novelhk Page 61
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Su Yao reached for her phone, and Lin Yu instinctively hid it behind his back. The woman froze, a look of hurt flashing in her eyes. The siren of an ambulance sounded in the distance. Lin Yu stared at her blood-stained police uniform, the raven brand on his palm suddenly burning hot. He suddenly realized that this battle was far from over; the real crisis might have only just begun.
Chapter 154: A Turning Point Appears
The warehouse reeked of sulfur. Lin Yu's spiritual energy shield teetered precariously under the black-robed man's attacks, cracks spreading like a spiderweb across its blue surface. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his peripheral vision catching sight of the digital clock in the corner—only 12 minutes remained until the bomb on Zhang Ke was detonated.
“You can’t escape.” The man in black robes swung his bone blade, and green poisonous mist condensed in the air into a grotesque face. “Hand over the map, and I’ll leave you with a whole corpse.” Before he finished speaking, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the warehouse, the clinking of metal keys mixed with heavy breathing, growing louder as they approached.
"Lin Yu, are you in there?" Su Yao's voice was clearly anxious. Lin Yu saw the eyes beneath the black-robed man's mask suddenly narrow, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the bone blade turn white. This subtle flaw made him think, and he instantly gathered his accumulated spiritual power in his palm, unleashing a thunderous storm.
Boom! Purple lightning tore through the air, and the man in black robes hastily erected a barrier of black mist. The instant the barrier collided with the storm, Su Yao kicked open the rusty iron door and rushed in. Her police badge was askew, her black trench coat was stained with mud, and she held a steaming stun gun in her hand.
"You're injured?" Su Yao's gaze swept over Lin Yu's bleeding right arm, her pupils constricting sharply. She tucked the stun gun back into her waistband, silver runes lighting up at her fingertips, and a crisp bell sound suddenly filled the air. Hearing the sound, the black-robed man's attack rhythm visibly faltered, the angle of his bone blade shifting, only shaving off a lock of Lin Yu's hair.
Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Yu rolled to Su Yao's side and whispered, "He's wary of your attacks. Find an opportunity to attack his left side!" Before he finished speaking, the black-robed man's chain was already wrapped around Su Yao's neck. Su Yao dodged to the side and flicked out three runes. The runes transformed into silver chains in the air, tangling with the black-robed man's black chains, producing a piercing metallic scraping sound.
"Su Yao, now!" Lin Yu shouted, his spiritual energy forming a blade of light that slashed towards the black-robed man's right side. The black-robed man instinctively raised his bone blade to block, but this exposed his left ribs. Su Yao understood immediately; silver runes exploded in her palm, and a crescent-shaped arc of light shot straight towards the black-robed man's left ribs.
The man in black robes paled, hastily using his black mist teleportation technique. But Su Yao had anticipated this; a second arc of light grazed his mask, shattering it to reveal half a face bearing a centipede scar. Lin Yu's pupils constricted—the pattern of that scar matched the description in the autopsy report of the archaeological team leader who disappeared three years ago in the Dunhuang tombs!
"Are you Zhou Yan?" Lin Yu's question froze the black-robed man. In that instant, Su Yao pressed her stun gun against his lower back, silver electricity coursing along the bone blade to the black-robed man's arm. The black-robed man groaned, the bone blade clattering to the ground, only to vanish into black mist the moment it hit the ground.
"Want to know the truth?" The man in black ripped off his tattered mask, revealing a venomous snake tattoo on his lip. "Go ask your good partner—she and our boss had a great time chatting last month at the underground bar." His gaze swept over Su Yao, a meaningful, cold smile playing on his lips.
Su Yao's pupils contracted sharply as the stun gun's current suddenly went out of control. Lin Yu reacted quickly, pulling her backward and dodging the poison gas grenades the black-robed man had thrown. A pungent, yellowish-green smoke filled the air, followed by the sound of heavy objects collapsing from the warehouse. When the smoke cleared, the black-robed man was gone, leaving only a blood-stained note: "The game has only just begun."
