Chapter 193 Purple Flowers
The man was taken aback and couldn't help but say, "Such strength! Chen Zhi's strength is even above ours, yet we couldn't withstand his attack. And what kind of strange technique did he use to leave this place? I just can't figure it out."
Lily remained silent for a long time before shaking her head and saying, "I don't know either. All I know is that Ling Yun is definitely not the kind of simple superhuman. His abilities far surpass ours. Perhaps it's unfair to him to come to the Superhuman Headquarters as an apprentice superhuman. Maybe the outside world is more suitable for him." As she spoke, she couldn't help but sigh deeply.
Hearing her praise of Ling Yun so highly, the man felt a pang of jealousy. He pursed his lips and said, "Stop thinking about him. Let's hurry up and wake Chen Zhi up so we can go back and report to the team leader. This whole mess is getting out of hand."
He walked listlessly toward Chen Zhi, who was lying unconscious on the ground. Lily watched his back for a long time before reluctantly following him. Even though Ling Yun was far superior to them, the three of them had failed in their duty this time. Chen Zhi had even been knocked unconscious by Ling Yun's punch. In any case, a severe reprimand was inevitable.
………………
A flash of silver light appeared, and a large gate made of silver light suddenly materialized in the air. Ling Yun stepped out of the gate, which then shrank and disappeared. The Superpower Headquarters consisted of four levels. Although it didn't seem large, it was actually divided into overlapping spaces by a Skynet barrier. There was no way to enter the next level from the ground; one had to pass through the barrier passages of each level. Through his experience, Ling Yun had become exceptionally proficient with the keys. He could even complete complex patterns like 3D light maps in a very short time, making crossing the barrier a simple and easy task.
Although it seemed simple, Ling Yun had to traverse the headquarters of superpowered beings layer by layer, because the key didn't provide a direct method for crossing; he could only cross one layer at a time. Perhaps a faster method could be created based on the existing key. Ling Yun thought to himself as he gently landed on the ground.
This is the third floor of the headquarters, presumably where the instructors live. Although it looks more luxurious than the fourth floor where the deputy chief instructors live, it only has a few buildings similar to the small buildings on the second floor. Apart from that, there are large areas of open space. It's like the early stages of a newly developed area in a city.
A thin layer of asphalt was laid on the ground, compacted very smoothly and firmly. Every few hundred meters, there was a small flower bed of about fifty square meters, like a square of wildflowers, dotting the empty third floor and adding a touch of life to the instructors' world.
Just as Ling Yun was about to leave, his expression suddenly changed, as if he had discovered something. He walked a few steps to a flower bed, gently picked up a small purple flower near the edge of the bed, and examined it carefully in his hand.
The small purple flowers were very bright and beautiful. Lingyun couldn't name them, but intuitively they seemed to resemble roses. The leaves and flowers were delicate, full of rich, juicy texture and smoothness. They felt cool and comfortable to the touch. The flower center was open, revealing colorful and pink stamens inside. A gentle breeze blew by, and the stamens swayed slightly in the center of the flower, making it look extremely beautiful.
"It smells good, doesn't it?" Ling Yun muttered to himself. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard a very faint, invisible, yet purely spiritual, call. This call was not like the sound made by intelligent beings like humans, but more like the unintentional brainwave-like mental fluctuations emitted by some kind of life. Although it did not have any meaning, it was definitely not the unconscious noise formed by nature, but a tacitly rhythmic pulse.
If Ling Yun hadn't possessed far superior perception and mental energy field compared to others, he might not have noticed the strangeness of the summoning. Since there was no one around, Ling Yun followed the source of the summoning and found the small purple flower. After a careful examination, he realized that the flower was just an ordinary wildflower. Although it was beautiful, there were countless such nameless wildflowers in the wilderness on the outskirts of the city, so it wasn't anything special.
A unique and faint fragrance wafted into Ling Yun's nose. Ling Yun narrowed his eyes and couldn't help but bring the small purple flower to his nose to smell it.
Suddenly, as if by its own will, the petals and center of the small purple flower opened automatically, and the dense stamens, like a thicket of grass, cascaded out in all directions. From deep within the stamens, a slender, white, and translucent finger, as white as jade, emerged. The three-tenths-length pink nail polish, painted with clear nail polish, reflected a faint luster in the sunlight. The fragrance of the flower was the scent of the nail hidden within the stamens. A tiny, breathtakingly bright silver light shone from the pink fingertip, and with a soft, seemingly slow but actually swift motion, it touched Ling Yun's forehead.
At such close range, Ling Yun didn't even have time to dodge, let alone be surprised. His eyes had barely shown any surprise before his face froze like a statue. The slender finger that had touched his forehead gently withdrew, but the tiny silver light, the size of a match head, remained. It flickered briefly in the sunlight, then instantly transformed into a silver net covering Ling Yun's entire body, like a giant silver woven bag encasing him upside down. After flashing for a moment, the silver net vanished in a flash.
Ling Yun was frozen in place, as if struck by a spell, remaining in the same position as a clay or wooden sculpture, smelling the small flower. The silver light net from before had not truly disappeared, but had transformed into a binding barrier that entered his body, sealing off all his abilities to move. At this moment, Ling Yun was not only unable to move, but he couldn't even blink.
