Chapter 4: Master
The incident occurred at a relatively remote safe house.
“Zuo Tinghan has been living here for a while, and today his mental energy suddenly went out of control,” Wei Langxing explained.
Tang Yu’an glanced at his file again. “Is someone trying to assassinate him?”
Otherwise, why would he live in a safe house?
Wei Langxing’s expression remained unchanged. “It’s mainly to prevent him from assassinating others.”
Tang Yu’an paused, then recalled Wei Langxing mentioning his PTSD. Were his psychological issues so severe that he could lose control and hurt people at any time?
Wei Langxing told him that Zuo Tinghan was once a member of the Bureau. Due to an accident, he was captured and controlled by a mysterious underground organization, disappearing for three years. He eventually returned, covered in injuries, and suffering from severe psychological trauma. Sometimes, he would unconsciously attack those around him.
“He’s very aggressive right now. Try not to provoke him.”
The vehicle stopped in the perimeter, which had already been cordoned off.
The person in charge, a lower-ranking member, hurried over to report the situation to Wei Langxing with respect: “It’s been going on for almost an hour. He’s locked the doors and windows. His mental energy level is too high; we can’t get close to him. We’ve tried everything.”
A faint black mist shrouded the isolated house. It appeared to dissipate at the slightest touch, but it was laced with countless tiny wind blades. Anyone who approached rashly would be cut to ribbons.
The junior officer had assumed he only needed to keep an eye on the situation and report regularly. Who would have thought that after a quick trip to the convenience store, the man would erupt, unleashing a storm? He was cut on his arm and dared not approach again, so he made the emergency call and waited for backup.
He had seen Wei Langxing before. He had been awarded a medal for outstanding service for infiltrating enemy territory alone and obtaining classified documents. Now, he had even been promoted to captain of a new department.
Although he himself hadn’t been promoted much in all his years of service, he admired Wei Langxing’s strength and was pleased to have contact with him.
He was something of an idol to him.
But he didn’t expect Wei Langxing to bring an unfamiliar person to such a dangerous place. Young and beautiful, he seemed out of place.
Judging by his attire and gait, he had definitely not received any training. He didn’t look like someone from the Bureau.
Why would Wei Langxing bring a civilian to such a dangerous place? If he got hurt, he would also be reprimanded.
“This is…?”
“A new recruit, on his first mission.” After speaking, Wei Langxing went forward to assess the situation, leaving Tang Yu’an where he was.
Hearing this, the junior officer understood. The Bureau had its share of second-generation officials and rich kids who got in through connections, mostly here to pad their resumes. They were generally incompetent, but their tempers were short, and they liked to criticize things they didn’t understand, causing him a lot of trouble.
He gave a cold smile: “I see. Then you should observe the procedure from outside. Don’t get hurt before you can even help.”
As long as he didn’t cause trouble, it would be fine.
Unexpectedly, the young man nodded obediently and then returned to the car to retrieve a first-aid kit.
“Thanks for the reminder. You should still treat your arm. Wounds caused by mental energy are prone to infection.”
He took his arm and skillfully disinfected and bandaged it, gentle yet swift, very practiced.
Preoccupied with the man rampaging inside, the junior officer hadn’t paid much attention to his own wound. Only now, being treated with such care, did he register the pain.
Looking at the young man’s lowered bangs, he began to feel guilty.
His earlier remark had been somewhat sarcastic, but the young man thanked him sincerely and even cared for his injury, making him feel ashamed.
Slender fingers nimbly arranged the bandage. He felt as if his wound had been anesthetized, the pain turning into a slight tingling.
“My name is Wang Wen, Level Two Officer of the Bureau. Are you a medic?”
If so, the lack of training could be explained.
Tang Yu’an shook his head: “Just experience from being sick for a long time. I know some basic procedures.”
In the previous world, he was constantly on the run, injuries commonplace. Over time, he developed his own treatment routine.
He checked the bandage, putting away the first-aid kit: “My name is Tang Yu’an.”
Wang Wen’s mind was filled with the words “experience from being sick for a long time.” The sunlight had been too bright earlier, obscuring his view. Now, looking closely, he saw a sickly air lingering around the young man’s delicate features. Although he tried to hide it with a smile, he still looked listless.
Like a frostbitten seedling, still standing strong, but actually on the verge of collapse.
Initially, he had noticed the pale skin, likely from lack of sunlight, and the delicate features. Wang Wen had assumed he was a pampered young master. But now, seeing his old jacket and slightly curled, obviously unstyled hair, he dismissed that idea.
Tang Yu’an probably hadn’t gotten in through connections. His living conditions might have been poor, and he was often injured for some reason.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but imagine bloody wounds on Tang Yu’an’s porcelain skin.
He didn’t look like someone who could tolerate pain. Perhaps his upbringing had been difficult.
The object of his imagination was completely unaware that he had been envisioned as a pitiful little cabbage in a matter of seconds. He was intently watching Wei Langxing.
