<h4>Chapter 1971 The Price Of Power (1)</h4>


    Yun Lintian didn''t answer the question right away. Instead, he asked, "Who is your current superior?"


    "It''s General Song Wanjun," Yang Zicheng replied with a puzzled expression.


    "Old Man Song is still working?" Yun Lintian was slightly surprised.


    "Yes. He is about to retire this year," Yang Zicheng exined. "Why did you ask this?"


    "Since you''ve been working under Old Man Song, do you know he tried to recruit me to the army many times?" Yun Lintian inquired.


    "I''ve heard about it," Yang Zicheng responded.


    "Do you know why I refused him?" Yun Lintian asked further.


    "I don''t know," Yang Zicheng admitted. "Freedom, I guess?"


    He was aware of Yun Lintian''s astonishing record on the battlefield. He also felt it would be a pity for Yun Lintian to be a mercenary instead of joining the army.


    "Freedom is one thing," Yun Lintian nodded slightly. "Let me ask you another question. What would you do if Old Man Song ordered you to attack me?"


    Yang Zicheng''s brow furrowed deeply at the question. He pondered momentarily before truthfully answering, "I would do it. A military order cannot be disobeyed."


    "Do you see the difference between you, a soldier, and a killer here?" Yun Lintian inquired with a faint smile.


    Yang Zicheng opened his mouth, speechless. In a way, the line between soldier and killer seemed almost nonexistent. Both eliminated targets toplete missions.


    "The difference is, a soldier has a license to kill," Yun Lintian exined calmly. "Their actions can be disguised under the guise of national security. However, to me, they are simply sanctioned killers."


    Yang Zicheng frowned in disagreement. "You''re wrong. We do everything to protect the country''s interests."


    "Killers also act in their employers'' interests," Yun Lintian countered with a faint smile. "More importantly, they have the option to refuse a mission, unlike you."


    "Even if your superior orders the elimination of children deemed terrorists, you''d be forced toply, facing punishment for refusal."


    Yang Zicheng fell silent, unable to refute the truth in Yun Lintian''s words.


    "Why are you bringing this up?" he inquired, confused. It didn''t seem relevant to their n against the Zhu family.


    Lynn couldn''t help but interject. "He''s implying Zhu Tianlong will soon send troops to attack him."


    Stunned for a moment, Yang Zicheng quickly grasped the situation. "Are you saying...?"


    "The Crimson Guard," Yun Lintian confirmed. "Zhu Tianlong has already dispatched them."


    "He actually..." Yang Zicheng''s expression darkened.


    The Crimson Guard was a deadly, elite squad exceeding even the Hidden Dragon Group. Normally, they would be deployed in the most dangerous mission… Zhu Tianlong actually used them against Yun Lintian.


    "Can you honestly say they''re not sanctioned killers?" Yun Lintian chuckled.


    Yang Zicheng was now convinced.


    "What''s your n?" he asked, not worried about Yun Lintian''s safety after witnessing his power. He simply hoped to avoid national conflict.


    "Since he''s digging his own grave, I''ll just push him in," Yun Lintian replied nonchntly.


    "Don''t worry," Lynn reassured, "he wouldn''t do something to harm the country."


    "Thank you for your consideration," Yang Zicheng conceded.


    Yun Lintian nced at the tablet, his curiosity piqued. "How did you find me so quickly?"


    Logically, Yang Zicheng shouldn''t have had the free time to watch a livestream.


    "Ah, Sister Phoenix has be quite popr today. She''s been promoting herself everywhere," Yang Zicheng exined, tapping something on the tablet before handing it to Yun Lintian. "See? She''s all over the ce."


    Yun Lintian looked at the content disyed on the tablet, speechless. Now, he understood how Nantian Fengyu had managed to gain such a massive viewership in such a short time.


    Essentially, Nantian Fengyu had manipted techpanies like Google, Bytedance, and Twitter to ce the link to her room on their sites.


    Lynn nced at the screen and chuckled. "Your Fifth Sister is quite resourceful."


    "Fifth Sister?" Yang Ningchang looked curiously at the "Sister Phoenix" on the tablet.


    "She''s his senior disciple," Lynn began, exining the existence of Nantian Fengyu and Yun Lintian''s other women.


    Yang Ningchang''s surprise was evident. She looked at Yun Lintian and asked, "You mean Sister Yao has...?"


    "Yes, she has returned," Yun Lintian replied calmly. "However, she''s currently training in a secret realm. It''ll take a few years for her toe out."


    "You''re impressive, brother-inw," Yang Zicheng said with a thumbs-up, a hint of envy in his voice for Yun Lintian''s bevy of beauties. Maybe he could learn a thing or two?


    Yang Ningchang shot him a cold re. "Don''t even think about it. Understood?"


    Yang Zicheng shuddered. "I''m a man of honor, sister. Don''t go throwing usations."


    Yang Ningchang scoffed. "I''ll be watching you."


    Yang Zicheng''s shoulders slumped in defeat. His dreams were dashed before they even took flight.


    "Let''s head back," Yun Lintian said, preparing to leave.


    "Is there anything I can do, brother-inw?" Yang Zicheng asked attentively.


    "Just tell Old Man Song I apologize for the inconvenience," Yun Lintian said with a yful smile. "He''ll have to bear with it for a while."


    He then waved his hand, vanishing with Lynn and Yang Ningchang in a blink.


    This finally exined to Yang Zicheng how Yun Lintian and Lynn had bypassed the manor''s security.


    Taking a deep breath, he muttered worriedly, "I hope the leader''s heart can handle this."


    ***


    "Hello, we''re here for maintenance. This is our permit." A strong man in safety gear approached a security guard at themunity where Yun Lintian''s vi was.


    The security guard scrutinized the permit before ncing at the man and the others in the van. He returned the document and said, "Alright, you''re good to go, brother."


    "Thanks, brother. Have a good day," the strong man replied with a smile before climbing back into the van and driving off.


    Watching the van disappear into themunity, the security guard sighed and returned to his post.


    Inside the van, the atmosphere turned serious. "What''s the situation?" the strong man asked solemnly.


    "The target''s vi is isted," the middle-aged man on the passenger seat responded, his finger hovering over aptop disying a 3D model of Yun Lintian''s vi. "It''s surrounded by a park andke. We can attack from the front or back."


    The strong man considered this for a moment. "Let''s go straight for the bomb," he decided.


    The middle-aged man nodded. "We have enough to level the entire vi."


    "Excellent. Let''s move out," the strong man said, quietly parking the van a short distance from Yun Lintian''s vi.


    "Here we go," Yun Lintian spoke inside the vi, his spiritual sense observing everything unfold.