CHAPTER 115: CHAPTER 110: OLD FRIEND! UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

Faced with a hand that appeared out of nowhere, Chen Pingchuan instinctively spun around. His right hand formed a claw, ready to deliver a fatal blow before his assailant could react. At the very least, he had to break free from the physical restraint.

However, a familiar and good-natured male voice suddenly sounded from behind, reaching Chen Pingchuan’s ears and halting his attack.

"Brother Chuanzi, it’s me."

Chen Pingchuan turned to face the person behind him, and the tension and vigilance he felt instantly dissipated.

The man was two-point-two meters tall, with a burly and robust frame that looked to weigh well over a hundred kilograms. Who else could it be but Guo Yihang?

Guo Yihang first gestured for Chen Pingchuan to be silent, then motioned for him to follow.

All the onlookers had their attention fixed on the two women fighting in the sky, so naturally, no one noticed Chen Pingchuan slip away—no one except for Major General Hu. Intrigued by Chen Pingchuan’s identity and background, he had been keeping track of his movements out of the corner of his eye.

Seeing Chen Pingchuan leave, he also retreated discreetly.

Sticking to the edge of the street, the two quickly entered a secluded alley. After several twists and turns, they arrived at the core area of the Doomsday Bunker—the office hall, a converted cement factory.

At this time, only two guards with wandering minds remained at the office hall entrance. Everyone else had been drawn away by the spectacle of Ji Hongxiu and Belia’s battle.

The guards on duty failed to notice the movement nearby. Chen Pingchuan followed Guo Yihang around the north side to the back of the factory. There, after pushing aside a boulder taller than a man, Guo Yihang used a controller in his hand to open a hidden door disguised as part of the wall.

Passing through the secret passage, the two soon found themselves in the Doomsday Bunker’s hidden basement.

The basement’s layout was just as Chen Pingchuan had imagined. It had the same regional distribution and was fully equipped with a living area, a recreation area, a supply depot, a laboratory, and more. Although each section wasn’t massive, it was more than enough for several people to live there for an extended period.

Chen Pingchuan made himself comfortable on a sofa in the rest area, his eyes flickering as he watched a busy Guo Yihang. Outside, Guo Yihang’s figure had been completely hidden by a black trench coat, so Chen Pingchuan hadn’t noticed the changes in him. But now, as he took off his coat to reveal solid muscle, he gave Chen Pingchuan a completely different impression than before.

Compared to a year ago, Guo Yihang was still tall, but his previous obesity was gone, replaced by streamlined muscles that seemed to brim with explosive power.

Watching Guo Yihang’s busy back, Chen Pingchuan’s questions only multiplied. That damned fatty was secretly tinkering with something and wouldn’t even come over to talk, which was making him anxious. After all, those two formidable women were still outside fighting because of him. If they finished their battle and couldn’t find him, there would be hell to pay.

So Chen Pingchuan feigned impatience and called out, "Fatty, what are you messing with over there?"

Hearing Chen Pingchuan’s question, Guo Yihang shouted back without turning his head, "Ah, Brother Chuanzi, just a moment! I’m almost done!"

Accompanied by the soft sound of water being poured, Guo Yihang approached with a cup of tea.

Chen Pingchuan’s gaze fell upon the tea leaves in the cup. For a moment, he was stunned, genuinely touched. The tea was called Purple Bamboo Orchid.

He glanced skeptically at Guo Yihang before taking a gentle sip. The tea’s fragrance was invigorating, like a clear spring washing through his mind and sweeping away the headache that had been plaguing him.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Chen Pingchuan mused. "Not bad, still that familiar taste. Fatty, where did you get this?"

Hearing Chen Pingchuan’s question, Guo Yihang scratched his head, an embarrassed smile appearing on his honest face. "Some of it was what you left behind in the rental apartment, and I had my men collect the rest."

"Well, look at you, Fatty. You even have subordinates now."

Chen Pingchuan had never doubted Guo Yihang’s capabilities. In his view, the terrible situation Guo Yihang had been in was simply due to the constraints of a rigid class environment. And yet, both Fatty and Li Dafu had been able to see that he was different. This meant their intelligence wasn’t as low as it seemed on the surface; behind their honest faces, they concealed minds that were both bold and meticulous.

Chen Pingchuan took two more sips of tea. Feeling better and better, he looked at the reserved Guo Yihang, who was sitting ramrod straight like a schoolboy. Seeing the nervous expression on his face, Chen Pingchuan chuckled lightly.

"What, afraid of me?"

"N-no, not at all! How could I be?"

Just those few words were enough to make sweat bead on Guo Yihang’s brow. He forced himself to appear calm as he looked up with a guilty smile.

A year apart, and the pressure from Brother Chuanzi feels even greater now. I saw how extraordinary he was back then, which is why I resolutely decided to follow him and acknowledge him as my boss. But now, after this past year, I’ve grown accustomed to the life I have, I cherish it. And just when I’m settled, my former boss reappears. It’s left me at a loss for how to react. I know that my current success is all thanks to the money he gave me back then. But now, facing this Chen Pingchuan whose motives are unclear, I don’t even know what I’m truly thinking myself.

As Guo Yihang’s mind raced, Chen Pingchuan spoke again.

"Relax, you don’t have to be afraid. I didn’t come here specifically looking for you. Seeing that you’re doing well now sets my mind at ease."

Hearing this, Guo Yihang visibly relaxed, the stiffness leaving his face. "Hahaha, what a coincidence! It’s been too long since I had a drink with you, Brother Chuanzi. Tonight, we drink until we drop!"

Chen Pingchuan waved his hand. "There will be plenty of time for drinking later. I did come here with a purpose. I heard you have a very powerful figure here called the Demon King, so I came to see him for myself."

After speaking, Chen Pingchuan drained the now lukewarm tea in one gulp. Seeing this, Guo Yihang was about to refill the cup, but Chen Pingchuan moved it away first and stood up on his own.

"No need, I’ll get it myself."

The simple, plain words left Guo Yihang feeling a little awkward. He could hear the distance in Chen Pingchuan’s tone.

He no longer dared to remain seated, instead getting up to stand behind Chen Pingchuan, just like his weaker, former self, waiting cautiously.

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. A deep silence fell over the room, and aside from the sound of water being poured, it was so quiet that every breath was clearly audible.

Suddenly, Chen Pingchuan asked a question that completely baffled Guo Yihang.

"Tell me, what’s this about eating children? You know me. There are some lines that can be crossed, and some that can’t. But we’re brothers, and I’m the type to side with my own people over principles. So, I’ll give you one chance to explain."