NOVPUBEveryone in the film crew froze upon hearing those two words.
Sir?
Who was being addressed?
Qing Chen thought to himself that he resembled a magnet, hardly venturing out yet continuously running into acquaintances.
The person before him was none other than Li Su, who had followed him in cultivation at Autumn Leaf Courtyard, and had been promoted to Major after not seeing him for over a month.
The pace of promotion among the scions of the conglomerates was indeed fast.
At this moment, all the crew members turned to look at Qing Chen. Sun Chu Ci quickly stepped forward and smiled at Li Su, saying, "It’s been a long time."
Li Su paused for a moment, then hurriedly responded, "Yes, a long time."
He understood that it was not appropriate for the sir to reveal his identity.
Qing Chen looked at Sun Chu Ci approvingly. Such talent ought to come to Daylight.
Both Li Su and Sun Chu Ci had to be smart, cooperating seamlessly to cover up the slip of the tongue by Li Su just now.
Sun Chu Ci reacted quickly, and Li Su’s response was swift as well.
Initially, the crew members thought Li Su had called out to Qing Chen, and they hadn’t yet had the chance to react when Sun Chu Ci took over the conversation.
The shock gradually settled down.
After all, everyone was touting Sun Chu Ci as the most formidable Wilderness Hunter. Although to the conglomerates he wasn’t much, it was still more plausible than a crew worker being addressed as "sir" by a direct descendant of a conglomerate and a military officer...
Instantly, everyone’s view of Sun Chu Ci had changed.
Li Yu knew Li Su’s identity best, this scion of the Li Family who now had an illustrious reputation in City 18 among the second generation.
Many said that Li Su was the most likely to enter the Privy Council before he turned thirty, and after a few years there, he would emerge as a high official of the Li Family.
Such a person calling Sun Chu Ci ’Sir’?
Li Yu’s gaze towards Sun Chu Ci heated up.
He was very aware that he was far too distant from someone like Li Su, but maybe through some connections, he could bridge that gap a bit this time.
Li Su looked at Sun Chu Ci: "Sir, what brings you here?"
Sun Chu Ci felt quite awkward knowing that the question was not directed at him, but he still acted as an intermediary, responding, "We’re with the film crew here for shooting. Once we finish capturing the snowy scenery, we’ll head further north... The crew will make a brief stop at the New Dragon Inn before heading back."
Li Su was keeping an eye on Qing Chen.
Although they had never undergone a formal apprenticeship, the Li Family valued respect for teachers highly, and since the sir could engage in council debates, Li Su respected Qing Chen both publicly and privately.
Though not quite to the extent of Li Ke.
Sun Chu Ci asked, "What is happening here...?"
Li Su explained, "The warfare in the north has ceased, we’re tracking a group of wilderness people who attacked a production base and have come here. In winter, when the wilderness people find it tough to survive, they harm the production bases, killing many workers there. They’re quite brutal. We’ve been ordered to eliminate them all within seven days."
While speaking, Li Su’s eyes occasionally drifted towards Qing Chen, making Sun Chu Ci feel even more awkward.
Both Sun Chu Ci and Li Su suddenly froze in place.
For a moment, they didn’t know what to say over the distance, especially with so many eyes on them.
Sun Chu Ci embarrassingly wanted to turn and ask Qing Chen if he had anything else to ask...
But he couldn’t do that.
Qing Chen then said to the crew member Zhou Cang, "It’s getting late, let’s hurry to chop some firewood, and prepare to light the bonfire."
Understanding the hint, Sun Chu Ci looked at Li Su: "It’s indeed getting late, why don’t you stay and camp here?"
Immediately, Li Su turned and instructed his deputy, "Set camp, remember the discipline!"
The deputy clattered away in a run, and the Federal Army Group swiftly set up a camp of earthy, camouflaged tents in just twenty minutes, even stringing a barrier tape around it to demarcate the boundary.
Inside the tape was now a temporary military restricted area.
This scene left the crew members dumbfounded, setting up camp just like that? Was it really that casual?!
However, everyone somehow felt as if the order had been expected...
The way the crew members looked at Sun Chu Ci became even more admiring.
Others were in awe, never expecting that there was such a revered figure hidden within the film crew.
Liu Liqun was awestruck that such an imposing figure was still so approachable, even willing to help these crew workers with their tasks!
Meanwhile, Song Niannian, curious, observed Li Su intently, then shifted her gaze back and forth between Qing Chen and Sun Chu Ci.
She walked over boldly, smiling at Li Su, "Hello, I’m Song Niannian, we’ve met before."
Li Su silently looked toward Sun Chu Ci.
Sun Chu Ci: "... Friend."
Li Su smiled at Song Niannian, "Hello, I remember. It was during Li Shu’s birthday; you’re her good friend."
The crew members finally realized, this Officer Li Su was actually gauging Sun Chu Ci’s attitude towards Song Niannian before deciding his own.
At that moment, Li Yu, seeing Song Niannian approaching, hurried over and said with a smile, "Officer Li Su, it’s been a long time."
