One Week Later — The Villa in the West End (New Second Branch Residence)
The villa rested quietly at the edge of the neighborhood—modern, clean-lined, two stories tall, soft gray walls catching early sunlight. It wasn't large or extravagant, but it had space, privacy, and a kind of quiet that felt earned.
The courtyard below was simple: trimmed grass, a young tree shifting gently with the breeze, and a small layout of stone tiles warmed by the rising sun. Practical. Comfortable. A place meant for living, not displaying.
In the center of that courtyard, Li Feng moved.
His feet met the stone with grounded finality, each shift of weight so precise it felt measured by an internal instrument. Though lean, his body carried the quiet density of Vital Force Convergence (VFC)—muscle fibers strengthened beyond natural limits, tendons reinforced, fatigue almost nonexistent. Nothing about him looked exaggerated; instead, every motion was too controlled, too effortlessly correct.
He began with Yi Jin Jing, slow stretches pouring through fascia and tendon like water moving through channels carved by intention. Joints opened and closed with clean elasticity, the range and smoothness far beyond any Level 1 practitioner who hadn't undergone augmentation.
Then came Zhan Zhuang.
Stillness settled.
But it wasn't the stillness of someone trying to stand—it was the stillness of someone whose body understood structure. Micro-adjustments rippled through his posture without breaking the surface of calm; his breath was steady, deep, unstrained. With VFC backing his physiology, the stance became a quiet declaration of stability.
Then he transitioned into Xing Yi.
Explosive, contained power sliced through the courtyard—strikes compact and sharp, steps controlled with frightening precision. His fists didn't "cut" the air; they displaced it with such clean force that the young tree's leaves trembled each time he passed near it.
This wasn't a beginner practicing forms.
This was someone whose body had stepped past the limitations of modern martial training, even though his Xing Yi itself was still foundational.
When the final motion settled, Li Feng exhaled—quiet, controlled, not even slightly winded.
[Skill Dashboard — Current Sync]
Cyber Security — Lv. 2 (45%)
Programming — Lv. 2 (62%)
Software Engineering — Lv. 2 (18%)
Machine Learning & AI — Lv. 1 (95%)
Yi Jin Jing — Lv. 1 (38%)
Zhan Zhuang — Lv. 1 (34%)
Meditation — Lv. 1 (43%)
Xing Yi — Lv. 0 (18%)
[Passives:]
Accelerated Comprehension
Cognitive Resonance
System Integration
Accelerated Parallel Cognition (APC)
Recursive Synthesis
Neural Harmony
Vital Force Convergence (VFC)
Recursive Systems Thinking (RCT)
Footsteps approached softly behind him.
Li Xue slid open the courtyard door, carrying a stainless-steel tray with both hands—carefully, like she didn't trust her morning balance yet. Her hair was messy, her sweatshirt sleeves long enough to hide her fingers. On the tray sat a bottle of his post-workout drink, chilled and beading with condensation.
She set it down beside him.
"You're done already?" she asked, eyes widening slightly. "You didn't even look tired…"
Feng smiled—warm, soft, the kind of expression he only used with her. "It felt a bit easier today."
She puffed her cheeks. "Everything feels easy for you."
He chuckled quietly. "Not everything."
Xue lowered herself onto the tiles with a small sigh, pulling her hair back as she glanced around the courtyard—the neat lawn, the young tree, the silence she wasn't used to.
"You really don't seem bothered by the change," she murmured. "New house, new neighborhood… everything feels different. But you look exactly the same."
Feng handed her the cup from the tray. "I think you're doing fine."
"Mm… maybe." She twirled a lock of hair. "I just didn't expect it to be this quiet. It feels like the world took a step back."
"Quiet is good," Feng said softly.
She nodded, though her expression remained thoughtful.
The past week had passed just like that:
moving boxes, adjusting routines, learning the neighborhood's quiet rhythm, settling into a space that belonged to them and no one else.
No "family dinner", no summons, no expectations pressing against the walls.
Just air, quiet, and time.
Xue drew a small breath. "This is the first week in a long time that didn't feel like we were walking on glass."
Feng reached over and lightly tapped her forehead with a finger. "Then let's make the second week better."
She smiled—bright, genuine.
