My career aspirations have come true.

Chapter 57 You all go together

The night was as dark as ink, so thick it was impossible to see through.

The area around Qinghui Square has been completely sealed off, with yellow and red roadblocks forming a circle. Fully armed soldiers stand guard outside the cordon, their heavy bulletproof shields reflecting a cold light under the streetlights.

All the entrances to the square were blocked off, with only a few figures in black and blue military uniforms checking identification at the entrances before quickly passing through.

The windows of the residential buildings in the distance were dark, the evacuation work had long been completed, and the whole area was plunged into an eerie silence, with only the whistling of the wind passing through the empty streets.

Sizzle!

The black car screeched to a halt outside the police line, the sharp screech of its tires breaking the silence.

The car door opened, and Tang Wangyan, Lin Ze, and the others filed out, their military boots making a dull thud on the asphalt road.

After completing the document verification at the entrance, the group crossed the cordon and entered the sealed-off area.

Looking into the distance, countless figures moved back and forth along the edge of the square, their dense outlines surrounding the square like an impenetrable black net.

The outermost perimeter was occupied by hundreds of armed thugs, including Bloodhawk members wearing eagle badges and Gangfist members with fist tattoos on their bodies.

They were clearly divided into two sides, yet they tacitly united against the outside world, preventing the legion's personnel from getting close.

From a bird's-eye view, the entire Qinghui Square appears to be divided into distinct inner and outer rings.

"Lieutenant Tang."

A regular army sergeant wearing a warrant officer's insignia stepped forward quickly and gave Tang Wangyan a standard military salute.

"The blockade and evacuation of the crowd within a one-kilometer radius of Qinghui Square have been completed. However, due to the obstruction of Gangquan and Xueying, our people are temporarily unable to approach the core area of ​​the square. Should we launch a forceful attack to break through?"

"Thank you for your hard work." Tang Wangyan nodded slightly to the sergeant before calmly replying, "Our mission is to prevent the situation from escalating. We don't need to get involved in the fighting. Just have the troops stand by on the perimeter and closely monitor the situation."

"yes!"

The sergeant saluted again, then turned and walked away quickly.

Tang Wangyan then took out a palm-sized metal disc from the inside pocket of her military uniform. Its surface was covered with fine runes, which shimmered faintly in the moonlight.

She tapped the edge of the disc three times with her fingertips. As the runes disappeared, a semi-transparent light screen unfolded above the disc, hovering in the air like a crystal mirror that appeared out of thin air.

The scene in the center of the square was clearly reflected in the light screen.

Beside the pillars of the pergola stood a tall figure, dressed in a common black combat uniform. He was of medium build and his appearance was so ordinary that he would be hard to distinguish in a crowd. Only his eyes, under the moonlight, revealed a sharpness that seemed to pierce through the darkness.

His right hand rested on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his relaxed posture as if he were simply taking a stroll in his own backyard, completely ignoring the tense atmosphere around him, making him stand out from the oppressive environment.

"Is this person Jingzhe?"

Tang Wangshu stared at the light screen, her tone filled with undisguised curiosity.

Zhuang Yi and Pei Xuan also craned their necks to look.

Although they had all seen the surveillance video of the Awakening of Insects, this was the first time they had seen the person in person.

Lin Ze didn't pay attention to the figure in the light screen, but instead looked with great interest at what Tang Wangyan was holding.

"This thing is a 'telescope,' a kind of exploration artifact that can remotely observe a designated area, capturing images and sounds, with an effective range of about two kilometers."

Noticing his gaze, Tang Wangyan gave a brief explanation before resuming her operation of the disc.

As she moved, the images on the light screen slowly moved, passing over the crowd around the square in turn.

The crowd on the left side of the square mostly had bare, muscular upper bodies, their muscles bulging like iron blocks. Some wore gleaming metal gauntlets, while others wielded heavy weapons such as axes and broadswords. Their fierce aura was palpable, clearly indicating that they were members of the Gangquan (Strong Fist) style.

The group on the right wore dark red combat uniforms and had a much wider variety of weapons; they were clearly members of the Blood Eagles.

The two groups of people were clearly separated, subtly revealing a confrontational stance, yet they tacitly formed an encirclement around the figure in the center of the square.

Just then, the crowd suddenly parted, and two figures slowly walked out, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

On the right is Mu Yuan, whom Zhuang Yi and the others had met during the day. He has a dark face and a sinister expression.

On the left is a burly man over two meters tall, shirtless, with a necklace made of unknown animal bones around his neck. His bronze skin gleams metallically in the moonlight, and his muscles are sculpted as if by an axe, each one containing explosive power.

Just standing there, it gives off a sense of oppression, like a prehistoric beast.

Even though they had never seen this person before, Tang Wangshu and Zhuang Yi instantly guessed his identity.

Lei Yao, Vice President of Gangquan!

"Captain, how does Lei Yao's strength compare to Mu Yuan's?" Zhuang Yi couldn't help but ask.

"It's hard to say." Tang Wangyan shook her head, her expression solemn. "Mu Yuan is indeed powerful, but Lei Yao is definitely not to be underestimated."

"He is a level 5 fighter, and it is said that he has mastered several fighting skills to level 8 or above. What is even more troublesome is the beast bone necklace around his neck, which is a rare item called 'Giant Lizard Skin'. When activated, it can form a layer of armor similar to lizard scales on the body surface, greatly increasing defense."

"This extraordinary item, combined with the fighter's innate talent of steel bones, has enhanced Lei Yao's defense to an astonishing level. Even superb-grade weapons cannot break through his defense. Because of this, many people in the North District have secretly given him the nickname 'Iron Man'."

"That's amazing!" Zhuang Yi gasped, instinctively glancing at Jingzhe on the light screen. "Isn't Jingzhe in danger?"

With two seasoned Level 5 professionals and hundreds of armed thugs surrounding them, can Jingzhe escape as easily as before?

Tang Wangyan shook her head without saying a word, but the expression on her face said it all.

Even for her, in such a desperate situation, the outcome would be dire.

She really couldn't understand why Jingzhe would willingly give up her greatest advantage and put herself in such a dangerous situation.

What exactly is the other party's purpose?

Just as Tang Wangyan was completely baffled, Lei Yao's rough voice suddenly came from the light screen.

"Mu Yuan, I heard you got humiliated by some young punk during the day, and couldn't even protect your own cousin. That's really shameful."

Mu Yuan's face instantly darkened, and he coldly snorted as he retorted, "You're not much better off. I heard that the three underground boxing rings you were in charge of were all raided by Jingzhe. You must have suffered considerable losses, right?"

Lei Yao narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them, and sneered, "Likewise."

He then waved his hand, his tone domineering and unquestionable, "Alright, enough nonsense. Take your men and leave. This guy is my prey."

"Why should I?" Mu Yuan sneered. "We Blood Eagles discovered the people first, and the intelligence was also relayed back by our people. You think you can just sit back and reap the benefits?"

"Because my fists are harder than yours."

Lei Yao clenched his fist, and his knuckles made a cracking sound like popping beans.

The two exchanged barbs, completely disregarding Jingzhe in the center of the square, as if he were already a sitting duck, at their mercy.

Just then, Jingzhe, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.

"Are you done talking?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it had a peculiar penetrating power, clearly spreading throughout the entire square and drowning out all the other noises.

His gaze swept calmly over Lei Yao and Mu Yuan, his tone indifferent and utterly emotionless.

"Stop wasting time, all of you come at me together."