Pretending To Be A Boss

He furrowed his brows and, after thinking for a moment, said,

"If the mining area is a world isolated from technology, then how did the Orderers obtain such detailed information about Eden and the beasts?"

Zhong Xiuxiu and Shang Lu didn't respond. It was clear that Tang Xian was talking to himself, not asking them.

Tang Xian kept tapping his fingers, staring at the dead fish with its eyes fixed on him.

He stayed like that for about ten seconds.

"Why didn't Bai Shuang let me in?"

Suddenly, his thoughts jumped to the day he had seen that white deer.

Tang Xian had thought that his power of Eden should have allowed him to easily open the door for several apostles or servants of doomsday-level creatures.

But now, upon reflection, something seemed off.

"Nobody said that the history provided by the Orderers is false, so the history given by Eden must be true," Tang Xian mused to himself.

He began to form a new hypothesis about the relationship between Eden, the beasts, and the Orderers.

Zhong Xiuxiu had not expected her remark to send Tang Xian into such deep contemplation.

After a while, Tang Xian slowly shook his head; it was unnecessary to overthink things that had no basis.

He continued gutting the fish.

The trio suddenly fell silent, which they all adapted to, until Zhong Xiuxiu suddenly thought of something and asked,

"Did we leave Fortress Thirty-Nine because someone might harm us later?"

"Yes, people associated with me are likely to be targeted. Sometimes human nature can be a weakness."

"How are you going to deal with that?"

"If you think one step ahead of them, a weakness is no longer a weakness."

"Will my friends be in danger?"

"Do you still have friends?" Tang Xian and Shang Lu spoke in unison.

Tang Xian shot Shang Lu a disdainful look.

"What kind of thing is that to say? Of course, she will have friends."

Scratching his head in confusion, Shang Lu thought, but Xian, didn't you say the same thing?

Tang Xian said,

"It's not impossible, although the likelihood is quite low. But if you're really concerned about this friend, I could invite them to Baichuan City."

Zhong Xiuxiu shook her head and said,

"It's not exactly a friend, more like a half-mentor. She's done deep research in the field of neurology and has also given Shang Lu some guidance on botany."

Shang Lu remembered the woman who appeared cold-faced but was incredibly knowledgeable.

He uttered an "Oh," his expression one of sudden realization.

Tang Xian's interest was piqued, and he asked,

"So you're saying there is a woman who is an expert in both of your fields?"

"Yes. She's a bit more learned than I am or Shang Lu, and the people accompanying her are all top talents from various academic fields. Will I never have the chance to see her again? Why don't you abduct her too?"

Zhong Xiuxiu's idea was unrelated to friendship; she considered the woman an invaluable asset for future academic research, a veritable mobile academic tool.

Of course, Tang Xian wouldn't do such a thing, thinking that the woman and his sister were not that close and would not be in danger.

But he vaguely sensed some possibilities, wondering if it could really be such a coincidence.

"What's her name?" Tang Xian asked.

"Ju Mang."

"...She just straight-up told you her name is Ju Mang?" Tang Xian was surprised; the world was indeed very small.

"Yes."

"Other than giving advice to you and Shang Lu, has she done anything else?"

"Anything else? Does inviting Shang Lu and me to join a scientific organization called 'Nature's Eye' count?"

"That's irrelevant, but has she ever said anything unusual to you, or invited you to participate in any strange projects or tasks?"

"Do you know Ju Mang, brother?"

Tang Xian supposed it must be a coincidence.

Before Xi He's death, his own identity had always been a mystery.

Not only did he not know it, but others didn't know it either.

So there was no reason for Ju Mang to suspect him.

Zhong Xiuxiu and Shang Lu were probably noteworthy to Ju Mang simply because of their outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

But he indeed had not anticipated that, after so many years, Ju Mang wouldn't have used a pseudonym.

Like Xi He, she used her real name?

"Don't know her, not yet."

"She hasn't said or done anything strange to us, she simply gave us guidance."

Tang Xian felt somewhat relieved; he hadn't been terribly worried, to begin with.

"It's remarkable, the coincidences in this world... are truly ineffable."

