Celestial Human Diagram

Before the gradually stabilizing Rift, Fang Zhixin glanced at his watch. "The Administrative Affairs Hall and the Defense Department have likely detected the situation here," he said. "A response team should be here within twenty-five minutes at the latest."

He looked at Yu Lie. "Major Yu, when they arrive, I’ll be counting on you to handle them. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?"

Yu Lie sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he replied without hesitation, "Leave it to me."

After he was reassigned to the temporary special committee, his superiors granted him the authority to take provisional measures during special missions. This allowed him to use drastic methods and be exempt from prosecution by the military Judgement Court afterward.

In other words, to ensure a mission’s success, any people or obstacles encountered could be dealt with as necessary, depending on the mission’s difficulty.

And as for the Chen Bitong situation, based on what he had seen so far, it had clearly escalated to a threat to Central City’s safety. This authority was certainly applicable.

Therefore, to ensure the mission was completed, he was prepared to do whatever it took—even if it meant killing every last one of them.

Fang Zhixin asked, "Major Yu, I’ve always wanted to ask, why do you admire Teacher Chen so much?"

"Does one need a reason to admire Teacher Chen?"

Yu Lie spoke like a true, fanatical admirer, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Is there anything Teacher Chen has done that *isn’t* worthy of admiration? The list is endless, isn’t it?"

"I recall someone from the Military Police Guard Department once tried to recruit you, but you turned them down. Why? Is it not a good post?"

Yu Lie’s heart skipped a beat, but he put on a dismissive expression. "Don’t lump me in with those people. I’d rather be assigned to the General Affairs Bureau than do some security detail."

Fang Zhixin said, "But what we’re doing today is somewhat similar to a security detail."

Yu Lie replied decisively, "If it’s for Teacher Chen, I’ll do anything without complaint."

At that very moment, a response team of about fifty soldiers was rapidly approaching the area, guided by intel markers.

However, just as they were about to enter the zone, they found several cars parked across the road, blocking their path. A man in a fedora stood there, which put them on high alert.

They had already been intercepted multiple times by unknown forces on their way over, causing significant delays.

But then, their Realm Tokens chimed, transmitting a file containing an order to take over the area.

The captain in charge took one look and felt a chill of dread. The seal on the document was from the General Affairs Bureau.

Despite his apprehension, duty compelled him to get face-to-face confirmation. He got out of the vehicle alone and walked up to the man in the fedora to confer with him.

The man was surprisingly cooperative. At the captain’s request, he presented his Name Card and said, "You should all turn back. The situation ahead is not something you can handle. Another department is taking over."

After confirming the man was indeed from the General Affairs Bureau, the captain still didn’t leave. The Bureau was intimidating, to be sure, but his team was also acting under direct orders. "Apologies," he said cautiously, "but we need to consult our superiors."

The man glanced at him. "Then go ahead."

The captain didn’t contact the Administrative Affairs Hall. Instead, he immediately got in touch with the Defense Department and asked for instructions.

When Specialist Liang received the report, he combined it with previous intelligence and realized that this must be Chen Bitong’s location.

This was definitely beyond the capabilities of a standard response team.

He gave the order: "Have the team wait on the perimeter. Don’t leave. Monitor all activity within. Establish a cordon and prepare to support the emergency team that will be arriving shortly."

After receiving their official orders, the response team immediately pulled back and took up positions.

As the response team was setting up their perimeter, Mr. Chu was arriving by car on another road near the area. He proceeded to a stronghold they had prepared long ago.

The committee, in fact, had similar strongholds in every district of Central City. Once inside, he went to a high vantage point and used binoculars to observe the nearly stable Rift in the distance.

His expression was cold and stern. "Chen Bitong is a problem, just as I suspected," he said. "This time, we’ll get to him before the General Affairs Bureau does. We’ll be the ones to eliminate him."

He said, "Old Hu, take your men. Can you handle him?"

Old Hu was a man in a black greatcoat, standing nearly two meters tall. But his shoulders were so broad that his upper body formed a squat, inverted trapezoid, giving the impression that he was shorter than he actually was.

He wore a pair of black leather gloves and a mask that covered the lower half of his face. His eyes were deep-set in a pale face. He wore no hat, and his stiff, unkempt hair, long overdue for a cut, spilled down over his neck and back.

He spoke in a hoarse voice, "Boss, we’re old acquaintances. I’ll take care of him."

Mr. Chu said, "Remember to take Ah Han with you."

Old Hu didn’t object. He asked, "Boss, what charges should I list on the arrest order for Chen Bitong?"