A small purple flower flew out of his twirling fingers on its own, hovering like a dragonfly at eye level with Ling Yun. His slender, snow-white fingers had already retracted from the flower's center. Under Ling Yun's gaze, which seemed to freeze even his own, the small purple flower suddenly began to grow rapidly at a visible speed, transforming into a giant purple blossom in a short time.
A giant purple flower slowly fell to the ground, its petals spreading out in all directions, like a beautiful three-dimensional painting in full bloom. From the flower's stamens, which had grown to two meters tall and as thick as a child's arm, came a soft, crackling sound. A pair of slender, snow-white, perfect hands were gently parting them, revealing the true owner behind the fingers that held Ling Yun still.
If Ling Yun were to move even slightly, he would surely show a look of surprise. The girl who slowly emerged from the flowers had exquisite features; even in her simple purple floral uniform, her breathtaking beauty could not be concealed. From her demeanor and bearing to her appearance, she was flawless, deserving only admiration and awe. While Xia Zhen was also exceptionally beautiful, compared to this older sister, she seemed to lack a certain awe-inspiring presence and irresistible allure.
This girl is Xia Zhen's older sister, Xia Lan.
Xia Lan's bright, star-like phoenix eyes gazed deeply at Ling Yun, her gaze seemingly carrying an indescribable depth. The boy's gaze was also fixed on her, but Xia Lan knew that after being imprisoned by her, even his gaze could not be changed. Ling Yun seemed to be looking at her, but in reality, he could only stare in one direction because he was unable to move.
She slowly walked to Ling Yun's side, looking into his eyes the whole time, as if trying to see into the boy's heart and see what he was thinking. Xia Lan could even see her own beautiful face reflected in Ling Yun's sparkling eyes, and beyond that, an endless depth.
"I know this is very unfair to you, Ling Yun." After a long silence, Xia Lan finally spoke slowly, her tone calm and thoughtful. She knew that Ling Yun's body was only restrained, but his mind remained clear, so he could naturally listen to her. "But there's not much fairness in this world. As a superhuman, you wield power far exceeding that of ordinary people. Have ordinary people ever complained about unfairness? I'm not doing this to capture you and keep you under house arrest in the Superhuman Headquarters for life. It's just for the benefit of the Superhuman Headquarters. I hope you can think this through and not do anything foolish because of a moment of impulse."
Xia Lan took a few steps and then turned around behind Ling Yun. She seemed to have considered it for a long time before speaking softly: "Ling Yun, I only have one younger sister, Xia Zhen. We are closer than blood sisters, so I always want her to be happy. I can see that she seems to like you very much. I don't know what your relationship is with that Gu Xiaorou, but no matter whether you stay at the Superpower Headquarters or leave, if you wrong Xia Zhen, I, Xia Lan, will never forgive you."
She turned back to Ling Yun, looking at him again with eyes as deep as the starry sea: "I really can't see what Xia Zhen sees in you. Your background is somewhat unusual, but everything else is too ordinary, and your strength is too weak. I hid in the purple flowers, thinking you would find me, but you have really disappointed me, Ling Yun. Perhaps you are stronger than Xia Zhen now, but given time, she will surely surpass you. Moreover, Commander Luo is right, you have only reached your current level by relying on the power of your Heavenly Eye. Once you encounter a true powerhouse, you will be quickly defeated. I will teach you one more time: never trust your eyes. What you see may just be an illusion."
Ling Yun, who had been motionless, suddenly laughed: "You're right, Xia Lan. Never trust your eyes. What you see may just be an illusion!"
Xia Lan's expression changed drastically. She no longer had time to think about why Ling Yun could still laugh while she was holding him captive. A strong and direct warning arose in her mind.
But it was too late. Ling Yun suddenly vanished like a figure made of clouds and smoke. Xia Lan was about to dodge when she felt a light tap from Ling Yun's fingertip behind her head. The net of light formed by the mental force field instantly enveloped her, freezing her in place and rendering her unable to move.
Chapter 194 Gains and Losses
"An eye for an eye!" Ling Yun slowly walked up to Xia Lan, looking into her phoenix eyes that shifted instantly from calm to shock to anger and confusion, and said calmly, "I think what I'm doing is tantamount to stabbing you in the heart. You just taught someone not to trust their eyes, but it turns out you're the one who's blind, unable to see the truth."
His finger suddenly twitched slightly, and a glint of silver light shot out and touched Xia Lan's lips: "I'm still more humane than you. At least I gave you a chance to speak. For Xia Zhen's sake, you can ask whatever you want. But don't ask me how I saw through your stupid question. I'm too lazy to answer. Figure it out yourself."
Xia Lan was nearly driven mad with anger upon hearing this. She was utterly shocked and couldn't understand how Ling Yun had seen through her disguise and then used it to deceive her. She had been captured without warning, and in a direct confrontation, the outcome was uncertain.
Just as she was about to ask, Ling Yun shut her up. If she asked, wouldn't she be seen as a fool in Ling Yun's eyes? This kid seems honest enough, but he can really be sharp when he says something derogatory!
