I Received Messages From Future Self!
Chapter 562 - 558 The Traitor

Chapter 562: Chapter 558 The Traitor

Just as Xuanwu was twisting and turning, attempting to break free from the siege and escape the encirclement, a familiar figure caught his eye.

Seeing this familiar figure, Xuanwu felt a surge of relief and shouted, "Bao Yuan, help me break through! Hummingbird and Xinyan are in danger—I must escort them to Phoenix Nest for shelter."

Upon hearing Xuanwu’s shout, Bao Yuan, who was passing by with his men, immediately turned to look in Xuanwu’s direction.

Seeing Xuanwu trapped in the heavy siege and unable to extricate himself, Bao Yuan quickly led his men over towards him.

"Xuanwu, don’t be afraid, Bao Yuan is here!"

Bao Yuan drew his blade and charged forward.

Support was within reach, and Xuanwu felt a surge of joy.

Strength welled up in his body again as he began resisting fiercely, sending his iron fists repeatedly into the group of assassins surrounding him.

Yet he failed to notice that the assassins seemed to ignore Bao Yuan entirely—none moved to intercept him.

In fact, their attacks became even more relentless, leaving Xuanwu overwhelmed, unable to spare a glance toward Bao Yuan.

Bao Yuan reached Xuanwu’s back, tossed aside his blade, and drew a Sheep Horn Blade from inside his coat.

Thunk—

Xuanwu felt a sharp pain in his lower back.

The pain forced a stifled groan from him.

Shocked, he turned his head to look behind.

What he saw was Bao Yuan’s grinning face coming into view.

"Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of my lady. Both the Swan Goose and Phoenix Nest will belong to her,"

Bao Yuan whispered in Xuanwu’s ear.

"You..."

Hearing Bao Yuan’s words, Xuanwu was horrified.

He only managed to utter the word "you."

Another sharp pain tore through his lower back.

It turned out Bao Yuan had pulled out the Sheep Horn Blade...

...and stabbed it into Xuanwu’s lower back once more.

Xuanwu felt his strength rapidly draining away, as though it were being siphoned out of his body.

"Die!"

"Once you’re dead, I’ll save the lady."

Bao Yuan whispered coldly.

Thunk—

Not waiting for his words to settle, the Sheep Horn Blade stabbed again.

Ugh—

Xuanwu groaned painfully.

Blood gushed from the wound on his lower back like a fountain.

Soon, a pool of blood formed beneath Xuanwu’s feet.

His eyes widened.

They were filled with unwillingness and despair.

Thump—

Xuanwu’s legs gave out weakly.

He sank stiffly to his knees in the pool of blood.

"You, you traitor, no..."

With lips drained of color, Xuanwu struggled to push out these words. Yet before he could complete a sentence, his powerless body toppled over like a collapsing pillar, falling heavily to the ground, trembling endlessly, with fresh blood pouring out of his mouth.

Bao Yuan wiped the blood off the Sheep Horn Blade onto his clothes and handed it to Green Sheep. "I’ve completed the task you asked of me. I hope you’ll uphold your promise and let me take the lady."

Green Sheep stroked his goatee as he accepted the Sheep Horn Blade.

Grinning slyly, he said, "Naturally."

"We shall keep our word: Jiang Xinyan will remain in your care, and Swan Goose shall be yours."

Green Sheep’s face was adorned with a calculated, insidious smile, giving the impression of an astutely treacherous man.

Bao Yuan studied Green Sheep intently for a moment before nodding. "You had better."

With that, without waiting for Green Sheep’s response, Bao Yuan retrieved his own blade and, with his men, quickly followed the corridor toward the direction Jiang Xinyan and Feng Nan had left.

As part of the arrangement, Bao Yuan also had to eliminate Hummingbird for Green Sheep—a trade, but also a symbol of loyalty.

Bao Yuan was tasked by Blacklist to kill both Xuanwu and Hummingbird. In return, Blacklist would not interfere with the assets under Swan Goose, leaving them entirely to Bao Yuan.

Bao Yuan would also become an auxiliary member of Blacklist, assisting Jiang Xinyan in maintaining Swan Goose’s facade...

