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Chapter 264 The Three Special Teams Meet Up! ~ (Please vote with monthly tickets!)

The biting wind, sharp as a knife, carried tiny ice crystals.

A sharp cry echoed and circled above the massive deep-water port outside the City of Glazed Light.

The enormous cruise ship, like a steel behemoth, was quietly moored with its gangway lowered.

The flow of people, like a migrating swarm of ants, slowly descended the gangway and stepped onto this far northern land shrouded in ice, snow and aurora all year round.

in the crowd.

A tall, young man wearing a thick, warm down jacket slowly walked down.

Although his features are unremarkable, he would be easily forgotten in a crowd.

But deep within those calm eyes, a sharp glint occasionally flashed, quite unlike their ordinary appearance.

He raised his hand as a habit to touch the top of his bald head.

But my fingertips touched a clump of slightly coarse, unfamiliar hair.

It was an extremely realistic short black wig.

Amitabha

He subconsciously began to chant in a low voice, but before he could speak, a "woman" next to him, who was also wearing a bulky winter coat and whose face was similarly made up of some special material to make her features unremarkable, subtly nudged him with her elbow.

Shi Kong instantly realized the truth.

He swallowed the word "Buddha" back.

His facial muscles stiffly forced out a normal smile.

The woman beside him was none other than Liu Hanyan, who had also undergone a complete transformation, even deliberately concealing her once breathtaking beauty.

At that moment, her face could only be described as pretty.

Her skin even appeared somewhat rough and dull, but her eyes remained clear and bright.

"This is the City of Glazed Light?"

Beside Shi Kong, another team member, who was also carefully disguised, sighed softly, his voice filled with undisguised shock.

He looked up at the magnificent city that stood majestically against the leaden sky in the distance.

The massive ice crystal barrier, like the spine of an ancient dragon, meandered and coiled, radiating a soft halo of interwoven blue and milky white light.

The entire city is shrouded in a "perpetual day aurora dome" that resembles a flowing nebula and changes in magnificent colors. It is completely different from the modern cities in the Federation's inland areas that are like steel jungles, and is full of a strange beauty that is a blend of dream and coldness.

"It's definitely completely different from the buildings in the Federation."

Another teammate couldn't help but whisper in agreement.

Beside him, an old boatman wearing a thick, oil-stained cotton-padded coat, his face deeply lined with wrinkles, was struggling to pull the rope. Hearing this, his cloudy eyes glanced at Shi Kong and the "ordinary" team members beside him, his eyes filled with an indescribable complexity, as if it were pity or a warning.

But he didn't say anything, he just silently turned his head away and continued with his work.

The two teams followed the flow of people through the port's strict security checkpoints.

At the registration desk, when asked by the staff, they naturally gave their destination: "Liuli Guangcheng".

After registering, they were about to follow the crowd to the shuttle bus stop leading to the city center.

Suddenly, the old boatman appeared near Shi Kong and Liu Hanyan's group, his back hunched, his voice hoarse and low, like sandpaper rubbing together:
"Young man," he said, his cloudy gaze sweeping over the two seemingly unremarkable groups of mercenaries who exuded an air of extraordinary refinement, "take this old man's advice and don't go into that city."

The old man spoke very quickly, and didn't wait for a response after he finished speaking.

Like a mouse scurrying into the shadows, it lowered its head, dragged its feet, and quickly disappeared into the noisy crowd.

Shi Kong subconsciously put his hands together, and the words "Amitabha" almost slipped out.

A teammate who was also in disguise quickly tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Captain, hold on!"

Shi Kong forced the Buddhist chant back down.

Looking in the direction the old man disappeared, a hint of emotion flashed in his eyes, and he murmured, "There aren't many good people like him anymore. Knowing the risks, he still wanted to warn a stranger."

Liu Hanyan's cool voice rang out from the side, also very low and solemn: "It seems that the matter itself is about to be exposed. Let's go and meet up first."

There was a hint of urgency in her words.

The two did not linger and led their equally inconspicuous team members away from the noisy dock area.

