Chapter 131: Is This Guy Even Human?

Receiving a message from Hua Xiaocui, Su Cha felt a surge of hope. She immediately sought out Housekeeper Xue and together they reported the matter to Madam Nangong, requesting permission to return to the Nangong mansion.

Madam Nangong agreed. This time, her mission was not just to protect Xianyu Ling, but to secure her position as well.

Upon Su Cha’s arrival, Hua Xiaocui was overjoyed. "Sister Su Cha, have you fully recovered?"

Su Cha nodded calmly. "Yes, it’s nothing serious." She had only been knocked unconscious and suffered a minor head wound after hitting a wall. After half a month of rest, she had long since healed.

Aunt Rong was relieved to see her. "It is a blessing from heaven that both you and the young lady are safe!"

Although Su Cha had wanted to visit Xianyu Ling first, she had to follow Madam Nangong’s instructions to head to the mansion first. Knowing the nature of the task, Aunt Rong assigned Su Cha to replace Hua Xiaocui in caring for Xiao Zhiyun, as Su Cha was far more composed. The impulsive and reckless Hua Xiaocui was sent to the hospital to assist Ning Wenyan in watching over Xianyu Ling.

***

Xiao City is an ancient city located over seven hundred kilometers north of the Imperial City.

During the height of the Nangong family’s power in ancient times, they produced several generals, and their most powerful leader was even granted the title of a prince from outside the royal lineage. Xiao City was once the fiefdom of this Nangong prince. Later, to avoid the tragedy of being seen as a threat to the throne, the descendants of the Nangong family gradually transitioned from military commanders to civil officials.

After the collapse of the ancient dynasty and a century of war, the Nangong family’s influence and population dwindled significantly. During this period, they turned to commerce to sustain the family. In those turbulent times, the Anti-Variant Organization grew increasingly powerful, posing a grave threat to the survival of variants. Consequently, Madam Nangong’s father collaborated with other prominent families in the Imperial City to push for the establishment of a new nation.

Once the wars ended and the country stabilized, the Anti-Variant Organization was suppressed, and the Nangong family slowly regained its former glory. However, internal infighting began to intensify. By the time it reached Madam Nangong’s generation, her brother lacked the necessary capability, and the position of family head was coveted by the traditionalists back in Xiao City. Madam Nangong decisively stepped in to replace her brother, becoming the head of the Nangong family.

Because she was a female leader, the faction from Xiao City continuously used that as a pretext to try and usurp her. However, Madam Nangong inherited her father’s wisdom and decisiveness. She was bold in her actions, purging those who harbored ill intentions and leaving only those willing to submit.

By the time the leadership reached Nangong Ao’s generation, those who had previously submitted began to harbor ulterior motives. Because their numbers were small and their strength weak, and in order to comply with the rule of law in the new era, Nangong Ao had been tolerant. To his surprise, they colluded with external forces to target their own kin. Under these circumstances, Nangong Ao had no choice but to clean house.

***

Previously, A-Si had sent a team of subordinates to handle the situation, but days had passed without a single word from them. This was why Nangong Ao sent Jiang Mohe along with a few other elite subordinates to Xiao City to investigate and complete the mission.

To avoid detection, they bypassed the main roads and chose remote mountain paths. However, the weather did not cooperate. Shortly after leaving the Imperial City, it began to rain. As they neared Xiao City, the rain intensified, turning the mountain roads into a quagmire. Even in their off-road vehicle, they frequently became stuck in the mud.

"Damn it! What kind of pathetic weather is this?" A-Li, the driver, cursed furiously when the wheels got stuck yet again.

A-Qi, in the passenger seat, laughed and tried to soothe him. "Don't get worked up. Let's just get out and push."

A-Li glared at him. "Easy for you to say! You go push this time!"

A-Jiu, sitting in the back, scoffed. "With his scrawny arms and legs, the car wouldn't move even if he pushed until tomorrow morning!"

A-Qi shrugged. "Sorry, I make my living with my technical skills."

A-Li cursed again and stepped out into the pouring rain to push the car. As a strength-based combatant, he had plenty of power, but he loathed this wet, miserable weather. After exerting most of his strength, he finally pushed the car out of the mud. He climbed back in and shook his soaked hair.

"Brother, what are you doing?" A-Jiu complained. "You're getting water all over the back seat!"

A-Li’s face darkened. "Since when did you become so fussy?"

Despite her complaints, A-Jiu was a girl after all and hated being covered in muck. She pouted and turned to look out the window at the gloomy, mist-covered mountains. A-Qi had been sprayed with the most water, but he simply wiped it away with his sleeve and remained silent.

A-Li continued driving. In the rearview mirror, A-Qi studied the man sitting to A-Jiu’s left, who remained hidden within a black trench coat and hood. Since they met, the man had only spoken once to provide his codename and had not uttered a word since. The file A-Si had sent contained only a brief note: "Possesses special combat abilities." But that single sentence was enough to make him more than a match for the three of them combined. Sensing his reluctance to engage, everyone tacitly kept their distance.

***

Curiosity, however, was inevitable. A-Qi and his two companions had followed Nangong Ao for six years, battling many pseudo-variants, but actual variants were not something one encountered every day. Especially someone like the man in the back, whose aura was clearly on par with their boss. Why would such a person work for their boss?

As A-Qi pondered this, A-Jiu secretly observed Jiang Mohe through the reflection in the window: *This guy looks big and imposing, I wonder how many pseudo-variants he can handle...*

The car moved through the thickening dusk. The rain continued to pour, and the mountain road grew steeper. A-Li was driving with extreme caution. Just as A-Qi was about to suggest switching drivers, Jiang Mohe, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke: "Rolling logs ahead!"

"What?!" A-Li was startled.

Within three seconds, they saw a massive, thick tree trunk rolling down the mountain road toward them. A-Li spun the steering wheel desperately, but the road was too slick; the wheels spun wildly, and the car began to slide toward the cliff edge.

"Brother!" A-Jiu screamed, instinctively grabbing the door handle and closing her eyes.

The disaster they feared did not come. The car screeched to a halt at the edge of the abyss. A-Li stared in shock at the black figure standing outside, bracing the car with one hand. He had no idea when Jiang Mohe had gotten out!

There was no time to think. Another tree trunk was rolling down from above, heading straight for the car. Jiang Mohe flashed in front of it, planted his feet firmly, and braced himself with both hands, meeting the massive log head-on. To the utter astonishment of A-Qi and the others, Jiang Mohe stopped the heavy timber with his bare hands and shoved it off the cliff.

"Holy crap! Is this guy even human?" A-Jiu gasped.

A-Qi’s eyes lit up. "He’s absolutely invincible!"

The invincible Jiang Mohe turned back and roared at the three in the car: "Get out!"

Without a moment’s hesitation, the three scrambled out of the vehicle. Just then, a massive boulder fell from the mountain above, slamming into the off-road vehicle and crushing it flat in an instant.