Chapter 161: The Ultimate Stress Relief Technique (Lu Xin Edition)

Following the Crimson Moon Incident, many mysterious and unknown changes had emerged across the Wilderness.

The maniacs, who had once caused the collapse of human civilization and order, constituted only a minuscule fraction of these dangers. This was because once people recovered from the initial state of terror induced by these maniacs and began to understand and master their characteristics, they realised…

…these maniacs were just, well, maniacs!

Instead, the greatest dangers lurking in the Wilderness were the unexplainable phenomena, the “Crimson Moon Aberrations” spoken of only in ghost stories of the wilds, and the existence of strange Forbidden Zones whose authenticity was uncertain and whose underlying principles were utterly impossible to analyze.

Fundamentally, this sense of danger stemmed from the boundless expanse of the Wilderness and the sheer inadequacy of human exploratory capabilities.

Regardless, maintaining constant vigilance while traveling through the Wilderness was the cardinal rule.

Of course, that was under normal circumstances…

For individuals like Lu Xin and Gecko, journeying with the protection of three special operations squads, a reserve military unit, and two helicopters in the air, not only was vigilance unnecessary, it was perfectly feasible to even catch a nap in the vehicle…

Lu Xin took full advantage and slept soundly in the vehicle.

The matter of the Knights Order was settled. The items they stole had been recovered. Father had already vented his anger.

This left Lu Xin feeling an unprecedented sense of relaxation.

……

Gecko, too, seemed eager to return home, hastening back to Qinggang City.

They covered the distance in just a day and a half, arriving at the gates of Satellite City No. 2 around dawn on the third day.

The City Patrol Army on the High Wall had received advance notice. As the Iron Beast rolled into the range of the floodlights illuminating the front of the West District gate, the Steel Drawbridge lowered slowly. Waiting on the other side of the bridge, people could be seen.

Chen Jing wore a perfectly fitted military uniform that accentuated her naturally tall and slender figure, lending her an even more imposing aura. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman, yet the kind one felt intimidated to look at directly. Consequently, neither Gecko nor Lu Xin dared to look her straight in the eye; they could only dare to steal glances at her.

“From the time you set out until your return, it took only four days, thirteen hours, and fifty-four minutes!”

Looking at Lu Xin stepping down from the vehicle, Chen Jing glanced at the wristwatch on her hand. Though her expression retained its usual efficiency, a hint of a smile seemed detectable: “That’s half the time you initially estimated. I imagine when this news reaches the ears of those professors, they’ll be at each other’s throats again, arguing over what level to assign you, probably pulling each other’s hair out.”

“How brutal…”

Lu Xin thought of those professors’ hair volume and instantly grasped the brutality of their arguments.

“Alright, debrief your mission progress!”

After a moment of lighthearted banter, Chen Jing grew more serious, her expression turning stern as she asked with focus.

Lu Xin had been considering sharing a joke, but hadn’t expected her to so completely slip into ‘leader mode’. He hurriedly became more earnest himself and replied: “The Knights Order that attacked the city had seven members: three Ability Users and four mercenaries. All three Ability Users have been eliminated; two were destroyed, and the other should’ve been transported back for incarceration?”

“The four mercenaries: three died…”

“The painting they stole was recovered, and we also seized five motorcycles…”

……

Chen Jing’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as she asked: “Were the two Ability Users confirmed dead?”

“Confirmed.”

Lu Xin nodded. “Utterly wiped out.” (“Dead with absolutely nothing left” was rephrased to “Utterly wiped out” for natural English flow)

Chen Jing’s brow arched slightly.

Lu Xin paused, knowing that she, and the Special Clean-up Department behind her, would be very focused on the operational details.

He had reviewed the events mentally several times during the return journey.

He began slowly: “Those three Ability Users… one was a Puppet-Type. I caught up with them at Blackwater Town…”

Chen Jing cut in: “Go back and rest first.”

Lu Xin was taken aback: “?” (Preserving the punctuation mark)

Chen Jing met Lu Xin’s surprised gaze with a slight smile: “The mission debrief isn’t urgent. Your return, or more precisely, your safe return, is already an excellent outcome. Rest up for a couple of days; there’ll be a formal opportunity to report on the mission.”

Lu Xin registered mild surprise, seemingly not expecting Chen Jing to have such confidence in him at this moment.

This small gesture of trust, minor as it was, felt deeply gratifying.

“Oh-ho-ho! Is this truly our esteemed Colonel Chen, who always valued work over life itself?!”

Nearby, Gecko was hauling the mercenary he’d captured alive out of a vehicle. Spotting them from a distance, he shouted with a grin: “I got the live one right here! Let me tell you, that Knights Order had seven members. Our Captain here handled three, while yours truly took care of all four mercenaries single-handedly, and captured this one alive to boot! So my merits are significant! Group Leader Chen, about that matter with Linda you said…”

“I’ll notify her. Be patient for a few days.”

Chen Jing turned to look at Gecko, a faint smile also on her face.

