Free Web NovelChapter 389: Chapter 6: The Dominance of the First Person in High Tower
(I cannot offer extra updates for Silver Alliance subscribers due to randomness, with a completion progress of 42/100. Today is June 4th, just like last year, this Chapter is said to be unviewable, but all the Chapter comments sent by everyone are effective, likely visible around June 6th.)
After reaching the fourth floor of the High Tower, Bai Wu received a message.
"Act with discretion, the other families seem to have united. Do not act rashly."
The message came from Qin Zong, who no longer considered himself a part of the Qin Family. After the work of building the Baichuan City shelter, Qin Zong preferred to become a Guider.
When the day came that the shelter was ready, he was willing to use his influence to lead everyone away from the High Tower.
However, to achieve this, the reputation of the Investigation Corps had to be raised.
Qin Xuan, Qin Yi, Qin Chu, and Qin Ye, these Qin Family heavyweights, although unclear about what exactly Qin Zong had done, had cheated some information from others.
While the soldiers of the Investigation Corps kept their mouths shut, having survived the war, they were all hot-blooded individuals, but the more people knew, the higher the likelihood of being tricked into talking became.
Especially since the ruler had many methods, if they couldn’t persuade the participants, then they’d persuade the participants’ wives, children, and parents.
Before long, the Qin Family uncovered a few key words—survival outposts outside the Tower.
With these words, the Qin Family roughly grasped what Qin Zong, Yan Zizai, and Xie Xingzhi had done.
Now with only seven families remaining of the original eight, as the Guardian and ruler of the Zhong Family had died, the Zhong Family had lost its vigor. The Yan and Xie Families had formed an inexplicable alliance, inciting a sense of crisis among the rest of the families.
If they could no longer enjoy the monopoly of being the only residential area in the High Tower, who would care about the ruler? Who would the ruler rule over?
Qin Ye had a keen sense of crisis, so he quickly thought of a counter-strategy.
Since Qin Zong was the captain of the Investigation Corps and involved in the construction of the survival outposts outside the Tower, he would arrange someone to watch over Qin Zong.
Bai Wu was also well aware of why a person from the Qin Family would suddenly arrange for someone from the Liu Family to take the position of deputy captain of the Investigation Corps.
Two birds with one stone, being able to monitor Qin Zong while also fostering good relations between the Qin and Liu Families.
All members of the Investigation Corps were clear that Captain Qin was a captain absolutely worthy of trust.
Not long ago, Qin Zong had led the members of the Investigation Corps to perform a feat, and now his reputation was so high, it was unshakable.
To remove Qin Zong and then interrogate him would cause great trouble.
Without the support from the Xie and Yan Families now, who could guarantee that should the Investigation Corps revolt, they could be suppressed instantly?
Therefore, Qin Zong could not be touched; the only one who could be dealt with was the second-in-command under Qin Zong—Gu Qingyu.
However, they clearly misunderstood "Wu Jiu," who not long ago only had the eighth-order Innate Force, and whose strongest talent was only Extreme Shadow.
For the members of the Investigation Corps, Wu Jiu’s influence and reputation were not one bit less than Qin Zong’s.
So, at this moment in the Black Tower at the Investigation Corps headquarters, the captains of various Investigation Corps squads were all glowering at Liu Hu.
"I can appoint someone directly as the deputy captain, but I know that your Investigation Corps also has its own promotion mechanisms. A leader descending from the sky has always been taboo, but to prove that my decision is right, I’ll give you a chance to prove yourselves. As long as you can beat Liu Hu, you can take on the position of deputy captain," said Qin Xuan.
Qin Xuan was surprised to see that the Garrison Corps he managed seemed to lack the cohesiveness of the Investigation Corps.
But on second thought, this brother of his had always been like this, fond of being close to those at the lower levels, according to their father, Qin Zong had the potential of a hero, but Qin Zong was not suited to be a ruler.
Qin Zong also knew that if he went against Qin Xuan’s orders, the Investigation Corps wouldn’t be disbanded, but maintaining it, without the help from the Qin Family and even hindered by them, would be difficult.
Qin Xuan, looking at Qin Zong, continued to speak with an unfazed expression:
"We’re all warriors, and it is reasonable for warriors to handle things the warrior’s way. If you have anything to add, you may do so, but let me say this upfront: maintaining the operation of the Investigation Corps, and the distribution of supplies for going outside the Tower, is very costly. Without these things, you are well aware of how much higher the mortality rate would be when venturing out of the Tower."
