# 1824
Chapter 1817: Settling Accounts!
"Chen Han, step back a bit... yeah, right there, don't move!"
"Wu Quan, steady that floorboard... if it collapses, we'll all fall into the sea."
"Ling Lin, spread out a bit more, that section is about to give way..."
A battered carriage rumbled across the misty sea surface, swaying precariously in the wind as if it might shatter at any moment and sink into the waters.
Master Chen drove while directing the crowded passengers in the carriage, his face drenched in sweat.
"All three exploration vessels were smashed to pieces. Thank goodness for Master Chen's carriage... otherwise we'd be in serious trouble."
The members of Phoenix Squad watched the hazy mist outside, their faces still showing traces of fear.
"Though, whether this carriage can hold together until we reach Great Xia... that's still uncertain." Cao Sha glanced at the terrified passengers inside, sighing helplessly.
Just then, a dark crimson figure flashed to the outside of the carriage and tapped lightly on the wall:
"This carriage won't last much longer. Everyone, come out."
The passengers inside looked at each other in bewilderment, but still pushed open the only remaining door. Above the endless sea, seven or eight flying "Mysticals" circled around the carriage.
At Lin Qiye's signal, the orderlies each carried those who couldn't fly on their backs, spread their wings, and soared above the sea.
As the last figure stepped out of the carriage, it finally reached its limit. With a crash, it disintegrated into countless fragments, drifting down onto the churning waves. Master Chen was caught steadily by the last orderly.
"Any casualties?" Lin Qiye asked.
"None."
Lin Qiye nodded. On the distant sea surface, Shen Qingzhu, Hu Jia, Yuzuri Takishiro, and others had rejoined the group as well. Though they bore injuries, none were serious.
"All six of the remaining ones got away?"
"They all fled... there were too many of them. We couldn't hold them." Shen Qingzhu said helplessly.
"Let them go. After all, the most critical step has already been completed."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingzhu's eyes lit up.
"Did you catch him?"
"Yeah."
"Did you get anything out of him?"
"No... but we have plenty of time ahead."
"True. No need to rush. Let's head back to Great Xia first."
Lin Qiye signaled to the orderlies. The many "Mysticals" spread their wings and carried the group, flying directly toward Great Xia.
...
Great Xia.
Sunken Dragon Pass.
"With Commander Chen not around, Instructor Shen not around, and the other Human Apexes all gone... looks like they've really gone to give Olympus trouble." Su Zhe sat on the edge of the fortress wall, his back to the sea, said with a sigh.
"Great Xia making a move against Olympus—wasn't that always coming sooner or later? What's so strange about that?"
"But they didn't take us along!" Su Zhe slapped his hands together. "We've been a squad for this long, what achievements haven't we made? The only battle record we're missing is slaying a god... If we could go to Olympus and participate in god-slaying, that would be complete!"
"Our opponents are gods, fighting on their home turf. We'd be useless there. We'd only hold Commander Lin and the others back." Li Zhenzhen said.
"What about the [Phoenix] Squad then? They haven't been seen for days either. They must have gone to Olympus with Commander Lin. If they can go, why can't we?"
Li Zhenzhen opened her mouth, but couldn't find a retort.
"Also, ever since we came back from the mist, we've been on vacation with no missions... Don't tell me we've been sidelined?" Su Zhe said cautiously. The next moment, his face contorted in pain!
"Ouch ouch ouch! Stop it, stop it... dear sister, let go of me..."
Su Yuan grabbed the flesh of Su Zhe's arm and twisted it a full one hundred and eighty degrees, causing the latter to grimace.
"[Phoenix] is an established squad in Great Xia. For large-scale operations like this, they definitely have more experience. There's nothing strange about that... As for the vacation, Commander Lin was showing our squad some care. We only get a break once every two or three years. Just like that, we're being sidelined?"
Fang Mo glanced at him and said leisurely, "Then during our next vacation, you can go volunteer at headquarters..."
"No... I was just speaking casually."
Su Zhe grimaced, about to say more, when several black specks came flying from the mist border!
"Mystical invasion?!" Lu Baoyou's eyes narrowed, one hand already resting on the hilt of his blade. Beside him, Li Zhenzhen had just raised her hand to sound the alarm when Fang Mo's voice rang out:
"Wait, that's Commander Lin! They're back!"
The members of [Demon] Squad looked toward the horizon. Indeed, on the backs of those "Mysticals" were familiar figures, rapidly approaching.
Lin Qiye landed on the outer wall of Sunken Dragon Pass. Fang Mo and the others immediately crowded around him:
"Commander, is Olympus destroyed?"
"Destroyed." Lin Qiye nodded.
Upon hearing this, the members of [Demon] Squad broke into smiles.
As the members of [Phoenix] Squad descended, Su Zhe looked at them with envy, but soon noticed something was wrong... Their expressions were incredibly despondent, and he didn't see Squad Leader Xia Simeng among them.
[Demon] Squad had always been on good terms with [Phoenix] Squad. As a senior, Xia Simeng had helped these newcomers many times. They held a deep fondness for this lively and cheerful squad leader.
"This is..." Fang Mo also sensed the wrong atmosphere and looked at Lin Qiye questioningly.
Lin Qiye gestured behind him. A coffin assembled from broken wood floated before [Demon] Squad. "[Phoenix] Squad's members will soon undergo a collective blood transfusion... I'd like you all to dig a good coffin for Squad Leader Xia. In two days, headquarters will hold Squad Leader Xia's memorial ceremony, which I'll personally preside over."
Thunderbolts seemed to flash through everyone's minds at these words!
Xia Simeng... is dead?
The people who had just been talking about [Phoenix] Squad hadn't even processed it yet. By the time realization dawned on them, Lin Qiye had already stepped onto the back of a "Mystical" and was preparing to take flight.
"Where are you rushing off to?" Fang Mo asked.
Lin Qiye glanced at the coffin made of splintered wood. The hand gripping his blade's hilt had turned white. A killing intent flickered in his eyes as he slowly spoke:
"There's a bill... I haven't settled yet."
...
Great Xia, Night Watch Headquarters.
"Lin Qiye and the others are back?"
At the desk, Fate Monk, who had just finished organizing a stack of documents, capped his pen and set it aside, rubbing the exhaustion from his eyes.
"Yeah, Sunken Dragon Pass just sent word. They should be on their way to Shangjing." Min Junliang reported faithfully.
"...I see."
Fate Monk sighed, rising from his seat and walking straight toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Min Junliang asked.
"Back to Kunlun Mountain." Fate Monk had taken just two steps when he stopped, hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "No, can't go there... The temple I worked so hard to build, it'd be a shame to have it destroyed..."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing... When Lin Qiye gets back, just tell him I'm waiting for him in the desert where Zhou Ping is in seclusion."