Chapter 75

The energy pathways inside Ye Xiao weren't perfect. Lin Tantan had planned to spend a few years tinkering to find the best configuration for him, but on impulse she tossed caution aside and began sharing her "experience," starting to adjust him right away.
Sadly, she couldn't actually see energy paths inside a body. She remembered that in the end-times there had been a clairvoyant-type ability that could peer through a person and reveal their inner energy.
You could see how energy moved slowly at rest, where it would suddenly erupt when triggered, and whether a calm conversation hid someone quietly plotting an ambush, everything laid bare. If you watched a master, you could learn a great deal.
Lin Tantan thought it was an excellent support ability, invaluable to a team. But the ability-holder named He Fan didn't cherish it. He focused on dual-attribute users or powerful ability-wielders who opposed his group and had them quietly eliminated. If he found someone with weak powers but potential, he'd have people play nice, get close, and buy them off.
He later organized raids to kidnap and loot weaker ability-users, selling them to some sinister organization.
They'd done so many evil things that their sorry little base was eventually destroyed. There had even been a prototype energy engine in the base; a few core members tried to escape in it, but after activating the energy shield mid-flight the machine exploded.
None of them survived.
She remembered it so clearly because it was Ye Xiao who led the raid against them.
Lin Tantan's thoughts drifted as she glanced at Ye Xiao's hands and feet, sadly she still couldn't make out the energy tracks, then she bent her head and began fiddling with the little hamster in her hand. She thought that although Ye Xiao had clashed with the military many times, before going independent he had helped the capital base clear out plenty of monsters; she wondered whether the same thing might happen again.
Though Ye Xiao kept his eyes closed, he was still aware, constantly feeling two gazes sweeping over him. When he opened his eyes he saw her playing with the mutated hamster, the little creature was clearly used to being handled and calmly gnawing on a nut.
Seeing him open his eyes, she hurriedly asked, "So? Do you feel any different after the changes?"
Ye Xiao nodded. "Yes, it feels different."
People generally absorb energy through their hands, storing it in a core in the mind, and when they need it they call it up directly from there.
Energy pathways are mostly confined to the upper body, especially the arms.
Ye Xiao's were the same, the shortest routes, ensuring his abilities could be mobilized at top speed, even unleashing an attack the moment he thought it.
That was good, but not perfect. Lin Tantan had him route his energy down through his lower limbs and back. It might seem unnecessary, do you need your feet to cast wind powers?, but it paid off in the long run.
Wind-type abilities are the nimblest of all. If energy can be projected from all over the body, imagine it: every part can attack or defend, leaving no weak spots. Running, you could ride the wind and move faster than a motorbike; at the highest level it could even let you fly freely.
The image of Ye Xiao fluttering through the sky like a bird, then flying so high he froze and tumbled down made Lin Tantan laugh. Snapping back, she saw him watching her and hurriedly gathered her thoughts. "Anyway, this is better, trust me. Also, there's the matter of absorbing crystal cores."
She pointed at the three piles of fragments left after three crystal cores had been drained: one clump gray and grimy, one lighter in color, and one colorless and clear. The first came from Lin Tantan's core, the second from Ye Xiao's, the third from an ordinary ability-user's.
Clearly Ye Xiao had realized the energy in the crystal cores carried impurities and was consciously avoiding absorbing them; before long he should be able to prevent those impurities from entering his body entirely.
Lin Tantan then shared many of her own techniques for absorbing energy.
The lesson ran until evening; they ate at the construction site before returning to the villa. Near the villa several military vehicles rumbled past, packed with armed soldiers and all manner of weapons, fully kitted out, pedestrians made way, and dust swirled up in their wake.
Ye Xiao shielded Lin Tantan on the inner side; with a gentle flick of his hand a soft wind cleared the dust away.
Lin Tantan glanced toward the vehicles' direction. "Did they just come back from outside the base? The gate should be closed by now, right?"
Ye Xiao said, "The middle vehicle looks like Li Qun's car."
Lin Tantan understood instantly, Li Qun could certainly be granted an exception.
Ye Xiao frowned. Li Qun valued his life and almost never left the base in person; he hadn't heard Li Qun went out today, how could he suddenly be returning from outside?
As he thought this, the vehicles ahead abruptly stopped. When a few soldiers walked by, the window of Li Qun's stretch vehicle rolled down to reveal his smiling face. "Captain Ye, what a coincidence."
Lin Tantan found his smile odd, as if he were particularly pleased with himself, and he deliberately shot her a sidelong glance as he spoke.
Li Qun put on an exaggerated show of astonishment. “I used to think tri-ability users were something special, but today I find out they’re pretty ordinary, look, there’s one right next to me.”
Ye Xiao didn’t know what trick he had up his sleeve, but his face shifted slightly; he’d sensed something.
Sure enough, the next moment another car window slid down, revealing a grotesque head. The side of his skull where the right eye should be had been cut away, making you wonder how he hadn’t died, and yet he grinned at Ye Xiao.
