Chapter 49: The Enigmatic Test Results

You Ya and You Zhi arrived at the entrance of the testing chamber almost simultaneously, one right after the other. The former appeared calm and composed, while the latter was out of breath. You Zhi shot his sister a fierce glare, but had no time to complain as he hurriedly swiped his card and entered.

Inside, the liquid in the container was being gradually drained. Both newcomers had complicated expressions in their eyes—a mix of shock, suspicion, confusion, and contemplation.

Yuanzi, upon seeing both Chief Directors arrive together, felt a sudden wave of relief. The tear stains at the corners of her eyes betrayed her genuine terror from moments earlier.

As the liquid in the container neared the bottom, Ye Chen, having lost the buoyancy, sat cross-legged at the base. His body was flushed crimson, as though he’d just been pulled from a vat of dye. Drops of the remaining liquid trickled down his hair.

Without a word, You Zhi rushed to the control console, frantically operating it and checking the data. Meanwhile, You Ya pressed close to the container wall, carefully observing the seated Ye Chen.

“Huh?” she murmured in quiet confusion, her voice soft as she muttered, “How is this possible? There’s not a single wound on his body?”

She circled the container twice, examining him from head to chest, abdomen to limbs, back, and even the most private areas. Seeing the gentle rise and fall of his chest, she confirmed he was still alive.

“This is truly incredible!” You Ya exclaimed again, turning to ask You Zhi, “Have you found anything on your end?”

You Zhi ignored her, fully absorbed as he repeatedly checked the data at the console. Suddenly, he growled under his breath, “How can this be? This is impossible—this completely defies reason!”

Both You Ya and Yuanzi were startled by the Chief Director’s low roar and exchanged thoughtful glances.

Yuanzi kept her distance, not daring to approach. Normally, the Chief Director was disheveled and perpetually sported dark circles, but he was known for his good temper. He’d always cheerfully console staff with even the smallest of worries. But today, what was going on?

You Ya clearly sensed something was amiss. She strode briskly over, her heels clicking sharply.

You Zhi grabbed his sister’s arm and said, “Do you see this? How can his inner capacity value be only 57? To trigger that color, it should take at least hundreds of thousands! Where could the problem be?”

You Ya coolly added, “I’ve never encountered a test result like this either. Besides, I just examined him—his body is unscathed, not even the slightest injury.”

You Zhi couldn’t help but exclaim, “What? This is the sign of an A-rank Awakener! Even among A-rank Awakeners in the past, none of them looked anything but half-dead at the end of the test.”

He suddenly turned to the shivering Yuanzi in the corner. “Yuanzi, contact the tech department immediately and have them run a full inspection of the testing apparatus. Quickly!”

Yuanzi nodded.

As for Ye Chen, not only did he have no external or internal injuries—he felt better than ever. The energy that had spilled out from his consciousness had transformed into high-quality inner essence, which not only healed his wounds but nourished his organs and strengthened his meridians.

Sitting cross-legged at the bottom of the container, Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long, turbid breath. Upon noticing the two newcomers in the room, he felt a jolt of surprise. But when he got a clear look at You Ya... Good heavens! What a beauty! That face, that figure, that aura, that charm… Ye Chen felt himself getting swept away.

Suddenly, he realized he was completely naked—not even a scrap to cover himself—and right in front of a beautiful woman, no less. In a panic, embarrassment forgotten, he pressed his legs together, hugged his knees, and buried his face, looking thoroughly wronged and pitiful.

You Ya, arms crossed over her chest, spoke with a mature, magnetic voice: “Yuanzi, fetch him a set of clothes and have him take a shower. We have things to ask him.”

…

You Ya and You Zhi waited in the reception room on the second floor. You Ya sipped her coffee gracefully, while You Zhi, nervously jiggling his right leg, chain-smoked cigarette after cigarette.

At last, the door creaked open. Ye Chen entered, drying his damp hair with a towel as he walked into the lavishly decorated reception room.

You Ya signaled with her eyes for him to take a seat.

The Chief Director, unable to contain himself, was the first to speak. “Why is your inner capacity value only 57? How were you able to trigger an A-rank Awakener test?”

Seeing Ye Chen’s bewildered look, the Chief Director realized he’d asked the wrong question and tried again. “Do you know what you just experienced?”

Ye Chen shook his head.

He’d certainly had an experience, but it was one rooted in the realm of consciousness—an arcane, mysterious thing. At least for now, he had no intention of telling them. The simple truth was—they weren’t acquainted. He didn’t know the identities of the two before him or their motives for questioning him so sternly. Better to play dumb than say too much.

But judging by their demeanor, the two of them wouldn’t let him go unless they pried something out of him. He needed more time to judge what could safely be said.

You Zhi, seeing Ye Chen’s utter ignorance, scratched his already messy hair in frustration, sending a shower of dandruff flying.

You Ya, looking disgusted, moved further away, keeping her coffee cup at a safe distance.

You Zhi gave his sister a look and said, “You’d better handle this. I’m not good at these things.” With that, he turned away and lit another cigarette, refusing to look at Ye Chen.

He knew his own temperament—when it came to research that interested him, he easily lost his composure.

“Very well,” You Ya nodded gently. Then, with her magnetic voice, she began, “Let me introduce ourselves first. This is You Zhi, Chief Director of the Supernatural Bureau and my brother. My name is You Ya, also Chief Director of the Supernatural Bureau, but I hail from the City of Steel.”

Ye Chen paused in drying his hair, his gaze flickering between their faces, thinking… Whoa, such a high-level welcome?

“You look completely lost, so let me explain, step by step, about Awakeners and your test results,” she continued.

Ye Chen straightened up, listening intently.

You Ya adjusted her black-framed glasses, her red lips parting as she spoke, “First, about the Supernatural Bureau. It’s actually an independent organization. Even though we’re located in the various capitals, we’re not under the jurisdiction of the Inner City Administration.

“What I mean is: the Inner City is the Inner City, and the Supernatural Bureau is the Supernatural Bureau. Don’t confuse the two.”

Ye Chen nodded slightly, recalling that Yuanzi had mentioned something similar when she first received him. Wait—didn’t Qiao Mucao say that the Supernatural Bureau and the Research Bureau had a rivalry? Did that mean the Research Bureau was actually under the City Lord’s Administration?

But You Ya’s next words sent Ye Chen’s mind reeling.

“The true strength and heritage of the Supernatural Bureau are second to none—even compared to any capital city.

“But, more than any capital, we are more reliable, more in touch with the people!”

At this, Ye Chen was truly stunned… A bureau that could rival a capital city—did that mean there were, in effect, five capitals on the continent?