Deus Ex Machina: Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Shi Yixi’s finger was pointing directly at the location of the Intercontinental Alliance Headquarters.

“Yixi, are you…” Feng Mang, uncertain and incredulous, asked directly, “Which building are you pointing at?”

“That one,” Shi Yixi replied. “The Intercontinental Alliance Headquarters building. The signal he sent me is very, very faint. He doesn’t know where he is either, but I’m sure it came from there. He’s in a very bad state right now.”

“Could it be that the Intercontinental Alliance took Yang Jin?” Feng Mang’s brain was in chaos, overwhelmed by the explosive information. “Just because Yang Jin hadn’t reported back? But what does this have to do with the explosion? If they had the ability to take Yang Jin, why didn’t they spare time for a rescue? What’s going on here? Could the Intercontinental Alliance really be torturing Yang Jin?”

He muttered to himself for a long time, but no one paid attention to him. Ying Si asked Shi Yixi, “So what do we do now?”

“We need to rescue him. He’s in great danger, and we need to move fast,” Shi Yixi said.

“How are we going to do that?” Ying Si asked. “Just the few of us?”

“Too dangerous!” Feng Mang immediately objected. “We still don’t know what’s going on with Bai Yunci and Zhan Feng… Wait, you said Yang Jin is with the Intercontinental Alliance? What about those two? Wouldn’t it be pointless if…”

“Hold on.” Ying Si suddenly remembered something. “It was Zhan Feng who kept drawing everyone’s attention to the Sanctum. And he’s the one who invited Dr. Bai to go with him. Now both of them are out of contact… Damn! I can’t even imagine that Zhan Feng isn’t involved in this! He must have turned traitor! Which means Dr. Bai is also in grave danger!”

“Right!” Feng Mang panicked a bit. “We’re getting hit from both sides—what are we going to do?” He had never been so conflicted before, and there was no one to consult with. All he had in front of him were three inexperienced kids, and he had no idea what to do.

“We have to make a choice.” Of all of them, Shi Yixi was the calmest. “We need to rescue Yang Jin.”

“Why?” Ying Si was baffled. “You made that decision way too easily. You’re only choosing Yang Jin because you’re closer to him, right? Wake up, you idiot! This isn’t the time to act on emotions!”

Dalia frowned and said to Ying Si, “Why are you so annoying? Do you think Xixi is someone who acts on emotions? He doesn’t even have those feelings! I think you’re the one acting on emotions!”

Feng Mang’s head was about to explode. “Stop arguing, all of you!”

As chaos unfolded around them, Shi Yixi calmly asked, “Ying Si, do you really think Xiao Feng is that bad?”

“What else would it be? He’s not one of us!” Ying Si exclaimed in disbelief. “And you even call him Xiao Feng?”

Shi Yixi shook his head and replied, “What you call someone isn’t important; it’s just a name. I think maybe you all misunderstand him deeply. Most of your judgments are based on misunderstandings, which can easily lead to bias. But what’s the truth? I don’t know. Maybe he’s the bad guy you all think he is, maybe not. But the answer is never going to be one hundred percent accurate. We don’t even know what happened between him and Dr. Bai, or where they are now. But the information about Yang Jin is accurate, and we have a better grasp on that.”

Ying Si had never expected Shi Yixi to say something so reasonable. Normally, he was the one lecturing Shi Yixi, but now the roles had reversed, and it threw his pride off balance. Yet he had no grounds for rebuttal and could only grumble, “Fine, then what do we do now?”

Shi Yixi hadn’t fully thought it through yet and could only say, “We go save him.”

“The question is, how?” Ying Si asked impatiently. “We all know what we need to do, but if you’re suggesting it, you should at least come up with a plan!”

“I’m afraid we can’t do it with just the few of us,” Feng Mang said. “That building is the most heavily defended place in the world right now. It’s not somewhere we can just waltz into. And even if we get inside, what then? The building is huge, and we don’t even know where Yang Jin is exactly. How are we supposed to avoid all the surveillance and security to find him? And once we find him, how do we get out? These are all real problems.”

“I’m sorry.” Shi Yixi lowered his eyes. “I didn’t think it through. My apologies.”

“Well, at least you know you’re wrong,” Ying Si said. “So what do we do now? Just sit here and do nothing?”

Feng Mang let out a long sigh and said, “I think there are certain people who definitely have more experience handling tricky rescue missions like this than we do.”

