Night had fallen over Qingshi Village.
The atmosphere was deathly silent, with only the sound of crickets accompanying Shen Xiao and Lu Qingyue as they vaulted over the fence of Guo Sheng's hideout.
Through the window glass, their target could be seen snoring loudly, completely dead to the world.
Shen Xiao didn't burst in immediately.
He pointed his finger at the glass, and a small, high-temperature flame appeared, cutting a perfect circular hole without making a sound.
Qingyue's eyes widened. "You... have the fire element too? Weren't your elements physical strength and lightning?"
"I actually have three elements. Keep this a secret, okay?" Shen Xiao whispered with a playful wink.
"O-okay..." Qingyue nodded obediently, her heart fluttering slightly at being trusted with such a massive secret.
"Now, your turn. Send your water stream through that hole," Shen Xiao commanded.
Qingyue immediately mobilized her ability.
A thin stream of water slithered in like a snake, gradually spreading over the sleeping Guo Sheng's body until it became a massive puddle weighing nearly a ton.
"Dump it!"
Shen Xiao signaled.
SPLASH!
The water slammed into Guo Sheng, soaking him to the bone.
In that split second, Shen Xiao released his lightning element.
A thousand volts of electricity surged through the water, creating a blue flash that sent Guo Sheng's body into convulsions, faint smoke rising from his skin.
Shen Xiao kicked the door down, but he didn't move to handcuff the target right away. Instead, he grabbed a baseball bat from the corner of the room and...
CRACK!
....he shattered Guo Sheng's shin with a clear, sickening snap.
"Shen Xiao! Was that necessary?" Qingyue asked, startled.
"Extremely necessary. Don't be fooled by his unconscious appearance. He might have a constitution immune to lightning or be faking it just to counter-attack when we get close," Shen Xiao explained coldly.
"Remember, this mission is only worth 2,000 yuan. Never gamble your life for such a small amount of money. It's better to break his leg than to lose your life."
Qingyue fell silent, processing those words seriously. Shen Xiao handed the bat to her.
"Now, your turn. Break the other leg to keep it fair."
Qingyue hesitated, yet she knew she had to learn to be strong. Just as she lifted the bat, the "unconscious" Guo Sheng suddenly prostrated himself on the bed!
"Don't hit me again! Mercy! I won't run!" Guo Sheng screamed in a hoarse voice.
Qingyue recoiled.
It was true!
This man had been conscious all along, waiting for an opportunity.
He had bitten his own tongue to keep from passing out during the electrocution, planning to take his revenge while they were tying him up.
His plan was perfect, until he realized these two youngsters in front of him didn't play by the rules-they wanted to break all his limbs before even talking!
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100]
"See? What did I tell you?" Shen Xiao said calmly.
"People these days are incredibly cunning. Even with a broken leg, he can still act."
"Please, give me a chance! I'll tie myself up with the bedsheets! I won't run, my leg is already broken, right?" Guo Sheng whimpered, raising his hands in surrender.
Qingyue felt a twinge of pity.
After all, this man's crimes were "only" stealing phone prototypes and randomly shaving people's hair.
She looked at Shen Xiao.
"How about we let him tie himself up? I'll watch him with water bullets."
Shen Xiao shrugged.
"The decision is yours. But remember, never let your guard down."
Qingyue pointed her finger, channeled with water energy, at Guo Sheng.
"Get off the bed slowly, tie your legs, then lie prone with your hands behind your head!"
Guo Sheng appeared compliant.
He moved slowly, climbing down from the bed with a pitiful face.
However, the moment his hands touched the edge of the mattress, his eyes shifted from pathetic to ferocious.
With unexpected strength, he hoisted the heavy spring mattress and hurled it toward Qingyue, completely blocking her vision!
"Die, you brats!" Guo Sheng screamed as he lunged.
Qingyue froze, the sudden attack broke her concentration.
In that critical moment, she realized one thing, Shen Xiao was right.
This world was full of deception, and her kindness had nearly cost her.