"Don't believe his nonsense!" Su Yao grabbed Lin Yu's wrist, her voice unusually panicked. "I went undercover that day and intercepted intelligence that they were planning to target the artifact..." Her words were interrupted by the vibration of Lin Yu's phone. The screen lit up; it was a new video: Zhang Ke was hanging from an abandoned chimney, the countdown on the bomb at his ankle ending in only 3 minutes, and the faint laughter of a man in black robes could be heard in the background.
Lin Yu gripped his phone tightly, his knuckles turning white. Seeing this, Su Yao immediately pulled out her walkie-talkie: "Headquarters, pinpoint my current coordinates and send reinforcements to the abandoned chimney!" She turned to Lin Yu, her eyes resolute: "I know a shortcut that can get us there before the countdown ends. But..." She paused, her gaze falling on the raven-shaped brand on Lin Yu's palm, "This injury needs treatment, otherwise the toxins will corrode your meridians."
"No time!" Lin Yu ripped open the hem of his shirt to wrap around his wound, the taste of blood spreading in his mouth. "Zhang Ke is being targeted because of me, I have to..." His words trailed off as a heavy thud echoed from the warehouse roof. Both men looked up simultaneously, only to see three men in black wearing crow masks burst through the roof, their crossbows gleaming with an eerie blue light.
"Want to save them? You'll have to get past us first." The leader of the men in black pulled back his crossbow, and three poisoned arrows shot through the air. Lin Yu and Su Yao stood back to back, their spiritual energy and runes weaving into a barrier. Just as the arrows were about to strike the barrier, Lin Yu suddenly noticed half a bronze key hanging from the man in black's waist—the pattern on it was exactly the same as the one on the man in black's body.
"Su Yao, attack them with the key!" Lin Yu shouted, whipping out his spiritual whip to entangle the men in black. Su Yao immediately understood, her silver runes forming chains that bound the key. The moment the key was forcibly ripped off, the three men in black emitted an eerie blue light and, before everyone's eyes, dissolved into a pool of black water. Lin Yu crouched down, dipping his fingertip into the black water, and discovered tiny fragments of bronze mixed within.
Su Yao's expression turned grave: "This is a secret technique of the 'Raven' organization, a puppet crafted using a bronze key and living human blood. They... their intentions are not good." Her words were interrupted by a distant explosion. Lin Yu looked in the direction of the sound, his pupils contracting sharply—a massive fireball erupted from the abandoned chimney. His phone vibrated again; the new message contained only a single, cold line: "Mission failed. Next time we meet, you'll see an even more spectacular performance."
Lin Yu clenched his fists, the brand on his palm burning with pain. Su Yao gently patted his shoulder: "Don't blame yourself, this was a trap they set. But..." She held up the half-key she had torn from the puppet, "This might be a breakthrough. Let's go back to the station and check the records. I know an expert in ancient book restoration; maybe we can..."
"Wait." Lin Yu suddenly grabbed her wrist, his gaze fixed on the corner of her trench coat pocket peeking out—there seemed to be a yellowed note hidden there, its edges emblazoned with a raven totem. Su Yao followed his gaze, her face instantly turning pale. Just then, sirens blared outside the warehouse, and red and blue lights streamed through the broken windows, casting interlaced shadows on their faces.
Chapter 155: The Identity of the Man in Black Robes
Inside the damp underground cavern, the phosphorescent flames on the rock walls flickered, casting distorted and eerie shadows of the three figures facing off. The moss-covered stalagmites, in the interplay of light and shadow, resembled menacing monsters. The black-robed man's back pressed against the rough stalactites; Lin Yu's fierce attack had left five deep claw marks on the stone wall, and fragments of rock continued to fall, making a crisp sound in the silent cavern.
