# 430
Chapter 430
The Only Night Watch
“He… isn’t he Baili Jing? How did he turn into Baili Tuming again?”
“Idiot, can’t you see? Baili Tuming and Baili Jing are the same person! Baili Xin just gave his son an adopted-son cover so he could touch base with the Group’s affairs early. That way the kid could sit in on high-level decisions without drawing flattery!”
“What a move—what a colossal move the Baili family just pulled!”
“So the business prodigy Baili Jing is the real heir? Baili Xin just took us the long way round? This is exactly what everyone hoped for!”
“With Baili Jing at the helm, the Baili Group’s future is paved in gold!”
“Yeah, I was afraid Baili Tuming was just another useless rich kid. Turns out Baili Xin had this bombshell waiting for us!”
“……”
Standing on the dais, Baili Xin watched the guests’ reactions and slowly explained:
“Some of you may have guessed it—yes, ‘Baili Jing’ was merely an identity I created to temper my son… From the start, the Baili family has never had any adopted son. I, Baili Xin, have only one child in this life—Baili Tuming.”
He patted the shoulder of the young man beside him and said with satisfaction, “Fortunately, my boy lived up to my hopes, carving his own place inside the Group. Today, handing the entire Baili Group over to him, I can finally rest easy.”
Corner of the hall.
Miao Su stared blankly at the unfamiliar figure on the stage, then snapped her head toward Wei Xiuming, eyes full of disbelief.
“Captain… that’s not Little Tuming, is it? Why is this happening? Where did Little Tuming go?”
The other teammates all lowered their heads, as though they hadn’t heard.
Wei Xiuming let out a long sigh and turned to her. “Miao Su… the Baili Tuming who was in our squad wasn’t the real one. We have to accept that.”
“What do you mean?” Miao Su’s brows knitted tight. “What do you mean ‘not the real Baili Tuming’? I don’t understand!”
She shot to her feet, pointing at the figure onstage. “That’s not Baili Tuming—we all know it! What’s wrong with you people? Can’t you even recognize Little Tuming?”
Wei Xiuming met her eyes and said apologetically, “Miao Su… we can’t throw away our own future for his sake.
“With the Baili family’s backing we’ll soon be the strongest squad in all Great Xia after Shangjing City—maybe even stronger. Fame, merit, wealth… all within reach.
“We won’t have to keep our heads on our belts fighting powerful ‘mysteries’ anymore. With strength and forbidden artifacts we’ll crush them easily!
“Enjoy life while basking in glory… can you bear to give that up?”
Miao Su stared into the eyes of the captain who had fought shoulder-to-shoulder with her for eight years; he felt like a stranger.
She looked at the rest of the squad—they avoided her gaze, saying nothing.
Suddenly she felt she no longer knew this team.
“So… you took the Baili family’s gifts and abandoned Little Tuming… is that it?” Her voice went hoarse as she grasped the trick. “Are you even still Night Watch?”
She pulled a shining Coat of Arms from her pocket, her voice trembling.
“Are you still worthy of this Coat of Arms?
“Wei Xiuming! Tell me—what’s written on the back of this emblem? Say it! Read it!”
“When the final night falls, I shall stand before millions…”
“And Little Tuming? Isn’t he one of those millions? Wasn’t he our comrade?
“You can discard your own teammate—have you fed your conscience to dogs? After just a few years in Guangzhou-Shenzhen, the Baili family has rotted you to the core!”
Clutching the Coat of Arms, tears streamed down her face. Through clenched teeth she spat:
“Since you’re all afraid to die, unwilling to stand against the Baili family…
“I’ll do it alone! I’m not afraid! From the day I joined Night Watch I never dreamed of the decadent life you crave!
“I joined to protect—not for medals or glory!
“Today I’ll tell the Baili family right here:
“Guangzhou-Shenzhen is not their private kingdom.
“If you refuse to be Night Watch… then I, Miao Su, will be the only Night Watch this city has!”
Resolve flashed in her reddened eyes. The emblem spun lightly in her palm; a tiny silver needle popped out. She curled her fingers, ready to plunge it into her body.
At that instant a pair of hands reached from behind, gently pressing her temples.
A 010-squad member stood behind her, palms glowing soft green. Watching her back, his eyes held helplessness…
Miao Su’s motion froze; her gaze blurred, then her body went limp and she collapsed.
Wei Xiuming caught her and laid her gently on the floor.
“Captain… what now?” Old Han couldn’t help asking. “When Sister Miao wakes up she won’t let this go.”
Wei Xiuming gazed at the unconscious Miao Su, eyes flickering. At last he closed them, decision made.
“Then don’t let her wake up.”
The teammates’ bodies all shook.
“But… that’s Sister Miao!”
“We’ve already abandoned one member—what’s one more? Do it clean; next time a ‘mystery’ appears we throw her to it. No one will know. Sacrifice is normal for Night Watch.”
Wei Xiuming’s voice was ice. “We’ve passed the point of no return.”
Silence swallowed the squad.
……
“This Baili Tuming isn’t what I pictured,” Ninth Seat said beside Shen Qingzhu. “Believers who hunted him before described a fat kid… looks like he’s slimmed down.”
Shen Qingzhu said nothing; he only stared at the unfamiliar face, eyes narrowed.
……
On the dais Baili Xin swept his gaze over the crowd, satisfaction surfacing.
“Next, let my son address everyone—”
“He is not Baili Tuming.”
Before Baili Xin could finish, an icy voice rang from the guests.
His brows twitched; he turned.
A black-haired youth in a suit walked slowly from the window, face dark.
“What have you… done with him?”