578: Chapter 578 My fists will crush anything that dares to stand in my way.

"Hello?"

Fang Cheng took off the mask, then pressed the answer button and put the phone to his ear.

"Brother Cheng, are you alright over there?"

Lin Chuqiao's soft voice immediately came through the earpiece.

Her words were filled with irrepressible anxiety, completely lacking her usual capable demeanor.

"I am doing fine, of course I am alright."

Hearing this, Fang Cheng casually replied.

"Uh..."

Lin Chuqiao was choked up by this relaxed tone and for a moment did not know how to respond.

Seeing her rarely lose her composure, Fang Cheng couldn't help smiling slightly, then asked:

"Did you sense something just now?"

"Yes."

Lin Chuqiao steadied herself, deliberated for a moment, and then sorted out what she wanted to say in her heart:

"I had just finished taking a bath and was preparing to read some documents when my heart suddenly raced, feeling as if you were summoning me."

"I thought about it and called you to ask if you were okay and if you needed help."

"As a result, I called three times in a row, but you didn't answer, and I didn't know what happened."

"At that time, I was feeling anxious, so I simply tried to use the Meditation method you taught me before to get in touch with you."

Her voice paused, as if recalling a scene that shocked her soul:

"After smoothly entering the Meditation state, I saw an endless darkness. The sun representing your consciousness was entirely swallowed by blood-red dark clouds, like a solar eclipse."

"I was very worried, thinking you must have encountered danger, so I kept calling out to you silently in my heart, but I didn't get any response from you."

"Then, the light of that covered sun suddenly surged, frighteningly bright, and the surrounding dark clouds instantly burned, turning into glowing clouds."

"When I opened my eyes, I felt severely dizzy, just like mental overdraft after continuously using prediction abilities."

"Then, I couldn't sense anything anymore..."

Speaking of this, Lin Chuqiao's tone was full of concern:

"Brother Cheng, what on earth happened over there?"

Hearing this, Fang Cheng nodded slightly, understanding in his heart.

It seemed she had indeed perceived a trace of the supernatural battle in the Inner Scene World just now.

And to counter the invading power of the Lord of Slaughter, he chose to gather the spiritual energy of all believers through the Sun Heart Network.

Although he successfully repelled the opponent in the end, it also consumed a huge amount of energy, causing a certain impact on everyone who established a spiritual connection with him.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Fang Cheng's tone remained steady as he gently appeased:

"Don't worry, just now some blind fellow wanted to sneak attack me from the spiritual level, and I've already taken care of him."

"Are they people from Utopia?"

Hearing this, Lin Chuqiao's voice trembled and she immediately became nervous.

"No."

Holding the phone, Fang Cheng walked slowly to the window, looking at the silent street downstairs:

"An accidentally encountered foreigner with no background in Dongdu, who doesn't even speak the national language, just a smuggler mixing in the underworld."

Hearing the three words 'smuggler', Lin Chuqiao's tense heartstrings finally relaxed.

Since it was an accidentally encountered foreigner, the nature of the matter was much simpler.

At least the other party would not have any backing in Dongdu or Xia Country, entangling intricate forces.

"That's good... That's good..."

She muttered and let out a long breath.

Fang Cheng could imagine her on the other end of the phone, wearing a silk bathrobe, frowning, and gently stroking her chest.

So he changed to a relaxed tone and asked:

"It's so late, are you still busy?"

"Hey, isn't it all your fault, you hands-off boss!"

Hearing this, Lin Chuqiao's tone immediately carried a hint of coquettishness:

"The construction of the two new bases for the Illuminati, the arrangement of the security System, and the financial accounts... Everything is piled on my head alone, I'm almost worked to death."

"As for you, a big shot, you are good, being romantic and happy outside every day, free and leisurely."

The grievance in her words was just like a resentful woman guarding an empty boudoir, grumbling to her husband who never stayed home.

Fang Cheng found it slightly amusing and followed her words to ask:

"What about Xu Kuan and Jiang Yun, didn't they help you share the work?"

"Them?"

Lin Chuqiao gave a soft hum, her voice carrying a trace of lazy complaint:

"Xu Kuan is honest and willing to work hard, but his brain is stubborn; if you tell him to do one, he will never do two."

"As for that Jiang Yun, her mind is too active. I dare not completely hand over the matters of accounts to her for the time being, and I still have to keep an eye on it myself."

"You've worked hard."

Fang Cheng's voice softened a bit, carrying a trace of apology.

"When this busy period is over, I'll give you a long vacation, and then we'll go on vacation and travel together."

"You said this, you are not allowed to go back on your word!"

A simple promise made Lin Chuqiao on the other end of the phone feel much better, and her voice once again carried a smile.

