Chapter 453: Portrait Mysteriously Disappears! I

At this moment, Lin Yang couldn't help but wonder: "What if they discover that the Jinshan in Xicheng District is fake?"

Lying comes with a price, especially when they realize they've been fooled; they will surely direct all firepower at the Liuhe Association.

"The real thing can't be fake, the fake can't be real; they're not stupid, why would they gamble everything before it's certain?" Su Yang asked with a laugh.

"You mean… there's really a Gold Mine beneath the Factory Area?!" Lin Yang was startled.

"Of course."

"Strange, why didn't we notice it back then?" Lin Yang scratched the back of his head, looking puzzled.

As he was puzzled, Yin Yun beside him stared straight at Su Yang, her eyes flashing with an inexplicable Radiance.

"By the way, avoid contact with the Warlord side these days; the Mighty King has witnessed your extraordinary Innate Talent and will surely hold a grudge," Su Yang reminded.

For those with power and influence, instability is the greatest danger.

Since Yin Yun possesses the power to take his life at any time, she will inevitably plant a Seed.

Once the Xicheng District matter is settled, the Mighty King will certainly turn on his own.

In ancient times, Zhao Kuangyin released military power over a cup of wine; given the Warlord's brutal, unrestrained nature, he will not easily settle peacefully.

"I understand; we'll be more cautious," Huang Hua nodded slightly.

"So from now on we must work with the Warlord to deal with them, but we can't annihilate them completely," Su Yang said.

"You mean… we have to kill, but not finish the killing?"

"Exactly, we must keep the Mighty King constantly needing our aid; once we lose our usefulness, we'll fall into a passive position," Su Yang nodded slightly.

This layer is quite subtle.

Controlling the degree is crucial; get it right and it's a win‑win, get it wrong and you may end up pecking your own eye.

Su Yang felt his sore, limp body gradually return to normal, and after moving a bit said, "Let's go back to the Zhuangyuan and take a look."

After speaking, the four rode together toward Liuhe Street.

When they returned to the familiar street, Su Yang found ruins everywhere, the whole view a wasteland.

Not a single intact building!

Among them, No. 1 Liuhe Street was the most damaged; the once grand three‑story Villa now lay in a pile of broken stones.

"The Warlord's strike is truly ruthless; you only killed a Squad Leader, is such heavy‑handedness necessary?" Lin Yang winced and said.

After all, this was the starting point of their game descent and also the Liuhe Association's own property; seeing it destroyed like this felt rather painful.

"The Squad Leader was merely a fuse; what truly enraged them was that you two killed an entire camp's soldiers," Su Yang said slowly.

Lin Yang thought it over carefully; indeed it was.

Previously they only intended to stop the Warlord's outcome, but didn't consider the force; a careless move caused a huge mistake.

"Miss Yin, sorry to trouble you," Su Yang bowed his fist in salute.

"You make me do the heavy lifting again," Yin Yun snapped a white eye, but still obediently walked forward.

"That's inaccurate; haven't you heard that the capable bear more work? Besides, if I had such Innate Talent, I'd love to do more of this—how fun!" Su Yang said with a laugh.

"You really shouldn't say that; when I was a kid I envied those TV folks who could Remote Object Retrieval, sword soaring through the sky—so cool," Lin Yang agreed.

"Birds of a feather," Yin Yun sneered.

Su Yang and Lin Yang exchanged a smile.

Soon, under Yin Yun's "effort," the ruins and stones were cleared, revealing a long red carpet.

The few together lifted the carpet, and the familiar mine cave reappeared to daylight.

"Fortunately the interior wasn't damaged," Lin Yang said, his heart still racing.

If the mine cave collapsed from Cannonball attacks, repairing it would be difficult.

Manpower is fine; the main issue is time.

Su Yang glanced briefly, then withdrew his gaze and moved the surrounding stones aside.

Lin Yang noticed his action and asked, "What are you looking for?"

"A portrait," Su Yang felt around for a moment, his doubts deepening.

"Whose portrait?"

"Su Kang."

Upon hearing that, Lin Yang also stepped forward to help search.

The two searched for a while but found no trace of a Photo Frame at all.

Su Yang wiped the fine sweat from his Forehead, furrowed his Brow, and said, "It's gone?"

"Could someone have seen the exquisite portrait and slipped it away?" Lin Yang asked.

"The portrait was on the first floor; if the building collapsed it would be buried deep in the ruins. Ordinary people wouldn't exert such effort for a worthless painting," Su Yang shook his head.

"Liang Shu took it?"

"That's possible; we'll ask him when he returns," Su Yang temporarily buried the doubt in his heart.

It wasn't a big deal originally, but it left an uneasy feeling.

Considering the events of the past two days and Xiao Wenxue's account, Su Yang vaguely sensed something fishy.

At that moment, he suddenly thought of something and asked, "Have you seen Su Kang's corpse?"

Lin Yang paused, "No, I heard he died as soon as I entered the game, and then I met up with you right away."

Su Yang's Brow furrowed deeper; he vaguely recalled that when he offered incense, the Coffin was placed before his eyes.

But at that time he hadn't suspected that far; after all, a father in a game background couldn't be mourning, could he?

Now thinking, Su Kang's cause of death still needs investigation.

Or perhaps…

He never died!

Boom…

Suddenly, a rumbling sound echoed.

Only three or five cars slowly stopped on Liuhe Street, and two familiar Silhouettes stepped out of the cars.

One was a bald middle‑aged man, the other a petite woman dressed in a light‑green long skirt.

"Su Yang Ge, Lin Yang Ge!"

Xiao Mo, upon seeing them, was overjoyed and ran over.

Lin Yang turned just as he was bumped squarely in the chest; lowering his gaze, he saw a pair of sparkling clear eyes and was slightly taken aback.

"Xiao Mo?"

"You're both fine, that's such a relief," Xiao Mo's Brow and eyes curved, a shallow dimple appearing on her face.

"Uncle Li." Su Yang bowed slightly.

Li Yang looked at the house reduced to ruins and sighed, "It's only been a short while since we last met, and you, kid, have already done something earth‑shaking."

"Uncle Li, I'm embarrassed. I just didn't want to be framed by a villain and had to protect myself," Su Yang said.

"The next batch of goods has already arrived. When do you plan to take them?" Li Yang asked.

"May I have a word?"

The two went to an empty corner, and Su Yang, in a serious tone, said, "That batch isn't enough; I need more."

Li Yang, hearing that, was unsurprised, "I came today precisely because I guessed you had this kind of need," he said.

"The seafood has already been brought into the city; whatever amount you want, there is that much!"

Su Yang, delighted, "Then I won't be polite!"

"Five thousand small Yellow Fish, ten thousand big Yellow Fish, ten thousand sea urchins, and as for fish roe…"

"The more, the better!"

Li Yang looked at Su Yang with surprise, "That many? Are you planning to build an army?"

"No." Su Yang shook his head, a flash of brilliance passing through his eyes:

"I intend to establish a Warlord!"