Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

”Well, just for clarification, the ’Seed of Destruction’ is a name Wei Tian gave to that virus.”

”In other words, you just have to continuously input physique points into Qin Shiyuan’s body to save her life.”

”10,000 points!”

”You have that, right?”

Staring at Lin Haifeng’s probing gaze, Wen Yu fell completely silent.

Lin Haifeng’s words amounted to laying his cards on the table with Wen Yu—he was behind it all. However, some things were best left unsaid; to speak them openly meant a fallout. If Wen Yu and Lin Haifeng had such a fallout, Lin Haifeng could likely bear the consequences. But Wen Yu, currently in the inner city zone of the Yanjing Assembly Site, might not. But one thing was certain: neither party wanted a fallout.

So, Wen Yu chose silence, and Lin Haifeng chose persuasion.

”Look, you have 10,000 physique points. That means you can certainly save Qin Tian’s sister. If you suspect I’m behind this, you’re free to do so. Just save the girl, Qin Shiyuan, and this whole affair will be over.”

”But will you do it?”

10,000 points...

Losing 10,000 points from his physique cap would mean his strength would be halved...

For Wen Yu, it wasn’t an option, yet it was a question that deeply tormented his conscience...

”So, you see, you *can* save her, but you *won’t*. And you still claim Qin Tian is one of your people? I don’t quite understand your definition of ’my people’.”

”Let’s cut the crap. You don’t have ’your people.’ You only have yourself. Well, and your soul pet.”

”Which brings us back to: what does this have to do with you, then?”

...

”When I established the Independents Mutual Aid Society...”

”You said it was for freedom! To avoid being persecuted by the military!”

”Don’t give me that look. You knew I had spies in there from the start.”

”But did you actually take all that seriously?”

Seeing Wen Yu’s solemn expression, Lin Haifeng shook his head with a bitter smile.

”Alright, so you really did take it seriously...”

”Let me correct one of your misconceptions. That loose organization you established could never truly unite for such an illusory goal. Have you ever considered this? For instance, if you and I had a falling out over this, how many people would actually stand by you? How many would answer your call to oppose the military? To oppose me? To oppose Tang Haofei? To oppose the Yanjing Assembly Site and the Eternal Sky City? To oppose hundreds of Sequence-class experts and Yanjing’s countless high-tech weapons?”

”The answer is: not a single one!”

”Perhaps even those you trust, like Yang Hong and Wang Fucai, would desert you.”

”Don’t you get it? Goals need to be specific. More importantly, you must tie them to people’s interests. Only then will they answer your call.”

”Your stated goals—’for freedom,’ ’to avoid the military’s machinations’—were never capable of rallying people, not from the start. When disaster isn’t directly threatening them, these mediocre commoners will just hide under their blankets and tremble!”

”So, do you understand now? Do you understand why I engineered this situation to be so complex?”

”Whatever your relationship or friendship with Qin Tian, Arthur, or Qin Shiyuan, after sacrificing 1,000 points of your physique cap, I believe you’ve done more than enough.”

”I’m merely offering you an out, a way to walk away from this whole affair cleanly.”

...

Now that matters were laid bare, Lin Haifeng had even openly stated, ”I engineered this situation to be so complex.” This meant he no longer had any reservations when facing Wen Yu.

The way out was laid before Wen Yu. Lin Haifeng had shown his sincerity; whether Wen Yu took it or not was his decision.

And so, the burden was once again on Wen Yu.

”So, I’m supposed to thank you for this?”

”Not at all...” Lin Haifeng shamelessly accepted Wen Yu’s ’thanks’ and then continued, ”I genuinely believe you’ve done more than enough for the Qin siblings. You must have calculated the help Qin Tian could offer you, right? Frankly, his abilities might not even be worth 1,000 of your own physique points.”

”That’s not how it’s calculated...”

”And why isn’t it calculated that way? You used to be very clear on these things. It’s a simple cost-benefit analysis. Never mind the long term; even in the short term, is Qin Tian’s help truly worth more than 1,000 of your physique points? You should understand that people, in essence, are not much different from objects. Everyone has a price! Everyone can be converted into a general equivalent value!”

”...”

Wen Yu was speechless.

”So, this is the situation. Publicly, I will not admit any connection to this matter. But between us, I must advise you: I don’t want to be your enemy again. I truly don’t. The last time I was, it cost me my son. I don’t want to endure that agony again. Moreover, I believe you don’t want to be my enemy either. At least, Qin Tian and Qin Shiyuan aren’t worth enough for you to make an enemy of me, are they?”

Every word was a carefully chosen barb; Lin Haifeng had read Wen Yu’s character perfectly.

...

Was Wen Yu angry?

Perhaps, to some extent...

When he saw Qin Tian and Qin Shiyuan’s condition, the anger that flared up in him was undeniably real. It reminded him of how Lin Haifeng had played him for a fool in the past...

But Wen Yu understood one thing...

Anger could overwhelm reason!

With everything laid bare before him, after weighing all the interests at stake...

Wen Yu realized a hard truth.

To make an enemy of Lin Haifeng for Qin Tian and Qin Shiyuan—which could also mean making an enemy of all humanity...

Was not worth it.

...

”It truly isn’t worth it...” The words came from Wen Yu, his voice cold and calm.

Hearing those four simple words, Lin Haifeng smiled and nodded.

”Well then, let’s both forget today’s conversation ever happened. I believe we’ve reached a consensus.” Having said that, Lin Haifeng slowly extended his right hand.

Wen Yu looked at Lin Haifeng’s smiling face, let out a long breath, then slowly rose and walked over to him. And then...

He slapped Lin Haifeng squarely across the face.

A blow delivered with all his might!!!

The whistling wind generated waves of Sound Explosions. The supersonic strike instantly tore through an unknown number of defensive barriers around Lin Haifeng, and then the rough, slender palm struck him squarely in the face.

However...

A colossal beam of white light erupted from Lin Haifeng’s body, instantly meeting the incoming palm!

BOOM!

Wen Yu slowly retracted his blood-drenched right hand. He glanced at Lin Haifeng, who remained utterly still, and gave a slight shrug.

”Motherfucker!”

”Now *that* feels much better!”

”And another thing—I must remind you: we will *never* reach a consensus! Maybe I’m powerless this time, but mark my words: I will *always* find a way to cause you trouble!”

”You old bastard! Now, just you wait! Get ready to bury your bullshit ’Sea Clan Control Plan’!”

With that, Wen Yu turned and strode out of Lin Haifeng’s office, leaving Lin Haifeng staring, his expression rigid, at Wen Yu’s retreating back.