Chapter 1238: Dispute

"Do you see it? Changqing, this is the miracle of biology!"

“……”

"If we want to adapt to the environment of the end times, we must complete our evolution in the shortest possible time! But human evolution has too many limitations. If we can push fusion technology together, humans will never have to worry about the mental and physical pollution caused by the Gray World, never have to hide in dark undergrounds, and can even obtain more powerful strength, just like you."

“……”

"I am the best example myself... Changqing, you know what your teacher was like before: old, weary, and even walking on my own two legs was difficult... But now? Now I possess a body that almost never ages, a brain whose energy never dries up, and my thoughts can diverge at ten times the speed they once did. Those biological problems that once troubled me can now be solved easily...

Now, teacher is your biggest competitor, hahaha!"

“……”

"Changqing, tell me the truth... did you steal my experimental results and samples?"

“……”

"Changqing, do you know how much energy I spent recording those things? You... sigh... I am your teacher. If you wanted them, you could have just told me directly. I have never held anything back from you... But Changqing, what exactly do you want to do by stealing my blood samples?"

“……”

"In this world, there are only two Fusionists, you and me. We both know clearly what kind of leap we achieved after completing the fusion... Now, you actually want to keep this technology for yourself?"

“……”

"Science should serve the masses, not individuals at the top of the pyramid! I know you are now the dignified Nanhai Monarch, an existence admired by everyone, but... have you forgotten yourself a little?"

“……”

"Are you afraid? What are you afraid of... afraid that others will discover the secret of fusion? Afraid that a Nanhai Monarch could also be born among ordinary people? That way, you wouldn't be able to maintain your special status regarding the Nine Monarchs and humanity?"

“……”

"Changqing, it seems I haven't known you since you returned from the Gray World..."

“……”

"CHU CHANGQING!!! I am your teacher!! I am the one who personally led you into the hall of biology!! Now... now you are actually slandering me?"

“……”

"I, Ye Mu, swear to heaven that I absolutely did not use children for human experiments without authorization!! And I absolutely did not sell organs privately, nor did I secretly sell addictive drugs in human bases!! The disappearance of those children really has nothing to do with me... really... really..."

“……”

"I do not accept the joint verdict of the nine major bases against me, I do not accept it!!!!"

“……”

*BANG—!!*

The sound of the gavel echoed in the courtroom like rolling thunder, jolting Teacher Ye awake from his dream!

The gray sky was like an iron dome, making it hard to breathe. Frost mixed with chill brushed past his temples. After a long time, he finally came to his senses in a daze and sat up slowly...

Beneath him was a carefully laid-out blanket. Although the blanket was full of gray soil and tears, it was still soft and comfortable to lie on. Teacher Ye’s fingertips gently rubbed the cute blanket printed with cartoon patterns, and he looked forward.

On the barren Gray World earth, the children were sitting in groups. Those who had been wearing colorful clothes under the Mother Tree had now lost their color, looking at the gray flames in the middle in a daze, like refugees in an old black-and-white movie, disheveled and sorrowful.

"Teacher Ye! You’re awake??" Zhao Yi’s happy voice sounded from the side.

At these words, the dazed children suddenly came back to their senses, radiance reappearing in their dim eyes, and they swarmed around Teacher Ye in a flash!

"Teacher Ye, you're finally awake!"

"Teacher Ye, we were so worried about you just now..."

"Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere, Teacher Ye? Are you hungry? Brother Sun gave me two candied haws just now, I'll share one with you!"

"Teacher Ye, your complexion is so poor. Did you have a nightmare?"

“……”

The chattering voices were incredibly noisy,

but for some reason, hearing these voices made Teacher Ye's heart settle. He asked softly, "What... happened to me?"

"We don't know. You suddenly fell from the sky just now, and Brother Sun caught you... Brother Chen Ling said you were just suffering from extreme physical exhaustion and would be fine after a good rest."

Teacher Ye recalled his memories before losing consciousness and nodded slightly:

"...I understand."

The chattering around him gradually quieted down.

But the children did not leave. Instead, they quietly surrounded Teacher Ye, their clean eyes gazing at him like stars flickering in the night.

"What's wrong?" Teacher Ye asked.

Finally, a girl couldn't help but choke out,

"Teacher Ye... the Fusion Faction is gone... what... what are we going to do?"

The girl's sobbing was like a switch; the moment she finished speaking, the grievances and sorrow the other children had been suppressing in their hearts could no longer be contained.

From the destruction of the Mother Tree and Teacher Ye's collapse until now, these children hadn't shed a single tear. But with Teacher Ye awake, they finally felt as if they had a pillar of support, someone they could cry to and rely on. More and more sobs and cries rose from the crowd, echoing through the desolation of the Gray Realm...

Teacher Ye’s eyes reflected the sight of the children kneeling and crying in the ruins. He felt a sharp pain in his heart, but he still gently stroked the girl's head, answering as tenderly as he could:

"The Mother Tree is gone, but we can find another place to live... As long as we are still here, the Fusion Faction will always exist."

"But... but where else can we go?"

The children had grown up at the Mother Tree since they were small. Most of them had never seen what lay beyond the Gray Realm. Without protection, they looked blankly at the monotonous world of black, white, and gray around them, and an inexplicable fear welled up from the depths of their hearts.

Teacher Ye remained silent for a long time, as if he had finally made a decision. He slowly stood up from the ground...

"We are going to the South Sea Realm."

……

Under the dim sky, several massive shadow centipedes roamed the barren earth.

If viewed from the sky, one could see these shadow centipedes circling the perimeter of the Fusion Faction children like sentries, guarding the surroundings... And atop the largest centipede, a figure draped in a bright red opera robe stood silently.

I don't know how much time passed before a pitch-black youth ran over from the campfire nearby and shouted to Chen Ling:

"King Chen Ling!"

"Teacher Ye would like you to come over!"