……
Xu Youquan didn't die.
It was expected.
After all, a Celestial-Human was practically a vital state asset. Dongcheng had already suffered too many losses; they were bound to protect him at all costs.
To the Federation, the Heavenly Overseer was like the central, towering pillar upon which everything was built, and the existence of a Celestial-Human counted as one of those columns.
Deep ties were not even necessary. Prominent clans like the Xu and the Lou, merely by existing within the Federation, naturally served as fulcrums for the Law of the Heavenly Overseer, and likewise, they were major contributors of spiritus tax.
After that previous clash between Haizhou and Dongcheng, Dongcheng was already badly depleted. At a juncture like this, they couldn't afford to lose a single grain of rice, let alone a self-producing granary like the Xu family.
Otherwise, on top of the immediate loss of a Celestial-Human, their share of spiritus tax payments for the coming year would inevitably plummet.
Within the Federation, the amount of spiritus tax a local faction paid had always been a major source of political sway.
Pay plenty of spiritus tax, and everything went smoothly—one call brought a hundred answers. But fail to pay up, and no matter how much you yammered in parliament, no matter how grand and dignified your arguments sounded, it was no different from farting!
Even during dinner after meetings at the Presidential Palace, you could only sit at the dog table.
Haizhou had just crawled away from that dog table by stomping Dongcheng down; Dongcheng had no desire to take that seat again...
Therefore, Xu Youquan could not die, and the Xu family could not fall.
Long before making a move, Lou Suwen, Lyu Yingyue, and even Ji Jue, that little instigator of team fights, had known it in their bones: if they couldn't send him to the grave, they would put him on the scale.
If it was rules you wanted, then rules it would be!
You couldn't win with fists, and the rules wouldn't favor you either!
There was no way out; they had been caught red-handed.
Being utterly devoid of conscience and committing wicked deeds was bad enough. Ambushing Lou Yanyue and getting pinned on the spot was humiliating, but still not insurmountable.
However, entangling themselves with the Tyrant via the Seven Cities was an outright taboo in the Federation!
Even if the Xu family could break it all down and explain every single detail—that it was just business, just a bit of commerce, swearing to the heavens and earth that they hadn't leaked a thing...
Useless.
That was the beauty of putting things on the scale.
Matters done under the table could never be brought out into the open. The reason unspoken rules were unspoken was because they could never be aired in broad daylight.
Once put on the scale, under relentless scrutiny and the uncompromising pursuit of political correctness, any act diverging from the sovereign will, no matter how minuscule, became an express ticket to judgment... and an automatic forfeiture of all human rights.
Even those who wanted to back you had no ground to stand on!
At times like this, if you wanted to maintain some dignity, you had to carve it out yourself—only by bleeding and giving ground could you purchase leniency and a promise from the prosecution not to press charges.
What appeared to be a tranquil conference room was, in truth, always a slaughterhouse within Tianyuan.
Lyu Yingyue didn't even need to lay out the evidence. She didn't even need to speak or bring it up. She only had to rest her hand on that stack of papers—which might well have been blank sheets of A4 paper—and Dongcheng had no choice but to bow their heads meekly.
Making a big scene benefited no one. Don't be stubborn; when you've erred, admit it, and stand tall when the slaps come across your face. Otherwise... everyone else was watching with bated breath, eager to seize the pretext and make a mountain out of it!
Thus, after a dull conference that lasted an afternoon and an entire night, mediated by all sides, the conflict between the Lou and Xu families came to an end.
As if nothing had happened, Lou Suwen and Xu Youquan shook hands and made peace with beaming smiles, even posing for a photo, grinning like the morning sun.
With Pang Pei presiding as deputy, the Heavenly Overseer bore witness.
Both sides ceased hostilities.
The Xu family compensated the Lou family for all damages, surrendering massive amounts of industry and market share. Though they preserved their foundation, their vitality was severely wounded.
