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Chapter192
Zhou You spun around, deflecting unexploded grenades with lightning speed. As he moved with incredible agility, grenades detonated mid-air, injuring several, but killing none.
Before they could regroup, Zhou You, knife in hand, charged at an assassin. The blade slashed across the man's neck, and he fell, blood splattering the ground.
Engaging Zhou You, a master of internal energy, at a distance was futile. Projectiles were deflected back, making close combat a better option.
The circle of assassins tightened, moving swiftly around Zhou You, striking sporadically, each attack swift and decisive.
It was Zhou You's first encounter with such adversaries. Their coordination was impeccable. Against any single one of them, Zhou You had the advantage. But against a group, each only striking once, they maintained peak condition and rarely got injured. Meanwhile, Zhou You, subjected to this relentless assault, would eventually be worn out.
The opponents were eerily silent, like mutes. Yet their tactics were so harmonized, it was as if they shared a telepathic connection.
Inside the city lord's mansion, Ren Zhiyuan waited silently. Chen Jingzhou paced anxiously in his office, while Cheng Zi'ang sat mute on a sofa.
From the moment he was brought into the office, Cheng knew his cover was blown. He wondered if these two heavyweights would impulsively execute him. With only the power of a junior martial general, he was no match for Ren Zhiyuan, let alone all his men.
Just then, Ren Zhiyuan's phone rang. Picking up, Cheng overheard a report, "Dr. Jiang has evacuated safely with his team. Dr. Lin has been captured. All the assassins have been deployed, but only Zhou You has emerged with Dr. Lin. The rest are probably still in the underground lab."
In front of Ren Zhiyuan was a computer, its live stream frozen at the moment the grenades were thrown and detonated.
Chen Jingzhou said with a troubled expression, "I've only just found out that you've captured so many people. Were those... those creatures the result of failed experiments? The only three successful subjects are neither human nor ghost. I won't continue to support such experiments."
Ren Zhiyuan's eyes flickered as he responded, "I've just learned about this as well. Given the low success rate and unsatisfactory results, we should cease these experiments. Lin Shuqing's bacterial research is said to be in its final stages, such a shame."
"He..." Chen Jingzhou sighed, "He knows too much."
"Exactly. That's why he has to die."
Cheng Ziang reacted, looking up at them, "Do you both forget the oaths you took when you assumed your positions? After the catastrophe, the population decreased to a terrifying number. Our nation made countless sacrifices to encourage reproduction. You might think killing insiders will solve everything, but the entire base knows now. Can you kill everyone?"
Little did Ren Zhiyuan know that from the moment Cheng Ziang entered his office, he had a recorder in his pocket, streaming their conversation live online. Few had heard it yet, but should Cheng die, it would undoubtedly surface as evidence.
"Cheng Ziang, from your first day in the Jiangnan military region, I've favored you. Your promotions have been the fastest, and I even considered you as my successor. Why are you colluding against me? Can't you wait a few more years?" Ren Zhiyuan demanded furiously.
Of course, Cheng Ziang had his reasons, fearing their subordinates would suffer once the news broke. He also knew about the funds Ren Zhiyuan had siphoned off to the lab, depriving the entire military region for his own gain.
"Commander Ren, I'm grateful for your mentorship, but wrong is wrong. You should turn yourself in."
Ren Zhiyuan drew his gun, aiming it steadily, "Aren't you afraid of death?"
"Of course I am. I'm young with a bright future. Do you really want to kill me, Commander Ren?"
"Ha, you're the one who informed Shao, aren't you? If you want me dead, why can't I kill you in return?"
Cheng Ziang, staring at the dark gun barrel, tried to remain calm, "The lab has been discovered, but there's no evidence linking it to you. However, if I die, you'll be exposed."
Chen Jingzhou sat down, pondering his words, and decided, "Forget it, old Ren, he's from the Cheng family. Killing him would bring too much trouble. Let's imprison him for now and settle scores later."
Ren Zhiyuan lowered his gun. Killing someone else would've been easier, but Cheng Ziang's death wasn't straightforward. He knew Cheng's relation to Shao's group. Until they were out of the picture, he couldn't harm the Cheng family.
Zhou You heard a cry, turning to see Lin Shuqing chased by two assassins. With Lin's beginner-level martial skills, he would be killed in seconds.
Zhou You deployed his flying knives to block the assassins, giving Lin Shuqing a chance to escape.
With Zhou You's knife formation, no one could approach within meters. The assassins glanced between him and Lin Shuqing, quickly changing targets to focus on Lin.
Zhou You's knives chased after, shouting, "Stop running! Your opponent is me!"
Zhou You had other weapons yet to be deployed. His laser gun's battery had drained, but he had plenty of pistols and grenades. He multitasked, controlling his flying knives, sheathing his dagger, and drawing his guns to fire at the fleeing assassins.