"After hearing that the base leader needed water-attribute awakeners, Helen went with the guards, and we haven't seen her since. Cho Jin has been trying to find her," Wu Hao said.
So that's why Helen wasn't around, and why Cho Jin looked so sullen and quiet throughout the mission.
A mocking smile played on Zhao Lin's lips. Upon seeing a tall branch, Helen had hurriedly grabbed onto it and discarded Cho Jin without hesitation.
She wasn't surprised at this.
A sound caught her attention.
Early in the morning, after hearing about a jade rchant, Wu Hao had invited her to look for jades, and Zhao Lin had agreed.
Since there were only two of them, they didn't go far—just wandered around the shops in front of a mausoleum.
Upon hearing the noise, she spun her head around, only to see figures entering the mausoleum.
...
The small mausoleum, once built to serve as the resting place of the first emperor and his empress.
It had long been closed to the public, only opened during grand national holidays. More than just a cultural relic, the tomb's architecture and design had once been a symbol of the dynasty's long-forgotten prosperity.
But now, after the flood, the site no longer held its forr majesty. The temples and walls had mostly collapsed, reduced to rubble. The once sacred grounds were now hills of hardened mud mixed with broken debris—dead trees, overturned cars, shattered bricks, and discarded garbage.
Amidst those desolate ruins, four figures moved stealthily, climbing over the crumbled terrain.
They were mbers of the Thorn Team.
And in the center of their group was a man with a black plastic bag over his head.
It was Elder ng—the sa Elder ng who had mysteriously disappeared from the base. His hands were tied in front of his chest, and he was being dragged along like a criminal.
"Who are you people? Where... where are you taking ?" Elder ng's hoarse voice trembled with panic.
The last thing he rembered was lying in bed. When he regained consciousness, he was already brought to this place.
What about Tao'er? Was he safe?
The n didn't answer. They only pulled him along, callously ignoring his pleas.
Elder ng's heart pounded violently. Fear gnawed at his chest.
"I have a grandson... he's still in the tent. He's only a child—he won't survive without . Please, let's talk this through," Elder ng begged, his voice cracking. "Please… I'm begging you…"
His voice was laced with both confusion and terror.
Who are these people? Why are they doing this to him?
Had soone discovered he was a Water-type awakener? But that shouldn't be possible. Tao'er and his father—neither would betray him. Right?
"If you want supplies, I can give—"
Before he could finish, one of the n gave him a harsh shove.
"So noisy!"
Elder ng stumbled forward, hitting his knee against a protruding tree trunk. The sharp pain caused him to cry out and clutch his leg.
The fall finally dislodged the plastic bag covering his head.
As he looked up, the faces of the n who had abducted him ca into view.
His face paled.
"You…!"
Aren't these the thorn team?!
Without warning, a foot landed brutally against his lower back.
Elder ng cried out in agony.
"Why the hell do you talk so much, old man?" sneered the man with yellowed teeth. "Just shut up and co quietly."
Another kick followed. Elder ng writhed in pain. The man with yellowed teeth glared at him, rembering his own bruised face. He grabbed Elder ng by the chin, yanking his head up roughly. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be like this. Once my brother cos back, I'll make him deal with you... and that little brat grandson of yours too!"
"I'll make sure to return this tenfold!"
Rage surged in Elder ng's chest.
He pushed himself up and lunged forward with all his strength, aiming to strangle the man. "Don't you dare touch him!"
They could harm him—but not Tao'er!
Caught off guard for a mont, the yellow-toothed man quickly subdued him. "Damn crazy old man!"
With a snarl, he kicked Elder ng squarely in the gut. The elder's frail body flew backward, crashing against a sharp rock. He gasped, groaning from the pain.
Still, it wasn't over. The man descended on him again, raining punches on his already bruised face.
"How's that taste, huh?!"
"Ugh!" A trickle of blood dripped from Elder Min's lip.
"Hey, enough. He needs to be alive for the reward." Another man with a black eye grabbed Yellow Teeth by the arm to stop another blow. Though his tone sounded concerned, the malicious smirk on his lips said otherwise.
Yellow Teeth scoffed, but reluctantly stepped back.
Though he hadn't used full strength—afraid of accidentally killing Elder ng—the old man was still in terrible shape. Were it not for his awakened body's enhanced resilience, he'd have long since passed out.
Shaking, Elder ng struggled to sit up. His glare held no fear, only seething defiance.
That glare infuriated Yellow Teeth even more.
He grabbed a handful of Elder ng's hair, forcing his head up. "Consider yourself lucky. If it weren't for the reward, this would've been your grave—!"
Before he could finish, a ball of water ford mid-air—and smashed directly into his face.
"Ahhh!" the man scread, reeling backward and covering his face.
"Shit! This old man's an awakener?!"
The Thorn Team hadn't expected that. They were shocked.
While the others scrambled to dodge the incoming water balls, Elder ng took the opportunity to run.
"Catch him! Don't let him escape!"
But just as hope lit in Elder ng's heart, he was knocked out. A figure had silently appeared behind him.
It was the man who had approached the Thorn Team before.
He glanced at the elder's pathetic form.
"This is the doctor you were talking about?"
---
Minutes passed.
Elder ng woke with a jolt as cold water splashed over his face.
He gasped, shivering, eyes fluttering open. He was in a dark, damp room lit only by a single candle. The walls pressed close on all sides.
Where... was this?
He blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the dim light. Slowly, the outline of a chair ca into view.
A woman sat upon it, her silhouette elegant but cold.
Then ca the voice—calm and chilling.
"You're a doctor?"
Elder ng didn't respond.
Click.
A sharp, cold object pressed against his temple. He recognized the sound.
A gun.
"Y-Yes..." he answered quickly, swallowing hard.
"Then prove it."
The woman—Lu iying—gestured.
A man was dragged into the room and dropped unceremoniously at Elder ng's feet.
He was gagged, muffled groans of agony escaping his throat.
"He ingested a poisonous toxin. He won't live past the day," Lu iying said coldly. "You need to cure him..."
Her voice dropped to a whisper, yet it froze the air around them.
"Otherwise, neither of you will ever see the light of day again."
Her eyes glead like sharpened blades.
Elder Min trembled under her gaze.
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