The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 134

Chapter 134: Hunting the World

The two fell silent, their understanding of the Oasis's strength already surpassed their initial perceptions.

If Ning Lang alone had caused the downfall of a country, it would have been an absolute catastrophe for Huaxia. However, all of this happened overnight. After the Oasis attacked two countries, Nie Jia slept for two days straight, and there was no further movement from the Oasis. Surprisingly, Ning Lang didn't continue to reject the negotiations with the Huaxia government. Although his attitude was indifferent, it lacked the previous firmness of ignoring them altogether.

The destruction of the United States brought a certain amount of pressure and deterrence to Huaxia. Judging from Ning Lang's response, despite nearly three hundred nuclear missiles being launched, Huaxia didn't suffer any casualties, undoubtedly delivering a significant blow to the Oasis.

Both sides were inscrutable, and before actual warfare, there would likely be a period of mutual probing.

After dinner, Shi Chen took Nie Jia for a walk. The coastline had returned to its usual tranquility. The night sky was clear, the sea waves gentle. Nie Jia and Shi Chen walked hand in hand on the beach, exchanging sweet words in the sea breeze.

He Qingtang and Song Nuanyang didn't leave either; they followed the two from a distance. He Qingtang held his shoes, walking alongside Song Nuanyang, watching the backs of the two in front of them with a hint of sourness, covering his mouth and saying, "They are so affectionate."

Song Nuanyang chuckled, "Colonel, haven't you noticed? Director Shi and Mr. Nie are in love?"

He Qingtang looked horrified, "Since when?!"

Song Nuanyang shook her head helplessly as she looked at him, knowing that Shi Chen's relationship with Nie Jia was something she inferred from Nie Jia's thoughts at the beginning. But judging from their current behavior, anyone with eyes could see it, right?

"Since Mr. Nie arrived, they've been living together. When Mr. Nie was unconscious for these two days, Director Shi never left his side. Haven't you noticed the way Director Shi looks at Mr. Nie?" Song Nuanyang said.

Ahead, Shi Chen somehow produced a square box about the size of a palm and handed it to Nie Jia with a grin, "Birthday present."

"Is it my birthday today?" Nie Jia raised his eyebrows in surprise. He had actually forgotten his own birthday, whether in the virtual or real world.

Shi Chen smirked, "No, just wanted to give you a gift. Consider it an early celebration."

Nie Jia felt a sweet sensation in his heart as he touched the box, but he couldn't open it for a moment.

Shi Chen pointed to the box, "There's a switch here, press it."

Nie Jia found a button and pressed it hard. With a crisp sound, the box popped open, and an unsightly clown toy jumped out, wobbling left and right in front of Nie Jia. While the toy's ugliness was secondary, it was the sound of the opening that startled Nie Jia.

Shi Chen stood beside him, looking expectantly at his spouse, wagging his tail, "Do you like it?"

Behind them, He Qingtang looked at Song Nuanyang with a miserable expression, "This is the kind of trick I played in junior high... Are you sure they're in love and not Director Shi teasing Mr. Nie?"

Song Nuanyang had nothing to say. After hesitating for a while, she said, "Shall we leave?"

Soon, only Nie Jia and Shi Chen were left on the beach. Nie Jia pinched the clown's red nose and smiled tenderly, "I like it. I like everything you give me."

Suddenly realizing something was off, Shi Chen took the box back, dug into the clown's mouth, and pulled out a plain ring. He looked embarrassed, "My bad, it was supposed to pop out just now, revealing the ring. That's the gift." Saying this, he stuffed the clown back into the box and put it back in his pocket.

Nie Jia couldn't help but smile helplessly. It seemed that Shi Chen always liked to hide the ring in various peculiar places for him to discover. Nie Jia asked him to put the ring on for himself, then couldn't resist playfully tapping Shi Chen's head. He was truly adorable.

Nie Jia didn't fancy unnecessary interactions. After waking up, the government officials were eager to meet him, but Shi Chen managed to deflect them all. However, he couldn't resist Song Nuanyang's persistent requests the next day. Claiming there was a technical issue he couldn't solve, she insisted Nie Jia come to his lab, and despite Nie Jia's temper, he couldn't refuse.

In the morning, Shi Chen drove Nie Jia to the Academy of Sciences before returning to Qinghai Gate himself.

On the way to Song Nuanyang's lab, Nie Jia encountered a young man in army uniform with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He reached out to stop Nie Jia and then bowed deeply, sincerely saying, "Nie Jia, thank you for saving the entire Huaxia. I once vehemently opposed you when you first arrived, harboring immense hatred towards you, even towards Director Shi. Now I realize you have truly changed and are willing to stand with Huaxia against our enemies. I'm glad you've become our comrade in arms!" He extended his hand, tears of excitement shimmering in his eyes as he looked at Nie Jia.

Nie Jia smiled and reached out his hand, but instead, he firmly slapped away the Lieutenant Colonel's hand.

His expression cold, he said, "Changed for the better? You overestimate your position. I don't need one after another of you expressing approval to me. I didn't save Huaxia for you, let alone for your patronizing praise. Don't parade in front of me."

