Chapter 563: A Tumult in the Meeting Room

“What’s going on?”

“Who’s firing shots?”

“And who the hell are you to be spouting off?”

“…”

A sudden gunshot shattered the air, plunging the meeting room into chaos and shock.

But the shooter had already been caught by the wrist, his gun thrown onto the table. Soldiers and security forces from outside had rushed in, and the occupants gradually regained their composure, only to erupt in furious accusations and curses.

Hotheaded individuals pounded on tables and yelled at the top of their lungs.

Even the Group Leader, initially startled, quickly composed himself under Lu Xin’s steely gaze. Aware of the earlier danger, he roared in anger as he snatched a gun from one of his lackeys and pointed it fiercely at Miss Sun across the table:

“You little brat, you dare double-cross me?”

“…”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The bodyguards beside Miss Sun silently drew their weapons, aligning their guns toward the Group Leader.

The Group Leader’s men, already on edge, promptly raised their guns in response.

The earlier tumult instantly froze into a chilling silence.

Soon, more people scrambled underneath the table after someone who had emerged with a face full of anger.

“…”

“You need proof when you talk…”

Even as more than a dozen guns from the Group Leader’s side were trained on her, Miss Sun sat as unmovable as a mountain.

At least on the surface, she appeared undisturbed—even her elegant tea ceremony remained unaffected.

Lowering her head slightly, her eyes fixed on the changing hues of tea steeped in boiling water, she calmly remarked, “The man is yours and the gun is yours too. I’ve sat here doing nothing while you got attacked, yet you claim I gave the order?”

With a slight curl of her lips, she added coolly, “Maybe it was one of your own who couldn’t stand you and wanted you dead.”

“…”

Her words even made the men under the Group Leader ease their stances ever so slightly.

After all, they were a rabble—fierce in temperament yet clearly lacking in both determination and class compared to their opponent.

Hearing her logic, doubts began to creep into their minds.

Even the Group Leader himself paused, then turned a questioning glance at Yin Mao.

He remembered Yin Mao well—aware of that kid’s relentless ambition.

Could it be that his words about cleaning out the Black Grass business had provoked an assassination attempt?

Under the Group Leader’s accusing gaze, Yin Mao trembled, his face turning ashen.

It was as if he himself couldn’t recall what he’d just done.

“It’s none of his business.”

Lu Xin spoke softly as his hand settled on Yin Mao’s shoulder.

Thanks to borrowing some of his Sister’s abilities, the moment his palm touched Yin Mao’s shoulder he could perceive every nuance in his muscles and fascia, even the slightest twist—enough to ensure that a manipulated Yin Mao wouldn’t act impulsively. Then, turning to the Group Leader, he explained in a low voice:

“It was that woman controlling him that made him act so.”

“Though she hasn’t physically moved, she has the power to make others obey her will…”

“…”

The Group Leader immediately bought Lu Xin’s explanation, glancing back at Miss Sun and demanding, “Anything else you want to say?”

Lu Xin suspected her words weren’t fully comprehended, chalking it up to Yin Mao having been bribed by Miss Sun.

“Nonsense…”

“Bullshit! Slandering Miss Sun—are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“Who do you think you are to criticize Miss Sun?”

“…”

This time, when Lu Xin spoke, his tone was different.

Now, in the unusually hushed room, every word he uttered was heard by all.

Instantly, many faces contorted in anger as they pointed fingers and hurled curses at him, their hostility mounting.

Even behind Miss Sun, several bodyguards had already directed their gun muzzles at his face.

They had no idea of Lu Xin’s true identity, assuming him simply to be one of the Group Leader’s men.

Even Miss Sun herself lifted her gaze coolly, shooting a quick, dispassionate look at Lu Xin.

Lu Xin had not only refrained from assassinating her under her icy stare but had also prevented another from doing so. His words, delivered with unshakeable certainty and without hesitation, made it clear that he was responsible. It made her wonder—could he also be an Ability User?

