Chapter 580

Faced with this inexplicable scene, Lin Yu's mind was a mess—what was going on? Why did something feel off?

【446】 Need manpower

"Everyone, don't panic—he's not the person you encountered before, just looks somewhat similar," Lin Yu quickly interjected, giving Heilong a sidelong glance to tell him to stop causing trouble.

"Ah… so that's how it is!" Heilong suddenly understood, recalling the full story—he'd secretly rejoiced when those three got beaten before.

Lin Yu sighed helplessly, then asked Heilong: "What do you want from me so early in the morning?"

"My useless brother vanished!" Heilong's face changed instantly, frantic, his voice thick with anxiety.

"Duan Duan Changren is gone? Really?" Lin Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression turning serious.

Heilong nodded vigorously, urgently saying: "Exactly! He disappeared this morning—I searched every corner of the hospital thoroughly."

"Need manpower?" Gu Zhi spoke up, noticing no trace of Ye Si Ti's ruthlessness on Heilong: "With our backgrounds, finding someone won't take long."

Taiyang chimed in: "Yeah, if you need help, just say so."

"Oh come on, I knew right away I felt a special connection to you all—you really are tied to Old Man! I've been so miserable!"

Heilong suddenly burst into loud laughter, revealing his stark white teeth; his gaze at Gu Zhi and the others was filled with warmth and approval, as if he wanted to pat their heads.

Lin Yu stared helplessly at Heilong—he'd finally figured it out; this guy's skin had gotten thicker than ever.

Liu Chen fell silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up and asked Heilong: "What does Duan Duan Changren look like? Did you take a photo?"

Heilong pondered for a long while, then vividly described: "His face shows signs of age, but his features are sharply defined, his eyes especially captivating, nose high and straight, thin lips giving a cold impression."

Gu Zhi and Liu Chen fell into thought, as if visualizing. After a moment, Liu Chen asked: "Any distinguishing features?"

Heilong thought, then gestured with his hand: "About my height."

"Enough," Lin Yu cut in: "If you really want to find him, just take a photo of Heilong—Duan Duan Changren looks no different from him." This guy was so self-obsessed he'd say anything, with zero shame.

Heilong nodded eagerly: "Yes, yes, quick, pull out your phone!"

Taiyang stared blankly, pulled out his phone, opened the camera, adjusted the angle, and started taking pictures.

"Wait," Heilong frowned, puzzled: "Did you turn on beauty mode? How can you not use the original camera to capture my handsome face?"

Taiyang's lip twitched slightly: "Relax, beauty mode is definitely on."

"Then take the photo!"

Heilong nodded proudly, then struck an extremely "flamboyant" pose.

Taiyang looked at Heilong's vain posing and sighed: "Old man, if we can't get his face, we won't find him."

"You call me old man? Do I look like an elderly person?" Heilong glared at Taiyang—he might be older, but he wasn't about to be called "old man."

"Heilong, can you stop acting up? Just get the photos done and leave with them—I want to go back to sleep," Lin Yu snapped, slumping on the sofa, closing his eyes, refusing to deal with Heilong anymore.

Heilong reluctantly cooperated, letting Taiyang take full-body shots; though it felt strange, he endured it for his brother's sake.

Taiyang put away his phone, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said to Heilong: "Done."

Taking photos of Heilong was a true test of patience—without patience, you simply couldn't manage it.

"Excellent! Old Man is leaving!" Heilong muttered to himself, then looked at Lin Yu lying on the sofa: "When you hear anything about my brother, let me know."

Lin Yu opened his eyes, curious: "Where are you going now?"

"I need to collect Duan Duan Changren's monthly payment—I have to find that woman and stop her from taking it all." Mentioning Wang Mali, Heilong's tone turned bitter—he wanted to fly straight to 803 and beat her senseless.

"Mm, I'll let you know if I hear anything," Lin Yu agreed, though inside he thought: Duan Duan Changren vanishes too often—this frequency is ridiculous.

Heilong gave Taiyang and the other three a haughty glance, then vanished, leaving the three Xiao Pingguo members staring at each other in silence.

After Heilong left, Lin Yu stood up and smiled apologetically at the three Xiao Pingguo members: "Don't take it to heart—he got mentally damaged years ago, his mind's not quite right."

Gu Zhi and the others heard this, faces darkening, but didn't dwell on it.

"I've already sent the photos to my steward—they should have results soon," Gu Zhi told Lin Yu: "I'll send someone to contact you if anything comes up."

Liu Chen added: "Same with my family."

"Ours too," Taiyang said apologetically, glancing at Lin Yu awkwardly: "But we're a bit short on manpower right now—might not be able to help much."

