Chapter 11

Taking Long Hua's act of tossing meat into the hotpot as a cue to begin their meal, Zhui Yun begins to do the same.

As this is happening, Nian Yao Yao maintains an expression of anticipation; however, the two who she is expecting a reply from—

(She's waiting for someone to ask her what this interesting discovery is.)

(I think, I already know the answer, so I ain't playing along with her.)

As Jing Yao and Long Hua dispassionately wait for Nian Yao Yao to voluntarily continue, silence looms in the air.

(You two are so stingy with giving face...)

Clearing her throat loudly, Nian Yao Yao directs a glance at Zhui Yun—who has just finished throwing a plate of meat into the hotpot.

"O-Oh uhmm... Lady Nian, wh-what is that interesting discovery that the medical staff made?"

With a smile of satisfaction, Nian Yao Yao continues—

"Turns out—there's this odd energy that accumulates in the body of the Immortals. Upon their death, this energy gets scattered into the air."

(Right, that can only be spirit Qi.)

"According to the medical staff, they believe this energy to be the same energy that our city's detection systems are designed to pick up. But it's the first time that we've been able to see its physical form."

"What does it look like?"

With a light of interest emanating from her eyes, Jing Yao asks for more details—much to Nian Yao Yao's delight, as she replies—

"I wasn't there, so I was only told, but they said it looked like strands of green bodies that just float in the air."

"Does it dissipate over time?"

"Some theorizes that it does; but the majority seems to believe it's just so scattered most of the time that we're incapable of seeing it without the assistance of specialized machinery."

"So, the reason we're able to see it this time is because the corpse was so fresh?"

"That's the explanation the medical staff seems to be agreeing on. You would think that this energy would have been discovered sooner with how busy the frontlines are, but... Hmm. I'm thinking that it's because the number of active Immortals is too abundant on the frontlines that this energy gets devoured as soon as it appears from the fallen, or... I could be wrong here, but it might also be because of a nondisclosure agreement? In any case, they did take a few photos that I haven't had the chance to look through. If you want, I can send you them later."

"That would help."

Staying out of the conversation between Nian Yao Yao and Jing Yao so far, Long Hua pours himself a cup of tea prior to asking—

"So? What does this discovery mean for you? Are you any closer to creating an alternative to challenging your mother's Moon Guards?"

Dumping ice cold water onto the mood, Long Hua brings up the question that has been occupying Nian Yao Yao's mind ever since she created NPI.

Twitching an eye in response to the blunt way in which Long Hua had brought the matter up, Nian Yao Yao answers—

"I've been thinking deeply about these matters ever since I was informed of the details. Why is it that despite not knowing about this energy's existence, our civilization possesses machines capable of detecting it?"

Hearing this question, Long Hua presses his brows together. This is a question that he hadn't thought of, and thinking about it, he quickly reaches the same conclusion as Nian Yao Yao.

"Your thought of there being a nondisclosure agreement seems rather likely..."

Nodding her head, Nian Yao Yao says—

"Someone or a group up top—is hiding a great deal of information regarding what exactly the Immortals are. We've dissected the bodies of Immortals in the past, and the medical staff have concluded that they are the same as us. We all possess the same number of bones, and the position of our organs are also the same without any extras. Aside from this newly discovered source of energy that is contained in the Immortals' bodies, we are not any different from one another—at least from a physician's point of view. If the possession of this energy within the body is what makes an individual an Immortal, then the Immortals must have a specialized method—for gathering this energy that isn't related to the possession of an undiscovered organ. In other words, having the ability to cultivate this energy is what makes an individual an Immortal. So long as it's truly not related to an undiscovered organ, or an unknown device of some kind, even the common man would be capable of becoming an Immortal."

(Impressive—that she's able to realize this with just a few clues.)

As Long Hua thought of this, Tian Cheng takes the three slices of meat that the former had tossed into the hotpot previously, and places them into a bowl prior to passing it over.

