After drawing cards, the evil god became my source of吐槽 (tu cao, a form of humorous commentary/criti

Chapter 131 New Mission

Before any news of Ling's research could be received, An Jing had already received a new assignment.

The mission's destination is a small fishing village near the sea...and the surrounding waters.

This fishing village is not well-known; you can't even find its exact name on a map. The houses in the village are built against the mountain and by the sea. Most of the houses are shacks made of mottled blue bricks or wood, and they are covered with salt frost year-round under the damp sea breeze.

For generations, the villagers have made a living by fishing. At dawn, they paddle into the water, and at dusk, they light bonfires. The bounty of the sea is their sole means of survival.

However, recently, everything has changed completely.

Starting a month ago, people began to gradually disappear from the fishing village.

At first, only one ship failed to return, and people assumed it had encountered an accident, perhaps due to storms or damage.

For three consecutive days, boats never returned. By the time the number of missing persons reached double digits, a sense of oppression and panic permeated the village.

The missing fishermen were all experienced veterans, familiar with the tides and wind direction; it's impossible for them all to have perished at sea for no reason. Moreover, the weather was excellent during that period, with calm seas, making it easy for even the most ordinary fishermen to return with their catch.

The villagers initially tried to save themselves, organizing several boat fleets to go out to sea to search, but not only did they not find anyone, they also added new missing persons.

Without exception, everyone who sailed into that sea area never returned.

That stretch of sea, usually just a normal blue, has become, in the eyes of the fishing village people, an abyss that devours life.

Finally, the village elder, his voice trembling, reported the matter to the local authorities.

Soon, the local government dispatched rescue personnel, and several more advanced fishery administration vessels entered the area.

But as soon as they approached, they sensed an indescribable sense of oppression hovering over the sea. The data on the monitoring instruments kept fluctuating, the numbers soaring higher and higher, the pointers almost exceeding the limit.

"An unusually high concentration of mysterious energy..."

This was their final intelligence report.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the authorities immediately reported it to the Research Department. Meanwhile, Special Operations Unit 404 also received the news.

"Special Operations Division 404?"

When An Jing heard this name from Yu Li, she was stunned for two seconds.

From the time He Lin left the Special Service Department until she was kidnapped, she hadn't heard any news from them. Perhaps He Lin was afraid she would be traumatized and deliberately stopped mentioning it, or perhaps the Special Service Department was so weakened that it no longer talked about it.

Hearing it now feels like a lifetime ago.

When Xu Yanyi learned that You Li had personally assigned this task to An Jing, his first reaction was not confusion, but extreme nervousness.

"Why her of all people?! There must be someone in the bureau involved, right?"

The sound was a bit louder than usual, and even the air seemed to vibrate.

Xu Yanyi stood before his desk, his brows furrowed deeply, veins bulging at his temples. He was unusually emotionally distraught, speaking rapidly, as if he had just remembered something; his voice was filled with barely suppressed anger and anxiety.

"The Special Service couldn't possibly be unaware of He Lin's death! They must have received the news immediately! Those people... in short, they'll definitely use this opportunity to plan a second kidnapping of An Jing! Isn't this blatantly pushing her into a fire pit?! And the Special Service will also be involved in this mission; what if they sabotage us then?"

By the end, his eyes were red with anxiety.

Yuri sat behind the desk, pen in hand, reviewing documents with her head down.

The pen tip made a "scratching" sound on the paper, calm and restrained, as if Xu Yanyi's roar was just an insignificant background noise.

The air in the office froze for a moment when Xu Yanyi abruptly stopped speaking.

Yuri's pen paused on the paper.

After a brief silence, she finally raised her head.

Those eyes were cold and sharp, like a sword yet to be drawn, with a chilling light shooting out from the depths of their gaze.

In the short time since He Lin's death, she has already completed her transformation.

"Xu Yanyi".

Her tone was calm, her voice low, yet it carried an irresistible force.

Do you still think An Jing is the same vulnerable little girl she used to be?

Xu Yanyi was stunned.

These words struck him like a needle prick, leaving him frozen in place.

Yuri's gaze remained fixed on him, showing no sign of backing down.

"Perhaps in your eyes, she is still that insignificant character who has no say in anything and can only passively follow others." She paused slightly, tapping her fingertips lightly on the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound.

The sound, along with her tone, gradually chilled the air, as if it carried a subtle but powerful pressure.

"But in my opinion, she has already grown to a point where none of us can underestimate her. You can't, and neither can I."

"Moreover, what about that rabble of a mob in the Special Service?"

She gave a soft, cold laugh, a laugh devoid of any warmth, more like a chilling wind blowing through her heart.

"If they dare to attack An Jing again, it's not a scheme, it's asking for trouble."

The moment he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the office froze.

Xu Yanyi's heart suddenly clenched.

He was breathing rapidly, but he couldn't speak.

Reason and emotion clashed fiercely in my chest, until finally, reason gradually prevailed over emotion.

Yuri's words were like a wake-up call, making him suddenly realize some problems.

Is An Jing... really still that child who only wants to be protected?

No.

She is no longer one.

He recalled the details of those days.

Having the Primordial Source within her is her most powerful trump card, a power that others can only dream of.

Countless card abilities, varied methods, flexible and quick thinking, often surprising.

With her psychic abilities, she can sense, interfere with, and even "charge" others; this power is almost inexhaustible.

In terms of physical skills, she has become quite proficient through long-term training and can now even exchange a few blows with herself.

Not to mention her mental fortitude; she is calm, intelligent, and capable of making the most accurate choices in the most critical moments.

Such comprehensive qualities are top-notch, even within the entire research department and the entire system.

A hexagonal warrior.

Xu Yanyi's heartbeat gradually slowed down.

An absurd yet undeniable thought surfaced in my mind:

If anyone dares to lay a hand on An Jing, they will likely be the ones who get hurt.

He let out a long breath, and the tension in his shoulders gradually eased.

Yuri watched his changing emotions, a faint light flashing in her eyes, and a very slight smile curving her lips.

She lowered her head again, the pen tip returned to the paper, and she continued working on the documents at hand.

His voice was indifferent, yet exceptionally resolute:

"Don't assume she was forced to stay in the research department."

"Perhaps she was at first."

"But in the process of growing up, she already had her own goals and ideals."

"Every step she takes now is a choice she made herself."

The only sound in the office was the monotonous yet steady scratching of pens on paper.

Xu Yanyi stood silently in place, remaining silent for a long time.

He looked at You Xin, feeling as if a heavy stone had been placed on his heart.

Perhaps it is indeed as she said.

An Jing,

She is no longer the person who "needs protection".

She is now a true warrior.

(End of this chapter)