Chapter 55: External Combatants

Li Yi slowly awoke from his unconscious state.

He felt pain all over his body; when he tried to move, he discovered bandages wrapped everywhere, several limbs encased in plaster, his head tightly swathed like a mummy, and beside him hung multiple IV bags continuously feeding medicine into his body to alleviate his symptoms.

“Is this a hospital?”

Li Yi now remembered: last night he had fought Ning Wu to the end, then the Investigation Bureau arrived, and he was loaded onto an ambulance—but he had already passed out during the ride and knew nothing of what happened after.

“You’re awake?” Suddenly, a voice spoke; a man missing one arm sat propped up on a nearby bed, watching him with interest.

“You’re Li Yi, right? I’ve heard your case—alone, unarmed, you killed eight opponents, nearly killed a Spirit Perception cultivator. Impressive.”

Li Yi couldn’t rise, but turned his head to look: “Who are you? Are you from the Investigation Bureau?”

“I’m He Xiong, a cultivator like you, injured and brought here for treatment. Last night I heard others say a fierce man was admitted—killed eight cultivators in one night—so I got curious and wanted to meet you.”

The man calling himself He Xiong smiled: “I’m curious—how, at your young age and low cultivation, did you manage to kill seven? I’ve heard of Ning Wu—she’s active in the Ruined District, not some naive recluse. She wields a Beast Breathing Technique that drastically boosts her power in short bursts; other cultivators can only be crushed by her. No one should have been able to overcome her, especially when behind a full realm, and take her leg.”

“I won’t tell you the reason,” Li Yi glanced away, unwilling to elaborate.

He Xiong touched his severed arm: “I know what happened—you possess a powerful fist art.”

“If you know, why ask?” Li Yi said. “Are you interested in my fist art?”

“Haha, somewhat interested—but I’m more curious about another rumor I heard,” He Xiong lowered his voice. “Ning Wu claimed you possess a strange artifact. Is that true?”

“It’s true—I have a strange artifact,” Li Yi replied casually. “I’ll pull it out right now for you—it’s a big one. Want to see?”

“Nah, I’ll pass,” He Xiong chuckled. “I’ve got one too. But Ning Wu’s words have seriously damaged your reputation.”

Li Yi’s expression shifted slightly: “Even the dumbest lie can fool people. Everyone knows how valuable a strange artifact is. Even if there’s a 99% chance it’s false, someone will still gamble on it. But if she suspects I have one, I suspect she has one herself.”

“Oh? Why’s that?” He Xiong’s curiosity spiked.

Li Yi began his story: “A month ago, Ning Wu and a cultivator named Lao Ya entered the Ruined District. They found an ancient tomb in an abandoned building—not from our world. They suspected it held a strange artifact, so they recruited ordinary people from the Old City to explore the building and search for treasure.”

“I was one of them.”

He Xiong’s eyes flickered: “There really was such an incident—nearly twenty people vanished. Had there been concrete evidence, Ning Wu and Lao Ya would’ve been executed.”

“Our final group had five. Three survived. I did get something from inside—but back then I was just an ordinary person, didn’t know what it was, so I handed it over to Lao Ya... One month later, yesterday, Ning Wu suddenly came to kill me.”

Li Yi smiled: “What do you think caused it?”

“Murder to silence?” He Xiong’s expression changed.

“That’s exactly what I just thought. Otherwise, I can’t explain why Ning Wu would risk so much to kill people in the Old City,” Li Yi said, having successfully crafted a lie—a story that made everything plausible.

Only this way could he hide the fact that he possessed a strange artifact.

Li Yi continued: “The three survivors were Wang Hu, Wei Li, and me. To verify this, you should find the other two—but I suspect Wang Hu and Wei Li are either dead or missing.”

He was certain: Wang Hu and Wei Li could never be found.

Both had taken something from the ancient tomb. Whatever it was, neither would ever surrender it.

He Xiong’s eyes narrowed slightly, then said: “Before you woke up, we already investigated Wang Hu and Wei Li. Wang Hu is missing, no trace. Wei Li moved out of Tianchang City a month ago—no contact since. You’re the only confirmed survivor. Your theory makes sense—Ning Wu’s group likely intended to silence you.”

“Do you know Kong Sheng?”

“My friend’s friend—he warned me, otherwise I’d be dead,” Li Yi said, now certain: this He Xiong wasn’t a fellow patient—he was from the Investigation Bureau, likely trying to extract information earlier.

But now he seemed done pretending.

He Xiong said: “When Kong Sheng received the mission, he didn’t know its purpose—he only knew he had to kill someone. I believe all others given the task were equally unaware. Ning Wu concealed your identity from them all. That explains everything.”

“After all, it concerns a strange artifact—Ning Wu being cautious is understandable.”

Li Yi said: “This is just my guess. Another possibility: Ning Wu thought my cultivation was too fast, abnormal, and believed I truly had a strange artifact—so she moved against me.”

“True. Opening the Spirit Medium in a month is incredible—but if you had a miracle in the Danger Zone, it’s not surprising. Your fist art was also acquired there,” He Xiong said, clearly well-informed about Li Yi.

“Whether it’s about a strange artifact or a misunderstanding depends on how the Investigation Bureau closes the case,” Li Yi said.

At that moment, the hospital door slammed open.

Investigator Wang Jian strode in and asked directly: “Old He, how’d it go? Any results?”

He Xiong smiled: “I’ve got the full picture. Ning Wu and Lao Ya’s group believed Li Yi’s cultivation was too rapid, suspected he had a strange artifact, and plotted the attack. In reality, he had a miracle in the Danger Zone, opened the Spirit Medium, and acquired a fist art—hence his ability to counterattack and defeat Ning Wu and others.”

