Since Director Xiao didn’t punish him directly, You Zhengping could still move around inside the base within a small range. So he stayed in Junjun’s lounge, occasionally looking after the child, helping control his temperature. 

Director Ha crouched beside them, head tilted, keeping its eyes fixed on the fluid solution bag, watching the remaining fluid solution amount for Junjun. 

Junjun occasionally babbled in his sleep, terms like “numerical series,” “permutations and combinations,” “trigonometric function,” “exponential logarithms,” “electromagnetic fields,” “organic chemistry.” Listening to it made You Zhengping blush with shame.

He kept thinking that Junjun having this special ability awaken had to do with Yu Hua making the child study high school math and science too young. In order to do his homework, Junjun had been forced to grow up too quickly. 

Yu Hua…

You Zhengping laughed. 

When he had told Director Xiao that he already knew the black-cloaked man’s identity but couldn’t tell the organization, You Zhengping had been inwardly unperturbed. 

Unfortunately, even if he didn’t say, when Junjun woke up, he would probably say it. Junjun didn’t know that Yu Hua was the black-cloaked man, but if he only related what he had seen in the little world to the Protection Organization, with Director Xiao’s intelligence, he would very quickly link Yu Hua with the black-cloaked man. 

As You Zhengping changed temperature reducing pads for Junjun, he considered this with concern. 

But just then, Junjun’s feverish ravings went from “segmented functions” to “I won’t, ge-shu,” “I won’t say,” “Xiao Ha, I don’t blame you,” and other such phrases. 

You Zhengping’s hand paused. Probably the only person Junjun would use the address “ge-shu” for was someone who sometimes appeared to have just graduated university and other times looked like he had lived for ages. 

“Aw-aw-awooo.” Director Ha lay on the ground, covering its head with its paws, head hanging down low, looking sorry. 

You Zhengping understood what Director Ha meant. It was saying, “I’m sorry, Junjun.” 

Remembering Director Ha’s ruthlessness towards children at the start and comparing it to this change now, while no doubt it involved Destroyer 192’s soul constantly merging with the dog and being influenced by the body’s instincts, there was also another reason—no one is born good or evil. Of course, extreme cases exist, but they’re a minority, after all. Many more people only lack the environment in which to grow up and change. 

This is the principle of being influenced by one’s surroundings. 

You Zhengping had a feeling that in his attitude towards the levelers, Yu Hua had chosen two completely opposing methods. From high-pressure dictatorship to leaving them only a path towards good—it seemed that Yu Hua was trying to persuade himself of something.

“Thank you.” You Zhengping tucked in the corners of Junjun’s quilt. 

Having made a resolution, You Zhengping settled something that had been weighing on him. He lay down beside Junjun’s hospital bed and fell heavily asleep. He didn’t even notice when Cen Xiao and the others came one after another to look at him. 

Cen Xiao had come to counsel You Zhengping, though it wasn’t to counsel him to reveal the black-cloaked man’s identity; he wanted to make him properly look after Yu Hua. When he came through the door and saw You Zhengping sleeping, he didn’t say anything. He sighed and left. 

Zhen Li and Yuan Luori wanted to tactfully thank You Zhengping for keeping the secret, but they didn’t know what to say. Yuan Luori sent his parrot to scout for them. Seeing that You Zhengping was asleep, the two of them turned circles by the door and left. 

Lian Yufan’s feelings were very conflicted. On the one hand, he wanted to criticize You Zhengping for being impulsive, for not recognizing what was important, for not considering the bigger picture at a time like this and sticking to his usual vile habit of “wanting it all,” for being truly immature. But he also remembered the times the black-cloaked man had repeatedly helped him, as well as the safety of the common people of the Xuyang District and the restored buildings, and he hesitated. At this point, could he still carry out his idea that reason took precedence? 

No, perhaps he still could. The black-cloaked man had rescued the Xuyang District’s three million permanent residents and prevented the whole Xuyang District from sustaining massive economic losses. These contributions… It seemed that in order to guarantee that the black-cloaked man would continue his work in aiding the Protection Organization, a mutual tacit understanding would get the best results. 

