Dawn of a New Era

Chapter 779 - 752: Healed Scars

The next day, Karl officially started his job.

Before dawn, lying in bed, Chen Shouyi sensed Karl in a martial arts uniform guiding his parents in martial arts practice in the rooftop garden of the villa.

I wonder to what extent they can train?

His requirements were not high; they need not confront enemies—others would handle that. All they needed was quick reflexes in dangerous situations.

...

"General Manager Chen showcased an incredible miracle in the martial arts lecture, causing a citywide sensation!"

The main headline in the People’s Daily, in bold characters, made Chen Shouyi feel quite pleased.

The only slight disappointment was the lack of reader comments.

At noon, Bai Xiaoling brought over a thick stack of neatly arranged newspapers.

"There’s also the Zhonghai Daily and some newspapers from other provinces," Bai Xiaoling said.

"No foreign media?" Chen Shouyi glanced at the paper, closed it, and casually asked as he picked up the Zhonghai Daily.

"Not yet, but I’ll contact those media outlets right away. If it goes fast, we should see them by tomorrow," Bai Xiaoling hurriedly replied.

Currently, transportation on the Eurasian continent is relatively smooth, and if it’s an urgent air transport, a day would suffice.

"Uh, no rush, I was just saying."

The way it sounded... as if he was eager to see them; Chen Shouyi changed the subject: "Have the military martial artists been arranged yet?"

The military martial artists Chen Shouyi requested arrived in the morning, making a total of ten, filling the quota completely.

Among them, two were even peak martial artists, while the other eight were senior martial artists.

He showed up once, discussed the terms, and then had Bai Xiaoling arrange their accommodations.

"Arrangements have been made. The city government provided two houses next to your villa. Are you sure you don’t want to change your residence?" Bai Xiaoling asked.

"No need!" Chen Shouyi shook his head and said.

The suggestion from above was to move to a somewhat larger house, but he was already accustomed to living here and was reluctant to move. Besides, the security here was quite good.

He didn’t ask if the neighbors, who had been forced out, had any objections; this was not even a consideration for him.

Even if asked, it would be voluntary.

...

Perhaps due to the influence of the "miracle," the surge in faith value was even more intense than Chen Shouyi had anticipated.

The faith value surged violently.

On the most abundant day, it even increased by more than five thousand points.

It wasn’t until several days later that it gradually declined from its peak.

In just half a month, the faith had returned to over forty thousand points, replenishing what had been nearly depleted.

During this period, the residue of Tamu’s will in Chen Shouyi’s mind was also slowly strengthening.

His anxiety became increasingly severe, often feeling inexplicable palpitations.

But Chen Shouyi restrained his impulses, taking no action at all.

It wasn’t the time to reap the benefits yet.

He was well aware that this was a gamble.

This act was like fetching chestnuts from the fire, stealing Tamu’s power.

Once alerted and given focused attention by Tamu, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Fortunately, the Ancestor God had occupied most of its attention, and being across a different world, it likely hadn’t noticed a tiny ant like him.

...

By mid-November, the first snowfall of the year finally arrived.

A bit later than last year.

The early morning revealed a world draped in silver, as if covered in a layer of cream.

The snow wasn’t heavy, not reaching the level of a snow disaster. By eight or nine o’clock, all city roads had been cleared.

After his date with Zhang Xiaoyue, as Chen Shouyi rode his bicycle back, he unexpectedly spotted a familiar face.

"Song Yingjie?" Chen Shouyi stopped his bicycle beside her with his feet braced on the ground.

She was wearing a down jacket and had a considerably rounded belly. Her figure had become fuller, and the ugly scars on her face were no longer concealed as they were the last time they met, indicating she had moved past those earlier shadows.

"General Manager Chen!" She looked at Chen Shouyi in some surprise, speaking with restraint.

"Just call me Chen Shouyi like before. You’re in Zhonghai too?"

"Yes, I moved here quite a while ago!"

"Pregnant?"

"Five months, just craving for sour foods. I bought some oranges; would you like some?" She lifted the bag in her hand, smiling and showing traces of her old confident demeanor.

"No need, no need!" Chen Shouyi declined with a laugh. "Craving sour means it’s probably a boy."

"That’s not necessarily true. My mom loved sour things when pregnant with me, yet it was me she had in the end."

"That’s true." Chen Shouyi looked at the frightening scars on her face: "Your scar..."

Song Yingjie awkwardly touched it, then managed a smile: "I got used to it a long time ago. It’s kind of nice; it’s my badge of honor. Many students fall in line as soon as they see me."

"But it remains regrettable in the end." Chen Shouyi shook his head, thought for a moment, then reached out to touch her face.

Song Yingjie’s face immediately turned beet red, even her neck flushed. Not realizing until she felt the scorching warmth of his hand, she regained composure and stammered:

"General Manager Chen, don’t... don’t do this. You’re a good person, but... but I am already married. I..."

Interrupted by the spontaneous issuance of a "Nice Guy Card," Chen Shouyi withdrew his hand and said, "What are you talking about? Now, touch your face!"

Song Yingjie, as if something crossed her mind, quickly touched her own face upon hearing this.

She suddenly stood frozen, moisture clouding her eyes.

No more unevenness, just smooth and tender skin.

The horrible scar seemed to have vanished completely.

"My scar’s gone?" She asked unbelievingly.

Chen Shouyi nodded: "It’s gone!"

"Really gone, truly gone!" she murmured, her smile mingling with tears. "Thank you, thank you, General Manager Chen."

"Least I could do," Chen Shouyi said, then jested: "Sorry for erasing your badge of honor."

"What badge of honor? I never wanted this wretched badge anyway."

"I’ll be going now. Take care, and come find me if you ever encounter difficulties." Chen Shouyi said while smiling, mounted his bicycle, and pedaled away.

Song Yingjie watched Chen Shouyi’s departing figure in a daze, touched her face again, and was filled with a sudden wave of emotions.

...

In the evening.

A deputy minister from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs personally came by, and in official terms, communicated and exchanged opinions with Chen Shouyi regarding the visit to Ba Country.

This visit held significant importance to the Great Xia Country,

National interests dictated their relations.

With the food crisis becoming increasingly severe, the importance of this Barbarian God, whose divine position pertained to agriculture, has already reached strategic significance for the Great Xia Country.

A martial artist’s food consumption is two to three times that of an ordinary person.

A grand martial artist consumes four to five times more.

As for martial artists, they consume even more.

With the explosive increase in the number of martial artists, the issue of food has already become the most critical problem at present.

The Great Xia Country plans to take this opportunity to reach a series of agreements with this goddess concerning the importation of food.