Today is a very strange day.

In the woods of the abandoned small factory in the outskirts of Huadu, the small animals all felt disturbed, fortunately, they didn't know what it meant to call the police.

Just as the animal couple had finished their "dinner" and were preparing to commence their plans for propagating their species, a series of heart-wrenching and soul-tearing screams shattered the mood.

"King Yan, I was wrong, I offer my sincere apology to you."

"Please, stop tormenting me like this."

Qiu Yu's eyes were filled with terror, unable to imagine how he could still be alive after taking precisely seventeen hundred punches.

At this moment, his chest had collapsed inwards like a sinkhole.

However, King Yan controlled his strength so well that it caused great pain without being fatal.

He even suspected that not even the most skilled interrogators within the Yanhuang Soul who specialized in torture could compare to King Yan.

"Begging for mercy now? Have you let go of your pride?" came a muffled voice from underneath a bronze mask.

Qiu Yu quickly nodded, regretting his hesitation; he had already thought to beg for mercy when he was slower to react and still ended up with a broken bone.

Although such injuries were trivial to someone of his level, simply requiring a bottle of Yanhuang Soul's internal recovery serum to mend the bones within three days, the excruciating pain was unrelenting.

"Tell me, what is your purpose in coming to Huadu?" Lin Hai asked.

Qiu Yu hesitated then quickly spoke: "I came to Huadu mainly to determine King Yan's true identity and whether you are Lin Hai."

"Do you think I would be Lin Hai? Ridiculous, or have the brains of the Yanhuang Soul's higher-ups flooded with water?" Lin Hai retorted disdainfully.

Qiu Yu's face showed embarrassment as he clenched his teeth and said, "This is only based on intelligence analysis, any possibility that raises suspicion must be verified."

"Is there anything else besides that?" Lin Hai asked.

Qiu Yu wanted to avoid Lin Hai's penetrating gaze that seemed to see through everything, and ultimately compromised, adding: "Besides those, I came to investigate the current situation of Huadu's underworld, and..."

"And what?"

"And find a way to recruit you, hoping you would join the Yanhuang Soul. Doing so, the Yanhuang Soul would not impede any of your actions in Huadu, as long as they do not go against the interests of the country and the nation."

Lin Hai scoffed.

Such words might deceive a three-year-old child, but did they really think they could fool him without bringing some intelligence into the matter?

"Would the Yanhuang Soul allow me to control the underworld of Huadu? You think I would believe that?"

"Lord Tianlong has said, as long as you take off your mask, willingly confess your true identity, and consume the strength-enhancing Divine Medicine bestowed by the Yanhuang Soul, all your past deeds will be forgiven."

Lin Hai really wanted to laugh.

Does Tianlong really consider him the age of a kindergartener like Ke'er?

Taking off the mask would mean being exposed to daylight, without any secrets to keep. If the Yanhuang Soul wanted to go after him then, with those Legendary old monsters, it would be easy for them to take his life.

Currently, the Yanhuang Soul is merely wary of his real identity. Even if Legendary figures took action, they might not be able to kill him, and if he were to hide and seek opportunities for various forms of revenge, it would be immensely troublesome.

Should he unmask, Lin Hai believes the Yanhuang Soul would have no reservations.

As for drinking the so-called strength-enhancing Divine Medicine, Lin Hai finds it utterly contemptible.

He longed for power, for sure, but he was not foolish enough to drink the so-called potions.

Even if these potions were officially developed by Huaxia, forcibly enhancing strength would definitely hinder future development.

If Lin Hai's current strength could be said to be gloriously intimidating, then the strength he yearned for was to be stunningly supreme among the Ancient Martial community.

Moreover, from the blood that Qiu Yu had just vomited, Lin Hai distinctly smelled the scent of "RX Heaven"; if Lord Tianlong truly made him drink the potion, he would probably become a puppet.

Wouldn't he then be at the mercy of Yanhuang Soul?

Furthermore, his own strength was merely that of a First-class Expert, yet within Yanhuang Soul sat Legendary old monsters; with numerous Peak Supreme Strong beneath Lord Tianlong, what was his status in Yanhuang Soul? A Second-rank personnel?

"Do you think I would agree? Or do you think Lord Tianlong's face is charming enough to be persuasive?" Lin Hai snorted coldly.

In Qiu Yu's mind, Lord Tianlong had always been a powerful figure, a genius, and this was the first time he had heard someone dare to slander Lord Tianlong like this.

King Yan was just like this, completely indifferent to the constraints of any rules.

If he wished, he could potentially cause a bloody storm in his madness.

"Why won't you cooperate with Yanhuang Soul? According to our intelligence, you seem to love this Huaxia land very much," Qiu Yu asked, not willing to give up.

Lin Hai's gaze was piercing as he spoke, "It's true that I love this land, but I disdain to join you because you collaborate with the RX organization."

Qiu Yu exclaimed in shock, "How did you know!"

"Heh, the scent of RX Heaven lingers in your blood. You must know I have killed quite a few people from the RX organization; do you think I wouldn't understand?"

"..."

Qiu Yu fell silent, having recently discovered that after taking the strength-enhancing potion bestowed by Lord Tianlong, there seemed to be a toxin subtly infiltrating his bone marrow.

"We only cooperate with the RX organization to an appropriate extent, for the greater good, which you don't understand," Qiu Yu shook his head.

"How laughable, still willing to believe in lies even when being used. What kind of organization is RX? Human trafficking, drug dealing, committing all sorts of evil, causing harm to countless people."

Lin Hai's gaze grew colder; he had long harbored towering hatred for the RX organization.

"The vision of those in power is not limited to merely justice and evil. For the sake of Huaxia's better development, to make this place a forbidden ground for Assassins and mercenaries, to strengthen Huaxia, appropriate cooperation is possible."

"Do you even believe the words you're saying, expecting to fool me?"

"Tell me, what other secret missions do you have? Otherwise, I might kill you right now."

Lin Hai drew out his dagger, ready to take action at any moment.

"There's really nothing more. My next step is to enter the Mingya Group to investigate the relationship between Ouyang Xiaoya and King Yan, then I can return to Yanjing to report back. Even if you kill me, that's all I can say," Qiu Yu closed his eyes, resigned to his fate.

Lin Hai knew Qiu Yu wasn't telling the whole truth.

But he didn't care about that; what needed to be uncovered had been uncovered, and confirming the secret dealings between Lord Tianlong and the RX organization was enough.

"In consideration of your decent kung fu skills, I won't kill you today."

"Remember, Huadu is temporarily under my control. For you, for external Assassins, for anyone who wants to meddle with Huadu, this place is your taboo!"

With that, the shadow flickered, and with a whoosh, by the time Qiu Yu opened his eyes, King Yan had already disappeared, coming swiftly and leaving just as quickly, even taking the aura of killing intent with him.

Qiu Yu was stunned for a moment, feeling the intense pain throughout his body, as the resentment in his eyes rose once again.

"King Yan, I must have my revenge. Since you are related to Ouyang Xiaoya, once I control her with RX's Divine Medicine, I will let you experience that pain!"