"It should be the right tenderness now."

"...Thanks."

As the others all looked towards his direction with a gaze that seems to be telling him to read the mood, a sense of embarrassment washes over Long Hua—as he receives the bowl of cooked meat from Tian Cheng.

"Hey, say something before digging in. Don't leave me hanging like this. Don't you feel awkward at all?"

Accepting this crude lifeline from Nian Yao Yao, Long Hua goes on to say—

"Your theory is probably correct. And knowing this, how do you plan to proceed from here on out?"

Having asked this, Long Hua immediately takes a bite out of the cooked meat.

(Definitely tender.)

Off to the side, Zhui Yun continues to put a few slices of meat into the hotpot, along with a bundle of noodles—while Jing Yao throws five prawns into the mix.

"Hmm."

Throwing a few prawns in herself—along with some noodles, Nian Yao Yao leans back in her seat, and stares up at the extravagantly decorated ceiling with a frown.

"Language really is quite a barrier, isn't it?"

Towards Nian Yao Yao's remark, Long Hua replies—

"Don't tell me—you're planning to just go up to an Immortal, and ask them directly?"

"If I could obtain the method that the Immortals are using to gather this energy, I would... Attempt to raise a special group of troops to go against my mother's Moon Guards, I suppose?"

"So, you're going to try to create Immortals yourself?"

"You could say that."

Hearing this, Long Hua's expression turns solemn, as he thought—

(...If cultivation became more widespread, it would make it easier for me long term. If that were to happen, I wouldn't need to seal my cultivation base at all times.)

Thinking of the future, Long Hua feels a need to make this into a reality, for if his cultivation base continues to climb, he will eventually reach a realm, in which it would be impossible for him to thoroughly suppress his identity—as a practitioner from the detection of this world's machinery.

"I wonder, if the people that are keeping this energy a secret—have the method used to gather it as well?"

"A single company going up against the military... That sounds like suicide."

Before Nian Yao Yao can continue her train of thought on whatever desperate ideas that she may be conceiving, Long Hua shoots it down ahead of time.

Although the military is made up of mostly ordinary soldiers, their authority to deploy Sinners if needed shouldn't be disregarded.

"Don't get too obsessed with just one lead."

"I have to agree with him."

Seeing Jing Yao agreeing with Long Hua, Nian Yao Yao replies with a subtle nod, and remarks—

"Hmm seems like I would need to give this matter more thought. Although, if New Moon Village possesses this information, I could try to buy it off them."

"I feel like you might be overestimating them."

As Tian Cheng passes over a bowl of noodles with five slices of meat and a hardboiled egg, several thoughts went through Long Hua's head as he ate.

(This world lacks spirit Qi to an abnormal degree. Even if the denizens of this world managed to acquire a cultivation method—the odds of them being able to go above Qi Condensation are very low. ...Not that I care. *Sigh* on one hand, if cultivation becomes more widespread...- Even if the highest is Qi Condensation, I'd still have an easier time moving around in the future, but on the other hand...)

Should he relinquish the method used for cultivation to Nian Yao Yao, Long Hua can't help but think about the consequences that he would need to deal with in the future.

(At first glance, telling her about my situation could be seen as me doing her a favor while also raising my own value, but if cultivation becomes more widespread in this world in its current state... It would be detrimental to my progression, as I would have to deal with unwanted competition. Other than that, there's also the Ling Yuan family to take into consideration. I doubt they will just leave me to my own devices after realizing that the denizens of this world have become capable of cultivation—something that they seem to be attempting to prevent. Once they find out that there isn't a traitor on their side, their natural conclusion would be to think that a foreigner had appeared in their backyard... I wouldn't be surprised if they sent in an army just to hunt me down.)

Chapter 12

(Right, when you think about it like that—me not revealing my circumstances is just my method of protecting this world from harm; there's nothing selfish about it.)

Despite not feeling any hint of guilt towards his selfish decision, Long Hua still felt the need to make up an excuse in his mind.