The lieutenant colonel stood dumbfounded, and Nie Jia couldn't be bothered with him, proceeding to walk towards Song Nuanyang's laboratory.

Inside, Song Nuanyang opened the door for Nie Jia and sighed helplessly as she closed it, "Do you really have to be so cold? I know you're doing this for Shi Chen, but couldn't you at least say some pleasantries?"

"I don't feel like it," Nie Jia replied as he noticed Shen Su also present, his expression worsening. He found a chair to sit on and continued, "To be honest, factions like the Shark and Dolphin factions emerged because ordinary people refused to acknowledge this evolution. After the apocalypse, unwilling to fall behind, they started hindering the progress of evolved individuals. Do you know how many evolved individuals died before the racial war broke out? The Shark faction exists to overthrow this 'tyranny' of ordinary people. You're right, if not for Shi Chen, I would have gone to the Oasis to cooperate with Ning Lang and then stepped on you. Who is righteous and who is evil? Stop pretending to be ignorant and trying to distinguish between the two. Everyone knows it in their hearts. None of us are good people."

Song Nuanyang rolled her eyes and poured him a cup of coffee, "Stop spouting nonsense in front of me. I know everything you're thinking."

She glanced at Shen Su, who looked embarrassed, sighed inwardly, and scolded her boyfriend in her mind.

Of course, it couldn't be ruled out that Nie Jia really thought that way. His transformation was indeed significant. If it weren't for Shi Chen's constant efforts to find his past shadow, he might have become another Ning Lang.

Song Nuanyang couldn't be sure. She treated Nie Jia as a friend and wouldn't intrude into his thoughts without permission; she could only assume he was just venting.

"Are you really here just for Shi Chen?" Song Nuanyang smiled, "You know what's right and wrong, that's why you easily gave up on your mission."

Nie Jia took a sip of coffee without responding.

Shen Su, who had been silent for a while, approached Nie Jia and spoke after a moment of contemplation, "Nie Jia, I apologize for my previous doubts about you. I know you almost died on the coastline, and I feel ashamed of my narrow-mindedness."

Nie Jia stared blankly into his eyes, "What do you want to say?"

Shen Su cleared his throat uncomfortably, "I want to understand from you. We are both metal abilities users, but it seems like your abilities have changed. Is it because of advancement? Or are our abilities inherently different in terms of attributes?"

Nie Jia glared at Song Nuanyang with hostility, "Is this what you call a 'technical issue'? Huh?"

Song Nuanyang immediately pouted and acted cute, "You two are both precious metal abilities users, just give each other some pointers, pretty please? I'll buy you cake after work."

So he was tricked into coming! Nie Jia felt another surge of anger, but seeing the soft Song Nuanyang, he couldn't be bothered to argue.

He glanced around the entire laboratory and saw Song Nuanyang still working on the stabilizer in the modification phase not far away. Pointing at it, he said, "Can you control that thing?"

Shen Su raised his hand, and the palm-sized stabilizer immediately broke through the toughened glass and fell into his hand, "And then?"

Nie Jia replied indifferently, "Do you know what material this is?"

"It's titanium alloy," Song Nuanyang blinked, seeming to realize something but unable to fully comprehend, "Titanium is non-magnetic metal. What's the connection?"

Shen Su also looked puzzled.

Nie Jia casually tossed the stabilizer back to its original position and said, "What you can perceive as a 'field' is actually a magnetic field, but your ability isn't to control magnetic fields, it's electromagnetic force. Evidence is that you can control titanium alloys. If it were merely controlling magnetic fields, it would be too easy to kill you. Titanium, chromium, copper, even a plastic knife could end your life."

Shen Su, being a military general, found it a bit hard to understand what he was saying and turned to look at Song Nuanyang.

Song Nuanyang's face was already filled with shock, "Electromagnetic force... So, does that mean you can destroy all known materials at will, even human body structures?" Their abilities weren't just about controlling metals; it was one of the three fundamental forces. If they reached level ten or higher, wouldn't they be able to destroy the entire Earth?

That was a bit... too terrifying!

"Yeah, but reaching the level where you can destroy a person's brain or heart without them noticing would probably be around level ten," Nie Jia said. "Even though I'm currently at level six, my field has expanded dozens of times, but I still can't master the finer operations. It's impossible to kill without using objects."

"Is this the case for all metal abilities users?" Shen Su was also surprised, but then couldn't help but feel excited afterward.

"No, it seems like level six is a watershed. Before level five, our fields are too small, making it hard to distinguish us from ordinary metal abilities users," Nie Jia said, tossing the stabilizer back to where it was and turning to Song Nuanyang, "Anything else? If not, I'm leaving."

Shen Su hurriedly said, "But before you, no one has broken through level five in a hundred years. I... I'm afraid I can't be like you."

"Just practice if you know you're not good enough. I'm leaving," Nie Jia was like a thorn in Shen Su's side. He said everything that needed to be said for the sake of Song Nuanyang's face, but he was already impatient and turned to leave.

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