Chapter 85: Yun Sheng Chose Si Jin
Bai Ye stared at Yun Sheng for a moment, and the oppressive, scrutinizing aura he exuded slowly receded.
The corner of his mouth seemed to quirk up faintly, then flattened just as quickly.
"You’re right. All help comes with conditions. Mine are simple.
First, during the special training, you must obey my commands without question. My regimen will be designed around your absolute limits. The process won’t be easy; it will even involve risks. But I can guarantee it is the fastest and most effective method for improving your chances of survival.
Second, accepting my help means you will be temporarily placed under my responsibility. You need to report your movements regularly, and if you come into contact with any dangerous individuals, even by accident, you must tell me immediately."
He phrased this cryptically, but both of them knew exactly who he was referring to.
"Third..."
Bai Ye’s pause was slightly longer this time, his tone taking on a deeper, almost solemn quality.
"If, during training, or at any other time, you feel an abnormal fluctuation in your spiritual landscape—no matter how subtle, and regardless of whether you understand what it is—you must tell me at once."
"Why?"
Yun Sheng asked instinctively, faint alarm bells ringing in her mind.
This third condition was too specific, its target too clear.
Bai Ye’s calm gaze settled on her face, holding not a hint of probing, but rather a clear-eyed perceptiveness.
"The last time you displayed your spiritual power, there was an accident. Lin Yueyao was injured trying to save you... Did you really think you handled that so flawlessly that no one would know you had a hand in it?
Yun Sheng, there are far too many abnormalities surrounding you. The Tower isn’t blind, and its leaders aren’t all fools. Do you really think you don’t have eyes on you right now?"
With every sentence he spoke, Yun Sheng’s heart sank a little further.
’Of course I’ve considered all this. That’s why I’m so desperate to get stronger.’
"My help is an opportunity for you to quickly find your footing within the rules and gain the ability to protect yourself," Bai Ye said, his tone returning to its cool, professional calm. "The price is your temporary acceptance of my supervision and guidance, and a certain degree of honesty with me. At the very least, when it comes to matters that could endanger your own safety, I require the right to know.
Of course, the choice is still yours."
Bai Ye applied no more pressure, simply waiting quietly for Yun Sheng’s answer.
The cold light of the interrogation room outlined his well-defined profile, but his eyes seemed clearer than in any of their previous encounters, lacking their sharp, interrogating edge and holding a new, heavy depth.
Yun Sheng’s heartbeat slowly calmed, but her thoughts were spinning like a flywheel.
Bai Ye’s words had ripped apart the reality she’d been trying to ignore. Her special nature was already exposed to gazes from the shadows.
’The choice he’s offering... If I accept, it means binding myself more deeply to the Tower’s rules and to Bai Ye’s supervision. It also means more exposure and tighter surveillance.’
’What’s more, Bai Ye’s demand for honesty is a condition I can’t possibly meet.’
’But if I refuse? I’ll completely lose this temporary layer of official protection.’
’I’ll have to face even more unknown dangers, both seen and unseen.’
But just as Yun Sheng was weighing her options, Si Jin’s image suddenly appeared in her mind.
Compared to Bai Ye’s help, which was laden with conditions, her partnership with Si Jin felt safer and more liberating.
’At least with Si Jin, I don’t have to worry about him digging into all my secrets, about being labeled as an ’anomaly’ and put under management.’
Once she reached this conclusion, the panic that had stirred in her heart at Bai Ye’s warning subsided.
Yun Sheng raised her head, met Bai Ye’s gaze, and slowly began to speak.
"Thank you for the warning, General Bai. As for the accident being my handiwork... well, you’ve always suspected me, so I see no point in explaining further.
I’ll do my best in the field training. I can accept whatever the outcome is, pass or fail. Therefore, regarding your offer... I’m sorry, but I refuse."
The air in the interrogation room seemed to freeze for a moment.
There was no drastic change in Bai Ye’s expression; only the slight arch of his brow slowly fell back into place.
He stared at her for longer than before, his gaze deep and shuttered, as if he were re-evaluating her, or perhaps confirming something.
There was none of the expected anger at being rejected, nor any further attempts at persuasion or pressure.
He was merely silent, but the silence itself was like a piece of slowly cooling metal, radiating a pressure heavier than words.
After a few seconds, Bai Ye gave a very slow nod, his voice betraying little emotion.
"I understand. Since this is your choice, I respect it. Then, any subsequent inquiries regarding the Chen Hao incident will be handled by other specialists from the investigative team according to standard procedure."
His gaze swept past her, no longer holding that focused scrutiny from before, but more like a detached, business-like scan.
"The interrogation is over. You may leave."
After speaking, Bai Ye didn’t look at her again and walked straight to the door.
His movements were crisp and efficient, without a hint of hesitation, as if her refusal had just slammed the door shut on the "scope of responsibility" he had defined.
Outside the open door was the Tower’s cold, bright hallway, a stark contrast to the interrogation room’s gloom.
Yun Sheng watched his back and the open door, and the bit of relief she felt from her decisive refusal was instantly replaced by a more complicated feeling.
She had just, perhaps, personally pushed away a potentially crucial shield, and also severed the already faint and strange connection with this Star Alliance War God.
Bai Ye stepped out of the interrogation room and walked without stopping, quickly reaching the public waiting area outside.
On a metal bench not far away, a tall, languid figure was leaning back.
It was Si Jin.
He was toying with a metal part of indeterminate purpose between his fingertips, his posture lazy, as if he were just casually passing the time.
However, the moment Bai Ye’s figure appeared, Si Jin’s entire demeanor changed abruptly.
He slowly stood up, the metal part silently sliding into his palm as he put it away. In a few steps, he was in front of Bai Ye, perfectly blocking the main path to the exit.
"General Bai, the interrogation... isn’t it over yet? When can I take Shengsheng back?"
Bai Ye stopped, his jawline tightening slightly.
He had just been so decisively rejected by Yun Sheng, and the faint frustration and the embers of some deeper, unknown emotion hadn’t been fully suppressed. Now, facing Si Jin directly, his eyes instantly turned as cold as ice.
"Once the procedure is complete and she is cleared of suspicion, she will be free to leave."
Bai Ye answered coldly, not even fully turning towards Si Jin, maintaining a condescending attitude that brooked no further discussion. After speaking, he prepared to step around him.
However, Si Jin was faster, taking a subtle step to once again block his path.
"Procedure?" He tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a smile with no warmth. "General Bai personally came to take her away and held her for an hour. I’m quite curious, what kind of procedure requires the current War God to get involved and give such ’special care’?"
Bai Ye finally raised his eyes, meeting Si Jin’s gaze head-on.
"The Tower’s internal affairs are not your business to question. Move!"
"And if I say no?"
Si Jin, instead of backing down, took a step forward, the last trace of a false smile vanishing from his eyes.