You're Strong But Now You're Mine-Chapter 61 Three Heads

"Brother Qian, are you done?" Chen Fu was unbuckling his belt: "I’m in a bit of a hurry too..."

Le Yu glanced at him. Using the faint light from the distant avenue, he didn’t notice anything off in Chen Fu’s expression, so he nodded and stepped aside: "I’m done."

As they passed each other, Le Yu suddenly asked, "Did you see anything earlier?"

Chen Fu didn’t stop walking and shook his head: "Didn’t see anything."

Le Yu nodded and went back to the temporary rain shelter to continue sitting.

It didn’t matter whether Chen Fu truly didn’t see or pretended not to see. Le Yu understood Chen Fu’s nature; he’s not the type to make trouble. Since he didn’t confront him now, he’d be less likely to do so after calming down in the bathroom.

At times like these, the benefits of someone cowardly and vain become apparent.

Sitting on the bench, Le Yu looked at the distant streetlights and suddenly felt unburdened, letting out a long breath of mixed air, relaxing his entire body. Next to him, Aili comforted, "Captain, don’t lose heart. I believe Director Lan won’t forget us."

Le Yu laughed: "You really trust the director."

"Of course, the director is the most amazing and powerful person I’ve ever met," Aili’s eyes sparkled with stars: "I believe the director is the savior of Star Engraving County!"

Seeing Aili’s fervent fan-like attitude, Le Yu couldn’t help but smile. Although the Statistical Department agents have done plenty of dirty work, in daily life, they’re just ordinary people. Having mingled with them for so long, Le Yu had developed feelings for them, planning to plead for them after this was over, at least giving them a chance for redemption rather than immediate execution.

As for Lan Yan, Le Yu actually had a good impression of him. Although Lan Yan used him, he also provided benefits, making it a fair transactional relationship. Meeting such a reasonable superior in this world indeed warmed Le Yu’s heart with a touch of humanity.

However, Le Yu couldn’t speak for someone at that level. According to White Night’s analysis, Lan Yan was a staunch non-surrender type, marked as a target due to his high strength, making his fate tonight inevitable.

Le Yu took out a pocket watch, watching the hands tick by, silently counting down: ten, nine, eight...

Three, two, one.

All fell silent, Le Yu stood up, feeling the cool evening breeze, closed his eyes to listen carefully.

Suddenly, a distant explosion seemed to echo from afar.

As if igniting a fuse, a series of explosions suddenly went off. When Le Yu opened his eyes, he saw half of Star Engraving County engulfed in flames!

"It has begun."

...

...

Boom!

The Governor’s mansion doors burst open from an explosive charge mixed with acute Luminous Stone, and the guards, barely had their bullets loaded, were riddled by a barrage of bullets from all angles.

The guards attempted evasive maneuvers, but they faced not just common folk who had fired few rounds, but warriors who had been fed thousands of bullets!

Yes, Awakeners can dodge bullets with Spiritual Power, but they do so by predicting attack directions, not by being faster than bullets. Therefore, if all evasion directions are anticipated, bullets remain a lethal threat no one can block.

An Qian, Qi Shihao, and others broke through the doors; other White Night militias fortified defenses according to the mansion’s layout, while their ten elite forces would penetrate straight into the mansion, decapitating Ding Yi to secure victory!

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Protect the Governor!"

The guards blocked the courtyard, firing to try to halt enemies, while An Qian bent parallel to the ground like a leopard, advancing with light firearms firing repeatedly, forcing the guards to stay hidden.

As the distance closed, An Qian suddenly tossed her light firearm high, transforming her hands into sharp claws forming a light burst, directly breaching the wall, her fingers piercing through brick and soil, grabbing the neck of a guard hiding behind the wall, and crushed it!

She was also a Biting Battle Technique warrior!

Discarding the corpse, An Qian caught her previously thrown light firearm, while others annihilated nearby guards. The ten of them rampaged through the mansion, unstoppable!

While moving quickly, walking upfront, holding a sword in one hand and a firearm in the other, Ling Yun suddenly felt a sharp pain on his neck, instinctively rolling to the side to narrowly avoid a light burst punch, immediately slashing out with his sword!

However, the sword blade met even stronger force, causing Ling Yun to grunt, flying backward, retreating three steps before halting his momentum.

"You’re done for."

Ding Bo the supervisor led over ten guards to intercept the ten. These guards were entirely different from others; not only did they not carry firearms, each wore heavy steel armor with plates, standing in the courtyard path like towering mountains.

"Daring to cause chaos in the Governor’s mansion, you really have guts," Ding Bo squinted his eyes: "Opposition rebels? Or Lv Zhong?"

