Chapter Thirty-Two: Undercurrents

For the past few days, Lei Xingfeng had been busy with something unknown; regardless, ever since arriving at the Lei family mansion, Lei Bin had not caught a glimpse of him.

Lei Bin’s recovery was faster than Lei Huan had anticipated. With the aid of sufficient nutrient solution, Lei Bin was able to get out of bed the very next day, and by the afternoon, his bones had fully mended. This was due in part to the Lei family’s advanced medical technology, but also to Lei Bin’s own super-recovery ability, which had been forged through his training with Star Dream.

Within his mind, Lei Bin had been hacked into a near-death state and then restored countless times. This caused his consciousness to perceive his own recovery speed as exceptionally fast. Consequently, his recovery speed actually became that fast. This is a powerful function of the human consciousness, though it is usually difficult to manifest. Lei Huan was stunned by this, viewing Lei Bin as a rare, once-in-a-century genius.

Once Lei Bin was able to walk, he naturally did not want to stay in his room, instead wandering around the Lei estate. After strolling for a full day, he still hadn’t finished exploring.

"Damn, this is truly opulent," was the only conclusion Lei Bin could reach.

The elderly maid in charge of his daily life remained unmoved by his constant provocations. No matter how much he picked at her, she remained expressionless, outwardly submissive, and silently endured his antics. Meanwhile, Lei Bin tried to flirt with every beautiful maid he could find. With Yuna gone, he wasn't about to give up; she wasn't the only pretty maid here. However, whenever he tried to flirt with the other young maids, they would immediately walk away with submissive expressions. Even if he forcibly stopped them, they would never respond to his banter, standing there pitifully without saying a word.

Faced with this situation, Lei Bin felt bored. If the other party responds, it’s flirting; if they completely ignore you, it’s harassment—or even sexual assault. Lei Bin considered himself a small-time rogue, but he had no intention of being a rapist. It was clear that Lei Huan had given strict instructions not to allow any inappropriate behavior toward Lei Bin. Otherwise, how many maids would reject the advances of the young master of the family? After all, it was a chance to soar to greatness.

Unable to flirt with the maids, Lei Bin wanted to leave the estate for a walk, but Lei Huan blocked him, citing that his body had not yet fully recovered.

"Damn, why not just call it house arrest?" Annoyed, Lei Bin began to run wild throughout the house, accidentally shattering antique vases and snapping precious bonsai trees—the list went on. Lei Huan ignored these actions as if he hadn’t seen them, simply ordering replacements. Eventually, after walking through many areas, Lei Bin found a place that interested him: a training room.

To be precise, it was a training ground. No member of the Lei family failed to practice ancient martial arts, so the supporting facilities were exceptionally complete. Lei Bin had been training in his mind, but that was virtual; despite Star Dream’s nearly 100% simulation, it wasn't reality. Now that he had access to real training equipment, Lei Bin was eager to test his skills. Star Dream was also very satisfied with this training room, encouraging Lei Bin to train there as it would be of immense help to his overall strength.

Lei Bin began his training. With the super-computer Star Dream there to guide him, he didn't need any instructors, and he quickly mastered the use of all the equipment. In just one morning, he went through over a dozen items, finding all of them extremely easy because he had already undergone these exact exercises in Star Dream’s training courses. Star Dream’s training was lethal, so his progress had been rapid; performing these tasks now was child's play.

When Lei Huan received a report that the young master was enjoying himself in the training room, he went to take a look. Upon checking the data from Lei Bin’s training, he was shocked. What kind of person was this young master? He was simply a genius.

While Lei Bin was busy with his training, the entire Federation was experiencing turbulent undercurrents.

***

"What? Lei Xingfeng has actually returned, and he has a son who is a Federation hero?" In an incredibly spacious office, a gray-haired man in a suit stared at the news screen in shock.

"Unbelievable. I thought the Lei family was finished, but it seems Lei Xingfeng isn't dead after all. Other forces have already started moving; now that he’s back, things are going to get interesting."

"Mr. President, although Lei Xingfeng has returned, he is essentially a cripple. He is no longer the military’s top swordsman and cannot restore the Lei family’s prestige in the armed forces. And that boy, Lei Bin, while a hero, is inextricably linked to the Ye family. His return to the Lei house will only entangle the feud between the Lei and Ye families further. It is impossible for the Lei family to return to their former glory. Besides, with so many eyes on him, who knows when he might meet an early end?" Behind the gray-haired man, a young man with a refined appearance and gold-rimmed glasses spoke with a faint smile, analyzing the situation.

"Yes, Fang Hu, you are right. The decline of the Lei family is already a foregone conclusion. They have monopolized the military for too long and made too many enemies. Now that they are in crisis, many will be eager to kick them while they are down. For years, the Federation has been a democracy in name only; in reality, power lies with the great families. The fall of the Lei family might be the signal that these families will slowly fade from politics. That is when true democracy will emerge." The man was none other than the current Federation President, Hafray.

Fang Hu, his top strategist, smiled slightly. "The President’s ambition to eradicate these family factions and bring democracy to the Federation is a noble one, and surely heaven will not fail such an aspiration."

Hafray laughed. "Fang Hu, you are a member of a family yourself—the Fang family’s influence is not small. How do you feel about my plan to eradicate these family powers?"

