Chapter Fifty-Two: Zhang Yang's Plan

When he heard Zhang Yang's words, Qin Xiaochuan fell silent. He understood the current situation all too well—his body was on the verge of collapse after Sikong Lang’s relentless attacks, and the spiritual energy within him was nearly depleted. All he could muster was one final spirit bullet, but even the last one, which struck Sikong Lang squarely, had failed to bring him down. It seemed that the only option left was to stake everything on Zhang Yang’s desperate tactic.

“I’m counting on you…”

Seeing the wild determination on Zhang Yang’s face, Qin Xiaochuan nodded in agreement. The murderous intent in Zhang Yang’s eyes grew sharper as he shouted, raising his spirit sword and charging straight at Sikong Lang.

“Are you hoping to perish together?” Sikong Lang, watching Zhang Yang barrel toward him, raised his sword—which had now shifted back from a shield—and said confidently, “Then let me grant your wish!” With that, he swung his sword down at Zhang Yang with full force.

As Zhang Yang reached the critical distance, Qin Xiaochuan lifted his right hand and fired his last spirit bullet at Zhang Yang’s back. Was he mad, shooting his own teammate? In fact, before this attack, Zhang Yang had shared his plan with Qin Xiaochuan: as he charged at Sikong Lang with his spirit sword, Qin Xiaochuan would fire a spirit bullet at him, using the force of impact to accelerate Zhang Yang, enabling him to deliver a lethal strike to Sikong Lang. It was their only chance at victory. So, as Zhang Yang closed half the distance, Qin Xiaochuan fired his final spirit bullet, propelling Zhang Yang toward Sikong Lang at breakneck speed.

Sikong Lang had misjudged the situation; he never expected Zhang Yang to reach him so swiftly under the bullet’s propulsion, piercing him right through. “You… truly surprised me…” Sikong Lang muttered as his muscular body toppled backward, never to rise again.

“The game is over, President Li. In the end, I’m the winner—ninety trillion dollars in total. Please arrange for the payment within a month…” With these words, Mr. Yu Jing’s screen turned to static; it was clear he had emerged the final victor in this wager.

“It’s over… it’s all over…” Li Gang’s mind went blank at Yu Jing’s words. This bet had ruined him completely. Unwilling to accept his defeat, he struggled up from his chair and shouted to Shi Tou beside him, “Get the helicopter ready—take the Snow Maiden and get out, quick!”

Just as Li Gang was making a last-ditch effort to escape, a strange voice sounded behind him: “You’re the only one left!” Realizing something was terribly wrong, he spun around to see the bodyguards holding the Snow Maiden, as well as his trusted Shi Tou, all unconscious on the floor. Standing beside the Snow Maiden was a short figure clad in a black cloak, sword in hand. Li Gang trembled and stammered, “Who… who are you… Did Yu Jing send you to kill me?”

“You locked her in a ward covered with talismans—it’s no wonder even my Evil Eye couldn’t find her.” It was Feiyan, who had rescued the Snow Maiden. Not wanting her to recognize him, Feiyan said little to her, but pointed his sword at Li Gang. “The moment you released her from the barrier, your luck ran out.”

“H-help… help!” Li Gang’s eyes brimmed with terror as Feiyan advanced. He’d always been indifferent to others’ deaths, but now, faced with his own, he was so frightened he wet his pants.

Looking at the man before him, Feiyan’s eyes blazed with fury. This was the wretch who had hidden his own sister from him, making all his efforts with the Evil Eye fruitless. Without another word, Feiyan punched the bald man square in the face. There was no demon power in the blow—just precisely measured force. Watching the hefty body slam into the glass behind, Feiyan said coldly, “I won’t kill you, scum. I won’t let your filthy life pollute Feixue.”

“Thank you… May I ask… who are you…” Looking at her rescuer, Feixue felt a strange sense of familiarity, though she couldn’t say why. Just standing beside this small figure made her feel safe and warm, a sensation she’d only ever known in her mother’s embrace.

“…Mm.” Feiyan hesitated for a few seconds at her question, then pointed to the arena below, where Qin Xiaochuan and Zhang Yang were, and said, “I’m their companion.”

Hearing he was with her rescuers, Feixue seemed to realize something. After apologizing to Feiyan, she hurried off toward the arena; it seemed she wanted to check on the injuries of those below first.

