Chapter 55: Framed!
Liew Ruyan slowly regained consciousness.
The last thing she remembered was Leng JianFeng telling her this matter had nothing to do with her—that she should leave and not get involved in this muddy mess.
After her attempt to plead on Chen Ning’s behalf failed, she could only walk away.
After all, her relationship with Chen Ning wasn’t nearly deep enough for her to risk offending Liu LuanLin for him.
And besides, with her strength, she wasn’t qualified to go head-to-head with the supreme commander of the Verocious Wolf Legion.
But what she never expected was that, just as she was leaving, Leng JianFeng suddenly attacked her from behind—knocking her unconscious.
So now, when she came to and saw Chen Ning’s battered figure, she asked weakly, “Chen Ning… what happened? Where’s Leng JianFeng?”
Chen Ning glanced toward the corpse lying not far away and said in a low voice, “He’s dead.”
Liew Ruyan’s eyes widened.
“You… you killed him?”
Chen Ning gave a bitter smile.
“If I had the power to kill a Level-Six War Officer, do you think I’d still be just a rookie soldier in the Phoenix Legion?”
Liew Ruyan remembered now—she had used the Liew family’s commercial network to dig into Chen Ning’s background before.
The report said he was a trainee from the Azurebird Base, a mere Level-Two War Soldier. She had also heard him say during the arena fight that he’d only just broken through to Level-Three.
But a Level-Three War Soldier against a Level-Six War Officer? That was three whole ranks apart—and between War Soldier and War General was a true watershed.
Even a Level-Three defeating a Level-Four was rare; a Level-Three killing a Level-Six was as absurd as a kindergarten child punching a professional athlete to death.
So Liew Ruyan didn’t believe for a second that Chen Ning had killed Leng JianFeng. Still, curiosity burned in her.
“Then who killed him? And why did that person let us live?”
Chen Ning didn’t know how to answer—but just then, the voice of the Crimson Tyrant echoed in his mind:
“Chen Ning, tell her that while you were fighting Leng JianFeng, he suddenly noticed something off about an old man hiding in a nearby residential building.
Suspicious and alarmed, he shouted ‘Pang QingYun!’ Then, Leng JianFeng engaged in a fierce battle with the mysterious old man, who quickly killed him and fled.”
Chen Ning frowned inwardly and asked, “Who is this Pang QingYun? Why blame it on him? Will that even work?”
“Stop asking nonsense,” the Crimson Tyrant snapped. “Do as I say if you want to live.”
Left with no choice, Chen Ning repeated the story word for word.
To his surprise, Liew Ruyan’s face changed the moment she heard that name. Her voice trembled.
“Pang Qingyun? You mean that Pang QingYun— the half-human, half-zombie archdemon who has been wanted by the Empire for over a decade?”
As she spoke, she immediately walked over to Leng Jianfeng’s corpse. Fighting back the urge to retch, she removed the gas mask from his face.
Seeing the bloodless, mummified body, she gasped in shock, “It really is the legendary demigod Pang QingYun! That demon has actually appeared in Vermilion Phoenix City… How terrifying!”
Chen Ning finally understood.
Pang QingYun was a demigod, infamous across the Empire.
The Crimson Tyrant’s plan was to pin Leng JianFeng’s death on this notorious figure, making him the scapegoat.
Otherwise, as a mere Phoenix Legion soldier, Chen Ning killing a major from the Empire’s army would be an unforgivable crime.
And worse—how could he possibly explain that Leng JianFeng’s corpse had been completely drained of blood?
Framing someone else was the best choice he had—and the Crimson Tyrant, ancient and cunning, had immediately chosen a “celebrity” scapegoat from among the known demigods.
Just then, armed Imperial soldiers flooded into the alley from both ends. On the left were troops from the Verocious Wolf Legion; on the right, soldiers from the Breaking Army Legion. Within seconds, Chen Ning and Liew Ruyan were surrounded.
Leading the Verocious Wolf squad was a major named Liu ZuoWu, nephew of Liu LuanXiong.
Leading the Breaking Army Legion was another major, Hu Gang, the favored disciple of their commander, Bai ZhongShan.
The two majors arrived at the scene, looked at the bloodied Chen Ning, the pale Liew Ruyan, and Leng JianFeng’s shriveled corpse—and their faces both changed.
