Chapter 98

This was the third year after the war. With the two worlds separated, the amount of pollutants was brought under control, and people gradually returned to normal life.

No one knows what happened at the bottom of the sea; all that is known is that none of the five men returned from that mission.

The Bureau of Supernatural Abilities publicized their deeds, and soon their photos were displayed on advertising screens all over the streets and alleys, with large amounts of flowers and offerings placed in front of them.

This led to Xiao Shengyun, who had just returned from the Otherworld, being caught off guard and staring blankly at his own photo.

The photo was probably provided by his mother. It was taken when he was eighteen or nineteen years old. He looked a little young and was grinning broadly. His birth and death years were also thoughtfully marked below the photo.

Anyone would feel a mix of emotions upon seeing their own photo and offerings, but when he saw the other three, that subtle feeling was quickly dispelled by sadness.

There was no miracle; the chances of three humans surviving so much pollutant were virtually zero.

Xiao Shengyun and Zhou Zhi silently paid their respects to their fallen comrades in front of the advertising screen until they heard footsteps in the distance.

A ball bounced a few times and rolled over. Xiao Shengyun instinctively stopped it with his foot. Two little boys followed the ball, one in front of the other, both panting heavily.

"Little friend, this is your ball, right?" Xiao Shengyun placed the ball in the boy's arms.

"Thank you, brother." The boy looked up and then asked innocently, "Brother, you look just like the people up there."

He pointed to the advertising screen.

Xiao Shengyun was speechless. He realized that even if he came back, he couldn't just swagger out. If he was recognized, it would probably be a farce of "coming back from the dead," with all sorts of media swarming in, and he wouldn't be able to live a peaceful life anymore.

"It just happens that they look alike. You should go back now and stay away from the road." He patted the boy's head.

“It looks just like them. Mom said the people in the picture are all great heroes, very powerful people. Brother, are you very powerful?” the boy asked.

"Yangyang, did you find the ball?"

A woman's shouts came from a distance; before she arrived, the two great heroes had fled in panic.

Fortunately, there weren't many people where they landed, and after running a few steps, they turned into a secluded corner.

"This is too terrible. I never expected it to turn out like this. What should we do next?" Xiao Shengyun leaned against the wall with his head up. He originally thought that after going through various missions and defeating the big boss, he could finally live a peaceful life. But his portrait was plastered all over the streets.

"Go directly to headquarters if you want to continue living in this world. Of course, you can erase everyone's memories, but that would be a huge undertaking," Zhou Zhi suggested. There would inevitably be a commotion, but after a while, new news would emerge, and people's attention would shift.

"That's all we can do," Xiao Shengyun said weakly.

The Bureau of Supernatural Abilities reacted to the two's return with a mixture of surprise and fear, as a small number of people knew Xiao Shengyun's identity. Fortunately, this contaminant could communicate, harbored no ill will towards humans, and even saved humanity. After negotiations, both sides reached a consensus: the news of the two's survival was announced, and Xiao Shengyun's contaminant identity record was completely erased.

Next, the Superpower Bureau held a press conference to announce the news, which, as expected, caused a worldwide uproar.

"Finally, it's quiet." Having attended countless banquets, Xiao Shengyun felt like a monkey being watched over and over, making him extremely uncomfortable.

She scanned the room, trying to find her boyfriend; after all, he couldn't be the only one suffering.

Zhou Zhizheng was talking with several high-ranking officials from the Bureau of Supernatural Abilities. These were people he knew from before. He received many greetings from his colleagues as soon as he returned. He was already very familiar with this kind of occasion, having come here many times before when he was seeking investment.

"Mr. Chen, this glass of wine is for you. Please go home early; it's late and the dew is heavy. Take care of yourself."

Zhou Zhi drank it all in one gulp, and only walked to Xiao Shengyun's side after the old man was escorted away by bodyguards.

"Who was that just now? You even went out of your way to offer him a toast?"

“That’s Chen Buyan’s grandfather,” Zhou Zhi said calmly, his eyes lowered.

Chen Buyan, that flamboyant and sharp-willed young master, also ended up perishing in the deep sea.

Five people went, but two of them came back. It's hard to imagine how Old Chen felt.

The people who attended the banquet all had their own agendas, but the two people involved didn't care at all and just wanted it all to end as soon as possible.

