"You... you didn't leave?" Cheng Shuwan looked at Ye Ming in surprise.
"A girl like you walking on the street dressed like this... it's hard to avoid... cough..." Ye Ming looked at Cheng Shuwan's pajamas and didn't finish his sentence.
Hearing Ye Ming's words, Cheng Shuwan's heart trembled slightly. An unprecedented warmth enveloped her, which had been cold.
"Th...thank you!" Cheng Shuwan lowered her head and said softly.
After that, they chatted casually, and became more familiar with each other.
Fortunately, Cheng Shuwan's place wasn't far. They arrived in just over ten minutes.
"We're here, my mission is complete," Ye Ming said, looking at the apartment in front of him with a smile.
"W...would you like to come up for a bit, have a drink and rest?" Cheng Shuwan asked shyly, her face slightly flushed.
After all, this was the first time she had brought a man home.
"Oh! Is it really just for a drink?" Ye Ming took a step forward, looking at Cheng Shuwan's flushed cheeks, and teased.
It seemed that through their previous conversation, Ye Ming had gotten acquainted with Cheng Shuwan. Thus, his true nature began to show.
"Ah! I... I just..."
At this moment, Cheng Shuwan was nowhere near as composed and calm as she usually was at the police station.
It's worth mentioning that although Cheng Shuwan wasn't a female police officer skilled in combat, when it came to case analysis and organizing clues, she was far superior to everyone else in the department.
Yet now, faced with Ye Ming's teasing, Cheng Shuwan had lost her composure.
It seemed that the events of the day had indeed had a significant impact on Cheng Shuwan.
Hmm?
That must be it.
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore." Ye Ming looked at the shy Cheng Shuwan, unable to bear teasing her further. He then turned and waved, saying, "Goodbye, Officer Cheng."
With that, he left.
Cheng Shuwan watched his retreating figure. After a long silence, she took out her phone and looked at a particular set of numbers. A small, charming smile curved her lips.
Then, she added a note to that number: "Mr. Ye, a Special Gentleman," before happily returning home.
...
"Black Skull!"
Ye Ming walked through the night market, repeating the name in his mouth, his eyes filled with coldness.
"It seems necessary to eradicate them."
Finally, Ye Ming made a decision.
He took out his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found a number displayed as being abroad.
"I wonder how they are now?" Ye Ming dialed the number, muttering to himself.
Soon, the call was connected.
"M... Master, is that you?" A hesitant voice came from the other end.
It was a woman's voice.
But she seemed to be deliberately suppressing some emotion, fearing it was a dream.
"It's me, long time no see, Loria!"
Hearing this voice, Ye Ming also felt a touch of emotion.
Especially after the incident with Fang Junxue, Ye Ming's mindset had changed significantly.
In the past, he had been too focused, eager to fulfill his teacher's last wish, causing him to neglect many people and things.
Therefore, when he heard the voice on the other end of the line, he felt an inexplicable sense of warmth.
"Wuwuwu!"
After Ye Ming spoke, there was no immediate reply from the other side, but a faint sound of sobbing could be heard.
Half a minute later, a voice finally came through, "Master, we missed you so much."
...
Half an hour later, Ye Ming hung up the phone. He raised his head and looked at the vast expanse of stars. At this moment, he suddenly felt that the world was so beautiful.
...
The Western Underworld.
This place was an independent continent in the West. In the most primitive times, it served as a refuge for the most heinous criminals. However, as time went on and resources on the continent were developed, this once desolate land began to prosper.
Thus, after hundreds of years of development and failed attempts by various countries to claim it, it eventually became a lawless territory that was both prosperous and chaotic.
Therefore, people named this continent – the Western Underworld.
Online communication platform.
"Hey! Have you guys heard? The Temple of Destiny seems to be making some big moves?"
"Really? Did someone provoke them?"
"I don't know. I heard their target this time is the Black Skull mercenary group."
"This... that old guy Anluo is probably finished!"
"How dare you speak about the leader of the Black Skull mercenary group like that. Aren't you afraid of dying?"
"Hmph! One of the three supreme forces in our Western Underworld, the Temple of Destiny, has made a move. Do you think the Black Skull can still exist?"
"But speaking of which, is this news reliable?"
"Of course! This was a direct order from the God of Wisdom of the Temple of Destiny himself. I heard they are already heading towards the headquarters of the Black Skull mercenary group."
"Alas! In that case, the Black Skull mercenary group is indeed invincible."
"Serves them right! Those stinky fleas are finally getting their comeuppance."
...
Black Skull mercenary group headquarters main hall.
Around a circular wooden table sat a full assembly of people.
These individuals were undoubtedly the leaders of the Black Skull mercenary group.
At the head of the table sat a middle-aged man with golden hair, dressed in opulent attire.
He was Anluo, the leader of the Black Skull mercenary group.
"Have you found out the reason? Why did the Temple of Destiny suddenly declare war on us?" Anluo asked everyone, his eyes filled with rage.
In his opinion, someone in their mercenary group must have offended the Temple of Destiny. Otherwise, a transcendent force like the Temple of Destiny would not suddenly attack them.
However, Anluo would never have guessed that he himself was the cause of all this.
The others present also shook their heads.
After learning of the situation, they had interrogated all their subordinates and found no anomalies.
"Have we thoroughly investigated the personnel carrying out missions outside?" Anluo asked after a moment of thought.
Indeed, at this reminder, Chartman, the deputy leader responsible for personnel deployment, seemed to recall something.
"Anluo, sir, now that you mention it, I remember something," Chartman said.
"Speak!"
Everyone else also turned their attention to Chartman.
"Here's the situation. We currently have a total of thirty-seven members on external missions. However, only twenty-seven are still in contact. Ten have lost contact," Chartman reported.
"Ten are missing?"
Upon hearing this, Anluo's brow furrowed deeply.
In such mission scenarios, the loss of two or three members would be considered normal. But a loss of ten at once.
This! It was highly unusual.
"Continue!" Anluo said in a low voice.
"After my investigation, I discovered that there was a bounty issued to a group of seven members," Chartman said, taking a sharp breath. "Coincidentally, all seven of them are on the list of missing persons."
"This..."
Everyone present seemed to realize something.
Chartman then revealed the content of that bounty order to everyone.
"China?" Anluo asked, puzzled. "What relationship does the Temple of Destiny have with China?"
Everyone else was also clueless.
Although China could be considered a major forbidden zone for mercenaries, even so, there shouldn't be absolutely no news.
"Could it be that young man?" Anluo's gaze shifted to the bounty order, his suspicion piqued.
After looking at it for a few moments, he was sure he didn't recognize the young man.
Just as everyone was at a loss, the ground suddenly began to shake violently.
And in their ears, the sounds of artillery fire were clearly audible.
"By the decree of the gods, I hereby pronounce judgment."
"The Black Skull mercenary group shall be annihilated!"