Chapter 168: You’ve Already Chosen Your Path to Destruction! - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

### Chapter 168: You’ve Already Chosen Your Path to Destruction! "Leader Yue, it seems we've arrived a tad too late." Looking at the empty safe house before them, one of Lin Yue's subordinates couldn't help but frown. To be fair, they hadn't been slow, yet clearly, Shen He had made a speedy escape. This left the members of "Sparks" feeling somewhat frustrated—even though Lin Yue hadn't fully disclosed what had transpired, there were plenty of witnesses when Lin Xing was kidnapped by Xu Shi. Considering everything that had happened recently, everyone had some understanding of the situation. Thus, not only was Lin Yue concerned about Lin Xing's welfare, but so were they. The truth was, the pair of sisters had won many hearts over time, and if anything, Lin Xing perhaps wielded even more influence than Lin Yue... As for temporarily switching sides to capture Shen He, who previously sought their alliance, it didn't weigh heavily on their conscience given the circumstances. "Should we search the area?" Someone tentatively inquired. “...Alright.” Lin Yue paused briefly before nodding, “Once you see any trace of him, control the situation right away.” Despite having inner turmoil earlier, she'd gradually come to terms with her emotions. Certain things, when left unspoken, become glaringly obvious once Xu Shi casually addresses them. Her sister meant more to her than Shen He, that much was clear now—Shen He had also been guarding against her. Although forced to feign cooperation due to Xu Shi's threats, these issues didn’t conflict... right? Upon reflection, this may have been destined from the moment they parted ways. With that in mind, failing to catch Shen He wasn't a relief, but a regret... Knowing Xu Shi's devilish nature, she understood that even capturing Shen He wouldn’t guarantee her sister's release, let alone when they arrived too late. Tsk… Feeling restless like a disturbed assassin, there seemed to be a weight pressing on her chest. So then, where had Shen He gone? "Brother, what's happened to you?" Seeing a disheveled Shen He stumbling towards her, Shen Qin immediately felt an ominous premonition. "...I’m alright, just that my previous plans have been sabotaged." Shen He waved his hand dismissively, panting heavily, his eyes filled with venom. Xu Shi had only crushed him within the game; in reality, he wasn’t entirely defeated yet. However, the severe setbacks in the virtual world had seemingly affected him physically—just as he had planned to weaken or even incapacitate Xu Shi by defeating him in the game, he ended up being the one restrained. “What?" Shen Qin was shocked, “Brother, are you saying Xu Shi... how is that possible?” Their plan to affect the citizens of City of Night's Sin through "Divine Descent" was known only to the siblings, and was executed with utmost secrecy. How could it have been exposed? Yet, the reality was undeniable, leaving her momentarily incredulous. Moreover, she wasn’t aware that this incredulity was breeding a deeper fear within her—"Entropy of Malice" was taking its toll. Despite her efforts to suppress its effects, Xu Shi’s influence was all-pervasive, always poised to erode her resolve. Hiss. "This is no time to be tangled in this." Shen He shook his head; he hadn't figured it out himself, yet the event had transpired, leaving no room for complaint. "Get everyone in motion, and remember, this matter must not be disclosed to anyone." He calmed his breathing, issuing directives reluctantly, "The inspections are still outside the city; we still have a chance." Despite saying so, his confidence had waned slightly... If Xu Shi could even uncover their most clandestine plans, outside prospects seemed grim. Yet, with a bow that had already been drawn, there was no turning back—should he simply surrender? How could he possibly accept that? The only option was to fight valiantly, hoping for success. "Understood." Shen Qin agreed wholeheartedly and promptly relayed the message to Long Tian Ding and Lin Wen Hua. "I’ll stay here with you, brother. You look so frail now, I’m worried about leaving you alone." After arranging everything, she expressed her concern once more. "…No need, given our current predicament, your presence on the frontline is indispensable." Shen He felt touched, but after a brief pause, he shook his head, "Don’t focus all your energy on me, leave just a few people." "Brother..." "Enough, follow my instructions." Shen He’s tone was resolute. "Then... very well." Shen Qin had no choice but to comply. "Good, the rest is up to you." Shen He smiled at her, but whispered in a lowered voice before she left, "If things take a turn for the worse, return swiftly... as long as there's life, there's hope." “…I understand.” Shen Qin paused, then quietly acknowledged. Though her demeanor showed no change, she knew the situation was more dire than she had imagined when Shen He uttered those words. When a leader prepares for failure and possible retreat, the gravity of the situation is unmistakable. Yet even so, she… would not concede. Not even when hope seemed dim. …… To be fair, the “Forgotten” had their plans meticulously laid out. While parties maneuvered against one another, chaos erupted within the city. Explosions reverberated throughout City of the Night’s Sin simultaneously. Those were explosives they had planted beforehand. “What the heck is going on?!” The unsuspecting passersby were thrown into a frenzy by the sudden blasts. Some, less fortunate, were caught in the explosion’s aftermath, languishing weakly amidst the rubble, painting an eerie sight. But that was only the beginning. As panic ensued, an armed group appeared from all directions. Without uttering a word, they raised their weapons and unleashed indiscriminate fire upon those before them. “... Help, help!” An already jittery populace of City of Night's Sin descended into chaos as the crisis unfolded. In no time, the blend of explosive blasts, muzzle flashes, the surrounding ruins, along with the screams and wails, painted a hellish tableau. “Where is the Inspection Bureau? Where are their agents?” Someone miraculously managed to escape and, belatedly realizing the situation, shakily activated their communication wristband, attempting to call for help. Unfortunately, regardless of their pleas, it was as if they had vanished into thin air, receiving no response. “They’re