The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Hunting the World

After Nie Jia left, Shen Su turned to look at Song Nuanyang, unable to suppress the shock and joy surging in his heart. He held her hand and said, "Thank you, Nuanyang."

Song Nuanyang flashed a gentle smile. "Thank Nie Jia. What are you thanking me for?"

Shen Su nodded slightly, a hint of embarrassment in his expression. Song Nuanyang tiptoed and patted his head. "Still feeling uncomfortable inside?"

"I can't forget that he killed Kong Fei," Shen Su sighed, "but the fact remains that he saved Huaxia. I hate him, it's an emotion I can't control. I promise you I won't hold any bias or grudge against him in the future. I won't do anything."

"I believe you," Song Nuanyang smiled.

In the afternoon, when Song Nuanyang finished work, he called He Qingtang's office to inquire about some materials and casually asked about Nie Jia, learning that she was still at Qinghai Gate. He happily grabbed a piece of cream cake and went to Qinghai Gate.

Shi Chen was in a meeting, while Nie Jia was leisurely flipping through a book under the sun at the National Assembly Hall. Hearing footsteps approaching from behind, he knew who it was without guessing and didn't bother to pay attention.

Song Nuanyang jumped out from behind with the cake in his hands, making a couple of sound effects.

"What flavor?" Nie Jia said without lifting his head.

"Matcha flavor!" Song Nuanyang sat opposite him.

"Not my favorite," Nie Jia said bluntly.

"Then I'll eat it, hmph," Song Nuanyang also bluntly began to dig into the cake.

Neither of them spoke further. Nie Jia was always taciturn in front of others, and he continued to flip through his book ignoring Song Nuanyang. Song Nuanyang's big black eyes rolled around mischievously, seemingly plotting something cunning.

"I thought about something this afternoon," Song Nuanyang licked the cream off the plastic spoon, "the investigation by your public security agencies and the prosecution team seems too deliberate. It's just a common murder case. If they were looking for a scapegoat, they should have targeted someone without any background or with significant weaknesses. You're a prominent figure in the Free Army, and it might provoke retaliation from your entire corps, which is not worth it."

Nie Jia closed the book with a serious expression. "What are you trying to say?"

"I think the prosecution team is targeting you deliberately to sanction you, so this murder case was arranged, rather than trying to pin it on you after the fact, because it's not worth it," Song Nuanyang said. "Think about it, if you were to commit murder, would you frame a defenseless beggar, or a doctor of respectable status?"

"You have a point," Nie Jia raised an eyebrow slightly, "but as you said, I'm just a military doctor in the Free Army. I've spent half my life outside the country. Why would the Imperial Tribunal's prosecution team target me? They don't even know who I am."

Song Nuanyang fell into thought, holding the spoon. "I don't know either. After this world ends, let KK pass this suspicion on to Chief Shi and let him investigate thoroughly. This is all because of your cousin. He committed murder, tricked you into taking the blame, but your cousin isn't a wealthy or powerful person. Why would the prosecution team work so hard to help him?"

Nie Jia looked slightly disappointed. These were the questions he had been pondering for years.

KK interjected: [Director Shi is actually already investigating this matter, but to prevent you from overthinking, he hasn't informed you yet.]

The whole thing seemed seamless, but upon closer examination, there were numerous loopholes. Even if KK hadn't mentioned it, Nie Jia could gradually feel it himself. He could sense the deliberate targeting of the prosecution team, which made him even more angry.

However, Song Nuanyang raising this question must have been genuinely concerned about Nie Jia.

"I will," Nie Jia didn't pour cold water on him, instead turning his head to look at the sky in the distance. It was almost dark, but the meeting with Shi Chen hadn't ended yet.

Song Nuanyang finished the cake and leaned on the table, asking him, "By the way, you mentioned before that you wanted Shen Ge to practice well. Do you mean he's at the fifth stage now and can lean towards output?"

"Yes," Nie Jia casually said, "the irregular advancement of abilities is due to different frequencies of ability usage, which is also related to the threshold of the mind."

"How should Shen Ge practice then?" Song Nuanyang asked.

Nie Jia looked at him coldly, suddenly grabbing the book to hit him. "You've been babbling for so long, just to fish for information for Shen Su, right?"

"Hey! Don't hit me, how can you really hit me... I'm upset now, really upset!" Song Nuanyang jumped up from his chair, holding his head, his fingers pressed against his temples, glaring at Nie Jia with a fierce expression.

Nie Jia paused. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to blow your head off with my mind!" Song Nuanyang grinned.

Nie Jia let go of him, actually throwing the book at his face.

"You should know I dislike him," Nie Jia said.

"I know, but metal ability users are inherently valuable, especially dual-type ability users like you guys, who control electromagnetism. The situation is dire now, and Shen Ge is at the fifth stage. If war breaks out one day, you guys will be Huaxia's last line of defense. His ability improvement is a good thing for Huaxia," Song Nuanyang said.

"Can Shen Su dodge bullets now?" Nie Jia was silent for a moment, then asked lazily.