Inside the arena, Zhang Yang was sitting on the ground, apparently unharmed despite the recent impact. Qin Xiaochuan, approaching, breathed a sigh of relief—he’d truly feared his spirit bullet might have killed Zhang Yang. “You’re still alive? You really will try anything, won’t you!”

“Heh, didn’t you say you could adjust the power of your spirit bullets? So I figured you’d keep it just shy of killing me,” Zhang Yang replied with a wry smile, glancing at Sikong Lang’s body on the ground. “At the time, there was no other way.” This reckless method had come to him in a flash; he and Xiaochuan were at their wits’ end. Facing the far-stronger Sikong Lang, there was no chance of victory without risking everything.

“By the way—what about the Snow Maiden? That bastard was still holding her. You rest here, I’ll go get her.” Remembering that the Snow Maiden was still in Li Gang’s hands, Qin Xiaochuan called out to Zhang Yang and ran toward the second-floor stands. As he reached the steps, he saw the Snow Maiden running down toward him. It seemed she was coming to find him and Zhang Yang.

“Who are you?”

“It’s nothing. My name is Qin Xiaochuan—I’m here to rescue you. How are things upstairs?”

“A young man in black saved me, thanks to him. By the way, how is the person below?”

“A man in black? Could it be Feiyan? How did he know the Snow Maiden was here?” Qin Xiaochuan immediately guessed that Feiyan had come. According to Little King Yama, Feiyan had been searching for his long-lost sister for years, even implanting the Evil Eye to find the Snow Maiden. But from her tone, it seemed Feiyan hadn’t revealed himself to her yet. There must be some reason—he should go check. With that in mind, Qin Xiaochuan told her, “Go check on my friend in the arena. I’ll head back up to greet my friend.”

“All right.” With a reply, the Snow Maiden hurried over to Zhang Yang. She’d seen from the second-floor viewing area that the young man had been gravely injured while fighting for her. Remembering how another young man had been riddled with bullets by Li Gang while trying to save her, her heart ached. She couldn’t bear to see anyone else risk their life for her—her greatest fear.

She rushed into the arena and knelt beside Zhang Yang, who stared at her in a daze. Only then did her heart finally settle. Seeing the blood trickling from his wounds, she gently pressed her small hand to his face. “Don’t move, I have a little healing power… I’m sorry…” Seeing his injuries, her heart twisted with pain. “You got hurt saving me… so badly… I’m so sorry…”

Noticing the burn marks on her arms, Zhang Yang’s body trembled. “It should be me apologizing—for letting you suffer so much here. I should be the one to say sorry.” Gazing into her innocent eyes, Zhang Yang lowered his head. “There are some terrible, terrible people among humans, but there are many good ones as well. Please… please… don’t let this make you hate humanity. I beg you!” Tears welled up in his eyes. He truly cared for her. Since the first moment he saw her image on the screen, he’d been moved by the adorable girl. When he saw the wounds inflicted on her by humans, he became terrified that she would lose her compassion for mankind. He was so deeply afraid—afraid of losing her forgiveness—that he couldn’t help but weep in front of her.

She gently wiped his tears away, a bright smile lighting her face. “Don’t worry… I really like humans!”

“Thank you… thank you… thank you…” Overcome by emotion at her words, Zhang Yang buried his face in her lap and sobbed, as though afraid of losing the girl he cherished most.

Seeing Zhang Yang clinging to her and crying so bitterly, the Snow Maiden’s face softened with maternal affection. She reached out and gently stroked his hair. It’s all right, Snow Maiden. I do, truly, love humanity!

After Qin Xiaochuan, Zhang Yang, and Feiyan left with the Snow Maiden, Sikong Lang suddenly sat up from the arena floor. Could it be a corpse coming back to life? He flicked the spirit sword from his body; not a drop of blood flowed. It seemed he had clamped the sword with his abdominal muscles to fake his death. Not far off, his brother, who had transformed into a weapon, reverted to his true form—apparently, it had all been a ruse.

At that moment, Mr. Yu Jing, who had vanished from the screen, reappeared, a cigarette between his fingers. Watching the Sikong brothers rise in the arena, he said, “Well done, Sikong brothers. That was a truly brilliant performance!”