Desperate people, accept the seed of my soul!

Gwangyang City, late at night.

When Tao Yongnian came out of the club, he was already quite drunk.

He pushed away the hostess who was helping him and staggered across the street.

The driver offered to take him, but he waved him away—it's just a few steps, across the street is the back gate of the community, why would he need to?

Besides, he doesn't want to see anyone right now; he just wants to be alone.

The night wind rushed into my collar, the alcohol made me feel dizzy, and my steps became even more unsteady.

He is 48 years old this year and is the deputy general manager of Longteng Power Company, and Sun Guangcheng's direct superior.

As Tao Yongnian walked on the sidewalk, Sun Guangcheng kept replaying in his mind.

Guangcheng has been with him for twenty years.

For twenty years, he followed him from the lowest level of salesman to the position of vice president, working tirelessly and without complaint.

There are some things that are inconvenient for outsiders to know, so Guangcheng does them.

Not just subordinates.

They are people who are closer than subordinates.

No one knows what Tao Yongnian really wants.

His wife didn't know, his children didn't know, and his obsequious subordinates at the company knew even less.

Only Guangcheng knew.

He can tell what he wants with just a glance, and he can get things done without saying a word.

Those hands that supported him after late-night socializing, those blankets that were warmed for him—

They're all gone now.

He was electrocuted to death on the platform by that electrician.

Tao Yongnian gritted his teeth, his eyes stinging.

Liu Zhen.

That ungrateful wretch.

When the company took on the power grid renovation project for that area in the new district, there were important figures from the provincial government behind it.

The project itself is fine; the problem is the budget—someone wants to skim off the top of the chain, using inferior materials to save costs and pocket the money.

Liu Zhen is a senior electrical engineer in the project team.

He has excellent skills and seniority, having worked at the company for fifteen years.

All he has to do is nod, sign, and take the money, and the deal is done.

But he didn't nod.

Tao Yongnian remembers what Liu Zhen looked like in his office that day.

A man in his forties stood in front of his desk, neither humble nor arrogant.

"If this project is constructed according to the current design, an accident is bound to occur within three years. Who will be responsible if an accident happens then?"

Tao Yongnian tried to persuade him at the time: "Engineer Liu, you are a key technical personnel, the company will not treat you unfairly. This matter was arranged by the higher-ups, just do as they say, if the sky falls, someone taller will hold it up."

Liu Zhen shook his head.

"I'm paid this salary, so I should do things that are worthy of it."

"I won't take the money, and I won't say anything about it. I'll just pretend I don't know anything."

He left after he finished speaking.

Naive.

too naive.

In that position, do you think you can simply remain untainted?

Even if you don't take the money or sign the agreement, the project will still proceed.

But if you know the inside story but refuse to get involved—that's the biggest hidden danger.

How do we explain this to the important figures?

Who would dare to trust someone who doesn't obey orders to be in such a crucial position?

If you don't take the money, how can anyone believe you won't tell anyone?

If you don't sign, how can anyone dare to let you stay on the project?

Later, the chairman remarked, "This person is a bit of a nuisance."

Tao Yongnian could only nod: "Understood, I'll handle it."

His idea was to transfer Liu Zhen to an insignificant, idle position, and then make further arrangements after the project was completed.

He never intended to kill anyone.

But Ma Gang, that reckless brute...

Tao Yongnian closed his eyes, and the scene from that day reappeared before him.

Liu Zhen's wife and son.

Ma Gang originally just wanted to create an "accident" so that Liu Zhen wouldn't have the energy to keep an eye on the project.

As a result, the brake lines were cut too sharply, and the car was going too fast, causing it to veer off the slope while turning.

The mother and child died on the spot.

When Tao Yongnian received the news, the cigarette in his hand fell directly onto his pants.

He didn't want it to be like this.

He really didn't want it to be like this.

But what's done is done, and he can only clean up the mess.

After that incident, they spent a huge amount of money to suppress it.

I thought that was the end of it.

Who knew that Liu Zhen would disappear for half a month, then suddenly return and electrocute Sun Guangcheng to death in public.

Guangcheng...

Tao Yongnian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

What did Guangcheng do wrong?

He didn't do that; he just provided the information.

What gave Liu Zhen the right to attack him?

Tao Yongnian's eyes were red-rimmed as he looked up at the dark night sky.

Liu Zhen must be a homeless dog by now.

The Guangyang Municipal Public Security Bureau issued a notice for assistance in the investigation, and the Chenxi Municipal Public Security Bureau is also cooperating in the investigation.

Where can a wanted man like him hide? How long can he hide?

They'll be caught sooner or later.

He wanted to see Liu Zhen sentenced to death and watch that scumbag being led to the execution ground.

As Tao Yongnian's thoughts wandered, he turned into the alley leading home.

In the alley, the dim yellow streetlights spread out in the night, illuminating a human-shaped silhouette.

The man was leaning against a telephone pole, wearing a black jacket with the collar turned up, obscuring half his face.

Strangely, arcs of eerie blue electricity danced on the man's fingertips, flickering as if he were breathing.

Tao Yongnian squinted.

That figure, that posture—

Liu Zhen.

He laughed out loud.

He really drank too much.

They've all started hallucinating from drinking.

Wasn't Liu Zhen wanted by the police?

And there's an electric arc on his hand?

That's so fake.

He staggered forward, his feet feeling unsteady, but the fire in his heart burned ever brighter.

Guangcheng's face kept flashing through my mind.

"Yo."

Tao Yongnian walked up to the "illusion" Liu Zhen and stood still, tilting his head to look him over.

"I thought it was someone else."

The electric arc was still jumping.

"Liu Zhen," he spat, "you fucking dare stand in front of me?"

No one answered him.

Tao Yongnian took half a step forward, exhaling a strong smell of alcohol.

"Go ahead and hide. Keep hiding. The Guangyang City Police are looking for you, and people in Chenxi City are watching you too. How long can you hide? A month? Two months?"

He laughed, and his laughter sounded particularly jarring in the empty alley.

"He'll be caught sooner or later. Sentenced to death and taken to the execution ground."

He pointed at the figure, tapping his finger in the air a few times.

"I'll sit in the first row. I'll sit in the first row."

"Watching you get pressed down."

"I'm looking at the gun pointed at the back of your head."

"Watching your head explode."

Tao Yongnian narrowed his eyes and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Guangcheng is waiting for you underground. He's waiting..."

Before he could finish speaking...

Liu Zhen slowly raised his blue-glowing hand and swung it sharply at Tao Yongnian.

The arc of electricity that danced between his fingertips flew out of his hand, drawing a dark blue arc in the air before precisely entering the connector at the top of the utility pole behind him.

The next second—

"Sizzle—!"

A loud bang exploded in the air.

The stationary power line seemed to be awakened by some invisible force, and a blinding arc of electricity shot out from it like a raging python!

They seemed to have eyes and went straight for Tao Yongnian's right arm!

"ah--!!!"

A heart-wrenching scream tore through the night sky.

High-voltage current circulated through his right arm.

It neither goes upstream nor downstream, but is locked in that section of flesh.

High-voltage current drilled into the flesh, scorching the hair; the excruciating pain felt like countless red-hot steel needles piercing deep into the nerves at the same time.

The smell of burning filled the air.