Sky-cracking Rider

6:50 AM, Zone A2, Ninth Street.

House number, odd-numbered 3.

Chen Fei, with the Pure Light Sparrow in tow, walked leisurely to the spot, easily finding it amidst a surrounding of ruins and rubble.

"Chirp!"

Xiao Jiu perched on his shoulder, eagerly looking into the walled courtyard. Inside, a towering tree stood a hundred meters tall, its canopy completely enveloping the yard, with huge leaves as big as fans blocking the sunlight completely.

Even in the height of summer, there was not only an absence of heat under the shade but also a slight coolness spilling out to the surroundings. A gentle, refreshing breeze was blowing, making one feel extremely comfortable.

Within the canopy, there was constant chirping and the fluttering of wings, suggesting that numerous birds had taken up residence in the tree, perhaps forming a small ecosystem.

Less than a hundred meters from the courtyard lay desolate ruins and clearly demarcated scorched earth, some even in a state of lava.

This idyllic retreat that had miraculously survived amidst a rain of red and blue fireballs from the sky was probably not just a twist of fate.

"Let's go in!"

Chen Fei scratched the Little Bird's chin.

Upon receiving permission, the little one flapped its wings and zoomed into the courtyard, darting straight into the foliage.

He followed suit, pushing open the chest-high courtyard door. His eyes were greeted by a spacious courtyard paved with pebbles the size of fingertips, and he estimated the area inside the walls to be no less than seven to eight thousand square meters.

In the vast courtyard's center stood a single-story traditional building backed by the giant tree, with shoji doors covered in white paper, gracefully upturned eaves, and a design that had a distinct Dongying or perhaps Tang style.

Ten meticulously pruned pine trees, about the height of an average person, stood symmetrically, subtly forming a pathway straight to the wooden building.

Under the porch, there were already four pairs of shoes, both men's and women's.

There must be at least four people inside.

A few steps in, Chen Fei's stride faltered, and he frowned slightly as he stared at a pine tree.

It seemed like there was something there, but he saw nothing at all.

He knew there must be something strange about a courtyard that had remained untouched during the mutants' city raids.

Without hesitation, Chen Fei walked straight towards the wooden house under the towering tree.

He took off his shoes, stepped onto the floor, and then slid open the shoji door, revealing a Japanese-style room with thick straw mats and tatami on the floor.

The ceiling had a skylight, and although the dense canopy overhead blocked direct sunlight, the light from outside was enough to illuminate the interior. Furthermore, the supporting posts and ceiling were adorned with rustic lighting fixtures, so there were no shadowy corners.

Inside were five people, four men and women facing a bald figure clad in plain robes, accurately described as a monk.

To the side, a red clay brazier burned smokeless charcoal, and the air was filled with a subtle scent of tea.

The monk sitting cross-legged on the floor smiled slightly at Chen Fei and gestured towards an unoccupied cushion on the right side of the other four, measuring around two feet in square.

"Mr. Chen, please come in!"

Five cushions, no more, no less—just right. With Chen Fei, everyone was present.

The message conveyed earlier by Rossi, the liaison officer of Team 04, was vague and mysteriously unclear. The only thing Chen Xiao'er, who had arrived here, could do was take things one step at a time.

"Hello!"

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Guessing that the other party was the owner of the place, Chen Fei nodded in acknowledgement and quickly walked towards the soft mat.

The tatami mats made a muffled sound when stepped on, likely due to the suspended floor beneath, which must be made of hard and extremely thick boards to produce such a dull sound.

The size of the grass mat was just one square yard, a very traditional Dongying style.

The other four men and women watched Chen Fei as he arrived at the soft mat and sat down cross-legged, as if they had been waiting for him all along.

Seeing Chen Fei twisting his waist, seemingly uncomfortable as he tried to find a balanced point of support, the monk said apologetically, "Sorry, we don't have any chairs here."

"No problem!"

Chen Fei managed to sit steadfastly.

Sitting cross-legged was barely manageable, but kneeling was even more awkward for him.

"As you can see, my name is Miyoshi Xuesen, hmm, does it sound a bit strange?"

The monk poured a cup of clear tea, elegantly placed it on a serving table with a gentle push, and smoothly slid it on the tatami mat to Chen Fei, without spilling a single drop of tea from the cup glazed in bluish-black.

The corners of Chen Fei's mouth twitched, but he didn't make a sound.

Their surname is "Miyoshi," not actually "three good things," it's a hereditary family name, and with that given name, it's goddamned Miyoshi Xuesen or Miyoshi Xueseng!

The other four men and women had no reaction whatsoever.

It seemed that this dry joke wasn't very popular, as Monk Miyoshi shrugged his shoulders, as if mumbling to himself, "The family name is Miyoshi, given the name Xuesen by my parents."

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he exaggeratedly expressed his surprise, "Let me introduce everyone first."

He pointed to the first person to the left in front of him.

"Mr. Andrew, an Earth Mage of Earth Order Third Rank."

With a burly figure, muscles knotted, and a face full of beard and hair, the man looked like a walking embodiment of male hormones, nodding slightly towards the four people including Chen Fei, without a hint of roughness, but rather an air of elegance.

Such muscles on a mage were really wasted; it would be more fitting to swap the magic wand for a battle hammer, that kind of look seemed more appropriate.

