What if he runs now—what then? I just provoked them—won't they tear me apart?
"Chief Li, we can't let Dachang's affair leak—or we'll both die..." Li Tailong's voice was ragged; his body was a mess from that slap. He limped.
"Who needs you to tell me that?" Li Xiang snapped, furious. "You promised—once Dachang gathers enough Evolution Points, I get full support to join the capital military region! Where's the payoff? You're half-disabled!"
Li Tailong ground his teeth. "I didn't expect the opportunity to be that powerful..." Li Xiang's teeth clenched. "How much favor did I expend to get Zhou Xun here? Who'd have thought you'd invite a Jiangbei kid? You pick trouble."
Zhou Xun, clutching the bright lamp, panted, "What use is complaining? Think solution."
"We all know Chief An's style," Li Xiang said. "She left backup plans. Stop dithering."
Li Xiang's face tightened. He agreed.
Chen Xiao smirked. "Why did you halt?" He flashed forward like a midday demon. The pressure hit Zhou Xun and Li Xiang like Mount Tai. Li Xiang, already beaten, slid and fell—humiliated.
"Damn..." Li Xiang gritted his teeth. "Chief An—something wrong in Dachang. Hurry!"
A sharp female voice cut in: "Why call me about Dachang?"
Then—three black iron gates thundered from the sky and slammed onto the floor before Chen Xiao, sealing a path. He jumped and landed atop one.
A black vortex swirled nearby like a black hole. Through it poured seven or eight fierce auras—on Dragon Aura they rivaled Zhou Xun's level. One matched the Wolf King Chen Mo's boosted power. The strongest belonged to a bulky man over two meters tall, brutal and ferocious, with four massive black gates strapped to his hunched back—the gates gleamed cold. Seven gates total? A weird, terrifying presence.
"Li Xiang, I lent you my people, but you used the capital channel without permission—what's your intent?" mocked a woman's charismatic voice.
An Xinning—Second Executive of the Capital Military Region—stepped forward. She wore a precise military uniform, ponytail high, and exuded stature and lethal charm. Her presence made Li Xiang avert impure thoughts. He stammered, "Chief An, Dachang's in trouble—the Jiangbei kid interfered. I can't support you if I stay in Dachang's region. Help me join the capital and I'll follow you."
An Xinning didn't answer; she looked at Zhou Xun. He swallowed, "Long story. You asked me to assist Chief Li… chief Li organized Dachang's armed forces to kidnap auction participants from the Sanjiang Basin. If we get the opportunity, Chief Li gets Xingyue's backing and a route into the capital."
An Xinning cut him off: "Stop. You kidnapped the wrong target."
Zhou Xun sighed. "The Sanjiang Basin hides talents. First the Mad Ghost Butcher, now another—"
Li Xiang begged, "Chief An, what do we do?"
She replied coldly: "I brought people. No one leaves alive today. I'll guarantee your entry into the capital."
Li Xiang exulted. Li Tailong, dragging his bloodied body, felt vindicated—he wanted Chen Xiao dead, even if the map slipped away; at least he'd survive.
Li Xiang lifted his head and pointed at the gate-bearer, urging, "Kill him now! The Gate-Carrying General is strong—send him!"
An Xinning followed the gesture and froze. Recognition hit her face; her eyes narrowed to a sliver. A portrait had been hung days earlier in Pei Tianyuan's office in the military region. Under it a black inscription read:
—Whoever provokes him, I'll kill your entire family—
An Xinning's expression changed from command to shock.