Gift
Ying Yungui looked at the night sky for a while, then closed his eyes again and said, "He is the only child of the Helan couple, He Xian."
Yan Zhiyuan looked towards the cubicle where He Xian disappeared, and said in an ambiguous tone: "He is He Xian."
The incident with the Helan couple happened in the 163rd year of the new calendar. At that time, Ying Yungui and Yan Zhiyuan were already registered psychics of the association who officially participated in the mission, while Shi Youchen was still an ordinary child. Naturally, he didn't know much about the deeds in this circle, so he didn't feel anything about Ying Yungui's introduction.
At this time, the smart butler came over with a plate, which was the order that Ying Yungui had ordered earlier.
Ying Yungui gulped down the thick raw Pu'er tea and said, "When He Xian comes out, we'll have to discuss that matter. I don't know when I can sleep tonight, so drink something to wake me up."
On the other side, there was no light in the dim compartment. He Xian was kneeling on a mat. In front of him was a picture of a snowy mountain. The picture showed winding cliffs and rolling hills, exactly the same as the one at the junction of Districts 9 and 10.
This compartment is only about seven or eight square meters. The only window is at the top of the right wall. It is a narrow and flat opening, through which a few rays of cold moonlight shine, just falling on the edge of the snow-capped mountain picture.
He Xian just looked at the picture of snowy mountains quietly without saying a word.
This is the first thing he does every day when he returns home—in this dark space, before this painting, he reviews his day's experiences. This painting was created by him after spending nearly a year measuring the land of this mountain range step by step, and trying every possible way to reach every peak.
On the day he acquired the ownership of the manor, he hung the painting here and made two requests to the association:
First, the buildings in the manor need to be renovated.
Second, he wanted the lifetime use rights of a mission vehicle.
The association always complied with his reasonable request, provided him with the best resources, and let him choose a ministerial position on the day he came of age.
He Xian chose the position of Minister of Equipment with a smile and claimed, "I am just a useless person who relies on my parents' merits to make a living. I am very grateful to the association for taking care of me so far."
He was the only minister recognized by the association headquarters who had not reached level 5. In order to make up for the lack of level, the association specially modified the supernatural information in his file.
A unique ability in each of the thirteen districts: Gift.
"Fuck the gift." On the day he got the new file, He Xian knelt in front of the painting like he does now, cursing bluntly, and then muttered, "How could you have stayed in this crappy place?" At that time, he would stare at the picture in a daze and shed a few tears, but he no longer did that after he got used to this kind of life.
Afterwards, he was cheerful all day long, chatting with everyone, whether they knew him or not, familiar or not, a typical self-friendly person. Those who knew him well in the association saw him with pity or sympathy, while those who didn't saw him with respect and admiration. However, over the years, besides himself, the only person who could enter the manor without prior notification was Ying Yungui.
He Xian recalled the day's journey, bowed to the snow mountain picture, stood up, straightened his clothes and went out.
Three people were chatting casually in the living room, and the smart butler was adding tea for them.
He Xian laughed: "I should have changed his appearance to a female one earlier. What do you call it in your place? Red clothes and tea?"
"......" Ying Yungui rolled his eyes at him, "That's called a red-sleeved lady, mentally retarded."
He Xian chuckled as he walked over, sat down a little next to Shi Youchen, and called to the butler: "Louis, add some fragrance." Shi Youchen moved to the left unnoticeably while serving tea.
Ying Yungui: "Why did you change again? I remember last time your name was... David?"
He Xian took a sip of the tea that "Louis" poured for him after a second of reaction: "We broke up a long time ago, Louis is the previous one." Then he cleared his throat.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is He Xian, I'm 23 years old, from District 9, and I'm 188.72 cm tall."
He didn't mention any information about superpowers. Ying Yungui knew it well, but he still said, "He Xian, we are here for the matter of District 3."
He Xian met his sharp eyes, and after a long silence, he finally seemed to admit defeat: "Okay, number 6972, level 4 'gifted' psychic, director of the equipment department of the 9th District Association branch." After he finished speaking lazily, the corners of his mouth drooped, as if admitting his identity as a psychic was a very despicable thing.
Whether it was the name of the ability "Gift" or the position of Minister, Shi Youchen felt puzzled, but he did not show it out of politeness.
Yan Zhiyuan knew the truth and said frankly, "Nice to meet you, Yan Zhiyuan, number 6474, level 6 water system, director of the information department of the 8th district branch."
Shi Youchen met He Xian's inquiring gaze and said calmly, "Number 8463, Level 3 Healing, Shi Youchen." As expected, he saw a flash of confusion in the other's eyes, turned his gaze away, and added, "I awakened later in life."
