Chapter 425: Su Tianfu (Please Refresh)

We only have two days to prepare, and only one chance—we must strike decisively outside the range of their ability.

Li Huowang had clearly become the core of this group, even the faction led by Yu Sheng deferred to his orders and let him mobilize resources.

Only after delving deeper into this organization did Li Huowang realize how vast their power and resources were in this world—yet even such an organization could not directly move against Su Tianfu or Meng Zhending.

What are they afraid of?

It's already late tonight, Ba Chengqing, please take Li Huowang back.

Li Huowang instructed:

Li Huowang, go back and rest well. This Saturday we'll go to Magu together. Don't worry—the rest of us will simultaneously capture Meng Zhen at the offline book club and assist you from the sidelines.

Zhao Lei will act alongside you at that time.

Ba Chengqing waved his hand; Li Huowang shoveled down two mouthfuls of boxed meal, tossed the disposable chopsticks on the table, and followed him out.

After the two left, everyone else stopped mid-bite, their chopsticks frozen.

Ba Nanxu sneered: "Li Huowang, you're good—really good at fooling kids."

Hearing this, Li Huowang showed no emotional reaction, but replied:

"If you don't want Zhao Shuangdian to return to normal, you can tell Li Huowang the truth. Devout Zhao Shuangdian would gladly stab you for Su Tianfu."

Ba Nanxu's face instantly turned cold; the moment she recalled how Zhao Shuangdian, once her friend, had lost herself and become Su Tianfu's personal assistant, she wanted to slit Su Tianfu's throat.

Yet every time she drew her knife close to Su Tianfu, she ended up peeling fruit for him—even feeding him with a toothpick.

From initial hostility to deep conversation, finally achieving inner and physical harmony, they became inseparable confidants.

Su Tianfu is so unnatural—just being near him alters you, inside and out, turning you into his.

Even if you aimed a sniper rifle at his head from a kilometer away, by the time you realized it, you'd find yourself silently guarding him on the rooftop all night, having killed several of Yu Sheng's people.

Only Li Huowang.

He's the only one who interacts with Su Tianfu in a normal way—no wonder Li Huowang and Zhao Shuangdian both value this kid so highly.

"Stop arguing." Qian Fu gobbled his food, gulped down several swallows of water, then stepped forward as mediator:

"We're all here for Earth's safety. But the Centaurians are too strong—wait, why am I here? Who are you?!"

Qian Fu's mental illness manifests as a second personality—he imagines alien invaders and dark agents hunting him for experiments—but if viewed differently, the "normal" personality may actually be the second one.

"This is Kangning Psychiatric Hospital's cafeteria. It's free activity time," Zhao Lei said casually.

Qian Fu instantly relaxed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Zhao Lei replied politely, legs crossed, carefully polishing a circular lens made of crystal with a cloth:

"But lying is pointless, especially since Li Huowang never believed us."

The lens was scratched and yellowed, yet Zhao Lei cherished it—finding a piece matching his aesthetic, from ordinary glass to this crystal lens, was truly hard.

"It doesn't matter. Just take him to find Su Tianfu," Li Huowang said coldly.

"Fine~ fine~ fine, what can I do? You hold all the power over me." Zhao Lei held the lens under the chandelier, glanced at his teammates seated in a circle, then smirked:

"Li Huowang, do you think reading a lot makes you smart? Don't you know cleverness can backfire?"

Everyone turned to Zhao Lei, confused by his sudden madness.

But no one was surprised—everyone here except themselves had some degree of mental instability.

"Zhao Lei, if you have something to say, just say it," Li Huowang said indifferently. "I'll consider your opinion."

"Really? I definitely have something to say," Zhao Lei's face lit up. "I thought none of you cared about me—you were all just using me."

But then he switched to a slow, deliberate tone.

"But I don't care either."

No one understood Zhao Lei's meaning—perhaps he was just having another episode—but under the fluorescent light, his face looked unsettling.

No one knew what Zhao Lei meant; perhaps he had simply had a seizure, but under the fluorescent light, Zhao Lei's face looked unsettling.

Zhao Lei suddenly placed the lens over his right eye socket, securing it with the bridge and nasal support, adjusting slightly until it settled comfortably.

He grinned wildly, then slowly addressed them: "Maybe you'll let me see a good joke. Hehe~."

Li Huowang didn't let Ba Chengqing take him back—he went to Su Tianfu's place instead: the Gospel Church in Xicheng District.

"I won't take you there—I'm on leave these two days." Ba Chengqing's mouth twitched at the words "on leave," then added: "I'll stab that bastard someday. Fine, you do it for me."

Who knows what Su Tianfu did to Ba Chengqing—this rough, streetwise man dropped Li Huowang off and sped away on his motorcycle, fleeing the "dangerous" zone.

Li Huowang had planned to ask him to wait—he'd finish his business and hitch a ride back.

