Chapter Seventy-Four: Consumed by Fury

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Gunshots rang out continuously, and the street had already descended into chaos. People were frantically running in all directions, screams piercing the air. Fang Meng quickly assessed the situation and said, “Boss, we should take cover for now. These people seem to be more than just troublemakers—possibly terrorists. They don’t have a fixed target, which makes stray bullets even more dangerous.”

“Alright,” Xiao Tianci agreed. Fang Meng immediately scanned the surroundings, found a narrow alley between two buildings, and the three of them swiftly shielded Xiao Tianci as they moved. Fire Phoenix, a battle-hardened veteran, needed no instructions; she and Chief Steward Lin Jian each took a side, alert and ready for anyone who might approach.

The manic shouts grew louder, gunfire exploding like firecrackers, followed by several blasts. The heatwaves from the explosions were so intense they could be felt even here, the very earth trembling beneath their feet.

Brushing dust from his head, Xiao Tianci cursed, “Damn it, who are these people? What are they doing in broad daylight? You said they might be terrorists?”

Fang Meng nodded at his boss’s questioning look. “No doubt about it—their methods and the slogans they shouted earlier point to a terrorist group. Not a major one, but their goal is clearly destruction.”

Fire Phoenix, peering cautiously from a corner, suddenly noticed a small, familiar figure running their way. Looking closer, she realized it was the little girl who’d been selling flowers just moments before.

“Get down!” Fire Phoenix shouted. The little girl, startled but recognizing her, managed a slight smile through her fear. But then—a gunshot. Pain contorted the child’s face, and she collapsed, rolling several times before coming to a halt.

Fire Phoenix felt a sharp pain twist her heart. She threw caution aside, darting out in a flash to scoop the girl into her arms before swiftly returning. As she dashed out, Chief Steward Lin Jian provided covering fire.

Three men sat in a jeep, firing submachine guns wildly in all directions, completely consumed by madness. Occasionally, they hurled bundles of explosives into the nearby shops.

Because they were too far away, Lin Jian’s shots didn’t hit them, but bullets striking the vehicle made the attackers hesitate just long enough for Fire Phoenix to rescue the girl. However, their hideout had now been exposed, and the jeep began lumbering toward them, guns blazing.

Xiao Tianci hurried over and saw the little girl in Fire Phoenix’s arms. Her pumpkin-print dress was in tatters, her golden hair now matted with blood.

Fire Phoenix worked quickly to check her injuries. Xiao Tianci’s rage mounted, threatening to spill over. That sweet, clever child… “How is she?” he asked, voice trembling with emotion.

Fire Phoenix pressed her hand to the girl’s head, urgency in her tone. “We need to save her immediately—she’s been shot in the back of the head.”

Xiao Tianci nodded sharply. “Fang Meng, she’s in your hands. Get her to the hospital as fast as possible. I’ll have the best doctors and equipment sent ahead right away.”

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With the chaos around them, Fang Meng replied anxiously, “Boss, I can’t leave you right now. I’ll finish off these guys first, then call for a helicopter—”

“Enough!” Xiao Tianci drew his gun and leveled it at Fang Meng, eyes bloodshot. “Did you hear me? This is an order. No arguments—go, now!”

Seeing the look in his boss’s eyes, Fang Meng knew better than to protest. He took a deep breath, nodded, and strode over to Fire Phoenix. When he took the girl from her arms, his clothes seemed to tear apart as his body transformed—once more bursting into his powerful form. Glancing at Lin Jian, who was trying to hold back their attackers, and then at Fire Phoenix, he said, “Boss, the rest of our people are right behind. Chief Steward, Fire Phoenix, protect the boss for one minute.”

With that, his transformation was complete. Fire Phoenix, who had never clearly seen Fang Meng’s first transformation before, was stunned to see him become more than twice her height and several times as strong—a true giant, more machine than man.

In an instant, Fang Meng vanished from sight. Now she understood why even her formidable brother had lost to him—he was simply not human!

Xiao Tianci joined Chief Steward Lin Jian in returning fire. Fire Phoenix, regaining her composure, rushed to assist as well. Lin Jian, seeing his boss charging forward, tried to intercept him. “Boss, fall back! They can’t get through—our guard is right behind, they’ll be here in a minute.”

