Chapter 152: That woman_1
"You don’t need to care who told me; the message has reached me!"
Hua Zhuo’s words were ruthless: either the Jimo Family and Xie Family would sever their relationship, or the Xie Family would completely abandon Xie Lingyu.
Xie Lingyan, with his head on his shoulders, should have known how to choose.
"His continued presence in Imperial City offers no benefit to our Xie Family. Listen to me, make him leave!"
Xie Lingyu shook her head, her tone stubborn. "I won’t!"
Xie Lingyan: "..."
Having lorded over the Jimo Family for so many years, he was hardly a merciful person. He knew his sister’s character—spoiled rotten and hopelessly naive. Realizing she wouldn’t listen to reason, Xie Lingyan delivered a harsh ultimatum: "If you’re unwilling, then you can just get out with him! Leave the Xie Family, sever all ties! For some wild man from who knows where, you won’t even listen to your own brother?"
Xie Lingyu stared at Xie Lingyan in disbelief.
Tears welled up instantly. "Brother, how can you treat me like this? I’m going to tell Mom!"
She tried to find the Xie Family matriarch, but Xie Lingyan grabbed her hand. "It’s useless to look for Mom. I’ve already spoken to her about this, and she agrees. You’ve just had it too easy your whole life and don’t understand how the world works!"
Everyone has ambitions, but Xie Lingyan knew he couldn’t completely control the Jimo Family at the moment. He was already frustrated, not daring to show off in front of Wen Jiang, and now his sister was being incredibly stubborn and refusing to listen.
Naturally, Xie Lingyan felt a surge of anger.
He knew better than anyone that while wanting the Jimo Family’s wealth was one thing, if the Jimo Family came under suspicion by the Empire, his Xie Family would be deemed the primary culprits. This involved serious international law!
Xie Lingyan considered locking Xie Lingyu up and then going to dismiss Ah Li himself. But as soon as he grabbed her, she screamed, "Ah Li! Ah Li!"
BANG.
A terrifying, suffocating force emanated from the doorway. Ah Li’s figure appeared, his expression cold, as he unceremoniously struck out at Xie Lingyan.
Xie Lingyan was just an ordinary person; how could he withstand an attack from a Spirit Card Master? He collapsed to the ground instantly, feeling as if his internal organs were being crushed, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Ah Li had shown no mercy whatsoever.
"Ah Li, he’s my brother!" Xie Lingyu cried, rushing toward Ah Li in horror.
Only then did Ah Li withdraw his oppressive spiritual force, asking coldly, "Who told you I have connections with Fiend?"
Ah Li glared at him with eyes full of hatred. Only then did Xie Lingyan truly understand how terrifying it was to offend a Spirit Card Master. Coupled with Ah Li’s intense murderous aura, he clutched his chest and mumbled vaguely, "Someone from Jimo said it."
It was obvious who that person was. He suspected it was Hua Zhuo, but Ah Li would undoubtedly hold Wen Jiang accountable.
Ah Li’s eyes narrowed.
The memory of being targeted by Hua Zhuo was still vivid, but inevitably, Wen Jiang’s contemptuous face flashed in his mind, and the killing intent in his heart surged uncontrollably.
He knew it was useless to stay. The Xie Family wouldn’t let him remain. He grabbed Xie Lingyu’s arm. "Come with me. This family isn’t worth staying in. Sooner or later, I’ll make them kneel and beg you to come back."
Xie Lingyu was bewildered. "Go where? Ah Li, I’m a member of the Xie Family! Where can I possibly go?"
Without further ado, Ah Li knocked Xie Lingyu unconscious and prepared to leave with her.
Xie Lingyan was powerless to stop him.
Ah Li’s ghostly figure vanished from the Xie Family mansion. He hadn’t gone far when an overwhelming pressure bore down on him, and Hua Zhuo’s calm voice drifted over. "Abducting someone from the Xie Family... where do you think you’re going?"
Ah Li turned, his expression grim.
In the darkness of the night, Hua Zhuo sat in her wheelchair. Though her legs were disabled, her inherent grace was undiminished. She regarded Ah Li with a serene gaze. "For so many years, our Empire and your Fiend have kept to our own affairs. What is your purpose in approaching the Xie Family?"
Since he was from Fiend, Ah Li’s current actions confirmed their investigation was on the right track. She refused to believe Ah Li had approached the Xie Family without a motive. An S Rank Spirit Card Master... how could he be so easily injured and then rescued by an ordinary woman?
Ah Li knew that even fighting with his Card Spirit, he was no match for Hua Zhuo. After all, she had nearly advanced to become a UR-Rank Spirit Card Master back then.
Besides, this was Imperial City. If he engaged in a Card Spirit battle here, a host of S-level Guard Army members would immediately appear to eliminate him.
Ah Li, seemingly trapped, suddenly laughed—a cruel, chilling smile. "She wanted me to ask you: after all these years as a disabled waste, how does it feel?"
Hua Zhuo’s calm expression instantly froze.
BOOM—
The next second, Ah Li used some unknown item. His entire body contorted, and then, taking Xie Lingyu with him, he abruptly vanished.
Hua Zhuo’s expression instantly darkened.
This method of disappearance... it wasn’t something a Spirit Card Master could achieve. It was exactly like that woman from all those years ago. She had assumed he was merely from the Fiend Organization, never expecting him to be one of *that* woman’s people.
Recalling years of speculation, Hua Zhuo had a terrible premonition. She immediately returned to the Jimo Family and first notified the Empire.
Meanwhile, Wen Jiang was still at the Association. Hua Zhuo called her, her voice betraying a slight agitation. "Do you remember that woman I told you about last time?"
Hearing the unsteadiness in her voice, Wen Jiang quickly deduced the issue. "Did your fishing expedition fail? Did that Ah Li fellow get away?"
Hua Zhuo knew letting someone like Ah Li escape would cause significant trouble for her. She wouldn’t have just let him go. More likely, she’d used him as bait, trying to provoke him into doing something detrimental to the Xie Family so she’d have an excuse to act. But now, it was obvious the plan had failed; Ah Li had definitely escaped.
Hua Zhuo paused, unsurprised by Wen Jiang’s sharp insight. "The way he vanished... it’s identical to how *that* woman disappeared back then. We could never catch her; her Card Spirit was always incredibly bizarre. This Ah Li possesses the same Card Spirit abilities and clearly has a significant connection to her. Our intelligence indicates he’s from Fiend. We’ve long suspected that after escaping Yunxia, that woman infiltrated these international organizations."
That would explain how she managed to evade Song Ji’s investigations so peacefully for so many years.
Wen Jiang wasn’t surprised. She just found one thing puzzling. "Why couldn’t she have simply emigrated to another empire?"
Hua Zhuo seemed convinced that the Destined Host couldn’t have remained in any of those empires.
Hua Zhuo slowly shook her head. "She caused major trouble in those empires back then. Her abilities are extremely unusual. Both Sanctuary and Frost Moon wanted to capture her. Plus, the Empire has operatives in the smaller nations; she couldn’t have stayed hidden for long. Besides her cards, she possesses other secrets—secrets the Empire has always wanted to understand by capturing her. But she’s slippery, like an eel; no one can catch her. It’s not in her nature to be controlled, and it’s even less likely she’d strike a deal with another empire. She’s been on the run all these years."
Wen Jiang sighed. "Lady Hua, we’ve reached this point. Isn’t it time to speak plainly?"
Just what kind of trouble has that Destined Host truly brought upon this world?