Next was a young woman with naturally curly red hair and an impressive figure.

"Miss Masuya, an A-class Wind-type Ability User."

The twenty-something young woman winked at everyone.

"Tuert, a Psychic Mage of Human Order Ninth Rank."

Miyoshi was pointing to a boy with a youthful face, who looked under 20, and it was debatable whether he was even an adult.

"Hello everyone, I'm Tuert!"

The young man immediately waved his hand, looking around with the enthusiastic fervor characteristic of young people.

Being a Psychic Mage of Human Order Ninth Rank at such a young age, perhaps Human Order was not his limit.

"Next is Caroline, a B-class Fire Ability User."

The fourth person closest to Chen Fei was a lady who even had a basket beside her, already containing a few slender carrots, beets, broccoli, onions, and two large rib racks.

This lady seemed as though she was just passing by here while out shopping at the market.

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"I'm Caroline, and I excel in cooking and explosions!"

The shopping auntie with a basket full of groceries greeted Chen Fei and the others with a warm smile.

Cooking and explosions?

Chen Fei was puzzled.

All he could associate with was popcorn, but could that thing really count as a meal?

It was at this moment that Miyoshi Xueseng happened to point at Chen Fei.

"Chen Fei, a B-class Metal Ability User."

Chen Xiao'er immediately snapped out of it and hurriedly greeted everyone like the previous four had done.

"Hello, everyone!"

"Alright, introductions are done!"

The monk clapped his folding fan and moved on to the main topic.

"You might still be wondering why we have called you all here, but I think you all know about the incident that happened yesterday."

Snap! The folding fan opened again.

This Miyoshi Xuesen didn't seem like a monk but was quite fitting for the Japanese storyteller profession "Rakugo Performer." Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

It wasn't just Chen Fei, everyone present had the patience to wait; it seemed that those who could make it here were specially selected for their temperament, and impetuous and impulsive people wouldn't have been chosen.

All five were staring at the monk, waiting for him to reveal the answer.

Snap! The folding fan closed once again.

"To strike back!" said Miyoshi Xuesen, shaking the folding fan in his hand, "We've just received a confirmed list of core members from the 'Water Bear' organization."

The folding fan pointed towards the five people in front of him.

Snap! The folding fan slammed into his palm as Miyoshi Xuesen declared with absolute certainty, "Your task is to take them out one by one, assassinate, poison, snipe, whatever it takes."

Huh?

Chen Fei was somewhat flabbergasted. He was just a fighter jet mechanic and an old truck driver on the side. Since when did he have to start acting as an assassin?

Did he even have that kind of talent?

If throwing a 152 from tens of kilometers away counted, then was he considered a heavy artillery assassin?

"Are explosions allowed?"

It was clear that B-class Fire Ability User, Aunt Caroline, truly loved explosions.

"Just don't harm the innocent," said Miyoshi Xuesen without directly answering, but the implication was clear.

Sovereignty had already given the green light; as long as the innocent were not affected, they were free to do as they pleased.

The auntie revealed a kind and gentle, warm smile.

The walking male hormone, an Earth Mage of Earth Order rank three, Andrei asked in a magnetic voice filled with masculine charm, "May I ask where this list came from?"

Just got slapped face yesterday, and today the revenge list is out; naturally, anyone would be suspicious.

Chen Fei was thinking the same thing, and the expressions on the others' faces were no different—all very curious.

"Buddha says: It cannot be told, it cannot be told, namo..."

Miyoshi Xuesen pressed his hands together and seemed to be chanting something, probably invoking the Gatling Bodhisattva or the like.

"Do we have a detailed plan for action?"

Chen Fei, just like he'd do in school, raised his hand straightforwardly.

Counting the monk, there were only six people. Even holding a list and reaping heads would be useless if they only knew the names without any context!

Where do these people live?

Do they have bodyguards?

How many bodyguards? What's their combat strength?

What about the security and early warning systems of their residences?

Without comprehensive intelligence support and a battle plan, with just this small group, they were practically sending their heads on a platter.

"Don't worry about that; I'm the person in charge of this operation. You all just need to execute, and other matters..."

The monk clapped his hands, and the crisp sound of the claps echoed throughout the wooden house.

From the rafters, tatami mats, and behind the wooden pillars, people dressed in black and with their heads covered started to emerge, about twenty or so, instantly filling the spacious room with their presence.

"Ninjas?"

The young man, Tuert, shouted excitedly and quickly pulled out his phone, dragging a black-clad figure over.

The two huddled together, say cheese!

Click!

The deed was done.

"Indeed, ninjas!"

The corners of Miyoshi Xuesen's mouth twitched continuously.

He knew Tuert's actual age, which was already forty-nine this year.

Otherwise, the Blue Star Global United Defense Committee couldn't afford the accusation of employing minors; international organizations would latch onto them like mad dogs, scrutinizing and nitpicking with magnifying glasses, trying to find a bone in an egg.

Chen Fei, however, suddenly saw the light; no wonder he had sensed something out of the ordinary as soon as he had entered the courtyard.

So there were all these people hidden in every corner.

Chen Fei couldn't detect the people, but he could sense the metal objects on them, like shurikens and tachis.

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