"..."

Maintaining shut eyes, Tian Cheng turns her head subtly towards Long Hua's direction.

(Unwanted competition will indeed hinder master's progression, but it feels as if he has a natural trust issue that requires addressing.)

Due to their connection with one another, Tian Cheng has a rough idea of what Long Hua is thinking of.

As the sound of moving tableware and chopsticks fill the air, the group seemed to have stopped their conversation completely, as they focused on their meal.

"Hey, how is it possible that all the meat is gone so soon?"

Towards Nian Yao Yao's question, Jing Yao answers—

"Didn't Zhui Yun eat most of it during the conversation?"

"Oh?"

"S-Sorry... Other than that slice of cake from a few hours back, I didn't have anything else to fill my stomach with."

Towards Nian Yao Yao's glare, Zhui Yun is quick to respond with a flushed face of embarrassment.

"*Sigh* whatever, it's fine. Long Hua, you're the closest to the cart, so call for more."

Turning around, Long Hua reaches for the phone that is on the cart's second layer, and presses the one button that is on it.

[Hotel service center, how may we assist you?]

"99th floor, more plates of meat delivered to us."

[Certainly. A staff will bring it up to you shorty.]

Hanging up the call, and placing the phone back, Long Hua finishes off his bowl of food.

"Shall I prepare another bowl with these?"

Seeing five neatly peeled prawns that are already cooked being gestured to by Tian Cheng, Long Hua nods.

"Please."

Receiving Long Hua's emptied bowl, Tian Cheng rises from her seat and begins to refill it.

"How attentive... I'm actually jealous."

Peeling off the shell of her own prawn, Nian Yao Yao can't help but voice her envy.

"You could have brought a servant along."

"Hmm, maybe I will next time."

"Lady Nian, I can peel them for you if you want."

"That'd be nice, so I'll take you up on that offer."

(What an ass kisser.)

Towards Zhui Yun—who had been so ready to offer her services to Nian Yao Yao, Long Hua directs a cold gaze at her, as he receives his bowl back from Tian Cheng.

"Zhui Yun, don't spoil her."

"Jing, don't ruin this for me."

"It really wouldn't kill you to learn how difficult it is for the common person."

"Hmm, the old hag used to say that to me as well, but I'm far too used to being waited on. At this point, it's difficult for me to imagine living any other way. In fact, would I still be Nian Yao Yao—if I'm not the one sitting back in a luxury chair, and being waited on by numerous servants?"

Despite her not going too into detail, an image of Nian Yao Yao resting on a fully reclined beach chair, with four female servants surrounding her—appears in Long Hua and Jing Yao's mind.

Within this image, two of the four servants are holding onto a large feather fan, while another is standing behind Nian Yao Yao—using a large parasol to shield her from the sun.

(The last servant is definitely Zhui Yun.)

(The last servant is definitely the ass kisser.)

The last servant in this image stands closest to Nian Yao Yao, and is feeding her a freshly peeled fruit of some kind.

"I have a feeling that's going to come back and bite you in the future."

"I'll figure something out then."

As Nian Yao Yao and Jing Yao conversed, the double doors located at the back walls are opened.

Pushing along a cart filled with plates of meat, a hotel staff approaches their table.

"Enjoy."

"Thank you."

Halting the meat-loaded cart next to the rice and wine cart, the hotel staff takes his leave immediately.

"..."

Watching the hotel staff leave in such a hurry without even turning towards them with a bow of etiquette, Long Hua constricts his eyes.

(Maybe he's a new hire that hasn't been fully trained? Hmm even if that were the case, with flowers as lovely as these two at the table—it's still rather odd that he wouldn't turn an eye over...)

Just as Long Hua turns his attention back to his meal—

"Hm...?"

Upon seeing Tian Cheng—who had abruptly opened her magenta-colored eyes, Long Hua is startled for a brief instance.

"..."

Meeting Long Hua's questioning gaze, Tian Cheng shuts her eyes, and stands up from her seat.

