Ark Chess Player

"Gentlemen, let's leave for now."

Wei Yanwu warned the officials of the Dali Temple.

The officials from the Dali Temple weren't being pretentious. Anyone with eyes could see that the fire was already started, and if they didn't get away at this point, they were practically courting death.

The twelve Heavenly Stems, clad in black, appeared all around, forming a grand formation. This was not to defeat the enemy, but to prevent Wei Gong from dismantling the Dragon Gate.

"I haven't made a move in a long time, I almost forgot... I'm still a Grand Master of the Palace."

Wei Yanwu took off his luxurious clothes, revealing a short-sleeved outfit.

His battle-hardened body was covered in scars, and his strong muscles strained against his inner armor, giving him the appearance of a warrior.

"Come!"

Wei Yanwu drew his sword and pointed it directly at Lin Lü, but suddenly a sword aura pierced through the air and disappeared.

If Chen Huijie had been there, perhaps she could have gained a lot of insight. While she was still trying to control the Crimson Sky Sword, Wei Yanwu had already transformed the essence of the imperial weapon into true energy, and in the blink of an eye, he unleashed the pinnacle of the Crimson Sky Sword Intent.

Lin Lu hovered high in the sky, his fiery red greatsword slashing downwards. His swordsmanship was simple and unadorned, but a terrifying killing intent descended.

The Crimson Sky Sword Aura collided with the Slaughter Sword, producing a deafening roar and creating a shockwave in mid-air.

The sword in Wei Yanwu's hand was ultimately not Chixiao; the unrestrained sword intent was shattered and directly defeated by the frenzied killing intent.

Sword energy rained down like a sudden downpour, and the next moment, Lin Lu's figure swooped down, descending with a blaze of light.

The fiery red greatsword left a dazzling trail in the air. Wei Yanwu, who was parrying with his sword, was mercilessly sent flying through the dust. He felt his arms go numb in an instant, and the Dragon-Slaying Sword trembled violently, unable to withstand the monstrous force. However, Lin Lu had no intention of giving Wei Yanwu a chance to catch his breath, attacking with sword after sword. Runes flowed across his armor, and all sorts of spells bloomed.

Wei Yanwu silently blocked all of Lin Lu's sword techniques, and even as the clothes on his arms were torn by the impact, he never relaxed. The two figures flew swiftly like lightning towards the edge of the Jiazi barrier set up by the Twelve Heavenly Stems in the black raincoat, smashing the buildings in Longmen City along the way to pieces.

"Old Wei, Old Wei, although you've always been very polite and impeccable, you look much better now than before." Lin Lu punched Wei Yanwu in the nose during a brief pause in his sword swing, sending Wei Yanwu's head flying back. Lin Lu laughed, "No matter how luxurious your clothes are, they can't hide your true nature, so why bother putting on airs!"

The swordsmanship and close combat were perfectly combined, and Wei Yanwu was beaten so badly by Lin Lu that he was powerless to fight back. He was already doing well to block the greatsword that flowed like molten lava and flames, and he didn't even have a chance to speak. He didn't expect that Lin Lu would not only kill him but also destroy his spirit.

"Luring the enemy deep? Inviting them into a trap? What are you thinking? What other trump cards do you have left? Come, let me count them. Are four hundred Black-Clad Warriors your trump card? Are those useless fusion materials from the Imperial Observatory also your trump card? Or are you planning to have those people from the Court of Judicial Review come and help clean up the mess? Ah, I see, the True Martial Division, a thousand meters away from Dragon Gate. I remember them, they were quite obedient and easy to use. But do you have a commander of my caliber? Don't say I look down on you, you're at most one and a half Mephistopheles."

"is it?"

This time, Wei Yanwu did not retreat. The Dragon Slayer Sword and the Lava Greatsword were locked together, sparks flying everywhere. Wei Yanwu's legs were pressed into the ground, leaving marks. The destructive forces were evenly matched, and cracks in the ground extended outward from the two of them.

"but!"

A mocking smile slowly crept onto Wei Yanwu's lips: "Isn't Rhodes Island also a partner of Lungmen?"

"Since you don't intend to regard Rhodes Island as a simple and naive infected rights organization with a certain level of military strength..." Lin Lu shook off Wei Yanwu's Dragon Slayer Sword, pressed the central core of the Ark Driver, and launched a fierce and vicious Knight Kick towards Wei Yanwu's chest!

Lin Lu roared, "Then how the hell did you dare to mess with me?!"

Wei Yanwu crossed his arms in front of his chest, unleashing a torrent of true energy in an attempt to parry the attack, but this was destined to be futile.

