Chapter 16
“Attack!”
Taking the military doll’s fall as the cue to begin their fight, four of the nine Moon Guards rush towards Zhui Yun.
With Nian Yao Yao standing behind Zhui Yun, none of the Moon Guards can hope to use their firearms—in fear of hitting the former, resulting in them being forced to resort to close combat.
(Ah, I hate fighting in a crammed space since my Relic is meant to be used in a more open area…)
Towards the four Moon Guards’ approach, Zhui Yun reacts in an unusual way, as she stabs her two-handed bronze sword into the gap that she had previously created on the ground.
*Kakaka!* using her weapon as a lever, Zhui Yun lifts the ground in front of her—flicking a giant slab of concrete at the approaching Moon Guards.
Towards the incoming slab of concrete, the four Moon Guards pause their movements, and among their numbers, a Moon Guard wearing a blue oni mask—summons out their Relic that takes on the form of a large war hammer.
*Boom!* in a single strike, the war hammer shatters the slab of concrete; however—
*…!* emerging from the settling dust clouds of the shattered concrete is Zhui Yun’s sword that was thrown forth!
“Uh!”
*Klang!* defending himself with the hammer, the Moon Guard is pushed backwards by a few meters.
“How stubborn.”
Fishing out two grenades from her pocket, Zhui Yun pulls their pins, and tosses them towards the Moon Guards with a cruel smile.
………
While Zhui Yun had been fending off the Moon Guards—
*Thud!* as soon as the first military doll collapses, Tian Cheng doesn’t waste any time in moving onto her next target, as her next swing cleaves across the chest of three more RS800s.
(That sword she’s using is definitely something that belongs to an Immortal. Where did Long Hua get it from?)
Marveling at how easily Tian Cheng is able to dispatch the remaining two dolls, Nian Yao Yao also realizes just how many secrets Long Hua could potentially be hiding from her.
(Well, so long as we’ve got that contract, there shouldn’t be a need for me to pry too deeply into his secrets. …Maybe.)
*Boom! Boom!* it was also in that same instance—that two thunderous explosions went off from the grenades that Zhui Yun had thrown out.
As smoke covers the entire hallway, Nian Yao Yao says—
“Alright, we’ll take this chance to continue heading down.”
………
Cracks and dents fill the walls of the hallway along with pitch black burn marks.
“That brat actually carries grenades around when heading out to dinner? What the hell?”
“Isn’t she afraid of them exploding at random?”
“Argh I hate this…”
Standing at the forefront of the Moon Guards is Qing Yue—who is wearing a white oni mask.
Deployed right in front of her are two blast shields that have completely blocked off the hallway.
Other than being able to summon out various oddities, her Relic is also able to be used to store objects like these.
“…”
Taking out her phone, Qing Yue makes a call, and rather quickly it connects.
“Madame Nian, this is impossible. Using non-lethal methods of this severity against this group is just asking them to make us a joke.”
As Qing Yue explains everything that had just happened, Nian Tao Tao—
[Hmm…]
Realizing just how disadvantageous the situation is for her side, she can only heave a sigh.
As a mother, she isn’t willing to use lethal measures against her only daughter, but with how important that map is to her—using a bit more force could still be within reason.
[I’ll have the additional Moon Guards bring in the MA90s. For now, focus on getting to the ground floor as soon as possible. So long as we create a situation where she’s devoid of all her guards, or her guards become incapable of dealing with our firepower, that idiotic daughter of mine should relinquish the map.]
“Understood.”
Hanging up the call, Qing Yue withdraws the blast shields into her Summoning Pouch, and it was also in that instance that—
“This place looks like hell. Did that imp do this?”
Descending from the floor above is Long Hua with Bai Zhe held in his right hand.
“That lunatic is still alive?”
“The guy that has a few screws loose in the head?”
“Who are you calling a lunatic and a guy with a few screws loose, you BSDM perverts?”
“…”
“…”
Towards Long Hua's sharp comeback, the nine Moon Guards didn’t have much that they could say back—because inwardly, they also had to agree with the opposition’s remark.
“Who else—other than you, can we call a lunatic?”
Taking a step forward, Qing Yue throws a cold glare at Long Hua.
