"Why?"

"Actually, many people at the school know, but because they want to save my face, few spread it around. I am Duanmu Qingshuang's illegitimate child, an existence the Duanmu Family doesn't acknowledge.

"Do you think Duanmu Yi would let this kind of thing go? Ever since he came to Modu City Star Martial Academy, he's been proclaiming it everywhere.

"Twenty years ago, my mother was deceived by Duanmu Qingshuang's hypocrisy, thinking she had really found a man she could entrust her life to. But Duanmu Qingshuang didn't keep his promise. To inherit the position of family head, he abandoned my mother and married a woman from the Lv Family.

"In a fit of anger, my mother cut all ties with Duanmu Qingshuang and moved here alone. I've lived here for fifteen years. My mother forbids me from having any connection with the Duanmu Family. The name on my ID is my mother's surname; my real name is Mu Fanghua."

Upon hearing this, Wang Lan nearly thought Duanmu Fanghua was going to release his "shikai" or something—his real name had come out.

"Then why do you meddle in Duanmu Yi's business? Seems like you didn't listen to your mother, huh."

"If I didn't rely on the Duanmu Family, would I have the Cultivation Level of the Galaxy Stage now? Could I have been admitted to Modu City Star Martial Academy? Could I have Mr. Nangong as my master? Wang Lan, the fates of us lowly ones, you people who grew up nestled among stacks of Soul Beads, can never understand."

"Heh... Why does everyone think I'm someone born with a golden key in his mouth? Half a year ago, I was just an unknown passerby, alright.

"Soul Beads are important, but it's not impossible to obtain them through your own efforts. Anyway, all my Soul Beads were earned by me; I didn't rely on anyone's charity."

"Alright, maybe I can't win an argument against you. This is my place—take the elevator to the tenth floor.

But still, I have to ask you, please don't give anything away later."

"Okay!"

"Mom, I'm back."

"Hmm, eh? You have a friend over?"

"Hello, Auntie. I'm Senior Mu's classmate, a freshman this year."

"You child, why didn't you call me in advance if you were bringing a guest? I haven't prepared anything," Duanmu Fanghua's mother said to him, a little crossly.

"There's no need, Auntie. Fanghua and I ran into each other in the residential area, so I just came to see the place. I'll only stay for a little while."

Duanmu Fanghua's mother was a very intellectual woman. She had a problem with her legs and was in a wheelchair. She had neatly cropped short hair and wore a pair of scholarly-looking glasses.

From her skill in maneuvering the wheelchair, it was clear she had been using it for a long time.

"Sit down for a moment; I'll get you some water."

"No, no, really, please don't trouble yourself," Wang Lan quickly said, standing up.

"Mom, he's my classmate; you don't need to be so formal. Don't get up, I'll do it."

This mother-son duo was making Wang Lan feel a bit embarrassed.

The apartment didn't look large, probably around seventy to eighty square meters. It was fine if just the two of them lived there, but it might feel cramped if Duanmu Fanghua started a family later.

The decor was very retro; it looked like it had been done quite some time ago. There was no suspended ceiling, just plaster cornices overhead. The apartment wasn't large, but it was very tidy.

It seemed Duanmu Fanghua hadn't lied. He really did live in the Jinghua Mansion Residential Area.

"Senior, Auntie, really, there's no need to go to any trouble. I know where it is now; I'll come find Senior to hang out another time."

"Goodness, child, you just sat down. Why are you leaving already? Why not stay for dinner?"

"No, no, I promised to play games with some classmates. Uh... Senior, Auntie, I should be going now."

"Well... I won't keep you then. Fanghua, see your classmate out."

"I'm watching the pot..."

"I'll watch it, you go."

"No need, no need..."

Duanmu Fanghua enthusiastically walked Wang Lan to the door. Duanmu Fanghua smiled. "Don't mind her. My mom has trouble with her legs, and she's usually very lonely at home. It's rare for someone to visit, so she got a little overexcited."

"Although your mother's legs don't seem to be in good condition, at least you have a mother. I remember a song from a few years ago that put it well: 'Listen to your mother's words, don't let her get hurt.'"

Leaving this remark behind, Wang Lan's figure vanished into the elevator.

The smile on Duanmu Fanghua's face disappeared the instant the elevator doors closed on Wang Lan. He snorted coldly, turned, and re-entered his home.

At that moment, Mrs. Mu had her back to Duanmu Fanghua, calmly looking out the window.

"Have you gotten involved with the Duanmu Family again?"

"No... I haven't?" Perhaps accustomed to lying, Duanmu Fanghua uttered this falsehood naturally, his face showing no trace of guilt or unease.

"Still saying no? That classmate of yours isn't just any ordinary student. When he entered our home, he first looked at me, then scrutinized our home's decor. After seeming to confirm something, he stood up to leave."

"Mom, have you been alone at home for too long? Are you overthinking things? What are you even talking about? Isn't it normal for my classmate, when visiting our house, to observe you?

When I visit someone else's house, I also observe the host's expression to see if I'm welcome. Besides, it's normal for him to look at our decor; our house's decor is so retro, it must be quite rare."

"Am I overthinking it?"

"You're definitely overthinking it."

"Really? You've never brought a classmate home before, and now you suddenly bring someone. Those two good friends of yours from the student council, you've never brought either of them here. But this Wang Lan, I've never even heard his name, yet you bring him home? That's not like you."

