Translator: CinderTL
Star City, Tiger Soul Headquarters.
Late at night, the Lord of the Mist stood atop the headquarters building, gazing down at the bustling cityscape below.
Five months had passed since he infiltrated the Nightshadow Clan.
During that time, he had relentlessly stoked the flames of conflict between the clan's various factions, until their internal strife finally reached a boiling point.
In particular, the faction to which his new body belonged could no longer tolerate the current clan leader's faction's imbalanced development policies.
Tonight, they had decided to join forces with another faction to overthrow the ruling clan leader's faction.
A smirk curled his lips as he recalled the righteous indignation on the faces of those conspirators during their earlier meeting.
Emotions, he mused, could be a sharp sword.
This was especially true of the Nightshadow Clan's younger generation, whose emotions were easily manipulated.
They were the primary supporters of this coup against the clan leader's faction.
It was thanks to their assistance that he had been able to so easily divide the Nightshadow Clan's internal forces.
Now the time was ripe. Whether the current clan leader's faction would fall depended on tonight's events.
There was another crucial reason for choosing this particular night.
It was New Year's Eve, a rare day when all researchers at the Tiger Soul Research Institute had gone home to celebrate with their families, leaving the institute virtually deserted.
If he didn't act tonight, any other time would inevitably draw the attention of Tiger Soul staff and researchers, and even the stationed defense forces.
His goal was to destroy the Nightshadow Clan, not the entire Tiger Soul Research Institute.
After pondering for a long time, he pulled out his phone and dialed Feng Qi's number.
After a brief wait, the call connected.
"Feng Qi, wait for my good news."
Without waiting for a reply, he hung up.
He glanced at the brilliant fireworks blooming in the distance, then tucked his phone back into his pocket. Taking a deep breath, he turned and headed toward the stairwell.
Meanwhile, inside the base, the Nightshadow Clan members who had been gathering momentum were already in action.
They stealthily approached the rooms housing members of the clan leader's faction and launched their assassination campaign.
Though technically assassinations, the collective action created a considerable commotion.
The clan leader's faction quickly noticed the attacks and retaliated.
While the residents of Star City were immersed in New Year's festivities, a bloody conflict raged within the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Figures fell continuously in the fighting.
Many experimental instruments were destroyed during the battle, but no one paid them any attention.
The Lord of the Mist's brainwashing had undoubtedly succeeded.
By positioning himself as the advocate for the weaker faction, he had stoked the simmering rage within many members who shared their grievances but lacked the courage to act.
When rage is fully ignited, it demands an outlet.
Two angry, marginalized factions united, raising their blades against the Nightshadow Clan's ruling faction.
As the marginalized members slaughtered their own kin, they fantasized about the glorious future promised by the Lord of the Mistβa future where the current rulers would be overthrown.
The fiercest fighting raged in the core district of the Tiger Soul Research Institute's base.
This area, a small internal plaza, housed the institute's database and served as the residential area for the Nightshadow Clan's ruling faction members.
The Lord of the Mist's figure materialized in the Tiger Soul Core District.
Upon seeing him, the younger generation of Nightshadow Clan members erupted in fanaticism.
They had long resented the status quo, but the older generation had always hesitated to rebel.
The Lord of the Mist's arrival had galvanized them, uniting them to fight for a fair system they would forge with their own hands.
"Kill!" the Lord of the Mist roared, leading the charge.
His followers surged behind him, hacking at the clan leader's faction members.
Green blood flowed across the black, specially forged metal floor.
In the Lord of the Mist's perception, vibrant fireworks bloomed around him, each explosion marking the end of a life.
To him, this was far more magnificent and vibrant than the fireworks currently illuminating Star City.
The intoxicating fragrance that filled his nostrils left him utterly entranced.
The slaughter continued, the battle growing increasingly brutal.
Although the faction loyal to the Nightshadow Clan leader was outnumbered, years of resource investment had given them a decisive advantage over the other two factions.
Initially caught off guard and pushed into retreat, they gradually rallied and launched a counterattack.
The Lord of the Mist cared nothing for which faction ultimately prevailed.
His true desire was for both major factions to be crippled in this conflict.
This would allow him to seize control of the Tiger Soul Research Institute effortlessly, paving the way for the implementation of his Flesh and Blood Sacrifice plan.
The killing continued, lives extinguished in an instant.
But in the Lord of the Mist's eyes, the path to the summit was inherently paved with death.
This arduous road ahead would inevitably be forged from countless corpses and rivers of blood.
The fallen Nightshadow clansmen were merely stepping stones on his ascent to power.
On the other side of the base, Feng Qi finished his day of art magic testing and experiments. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed toward the branch base's main gate.
Just moments ago, he had received a call from the Lord of the Mist.
He understood immediately: the Lord of the Mist had launched his coup.
Yet Feng Qi had no intention of assisting him.
He believed that with the Lord of the Mist's capabilities, even if the plan ultimately failed, he would be able to retreat unscathed.
Feng Qi's presence would not only fail to help the Lord of the Mist but would actually become a liability.
After all, the Lord of the Mist was operating under the guise of a Nightshadow Clan member. Feng Qi's appearance would only put him at a disadvantage.
Lost in thought, he walked out of the base gate.
Heavy snow was falling outside.
Looking back, he saw the once brightly lit base building gradually darkening as the lights went out one by one.
This was a rare holiday for all staff and researchers at the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
On this day, they would all return home for a brief reunion with their families.
Exhaling a puff of white mist, he turned to Lin Ran, who had followed him out:
"Still time to make it home?"
"Plenty of time. A Tiger Soul private jet is waiting for me at the airport," Lin Ran replied with a smile, then added, "Brother Qi, why don't you come celebrate the New Year at my place?"
"No thanks. It's been too long since I've been home. I'm going to visit my family."
Hearing Feng Qi's refusal, Lin Ran opened his mouth to speak but said nothing more.
At that moment, a military vehicle pulled up to Lin Ran.
"See you after the New Year, Brother Qi," Lin Ran said.
"Happy New Year," Feng Qi replied with a smile and a nod.
"Happy New Year."
After Lin Ran boarded the vehicle, Feng Qi watched it drive away.
Unlike Lin Ran, who had a private car and plane for transportation, Feng Qi, as a test subject, clearly didn't enjoy such privileges.
Rubbing his hands together, he stepped out into the heavy snow and began walking eastward.
(End of the Chapter)
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