Chapter 2, The Theft of the Alchemical Formula

Zhu Meng's gaze flickered slightly: "It's just that I've been a bit tired from work lately, nothing much. You should go practice your morning exercises; I'll just rest in the dormitory for a while." After saying this, he turned to leave, but heard Hua Zhenxing's voice behind him, "Senior Brother, did you just intentionally not stand firm and secretly slip something into my pocket?"

After graduating from middle school, instead of attending university in Dongguo, I traveled across the ocean to study in Feisuo Port, which was likely Mr. Jia's suggestion. The experiences during my university studies and after graduation seemed to be decisions I made myself, but they were all influenced by Mr. Jia, ultimately leading me to the Chunrongdan Center.

"Yang Tehong, you seem very excited today!" A soft and melodious female voice came from outside the door, yet it inexplicably carried a sense of dominance. The apartment door had excellent sound insulation, but this voice seemed to possess a magical penetrating power

Zhu Meng did not take anything, and his wrist was still held by Hua Zhenxing. He struggled a few times but could not break free, his expression becoming very flustered. He looked up with a hint of timidity and said: "Junior brother, can we speak privately for a moment, just over there."

Zhu Meng slightly raised his head and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Hua Zhenxing recalled what this elderly gentleman usually liked to be called, and could only chuckle awkwardly, saying: "General Manager Yang, how could it be you?"

Zhu Meng was somewhat surprised and said: "Are you saying that I didn't steal the real recipe at all?"

Zhu Meng's expression changed upon hearing this. He turned around and saw Hua Zhenxing had taken out a very thin, flat object from his left pocket, approximately 1 centimeter wide and 2 centimeters long, which appeared to be an information storage device. It resembled a USB flash drive from five hundred years ago; technically, it could have been made much smaller, but after all, it is meant for human use, and this size is the most suitable.

Hua Zhenxing squinted his eyes and said, "Repaying kindness? At this point, you still haven't realized..." At this point, he hesitated, then changed the subject and asked, "Let’s assume that person has greatly helped you, and you owe him a debt of gratitude. You want to repay him, but I neither owe him nor you anything. Why do you want to frame me?"

Zhu Meng recounted a convoluted experience. He is a first-generation immigrant from the Land of Joy, originally from the Eastern Nation, and of Chinese descent, having grown up in the Eastern Nation. When he was fifteen years old, his family encountered an accident during an outing, resulting in the tragic death of his parents. He was rescued by a kind-hearted individual. Zhu Meng is reluctant to disclose the name of this kind-hearted person, referring to him temporarily as Mr. A.

Although Hua Zhenxing was complaining in his heart, he did not say anything out loud. He had just undergone confidentiality training, and one of the rules in the confidentiality code stated, "Any information related to confidentiality should not be inquired about if it is not appropriate to ask."

Hua Zhenxing understood at this point that, according to Old Yang's judgment, Mr. Jia was merely responsible for casting a wide net, and Zhu Meng unfortunately became one of the selected targets. As for that Miss Yi, she was only responsible for the final harvest, focusing on the fish that had been carefully selected and raised in the net. If this is indeed the case, Zhu Meng's fate is truly unfortunate

"Grandpa Yang, how are you doing?"

However, the thought had already been planted, and he could not help but want to give it a try. After joining the Spring Rong Dan Center, Zhu Meng was fortunate to become a student of Academician Zheng Zhong. After obtaining his master's degree, he continued to pursue his doctor's degree under his guidance and became his research assistant. Zheng Zhong is an important leader and authoritative expert at the center, and there are opportunities to be exposed to the formulas in the research work

Old Yang's expression became even more smug: "To be honest, my authority level ranks among the top three in the entire center!" He then patted Hua Zhenxing on the shoulder and said, "Kid, you performed very well today!"

Just now, Zhu Meng was walking on flat ground, with nothing to trip him. The sudden forward fall was truly abnormal. When Hua Zhenxing supported him from the side, he felt a gentle tug on his left pocket, and upon checking, he found an additional item inside. It was evident that Zhu Meng had done this intentionally, simply to place this item in his pocket

Hua Zhenxing replied almost without thinking: "Of course it is not right, he is completely mistaken! Even if Mr. A truly has deep gratitude towards him, he is still violating the principle of repaying kindness"

It seems this is a misunderstanding; Zhu Meng is also aware of what he is doing. The saying goes that suspicion breeds fear, and he is always wary of being watched by someone nearby. When Hua Zhenxing unexpectedly seized his wrist, he believed he had already been exposed

Old Yang inquired with great interest, "Oh, what principle?"

