Chapter 299 - Being Ambushed
"Fang Moli, deal with them," Fang Xiu commanded, his calm voice slicing through the suffocating silence.
CLANG!
The Xuanyuan Sword unsheathed, its sound reverberating like the roar of a dragon.
The oppressive energy radiating from both the legendary sword and Fang Moli’s fifth-tier psychic power surged through the room like an unrelenting wave.
The mood of everyone shifted. It was as if the very air had been drained, leaving an all-consuming tension in its place.
Every Chief Commander present felt as though their skin was being pierced by countless invisible needles. The sword energy from the Xuanyuan Sword, even at a distance, bore down on them with suffocating pressure.
Fear and awe locked their bodies in place as their eyes darted between Fang Xiu and Fang Moli. No one dared make a move.
"I’ve always believed in unity," Fang Xiu said, his calm voice breaking the oppressive silence. Though his tone was composed, it carried an unyielding authority that left no room for argument.
"Those willing to cooperate with me will gain the privilege of learning the method to break through to the fifth tier. For those who are unwilling, I won’t force them. However," Fang Xiu’s faint smirk carried a chilling edge, "I will ensure they receive more… friendly visits. Do you all understand?"
The room remained deathly quiet.
The leaders, their faces etched with dread, said nothing. No one dared to speak.
Fang Xiu’s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. "It seems some of you still don’t understand… Fang Moli."
At his command, Fang Moli stepped forward. The Xuanyuan Sword glowed with an ominous golden light, its aura intensifying.
Without hesitation, he pointed the sword at the nearest Chief Commander.
The energy emanating from the blade enveloped the man, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Overcome with terror, he nodded frantically, his voice trembling.
"Y-Yes, I understand."
Fang Moli moved to the next Chief Commander, repeating the same display.
One by one, the leaders capitulated, their pride crushed under the weight of fear. Whatever humiliation they felt, they had no choice but to bow their heads.
"Yes, we understand."
"We all understand."
In the end, every Chief Commander in the room surrendered.
They knew that if they launched a collective attack, they might overwhelm Fang Moli. But the cost of such an attempt was unthinkable.
The truth was painfully clear: Fang Moli couldn’t kill everyone, but he could easily slaughter the first wave of attackers. And no one was willing to be part of that first wave.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Satisfied, Fang Xiu nodded. "Good. It seems everyone here is a virtuous soul, willing to act for the benefit of humanity. Now that we’ve reached an understanding, this meeting is adjourned. Dismissed."
Though his tone remained calm, the authority in his voice made it clear that the discussion was over.
At that moment, Fang Xiu had effectively declared himself the uncrowned leader of the United Bureaus.
No one dared refute him.
The consequences of opposition were far too steep.
With Fang Moli by his side, Fang Xiu rose from his seat.
Under the watchful, resentful gazes of the gathered leaders, he calmly exited the room. Fang Moli followed closely, his presence as imposing as ever.
Behind them, the Chief Commanders sat in brooding silence, their expressions dark and stormy.
When the tension finally began to ease, suppressed anger bubbled to the surface. Several Chief Commanders from larger nations huddled together, their faces grim.
"Are we really going to let him get away with this arrogance?" one of them demanded, his voice low but furious.
"He thinks he can rule the world. What nonsense!" another growled.
"Hmph. You’re bold now, but where was this courage earlier? Did you forget the Xuanyuan Sword? Did you forget Fang Moli’s fifth-tier power? Tell me, who among us can challenge them? For now, compromise is our only option."
"I can’t stomach this humiliation," another muttered through clenched teeth. "If we can’t fight them head-on, then we should ambush him."
"Ambush?" someone else snapped incredulously. "Are you out of your mind? Fang Xiu is called the Foreseer for a reason! Do you really think you can catch him off guard? That’s suicide!"
"Then what’s your plan? Sit here and let him lord over us forever?"
Silence fell over the group, their frustration simmering.
"The real priority," one of them finally said, his voice low and measured, "is finding a way to break through to the fifth tier ourselves. Until we do, this is all pointless."
"Break through to the fifth tier?" another scoffed bitterly. "Do you think it’s that simple? Everyone knows Fang Xiu holds the key to the fifth tier. Unless you’re willing to grovel at his feet, how do you plan to obtain it?"
