Chapter 578
My fists will crush any enemy who dares to stand in my way.
"Hey?"
Fang Cheng removed his mask, then pressed the answer button and put the phone to his ear.
"Brother Cheng, are you alright over there?"
Lin Chuqiao's delicate voice immediately came through the receiver.
His words were filled with barely suppressed anxiety, completely lacking his usual capable demeanor.
"I'm perfectly fine, of course nothing's wrong."
Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng casually replied.
"Uh……"
Lin Chuqiao was taken aback by the relaxed tone and didn't know how to respond for a moment.
Seeing that she was unusually flustered, Fang Cheng couldn't help but smile slightly, and then asked:
"Did you sense something just now?"
"Yes."
Lin Chuqiao composed herself, considered her words carefully, and then sorted out what she wanted to say:
"I just finished showering and was about to look at some documents when suddenly my heart started pounding, and I felt like you were calling to me."
"I thought about it, so I called you to ask if you were okay and if you needed any help."
"I called you three times in a row, but you didn't answer. I don't know what happened."
“At that time, I was very anxious, so I simply tried to use the method you taught me before to meditate, hoping to get in touch with you.”
Her voice paused, as if recalling a scene that had deeply moved her:
"After successfully entering a meditative state, I saw an endless darkness, and the sun that represents your consciousness was completely swallowed by blood-red clouds, like a solar eclipse."
"I was very anxious, thinking that you must be in danger, so I kept calling out to you in my heart, but I didn't get any response from you."
"Then, the sun that had been obscured suddenly shone brightly, becoming terrifyingly bright, and the surrounding dark clouds instantly burst into flames, turning into fiery clouds."
"When I opened my eyes, I felt extremely dizzy, as if I had been mentally exhausted after using my predictive abilities continuously."
"Then, I couldn't sense anything anymore..."
At this point, Lin Chuqiao's tone was full of concern:
"Brother Cheng, what exactly happened on your end?"
Fang Cheng nodded slightly upon hearing this, understanding in his heart.
It seems she did indeed sense something of the extraordinary battle that just occurred in the inner world.
In order to resist the invading power of the Lord of Slaughter, he chose to gather the spiritual energy of all believers through the Sun's Heart Network.
Although he ultimately succeeded in defeating his opponent, he was also greatly exhausted, which had a certain impact on all those who had established a spiritual connection with him.
The thought flashed through his mind, but Fang Cheng's tone remained calm as he gently reassured him:
"Don't worry, it was just some clueless guy who tried to ambush me mentally, but I've already taken care of him."
"Are they from the ideal world?"
Lin Chuqiao's voice trembled upon hearing this, and she immediately became nervous.
"No."
Fang Cheng, holding his phone, slowly walked to the window and looked down at the quiet street below:
"A foreigner I bumped into by chance. He had no connections in Dongdu, couldn't even speak Mandarin, and was just an illegal immigrant involved in organized crime."
Upon hearing the words "illegal immigrants," Lin Chuqiao's tense nerves finally relaxed.
Since it was a chance encounter with a foreigner, the nature of the matter becomes much simpler.
The other party at least doesn't have any powerful backers in Dongdu or Xia Kingdom, which would involve a complex web of forces.
"That's good...that's good..."
She murmured to herself and let out a long sigh of relief.
Fang Cheng could picture her on the other end of the phone, wearing a silk nightgown, her delicate brows furrowed, gently touching her chest.
So he changed to a more relaxed tone and asked:
"Still busy so late?"
"Hey, it's all your fault, you're such a hands-off boss!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Chuqiao's tone immediately took on a hint of coquettishness:
"The construction of the two new Illuminati bases, the deployment of the security system, and the financial accounts... all these things have been piled on my shoulders. I'm exhausted."
"You, a grown man, are quite the opposite, spending your days out having a good time and enjoying yourself."
The resentment in her words made her sound like a lonely woman in her empty room, complaining to her husband who was never home.
Fang Cheng found it slightly amusing and followed up with her question:
"What about Xu Kuan and Jiang Yun? Didn't they help you with the work?"
"them?"
Lin Chuqiao gave a soft hum, her voice carrying a hint of lazy complaint:
"Xu Kuan is honest and hardworking, but he's very single-minded. If you ask him to do one thing, he will never do another."
"As for Jiang Yun, she's too quick-witted. I don't dare to completely entrust the accounting matters to her yet; I still have to keep an eye on things myself."
"Thanks a lot."
Fang Cheng's voice softened slightly, carrying a hint of apology.
