This Is My Planet - Chapter 45

The matter of “apologizing” to Yan Wuyue came to an unfortunate halt, leaving Ling Moxue curious about Gongsun Jiu’s intentions.

Racing to her grandfather’s house, Ling Moxue pondered halfway through the journey. She found Yan Wuyue’s attitude rather strange. Even if she didn’t accept the apology or wish to engage in a fight, shouldn’t she at least attempt to capture her? Ling Moxue had prepared a way out; she had the teleportation talisman ready in her hand. Yet, Yan Wuyue seemed to have no intention of making a move at all…

Could it be that she really recognized me as Ling Moxue?

That would be a complete disaster, worse than losing in battle.

Arriving at her grandfather’s doorstep with a mind full of thoughts, Ling Moxue overheard her grandfather, Ling Tiannan, saying, “Deputy Marshal, please have a seat. Coffee or tea? We have some celestial tea from the Divine Descendants.”

Gongsun Jiu replied, “Plain water, or that ‘White Fox’ ecological beverage from the Yin family, it’s quite invigorating.”

Ling Moxue found Gongsun Jiu rather uninteresting, rigidly composed and sitting with a military posture even as a guest in someone else’s home, asking for plain water.

And he was still a beautiful man! Did it matter if a man was that beautiful? She had seen so many effeminate men in the entertainment industry. Men should be a bit domineering, a bit manly, able to crack a joke at times. Hmm, why did that sound a bit like someone she knew? But that person treated her like a slave…. What was she even thinking about?

Of course, to onlookers, she and Deputy Marshal Gongsun seemed like a perfect match, suitable for the union of both families. Unfortunately, neither of them had any interest in each other. To avoid their families’ nagging, they chose to evade meeting each other…

No wonder when he came to visit so late at night, it made her grandfather feel a bit suspicious, prompting him to quickly call her over for introductions.

As a servant brought Gongsun Jiu his drink, Ling Tiannan smiled and said, “Moxue has been living independently for a while. I wanted her to meet the Deputy Marshal; it’s been years since you’ve seen each other, right?”

Gongsun Jiu smiled faintly. “We often see each other on TV… Besides, I didn’t come to see Moxue. I visited to discuss something with Senator Ling.”

Standing at the door, Ling Moxue coldly said, “As if I want to see you. If there’s nothing, then I won’t come in.”

Ling Tiannan frowned. “Show some manners! Come in and have a seat.”

Gongsun Jiu didn’t mind her coldness. In fact, he didn’t even bother looking at her. He just sipped his drink and calmly stated, “The Zhou family is suspected of plotting against our military’s Special Operations Commander. Senator Ling, how do you see this?”

Ling Moxue’s heart skipped a beat, and she sat silently sipping her coffee.

Although it was anticipated, she hadn’t expected this sissy guy to be so sharp and straightforward. He went straight for the critical point. A soldier indeed; politicians never act like this…

Clearly, Ling Tiannan was also uncomfortable with this style. He frowned slightly and said, “If there’s evidence, it should be dealt with according to military law. If there’s no evidence…” He glanced at Gongsun Jiu. “It’s not suitable to discuss such matters with me, is it?”

“It might be suitable or might not be,” Gongsun Jiu replied with a slight smile. “Zhou Hongye used to be Senator Ling’s old subordinate… As for evidence, I do have evidence of the Zhou family collaborating with the Divine Descendants. Senator Ling, would you like to see it?”

Ling Tiannan remained composed. “The Zhou family had dealings with the Cultivators Association, but collaborating with the Divine Descendants? The Zhou family’s research on modified humans is a taboo among the Divine Descendants; how could they possibly collude…”

Gongsun Jiu waved his hand. “The Cultivators Association has connections here and there; it’s not a big deal… Even I have such connections, and the military also has specialized cultivators, right?”

Both Ling Tiannan and Ling Moxue silently sipped their coffee, knowing that Gongsun Jiu surely had more to say.

“Do you know about the Zhou family’s accusation against the Yin family yesterday? They claimed that Yin Xiaoru stole their research findings,” Gongsun Jiu smiled. “The formula was submitted to the military, and I had it analyzed. It truly belongs to the divine descendants’ pill system. Theoretically, the Yin family has had no contact with this. However, due to the Zhou family’s interactions with the Cultivators Association, they’ve been involved in this research.”

Ling Tiannan remarked, “So the Zhou family’s accusation against the Yin family for stealing their research secrets seems quite reasonable?”

