Dissuasion

Bubble, bubble, bubble...

A mouthwatering aroma rose from the tall pot on the stove. Beside it, a boy of eleven or twelve swallowed as he stared at the potatoes and chicken inside.

He looked at the girl in the apron. "Sis, when can we eat?"

Xun was turning off the heat and getting ready to dish up the food. "I already told you, we have an important guest coming tonight. We can eat once he gets here."

The boy looked miserably at the table nearby, which was covered with delicious food: steamed fish, greens stir-fried with sliced meat, a cold dish dressed with sesame oil, and now these potatoes and chicken.

In all his life, the boy had never had such a lavish dinner.

Since returning from the Inverse Realm, Xun, who had become an Ascender, had received a great deal of attention from the Fortress.

Her father, who had long been bedridden, had been taken to the Medical Center in the Upper City the very next day. Luo Shan had even arranged a caregiver for him. Even when Xun was not at the hospital, her father would receive comprehensive care.

Luo Shan had also given her two thousand Contribution Points, an enormous sum to Xun.

In addition, as part of her benefits as an Ascender, her Upper Citizen identification had already been issued. An application for an apartment in the Upper City was being processed. Once it was approved, Xun could designate two people to move into the apartment with her.

Everything was changing for the better.

The better things became, the more grateful she felt to Tianyang. If not for him, Zhou Wang might already have violated her, and hers might have been a very different story.

That was why Xun had invited Tianyang to her home tonight. She had specifically asked Luo Shan for a day off and had been busy preparing since early morning.

After setting the potatoes and chicken on the table, Xun checked the clock. It was getting late, and she wondered whether he was on his way.

Faced with a table full of food he could not eat, the boy simply slumped over the table. "Sis, why isn't your boyfriend here yet?"

Xun's face instantly burned. "Xiao Jie, keep talking nonsense and you won't get any dinner!"

The boy named Xiao Jie immediately clapped a hand over his mouth, afraid that another wrong word would cost him tonight's feast.

Xun took off her apron, stepped outside, and looked up and down the street.

Two unfamiliar men had appeared nearby. Though they were disguised as a homeless man and a drunk, Xun knew they were guards Luo Shan had assigned to her.

Every Ascender of the Radiance Class was worth the Fortress's full support and training. After what had happened with Zhou Wang, Luo Shan dared not let her guard down again.

But aside from those two guards, there were scarcely any passersby. Xun gazed toward the end of the street, as though that familiar figure might appear at any moment.

What she did not know was that Tianyang was currently driving toward the Upper City. He was destined to miss their appointment tonight.

Upper City, Qin Residence.

Qin Jie stood on the balcony, looking down at the straight, clean street below. The landscaped strips on either side were a sight unseen in the Lower City, and the quiet surroundings were an even greater symbol of luxury.

The family had been established for over fifty years and was now in its fourth generation. Apart from its first patriarch, the next two generations, including Qin Jie's own, had produced no further Ascenders.

By Qin Wu's generation, Qin Jie had given up hoping. He only wanted his son to secure some kind of official post. Father and son would grit their teeth and strive to earn ten thousand Contribution Points every year to maintain their Clan-Founding Rights and the other associated privileges.

But less than six months after he sent his son into the Gathering Team, disaster struck.

And he had not died at the hands of the Children of Darkness. He had been killed by some brat who had only just awakened!

Qin Jie could not swallow that humiliation.

It was not only because of his son's death, but also because the Qin Clan might very well come to an end in his hands.

So, even though Lin Yang had warned him against taking revenge, Qin Jie had acted anyway.

The thought of throwing that brat's mother into the Black Mine brought a cruel smile to Qin Jie's lips.

He knew perfectly well that no woman could survive in a place like the Black Mine. Especially since he had given its management specific instructions. Then, just as he had expected, the woman had died three days ago.

Later, he had heard that the brat named Tianyang had broken into the Black Mine at night. Qin Jie had been somewhat surprised, but he had anticipated such a development.

The truth could not be hidden forever. The boy would learn of it sooner or later.

Qin Jie was not worried that Tianyang would seek revenge. On the contrary, he was waiting for the brat to come to his death.

Yes, his death!

Eight experienced, cunning, and ruthless Gold Hunters lay in ambush within the seemingly peaceful Qin Residence. These men, who had entered the Inverse Realm and survived, were true desperadoes.

Pay them enough, and they would do anything. Most importantly, they were willing to risk their lives-and had the nerve to do it!

In addition, Qin Jie had hired a rank-3 Ascender, despite the man's notorious reputation. Once word of the arrangement spread, Qin Jie's own reputation would suffer somewhat.

But how could he worry about any of that now?

Yet Qin Jie's trump card was neither the Gold Hunters nor the Ascender. It was his authority as director of the Third Security Office!

That was right. He was not an Ascender, but he was still an official, and the Security Office itself was an agency empowered to use force. When necessary, Qin Jie could mobilize its personnel. Once Tianyang showed any sign of aggression, Qin Jie could openly have him executed on the spot!

At that thought, Qin Jie's smile widened.

"Come on, brat. I'll show you that an Ascender who has only just awakened is nothing at all. You'll pay a terrible price for your recklessness!"

Footsteps suddenly sounded behind him. An old man who looked like a steward said softly, "Sir, we just received word from the City Checkpoint. The boy drove in alone and has already entered the Upper City."

Qin Jie's eyes shone. Rubbing his hands excitedly, he spoke in a voice only he could hear. "Son, did you hear that? That brat is coming. Just wait. Your father will send him to apologize to you!"

Once Tianyang entered the Upper City, the number of streetlights suddenly increased. Their ample illumination let him see every corner.

Switching to self-driving mode, Tianyang opened the navigation system and entered Qin Jie's name.

The location of the Qin Residence soon appeared clearly on the display. He set the Qin Family's home as his destination, and the motorcycle turned at the next intersection.

Then Tianyang saw them.

Ling Feng! Han Shu! Old Xu! Cang Du! Ji Yu!

Tianyang had no choice but to stop and shut off the engine. Their cars were blocking the road.

Soon, two more cars approached from behind, completing the blockade.

Tianyang's gaze settled on Ling Feng. He had not expected him to make a special trip back from the distant Lighthouse Base.

"Chief of Staff Ling, please step aside." The young man's voice was calm, but that very calm made it all the clearer that beneath the placid surface lay a volcano on the verge of erupting!

Ling Feng adjusted his glasses and took two steps forward. "Tianyang, there's still time to stop. Compared to you, Qin Jie is nobody. You don't need to take risks over someone like him. I'll say it again: leave this to the Nightwalkers. We can follow the proper procedures and bring him to justice."