CHAPTER 121: CHAPTER 116 DESTRUCTION! A WOMAN GONE MAD

After ridiculing Ji Hongxiu, Xia Qingxue completely disregarded the expression on Ji’s face, as if she wanted to swallow her alive, and turned her attention back to Hongkai’Er.

Her tone was extremely indifferent, as if the subordinate before her was not a person, but merely a tool or a weapon.

"You must remember, you only have one chance. Perhaps when you wake up again, you will have completely lost your memories of this place, but that’s not important. I just hope you don’t disappoint me again."

After saying these incomprehensible words to Hongkai’Er, Xia Qingxue disconnected the communication.

Her reaction was somewhat unexpected to Hongkai’Er. The woman who was madly in love with Chen Pingchuan, the Young Palace Master who treated him as both an obsession and a nightmare, was able to remain so calm in the face of his death. The entire situation was profoundly and peculiarly strange.

Forget it, it’s not important.

Hongkai’Er never considered her intelligence exceptional, so whenever she encountered a problem she couldn’t understand, she would always talk herself out of worrying about it.

Temporarily putting her concerns aside, she slowly refocused her gaze on Ji Hongxiu.

Bright red blood had already soaked the hem of her skirt. The originally dazzling crimson had now gradually turned into a despairing, dark red.

An injured Ji Hongxiu was quite different from her usual self. Previously, she was like a proud queen—alluring, yet possessing a noble, unapproachable air.

Now, she was drastically different. She was like a delicate flower swaying in the wind, exuding an air of vulnerability that made one want to protect her. That look of pitiable fragility was so profound that even Chen Pingchuan, in his soul form, found himself drawn to it.

"What a pity," Hongkai’Er said. "I originally wanted to spare your life and take you back to await the Young Palace Master’s judgment, but it seems there’s no need for that now."

"In that case, allow me to send you on your way."

As soon as Hongkai’Er finished speaking, her body moved like lightning, and she appeared behind Ji Hongxiu in a flash. Unseen until this moment, a red spear wreathed in mysterious flames had appeared in her hand. The spear flashed like a sea dragon emerging from the ocean, striking straight for Ji Hongxiu’s heart from behind.

Due to the severity of her injuries, Ji Hongxiu was only able to avoid a fatal blow despite her best efforts to dodge. The spear still pierced through her shoulder blade, and her left arm instantly hung limp.

Of course, this came at a price. Ji Hongxiu’s fox claws had carved another gash into Hongkai’Er’s waist. The outer material of her armor was a self-repairing rare ultra-alloy, but the gash, which should have begun to heal, was obstructed by an unknown energy, leaving two huge scratches marring the surface of her red armor.

Hongkai’Er felt the change within herself. The cold light in her eyes intensified as she said icily, "You’re at death’s door and still causing trouble. It seems you, too, want a taste of pain."

Hearing Hongkai’Er’s words, Ji Hongxiu let out a wild laugh.

"Hahaha..."

"Killing me won’t be that simple. Maybe you’ll have a chance in the next life."

"Of course, this isn’t a farewell, just a greeting in advance. Your Young Palace Master was right about one thing."

"We will meet again."

With that, Ji Hongxiu detonated all the energy within her body.

BANG!

She exploded into a shower of flesh and blood that splattered everywhere. The remains were a scarlet hue, and each fragment seemed to pulse with an unusual Magic Power. Everything and everyone touched by the fleshy pieces began to corrode. This included the bodies of Chen Pingchuan and Belia. Though they were already corpses, they were still corroded until they were pitted and scarred, a truly horrific sight.

Hongkai’Er wasn’t faring much better. Being the closest to Ji Hongxiu, she had been hit by a large portion of the corrosive flesh. Feeling her energy constantly draining and her wounds refusing to heal, Hongkai’Er could no longer maintain her relaxed and leisurely mood.

She first glanced at Chen Pingchuan’s body on the ground, then leaped into the air. From her vantage point, she looked down upon the entire structure of the Doomsday Bunker.

At this moment, many survivors were still alive down below—young people and children, but no elderly. Their eyes were filled with worry and apprehension as they looked up at Hongkai’Er floating above them. Each of them felt as if a great stone had been placed upon their heart.

In an instant, a dark-gold alloy cannon barrel automatically popped out from the right arm of Hongkai’Er’s armor, resembling the gaping maw of a ferocious beast. Moments later, it fired several black warheads, which streaked toward the ground like black meteors.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Ear-splitting explosions rang out one after another. The once lively and bustling sanctuary was instantly reduced to a heap of ruins under the immense destructive power. Broken walls lay scattered everywhere as smoke and dust billowed, obscuring the sky.

I apologize. I admit I was wrong. You’re a true monster. Chen Pingchuan thought. I thought the women I was involved with were crazy enough, but I never expected you to be the most twisted of all, little Hongkai.

Chen Pingchuan’s heart remained unmoved by these deaths; after all, this was just a simulation. What gave him pause was the realization that all these women—be it Xia Qingxue, Ji Hongxiu, Belia, or this Hongkai’Er—belonged to a class of people who never valued the lives of ordinary humans. It was as if these people were accessories, consumables, embellishments for their lives—anything but fellow human beings.

Of course, thinking about this now is meaningless, but it’s not like I have anything else to do. I still need to maintain this state for another day and night.

Hongkai’Er was quite pleased with her handiwork, but when she glanced at the scars on her armor, her good mood vanished. Annoyed, she patrolled the area around the shelter once more. And what do you know, she found two who had slipped through the net. The two women she found trembled before her approach, terrified but powerless to escape.

Inevitably, they soon joined the others in death, their lives ending in despair. In that moment, life seemed so fragile, like a candle flame flickering in the wind, easily extinguished by the gentlest breeze.

Killing small fries is one thing, but important figures are indeed more trouble, Hongkai’Er whispered to herself. Her voice was surprisingly light and melodious, like the tinkling of silver bells, carrying the warmth of a girl next door. However, the message hidden within her words was as cold as a winter wind. Sigh! Why did you have to be important people? Otherwise, I wouldn’t want to be the villain at all.

It seemed she was talking to herself, but also to the deceased Ji Hongxiu. Her practiced movements and methodical approach made it obvious this wasn’t the first time she had destroyed all evidence; she was clearly an expert at it.

After erasing every possible trace, Hongkai’Er circled above the Doomsday Bunker one last time. Detecting no other anomalies, she vanished in an instant with a blast of propulsion from her feet.

Chen Pingchuan stared blankly at Hongkai’Er’s receding figure until she disappeared over the horizon.

She’s another dangerous woman. I’ll need to stay far away from her if we meet again. Speaking of which, shouldn’t I be thinking about getting my armor back? Unfortunately, my former self was a fool and didn’t think things through. I don’t know where the Mechanical Resistance Army’s camp is, or if they’ve relocated. Not to mention, it’s possible Xia Qingxue has already found them. After all, if memory synchronization is really possible, that would be terrifying. Has Xia Qingxue already sent people there to wait for me?

Countless thoughts raced through Chen Pingchuan’s mind. He ultimately decided that the most foolproof plan for now was to draw a talent or skill perfect for escaping.

For the next several hours, Chen Pingchuan was bored. All around him was nothing but the silent wind and the quiet sands. The sky above was a vast, unchanging color.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from nearby.