One person: Lu Jin, do I look like your master?

After listening to Gao Lian's brief explanation and earnest invitation, Wang Xuan accepted calmly without much hesitation.

Since he had promised Erzhuang, he naturally wouldn't go back on his word.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Wang! When would be a convenient time for you? I'll arrange for someone to pick you up right away!"

Gao Lian's voice was filled with gratitude and anticipation.

"No need for that. Just tell me the address, and I'll go there myself."

Wang Xuan said calmly.

After hanging up the phone, Wang Xuan returned to the house and quickly packed his belongings.

There's really nothing to bring, just a few changes of clothes, that's all.

After locking the doors and windows of the old house, Wang Xuan took one last look at the home that had given him a brief moment of peace, then turned around and calmly embarked on his journey to Fengtian.

He was located in Northeast China, not far from Fengtian.

After a few hours by train, we arrived at this important town in Northeast China.

As people walked out of the bustling station, the unique atmosphere of Fengtian City, a blend of industrial vibes and historical weight, rushed towards them.

Wang Xuan stood at the exit, his gaze calmly sweeping across the area ahead.

His gaze quickly settled on a target: a middle-aged man wearing a well-fitting dark suit, glasses, and a beard.

He had a calm and capable demeanor and sharp eyes, but at this moment, a trace of anxiety and anticipation could not be hidden between his brows as he kept looking towards the exit.

Behind him, a seemingly ordinary but actually bulletproof black sedan was parked quietly.

When the middle-aged man's gaze met Wang Xuan's, he visibly paused, seemingly surprised by Wang Xuan's youth and...or rather, ordinariness. But he reacted quickly, immediately stepping forward to greet him with a warm and respectful smile.

"Excuse me, are you Master Wang Xuan?"

Gao Lian's tone carried confirmation and a hint of barely perceptible awe. Although he had read the files and knew that Wang Xuan was young, seeing him in person still seemed somewhat unbelievable.

Wang Xuan nodded slightly:

"That's wonderful! You must have had a long journey!"

Gao Lian felt a weight lifted from his heart and quickly stepped aside to lead the way.

"Master Wang, the car is ready. Let's head back first and discuss things in more detail when we get there. This is also a good opportunity for me to show you some hospitality and welcome you home!"

He adopted a very humble attitude, treating Wang Xuan as a reclusive master.

Wang Xuan neither confirmed nor denied this, but simply nodded, and then followed Gao Lian toward the black sedan.

In the short few dozen seconds it took him to walk to his car, his cell phone began to vibrate continuously and slightly, and the screen lit up repeatedly.

Wang Xuan reluctantly took out his phone and glanced at it. Sure enough, it was Er Zhuang.

From the moment Wang Xuan agreed to come, to the moment he boarded the train, and now to his arrival in Fengtian, Er Zhuang's online messages have been like a never-ending stream, flooding in through various social media platforms.

It started with overwhelming gratitude and countless cheering emojis, then various "self-reports" about her health, and later, constant questioning.

"Where have you been?"

"Are you on the bus?"

"How long until it arrives?"

Interspersed throughout are numerous cartoon GIFs expressing tension, anticipation, and trepidation.

At this moment, as Wang Xuan set foot on Fengtian soil, the news about Er Zhuang reached its peak, with lines of text and emoticons rapidly scrolling across the screen:

"Master, have you arrived yet? Have you arrived?"

"I see you!! My dad picked you up!"

"Ahhh, I'm so nervous!"

"Master, can you really cure me? Am I dreaming?"

"[Crazy spinning.gif][Starry eyes.jpg][Hands clasped in prayer.jpg]"

Looking at the overflowing excitement on the screen, Wang Xuan felt as if he could see through the cold screen the soul trapped in the sea of ​​data, eagerly anticipating the return to a "real" future.

He shook his head slightly, without replying, and simply put his phone back in his pocket after putting it on silent mode.

After settling into the comfortable back seat, Gao Lian personally closed the door, then jogged over to the passenger seat and instructed the driver to start the car.

