Chapter 516

Before her words had even faded, she hung up the phone. Zhang Fei immediately dialed Hearing Guan Yu's number, but no one answered.

Before Fengming Temple, Cao Cao, Lin Yu, and Zhang Fei stared at the strange temple.

"This Fengming Temple gives off an inexplicable sense of strangeness," Zhao Yun said.

"What strangeness? Doesn't matter." Zhang Fei, desperate to save the others, walked into the temple. Ma Chao, Zhao Yun, and Huang Zhong followed close behind, while Lin Yu and Cao Cao chose not to enter.

Cao Cao asked Lin Yu: "What did Liu brother mean by 'strangeness'?"

Seeing Lin Yu lost in thought, Cao Cao added: "This concerns the safety of our brothers."

Lin Yu explained simply: "Simply put, it's a high-level illusionary art. Those who enter fall into illusions and lose control of themselves."

"Is there a way to break it?" Cao Cao asked urgently.

"It can be broken, but the risk is high." Lin Yu thought to himself, but said aloud: "I'm not fully confident."

"I'm going in. Wait outside." Lin Yu walked straight toward Fengming Temple.

Inside the temple, Ma Chao, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, and Zhao Yun lost their sense of direction immediately. Ma Chao, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun were instantly trapped in illusions; only Huang Zhong, due to his large lung capacity and slow breathing rhythm, remained unaffected. He frantically searched for the three missing men.

As Lin Yu stepped inside, he was spotted by a hidden sentinel, who shouted:

"Another intruder! And one unaffected by the illusion!"

Others gathered at the sound. Their uniforms identified them as the Hedong University Security Team. This place was, in fact, a secret outpost of Hedong University, specifically designed to handle troublesome targets.

As soon as Lin Yu entered the temple, he felt a force seep into his body with each breath, rushing straight toward his mind.

Lin Yu allowed it to proceed, observing its effects. Immediately, a sea of flowers appeared before his eyes—empty, silent. The flowers swayed gently in the wind, pale red mist swirling, the fragrance intoxicating yet disorienting.

Lin Yu realized the mist eroded the mind; prolonged exposure would cause one to lose oneself and become a puppet.

Lin Yu furrowed his brow slightly, channeled a bit of Qi, and instantly dispelled the invading force. His vision returned to the temple's true scene. As he breathed again, the force returned. He activated the Great Breath-Sealing Art, preventing external influence from affecting him.

Lin Yu searched the temple, and as he reached the stairs, he encountered Huang Zhong descending from above.

"Huang Zhong, are you alone? Where are my three brothers?" Lin Yu asked.

"I'm looking for them. The air here is off—I stayed unaffected because I breathe slowly. Zhang Fei and the others were affected the moment they entered and got separated from me." Huang Zhong quickly reported the situation upon seeing Lin Yu.

"Alright, let's search together. Staying too long is harmful to the body…" Lin Yu said.

"Kill!"

Several Hedong University personnel charged forward, weapons in hand. Huang Zhong swiftly retaliated with the Tian Qu Bow. Though he had avoided the illusion, his breathing quickened after fighting. After knocking down three enemies, he himself staggered, nearly collapsing.

Huang Zhong shook his head fiercely, trying to stay conscious. Two guards saw this and swung their blades straight at his head. Lin Yu flicked two fingers, releasing two beams of Bai Guang that struck them back. He then stepped before Huang Zhong.

"Use your Turtle Breathing Technique. Don't make any large movements. Leave it to me."

Huang Zhong nodded and obeyed. When the dizziness faded, he joined Lin Yu in searching for Zhang Fei and the others. They scoured the second floor without success and moved toward the third floor.

"Trouble."

Lin Yu sprinted to where Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, and Zhao Yun stood. Huang Zhong also spotted them—unconscious, wandering near the edge of the fourth-floor rooftop, on the verge of falling. Huang Zhong hurried after them.

As the three were about to plunge over, Lin Yu grabbed Zhao Yun and shouted:

"Hold your breath!"

Zhao Yun immediately stopped breathing and broke free of the illusion. Huang Zhong reached out his hand and grabbed Ma Chao, forcing him to hold his breath. Ma Chao also regained consciousness.

"Zhang Fei!"

The four shouted together, but Zhang Fei had vanished from view, causing them to cry out in alarm.

They saw Zhang Fei walk to the edge—not advancing, but squatting to tie his shoelace, then calmly turning back. The others wondered if he had truly been affected by the illusion.

Zhang Fei turned toward the right side of the rooftop. Ma Chao caught up and shook his shoulder.

"Old Zhang, hold your breath!"

Zhang Fei acted as if he hadn't heard, continuing forward. Ma Chao forcibly dragged him back, shouting repeatedly. Zhang Fei remained unmoved. Finally, Ma Chao pinched Zhang Fei's nose and mouth shut—Zhang Fei finally woke up.

【341】 Dong Zhuo was attacked, framed by Cao Cao and Lin Yu.

"What the hell!" Zhang Fei roared.