More importantly, without transfer orders from the Federation, no one from the Xu family could step out of Dongcheng for thirty years!
Compared to the terms Lou Suwen initially demanded, the only thing missing was a kowtow. In truth, it was no different from kowtowing—in fact, it was worse than kowtowing!
Losing the battle and the bride, and feeding the wolf your child.
Not only were two of the three Xu brothers dead, but Xu Youquan himself had been severely wounded by Lou Suwen. Indeed, the older one got, the more insidious one became. Leaving aside Lieque with its monstrous destructive force specifically targeting Encircled Realms and chronowedges, and not to mention the specialized lethality of the Five Towers and Twelve Cities, the old bastard had secretly practiced a yansheng art!
Once an opening was seized, you might not die, but you would suffer a fate worse than death.
To say nothing of the long term, for at least a decade or two, Xu Youquan wouldn't be able to care about anything else. If he dared fight anyone before his old wounds healed, his chronowedge would probably shatter directly, triggering the Decay of Celestial-Human.
"The old man said that this time, your contributions were paramount, so he won't let you work for nothing.
The Lou family stepped forward, discussed it with the other clans, and gathered an extra portion of shares in Haichao Armaments for you. Year-end dividends ought to look quite pretty.
As for that Lord-of-whatever project of yours, all future spiritus consumption will be fully covered by the Lou family!"
Lou Yanyue waved her hand casually, shoving the blank check right into the artisan's hands. "Aside from that, just take whatever miscellaneous things you want."
"For real?" Ji Jue raised an eyebrow.
Telling an artisan to just take whatever he wanted?
How was that different from inviting a wolf into the house?
"Take as much as you like, ask for whatever you want. The Lou family has deep pockets and a vast enterprise; we aren't afraid of you asking for too much." Lou Yanyue grinned. "The more you take, the happier that old codger might even be."
"Alright, I'll definitely have a good look around later, and I won't be polite."
Ji Jue nodded decisively, without any pretense of refusal.
Since the Lou family was willing to increase their investment, why be hypocritical? Favors worked best when they flowed back and forth. Back and forth often enough, until you couldn't keep track or calculate the tally, and naturally you became one and the same.
What was meant by close family ties and generational friendship?
It all started right here!
Seeing Ji Jue's nonchalant demeanor, it was Lou Yanyue who grew curious instead.
"By the way, aren't you afraid the Xu family will hold a grudge against you?" she cautioned. "Those bastards are viciously insidious. Once they set their eyes on you, you'll never have peace. You'd better watch out."
Ji Jue couldn't help chuckling. "If I did nothing at all, would the Xu family suddenly not hold a grudge against me?"
If you wanted to accomplish anything, you had to offend people.
If you were truly afraid of offending people, you might as well do nothing.
If you feared trouble, then stay cooped up in the Tide Sound Workshop your whole life and never show your face. But even hiding behind the master as a research-oriented artisan, would the guild be free of factional infighting?
Besides, even if Ji Jue did nothing, the mere existence of the Lord of the Flies was reason enough for the Xu family to want him dead.
Just look at Saino—there wasn't even room to negotiate cooperation. It was either become a dog or die.
So Ji Jue didn't care in the slightest whether the Xu family had an eye on him. Did he lack people holding grudges against him?
Moreover, as for who had targeted whom, and who would never know peace...
That remained to be seen!
"Heh, if there are any loose ends or follow-ups, remember to give a shout!" Lou Yanyue thumped her chest. "On call whenever you need, don't be shy with me!"
"We're damn good brothers, what is there to be shy about?"
"Ha, since you called us brothers, what else is there to say?"
Lou Yanyue burst out laughing. "You can just use Lou Feng however you like!"
"..."
When Lou Feng finally finished his busywork and came looking for his aunt, what greeted his eyes was the bizarre sight of his aunt and Ji Jue with their arms draped over each other's shoulders, laughing up at the sky.