The vehicle smoothly departed the train station and merged into the busy traffic of Fengtian City.

Gao Lian occasionally glanced at Wang Xuan, who was resting with his eyes closed in the back seat, through the rearview mirror. His heart was filled with complex emotions—hope, worry, awe, and a father's deepest longing.

Chapter 96 Heading to the Northeast Region's Dark Fortress

The black sedan drove away from the bustling main road of Fengtian city and onto a relatively quiet road.

Along the roads, towering skyscrapers are gradually being replaced by low-rise old factories, warehouses, and large tracts of undeveloped land.

The view opened up, but it also seemed increasingly desolate and remote. The wheels rolled over the occasional uneven road surface, making a slight creaking sound.

After driving for about twenty more minutes, in an area that looked like the edge of an old industrial zone, the car slowly slowed down and finally stopped in front of a huge, inconspicuous, and even somewhat rusty iron gate.

The iron gate was tightly closed, and on both sides were high walls covered with withered vines, with hidden surveillance cameras mounted on the top of the walls.

From the outside, the entire compound appears empty and dilapidated, carrying a sense of loneliness as if forgotten by time, standing out starkly from the newly developed areas we had just passed through.

"Master Wang, we've arrived."

Gao Lian turned around and spoke to Wang Xuan, who was still resting with his eyes closed in the back row. His tone carried a hint of relaxation at returning to his own territory, but more so a tense anticipation for what was to come.

"You must be tired from your journey. Let's go inside first. I've already had a simple meal prepared. Please have some and rest to recover. We'll... trouble you again later."

He tried to make his tone sound natural, not wanting to put any pressure on Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan slowly opened his eyes, glancing through the car window at the heavy iron gate and high wall outside, his expression unchanged.

He nodded and responded calmly:

He had no objection to this. It's basic etiquette to follow the host's lead.

Moreover, he is the one who came to offer help and provide treatment; the initiative is in his hands, and he can cooperate whenever the Gao family wants to start treatment.

For him, this was not an urgent matter at all, and he maintained the same peaceful state of mind he had when he was contemplating the world in his old family courtyard.

The car door opened, and Wang Xuan stepped out with Gao Lian. The early spring northeast wind felt particularly biting here, whipping up dust that swirled around.

Gao Lian stepped forward, operated a few steps in an inconspicuous password recognition area next to the iron gate, and then went through an iris verification.

The heavy iron gate creaked and groaned as it slowly slid open to the sides.

Stepping into the courtyard, the scene was indeed a completely different world, forming a stark contrast to the desolation and ruin outside.

The courtyard is extremely spacious, with a flat and clean ground paved with bluestone slabs.

Several low-rise buildings with a simple yet modern style are scattered in a well-organized manner, with strong lines and exquisite materials.

Between the buildings are meticulously maintained courtyard landscapes, though it is early spring and the vegetation has not yet fully turned green.

But the pruned pines and cypresses, the rugged rocks scattered among them, and the winding gravel path all exude a low-key yet stylish Zen-like tranquility.

The entire environment feels very comfortable, like a secluded paradise hidden away from the hustle and bustle, or a special base that places great emphasis on confidentiality and comfort.

Gao Lian led Wang Xuan towards one of the main buildings. The interior decoration was simple yet sophisticated, with a comfortable temperature and soft lighting.

A carefully prepared but not overly extravagant lunch has been prepared.

During the meal, Gao Lian tried to find some light topics, introducing the local customs and culture of Northeast China, and occasionally subtly mentioning some interesting stories about the world of supernatural beings.

She didn't mention the treatment at all, afraid of displeasing Wang Xuan. Wang Xuan simply ate his meal quietly, occasionally nodding in response, without saying much.

After the meal, Gao Lian was about to get up and arrange for Wang Xuan to rest in a guest room, but Wang Xuan raised his hand to stop him.

"Patriarch Gao, there's no need for that trouble."

Wang Xuan's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

"Take me directly to Erzhuang."

