95: Chapter 95 Perhaps the one he encountered was weaker?

Hearing this question, Tang Ningfei stopped her pace and looked over.

“Don't you already know everything?” she replied indifferently. “Gu Changming. His age, birthday, where his home address is... everything is crystal clear.”

Although Gu Changming had instructed them to keep it a secret back then, the secret couldn't actually be kept for very long.

On one hand, since they had joined this side, they naturally had to disclose and cooperate by explaining some situations.

On the other hand, the higher-ups still had some control over various regions at that time; by following the clues and checking some intelligence, they quickly investigated Gu Changming's background thoroughly.

Fortunately, in this day and age, even if that old personal information was dug up, it didn't hold much significance anymore.

Even though they still claimed to be the “official” authorities, their reach couldn't even fully control the city they were currently in.

Jiang Chen pursed his lips and nodded. “I've seen that information, but I just wanted to ask... have you contacted him since then?”

Tang Ningfei shook her head. “No. Back then, the panel hadn't opened the friend-adding feature yet. After that parting, we haven't met again.”

Later on, Zhou Tunan had also tried sending messages to him through that forum, but the other party almost never logged into the account again.

After she finished speaking, she turned around and continued walking down the corridor.

Jiang Chen followed by her side, remaining silent for a few seconds before letting out a soft sigh.

“Alright then.”

...

Shouju Camp.

The team of nearly a hundred people entered the camp's interior in batches without attracting much attention.

Nowadays, movement of people on this scale was not uncommon, especially in gathering areas established around a Secret Realm; new teams arrived or left every day.

Tang Ningfei and Jiang Chen walked along the camp's streets, looking no different from ordinary adventurers.

Behind them followed four elite team members, all of whom were D-rank ability users.

One team member stepped half a pace closer to Tang Ningfei and reported in a low voice, “Captain, just like the previous intelligence indicated, this camp has not yet formed a unified management layer.”

“It's just divided by zones, with each zone controlled by one or two powerful ability users.”

After listening, Tang Ningfei gave a nearly imperceptible nod.

Walking beside her, Jiang Chen's gaze swept across both sides of the street as he replied, “As expected, we have to move quickly. If we're any slower, and wait until this place also forms a complete management system and rules like the ‘Xinhuo Stronghold,’ it will be difficult to take over.”

Tang Ningfei gave an “mm” in agreement.

At this stage, let alone the entire country, almost the whole world was in a state of disconnectedness.

Various types of organizations and powers had spontaneously formed in different regions below.

Their “official” side was frankly not even as good as the Zhou Royal Family during the Spring and Autumn Period.

Oh right, they might not even necessarily count as official; after all, in many other places, right from the start of the disorder, many organizations and powers had claimed to be the official ones. From a certain perspective, their identities were even more legitimate than theirs.

Therefore, what they were doing now was maintaining the competitiveness of their own organization. Only by surviving could they consider more “abstract” topics like leading humanity in the future.

And what was that?

It was to start seizing these strongholds where more humans gathered, maintaining their own “human resources,” and simultaneously acquiring more resource points—specifically, resource points like the Secret Realm that could produce points even outside of Assessment times.

This “Shouju Camp” was one of the targets they had their eyes on.

It was of moderate scale and was built around a Secret Realm.

As long as they took it over, they could concentrate their forces to harvest the resources and materials inside more efficiently, gaining more points for their organization.

Not only that, managing the camp here could also provide a steady stream of points.

“If they are all ready, we will act together at the top of the hour,” Tang Ningfei stopped and instructed.

After speaking, she paused and added, “Just keep them under control, don't be too heavy-handed. We might recruit them later; they will become members of our group.”

The four behind her nodded in unison without asking questions and quickly dispersed to deliver the orders to the various squads below.

After those four left, Jiang Chen also prepared to set off.

“I'll go check the other side,” he said. “In case there's an accident, I can intervene in time.”

He was a C-rank ability user, the strongest in this hundred-person team, so he naturally had to oversee things to prevent any mishaps.

Tang Ningfei nodded, but as Jiang Chen turned around, she suddenly remembered something.

“You've been constantly asking about Gu Changming, why exactly?”

He wasn't just asking her; before they came, she had chatted with Zhou Tunan, who also said that Jiang Chen had sought him out to ask as well.

Jiang Chen's footsteps paused, and he turned sideways.

“It's nothing, I just want to meet him once.”

“Just meet him once?” Tang Ningfei pressed.

Jiang Chen was silent for a moment before speaking, “That recording of him killing a Shadow Devourer alone—you guys submitted that, right?”

Tang Ningfei found it a bit strange, not knowing why he was mentioning this again.

But she still nodded.

“Before the video was submitted, the institute set up an experimental group to verify the truth of the strong light rule's effect on Shadow Devourers. I was responsible for dealing with the Shadow Devourer that was attracted...”

Tang Ningfei didn't speak, knowing he would continue.

Jiang Chen's voice remained calm, but his speaking speed slowed down slightly. “A Shadow Devourer was attracted, and I did exchange blows with it, but... I almost died at its hands.”

Tang Ningfei was slightly startled and understood the reason why he had been constantly asking.

She had personally witnessed that scene back then and had also momentarily suspected that the other party wasn't human.

After the atmosphere remained quiet for a few seconds, she finally spoke slowly, explaining, “Maybe... the one he met was a bit weaker? You saw the process too, right? That one had already ‘died’ twice from falling while it was chasing us.”

Jiang Chen shrugged somewhat helplessly, didn't reply, and turned to walk toward the other end of the street.

...

After Jiang Chen left, Tang Ningfei helplessly bit her finger lightly and then continued walking along the street.

To be honest, she was also a bit curious about Gu Changming herself.

Back then, he had appeared suddenly, as if to complete a certain mission, and then vanished once it was over; the whole process was ridiculously efficient.

She would also think of him from time to time now.

After so long, was he still alive?

If he was still alive, was his strength still as formidable as what he displayed back then?

She was lost in thought.

Suddenly, a figure calmly passed by in front of her.

Then, a voice came through.

“Morning.” The person greeted casually, their tone as natural as if meeting an old acquaintance.

Tang Ningfei was stunned and instinctively replied, “Morning.”

The other person didn't stay, their pace not slowing as they walked straight ahead.

That manner was just like neighbors bumping into each other on the way out and then greeting each other casually.

Only after the other person had walked some distance away did she react and turn her head to look over.

She shouldn't have any acquaintances here, right?