**Chapter 53: That Old Man is Done for**
Zhang Shuisheng’s speech was long-winded and dull; in summary, it was just a repetitive set of enticing words meant to motivate, laced with phrases to rouse people’s spirits, causing listeners to feel drowsy.
However, Lu Xianbei was listening attentively, as if the richly ceremonial nature of the flag-raising speech awakened a memory etched in her genes, making her instinctively keep quiet.
This was unusual!
Back in high school, during her first flag-raising ceremony, she had not adhered to the discipline of the event and laughed out loud several times, interrupting the speech of the freshman representative on the platform. That person pointed at her and said, “That student over there, if you have the guts, come up here and speak!?”
At that, Lu Xianbei readily went up, read through the script a few times, and spoke slightly better than the freshman representative. As a result, she received a warning.
Those were the days of youth! I wouldn’t do that again now, after all, a face like mine can’t help but look serious, Lu Xianbei lamented in her heart.
Nevertheless, thinking back to her school days, while she could be considered a prominent figure, setting aside her own reasons, why hadn’t she developed a sweet, innocent love story?
Her father had arranged so many romantic matches, yet he hadn’t arranged a single one for her at school.
At this thought, Lu Xianbei shook her head gently, suddenly realizing that if she had indeed dated a girl back in high school, that girl would likely have joined her on their graduation trip.
Wasn’t that just dragging someone else down?
Even her own father had not survived that car accident; how could that girl possibly escape a similar fate?
Bringing her thoughts back, Lu Xianbei looked at the elderly man still rambling on the high platform, focusing her attention.
Only when Zhang Shuisheng finished his speech and disappeared from the platform did she slowly exhale a breath of stale air, murmuring, “So, are we new colleagues just cannon fodder?”
Hearing Lu Xianbei’s muttering, Jumeng tilted her head slightly and nodded, “Yeah, looks like it.”
Although she had been a Cataclysm Grade urban legend since gaining consciousness, and could usually break through most challenges with sheer strength without resorting to any cunning schemes, she possessed a highly refined judgment of the strengths and weaknesses of spiritual ability users or urban legends.
Thus, even without careful observation, she could see that among the spiritual ability users and few urban legends gathered in this vast air defense cave, the highest level of spirit energy fluctuation was merely B grade, which in the Solar Eclipse Society, could only be considered at the bottom tier.
To send such a force to directly assault the Siye Society’s important base in Shancheng, was it not merely cannon fodder?
Even if not every Siye Society operative in Shancheng was adept at combat, even if they really did start fighting, the Siye Society would still hold back due to concerns for the surrounding residents.
The chances of this group of people breaking through the solidified spell formulas set around the Three Gorges Psychiatric Hospital, mingling with the Yangtze River, and overcoming numerous members of the Special Action Team, as well as the Siye Society operatives stationed at the Three Gorges Psychiatric Hospital, to successfully extract their intended targets would be very low.
Moreover, judging by the operational guidelines Zhang Shuisheng had just laid out, the more than three hundred spiritual ability users and urban legends present had to split up, with only about half heading to the Three Gorges Psychiatric Hospital, while the rest had other arrangements.
“It’s just a feint!” Jumeng summarized, “He must have arranged for other high-grade spiritual ability users or urban legends to sneak into that psychiatric hospital during the chaos.”
After all, it was merely about snatching someone; slipping quietly into the psychiatric hospital to take someone away, even if successful.
To achieve that, just a few high-level spiritual abilities or urban legends would suffice.
The gathering of low-level spiritual ability users and urban legends was merely there to create chaos, increasing the chance of success, a horde of rabble.
However, under certain conditions, having these people switch sides at a critical moment could perhaps also be useful?
There are many who are unafraid of d*ath, but those who would willingly be cannon fodder, dying without meaning, unless they’re insane. Lu Xianbei thought.
After listening to Zhang Shuisheng’s speech, a bold and dark idea suddenly dawned upon her.
Since she planned to acquire the spirit energy items on these “new colleagues,” why not just collect both the person and the spirit energy items together?
With the calamity growing and the irresponsible company expanding, Du Sixian had already hinted several times that they were short-handed.
