Ultragene Warlord

Chapter 223: Saying Goodbye to Hanxiang

The sudden voice startled all three girls, but Hanxiang was familiar enough with Zhang Lie's voice that she reacted instantly.
“Brother!”

“Dr-Dragonwolf Zhang Lie!”

“Ah, my idol!” 

Qingqing and Lizi called out.

“Shh! Be quiet! Let's find a place to sit down and talk.” Zhang Lie pushed Zhang Hanxiang's wheelchair into the library.

Qingqing and Lizi followed suit, their eyes having been replaced with red hearts.
The Dragonwolf Zhang Lie, from close up, looked less like a brave, valiant hunter and more an amiable, easygoing man, a change that left the two girls even more infatuated.

The four of them sat down at a table.
When Zhang Hanxiang saw how her two suitemates were staring at her brother, she teased, “Qingqing, Lizi, can you wipe that drool off your faces? I'm right here!”

 Qingqing and Lizi both averted their gazes in embarrassment.

“Haha, Hanxiang, what could you mean?”

“We met even before your brother became famous, didn't we?”

Both girls seemed afraid that Zhang Lie would misunderstand, but in truth, if Zhang Hanxiang weren't around, he wouldn't treat them any differently from ordinary citizens he walked by.

“Who knows?” Zhang Hanxiang murmured, seven parts joking and three parts serious.
For some reason, she felt a little jealous when she saw her brother being the object of adulation of other girls; before her brother had become famous, neither she nor he had ever been noticed by others.

After her brother's sudden rise to popularity, Zhang Hanxiang, who was secretly very lonely, began to feel quite uncomfortable and scared.
She was worried that her brother would be snatched away by some other girl, dragging him away from her life.
That was why she had wanted to become a genetic hunter.

This time around, that desire grew even stronger.
She wanted to become a hunter and stand beside him, facing whatever troubles came at them together.

In truth, she was overcomplicating matters; no matter what, Zhang Lie had no intention of casting her aside.

“Don't worry, Hanxiang, I'm satisfied enough just seeing the Dragonwolf Zhang Lie close up.
I won't bother the two of you.”

“Right, we won't bother you!”

They nodded toward Zhang Lie and moved to a nearby table.

“Sorry, it looks like I've coddled my sister a little too much,” Zhang Lie apologized, smiling at them, causing their footsteps to lighten.
Turning to his sister, he asked, “What's the matter? Why are you unhappy?”

“It's nothing much, Brother.
Are you going to be leaving for some time again?”

“Right, the galactic stage of the Void Cup's about to begin, and I'll be traveling out of the solar system.”

Zhang Hanxiang pursed her lips.
“For how long?”

“Between ten days and two weeks, most likely.”

“Ah, that long…? Will I be able to stand—or become a genetic hunter, even—once you return?” Zhang Hanxiang asked seriously.

“Of course! When have I ever broken a promise to you? Focus on your studies and await my return, won't you?”

Zhang Hanxiang beamed.
“Thank you, Brother!”

“Of course.
We're family, aren't we? But I'm also here to give you a warning.
Because my research on limit fragments is top-secret, you might become a target of those people aiming for me.
While I'm gone, try to stay in your dormitory as much as possible—and don't leave campus grounds, do you understand? I've informed the academy, and even the troops stationed outside the academy, about this, but still, be as alert as possible.”

“Is it that serious, Brother? I understand.” Zhang Hanxiang smiled, seemingly more relaxed than before.
Her brother's care for her had never changed, despite his fame! No matter what he planned to do, he wouldn't leave her alone.

She felt a series of conflicting urges in her mind.
On one hand, she wanted to be able to stand up and grow strong, but on the other, she couldn't help wanting to feel this sensation of being perfectly cared for.

Their chat then devolved into considerably less serious topics, and half an hour later, Zhang Lie walked out of the library relieved that his sister would be fine.
It was time for him to meet up with the rest of Team Zenith to head out on their journey.

By this time, Su Feng had stomped around the teleportation array at the Zenith Dojo for almost half an hour, causing the members of Team Zenith to feel dizzy as they followed his movements.

“Don't worry, Commander Su.
I'm sure our captain will be back shortly!” Sun Mengmeng glanced curiously at Su Feng, wondering why he always seemed to be so easily infuriated around Zhang Lie.

“Don't worry?! How can I not? Don't forget that your captain was a hunter who almost forgot to register for the Void Cup! Furthermore, this is the best opportunity in over a century for Earth to win the Void Cup and ascend to the Void Throne.
You might not know just what that repres—”

Before he could get to the crux of the matter, however, his transceiver began to beep.
Su Feng paused and accepted the call.

“What's going on, Su Feng? Didn't I tell you to bring them over to the capital sooner? Where's Zhang Lie? He's turned off his transceiver—just what is he doing?!”

Su Feng shrugged as he glanced at the other hunters of Team Zenith, but he still had to explain matters to Yan Long.

“I'm waiting at the Zenith Dojo,” he replied.
“That brat's gone to the Holy Glory Academy, and he should be back soon.
Once he's here, I'll tie him up and drag him to the capital if I must!”