His mouth opened and closed, rendered speechless.
*Ji, you bastard, who the hell are you calling your brother?! And Aunt, can't you be a little more reserved and watch your image?!*
*Are you an adult yet?! Why do you act just like that drunkard Wen Wen, looking to down a couple of ounces with everyone you meet?*
Lou Feng felt like his little pearls of tears were about to fall.
The silver lining in this misfortune was that he finally didn't have to worry about Ji Jue eyeing his aunt... If those two ever hit it off romantically, sows could climb trees!
Look at them with their arms slung around each other's shoulders—anyone who didn't know better would think they were triad brothers who had taken oaths, burned incense, and walked the underworld together!
On the surface, it was pure, unadulterated iron-blooded brotherhood!
And in truth... it really was!
Ji Jue deeply appreciated Lou Yanyue, even more so than Lou Feng.
She did what she said, never dragging her feet. If a fight was needed, she fought first and talked later.
Never worrying or hesitating.
Simple, straightforward, and pure—it gave one peace of mind. If everyone in the world were like Lou Yanyue, the world would surely be... mmm, a lot more exciting, wouldn't it?
"Still, is the Lou family really not interested in the Seven Cities at all?"
Ji Jue rubbed his chin, filled with doubt. He had originally planned to hand over a share so everyone could make money together, sharing the profits and dividing the risks.
Yet the Lou family was being so noble and unselfish that he was caught off guard.
"Third Brother said investing is fine, and doing business is fine too. If you need anything, just ask. But forget about the rest."
Before Lou Yanyue finished, she smacked her head. "Oh, right, the old man just told me to tell you... spreading your net too wide can sometimes bring trouble."
Ji Jue froze, sinking into silence.
He fell into thought.
Some words could go in one ear and out the other, and some could be forgotten the moment you turned around, but when certain people spoke, you had to wrack your brains analyzing every single word.
If he couldn't even grasp such an obvious hint, he wouldn't have been worthy of hearing it in the first place.
Furthermore, for an esteemed Celestial-Human like Lou Suwen to go out of his way to pass along a message like this, and with such ambiguous phrasing...
This was a signal in itself.
If the Lou family merely disdained the Seven Cities for being too small a territory to stretch their limbs, they could have said so outright. The current implication was that for the Lou family, the gains in the Seven Cities didn't justify the trouble?
No, it wasn't just that... Thinking further, perhaps it wasn't just the Lou family, nor was it just the Seven Cities.
His thoughts raced. In recent years, aside from their arrangements on the Mid-Continent, the Federation's movements seemed to be pulling inward, their strategy gradually contracting.
Even though storms raged outside, with everyone fighting tooth and nail in absolute chaos, the dual poles of Tianyuan remained abnormally quiet as a whole—yes, indeed, even though the Federation and the Empire caused trouble everywhere, for Tianyuan, this was already quiet.
Merely localized skirmishes.
Where did this even rank?
Once the full machine of Tianyuan truly roared into motion, it would never interfere merely in one time, place, or region, but churn the entire mortal realm into chaos. When that happened, anything drawing breath would be swept into the waves. At that time, who knew how many would be carried along, swelling into a world-shaking, colossal deluge.
So this was a warning from Lou Suwen.
—If you want to make money, make a bit and leave it at that. If you invest too much capital and place too much hope in it, you might very well lose more than you gain.
Ji Jue unconsciously straightened up and lowered his voice.
"Are we really going to war?"
"Who knows?"
Lou Yanyue spread her hands without hesitation. "If Midtown truly made a decision, would they notify me? Right now, Midtown probably can't even make up its mind.
Everyone is waiting and watching, hurriedly huddling together for warmth. Nobody can say for sure... My head hurts just mentioning this mess. You'd be better off asking Warden Lyu than asking me."
"Forget it."
Ji Jue shook his head. If he asked Lyu Yingyue, whom could Lyu Yingyue ask?