Mr. Chu replied, "A man like Chen Bitong can’t have any crimes attached to his name. Once you’ve taken care of him, we’ll find a suitable reason for his death."

"Understood, Boss."

Seeing that his boss had no further instructions, Old Hu immediately turned and descended.

Mr. Chu then turned to the four men at his side, the same ones Yu Lie had defeated earlier. "You four will go with Old Hu. Follow his orders."

"Yes, sir." The four men gave him a slight bow and went after Old Hu.

After Old Hu went downstairs, he found a team of mercenaries waiting. A burly man leading them approached as soon as he saw him. "Uncle Hu."

Old Hu glanced at him. "Let’s go. We’re going to deal with Chen Bitong." He strode forward, and the two groups of men quickly fell in behind him.

In front of the Rift, Chen Bitong stood staring at the shimmering light, lost in thought.

He was dressed in a military greatcoat worn for garrison duty, a peaked cap, and a half-mask. His posture was ramrod straight. A powerful gale blew out from the Rift, but it only tugged at the hem of his coat, failing to move him an inch.

Yu Lie watched his back for a few moments, then suddenly sensed something. The Rift shimmered, and a flicker of movement within it made him instantly wary.

A moment later, a number of black dots appeared within the Rift, and then a flock of unusually large, ferocious birds burst forth.

A number of smaller, extremely aggressive creatures had already emerged earlier, but they had been dealt with. This new flock was different. They seemed to be fleeing, ignoring everyone as they shot straight into the sky and vanished.

Yu Lie immediately realized, ’There must be something coming after them.’

He fixed his gaze on the Rift. After a moment, a dark silhouette slowly materialized within it. Then, a horse’s head, fitted with a bridle, poked through. A solid hoof stepped out onto the flagstones, landing with a firm thud.

As the horse strode forward, a tall cavalryman clad in full plate armor slowly emerged into view.

Yu Lie was stunned. ’Is that... the Cavalry Army of the Old Imperial Family?’

’Could it be? Did Chen Bitong do all this just to bring the Old Imperial Family here? Is he colluding with them?’

He was still unaware of the scene unfolding outside the Ji Yang District at that very moment; otherwise, his shock and alarm would have been far greater.

But even if he had known, there was nothing he could do.

Just then, Fang Zhixin asked, "Major Yu, your thoughts?"

Yu Lie composed himself and said with feigned indifference, "My loyalty is to Teacher Chen himself. Whatever he does, he must have his reasons."

Fang Zhixin said, "In that case, Major Yu, get ready."

The cavalryman’s face was covered by Face Armor, obscuring his features. Only a pair of sharp eyes could be seen glinting from within the gaps of his helmet.

After emerging, he reined in his horse. His gaze first swept over the Jade Postures, then slowly shifted to Chen Bitong. He stared for a moment, then gave a slight nod and held out his hand.

Fang Zhixin took a metal plaque from the bag he carried. Its appearance, with an ancient cloud-and-thunder pattern etched into its side, gave it a distinctly classical style.

He walked forward and handed it to the cavalryman.

The cavalryman was incredibly arrogant; he didn’t even dismount to accept the item from Fang Zhixin. He took the plaque, glanced at it, and then patted the Dragon-nosed Horse beneath him. The steed immediately let out a shrill neigh that could be heard for kilometers.

At that moment, there was more movement from the Rift. Another Cavalry Soldier emerged, followed by another, and another, until a total of twelve had come through. It was a standard assault detachment of the Old Imperial Family.

When the other cavalrymen had emerged, Fang Zhixin gave a polite nod to their captain. He seemed to be turning to leave, but in that same motion, he smoothly drew a weapon from his waist. A flash of sharp light streaked across the captain.

The Knight was still holding the metal plaque. A moment later, the horse’s head and the Knight’s own torso—from the chest up—slid off and tumbled to the ground.

At the same time, Fang Zhixin yelled, "Attack!"

Yu Lie was completely baffled. One moment things seemed amicable, the next they were in a life-or-death battle. But there was no time to ponder why. The instant Fang Zhixin shouted, Yu Lie kicked off the ground and charged one of the cavalrymen.

The Cavalry Soldiers didn’t panic at their captain’s sudden death. Instead, the front rank charged forward in an offensive formation, simultaneously providing cover for their comrades who were retreating toward the Rift.

In a flash, Fang Zhixin was already in front of the Rift. He fully extended his weapon, revealing it to be a Long Sword nearly two meters in length and as flexible as a whip. With a single swing, he carved several arcing lines of blood through the air.

Any of the cavalrymen who tried to charge him or get past him were instantly diced into pieces the moment they reached him, their heads and torsos tumbling to the ground in a heap before the Rift.

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