The First Order

Chapter 973: Lonely

Translator: Legge

Ren Xiaosu continued, “When I visited Hope Media the first time, I was actually there to publish an ad with them. However, they waived most of the advertising fees with just a word from Jiang Xu. When I was in the Southwest, I knew too little about the world, so I thought that it was a hopelessly dark place. It wasn’t until I met Jiang Xu, the Riders, and Elder Wang from the Trinity Institute that I realized there was actually light in this world.

“At that time, I asked him why he was so insistent on pursuing the truth when others did not care for it. His answer to me was that it was their business.

“I messed around and didn’t follow the rules when I played chess with him, but he didn’t get angry with me either.

“I told him that the Qing Consortium’s nanomachines could help him fix his leg, but he rejected the idea so that the truth he reported would remain unblemished.

“An uncorrupted person like him died just because of some messed up power struggle. Jiang Xu is dead.”

Yes, Jiang Xu was an uncorrupted person in Ren Xiaosu’s mind. His smile was also extremely pure without any motives.

The other party had only wanted to do one thing well in life.

But if the world could not even accommodate such a person, those who could not accommodate him should not be allowed to live.

Ren Xiaosu raised the note in his hand. When he shook hands with the Wang Consortium’s officers, the last officer in line had placed the note into his hand.

The note informed Ren Xiaosu that Jiang Xu had been assassinated at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon.

In addition, it said Luo Lan would continue with his journey to Luoyang City, although there was a chance he might get assassinated, so he needed Ren Xiaosu to make a trip there as well.

Ren Xiaosu had to make this trip to Luoyang City no matter what. He wanted to send Jiang Xu off and also kill a lot of people.

He ordered P5092, “You and the Great Hoodwinker, take everyone back to the Northwest.”

“We’ll go with you.” The Great Hoodwinker also came to the front of the train. “I’ve met Jiang Xu once before. A person like him shouldn’t have died like that.”

Yang Xiaojin looked at Ren Xiaosu. “I’ll go with you.”

However, Ren Xiaosu shook his head. “No, y’all can’t go.”

Now that the 6th Combat Brigade had just finished fighting the war, they were out of ammunition. There was really not a single bullet left.

The Great Hoodwinker’s face was so pale it was obvious he was at his limit.

Yang Xiaojin’s entire shoulder was swollen, and she could not lift her right arm at all. Those who had never really used an anti-materiel sniper rifle before could never imagine how terrifying the recoil was.

Although Ji Zi’ang still had some strength left, he had been yearning every day to be reunited with his wife and child.

At this moment, there was actually no need for Ren Xiaosu to bring these people to Luoyang City. He said to the Great Hoodwinker and the others, “Everyone, I have a feeling that there will be a battle in Luoyang City this time, so please don’t add to my troubles. You’ll only be a burden if y’all go.”

Everyone looked at each other and smiled bitterly. Probably only the future commander would think these superhumans were a burden.

Ren Xiaosu was too direct, but if he did not get straight to the point, everyone would probably pester and try to convince him. Therefore, he might as well put it bluntly to stop them from even having the idea.

P5092 thought for a moment and said, “It actually is unsuitable for the 6th Combat Brigade to get redeployed to Luoyang City for battle based on everyone’s current condition. So I agree with Future Commander’s decision. He’ll go alone while we return to the Northwest.”

Yang Xiaojin knew Ren Xiaosu would definitely not agree to her going, so she gave him a gentle hug and said, “Be careful. I’ll wait for you in the Northwest.”

“Mhm.” Ren Xiaosu nodded seriously.

In the end, everyone from the 6th Combat Brigade got down from the train while Ren Xiaosu controlled it and rumbled off towards the South.

The black smoke that billowed into the sky above the steam locomotive was just like Ren Xiaosu’s rage.

On the train, Ren Xiaosu took out his satellite phone and made a call.

The phone rang twice before it was answered. “This is Wang Shengzhi.”

Ren Xiaosu stood at the front of the train and got straight to the point. “Were you the one who sent someone to kill Jiang Xu?”

There was a long silence on the other end of the call. “Do you also think it’s me?”

“I don’t feel like that’s important. What matters is the truth,” Ren Xiaosu said firmly.

“It wasn’t the Wang Consortium,” Wang Shengzhi said.

Ren Xiaosu immediately hung up.

No matter who it was, he would definitely find out the mastermind’s identity. If he could not do so, he would just kill all who were suspicious.

Ren Xiaosu gazed silently ahead and wondered what was wrong with the world.

Murderers and arsonists got away with the champion’s belt, while those who mended bridges died with no bodies left to bury. The world should not be like this. People should not be like this.

In the past, no matter how chaotic this world was, Ren Xiaosu always felt he could stay out of those issues. He would just leave the consortiums to fight among themselves all they wanted.

Ren Xiaosu felt that it did not matter who died, but Jiang Xu absolutely must not die.

How could such an uncorrupted person who only held his own ideals be killed by others using such underhanded methods?

It felt like another lamp had gone out in the dark.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and it started to drizzle.

Ren Xiaosu quietly climbed on top of the steam locomotive and sat cross-legged there as he faced the wind and rain.

In the vast and empty wilderness, the young man sat alone on top of the black steam locomotive as it sped off into the distance.

He looked exceptionally lonely.

…

In the rain, the 6th Combat Brigade, which was marching to the Northwest, quickly set up camp. Then everyone hid in their tents and watched as the rain got heavier. The Great Hoodwinker sighed and said, “I wonder if it’s raining in the Northwest. Rain is very precious there. Only if it rains in spring will there be a harvest in the future. There was a flood after the drought last year. A lot of the crops in the Northwest have started showing signs of a waning harvest.”

P5092 looked at the Great Hoodwinker. “Don’t you know how to read fortunes? Why don’t you check if it’ll rain?”

“Ahem.” The Great Hoodwinker said, “I’ve become a little rusty in recent years in that area. I can only assess whether someone’s suitable for the Prosperous Northwest now.”

P5092 looked out of the tent as raindrops fell onto the canvas tent’s tilted roof before washing down along the creases. He suddenly said, “Future Commander must be very angry and sad. This is the first time I’ve seen him look like that. It’s like an undercurrent stirring in the deep sea.”

The Great Hoodwinker sighed and said, “In any case, I know that Commander Zhang will definitely be upset. He and Jiang Xu were good friends for decades.”

“Can you predict if Future Commander will be safe on his trip to Luoyang City this time?” Zhang Xiaoman asked.

The Great Hoodwinker said, “There’s gloom and doom draped over the Southeast. Many people will die.”

Zhang Xiaoman turned his head and looked around. Then he asked, “Eh, where’s Ms. Xiaojin? Have you guys seen her?”

“She fell out of the group after saying that she was going outside for a bit.” Wang Yun said, “That was 31 minutes ago.”

Everyone was stunned. When Yang Xiaojin said she would see Ren Xiaosu again in the Northwest, everyone thought she was heading back with them.

However, Yang Xiaojin was still unwilling to let Ren Xiaosu face the danger alone.

She knew Ren Xiaosu would not be willing to let her go with him, so she pretended to return to the Northwest with the 6th Combat Brigade before quietly leaving the group.

Yang Xiaojin had lost Ren Xiaosu once before, but she told herself she would never allow that to happen again.

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