Chapter 56: A win-win choice

Second, the morning sun in the east was a sheet of gold, shining over the manor filled with embers.

"Qinglan, what do you want to say?" The man in a suit looked at the little girl ahead, adjusting his collar.

"The Family Head has seen." Chang Qinglan said.

The man in a suit froze for a moment, then quickly said: "In such a situation, it's best to act early; what are you looking for now?"

"Jier." Chang Qinglan lifted her cold gaze, looking at the man in the suit ahead: "Do you want to explain the incident of the Family Head being assassinated?"

"What do you mean?" Jier frowned, a flash of panic in his eyes.

After a night of devastation, Noah Manor's grounds were everywhere stained red with blood, and painful wails could be heard everywhere.

"I don't know what to say, sorry, I need to have the steward hold a meeting."

Jier gave a few orders to the nearby military police, then prepared to leave.

"Regarding the matter of Uncle Chang and Aunt Chang, to investigate..." Chang Qinglan's voice was cold: "But, I should say, someone could act against the Family Head."

"What evidence?!" Jier stopped in his tracks, frowning as he looked at Chang Qinglan.

Chang Qinglan ignored him and continued: "Advice, warning, I hope we can find the Family Head soon."

"Haven't you seen, everything inside is busy?!" Jier almost angrily roared, drawing attention from those around.

Realizing his loss of composure, he lowered his head, forcing himself to stay calm.

He walked up to the little girl: "This attack, you definitely knew about it!"

But he soon froze.

The little girl in front, her face icy, her eyes devoid of ripple: "Who cares..."

That morning, due to last night's attack, street vendors were noticeably fewer; after walking past a few shops, one could still see military police conducting intermittent checks.

"S Player, hungry?" Yan Cheng handed a piece of dried fish: "It tastes good, but it's just this; if we head back to the base, it should be better."

"It's fine." Lu Ming took the dried fish, feeling something odd in his body.

It was a bit cold, even though it was morning; Lu Ming guessed that the Original Owner's old ailment had flared up.

"S Player, your complexion looks a bit bad?" Yan Cheng looked at Lu Ming, asking with some concern.

The Original Owner's illness, once treated, can only be alleviated with medication; this also worries Lu Ming—if the condition relapses, without the little girl's medicine, it would likely be quite troublesome.

"It's nothing…"

Lu Ming picked up the dried fish and was about to put it in his mouth when he suddenly heard a commotion from a distant stall.

"Looks like a player," Yan Cheng said, looking.

Only saw several military police raise their guns at that vendor, shouting for him to put down his gun.

"These NPCs are sick, all they talk about is rebels!" the player shouted, holding a gun.

"The gun in your hand is evidence; only rebels use this kind of gun!" the military police said in a steady voice.

"..." The player looked at his own gun, then did something that made Lu Ming think it was incredibly foolish.

He pointed the gun's muzzle at the several military police.

"Pick up the gun…"

Before the player could finish speaking, several gunshots rang out, and his health bar instantly dropped to zero.

The onlooking crowd screamed in terror, stepping back several paces.

"Let's go quickly." Lu Ming felt it wasn't safe here, and told Yan Cheng to take a different route.

"... There's still another road, it should be a bit farther." Yan Cheng's face turned slightly pale, as if he'd been frightened.

Because of last night's attack, the higher-ups have intensified their search for the rebels.

Along the way, Lu Ming saw a few bodies lying on the ground; Yan Cheng didn't even dare lift his head, silently lowering his head as he led the way.

Suddenly, Lu Ming noticed a familiar figure at the alley entrance beside him.

"S Player… what's wrong?" Noticing Lu Ming beside him, Yan Cheng lifted his head and saw him heading toward the distant alley entrance.

Lu Ming stopped in front of the girl; a shadow fell over her as she tightly clutched her brother in her arms.

Lu Ming heard a faint sobbing.

All he saw was the boy in the girl's arms already lifeless, a bloodstain spreading across his chest, soaking the girl's hands.

Lu Ming crouched down; the girl's eyes had completely dimmed, she glanced at him once, then held her brother even tighter.

"Hey, say, what did you do wrong?" the girl asked.

"From his perspective, he didn't do anything wrong…" Lu Ming said: "For those who want him dead, just being alive is wrong."