When he thought of this, Lian Yufan made a decision. “You win this time,” he said to the soundly sleeping You Zhengping. Then he returned to his room to summarize all the materials and prepared to stay up late preparing a report concerning whether they should investigate the black-cloaked man’s true identity. He wrote this report from the point of view of how the organization could obtain the most benefit, not from the point of view of helping You Zhengping escape blame. If You Zhengping could avoid punishment because of this, then that was just You Zhengping’s good luck; it had nothing to do with him. 

Luo Huai was the only one who wasn’t planning to visit You Zhengping. He had come to visit Junjun. 

Seeing the adult, the child, and the dog inside the room all sleeping, he went over and lightly stroked Junjun’s head. He quietly said, “Thank you.”

Luo Huai had absorbed too many people’s memories in his life. Each time, he said, “If one day, you have the authority to take it back, then I’ll personally return it to you,” as well as, “I hope that then, you’ll be able to see my face.” But the memories had never been returned. 

There was only this child, who had taken back the memory that belonged to him. When he had seen that star return to Junjun’s brain, Luo Huai had suddenly felt a beam of light pierce his gloomy heart, as though a window had been opened for his closed off spirit. 

“I don’t know if the next time we see each other, you’ll be able to see my face, or whether you’ll remember me,” Luo Huai said quietly. “My name is Luo Huai.” 

Only Huan Zixu and Feng Kui didn’t come. This was primarily because Feng Kui was busy comforting Huan Zixu, while Huan Zixu was considering what his next step should be. 

The present circumstances weren’t yet at their worst. The bad news was, he had lost his ability and his thoughts had been revealed, though that didn’t matter very much. There weren’t many people who could sincerely trust him anyway. The good news was that Feng Kui’s ability hadn’t disappeared. Director Xiao had helped Feng Kui and Yuan Luori submit application forms; they had the right to become reserve Protectors, too. This way, Feng Kui would be able to leave the base. 

In sum, things were developing in a positive direction. Now he only had to consider the apartment. 

While Huan Zixu ground his teeth and thought of how to hoodwink Yu Hua and use public money to make the down payment, Feng Kui somewhat helplessly stroked Huan Zixu’s long hair. 

While he was no longer developing in the direction of a robot and was gradually learning human knowledge, gradually acquiring human ways of thinking, Feng Kui was still exceedingly pure. There was nothing he could do about the things that were worrying Huan Zixu. He could only quietly keep him company and console him. 

But just then, while he was stroking Huan Zixu’s hair, there was suddenly a strand of long hair hanging from his large hand. Feng Kui drew back his hand guiltily, thinking that he had overdone his strength and pulled out some of Huan Zixu’s hair. 

Just then, Huan Zixu ran a hand through his hair. Feng Kui’s vision was much better than Yuan Luori’s. Sharp-eyed, he saw another strand of hair falling naturally and floating to drop onto the floor. 

Under the chair Huan Zixu was sitting in, quite a lot of hair had fallen. 

Feng Kui: “!!!”

He looked at the time. It was 11:30 PM. 

During this period at the base, Feng Kui had studied quite a lot of information about the human body. In accordance with his characteristics, the Protection Organization had drawn up an entirely different course of study for him from Yuan Lori’s. The Protection Organization’s intention was to tell Feng Kui that ordinary people didn’t have mechanical skeletons, their bodies were very frail, and what he thought of as normal strength would be likely to cause devastating harm to frail ordinary people. 

So Feng Kui had been forced to memorize quite a bit of Human Anatomy, Traditional Chinese Medicine Study of Energy Channels, and such related knowledge. Because it had been too long since he had lost his human body, he rather liked studying this. He went on purpose to the library to borrow quite a few related works. He understood that staying up would lead to hair loss! 

Feng Kui picked Huan Zixu up and put him on the bed. Brooking no argument, he said, “Lights out. Close your eyes. Sleep. No more thinking.” 

“What are you doing?” Huan Zixu struggled and tried to get up. “Go to sleep this early?” 

