The urgent knocking on the door instantly startled Xiao Wujie and Chu Liyue, who were sleeping in each other's arms.
Xiao Wujie, weak from illness, was suddenly awakened and, feeling unwell, frowned and huddled in Chu Liyue's arms.
Chu Liyue sat up halfway and gently patted his shoulder to comfort him.
The person outside was extremely anxious. Hearing the commotion inside, he immediately rushed into the room.
Lu Zhufeng opened the door, followed by Xiao Shuihan and Luo Yilan, both looking anxious. Lu Zhufeng spoke coldly and briefly:
"A large number of SL assassins and God madmen attacked the Xiao family. The situation there is unpredictable. We need to go back immediately."
In the cold, desolate night sky, airplane exhaust leaves long, narrow, and icy trails.
The plane, piloted by Lu Zhufeng, roared into the wind and sped along like a shooting star across the sky, reaching its maximum speed.
Inside the cabin, Xiao Shuihan frowned, his face tense, as he repeatedly tried to contact Xiao Yuxuan and Xiao Linzui.
"Big brother, what's the situation over there?"
"A large number of...assassins...may...be...heading for Father..."
The intermittent sounds were mixed with the crackling of electricity and the faint sounds of artillery fire and shouts, and then the words were cut off before they were finished.
Xiao Shuihan's knuckles bulged as he gripped the edge of his phone, listening to the static and static on the screen. His hand, which had been held to his ear, slowly fell to his side, his gaze cold and piercing, trembling slightly upon closer inspection.
Luo Yilan grasped his tightly clenched fist, his knuckles white, and though her expression was cold, she spoke words of comfort:
"Don't panic, it's probably just a signal interruption."
"Father and my eldest brother are not weak, they will be fine for the time being."
As she spoke, she lightly flicked Xiao Shuihan's finger, gesturing for him to look in Xiao Wujie's direction.
Although Xiao Wujie's face was pale and haggard, his eyes had already regained their clarity. He was wrapped in a thick blanket and leaned against Chu Liyue's chest, his gaze dark and filled with self-reproach.
Although their experience in Impel Down 0 was thrilling enough, he always harbored a lingering unease, feeling that things were not so simple.
As ruthless and cunning as Ash Hall was, she only managed to breach Impel Down 0 and then withdrew her forces without even confirming their fate, which was quite unlike her style.
Now that news of the attack on the Xiao family has reached him, he knows without a doubt that she is the mastermind.
During the phone call, Xiao Yuxuan mentioned intermittently that her target might be Xiao Qianshan. Sure enough, just after he reunited with his family, she made her move against the Xiao family.
Chu Liyue's eyes were filled with coldness. She remained silent, but tightly wrapped her arms around Xiao Wujie's hand, keeping him company without a sound.
Xiao Shuihan concealed the anxiety in his eyes and gently comforted him, "Son, don't blame yourself, it's not your fault."
"Your grandfather and your uncle are alright for now."
*
The Xiao family.
The sky was as black as ink, covered by thick, dark clouds.
Black fighter jets circled in the air, emitting a chilling roar, as ruthless as death itself, dropping black dot-like shells that fell straight down onto the lonely, retro-style mansion below.
The walls of the mansion were riddled with holes from artillery shells, bricks and stones were shattered, and wood chips were flying everywhere.
With a deafening explosion and blinding flashes of light, fiery clouds rose up, illuminating half the night sky.
In the chaos, countless assassins in black rushed into the mansion from all directions like a tidal wave.
Wrapped in black night clothes, they moved like ghosts through the firelight, their masks revealing a sinister look in the glow.
They were well-trained, their movements swift and precise, each step carrying the shadow of death. Swords flashed, blood splattered, screams rose and fell, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.
In the long corridor, surrounded by a large number of assassins in black, the guards were forced to retreat in defeat.
Dressed in a black suit, Xiao Yuxuan's face was smeared with blood, his eyes were cold and terrifying, and his gun roared as he casually dealt with several assassins who tried to approach.
"Big brother, retreat quickly!" Xiao Linzui shouted from behind.
A black dot fell from the sky and exploded the moment it hit the ground, sending a violent blast of air sweeping outwards.
The mansion's windows were shattered, and shards of glass flew everywhere like sharp blades, cutting through the air.
In the corner, Xiao Yuxuan pressed his body against the wall. After the aftershocks of the explosion subsided, he couldn't help but exhale a breath of stale air.
He turned to look at his wife and daughter, whom he usually cherished and protected. They had never seen anything like this before, and their faces were deathly pale, their eyes filled with fear.
"Brother, let's retreat. We can't hold them off with our small numbers."
"My father has the authority to activate the heavy weapons in the house. Only by using those things can we turn the situation around."
Xiao Lin, his eyes reflecting the ruins outside, gave a deep, somber reminder.
Xiao Yuxuan's sharp brows furrowed: "They are clearly forcing us to retreat, and they are very likely after Father."
A complex look flashed across Xiao Linzui's eyes. He could tell, of course, that these people were after Xiao Qianshan, but why...?
Since the Xiao family became the dominant force in Lingnan, this is the first time anyone has dared to launch such a large-scale invasion, and the timing of the attack was also quite unusual.
"Is there any news from Father? He's been staying home these past few days, and Uncle He is being very secretive, refusing to say anything," Xiao Yuxuan suddenly asked.
Xiao Linzui shook his head: "Father hasn't shown up yet, but with such a big commotion, he must already know about it and is probably preparing countermeasures."
After saying that, he advised again, "Brother! Let's retreat! If this continues, something really bad will happen."
Seeing more assassins rushing towards them from afar, Xiao Yuxuan gritted his teeth, waved his hand, and protected his wife and Xiao Fengyin as they retreated to the rear.
Deep inside the Xiao family mansion, in Xiao Qianshan's room.
The wooden cane tapped on the ground with a "thump-thump" sound. The old figure slowly walked to the bookshelf, reached out and touched an antique vase, which should have been fixed in place, and spun smoothly.
The bookshelf opened in the middle like a sliding door, and an elderly figure slowly walked in.
Behind the bookshelves is an open space, with a huge screen projected onto the white wall, displaying the outside scene in real time.
A slightly hunched figure stood in front of the light screen, his hands clenched tightly. The white light illuminated his wrinkled face; it was Old He.
Hearing the voice, Lao He turned around, saw the person who came, and bowed, calling out, "Master."
Xiao Qianshan waved his hand dismissively and asked coldly, "Are the programs for the intelligent fighter jets and combat robots ready to start?"
Under the cold light of the screen, his face appeared unusually pale.
Old He replied urgently, "It's all ready!"
Xiao Qianshan stared at the screen and said coldly, "Set the commands and have them move out."
Old He stood in front of the mechanical table, inputting complex and tedious instructions, when he heard Xiao Qianshan beside him say, "Have you kept the things I asked you to watch over safe?"
After Lao He nodded, Xiao Qianshan said calmly, "After Shui Han and the others return, you can hand them over to the little girl."
Upon hearing this, Old He suddenly panicked: "Master, why didn't you personally hand it over to Miss Chu?"
“I…I’m old and senile, I can’t shoulder this heavy responsibility.”
Xiao Qianshan, leaning on his cane, lowered his eyelids to conceal the complex emotions in his eyes, and looked at him calmly, saying:
"Today's matter is not so simple. Just do as I say."
After saying that, under Lao He's flustered gaze, he turned and walked out.
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