The chandelier swayed.
The light and shadows in the room swayed with it, making one feel disoriented.
The sound of Wang Chuqing's cup falling and shattering on the floor was completely drowned out by the violent shaking of the house.
Papers flew chaotically in the study, fluttering in mid-air.
The papers spun and landed on Chu Tianhong's face, which was covered in sticky blood.
Behind the blood, Chu Tianhong's eyes were wide open.
His eyeballs protruded.
Fear flooded his eyes, then spread across his entire face.
Chu Tianhong's body trembled uncontrollably.
His skin also trembled violently under the immense terror.
At that moment, Chu Tianhong felt Death whispering and mocking in his ear.
An unprecedented sense of crisis made every pore on Chu Tianhong's body shiver.
He was a Church official who commanded one-sixth of the military power.
He was a candidate for the future Pope of the Church.
He was also the Dean of a college directly under the Church.
He prided himself on having seen too much of the world to be easily flustered.
But at this time, in this place, at this very moment.
Chu Tianhong was afraid.
Fear was like an invisible needle, fiercely plunged into his heart.
Lu Ming's headless body swayed and fell to the ground.
But Chu Tianhong's gaze was still fixed in the direction where Lu Ming's head had been.
Looking along the path where Lu Ming's head had been pierced.
The thick wall, the tree canopy outside, the lamppost by the road, the distant rockery, the landmark building of Lan City...
That penetrating force just now came from several kilometers away.
And along this several-kilometer path.
All obstacles had been pierced through, leaving a basketball-sized black hole.
To Chu Tianhong at this moment, it was as if this was a bottomless black hole.
At this end of the black hole, what was pierced was not only Lu Ming's head.
But also Chu Tianhong's psychological defense!
And at the source of the black hole.
An old man stood with his hands behind his back.
He merely spoke eight words softly, eight words that came from afar, like thunder exploding in Chu Tianhong's ears.
"Apologize in person! Don't let it happen again!"
After speaking.
The old man and the boy disappeared.
Chu Tianhong, hunched over and standing behind his desk, still had bulging eyes, his terror undiminished, and slowly supported himself on the desk with both hands.
Looking at Lu Ming's headless corpse on the ground, Chu Tianhong's mouth was open, air pouring into his mouth and lungs, but Chu Tianhong still felt like he couldn't breathe.
The old man's overbearing and supreme terrifying pressure lingered in Chu Tianhong's heart, refusing to dissipate.
Chu Tianhong reached out and tugged at the buttons on his collar, but his breathing didn't improve much.
He reached back to find the armrest of a chair, fumbling for a long time without finding it. Chu Tianhong's mind was blank, but his body subconsciously sat down, only to find himself sitting on air. He scrambled to grab the chair and stood up, then sat down on the chair.
Chu Tianhong's body trembled uncontrollably.
On the other side, Wang Chuqing's face was pale, devoid of color, and she collapsed onto the sofa. Under immense terror, all her former noble demeanor, cultivated from a life of privilege, was gone.
Urgent footsteps came from outside the door, and guards swarmed up from downstairs.
Chu Xinyao's voice was also mixed in.
Chu Xinyao, in her pajamas with wet hair, rushed into the study.
"Dad! Mom! What happened?"
After seeing Lu Ming's corpse on the ground, Chu Xinyao was even more shocked. She recognized the body as Lu Ming by his clothes, and Lu Ming was a peak Level 11 fighter. To have his head smashed in, the opponent must be incredibly terrifying.
The guards who streamed in were all terrified to see that Lu Ming was dead. If someone of Lu Ming's level could die, they would be like little cabbages, easily killed. What kind of Dean Chu were they protecting? The enemy was so strong, they couldn't even protect themselves. What were they risking their lives for with that meager monthly salary?
Chu Tianhong regained his composure, forcing himself to calm down, and said to the people below, "The other party is from the Eternal Night Army! They came to give me a warning! They've already left! Deal with the body! Get ready, we'll return to the Church headquarters tomorrow! Alright, it's nothing, everyone can leave!"
Although he said this, everyone clearly saw Chu Tianhong's hands trembling. Chu Tianhong also realized this and quickly clasped his hands together, forcing himself not to be so afraid.