Hua Zhenxing expressed with some emotion: "I often hear people say, 'It is difficult to guard against domestic thieves, they can steal the beams of the house!' You are twenty-five this year, right? Since you were fifteen, you have been laying the groundwork, step by step, and finally turned into a domestic thief. Those people really have enough patience. But how many people and forces in the world want to obtain the elixir formula? With your methods, I fear that someone has tried this long ago. If the elixir formula could be stolen so easily, it would have been taken long ago!"

At this point, Hua Zhenxing no longer wished to continue; he opened the door directly, but was slightly taken aback, as he never expected to find the lively old man Yang standing at the door.

Zhu Meng took the water in his hands but did not drink it. After lowering his head for a while, he suddenly raised his eyes and said: "Junior Brother Hua, do you believe in fate?"

Today, the functionality of this equipment is extremely powerful, yet its appearance seems quite ordinary, resembling a smartphone from five hundred years ago. Some models can also transform to be worn on the wrist

Zhu Meng lowered his head again and murmured: "I didn't intend to frame you... It may not even be possible to trace it back to you. Even if it leads to you, in the end, it can be clarified that you are innocent"

Old Yang leaned in closer: "What movie did you watch back then, and who told you those words?"

Zhu Meng's mentor is Zheng Zhongzhi, who holds a Level 6 Yangyuan Technique certificate. He is the deputy director of research and development at the center, an academician of the Huansiang Academy of Sciences, and a visiting academician of the Dongguo Academy of Sciences

Hua Zhenxing did not go to practice the morning exercises. He returned to the apartment with Zhu Meng, and after sitting down, he first poured a glass of water for Zhu Meng before asking: "Senior Brother, what is going on with you?"

Hua Zhenxing's reaction was even quicker; with a clasp of his left hand, he had already stowed the items away, while his right hand seized Zhu Meng's wrist, speaking in a deep voice: "Senior brother, let's be clear, what do you intend to do?"

Hua Zhenxing inquired, "You admitted so readily?"

Hua Zhenxing: "To be honest, I do feel a bit sympathetic towards him. Some things are merely my conjectures, without any evidence."

Hua Zhenxing revealed a cold smile: "Do you have any confidence in saying such things? Forget it, I won't argue with you! Even if I hadn't seen through your little trick just now, do you really think you can steal the formula out?"

Jian Hua Zhenxing fell silent, and Old Yang leaned over to ask: "Kid, let's not talk about that for now, let's discuss Zhu Meng himself. For the sake of argument, let's assume his only purpose is to repay a debt of gratitude, what do you think?"

Hua Zhenxing has understood quite a bit already. This old man Yang is a special agent from the security department, and his rank is not low. It is said that in ancient times, there were hidden professions such as librarians, pavilion heads, and postmen, among which there might be some experts concealed. Could it be that in today's hidden professions, we need to add one more, a small shopkeeper?

If one were to act according to the identity in the dream, Hua Zhen should not be so vigilant; however, this is merely a dream, and the actions within it still carry subconscious habits

Zhu Meng took a deep breath: "So it was you, Xiao Hua. I didn't pay attention to my feet just now; fortunately, you helped me out."

Zhu Meng seemed unaware of what he was looking at, as if he did not realize that Hua Zhenxing was greeting him. He accidentally stumbled and fell into Hua Zhenxing's embrace. Hua Zhenxing sidestepped to avoid him while simultaneously reaching out to grip Zhu Meng's left upper arm.

What has Hua Zhenxing not said? From the perspective of an observer, Zhu Meng's experience clearly raises questions; it is a premeditated scheme that has been in the making for ten years. Zhu Meng believes that Mr. Jia has been immensely kind to him, viewing him as a second set of parents, and has received assistance in both his life and studies, making it impossible for his behavior not to be influenced by him, whether intentionally or unintentionally

Old Yang revealed a look of approval and said leisurely, "At that time, the one who made the arrangements certainly could not guarantee anything; in fact, no one could guarantee that the child would become today's Zhu Meng."

If he had not done this, it would be difficult to clear the suspicion of being an "accomplice" in the future. In fact, while the conversation in the room was still ongoing, people outside had already sealed off the entire floor, and the distracted Zhu Meng was unaware of it.

Zhu Meng: "I inexplicably found a storage device in my pocket, and most people would be unable to resist taking a look at what is inside. Besides that, I have two other plans, but I didn't have the chance to implement anything; I was exposed by you on my first attempt."

At this moment, Old Yang seemed to recall something and turned around to remind, "Xiao Hua, my identity is confidential, so do not tell anyone. If it gets leaked, you will be held responsible!"

Yang Tehong raised his chin and said, "Who is your grandpa?"

