Chapter 1380: Another Ji Xuan

The United States.

Under the dim night sky, two figures ascended the gangway, finally boarding an unremarkable vessel. The old deck creaked under their feet. Several burly black men stood at various points on the ship, glancing in their direction, exchanging nods, then expertly hoisting the anchor, preparing to set sail.

“Lao Lu, can this ship really take us back home?” Wu Tongyuan cautiously looked around. “This looks like a smuggler’s ship, doesn’t it?!”

Wu Tongyuan was now much thinner than he had been in Shennongjia, his hair disheveled and his face grimy, clearly indicating that his time in the United States had not been good.

“There’s fighting everywhere now. How could there be a regular ship to take you back?” Lu Xun shook his head.

“But don't worry, I’ve already contacted our people back home. As soon as our ship gets close to the border, someone will come to escort us back.”

“That’s good then…” Wu Tongyuan remained worried. “But these people, they wouldn’t trick us into international waters and kill us, would they??”

“...Lao Wu,” Lu Xun was a little speechless, “why are you still so timid? Even without me, you could handle everyone on this ship yourself, couldn’t you?”

Wu Tongyuan’s eyes widened. “How could I handle them?”

“What about your abilities? Don’t tell me you don’t have them. It’s been so long since the Shennongjia incident; Yang Xiao and Su Zhiwei can already stand on their own. Have you made no progress at all?”

Wu Tongyuan shrunk his neck, hesitating to speak...

“I...I do have them...but I don't really know how to use them yet...”

Lu Xun was about to say something when a phone suddenly rang. The busy crew members around them simultaneously looked in their direction.

“Strange... Shouldn’t we be out of signal by now?” Lu Xun muttered in confusion, pulled out his phone, and before he could press the answer button, a voice spoke directly.

“Lu Xun, it’s me.”

“Yang Xiao?”

Hearing the voice, a hint of surprise flashed in Lu Xun’s eyes. He held the phone to his ear. “What’s up?”

“I understand what you mean, but this isn't like you... Is Director Chen with you?”

“Alright, I understand. I’ll send you their numbers in a moment.”

“I just boarded the ship now. It’ll take some time to get back home... Anyway, Wu Tongyuan and I will try our best to be there.”

“Okay, see you back home.”

Lu Xun hung up the phone.

“Was that Dr. Yang?” Wu Tongyuan asked, puzzled. “Did he need something?”

“Yes, it seems like something big has happened. He wants to gather all nine of us again for a meeting.”

“Oh... alright then. I’ll just follow you anyway.” Wu Tongyuan looked like he was clinging to Lu Xun’s coattails.

The ship slowly started, gradually approaching home under the cover of night. Lu Xun stood on the deck, looking into the distance, and let out a long sigh:

“...He seems quite urgent, saying we must gather within 24 hours. At our speed, I doubt we’ll make it.”

Normally, a shipping route from the United States to our country would take at least 20 days. Under these circumstances, they definitely wouldn't make it. It wasn't that Lu Xun didn't want to fly, but with the World War at its peak, there were simply no direct flights from the US to their home country. Moreover, if the US knew that he and Wu Tongyuan, two important scientists, were on board, they would likely shoot them down with a missile. Although Lu Xun could have Star Light escort them, his current rank wasn't high enough to cross oceans, let alone while bringing Wu Tongyuan with him.

“24 hours...” Wu Tongyuan murmured softly, his gaze sweeping towards the emptiness in front of him.

He hesitated for a moment, then gently raised his hand, as if manipulating something in the void.

“Maybe... we can make it?”

“I have all the phone numbers.”

Yang Xiao said, putting down his phone.

He was about to dial them one by one, but Chen Ling interrupted him first:

“Wait.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t call Lou Yu.”

“Why not?” Yang Xiao asked, confused. “Didn’t you say we needed to gather all Nine Monarchs?”

“Lou Yu is different. The him in this era is not the original him... I don't know what he truly wants, but what’s certain is that he might harbor ill intentions towards the other Nine Monarchs.”

The moral archive stolen by the King of Silver from the King of Grey has most likely fallen into Lou Yu's hands. And Chen Ling clearly remembered that when they were in Shennongjia, Lou Yu directly attacked Wu Tongyuan, and it was a lethal strike! Therefore, Lou Yu in this era is the immortal Lou Yu from the future, an enemy standing against the Nine Monarchs.

“So, I’ll just notify the others?” Yang Xiao asked.

Chen Ling fell into thought.

Since their separation in Shennongjia, Chen Ling had not seen Lou Yu again in this era. Thinking about it, Lou Yu was probably being held in check by the Suspended Jade Monarch, Ji Xuan, who had traveled back in time, after all, the two of them had fought in Shennongjia. Yang Xiao's goal in gathering the Nine Monarchs was to awaken the others and unite them, but this also presented Lou Yu with an opportunity to catch them all in one net. If anything went wrong with Ji Xuan, no one knew how many Nine Monarchs would die at Lou Yu's hands.

Therefore, the safest approach was to notify Ji Xuan about this in advance and have him keep a close eye on Lou Yu.

“Call Ji Xuan first,” Chen Ling said directly.

Yang Xiao nodded, aurora shimmering faintly in his pupils, and directly dialed Ji Xuan's number.

Ring—ring—ring—ring...

Through repeated rings and periods of waiting, Yang Xiao’s brow gradually furrowed. Just as he thought Ji Xuan wouldn't answer, the call suddenly connected.

“Hello?”

“Is this Dr. Ji? This is Yang Xiao.”

“Huh? Dr. Yang? Wait... How did you get through? I shouldn't have any signal here.”

“Dr. Ji, where are you right now? Is it a good time to talk?”

“I’m currently...”

Ji Xuan’s words from the other end of the line were cut short by the sound of a door opening, as if someone was talking to him from behind.

Ji Xuan’s impatient voice then sounded: “Oh, just a moment, please. I told you I’d cooperate! Just let me finish this call...”

Ji Xuan’s voice came closer to the receiver:

“Hello? Dr. Yang, what were you just saying...? Oh, yes, I'm available now!”

“To be honest, I’m currently in a government laboratory. They insist that I... uh... have superpowers, and want to give me a check-up. I figured, why not? Let them check... But so far, they haven't found anything. I suspect they’re mistaken.”

Yang Xiao had the speakerphone on. When he heard Ji Xuan’s words, Chen Ling’s heart sank.

He suddenly realized a problem.

“This is bad... Is this Ji Xuan the one who hasn't gained the Red Star power?”