Knock, knock!
Su Yue knocked on the door.
To be honest, he was feeling a bit nervous.
Even though, according to Yan Dongyan, this was a research project that had been declared dead eight years ago and held no real significance.
But after all, Su Yue had stolen the fruits of Xue Pinghaiâs research.
In the end, he still felt a bit guilty.
Jiangyuan Country, though foreign, was still part of the human race; it felt different from stealing from other races.
But Su Yue was also an ordinary person.
He wasnât a saint, and his standards for himself werenât that high, so he only felt guilty.
Moreover, in the Grandmaster Chain, there were two years of his mentorâs hard work too.
So it wasnât really stealing.
"Come in, the door is unlocked."
Xue Pinghaiâs voice came from the laboratory, somewhat hoarse and seemingly a bit desolate.
This was the first time Su Yue heard Xue Pinghaiâs voice.
He opened the door.
"Hello Dr. Xue, my name is Su Yue, from Shen Zhou West Martial, a student of the Wuda exchange group and also a student of Yan Dongyan."
Su Yue quickly introduced himself as a courtesy.
"Yan Dongyanâs apprentice?
"Youâve got potential, learned to steal othersâ research results."
Xue Pinghai, pinching a few strands of hair on his head with his fingers, gave Su Yue a strange smile.
His eyes conveyed profound meaning, containing a wealth of information.
And Su Yue felt a bit awkward.
This old guy.
Why doesnât he play by the rules?
Didnât Yan Dongyan prepare him for this already?
How should I respond to this?
Admit it?
Thatâs absolutely impossible; he hadnât stolen it, just accidentally saw it.
"No need to think of an explanation, I never planned to blame you, and after all, itâs a failed experiment; if itâs been stolen, itâs stolen. If it were thrown in the trash, no one would pick it up, so it doesnât matter."
However, Xue Pinghai smiled again, dispelling Su Yueâs concerns.
"All these years, Iâve been the only one in the lab, and I donât have the habit of throwing away trash. All data are handwritten, and even waste paper is shredded in the shredder.
"Even so, you managed to steal quite a bit, which proves you have some skill.
"But I have no interest in matters of espionage, so thereâs no need to explain."
After smoothing his hair, Xue Pinghai sat on the bed and began to pick at his toes.
The perfect scene suddenly became quite unsavory.
"You donât need to explain either, saying itâs Yan Dongyanâs research results.
"He left the project eight years ago. The Divine Land is full of chaotic affairs; we talked about visiting the big sword together and playing Blue Moon together, but he never had the time.
"The materials Yan Dongyan sent over contained several key points that I only deduced six months ago; thereâs no possibility of a second copy in the world.
"So, no need to explain; if itâs stolen, itâs stolen. We can only blame Jiangyuan Country for not having stringent enough measures."
Xue Pinghai finished speaking and then smelled his fingers that had been picking at his toes.
He even rolled a little pellet.
Su Yue frowned.
How can someone be so unhygienic? Watching this, Su Yue even had the urge to pick at his own toes.
No wonder people often call them old foxes.
Sure enough, when people live long enough, they all become cunning.
In the end, Su Yue couldnât hide the fact that he had peeked at the research.
Thinking deeply, it was likely that Yan Dongyan also knew that the results were stolen by him.
The reason he still sought out Xue Pinghai was that he was certain the latter wouldnât care at all.
"Young man, give it up.
"Iâve researched for ten years, simulated hundreds of thousands of results, and found no chance at winning.
"Iâve been hiding out in this lab only to avoid reality because thereâs nowhere else to go.
"For the whole ten years, Iâve given everything; I now have nothing and canât go back. Perhaps one day, Iâll just die here in the lab and end it all.
"Go back, practice well, and break through diligently. Donât vainly hope to reach the sky in one step.
"Forget this absurd experiment, forget about the ridiculous Grandmaster slaughter.
"Think about it, others have trained for years, poured in so much effort, and only then break through to the sixth rank. How could they be defeated by a few third-rate fools?
"From the very beginning, it was a joke."
Xue Pinghai smiled at Su Yue, a free and unfettered smile.
But Su Yue could clearly see a hint of unwillingness and some loneliness in his eyes.
A full ten years of painstaking effort; how could he be willing to let it go?
"I still want to give it a try.
"Iâm a Martial Artist from the Divine Land. Perhaps there are some differences, maybe even a sliver of hope.
"While advancing to a Grandmaster requires a lot of effort, isnât the Grandmaster Chain youâve been researching for ten years also a labor of love?"
Su Yue thought for a moment and said.
Xue Pinghai looked weak, making it hard not to feel a bit sympathetic.
"What difference does it make?
"Arenât you just tempering your bones twice? What makes you different from the royals of Jiangyuan Country?
"No one can succeed in killing a sixth rate with a third rate unless itâs a miracle."
Xue Pinghai looked at Su Yue disdainfully.
Ah, young people.
Young people with dull minds, both stiff and foolish.
Before losing all my hair, I was as bullheaded as Su Yue.
"Youâre right, killing a sixth rank with a third rank requires a miracle.
"But I choose to believe in miracles.
"In the Divine Land, several battlefields are already retaliating against alien fortresses. Thirty years ago, this was also seen as a miracle.
"The human race has always been creating miracles, and weâre bearing witness to them... The Grandmaster Chain doesnât necessarily have to be a total failure.
"Dr. Xue, the instructor should have already sent the questions to you. I hope you can address them. Many thanks."
Su Yue took a deep breath.
He was too lazy to argue further with Xue Pinghai, this old man who picks his toes was clearly lonely for too long, simply enjoying the contradiction.