Chapter 99: Isn't That Too Direct? (Two-in-One Chapter)

"Oh, is that so?"

Old Tian raised an eyebrow. "But, Yacha, haven't you noticed something wrong? We always move in a group of three, but now..."

Yacha snorted. His body flickered several times in rapid succession, finally landing on the top of a large tree. Looking down at Old Tian and Gonggong at either end of the street, he said, "Fine, what about that fire girl?"

"I'm right here!"

From atop a building, Zhurong's voice rang out. She stood on the edge of the roof, one foot resting on the eaves, holding a cigarette. After taking a drag, she flicked the butt, and it drifted slowly down from the heights. She turned around; behind her, a chubby man was frantically pulling a black oilcloth off a metal rack.

"Fatty! The wire!" Zhurong commanded sharply. The poor man scrambled, grabbing one end of the wire and rushing down.

"Yacha, take a look at this!"

Zhurong rotated the large circular lamp on the metal rack, aiming it straight down...

"A simulated sunlight searchlight!" Zhurong smiled triumphantly. "Since we knew you were coming, how could we not be prepared?"

Finally, the fatty in the back shouted, "My dear lady, the wire is connected!"

Bang!

The searchlight flared to life! A beam of light shot down from the roof, instantly enveloping Yacha!

Yacha let out a startled cry, one that seemed laced with fear and pain. His body vanished instantly, reappearing on the ground several meters away. He looked up, growling angrily at the roof, "You all arrived long ago, didn't you? You deliberately watched this kid get beaten up while you hid in the back preparing this?!"

"You're wrong about us there." Old Tian walked forward slowly, his sword pointed at Yacha. "Fortunately, the last time I returned to the island, I bought a high-end detection radar at a steep price and installed it at home. From now on, whenever an esper in this city exerts their energy, we'll get a reading immediately! Since we detected you coming tonight, naturally we had to have something special prepared just for you!"

Above, Zhurong locked her gaze on Yacha and rotated the searchlight. The massive beam caught up with him again. Yacha’s voice sounded flustered as his body vanished once more. Yet, Zhurong’s aim was incredibly precise. No matter if Yacha teleported to a tree, a windowsill, or the street, Zhurong tracked him instantly, swinging the light to follow him!

Yacha seemed truly terrified of the searchlight’s glare. Driven by Zhurong three times, he finally grew furious. With a flash of his body, he appeared directly in front of Zhurong on the roof!

"Aha, Mummy, attacking me directly?" Zhurong laughed instead. She flipped her palm, and a fireball condensed instantly, whistling toward Yacha! Yacha flickered repeatedly, but Zhurong fired over a dozen fireballs in one breath, all of which missed.

Zhurong sneered. "Just a bit of teleportation—do you think that’s enough to handle me?"

With that, she snapped her fingers. With a boom, Zhurong was suddenly engulfed in raging flames! She was bathed in fire, her hair dancing in the inferno, her skin glowing with a layer of heat!

Yacha had appeared behind her, his palm outstretched to strike, but seeing her wreathed in fire, he dared not come closer.

Just then, he heard a faint movement behind him. Turning his head, he saw the chubby man with trembling, fatty cheeks cowering in a corner, right next to the power source for the searchlight!

"Die!"

Yacha shrieked, his body flickering, and he appeared right beside the fatty! The poor man had no ability to resist. Seeing a monster wrapped in black cloth like a mummy lunging at him, he turned pale, curled up, and stuck his large rear end high into the air...

"Get down!"

Zhurong barked a command. Fortunately, the fatty had been so thoroughly "trained" by Zhurong recently that he had developed a conditioned reflex to her orders. In the past, any hesitation meant being grilled by her fireballs. Hearing her voice now, he didn't even think, simply diving flat onto the ground.

Two fireballs whistled over the fatty’s head, finally forcing Yacha back.

Seeing no opportunity on the roof, Yacha snorted, grabbed a nearby rusted fire escape, and with surprising strength, snapped off an iron pipe. He hurled it toward the searchlight from a distance!

Mid-flight, a flash of brilliant light streaked across the night sky like a shooting star!

