Chapter 428: Handle It As You See Fit (Two-in-One)

The next day.

The plane took off from the Third Ring Domain's airport, slowly climbing into the sky.

In the cabin, Yan Jing sat in his seat, flipping through a magazine.

The plane had not yet leveled out, so he couldn't leave his seat yet.

This plane was much larger than the previous one because there were more people. The members of team three were now heading to the Second Ring Domain together to rendezvous with the other three teams.

"Mr. Yan, have you heard of the Second Ring Domain?"

Sheng Xia sat beside Yan Jing. The seats to his front, back, left, and right were completely empty.

Aside from Sheng Xia, nobody wanted to sit near Yan Jing.

Even Zhou Kai and Shui Nianshuang were unwilling to sit with a madman.

And Sheng Xia only sat there because she was afraid he might cause another massive incident.

"No."

Yan Jing kept his eyes on the magazine's piece on the geography and culture of the Third Ring Domain.

"I've even heard of the First Ring Domain, but never the Second."

"That's perfectly normal."

Sheng Xia nodded in profound agreement. "Because the Second Ring Domain is a chaotic zone."

"A chaotic zone—what does that mean?"

Intrigued, Yan Jing closed the magazine and looked at Sheng Xia.

"It's because of the Domain Chief of the Second Ring Domain,"

Sheng Xia explained softly. "When he was young, he left Yueyin to experience the outside world. That experience convinced him that if people were bound by rules, their strength would be restricted."

"True geniuses should follow the natural order and grow wild."

"Therefore, the rules in the Second Ring Domain are the loosest among all the ring domains. He even petitioned the domain lord to let the laws in the Second Ring Domain differ from the rest."

"Of course, not just anyone can enter the Second Ring Domain. Although its rules are the loosest, that is exactly why entering requires the strictest vetting."

"And the focus of that vetting is strength."

"Only the strong can enter the Second Ring Domain. That is its greatest rule."

Hearing this, Yan Jing nodded. "So, what are you trying to tell me, Miss Sheng?"

"Are you saying I can freely unleash my true nature there?"

Sheng Xia shook her head, forcing a smile. "No, what I want to say is that precisely because the Second Ring Domain is special, it houses many powerful individuals who had problems in the other ring domains."

"And the trial site we're heading to is a gathering place for these experts."

"Does that mean there's someone I know inside?" Yan Jing smiled.

"...I suppose you could say that."

Sheng Xia took a deep breath before finally saying, "There's a man there named He Chuzhi."

"He used to hold another identity—the third member of Zhoulin."

"I understand. You don't want me causing trouble with him," Yan Jing smiled.

Sheng Xia smiled. "I just wanted to give you a heads-up."

"Understood."

Yan Jing nodded.

The plane had leveled out. He unbuckled his seatbelt, stood up, and headed toward the room.

Before stepping inside, he looked back at Sheng Xia and smiled. "I'm not someone who likes to cause trouble. Honestly, compared to He Chuzhi, I'm much more looking forward to the day I can fight you, Miss Sheng."

Sheng Xia's expression shifted slightly, then she smiled. "You are very strong, Mr. Yan, but I'm not as weak as you imagine."

"I'm also looking forward to that day. When it comes, I believe you'll understand the gap between yourself and the First Ring Domain."

Yan Jing nodded and stepped into his room.

Watching his back, Sheng Xia let out a sigh of relief.

It had been so many days. Every time she thought she had figured out his personality, he would deal her a heavy blow. She could only hope to keep things stable this time.

She picked up her phone, planning to scroll through social media for a while. Suddenly, Shui Nianshuang walked over and sat in the seat Yan Jing had just vacated.

"I have a plan,"

Shui Nianshuang said, looking at Yan Jing's door.

"Don't."

Sheng Xia said softly, "Don't say it."

"Don't you think those three would definitely like him?" Shui Nianshuang chuckled.

"Maybe."

Sheng Xia said, "But I just want to deliver him safely to His Excellency."

Shui Nianshuang's beautiful eyes gleamed. "Maybe you could give him to me."

"If you want to try, be my guest," Sheng Xia sighed. "But be careful not to get eaten by him instead."

"Heh." Remembering Yan Jing's previous madness, Shui Nianshuang swallowed unconsciously. "I'll be careful."

"I think his behavior back in the Third Ring Domain was just a way to protect himself. In reality, he probably isn't that crazy."

"I investigated with some people who entered Minhu with him. He actually has a rather calm personality."

"Darlings!! My dear citizens of the Peace Heavenly Kingdom!!!"

Mao Si shoved his face into the live broadcast camera, cackling wildly. "Honestly, it's not that I'm trying to be provocative, but it's been so many days and still no one has found me. All I can say is that you guys are a massive disappointment!"

"Come on, everyone, take a look at what this is!"

