Chapter 286: Chapter 281: Escape!
"That’s you, the silent kid who’s definitely hiding something bad."
Feeling the crowd’s gaze still fixed on him, Liu Yaowu was on the verge of tears. He had just found a glimmer of hope for survival, and he couldn’t bear to lose it over a misunderstanding. Helpless, he could only cry out to Chen Pingchuan in a hoarse voice, "Boss, it really wasn’t me! If it was, I’d smash my head against the wall..."
Before Liu Yaowu could finish, a series of short, mechanical taunts cut him off.
"Having fun?"
"Yes, it’s fun!"
"Had enough?"
"Not enough!"
"Then continue."
Hongkai’Er snorted, and the mechanical voice rang out again, "Boring!"
She looked at Liu Yaowu’s timid, cowardly appearance and let out a cold laugh, her mechanical voice dripping with even more disdain. "Hmph, and you think *he* could be my informer?"
After speaking, her gaze turned again to Chen Pingchuan, a glint of inscrutable light flashing in her eyes. "Chen Pingchuan, come with me, and I can spare the lives of your subordinates."
Chen Pingchuan’s eyes narrowed, his gaze growing colder. "Who do you think you are? That maidservant named Hongkai’Er, or the handmaiden Li Sanhua? You think you’re worthy of capturing me? What a joke!"
His voice was low and firm, ringing out with exceptional clarity in the tense atmosphere.
Her identity exposed, Hongkai’Er was visibly taken aback. She never imagined he would know her childhood name. He couldn’t know... unless the Third Princess told him. The dignified Third Palace Master of the Celestial Palace, losing her heart to a man... What a complete disgrace! And now she wants me to help hide her lover? What am I, a madam in a brothel? AAAGH!
Though she was roaring internally, her expression remained hidden, completely concealed by the fiery red Mechanical Battle Armor. Hongkai’Er tilted her head back slightly and let out a mechanical laugh. "Who I am isn’t important. What’s important is your choice. Will I kill them and drag you back, or will you surrender and let me take you back? You have one minute to think it over."
As she spoke, her hand rested lightly on the red blade at her waist, a clear implication in the gesture.
"You little wench! Who do you think you are, daring to talk to our boss like that!" Porcupine couldn’t stand seeing his boss get disrespected to his face and was the first to step forward.
In contrast, the others hesitated, sensing the dangerous shift in the atmosphere.
BANG!
Hongkai’Er moved in an instant. Her body didn’t even seem to shift as she swung the red blade in her hand, sending a chilling flash of light slashing toward Porcupine. He only registered a blur of motion before he was sent flying, slamming heavily against the wall.
"Li Sanhua, do you have any idea what the consequences are for angering me?" Chen Pingchuan glared at her, threatening through gritted teeth.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to act, but he hadn’t been able to react in time. It was obvious from her power that she was at least a level-eight powerhouse.
Unfortunately, Chen Pingchuan’s threat had no effect. In fact, it only drew more mockery from Hongkai’Er, her mechanical voice laced with amusement. "Oh, so protective of your subordinates? It seems you’ve got the makings of a leader. But that doesn’t change a thing. And stop calling me Li Sanhua. Your Sanhua is already dead. A choice made by your good wife, son-in-law!"
The words struck Chen Pingchuan like a hammer blow. His eyes instantly became so cold they could have frozen the air around them.
"Looks like we have no choice but to fight today," he said grimly. "Liu Yaowu, prepare the ultimate nuclear option!"
With that, Chen Pingchuan mobilized every ounce of energy in his body, looking as if he would go berserk at any second. His subordinates also wore grim expressions, each preparing for battle.
Facing this, Hongkai’Er was completely unsurprised. "Good, good. Today, I’ll beat you into submission! I’ll even give you a chance. You can make the first move!"
"Demoness, die!"
At Liu Yaowu’s roar, Hongkai’Er also entered a state of high alert. Although she didn’t believe for a second that these people could defeat her, she didn’t want any unexpected surprises. The energy within her fiery red Mechanical Battle Armor began to surge. The very air seemed to grow heavy under the pressure of her aura. Lilia stood silently to the side, but her telekinesis began to spread out, unseen. Wei Hao took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and began manipulating the surrounding gravity, ready to restrict their opponent’s movements. Great Fierce Bear and Porcupine exchanged a look, and both let out a furious roar as they prepared to charge Hongkai’Er.
BOOM!!!
Before anyone could move, a massive metal door slammed down from the ceiling, instantly separating the two groups.
"Go!" Chen Pingchuan’s eyes narrowed as he roared, "Unstable Spatial Travel!"
Despite his confident posturing just moments ago, he was the only one who knew the truth. Against a level-eight powerhouse, we don’t stand a chance. Thank god Liu Yaowu and I already prepared a contingency plan. Otherwise, we’d have been finished for real today!
As the shimmering, azure Space Gate fully materialized, Chen Pingchuan urged everyone to leave. "Hurry, go!"
「On the other side」
When Hongkai’Er saw the massive metal gate slam down, she was stunned. Damn it, I’ve been played!
As the cold, metallic sound echoed, she furiously swung her red blade, which sliced through the air with a HISS. The unstoppable weapon carved a huge gash in the metal door, but she grew more and more anxious as she watched them disappear one by one into the azure Space Gate. Carving an opening large enough for a person to pass through wasn’t something she could do in just a few seconds.
"Chen Pingchuan, how dare you plot against me!" Her furious roar was so loud that the entire experimental base could feel her rage.
In contrast, Chen Pingchuan, the last to leave, offered her a gentle smile. "Li Sanhua, you really are suited to be a handmaiden. Don’t you worry. When I marry your mistress, I’ll be sure to take you in as my bed-warming maid. Don’t be impatient now. Just wash yourself clean and wait for me!"
"AAAGH!!!"
Chen Pingchuan’s words sent Hongkai’Er into an absolute frenzy. She no longer cared if using a weapon of mass destruction would cause a massive earthquake or collapse the entire facility.
BOOM!
Her Omni-Energy Cannon blasted the gate into molten iron, but the scene that met her eyes was an empty passageway. There was no trace of them left. In a boiling rage, Hongkai’Er began to frantically search the surrounding area, not leaving a single corner unchecked. She blasted every experimental creature in her path to smithereens, but even after scouring the entire laboratory, she found no sign of the group.
The fire in Hongkai’Er’s heart burned ever hotter, and she made a silent, vicious vow. Chen Pingchuan, you can run, but you can’t hide forever! I will hunt you down! You tricked me this time, but next time, I’ll make you pay double!