Chapter 221: Invitation, Beheading, or Taking a Dog
Chapter 221: Invitation, Beheading, or Taking a Dog
“They’re gone? You didn’t manage to stop them?”
Dongfang Wen asked with a frown, his golden-rimmed glasses perched neatly as he sat in formal attire.
“Someone helped them. According to the latest intel, whether by plane, train, or private car, the entire group split up into small groups and headed for Bizhou by the time we learned of it. It was already too late to act.”
“It was at least a powerful hacker organization, combined with their escape methods. Pursuit was impossible.” The assistant added hastily.
Hearing this, Dongfang Wen’s frown deepened.
“What about the ones who remained? They couldn’t have all retreated, could they?” Dongfang Wen continued.
“A few appear to have stayed behind locally. But they’re hidden deep. We can’t locate them, nor can we determine their motives.” The assistant replied.
Dongfang Wen sat down, rubbing his temples. “Bizhou is the Situ Family’s territory. We can’t reach there. What about investigations on the ones still here?”
“And why did they send beauties to those people? Who exactly were those women? What were their identities?”
“This matter is rather peculiar. You should see for yourself.” The assistant passed a document to Dongfang Wen.
Dongfang Wen naturally preferred reading firsthand; many things required direct scrutiny.
“All former victims? This organization is indeed unusual. It seems they’ve advanced ahead in biology and medicine. This must fall into our Dongfang Family’s hands. Should another Hidden World Clan obtain it, it would become a stumbling block for us.”
“Find the organization’s leader. We’ll invite him over for a… thorough discussion.”
After reviewing the intelligence, Dongfang Wen grasped its significance—securing this technology was imperative.
“But according to intel: most members have already relocated to Bizhou. We…” The assistant began to explain.
“Only the outer members have left. The leader remains,” Dongfang Wen cut him off coldly, extracting another file.
It contained the forged documents created by the Ximen Family for Chen Xiyi.
While genuine to others, the Dongfang Family could trace their origins effortlessly.
The assistant glimpsed the file, his pupils contracting slightly.
“This person vanished nearly three months ago. Ling Hu is currently active within the organization,” the assistant supplemented. “…The War Tiger Squad acted privately for Chu Ge, then perished in an explosion in the city district after an ambush.”
“Tsk. Precisely because he’s the leader, he vanished. The War Tiger Squad’s fate is definitely tied to him—Ling Hu was supposed to have died then too. But here he is, alive and kicking. It suggests their biological technology is advanced.”
Dongfang Wen’s focus diverged from his assistant’s. He valued tangible gain, not old grudges.
Grudges meant nothing; once absorbed, they’d become family. Compensating with Chu Ge’s head, much less just the War Tiger Squad, was acceptable.
To the Dongfang Family, the organization’s biological and medical technology was worth mountains more than one War Tiger Squad.
The Dongfang Family had plenty of elite squads like that. Obtaining the organization’s technology? They could monopolize the entire biomedical field in Qian Country. Profits from that would fund dozens, even hundreds, of War Tiger Squads.
“Understood. We’ll excavate all the organization’s details swiftly.” The assistant bowed and left to arrange it.
Dongfang Wen offered no further instructions. This assistant grew up alongside him—akin to a scholar’s attendant in ancient times—imbibing identical education and groomed since childhood. Utterly trustworthy.
Repeatedly, Dongfang Wen pored over the documents: all records from Chen Xiyi’s earliest entry with Ye Fan into the city to supporting Ximen Yue’s affairs.
But ambiguities existed. Ximen Yue’s son’s spiritual revival went unrecorded. Details of immolation or drowning were missing. Burial arrangements for two corpses were noted, creating gaps in the timeline.
Dongfang Wen didn’t obsess. If every secret yielded to the Dongfang Family, they’d transcend Hidden World Clan status—they’d rule supreme as emperors.
“An enigmatic past; clearly an interloper from another province. Yet odd that he needed the Ximen Family to craft him an identity. Someone of his caliber shouldn’t require it.”
“And that entry point—it’s an enormous flaw. Hardly befitting his caliber.”
Dongfang Wen murmured these thoughts aloud, oblivious to his habit of vocalizing analyses.
“Perhaps I lack experience.” A voice suddenly interjected.
Dongfang Wen jolted. “Who’s there?!”
His office boasted extensive security—no one entered unannounced.
Admittedly, ignorance blinded him. Before this, perhaps. But now, those with the Peach Blossom Luck Bloodline—whether adept in the Way of Immortality or the Martial Way—could slip in easily.
“You’re reviewing my file. Now you ask who I am?” Chen Xiyi sat facing him, flipping through his own documents with disinterest. Tangible deeds—like his purchases—were detailed; conversations and plans remained absent or vague.
Dongfang Wen stared at the man opposite, baffled by his silent entry.
“No need for introductions; my file’s sufficiently filled. Dongfang Wen—eldest son and grandson of the Dongfang Aristocratic Family, father to a son and daughter. They attend an elite private school nearby. Your wife is getting beauty treatments on Lishui Street right now. Three mistresses: one languishes asleep after last night’s pleasures; one cuckolds you with her fitness trainer at this moment; another preens herself, about to call and invite you for tonight.”
