Luo Xiu gazed at Su Hongli and said earnestly, "But I really want to go."

Su Hongli let out a gentle sigh, her heart suddenly softening. Luo Xiu's sickly appearance was difficult for any woman to resist; she felt an overwhelming urge to dote on him.

"But your body..."

Luo Xiu smiled. "It's just an investigation. I won't have to do anything."

Su Hongli looked helplessly at Xu Wei.

Xu Wei spread his hands. "If you want to go, then go. I heard from Hong Li before that your Medical Techniques are unmatched, Brother Luo. Maybe we'll have a use for your skills after all." He paused, then added, "However, Brother Luo, let's get one thing clear: when Hong Li and I jump, you have to stay on the plane."

"I've never parachuted before anyway," Luo Xiu readily agreed.

Xu Wei sighed and patted his shoulder. "To be honest, I get nervous just looking at you in this state."

"..."

After briefly getting their gear together, the three of them boarded an armed helicopter and left the base.

「Inside the cabin.」

Su Hongli and Xu Wei studied a map, seriously discussing their plan to rescue Su Shenyun.

Luo Xiu sat quietly to the side, not saying a word.

This so-called rescue plan... I have nothing to contribute, nor am I interested. The only reason I insisted on coming was to rescue Su Shenyun myself, directly. I don't know how much time I have left, and I can't bear the thought of her suffering for even a second longer. I'm terrified that if I'm even a moment too late, something terrible will happen... That's why I'm in such a hurry. A plan seems completely pointless. In the face of absolute power, plans are meaningless. Why waste brainpower on something that can be solved with force? Besides, I don't have the energy to think right now. Still, I know Su Hongli is worried about my health and would never let me join the operation, so for now, I have to play along.

From Xu Wei's mercenary base to Yerite was a straight-line distance of over two hundred kilometers. Yerite was a small, dictatorial town that the Holy Boi Religion had taken control of many years ago. Aside from a few civilians, the town was populated almost entirely by followers of the religion.

「After a long while.」

Luo Xiu, who had been resting with his eyes closed, was awakened by Su Hongli's gentle voice.

"We've arrived."

Luo Xiu opened his eyes and looked at her calmly. He saw that Su Hongli and Xu Wei had already put on wingsuits and parachute packs, clearly preparing to jump.

Xu Wei looked toward the cockpit and shouted at the pilot, "Take us down to five hundred meters! Now!"

Su Hongli placed her hands on Luo Xiu's shoulders and said softly, "Darling, just be good and wait for us up here."

Xu Wei laughed. "Just wait for our good news, Brother Luo. And don't worry. Hong Li is a Master Early Stage expert. A simple investigation like this is perfectly safe."

Luo Xiu asked, "Are you sure Su Shenyun is in the church below?"

Xu Wei nodded. "I'm positive. I'm good friends with one of the Green-robed Cultists here. He told me that a few days ago, a woman was sent to the church here from one in Sakura Country. He said she is gorgeous, in her thirties, and her surname is Su."

Luo Xiu's eyelids drooped as he suddenly unbuckled his seatbelt.

"Brother Luo, what are you—"

Luo Xiu stood up, his entire demeanor shifting as if he'd become a different person. "Since we know she's here," he said coolly, "we're rescuing her tonight."

Su Hongli quickly tried to dissuade him. "I know you're anxious! I'm just as anxious as you are! But this isn't as simple as you think. The church is filled with Martial Way experts, maybe even some who are stronger than a Grandmaster! To rescue Shenyun safely, we must devise a comprehensive plan to ensure nothing goes wrong."

But before she could finish, Luo Xiu had already thrown open the cabin door and leaped out without a hint of hesitation.

"Damn it!" Xu Wei yelled, startled.

Su Hongli lunged forward to grab him but caught nothing but air. In a flash, Luo Xiu's body was swallowed by the night. Her own body trembled, her fists clenched tight.

After a moment of stunned silence, Xu Wei looked at Su Hongli and stammered, "Did... did he have a parachute?"

