Otherworldly Affairs Office

Everyone present focused their gaze on the location of the Black-robed Man, now shrouded in smoke after Liang Qian seized the moment to use internal energy to transform and detonate ice specks.

Pei Yan also took this moment to quickly repair his defenses, while Shangxing moved to his front and tossed out the Jiezhi Space.

Just as the Jiezhi Space was about to encompass Pei Yan, the smoke surrounding the Black-robed Man suddenly dissipated. The Black-robed Man pointed with a single finger, and the Jiezhi Space froze in midair, unable to move.

"Foolish, you don't even consider the origins of this thing before daring to use it and disgrace yourself." Li Songtao sneered inwardly, then lightly tapped his finger, launching a crystal-clear ice needle from his sleeve.

Seeing the Jiezhi Space remain suspended, Shangxing recognized the situation was bad. His massive body directly shielded Pei Yan, and he mobilized his entire internal energy to strengthen his muscles, shouting: "Indestructible!"

Meanwhile, Ye Jiumu seized the opportunity to raise a large picture in front of the two, planning to repeat his technique! But this time he miscalculated, as the incoming silver needle vanished halfway. Just as Ye Jiumu and Shangxing were amazed and searching for the needle, they heard a loud noise behind them. Turning around, they saw Pei Yan's towering metal body had already crashed to the ground!

"Pei Yan!" Shangxing roared and rushed to support Pei Yan's body, noticing the steel plates in front of him turning into ice specks and scattering everywhere, his body powers gradually fading back to flesh. His entire left eye was destroyed by the silver needle, leaving only an empty wound.

"Pei Yan! Pei Yan! Captain Pei Yan wouldn't, wouldn't be!" Wang Wenze crawled his way to Pei Yan's side and fell to his knees, looking at his roommate of over half a year lying unresponsive in front of him. His nose stung and his bloodshot eyes questioned in disbelief.

At this moment, the odd figures received Li Songtao's order to halt their attacks, standing dumbfounded. He wanted to quietly admire the scene, as heart-wrenching cries and faces of defeat were most fitting for these ants daring to challenge him.

"He's dead!" Ye Jiumu, squatting down, placed his hand under Pei Yan's nose. After a while, his eyes turned red, and he gritted his teeth, uttering those three words.

"Damned bastard! Fight to the death!" Wang Wenze punched the ground, stood up, and prepared to rush forward at any cost.

"Stop! No one move!" Shangxing suppressed his anger and shouted, but Wang Wenze was beyond reasoning now, nearly reaching the pond's edge.

Shangxing retrieved clothes from his ring, covering Pei Yan's body, while loudly commanding: "Xiayu, stop him!"

Xiayu wiped her already tearful nose, clenched her silver teeth, turned around, and pinned Wang Wenze to the ground.

"Let go of me, why are you stopping me! Damn it, kill that scoundrel!" The pain of losing a comrade for the first time drove Wang Wenze mad with rage. Even pinned by Xiayu, he refused to cease his furious cries.

"We need to stay alive, to hold them off until support in the hall arrives before that, we must maintain our position! This is our duty! It's also an order!" Shangxing stood up, wiped his face, and commanded sternly.

Since the battle began, he had repeatedly sent a distress signal to the investigation headquarters using a Secret Technique device available only to captains and squad leaders. The response was that the first two waves of support had fallen into another major event, and the third wave was rushing to them, urging persistence.

Shangxing understood this wasn't a deliberate oversight by the headquarters but a genuine crisis, indicating they had no choice but to hold out for their squad's survival and to prevent the surrounding residents from being drawn into it.

With this realization, he moved to Xiayu's side, pushed her off, and pulled Wang Wenze up, saying: "I know you're angry, but now isn't the time for impulsive actions; dying is easy, but we cannot sacrifice ourselves in vain!"

He then looked up at the Black-robed Man, who hadn't moved a step since the beginning and said solemnly: "We aren't his match. Since he wants to play a cat-and-mouse game, we will play along! As long as we can stall him to complete our mission and ensure your safe return, I don't care how you scorn me afterwards! In my first mission as captain, I've already lost a comrade, and I cannot afford to lose another!"

Wang Wenze looked at the resolute captain, whose eyes showed uncontrollable guilt and remorse. Slowly, he loosened his clenched fists and bowed his head in frustration and choked: "What should we do next?"

"Defend, withdraw and defend, don't deliberately provoke the Black-robed Man, unless absolutely necessary, don't kill these odd figures, hold them off! Just hold them off and I believe the headquarters' support...!"

Before Shangxing could finish, a voice suddenly whispered behind him: "Captain, look, is Pei Yan's finger moving!"

Upon hearing this, Shangxing turned sharply, the voice coming from Zhao Yuanhu standing by Pei Yan's "corpse," who had been silent with a complex expression. She hadn't expected her first mission as a protector to end in failure.

Just as she mourned Pei Yan's "death," she noticed his finger with the ring slightly move. At first, she thought she was imagining it, but as she stared, she was amazed to find Pei Yan's finger moving, and the ring on it was flickering with light.

"Jiumu, Xiayu!"

"Got it!"

Following Shangxing's order, the two instinctively blocked Pei Yan's body. Shangxing and Wang Wenze quickly knelt to observe him closely. Indeed, Pei Yan's finger was moving slightly, and in just a moment, the ring's flashing became more frequent.

"Could he be possessed by the black smoke?" Zhao Yuanhu worriedly offered from the side.

Seeing his friend might have a chance to awaken, Wang Wenze immediately interrupted, "No way, if possessed, how would he know to use the ring? Captain, what do you think?"

Shangxing's expression was grave as he placed his finger under Pei Yan's nose. He confirmed there was no breath and held Pei Yan's wrist. Soon, his eyes lit up: "There may be a chance!"

"What's happening!" Xiayu couldn't help but ask, turning away from her cover.

"His essence hasn't dissipated and is still circulating inside him. I've never encountered this before; maybe, maybe there's still hope!" Shangxing said, holding Pei Yan's wrist with excitement and uncertain confidence.

"Yes, yes! Pei Yan's internal energy still has its capacity; we are unique like that, maybe he can be saved!" Liang Qian placed his hand on Wang Wenze's shoulder and wiped his tears, excited.

Wang Wenze clenched his fist and asked, "Captain, what should we do now!"

"Xiaozhao, I have a task for you!" Shangxing didn't answer Wang Wenze directly but turned to face Zhao Yuanhu solemnly.