Chapter 43: A Master, Truly a Master

Guo Ziyi looked utterly aggrieved.

“Chief, I’m not a miracle worker! If they didn’t have guns, I could take them all on by myself without fear, but with guns in their hands, there’s nothing I can do!”

“Alright, alright, you’re the type who acts before thinking. If I had to rely on you, I’d be better off relying on myself! Dispatch the negotiation team immediately, and have the snipers in position. Let’s first see what they want—do everything possible to ensure the hostages’ safety!”

“Yes, sir!”

Guo Ziyi quickly relayed the orders, setting everyone in motion.

Soon after, Ling Xiao’s Rolls-Royce arrived at the entrance of the bank.

Xiuer looked slightly surprised, her mouth slightly open, and asked, “Young master, what’s going on?”

Ling Xiao’s brow furrowed. “It’s likely that batch of auction items has caught someone’s eye. After all, they’re quite valuable.”

“So what should we do?”

“With the police’s current strength, I doubt they’ll be able to handle the situation. Among those items are my parents’ keepsakes, including the painting ‘The Dragon Surges to Sea.’ Not to mention, I bought most of the auctioned items myself. Never mind, I’ll go in.”

“Yes, young master!”

The two got out of the car and joined the crowd outside. Guo Ziyi glanced over and immediately pointed at them.

“Hey! You two, what are you doing here? Who told you to come? Can’t you see how dangerous it is? Leave now!”

Ling Xiao ignored her and walked straight toward the bank entrance.

“Hey! Are you deaf or what?” Guo Ziyi reached out, trying to grab Ling Xiao’s shoulder, but his steps were so deft and elusive that with a slight sidestep, she caught nothing but air.

Xiuer stepped forward, offering the chief a gentle smile. “You must be their superior, right?”

The chief frowned, clearly displeased, but when Xiuer handed him a small black booklet, his expression changed instantly. He hurriedly accepted the credentials with both hands, examined them, and then respectfully returned them.

“Guo Ziyi, get back here!”

Guo Ziyi, still fuming, was left bewildered by the chief’s sudden command.

“Chief, that guy’s about to go into the bank! If he antagonizes the robbers, the consequences could be disastrous!”

The chief chuckled. “Don’t worry. That man is an expert—a true master.”

Seeing the chief’s confident expression, Guo Ziyi was speechless. No matter how skilled, could anyone really be faster than a bullet?

At that moment, Ling Xiao had already entered the bank. Soon, startled cries rang out from inside.

“Hey! Who the hell are you?”

“Get down on the ground or I’ll kill you!”

“You bastard! You’re asking for it!”

Gunshots followed.

But after the shots, the chaos didn’t subside; instead, screams of terror echoed out.

“A ghost—!!”

Moments later, several robbers with black stockings over their heads were flung out of the bank, their guns clattering to the ground.

Guo Ziyi glanced over, her pupils contracting instantly.

Those guns had been bent in half by sheer force, and on two of them, deep finger imprints were visible as if pressed into clay.

No wonder the chief called him a master. But just how much strength did it take to achieve such a feat? Even if someone possessed that much power, wouldn’t the flesh of his fingers be crushed against the steel?

Still lost in thought, Guo Ziyi saw Ling Xiao exit the bank.

The chief hurried to greet him.

“Master Ling...”

He had intended to address him as Major General, but one look from Ling Xiao—a man seasoned in officialdom—made him quickly change his tone, offering a respectful smile.

“Master Ling, we’re indebted to you for your timely intervention! Otherwise, who knows how many people would have been hurt!”

Ling Xiao replied coolly, “It was nothing. You can take care of the rest. I have other matters to attend to.”

“Yes, of course! Safe travels, Master Ling. I’ll be sure to call on you another day!”

Back in the car, Xiuer asked in confusion, “Young master, weren’t we here to collect the items? Why are we leaving already?”

“I’ve already collected them.”

“You have? But, young master, I didn’t see anything. Where are the items?” Xiuer looked left and right but saw nothing on Ling Xiao, and there were far too many items to fit in his pockets.

Ling Xiao smiled, lifted his hand, and twisted the thumb ring he wore.

A green glow flashed, and suddenly, a painting—‘The Dragon Surges to Sea’—appeared in his hand as if conjured out of thin air.

Xiuer gasped, eyes wide as if she’d seen a ghost.

“Young master... what is that?”

“It’s called a spatial ring, an artifact from the higher realms. Do you remember that arrogant young man Qin Lang at the Black Rose Casino?”

“Yes, he even injured Lord Ming!”

“At that time, it was with the help of this ring that he managed it.”

“Unbelievable! This ring has such power?”

“The ring itself isn’t powerful. Back then, it held the remnant soul of an Immortal King. After I returned that night, I destroyed the remnant soul and kept the ring.”

“My goodness!”

Xiuer was once again struck speechless, her mouth agape in shock.

“Young master, just how powerful are you?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never really tested my limits. If I ever go all out, I might even scare myself.”

“As expected of the young master! I’m sincerely impressed.”

“Enough flattery. Has Lord Xu returned?”

“Reporting to young master, Lord Xu will be back tomorrow night.”

“Is that information reliable?”

“It is. Shadow Hall sent word—Lord Xu has defected to Kongtong. Under Kongtong’s command, the Northwest King Shen Wantong is accompanying him to Jiangzhou. Apparently, they intend to help Lord Xu dominate Jiangzhou, then merge it under Kongtong’s control.”

“Kongtong again?” Ling Xiao’s eyelids twitched.

“Interesting. The closer we get to the Hundred Clans Strife, the more ambitious Kongtong becomes.”

“With you here, young master, Kongtong won’t get far. Where shall we go now?”

“To Yiren Group. I’ll deliver the ‘Dragon Surges to Sea’ painting to Yiren.”

“Yes, sir!”

...

At the Chen family home in Jiangzhou, Chen Lishi lay weakly on his hospital bed, his body encased in plaster. His eyes were red and swollen from crying.

He was consumed by regret, resentment, and fury.

Ling Xiao had ruined his life.

“Ling Xiao! You’ve gone too far! If I don’t kill you, I’m no man!”

Beside the bed, his mother wept bitterly.

“My son, even Ye Cheng—Su Yannian’s disciple—was no match for him. How could ordinary people like us possibly defeat him?”

“I will never let this rest! I may not be able to defeat Ling Xiao, but Su Yannian can! Mother, send someone to Jiangnan at once and inform Su Yannian, the Martial Sage! And as for that harlot Mu Yiren—I want her to suffer a fate worse than death!”