"It's a girl named Gu Xiaorou, who is also a superhuman. She's said to be the daughter of a major general who defected from the Sky Eye Society and has been hunted down by the Sky Eye Society," Luo Panxi said. "This Gu Xiaorou is also a student at Jinghua University and has a close relationship with Ling Yun. This is something the investigation team only recently discovered."
"Old Luo, could you explain in more detail? What's wrong with this girl? Does she have some kind of relationship with Ling Yun?" Tie Li couldn't help but ask from the side.
“Of course there is. That’s what I’m talking about today. I suspect that all of Ling Yun’s power comes from Gu Xiaorou, but not from herself. It comes from the extraordinary treasure she carries with her.” Luo Panxi said, enunciating each word clearly, “The legendary treasure of the Heavenly Eye Society, the Heavenly Eye!”
Chapter 189 Decision
The moment the name "Heavenly Eye" was uttered, it seemed to possess some kind of magic, causing everyone's expression to change.
This legendary treasure has always been shrouded in mystery among those with supernatural abilities. However, one thing is undeniable and universally acknowledged by all those with supernatural abilities: whoever deciphers the secrets of the Heavenly Eye will gain its supreme power. The rise of the Heavenly Eye Society speaks for itself, needing no further evidence.
The Heavenly Eye is not a legendary treasure passed down from ancient times. On the contrary, it has only appeared in the last sixty years. Its origin is unknown and no one can explain it. It seems to have appeared suddenly, and the legend of its supreme power has also spread to the world.
It's worth noting that the Heavenly Eye wasn't fought over by numerous powerful figures and forces; it remained securely in the hands of the Heavenly Eye Society. This then-obscure private organization, named after the Heavenly Eye, was mysterious but pitifully weak. Not to mention the few behemoths at the height of their power, even a few lone high-level experts could have easily wiped out the Heavenly Eye Society. The fact that it wasn't seized and instead rapidly grew amidst complex and hostile power struggles, eventually emerging as what is now seemingly the world's strongest supernatural ability organization, is nothing short of a miracle.
All official organizations are backed by national resources. As long as their development and management remain flawless over several decades, they can quickly rise to prominence. For example, the SkyNet barrier of the Chinese Supernatural Power Headquarters wasn't just built by Lu Ximing and other initial creators; it also encompassed countless core national technologies, as well as vast amounts of money, manpower, and resources. Such resource capabilities are unmatched by any private organization. Conversely, organizations like the United States and European tribunals, without the support of powerful interest groups, would likely struggle to achieve anything significant. This has already been clearly demonstrated in the decline of the Witch Clan.
Therefore, it's worth pondering how the Sky Eye Society, as a private organization, could rise from nothing, growing rapidly from a weak position under the watchful eyes of numerous powerful enemies, and miraculously escaping annihilation. It's unbelievable that the Sky Eye Society wasn't involved.
The ability to obtain supreme power is merely a legend, or a conceptual concept; it doesn't mean the Heavenly Eye is useless if this secret isn't thoroughly understood. Clearly, behind the legend lies many other mysterious functions of the Heavenly Eye. This seemingly celestial treasure is like a large buried treasure; the deeper you dig, the more surprises you'll find.
Thanks to the power of the Heavenly Eye, the Heavenly Eye Society's development proceeded smoothly. Countless people coveted it, but dared not try to seize this tempting prize. The reason was simple: any individuals or organizations that attempted to seize the Heavenly Eye had already perished. Even the major organizations at their peak fifty years ago, after trying to get their hands on the Heavenly Eye, mysteriously suffered devastating blows, thus declining and becoming third-rate, dead-end supernatural organizations.
In contrast, the four strongest organizations today—the China Superpower Headquarters, the US Superpower Bureau, the European Arbitration Institute, and the Sky Eye Society—are all, except for the Arbitration Institute, which has a long history. The other three have all been among the fastest-growing organizations in the last fifty years. Ironically, the Chinese and US superpower organizations and the European Arbitration Institute haven't targeted Sky Eye, yet they have grown the fastest, keeping pace with Sky Eye. This further demonstrates Sky Eye's formidable strength and highlights Sky Eye's importance.