After nearly a month of busy work, the storm gradually subsided. At the strong request of the two, only the photos taken on the streets and alleys were of the other three people.

In the following days, many people sent emails and made phone calls, eager to learn about the reasons for the disappearance of pollutants and the secrets of the underwater ruins, drawing governments and institutions from various countries. Xiao Shengyun blocked all this information and only answered one phone call—from Ye Ting.

"I've burned countless incense sticks over the years, and you two actually came back alive. Let's get together sometime and have a welcome-back dinner for you." Ye Ting seemed unchanged, as if they had just gone on a long trip.

The gathering took place at a high-end restaurant in S City. Ye Ting was already waiting when the two entered the private room. Three years had passed, and not only had he not changed, but he was also radiant and had less gray hair.

"You two have been so busy these past few days, I didn't think I'd be able to get a chance to meet up, you're really giving me face," Ye Ting said with a smile.

"It doesn't matter if it's someone else, but we can't refuse the captain's invitation," Xiao Shengyun said. They and Ye Ting had a bond forged through life and death, and Ye Ting was different.

"Don't call me captain anymore. I'm not working on the front lines anymore. Compared to before, I'm living the life of a god now." Ye Ting was all smiles, clearly enjoying his newfound happiness.

Once the dishes and drinks were served, Ye Ting opened three cans of beer, one for each person.

"I forgot you don't drink." Ye Ting placed the wine in front of Zhou Zhi, then slapped his forehead and realized something was wrong. He was too happy today and his mind was all muddled.

"Put it here."

At that one sentence, the other two immediately turned their gazes over, then turned back as if nothing had happened.

A smile appeared in Zhou Zhi's eyes as he watched the two men's actions.

Before he had even finished a bottle of beer, Ye Ting seemed to be drunk, or perhaps he was too happy. He started to slump over the table and sob, “I really thought you two were gone. I even got two electronic tombstones with consecutive numbers, and I bought a ton of things to pay my respects to you every year.”

"How do you pay respects to the electronic tombstone?" Zhou Zhi asked.

Ye Ting wiped away her tears: "Pull out your two information pages, light three incense sticks in front of the screen, and after you've finished offering those things, I'll have to eat them myself."

The other two: "..."

"And then there's Chen Buyan, that kid. When he left, I thought he couldn't stand this kind of work and went back to be a rich young master and enjoy life. What happened to him?"

Everything before Ye Ting's eyes became blurred by tears. It was all over, but some people would never come back.

The Bureau of Supernatural Abilities once set up a website specifically for those Awakened who sacrificed their lives, recording all their life stories. This website was called the Electronic Graveyard. He had erected tombstones for many of his comrades, but he could never get used to the passing of those around him.

No one spoke; they just drank in silence.

A few beers won't get you drunk. After the sadness subsided, Ye Ting started asking all sorts of questions again: "When are you getting your marriage certificate? I'd be happy to be the MC at the wedding."

He patted Xiao Shengyun on the shoulder again and gave him a thumbs up: "You kid... impressive, you managed to take down Zhou Zhi."

"Yes, I was lucky." Xiao Shengyun was also a little drunk.

"It's good that you're back." Ye Ting's voice was somewhat muffled, and no one could hear it clearly.

That's no longer important.

The two took a taxi to send him back to the operations office's break room, where only a few people were on duty. But there was no longer any worry about sudden attacks from pollutants, and monsters would no longer ravage this land. This was the beginning of a peaceful era.

"Will you go back to the research institute later?" Xiao Shengyun asked curiously on the way home.

“I’m not going back. There’s no need. I’m not that passionate about my work anyway.” Zhou Zhi looked up at the starry sky.

"My ideal, the ideal that everyone strives for, has been realized," he murmured to himself.

His parents and his teachers have all passed away, but they left him with the most important things—ideals and love.

This is why he survived, and why humanity survives.

Fate was both stingy and generous to him, always pushing him to the brink of despair only to pull him back with helping hands.

As the taxi pulled up to the entrance, the reopened shops were flashing their lights, and many people were strolling around after dinner, while children played in the central open space.

This was just an ordinary night, and there would be many more like it in the future.

"How about we go out and explore, visiting a different city each month? You've never been anywhere before, have you?"

Xiao Shengyun leaned closer; this man always seemed to be radiant.

"Okay, let's go take a look."

Look at this reborn world.