Li Huowang had originally wanted to ask him to wait a moment, to hitch a ride back after finishing the errand.

Turning around, the Russian-style church stood 300 meters away on the square; even now, people were still taking photos and checking in.

The stone walls, weathered by time, looked more solemn and ancient; moss clung to the stone cross atop the roof. Though Xicheng had become an old district, its nights were far livelier than Xincheng's.

Probably due to tourism development—this church, preserved from the Republic era, had become a tourist attraction. The only problem: it was normally closed to the public.

Since Su Tianfu moved in, he occasionally opened it—20 yuan per ticket.

Hmm… who pockets the money goes without saying.

Li Huowang didn't know how Su Tianfu pulled it off, but after seeing his overflowing certificates and resume, he understood tax and police authorities would never touch him.

Li Huowang didn't know how the guy had managed it, but after seeing Su Tianfu's full collection of professional certificates and resume, Li Huowang understood that neither tax officials nor police would bother him.

Before Li Huowang could call, Su Tianfu's image appeared on the electronic screen at the gate.

"Never mind, come in first."

The door unlocked with a clang.

Li Huowang pushed the door open, glanced around, and saw Zhao Shuangdian, dressed in a sharp suit, sweeping fallen leaves with a broom in the courtyard.

Li Huowang pushed open the door and glanced around, finding Zhao Shuangdian wearing a crisp suit, holding a broom, sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard.

Zhao Shuangdian nodded slightly, put down the broom, and led the way ahead.

Zhao Shuangdian nodded slightly, put away the broom, and led the way ahead.

Since Zhao Shuangdian became Su Tianfu's assistant, this place has changed daily—it's nearly become a fully intelligent church; this is what they mean by technology changing life.

Li Huowang looked at Zhao Shuangdian and asked, "Aren't you off duty? Why are you here?"

"I moved in here to live." Zhao Shuangdian replied coolly.

"Oh." Li Huowang grunted, then his eyes widened slightly, his pupils contracting as he shot back, "What did you say?! You live here?!"

Come on, even a projection couldn't be this extreme!

Could this really be the type Su Lin big brother likes? Cold, efficient, an urban career woman full of ideals and wisdom.

But… Zhao Shuangdian was already influenced, right? Could this be too evil?

Was Ba Nanxu worried about this exact thing, which is why he was willing to join Qingwang's camp and even dared to come over as an assistant?

"Temporarily, work's been busy lately," Zhao Shuangdian said, as if knowing what Li Huowang was thinking, adding, "Wu Qi is here too."

She pushed open the red-painted wooden door, and instantly, rhythmic rock music echoed through the corridor, mixed with noisy voices—many people were talking.

Boom—!

Thud-thud-thud-thud!!!

A bearded young man burst out of the darkness, sprinting frantically, his bloodshot eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Chief Hongzhong!?! Save me!" When the young man saw Li Huowang, a spark of hope flashed in his eyes—he was like a drowning man spotting a lifeline, throwing his arms out and lunging toward Li Huowang.

Li Huowang was startled—this young man actually recognized him in reality. Before Li Huowang could say anything, Zhao Shuangdian moved.

She stepped forward swiftly, sidestepped, drew her knee up, twisted her body sharply, straightened, and kicked out hard—her foot landed squarely on the young man's abdomen.

The man flew backward and landed on the floor, a trail of glistening fluid trailing from his mouth; he curled up like a shrimp, clutching his abdomen in pain.

"Take him back," Zhao Shuangdian said.

Two burly bald clergy rushed over, apologized, and dragged the young man away.

"I'm from Bei—wuh wuh wuh!"

Li Huowang stared at the young man being locked and dragged away, then turned to Zhao Shuangdian with a look of disbelief, seeking an explanation.

"Onboarding training," Zhao Shuangdian remained as rational as ever. "He couldn't accept having his hair shaved off."

"."

Under Zhao Shuangdian's lead, Li Huowang followed the two bald men's path and soon arrived at the spacious chapel.

The place was heated, the orange-yellow lighting radiating warmth; unlike its usual emptiness, it was now packed with people—even no empty seats remained.

Wu Qi stood to the side, palms pressed together, smiling. Compared to the punk look Li Huowang had seen before, she was unrecognizable.

Her braids had been undone, washed, and combed into a fluffy hairstyle; her eyebrow piercings were removed, her nail polish gone.

She gave off a clean, tidy, refreshing aura.

"Master Li, I didn't expect you to come," Wu Qi's voice was gentle, her gaze toward Li Huowang filled with kindness, yet her lips carried a carefree expression:

"When the mind holds nothing, heaven and earth expand. Logically, you should be the one among us who needs faith the least."

"But have you encountered confusion in life? Young people should eat when hungry, drink when thirsty, sleep when tired—ignore outside pressures. Health is most important. In this life, only living for yourself is truly carefree."

"Houses, cars, sons, money—all fake. Happiness is real."

