NOVEL WEB Chapter 650: The Shelved Spear
Chapter 650: Chapter 650: The Shelved Spear
“Ugh, I told my mom I wanted to go to Peng City for middle school, but she brutally refused.” Full from dinner, Xiao Mei slumped onto a booth sofa and lamented to her two friends, “Our ‘Custard Pie Protection Association’ will not be able to gather till high school.”
Da Lu laughed, “Aren’t you going to have an even harder time trying to take the high school entrance exam in another province? Plus, getting into the same high school as Xiao Lingdang will definitely be tough.”
Xiao Mei’s expression soured, “What am I supposed to do then…”
Liu Shiling laughed, “No problem, even if we’re not in the same city, we can still chat online, video call, and play games together. We can even hang out on the weekends. My sister told me that super high-speed maglev trains are being built everywhere. Star City to Peng City should be connected soon. Whether you come to visit me or I visit you, it’ll be as quick as taking a bus.”
Leaning on her palm, Xiao Mei mumbled, “But I want to play with Xiao Lingdang every day, do I really have to wait until college?”
Da Lu laughed, “Then you should start studying hard now, or you definitely won’t be able to get into the university that Xiao Lingdang attends.”
“Humph, don’t underestimate me, Da Lu. If I put my mind to it, I’ll shock you all! Even if we don’t end up in the same major, we could be at the same school. Even if we don’t end up at the same school, we could be in the same city!” Xiao Mei declared with a determined expression.
Da Lu chuckled, “So you’re dead set on following Xiao Lingduang around like a shadow? Be careful, she might find you annoying if you’re too clingy.”
Liu Shiling laughed as she embraced Xiao Mei, “Don’t worry, I won’t. You guys should come and live with me during the summer break. I’ll help you study so we can all attend the same university.”
Xiao Mei, who had been grinning, flinched at Liu’s words, making a sour face, “We don’t need to start studying this hard so soon, do we? We’re still young and we don’t have any entrance exams in middle school. We can talk about it when we’re in the third year of high school. That’s still a long way off.”
Both Liu Shiling and Da Lu laughed. As longtime friends, they knew Xiao Mei too well; her playful nature, love for beauty, and especially her distaste for studying.
“Sigh, I don’t think I’ll amount to much in the future. Xiao Lingdang, you have to study hard and become a big boss, then hire me as your secretary. I’ll drive for you, prepare documents, make coffee and all that.” Xiao Mei said while holding onto Liu Shiling’s arm, chuckling.
Da Lu reached over and pinched her cheek, “Who talks about having no prospect in their own future?”
Xiao Mei opened her mouth to pretend to bite her hand, then said, “Da Lu, let’s do it together. You can become a bodyguard, Ah Lu a driver, and me as secretary. We can all band together and cling to Xiao Lingdang’s coat-tails. Hehe!” Da Lu, two years older than them and Zhang Xiaoyan, had a taller stature, darker skin, short hair, and looked like a sporty girl.
Liu Shiling didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “You guys talk as if I am guaranteed to become a big boss. What if I end up begging on the streets?”
“Then we’ll be begging together, the four knightesses of the beggar sect!” Xiao Mei said.
“What if I work construction?”
“Then we’ll be the four golden flowers on the construction site!”
“What if I go back to Chongyun Village to raise pigs?”
“We’ll be the four pig herders of Chongyun Village!”
“Ha ha ha ha! Those are your words, not mine. This summer, you guys will come with me to Chongyun Village and I’ll take you to the farm, hehe!”
“Let’s go see where rabbits are raised…”
“You think raising rabbits doesn’t stink?”
As Liu Shiling and Xiao Mei were chuckling and joking around, Da Lu suddenly said, “I’ve decided to apply to a military academy. I want to join the army.”
Although Da Lu was a bit older than the other two, she had just started middle school. There were still five or six years to go before she could apply to a military academy. Thus, Liu Shiling and Xiao Mei were quite baffled by her sudden serious decision.
“Why did you suddenly decide to join the army?” Liu Shiling asked, confused.
“I can’t explain why exactly…perhaps it’s because my uncle showed me pictures of my grandfather during his military service and his medals. Or maybe it’s related to the activities the troops held at our school last semester. In any case, I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I’m definitely going to join the military,” Da Lu said.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit too early to be considering this…” Xiao Mei began, but then realized she’d been talking about what would happen after graduation, and after finding a job. Her plans were even further in the future than Da Lu’s. She quickly changed her tune, “But that’s good too. After a few years of training in the army, you’ll be even more qualified to be a bodyguard.”
