"I want you to use a truck to deliver something to Sui City on the thirteenth," Xu Ke said.

"What is it?" Lin Zhongtian asked, his expression guarded.

Xu Ke smiled. "A bomb."

"A bomb?!" Lin Zhongtian's expression changed dramatically. "What are you planning to do?"

"I have a mission to carry out."

"What kind of mission requires you to transport a bomb in a truck? Don't you know vehicles carrying dangerous goods need a permit to be on the road? How could you possibly transport it?"

"If it were simple, would I need you?" Xu Ke chuckled.

Lin Zhongtian flatly refused. "No. I will absolutely not agree to this. A truck is so conspicuous! You're sending me to my death!"

He knew the bomb Xu Ke wanted him to transport must be terrifyingly powerful. Otherwise, why not use a smaller, more concealable car?

"If you don't transport it, I won't give you the antidote," Xu Ke said, watching him quietly.

Lin Zhongtian felt as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar. "So you plan to threaten me with the Shitian Elixir?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Haven't I been threatening you with the Shitian Elixir from the very beginning?" Xu Ke said, exasperated. Does this guy really understand the situation he's in?

Lin Zhongtian took a deep breath, racking his brain for a way out. Refusing Xu Ke meant a quick death. Transporting the bomb meant an even quicker one.

Just then, Xu Ke added, "If you don't agree, I won't give you the antidote. But if you do agree, I'll give it to you."

At these words, Lin Zhongtian's head shot up, his eyes glinting. "Are you serious?"

"Of course. Why would I lie to you?" Xu Ke smiled. "Besides, I still have to attend the finals in Long Capital, and I'll need to rely on Elder Lin's care then. Constantly holding your life in my hands makes it seem like I don't respect you."

Lin Zhongtian forced a smile. "You... you're joking." Hearing Xu Ke's utterly shameless words, he desperately wanted to curse him out, but he didn't dare.

"So, do you agree? If you do, I can let you try a diluted version of the antidote first," Xu Ke said, producing a glass bottle. Inside was a clear, slightly dark liquid.

Lin Zhongtian's gaze instantly became fervent. "This... this..."

This wasn't an antidote. This was his life!

He reached out to take it, but Xu Ke held it back, watching him with a smile.

Lin Zhongtian calmed himself and forced his eyes away from the antidote. "I can agree, but do you realize how high the risk is?"

"I know."

"Does the bomb have to be transported from Tianhai? Can't you just make it in Sui City?"

"No, there isn't enough time for me to go to Sui City and start from scratch."

"If I get caught, I'll die... Can you at least tell me what you need these bombs for? Perhaps there's another solution?" Lin Zhongtian was trying to figure out Xu Ke's plan. If Xu Ke just wanted to kill someone, he could easily do it for him with far less risk.

"It's for the Northern Dragon Guard. There's no other way," Xu Ke stated blandly.

Lin Zhongtian was taken aback. "What?"

"This is a mission Madame Yu left for me. As long as I detonate it in Sui City and destroy... never mind. Just transport the bomb. You don't need to concern yourself with the rest," Xu Ke said, cutting himself off.

But Lin Zhongtian's face was a mask of horror. "So, you didn't go to the northern frontier because you were on a mission?"

Although he had previously taken pleasure in Xu Ke's failure to join the Northern Dragon Guard, he had always found it strange. Why would someone who had taken down Qian Jun in seconds not go to the northern frontier? It made no sense. Now, hearing Xu Ke's "slip of the tongue," he finally pieced all the details together. Xu Ke had deliberately stayed in Tianhai for a mission, fooling everyone, and now had no choice but to use a bomb. Because the bomb was so large and dangerous to transport, he wanted Lin Zhongtian to do it to reduce the risk.

"That's none of your concern. Just handle the transport," Xu Ke said, giving Lin Zhongtian a cold stare.

Lin Zhongtian took a deep breath and nodded. "I understand. The conflicts between the Northern Dragon Guard and those other powers are not for me to meddle in."

Xu Ke showed his approval. "Elder Lin is indeed smart."

"Then..." After a long hesitation, Lin Zhongtian looked up. "I agree."

Fortune favors the bold. For the antidote, he would risk it all.

A smile touched Xu Ke's lips. "Alright. I'll have someone send the bomb over in a couple of days. Make sure you stay safe."

He was about to leave when Lin Zhongtian suddenly spoke up. "How can you guarantee that you'll actually give me the antidote?"

"Now that you know about the Northern Dragon Guard's mission, if I don't give you the antidote, we both go down together. Surely you understand that?" Xu Ke said, taking out the Dragon Badge.

Seeing the badge, Lin Zhongtian was finally and utterly convinced that Xu Ke had joined the Northern Dragon Guard and that this mission was real. Xu Ke would never use an official Northern Dragon Guard mission to trick him.

"This is the diluted antidote. Have a taste." Xu Ke tossed the bottle to him and turned to leave.

Lin Zhongtian excitedly caught the bottle, overwhelmed with joy. If he could successfully pull off this risky venture, he would regain his freedom. He would no longer have to be at the mercy of that bastard Xu Ke...

Watching Xu Ke's retreating figure, a vicious smile spread across Lin Zhongtian's heart.

Northern Dragon Guard, it seems I have you to thank for this... As a gift, I'll tell Wong Ting and their people about your mission. Ah, Xu Ke, transporting a bomb is incredibly risky for a commoner like you with no connections. But for me, the Elder overseeing the Tianhai Martial Alliance, it's child's play. Once I have my freedom, I will make sure you die!

...

After leaving the Martial Alliance, Xu Ke saw Tang Yingchang's face turning purple from holding back his laughter and chuckled. "Elder Tang, if you want to laugh, just go ahead."

"HAHAHAHAHA..." Tang Yingchang finally couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. Heaven knows how long he had been suppressing it in the office. Watching Lin Zhongtian fall for every part of Xu Ke's scheme, his unwavering belief in the transport mission, was almost enough to make Tang Yingchang pass out from laughter. He couldn't wait to see the look on Lin Zhongtian's face when he finally learned the truth.

"Mister Xu, that move of yours was absolutely brilliant," Tang Yingchang said, giving him a thumbs-up.

Xu Ke just smiled slightly. His goal was simple. He needed Lin Zhongtian to draw the attention of the Ye, Huang, and Qin families, to act as his scapegoat. To do that, he had to get Lin Zhongtian to drive onto the Haisui Expressway. But if Xu Ke had simply offered the antidote in exchange for driving on the expressway, Lin Zhongtian would never have believed him. Therefore, he had to portray the task as difficult, but not so difficult that Lin Zhongtian couldn't handle it. That way, Lin Zhongtian would be completely convinced.

Next, I'll just wait for the various family agents inside the Martial Alliance to spread the news for me...

「The next day.」

「The Ye Family Estate.」

"Lin Zhongtian is returning to Long Capital?" Ye Yunfeng frowned slightly as he read the daily report.

"That's correct," Ye Liang said with a bow.

Ye Yunfeng pondered for a moment, then smiled. "It's good that he's going back. He's Xu Ke's man now, so having him here would just be an obstacle. His departure will allow us to act more freely."

If Xu Ke died, Lin Zhongtian, as the Elder in charge of the Tianhai Martial Alliance, could still cause them trouble. His return to Long Capital perfectly suited their plans.

However, Ye Liang gave a bitter smile. "If he were simply returning to Long Capital obediently, I wouldn't have bothered reporting this to you."

"Something's fishy?" Ye Yunfeng's expression shifted.

"Yes!"