Chen Shouyi opened his eyes and got up to pace back and forth in the bedroom.

He glanced at the mechanical clock on the wall, noticing it was only two-thirty, far too early for dawn.

He hesitated for a moment, then quickly dressed and grabbed his credentials.

"I'm going out for a bit, I'll be right back," Chen Shouyi said, turning to the sleeping Shell Lady.

"Oh!" Shell Lady responded groggily, turning over and snuggling back into the blanket, continuing to sleep.

What a coward, doesn't she ever feel hot!

Chen Shouyi grumbled internally, opened the screen window, and leaped out.

The night was as calm as water.

He avoided the patrolling military police on the way and quickly headed for the City Government.

Xiao Changming, as the captain of the military special squad, held the rank of Colonel and was recently even recognized as a combat hero, extensively reported by the newspapers. No matter his prestige or status in Hedong City, he wasn't someone who could be easily touched.

Even knowing Xiao Changming had become something neither human nor ghost, without concrete evidence proving his murderous actions, the authorities might choose to turn a blind eye.

The Martial Artists were considered one of the strategic forces not just in Hedong City but within Jiangnan Province. The higher-ups wouldn't rashly make decisions unless necessary, especially since Xiao Changming had the backing of the strongest force in Hedong — the military.

But no matter the case, these were the rules.

He couldn't just do as he pleased and break the rules.

He also didn't have the power to challenge the rules.

Moreover, Xiao Changming had mysteriously returned this time with immensely powerful abilities, posing a strong threat even when Chen Shouyi transformed into a Giant.

Transforming into a Giant, while offering terrifying attack and defense, had a significant weakness.

His reaction times slowed.

If the opponent was unarmed, it was manageable, but if equipped with a weapon, his body's defense might not withstand the attacks.

In the recent battle in the Memory Virtual World, had Xiao Changming not used a streetlamp as a weapon in an attempt to obstruct his advance and misjudged his actions, the fight wouldn't have resolved so easily.

The streetlamp, weighing over a hundred pounds, inevitably impacted the attack speed significantly.

If it had been a Long Sword instead,

with his speed, there was no certainty he'd even dodge, let alone break the streetlamp with a punch directly.

Even if Chen Shouyi killed him afterward, he would inevitably get injured.

...

"Ka-chak"

As soon as he stepped into City Hall Square, a dozen rifles aimed right at him.

Not only that, he faintly sensed numerous gazes focused on him from behind, making him feel like he was pricked by needles. A glance over his shoulder confirmed hidden snipers in the vicinity.

"Who goes there, don't move!"

Two soldiers quickly approached, and Chen Shouyi had no choice but to stand still for inspection.

Luckily, once he showed his credentials, his path was clear.

It was not like the past; communication was inconvenient, especially with Hedong City being unstable and frequent incidents occurring. Even at night, many personnel were on duty, with the entire City Government building brightly lit.

Accompanied by a staff member, he knocked on the office of the Deputy Mayor on duty.

...

Ten minutes later, Chen Shouyi was escorted out by the Deputy Mayor and soon returned home.

From now on, it was beyond his control.

The next day, Chen Shouyi did not venture into the other world; he remained at home.

The villa area appeared calm, as if nothing had happened.

The third day was the same.

On the fourth day, just as Chen Shouyi was about to lose patience, Bai Xiaoling arrived accompanied by a military Martial Artist with the rank of Major.

"...It is now confirmed that Xiao Changming's survival this time is part of a Barbarian God's plot from the other world; he has turned into a demon," the Major said in a deep voice.

His expression was complex, filled with anger and a trace of disappointment.

The military is a place where the strong are most revered.

Xiao Changming had always been a top-tier powerhouse on par with Lei Ruiyang within the military!

He was a symbol, a Great Mountain.

The lower-ranking soldiers might not know the name of the commander of the Hedong Garrison, but they would undoubtedly know who Xiao Changming was. This incident was undoubtedly a scandal.

In fact, what prompted the military to make a decisive move was Xiao Changming's attack on an air force base just the previous night, damaging thirty-eight aircraft in the hangar and causing over a hundred military casualties.

It wasn't until the defending forces used heavy weaponry that he was finally forced to retreat.

This attack resulted in the destruction of over a quarter of the aircraft, causing substantial losses.

The Hedong City air force base doesn't belong to the Hedong Garrison but is part of the General Military Region, especially now during wartime, making this incident even more significant, leaving the military no room to delay.

But naturally, these matters weren't openly discussed with Chen Shouyi.

He learned through intelligence that Chen Shouyi was the first to notice something was wrong with Xiao Changming, even four days prior. Had the higher-ups made a timely decision, many innocent deaths could have been avoided.

...

This time, Chen Shouyi had no hesitation, grabbing his sword and bow case, and left with the officer immediately.

"The residents near Xiao Changming's residence have gradually relocated over the past few days, and our people have been in place," the Major said en route: "The action is set for noon; we discovered he never leaves during the day, suggesting possible photophobia."

Photophobia?

Chen Shouyi recalled the eerie shadow on his body; indeed, it seemed possible.

Besides, the horror of his changed face was likely a factor too.

They were only halfway there when suddenly gunfire erupted in the distance, interspersed with the roar of machine guns.

"What's going on?" The Major's face changed dramatically.

Beside him, Chen Shouyi was already moving like the wind, racing forward swiftly.

Within seconds, Chen Shouyi stood at the entrance of Xiao Changming's villa, stopping in his tracks.

His heart sank; a large hole had been blown in the villa's wall, and bullet holes were everywhere, but all the figures inside had vanished.

Chen Shouyi watched for a while before the Major arrived, breathless.

"Where is he?"

Several military Martial Artists emerged from nearby villas immediately: "Captain, he seemed to have sensed something was amiss and broke through the wall to escape. He was too fast; we were completely caught off guard."

"And his wife?"

"She was taken by him too, but Director Lei is already in pursuit."

"Damn it!" He punched the wall, leaving a large hole with his bloodied fist.

"Order him back, he's courting death!" Chen Shouyi said coldly.

Given Xiao Changming's strength, even weakened during the day, he could crush Lei Ruiyang like an ant.

Public matters were public, private matters were private.

Though he harbored resentment against Lei Ruiyang, he didn't wish to see him throw his life away needlessly.

Moreover, with Xiao Changming gone, Hedong City was left with only two Martial Artists. If Lei Ruiyang fell as well, all the burdens would fall on his shoulders, with no one to share his load.

Simply from that perspective, he couldn't just let him die.

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