Chapter 59: Compensation
Wei Langxing, with the scanned map in his mind, skillfully navigated the maze-like corridors, leading Tang Yu’an through the crowds in the main hall.
They followed the flow of people towards the exit. Just as Tang Yu’an thought they had escaped, a bullet grazed his arm.
Wei Langxing pulled him along, rushing out of the building, scanning the area for an escape route.
Streets stretched in both directions, and they had no vehicle, trapped…
Suddenly, a hovercar stopped before them, its doors open.
“Get in!”
Tang Yu’an’s heart leaped. It was Jinshan!
He was actually somewhat competent!
With the situation critical, Wei Langxing didn’t question their rescuer, quickly getting in.
The car sped away. Tang Yu’an saw pursuers behind them, but Jinshan, a local, knew the back alleys, quickly losing them.
Having narrowly escaped, Tang Yu’an felt a sense of unreality.
Jinshan took them to a remote area on the city’s outskirts, where he had a small house, his safehouse.
Tang Yu’an offered to pay him for his help, but Jinshan simply smiled and refused.
With the immediate danger gone, Tang Yu’an noticed Wei Langxing staring at him intently, as if he hadn’t seen him in years.
Jinshan, sensing the atmosphere, discreetly excused himself, saying he would patrol the area, that there was food in the kitchen, they could help themselves.
Finally alone with his captain, before Tang Yu’an could ask what had happened, Wei Langxing said: “I have almost five hundred thousand star coins in my account. Although I lost my wristband, the funds are automatically secured.”
Tang Yu’an hadn’t expected this.
He didn’t think Wei Langxing was materialistic, or particularly concerned with money.
Why was he suddenly flaunting his wealth? Did he want to be praised for being rich?
With Xie Cun around, even if he did praise him, it wouldn’t sound sincere.
As he pondered this, Wei Langxing continued: “When we get back, I’ll transfer all the money to you. I also have a property, I can transfer that to your name too…”
Tang Yu’an, stunned, interrupted him: “Wait a minute!”
He was bewildered by this sudden offer, like a will being read. What was going on? Was he dying?
He asked cautiously: “I don’t want your money. What’s wrong?”
Wei Langxing took a deep breath, avoiding his gaze: “This… this is compensation. I know it’s not enough, you can ask for anything.”
Tang Yu’an then remembered Wei Langxing’s apology in the hospital.
The problem was, he didn’t know what he was apologizing for.
“Don’t do this, it’s… unsettling.”
Wei Langxing flinched, his tall frame seeming strangely small and vulnerable.
He wanted to apologize again, but Tang Yu’an didn’t like it, so he swallowed his words, saying instead: “The other me… was insane.”
He stepped closer: “I don’t know what I was thinking. If I had remembered you, if I hadn’t lost control, I would never… never have trapped you there.”
And caused him harm.
Even if he denied it a thousand times, he had still done it.
Like a malicious water demon, luring unsuspecting victims into the depths, trapping them forever.
He always wanted to help Tang Yu’an, but he always ended up hurting him.
It had been the same when they were surrounded by the gang, and now again on the planet’s surface.
He could only try to atone for his mistakes.
He knew Tang Yu’an didn’t care much about money, but he didn’t know what else to offer.
During their escape, the tension had masked his emotions. Now, with the danger gone, his anxiety returned.
Like a guilty criminal awaiting judgment.
Tang Yu’an didn’t understand his anguish, relieved that it was such a trivial matter.
“You’re talking about that? I don’t mind. You weren’t yourself, I understand.”
He was always good at comforting protagonists: “Besides, we’re both safe now, that’s what matters.”
Wei Langxing didn’t feel relieved. Why was Tang Yu’an always like this, seemingly unconcerned about his own injuries and suffering…?
I’m too weak, he thought. I overestimated my abilities, putting him in danger again and again.
Seeing his changing expressions, Tang Yu’an, sensing his continued distress, changed the subject: “By the way, what happened after I sent you away? Why were you captured by the corporation?”