He wouldn't get an answer anyway, and besides, what if he actually found something out?
Knowing would only make him hesitate.
Not asking was best. Not asking meant not knowing, not being clear, not understanding. As long as you didn't know, you were just a kid fooling around who understood nothing.
And so, Ji Jue dropped the subject.
Worrying was useless; he would handle his own business first, and talk after!
Dinner was a victory banquet to host the Lou family—proper, standard, yet lively, a cordial welcome that hit all the right notes, and also a farewell. After eating, Lou Yanyue, Lou Zhaoye, and Lou Yuling, three reliable and comforting high-tier combatants, took their leave.
They left behind only Lou Feng, wearing a sour, grumpy expression, to continue slaving away as a beast of burden in Ji Jue's shady workshop and shell company.
It was also a statement of stance.
From now on, everything on Luo Island and even in the Seven Cities would revolve around Ji Jue.
After dinner, having watched the three depart, Ji Jue turned around with a smile and looked at Saino, who was standing tremulously outside the door.
"A-as you ordered."
Saino kept his head bowed. "Everything has been prepared. It is only... is it perhaps... a bit... a bit..."
Wiping cold sweat, he asked:
"...a bit rushed?"
"I'm in no hurry, taking our time is fine too."
Ji Jue smiled warmly. "After all, the Sukarno family has been rooted here for so many years. Reluctance to leave one's homeland is understandable. With such a vast clan and massive assets, everything must be arranged meticulously. Otherwise, wouldn't it be terrible if something went wrong?"
"No, not at all, absolutely not!"
Saino's legs trembled, cold sweat pouring down. "Everything on Luo Island relies entirely on your word. We obey your arrangements in all things! How could there be any room for us to object?"
"That's wonderful, then."
Ji Jue patted his shoulder and walked ahead.
Inside the Sukarno family's ancestral home, the lights were blazing, yet deathly silence reigned. Aside from the occasional sob, there was only the low, clanking hum of exoskeleton armor advancing.
A chilling atmosphere of slaughter.
The final handover—or rather, the final judgment—began here.
"Everyone, relax a bit, don't be nervous. After all, we have a contract. I'm not someone who wipes people out to the last man. How could I leave no way out for anyone?"
With his hands behind his back, Ji Jue walked between the gathered members of the Sukarno family on either side. He blatantly sat down on the chair at the very front of the hall that commanded ultimate authority, offering gentle reassurance to those tense, pale faces.
Then, he pulled out a signed list and handed it to Liang Mo, who had been waiting for a long time.
"Kill everyone on this."
Liang Mo nodded, verified the names on the list, and picked up his walkie-talkie. Instantly, amidst the dead silence, the dense crackle of firecrackers erupted outside the doors.
The terrifying, crisp sounds continued unbroken, then came to an abrupt halt.
In less than two minutes, everyone who had dragged their feet during the handover process, harbored malicious intentions, or attempted to incite riots and stir up trouble was tossed into the sea with dull splashes.
Not even bones remained.
Amidst the dense crowd, countless faces turned even paler, their vision blacking out in waves.
A clan spanning hundreds of years, continually branching out, now had no fewer than a thousand people eligible to be registered with the Sukarno surname, and blood relatives numbered in the tens of thousands.
Those standing here right now, serving as the clan's true backbone and core, numbered several hundred.
The larger the team, the harder to manage.
Even though Saino's word as clan head was law, wasn't wealth and power the hardest thing in life to relinquish? To make people obediently surrender everything and follow him away from their homeland, who wouldn't harbor some rebellious thoughts?
Those who had just died outside were nearly all the trusted confidants and most capable lackeys the Sukarno family had once relied on, and likewise the capable administrators anyone taking over Luo Island would have to rely on.
Everyone had assumed there would be an exhilarating tug-of-war and political game with Ji Jue, ultimately reaching some balance acceptable to all sides. Yet they never expected that Ji Jue didn't want balance at all.