“Close the case this way. The captain doesn’t want to stir up trouble—things are already busy enough.”

“Fair enough,” Wang Jian glanced at Li Yi. “Did you kill the fugitive Wang Kui?”

“I don’t know,” Li Yi said.

“You killed him. Only your fist imprint could’ve made those marks. Kong Sheng couldn’t have done it,” Wang Jian said. “We don’t care who claims Wang Kui’s bounty. We want to recover the sniper rifle—it’s dangerous. I need your cooperation.”

Li Yi said: “I’ve never seen that sniper rifle.”

Wang Jian stared at him: “You know where it is. I examined the scene—Wang Kui encountered you, fired, missed you, hit the wall, then you killed him... You’re the last person to have seen that gun. I know your thinking: kill Wang Kui, hide the gun, keep it for yourself.”

“If I were you, I’d do the same. It’s not illegal. If we find it, you can deny everything. If we don’t, you profit.”

Li Yi remained silent.

Wang Jian pressed on: “The rifle’s model is the Superb M200—designed to kill supernatural beings and powerful cultivators. Do you know why its power is so great?”

“Forget it, Wang Jian, I’ll explain,” He Xiong said seriously. “The bullets are custom-made. Only we have authorization to use them—they’re not available on the market. Wang Kui stole this rifle after killing an investigator. Each investigator is allowed only ten such rounds per mission. How many do you think remain in that gun?”

Li Yi’s eyes flickered: “Why should I help you find the sniper rifle? The credit goes to you, not me.”

“Haha, you’re shrewd—you’re already bargaining for a reward?” He Xiong laughed.

Wang Jian smiled slightly.

A crack in his resistance was good.

“I have one slot for an External Combatant,” Wang Jian said.

“External Combatant? What’s that?” Li Yi asked.

Wang Jian said: “External Combatants are cultivators hired by the Investigation Bureau to assist investigators on missions. There’s payment.”

“That’s just a temporary job. I’m not interested. I’ve got parents to care for and my own cultivation to focus on—I don’t have time for missions,” Li Yi shook his head.

Wang Jian raised the stakes: “Fine. Besides the External Combatant slot, I’ll expedite your case so you can go home sooner. I’ll also immediately process Wang Kui’s bounty for you. How’s that? That’s my best offer.”

Li Yi was thinking.

He wasn’t interested in the other terms—he cared only about returning home soon.

He couldn’t stay at the Investigation Bureau long.

“How soon can I go home?” Li Yi asked again.

“If I handle it, no more than ten days,” Wang Jian said. “You’re a victim, after all.”

Li Yi no longer refused: “Since you helped me before, I accept. But Kong Sheng is my friend—I want him to be safe.”

“No problem,” Wang Jian finally exhaled in relief.

Terms settled.

“After I killed Wang Kui, I saw him hide the rifle in the third-floor flue of Building One in the opposite residential complex,” Li Yi said.

“So that’s it,” Wang Jian smiled. “That Wang Kui was truly vile—even dead, he hid the gun.”

He Xiong stared at Li Yi with a strange expression. No wonder they couldn’t find it.

You went all the way around and stashed it in the opposite complex.

Clever bastard.

“Thanks for your cooperation. Rest well—we need to attend to other matters,” Wang Jian immediately moved to act.

He Xiong also shed his patient act, removed his hospital gown.

Both left the room at once, heading straight for the address Li Yi gave.

On the way:

He Xiong whispered: “Wang Jian, there might be more between Ning Wu and Li Yi—something tied to a strange artifact. Should we investigate further?”

“This isn’t our concern. Report it up—let the captain handle it. Strange artifacts are beyond our jurisdiction. Besides, making Li Yi an External Combatant gives us a valuable asset,” Wang Jian said calmly, unmoved.

“This kid’s strong. Definitely worth cultivating,” He Xiong nodded. “But the captain really favors you—sending you such a promising talent.”

“It’s fate. I’ve met Li Yi a few times. He opened up because I helped him in the Ruined District last time. Otherwise, he’d have clammed up—no one could’ve gotten anything out of him. You heard him—he never admitted the gun was his,” Wang Jian said.

“Haha, I wasn’t this sharp at his age,” He Xiong laughed.

They arrived at the destination quickly.

Looked up.

The third floor of the old residential building ahead indeed had an external flue.

Such flues were common in the Old City.

Wang Jian immediately searched the flue—and soon found the special-model sniper rifle inside a section of pipe.

“Found it. We can report to Lei Ting. Li Yi’s thorough—he wrapped it in newspaper, left no fingerprints. Coarse on the outside, careful inside. Good. Ning Wu’s group losing to Li Yi isn’t unfair.”

“Then you’d better look out for this young man. Maybe someday you’ll need his help,” He Xiong said.

“You’re right—there might be such a day. Li Yi’s honorable—he remembered to help Kong Sheng because Kong warned him. Anyone else would’ve blamed Kong as the killer, ruining his life forever,” Wang Jian said.

He Xiong suddenly asked: “Wang Jian, do you think Li Yi has a strange artifact? Why isn’t the team leader concerned?”

Wang Jian suddenly smiled: “Because Li Yi’s about to join the Investigation Bureau. If he has a strange artifact, it’s ours. Who holds it doesn’t matter. Otherwise, why would the team leader order me to recruit him? Even if he doesn’t have one, he’s still a talent—recruiting him isn’t a loss.”

“Haha, so that’s why—the team leader’s truly clever,” He Xiong laughed.

As they spoke, they completed the mission and quickly drove off.