Zhu Meng asked again: "Are you familiar with my experiences?"

Zhu Meng said in a trembling voice: "Have you been monitoring me for a long time, so that you discovered me the moment I made a move? ... I have struggled ... Am I going to prison? I am willing to give everything, just to repay the kindness ... "

Upon hearing this, Hua Zhenxing had roughly understood the reason. He did not expect to be asked about such a major case and could only maintain a stern expression as he said: "Then why did you secretly put that thing in my pocket?"

Hua Zhenxing placed the storage device in Old Yang's palm and smiled, saying, "I really didn't expect that General Yang had this hidden identity."

Looking at Old Man Yang, it was evident that he had not had enough fun and still wanted to show off a bit more. Hua Zhenxing, being very understanding, walked over, sat down, and asked, "Mr. Yang, do you have any further instructions?"

Zhu Meng became an orphan, yet Mr. Jia continued to provide selfless care and assistance. In the end, Mr. Jia was not only Zhu Meng's lifesaver, but his significance in Zhu Meng's heart even surpassed that of his father. After graduating from high school, Zhu Meng achieved excellent results and was admitted to Fiso University in Huansiang Country as an international student. During his time at the university, he obtained a Level 3 Yangyuan Technique certificate and submitted an application for naturalization.

Hua Zhenxing: "Someone once told me that gratitude is a virtue, a good deed, and that everyone should remember the kindness of others. However, there is a principle to gratitude: no matter how you repay someone, you can only do so with your own possessions. For instance, if Zhang San has done you a favor, you cannot repay him with something that belongs to Li Si. When I was young, I watched a movie where a handsome young man sacrificed himself to save a girl. The girl, in order to preserve the young man's soul and bring him back to life, was willing to pay any price. If she had given everything of her own, it would have been truly touching. However, in her pursuit of her goal, she caused her hometown to be devastated without remorse, leading to her fellow villagers losing their homes and suffering heavy casualties. I watched this movie and sought advice from others, who then explained the underlying principles to me. Now, regarding Zhu Meng, even if Mr. A has done him a favor, what justification is there for him to frame and harm me? Furthermore, the formula he stole is a top secret of the Kingdom of Fantasy, its value is immeasurable, and it is not something he can use to repay a favor."

Hua Zhenxing sighed deeply, clearly recognizing that Zhu Meng was an excellent professional talent, yet not a qualified spy. Zhu Meng had chosen the wrong target, and after his methods were exposed, he appeared quite flustered. When Hua Zhenxing inquired, he unexpectedly confessed everything!

Hua Zhenxing frowned and said, "Is it really that simple? How do you know that I will definitely act according to your wishes?"

At that time, Zhu Meng, who was still in his fourth year of university, did not realize how serious this issue could be. Mr. Jia was neither a citizen of the Huanxiang nation nor of the Dong nationality, and there were simply too many people in the world who wanted to obtain the complete recipe for the Chunrong Dan. Zhu Meng had not even considered that he would have the opportunity to access the complete recipe for the Chunrong Dan.

Five hundred years ago, many science fiction films depicted a future world characterized by towering skyscrapers, intricate transportation networks resembling twisted dough, and a dense array of flying vehicles bustling to and fro.

Hua Zhenxing spread his hands and said: "If you are willing to tell me, then just say it yourself"

Hua Zhenxing addresses the other party as "senior brother" because they graduated from the same university, with Zhu Meng being four years his senior. Zhu Meng was outstanding during his time at school, and after graduation, he entered the Naisuo Port Center, where he obtained a master's degree while working and is currently pursuing a doctor's degree

Hua Zhenxing: "You look quite uncomfortable, is everything alright?"

Such talents have always been welcomed by the Kingdom of Huansiang, and Zhu Meng successfully became a citizen of Huansiang. In his senior year of university, Zhu Meng went to Chunhua University in Dongguo as an exchange student for one year, where he met Mr. Jia's daughter, whom we shall refer to as Miss Yi.

Yang Tehong nodded in satisfaction and stepped into the room, saying, "I am here to command the operation!" At the same time, he waved his hand, and two uniformed special agents also stepped in beside him.

Portable smart terminals have become a standard feature in daily life. The standard model is lightweight, foldable, and can be expanded. It can connect to the intelligent central system accessible to all citizens, allowing for the storage, retrieval, and analysis of various information at any time. It also supports human-machine intelligent dialogue and can automatically execute various commands

Hua Zhenxing's response was very standard: "This is all that I should do"

If Zhu Meng's scheme succeeds and is later uncovered, the first person to be investigated should not be him, but rather Hua Zhenxing. Hua Zhenxing is also a staff member at the Chunrongdan Center, and at that time, he would likely find it difficult to defend himself. Even if Zhu Meng is ultimately caught, Hua Zhenxing would still struggle to clear himself of the suspicion of being an accomplice.