Xiao Tianci’s voice was cold as ice, chilling to the bone. “No. I want to kill them now.”

Lin Jian had faced many real battles in his training, but he knew his boss was different. Now, Xiao Tianci was like a man possessed by the bloodlust of the battlefield—a psychological state where, driven by extreme anger, even the timid would risk everything.

Xiao Tianci was determined to fight to the death. Lin Jian barely managed to restrain him and finally said, “Boss, Fire Phoenix, cover me. If I can get a little closer, I’ll have them.”

As long as he wasn’t stopped from fighting, Xiao Tianci would listen to tactical advice. Lin Jian breathed a sigh of relief; his boss still had self-control. But he realized he’d need to get Xiao Tianci used to such brutal scenes—there would be many more to come.

With preparations complete, Xiao Tianci and Fire Phoenix opened fire. Lin Jian dived and rolled into the street, crouched, and charged a few meters forward. The attackers, focusing on Xiao Tianci’s group, quickly turned their guns on him.

Lin Jian sprang up and fired—a seamless, practiced motion. Two perfect headshots before the others could react. The driver, howling in rage, slammed the accelerator and tried to run him down. Lin Jian rolled aside, crouched, and fired three quick shots into the gas tank. The explosion was immediate and massive—there were plenty of explosives in the vehicle. Lin Jian dropped to the ground to avoid the blast as Xiao Tianci and Fire Phoenix did the same.

When the smoke and fire finally died away, the street was a ruin. Xiao Tianci leapt up and ran, calling out, “Chief Steward! Chief Steward!”

“I’m here, Boss…” Lin Jian stood up, shaking dust from his head, looking nothing like his usual suave self—more like a man who’d just clawed his way out of the ground.

“Hahaha…” Seeing Lin Jian safe and their enemies dead, Xiao Tianci finally relaxed, pointing and laughing with relief.

Chief Steward Lin Jian wiped his face, glanced at Fire Phoenix, and asked, “Is it really that bad?”

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Fire Phoenix, hand over her mouth, nodded and laughed. “Oh, it’s very bad—especially you.” Lin Jian could only shake his head and continue picking debris from his hair. He knew it was impossible to get clean now, but at least he could get rid of some of the stones, splinters, and who knows what else.

About this time, Lu Man and the others arrived. Taking in the devastation, Lu Man’s face was full of guilt as he approached Xiao Tianci and bowed his head. “Boss, please punish me.”

Having killed the attackers, Xiao Tianci felt much of his earlier, seething rage dissipate. He waved his hand. “Forget it—I told you not to follow too closely. This wasn’t your fault. Have you contacted our people as I ordered?”

They had already been in touch with Lu Man during the fight, arranging for support. Lu Man nodded. “The girl is in emergency care now, with the best equipment and medical staff on their way.”

As they spoke, a giant figure appeared at Xiao Tianci’s side—Fang Meng, back faster than anyone expected. “You’re back already?” Xiao Tianci asked in surprise.

Fang Meng didn’t revert to his normal form—the area was still unsafe. “The child is already in surgery. There was nothing more I could do there, so I returned immediately.”

Xiao Tianci nodded, checked on Chief Steward Lin Jian and Fire Phoenix, and then ordered his people to the hospital. The events had all unfolded so quickly that only now did police helicopters and sirens begin to appear overhead.

Leaving some men to handle the aftermath, Xiao Tianci said nothing as they drove toward the hospital. Only as they neared did he finally speak to Fire Phoenix. “Your first task is to identify this organization and utterly destroy them.”

Fire Phoenix, unlike Chief Steward Lin Jian and Fang Meng, replied, “I never thought I’d see you play the hero. Looks like the American government ought to thank you! But their enemies are countless, and terror groups even more so. The so-called world’s strongest country has failed to stop them for years—what can you do alone? You’d better think this through. Decisions made in the heat of the moment are dangerous. Do you really want to play games with fanatics who don’t value their own lives?”

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A tale of a playboy’s amorous conquests;
A chronicle of a war wolf’s iron-blooded campaigns;
A legend of a celestial wolf’s mysterious exploits;
In 2006, a son of the northern lands presents to you—Supreme Wolf Might!