CHAPTER 133

The restaurant quickly descended into chaos when a sudden incident occurred — an individual collapsed on the floor, vomiting blood and convulsing. At first, everyone remained relatively calm, assuming it was simply a medical emergency. However, one by one, others began to fall with the same symptoms, bringing to mind scenes of a zombie mutation.

Panic erupted as terrified screams echoed through the room. The crowd instinctively retreated, desperately pushing toward the exit in an attempt to flee the scene. Behind the chaos, however, lay the mastermind who had anticipated this reaction and had already secured all exits.

Amidst the confusion and anger, individuals began to question what was happening. Uncle Tang stepped forward with a rationale, stating that the bleeding was contagious and that they needed to keep everyone contained to prevent further spread. 

This explanation was hardly convincing, yet it soon became a moot point as others began to cough up blood too.

Watching this unfold, Su Bei could only be grateful that he had left just in time. Had he stayed, he would have been ensnared in a dangerous escape attempt — a predicament he was glad to avoid.

The current chapter ended on that note, leaving Su Bei musing that if he were merely a reader, he would feel a surge of frustration at the cliffhanger. Wouldn't the narrative have been better if it halted after the protagonist group narrowly escaped? Why did it seem like every manga author attended the same class on creating cliffhangers?

Fortunately, the next chapter was ready to be read, so Su Bei decided to proceed without checking the forums immediately, hoping to enjoy the complete storyline of the Feng family.

The blood vomiting incident was a result of ingesting a toxin-laced red wine, which sent all who drank into a state of unconsciousness. They were promptly removed by individuals sent by Uncle Tang. Jiang Tianming and his companions seized the opportunity during the chaos to escape via a safe route they had scouted during preparations.

Though they were invited by Feng Lan, they were not esteemed guests in Uncle Tang's eyes, yet they were certainly not to be ignored. When their disappearance was noted, it was quickly deduced that Feng Lan had potentially forewarned them, prompting an immediate manhunt.

What followed was a series of high-intensity confrontations, each person in the group using their unique skills to evade capture.

The story then shifted to Qi Huang and Su Bei's return to action. His reappearance was in a rescue scene, though the spotlight this time was on Wu Jin.

Indeed, the author deemed it time for Wu Jin's secrets to unfold following his personal combat exam. 

In a captivating scene, Wu Jin, following Su Bei's plan, stepped forward, and an enemy became utterly enamored with him, evident by the giant pink heart reflected in the enemy's eyes.

"Is this Wu Jin's superpower?" 

"What kind of ability is this?"

"S-Class truly hides dragons and tigers; everyone has secrets."

"I suspected Wu Jin couldn't be ordinary — he’s the principal's son, after all!"

"A heart-shaped influence? Is it a charm skill?"

Speculations ran rampant as the narrative continued. After rescuing Qi Huang, the trio began strategizing together.

Their priority was to locate the imprisoned guests who had coughed up blood because as long as they remained as hostages, the villains held leverage, negating any victory over them.

Inside the mansion, Su Bei utilized mental powers to search. This marked the first time the manga illustrated high-level mental abilities: translucent, pale purple beams extending from the stairs ascending to the tenth floor, spreading out like a massive net to envelop the entire area meticulously.

This search technique was fruitless on the tenth floor, leading them to the eleventh, where they finally discovered the captives.

To readers, this scene might have seemed merely intriguing. Yet for Su Bei, it was momentous.

His advanced mental prowess was manga-bestowed, making him unfamiliar with its expressions. Guided by intuition and some bookish knowledge, his mastery was still lacking when compared to someone who self-cultivated these strengths.

Now, thanks to this illustrative manga example, he began to understand the workings of mental power, realizing it wasn't purely linear nor utterly intangible.

Having found the guests, the trio initially sought a way to free them. Yet upon entering, they were taken aback to discover the guests willingly enjoying themselves, showing no signs of coercion.

They quickly deduced that the red wine was addictive, turning these guests into Uncle Tang's prisoners. Rescuing them was futile, and thus, they chose to leave.