Talking about this seemed to bring Wei Langxing back to normal, but his tone was still grim.
He explained that after reaching safety, he had contacted the real government officials, who, upon hearing about the impersonation, agreed to eliminate the Chaos Legion. They had captured the perpetrators, killed their leader, and rescued Wang Wen.
Learning that Tang Yu’an had been thrown down to the surface, he joined a government search team, but NeuroTech, who were supposed to be cooperating, suddenly turned on them, capturing them and uploading their consciousness into the virtual world.
Since Wei Langxing’s mental energy was strong, the corporation, needing someone to help them with data processing, took a gamble.
As for the government, they had a convenient excuse – they were attacked by bandits and killed.
Tang Yu’an felt even more disgusted by the corporation.
“What now? Can we contact the government?”
“The corporation is jamming the signals, but we have our own method.”
Wei Langxing removed a button from his shirt, revealing a tiny communicator.
“Just in case, Wang Wen and I agreed on a backup communication method. The corporation can jam government signals, but not the Bureau’s internal ones.”
He sent a brief message explaining the situation, telling Wang Wen about the corporation’s betrayal and providing their location, urging the government to send a rescue team.
Communication on the Junkyard Planet was always delayed; it might be night before help arrived.
There were ingredients in the refrigerator. Although not a great cook, Wei Langxing could at least make sandwiches.
Tang Yu’an, out of habit, praised him: “This is delicious! Simply divine!”
Wei Langxing smiled faintly, eating mechanically.
He hadn’t told Tang Yu’an the whole truth.
The government, after learning about Tang Yu’an’s exile, hadn’t wanted to send a rescue team.
They had said that he was likely dead, and even if he wasn’t, the planet was too vast, finding him would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Wang Wen had been furious, threatening to report them to the Bureau for failing to cooperate.
Wei Langxing, in contrast, had shown no outward emotion.
He had simply put down the bleeding blond man, taken out his gun, and pointed it at the government representative.
Instantly, laser dots appeared on his body.
The people around him shouted, asking what he was doing, telling him to calm down.
Wei Langxing’s voice was low, calm but firm.
“I’m perfectly calm,” he said. “Either send a rescue team, or find out how fast I am.”
The representative, not expecting a Bureau officer to be this unhinged, broke out in a cold sweat, quickly backtracking, saying they wouldn’t abandon a teammate.
The government had kept their word, sending a team, but they were betrayed by the corporation.
Those with strong mental energy were uploaded into the virtual world, those with weak mental energy… were killed.
Wei Langxing, using their bodies as cover, fought his way out.
He wielded two guns, killing dozens of mercenaries, but he was eventually taken down by a tranquilizer dart.
Waking up, he became the numb, obedient Employee 672.
That memory was like a lucid dream, both surreal and vivid.
But it was just a dream. Fortunately, he hadn’t fallen completely; someone had pulled him back.
He took a bite of his sandwich, looking at Tang Yu’an.
Tang Yu’an ate neatly, the food in his hands seeming almost… willing, as if honored to be consumed by him.
There was bottled water in the safehouse. He opened one and offered it to Tang Yu’an, who suddenly looked up.
Then, he threw his food aside, tackling him to the ground.
An explosion rocked the house, the door shattering into pieces.
The corporation had found them!
Tang Yu’an was grateful for the system’s warning.
Wei Langxing reacted quickly, shielding him as they scrambled to their feet, heading for the back door, only to find themselves surrounded.
How? Jinshan had said this place was safe…
Then he saw Jinshan leading the corporation mercenaries inside, and he understood.
Jinshan, meeting his gaze, said frankly: “Nothing personal, they offered too much.”
He had said those same words before, only now, he was the one betraying someone.
Tang Yu’an didn’t feel heartbroken, just disappointed.
And also… foolish.
He should have known, after Jinshan’s first betrayal, what kind of person he was. What had he been expecting?
But Jinshan was resourceful, rescuing him, then betraying him for a profit.
Clever, he thought.