After all, how could such a low-ranking scum as the Group Leader afford to keep an Ability User by his side?

Yet regardless, when other Ability Users intervened—or when their secrets were nearly exposed—the murderous intent in his heart surged.

In this world, Ability Users lived under the Red Moon in various ways.

Some joined the Special Cleaning Department, unafraid of being scrutinized and having their abilities studied.

While many others chose to hide, guarding their abilities as their most closely held secret.

Miss Sun undoubtedly belonged to the latter category.

Under normal circumstances, if someone uncovered her secret, her only recourse would be to silence them forever.

And as the barrage of curses, accusations, and gun muzzles—along with Miss Sun’s cold stare—converged on him, Lu Xin furrowed his brow.

Being an introvert, he wasn’t accustomed to being the center of attention, and as an honest soul he knew no cruelty or pretense. He simply looked up at them all with calm resolve.

Just a steady glance sent a ripple through the room.

“Bang!”

That look seemed to make the very air tremble.

In an instant, the atmosphere grew thick and oppressive, as if even the light had dimmed. A faint, mischievous laugh seemed to echo in the void.

Then suddenly, a clatter erupted.

Those who had been yelling at Lu Xin for his supposed nonsense suddenly found themselves gasping for air as they collapsed heavily back onto their chairs.

Some, unable to steady themselves, even fell to the floor.

Their bodies curled up like shrimps, mouths agape, as if the very air had been sucked from them.

One of them, still holding his gun aimed at one of Lu Xin’s bodyguards, suddenly stared in shock as his hand began to contort.

His index and thumb intertwined; his ring finger folded back to press against his palm; his middle finger bent sharply, forming a vicious angle with his hand. Then his entire hand twisted in a screw-like motion.

With a loud clatter, his gun dropped to the ground while he seemed completely oblivious to the pain.

“Crackle!”

It was Sister!

She had leapt out unexpectedly. Furious, she slapped those who had dared to question Lu Xin and even twisted the hands of the bodyguards aiming at him into grotesque shapes. Lu Xin thought to himself that maybe his Sister had gone a bit too far…

Yet she deliberately ignored his searching gaze, nonchalantly shifting her attention elsewhere.

There was no time for arguments—after all, with so many eyes on her, speaking to her Brother would have made her seem unhinged…

So Lu Xin barely paid it any mind.

He never intended to blow things out of proportion; he simply noticed Miss Sun’s glance and returned it.

Miss Sun, meticulously engrossed in her tea ceremony, quickly lifted her gaze to glance at Lu Xin.

At that very moment, their eyes locked. A jolt ran through her body, her eyes burning with pain. Blurred, ghostly images filled her vision as two streaks of fresh blood slowly cascaded from her eye sockets.

In that moment of searing agony, an unseen force pinned her in place, rendering her utterly immobile.

The delicate teapot in her hand tipped, spilling hot water.

It cascaded noisily onto the exposed thigh of her cheongsam, and a wisp of white steam rose as her skin turned a fiery red.

“Ouch…”

Only after a few agonizing seconds did someone finally react.

An official from the Administration Hall, his hand clutching his throat and gasping for breath, managed to draw a long, deep gasp into his lungs.

This was immediately followed by violent coughing, his face flushing bright red.

The bodyguards with guns suddenly felt excruciating pain in their contorted hands, clutching them and screaming.

The agony from their twisted wrists was unbearable, their professionalism utterly forgotten.

“Miss Sun…”

Others, witnessing Miss Sun’s rigid posture and the blood streaming from her eyes, trembled uncontrollably.

Despite everything that had transpired, the overall atmosphere in the meeting room remained oppressively somber. Whether in pain or terror, no one dared raise their voice as they stared at Lu Xin—as if he were a demon.

Even the Group Leader and his men stood there, dumbfounded, watching him.

They had no idea if Lu Xin had been behind it all—and if so, how he’d managed to do it.