His words made it clear: if someone could beat Liu Hu, they indeed could become the deputy captain of the Investigation Corps.
But if not, they would have to accept the plan of the Qin Family, else some provisions for excursions out of the Tower would be removed.
Qin Zong was not surprised by the Qin Family’s actions and even greatly agreed with this approach:
"So you’re saying that if any of my squad leaders can defeat Liu Hu, the position of deputy captain of the Investigation Corps will still be determined by us, the Investigation Corps?"
Qin Xuan looked at Qin Zong’s expression and felt something was off. There shouldn’t be anyone among these captains capable of dealing with Liu Hu, so why... did Qin Zong look so calm?
At this time, Bai Wu arrived.
"Sorry, I didn’t sleep very well last night; I had a dream that I traveled to an Otherworld."
Bai Wu entered and perceived the tense atmosphere. Today was supposed to be a joyous and happy day, so he took the initiative to spout some nonsense to ease the mood.
The atmosphere indeed softened a bit.
Qin Zong looked at Bai Wu, and the captains of the various squads also looked at Bai Wu. When Bai Wu appeared, it was clear that these people felt considerably more confident.
The current Bai Wu, though no longer with the flowing long hair from his days in Baichuan City, was not someone people could forget. Bai Wu had single-handedly held off two monsters.
On the other side, Liu Hu’s confidence was sky-high.
"It’s you! Kid, that dwarf isn’t here this time, don’t think someone can still protect you, oh... you probably don’t even dare to challenge me."
Bai Wu looked at Liu Hu, a dictionary of positivity in combat, so to speak. Liu Hu was definitely a contender with potential.
But what a pity... he wasn’t the brightest.
Soon, Bai Wu had also figured out various matters and said:
"The reason for dismissing the vice-captain of the Investigation Corps is an absence of ten days? I remember that our captain once survived outside the tower for twenty-four days."
"We are well aware of the probabilities of survival after being gone for more than ten days. What you can do is to accept our arrangement."
This was a rather amusing situation. Over here, Qin Family’s Guardian Qin Chu, Pang Family’s Guardian Pang Li, and Wang Family’s Guardian Wang Su were all present.
Including Liu Hu, each of them possessed a formidable power capable of sweeping across all the experts in the legion. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
However, the captains of the Investigation Corps squad were not panicking at all.
Long Xiao was even struggling to hold back his laughter, highly anticipating what would come next.
The reason Qin Zong asked Bai Wu to keep a low profile wasn’t for fear of Bai Wu getting into trouble, but because now that the rulers of the High Tower were beginning to form alliances, the situation was complex. He was worried that Bai Wu would do something overly offensive.
Bai Wu clearly understood his leader’s thoughts. But I’m already one foot out of the High Tower, even one foot beyond the Black Mist. Why should I hold back?
His expression was very calm:
"Fine, since you’ve set the rules, let’s follow them."
The open space in the middle was perfect for a battlefield.
Wang Su, Pang Li, and Qin Chu watched as Liu Hu walked into the middle of the room with a fierce smirk. They all knew very well that Liu Hu would strike hard.
Qin Chu felt nothing, Pang Li was the same, but Wang Su felt it was a bit of a pity.
The other Investigation Corps squad captains really wanted to teach Liu Hu a lesson, but they also knew that the strength of such an opponent was perhaps something they could never reach in their entire lives.
Thus, without any unnecessary procedures, Bai Wu stepped into the middle.
"Since this is the selection for the vice-captain of the Investigation Corps, if you win, you will be my leader. Let’s aim for peace and stop when the point is made." Bai Wu said, looking at Liu Hu.
He was somewhat cowardly. He was very worried that Liu Hu would beat him to death.
But the clever A-hu could easily see through Bai Wu’s little trick:
"No surrendering allowed until one party completely loses consciousness, do you dare? Fight like a man, let’s have a satisfying bout. In the future, I might take good care of your Seventh Squad."
"Isn’t that too harsh... There’s no need for that, right? It’s just a selection, not a fight to the death." Bai Wu’s gaze dodged.
"Ha, now you’re scared? Too late!"
Qin Zong, always reserved, serious to the point of being a bit dull, suddenly felt the muscles in his face twitch with the urge to smile.
Fortunately, he was a professional and held it back.
Bai Wu recalled an ancient meme:
"We’ve already fought before, how about we try a battle of wits this time? A battle of wits is where you punch me and I won’t resist, and then I punch you and you also won’t resist. How about that?"
