Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

”Dad...”

Fang Bai looked at Lin Haifeng, who sat still, swallowed slowly, and called out softly.

Then, Fang Bai saw Lin Haifeng slowly relax his neck, followed by a gentle chuckle.

It wasn’t a bitter smile, nor was it forced. It was a genuine, heartfelt smile.

Still, Fang Bai couldn’t understand why Lin Haifeng could still laugh after being so blatantly disrespected...

”Bai, get me a new table and another tea set.”

Fang Bai was silent for a while but eventually let go of his doubts and left the office, which seemed to have been swept over by a storm.

「...」

Within thirty minutes, Fang Bai returned to the office with a new table, chairs, and tea set. At this moment, Lin Haifeng stood by the window, gazing out into the distance as if nothing had ever happened.

After arranging the table and chairs, Fang Bai looked at Lin Haifeng’s upright figure and asked softly, ”Dad... is this a declaration of war?”

”Declaring war? Against whom?”

”Wen Yu and us...”

”He’s just venting his anger, nothing more...”

”But...”

”It’s impossible. Wen Yu wouldn’t declare war on the military over something as trivial as 1,000 physique points for Qin Tian and himself.”

Hearing Lin Haifeng’s words, Fang Bai fell silent.

”You’re doubtful, right?” Lin Haifeng asked. ”You’re wondering if Wen Yu’s attitude just now made all our initial preparations worthless, right?”

Hearing this, Fang Bai nodded gently.

”I did so much in advance, and I told you the purpose,” Lin Haifeng continued. ”I wanted to give Wen Yu a way out, to let him distance himself from this incident...”

”But you failed,” Fang Bai interjected.

”No!” Lin Haifeng declared firmly. ”We have succeeded. Actually, before our conversation, I’d already considered two possibilities.”

”First, Wen Yu would accept the understanding between us. In that case, the whole thing could be passed off as a mere accident, and I could justify using the condition of treating Qin Shiyuan in exchange for Qin Tian’s one-time loyalty.”

”But Wen Yu disrupted that option.”

Fang Bai had a clear understanding of the situation.

”Yes, indeed,” Lin Haifeng said. ”As it turned out, Wen Yu still has a temper and some guts. He didn’t take the easy way out I’d set for him. This leads us to the second possibility...”

”He would get angry, he would be furious, he would metaphorically slap my face like he just did... But he wouldn’t declare war on us. At most, he’ll make trouble for us over trivial matters. He understands my bottom line, just as I understand his. And the action against Qin Tian doesn’t actually cross Wen Yu’s bottom line...”

”Moreover, neither of us will talk about today’s conversation. I won’t spill it, and neither will Wen Yu. To outsiders, the incident will still be seen as an unexpected accident. At most, Wen Yu lost face in front of me. Note, *only* in front of me. To everyone else, he’s still Wen Yu. He wouldn’t go around publicizing the truth about this incident...”

”The outcome is already set! For most people, the Demon Fiend attack at the market is just an accident!”

”So, regardless of the situation, Wen Yu is no longer directly involved. Even if he wants to interfere, he’s powerless...”

「...」

”Wen Yu’s disengagement from this incident is now inevitable. All he can do next is resort to petty tactics. What do you think he’ll do now?”

After a brief silence, Fang Bai confidently replied, ”Find Tang Haofei!”

”Right, find Tang Haofei! He’ll undoubtedly reveal the entire Sea King Control Plan to him and might even conspire with Tang Haofei to kill me...”

”Are you sure there’s no problem? Wen Yu telling Tang Haofei about the Sea King Control Plan wouldn’t affect the plan in any way?”

At Fang Bai’s words, Lin Haifeng’s mouth slowly curled into a smile. ”Silly boy, how do you know that Wen Yu going to Tang Haofei isn’t part of my calculations...?”

「...」

”I want to kill him! I *must* kill him! This old bastard is a tumor! He’s plotted against me again and again!”

Hearing Wen Yu’s furious words, Tang Haofei slowly poured him a cup of coffee.

”You’re very angry right now. I think you should calm down.”

Something in Tang Haofei’s words seemed to possess a magical power, gradually calming Wen Yu’s rage.

”Did you cast True Words on me?” Wen Yu asked.

Tang Haofei shrugged, neither confirming nor denying it.

”Rage can interfere with rational thinking.”

His platitude made Wen Yu heave a deep sigh.

”That old bastard, Lin Haifeng! He plotted against me again!”

”What exactly happened?”

Seeing the probing look in Tang Haofei’s eyes, Wen Yu fell silent for a moment, then resolutely told Tang Haofei every detail of the incident.

Since Lin Haifeng dared to target Qin Tian, there was no reason for Wen Yu to keep the ”Sea King Control Plan” from Tang Haofei anymore!

「...」

After a long narrative, silence fell.

Wen Yu needed a breather—even now, he hadn’t fully recovered from his anger. Lin Haifeng’s actions just now were, at best, a negotiation; at worst, a threat, or even a blatant slap in the face!

Both emotionally and rationally, Wen Yu found this hard to swallow—though a complete break with the military seemed unlikely...

But if Tang Haofei sided with him...

Then things might be negotiable!

With the combined fighting power of Sequence Number 1 and Sequence Number 2, Lin Haifeng couldn’t possibly escape their joint assassination unless he possessed heaven-defying abilities!

The reason for Tang Haofei’s silence was much simpler...

He was thinking...

After a while, Tang Haofei finally spoke.

”The Sea King Control Plan... Lin Haifeng certainly is ambitious...”

”Exactly! That’s why I said he’s a tumor. Leaving him be is like having a rat dropping spoil a pot of soup! No matter how good the situation is, Lin Haifeng will eventually ruin it!” Wen Yu exclaimed.

”Tang Haofei, now, I earnestly invite you to join me in killing this old bastard!”

Looking into Wen Yu’s furious eyes, Tang Haofei paused for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

”In this matter, he didn’t target you... he targeted Qin Tian...”

”Is there a difference?”

Tang Haofei nodded. ”The difference is huge. We are currently the Human Race’s only two Breakthrough Achievers and its strongest combatants; our importance is self-evident. If Lin Haifeng had truly plotted against you, I wouldn’t stand for it, because the Human Race cannot afford the consequences of a war between you two.”

”But if it’s about Qin Tian...”

”Forgive me, but for that reason alone, I can’t act against Lin Haifeng.”