“Things have really gotten out of hand…”

Lu Xin shook his head slightly. Truth be told, he had wanted it this way and was now reining himself in.

His Sister being mischievous wasn’t his problem…

As for Miss Sun, it was purely a matter of her own shallow abilities…

Even though the situation escalated, upon reflection Lu Xin saw no real fault in his actions. He simply cast a steady glance at Miss Sun and declared earnestly, “If you’ve done it, there’s no point in denying it.”

“If others don’t know it was us, surely we know the truth ourselves, right?”

“…”

Listening to him, no one in the room spoke.

The oppressive, fear-laden atmosphere only deepened—was his confession an admission of guilt?

Even Miss Sun, startled, quickly hurled aside her teapot, her slender fingers convulsing in pain as blood trickled from her eyes down her chin onto her white cheongsam, each drop a horrifying red.

Yet she not utter a single word, her body frozen in terror.

“You’re right—she isn’t all that formidable…”

Lu Xin murmured to Yin Mao, who stood dumbfounded by his side, then patted the Group Leader on the shoulder and said:

“You all sort out your own matters—I have some things I need to figure out.”

He then shot a glance at Gecko, silently signaling him to maintain order and ensure the Group Leader’s safety.

“Do I really have to maintain order?”

Gecko thought inwardly, but his face remained stern as he nodded heavily.

Lu Xin, with his hand still on Yin Mao, escorted him out of the meeting room. As they passed, the panicked crowd parted quickly.

Not one person dared intervene—even the soldiers on duty snapped to attention as Lu Xin passed by.

…

Although the Group Leader’s public stance seemed to align with his wishes, Lu Xin’s doubts lingered.

For that reason, he chose to leave the meeting room at that moment—not because the situation had spiraled out of control, but for reasons he kept to himself.

His expression calm and his steps steady, he led Yin Mao out of the room, then, under the watchful eyes of security in the corridor, headed toward a small office.

Inside, Han Bing and Red Serpent were waiting. As soon as they saw Lu Xin, they sprang to their feet.

They must have heard the gunshots and the commotion of soldiers and security bursting into the room, and were now curious.

“What happened over there?”

Lu Xin nodded toward them and set Yin Mao down on a nearby bench.

Only then did Yin Mao gasp for breath, his expression blank and cold sweat dripping down in layers.

It seemed only now had he regained his senses.

Lu Xin didn’t spare him a glance and said to Han Bing, “Someone tried to kill the Group Leader earlier—we’ve got it under control.”

Then, tilting his head slightly, he asked, “Why is his reaction so extreme? Was it arranged by you?”

“Of course not,” Han Bing replied, understanding Lu Xin’s implication and shaking her head slightly.

“We were sent to support Heichao City and help them resolve a special pollution incident.

When we saw their order collapsing, we helped maintain it to some degree—but we wouldn’t interfere in their administrative affairs. After all, according to Qinggang regulations, influencing administration through ability is absolutely forbidden.”

She paused, then added, “Even if we had arranged it, it wouldn’t have worked.

This Group Leader, after all, built his fortune on the Black Grass trade. He may appear powerful and well-funded, but compared to the established elite in Heichao City, he’s a long shot. Even propping him up, his position wouldn’t be secure.”

“And forcing someone from a Black Grass background to clear out Heichao City’s business is nothing short of a joke,”

“He can’t win over the people.”

“…”

After Han Bing’s detailed explanation, Lu Xin frowned slightly and said, “Then why is he acting this way now?”

At Lu Xin’s inquiry, both Han Bing and Red Serpent sighed softly.

Their faces betrayed a mix of sympathy and regret as they murmured, “It’s for the sake of his family.”

“Hmm?”

Lu Xin instinctively glanced at Red Serpent.

“Not me,” Red Serpent quickly waved his hand and said, “It’s his real family.”

Han Bing nodded slightly and whispered, “In the previous pollution incident, his family… didn’t end well.”