Washing the Ground

It was the happy dream of a shut-in.

Perhaps it was because his strength had grown, and his heart had settled considerably, that he no longer had the strange dream of running to the Vienna Golden Hall to play "The Little Widow's Grave Visit."

After waking up, he sat in the garden and practiced the piano for two hours as usual. Huai Shi received a call from Ai Qing.

"Go out now, wait at the entrance, someone will pick you up," she said. "We've found traces of Wang Hai."

Even without the state machinery, if just the Xinhai Special Affairs Department operated, it was almost like a net cast over the entire city, sifting through Xinhai.

With Ai Qing's surveillance of Ascendants through the Astronomical Society and the Special Affairs Department's channels among ordinary people, the two sides began to cooperate, turning all of Xinhai into a glass fishbowl.

Completely transparent.

Under his almost insane provocations, in just over a day, almost all the transient population had been screened. After the locals with prior records were dragged out and beaten a few times, Wang Hai's whereabouts were finally found through ubiquitous surveillance and inquiries.

In the barren mountains outside the city, in a manor that had been abandoned for many years.

In short, it was the second-ranked haunted house in Xinhai...

When Huai Shi found out, he was so amused he almost laughed.

Damn it, what are you guys trying to do? Are you trying to steal the spot of the number one haunted house in my family?

After confirming Wang Hai's entry and exit traces through surveillance, the Special Affairs Department had already started its operations in full swing. Countless burly men carrying long guns and short cannons sharpened their blades and jumped into their vehicles, ready to go. It seemed Director Fu was truly infuriated by the bombing.

When Huai Shi arrived, he was stuffed into Ai Qing's car and headed out of the city. In less than half an hour, Huai Shi, clad in a bulletproof vest and helmet, found himself at the foot of the barren mountain.

"Satellite reconnaissance is complete. There are signs of activity in the manor."

The person conducting on-site reconnaissance returned and reported, "The target's physique appears to overlap significantly with Wang Hai's, but we can't be sure. Should we deploy a drone?"

"A drone would be too easily detected."

Director Fu held his binoculars and stared for a long time, then began to discuss the attack plan with his subordinates, comparing it with the manor's map. As a member of the Astronomical Society and its sole Ascendant enforcer, Huai Shi was also placed on the first batch of people entering the manor, and he was trembling.

"How do you use this thing? Where's the safety?"

He tried to pretend he didn't know the automatic rifle in his hand, holding onto a faint hope of escaping at the last minute, but was tied into the car by the burly men.

"Wait, I'm also a victim! Why do I have to participate in the attack..."

He clung to the door, unwilling to get in, and cried out loudly, "Even if you want an Ascendant, find Old Liu! Old Liu's abilities are so powerful! Just one glare and there won't be a single person breathing. I'm just a cellist, I can only turn into an axe and make a fool of myself. Please let me go... Damn it, don't hit me, don't hit my face... I've contributed to Xinhai, I've bled for the Astronomical Society, I want to see Ai Qing! I want to see Ai Qing!"

"..."

Ai Qing, sitting in the car, expressionlessly shifted her gaze and couldn't help but want to sigh, "Forget it, let him act with me."

Director Fu couldn't watch any longer. He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to stop. If they continued, this brat would start shouting "The Special Affairs Department is hitting people" or other such nonsense.

Tsk... What are young people thinking these days?

Liu Dongli used to be so good, braving wind and rain, willing to go anywhere as long as his sentence was reduced. If he had known, he should have arrested this guy and sentenced him to a few years too.

He sighed and looked down at the blueprints on the table.

The abandoned manor on the mountain had been around for some years. In fact, there were many abandoned buildings near Xinhai. Most of them were built during the glorious period more than ninety years ago when Xinhai's economy was booming. Later, as the economy became increasingly sluggish, there were fewer rich people, and the real estate industry in the vicinity also declined.

Who knows how many unfinished buildings became lànwěilóu (unfinished buildings), and there was still a Longma Building in the old city that hadn't been completed.

Counting the time, it was around the same period as the Stone Marrow Hall.

However, there were no unlucky ghosts like Huai Shi left to guard it. Instead, it had long since decayed in the wind and rain. Only a few tomb keepers in the cemetery behind the mountain had slightly repaired a few houses and used them as living quarters. Later, due to rumors of hauntings, even the cemetery was no longer guarded and had completely fallen into disrepair.

According to satellite reconnaissance, there were several people active in the dilapidated manor. Besides Wang Hai, the presence of Ascendants could not be ruled out.

It was likely that the last backbone of the Savior Society was hiding here. Perhaps there were reinforcements sent by the organization behind the scenes. The thought of some lunatic wanting to cause trouble in Xinhai again made his head ache.

"Are you all ready?"

After confirming repeatedly, Director Fu also checked his personal weapons and bulletproof vest, and personally got into the car of the first assault team.

"Are we starting the operation just like this?"

To this, Ai Qing seemed puzzled. Soon, she raised her hand and gestured, "Wait a moment, I'll make a call."

At the same time, in the ruins on the fourth floor of the main building of the dilapidated manor on the mountain, which was almost completely collapsed, a shadow was crawling behind a broken wall, looking down the mountain with binoculars.

"Are you sure that guy from the Astronomical Society will take the bait?"