The man in black robes was breathing heavily, his chest heaving. As he steadied himself, his wide sleeve slipped down, revealing an arm covered in bruises. The air in the cave seemed to freeze the moment the hood fell. "It's you!" Lin Yu gripped the still slightly hot Flame Dragon Blade, his knuckles white from the force, the bones protruding menacingly. Su Yao instinctively took a half-step back, the Xuanbing Bow in her hand humming softly, the bowstring vibrating and releasing a chilling aura. The two exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing through the cave, startling a flock of bats perched on the cave ceiling. They flapped their wings, emitting sharp cries.
A familiar yet unfamiliar face appeared in the phosphorescent light—it was Li Ming, their comrade-in-arms who had faced life and death together. Memories flooded back. Three years ago, in the dense, misty forest, a mutated giant python flicked its scarlet tongue, its scales as hard as iron. Without hesitation, Li Ming shielded Lin Yu, slashing his own arm with a dagger to lure the python away with his blood. Despite his injuries, he smiled and said, "It's nothing." Six months ago, in the heavily fortified desert ruins, poisoned arrows rained down. It was Li Ming's quick reflexes that pulled Su Yao into a nearby chasm, saving them both from certain death. But afterwards, after a mission to find fragments of an ancient artifact, Li Ming vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated into thin air. Lin Yu and Su Yao searched every possible place, plastering missing person posters everywhere, but to no avail.
"Li Ming, why did you do this?" Lin Yu suppressed his shock and anger, the blade flashing as it pointed directly at Li Ming's throat. "For the sake of the divine artifact, you'd betray us?" The blade, agitated by its wielder's emotions, ignited with leaping flames, casting flickering light into the cave. The firelight illuminated Li Ming's face, revealing his weariness and world-weariness.
Li Ming gave a bitter laugh, his raised hands hanging in mid-air, neither resisting nor defending, letting Lin Yu's knife press against his chest. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for days and nights; his face was emaciated, his once upright figure now hunched over, his black robe tattered, revealing wounded and stained clothing underneath, with traces of dried blood still visible. "I was forced into this," he said, his voice hoarse, as if he hadn't drunk water in a long time, each word seemingly draining all his strength. "Someone captured my family, threatening my life to force me to seize the divine artifact." When he said "family," Li Ming's Adam's apple bobbed violently, his eyes filled with pain and helplessness, tears welling in his eyes.
Lin Yu's heart skipped a beat, and his hand gripping the knife trembled slightly. He recalled his childhood, when his father was captured by their enemies, and he hid in a corner, listening to his mother's cries—that feeling of anxiety and helplessness remained vivid in his memory. He had never imagined that the seemingly powerful Li Ming would be trapped in such a desperate situation because of his family. "Then do you know who's behind this?" Lin Yu sheathed his knife, but his eyes remained wary, fixed intently on Li Ming.
Li Ming shook his head helplessly, slumped against the stone wall, and slid down to the ground, burying his face in his hands, blood seeping from between his fingers. "I don't know. They're hiding everywhere, always using a voice changer to contact me. All I know is that their power is beyond imagination." His voice choked with sobs. "I tried to fight back, but they... they sent me a lock of my daughter's hair, and a video..." Li Ming looked up, his face streaked with tears. "In the video, my wife and daughter were locked in an iron cage full of poisonous insects. They cried until their voices were hoarse, and my daughter kept calling out, 'Daddy, save me...'" At this point, Li Ming could no longer hold back and burst into tears.
?
Looking at her once spirited companion now in such a wretched state, Su Yao felt a pang of sorrow. She put away the Xuanbing Bow, knelt down, and said softly, "Then let's work together to find a way to rescue your family." As she spoke, she reached out to pull Li Ming, but he dodged her hand.
"Don't come near me!" Li Ming suddenly shouted, a flicker of panic in his eyes. "You don't understand, they're everywhere. If they find out I've had too much contact with you, my family will..." His voice trailed off, finally turning into suppressed sobs, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Lin Yu frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Even if the other side is powerful, we can't just sit and wait to die. Think carefully, is there any clue, even the smallest one, that could be a breakthrough?" He squatted down, looking Li Ming in the eye, his gaze firm, as if trying to give Li Ming strength through his eyes.
