The thick scent of blood spread throughout the room, making the old lady feel nauseous and wanting to vomit.

Shang Xiulin quickly transferred a flow of Yin Yang Qi to his wife, helping her calm the turbulence within her body.

Silence.

Silence was what enveloped Luoxia Lake tonight.

Everyone's eyes were wide as they stared at the horrific scene before them.

He Changle, who had been alive and vibrant just moments ago, now lay in a bloody disfigurement on the Moon Gold Stone floor.

He was beyond recognition.

He Changle was the head of the second department, responsible for the entire Monitoring Bureau's intelligence collection and organization, a position of great power...

Besides Director Yan Wenli and two vice-directors who barely intervened, only a few department heads held significant power.

Killed over a simple disagreement?

Moreover, the person who killed him was a deputy head of the fifth department...

Was Yan Jinnian not planning to get through this?

She was the Director's goddaughter, the most trusted person in the Monitoring Bureau.

Had she even betrayed the Director?

Everyone instinctively moved closer to Yan Wenli, using their bodies to protect him.

Fearful that Yan Jinnian might fire at Yan Wenli...

This woman was now capable of anything.

Yan Wenli's pupils shrank as he shifted his gaze from the corpse at his feet and stared at Yan Jinnian, asking, "Do you know what you're doing?"

"I know," Yan Jinnian answered expressionlessly.

"Once this bullet is fired... there's no turning back."

"I never planned to turn back."

"So... what's the reason?" Yan Wenli asked solemnly, "I'm not asking as the Director of the Supervision Institute but as a father... I want to know, why?"

Yan Wenli knew that Yan Jinnian was cold yet deeply emotional.

She had no relatives and very few friends.

Yet, those who could reach her heart were greatly valued by her.

She had always been extremely dependent and respectful towards her foster father, always obedient.

Unless there was a major incident, she would never do something like this.

Yan Jinnian paused briefly, then looked at Yan Wenli and said, "My last name isn't Yan, it's originally Nie... right?"

Yan Wenli's expression stiffened, then he let out a resigned sigh, "No wonder, no wonder... you already knew."

"Murdering someone's entire family and then adopting their daughter... What were you thinking?" Yan Jinnian looked directly into Yan Wenli's eyes and asked.

"People in the martial world can't control everything," Yan Wenli's eyes flashed with pain, but without much remorse, "You've been working at the Monitoring Bureau for many years; you should understand this principle."

Yan Jinnian understood.

People in the martial world can't control everything.

Nor can they in the officialdom.

Those who you're ordered to kill, you have to kill.

The tasks you're ordered to perform, you must do.

Understanding is one thing, accepting is another.

After all, those killed were her own parents and family.

When Tang Fei revealed that information to her, she was shocked and astounded.

Her father, Nie Weilin, was an intelligence officer under Emperor Marshal Tang Li, and after being captured by the Supervision Institute, he refused to betray Tang Li and frame him, leading to his torture until death.

Her mother and the Nie family clan were also killed due to Nie Weilin's non-cooperation.

Yan Jinnian, not even three years old at the time, was sent to an orphanage.

No, she was then called Nie Xiaowan.

Later, for some unknown reasons, Yan Wenli took her from the orphanage, raised her himself, and gradually she grew up to become the leader of the Black Knights.

He entrusted to her the most core and powerful armed force of the Supervision Bureau.

"An eye for an eye, a debt for a debt," Yan Jinnian said coldly, "You killed my family, I kill you... It's fair."

"It is fair," Yan Wenli nodded, then added, "But, just you alone... if you wish to seek revenge, it's probably not going to be easy."

While speaking, a silver needle, about a foot long, flew out from his sleeve, aimed straight at Yan Jinnian's face.

He was well aware of Yan Jinnian's capabilities.

Until now, she was merely at the level of a Superior Tongyou.

It wouldn't be easy for her to take him down.

As long as he could control Yan Jinnian, the immediate crisis would be resolved.

Cold Heart Needle!

One strike, and both body and heart would feel the chill.

This was Yan Wenli's secret weapon.

Yan Wenli rarely used weapons, and hardly anyone knew what weapons he was skilled with.

Even whether he was a Cultivator and what cultivation realm he was at was unknown.

Once he secured his position as the Director of the Supervision Institute, there was even less need for him to engage in combat; he only needed to command from the central hub.

For any formidable person, didn't the Supervision Bureau have a group of protectors?

Grandmaster Ye Shenyi was merely one among them.

This was the first time in twenty years that he used the needle.

And the target was his own foster daughter whom he had raised from childood.

The irony of it all.

The Cold Heart Needle, carrying a chilling aura, flew towards Yan Jinnian's head, the surrounding air visibly frosting.

Fast!

As fast as lightning!

A strike would turn a body into an ice sculpture instantly.

Yan Jinnian stood still, not moving.

As if forgetting to dodge or not knowing how to.

She still held the Pulse Gun in her hand.

Trying to block the Cold Heart Needle with the Energy Bullet from the Pulse Gun was extremely difficult.

A cannon is hardly effective against a mosquito.

Clank!

Silver brilliance shimmered.

Illuminating the entire room as bright as daylight.

The masked man, who had been quietly standing behind Yan Jinnian, stepped forward, drew his sword from its sheath, and with a swipe, sent the Cold Heart Needle flying before it could pierce Yan Jinnian's skull.

Clang!

The Cold Heart Needle stuck into the wall, buzzing loudly.

Yan Wenli's gaze fell on the man's face, covered by the Yin Yang Fish mask, and he asked, "Who are you?"

The masked man sheathed his sword and said, "Chui Xue, Ling Yunxiao."

