HAGLTP Chapter 27

Three days later, in Cloud City.

In the highest specification conference room of the White Dove, a meeting was quietly underway.

The identities of those participating in the meeting were not simple. The leader of the White Dove, Mo Yisheng, sat at the head of the table, with Ye Yushen on his left and Li Guangxi, the president of the Divine Punishment Society, on his right.

Li Guangxi, like everyone in the Divine Punishment Society, had a somewhat eccentric aura. He was around thirty, extremely thin, almost like a skeleton, draped in a white robe adorned with the bright red emblem of the Divine Punishment Society.

However, despite his strange appearance, he was very polite towards Xiao Lyu and the others.

When Ye Qi and Huang Sansheng escaped, they had conveniently rescued the remaining two members of the Divine Punishment Society, one of whom, Du Huang, was a disciple he valued highly. Therefore, Li Guangxi felt indebted to them.

At the same time, Ye Qi and the others had also assisted in the escape of Song Mo, making the White Dove the party with the least losses in this operation.

The person with the most unpleasant expression in the room was Ye Yushen.

Investigating the S·A Treatment Center was his suggestion, but the result was that Night had lost a team. Even Xiao Keyang, who had been on the rise recently, had not returned.

At this time, various forces in Cloud City were actively expanding, and powerful ability users were already rare. The loss of two team leaders was not a trivial matter for Night.

Their opponents were growing stronger, while they were being weakened.

Ye Yushen glared at Xiao Lyu with a dark expression.

He knew that the relationship between the brothers Xiao Lyu and Xiao Keyang was not good. On the day the mutation began, he had witnessed their conflict, even seeing the two brothers fight. Was Xiao Lyu’s involvement the reason Xiao Keyang had not returned?

Faced with Ye Yushen’s suspicious gaze, Xiao Lyu remained expressionless.

The S·A Treatment Center had already been blown to ruins. Unless there was an unexpected turn of events, Xiao Keyang had long been buried deep underground. Even if he had the protagonist’s halo, it would take time for him to rebound from the depths and confront him.

Moreover, it was Xiao Keyang who had first shown killing intent.

Thus, Xiao Lyu felt no fear.

Mo Yisheng noticed the tense atmosphere between the two and smiled gently, skillfully using his years of experience in hosting variety shows to ease the tension.

“In this operation, although we successfully eliminated the crisis, every force has paid a considerable price. As the leader of the White Dove, I feel heartbroken for every member lost, and I believe Guangxi feels similarly, right?”

Li Guangxi, who had been silent and rarely spoke, finally showed a rare expression of compassion. He placed his hands over his chest in a prayer gesture and nodded at Xiao Lyu and the others, “Thank you all once again.”

Although the Divine Punishment Society advocated that mutation was a test from God and its followers were not afraid of death, it did not mean that Li Guangxi wished to see his subordinates die.

Mo Yisheng looked at Ye Yushen with a gentle gaze, “Everyone can understand your feelings.”

Ye Yushen’s expression was grim. He was an unpredictable lunatic, but not a fool. It was clear that the current situation was that the White Dove and the Divine Punishment Society were working together to protect Xiao Lyu. If he acted out now, he would gain nothing.

“Hmph.” Ye Yushen snorted coldly and stood up, “Then I will congratulate Mr. Xiao Lyu for becoming a guest of the two major forces.”

After saying this, he did not wait for Xiao Lyu’s response and turned to leave with his subordinates. However, just as he was about to exit, he suddenly raised his hand, and countless arrows formed from smoke shot towards Xiao Lyu like a rainstorm.

How could those who angered him not pay a price? Even on the territory of the White Dove, if Ye Yushen wanted to kill someone, he could still do it!

The smoke arrows seemed intangible, but no one present dared to underestimate their power. Ye Yushen had once used this trick to blow a traitor hiding in a room to smithereens along with the building.

Mo Yisheng’s gentle smile vanished, and for the first time, anger flickered in his eyes.

MIKI’s arm glowed with star patterns.