Li Ming raised his head, a flicker of hesitation crossing his eyes, before finally gritting his teeth and saying, "Once, when I went to deliver fragments of a divine artifact, at the trading location, I overheard them mention the 'Blood Moon Merchant Guild.' They said that if you obtained all the fragments, you could open that legendary treasure vault and gain power enough to overturn the world." Just as he finished speaking, a piercing eagle's cry suddenly echoed from outside the cave. Li Ming's face instantly turned deathly pale. "Oh no, they're here! You all have to get out of here! Their eagle guards can track any aura; they're extremely difficult to deal with!"
Before Lin Yu and Su Yao could react, dozens of dark figures leaped into the cave. Leading them was a man wearing a bronze mask, his chain hammer leaving a long trail of sparks on the ground, the air thick with the smell of burning metal. "Li Ming, the mission failed, and you still dare to leak information?" The bronze-masked man's voice was icy, devoid of any emotion. "It seems there's no need to keep your family alive either. According to the Blood Moon Guild's rules, the family of a traitor must die!"
"No!" Li Ming charged forward frantically, only to be kicked away by a dark figure, crashing heavily into the stone wall. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body sliding down the wall to the ground, unable to move. Lin Yu and Su Yao exchanged a glance, then attacked simultaneously. The flames of the Flaming Dragon Blade and the chilling aura of the Mystic Ice Bow intertwined, clashing with the dark figures.
Lin Yu wielded the Flaming Dragon Blade, its blade flashing like lightning, each strike carrying scorching flames, forcing back the approaching shadows. Su Yao, meanwhile, drew her Xuanbing Bow to its full extent, arrows carrying a chilling aura, aiming precisely at the shadows' vital points. But the shadows were well-trained, their coordination impeccable, launching attacks from all directions. Lin Yu felt his arms growing numb, his stamina rapidly dwindling, while Su Yao's forehead was covered in sweat, her breathing becoming rapid.
In the chaos of battle, Lin Yu glanced at Li Ming, only to find he had vanished without a trace. The bronze-masked man, after uttering the words "You can't escape," quickly led his men away. Inside the cave, only a scene of utter devastation remained, along with the faintly visible "Blood Moon Guild" mark on the rock wall. The mark, seemingly drawn in blood, exuded an eerie aura under the phosphorescent light.
Panting, Su Yao walked to Lin Yu's side: "What do we do now? Li Ming is missing, and the Blood Moon Merchant Guild is so powerful. Can we really rescue his family?"
Lin Yu clenched his fist, staring intently at the markings on the rock face, his eyes resolute: "No matter what the Blood Moon Merchant Guild is, daring to threaten our friends and kidnap innocent people, we will make them pay the price. First, find Li Ming; he certainly hasn't gone far, and he knows some clues we don't. Then rescue his family. Even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, we'll brave it!"
Outside the cave, the night was as dark as ink, thick clouds gathering, and an even greater storm seemed to be brewing. In the distance, thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the surrounding mountains. The four characters "Blood Moon Merchant Guild" remained like a mysterious enigma, waiting for Lin Yu and Su Yao to unravel. Could they successfully rescue Li Ming's family? What unspeakable secrets lay behind this mysterious guild? Did the treasure vault spoken of by the Blood Moon Merchant Guild truly exist? And what power did the fragments of the divine artifact that opened the vault possess?
Chapter 156: Searching for Clues
"Li Ming, think carefully, do you have any clues? Was there anything unusual when the other party contacted you?" Lin Yu gently pushed his teacup across the table, his gaze fixed on the anxious man in front of him. The air from the central air conditioning swept across the table, lifting the scars on Li Ming's sleeve—marks of torture inflicted by his kidnappers.
