Chapter 164: Neutral Order, Wild Grass of Freedom!

Codename Farmer?Cheng Ye frowned slightly, while Lee Matteo pondered, trying to search this name from his memory.

After a long moment, he shook his head gently, "This name isn't in the known Wish-Guarding Transcendent files of the nearby four provinces. Either it's too ancient, or my clearance isn't high enough to access it."

"That's right, he's not a nearby Wish-Guarding Transcendent," Master Tian said honestly, his tone carrying some heaviness, "He's a Wish-Guarding Transcendent who came from the Black Zone, and now... he's still alive."

Black Zone?

Both Cheng Ye and Lee Matteo's expressions changed simultaneously.

The Black Zone was the "forbidden land" of the entire Eastern Continent, hiding transcendent mother sources that hadn't been completely eliminated back then, S3 transcendents who hadn't died completely, and some self-sealed Wish-Guarding Transcendents.

Either driven mad beyond reason or bound to specific areas, every one of them was extremely dangerous.

"You've been to the Black Zone?" Lee Matteo's tone instantly became grave, his eyes showing more scrutiny.

"When fleeing for my life, I was desperate and ran blindly, eventually ending up there," Master Tian rarely pulled at the corner of his mouth, showing a bitter smile, "I had an S-level bounty on me. Except for going to the Black Zone, there was nowhere I could survive. But the Black Zone isn't as terrifying as the outside world claims. There are even settlements in the border areas. The people there worship Wish-Guarding Transcendents roaming in the Black Zone, establishing faith and receiving protection from certain Wish-Guarding Transcendents."

"I've heard other inspectors mention those settlements," Lee Matteo nodded, his tone carrying some melancholy, "They've long abandoned technology, their thinking has regressed, living like ascetic monks. But after the Black Zone expanded again a few years ago, news from those settlements also ceased. Don't know if they were swallowed up or relocated."

He looked Master Tian up and down, suddenly smiling, "Not bad, surviving an S-level bounty and even visiting the Black Zone. With proper packaging, your experiences might become legendary tales in ten or eight years."

Master Tian wasn't in the mood to joke, just smiling bitterly while staring blankly at the table.

Cheng Ye brought the topic back, "What is the 'Farmer's' ability?"

Master Tian's smile instantly disappeared as he sighed, "He only appears in the Black Zone. No outsider can figure out his ability, only two vague concepts: 'planting' and 'harvesting.'"

He pointed at his own chest, his tone carrying some fear, "I'm the 'fertile soil' he took a liking to. The faith he implanted in me back then was the 'seed' he planted. He didn't kill me because he's waiting for this seed to mature. When the time is right, he'll harvest me. As for what he'll harvest, I don't know either. Could be my faith, could be my life."

"Would he chase all the way to Happiness City?"

"How's that possible?" Lee Matteo couldn't help laughing, waving his hand, "Those Wish-Guarding Transcendents were driven to the Black Zone by united human forces and sealed with special methods back then. Besides, Wish-Guarding Transcendents aren't impossible to deal with, it's just that the conditions are extremely harsh..."

Wish-Guarding Transcendents could be dealt with?

Cheng Ye's heart stirred, wanting to ask for more details, but he held back.

Although Lee Matteo knew many secrets, methods for dealing with Wish-Guarding Transcendents probably required clearance, and pressing further might not get answers.

Moreover, Jiang Chuan had wanted to send over a batch of books containing information about Wish-Guarding Transcendents but Walker had already confirmed his departure then, and he was busy with duties, having no mind to look at these things. He'd directly asked Jiang Chuan to send the books for copying and lamination, and hadn't retrieved them yet.

"Looks like I need to find time to get those books back and study them properly," Cheng Ye thought to himself.

Not seeking to deal with Wish-Guarding Transcendents, but at least knowing how to avoid risks, unlike Master Tian who was affected in confusion.

"Master Tian, since we've laid everything out, I'll help you investigate Farmer's abilities when I get the chance, see if we can find countermeasures," Cheng Ye pondered and smiled, "What we discussed earlier about the caravan and the future, let's just consider it casual chat between friends. You know the caravan's route now. If you figure it out someday, I welcome you to join anytime. Even if you don't want to come, we're still friends, it doesn't affect anything."

