"You know nothing. What do you understand?" the Yin Yang Elders sneered.

Ye Taiqing turned his head, about to unleash a volley of curses.

But behind him, three other people in black masks stood up ominously. "If you waste any more time with idle chatter, we'll go capture the Ghost Poison Elders ourselves."

Ye Taiqing stiffened and, with a cold snort, said, "Let's go!"

「...」

Lin Zhongtian smoothly entered the Haisui Expressway. After reaching a quiet stretch of road, he smugly took out his phone.

Ah, Xu Ke. What's so difficult for you is actually a piece of cake for me.

Lin Zhongtian planned to call and confirm whether Xu Ke had arrived in Sui City. Xu Ke had told him earlier today that they would go to Sui City together. Once there, he would trade the bomb for the antidote.

And then, I'll finally be free!

But just at that moment...

SCREECH!

The ear-piercing sound of violent braking split the air. A car shot out from a ramp on the road ahead. It was clear that if Lin Zhongtian didn't slam on his brakes, a collision was inevitable.

Lin Zhongtian's pupils shrank. His face changed drastically as he roared, "Fucking hell! What kind of animal is driving like that?"

He furiously stomped on the brake pedal. He wasn't afraid of a car accident; he wouldn't be at fault, and with his cultivation level, a crash of this magnitude certainly wouldn't kill him. What he feared was the aftermath. If the traffic police came and inspected the van, he would completely ruin his arrangement with Xu Ke.

WHOOSH...

After forcing Lin Zhongtian to a stop, the car that had shot out from the ramp veered into the emergency lane and crashed headfirst into the guardrail.

Drenched in a cold sweat, Lin Zhongtian was furious. This damn bastard, whoever he is, made me look like a total fool... But thankfully, my van is fine. I can just drive away!

"Don't be in such a rush to leave. Let's chat for a bit," a voice said.

Just as Lin Zhongtian was about to start the engine, the passenger door was suddenly pulled open. A man in a mask got in with a bizarrely fluid speed. The sound of his voice made Lin Zhongtian's blood run cold, so frightened his soul almost fled his body.

When did he get here?

He stiffly turned his head, a look of profound horror spreading across his face. "Who... Who are you?!"

This man had appeared without a sound, so stealthily that even he hadn't noticed. And his movements were incredibly swift. This person's strength likely surpasses my own by an unimaginable degree.

"Who I am is not important," the masked man said nonchalantly. "I'm just curious about one thing. Why are you doing his dirty work? Isn't it good enough to continue living your life as a Long Capital Elder?"

Lin Zhongtian turned deathly pale with fright and immediately began to beg for his life. "I... I was forced into this by the Northern Dragon Guard! Please, spare me, Sir!"

He assumed this person had come to stop him from transporting the bomb to Sui City. That means they must be enemies of the Northern Dragon Guard. And any enemy of the Northern Territory Dragon King must be from one of those top-tier powers. How could I possibly be a match for someone like that? Begging for mercy and selling out Xu Ke is my only path to survival.

But the masked man seemed taken aback, then grew furious. "What are you talking about, the Northern Dragon Guard? Are you fucking with me?"

Lin Zhongtian jolted in fear, his face a mask of misery. "Sir, please, don't play dumb. This... this is the Northern Dragon Guard's van!"

The masked man started to speak again, but just then, a cold voice came from outside.

"Ye... what are you still wasting time for? Get out here and tell him to hand over the keys to the back of the van."

Beneath his mask, Shi Hongda's expression was grim. Ye Taiqing is being stubborn, insisting on confirming why Lin Zhongtian would debase himself by working for some small-fry from Shan City. What a waste of time!

Hearing that voice, Lin Zhongtian felt a powerful sense of familiarity flash through his mind. But before he could place it, Ye Taiqing dragged him from the driver's seat. "Get the hell out."

After Lin Zhongtian was pulled from the van, the scene before him made his mind go blank and a chill run down his spine. Even though the March air on the Haisui Expressway was beginning to warm, he felt frozen to the bone.