As if in slow motion, Wei Yanwu's arms twisted in a strange direction, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace, collapsing in a roar of defiance. He tried to resist, but in less than ten seconds, he was sent flying backward. If the Black-Cloaked Warriors hadn't timely converted the characteristics of the Jiazi Formation and continuously adjusted the spatial plane, Wei Yanwu would have crashed into the barrier, suffering either death or serious injury.

Wei Yanwu landed heavily, the Dragon-Slaying Sword slipping from his grasp and disappearing somewhere. He lay sprawled on the ground, vomiting blood, his breath weak and labored, barely able to exhale. He looked utterly wretched, bearing none of the composure of a ruler.

Perhaps it's because of his status, perhaps it's because he's been winning, or perhaps it's because he has other trump cards up his sleeve.

Wei Yanwu never placed Rhodes Island in a very high position; he only regarded it as a business partner.

To put it bluntly, Rhodes Island is just a temporary domestic worker for Lungmen.

Please help clean up some trash in Longmen. Once the trash is cleaned up, the housekeeper should leave.

This is the opinion of the vast majority of people in Longmen, with only a few exceptions.

"Haven't you tasted the earth in a long time, so you've become arrogant?"

Lin Lu shook his head, like a homeroom teacher feeling helpless towards a student who gets so excited about getting a good grade by chance.

"Hiss."

Strands of crimson sword energy flowed across the leg armor, marks left by Wei Yanwu's earlier defense against the knight's kick.

Lin Lu suddenly stomped on the ground, shattering the sword energy and reducing it to nothing.

"Since Lungmen never needed our help in the first place, I hereby declare the termination of the contract, and Rhodes Island withdraws from Lungmen. Rhodes Island has also fulfilled its obligations, so all other conditions attached to the contract are null and void upon termination."

Lin Lu spun the dust on the ground, his icy gaze sweeping over Wei Yanwu. He said calmly, "I have absolutely no interest in your inaction, but listen to this: next time, if you dare to mess with my people again, this city will be run by someone else! And you lot, if you enjoy watching this so much, then watch!"

Lin Lu gripped the fiery red greatsword with both hands, unleashing a sharp sword light. The sword shattered, transforming into a sharp intent that soared into the sky.

The Jiazi formation formed by the twelve Heavenly Stems in the black cloak shattered instantly, and streaks of blazing light engulfed each of them, turning them to ashes on the spot.

This is a warning.

A warning to Wei Yanwu.

Lin Lu casually tossed the shattered greatsword away, where it turned to dust and vanished before turning and leaving.

Wei Yanwu remained where he was, his hair disheveled, staring at Lin Lu's retreating figure, lost in thought.

Chapter 434 The Sword That Rifts Clouds

"How pathetic you look."

Standing in front of Wei Yanwu, Chen Huijie looked at his current defeated and pathetic appearance, and she couldn't help but want to laugh.

"Did you come here specifically to make fun of me?"

Wei Yanwu showed no sign of anger; even though he was covered in wounds and barely clothed, he still smiled.

Affordable, put it down.

It's not like we haven't lost before.

"Haven't you tasted the earth in a long time, so you've become arrogant?"

Lin Lu's words echoed in Wei Yanwu's mind, and he had to admit that the other party was right.

Wei Yanwu kept winning, and it seemed that after he captured Longmen and drove Kosichek out, he was intoxicated by the illusion of victory. He had unknowingly forgotten the simple principle of being prepared for danger in times of peace.

"No, I'm here to resign."

"……Why?"

Wei Yanwu asked, puzzled.

Chen Huijie took a deep breath and looked directly at Wei Yanwu.

“I originally thought that as long as we defeated the Reunion Movement and reunited all the people of Lungmen, we would be able to overcome all difficulties. This city should not be like this. I have personally experienced and witnessed Lungmen’s journey from nothing to where it is today. I remember that day when I knew that my memory was getting worse and worse because of Oripathy, so I would recall what happened that night every time I went to sleep.”

That night, there was no moon, only a few stars.

"Kosichrie grabbed my sister Talulah and stood on the other side of the broken bridge."

"You were there too, you were on the opposite side of Kosiché, and behind you..."

Chen Huijie slowly raised her hand, pointing to the black-clad figures who had silently gathered behind Wei Yanwu.

These are Wei Yanwu's private soldiers, and also his loyal followers.

Even with twenty-four men killed in action, the Black-Cloaked Soldiers could still receive endless replenishment.

"You could have had a better way to deal with the Reunion Movement, but you'd rather watch your Riflemen brothers die than send out these cloak-wearing bastards. Lungmen Type 99 Defense Plan? This is a *Lungmen swear word* defense plan, this is a purge plan! You want to clean up the entire slums, or even destroy them! That spoiled brat Alexander Swell did a better job than you, at least he didn't disappoint others' expectations of him!"