With that, he lifted the pot lid, and rich sour cabbage aroma instantly surged out. He smiled and called out, "Come, eat! Tonight let's just treat it as friends gathering. Let's set other matters aside."

Seeing this, Lee Matteo immediately grinned and extended his chopsticks to grab a piece of fish, "Should have done this earlier! I was drooling from the smell just now."

The tender fish meat wrapped in sour cabbage's tangy freshness, with juices bursting in his mouth. Lee Matteo's eyes lit up as he couldn't help saying, "Didn't expect this, Inspector Cheng! Your cooking skills aren't inferior to those old gourmets!"

"Master Tian, pick up your chopsticks."

Actually, just after saying those words, Master Tian's cooperation level in the upper right panel had already soared to 78%.

Based on past experience, with two more persuasive words, Master Tian would likely agree to join the caravan but it wasn't necessary.

Master Tian had too many shackles, not only faith constraints but also lifespan concerns from his dominant ability.

Having him lead the caravan and risk the wilderness would truly be "selling his life." No need to push someone to that extent.

Unless the conditions were clear and he was willing himself.

"Alright, thank you Inspector Cheng, and thank you Inspector Lee."

Master Tian stopped being polite, picking up chopsticks to place a piece of fish in his mouth and chew carefully.

The happiness brought by food gradually relaxed his tense nerves.

For the rest of the time, the three didn't mention transcendents or caravans, instead chatting about the situation outside the city.

Satellite city construction trends, the quality of refugees outside, and overall planning estimates.

The topics became much lighter, and the dishes on the table gradually diminished.

Halfway through eating, Master Tian glanced at the night outside the window and stood up, "It's getting late, I should head back."

"Wait," Cheng Ye stopped him, turned to go into the basement, and soon emerged carrying a plastic bag.

The plastic bag contained five strips of wind-dried salted fish, four fruit cans, a small bag of seasonings, and even the unfinished black fish chunks, all properly packed inside.

"Take this back for your family to try. Consider it my reward for Tian Lei's recent hard work."

Master Tian was stunned, and when he took the plastic bag, his lips moved.

Finally, he squeezed out, "Thank you."

Watching Master Tian's figure disappear into the night, Lee Matteo smacked his lips, his tone suddenly becoming serious, "Old Tian didn't tell the truth, at most only half of it. Seems like cautious habits from his assassin days."

"Oh?"

Lee Matteo didn't answer directly but gestured toward the convenience store's rolling door with his eyes.

Cheng Ye understood, standing to pull down the rolling door, instantly darkening the store considerably.

"Come, let's talk in your basement. It's not convenient to talk here," Lee Matteo picked up the unfinished stir-fried salted fish while Cheng Ye carried the remaining beer.

The two went to the basement and set up the table again.

Lee Matteo put a piece of salted fish in his mouth, chewing slowly before speaking, "Farmer, I know him."

"You know him?"

"Of course I know him," Lee Matteo pulled at the corner of his mouth, showing a knowing smile, "This guy has appeared several times around the Black Zone's periphery. The inspection station's archives have records of him long ago, even analyzed his abilities roughly. I was deliberately testing him upstairs just now. Didn't expect he'd really play word games with us, glossing over things ambiguously."

"Then, what is Farmer's ability?"

"Planting and harvesting," Lee Matteo lowered his voice, "But what he plants isn't some ethereal faith, but power."

"His ability can forcibly condense and store a person's original power, like burying seeds in soil, letting power sprout, root, and grow from scratch."

"You understand martial arts barriers, right?"

Cheng Ye nodded, "I know, and I know the differences between barriers, plus embryonic breathing."

"Then it's easy to understand," Lee Matteo continued, "Farmer's ability makes a person's power regress to ordinary person level. For example, ordinary barriers you previously cultivated would all dissipate, but this power doesn't truly disappear, it becomes nutrients. When you train again, these nutrients help you break through faster, and the barriers you cultivate are stronger than before."

"This..." Cheng Ye's heart suddenly sank as he immediately realized, "Could it be that he planted his own dominant ability?"