Bai Wu suddenly made a bizarre request, catching everyone by surprise.
"Go to hell!"
Liu Hu couldn’t care less about any battle of wits or battle of fists, using all sequences!
Extreme Shadow, Tyrant, Overload Form, Iron Armament, Winner as King, these powerful sequences instantly made Liu Hu’s strength terrifyingly explosive!
Bai Wu remembered not so long ago when he had just returned from Baichuan City, he also faced this scene.
Back then... indeed, he couldn’t have beaten Liu Hu without going all out.
The shelter plan had just been born at that time, and now the shelter had been established.
Bai Wu couldn’t help sighing... Time flies, Liu Hu does not.
Liu Hu’s powerful punch came at him, sudden and so swift that it was impossible to defend against.
Bai Wu’s face was filled with fright, and then he was fiercely hit by the punch. He exaggeratedly cried out, "Oww, that hurts!"
His entire body seemed to be knocked back by this powerful punch... by a full...two steps.
Bai Wu twisted his neck:
"The strength is too heavy, it hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts!"
Wang Su furrowed her eyebrows, and Pang Li’s condor-like gaze fell on Bai Wu, while Qin Chu also showed a puzzled expression.
Liu Hu’s punch just now had hit the opponent head-on; the reaction should not have been just this.
Liu Hu was also very puzzled. This shouldn’t be right, even if his punch couldn’t kill the kid, it should have been enough to cause him to faint from severe injuries.
A feeling of unease emerged in Qin Xuan’s heart.
Liu Hu had not yet realized the disparity in strength, and the other Guardians from the dominant families were also pondering whether everything that had just happened was a coincidence.
Bai Wu waved his arm and said:
"Hey, I’m not dead yet, thank you for showing mercy. Now it’s my turn."
Liu Hu was not about to engage in a war of words.
He planned to continue with a strong offense, surely there had been some mistake just now!
But just as Liu Hu decided to throw another punch, his immense combat experience instantly gave him a feedback of extreme danger ahead!
In that instant, Liu Hu even felt as if the temperature in the room was plummeting rapidly!
The room temperature remained unchanged; it was the fear that made him feel a chill.
"I’m going to die!"
Bai Wu’s punch came neither quickly nor slowly, and at this moment, it seemed as if all of Liu Hu’s nerves were warning him—death was near.
He had no choice but to defend with all his might.
The moment Bai Wu’s fist made contact with Liu Hu’s arms, everyone heard the sound of bones breaking.
The Guardians present, each and every one of them, were incredibly shocked.
Liu Hu’s physical body was the strongest among all the Guardians, with only Qin Chu capable of contending with him.
To defeat Liu Hu, outright overwhelming him with pure strength was seen as the least viable approach by everyone.
But Bai Wu’s punch contained no technique; even the posture of swinging his fist lacked any aesthetic... he really just...threw a punch.
The force of the punch propelled Liu Hu’s body back; his arms, fractured, deformed, and his massive frame directly sank into the Black Tower.
The battle ended.
But it didn’t end. In the moment of everyone’s astonishment, Bai Wu moved again.
Qin Xuan suddenly felt an immense killing intent coming his way.
He wanted to move, but was completely unable to.
Liu Hu had been able to put up a defense, merely miscalculating Bai Wu’s strength, but Qin Xuan was far weaker compared to Liu Hu,
In Qin Xuan’s eyes, Bai Wu’s figure seemingly crossed space in an instant to appear before him.
During this process, Wang Su whipped her lash, and Pang Li activated his Demon Shadow Form.
But the whip was deflected back, and Wang Su didn’t even see the movement clearly before she felt numbness in her hand.
Pang Li was horrified to find that as his shadow neared Bai Wu, the shadow...slowed down.
"I can’t stop Bai Wu!"
Qin Chu, from his position, was even less able to stop Bai Wu; by the time he ran towards Bai Wu, Bai Wu had already seized Qin Xuan by the throat:
"I can leave the Investigation Corps, and I am a beggar, an unencumbered person in this world."
The sentence was unfinished, but the warning was clear enough, alluding to the fearlessness of having nothing to lose.
Qin Chu stopped.
On one hand, Qin Xuan’s life was in Bai Wu’s grip.
On the other hand... he sensed danger. A sense of oppression that could only be brought by a terrifying monster far stronger than himself descended upon him.
