After dealing with the matters at Mount Yue Cang, Shen Feng continued to focus on news about the meteorite. After all, whoever found the meteorite would hold the most powerful force, and how that power was used would directly impact humanity's future. Therefore, it was imperative for him to be the first to know the meteorite's location.
Meanwhile, Chang Haojie had also obtained a clue. He lowered his flight altitude and landed his white clouds on the sea. Once he found the underwater pillars, he would immediately follow the ocean currents to search.
During the battle in Pudong, Shen Feng had encountered these mutated insects before. At that time, he believed he had destroyed the water spiders' nest, but he never expected these water spiders to still be alive. Their nests had simply broken apart and drifted into the deep sea with the currents.
After years of development, these water spider nests had become enormous. Although there were no places to anchor kelp in the deep sea, this kelp had also evolved. It could find floating spots on its own, anchor itself, and drift with the ocean currents, managing to survive.
It was then that Shen Feng understood the saying, "If you don't cut the grass by the roots, it will grow again in the spring breeze." He realized that enemies must be dealt with ruthlessly; leniency would inevitably lead to great trouble later.
However, it was precisely because of the existence of these water spiders, which naturally sought out areas with higher oxygen concentrations to survive, that by following the direction of the water spiders, and continuously tracking Yang Liu, they were bound to find the original traces.
Chang Haojie stated in his telegram, "After a month of observation, we have discovered that the meteorite's location is likely constantly shifting. Otherwise, if we tracked it in a specific direction, that direction would soon become chaotic, and we would have to change our focus. This indicates that these sea beasts are moving the meteorite around!"
Upon receiving this news, Shen Feng couldn't help but frown and say, "I didn't expect these creatures in the sea to have such high intelligence, even knowing how to relocate. If they keep moving, it won't be easy for us to pinpoint their exact location."
Chang Haojie then added, "Our provisions and water are almost depleted. We plan to make landfall along the southeastern coast to rest and resupply before setting out again!"
"No problem. Be careful not to eat anything you find outside. Be cautious, as it might absorb a large amount of radioactive elements, leading to cancer!" Shen Feng quickly advised. Since the extensive use of nuclear weapons on Earth, countless radioactive elements had been dispersed through atmospheric circulation, with the sea containing the most. After all, rainwater had washed radioactive elements into the ocean, resulting in a very high concentration of radioactive elements in the sea.
Seafood was originally a delicacy, usually only accessible to people living by the coast. Those inland didn't have this good fortune. However, it seemed this good fortune was no longer desirable, as eating seafood now meant continuously ingesting radioactive elements. A lifespan that could have reached 99 years would be halved, with living to 40 being considered fortunate.
Chang Haojie understood this and replied, "Brother-in-law, don't worry. I'll take care of myself and only eat clean food and drink clean water. I definitely won't eat anything of unknown origin!"
Just as Shen Feng was about to hang up, Chang Haojie lowered his voice and said, "We killed over a dozen sea beasts during this expedition and obtained over a dozen evolution crystals. We'll have someone deliver them to you once we land. However, it's best if you send someone to pick them up! It would be troublesome if these things were lost, so you must send someone reliable!"
"Understood. I will definitely take this matter seriously!" Shen Feng replied immediately.
Shen Feng was well aware of the importance of evolution crystals. One evolution crystal was enough to train twenty ability users. Even such valuable items were rarely seen by ordinary people. The sea was the lair of sea beasts, and only those who could fly for extended periods could easily hunt them. Otherwise, anyone traveling by ship was at constant risk of attack at sea.
Finally, Shen Feng had some time to rest. Previously, he used to delegate all household matters to his senior sister. However, since Chang Jianyi had to stay outside for extended periods, Shen Feng now had to handle everything himself. He immediately felt the strain, wondering when this would end. He couldn't possibly continue like this forever.
Not only did Shen Feng have to oversee the various situations in his jurisdiction during the day, but he also had to manage the construction of the wind power plant. He was already feeling utterly exhausted.
While Shen Feng was dealing with these trivial matters, Lin Yue found him and explained the situation.
Lin Yue was generally responsible for intelligence gathering and was not a combat personnel in critical moments. He hadn't made a move in a long time, yet many people still feared him, as a single misstep could lead to their investigation.
"City Lord, the investigation into Shen Bowen is complete. I had people observe him twenty-four hours a day, and we noticed his recent strange behavior. Although he gets along well with others in normal times and is polite in his interactions, my estimation is that he is not the son of a prominent family, but rather like a commoner's child!" Lin Yue stated.
