Counterattack

Night fell. Lei Yun drove Yaoguang to a private residence on the outskirts of the city. Two people were already waiting there. One was Xia Wuyuan, the initiator of this operation. The other was none other than the Grandmaster the Yue family displayed openly: Yue Xingzhou. When Yue Xingzhou saw Yaoguang enter carrying a sword, surprise surfaced between his brows. His gaze snapped immediately to Xia Wuyuan. "Him?" "Yes." Xia Wuyuan nodded. "How can that be?!" Yue Xingzhou's pupils contracted. Earlier, Xia Wuyuan had told him that he would invite a Grandmaster from the Su family so they could pool the strength of three Grandmasters to breach this demon gathering point. At the time, he had wondered which member of the Su family had broken through to Grandmaster—Leng Jun or Su Chixin? Why hadn't there been the slightest whisper of it? Given the Su family's current predicament, having a Grandmaster and not putting them forward made no sense at all. And now, seeing Yaoguang... "He's a Grandmaster?" Yue Xingzhou couldn't help asking again. "He is," Xia Wuyuan said. "I wouldn't joke about an operation like this." "Hss!" Yue Xingzhou drew in a sharp breath. "Looking at you, you're only around twenty, aren't you? A Grandmaster around twenty?!" He directed the question at Yaoguang. "He is nineteen this year." It was Xia Wuyuan who answered him. Yue Xingzhou rubbed the space between his brows, feeling as though the world was leaving him behind. Xia Wuyuan, meanwhile, opened a guitar case. Inside lay not a guitar, but firearms. He inspected the weapons with practiced familiarity, watching which made Yaoguang feel that the sword in his hand had suddenly become far less handy. "Want some?" Xia Wuyuan asked, noticing Yaoguang's strange expression. After a moment's consideration, Yaoguang picked up one of the large-caliber handguns along with two magazines, stowing them away. Seeing this, Yue Xingzhou sighed beside them. "Standards are slipping, and the old ways are lost." Recalling Zhang Tianji's words from the day before, Yaoguang asked Xia Wuyuan, "Do you know of the Jishi Society?" Xia Wuyuan froze mid-adjustment, his gaze snapping to Yaoguang. Not only Xia Wuyuan, but Yue Xingzhou also froze for a second before showing a look of understanding. "They approached you?" "Tell me about them?" Yaoguang asked. Bai Ya had spent all of yesterday searching, yet records about the Jishi Society online were practically nonexistent. Even within the Su family's intelligence network, there was virtually no pertinent information. It was as if the organization had been entirely made up. "It's no surprise that the Jishi Society would notice you and try to recruit you." Xia Wuyuan nodded, a touch of melancholy in his voice. "In fact, shortly after I won the championship at the Fourteenth Martial Arts Tournament years ago, I suffered an ambush and nearly died. Only later did I learn that my attacker was an assessor from the Jishi Society. It's just that... my performance... ended in failure." He looked toward Yaoguang. "The Jishi Society brought me in as an outer member and had me scout martial talent across various regions, rewarding me for good recommendations. But while their philosophy sounds grand and noble, they operate in secret and hide in the shadows. I don't care for it." Yue Xingzhou gave Xia Wuyuan a strange look. Noticing this, Yaoguang asked directly, "You know something?" Yue Xingzhou considered for a moment before speaking. "I've heard of them. All I know is that they have massive backing... but I attained Grandmaster relatively late in life, so I never came into contact with them." "As for their background, I heard the assessor say back then that it supposedly involves numerous countries across the entire Central Continent, all to create a martial arts sacred land everyone yearns for. But... who knows?" Xia Wuyuan said. Yue Xingzhou looked at him, offering no further comment. "If someone approached you, it won't be long before the Jishi Society sends someone to evaluate you. If you pass, perhaps you'll gain access to the true Jishi Society. As for whether their talk of creating a martial sacred land is just pie in the sky, that depends on who you ask," Xia Wuyuan added. Yaoguang nodded. Soon, Xia Wuyuan finished packing his gear. Beneath his clothes, he wore a vest resembling body armor. As for Yue Xingzhou... judging from the slight stiffness in his posture, he had likely donned a battle suit underneath. Exactly what grade it was remained unclear. The group walked out, where a seven-seater commercial van was already waiting by the entrance. "If I die, all the information I've gathered will be delivered straight to the sovereign's desk," Xia Wuyuan said. Yue Xingzhou shook his head. "I know what can and cannot be done. I won't gamble with the entire Yue family." He glanced at Xia Wuyuan. "You, on the other hand... buyers of divine blood are scattered through every corner of the privileged class. You'd better think carefully about the consequences of doing this." "If anything happens, I will bear it alone," Xia Wuyuan said in a deep voice. "I know this is a painful decision. Because of it, I may lose my time, my family, my friends, my life—even everything. But... in matters like this, someone must step forward and stop it..." Yue Xingzhou and Yaoguang looked at him. "If no one else will..." Xia Wuyuan said firmly, "then I will." For a grown man in his thirties to say something like this seemed almost laughable. Yet neither Yue Xingzhou nor Yaoguang laughed. Do not defend the darkness simply because you have grown accustomed to it; do not take pride in your own compromises; and do not mock those who are braver and more passionate than yourself, for the light they radiate as they burn will one day shine upon you and me as well. "Let's go," Yaoguang said. Inside the vehicle, a Martial Master from the Yue family took the wheel and drove straight toward the countryside. In the back, Yue Xingzhou unfolded a map. "Baisheng Chemical Plant, forty kilometers from the provincial capital. It is the largest and only dispatch point for 'divine blood' within