Chapter 128 - 125: Yellowed Black and White Photo

Chapter 128: Chapter 125: Yellowed Black and White Photo

Xia Li, however, appeared composed.

The Master’s methods were far beyond those of Ghosts or Deities. Helping a mad scientist become a god was hardly surprising.

The lady in the evening gown, on the other hand, stared at Jiang Chaosheng in horror.

She had never seen this young man before.

But judging by Xia Li’s respectful attitude toward Jiang Chaosheng, this young man was likely the mysterious entity who had turned Xia Li into a Vampire!

Two words suddenly came to her mind.

Mr. Dusk!

She lowered her head in awe, not daring to look directly at Jiang Chaosheng’s face.

Liu Weiqian looked at Jiang Chaosheng, his eyes filled with rage that the young man dared to mock him.

His accomplishments in the fields of bacteriology, immunology, virology, and others were second to none.

Even if there was one person in Meiqi Country who could be considered his equal in academic standing, that person could not possibly surpass him in research.

In the face of true, great scholarship, money and power were utterly insignificant.

Even if this young man before him possessed wealth that could rival a nation and power that could shake the world, it was impossible for him to offer any academic guidance.

And yet, a trace of expectation lingered in Liu Weiqian’s eyes.

"Bacterial Control Leadership" was his obsession and his dream, a research topic he was willing to spend his entire life to complete.

Alas, it was just too difficult.

If God truly existed in this world, He must have long ago placed a lock on this research topic that no mortal could undo.

’What if... what if this young man before me really does have that kind of academic insight?’

Even that slightest chance was enough to make Liu Weiqian want to ask, a question welling up from the bottom of his heart.

Liu Weiqian said in a deep voice:

"Kid, what do you have to teach me?"

"It’s not so much about helping you as it is about giving you an opportunity."

Jiang Chaosheng took a simple, antique Whistle from his pocket.

Xia Li, ever perceptive, took it with both hands, walked over to Liu Weiqian, and offered it to him.

Liu Weiqian looked at the Whistle suspiciously, unsure of what the young man meant.

Jiang Chaosheng looked at Liu Weiqian indifferently.

"I listened to your long-winded speech. It sounded very impressive, even if I didn’t understand it."

"So why don’t you show me if you’re as capable as you claim to be."

"If you can use this item to realize your ideas and save your own life, which is nearing its end, then come find me on Anxiang Street."

"Only then will our transaction truly begin."

Jiang Chaosheng stood up, a hint of contempt in his eyes.

"If you die, I’ll just consider the time I’ve wasted on you my tip to you."

"After all, I did get to hear an interesting story."

Liu Weiqian frowned at Jiang Chaosheng, then glanced at Xia Li.

To his surprise, Xia Li was looking at him with envy.

Liu Weiqian had no choice but to seriously consider the Whistle in his hands.

’Could there really be something to this thing?’

’Some kind of high-tech device?’

Jiang Chaosheng walked to the door and patted Liu Weiqian’s shoulder.

"Go on. Blow it."

With that, Jiang Chaosheng pushed open the door and left.

Xia Li gave the lady in the evening gown a look. The lady understood instantly and quickly followed Xia Li out, giving Liu Weiqian some space.

...

Jiang Chaosheng walked to the entrance of the South Sea Exhibition Center, turned back, and said to Xia Li:

"Carrying World Dream on your shoulders until now hasn’t been easy."

"Today is your big day. You don’t have to see me out."

Xia Li was taken aback.

’Such warm words... coming from the Master’s mouth?’

Xia Li lowered her head.

"Alright. Take care, sir."

Jiang Chaosheng’s words had nearly brought her to tears.

Her father had passed away early, her younger brother was a disappointment, and the shareholders all had their own ulterior motives.

The only reason she was able to keep World Dream stable, aside from luck, was by pouring twice the blood, sweat, and tears into it.

When she fell gravely ill, World Dream’s hidden problems all erupted at once.

If not for the Master’s help, both World Dream and she herself would have long since vanished from the history of the South Sea.

Xia Li felt that she had once been a pillar of support for others, but now, she had a pillar of support for herself.

A few familiar business partners nearby waited until Jiang Chaosheng had left before they began to speculate about his identity.

A boisterous, straightforward man said with a chuckle:

"I saw that gentleman give President Xia a gift."

"It must be a treasure that ordinary people rarely get to see."

"How about you let us broaden our horizons, President Xia?"

This man had a deep partnership with World Dream; just a few days ago, his company had signed another strategic cooperation agreement with them.