Even Li Guangxi, who usually sat like a statue, raised his head, his palm glowing.

Seeing the arrows of smoke rushing towards Xiao Lyu, Ye Qi immediately stood up, but Xiao Lyu pressed him down first.

Xiao Lyu raised his hand, and in an instant, a massive light curtain unfolded, dividing the entire conference room in half—one half for Ye Yushen and Night’s people, and the other half for the tense-looking others.

The smoke arrows collided with the light curtain, and although neither side was tangible, they produced a piercing, sharp noise.

After a moment, the smoke arrows began to dissipate, each turning into blue smoke and vanishing into the air.

The room fell silent, and the gazes of everyone shifted from shock and anger to astonishment, constantly flickering between Xiao Lyu and Ye Yushen.

When did Xiao Lyu become this strong? To single-handedly neutralize Ye Yushen’s powerful attack—there were not many who could do that in Cloud City, or rather, among all ability users, especially not so effortlessly.

The people from the White Dove and the Divine Punishment Society couldn’t help but feel relieved about their good relationship, while the expressions of Night’s people grew even darker.

Xiao Lyu retracted his hand, a polite smile appearing on his face, “Safe travels.”

Ye Yushen’s face looked like it had been stained with ink by a mischievous child. His hands, which had been resting at his side, clenched into fists and then relaxed several times, as if he were using his last bit of rationality to combat the surging killing intent within him.

In the end, the rationality of a leader overcame the instincts of a lunatic. He left with his Night subordinates without saying a word, leaving only a staff member to continue the meeting.

With Ye Yushen gone, the atmosphere in the room finally relaxed.

Everyone was able to continue discussing the details of the operation, talking about the dangers and oddities within the hospital.

·

That evening, the White Dove held a celebration banquet for those who participated in the mission.

Though it was called a banquet, it was not particularly extravagant; it was more akin to a small party before the mutation. However, at this time, being able to host such a gathering was already quite a significant gesture.

The senior members of the White Dove and the Divine Punishment Society were also present, seemingly using this opportunity to strengthen their relationships.

Song Mo changed into a dark green dress and walked up to Ye Qi with a glass of wine, saying earnestly, “I must thank you, Mr. Ye. Otherwise, I might have really died there.”

Ye Qi held his glass, silent, and merely raised his hand to take a small sip.

During this time, Song Mo had heard some things about Ye Qi. Therefore, she did not feel that he was being neglectful; she simply bowed to express her gratitude and then left on her own.

After Song Mo, some people who had previously mingled in the entertainment industry or were originally fans of Ye Qi came over to greet him. They did not mind Ye Qi’s silence and surrounded him.

Those in the entertainment industry were already quite clever, and with the presence of affectionate fans, even if Ye Qi did not speak, the group could chat happily.

In a corner, Huang Sansheng was indulging in the food.

He hadn’t eaten so much fresh cooked food in a long time.

Although his ability allowed him to carry many supplies, they were mostly instant meals. The aroma of this human food was incredibly nostalgic; just the smell made his mouth water.

“Mmm, so good… this is really good…”

Xiao Lyu sat next to Huang Sansheng, casually sipping his drink, his gaze fixed on the little chubby guy who was eating with gusto.

Previously, Huang Sansheng’s hands had been severely burned, and there were many charred spots on his body, with a few injuries nearly reaching the bone.

But this little chubby guy had been gritting his teeth and holding on. Throughout the entire ordeal in the psychiatric hospital, he hadn’t uttered a single cry of pain, only collapsing from exhaustion as they neared Cloud City.

It wasn’t until Mo Yisheng treated him and provided Xiao Lyu with a medical report that Xiao Lyu realized Huang Sansheng’s injuries were far more serious than they appeared.

Unknowingly, the little chubby guy was no longer the tearful, snot-nosed child who was bullied on the street corner. Time was cruel, forcing the carefree boy to grow into a sturdy tree capable of standing on his own.