Several rented military off-road vehicles, equipped with cold-weather and anti-skid armor, were already waiting at the agreed location.

The engine emitted a deep roar.

A large cloud of white vapor billowed from the exhaust pipe, quickly merging into the extreme cold of the polar region.

Inside the carriage, the heating was on full blast.

Shi Kong and Liu Hanyan took off their hoods, looked at each other, and both saw the solemnity remaining in each other's eyes.

a few days ago.

This was a message sent by Wei Banmeng a few days ago.
The content was far more horrifying than they could have imagined.

It also included extremely detailed information, as well as the current location of Fang Qingyu's team and their disguised rendezvous method.

Shi Kong and Liu Hanyan each led their respective teams.

After repeatedly verifying the authenticity of the information, and finally clicking on the attached photos of the underground blood bank and the mountain of corpses.
Even those who had experienced the bloody battles of the Ghost Festival and were used to life and death.

I also felt a chill to the bone and an uncontrollable anger!
Those martial artists lying on cold metal beds, their life force drained like livestock awaiting slaughter; those piles of body bags, silently accusing others amidst the stench.
This is hardly a city of heroes.
It is clearly a purgatory disguised in a gorgeous cloak!
Fang Qingyu's team's terrifying strength and near-perfect record during the Ghost Festival had already earned them absolute trust within Project Hidden Dragon.

Shi Kong and Liu Hanyan hesitated almost without hesitation.

After a brief internal discussion, the two-person team immediately decided to answer the call.

Eliminating Jiang Taixuan, a cancer that feeds on the flesh and blood of his own people, is not only a duty but also the very essence of a martial artist's duty.

Moreover, participating in a shocking killing spree where "a prodigy slays a martial saint" is a crucial event.

Its inherent value in honing skills and the potential for achievement.

That's enough to make any passionate young master's heart surge!

So the two teams quietly left their respective resting points, using camouflage tactics, like drops of water flowing into the ocean.

After several days of travel, we finally arrived at this magnificent northern city, which appeared glamorous on the outside but was rotten and foul-smelling inside.

The core area of ​​Liuli Guangcheng.

"Peak of Eternal Day" restaurant.

This is one of the most luxurious dining venues in the entire city. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the aurora borealis sky flows and changes, and the city lights are dazzling, like a dream.

Inside the innermost VIP room, named "Star Gazing Pavilion," a completely different scene unfolds.

The crystal chandelier cast a soft glow, illuminating the expensive crystal tableware and exquisite delicacies.

The atmosphere appeared warm and harmonious, but undercurrents were actually surging.

Chen Ming, director of the External Liaison Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, had a round, chubby face beaming with an almost overflowing smile.

He held a glass of amber-colored vintage wine in both hands, leaned forward, and bowed deeply as he respectfully addressed Fang Qingyu, who was seated at the head of the table:
"Captain Fang! Let me toast you! You and your team have worked so hard these past few days, dealing with all that trouble for the Jiang family! I, Chen Ming, have seen it all and appreciate it! I'll drink this one down, you can drink as you please!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back, downed the strong liquor in his glass in one gulp, his Adam's apple bobbed, and a deeper blush instantly rose to his face. He even exaggeratedly exhaled, as if he couldn't hold his liquor.

Fang Qingyu sat in the main seat, his expression calm.

His vertical pupils, like molten gold, appeared deep and unfathomable under the soft light of the private room.

With a perfectly measured smile on his face, he raised the almost untouched cup of tea in front of him and nodded slightly: "Director Chen, you're too kind. It's my duty, my responsibility."

He took a symbolic sip of tea, the movement casual and natural.

Setting down his teacup, Fang Qingyu's gaze seemingly casually fell on Chen Ming's face, as if inadvertently mentioning:
"By the way, Director Chen, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Chen Ming's smile remained unchanged, even becoming more enthusiastic. He patted his chest and said in a hearty voice:
"Oh, Captain Fang, you're too kind! Just tell me what you need! As long as it's something I, Chen Ming, can do, as long as it's something our Glazed Light City can provide, just ask! No questions asked! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

He thumped his chest loudly, looking as if he would do anything, even risk his life.

