Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Yaksha, in myths and legends, was a very lowly ghost. Its existence was barely considered as a ghost or spirit. It was just a very lowly ghost.
On Saturn’s Inferno, the lowest-level martial artists were called ghost soldiers. According to the different martial dao strengths or contributions to Inferno, they would be divided into a total of nine different levels of ghost soldiers.
Although the identity of Yaksha couldn’t be said to be very high, it could be regarded as a part of the cadre in Inferno. Fortunately, there were not many cadres in Inferno. To be called the Yaksha was already considered being a high-ranking cadre.
Qin Fen did not expect that Solov was actually a member of Inferno. Looking at his sixteen-star class strength, isn’t his status as a cadre is somewhat low? Did he not tell the truth?
Solov looked at the doubts in Qin Fen’s eyes and felt his throat tingling. He said quickly, “I first joined the military and then later joined Inferno, so…”
Qin Fen nodded as he understood completely. The Inferno had the right to suspect that he came to be a spy. The trust towards him was even lower than anyone who had directly joined Inferno without belonging to any organization before. It’s no wonder that even with his sixteen-star class strength, he only got the status of Yaksha.
No organization would belittle any martial artists that had surpassed the fifteen-star class. Every martial dao master held a high value and the value of a sixteen-star class martial dao master was even greater than that of a fifteen-star class.
Elysium’s Li Xianglong, who had sixteen-star class strength, could become the Xianglong Arhat in Elysium. If they were on equal footing in Inferno, he’d obviously not have the status of Yaksha.
Rumors had it that the strength of Inferno was still slightly inferior to Elysium. Under normal circumstances, it was even more impossible that the sixteen-star class Solov was assigned as a Yaksha. Only a lack of trust could explain it all.
“I am indeed not trusted by Inferno completely.” Solov looked at Qin Fen’s thoughtful eyes and admitted, “However, I am still the Yaksha of Inferno. If you kill me like this, then Saturn’s military will be out of the control of Inferno completely. Of course, Inferno will deal with you immediately and I believe you are very clear about the consequences.”
Qin Fen looked down at the documents in his hand; it was easy to see that Inferno had taken advantage of the Federation’s military headquarters. It was no wonder that Inferno did not need to get involved in the drug business of Golden Triangle, nor did they need building tyrants. They turned out to be taking directly from the taxpayers.
Solov looked at Qin Fen’s face which changed constantly. Although there was a lot of unhappiness, there was no murderous intent. He said after his mind had calmed down, “To understand? This is not Earth, the Inferno is not Zuo Dongting. Even if you are a strong dragon, you can’t suppress the head of the tyrant.”
Yang Lie raised his hand and patted Solov’s shoulder gently. It exposed a golden dragon on his outer arm that jumped along with the muscles gently, “Have you heard of an old saying?”
Solov looked at Yang Lie with some doubts and his heart secretly admired the handsome appearance of the mixed-race child.
“Fierce dragons crosses the river.” Yang Lie smiled faintly and looked at Solov, “Lieutenant general, the crime that you are committing now is considered treason to the majority. To the minority, it seems that you have also violated the military regulations. It was clearly stipulated in the regulations that all active military personnel are not allowed to serve any position in any group of any private sectors. You are a Yaksha in the local government organization and you are considered to be a section’s supervising manager, right? You have broken the rules.”
Xue Tian looked at Qin Fen who was lost in his thoughts, “What are you thinking about?”
“I recalled the terrorist annihilation mission I had previously.” Qin Fen looked up at Xue Tian and others as he said flatly, “I remember the day I was with Du Zhanpeng and the others to rescue the scientists on the island. At the time, a lot of comrades sacrificed their young lives.”
Du Peng was particularly silent. Under the hundred-man ambush, the number of dead comrades was not just one or two. It was so tragic that it was indescribable.
“I remembered that the Federation’s pension was reasonable, but it’s not very high.” Qin Fen recalled the lives of the two sisters, Yang Ruoruo and Yang Xixi in Tianbei City, “I was thinking, these soldiers who fought for the Federation on Saturn and died due to this betrayal, how much pension did their families receive? I think no amount of pension could comfort the loss of their loved ones.”
