57: Chapter 57 Goodbye, Research Center for Abnormal Humans

The wind and sand of the northwest swirled yellow dust across the tarmac, the roar of propellers breaking the silence of the valley.

Qian Li stood beside a Hongqi sedan, his Zhongshan suit pressed tight against his body by the wind, holding two boxes in his hands.

He smiled when he saw Jiang Feng walking down the airbridge.

"Consultant Jiang, leaving already? Why not stay a couple more days to give us some guidance on our work?"

Jiang Feng raised a hand to shield himself from the wind and sand as he walked over to him.

"If I stay any longer, the cook in your cafeteria will probably try to kill me. I keep asking for more sugar in the braised pork every day, and the way he looks at me just isn't right anymore."

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Qian Li let out a laugh at the joke and handed over a black velvet box.

"This was specially approved by the Institute. Although you aren't officially on the staff, in certain situations, this thing is more useful than an ID card."

Jiang Feng took the box; it had some weight to it. He opened the lid.

Inside was a black identification card. There was no photo, only a gold-embossed national emblem and a line of small, stamped characters: [Huake Institute Special Consultant].

Below that was a serial number: 007.

"007?" Jiang Feng closed the lid. "Is that lucky? Sounds like a job where you'd work yourself to death."

Qian Li coughed to hide his amusement. "That's a clearance level, not an employee number. Rest assured, without your consent, no one will disturb you with work-related matters."

"That's good then." Jiang Feng casually tossed the credential box to Old Chen behind him. "Keep this safe. From now on, we're people with status."

Old Chen scrambled to catch it, holding it carefully with both hands.

"Also, this crate contains specially supplied Da Hong Pao tea and several cartons of cigarettes. It's just a small personal token of appreciation."

Qian Li pointed to another crate on the ground. "Professor Sun originally wanted to come see you off personally, but he just set up a tent next to that cauldron. He claimed to have observed some macroscopic manifestation of quantum entanglement and refused to budge for anything."

Jiang Feng shook his head. "Is his mental state alright?"

"It's great, better than any of us," Qian Li said with a wry smile. "He said he's found his life's research direction. He wrote this notebook overnight and insisted I hand it over to you."

He handed over a thick kraft paper notebook. On the cover, a line of large characters was written in a flamboyant hand—'The I Ching and Quantum Mechanics Field Theory'.

Jiang Feng took it and flipped through a couple of pages. Formulas and Bagua diagrams were mixed together across the pages. He closed the book and rubbed his temples.

"This... I definitely can't understand this."

"Professor Sun said you would definitely be able to understand it," Qian Li's expression was serious. "He said that the end of science is metaphysics, and you are already standing at that end, while he has only just found the ladder to climb up."

"Fine then." Jiang Feng stuffed the notebook into his canvas bag. "Thank Old Sun for me. Tell him not to work himself to death; I'm still waiting for him to figure out a solution for my brain."

Hearing this, Qian Li's expression turned solemn. "Don't worry, a research project regarding your physical condition has already been established, led personally by Academician Zhang. As long as you are still here, our cooperation will always be in effect."

"Got it." Jiang Feng waved his hand. "I'm off."

He turned and walked toward the silver-white private jet without looking back.

Old Chen followed behind, carrying two massive suitcases with ease.

As he passed by Qian Li, the big man purposefully straightened his back and, mimicking what he'd seen on TV, gave a somewhat non-standard military salute.

"Consultant Qian, don't you worry, I will definitely protect Consultant Jiang's safety!"

Qian Li returned the salute and watched the two of them board the plane.

The hatch closed, the cabin pressurized, and the plane took off.

A force pressed him into his seat. Jiang Feng adjusted his position and watched the base rapidly shrink through the window.

"Boss."

Old Chen leaned over from across the aisle, still holding that black credential box and turning it over and over in his hands.

"In my heart, you've already upgraded from a mystic to a strategic asset. You know, like the kind in movies—usually looking unremarkable, but when the critical moment comes, you step in and save an entire country!"

"Since I'm a strategic asset," Jiang Feng's lazy voice came from beneath his eye mask, "then let this asset get some sleep. I'm a bit airsick."

"You got it! You sleep, you sleep!" Old Chen sat up straight, chest out and stomach in. "I'll stand guard for you. I guarantee no one will disturb you."

Jiang Feng ignored him, letting himself sink into sleep amidst the hum of the engines.

Four hours later.

Jinghai International Airport.

Jiang Feng stood on the airbridge and took a breath of the stale air, which actually made him feel quite grounded.

It was much better than that underground base where it was so quiet you could hear yourself breathe.

"Boss, the city is still the liveliest place," Old Chen followed behind, unable to help but sigh. "Staying down there for so long, I felt like grass was about to grow in my ears."

"Mr. Jiang!"

A black lexus lm had long been waiting at the side of the tarmac. A driver in a suit ran over quickly, bowed to Jiang Feng, and then reached out to take the suitcases from Old Chen.

"Mr. Chen, let me handle that."

Old Chen pulled back, causing the driver to grab thin air and nearly strain his back.

"I'll do it myself," Old Chen said gruffly. "Inside these are... strategic materials."

The driver was stunned for a moment. Looking at the two suitcases that were stuffed to the point of bursting, he didn't dare ask more.

Those were just Jiang Feng's spare clothes and the snacks he hadn't finished at the base.

Once inside the car, the soft leather seats made Jiang Feng let out a satisfied sigh.

"Back to Longhu Mountain Villa."

"Certainly, Mr. Jiang."

The car smoothly drove off the tarmac and merged into the flow of traffic on the airport expressway.

Just as Jiang Feng finished speaking, the phone in his pocket began to vibrate.

Having just reconnected to the signal, various missed call and WeChat notification sounds rang out one after another.

Jiang Feng took it out and glanced at it. Most were sales calls and spam messages, along with a few unknown numbers.

There was only one name that made his finger pause.

Zhao Yi.

He thought about it for a moment, then pressed the answer button.

"Hello."

On the other end of the phone was a burst of noisy background sound. He could hear the sounds of drinking games and glasses clinking; it sounded like a food stall or a bar.

"Jiang... Brother Jiang..." Zhao Yi's voice was dry and raspy, carrying a hint of alcohol. "Are... are you coming back?"

"Just landed." Jiang Feng looked at the overpasses flying by outside the window. "What's up? Does Captain Zhao want to treat me to tea? I've been law-abiding lately; I haven't even run a single red light."

Silence reigned on the other end for a few seconds, followed by a sigh.

"It's not for tea." The sound of a bottle being slammed onto a table came through the receiver, along with the sound of a lighter sparking.

"Brother Jiang, can we... go out for a drink?" Zhao Yi's voice was very weary. "Right now."

"A drink?" Jiang Feng leaned back against the seat. "Captain Zhao, you don't sound like you're looking to catch up. What happened?"

"...I, I'm in trouble." Zhao Yi's voice was very low, each word spoken with great effort.

"Big trouble."

He paused for a long time before exhaling a puff of smoke, his voice forced out from his chest.

"I really... don't know who else to turn to."

Jiang Feng toyed with the black credential in his hand, listening to Zhao Yi's tone, which verged on a breakdown.

This was completely different from the tough guy he remembered shouting at the entrance of the Criminal Police Team.

Back then, although Zhao Yi was tired, he was full of drive.

Now, however, that spirit was gone.

"What about those brothers under you? They can't help you?"

"It's because of them that I..." Zhao Yi got halfway through his sentence and swallowed the rest, which turned into a suppressed cough. "Brother Jiang, don't ask. Just consider it a favor for me, alright?"

"Alright." Jiang Feng didn't press further. "Send me the location."