"Most likely," Lee Matteo nodded, "He said he fled into the Black Zone when being hunted, but I think he was more likely severely injured, wanting to find a chance to kill his former enemies but feeling his power wasn't enough. So he actively found tribes worshipping Farmer, asking Farmer to help seal his power, waiting for the day his power matured to return for revenge."

"What about harvesting?"

"The day it fully matures, he'll involuntarily return to Farmer's side."

Lee Matteo grinned, though his smile lacked warmth, "Harvesting naturally means reaping everything from him, his newly cultivated power, his life, even his soul will all be drained by Farmer, becoming Farmer's own power!"

"Alright, enough about this. Let's talk about something good," Lee Matteo patted the table, his tone becoming lighter, "I passed the third assessment. Recruitment starts tomorrow morning, and we'll go to Dongping Town by tomorrow afternoon at the latest!"

"How so?"

"Can't discuss specific test questions, that's the rule," Lee Matteo shook his head, "But the team formation method was interesting, drawing lots for teams. My luck wasn't bad, I drew Song Hai. Gu Xinjing was unlucky and drew Garcia."

"Then those two had too different philosophies and argued several times during assessment. In the end, they were all eliminated and now have to fight revival matches with other eliminated teams. Whether they can return is uncertain."

Night deepened.

Two consecutive days of snowfall had exhausted the water vapor around Happiness City. Although temperatures continued dropping with bone-chilling wind blowing through streets, the weather had turned to overcast. A few sparse stars were embedded in the ink-blue sky, and the moon's outline could vaguely be seen hiding behind dark clouds.

Master Tian carried the plastic bag, walking briskly through several blocks and soon returned to his old residential complex.

"Old Tian, didn't you go out early this morning? How come you're back so late today?"

"Friends called for a gathering, had some drinks," Master Tian smiled and nodded without much explanation, continuing toward the building entrance.

On the fifth floor, he knocked on the door, which opened quickly.

The one who opened it wasn't his wife Xu Jingyun, but his daughter Tian Lei.

"Huh? Dad, didn't you say you'd be back very late? How come you're so early?"

Tian Lei wore thick sweaters with her hair casually tied back. Smelling the fragrance on her father, her eyes immediately brightened, "Smells so good! Where did you go to indulge?"

"Went to a good place."

Master Tian lifted the plastic bag in his hand, showing a rare relaxed smile, "How come you're back? Didn't you say the Works Department would be busy until next week?"

As he entered, Xu Jingyun sat on the sofa knitting with a radio on the coffee table playing evening programs. Hearing the commotion, she looked up, her gaze falling on the plastic bag as she curiously asked, "Where did this come from?"

"Inspector Cheng gave it to me."

Master Tian handed over the plastic bag, took off his coat and hung it on the chair back, sitting on the sofa to rest.

Having eaten plenty at the convenience store, the sense of security from being home felt more substantial than the fullness in his stomach.

"Well, well, Tian Wuying, your reputation is growing bigger and bigger."

Xu Jingyun took the plastic bag and opened it to look, immediately beaming with joy, "Dried salted fish, fruit cans, and fresh fish chunks! These are all rare goods. I remember the last time we ate salted fish was four years ago when Leilei just entered the Works Department, and you traded two months' subsidies for it."

"You remember clearly."

Master Tian smiled helplessly and pointed at the plastic bag, "If you want to eat it, make it now. I'll help you."

"You're still eating?" Xu Jingyun looked up at him, "Leilei and I just had nutrition paste. Should we save it for a couple days? Don't want to finish it all at once and have nothing to look forward to."

"I won't eat, I'm full from there."

Master Tian leaned back on the sofa, seeing his daughter staring longingly at the cans, couldn't help laughing, "Don't save them. If you want to eat, open them, or she won't sleep tonight."

Xu Jingyun didn't insist further, putting the dried salted fish and fish chunks in storage, taking out four fruit cans and placing them on the coffee table, nodding toward Tian Lei, "You choose?"

"Eat!" Tian Lei immediately nodded, nimbly finding a small knife to pry open a can of yellow peaches.

Crystal sugar water wrapped around plump peach chunks, sweetness instantly permeating.

The family of three gathered around the small coffee table, eating piece by piece, with Tian Lei licking the can clean of sugar water.

So sweet!

Master Tian ate two pieces before putting them down, leaning back on the sofa with somewhat vacant eyes.

