Chapter 157: Liar

Chapter 157 The Deceiver

For soldiers, death or capture on the battlefield is a cruel yet common fate.

From the moment they set foot on the battlefield, the humiliation of death, injury, or capture hangs over them like the Sword of Damocles, and no one is truly exempt.

Pei Wei investigated the circumstances of Pei Huai's capture by the enemy, but all traces had been erased. Not a single soldier who had accompanied Pei Huai survived.

Pei Huai’s sudden, reckless advance, lured deep into enemy territory—these could not have been mere coincidences.

Having spent so many years on the battlefield, Pei Huai was no naive recruit easily deceived.

How could he have been captured so easily? The only explanation was a mole transmitting false information.

Having navigated Xinzhou's political currents for years, Pei Wei was well aware of the nature of those people.

Even in such a critical moment of survival, those overfed, useless wretches would not hesitate to turn against their own for personal gain.

Pei Wei recalled the enemy's message: they demanded Song Yuqing go to the border in exchange for Pei Huai.

The message had reached him because those people were certain he would protect his only bloodline.

Xinzhou had more than just Pei Huai as a commander. Qi Ran was also an S+-level Alpha, whose accumulated prestige on the battlefield was no less than Pei Huai’s.

In fact, Qi Ran’s disposition was steadier than Pei Huai’s, inspiring greater confidence in the military.

Even without Pei Huai, Qi Ran could lead the army against Sri-Lanka and West-Land; they still possessed the strength to fight the enemy.

Pei Wei ultimately decided to suppress the message and spoke with measured determination, "Please let Qi Ran take Pei Huai’s position."

Song Yuqing’s fingers gripped the scruff of Coal Ball’s neck, soothing the agitated cat. "Understood."

Hearing Song Yuqing consent to abandon Pei Huai seemed to drain all strength from Pei Wei.

He could only force himself to remain rational, not allowing himself to indulge in further grief.

Song Yuqing: "Is there no other news?"

Pei Wei never expected Song Yuqing to ask this suddenly.

"Pei Wei, did you think concealing the message would prevent it from reaching me?" Song Yuqing slowly lowered his gaze, concealing the deeper emotions in his amber eyes.

Song Yuqing: "Report clearly. No games. You are a soldier, and you are also a father."

Pei Wei’s heart clenched slightly before he disclosed the message he had received to Song Yuqing.

After reporting the news, Pei Wei clung to his last vestige of reason to persuade Song Yuqing, "For the sake of the greater good, I do not advise you to go to the border to exchange for Pei Huai. If Pei Huai is captured, even if his bones are buried in a foreign land, it is Pei Huai’s fate."

Pei Wei: "Even if…"

Pei Huai was his son.

"There is no 'greater good.' No one should be sacrificed for the greater good." Song Yuqing raised his eyes to look at Lan Balun in the incubation unit. Lan Balun’s small eyes met Song Yuqing’s amber gaze.

Besides, Pei Huai wasn’t sacrificed for the greater good—he was sacrificed because of him.

If there was a possibility of saving Pei Huai, he couldn’t just watch him die, nor could he abandon his long-standing plans.

He wouldn’t let Hakimi continue to hide in the shadows and cause destruction. He was not one to tolerate constraints everywhere.

It was simply a fight to the death with Hakimi.

Win, and everything would be revitalized, obstacles completely swept away—those fools and Hakimi would go to hell together.

Pei Wei opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.

Song Yuqing: "After I leave, Qi Zhengqing will take over to stabilize the situation. With him here, you need not worry. I will return as soon as possible."

In the dark, damp, and cold environment, the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood.

The Alpha’s fingers twitched as he tried to lift his head, but excruciating pain surged through his body. The simple movement agitated his wounds, sending a wave of agony that darkened his vision and brought a metallic taste to his throat.

Two heavy chains pierced through the Alpha’s shoulder blades.

Blood had long since saturated his tattered combat uniform, drying and then wetting again with fresh, warm blood, clinging stickily to his skin.

A wound also pierced through the Alpha’s waist.

Pei Huai had been shot in the abdomen by his own deputy while retrieving the black box after intercepting an injured enemy Alpha.

By the time he reacted, using his psychic power to suppress the deputy and attempting to bring him back for interrogation, it was already too late.

Thousands of enemy soldiers surrounded them, creating a near one-against-a-thousand battle.

Knowing he couldn’t bring the deputy back for interrogation, Pei Huai killed him without hesitation.

Across the vast white landscape, blood continued to spread.

Pei Huai stood at the center of the chaotic battlefield, surrounded by piles of enemy corpses and shattered mechanized wreckage. Drenched in blood, his tattered uniform no longer showed its original color.

The backlash of overusing his psychic power felt like millions of steel needles viciously stabbing at his neural pathways.

Yet he remained standing, like a bloodied spear on the verge of breaking.

Driven by a madness to drag the enemy down with him and the terrifying combat power of an S+-level Alpha burning everything in the face of death, Pei Huai managed to tear a hole through the thousands of enemy troops, nearly shattering their ranks.

As blood spread across the white expanse, blurring Pei Huai’s vision, and just as he was about to exhaust his last bit of strength, ready to detonate his psychic power to take all the enemy soldiers with him while looking toward Xinzhou—

A psychic force ruthlessly pressed down, shattering his already critical nerves.

That psychic energy was clearly also S+-level.

Pei Huai completely lost consciousness.

When he came to, he found himself in this freezing chamber, cold as falling into an ice cellar—reminiscent of Sri-Lanka winters.

