Chapter 656

Er Heiyu tugged slightly, then sighed uninterestedly: "Why are you forcing it so much? You clearly like me, yet now you pretend not to care."

"Lord Niuzuo, it was a misunderstanding—I've explained it many times." Niuzuo's face was expressionless, his voice flat, as he released his grip.

Er Heiyu giggled, withdrew her hand, and walked past him.

"I don't care what you say—I believe only what I see. If you ever come to your senses, I'll eliminate the Third Heiyu and put you in his place, anytime you're ready."

"... I heard nothing."

Lord Niuzuo was fine—he remained calm.

But the scientists beside him and the servants nearby turned instantly pale, fell to their knees, trembling uncontrollably, not daring to move.

This kind of news, this kind of conversation—was not for them to hear.

"Boring. So boring."

Er Heiyu extended her slender fingers and tapped Niuzuo's chin.

"Take off your mask."

"..."

After a pause, Niuzuo slowly removed his mask—a half-face of delicate, doll-like beauty, the other half burned as if by flame, scarred beyond recognition.

One half beautiful, one half ruined—giving an eerie impression.

The ever-steady Lord Niuzuo, whose appearance was so unexpectedly adorable, startled those who dared sneak glances—and made them even more terrified, for the more secrets they knew, the closer they were to death.

Er Heiyu's fingers glided gently over his ruined half, then over his beautiful half, before she pressed her face close to his and whispered: "I remember everything you did to me."

What?!

Lord Niuzuo's pupils shrank; he instinctively stepped back half a pace.

"..."

He said nothing, but his expression softened slightly.

Like a child who'd pulled off a prank, Er Heiyu pulled down one eyelid and stuck out her tongue at him.

"Look how scared you are—I remembered it all years ago. Don't die in some backwater place. You've done great work this time; Feng Wang will reward you handsomely. I don't know why you insist on staying here, but... I'll wait for you in Jingcheng. When you come, don't you dare hide from me again."

With that, Er Heiyu reached out to An Dong'er; an iron chain shot from her sleeve, binding An Dong'er tightly as she dragged her away.

Before leaving, Er Heiyu turned back once more and said: "By the way, 【Tian Shi】 has just appeared—that's one reason Feng Wang is so desperate to get her. The whole nation is in chaos. Watch yourself."

"... Thank you, Lord Er Heiyu, for your concern."

"Hmph! Call me Huang Er!"

"... Thank you, Lord Er Heiyu, for your concern."

"You! Hmph! I'll let it slide this time. When you get to Jingcheng, just wait and see what I'll do to you!"

Though she spoke harshly, Er Heiyu's lips curved upward slightly as she left—she seemed in good spirits.

After Er Heiyu departed, Lord Niuzuo touched the spot where her fingers had rested, as if recalling something, then sighed deeply and put his mask back on.

"Huang Er... some things are impossible from the start, and will always remain impossible."

Taking a deep breath, Lord Niuzuo walked toward the pure white room where An Dong'er had been held.

Behind him, all who had eavesdropped—except the scientist—now stared blank-eyed, foaming at the mouth, lifeless.

The scientist turned deathly pale, trembling as he rose and hurried after Lord Niuzuo.

Staring at the pure white room, Lord Niuzuo frowned deeply.

"Stripped away... but only one remained."

"Not enough..."

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!!

Inside the pure white room, something invisible was pounding the wall—punch after punch after punch.

Cracks appeared out of nowhere on the walls; without the sound, no one could guess what was happening inside.

"The Extreme Yin Body... the closest to 【Yin Cha】, the perfect experimental subject—and taken away so quickly by the higher-ups! If only I'd had a few more decades, a hundred years—I could've uncovered part of the truth behind 【Yin Cha】!"

Lord Niuzuo clenched his fists.

Only one 【Yin Xu】 had been stripped away—far too little for meaningful research, nowhere near as efficient as studying the original.

But Feng Wang's orders could not be disobeyed.

Huang Er... she has no idea who she's serving.

Too naive! She's far too naive... only I can protect her... only I!

Lord Niuzuo's gaze grew resolute.

"Even if it's Feng Wang—if he dares touch her, I'll... kill him!"

He summoned the other scientists and laid out his plan; they were stunned.

"This is too rushed!"

"Yes, Lord Niuzuo, my research on this is just beginning—how exactly does 【Yin Xu】 differ from 【Yin Cha】? What are the nature shifts? We need far more study..."

Lord Niuzuo swept them with a glance and said gravely: "Plans can't keep up with change. An Dong'er is gone; our research here is already stalled. Better to accelerate the plan—integrate its power into my body, then head to Jingcheng to confront Feng Wang and Huang Hou."

"..."

No one spoke. They were among the few who knew Niuzuo's full plan, so his mention of Feng Wang and Huang Hou drew no reaction—they'd long suspected it. But they were troubled by his sudden rush to advance the plan.

"Lord Niuzuo, we're not unwilling—but human trials now are far too premature. Success rate will be extremely low."

"Then find a way to raise the success rate. There are so many people in Chunuan City—just grab any of them."

"Lord Niuzuo, this... isn't right."

"No matter. 【Tian Shi】 has appeared—the world is in chaos, perfect cover for us. Besides, I'm leaving Chunuan City soon; what happens after is none of my concern. Let's act without restraint."

Everyone immediately understood what Lord Taurus meant and fell silent.

The scene fell quiet; only the rhythmic thud, thud, thud of fists striking the wall echoed through the space.

If An Dong'er were here, she would have seen with her naked eyes that the one hammering the wall was none other than a middle-aged man, his face a mass of rotting, festering flesh, clad in a tattered long robe, pounding the wall with rhythmic punches—one, then another, then another.

"If all goes well, fusing with 【Yin Void】, which is more mysterious and delves deeper into the essence of power than a 【Pseudo Ghost Spirit Root】, my strength will surely undergo earth-shattering changes!"

Lord Taurus gazed at the pure-white, empty room, lost in thought.

【Yin Agents】 are an existence more mysterious than 【Ghost Spirit Roots】; the power of 【Yin Agents】 is closer to the Origin of the Great Dao!

If we could unravel the truth of 【Yin Agents】, it would be far more powerful than any 【Ghost Spirit Root】!

Not to mention… even our Phoenix Organization hasn't fully figured out 【Ghost Spirit Roots】, so why not take an unconventional route and study the power of 【Yin Agents】 instead.

An Dong'er was originally Lord Taurus's trump card for a comeback.

Unfortunately, she was still taken away…

"I'll take her back! Whether it's An Dong'er, or… Huang Er!"

……

(End of this chapter)