Chapter 582: Intricate Mechanism

Old Liu was slightly stunned as he looked at the blood-soaked Zheng Yingxiong before him, momentarily speechless.

After landing, Zheng Yingxiong steadied himself with the sword in his hand, struggling to catch his breath.

A few seconds later, he sniffed the air, his gaze bypassing the people in front of him and locking onto Tiantian. “I smell it… the fragrance of a ‘Clever Artifact.'”

At that moment, neither Old Liu, Xiao Cheng, nor Tiantian spoke a word, simply staring blankly at the short sword in Zheng Yingxiong’s hand.

Noticing their odd expressions, Zheng Yingxiong also glanced down.

A second later, his eyes widened in shock.

In his hand was an incredibly bizarre sword, seemingly pieced together from dozens of mechanical components. It had wires of various colors, circuit boards of unknown function, and gears of different sizes still turning within it. The blade itself was made of some unknown glass-like material.

The once-flimsy newspaper short sword had somehow transformed into a precision-crafted mechanism entirely assembled from mechanical parts and gears.

“So cool…” Zheng Yingxiong seemed to have completely forgotten his injuries as he marveled at the sword in his hand. “What *is* this?”

Meanwhile, Tiantian, the creator of this “Clever Artifact,” looked even more shocked than Zheng Yingxiong. The object felt vaguely familiar, but how could it take the shape of a sword?

“So, you really do have some skill…”

Old Liu’s expression instantly turned vicious. Even if this kid had somehow managed to kill Old Fang by sheer luck, he was still just a child.

The chances of him picking up this sword again and killing a fully armed middle-aged man were zero.

Seizing the moment while Zheng Yingxiong was distracted, Old Liu lunged forward, kicking the sword from his grip, then raised his own dagger to strike.

Tiantian’s mind went blank. She still hadn’t fully grasped how to use her own abilities, and now Zheng Yingxiong was facing death once more.

Just as the two were at a loss, Xiao Cheng suddenly rushed forward, tackling Old Liu to the ground just as the dagger was about to pierce Zheng Yingxiong.

Within seconds, the two were locked in a fierce struggle, grappling with each other’s arms, neither willing to yield.

“Xiao Cheng… have you lost your damn mind?” Old Liu spat. “Do you really think *crossing me* will end well for you…?”

“I can’t take it anymore…” the young man named Xiao Cheng gritted his teeth. “I’ve had enough of this life…”

Old Liu’s veins bulged, but he forced a twisted grin. “Heh… good kid… we *share a room*, remember? You think you can just betray me…? I’ve got *all the time in the world* to make you regret it…”

Xiao Cheng seemed completely consumed by rage, gripping Old Liu’s arm tightly, struggling to control the dagger in his hand.

Though he was young and strong, Old Liu was no pushover either. The two were locked in a deadlock, rolling violently across the ground.

Tiantian took a few seconds to assess whether this was some kind of ruse. But seeing the young man on the verge of collapse, she made a snap decision—grabbing Zheng Yingxiong and dashing toward the bicycle.

“Sis… that brother…”

“I can’t worry about him now!” Tiantian said frantically. “Little brother, you ride the bike and go. Once you’re safe, I’ll try to help him…”

“But—”

“Just *listen*!” Tiantian helped Zheng Yingxiong onto the bike. “I don’t know if that guy helped us out of personal grudges or some other reason. The only thing I can do right now is get *you* out of here!”

Before Zheng Yingxiong could respond, a bloodcurdling scream erupted from the two men still wrestling in the distance. The sound was so agonizing, it was impossible to tell who had been hurt.

“I’m going!” Tiantian shouted. “Little brother, be careful!”

She sprinted back in a panic, only to find Old Liu gaining the upper hand. He had Xiao Cheng pinned beneath him, using his full body weight to drive his dagger downward. Xiao Cheng barely managed to block the blade with his palms, but his chest was already drenched in blood.

“Damn it… Xiao Cheng… you’re stronger than I thought…” Old Liu snarled, his eyes wild with bloodlust. “After this… I’ll make sure you *never* leave the interview room… you’ll rot there for the rest of your miserable life…”

“That’s not happening…” Xiao Cheng gritted his teeth. “If I can just ‘Echo’ this time… I won’t let you win next time either… I’ll rally the others to stand against you two…”

“You won’t ‘Echo’… because you’re *dying* right here…”

Without hesitation, Tiantian rushed to the side and picked up the “treasured sword” Zheng Yingxiong had used earlier.

She expected the intricate mechanical weapon to be heavy, but it was surprisingly light.

No wonder Zheng Yingxiong, with his small frame, had wielded it so effortlessly.

Most of its materials weren’t even steel—rather, precious metals commonly used in electronics.

Clutching the sword, Tiantian charged at the two men. Without a word or a second thought, she drove the blade straight into Old Liu’s ribs.

The sword was far sharper than she’d imagined.

In her memory, she had never killed anyone before—yet she felt no hesitation in that moment.

“AAAAHHHH—!!!” Old Liu howled in agony, his strength instantly sapped.

Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Cheng flipped him over, yanked the dagger from his own palm, and plunged it into Old Liu’s body—once, twice, three times.

The young man, seemingly oppressed for far too long, showed no mercy. He stabbed Old Liu’s abdomen, then his chest, and finally, with the last few strikes, his throat.

Every strike was aimed at a vital point, leaving no room for survival.

Once Old Liu lay motionless, the young man collapsed to the ground as if all his strength had drained away. His palm was still bleeding profusely, but his expression was completely numb.

Tiantian cautiously approached, pulling the sword from Old Liu’s body. The young man didn’t move.

“I’m sorry…” he muttered, his face twisted in regret. “I’m really sorry… Just run, both of you…”

Tiantian didn’t respond, stepping backward warily while keeping her eyes locked on him.

Though this young man had saved her and Zheng Yingxiong at a critical moment, he *had* been allied with Old Liu and Old Fang. The way he killed—every stab precise and lethal—made it hard to believe his hands were clean.

“Sis!” Zheng Yingxiong called out, riding the bicycle up behind her. “Are we leaving?”

Hearing the sound, the young man on the ground slowly lifted his head, his expression unreadable as he stared at them.

Instantly on guard, Tiantian raised the sword in front of her. Fortunately, its light weight and razor-sharp edge made it a viable weapon even in her hands.

The young man’s gaze lingered on the bicycle for a long moment before he swallowed hard and spoke.

“Uh… I know this isn’t the best time to ask… but… could you leave the bike with me?”