【447】 Worthless trash

"No problem, just having this intention is enough," Lin Yu didn't mind—he wasn't close to Liu Chen and the others anyway, and he wasn't overly concerned about Duan Duan Changren's disappearance.

Liu Chen and the other three exchanged a few more pleasantries, then took their leave one by one.

When the living room was left with only Lin Yu, he finally began to think, murmuring to himself.

"The Heresy Tribunal won't come anytime soon, Dugu Lang is ruined, Ye Si Ti serves the Demoness, ZACK was defeated by me—could it be that the Mad Dragon has escaped?"

"If it's the Mad Dragon, the Golden Time-Space will start stirring. I wonder if the weapon the system gave me can suppress the Mad Dragon," Lin Yu stared out the window, muttering.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

In a ruined basement, ZACK dropped Dugu Lang and began treating his own injuries; due to severe injuries, his face was pale, showing extreme weakness.

He forced himself to pull a bright red pill from his pocket and swallowed it, then closed his eyes, using the ambient psychic energy to heal his wounds.

As ZACK used psychic energy to heal, the unconscious Dugu Lang groaned, opened his eyes, struggled to sit up against the wall, gasping for breath, scanning his surroundings.

"Where is this?" Dugu Lang looked left and right, then suddenly turned to ZACK beside him and asked: "What's going on? Where am I?"

ZACK said nothing, still meditating. Dugu Lang tried to summon his battle energy—but found he had zero combat power, utterly reduced to an ordinary human.

"How could this happen? Why?! I'm furious～ˇ!" Dugu Lang cried out in despair, feeling as if he'd endured extreme agony, his heart shattered.

Without power, he could no longer seek revenge, no longer eliminate the dragons of the Judgment by force.

He was in pain, furious, filled with regret.

But he had no way out.

He truly regretted it—if he'd foreseen this outcome, he'd have cleanly eliminated Zhi Shui earlier.

But now, it was too late to say anything.

"You're already worthless trash. Wake up and get out—I don't deal with garbage."

ZACK suddenly stopped healing, opened his eyes, glanced coldly at Dugu Lang, then turned and walked out. He had no sympathy—only acted for his own benefit.

"Asshole!!" Dugu Lang clenched his teeth, eyes blazing red, waiting for Zack to vanish.

"I won't accept it! I truly won't accept it!"

"I'll kill that bastard Lin Yu with my own hands!"

Dugu Lang roared until his voice echoed through every corner of the abandoned basement.

"Really?"

At that moment, a voice devoid of emotion slipped in quietly.

Dugu Lang jolted violently, snapping his head up—and saw a handsome young man seated on a strange red chair, staring fixedly at him.

"Who are you?"

Though the man looked unimpressive, Dugu Lang's experience told him something was off.

Ri slowly stood, stepped before Dugu Lang, looked down at him, and smiled: "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is—what do you plan to do?"

Dugu Lang narrowed his eyes and asked softly: "Hm?"

"You heard clearly enough," Ri smiled, placed his hand on Dugu Lang's shoulder, and yanked him off the ground, whispering.

"You should know—you're a stray dog now. You have no choice but to seek help."

"And I'm the one who can pull you out of this predicament—so long as you cooperate honestly."

Dugu Lang swallowed hard, doubt flickering in his eyes. He truly needed someone's aid.

Now, all his hope rested on this stranger.

After a moment's thought, Dugu Lang took a deep breath and asked slowly: "Why should I trust you?"

"Because your combat power is zero," Ri smiled, releasing his grip. "Or because lying to you serves no purpose."

"There's no point in deceiving you."

Dugu Lang's pupils tightened sharply.

"What do you really want?" Dugu Lang glared at Ri, voice sharp.

"Normally, I need you to do something," Ri glanced at Dugu Lang, speaking coolly. "My master needs you. Your value is just enough—so I'm assigning you to assist him."

Dugu Lang's expression shifted constantly; after hesitation, he asked: "Who is your master?"

"Just understand this: you're merely a tool." Ri waved his hand. "(Money's good)"

"If you agree, I'll restore your combat power—stronger than any psychic's!"

"Really?" Dugu Lang's eyes burned with eagerness.

"No reason to lie," Ri gave a slight nod. "If you help me complete my master's task, you'll gain that power—even ascend to the throne of Wu Lin Alliance Lord of the Golden Time Dimension!"

Hearing Ri's words, Dugu Lang's eyes gleamed—but he suddenly remembered Gu Jing, whom Lin Yu had mentioned, and asked urgently: "Do you have anything that can cure ordinary people's illnesses?"