Ling Cage: I am a spiritual master, devouring source matter to become a god.

Jing Yuan stared at Lorif. Time was of the essence, and Jing Yuan unconsciously released his mental energy.

"Say!"

A powerful mental force surged into Lorif's mind, instantly dimming the light in his eyes and weakening his resolve. "Fine! I'll talk!"

"This mission is a reward assigned to me by the guild leader!"

"What's the reward?"

"During the last ground-based data collection mission, I brought back the medicine that the Chief needed!"

Upon hearing the word "reward," Ran Bing immediately understood that this mission was nothing more than a transaction.

She was merely a tool to be used.

Jing Yuan delivered another punch, knocking Loriev unconscious.

Seeing Loriev knocked unconscious, Ran Bing asked in confusion, "Why did you have to beat him up like this?"

"I need testimony!"

The sudden change left Ran Bing completely bewildered.

Jing Yuan looked towards the entrance of the Dawn Hall and scanned it with his spiritual power, discovering a dazzling aura rushing towards him.

Jingyuan paused for a moment, then laughed, "Mark should be fighting Big Dog Sharif right now, he'll be here soon. When he confesses to you later, don't agree to be with him too quickly, let that kid experience how you felt this afternoon!"

Jing Yuan's uninhibited teasing made Ran Bing blush.

"Alright, you wait here for Mark! I'll hide for a bit and come out when you're done!" With that, Jing Yuan walked towards a corner of the Dawn Hall.

Chapter 93 Two choices

After a while, Mark, covered in wounds, rushed into the Dawn Hall.

Mark was also shocked to see the priest lying on the ground in the hall, but his biggest concern right now was Ran Bing's condition.

Mark walked to Ran Bing's side and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, I only now realize what Hong Kou was swearing to protect with her life."

"Are you that free?" Ran Bing said softly, "Have the Devouring Beasts been eliminated? Is the ground safe? Don't you need to guard the lighthouse anymore?"

Mark was taken aback; these were the words he had said when he rejected Ran Bing.

"I'm afraid of losing you just like I lost Hongkou!"

Mark then knelt down on one knee, took out a small flower, and confessed to Ran Bing: "Ran Bing, are you willing to restore our old family relationship?"

"Come with me, leave the lighthouse! Let's go to the surface and start our own families!"

Mark uttered a series of romantic words of confession.

Jingyuan listened from the side, feeling that even though he had watched the animation, he couldn't have said such a thing.

Mark is a real hidden talent!

"Ran Bing, are you willing?"

"I am willing!"

The two embraced in the golden hall, weeping with joy.

Seeing this, Jingyuan knew it was his turn to step forward. So he slowly walked out and deliberately coughed.

"Cough cough!"

Mark looked puzzled and shocked when he saw Jing Yuan come out.

"Jingyuan, what are you doing here?"

Jing Yuan shook his head and sighed, "Why am I here? Of course, it's to help you two star-crossed lovers!"

Jingyuan's words caught Mark off guard.

"Mark, do you remember what I told you before?"

Mark looked blank. "I remember, but what does that have to do with you being here?"

“You don’t remember!” Jing Yuan retorted, repeating, “I told you, your relationship with Charles is irreconcilable. If you don’t kill him, he will kill you!”

Mark looked serious.

"Do you really think that Ran Bing's visit to the Dawn Hall today was just a routine task assignment?"

"What do you mean?"

“Mark, after all this trouble, you must have figured it out by now!” Jing Yuan looked at Mark. “You want to protect Ran Bing! But you barged in this way, do you know what will happen?”

"Of course I know."

"No! You don't know!" Jing Yuan said directly, "Ever since Lord Morgan announced that you would succeed him as city lord, Charles has wanted nothing more than to tear you apart! Everything that happened here today was Charles's conspiracy. This breeding mission today was orchestrated by Charles, who deliberately arranged for Ran Bing to be the target! His target is you!"

Upon hearing this, Mark's pupils dilated in surprise. He was a smart man; how could he not understand the implications?

