Chapter 149: 149, The dust is coming

The explosions within the barriers still echoed intermittently, though their force had diminished. As Ren Xiaosu hurried along, he noticed many residents emerging from their homes, gathering in clusters as if discussing what had occurred. Some claimed it might be a factory fire, with volatile materials detonating. Yet Ren Xiaosu sensed this was no simple matter, especially during such a tense period—this 109 Barrier now housed a multitude of dangerous elements. He arrived at the towering building, its facade bearing the sign of Li’s Bank, but he paid no heed, scaling the structure’s external framework to reach the rooftop. Just as he neared the edge, preparing to leap onto the rooftop, a dark muzzle pressed against his temple. He froze, unprepared to find someone already there. He looked up, recognizing the familiar duck-bill cap. Yang Xiaojin, too, seemed surprised to encounter Ren Xiaosu. She had to admit, there was an uncanny synchronicity between them—their actions and chosen vantage points often aligned in startling ways. Now, however, Yang Xiaojin held the upper hand, her smile sharp as she asked, “What brings you here at this hour?” “Surely we’re all drawn by the blast,” Ren Xiaosu replied calmly, certain the explosion wasn’t Yang Xiaojin’s doing, given their distance from the epicenter. He attempted to evade her aim, but he knew better—Yang Xiaojin’s marksmanship left him no chance. “I’ll ask again,” she said, her tone honeyed, “Whose dagger is it? Yours or mine?” “Mine,” Ren Xiaosu answered earnestly. Yang Xiaojin fell silent. Honestly, he hadn’t expected her to dwell on the dagger amid such urgency, nor had she anticipated his insistence on it. “Come up,” she muttered, holstering her weapon. She had no idea how to handle Ren Xiaosu—pointing a gun at him was mere provocation, but she couldn’t bring herself to fire. Ren Xiaosu climbed onto the rooftop, brushing dust from his clothes. “What’s caused such a commotion?” “Huozhong Corp is playing with fire,” Yang Xiaojin explained. “An awakened superhuman went to sell blood, believing Huozhong was a charity. They moved to capture him on the spot, but it went sideways.” “So Huozhong’s been fishing with a million-dollar bounty all along,” Ren Xiaosu sighed, grateful he’d avoided selling blood and had stopped Chen Wudi. “But how did Huozhong slip up? A company that bold wouldn’t dare bait superhumans without thorough prep.” “The first attempt succeeded—they injected a heavy sedative into the superhuman. But they didn’t expect him to have allies,” Yang Xiaojin continued. “Those two hidden superhumans must’ve planned this beforehand, forming a small alliance to rescue each other if one fell.” Now Ren Xiaosu understood—the superhuman had come prepared. He laughed heartily, “Then Huozhong’s mistake leaves an opening… to strike them down, doesn’t it?” “Don’t underestimate Huozhong,” Yang Xiaojin shook her head. “Their ‘Dawn’ combat sequence is formidable, even with just five operatives. Those two superhumans have lasted this long because Qing’s Luo Pangu is stirring trouble.” “Luo Lan?” Ren Xiaosu frowned. “What’s his issue with Huozhong?” “Qing Zhen ambushed over a hundred Huozhong members last year,” Yang Xiaojin said. “Now Huozhong and Qing Corp are sworn enemies, locked in mortal combat.” This puzzled Ren Xiaosu. “Why’s Qing Zhen at odds with Huozhong?” “Because Huozhong used this baiting tactic to abduct Qing Zhen’s vacationing soldier. The operation was a success, nearly flawless. Qing Zhen only discovered it after Huozhong withdrew, but he managed to rescue the soldier during the ambush.” Ren Xiaosu: “…” What a tangled web—this feud between clans was this fierce? Unable to contain himself, he asked, “Then why kill Qing Zhen? You’re not even at odds with Huozhong. Isn’t an enemy of an enemy a friend?” Yang Xiaojin shot him a glance. “Enemies are enemies. We don’t play the alliance game.” In that moment, Ren Xiaosu realized Yang Xiaojin’s organization must have a crystal-clear objective or principle—anyone threatening their interests would land on their assassination list. “Curious, are we?” Yang Xiaojin materialized a massive sniper rifle, her face pressed to the cold metal, eyes peering through the scope as thick as a forearm at the distance. “Huozhong, and Qing Zhen—they’re grasping at things they can’t control. Whether they succeed or fail, it’s a disaster.” Ren Xiaosu grasped it: their organization’s creed was love and peace… Was that a joke? He didn’t believe anyone in this world was so selfless. At that instant, countless Li Corp combat units flooded the battlefield, swiftly sealing every intersection with roadblocks and fortifications, then infiltrating the core zone in heavily armed squads, moving with extreme caution. The rooftop Yang Xiaojin had chosen lay just beyond the cordon. Ren Xiaosu knew he’d lucked out, but Yang Xiaojin likely hadn’t relied on chance—she must’ve known Li Corp’s tactical habits inside out. “Li Corp’s response is slow,” Ren Xiaosu noted. “This 109 Barrier is their home turf.” “They’re guarding something more vital,” Yang Xiaojin said calmly. “Anything not threatening that… they won’t bother with. Silence.” Her breath steadied abruptly. Following the rifle’s aim, he spotted Li Corp’s perimeter—and a manhole cover suddenly pushed open from within. The first to emerge from the sewer was Luo Lan! Luo Pangu scrambled out, panting, followed by Tang Zhou and others, the latter cradling an unconscious figure on his shoulder. They dashed toward their parked car, clearly planning to flee.