His mind kept flashing back to what Cheng Ye had said at the convenience store.

Only after a minute or two did he suddenly come back to his senses, "How come you suddenly came back? Didn't you say the Works Department was busy distributing supplies to migrants and you wouldn't get time off for a week?"

"Uh..."

Tian Lei's eyes immediately wandered, her hands unconsciously gripping the can tighter, not daring to speak.

Xu Jingyun shook her head, "Your daughter got in trouble again."

"What happened?" Master Tian sat up, frowning slightly.

"The supplies distributed by the Works Department, she's just a distributor, supposed to just give out things according to requirements. But she insisted on checking whether supply quantities matched records, causing trouble for leadership. So she was sent back to do odd jobs for reflection."

"It's not like you said!" Tian Lei immediately objected, her voice a bit urgent, "I suspected migrants were stealing supplies!"

"Come on, telling outsiders that is fine, but don't pretend with your dad."

Xu Jingyun pursed her lips, picked up the knitting and yarn basket, "I'll go knit in the inner room. You father and daughter talk."

With that, she went into the inner room, deliberately leaving the door slightly ajar.

Knowing Master Tian wanted to "educate" their daughter, but not completely closing off possibilities either.

Without Xu Jingyun's protection, Tian Lei's confidence immediately weakened. She lowered her head, fingers picking at holes in the sofa, glancing cautiously at Master Tian.

However, to her surprise, in past situations like this, Master Tian would already be frowning and lecturing but today, he just quietly looked over. After a long while, he gently shook his head and stood up, "Let's go to the roof."

Tian Lei was stunned, then nodded, "Okay."

Father and daughter quietly opened the door and climbed up the ladder at the end of the corridor.

The roof had no railings, only a circle of low brick walls. The wind was colder than downstairs, making ears numb but standing here offered an surprisingly open view, overlooking most of the buffer zone's low buildings and seeing migrant camps set up outside through Happiness Defense Line's iron net.

This was the optimal terrain Master Tian had specifically chosen after walking through every part of the buffer zone.

"Being sent back for odd jobs probably isn't real punishment, right?" Master Tian leaned against the brick wall, gazing at the distant defense line, his voice wrapped in wind, sounding particularly calm.

"Mm, I'm responsible for machinery allocation at Works Department, sort of half a promotion."

Tian Lei hunched her neck, explaining softly, "I found where the supply corruption was going. The team leader withheld polyester fiber composite linings meant for refugees' warmth, and used old tools instead of new ones when distributing equipment. I have evidence, so he doesn't dare really make trouble for me."

"Well done," Master Tian turned his head, rarely showing approval.

Tian Lei was immediately stunned, her eyes widening.

In the past when she took risks, Master Tian always inevitably lectured her about "not causing trouble." Today not only did he not lecture her, he even praised her?

Did the sun rise from the west?

"Today Inspector Cheng approached me. He wants to establish a caravan in the outer city, only running routes between satellite cities."

Master Tian changed the subject, not mentioning their discussion of transcendents and the past, only carefully explaining the caravan's plans, preparation progress, and recruitment ideas.

Tian Lei listened attentively but gradually frowned, "Continuing this way, the caravan can make money, but with Inspector Cheng's status, he doesn't need to make money this way, right? If he's doing this, could he want to go to satellite cities for construction? But I heard he's only a trainee inspector with plans for only twenty-four satellite cities..."

"He's different!" Master Tian shook his head, "He's Cheng Wu's grandson, Cheng Long's son. He was born different."

"Just like me, like you, we couldn't live like ordinary people from the moment we were born."

Tian Lei's eyes suddenly dimmed, staying silent for several seconds before speaking, "Dad, are you... already feeling Farmer's call?"

"How's that possible? I only sought out Farmer after having confidence in condensing faith."

Master Tian chuckled low, tapping his temple, "I've long been wild grass growing freely, beyond his harvestable boundaries. As long as my faith doesn't collapse, he can never drag me back. Besides, I should thank him, he helped tie up my 'shadow,' so I can occasionally use power without worrying about backlash."

"Then did you agree to Inspector Cheng?"

"No." Master Tian paused, suddenly turning the topic back, "Do you know why I never let you practice martial arts?"

