C24 Leaving a Wolf in the House

Gu Xian groggily awoke to the sound of voices near his ear.

His last clear memory was of the cafe. Exercising caution, he remained still, straining to catch their words and make sense of his current predicament.

"What's our next move?" the burly man inquired. "Are we still in this together?"

"Cooperate? Hell no, we're doing this by the book!" Zeng Nian shot him a sharp look. "The mission comes first. Don't you dare drop the ball when it counts!"

"Me? Never!" The burly man thumped his chest. "Idols are idols, but missions are missions. If my idol tries to stop me, I'll take him down just the same. I know the rules; I've got principles."

'Principles, my foot,' Zeng Nian silently scoffed.

"First, let's get him tied up," Zeng Nian commanded.

The man with the broomstick approached with a rope and bent down, only to find Gu Xian's eyes wide open.

He let out a shrill scream, his hand shaking as if stung by a scorpion.

"What's the matter?" Zeng Nian, in the midst of conversation with the burly man, turned to see the broomstick handler sent flying.

Gu Xian was charging at him.

Zeng Nian mentally cursed a blue streak. 'Did I get conned into buying fake anesthetics? Damn that black market. Weren't these darts supposed to knock out a bear? How's he awake already?'

Hand-to-hand combat wasn't his forte, but he moved swiftly, ducking behind the burly man and drawing his anesthetic gun.

Despite his affectionate references to his "idol," the burly man was dead serious when it came to a fight for survival.

Idol or not, he was a man of unyielding principle.

Inhaling deeply, the burly man's skin began to show patches of black armor resembling a turtle shell. Armored as if for battle, he twisted and hurled a punch at Gu Xian's head.

He was enhanced with the Iron Armored Turtle gene agent, a gamble that had paid off, giving him formidable defense.

The Iron Armored Turtle, a species dwelling four thousand meters beneath the sea, boasted incredible resilience due to the immense pressure of the ocean depths.

This alien species was discovered during the Age of Exploration and was among the first to be subjected to genetic experiments.

The experiments ventured into the realm of the divine, and while not exactly triumphant, a serendipitous breakthrough occurred after thirty years of research: the first batch of Iron Armored Turtle gene agents was created.

People found that these gene agents could enhance their physical strength and improve their ability to control mechas, quickly turning the agents into highly sought-after items.

Regrettably, the gene agents were highly unstable, with a significant failure rate. Only a select few managed to enhance themselves successfully, while the rest were left grotesquely disfigured, often transforming into tentacled, rotting flesh reminiscent of Lovecraftian horrors, leading to loss of bodily function and eventual death.

Nowadays, few dare to use the gene agents, but those who do are invariably formidable mechanists.

When the burly man threw his punch, a whooshing sound cut through the air, and the reverberation buzzed in his ears.

"Spare his life!" Zeng Nian crouched behind the burly man, his mind still on the mission.

Mechanists were divided into factions. Being adept at piloting mechas didn't necessarily translate to prowess in hand-to-hand combat. Those who excelled in close-quarters battle were known as classical Warcasters, enduring brutally rigorous physical training and requiring exceptional talent and determination, a breed nearly extinct.

Zeng Nian doubted Gu Xian belonged to that rare class and feared the burly man might accidentally kill him.

The burly man, brimming with confidence, assured, "Relax, I've got this under control."

But in the next instant, Gu Xian sent the burly man soaring through the air like a tossed sack.

Gu Xian was no classical Warcaster heir, yet his innate talent was nothing short of astonishing.

The countless grueling days and nights at the training camp had forged him into someone far stronger than his appearance suggested. Against him, the burly man, even after genetic enhancement, was as helpless as a child.

Gu Xian gripped the burly man's arm, swung him in a wide arc, and with a pitiful scream, the man slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash.

Zeng Nian's eyelids spasmed. Without a moment to spare, he aimed his tranquilizer gun and fired three successive shots.

The shot was taken at a devilishly difficult angle, with the bullets effectively sealing off all of Gu Xian's possible retreats. He was certain that Gu Xian was bound to take a hit. Yet, having already been at a disadvantage in the coffee shop, Gu Xian wouldn't likely be caught off guard by the same tactic again.

He maintained his grip on the brawny man's hand, and with a surge of strength, he hoisted him up as if he were a spear. With a powerful sweep, he used the man as a living shield, perfectly intercepting the bullets' path. The steel armor adorning the man proved to be exceptionally protective. Even after Gu Xian's forceful blow, the man was merely dazed.

Struck by the anesthetic gun, the bullets couldn't penetrate his armor, clinking harmlessly to the floor with a trio of "dings," scattering like petals in the breeze. The man, disoriented, let out a bellow as he struggled to his feet. With a burst of brute strength, he seized Gu Xian's wrist, flinging him into the air and slamming him back down with a thud.

Midair, Gu Xian contorted his body and delivered a slick kick to the man's face. His arm slipped free like an eel, and he tucked and rolled, launching himself at Zeng Nian with the compactness of a ball.

The anesthetic gun in Zeng Nian's hands was a source of immense pressure. Zeng Nian, known for his keen intellect, often crafted the Bloodsaw Mercenaries' strategies, serving as the brains of the operation. While he could orchestrate a mecha's distant gunfire with ease, close-quarters combat was not his forte.

