"Help, help me..."
Li Xiao felt five fingers churning inside his head, the intense pain pushing his sanity to the brink.
He had never endured such torment!
It was worse than death!
"Hmm? Was it really just a robbery? Did I overthink this?"
The mysterious shadowy figure, after reading Li Xiao's memories, found nothing out of the ordinary, a flicker of doubt crossing its eyes.
However, still suspicious, it sent a portion of its consciousness to the place Li Xiao had emerged from, verifying the traces of a robbery.
"It seems I truly did overthink it..."
Finding no anomalies, the mysterious shadowy figure released Li Xiao and dissipated.
The five bloody wounds on Li Xiao's head healed at a visible rate.
From beginning to end, not a single person on the bustling street noticed Li Xiao being tormented by the shadow.
On the rooftop of a tall building beside the street, Ye Ling stood at the edge of the terrace, calmly observing Li Xiao lying by the public phone booth, his gaze profound.
Everything the shadow had done was witnessed by Ye Ling.
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire asked, "How did you guess someone would investigate Li Xiao? If you hadn't made contingency plans, we would have been exposed!"
Ye Ling was unfazed. "This Eastern Xuan Continent is already an affiliate of the Remnant Evil Tribe. It's expected to have their informants. I was merely taking precautions. I didn't expect them to act so quickly, though; they captured Li Xiao's trace as soon as I removed the barrier."
Speaking of which, Ye Ling asked the World-Destroying Spirit Fire, "That fellow just now, was his strength at the half-step Chaos Sovereign level?"
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire nodded. "Roughly... He has about a dozen Chaos Seeds within him. His strength is not much weaker than yours currently. If you fought him, it would be difficult to determine a winner quickly. And if you two clashed, the Remnant Evil Tribe would definitely sense your presence, and the Remnant Evil Lord would arrive."
Ye Ling said, "In other words, unless it's a sure kill, I can't act rashly, right?"
The World-Destroying Spirit Fire: "Yes, after all, this is their territory. It's best to be cautious... You weren't thinking of attacking that fellow just now, were you?"
"I'm not that impatient."
Ye Ling denied the World-Destroying Spirit Fire's suspicion and shifted his gaze to Li Xiao on the street. "Li Xiao holds a significant position in Tianyi City. Our future actions might need to be planned around him."
As Ye Ling watched Li Xiao, security company mecha soldiers also located Li Xiao through cameras. Ten armored vehicles immediately flew to the vicinity, blocking the entire road and surrounding Li Xiao with protection.
"My son!"
At this moment, a portly man descended from an armored vehicle and rushed to embrace Li Xiao, anxiously asking, "Who did this to you?"
The man was Li Xiao's father, Li Cheng, the chief executive officer of Long Corporation's Tianyi Military Technology, a prominent figure in Tianyi City.
"Dad..."
Upon seeing Li Cheng's face, Li Xiao's spirits lifted. He hugged Li Cheng and sobbed, "Dad! You finally came to save me! I've suffered so much!"
Seeing Li Xiao's pale and weak appearance, Li Cheng's anger flared. He asked Li Xiao, "Son, who did this to you? Tell Dad! Dad will dig up that bastard even if he has to turn the earth upside down!"
Li Xiao was about to mention Ye Ling but suddenly remembered Ye Ling's warning. He quickly changed his words, "Dad... it was a shadow. It suddenly ambushed me, stabbing its fingernails, sharper than knives, into my head and stirring things up in my brain! It was agonizing! Dad, you must avenge me!"
Hearing Li Xiao's words, Li Cheng's expression instantly changed. The anger in his eyes turned to fear. He quickly said, "Son, let's talk about this when we get home!"
Li Cheng dared not let Li Xiao continue speaking. He immediately handed Li Xiao over to the mecha soldiers and said rapidly, "Take him home. No one is allowed to see him, nor is he allowed to leave the house!"
Li Xiao was stunned by Li Cheng's words and exclaimed, "Dad? What are you doing? Why are you locking me up? Aren't you going to help me get revenge?"
"Shut up! Your father is protecting you!" Li Cheng roared at Li Xiao, then quickly boarded an armored vehicle and flew away.
Li Xiao, stunned by his father's outburst, was then escorted by the mecha soldiers back to his family's villa.
The street returned to normal. The pedestrians carried on as if nothing had happened, minding their own business, showing no concern for what had just transpired.
The entire Tianzhi City exuded a strange, unsettling aura.
Witnessing everything from the rooftop, Ye Ling saw Li Cheng taking Li Xiao home and a faint smile touched his lips. "It seems Li Cheng knows quite a bit. Their value is increasing."
Ye Ling chuckled lightly, and a gust of wind carried him away.
In the northern district of Tianzhi City, a renowned affluent residential area.
Li Cheng brought Li Xiao back to the villa and confined him to a room.
At this moment, Li Xiao still didn't understand why Li Cheng's attitude had suddenly changed so drastically, not only refusing to help him get revenge but also locking him in his room.
"Dad! Why are you locking me up? Let me out!"
Li Xiao pounded on the door hysterically, but Li Cheng outside remained unmoved, calling out, "You brat, be quiet! Your father is saving your life!"
"Saving my life? What kind of saving is this? Do you want me to complain to Mom?"
Li Xiao was completely unfazed. Just as he was about to kick the door, Ye Ling's voice suddenly echoed behind him, "Stop struggling. Your father is clearly scared. If you really go out now, you'll truly be putting his life at risk."
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Li Xiao jolted and turned around tremblingly. He saw Ye Ling sitting leisurely on the sofa.
"B-Big Brother?"
Li Xiao swallowed hard, forcing a smile onto his face. "Why are you here?"
This affluent district possessed the most advanced security system in all of Tianzhi City. Without a pass, not even a mosquito could fly in. Li Xiao had no idea how Ye Ling had managed to enter!
Ye Ling smiled. "I have nothing else to do before Long Ye's birthday, so I thought I'd stay at your place for a while. Do you have any objections?"
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Li Xiao dared not refuse. He could only manage a smile with a nearly tearful expression, "N-No objections. Big Brother, you can stay as long as you wish. I promise to take good care of you."
Seeing Li Xiao's legs trembling, Ye Ling shook his head and smiled. Then he said, "Don't be so scared. As long as you do as I say, you'll be fine."
Li Xiao pursed his lips and cautiously asked, "Then, Big Brother... what are your instructions now?"
Ye Ling scanned the entire villa with his divine sense and then said to Li Xiao, "Before sunset, clear out all the mecha soldiers and smart appliances from your house."