Chapter 21: Conversation, Life Choices

Mu Heng cast an intrigued glance at Mi Chen.

Suddenly, he let out a yawn.

"Oh, excuse me, I’m feeling a bit sleepy."

He turned to Meng Shi and said, "I must have seen it wrong just now."

"Oh, I see, I knew it! How could that even be possible?" Meng Shi chuckled.

"But Captain Mu, don't let the fact that this classmate of mine just became a Hunter fool you. He’s been grinding in the Secret Realms for years. Given his reserves and experience, I guarantee he’ll be promoted to 2-star within a year!"

"Is that so? Then he truly is a talent," Captain Mu remarked with a double meaning.

"Since that’s the case, let me know when your friend has time to drop by the Administration Bureau."

"There are a few things I’d like to ask him about in more detail."

"No problem at all, no problem." Meng Shi turned around and ran over to Mi Chen. "Mi Chen, Captain Mu said he wants to check in with you again when you have some free time."

Before Mi Chen could respond, Mu Heng had already pushed open the door and left.

Seeing Mu Heng go, Meng Shi finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Phew, he’s finally gone."

"What's wrong? Isn't he your superior?" Mi Chen teased, having observed Meng Shi’s fawning and submissive demeanor in front of Mu Heng. "This doesn't look like you. You used to be quite proud."

Meng Shi snorted. "What do you know?"

Turning back, he sighed again. "But you, my friend, are truly unlucky to have been targeted by them."

The "them" Meng Shi referred to were the Hunter Enforcement Squad.

The events traced back to a few hours earlier. Mu Heng had arrived, killed the Cursed Entity in an instant, and brought Mi Chen and Qi Xiaoyun out of the Secret Realm. Qi Xiaoyun was sent straight to the hospital due to her unconscious state, while Mi Chen was taken by Mu Heng to the Investigation Team for extensive questioning.

Facing the Investigation Team, Mi Chen naturally had nothing to hide. He told them everything: why he went to the Broken Sword Canyon, how he met Wan Bieling, and the little black orb known as the Soul Box.

Surprisingly, Mu Heng didn't seem interested in the information Mi Chen provided. Instead, he asked about Mi Chen’s personal history—his origins, family background, and his work record since becoming a porter. This struck Mi Chen as very strange.

However, Mi Chen knew well enough that whatever Mu Heng was asking could easily be unearthed by the authority he held. The fact that he asked personally meant there was an ulterior motive, though what that motive was remained unclear.

In any case, after telling them what he knew and receiving word from the hospital, Mu Heng didn't make things difficult and let Mi Chen go.

Mi Chen had been thinking about this the whole way back, right up until Mu Heng suddenly appeared again. He had seen through Mi Chen’s attempt to suppress his magic and his intentional slip of the tongue, only to backtrack and claim he had seen wrong. The back-and-forth left Mi Chen completely unable to fathom what Mu Heng was planning. Regardless, being watched by an enforcement agency like the Hunter Investigation Team was never good news.

"If they want to watch me, let them. I have nothing to hide," Mi Chen said.

Meng Shi nodded. "That’s true, too."

"Everything has two sides; I’ve thought about this before."

"This might actually be a good opportunity for you," Meng Shi whispered.

"What kind of opportunity?"

"If Captain Mu takes an interest in you, whether you join the Investigation Team or work for them, it’s much better than being a freelance Hunter."

So, that was why Meng Shi had been singing Mi Chen’s praises.

"I’m just a newcomer who recently became a Hunter. Working for the Investigation Team? How is that even possible?"

"Hey, don't say that. It’s actually a real possibility."

"To complete the Poison Moon Forest—known as a Hunter’s restricted zone—as your very first mission after becoming a Hunter? That’s not something just anyone can do." It seemed Meng Shi had heard about that as well.

"And let me tell you, the benefits of working for the Investigation Team are far greater than you can imagine."

"Oh? In what way?"

"The Hunter Investigation Team is different from us. Our department, the Hunter Security Department—the name sounds big, but in the organizational structure, we are just a subordinate branch of the Junyang City Administration Bureau."