Swish!

With a sharp, cold sound, the iron pipe was sliced in two!

Old Tian stood on the roof’s edge, one hand behind his back, his expression calm. In his other hand, he held his long sword. Despite wearing a grease-stained mechanic’s uniform, his demeanor was as dignified as a master swordsman!

Zhurong was brimming with energy, her hands outstretched, drawing forth a dozen fireballs that hovered around her. She looked like a goddess of flame!

Yacha looked left and right, seeing the dense swarm of fireballs floating in the air, and his heart sank!

Meanwhile, on the street below, Gonggong stared at the poison-user, Alice.

"Do you still want to fight?" Gonggong looked relaxed. He was confident that Old Tian and Zhurong above were more than enough to handle Yacha, so he stood there watching Alice with an easy expression.

"Gonggong!" Alice’s face was dark. "Are you really going to stand against me too?" Gonggong shook his head and sighed. "Alice, the last two times, including tonight, it was you who came looking for trouble first."

Alice’s eyes darted around. She quietly moved her hands behind her back, walking toward Gonggong step by step with a pleading look, her voice softening. "Gonggong, do you have no regard for our past? Do you really have to push me to my death?"

Gonggong’s expression didn't change. He said calmly, "Alice, you should know that trick doesn't work on me."

He paused, then added coldly, "As for our past, after that incident all those years ago, we were finished! In all the times we’ve fought since, when have you ever shown me mercy?"

He wore a mocking smile. "What are your hands doing behind your back? Planning to use poison again?"

Alice snorted, suddenly twisting her body and whipping her hands forward. Two metal canisters flew from her sleeves!

In mid-air, the canisters sprayed a thick, white mist!

Gonggong sighed. "The same old tricks... Alice, I told you long ago, your ability isn't suited for a warrior!"

As he spoke, he took two quick steps back, turned his head, and spotted a red fire hydrant by the road...

A strange gleam flashed in Gonggong’s eyes...

Bang!!!

With a massive roar, the fire hydrant flew into the sky! From the water pipe beneath, a white dragon of water shot up, reaching seven or eight meters high!

As the white spray cascaded down, Gonggong gestured, and the water dragon seemed to come alive, swirling rapidly around him. In an instant, it formed a screen of water, wrapping the two toxin-spewing canisters layer by layer!

Sealed within the water screen, not a trace of poison could leak out.

After throwing the canisters, Alice turned and ran. But she had only gone two steps when a pillar of water swirled in front of her. The water twisted, slamming into her with immense force. She was sent flying, crashing onto the side of the road, soaked to the bone.

Gonggong walked over step by step and said lightly, "I don't want to kill you, so give up the resistance!"

Alice looked desperate. She stared up at Gonggong and shouted sharply, "You don't want to kill me? Ha! But what can I do! Qiuyun is dead! The Black Knights are as good as gone!! Do you think I want to follow that monster Yacha? But what choice do I have? The Black Knights have done so much over the years, made so many enemies! Once Qiuyun died, we fell into chaos! Tyrannosaurus and I were blamed for everything! How many enemies want to kill us now? Even the Black Knights issued a purge order against us! You won't kill me? Is that supposed to be mercy?!"

As she spoke, she bit her lip hard and raised her hand, firing a dagger at Gonggong. Gonggong just tilted his head, and the blade grazed his ear. He frowned. "You don't have to follow Yacha... You know what kind of person he is! Nothing good will come from sticking with him."

"Then what can I do! I don't want to die! No matter whose hands I die in, I don't want it! I just don't want to die!"

Alice screamed. Gonggong stood frozen. Watching Alice crawl up and run away, he hesitated, then raised his hand, a screen of water sweeping out in pursuit...

Just then, not far away in the ruins, a roar echoed...

Bang!

Several concrete slabs were tossed high into the air. A giant hand reached out, frantically tearing away the debris above.

Tyrannosaurus’s massive frame climbed out!

His stone-hard body was covered in wounds, and blood streamed down his bald head, covering his left eye.

"Stupid woman! Run!"

Tyrannosaurus roared, his voice hoarse. He picked up a massive piece of rubble and hurled it at Gonggong!