(Looks like something really is up.)

Similarly, Long Hua does the same, and follows Tian Cheng.

"Something wrong?"

"Don't worry about it, it's nothing major."

Upon distancing themselves from the group, Long Hua and Tian Cheng stand near the glass walls.

"Well?"

Unless deemed necessary to increase her information processing capabilities, Tian Cheng wouldn't just open her eyes at random.

"Cameras show that five individuals with military dolls have entered the building."

Opening her eyes, Tian Cheng answers with a voice that is devoid of all emotions.

"Any idea where they came from?"

"Unknown. Their attire consists of a hooded black jacket and a bodysuit. Other than that, their faces are covered by an oni mask."

"So, a bunch of masked freaks in BSDM gear... *Sigh* as the saying goes—a lone pervert isn't what's terrifying, what's truly terrifying is a group of perverts. Well, how close are they to this floor?"

"The five accompanied by 13 military dolls are estimated to reach this floor in 12 minutes and 48 seconds. Another four have begun descending to our floor from the helipad. Also..."

Without continuing, Tian Cheng turns her head, and throws a brief glance at the meat-loaded cart.

Unlike the first cart, this one is covered by a long dark cloth that just barely touches the ground.

"I see."

The bottom half of the cart is large enough to fit an adult if they just curl up into a ball.

"What shall we do, master?"

"*Sigh* 99th floor of the building, and we're already surrounded. Just let it play out."

"Apologies, I should have kept my eyes focused on the cameras earlier."

"No need to feel bad about it. Even if you spotted them earlier, it wouldn't have mattered—since we're on the 99th floor. In any case..."

Looking around the vicinity, Long Hua's attention is drawn to the 12 support pillars—that are holding up the 100th floor that is above their heads.

"Should work. When they arrive do me a favor."

"Awaiting your instructions."

Providing a few more instructions to Tian Cheng, the two returned to their seats.

Upon seating themselves, Long Hua takes out Kun, and passes it over to Tian Cheng under the cover of the tablecloth.

"Hua, are the grounds red?"

Noticing the presence of tension in the air, Zhui Yun asks this in a low volume.

This is a code that NPI agents would use to secretively alert their combatants of lurking trouble—while keeping their enemies in the dark, should they be in range of prying eyes and ears.

"Yes, very red in fact."

Taking up his bowl of food, Long Hua resumes picking away at his meal.

"..."

"..."

Hearing this answer, both Nian Yao Yao and Jing Yao blinked their eyes, but they continued to maintain a casual air as they ate.

Chapter 13

Dumping an entire plate of clams into the hotpot, Nian Yao Yao sits back, and looks to Long Hua. Towards her stare, the latter says—

"Next time you should settle for the lower floors. And I mean it."

"But being up high makes me feel like I'd have more class."

"I don't want to wait an entire 15 minutes for an elevator to get up to my level. At that point, class is nonexistent, only misery, and embarrassment for not thinking things through properly."

"Take the stairs then."

"Say that to a fast food-fueled corporate slave, and they'd tell you to piss right off."

(Tch so both the stairs and elevators are a no-go? Hmm.)

Relaying their general situation to Nian Yao Yao through these conversations, Long Hua patiently waits for the other side to make their move, as he takes out his phone to check the time.

(Less than six minutes to go. Now then... I wonder how they will go about attacking us? If they plan to use non-lethal means, they'll probably toss in a flashbang, or a smoke grenade—followed by aiming firearms at us while demanding for us to surrender. From their perspective—assuming they're professionals with plenty of experience, a situation like that can be somewhat difficult to manage depending on who they are dealing with. A surer method would be to use incapacitating agents. Lethal means without much thought, they could just come in guns blazing.)

Not a single person approached the meat-loaded cart, as they waited while occupying themselves with the food that is right in front of them.

As the enemy closes in with less than three minutes of time remaining, Long Hua says—

"Might be time I begin to leave."

