58: Chapter 58 Post-War Liquidation

Underworld Fortress, Central Plaza.

The night was dispelled by countless floating [Gloomlight Talismans], illuminating the plaza as bright as day. The air was filled with the tempting aroma of roasted meat, the rich scent of wine, and the feverish excitement of survivors celebrating a great victory.

A grand victory banquet was being held here.

The long dining tables were piled high with food that would be considered luxurious in the apocalypse—golden, succulent roasted mutant beast meat, fresh fruit exchanged from the system, and even several kegs of frothing chilled beer! These were all "trinkets" Lin Chen had casually exchanged using the nether talismans he had just acquired.

The survivors, whether they were veterans of the Fortress or newcomers who had defected after the war, cast aside their reserve and fear. They laughed loudly, ate heartily, and drank deeply. The Yin Soldiers still stood guard silently around the plaza, but their presence no longer inspired terror; instead, they provided an unparalleled sense of security.

Su Qingyu moved through the crowd, calmly arranging various matters to ensure the banquet remained orderly. She occasionally glanced toward the head seat with a complex expression, but it was mostly filled with determination.

Zhang Hao, on the other hand, had completely let loose. With a roasted leg in one hand and a wine cup in the other, his face was flushed red as he bragged to several minor leaders about how "brave" he had been on the battlefield and how he had "assisted" his master, Lin Chen, in slaughtering enemies in all directions, spittle flying everywhere.

And the absolute protagonist of this feast—Lin Chen—sat alone at the very front in the head seat. He did not participate in the clamor below, but instead slowly and methodically used a delicate silver knife to cut a steak from the most choice part of a powerful Bizarre Monster's body.

His movements were elegant and focused, as if this were not a victory banquet but an ordinary dinner. The earth-shaking cheers and noise below seemed to have nothing to do with him.

This absolute calm formed a sharp contrast with the frenzy below, instead highlighting an unfathomable majesty.

After several rounds of drinks, when the atmosphere was at its peak, Zhang Hao wobbled over to the head seat and knelt with a thud. Fueled by the alcohol, he shouted at the top of his lungs:

“Master! I, Zhang Hao, swear to the heavens! In this life, the next life, and every life to come, I will be your most loyal dog! If you tell me to go east, I will never go west! If you tell me to bite someone, I’ll pounce and tear them to shreds immediately!”

He kowtowed and looked up, his face full of flattery and a twisted sense of loyalty. “Master, that traitor Qin Weiwei is still hanging at the gate! It’s bad luck just looking at her! Why don’t... why don’t you let me handle her! I guarantee it’ll be clean and swift, and she’ll regret ever coming into this world!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding noise dipped significantly as many people pricked up their ears. How to deal with the traitor Qin Weiwei was indeed a question everyone was concerned about.

Lin Chen placed a small piece of steak into his mouth, chewed slowly, and swallowed. Then he picked up a nearby napkin and wiped the corners of his mouth.

He looked at the kneeling Zhang Hao, his eyes calm and rippleless.

“Kill her?” Lin Chen spoke faintly. His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried clearly across the plaza. “That’s too easy on her, and a waste.”

Zhang Hao was stunned. “What does Master mean?”

Lin Chen set down the napkin, his gaze passing over Zhang Hao and toward the Fortress gates, as if he could see through the walls to Qin Weiwei hanging there.

“Isn’t she the ‘good sister’ sent by the Thousand Faces Cult?” A cold arc curled at the corner of Lin Chen’s mouth. “Then let her provide one last bit of value and send a ‘grand gift’ back to her true master.”

He beckoned.

A Yin Soldier Centurion stepped forward soundlessly.

With a thought, Lin Chen sent a command directly into the Yin Soldier Centurion's soulfire via the system connection.

The soulfire in the Yin Soldier Centurion’s eye sockets flickered as it bowed to accept the order. It then turned and led a squad of Yin Soldiers toward the Fortress gates.

Everyone in the plaza watched this scene with curiosity, wondering what Lin Chen intended to do.

Before long, under everyone’s gaze, that squad of Yin Soldiers returned. They did not bring back Qin Weiwei, but rather a twisting and struggling soul light cluster sealed by a dense nether aura!

The light cluster bore the blurry face of Qin Weiwei, filled with endless pain and resentment, yet unable to make a sound.

Next, the Yin Soldier Centurion took out a specially made black wooden box covered in sealing runes, forcibly stuffed Qin Weiwei’s soul cluster inside, and shut it tight.

Then, it produced a [Cross-Realm Message Talisman] radiating intense nether talisman fluctuations and fixed the wooden box to the center of the talisman.

Having finished all this, the Yin Soldier Centurion bowed deeply to Lin Chen.

Lin Chen nodded slightly.

In the next moment, the Yin Soldier Centurion activated that expensive [Cross-Realm Message Talisman]!

“Buzz!”

The talisman erupted with a blinding gloomlight. Space twisted, and along with the wooden box sealing Qin Weiwei’s soul, it vanished instantly!

silence!

The entire plaza fell into a deathly silence!

Everyone understood what Lin Chen meant by “sending a grand gift”!

He didn't want to kill Qin Weiwei; he had extracted and sealed her soul, then “couriered” it directly to the Thousand-Faced Sect Leader!

This was more than a hundred times more cruel than killing her!

Killing is just a quick end, but this was the ultimate humiliation and provocation! It was a blatant slap to the face of the Thousand Faces Cult!

One could imagine how furious the Thousand-Faced Sect Leader would be when he received this “gift” and saw the miserable end of his capable subordinate!

Zhang Hao knelt on the ground with his mouth wide open, half-sobered by the shock. The look in his eyes as he watched Lin Chen was filled with even deeper awe and terror. His master's methods... were too ruthless! Too absolute!

Su Qingyu also subconsciously clenched her hands, her face turning slightly pale. Although she had adapted to the cruelty of the apocalypse, Lin Chen’s cold-blooded method of killing the heart after the body still made her heart tremble.

Lin Chen ignored the reactions of the crowd below as if he had only done something insignificant. He picked up his knife and fork again, cutting the steak on his plate, and said faintly:

“Continue the victory banquet.”

“Everyone, be happy.”

His voice broke the silence, but the atmosphere in the plaza could never return to its previous fever pitch. An invisible, icy chill lingered in everyone’s hearts, making their awe for the young man in the head seat reach their very marrow.

The liquidation was not over.

This was merely a declaration to external enemies.

Inside the Fortress, that imprisoned “younger brother” Lin Tian—after witnessing Lin Chen’s cold-blooded methods for dealing with traitors—was likely already going mad with fear in his private room in the observation zone, wasn’t he?

Lin Chen picked up a glass of [Dragon Blood Wine] that was as crimson as blood, swirled it gently, and looked on with deep eyes.

Who would be next?