At that moment, Chen Zheng frowned as he stepped out of the car. He sensed the subtle feeling of being watched. His vigilance heightened, he followed the bodyguard into the villa.

"What's going on? Where is everyone? Security was supposed to be tightened tonight," the bodyguard asked in confusion.

Chen Zheng had already begun to circulate his True Qi, and his five senses sharpened instantly. He could hear breathing.

"Go!"

Chen Zheng grabbed the bodyguard and, before the man could react, pulled him inside the villa. They swept their eyes across the first floor but found no signs of life. Like shadows, the two then floated up toward the second floor.

Surprise was written all over the bodyguard's face. He hurried over to Zhuge Haoran, confirming that he had only been hit by a tranquilizer dart. However, at that very moment, a sharp whizzing sound cut through the air.

"Watch out—"

Before Chen Zheng could finish his warning, the bodyguard was shot and collapsed into endless darkness.

Chen Zheng's gaze shot toward Zhuge Haoran like a sword. In an instant, he appeared at Zhuge Haoran's side, placing a hand gently on his chest as True Qi surged out like a spring. Soon, Zhuge Haoran stirred, waking from his stupor.

"You actually dare to show your face?" Ri La watched Chen Zheng with a mocking expression, his eyes flashing with disdain. From his perspective, Chen Zheng is a complete amateur. To expose himself to danger instead of hiding is utterly foolish.

"Master Chen, where's Xi Yu? Was she captured?" Zhuge Haoran asked urgently the moment he woke up.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully triggering a choice mission.]

[Choice One: Rescue Zhuge Xiyu and receive the following reward: one Puppet Card.]

[Reminder: The Puppet Card can be used on any specified target. Afterward, you can control the target's life and death and monitor them in real-time.]

[Choice Two: Watch her die. Support someone else to take control of Yan Shuiyu and receive the following reward: Zhuge Xiyu will forget the formulas for the Beautifying Cream and Spirit Cleansing Liquid.]

Without hesitation, Chen Zheng chose the first option. Then he said softly, "She must have been captured. When I arrived, all of you were already unconscious."

***

"Is everything taken care of?" Slick's voice echoed in the earpiece.

"Almost done. Just some ignorant kid who doesn't know what's going on," Ri La responded, gently squeezing the trigger.

PFFT!

A tranquilizer dart shot from the dark muzzle, cutting through the air and striking Chen Zheng precisely. Ri La was about to pack up his weapon and leave, but he suddenly froze. Through his sniper scope, he was shocked to see the unconscious Zhuge Haoran waking up, his lips moving slightly as if whispering.

How is this possible? Ri La's mind reeled. That was a high-potency tranquilizer dart. An ordinary person should have been unconscious for a full day.

Then, something even more incredible happened. The tranquilizer dart he had fired was suspended in mid-air. After a moment, Chen Zheng's gaze turned directly toward him. Ri La felt his heart pound uncontrollably. Though hundreds of meters separated them, he had the unsettling feeling of being seen through.

"Master Chen, please save Xi Yu! You have to save her!" Zhuge Haoran pleaded from inside the villa.

"Don't worry." Chen Zheng stood up and retracted his True Qi. The hovering tranquilizer dart clattered to the floor. He then took a step and leaped forward.

Ri La's eyes widened in amazement. The next second, a terrifying sight unfolded before him. Like an eagle spreading its wings, Chen Zheng burst through the window. But instead of plunging into the abyss below, he defied all logic and hovered in mid-air. His figure shot toward Ri La like a bolt of lightning.

Ri La screamed in horror, "He's flying! How is that possible?!"

"Ri La, what are you talking about?" Ercha asked in confusion.

But Ri La had no time to explain. He scrambled to his feet, leaped from the upper floor, and fled with all his might. He had clearly underestimated Chen Zheng's speed. In the blink of an eye, Chen Zheng appeared before him like a phantom.

Chen Zheng casually raised his arm. A crystal-clear Ice Pearl shot out, slicing through the air. Ri La let out a piercing scream and fell heavily to the ground. A thumb-sized hole appeared in his calf, its edges frozen over with a layer of chilling frost. Not a single drop of blood escaped.

"Ri La, Ri La, what's wrong?" Ercha's anxious voice crackled through the earpiece.

"Dammit! This guy isn't human!" Ri La cried out in terror, trying to crawl away. But with his leg injured, he could only drag himself pathetically across the ground.

Chen Zheng walked over to him and stomped down hard.

"AH!" Ri La howled in pain, pinned mercilessly to the ground.

"What the hell is happening?" Ercha demanded, but Ri La was unable to answer. Chen Zheng reached out a hand, and the earpiece flew deftly into his grasp.

"Bring Zhuge Xiyu back for an exchange," Chen Zheng said, his tone flat.

Ercha fell silent on the other end. After a long pause, Slick's voice finally came through. "Who are you?"

"Are you exchanging her or not?" Chen Zheng asked softly, ignoring the question.

A chill ran down Slick's spine. He could feel an icy killing intent in that calm voice.

"We'll exchange!"

Chen Zheng removed the earpiece. He picked up Ri La, and his figure vanished in a flash, reappearing back in the villa.

BANG!

"Ah!" Ri La was thrown to the floor, moaning in pain.

Meanwhile, seven or eight kilometers away, a moving Land Rover made a sharp U-turn and sped back.

"Dammit, what the hell is going on?" Ercha cursed angrily as he drove, his earlier relaxed mood completely gone. Slick ignored him, his face grim. After a long wait, Slick finally broke the silence. "Let me out. You lead the team in and create an opening for me."

"As you wish," Ercha agreed, a determined light flashing in his eyes.

The Land Rover slowed to a stop, and Slick leaped nimbly out of the window. Ercha then drove the vehicle to the villa's front gate.

Inside, Chen Zheng stood as still as a statue. Zhuge Haoran had already moved to the first floor. Ri La's screams had been silenced, and he was tied up in a corner.

As Ercha got out of the car, his pupils contracted. He recognized Chen Zheng's figure and quickly opened the back door, carrying the unconscious Zhuge Xiyu out. He stopped a short distance from Chen Zheng and said gravely, "Exchange!"

Chen Zheng didn't respond. Zhuge Haoran dragged Ri La forward and called out anxiously, "My daughter! Are you all right?"

Zhuge Xiyu, however, remained unresponsive.

"Don't worry, she's fine—just unconscious for now. Now bring Ri La over," Ercha demanded.

"Master Chen!" Zhuge Haoran didn't move. Instead, he turned to Chen Zheng for instructions.

Chen Zheng gave a slight nod, as serene as an ancient statue. At this, the tension in Ercha's heart vanished. His gaze flickered to the space behind Chen Zheng and Zhuge Haoran, where a figure was descending as quietly as a falling leaf.

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