Xiao Lyu poured a glass of fruit wine for Huang Sansheng and handed it to him, “Ah Huang, this time we owe it all to you.”

Huang Sansheng quickly wiped the food off his mouth, “No, no, no, Brother Lyu. How can you say it was all thanks to me? It was mainly because of you.”

Xiao Lyu smiled, “Don’t say that. Several critical moments relied on your abilities for us to get through. You are our strongest support.”

“Hehehe…” Huang Sansheng covered his head, laughing shyly yet proudly.

“Come, I toast you a glass.” Xiao Lyu raised his glass and drank it down in one go.

Huang Sansheng imitated him, downing the entire glass of fruit wine.

The fruit wine was sweet and sour, mixed with many fruits, and had a rich, fragrant aroma that masked the taste of some of its components.

“Burp…” Huang Sansheng let out a burp, feeling a bit dizzy, “Brother Lyu… is this wine very strong? I… feel a bit lightheaded?”

Xiao Lyu looked at him, “Maybe you just can’t handle alcohol. It’s fine; just sleep it off.”

“Oh, okay…” Huang Sansheng obediently nodded, leaning back, and the empty glass he had not yet put down slowly slipped from his hand, rolling onto the sofa, and he quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Xiao Lyu watched the sleeping Huang Sansheng, lost in thought for a long time.

MIKI, who had been paying attention to this side, walked over, “You just knocked him out like that? Aren’t you afraid he’ll throw a tantrum when he wakes up?”

Xiao Lyu shook his head, “Ah Huang is not someone who gets angry easily.”

“Then how should we explain it?” MIKI asked.

“Just tell the truth.” Xiao Lyu’s tone was calm, “The things I want to do are becoming increasingly dangerous, and I don’t want my friends to continue accompanying me.”

MIKI leaned against the armrest of the sofa, curiously asking, “What exactly do you want to do?”

Xiao Lyu poured himself another drink, admiring the crystal-clear liquid in the glass, jokingly saying, “Looking for poetry and the distant horizon. Do you believe it?”

MIKI laughed, “I didn’t expect you to be such a romantic person.”

Xiao Lyu took a gentle sip of his drink, “From now on, I’ll leave Ah Huang to you. No matter what, he can’t follow me.”

“Of course.” MIKI replied, “This time we owe you a huge favor, so this small matter is no problem. Moreover, Huang Sansheng’s ability is also a treasure for us; I’m afraid when you come back, we won’t want to let him go.”

“Thank you.” Xiao Lyu nodded at her.

“And please tell him I’m sorry.”

As night deepened, the banquet reached its final stage.

Thanks to Ye Qi’s previous connections, many people came over to toast him and chat a bit. Some were there for him, while others wanted to connect with Xiao Lyu, planning to start from their former teammate.

Ye Qi was surrounded by the crowd.

He had drunk quite a bit today, but his back remained straight, sitting there with a relaxed yet upright demeanor, showing no signs of drunkenness.

Perhaps feeling that the air indoors was not good, Ye Qi stood up, leaving the crowd to step out onto a secluded balcony for some fresh air.

Before long, a faint sound of footsteps approached.

Ye Qi turned around to see Xiao Lyu entering with a glass of wine.

Xiao Lyu handed him one of the glasses, “I haven’t had a chance to thank you. You suffered quite a bit on this trip; thank you for your hard work.”

Ye Qi took the glass but showed no intention of drinking, silently watching him.

Xiao Lyu raised his glass, trying to clink it with Ye Qi’s, but Ye Qi raised his hand to avoid it.

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Lyu wore a teasing smile, “The great movie emperor drank with so many people today but refuses to drink with me. Are you looking down on me for not being famous enough?”

Ye Qi stared at him, his gaze still unreadable.

He placed the glass of wine, which Xiao Lyu had deliberately spiked, on the railing, letting it fill with moonlight.

Then he stepped forward to stand in front of Xiao Lyu, gently yet firmly snatching the still-warm glass from Xiao Lyu’s hand and downing it in one go.