Tiannan. This is the layout of the factory... considering they might have renovated the premises, this map can only serve as a reference..." the Yue family Grandmaster explained. The plant was not large. It was not on the same scale as Qingyu Industrial Park, yet it boasted tight security. Yue Xingzhou pointed out the security firm contracted to guard the factory, which had been established only a year ago. "There are three main objectives for this operation. First, collect as much video evidence as possible. Second, find out if anyone is backing them. Third..." Xia Wuyuan looked at Yaoguang. "I need to get a clear look at those monsters." Yaoguang nodded. "I will find them." "Good." Xia Wuyuan nodded. He knew Yaoguang must have a way to root those creatures out. Professional matters were best left to professionals. As the three conversed, Baisheng Chemical Plant soon came into view. Though it was night, the factory remained brightly lit, with numerous workers and vehicles moving back and forth within. All three were Grandmasters, possessing incredible agility. After leaving the vehicle in the woods several hundred meters from the plant, they swiftly closed in. Once outside the factory, Yaoguang immediately activated his perception. The intelligence provided by the Yue family was remarkably accurate. There were demons inside the factory. Two of them, in fact. "Follow me," Yaoguang said. "Found them?" Xia Wuyuan followed close behind. Though Yue Xingzhou did not fully understand how, he stayed right on their heels. Before long, the three arrived outside a three-story building. "Inside," Yaoguang said, casting a glance over it. The building's doors and windows were completely sealed, obscuring the interior from view. "Let me handle this," Xia Wuyuan said. In his view, Yaoguang had been brought in to help; dangerous life-or-death tasks ought to fall to him. But... "Together," Yaoguang said. "Kill it as quickly as possible. That will inevitably alert the second one, and then you'll see its complete form." "Two?" Xia Wuyuan was startled, but quickly recovered. "Then we truly must make it quick." He turned to Yue Xingzhou and whispered, "We'll trouble you to watch our flanks and intercept any enemies who come running." Yue Xingzhou nodded. From the conversation between Su Yaoguang and Xia Wuyuan, whoever was inside was clearly a leader and undeniably formidable; otherwise, the two wouldn't speak of joining forces to kill it as fast as possible. If he guessed right... it might be a Grandmaster from some other province or small country. Compared to fighting a Grandmaster, he much preferred mopping up ordinary goons. With that, Yaoguang and Xia Wuyuan stepped up to the door. After exchanging a glance, they breached it almost simultaneously. "Who's there?!" The moment the door burst open, a voice barked out. Pinpointing the target by sound, Xia Wuyuan fired without the slightest hesitation. Pew, pew, pew! The suppressed rifle muzzle vibrated slightly as a burst of bullets sprayed toward the origin of the voice. However... breaching the door had inevitably startled the demon residing inside, putting it on alert. The moment gunshots sounded, it burst into explosive motion, hurling itself straight through the window. Outside, Yue Xingzhou was looking for a vantage point to easily pick off underlings when shattered glass and wood splinters showered down, followed immediately by a shadowy figure lunging right at his face. A Grandmaster's reflexes allowed him to channel his internal force instantly; the saber at his side unleashed a chilling ribbon of blade light slashing directly toward the shadow. Yet virtually the instant his blade was about to strike the figure, the shadow struck out violently... or rather, extended a claw covered in scales! The claw swiped forward, smashing squarely into Yue Xingzhou's slashing blade. The collision rang out with a metallic clash. The shockwave of force nearly knocked the saber from Yue Xingzhou's grip, deflecting the blade and leaving his guard wide open. "Damn it!" Yue Xingzhou's face fell in horror. He threw himself backward at once. In the dim night, he clearly saw the bulky silhouette with glowing blood-red eyes driving its left hand forward like a sharp sword toward his chest. This strike was not only blisteringly fast, but exquisitely read every single one of his possible reactions. At this moment, no matter where he fled or dodged, he seemed unable to escape having his chest punctured by this strike, his heart ripped straight out! A Grandmaster! Its explosive power and speed were undeniably Grandmaster-tier! What was more... it was a peak Grandmaster whose martial mastery had reached the absolute pinnacle! Was their very first ambush target such a ferocious monster?! "No!" Yue Xingzhou roared in terror, his vitality erupting to the limit as he seemed to trigger some secret technique. His retreating speed surged noticeably. Yet... even so, the shadow's claw pursued his retreating figure like an inescapable dragnet. A matter of life and death! Just as the creature's exquisite strike was about to hit Yue Xingzhou's chest, tearing his body apart in one blow, a cold flash of sword light seemed to slice through the night sky. Immediately afterward, the lunging dark silhouette shuddered. The tip of a sword burst straight through its forehead. Yue Xingzhou could clearly feel the sharp chill emanating from that sword tip. Whoosh! Yue Xingzhou instantly widened the distance from the dark figure, retreating several paces more upon hitting the ground. Only then did he realize that Yaoguang had pursued it out through the shattered window. With a sword thrust through the air as swift and supple as a swimming dragon, Yaoguang had pierced the back of the creature's skull, delivering a lethal strike that saved his life in the nick of time. Otherwise... half a second later, he would have become a dead soul beneath that monster's claw. Wait! Claw?! Yue Xingzhou snapped his gaze back to the shadow... Although it still maintained a human form, its monstrous, clawed arm had not yet managed to revert completely, remaining plainly visible.