not coming.” Before long, the armed assailants found him, mocking him through their masks with a muffled sneer. “You high and mighty scum probably never imagined you’d end up like this, huh?” “You're... the 'Forgotten'!?” Recognizing the identity of the instigators, realization dawned on the victim. Before he could say more, a bullet ended his life abruptly. The aggressors lacked any semblance of mercy; in fact, their concealed expressions grew all the more fervent upon witnessing the chaos unfold. Since their arrival in City of Night's Sin, they had always endured second-rate treatment—not only ridiculed and discriminated against online but also subjected to various forms of sabotage due to their status. Thus, when Shen Qin and Zhao Yuan approached them, many willingly participated in the operation, seeking vengeance. Everything transpiring now undoubtedly satisfied them, making their previous humiliations trivial by comparison. "Keep going, guys! Wipe them out!" “The boss I work for isn’t a decent person; maybe we should take him out first.” They brazenly conspired, “His daughter is actually quite pretty, maybe…” “Oh ho ho!” “...Do we really have to work with people like this?” The team wasn’t composed solely of "the Forgotten"; it also included operatives from "Shark Fang." Uncomfortable with the talk from the perpetrators, this faction couldn’t listen any longer. After all, they had differing agendas, only joining forces due to superior directives, but their hearts weren’t aligned. "Then what choice do you have?" The leading operation commander shook his head, "Top-down orders... just do what needs to be done." "...True." With the commander's words, dissenting voices gradually faded away. However. At that moment. A piercing armor-piercing bullet whistled through the air, striking the commander dead-center in the forehead! Pop. Blood splattered. "Who’s there!" Seeing their commander fall, the rest of the group immediately grew alert. Looking up, they saw a formidable squad approaching head-on. Their identity was unmistakable—the ouroboros insignia on their combat suits clearly indicated this was the "Serpent Ring" battle unit. Or should it be called a task force? Because alongside regular soldiers, it also included high-caliber V-type combat squads. "Don’t waste time, take them all down!" The girl leading, clad in a modified exoskeleton armor, wielded a gleaming alloy blade and issued her command without hesitation, "Team Two, evacuate the civilians and rescue the injured as much as possible!" Who else could it be but Xia Wuyou? "Yes!" The combat unit behind her responded in unison, spreading out in formation methodically. "…Don't be afraid, 'Serpent Ring' isn’t that formidable!" The leader of the "Forgotten" felt a twinge of anxiety, realizing they had overlooked a crucial issue. Even though the Inspection Bureau was held up outside the city, it wasn’t the only force within City of Night's Sin! In fact, considering military might, the Inspection Bureau was nothing compared to corporate-backed task forces like "Shark Fang" and "Serpent Ring!" In terms of firepower and combat strength, the "Serpent Ring" units were significantly superior to "Shark Fang"—evident from their equipment already. The weapons and armor of the forces behind Xia Wuyou were leaps and bounds ahead of the "Shark Fang" fighters! After all… "Shark Fang" itself was in continual decline, and the gear on these "Forgotten" members was purchased by Long Tian Ding from Xu Shi. Even if Xu Shi hadn’t anticipated "Dragon City" conspiring with the "Forgotten," one thing was clear. When he supplied Long Tian Ding with so-called "latest equipment" effortlessly, surely he’d have even better versions on hand! It was a standard trade practice, especially since Xu Shi was inherently cautious. Damn! But now wasn't the time for hindsight—the current situation gave no option for retreat. The opportunity had passed. Their only choice was a desperate stand. "Whoever you are, die!" Gritting their teeth, the outlaws raised their firearms and pulled the triggers with maximum power. However. The bullets were nowhere near hitting Xia Wuyou—she merely flashed a cold glint in her eyes and they all plummeted to the ground. She nimbly evaded the unavoidable electromagnetics and toxins. It was evident that she had significantly enhanced her "gravity manipulation"—already a powerful ability, now even more refined, showcasing her combat prowess. In mere moments, while the outlaws were still in shock, she had closed the distance like a specter, raising her hand to toss them into the air, compressing them into human fireworks! She was furious. After all, being a person of City of Night's Sin, she couldn’t bear seeing ordinary citizens treated so cruelly. These thugs had chosen their own death trap! Under her leadership, the "Serpent Ring" combat unit effortlessly weeded out the chaos. Seeing the villains fall gave her a sense of relief. She even felt a tinge of irony; frankly, her heart and soul now pledged allegiance to Xu Shi, but that didn’t mean she was unaware that he was a notorious scoundrel. Thus, following him, she was presumably a villain too, right? Who would have thought, one day she'd play the role of a savior? Especially knowing Shen He was behind this riot, she was left speechless. Momentarily, she felt quite conflicted. But soon her troubling thoughts were whisked away by reports of victory flooding her earpiece—managing a city-wide riot wasn’t a task for her alone, others were handling various locations. As the field operations director, naturally, she received updates from all fronts swiftly. The truth was, suppressing these riots was far less daunting than anticipated, even in her absence. "Go and tend to the wounded, it’s safe here now..." Xia Wuyou sighed in relief, finally at ease. However. Just as she was about to turn away. A dagger sliced through the air, shooting straight at her! “!” Xia Wuyou was taken aback, and her gravity manipulation couldn’t intercept it? Hurriedly, she swung her blade, deflecting the dagger aside. The assailant soon revealed themselves. "…So it’s you indeed." Seeing her, Xia Wuyou wasn’t particularly surprised, "I suspected you wouldn’t stay behind the scenes, Miss Nan Qian." "Or rather, should I call you… Shen Qin?" A moment of respite interrupted by an ambush; Xia Wuyou remained composed despite the unexpected twist, recognizing the masked adversary as someone she’d expected to confront all along.