“Who?” Dalia and Ying Si asked in unison.

Shi Yixi, however, asked, “Are you talking about that couple?”

Feng Mang nodded. “Yes.”

Dalia also realized who they were referring to and said, “He Xun might be easier to talk to, but he’s totally under his wife’s thumb. Aunt Meng would never agree. She hates the Intercontinental Alliance and doesn’t really like Yang Jin either. How could she possibly agree to help?”

Ying Si added, “Even if they agreed, what could two people—nearly a hundred years old combined—do? The world isn’t what it used to be.”

Feng Mang chuckled and said, “But do you know that in the face of absolute power, all plans are futile? I think if Meng Die is involved, we could bulldoze our way through.”

Shi Yixi stood up and said, “Then I’ll go ask her.”

“You?” The three of them were shocked.

“Why are you looking for Yang Jin?” Zhan Feng asked, warily eyeing the person in front of him. “Luan Chen.”

“Isn’t the whole world looking for him?” Luan Chen replied. “Can’t I look for him too?”

Zhan Feng retorted, “He’s not with you?”

Luan Chen replied, “I wish he were.”

Zhan Feng sneered, “After orchestrating so much, you expect me to believe that Yang Jin isn’t in your hands? Do you think I’ll trust you?”

Luan Chen approached Zhan Feng and crouched down, causing Zhan Feng to lower his gun slightly. Luan Chen wasn’t bothered by Zhan Feng’s hostile stance. He was long accustomed to Zhan Feng’s uncooperative nature. If Zhan Feng had been compliant, that would have been more surprising to Luan Chen. “Then tell me,” he asked, “what exactly have I planned?” His finger lightly pushed back the barrel of Zhan Feng’s gun.

“So,” Bai Yunci spoke up, “are you saying the explosion last night has nothing to do with you?”

Luan Chen lowered his gaze slightly, the smile fading from his face for a moment. After a brief pause, he said, “I don’t know.”

He Xun hadn’t expected that just a few hours later, he would see Shi Yixi again.

Shi Yixi arrived at the Wu Zhi Martial Hall, with Dalia following closely behind out of concern. The two of them stood at the entrance, looking serious. He Xun asked, “Is there something we can help with?”

“There is,” Shi Yixi said. “We need your help.”

“Us?” He Xun replied, “We’re just ordinary people with no real use…”

“Uncle, can you let us in to talk? It’s awkward just standing here,” Dalia interjected. “We’re not going to cause any trouble.”

He Xun thought for a moment and then stepped aside. “Come in.” He ushered them inside and sat down in the small reception room, his posture tense with his hands resting on his knees. Before he could say anything, Meng Die barged in.

“What are you two little demons doing here?” Meng Die asked coldly.

“Xiao Die-Jiejie,” Dalia said, “we found Yang Jin’s whereabouts.”

“Did you now?” Meng Die said. “Then go find him. Why are you here with us?”

Dalia responded, “We’re here to ask for help.”

Meng Die replied, “It hasn’t even been a day.”

Dalia insisted, “Time waits for no one.”

He Xun gently patted Meng Die, signaling her not to argue with the kids. He asked, “Our abilities are really quite limited…”

Dalia stood up and said, “Xiao Die-Jiejie is so strong! How can you say your abilities are limited? Even Yang Jin couldn’t beat you.”

“She can’t use her powers recklessly anymore,” He Xun said. “If the Intercontinental Alliance finds out, it could cause big trouble. Last time was an unexpected situation. We’ve lived a peaceful life for more than a decade, and maybe we’ve lost the courage to change everything.”

Shi Yixi, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up, “Yang Jin has been taken by the Intercontinental Alliance. I know he’s in that building, and he’s in great danger.”

Meng Die said, “Kid, who isn’t in danger these days? Look at the chaos out there. You should focus on taking care of yourself.”

“It’s because everyone is in danger that some things must be done,” Shi Yixi said. “The protests, the explosion, Yang Jin’s disappearance, the Intercontinental Alliance… these things don’t seem unrelated. Maybe finding Yang Jin will lead us to more answers.”

Meng Die shrugged, “I’m just an ordinary person now. I don’t care about those things.”

“I’m an ordinary person too,” Shi Yixi said. “I thought I didn’t care either, but when the time comes, I find that I still worry.”

Meng Die said, “You’re far from ordinary. Your abilities would be rated A-level or higher in Qianfan, no, maybe even beyond that.”

