Chapter 415 – What If I Don't Listen?

Tianfeng City, Dragonheart District.

Su Ming arrived at a rather conspicuous square.

He had arranged to meet Xu Xiayan here.

Accompanying him were An Zijin, Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, and Tong Xinyao—seven girls whose stunning looks formed a beautiful scenery, causing countless people along the way to stare in awe, lose themselves in admiration, or even walk into walls.

That’s right, everyone had come with Su Ming.

“Brother Su Ming…”

An Zijin’s small hand tightly clutched the hem of Su Ming’s clothes, seemingly a bit worried.

The others felt the same, their eyes filled with concern as they looked at Su Ming.

Su Ming’s expression was gloomy, and his aura carried a faint restlessness, causing passing Professionals who saw him to shudder involuntarily, a sudden chill running through their hearts.

When they got a clear look at Su Ming’s face, they were even more astonished.

“Isn’t that the Prodigy Commander of 『Azure Mercury』?”

“The one who became an Upper-Rank Dual Professional at eighteen?”

“He really is young…”

“Wow, the women around him are all incredibly beautiful. Are they all from 『Azure Mercury』?”

“Should we say it’s only fitting for the most prodigious person in history? Does his team only recruit such high-quality female members?”

“A role model for us…”

“But why does he look so upset?”

“It seems he’s in a bad mood. I wonder who provoked him.”

“Let’s go quickly. I feel like something’s about to happen.”

“Right, right.”

The passersby were both curious and intrigued by Su Ming, while also puzzled by his expression.

Su Ming paid no attention to them, his face stern as he suppressed his emotions, waiting for Xu Xiayan to arrive.

Fortunately, Xu Xiayan didn’t keep Su Ming waiting long.

Soon, the Commander of 『Summer Chasing Smoke』 arrived with several people in tow.

Leading the group were Wang Di and Wang Qian, both Six-Star Professionals.

Accompanying them were Bai Xuefei, Bai Ruxiang, Bai Xiaoyan, and other female Hunters from the Bai Family.

Moreover, even a group of Upper-Rank Professionals from 『Summer Chasing Smoke』 had come with Xu Xiayan.

As soon as they arrived, they were met with the spectacular sight of Su Ming’s group, which was filled with stunning beauties, leaving the male members led by Wang Di stunned and the female members led by Wang Qian no less astonished.

Under different circumstances, the appearance of An Zijin and the others would have surely drawn the attention of these powerful members of 『Summer Chasing Smoke』.

Unfortunately, now was not the time.

“Are you ready?”

Xu Xiayan approached with her group and immediately threw out this question without preamble.

“Yeah.” Su Ming nodded, his expression still grim. Unwilling to waste words, he said directly, “Let’s go, back to Longyao City.”

That’s right.

Su Ming and the others were preparing to return to Longyao City.

After such a major incident, neither Su Ming nor Xu Xiayan could simply stay in Tianfeng City, waiting passively for more bad news from their hometown.

Especially Su Ming.Xu Xiayan was relatively fine, as she was already deeply disappointed with the Xu Family. Apart from Xu Qianqian, there were hardly anyone there worth her concern. The reason she felt anxious was simply because it was, after all, her hometown, and the Bai Family, where Bai Xuefei and others resided, held a very important position in Longyao City, making it impossible for her to easily abandon it.

Su Ming, however, was different.

His parents and friends were all in Longyao City.

With Longyao City falling under attack from Sin, it was only natural for Su Ming to feel anxious, both emotionally and logically.

Not just Su Ming, but even An Zijin, Jiang Wanyu, and Yao Beibei were somewhat anxious.

After all, they had also spent a considerable amount of time there and had gotten to know many people.

Thus, upon learning about the incident in Longyao City, Su Ming and Xu Xiayan barely hesitated before deciding to return together.

To this end, Xu Xiayan brought along all the existing Upper-Rank Professionals of Summer Chasing Smoke, while Su Ming’s Azure Mercury was also mobilized in full force.

Originally, Su Ming had no intention of bringing the members of Azure Mercury to Longyao City.

But the girls did not agree.

“Let us go.”

“With such a major incident happening, we can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

“We can definitely help!”

“Take us with you, Commander!”

Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, and Tong Xinyao—all four of them—spoke up one after another, their attitudes exceptionally resolute.

And if even these four girls were so determined, there was no need to mention An Zijin, Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, and the others—it was impossible for them not to come along.

