Special Forces Medic

Chapter 885 - 858: The Mask

"No one else can do it but me." Mu Rongyun frowned. Xiao Lin’s limbs felt a chill; if he lost consciousness now, the chance of protecting his heart would decrease. Fourth Master never intended to spare Xiao Lin, so he tampered with the needle, foolish people, knowing the danger yet still doing such silly things. "If you’re afraid I’ll harm him, then follow me."

Through the large screen, you could clearly see the person’s visage above. However, all that was visible were a pair of eyes and an exquisite mask. Thin sheets of iron were polished into smooth patterns and delicate grooves, forming a mask of medieval design neither masculine nor feminine, accentuating the contours beneath, giving the face a sculpted appearance. Yet the eyes beneath the mask were obscure and cold, making those before the screen unable to lift their heads.

"Where’s your master?" A fine, thread-like voice emerged from beneath the mask after a long silence.

"She... she’s injured." Lao Zhao hesitated in his response. Fourth Master’s injuries were more severe than imagined but not life-threatening. "Here’s the plasma that Master procured; I’ll have it shipped to you later."

"You acted against the Xia Family?!" It was a question posed like a statement, his voice betraying no emotions. Lao Zhao dared not respond lightly. "When did I ever ask you to make such foolish moves? Bring the person to me."

"Master..." Lao Zhao wanted to say something, but under the gaze from beneath the mask, he turned and left.

"Don’t trouble Lao Zhao; it was my own decision." Before he could leave the room, Fourth Master had already walked in from outside, bandaged, face as pale as a ghost, lips drained of color but making the pure face appear even more vivid.

"Defying my orders? The prerequisite to killing Yao Zheng was showing up in front of me now." The obscure eyes focused on that patch of white.

Fourth Master remained silent; the more you explained, the harsher the punishment. This was a learned pattern; in front of this man, excuses only proved one’s incompetence.

"Three days to get yourself sorted out and appear before me." The image cut off. Fourth Master stood there, immobile.

"Master, what you need most now is rest, the lord no longer blames you."

"He gave me three days to deal with Xiao Lin. If we can’t kill Xiao Lin this time, none of us will live. Was I wrong?"

Fourth Master grasped the lord’s intentions better than himself. She didn’t explain because there was no turning back. Targeting the Xia Family wasn’t easy to escape from—either kill the opposition outright or be killed. What can we accomplish in three days?

Lao Zhao heard the helplessness in Fourth Master’s words; three days could actually accomplish much. Supported out of the influence room, the person settled on the living room sofa, devoid of white couches and absent of dense medicinal scents, just an ordinary setting. Fourth Master folded her legs as she walked in.

"One wrong move leads to defeat at every turn."

"What?" Lao Zhao asked, not hearing Fourth Master’s murmur.

"Go rest!" Dropping the facade, she was still a child.

"Master, I’m still here, and there’s still a way to deal with the assassin Xiao Lin." Fourth Master lifted her head and saw the intrigue in Lao Zhao’s eyes. "Master, no one knows if Xiao Lin can completely clear the drug effects, but one thing is certain: his current strength is incomparable to yours. If we have to force his compliance, we have one trump card left."

"Xiao Lin’s woman, right?" Fourth Master already knew what Lao Zhao was going to say. Her subordinates were few now, driven to such a desperate point, all thanks to this man. "Go arrange it; this time, no outside help is needed. Just in case, I’ll handle it personally."

Though a proposal, Lao Zhao didn’t plan on letting Fourth Master handle it herself. "Master, you can’t engage in extensive activity with your injuries. Though Xiao Lin’s been tricked, he still has capable people around him; let me go instead!"

"Your skills are decent, but no match for them." It was an indisputable decision, with a resolute chin and cold eyes resembling the lord.

"I understand, but I’ll still accompany you, at least to intervene at crucial moments..."

"Lao Zhao, do you think we are bound to lose?" Fourth Master tilted her head; the bullet in her shoulder had not been removed, embedded as a reminder of this mistake.

"Do you want the truth, Master?"

"You wouldn’t lie to me."

"We have over a seventy percent chance of losing." Lao Zhao didn’t make it sound too high; he placed over thirty percent hope in Xiao Lin’s injuries. "Master, in fact, we haven’t truly competed against the Xia Family; it’s always been through strategy. In terms of strength, Lao Zhao wishes to remind Fourth Master that you still have a gap with him."

"You mean in physical capability?"

"Not just that, Master is a strategist while he is both a strategist and a tactician. Though it’s a slight difference, the impact is worlds apart."

"Lao Zhao! Strategy is also a method; find out where that woman is currently staying."

"Master, when do you plan to act?"

"Three days later, I want that woman’s entire routine and lifestyle habits."

"Master, is it still Miss Xia?"

"No, I want both captured together." Endless newspaper headlines—who knows what’s real or fake? There’s no time to waste on this person. "In three days, whichever is easiest to get close to, act swiftly and decisively."

The all-in chance is thirty percent; with Lao Zhao’s calculation, her win rate was too low. How to find a lethal bargaining chip among the two women, she didn’t want to guess.

"Master, personally, I believe the Xia Family member holds more persuasion, as Xiao Lin’s breakup followed your suggestion and doesn’t seem like a coincidence."

Lao Zhao’s reasoning made sense but might also be the truth. "The woman with Xiao Lin—is she the Dragon Soul’s military advisor?"

"Yes, exactly!"

"Hehehe, we’ve got another chance, maybe to increase the victory rate to one hundred percent."

"Master, you mustn’t do this." Lao Zhao was startled; the ace she wanted to use might indeed boost the chances but wouldn’t change the outcome.

"Your lord expects my death, or is it that you want to return to the lord’s side?"

"Master, you’ve misunderstood the lord. I don’t believe he genuinely wants to send you to your death. If he’s doing this, there must be a reason; perhaps you can wait a little longer, but that side truly cannot be touched."

Observing Lao Zhao’s expression, Fourth Master still felt a twinge of compassion. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)