Chapter 35 - 33: Sudden Turn of Events, Illusion Demon Attacks!

Chapter 35: Chapter 33: Sudden Turn of Events, Illusion Demon Attacks!

After his realm stabilized, his aura retracted, and the golden light radiating from Liu Zimo’s body vanished in an instant.

SWISH!

The entire room, along with the surrounding corridors and courtyard, plunged back into darkness. Inside the office, only a faint candle flame flickered in the wind.

Wu Songyang and his guard’s pupils constricted. They narrowed their eyes, taking quite a while to adjust before they could finally make out the interior of the room by the dim candlelight. Liu Zimo remained seated cross-legged in his original spot, showing no signs of waking up anytime soon.

Meanwhile, the sounds of battle from the camp outside had gradually dispersed, with only the sporadic crack of a gunshot or boom of artillery echoing occasionally. Evidently, the Demon Beasts that had landed in the camp had been completely eradicated. About two minutes later, the entire camp fell completely silent.

Wang, who had been dispatched earlier by Wu Songyang, finally returned to report. In his hands, he held a brand-new ID card and a freshly polished, still slightly warm metal Advisor Badge.

Before Hong Yuxun, there was only one Advisor Badge of this particular design in the entire Military Staff Department. It featured special materials and a unique structural design. Engraved discreetly on its back were the owner’s exclusive title, identity information, and the Military Staff Department’s unique identification code. Each badge was exclusively customized, requiring on-site engraving and polishing with extreme precision. Even when electrical equipment was fully functional, crafting such a special Advisor Badge consumed an immense amount of time and effort—let alone under the current circumstances.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent!

"That kid Zhao Gang really didn’t disappoint me! I need to make sure he’s properly credited for this!"

Looking at the brand-new, flawless Advisor Badge before him, a hint of joy appeared in Wu Songyang’s eyes as he praised the work repeatedly.

It was finally done. He knew Zhao Gang’s craftsmanship wouldn’t let him down. Even without computers and the corresponding machinery, Zhao Gang was still able to complete the task using the most primitive filing methods and polishing techniques.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Wu Songyang took the ID and badge from Wang and placed them on the desk in front of him, right next to the three Body Refining Pills he had previously retrieved from the Martial Arts Library.

Now everything was set. The paperwork was complete, and the deal was finalized; Liu Zimo officially belonged to their Military Staff Department, becoming one of their own. Even if Liu Zimo eventually left Shangjing, as long as this tie existed, he would forever be a Martial Arts Consultant for the Military Staff Department. In the future, if they ever needed his help, Liu Zimo would at least show them some respect.

"Chief of Staff, nearly half of our brothers in the battalion successfully broke through during the battle and entered the Body Refining Realm," Wang reported to Wu Songyang in a soft voice.

"Among them, three battalion commanders, five company commanders, and over a dozen ordinary warriors bypassed the Body Refining Realm altogether and directly broke through to the Copper Skin Realm!

"Everyone’s morale is incredibly high right now. They’re all clamoring to go out and hunt more Demon Beasts!"

Hearing this, Wu Songyang nodded in understanding. He had already learned about the eruption of Spiritual Energy from Liu Zimo beforehand, so he wasn’t particularly surprised by the collective breakthroughs among the warriors.

However, compared to Liu Zimo directly breaking through to the Golden Body Realm—and the spectacular scene of his radiant golden light nearly illuminating the entire camp—the cultivation progress of the camp’s warriors hardly seemed worth marveling over. It was just a pity that Liu Zimo was constantly worried about the safety of his family back home and had no desire to stay in Shangjing. Otherwise, Wu Songyang would never have been willing to let such a prodigious talent slip away!

"Go tell Battalion Commander Xu and the others... Never mind, I’ll go personally. There are some things I need to tell the warriors face-to-face!"

Wu Songyang glanced at the still-unconscious Liu Zimo and softly ordered the two guards, "You two don’t need to follow me. Stay here and keep watch. Don’t let anyone disturb Advisor Liu’s meditation!"

