Chapter 56
Chapter 56: Ambiguous Breaths Intertwine, One Cherishes Talent, One Tells Lies
“Clang!”
“Clang!”
As Jiang Tea Tea finished speaking, the sound of chopsticks and trays hitting the floor mixed with sharp inhales of cold air. The noises rose and fell one after another, almost deafening.
Jiang Tea Tea felt like she had been shocked awake. She suddenly sat up straight and looked at Chong Ming: “What did I just say?”
[So sooner or later I am going to die because of this stupid mouth of mine. I drool over his body, want to kill him and bury him under my tree roots, and my mouth just blurted it out like that?]
“You did not say anything much. You just said the fried shrimp in chili oil tasted pretty good and was cooked well.” Chong Ming said this while giving his subordinates a sideways glance.
The staff members instantly shut their mouths and stared at their own tables. They did not even dare to breathe loudly. In their hearts they were crying. The Commander in Chief’s eyes were so scary.
Jiang Tea Tea quickly followed his lead and nodded again and again: “Yes, yes, yes. Sea fish and sea shrimp are much more tender and fresh than the shrimp and fish from the Primeval Forest.”
“If it was not for that damned Insectoid Race today, my roommate, my teammate, would have caught the most fish and shrimp from the ocean for me so I could stuff myself.”
“Oh, right, how is my roommate? I saw he lost quite a lot of scales. Is he okay?”
Chong Ming answered: “The problem is not serious. He is in the healing pod right now. He will wake up within twenty-four hours.”
Jiang Tea Tea was full and sleepy. She yawned: “Oh, oh, oh, good, good. Then, should I go check on him, or should I go back to the assembly point first?”
Chong Ming looked at her: “He is healing. It is not convenient for you to see him. I have some questions I want to ask you.”
[Healing means he is not going to die.]
[If it is not convenient to see him, then it is not convenient. Whatever.]
Jiang Tea Tea was in a great mood after eating. She was not irritable at all and was very easy to talk to: “Ask away.”
Chong Ming watched her watery eyes from yawning, like she was exhausted but forcing herself to stay awake: “When I saw you find your roommate, you were alone. Was the Insectoid Race killed by you, or did it run away?”
To avoid more trouble, Jiang Tea Tea lied without even blushing: “I do not know. When I found my roommate, he was alone.”
“I did not even have time to pull him out of that broken net before you came. I was also confused and wondering if the Insectoid Race hid somewhere, using my roommate as bait to catch me too. I did not think you would show up. Maybe they got scared and ran away when they saw you?”
Chong Ming took in every bit of her expression. He could not see anything that looked like a lie, but he still kept a doubtful attitude: “Really?”
Jiang Tea Tea sounded especially sincere: “Yes. Do you have any other questions?”
Chong Ming asked: “You said you are a bit strange, that you were born with an unusual innate talent. Can I know what kind of innate talent lets you, a pure human, breathe freely underwater?”
Jiang Tea Tea let out a long sigh and crooked her index finger at him.
Everyone who was picking up chopsticks, bowls, and trays: “???”
Wait, this little female was not only brave, she did not want her life anymore?
That way she hooked her finger, that posture and motion, looked exactly like she was beckoning the Commander in Chief as if he were a dog.
It had to be an illusion. It had to be their illusion.
The little female was like a newborn calf that was not afraid of dragons. She had never seen how fierce and ruthless the Commander in Chief could be, how extreme his methods were.
Chong Ming looked at her, slowly stood up, braced one hand on the table, and leaned his body toward her: “Go ahead and talk.”
Jiang Tea Tea leaned forward too, closing the distance between them on purpose as she lowered her voice: “To be honest, I awakened supernatural abilities, invisibility-type plant supernatural abilities, double Level S.”
“In the ocean, I use my supernatural abilities and can breathe freely in the seawater like a plant.”
Chong Ming looked at her palm-sized face and her bright, shining eyes, and asked: “Do you mind if I give you a full-body examination?”
The corner of Jiang Tea Tea’s mouth lifted: “You already know I mind, but you still ask?”
Chong Ming felt like he was teasing a child: “Can I know the reason?”
Jiang Tea Tea smiled and said: “You ask me the reason, but I thought that just by seeing me standing in front of you, you already knew the reason.”
She said false words like they were true, and true words like they were false.
Real and fake mixed together, and she let this big loach figure it out on his own.
[Still, this big loach is not bad. At least he is not using his power to crush me or trying to force a head-on clash.]
Chong Ming said: “The Jiang family husband and wife, and the Jiang family’s second daughter, their crimes are already confirmed. Their sentences have already been decided. But I held back and did not let the verdict be announced. I was thinking, after the Supremacy Tournament ends and your Light-Brain Wrist Terminal can connect to an external signal, I will have them announce it.”
“After the announcement, you will receive at least one billion in compensation. At the same time, in the eyes of the law, you and them will have no relationship at all. You do not need to be afraid they will hurt you because you awakened supernatural abilities.”
“Awakening supernatural abilities is a good thing, especially plant-type supernatural abilities with double Level S. You do not need to hide. You do not need to keep it a secret. Your future is limitless.”
Plant-type supernatural abilities had a natural soothing effect. The higher the rank, the better the soothing power. Even the most violent Spiritual Power and supernatural abilities could be calmed and smoothed out.
In the Empire, people with double Level S plant-type supernatural abilities could be counted on one hand. Someone as young as her was the only one. To the Empire, she was extremely precious.
Jiang Tea Tea stayed silent for a moment at the right time: “What you say makes sense. But I am timid. Once bitten by a snake, I will be afraid of ropes for ten years.”
“It is pretty nice to be a little good-for-nothing who has not awakened supernatural abilities on the surface, and then sometimes suddenly acts crazy and shocks everyone. I believe Commander in Chief Chong Ming will respect my choice and will not spread the news that I awakened supernatural abilities, right?”
Chong Ming raised an eyebrow: “You are good at negotiating. You are suited to be a diplomat. You also fight very fiercely, have a lot of clever ideas, and have strong leadership. You are also suited to enter the Imperial Military Headquarters. Plus you are a plant-type ability user. If you become a healer or a soothing specialist, your future would be even more limitless.”
Jiang Tea Tea leaned closer to him again. Their breaths mingled in the space between them, a bit ambiguous. She asked: “Are you planning my future for me, Your Highness Chong Ming?”
Chong Ming was completely open: “Yes. I do not want to bury someone who has talent. I hope an outstanding child like you can stand at the top, with a boundless future.”
Jiang Tea Tea clicked her tongue, straightened up, yawned, and turned to walk away as she said: “Commander in Chief Chong Ming, the highest place in the Empire is you. If I follow the path you planned for me, even if I work myself to death, I still will not reach your height.”
“Forget it. I am not going back down today. I will go to the room where you took me to bathe and sleep there. Damn, I am sleepy to death.”
Chong Ming’s eyelids lifted a little as he looked at her. She really was not afraid of him. Not even a little. The oppressive aura he sent out toward her and wrapped around her body, she could not feel it at all.
“That is not for sure yet, schoolmate Jiang Tea Tea.” Chong Ming straightened up, his voice low as he spoke to her back: “The position of Commander in Chief of the Three Armies is held by the capable. I have done it for more than a hundred years. It is not that I cannot bear to give up this position, I just have not found a suitable successor.”
“If you want it, I do not care if you are a beastman female or a pure human female. Show me your ability, and I will pave the road for you. As long as you can walk every step of the road I pave for you within ten years, the Commander in Chief position of the Three Armies will be yours.”