Chapter 220

A sound suddenly rang out from outside the door, like a death warrant, startling Ying Lin into springing up from the sofa.

In his panic, he lunged to the side, fumbling for the handgun usually tucked in the interlayer of his books.

Face pale with terror, he aimed at the doorway!

Who?

Who could break in here!

It's Nanhuang Dojo come to claim lives!

Ying Lin's eyes locked dead on that direction, as if a man-eating monster stood outside the door.

Ready to charge in at any moment, flay him, dismember him, cut him into eight pieces.

"Nanhuang Dojo... finally here! This day has finally come!"

Ying Lin let out a hysterical laugh, pupils shot through with bloodshot veins.

He hadn't slept for days, relying on contraband drugs to forcibly maintain his manic state.

Discarded by the family as a pawn, all hope of returning to Haizhou thoroughly lost...

These things kept Ying Lin's nerves strung tight, like half a foot planted on a cliff's edge, the whole man tottering on the brink.

Luo Bing's proposal let him glimpse a sliver of hope again.

Like a drowning man fallen into the sea, clutching a life-saving straw.

As long as he ruined the family's and Nanhuang Dojo's intention to reconcile, perhaps everything still had a turning point!

The result, however, was Luo Bing's betrayal, a stab in the back!

Until the four words "Nanhuang Dojo" reached his ears.

They exploded in his heart!

That string Ying Lin had kept pulled taut, unable to slacken.

Seemed to finally snap!

"Come on! I'm not afraid of you! Not afraid of Nanhuang Dojo..."

Ying Lin brandished his gun and shouted, these years trapped in Xiao Hong Lou, like a prisoner awaiting execution, he'd had enough long ago.

Countless midnight awakenings, he'd startle awake suddenly, as if from a nightmare!

That scene of the Nanhuang Dojo Master driving a Divine Machine, trampling the Songgu Riverbank Villa, grinding the Ying Clan direct descendants into meat paste — kept flashing through his mind sea.

Especially Brother Qi's terrified eyes before death, made Ying Lin unable to forget.

Any movement outside the window at dawn made him incomparably tense.

Under this high-intensity pressure, Ying Lin quickly fell into the abyss of contraband.

He had to rely on this stuff to numb himself, relieve that irrepressible, soul-deep trembling sensation.

"Come! I'm right here, I won't run..."

Ying Lin's whole body trembled, hands clutching that handgun tight.

Bang!

That heavy solid wood door panel was blasted open like by a cannon shell.

Exploding from the outside, splinters flying horizontally!

A tall straight figure stepped in, strands of Qi Jin surging.

Pushing away the rising smoke and dust, lest they stain his body.

"Since you're home, why not come open the door? Slow as a snail, shouting and yelling, truly not a shred of hospitality."

Qin Shi stepped into this Xiao Hong Lou, bypassed the entryway, calmly watching Ying Lin:

"The Ying Clan's education is quite substandard."

Bang bang bang bang—

Seeing Qin Shi enter the house unimpeded, just like returning to his own home.

Ying Lin, as if stimulated, finger squeezed the trigger, wrist lifting repeatedly.

Several metal bullets tore through the air, flying toward Qin Shi's body walking toward him.

"Aim's too lousy, Young Master Ying."

Qin Shi didn't dodge, letting bullets strike his student uniform.

Just grazing the edge, as if losing kinetic energy, ding ding dang dang, they fell listlessly to the ground.

The surging life force accumulated in the Ru Shen Ti released intense light radiance.

Not to mention this small-caliber bullet, even armor-piercing bullets with strong killing power.

Cannot penetrate that faintly existing "barrier" lying before me.

Qin Shi stepped on the soft carpet, approaching Ying Lin.

The latter like a little lamb shrinking into a corner, the handgun in his palm brought no sense of security at all.

Bang!

As if returning to that night at Songgu Riverbank Villa, an inescapable intense fear suddenly clutched Ying Lin's heart.