"Once this busy period is over, I'll give you a long vacation, and then we'll go on a holiday together."
"You said it, no backing out!"
A simple promise made Lin Chuqiao feel much better on the other end of the phone, and her voice regained its cheerful tone.
She paused, seemingly flipping through documents, then, as if remembering something, changed the subject:
"By the way, speaking of foreign devils... our red-haired guy seems to be dying."
"how?"
Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng's expression hardened:
"Didn't the professor say the surgery was very successful? He should wake up in the next few days, right?"
"The surgery was a success."
Lin Chuqiao's voice became serious again:
"But the doctor said he had been shot three times in the chest and abdomen, and the shrapnel caused severe internal bleeding."
"Although we tried our best to repair it during the surgery, excessive blood loss led to 'traumatic shock'."
"Therefore, he has now developed complications of multiple organ failure, his vital signs are very unstable, and his blood pressure and heart rate keep dropping."
"Have you contacted Uncle Lin? What did he say?"
"I've contacted them."
Lin Chuqiao sighed:
“He came to check on him, but Red Hair’s condition was really bad; his kidneys and liver were failing rapidly.”
"Uncle Lin said that whether the patient can make it through tonight depends on his own willpower."
"If we don't wake up before dawn, we...we have to prepare for the worst."
"understood."
Fang Cheng responded with a sound that revealed no emotion.
To be honest, he didn't value the fire dragon as much as Lin Chuqiao thought.
Admittedly, building an organization requires a lot of money, and the wealth left behind by the Masked Man is very tempting.
However, it is clearly not worthwhile to invest too much energy in this, or even expose yourself to risks.
As for the location of that ancient civilization's ruins and how to enter, this guy might not really know either.
After a moment's thought, he instructed Lin Chuqiao:
"Do your best to save them. Tell those two black market doctors to use the best medicine and the best equipment. Money is not a problem."
"If we can save them, in addition to the previously agreed labor remuneration, our Illuminati can promise to protect their safety in Tokyo."
"Okay, I will pass that message on to the doctor."
Upon hearing this, Lin Chuqiao responded softly.
On the other end of the phone, Fang Cheng's eyes flickered slightly as he pondered something.
The things that need to be done still need to be done; we can't give up easily and let the fire dragon die.
After all, his life is worth at least several hundred million.
As for whether they can be saved, let God decide.
The two chatted casually about their recent situations, from the progress at the base to everyday trivia. They talked on the phone for a long time, and the atmosphere gradually became relaxed.
Fang Cheng glanced at the time displayed on his phone screen, looked out at the deep night, and said:
"Chu Qiao, it's almost 12 o'clock. You should go to sleep early. Don't stay up late all the time; it's bad for your skin."
Lin Chuqiao originally wanted to talk more, but when she heard the words "bad for the skin," she was suddenly shocked.
"I almost forgot, I was just about to put on a face mask and do some beauty treatments."
She instinctively touched her cheek and said urgently:
"Brother Cheng, let's talk now. I have a contract to review, and I need to give it to the construction company tomorrow."
"We'll talk about work tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng immediately gave the instructions very seriously:
"I don't want to be a heartless boss who exploits his employees and makes my beautiful secretary suffer."
"Okay, boss."
Lin Chuqiao felt a sweet warmth in her heart upon hearing this, and replied in a slightly coquettish tone:
"Then you should get some rest too."
"I'm going to sleep right away."
Fang Cheng responded in response.
"Um... then... goodnight?"
Lin Chuqiao's voice carried a hint of tenderness, as if she was expecting more sweet words.
"Good night."
After Fang Cheng finished speaking, he immediately and decisively hung up the phone.
....................................
In a luxury apartment on the other side of the city.
Lin Chuqiao held her phone, listening to the busy tone coming from the receiver, lost in thought.
After a long while, she put down her phone, stepped barefoot onto the cashmere carpet, and slowly walked to the French windows.
She gazed in the direction where Fang Cheng lived, her eyes filled with tenderness, yet also with lingering worry.
Then, she picked up the red wine on the table, poured herself half a glass, and gently swirled the glass.
Let the rich aroma of the wine permeate the air.
"This guy is always such a headache..."
Lin Chuqiao murmured softly as she downed the red wine in her glass, a captivating blush rising to her cheeks.
After a long while, she sat back down at the table and picked up the documents beside her.
However, her alluring eyes kept glancing out the window, no longer able to focus as before.
....................................
Old Factory Street, tenement buildings.
In the pitch-black bedroom.
The neon lights shining in from outside the window barely outlined a figure.