Even though they bore the Black Sun Totem and going directly to Huacheng might not be appropriate, couldn’t they just find another way?
Members of the Solar Eclipse Society could either be from the Elders’ faction or the President’s faction; why couldn’t they be from the Lan Yi Party?
Exactly! If they refuse, just imprison them in the God Realm Prototype, gradually reform their thoughts, analyze the pros and cons, and win their hearts until they agree.
As Lu Xianbei secretly plotted the future blueprint for the “Lan Yi Party” in her mind, Jumeng’s small action suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
“But I can’t understand, why would he let his son lead the team?” Jumeng nudged Lu Xianbei with her elbow, frowning, “Isn’t he afraid his son might get caught up in it too?”
“What we can think of, others might not. If he didn’t do this, how could he gain trust?” Lu Xianbei shrugged, “Besides, that son may not be that important to him.”
Based on her observations, Lu Xianbei found that Zhang Shuisheng was indeed as Dorethea said, gravely ill. Despite trying to present himself as healthy through his attire, meticulously crafted appearance, and lengthy speeches, he still couldn’t disguise the dying aura surrounding him.
In this situation, regardless of whether the cost meant going against the Elders’ Council or collaborating with the Miasma God, Zhang Shuisheng would spare no effort to survive; he probably wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice an additional son.
After all, as long as one lives, a son can be born again!
Not every father would selflessly dedicate themselves to their children.
Lu Xianbei thought, raising an eyebrow at Jumeng, “And besides, isn’t there still the Miracle Cult?”
“Didn’t you just say? I’ve heard that old guy has connections with the Miracle Cult. Perhaps with their help, these low-level spiritual ability users and urban legends could really create a miracle of the weak overcoming the strong?”
“Heh!” Jumeng rolled her eyes and let out a cold laugh.
As a divine being who “uses money to refute fate,” her disapproval of the Miracle Cult’s doctrines was as unyielding as her disbelief in “miracles arising from singular pulls.”
“All I care about is getting back at that guy who just spoke.”
Saying this, Jumeng swung her fist energetically in the air.
It was well-known that Jumeng was a deity with clear grievances, quick to settle scores.
Lu Xianbei glanced at Jumeng, “I have no objections; if you think just teaching him a lesson isn’t satisfying enough, I can imprison him in the God Realm Prototype, and every time you want to hit him, I’ll let him out.”
“Uh, wouldn’t that be a bit too much?”
“Too much?!” Lu Xianbei replied dismissively, “I think not.”
Before she could finish her sentence, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the “new colleague” next to her, and she saw a face distorted with fear.
Lu Xianbei and Jumeng were very close, and speaking in a low voice, although they didn’t bother with spell formulas to prevent eavesdropping because they felt somewhat secure in exposing their identities, typically, it would still be hard for others to hear their conversation.
In fact, they hadn’t plotted loudly, which was already quite respectful to Zhang Shuisheng.
However, there are always exceptions, and the girl standing beside them, perhaps around eighteen or nineteen, was that exception.
Though she only caught some fragmented phrases, the mockery in their speech towards Zhang Shuisheng and even the Elders’ faction of the Shancheng Solar Eclipse Society made her feel uncertain.
That way of speaking, either a big shot or an impulsive novice.
Looks like our team has mixed in two dangerous characters? the girl thought.
Noticing the girl’s gaze, realizing she might have heard the content of her conversation with Jumeng, Lu Xianbei turned expressionlessly towards Jumeng and signaled her with a look.
Immediately, they both leaned closer to the girl, one on each side, placing their hands on her shoulders.
Although the video materials provided by the Void did contain detailed information about the senior members of Sunrise Biotechnology Company, Lu Xianbei found that there was almost no information about the grassroots members, which was definitely a major oversight!
How could one engage with the masses without understanding them?
The power of the masses is one of the greatest forces in this world; how could one instigate matters without connecting with the masses?
Now that someone had delivered themselves to her, it was time to seize the opportunity.
“Hey cutie, you heard everything just now, right?”
The girl shivered, shaking her head as if trying to deny it.
“Why are you so flustered if you didn’t hear anything? Moreover, I never said you overheard anything!”
