—When the center of power shifts from a single individual to a collective, assassination loses its meaning.
As the spent bullet clattered to the ground, Qu Xishuang stood before the Fifth Column, her blade held firm. Her swordsmanship was breathtakingly precise; in a single, fluid motion, she had intercepted the bullet itself.
The Fifth Column was swiftly pulled to nearby cover by their escorts, completely surrounded by the Southern Dipper Star observation team, making any further approach impossible.
“Xuanji Star!”
Shang Bixi shouted at the Xuanji Star contingent, her fury palpable, even as she maintained a vigilant stance with her gun.
What was the Fifth Column’s standing in Southern Dipper Star? They were a figure equivalent to a Vice Dean, and now, on this very street, they had nearly been assassinated. If not for Qu Xishuang’s intervention, the Fifth Column would have died here today. How could Shang Bixi not be enraged?
On the Xuanji Star side, faces instantly darkened. Long Ye quickly glanced towards the direction the bullet had come from: the Vega City Planning and Architectural Engineering Design Institute…
“No, wait,” she murmured, “wasn’t that area just taken over by Vega?”
‘Long Ye’s brow furrowed. A sudden realization struck her: the building housing the City Planning and Architectural Engineering Design Institute, much like the Vega-controlled zone across the street, had only just been transferred to Vega. The assassin hadn’t fired from Xuanji Star territory, but from Vega’s.
“Go investigate immediately!” she commanded, her voice sharp. “But under no circumstances are you to enter Vega territory!”
Those around her, discerning her unspoken concerns, instantly relayed her orders.
“If the assailant attempts to flee into Xuanji Star territory, they must be captured alive!”
The Fifth Column, meanwhile, gazed coolly at the distant building, his expression unperturbed, his breathing steady, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Having endured countless assassination attempts throughout his life, he had long grown accustomed to such perils.
‘He turned to Yun Feiyang, offering a slight nod.’
‘Despite their brief acquaintance, Yun Feiyang instantly grasped the unspoken message in that moment of crisis.’
With a sudden burst, Yun Feiyang shot forward, a powerful golden electric light trailing him as he slammed into the outer wall of the City Planning and Architectural Engineering Design Institute, before swiftly breaching the building’s interior.
Hot on his heels was Yuliga, who seemed to glide effortlessly as she rode her shield. Though slightly slower, she was the second person to enter the building after Yun Feiyang.
“Thunder Arrow Electric Bow Step! What incredible skill!”
Xia Yubing couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. The moment the words left her lips, she felt their inappropriateness for the grim situation, instinctively covering her mouth and glancing around. Only when she saw that no one had noticed her did she feel a slight sense of relief.
‘The ‘Thunder Arrow Electric Bow Step’ was a formidable secret art of the Cloud Thunder Sect, one of the Eight Esoteric Gates of Shanhai Pavilion. While it lacked the intricate variations of the Heavenly Passage Dunjia Divine Movement Step, its sheer speed and power far surpassed it.’
‘The City Planning and Architectural Engineering Design Institute was a full kilometer away, yet the person had arrived in an instant, a testament to their mastery of the Thunder Arrow Electric Bow Step. Had they targeted any individual present instead of the building, the situation would have been far more precarious.’
****
Cui Wei, unconcerned with the Fifth Column’s fate—that was a matter for Southern Dipper Star and Xuanji Star to worry about—glanced at the young girl’s body, now severed in two. He immediately barked into his phone.
“Detain that person for me, now!”
At his words, Long Ye and the others instantly turned their gazes, several observers near Cui Wei already resting their hands on their weapons, poised to act.
In a flash, dozens of members of the Imperial Guard swiftly repositioned themselves, blocking the movement of all Polaris observers in a single instant, preventing them from aiding Cui Wei.
‘Though the Imperial Guard harbored no killing intent, their coordinated movements alone were enough to restrict the Polaris members’ actions, demonstrating their impeccable teamwork and rigorous training.’
“What now?” Cui Wei scoffed, his eyebrow raised. “Fancy a little skirmish with me?”
Cui Wei’s brow arched as he slammed a gas canister heavily onto the ground. The pavement beneath his feet instantly fractured, cracks spreading rapidly in all directions like black earthworms, snaking their way towards the surrounding utility poles and walls…
Long Ye extended a hand, halting Xia Yubing and the others, and whispered.
“Be careful. That’s his ‘Profound Seal Enlightenment Divine Ability,’ a top-tier hard-style martial art.”
“It was Polaris who broke the agreement first, and then reneged on it.”
Xia Yubing eyed Cui Wei coldly, the edges of her fingers already forming ice blades as thin as paper. The ‘Ice Condensing Finger’ was incredibly difficult to master; since its creation by Ran Shuanghua, she was the one who had achieved the deepest level of cultivation in this martial art.
“Even so, we cannot act,” Long Ye countered, her tone neither angry nor cold, but calmly reiterating her stance to Xia Yubing. “We cannot give them an excuse.”
“We are currently standing on Xuanji Star territory.”
‘Xia Yubing’s thoughts shifted, and the ice blades on her fingers immediately melted away.’
‘Her gaze fixed on Cui Wei’s feet, which were currently planted within territory not yet transferred to Xuanji Star. This Polaris ‘barbarian’ was undoubtedly using this fact to his advantage, emboldened to provoke those around him with such brazen impunity.’
****
The incessant sounds of gunfire and explosions blaring from Cui Wei’s phone made everyone’s hearts pound. Who knew what Polaris was up to at the Bridge of No Return right now? They couldn’t risk a world war being sparked over such a minor incident. If Polaris and Xuanji Star were to clash, Southern Dipper Star would inevitably intervene, dragging the entire Eastern Continent into the fray, potentially escalating into a full-blown global conflict.