Li Ming frowned, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of his cup: "They always contacted me through anonymous letters, only telling me what to do at a specified time and place, without revealing anything else. However..." He suddenly paused, his Adam's apple bobbing, "...once there was a special fragrance in the letter, like...like some kind of flower mixed with sandalwood, very faint, but once you smelled it, you couldn't forget it."
Su Yao's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table; her professional instincts told her this was the key to a breakthrough. As a former Interpol agent, she had dismantled a drug trafficking network using spices in the Golden Triangle, giving her an extraordinary sensitivity to distinctive scents. "A fragrance?" She leaned forward, her eyes shining. "What kind of scent is it? The top notes are floral, the middle notes have sandalwood, and the base notes? Is there a hint of spiciness or bitterness?"
Li Ming closed his eyes, as if returning to that stormy night. He described in a trembling voice, "The aftertaste... is a bit like dried tangerine peel, and... there's also an indescribable coolness, like mint or borneol?"
Lin Yu took out his phone and quickly opened the fragrance database. His finger slid across the screen, bringing up the spectra of dozens of mixed fragrances: "Su Yao, look at this 'Oriental Aristocratic' fragrance. The top note is frangipani, the middle note is Indian sandalwood, and the base notes are dried tangerine peel and borneol. The spectra match is 87%."
Su Yao nodded, staring at the screen, then suddenly remembered something: "I've seen this spice blend on the black market in Bangkok; it's exclusively for the elite in Southeast Asia. I remember my informant saying that only high-ranking members of the 'Ebony Society' were authorized to use it."
The three exchanged glances, a tense atmosphere filling the air. Lin Yu knew that the name "Ebony Society" meant they were about to step into a den of thieves. This transnational criminal organization, operating under the guise of the spice trade, had been listed by Interpol as one of the world's top ten most dangerous forces. Its tentacles had infiltrated both the political and business spheres, and there were even rumors of connections with high-ranking officials in certain countries.
On the cobblestone street of the old town in the west, Lin Yu's leather shoes splashed through the puddles. He looked up at the plaque of "Zui Xiang Lou" (Drunken Fragrance Pavilion), where faint patterns were visible beneath the faded gold paint—the mark of the Ebony Society. Su Yao followed closely behind, her left hand in her trench coat pocket, her palm tightly gripping pepper spray.
"Distinguished guests, please come in." The waiter greeted them with a smile, but his pupils contracted sharply the moment he saw Li Ming. Lin Yu keenly noticed this detail and subtly shielded Li Ming behind him.
The shop was filled with a rich, fragrant mist, and dozens of glass jars contained various spices. Su Yao pretended to select some, but actually scanned the shelves with a miniature camera hidden in her sleeve. When the camera panned to the deepest part of the third row, the image suddenly froze—the dark brown powder inside the jar was exactly the "Oriental aristocratic scent" they were looking for.
"Boss, how much are these spices?" Lin Yu picked up the purple clay jar and deliberately rubbed off a little powder with his fingertip.
The shopkeeper looked up from behind the counter, his gaze sweeping over the three people. "This gentleman has a good eye. This is our shop's prized possession, available only to VIP customers." He held up three fingers. "Three thousand yuan per gram, cash only."
Li Ming couldn't help but exclaim, "This is more expensive than gold!" He immediately regretted his words and hurriedly lowered his head, pretending to cough.
Seeing this, Su Yao immediately chimed in, "My husband really likes this kind of thing, so money is no problem. But..." She leaned closer to the shopkeeper and lowered her voice, "I heard that you can buy even more special items here, something even rarer than 'Oriental Noble Style'."
The shopkeeper's eyes instantly turned cold, and his right hand stealthily pressed the alarm button under the counter. Lin Yu reacted quickly, his rock elemental power condensing into an invisible barrier at his fingertips, cutting off the alarm circuit. "Don't be nervous," he smiled, revealing the Ebony Society mark on his cuff—a replica made from the spice residue extracted from Li Ming's letter. "We are from the 'Ebony Society,' here to have a chat with your boss."