“I know Charles wants to be the city lord. Since he wants it so much, let him have it. All I need is to be with the one I love!”

Jingyuan shook his head and said, "Do you think Charles would let you go down to the surface alive?"

Mark fell silent; he still didn't believe Charles would kill him!

In the original story, Mark was betrayed by a Dustman because he never imagined that someone could be so ruthless.

He thought too highly of these people.

Jingyuan continued, "Things have come to this point. Mark, you need to make a decision!"

What decision do you want me to make?

Jingyuan pointed to the gate and said, "Two choices. First, I'll go with you to break out. We'll first storm the armory, seize the gravity body and armored vehicles, then storm the elevator platform, and finally, we'll venture to the surface together!"

Why are you doing all this with me?

“Not just me, but Penny, Mo Cheng, Erica, and even Xuefeng and the others, all have to go down with us. You, Mark, ran away! Those of us close to you who stay on the lighthouse will only become targets for Charles’s venting of his anger.”

"I stormed the Dawn Hall by myself, you don't need to come with me!"

"What's the second option?" Ran Bing asked Jing Yuan before Mark could.

The ground is teeming with Devouring Beasts; how long could one survive down there?

Jingyuan looked at the two of them and said, "My second option is that I accompany you both out. I will go to the city lord to defend you and expose what Charles has done. If nothing unexpected happens, we should be able to clear our names about tonight's events. However..."

"But what?" Ran Bing asked with a worried look.

Jingyuan stared at Mark. "Mark, regardless of the outcome of the defense, I need your promise that you must succeed as the city lord. Before sunrise tomorrow, there will only be one city lord on the lighthouse, and that is you, Mark!"

"You want to stage a coup?" Mark understood Jingyuan's meaning.

"Otherwise, what are you planning to do? You stormed into the Dawn Hall to save Ran Bing today! What about tomorrow? What about the day after tomorrow?"

Charles has already made his move. If you don't seize this opportunity to slap him to death, he'll cause you more trouble!

Today it's Ran Bing, what about tomorrow? It could be Mo Cheng, Xue Feng, or someone else. He'll target anyone you care about, one after another!

Furthermore, you need to understand that Charles's greatest asset is his father, the city lord. If you, Mark, weren't the city lord today, you couldn't protect anyone, you couldn't even protect yourself!

The hall was silent at dawn.

Mark remained silent, while Ran Bing looked at him with concern.

Jingyuan was panting heavily.

If Mark is too soft-hearted, then they'll have no choice but to venture out onto the ground.

Without the lighthouse as a refuge, the danger and difficulty would be much greater!

Mark looked at Jing Yuan and asked, "I did it for Ran Bing, but what about you?"

Jingyuan stared at Mark, "So that we can have love in this apocalypse!"

Mark's resolve softened, and he made his decision.

Mark, holding Ran Bing's hand, looked at Jing Yuan together. "Okay! I promise you!"

"Okay! Let's go!"

……

Outside Lord Morgan's room on the top floor of the lighthouse.

Charles has been waiting here for his "good news".

After Mark stormed into the Hall of Dawn and successfully dealt with the large dog Sharif, a priest rushed to report the news to Charles.

Charles immediately informed Lord Morgan of the news.

"This is utterly absurd!" Lord Morgan exclaimed in anger, unable to hold back his cough.

"Bring him here!" Lord Morgan ordered.

“Father!” Charles said with a worried look, “Many citizens witnessed Mark storming the Hall of Dawn, and this matter can no longer be kept secret. Given the current situation, handling it privately is not appropriate. I suggest convening a council meeting, which will give Captain Mark a chance to defend himself and also provide an explanation to the people.”

Morgan did want to handle it privately, but Charles had already considered this possibility, so a council meeting was necessary.

But Morgan still wanted to protect Mark because he knew Mark's identity was special, and he knew Mark was the hope of the beacon.

The lighthouse has been floating in the sky for decades, but there's no guarantee it won't float for another few decades.