Whoosh!

The massive block of concrete smashed toward him. Gonggong immediately raised his hand, and countless water pillars gathered instantly, forming a wave that collided with the rock!

With a bang, the wave dispersed, but the rock fell to the ground.

Tyrannosaurus had jumped over in a few steps. It was clear he was injured; his left leg was stiff, but he still stood with his massive body to shield Alice. He said deeply, "Woman! Even though I hate you, we both came to avenge Boss Qiu! Go! I'll cover the retreat!"

He was bleeding from everywhere. Alice looked at him, and for the first time, she felt a flicker of emotion for this companion she had always clashed with. She turned and ran.

Gonggong started to pursue, but Tyrannosaurus blocked his path, spreading his arms. "You’ll have to get past me first!"

With that, he threw a punch!

A-grade strength—even injured, it was still A-grade strength!

The whistling fist carried immense pressure! Gonggong dared not be careless, and layers of water screens appeared before him! Tyrannosaurus’s fist punched through four layers, but the resistance of the water was too great. By the fifth layer, his strength was spent.

Countless sprays of water surged over, wrapping him layer by layer!

*Binding Water into Ropes!*

Gonggong flicked his fingers, and the water pillars condensed into countless transparent ropes, binding Tyrannosaurus.

Tyrannosaurus struggled fiercely, snapping the ropes with his immense strength... but Gonggong’s ability was to control water. As long as the water didn't vanish, he could re-condense the ropes with a flick of his finger!

Seeing Tyrannosaurus’s strength fading and the blood loss increasing...

"I don't want to kill you, Tyrannosaurus, don't force me!"

Seeing Alice had already run dozens of meters away, a flash of fury finally appeared in Gonggong’s eyes!

He waved his hand, and the water screen wrapping Tyrannosaurus suddenly vanished, splashing to the ground!

Tyrannosaurus’s body went rigid!

Across his entire body, the blood from his wounds suddenly began to spray out uncontrollably! It was as if invisible pumps were forcefully extracting the blood from his wounds!

It wasn't flowing anymore; it was like a fountain!!

The water beneath Tyrannosaurus’s feet turned red!

"Human blood is also water! As long as it's water, it's under my control!" Gonggong said coldly. "Tyrannosaurus, no matter how strong your body is, you'll fall into weakness from blood loss!"

Sure enough, the sudden massive loss of blood caused Tyrannosaurus to collapse on the spot. His massive three-meter frame quickly shrank, his rock-like skin softening back to the color of a normal human... Clearly, due to excessive blood loss, he had fallen into a state of weakness!

Fortunately, Gonggong didn't truly want his life. Once the blood loss reached a certain point, the wounds stopped spraying so terrifyingly.

He glanced at the prone Tyrannosaurus, leaped forward, and after a few long strides, caught up to Alice.

Alice seemed to have resigned herself to fate, looking at Gonggong as he blocked her path. "Kill me!"

Just then, a loud crash came from the roof above. A shadow plummeted, and about halfway down, it vanished, reappearing less than two meters from the ground before hitting the earth.

It was Yacha!

The layers of black cloth on his body were scorched in many places, some torn to reveal the skin underneath... Surprisingly, though wrapped in black cloth, his skin was exceptionally pale! As white as a snowman!

Yacha struggled to his feet. There was a deep gash on his arm—he had nearly been disarmed by Old Tian’s sword just moments ago!

"Go!"

Yacha sprang up from the ground, grabbed Alice’s hand, and their bodies vanished into thin air! After flickering a few times, they were dozens of meters away, quickly disappearing into the street...

Whoosh!

Zhurong jumped down from above. Landing on the ground, she shouted angrily, "What are you doing! Why did you let them get away!"

Facing Zhurong, Gonggong lost all his nerve. He smiled bitterly and said softly, "I didn't expect..."

"Pah!!" Zhurong was furious. She walked up and punched Gonggong in the chest. "That bitch was all alone, and you couldn't take her down in all that time?! I knew it! You still have feelings for her! Don't you!!!"

