Otherworldly Affairs Office

Ignoring Han Lihu who stood frozen, Su Xiang's gaze continued to sweep between the remaining three hostages as he asked, "Parents have already been selected; let's be fair! Next, choose between the son and the daughter, which one?"

On the other side, Liang Guangsheng leaned back in his chair, propping his legs on the table and casually said, "The daughter, leave the son to carry on the family line!"

"Not necessarily, daughters are precious too these days; fathers are close to their daughters." Mr. Mu, who had stepped aside, looked on with interest and occasionally chimed in jokingly.

Wang Xishu, impatiently fiddling with two walnuts in his hand, said, "Why are you guys making it so complicated? Just pick one to kill, problem solved."

"Hey, people can't stand this when they get old." Du Guangyuan said, holding a thermos cup, but his gaze never wavered from the scene.

"Su Xiang, let Ye Zi choose, look how she can hardly hold herself back." Fu Rui said, resting her head on her hand, as she watched the eager Wang Yiyi with a smile.

Su Xiang glanced at this incredibly alluring yet dangerously woman, smirking as he looked at Wang Yiyi and nodded, "Since Sister Fu suggested it, you choose, Ye Zi!"

Excited by these words, Wang Yiyi sprang up from her chair and said joyfully, "Great! Great! Sister Fu is still the best."

She then quickly walked to the side of the two children, pushing away the dazed Zhi Rou. Her fingertips moved between the back of the children's heads as she chanted, "Ding ding dang dang, conch burning incense, it's either you or him!"

When Wang Yiyi's finger lightly landed on the boy's head, there was a crisp bang as a bloody hole pierced through the boy's skull. As blood dyed his hair red, his body went limp and he fell powerlessly onto his mother's corpse.

"I was wrong, Su Xiang, I was wrong, I really was wrong... Let them go, I beg you! I beg you! Kill me, please!" The death of his son brought Han Lihu to a complete breakdown, more so the presence of these people.

He used to think he was an evil man, thought this since his past, a notorious thug even before he gained abilities. He believed himself to be ruthless enough to discard anything for a greater cause. But seeing his parents, children, one by one getting killed effortlessly before him, he realized he wasn't as strong as he imagined.

Compared to these people, his evil meant nothing. Han Lihu finally understood that from the start, in the eyes of this group, he was just a clown.

He wasn't their match at all; Su Xiang understood this and thus let him be. Zhao Liben and Wang Xishu knew this but still took his money to create momentum, just to mock him. His life, his family's lives were worthless to these people, is this divine will?

Seeing Han Lihu throw the hostage aside and kneel weeping bitterly, Su Xiang shook his head in boredom, saying, "Han Lihu, you are at least an ability user, look at yourself now! As an ability user, when you chose to challenge me through other means instead of relying on your own power, you lost your fundamental essence."

Kneeling, Han Lihu smiled bitterly, "Victors are kings, losers are scoundrels. I'm defeated, I admit it! Anyone can talk fancy, Su Xiang, didn't you also capture my family! Otherwise, why would I be like this! We are alike, there's nothing more to say, kill me, let my family go."

Su Xiang responded by jumping off the table, adjusting his crumpled attire as he said, "I acted after you tied up my people first. Let me make it clear, even if you'd captured my family today, I wouldn't even furrow my brow. Without this resolve, don't think of stepping over corpses to rise. Your family's fate today was all your doing."

Saying this, Su Xiang snapped his fingers, and a nearly transparent paper figure appeared between his fingers. Looking at Han Lihu with a sigh, he said, "If I killed you now, you might be unwilling even when you meet King Yama. I'm soft-hearted, so I'll give you a chance to fight back. Defeat me, and you and your family can leave safely."

These words sparked a glimmer of hope in Han Lihu's eyes, he stood up, wiped away his tears determinedly, and said, "Su Xiang, hope you keep your promise!"

"Of course, go ahead." Su Xiang nodded sincerely, the paper figure between his fingers slowly turned into a shadow and disappeared.

Han Lihu, hearing this, no longer wasted words, his upper garment suddenly burst as red mist enveloped him. Just as Zhi Rou anticipated an attack, his body began to tremble uncontrollably, his face distorted as if struggling against something inside.

Before Zhi Rou could react, Han Lihu's face stiffened, and his sturdy body crashed to the ground, life uncertain. As his body fell, Zhi Rou faintly saw a paper figure rise behind him, turning into paper shards, dispersing in the air.

"Such a pity, he had considerable ability."

Watching the boss's false display of sympathy, Zhi Rou asked indifferently, in a low voice to Shan He, "That's it? Is Han Lihu really supposed to be this weak?"

"His mental state was already played to collapse by the boss amid ups and downs. Normally, even if Han Lihu's power was weaker than the boss's, he was a fourth-tier ability user. If focused, how could he be so easily influenced and controlled? It's being too clever, from now on he's just a dog in the boss's hand." Shan He glanced disdainfully at Han Lihu's body.

At this point, Mr. Mu clapped his hands loudly and ordered, "That's it, get a few to clean up the scene; the meeting isn't done yet!" Under his command, some subordinates began to clear out people and tidy up the chaotic situation.

Disregarding the noisy crowd, Su Xiang stepped over Han Lihu's body and knelt before Yirou, calmly looking at the terrified and angry-eyed woman, snapping his fingers to lift the control over her throat.

"Su Xiang, let me go. Even if I left you then, it's been so long, you should've vented your anger enough by now! Aren't you tired of playing? Let me go, please!" Yirou, her tear-streaked face full of helplessness, clung to Su Xiang's sleeve, pleading bitterly.

Su Xiang reached out his hand, gently wiping the tears from Yirou's face, speaking softly, "How can you say that, Yirou I'm still in love with you. Haven't I given you a good life? It's the same as before; why are you always so unsatisfied!"

"Good life! Good life by locking me in a villa, nowhere to go! How's that different from a prisoner! Love me! Love me by letting random men enter my room, using my bed while you ignore it! Su Xiang, what am I in your eyes? A pawn to appease the underlings?" Yirou backed away as if avoiding devilish clutches, pointing at Shan He and Zhi Rou behind Su Xiang, she shrieked.