A sharp glint flashed in Fang Hu’s eyes. "I only have a blood connection to the Fang family; nothing more. If I have to say there is anything, it is hatred. If I had the power, I would uproot the Fang family entirely."

Hafray smiled to himself. *Fang Hu has a poor background, otherwise he wouldn't be by my side. The Fang family really has no vision to cast aside such an excellent descendant. But that’s how it is in the great families—only the direct line has the right to survive; those unwanted collateral branches live worse than commoners. Fang Hu’s heart is full of hatred.*

***

In a dark, gloomy room, a stern-faced old man tapped the table with a mechanical arm. One of his arms had been severed at the root and replaced with the prosthetic. As if to remember the hatred of that lost limb, he used the mechanical arm more often than his healthy right arm.

"Lei family... I never expected you to have survivors. Lei Na, you severed my arm years ago. I swore to wipe out your entire clan, but others beat me to it, slaughtering your family members. I was filled with regret because I couldn't deliver that pain to you personally. But now, even with a new heir, you cannot stop the Lei family’s collapse. This is just the beginning. You dominated the military for too long and accumulated too many enemies; it is time to pay the price. I will let you watch the collapse of your family and die in despair, ha-ha..."

The old man laughed wildly, as if he had gone mad.

*Ding-dong...*

The communicator chimed. The old man answered, and a 3D projection appeared on the table. It was a person in a black cloak, face hidden in shadows, looking extremely mysterious.

"Minister, have you considered our cooperation?" The stranger’s lips curled into a sinister smile, confident that the old man would not dare refuse.

The old man snorted, disliking that smile; he knew that only those who controlled everything had the right to wear it. Being controlled was never pleasant, especially for someone of his rank who was used to being the one in charge.

"The cooperation is fine," the old man said coldly. "Everything will proceed as you discussed."

"Oh? You agree so readily? Why is the Minister being so generous?" The stranger felt a hint of unease at the old man's compliance.

The old man smiled. "Isn't it better to be generous when cooperating with friends? I will send someone to handle the details. I believe our cooperation will be very pleasant."

Seeing the old man so composed, the mysterious person frowned slightly before chuckling. "Very well, Minister of Defense. With the Lei family in such turmoil, this is a great opportunity for your rise. Cooperating with us is the right choice." The projection then flickered and vanished.

"Hmph, do they really think I'm easy to mess with? A mysterious force appearing within the Federation during such chaotic times... they don't seem to be from the Empire. What exactly are they planning?" Defense Minister Wang Hou’s brow remained furrowed.

***

In another opulent mansion, a man with a long scar on his face lay on a lounge chair, watching the news. His fists clenched tightly, though his severe injuries prevented him from making a full fist.

"Fourth Uncle, Lei Xingfeng is a broken man. Even if he’s back, he won’t be able to stir up any trouble. Don't take it to heart. The Lei family is declining and will soon be erased from the Federation. Then, our Ye family will be the number one family." The young man behind him, Ye Zhaonan’s nephew, tried to comfort the idol he had once worshipped.

"Lei Xingfeng... Lei Xingfeng..." Ye Zhaonan murmured the name. Twenty years ago, that battle flashed through his mind—that sword strike, as sharp as if it were tearing the void itself. He knew he couldn't block it; he knew he would be defeated and die. As a martial artist, death wasn't scary; defeat was simply a lack of skill, and only death could wash away the shame. But that man hadn't killed him. At the last moment, he had pulled back, sparing his life but destroying his meridians, leaving him a cripple. That was the true shame. He knew why the man had spared him: because of that angelic woman, his younger sister, whom he had protected since childhood.

"Lei Bin... is he really Yuting’s child?" Ye Zhaonan asked with great effort.

The young man behind him paused. "It’s unknown, but during that time, Lei Xingfeng wasn't seeing anyone, and Auntie... she did seem to have had a child."

"That’s it then. His eyes are so like your aunt’s, as if carved from the same mold. Tell everyone: no one is to harm Lei Bin. After all, he is your aunt’s child." Ye Zhaonan closed his eyes.

The young man behind him was filled with anger and confusion. Why protect this bastard? He was a disgrace to the Ye family. Was it just because he was her child? He held complex feelings toward his aunt. To the Ye family, she was a traitor who married their mortal enemy. Yet, Ye Yuting was the Federation’s greatest beauty, a legendary woman and the pride of the Ye family. Even now, she remained a pillar, helping the Ye family prosper. The direct descendants knew how capable she was and how important she remained to the family. Among the male descendants of this generation, not one possessed even a tenth of her talent or achievements.

***

Billions of light-years away, on a beautiful azure planet, there stood a luxury villa amidst the blue sky and clouds. In a spacious office with floor-to-ceiling windows, a woman who looked to be in her twenties was sipping coffee while browsing the latest news from the Capital Star.

She was breathtakingly beautiful. Her refined brows, her large, bright eyes that shimmered like the starry sky or the endless ocean, and her perfectly shaped nose all contributed to a harmonious, exquisite face.

She opened the news, and upon seeing the headline and the large image of the poised, young man in a crisp military uniform, she froze. The coffee cup slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. Coffee spilled onto her beige suit, but she didn't even notice. As she stared at the picture of the young man standing solemnly in a military salute, tears began to stream down her face.