Song Nuanyang sat back with the book, shaking his head in distress. "No, he can sense and instinctively control metal, but he can't completely dodge bullets. After all, it's related to reaction speed. No matter how fast a person's reaction is, it's still not as fast as a bullet."

"So you should shoot at him every day, accompany him in deliberate practice. I'll ask Shi Chen to lend Meng Jia to you to help him treat him nearby. Don't shoot at fatal areas. Sooner or later, he'll be able to fully control it," Nie Jia suddenly became enthusiastic.

Song Nuanyang looked at him with a look of mischief, "Really? Why do I feel like this is a bad idea? You're not planning revenge, are you?"

"Believe it or not," Nie Jia saw Shi Chen coming downstairs with several senior officers behind him, knowing the meeting had ended. He didn't bother with Song Nuanyang anymore, got up and ran towards Shi Chen.

"You waited until now?" Shi Chen was tackled by Nie Jia, making him step back a bit, patting his head, "If I knew you were waiting so long, I would have slipped out earlier."

"Can you manage to slip away?" Nie Jia looked up at Shi Chen's bruised eyes, feeling a pang of pity. Shi Chen hadn't rested much during the two days he was unconscious, and today he had spent the whole day at the National Assembly Hall. Superhumans couldn't endure such exhaustion.

Shi Chen kissed his fingertips. "Yes, we should head home. What do you want for dinner tonight?"

Song Nuanyang silently approached. "Chief Shi, your friend Nie Jia is violent. You should control him well, or else he'll cause trouble when he's out."

"Get lost!" Nie Jia raised his fist at Song Nuanyang, who swiftly ran away. Nie Jia blushed and said to Shi Chen, "I didn't hit him. If I did, he'd be dead."

Shi Chen chuckled, ruffling Nie Jia's hair, and casually put his military cap on Nie Jia's head before leading him to the car.

After dinner, they took their customary stroll, this time along the coastline. With darkness falling, there weren't many people around, and the sea breeze made it feel a bit chilly.

Nie Jia initially intended to return home with Shi Chen after their meal to ensure Shi Chen could rest properly. However, Shi Chen kept leading him further away.

"We received a video call from the Oasis this morning," Shi Chen leaned against the roadside railing, holding Nie Jia's hands. His gaze was filled with endless love and conflicting determination.

Confused, Nie Jia asked, "Ning Lang? What does he want now?"

"He hopes to meet with the president to negotiate a peace treaty," Shi Chen said.

Nie Jia sneered, "He wants to negotiate a peace treaty? If he truly had such intentions, America wouldn't have been destroyed."

Shi Chen replied, "You intercepted the Oasis' attack, so Ning Lang must have his reasons. We could refuse, but it will inevitably lead to war in the future. Think about how many innocent lives will be lost then. If Ning Lang genuinely wants to end this conflict, it would be for the best."

"Even so, it's too risky to send He Tian to the Oasis. She's the center of anti-war sentiment in Huaxia. If something happens to her at the Oasis, not to mention all the authorities, at least half of the districts in Huaxia will turn against us at this critical juncture. Ultimately, besides He Tian, how many people are truly against war for the sake of the general populace?" Nie Jia mocked.

Even at this critical juncture of life and death, power remained the central pursuit of humanity. In the upcoming battle, which could change the course of human survival, no one could guarantee which side would emerge victorious. If He Tian died at the Oasis, immediately some would switch sides to Ning Lang. This was beyond doubt. Seeking profit and avoiding harm, such was human nature.

"Yes," Shi Chen's voice blended with the wind, tinged with a hint of sorrow, "That's why the president can't go to the Oasis. I'll go instead. Besides the president, I hold the highest authority. It's most appropriate for me to represent the president. Ning Lang has accepted it, and I'll depart next month."

Nie Jia was stunned, then suddenly pushed Shi Chen's hand away.

"Did He Tian ask you to go? She can't die, so she's sending you to your death?" Nie Jia clenched his fists, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "I'll go kill her now! Let's see who dares to send you to the Oasis!"

"Jia Jia, deep down you know the president can't be harmed," Shi Chen also felt uncomfortable. He couldn't bear to see Nie Jia upset, let alone leave him.

Shi Chen stood up to reach for Nie Jia's hand, but Nie Jia pushed him away.

"She can't die, but can you die?!" Nie Jia was angry and aggrieved. He stepped back a few paces, wiping away the tears surging from his eyes with his arm in the sea breeze.

"Jia Jia..."

"You once asked me not to put myself in danger for you. But what about you? You told me you're going to the Oasis? You didn't even discuss it with me; you just informed me you're leaving next month. Shi Chen... what am I to you?"

Nie Jia couldn't stop the tears and sobs. He knew Shi Chen had no memories, but precisely because of that lack of memory, Nie Jia felt endless sadness and despair. Even in this world, would Shi Chen, despite whispering 'I love you' in his ear, calmly sacrifice himself for some supposed higher cause?

Shi Chen didn't even want to live for him.

Then what was he to Shi Chen?

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