When the powerful members of the Superpower Headquarters heard Luo Panxi's speculation that Ling Yun had actually benefited from the Heavenly Eye, and that the Heavenly Eye was actually in the hands of an ordinary superpowered girl who had defected from the Heavenly Eye Society in China, their hearts were immediately filled with excitement. If the Heavenly Eye Society could benefit from the Heavenly Eye, then the Superpower Headquarters could also benefit. Faced with such a huge temptation, everyone's mind immediately began to race or they were plotting other schemes.
The deputy chief instructor, Changyan, was silent for a moment before saying softly, "Although Lingyun's background is somewhat unusual, it doesn't prove that his power comes from the Heavenly Eye. We are only speculating and suspecting. Moreover, even if that girl defected to the Heavenly Eye Society, the Heavenly Eye belongs to her alone. Can we really take it by trickery or force?"
Everyone turned their attention to him. This long-eyed deputy chief instructor was named Li Zhongqi. He was a very generous and righteous person, and he was very popular among the many superhumans.
“The Heavenly Eye originally belonged to no one, and it belongs to the capable. Moreover, it is currently in China, which is a golden opportunity. What if that girl leaves after a while? I wonder if other organizations and forces know about this. If they do, they won’t be so polite and will just kill and rob the treasure.” A dark-skinned instructor suddenly said.
Li Zhongqi glanced at the instructor: "Instructor Yin, if what you say is true, then our Superpower Headquarters also robbed a weak girl of her belongings. How is that any different from robbery? Have you forgotten the superpowered individuals' code of conduct set by the first chief instructor, Lu Ximing?"
His last sentence was quite stern, and Instructor Yin immediately blushed and stood up to explain, "Commander Li, that's not what I meant. I was just thinking about the Supernatural Abilities Headquarters and was only making a suggestion. It was by no means a violation of General Manager Lu's instructions."
Luo Panxi glanced at Instructor Yin: "Sit down, Instructor Yin. Everyone is thinking about headquarters. Old Li isn't criticizing you, but your suggestion is a bit too radical. It might backfire. Actually, I have a solution that would be a win-win situation, and I'm sure everyone would be happy to accept it."
Tie Li laughed and said, "You're so full of ideas, just tell me already, stop keeping me in suspense."
Luo Panxi smiled slightly: "Actually, my method is very simple. It's all about appeasement. Since Gu Xiaorou has defected from the Tianyan Society, she is an enemy of the Tianyan Society, and the Tianyan Society is also our enemy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. We are in cahoots with Gu Xiaorou. Besides, Ling Yun is one of our people and has a close relationship with Gu Xiaorou. If he were to persuade Gu Xiaorou to join the Superpower Headquarters, the chances of us succeeding would be much higher. We can kill three birds with one stone: we can take revenge on the Tianyan Society, gain two promising newcomers, and acquire the Tianyan. Isn't that a good result? And it's not like we've taken advantage of her. Gu Xiaorou might even be grateful to us for it."
Everyone's eyes lit up immediately. Yes, what Commander Luo said made sense. Gu Xiaorou was facing the pursuit of the Heavenly Eye Society. Even with the Heavenly Eye, she would be surrounded by enemies. Rather than living in fear, it would be better to seek the protection of a powerful organization. It was only natural for the Superpower Headquarters to step in. Most people nodded in agreement.
Fang Taiping and Zhou Mulong did not nod. Zhou Mulong, not being good with words, remained silent, but vaguely sensed that something was amiss. Fang Taiping, being straightforward, spoke directly: "Commander Luo, while this isn't exactly us taking advantage of someone in distress, it's still taking advantage of their vulnerability, which inevitably gives people something to criticize. Besides, we don't know Gu Xiaorou's attitude. What if she refuses us?"
