Zhao Bai said, “I don’t want to do anything, I just want you to stay here.”
He kept smiling, as if he had just said something as casual as commenting on the nice weather.
Song Wangzhuo lowered his eyes. ” So, you were responsible for the previous incidents as well?”
It wasn’t a question, but a statement.
Yet Song Wangzhuo still couldn’t understand why Song Lejin’s hostility toward him seemed innate.
He raised his gaze again and said calmly, “Since you’re all here, why hide? There are no cameras around anyway.”
As soon as Song Wangzhuo finished speaking, a figure emerged from the woods on the left none other than Song Lejin, who had rushed back earlier to call him.
There was no trace of the earlier anxiety on Song Lejin’s face now, and his previously limping leg had miraculously healed.
“Why?” Song Wangzhuo asked. “Why must I die?”
Song Lejin’s fake smile had long vanished. He stared deeply at Song Wangzhuo. “I didn’t want you dead at first, but you just wouldn’t leave. You left me no choice.”
Song Wangzhuo realized. “The house, the part-time job, that was you too.”
Song Lejin chuckled lightly. “Yes, it was me.”
He walked over to Zhao Bai’s side and continued, “I gave you chances, but you didn’t take them. So now, I can only say I’m sorry.”
He gave Zhao Bai a look, and Zhao Bai cracked his knuckles before stepping toward Song Wangzhuo.
Song Wangzhuo stood motionless.
Seeing this, Song Lejin scoffed, “Now you decide to stand still? What were you doing earlier?”
Then he added, “I’ll wait for you over there.”
His meaning was clear: Zhao Bai should finish this quickly.
Song Wangzhuo kept his eyes on Zhao Bai but still voiced the question that had been bothering him. “Why must I die?”
Without turning back, Song Lejin replied, “Your very existence is a mistake!”
As soon as Song Lejin finished speaking, Zhao Bai lunged forward with astonishing speed. From his movements alone, Song Wangzhuo could tell he was trained unexpected for someone who had stayed under Song Lejin’s radar for so long.
Zhao Bai’s knife thrust straight at Song Wangzhuo.
A sharp clang rang out as another blade a military-grade knife blocked the strike. Song Wangzhuo kicked hard at Zhao Bai, but the latter dodged effortlessly.
The two separated. Zhao Bai glanced at the military knife in Song Wangzhuo’s hand and smirked. “So, you came prepared.”
Song Wangzhuo’s hand was numb from the impact. This knife had been secretly given to him by Shen Yuqing as a precaution before he left, with strict instructions to keep it hidden.
Who knew it would actually come in handy?
After his taunt, Zhao Bai charged again, slashing relentlessly at Song Wangzhuo.
His previous injuries had been due to carelessness, so this time, Song Wangzhuo was more focused. But Zhao Bai’s techniques were clearly professionally trained, and as an amateur, Song Wangzhuo soon found himself at a disadvantage, taking a few hits.
His arm was slashed by the sharp blade. Song Wangzhuo barely managed to control his opponent’s hand, trying to wrest the knife away while restraining him: “Murder is illegal. Even if I die, do you think you’ll get off easy?”
Zhao Bai didn’t care. He sneered, “How I fare is none of your concern. All you need to do is die that’ll be the greatest help to me.”
Despite being a double S-class alpha, Song Wangzhuo was up against Zhao Bai, a rabid dog who feared no injury. Though Song had stabbed him multiple times, Zhao hadn’t even blinked.
Fear only exists when one has something to lose.
Clearly, Zhao Bai had already secured his concerns in a safe place before taking action, watching everything unfold with cold detachment.
Using their current position, Zhao forced Song toward the nearby slope. He had prepared the ground below with scattered rocks even if the fall didn’t kill Song, finishing him off would be effortless.
Gritting his teeth, Song suddenly shoved Zhao away. Before breaking free, he tore off the scent-blocking patch on Zhao’s nape, then swiftly ripped off his own.
Two pheromones erupted violently in the air. Even the once-gentle magnolia scent now radiated killing intent.
Struggling under the pressure, Zhao looked up at Song and laughed hoarsely, “Double S-class? You’re actually double S-class?!”
Zhao’s own psychic power was already S-class. He was used to suppressing others with his pheromones never had he imagined being overpowered himself.
Even Song Lejin, watching from the sidelines, was forced to brace against a tree to stay upright, his eyes bloodshot with envy.
A double S-class alpha!
In their past life, Song Wangzhuo had never publicly displayed his psychic strength. Lejin had always assumed he was just an ordinary alpha but no, he was double S!
This made eliminating him even more urgent. Currently, only Pei Yiyan held the double S-class distinction. If word got out about Song’s power, killing him later would be far harder.
Lejin pulled a drug from his pocket. Alpha battles inevitably escalated to psychic clashes, so he had come prepared with suppressants to temporarily nullify pheromonal effects.
His scent gland burned crimson from the two conflicting pheromones, triggering labored breathing as a side effect.
The medication brought some relief.
Meanwhile, Song and Zhao grappled again. This time, with psychic suppression in play, Zhao gained no advantage instead, Song overpowered him.
As Song forced Zhao toward the cliff’s edge, Zhao suddenly shouted, “Shen Yuqing!”
The momentary distraction was all Zhao needed. He drove a fist into Song’s wounded arm.