Yan Jing brought out a video clip. It showed Zeng Qing, whom he had taken, eating a piece of bread.

"Hehehe—"

Yan Jing let out a weird laugh in a raspy voice. "You should all seriously think about whether Quan Dazhong should really stay in power."

"It's been so many days! What has he done? The plant disease? Has he cured it?"

"Me? Has he caught me?"

"He hasn't done a single thing! He is the most garbage president of the Peace Heavenly Kingdom!!!"

"Right now, so many citizens of the Peace Heavenly Kingdom are trapped in deep water and scorching fire. Soon you won't even be able to move, but he is still doing absolutely nothing!"

With that, Yan Jing pulled out a sign from behind him and held it up to the camera.

On it was written a single sentence: "Step down, Quan Dazhong!"

"Come on, everyone, let's play a game. As long as Quan Dazhong steps down, I will cure the plant disease. How about it?"

Yan Jing ended the stream.

"Send this video out."

He looked at Tianquan beside him.

"Okay."

Tianquan nodded.

Soon, this broadcast recording spread madly like a virus.

Peace Mansion.

Quan Dazhong slammed his fist viciously into the screen, shattering it to pieces.

"Why!!!"

He glared at Ding Xunchun in front of him and roared, "Why haven't we found a trace of this guy yet?!"

Ding Xunchun kept his head bowed. "We stopped the search recently, because you previously said to put more resources into treating the afflicted—"

"So you're not going to catch the criminal?!"

Quan Dazhong roared. "Huh?!"

"Are you not going to solve the problem from the source?!"

"My apologies, Mr. President." Ding Xunchun had grievances he couldn't voice.

These words had clearly been spoken by Quan Dazhong himself.

Ever since they discovered the Origin Plant the day before yesterday, Quan Dazhong's mood had improved significantly, and he hadn't asked about this matter again. But this morning, his mood seemed to have worsened.

This was even though the location of one Origin Plant had already been confirmed.

What Ding Xunchun didn't know was that Quan Dazhong had already personally gone out searching for two whole days just to find the lifeform controlling the Origin Plants.

Yet, twice in a row, they had been the wrong locations.

This ruined his mood to the absolute extreme.

He didn't care about the residents' opposition.

Because as long as he captured that lifeform, he would be able to control the residents.

He didn't care about Yan Jing's provocations.

Because as long as he captured that lifeform, he would still be the president.

But the problem right now was that he couldn't find that damn lifeform! He couldn't find it!

With the locations of the Origin Plants being discovered one after another, the Song Family and the Zeng Family could find that lifeform at any moment.

When that time came, he would truly have no way out!!!

And so, he unleashed all his anger on Ding Xunchun. The tea at hand splashed onto the crisp suit opposite him, and he said fiercely, "Did you do that thing I asked you to do earlier?"

"You mean Liao Junliang?"

Ding Xunchun braced himself. "Mr. President, Prime Minister Liao—"

"I asked you if you did it!!!"

Quan Dazhong was practically roaring.

"N-No, I haven't."

Ding Xunchun said.

"Now! Either find that damn cat for me! Or get the job done!!!"

Quan Dazhong said fiercely, "Otherwise, recall all resources from the medical side and throw them into finding the Origin Plants!"

"...Yes..."

Ding Xunchun's lips trembled.

"Get out!"

Quan Dazhong said coldly.

Ding Xunchun walked out the door, his mind in complete chaos.

He had to make a move. Otherwise, all resources would be withdrawn from the medical side. Every day of delay meant tens of thousands of people infected and paralyzed.

Yes, he could only do this.

Otherwise, the Heavenly Kingdom would be finished.

This was for the Heavenly Kingdom.

Holding onto this foolish thought, he stepped into the elevator.

As the elevator descended, he brainwashed himself over and over again.

He had no way out.

He couldn't support another president, because he had followed Quan Dazhong for ten years.

He also couldn't let Liao Junliang off. There was absolutely no trace of Mao Si's location, and the plant disease was imminent. Even many people in the Central Intelligence Department had already been infected. If he wanted to resolve the matter, he only had one choice.

Only by taking action!

Yes, only by taking action!

He had to take action—

Amidst these thoughts, the elevator doors slowly slid open.

He stared in bewilderment at Liao Junliang standing outside the door, completely unable to hide the tremor in his eyes.

"Xunchun, I was just looking for you!"

Liao Junliang clearly hadn't noticed anything unusual. He got into the elevator with a smile and casually pressed the button for the nineteenth floor.

That was the rooftop of the Peace Mansion.

Of course, it wasn't because he wanted to chat on the rooftop. It was because when this elevator went up to the rooftop, it defaulted to emergency escape, so no one else would get on halfway.

When the two of them wanted to find a chance to chat, they usually did this.

