Chapter 86: A Calamity of Bloodshed
Su Tao didn’t know what had happened, but Lin Fangzhi was clearly scared out of his wits. He stuck to her like glue all morning, refusing to leave her side.
That afternoon, Shi Zijin, still holding in a stomach full of frustration, led a few subordinates to retrieve Jian Kaiyu.
Meanwhile, Su Tao had a business discussion with Zhuang Wan, going over some recent minor affairs in Taoyang.
“Boss, when will new vacant houses be available in Taoyang? Ever since we took over the plantation, too many people have been asking. I need a definite answer so I can explain to the tenants.”
Su Tao thought for a moment before replying, “Next month. There won’t be any more available this month.”
For now, there was no more usable land to build new apartment buildings.
Buildings No. 1, 2, and 3 had already reached five or six stories. Without an elevator, it wasn’t practical to build any higher.
She could only hope that completing hidden tasks or upgrading the system would allow her to expand the area.
Zhuang Wan sighed. “Alright. Another thing—Qian Lin wants you to allocate funds to purchase some cultivation vessels and basic tools.”
Su Tao nodded. They definitely needed more. The fire had burned nearly everything.
“Sure. How much?”
“Qian Lin will call you later with the details.”
Not long after, Qian Lin’s call came through. She sent over a detailed shopping list along with a budget estimate—around 80,000 to 100,000.
Su Tao glanced over it and immediately transferred 100,000.
Qian Lin had been prepared to argue her case, thinking it would be difficult to get the funds—just like how it had always been with their previous superiors.
But Su Tao didn’t hesitate at all. The money arrived instantly.
At that moment, Qian Lin was once again convinced—this boss is worth following!
She vowed to use every penny wisely, without waste!
After hanging up, Su Tao stretched and asked Guan Zining, who was lounging in the front passenger seat playing with a communicator, “Shi Zijin and the others should be back soon, right?”
Guan Zining checked the time.
“Should be about done. We’ll probably leave tonight. By the way, how’s your ‘digging under the wall’ plan going? If you don’t hurry, you might run out of time.”
Su Tao replied, “No rush. Wu Zhen won’t agree anytime soon. This is a long-term game.”
Guan Zining shrugged.
As the sun began to set, Su Tao felt much better. Her fever had subsided, her throat was no longer dry, but she still felt sticky and uncomfortable. She wanted to get out of the car and set up a temporary shower to rinse off.
So, she grabbed her toiletries, took Xue Dao, and stepped out of the vehicle.
Lin Fangzhi wanted to follow, but Su Tao stopped him. “Be good. Wait for me in the car.”
Lin Fangzhi had no choice but to cling to the window, watching her longingly as she set up a small tent and disappeared inside.
Inside, Su Tao enjoyed a proper shower, emerging feeling refreshed. She dried off, got dressed, and lifted the tent flap—only to see Shi Zijin returning.
But something was off.
He was alone. Cen Tianjiao and the others weren’t with him.
He was speaking with the four guards stationed to secure Bone Wings. After a brief exchange, the guards saluted him and left.
Su Tao assumed he was going to replenish Bone Wings’ nutrient solution, so she continued drying her hair as she approached him.
“Why are you back alone? Where’s Cen Tianjiao and the others?”
Shi Zijin gave her a faint smile. “They had something to take care of.”
That smile sent a chill down Su Tao’s spine.
She had a gut feeling—something wasn’t right.
The person in front of her didn’t feel like Shi Zijin. He felt like a complete stranger.
Of course, there was a possibility that, just like before, inheriting someone else’s abilities and memories had altered his demeanor.
But what if that wasn’t the case?
What if he was an imposter?
She didn’t dare ask directly. Instead, she casually finished drying her hair and tossed the towel to ‘Shi Zijin’—
“Help me hold this, I’m tying my hair.”
The other party hesitated for a moment. To avoid alerting her, he had no choice but to pause his actions and hold the towel for her.
As Su Tao slowly tied her hair, she casually tested him, “Are you going in to refill the nutrient solution? Do you need me to open the vehicle for you?”
Shi Zijin narrowed his eyes. “Isn’t this vehicle only accessible to me?”
Su Tao’s heart pounded—she hadn’t exposed herself yet.
Feigning confusion, she started making things up:
“Didn’t you say last time that you were worried something might happen to you, and no one else would be able to open this car? So you gave both me and Cen Lao Er access?”
Shi Zijin was clearly taken aback. Perhaps the intel he had received was incomplete, and for a moment, he couldn’t determine whether she was telling the truth or lying.
After a brief pause, he smiled. “Maybe I’ve been too busy lately—I must have forgotten.”
Exposed.
In an instant, Su Tao felt a chill rush from the top of her head to the soles of her feet.
“Bone Wings” was far too important. The real Shi Zijin would never grant access to anyone—not even his closest comrade, Cen Tianjiao—let alone her, a weakling in combat.
He wasn’t Shi Zijin!
She was now 100% certain.
Then who was he?! What did he want?!
And how had he managed to impersonate Shi Zijin so perfectly?
Even Xuedao, who was lying nearby, hadn’t noticed anything amiss.
That meant this person could not only mimic appearance but also replicate someone’s aura—enough to deceive Xue Dao!
And what was his goal? Did he intend to release “Bone Wings”?
Fake Shi Zijin reached out and brushed his fingers through her damp hair, curling his lips into a sinister smile, “You’re smart, but you shouldn’t have tested me. Don’t make a sound, don’t move—”
Guan Zining, noticing that Su Tao hadn’t returned to the car for a long time, glanced back—only to see Major Shi had returned.
From her angle, Su Tao had her back to her, and the two appeared to be “hugging.”
She scoffed, turned back around, and even pressed down on Lin Fangzhi’s head to keep him from looking.
Meanwhile, Su Tao was on the brink of death.
Fake Shi Zijin had a vice-like grip on her wrist. She could hear the creaking of her bones. The pain was so excruciating she could hardly make a sound.
“Tell me—what’s inside this vehicle? Water or fuel? How do I get in? If you don’t talk, I’ll kill you.”
Despite the agony, Su Tao nearly burst into laughter.
“You don’t even know what’s inside, yet you dared to come steal it?”
So this imposter thought there was something valuable inside?
Oh god. Hahaha. He wanted to steal “Bone Wings”—a zombie?!
Fake Shi Zijin frowned and tightened his grip, making her bones feel like they were about to snap.
“You’re just a regular human. Killing you is as easy as crushing an ant. Don’t test my patience. Speak—what’s inside?”
Su Tao’s pain was reaching the point of numbness, yet she still managed to chuckle.
“Come closer, I’ll whisper it to you. If I say it too loud, I’m afraid you’ll get scared.”
“Don’t play tricks. I know you have a gun, but it’s useless against me.”
“I accept my fate. No tricks. Just come closer.”
The fake Shi Zijin felt confident—his entire outfit was made of bulletproof materials. He had nothing to fear.
So, he leaned in.
Su Tao softly whispered into his ear, “I do have a gun, but it’s not ordinary—”
“Pfft!”
A crystal energy gun fired, sending a powerful energy beam straight through his heart.
His body exploded into pieces on impact, blood and flesh bursting apart.
In an instant, Su Tao’s vision was drenched in red.
She collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.
Xuedao, catching the scent of blood, immediately bolted over.
Seeing Su Tao covered in gore, it started barking furiously.
Hearing the commotion, Guan Zining shot up and turned around.
When she saw the scene behind them—a blood-soaked battlefield—her heart nearly stopped.
Lin Fangzhi flung open the door and stumbled toward Su Tao.
