In this cyberpunk era, why are you still playing the traditional villain?

After all, they were childhood sweethearts, and there were some feelings that even he couldn't describe. Even when they were hiding outside the city, he would often comfort himself, saying that the other party was just temporarily bewitched by Xu Shi, and that when the day came for him to strike back, there was a possibility that they could reconcile.

But this was nothing more than self-consolation. Whether it was Xia Wuyou's act of personally capturing his sister or her obedient attitude towards Xu Shi, it was like a blow to the head, shattering the last illusion in his heart.

It was obvious that Xia Wuyou was no longer the person he remembered; he had completely transformed into Xu Shi's form.

More importantly, he no longer has any chance to make a comeback.

Last time he was able to escape by chance thanks to the "beacon," but not this time—the moment he surrendered for his sister's sake, his greatest reliance had already fallen into Xu Shi's hands.

It felt like he had only just realized that he had reached a dead end, and once he realized that, he could no longer remain calm.

Even just seeing Xu Shi and Xia Wuyou so intimate made him feel like he was going crazy. He felt frustrated, angry, jealous... all sorts of emotions intertwined, and cursing was the only way he could vent his emotions.

Unfortunately, that bastard Xu Shi wouldn't even give him this much power. Before he could finish speaking, Xu Shi raised his cane and struck him hard in the chest, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood uncontrollably.

"You're so noisy."

Xu Shi glanced at him disdainfully, "She's a slut just because she doesn't want to be with you? You think too highly of yourself. She's the biggest fool to be with you."

Xia Wuyou could only sigh helplessly upon hearing this. To be honest, she wasn't angry at Shen He for saying that, but just like last time, she felt quite disappointed by his every move.

But in the end, any girl would be unhappy to be said that to her. Fortunately, Xu Shi did not ignore her feelings. In her opinion, he was helping her vent her anger.

This touched Xia Wuyou a little, and made her feel sweet inside—although her experiences over the years had made her quite strong, it didn't mean she didn't want to be cared for, especially by someone she liked.

Hmm, should I reward him tonight? It's not too late to buy him new clothes, is it...?

"You bastard, I'm going to kill you..."

Shen He was already in poor condition, and this attack made him even more dizzy, but he still gritted his teeth and stared at the two of them with all his might.

"It would be ridiculous to say something you can't do."

Xu Shi didn't take it to heart, and just looked at him leisurely and smiled, "Actually, do you know? Your actions reminded me of a story."

"There was an old man who always wanted to invent a tool that allowed people to drink tea directly. After many years of trying, he finally managed to make one, but he spat it all out on his first sip because the water was too hot."

He started telling the story like a storyteller, "Then he was not satisfied, so he made improvements and created a second version, but found that it still didn't work."

"Then he kept trying despite repeated failures, adjusting this and that, and if it didn't work the first time, he tried the second or third time. He did it for more than ten years without giving up."

"This spirit is admirable, but he overlooked the most crucial issue—drinking boiling water directly is something that humans cannot do."

"Tell me, don't you look alike with this old melon man?"

Anyway, that's how he felt about Shen He's mental journey—the first failure was one thing, but his subsequent actions were definitely stubbornness, completely disregarding the fact that he was constantly throwing himself against a rock, a fact that no amount of planning could change.

It was no surprise that he ended up like this.

In fact, he had to admit that Shen He was capable. If he hadn't insisted on fighting to the death with him and had instead settled down and developed his career in Sin City, he might have achieved something great.

Or if he had chosen to submit to me, the outcome would certainly be different now.

It's a pity he was so stubborn. He could have become a great inventor, but in the end he could only become a comedian.

"Heath Ledger observed your life to prepare for the role of the Joker.jpg"

It was indeed quite funny. At least Xia Wuyou couldn't help but chuckle at Xu Shi's bizarre analogy. Even Su Lin, who was usually serious, couldn't help but burst out laughing when she thought of the image of scalding an old man with boiling water.

Faced with such humiliation, what could Shen He do? He could only selectively block out these words to make himself feel a little better.

"Alright, it's time to hit the road, Shen Bao."

Xu Shi cleared his throat and cocked his cane. "If I keep talking, I'll become the villain who dies from talking too much."

"...Xu Shi, stop!"

Just then, an angry shout was heard.

Perhaps seeing her brother being humiliated, Shen Qin, who was standing to the side, somehow regained her senses and desperately lunged at him.

With her abilities restricted, she naturally couldn't do anything, and simply fell to the ground in a very cute way.

"Don't rush, Nan Qian, oh no, Miss Shen Qin."

Xu Shi smiled faintly and sighed, "After him, it's your turn. Don't cut in line."

"You...you let my brother go!"

Shen Qin struggled to her feet, glared at him, and said through gritted teeth, "If you want to kill someone, just kill me. I'll take the blame for whatever crime you commit!"

