Above the ruins of the research institute, the scorched earth still emitted hot white smoke.
The air was filled with the pungent smell of burning.
Ji Tianxing's combat suit, in the aftermath of the explosion, glowed with a cold metallic light.
He looked at the place he had personally razed, his face showing undisguised satisfaction and arrogance.
Mission accomplished!
He had not only "saved" this world from a potential biochemical crisis.
More importantly, he had completely cut off any possibility of that bastard Lu Cheng "resurrecting" in any form!
"Resurrection? Doomsday?"
"Dream on!"
Ji Ling had also arrived, standing quietly not far away, expressionless, waiting for him like a statue.
"Ji Ling, you did very well."
Ji Tianxing walked to her side, his tone carrying the praise and condescension of a superior towards a subordinate.
He extended his palm and heavily patted Ji Ling's shoulder... "You have proven your worth, and you have proven your loyalty."
"Now, take me to Lu Cheng's corpse."
Greed flickered in his eyes.
"I want to confirm his death with my own eyes."
"Then... recover all the valuable secrets on him!"
For Lu Cheng to go from a pampered young master to this point, he must have harbored an enormous secret.
As long as he obtained that secret, Ji Tianxing would truly be able to reign over this era!
"Yes, Father."
Ji Ling nodded slightly, her voice still so flat and devoid of emotion.
She took stable and precise steps, beginning to "lead the way" in front.
But through the mysterious [Soul Link], Lu Cheng, from a distance, could clearly feel that deep in her soul, an excited "tremble" was stirring due to the impending betrayal.
That was not fear.
It was anticipation of a new beginning... From the ruins of the research institute to the abandoned factory where "Lu Cheng's corpse" was hidden, there was still a considerable distance.
The night wind blew, and Ji Tianxing was in an excellent mood.
He even, for the first time, began to "plan the future" for the "tool" beside him.
"Once I've taken over everything of Lu Cheng's, we won't need to hide like this anymore."
"Even in Dragon Country!"
His voice held aspirations for the future and confidence in controlling everything.
"I will use Lu Cheng's secrets, combined with my technology, to build an unprecedented technological empire!"
"And you will be the sharpest sword of my empire, my only weapon!"
He seemed to feel that this "pie" wasn't round enough, so he added another sentence.
"I looked at the data for those women around Lu Cheng; their looks are still quite acceptable."
"By then, I can capture them all."
"Reward them to you as... maids."
In his view, this was the ultimate glory for his most perfect creation.
However, what answered him was only Ji Ling's silent back.
She said nothing, simply leading the way in front.
This absolute silence, in Ji Tianxing's eyes, was perfectly normal.
A weapon only needs to obey its master's commands.
Why would it need any superfluous emotions or responses?
He completely failed to notice that, as he described that "beautiful future," Ji Ling's steps faltered for a fleeting moment.
The pause was so quick it was almost imperceptible.
But for a "weapon" prepared to execute the most precise assassination, it represented a final confirmation.
Confirmation that her "master" was beyond saving.
Confirmation that her "new master" was worthy of her giving everything... Soon, the two arrived at a large abandoned factory.
Ji Ling led Ji Tianxing through the overgrown factory grounds and finally entered the central, vast and empty production workshop.
"Father, according to my intelligence analysis, this is the safest hiding spot."
Ji Ling stopped and turned to report.
"I hid his corpse here."
Ji Tianxing looked around.
The workshop was empty, with only rusty broken machinery; the air was filled with the smell of dust and rust.
Let alone a corpse.
There wasn't even a trace of blood here, it was almost too clean.
His vigilance, at this moment, instantly rose to his throat.
An ominous premonition grew wildly in his heart.
"Where is the corpse?"
His voice became sharp and wary.
"P2, where is the corpse?!"
The answer came not from Ji Ling.
But from—
"Boom—!!!"
A loud bang!
All the massive alloy gates at the front, back, left, and right of the workshop slammed down simultaneously from above, completely sealing all exits!
Immediately after, with a "snap."
All the lights in the workshop went out.
The world plunged into absolute darkness and silence.
The next second.
A blinding spotlight suddenly shone down from the high ceiling.
The beam of light precisely illuminated the other end of the workshop.
There, at some unknown point, a sofa had been placed?
On the sofa, a woman in a black, tight-fitting combat suit, with a graceful figure, was leaning lazily.
In her hand, she was playing with a silver metal Rubik's Cube that constantly changed shape.
Hearing the movement, she slowly raised her head, revealing a beautiful face that was seven or eight parts similar to Ji Ling's, but more enchanting and more vibrant.
She looked at Ji Tianxing, who was plunged into darkness and isolation, a smirk of undisguised mockery on her lips, and even a hint of... pity in her eyes.
"Long time no see."
Her voice was clear and pleasant.
"My dear... Father."
"Ji Yao!!"
Ji Tianxing's pupils contracted violently, and he cried out in surprise.
"You traitor! How are you here?!"
He understood instantly!
This was a trap!
He abruptly turned his head, his furious gaze fixed on Ji Ling behind him.
"Ji Ling! You—!"
His words were left unfinished.
Because Ji Ling, who had been standing silently behind him like a shadow, moved.
Her arm "clicked" in an instant, transforming into a sharp blade glinting with a chilling cold light!
The blade, at an angle Ji Tianxing absolutely could not have anticipated, fiercely stabbed towards the energy core of his combat suit on his back!
That was the most precise and the only "theoretical weakness" of the entire combat suit!
It was the only flaw Ji Ling had finally deduced through days of close observation and billions of data analyses!
"Swoosh—!"
Ji Tianxing erupted with his full potential at the moment of life and death, twisting his body to the extreme in a hurry, barely avoiding a fatal blow to a vital spot!
But the sharp blade still fiercely cut through the sturdy armor, bringing with it a string of dazzling electrical sparks and splashing blood!
Intense pain struck!
And almost at the same time, Ji Yao, on the other side, also moved!
The metal Rubik's Cube in her hand "clicked," instantly disassembling and reassembling into a futuristic-looking pistol!
This was a weapon Ji Yao had made herself, based on her research of Ji Tianxing's belongings!
"Bang!"
A single bullet sealed all of Ji Tianxing's escape routes!
"Father."
Ji Yao stood up and walked towards him step by step, a cold smile on her face.
"Your biggest mistake is that you never learned to respect your creations."
"You stripped me of my emotions."
Ji Ling's voice, for the first time, carried a tone other than coldness—it was a sense of... liberation.
"But... he gave me a 'heart'."
"So, I choose him."
Ji Tianxing, caught between the combined attacks of his two most perfect creations, found himself in an unprecedented predicament.
He roared in anger, attempting to activate all functions of his armor to retaliate.
But the cooperation between the two sisters was seamless.
One attacked, every move deadly.
The other provided support, every shot locking down his movement space.
Leaving him scrambling and in a sorry state!
Just then.
In the control room at the highest point of the workshop.
The lights "snapped" on.
In the soft light, a figure leaned leisurely on the railing.
He looked down from above at this brilliant "family drama," a gentle smile on his face, as if he were enjoying a top-tier opera.
Lu Cheng looked at Ji Tianxing below, his armor shattered and bloodied, the smile on his lips growing wider.
He slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly echoing throughout the sealed workshop.
His tone was even as gentle as if he were greeting an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.
"Good evening, Mr. Ji Tianxing."
"Do you like this welcoming ceremony I prepared for you?"
Lu Cheng's gaze swept over the two women, a hint of mischievous playfulness in his smile.
"Your two daughters..."
"They... missed you very much."