Chapter 140: Underlying Currents Surge (Please Vote)

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“I and her...” Zhong Yun paused for a moment. Seeing their tense expressions and heightened curiosity, he finally said, “We’re just partners.”

“Partners?” The six exchanged glances, none expecting such an answer.

“Rest’s over, let’s continue training.” Zhong Yun stood up and walked over to his training mech. Having mastered the basic commands, he could now operate it solo.

Seeing how slick he was, the six felt helpless. “Partners” was a deliberately vague term—close yet distant at the same time.

None of them were fools; the young lady’s attitude towards him hardly resembled that of a mere partner.

Zhong Yun simply didn’t want to elaborate, and they couldn’t force it out of him.

On the field, the towering ten-meter mech performed a few lifting and stepping motions. Then, that dark, massive machine started running, kicking up clouds of dirt.

The six sitting on the ground were drenched in dust and dirt, cursing loudly.

Suddenly, the mech lightly leapt, flipping its entire body over, landing on its hands. It traced a semicircle midair before standing upright, completing a sideways somersault. The hundred-ton behemoth moved with astonishing grace.

Bai Yuwan, brushing dirt off himself, was stunned. He stared fixedly at Zhong Yun’s mech as it executed another backflip, hardly believing what he saw.

“What’s wrong?” Wang Xiao’er, noticing his odd reaction, followed his gaze. The mech was agile, but it wasn’t something to be so shocked about.

“I... I haven’t... taught him... combination commands yet.” Bai Yuwan stammered.

The five others watched the mech move with the flexibility of a gymnast, as if witnessing a monster.

At that moment, the mech attempted a backflip but failed to land firmly on its feet. With a loud crash, it toppled to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

After training, Zhong Yun felt refreshed as he headed back to his quarters. Although the mech cockpit had an air circulation system preventing stuffiness, after so much exertion, he wanted a hot shower.

Near his room, someone approached and greeted him. “Hello, Deputy Captain.”

“Mr. Zhong, just back from training?” The Deputy Captain, a man in his forties with a square face and resolute demeanor, likely a former soldier, said politely.

Despite the courtesy, Zhong Yun sensed a faint hostility—normal, as most in the base harbored some resentment toward him, largely due to Yu Daoqing.

“Yes. I’m just about to take a shower.” Zhong Yun replied.

“By the way, the whole base has a half-day off this afternoon. There will be many events at the base assembly hall. You should go watch.” The Deputy Captain said as he was leaving. Zhong Yun had heard from Chu Tiange and others that every ten days the base granted a half-day break, allowing members free time.

To him, base life was dull; a few days of sightseeing were interesting, but long-term residence was stifling.

The half-day off was meant to let members relax.

After showering, Zhong Yun knocked on Yu Daoqing’s door.

“What are you doing?” The door opened. Zhong Yun entered to see Yu Daoqing reclining on a lounge chair, surrounded by panoramic images and texts on her screens.

“Reviewing some materials,” she replied without looking up.

Seeing she was busy, Zhong Yun found a seat and surveyed her room. It was his first time here, and the layout echoed the minimalist style of the 901st floor in the Mingzhu Tower.

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After finishing the documents, Yu Daoqing set her computer aside and looked up. “Why didn’t you go pilot the mech today?”

“You must be out of your mind. It’s almost mealtime.”

“So soon?” Yu Daoqing glanced at the clock. Indeed, it was nearly noon. “The worst thing here is constantly losing track of time.”

“I heard the whole base is off this afternoon. The recreation area will be lively. Want to go check it out together?” Zhong Yun suggested.

Yu Daoqing frowned, her face twisting with disdain. “It’s all a smoky, filthy mess. What’s there to see?” She glanced at Zhong Yun. “You shouldn’t go either.”

Curiosity stirred in Zhong Yun. What kind of scene did she consider so filthy? Recalling the strange smiles from Chu Tiange and others when they invited him, he began to understand.

“Why shouldn’t I go?”

Yu Daoqing was at a loss for words. “Just don’t go.”

“Why won’t you explain? You just tell me not to go, like I’m a child?” Zhong Yun laughed.

“You’re still underage. Don’t go to a place like that.” Yu Daoqing advised earnestly.

