After that riot, the police station's security was noticeably tightened. As Zhong Yun approached the entrance of the Investigation Bureau, an inexplicable sensation washed over him—the feeling of countless eyes focusing on him simultaneously, making him deeply uncomfortable.

Zhong Yun knew this entrance must be equipped with a scanning system to prevent weapons from being brought into the station.

His physical conditioning at Level Twenty-Four had sharpened his senses to such a degree that even invisible, intangible rays could not escape his spiritual awareness. He suppressed the unease and walked straight through the entryway, complying fully.

Just as he was about to enter, a hand holding a black police baton as thick as a finger stopped him. Zhong Yun looked over, puzzled. The one blocking him was the security guard stationed at the door.

"Identity card, please," the guard said, eyeing him warily.

Zhong Yun looked up at the tall, imposing guard, feigning a slight nervousness. "I seem to have lost my ID card. I'm here to get a replacement."

The guard scrutinized him up and down, finding no immediate threat. Nevertheless, he dared not relax his guard, exchanged a meaningful glance with his partner across the way, and then told Zhong Yun, "Follow me."

The guard escorted Zhong Yun to the identity card processing room. Only after watching Zhong Yun place his palm on the scanner, which then displayed his basic identification data, did the guard finally leave, feeling assured.

Replacing the ID card was straightforward; the window in front of Zhong Yun connected directly to the main computer of the Ketong Star government, allowing him to inquire about any procedure instantly.

Once completed, Zhong Yun took the small card and headed toward the room indicated by the central system. The newly acquired identity card would only become effective after being verified and input into the database by the director of the ID Card Office.

As he passed the reception lounge, someone walked out at that exact moment. With a single glance, Zhong Yun recognized the person who was the primary objective of his visit here: Su Xing.

Su Xing emerged from the lounge, her face pale. In her haste, she failed to notice the person in front of her and collided with him head-on, letting out a gasp before tumbling to the ground.

"Are you alright?"

A deep, resonant male voice sounded near her ear. Su Xing looked up and saw a face etched with self-reproach. She managed a weak smile. "I'm fine..." She tried to stand up. "Ouch!" She collapsed back down, clutching her lower leg, perspiration beading on her face from the pain.

Zhong Yun met her eyes and instantly knew she wasn't Yun Qi. No matter how much the exterior changed, the eyes never lied.

The disappointment flickered across his face and was immediately replaced by an expression of concern. "Are you alright? I... I'll take you to the hospital."

"No need," Su Xing struggled to rise, limping on her injured foot, unable to put full weight on it.

Zhong Yun genuinely wanted to abandon her and search for his target elsewhere, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. That face was too much like Yun Qi's; he truly lacked the heart to be callous.

He stepped forward to support her arm. "Let's go to the hospital. Look at you, you can barely walk."

Su Xing remained silent, tacitly agreeing to Zhong Yun's suggestion. Her fall had been minor, but her ankle was slightly dislocated, making walking impossible.

She was a strong-willed woman, Zhong Yun observed from her tightly pressed lips, noting a hint of hardness that Yun Qi lacked.

Not long after the two of them left, another figure emerged from the reception area. A cold smirk played on his lips as he, too, departed.

Along the way, they encountered one or two people who looked at them with curiosity. But strangely, even the uniformed officers they passed offered no assistance to Su Xing, not even a cursory greeting.

Zhong Yun found this bizarre. This police station wasn't enormous; colleagues should know each other. Why such a lack of warmth between them?

He glanced thoughtfully at Su Xing beside him. It seemed her rapport with others here was quite poor.

At the main entrance, the gate attendant saw the scene and looked at Zhong Yun with suspicion before stepping forward. "Director Su, are you alright?"

"Just twisted my ankle accidentally. Note it down; I'll apply for sick leave later," Su Xing replied, her demeanor and voice icily detached. It was as if the words 'Do not speak to me' were practically written across her face.

