Chen Jinzhao, unburdened by any ties, regained his resolute spirit.
Qin Yi had initially believed he could hold the upper hand against Chen Jinzhao. However, he soon realized he was no match for him. This was true in every aspect.
Qin Yi's heart sank to the abyss. He looked at Chen Jinzhao in terror and asked, "Weren't you crippled? How can you still be this strong?"
"Who said I was crippled?" Chen Jinzhao said faintly.
Qin Yi's expression turned exceedingly grim. In his exchanges with Chen Jinzhao, he was constantly at a disadvantage, utterly outmatched.
With no other recourse, Qin Yi grit his teeth and said resentfully, "Chen Jinzhao, you are a thoroughly ungrateful wretch. Mr. Qin helped you so much, yet you turn against the Qin family. Without Mr. Qin's assistance, how could you possibly have survived this long unscathed?"
"Does your conscience not bother you?"
Chen Jinzhao experienced a fleeting moment of clarity. It was true. Qin Fengwu had provided him with considerable help. However, Chen Jinzhao believed this did not negate Qin Fengwu's transgressions as a scion of a powerful clan. The fault lay solely with the Qin family, which had become a ravenous monster. Furthermore, with Qin Jianguo and Li Buyan virtually monopolizing the imperial court, China had fallen into severe chaos. Factional strife, persecution of dissenters, mutual scheming...
It was now time for rectification.
"I won't let you go, and Mr. Qin won't let you go either," Qin Yi roared.
Chen Jinzhao sighed faintly, "If Qin Fengwu confesses his guilt, I can spare his life. He may not have his former glory and wealth, but to be able to live is already a tremendous stroke of luck."
Qin Yi roared, telling Chen Jinzhao to shut up. The thought of Qin Fengwu falling from grace to the ground was a blow too immense for anyone to bear.
Qin Yi desperately sought to kill Chen Jinzhao, to avenge Mr. Qin.
However—
Chen Jinzhao was still at the peak of his powers. Qin Yi's fierce onslaught did not pose a significant challenge to him. After more than ten minutes of close combat, Qin Yi was covered in wounds.
Xu Jinsong observed the scene and repeatedly shook his head, sighing, "Such loyalty to Qin Fengwu is indeed rare. Frankly, I'm starting to admire him."
Qin Yi wiped the blood trickling from his lips and glared ferociously at Chen Jinzhao. His eyes were filled with hatred.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Chen Jinzhao, I am not your match. But I suspect you must have taken some forbidden drug to become this powerful. I will wait for you on the path to the underworld."
"You don't have to die," Chen Jinzhao said.
Qin Yi burst into laughter. The price of not dying was to become a toothless tiger, a naked humiliation for any tiger! Therefore, Qin Yi had made up his mind.
"Chen Jinzhao, you are as good as dead!" Qin Yi growled.
As the words left his mouth, Qin Yi suddenly surged forward like an arrow, charging at Chen Jinzhao. This maneuver caused Xu Jinsong's expression to change drastically. Behind Chen Jinzhao was a glass curtain wall. If Qin Yi managed to grapple with Chen Jinzhao, they could both smash through the glass and plummet hundreds of meters from the skyscraper. Such an event would turn even an S-class powerhouse into a bloody pulp.
"Zhu Long, be careful!" Xu Jinsong shouted.
Qin Yi's eyes gleamed coldly. He reached out and grabbed Chen Jinzhao's shoulder, intending to use their momentum to shatter the glass curtain wall and perish together with Chen Jinzhao.
The moment he gripped Chen Jinzhao's shoulder, a cold smile curved Qin Yi's lips. "Mr. Qin, I will not fail your high expectations."
"Chen Jinzhao is as good as dead."
He tightened his grip on Chen Jinzhao's shoulder and continued to fly forward with the momentum. Chen Jinzhao reacted instantly, drawing Tai Sui and slashing it fiercely. To Qin Yi's utter horror, his arm was cleanly severed by Chen Jinzhao, while his body continued to fly forward due to inertia.
Finally, under the gaze of Xu Jinsong and Chen Jinzhao, Qin Yi's body crashed through the glass curtain wall and plummeted from the height of several hundred meters.
Xu Jinsong approached to take a look. Qin Yi lay in a pool of blood. After a long while, he withdrew his gaze and looked at Chen Jinzhao with complex emotions. Chen Jinzhao's expression, however, seemed considerably calmer. Initially, Chen Jinzhao had hesitated about killing Qin Yi. Upon learning of Qin Yi's plan, he decided to play along and let Qin Yi meet his own end, which also helped to lessen his own complex feelings.
"What's wrong?" Chen Jinzhao asked Xu Jinsong.
Xu Jinsong sighed, "I was once an experimental subject at the Divine Kingdom Research Institute. Seeing Number One die, I can't help but feel a sense of shared misfortune."
Chen Jinzhao also sighed, "Mm, don't think too much about it. You have important tasks to complete. The capital is in utter disarray now. Your mission is to lead the troops to maintain order. Be absolutely sure not to incite any civil unrest."
"What about you?" Xu Jinsong was concerned about Chen Jinzhao's condition.
Chen Jinzhao opened his mouth. Just as he was about to speak, blood trickled from the corner of his lips.
"Zhu Long, are you alright? Shall I take you to the hospital right now?" Xu Jinsong looked anxious.
Chen Jinzhao swayed for a moment. A surging weariness washed over him. Chen Jinzhao shook his head vigorously, managing to steady himself. He waved his hand and said, "I'm fine for now. Your mission is critical; you must not delay."
"Go quickly."
"But you..." Xu Jinsong wanted to stay by Chen Jinzhao's side. At least to offer some support.
Chen Jinzhao patted Xu Jinsong's shoulder heavily. "You must consider the nation's stability, understand?"
Xu Jinsong's robust body trembled a few times. With reddened eyes, he nodded, "Alright, I understand. I will not fail your high expectations."
He strode quickly to the door, then stopped.
"Zhu Long, do you have any further instructions for me?" Xu Jinsong asked, having a sense of foreboding.
Chen Jinzhao pondered for a moment, then smiled at Xu Jinsong, "If possible, please look after my family in the future and shield them from any undeserved harm."
"I will!"
Xu Jinsong clenched his fist. "I promise you!"
Leaving behind a promise as heavy as a thousand pounds, Xu Jinsong turned and departed. Chen Jinzhao glanced at Qin Yi's corpse below, then withdrew his gaze and muttered to himself, "I should also pay a visit to the West Suburb Headquarters. Let's see what arrangements Elder Xu has made."
Leaving Gou Chen Group, Chen Jinzhao headed to the West Suburb Headquarters. Seeing soldiers everywhere on the streets, Chen Jinzhao felt an overwhelming sense of complex emotions. He had never imagined such a day would come. Moreover, Chen Jinzhao knew that Xu Hanchen's arrangements would not have been so hasty. Because once the Li and Qin families retaliated, it would spell disaster for China. Upon careful reflection, Xu Hanchen must have acted prematurely out of fear for Chen Jinzhao's safety.
"Elder Xu might have been mistaken this time," Chen Jinzhao murmured to himself. "I am already a dying man. For a semi-crippled person like me, to expend such a great price, has Elder Xu considered the dire consequences?"
And then there was Mitra, who eyed China covetously from its surroundings. If war were to break out, what would be China's future destiny?