Hu Gang’s expression darkened because he knew Leng JianFeng was a powerful officer of Vermilion Phoenix City and Liu LuanLin’s personal guard.
To see him dead—and in such a way—meant something extraordinary had happened.
Liu ZuoWu’s face turned ugly for another reason. He knew Leng JianFeng had been sent to kill Chen Ning—yet here Leng JianFeng lay dead instead.
He glared coldly at Chen Ning. “Who are you people? Why is Major Leng dead here? Did you two kill him?”
Liew Ruyan’s temper flared.
“Don’t you dare accuse us without proof! I’m Liew Ruyan, general manager of the Liew Trading Company. You think I could kill Leng JianFeng? Either you think too highly of me—or too little of him!”
Chen Ning straightened his back, eyes firm.
“I’m Chen Ning, Elite Squad soldier of the Phoenix Legion, Azurebird Base. I was passing through here with Miss Liew when Major Leng suddenly drew his blade and attacked.
I was injured in the fight. Then Major Leng noticed a suspicious old man nearby, shouted ‘Pang QingYun,’ and was instantly slain by him.
The old man killed him and left. I was too injured and too weak to stop him.”
Pang QingYun!
Both Liu ZuoWu and Hu Gang blanched at the name.
The infamous demigod criminal—half-human, half-corpse—whose power was said to be monstrous. If he truly appeared in Vermilion Phoenix City, it would be a grave threat indeed.
Hu Gang and Liu ZuoWu briefly examined the body and confirmed that it indeed bore the hallmarks of a demigod’s killing style.
Hu Gang asked quietly, “What now?”
Liu ZuoWu’s eyes flickered.
He knew Master Liu LuanLin and Lady Shi LiLi wanted Chen Ning dead to avenge Liu Xi.
He smirked. “Major Hu, since Major Leng was our legion commander’s personal guard, his death will surely enrage the commander.
And I see Chen Ning bears signs of fighting him—so I have reason to suspect Chen Ning and Liew Ruyan are accomplices of Pang Qingyun.
I suggest the Verocious Wolf Legion take charge of the investigation. I’ll bring them back for interrogation and report it personally. Agreed?”
Hu Gang didn’t care much about the case—and Liew Ruyan’s family background made her tricky to handle. Letting the Verocious Wolf Legion deal with it suited him fine. He nodded.
“Very well. Take them. I’ll report to Commander Bai. If you uncover any leads about Pang QingYun, notify us immediately.”
“Of course,” Liu ZuoWu said coolly.
Then he turned to Chen Ning and Liew Ruyan, voice cold.
“Men! Take them into custody for questioning. Bring back Major Leng’s body as well—burn it before it turns into a zombie.”
“Yes, sir!”
Armed soldiers swarmed forward to seize them.
Liew Ruyan, having never suffered such humiliation in her life, flew into a rage, shouting threats at Liu ZuoWu.
In Chen Ning’s mind, the Crimson Tyrant spoke again:
“Chen Ning, that officer’s one of Liu LuanLin’s men. He’s targeting you—just like Leng JianFeng was sent to kill you. If they take you back, you’ll be finished. Let me control your body—we’ll fight our way out!”
But Chen Ning refused. Even if he let the Tyrant take over, their combined strength was only Level-Seven—not nearly enough to escape Vermilion Phoenix City alive. It would be suicide.
He decided to gamble instead.
Bai Yuhao’s father commanded the Breaking Army Legion, and the Liew family was close to the city’s lord. Maybe Bai Yuhao and the Liew family would step in to save him and Liew Ruyan.
So Chen Ning didn’t resist. He let the soldiers shackle and drag them away.
_______________________________________________________
Meanwhile, Bai Yuhao, Su Luo, and the Luo brothers were waiting for Chen Ning to regroup so they could all head back to base together.
But Chen Ning never came. Instead, bad news arrived.
Bai Yuhao slammed his fist on the table, face pale.
“This is bad! Chen Ning’s been implicated in the killing of an Imperial officer—he’s been taken by the Verocious Wolf Legion!”
Su Luo and the others were instantly thrown into panic, pacing anxiously, asking what to do.
Bai Yuhao gritted his teeth. “Don’t panic. Come on—we’re going to find my father!”
Join the Discussion