Chapter 162 Eighteen Competitors

Chapter 162: Eighteen Rivals

Fang Ran subtly assessed Shen Ke.

The man’s mental state was indeed much improved from when he was at the waiting area. It was as if the vitality that had been drained from him had finally returned.

Shen Ke took a few steps closer, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "You… don’t need to be so wary of me."

"Shen Ke," Fang Ran looked at him, cutting straight to the chase. "What exactly is your relationship with Wen Qi?"

"Wen Qi?" Zhong Wan paused, confused. "What does this have to do with Wen Qi?"

Shen Ke stood there, his gaze flickering. "Wen Qi and I have a… symbiotic relationship."

"Symbiotic?" Fang Ran frowned. "So you’re on his side?"

"No!" Shen Ke quickly denied. "Though it’s symbiotic, the stronger he gets, the weaker I become. And we can’t kill each other."

"I originally knew many… unexpected things, but this world’s trajectory has long deviated from its original path." He grew more agitated as he spoke. "Don’t worry! I pose no threat to you now! No ill will! Truly! Please believe me!"

When Wen Qi is strong, he is weak?

Fang Ran narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the man before him once more.

If he wasn't mistaken, Shen Ke was likely a transmigrator or a reborn individual, much like himself.

Originally, as in the book, he should have been the central figure of this world. But then Wen Qi suddenly appeared, not only seizing his body but also destroying Zheng Mingyu and replacing Cui Ming…

As for Lu Wenchuan…

He glanced at Zhong Wan beside him. Perhaps due to his own appearance, Zhong Wan and Lu Wenchuan had unexpectedly met and severed ties with Shen Ke early on, which was why Wen Qi hadn’t targeted him.

The phrase "one strong, one weak" likely referred to something akin to fate or destiny.

Seeing Fang Ran remain silent, Shen Ke continued:

"Guide Fang Ran, because of your presence, many things in this world have changed. That’s why both Wen Qi and I… have been closely observing you."

"But rest assured, I can sense his consciousness has vanished, and I harbor no ill intentions…"

"Shen Ke," Fang Ran interrupted him. "Since you and Wen Qi have a symbiotic relationship, if he’s gone, can you still survive?"

Shen Ke was taken aback by the question. "I… I just need to bond with a sufficiently strong Sentinel to survive."

"Sufficiently strong?" Although Zhong Wan understood little of their conversation, those three words immediately sparked his imagination.

He stared at Shen Ke in shock. "You wouldn’t… try to steal Fu Changzhou from Fang Ran, would you? Is this man not afraid of death?"

"No, no, no!" Shen Ke vigorously shook his head.

He had briefly entertained the thought but abandoned it the moment he encountered Fu Changzhou.

That uncontrollable lunatic should be left to Fang Ran…

Listening to their conversation, Fang Ran suddenly thought of someone.

He blurted out, "It couldn’t be Lu Wenshan, could it?"

Shen Ke froze, the expression on his face confirming Fang Ran’s suspicion.

"Ah? Hahaha!!!" Zhong Wan burst into laughter upon seeing this. "Isn’t that just another impossible mission?"

"Why is it an impossible mission?" Fang Ran looked at him. "As long as there’s no match, doesn’t that mean there's still a shot?"

Zhong Wan stopped laughing, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said teasingly, "Even a blind person could see it…"

"That block of ice, Lu Wenshan… he likes you."

"Actually, his personality is quite similar to A Chuan’s—cold on the outside, warm on the inside. If he weren’t interested in you, he wouldn’t keep watching you."

"......"

Fang Ran couldn't refute it, simply stating bluntly, "He and I are impossible."

"Fang Ran, you just said it yourself—as long as there’s no match, there’s still a chance." Zhong Wan said with a mischievous grin. "You and Fu Changzhou haven’t marked each other."

"So? Interested in becoming family with me? We're so close already, there’d be no family conflicts at all, hahaha!"

Fang Ran rolled his eyes at him. "Keep it down. Shen Ke is still here…"

"No, no!" Shen Ke quickly waved his hands. "I didn't say it was Sentinel Lu Wenshan. After all, there are still eighteen unbonded S-class Sentinels in the Federation."

"I’ve already compiled the data. If you need it, Guide Fang Ran, I can send you a copy."

"......"

"I don’t need it."

This was getting messy. If a certain someone overheard, what then?

"But I need it."

Hearing that voice, Fang Ran’s heart skipped a beat.

Speak of the devil…

He turned around and, sure enough, saw the Sentinel leaning against the door.

Fu Changzhou’s face was expressionless, but Fang Ran could tell immediately that the man was displeased.

The Sentinel stared at Shen Ke for a moment before suddenly smiling. "I should thank Guide Shen Ke, otherwise…"

"I wouldn’t have known I had eighteen rivals."

"You can send me that data as well."

Shen Ke felt a chill under his gaze and finally sensed the shift in atmosphere. He let out an awkward laugh. "Sentinel Fu Changzhou, we were only joking around earlier."

"Yeah." Zhong Wan glanced at his terminal. "A Chuan is waiting for me outside. I should get going."

"Fang Ran, I’ll stop by tomorrow."

"Guide Fang Ran, please take good care of yourself." Shen Ke also slipped out with Zhong Wan.

In the treatment room, only two people remained.

Fang Ran watched as the Sentinel walked toward him and asked, "What did Director Jin need from you?"

"There are some matters in District 12 that require our attention."

Fu Changzhou sat down beside him, opened a bottle of nutrient solution, and handed it over with utmost naturalness.

Fang Ran observed his expression.

He didn’t seem angry?

Right.

Those words were all spoken by Zhong Wan and Shen Ke—this scoundrel was still sensible enough.

With that thought, he took the nutrient solution from the Sentinel’s hand and downed it in one gulp.

"Earlier, Shen Ke also told me some things…"

Fang Ran recounted what Shen Ke had said, along with his own speculations.

Fu Changzhou nodded. "When I was trapped by that mutated Protea, I also managed to extract quite a bit of information from it. Your speculations are largely correct."

"After Wen Qi merged his consciousness with it, he began planning all of this."

"He harbored hatred for this world, but his ambition was even greater. He wanted to control the mutated creatures while also seizing my body to control the entire Federation. He had already established connections with certain individuals in the central office through various channels."

"Old Jin’s return is to discuss this matter. It might even help uncover the truth behind my mother’s death all those years ago."

Fang Ran fell silent for a moment. "Wen Qi… is his consciousness truly gone?"

"Yes." Fu Changzhou unscrewed another bottle of nutrient solution and handed it to him again. "After we destroyed that Protea together, his consciousness likely attached itself to that basilisk."

"The moment I killed the basilisk, I could sense his consciousness dissipating. The monster surge in District 5 and the strange magnetic field of DT332 also vanished at that time."

Hearing this, Fang Ran finally felt relieved and casually took the nutrient solution from his hand.

But… he suddenly felt something was off.

"Fu Changzhou, why do you keep giving me this to drink…"

Fu Changzhou smiled, a flicker in his eyes. "Fang Ran, your body has just recovered. Drinking more nutrient solutions to replenish your strength is only beneficial."

"Is that so?"

Fang Ran raised an eyebrow, feeling that this guy was up to no good.