Not all information is publicly available to society; for instance, many internal documents of the Nonso Port Center, where Huazhenxing is employed, cannot be accessed through the public brain system.

Hua Zhenxing walked past the small path several meters away, politely nodding to greet Old Yang. However, Old Yang did not acknowledge him at all, as he was practicing his morning exercises and likely did not even see him

Yang Tehong indeed could avoid exposing his identity, as the situation was already under control. He could simply notify the operatives to take Zhu Meng away. However, he couldn't help himself; at this moment, having obtained the item, he was not in a hurry to leave. He did not take Hua Zhenxing to another location for questioning, but instead reached out to close the door, settled into a comfortable position, and said: "Kid, you sit down too. I, an old man, will chat with you."

During his work, Zhu Meng traveled abroad several times and had private meetings with Miss Yi. Not long ago, Zhu Meng suddenly learned that Miss Yi had actually given birth to a child for him. However, Miss Yi also informed him that unless he obtained the complete formula for the Chunrong Dan, they should never meet again.

It was Miss Yi who taught Zhu Meng to do this. Miss Yi hopes that he can obtain the elixir formula, but she also "cares" about his safety, informing him of several options for disseminating information, and this is just one of them

Hua Zhenxing had just stepped out of the entrance to the living area when he saw his colleague Zhu Meng walking towards him through the underground passage, holding a portable smart terminal as if he were looking at some information. Hua Zhenxing stopped in his tracks to greet him, but the other party seemed somewhat lost in thought and did not acknowledge him

On fine days, many people practice morning exercises outdoors. When designing and planning Feisuo Port, sufficient space was reserved within the residential area, with many flat areas distributed among the flowers and trees, evoking a sense reminiscent of the ancient saying "in the fields and at the edges of the fields." Huazhenxing did not practice morning exercises downstairs; he intended to go to a park that was a bit farther away.

Hua Zhenxing's expression became somewhat confused: "I forgot!" He clearly should have remembered it well, but he just couldn't recall.

Hua Zhenxing stood up and walked towards the door: "I am not sure what you have stolen, but it is time for us to say goodbye. I truly feel regret for my senior brother!"

Public transportation in Feisuo Port is very convenient, and generally, there is no need to use it. Upon exiting the residential area, one can cross through an underground passage, and directly across the road is the Chunrongdan Center. The urban planning of the vast majority of cities in Huaxiangguo adheres to the principle of proximity in living arrangements, intentionally avoiding a significant separation between work and residential areas.

He has just completed the first phase of confidentiality training after joining the company, which clearly outlines the situations that require vigilance and the appropriate responses. Huazhenxing acted in accordance with these regulations. The conversation between Huazhenxing and Zhu Meng was fully monitored by the security department. After clarifying the reasons behind the incident, Huazhenxing felt a sense of relief.

Hua Zhenxing: "Of course, I know what should not be said!" Then he murmured softly, "You could completely avoid revealing your identity, esteemed elder."

Old Yang's bottom bounced up from the chair, and he quickly walked over to open the door, bowing slightly and nodding as he said, "Director Yun, what brings you here?"

This is a report made by Hua Zhenxing himself. After Zhu Meng suggested having a private conversation, as the two walked towards the dormitory building, he discreetly sent a signal to the security department of Feisuo Port City through the quick operation of his wristwatch-style smart terminal, maintaining a real-time connection. Although he was not clear about Zhu Meng's intentions at the time, he was certain that there were ulterior motives, and Hua Zhenxing was very decisive in reporting the case.

"Oh dear, I accidentally slipped and it fell into your pocket, how did that happen?" Zhu Meng reacted quickly as well, stepping forward to try to take the item away.

However, Feisuo Port is not like that; it even has a sense of returning to simplicity. Most of the buildings in the city are not very tall. For example, the dormitory building where Huazhenxing resides has only five floors, and he lives on the third floor. Although it is equipped with an elevator, he prefers to take the stairs on a daily basis

Zhu Meng lowered his head and said, "The storage device contains the program I implanted. As long as you read it on a device that can connect to the internet, it will send encrypted data to the designated node, and it will pass through multiple transmission nodes..."

From this perspective, it seems that Miss Yi may not necessarily be Mr. Jia's daughter, and that so-called child probably does not exist either. ... Given this, there may also be issues surrounding the death of Zhu Meng's parents back then ... ! ... Upon careful reflection, it is chilling and unsettling!