Feng Kui pressed his chest down with one finger. With the precise position he had chosen and the force he used, Huan Zixu was actually subdued by one finger. He couldn’t move. 

“Staying up late makes you bald.” Looking grave, Feng Kui used his other hand to press on Huan Zixu’s head, gently massaging his scalp. 

Perhaps he had a true talent for recognizing acupoints. He precisely found the acupoints on Huan Zixu’s head and massaged them to promote blood circulation. Huan Zixu felt at first that his scalp was unpleasantly sore. Then it gradually became numb and pleasant. In spite of himself, he closed his eyes and whispered, “I’ll keep thinking…tomorrow…” 

Before he had finished speaking, Huan Zixu fell fast asleep. 

Overthinkers often slept lightly. Especially lately, when Huan Zixu hadn’t had Feng Kui beside him, and he had had to strive against Yu Hua to scrape money together, as well as gathering all kinds of data to understand this world’s economic conditions, he had truly been sleeping very little. He had been severely sleep-deprived for a long time. 

Seeing Huan Zixu sound asleep, Feng Kui smiled simply and honestly. 

There were some who slept well, but there were some who didn’t sleep all night. 

By the time Director Xiao left the conference, it was past four in the morning. He went to Junjun’s room and assigned someone to take You Zhengping’s place watching. He woke him up and took him to his office alone. 

You Zhengping entered work mode as soon as he woke up. His mind lively, standing straight and tall, he saluted Director Xiao and waited for the outcome of the organization’s decision. 

“The organization is giving you one last chance. If you will only reveal the identity of the black-cloaked man, you won’t be penalized. Have you considered?” Director Xiao asked gravely. 

“My answer hasn’t changed,” You Zhengping said, his shoulders squared and his head raised. 

Director Xiao picked up a stack of files and said, “All right. I will now declare the disciplinary action against you. The organization affirms the black-cloaked man’s aid and contributions to the Xuyang District, and is very grateful to the black-cloaked man for helping us understand the truth about the Destroyers, the System’s existence, and the secrets of the world law. We have fought bravely for hundreds of years, and we never understood what we were fighting against. It’s thanks to him that we now know everything. 

“It is righteous to thank the person who helped you to become clear-headed.” 

You Zhengping looked at Director Xiao’s face, which was full of stories, and nodded heavily. 

Everything that Yu Hua had done, the organization had seen it and remembered it. They wouldn’t deny these contributions because he was covering up his tracks. 

After affirming the black-cloaked man, Director Xiao changed the subject. “But that’s a completely different matter from your conduct. For an outstanding soldier of the Protectors, concealing matters from the organization is a serious crime. Are you prepared?” 

“I’m willing to receive the organization’s punishment,” You Zhengping said, decision all over his face. 

Director Xiao sighed and took out an official red-letterhead document. “Protector You Zhengping, in the battle to safeguard the Xuyang District, you have defeated a master of natural law, rescued all the common people in vicinity of the central park, protected your six teammates, and brought Liu Junjun and the husky Xiao Ha, two future outstanding soldiers, back from amid the time law. You have used your life to protect the lives and safety of the people from the invasion of individuals from outside this world, preserved relatively intact the historically significant spot of the central park, prevented the people’s public assets from suffering damage. You ought to have received commendation and praise, been given a Merit Citation, First Class in accordance with your achievements.” 

“Hm?” How come this red-letterhead document of Director Xiao’s didn’t sound to You Zhengping like it was delivering a punishment? 

He listened earnestly. The general meaning of the document was that owing to the unique nature of their work, a Merit Citation, First Class, couldn’t be publicly issued. They could only praise him openly within the organization and wait for an opportunity to publicly award the auxiliary policeman You Zhengping. 

Comrade You Zhengping had experienced time travel, had exhausted his efforts, and would be given three months of extended leave. During his rest period, he would regularly receive psychological counseling. 

Though for the time being, he couldn’t leave the Xuyang District during his extended leave. If Destroyers appeared, he had to be prepared for battle. 