Solov was baffled and looked at Qin Fen. He didn’t understand what Qin Fen meant. Why did he dismissed his own life and death problems and involved the low-ranking soldiers?
“The money.” Qin Fen shook the document in his hand gently, “It was the money in exchange for their lives, but it was swallowed by the local government. I think those people, though not my comrades, were admirable warriors. The money in exchange for their lives should belong to their families and not to Inferno.”
Solov’s eyes widened. He couldn’t believe his ears. Is this young man’s brain malfunctioning? Listening to him, it seems like he is asking for money from the Inferno! Who does he think he is?
Qin Fen’s vision moved to Solov and said, “You should be able to contact Inferno, right?”
Solov nodded subconsciously, and unlimited happiness rose in his heart. This young man wants to walk into the trap himself! That is really great!
“Tell them that you are in our hands. Ask them to prepare…” Qin Fen looked at the list in his hand, “Five hundred million in exchange for you.”
“What did you say?” Solov suspected that his ears had problems. This young man was really evil. He directly demanded the price of five hundred million. Does he understand the concept of money? Is this kid not an average civilian? Listening to his concept of money, how come it was like the concept of a rich man? The starting price starts from the millions? A sixteen-star class martial dao master’s value is obviously more than five hundred million, but this is still a huge sum. In fact, very few people would even spend five hundred million to buy a martial dao master.
“Tell them that your ransom is five hundred million.” Qin Fen looked at Solov very seriously, “Also, prepare it in three days or else I will kill you.”
Solov was very skeptical. Was he was in the military headquarters or did he get kidnapped by a group of terrorists? Not only did they give a limited amount of time to prepare the ransom but they even dare to mention killing the hostage.
Solov looked at Solomon’s palm, which had withdrawn, replaced by the cold tip of his sword. He really didn’t know how to evaluate these young people in front of him. They had just arrived in Saturn and their seats had not even been warmed yet when they made such a move that was equivalent to declaring war against Inferno. Do they really think that this was Earth, where there is a beast to suppress the most extreme war? This is Saturn! Saturn still has not produced a divine beast!
The phone was connected at this time, and Solov whispered, “It’s me, Yasha Solov.”
“Solov, why did you call at this time? Is there any action in the military headquarters? Or is there any weapon to be shipped over?”
In the projection of the phone, there was a man and a woman. The skin colors of the two were black and white. The warrior suits on their bodies were tailored nicely, yet it had a sinister taste.
“Black and White Impermanence.” Solov saw the caller clearly at this moment and quickly wanted to nod but found that there was a saber at his throat and he did not dare move.
“Hey? What’s wrong with you? Why is there a saber at your neck? Are you being held hostage? How is it possible?”
A series of questions jumped out from the woman, White Impermanence. It was somewhat surprising that the martial artist of the sixteen-star class was being held hostage.
Solov was a bit frustrated and sighed repeatedly. “White Impermanence, as you can see, I am being held hostage. They said that my ransom is five hundred million, and that the money must be prepared within three days or else they will kill me.”
A scornful whisper popped out of the White Impermanence, and a resentful cold snort jumped out from the Black Impermanence. Both of their eyes revealed intense chill.
“Five hundred million? Are they poor to the point of crazy?” The tone of White Impermanence was a bit cold, but her voice was still soothing, “Do they know who you are? Do they know who they are extorting?”
Solov was helpless and looked at the Black and White Impermanence. If the two sides swapped positions, he would have also thought the same thing. This kind of extortion was too ridiculous. It was Inferno they were trying to extort!
“They know…” Solov said weakly.
The Black Impermanence snorted coldly, “Where are they? Reveal their faces, I will talk to them.”
Solov turned his eyes to Qin Fen helplessly. After getting the consent from Qin Fen, he pointed the phone towards Qin Fen slowly.
“You are the leader?”
The Black Impermanence’s voice revealed an amazing pressure as he looked at Qin Fen carefully, while Qin Fen observed the Black Impermanence too.