"Hold your breath. The air here causes hallucinations," Ma Chao said.

Zhang Fei held his breath and said:

"Damn it, always this crap."

"Don't split up. Take turns holding your breath."

Lin Yu proposed, "Find Second Brother quickly."

The five searched the fourth floor for Hearing Guan Yu and found him unconscious near the stairs leading to the sixth floor.

"Second Brother!"

Zhang Fei rushed to Hearing Guan Yu, lifted him up, and checked his condition.

"Kill!"

A large number of Hedong security guards descended from the sixth floor, while others surged from all other directions on the fifth floor, surrounding Zhang Fei, Lin Yu, and the others.

Zhang Fei supported the unconscious Hearing Guan Yu. Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong all drew their weapons, their countenances heavy as they surveyed the encircling enemies.

"Enough. You four focus on guarding Hearing Guan Yu. Your strength won't work here. Leave it to me," Lin Yu ordered the Five Tiger Generals.

The guards here were all weaklings, or barely had a combat power of a few thousand points. Lin Yu had no patience to deal with them one by one.

"Mind Control Art—Freeze!" Lin Yu pointed a finger forward, and the enemies ahead froze like statues. He turned and pointed again, freezing those behind him. He gestured for the Five Tiger Generals to take Hearing Guan Yu and leave.

The Five Tiger Generals stared in stunned silence at the frozen Hedong University security team, then turned their eyes to Lin Yu.

"Go. I didn't attack you, did I?" Lin Yu said.

"Big Brother, that move was awesome! Can you teach it to your little brother?" Zhang Fei said, eyes gleaming with envy.

The others also looked at Lin Yu with eager anticipation.

"Want to learn? Your combat power is so low—you couldn't use it even if you learned. Waste of time."

Lin Yu's words left everyone's faces plainly disappointed.

"Wait until one day your combat power breaks 24,000, then I'll consider whether to teach it to you," Lin Yu added.

"Really? Then I'll go back and train like crazy," Zhang Fei exclaimed excitedly.

The others also looked eager—who wouldn't want to learn such a powerful technique?

Outside Fengming Temple.

"You're all safe—that's a blessing," Cao Cao said upon seeing the five emerge from the temple.

"If not for Brother's help, we'd truly have perished in Fengming Temple today."

"That's right—inside, there were illusions, and we couldn't use our full strength. Even if all those Hedong High students kicked us once each, they'd kill us," Ma Chao and Zhao Yun agreed.

"Hua Tuo, quickly check on my second brother," Zhang Fei said upon seeing Hua Tuo.

Hua Tuo set down his backpack and pulled out bottle after bottle of water replenisher, handing them out.

"This is my new invention—'Magic Dew'—it rapidly restores your stamina. With Hearing Guan Yu's word, you can trust it."

After examining Hearing Guan Yu's condition, Hua Tuo said, "Second Brother's internal injuries are severe—he needs proper rest and care. Don't worry, I'm confident I can fix him."

Learning Hearing Guan Yu's life was no longer in danger, everyone exhaled in relief. Cao Cao said, "The most important thing is that all of you are safe. I didn't expect Dong Zhuo to move so fast—he tried to eliminate us all at once."

"That despicable coward is the principal? We must demand an explanation from him," Ma Chao said angrily.

"Useless—we have no concrete evidence. He'll surely come up with more tricks next. Stay alert. First, return to Cao Fu to treat Hearing Guan Yu's injuries," Cao Cao warned.

"Understood," everyone nodded, supporting Hearing Guan Yu as they returned to Cao Fu.

The group returned to Cao Fu, only to see Li Ru and Mei Niang facing off against the Hedong High security team and Cao Fu's guards, guns drawn. Cao Cao hurried forward to demand an answer.

"Li Ru, what is the meaning of this? This is my home—who gave you permission to enter?"

Li Ru turned, looking down his nose at Cao Cao. "Last night, Principal Dong Zhuo was attacked. He claims you and Liu Bei were responsible, and ordered us to arrest you two."

"What? Dong Zhuo was ambushed—and he's blaming us?"

"Nonsense! Last night, the president and Brother Lin were right beside us—we had no time to ambush Dong Zhuo!" Zhang Fei cursed. They had tricked Hearing Guan Yu, lured us into Fengming Temple, and now they're framing Cao Cao and Lin Yu.

"You accuse us of attacking Dong Zhuo—what proof do you have? Empty words mean nothing," Cao Cao retorted.

"Hmph. Proof? Of course I have it. Look here."

Li Ru revealed a tray holding two pairs of black gloves.

"Gloves? So what?" Everyone stared blankly.

"Gloves alone mean nothing—but look at this."

Li Ru pulled out a small bottle labeled "DNA."

"This is the DNA reagent developed by Hedong High. Sprayed on these gloves, only the owner can use them."

He sprayed it on several people nearby, then had them try to use the gloves.

"It seems they stole our things while we were away and deliberately framed us. Dong Zhuo is truly treacherous," Cao Cao said grimly.