Zhong Yun realized that aside from Yu Daoqing and a few secretaries, there were no women in the base. At most, there might be some romantic—or rather adult—films shown. In this all-male base, it was quite normal.

“You’re a bit too innocent.” Zhong Yun teased. “Don’t tell me you’ve never seen anything like that.”

Yu Daoqing’s cheeks flushed. “What’s so interesting about it? It’s disgusting.”

Her furrowed brows showed genuine disgust. Zhong Yun was surprised. “Sister, how old are you? You’re way too innocent.”

“You little brat.” Yu Daoqing was a bit embarrassed.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never been in love?” Zhong Yun joked.

“I’m not telling you.” Yu Daoqing huffed, holding up her computer.

Though joking, Zhong Yun sensed she might be serious—never having had a relationship at thirty was hard to believe.

“Could it be true?”

“You wish.” Yu Daoqing, flustered and angry, threw the computer at him.

Zhong Yun caught it swiftly. “Hey, there’s a lot of important data on this. What if it breaks?”

“I’ll smash you.” Yu Daoqing gritted her teeth.

Just then, the bell rang—lunchtime.

After eating, Zhong Yun returned to his room. He hadn’t planned to join the crowd in the recreation area anyway. Except for Bai Yuwan, Chu Tiange, and their group, most people there were unfriendly to him. Why bother making a fool of himself?

Better to stay in and play some games. Though not as realistic as the “combat simulations,” the virtual games still offered plenty of entertainment.

As for Yu Daoqing, he’d wait for her to cool off. She seemed truly angry today, ignoring him on their way to eat and pretending not to hear him.

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In a dimly lit room, two indistinct figures spoke, backs turned.

“Are you really going to do this?” The taller figure’s voice was hoarse.

“I’ve planned for this day for over ten years. Now, this once-in-a-lifetime chance, I won’t let it slip away.” The other gestured passionately, voice echoing.

The tall figure sighed. “You saved my life. Though I’m sorry... I’ll follow your plan.”

“You don’t have to act personally, just isolate the recreation area for two hours.”

“Are you sure you can handle her? Could she have hidden moves we don’t know about?” The tall figure expressed concern.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already uncovered her secrets. Without at least a seventy to eighty percent chance of success, I wouldn’t risk it.” The other was confident.

“The only worry is that old man. I’ve followed him for seven or eight years but haven’t been able to probe his depths. However, I have a way to deal with him. He would never suspect his most trusted deputy would betray him.”

The tall figure fell silent, clearly apprehensive about the old man. After a moment, he asked, “What about Zhong Yun? What will we do with him?”

The other’s eyes flashed coldly, visible even in the dim light. “He’s just a level-seven kid. What trouble could he cause? We’re short-handed, so we’ll leave him alone for now. Once the big picture is settled, we can deal with him.”

They discussed further details. “Operation starts promptly at 3 p.m.” After speaking, they quietly departed one after another.

A half-day off every ten days thrilled the base members. Aside from the captain and a few instructors, everyone was a vigorous young adult between twenty and thirty enduring monotonous, dreary training, their spirits long suppressed. They were eager to enjoy this chance to unwind.

The base’s recreation area was dedicated to leisure during breaks, equipped with numerous entertainment facilities—both standard and restricted.

There were no real women in the base, only virtual ones. To relieve the pressure on young members, the base offered tens of thousands of adult entertainment machines. Upon entering, users entered a virtual space with countless women to choose from, where anything was possible.

Though the Davo Republic’s constitution strictly prohibited manufacturing such devices, the military was an exception. These machines effectively relieved soldiers’ stress. Otherwise, managing the young, dissatisfied men would be difficult, prone to frequent disturbances.

This base was no different from a military installation, so possessing such machines was unsurprising. In fact, they were the most popular among base members.

At 3 p.m., nearly everyone entered the recreation area. Unaware of the impending events, the revelers found all access points silently sealed off.

The entire base was built to military standards, its sturdiness unquestionable. Without unlocking the seals inside the recreation area, forcibly breaking through was no easy task, especially unarmed.

At the base’s primary dormitory, the Deputy Captain’s voice sounded outside a door. “Captain, I have a report.”

The door opened. The captain’s gaze didn’t leave the training schedule chart before him. “What is it?”

“Well...” The Deputy Captain approached from behind, holding a thumb-thick black metal rod in his hand.

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