"Going back to your yacht so soon, Hua?"

Genuinely surprised by this, Jing Yao remarks—

"You still haven't moved out of the yacht?"

"I did offer to move him to some place more convenient."

"Too used to the thing. Tian Cheng, pass me some chopsticks. Mine are a bit uneven."

"Here."

"...A bit much, but whatever."

Receiving a bundle of chopsticks, Long Hua takes a dining knife, and begins to sharpen them beneath the table.

"Jing, should I call my car over to send you back later?"

"Would be nice if possible."

"Didn't you tell those guards to take it easy for the rest of the day?"

(No good, huh?)

Inwardly heaving a sigh, Nian Yao Yao throws in the towel.

"Hmm, I suppose it wouldn't be proper to call them back for work after that..."

Despite the casual nature of their conversations, all of them are currently on high alert.

Among their group, the sole noncombatant is Jing Yao, whom Nian Yao Yao is currently leaning closer to.

(Three... Two... One, now.)

*Bam!* exactly 12 minutes and 48 seconds since Long Hua and Tian Cheng had held their conversation, the back doors are kicked open, and five cans are tossed into the air.

"Cover your mouths and hold your breath."

Seeing the five cans that are already starting to leak out their gaseous contents, and identifying them to be incapacitating agents, Long Hua rises from his seat with five chopsticks in his right hand.

Flicking his arm outwards, Long Hua hurls the five chopsticks into the air, and with great precision, each chopstick impales a can, and sends them back to the group that is gathered at the double doors.

*Boom!!!* in the same instance, the reinforced glass walls are smashed through by explosives.

Following the glass walls' destruction, four individuals attached to grappling hooks—enters the vicinity with their assault rifles aimed at Long Hua and the others.

As soon as these individuals have landed into the vicinity, the one hiding beneath the meat-loaded cart is just about to emerge for a sneak attack, but—

"Piss off."

Kicking the meat-loaded cart, Long Hua sends it dashing towards one of the individuals—who had just entered the vicinity through the smashed glass.

Instead of dodging the incoming cart, the individual widens their stance, and with a hand pushed outwards, they stop the cart with relative ease.

From the direction of the double doors, the five individuals that are accompanied by the military dolls approach to surround the group's table.

"Bestial traits? So, they're Moon Guards?"

Glancing at the individuals—who are all dressed in black bodysuits beneath a hooded black jacket, with horns or animalistic ears on their heads, Nian Yao Yao instantly connects their origins to the Long Yue family.

"I haven't seen the old hag in so long, and this is how she decides to greet me?"

[Who are you calling an old hag, my worthless daughter—who is about to reach 200 years of age in a few more days?]

"Ahn?"

Recognizing this laidback voice, Nian Yao Yao turns to one of the military dolls that is currently aiming its assault rifle at her.

(RS800 Mk. II, 13 of them in total. All estimated to be a bit over two meters in height. Product of Black Steel Industries.)

Recognizing the model that these dolls fall under, Tian Cheng opens her magenta-colored eyes, and gives each of them a brief glance.

The dolls' limbs are divided into two lengthy rectangles, while their chest and head are boxier in shape.

Positioned in the center of the military doll's boxy head is a single eye that gives off a blue glow, and beneath the war machine's heavy armor, one can easily see the outlines of a skeletal frame.

Overall, these dolls have what many might consider to be a crude design—focused solely on functionality without a hint of aesthetic beauty.

"When did that old mother of mine become an android? And such a hideous looking one at that..."

[I know you're only saying that to infuriate me, but I'm still going to call you an idiot for it, you idiot.]

Communicating through the military doll, Nian Tao Tao clears her throat, and adds—

[In any case, resistance is futile; you're completely surrounded, so hand over that map to New Moon Village.]

Chapter 14

[In any case, resistance is futile, you're completely surrounded, so hand over that map to New Moon Village.]

