Chapter 892: Chains of Power and Rescue in the Shadows

Chen Dongyang might seem generous and easygoing on the surface, but deep down he’s vain and fiercely jealous.

A few years back, Xu Juan and Yang Shanshan were constantly at odds, fighting openly and in secret for Chen Dongyang’s attention, all because he loved watching them compete.

During this twisted game, Chen Dongyang got his sense of satisfaction while Xu Juan and Yang Shanshan enjoyed his protection and shared resources. All three were happy with the arrangement.

But now that Lu Fangchun and Wang Bo have fallen into Chen Dongyang’s hands, things are looking grim. With his personality, there’s no way he’ll let them off easily.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to just break their arms and legs? Why waste energy whipping them?”

Hearing Qi San grumble under his breath, Xia Qing let out a silent sigh of relief.

Qi San must be talking about Lu Fangchun and Wang Bo. At least their arms and legs are still intact, which is something. But with their skin flayed from the beatings, they’ve probably already caught Evolution Bacteria. Time is running out.

Four meters away, Jiang Xiong whispered back, “What do you know? If we cripple them now, do you think Chen Deng would pay a fortune to get them back?”

Chen Deng only raised Lu Fangchun and Wang Bo in hopes of breathing new life into the Liangqing Squad.

Qi San gave a sly snicker. “Exactly. We only cut them up after we land the ransom. When Old Deng realizes he’s spent everything for two cripples, I want to see how long he can play the hero.”

“You’ll never get to see it.”

“Fair point. By then, we’ll be halfway to Gui City. Once this shift’s over, I’m finally heading back to kick back for a bit. That Lu kid—so soft and tender—he’s a real piece of work…”

Once Xia Qing confirmed Lu Fangchun was here, she quietly retreated into the Safe Zone and sent a message to Luo Pei.

Those beasts are planning to hurt thirteen-year-old Lu Fangchun. They need to be rescued without delay.

Luo Pei wasted no time replying: An eight-member Liangqing Squad is stationed in Section Six of the Western Lands, and a seven-member Beast Squad team is in Section Five. Both squads have Speed Evolvers who’ll reach you in ten minutes. Work with them as Zhang Ling to carry out the rescue—your skills are easily up to the task, but stay safe.

Looking at the personnel files Luo Pei sent over for the Beast Squad and Liangqing Squad, Xia Qing instantly understood why she was asked to help.

Liangqing Squad isn’t lacking in numbers, just in strength. Their team leader’s a level-four Speed Evolver; the rest are threes and fours at best. There’s just one junior Sniper in the whole squad.

That checks out—Liangqing Squad is ranked thirty-eighth out of Hui Three’s teams recently, probably because their stronger fighters always stick close to Lu Fangchun and Wang Bo, who got captured by Chen Dongyang.

Beast Squad’s got slightly better stats, with a level-five Endurance Evolver as captain and a mid-level Sniper. Xia Qing figured Luo Pei persuaded them to join because Chen Dongyang is here.

If they had a senior Sniper in the rescue team, casualties could be cut dramatically.

Xia Qing backed out to look for Handsome Huge Wolf, hoping to get him to leave. There’d be a fight brewing between humans soon—no need for the wolf to get caught up in it.

But when she got back, the wolf had already vanished, leaving no trace behind.

Perfect! Once she’d found their target, he’d ditched her without a second thought about escorting her home.

Stashing away her signature Black Blade, Xia Qing drew a plain, sharp Knife from her backpack, flicked on her voice changer, then tuned her earpiece walkie-talkie to the rescue squad’s frequency. Using the voice of Zhang Ling—the Azure Dragon Squad’s female Sniper—she reached out to the rescue team.

Zhang Ling was the name Xia Qing borrowed during the mission to eliminate Tang Zhengsu. She’d thought Zhang Ling was one of Yang Jin’s fabrications, until the real Zhang Ling showed up at Forty-Nine Hill for training this April.