With a pained grunt, Song released his grip and staggered back.
Zhao flexed his shoulders mockingly. “Had I known you treasured Shen Yuqing this much, I’d have kidnapped him too sent you both to the afterlife as companions.”
Shen Yuqing had been sabotaging Lejin’s plans at every turn. While Lejin hesitated due to the Shen family’s influence, to Zhao, one corpse or two made no difference just numbers on a tally.
Song Wangzhuo was no longer passive. He charged forward with a military knife, aiming straight for Zhao Bai’s heart. But before he could reach him, a rock struck his head with brutal force.
Song Lejin had rushed over from the side at some point he was the one who had thrown the stone.
Song Wangzhuo turned his head, instantly shifting his target and lunging toward Song Lejin instead.
Song Lejin stumbled back in fear. “Zhao Bai!”
Zhao Bai pounced from behind, pinning Song Wangzhuo down with all his strength.
Song Lejin finally exhaled in relief, but before he could speak, he felt the cold edge of a blade press against his throat.
“Let go!” a panting voice roared.
The two men wrestling on the ground froze at the sound. Zhao Bai was the first to react, looking up.
Shen Yuqing had appeared out of nowhere, pressing a military knife against Song Lejin’s throat hard enough to draw blood.
Zhao Bai snarled, “You dare?!”
Shen Yuqing tightened his grip. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Song Lejin stiffened, not daring to move a muscle, his breaths turning shallow.
How was Shen Yuqing here?
When had he arrived?
They hadn’t noticed him at all!
Shen Yuqing’s heart pounded as he took in Song Wangzhuo pinned to the ground. Good. He’d made it in time.
His lips were pale, sweat dripping down his face as he repeated, “I said, let go.”
As he spoke, he tilted Song Lejin’s chin up with the knife, exposing his neck. The blade was razor-sharp even the slightest pressure drew blood, let alone the force he was using now.
Blood welled from Song Lejin’s wound, his face twisting in pain.
Yet he locked eyes with Zhao Bai and hissed, “Do it!”
Zhao Bai had been restraining Song Wangzhuo, ready to strike, but the sight of Song Lejin’s bleeding throat made him hesitate.
Finally, he released Song Wangzhuo and stood. Song Wangzhuo scrambled up and immediately restrained Zhao Bai in turn.
Forced to kneel on one knee, Zhao Bai suppressed his fury. “Let him go.”
Song Wangzhuo, still catching his breath, glanced at Shen Yuqing, who only said, “Not yet.”
If he released Song Lejin now, with Zhao Bai’s madness unchecked, neither he nor Song Wangzhuo stood a chance of escaping.
The sane fear the mad, and the mad fear the unhinged.
But since no unhinged option was available, they had to find another way.
Shen Yuqing met Song Wangzhuo’s gaze. “You okay?”
Song Wangzhuo’s face was grim, his wounds throbbing, but he nodded. “I’m fine.”
Just then, rustling came from the woods someone was calling their names.
“Lejin!”
“Lejin!”
“Where are you? Lejin!”
It was Lin Sui’s voice!
All four turned toward the sound. Flashlight beams flickered in the distance Lin Sui and the others must have doubled back and come searching for them.
They’d be here in another minute or two.
Watching the lights draw closer, Shen Yuqing withdrew the knife. “Release him.”
Song Wangzhuo hesitated but complied, freeing Zhao Bai. The approaching group was loud, their flashlights swinging wildly.
Song Wangzhuo quickly moved to Shen Yuqing’s side, studying his sweat-drenched face. “Are you… alright?”
Shen Yuqing shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Song Wangzhuo asked, “What are you doing here?”
Shen Yuqing explained, “The person I left behind seemed off. He told me something was wrong, and I was afraid you might be in trouble, so I rushed over.”
He smiled at Song Wangzhuo. “Good thing I made it in time. You’re safe now.”
But then he added, “This isn’t the right place to settle scores. Whatever grievances you have, we’ll deal with them after we get out of here, understand?”
Song Wangzhuo, still gripping the military knife tightly, closed his eyes and took a deep breath before nodding. “I understand.”
The place was swarming with surveillance cameras. If caught on tape, he’d only invite more trouble and the Song family wasn’t one to be trifled with.
Song Lejin might be injured now, but in front of Lin Sui and the others, he wouldn’t dare reveal the truth.
They’d have to wait until they were out to settle things properly.
Shen Yuqing raised his hand and patted Song Wangzhuo’s shoulder, about to say something more when his peripheral vision caught Song Lejin charging toward them.
Song Lejin hissed under his breath, “Song Wangzhuo, just die already!”
Not only that, Zhao Bai, following orders, also lunged forward. The two intended to push him down before Lin Sui and the others arrived!
But someone reacted faster. Shen Yuqing shoved Song Wangzhuo hard toward open ground, leaving himself standing alone at the edge of the steep slope.
Song Lejin froze, trying to pull back, but Shen Yuqing seized his wrist. Stunned for a moment, he saw Shen Yuqing flash him a smirk.
Then he felt a sharp tug expecting to be dragged down the slope only for Shen Yuqing to abruptly release his grip at the last second.
Song Lejin stumbled backward.
“Shen Yuqing!”
“Yuqing!”
The heart-wrenching cries rang out simultaneously, but no one managed to catch Shen Yuqing as he plummeted.