Li Zhongqi nodded and said, "Instructor Fang has considered things quite carefully. Although the Sky Eye is important, we also cannot give others a reason to criticize us. And most importantly, we need to consider Ling Yun and Gu Xiaorou's attitude. If they refuse, things will become difficult later on."
Luo Panxi gave Fang Taiping a dissatisfied look: "Since she can use her Heavenly Eye to enhance Ling Yun's power, it proves that the two have a close relationship. As long as Ling Yun makes enough efforts, how could Gu Xiaorou refuse?"
"But Lao Luo, will Ling Yun try to persuade Gu Xiaorou to join the Superpower Headquarters as well?" Tie Li asked with some concern.
“Since Ling Yun is a trainee superhuman in our Superhuman Headquarters, he must obey orders. We are a military combat unit, not an administrative department, and he has no right to refuse.” Luo Panxi smiled coldly.
“I don’t think this is quite appropriate, Lao Luo. Although Ling Yun is our subordinate, the matter of the Heavenly Eye is ultimately his private matter. We have no right to force him to do anything about private matters. Moreover, we still can’t be sure whether his power truly comes from the Heavenly Eye. I think that young man, although he looks kind, is quite stubborn at heart. He probably won’t be so easily swayed by orders. Besides, Ling Yun just joined headquarters and can’t be considered loyal yet. He might even resent headquarters’ unreasonable orders.” Li Zhongqi said with a serious expression.
Luo Panxi smiled slightly: "It depends on the situation. If it's about national security, then Ling Yun, as a soldier, has no personal matters to speak of. It's not that we're coercing him and Gu Xiaorou, but Tianyan is too important. At least we won't take overly harsh measures. However, if Tianyan falls into the hands of other forces, especially those radical and belligerent forces, it will not only pose a great threat to the China Superpower Headquarters, but it could also very likely provoke a war among superpowered individuals. Old Li, I had no choice but to consider this carefully."
Li Zhongqi remained silent. Although he still held a different opinion, Luo Panxi's words made sense. Everything related to the Heavenly Eye was too important. Moreover, it might attract the attention of various factions of superhumans, which could easily cause chaos in the world. This could not be simply seen as taking advantage of someone's misfortune. Sacrificing one person's interests in exchange for future security was not wrong either.
He thought for a moment and said, "Old Luo, what you said makes sense, but this matter will ultimately fall on Ling Yun's shoulders. I think we should be more cautious and have a good talk with Ling Yun. We shouldn't make things backfire and end up worse. We should also consider the consequences. If Gu Xiaorou agrees, that would be the best. If she doesn't agree and Ling Yun doesn't want to persuade her, then we'll have to think of another way."
Luo Panxi smiled faintly: "Ling Yun will agree, unless he... Hehe, we can arrange for someone to have a good talk with him first. I have already found a candidate. I believe that trainee team leader Xia Zhen will be competent for this task."
Li Zhongqi sighed softly and fell silent. He had initially wanted to suggest that Luo Panxi wait for the chief instructor to return before making a decision. However, upon further reflection, he refrained from speaking. After all, Luo Panxi was the executive deputy chief instructor, and with the chief instructor absent, he was the top leader. He had to give him face and not embarrass him. He had already made his point; Luo Panxi's decision was now his own business.
Tie Li was indifferent; Luo Panxi and Li Zhongqi each had their reasons, and it was difficult to say which side was right for the time being. However, in his heart, he still leaned towards Luo Panxi's opinion. It was obvious which was more important, Ling Yun's attitude or the Heavenly Eye. In fact, it could be said that if Ling Yun hadn't been involved in this matter, he could have been ignored by the three powerful figures.
"Does anyone have any further objections? If not, let's adjourn the meeting. Instructor Fang, call Xia Zhen over; I have something to say to her." Luo Panxi gave each instructor a stern look.