He didn't even want these vermin lingering around to offend his eyes...
And so, those who had obediently reined in their hands merely received the privilege of detention and surveillance, while every single person who harbored wishful thinking after receiving warnings was smoothly ushered to the Western Paradise.
Regardless of whether they were high-ranking department heads, corporate executives, security chiefs, or transport administrators... they all died like dogs on the roadside.
In the prolonged, dead silence, no one dared to speak. Some even blacked out and fainted on the spot.
Just when everyone was silenced like cicadas in winter, a soft sigh came from the front.
"Clan Head Saino may have misunderstood my meaning, resulting in a few errors during execution."
Ji Jue sighed with melancholy. "Now that this has happened, I believe none of us wanted it.
Reluctance to leave one's homeland is only human nature. The agreement between me and the Sukarno family was a fair deal, backed by a contract. If the Sukarno family hadn't cut itself off from the Seven Cities, I wouldn't have wanted to seize someone else's ancestral heritage either.
But everyone must understand that if you were allowed to keep these things now, it would only invite trouble. If the other six families found out, it would only harm you!"
"Yes, yes, exactly."
Saino nodded frantically, forcing a smile. Echoes of agreement immediately broke out, and countless people burst into tears as if genuinely repenting.
Whatever they were actually thinking was beside the point. Circumstances were stronger than men; when it was time to bow your head, you bowed your head, and there was no shame in it.
Besides, even though Ji Jue had slaughtered so many people with frantic ruthlessness, he had still honored the contract and promises. From beginning to end, he had not actively harmed a single direct descendant of the Sukarno family.
Furthermore, apart from the clan's properties, he had not seized their individual savings. He had even thoughtfully left them a substantial sum of assets, including shares in publicly traded companies, sizable funds, and liquid capital.
Regardless of whether Ji Jue was putting on an act, the hard cash had indeed been delivered into their hands.
Fleeing their homeland was certainly humiliating, but if managed diligently, after a few generations, they might yet fight their way back to Luo Island and reclaim their heritage!
Yet immediately after, they heard Ji Jue's voice, and their eyes lit up.
"Moreover, I feel that simply and crudely relocating the Sukarno family away from Luo Island might not be appropriate either—"
In the sudden silence, Ji Jue declared decisively, "You have been deeply rooted here for many years and know the situation best. I am an outsider, weak and alone. If I want to achieve great things, how could I manage without helping hands?
So do not be afraid, everyone. I will bear the full brunt of accountability from the Seven Cities; I will never let any harm come to you!
Sukarno can exist without Luo Island, but Luo Island cannot exist without Sukarno!"
Ji Jue stood up and solemnly promised everyone, "From now on, with our powerful alliance, why worry about not building a great enterprise?"
With that, he raised his hand and brought out the contract between the two parties.
The Law of Tianyuan, woven from black ink on white paper, bound the souls of both sides, permitting no violation whatsoever.
"Rest assured, everyone: for every bit of glory I, Ji Jue, enjoy, there will be a bit for you!"
The resounding promise echoed in everyone's ears. "I will never keep this honor all to myself. I guarantee that every future achievement on Luo Island will be inseparable from your dedicated support!"
For a moment, every face went blank, bewildered, emotions shifting wildly in disbelief. But once they verified that Ji Jue wasn't joking, they could no longer contain their ecstatic joy and began shouting out.
Instantly, they stirred and pressed closer, vying with one another.
Even Saino couldn't believe it. He turned his head stiffly. "Are you... are you serious?"
"Some matters can only be entrusted to professionals for me to feel truly at ease."
Ji Jue patted his shoulder and said meaningfully, "If not for that, why would I have gone through all the trouble of killing so many people? Wasn't it just to clear out positions for everyone?
It's just that, in haste, there are many things I couldn't arrange perfectly, such that compromises must be made in the assignments.