"He should be suspected of being a rebel, then…" Yan Cheng stood behind him, speaking softly.

【…】He clearly just wanted to live simply, even if only barely.

【…】Living is extremely difficult, clearly living so cautiously…

【…】Clearly he didn't do anything wrong, why is he being oppressed…

【…】Just like a fish swimming in the seabed, like any other seabed fish, the body is merely a vessel; external shackles can never imprison the soul…

【…】Wanting to break free of the cage…

【…】Even if the outside sea is vast and boundless…

"S Player…" Yan Cheng looked at Lu Ming with some understanding.

Lu Ming carried on his back the boy who had already lost all signs of life.

【Side Quest Updated!】

【Side Quest: Protect the Girl (Representing the entire lower class of Dongsheng City, the already mutated Haibilei, choosing to correct, still ignoring?)】

【Hint: Side quest opened, player completes by choice, raises instance rating.】

To achieve S Rating, both main and side quests must be completed.

The girl lowered her head, silently following Lu Ming like a walking corpse.

"S Player, there's still fish jerky." Yan Cheng looked at Lu Ming's meaning, handing his own fish jerky to Lu Ming.

Lu Ming then gave the fish jerky to the girl; the girl silently took it, neither eating nor discarding, just holding it.

The refugee district, a hidden corner.

Yan Cheng pushed open the concealed door in the alley; inside was a tavern.

"S Player, this is the rebel army's base..." Yan Cheng whispered low into Lu Ming's ear.

Lu Ming wore a cloak, glancing around the tavern with his peripheral vision.

Several burly men, shirtless, drank at the table; their gazes met Lu Ming's, one of them gave a look.

Soon, several burly men walked inside.

"Chongjian Yun, who did you bring?" the burly man laughed, asking Yan Cheng.

Yan Cheng's voice sounded hesitant, as if he hadn't yet figured out how to explain.

"Want to join the rebel army? Just drag them in."

The reason for the turtle's foot...

Lu Ming felt helpless.

Indeed, that gang quickly surrounded the two bundles.

"Jian Yun! Don't stand together with them!" the burly man said to Yan Cheng.

"Wait..." Yan Cheng blocked Lu Ming's face: "No ill intent!"

"Don't really." the burly man said in a deep voice: "Why is the lower class's face so pale?"

Several people nearby gathered, each holding a weapon.

"Jian Yun, don't forget the goal!"

"Now, still can forgive."

"Know what kind of base will be exposed?!"

………………………

Yan Cheng meant to retreat a few steps, feeling his shoulder touch something; he turned back, Lu Ming's hand rested on his shoulder.

"S Player..." Yan Cheng said with a self-blaming tone.

Lu Ming gestured to take the boy behind him, glanced at the girl beside him: "First take them away."

Yan Cheng knew S Player's strength, leading the girl away.

Soon, Lu Ming was surrounded.

"!" With a cold snort, several surged forward.

A moment.

Lu Ming's eyes shifted; a mass of shadow rose from the ground, quickly condensing into a shape.

The shadow moved swiftly; several hadn't reacted when the cold blade already sliced toward the eye.

"Crack!"

The sound of the blade striking a stick rang out.

"How did it appear?!" the leading burly man was caught off guard, his momentum half-suppressed by the shadow.

The others, seeing this, charged straight at Lu Ming.

Lu Ming's eyes narrowed; he used the second skill Heavy Strike, dodging the attack while punching the opponent's chest.

【Heavy Strike Damage: 36 points (double)】

Although only doubled damage, it was enough to send a grown adult flying; the one charging forward was directly blown away.

"Die!" Suddenly a ferocious face flashed from behind, accompanied by a raised cleaver.

"Clang!"

The cleaver was blocked by a dagger; the original shadow suddenly appeared behind Lu Ming, using the dagger to block the fatal blow.

But the shadow's strength was ultimately limited; the resisting hand gradually trembled, then the cleaver sliced the dagger, straight through the shadow's arm, crimson liquid bursting instantly.

Indeed, those high-level ones are soft eggs!

The attacker thought, feeling excited, suddenly noticed the boy's eyes before him were calm, simply like... an idol?

At that moment, only see the shadow swing the dagger, straight down onto the chopped arm.