Fang Qingyu watched his performance, the smile on his lips seeming to deepen slightly, his tone remaining calm:

"It's not a big deal. It's just that we've already searched the areas in the south and west of the city, including the old ice house, several times, but we haven't found anything new yet. Searching for a needle in a haystack like this is too inefficient and wastes everyone's time."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Chen Ming's small, gleaming eyes.

"Our team recently received a personal invitation to take care of some personal matters, which may require us to leave Liuliguang City for a few days. So we would like to ask Director Chen for leave and temporarily put the search mission on hold."

The moment the words fell.

Chen Ming's smile was like solidified oil paint. For a fleeting moment, a barely perceptible look of astonishment and a glint of shrewdness flashed across the depths of his eyes, so fast that it was almost an illusion.

But then, the smile immediately returned like a tidal wave, even becoming more enthusiastic.

"Oh! So that's what it was about! No problem! No problem! I totally understand!"

Chen Ming waved his hand repeatedly, his tone full of "consideration" and "generosity".

"Captain Fang, you and your team members have done your best for the Jiang family, and your contributions are immense! Now that the trail has temporarily gone cold, it's only natural that you have personal matters to attend to, and that's perfectly understandable! How can we stop you?"

He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and spoke with a heartfelt sincerity:

"Don't worry! Go ahead! I'll have our internal affairs department keep an eye on Jiang Chengyue. We'll notify you immediately if there's any trouble! We won't delay your business! You can relax and focus on your personal matters!"

Fang Qingyu listened to his flawless and impeccable support, his smile unchanged, and he simply nodded slightly again: "Then thank you for your understanding, Director Chen."

"It should! It should!"

Chen Ming grinned from ear to ear, as if he had solved a huge problem.

After another round of toasts and drinks, the banquet finally ended in a superficially harmonious atmosphere.

Fang Qingyu and his group of five left the restaurant, their figures disappearing at the end of the brightly lit street.

The fawning and enthusiastic smile on Chen Ming's face vanished instantly, replaced by a coldness that mixed contempt, scheming, and relief.

He turned around and strode quickly toward the city lord's mansion, his steps so light he almost hummed a tune.

He returned to his office in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, an office piled high with various documents yet exceptionally tidy.

Chen Ming immediately picked up the internal encrypted communicator and connected to a channel with extremely high privileges.

"Report, the target team, Qingyu, just submitted a leave request to me at 'Peak of Eternal Day'."

Chen Ming's voice became respectful and calm, completely different from his voice at the dinner table just now.

"Oh? The reason?"

A deep, authoritative male voice came from the other end of the communicator; it was his direct superior, the powerful deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"The reason given was that the search for Jiang Chengyue was making no progress and was inefficient. They received a private invitation and had 'personal business' that required them to leave the city for a few days," Chen Ming quickly repeated, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "I approved it on the spot, showing great understanding and support."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the communicator, followed by a meaningful chuckle. "Personal business? A few days away from the city?"

The deputy minister's deep voice carried a knowing, amused tone, "This so-called private matter at this time is probably aimed at that glacial sea area fifty nautical miles northeast of 'Ice Ridge Fortress,' isn't it?"

Chen Ming immediately echoed, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible boasting: "That's what I thought too! The news has only been out for two days, and quite a few 'experts' have already gathered there. Who can resist the allure of the Martial Saint's Ruins? No matter how strong Fang Qingyu is, he is still a young and ambitious grandmaster who craves opportunities."

"very good."

The deputy minister gave a satisfied approving sound, then his voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a condescending indifference and a hint of cruel pleasure:

"Let them go."

"If it's going to rain, it'll rain; if a mother wants to remarry, she'll remarry. Since they're courting death by plunging into the murky waters of that 'Martial Saint's Ruins'..."

"Then let them be."

"Remember this, Chen Ming. Whatever happened to them there—whether they died in an attack by the Ghost of Fate, a collapse of the ruins, or some other accident"—you're sure to understand.