Towards Nian Tao Tao's words that came through the military doll's speakers, Nian Yao Yao frowns, as she thought—

(I can tell she's really proud of herself for being granted the opportunity to say those words...)

"..."

"..."

Making eye contact with Tian Cheng, Long Hua sees her mouthing off two words without voicing it aloud.

(I guess we need to buy some time.)

"Old hag, don't you feel even a hint of embarrassment at trying to steal something of your own daughter's?"

[So, you admit to being my daughter when it's convenient for you?]

"You brought ten Moon Guards and all these dolls to me for what exactly? Deep down, I know you can't give out the order to shoot."

Although Nian Yao Yao is correct about this, there is something shameless about her tone.

[Indeed. As a mother, I cannot possibly be so cruel as to kill my own daughter. But I can kill those around you. Such as this Moon Guard that's been with you throughout her entire life, or that boy—who managed to throw those chopsticks so skillfully.]

"..."

Agreeing with this, Nian Yao Yao's frown deepens.

"Old hag, how about playing a game with me?"

[Let me guess. You want to pit your two combatants and yourself against my Moon Guards, and if your side wins, I'd forget about the map and let you out free?]

"Something of that nature."

[Hmm. I am in a giving mood since it's been so long.]

"So then?"

Observing the two's conversation, Long Hua finds the situation to be rather unusual—with how quick the two are in agreeing to such a wager.

[According to word on the streets, that boy's combat style is quite unique. I do wish to see it.]

"All yours then, Long Hua."

Towards Nian Yao Yao's decision to have him take care of everything, Long Hua can't help but feel a bit abused, as he turns around, and looks to the military doll that is being used as a glorified cellphone.

"Hang on, don't I get a say in this?"

[Oh? I thought my daughter was your employer, so you'd listen to her every demands.]

Shrugging his shoulders, Long Hua replies—

"I see myself as more of an associate of some kind. But that aside, shouldn't employees get a say—depending on what it is that is being asked of them?"

[My Moon Guards have never once complained to me about their assignments, so I wouldn't know.]

"Talk about a sweatshop like environment. You want entertainment, then pay up."

[Interesting attitude you have there. What form of payment would you like then?]

Blinking his eyes, Long Hua frowns, and thought—

(What is she planning? I really don't like how... Despite how smooth the proceedings are, I still feel as if I'm dancing on top of her palm. What's even worse is how obvious she's making this out to be—while knowing that I don't really have much of a choice but to walk in the direction she's pointing to.)

Thinking for a bit, Long Hua answers—

"An undecided favor."

Raising an eye, Nian Yao Yao remarks—

"...Hm? Hey Long Hua, I hope I'm only imagining this, but are you using this as an opportunity to make some life-saving arrangements ahead of time; in case, I fail to take over the Long Yue family in the future?"

"Something like that. Besides, it doesn't go against our contract."

"Men are all scum..."

[You'd be hard-pressed to find a man that isn't. In any case... Hmm, if you can take down one of my Moon Guards in less than a minute, I'll agree to it.]

"Deal."

Glancing at Zhui Yun, Long Hua mouths a phrase without voicing it aloud.

(Get ready to run? Hmm.)

Receiving the message, Zhui Yun readies herself, and it was also then that she noticed how—

(That doll has had her eyes opened for a while now... Is she hacking these things?)

(*Sigh* why must it be today of all days?)

Inwardly raising a sigh, Jing Yao can't help but lament about being dragged into this mess.

[What's with the sour look, Jing Yao? Oh, I forgot to mention this before, but your older sister is here with me, would it make you feel better if you talked to her?]

Hearing this from Nian Tao Tao, Jing Yao turns to the military doll with a look of surprise, but rather quickly, her expression turns slightly cold, as she asks—

"She's still alive?"

[Didn't expect this to be the first thing you'd ask about me.]

"We've... Nothing to really talk about."

Having declared this, Jing Yao takes a sip of tea. She finally knows why she was feeling a bit irritated ever since they had left Zhou Chen's mansion.

