Chapter 58: Happiness is Yours Alone
Since ten minutes ago, Zhang Yi had entered a state of continuous confusion.
His head was filled with question marks, multiplying like they were capable of splitting and reproducing, increasing exponentially.
As Zhong Hui unleashed Spirit Patterns, rushing into the crowd like a descending evil deity, he thought—
What is going on? Why am I here? Is my power in the intel really this strong?
As the ink-black great sword stirred up storms, kicking up sand and rocks, he was effortlessly lifted into the air by a glossy-feathered magpie, as if it were picking up a caterpillar. At that moment, he thought—what’s this situation again? Where did this strange bird come from?
Am I unable to put up any resistance against even a bird?
Though it might be somewhat disrespectful to say, as a spiritual ability user capable of killing several cows with one punch, being incapacitated and unable to make a sound under seemingly delicate claws was absurd.
Even more absurd was that, under the suppression of this bird’s Spirit Energy Fluctuation, he inexplicably recalled the little moments spent with his ex-girlfriends.
Is it the time to think about those things now?!
Before Zhang Yi could extricate himself from his puzzlement, a sudden shout from a distance interrupted his thoughts.
“Oh no, oh no! Director Shao has escaped!”
“Disaster, disaster! The Siye Association’s people are coming to k*ll us, everyone hurry and escape?!”
“Everyone flies to save themselves when disaster strikes; it’s not shameful to be alive!”
Hearing the rising shouts, along with the occasional barrage of spell formulas flying out from the shadows attacking the employees of Sunrise Biotechnology Company, Zhang Yi’s eyes gradually widened.
Those spell formulas weren’t some random tricks; they were clearly the numbered spell formulas of the Siye Association!
Some members of the Solar Eclipse Society attempted to identify the attackers, but how easy was it to pinpoint the actions of an A+ grade Old Silver Coin? Even Zhong Hui was helpless and could only let that person act under the banner of the Siye Association.
Could it really be the people from the Siye Association?
But when did the Siye Association become so despicable and shameless?
He opened his mouth to say something, but only managed to utter a series of “Abba Abba,” and new question marks flooded his mind.
What is this situation? Who is talking nonsense? I was clearly abducted; how did it turn into a case of running away?
She slandered me, slandered me!
Zhang Yi felt bitter but couldn’t articulate it, making his heart feel even heavier.
Although Zhong Hui’s overwhelming strength had shaken the confidence of many Solar Eclipse Society members, if it weren’t for Jumeng capturing him, there could have been a way to salvage the situation.
In fact, in most cases, spiritual ability users or urban legends that hadn’t reached the Calamity Grade weren’t absolutely unbeatable.
Even a top-notch A+ grade spiritual ability user like Zhong Hui would struggle against hundreds of lower-level spiritual ability users, inevitably becoming overwhelmed.
If we were to liken it to a game, below the Calamity Grade, there were still health-bars of “monsters,” whether they be minions, elites, or bosses, ways to defeat them always existed.
Once a spiritual ability user or urban legend became a calamity, they would turn into an NPC without a health bar, only able to be resolved through narrative kills.
Thus, even though Zhong Hui’s first attack had taken down over thirty members from Team Ten, as long as they survived the first wave of attacks, stabilized morale, and reorganized, they had a chance to turn the tide.
But now—
It was over, all over!
All because of that babbling b*stard!
With the highest authority at the scene in such a panic, what could the others think as they continued to fight against the Siye Association members stationed at the Three Gorges Psychiatric Hospital?
Even from such a distance, Zhang Yi could vaguely see a sense of confusion and “We are determined to fight to the d*ath; why is Your Majesty surrendering?” reflected on the faces of those Solar Eclipse Society members.
Though most of the lower-level members often carried out orders faithfully, at such a crisis point, they were the easiest to stir emotionally.
This was the inherent distrust of subordinates towards their superiors.
That distrust was like a hidden illness in the body; most of the time, it wouldn’t affect health but would only erupt under specific times and conditions.
Once distrust erupted, morale dispersed, the team became chaotic, and hundreds of spiritual ability users and urban legends would crumble apart; with just one surge of the Siye Association counterattack, they could shatter into pieces.
After finally earning his father’s trust to lead such an important operation, he hadn’t even begun before it was to end?
Zhang Yi thought of his father and the efforts he put in to gain his father’s recognition, and tears rolled down his cheeks.
Noticing that Zhang Yi had started to cry, Jumeng blinked her small green bean-sized eyes and sighed silently.
Look at the good work that b*stard has done, tormenting a big man to tears!
In truth, Jumeng could understand a bit of Zhang Yi’s feelings at this moment.
It was a feeling of being falsely accused and smeared, unable to express the hurt, holding back a breath, like being cyberbullyed, wanting revenge but unable to find the main offender.
Jumeng thought that if it were her, she would be completely humiliated.
But—
At least it wasn’t her being tormented; it was that disrespectful Zhang Yi.
This was simply too “wonderful!”