Since he had already made up his mind, and the other two deputy chief instructors had not expressed any opinions, the other instructors were naturally not foolish enough to go against his opinion. So they all shook their heads, and then Luo Panxi announced the adjournment of the meeting.
Fang Taiping walked out of the conference room with heavy steps, glanced at the door of the quiet room where Ling Yun was, and suddenly felt a little guilty. He slowly shook his head, sighed, and left.
Chapter 190 A Soft Heart
Bang, bang, bang. Hesitant knocking came from outside the quiet room, revealing the knocker's unsettled state of mind. It seemed as if they wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Please come in." Ling Yun's voice in the quiet room was as calm and simple as ever, without any emotional fluctuations or the slightest hint of emotion. However, only those who were most attentive and closest to him could detect that the boy's voice was quite different from usual, seemingly hiding a subtle bitterness, a result of his turbulent emotions and intense inner turmoil, which he was trying his best to suppress.
The door opened silently, and countless subtle yet complex expressions flashed across the girl's pure and beautiful face. She bit her lip, then gently closed the door behind her. After taking a deep breath, she stared blankly at the boy standing in front of the bright window with his back to her.
Ling Yun turned around and gazed at the elfin-like girl, silently looking at her fair, jade-like face, as if she were a figure from a painting. This was the first time he had ever looked at Xia Zhen so closely and seriously. Usually, although he thought Xia Zhen was very beautiful, when the two of them were together, they would always talk about business or other topics, and rarely did they have such an emotional and suggestive gaze.
Normally, the girl would have been embarrassed by his gaze and rushed over to pinch and twist him. After all, girls are shy, and being stared at like that by the boy they like always makes them a little embarrassed. But today, for some reason, Xia Zhen just silently let Ling Yun look at her, her large, watery, jewel-like eyes filled with a moving and poignant gaze, as if silently telling a story.
The two were originally as close and harmonious as the closest of friends, but after Xia Zhen confessed her feelings to Ling Yun in front of the vortex, when they met again, there seemed to be a thin membrane between them. Suddenly, a feeling of unfamiliarity arose, and a strange feeling grew in the hearts of the boy and girl respectively. It was completely different from the carefree happiness and joy they had when they were friends.
Under the bright sunlight, Xia Zhen's skin was crystal clear, like a piece of unadorned jade. Ling Yun's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but want to reach out and touch her smooth and delicate skin. However, he only raised his hand halfway before suddenly remembering Gu Xiaorou's stunningly beautiful face. He couldn't help but sigh deeply and was about to lower his hand.
A smooth, delicate sensation suddenly came from his fingertips, and Ling Yun was startled. It turned out that Xia Zhen had stepped forward, her soft, boneless hand grabbing his hand, then gently stroking it against her delicate face. The intoxicating fragrance of a young girl filled his nostrils, and her barely audible voice rang in his ear, like a dream: "Yun, you want to touch me... is that right? Touch me properly, my heart and my body are yours."
Ling Yun silently stroked Xia Zhen's face and her smooth, black hair, a heavy, complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. He didn't know how to face Xia Zhen's feelings, nor what to say. If he did have feelings for Xia Zhen, it seemed he only considered her his closest and dearest friend. But if he didn't like Xia Zhen, the boy simply couldn't bring himself to say, "I only see you as a friend or a sister."
Seeing those expectant and hopeful eyes, those expressive big eyes, and those thin little lips that boldly expressed their affection despite a girl's dignity, Ling Yun's heart was suddenly pierced by something sharp, and then filled with infinite emptiness and confusion. The softest part of her heart was awakened by memories, which awoke from their slumber and slowly beckoned to Ling Yun.
Looking at Xia Zhen, who was as docile as a kitten, the young man suddenly felt an impulse. He opened his arms and pulled Xia Zhen into his embrace. Xia Zhen was startled at first, but then her heart filled with joy. She buried her soft, delicate body deep in the arms of the man she had dreamed of holding. A unique fragrance emanated from Ling Yun's chest, making the young girl completely intoxicated.