for archery, and Liu Fengyu couldn't move an inch.
Liu Fengyu tilted his head with a smile, "Really? Are you trying to be more assertive?"
Tang Yanqiu panted heavily, whispering with a low voice, "You're teasing me again. I've tolerated you time and time again because we're comrades. Don't think I won't dare..."
"If you want to hit me, go ahead. I'm not that fragile."
Tang Yanqiu became furious. He clenched his fist tightly, but couldn't bring himself to strike. Liu Fengyu's face was indeed very handsome, strikingly handsome, especially his eyes, which seemed to be constantly seducing people.
Liu Fengyu smirked, hooked his arm around Tang Yanqiu's neck, and forcefully kissed his lips. His wet tongue slid over Tang Yanqiu's lips, attempting to pry them open and delve deeper.
Tang Yanqiu's fist trembled slightly in the air, but he didn't push Liu Fengyu away. He wanted to try... to see if what Liu Fengyu said was true, if men would truly feel... pleasure from such an act.
Liu Fengyu wasn't shy about exploring his lips thoroughly. After the kiss, he grinned at Tang Yanqiu, his heart brimming with delight. "Do you enjoy kissing? You didn't refuse this time."
Tang Yanqiu looked at him silently, "Why did you kiss me?"
Liu Fengyu responded quickly, "Because I like you."
"You're talking nonsense. You enjoy teasing me, and you act the same way with everyone."
Liu Fengyu messed up his hair, smiling, "I enjoy teasing the people I like, especially you. It's so much fun."
Tang Yanqiu clenched his teeth, "You have no idea what liking someone means."
Liu Fengyu's playful expression faded, and he raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Do you know?"
Tang Yanqiu panted heavily, his tone stern, "Liking someone means... loyalty, it means not abandoning them, like my parents did. Staying together until the end, growing old together. Do you understand? Can you show that kind of liking? When you were a celebrity, your lovers could fill every room in the third district. You... why should I believe you when you say you like me?"
Liu Fengyu's face darkened, his lips trembled slightly. After hesitating for a few moments, he finally spoke, "Those people are different, they're not like you..."
"I'm certainly not like them, and I'm not like you either!" Tang Yanqiu gritted his teeth. "We're different, so don't bother me anymore. I'm your comrade in arms, but I won't become your lover. If you humiliate me again..."
Liu Fengyu growled lowly, "Is me liking you an insult?!"
Tang Yanqiu's tone turned fierce, "What you want to do to me is indeed an insult!"
Liu Fengyu's heart raced with anger. He grabbed the collar of Tang Yanqiu's shirt and said fiercely, "I'm an actor. If I wanted to fake sincerity and innocence, it would be a piece of cake. But I've never tried because I've pretended too much in front of those 'lovers.' Only with you am I truly myself. I like you because I like you. You're my comrade, that's right. So your position is irreplaceable by anyone else for a lifetime. If you dare to like me, I'll be committed to you until the end. Do you dare? If you think what I want to do to you is an insult, then you do it to me. How about you being on top of me? I haven't let anyone be on top of me yet."
Tang Yanqiu looked at him in shock, his breath a bit unsteady.
Liu Fengyu gritted his teeth, "You don't even dare to be on top of me? You don't dare to let me like you, and you don't dare to let me touch you. You're so full of fear, Tang Daxia. Is this the kind of coward the Tang family produces?"
Tang Yanqiu pinched his chin forcefully, his voice stern, "Are you looking to die? Are you trying to provoke me by saying all this?"
Liu Fengyu tilted his chin up, smiling, "Exactly, let you f**k me. Are you up for it? I haven't let anyone do that to me yet."
Tang Yanqiu stared at him in astonishment, his voice slow and deliberate, "Listen carefully. I will only... I will only do that with my wife. Not with someone like you."
Liu Fengyu laughed, his eyes reddening, his voice trembling, "Damn it, why are you so righteous? I really want to punch you."
