Chapter 582 - Destination: Luoyang City (1/2)
“Old Li, I’ve always been curious about the relationship between the Riders and the Qinghe Group.” Ren Xiaosu asked as they were leaving Stronghold 73, “The world says that the Riders are part of the Qinghe Group, but I feel that y’all are more like free agents?”
After the Zhou Consortium troops took in the escapees, Ren Xiaosu, Zhou Yingxue, Li Yingyun, and Qin Sheng left the group together. All of them did not really want to have any interaction with the Zhou Consortium troops, let alone be put through radiation tests.
Since Ren Xiaosu still had some matters to attend to at Hope Media in Luoyang City, the four of them decided to travel together.
Old Li replied to Ren Xiaosu’s question, “Actually, it isn’t really a secret, so it doesn’t matter even if I tell you about it. Before The Cataclysm, the Riders and the Qinghe Group were only working under the same boss. Both parties did not have any relation to the other and they were more like two peer institutions. Later on, when The Cataclysm happened, the Riders helped the founder of the organization save the Qinghe Group. As such, the relationship between the two organizations became very close. Before that, both parties rarely interacted with each other.”
“I see.” Ren Xiaosu nodded.
Then Old Li sighed and said, “Back then, our predecessors died and got wounded just so they could protect the foundation of the Qinghe Group. Now that the Qing Consortium has achieved nuclear capability again, who knows when an apocalypse will once again befall humanity.”
However, Ren Xiaosu shook his head. “I don’t see it that way. I still feel that it depends on who uses the weapons. Based on my understanding of Qing Zhen and Luo Lan, they wouldn’t abuse such weapons.”
“Oh?” Old Li looked at Ren Xiaosu in surprise. “Brother Xiaosu, are you very familiar with the heroic duo of the Qing Consortium?”
Ren Xiaosu did not know whether to laugh or cry. What the hell was with that corny nickname?! The heroic duo of the Qing Consortium? He said, “I used to live in the Southwest but was forced to come to the Central Plains because of the Experimental invasion. I’ve interacted with Qing Zhen and Luo Lan before. While I don’t think that they’re good people, they’re definitely not bad people either, so I ask that the Riders please not judge them with any bias.”
Ren Xiaosu’s relationship with Luo Lan could be considered quite good. So he was very willing to speak up for the Qing Consortium so they could have fewer enemies.
However, as Old Li was listening to him, he suddenly realized something else. He already knew that Ren Xiaosu’s name only had a character’s difference from Ren Xiaobei. Moreover, the young man beside him was also a supernatural being and looked very powerful as well.
Previously, Old Li did not think too deeply into it. This was because he felt that even if that Rider’s heir had managed to live a long life, he should now be very old. At the least, he would appear as a middle-aged man, so he did not put too much thought into Ren Xiaosu.
But now, when he heard that Ren Xiaosu was also from the Southwest, he could not help having second thoughts about his identity. Old Li discreetly sized up Ren Xiaosu and thought, ‘Hmm, he’s rather handsome too…’
Could this be the person the Riders and the Experimentals were looking for?!
However, Old Li did not really say much and just kept the matter to himself. They would be seeing each other at Luoyang City anyway, so Old Li would have to ponder over the details first.
Ren Xiaosu casually asked, “I heard that the Qinghe Group is now under the control of the Xu clan. The Xu clan also said that they’re only managing the organization on behalf of the major shareholder. Could the Xu clan really be so impartial and have no selfish motives?”
“I don’t know about others,” Old Li’s thoughts got interrupted as he replied, “but in the Xu clan, Xu Ke’s family is a very honorable one. They’ve never hankered for something that doesn’t belong to them. However, it’s harder to speak for the other members of the Xu clan. Although the organization’s caretaker role has been passed down through Xu Ke’s family for three generations, he still has other relatives who aren’t satisfied with the status quo. Never mind, why am I telling you all this?”