"I know. You're afraid after I awaken power, I won't live long like you."

Tian Lei pursed her lips, "But I can't even awaken shadows. Maybe by my generation, the genetic mutation has ended and I'm just an ordinary normal person."

"No, you're special."

Master Tian's gaze softened, carrying some nostalgia, "When you were born, you unconsciously wrapped yourself with shadows. This probably relates to my being affected by Farmer back then. It's just that later your power contracted and has completely hidden itself until now, but it hasn't disappeared. Maybe someday when encountering danger, it will suddenly erupt."

He sighed, his voice becoming heavier, "I was afraid you'd repeat my path, so I wanted you to stay in the safest place, never touch those dangers, and just be a safe, ordinary person forever."

"But..."

"But safety isn't achieved by hiding," Tian Lei shook her head, her eyes brightening, "If we huddle in this building for decades and then die in one infection wave, what's the point of living?"

"Yes... Dad only realized today that living this way really has no flavor."

Master Tian felt around his pocket and pulled out a bag of cold beer, opening it for a drink.

The cold liquid slid down his throat but didn't suppress the heat in his heart.

"No matter how dangerous the outside world is, it's better than being trapped in this small space. I've been trapped for over ten years, but the wild grass in my heart wanting to grow outward has never withered, just waiting for the right opportunity."

"So you want to go to the caravan?"

"Depends on whether there's a suitable opportunity." Master Tian burped with alcohol, his smile spreading with alcoholic breath in the cold wind, "Your mother was a third-rate assassin who could only survive by luck, gambling her life on everything, while I..."

"Top assassins rely on information, layout, and strategy," Tian Lei quickly interrupted, covering her ears and laughing, "You've said this eight hundred times! My ears have calluses!"

"Good that you remember."

Master Tian chuckled, "That Inspector Lee who chatted with me today, I deliberately showed my power to let him test me, while I tested him in return. But he was in the open, I was in the shadows, so I ultimately gained the upper hand."

"Mm, he should be a good person, just worried that good people don't live long, so he puts on a reckless act. Unfortunately, his acting is terrible, lacking that essence."

"What about Inspector Cheng? Is he a good person?" Tian Lei asked curiously.

"No." Master Tian shook his head decisively without hesitation.

"No?" Tian Lei's voice immediately rose.

"What, doubting your dad's judgment?" Master Tian glanced at her, "Why are you so anxious?"

"Uh," Tian Lei stuttered, "But he saved my life, and yours too."

"Saving people doesn't make someone a good person."

Master Tian couldn't help curving his lips, "He hasn't completely defined himself yet, he's neutral order. If surrounded by good people, he can do good deeds with them. But if surrounded by bad people, he can immediately follow along without any psychological burden or questioning his choices."

"But how to put it, people have auras. Like you... you always run into those doing sneaky things and taking small advantages. Inspector Cheng has an aura that attracts good people. Even if surrounded by bad people, they won't like him or become his friends."

"So the opportunity you mentioned?"

"I'm gambling on luck, betting my luck isn't bad." Master Tian felt around his pocket, not finding a second beer, so he leaned against the brick wall and sighed, his smile carrying some old fox cunning.

"Tsk, and you call Mom a third-rate assassin."

Tian Lei shook her head helplessly, "Let me guess, are you betting that after he knows you're deceiving him, he'll invite you once more?"

"Such harsh words, how did I deceive him?" Master Tian's smile didn't diminish, "Your mom saved me back then by betting I wouldn't kill to silence her. Besides, I'm going out to risk my life, to deal with infection sources, infected entities, mutant beasts, and handle those kids outside. This job isn't simple, I could lose my head anytime."

"Plus what he offered me today was just ethereal stuff. He definitely didn't expect me to agree immediately. If I'm not mistaken, as long as he's still willing to find me, he'll definitely offer more practical terms and promises to make me willingly help him."

"Like what?"

Tian Lei pressed, but Master Tian didn't answer, just leaning against the brick wall with closed eyes, listening to the wind.

Radio sounds drifted up from the fifth floor window crack, carried by wind, intermittent, a man singing hoarsely.

He sang:

"Life like a merciless knife, changed our appearance."

"Must it wither before blooming?"

"I had dreams!"