Chapter 11: Could I Also Possess a Divine Mechanism?

Upon returning to the Blazing Fire Pavilion, Chu Wan had Zhou Yuan accompany Luo Xuan to the medical department, while she immediately led a team toward the Yicheng crematorium.

Supporting Luo Xuan by the arm, Zhou Yuan watched as Chu Wan set off with prompt and decisive action.

Turning back to look at the girl he was half-supporting and half-embracing, he asked, "Xiaoxuan, let's go. I'll carry you to the medical department."

"No, no need!" Luo Xuan hastily said, "I can walk on my own. Just help me carry the Divine Machine."

With that, she quickly stepped forward, as if afraid Zhou Yuan might actually pick her up.

If she were truly carried by this fellow, her image within the pavilion would be completely ruined.

With a faint smile, Zhou Yuan shook his head and followed her pace.

The two quickly arrived at the medical department. Accompanied by Zhou Yuan, Luo Xuan followed a physician to several instruments and underwent a battery of tests.

The final result showed nothing major aside from blood loss and excessive mental exhaustion.

Consequently, Luo Xuan was assigned to a hospital ward to receive nutrient drips.

After being hooked up to the nutrient IV and taking a secret medicine, Luo Xuan, exhausted from mental drain, drifted into a deep sleep before long.

Zhou Yuan kept watch by the bedside. After about an hour, a bed in the adjacent space was wheeled in, carrying a patient.

Looking closely, it was none other than Wu Wanqing, who had been separated from them earlier.

Zhou Yuan approached and noticed his right arm fixed inside a rather sci-fi-looking sleeve, his complexion somewhat ashen, prompting him to offer a greeting: "Expert Wu, are you alright now?"

Wu Wanqing raised his head in a daze, looking at Zhou Yuan with astonishment as he blurted out, "Damn! You're still alive?"

Zhou Yuan felt a twitch on his forehead: "Come on, brother, this is only my first day on the job, could you please not curse me?"

Wu Wanqing looked him up and down several times, then turned his gaze back to Luo Xuan, who was sleeping soundly on the bed: "You brat are bouncing around, looking as if you didn't suffer a single scratch, yet your superior is the one lying down. What kind of freakish luck is this?"

"Pure luck, pure luck." Zhou Yuan raised an eyebrow, "My superior and I ran in opposite directions. She managed to lure away that Xu Tianfang by herself, and was then rescued by a mysterious powerhouse."

Hearing this, Wu Wanqing shook his head: "If that's the case, you and Expert Lu really do have great luck. Under normal circumstances, with you as dead weight and having to face a Grandmaster-level mecha-martial artist, both of you would have been dead for sure."

He gave a self-deprecating chuckle: "Being able to survive like me—where only a deputy died while I miraculously made it through—is entirely thanks to Director Chu's timely rescue."

Zhou Yuan looked at his restrained arm: "Expert Wu, your right arm?"

Wu Wanqing gave a dry laugh: "I was ambushed by two skin-peeker squad leaders whose strength was no less than mine, and my arm was hacked off at the end of my rope. Fortunately, I still remembered where the severed limb fell, otherwise, I'd have to replace this arm with a mechanical one."

Zhou Yuan nodded. It seemed the medical technology in this world was still quite advanced; the technique for reattaching severed limbs looked very mature.

Pity that his own hands and eyes had been lost during the traversal process.

He wondered how cloning technology and the like had developed in this world. If it was decent, perhaps he could have someone cultivate his own palms and eyes using his cells to graft them back on.

Right, he could leave a message to ask in the exclusive communication function for Order Walkers.

While chatting idly with Wu Wanqing, the door to the ward was pushed open once more.

The person entering was Chu Wan.

"Director Chu, didn't you go to the crematorium?" Zhou Yuan checked the time, "You wrapped it up so quickly?"

Chu Wan wore an annoyed expression: "It failed. Several employees at the crematorium simply vanished, some old and some new. I even led a team to find the relatives and friends of those missing employees, but they had no idea those people were problematic."

She clenched her fists: "I now have sufficient reason to determine that this gang of skin-peekers is not just a single group gathering together. Behind their emergence and the occupation of the entire Shouhe Village, there is some force driving them from the shadows."

