Chapter Sixty-Nine: A Belated Apology

Xie Liu pulled Angela quietly toward the faint, yellow glow in the distance. Though the light seemed near, the two walked for over ten minutes before they drew close. As they approached, Xie Liu abruptly pressed Angela’s head down, and together they crouched in the thick undergrowth.

“Shh, not a sound! We almost got caught,” Xie Liu whispered, instantly recognizing the two figures beneath the lamplight. He motioned Angela to stay silent.

Ace turned his head, sensing something, but just as he did, Xie Liu pulled Angela down with him, hiding them both. Ace frowned, drew the standard-issue long knife of the Special Alliance’s commando unit from his belt, and strode toward Xie Liu’s direction.

“We’re doomed!” Xie Liu screamed silently. He knew better than anyone how terrifying this man was. With only Angela at his side, a fight was impossible. “Why is this guy here?” Xie Liu clutched his head, daring not to make the slightest noise.

In this tense moment, Xie Liu glanced at Angela. She seemed unaware of the danger, still trying to peer out for a better look. Alarmed, Xie Liu yanked her back and pressed her tightly to his chest. “Shh!” He held her fast, and Angela nearly let out a shriek—Xie Liu hurried to suppress it.

Angela’s eyes flickered with panic; she nodded faintly, and both held their breath. The night was silent, and Xie Liu could hear Ace’s footsteps crunching ever closer.

“God help us, God help us, God help us!” Xie Liu prayed inwardly as the footsteps drew near, leaves crunching underfoot. Angela finally sensed the panic, clinging desperately to Xie Liu, her wide eyes fixed in terror on his face.

Time dragged on as if the air itself had frozen. All sound seemed to vanish, even the insects fell silent. It was a despairing quiet—Xie Liu had no idea if they would be discovered. Ace was close enough to touch; Xie Liu lacked the strength to fight.

“Crack!” A branch snapped under Ace’s boot, and Xie Liu felt his heart skip a beat. Angela trembled violently in his arms. Had he not been holding her so tightly, she might have screamed from the pressure.

Ace paused before the thicket, leaning forward to peer ahead but seeing nothing.

Xie Liu and Angela huddled together beneath the undergrowth, directly below Ace. Only a layer of leaves separated them, and they could almost feel Ace’s breath.

Angela buried her face in Xie Liu’s chest, her small hands gripping his shoulders so tightly he thought she might break them. Still, Xie Liu dared not make a sound. Angela trembled like a frightened rabbit in his arms. Xie Liu held her close, stifling her shallow breaths, not letting even the faintest trace escape.

Ace continued scanning the area. Seconds felt like centuries.

Suddenly, Ace moved!

A flash of his knife—Xie Liu thought he’d been discovered and nearly cried out. But after a faint squeal, a squirrel, sliced in two, tumbled down before them, dead.

Xie Liu nearly lost his composure; the unfortunate creature landed less than a meter from him. He stared at the scene, biting his lip to hold back any noise or heavy breaths.

“So it was just a squirrel,” Ace murmured. Xie Liu glared at the dead animal, his oxygen-deprived brain swimming between red and black.

Everything happened so suddenly; he hadn’t prepared to hold his breath. Angela could still breathe in his arms, but he couldn’t. Even the slightest change in his breathing might expose them to Ace.

Xie Liu clenched his jaw, his vision darkening, feeling as if he were tossed about in a small boat amid a storm, the world rocking before his eyes.

Ace looked at the squirrel on the ground. “Am I being too cautious?” he muttered, a self-deprecating smile on his lips. Xie Liu’s eyes bulged, tears streaming uncontrollably. Just as he was about to lose control, another voice spoke. “Do I really have to do this?”

“Phew!” Feeling Ace withdraw, Xie Liu exhaled and greedily gulped air, his trembling hands covering his mouth and nose so his gasps wouldn’t disturb the air. He shivered as he breathed.

Angela raised her head from his chest, biting his jacket, tears streaming from her eyes—yet she had made not a sound in the final moment.

Both their bodies trembled, huddled together in the darkness, clutching life back from the edge of death.

“I don’t want to do this, I really don’t,” the second man cried out. Once calmed, Xie Liu listened closely, catching the words, “Serpent Fang, this is your own choice. Didn’t you want revenge? This is your only chance.”

“But, but…” Serpent Fang hesitated. Xie Liu frowned, “Serpent Fang? Why is he here, and why is he mingling with the Special Alliance?”

“What’s there to hesitate about? You’ve seen it yourself, those psychics are beyond your reach. You want revenge, but it’s impossible,” Ace sneered. “Now is your only opportunity, your only chance for vengeance. Think of your comrades, your past—can you stand to see those psychics mocking you from atop their bodies?”

