Chapter Twenty-Four: Quantum Beyond Boundaries

Night had fallen.

By the time Nangong Yuchen returned to the Xiyuan Community, it was already past eight. He walked home with his head lowered, still brooding over the events that had just transpired.

Both Mu Feng and Cheng Tianyou, as well as the coffee shop where he worked, weighed heavily on his mind. On one hand, in the vast sea of people, he never expected to run into Mu Feng by chance; on the other, he was shocked to learn that Xia Yue and Chen Hao, whom he’d known for over three months, were actually beastfolk!

He even began to wonder if the proprietress might be the same as those two—a beastfolk as well. Or perhaps she was their superior, an even more powerful beastfolk? Second rank? Third rank?

“If that’s really the case...” Nangong Yuchen was startled by his own suppositions. He felt that surviving thus far was nothing short of a miracle—he’d been living side by side with beastfolk for over three months...

Tap, tap!

Lost in thought as he walked, exhaustion suddenly washed over him. Too much had happened in the past month—first witnessing the fight between Cheng Tianyou and Mu Feng, then getting involved with the father and son Zhou Lingtian, and now being swept up in the beastfolk incident.

Any one of these events could have been fatal to him or to Kexin. Yet it was as if fate had deliberately arranged for him to be plunged, one after another, into these tangled affairs in such a short time.

He exhaled heavily. “Enough—don’t think about it. What matters now is breaking through to the first rank in physical training, rescuing my parents, and earning Kexin’s forgiveness. That’s what’s most important right now!”

The more he thought, the more frustrated he became. Nangong Yuchen forced himself to set aside these worries and focus on his training, as well as the elite student assessment of Star Academy coming up in half a month.

But in the meantime, it seemed neither he nor Kexin would have any nutrient solution to take.

He had no choice—if he wanted access to Mecha City, he’d have to trouble Le Han’s father again. But after their last meeting, he knew even Le Han didn’t have easy access, so he was embarrassed to ask for help once more.

A few minutes later, he arrived at his building, climbed to the fourth floor, took out his key, and gently opened the door.

To keep his sister from hearing, Nangong Yuchen moved quietly, opening the door just a crack and slipping in sideways.

But as soon as his upper body entered the room, the scene before him left him stunned.

The living room was a complete mess. Leftover food and cake littered the dining table, wine bottles and colored paper scraps were strewn everywhere.

“Kexin...you’re really... amazing...”

“No... you’re the one who can compete as an elite student...”

“I feel awful...”

“Nangong... Yuchen, you... jerk...”

On the sofa, his sister Nangong Kexin, Xia Ruli, and Chu Huiyan lay sprawled in utter disarray, clothes askew, unconscious, still muttering incoherently in their sleep.

Looking at the chaotic living room, he wondered for a moment if he’d stepped into the wrong apartment.

...

Nangong Yuchen’s face darkened at the sight. Only after a long pause did he come to his senses, shut the door behind him, and walk over.

The closer he got, the stronger the stench of alcohol from both the women and the room.

“How much did they drink...” Nangong Yuchen shook his head at the bottles and the mess, utterly speechless.

He glanced at the three drunken women on the sofa. Their disheveled clothes offered glimpses of bare skin, making his cheeks flush red—he’d accidentally seen things he definitely shouldn’t have.

Looking away, he took a deep breath, then carefully picked up his sister and carried her to her room.

Fortunately, none of the three had vomited or soiled their clothes; otherwise, he wouldn’t have known what to do.

After laying his sister gently on her bed, he looked at her flushed, delicate face, shook his head, and muttered inwardly that this girl would never let him rest easy. She was clearly older than him, yet she acted more like the little sister.

Returning to the living room, he frowned at the unconscious Chu Huiyan and Xia Ruli. They weren’t like Kexin—if they woke up tomorrow to find themselves in bed, there would be a lot of explaining to do.

But he couldn’t just leave them here. After a long internal debate, Nangong Yuchen finally made up his mind. He picked up Chu Huiyan and quickly carried her to his sister’s room, laying her beside Kexin.

Returning for the last time, he bent to pick up Xia Ruli and carried her to the same room. Just as he was about to lay her down, Xia Ruli suddenly began to sob, “Daddy...don’t go!”

At the same time, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

“Uh... Xia Ruli...”

Nangong Yuchen panicked and tried to pull away, but she only clung tighter.

“Daddy, please don’t leave again. Every time you do, Mom and I are so scared...” Xia Ruli sobbed on, tears quickly soaking her cheeks.

Nangong Yuchen couldn’t make out what she was saying. Watching her cry for no apparent reason, he felt a headache coming on. Hunching over, he managed to lay her on the bed and tried to pry her arms away.

“No...don’t...”

“Come on, let go already!” Nangong Yuchen grew anxious as her cries grew louder. If the other two woke up now and saw this, he’d never be able to explain himself.

Just as it seemed Kexin and Chu Huiyan might wake up from the commotion, Nangong Yuchen used all his strength to finally free himself from Xia Ruli’s grip.

But in doing so, Xia Ruli woke up.

Their eyes met. For a moment, Xia Ruli, still groggy, was instantly clear-headed. She clutched her chest, shrieked, “Nangong... Yuchen! You...you...!”