"Yes, sir!"

The two guards stood at attention and accepted their orders simultaneously.

Wu Songyang strode toward the office door. Just as he reached out and pulled it open—before he could even step outside—he heard a sudden BANG BANG BANG of gunfire erupting behind him!

He wondered who had fired the gun. Didn’t they know that Advisor Liu was at a critical juncture in his meditation to consolidate his cultivation? What were their intentions, firing a gun inside the room at a time like this?

An ominous premonition washed over him. Shivering, Wu Songyang hastily spun around to inspect the room. He was just in time to see Wang, who had only just returned to report, gripping a heavy machine gun with a ferocious scowl on his face, wildly firing at the meditating Liu Zimo nearby!

Meanwhile, the other guard who had been standing next to Wang was already lying in a pool of blood!

Wu Songyang’s expression changed drastically, his eyes practically splitting at the seams in absolute fury! He never would have imagined that his most trusted guard would suddenly betray them and open fire on his own comrade!

"Wang Shengli! What are you doing?!!"

A furious roar tore from his chest as Wu Songyang swiftly drew the pistol from his waist and aimed it at Wang. But before he could even pull the trigger, Wang pivoted the muzzle of his heavy machine gun. In an instant, a relentless hail of bullets swept sideways toward him.

The surrounding walls, doors, and windows were shattered and ripped apart by the barrage of specialized bullets. Bricks and wood splinters flew in every direction, several pieces even ricocheting onto Wu Songyang’s body and face.

He thought he was finished. Wu Songyang’s heart trembled. Being incredibly familiar with the Type 524 heavy machine gun, he knew its rate of fire and destructive power better than anyone. Under such a close-range barrage, he had absolutely no chance of dodging or surviving!

To think that after a lifetime of military service, he, Wu Songyang, would ultimately die by the gun of one of his own men!

Just as Wu Songyang’s heart filled with despair and he closed his eyes to await his death, a brilliant golden light abruptly flared up once more from where Liu Zimo was sitting.

BOOM!

The light was like a blazing sun, its aura radiating the might of heaven itself!

Wu Songyang only felt a blinding flash of light followed by utter darkness, and then everything around him plunged back into silence. By the time he opened his eyes again and his vision adjusted to the lighting, he realized that Wang—who had just been sweeping the room with a heavy machine gun—was collapsed on the floor, his fate unknown.

And Liu Zimo, who by all rights should have been gunned down, was standing completely unharmed right beside him.

Was he not dead? Advisor Liu was also alive and well!

Wu Songyang let out a long exhale. He felt a profound sense of surviving a catastrophe, as though he were still stuck in a dream.

"Advisor Wu, are you all right?" Seeing Wu Songyang come back to his senses, Liu Zimo spoke softly with an apologetic tone. "I’m sorry, I wasn’t able to act in time..."

"Say no more, Advisor Liu. I understand!" Before Liu Zimo could finish his sentence, Wu Songyang interrupted him with a face full of guilt. "I’m the one who should be apologizing. I failed to judge character properly and actually kept a person harboring such malicious intent right by my side. It nearly cost you your life, Advisor Liu!"

Wu Songyang was overwhelmingly ashamed. After all, Liu Zimo was the real victim here. He had seen it clearly just a moment ago—Wang’s murderous intent was entirely directed at Liu Zimo. Although he didn’t know the reason behind it, the fact was that it had happened, and any excuses would be futile.

Hearing this, Liu Zimo shook his head slightly.

"You don’t need to blame yourself, Advisor Wu. No one wanted something like this to happen," he said. "Furthermore, this wasn’t Wang’s true intention at all. He just fell victim to an Illusion Demon’s Illusion Technique and was being controlled by it!"

As he spoke, Liu Zimo abruptly raised his head and looked out the window, his sharp gaze locking dead onto a dark shadow lurking beneath the eaves.