Su Ming, on one hand, felt it was futile to persuade them, and on the other, he was in no mood to argue, so he simply let them follow.

Now, everyone had gathered here for a meeting, preparing to set off together for Longyao City.

The only problem was…

“What should we do?”

Chi Qian posed this question.

It was important to note that the distance between Tianfeng City and Longyao City was not short.

Even without considering the obstacles encountered in the dangerous wilderness areas, it would take nearly a month to travel from Tianfeng City to Longyao City.

Factoring in the potential dangers in the wilderness, they would have to take even more detours, making it impossible to reach the city in less than two or three months.

By the time they arrived after such a long journey, it would be far too late.

Su Ming could enter a state of Demonization and fly directly there, or use Dawn Star Orbit for near-light-speed movement, which might take less time. However, even if Su Ming went without rest, he wouldn’t be able to reach Longyao City in a short period. Even if he did, he would likely be physically and mentally exhausted, rendering him incapable of achieving anything.

Thus, the most pressing issue at the moment was solving the problem of travel.

Xu Xiayan had clearly already thought of a solution.

“The Wang Family recently needed to transport a batch of important resources to another Base City, so they applied to the Tianfeng City management for the use of an alchemical airship,” Xu Xiayan explained. “Although it’s only a small one, by using the alchemical airship—the Ark—we can reach Longyao City in just a few days and nights.”

The implication of Xu Xiayan’s words was that she intended to privately use the alchemical airship requisitioned by the Wang Family, even if it meant facing punishment. For now, she couldn’t afford to worry about that.

“Can’t we go any faster?”

Su Ming was not entirely satisfied with this speed.Several days and nights—that was still a long time, far too lengthy for the current situation where every second counted.

Yet this was the fastest mode of travel Xu Xiayan could arrange.

“Small alchemical airships only move at this speed. If you want to reach Longyao City in a short time, you’d need a large alchemical airship,” Xu Xiayan explained. “Large alchemical airships have much greater propulsion than small ones. At full speed, they could probably reach Longyao City within today.”

“Then let’s use a large alchemical airship!” An Zijin urged immediately. “That way, we can get to Longyao City as soon as possible, right?”

Before Xu Xiayan could respond, Wang Di, who was standing nearby, spoke up.

“Alchemical airships are strategic-level transportation. Even in Tianfeng City, there are fewer than thirty of them, all under the control of the Base City’s management. Even a Super Family like the Wang Family can’t borrow one without urgent reasons, necessary obligations, and approved applications.”

“That’s already the case for the small models. The three large models are treated as the Base City’s treasures. No family or faction can borrow them without permission from the Base City’s management.”

“This small model was only allocated to our Wang Family this morning after our application was approved. Otherwise, we wouldn’t even have access to a small Ark.”

Wang Di’s explanation made it clear to An Zijin that this was the best option available under the circumstances—and it had required bending some rules to achieve.

“This time, we’re also making unauthorized use of it, taking the Ark directly before the Family has fully prepared,” Wang Qian added. “Once this is over, we’ll definitely face punishment from the Family, and possibly even from the Professional Center and the upper management.” The cost won’t be small.”

Even so, Wang Di, Wang Qian, and the others had still come with Xu Xiayan.

Clearly, they had all decided to share the punishment with her.

The full-scale mobilization of 『Sin』 meant that after arriving in Longyao City, they might confront the entire underground Professional force of 『Sin』.

This was undoubtedly an extremely dangerous situation. In the blink of an eye, they could lose their lives.

Not to mention the Li Brothers, who were both Seven-Star Professionals, or Li Qingqing, that madwoman wielding a Divine Artifact—even among the ten elite Six-Star Professionals within the 『Ten Demons』, each was no weaker than Xu Xiayan, and some were even far stronger.

For Xu Xiayan to charge in like this was practically no different from seeking death.

But since Xu Xiayan had decided to go, as members of 『Summer Chasing Smoke』, they had to accompany her on this journey.

They couldn’t just let their Commander go to her death alone, could they?

Since they couldn’t persuade her to stay, the only option was to risk their lives alongside her.

If they survived this ordeal, they would face the punishment together, bear the judgment as one.

If they didn’t make it through, no amount of talk would change anything.