“No! No! I can’t accept it, but I… I can’t… I can’t do this!”

“You’re powerless, just unlucky—Heaven didn’t grant you a special ability. Why should those psychics stand above you? Is it just because Heaven gave them more? Are you content?” Ace pressed on. “Remember those days you were bullied, those times you were looked down upon—can you not hate?”

“Hate? Of course I hate! Why should they have power, why should they live better than us, why should they trample us? I hate them, I hate all psychics, I wish I could kill them all.”

Hidden, Xie Liu pursed his lips. Angela stirred in his arms, still biting his coat, her tear-filled eyes shaking her head at him.

Clearly, she’d heard their conversation, and couldn’t accept Serpent Fang’s view. Xie Liu smiled gently, stroking Angela’s soft hair, showing his agreement.

Still, they couldn’t step out and argue—that would be suicide. They remained motionless, eavesdropping on the exchange.

But…

Wait!

What was that soft sensation pressing against his chest?

Xie Liu suddenly realized something was odd—the tension had made him overlook it! He swallowed nervously, but Angela seemed oblivious, still focused on the conversation outside.

“If you hate them, why don’t you accept this power?” Ace’s cold voice coaxed. “This power isn’t Heaven’s gift, it’s earned through effort, unlike the psychics.”

“But will I… will I die?” Serpent Fang whispered. Ace paused, then answered, “We don’t know. If you use it, you might die, but you’ll gain the power for revenge. If you don’t, you’ll live, but always in the shadow of psychic power. The choice is yours.”

Serpent Fang fell silent. Xie Liu longed to peer out and see what was happening, but reason stopped him. After a while, Ace said nothing more—Serpent Fang was still struggling, and Ace patiently waited.

A thunderous roar echoed from afar. Ace spoke up, “A7 is dead? There’s someone that strong?” Then he addressed Serpent Fang again, “I’m heading to the battlefield. You decide for yourself.” With that, Xie Liu heard Ace depart.

“He’s gone?” Xie Liu finally relaxed. Seeing Ace’s silhouette vanish into the sky, he released Angela. The girl was still shaken, nearly collapsing—Xie Liu gently steadied her, helping her to stand, and together they gazed ahead.

Serpent Fang, dressed in tattered clothes, knelt quietly before a dim lantern, head bowed in contemplation. In his hand, he held a gleaming, scale-like object.

“Who’s there!” Serpent Fang snapped his head up, his face changing as he recognized Xie Liu. “It’s you!” He remembered—the night his base was overrun, this man had stood beside the Rose Swordmaiden. “Stay back!” he shouted, rising and stepping away.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid! We mean no harm,” Xie Liu raised his hands in a gesture of peace. “I truly mean no harm.”

Serpent Fang was clearly wary, keeping his distance. Xie Liu, hands raised, met his agitated gaze and shook his head. “I’m not here to capture you. I’m here to help.” He slowly unbuckled his knife, dropped it to the ground, and tossed away two Desert Eagle pistols as well. “Do you trust me now?”

Serpent Fang was surprised—he hadn’t expected Xie Liu to discard his weapons. “Will you listen to me?” Xie Liu asked.

“What is there to say?” Serpent Fang clutched the object in his arms, eyes fixed nervously on Xie Liu. Xie Liu spoke gently, “I know you’re scared—yes, really scared, but it’s alright.”

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of; everyone gets scared. It’s normal, no need to worry.” Xie Liu kept his hands raised, speaking softly.

“But you can’t let fear cloud your judgment,” he continued, stepping forward as Serpent Fang retreated, always keeping the distance.

“What’s left to think about? There’s nothing! It’s all your fault, all of you!” Serpent Fang’s emotions were unstable. Xie Liu hastily replied, “No, no! There’s always something—think carefully. You’re special. You can’t let a moment’s impulse decide your future.”

“Please, calm down, alright?” Facing this volatile man, Xie Liu avoided provoking him. “Consider this—now you’re cooperating with the Special Alliance. Even if their intentions are true, doesn’t this path betray your original beliefs?”

“As long as I can defeat you psychics, nothing else matters,” Serpent Fang’s voice grew hoarse as he raised the shining scale. “This, the ‘External Armor’ developed by the Special Alliance—once implanted, I’ll be powerful, just like a psychic, no, not the same. My power isn’t Heaven’s gift. I’m different from you.”

“No, it’s not like that,” Xie Liu pleaded, cautious. “That’s not what you really want. Power isn’t what people truly seek. Don’t let these things blind you—even if you gain it, nothing changes. Really, believe me!”

“Please, please, think carefully—what do you cherish? What do you want? Is it complaint? Is it revenge? Why can’t you see? Right now, at the turning point of destiny, who comes to your mind?”