Zhong Yun began to understand. For a woman as beautiful as Su Xing, having such poor relations with her peers—not even a polite inquiry when injured—suggested her personality truly made her unwelcome.

The attendant nodded and said nothing more, letting them exit.

Zhong Yun hailed an aerial taxi and helped her inside. They sat facing each other.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Su Xing broke the silence after a while.

"Hmm?" Zhong Yun was reviewing data on his next target and looked at her strangely upon hearing her words.

"Don't play dumb. You clearly bumped into me intentionally just now," Su Xing regarded him with a hint of mockery in her eyes. "You wanted an excuse to get close to me. Am I right?"

Zhong Yun subconsciously touched his chin. In a way, she was correct. But the reason was not what she assumed.

Su Xing's expression darkened. "There's nothing wrong with pursuing a woman, but resorting to such unscrupulous methods, even causing harm to a woman, makes you an absolute bastard."

Zhong Yun was utterly stunned. Being verbally abused by a woman so directly was a first in his life, and it momentarily scrambled his thoughts.

"Excuse me, Madam, how old are you?"

Zhong Yun's sudden retort momentarily choked Su Xing’s fiery temper, her face instantly turning ashen.

"Do you suffer from an overinflated ego? Do you think everyone who approaches you wants to drag you to bed? Honestly, with your looks, this young master isn't interested."

Zhong Yun's sharp retort nearly made Su Xing pass out from rage. When had she ever been treated with such disregard? Her face flushed hot and cold; her chest heaved violently, her lips trembling, too furious to form a coherent sentence, only managing, "You... you..."

"You what? You're truly ungrateful, like a dog biting the hand that feeds it. Go to the hospital yourself; I'm not waiting on you." With that, Zhong Yun pressed a button beside him to signal the driver to stop.

Seeing the scoundrel actually get out of the vehicle, Su Xing was fit to explode and hurled the bag in her hand after him.

Zhong Yun turned back to catch it. Seeing the aerial taxi already flying away, he looked at the exquisite ladies' handbag in his hand and scratched his head. By his usual temperament, he would have casually tossed aside anyone else's bag, but Su Xing looked too much like Yun Qi; he found it hard to stay truly angry with her.

Forget it, I'll find a courier service and mail the bag back to her.

Thinking this, just as he was about to put the bag away, his expression suddenly shifted. He stared intently at the handbag, his look becoming strangely serious.

He couldn't resist opening the bag. It contained only cosmetics and similar items. After rummaging through, he finally pulled out a small, uniquely styled, sky-blue clip used for holding hair.

Hailing another flyer, Zhong Yun traveled to a courier company and sent the handbag and the small clip off in separate packages. The handbag was naturally addressed to Su Xing, while the small clip's destination was the other end of the planet.

Having completed all this, Zhong Yun clapped his hands with satisfaction. Ah, Su Xing, I injured your foot, but I also helped you resolve a problem. From now on, we are even.

Earlier, while holding the handbag, he had detected a faint ray being emitted from it. Driven by curiosity, he opened the bag and found the ray originating from the small clip.

He consulted Xiao Ling, and the clip was likely a tracking device. Someone was clearly plotting against Su Xing. If he hadn't been pressed for time, he might have taken the liberty of helping her, considering her resemblance to Yun Qi.

But now, he was desperately searching for Yun Qi and could not afford to waste a moment. Thus, he devised this scheme: misleading Su Xing's enemies while simultaneously leaving her a warning. Whether she believed it or not was her own business.

He quickly pushed the matter from his mind and set off to find the next suspected individual.

Two hundred and thirty-one people spread across the twenty administrative stars of the Mings Kingdom—finding them all one by one would take several months. It seemed he needed to find some assistance.

Ketong Academy, after more than two years, had largely restored its former scale. Too many students had died during the riot two years prior. Through successive waves of expansion over the last two years, while the student population hadn't reached its original peak, it was no longer the deserted place it had been when Zhong Yun left.