"The Hunter Investigation Team, despite being called a 'team,' belongs to the General Administration of Secret Realm Management. They report directly to the headquarters and are on equal footing with the Junyang City Administration Bureau in terms of rank."

"If you can work for them, the compensation is much higher than the commissions on the website."

"You know why Hunters strive to build a good reputation? It’s to make it easier to reach partnerships with large organizations."

"Compared to random commissions on the website, long-term contracts are the key!"

Meng Shi’s words made sense. The essence of a Hunter was an adventurer armed with combat power, but they didn't engage in production or construction. For a Hunter group to grow, they had to rely on specialized production and construction institutions. Almost all large Hunter guilds formed partnerships with major organizations and enterprises; only through such long-term cooperation could they flourish.

Although Meng Shi was painting a rosy picture, Mi Chen remained extremely rational. "I think you’re overthinking it."

Meng Shi looked at him with an expression of frustration. "Brother, this is a golden opportunity."

"I might have to rely on you to pull me up in the future."

He had finally revealed his true intentions. So, he wanted to hitch a ride on Mi Chen’s potential connection to the Investigation Team. Mi Chen felt a bit speechless and laughed. "You, when did you become so shrewd and mercenary?"

"I have to be! I still have thirty years of mortgage payments left on my house!" Meng Shi replied.

Just then, Qi Xiaoyun’s voice chimed in: "Hey, hey, hey! You guys are being so loud! Can’t a person get any sleep?"

Qi Xiaoyun opened her wide, sparkling eyes, her violet irises gleaming with renewed vitality.

"Grrr..." Her stomach let out a loud rumble.

She blushed deeply. It seemed she was starving. Mi Chen and Meng Shi burst into laughter.

Meng Shi suggested, "To celebrate your discharge, come to my place. I’ll have my wife whip up a few of her signature dishes."

Meng Shi’s home was not large, located in an ordinary residential complex. It was on the sixth floor, and since there was no elevator, they had to walk up. Their unit was on the top floor, and the roof space was included with the apartment. Meng Shi had built a few small rooms up there and used the remaining space to grow flowers and plants. It looked simple, but it was clear he had put a lot of heart into it.

After dinner, Meng Shi’s wife was teaching Qi Xiaoyun how to brew coffee. To everyone’s surprise, the usually boisterous Qi Xiaoyun was deeply interested in coffee, listening with total focus. She held a small notebook, diligently recording bean varieties, flavor profiles, and extraction times.

Mi Chen watched the scene, feeling a sense of poignancy. Perhaps this was what an ordinary life felt like.

He and Meng Shi went up to the rooftop. Meng Shi pulled out a cigarette—a rare sight, as he never smoked at home. But today, he made an exception.

"Sigh, sometimes I wonder what we’re living for."

He took a deep drag, exhaled, and the smoke rings were instantly scattered by a passing breeze.

"I’m hoping that in a few years, when my salary goes up a bit more, we’ll have a child."

"How old are you now?" Mi Chen asked.

"Twenty-four. I remember you’re a bit younger than me," Meng Shi said.

"Only by a few months. It’s about the same."

"Mi Chen, ever since we met that day, I’ve been thinking. Honestly, I envy you. You’re able to live for your dreams, to live for yourself."

"It’s just a different choice."

"Actually, you could have done it, too. You were a 3-star Hunter, and you’re only twenty-four. You still have a chance to be promoted to 4-star!" Mi Chen said with conviction.

Meng Shi shook his head and sighed. "Not anymore."

"That drive is gone."

"Believe it or not, I probably couldn't even beat a 2-star Hunter now," he said, patting his small belly with a laugh.

Mi Chen could see that behind the smile lay a trace of unwillingness, mixed with a sense of resignation.

Just then, Meng Shi’s wife walked up. Meng Shi quickly threw his cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it with his shoe.

"Honey, what do you need?"

"The bathroom light is broken. Come down and change it."

"Small problem, coming right up!"

"Let’s head down," Meng Shi said, turning to look at Mi Chen.

It was the same smile as before, but this time, Mi Chen read pure happiness in his expression.

Which life was the right one? In the end, it was just a matter of different choices.