Chapter 595: Arrogance Unmasked

Chapter 595: Arrogance Unmasked

Elsewhere.

Zhang Yi led his group away from the Tianchang Conference Center, which remained as lively as ever.

Though the meeting was over, many still lingered inside, eagerly discussing the situation in Linhai City.

Zhang Yi didn’t need to join their chatter—he’d get more accurate intel by asking Baili Changqing.

Just then, a mocking voice reached their ears.

“Tianhai City’s right next to Linhai, and now that those Neon ronin have invaded, you lot are actually running away with your tails between your legs? What a f***ing disgrace!”

The words immediately darkened everyone’s expressions.

Especially Chen Jingguan—his face turned red and pale by turns, his eyes filling with fury and shame.

Because the speaker was none other than Sun Jianming, one of the faction leaders from Daze City.

Zhang Yi frowned slightly and glanced over.

He saw the three major factions of Daze City grouped together, also heading out.

Their numbers far exceeded Tianhai City’s—more than three times as many superhumans.

Naturally, their presence was more imposing.

Xiao Honglian and the others looked nervous.

The gap in numbers was overwhelming—if it really came to a fight…

Xiao Honglian instinctively looked at Zhang Yi.

If Zhang Yi made a move, they might still have a chance.

No—if

he

fought, they’d

definitely

win!

Because Zhang Yi never fought battles he couldn’t win.

Thinking that, Xiao Honglian suddenly felt a lot more secure. That handsome side profile of his just became even more captivating.

Once they returned to Tianhai City, she was definitely going to get closer to Zhang Yi.

The Jiangnan District’s power dynamics were sure to shift in the future, and she needed a solid umbrella to shield Yangsheng Base.

The three faction leaders from Daze City approached.

Though there was still some distance between them, it was clear from their body language they weren’t exactly friendly with each other.

But when it came to applying pressure on Tianhai City, their goals were perfectly aligned.

Zhang Yi chuckled lightly and said, “Didn’t Commander Zhu say it himself? This mission is strictly voluntary. I don’t think our actions are any of your business.”

Sun Jianming exchanged glances with the other two. The disdain in their eyes deepened.

Even the superhumans behind them started laughing mockingly.

“You actually said that with a straight face? What a f***ing joke!”

“The nation’s in crisis, and you’re hiding like cowards in your shells. Seriously, you guys still think you have the right to represent Tianhai City?”

“If you ask me, Tianhai City’s powers are already worthless. Just look at that so-called leader of Chaoyu Base—tsk tsk!”

“You can’t handle such a prime area? Might as well give it up while you’re ahead.”

…

The Daze City superhumans mocked Tianhai’s people without restraint.

It made every single one of them look utterly humiliated.

Even someone as mild-tempered as Liang Yue furrowed her brows and glanced subconsciously at Zhang Yi.

If he just gave the word, they’d charge forward and beat the crap out of these guys.

But Zhang Yi listened to their jeers without the slightest change in expression.

The weak get angry when provoked—people like Chen Jingguan.

He was insecure because of his weakness, which made even the smallest insult unbearable.

But to the strong, the voices of ants were just too faint to register at all.

Why would Zhang Yi lose his cool over a bunch of bugs?

All he felt for them… was pity for their ignorance.

Still, Zhang Yi wasn’t going to make a move outside the Tianchang Conference Center.

Clearly, the other side was trying to provoke a fight—then hit back hard once Tianhai’s people responded.

That way, if Blizzard City’s higher-ups laid blame, they could pin everything on Tianhai.

Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes, and a flicker of cold killing intent passed through them.

These annoying insects… he really wanted to crush them one by one.

He smiled slightly. “Excuse us.”

Then turned to the others and said, “Let’s go.”

With that, Zhang Yi turned and walked off toward the apartment complex without looking back.

Xiao Honglian, Chen Jingguan, and the others had been waiting for him to act.

But he didn’t even flinch? Just walked away after all that mocking?

They were stunned.

So were the superhumans from Daze City.

To take that level of insult head-on and not even react?

Was he spineless and weak, or just way too good at holding it in?

Only Liang Yue, Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and the rest left with cheerful smiles, following behind Zhang Yi.

They already knew how Zhang Yi operated.

You think a few sarcastic comments would provoke him? Dream on.

Seeing Zhang Yi’s group walking off, Xing Tian hurried to follow as well.

From beginning to end, Zhang Yi hadn’t even acknowledged him.

In Zhang Yi’s eyes, if they were dumb enough to pick a fight with Daze City, he wouldn’t stop them.

Xiao Honglian and Chen Jingguan’s people finally understood something. They shot vicious glares at the Daze City superhumans, then turned and left silently.

Sun Jianming spat viciously at the ground.

“Pah! Gutless cowards! What a f***ing joke!”

Elsewhere, the leader of the

Ice Butterfly

organization, Gu Hongdie, chuckled and said:

“Their leader looks so weak. How’s someone like that even supposed to lead a team?”

A true leader needed strength and presence.

If you couldn’t even protect your own territory and people, who’d follow you?

To Gu Hongdie, Zhang Yi’s approach was just straight-up cowardice.

At that moment, the third faction leader, Chen Liangyu, flashed a sly look and said with a grin, “Isn’t this exactly what we wanted to see?”

Sun Jianming, Gu Hongdie, and Chen Liangyu all looked at one another—then broke into sinister grins.

They had a clear idea now of the situation in Tianhai City.

Chaoyu Base, once one of the five great powers of Tianhai, was now led by a Gamma-level superhuman—someone Sun Jianming could beat down single-handedly.

Back in Daze City, that kind of power level would barely qualify as a squad captain.

They’d deliberately come to pick a fight—just to gauge the strength of Tianhai’s remaining forces.

And the result?

They’d hurled public insults and not a single one of them dared talk back. Just slinked away with their tails tucked.

“This is a golden opportunity,” Sun Jianming said coldly.

Gu Hongdie giggled and glanced at the other two. “It’s rare for the three of us to be together. Why don’t we grab a drink and have a little chat?”

Sun Jianming and Chen Liangyu readily agreed.

They all knew exactly what the others were thinking.

With outside forces distracting the Jiangnan District and most of Tianhai’s neighboring factions off hunting ronin in Linhai City…

No one was paying attention to what happened in Tianhai.

None of them had signed up for that mission.

Their real goal—was to carve up the juicy meat of Tianhai City!

Don’t let Zhu Zheng’s righteous speeches fool you about “no internal conflicts.”

If they seized Tianhai first, there were plenty of ways to justify it afterward.

Like: “Helping a fellow city maintain security,” or “Targeted support for impoverished and weak regions.”

As long as the facts were already established, the Jiangnan District wouldn’t say a word.

Who ever speaks up for the weak, anyway?

Author's Note