"This is Ding Yi’s ace, the Mountain Guardians." Qi Shihao tossed aside his light firearm, unbuckling a three-section staff from his back, assembling it into a simple saber: "Retrieving fierce warriors from the Linhai Army, forging tailored heavy armor, making them ruthless battlefield executioners with dual prowess in strength and speed..."

"Sounds formidable." An Qian’s hands became claws, her waist bending, looking excited.

"Careful, Ding Bo is formidable too, reportedly mastering at least one Combat Technique to Peak of Perfection, integrating two Combat Techniques."

"These tough bones are hard to chew."

"True, but once they’re defeated, Star Engraving County is secure."

"What’s the wait? Finish them soon, get home early to sleep!"

With an explosion, the Governor’s mansion erupted in carnage!

...

...

Usually always lit and never extinguished, the Governor’s mansion’s main hall was dim and dark, not a single lamp was lit, nor a single candle burned, the only light source being the external moonlight and fires, filtering through the open main door, spreading over the cold blue brick floor.

Ding Yi sat in the grand master’s chair, expressionless, staring at the distant flame-engulfed Star Engraving County. The mansion was built beside Mirror Lake District, on high ground, on clear days even allowing a view of the inner city of Star Engraving from a distance. Ding Yi’s favorite pastime was enjoying a dull yet simple Governor life by sipping tea here during free moments from official duties.

Why did things turn out this way?

Allying with the military, tying with nobility, controlling public opinion, forming private armies—he had accomplished each step flawlessly. Over the years, he had almost entirely eradicated the hidden threats in Star Engraving County.

The rebellion in Skyrim District was unmistakably visible to any normal eye; thus, upon arriving at Star Engraving County, Ding Yi had been preparing constantly. Unexpectedly, the emperor suddenly passed away without heirs or decrees, presenting a perfect opportunity.

Originally, he hadn’t intended to defy the Imperial Court, just wanted a place in the upcoming chaotic world, hence shaping Star Engraving County into his kingdom. He firmly believed that resource-abundant and strategically advantageous Star Engraving County could either conquer the world or defensively hold a region, leaving no room for failure.

Obviously Star Engraving County had stabilized, Lv Zhong clearly couldn’t stir trouble anymore, these two joys should have multiplied into greater happiness... but why did things turn out this way? frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

How did rebels amass such forces under his nose, causing such upheaval?

Ding Yi saw clearly that the places under attack within the county were all key areas and heavy troop locations, so even if he sent orders out, it would be futile. They were preoccupied and could only fend for themselves.

Moreover, Ding Yi couldn’t afford to worry about others now.

Thud.

A head was tossed in, rolling a few times on the ground. Ding Yi glanced at it and recognized it as his longtime steward Ding Bo, who had been with him for decades. Their Ding family, a large clan, had always carefully mentored talented children of lesser birth. With so many, there’d always be a few strong and loyal servants, and Ding Bo was one of them.

If Ding Bo hadn’t been serving as Ding Yi’s guard, he likely would have made a name for himself even in Yanjing, perhaps even achieving the repute of a Grandmaster. In such times, if someone was the face, someone had to be the backbone, and all the risks Ding Yi couldn’t publicly bear were mitigated by Ding Bo behind the scenes.

"You’ve worked hard, Old Bo," Ding Yi murmured, then looked at the visitor at the door and loudly asked, "At least let me know at whose hands I’m meeting my end?"

"White Night," Qi Shihao replied. The ten of them entered the main hall, sealing off all escape routes for Ding Yi while also checking for hidden threats in the hall.

"The Anarchist Faction of Rebellion..." Ding Yi wasn’t overly surprised. "I’m curious; after killing me, how do you plan to ensure the stability of Star Engraving County? You should know, your enemy isn’t just me, but also the watchful Lv Zhong."

Ling Yun laughed, "Lv Zhong will also die tonight."

"As expected, it’s the usual tactic of the Anarchist Faction. Stirring chaos and then fishing in troubled waters," Ding Yi rapped the table. "A bunch of disordered revelers; seeing Star Engraving County consumed by flames must already make you feel an unrestrained joy, right? Kill me, kill Lv Zhong, then all other forces in Chenfeng District will rise, splitting the Linhai Army, and soon Chenfeng District will follow in Skyrim District’s footsteps, becoming another war-torn, suffering-ridden place... The Imperial Court has every reason to want to destroy you Anarchist Faction members."

"Nonsense!" An Qian angrily retorted, "We won’t let such things happen!"

"You can’t stop any of it from happening. Kill me, kill Lv Zhong, and Chenfeng District will be leaderless. Why do you think you can prevent other factions from dividing it? Just because you’re the Anarchist Faction? If you sat in my position, would anyone revere you?"

Qi Shihao laughed, "Are you begging for mercy, Ding Yi? Asking us to spare you, to support you becoming the puppet governor, to stabilize everything?"