...while secretly handling questionable assets for Blacklist.

Green Sheep stroked his goatee, his narrowed eyes fixed on Bao Yuan’s retreating figure, wearing a sinister smile.

"If it weren’t for the fact that keeping you alive still serves my interests, I’d have killed you long ago, ha..."

Green Sheep’s eerie laughter, rasping like a crow’s caw, sent chills through anyone who heard it.

"Follow them."

"Give chase and kill them—but don’t harm that boy or Jiang Xinyan. As for everyone else, kill on sight."

Green Sheep toyed with the Sheep Horn Blade in his hand; as he spoke the words "kill on sight," a murderous glint flickered in his narrow eyes.

"Yes!"

The assassins behind Green Sheep responded in unison.

"Green Sheep, what should we do with Xuanwu?"

Someone’s voice broke through.

Upon hearing the question, Green Sheep turned to look at Xuanwu.

At that moment, Xuanwu had yet to breathe his last.

His battered body was still convulsing on the ground.

Judging by his injuries, Xuanwu was as good as dead.

Green Sheep gave him a few kicks; seeing no reaction, he grinned coldly. "Let him succumb to fate and savor death’s final, exquisite sensation."

"Hahaha..."

Green Sheep laughed with triumph.

He spared Xuanwu no further attention and strode off.

The assassins promptly followed suit.

The corridor was left with the still-twitching body of Xuanwu.

Ten minutes later!

A flash of crimson swirled past.

Wearing a crimson-gold embroidered robe, Vermilion Bird appeared in the hallway.

Behind Vermilion Bird were several Phoenix Clan members, as well as Phoenix Nest’s combat unit.

"Check if there are any survivors."

Vermilion Bird commanded with a grim expression, surveying the hallway littered with corpses and awash with blood.

The furrowed brows and glimmers of cold in Vermilion Bird’s eyes reflected his discontent.

"Still too late."

Vermilion Bird muttered to himself.

"Vermilion Bird, boss, this one’s still alive!"

One member of Phoenix Nest’s combat unit shouted.

The next moment!

The individual exclaimed, "Damn!"

"It’s Boss Xuanwu!"

Hearing the cry, Vermilion Bird’s expression shifted.

His gaze locked instantly onto Xuanwu’s bloodied form.

Upon recognizing the near-lifeless figure as indeed Xuanwu, Vermilion Bird was overwhelmed by shock and fury.

Rushing to Xuanwu’s side, Vermilion Bird knelt down and cradled him. "Xuanwu, Xuanwu, wake up! It’s me, Vermilion Bird."

Vermilion Bird’s voice was urgent as he repeatedly called Xuanwu’s name, trying to rouse him from unconsciousness.

"Cough, cough..."

Xuanwu seemed to hear Vermilion Bird’s voice.

He coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood and slowly opened his eyes: "Bao Yuan... traitor... Green Sheep is here... over there... Jiang Xinyan..."

Xuanwu struggled weakly to spit out a few words.

Raising his hand, it seemed to cost him all his remaining strength; he simply pointed in the direction where Jiang Xinyan and Hummingbird had fled before his hand fell lifelessly back down.

"Go quickly..."

Xuanwu summoned the last of his energy and shouted.

Then, his eyes closed once more.

"Xuanwu!"

Vermilion Bird cried out desperately for Xuanwu.

But no matter how he shouted, Xuanwu did not open his eyes again. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, Vermilion Bird might have thought he was already dead.

"Bao Yuan, Green Sheep?"

"Traitor?"

Vermilion Bird released Xuanwu, repeating the three words he had heard from Xuanwu’s lips.

"Damn it!"

An icy glint flashed in Vermilion Bird’s eyes.

"Someone, get Xuanwu to a hospital."

"I want him alive!"

Vermilion Bird’s voice carried a murderous intent.

Each word was cold enough to freeze the air for miles.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing Vermilion Bird’s command, a response came immediately. Several members of the Phoenix Nest combat unit hurried over, fumbling to lift Xuanwu.

Watching as Xuanwu was taken away, Vermilion Bird spoke without expression: "Leave one unit to clean up the battlefield. The rest of you, come with me!"