The beautiful and gentle Miss Yi immediately became the goddess in Zhu Meng's heart. After Zhu Meng confessed his feelings, they developed the closest relationship. However, Miss Yi later asked Zhu Meng not to make their relationship public, stating that it would be difficult for them to truly be together. She also informed him that her father actually works overseas in the field of biopharmaceutical research, and his lifelong wish is to obtain the complete formula for the Chunrong Dan.

Zhu Meng was taken away with his hands cuffed, while Old Yang remained standing in the room, extending his hand towards Hua Zhen and saying: "Give me the thing!"

In the reality beyond dreams, thieves on the streets of Feisuo Port often employ this trick; sometimes they steal items, and other times they transfer stolen goods. Huazhenxing is exceedingly familiar with this. Although he is currently in a dream, he remains himself within the dream.

Hua Zhenxing smiled: "Perhaps everyone goes through this stage. When I was in the second year of middle school, I asked this question through a smart terminal. The main system did not provide an answer, but only offered the discussions of many philosophers from ancient times to the present, allowing me to understand it myself. My answer is to believe in fate, but it is merely a starting point, not an endpoint. Fate determines the range of choices available to you at any given moment, and every choice you make determines the range of your subsequent choices. My answer is to believe in fate, but it is merely a starting point, not an endpoint. Fate determines the range of choices available to you at any given moment, and every choice you make determines the range of your subsequent choices. I do not know why you are asking this, you should think more about the specific situation you are encountering."

Old Yang let out a long sigh and said, "Alas! I have been carrying out my duties for twenty years, and only three cases have occurred here. In the first two cases, I had no opportunity to make an appearance, but this time, you have truly allowed this old man to show his face!"

Hua Zhenxing frowned and said: "Are you implying that Mr. Jia initially only set a trap and did not expect Zhu Meng to achieve what he has today, yet spent ten years on this? Isn't the cost of doing so too great?"

Zhu Meng immediately sought verification from Mr. Jia. Mr. Jia acknowledged it, but he stated that he did not place his hopes on Zhu Meng, as this was an almost impossible task to accomplish. Although Mr. Jia expressed a lack of hope in Zhu Meng, this matter effectively planted a seed in Zhu Meng's heart, which took root and began to sprout

Hua Zhenxing: "What is wrong with you?" As he spoke, he released his hand and took a step back

The sound insulation of the apartment is excellent; even during the most intense and indescribable activities between men and women, it does not disturb the neighbors next door. However, Hua Zhenxing's perception is exceptionally keen, and he has long noticed subtle vibrations in the corridor outside the door. There are quite a few people coming, and this floor should be sealed off.

Currently, such devices are not widely used. If any information is needed, one can directly connect to the main network system, or download it through personal smart terminals. However, there are always some confidential information that must be stored using physical isolation methods, or used in terminals without network access

Hua Zhenxing also stood up, but his expression was somewhat dazed. Standing outside the door was a lady, or more accurately, a young woman who appeared to be just in her early twenties. At first glance, she seemed to be a beautifully made-up woman, but upon closer inspection, it turned out she was not wearing any makeup at all. Is it possible to look this good with a bare face?

Hua Zhenxing finally spoke in a tone of inquiry: "I still have a bit of doubt. Back then, Zhu Meng was only in his teens. How could one ensure that an investment in such a child would lead him to enter the Chunrong Dan Center today and become Assistant to Academician Zheng?"

Old Yang chuckled: "Mr. Jia is not just an individual; he represents a vast intelligence organization. What does this little investment amount to? If you think carefully, the most crucial time point actually occurred during Zhu Meng's fourth year at university, when he went to Dongguo Chunhua University as an exchange student. At that time, he had already obtained the Level 3 Yangyuan Technique certificate and successfully immigrated and naturalized, growing into a big fish, and thus Miss Yi appeared..." At that time, he had already obtained the Level 3 Yangyuan Technique certificate and successfully immigrated and naturalized, growing into a big fish, and thus Miss Yi appeared..."

Zhu Meng was somewhat bewildered, clearly not expecting that those who came to capture him would arrive so quickly, and even more so, he did not anticipate that the leader of the group would be Old Yang. Old Yang looked at him with a somewhat cold expression mixed with a hint of pity, and with a tone of lamentation said: "No matter how much we guard during the day and night, it is difficult to guard against a traitor at home! Take him away!"

Zhu Meng carefully recalled that the last time he met Miss Yi was more than half a year ago. The two had indeed engaged in intimate behavior without taking any safety measures, and it was likely during that time that it happened

Old Yang was sitting with his legs crossed: "I heard everything you just talked about. I feel like there are some things you wanted to say but didn't. Why is that?"