Chapter 14

Suddenly, both of their phones rang.

When they checked their phones, it was an urgent news alert:

"Wanted Criminal: Wu Xiaode."

"Suspected of arson, murder, robbery, and other crimes, he is still at large in the city and has killed three more civilians tonight."

"This person is extremely dangerous. Anyone who spots him should report immediately, and there is a reward!"

"So, he was planning to capture me and force you to comply," Wu Xiaode said, looking at the message on his phone.

Then, another message popped up on his phone:

"I can only ensure that your phone is not being tracked. Tell Xia Huilan to throw her phone away."

"—Zhao Junyu."

Wu Xiaode showed the message to Xia Huilan, who smiled and said, "No problem, I have my own way to block tracking."

Indeed, as a top-notch tech expert, how could she not be aware of such a detail?

Wu Xiaode pondered for a moment and said, "Let's take advantage of their belief that they've caught you and leave quickly."

"Where are we going?" Xia Huilan asked.

"I'll find a hotel for you to rest. I'll go out to take care of some things and come back to pick you up before dawn. We'll head to the countryside," Wu Xiaode said.

Xia Huilan's eyes lit up, and she asked uncertainly, "Xiao Wu, are you coming with me?"

Wu Xiaode grinned and said, "I need to say goodbye to some friends and get some supplies to make our escape easier."

"Alright, let's go," Xia Huilan said, seeming to regain some energy.

Xiao Wu is really capable.

I have also left many technical backdoors to confuse the enemy.

As long as Xiao Wu and I run far away and avoid this place, we should be fine!

The two walked out of the landfill and followed a muddy path until they reached the street.

Twenty minutes later.

A taxi stopped near the train station.

This was a transportation hub with many hotels. Xia Huilan quickly found a decent one.

"Make sure to come back before dawn," Xia Huilan reminded him.

"Don't worry, it might not even take that long. I'll buy some things, see a few friends, and then come find you," Wu Xiaode assured her.

Xia Huilan then walked into the hotel with peace of mind.

Wu Xiaode watched from across the street until she checked into a room and went upstairs to rest. He then turned and walked away.

He turned a corner and entered a dark alley.

The Crow Spirit descended from the sky and perched on his shoulder.

The crow tapped his shoulder with its long, sharp beak and communicated telepathically:

"The mission is complete, and I can leave anytime, but you seem pretty good at killing—how about we continue working together and gather some soul energy to share?"

"Welcome," Wu Xiaode said.

"Where to next?" the crow asked.

"From the train station to the Bright United Manufacturing Technology Company is quite far, and a taxi would be expensive," Wu Xiaode said, looking at the ride-hailing app on his phone.

"Little master will fly you there," the crow said excitedly.

"Then let's go," Wu Xiaode said.

The crow disappeared from his shoulder, and a pair of black wings sprouted from his back. He transformed into a black bird and soared into the sky, heading north.

...

On the other side.

Bright United Manufacturing Technology Company.

Despite it being late at night, at least half of the rooms in the skyscraper were still lit.

As the crow descended from the sky, it flapped its wings and flew over the top of the building.

It saw that the highest floor was still lit, and it was full of people.

It was so late, yet they seemed to still be in a meeting.

Through the glass windows, they appeared serious and tense, engaged in heated arguments.

The crow glanced at them and then ignored them.

It circled the building and quickly found Xia Huilan's former office.

—The last time it was here was half a year ago.

That day, Xia Huilan was celebrating his birthday and had him wait in the office for her to finish work.

However, today the windows were closed, and a few people were busy inside. The crow hesitated and did not break the window to fly in.

It retracted its black feathers and hid in the shadows of the night, listening quietly to the sounds inside the room.

"We still haven't found Xia Huilan's research results."

"We've searched everywhere, but there's nothing."

"She must have destroyed the files long ago; otherwise, why would she suddenly quit?"

"She could have completed the entire project immediately if she had handed over the technology, but now she wants to quit?"

They chattered on.

Suddenly, the office door opened, and an elderly man with white hair walked in.

"What's all the noise? How's the work going?" he asked sternly.

They all stood up, looking at each other.

"Sorry, Mr. Zhang, we've done our best, but we found nothing," one of the men said hesitantly.

"Hmm, Xiao Lan is my student, and I know her. It's normal that you couldn't find anything. It's late, so go home and rest," the old man said kindly.

They were all surprised.

They didn't expect him to have no criticism and even let them off work.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang."

They left the office one by one.

Now, only the old man, Mr. Zhang, was left in the office.

The opportunity was perfect.