"Those were their own choices, and have absolutely nothing to do with our Glazed Light City or our Jiang family!"

"do you understand?"

Chen Ming straightened up, a knowing smile appearing on his face: "Your subordinate understands! Please rest assured, Minister."

The City of Glazed Light.

The "Crow" Hotel in the western part of the city.

Far from the glitz and glamour of the core area, the buildings here are relatively low and old, and the population is more complex and diverse, making it a natural place of seclusion.

At the end of the third-floor corridor, outside the door of an inconspicuous, ordinary suite.

Tuk-tuk-tuk.
A regular knocking sound rang out.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

A few seconds later, the door was pulled open just wide enough for one person to pass through.

A young face, also disguised and unremarkable, with a wary expression, peeked out.

When they saw Fang Qingyu and Wei Banmeng standing outside the door, their wariness instantly turned into surprise and respect.

"Squadron, please come in!"

He immediately pulled the door open completely and stepped aside to make way.

Fang Qingyu and Wei Banmeng slipped inside.

The door closed quickly behind him and was locked from the inside.

The curtains in the room were tightly closed, and only a dim wall lamp was on.

People were crammed together, sitting or standing, on sofas, chairs, and even carpets.

It was the entirety of the Shi Kong Squad and the Liu Hanyan Squad.

Everyone had undergone elaborate disguises, making them look completely different from their original selves.

However.
When Wei Banmeng's gaze swept over Liu Hanyan sitting on the sofa and Liu Qingyan leaning against her, even though she was mentally prepared, she almost couldn't hold back.

Liu Hanyan's signature cascading black hair had been replaced with dry, chestnut-colored short hair. Her face was covered in something, giving her a sallow complexion. Her eyebrows were drawn thick and dark, her nose appeared to have been modified, making it look somewhat flat, and her lips were completely bloodless.

Liu Qingyan fared even worse; her once lively girlish charm had vanished, leaving her looking like a malnourished little girl with timid eyes.

Wei Banmeng's lips twitched uncontrollably.

In the end, he couldn't help it, and a very short, soft laugh escaped from his lips.

"puff"

The soft laugh was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

The two sisters, Liu Hanyan and Liu Qingyan, stiffened at the same time.

Liu Hanyan slowly raised her head, her eyes, which were deliberately made to droop slightly with eyeliner but still couldn't hide their clarity, instantly locked onto Wei Banmeng, and flames of shame and indignation ignited within them.

Liu Qingyan blushed bright red, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Wei! Half! Dream!"

Liu Hanyan squeezed out three words through gritted teeth, then suddenly sprang up from the sofa, like an enraged female leopard, and pounced directly at Wei Banmeng!
Liu Qingyan followed closely behind, baring her teeth and brandishing her claws.

"Hey! Calm down! Maintain your composure! Your disguise is unbelievable!"

While laughing and dodging, Wei Banmeng reminded him, his aloof image completely gone.

The two girls no longer cared about their pretense or image; all they wanted was to strangle the "iceberg" who was mocking them.

A suppressed gasp, a low laugh, and the rustling of clothes suddenly filled the room.

Shi Kong touched his wig, which felt terrible to the touch.

He shook his head helplessly, but a smile remained on his face.

Fang Qingyu crossed his arms and leaned against the wall by the door. A hint of helplessness and a wry smile flashed across his molten gold vertical pupils, but he did not stop this brief outburst.

It went on for a full minute.

With Shi Kong and the other team members trying to suppress their laughter as they tried to mediate, the three girls finally separated, panting heavily.

Liu Hanyan angrily straightened her wig and collar, which had been pulled askew, and glared fiercely at Wei Banmeng.

Liu Qingyan, with her messy hair, shrank back to her sister's side, looking aggrieved.

The atmosphere became much more relaxed as a result.

Fang Qingyu then walked to the center of the room, his gaze sweeping over every face present.

Although their appearances have changed, the fighting spirit and determination burning deep in their eyes are still clearly discernible.

"All right."

Fang Qingyu's voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the room completely.