"Nothing to say?" Ling Yun glanced helplessly at the stiff Xia Lan. "Then you can stay here by yourself. I'm leaving now!" With that, he strode away.
"Stop right there, Ling Yun!" Xia Lan shouted through gritted teeth. For some reason, this kid seemed ordinary, but he had a knack for infuriating people. Seeing his calm and collected demeanor, yet his ability to manipulate her at will, Xia Lan couldn't help but feel resentful. Normally, she was very composed, but when she encountered Ling Yun, she became somewhat agitated.
"Is there something you need?" Ling Yun stopped standing, but didn't turn around. He just frowned and twisted his neck to ask.
"You win." Xia Lan forced herself to calm down and said slowly, her beautiful eyes burning like flames. "I didn't have the right to say that, since I attacked first. But if you let me go and we fight fair and square, you might not be my match. I, Xia Lan, have never lost to anyone of my generation. How could I possibly lose to a trainee ability user like you?"
Ling Yun smiled irritably: "Xia Lan, I'm not a fool. You don't need to try to provoke me. Whether you're my opponent or not, at least I'm standing here properly, while you're imprisoned by me. A loss is a loss. What's the point of a head-on duel? You were ambushed by the enemy, and you're telling them that being fair and square doesn't make you a hero? Since you know you're not qualified, don't say it. Otherwise, you're just humiliating yourself."
Xia Lan pursed her lips, her anger erupting like a volcano, impossible to contain. Accompanying this was a deep sense of shame. From childhood, she had always been proud and dazzling, like a phoenix soaring high in the sky, looking down upon all living beings. What a feeling of being high above everyone else!
Within her family, she was a dazzling star, showered with talent and affection from a young age, hailed as the most outstanding superhuman genius in the Xia family's centuries-long history. At the Superhuman Headquarters, she was a rising star, unmatched by anyone of her generation. Even Ye Feng, another superhuman hailed as a peerless prodigy, repeatedly suffered setbacks in the face of her ingenious schemes and rapidly improving power.
Moreover, she completed her missions exceptionally well, especially the dangerous ones, which honed Xia Lan's character and courage. At a young age, she already possessed the demeanor of a great general. At the age of twenty-one, she was promoted to become the youngest deputy team leader in the history of the Superpower Headquarters, a position second only to instructors and team leaders. The young woman was surrounded by countless accolades, and even the most humble person couldn't help but feel an immense sense of pride at this moment.
However, it wasn't until today that Xia Lan realized that this ordinary boy, whom she hadn't paid much attention to, actually possessed such unpredictable power. With just a few gestures, he could melt her heart. Looking at that unremarkable face, a deep sense of powerlessness suddenly welled up in Xia Lan's heart. This was a feeling she had never experienced before. Even if the opponent was strong, the girl was confident that she could win. But looking at Ling Yun, for some reason, Xia Lan suddenly lost her confidence in winning.
Ling Yun's merciless and sharp words were like a dagger, piercing deeply into Xia Lan's sensitive and proud heart. Unbeknownst to her, Xia Lan had already bitten her lip until it bled. Her piercing gaze was like a sharp dagger, aimed straight at Ling Yun's heart. If eyes could shoot bullets, Ling Yun would have been killed by her a thousand times over.
Ling Yun turned around and looked at Xia Lan's burning phoenix eyes. He couldn't help but sigh. For Xia Zhen's sake, he couldn't really do anything to Xia Lan. Just like with Chen Zhi, at most he could only knock her unconscious, not kill her completely. Otherwise, the relationship with the Superpower Headquarters would be completely ruined, and there would be no room for reconciliation in the future.
Leaving room for maneuver in everything is a wise and unassuming attitude, and a sensible decision, not a sign that Ling Yun is afraid of anyone.
“Xia Lan, you just advised me that nothing is fair, and I admit you have a point,” Ling Yun said after thinking for a moment. “But I don’t know if you’ve heard this saying: Where there is injustice, there will be resistance. Compromising under injustice is because we are temporarily unable to fight against it, not because we are willingly accepting it. If I can fight against injustice, and even eliminate it, why wouldn’t I do it?”
As he spoke, he suddenly flicked his middle finger again, and a flash of silver light burst forth from his fingertip, striking Xia Lan precisely. After the flash of silver light, the girl immediately felt that she had regained her mobility, but as soon as she slightly exerted her telekinesis, she immediately discovered that although her mobility had returned, her mental field and supernatural abilities were tightly suppressed by a strange force. She could only move like a normal person, but could no longer use her supernatural abilities.
Xia Lan was both shocked and involuntarily impressed. She too could instantly cast a restraint or release spell, but she couldn't do what Ling Yun did—easily release her movement while only restraining her supernatural abilities. After being ambushed by Ling Yun, Xia Lan was still unwilling to accept defeat. Her provocative words were partly meant to provoke Ling Yun into releasing her, but partly they also stemmed from genuine resentment. Xia Lan always had strong confidence in her own strength and believed she would never lose to this boy who was four years younger than her in a direct fight.