An Qian sneered, "In the end, isn’t it just fearing death? The so-called nobility are all like this, thinking their lofty status entitles them to rule everything, but the common people don’t acknowledge you."

Ding Yi neither denied nor admitted it, instead saying, "Do you know what pretense is? Pretense is the force that binds millions of Luminal Stone individuals together. It’s because people believe in the authority of the Imperial Court that Luminal Stone can continue for over two thousand springs and autumns, allowing most citizens to live in peace."

"You’ve destroyed the foundation of authority, tearing away the veil of peace and releasing the monster of war. Why have I and Lv Zhong been negotiating? Because we’d rather engage in deceitful games than unleash this monster, and are willing to maintain at least a basic order."

"You claim it’s for the people, yet it’s you who drag them into the abyss, into the mire."

The main hall suddenly fell silent. Ding Yi’s expression unchanged, the faint light cast on his righteous face, as if he were the protagonist, and White Night the antagonist.

Qi Shihao suddenly laughed.

"Do you think we lack pretense? Wrong. After your death, there will be someone to stabilize Star Engraving County in your place, and your death will stir no waves."

Ding Yi’s expression changed—it was the worst-case scenario he had anticipated; someone in his governance team had betrayed him!

Though Ding Yi was the highest governor, he mainly handled strategic planning, leaving specific affairs to three subordinates. If he died, all three subordinates had a certain level of prestige and could gain recognition from the people and officials!

Who is it—

"Is the person you speak of him?"

A head flew in from outside, rolling a few times on the floor. When everyone looked closely, their expressions changed dramatically. An Qian exclaimed, "Li Mingsheng!?"

The head rolling on the ground was impressively that of Li Mingsheng, the head of the main assistant department!

He was the White Night Walker previously turned by Lin Jinyao and a key figure in White Night’s daring operation to seize the city, as his position and reputation as the main assistant department head were enough to replace Ding Yi to regain control of Star Engraving County!

As everyone was stunned by this turn of events, Ding Yi suddenly sprang up, tossing a Light Burst Bullet which exploded in the main hall, causing sudden brightness that blinded everyone!

Guarding the door, Qi Shihao and Ling Yun knew something was wrong and immediately attacked based on instinct, but they only caught Ding Yi’s coat tail, allowing him to escape!

They heard Ding Yi shout gleefully, "Blue Flame!"

When their vision returned, they looked outside to find Blue Flame standing in the center of the doorway in a purple-blue vest, holding a blood-dripping long sword in his right hand, smiling at the hastily fleeing Ding Yi.

How could Blue Flame be here!?

How did he kill Li Mingsheng!?

This is troublesome, Ding Yi isn’t dead yet! With Blue Flame stopping us, he might indeed escape!

The ten members of White Night were thrown into confusion by the sudden development, but their bodies did not halt along with their minds, and each started moving toward Ding Yi and Blue Flame!

"Blue Flame, fortunately, there’s still you..." Ding Yi spoke in a post-crisis relief tone, "What comes next is up to you."

"Rest assured, Governor Ding, you needn’t be afraid anymore." Blue Flame smiled and adjusted his glasses.

"Because, I’m here."

The light from the sword flashed, and a head flew up.

The smile on Ding Yi’s face hadn’t faded as his head rolled on the ground a few times, his eyes stopping at Li Mingsheng and Ding Bo not far away, his pupils turning lifeless.

...

...

On the train.

"Shall we talk about fathers?" Faced with Li Ying’s brought-up topic, Lin Xue thought for a moment and said, "I respect my father a lot. He’s a very learned and romantic person."

Kwai Nianruo thought for a moment and said, "My dad is a very stern person. If I don’t practice the Combat Technique well, he hits me and is very strict... But I quite like his braid. It’s much longer than mine, really fun to play with."

Qian Yuya shook her head, "My father passed away very early. I only remember he was a gentle person."

"You all have pretty good fathers." Li Ying sighed, "My old man is different. He has bad breath and foot odor, likes drinking too much, and he acts crazy once drunk, really super annoying."

"However, although he’s very busy with work, he still finds time to take me out to play, often asking people to bring me some rare and strange trinkets."

Lin Xue smiled, "Isn’t that nice?"

Li Ying hmphed twice, "Not really. Finally, I can live alone away from him this time. I’ve been thrilled for so long."

Kwai Nianruo teased, "Will you write home every month?"

"I will... but only for money. Living in Yanjing must need a lot of money!" Li Ying said, "At most, I’ll send a pair of socks every month to remind him to change his socks."

Qian Yuya asked, "Do you want to return to Star Engraving in the future?"

"If I meet a handsome guy I fall in love with at first sight in Yanjing, then I won’t return, right?" Li Ying tilted her head and smiled, "If I can’t find one... then I’ll come back and let my old man find me a well-behaved handsome guy!"