Chen Huijie laughed, self-deprecatingly saying, "Because the infected aren't considered citizens of Lungmen? Because they lack the ability to integrate into the skyscrapers you've built? Or are you just treating them as freebies? Wei Yanwu, I'm tired of you and your city, this city that's all show and no substance... I'm already fed up with you. When you allowed the Black Cloak and the Astronomical Bureau's sorcerers to indiscriminately slaughter any living person in the slums, I no longer belonged to this city."

"Chen Huijie, you know almost nothing about what I've done for Longmen! Don't argue with me about right and wrong at this time!"

Wei Yanwu's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, and an invisible dragon's might emanated from him. He lowered his voice to prevent his emotions from exploding.

Who is right and who is wrong?

Facing Wei Yanwu's intimidating presence, Chen Huijie stepped forward with composure, proving through her actions that she would never yield.

"I see. In your eyes, they did nothing wrong."

Wei Yanwu laughed, so angry he laughed out loud. He sat cross-legged on the ground, slapped his hand, and shouted, "Then tell me, where did the Reunion Movement choose to infiltrate, and from where did they infiltrate this city? You trust the residents of the slums, but do they trust you in the same way? Besides the five informants you secretly cultivated, has any slum resident reported to the Guard Bureau the fact that 'Reunion Movement infected people are infiltrating the slums'?"

"..."

Chen Huijie fell silent.

"Have you received even a single piece of intelligence from the public?"

Wei Yanwu slapped his thigh and demanded, "Answer me, yes or no?"

“…No.” Chen Huijie practically spat out the answer through clenched teeth.

"Yes, no, not a single message, not a single person. No one believes you, and no one believes us. They would rather trust those thugs from the Reunion Movement, or the mysterious organization from which we have yet to gather any information, than trust the Lungmen Guard Bureau that provides them with the means to survive."

Chen was still somewhat unwilling to give up, struggling to say, "Perhaps it was the Reunion Movement that forced them—"

"Do you even believe such baseless claims yourself?" Wei Yanwu raised his voice, his sharp gaze sweeping over Chen Huijie. "I believe you haven't forgotten what happened in the slums not long ago. Over three hundred Lungmen university students, under the guise of 'Lungmen freshmen,' wantonly slaughtered residents in the slums. I didn't let a single one of them go, even though their potential value far exceeded that of the slum residents. This is Lungmen's fairness, but what has Lungmen's fairness and justice gained? It has resulted in the Reunion Movement's infected channel being built right here in the slums!!"

Wei Yanwu's voice was like thunder. Even though he was now disheveled and looked slovenly, he was still the person in charge of this city.

"You can question me, you can deny me, but have you considered the consequences if Lungmen were to lose this war? It would be a scene of utter devastation, rivers of blood, far worse than it is now! The slums you've poured all your efforts into protecting have become Lungmen's weakness, and could very well become its downfall. Chernobog is a prime example. I've never underestimated the Reunion Movement's infiltration capabilities. If Lungmen falls because of this, then they are the culprits! It's not that Lungmen rejected them, but that they abandoned Lungmen! I must deal with these mistakes!"

Wei Yanwu's complete set of boxing techniques left Chen Huijie speechless.

Because he was telling the truth.

In the end, Lungmen won, but the price of victory was heavy casualties among the residents of the slums. The residents of Lungmen city were almost unharmed… no, there were still sacrifices: the people's heroes who died in the war, and… the Guards officers that Hei Suo slaughtered to protect Chen Huijie's identity. Those people died meaninglessly, simply because they knew information they shouldn't have known, and were brutally erased from this world.

"you're right."

"Huijie, I'm glad you understand my good intentions..."

Wei Yanwu breathed a sigh of relief, but to his surprise, Chen Huijie took off half of her coat the next second, leaving the Originium crystal on her shoulder exposed to the air, completely abandoning any attempt to conceal it.

“In that case, I am also the mistake you mentioned, because I am infected,” she said calmly.

"you--"

“For three years, you have kept my identity as an infected person a secret from others, at all costs, even killing my police officers. Now, there is no place for infected people in this city, so there shouldn’t be for me either. I don’t belong here, and I have things to do.”

"Superintendent Chen."

"No longer."

Chen Huijie took off the badge from the Security Bureau and carefully placed it on the ground.

Enraged, Wei Yanwu roared, "Take her down!"

The men in black cloaks swarmed forward, and the leader advised, "Superintendent Chen, it's not too late to go back now."