Am I really hallucinating?

Chapter 469 The Complex Past Unique to the Older Generation

During his time after class, Niu Qianliu was in his office fiddling with his bass guitar, seemingly deep in thought.

"You play it really well." A voice suddenly rang out in the office.

Niu Qianliu's fingers paused abruptly as he strummed the strings. After a moment of hesitation, he asked casually, "How does it feel compared to your band's bassist?"

“That’s still a bit lacking. Your talent in musical instruments isn’t as good as his,” Zheng Fan said.

“Compared to the Seed of Light, this talent is indeed obvious.” Niu Qianliu smirked and put down his bass. “Didn’t Lin Yilin come?”

"Huh? She didn't call or text you?" Zheng Fan turned his head to look at Niu Qianliu's phone on the table.

"After the earthquake, I completely stopped using my phone for notifications. Checking it every few days to clear up messages is enough," Niu Qianliu said helplessly.

"Oh, those people are still bothering you?"

“Although they can find all sorts of reasons to exclude me when it comes to recognizing merit, they still need my abilities after all. It’s rare for me to help out again after so many years of retirement, so some people think I can try again,” Niu Qianliu said, spreading his hands.

Zheng Fan said, "You used to be very famous."

"It's not exactly a good reputation. So you came to see me alone this time because you have something to say?" Niu Qianliu didn't intend to say more and asked Zheng in return.

Zheng Fan had no reservations; he had already seen through Niu Qianliu's true nature during the earthquake. Based on the descriptions from Lin Yilin, Luo Ye, Hong Yijia, and others, he was undoubtedly an excellent teacher.

Although we don't know what he did in the Pure White Society in the past, at least that's what he did after he came to this university to teach.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that he was unlucky enough to run into students like Lin Yilin and Luo Ye.

He told Niu Qianliu about the events in Jiangwen Street.

“I knew it. Zhang Xue used to get scolded by Bai Shi every time there was a central meeting, but she had basically lost all her spirit and couldn’t listen to him. After the earthquake, when I heard about what was happening there, I wondered if she could try harder. But now that she’s trying, I doubt she can handle the enemies behind her with her limited intelligence.”

Niu Qianliu chuckled, took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth without lighting it, and just satisfied his nicotine craving like this.

"You seem to know Bai Shi and Zhang Xue quite well?" Zheng Fan sensed the relationship implied in Niu Qianliu's words.

“We were classmates at Leonardo Central University. Our relationship back then was similar to that of Lin Yilin and Luo Ye. But speaking of which, I haven’t seen them in a long time. They’re usually quite busy and we haven’t kept in touch much.” Niu Qianliu casually revealed his extensive network of connections.

He glanced at Zheng Fan: "Why are you so surprised? Dadu is both very big and very small. Anyone with a white world household registration has the potential to get into Leonardo Central University with excellent grades. And most of the graduates from Central University go on to work in various systems in Dadu. They mainly work in the academic society and the processing bureau. We have a lot of awesome classmates here."

"That's true, but it's impressive that your club can produce two top-ranked players from different districts."

“There are three. Long before the Hong family girl, there was another person in our hobby group who served as the chief of Nolan Street.” Niu Qianliu pointed to the number.

"Hmm... alright, the old generation's complicated and exaggerated past."

"I wouldn't dare say that. Back then, all of us in the club, except for Bai Shi, were too weak to be used as a football by Luo Ye."

Zheng Fan heard something interesting again: "Bai Shi's violence index, even at full power, is only at the gun level, right? Was he very powerful before?"

He has now realized that Luo Ye, whom he had treated like a roadside figure, is actually quite powerful. If that's the case, how come Bai Shi was able to contend with Luo Ye at one point?

"He used to be incredibly powerful. I don't know if he could fight Luo Ye, but he certainly wouldn't have been kicked to death like a stray dog. But he's become like this now. Even though we're all middle-aged men and women now, haven't you noticed that Bai Shi looks much older than us?"

"I thought it was simply because he died from overwork." Zheng Fan recalled the man who always looked very serious.

"It's because he made a huge sacrifice back then, almost sacrificing his entire future, and in the end, he chose to stay in Xixi Keke as the chief of the processing bureau..." Niu Qianliu looked out the window, gazing in the direction of the Xixi Keke Processing Bureau, which was out of sight from here. It's as if being the chief of a large district is some kind of trash.

However, everyone has their Versailles moment, and Zheng Fan chose to be understanding.

Niu Qianliu turned around and said, "It's been raining a lot lately, and for some reason my mood has become gloomy along with the weather. I'm sorry."

"It's nothing, I just heard an interesting story."

Niu Qianliu returned to his small stool and said, "Hmm, let me think..." He paused briefly before speaking again, "I haven't done fortune telling in a long time. It's quite troublesome and risky in Dadu, but since you've stepped forward, I'll try to help you out."

"You can tell fortunes?" Zheng Fan asked, both curious and suspicious.

Niu Qianliu tugged at his Taoist robe: "What do you think? Fortune telling is also a kind of ritual, but in a sense, it is one of the most dangerous rituals."

"Then give me a reading?" Zheng Fan asked with a smile as he stepped forward.

"Didn't you hear me? I just said this is one of the most dangerous rituals."

"Yes, but didn't you say you would help me?"

"The reason it's dangerous is because most places have people like you!" Niu Qianliu complained.

Seeing Zheng Fan's regretful yet questioning expression, Niu Qianliu wiped his sweat and said, "I'll go to Jiangwen Street and meet this young man, Lu Chongming, in person."

"Are you going to Jiangwen Street?"

“Yes, humans can’t move as easily as you imagine. Not to mention I’m being watched by all sorts of eyes. Getting to this far out in the city without attracting attention or causing unnecessary trouble isn’t an easy task.” Niu Qianliu said this, slowly starting to pack his things.

Suddenly, Zheng grabbed him by the back of the neck.

"Humans can move around easily and effortlessly."

Zheng Fan revealed a sinister smile.

……

During the earthquake, Zheng Fan was able to take Lao Luo all over Dadu to gather enough material to find Lin Yilin. It would be no problem to do the same with Niu Qianliu.

Luo Ye had strong physical abilities, so he was able to keep up even without any protective measures, while Niu Qianliu... Zheng Fan didn't prepare any protective measures for him either.

Anyway, Zheng Fan could tell that his physical condition wasn't bad, and the tiny illusionary realm within Niu Qianliu's body wouldn't let him die.

Zheng Fan carried Niu Qianliu from the Raphael School District to Jiangwen Street at a speed that no normal human could withstand, without attracting anyone's attention. The price was that Niu Qianliu became a "dead ox".

Zheng Fan went to Lu Chongming's room and put Niu Qianliu down, watching as Niu Qianliu's tattered body recovered under the effect of the strange power within him.

"Ugh... Next time, before you do this, at least... tell me first... No, let's not have a next time..." Niu Qianliu still felt dizzy, and his body was trembling so much that he couldn't even stand up.

It's so easy and effortless. Before you know it, you're going to die. Isn't that easy and effortless?

It's like a direct high-speed train to hell.

(End of this chapter)