But the crow still didn't move—

This old man came to Xia Huilan's office alone and dismissed everyone. What was he up to?

The old man opened Xia Huilan's computer and quickly typed in a series of characters.

A hidden interface appeared on the computer screen.

Another password was required.

The old man took out his phone, about to dial, but it suddenly rang.

He glanced at the screen and answered immediately.

A voice came from the receiver: "How's it going? Have you found your student?"

"Please rest assured, they've caught her. The relevant technical materials will be ready soon, and I'll bring them to you personally," the old man said hurriedly.

"Good, using the people around her to threaten her is a good strategy. You've done well. Come to the 87th floor later," the voice said approvingly.

"Thanks to your warrant, things have gone smoothly. This was all done under your guidance," the old man flattered.

"Enough talk, I'll wait for you," the voice said, and the call ended.

The old man hesitated for a moment and then dialed another number.

"Have you found Xia Huilan? Give me the password; I need it now," the old man said.

"Mr. Zhang," a frantic voice replied, "They didn't come back. We used satellite surveillance and found their bodies in a landfill. Xia Huilan has disappeared."

"What did you say?" the old man stood up abruptly.

"Mr. Zhang, the people you sent are all dead!" the voice said.

The old man was stunned for a moment and then roared, "Quick, send more people!"

"Yes, sir!"

The call ended.

The old man dialed another number and said, "Go after Wu Xiaode. Double the reward. Even if he's dead, bring me his body. Complete the mission quickly, or—"

Crash!

The sound of breaking glass.

A hand covered the old man's mouth, and another hand took his phone.

"The bounty on him is canceled," Wu Xiaode said into the phone.

"Why?" a voice asked from the other end.

"Because your client is about to die," Wu Xiaode said.

The other end cursed.

Wu Xiaode hung up the phone, dragged the old man to the window, and whispered, "Surprised?"

The old man's pupils dilated, and he flailed, trying to say something but unable to speak with his mouth covered.

Wu Xiaode frowned, thinking.

"What's missing? What is it?"

He thought for a moment, then pulled out a syringe from his pocket and injected himself.

A moment later.

The disguise on his body gradually disappeared.

He removed the shaping materials from his face and body.

"It's you, Wu Xiaode!" the old man realized.

Wu Xiaode said, "I met you years ago. Back then, I thought you and your kind were amazing, the driving force behind human progress. Now I see how ugly you are."

"I was just a regular student, but you want to kill me and force Lan to comply. I'll make sure to take you down before I die."

Wu Xiaode gently placed the old man on the windowsill.

"Say your last words."

He said this expressionlessly.

The old man panicked and said, "Wait, you don't know what the technology Xia Huilan has means! You don't understand the truth of this world—We are helping the entire human world, you can't kill me!"

"That's her technology, right?" Wu Xiaode asked.

"She can contribute to humanity!" the old man said, his face red.

"True, she can contribute, but what does that have to do with you?" Wu Xiaode asked.

"She gave up, you know? She didn't want to do it!" the old man said.

"Didn't you want her to sleep with you? Of course, she didn't want to," Wu Xiaode said.

The old man's anger froze.

Wu Xiaode said, confused, "Plagiarism is plagiarism, lust is lust, why do you act like you represent justice?"

He looked out the window and saw that the street below was empty, then pushed the old man out—

The old man screamed loudly as he fell.

Wu Xiaode transformed into a crow and flew out, catching him and throwing him back inside.

"Ah—"

The old man sat on the floor, screaming hysterically.

Wu Xiaode squatted on the table, waiting for him to finish, then asked softly, "How did that feel?"

The old man was almost paralyzed.

"Did you feel desperate?" Wu Xiaode asked.

"What do you want? Money? Or something else? I can give you anything, just spare my life," the old man said through gritted teeth.

"No need, it's enough," Wu Xiaode said.

"Enough? What's enough?" The old man felt a sense of foreboding and reached for his pocket but was stopped by Wu Xiaode.

"Seeing you so desperate feels pretty good..."

Wu Xiaode smiled and continued, "Lan must have suffered working for you, but never mind, we don't like to hold grudges."

The old man was stunned.

—He's letting me go?

"Are you letting me go?" he asked.

"Yes," Wu Xiaode said.

The old man got up, straightened his back, and was about to say something—

Wu Xiaode kicked him out the window, and he flew through the air in a graceful parabola.

A moment later.

The old man's piercing scream suddenly stopped.

Wu Xiaode turned, took a piece of paper from the table, wiped his hands, and said to himself:

"This should make Lan feel better. I'll call it even between you two."

"See you in the world of the living."