The Archaeology Department was even quieter than before. Since other departments were increasing enrollment quotas, fewer and fewer students bothered with this niche specialty, causing its numbers to dwindle.

The Archaeology Department was completely different from his memory; all the architecture had been transformed. Zhong Yun looked at the newly built structures, an indescribable feeling stirring within him.

He didn't want to alert too many people, so he proceeded directly to Odin’s dormitory. Among his former three roommates, Odin was likely the strongest.

Odin had moved out of the communal dorms and secured private quarters. Zhong Yun sat in the living room, waiting for Odin to return.

About an hour later, Zhong Yun sensed someone arriving at the door. Judging by the frequency of the footsteps, it was indeed his former roommate, Odin.

"Long time no see, Fourth Brother," Zhong Yun smiled.

Odin, who had just pushed the door open, froze as he saw someone sitting in the hall. His muscles instantly tensed. When he clearly saw who it was, he gasped in shock.

Click.

Two seconds later, the door shut. Odin's expression was complex. "Third Brother, I never thought I’d see you again."

"I was surprised too," Zhong Yun laughed heartily. Reunited with an old friend, his spirits soared.

"When you suddenly vanished back then, everyone assumed you were already..." Odin recovered from the shock and sat opposite Zhong Yun, sighing.

"Assumed I was dead?" Zhong Yun chuckled.

"Actually, after you disappeared, the Ketong family issued a kill order. Anyone who could kill you would receive one hundred billion Aomi credits," Odin marveled. "One hundred billion! What exactly did you do to the Ketong family back then to make them willing to spend such a fortune to have you killed?"

"It's a long story," Zhong Yun shook his head. At that time, it was a matter of life or death. He had zero regrets about killing all the Ketong family members present. As for Wen Zhu, he had nothing to say; if they wanted revenge, they could come. But he would never surrender passively.

That so-called kill order was most likely directed at members of the aristocratic houses. No matter how arrogant the Ketong family was, they couldn't openly issue such a decree among the general populace.

Seeing that Zhong Yun was unwilling to elaborate, Odin tactfully did not press further. "You didn't suddenly return just to see me, did you?"

Turning to business, Zhong Yun's expression sobered. "I came here to find someone." He then provided Odin with the full details.

Odin looked troubled. "Neither a name nor a photograph—that makes it extremely difficult."

Zhong Yun sighed. "I have no choice. I don't know what identity she's using here. However, I have already filtered the list down to the 231 most likely candidates. If I have a clear, recent photograph of her, I can recognize her."

"I'll do my best, but let me be clear beforehand: my family only holds influence here on Ketong Star. Outside of Ketong, I can't do much," Odin stated. Taking a few photos wasn't a major issue; he agreed readily.

"Here is the current list of fifteen people in Ketong. Thank you," Zhong Yun said.

"Don't mention it." Odin seemed unconcerned, then looked at Zhong Yun, seeming to hesitate before speaking.

"What is it?"

"Actually, why don't you ask Wei Wei for help? Her influence is far greater than mine; she commands considerable power across the entire nation. With her assistance, you could find the person you're looking for very quickly." Odin glanced at Zhong Yun, and seeing no reaction, continued, "Moreover, I know Wei Wei would be happy to help you. I know she's been desperately searching for you these past two years, even breaking ties with the Ketong family over it."

Zhong Yun gave a wry smile. "Other matters are negotiable, but she definitely won't help me with this. Besides, if her father learns I'm in the Mings Kingdom, I’ll be in serious trouble. Better not stir up unnecessary trouble."

"Could the person you're looking for be your girlfriend?" Seeing Zhong Yun nod, Odin understood. Having grown up in a powerful family, he had witnessed countless women scheming for favor, rivaling men in cunning, sometimes even surpassing them in ruthlessness. It wasn't surprising that Zhong Yun would keep this from Wei Wei. If she learned the truth, who knew what she might do.

