Thirteen's Machinations and Steve's Curious Nose

As Angie led her contingent towards Xue Ji's chambers, Du Chen likewise sauntered leisurely from the observation post.

"Mister Alex, where are you headed?" the sentinel inquired, perplexed.

"Oh, I've recalled something urgent; I must pursue Mister Chek!" Du Chen closed the door and stepped out. "Keep a keen watch on the Huhuhu Beasts' reactions. Should any anomaly arise, sound the alarm with all your might!"

The sentinel acknowledged, watching Du Chen depart. But upon turning back, he noticed a sudden pattern on the ground. Drawn with a foot, yet surprisingly neat, it vaguely resembled the shape of a nose.

The sentinel pondered, yet couldn't recall who might have drawn it. However, judging by its position, it seemed to have been sketched by Mister Bell Glynn, who had stood there moments before.

A profound perplexity gripped his heart. Hadn't Mister Bell Glynn departed in haste, anxious for Miss Heidi's well-being? How could he possibly find the inclination to doodle? Shrugging, the sentinel resumed observing the Huhuhu Beasts.

Twenty li beyond the bunker, Changxi, having been launched skyward, plummeted to the ground with a resounding *THUD*. Gray dust billowed outwards as a deep crater had been brutally gouged into the earth!

凭借着强横的实力, Changxi, with his formidable might, swished his tail and sprang back up. Seeing Pieres wantonly butchering his own troops, he immediately roared in fury, "Pieres, it was one thing to deny us the Violet-Bloods as sustenance, but now you slaughter our kin? You, you are truly Heh-gakka!"

Pieres, who had been scattering that squad of Huhuhu Beasts, spun his head around upon hearing this, snarling, "You benighted fool! If you cannot comprehend this Heh-gakka's intentions, then perish!" With that, he violently whipped his head, and the verdant liquid from the back of his head shot forth towards Changxi!

Changxi, tumbling and scrambling, narrowly evaded it, shouting, "Brothers, if this continues, we shall not only starve but also be utterly annihilated by this Heh-gakka king! Do not wait for death! Charge with me! Kill Pieres, and I shall be king, then lead you to feast upon the Heh-gakka Violet-Bloods!"

"Heh-gakka, you wish to betray me!?" Pieres exploded in wrath. Yet, glancing around, he saw a small squad under Changxi's command actually charging forward. "Kill him! Let the Heh-gakka Changxi be king!"

Eight to nine thousand Huhuhu Beasts surged forward like a roaring tsunami, their target—Pieres's colossal, mountain-like tail!

Pieres strenuously swept his tail leftward, instantly reducing a vast swathe of Huhuhu Beasts on his left flank to pulverized pulp, clearing a large area. Yet, following the momentum of his sweep, hundreds of Huhuhu Beasts on his right flank clamped down on his tail, snapping and gnashing.

"Heh-gakka!!" Pieres roared skyward in agony, hastily sweeping his tail rightward again, attempting to fling off his kinsmen who clung to his tail with deadly resolve. But just as his tail veered right, the space he had just cleared on his left was immediately filled by Huhuhu Beasts, who, using his sweeping motion to their advantage, swarmed him from the undefended left side.

Strike left, and Huhuhu Beasts bit from the right; strike right, and Huhuhu Beasts bit from the left! Even one as formidable as Pieres found his tail, in mere moments, covered in a dense network of lacerations!

*THUMP, THUMP!*

The green light behind Pieres's head pulsed, seemingly accumulating power. Simultaneously, he thrashed his tail madly, yet the Huhuhu Beasts grew even more frenzied. For every ten he crushed, a hundred more surged forward! In an instant, corpses were strewn across the ground, and Pieres's movements perceptibly slowed.

Pieres let out a low growl, "Die! Every traitor in this squad shall perish!" Suddenly, his colossal frame shuddered, and the green liquid behind his head, fully charged, shot skyward like a geyser. Following that, it descended gently from the heavens like a drizzle, covering an area of four to five hundred meters, precisely enveloping all the rebellious Huhuhu Beasts.

The rain appeared clear and gentle, but to the Huhuhu Beasts it was no less than the grim reaper's scythe. One Huhuhu Beast, still biting Pieres's tail, felt a drop hit its head, followed by a *BOOM*, and its head detonated. Nearly all Huhuhu Beasts covered by the rain met the same fate. Changxi hastily shouted, "Grab corpses to shield yourselves from the rain! Burrow underground... just don't touch the rain!" Fortunately, his warning came in time, but after that single downpour, more than two thousand of the eight to nine thousand Huhuhu Beasts lay dead!

Pieres was, after all, a Tenth-rank Aberrant Beast!

Seeing his rebellious forces reduced by two to three tenths under the combined onslaught of the rain and his colossal tail, Pieres let a frigid sneer touch his lips. "Traitors, you must die!" As he spoke, the green liquid behind his head once again began to coalesce. Enduring the painful bites to his body, Pieres accumulated power for a moment. Then, emerald green rain once more descended from the heavens, and the Huhuhu Beasts surrounding him fell like reaped wheat... But this time, the power of Pieres's rain was also diminished by two to three tenths, eliminating only a thousand or so Huhuhu Beasts nearby.

