Can't afford to pay for the takeout? Stunning CEO: Then pay with your body!

Chapter 199: Layout!

The air on the third underground level still smelled of gunpowder from the battle.

Zhang Yan rubbed his temples; the aftereffects of that shriek were making his head throb.

"Brother Yan, are you really alright?" Qin Xiao leaned closer, his eyes filled with worry.

"They won't die." Zhang Yan waved his hand, his gaze falling on the three mechs. "Check the equipment first."

The three mechs, Xingtian, Baihu, and Xuanxie, stood silently, their energy cores on their chests shimmering with a faint blue light, as if they were breathing.

Nie Qingcheng walked to Zhang Yan's side and took his hand.

Her palms were a little cold, but the pressure was strong.

"That scared me to death." Her voice was very soft.

Zhang Yan held her hand without saying a word.

Qin Xiao watched the two of them from the side, then wisely turned around to inspect the mecha.

He circled around Xing Tian, ​​marveling, "Those claw marks on the armor... that woman's strength is outrageous."

"That's not her," Zhang Yan said, his voice a little hoarse.

Qin Xiao was taken aback: "Huh?"

Zhang Yan released Nie Qingcheng's hand and walked to the center of the energy matrix, where a trace of scarlet energy fluctuations still lingered.

He crouched down and made a grasping motion in the air.

"Su Wanqing is just a vessel." He stood up, turned to look at the two of them, "The real thing is called 'Ruins'."

"Ruins?" Qin Xiao read the word aloud, feeling as if his tongue was tied in knots.

Zhang Yan nodded and walked back to the two of them: "Thirty thousand years ago, the ancestors of the Mohist school built an interstellar ark to escape Earth in order to avoid it."

Qin Xiao's expression changed from shock to utter bewilderment: "Wait, wait, wait, the Interstellar Ark? Thirty thousand years ago? Brother Yan, were you stunned by that shout just now?"

"I hope so too." Zhang Yan gave a wry smile.

Nie Qingcheng didn't speak, but stared intently into Zhang Yan's eyes.

She knew this man too well; he never joked, especially not at a time like this.

"The Ruins are awakening," Zhang Yan continued. "Its energy will radiate outwards, and ordinary people's will simply cannot withstand it."

"Su Wanqing was corrupted; her inner desires were amplified infinitely, and she eventually became its puppet."

Qin Xiao swallowed hard: "Then...now that it's run away, won't it contaminate even more people?"

"Yes," Zhang Yan answered decisively, "and the speed will increase."

"I'll call my dad right away!" Qin Xiao took out his phone.

"No." Zhang Yan pressed his hand down.

Qin Xiao was stunned: "Why?"

"Do you think your dad would believe that?" Zhang Yan asked rhetorically.

Qin Xiao opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Indeed, if he were to tell others about this, they would only think he was crazy.

Extraterrestrial threat from 30,000 years ago? Energy pollution?

It sounds even more outrageous than science fiction.

"Even if Uncle Qin believes me, what about the others?" Zhang Yan released his grip. "The military? The government? What will they do? Block the news? Conduct large-scale investigations? Or just declare martial law?"

Qin Xiao fell silent.

"That would only cause panic," Nie Qingcheng continued. "Besides, the energy of the Ruins is invisible; you have no idea who has been contaminated and who hasn't."

"When everyone is in danger and social order collapses, it will play right into their hands."

Zhang Yan glanced at her, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

As expected of a woman who can control the Qingcheng Group, she sees things very clearly.

"So we're just going to wait here like this?" Qin Xiao asked anxiously. "Just watch that thing cause trouble everywhere?"

"Of course not." Zhang Yan walked to the control panel and pulled up a 3D map of Jinghai City. "We're making arrangements in secret."

He marked several points on the map.

"Qin Xiao, don't you have a group of retired special forces soldiers under your command?"

"Yes, about twenty of them. My dad approved them for me," Qin Xiao replied immediately.