Before him stood six other masked figures, each exuding a terrifyingly powerful aura. The killing intent radiating from every one of them was so intense it felt tangible.

"They're... they're all at the Great Perfection of the Innate Realm..."

Lin Zhongtian's legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground, his heart flooding with regret. Why did I ever agree to work for the Northern Dragon Guard?! Xu Ke's affairs are clearly on a level I should never have touched. Why did I have to get involved? If I had just stayed in Tianhai and been his obedient dog, not dreamt of freedom, not thought of revenge, I wouldn't be in this mess right now!

Even now, he still believed that only an enemy of the Northern Dragon Guard could deploy so many terrifying experts for a single mission.

"This Elder Lin seems rather gutless," a chillingly cold elder remarked indifferently from a corner.

Shi Hongda suppressed his hoarse voice, making sure Lin Zhongtian wouldn't recognize it. "His cowardice doesn't matter. Just make him get the key and open the back."

"Aren't you going to open it?"

They could have simply blasted the van's doors open with their True Qi. But they were worried that Tang Yingchang and Wang Wu were hiding just inside, waiting to launch a painful ambush the moment the doors were breached. That was why they wanted Lin Zhongtian to open them; if there was an ambush, he would be the one to take the hit.

Trembling, Lin Zhongtian replied, "S-Sirs, I don't have the key to the back."

From Shi Hongda's words, he knew they were after the bomb in the van. They really are enemies of the Northern Dragon Guard!

"You refuse to hand it over? Be careful, or you'll die!" Ye Taiqing snorted coldly.

Lin Zhongtian shuddered violently and scrambled to beg for mercy. "Sirs, spare me! It's not that I don't want to give it to you. The contents are too valuable; he never gave me the keys! Please, I'm begging you, let me go! I was forced into this. I'm really just a deliveryman."

His words were met with scornful laughter from the group. "This Elder Lin is quite the loyal servant. It's a pity your master plans to sell you out. He's still sitting in the back right now, refusing to come out and save you."

He's obviously transporting people, yet he claims he's delivering goods? they thought.

But Lin Zhongtian's head shot up, his eyes lighting up with hope. "What did you say? There's no one in there! It's full of bombs! Sirs, you must have the wrong van! Since this is all a misunderstanding, please just let me go!"

Ye Taiqing flew into a rage and kicked out viciously. "First the Northern Dragon Guard, then bombs, and now you're calling this a misunderstanding? Misunderstanding my ass! Open the damn door for me!"

Did this Lin Zhongtian, with his mouth full of lies, really think he could play them for fools?

"Go open the door!"

BANG!

Lin Zhongtian screamed in agony as he was sent skidding across the ground for over ten meters, a testament to the sheer ferocity of Ye Taiqing's kick.

"S-Sirs... I really can't open it..." Blood trickled continuously from the corner of his mouth.

"Let's stop wasting time with him," someone said impatiently. "We'll just hold him in front of us and blast the door open with True Qi."

"Fine!"

Beneath his mask, Shi Hongda's expression soured. None of them had expected Lin Zhongtian to be so stubbornly unyielding, refusing to even open the van door.

Ye Taiqing casually hauled Lin Zhongtian up and shoved him against the locked doors at the back of the van. A look of utter despair washed over Lin Zhongtian's face.

Why won't these people believe a word I say?

BOOM.

The lock on the van was blasted open.

All seven men tensed, their auras sharpening. Even if they looked down on Xu Ke, they wouldn't underestimate the occupants of such a large vehicle: the Wang Family Guards, Tang Yingchang and Wang Wu.

Lin Zhongtian, trembling, slowly began to pull the heavy doors open. This is my only chance to live. As long as they see the bombs inside, they'll know they've hijacked the wrong van!

CREAK...

The rusty door groaned open, and sunlight flooded the interior.

It was completely empty.

In that moment, inside the van parked on the side of the Haisui Expressway, there was only dead silence...