"That Mao Si is really too arrogant! Once this matter is resolved, we definitely have to catch him and teach him a harsh lesson! It's best to throw him right into the Great Prison!"

Liao Junliang opened the conversation with a recent topic. "Right?"

Ding Xunchun nodded absentmindedly.

But Liao Junliang was still very excited. Ever since he learned about the Origin Plant and knew that the plant disease was about to be resolved, all his previous anger had completely vanished. For the past two days, he hadn't slept at all just to dispatch medical resources.

"How is it? Is the President in a good mood today?"

"...It's alright."

"Alright is good. If the President is happy, we are happy, and the entire Peace Heavenly Kingdom is happy."

"...Mm."

"That... how is the search for the Origin Plants going?" Liao Junliang finally couldn't resist asking the true purpose of this chat. "Have they all been found? Or are we already preparing to destroy them?"

He looked a bit embarrassed, because he could no longer access this kind of classified information. After losing Quan Dazhong's trust, Quan Dazhong had never shared this news with him again.

He could only obtain the relevant news through Ding Xunchun.

But he really couldn't hold back, which was why he asked.

"One has been found. It should be fast..."

"That's good, that's good."

Liao Junliang rubbed his hands happily. Only then did he notice the strange look on Ding Xunchun's face.

After a brief moment of thought, he patted Ding Xunchun's shoulder. "Xunchun, about that time before, I offended you... I shouldn't have thought of you that way... We've been comrades for so many years. It was my fault..."

His expression was very sincere. "But don't worry, I'll be stepping down soon—"

Ding Xunchun's eyes flickered, and he looked at Liao Junliang.

"I'm getting old."

Liao Junliang smiled, his smile holding a bit of self-deprecation and apology. "You see, last time I misjudged the President's thoughts and did that to you. After this general election, I plan to resign. I've got my eye on a decent young man, and I'm preparing to let him take my position."

"He has quite a knack for economic development. His surname is Wu, you've probably heard of him. I'm not very familiar with him yet, though, so I plan to get in touch with him soon. Mostly, I need to make sure he doesn't have any corporate background. You know—the past few years have been too difficult for us."

Because of the camera, he spoke obscurely, keeping his eyes downcast and his mouth in the camera's blind spot. Consequently, he didn't notice Ding Xunchun's gradually changing expression.

"What is his name?"

Ding Xunchun asked.

"His name is Wu Yu."

"All these years, I've managed to pull through. Although I haven't made any grand contributions to the Heavenly Kingdom, at least I haven't made any major mistakes. The future depends on you guys. Keep it up. I really am old, but I believe I'll be able to watch our Heavenly Kingdom become more and more—"

Liao Junliang didn't finish his sentence.

Because a blade plunged straight into his throat, directly cutting his carotid artery and precisely severing the connection between his main body and his mechanical core.

Gushing blood splattered everywhere in the elevator.

Liao Junliang's eyes first showed shock, then flashed with sudden realization. Looking at the grim-faced Ding Xunchun holding the blade opposite him, he smiled. Reaching out a trembling hand, he gripped Ding Xunchun's palm, and used his last ounce of strength to speak.

"Xun... Xunchun... It's up to you guys... The Heavenly Kingdom... depends on you guys..."

His body slid into the pool of blood in the elevator, falling completely silent.

Only after confirming that Liao Junliang was dead did Ding Xunchun rub his eyes, and then spend some time cleaning the inside of the elevator.

Only then did he head downstairs.

He didn't go to the Law Enforcement Bureau as originally planned, but returned to the floor where Quan Dazhong was.

Arriving at the door to Quan Dazhong's office, he took a deep breath, preparing to knock and deliver the news that the matter had been handled.

This was the only way—the sole method to save the Heavenly Kingdom without sacrificing himself. And that was Liao Junliang's death.

Strangely, Che Taizai, who usually guarded the door, was not there.

The other members of the Security Department weren't there either.

As the Presidential Security Department, there should be people outside Quan Dazhong's office at all times.

Although Quan Dazhong's office had anti-eavesdropping devices, human eavesdroppers just outside the door or other methods were difficult to guard against, and the guards served this very purpose.

Weird energy fluctuated around Ding Xunchun, and he heard a faint sound coming from inside the room. He immediately understood: Che Taizai had been called inside by Quan Dazhong to discuss secret matters.

Driven by some inexplicable impulse, he focused the weird energy on his ears and gently pressed his head against the door.

Soon, he vaguely heard the conversation between the two.

"Are you saying... I should give Xunchun a warning? Or... handle him..."

Che Taizai's chuckling voice drifted out.

"Mm, handle it as you see fit."

Quan Dazhong's voice was incomparably cold—so cold it felt as if it had drilled right into Ding Xunchun's body, freezing his blood.