Chapter 134: Dark Stake

The training camp.

The half of the camp that had been destroyed by missile strikes had now been completely restored. Even the directional signs on the roads had been repainted. If it weren't for the faint scorch marks still visible on some buildings' surfaces, no one would believe that this place had once been struck by a catastrophe.

The cafeteria, now empty of recruits, had only a few instructors scattered around the long table, leisurely having their lunch.

"Ah, I have to say, since those new recruits left, life has gotten a bit dull," one instructor sighed.

"You miss them yelling at you, huh?"

"Hahaha, I guess you could say that's part of it..."

"By the way, it's been a while since we've seen Han Li. Where did that kid go?"

"Not sure. It's not just him; several instructors have disappeared too. They say they're on a secret mission."

"A secret mission?" One instructor raised an eyebrow. "Could it be related to the recent enemy attack?"

"I don't know, but lately, there's been a strange atmosphere in the camp…" another instructor said uneasily.

"What's strange about it?"

"I can't really put my finger on it, but it feels like there's a mysterious pressure, a sense of foreboding..."

"I think you're overthinking it," another instructor dismissed, taking a bite of his meal.

Just as the conversation was winding down, two figures entered the cafeteria. Upon seeing the man at the front, the instructors immediately stood up and saluted.

"Sir!"

"Good afternoon, Sir!"

With a calm face, Yuan Gang walked toward them. His eyes fixed on one particular instructor, and an air of stern authority seemed to emanate from him.

Behind him, Instructor Hong carried several documents, his expression unchanged.

Under Yuan Gang's intense gaze, the instructor he was looking at immediately turned pale. He clenched his lips, his arm trembling slightly as he held his salute.

The other instructors also sensed something was off and held their breath.

"Why?" Yuan Gang asked slowly.

The instructor opened his mouth, his voice hoarse, "Sir, what do you mean...?"

"Li Yaoguang, enlisted in 1989," Yuan Gang called his name calmly. "I remember you. Back when I was just a captain, you were one of my soldiers."

"Sir..." Li Yaoguang stammered.

"Why?" Yuan Gang's eyes bore into him with unrelenting pressure.

Li Yaoguang trembled uncontrollably, his head lowered, his face drained of color.

Instructor Hong, standing in the back, spoke in a measured tone as he opened the files. "On November 14th, at 9:42 PM, the southeast gate's surveillance captured footage of you sneaking out of the camp. Where were you going?"

"On November 26th, when the recruits went out for extreme training, you disappeared for two hours. Where did you go during that time?"

"On December 7th, two suspicious sums of money were transferred into your parents' online banking accounts: 2 million and 3 million. Where did that money come from?"

"On the day of the camp's attack, you used a satellite phone to send two encrypted messages. Half a minute later, another 3 million appeared in your bank account. You—"

"Stop, stop it!" Li Yaoguang suddenly shouted, his strength seemingly drained, his face pale as paper. He covered his face with trembling hands and began to cry.

"I didn't want to… I never wanted to... They took my parents... I—"

Yuan Gang stared at him for a long time before turning away and speaking with cold indifference. "You don't need to explain to me. When you get to the Judgment Office in Beijing, they will ask you… If all goes according to plan, the rest of your life will be spent in the Reclusion Institute."

Before anyone had a chance to process the shock, Yuan Gang called out two more names.

"Wang Gui, Wu Ruotong."

The two instructors flinched, their faces immediately growing grim.

"I can't believe it," Yuan Gang sneered. "I never imagined that three dark stakes were planted right here in my little training camp. What an audacious move!"

The other instructors turned to look at them, disbelief written across their faces, while Wang Gui and Wu Ruotong exchanged a quick glance. In an instant, both leapt into action!

Clang—!!

Two short blades appeared in their hands, slashing toward Yuan Gang's throat in a lightning-fast strike.

Their movements were so swift that the other instructors didn't even have time to react. The air only left behind their afterimages!

With a cold grunt, Yuan Gang unleashed a golden ripple of energy from his body, like two massive hammers, crashing into Wang Gui and Wu Ruotong's chests. The force sent them flying backward, their bodies slamming into the surrounding tables and chairs, overturning a whole set of dishes with a cacophony of clattering sounds.

Struggling to get back on their feet, Wang Gui and Wu Ruotong coughed up blood.

Yuan Gang, with his hands behind his back and his expression indifferent, walked over to them, his eyes as cold as the depths of the sea.

"Heh heh..." Wang Gui struggled to stand, but despite the overwhelming gap in strength, there was a manic gleam in his eyes. "Yuan Gang, Lord [Whisperer] has a gift for you..."

Wang Gui and Wu Ruotong grinned maniacally, and in the next instant, their bodies began to swell like balloons. A strange red light erupted from within them!

Yuan Gang's brow furrowed as he snorted coldly, stomping his foot heavily on the ground. A golden wave shot up from the earth, forming a golden bell-like barrier around the two, cutting them off from the surrounding environment.

Boom—!!

The two bodies exploded under the red light, their blood and flesh splattering against the golden walls of the barrier. The red shockwaves struggled to break free but failed. Eventually, the explosion erupted downward, creating a deep, circular trench in the ground.

As the red light faded, Yuan Gang waved his hand, dispelling the golden barrier. The scattered blood and gore trickled down the trench walls, the stench of death wafting through the air.

The remaining instructors' faces turned pale in shock.

"[Whisperer]?" Instructor Hong frowned, watching the scene unfold with a grim expression. "So they were brainwashed... How long have the Cult of the Ancient Gods been infiltrating us?"

Yuan Gang's eyes burned with fury as he stared at the remnants of the bodies. His chest rose and fell with deep, labored breaths.

He sneered, then turned and walked out of the cafeteria. His eyes glowed with a faint golden hue, and a crushing pressure emanated from him, making the air itself seem to tremble.

"This farce has gone on long enough. It's time to put an end to it..."

With each step, Yuan Gang left afterimages in the air, his figure rapidly vanishing from view.

Instructor Hong watched his departing figure, muttering to himself, "Sir... is angry."