"Which private detective agency in Mings is the most capable?" Zhong Yun suddenly asked.

Odin paused for a moment before reacting. "I know one. Leave it to me."

In truth, this had been Zhong Yun's plan all along. Excellent private investigators usually served the wealthy. Without an acquaintance to guide him, he would be like a headless fly, stumbling around. Entrusting the task to someone like Odin was the most appropriate solution.

In the capital of the Mings Kingdom, within a villa-style residence, a stern-faced old man sat upright in his study, attending to official business.

Suddenly, the communicator on his desk rang.

The old man frowned. He detested being interrupted while working. A call from a subordinate at this hour meant the matter was urgent.

He answered it, and the face of an equally serious middle-aged man appeared. "Report, General, eight hours ago, in Yetang City Police Station on Ketong Star, a young man processed a replacement identity card. The similarity between this man's appearance and Zhong Yun's is over ninety-five percent."

"Zhong Yun..." Upon hearing the name, the old man's expression instantly turned incredibly grim.

I will absolutely not let you take Wei Wei away. A murderous glint flashed in the old man's eyes. "Send me his detailed profile."

Soon, all the data from the identity Zhong Yun had forged appeared before the old man. "Yun Zhongyu, hmph..." Although the identity was incredibly detailed, almost flawless, the old man knew instantly upon seeing the name that this was indeed Zhong Yun.

"He actually dares to swagger into Mings? Does he truly think no one can handle him?" The old man snorted coldly. "Dispatch men to bring him in. Remember, do not harm him."

"Yes." The middle-aged man snapped a military salute and vanished.

The old man pondered for a moment, then connected to the room of his butler, Rich.

"Master, what are your orders?" Rich's attitude in the video was exceedingly respectful.

"Keep an eye on the Young Miss. For the time being, she is not to leave the house a single step," the old man commanded.

Rich's expression shifted slightly. "Master, the Young Miss left ten minutes ago."

"What?!" The old man was furious. "Bring her back immediately! You take men there personally!"

"Yes." Rich acknowledged and immediately began arranging personnel. The Young Miss has been working incredibly hard these two years; she has broken through to Level Twenty in physical conditioning. I probably can't stop her. Sigh, Master's strong reaction is probably because of that boy named Zhong Yun. Rich felt a complicated emotion.

At the capital airport, a plainly dressed young woman waited anxiously to board the shuttle craft. Her heart was filled with both apprehension and excitement. Her hand, gripping her luggage, trembled with nervousness. He's back. He's finally back.

If I hadn't made preparations long ago, Dad wouldn't have learned of his return. He would have locked me up.

She couldn't help but feel fortunate that she hadn't been idle for the past two years. She hadn't only trained rigorously but had also prepared several contingency plans. She knew her father would never willingly let her go, so she had set up multiple escape routes.

Just as she expected, her father had been monitoring his movements. She had easily gleaned the news of his appearance from her father's communications, then disguised herself and followed a pre-planned route to Ketong Star.

She believed that no matter how resourceful her father was, he wouldn't find her in a short time.

This time, she absolutely would not let go again. She would leave with him without hesitation. Over the past two years, she had regretted every moment she had hesitated and wavered.

The private detective's efficiency was remarkable; in less than a day, they delivered photographs of all 231 individuals. Zhong Yun went through them one by one, deeply disappointed—none of them were Yun Qi.

He had to resort to the final method. Zhong Yun called Odin over. "I want to place an advertisement to be broadcast on all media channels in the Mings Kingdom. Can you contact them for me?"

"You want to find your girlfriend through an advertisement?" Odin immediately understood his intent. "Contacting them is no problem, but running an ad on all media outlets... that requires a significant amount of money."

"Don't worry, I can afford that much," Zhong Yun didn't dwell on the cost. His initial hesitation was fear of attracting the attention of the Ketong family and Wei Wei, causing trouble. Now, he couldn't worry about that; finding Yun Qi as quickly as possible was paramount.