[Guess we'll save it for later. Your name was Long Hua, was it? Go ahead, and pick your opponent.]

Prior to answering, Long Hua looks to Tian Cheng, who gives him a nod.

"My opponent will be... Him."

Grabbing the edge of the table, Long Hua abruptly raises it into the air, and rotating his body, he tosses the large piece of furniture towards a red-masked Moon Guard.

"..."

Towards the table that is flying at him like a saucer, the Moon Guard reaches his hands outward, and catches it.

Upon receiving the table, the momentum behind the furniture slides the Moon Guard's feet back by about six steps, and just as he is about to throw it back—

"The deal was to take you down in less than a minute."

Long Hua had already closed the distance between them, as tableware and food are thrown into the air by his landing onto the table's surface.

"...!"

Before the Moon Guard is able to react, twin serpents emerge from Long Hua's back, and acting like the blades of a scissor, they decapitate the former's head in the next instance!

"Do it Tian Cheng!"

"Acknowledged."

Receiving Long Hua's command, Tian Cheng instantly assumes control of 12 military dolls—aside from the one that is being used as a communication device.

"Wha-?"

"They got hacked?"

Pushing the Moon Guards aside, the military dolls tackle the pillars closest to them, and—

*Boom! Boom! Boom!* 12 explosions go off simultaneously, as the dolls self-destruct!

With the support pillars damaged, the ceiling over the masses' heads begin to shake, as the entirety of the 100th floor that is above them starts to cave downwards!

"You're utterly insane!"

Realizing what is happening, a Moon Guard that is shorter in stature, and is wearing a white oni mask curses at Long Hua, as she disconnects herself from her grappling hook, and makes a mad dash towards the double doors.

"That bastard!"

"Start running!"

"This is the worst day of my life!"

Agreeing with the Moon Guard—Zhui Yun, Nian Yao Yao, and Jing Yao breaks into a run.

"Lady Jing, allow me."

Noticing how slow Jing Yao is due to her attire, Tian Cheng scoops her off the ground, and carries her towards the double doors.

"After them! Don't let them get away! Someone call up the remaining dolls as well!"

"The stairs! We need to get to ground level as soon as possible!"

Positioning herself at the back of the group, Zhui Yun takes out a flashbang, and pulls the pin.

"Eat this!"

*Bam!* tossing it behind her, the grenade goes off—blinding their pursuers for a brief instance.

Chapter 15

*Boom!* as the 100th floor crushes the 99th floor, a tremor runs through the entirety of the hotel building.

"Looks like starting today this hotel will only have 99 floors."

"I can't believe he actually did that..."

Running down the stairs, Nian Yao Yao raises a sigh.

"As insane as the plan is, it is rather effective. Not a single person would try to make us stay when they're all running for their lives."

"You think Hua got crushed?"

"Who knows?"

"Cameras show more dolls further down."

Informed of this by Tian Cheng, Nian Yao Yao asks—

"Can't you hack them like before?"

"The other side seems to have a highly competent electronic warfare specialist. It would take too much time to hack through their reconfigured firewalls."

"Enemies further down, gradual depletion of stamina per step... *Sigh* we're getting off the stairs."

Opening a door that is marked with the floor number it leads to, Nian Yao Yao waits for everyone to move out of the staircase, prior to turning her attention to Zhui Yun.

"Zhui Yun, take out your Relic and cut us a way down to the base floor."

"Got it."

Assuming a grasping posture, a two-handed bronze sword that measures to be three feet in length manifests within Zhui Yun's grip.

The handle of this weapon is wrapped in light green silk with a taotie handguard, and the blade is equal to the width of an adult's hand.

As everyone takes a few steps back, Zhui Yun begins to cut up the ground.

.........

*Bam! Thud! Thud!* as the ceiling of the 98th floor collapses, two bodies fall from above.

The first body is a headless corpse, while the second—

"Not bad. Cuts quite well."

