Chapter 71 The Feeling of Being Trusted Is Truly Wonderful

Ye Chen did not show mercy simply because the men were patrol bureau officers; instead, he intentionally struck harder.

Because, damn it, they were just too vile!

Wearing that uniform wasn’t meant for swaggering about. Being issued a baton wasn’t meant for beating civilians.

This was a residential district, and among the crowd gathered at the roadside, some had already recognized the young man who had just intervened; he too was a patrol bureau officer—Ye Chen.

Someone was about to cheer, but a friend quickly stopped him.

“Don’t reveal his identity. It’ll cause him trouble.”

“Oh, you’re right. Those three thugs from the patrol bureau didn’t seem to recognize Ye Chen either.”

“Then all the more reason to keep quiet.”

“Ye Chen, well done! We absolutely don’t know you!”

“...”

People clenched their fists, venting their satisfaction, while quietly worrying about their good neighbor.

Truth be told, Ye Chen had taken down the three so swiftly that none of them could be certain they remembered his face.

If they did remember, Ye Chen could always beat them again until they forgot.

Little Egg lay on the ground, his head bruised and swollen, barely able to open one eye. Yet, when he saw who stood before him, a proud smile curled at his lips.

“Brother Chen, look what I found!”

Ye Chen nearly slapped his own forehead. Who shouts someone’s name at a fight scene? That’s just giving yourself away.

But seeing the battered head, he decided to let it slide for now.

Little Egg opened his clenched fist, revealing a half-cracked stone.

He might not have recognized it before, but after his day at the Transcendent Bureau, Ye Chen knew at once—this was a stone containing latent essence.

From the cracked shell, a faint glow seeped out.

Ye Chen felt his breath quicken; he folded Little Egg’s hand shut and said seriously, “Come on, I’ll take you home. Don’t talk about it here.”

With that, he crouched down and hoisted Little Egg onto his back.

Just now, Ye Chen had activated his Insightful Gaze—the light within the stone was intense.

In short, that stone of latent essence was worth a fortune.

Little Egg clung to Ye Chen’s back, glancing behind them with worry.

“Brother Chen, the three you beat up were patrol bureau officers. Will you be in trouble?”

Ye Chen looked ahead, walking on. After a few seconds, he answered with disgust, “Let them rot!”

Then added, “Don’t worry, I’m an official patrol bureau officer now too. We don’t need to fear them.”

When Little Egg heard that his idol, Ye Chen, was also in the patrol bureau, Ye Chen felt the boy stiffen on his back.

He sighed silently... No public trust, alas.

Soon enough, the boy’s tensed body relaxed again.

Perhaps, just then, the young mind matured a bit more... No matter your title, you’ll always be my Brother Chen.

Ye Chen asked curiously, “Little Egg, where did you find that stone?”

Little Egg answered without hesitation, “Near the Green Crystal Mine outside the city.”

“What made you go there looking for stones?”

“Because... the grown-ups said the mine was temporarily shut down, so you could look for stray green crystals nearby and sell them for some money.”

He continued, “A lot of people from the city sneak over there to pick up stones.”

Ye Chen paused in his stride.

He set Little Egg down and squatted so their eyes were level.

“Listen, Little Egg—no matter if the mine’s closed or not, you’re never to go there again.”

“Why?” Little Egg habitually reached for his head, only to press a sore spot.

He hissed and pulled his hand back.

Ye Chen patiently explained,

“That mine belongs to the Inner City. To put it nicely, picking up stones is scavenging; to put it bluntly, it’s theft.

“I don’t want you growing dependent on getting something for nothing.

“I know your dream is to be a wildland hunter, but I’m not doing that anymore.

“Still, whenever I’m off work, you’re welcome to come to my place and learn. I’ll teach you everything I know.

“And Master Old Feng at the general store—drop by and help out when you can. You’ll learn plenty there, too.

“Do you understand?”

Little Egg seemed dazed by happiness, forgetting his pain, nodding eagerly.

“Alright, let’s go home. Once you’re settled, I’ll get back to work.”

Ye Chen crouched again. “Come on, hop up!”

Little Egg shook his head, “I’m fine. I can walk by myself.”

His voice carried a hint of maturity.

“Oh? Is that so?” Ye Chen, as usual, patted Little Egg’s smooth, shiny head.

Little Egg winced and slapped his hand away, making Ye Chen laugh heartily.

“Oh, by the way, do you know what this stone is?” Ye Chen bent his head to ask.

“Green crystal!” Little Egg replied without thinking.

“...Seriously, you blockhead. Aren’t green crystals supposed to be green? When have you ever seen one as colorful as this?”

Ye Chen tilted his head and covered his face.

Luckily, it was a latent essence stone, so it could plausibly have been found anywhere.

If you openly sold green crystal on the street, it wouldn’t just mean a beating—it’d mean getting hauled away.

There was something Ye Chen didn’t know: latent essence stones never appear in ore veins. Whenever discovered, they’re scattered, as if the Creator deliberately sprinkled these rare treasures evenly across the planet.

If he guessed right, those three patrol bureau officers had recognized the stone’s value and tried to snatch it.

When Ye Chen brought Little Egg to his doorstep, he hesitated, then finally asked,

“Little Egg, do you trust me?”

Little Egg blinked, confused by the sudden question, but nodded vigorously.

Ye Chen looked into his pure eyes and suggested,

“Let me handle this stone for you. In a few days, I’ll go to the Inner City and sell it at the Transcendent Bureau.

“If you keep it, it’ll only bring trouble.”

A man without guilt, but with treasure—danger follows.

Little Egg sighed in relief, “I thought you were going to say something else. Here you go!”

He handed the stone to Ye Chen without hesitation, beaming.

...How wonderful it felt to be trusted!