Before Li Huowang could speak, Wu Qi had already poured him a full cup of half-clichéd motivational soup. He stared at her, feeling she had changed—yet not completely.

"I came to get Brother Su's signature. To leave the city during the observation period, I need my attending physician to vouch for me."

Li Huowang recited the lines he'd prepared in advance:

"I plan to go out with Yang Na to relax and travel."

"Really? It seems you've finally understood," Wu Qi genuinely seemed delighted for Li Huowang:

"The Leshan Giant Buddha is great—lots to eat, low cost, perfect for young people. Just avoid the food street across the way; the tourist-area influencer consumption traps are numerous. But if you've got money and want to be lazy, it's fine—per-person spending might go up thirty percent."

"Dunhuang is good too, there… sorry, I'll message you on WeChat later."

Wu Qi, who had been so talkative, suddenly fell silent. She glanced behind Li Huowang, then hurriedly found a front-row seat and sat down.

Before Li Huowang could react, a pair of hands quietly rested on his shoulders; the voice whispered:

"Sorry, Little Li, I've got something to handle right now—wait for me a moment."

Su Tianfu's voice eased Li Huowang's guard slightly—even with modern restrictions, he still couldn't sense Su Tianfu's presence at all.

As he nodded, Su Tianfu walked past in a white monk's robe, draped in a black crane-cloak. Zhao Shuangdian hurried forward and handed him a document she'd somehow obtained.

"I understand. Thank you, Xiao Zhao," Su Tianfu said after glancing at it, returning the document to Zhao Shuangdian, then ascending the steps to the podium.

The moment he appeared, the entire church fell silent—all eyes turned toward Su Tianfu, whose expression had turned solemn and dignified, utterly devoid of his usual laziness.

At the center of the podium, beneath the pure white cross, stood a microphone stand, and in front of it hung a…

Li Huowang blinked, rubbed his eyes twice hard.

Hung a golden Squad Leader flag bearing a Buddhist symbol.

"."

Good—it was the Buddhist 卍, not the reversed 卐. That would've been terrifying.

Li Huowang had just sighed in relief when he realized Su Tianfu stood before the lectern.

This was even worse…

Su Tianfu spoke slowly:

"Today, we gather in this Gospel Church, enjoying hard-won peace. Behind me stands the Cross of the Divine, symbolizing protection—repelling all evil, keeping all wickedness at bay."

"The monk robes we wear signify severing ties with past suffering and troubles; the Buddha's awakening has brought us clarity."

"You hold the Dao De Jing in your hands—it is the essence of how the world operates, the ebb and flow of yin and yang energies. Attain utmost emptiness, hold firm stillness; the Dao follows nature—we too are nature."

"I wanted you to learn more Confucian culture, but all of you here are Easterners—those values have long become part of your blood and bone. Even in that tragic world, you still retained your inner gentlemanly spirit, knowing what is good and what is evil…"

"You might say: Doctor Su Tianfu, we're just a group of the mentally ill, disruptors of social order, burdens to our families—we can't tell truth from falsehood, can't control our minds or bodies. Even if we return to this reality, this world, what can we even do? All we want is ordinary peace."

"Yes, you're right—ordinary peace is important."

"But my friends, you are not ordinary, and you cannot attain peace."

Hearing Su Tianfu's words, everyone's spirits sank; some even began to weep, and a vortex of sorrow rose up.

Boom!!!

"But we are not cattle or horses, not machines!" Su Tianfu suddenly slammed the table and raised his voice:

"In both the real world and the spiritual world, we are living human beings!!!"

"Why should the wicked ancient feudal world drink our blood and eat our flesh?!"

"Why must we suffer discrimination and malice in both the real and spiritual worlds?!"

"Why must even the last shred of purity in our souls be defiled, leaving us unable to sleep in peace?!"

"You can't tell the difference—I know, I understand, because I often can't tell what is real and what is illusion—but does it matter?!"

"I have an ideal, and I hope this ideal can become everyone's shared ideal. Whether in body or spirit, we must possess eternal peace; in that world, malice will not exist, and all will be harmonious and unified."

After saying this, Su Tianfu raised his arms as if embracing everyone:

"Tell me—are you willing to join for eternal peace? I swear! I will give you the ordinary peace you long for!"

Everyone froze, including Li Huowang—he didn't know what Su Tianfu was up to, but he sensed the atmosphere had suddenly changed.

Suddenly—

"Peace forever! Su Tianfu! Forever!"

The voices surged like an ocean, layered and crashing, unleashing a unified will.

Amid the crowd rising as one, as if embracing the sun, Li Huowang saw a familiar face—the disciple of Beifeng's Xin Su.

He suddenly realized something and turned to the bearded young man—the one who called him "Red Middle Boss"—now wearing a fanatical expression, hands raised above his head as if embracing Su Tianfu, chanting the slogan.

Are all these people Xin Su?!?!

(End of Chapter)