“Is that it?” You Zhengping blinked. 

“Declaration complete.” Director Xiao put down the document. 

“What about the punishment?” You Zhengping asked. “Where am I going to spend my extended leave, at the base?” 

If he was going to spend three months at the base, that would amount to a confinement. That counted as a punishment. 

“Of course you’re going to return home to rest during your extended leave,” Director Xiao said. 

You Zhengping: “!!!” 

If he rested for three months, wouldn’t Yu Hua die of happiness? 

Director Xiao pointed to a chair next to him. “What are you standing for? You’re making me look up at you. Sit down.” 

“Okay.” You Zhengping pulled the chair over. All at sea, he sat down across from Director Xiao, not understanding at all what this punishment meant. How come it felt like more like a reward? 

“I have a question to ask you. Answer truthfully. Your answer will determine whether this document will go into effect,” Director Xiao said. 

You Zhengping listened seriously. 

Director Xiao said, “In concealing the black-cloaked man’s identity, apart from his kindness in bringing you, Liu Junjun, and the husky back from the little world, are you also taking the organization into consideration? If you disregarded the black-cloaked man’s intentions and disclosed his identity, would the organization suffer a blow?” 

“Yes, actually, that really might happen,” You Zhengping said after thinking about it. 

Yu Hua probably wouldn’t really hurt the organization, but him using stifling intimidation to compel the organization to acknowledge their marriage, causing the organization a serious spiritual attack—that was absolutely possible. 

You Zhengping remembered the dream he had had about the Xuyang District turning into a sea of fire and the black-cloaked man stealing him away from the organization. He shuddered in spite of himself. That had perhaps truly been a predictive dream. 

So he solemnly and decisively nodded again. “It might be very serious!” 

“So can the organization take this to mean that your actions are for the sake of protecting the organization?” Director Xiao asked. 

“That’s a factor,” You Zhengping answered sincerely. 

Director Xiao said, “Since that is the case, we ought to understand you from the standpoint of both emotion and reason, yes? The Protection Organization’s fundamental goal is to protect this world. If we overlook the safety of the world, the contributions of our soldiers, and the aid of our allies for the sake of stubbornly clinging to certain ideas, wouldn’t that be too unreasonable?” 

“Director…” You Zhengping, touched, looked at Director Xiao. 

“However, in view of the fact that you spoke of this openly in a meeting, and at the meeting there were present, apart from Protectors, former Destroyers who later became Protectors—Zhen Li, Yuan Luori, and Feng Kui—as well as Huan Zixu, who is always looking for a way to take advantage of the organization’s slip-ups to gain benefits, you must appear on the surface to receive a punishment,” Director Xiao said. 

“I understand,” You Zhengping said. 

Director Xiao said, “During your three-month extended leave, for outside purposes, we will say that you have been suspended for investigation. Though that’s only a manner of speaking. It won’t be entered into your file. Take no notice of it. It’s for the sake of stopping the mouths of people with aspirations.” 

“Yes, sir!” You Zhengping’s emotions were gradually becoming cheerful. 

“Child, next time there’s a confidential matter, remember to first report it to your leaders, then decide whether to broadcast it in a meeting!” Director Xiao said, shaking his head. 

“Thank you, director.” You Zhengping considered and said, “I keep thinking that you’ve helped me out in a lot of ways, right?” 

For example the point about covering up the black-cloaked man’s identity also being to protect the organization. If Director Xiao hadn’t given him a hint, You Zhengping really wouldn’t have noticed that he had such a hidden thought. 

“I’m only attending to my proper business,” Director Xiao said, frowning. “After you attend psychological counseling in the morning, you can get out. Remember to contact the psychologist on time, and when you go home, make sure to study one or twice a week. When your extended leave is over, your study notes and the knowledge you’ve learned will be examined.” 

“Yes, sir!” You Zhengping decided to have Yu Hua study along with him. 

You Zhengping happily left Director Xiao’s office. After he left, Director Xiao took out a form with the words “Source Project Candidate, Huaxia Regional Recommendation Form" written on it. The name on the form was You Zhengping’s. 

