THE VARIABLE

"Is that the reason why you shot Ma TiHua?" Da Qing peered at Zhao YunLan. "To stop him from telling us about Zhu Jiu?"

"More to stop Zhu Jiu from hearing the truth about his past self..." Shen Wei answered for Zhao YunLan, moving his strained arms' muscles slowly to stretch them.

"I learn from YeZun's case." Zhao YunLan glanced at the man who kept lowering his gaze. "We are in the chase where every second is precious. I can't waste it by convincing someone that their past has nothing to do with the present..." He climbed his elbow.

"Mhm...You are right." Lin Jing said, "it's not important what did he do in the past, he is a good person now."

"Skip everything, Ying Chun." Shen Wei huffed, "what Zhu Jiu did in the past he never repeats in this life. But you, as the leader of the flower tribe, repeat the same mistake you did. Instead of telling us the truth, you let our enemy do as they please." He lowered his gaze but the disappointment was rich in his voice tone.

"Hei Pao..." Ying Chun was about to open her mouth but she knew nothing she could explain.

"Zhao MingAn..." Shen Wei pushed his body out of the bed. Grabbing his shirt to cover his mouth-watering torso, he ignored the leader of the flower tribe.

"Yes..." Zhao MingAn perked up, a smile lifted on his handsome face. His future brother-in-law finally needed him.

"Can you and Lin Jing check every record linked with our last encounter with Ma TiHua? Try to find anything that leads us to the places Ma TiHua refers to..."

"Alright..." Lin Jing stood up, glancing at Zhao MingAn.

"Wait..." Ying Chun's voice stopped Lin Jing and Zhao MingAn in their track. "That is the reason why I'm here..." She said. And everyone's attention was shifted to her.

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"Zhu Jiu..." Chu NianZhi called his subordinate who sat in his hospital costume on the hospital park bench. "I heard what happened in the Han Manor...Are you alright?" He asked soon after he stood near the dejected man.

"Yes, Sir...I'm fine...Just small bruises. But the hospital forces both of us, I and Captain Chu, to rest." Zhu Jiu answered, not lifting his face.

"You said you are okay but your face tells me the opposite." Chu NianZhi frowned.

"Commander..."

"What?" Chu NianZhi sat beside Zhu Jiu.

"What if you suddenly know that you've been doing terrible things in the past?" Zhu Jiu lifted his face and stared at the blue firmament above.

Chu NianZhi furrowed his eyebrows but then leaned his back to the bench, "all I know is that we can't do anything about the past." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "But we sure can do something about the future..."

Zhu Jiu lowered his gaze, then peered at his superior. Chu NianZhi smiled as he glanced at his subordinate, "you can't do anything about the past but you sure can decide what will happen in your future. Though nobody knows what the future holds for us we can determine our goal..." Chu NianZhi proceeded.

Zhu Jiu smiled, nodding.

"Zhu Ge!" Zhu Hong's voice heeded from another corner.

"Ahh...Your girlfriend here...Then, I should go." Chu NianZhi patted Zhu Jiu's shoulder. "I need to see the idiot brother of mine..." He grunted.

"Commander..." Zhu Jiu's call halted Chu NianZhi's step, "thank you very much..." Zhu Jiu said when the man turned his head to see him. Chu NianZhi smiled as he nodded and strode away.

"You said want to see Lao Zhao and Director Shen. Why you are here?" Zhu Hong pouted, her face could not hide her worry.

"I'm sorry...I have something to discuss with Commander Chu..." Zhu Jiu smiled, caressing the lady's hair softly.

"Alright then." Zhu Hong nodded, a smile adorning her pretty face. "The Forth Uncle is coming and he wants to see you." She said.

"Mhm..." Zhu Jiu smiled back.

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"Come again?" Zhao YunLan asked the leader of the flower tribe as he climbed down from the hospital bed.

"I'm here to tell you the truth about the myth of the two chambers."

"I think that we find out the truth about the fountain of eternity already." Zhao YunLan squinted his eyes, he did not bother to adjust his crumpled black trench coat.

"You maybe know about the key and the map. But do you know where is the second map? What is the second map?" Ying Chun asked. Everyone fell silent at the question. "The second map is kept by the four perils. It is a trigger that will open the dimension to the first gate that leads to the two chambers. That is why the second map must be kept safe." She proceeded.

"Do you know where are they?" Shen Wei asked, "The four perils..."

"In another dimension..." Ying Chun stated, "And the door to the dimension is swathed by a mountain."

"Mountain?" Zhang Shi frowned.

"Mhm..." Ying Chun nodded. "A mountain that stood under the protection of a secret tribe..." She lifted her chin a little, "the Northwestern Mountains..."

"What?!" Shen Wei and Zhao YunLan's eyes widened.