This led to a conflict between Qi Huang and Su Bei, with Qi Huang upset over his prior knowledge of the red wine's danger, yet Wu Jin's explanation resolved the argument. Qi Huang cheerfully apologized to Su Bei.

Though harmonious within the manga, external commentary was divided.

"Why is she blaming Su Bei?"

"Isn’t this moral coercion?"

"You can't deny Qi Huang’s point; Su Bei can be selfish."

"But Wu Jin clarified Su Bei’s reasoning; are readers missing Qi Huang's lack of omniscience here?"

"Perhaps Su Bei and Qi Huang themselves are less reactive than you fans!"

Indeed, reader disputes were a staple of any manga, but they didn't reflect the actual rapport between Su Bei and Qi Huang. Qi Huang had a straightforward, generous spirit; she admitted fault when wrong, apologized, and moved on without lingering grudges.

The narrative then shifted to Jiang Tianming's group. As Jiang Tianming recounted, after achieving a safe escape at Qi Huang's sacrificial help, they encountered Feng Ling and others.

Unable to avoid another round of pursuit, Jiang Tianming's team, while initially feigning defeat to let the enemy lower their guard, successfully counterattacked and captured Feng Ling.

Once out of her parents' control, Feng Ling began asserting her intentions, claiming to be on their side and explaining her aggressive questioning was simply to verify their identities.

Captured intentionally to escape parental oversight, she professed her desire to assist her cousin, Feng Lan, in re-securing the family’s leadership.

When questioned by Jiang Tianming on her choice to betray her parents for Feng Lan's aid, her response was, "I fear their folly with the enemy will come back to bite us."

Her explanation seemed genuine, with motivations convincingly detailed. Prior manga hints suggested her capture was premeditated, making it difficult for both the main characters and readers to definitively label her as friend or foe.

"Feng Ling sounds sincere…"

"Don't be fooled, Jiang! That’s just a cover-up!"

"The author loves twists; I wager Feng Ling is a good person."

"Didn’t anyone catch that ‘consorting with the tiger’ phrase? Who's the tiger?"

"Feng Ling’s prior antics didn't exactly scream ally."

Caught in a stalemate, Jiang Tianming decisively chose to suspend judgment on Feng Ling’s allegiance, focusing instead on finding Feng Lan and deferring her fate to him.

The narrative then shifted to Si Zhaohua's team, escorting the Feng family elders and members who hadn’t consumed the wine to safety. They had been the first to encounter Feng Lan, equipped with exclusive earpieces for private communication with him.

Feng Lan, as the strategist, ensured his own safety by traveling alone, understanding he was the prime target. Keeping separate ensured others' security and maintained control over the situation.

Si Zhaohua's mission was seemingly the safest — simply shepherding prepared elders to safety, avoiding direct conflict.

Yet, matters were never simple, for Uncle Tang recognized the strategic importance of the elders to seize control over the Feng family, second only to capturing Feng Lan.

A detailed monologue by Si Zhaohua revealed the Feng family's unique power structure — unlike other families where the head’s word was paramount, the Feng family was led by a formidable council of elders.

Once a decision by the family head sparks significant controversy, the council steps in to arbitrate. Even the appointment of the family head falls under their jurisdiction.

To qualify as a Feng family elder, one must possess a foresight-related power, have made significant contributions to the family, and be over sixty years old.

Similarly, the position of the Feng family head has an age cap of fifty, under the belief that younger individuals have sharper perspectives, while older age might result in stagnation if holding such vital roles.

Among the Feng elders are two former heads who, upon reaching eligible retiring age, must leave the family for ten years. During this period, demonstrating achievements to prove they were not rendered overconfident by their previous role allows them to join the council.

Back to the storyline, Si Zhaohua's group was soon blocked by a small detachment of the enemy. Their dual task was to quickly incapacitate these foes to prevent reinforcements and to protect the elders — a formidable challenge indeed.

Fortunately, Li Shu, Wu Mingbai, Ling You, and others were in his team, ensuring robust defense and offense. Combined with Feng Lan's strategic orchestration from behind the scenes, after defeating the first wave of enemies, they encountered no further confrontations.