During the meeting last night, synthesizing all the intelligence obtained from this last malicious attack, the World Protection Organization had finally voted unanimously to restart the Source Project. The country had already used You Zhengping’s record of achievements to convince the other Protection Organizations of the other countries. If nothing unexpected happened, You Zhengping would undertake all the power of the Source Project. 

—

“Suspended for investigation?” 

First thing next morning, everyone received a public notice of the disciplinary action. Some thought that it was all right, and the punishment wasn’t too severe—there was latitude to come back. There were also those who thought that You Zhengping had always protected the Xuyang District; he was covered in glory; he shouldn’t receive such a punishment. Cen Xiao and the other members of You Zhengping’s squad charged over to Director Xiao’s office to protest fiercely, indicating that only You Zhengping could subdue difficult people like them. They wouldn’t agree to another person being made captain! 

Then they had their heads held down by Director Xiao, received a fierce thrashing, and got the hell out of Director Xiao’s office looking like drowned rats. 

Lian Yufan, hugging a stack of documents, was leaning against the wall beside Director Xiao’s office door. After submitting Cen Xiao and the others to a round of mockery, with black eyes like a panda’s, he went into Director Xiao’s office with his 30,000 character report and walked out entirely unharmed. He didn’t forget to taunt Cen Xiao: “All you can do is make noise at a problem. Are you Director Ha?” 

Cen Xiao was struck dumb by this. Only a long time after Lian Yufan had left did he say to the team members under his command, “So he acknowledges so candidly that the husky is a director? Do you remember during the livestream, what did Yu Hua say the husky had been hired to be director of?” 

“Public relations director,” said the group of team members, who were burning with rage from Lian Yufan’s mockery. 

“With his eye-rolling, Director Ha is the only one he can work with!” Cen Xiao said angrily. 

Director Ha wasn’t aware of the controversy surrounding it. It was very concerned about Junjun now. After he woke up, all signs of Junjun’s special ability had disappeared. All the tests showed that he was only an ordinary elementary school student. 

He did in fact remember what had happened in the little world, but for the elementary school student Junjun, what had he experienced? Roughly that he had won a race with Xiao Ha, that he had slept in the open for two days, that he had camped in the cold for half a day, and that he had done homework for three days in the estate. 

During the husky’s fiery run, Junjun had fallen unconscious because of his special ability awakening. He hadn’t seen the world collapsing and the passage through time. 

According to the appraisal of Director Xiao and other veteran special ability users, Junjun’s special ability had probably sealed itself off for self-protection. 

When his special ability had awakened, because he had been unconscious, it had involuntarily leaked out. But after he woke up, Junjun believed firmly that he was an ordinary elementary school student. Though he had become a hostage during the park bombing case (his memory had been restored), though he could occasionally understand Xiao Ha explaining homework problems, he was still an ordinary elementary school student. He absolutely didn’t believe that he had a special ability. 

Because of this unconscious protection, Junjun had sealed his special ability in self-defense after waking up. This would last until the next awakening point. 

Unlike during Luo Huai and Lian Yufan’s generation, the Protection Organization now had amply learned to look after the mental health of special ability users. They understood that they couldn’t be overhasty about these things. They had to let Junjun internally accept that he was different from others, and do proper ideological work with his family before taking Junjun for centralized training. Forcing things would produce the opposite of the desired effect. 

Especially with a mental type special ability user like Junjun, psychological impressions would be unusually serious. It would be easy for something major to go wrong if he wasn’t properly reassured. 

During the course of a meeting to discuss, they determined to first convince his father, Captain Liu of the criminal police, to have Junjun go to Zhen Li’s studio to walk the dog every day before summer vacation ended. The studio was close to the estate. It was a familiar environment for Junjun. The majority of the employees were special ability users and Protectors, including Lian Yufan, an expert captain, in the lead, as well as the emotionally comforting pet Xiao Ha with them. They could help subtly influence Junjun to accept his own uniqueness. 

