Chapter Sixty-Three: Greetings from Grand Xia

Free Nation.

3:30 a.m.

In the dead of night, only two addicts lounged lazily on the filthy street.

Opposite them stood a dilapidated two-story building, its faint lights flickering within, suggesting that someone might still be moving about inside.

Inside an inconspicuous, battered jeep—

“So this is a big city in the Free Nation?” Dao Wanqian looked around with a mixture of confusion and disdain. “I've seen movies back in the Taoist Temple, and in those, the streets of the Free Nation are always spotless and tidy, aren't they?”

“How come this place feels more like a rundown village? No, it’s worse than a village. At least back home, we don’t just leave piles of garbage on the streets…”

“And those addicts just lying there on the main road? Does no one care?”

Dao Wanqian stared blankly at the scene outside.

“What did you expect?” Lin Fan rubbed his nose. “Those movies only ever show a few select streets. The rest—this is the reality.”

“As for the addicts… well, just think of them as a unique feature of the Free Nation.”

Dao Wanqian was speechless. “Unbelievable. People used to say the air here was sweet and fresh. I rolled down the window just now and almost passed out from the stench of urine on the street…”

“For a moment, I thought the Free Nation had learned we were coming and set up some sort of biochemical defense measures just for us.”

The rest of the First Squad also found themselves at a loss for words.

After all, this was everyone’s first time abroad, and they’d come to the legendary Free Nation, once the world’s unrivaled superpower.

Despite their strong aversion to the Free Nation’s ideology, they had still harbored some curiosity about seeing a foreign land.

It wasn’t about idolizing the West—it’s like visiting a new place; you always hope to see something beautiful.

But upon arrival, disappointment was overwhelming.

“So you see, the rise of Great Xia is all thanks to their contrast. In a way, we should be grateful to them for that.” Confucianist Mo Buzhi saw through it all, smiling as he eyed the two dazed addicts on the street and nodded with satisfaction. “Well done, Free Nation. Puchuan, keep up the good work.”

“The people of Great Xia thank you.”

The mood inside the car grew inexplicably lighter.

But—

“All right.” The smile on Lin Fan’s face faded into seriousness as he waved a hand. “We’ve relaxed enough. Time to talk business.”

“That,” he said, pointing at the decrepit two-story building, “is our target.”

“Who exactly is the target?” Xing Ye asked with a frown.

Lin Fan smiled, his grin chilling to the bone. “Everyone.”

A brief silence fell over the car as everyone inhaled, anticipation mingling with a killing intent that filled the air.

“This mission is simple,” Lin Fan raised a single finger, “kill.”

“Every last member of the Phoenix Society—none of them leave alive!”

With that, Lin Fan pushed open the car door and stepped out.

Xing Ye, Dao Wanqian, Mo Buzhi, Beimin, and Gongshu Ming all followed, faces cold and resolute as they exited the vehicle.

On the icy street, a hint of bloodlust began to spread.

The air seemed to drop a few degrees, and a black cat, sensing something, leapt abruptly from a wall and vanished into the night.

At the corner, Lin Fan looked toward the small building in the distance. “Xing Ye, you’ll infiltrate from the shadows.”

“Mo Buzhi, take the left.”

“Dao Wanqian, handle the right.”

“Gongshu Ming, go in from the back door.”

“Beimin, make sure no one escapes in the chaos.”

Everyone nodded. Dao Wanqian suddenly asked, “And you?”

“Me?” Lin Fan paused, then grinned darkly. “People of Great Xia are known for their manners. I’ll go knock on the front door and give them a proper warning.”

The others were speechless.

Lin Fan looked around, then extended a hand and said quietly, “First Deicide Squad—operation begins!”

The others placed their hands atop his.

“Operation begins!”

All at once, their arms shot upward.

“Kill!”

“None shall survive!”

In the next instant, Xing Ye’s figure melted into the darkness.

The others, meanwhile, made no attempt to conceal themselves, striding boldly toward different sides of the two-story building.

No hesitation.

Especially Lin Fan, who headed straight for the front door.

A suffocating aura of imminent violence slowly enveloped the small building.

At the same time—

Inside a secret chamber—

A white youth, who called himself Phoenix, was studying a list of names.

The room was old-fashioned, almost devoid of modern technology save for a single electric lamp and a telephone.

It resembled the chamber of a medieval noble, filled with ancient charm, a fireplace crackling quietly.

Suddenly—

The flames flickered.

Phoenix furrowed his brow, his eyes narrowing into slits that seemed to burn with fire.

“A sense of danger?” he murmured in confusion, then picked up the phone and ordered, “Lion, go see if there’s anything unusual at the door.”

Downstairs in the main hall, seven or eight young men and women were scattered about, playing cards.

A burly white youth put down the phone with a sigh, tossed his cards aside, and said, “Game’s over for now.”

“What’s up, Lion?”

“Yeah, why stop now?”

“What do you think? The boss is being paranoid again, told me to check outside for no reason.” Lion grumbled as he scratched his head and walked away. “Sure, three of the Rain trio were killed, but would Great Xia really pursue us all the way here?”

“Even if they did, they’d have to be out of their minds.”

“This is our headquarters, after all.”

Muttering, Lion made his way toward the entrance.

The others tried to console him. “Come on, three out of the Four Strong died at once. The boss has every reason to be on edge…”

Still grumbling, Lion approached the door.

But then—

He suddenly froze.

Knock, knock, knock.

A series of knocks echoed from the front door.

Lion narrowed his eyes, then smiled—no one looking to cause trouble would knock first.

Creak—

He opened the heavy wooden door to find an Asian high schooler standing outside.

The boy’s face was clean and elegant, with a gentle smile that put people at ease.

He looked nothing like a threat.

“Hey, kid,” Lion switched to English with a smile. “Need directions?”

Lin Fan smiled. “Would you like to die here? If you’re not willing, I can help you with that.”

“Hey, man, what are you saying? Are you lost?” Lion frowned and asked in English.

Lin Fan: “…”

Lion: “…”

They didn’t understand each other.

Lin Fan thought for a moment, pulled out his phone, and opened a translation app, holding it up to Lion.

Lion muttered something, and Lin Fan glanced at the screen.

“Are you lost? Tell me where you want to go and I’ll point you in the right direction. But don’t stay here too long—we don’t welcome outsiders.”

Lin Fan smiled politely, said a few words, then handed the phone to Lion.

Lion glanced at the phone.

“Not lost.”

“I’m here for the Phoenix Society—to kill.”

“Great Xia sends its regards.”

Lion looked up in shock. The boy’s smile remained gentle, but suddenly a chill rose from Lion’s soles, spreading upward.