Li Su silently shifted his gaze towards Sun Chu Ci.
Sun Chu Ci hesitated for a moment, "...idiot."
Li Su’s gaze turned cold as he looked at Li Yu, "Get lost."
Li Yu, "???"
Why is there such a huge gap between people?
But the problem was, Li Yu looked at Sun Chu Ci, thinking to himself that he hadn’t provoked him, so why would he say that?
However, he didn’t dare to retort and could only turn around and walk away, holding in his frustration.
After reaching his own tent, Li Yu found his manager and said with a puzzled face, "Did we provoke that Sun Chu Ci?"
"Not at all," the manager was equally baffled. "We only quarreled with Song Niannian, not with this Sun Chu Ci."
"Strange," Li Yu murmured. "That shouldn’t be!"
Night fell and the bonfire sparked to life.
The film crew was scattered at first, but as Li Su arrived with his troops, the place suddenly buzzed with activity.
On the Federal Army Group’s side, military songs started to play, and Song Niannian simply took the second lead actress and actor to perform their talents, which delighted the soldiers immensely.
On Qing Chen’s side, Li Su finally found the chance to speak alone with him, "Sir, are you setting the stage for the Qing Mu deal?"
"Yes," Qing Chen nodded, not needing to hide this from Li Su since they had spent time together in Autumn Leaf Courtyard. This young member of the Li Family was very reliable.
Li Su thought for a while, "Sir, should I take the troops to Zone 065 in the Taboo Land? No matter how many come from Jindai, they can’t bring an army. I could lie to the command center, tell them we found the main force of the Wilderness Hunter, and request an A-Class Floating ship to bombard those guys from Jindai."
Qing Chen couldn’t help but smile wryly, "Don’t. Your aunt Li Changqing just signed a ceasefire agreement. If you act on your own and fire at Jindai using regular troops, a war might start again. Plus, I know that your armored vehicles all have a Black Box recorder; a private troop mobilization would lead to punishment, there’s no need, my plan doesn’t include your involvement."
"Alright," Li Su nodded. As he watched the bonfire, he said, "Sir, I really miss the days in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard. Us brothers had to think of nothing but cultivation every day. Now, everyone is scattered across different military units. It’s hard even to see each other. But we all have good relations and look out for each other in the military."
What Qing Chen didn’t know was, within the Federal Army Group, the Li Family was a united front, but there were also factions within the Li Family, and Li Su and others were subtly becoming a new generation of the robust faction.
The core was those who trained in the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, led by Li Su.
Hearing Li Su’s words, Qing Chen was taken aback. He hadn’t just formed some kind of Inner World version of Whampoa Military Academy, had he?
However, just then, vehicle sounds came from outside the camp once more.
Li Su’s men quickly went into combat formation. In just a few breaths, nearly five hundred men had taken cover behind armored vehicles, forming a meticulous combat formation.
The armored vehicles started up, and the metal storm began to slowly spin.
Amidst the humming, hundreds of drones entered combat readiness.
But the combat readiness was soon lifted.
Li Su, sitting by the bonfire, received a report through his earpiece, "Qing’s Family vehicles, seven, no heavy artillery."
Li Su looked at Qing Chen and said softly, "Sir, it’s the Qing’s Family vehicles. We have no reason to block them."
Qing Chen exclaimed suddenly, wondering if it could be a Shadow Candidate coming out early.
According to the timeline for the Qing Mu trade, it was still more than ten days away. Which Shadow Candidate was so eager?
"Let them come through," said Qing Chen, then he stooped to poke at the fire.
The Qing’s Family motorcade soon arrived.
The crew members were surprised to see the ginkgo insignia on the vehicles. What was going on? Today, it seemed like a gathering of conglomerates at the lake.
Then, someone jumped out of a vehicle first and looked around.
When he saw the young man bending over the fire, he exclaimed in surprise, "Sir?"
The newcomer was Qing Yi.
If it had been someone else, Qing Chen bending over might not have been recognized, but it would be unreasonable for Qing Yi not to recognize him.
The crew members were even more confused. Here came another one calling him "sir."
Having conglomerates cluster might be one thing, but why one after another calling him "sir"? That reverent tone was clearly indicative of a teacher-like figure.
Sun Chu Ci, catching a glimpse of Qing Chen, and seeing that he had no intention of getting up, reluctantly stood up, "Come have a seat."
Qing Yi hesitated for a moment, then smiled and replied, "Of course, sir."
Sun Chu Ci, facing the crew members’ stares, maintained a stiff smile. Ha-ha, yes, it’s still me.
Sun Chu Ci then looked back at Qing Chen, his gaze conveying, "Boss, is anyone else coming to find you? If so, let’s all gather here?"
At this point, the crew members’ looks towards Sun Chu Ci shifted from amazement to admiration.
They recognized Qing Yi as a Shadow Candidate often seen in federal news.
Li Su was a young outstanding member of the Li Family.
Qing Yi was a young outstanding member of Qing’s Family.
And Sun Chu Ci was simultaneously the "teacher" for both?
Just who exactly was Sun Chu Ci?!