Ten minutes later, the three were led into the basement. In the dim light, the walls were covered with animal specimens, and the air was filled with the mingled scents of sandalwood and blood. "Old Ghost," the second-in-command of the Ebony Society, leaned back on a leather sofa, toying with a bone die in his hand.
"You want to know the origin of the spices?" Old Ghost grinned, revealing his gold teeth. "Sure, but you'll have to prove you're qualified first." He casually tossed the dice. "If you win, I'll tell you everything; if you lose... you'll leave with one hand."
Just as Su Yao was about to speak, Lin Yu gently pressed down on her shoulder. He stared at the skull pattern on the dice, his rock elemental power quietly seeping into the bone, sensing the hollow structure within. "What are we betting on?"
"Let's bet on this purple clay jar you have." Old Gui tapped the table. "The spices inside are 0.3 grams short. Tell me, was it intentional, or an unintentional mistake?"
Lin Yu was startled, but remained outwardly calm: "What if it was intentional?"
"That means you came prepared, trying to trick me into revealing information." Old Ghost suddenly sprang to his feet, a short knife hidden in his sleeve aimed straight at Lin Yu's throat. "But more likely... you simply don't know the true purpose of this spice!"
Su Yao reacted swiftly, instantly spraying out pepper spray. Old Gui grunted, covering his eyes and backing away. Lin Yu seized the opportunity to grab his wrist, his rock elemental power binding him like chains: "Tell me, who did you sell the spices to?"
"You think... I'm afraid?" Old Ghost gritted his teeth, but at that moment, the secret passage in the basement suddenly opened, and several armed bodyguards rushed in.
In the nick of time, Li Ming suddenly raised the perfume bottle he carried with him, which contained the residual fragrance extracted from the letter. "That's the scent!" he shouted, "I remember this scent!"
The bodyguards paused abruptly upon seeing the perfume bottle, exchanging bewildered glances. Lin Yu keenly noticed the badges on their cuffs—burn marks identical to Li Ming's, clearly indicating they had been tortured in the same way.
"You are victims too," Su Yao pressed, "Ebony will threaten you with your families, won't it?"
A silence fell like a boulder. The lead bodyguard lowered his gun, his Adam's apple bobbing: "The spices... are delivered to the Rose Manor in the western suburbs every Wednesday. The owner there never lets us get close."
The Rose Manor was shrouded in mist in the dead of night, its Gothic spires resembling vampire fangs. Lin Yu and his companions climbed over the wall and saw rare black roses blooming in the greenhouse, the dewdrops on their petals gleaming eerily purple in the moonlight.
"Be careful, these flowers are poisonous," Su Yao warned. Just then, the stone slab beneath their feet suddenly flipped over, revealing a staircase leading underground. The moment Li Ming stepped on it, the sound of a child crying came from deep within the staircase—it was his daughter's voice.
"Dad!" Her voice trembled with tears, "They said you don't want me anymore..."
Li Ming's eyes were red-rimmed, and he was about to rush down when Lin Yu grabbed him. "Calm down," Lin Yu said in a low voice, "This might be a trap." He took out a miniature drone and placed it below the stairs. The moment the image returned, the three of them's pupils shrank—the basement was filled with unconscious children, and on the central altar, there was a perfume bottle identical to the one in Li Ming's letter.
Even more chilling was the fact that on the wall behind the altar hung dozens of photos of Ebony Society members, including the city's mayor, richest man, and even... Su Yao's boss.
"They want to..." Su Yao covered her mouth, not daring to continue.
Lin Yu gripped the rock spear tightly, his gaze icy: "This is not an ordinary kidnapping case, but a human experiment involving the powerful and wealthy. Those spices are used to control people's minds and create puppets."
Li Ming trembled all over, his fingernails digging deep into his palms: "I must save my daughter."