She paused for a moment, seemingly flipping through documents, and then, as if remembering something, changed the subject:

"Right, speaking of foreign devils... That red-haired guy in our hands seems to be dying."

"How?"

Hearing this, Fang Cheng's expression tightened:

"Didn't the professor say the surgery was very successful and he should wake up in the next few days?"

"The surgery was successful."

Lin Chuqiao's voice grew solemn again:

"But the doctor said he was shot three times in the chest and abdomen before, and the shrapnel caused severe internal bleeding."

"Although they tried their best to repair it during surgery, due to excessive blood loss, it led to 'traumatic shock'."

"Therefore, complications of multiple organ failure have now appeared, his vital signs are very unstable, and his blood pressure and heart rate keep dropping."

"Have you contacted Uncle Lin, what did he say?"

"Contacted."

Lin Chuqiao sighed:

"He came over to check, but the red-haired guy's condition is really too bad, his kidneys and liver are failing rapidly."

"Uncle Lin said, whether he can survive tonight depends on the patient's own willpower."

"If he still can't wake up before dawn, we... have to prepare for the worst."

"Got it."

Fang Cheng responded with an acknowledgment, his tone showing no ripples.

To be honest, his level of importance attached to Dragon was not as high as Lin Chuqiao thought.

Admittedly, organizational construction requires a lot of money, and the wealth left behind by the Masked Man is very tempting.

But investing too much energy for this, and even risking exposing oneself, is clearly not worth it.

As for the location and entry method of that ancient civilization ruin, this guy might not even truly know it.

After a brief thought, he then instructed Lin Chuqiao:

"Try your best to save him. Tell those two black-market doctors to use the best medicine and the best equipment; money is not a problem."

"If he can be saved, in addition to the previously promised labor remuneration, our Illuminati can promise to protect their safety in Dongdu."

"Okay, I will pass the words to the doctors."

Hearing this, Lin Chuqiao gently acknowledged.

On the other end of the phone, Fang Cheng's eyes flashed slightly, calculating in his heart.

Things that should be done still need to be done; he couldn't easily give up and let Dragon hang up just like that.

After all, his life is worth hundreds of millions anyway.

As for whether he can be saved back, let God decide.

The two casually chatted about their recent conditions, from the base's progress to daily trivial matters.

They chatted on the phone for a long time, and the atmosphere gradually became relaxed.

Fang Cheng glanced at the time displayed on the phone screen, looked at the deep night outside the window, and said:

"Chuqiao, it's almost 12 o'clock, go to sleep early, don't always stay up late, it's bad for your skin."

Lin Chuqiao originally wanted to talk a bit more, but hearing the words 'bad for your skin', she was suddenly startled.

"Almost forgot, I was planning to put on a facial mask and do cosmetic maintenance just now."

She subconsciously touched her cheek and said eagerly:

"Brother Cheng, let's stop chatting for now. I still have a contract in hand to review, which needs to be handed over to the construction party tomorrow."

"Matters regarding work can be discussed tomorrow."

Hearing this, Fang Cheng earnestly instructed:

"I certainly don't want to become a black-hearted boss who exploits employees and makes my beautiful secretary suffer."

"Got it, boss."

Hearing this, Lin Chuqiao felt sweet in her heart, and replied with a hint of a spoiled tone:

"Then you should also rest early."

"I'll sleep right away."

Fang Cheng responded.

"Mhm... Then... Good night?"

Lin Chuqiao's voice carried a trace of lingering affection, seemingly expecting more sweet words.

"Good night."

After saying that, Fang Cheng neatly and decisively hung up the phone.

...

Far away in a luxury apartment on the other side of the city.

Lin Chuqiao held her phone, listening to the busy tone of 'dudu' coming from the earpiece, staring blankly in a daze.

After a long while, she put down the phone, stepped barefoot on the cashmere carpet, and walked slowly to the floor-to-ceiling window.

She looked in the direction where Fang Cheng lived, her eyes hiding much tenderness, as well as worries that had not yet dissipated.

Then, she picked up the red wine on the table, poured half a cup for herself, and gently shook the cup body.

Letting the mellow wine aroma diffuse and spread in the air.

"This guy always makes people so worrying..."

Lin Chuqiao murmured softly, drinking the red wine in the cup in one gulp, a charming blush appearing on her cheeks.

For a long while, she finally sat back at the table and picked up the documents at hand.

It's just that those charming eyes occasionally looked out the window, no longer able to Focus as before.

...

Jiuchang Street, Tubular Building.

In the pitch-dark bedroom.

The neon light projected from outside the window barely outlined a figure.

Fang Cheng stood in front of the window, his brows slightly furrowed.

After putting down the phone, his gaze fell back on that fiendish mask.