Zhang Ling, age twenty-eight, stands 175 centimeters tall, slim build, a level-six Strength Evolver, and a senior Sniper. No record of when she joined the Azure Dragon Squad.

While Xia Qing doesn’t look like Zhang Ling, they’re close in height and build. With a Protective Suit and mask on, only those really familiar with either would spot a problem.

The voice changer linked to the walkie-talkie was custom made by Da Ya from Territory Seven, after she took down the Hui Six poaching team. She’d paid a steep price for it, all for unexpected moments just like today.

If it weren’t for Idol being swamped lately, Xia Qing had even thought about asking him to make her a mask like the one Zhang Shi wears—so real it can fool anyone.

But why hide her voice and change her identity in the first place?

That much is obvious. Xia Qing’s out here for a quick payday and to boost her strength—she has no intention of exposing her real identity.

Why did Chen Dongyang target Lu Fangchun and Wang Bo and want them maimed? It was all because Chen Deng couldn’t resist showing off these two promising kids.

Now Xia Qing’s responsible for a territory of seven thousand acres—and has Old Goat, Er, and Little Fei Mao to look out for as well. Every mission demands extra caution. She can’t risk bringing trouble home.

After the two Speed Evolvers from Liangqing Squad arrived, Xia Qing realized the squad’s level-four leader was none other than Lu Fangchun’s mother, She Xing.

Xu Juan and She Xing were close friends, so Xia Qing had met her a few times. But right now, she was Zhang Ling—a complete stranger in She Xing’s eyes.

They exchanged quick greetings and wasted no time drafting a battle plan.

Liangqing’s level-three Speed Evolver stayed behind to wait for the rest. Xia Qing and She Xing pushed ahead to take out Qi San and Jiang Xiong, two sentries two kilometers out, to clear a path for the rescue.

They’d chosen to attack from the west because Xia Qing had already scouted the way and confirmed there were no Snipers lying in wait.

In other words, the path picked by Handsome Huge Wolf was spot-on safe.

She Xing was out for Qi San, the Scent Evolver. Xia Qing’s target was Jiang Xiong—a Strength Evolver with poor hearing, sight, and sense of smell.

Sneaking up behind the two guards lost in conversation, they struck at the same time. She Xing darted forward and, quick as a flash, snapped Qi San’s neck before he could lay a hand on her son.

When hunting Evolved fighters in full Protective Suits and masks, a broken neck is by far the fastest and most silent method.

Xia Qing grabbed Jiang Xiong by the throat, pinned him to the ground, and in one swift, precise move, crushed his right shoulder blade.

Jiang Xiong’s face turned red with pain and panic, twisted in agony. He couldn’t even get a sound out to beg for mercy.

With She Xing on lookout, Xia Qing started her questioning. “Where are Lu Fangchun and Wang Bo?”

Jiang Xiong jerked his head, signaling for Xia Qing to ease her hold so he could talk.

“Use your fingers!”

Jiang Xiong raised a trembling left hand, pointing north of the Abandoned Village, but when Xia Qing lifted her knife threatening his arm, he frantically redirected it, jabbing urgently at the ruins to the south.

“Besides you two, how many more did Chen Dongyang bring?”

Jiang Xiong hastily curled nine fingers and threw up a surrender gesture, desperate for Xia Qing to spare him.

Once everything checked out, Xia Qing pressed down hard, ending Jiang Xiong’s life in an instant before quickly snatching his earpiece walkie-talkie. With it, she could listen in on enemy chatter.

She’d promised Idol to stick to the rules and go by the book when she could. But faced with the choice to either knock Jiang Xiong out, tie him up, or kill him, she didn’t hesitate to choose the last.

She’d wanted to deal with him for a long time.

Back when Xia Qing was running missions with Xu Juan, Jiang Xiong never missed a chance to short her on rations or Credits, or threaten to take advantage of her. If Xia Qing hadn’t been so alert—and if not for Xu Juan stepping in—he’d have gotten his way long ago.

In Yan Long’s words: Scum like that doesn’t deserve to breathe, let alone waste food.