The sunlight warmed the courtyard.
The villa held their quiet beginning without needing to announce it.
---
During the week, while the Second Branch lived quietly in their new home, the online space around Blue Horizon and Silent Hands began to shift.
It started subtly—short, headline-like posts appearing across scattered forums:
["Silent Hands may be unstable.]
["Patent legitimacy under question."]
["Possible unauthorized technology?"]
No sources.
No claims of responsibility.
Just vague statements appearing in different places.
A little later, new lines surfaced—sharper, more pointed:
["Is Silent Hands stolen tech?"]
["Blue Horizon's investors remain suspiciously unclear."]
["Unverified R&D background."]
Then came the comments.
People online began interpreting the silence in their own ways.
Supportive takes:
["If they're not responding, they're confident."]
["Only companies with real tech can afford to ignore rumors."]
Skeptical takes:
["Silence means they have no defense."]
["They're probably panicking internally."]
["Shady behavior from a shady company."]
Blue Horizon, for its part, said nothing.
No statement.
No clarification.
Not even a small PR nudge.
Their silence became its own presence—
and everyone filled that silence with their own assumptions.
Some saw stability.
Others saw guilt.
By the end of the week, nothing dramatic had broken out, yet the online atmosphere had changed.
A low pressure had formed—subtle but unmistakable.
A quiet tension gathering around Blue Horizon and Silent Hands.
---
Late Morning — Second Branch Villa
The late morning settled gently over the villa as Li Guohua stepped into the courtyard, still holding a mug of tea that had long since stopped steaming. His expression softened the moment he saw the two siblings—Feng wiping down after training, Xue seated nearby, sipping the rest of his drink with small, satisfied sips.
For a moment, Guohua simply watched them, his features easing into something caught between pride and relief.
"You two are up early again," he said as he approached.
"We're always up early," Xue replied with a small smile, brushing her hair back. "Feng doesn't even let the sun beat him."
Feng gave her a mildly amused look. "Says the person who nearly missed breakfast yesterday."
"That was one time." She huffed.
The warmth between them brought a faint smile to Guohua's face. He took a slow breath, letting the quiet courtyard settle into him. This—this small slice of peace—was something he had not experienced in years.
Feng stepped closer to him.
"Dad," he said softly, "now that we've completely settled in, there's something we need to discuss."
Guohua raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Feng glanced at Xue, then back. "It's about Blue Horizon."
The air shifted almost imperceptibly.
"I didn't want to mention this until our move was done," Feng continued. "Here's the thing… I had placed a safety net around Blue Horizon's internal systems some weeks back. A defensive structure to intercept cyber attacks before they reached anything sensitive."
Guohua froze.
"You… what?"
His voice wasn't angry—just stunned.
Even Xue blinked at him, although her reaction was milder. "You never told me that."
"It wasn't something I wanted anyone to bother with," Feng said calmly. "I built it quietly, and it's been doing its job. But…"
He folded his arms slightly, voice steady, controlled.
"Now that Blue Horizon is bound to be in open conflict with the Li Group, and considering the attention Silent Hands may attract… and the fact that we're now isolated…"
He paused.
"I believe it's time to integrate a proper, upgraded defense system. One that isn't just a safety net, but a complete shield."
Guohua stared at him, trying to register the implications.
"Feng," he breathed, "you're telling me you silently placed a cyber-defense structure around the company before any of this even started?"
"Yes."
"And no one in the company's tech team noticed?"
"Yes."
"And it worked?"
"Yes."
"And you can make something stronger?"
Feng nodded once. "Much stronger."
Xue puffed out her cheeks, clearly pouting. "Ge ge… you hid something this big from me again."
Feng's smile softened. "I wasn't hiding it. I was just preparing for potential problems—ones that might not even occur."
Guohua took a moment, setting his mug down on the stone bench.
"You've always been… gifted," he said carefully, "but this is beyond gifted."
Feng simply smiled. "Dad, it's time Blue Horizon had proper defenses—defenses ready for whatever may come."
Guohua let out a slow, uneven breath. Not fearful—simply overwhelmed by the quiet certainty in his son's eyes.
"All right," he said at last. "Tell me what you need."
---
Hello, Author here,
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