"Grovel? Maybe there’s another way," the first man replied, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Fang Moli may be untouchable… but Fang Xiu isn’t."
Ambition had already begun festering in the hearts of some. The prospect of using Fang Xiu as leverage was too enticing to ignore.
If they could capture him, torture him, and force him to divulge the method for breaking through to the fifth tier, all their problems would vanish.
Yet, not everyone was convinced.
Ambushing the Foreseer, a man said to see the future, sounded like inviting death.
But greed is a stubborn thing. No matter how infamous Fang Xiu’s abilities were, there would always be those who doubted his foresight—or believed they could outsmart him.
The potential reward was immense. Whoever controlled the secret to advancing to the fifth tier would become the uncrowned ruler of the world.
…
The next day, as Fang Xiu traveled back to Huaxia, he abruptly stopped and issued a terse command:
“Fang Moli, take the team and return without me.”
Fang Moli blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected order. “You’ve just pissed the entire world off, and now you want me to leave you alone?”
Fang Xiu’s tone was firm, brooking no argument. “No worries. I do not make mistakes.”
Fang Moli hesitated, scrutinizing his expression, but eventually nodded in silent acceptance.
Without another word, Fang Moli led the team away, leaving Fang Xiu standing alone on the desolate road.
Fang Xiu had a clear reason for this. He wanted to give the ambitious and the greedy an opportunity—a chance to spring the trap he had carefully set.
He knew that threats alone wouldn’t suffice to control the other nations. Someone needed to be made an example of, a stark and unforgettable warning.
Why was he so certain someone would come for him?
This time, it wasn’t because he had died. It was his understanding of human nature.
When the rewards are great enough, someone will always take the risk.
And that didn’t take long.
Shortly after Fang Moli and the team departed, a shadowy group began trailing Fang Xiu.
They moved with professional precision, employing specialized methods to mask their presence as they crept closer to their target.
“Why is Fang Xiu traveling alone?” one whispered. “Isn’t he afraid of being captured without Fang Moli around?”
“Could it be a trap?” another asked warily. “Maybe Fang Moli is hiding nearby, waiting for us to act.”
“No,” their leader replied, his tone confident. “I can sense Fang Moli’s energy—he’s far from here. He’s not hiding nearby.”
Still, unease flickered in the leader’s eyes. Fang Xiu’s actions were suspicious.
Splitting from his team and traveling alone—it was the perfect setup for an ambush. Fang Xiu had to be aware of this.
So why would he put himself in danger deliberately?
The assassins hesitated, torn between caution and opportunity. They wondered if this was an elaborate ruse, or a genuine moment of vulnerability.
Hesitation was a luxury they couldn’t afford. If they didn’t act now, Fang Xiu would return to Huaxia, and their chance would slip away.
After a long pause, the team leader gritted his teeth.
“Do it!”
…
With his order, over a dozen black-clad figures sprang into action.
They moved like shadows, swift and silent, surrounding Fang Xiu’s vehicle with practiced ease.
A roadblock formed almost instantly, cutting off any avenue of escape.
The car screeched to a halt.
Fang Xiu stepped out, calm and deliberate, his movements unhurried.
He surveyed the masked men now surrounding him.
Their attire was meticulously designed to conceal their identities. Tactical masks covered their faces, leaving no skin exposed.
Their uniforms bore no insignias, and their eyes were obscured by dark goggles.
They had taken every precaution to remain anonymous.
The leader stepped forward, his voice low and distorted by the mask. “Sir, someone would like to invite you to their home as a guest.”
The rest of the team remained on high alert, their eyes fixed on Fang Xiu’s every move. Some scanned the surroundings, bracing for the possibility of an ambush.
Fang Xiu’s response was calm, unnervingly so.
“Lead the way,” he said simply.
The leader froze, momentarily stunned. For a moment, he thought he had misheard.
They were no strangers to kidnappings. They’d carried out similar operations countless times. But never had a target complied so readily.
This wasn’t normal.
There had to be a catch.
Translator's note: Those poor guys. If they keep guessing how Fang Xiu foresees them, they'd soon be madmen.