“But I really am just a useless person who can’t learn anything. I was expelled from Nufeng Academy,” Shi Yixi replied. “I’ve never had many friends, no one wants to be around an idiot. Dr. Bai said that I’ve only recently started developing, but he didn’t tell me why. Around the same time, I’ve started feeling things I never felt before.”

Meng Die shook her head, “I don’t want to hear your self-introduction.”

“It’s not a self-introduction,” Shi Yixi said. “I feel like I’ve gained a lot more power. My ability to express myself, my emotions—they’ve all grown stronger. Even the way I talk has changed. But I never thought I was anything special. I still think I’m that useless person who can’t learn anything. I know that maybe I don’t matter much to this world—born ordinary, living an ordinary life, and leaving in an ordinary way. I’ve never fantasized about doing something great. Just being ordinary is good enough for me. But that kind of ‘ordinary’ is built on the efforts of others. There are so many people working hard to maintain peace in this world, allowing people like me to live such ‘ordinary’ lives. I used to think that my greatest contribution to the world would be not causing trouble for others. Not causing trouble was the extent of my ability. But now, maybe I can do more.”

“I don’t care,” Meng Die said. “Kid, I suggest you stop reading superhero comics. I’ve never believed in that ‘greater power means greater responsibility’ nonsense.”

“This isn’t about superhero comics,” Shi Yixi responded. “Yang Jin despises selfish and foolish people, but when they’re in danger, he still risks his life to save them. He doesn’t know who they are. Was he born to be like this? Sacrificing himself time and time again for people who mean nothing to him? No one is born to give. But this is how the world works—if no one steps up, people like us, weak and selfish, wouldn’t get to live ordinary lives. You’ve been through what he has. Whether it’s Qianfan, the Intercontinental Alliance, or those foolish, selfish ordinary people out there—your deepest resentment comes from them abandoning your husband, from abandoning your comrades.”

Meng Die fell silent.

“And what about Yang Jin?” Shi Yixi continued. “He saved so many people, but in the end, no one is coming to save him.”

Meng Die let out a mocking laugh, “That’s just reality.”

“No, even if it is reality, he won’t change to be like you,” Shi Yixi said firmly. “Because no matter what, even if I’m the only one left, I will do everything I can to find him. I was expelled from Nufeng Academy, and I couldn’t learn their methods. I won’t give up on any comrade, even if it costs me my life. I won’t blame anyone, because this is my own choice.”

“That’s you,” Meng Die said, clapping her hands as if she had just heard a grand speech. The applause continued for a moment, and when it stopped, she coldly added, “But not me.”

She clearly didn’t want to say anything more, and her complete lack of support was somewhat discouraging. Yet, Shi Yixi maintained his calm expression, delivering his earlier words with an unruffled demeanor. Seeing that Meng Die remained unmoved, he simply said, “Goodbye.”

He stood up and prepared to leave.

“Hey!” He Xun called out, chasing after them. “It’s dangerous outside. You shouldn’t run around these days. Many things should be handled by adults, not kids like you…”

Shi Yixi shook his head. “There are no adults left. Everyone is in danger.”

“Uncle,” Dalia said, “we don’t want to be this way either.”

“Let’s go, Dalia,” Shi Yixi said. “We’re short on time.”

“You don’t know?” Bai Yunci laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke. “Aren’t you from the Sanctum? So much has happened, and you say you don’t know? Is that convincing?”

“Or else?” Luan Chen said, “Should I make up a reason for you?” He stood up casually, pulling a gun from his suit pocket and pointing it at Zhan Feng, not caring whether Zhan Feng would be startled and shoot early.

“No need for a reason anymore,” Bai Yunci sensed that this was coming to an end. He had always been the type to bet and accept the outcome; now that he had fallen into the enemy’s hands, he never expected a good result.

“Okay,” Luan Chen nodded, pressing his finger on the trigger.

“No!” Zhan Feng blurted out, his face twisted in anger. “You can’t kill us!”

“Us?” Luan Chen chuckled. “Why not?”

Zhan Feng replied, “Don’t you want to find Yang Jin? I don’t know where he is, but someone does. Let us go back, and I’ll try… if he’s still alive.”

“Sure,” Luan Chen said, surprisingly agreeable, as he redirected the gun at Bai Yunci. “But he can’t.”

With a pull of the trigger, a bullet was fired toward Bai Yunci.

“No!” Zhan Feng screamed, his expression grotesque.

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