However, before the mattress could hit Qingyue, a shadow moved faster.
THWACK!
...
Guo Sheng threw the spring mattress with an incredible burst of power, trying to obstruct Lu Qingyue's view.
His body lunged toward Shen Xiao like a bullet.
"You brat, today I'll show you the strength of a bear!" Guo Sheng roared as he threw a lethal punch.
After awakening his powers, Guo Sheng felt like a god.
This punch was enough to pierce through thick wooden boards, he was certain that with one hit, Shen Xiao would be crushed, and he could continue his hobby, shaving this youth's head bald as a sign of victory.
However, Shen Xiao didn't even blink.
His fingertip sparked, and a ball of lightning shot out faster than Guo Sheng's fist.
BZZZTTT!
The attack hit Guo Sheng square in the heart, sending him into spasms before he collapsed onto the floor like a heap of meat.
"Strength of a bear? I think you look more like a cockroach being sprayed with pesticide," Shen Xiao muttered coldly.
To be sure, he flicked his fingers twice more, sending extra electrical shocks that left Guo Sheng's body smoking and his mouth foaming.
Qingyue pushed the obstructing mattress aside, her eyes widening at her downed target.
"Shen Xiao was right... this person really is cunning."
This time, without needing a command, Qingyue acted on her own.
She formed her fingers into a pistol shape, focusing all her water energy into a single, dense bullet point.
Bang!
The water bullet streaked out and pierced Guo Sheng's calf, the water soaking into the floor.
Shen Xiao was slightly surprised. Even though Qingyue seemed shy and apologized often, she was surprisingly decisive in action.
The Empress's talent truly wasn't to be underestimated.
"Well done, Qingyue. Keep practicing. Make sure he has no chance to strike back before we tie him up," Shen Xiao praised.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100]
Wow, harvesting tickets from the Empress really is fast!
I feel like kissing her right now just to exploit this ticket bug... but no.
I have to be professional, Shen Xiao thought, restraining himself.
While Qingyue was busy tearing the bedsheets to tie Guo Sheng up, Shen Xiao began searching the room.
He felt something was off. Guo Sheng had hesitated before lifting the mattress earlier, as if he were protecting something beneath the bed.
Shen Xiao lifted the bed frame until it stood at a 90-degree angle.
There, hidden, was a mysterious suitcase. He brought it to the table and opened it.
Inside were rows of bottles filled with a dark red liquid.
Potions?
But what kind?
Shen Xiao caught a slight whiff of the scent and immediately felt incredibly unstable and dangerous spiritual energy fluctuations.
Meanwhile, on the floor, Guo Sheng was actually still conscious.
Thanks to his unique ability, [Vitality of a Cockroach], he possessed insane physical defense and could endure incredible pain without making a sound.
His plan was to wait for one of them to get close, then take Qingyue hostage to escape.
However, their next conversation made Guo Sheng tremble in fear.
"Wait a second, Qingyue. Don't tie him up yet. I need to ask him a few things," Shen Xiao said as he tore Guo Sheng's shirt open, exposing his chest.
Shen Xiao brought his palms together, and massive bolts of electricity began leaping between his fingers.
"Shen Xiao, what are you doing?" Qingyue asked, confused.
"This is called a manual version of electrocardiographic resuscitation. Think of me as a hospital defibrillator to wake someone from a coma. But if this shock doesn't work, please find me a folding chair. Hitting his face with a chair is usually more effective for waking people up," Shen Xiao replied nonchalantly.
Hearing that, Guo Sheng's skin crawled.
Hit with a folding chair?!
Shocked by lightning again?!
"Wait! Stop! I'm awake! I'm awake!" Guo Sheng screamed, immediately prostrating himself on the floor.
Qingyue and Shen Xiao just looked at each other.
It turned out this man was actually faking unconsciousness again!
"Don't shock me again! I won't run! Ask me anything, I'll talk!" Guo Sheng wailed, his face full of despair.
Why did you wake up too fast!?