National Guardian's Gone and We're Done-Chapter 96: Isn’t This a Bit Too Hasty?
At that moment, Xiao Cangqing was in a village where the suburbs met the countryside.
The surroundings were quite pleasant,
though it looked a bit run-down compared to the city.
But Xiao Cangqing hadn’t dared to enter the city. Throughout his escape,
he had stuck to secluded back roads, the lack of surveillance cameras allowing him to evade the Lighthouse Empire’s tracking.
Now, having witnessed Green Forest City suffer a heavy retaliatory blow,
Xiao Cangqing felt profoundly grateful for the wise choices he’d made. Just as he’d feared, the Lighthouse Empire had pinned the blame on him.
Seeing Green Forest City get bombarded by the Lighthouse Empire’s most advanced and bizarre weapons made Xiao Cangqing hesitate on his initial plan to return.
Just then, a news alert popped up that made Xiao Cangqing break out in a cold sweat.
’The leader of the New World Organization? How could it suddenly be me?’
Even in the past, the leader of the New World Organization had always remained a secret,
as the organization often committed heinous acts.
Numerous empires across Blue Star had designated the New World Organization a criminal entity; its members were to be arrested on sight.
Even the member from the Guan Sect, who had been with the organization for a long time, didn’t know who the actual leader was.
But now, he had been exposed to the world,
and he knew without a doubt that this was Chu He’s doing.
In the past, Xiao Cangqing might have schemed about how to surpass Chu He, how to kill him once he became stronger.
Now, however, he had been so thoroughly tormented that he no longer had any courage to challenge him.
Xiao Cangqing looked at the news on his phone. After tapping it open, he saw his own photo attached.
He knew then that the matter was set in stone.
The Lighthouse Empire was bound to become even more furious. Soon, there would be nowhere left on Blue Star for him to hide.
"Chu He, I know I was wrong."
"The gap between us is just too vast, in both talent and ability." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
"It wasn’t just me. The entire Great Jing Empire and that bitch Ji Shengyue—we were all wrong."
"If we hadn’t schemed to drive you out of the Great Jing Empire, it wouldn’t be in the state it is today."
With a THUD, Xiao Cangqing dropped to his knees. He kowtowed repeatedly to the empty air, pleading, "Spare me this one time. I’ll never appear before you again. I’ll find some godforsaken hole to hide in."
Because Chu He could control his body from a distance,
and make him do things against his will, Xiao Cangqing suspected Chu He was always nearby.
At this point, Xiao Cangqing truly wanted no part in Chu He’s games anymore.
Xiao Cangqing was being forced to take all the blame, while Chu He remained hidden and unscathed.
Even if Xiao Cangqing tried to expose the truth on every major platform, no one would likely believe him.
The bad blood, conflict, and hatred between him and Chu He were well-known to many people and factions across the globe.
Besides begging Chu He for mercy and hoping he would be compassionate enough to let him go,
Xiao Cangqing could see no other way out.
If he continued to oppose the Lighthouse Empire, caught in the eye of the storm, his death would be brutal. He would certainly not die peacefully.
But despite his kneeling, praying, and begging to the empty air, only the quiet of the countryside answered him.
On the verge of tears, Xiao Cangqing staggered to his feet, overwhelmed by a sense of aimlessness he had never felt before.
There was no longer a place for him on all of Blue Star.
’What am I supposed to do now? Where can I possibly go?’
He had no idea.
Just then, a call came in. The caller ID read: Gao Yimin.
Xiao Cangqing almost declined it, but he answered anyway.
"Xiao Cangqing, you are absolutely brilliant! I was so worried at first."
"I was terrified we’d angered the Lighthouse Empire. I couldn’t see how we’d survive this."
"Dai Ju didn’t understand you either. Why would you suddenly rush to Fujiang City to kill an Emperor Realm expert from the Lighthouse Empire, not to mention all those King-level experts and regular Guards?"
Gao Yimin’s voice on the other end was practically buzzing with excitement.
"Did you see the news?" Xiao Cangqing asked.
"News? What news?" Judging by her tone, Gao Yimin had no idea what he was talking about.
"Then how did you find out I’m the leader of the New World Organization?"
Xiao Cangqing sat down under a tree.
"Oh, that’s simple."
"You sent them, didn’t you?"
"A full eight Emperor Realm experts, plus over forty King-level ones."
"There wasn’t a single Martial Artist among them below the King Level."
"A lineup that powerful is incredible."
"It might not be enough to take on the entire Lighthouse Empire, but the Martial Artist Base they established in the Great Jing Empire won’t be able to touch us."
"But none of these Martial Artists reached their realm through pure cultivation."
"Every single one of them has a thick, bizarre aura, and they all look remarkably similar. It’s like... like they’re goats raised on a farm."
"It sent a chill right down my spine."
Gao Yimin went on to describe the situation in Green Forest City in detail.
"I see."
Xiao Cangqing hung up, staring numbly at the blue sky as he listened to the village chickens crow and dogs bark.
He was no longer in control of his own destiny. Pushed onto the main stage, he couldn’t imagine how many people would now be wishing for his death.
Only one choice lay before Xiao Cangqing now.
He had to steel himself and follow the script Chu He had written for him.
It was the only way to buy himself a little breathing room.
Just as Gao Yimin had said on the phone,
eight Emperor Realm experts, along with dozens of King-level ones, were enough to keep him safe for a while.
During that time, he could try to find a way to break free from Chu He’s grasp.
Otherwise, death was inevitable.
His mind made up, Xiao Cangqing rose from under the tree, a newfound determination in his eyes.
BZZZT BZZZT BZZZT...
The phone he had just hung up rang again. The screen lit up, once again showing Gao Yimin’s name.
After a moment’s thought, Xiao Cangqing tapped the screen and raised the phone to his ear.
"Xiao Cangqing, aren’t we rushing things a little?"
Gao Yimin asked over the phone.
"What are we rushing?" Xiao Cangqing’s heart sank. He had a bad feeling.
"Those eight Emperor Realm experts have already left. The King-level experts are still here in Green Forest City, though."
"When the eight Emperor Realm experts left, they said the prestige of the New World Organization could not be challenged."
"They’re heading to Fujiang City to teach the Lighthouse Empire’s Martial Artist Base a harsh lesson, to make them think twice."
Gao Yimin finished, "Shouldn’t we have planned this out properly first? Hello? Hello! Xiao Cangqing, why aren’t you saying anything?"
On the other end of the line,
the phone slipped from Xiao Cangqing’s hand and clattered to the ground.
Xiao Cangqing’s mind went blank. "Chu He, are you really not going to leave me any way to survive?"
"If you’re going to use me as a tool, at least let me live a little longer so I can be of some value to you!"
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