Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 916 - 729: Sleepless Night (Part 3)

"Who knows? Why don’t you go ask him yourself?"

Tong Ji raised her hand, tossing away the empty milk tea to who knows where, and with a rub of her little hands, magically conjured a bowl of ice cream, topped with chocolate, cookie crumbs, and fruit slices. She scooped up a spoonful with the cherry on top, swallowed it whole, and squinted in satisfaction.

"Ah, it’s great how times have progressed, Huai Shi... We should thank science."

She clicked her tongue in admiration, ignoring the rumbling sound from Huai Shi’s stomach, and casually said, "Rather than that, I’m more worried about you."

"Me?"

Huai Shi laughed, "What is there to worry about?"

"What do you think?"

Tong Ji calmly ate her ice cream, but her eyes were fixed on Huai Shi’s.

Until much later, he helplessly shifted his gaze and shrugged.

"Confused? Hesitant? Uneasy, or angry?"

Tong Ji examined his demeanor, unable to resist shaking her head, "Your Source Substance is practically filled with instability, even the Soloist’s Stigma is starting to close—could it be because of the Tanbo Inner Circle?"

"Honestly, it’s a bit annoying."

Huai Shi sighed, sprawling back on the bed, "Headache doesn’t begin to cover it."

"It’s normal, being undercover is like this, far worse than a Second fifth."

Tong Ji sympathetically said, "Look, the interesting part is right here. Though the meanings of the two terms are similar, the feelings for those involved are worlds apart."

She said, "Because the essence is different."

Both require endurance, but what an undercover and a Second fifth have to endure are completely different.

The needs of a Second fifth are always clear; betrayal is just the price, for obtaining what one desires. But for an undercover, betrayal is the outcome—everything you do and aim for is ultimately leading to betrayal.

"Undercovers often suffer deeply, yet the happiness of a Second fifth is unimaginable to others. For being a Second fifth means knowing how to live joyfully, but for being undercover, it’s only endless sorrow... even betrayal isn’t for oneself."

Tong Ji lamented in sympathy: "From this perspective, undercover is indeed more brutal than a Second fifth."

"What kind of twisted logic is that?"

Huai Shi shook his head.

"Hmm? I thought you would empathize." Tong Ji shrugged, "After all, you experience both feelings now, don’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be this conflicted, would you?"

Huai Shi, speechless.

Tong Ji leaned closer again, her cold breath brushing against Huai Shi’s cheek with a sweet cream scent. Yet her gaze was devoid of any flirtation, only solemn and serious.

As if she could peer through his soul and see his thoughts.

"Let me guess."

She said, "You have two conflicting urges now, Huai Shi. One urges you to replace the incompetent people, to take control of everything yourself, to make things better.

For this, you must seize power, even challenge the authorities of Yingzhou, even though you know it won’t end well."

But another impulse tells you this isn’t your concern, you don’t need to do so much, you’re just an undercover, even if you complete your mission, nothing will change.

So, you consider making some achievements just to get by, then slack off... after all, if the sky falls, there’s the Jurisdiction Bureau to hold it up, and there’s always the tyrannical boss in charge, right?"

Huai Shi rolled his eyes, "Isn’t that fine?"

"Didn’t say it wasn’t good, but it’s just avoiding the issue."

Tong Ji calmly informed him, "If you let others make choices for you, whatever the outcome, it’s meaningless to you.

You will only feel confused, then start hesitating, followed by suffering. After suffering, you’ll gradually get used to it, and then start comforting yourself—everyone’s the same, just caught in circumstances beyond their control.

Eventually, unknowingly, you’ll start to compromise, start to accept everything you hate... becoming a ’qualified’ member of society. That’s the start of downfall."

"Saying it’s ’downfall’ is a bit much, isn’t it?"

Huai Shi stubborn, "Maybe I’ve matured?"

"Huai Shi, if you’ve matured, no matter how painful, I won’t sympathize with you—instead, no matter what, even if you rush straight into the Abyss, I’d encourage you."

But, either way, you shouldn’t stand still."

She stretched out her chilly spoon, holding it before Huai Shi’s face, not allowing him to avoid her gaze, and told the contractor word by word:

"If you can’t endure, then change it; if you can’t stand it, do it yourself. You should do what you want to do, Huai Shi."

She said, "You’re my contractor, you have the right, and should have the power."

Huai Shi froze in place.

In the brief silence, Tong Ji suddenly smiled cheerfully, no longer serious. The spoon in her hand brought to his mouth, with slowly melting cream and syrup.

"Want some?"

Huai Shi nodded instinctively.

The taste is as sweet as expected, with a hint of bitterness.

Not sure whether it’s a result of relaxing finally or making a decision, the originally tense spirit gradually eased, feeling the tiredness.

Before closing his eyes, he watched the figure before him gradually vanish, unable to resist calling her.

"Tong Ji..."

"Hmm?" Before turning into a black Flying Bird, she looked back.

"I’ll give it a shot..." Huai Shi seriously told her, "Thank you."

"You’re my Contractor, no need to be polite."

Tong Ji smiled handsomely, disappearing into the darkness.

Left silently.

And Huai Shi, closed his eyes.

For some reason, the previously slackened him was suddenly filled with motivation.

Starting from tomorrow, make a big stir.

He’s made up his mind, the grand plan to change Tanbo Inner Circle will start with unifying the Extreme Path!

.

.

The next day, Huai Shi woke up to noise, opening his eyes barely in time to yawn, as two policemen rushed into his hospital room from the corridor, followed by their heavily armed action squad.

The emblem of MPD on their chests glistened under the morning sun, dazzling Huai Shi’s vision.

Soon after, without waiting for him to speak, the handcuffs clicked shut around his wrist.

"—Huai Zhisu People, you’re under arrest!"