Starforce Warriors

Hu Shuo's expression shifted slightly. The public security in Chongque City was generally excellent. But there were exceptions.

In this city, personal power and influence could be amplified to the extreme. This was a perfect example. As the nephew of a powerful deputy director, Yue Buchen had access to far too many resources.

He could block off entire streets, shut down surrounding shops, and trap someone in broad daylight. This sequence of actions was too smooth and too practiced. It clearly wasn't the first time he had done it.

No one knew who he had ambushed before, or what had become of them. But this time, Hu Shuo saw a chilling murderous intent on Yue Buchen's twisted, grinning face.

Before Hu Shuo could say a word, Yue Buchen's gaze landed squarely on him.

"Director Hu," he said, "today's matter has nothing to do with you. Don't get involved. Please leave."

A flicker of anger rose in Hu Shuo's heart.

Since when can a pampered rich brat threaten a bureau director like me?

But before he could respond, Yue Buchen continued, "My uncle doesn't know about this. But someone even more ruthless than him does and they've given tacit approval. Director Hu, we're on the same tier here. There's no need for you to risk yourself over a nobody. If you insist on staying, of course I wouldn't dare harm you, but your stance here will determine your future. Whether you can continue sitting as Director of the Internal Affairs Bureau... well, that might become uncertain."

Had someone else said this, Hu Shuo would have laughed it off. But coming from Yue Buchen... Hu Shuo knew that aside from being Yue Changxing's nephew, Yue Buchen was also a well-connected fixer in elite circles and had secretly handled affairs for some very influential figures.

Even so, Hu Shuo had no intention of backing down. He had seen with his own eyes how the absolute leader of the Military Guard Bureau, Li Sheng, who was known for his iron will and unchallenged authority, had treated Li Xiaofei in the office. That had shaken him deeply. No matter how many powerful people Yue Buchen knew, they couldn't possibly outweigh Li Sheng.

"If you intend to lay a hand on my man, then you'll have to step over my corpse first," said Hu Shuo, standing his ground with unshakable determination.

Yue Buchen was taken by surprise. Barely half an hour ago, Hu Shuo's attitude had been nothing like this in the Military Guard Bureau. But that didn't stop him from proceeding.

"Don't hurt him. Just knock him out and send him away," he ordered the four silent figures behind him.

They were each clad in black combat suits and silver masks. It was clear these four were not his usual gang of cronies. They were real experts, borrowed from somewhere for this occasion.

The four elites were just about to make their move when a piercing sonic boom suddenly ripped through the air. Immediately after, explosions erupted all around.

The airborne power armor units, mechs, flying bikes, and other vehicles that had been sealing off the sky were blown apart by incoming blasts of energy beams. Dazzling fireworks exploded across the sky.

Yue Buchen was shocked. "What's going on?!"

In the very next instant, countless figures swooped in from all directions like soaring dragons and charging tigers, launching a ruthless assault on Yue Buchen's men.

"Ahhh—!"

"Who are you people?!"

"Please don't kill me!"

Screams and pleas for mercy rang out one after another as the scent of blood began to fill the air. Chongque City was a hub city, but it was also a city of sin. Killings were not uncommon here.

However, slaughter on this scale only happened a handful of times a year. And yet, the usually ever-present Sky Patrol soldiers from the Inner Division's Sky Patrol Bureau were nowhere to be seen. There was not even a shadow of their presence.

Hu Shuo was utterly shocked. He had already recognized the attackers. They were members of the Exploding Star Gang. And leading the charge was none other than Chongque City's most handsome man, Wei Xiaotian.

Has this guy gone mad?

As one of the people who understood Wei Xiaotian best, Hu Shuo couldn't make sense of his actions at all. Wasn't leading his entire gang in a brutal assault on Yue Buchen's lackeys a direct slap in the face of both Yue Changxing... and the powerful figure behind Yue Buchen? Since when had the Exploding Star Gang become so fearless?

Hu Shuo simply couldn't understand it.

At this point, Yue Buchen's forces had already collapsed into total disarray. The people he brought with him were mostly his personal bodyguards and a group of sycophantic cronies. Though their arrival had seemed grand and imposing, in reality, they were pitifully weak and were easily crushed. Of course, there were four exceptions.

