Shi Lang finished the baptism and floated down to the water surface, the cocoon around him vanished and his body became visible to everyone. His skin had a dim gloss to it as if he was made of jade. His eyes were deeper, and the charm his body emitted was even more irresistible. His temperament seemed to be even more detached from the mortal world.
At this moment, Shi Lang had a layer of misty surrounding him in the eyes of everyone. The young man had let out a huge roar and shaken the hearts of the spectators. He turned around and walked to the shore. OB-One stepped ahead submerged in the water to his waist. He passed on a set of clothes and shoes to Shi Lang.
How can the butler of the house let the master of the house appear in the nude when facing the guests? Shi Lang put on the clothes and said, “Thank you, OB-One.”
The bot bowed and followed Shi Lang out, the people all noticed that this person was walking on the surface of the water and yet he was not wet from any spot. Shi Lang did not care about their thoughts and his eyes fell on the man standing in the distance, shackled from head to toe, he asked in a low voice, “Is he the culprit?”
Nexalia nodded subconsciously, she did not want to tell him directly but some unknown force took control of her mind and influenced her to speak the truth. Shi Lang used a skill from his past life, the truth sayer, as he called it. He manipulated the spirit energy channeling through Nexalia’s mind to make her give him an answer.
Watching the person nod, Shi Lang walked toward Kar-te. He was wearing a black shirt, black pants, and black shoes. It was as if a demon has taken over a human, the aura was so condensed that it was actually materializing around Shi Lang like wisps of smoke..
Shi Lang stood in front of the man. He was taller than Kar-te. Looking down at the man who almost sent him and Amelia to death. Shi Lang was getting angry. He wanted to kill this guy in the most brutal way possible, however, the shred of sanity made him restrained. He asked, “How did you do it?”
Shi Lang’s eyes were flickering with dim golden light, it was a soul reading skill that did not force the target to be brain dead, more like hypnotism, the scared and mentally weak target would utter everything at his/her own discretion.
Kar-te said, “I was aware that you have offended the union of civilizations like the Zergs by your actions. Thus I contacted Jacuuba, the resident representative of the Zerg Civilization, then I supplied him with the patrol route. The ships were arranged by him and the people were also contracted by him. This one-time hit contract is a specialty of the Galactic Assassin organization.”
Shi Lang nodded and asked, “Why did he set up a one-hit contract and not an open contract?”
[0)ᴠʟ “Open contracts are not cheap, also he does not want you to die so easily. He planned on measuring your strength first and then killing you as brutally as possible.”, replied Kar-te.
Shi Lang nodded and cast a gaze to the Empress who had a strong circulation of blood flushing her face. She was embarrassed because what she and her people could not do in weeks, Shi Lang had done in a few moments as soon as he got some clue about it. Shi Lang said, “The trip is over, we have to head back. I will team with a lot of issues to deal with back home before I act against this Jacuuba.”
The people nodded and they all began to discuss the things that happened in the past few days. The departure was very low-key. Shi Lang had told Nexalia to not think too much and the Federation was still an ally of Neomonians.
…
Inside the spaceship, Shi Lang was sitting on the floor meditating, in front of him sat Amelia, she was cultivating, trying to push forward on the path. Shi Lang said, “Slower. You will not be able to provide the spiritual energy needed for your core in the later half of the process at this speed.”
Amelia did not react verbally but her speed calmed down a lot. She was condensing her spiritual core today, the ship was cruising near the moon. Shi Lang had decided to let things move faster. He did not want to experience something like that attack ever again and to make sure of that. Amelia and the rest had to pick up the pace.
After two hours, Amelia shivered. Shi Lang opened his eyes with a smile on his face. He could tell that Amelia has condensed her core. The young man said, “Congratulations on reaching the core condensation realm. How do you feel?”
Amelia shook her head slightly and said, “It feels like I have been reborn.”
Shi Lang chuckled and said, “Miss reborn, do take a shower before you go outside.”
Amelia looked down and found that her body was smeared with an oily substance and it was beginning to stink a bit. She hurriedly ran to the shower and began to wash clean.
Shi Lang also moved out of the room and came to meet General Edward, who was playing a variant of the ancient board game. He said, “General Edwards, can you do me a favor?”
The old man nodded without looking up. Shi lang said, “I want to look after things from the shadows.”
The old man dropped the piece and raised his head. His eyes were wide open, and he said, “Are you kidding me?”
Shi Lang shook his head and said, “Sir, you may not understand but things in the light are not as easy to do as they are in the shadows. As a former secret division soldier, I can tell you that every mission we performed was a success because the people never saw us coming. However, in the light, not only me but even the people around me are exposed. I do not want to put them in danger. You may think of me as a selfish person, and I do not deny that. However, in this one life, how much merit do I have to accumulate before I can live freely? Is that even possible?”
General Edward was aware of the things Shi Lang mentioned, but how could he let go of this monster so easily? He said, “Lang, you are young and it will not be too late for you to look after things from the shadows after you have reached the forties. You will be able to cultivate freely and relax with your family. I implore you on behalf of the first fleet and the federation, do not step down.”
Shi Lang shook his head and said, “If only I had a family left by that time. Today I have made an enemy, tomorrow I will make another enemy, the cycle will keep going if I want the federation to flourish. This cannot be changed, you know it. Do not pursue me for this thing.”
General Edwards and Shi Lang debated with each other intensely for the next couple of hours and they attracted almost everyone on the ship. The subject was quite interesting, while some people hoped for the old man to convince Shi Lang, some were thinking about who would look after things when Shi Lang had stepped down.
There was a small group, that was thinking about what Shi Lang intended to do after he has stepped down from the peak. In the end, Shi Lang was winning the argument, and the old man was almost about to kneel in front of him.
General Edward had decided to give up all the face that he had, after all, if his face was the cost to make Shi Lang stay. Then he might as well do it. He stood up from the chair and looked at Shi Lang with a solemn gaze.
He leaned forward and Shi Lang stopped him by holding his shoulders. The young man was shocked. This proud man was really going to bow to him. Let alone the others even his parents might stop recognizing him for this, he sighed and said, “I will let OB-One manage things in the first fleet and I will act in the shadows. I will not be bound by the chair. If there comes a situation where I am needed to step in, I will come and do what is needed to be done. Is that okay with you?”
General Edward thought about it and it was basically having Shi Lang do twice the work with a single salary. He nodded and said, “I agree. You can do what you wish.”
Shi Lang cursed, and said, “You are a cunning fox, old man.”