Three... three years.

"It's okay, if we can't finish it today, we can come back tomorrow. Safety comes first."

Hearing the argument between Ren Yang and Zhao Zhen, Jiang Wenyin joined their conversation.

"The college entrance examination is just around the corner. We don't have that much time to waste."

But Zhao Zhen stood his ground and had his reasons: "Let's not stray too far apart. Let's split into two groups to search, and if there's any danger, we should quickly regroup with our teammates. That should work, right?"

Zhao Zhen's proposal wasn't unreasonable, and after some thought, Ren Yang agreed.

Shi Jianwen was extremely nervous. His strategy of sticking close to the strong players was falling apart, and he planned to find someone influential to calm his nerves.

Qi Yuan avoided his pleading gaze.

Come on, both he and Shi Jianwen were weaklings. How was their situation any different from waiting for death?

Zhao Zhen, who had gained support, pressed on, "Qi Yuan and I will be a team, and the three of you can form another team. How does that sound?"

Ren Yang and the others were shocked.

How could there be such shameless audacity in the world?

He suggested splitting into groups but assigned the influential player to his own team.

Yet Zhao Zhen felt self-assured, believing himself to be stronger and more than capable of handling Qi Yuan, who was just dead weight.

Ren Yang and Jiang Wenyin teamed up to handle one person, reasonably distributing the fighting power on the field.

As for the rumors of Qi Yuan being an ability holder, Ren Yang didn't think much of it.

If he really were an ability holder, why wouldn't he transfer to the combat department?

It must be that the Qi family, as a prestigious and influential clan, looked down on Qi Yuan for not having any abilities, which led to this situation.

Zhao Zhen wouldn't be deceived by such appearances.

He was determined to repay the humiliation he had suffered because of Qi Yuan!

Speaking of which, what exactly does the Qi family do?

They can even manipulate the identity of an ability holder. They're probably a hidden family clan...

Shi Jianwen and the others exchanged knowing glances, reluctantly agreeing to Zhao Zhen's proposal out of consideration for their classmates.

Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and accepted willingly.

He didn't expect this muscular guy, who seemed cold on the surface, to be such a warm-hearted person.

Seeing through his predicament, he specifically helped him out.

The five of them discussed and decided that Qi Yuan and Zhao Zhen would search the third floor, while the remaining three would search the second floor.

The two groups split up at the staircase on the second floor, with Qi Yuan and Zhao Zhen ascending the steps.

Qi Yuan focused on the stairs beneath his feet, silently following the muscular man.

Halfway up, Zhao Zhen suddenly spoke up.

"Has the life of an ordinary person no longer satisfied you?"

He implied something, with hidden meaning in his words.

Qi Yuan became even more certain that this muscular man was an excellent young man willing to help others.

Although he discovered that Qi Yuan was just an ordinary person, he didn't want to expose it publicly, so as not to embarrass him.

Worried that he might resort to any means necessary to obtain abilities, even at the cost of his reputation, Qi Yuan wanted to find an opportunity to be alone with him and try to persuade him.

His goodwill was understood.

But he was just an ordinary person with desires and emotions, unable to withdraw the millions from his bank account...

He admitted...

I'm getting anxious, I'm getting anxious.

"Yes."

Zhao Zhen was astonished that Qi Yuan shamelessly admitted it and didn't seem to care.

His veins bulged, and his fist tightened.

Stay calm. He was already a mature adult and couldn't leave any handles for the Qi family to exploit.

It was okay to disgust Qi Yuan verbally.

Even if it was the Qi family, they wouldn't go after a promising ability holder for the sake of an ordinary person's dignity.

The Liu Family of Jidu serves as a cautionary tale.

"Then you have to be careful, not everyone can be like me."

The superpower holder realized that he had been fooled by ordinary people, and Qi Yuan, a naive young man like him, couldn't bear his anger.

Qi Yuan nodded knowingly.

He knew very well that there were not many people like Zhao Zhen who wouldn't make wild assumptions.

Although this guy meant well, he was overly concerned.

Perhaps this is what they call a "helicopter mom" for men.

Qi Yuan patted his muscular biceps and said, "Don't worry, I'll be careful."

Shameless scoundrel...