"Everyone should know who our target is this time, right?"

Shi Kong clasped his hands together, his eyes beneath the wig becoming serious and sharp, and said in a deep voice, "Of course I know. The ancestor of the Jiang family, Martial Saint Jiang Taixuan."

Liu Hanyan also composed herself and replied in a cold voice, "And some trash from the Jiang family."

"good."

Fang Qingyu nodded, a cold glint flashing in his molten gold vertical pupils. "The plan is simple. We don't need to take action within the Glazed Light City, nor do we need to force our way into the City Lord's Mansion."

"We just need to wait in the glacial sea area 50 nautical miles northeast of the former site of the 'Ice Ridge Fortress'."

"Wait?"

Shi Kong frowned immediately and asked in confusion, "Captain Fang, according to the information we received, that place is now attracting quite a few martial arts masters who have been drawn there by the 'Martial Saint Ruins'."

"With so many people around and the area so open, how can we locate and attack Jiang Taixuan in full view of everyone? Moreover, what if he hides his identity and blends in among them, or what if there's some special environment inside the ruins? The variables are too great!"

Liu Hanyan also looked worried and added, "Moreover, in that chaotic environment, we have to lock onto our target, avoid harming innocent people, and guard against Jiang Taixuan's possible backup plans and support from within the city. It's too difficult!"

Faced with their doubts, Fang Qingyu's strange smile reappeared on his face.

He slowly shook his head, his voice carrying a calmness that suggested he had a complete grasp of the situation:
"Captain Shikong, Captain Hanyan, you're overthinking it."

"First of all, there are no traces of the 'Frosty Dragon Martial Saint' in the depths of that sea."

"What?!!"

Shi Kong and Liu Hanyan were both speechless, and the team members behind them all stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"No ruins?" Liu Qingyan couldn't help but exclaim, "Then the news is false?"

"The news has indeed been released, but the ruins are fake."

Fang Qingyu affirmed.

Facing the shocked gazes of the crowd, he continued to drop even more bombshell information:

"Secondly, what do you think about those 'martial arts masters' who are attracted to the 'Martial Saint Ruins' and are gathering there?"

Are they real?

The room fell into a deathly silence.

You can hear the needle drop.

Everyone was stunned into a blank by this absurd question.

Not a real martial arts master?

what is that? !

"Team Leader, you mean—" Shi Kong felt his throat go dry, and his scalp tingled beneath his wig—"Those 'Grandmasters' who gathered there were all fake? They were bait?!"

"Part of the bait."

Fang Qingyu corrected him, his tone as calm as if he were talking about a trivial matter, "It was Deep Blue Heavy Industry's doing. They used the information released through their channels to guide people from the past."

Then his eyes swept over the crowd.

“If Jiang Taixuan knows this news, he will definitely come in person.”

"Because this is his only hope to prolong his life!"

The room fell silent again.

Using a fake ruin and a group of grandmasters as bait, they lured in a third-tier martial saint who was on his deathbed but still had a fierce and powerful aura!
This plan is absolutely insane!

Shi Kong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the pounding in his heart, and asked the most crucial question:
"Even if he comes, how can we locate him immediately? He will inevitably disguise himself, and may even use secret techniques to change his aura. If he manages to blend into the crowd, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Liu Hanyan also stared intently at Fang Qingyu.

This is also their biggest concern.

Fang Qingyu slowly opened his mouth, meeting everyone's gaze, his voice not loud.

"Don't worry about that."

“I can recognize him.”

"Now, the only question we need to consider is..."

"How do I kill him!?"

　I'm taking a day off; my thoughts are all jumbled up.
　　So today there's only a 6K update, private Marseille.

　　Then, I'd like to briefly mention the upcoming update plan. Next month, I'll be working on combining chapters, so I'll be writing three chapters a day; otherwise, my average daily subscriptions will drop drastically.
　　So please forgive me.

　　Finally, I hope you'll consider casting your monthly votes after seeing my 30,000-word update over the next few days!
　　Xiao Qiu is extremely grateful!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)