The blade formed by mental energy was immediately repelled upon contact with the house’s surroundings, the force surprising Wei Langxing.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t forcefully suppress the fluctuations, but the person inside was clearly out of control, recklessly pouring out his mental energy without regard for exhaustion.
If this continued, something bad would happen.
He took a few steps back, taking the detector from Wang Wen. The chaotic data on it made no sense.
The fluctuations were unlike any recorded type.
Just then, a loud bang echoed as the window shattered, sending shards of glass flying. He instinctively pulled Tang Yu’an back a few steps.
“Are you alright? Did any of that hit you?”
He asked anxiously, only to see Tang Yu’an’s other hand being held by Wang Wen.
Wei Langxing: “?”
Wang Wen patted his chest: “Captain Wei, don’t worry, I’m watching him. He’ll be fine. Focus on your task!”
Alright, at least he was dedicated.
He took the specialized tranquilizer gun, aiming through the window. Mental energy enveloped the dart as it shot through the air, only to be shattered before it reached the person inside.
“He’s too alert. I can’t get a clear shot.”
Wang Wen looked worried: “What do we do?”
“If there’s no other way, we’ll have to subdue him by force.”
Using his mental energy to suppress him was the last resort.
“But his life could be in danger…”
“Then it depends on his fate.”
Wei Langxing could only do his best.
Hearing this, Tang Yu’an couldn’t agree. This was the second protagonist; he surely had an important role to play later. If he died here, his job as a tool-man would be pointless.
“Can I try?”
The small-scale test inside and actual combat with numerous uncontrollable factors were completely different. Wei Langxing wanted to refuse, but seeing Tang Yu’an’s expectant gaze, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.
He seemed genuinely eager to help, not for the bonus or fame.
“Alright, try it. But don’t clash with him directly. If anything goes wrong, stop immediately.”
Tang Yu’an raised his hand. Golden birds appeared above his palm. He gently waved his arm towards the house, and the shimmering golden shadows surged forward like a gust of wind, instantly dissipating the black mist they touched.
Wang Wen had never seen such a sight. He rubbed his eyes, thinking he must have been poisoned by expired nutrient paste that morning.
Mental energy could only be withdrawn by its owner, yet Tang Yu’an could make someone else’s vanish into thin air…
And the color and shape were unlike anything he had ever seen. At this moment, Tang Yu’an looked like a perfect sculpture placed in the center of a palace, bathed in golden light.
Seeing this, Wei Langxing was initially delighted, but then he sensed something was wrong.
As the outer layer of mental energy was dispersed, the inner layer replenished it continuously. The red line on the detector climbed steadily, the fluctuations intensifying.
He immediately told Tang Yu’an to stop, otherwise Zuo Tinghan might die even faster.
Tang Yu’an also understood the problem. To calm the fluctuations, he needed to get close and intervene directly.
He voiced his thoughts, but Wei Langxing immediately rejected them.
“No. Even if you can get in, you don’t have the ability to subdue him.”
He had seen a video of Zuo Tinghan, in a fit of madness, stabbing someone’s arm with a spoon. If Tang Yu’an went in, he would be torn to shreds.
Before they could argue, the mental energy surrounding the house began to collide frantically, chaotically spreading like a tornado.
Wei Langxing’s pupils constricted. Not good, it was entering the final stage prematurely. His mental energy was about to explode completely.
He quickly pulled Tang Yu’an behind him, raising a barrier. The third stage was irreversible; nothing could be done. The priority now was to get Tang Yu’an out safely.
But the next second, his hand was released.
The swirling dust obscured his vision, but he could vaguely see a golden figure walking step by step towards the center of the storm.
“Come back! He’s beyond saving! Don’t be foolish!”
But the person seemed not to hear him, walking further and further away.
He tried to follow, but the storm pushed him back.
The explosive power of a dying person was terrifying, and the other man’s level was similar to his own, making it difficult to resist.
“Tang Yu’an!!!”
His shouts were drowned out by the roaring wind. Tang Yu’an continued forward, a golden light enveloping him like an eggshell. The chaotic mental energy that collided with it vanished like water droplets falling into a river.
Walking was a little difficult, like moving underwater.
He stepped onto the porch, pushed open the damaged door, bypassed the scattered furniture, stepped across the creaking floor, and finally stood before the person huddled in the corner.
Zuo Tinghan, who in the photo had appeared expressionless and aloof, was now curled up in a ball, his head buried in his knees, trembling slightly.
His body was covered in cuts, deep and shallow, a horrifying sight.
Normally, one’s own mental energy wouldn’t harm oneself. It was as if he was deliberately inflicting these injuries.
It was hard to imagine that the person who caused the chaos outside looked so helpless.
Tang Yu’an crouched down before him, tentatively releasing a bit of mental energy, this time in the form of a butterfly – smaller, more harmless.
The golden butterfly danced around him. The man before him seemed to sense something. He raised his head, cheeks streaked with sweat, eyes bloodshot, teeth clenched tight.
He narrowed his eyes at Tang Yu’an, as if trying to identify him, then his lips moved, squeezing out two words: “Master.”
Tang Yu’an: “???”