Now, he was hoping to use this joke to indirectly probe into Jiang Chaosheng’s identity.

Xia Li thought for a moment, then took out the small box Jiang Chaosheng had given her.

She could sense that the item inside was not one of the Taboo Items, so it didn’t need to be kept so secret.

Xia Li was also very curious to see what kind of gift the Master had given her.

’Judging by the weight, could it be a piece of antique jewelry?’

Xia Li carefully opened the box.

Inside was a simple, antique pocket watch.

Its balance spring suggested it was an artifact from the mid-seventeenth century.

As expected, it was an antique.

The man clicked his tongue in amazement.

"A fine piece, a really fine piece!"

The other guests also chimed in with praise, though most were just offering obligatory compliments.

If this were placed before a watch collector, it would surely drive them wild.

But for the Female President of World Dream, wasn’t this a bit... petty?

Especially since... Xia Li was a woman.

Xia Li examined the pocket watch for a moment, then opened its cover. Her pupils suddenly contracted!

Inside the watch was a yellowed, black-and-white family portrait.

In the very center was an elderly man in an old-fashioned suit with a solemn expression.

He sat upright on a pearwood chair, holding a baby boy.

An older guest recognized the young man standing beside the old man and exclaimed:

"This... this looks a bit like Old President Xia. Could it be...?"

Old President Xia referred to Xia Li’s grandfather.

Xia Li’s hand trembled as she stroked the family portrait.

That’s right. The young man standing beside the old man was her grandfather.

It followed that the old man must be her great-grandfather, Xia Zhe.

And the baby boy in her great-grandfather’s arms was her own father.

A single, small photograph was a thread connecting the past to the present, tapping into the deepest warmth of her bloodline.

’So this is how cute Father was as a child.’

’And Grandfather was so handsome when he was young.’

’And Great-Grandfather Xia Zhe... he had such a commanding presence.’

Xia Li murmured:

"Thank you, sir... Thank you, sir..."

...

「South Sea Exhibition Center, Conference Room.」

Liu Weiqian stared blankly at the Whistle in his hands.

’This thing can help me achieve a breakthrough in research that is fundamentally impossible?’

Anyone with normal intelligence wouldn’t believe it.

Liu Weiqian picked up the Whistle and blew it tentatively.

Of course, his intelligence wasn’t normal. Otherwise, he never would have reached his current level of achievement.

The Whistle was silent.

Suddenly, Liu Weiqian’s eyes widened.

He felt as if he had grown a new organ—an organ for communication.

His Spiritual Power transformed into countless, infinitesimally fine threads, allowing him to perceive tiny creatures he could never have noticed before.

Liu Weiqian tried to control that ’organ’.

The next second, a tiny hairy spider crawled cautiously out from a corner, moving slowly toward Liu Weiqian.

Liu Weiqian’s old eyes grew wide.

’This Whistle... it can actually communicate with other living beings without any barriers?!’

Liu Weiqian suddenly thought of something and blew the Whistle again.

Cold sweat trickled down his temples, but nothing happened.

Liu Weiqian held his breath and focused his mind. His brain began to furiously simulate and construct, his eyes filled with intense concentration, and he blew the Whistle once more.

A look of joyous surprise flashed in his eyes!

’He could perceive and communicate with microorganisms invisible to the naked eye?!’

...

Taboo Item No. 3-26, the Beast Language Magic Flute.

It originally belonged to a musician from the Middle Ages.

That year, his town suffered a rat infestation, and the plague broke out.

The musician firmly believed that music could be used to communicate with beasts, that he could persuade the rats to leave and quell the infestation.

(The main reason he held this belief was:

Because no one liked his music.

Therefore, he concluded that human beings, creatures of such complex emotions, could not understand true music.

Only beasts could.)

After the musician walked into the heart of the plague-ridden area, he was never seen again.

Until the moment of his death, the musician believed that music could communicate with beasts, that he could converse with the rats.

His own failure was not a failure of music, but simply a sign that his own musical attainments were not high enough.

Many years later, the Whistle that had been kept close to his body, now resting on his bones, became saturated with his intense obsession and resentment, transforming into a Taboo Item.

Taboo Item No. 3-26, the Beast Language Magic Flute.

Allows communication with any non-human creature.

How does one further develop the power of the Beast Language Magic Flute?

That depends on how desperately one wishes to communicate with the creature they hope to reach.

This flute was a perfect match for Liu Weiqian.

Disregarding their achievements, the musician and Liu Weiqian were the same kind of person.

...

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