Duan Chen clung to the wall like a silent gecko.
He adjusted his breathing.
To get closer to the Turtle Breathing technique.
As he constantly adjusted, his presence became less and less noticeable, his breathing growing fainter. Unless someone deliberately paid attention, it would be impossible to discover that a person was hidden there.
He was no longer the person he used to be.
There was a world of difference between him and his former self.
If he wanted to hide, very few people would be able to find him.
Duan Chen's breathing became increasingly steady.
It was as if he had blended into the air itself.
He maintained a not-too-close, not-too-far distance, slowly following them, ensuring that within this range, he wouldn't lose track of them or be discovered.
Ahead, Jia Yunlian, with a face full of worry, was leading her son home.
At this moment, she was just an ordinary mother.
Niya obediently let his mother pull him along.
He lowered his head, silent.
Jia Yunlian had a lot of anger to vent, but seeing her son in such a state, she couldn't help but soften her heart.
On the way home, she crouched down by the roadside, calmly meeting her son's eyes.
"Do you have anything you want to say?"
Niya shook his head, feeling wronged.
He opened his mouth and hugged the doll in his arms tightly.
"I didn't mean to, Mom."
"Niya is very good."
Jia Yunlian looked deeply into her child's eyes, and finally sighed helplessly. She reached out a slender finger, painted with red nail polish, and gently stroked her child's hair.
She comforted him softly.
"It's okay, Mom knows. Our Niya is a good boy. It's just that this kindergarten isn't quite right. Mom, shall I find you another kindergarten?"
Niya opened his mouth with difficulty, not knowing what to say.
But in the end, he just let out a small, wronged sob.
Niya silently asked in his heart.
[Gallot, did I really do the right thing? Mom doesn't look very happy.]
The voice in his mind had grown into a cold, young boy's voice.
[Of course you did, why wouldn't you? Niya, believe in yourself. Believe that you have the power to change the world. As long as you can skillfully use your power, your mother won't have to work so hard anymore.]
Niya was silent for a moment, eventually persuaded by the voice in his mind, and silently agreed.
Niya opened his mouth slightly and said something silently.
[You're right.]
[Gallot, you are always right.]
[I am the man of this family, standing tall. No one but me can give Mom a sense of security. I have to become strong.]
The voice in his mind let out a slightly approving laugh.
[That's right, that's the spirit. Believe in yourself, you will surely change this world. Go, Niya.]
No one noticed that Duan Chen, who had gradually become stronger, was following them from afar, never falling behind.
Duan Chen watched them enter a residential building in Ice City before stopping. He stood outside the complex, watching for a long time, then turned and left.
His mind was filled with numerous doubts.
"Jia Yunlian actually has a son?"
"And the son is Niya?"
"Why has the guild never heard of this news?"
"No, that's not right. Perhaps there was news, but I've forgotten it."
"Why are they here..."
"Niya..."
"That child..."
Duan Chen then thought of the little red flower, and his head suddenly ached.
He returned to the presidential suite in silence.
His suit was a little dirty.
But no one asked him about his suit.
Until he met his temporary teammates.
"Did you go out stealing?"
A somewhat cold, beautiful voice sounded in his ear. Duan Chen looked up with a headache at the woman in the white dress standing before him.
He was a little distraught.
"Can you please wear your dress properly?"
Jun Ci paused.
"What's wrong?"
Duan Chen felt a helpless sense of a daughter growing up too fast.
"No woman wears a dress without zipping it up."
The zipper on the side of her waist was gaping open, revealing her underwear and abdomen.
Jun Ci casually lowered her head and zipped it up.
"What's the big deal? It's my body anyway."
"It's just a couple of extra lumps of flesh on my chest. We're all brothers, right?"
Duan Chen: ...
He felt a slight stirring below his navel and gritted his teeth.
"If you keep acting like this, don't blame me if our brotherhood turns sour!"
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Yuan Qingqing, who was passing by, suddenly heard such shocking gossip and blushed, coughing to remind them that there were other people present.
Duan Chen was speechless, not knowing what to say.
Qin Nanyuan was more serious and asked.
"Captain, what did you discover during your reconnaissance?"
Duan Chen nodded.
"I made some discoveries, but it's more of a personal matter."
"Regarding our current mission, I haven't fully acted yet. I need you to come with me."
"The mission target might know that they are cooperating with sea monsters, but is still tolerating their actions, even actively covering for them."
"When I went out, I overheard some relevant information and extracted it, uncovering these issues."
Hearing Duan Chen bring up the important matters, the others no longer felt like teasing.
They quickly adopted serious expressions.
Everyone gathered around the sofa.
"How is it?"
Although they all enjoyed the thrill of slaughtering in the secret realm, they didn't think they could be so arrogant in the real world.
Especially...
Thinking back to their experiences in the secret realm, it was hardly a spree of killing.
"This time, our target is a merchant guild boss."
Although Duan Chen had been busy tracking his old acquaintance, he hadn't ignored other information.
Precisely because he was constantly tracking his old acquaintance, he was able to gather more and more information. After all, this person was making a big show in Ice City with their activities, showing no intention of hiding.
A dark, bright gleam flashed in his eyes.
"His name is Jia Ren Gui."
"The boss of the Marine Chamber of Commerce."
"Engaged in marine transportation and logistics services."