After this ended, the scene shifted back to Jiang Tianming's group. As they decided to bring Feng Ling to Feng Lan, they soon regrouped with Su Bei.

Following a brief exchange on past events since their separation, Su Bei began questioning Feng Ling.

It seemed as though he was privy to information; he did not doubt whether Feng Ling was an ally but instead asked pointed questions. He also revealed the red wine, making clear that it caused the guests' bloody symptoms and had addictive properties.

It was only when Feng Ling mentioned the "Black Flash" organization that the live comments erupted in surprise.

"No way! It's the ‘Black Flash’ organization!"

"Now it makes sense why Feng Ling said they were making a deal with the devil."

"Why is this organization everywhere?"

"With 'Black Flash' revealed, Feng Ling must be trustworthy, right?"

"Su Bei's demeanor? I've decided, Feng Ling’s on the right side!"

Readers noted Su Bei's reactions, and naturally, Feng Ling did too. Pleased, she extended an offer for Su Bei to become a guest elder — a title not as distinguished as a true elder but respectable nonetheless.

Su Bei proposed dispatching someone down the mountain to report the situation and request reinforcements, while also delivering a red wine sample to expedite an antidote's development.

Previously, holding off on doing this was to prevent raising enemy suspicions from the absence of any one person. Now with everything in disarray, such concerns were unnecessary.

Amidst some discussions, Su Bei positioned himself as the one descending. As the audience teased about his "slacker streak," Feng Ling handed him the items needed for the descent without hesitation.

This gesture further established Feng Ling's good intentions, gradually easing doubts about her allegiance. Yet, Su Bei anticipated a twist — when Feng Ling would lead Uncle Tang to them, suspecting readers might again feel deceived, casting doubt on her integrity.

They wouldn't foresee another trick awaiting them.

Indeed, the manga author was adept at these narrative games, earning the label "trickster" from readers.

The story uniquely focused on Su Bei, following his descent, his evasion of guards below, and his meeting with Meng Huai at the school to hand over the red wine.

Although preceding scenes occupied minimal pages, the segment illustrating the loss of red wine was expansive.

The author adeptly reminded readers of the school mole subplot, emphasizing it through detailed depiction.

As Su Bei received news of the missing wine, the story flashed back, vividly recounting its destruction.

After the briefing, they inquired if Su Bei had backups, though Meng Huai and Ye Lin harbored minimal expectation.

When Su Bei produced a second sample, astonishment filled both their expressions and the comment section.

“Su Bei, the real MVP!”

“Always count on Su Bei in a pinch!”

“There's a backup? You're meticulous beyond belief!”

“He looked incredible pulling out the backup sample.”

“How did the first wine get destroyed?”

“Feels like it’s more than just official mishandling.”

“Could there truly be a mole in the academy…?”

Finishing Su Bei's arc, the narrative returned to the Feng family. Jiang Tianming's group, stealthily guided by Feng Ling, avoided encounters until reaching Feng Lan in a secluded spot.

Feng Lan had anticipated their arrival, lying in wait.

Feng Lan provided a brief update on Si Zhaohua and confirmed he had been monitoring them from behind the scenes.

Regarding his cousin Feng Ling, Feng Lan exhibited no misplaced animosity, reacting warmly.

Feng Ling sought to speak favorably with Feng Lan, not only for herself but for her parents too.

Yet moments into her speech, distant rapid footsteps grew louder, suggesting the imminent approach of numerous individuals.

Panic swept through, but too late to hide — their position a dead-end without cover.

Uncle Tang and a large number of renegades soon appeared, his words dripping with smug satisfaction as he reached out to Feng Ling: "Come back, daughter. You've done well. Without the tracker on you, we wouldn't have found them so easily."

The story refrained from showing Feng Ling’s expression, merely depicting a composed demeanor as she rejoined her father's side under the group's stunned gaze.

Comments exploded.

"Damn! She played us!"

"Feng Ling really fooled us all."

"No way, right? From Su Bei and Feng Lan’s demeanor, Feng Ling should be good!"

“Trickster author messing with us, right?”

“Another friggin’ mole!”