Da Lu laughed, “Are you really bent on having us all cling to Xiao Lingdang’s coat-tails?”
“Yes! When we grow up, we should keep hanging out together, working together, gaming together, eating together, always together, like Sister Zhen’er, Sister Nana, Sister Xia, and Sister Apple! And of course, we need to protect Sister Xiao Ran as she grows up!” Xiao Mei said with a look of longing. The “Xiao Ran” she was referring to is the super cute younger sister of Liu Shiling, Xiang Xinran, who often played with them.
The next afternoon, after Liu Shiling had seen her two friends off at the airport, she was about to turn around and head back to the car that had brought them there when someone grabbed her hand.
The touch was familiar, so even before she turned around, Liu Shiling knew who it was.
“Alice?” Liu Shiling looked at the manifested “Little Old Xia Alice” standing next to her, puzzled. When Alice first acquired the ability to co-manifest, she appeared to be at the same age as Liu Shiling. But now the former kindergarten plump girl had grown into a fifth-grade primary school student, making her noticeably shorter. The sight of her looked rather like a big sister leading her younger sibling.
“What happened?” Panicked, but also slightly excited, Liu Shiling asked.
She knew that since Alice now had “Xiang Shinran” as a “physical body”, she wouldn’t manifest her own physical presence for play unless necessary, especially in crowded places like airports with numerous surveillance cameras. When she manifests, she has to shield or modify all the footage filmed of her in real-time. Although it’s easy and effortless for her, it’s still considered a “non-mission disturbance” as per the rules of the research base, and should be minimized as much as possible. Besides, for Alice to use her ability to co-manifest, she must get permission from Old Xia. So, Alice suddenly manifesting without being called, rather than contacting her through a phone or other electronic device, meant that there might be imminent danger. Liu Shiling may need to enter combat mode!
Subconsciously, Liu Shiling reached for her hoodie. Then she remembered it was summer, and that she didn’t have a hoodie on her T-shirt.
“Hehe, Sister Lingdang, don’t get all riled up! We’re not looking for a fight, we’re just swapping cars, hehe.” Alice pointed out a large RV parked on the side of the road. “Come sit in there!” she instructed Liu Shiling.
Liu Shiling grew even more curious. Alice had told her not to get excited, but Alice herself seemed even more excited.
“Let me tell the driver about this,” Liu Shiling said, before signalling to the ride-share driver that she’d be leaving. She paid for her ride on her phone, and then made her way towards the RV.
As she walked, Liu Shiling couldn’t help but ask Alice, “Are you assigning me a mission?” In the past few days, Elder Fairy Sister, Pretty Sister, and Sister Xiao Pingguo had all been sent to Europe on missions. It was the first time the three of them had gone on a mission together. More notably, it was Elder Fairy Sister’s first time being given an external mission. Thus, Liu Shiling naturally thought that Alice was looking for her to hand her a mission.
She had always wanted a mission that would allow her to utilize her “magic” and show off her abilities. For many years, she had been studying and practicing various skills, not because she was smarter than others, but because within the “Super Sensory Item System”, her energy recovery surpassed that of ordinary people her age. Still, Alice had carefully planned out her learning path, providing Liu Shiling with all the resources she needed to master each step.
Furthermore, when learning any knowledge or skill, she was driven by the desire to use them to better control her “magic”. This gave her the motivation and interest to learn.
Now, she was well aware of the existence of the “Super Sensory Item System” and had more insights into “magic”. She also understood why “Bald Uncle” had encouraged her to learn from various subjects to better control her “magic”. It wasn’t a trick, but a genuinely useful advice.
She knew she had become incredibly powerful. She was also aware that, in terms of the power of abilities alone, she was most likely the strongest within the “Super Sensory Item System”, apart from Xiao Luosi.
Yet, unfortunately, everyone still treated her as the youngest sister, a precious baby to be protected, never providing her the opportunity to show off her “sharpest spear”.
Maybe the opportunity had finally come. With Pretty Sister, Elder Fairy Sister, and Sister Xiao Pingguo all out on missions, and Sister Roast Chicken Wing in Chongyun Village, perhaps it was time for her “sharpest spear” to shine?
“Hehe, there’s an important task,” Alice replied, clearly excited. “I manifested without Dr. Xia’s permission!”