The power of a Tenth-rank Aberrant Beast was not limitless; after all, he was still not a miraculous being of inexhaustible power!

Changxi watched as nearly half of his forces were annihilated, growing desperate. He roared, "Fellow Huhuhu Beasts, shall we continue to revere this Heh-gakka king? Look at what he has done these past few days! We could easily defeat the Violet-Bloods, yet Pieres not only denies us food but also forces us to our deaths on the battlefield... Is this how a king should lead?"

Among the onlookers, several Huhuhu Beasts were visibly swayed.

Changxi continued to roar, "Yes, we all understand Pieres's meaning: if all the Violet-Bloods die, we too shall starve! But if Pieres remains king, we shall be slaughtered by him before we even have a chance to starve!" He raised his tail high. "Behold! Besides Pieres, my tail is the largest! Slay Pieres, and I shall be king! I vow that within the span of a single hourglass, I shall lead you to storm Brockman Bunker! If I fail, you may devour me!"

"Heh-gakka, Changxi! I'm with you!" a Huhuhu Beast General roared in resounding agreement. "My ten thousand brothers, let us slay Pieres and devour all the Violet-Bloods!"

"Kill Pieres!"

"Kill!"

Nearly two million Huhuhu Beasts stirred as one, surging simultaneously towards Pieres!

Pieres was stunned speechless. This, this was incomparable to the mere eight or nine thousand earlier. Two million – what concept was that? With a single glance, he saw no end to them on the vast, gray plain!

Struggling desperately, Pieres thrashed his tail while the green liquid atop his head began to coalesce, attempting to unleash another 'drizzle.' But just as a minuscule amount of green liquid oozed forth, a coordinated squad of Huhuhu Beasts savagely tore away a large swath of flesh from his tail. He shuddered in agony, and the green liquid atop his head became too enfeebled to coalesce. To accumulate power? To unleash a large-scale strike? Would two million Huhuhu Beasts grant you such an opportunity? Even if you managed it, how many Huhuhu Beasts could your remaining strength truly fell?

Pieres was in too much pain to concentrate on coalescing the green liquid, able only to wildly thrash his tail, hoping to carve out an escape route. Swathes of Huhuhu Beasts fell dead around him, yet Pieres's movements gradually slowed...

He slowed, but the Huhuhu Beasts grew swifter! Bite after bite, Pieres's flesh and blood flew amidst the frenzy. Finally, as his tail was savagely bitten clean off, his small head dropped lifelessly to the ground, followed by countless Huhuhu Beasts swarming upon him, snapping and gnashing...

Pieres mumbled, his final words: "I... I did it for the entire Huhuhu Beast race... Heh-gakka, why...?"

*CRUNCH!*

Changxi leaped onto Pieres's body, bit off his head, and roared, "I, Changxi, am the Heh-gakka King! My subjects, follow me to feast!"

Like mountains toppling and seas overturning, the Huhuhu Beasts surged towards Brockman Bunker!

Inside the bunker's observation post, a Brockman sentinel immediately plunged into a panic, hastily asking, "Mister Alex, the Huhuhu Beasts are attacking, and we... Confound it, Mister Alex has already departed!"

The sentinel only recalled Mister Alex leaving to chase Chek; the other sentinels knew nothing. He wailed inwardly, "Heavens, Mister Alex remains oblivious to the change in the Huhuhu Beasts' leadership and their imminent onslaught!" He stamped his foot in agitation, then could only throw open the door and shout, "Alarm, alarm! Quickly, find Mister Alex! The Huhuhu Beasts have changed leaders and are advancing with full force!"

At this critical juncture, where had Du Chen gone?

...

Meanwhile, Angie, accompanied by her retinue, arrived before Xue Ji's bedchamber. The group, six in total, comprised influential elites from the third generation.

"Angie, what is your intention?" Standing guard at Xue Ji's door today was Chek's sixth brother, and Angie's Uncle Six. By virtue of this relation, the Brockman family had diligently fulfilled Du Chen's command to "ensure Xue Ji's safety."

Angie smiled subtly. "Uncle Six, we have come to visit Madam Xue Ji!"

Uncle Six looked at the group. "Mister Alex has instructed that Madam Xue Ji is unwell and is receiving no visitors. Please return!"

Angie refused to budge, instead pressing closer to her Uncle Six, apologizing, "Uncle, you see, a few days ago, I committed an act that incensed Madam Xue Ji. Now I understand my error. Please, will you permit me to enter and offer my apologies to Madam Xue Ji?"

Her humble and earnest demeanor softened the expression on Uncle Six's face somewhat. Yet he still shook his head stubbornly. "No, Mister Alex has expressly forbidden anyone from disturbing Madam Xue Ji without his permission!"