"Mom, it's because I need to curry favor with him. Don't overthink it. I've really and completely cut ties with the Duanmu Family."

"You better have. I heard Duanmu Yi is dead. Don't think his death means your chance has come. Even if the Duanmu Family wants to take you in, that will have to wait until after I'm dead. I'm warning you: if you set foot in the Duanmu Family's home, I'll die to show you."

"Mom, that won't happen. Wang Lan is a much bigger 'backer' than the Duanmu Family. I'm not stupid enough to board their sinking ship."

"It's good that you understand. Now go watch the pot; be careful it doesn't burn."

「」

After Wang Lan left Duanmu Fanghua's home, the four team members were already waiting downstairs. The police had also arrived, setting up a perimeter and maintaining order.

"Captain, let's go."

"Hmm!"

The off-road vehicle started, drove out of the residential area, and onto the viaduct. It was noon. Although there weren't as many vehicles as during the evening rush hour, because it was the weekend, the viaduct was already packed with cars, bumper to bumper.

"Is the case cracked?" Suddenly, Liu Yifeng, sitting beside Wang Lan, asked as if he had risen from the dead.

"Are you still sleepwalking? It's cracked, alright. The captain executed the murderer on the spot."

"But... I feel like I didn't do anything. It's cracked just like that? It's only been a day and a half."

"What more do you want? Do we have to go through countless hardships, chasing the culprit from south to north, before you consider the case solved?" Zhang Xiao sneered from the passenger seat.

"This was too fast. This was such a tricky case. The bureau had it for nearly a month with no progress. We solved it in a day and a half? This is enough for me to brag about for a year."

"Did you solve it? The captain solved the case."

"Captain, something's not right," Yang Yang, who was driving, suddenly said. His tone was more respectful. If Yang Yang's previous tone towards Wang Lan was merely due to hierarchical duty, now, after Wang Lan had single-handedly killed a Star Sea Stage expert, Yang Yang fully acknowledged Wang Lan's strength.

In terms of military rank, Yang Yang was a Lieutenant Colonel, one rank higher than Wang Lan.

"There are four cars behind us, frequently overtaking and rapidly approaching. I suspect they're after us."

"Can you shake them?"

"I can't. There are too many cars on the viaduct. If I try to maneuver like them, I'll cause a major accident."

"Take the next ramp down. Go to a less crowded area."

"Okay!"

Yang Yang quickly turned onto the ramp. As expected, the four cars behind them followed closely down the ramp.

Perhaps the other party also didn't want to cause a scene in a crowded place. After Wang Lan's vehicle left the viaduct, they weren't pursued as aggressively, but rather followed from a distance. This continued for over ten minutes until they reached a remote area.

Wang Lan's vehicle stopped, and the four pursuing cars also stopped about a hundred meters away. Soon, another seven or eight vehicles converged from all directions, surrounding Wang Lan's off-road vehicle.

The doors of the opposing vehicles opened, and five men emerged from each car. By this estimate, well over fifty people had appeared.

"Friends, we don't want to make a big deal out of this. Just hand over the person you captured at Jinghua Mansion and whatever you took, and there'll be no trouble between us.

Moreover, each of you will receive a token of gratitude substantial enough to ensure you live comfortably for the rest of your lives. Otherwise, we'll have no choice but to ask you to die."

A deep voice emanated from one of the cars.

"Heh?" Yang Yang chuckled. "Daring to surround a Tianjian Bureau vehicle? I've been with the Tianjian Bureau for so many years and have never encountered this. Captain, what are your orders?"

"Not only have I never seen it, I've never even heard of it. What else can we do? Yifeng, Bai Xu, Zhang Xiao, stay in the car and protect the evidence. Yang Yang, you take the east, I'll take the west. Let's make it quick."

"Yes!"

Yang Yang slowly pushed the car door open. The moment it opened, his body liquefied, seemingly transforming into a silver, liquid robot. The moment Wang Lan landed, he pointed a finger straight at the sky.

Star Power surged instantly, and an Array materialized in the sky above.

"Scatter!" someone in the convoy shouted.

"Meteor Fire Rain."

His warning came too late. The moment his shout echoed, the Meteor Fire Rain was already crashing down from the sky.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—

A continuous series of explosions erupted, leaving Wang Lan's besiegers utterly dumbfounded.

Did it have to be this terrifying? Did he *really* have to go all out from the start? Even if you're a damn Star Sea Stage Star Martial Warrior, can't you act like a normal one?! An S-rank Star Martial Skill right off the bat? Is that humanly possible?!

The Meteor Fire Rain barrage killed at least seven or eight of them, and those fortunate enough to survive weren't much better off, amidst the car explosions, the fiery rain, and the billowing smoke.

This wasn't a group ganging up on one person; it was a group being completely crushed by a single individual.

But that wasn't all. After unleashing Meteor Fire Rain, Wang Lan slammed his palm on the ground. Before his opponents could even react, a compound S-rank Star Martial Skill activated.

"Earth Surge Lava."

Blazing scarlet lava erupted from the ground, instantly engulfing a fifty-meter radius in front of Wang Lan. Anyone caught within the range of the Earth Erupting Magma, unless they possessed a defensive Star Martial Skill, was swallowed by the searing molten rock.

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