Of course, according to the veteran Protectors, Director Ha, whose special ability had just awakened, would also be taught by the dog training master Lian Yufan. They couldn’t let a single opportunity go by. 

Feng Kui had become a reserve Protector and didn’t need to stay trapped in the base. For the moment, he was being assigned to the studio as director of security. 

Lian Yufan: “…” 

The studio employees and Cen Xiao and the rest of the squad separated into two carloads to leave the base. In the car, Lian Yufan counted off those present and felt strange. 

“Don’t you think that this studio is very peculiar?” Lian Yufan said doubtfully. “Apart from Yu Hua, an ordinary person, the rest are all special ability users. Even the dog and the child not on the permanent staff aren’t exceptions!” 

Zhen Li and Yuan Luori guilty lowered their heads. 

“Though Junjun is also an ordinary child who had a special ability awaken due to unexpected circumstances, and Xiao Ha is an ordinary dog. You can’t say that Yu Hua is suspicious,” Lian Yufan expounded. 

“I think that Director Ha’s awakening may have to do with the law of power convergence.” Huan Zixu had slept well last night. His skin was looking great, his face full of collagen, and the look in his eye was quick and nimble. “There used to be a line of thinking among levelers that said that while the System randomly matched us to levels, it was always easier for levelers with the same or similar power attributes to be matched to the same world. In common phrasing, like calls to like—special people always end up gathering together. According to this reasoning, would Yu Hua have joined the studio only because he also has the potential for a special ability to awaken?” 

Lian Yufan thought of You Zhengping and Yu Hua’s marriage, as well as the dramatic means by which Yu Hua had become the studio’s first employee. He also thought that it was overly coincidental, but it could be understood with Huan Zixu’s explanation. 

“But he’s already passed the ideal awakening period,” Lian Yufan said. “Children older than fifteen won’t have combat abilities, even if their ability does awaken.” 

“But he’s under the influence of all of our power. Perhaps his will awaken,” Huan Zixu continued to reason. 

Just then, the car drove out of range of the base’s signal blocker, and everyone’s phones simultaneously received a notice of a group message. 

The only group they all had in common was their work group. Everyone simultaneously opened the group and saw that Yu Hua had sent a message first thing in the morning: The day after tomorrow, the advertising company’s remaining balance will be deposited into our company’s account. Owing to how hard everyone has been working lately, I have determined to distribute this money among everybody as bonuses. The concrete distribution is as follows: Zhen Li, for promoting products during livestreams, 30%; Yuan Luori, for the future traffic participating in the talent show will attract for the studio, 30%; Director Lian, for taking responsibility for legal safeguards and product quality investigations, 30%; the remaining 10% to go to Director Ha’s future dog food costs, vaccination costs, housing costs, and other pet expenditures. Director Huan has already received his commission and has no need for a bonus.

Everyone’s expressions were different. 

Zhen Li and Yuan Luori, who knew nothing of Huan Zixu’s plans, were wild with joy, eyes brimming with tears. They quickly calculated how much money they could get their hands on. 

Zhen Li, face streaming with tears, said that he could plan to properly refurbish his new apartment. While the Protection Organization had given him an apartment, they hadn’t taken care of the decorating. Zhen Li’s loft apartment was beautifully done up, but he still wanted to change the closets and the vanities. If he had money, he could arrange his little house according to his feelings! 

And Yuan Luori had already thought of where he would go to eat a big meal, eat two big meals, eat three big meals…and buy a cushion to put under the folding bed. Always sleeping on the floor hurt his back!

Director Ha thought of new dog food, dog toys, dog snacks, and so on, and happily waved its tail. 

Only Lian Yufan, who was aware of everything, looked quietly at Huan Zixu. 

Huan Zixu said, “Yu Hua, do you already know that I…and that’s why you… You black-hearted capitalist, you absolutely, absolutely can’t have a special ability!”

---

Author's Note

Yu Hua: Xiao You has three months of vacation. I’m delighted. I’ll celebrate by torturing my badly behaving employees. 

Huan Zixu: …My apartment, my apartment!

Feng Kui: Hair, hair, hair!