Chapter 63: Transition Chapter
Qi An was the first to return to the break hall of the Cross-World Administration. After a cursory scan, he chose a seat with few people nearby.
He was still wearing that stunning wedding dress—ornate, exquisite, and precious. He looked completely unlike the cross-world travelers in the break hall, who were battered and covered in wounds after fighting through an entire world. No matter what these cross-world travelers had been doing before, every eye couldn't help but turn toward the young man who had suddenly appeared in the hall.
Strange gazes, admiring gazes, curious gazes—all sorts of eyes focused on this young man. Yet Qi An's expression didn't change in the slightest. Every movement of his still carried that delicate weakness that made people want to protect him, yet he was so cold that no one could approach.
It was contradictory, and also... captivating.
[An'an, what are you thinking?] Something felt off—the thought suddenly drifted across his mind. The System immediately adjusted its voice to sound soft and cutesy.
The young man who had been questioned seemed to snap back to reality. The coldness all over his body completely faded away, and his temperament underwent a dramatic change. If before he had been a delicate flower blooming on a high mountain, beautiful but unattainable, now he became a greenhouse flower—beautiful from careful cultivation, but unable to withstand even a hint of external hardship.
[Nothing.] Qi An's answer in his voice didn't reveal a trace of anything unusual, but before the System could breathe a sigh of relief, it heard its host's cold and clear voice. [...It's just that I haven't felt this way in a long time.]
Somewhat bitter.
[I need some time to冷静 myself.] Just as the System was about to respond, Qi An spoke again. His eyelashes trembled slightly, and shadows immediately fell across his porcelain-smooth face. The System felt a pang in its heart when Qi An made this gesture—it wanted to say something, but the words caught in its throat. [Okay.]
The cross-world travelers from Qi An's world entered one after another. Most of them were ragged, with countless wounds all over their bodies, and some had gruesome gashes on them, the flesh bearing gnaw marks that were horrifying to witness. This brutal scene made everyone shudder, and when other cross-world travelers saw these people walk up to Qi An, they were even more shocked.
The gap... was simply too enormous.
It was completely unimaginable that they had all experienced the same world.
The reward settlement process went by quickly, and there wasn't much interaction between the cross-world travelers. Some of their injuries were simply too severe—if treatment had been delayed any longer, they might have lost their lives.
"Going together?" Zhang Zhaoqi had arrived at the hall last, as always. After arriving, he sat directly beside Qi An. Once the mission settlement was complete, Zhang Zhaoqi asked Qi An calmly, "Going together?"
Qi An shook his head. "I want to take a look inside the Cross-World Administration. I'll probably stay for a while first, then proceed to the next world."
"Mm, then I'll wait for you." Zhang Zhaoqi nodded and said this naturally.
"...Alright."
Compared to the quiet break hall, the interior of the Cross-World Administration was clearly much more lively. This was a space specially opened up for cross-world travelers, yet the vast majority of them were unwilling to take on missions. Unless it was a mandatory order from headquarters, or the points earned from completing missions weren't enough to meet their living needs here, most of them would stay inside.
This place was much more humanistic. Setting aside differences in identity and work, the cross-world travelers here lived lives no different from those in the ordinary world.
Mu Gangnong led several cross-world travelers toward a large building. Along the way, they encountered quite a few people. Although their wounds had healed, their bloodstained and dusty clothes were impossible to hide. Someone couldn't help but whisper, "Aren't those people from the Wu Yi Alliance? Why are they in such a miserable state?"
The murmuring voices reached Mu Gangnong's ears, and his expression grew grimmer and grimmer. Because the situation had become dangerous toward the end, in order to save their lives, they had used quite a number of store items—whose value was by no means small.
Most importantly, they... had lost one person.
And this person had quite a prominent background.
Thinking about how he would need to report the mission to the Alliance Leader in a while, Mu Gangnong couldn't help but tremble. Their Alliance Leader was indeed extremely powerful in individual strength and deeply respected and loved by everyone, but he was also notoriously ruthless throughout the entire alliance.
Under the astonished gazes of his allies, Mu Gangnong gently knocked on the door. After knocking three times, he stopped. Even though no response came for a long time, he simply stood there quietly, but the coldness in his heart grew stronger and stronger.
"Come in." This gentle voice that finally sounded after a long wait proved that the person inside hadn't forgotten about Mu Gangnong.
Mu Gangnong immediately opened the door and walked to the person inside. It was an extremely handsome young man. His features were as warm and refined as his voice. Upon seeing Mu Gangnong enter, he wore a smile so gentle it was almost tender. "Welcome back."
"Subordinate has returned." Mu Gangnong didn't relax because of the young man's cordial attitude—instead, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "Subordinate admits his fault and asks the Alliance Leader for punishment."
"Oh?" The young man smiled even more gently. He picked up a cup of tea from the table and took a small sip. Even though he was currently wearing modern clothes, when he made this gesture, it still carried a nobility and elegance that only royalty possessed.
"It was subordinate's negligence. Not only did I use so many treasures, but I also caused Fan Gu to lose his life." Mu Gangnong directly knelt down. "Please punish me, Alliance Leader."
"I see." The young man seemed troubled. "If I don't punish you, it really would be difficult to explain things to Elder Fan."
"Then I shall—"
"Alliance Leader, subordinate has another matter to report!" Mu Gangnong's sweat came down even more heavily. His mind raced rapidly. Suddenly, something flashed through his脑海. "Subordinate encountered in this world..."
"A person who closely resembles the one in the painting on your desk!"
"What's his name?" The young man's hand that was holding the teacup froze.
"Qi An..." Mu Gangnong said this name with trepidation, but the next moment he froze in shock—for this was the first time he had ever seen the Alliance Leader lose his composure.
The teacup in the young man's hand clattered to the floor and shattered on the ground. His usually gentle face instantly turned cold and aloof. Mu Gangnong heard the Alliance Leader's voice become low and dark, with undisguised urgency in it. "Where is he now?"