Calling everyone here with such fanfare was also to seek your opinions."
Ji Jue asked solemnly, "I only wonder: do you all wish to continue holding power and status? Or do you plan to amass more wealth first?"
Power, or money.
Saino looked at Ji Jue blankly. Ji Jue was still smiling warmly, as if patiently awaiting an answer.
Yet that smile made Saino inexplicably uneasy.
For an instant, he wanted to speak, to ask for clarity, but he heard the clan members below already breaking into noisy clamor.
Murmurs, whispers, and even loud arguments broke out.
A scene of bustling enthusiasm.
Hope shone in everyone's eyes; they longed to continue their wonderful lives, and no one cared about him, the clan head, anymore.
Yet he kept feeling that something was wrong.
At that moment, Ji Jue looked over at him. His backlit smile was shrouded in shadow, yet remained radiant.
Saino's lips trembled; he couldn't speak.
He only gripped that contract tightly out of instinct, like grabbing a lifesaving straw.
Yet he couldn't feel a trace of warmth from it.
It was like falling into an icehouse.
Soon, the dust settled.
Amidst the commotion, arguments, and careful deliberation, the crowd split cleanly into two groups—those clinging to power and status, and those craving greater wealth and luxury...
"Mr. Ji, we have reached a decision."
The leader on the left stepped forward, his smile deferential and reverent. "Power and status aren't really important. We mainly want to shoulder some troublesome chores for you and contribute more, to show our gratitude for your generosity."
"Good! A real man cannot go a single day without power. What ambition, what boldness!"
Ji Jue burst out laughing, affectionately slinging an arm around the man's shoulder and patting him hard, announcing to all: "From this moment on, I appoint you as assembly line foremen of Luo Island Workshop No. 1 under Haian Industry!
From now on, each of you will be individually responsible for the KPI of an assembly line, bossing around the other workers and ruling the roost with absolute authority!"
At those joyous words, countless people cheered along, but immediately afterward, they sensed that something wasn't right.
Wait a second... wait...
What the hell was an assembly line foreman?
The leader stood dumbfounded like a wooden chicken, but Ji Jue had already let go, discarding him like an old shoe, and merely waved to Liang Mo. "Take them down."
Liang Mo chuckled silently, blew a whistle, and the dark mass of exoskeleton armor marched straight in.
Immediately following, Ji Jue walked over with his hands behind his back to the other group. Across his austere expression flashed a hint of praise and approval, igniting a flicker of hope in those terrified eyes.
"As for you, seeking truth from facts and keeping your feet on the ground—that's no easy feat!"
Ji Jue promised generously, "I appoint you as permanent assembly line workers of Luo Island Workshop No. 1! From now on, you'll have endless screws to tighten and endless money to make!
The money is right there—don't worry about me being unable to pay. You can earn as much as you want!"
With that, he spread his arms and smiled:
"If you understand, give me a round of applause!"
Thus, amidst wails, sparks burst from stun batons, and within the crackling sounds, impassioned cries of grief for fathers and mothers rang out incessantly.
Under the warm welcome of the security guards, the employees, weeping tears of joy, swiftly completed their onboarding ceremony.
Under gentle guidance, they used their broken hands to tremblingly press thumbprints, scrambling off toward the workshop where they would serve for the rest of their lives.
Only Saino screamed shrilly, roaring and struggling desperately.
His eyes threatened to tear at the corners.
"Ji Jue!!! What the hell are you doing?!"
Pinned down by two suits of armor, he roared and questioned like a mad dog, "Th-this isn't what we agreed on! We clearly... we clearly..."
"The past is the past, and now is now, Clan Head Saino."
Ji Jue stood before him, crouched down, took out the contract right before his eyes, and pointed at the clauses. "Look, what our contract stipulated was that after the Sukarno family left Luo Island, we guaranteed to find you another place for resettlement, ensuring your treatment and status.