He fired another shot, but that bullet was caught steadily by Qin Shi, the flattened bullet head clamped between two fingers, emitting golden yellow light.

"Any other tricks?"

Qin Shi released his fingers, the bullet dropped on the carpet and bounced twice.

Due to height difference, his calm eyes held a slight looking-down meaning, gazing at Ying Lin.

"Shen Shixiong, indeed died not worth it."

This Ying Clan direct disciple, face haggard, deep eye bags hanging, breathing short and weak, body's Life Yuan Qi weak and thin, consumption greater than replenishment.

Hard to imagine, the Second Senior Brother Shen Zhangyuan once designated by Lao Zhang as Nanhuang Dojo Successor, ultimately let this sort of goods get the better of him, dying in vain.

"I don't want to! It was Brother Qi who said that if we pulled this off, we could win the family's attention! Our contribution would rise another step... I didn't take part in Shen Zhangyuan's death! I really didn't!"

Ying Lin's throat bobbed; in his eyes, Qin Shi's image overlapped with that of the Nanhuang Dao Guan Master who had leapt out of the Divine Machine, white hair dancing wildly.

He felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, chilled to the bone, almost unable to breathe normally.

"Those don't matter. The Nanhuang Dao Guan's signboard needs to be stained with the Ying Clan's blood."

"Shen Shixiong's debt—there will still be a chance to collect it later."

Qin Shi shook his head and raised his hand to press against Ying Lin.

Bai Gu trembled, Light Radiance circulated, and a scorching breath swirled in his palm.

"If the Nanhuang Dao Guan sheds a single drop of blood, the enemy must leave behind a head."

"Even if they are Ying Clan disciples, no exception. This is the rule!"

……

……

Education Bureau Building.

Mo Qihuan picked up the phone, the Secretary standing silently to one side without leaving.

"Alright, I understand. For this kind of malicious event, we must eradicate it at the root! And handle it seriously!"

After a moment, he hung up the communication and looked up at the Secretary.

The latter said:

"Twenty minutes ago, Tai Jun lifted the defense resources at Xiao Hong Lou and marked Qin Shi as 'personnel permitted through the list.'"

Mo Qihuan sighed softly:

"I told Ying Lin not to act rashly, but he insisted on courting death. Now look..."

The Secretary comforted him:

"Director, you've done your best; it's Ying Lin himself who is useless. Moreover, the Ying Clan side has shown a willingness to reconcile, which undoubtedly means abandoning Ying Lin."

Mo Qihuan shook his head:

"Being the Ying Clan's abandoned child and dying in Hengzhou are two different matters."

"Even if the Ying Clan and Nanhuang Dao Guan reconcile, and Ying Lin is kicked aside, the worst fate for him is nothing more than exile to a more remote Frontier Land."

"But the Ying Clan won't accept their direct-line disciples easily paying with their lives for others. This is the bottom line!"

The Secretary said helplessly:

"Director, everything Nanhuang Dao Guan did was compliant and legal; we can't stop it."

"Ying Lin sent killers to intercept Qin Shi's flying vehicle; this wasn't done carefully, and the Security Bureau soon found clues—it's ironclad evidence."

"A Nanhuang Daoist Hall Disciple used permit authority, donned armor and carried weapons, with Hundred No Taboos, entering Xiao Hong Lou, which belongs to a 'Defense Region.'"

"From a procedural standpoint, there isn't a single flaw..."

Mo Qihuan rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, his eyelids drooping as if thinking:

"Ying Huang's arrival in Hengzhou adds many variables. He has caused divisions within the Ying Clan's attitude, and even Ying Lin's death may have been Ying Huang's plot. Without his help, Nanhuang Dao Guan would find it very hard to pry open Xiao Hong Lou's defensive iron curtain."