Besides…”The events in Longyao City have already spread like wildfire within our circle. We are well aware of the consequences after it was overrun by 『Sin』.” Wang Di said with a bitter smile. “If that terrifying entity sealed away for a thousand years were to be released, all of humanity would suffer. Naturally, we cannot stand idly by. Like you, we want to reach Longyao City as soon as possible.”

Upon hearing Wang Di’s words, Bai Xuefei, Bai Ruxiang, and Bai Xiaoyan, who stood nearby, bit their lips.

Whenever they thought of the situation in Longyao City and the Bai Family still there, all three felt an overwhelming urge to cry.

Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan even turned their gaze toward Su Ming, their eyes filled with pleading and hope, as if expecting him to turn the tide once again, just as he had before, and thwart the schemes of 『Sin』.

But at this point, what more could Su Ming do?

The only thing he could do now was not waste any time and hurry to Longyao City as quickly as possible.

“A large alchemical airship, is it?”

Su Ming took a deep breath and pulled out his Terminal from his pocket.

“I’ll try asking Old Ling for help.”

Among the people Su Ming knew, Old Ling was the most likely to help him secure a large alchemical airship for transportation.

For the sake of Longyao City, Su Ming had no choice but to ask for a favor.

But just as Su Ming was about to dial Old Ling’s number, he suddenly sensed something and looked up.

“What’s wrong?”

Everyone present was taken aback.

Before they could react, a voice rang out from mid-air.

“You cannot go.”

Accompanied by this weathered yet robust voice brimming with Origin Qi, everyone was startled and immediately looked up toward the sky.

The next second, a figure descended rapidly from above and landed with a thunderous crash right in front of them.

“Boom—!”

With a resounding impact, the ground of the square shattered beneath the figure’s feet, and a shockwave swept outward like a hurricane.

“What!?”

Xu Xiayan, Chi Qian, An Zijin, and the others were shocked and forced back by the shockwave, retreating a considerable distance.

The surrounding pedestrians panicked at the sudden commotion.

“Wh-what’s happening!?”

“Is something wrong!?”

“Are Professionals causing trouble?”

“Run!”

Panic-stricken, people began fleeing in all directions.

Before long, everyone in the square had either run or fled, leaving only Su Ming and his group behind.

Among all those present, only Su Ming remained standing in place, completely unfazed by the sudden disturbance.

Even the hurricane-like shockwave, when it reached Su Ming, was inexplicably parted by an invisible force, sweeping past him without so much as making him blink. His composure was unnaturally calm.

“Oh?”

A surprised voice immediately sounded.

“Not bad, kid. It seems you’ve made significant progress lately. Good, at least you haven’t wasted all those precious resources.”

The surprised voice now carried a hint of approval, and the one responsible for all this emerged from the turbulence, coming into everyone’s view.

Who else could it be but Old Ling?

“Who is he?”

An Zijin, Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, Bai Xuefei, Bai Ruxiang, Bai Xiaoyan, and the others were bewildered.

As newcomers to Tianfeng City, they had no idea who the newcomer was.

“It’s him…!?”Chi Qian, Xu Xiayan, Wang Di, Wang Qian, and the others all changed their expressions.

As individuals who had lived and operated in Tianfeng City for many years, even if they had never met Old Ling in person, they had heard and read about the deeds of this legendary figure and seen his photographs.

This was information that could easily be found with a simple search on the official website.

Yet, precisely because of this, Chi Qian and the others found it hard to believe, seemingly unable to accept that this legendary figure had appeared here, right before their eyes.

Only Su Ming remained completely calm.

“I need a large alchemical airship.”

Su Ming looked directly at Old Ling and stated his demand without hesitation.

“No.”

Old Ling was equally straightforward, outright rejecting Su Ming.

“Give me a reason.”

Su Ming’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had already anticipated the reason.

Sure enough…

“It’s too dangerous. You can’t go.”

Old Ling succinctly explained everything.

This matter was indeed no trivial affair.

The threat of Sin was secondary.

What was truly feared was that those despicable Underground Professionals had already committed irreparable mistakes.

Old Ling had to prepare for the worst-case scenario and leave some contingencies in place.

Su Ming, as his successor and the future Guardian Deity of humanity, had to stay behind as a precaution.

But…

“What if I refuse to listen?”

Su Ming made it clear that he had no intention of obeying.

Old Ling sighed.

Then, an astonishing Aura erupted.

“Then I’ll beat you until you do.”

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(End of Chapter)