“Hm?”
“…What?”
Seeing Long Hua making a scrutinizing expression, Qing Yue can’t help but feel a bit uneasy.
(No, it should be fine. My mask distorts my voice, and my hair is covered by my hood. He can’t possibly figure out that it’s-)
“I don’t take joy in killing children, so take your leave.”
As soon as these words came out of his mouth, Long Hua felt himself to be a complete hypocrite.
As a practitioner, his age should be far older than any of these Moon Guards combined—in other words, all of them are but children to him.
“I’m 18, you ass.”
“…”
Silence looms in the air for a brief instance; eventually, Long Hua answers—
“Aren’t you Moon Guards—all akin to test tube babies? Did the person in charge of you—just up and decided to make you a shorty for laughs, or is it because they have a particular fetish?”
Hearing these words, Qing Yue’s expression darkens beneath her mask.
“…You all go on ahead.”
From within her Summoning Pouch that is currently in the pocket of her jacket, Qing Yue retrieves two jade-handled daggers.
Much like Bai Zhe, the daggers do not possess handguards, and judging by the air that emanates from them—
“An Immortal’s weapon?”
“Yours is the same, isn’t it?”
Tightening his grip over Bai Zhe, Long Hua maintains a neutral stance.
Chapter 17
“Good luck, commander.”
Doing as told, the Moon Guards behind Qing Yue head for the stairs.
“Commander? Young and accomplished, aren’t you?”
Towards Long Hua’s remark, Qing Yue grits her teeth beneath her mask, and asks—
“Do you know how rare it is for us—Moon Guards, to live pass the age of eight?”
“From what I’ve heard, most of them tend to not even make it out of the artificial womb.”
“Those of us that are Sinners have a higher value.”
“Your point? If you’re going to preach to me about the importance of life, then… Sorry to disappoint, but back in my “hometown” more than a thousand lives are lost daily. During war times, you can expect a five-digit death count daily—at minimum.”
Seeing Long Hua’s expression that shows a complete disregard for the topic, Qing Yue feels a vein pop out of both anger and disgust.
“My point is, I’m pissed off at you for killing one of my subordinates!”
Kicking off the ground, and closing in on Long Hua, Qing Yue lowers the dagger in her right hand.
*Klang!* a crisp sound rings, as Bai Zhe clashes against Qing Yue’s dagger.
*Siiiii!* sparks scatter, as the two weapons’ edges slide against each other, and upon Qing Yue’s landing, she rotates her body, while performing a horizontal swing with the dagger in her left hand—aimed towards Long Hua’s abdomen.
Evading this attack with a back step, Long Hua continues to exchange hits with Qing Yue.
*Klang! Klang! Klang!* amidst this clash, Qing Yue is noticeably more aggressive compared to Long Hua, who is taking a more defensive approach.
(She’s fast, and me being in a crammed-up space like this doesn’t help much.)
*Klang! Klang! Klang!* wielding her daggers with practiced movement and animalistic agility; Qing Yue thoroughly demonstrates her advantage when fighting in an enclosed space, as she continues to push Long Hua back.
(And it also just so happens to be a hallway.)
Glancing behind him for a brief instance, Long Hua notices that he doesn’t have much more space to retreat to.
(Ai, come what may, I suppose. The sooner I have a grasp over the limits of this city’s detection system, the better.)
Drawing in a light breath, Long Hua’s azure-colored eyes give off a sharp gleam, as he rotates his cultivation base without letting any of its energy leak outwards.
(Mind, as calm as the surface of a lake.)
As a sense of strength fills his entire body, Long Hua plants his foot down firmly, while slashing with his sword.
“…Uh?”
*Klanggg!* noticing this slash to contain more weight, Qing Yue constricts her eyes, as she leaps back.
(Movement, as smooth as the descent of an arrow.)
Pressing another step forward, Long Hua goes on the offensive, as he closes the gap between Qing Yue and himself.
*Klang! Klang! Klang!* with his sword cloaked in dense sword Qi, the walls surrounding Long Hua are no better than tofu when it comes to durability, as scars are rapidly carved onto their surface with every slash.
(Speed, as swift as lightning’s fall.)
Narrowing his eyes, Long Hua raises the speed of his attacks.
