bdsm-fiction Chapter 23: The Inheritance Begins
Chapter 23: The Inheritance Begins
In a luxurious manor in Europe, Li Yao's maniacal laughter echoed through the opulent living room of the HR Alliance.
"Hahaha. Vinina, look at the latest headlines in the virtual community. That little bastard Luo Feng hasn't come out of the No. 9 Ancient Civilization Ruins."
He held a glass of red wine in his hand, his face practically radiating excitement.
Sitting on the sofa opposite him, Vinina was elegantly flipping through the virtual screen projected by her wristwatch, a smile also playing on her lips.
"Yes, I saw it, Yao. The Limit Martial Arts Academy just released an internal announcement that of the eight War Gods who participated in the trial, only five returned safely. Among the other three, Luo Feng is missing. According to convention, if more than three months have passed, it can basically be considered... a death."
Li Yao tilted his head back and drank the red wine in his glass in one gulp.
"Fallen. That's a good word. It's wonderful."
"That damned little bastard, relying on the Limitless Martial Arts Academy's backing, I really didn't dare to touch him. I thought he would be a big problem, but I never expected that justice would prevail and retribution would come so easily. He ran to the ruins to die. He didn't even give us a chance to do it ourselves."
Vinina put down her glass and calmly analyzed the situation.
"This is indeed the best outcome for us. After all, with Hong and the Limitless Martial Arts School protecting him, it's almost impossible for us to do anything to him openly. Now that he's dead in the ruins, no one can say anything. Our good-for-nothing son can finally rest in peace."
"Rest in peace. No, it's not enough."
Li Yao's eyes instantly turned sinister. He walked to the window and looked in the direction of Jiangnan Base City in the distance.
"That little beast is dead, but his family is still alive. Wasn't he the one who cared most about his family? Now I'm going to make him taste the pain he brought us. I'll make his whole family pay with their lives for my son."
Vinina frowned and reminded her.
"Yao, don't be impulsive."
"Although Luo Feng is dead, he was still a member of the Limitless Martial Arts Academy. The news of his disappearance had barely spread when we attacked his family; that's too obvious and could easily get us into trouble. That Hong... he's not someone to be trifled with."
Li Yao sneered.
"Of course I know."
"I won't do it myself. You forgot, we still have quite a few friends in Jiangnan Base City. Finding an opportunity to create an accident... like when monsters attack the city, it's not unusual for a small oversight to occur."
Vinina looked at her husband's face, twisted with hatred, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.
"Okay, we'll do it your way. I'll take care of it and make sure it's done perfectly, so no one can find a trace of it."
……
Meanwhile, at the global headquarters of the Ultimate Martial Arts Academy, in the top-floor command center.
Several martial arts school executives stood in front of Hong's desk, their foreheads covered in fine beads of sweat, not daring to even breathe loudly.
A supervisor mustered his courage and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Master, the news has been confirmed. Everyone except Luo Feng has returned safely. The entrance to Ancient Civilization Ruins No. 9 has been closed again. Should we...should we send people in to force our way in and conduct a search and rescue operation?"
But Hong's reaction was eerily calm.
He simply sat quietly in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the table, his gaze fixed on the screen beside him, which displayed the coordinates of the No. 9 ancient civilization ruins.
After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice calm.
"Search and rescue. How are you going to search and rescue? The intelligent system of Ruins Nine can't even fully penetrate my permissions. How do you plan to get in?"
"But, Master..."
"There's no 'but' about it."
Hong interrupted him directly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"The path of a martial artist is inherently one of life and death. Since he chose this path, he must be prepared to face all the consequences. However, I still find it hard to believe he would perish like this. Let's wait a while longer, handle the aftermath properly, and I don't want to hear any more discussion about this matter."
The high-ranking officials exchanged glances, not daring to disobey the order. They could only respectfully reply "Yes," and then bow and leave the office.
When the office door closed again, leaving only Hong and the quietly appearing enchanting woman in the room, a smile appeared on Hong's face.
"Yao Rao, go and make the arrangements. From now on, initiate the highest level of covert protection for Luo Feng's family in Jiangnan Base City. I don't want to see anything foolish enough to disturb their lives. In particular, keep a close eye on the people from the HR Alliance."
"Yes, Master."
Yao Rao nodded, then asked with some confusion.
"Master, Luo Feng... he really is..."
"Heh, that kid's tough, he won't die."
Hong smiled, stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked as if his gaze pierced through the earth's layers, looking into the depths of the planet.
"That little guy has probably encountered an incredible opportunity. That old man Babata waited fifty thousand years to get this one last seedling, how could he let him die so easily? My previous feeding is finally about to bear fruit. This third batch of chives looks much fatter than the previous two."
He changed his mind. He had originally planned to set off immediately to the deep sea to eliminate the two beast kings, but now he decided to let them live a few more days. Compared to the generous gift Babata had delivered, the task of eliminating the beast kings could be put on hold for now.
……
Deep underground, in the control room of the Meteorite Star, the horned little devil Babata was grinning smugly.
On the screen in front of him, various news articles and posts about Luo Feng's fall, captured from the Earth network, were displayed.
"Ahhh. Finally, Luo Feng has started the elite selection for the death mission. With his brain capacity, he'll probably be out soon."
Thinking of the frustration he felt when Hong had snatched things from him several times before, Babata became angry again. He realized that he couldn't just wait passively any longer.
"I need to make some preparations first, create a big commotion, attract those humans and Luo Feng over, and then start the guidance directly when Luo Feng arrives again."
He paced back and forth in the control room, the logic core spinning at high speed.
The mere spirit of plants and trees is no longer enough to attract the attention of the planet's highest combat power, not to mention that the native named Hong always takes away the Wood Crystal.
We must create a major news story that will shock the entire civilization of the world.
"Got it."
Babata slapped his thigh suddenly.
"If the spirit of plants and trees isn't enough, then I'll just use the Wood Sprout Crystal to bring forth a real monster. A... Royal-level monster."
"A newly born royal-level monster is enough to shake the entire Earth's powerful population. At that time, Hong and the Limitless Martial Arts School will definitely come out in full force. I don't believe that Luo Feng will definitely come with such a big commotion."
……
Meanwhile, inside a transparent crystal room at the No. 9 Ancient Civilization Relic Site.
Luo Feng slammed his fist into the solid wall, making a dull thud.
"Three years. A full three years. And we can't contact the outside world."
Before him, a virtual figure stared at him expressionlessly.
"Yes, trial participant. Once a death mission begins, you cannot leave this place until it is completed. This is the supreme rule, and it cannot be changed."
Luo Feng's heart sank.
His biggest worry was not failing to complete the mission, but the three years of isolation from the world.
The outside world must think he's dead. His parents, his brother, must be devastated. And what about that madman, Li Yao? After learning of his death, will he… will he… do something to his family…?
He dared not think any further.
Anxiety and anger made his eyes bloodshot as he stared intently at the tightly closed door.
"No. I can't wait that long. I have to get out of here as soon as possible."