This Black Impermanence’s skin, like his name, was as black as ink and was a typical black man. His body was not of a strong figure of the general martial artists. His body shape was a little thin, his cheekbones pointed outwards and there was not much meat on his cheeks. Even his neck was not the thickness of ordinary martial artists. Who knew if his eyebrows were removed or if they just did not grow in the first place?
On the other hand, White Impermanence had a beautiful appearance. Her skin was so white that people would mistake her as a westerner at first look, but if you looked closely, you would find that she was not a pure westerner. She must be a kind of mixed-race because her eyes were black and her golden hair had the softness of oriental hair. Her thin lips also had the special characteristics of the oriental. She was one point eight meters tall, which resembled the size of westerners, and her chest was quite lifted but not huge.
Xue Tian measured it visually. It should be a B-cup or maybe close to a C-cup.
Qin Fen nodded, his hands were placed behind his back and he did not care about the Black Impermanence’s amazing pressure at all. Although they were separated by a screen, even if they met face to face, he would not care about the Black Impermanence’s amazing pressure. He said with a gentle but forceful voice, “I am from the Federation’s headquarters of Earth military section. You can call me lieutenant colonel Qin Fen, or just Qin Fen.”
“Qin Fen?!”
Qin Fen was able to hear the surprise in Black and White Impermanence’s voice clearly. He could also see the same flash of surprise from both of their faces.
Qin Fen? Black and White Impermanence were stunned. This name was not famous among the civilians but it did not mean that it was not famous among the masters. One of the most famous young people in the world today was Qin Fen!
Among today’s high-end martial artists, it was not too much of an exaggeration to even describe the name as a slap to the ear.
In a short period of time, he had killed martial dao masters and the top officials of Federation’s Military headquarters. His reputation rose in an instant but he had suddenly disappeared half a year ago. They did not expect that he would come to Saturn suddenly.
In an instant, the Black and White Impermanence remembered a rumor that was not fully confirmed.
The part that was confirmed was that the Golden Triangle received a critical blow. Li Xianglong of Elysium’s Xianglong Arhat was beaten to death and was blasted into the land like a piledriver, and all the Golden Triangle generals were killed.
The unconfirmed part was who Li Xianglong died to. Although the major forces were still analyzing, some people with relatively sufficient evidence pointed towards one person: Qin Fen! Qin Fen, who had fought Zuo Dongting half a year ago and disappeared suddenly. Qin Fen, who was suspected to suffer from the military headquarters’ secret plot!
Could it be… The Black and White Impermanence looked at each other for confirmation. Was Li Xianglong really killed by Qin Fen? Impossible, right? According to the news sent back, the people at the exploration site said that Li Xianglong was killed by a blow when he was at the peak of his strength! Moreover, from the looks of the site, it was a brief killing blow.
Li Xianglong was a martial artist of the sixteen-star class! He was known as one of Elysium’s top experts under Buddha’s superb fighters. Even if Qin Fen had gotten stronger, it was impossible to kill Li Xianglong in an instant.
“Are you really Qin Fen?” The Black Impermanence’s aura of power was obviously not as strong as before. A person’s name can provide shelter like a tree’s shadow! Qin Fen’s name, without knowing it, had formed a kind of power that even the Black and White Impermanence of Inferno did not dare to overlook when they heard it.
If this kind of thing happened three years ago, most people would’ve laughed their heads off when people said that Qin Fen had such a reputation, but now, no one dared to question this matter.
Qin Fen nodded lightly and said calmly, “Five hundred million.”
The Black and White Impermanence both took a cold breath. This young man’s attitude was so calm. Even when he stated the sky-high price of five hundred million, his look did not even have the slightest change; as if it was just a number and not a matter involving banknotes.
Black Impermanence looked at Qin Fen with a hint of admiration and then his face was restored to its original coldness. Senior martial artists can appreciate a younger generation, but it did not mean that this younger generation could do things arbitrarily because of that name! If you let them act arbitrarily, what about the senior martial artists? What’s more, he is now the representative of Inferno. In the face of this Qin Fen, how could Inferno bow down?
“Qin Fen.” The Black Impermanence showed a long face and his tone was restored to its original high pressure, “You have to know who you are talking to and this is Saturn. You are facing Inferno and releasing Solov is your best choice.”
