Myth Beyond Heaven

As everyone returned to the Cloudhaven Orphanage, Lei Hao voiced his concern, "Wouldn't it be too easy for them?"

Cai Yaoyao chuckled. "Easy? For these people, the toughest pill to swallow is letting go of their greed. Imagine their frustration – watching their money go to a real charity with no chance of secret retrieval. And that's not all. They've lost control of their lives. From now on, they'll live in constant fear."

Lei Hao, startled for a moment, quickly grasped the situation.

"You're quite clever, aren't you?" Yun Lintian said with a glance at her.

Cai Yaoyao looked at him and asked, "What exactly are you?"

"Me? Of course, the most handsome man on Earth." Yun Lintian grinned.

Cai Yaoyao rolled her eyes. "What are you going to do with me?"

Yun Lintian took a deep look at her and said, "I'll give you a chance."

Cai Yaoyao frowned. "Don't make me laugh."

"You clearly sent Sister Ye to the police station for her protection. After all, as an agent of the Hell Church, you couldn't possibly leave Sister Ye alive. But you did." Yun Lintian smiled faintly.

"That's ridiculous," Cai Yaoyao sneered.

"Don't argue. I can read your mind," Yun Lintian chuckled.

Cai Yaoyao was startled. "You..."

"You're thinking about the orange cat you played with yesterday," Yun Lintian interjected.

Cai Yaoyao fully believed him now. Yun Lintian could truly read minds.

"Alright," Cai Yaoyao sighed. "I've always craved familial love, and Sister Ye treats me like a real sister. How could I truly hurt her?"

"That's why I'm offering you a chance to change course," Yun Lintian smiled faintly. "You can continue working as a nurse or stay here and take care of the orphanage with Uncle Wu."

Cai Yaoyao looked at the beautiful buildings around her and said uncertainly, "Can I... stay here?"

"Is there any need for me to lie?" Yun Lintian spoke.

Cai Yaoyao went silent for a moment and said, "I want to stay here."

"Good." Yun Lintian nodded. "You owe Sister Ye an apology."

A look of sadness filled Cai Yaoyao's eyes. She knew the relationship between her and Ye Ling would never be the same.

"Sister Ye is kinder than you think," Yun Lintian said with a serious expression. "You know what to do. There isn't a third chance."

Cai Yaoyao took a deep breath. "I know."

"What's next, Boss?" Lei Hao asked opportunely.

"Rest, of course! We're going to rest." Yun Lintian laughed, pulling out a set of fishing gear before strolling towards the river behind the orphanage, leaving Lei Hao confused in his wake.

Cai Yaoyao considered for a moment. "The other agents," she said, "They are still out there. He's clearly letting them go after Zhu Tianlong and his family."

Lei Hao's eyes widened in realization. He sighed, shaking his head. "I can't keep up with his way of thinking anymore."

"Neither can I," Cai Yaoyao admitted. "With such power beyond human comprehension, it's impossible to predict his moves. Anything is possible, after all."

Lei Hao held up the gun. "Do you want this?"

"No," Cai Yaoyao shook her head. "I don't need it anymore."

Lei Hao nodded. He fiddled with the gun for a moment before effortlessly crushing it in his hand.

Dumbfounded by Lei Hao's inhuman strength, Cai Yaoyao watched as he crumpled the gun into a ball of metal and tossed it with a clang into a distant trashcan.

"Feel free to explore," Lei Hao said to the stunned Cai Yaoyao before following Yun Lintian.

"Monsters," Cai Yaoyao muttered to herself, "all of them… monsters."

***

Inside a lounge, Zhu Tianlong sat on a sofa, his expression etched with anxiety. His usual elegant demeanor had completely vanished. The news of Zhu Ding's attack in the hospital wasn't just shocking; it served as a stark warning - the Hell Church would never stop.

"Mr. Zhu, it's time," an officer entered the room calmly and said.

Zhu Tianlong took a deep breath and rose, preparing to leave. He was going to meet Li Zong and confess everything.

Just as Zhu Tianlong reached for the doorknob, a sudden sense of unease washed over him. His instincts kicked in immediately, and he dove to the ground.

Bang! Bang!

Two gunshots echoed, the bullets tearing through the door exactly where Zhu Tianlong had been standing moments before.

"Help!" Zhu Tianlong yelled, grabbing a nearby lamp and hurling it at the officer who had shot at him.

"Damn it!" The officer cursed under his breath while slapping the lamp away. He hadn't expected such agility from the old man.

Just as he aimed to shoot Zhu Tianlong again, guards burst into the room and opened fire.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The officer dodged the hail of bullets while returning fire. He moved with surprising agility, eventually reaching the window and leaping out, disappearing into the night.

"Follow him," one of the guards ordered. He then turned to Zhu Tianlong, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright, Mr. Zhu?"

Zhu Tianlong leaned against the wall, drenched in sweat. He panted heavily, his gaze flickering vigilantly at the guard.

The guard understood Zhu Tianlong's apprehension. "Please stay here," he said. "I'll report this."

He then turned and left.

Zhu Tianlong took a few deep breaths, trying to steady himself. Thankfully, his years of experience had kept him sharp. Otherwise, he wouldn't be alive right now.

"The Hell Church..." Zhu Tianlong muttered through gritted teeth. After years of cooperation, they were now trying to eliminate his entire family. Unfortunately, he felt powerless in this situation.

He rose with a sigh and dragged a nearby chair over to sit, waiting for Li Zong's arrival.

A few minutes later, a group of soldiers escorted Li Zong into the room.

Li Zong scanned the room briefly before his gaze settled on Zhu Tianlong. "I hadn't anticipated their ability to infiltrate our defenses so deeply. Is this your doing?"

Zhu Tianlong, observing Li Zong who seemed to have aged backward several years, knew this wasn't the place to lose his composure.

He took a deep breath and replied, "My responsibility is to facilitate their entry and exit from the country. I have no knowledge of the extent of their agent network."

Li Zong pulled a nearby chair over and sat down opposite Zhu Tianlong. "Your son's car was bombed a short while ago."

Zhu Tianlong's expression contorted. "What's his condition?"

"He's unharmed," Li Zong said calmly. "Thanks to the government-issued vehicle."He continued, his voice laced with a pointed question, "Is this fleeting prosperity worth jeopardizing your family?"