Chapter 67 An abyss deeper than despair.
Fang Duobing quickly stepped into the headquarters of the Golden Yuan League, which was filled with the smell of blood and burnt things, and found Di Feisheng, who was full of murderous intent and was silent in front of the casualty list.
"Alliance Leader Di," Fang Duobing said in a hurried yet strangely calm voice, "Li Lianhua... he'd already guessed it! He suspected Shan Gudao had faked his death! The head Jiao Liqiao sent was most likely a complete hoax!"
Di Feisheng raised his head suddenly, the bloodshot in his eyes still there, his sharp gaze like a knife piercing Fang Duobing.
Fang Duobing stared back fearlessly, "I've already issued an order. All available forces within the Tianji Hall will be mobilized to locate Li Lianhua at all costs. But I need to know...how many available personnel do you have left?"
Di Feisheng closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, a bottomless coldness and a subtle hint of fatigue filled them. He waved his hand, and Wuyan presented the latest inventory records. The once-mighty Lotus Tower had lost over half its elite troops in this battle, severely damaged. Experts were dead or injured, and communication between various branches was severed. For a moment, a sense of loneliness and embarrassment lingered, a sense of loneliness and embarrassment was palpable.
Just when the atmosphere was solemn, there was a sudden noise outside the building.
"Report—Your Majesty! Many people from the martial arts world have come outside the building! They said...they said they are here to help!" A disciple walked in quickly, with a look of surprise and uncertainty on his face.
Di Feisheng and Fang Duobing exchanged a look of surprise, then walked out quickly.
I saw dozens of people gathered in the open space outside the building. There were men, women, young and old, all dressed differently. They were not the uniform people from famous sects, but more like wanderers or ordinary people from all walks of life.
An old man stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Master Di, Young Hero Fang. I heard that Divine Doctor Li was in trouble, so I brought a few of my nephews and nephews here to help find his whereabouts!" He pointed at the people behind him and said, "We have all been saved by Divine Doctor Li. If it weren't for his miraculous healing skills, this old man would have been buried in the ground long ago!"
"And me!" a man shouted. "Dr. Li saved my sister in the 'woman's house' case! I have to repay this favor!"
A woman holding a child said timidly but firmly, "Divine Doctor Li... Divine Doctor Li treated my child and didn't charge a penny... I heard something happened to him. I... I don't know martial arts, but I can help find out the news..."
“And us!”
"Count me in!"
"Where is Li Lianhua? Let's go find her!"
Voices rose and fell, and more and more people gathered. Among them were innocent people who had been rescued by Li Lianhua from the "Ghost in the Green Window" case, jianghu people who had been saved from the scourge of greed by his guidance during the "First-Class Tomb" incident, and poor people who had simply received free medical treatment from him during his travels in the countryside...
They may not be highly skilled in martial arts or have little influence, but they are numerous, spread across the lower echelons of the martial arts world, and their sources of information are complex and extensive. They spontaneously gathered here at this moment, simply because the person who once helped them now needs help.
Fang Duobing looked at the scene before him, his nose felt sore, and a warm current surged in his heart. He looked at Di Feisheng.
Di Feisheng's face remained expressionless, but the corners of his tightly pursed lips seemed to relax slightly. He looked around at these jianghu people, whose martial arts skills were mediocre but whose loyalty was immense, and saw the anxiety and sincerity in their eyes. This was completely different from the jianghu he had experienced before, which was full of calculation and profit.
He was silent for a moment, then finally spoke in a deep voice. His voice was still cold, yet it carried a subtle solemnity: "...Wuyan, register. Send out all available scouts and... communicate with them. Search for Li Lianhua and Jiao Liqiao with all your might. Report any leads immediately!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!"
The cold Golden Mandarin Alliance headquarters seemed to be suddenly infused with a rough yet vigorous current of warmth, emanating from the countryside. Those who had once been warmed by Li Lianhua were now trying to return that warmth to him in their own ways.
After everyone left, Fang Duobing found Di Feisheng again. Di Feisheng was still stained with the blood and resentment of seizing the "sacrifice." Fang Duobing suppressed his complex emotions and looked directly at Di Feisheng: "Li Lianhua... he guessed it a long time ago. He knew you had reached an agreement with Jiao Liqiao."
Di Feisheng's eyes flashed, but he did not deny it.
Fang Duobing continued, his tone tinged with a barely perceptible trace of grief, "He said... he didn't want to see you go against your own conscience and make repeated mistakes just to save him. He didn't want... to be the cause of your bearing more sins."
After saying this, Fang Duobing pulled something from his bosom—the building owner's token, a symbol of Lotus Tower and all of Li Lianhua's past concerns and belonging. He handed it to Di Feisheng, "He... asked me to give this to you. He said... Lotus Tower is now in your care."
The meaning of these words and this token was clear. Li Lianhua was not only rejecting the "chance of life" that Di Feisheng had bought with destruction, but he was also arranging his "afterlife" by handing over the Lotus Tower, which he regarded as a treasure.
Di Feisheng stared at the token intently, his pupils suddenly constricting! He snatched it away with a jerk, the cold metal pressing against his palm, feeling as if it weighed a thousand pounds, burning his heart with a sharp pain!
Li Lianhua not only saw through his plan, but also used this method to sever ties with him and resolutely pushed him away! He even gave up the Lotus Building? Was he... determined to die?!
"He doesn't even want the Lotus Tower anymore..." Di Feisheng's voice was terribly low and hoarse, and every word sounded like it was being ground on sandpaper. "...What about him?! Doesn't he even want himself anymore?!"
Rage, panic, and a sense of despair at being completely abandoned instantly washed over Di Feisheng! He suddenly looked up, bloodshot eyes surging, and stared at Fang Duobing almost madly, as if questioning the person who was not there through him:
"What about me?! Li Lianhua! Don't you even want me anymore?!"
This roar was heart-wrenching, filled with incredible pain and violence.
For Li Lianhua, he would disregard the moral code of the underworld, stain his hands with blood, and even make deals with a madman like Jiao Liqiao... He believed that as long as he could get a glimmer of life, any price would be worth it.
But Li Lianhua didn't want it.
This not only negated all his efforts, but was like a sharp knife, completely negating all the bonds and emotions between them.
Fang Duobing was overwhelmed by Di Feisheng's terrifying aura and the deep pain in his eyes. He opened his mouth, but found that any words he said were pale and powerless. Li Lianhua's decision also made him feel heartbroken and powerless.
Di Feisheng clutched the token tightly, his knuckles turning white from the strain, as if he were about to crush it, yet also as if it were the last remaining thread of his grasp. His aura surged wildly, torn between rage and utter heartache.
Li Lianhua's move undoubtedly pushed Di Feisheng into an abyss deeper than despair.
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