The First Order

The battle was over. At the same time, the outcome of the Battle of Wangchunmen Boulevard meant the monthlong chaos in Luoyang City had come to an end.

However, Old Li, Xu Ke, and the others could not feel any joy when they saw how devastated Luoyang City had become.

Not all of the consortiums’ supernatural beings were annihilated in this place, with at least a third of them managing to escape. Old Li regretted this a little.

In this battle, the Riders also realized their shortcomings. Although they were much stronger than most normal superhumans, the 12 of them were still unable to cope when it came down to protecting such a large stronghold.

If Wu Dingyuan and Wen Meng had managed to rush back on time, it would probably have been much better. However, they were also held back by the enemy out in the wilderness.

With shackles, there would also be weaknesses.

When he was at Stronghold 74, Li Yingyun could just leave when the situation became impossible to handle. However, he could not do the same when it came to Luoyang City.

It was not that the Riders had deep feelings for Luoyang City but that they could not abandon Xu Ke.

Riders with no attachments to the world were truly terrifying. As a united group of 12 superhumans, even the consortiums would not dare to underestimate them.

But once they were tied down by their responsibility to the stronghold, the Riders would not have any distinct advantage over others.

Take Luo Yunxian for example. He had remained guard at the Qinghe Group’s headquarters even when the crisis was unfolding. But upon learning Xu Ke was in danger, he finally stood down from his duty and went to his rescue. Throughout the entire battle, it could be said that Luo Yunxian did not really face any enemies at all.

Many of the stronghold residents who worshipped the Riders always felt they were invincible and extremely powerful. But while that was what they wished for, reality did not concur.

This was probably the reason why Huang Xiaoyu wanted the Riders to leave the Qinghe Group completely.

At this moment, Xu Ke leaned against a wall and slowly sat down. He looked up at Huang Xiaoyu and asked, “So you’ve already considered this point. That’s why you wanted the Riders to leave the Qinghe Group?”

Huang Xiaoyu, who was standing next to him, said, “Even if the Riders have to continue guarding the Qinghe Group, it should be done covertly. Do you understand what I mean? Once the enemy knows what you care about, you’ve already lost. Actually, I have feelings for the Qinghe Group and Luoyang City as well. But with the world already in chaos, we can’t gift others an opportunity to bring us down.”

In Huang Xiaoyu’s opinion, only when the Riders became a sword of Damocles above their enemies’ heads would their enemies feel fear.

If their enemies attacked Luoyang City again, the Riders would no longer be its guardian. Instead, they would avenge it. They could destroy Luoyang City as much as they liked, but they would have to face the fanatic retaliation of the 12 Riders in the aftermath. No matter which consortium it might be, they would definitely be afraid of this happening.

In this era, you could not have anything that would tie you down. Even if you did, you couldn’t let others know about it, and you would have to be ruthless as well.

This was the point Huang Xiaoyu was trying to make.

Xu Ke nodded. “Then we can start making plans for that. I can’t cut ties with the Qinghe Group for the time being, but I’ll join up with you all in a year.”

“Do you plan to hand over the Qinghe Group?” Huang Xiaoyu asked, “Who are you gonna to give it to?”

Xu Ke glanced at Ren Xiaosu, then thought for a moment and said, “To Xu Zhi.”

“Xu Zhi? That young man?” Huang Xiaoyu said with a frown, “Surely he’s not capable yet, right?”

“When I took over the Qinghe Group, I was also only 23 years old. Who would be capable right from the beginning?” Xu Ke said with a smile, “I’ll take him under my wing for a year. Other things aside, at least that kid has courage and determination. Did you hear of the time he got kidnapped? The kid straight-up told his kidnappers to kill him rather than giving in to their demands. Among the young ones, he’s definitely the cream of the crop.”

Huang Xiaoyu still felt it would be a little rash to hand the Qinghe Group over to Xu Zhi. After all, Xu Zhi was way too young.

However, Xu Ke said with a sigh, “It’s mainly because there’s no other suitable candidate. I… also want to achieve freedom like you all as soon as possible.”

These were Xu Ke’s heartfelt words. After this battle, he suddenly got the desire to travel across the famous mountains and great rivers with everyone. He did not want to be a tycoon who had to toil so hard for the stronghold. That was not Xu Ke’s ambition in the slightest.

If fame and fortune were his goals, he would not have been able to become a Rider.

As Xu Zhi was too young, Xu Ke could not help but be a little worried too. But after the chaos this time, the internal ranks of the Qinghe Group had been thoroughly purged for good. The core members of the board were not severely affected either. On the contrary, the Qinghe Group might even end up becoming more united than ever.

As for whether Xu Zhi could manage the Qinghe Group well or not… who cared about that! He only owned 3% shares anyway.

Right now, Xu Ke was also a little keen on cutting himself free from all ties.

Running footsteps came from the end of the street. Everyone turned their gaze and was surprised to see a cap-wearing girl running towards Ren Xiaosu.

When Yang Xiaojin ran past Old Li, Old Li tried to thank her. However, he realized she had completely ignored him.

Yang Xiaojin was sprinting when she was far away. But by the time she approached, she slowed her pace. This reservation she was showing was very pure, and it was the first time Ren Xiaosu had seen this reserved side of her.

Xu Ke looked at his own injury and sighed, “This fucking show of affection is the fucking worst! Why can’t they spare a thought for us onlookers’ feelings?”

However, Qin Sheng urged, “Brother Xiaosu, go over!”

Ren Xiaosu walked to Yang Xiaojin with a smile, but he was stunned.

Ren Xiaosu stopped in his tracks when he saw the black barrel of the sniper rifle pointing at him from a short distance away.

Yang Xiaojin calmly asked, “I heard you recently got a maid and that she’s very close to you?

“Huh?” Ren Xiaosu was stunned on the spot as he did not expect Yang Xiaojin to suddenly bring this up.

Bang! A bullet nearly grazed Ren Xiaosu’s ear and nicked a lock of his hair. Yang Xiaojin’s voice harshened. “I asked you a question!”

Ren Xiaosu retreated bit by bit. “Wait, let me explain…”

“I don’t wanna hear it!”

Xu Ke was enjoying this. ‘What goes around comes around! You deserve it for blustering!‘

It was obviously such an intense and dangerous battlefield earlier, yet he could still say something like “the person that I believe in is here”? Pshaw!

As Yang Xiaojin approached step by step, pointing the muzzle of the sniper rifle at Ren Xiaosu, he retreated step by step. His back was drenched in sweat!

Slowly, the two of them started running, with one chasing and the other retreating. As the sniper rifle rang out, Ren Xiaosu shouted, “Listen to me, it’s really not what you think it is. She’s not that close to me!”

“So you really do have a maid!” Yang Xiaojin’s voice also drifted over from in the distance.

Their voices were getting farther away as they ran out of the stronghold.

The couple who had just reunited immediately began a grand pursuit!

Li Shentan was standing on the stronghold walls and watching this with delight. He said with a smile to Si Liren next to him, “Our trip here wasn’t made in vain. This is really fun to watch. So enjoyable! Such fun!”

Of course, the Hope Media newspapers would not mention anything about the master-servant relationship between Ren Xiaosu and Zhou Yingxue, but Li Shentan would!

Si Liren saw with her own eyes how Li Shentan had written a sentence on the newspaper he gave to Yang Xiaojin. “That mysterious young man in the limelight lately, the one who travels everywhere with his maid in tow, is none other than Ren Xiaosu.”