Zhong Xiuxiu didn't quite understand.

Tang Xian didn't explain this time, as Ju Mang was the most cautious among the Children of Order.

Her appearance at Fortress Thirty-Nine to recruit Zhong Xiuxiu and Shang Lu could be considered a recognition of their abilities, but her personal appearance was indeed somewhat puzzling.

"What is the 'Eye of Nature' organization?"

"In the industry, it's the top academic organization. Just being able to join is already an acknowledgment of one's abilities and potential."

"Potential?"

"Yes, Ju Mang said that even if one's abilities meet the requirements, if they are over twenty-five years old, they would not be admitted into the Eye of Nature."

"So it's actually a club for geniuses?"

"Mhm. She's very impressive, I'm not her equal."

"But you're married, no matter how impressive she is, isn't she still a loner?"

Zhong Xiuxiu was somewhat puzzled. Is being married considered a merit? And what wrong did the loners do?

Ju Mang's entrance in this manner was indeed a bit surprising to Tang Xian.

Shang Lu created significant value for himself, and Xiuxiu would definitely achieve something in the future.

It was hard to imagine that Ju Mang might have a bunch of such talents at her disposal.

They were like a crop of prime leeks, but not easy to harvest, because Ju Mang was quite unique among the Children of Order.

As he thought this, he shook his head and said,

"This woman will be fine. Don't worry, she's a tough character. She won't be in trouble for the time being, at least not because of issues from the side of Order."

Zhong Xiuxiu had a vague feeling that Ju Mang's identity was not simple.

Tang Xian said,

"She doesn't know about the Zudun Sacred Tree, right?"

"She doesn't, Shang Lu doesn't allow anyone to know."

Shang Lu interjected at the right moment, saying,

"After all, Xian told me to keep it that way."

Tang Xian nodded, finding Shang Lu a little more agreeable.

Although among these friends, he had always favored Shang Lu the most.

...

...

When evening came, the three had finished their meal and discussed some details. Tang Xian then prepared to send them into Baichuan City.

The lab equipment would be transported there later through the holy fortress.

Shang Lu became very interested in Baichuan City when he heard about the many plants growing wildly in its vicinity.

Everything in this world could be explained with science and conceptual science.

Tang Xian also hoped Shang Lu would be able to solve some of the mysteries of Baichuan City in his own way.

Before leaving, Zhong Xiuxiu suddenly asked,

"Do I have a sister-in-law?"

"Let's not bring up such life suspense for the time being. You should be going."

"I hope my brother also finds someone who can bring him joy," Zhong Xiuxiu said.

She remembered the speech Tang Xian had made when officiating her wedding.

That speech seemed a bit lonely.

Tang Xian said,

"To me, love is temporarily equivalent to a sensation that transitions slowly towards familial affection through the secretion of hormones.

It's thicker than kinship when intense, but destined to be fleeting.

Once the secretion stops, it's gone, and there must be new secretion. It's hard for a person to like another for a lifetime based purely on a heartbeat.

A long-lasting marriage tests not just love, but the cultivation and sense of responsibility of both individuals."

"That seems... rather pessimistic. But why are you saying this?" Zhong Xiuxiu suddenly realized that Tang Xian was not so decisive about everything.

"Miss Second doesn't have so many thoughts about you. When she loves, she just loves. Xian, sometimes you are just too tongue-in-cheek. Not everything in life should be analyzed with data," Shang Lu suddenly said.

That was very uncharacteristic of Shang Lu.

"Brother, maybe it is because there are some things that can't be quantified, some things that can't be explained by scientific principles, that humans differ from machines," Zhong Xiuxiu also said unexpectedly.

Tang Xian was quite surprised. Marriage really changes people; even two individuals with such low EQ could say such things.

He waved his hand, thinking that maybe this was why he couldn't see how much Li Xiaoyu liked him?

After sending the couple away with his mind in turmoil, Tang Xian shook his head, not wanting to dwell on these troublesome matters.

He checked the time, guessing that the meeting at Fortress Thirty-Nine was probably about to end.

It was just a matter of seeing whether Song Que or Li Wanye would have the higher support.