But it never said what to do if you weren't willing to leave Luo Island!"
With that, he spread his hands helplessly. "Look, it was you yourselves who didn't want to leave, and you yourselves who chose to obey my arrangements.
My promises didn't fall short either: you wanted money, I gave money; you wanted power, I gave power. I didn't even lie to you... I can guarantee that in the future, every piece of equipment manufactured on Luo Island will have a screw from the Sukarno family in it! Every achievement earned will have the blood, sweat, and toil of the Sukarno family!
You'll go tighten screws on the line, he'll go mix cement on the construction site, and I'll control all of Luo Island. Everyone has a bright future!"
"Distortion!!!"
Saino shrieked, struggling with all his might, cursing, desperately triggering the contract's backlash for Mutual Destruction: "You're distorting the clauses! Distorting the contract!
You deliberately led them on, you never intended to fulfill your promise!
Tianyuan, Tianyuan will never let you get away with this!"
Saino convulsed violently, blood seeping from his mouth and nose, glaring venomously at Ji Jue as he waited to relish the miserable scene to come... but regretfully, nothing happened.
No backlash, no punishment, not the slightest retribution.
Completely, utterly, without, any, effect!
"Huh? Really?"
Ji Jue stroked his chin, full of confusion. "It seems Tianyuan doesn't think so. You probably didn't hear it, but Tianyuan just praised me for being honest, trustworthy, and doing a great job.
If you don't believe me, look!"
With that, he pointed a finger.
Instantly, the crumpled contract in Saino's hand burst into flames without any wind, rapidly turning to ashes amidst his tragic wails.
Not a trace remained.
"Pfft..."
Ji Jue turned his head, unable to hold back his laughter.
Tianyuan?
Even if Tianyuan truly manifested, whether it would side with these vermin or with Ji Jue remained to be seen!
Besides, Tianyuan had done its best!
The contract was real, Tianyuan was real, and the agreement and promises were all real. Those were high-grade materials left behind by that old dog Fan Yun, which Ji Jue had normally been reluctant to use.
If it hadn't been genuine, how could it have made Saino willingly sign?
Only, unfortunately, the contract was real, but Ji Jue's Fire of Non-Fate... was real too! In fact, it was even realer than the contract!
The binding of the Law of Tianyuan?
The thing Ji Jue feared least was the Law of Tianyuan aimed at himself!
Even with the former Eternal Empire, Non-Fate burned whatever it pleased, let alone mere scrap leftovers from that old dog Fan Yun?
Besides, Ji Jue hadn't violated the contract head-on; it was merely the ripples caused by a bit of creative interpretation. Even if Saino's soul were burned to ash, how big of a backlash could it trigger?
It wouldn't even soil the hem of his clothes.
If he hadn't wanted to avoid making too much of a spectacle, he would have shown Saino what [Untargetable] really meant!
"Alright, at your age, still being able to have a job is quite an achievement! Old sir, you must take care of your health; the days of enjoying your blessings are still ahead!"
Ji Jue finally waved his hand, pointing at the person beside him. "Hurry up and issue the old clan head a hard hat. Remember to pick a white one—only that can highlight the clan head's noble status!"
"I won't let you get away with this, Ji Jue! I won't let you... I-I..."
Saino shrieked as a brand-new hard hat was forcefully shoved onto his head. Two security guards grabbed his legs and dragged him outside, but he continued to resist violently.
Under a barrage of batons, his fingers clung desperately to the seams between the bricks, scraping until they were stained with blood. His eyes glared venomously at Ji Jue as he roared with hatred: "Even as a ghost, I'll never let you go!"
"Really? That's wonderful!"
Ji Jue smiled with deep gratification and waved goodbye. "When the time comes, I'll do my best to schedule you for the night shift."
*I underestimated you, Saino. What you love so dearly truly is your life!*
*Who says you can't continue contributing to Haian after you die?*
Chapter 733