Thinking this, Jumeng slowly loosened her grip from the back of Zhang Yi’s neck, letting his body fall freely. Then after a couple of seconds, she swiftly dove, grabbing Zhang Yi again, taking him up into the clouds, and—
Doing it all over again!
In the wild, some carnivorous birds, after catching their prey, don’t k*ll them right away but will “play” with them, tormenting them to d*ath before gradually enjoying their meal.
Jumeng didn’t intend to “enjoy” Zhang Yi, so this was purely torture.
Those who were bewildered included not only Zhang Yi but also Zhong Hui, who had charged out from the psychiatric hospital, ready to k*ll.
According to his plan, after diving into the crowd, he would first swiftly eliminate a portion of the Solar Eclipse Society members, setting an example to intimidate others, allowing the subsequent operatives to surround and annihilate the remaining members of the Solar Eclipse Society.
However—
What he didn’t expect was that just as he completed the first step, a “sneaky one” popped out from the crowd, inciting the emotions of many Solar Eclipse Society members, causing complete chaos.
The fruits of victory abruptly stolen by an unknown little thief, what a negatively impactful experience!
And just as suddenly, Dorethea, who had accepted a task commissioned by Zhang Yu and had come alone to intercept him.
Although the number of Solar Eclipse Society members she led, sent by the president of the Mountain City Solar Eclipse Society, was much smaller than those of Sunrise Biotechnology Company, barely totaling fifty, their overall quality was significantly better than that of Sunrise’s employees.
Simply put, it was a matter of quantity versus quality.
Zhang Yu’s arrangements weren’t without reason; those engaged in the ambush near the Siye Association needed to be quick, fast enough to complete their task before the Siye Association could react, requiring an elite team.
However, when Dorethea and her elite group arrived on the scene, they witnessed a strange urban legend, whose voice resembled that of her teacher, throwing the situation into disarray.
From the current trajectory of events, even if she did nothing, once the reinforcements from the Siye Association arrived from the Three Gorges Psychiatric Hospital, the battle would likely conclude in a very short time.
Ji Yunpei was at a loss in the crowd, holding a pure white puppy in her arms, staring blankly.
Despite having “revised” the plans laid out by Luxianbei countless times in her mind before setting out, nothing could rival the changes of the moment; the current situation differed entirely from the scenarios Luxianbei had described to her.
This unexpected development left her completely unaware of what to do next.
That lost look in her eyes seemed to say, “Who am I? Where am I? What should I do?”
The employees of Sunrise Biotechnology Company shared a similar bewilderment.
After Zhong Hui’s wave of surprise attacks, they hadn’t yet recovered from their shock when they heard the overwhelming call that resonated throughout the valley, immediately sending their hearts into a frenzy.
Zhang Yi really ran away?
Was it because he realized that they were incapable of defeating the Siye Association, or did he genuinely, as the voice claimed, discover that their operation plans were leaked and had fallen into a trap set by the Siye Association?
So now, should they fight, surrender, or flee?
“Everyone, don’t panic! This is likely a trick by the Siye Association, aimed at sowing discord among us!”
Someone shouted on the public channel of the communication device, trying to calm their comrades’ emotions, but soon, someone shattered that illusion.
“Ambush! We are being ambushed! It’s the Siye Association’s numbered spell formulas; we are truly set up!”
“What do you mean sow discord? I was right next to that b*stard Zhang Yi; he really ran away! I saw a divine bird descend from the sky and take him away; that must have been sent by Zhang Shuisheng to save his son!”
As such voices echoed in the public channel, and with more and more members falling victim to ambushes, the tension that had already weighed upon the hearts of the Sunrise Biotechnology Company members intensified.
Zhang Yi was saved by a divine bird; that was because he was Zhang Shuisheng’s son—bl**d thicker than water.
But who would come to save them?
As everyone fell into chaos, Luxianbei, the instigator, was rather pleased, swiftly darting through the mountains and forests, nearly bursting with joy.
If you put it nicely, this was a spark dropping into a gunpowder keg; if you put it harshly, it was a rat dropping ruining a pot of soup.
But in either case, the discomfort would not belong to the spark or the rat dropping.
The suffering belonged to them, while the happiness was hers alone.
Moments later, noticing the expressions of more and more Sunrise Biotechnology Company employees changing, with hints of despair in their eyes, Luxianbei knew the moment had come. She immediately stopped, found a concealed spot behind a rock, and communicated with a paper cicada in Ji Yunpei’s backpack to send a message.
“Ji Yunpei, it’s time! Just say what I taught you a moment ago!”
Having gotten to this extent, while there would surely still be those who wouldn’t believe, all she could do was gather as many as possible!
And so, seconds later, Ji Yunpei’s voice rang out among the members of Sunrise Biotechnology Company.
“Everyone! Listen to me, Zhang Shuisheng can’t save you, but someone can save you—that’s the Elders’ Council!
“I come here under the command of the Elders’ Council’s fourth confidant, Lan Yi, to rescue you all! Anyone who wants to live, follow me!”
With that, she turned and ran towards the target position Luxianbei had informed her of, sprinting away.