“Wait—” Nangong Yuchen hurriedly covered her mouth. “Shh!”

“Mmmph—let me go!” Xia Ruli’s face turned bright red from his grip, and she struggled hard.

Nangong Yuchen was desperate. He couldn’t let go—not now. If the other two woke up, he’d be doomed.

“Lili, I swear I didn’t do anything. I just saw you all suffering on the sofa, so I brought you in here to sleep. That’s all...” He poured out his explanation, not caring if she believed him or not.

But Xia Ruli only struggled harder, her face starting to turn purple.

Realizing this, Nangong Yuchen awkwardly said, “Promise you won’t scream, and I’ll let go!”

She nodded frantically.

Only then did Nangong Yuchen release her.

Gasping for breath, Xia Ruli blushed furiously, the color spreading to her ears. Embarrassed and indignant, she stammered, “Why...why aren’t you leaving!”

“Uh—right!” Nangong Yuchen dashed out of the room, not forgetting to call back, “Lili, I really didn’t do anything!”

“You—!” Xia Ruli watched his retreating figure, her face burning as she dove under the covers.

...

In District A of Ruxia City.

It was late, but the streets were far from quiet. As the most bustling area of Ruxia City, District A was still alive with traffic and neon lights. Food stalls wove through the crowds, the brilliant lights and soft night blending together to draw every eye.

Not far away, however, the Lu family’s villa compound stood out in stark contrast, eerily silent as if it didn’t belong to the vibrant city.

Underground research facility.

In the main hall, only the proprietress and Lu Bolong remained, quietly observing the rows of glass cylinders, each several meters high, containing corpses.

Bubbles rose in the green liquid as, within several of the cylinders, the corpses began to change. First, their pale skin flushed red; then, the flesh of their torsos and limbs split open, becoming grotesque and horrifying, until even their skulls twisted and cracked apart.

Within moments, the bodies submerged in green liquid had transformed into blood-red, two-meter-long one-eyed wolf demons.

Other cylinders showed similar changes, though the resulting beasts were of different forms.

“Lu Bolong, you did well transporting 200 beastfolk safely this time. Including the 200 from half a year ago, our plan’s requirements have finally been met.”

Marianne Lennamurphy—the proprietress—seemed to be in an uncommonly good mood, for once offering praise.

“M-madam... it was nothing...” Lu Bolong, clearly unused to such approval, was flustered.

Bang!

But at that moment, the research facility’s doors burst open.

Xia Yue and Chen Hao rushed in, panicked and disheveled.

“Hm?” Marianne Lennamurphy’s face went cold as she saw their expressions and the wound on Xia Yue’s arm. “Mera, Hyde, what happened?”

“Bad news, Lady Marianne. The mecha warriors of Ruxia City have discovered the coffee shop, and the secret of the transformation serum!” Mera—Xia Yue—clutched her wound, her features drawn with anxiety.

Marianne’s face changed. “How could we have been exposed?”

“Madam... it was all my fault...” This time, Hyde—Chen Hao—bowed his head and explained everything that had happened at the coffee shop, detailing how he’d been discovered.

Lu Bolong’s face turned ashen as he listened. “Does this mean the Lu family’s involvement is exposed as well?”

“No,” Hyde replied, guilt in his voice.

“Thank goodness...” Lu Bolong breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Marianne. “Madam, what should we do now? Our plan—”

“Hmph! So we’ve been exposed—so be it!” Marianne’s expression returned to calm, unaffected. “According to the schedule, Lord Christian Raphael should have already conquered all the cities beyond the security perimeter. Soon he’ll lead his beastfolk army into Gravya’s Maple Sea Capital! So it doesn’t matter if we’re exposed.”

She continued thoughtfully, “In any case, Lu Bolong—begin the next phase of our plan tomorrow. Make sure there are no more mistakes!”

With that, she prepared to leave with Mera and Hyde.

But Lu Bolong called after her, “M-madam, could we wait a few more days? The Quantum Barrier Breaker is still—”

“What? What’s wrong with the Quantum Barrier Breaker?” Marianne Lennamurphy spun around, glaring at Lu Bolong.

Judging by her look of shock and anxiety, she clearly valued the Quantum Barrier Breaker far more than the transformation serum.

“After it was completed last month, I sent my brother-in-law to deliver it to you personally, but on the way—on the way—”

“Lu Bolong, do you want the entire Lu family turned into corpses?” Marianne’s face twisted with rage, her teeth grinding in barely contained fury.

“The Shangguan family has already discovered the secret of the transformation serum—and at this critical moment, you’ve lost the most important Quantum Barrier Breaker. Do you want your incompetence to ruin our entire plan?!”

Her final words were a scream. Marianne looked as though she could kill him then and there.

“M-madam—”

“I have no time for your excuses. Remember: if the plan hasn’t begun in half a month, there’s no reason for the Lu family to continue existing!”

With a snarl, she struck Lu Bolong on the head.

As a second-rank mecha warrior, Lu Bolong had no power to resist—he was sent flying, slamming into the steel walls.

“Let’s go!” Marianne Lennamurphy left in haste with Mera and Hyde.

Only Lu Bolong remained, curled up on the floor, shivering in terror.