Cultivation Online

Chapter 2635: Verdict(2)

”Unbelievable...” Mei Feng was at a loss for words after learning of Yuan’s situation through the Ironwoman.

”And I mean both you and Corporal Yuan.”

”Can you really blame me? I already told you that dragging him back by force would’ve been nearly impossible without killing him.”

”You know, I’m having a hard time believing that someone who only recently joined the military could give you this much trouble...” Mei Feng muttered.

She paused before adding, ”No, forget the military. If you knew what his cultivation was just a year ago, you wouldn’t believe it either.”

”What are you talking about?” the Ironwoman asked, raising an eyebrow as curiosity flickered in her eyes.

Mei Feng pondered for a moment whether she should really tell her this.

”That man... his cultivation was only at the First Ascension a year ago when I met him.”

”Wh-What did you just say...?”

The Ironwoman’s eyes immediately widened, looking like she’d just seen a ghost.

Mei Feng chuckled at the Ironwoman’s reaction, as it was the first time she’d seen her look so surprised.

’I cannot even begin to imagine how she’d react if she knew that he also possessed the Perfected Heavenly Refinement physique...’ Mei Feng thought to herself, but she had no intention of revealing this secret.

”I have so many questions...” the Ironwoman spoke after a long moment of silence.

However, Mei Feng shook her head and said, ”Keep them to yourself because I won’t be able to answer them.”

The Ironwoman sighed before responding, ”Anyways, what are you going to do now that he’s alive?”

”...”

Mei Feng closed her eyes to ponder for several minutes before speaking again, ”I will continue to act like he’s dead until he actually returns to the city safe and sound. As for the verdict, there will be no change—at least until Corporal Yuan returns to testify against them. As for what comes after that... we can only wait and see.”

”Alright.” The Ironwoman nodded before retrieving a cube-shaped object and casually tossing it into Mei Feng’s grasp.

”Give it to him when he returns,” said the Ironwoman as she turned around and started leaving.

”If he doesn’t return, his blood will be on your hands,” Mei Feng said in a low voice.

Without stopping, the Ironwoman reached for the door.

”I know,” she responded before leaving the room.

Mei Feng sat back in her chair and released a deep sigh.

”That brat...”

She looked at the storage cube in her grasp before taking a peek inside.

”So many Unknown Ores!”

Mei Feng’s eyes widened with surprise to see its storage filled to the brim with Unknown Ores, wondering why the Ironwoman wanted to give them to Yuan.

’Did she gather these while looking for him...? There’s no way, right?’

As far as Mei Feng knew, the Ironwoman never bothered to collect Unknown Ores herself, considering it a waste of her time and effort. She typically left such menial tasks to her squad members, so seeing her return with so many was rather unusual.

Some time later, Mei Feng left to give her final verdict on the Scorpion Squad—but not before calling someone to have her desk replaced.

Once Mei Feng gave her final verdict, every member of the Scorpion Squad was demoted by one rank, which may not seem like a lot, but going from Captain to Sergeant meant they’d lost at least two to three decades of their lives.

It didn’t take long before the news spread.

”Doesn’t this mean that Corporal Yuan is truly dead?”

”A pity... a true pity...”

The news got so big that it’d even reached the soldiers training in boot camp.

”What?! The monster from the same recruitment as us was killed?!”

”???”

Mei Xiaoyun’s entire body froze upon hearing the news, her eyes widening in shock and disbelief.

’Yuan’s dead...? There’s no way...’ she thought to herself.

Then, she approached one of the instructors and asked for more information.

”About Corporal Yuan... is it true that he’s dead?”

”That’s right. It was already known a few weeks ago, but it wasn’t confirmed until recently.”

”Do you know what happened?”

The instructor sighed and said, ”Do you know of the Scorpion Squad?”

”No.”

”Well, they’re a group of troublemakers, and supposedly, they lured Corporal Yuan to the Black Zone to have him killed. Of course, that’s what some people believe is the truth. Unfortunately, we may never know.”

Mei Xiaoyun frowned. ”Why would they want him dead? Did Corporal Yuan offend them somehow?”

”...”

The instructor looked at her with a hesitant expression.

”I normally wouldn’t tell another soldier something like this, but considering you’re General Mei’s daughter, you would probably find out sooner or later anyway...”

The instructor proceeded to explain, ”General Mei and General Gu are currently competing to become the next Supreme General. With General Mei already supported by the Ironwoman—one of the most talented and respected soldiers in the military—General Gu has been under immense pressure.”

”He likely saw Corporal Yuan as someone who could balance the scales in his favor. Unfortunately for him, Corporal Yuan ended up joining General Mei’s side instead. If Corporal Yuan grows into someone comparable to the Ironwoman, General Mei’s promotion would be all but guaranteed. That gives General Gu plenty of reason to want him gone.”

”Is that so...” Mei Xiaoyun muttered, looking dazed.

After a moment of silence, Mei Xiaoyun spoke again. ”Instructor, I’m not feeling well today, so I won’t be participating in training.”

”O-Okay...”

Normally, soldiers weren’t allowed to decide for themselves when to attend training. However, Mei Xiaoyun was General Mei’s daughter and the top performer among the new soldiers, so the instructors tended to be far more lenient with her.

Moreover, it was obvious that the news of Yuan’s presumed death had affected her deeply. Allowing her to train while she was emotionally distracted could potentially put her in danger.

Once Mei Xiaoyun returned to the barracks, the instructors began chatting among themselves.

”I wonder what her relationship with Corporal Yuan is.”

”Do you really need to ask? Isn’t it already obvious enough by how she reacted to the news of his death? I’d bet an entire year’s salary that they’re lovers!”