“…!”
*Klang! Klang! Klang!* in response to these attacks, sweat begins to form on Qing Yue’s forehead, as she does her best to either block or evade them.
(The hell is this? It’s as if I’m fighting a-…!)
*Klang! Klang! Klang!* genuinely inexperienced when it comes to fighting against an Immortal, Qing Yue finds herself being pushed back quickly—with less than five meters of space remaining for her to retreat to.
(Dammit! Wasn’t I supposed to have the advantage in this environment?)
Pressured by Long Hua’s attacks that are becoming increasingly more difficult to keep up with, the thought of using her Relic’s true ability crosses Qing Yue’s mind, but—
(If I used my Relic the way I usually do, he’d recognize it’s me in an instant unless… Wait, I do have that!)
Taking three large-sized smoke bombs out of her Summoning Pouch, Qing Yue launches them into the air with a light kick, and slashes them open.
(Smoke bombs? Did she use a storage device to hold them? Is she also a practitioner? No, that wouldn’t make any sense.)
Exploiting Long Hua’s momentary loss of vision, Qing Yue takes out another object from her Summoning Pouch, and—
*Boom!* the moment this object is taken out, the floor collapses due to its inability to support the object’s weight, and scale.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
*…!!!* blowing away the smoke with a swing of his sword, Long Hua widens his eyes at the sight before him.
The temperature of the vicinity has increased by a drastic amount due to the object that Qing Yue had pulled out of her Summoning Pouch.
“Seriously…?”
Positioned right in front of Long Hua is a white war machine with the face of a yaksha.
These types of machines are categorized under the term Mobile Armor Units—shortened to MAUs.
With only its head and upper body being visible at this time, the entire MAU should be somewhere around six meters in stature.
The overall design of this unit looks to be reminiscent of an armored knight, and held in its hands is a beam cannon that has its barrel aimed right at Long Hua.
[Times have changed, my lord.]
Transmitting her voice through the MAU’s speakers, Qing Yue makes a jeering remark, as she pulls the beam cannon’s trigger.
“Tch!”
*Bang!!!* as green radiance accompanied by scorching heat threatens to erase his existence, Long Hua clicks his tongue before glancing at the floor beneath his feet.
………
“Uh…”
Awaiting Nian Yao Yao’s group upon their arrival at the base floor of the hotel are more than 20 Moon Guards and RS800s, along with five MAUs.
Scanning the MAUs up ahead, Tian Cheng remarks—
“BSI’s MA90s, all Mk. II variants. It seems like the Long Yue family is a loyal patron of this company.”
“Tell me about it…”
Each MAU measures at six meters in stature with beast like hindlegs. Their right hand is replaced with a chainsaw, while their left hand is a beam cannon.
Attached to these units’ backs is a backpack with four arms extending outwards. Held in each arm is a heavy cannon.
Compared to Qing Yue’s MAU that is sleeker in design, these look more like tanks that had legs attached to them.
Due to the MAUs’ colossal stature, the front entrance of the hotel had been blown apart to make room for them to enter.
“Ai, have you given up yet, my idiotic daughter?”
Shielded by five Moon Guards is Nian Tao Tao, and standing by her side is Jing Yin—who is waving to Jing Yao with a bland expression on her face.
(That habit of hers to always be sucking on a lollipop hasn’t changed…)
Despite her disagreements with her elder sister, this particular trait of Jing Yin’s—still brings a light smile to Jing Yao’s face.
“Damn you, old hag, must you go this far?”
Chapter 18
*Bam!* as the ceiling of the floor beneath him collapses, Long Hua descends from the floor above to evade the cannon’s blast.
(Talk about having one’s life flash before them…)
Raising a sigh, Long Hua looks forward, and sees that the feet of Qing Yue’s MAU are reminiscent of a bird’s talons.
“Might as well.”
Approaching the MAU, Long Hua waits for the cannon’s blast to die down.
[Hmph, that’s what you get for calling me a shorty. Hm wait-?]
As soon as the cannon’s blast has died down, and Qing Yue sees the purposefully cut hole that is on the ground, a feeling of bad premonition appears in her heart.
