The Pointer of Time, Cheng Wei, pressed his palm forward.
“Strange, why hasn’t Lu-ge been seen for so long?”
After finishing her ramen, Luo Yao only then noticed there was one person missing from the shop, and it just so happened that it was someone she cared a lot about.
She went to the entrance and looked around twice, confirming that she indeed did not see any sign of Lu Yunze.
“That Lu-ge really is something, always sneaking around lately, so mysterious it makes people uneasy.”
“Miss, are you worried about Young Master’s matters?”
Hearing Lin Ying’s gentle voice, Luo Yao turned to look at him.
“It’s hard not to worry after being hit by misfortune twice in a row, isn’t it?” Luo Yao sighed, “Lu-ge has been running around with his back to me all the time lately. I keep feeling he has some secret he’s hiding from me.”
“So that’s really what you think?”
“Isn’t it? Judging by Lu-ge’s character, I think it’s unlikely, but he wouldn’t actually keep a mistress outside, would he?”
“If the Young Master heard you say that, he’d be heartbroken.”
“It’s just a necessary worry for girls.”
A lot of rich young masters, on the surface they act all pure and upright, but who knows how many women with questionable backgrounds are hanging around them. As long as they spend a little money, it’s enough to attract plenty of trouble.
Lu Yunze has always behaved well, but after stepping into adulthood, one’s mindset will inevitably change.
If Lu-ge really is only thinking of some woman outside, I guess I’ll have to think of a way to put him in check.
Luo Yao took a sip of the tea she was holding, thinking to herself.
Back inside the Ramen Shop, she suddenly noticed that the Browser Homepage had been updated with news—still something about Central City.
“Major traffic accident occurred during construction, several cars engulfed in flames.”
Looking at the news photo, Luo Yao’s eyes widened in shock.
She could see the badge of the Xi family on the victim’s clothing, and Jianshe Road, isn’t that nearby?
Just then, she caught a pungent smell in the air.
Did something burn in the Ramen Shop? No, the smell was coming from outside.
Besides the acrid stench, Luo Yao also saw a current of Green Mist rolling in from outside. She immediately got up and called Lu Yunze.
“Hey, Lu-ge, are you there?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Something’s happened, come back quickly!”
After hanging up, Luo Yao dashed into the street, only to be confronted by a scene that made her frown.
The Green Mist was spreading, blanketing the entire street. Under its influence, pedestrians started collapsing one after another, as if suffering sudden illness.
“What is this stuff?”
“Run, hurry!”
“Wait for me!”
This was no ordinary toxic gas—this was an enemy attack!
Luo Yao immediately held her breath and manipulated the wind, blowing away the Green Mist around her. But within two seconds, the street, once cleared, was again shrouded in a green curtain, even denser than before.
Realizing how serious things were, Luo Yao quickly told Lin Ying to take the staff to a safe place, while she continued out into the street.
She was protected on all sides by the Wind Wall, carving a passage through the green sea like an unassailable Domain.
On the road littered with fallen pedestrians and stalled cars, a figure slowly approached. He was completely unaffected, striding straight toward the Ramen Shop.
This person was heavily clad in gear, wearing a sinister gas mask, and his leather outfit was covered with vents, from which Green Mist constantly billowed.
“So it was your doing,” Luo Yao’s expression turned grim.
“The heiress of the Xi family, so it’s you?” The voice that came from the other side was deep and raspy, but she could sense a mocking smile within it.
Luo Yao ignored his nonsense, gathering a whirlwind in her palm and hurling it at him; the howling wind struck directly at this masked enemy.
But the scattered Green Mist soon reconverged, and the enemy still stood firmly in place, continuing to spread his deadly mist.
“Secret Art of controlling the wind—not bad at all.”
“Was it you who captured Lu-ge?”
“Who’s your Lu-ge?” The Mistmaster let out a wicked laugh. “Why don’t I become your good brother? I’m strong, I can definitely satisfy all your needs.”
Luo Yao’s face darkened a shade, and her next attack became even sharper.
Instead of simply blowing the Green Mist away, this time she unleashed a Wind Blade, slicing directly at his arm.
The Mistmaster didn’t dodge, just watched as his own arm was severed by the Wind Blade and fell to the ground.
Through the broken limb, Luo Yao caught a glimpse of the flesh beneath the leather—a grotesque mess of green veins and rotting tissue, enough to make anyone nauseous.
And the blood that oozed from the wound wasn’t red, but a vivid green.
“Are you even human?”
“Many people have asked me that. In essence, I’m no different from other Secret Art practitioners.” The Mistmaster picked up his severed arm. “I’ve just put more effort into my own Secret Art, that’s all.”
He held the arm in front of his face, examined it for a while, then tossed it behind him. “It’s already starting to rot. Perfect timing to go get a new one.”
Truly a disgusting body.
Luo Yao’s face had turned green as well.
The Mistmaster raised his only remaining hand, palm spread to the sky.
At first, Luo Yao didn’t feel anything, but a moment later, when she looked up, she saw a massive green sphere forming above her head.
