A terrifying sharpness flashed in Shen Jingzhe's eyes. A bone-chilling coldness washed over him, and in an instant, the spacious security room felt like an ice cellar. The cold made Lin Xiao shiver.

That wasn't all. A powerful killing intent enveloped him like a giant net, bringing with it a suffocating sense of oppression.

Clearly, this woman was angry.

Believing that discretion was the better part of valor, Lin Xiao quickly forced a grin. "Just kidding, just kidding!"

Shen Jingzhe huffed heavily. "Make a joke like that again, and don't blame me for turning hostile!"

At her words, Lin Xiao cursed silently. Damn it all... once I get my cultivation back, I swear I'll make you kneel before me and sing 'Conquest'!

Shen Jingzhe seemed to see right through his thoughts. The woman's willow-thin eyebrows arched, her gaze as sharp as a knife as she stared at Lin Xiao, looking as if she might snap his neck at any second.

"What, you're not convinced?" she asked coldly.

"Look at you, how could I dare be unconvinced!" Lin Xiao said, his face wreathed in smiles.

Shen Jingzhe snorted. "Now, you can tell me your method."

"You can go to my wife and ask her for a job, preferably one that lets you stay by her side at all times. Once she agrees, you can plead with her to let you move into the villa. After all, the house is quite large. If you can move in, it will be much more convenient for me to treat you," Lin Xiao said with a look of utmost sincerity.

Shen Jingzhe looked at him coldly. "I think you just want me to be your wife's bodyguard."

Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat. This woman is far too clever.

That was, in fact, his exact plan. With her heaven-defying cultivation, Su Qingning would be perfectly safe under her protection. Although Lin Xiao felt he could protect Su Qingning himself, he couldn't possibly stay by her side twenty-four-seven.

Of course, he would never admit to any of this. He feigned a dismissive tone. "Shen Jingzhe, you have a wild imagination. My cultivation might not match yours, but I'm still in the Divine Martial Realm. That's more than enough to protect my own wife, wouldn't you say?"

"Is that so?" Shen Jingzhe asked indifferently.

Lin Xiao puffed out his chest. "Of course!"

Shen Jingzhe snorted again. "Let me ask you, how long will it take to neutralize the poison in my body?"

"A month at the fastest, maybe two or three if it's slow," Lin Xiao bluffed without a second thought.

I have no choice. The main goal right now is to placate her and make her put aside any thoughts of killing me for the time being. Then, while I'm "treating" her, I can recover the cultivation I stored within Su Qingning. We'll see how she tries to kill me then.

"You'd better be telling the truth. Otherwise, I will make you understand the meaning of regret."

After dropping that line, Shen Jingzhe turned and vanished.

Watching her go, Lin Xiao let out a massive sigh of relief.

Damn, that was a close call. It's bad enough that her cultivation is monstrous, but what's really frustrating is that her intelligence is top-notch, too. Looks like I'll have to be extra careful when dealing with her from now on. More importantly, I need to get my cultivation back as soon as possible.

After composing himself, Lin Xiao was about to head for Xiao Shixiong's mansion when his phone rang. It was Pei Yanzi.

Realistically, they had only been apart for a day, but when Lin Xiao saw her name on the screen, he felt like they hadn't seen each other in ages.

He answered quickly, skipping any pleasantries. "Brother Lin, are you busy right now?"

Pei Yanzi's slightly shy voice came through the phone. An image of her pure, charming face instantly appeared in Lin Xiao's mind.

"Not really. What's up, Yanzi? Do you need something?"

Pei Yanzi sounded nervous on the other end. She stuttered, "N-No, nothing... It's just, you said the other day you wanted to eat at my school's cafeteria, right? So... I was calling to see if you have time. I... I'd like to treat you to a meal there!"

Lin Xiao chuckled. "Yanzi, are you nervous?"

"Ah? Brother Lin, I, I, I, I'm not!"

Pei Yanzi's pretty face flushed crimson in an instant, the blush spreading all the way to the tips of her ears. Her cheeks burned as if branded by a hot iron. The girl was so mortified she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

Honestly, while Pei Yanzi had an innocent face and a somewhat shy personality, she wasn't someone who got flustered easily. But ever since she'd met Lin Xiao, something had changed. Every time she faced him, her heart pounded like a drum, threatening to leap out of her chest.

Lin Xiao smiled. "Well, that's good. Unfortunately, I have something to do this afternoon, so I probably can't make it to your cafeteria. If you don't mind, how about we meet tonight instead?"

Hearing Lin Xiao agree, Pei Yanzi's heart blossomed with joy, as if someone had set off fireworks within her. For the first time, she felt that the phrase "a heart blooming with joy" described an actual, physical action.

"Brother Lin, then... then I'll see you tonight!" she said, desperately trying to suppress her excitement.

Lin Xiao laughed. "Sounds good!"

After they hung up, Lin Xiao smiled and muttered to himself, What a simple, innocent girl.

「At the same time.」

The normally bustling military airport in Jinling City was under martial law. On the tarmac, hundreds of men in military uniforms stood in two rows. Their expressions were solemn, as if they were awaiting someone of great importance. The scene was grand and formal.

The man at the head of the formation was in his early fifties, the single star on his shoulder highlighting his extraordinary status. His name was Yuan Guohai.

Besides the hundreds of uniformed men, Bai Chengfeng was also present, along with the head of the Bai Family, Bai Bufan, and his wife.

Indeed, these people were all gathered here to welcome Bai Chengfeng's older brother, Bai Chenglong.

Bai Chenglong was not only a high-ranking general under the War God of the Western Region, but he was also a renowned Soldier King of the Western Region's military district. There were very few in the entire Western Region who could claim the title of Soldier King.

Bai Chengfeng's face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, and his complexion was terrible. He looked like a lone boat on a vast ocean, a candle flame flickering in a storm. Yet, his eyes were filled with anticipation.

His big brother was coming home. That filthy beggar's doomsday was near.

After what felt like an eternity, four of the most advanced helicopters in the nation appeared in the sky.

Before the lead helicopter had even fully landed, a man in camouflage leaped nimbly from the aircraft. He landed firmly on the ground, the force of his impact blasting a small crater into the hard tarmac.

Seeing this man, Yuan Guohai bellowed, "Salute!"

The hundreds of uniformed men crisply saluted the man in camouflage.

The camouflaged man returned the salute with a blank expression.

Yuan Guohai quickly strode forward and said respectfully, "Soldier King, welcome home!"

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