As Chen Xiyi spoke, Dongfang Wen’s office phone rang.
“Will you answer? Maybe I’m wrong. But seriously—your son’s math scores need help; struggling to pass. Your daughter excels—ranked first in language across her grade.”
“And your father! Ever vigorous—entertaining two women at once in broad daylight. Better hope it doesn’t cause sudden death.”
Chen Xiyi smirked, nodding toward the shrill phone.
Dongfang Wen’s face darkened. He hadn’t anticipated this. Slowly, he lifted the receiver, his tone heavy. “Yes?”
“It’s me, darling! Any plans tonight?” A saccharine voice cooed.
“No!” Dongfang Wen snapped, slamming the phone down.
“Truth is, I might know you better than you know yourself. Your character—refined exterior, yet domineering at your core. Your tastes? Hmm—I’ll spare you details—although our previous research fixation leaned chest-focused.”
Closing his own file, Chen Xiyi regarded the furious Dongfang Wen with ease.
“You challenge the Dongfang Family’s authority.” Dongfang Wen’s voice radiated frost.
His family under surveillance? It meant spies within his clan. Coupled with the organization’s swift escape while he sealed off Yanzhou—it pointed toward betrayal. And highly placed betrayal; only significant status enabled such maneuvers.
Chen Xiyi feigned surprise. “Just realized?”
“Frankly, I’ve met arrogance before—but never your caliber. We’re strangers, but you move against me immediately—do you truly believe ‘Hidden World Clans’ intimidate me?”
Truth be told, Chen Xiyi felt insulted. Deep in his Underground Shelter researching the Peach Blossom Luck Bloodline, numerous Game Log entries erupted—plans devised against him—flashing two Red Names.
Only one now remained—Dongfang Wen’s assistant was reduced to Clothing.
“My methods for dealing with others fit three responses:”
“Invite him as a guest. Behead him. Or take him as a dog.”
Chen Xiyi’s tone frosted over.
Green Names merited invitations. Red Names ended as Clothing. White Names became tools.
“You’d make me a dog?!” Dongfang Wen’s voice choked with suppressed fury.
Chen Xiyi smiled thinly. “You flatter yourself. Expecting life?”
“What?!” Dongfang Wen gaped.
Chen Xiyi pulled out an Alloy Firearm, aimed, and squeezed the trigger against Dongfang Wen’s head.
Bang!
[Using Alloy Firearm…]
[Harvesting…]
“A dog? Hardly! Even tools require White Name NPC status. Red Name NPCs? They harvest into Clothing!”
Scorn laced Chen Xiyi’s voice as he holstered the weapon, installing a triple-Enchantment TNT block.
Power meant nothing. Death settled all scores.
Foolishly, some thought Chen Xiyi followed rules. A threatening show might appease him? Nonsense. Negotiation required White Name status.
Even infinite rewards meant nothing from foes. Reds were enemies—unpredictable, hostile threats.
Quickly, through his System, Chen Xiyi purged all digital traces of his presence.
Dongfang Wen must die—but the Dongfang Aristocratic Family must stand.
Fear didn’t motivate Chen Xiyi. Without the Dongfang Aristocratic Family as Yanzhou’s pillar, chaos would erupt instantly. Like emperors deposed—their warlords, princes, and neighbors would seize the void, snapping greedily at the carcass.
“Reds removed. Whites serve as instruments instead. Perfect—Yanzhou becomes my foundation!”
With both Red Name NPCs gone, stabilizing White Names retained order. Yanzhou required management Chen Xiyi lacked time or will to administer.
Simple manipulation within the Dongfang Aristocratic Family sufficed; subordinates handled the rest.
Previously, they hadn’t provoked him; Chen Xiyi honored non-aggression accordingly. Now? Swift, merciless obliteration of threats.
“System. Project Chang Ghost possession remotely. Subject: All members of the Dongfang Aristocratic Family. Every single entity from top down.”
Chen Xiyi had zero intention of individual action; System-operated mass control provided efficiency. One-by-one labor wasted hours—now automated.
[Order received. Initiating possession operations. Time estimated: 15 minutes.]
“[We’ll act fast then.]” The assistant chimed obediently, his tone hollow, eyes blank.
[Chang Ghost possession complete.]
“All targets secured.” The assistant confirmed monotonously.
[Log deletion complete: All digital trails erased.]
[Enchantment-TNT remote detonation enabled.]
Chen Xiyi nodded indifferently and vanished.
Outside the office, distant explosions echoed abruptly from Dongfang Wen’s mistress’s residence.
Yet within the office, the assistant’s expression remained utterly placid.
[Explosion achieved. Mission clean: No survivors.]
Chen Xiyi reviewed the Game Log back in his shelter.
This matter concluded simply.
He retrieved an opaque crimson vial labeled [Harvest Bloodline].
“Pity quality’s only blue tier… but sufficient for now.” Chen Xiyi stored it nonchalantly and resumed his research.