"Hah..." Yan Wenli was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, saying, "No wonder you suddenly disappeared, alive yet unseen, dead without a trace... I didn't expect you to have joined my Inspection Bureau Black Riders."

His gaze shifted to Yan Jinnian's face and he asked, "You've been preparing for this moment for a long time, haven't you?"

"Since I knew my own identity."

"Ling Yunxiao joined the Black Riders... If I'm not mistaken, you must have purged the Black Riders thoroughly, right?" asked Yan Wenli.

Due to his excessive trust in Yan Jinnian, he had hardly interfered with the internal adjustments of the Black Riders.

Now, it seemed the Black Riders only recognized Yan Jinnian and were unaware of their Director of the Supervision Institute, Yan Wenli.

Yan Jinnian did not respond to this question.

She whistled, and a large number of Black Riders armed with Pulse Guns rushed into the courtyard.

Above them, more Black Riders enveloped the small courtyard from a high vantage point.

Numerous beams of light rained down on the courtyard, creating multiple red spots on the ground.

Densely packed like brilliant stars.

All it would take was a single command from the leader, and their diverse weapons could flatten the courtyard.

Yan Wenli looked at the light spots inside the courtyard and sighed lightly, "One reaps what one sows, beyond redemption."

It was unclear whether he was lamenting his own life or criticizing the lax attitude of the Black Riders.

He looked at Yan Jinnian, fully able to accept his own defeat.

"Come on, I owe my life to you."

Yan Jinnian aimed her Pulse Gun at Yan Wenli's chest, but she hesitated to pull the trigger.

Yan Wenli smiled and said, "Didn't you just say it? A life for a life, debt for a debt."

"Come on, kill me... It will relieve your heart's hatred, and I'll repay the kindness I've received."

"He wants you to live."

"I, however, think death would be easier."

------

Phoenix Palace.

Zhong Tianyi's expression was one of great alarm.

He hadn't expected his father, even poisoned, to still have the strength to counterattack.

What's more... he hadn't expected his target would be himself.

Father and son...

Let's not talk about that now.

Where's Chen Fenglei?

That old fellow was right beside them; how could he be ignored?

Zhong Tianyi was unfamiliar with Martial Arts, nor had he ever had the chance to sense the Yin Yang Qi and become a Cultivator.

Due to his indulgence in wine and women over the years, his physical condition was completely eroded.

He had played the role of the prodigal prince with great dedication.

Perhaps too zealously.

Under Zhong Daolong's strike, he simply didn't know how to resist, standing motionless and just staring blankly, watching as his father's face drew closer.

This was a natural reaction of ordinary people facing danger.

All that awaited him was capture.

However, Chen Fenglei could not sit idly by. If he allowed Zhong Daolong to take down Zhong Tianyi, a significant disruption would occur in their plan.

This was a disaster they couldn't afford.

Chen Fenglei intercepted with a cross move, and threw a punch towards Zhong Daolong's face.

Zhong Daolong slapped at Chen Fenglei's fist; the collision of fist and palm produced a loud noise.

Boom!

Zhong Daolong's body was flung backward.

The distance between them instantly increased.

Just as Chen Fenglei was about to press his advantage, a bullet, as if guided, shot from a dark corner towards Chen Fenglei's head.

Chen Fenglei sweated coldly, shifted his weight, and fell downward, the bullet grazing past his hair.

Bang!

The bullet hit the hard wall, then exploded loudly.

Boom!

An Energy Bullet was used.

When Chen Fenglei stabilized his stance, Zhong Daolong was guarded by three men in black, standing in an arc behind him.

Chen Fenglei eyed the three identical faces, and a significant question arose in his mind:

Who are these three guys?

Chen Fenglei is the Chief Steward of Phoenix Palace, responsible for its security and the personal safety of King Zhong Daolong.

To carry out today's Dragon Slayer plan, he had dispatched all the imperial guards and inner guards around Taiji Palace.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to brazenly confront Zhong Daolong.

"Surprised?" Zhong Daolong glared fiercely at Chen Fenglei, rebuking coldly, "Did you really think I would entrust my personal safety entirely to you?"

Zhong Daolong, being a king, naturally had specific people in charge of his safety.

But what if the person responsible for his safety also betrayed him?

Like Chen Fenglei was now?

Therefore, he had to secure multiple layers of protection for himself.

"From what I know about you..." Chen Fenglei looked at Zhong Daolong, speaking calmly, "You don't trust anyone, including your own family."

"So, their appearance isn't surprising to me at all."

"I kept thinking that it couldn't be so easy, wondering if there was a problem... Now seeing them, I'm completely relieved."

"Completely relieved?" Zhong Daolong scoffed repeatedly, saying, "The Ruan siblings are triplets, of one mind, and each possesses the power of a Grandmaster..."

"I'd like to see how you'll escape from this Phoenix Palace..."

"Ah Da, kill them."

"Yes, King." One of them responded.

If you weren't paying close attention, it would be difficult to tell who spoke.

They all had typical square faces, the same height, the same weight, the same attire, and even their expressions and demeanors were similar.

Since Zhong Daolong had summoned them at this time, it meant that he regarded these three brothers as his trump card.

With the addition of the three brothers, the situation immediately changed.

Chen Fenglei's side only included himself and Zhong Tianyi, who was unfamiliar with Martial Arts, whereas Zhong Daolong's side now had three top-tier experts, each with the power of a Grandmaster.

Moreover, with the three being of one mind, their combat effectiveness would be extraordinary.

"I'll also introduce two friends to the King," said Chen Fenglei.

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