“…”
*…!!!* increasing the density of the sword Qi that is shrouding his blade by another layer; Long Hua swings his sword—cutting the floor beneath the MAU’s feet, causing it to fall to the next level.
[Uh!?]
Without giving Qing Yue any time to react, Long Hua lands onto the next floor, and immediately repeats the process—causing the war machine to fall rapidly towards ground level without much pause in its freefall!
………
“Damn you, old hag, must you go this far?”
“Rebellious children all need to be taught a good lesson once in a while. Be a good girl, and give up the map already, otherwise…”
With a sharp gleam in her golden eyes, Nian Tao Tao looks at Zhui Yun and Tian Cheng.
*Ding.* it was also in that instance that the eight Moon Guards—who were accompanying Qing Yue emerged from the elevator.
Batting an eye at them, Nian Tao Tao asks—
“Hm? Where’s your commander?”
“She’s dealing with the lunatic.”
“…He lived?”
“Stubborn bastard… Actually, how did those guys survive my grenades?”
Hearing the news of Long Hua’s survival, Zhui Yun curses beneath her breath, while pondering about the method that those Moon Guards had used to survive her grenades.
*…!!! …!!! …!!!* as increasingly violent tremors rock the hotel building, all eyes gradually turn towards the ceiling—that is a few dozen meters above their heads.
“Hm?”
*Kakaka!* cracks spread on the surface of the ceiling, and—
*Boom!!!* an instance later, a good portion of it collapses—causing many to place their arms over their heads, while distancing themselves from the area of danger!
*Boom! Boom! Boom!!!* accompanied by the ceiling’s debris in their fall is a white MAU, and standing above the MAU’s chest—
“Well, well, well, looks like we’re all here.”
Holding Bai Zhe in his right hand is Long Hua, who had landed into the center of the two sides’ confrontation.
[Ass hat, get your dirty feet off my Demon King!]
“Demon King? Is that what you call this thing?”
Ignoring Qing Yue’s demand, Long Hua presses his right foot down harder, and rubs the sole of his sneaker against the MAU’s chest scratching up the paint job.
[You scum!]
Just as the arms of the MAU are about to move, Long Hua swings his sword, and following four flashes, the limbs of the MAU are cleanly severed from their sockets.
[…]
The moment this happens, Qing Yue turns completely mute.
“You truly are quite fascinating, young man.”
“Your praise is too heavy for me to accept, I’m afraid.”
With a smile, Nian Tao Tao continues to ask—
“Even so, what are your odds of being able to escape from this encirclement?”
“…”
Looking at the five MAUs that are all armed to the teeth along with the Moon Guards who are most likely all Sinners, Long Hua can’t help but frown.
(Unleashing my cultivation base fully to utilize a large-scale divine art would probably be enough to get me out of this encirclement. …That’s assuming that I can actually do that. So far, empowering my physical strength through the use of my cultivation base hasn’t triggered the city’s detection system, but… If the system doesn’t go off on me when I’m using a divine art, I’d expect it to be in desperate need of repairs.)
“Well, what’s your answer, Sword Saint Long?”
Leaping off the “Demon King,” Long Hua shakes his head and sighs.
“I don’t dare to call myself a Sword Saint. In any case…”
“…”
Glancing at Nian Yao Yao, who is directing a gaze of anticipation at him, Long Hua answers—
“On my own, I have a ten percent chance of being able to escape with a few injuries. With baggage, though… Make that a five percent chance.”
“Are you willing to take that five percent chance?”
(Her condition for victory is to either isolate Yao Yao from us, or create a situation like this, where we as the guards aren’t able to deal with her side’s firepower. Even if she doesn’t have the heart to give the orders to open fire, we’re basically locked in place and can’t go anywhere.)
Scrutinizing the face of Nian Tao Tao—as if to look for any flaws in their outward display of emotions, Long Hua thought for a moment before approaching Nian Yao Yao, and positions himself behind her.
(Problems that can be resolved with money and brute strength—cannot be called problems.)
(Then what happens when you truly encounter a problem, shizun?)
(You resolve it by being a scumbag, or a lunatic.)
“…”
Recalling this conversation that had occurred in the distant past, Long Hua smiles with nostalgia.
“Ah?”