“Hope Feng Lan doesn’t get caught; that’d be disastrous.”

Fortunately, Feng Lan was prepared, swiftly distributing earpieces before vanishing abruptly. Taken aback, Uncle Tang hesitated to order his capture.

This pause gave Jiang Tianming’s group the moment needed to exploit their skills and escape the encirclement one by one.

Simultaneously, Feng Lan’s voice resonated over the earpieces, providing escape directions. Wu Jin, adept with his ability to be forgettable, slipped through undetected.

Feng Lan directed him to await Su Bei’s return. Unsure where to expect him, Feng Lan advised, "Just follow your instincts," leading Wu Jin back to the library.

Previously, the manga hadn’t depicted their time together, merely implying Wu Jin and Su Bei’s shared absence. Now with Wu Jin's return to the library, it was clear they had spent time there.

“Why the library?”

“Their previous haunt?”

“Call it a hunch, but I think Su Bei’s seeking specific knowledge.”

“Su Bei’s intricacies are immense; please, trickster author, reveal just one!”

“If Su Bei actually meets Wu Jin there, I might just ship them.”

Resolving Wu Jin’s thread, the narrative shifted focus back to Jiang Tianming. Fragmented, Feng Lan coordinated their movements via a unified voice channel, facilitating communication among all and simplifying directions.

Examining Feng Lan's commands, his strategy manifested — dismantling Uncle Tang’s perimeter defenses around the Feng estate, compressing his operatives, inch by inch, into a corner.

Once his plan was articulated, others confirmed their understanding and intent to comply.

Save for Jiang Tianming.

Ever the sharp and composed protagonist, he promptly identified a flaw in Feng Lan's strategy: “You’ve placed us at vantage points, yet you’ve omitted your hideout, right?”

Naturally, Feng Lan replied through the transceiver: “I can monitor my hideout myself, no need to squander manpower here.”

However, Jiang Tianming shook his head, questioning, "We’re not familiar with the Feng family map, but your Uncle Tang surely is. If he notices that while we've cleared the defenses from various locations, there’s one place left untouched, wouldn't he deduce that’s your hiding spot?"

This insight immediately revealed the flaw in Feng Lan’s plan. He hadn’t considered this possibility. Promptly, Feng Lan adjusted the strategy, deploying one person from each team to station near his hideout.

The comments section was filled with applause for Jiang Tianming's astuteness.

Observing this scene in the manga, Su Bei couldn’t help but feel relieved that Jiang Tianming was the protagonist in this story. It was comforting to have such a capable lead. Were it a typical Mo Xiaotian character, they’d find themselves plugging his gaps, rather than him completing their plans.

After a series of strategic maneuvers, they successfully confined Uncle Tang’s group near the library. It was evident that Feng Lan had intentionally left this location for last, anticipating Su Bei's return with reinforcements through the library.

When the supposed "betrayal" by Feng Ling had occurred, the situation had already begun shifting in their favor. Uncle Tang, having retreated repeatedly, had to abandon many, ultimately left with a few guards and a host of guests.

Aware that the tide had turned against him, Uncle Tang made a final gamble by confronting Jiang Tianming’s group with the hostages in tow.

With hostages in hand, his chance of winning wasn’t completely gone.

Meanwhile, Feng Lan discreetly guided Jiang Tianming's team in setting traps. Despite the seemingly harmless trap placements, the members of S-Class dutifully followed Feng Lan’s instructions.

As the subsequent events were personally experienced by Su Bei, he skimmed through quickly. However, he paused with interest to observe the comments when Feng Ling’s allegiance shifted once more.

As expected, the live chat was filled with astonishment.

"Trickster author, is fooling us so much fun for you?"

"Evil—good—evil—good, my head's spinning!"

"Ah, she really was good! I knew Su Bei’s instincts couldn’t be wrong!"

"In this whole merry-go-round, the real clown was me?"

"Oops, guessed wrong..."

"Yes, she’s a good person after all. The name Feng Ling couldn't possibly belong to a villain."

"I’ve always believed Feng Ling was good; I’m in the top 1% with this insight!"