As Gu Xian bore down on him, Zeng Nian tried to steady his nerves. Trembling, he took aim and emptied the remaining four bullets in a desperate attempt to stop the onslaught. But panic overtook precision, and not a single shot found its mark. Meanwhile, a broom head some distance away took a stray bullet and collapsed in silence.

Closing in on Zeng Nian, Gu Xian unfurled his body, swooping down like a predatory bird. With a swift motion, he knocked the gun from Zeng Nian's grasp, sending it clattering to the ground.

His wrist was on fire. Glancing down, he saw it was as if a steel wire had lashed across it, leaving a fiery red streak.

Zeng Nian was horrified, his will to fight completely drained. He scrambled backward in a panic.

The remaining members of the Bloodsaw Mercenary group inside the factory had already been roused by the noise. Now, a dozen or so converged on the scene.

Retreating, Zeng Nian bellowed, "Catch him, but don't kill him!"

He was still focused on the mission. His words, however, made everyone hesitate to use their deadly weapons.

They understood the significance of Gu Xian to the mission. With resolve, they lunged to engage in hand-to-hand combat.

It was clear that George and the eleven Aegis members wisely chose not to close in on Gu Xian, the Warcaster piloting the Pioneer.

The men were overwhelmed; their hands couldn't keep up with their eyes, their eyes couldn't keep up with their minds. Barely making contact with Gu Xian, they were sent reeling, crashing to the ground with a thunderous "boom."

Gu Xian was a blur before them, leaving the burly man trailing in his wake, hopelessly outpaced.

Next to Gu Xian, he felt as sluggish as a turtle.

In that instant, Zeng Nian realized the gravity of his mistake.

When Boss Cao had once shouted, "Take him alive!" at Changban Slope, he had hundreds of thousands of troops at his command. Zeng Nian, with barely a dozen men, had dared to mimic Boss Cao's imperiousness?

He was clearly out of his depth.

But regret was useless now. Gu Xian was relentless, hounding him. The others were scattered like leaves in the wind, each one falling and crying out in agony.

Gu Xian listened to their chatter; Zeng Nian was no low-ranking figure, and he had been doggedly on his tail.

In the end, Zeng Nian couldn't escape. Gu Xian seized his arm, eliciting a scream of pain, and he dared not move an inch.

He remained still, and so did Gu Xian, with the hulking man trailing behind him also coming to a halt.

Consequently, only the vanquished soldiers were left writhing on the ground.

Seizing Zeng Nian by the neck, Gu Xian took him as a hostage and confronted the burly man, "Who are you, and why have you bound me?"

Truth be told, Gu Xian was still trying to piece together the puzzle.

He had caught snippets of conversation, but only those concerning his idol.

Had it not been for those two words, and Zeng Nian's insistence on capture over killing, the outcome for these men would have been more than just lying on the ground.

Indeed, every coin has two sides.

Zeng Nian was consumed with regret, oblivious to the fact that he had inadvertently saved his own skin.

"It's a bit of a long story," he said, his voice trembling with fear and his body slick with sweat, wary of Gu Xian giving his neck an unwanted 'massage.'

He laid out the entire situation to Gu Xian.

Gu Xian's brow furrowed. "Is that all?"

"That's it!" Zeng Nian nodded emphatically, only to realize that the grip on his neck had relaxed.

Elated, he scurried back to his unit, his heart finally settling.

The burly man's eyes bulged, ready to strike, but Zeng Nian stopped him.

He was puzzled.

What did this mean? Was there really a chance for cooperation?

He voiced his question.

Gu Xian shook his head. "Not a chance."

Zeng Nian was livid. Was this some kind of joke?

"Then why release me?" The words flew out before he could stop them, and he immediately regretted it, chiding himself for his foolishness.

Gu Xian regarded him with surprise. "Releasing you makes no difference. You wouldn't stand a chance against me even if you all teamed up."

The group fell silent, their egos deeply wounded.

"You don't want to kill me, and I have no desire to kill you. Let's leave it at that," Gu Xian proposed after a moment's thought. "Now, where's the stolen spaceship you're hiding? Take me to it."

"What for?" Zeng Nian asked, on high alert.

"I've just taken out your guys downtown, so staying in B-183 isn't an option for me. I'm not interested in meddling with your mission either. If you're not leaving, what's the point of hanging around here?"

"You expect to use our spaceship without lifting a finger to help us?" The burly man challenged.

Gu Xian charged at him and delivered a thrashing. "What was that you said?"

"Idol, could I get your autograph?"

"Spaceship."

"It's not that I'm refusing you, it's just that our landing craft is busted," the burly man stammered, sheepishly. "Once we complete our mission, someone's supposed to come for us, but right now, we truly don't have a spaceship."

No spaceship?

Gu Xian's brow furrowed.

What now? He couldn't return to 33 Bay Road, nor could he leave B-183. Maybe he should just stay put for the time being?

His gaze locked onto the burly man. "Alright then, surrender your weapons and find me a room."

"What?"

"What do you mean, 'what'?"

"What's this all about?"

"I'll be bunking here for a bit. You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

The burly man looked like he was on the verge of tears.

How could he possibly object? But with all their weapons confiscated, how were they supposed to complete their mission? It was like being forced to watch their mission fail right before their eyes.

Maybe a rebellion?

The thought shocked him. He winced at the pain coursing through his body, listened to the groans around him, and shivered, his heart heavy with sorrow and rage.

Who was it? Who had let the wolf through the door?!