Hearing this, Wu Wanqing spat out a single term: "The Fire Worship Society!"

"Exactly!" Chu Wan nodded, "While other possibilities aren't excluded, the Fire Worship Society has the highest probability. After all, the operation three years ago was specifically meant to eradicate them."

With that, she looked at Luo Xuan, who was still fast asleep on the bed: "How is Xiaoxuan doing?"

Zhou Yuan glanced over as well: "The medical department tests show she has traces of injury, but everything has already been treated. Right now, it's just excessive blood loss and mental exhaustion. A few days of rest and she'll be fine."

"That's good." Chu Wan smiled, "It's fortunate she had good luck and was rescued by a powerhouse. Moreover, it seems that powerhouse not only possessed formidable strength but also healing methods."

She turned her gaze to Zhou Yuan, scrutinized him for a long while, and suddenly asked, "I checked the housing subsidy records. You two are cohabiting, aren't you?"

"Cough, cough, cough—" Zhou Yuan instantly choked, awkwardly explaining, "Strictly speaking, it's a shared rental!"

He could even perceive Wu Wanqing's gaze toward him instantly turning into one of profound reverence.

That look seemed to say, "Damn, kid, you're actually living with your boss, smooth move!"

"It's all the same thing." Chu Wan's lips curled upward, followed immediately by, "That makes things easier. Your squad doesn't need to go out on field missions for the next few days. Just stay home and recuperate properly. Your job is to protect your beautiful boss."

"I don't have any objections, but—" Zhou Yuan asked in confusion, "what about the work we were originally responsible for?"

Chu Wan waved a hand: "That's not something a subordinate personnel like you needs to worry about. The pavilion will temporarily dispatch martial dojo masters from various regions to assist."

"Right, you shouldn't be called a subordinate personnel anymore." Chu Wan suddenly smiled.

She swept a glance over Wu Wanqing and Zhou Yuan: "The feedback from higher-ups regarding this incident has come down. Such a severe large-scale anomalous event occurring within the Yicheng jurisdiction has enraged the big bosses above, just as I expected. My disciplinary punishment will be handed down later, but as for you few meritorious individuals who discovered and relatively properly handled the matter, they are preparing to bestow heavy rewards. Have you thought about what you want?"

Hearing this, Wu Wanqing pondered for a moment and spoke first: "Director Chu, I... I want to step back to the second line."

"Step back to the second line?" Chu Wan looked at him in surprise, "You're only in your early forties. With this credit, getting promoted to deputy director wouldn't be a problem at all. Why would you want to step down?"

Wu Wanqing sighed, gazing at his right arm with a somewhat desolate expression: "Reaching forty, without a family, having accomplished nothing, yet personally leading a bunch of young people to their deaths one by one—not a single person who followed me has ever made it out, I..."

He smiled helplessly: "I just can't keep going."

"Old Wu—" Chu Wan fell slightly silent, then nodded and said, "Alright, I'll report this request to the Pavilion Master and have him arrange a position like a military instructor for you. That alright?"

Wu Wanqing broke into a smile: "No problem at all, I'll defer to the pavilion's arrangements."

Saying this, he looked at Zhou Yuan: "You brat have some luck clinging to you. Unlike the poor youngsters who followed me, work hard. Who knows, maybe one day I'll have to address you as Lord Zhou."

"Whether I'm a lord or not doesn't matter, as long as I don't end up a corpse in the end," Zhou Yuan smiled, shaking his head.

Nearby, Chu Wan looked at Zhou Yuan with a beaming smile. After he finished chatting with Wu Wanqing, she continued, "Zhou Yuan, what about you? What reward do you want?"

Zhou Yuan thought for a moment and decided to let Chu Wan, who had broader horizons than him, make the decision: "Director Chu, what do you think? What kind of reward suits me?"

A teachable pupil!

Chu Wan nodded and smiled: "There are many things you can ask for—wealth, cultivation resources, techniques, guidance, and so on. However, I still suggest you strive and apply for an exceptional grant of an exclusive 'Mecha-Martial Divine Machine'."