Placing his left hand on Nian Yao Yao’s shoulder, Long Hua presses the edge of his blade near her neck.
“Now then… Not another step closer. I have a hostage with me.”
“…?”
“…?”
Awkward silence fills the air, and blinking their eyes with an expression of confusion, it takes both Nian Yao Yao and Nian Tao Tao half a minute to catch up to the situation.
“Young man, you…?”
“Long Hua, you…?”
“Hua, you…?”
Towards Zhui Yun—who is glaring at him with clear hostility, Long Hua bats her an eye to deal with it.
“This is ridiculous. You wouldn’t dare to kill your own employer.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Pressing Bai Zhe closer to Nian Yao Yao’s neck, and allowing a bit of blood to flow, Long Hua looks at Nian Tao Tao with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Apologies.”
In the same instance, Tian Cheng pulls out Kun, and assumes the same posture as Long Hua; the only difference is—
“Huh?”
Realizing that she has also become a hostage, Jing Yao widens her eyes.
Chapter 19
“…”
Towards the sight of her younger sister being taken as a hostage, a frown appears on Jing Yin’s face, and this is something that neither Long Hua nor Tian Cheng had missed.
(Jing said—she doesn’t get along with her older sister, but I guess the hate isn’t mutual.)
Clearing his throat, Long Hua looks to Nian Tao Tao and Jing Yin, and says—
“Right, I got two hostages now. Just to let you know my doll here is an HX98 by Mobility Tech. With your vast intelligence network, you should know that this model of HC dolls was canceled due to a buggy AI. Her acting up every now and then isn’t usual. Just the other day, she committed arson when I wasn’t watching, so I won’t be held responsible if Jing’s pretty little head just so happens to roll from a malfunction.”
“…”
“Look into it.”
Compared to Nian Tao Tao—who is still a bit baffled by this unusual change in the situation, Jing Yin looks to the Moon Guard to her right, and orders him to confirm this bit of information.
“I need to make it as believable as possible, so there’s no need to glare at me like that, is there?”
Sensing Tian Cheng burning a hole in the back of his head with her gaze, Long Hua throws an apologetic expression at her.
“You sure this is going to work?”
Much like her mother, Nian Yao Yao also finds this situation to be just as ridiculous.
“Beats doing nothing. C’mon, play along with me for all it’s worth.”
Replying as such, Long Hua returns his focus to Nian Tao Tao.
“My demands are rather simple. Prepare me a getaway car.”
“I still don’t think you’ll do it, young man.”
In response to Nian Tao Tao’s reply, Long Hua smiles like a snake, and adds—
“I may not do it, but I could just as easily hand your precious daughter over to my doll. At that point, it might already be too late.”
“…”
“How did that saying go again? Something along the lines of “no tears would be shed until the casket is met,” you mentioned how she’s about to reach 200 years of age soon. Don’t you want to see her still be alive and kicking during that time—instead of being buried six feet under?”
“…”
“Careful now, my right hand might slip.”
With Nian Yao Yao digging her heel onto his shoe with enough force to make him feel a bit of pain, Long Hua purposefully shakes his hand in an unsteady manner.
“Lady Jing, what he said is true.”
Getting off the phone, the Moon Guard confirms that the information Long Hua had given to them to be true, to which Jing Yin asks—
“What now, Madame Nian?”
“…”
With a frown of contemplation on her face, Nian Tao Tao is utterly unsure of how she should go about dealing with this situation.
“Yin, you think he’s…- Let’s talk outside.”
Just as Nian Tao Tao and Jing Yin turn around, Long Hua calls out to them.
“Hang on, if this is going to be a long conversation—tell your guards to bring me some food and drinks. I didn’t get to eat my fill since you all so rudely disrupted my dinner.”
Towards Long Hua’s shameless demand, every single person—regardless of friend or foe, directs an expression of disbelief and scorn at him.
(Uh, being looked at like this is actually quite painful… I guess my face just isn’t as thick as shizun’s.)
“Master.”
“What?”
“Do not be concerned about their looks.”
“…Thanks.”
Knowing Tian Cheng to not be among those who are looking at him with disgust is somewhat comforting, but there was also something oddly sad about this.