“We will rescue them.” Lin Yu turned to Su Yao. “Notify Interpol to seal off all exits. Li Ming, you stay behind me. When you hear an explosion, rush in and don’t look back.”
The moment the rock spear blasted open the basement door, all the lights in Rose Manor went out. In the darkness, Lin Yu saw the perfume bottle on the altar suddenly shatter, and through the purple smoke, a familiar figure slowly turned around—it was the waiter they had met at the spice shop, his eyes now flashing with a crazed light.
"Welcome to the Ebony Society's feast." He smiled and opened his arms. "You think finding clues can save people? How naive. Those children have already been made into part of the spices."
Before the waiter could finish speaking, Li Ming let out a heart-wrenching roar. Just as Lin Yu's rock spear was about to pierce the man's throat, he suddenly noticed the chip on the back of his neck—it was identical to the chip in Kafka's clone. At the same time, Su Yao's communicator rang, a cold, mechanical voice coming through: "All exits are sealed off. You have no way to escape."
Chapter 157: The Lair of a Mysterious Organization
The manor's iron fence gleamed with a cold, bluish-gray light under the moonlight, and tiny arcs of electricity occasionally burst from the electric fence, carving eerie blue cracks across the night sky. Lin Yu crouched in the grass, his binoculars reflecting the patrol team's route—shifts changed every 15 minutes, with a 30-second gap between each handover.
“Right now.” Li Ming lowered his voice, his nails digging deep into his palms. “They will shut down the western power grid when they change shifts.”
Su Yao checked the tactical pouch on her waist, which contained miniature EMP grenades: "I'll cut off the surveillance. Lin Yu, take Li Ming over the wall and meet us in the greenhouse in three minutes."
Lin Yu nodded, his gaze sweeping over Li Ming's trembling shoulders: "Don't be afraid, follow my footsteps." His rock elemental power quietly seeped into the ground, condensing into stepped protrusions under the grass roots, forming natural climbing supports.
When the first shift change whistle sounded, Su Yao was already crawling in front of the power grid control box. She took out her master key and her fingers flew across the keyboard: "The firewall level is higher than I expected... Damn, it's military-grade encryption."
"How long will it take?" Lin Yu's voice came through the headset, accompanied by static.
"Give me one more minute!" Su Yao chewed her gum—which was actually a stimulant used by hackers. With the last line of code entered, the monitor screen went static. "Done! Power grid shut down for 10 minutes, quick!"
Lin Yu grabbed Li Ming's wrist and leaped towards the wall like a cheetah. Rock elemental energy materialized into grappling hooks at his fingertips, easily catching the rose branches atop the wall. As Li Ming climbed, his sleeve was torn by the thorns, and drops of blood fell onto the sensors below the wall.
"Alarm! Biosignal detected!" a mechanical female voice suddenly boomed.
"Oh no!" Li Ming almost fell, but Lin Yu grabbed him. As the two rolled into the bushes inside the wall, the beam of the searchlight swept overhead.
“They’re using a bloodstain recognition system.” Lin Yu pulled down his shirt sleeve to bandage Li Ming’s wound. “The owner of the manor knows very well that the kidnapped’s family will come to rescue him.”
Su Yao's voice suddenly became urgent: "There are abnormal life reactions in the underground of the manor, more than 50 in number! They may be kidnapped hostages." She pulled up the drone's footage and saw that on the thermal image of the three underground floors, there were densely packed red dots arranged like a honeycomb.
The three moved close to the greenhouse wall, and through the condensation on the inside of the glass, the outline of a black rose was faintly visible. Lin Yu suddenly stopped and pointed to the ground—there were fresh drag marks on the bluestone slab, mixed with bloodstains and spice powder.
“Follow this trace.” He took out an evidence bag and collected a powder sample. “This is a residue of ‘Oriental Noble’s Scent,’ which matches the one in Li Ming’s letter.”