"A Mecha-Martial Divine Machine?" Zhou Yuan grew interested, "I'm just someone who doesn't even have an official Tier-Fierce rating. Am I qualified to possess such a thing?"

He trusted that the "Mecha-Martial Divine Machine" deliberately mentioned by Chu Wan was definitely not something like his prosthetic arm, nor items resembling Wu Wanqing's mechanical legs or mechanical eyes.

Rather, it specifically referred to the "Divine Machine Battle Armor" he had witnessed multiple times today.

Chu Wan smiled faintly: "Normally, a Tier-Fierce operative of course has no qualification to possess a Mecha-Martial Divine Machine, but if you want it, I can go and strive for it on your behalf."

"I naturally want it." Zhou Yuan nodded without hesitation.

It wasn't just because he wanted the Divine Machine to enhance his strength.

To be honest, although he currently wielded power no less than the at-least second-stage burst state of Luo Xuan's special Divine Machine, that was his trump card. Because its nature was far too special, he would only consider using it as an absolute last resort to minimize the chance of being discovered.

Once he possessed a Divine Machine, he could operate with much greater composure and engage in combat under even more dangerous circumstances, rather than having to hold back until he was certain his identity wouldn't be exposed.

"Good!" Chu Wan nodded immediately. She glanced at Luo Xuan, who was still sleeping, "You keep Luo Xuan company and rest well first. I'll go report this matter to Pavilion Master Cong, and once Luo Xuan wakes up, the two of you can come find me together."

With that, Chu Wan turned and walked out of the ward.

Zhou Yuan watched her leave, then quietly returned to Luo Xuan's side and sat down, feeling a slight sense of anticipation in his heart.

Beside him, Wu Wanqing coughed twice, his burning gaze fixed on Zhou Yuan: "I like to read web novels when I have nothing to do. The vibe you're giving me right now is just like the protagonist in those stories—purely a Child of Destiny."

Zhou Yuan replied with a faint smile: "Is there a sense that the wheels of history are starting to turn right from where I am?"

"Exactly, that's precisely the feeling, haha." Wu Wanqing slapped his thigh, "You brat might actually achieve something great. When you reach the upper echelons of the Vermilion Bird Palace as a big shot in the future, remember to look out for me."

"Rest assured, looking out for you is guaranteed." Zhou Yuan gave him a thumbs-up.

Just like that, chatting intermittently with Wu Wanqing, time passed quickly. As the clock neared five o'clock, Luo Xuan woke up.

Just as Zhou Yuan wanted to stay a little longer so the girl could rest, less than a few minutes later, Chu Wan's call came through.

Chu Wan: "What are you two still dawdling in that ward for? Want to play out some special scenarios?"

Zhou Yuan: "Director, can you speak a little more properly?"

Chu Wan let out an alluring laugh on the other end of the line: "Can't, it's just my habit. Alright, you two will have plenty of time to linger together when you go home tonight. For now, get down to the underground training ground immediately. Pavilion Master Cong and I are both here!"

"Why are we heading there again?" Zhou Yuan asked curiously.

"Pavilion Master Cong agreed to let you pick a reserved Mecha-Martial weapon, on the condition that you demonstrate basic operational qualifications. Stop babbling and hurry over here with Luo Xuan."

Chu Wan hung up directly.

Luo Xuan sat up from the bed. Her hearing was sharp, so she had naturally heard the contents of Zhou Yuan's call, and she asked with slight anticipation, "Pavilion Master Cong is going to assign you a mecha-martial divine machine?"

Zhou Yuan nodded and smiled at Luo Xuan: "Indeed. They think following you makes me dead weight, so they plan to boost my combat power to prevent you, this genius, from perishing prematurely."

Luo Xuan glared at him and flipped straight out of bed: "Stop joking around. Hurry, let's head over right now!"

Thus, the two of them arrived at the underground training ground they had visited once earlier that morning.

There, they met Cong Shiwen and Chu Wan as promised.

Accompanying them were two unexpected figures:

Fluorescent Sword Sovereign Zhang Daosheng, and his disciple Li Guanqi.