CHAPTER 112: CHAPTER 67: CHANG GENG BOLDLY SOARS ALONE IN THE SKY [SEEKING MONTHLY TICKETS]_4

...

When a group of people were escorting the items with heightened caution, leaving the research institute, the young major, despite having battled through a barrage of bullets, was still pale-faced.

And as soon as they left, Zhu Lie was finally able to pass through layers of guards and enter the laboratory.

"Chang Geng."

He looked warily at the door, then quietly asked:

"What exactly have you been researching lately?"

"In the past two months, the level of secrecy at the research institute has skyrocketed. You’ve called in so many assistants, yet none of them can participate in the core plan."

"And your leg..."

If he hadn’t maintained contact with the state, Zhu Lie would have really had to suspect something extreme.

"Why, is that not good?"

The hot towel was gently wiped across his palm, then disinfectant wipes were used to clean the fingertips bit by bit... Chang Geng handed the items back to the assistant, then looked up at his partner in both business and friendship—the investor Zhu Lie.

Zhu Lie couldn’t answer this question either.

After a moment, he finally spoke with a strange expression.

"Well... of course that’s good."

"But..."

But as a renowned private research institute in the country, Tianfeng Research Institute had neither the qualification nor the authority, and even less the capability, to engage in military industrial research.

Their primary focus has been on civilian applications, which is one of the reasons why the research institute’s efficiency in converting research results into profit has been substantial over the years.

But now...

Zhu Lie smiled bitterly—

Now they were officially recognized, and the place was under such tight security, with the research institute’s level constantly rising.

But...

But no matter how heavily guarded, as a private research institute, they could never participate in national defense and military projects.

The most capable engineers in the institute had turned to research this, and the projects under their leadership hadn’t produced results in a long time.

Given the national conditions, Zhu Lie would never be able to conduct business in this area in his lifetime.

Seeing Chang Geng was likely to devote himself to the nation at any moment, his own extensive operations were left without a leader, and even training a successor was exceedingly difficult—after all, the political audits to engage with them had become exceedingly strict.

Chang Geng clasped his hands on his knees, looking seriously at Zhu Lie, suddenly asking:

"Zhu Lie, when you said you wanted to be friends with me, you said something. Do you remember what it was?"

Zhu Lie was taken aback, then sheepishly scratched his nose and smiled.

"Ha, back then I was ignorant and naive... and a bit pretentious..."

The phrase he had said was—

{"Chang Geng, renowned across the heavens, shall recognize the arrival of an exiled immortal from the prosperous world."}

{"Chang Geng, genius, we are destined to be friends. You’re an ethereal and exceptionally clever immortal, and I’m, coincidentally, wealthy!"}

{"Let’s do research and make money together!"}

Recalling the past, Zhu Lie’s unsettled heart suddenly calmed down.

He thought with relief—Tianfeng Research Institute had been profitable year after year, his investment would ultimately not be a loss, and Chang Geng, having been here so many years, now afflicted with an unknown illness, could only rely on a wheelchair...

Whatever he wanted to do, he could go ahead and do it.

And Chang Geng looked at him, at this poor protagonist who, in the novel, was always one of the backups for the female lead, repeatedly weighed and chosen.

His gaze was sharp and direct, seemingly able to dissect the emotions deep in a person’s heart.

At this moment, seeing Zhu Lie’s serious expression, he suddenly understood, as part of his spiritual body, the original Chang Geng was truly favored by heaven—so proud, yet why was he ultimately afraid to take risks himself?

He preferred to give up control of his body, seeking a more secure way to escape such a fate.

He... wasn’t doing it for himself.

It was also due to a protective heart.

Wanting to protect those around him, and also wishing to stand proudly and be worthy of the country that raised him.

If either of these were harmed, he would find it hard to bear.

So he smiled with relief as well.

This smile was not so gentle, and it replaced the usual gentle breeze-like demeanor.

Instead, it carried an unspeakable sense of liberation and relief.

He raised his eyebrows, his expression becoming quite unrestrained: "Since we’re destined partners, why worry about the future?"

He lightly tapped his wheelchair, and a slender box popped out from the central wheel axle.

Chang Geng handed the box over.

"Zhu Lie, I remember when you were young, you wanted to create a gaming empire—this is the core code for the Universal Game. As long as you layer characters and story plots on the core, everything else about the game will auto-fill."

"No matter the type of game, whether leisure or puzzle, cultivation or interstellar, ancient or imperial... all of these are achievable."

Zhu Lie: "..."

If someone genuinely developed games, they would never believe it!

But Zhu Lie had seen for himself the increasingly strict security outside the research institute and had become more deeply aware of Chang Geng’s capabilities.

At this point, he couldn’t help but feel excited.

Holding the slender box, although it wasn’t heavy at all, he felt as if his arms were weighted and couldn’t be lifted.

Seeing the vigilant yet curious expressions of the guards at the door, for some reason, he suddenly felt energized.

He placed the box back on Chang Geng’s lap, then, with a lift of his arm, he swiftly pushed his wheelchair, racing back and forth down the deserted corridor.

The guards instantly stepped forward, but seeing Chang Geng’s smiling face, they retreated back to their posts.

Meanwhile, Zhu Lie was tirelessly rushing back and forth in the corridor, pushing him.

The silent wheels inevitably made subtle sounds, and amid the incoming sterile-scented breeze, Zhu Lie’s laughter seemed exceptionally carefree.

"Good brother. Turns out you never forgot my dream!"

"I haven’t forgotten yours either! Didn’t you just want to freely conduct research? Go on and do it! Do anything you want! I’ll provide you with all the money you need!"