The liquid slid down his throat, causing Ye Qi’s Adam’s apple to bob up and down. The moonlight was beautiful tonight, everything enveloped in a subtle blue hue, making the scene appear cinematic and tender.

Then he looked down at Xiao Lyu once more.

This action seemed to convey to Xiao Lyu that he was not refusing to drink with him, but that he understood what Xiao Lyu wanted to do.

In close proximity to Ye Qi’s gaze, Xiao Lyu inexplicably felt a bit guilty.

They had agreed to set out together as three, but now he was having second thoughts.

After experiencing the near-death situation before, he began to regret bringing these two along. If he had not agreed to leave with them, Huang Sansheng and Ye Qi would still be in the safe Yao City, enjoying their days without having to face so many dangers.

It turned out that when facing the life and death of his companions, he was not as carefree as he thought.

For the road ahead, he could walk alone.

Xiao Lyu avoided Ye Qi’s gaze and walked outside, “That’s enough for today. Shall we head back?”

Ye Qi remained the same, silently following behind Xiao Lyu, watching him greet everyone before leaving the venue together.

·

As dawn approached.

Xiao Lyu, who had been pretending to sleep in bed, suddenly opened his eyes, clarity in his gaze.

He rummaged through his already packed luggage under the bed, quietly opened the window, and nimbly jumped down.

The room next door, belonging to Ye Qi, was quiet, showing no signs of disturbance.

Xiao Lyu quickly left the residential area, walked to the parking lot, found the car they had driven from the outskirts, opened the door, and sat inside.

The car started and slowly drove towards the road leading to Shadow City.

The infrastructure in Xingzhou was quite good; the roads from Yao City to Cloud City and from Cloud City to Shadow City were very similar. However, the last time they traveled together as three, the car was filled with laughter, while this time it was left with solitude.

Xiao Lyu scoffed, mocking his suddenly sentimental self in the middle of the night.

Suddenly, he saw something move in the rearview mirror.

He raised his head in confusion to look again, but saw nothing.

Late at night, on an empty road, with a lone traveler and an unusual rearview mirror, it could almost be the start of a ghost story.

But Xiao Lyu was not the kind of protagonist in a ghost story who would be scared and not dare to look back. He directly slammed on the brakes and turned to look behind the car.

Then he came face to face with an expressionless handsome face.

“Ye Qi?!” Xiao Lyu did not expect this guy to be waiting for him here.

He clearly remembered confirming that the other had indeed entered the room, and he had not heard any suspicious footsteps before leaving.

“When did you get in?”

Ye Qi remained silent, still wearing that cold demeanor, but today, Xiao Lyu inexplicably felt that the other was thicker-skinned than the soil on Xiao Keyang’s grave.

“You should go back.” Xiao Lyu said.

Ye Qi showed no reaction; not only did he not leave, but he also stood up and sat in the seat, fastening his seatbelt.

Seeing Xiao Lyu’s displeased expression, Ye Qi reached into his backpack and pulled out a piece of chocolate to share with him.

Xiao Lyu: “…”

Ye Da Ying Di! Have some self-respect.

Who needs chocolate? Can a piece of chocolate solve this problem?! Xiao Lyu thought angrily while chewing the chocolate.

Xiao Lyu tried to persuade him, but Ye Qi was unyielding. Relying on his illness, he maintained his expressionless handsome face, showing no reaction to whatever Xiao Lyu said.

The hand hidden below moved slightly, and Xiao Lyu thought about just knocking this guy out and throwing him back.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, a cold blue barrier suddenly appeared, standing between the front and back seats.

As if not trusting him, it quickly added three more layers.

Xiao Lyu: “…”

This guy had finally seen through his thoughts.

He used to think Ye Qi was considerate and understood him, that there was a tacit understanding between them that required no words, but now it seemed that such understanding was not necessarily a good thing.

In the end, the car sped towards Shadow City with two people and Xiao Lyu’s pent-up anger, racing under the morning light.