Tang Yanqiu looked at the reddening circles around Liu Fengyu's eyes. Suddenly, he froze. He felt a strange discomfort, a twinge of... guilt? Why would he feel guilty? He stared blankly at Liu Fengyu, at a loss.
Liu Fengyu pushed him slightly and tossed the clothes onto him. "Get changed." He turned to walk away.
Tang Yanqiu reached out and grabbed his shoulder, whispering, "Do you really like me?"
"Enough nonsense."
"Why?"
"Because my taste has deteriorated, and it's really a disaster."
"Do you still... Do you still like someone else?" Tang Yanqiu clenched his fist, his heart pounding like a drum.
Liu Fengyu pushed his hand away and glared at him, "Since you don't like me, I'll go try elsewhere. Do I have to hang myself on your tree?"
Tang Yanqiu lowered his eyes, not sure what he was feeling. When it came to emotions, he could never believe Liu Fengyu. He couldn't allow himself to be a grown man toyed with by another man. He also couldn't imagine being with a man... but when he thought about that man being Liu Fengyu, it didn't seem so awkward. Watching Liu Fengyu storm off, Tang Yanqiu felt like his head was about to explode.
Everyone was dressed and ready. Even Abu had a new navy blue and white-striped bow tie with a sparkling golden bell attached, jingling with each step.
"Meow." Abu raised a paw, waving it like a beckoning cat to them. It was an action he had learned and associated with humans doing.
Deng Xiao shouted, "Abu, let me teach you another one." He extended his arm and made a V-sign with his fingers, then pointed at Abu's meaty paw, laughing heartily. "You learn, you learn! Hahaha!"
Zhuang Yao kicked him in the butt. "Are you an idiot?"
Cheng Tianbi put one arm around Zhuang Yao and the other around Deng Xiao, and pushed them both onto Abu. "Let's go."
The six of them rode on Abu's back, making their way to Cao Zhixian's Mansion.
The reception banquet today had very few attendees. Aside from some cerebral domain evolvers from the Science Academy, there were high-ranking military officers, as well as natural force evolvers from the city. It had gathered most of the influential figures in Beijing. The line of cars outside the Commander's Mansion extended hundreds of meters. Since the post-apocalyptic era, they hadn't seen so many still-operational cars in one place. Even Yao Qianjiang's banquets couldn't compare.
As they entered the gate, Qiao Shan rushed out like a ghost, confidently handing over a voice recorder. She bombarded them with questions, and her photographer took plenty of pictures. Given their interactions, the group cooperated. Their interactions continued until Cao Zhixian's adjutants ushered them into the banquet hall.
Inside the hall, they saw Zhuang Yu and Zhou Fenglan, who they hadn't seen in a long time. Of course, there was also the short-statured but imposing Xu Ying.
Zhuang Yu raised her wine glass and smiled at them, while Zhou Fenglan coldly watched them.
Cao Zhixian walked over, patting Cheng Tianbi's shoulder and boomed, "Old Xu, take a look at my son. He's tall, sturdy, and handsome. Isn't he?"
Xu Ying smiled slyly, "Oh, he's good. Young man, he's good. What's his name? Cheng something? Hey, how come he doesn't have the same surname as Brother Cao?"
Cao Zhixian laughed, "Fortunately, this kid didn't take my surname; otherwise, he might not have been able to evolve."
The two exchanged insincere smiles, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall tensed up for a moment.
Cheng Tianbi stood like an ice pillar, his eyebrows hadn't moved a bit from start to finish. He stayed beside Cong Xia, close to his companions.
Cong Xia glanced around, spotting many familiar faces – Shen Changze, Yao Qianjiang, Li Dao'ai – they had all come. Each had brought important members from their organizations. The most noticeable was the brilliant blond hair of Al Moray. And thinking about the other important foreign guest they were about to meet, Cong Xia felt just as curious as everyone else in the room.