Upon hearing this analysis, Shen Feng frowned and asked, "Are you sure your intuition is correct? He is the son of a prominent family from a major city; how could he have a humble background?"
After Shen Feng voiced his doubt, Lin Yue replied, "City Lord, how could I speak nonsense about this matter? A person can disguise their identity, but their demeanor cannot be faked. Whether it's a child from a wealthy family or a child from a humble family, their demeanor can be discerned. This is a realization I've gained from working in this field for a long time!"
Shen Feng then said, "But ultimately, demeanor is something elusive and unpredictable. How can you be certain your intuition is not mistaken?"
Earlier, Chu Chaoyan had organized a banquet to allow Shen Feng's children to meet the young talents of the prominent families. However, an unexpected incident occurred, and the focus of the banquet had shifted. Shen Bowen was left to host the event, and he handled it exceptionally well, which caught Shen Feng's attention.
It was said that during the banquet, Shen Bowen spoke fluent Chinese. If they hadn't known his identity beforehand, many people would have assumed he was a young man who had grown up in China since childhood.
This piqued Shen Feng's curiosity. Although his illegitimate son appeared humble and polite, there was always a sense of distant detachment when they interacted. Thus, Shen Feng had asked Lin Yue to investigate the matter.
"Demeanor is not easy to imitate, especially for a young man. Even if he tries his best to pretend to be a young master, his conduct reveals that he comes from a common family!" Lin Yue asserted directly.
Upon hearing this, Shen Feng immediately said, "Since you say so, you must have your reasons. Can you tell me what they are?"
Lin Yue calmly replied, "My reason is very simple: through the observations of his lifestyle over the past few days, I noticed that when he eats, he always finishes all the food in his bowl, leaving not a single grain of rice behind. This situation typically occurs among people from poor families because they cherish food and cannot bear to see any leftovers, as it is considered wasteful!"
Shen Feng nodded and said, "You're right about that. Many poor people like to eat every last bit of food in their bowls, to the point where they don't need to wash them!"
There is a fundamental difference in lifestyle between the poor and the rich. Many poor people are taught from childhood not to waste, thus learning to be thrifty, with food wastage being strictly prohibited.
Wealthy people are different. They possess the best resources. Wasting food, let alone money or other high-quality resources, is a common occurrence for them and requires no attention. Therefore, their eating habits reflect this. Wealthy people don't care; they eat more if they like it and leave it if they don't, resulting in many leftovers.
Shen Feng asked, "This explanation alone doesn't seem sufficient to prove your point. Do you have any other thoughts you'd like to share?"
"If this were the only reason, I wouldn't speak so confidently. In fact, I have other considerations. Another reason is that this young master Shen dislikes frequenting high-end establishments and instead prefers to wander through ordinary alleyways!" Lin Yue said.
"Liking to wander in these alleyways is not necessarily a problem. Not all wealthy people prefer opulent places; many still desire a stable and peaceful life," Shen Feng offered his analysis.
Lin Yue then countered, "If he merely liked to wander in these places, it would be one thing. But he most enjoys interacting with people of lower social status, and he can even converse with beggars, regardless of whether they are dirty or foul-smelling!" Lin Yue continued.
"If that's truly the case, then his habits are indeed quite unusual. Please continue!" Shen Feng stroked his chin, feeling that there was some truth to these analyses.
"If he liked talking to people of lower status, that would be one thing, but he also frequently visits places of ill repute," Lin Yue added.
Upon hearing this, Shen Feng felt a sense of unease. Could his son have some peculiar preferences?
"City Lord, please don't misunderstand. It's not that he is overly lustful, but rather that he likes to frequent these places and converse with the women of ill repute there," Lin Yue quickly clarified to prevent the City Lord from misinterpreting.
Shen Feng said, "Then this is strange. Why would he go to such places? Is he perhaps trying to conduct an on-site investigation?"
Lin Yue suggested, "To clarify this matter, we need to find someone who knows the situation. I believe Miss Sayaoka would be very suitable. She should know the reasons behind it. Perhaps we should ask her about the specific circumstances, and then we will get the final answer!"
Shen Feng nodded and said, "You've reminded me of something important. I will have someone summon him shortly, and I will question him carefully. He shouldn't dare to lie to me and will surely tell me the truth."
Shen Feng then sent word to Sayaoka, informing her privately and asking her to come to his office as he had something to discuss with her.