At this moment, the exterior of the mask was entirely scarlet, with a color like freshly coagulated blood, gloomy and dazzling.

Two curved horns protruded from his forehead, with fine archaic patterns on the edges, not like Acquired carving, but rather like being born with it.

The corners of the mouth split into an exaggerated arc, extending all the way to the roots of the ears.

The fine fangs inside glowed with a sharp cold light, embedded in the texture of the mask, integrated seamlessly.

Looking at this scarlet fiendish mask that had returned to calmness, Fang Cheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he said in a low voice:

"Perhaps, I will have to change my name in the future and can no longer be called White Owl..."

While speaking, he raised his hand to grab both sides of the mask, gently lifted it, and pressed it back onto his face.

The edge of the mask precisely fitted his jaw, and the slightly cool touch covered his skin without the slightest sense of incongruity.

Then, Fang Cheng slowly raised his head, looking through the eye holes of the mask at the reflection on the opposite glass.

In the reflection, the scarlet mask was like natural skin, covering his entire face, as if it should have looked like this from the beginning.

The ferocious facial features matched with the gloomy dark red radiated a suffocating violent aura.

That sense of oppression was far greater than the previous white form.

However, that chaotic torrent of consciousness, and the various illusions invading his mind, never appeared again.

Fang Cheng's expression remained calm, and he raised his hand to press both sides of the mask, slowly removing it.

Then, the corner of his eye swept across the pile of clown mask fragments on the ground.

At this moment, this strange object had long since lost its fluorescent glow, appearing no different from ordinary items.

Fang Cheng's mind stirred slightly, suddenly recalling the origin of the fiendish mask.

Back then, in the trench of Yongan Island, he used the deep-sea pressure to temper his Physical Body and Cultivate Qigong.

It happened to encounter rare astronomical changes, sudden ocean current changes, and turbulent undercurrents at the bottom of the sea.

It was also at that time that he ran into a group of people from the Noah Organization diving into the sea wearing special diving suits.

With a clear goal, it was to salvage the ancient biological remains from the bottom of the trench.

This mask surged out with the seabed whirlpool, mixed among those incomplete ancient remains, and he casually brought it back.

Thinking of this, a bold guess vaguely formed in Fang Cheng's heart.

Could it be that at the bottom of that trench, there was also hidden an unknown entrance to an ancient civilization ruin?

And this fiendish mask itself was also a strange object from an ancient ruin?

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly, remembering the rumors he had heard before.

Whether it was the cadres of the Noah Organization or the members of the Special Investigation Team, they had all mentioned the notorious murderer's moniker -- 'White Owl'.

In history, every time this mask appeared, it meant a bloody storm sweeping through the underground world.

In archival records, anyone who put on this white fiendish mask would gain powerful strength, and at the same time, their temperament would change drastically.

In the process of using the power, they were gradually swallowed by endless desires, ultimately degenerating into monsters who only knew how to kill and made no distinction between good and evil.

Clearly, this mask was the medium connecting the host and the Lord of Slaughter hidden behind it.

The so-called power was never a free gift; it was more like a fishing net spread everywhere to catch fish.

However, after Fang Cheng himself put it on, apart from initially feeling that the mask was a bit tight, he did not suffer any substantial impact.

Until tonight, when he smashed another strange object 'Clown Mask', making the mysterious creature parasitizing inside reveal its true form.

Only then did this fiendish mask seem to be completely activated, finally unable to suppress the killing desire in its bones, and swallowed that mysterious creature completely.

It was precisely because of this change that Fang Cheng was able to establish contact with the huge will hidden behind the mask.

If his own consciousness wasn't tough enough, while also possessing the spiritual fortress like the Inner Scene World as a backing.

I'm afraid at this moment he would also be eroded by that huge will, enslaved by it, and ultimately degenerate into a monster like those mask hosts in history.

Now, this mask had not returned to its former white appearance.

It seemed that in the fierce battle just now, it had been completely reshaped by the power of slaughter, completely locked into this scarlet and ferocious form.

"Perhaps, it is not you that chose the person."

Fang Cheng murmured to himself, his fingertips slowly tracing across the scarlet mask.

"Instead, you are waiting for a... master who can truly control you."

He looked at the eye holes on the mask flashing with red light, the corners of his lips raised slightly:

"As for the Lord of Slaughter, wanting to use this mask to scout for a Puppet and make them your apostle."

"Unfortunately, you found the wrong person!"

The evening breeze crept in through the half-open window gap, blowing the bangs in front of his forehead.

Fang Cheng's gaze was like roaring flames burning, appearing uninhibited and flamboyant:

"My fists will only crush all enemies who dare to stand in my way, including you as well!"