Liu Shiling blinked, a stunned expression on her face. “Xiao Luosi, you can independently control co-manifestation now?” Though this didn’t really surprise her. After all, Xiao Luosi’s consciousness had always existed within the “Super Sensory Item System”, and she had no problem optimizing and modularizing all kinds of abilities they developed. She could even acquire other people’s abilities through “Super Sensory Item Stasis”.
“Hehe, nope,” Alice said, but she was still cheerful.
She didn’t?
Sensing something, Liu Shiling’s eyebrows shot up. Excited, she grabbed Alice and bolted towards the RV, flinging open the door as soon as they reached.
Just as Liu Shiling was about to utter “light”, she was taken aback. The RV was empty, no one was inside.
The girl’s previously excited expression fell, her heart sinking like a roller coaster. For her, the return of “Bald Uncle” would have been the most exciting news. Her hopes had been raised so high that nothing else could possibly compete. Nothing else could replace the joyous anticipation she had built up.
…
In Chongyun Village, inside a huge conference room, Xia Libing had just finished explaining the current theoretical research direction based on “mutant creature” characteristics through holographic imaging, as well as the progress of technical applications research based on some theoretical discoveries.
Sitting in the conference room and listening to Xia Libing’s introduction were top experts from various related fields within the country. More than half of them held academician titles, but their attention was entirely fixated on Xia Libing’s presentation. Some who had research fields related to Xia Libing’s groundbreaking discoveries were even more excited, almost wishing they could start their research immediately.
Once Xia Libing had finished presenting the basic information and details, she invited everyone to ask questions freely. Facing these heavyweights from various fields, she responded very smoothly to their enquiries.
This batch of experts was already the thirteenth to visit the base. Chongyun Village was being continuously expanded, and a whole surrounding area had become various research institute divisions. Still, the direct management right laid with Xia Libing and the “Abnormal Biology Research Center”. They coordinated and distributed tasks.
Many research achievements derived from the characteristics of “mutant creatures” had been practically applied technically several years ago. Especially after the construction of controllable nuclear fusion power plants began in ’22, even though the research still remained secret and had not been completely disclosed to the public, the breakthrough of “mutant creature” research had become a nearly open secret internationally. After ’23, foreign experts began to appear at the base to participate in various research projects.
In late ’23, an international conference held in Citong City witnessed delegations from over thirty countries sign a cooperative agreement on “mutant creature” research under the leadership of China.
The “Citong Agreement” has become the acknowledged standard and guideline for “mutant creature” research. One of its core principles is that no matter which country or organization wants to study “mutant creatures” or acquire “mutant creature” research samples, they must apply to the “Abnormal Biology Research Center-Mutant Creature Administration” located in Chongyun Village.
Most of the time, even when the application is approved, researchers from other countries have to come to Chongyun Village to conduct relevant “mutant creature” sample studies. It’s almost impossible to distribute live “mutant creature” samples.
Naturally, there will be people thinking, “Mutant creatures” are all over the globe, why letting them monopolize? Why not capture them by ourselves?”
However, those who think like this will ultimately gain nothing and can only obediently submit their application to Chongyun Village.
This not well-known small mountain village in the northern part of the West Sea has become a holy place in the international “mutant creature” research field. He Haomin, the director of the “Abnormal Biology Research Center” who presided over the signing of the “Citong Agreement” is jokingly called the “Lord” in the field of mutant creature research — because almost anything in the related field requires authorization, permits, and assistance from the “Abnormal Biology Research Center”.
However, those who have actually been to Chongyun Village and involved in core research know that the real boss and ultimate authority in the “mutant creature” research field is the beautiful, tall, pony-tailed Dr. Xia who always seems to have an indifferent expression.
After the meeting, she answered all the experts’ questions, decided on the next stage of her research direction, and allocated the research rights for the “mutant creature” at the center, Xia Libing left Chongyun Village driving alone.
While driving, Xia Libing’s stomach suddenly grumbled. She let out a soft “ah” as if she realized something and glanced at the time display in the car: 12:45
She was so focused on her conversation with the technical experts that she forgot to have her lunch in the canteen before leaving …
Should she go to Youlong Restaurant in Tongshi Town for lunch? But from arrival to ordering to serving the food, it would take at least 35 minutes.
So, Xia Libing pulled the car over, opened her old-looking bag, and started rummaging. Inside there were Snickers bars, vacuum-packed bread, potato chips, nuts, cookies, and even a can of cat food, a tube of cat nutrition paste, and a box of bird food from Sister Xiao Pingguo’s brand.