“Very much so,” Gongsun Jiu smiled. “But according to the military research institute, this formula isn’t something the Cultivators Association would possess because it’s too advanced. It feels like asking a middle schooler to solve a top-tier academic problem. Such alchemical knowledge, with over ninety percent certainty, likely originates from the divine descendants. Senator Ling, if you doubt this, you can consult acquaintances from the Cultivators Association to see if they possess this level of knowledge.”

Ling Tiannan’s heart skipped a beat, but he resisted the urge to look at his granddaughter.

He, Ling Tiannan, merely supported the Cultivators Association behind the scenes. He wasn’t personally involved. His granddaughter, Ling Moxue, was the real high-ranking member of the association, and she knew best about the association’s capability regarding this formula.

He could only say slowly, “Oh? This is the first time I’ve heard about this… I’ll inquire about it in the morning.”

Gongsun Jiu continued, “I have reason to suspect that the Zhou family’s interactions with the Cultivators Association are a cover for their clandestine dealings with the Divine Descendants.”

Ling Tiannan couldn’t help but repeat, “But their research on modified humans is taboo for Divine Descendants.”

Gongsun Jiu smiled. “Theoretically, it’s also taboo for human ethics, but what about in reality?”

Ling Tiannan fixedly looked at him for a moment before suddenly saying, “The incident involving Yan Wuyue was just a pretext for you. In reality, you’ve always sought an opportunity to challenge the direction of this research on modified humans.”

“Partly true.” Gongsun Jiu didn’t deny it. “Yan Wuyue faced great danger, and I can’t tolerate that. I’ve tolerated this research on modified humans for quite a while now and don’t wish to continue doing so. These two incidents might seem separate, but why wait any longer to act?”

“Are you, like those ethics committees, believing this to be against human nature?”

Gongsun Jiu fell silent for a moment before slowly responding, “So-called research on modified humans is meant to enhance strength, but it’s just an excuse. The real reason it’s tolerated is because many believe it’s a direction toward immortality. However, Senator Ling… this kind of research requires a large number of human subjects, and it may not even be useful. A mere experimentation, at the cost of how many lives…”

He paused, his gaze becoming sharper. “I, Gongsun Jiu, am fortunate to be a young marshal. My purpose is to protect the populace who trusts me, not to let them become sacrifices for someone’s selfish desire for immortality.”

“You… Has your family reached a unified opinion?”

“No,” Gongsun Jiu said firmly. “This is my opinion.”

The air quieted for a moment, Ling Tiannan quietly looking into Gongsun Jiu’s eyes without responding.

Next to them, Ling Moxue set down her coffee cup, and the sound of the cup touching the table resonated clearly in the night.

Both men instinctively turned to look at her, only to see Ling Moxue calmly saying, “I am also closely associated with the Cultivators Association and have inquired about that formula… Indeed, it couldn’t have been developed by them; most likely, it comes from the Divine Descendants.”

Ling Tiannan narrowed his eyes.

Gongsun Jiu appeared somewhat surprised, then burst into a radiant smile. “Moxue, you have surprised me.”

Ling Moxue seemed indifferent, “You’re not just dealing with the Zhou family; you’re taking on a group of people. You’ll face backlash, and even your family won’t support you. Are you not afraid?”

Gongsun Jiu didn’t answer, smiling as he stood. “It’s almost dawn. Gongsun takes his leave.”

Only after Gongsun Jiu had left for quite some time did Ling Tiannan slowly say, “It seems the one who almost killed Yan Wuyue was you.”

Ling Moxue cleared her throat. “Hmm.”

“The Zhou family’s research on modified humans is also a collaboration with you.”

“…Yes.”

“So, what are you doing?” Ling Tiannan finally couldn’t resist looking at his granddaughter’s face. “Have you taken a fancy to Gongsun Jiu?”

Ling Moxue covered her face. “You might as well say I’ve taken a fancy to Yan Wuyue. Honestly, I don’t know if what I’m doing is enough… I always feel like I’m being trapped…”

Ling Tiannan: “?”

“Grandpa, have you heard of the ‘Xuanyuan Sword’?”

“Isn’t that something from novels and games?” Ling Tiannan educated her. “The interaction between the Divine Descendants and humans has been well-known for a long time. There is no such thing as the ‘Xuanyuan Sword.’ Don’t cling to unfounded thoughts and wild imaginations; don’t be deceived.”

Ling Moxue didn’t respond to that, instead asking, “If only it existed, what would the sword represent?”

Ling Tiannan replied, “According to legend, it represents the will of the world.”