The Secretary asked in confusion:

"Ying Huang, as the heir of the First Sequence, wouldn't bother scheming over someone of Ying Lin's level at all."

Mo Qihuan remained silent, his hands behind his back twitching slightly.

He had vaguely heard rumors that Ying Huang was close to the Restoration Faction in the Imperial Capital.

At the time he hadn't paid attention, merely thinking it was a bet.

"The upper layer's turmoil has reached Hengzhou."

Mo Qihuan's gaze flickered; he had originally thought to wait until the Seventh War Corps arrived in Hengzhou, see if he could use force against force, pressure Nanhuang Dao Guan, and then send Ying Lin away.

As long as Ying Lin was guaranteed not to die, his cooperation with Ying Xiao would count as complete.

But now, Qin Shi, a Nanhuang Daoist Hall Disciple, has entered Xiao Hong Lou.

With Ying Lin's meager abilities, he definitely won't escape.

"Ying Huang, Ying Huang, this move of yours is indeed headache-inducing."

Mo Qihuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze passing through the floor-to-ceiling window to the densely packed high-rise buildings and traffic lines spreading out like a sea of steel and converging crowds.

The scenery across the way seemed to grow farther and farther from him.

"Has the message to Ying Xiao been sent?"

Mo Qihuan asked.

"Sent ten minutes ago, using the highest level, emergency encryption."

The Secretary replied.

"Then it should be soon."

Mo Qihuan looked up at the sky; tonight was exceptionally long, and the lights of Center City illuminated the pitch-black canopy as if it were daytime.

Ying Lin's father, Ying Xiao, was one of the few Hawk Faction members among Ying Clan disciples.

The prospects for direct-line Ying Clan disciples generally came down to two paths.

Either form a team, throw themselves into the Great Expansion Movement, actively go to places outside Haizhou to develop business and grow their power;

Or respond to Dongxia's fervent Great Expedition Movement, voluntarily serve in the war corps, and accept the tempering of blood and fire.

These were the only two exits for direct-line disciples.

As for seeking a seat in the Imperial Capital's Eight Hundred Person Great Council?

One had to become the heir of the First Sequence.

Direct-line disciples couldn't even touch that; it could be called a luxury.

Ying Xiao had chosen the second path back then, taking a conscription spaceship to the He Xie Star Region.

This Ying Clan scion who refused to take the conventional path did not, as he had hoped, rise rapidly through the military ranks.

Instead, for repeatedly violating discipline and causing trouble, he was expelled from the Ninth War Corps.

Now, under the banner of a private security company, he operates in the He Xie Star Region.

Occasionally acting as an "agent," he does some unsavory dirty work for the Ninth War Corps.

"Is Blackwater near Hengzhou?"

Mo Qihuan asked again.

"Correct. They just took a job, responsible for cleaning up the spies and nails buried by the Chaos Pillar in the Four Alliances Region."

This kind of thing doesn't pay much heed to "Rendaoyi," so a private military and security company like Blackwater is needed to do it on their behalf.

The Secretary flipped through the Security Bureau's records, then said.

"Good, let them quickly collect Ying Lin's corpse. I don't know what Ying Xiao's reaction will be; both his sons died at the hands of the Nanhuang Dojo."

The previous Ying Qi was at least promising, but ended up being crushed into mincemeat by Divine Machine, and Ying Xiao flew into a rage; had it not been for the clan elders holding him back, he almost overturned tables at the family meeting.

This Ying Lin, though useless, is after all his own son……"

Mo Qihuan calculated that if Ying Xiao came to Hengzhou to cause a scene, restraining the Nanhuang Dojo.

Perhaps he himself could then retire properly.

He was very clear about the rules set by that fierce person of the Nanhuang Dojo.

One disciple's blood, one enemy's head.

In the past, with Ying Lin standing in front, Mo Qihuan could still sit steadily in the Education Bureau.

Now the former is gone, the next blood debt should be demanded from himself.