After three years, Zhao Zhen had grown his hair to look like an adult, but he still couldn't compare to the elite children who had been groomed since childhood.

Even if he directly exposed Qi Yuan's disguise, Qi Yuan remained unfazed and could still chat and laugh with him.

This development was unacceptable to Zhao Zhen.

"Aren't you worried that I will blabber everywhere?"

"It doesn't matter."

Qi Yuan dismissed his concerns.

Putting aside whether this excellent young muscle man, who specialized in diverting people's attention, would actually do such a thing.

Just the fact that Qi Yuan had sabotaged himself was enough to make him socially dead.

Zhao Zhen's body trembled, and he hung his head in despair.

Qi Yuan remained unscathed even with such a powerful attack.

How could he accept this...

No, it wasn't the time for him to give up!

In this dangerous place, Zhao Zhen didn't believe that Qi Yuan would remain calm in the face of a survival challenge.

He clenched his fist and regained his composure.

Seeing the changing expressions on the muscular man's face, Qi Yuan silently took a few steps back.

Just by rejecting his good intentions, Qi Yuan dealt a heavy blow to Zhao Zhen. But even if Qi Yuan were dead, nailed in a coffin, he would still shout with his decaying vocal cords—

No helicopter mom! No helicopter mom!

"Let's search the third floor first."

Qi Yuan pointed ahead and suggested to Zhao Zhen.

In any case, they needed to divert this guy's attention.

"Okay, let's go."

If there's a path to heaven, but you don't take it, don't blame me for being impolite.

Zhao Zhen smirked.

They were once classmates, and he didn't want to take things to the extreme.

But now...

Unless Qi Yuan begged him, crying and snotting, rolling on the ground, he would never lend a hand.

With the image of Qi Yuan being chased by monsters, holding onto his leg and begging for help, Zhao Zhen indulged in his imagination.

"Hehehe..."

Lost in his thoughts, Zhao Zhen snapped back to reality, only to find that there was no one in front of him.

"Where is he?"

...

Inside the fourth squad station of the Qipan City Patrol Sub-bureau.

A young man in a patrol uniform, wearing glasses on his nose and holding a folder, reported loudly to the middle-aged man sitting in the office chair.

"Pang Team Leader, the patrolling team in the area has reported the appearance of a fusion domain in the Nanwu District we are responsible for."

The appearance of a fusion domain meant that a new monster was about to be born.

According to research, the initial monsters originated from the first fusion domain.

One of the key tasks of the patrol team was to monitor whether fusion domains appeared within their jurisdiction and clear the monsters inside before the fusion ended.

The middle-aged man known as Pang Team Leader swiftly gave orders, donned his protective gear, and armed himself with a long knife, preparing for battle.

"Inform the members of the fourth squad to prepare for combat. Also, coordinate with the local law enforcement officers to seal off the scene."

The young man stood at attention with his legs together and saluted, saying, "Yes."

After speaking, he quickly ran out.

"Hey, your folder..."

Pang Team Leader's rough face, weathered by time, showed a puzzled expression as he stroked his stubbled chin.

"I'm not going to eat you, why are you so nervous?"

"Newcomers always have unrealistic fantasies about the strong."

A petite woman walked in at the entrance. She was fully armed, with a helmet hanging tactical goggles, and she delivered a heavy blow to Pang Team Leader with her crisp voice.

"What do you mean? I am the team leader, mind your attitude."

In the face of Pang Team Leader's threat, the petite woman stood with her hands on her hips, using a gentle tone to speak harsh words.

"Do you want me to list all your unreliable behavior?"

Pang Team Leader choked.

The veteran team members knew all about his dark history, and the woman in front of him was an heavyweight fighter.

Threatened in return, Pang Team Leader resorted to psychological tactics, silently reciting that a real man doesn't fight with women, and he was just showing concern for his subordinates, shifting the topic from his mind.

"You go through all this trouble for a remote output, is it really useful?"

"Don't bring me into this. Doesn't it prevent surprise attacks? I'm different from you big rough guys; if I get hit, I can cry for a long time."

Damn, shameless.

Pang Team Leader had never won an argument, he wondered if there was something wrong with his subordinates?