Angie pleaded, "Uncle Six, I am only going to apologize..."

Uncle Six firmly waved his hand. "If you wish to apologize, compose a letter, and I can convey it for you, but an audience is out of the question!"

"Is that so?" Angie's expression abruptly turned frigid. A dagger suddenly flashed out from an oblique angle, piercing "Pffft!" deep into her unsuspecting uncle's heart. "Then, Uncle Six, Angie truly apologizes for this!" Simultaneously, the companions who arrived with Angie instantly moved to subdue the other guards!

Immediately after, more than twenty third-generation members arrived from various directions. "Third Sister, all our younger siblings have arrived, and every checkpoint along the route has been secured. What are your commands now?"

According to the original plan, Thirteen would first capture Angie's third grand-uncle, then, using his guise and Heidi as a pretext, separately lure Bell Glynn away. Since both were injured, Thirteen was confident in dealing with the isolated Bell Glynn, and, catching him unawares, either slay or capture him!

Simultaneously, Angie would lead her people to capture Xue Ji alive. Neither faction would provoke Alex. Instead, after achieving their respective objectives, they would proceed to the subterranean passages connected to the life-wall, where Fourteen would be awaiting them! With Xue Ji and Bell Glynn in hand, would Alex not obediently embrace death or surrender?

This was the comprehensive plan agreed upon by Angie and Thirteen. It seemed flawless, simple yet effective!

With a resounding *CLANG*, Angie kicked open the door, still thinking, *Once Xue Ji is secured, I'll leave a letter for Alex, then rendezvous with Fourteen in the subterranean passages. Captain Thirteen, too, must have already dealt with Bell Glynn, right? Heh heh!* Her mind was already conjuring the scene: Alex's panic upon discovering Xue Ji's disappearance with only a letter remaining on the carpet, and his pathetic, obedient surrender according to its instructions!

But a swift glance at the bedroom's interior sent a jolt of shock through Angie. Where was Xue Ji?

The bedchamber was empty, save for a tiny Precious Lotus Scripture gently glowing upon the carpet. Angie was momentarily stunned, then hastily summoned her people, and cautiously, under the protection of several guards, approached the Precious Lotus Scripture. "Fourth Brother, examine this Precious Lotus Scripture!"

A youth somewhat reluctantly circled the Precious Lotus Scripture a few times. "My father once spoke of this. It's Alex's sacred artifact, wondrous beyond measure. It could not only heal but also shift in size, and even the individual within it would transform accordingly..." He gently touched the Precious Lotus Scripture. Receiving no reaction, a slight ease settled in his heart, and only then did he dare to examine it boldly, exclaiming, "Third Sister, look, is that not Xue Ji inside!?"

Angie rushed over. Inside the tiny Precious Lotus Scripture, a person seemed to be meditating, dressed and adorned much like Xue Ji in meditation and healing. But... the Precious Lotus Scripture was truly minuscule; the Lotus Pedestal was no larger than an insect. How sizable could the person seated within truly be?

Angie strained her vision, peering from left to right, up and down. She even inverted the Precious Lotus Scripture, shaking it, but the Xue Ji within remained utterly unresponsive.

"It must be Xue Ji!" Angie, undecided, could only clutch the Precious Lotus Scripture tightly in her hand. "Captain Thirteen must have already achieved success. We must quickly proceed to the subterranean passages and rendezvous with both Captains, then let them decide how to handle this Precious Lotus Scripture!" With that, she took a letter from her bosom, tossed it onto the carpet, and led her people out of the bedchamber.

It was the same passage, only five to six hundred meters deep from the cavern. Factoring in the winding, circuitous tunnels, Angie would need to travel three to four kilometers.

With the checkpoints along the route already controlled by the third generation, Angie, preoccupied, led her group in a hurried dash. But after less than two kilometers, someone ahead roared, "Angie, you... you actually did such a thing! From this day forth, I have no daughter!"

Angie was startled. From around the corner emerged three figures: Steve, Du Chen, and Chek! However, Chek, upon appearing, immediately clasped his hands behind his back and walked away, his meaning clear: "This daughter is yours to execute or mutilate as you see fit; I wash my hands of the matter!"

And Thirteen, who was supposed to be captured or slain by Steve... was currently slung over Steve's shoulder, with this libertine's lecherous hands relentlessly sneaking in a few illicit caresses upon her tender flesh. Afterward, he mimicked Du Chen's habitual gesture, rubbing his nose, a satisfied bliss gracing his features.

Alex's expression was peculiar. In Angie's memory, Alex had always been refined, gentle, and solemnly dignified. Yet the man before her... why did he resemble a common ruffian?

"Miss Angie!" Du Chen bowed slightly. He spoke with an air of refined nobility, "It is my honor to inform you that since there are no outsiders present, I shall dispense with the aristocratic pretense... In this one's entire life, nothing is more detestable than someone daring to lay hands upon my woman! Little girl, this is hardly the way to seek death!"