"This... I really don't." Gonggong kept offering apologetic smiles.

"Like hell you don't!" Zhurong was livid.

Old Tian jumped down from the roof, leaping along the windowsills to land beside them. He frowned. "Alright. Stop arguing. Let's talk about it when we get back."

He sighed. "Chen Xiao is seriously injured, and the cell-repair fluid I just bought... Sigh. Plus, his body has already developed antibodies; I'm afraid a lot of it will go to waste..."

But when he turned his head... he froze!!

In the spot where Chen Xiao had been lying injured...

The bloodstains remained, but the ground was empty. There wasn't a shadow of a person!

"Where's Chen Xiao?" Old Tian’s expression changed.

Zhurong and Gonggong turned to look, and their faces changed too: "Huh? Where is he?!"

The shock for the three old experts was immense!

With their combined skills, even though they were busy fighting, if someone had snuck in to kidnap the heavily injured Chen Xiao, it should have been impossible to escape their perception!

And yet, a grown man had just vanished into thin air!!

"Could he have walked off on his own..." Zhurong stopped halfway through the sentence. Even she found the idea absurd.

Not to mention that Chen Xiao was barely clinging to life—moving was all but impossible. Even if he could move, would he just watch them fight to the death and then sneak away? Chen Xiao wasn't that kind of person.

The old experts searched the scene quickly. The police were still unconscious. Even Officer Xu and Xiao Hongpao had passed out at some point.

Old Tian’s face grew ugly.

"It seems... someone took Chen Xiao away!"

Chen Xiao had indeed passed out a long time ago.

He had been struggling to hold on in the face of a strong enemy, but the moment Old Tian and the others arrived, Chen Xiao had let his guard down. With that relaxation, the crushing exhaustion took over, and he lost consciousness.

The old experts had been fighting, but Chen Xiao hadn't noticed a thing.

When he finally woke up, he felt his body submerged in water.

The familiar sensation brought a sense of relief.

*Hmm... I suppose Old Tian threw me in the bathtub for some cell-repair fluid again.*

*It seems like this happens every time I get hurt.*

But when Chen Xiao opened his eyes, he froze!

This... was definitely not the underground secret room on the unfinished street!!

He was indeed soaking in a bathtub.

But this tub was bright and clean, and he was soaking in water—that’s right. Just water. Not the green cell-repair fluid!

Although there were bubbles floating on top... Chen Xiao immediately recognized that they were just from ordinary bath salts.

In other words... he was taking a "bubble bath"??

As he soaked, Chen Xiao confirmed one thing immediately—he was naked!

Next to the tub was an exquisite vanity, a massive mirror, and a high-end, expensive toilet—it looked like a Kohler brand...

The bathroom was large and spacious...

But from the decor and furnishings, Chen Xiao recognized at once that this was the bathroom of a high-end hotel suite!!

*Uh... I remember, just a moment ago, I was lying in the ruins of the street, right?*

Chen Xiao took a deep breath and stood up from the water.

He carefully inspected his body.

Excellent, completely intact. His skin was smooth, not a single scar left, and... very clean!

It was as if all the grime had been washed away! There were even faint red marks on his skin from being scrubbed...

A soft, dry bath towel hung in a prominent place, along with a white bathrobe.

After wiping himself dry, Chen Xiao put on the robe and walked out of the bathroom.

Looking at his surroundings, he was certain again.

Yes, this was definitely a luxury hotel suite!

Spacious suite, exquisite crystal chandeliers, soft carpet, sofas...

A set of double luxury doors stood ajar. Inside was the bedroom, and through the gap, Chen Xiao could see a large bed.

On the bed, under a white quilt, lay a shadow... Hmm. Judging by the outline, it looked like a person.

He hesitated, then called out tentatively.

"Is anyone there?"

Finally, at Chen Xiao’s call, the person on the bed moved.

Gently pulling back the quilt, the person stretched, her supple body unfolding like a blooming crabapple, a cascade of black hair flowing down one side of her head. The girl on the bed wore a white robe, sat up gently, and raised her arms, murmuring, "Hmm... I slept so well..."

Chen Xiao froze.

The