"Have them dispersed to these areas," Zhang Yan said, pointing to the map. "Focus on densely populated areas like hospitals, schools, and commercial districts."

"What are you looking for?"

"People with abnormal behavior." Zhang Yan zoomed in on one area, "Changes in pupil color, loss of emotional control, sudden wealth, or drastic personality change. If any one of these applies, record it, but don't alert them."

Qin Xiao took out his phone and started recording.

"And another thing," Zhang Yan turned to Nie Qingcheng, "how much surveillance authority does Qingcheng Group have in Jinghai?"

Nie Qingcheng thought for a moment: "We have a backdoor for the surveillance in the commercial area, and as for the government... I can get some access through connections."

"That's enough." Zhang Yan nodded. "I'll write an identification program to screen people with abnormal pupils after connecting to Tianji Security's system."

"You can write programs?" Qin Xiao was surprised.

Zhang Yan ignored him and continued, "This matter must be kept absolutely secret. No one but the three of us can know about it."

"What about Su Wanqing?" Nie Qingcheng asked. "Is she... dead now?"

Zhang Yan was silent for a few seconds: "I don't know."

"If Xu leaves her body, she might return to normal, or she might..."

He didn't go on.

It's also possible that he's already brain dead.

"Find her first," Zhang Yan decided. "Qin Xiao, your men should focus on searching the suburbs. Xu was seriously injured and definitely needs to find a place to recover."

"Understood," Qin Xiao replied.

Zhang Yan checked the time; it was almost 2 a.m.

"That's enough for today, you can go back and rest." He rubbed his temples. "There's a lot to do tomorrow."

Qin Xiao wisely left first, but before leaving, he didn't forget to look back at the three mechs, his eyes full of reluctance.

Only Zhang Yan and Nie Qingcheng remained on the third underground floor.

Nie Qingcheng walked over and hugged him from behind.

"Are you hiding something from me?" She pressed her face against his back.

Zhang Yan's body stiffened for a moment.

"Will Xu Su wake up sooner than you said?" Nie Qingcheng continued to ask, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be in such a hurry."

Zhang Yan sighed.

As expected, nothing could be hidden from her.

"There are still three years left." He turned around and looked into Nie Qingcheng's eyes. "But the fact that Xu was able to possess her directly today shows that its power is recovering at an accelerated pace."

"So actually..."

"It might only be two years, or even less."

Nie Qingcheng bit her lip, her eyes reddening slightly.

"Don't be afraid." Zhang Yan reached out and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "I will protect you."

"I'm not afraid." Nie Qingcheng shook her head. "I'm just... reluctant to part with it."

I can't bear to part with this hard-won happiness.

I can't bear to part with any of the days I spend with him.

Zhang Yan pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"I promised you I would stay with you for life." His voice was soft but firm. "I will keep this promise with my life."

Nie Qingcheng didn't say anything, but just hugged him even tighter.

The two stood on the third basement level for a long time until Nie Qingcheng's breathing calmed down.

"Let's go home." Zhang Yan took her hand.

"Um."

The elevator slowly ascended, and the two stepped out of the Tianji Security gate.

The night breeze was cool, dispelling the stuffiness of the basement.

Nie Qingcheng suddenly spoke: "Zhang Yan."

"Um?"

"If that day ever comes..." She looked up, her eyes shining brightly in the moonlight, "I want to be with you."

Zhang Yan paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Silly girl," he pinched her cheek, "that day will never come."

"I possess the Four Spirits of the Mohist School, the Heart of Heavenly Craftsmanship, and you." He gazed at the distant night sky. "If Xu wants to destroy this world, he'll have to ask for my permission first."

Nie Qingcheng smiled too, her eyes still glistening with tears, but her smile was as radiant as a flower.

"Then I'll wait, wait for you to defeat it, and then..." she whispered in his ear on tiptoe, "marry me."

Zhang Yan's ears felt a little hot.

"it is good."

The two got into the car, Nie Qingcheng started the engine, and the car drove into the night.