–Old Cui! It’s over! Old Cui!–
A wail of despair erupted from the phone. The vibrant young man who had spoken with such vigor moments before now sounded utterly consumed by regret and bitterness from the other end of the line.
–Couldn’t catch them?–
–A few of our ‘darlings’ got hurt, damn it! Someone planted ‘bouncing mines’ in the small river outside the triangular zone, those sons of ***!–
‘Upon hearing this, Man Huai Zhi and Lei Ji exchanged a knowing smile. It seemed Polaris had suffered a setback at the Bridge of No Return.’
[The people have been taken. Polaris didn’t catch us.]
‘Long Ye listened to the voice in her earpiece, then cast a thoughtful glance at Cui Wei.’
‘It appeared this was the true purpose behind Cui Wei’s earlier five-minute delay…’
‘Though she had never personally visited the Bridge of No Return, Long Ye frequently studied maps, including those of the neutral zones.’
‘The Bridge of No Return, despite being in a neutral zone, was the closest point between Polaris and Xuanji Star territories, and thus served as the designated location for prisoner exchanges. It was named the Bridge of No Return because once one stepped onto the east-west spanning bridge, there was no turning back.’
‘Beneath the Bridge of No Return, the river took a sharp turn to the north, forming a triangular area. On a map, it appeared as a salient favorable to Polaris. If Polaris had positioned their forces there, it wouldn’t have been impossible for them to renege on the exchange and abduct the personnel once the process began. Unfortunately, they had vastly overestimated their own intelligence, convinced that only they were clever and everyone else was foolish.’
‘Long before Cui Wei’s people entered the triangular zone, Xuanji Star had anticipated such a maneuver and had already made preparations in the river. When the Polaris forces crossed the river from the triangular zone, intending to seize the personnel, these ‘little gadgets’ proved their worth.’
‘Although Cui Wei had kept his phone on speaker, the Xuanji Star contingent hadn’t understood what he meant by ‘darlings,’ assuming he referred to explosives or similar devices. Now, it seemed he was referring to the covert operations team of the underground intelligence agency.’
‘They had truly shot themselves in the foot.’
‘Crooked Li’s gaze swept the surroundings, contemplating what he should do if a fight broke out.’
‘While he knew Cui Wei to be a man of both bluntness and cunning, he hadn’t expected him to be so unyielding, actually attempting to snatch the people back. This had truly stirred up a hornet’s nest.’
‘From the sound of the phone call, the other party had already taken the people, and Polaris hadn’t succeeded. Surely, the immediate trouble would soon be resolved!’
‘He studied Cui Wei, waiting for him to make his next move.’
“Hahahaha!”
‘Cui Wei suddenly erupted in laughter, momentarily baffling Crooked Li. Was this truly a moment for laughter? Or did Cui Wei harbor some other intention?’
‘When Cui Wei’s laughter subsided, his gaze abruptly darkened.’
“Fine,” he declared, “you win this round. I’ll swallow this bitter pill and admit defeat!”
‘He let out a heavy sigh. It was the first time Crooked Li had seen him wear such a defeated expression. This was truly a case of losing both the wife and the army!’
‘He had initially intended to console Cui Wei, but then reconsidered. As an outsider, he didn’t fully grasp the gravity of the situation, and what if there were deeper implications? Polaris members were notoriously unpredictable; he shouldn’t invite trouble. Not only might he fail to leave a good impression, but he could also end up drawing all their resentment.’
‘Though the Xuanji Star contingent remained outwardly impassive, any discerning observer could perceive the triumph in their hearts. To witness ‘Cui Huanan’ display such an expression, and to be present for this personnel exchange, was indeed a worthwhile experience.’
‘Man Huai Zhi and Lei Ji stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing at Cui Wei with a hint of smugness. Their eyes then then shifted, falling upon Ke Yiyi on the Vega side.’
****
‘Ke Yiyi stood there, utterly distraught, her gaze sweeping over the deformed bullet casing on the ground—a round from a large-caliber anti-material rifle.’
‘She knelt beside the girl’s corpse, staring at the shattered remains. Under the impact of a large-caliber anti-material rifle, a human body was no more substantial than a piece of paper.’
‘Immigration documents lay scattered across the ground. She began to pick them up, page by page, but found it impossible; the papers had been shredded into countless fragments.’
‘After the assassination, Vega observers near the Vega personnel were swiftly pulled away for protection, and all personnel sought cover. This wasn’t unique to Vega; many observers reacted similarly.’
‘But Ke Yiyi ignored the potential danger, rushing to the girl’s side.’
‘She stood there, staring at the corpse on the ground, like a puppet on a string.’
‘No matter how much the Vega side called to her, she remained unresponsive.’
‘No one knew what she was thinking, not even herself.’
‘Why… why… why?!’
‘She was so close to stepping onto Vega’s territory…’
‘She was so close to starting a new life…’
‘Seeing Ke Yiyi on the verge of collapsing, Li Yuyi swiftly pushed through the crowd and steadied her.’
“I’m fine…”
Ke Yiyi’s voice was low, her demeanor listless. As she steadied herself against a utility pole, Li Yuyi quickly removed his hand from her shoulder. He disliked touching others, and he disliked others touching him, deeming it impolite.
‘Ke Yiyi looked along the utility pole toward the far end of the street. She vaguely saw a man and a woman walking side by side, and a little girl laughing as she ran towards them. They smiled, turning to wait for the girl, and the backs of the three figures disappeared together at the street corner. Then, a bloody flash of lightning split everything before her eyes…
‘Pain… such intense pain… as if something was boring into her skull…’
‘She lowered her head, closing her eyes, and plunged into an abyss of suffering in the boundless darkness.’