The peeker, holding the phone, was somewhat anxious, "We've been waiting here for two days, why haven't we seen a single shadow?"

"Don't worry, it'll be soon."

Wang Hai's voice came through the phone, "I deliberately went around the city. If they still can't notice me, the Special Affairs Department might as well disband."

"This time, the Overlord has given you the last chance," the peeker said unhappily. "Think carefully about how to atone for your mistakes. I don't see what's so useful about catching a little kid."

As he spoke, he whistled softly, soothing the shadows hidden in the ruins above. Those beasts were restless, as if they had smelled fresh blood.

"It's easier to negotiate when you have hostages, what do you know!"

Wang Hai's voice on the phone became displeased, "If we're lucky, we might even take down the entire Xinhai Astronomical Society. Then what plan can't be carried out? They've gone up the mountain, and there's the army of the Special Affairs Department. You guys better not mess up."

"Four Ascendants, ten Shadow Beasts, and over ninety Retribution Demons. Even if the Special Affairs Department's army comes, they won't fare well."

The peeker revealed a bloodthirsty smile, "I want to see if that pretty boy who sells his face and that crippled woman are really as miraculous as you say."

Snap.

The call ended.

The strange shadow coiled in the darkness, suppressing all its presence, like a hibernating snake. The entire estate fell into instant silence, with no sound remaining.

The chirping of birds and insects resumed, making the ruins appear even more desolate.

The speeding convoy screeched to a halt once more on the mountainside. On the defensive positions at the foot of the mountain, someone brought out a mortar. Following the commander's directions, it let out a thunderous roar.

Soon, shells rained down from the sky, pulverizing the entire east side of the ruined estate. Amidst the countless swirling dust particles, a massive crater was exposed on the ground.

There were still no abnormal movements, only the faint sound of panicked shouts from within the estate could be heard.

"Continue?" Director Fu, holding binoculars in the passenger seat, asked.

"Let's wait a bit longer."

Ai Qing, inside the car, looked up towards the estate. With a blank expression, she raised her phone and said to the person on the other end, "I need a long sword, for cleanup."

Three minutes later, a whistling sound echoed through the sky.

The dark silhouette of a steel bird broke through the clouds. With a sonic boom, it streaked across the land. From beneath its wings, a pure white steel arrow drew an arc and descended towards the earth.

At that moment, the figure lurking on the top floor widened its eyes in astonishment.

What the hell?

With a bang.

The object landed.

The next instant, violent roars and flames erupted from the ground, causing the entire mountain to tremble slightly. Amidst the spewing fire and sweeping air pressure, the ruined estate once again groaned and wailed under the savage onslaught.

In the terrifying explosion, the surging air pressure completely crushed the entire estate into rubble, while countless steel fragments unleashed death in all directions, with sharp sounds erupting from them.

A massive depression appeared in the center of the estate. The molten earth flowed across the scorched black ground, and the foul smell of gunpowder and dust spread in the violent wind.

Missiles!

Before there was time for any reaction, a low whistling sound erupted from the sky again.

The shadow of the steel bird returned.

After dropping something from the air, it flew towards the horizon, leaving only a muffled thud that spread through the sky.

Following that, streaks of white smoke, accompanied by something, extended towards the ground.

Like a tree growing upside down.

It was as if a cruel angel had shed its wings in the clouds, bringing divine light and pure white mist to cover the earth, delivering equal burning and destruction.

A terrifying temperature erupted the moment those abominations landed. Azure and crimson flames spewed forth from them. Scorching winds enveloped every corner, like a thin veil, and everything covered by it was engulfed in that terrifying conflagration.

The flames danced wildly in the soil, on the stones, on the ruins, and in the flesh. The heat, capable of melting steel into liquid, brought toxic smoke and dense fog that pierced the lungs.

In just an instant, the destruction brought by white phosphorus incendiary bombs fully descended upon the ruins. The dancing phosphorus vapor and flames that flowed like water permeated every place without exception.

Burning, burning, burning.

First, the terrifying impact of the missiles, followed by the horrific temperature of the white phosphorus, and finally, the toxic fog that completely annihilated all living things.

The entire mountainside was engulfed in destruction.

On the mountainside, everyone stared dumbfounded at the scene of destruction, watching dozens of abominations, several meters tall, scream and flee from the flames, struggling and rolling on the ground, scraping the azure flames off their bones. But immediately, malevolent fire reignited from their marrow.

Until finally, they lay still on the ground, no longer moving, leaving behind only charred remains slowly turning to charcoal in the flames, and the sound of bones cracking from the burning.

"..."

A group of people stared blankly at the ruins before them. Director Fu turned to Ai Qing, "You don't want any survivors? Aren't white phosphorus incendiary bombs banned?"

"Those who can survive are the survivors," Ai Qing said calmly, waving her hand. "Anyone who talks about humanitarianism towards terrorists must have a problem with their brain."

"..."

"Alright, you can go in now."

Ai Qing instructed, casting a final glance at Huai Shi. "You can go in now, you will go, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Huai Shi nodded vigorously. "I'm a brick from the Astronomical Society, wherever I'm needed, I'll be moved. Someone, bring my Fire Kirin AK!"

Ahaha, after completely using up my saved drafts, I feel so refreshed~