The dagger was very sharp, plus the shadow's strength was relatively greater; the entire arm was cleanly severed.

The attacker was dumbfounded, not even retracting the cleaver; that icy dagger had already swung toward the eye.

"Bang!"

Then, the dagger like chopping a steel plate, a bullet bounced back; the strong inertia made the shadow retreat a few steps.

"All stop!" A fierce shout rang out, extremely penetrating warehouse echoed.

Lu Ming followed the sound; in the distance, a platform stood a figure, windcoat fluttering, like air flowing beside.

Player...

Lu Ming saw, clearly the player's skill, ordinary NPC could not have such ability.

"Jiesi bro!" Seeing familiar, Yan Cheng's hanging heart also relaxed.

Burly man somewhat anxiously said: 'Second leader, obviously high-level, now killed……'

"Let him in." Jiesi interrupted with a lazy tone: 'If enemy, its position had already been exposed, now killing also meaningless.'

Several faces looked at each other, even though very helpless, could only obey orders.

"Come on." Jiesi turned and walked to the second floor.

"S Player, Jiesi bro is third on the player ranking, protecting, so there's no danger." Yan Cheng let out a breath.

Lu Ming remembered, the third-ranked Jiesi of the Iron Armor Guild guild leader, thinking, did not hastily recall the shadow.

。。。。。。。。。。。。。

A crude attic, from inside one could see the distant sea, towering walls.

"Lu Ming…S Player…" Jiesi pondered, glanced at the shadow at the doorway: 'It must be the shadow, right? Does it have self-awareness?'

Lu Ming looked around, then answered with a counter-question: 'The rebel army's second-in-chief, is that chief also a player?'

Regarding the clear target positioning, wanted to expose oneself more.

Jiesi stared blankly: '…Know?'

"Know." Lu Ming said directly.

"Like that…later it will be understood" Jiesi said, looking at the girl by the window: 'Compared to, that guy will also be a player, right?'

"NPC." Yan Cheng said: 'Lu saw…Jiesi bro, our operation this time seems to have failed.'

"Also counts as complete failure." Jiesi paused: 'First gather the team, players and NPCs all.'

"Just returned…" Yan Cheng somewhat understood, the just-scattered had just gathered not long ago, then moved again?

"Currently waiting." Jiesi said.

Yan Cheng nodded: 'Alright…'

When leaving, incidentally also took the girl away, Lu Ming's request, to find a place for the girl to stay.

The door closed, only Lu Ming and Jiesi remained.

"S-rank player, what are you thinking?" Jiesi suddenly asked, noticing Lu Ming's gaze continually fixed.

"Jiesi?" Lu Ming slowly spoke.

"What do you mean?"

"Jiesi player ranking three, the skill should be……" Lu Ming paused, thought of a suitable word: 'Useless?'

"Jiesi" stared blankly, his lazy face finally showed some emotion: 'Truly ashamed, S-rank player, even speaking lacks confidence……'

Can't be sure, definitely will understand? The Blood‑Succubus told you, right?

Lu Ming remained silent, did not rebut.

"Indeed Jiesi." The young man directly admitted, raising his lax gaze: 'Let's get acquainted, Li An, vice‑leader of the Iron Armor Guild.'

"Just now that situation, was it arranged by Jiesi?" Lu Ming faced the other's eyes, very calm.

From Li An now on, that kind of idea arose; Li An didn't plan to help, but due to some reason, also had to help.

Lu Ming had seen before, that kind of eye that wants to put oneself in a death trap; after contacting psychology, some views on matters all underwent the same degree of change.

"Really want to kill, but only my own thought." Li An didn't beat around the bush, thought, Lu Ming face used lying, because meaningless: 'Speak truth, understand, why Jiesi Blood‑Succubus would want to help.'

Lin Jiu understood, but Lu Ming knew why Jiesi would also help; according to Li An's account, initially they wanted to use NPC to directly kill themselves, but later also helped.

Perhaps along the way something gave reason to change the idea.

, the door suddenly knocked, transmitting Yan Cheng's voice: 'Jiesi bro, everyone gathered.'

"Surely you think, what let change of mind?" Li An's lazy face, corners of mouth slightly raised: 'Win‑win, one that allows win‑win choice.'