Examining the soft sword, Long Hua smiles before directing a glance at the headless body that was originally a Moon Guard.

(Interesting...)

Drawing in a deep breath, Long Hua absorbs the spirit Qi that is emanating from the corpse's opened wound.

(It's way less than that practitioner who claims to be a member of the Ling Yuan family, but...)

Seeing a bar code tattoo present on the body's forearm, Long Hua constricts his eyes.

(Is it just because he's a Sinner that he's able to be a vessel for spirit Qi, or...?)

Recalling the corpses of non-Sinners that he had seen in the distant past, Long Hua isn't very certain.

(Much of the ordinary human corpses that I've seen in the past had been left out to rot for a while, so maybe the spirit Qi contained in them had already been scattered? Or maybe ordinary humans possess so little spirit Qi that it's not even noticeable? Another possibility is that—I wasn't a practitioner at the time, so maybe I wasn't even qualified to see it? Too many questions, and very little answers...)

Heaving a sigh, Long Hua leaps off the pile of rubble that was originally a part of the ceiling.

(In any case...)

Glancing at the ground in front of him, Long Hua raises the soft sword.

(I can't unleash my full cultivation base due to the city's detection system, but it looks like releasing it through a medium in the form of sword Qi is still doable. Maybe it's because the amount of spirit Qi used is very little?)

Slashing at the ground, sword Qi emanates from his blade, resulting in—

*...! ...! ...! ...!* four lines being drawn out.

As the cut portion of the ground falls onto the floor below, a gap that Long Hua is able to fit through is created.

Arriving on the 97th floor, Long Hua continues to repeat this process, as he gradually makes his way down the building.

.........

In the hallway of a lower floor—

"Finally caught up to them."

"Tch. What a bunch of copycats..."

Pulling her sword out of the ground, Zhui Yun clicks her tongue, as she glares at the nine Moon Guards—who are dropping down from the hole that she had cut out.

Similarly, to Nian Yao Yao's idea of cutting their way down to the base floor, the Moon Guards had the same idea in mind, as a few among them held blade-type Relics in hand.

"What a tricky situation to be in."

A bead of cold sweat rolls down the side of Nian Yao Yao's head, as she finds herself facing six RS800s—that had stepped out of the door that leads to the stairs.

[So, my idiotic daughter, are you planning to put your amateur-level combat skills to the test, or are you going to surrender?]

Hearing Nian Tao Tao's voice from one of the RS800s, Nian Yao Yao grinds her teeth together.

"Old hag, you really know how to pick on a person's sore spot..."

Due to her special physique, Nian Yao Yao would consider herself a competent fighter. However, skills and raw strengths wise, she couldn't possibly compare to a trained Sinner, or a crude war machine for that matter.

"..."

Setting Jing Yao down, Tian Cheng steps in front of Nian Yao Yao with her magenta-colored eyes open.

Strapped to Tian Cheng's waist is Kun, the sword that Long Hua had plundered from Huang Wu.

[An android? Oh, I see, so this is the culprit behind that hacking.]

Due to Tian Cheng's outward appearance being focused on resembling a human as much as possible, Nian Tao Tao's initial impression of her is far removed from a combat-specialized doll, however—

"The RS800's most reinforced area is their chest..."

Drawing out the archaic sword, Tian Cheng kicks off against the ground, and approaches the RS800 that is closest to her.

With wind like swiftness, Tian Cheng impales the RS800's chest.

"The reason for this is because their CPU that I had just destroyed is located here."

*Thud!* with pinpoint accuracy, the archaic sword had stabbed through the RS800's CPU—causing it to collapse the moment Tian Cheng withdraws her weapon.

.........

Sitting within the passenger compartment of a moving helicopter, Nian Tao Tao turns her head away from the monitor that is positioned to her right and looks to Jing Yin.

"Has tech related to dolls reached a level where the dolls are able to appear fully human-like, while meeting military war machine standards?"

"Ithink that doll is an exception to the rules."