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"Forth Uncle!" Zhu Hong called the old man who stood near Han YuSen. "How about Minister Han?" She asked.

"Minister Han is paralyzed, he has to stay in the hospital for the rest of his life..." The old man rued.

"Young Master Han..." Zhu Jiu was confused about how to express his condolence.

"My father is alright at least..." The young man lowered his gaze, "even though he is disabled, he wants to keep up with the investigation."

"We understand." Zhu Jiu nodded.

"Now, please, excuse me..." The young man said before he left.

"Ah, Officer Zhu...How are you?" The old snake asked.

"I'm already feeling better..."

"My niece here can't stop talking about you..." The old man teased the shy Zhu Hong.

"I too want to personally meet you and introduce myself. It's just this moment is very critical..." Zhu Jiu lowered his gaze, "I deeply apologize, Forth Uncle."

"I understand. You are a very dedicated young man." The old snake patted Zhu Jiu's shoulder, "I'm glad that my niece picks the right man."

"And I promise that she will never regret it." Zhu Jiu replied firmly.

"Alright. Just make sure you keep your head on your shoulders, Officer. After this storm passed, I'd loved to drink with you and your foster father." The old man smiled.

"Yes, Sir." Zhu Jiu nodded.

The Forth Uncle glanced at his shy niece, lifting his thumb to signify his agreement before he left the spot.

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"Do you talk about the Hanga Tribe?" Zhao YunLan crossed his arms.

"Mhm..." Ying Chun nodded.

Zhao YunLan threw his head backward, as he walked back and forth. "Do you think Sang Zan and Wang Zheng know about this?" Zhao YunLan turned his face to Shen Wei.

"I dont know..." Shen Wei lowered his gaze as he thought.

"Wait!" Guo ChangCheng frowned, "Why did Wang Zheng Jie and Sang Ge would know about this?"

"Because they both are two of few descendants of the Hanga tribe that manage to survive through these years..." Shen YongZheng replied.

"You know?" Shen Wei glanced at his father.

"Of course, I know. I'm the one who hires them." Shen YongZheng sighed.

"Seems like everything will turn into a mess now..." Shen Wei took a deep breath.

"Professor Shen, for time being, you better stay with your parents." Zhao YunLan rubbed his hair as he glanced at Shen YongZheng and Shen MeiHua.

"But, I want to help..." YeZun protested.

"YeZun..." Shen Wei strode toward his brother, "you are helpful enough if you keep yourself safe. Now that Ma TiHua has the other you, it doesn't mean that he will not chase after you. Besides, the chance for him to hurt you is tenfolds now as he doesn't want us to catch him."

"You are the key, Professor Shen..." Zhao XinChi patted the younger's shoulder, "your role to stay safe is important here."

"YeZun..." Shen YongZheng patted his son's other shoulder, "you better stay with us. At least until your brother figures out the situation..."

"But the greenhouse..."

"We will take care of that." Ying Chun convinced Shen YeZun. "At least, that is what we can do for you."

"Alright." YeZun nodded. "But, MingAn..." He glanced at his lover.

"I will spend time in SID headquarters, you don't need to worry about me." Zhao MingAn smiled. "You can call me if you miss me." He whispered. Shen YeZun's face reddened instantly.

"It is not the time to flirt, you douchebag!" Zhao YunLan smacked Zhao MingAn's head.

"Ouch, Ge...That hurts..." Zhao MingAn rubbed his head. "Like you the one who talks. You and Director Shen are always together, only gods know what you both doing..." He muttered.

"You!" Zhao YunLan grunted, "You lucky we are busy." He smacked Zhao MingAn's arm.

"Wei-er...What are you going to do now?" Shen MeiHua asked when Shen Wei wore his suit jacket.

"To the DiXing realm. I need to talk to the Regent." Shen Wei fixed his suit. "I need to know for what reason they neglected Ye Zun's dead body."

"Ge...Do you need to do that? He was an evil person. He kills his own brother. Why should you care about why they neglected his dead body?" YeZun objected.

Shen Wei turned his face, staring at his younger brother. He said nothing yet but his aura shouted anger. Zhao YunLan who caught the flare quickly stepped in. "Professor Shen..." He stood between the twins, "you said that because you condemn his action but everyone deserves a proper burial even though they are a criminal. As an elder brother, Shen Wei has a right to question their motive for disrespecting his younger brother's corpse...Besides!" He raised his voice when Shen YeZun was about to say something, "because of their mistake, someone now makes use of his dead body for evil deeds."

Shen YeZun did not reply, just lowering his gaze.

"Condemn his action is not an exact phrase." Shen Wei faced his younger brother, "the reason why he acts like this is that he is angry with the past. Why can't you stop to hate yourself? How many times should I tell you that you are you and not him?"