He Xian smiled brightly: "Wow, I can actually meet a super rare natural awakener. What an honor."
When he first saw Shi Youchen from afar, he was simply struck by his appearance. But now, observing him from closer, he felt his aura was particularly appealing. From the side, his skull was full, his brow bones and nose bridge complemented each other beautifully. His eyelashes weren't too curled, but they were long and thick, yet they couldn't hide the bright pupils beneath. His lips...
He Xian's eyes moved downwards, but before he could even outline his lips, Ying Yungui's body blocked his way.
Ying Yungui rubbed Shi Youchen's shoulder with his leg, signaling him to move to the left to make some space.
So, Yan Zhiyuan sat alone in the middle of the large sofa, while three adult men were squeezed into the small seats on the side...
He Xian finally couldn't help but stand up and glared at Ying Yungui: "If you have something to say, just say it. Why did you have to squeeze in here? Don't you have any idea of your own physique?"
As soon as he stood up, Ying Yungui quickly leaned to the right, occupying that little space: "Huh? What's wrong? Isn't it normal for partners to sit together? Look, this position is perfect for the two of us."
He Xian finally sensed a suspicious aura. Besides the genuine fake smile on Ying Yungui's face, there was also a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth, and a hint of boasting in his eyes. He looked like a child who had snatched the only piece of candy.
"You're just an elementary school student." He Xian wordlessly chose another seat and sat down, no longer arguing with the childish guy. "I just finished a meeting before returning, and activated the Orange Level Response. The written documents contain limited information, so please tell me the specific situation you know."
The small record card was submitted to the District 8 Association as supporting evidence, so Representative Yan Zhiyuan verbally stated all the currently known information, focusing on the conversation on the recorder.
......
"After discussion, we came to the conclusion that, regardless of whether they truly didn't notice this recorded information or deliberately released it to us, it is at least the only source of information so far." Yan Zhiyuan took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and ended his speech.
He Xian: "Oh, no wonder District 3 didn't dare to issue an announcement. They can't provide any useful clues. Even if they did, they would be scolded for nothing and would alert the enemy." He twirled the teacup in his hand lazily, "Personally, I think it's not that they didn't find the recorder, but that they deliberately left evidence for you to see."
Yan Zhiyuan, Ying Yungui, and Shi Youchen: "?"
He Xian asked Louis to put down the newly poured pot of tea and personally filled it for the three of them: "When I pour tea like this, you don't know how much is left in the pot, but I can feel it."
He lifted the lid of the teapot again and filled it up from the top. "But this way, everyone can see it."
The lid was closed again with a crisp sound. "The recorder is like this tea lid. With it, you only pay attention to what is poured out. Without it, you will pay attention to everything."
"And what they want is for you to pay attention to only this small part."
Yan Zhiyuan: "Why do you say that?"
Ying Yungui stared at the three cups of tea: "Where's the evidence? Speculation alone is untenable."
He Xian raised his cup of tea to his lips and looked at Yan Zhiyuan dimly: "You just said that most of the content on the recorder is invalid, right?"
Seeing Yan Zhiyuan nodded, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"The time is wrong." But it was not He Xian who spoke.
There was dust at that time.
"Their operation in Area 3 took only 5 minutes in total, but even the recorder has been blank for more than ten hours. There is no movement in Area 9 at all." Shi Youchen was stunned, his voice was not loud, more like he was talking to himself.
Yan Zhiyuan: "But in the video they said 'notify District 9', so there must be some preparation time..."
Shi Youchen shook his head slightly. "They said 'notify District 9', not 'go to District 9' or 'return to District 9'."
"This means that there are already accomplices arranged here."
He Xian looked at Shi Youchen with bright eyes, and his interest became stronger. He said, "Brother is so smart. You think the same as I do." Shi Youchen was stunned by his calling him "brother" and stopped talking.
He Xian's smile faded. "But until you sent a message to the 9th District Branch, your accomplices didn't take action, completely missing the best opportunity. Why?"
"Because they didn't intend to do anything at all, they just wanted to draw everyone's attention here."
The four of them fell silent at the same time, making Yan Zhiyuan's ringtone seem particularly loud. "Number 6474, Mr. Yan Zhiyuan, hello! According to the relevant information you submitted, the mission 'S-level: Clear the Intruders from the Area 3 Research Institute' has been approved and officially released. Mission location: Area 9. Please pay attention to accept it. - Association Mission Management Center"
Ying Yungui's face changed. "Oh no! Once the S-rank mission is released, everyone will notice it. Countless people with special abilities who meet the requirements will come to Area 9."
"Is this... their purpose?"
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