Serpent Fang paused, perhaps moved by Xie Liu’s words, his expression softening. Xie Liu grinned, “Ah, Aili—that’s her name, isn’t it?”

“Sakura, yes, her name is Sakura,” Serpent Fang corrected suddenly.

Xie Liu’s face lit up with delight. “Oh, Sakura—a lovely name. Then think more about her—her smile, all she meant to you.”

He opened his arms, smiling. “Recall those days together—ah, you haven’t confessed yet, have you? You should hurry and tell her.”

“She’s already dead. Last night, killed by you people,” Serpent Fang said coldly. Xie Liu’s smile froze.

He slapped himself and muttered, “I shouldn’t have said too much.”

“But you still should…” Xie Liu raised his voice, still trying to persuade, but seeing Serpent Fang’s cold smirk, he shrugged helplessly and gestured, “Do as you like, whatever makes you happy.” He turned away.

Serpent Fang glared at Xie Liu’s back. Not long after, Xie Liu spun around again.

This time, Xie Liu pointed at Serpent Fang, mouth open as if to speak, but at last, unable to find the words, he cursed, “You coward! That’s right, you’re a coward!”

Serpent Fang was taken aback.

“Use it! Go on! Show me your resolve—use it!” Xie Liu shouted. “Then try to kill us all! Then see if fists alone can solve anything!”

Serpent Fang, stunned, laughed bitterly. “So you finally lost your temper? You’re nothing but a hypocrite.”

“Hypocrite?” Xie Liu shook his head. “I’m trying to help you! Why can’t you see?”

“I don’t need your help!” Serpent Fang raised the scale, ready to plunge it into his body. “I only trust myself.”

“When we joined the organization, we pledged to burn for the powerless, leaving no blood, no bones, not even dust behind.” Serpent Fang seemed to find his resolve—the scale poised to pierce his flesh.

“Don’t!” Angela cried out as Serpent Fang’s hand fell, the scale about to stab his arm!

“I’m powerless too!”

At the last moment, Xie Liu shouted, Serpent Fang froze, the scale hovering above his arm.

He stared at Xie Liu in surprise. “What did you say?”

“I said, I’m powerless too—or at least, I was,” Xie Liu hurried, fearing another slip. “I understand how you feel—the pain of being looked down upon. When I awakened, they told me I had no ability, and the researchers wouldn’t even meet my eyes.”

His face grew sorrowful. “Even though I’m now among the psychics, I still understand your feelings.”

“I’ve seen that despair—hoping, only to be disappointed, watching others flaunt their powers while I hid in the shadows, mourning alone,” Xie Liu cried.

“I know, I know—we step out, telling friends we can have power too, striving for even the smallest progress, telling them, only to be mocked.”

“I know—people pointed at me, saying, ‘You’re inferior, just stay that way.’”

“I know what it’s like to be driven from home, to be ignored.”

Xie Liu poured out his emotions, then sighed deeply. “I know it all.”

Serpent Fang stared blankly at Xie Liu’s near-hysterical outburst. Xie Liu stopped, smiled gently at him. “I know—all you wanted was to be acknowledged.”

Serpent Fang’s body shuddered; in the next moment, Xie Liu saw tears in his eyes.

Yes, all their struggles were just for recognition.

“Though I can’t speak for all psychics, I want to say—sorry.” Sorrow filled Xie Liu’s gaze as he extended his hand to Serpent Fang.

Serpent Fang wiped his tears, looking at Xie Liu. “I understand what you’re trying to say. Thank you for understanding us. If only this apology had come sooner…”

He smiled bleakly, and in the next instant, plunged the scale into his arm!

As he said, the apology had come too late—he could no longer choose forgiveness…

“No!” Xie Liu cried, but it was too late. The moment the scale pierced Serpent Fang’s flesh, it seemed to come alive, expanding rapidly and engulfing him.

“Angela, let’s go!” Xie Liu knew nothing he could say would change things now. He didn’t know what this ‘External Armor’ really was, but it certainly wasn’t good.

Angela was still dazed as Xie Liu dragged her away. As they fled, she looked back to see Serpent Fang surrounded by metal shards, which flew from all sides to assemble around him. In moments, he became a steel giant several meters tall—and growing larger by the second!

“The Special Alliance has really created some monstrous thing!” Xie Liu cursed. Suddenly, he saw the cliff ahead split in two and collapse. “What kind of fight is this? This is ridiculous!”

Behind them, the steel giant grew, charging after Xie Liu and Angela.

“Ahhh! Don’t come near!” Xie Liu shouted, dragging Angela as they ran for their lives. Bursting out of the woods, they saw Wendy and Ace locked in battle above. Xie Liu cursed loudly.

“Of all times, you’re still flirting with him! This is a disaster!” He glanced back in fright. “And now, there’s an even bigger one behind us—we’re in trouble!”