Su Hongli's eyes widened in horror. Without a second thought, she jumped after him.

I'm certain he didn't have a parachute! From a height of five hundred meters, anyone would be smashed into pulp!

Xu Wei gritted his teeth, cursed, "Idiot," and jumped as well.

After landing, Su Hongli, frantic with worry, tore off her wingsuit and began searching for Luo Xiu in the dense forest. Cursing under his breath, Xu Wei landed moments later and joined the search.

"You know, Hong Li," Xu Wei began, "I've been curious since the day you arrived... who exactly is this kid to you?" He paused. "Your little lover?"

Su Hongli shot him a glare. "Cut the crap and help me find him!"

Xu Wei chuckled. "After a fall from that high, finding him will be a long shot. Besides, this jungle is full of wild animals. I reckon the kid's so sick it's messed with his head. He's just one lover, why go through all this? You could find any pretty boy you want."

"Shut up!" Su Hongli hissed.

Xu Wei jumped, startled by her tone. Seemingly terrified of her anger, he obediently fell silent.

The two combed through the forest for a long time but found no trace of Luo Xiu.

BANG, BANG, BANG...

Suddenly, a burst of intense gunfire erupted in the distance. Su Hongli and Xu Wei froze, exchanged a look, and spun toward the sound.

Xu Wei glanced at his compass and said in a low voice, "That's the direction of the church!"

Without another word, Su Hongli leaped onto a large tree and raced toward the church at top speed.

「Before long,」

They neared the source of the gunfire. It was at the church, but the sounds weren't coming from inside. The shots originated from a fortified bastion outside the church's courtyard walls.

When Su Hongli and Xu Wei rushed over, they found the concrete bastion had already half-collapsed. Dust and gunsmoke filled the air. Several bodies lay scattered among the ruins, and the faint smell of blood hung in the air.

Under the moonlight, Luo Xiu stood alone atop the bastion, quietly staring at the brightly lit church ahead.

"How... How is this possible?" Xu Wei stammered, his gaze trembling in disbelief. "The kid didn't have a parachute! How could he jump from that high and be..."

But Su Hongli wasn't thinking about that. Seeing Luo Xiu unharmed was enough to make her ecstatic. She ran forward, leaped onto the bastion, and grabbed his hand. She wanted to scold him, but the words died in her throat when she saw his face.

Luo Xiu's face was as pale as snow, and blood trickled from the corners of his mouth and his nostrils.

"Luo Xiu, you... Is your illness acting up again?"

Luo Xiu wiped away the blood. "There's no more time to waste. I have to save her tonight."

"But there are only three of us!" Su Hongli said urgently. "How are we supposed to rescue her? And you've already tipped them off! This might put Shenyun in even more danger!"

Luo Xiu stared toward the church and said softly, "If anything happens to Su Shenyun... I'll have this entire town accompany her in death."

Just then, Xu Wei jumped onto the bastion. "Kid," he said coldly, "I was polite to you before, even called you brother, but that was purely on Hong Li's account! If you want to get yourself killed, go do it alone! Don't you dare drag me and Hong Li down with you! You're just some Body Refinement Phase punk, and a sick one at that! Any one of my men could wipe the floor with you! You act like you've never seen the world, completely clueless. You learn a few moves and suddenly think you're hot stuff? Do you have any idea what kind of people are in that church? If just a few Green-robed Cultists show up, none of the three of us will be leaving here alive tonight! And you want to just waltzing in there to save someone? You've got some balls, huh!"

Luo Xiu remained expressionless. "You're right," he said softly. "You don't need to be involved. I'll go alone."

"Idiot!" Xu Wei spat.

Ignoring him, Luo Xiu jumped off the bastion and began walking toward the church at an unhurried pace.

Xu Wei gritted his teeth and grabbed Su Hongli's wrist. "Forget this kid! He refused to listen, he's asking to be killed! We don't need to get dragged into it! He's already raised the alarm! Those Sect Followers will be here any minute! Hong Li, we need to go, now! Any later and it'll be too late!"

"..."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.