Ye Xiao’s expression darkened. He stepped back to shield Lin Tantan, and Xu Li, who had been following them like a shadow, moved up as well.
Seeing him react as if facing a mortal enemy, Li Qun laughed aloud. “Captain Ye, no need to get so worked up. You should know him, his name’s Zhou Yan. His brother was the one your comrade Lin beat so badly he fled the base. Ah, it’s my fault for being incompetent and not protecting my men, but at least I can make it up a bit with his younger brother. The kid’s pitiful, someone hacked off half his head, yet he lived, and not only that, he suddenly awakened three abilities in one go. I was planning to recommend him to Major General Min, oh no, he’s General Min now.”
He sneered, “Unlike some people who get themselves three abilities and then hide it away.”
Ye Xiao watched his boasting with a blank face. “Awakened three abilities in one go? That’s his claim. Li Qun, I advise you to be careful, don’t let yourself be played for a fool.”
Li Qun’s expression stiffened and he snorted coldly. “General Min values him highly. He’s already promised to transfer me back to the capital. Don’t you like this dump? I’ll give it to you.” Wearing the look of someone who expected promotion while you, having offended your superiors, would be stuck in a godforsaken backwater forever, he arrogantly told the driver to move on.
The car pulled away. Zhou Yan leaned out the window, made a throat-cutting gesture at the three of them, his lips moving as he mouthed a single sentence.
He was mouthing: Kill you.
Ye Xiao’s gaze hardened. Lin Tantan, meanwhile, was stunned that Zhou Yan was a tri-ability user, was it for real? Not just a dual-ability, but a tri-ability? Was the third ability some sort of resurrection?
The murderous intent in Zhou Yan’s eyes was naked and unabashed. If a man like that possessed an ability that made him unkillable, he’d be a disaster.
She asked, “Li Qun is taking Zhou Yan to the capital?”
Ye Xiao said calmly, “They’re not going.” Of course he could see it, how could he not? He and Zhou Yan had become mortal enemies; it wasn’t about right or wrong or any political stance. Zhou Yan had shown malice and been a threat to Lin Tantan, so he’d tried to kill her and even acted on it. Now the other side was clearly planning to retaliate. Given that, how could they possibly let him leave alive?
But how to kill him was a matter to be considered carefully, they had to figure out how he had survived in the first place.
Besides, Ye Xiao had a feeling something didn’t add up.
How had Li Qun come into contact with Zhou Yan? Did Zhou Yan seek him out? And if they’d already decided to go to the capital, why return to the base and deliberately show his face in front of him?
Ye Xiao glanced at the little girl beside him. “Let’s go back.”
Meanwhile, back on his own turf, Li Qun laughed three times, finally he’d had his little victory over Ye Xiao.
A mustached man stood in his study, smiling as he asked, “Chief Li, quite pleased?”
“Of course. You should’ve seen Ye Xiao’s expression, and the way he looked at me with smug satisfaction.”
The mustached man’s smile didn’t fade. “Then have someone send him an invitation. Invite him over tomorrow.”
Li Qun blinked. “Why invite him over?”
The man looked him in the eye. “To strike first. Kill him.”
Li Qun’s face changed. “Why kill him? I mean, why go that far? We’ll be leaving soon…”
“You really think that if he saw Zhou Yan he’d let him walk away alive?” the mustached man cut in. “If Zhou Yan can’t leave alive, is there any point in you going alone? General Min will only blame you for poor handling, even if you go to the capital you’ll be nothing.”
Li Qun grew more bewildered. “Why wouldn’t Ye Xiao let Zhou Yan leave alive?”
“Because he’s going to kill me!” A hollow, hoarse voice said. Li Qun turned and saw Zhou Yan standing behind him, he hadn’t noticed when he’d arrived. His one remaining eye fixed steadily on him; the man’s presence was terrifying.
Zhou Yan’s hands, roughened from days rifling through rubbish, rubbed the scar on his head. “This head, he cut it off. If he won’t come kill me, I’ll kill him myself.”
Li Qun took a step back, looking at him and then at the mustached man. “Why, why didn’t you tell me earlier?” If he’d known, why would he have gone out of his way to brag in front of Ye Xiao? No, he hadn’t boasted on his own; that man had egged him on!
Li Qun pointed at the mustached man. “You did this on purpose. You deliberately drew Ye Xiao’s attention to me.”
The man laughed. “Of course. I told you Zhou Yan was a tri-ability user so you’d bring him back. Did you think I was paving a golden road for you? My mission is to kill Ye Xiao, and you’re just bait.”
He clapped his hands. “Quick, send the invitation, and have your men help me set a trap. Otherwise I’ll take your life right now!”
Suddenly Li Qun felt a piercing pain in his head. He clutched his skull and stumbled back into the wall, staring at him in terror. “You, you!”
The mustached man no longer looked at him; he spoke to Zhou Yan instead. “Keep calm. When the time comes, you’ll personally kill Ye Xiao.”