Every second, his blood and warmth continued to drain away.

Pei Huai hung his head, but his voice rang out loud and clear, "To hell with you! If you have the guts, kill me now. What’s the point of keeping me locked up here?"

"You useless lot have no competent Alphas of your own, only fit to use those neither human nor monster freaks."

"Now you’ve got your eyes on a live Alpha and want to preserve him?"

"A bunch of cowards!"

"West-Land’s Alphas are nothing but lackeys, and Sri-Lanka’s Alphas are a horde of marauders. Bah! You think you’re worthy of coveting Xinzhou, or treading on Xinzhou soil?"

Pei Huai has such a foul mouth; the guarding Alphas all wanted to go up and cut him a few times.

However, those above still had use for Pei Huai.

Su Quan and Hurst stood at a high point looking down.

Hurst sounded doubtful, "Will Song Yuqing come?"

Su Quan: "Of course."

Five years ago, wasn't it for Xiao Jinshi that Song Yuqing showed up before him?

Pei Huai is just the beginning. Song Yuqing and his lackeys won't escape, and neither will Xiao Jinshi. As long as Song Yuqing sets foot in this territory, they will all come.

Su Quan hooked his lips into an extremely pleased smile.

Even with Su Quan’s definitive answer, Hurst still held reservations.

If Song Yuqing comes, it can only prove that Song Yuqing is also a Beta hung up on romance.

In this regard, Hurst’s feelings were somewhat contradictory. Out of admiration for his opponent, he hoped Song Yuqing would be decisive and not forget his goals because of an Alpha.

From Sri-Lanka’s perspective, however, Hurst hoped Song Yuqing was love-obsessed.

If he really came for Pei Huai, Hurst would round them all up.

Hurst suggested: "You could use Pei Huai for an experiment. The army doesn’t have any robots with S+ level psychic energy yet."

It’s not that Sri-Lanka lacks Alphas with S+ level psychic energy; it’s just that such Alphas are valuable assets. Unless they actually die on the battlefield, they wouldn't create "accidents" to turn them into robots controlled solely by psychic energy.

Pei Huai is right here—not an Alpha from Sri-Lanka. If he lures Song Yuqing here, then they can conduct the experiment after Song Yuqing arrives.

If Song Yuqing doesn’t come, they can proceed directly with the experiment.

The chains were tugged by the Alpha, and even the sound of iron scraping bone could be heard.

Su Quan squinted enjoyably. "Not yet. I still have use for him."

After saying this, Su Quan dismissed him. "You go back. Don’t come around for a while; don’t disturb me."

Hurst: "You’d better…"

But Su Quan showed no intention of paying attention to Hurst. Humming a tune, he left in extremely high spirits.

Hurst stared at Su Quan’s back as he left, his gaze carrying a dark, scrutinizing look.

There were actually four Alphas with S+ level psychic energy in Xinzhou: one was Qi Zhengqing in the Central Special Zone, one was Qi Ran, one was the captured Pei Huai, and the last one…

was Su Quan, who had never once revealed his psychic power to anyone before.

If his guardedness of Su Quan was previously limited, now he had no choice but to heighten his vigilance.

After all, this lunatic could stir up plenty of trouble for Xinzhou. If he were to be turned by Song Yuqing, it could mean disaster for Sri-Lanka.

Hurst: "Keep a close watch on him. Report his every move to me."

Only after giving these instructions did Hurst leave this mine pit that felt like a dark rat’s nest.

Su Quan opened the door and filmed Pei Huai. "Pei Huai, say ‘Song Yuqing, come save me’."

The camera flash almost blinded Pei Huai, who looked half-dead, none of the energy he had just shown while cursing.

He wanted to hide, not let Song Yuqing see him in such a pathetic state.

"Why aren’t you speaking?"

"Weren’t you just fond of cursing?"

Pei Huai, whose temper was far from gentle, stared coldly at Su Quan. "Get out."

"You’d better not let me go. If you do, I’ll kill you."

As the Alpha’s emotions surged, the chains piercing his shoulder blades began clanking and shaking again.

Su Quan sneered, "All you can do is talk big."

"Song Yuqing would be heartbroken seeing you like this, wouldn’t he? Look at yourself—not quite human nor ghost. Even I think you’re not good enough for Song Yuqing."

After recording, Su Quan replayed the video.

Su Quan: "Qi Zhengqing might not have much time left. Guess whether Song Yuqing will stay by Qi Zhengqing’s side or come save you?"

After saying this, Su Quan turned and left, leaving Pei Huai alone to tighten and release his fists.

They took him just to get to Song Yuqing.

For the first time, Pei Huai hoped Song Yuqing wouldn’t come, wouldn’t risk it for him.

Stay with Qi Zhengqing. Pei Huai’s lips curled into a pained smile.

This time, he didn’t want to fight or vie. It would be good for Song Yuqing to stay with Qi Zhengqing.

Pei Huai lowered his gaze to his ring finger…

After all, Qi Zhengqing was Song Yuqing’s lawful husband.

He was just the side piece.

Didn’t deserve Song Yuqing to come for him.

Song Yuqing left a note on the kitchen island, took one last look toward the bedroom, closed the door, and left the apartment in a rush.

However, just as Song Yuqing was about to step into the elevator, the familiar blend of ebony and tobacco scent wrapped around him abruptly. The Alpha yanked him forcefully into an embrace, and the two entered the elevator together.

"Song Yuqing, what did you promise me?"

"Going back on your promise again."

The Alpha called him by his full name, biting out each word.

"You liar."