“…Do as he says.”
Leaving these words behind, Nian Tao Tao and Jing Yin move outside to hold their conversation.
“Alright then. Quit standing around, and get me some food!”
With how much commotion there had been, it goes without saying that all the hotel staff and customers had already left the building.
With that being the case, the task of bringing Long Hua and the others food and drinks is left completely to the Moon Guards.
“You’re a real scumbag…”
Emerging from the MAU’s chest, Qing Yue looks to Long Hua with the same expression as everyone else beneath her mask, prior to leaping off the machine and storing it away.
“That’s one interesting Relic you’ve got.”
“Hmph.”
“Childish.”
Towards being given the middle finger by Qing Yue, Long Hua shoos her away with his left hand.
………
Outside of the hotel—
“Well, what do you make of this situation, Yin?”
“Certainly an interesting turn of events.”
To prevent the city from interfering with their business, Nian Tao Tao has thoroughly isolated the area around the hotel in a one-mile radius ahead of time.
Among the vehicles that are parked on the streets, two in particular stand out—being a white luxury car and a black helicopter.
Other than those two, there are two semi-trucks attached to large trailers designed to transport MAUs.
Every other vehicle that is left to be named all shares the same appearance—being a black SUV.
“I’m not very willing to just give up on that map.”
“If anyth-”
“I know.”
Thinking deeply about their current dilemma, Nian Tao Tao raises another question for Jing Yin, being—
“What do you make of that young man?”
“He definitely possesses a Relic, so he’s clearly a Sinner, but I feel as if…”
With an expression of doubt on her face, Jing Yin pauses in her speech, to which Nian Tao Tao guesses—
“Immortal like?”
“Correct.”
Chapter 20
“Immortal like?”
“Correct.”
Following Jing Yin’s answer, the conversation pauses, as Nian Tao Tao positions a hand near her chin in thought, to which the former remarks—
“This is why you brought me out here to talk about this.”
“Immortals have all kinds of methods available to them that I am unable to keep track of. Being more cautious in front of them is always a good thing, at least according to the ancestors.”
“Their divine sense, you mean?”
“Yes, and if he’s really an Immortal, that charade we saw just now could be genuine.”
Realizing what it is that Nian Tao Tao is concerned about, the same concern manifests in Jing Yin’s heart, and it was also then that—
“Mother.”
“Qing Yue.”
Turning around, Nian Tao Tao sees Qing Yue—who has just taken her mask off.
“Perfect timing. You’ve fought with the one surnamed Long; what do you make of him?”
“He’s a scumbag.”
Between being asked the question and her reply being voiced, not even a second had passed. Clearing her throat, Nian Tao Tao says—
“…Let me rephrase my question. Did he seem like he could have been utilizing the same energy as an Immortal?”
“…”
Towards this question, Qing Yue’s expression turns solemn, as she attempts to recall her fight with Long Hua.
“My combat experience against Immortals is insufficient, so I wouldn’t be able to say for certain, but when I fought him in an enclosed space, umm…”
A sense of embarrassment washes over Qing Yue, as she recalls that miserable experience, while recounting it with a begrudging tone, saying—
“I should have had the advantage in that sort of environment, but all of a sudden it was as if he…”
Finding it difficult to put what had occurred during the fight into words, Qing Yue pauses in contemplation before continuing with—
“You’d think that being in an enclosed space with a sword of that length would hinder him somewhat, but that sword easily cut across the walls as if they were butter. Leaving me with basically… Well, I figured I could use my Demon King to end it all.”
“Oh? So, it was as if you were fighting against a natural disaster, then?”
Upon Qing Yue replying with a nod, Nian Tao Tao narrows her eyes.
Hearing Qing Yue’s reports to her—regarding the events that occurred in the city’s wastelands—Nian Tao Tao was already suspicious of Long Hua’s origins. Her reason for agreeing to that wager back on the 99th floor of the hotel is related to her preexisting doubts.
“…”
Recalling the wager that occurred, along with Qing Yue’s reply to her question, it’s all but confirmed that Long Hua is indeed an Immortal.
“Yin…”
“According to the records kept in the Long Yue family’s archives, there is mentioning of Immortals capable of using a special force of energy related to sword arts. Maybe that’s how he managed to bypass the city’s detection system?”
