Chapter 73: Outbreak


[Ding! Lin Fan has completely broken down. Points +100,000]


[Ding! Lin Fan has lost half of his sanity. Points +100,000]


“Where is my brother’s body!” Lin Fan roared, his voice shaking with fury, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Shen Wuxiao.


“His corpse?” Shen Wuxiao began pacing around him slowly, like a predator sizing up its prey. “Let me think… there were so many corpses that day.”


He suddenly snapped his fingers, as if remembering something. “Oh, that’s right! I gave your brother some special treatment. Don’t worry.”


Lin Fan felt a wave of unease hit him. The way Shen Wuxiao said that—he already knew it wouldn’t be anything good.


Sure enough, Shen Wuxiao smiled and said cruelly, “He was beaten into pieces. His body wasn’t even whole anymore. But I was thoughtful. I had him chopped up and fed to crocodiles.”


He leaned in slightly, his tone mocking. “They’re in a pond near the hotel. You should survive this and go kill those crocodiles. Maybe that’ll bring your brother justice.”


Shen Wuxiao had been waiting for this moment—for Lin Fan to snap completely. He was no longer useful. Only by pushing him to the limit could he milk him for the maximum reward.

Tongzi,” Shen Wuxiao called to the system, “initiate a mission to kill Lin Fan!”

[Ding! Planning in progress…]


[Plan successful. Mission: Kill the Lucky Protagonist Lin Fan. No time limit. Objective: Lin Fan must die.]


[Reward: 1,000,000 points. Since the host has completely broken the protagonist’s mental state, all his destiny points have been plundered. Additional reward: 500,000 points and a mysterious gift box.]


Shen Wuxiao grinned and looked at Lin Fan. “How does it feel? Powerless? Hopeless?”


Lin Fan was trembling violently. His breathing was heavy and uneven. He was seconds away from breaking.


“I killed your brother. Your lover turned against you. Isn’t life just… pitiful?”


“AHHHHH!” Lin Fan screamed, his mind teetering on the edge of madness.


In the next instant, all the true energy in his body exploded outward. The pressure filled the room as his cultivation surged—he broke through from fifth-grade eighth level straight to ninth level in one burst!


“Shen Wuxiao! If I don’t kill you, I’m not human!”


Lin Fan howled and thrashed wildly. The interrogation chair he was chained to shattered like brittle wood. The steel cuffs around his wrists snapped.


A raging aura burst around him—wild and terrifying.


His eyes had turned into those of a demon.


“Shen Wuxiao! I’ll make you pay in blood!” Lin Fan bellowed and charged.


The four officials watching were shocked.


Hong Ye quickly dashed out of the room, grabbed a pistol from the security locker, and rushed back in. She flicked the safety off and stood protectively in front of Shen Wuxiao, pointing the weapon directly at Lin Fan.


“You’ve lost control—go now!” she warned Shen Wuxiao, not daring to lower her gun even for a second.


Lin Fan’s bloodshot gaze and overwhelming pressure made it hard to breathe. She cursed inwardly. Why did this idiot provoke him so recklessly?


No matter what, Lin Fan was a high-level martial artist. He wasn’t someone a pampered playboy like Shen Wuxiao should face unprepared.


And of all days, he didn’t bring Uncle Wu!


But Shen Wuxiao was smiling as he glanced at her. She had rushed back to shield him—that alone proved her loyalty.


“Go? Lin Fan, you think I’m running?” Shen Wuxiao snorted.


Lin Fan roared and lunged at him like a beast unleashed.


Hong Ye didn’t hesitate. Bang! Bang! Bang!


Three shots rang out. Only one bullet hit Lin Fan; the others were deflected by the barrier of inner force surrounding his body.


“Not good!” she thought, her heart skipping a beat. She tried to push Shen Wuxiao aside.


But he moved first.


He seized her hand, twirled her away from the danger, and then turned, lifting his leg—


BANG!


A heavy kick slammed into Lin Fan’s chest, sending him crashing into the wall five or six steps back.


Hong Ye stood frozen, her eyes wide in disbelief.


When… when did this man become so strong?


Shen Wuxiao winked at her. “Relax. Your man doesn’t fight unless he’s sure of winning.”


“Go away!” she snapped, cheeks flushed. “Shameless!”


But deep down, she knew: if she stayed, she’d only become a burden.


Shen Wuxiao might be reckless—but he wasn’t stupid. He wouldn’t provoke Lin Fan without a plan.


Hong Ye didn’t hesitate. She turned and left.


Two of the other three officials followed her out in a panic.


Only Zhou Sheng was too slow.


Shen Wuxiao snatched him by the collar and locked the door behind them.


“Young Master Shen… I… I…” Zhou Sheng stuttered, nearly in tears.


“Didn’t you come to help Lin Fan?” Shen Wuxiao said with a twisted grin. “Help him all the way. Don’t leave yet.”


With a flick of his hand, a gleaming silver weapon appeared in his grip—the Deadly Judge’s Pen.


Lin Fan’s expression twisted when he saw it.


“The Deadly Judge’s Pen… You… You’re the Judge of Hell! It was you who razed the villa that night…”


Lin Fan’s fury reignited. His rage surged again.


So it was him!


Shen Wuxiao burst into laughter. “I just came up with that codename. Who knew you’d help make it popular?”


“DIE!!!” Lin Fan roared as true energy exploded from under his feet.


The ground cracked beneath him. Floor tiles shattered and spider-webbed outward.


His punch—solid, fast, and brutally powerful—screamed toward Shen Wuxiao like a cannon blast.


But at the last second, Shen Wuxiao grabbed Zhou Sheng and threw him forward as a shield!


Lin Fan’s fist was already in motion. He tried to pull back—but it was too late.


If he tried to reverse the force now, he’d only injure himself. The distance was too close.


Zhou Sheng saw death coming straight at him and screamed, struggling in terror.


“No, no no no—!”


BOOM!


The punch landed squarely on his chest.


The impact caved in his ribs, and his clothes exploded outward from the pressure. His heart stopped instantly.


If Lin Fan hadn’t tried to restrain his strength at the last moment, the blow would’ve torn Zhou Sheng apart entirely.


Even so, Zhou Sheng was finished.


His blood sprayed from his mouth—splashing all over Lin Fan’s face.


The heat of it snapped Lin Fan into a daze.


Shen Wuxiao tossed Zhou Sheng’s lifeless body aside and spun—his leg a blade—striking Lin Fan’s neck.


CRACK!


Lin Fan flew sideways and slammed to the floor, groaning.


“Lin Fan,” Shen Wuxiao said coldly, “you just killed your friend.”


“He came all this way to help you… and you murdered him.”


Lin Fan rolled and stood up shakily. His eyes locked on Zhou Sheng, who lay dying, gurgling blood from his throat.


A wave of crushing guilt engulfed him.