"Tranquil Night Chamber of Commerce? You mean the one that sent an idiot to assassinate me?"
"That's right."
"They shouldn't be strong enough to give your people that much trouble, should they?"
"Bullshit! They're just a handful of nobodies, not worth mentioning," Zhao Longfei cursed, "The Tranquil Night Chamber of Commerce was supposed to pack up and leave today. Then the area suddenly got covered in fog, and right after that, members of the Zhao family were captured. Damn it! Someone from outside definitely got involved."
"To lure you away from South Glory University?"
"They specifically named me and told me to come ransom them. What else could it be?", Zhao Longfei shook his head, "At this point, there's no other choice. The Zhao family has been captured. I can't just ignore them. Hurry up and take Quan Taibin and get out of here. Once you've left, I'll head out."
"Alright. Principal Zhao, could you also give Quan Taibin access to Miracle Tower?"
"No problem."
"Can you erase all traces of Quan Taibin's scent from the South Glory campus?"
"Everywhere except his laboratory. He's spent too much time there, so the scent's too strong to completely remove. Everywhere else is fine."
"Do you have food, clothes, and daily necessities prepared?"
"Yes."
Zhao Longfei turned around, opened the drawer beneath the bookshelf, took out a storage box, and tossed it to Qin Siyang.
"Food, water, clothes. Everything's inside."
Qin Siyang clicked his tongue, "You really prepared everything. Were you planning..."
"Enough talk. If you've got any other requests, say them now."
Qin Siyang frowned as he thought, "Within South Glory, besides my guesthouse, is there anywhere completely safe, hidden, and free from surveillance?"
"Hidden...", Zhao Longfei thought for a moment, "That would be my office building. The entire building and the surrounding area aren't under anyone else's surveillance."
"Good. Then we'll use the meeting room where I met with Chu Xiao'ang last time."
Qin Siyang looked at Quan Taibin.
"Come with me."
"Huh... Don't I need to pack anything?"
"The moment you start packing, everyone will know you're running away. And it'll be obvious Principal Zhao tipped you off. How's he supposed to clear himself then?"
"Oh... okay."
Quan Taibin stood up, bowed once more to Zhao Longfei, and followed Qin Siyang out.
Watching Qin Siyang leave, Zhao Longfei muttered to himself, "Damn it! He's so considerate. If only he were my son."
———
Qin Siyang called Hu Chan.
"Hello, Saint Hu. Come to the meeting room in the principal's office building. It's urgent. You'll be paid."
["Got it! I'll be right there, Boss Qin!"]
Five minutes later, Hu Chan came hurrying over.
He pushed open the door with a smile.
"Boss Qin, what is it—"
The moment he saw Quan Taibin standing nearby, he froze for a second.
"Boss Qin, I just remembered I've got something urgent. I'll be leaving now."
"Get back here!"
Qin Siyang stopped him.
"Do you know something?"
"No... I really do have something to take care of..."
Qin Siyang stared at him.
"So you also know someone's trying to kill Quan Taibin?"
Hu Chan nodded reluctantly, "Where'd you hear it?"
"Can't say."
"Fine. Doesn't matter."
Qin Siyang pointed at Quan Taibin, "Disguise him."
Hu Chan looked even more miserable, "Boss Qin, if you want to protect him, don't drag me into this! I'm innocent!"
"Just do what I tell you. If you keep whining, you can handle the Trinity Church matter yourself."
"No, Boss Qin..."
"Disguise him!"
Hu Chan wore a look of utter misfortune.
"I'm telling you now, if something happens, don't drag me into it!"
"Got it! Stop talking!"
With his frown on his face, Hu Chan unwillingly sat down in front of Quan Taibin.
"What should I make him look like?"
"Chang Tianxiong."
Hu Chan shot Qin Siyang a puzzled look but didn't ask any questions.
A few minutes later, Qin Siyang and the disguised "Chang Tianxiong" entered Miracle Tower one after the other.
As soon as they reached the ground floor, they ran into Chang Tianxiang, who was just coming out.
The moment Chang Tianxiang saw Chang Tianxiong, his eyes lit up with almost crazed joy.
"Chang Er? You're back?"
Disguised as Chang Tianxiong, Quan Taibin looked helplessly at Qin Siyang.
Qin Siyang was still thinking about how to explain things to Professor Chang when the joy on Chang Tianxiang's face suddenly froze, then quickly faded.
"No... you're not Chang Er. You're not him..."
Qin Siyang said apologetically, "Professor Chang, this is a friend of mine... He's borrowing Professor Chang Er's appearance to help me with something."
Chang Tianxiang stood there blankly for a moment before forcing himself to nod.
"Even the dead still have value. I know. I understand."
With that, he left Miracle Tower in silence.
Qin Siyang sighed and led Quan Taibin to where the Drill Pod was parked.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Quan Taibin kept looking around inside the Drill Pod.
"Qin Siyang, did you develop this tool yourself?"
"Don't worry about that."
Qin Siyang wasn't in the mood to be friendly toward this Bang Kingdom man who had caused him so much trouble.
"I'll dig you an underground shelter about one hundred and fifty kilometers from the safe zone. You can live there."
"One hundred and fifty kilometers? Isn't that way too dangerous?"
"What? Then should I leave you inside the safe zone?"
"No, that's not what I meant. But one hundred and fifty kilometers... the gods out there are very powerful. I might not be able to beat them."
"I'm helping you hide, not hunt gods."
"But..."
Qin Siyang stared coldly ahead.
"Either do as I say, or I'll dump you in the middle of the street. Your choice."
"I'll listen to you."
———
After driving to a point roughly one hundred and fifty kilometers from the safe zone, Qin Siyang stopped the Drill Pod, recorded the coordinates, and then used his fists to carve out an underground space with two rooms and a living room.
Watching Qin Siyang's ferocious punches, Quan Taibin became even more convinced that Qin Siyang really could kill him with ease.
"One bedroom, one laboratory, and a living room. That should do."
"I left you a concealed ventilation shaft leading outside. I'll bring you furniture and the rest when I have time. Make do for a few days."
Having accepted his situation, Quan Taibin couldn't help asking, "Qin Si... Student Qin, when can I go back?"
"Go back?"
Qin Siyang let out a snort.
"When I deal with the people trying to kill you, you can go back. Don't worry. Every ten days or half a month, I'll come check on you and bring you supplies."
"W-What if you don't come on time?"
Qin Siyang shrugged, "Then I'm probably dead."
Quan Taibin gave an awkward smile, "Student Qin, aren't you being a little too pessimistic? Once the people trying to kill me realize I've disappeared, they probably won't bother you anymore, right?"
"That has nothing to do with you. There are no fewer people trying to kill me than there are trying to kill you. At least you can hide. I still have to keep showing my face."
Quan Taibin lowered his eyes slightly and nodded, "Take care."
Qin Siyang let out a long sigh, "You take care too... both of us."