"Hengzhou is still in the Blockade Period; Blackwater Company's spaceship landing will probably be difficult."

The Secretary reminded.

"First initiate the project, then tender, take the emergency channel, handle special matters specially, let Blackwater take the business."

Just say the Hengzhou Great Reclamation is imminent, and they need 'cleaners'."

Mo Qihuan seemed to have considered it long ago, and said directly.

"Alright."

The Secretary silently withdrew.

Mo Qihuan stood alone in the magnificent office, his gaze moving inch by inch, taking in every corner.

In ten more days, he could retire honorably, board the Seventh War Corps' flagship to the Imperial Capital, and spend a peaceful and perfect remaining life in retirement.

"Can I reach the other shore……"

Mo Qihuan's expression was calm and gentle, gazing at the Center City model on a corner of the desk, not knowing what he was thinking.

……

……

Outside Hengzhou is the Hao Han Xing Hai.

Looking down from above, like a large glass marble with a yellowish-brown tint.

On the scale of the Universe, among the Satellite Fortresses that are still considered "near" Hengzhou New Star.

The Blackwater, flying three wave flags, captured an encrypted message.

The content was very simple.

"Ying Lin died at the Nanhuang Dojo."

The communications soldier responsible for receiving the message hurriedly translated this radio transmission, then passed it to the upper cabin.

"The Boss's son died again."

The big-bearded man, with his legs crossed on the console, hands holding his head, happily smoking a pipe, took the radio message translated by the communications soldier, his brow unconsciously furrowing.

"What do you mean 'again'? Old Ginger, your words are not pleasant to hear."

The bald man beside him, tall and thin, looking like a bag of bones, reminded him.

He was nearly two meters tall, his long hands hanging past his knees, silver rings hanging from his earlobes.

A very typical Esper image.

"The Boss already lost a son last time. This time there's one less again, so I say 'again' is fine, right?"

The big-bearded man pulled his legs back and stepped on the metal floor, turning to the communications soldier:

"Tell the Boss, his second son died. Ask him, how should it be handled?"

"If the Blackwater needs to do something, I'd be very happy!"

"The resupply process has taken too long, I'm bored out of my mind, I need to find something to do!"

The big-bearded man smoked his pipe, puffed twice, and spat out green mist.

"If the Boss lets you fly the Blackwater, rush to Hengzhou New Star, and raze the Nanhuang Dojo to the ground?"

The bald man asked.

"I couldn't ask for more! I've always liked excitement…… I've even dealt with Xing Shen Attendants, would I fear a Grandmaster of the Nanhuang Dojo who's about to bite the dust?"

The big-bearded man grinned, revealing yellow teeth.

"Wait until you truly meet a Grandmaster, you won't think like that……"

The bald man had not finished speaking when alarms suddenly sounded throughout the Blackwater's cabins, the flashing red light surprising everyone.

They were staying in a Satellite Fortress, it should be very safe.

Who had the guts to dare break in here and rob?

Even those cosmic great owls that roamed the Galaxy might not dare do such a thing.

The big-bearded man lunged at the console and opened the holographic image.

He saw a wisp of faint red light appear in the pitch-black universe.

It grew larger, spreading outward in all directions, like dazzling flowing fire.

Only when it drew extremely close did the bearded man see clearly.

It was actually a Divine Machine!

Eight pairs of wings like flowing flames unfolded one after another, releasing a terrifying breath of unmatched power.

The massive "spine" behind it carried one energy core after another, spewing out powerful propulsion.

The sky-blue airframe was lithe and slender, formed from the life radiance condensed by the pilot, winding around his body like silk threads, like an Immortal or Buddha wearing a divine ring!

The white-haired old man radiating a fierce and wild aura was wrapped within the Divine Machine.

His eyes glared with fury, like a Vajra:

"Nanhuang Dao Guan, come to slash the ship! Whoever wants to stop me!"

Chapter End