The people below cleaned up the body.
Chu Xinyao still wanted to say something, but Chu Tianhong waved his hand and said, "Xinyao, it's nothing, you go back to your room first! Zhao Shan, stay!"
Looking at her father, Chu Xinyao hesitated for a moment, but ultimately returned to her bedroom.
The strongest guard who remained stood respectfully in the study, "What is it, Dean?"
Chu Tianhong pointed at the path that had been pierced for several kilometers, "You take people to deal with this. Get it done before dawn, don't let anyone discover any clues."
Zhao Shan turned around and saw this scene, his eyes widening in shock. He then turned back to look in the direction where Lu Ming's body had been and immediately realized that someone had smashed Lu Ming's head from several kilometers away.
Licking his lips, Zhao Shan steeled himself, closed the door, and left the study.
Chu Tianhong picked up the water glass on the desk and took a sip.
Looking at the lingering bloodstains on the ground, he felt lingering fear.
He never expected that even after stopping that Bai Mao Zai, another unexpected problem would arise, resulting in so many casualties. Such a major incident would be hard to explain to the Pope.
Wang Chuqing finally managed to speak, her voice still trembling, "Old Chu, who was that just now?"
Chu Tianhong turned around, a few words squeezed from his throat.
"Fang Qingdi, the former head of the Four Great Divine Generals of the Divine Court!"
Wang Chuqing seemed to remember something, "Is...is it him? He's still alive?"
Chu Tianhong rested his elbows on the desk, clasped his hands, and leaned his head on them, contemplating his current predicament.
Wang Chuqing stood up, "Old Chu, why wait until tomorrow? Let's leave today! Go back to the Church headquarters!"
Chu Tianhong shook his head, "I still have to go to Fang Xin's house tomorrow!"
"Go to his house? Are you crazy? What for?"
"To apologize in person!"
Wang Chuqing's lips moved, "How about...how about telling the Pope about this?"
Chu Tianhong glanced at Wang Chuqing, "If His Holiness the Pope knew that I provoked Fang Qingdi by trying to kill Fang Xin, he would definitely be furious. My candidacy would be stripped! And I might even have to step down as Dean!"
"Is the Pope afraid of Fang Qingdi?" Wang Chuqing questioned.
Chu Tianhong wiped the blood from his face, "It's not fear, it's trouble. The person behind the Ninth Division might still adhere to rules, taking a step-by-step, slow-cooked approach, but this Fang Qingdi doesn't care about all that. Back then, whether it was the Bright Army or the Eternal Night Army, he had sworn brothers in both.
Although Fang Qingdi's defection in battle back then hurt many people's hearts, there were still a few who firmly believed in him. Those few now hold significant military power. If Fang Qingdi truly went berserk, as long as he raised his arm and called out, his old brothers would definitely launch a mutiny!
If these few mutinied, others who have long been restless and eager to turn against the Church would certainly respond. His Holiness the Pope now only demands one thing: stability! He will not tolerate any problems from anyone!
That Bai Mao Zai's violent actions a few days ago already made His Holiness the Pope very angry. I don't want to add fuel to the fire!"
Wang Chuqing's mouth opened and closed, but she didn't dare to comment rashly.
Chu Tianhong wiped most of the blood and brain matter from his face, "If Xinyao still wants to get too close to Fang Xin in the future, let her!"
Hearing this, Wang Chuqing immediately stood up, "Chu Tianhong, although Xinyao didn't come from my womb, she is still our biological daughter! You're letting her be with Fang Qingdi's grandson? Isn't that pushing her into a fire pit?"
Chu Tianhong leaned back in his chair, "The current situation is turbulent, with too many unforeseen changes. If they truly become a couple, this could also be considered a marriage alliance."
"With Fang Qingdi's grandson? Are you crazy?"
Chu Tianhong stared into the air, "Fang Xin is not only Fang Qingdi's grandson, he is also someone the Ninth Division is vigorously protecting. Moreover, Fang Xin's mother's surname is Ye, and the person behind the Ninth Division also has the surname Ye. Do you think this is a coincidence?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Chuqing couldn't help but be stunned.
Fang Xin obediently followed behind Fang Qingdi.