"Just two points to make," he began. "First, my team leader is stronger than I am. Don’t even mention his disappearance for ten days, even if he were gone for a year, when I say he isn’t dead, then he isn’t dead. The deputy commander of the Investigation Corps is not to be replaced."
"And you over there," he turned to someone else, "when our captain stopped you, it wasn’t to save me, but to save you."
The first statement was for everyone to hear, the second was directed at Liu Hu.
"Sure, my life may be worthless, but I’m lucky. With the captain gone, I’m probably the strongest in the High Tower. If you think I’m arrogant, then feel free to come at me with your troubles. Just one thing, trying to harm the people around me, to threaten me, is pointless."
"Because if you kill one, I’ll kill a hundred."
Expressionless, the extreme contrast to his previous timidness gave him an even crazier impression at that moment.
Qin Zong had thought Bai Wu would keep a low profile, but he never expected Bai Wu to be so high-profile...
This was outright rebellion!
But upon further thought... did Bai Wu really need to endure any longer? He might still be human, but his power had long surpassed the definition of humanity.
"I don’t mince words, if you disagree, you can try to stop me now."
Impossible.
Demon Shadow Form enables one to control an opponent with shadows, but shadows couldn’t get close to Bai Wu, especially since Pang Li could already feel the aura emanating from Bai Wu, a presence more formidable than the top Evil Fallen...
How could a human possibly reach so far?
Was the deputy commander of the Investigation Corps really stronger than him?
Wang Su, Qin Chu, Pang Li, none dared to move, fully aware that they couldn’t possibly injure Liu Hu with a single punch.
Bai Wu continued to speak:
"Second point, don’t interfere with the affairs of the Investigation Corps. Let’s just say we’ve all happily signed a ’Well Water does not offend River Water’ agreement today. As for the supplies of the Investigation Corps, let it continue as it has been.
Lastly, although there’s no third point, I’d still like you to convey a message to your ancestors. Maybe your ancestors have uncovered some information, learned something about the situation."
Qin Zong was shocked. Was Bai Wu going to expose the refuge?
As expected, Bai Wu continued:
"Everything is as they speculated. However, the High Tower is not our enemy. They revere forces outside the tower, don’t they? I am from the forces outside the tower. For now, I’m on good terms with the Investigation Corps, and you may consider me their external ally, a human from outside the High Tower."
"We, the outside forces, aren’t interested in your rulers’ position, but if you find your seat uncomfortable, I won’t mind pulling you down. The next two sentences are especially important, make sure to convey them."
Qin Chu, Pang Li, Wang Su all showed grave expressions, assailed by that overpowering aura that had become even more suffocating.
"In dealing with the forces outside of the tower, you can choose to remain friendly, as you have for the past seven hundred years, but you also have the option to wipe us out.
However, let me make one thing clear: we are not the Evil Fallen. The impregnable High Tower, we come and go as we please."
"You might fend me off for a few days or even a month, but not for three years, five years, ten years, or even longer."
The entire room was shocked. Even the captains of the Investigation Corps hadn’t expected Bai Wu to outright reveal the matter of the refuge, though without going into any specifics, it was almost a declaration that humanity now had a second choice.
Suddenly, Qin Zong felt enlightened.
All along, they had tried to keep things from each other, but how could they possibly fool the rulers, with so many participants involved? It was impossible to ensure that every soldier, every mercenary, was impermeable.
Instead, why not just tell it outright and present the other side with a choice?
It was an extremely bold move, but Bai Wu had the power to intimidate his opponents, a power that elevated the deterrent effect of the "forces outside the tower" to several levels higher.
Especially since Bai Wu’s words gave the impression that there weren’t just one, but many as powerful as him.
Bai Wu released Qin Xuan and even straightened his collar, patting Qin Xuan on the shoulder as if a leader to a subordinate, with an annoyingly presumptuous expression like the one used when saying things like, "Work hard, put in the overtime, and you can buy me a Ferrari."
But Bai Wu didn’t say much else.
How today’s events would ferment, he did not know. But once one possesses great power, the optimal solution changes.
He was confident that what he did was the best move.
And now, because of his powerful strength, not only had his attitude towards the rulers changed, but there was also another extremely important person this affected.
Someone like him, with a special status and privy to many secrets. Bai Wu’s truly important matter for the day was not dealing with Liu Hu, but addressing this person.
The only white man of the High Tower Era—Cain.
(Two Chapters of five thousand words, making ten thousand for the day, just as I promised in my old cover, I really am an honest person. As an honest person I’m looking for the monthly tickets, that’s fair, right?)