"Xiaoqin!"

Shen He was naturally unwilling upon hearing this. He was touched that his sister had said that, but he was not going to do it just to save his life.

"Wow, what a touching scene of brother and sister affection."

Xu Shi couldn't help but clap his hands, and didn't forget to pat Xia Wuyou's buttocks, "Learn from this."

"...I don't know who turned me into the person I am now."

Xia Wuyou trembled and subconsciously let out a coquettish cry.

She really wanted to bite Xu Shi to death. He had just said he would reward him tonight, but what a load of rubbish!

"To be honest, I am deeply moved by Miss Shen Qin's selflessness."

Xu Shi selectively ignored her and instead looked at Shen Qin, who was barely able to stand, "But you two were going to die anyway, so saying this won't change anything."

"After all, negotiations are based on equality. You have nothing to offer right now... Or perhaps you do have something else?"

He seemed to have changed his mind, put away his cane, and looked at her with interest.

Shen Qin really wished there was a million-strong army outside, just waiting for her to give the order to raze this place to the ground, but unfortunately, just as Xu Shi said, no matter what she said or did, it was all in vain.

but.

From the other person's tone, she seemed to detect a sliver of room for negotiation.

"As long as you let my brother go, I... I'll do whatever you want."

Unable to gauge Xu Shi's attitude, Shen Qin could only say, "Even if... even my body, you can..."

"Xiao Qin! No!"

Shen He roared desperately, "One Xia Wuyou is enough. If I lose my sister too, it will be meaningless for me to survive."

"Even in your current state, I can still do whatever I want with your body, right?"

Xu Shi spread his hands and said, "But I do have a small question I'd like to ask you. If you answer it well, I might give you a chance."

"……go ahead."

Shen Qin swallowed hard and said seriously.

"You have two superpowers, right?"

Xu Shi slowly said, "The overt physical enhancement and the hidden super self-healing... I'm very curious how you can withstand it? Is it a mutation during awakening, or have you mastered some special technology?"

!

Shen Qin was startled, wondering if he had noticed after all.

I thought he hadn't noticed before... It seems nothing escapes his eyes.

Ugh.

This was her biggest secret, but given the current situation, she couldn't care less. After thinking for a moment, she said dejectedly, "...As you guessed, my self-healing was transplanted."

"Be specific."

Xu Shi's eyes lit up; it was exactly as he had imagined.

Through the other party's reluctant narration, he finally learned the whole story.

Just like the formula of old-fashioned wish-fulfillment novels, not only does the protagonist have incredible luck, but this "long-lost relative" also has her own destiny - the technology related to superpower transplantation is a project that an old senior who took her in when she was stranded with the "Forgotten Ones" had been researching all his life.

A few years later, the old man passed away, and the relevant things came into her hands.

After awakening her superpower, the aftereffects of "Blood Burning Release" almost rendered her completely useless. In desperation, she took a risk and found a suitable superpower user to transplant their ability into herself, thus solving the problem of complications once and for all.

It was described as taking a risk because the project was far from perfect, with a success rate of less than one percent... but in any case, she succeeded.

She didn't tell even Shen He, let alone her former subordinates, about this—mainly because the technology of the "Forgotten Ones" couldn't be further improved upon. Her original idea was that if she could counterattack Xu Shi, it wouldn't be too late to bring it up then.

Who would have thought that in the end, they would have to do this to gamble on even the slightest possibility of survival?

"interesting."

Xu Shi nodded. "What about the relevant documents? Miss Shen Qin should still have them, right?"

"I have a necklace that you should have; all the things inside are stored in it."

Shen Qin said helplessly, "If I stubbornly refuse to tell them, they'll probably be able to find out anyway."

"Go and look for it quickly."

Xu Shi gestured to Su Lin, who immediately left to go look for it.

"That's how things are. Now... can you spare my brother's life?"

Shen Qin gritted her teeth, pinning her hopes on Xu Shi's ambiguous promise from earlier.

"Don't worry, if I say there's a chance, then there definitely will be."

Xu Shi didn't answer her question, but crossed his arms and glanced at her. "But you really don't care about your own life or death? I think given your brother's personality, he probably wouldn't abandon you to live on, would he?"

Shen He certainly wouldn't do that, or rather, after saying that, he wouldn't have the face to do it.

"It's none of her business. Let her go if you want."

He stood in front of Shen Qin, saying, "Let's settle our score; it has nothing to do with her!"

"See, I told you so."

Xu Shi sighed and took out the "beacon" from his inner pocket, waving it in front of the Shen siblings.

"Anyway, only one of you can leave here. Discuss it and then tell me, okay?"

Guess who will be released; bets are 1 to 1 at the opening.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 178 If I can't win your heart, then I'll win you over first.