One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Nie Lingfeng slowly exhaled a breath of scorching air, the killing intent and anger in his heart subsiding slightly, but the heavy sense of urgency and responsibility grew even heavier. Live experimental subjects… perfect containers… coordinate anchor points… the “Council” and that so-called “Master” have enormous ambitions, and their methods are utterly cruel! They must be stopped!

"Duoduo, are you alright?" Nie Lingfeng turned around and looked at Chen Duo, his tone softening. Chen Duo's face was still pale; the battle and the information she had just heard had clearly had a significant impact on her. She shook her head and whispered, "I'm fine, Nie Lingfeng. It's just... those 'people' in there... they're so pitiful." She was referring to the innocent people who had been treated as "goods" and "experimental subjects."

Nie Lingfeng felt a pang of pain in his heart and stroked her hair: "Yes, that's why we need to go in and see if we can... rescue them."

"Let's go, to that main mine shaft number three." Wang Ye stretched, as if he had just done a warm-up. "The sooner we finish, the sooner we can call it a day. This awful place is making me uncomfortable. But..." He glanced at the altar, then at the spot where Wu Dengsheng had turned to ashes, and pursed his lips. "This 'Blood Buddha' has quite the reputation, but is this all he has? Besides this skeleton emitting black flames and a bunch of ugly underlings, doesn't he have any treasures hidden away? Like... those fragments of 'Holy Blood Crystals' he mentioned?"

Upon hearing this, Nie Lingfeng's heart stirred. Indeed, the power contained within the fragments of the "Holy Blood Crystal" and the information about its contamination might provide more clues about the "Council" and the "Lord." He walked to the altar and carefully sensed it. The altar itself was built of ordinary rocks and bones, and its core energy source and dark red flames seemed to depend on an energy source embedded somewhere inside the altar. He pointed his fingers like a sword, and dark golden flames condensed at his fingertips as he carefully cut and excavated at a point on the altar's base where the energy fluctuations were most concentrated.

Soon, he extracted three irregular crystals, each about the size of a fingernail, dark red in color, with what appeared to be viscous blood slowly flowing inside, emanating a strong aura of malevolent energy and ominousness, from the rock. These were the fragments of the "Holy Blood Crystal" that Wu Dengsheng had mentioned! Similar to those he had seen at the Yaoxing Society base and at Yan Ben's place, but seemingly more active and unstable in energy, and containing a stronger, more chaotic corrupting force. Holding them, one could feel a cold, malevolent intent stirring within, attempting to penetrate to the very marrow and soul.

"Is this it?" Wang Ye leaned closer for a look, his brow furrowing slightly. "The energy properties are very strange, chaotic yet carrying a kind of... high-level contamination. It seems that so-called 'Master' isn't exactly a good person. What do you plan to do with this?"

Nie Lingfeng thought for a moment, then took out a specially made small bag from his backpack, made of some kind of insulating and sealing material. He carefully put the three fragments of "Holy Blood Crystal" inside and sealed it. "Keep it for now, it might be useful later, or... give it to the 'Company' for research. But be careful not to let it be contaminated by the power inside."

"Alright, keep it safe." Wang Ye didn't care; he was more concerned about the next move. "The 'live cargo' and that 'messenger' are the key. According to that 'Blood Buddha,' the place is heavily guarded, with traps and surveillance. Forcing our way in might alert them, and if that 'messenger' gets desperate and destroys the 'cargo' or triggers some self-destruct sequence, we'll be in trouble."

"What are your thoughts?" Nie Lingfeng asked. He knew Wang Ye was full of clever ideas.

"As for the idea..." Wang Ye stroked his chin, a sly glint in his eyes. "Wasn't that 'Blood Buddha' just dead? We've wiped out most of his men, but there are definitely still stragglers in other parts of the mine. The guards in the lab probably haven't received any definite news yet. We can... impersonate him."

"Impersonating?" Nie Lingfeng was taken aback.

"Right, impersonate the 'Blood Buddha,' or... just impersonate a 'messenger' sent by the 'Blood Buddha' himself?" Wang Ye laughed. "Just say there's an emergency outside (like unusual activity by the Chinese border guards, or an attack by other armed forces), and General 'Blood Buddha' requests the 'messenger' to come and discuss it. We can take the opportunity to sneak in, or at least get close to the laboratory and see what's going on inside. Once we're inside and see the 'messenger' and the 'goods,' the rest... will be easy."

Nie Lingfeng pondered for a moment and felt that although the plan was risky, it was indeed more likely to achieve the objective while preserving the "goods" (those innocent experimental subjects) than a direct assault. They were currently wearing tattered work clothes belonging to "Blood Buddha's" men (stained with blood and dust), disguised as panicked messengers, which was plausible. The key was to fool the guards, especially the mysterious "messenger."

"We can give it a try," Nie Lingfeng nodded. "But we need to agree on a story, and we need to be quick, before the news spreads completely."

