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Jiang Wei felt the temperature from his palm, along with the confidence in his words, and the worry in her eyes instantly melted away like snow, replaced by pure curiosity.

She tilted her head and asked, "So what are you thinking?"

Fang Qingyu withdrew his hand, his gaze once again directed at the distant, dimly lit core area, his brows furrowing slightly once more.

The starry eyes sparkled with a light of deep thought:

"I was just thinking..." he paused, organizing his words, "If I were that old commander, holding the Invincible Technique, a trump card powerful enough to shake the entire Federation, why would I wait decades? Why not offer up the Invincible Technique sooner to seek federal assistance?"

"The Federation would certainly spare no cost, deploying unimaginable resources and top combat forces to rescue Chen Wudi, possibly even sweeping away the Celestial Punishment Association directly!"

"Isn’t that more effective and safe than bitterly enduring for decades in the Desolate Bone Corps, finally relying on people like us?"

Fang Qingyu’s voice grew somber, carrying a deep suspicion: "This logic... doesn’t make sense. It feels... very off."

Jiang Wei listened and fell silent as well.

The ripples of contemplation also appeared in her crimson eyes.

It truly didn’t fit common sense.

That commander, is he really so filial, wanting to save his father Chen Wudi, and not asking for the Invincible Technique!?

Such a filial son might exist.

But almost never in the City of Injustice.

"They’re indeed odd,"

Jiang Wei slowly said, affirming Fang Qingyu’s suspicion.

"However..." she changed her tone, speaking confidently, "After watching the combat footage Chen Wudi left back then, he indeed possessed the Invincible Technique."

Fang Qingyu nodded: "I believe that."

It was because he confirmed the authenticity of the Invincible Technique that he dared to take the risk.

However, relying solely on speculation was clearly unable to unravel this mystery.

Fang Qingyu looked at Jiang Wei, whose delicate eyebrows furrowed habitually.

It seemed like she was earnestly contemplating this difficult problem, and his heart softened inadvertently.

He extended his finger, gently smoothing the furrow on her brow, easing that hint of worry.

"Alright, don’t think about it anymore." His voice softened, carrying a soothing power.

"Once we deal with the Celestial Punishment Association and pull Chen Wudi out of that place, everything will naturally become clear."

Jiang Wei felt the touch and warmth at her brow, her cheeks blushing slightly, but her eyes lit up.

She nodded vigorously, then remembered something, and looked seriously at Fang Qingyu: "Mm! Then... I’m going. Remember your promise to me!"

Fang Qingyu looked at her solemn demeanor.

He couldn’t help but chuckle and promised, "Don’t worry, I won’t break my promise. Go on."

Jiang Wei took one last glance at him.

Then her crimson figure, like flames merging into the night, faded away in an instant.

Headed towards the direction she was responsible for.

...

As the night deepened, the clamor of the Gray Rock District was replaced by a tension of an impending battle.

And on Taikang Road.

Near a relatively quiet street corner.

There was a 24-hour convenience store.

The light from the convenience store sign seemed lonely in the night.

At this moment, the glass door of the convenience store was wide open.

Fang Qingyu leaned against the door frame, holding a large shopping bag filled with chips, chocolate, beef jerky, and various canned drinks.

He tore open a bag of chips and crunched them.

Then he twisted open a bottle of ice-cold soda, taking a refreshing gulp.

This was something Fang Qingyu had always wanted to do but never had the chance.

The items in the Force Field being destroyed wouldn’t impact reality in any way.

And these things he ate were no exception.

But intriguingly, they seemed to only affect the senses.

They provided no real sense of fullness or energy replenishment.

This sensation... was peculiar.

Like an eternal feast of Taotie, enjoying the pleasures of taste without worrying about the consequences.

For a food lover.

The Force Field was indeed Heaven.

Just as Fang Qingyu was putting a piece of chocolate into his mouth.

His phone in his pocket vibrated.

He took it out to see that it was a temporary communication group established in Wei Banmeng’s defense area.

"Celestial Punishment Association members spotted, Tier Three leader, fifteen Tier Two members."

Fang Qingyu’s expression remained calm.

He put the phone back in his pocket.

With such a lineup, there was no need to worry about the situation over there.

Sure enough, a message popped up in the group again soon after.

"Battle over. Annihilated. The enemy resisted fiercely, with no intent to surrender. Our side has zero casualties. Cleaning the battlefield now."

A photo from after the battle in the Force Field was attached.

Several black-robed corpses lay askew in the narrow alleyway.

Fang Qingyu’s lips curled into a slight smile, and he replied with a thumbs-up emoji.

The Celestial Punishment Association was strong.

This was a consensus in the City of Injustice.

Achieving zero casualties was indeed commendable.

Soon after, group chats in other defense areas began to flicker as well:

A stream of battle reports scrolled across Fang Qingyu’s phone screen like running water.

From dusk till now.

In just three short hours.

The Celestial Punishment Association launched up to eleven probing attacks on the defenses set up by the Cyan Dragon Gang, much like sharks smelling blood.

"Lu Jiuyuan’s squad cleared. Zero casualties."

"Great! Killed them all, three lightly injured on our side, no deaths!"

This was definitely Old Chu.

"Encirclement successful, wiped out three groups. No injuries on our side."

"Underwater rats taken care of, two Tier Threes, skilled in Water Element, Old Wu was swift. Zero casualties."

...

Tidings of victory flowed one after another!

All eleven assaults were thoroughly defeated.

The Celestial Punishment Association deployed over two hundred members, including some skilled in Tier Three.

Yet they were all annihilated without exception.

Meanwhile, for the Cyan Dragon Gang, except for three minor injuries on Chu Kuanglan’s side.

The other defense areas reported zero casualties.

These dazzling achievements were almost unbelievable.

But as the constantly refreshing reports of zero casualties appeared.

The relaxed ease on Fang Qingyu’s face gradually vanished.

The depths of his starry eyes narrowed slightly, and his brows furrowed once again.

A strong sense of unease began to quietly creep into his heart.

This casualty ratio was too strange.

Where is a battle without casualties?

Especially against the infamously fierce and cunning Celestial Punishment Association.

Even with Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and their vastly improved strength after reaching Tier Three.

Facing equally formidable and even more fearless enemies, experiencing eleven consecutive encounters with nearly zero casualties?

It’s like a tall tale.

Were they somehow deliberately surrendering?

Or perhaps the ones sent aren’t the real elite?

This defied common sense.

Fang Qingyu shut off the flickering group chat screen.

His gaze turned once more to the empty street before him.

Of course, the unease in his heart wasn’t just because of the zero casualty reports.

Another reason was...

He was too idle.

From the completion of the defense line deployment to now, a whole three hours had passed.

Other directions were ablaze with battle.

Yet on his end, the theoretically main point of impact, Taikang Road.

Remained eerily silent.

Within the Force Field, aside from the faint sounds of him munching on snacks, there was only the whimper of the night wind passing through the deserted street.

Not to mention the Celestial Punishment Association people.

He hadn’t even seen a shadow.

Where was the main force of the Celestial Punishment Association... And what were they waiting for?