At these words, the girl’s face went pale, opening her mouth as if wanting to scream for help, yet at the same time wanting to explain. Just then, Jumeng’s cold voice floated into her ears.
“Don’t even think about trying to call for help; with me here, even if you scream your lungs out, no one will hear you.”
“That’s right!” Lu Xianbei nodded, adding, “But don’t worry, we won’t harm you, as long as you behave yourself from now on.”
Girl: “Am I being kidnapped?”
Leaving the vast air defense cave and entering through a side door beside the platform, they passed through a long tunnel that led them into a quaint reception room.
Zhang Shuisheng pushed open the reception room door, his gaze instinctively moving forward, where he saw the man sitting cross-legged in the center of the room.
He was a somewhat plump middle-aged man with a bit of an exotic look, dressed in a pale moon-colored robe and wearing a faintly golden mask that concealed his face from the jaw down to below his eyes.
He sat on the mat, eyes tightly closed, his hands raised high as if carefully cradling something, murmuring incantations.
All things straight are vain, all truths shall bend, every belief is a miracle.
Seeing this, Zhang Shuisheng silently waited aside, and when the man finally stopped reciting that strange hymn and opened his eyes to look at him, he stepped forward, forcing a smile and asking, “Mr. Chehaduo, has the ritual been successful?”
The man glanced at Zhang Shuisheng and then looked at the blooming silver Miracle Flower in his hand, one that only followers of the Miracle Cult could see, and nodded.
He did not want, nor cared to engage in any unnecessary conversation with Zhang Shuisheng.
A person abjectly ill, who refused to believe his body could miraculously overcome his ailments, if it weren’t for the command of the Holy Son, Chehaduo would never have come such a long way to help him birth the Miracle Flower, blessing that group of fools outside.
“Great, thank you, sir.” Zhang Shuisheng smiled, “The items we agreed on earlier will be delivered to you shortly.”
Just as Lu Xianbei and Jumeng had guessed, the group of mid to low-level spiritual ability users and urban legends outside were indeed merely cannon fodder for a ruse.
However, to be safe, Zhang Shuisheng opted to pay a significant price to collaborate with the Miracle Cult, having them bless that group of cannon fodder.
In case those guys attempting to infiltrate the Three Gorges Psychiatric Hospital failed, but this group of cannon fodder miraculously managed to break into the hospital and bring people out, it would still be a win-win situation.
“Mm.” Chehaduo responded coldly, nodding again, then reverently turned his gaze back to the Miracle Flower in his hand, his pupils suddenly constricting violently.
He saw that the Miracle Flower he had expended nearly all his spirit energy to nurture, withering completely within less than ten seconds after bestowing blessings to that group outside; following that, the petals shimmering with silver light, resembling glass, visibly transformed into a pitch black mass.
The fragrance of the Miracle Flower that had filled the reception room instantly turned into a fetid odor of misfortune, making one nauseous.
Stunned for a few seconds, Chehaduo looked up at Zhang Shuisheng, his eyes narrowing.
Even the Miracle Flower had no effect?
This house has mildew; I can’t say it
It seems that unless the Holy Son personally appears, demonstrates a miracle, and produces a golden Miracle Flower, this old man is surely doomed, Chehaduo thought as he adjusted the medieval-style Miracle Cult robe he wore.
“Mr. Zhang, those items you promised are urgently needed by the Holy Son; please hasten and deliver them to my residence, ideally within three hours, as I must leave Shancheng afterward to report back to the Holy Son.”
He unusually spoke a few more words to Zhang Shuisheng.
In his view, this was to ensure that the remuneration was smoothly obtained and also counted as a humanitarian consideration for the deceased.
“The deal has been struck; if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”
Having said that, he turned and quickly left the reception room.
He didn’t want to linger in a place filled with the stench of misfortune, he wanted to leave as soon as possible!
Moments later, just as he reached the exit of this maze-like space below, Chehaduo suddenly stopped, looked back, and frowned.
Although his task was complete, his other companion who had been tasked with helping Zhang Shuisheng abduct the target could not leave yet.
Should he inform him in advance?
Or maybe it’s better not to? Experiencing misfortune without realizing it yet managing to escape intact would be a real miracle! Chehaduo pondered.