“Sword Qi, was it? Didn’t think I’d live to see the day—in which, I’d encounter a genuine Immortal that speaks our tongue.”
“But the question now is…”
“Why is he here, putting on the guise of a Sinner? If there’s a chance, I’d love to sit down and chat, but not knowing what his intentions are is quite an issue.”
Thinking of her household’s deepest secrets that must never be revealed to the Immortals, a light of hostility emanates from Nian Tao Tao’s golden eyes.
“All that aside, you still haven’t answered how we should go about dealing with the current issue.”
Towards Jing Yin’s remark, Nian Tao Tao replies—
“Hmm, the hostage situation at a glance is quite ridiculous. On the surface it’s nonsense, and comical, something right out of a comedy skit. But with him being an Immortal—there’s reason to believe that he may just kill that idiotic daughter of mine, if we push him hard enough.”
“Does him being an Immortal automatically make him a Ling Yuan family clansman? Aren’t there records saying that there are other Immortal households outside of this realm?”
“You’re saying—that he may not be affiliated with the Ling Yuan family? Hmm.”
The possibility of this being the case is rather slim in Nian Tao Tao’s opinion, but even if it were the case—
“Affiliations do not matter much, so long as he is an Immortal of the outside world. Just this identity alone means that I’m forced to treat this situation as him genuinely holding that daughter of mine hostage…”
“Then do we just give up on the map?”
“…We give up on the map; we give up our future in the process.”
“It’s just one opportunity we-”
Before Jing Yin can even finish her sentence, Nian Tao Tao shakes her head, and says—
“Fact of the matter is, keeping him—who is an Immortal with unknown intentions and origins by my daughter’s side would be problematic. Ideally, we take him out of the picture right now.”
“…How do you plan to do that?”
Turning to Qing Yue, Nian Tao Tao says—
“Qing Yue, go get the rifle, and load it with the AI round. Also, throw an invisibility cloak onto yourself. Other than that… Do whatever else you can to avoid detection.”
“Understood.”
Putting her mask back on, Qing Yue moves pass Nian Tao Tao, and heads for one of the black SUVs, while Jing Yin asks—
“You plan to blast him with an AI round?”
“We’ve been meaning to test these bullets out, have we not?”
“With him being so close to the young lady and my sister, I do not believe it’s safe.”
“I’ll make preparations to prevent him from acting against them.”
Pinching the ring in her right hand, Nian Tao Tao mutters a short phrase.
As the ring gives off a flash of green light, four knives appear in Nian Tao Tao’s right hand.
Each knife is inscribed with foreign runes, and should Long Hua be here to see them, he would realize immediately that these knives were of Immortal origin.
As Nian Tao Tao examines the knives, Jing Yin says—
“Aren’t these knives one-time use only?”
“A new batch will be finished in another month. No point in keeping these around when there’s spares coming in.”
“………”
Turning to Jing Yin, Nian Tao Tao asks—
“You’re against this?”
“So long as he’s not affiliated with the Ling Yuan family, I don’t see a reason to agitate him. In fact, I’d see more reason to keep him in a good mood—if his affiliation was neutral.”
Towards what Jing Yin is suggesting, Nian Tao Tao closes her eyes, and sinks into contemplation, as she lowers her right hand.
“According to the ancestors of my family, Immortals that come into this realm do not harbor good intentions. The denizens of this realm and my ancestors have suffered much under their brutality, and I had grown up listening to these tales as bedtime stories. I’m old, and attempting to change at my age proves to be difficult.”
Raising a sigh, Nian Tao Tao reopens her eyes, and looks up at the night skies that are filled with gears.
“They do say that traditions fade over the passage of time. If that Immortal is indeed an ally, then his appearance here might be the world telling me to take a step back, and just leave everything to a new generation. Your suggestion, you wish to tell me that this is an opportunity for us?”
“Correct.”
Turning silent, Nian Tao Tao begins to weigh her options at hand.
“Ai, well, I did say in the past that if my idiotic daughter could find a way to break through this current predicament, I’d readily hand over my position as family head to her.”
“Then…?”
“Seems like that time might be around the corner.”