“A few days?”

Gecko clearly blinked in surprise: “You haven’t spoken to her yet?”

“Before, we weren’t certain if it was necessary to inform her.”

Chen Jing smiled: “Your surviving to return was something of a surprise to us as well.”

Gecko: “…”

His expression flickered through a smile that quickly vanished again. After several seconds of silence, he suddenly shuddered.

“Alright.”

Chen Jing took the silver suitcase handed over by Lu Xin, addressing both him and Gecko: “The vehicle to take you back is arranged. The items retrieved will be escorted by me to the Research Institute. Dedicated personnel will handle resource consumption and cleanup.”

“You both have a three-day break. Think about how to write this mission’s report.”

“Keep your phones on. We’ll contact you if anything comes up.”

“…”

Seeing her arrange everything as usual, Lu Xin and Gecko could only reply simultaneously: “Understood!”

“Good.”

Chen Jing handcuffed the silver suitcase to her wrist. Escorted by two teams clad in black protective suits, she entered a vehicle and departed efficiently.

Other personnel approached, reapplying handcuffs and shackles to the individual Gecko had captured alive. After confirming with Lu Xin and Gecko that nothing was left behind in the vehicle, they drove away the Iron Beast.

Lu Xin and Gecko suddenly felt all the pressure lift.

Sitting in the Jeep, they exchanged a glance and both released a long, relieved sigh.

“Mr. Lone Soldier, Mr. Gecko. Where would you like to go?”

The driver was still the bald man whose expression remained perpetually impassive. Yet now, his tone seemed to hold greater respect than before.

“Blue Ocean…”

Gecko immediately shouted: “This trip scared me to death. I need to unwind…”

Lu Xin shot Gecko a surprised look.

Gecko faltered briefly, then grinned invitingly: “Aren’t you coming, Brother Lu? After all that stress, not relaxing… what if you lose control later? Don’t worry, you took care of me this trip. Tonight’s is on me…”

Lu Xin’s expression shifted, clearly tempted.

After a moment of serious thought, however, he smiled and shook his head: “Take him first.”

……

Forty minutes later, the car stopped in front of the Old Building.

Lu Xin got out and thanked the driver: “Thank you!”

Recalling the speed with which Gecko had dashed into Blue Ocean, a faint smile touched his face.

Clearly, Gecko really enjoyed that kind of stuff.

Still, after such a tense and perilous mission, having a hobby to unwind was genuinely good. Reflecting on their departure from the city four days ago and their return today—the battles and mysteries encountered along the way…

…He shivered slightly, thinking: “It was so dangerous!”

Sadly, he wasn’t the same as Gecko; their ways of relieving stress differed.

Gecko’s methods worked for him, but Lu Xin couldn’t do the same.

It wasn’t about who paid. Whoever paid, Lu Xin felt it wasn’t quite worthwhile…

He’d head upstairs first and have a meal with his family.

These past few years, this had been their longest separation.

Although his father’s behavior upon their parting had strained the family’s bond, making Lu Xin realize that returning home might not bring the same warmth and comfort as before…

……

Releasing a sigh no one could hear, Lu Xin began walking toward the dark, somber Old Building.

Just as he was about to enter, his satellite phone rang.

“Mr. Lone Soldier, I heard you’re back…”

It was Han Bing calling. Her voice, soft and gentle, remained pleasant to the ear.

“Yes, you already know?”

Lu Xin paused before the apartment building, smiling as he answered.

“I knew as soon as you returned. Feeling you must be wrapping up, I decided to call.”

Han Bing’s voice held laughter: “Congratulations! You executed this mission exceptionally well.”

“Not at all…”

Lu Xin replied hurriedly, sitting on the steps nearby: “I just did what I could.”

“If everyone were willing to do their part, things in our city would improve greatly…”

Han Bing praised Lu Xin firmly before continuing: “Also, while you were away, I’ve compiled and totaled your completed tasks and corresponding compensations. Once you confirm, the total reward should be…”

“Hold on…”

Lu Xin stopped her, pulling out a half-smoked cigar and lighting it slowly: “Let’s go through them one by one.”

“Of course…”

Han Bing seemed to suddenly grasp his meaning, chuckling cheerfully.

Her tone turned serious then: “For reporting the painting hidden by the Xu Family Father and Daughter—an action highly encouraged by our Special Clean-up Department—the reward is 10,000 yuan.”

“When the ‘rose’ incident spread, Mr. Lone Soldier prevented further contamination from spreading at Wanzhong Plaza. That task yields a 100,000 yuan reward.”

“The Mental Contamination Bomb beneath the Southern Wall of Satellite City No.2 was classified as a Class 2 hazard. Its reward is 300,000 yuan…”

“Your training at the Guard Bureau grants you a daily subsidy of 200 yuan. With seven days completed…”

“……”

Sitting on the steps, phone in hand, Lu Xin listened as Han Bing listed each completed task and its corresponding reward. A contented smile spread across his face.