Its oppressive force made Luo Yao involuntarily hold her breath.
The Mistmaster pointed, and the giant green sphere plummeted, smashing into Luo Yao’s Wind Wall.
The Wind Wall held for only two seconds before shattering under the pressure of the sphere, and with a piercing scream, Luo Yao was swallowed by the Green Mist.
“That’s enough for you, isn’t it?”
The Mistmaster lowered his hand.
“I’ve used up so much, even if I just leave, you’d all die… huh?”
Within the green world, the Mistmaster caught a hint of something out of place.
Amid the murky mist, something seemed to be blocking its advance.
He heard a noise below and looked down to see a streak of ice snaking toward him.
“Damn.”
It not only froze his feet but quickly climbed up over his body as well.
When the Mistmaster tried to struggle free, his entire body was already sealed in place, transformed into a strange statue of ice.
From within the Ice Domain, Lin Ying watched, then hurriedly ran out with Luo Yao.
The sound of cracking ice came from behind, but he didn’t need to look back to know what was happening.
The person was temporarily trapped, but the Green Mist outside kept surging. Cracks appeared on the surface of the ice and rapidly spread, until it could no longer withstand the strain and shattered completely.
Chilled by the freezing air, the Mistmaster glanced back at Luo Yao’s position, but there was no one left in the swiftly melting Ice Domain.
Carrying his young mistress, Lin Ying ran as fast as he could, finally escaping the edge of the coverage. Only then did he put Luo Yao down.
“Are you alright?”
Just then, Lu Yunze rushed back, pointing at the Mist-filled street. “What’s going on?”
“Enemy attack. And a very troublesome enemy at that.”
As Lin Ying spoke, he rolled up his sleeve, revealing an arm covered in frightening red sores.
He wasn’t the only one; Luo Yao, who had inhaled more Green Mist, even had similar marks on her neck. If not for her still being conscious, Lin Ying would have worried even more.
“Causing such chaos in Central City, doesn’t he fear someone will deal with him?”
“To dare attack openly on the street, he must be a madman who fears nothing.”
Lu Yunze listened for a while, then asked, “What about the others?”
“I’ve already sent everyone else to a safe place. They may have inhaled a little of the mist, but they’re fine.”
“That’s good. And Jiang Sui?”
Lin Ying had anticipated this question and immediately replied, “Of course, she’s safe…”
He suddenly froze mid-sentence.
“What is it? Why did you stop talking?”
“When we escaped, I don’t think I saw the little girl.”
“What?!”
Lu Yunze instantly exploded.
They’d forgotten Jiang Sui when escaping—did that mean she was still out there?
Lu Yunze’s face went pale at once, and he was about to rush into the Mist zone, but Lin Ying stopped him.
“Young Master, are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“But can I really just watch her die and do nothing?”
“If you go in now, wouldn’t you just be joining her as a dead duck in the underworld?” Lin Ying’s voice was even louder.
“You’re just going to abandon a life like that?” Lu Yunze’s tone turned heavy.
“The Old Master ordered me to bring you and Miss back safely. Others are not within my responsibility.”
Lu Yunze’s jaw tensed and relaxed twice, but in the end he managed to control his temper, only shaking off Lin Ying’s hand.
Staring at the green fog barrier, Lu Yunze pressed his temples and muttered to himself, “If I hadn’t wasted so much time running around, if I’d believed her earlier, Jiang Sui wouldn’t be in danger now…”
“Young Master, all we can do is wait for the family and the Execution Division to send backup.”
Lu Yunze glanced at him, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Wait?
If he waited, they’d only bring Jiang Sui’s corpse out.
No, he couldn’t wait any longer.
“I’m not going in to fight the enemy—I’ll come out as soon as I find her.”
“Lu Yunze!”
Lu Yunze immediately tore a strip of cloth from his own shirt and wrapped it around his mouth, though it didn’t help much.
“Don’t worry, I have strong resistance—I can last longer than the others.”
“Brother, don’t—”
Just as Lu Yunze was about to step out, a familiar voice stopped him.
“Wait, Lu Yunze!”
He looked back and saw that the one clinging to the wall, slowly approaching, was none other than Jiang Sui.
With every step she took, she had to pause, as if enduring excruciating pain.
“Why did you come here?”
“I heard everything you guys just said.”
The girl let go of the wall, dragging herself over to him, steadying her breathing.
She gazed into Lu Yunze’s eyes. “I just want to ask you one thing: do you really want to save Jiang Sui?”
“I do. Of course I do. Don’t you? Aren’t you her friend?”
She even turned the question back to me—maybe she’s standing right here.
Jiang Sui was amused by his reaction, but quickly became serious again.
“I want to save her too, so let’s work together.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing between us. I’m only doing this for Jiang Sui—let’s put aside our past grudges for now.”
“Fine. So what’s your plan?”
Hearing Lu Yunze say this, Jiang Sui’s usual lively smile returned, growing sly.
“I have one,”