Zhou Yan laughed. “Yes, I’ll kill him, cut his skull open with my own hands. After he’s dead, I’ll go after that woman. I want to ask her…wait, what do I want to ask her? What is it?” Clutching his head, Zhou Yan stumbled out, banging against the walls as he went, his mind clearly swinging between clarity and confusion.
The little mustached man looked at him and shook his head inwardly; such a raving lunatic really had no value. No wonder General Min agreed to use him as bait.
A moment later he went back to another room; his four partners were waiting there. Seeing him, they hurriedly asked, "How'd it go?"
The little mustached man sighed. "My gift for nonsense has definitely improved. That Li Qun, he's been cowed by threats and bribes. We just wait for tomorrow; when Ye Xiao arrives, have his men and Zhou Yan keep him occupied."
They weren't actually planning to kill Ye Xiao, what good would that do? That was just an excuse for Li Qun. What they wanted was merely to divert Ye Xiao's attention and bind him, a classic bait-and-switch.
The others breathed easier. Good, as long as it worked. They'd racked their brains over this ploy; only after squeezing the history between Zhou Yan and Ye Xiao out of him did they come up with it.
It also helped that their employer took Lin Tantan, that five-ability user, seriously.
They'd only just learned that their employer was Min Yande, a top-ten figure in the capital base. If Min Yande hadn't given Li Qun a "guarantee," how would Li Qun have obediently fallen into the trap?
Given Li Qun's shrewd self-interest, if they hadn't placated him with the hope of going to the capital, he certainly wouldn't have agreed to face Ye Xiao.
At that, the woman with the braid suddenly said, "There's something I don't understand. Even if we pull this off, Ye Xiao isn't an idiot. He'll realize afterward that Li Qun was just bait, and he'll unleash his fury on Li Qun. If Li Qun's finished, isn't that a loss for Min Yande as well?"
The little mustached man, having dealt with the military, had some insight into Min Yande's thinking: "Probably he figured Li Qun wasn't fit for real responsibility. If Ye Xiao stays at the Ning City base, Li Qun can't oust him and can't do anything about him; ultimately Ye Xiao would suppress him. From then on Min Yande gave up on Li Qun. Now if he can get Li Qun to be useful again, why not? And if Ye Xiao causes trouble later, Min can just push the blame around and say Li Qun acted on his own, and that Lin Tantan's abduction was opportunistic, nothing to do with him."
The braided woman clicked her tongue. "Big shots sure have their convoluted schemes."
"So we don't worry about the rest. We only need to get the person out of the base. They've promised to send Shenji to pick them up. Once we get them, we're set."
Ye Xiao soon received an invitation. They crowded around that invitation, which somehow radiated a smug, provocative air, and stared at it for a long time, then argued over what the sender meant.
"They didn't come in peace," Bai Cheng said. "Are we going?"
"Of course," Ye Xiao said. "Zhou Yan wants me dead and I want his head, might as well settle it in one go." He hadn't figured out how to kill Zhou Yan yet; the last time he failed to finish him, it seemed to have strengthened Zhou Yan's psychic ability. He thought a moment: just chop him to pieces, couldn't see how he'd survive that.
"They're clearly prepared. Bring more people."
Ye Xiao thought of Zhou Yan's strange ability, he'd been hit by it before, and it was uncertain he'd avoid it this time. Some weaknesses were laughable when spoken aloud, but in a crisis they could become fatal vulnerabilities.
He smiled wryly, nodded, and they began to discuss who to bring.
They already had quite a few people on their side.
But they still had to leave enough men to protect Lin Tantan; Ye Xiao hadn't forgotten there was another layer of threat.
Lin Tantan said she would go with Ye Xiao.
Her reasons were solid: "Isn't it about not letting others take advantage of openings? Why worry on two fronts? I'll go as well. Besides, I want to see Zhou Yan."
She also harbored a thought: if Ye Xiao couldn't finish him, she'd land the final blow.
She worried about weird things like an "immortality aura" or "main-character shield." You have to admit Lin Tantan's imagination ran wild.
Ye Xiao feared he might be too occupied to watch over her. Lin Tantan said, "Don't underestimate me, I can take care of myself, really."
She'd once slaughtered hordes of zombies, after all. Lin Tantan felt she'd gotten too comfortable lately and had accepted bodyguards too calmly; even with an extra ability she still came across as mere logistical support.
She added, "As long as it's not a psychic attack aimed straight at the brain, I can handle the rest. Don't worry."
Ye Xiao said Zhou Yan's power must be related to psychic force. Lin Tantan asked, "Can't we just avoid meeting his eyes?"
He couldn't argue with her and, worried someone might slip in, agreed.
So the next day the five-man team ready to exploit the opening (plus the one who'd been guarding Zhou Yan) were left high and dry when they discovered Ye Xiao was going to the banquet, and, to their shock, he'd brought Lin Tantan.
"Goddamn it! Are they crazy!" The little mustached man swore, their plan foiled again.
Knowing a fight was inevitable, he actually brought a woman! How attached are they? That's insane!
Forget luring the tiger away, the tiger just picked up the mountain and walked off with it!
This is so infuriating!