There were a total of three cerebral domain evolvers from Russia, accompanied by their entourage. Cong Zhenzhong and Tang Tingzhi were in charge of receiving them. Cao Zhixian went over to greet them, and they sat at their designated table. They were seated with members of the Dragon Blood Clan.
Shen Changze's expression was somewhat solemn, and Shan Ming and Al weren't relaxed either. Though their expressions didn't suggest they were facing a major threat, they were certainly cautious.
Cong Xia sat next to Shan Ming. "Shan-ge, Major Tang told us that there will be Dragon Blood people from the United States coming."
"Yeah, a damn bastard," Shan Ming replied bluntly.
Cong Xia was accustomed to Shan Ming's way of speaking. "Is he dangerous?"
"He's troublesome. Just don't get close to him." Shan Ming looked at Shen Changze. "We're on our turf. If House tries anything funny, you'll kill him, won't you?"
Shen Changze said slowly, "I will."
Al chimed in, "Knowing his purpose for this trip, what is House coming to China for? It's definitely not just to accompany McRaven Babot."
Shen Changze squinted. "We'll find out." He looked at Tang Yanqiu and whispered, "Protect your bowstring well, don't let anyone find out."
Tang Yanqiu nodded. "Don't worry."
The Moscow experts took their seats as well. The doors of the banquet hall opened once more, and several tall white people entered. They were here to welcome the main attraction of tonight's banquet – the Golden Natural Force Evolver, McRaven Babot.
Cong Xia looked towards the entrance. The young man at the front was handsome, with a mane of pure golden hair and emerald green eyes. His face bore a warm smile, as radiant as the sun, dazzling like a Greek deity. In reality, Cong Xia hadn't met many foreigners, only Al Moray and the man before him.
They were both stunning, almost like statues, but their auras were entirely different. Al embodied the elegance of a British aristocrat combined with the slyness of an international mercenary – a combination that should be contradictory, yet he pulled it off perfectly. As for McRaven Babot before him, he believed the descriptions people had given. He was a man who exuded warmth, confidence, openness. Despite his robust appearance, his smile resembled that of an innocent child.
At least, that was the first impression McRaven Babot gave him.
McRaven burst into laughter. "Hey, Commander Cao, thank you for your hospitality. Oh, and Professor Cong, Colonel Tang, I'm really famished. I've never been to China before, but they say the food here is excellent." He chattered away in a rapid-fire manner, while the translator beside him swiftly conveyed his words.
Everyone politely welcomed him, and McRaven looked around as he walked. "Where's Mr. Zhou? Where's the natural force-evolver Mr. Zhou? I can't wait to meet him."
Cao Zhixian's expression changed slightly, but he calmly led McRaven over to the table where Zhou Fenglan was sitting. Zhou Fenglan stood up, raising an eyebrow as she looked at the tall American man.
Upon seeing Zhou Fenglan, McRaven's eyes lit up, and he excitedly exclaimed, "I can feel it, it must be him! I can sense my energy boiling over. Goodness, it's like meeting your first love. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend." McRaven took big strides towards Zhou Fenglan and greeted in somewhat accented Chinese, "Hello, Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Fenglan was an easy person to please, but he felt a bit conflicted about the person before him. He had thought he was the only one capable of controlling the power of gold, but now there was another person with the same ability. Although the new person wasn't an enemy and might even be an ally, Zhou Fenglan couldn't help but feel a bit like an only child suddenly discovering he had siblings. This left him feeling uncomfortable, but he had no choice but to meet McRaven.
McRaven seemed oblivious to Zhou Fenglan's internal conflict. He enthusiastically extended his hand, and Zhou Fenglan reluctantly did the same.
Cong Xia's eyes widened. "Stop!"
A massive surge of energy erupted, and the nearest individuals, Zhuang Yu and Cao Zhixian, were forcefully pushed away.