"Then it's settled!" Wang Ye clapped his hands. "I'll be in charge of persuading, oh no, I mean negotiating. Old Nie, you have the presence to back it up, play the tough little boss. As for little Chen Duo..." He looked at Chen Duo, and Chen Duo immediately straightened her little body, looking at him with her emerald green eyes, as if to say, "I can help too."

"Little Chen Duo, just stick close to Lao Nie, keep your head down as much as possible, don't let anyone see your eyes, just act like a scared little follower. Remember, unless a fight breaks out, don't use your 'fire' easily, it's too conspicuous."

"Yes!" Chen Duo nodded vigorously, indicating that she understood.

The three quickly cleaned up the scene, trying to erase the obvious traces of "Blood Buddha's" death (although he was burned to ashes, the traces of the battle were still there), and then, following the directions given by Wu Dengsheng, they stealthily headed towards the depths of the mine, towards the so-called "Main Mine Cave No. 3".

The further you go in, the more obvious the signs of artificial excavation become in the mine. The passages also become more orderly, and you can even see the laid electrical wires and ventilation ducts. The "filth" and evil aura in the air seems to have faded a bit, but there is a new, pungent smell of disinfectant, formaldehyde, and some strange, mixed smell of blood and biochemical agents, reminiscent of a hospital morgue or... a laboratory.

They encountered two scattered patrols on the way, but were fooled by the excuse that "the general has urgent orders to meet the envoy." The armed patrolling men, seeing that they were wearing "their own" clothes and were in a hurry, were somewhat suspicious (especially after glancing at the unfamiliar Chen Duo), but under Wang Ye's half-serious, half-anxious performance and Nie Lingfeng's deliberately released hint of the fierce aura of a "small leader," they did not stop them too much, only reminding them that the area ahead was a restricted zone and to be careful.

Finally, after turning several corners and passing through a heavy iron gate guarded by soldiers and requiring a password, they arrived at the entrance area of ​​"Main Mine No. 3".

The scene here was completely different from the dilapidated shacks and dimly lit mine tunnels outside. The passageway had been widened and reinforced, the walls painted a stark white, and bright fluorescent lights overhead illuminated everything in perfect detail. The air was thick with the pungent smell of disinfectant and biochemical agents. At the entrance was a heavy, high-tech-looking alloy sealed door, equipped with a camera and a communicator. On either side of the door, four guards in black combat uniforms, fully armed, wearing gas masks, and with icy eyes, stood like javelins, their guns subtly pointing towards the passageway. Judging from the aura emanating from them, they were undoubtedly highly trained and battle-hardened elites, far superior to the ragtag soldiers outside! They must be the "Shadow Guards" or direct guard unit that Wu Dengsheng had mentioned.

As Nie Lingfeng and his companions approached, the four guards almost simultaneously raised their guns and aimed at them. One of them, seemingly the leader, asked in a cold, emotionless voice (transmitted through the communicator on his gas mask): "Password! Identity! Purpose!"

Wang Ye immediately stepped forward, his face contorted with "anxiety and fear" (he acted quite convincingly), and quickly said in Mandarin with a northern Burmese accent: "Urgent military situation! There is a large-scale gathering of unidentified armed forces outside, suspected to be unusual activity by the Chinese border guards! General U Thein Sein requests that you, 'messenger,' go to the command post immediately to discuss countermeasures! This is the general's order!" As he spoke, he pretended to rummage in his pocket, while simultaneously gesturing to Nie Lingfeng with his eyes.

Nie Lingfeng understood, immediately straightening his face and revealing a hint of the fierceness and impatience befitting a "junior leader," as he shouted, "Hurry up and report! If you delay military intelligence, can you bear the general's wrath?!"

The guard captain's cold gaze swept over the three men, lingering for a moment on Chen Duo, who was bowing her head and trembling slightly (a feigned tremor), as if assessing her. He clearly recognized some of "Blood Buddha" Wu Dengsheng's men, but he was somewhat suspicious of Nie Lingfeng and Wang Ye, these two unfamiliar faces. However, the news of "unusual movements by the Chinese border guards" was indeed explosive enough that he couldn't afford to ignore it.

"Wait here, I need to check with the inside." The guard chief said coldly, then walked to the communicator by the door, pressed the call button, and reported in a low voice.

Nie Lingfeng and his companions tensed slightly; success or failure hinged on this moment. If the "messenger" or the guard leader inside tried to speak directly with the "Blood Buddha" or demand more detailed verification, their plan would be exposed.

Time seemed to slow down. A few seconds later, a hoarse, strange, almost synthesized voice came through the communicator, indistinguishable in gender or emotion: "Tell them... to wait outside. I... will come out myself."

The guard captain responded, shut down the communication, and then said to Nie Lingfeng and the other two, "The envoy is coming out in person. You must wait here and not make any rash moves!"