Qin Fen looked at the Black Impermanence quietly, like how one would when looking at a stone sculpture. He looked quietly for a whole minute, then he asked slowly, “You can’t make a decision, is that it?”
Black Impermanence was a little stunned, he heard Qin Fen’s voice ring again, “Then, please go find someone who can make decisions to talk to me.”
The Black Impermanence looked at Qin Fen with a suffocating feeling. This was not due to Qin Fen’s powerful pressure coming through the screen, but the kind of attachment in Qin Fen’s eyes, which made one very uncomfortable.
“Qin Fen…” The White Impermanence said tenderly, “You may have some fame, but once again let me tell you that this is Saturn! You are facing Inferno!”
Qin Fen nodded lightly and looked at the White Impermanent with no emotion. He said flatly, “I know this is Saturn. You should also know that the person you are talking to is from the Federation’s military headquarters and the supreme commander of the Saturn division, lieutenant colonel Qin Fen.”
“You…” The White Impermanence eyes were filled with hatred. This young man was not arrogant when he spoke but it carried an unquestionable taste. By theory at least, the Federation government’s military headquarters was far higher in identity than a company group. The supreme commander of a planet’s military headquarters was not someone a company’s middle or high-level leader could speak to, even if he was only a lieutenant colonel rank.
Qin Fen lifted the documents in his hand gently. Although the speed of his speech was not fast, there was a fascinating emotion, “I want five hundred million not for the military headquarters nor the Federation. This five hundred million, I am taking it for those fallen comrades whose lives were taken by you. This money is the total value of the income you got from their deaths in battle.”
“You are doing this for dead people?” White Impermanence voice was sharp and raised, “Those seven, eight-star class trash special forces soldiers?”
The Black Impermanence also looked at Qin Fen with shock. He thought that this Saturn commander, after he took over the office, was here to earn some money, and at the same time, set up his so-called prowess as a military headquarters’ official. He didn’t expect that Qin Fen was doing this for a group of people which, in the eyes of the strong, were trash that was no different from ants.
“Martial strength has differences in levels but there is no trash in life.” Qin Fen shook his head gently, and his mind recalled that the recruit who used their bodies to shield their comrades in the battlefield full of spears and arrows, “Five hundred million, go find someone who can make the decision. Tell them that after three days, I will make a call and let him send the money to my designated location.”
Black Impermanence sneered, “Qin Fen, do you really think that we will give five hundred million in exchange for Solov?”
“You can choose not to exchange.” Qin Fen’s face revealed an indifferent look, but his eyes were as cold as a knife as he said, “I can also choose to get the entire Saturn’s military headquarters to join Elysium.”
The Black Impermanence was shocked and his chest once again had the feeling of suffocation but the projection in front of his eyes had disappeared. He stared at the void blankly while recalling the last words of Qin Fen. If Saturn’s military headquarters really joined Elysium, then it was not a good thing. If Qin Fen joined Tianmen too then it would be even worse. Are the young people behind him the ones who teamed up with him to kill Zuo Dongting? If this group of people joined Elysium collectively, then wouldn’t the Eight Immortals that were originally killed be neatly lined up again? No! Maybe it will bring more trouble than it had! This group of people is too young!
In the military headquarters’ basement lobby, all the soldiers were staring at Qin Fen blankly. No one thought that the five hundred million Qin Fen demanded was not for his own sake, but for the soldiers who fought on the front line.
At that moment, everyone felt a chill in their hands and feet, but their chests were burning like a flame.
I had dreams too! I used to have passion too! I also wanted to build a career on Saturn! But this damn Solov…
Every soldier who went to Saturn had great ambitions at first, but the cold reality here made everyone get used to indulging. They even began to become numb to witnessing the death of their comrades. It was not really a numbness, but a helplessness of not being able to do anything.
Everyone would complain in private after repeated failures of the mission. However, even after complaining, no one had the ability to do anything. It’s either they go together with the crowd or disappear; this was Solov’s rule.
“Is this true? Or is this an excuse?”
“That five hundred million he demanded was actually not for himself?”
With skepticism and hope, the soldiers looked forward to the group of young people who would definitely be different from the previous military executives.