"Alright..." Zhao YunLan held Shen Wei's chest and pushed him back a little. "Professor Shen...Let me rephrase it. If Shen Wei hurt you, can you hate him to the point of abandoning him?"

Shen YeZun shook his head.

"If some bad people use his dead body could you just destroy the dead body and ignore the relationship you share once?" Zhao YunLan patted the man's shoulder.

"No..."

"Shen Wei is also the same. Ye Zun was a bad person but he deserves a proper burial. As an elder brother, Shen Wei will do anything he can to rescue his younger brother even if it is just the dead body. Everyone wants at least could visit the remnants of our dearest one." Zhao YunLan explained.

"What?" Lin Jing asked when he saw Guo ChangCheng sniffle.

"I'm touched..." Guo ChangCheng answered, "Boss, you certainly will be a good wife for Director Shen..." He deadpanned.

The solemn atmosphere changed at once. Everyone snorted at Zhao YunLan's fluster and Guo ChangCheng's sincerity made them laugh even more.

"We have no time to waste, Ma TiHua currently has all resources he needs to get the fountain of eternity. If we are late to stop him, nobody knows what kind of disaster will happen..." Shen Wei reached for his tie, giving no chance to Zhao YunLan to be upset.

"Mhm..." Zhao YunLan nodded. Less do they know that Ya Qing's crow form left the window near them silently.

"Then, let's get going...Wife..." Shen Wei deadpanned.

"You!"

Everyone snickered. Shen Wei was about to leave when Chu ShuZhi appeared, "excuse me..." He bows.

"What is it?"

"I have something to report, Sir..." Chu ShuZhi answered Shen Wei.

"You are not well yet, but you keep working? What a dedication." Shen YongZheng shook his head.

"Get in..." Shen Wei let his right-hand man inside.

"This is about Minister Han, General Shen. I do nothing big." Chu ShuZhi replied humbly.

"Alright...What is it?" Shen Wei asked again.

"The hospital said that Minister Han is paralyzed. The energy attacked his backbone neuro system. He can't be sent to trial or jail as he can't even leave the hospital." Chu ShuZhi replied.

"Goodness..." Shen MeiHua lowered her gaze.

"How about YuSen?" Shen YongZheng asked.

"He talked to his father already but now, he goes to The National Guard's medical facility to see Zhang Tian..." Chu ShuZhi said. "And I got a report regarding Zhang Tian's condition." He proceeded.

"What about Zhang Tian?" Zhao YunLan leaned over the bed.

"The team doctors found a chip inside his brain."

"A chip?" Shen Wei furrowed his eyebrows.

"Yes, Sir...A chip. But the doctor can't recklessly take the chip out. They said, they will conduct a "special case" surgery on his head. Or..."

"...Or..." Shen Wei nudged the next words.

"Or he will die..."

"With his recovery ability?" Zhao YunLan asked.

"The doctors said that the chip is planted near the pearly core in his head."

"Oh, damn..." Lin Jing agape.

"Poor YuSen..." Shen MeiHua slumped to her seat.

"Madame Shen, be careful..." Shen Xi held her best friend.

"That boy just lost his mother, his father is sick, and now his love interest's life is threatened." Shen MeiHua could not shed a tear in her grief.

"You don't need to worry. All we should do is visit Madame Gwang and ask her to heal Zhang Tian." Shen Xi caressed Shen MeiHua's shoulders.

"You are right, Shen Xi...If Madame Gwang could revive him from the dead, I'm sure that she can do it now too..." Shen MeiHua patted Shen Xi's hand.

"Now that you mention it." Zhao YunLan bit his inner cheek. "If the powerful Madame Gwang could revive Zhang Tian, why didn't she do the same for Madame Han?"

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

"Zhao YunLan...Didn't you already read that Madame Han was sick to her core?" Shen YeZun answered.

"No, Professor Shen." Zhao MingAn lifted his face as if he understood what his elder brother meant. "According to the report, Zhang Tian was pronounced dead in the hospital before he was brought by his father, which I presume, was when his father took him to Madame Gwang."

"That's it." Zhao YunLan was grateful for his brother's support. "If she could revive Zhang Tian, why can't she heal Madame Han?"

Now, the room was ridiculously low and quiet.

"I think...This is the time for us to visit her..." Shen Wei broke the silence after he took a deep breath.

At the same time, inside the Blue Tree Meadow, a fox lady approached Gwang Li who sat near the lake. "Everything running as you predict, My Lady..."

Gwang Li put down her cup, taking a deep breath as, slowly, her white-colored hair turned black like being poured by ink from above. "It's the time..." Gwang Li opened her eyes. The white eyes were gone replaced by black irises that glowed like obsidian stone.

The variable, in math, was an element, feature, or factor that was liable to vary or change like unpredictable human nature...

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Picture credit to math lake