The First Order

When they entered the courtyard, Xiaoyu circled Ren Xiaosu and took a careful look at him. She had wanted to say things like “Ren Xiaosu, you’ve gotten thinner.” But when she looked at him, she realized he seemed to have put on some weight instead.

She pulled Ren Xiaosu aside and said, “I’ve made a lot of delicious food for y’all and new clothes for everyone for the New Year as well. It’s getting cold these days, so y’all should switch to heavy quilts. There’s no need to worry about us. We don’t lack anything here…”

Ren Xiaosu smiled as he followed her and did not say anything in response. Actually, Xiaoyu was the most soft-spoken person in the group and did not usually have much of a presence in the family. However, it would be less warm at home if she wasn’t around.

Ren Xiaosu asked, “Did anything happen at home recently? Anyone give you any trouble?”

Now that Ren Xiaosu was back, he thought that if Yan Liuyuan and the others had encountered any trouble, he would handle it for them before leaving again.

“There isn’t too much trouble. It’s currently very chaotic in town, and the organization’s soldiers are keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings. So it’s usually only Old Wang who heads out to handle any matters. The rest of us don’t go out at all,” Xiaoyu explained. “We can also prevent any bad guys from getting ideas about us this way.”

“Mhm, I suppose that’s the only way now.” Ren Xiaosu realized Xiaoyu and the rest of the group were still quite cautious. He also told the female students around him, “Y’all should learn from Big Sister Xiaoyu. Equip yourselves in the next few days with a knife each so that y’all can defend yourselves. If anyone harasses you, just stab them with the knife.”

A female student hesitated before saying, “But we’re girls…”

Ren Xiaosu had to give this some thought before saying, “I’ll get Old Wang to paint the knives pink for y’all then.”

The female students were taken aback for a bit before breaking out into laughter. They said, “Alright, Monitor!”

But at this moment, someone knocked on the door. Xiaoyu muttered, “Who could be knocking on our door at this time?”

But when she went to open the door, she heard a sonorous male voice say from outside, “Hello, I’m looking for Ren Xiaosu.”

Ren Xiaosu immediately turned his head to the door. Only a handful of people would know to find him here at this time. Furthermore… this person’s voice sounded extremely familiar!

It was Li Shentan!

Li Shentan was smartly dressed in the Li Consortium’s military uniform as he stood at the door. Ren Xiaosu hesitated, so Li Shentan smiled first and said, “What’s up? Am I not welcome here?”

“Please come in.” Ren Xiaosu signaled to Xiaoyu, who was blocking the door, to let him in. Following which, he whispered to the others, “Everyone, go inside the house.”

Everyone noticed that something was wrong and knew this was an uninvited guest. Fortunately, Old Wang and Li Qingzheng were still outside tallying the goods. Otherwise, it would be difficult for Ren Xiaosu to come up with an excuse to send Li Qingzheng away.

Li Shentan walked into the courtyard and looked around his surroundings curiously. Then he sat on the stone bench in the courtyard and said, “What a warm and homey place this is.”

Ren Xiaosu looked at his uniform and asked, “How did you learn I’m here?”

“Ah!” It was as though Li Shentan recalled something at this moment. “I hypnotized the residents in the surrounding area so they would inform me when they saw an unfamiliar young man entering the courtyard here.”

Li Shentan did not avoid the topic of hypnosis when he spoke. Ren Xiaosu wondered, “Don’t you think it’s inappropriate to do something like that?”

“Superpowers are meant to be used.” Li Shentan said with a smile, “It’s not like I hindered their day-to-day lives anyway.”

Wearing the military uniform, Li Shentan looked just like a handsome, young, and promising boy next door. However, others would definitely not be able to imagine the disaster he had wrought upon Stronghold 109.

“Then what are you looking for me for?” Ren Xiaosu gave him a look.

At this moment, Xiaoyu came out of the house and placed a pot of tea and two cups on the stone table. Li Shentan smiled and said graciously, “Thank you, Big Sister Xiaoyu.”

“I’m warning you. Don’t you dare hypnotize the people around me,” Ren Xiaosu said in an unfriendly manner.

“I won’t.” Li Shentan held up a teacup and said with a smile, “We’re friends, after all. How can I possibly hypnotize my friend’s friends?”

He gently held the teacup and warmed his hands. As steam wafted up from the teacup, the scene in the courtyard was exceptionally harmonious and peaceful.

“I heard you were sent to a faraway outpost, so how have you been lately?” Li Shentan said with a smile. His tone sounded like he really was an old friend of Ren Xiaosu.

Ren Xiaosu said nonchalantly, “Not too bad, I guess.”

But in the next moment, Li Shentan said, “I heard two nanosoldiers went missing out there, and they were even the family members of the Li Consortium. When I checked the list of that outpost later and saw your name on it, I knew you must’ve been the one behind it.”

Ren Xiaosu frowned but did not answer him. There was no need for any explanation between intelligent people, and no evidence was necessary to prove their suspicion either. Ren Xiaosu only wanted to know now what Li Shentan was planning.

Then Li Shentan continued, “When we parted ways at Stronghold 109, I thought we would only get to see each other again in another few years. I didn’t expect to meet you again so soon. I also heard a neighboring outpost near yours was attacked by the wolves and another nanosoldier went missing. I thought that might have been done by you. I have control over humans while you can control wolves. It seems like we were really fated to meet after all.”

Ren Xiaosu was amused. “Why don’t you just state your purpose? There’s no need to beat around the bush.”

He knew there was no point in defending himself. There was nothing wrong with Li Shentan’s reconstruction of events. If the Li Consortium found out there was an extremely dangerous supernatural being over there, they would probably focus their attention on him immediately.

For example, Hu Shuo had probably discovered something about him.

But now Li Shentan turned serious. “You’re probably still a little misunderstood. I actually came here today to catch up with an old friend. After all, I’ve got too few friends to go around.”

Curious, Ren Xiaosu asked, “Why do you always think that I’m your friend?”

Li Shentan smiled and said, “Because I always feel a sense of endearment whenever I see you.”

“Alright then,” Ren Xiaosu changed the subject and asked, “Why are you dressed in military attire?”

“I’m an active serviceman of the Li Consortium now.” Li Shentan appraised his military uniform. “Does it look fitting? Our 4th Brigade will be heading to the front line of Stronghold 109 tomorrow. There are still many Experimentals active over there.”

Ren Xiaosu thought the Experimentals were doomed after the Li Consortium decided on using heavy weapons against them. However, Li Shentan’s appearance had put huge uncertainty on this battle. Ren Xiaosu could already sense that the Li Consortium’s combat troops heading to Stronghold 109 this time would probably perish.

Right from the beginning, Li Shentan had never intended to target any particular stronghold. He sought to destroy the entire Li Consortium. Even if he were to perish with everyone, he would not hesitate to do it.

Ren Xiaosu gave a mental sigh. There really was nothing wrong with the Li Consortium’s previous decision to send this guy to a psychiatric hospital. Comparing Chen Wudi to him, Chen Wudi was just like a normal person.

Li Shentan stood up and walked to the door. “It’s time to say goodbye now. After this farewell, I’m afraid it will be a really long time before I see you again. Please take care of yourself. The people in this neighborhood who harbor dirty thoughts on the ladies living here will commit suicide after you leave town tomorrow. You won’t need to worry about that. Please consider it a small gift from me and accept it kindly.”