His purpose for this trip was clear: having resolved Erzhuang's problem, he planned to return directly to his hometown to continue his spiritual practice of comprehending the universe.

With the future clear, he didn't want to waste too much time on any external affairs.

As for treating Erzhuang, in his eyes it was indeed just a matter of doing it on the side. With his current understanding of the Triple Rebirth and life energy, dealing with this kind of physical injury did not require too much effort.

Upon hearing this, Gao Lian was first taken aback, then his face instantly lit up with uncontrollable excitement and joy!

He had waited for this moment for far too long!

His daughter, with her frail body, has endured so many years of suffering in the cold life support equipment; every visit feels like a knife twisting in his heart.

Now that the dawn of hope is right in front of him, how could he not be excited?

"Good! Good! Great!"

Gao Lian responded repeatedly, his voice trembling slightly.

"Master Wang, this way please! I'll take you there right away!"

He abandoned all formalities, immediately rose, and personally led the way.

The two did not linger and left the comfortable reception area directly. They got back into their car and headed towards a deeper, more secretive destination—one of the core bunkers of the Northeast Region.

This bunker differs from the other bunkers in that its construction and operation are largely centered around Gao Yushan's (Erzhuang's) special circumstances.

After all, Erzhuang's abilities were too unique and powerful.

In the real world, she may be incredibly vulnerable, but in the boundless online world, she is an almost omniscient and omnipotent ruler, whose strategic value and importance to the company are immeasurable.

Calling her "Cyber ​​Zhang Zhiwei" may be an exaggeration, but it is enough to illustrate her absolute dominance in a specific field.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the company invests a lot of resources to ensure the safety and stability of her "body".

After driving for about half an hour, the vehicle finally entered a heavily guarded mountainous area.

After passing through several checkpoints, both overt and covert, and repeatedly verifying identities, the car finally stopped in front of an entrance that appeared to be a natural crack in the mountain, but was actually cleverly disguised and reinforced.

The heavy alloy door slowly opened, revealing a brightly lit, futuristic passageway.

The car drove directly in and proceeded down the ramp. Finally, it stopped at a spacious underground platform.

"Master Wang, we've arrived."

Gao Lian took a deep breath to calm his excited emotions and opened the car door for Wang Xuan.

Before them lay the core area of ​​the Northeast Bunker, the very place where Gao Yushan's body was located.

A treatment that will be a miracle of life is about to begin here.

Chapter 97 Rebirth, Today Only

The passage leading to the deepest part of the bunker was long and silent, with only the clear sound of two people's footsteps echoing between the cold metal walls.

Gao Lian and Wang Xuan walked one after the other without saying a word.

Gao Lian deliberately remained silent.

Although his heart was surging with excitement, he forced himself to remain calm as the crucial moment approached.

He didn't want to disturb Wang Xuan with any unnecessary words, fearing that even the slightest interference would affect the subsequent treatment.

He suppressed all his turbulent emotions, but his slightly trembling fingertips and rapid breathing betrayed his inner turmoil.

His gaze was fixed on the road ahead, as if it were a sacred path leading to salvation.

Wang Xuan's silence was much simpler.

He and Gao Lian were complete strangers; his visit was solely to fulfill his promise to Er Zhuang.

He is not by nature a sociable person who takes the initiative to start conversations. When he is with others, he may respond briefly if the other party brings up a topic, but it is really difficult to ask him to take the initiative to find topics to chat.

This downward passage seemed to have no end, passing through several heavy gates that required specific permissions and biometric identification to open.

The smell of disinfectant in the air grew stronger, and the temperature remained stable within a slightly lower range, suitable for equipment operation.

Finally, they stopped in front of a large alloy door that was completely different from the other doors, gleaming with a soft white light.

Gao Lian stepped forward and conducted the final and most rigorous identity verification—password, fingerprint, iris scan, voiceprint, and even a faint mental fluctuation scan.

After confirming that everything was in order, the door slid open silently to both sides, revealing the scene behind it.