The four men clad in black combat suits and silver-faced masks radiated life energy at the Neutron Star level; they were true super elites. They weren't opponents the Exploding Star Gang could deal with so easily. Fortunately, Wei Xiaotian and his gang didn't need to face them. Someone had already locked onto them targets.

When Li Xiaofei stepped forward, an overwhelming burst of life energy surged from him. It was vast and majestic, like cosmic stardust. It instantly suppressed all four of the black-clad warriors.

Hu Shuo's eyes burst open in sheer and unprecedented shock. It was the most profound astonishment he had felt all day. He felt like his heart was about to explode right out of his chest.

Supernova level life energy! Li Qingchen... is actually a Supernova level lifeform?!

Sure, the man had always been somewhat strong. After all, he'd defeated Nangong Longjian. But that had only placed him at the Planet level, at best.

When did he become this powerful?

When he thought back to everything that had happened earlier in the Military Guard Bureau, Hu Shuo suddenly realized that he had never truly understood who this man called Li Qingchen was. The battle quickly drew to a close.

Aside from Yue Buchen and the four black-clad warriors, everyone else was mercilessly slaughtered by the Exploding Star Gang. Blood flowed freely across the street. But the experts from the Exploding Star Gang were already using secret techniques to rapidly clean the scene, erasing all traces of the battle with astonishing speed.

Yue Buchen's legs began to tremble. In the past, he had always been in control when he ambushed, threatened, or killed others. He played the role of the powerful, savoring the thrill of deciding someone else's fate.

But now, the roles had reversed. Now standing in this position, facing what he used to inflict on others, he suddenly found the scene before him unbearably cruel and terrifying.

Li Xiaofei slowly approached.

"D-Don't come any closer," Yue Buchen said hoarsely.

Li Xiaofei's figure flickered. Everyone present felt as if their vision blurred for an instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The four black-clad warriors were sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground before skidding dozens of meters across the street. Blood seeped from their mouths and noses.

"No matter who you serve," Li Xiaofei said coldly, "go back and tell your master. Don't come for me again. Or else, this will be their fate."

He raised Yue Buchen into the air with a hand. With a chilling crack, he snapped Yue Buchen's neck, ending his life. As the light of life faded from Yue Buchen's eyes, his face remained frozen in fear, fury, and disbelief.

Li Xiaofei hadn't even bothered to speak with him. He had simply killed him. An execution to serve as a warning. He was the chicken slaughtered to frighten the monkeys.

Why... why did it turn out like this?

That final, unanswered question lingered in Yue Buchen's lifeless eyes as he became nothing more than a cold corpse. The four black-clad experts made no further moves. They didn't say a word. Wounded and silent, they withdrew from the scene without looking back.

Yue Buchen's death had rendered the battle completely meaningless. There was no point in continuing. Since victory was impossible, retreating to report back became the only option. The four black-clad warriors didn't even bother taking Yue Buchen's corpse with them. To them, a dead Yue Buchen held no further value. The street fell silent once more.

Wei Xiaotian walked over and said, "Got your message and came with my people right away. So? Was that powerful enough for you this time?"

Li Xiaofei smiled and replied, "Many thanks to the Gang Leader for saving me."

The corner of Wei Xiaotian's mouth twitched. Then, putting on a righteous front, he declared, "You're one of us, part of the gang. So it's only right for this Gang Leader to act. Anyone who wants to hurt you will have to step over my dead body first."

Had Hu Shuo not known Wei Xiaotian for decades, he might have believed those words. But unfortunately, he did know him and he knew that wasn't true. Which only made him more curious.

Why is Wei Xiaotian going crazy alongside Li Qingchen? There's no way to cover up something like killing Yue Buchen... Is the Exploding Star Gang really prepared to face the wrath of Yue Changxing?

As Hu Shuo turned his questioning gaze toward Wei Xiaotian, the latter simply curled his lip, spread his hands, and shrugged. He offered no explanation at all. A strange illusion suddenly crept over Hu Shuo.

It feels like Chongque City... is starting to change. But where exactly did it all go wrong?