Who’s Ruler Has Blond Hair?

The shrill, desperate cries of Xiao Su cut through the night sky, piercing the fog with sheer terror and panic. He was truly afraid this time.

The commander had ordered him to come out and probe the enemy's strength, perhaps even demonstrate a little power to intimidate them. Xiao Su had originally thought it would be a simple task—nothing more than a walk in the park. After all, amidst the eerie atmosphere of the Third Apocalypse, his abilities were perfectly suited to intimidate outsiders. He had done this countless times before, and it had always worked.

But this time… He had stepped on a landmine.

"Get the hell out here!" Xiao Su's voice grew frantic, the desperation evident as his head jerked wildly, his words becoming even more frantic. His voice, sharp and ghastly, echoed through the night like a wraith: "I'm gonna die! I really am! I'll haunt you even after I'm dead!!"

Chen Dafei had no idea whether Xiao Su's threats were directed at the commander of Dan Tu or at him. Regardless, it seemed like the mountain towering behind them had no patience for the noise. With a swift motion, he silenced Xiao Su, snapping his tongue and twisting his jaw.

"Finally, peace and quiet."

Chen Dafei smiled, casting a glance at Xiao Su's headless body before his gaze slowly shifted to the group of young men and women watching silently.

"He's calling for you. Are you really not going to show yourself?"

Chen Dafei's voice was laced with amusement as he looked at the crowd, his smile cold. "You can't even protect your own people, and you call yourself a commander of Dan Tu? Compared to our commander, you're miles apart."

A voice broke through the silence. From the middle of the group, a young man, barely twenty, scratched his head and stepped forward, his expression one of annoyance.

"Damn! When did you let these guys surround us?"

The defenders and mages had silently encircled the group, trapping them without a sound.

"And how the hell did you know I was here?"

The crowd parted to reveal a young man with yellow hair, dressed in tight pants and worn-out shoes, his face decorated with piercings. His entire appearance screamed of rebellion, and it threw Chen Dafei off. This was Dan Tu's commander? It was hard to believe.

"Li Aiguo?" Chen Dafei asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and disbelief. "The Heart of the Ruler?"

Li Aiguo's eyes narrowed as he regarded the older man before gesturing toward the headless body of Xiao Su, which was still cradled in the mountain's hands.

"I may have been a bit dismissive earlier, but you have to understand. It's the middle of the night, and suddenly a group of people shows up. Anyone would be cautious," he said, his tone casual and a bit rough. "Let him go now, and we can talk."

Chen Dafei wasn't one to back down, and his temper flared. "I don't care what you think, but this kid? He's not walking away alive unless I get what I want."

Just as tensions seemed to peak, Li Aiguo gave him an appraising look before speaking, as if addressing an idiot.

"Do you think I'm talking to you?" Li Aiguo sneered. "You, with all your strength, can't possibly have the ability to probe and gather intel at the same time, right? Let your commander come out. A king meets a king, a general meets a general. That's only fair."

Chen Dafei was momentarily caught off guard but didn't let his guard down. He took out a new communicator from his pocket and tossed it over to Li Aiguo.

"My superior says we can talk."

Without another word, he waved his hand dismissively. "Shan, give me the head."

Shan turned around and handed over Xiao Su's dismembered head. The blood continued to ooze from his jaw, the terror still evident in his wide eyes. Chen Dafei kicked the head with a classic, forceful football move, sending it spinning back to its body with a swift precision.

Li Aiguo's gaze remained unflinching as he observed the scene, but his attention shifted to the communicator in his hand. He cautiously raised it to his ear.

"Hello?"

A calm voice answered, "This is Commander Su from Jinling. I'm glad to see such a powerful commander looking out for the people of Dan Tu."

Li Aiguo smirked, "Cut the pleasantries. You're sending people to my territory in the middle of the night, and now you want to talk? What do you expect me to tell my superiors?"

Mike's voice remained composed and polite, "I apologize for Captain Chen's brash behavior, but rest assured, I had confirmed that he wouldn't harm Xiao Su before allowing him to act. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here talking to you."

Li Aiguo, though irritated, was sharp enough to recognize the seriousness in Mike's words.

"I don't mean to be rude," Mike continued, "but as Chen's superior, I'm aware of his value in protecting the public. It's vital to our survival."

Li Aiguo paused, considering the gravity of the situation. "Fine, let's talk. You've got my attention."