Fang Cheng stood by the window, his brows slightly furrowed.
After putting down his phone, his gaze returned to the demon mask.
At this moment, the mask was entirely scarlet, its color like freshly congealed blood, somber yet glaring.
Two curved horns protrude from his forehead, their edges bearing fine, ancient patterns, as if they were innate rather than carved later.
His lips parted into an exaggerated grin that stretched all the way to his ears.
The fine fangs inside, gleaming with a sharp, cold light, are embedded seamlessly into the mask's texture.
Looking at the now-calm crimson demon mask, Fang Cheng's eyes gleamed, and he said in a low voice:
"Perhaps I should change my name from now on, and not be called Bai Xiao anymore..."
As he spoke, he raised his hands, grasped both sides of the mask, and gently lifted it back onto his face.
The edge of the mask fits perfectly against the chin, and the cool touch feels wonderful on the skin.
Then, Fang Cheng slowly raised his head and looked at his reflection in the glass opposite through the eye holes of the mask.
In the reflection, the scarlet mask covered his entire face like natural skin, as if it were meant to look like that.
The grotesque facial features paired with the somber dark red color exuded a suffocating aura of rage.
The sense of oppression was far greater than that of the previous white form.
However, that chaotic torrent of consciousness, along with the various illusions that invaded his mind, never reappeared.
Fang Cheng remained calm, raised his hands to press on both sides of the mask, and slowly removed it.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the pile of clown mask fragments on the ground.
At this moment, the strange object had long lost its fluorescence and appeared no different from an ordinary item.
Fang Cheng's mind stirred slightly, and he suddenly remembered the origin of the demon mask.
Back then, I used the pressure of the deep sea to temper my body and practice qigong in the trench of Yong'an Island.
They happened to encounter a rare change in celestial phenomena, with ocean currents shifting abruptly and undersea currents becoming turbulent.
It was around that time that he encountered a group of Noah's Ark members, who were diving into the sea in specially designed diving suits.
The objective is clear: to salvage the remains of ancient creatures from the bottom of the trench.
The mask was swept up by the underwater whirlpool and mixed in with the fragmented ancient remains, which he casually took back with him.
Thinking about this, a bold guess began to take shape in Fang Cheng's mind.
Could it be that the bottom of that trench also hides the entrance to an unknown ancient civilization?
This demon mask itself is a strange artifact from an ancient ruin.
Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly as he recalled the rumors he had heard before.
Both Noah's organization's executives and members of the special search team have mentioned the name of a notorious serial killer—"White Owl".
Historically, every appearance of this mask has signified a bloody storm sweeping through the underworld.
According to the records, those who wear this white demon mask will gain immense power, but their personalities will also change drastically.
In the process of wielding their power, they were gradually consumed by endless desires, eventually turning into monsters who knew only how to kill and could not distinguish between good and evil.
Clearly, this mask serves as the medium connecting the host with the lord of slaughter hidden behind the scenes.
So-called power is never a free gift; it is more like a fishing net that spreads everywhere and catches fish.
However, after Fang Cheng put it on, apart from initially feeling that the mask was a little tight, he did not experience any substantial effects.
Until tonight, he shattered another strange object, the "clown mask," revealing the true form of the mysterious creature residing within it.
The demon mask seemed to be fully activated, finally unable to suppress its bloodlust, and devoured the mysterious creature completely.
It was precisely because of this incident that Fang Cheng was able to connect with the immense will hidden behind the mask.
If one's own consciousness is not strong enough, and one does not have the mental fortress of the inner world as a support, then one will not be able to achieve anything.
They would probably be corrupted by that immense will at this moment, enslaved by it, and ultimately become monsters like those mask hosts in history.
Today, the mask has not returned to its former white color.
It seems that during the fierce battle just now, it was completely reshaped by the power of slaughter and permanently fixed in this scarlet and ferocious form.
"Perhaps, it wasn't you who chose this person."
Fang Cheng muttered to himself, his fingertips slowly tracing the scarlet mask.
"Instead, you are waiting for a master who can truly control you."
He looked at the red-glowing eye sockets on the mask, and a slight smile appeared on his lips:
"As for the Lord of Slaughter, he wants to use this mask to find a puppet to be your apostle."
"Too bad, you've got the wrong person!"
The evening breeze slipped in through the half-open window, ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead.
Fang Cheng's gaze burned like a raging fire, appearing unrestrained and arrogant:
"My fists will crush any enemy who dares to stand in my way, including you!" (End of Chapter)