Chapter 00032: Annihilation
# Annihilation
Chapter 32
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 32: Annihilation
As Feng Bo had anticipated, Du Yipeng and Gu Ding both charged towards Lan Xiaobu. Even before they reached him, Gu Ding made a swift turn and overtook Feng Bo, sprinting out towards the conference room.
Lan Xiaobu seemed to take off like a projectile, his left leg creating a shadow as it lashed out, landing directly across Du Yipeng's neck.
Du Yipeng was a martial artist who had stepped into the realm of Inner Qi, but facing Lan Xiaobu's kick, he found no way to dodge. Letting out a wretched scream, he fell to the ground, his cervical bones utterly shattered.
Before Lan Xiaobu even landed, the short knife in his hand was already flying out.
“Phew!” The knife buried itself in the throat of the man who still held a gun and was contemplating how to fire it. Lan Xiaobu's movements were just too swift; he never stopped in one spot, making it impossible for the man to pull the trigger. If he accidentally harmed one of the Five Ministers or the gang leader, he would be sure to meet his end.
“Ah!” Another scream echoed as Feng Bo halted his retreat, a surgical knife piercing the back of his foot, pinning him to the ground.
Only at that moment did Lan Xiaobu descend onto the floor, standing precisely at the entrance of the conference room. Gu Ding’s steps faltered, his ample flesh trembling with fear.
“Doctor Lan, heh heh, this is all a misunderstanding. This whole affair has nothing to do with me from the start...”
Gu Ding's words were only halfway expressed before Lan Xiaobu's fist crashed into his head, interrupting him, as he declared, “Let me give you the most beautiful sound.”
Gu Ding clearly saw Lan Xiaobu's fist approaching, and he attempted to dodge, yet it still struck squarely against his head. Once a certain level of power was reached, one's physical reactions could no longer keep up with their thoughts.
All he could sense was a thundering vibration; the last sound Gu Ding heard was the crackle of splintering bone—a deeply terrifying realization that he had never experienced before. He had always been the one to listen to the sounds of others' bones breaking, yet now he was confronted with the horrific noise of his own. He had never imagined that he would find himself weakly begging for mercy, while others had trembled before him.
The difference was that when someone else begged for mercy in front of him, he would listen attentively and only act after they finished pleading, relishing that feeling of power. But now, he found himself in a state of helplessness, words of surrender stuck in his throat, and then... his entire world faded into darkness.
Ji Tou stared blankly at Lan Xiaobu, while not far away, the leader of the Savage Crocodile Gang, Feng Bo, forgot the excruciating pain in his foot as he too stared at Lan Xiaobu in a daze.
In a matter of moments, Lan Xiaobu had slain three out of the five strongest members of the Savage Crocodile Gang. Not only that, he had also killed two of the gang's visible subordinates.
Lan Xiaobu glanced at his fists, feeling a deep appreciation for the might of the Meridian Opening Realm. This battle had granted him a clear understanding of his own strength. His opponents appeared to move in slow motion before his eyes, and he was able to seize their every movement, dispatching them effortlessly. If he had ascended to the Innate Realm, what level of power would that grant him?
Seeing Lan Xiaobu almost drenched in blood, Feng Bo felt a stir of dryness in his throat. He had never considered Lan Xiaobu to be his opponent. This youngling had just graduated from school; did he really think he could toy with Lan Xiaobu like clay? Did he believe that the Savage Crocodile Gang was merely a group of worthless fools? Heh, that was an incredibly foolish assumption. Feng Bo did not cultivate martial arts, but gained leadership of the gang not through fiery strength, but through his intellect.
Yet today, he had fallen to a student.
Feng Bo shivered uncontrollably. He realized that when Lan Xiaobu drove the knife into his shoulder, he had unwittingly stepped into Lan Xiaobu's trap. Not only him, but the other three of the Five Ministers had also fallen into this snare, no longer taking Lan Xiaobu seriously.
“Doctor Lan...” Ji Tou, since joining the Savage Crocodile Gang, had never felt fear like this before. In an instant, he struggled to find words to plead for his life.
Feng Bo had regained his composure, cupping his fist as he addressed Lan Xiaobu, “Congratulations, Brother Lan, on surpassing the Inner Strength Martial Artist and stepping into a higher tier. Now that martial arts are thriving globally, Brother Lan surely stands atop the pinnacle. As martial artists, we naturally respect the strong. I was unaware that Brother Lan had reached such heights in martial prowess. My attempt to compete with you was truly short-sighted. With your talent, I would indeed follow you gladly, even in servitude.”
Yet, despite his cleverness, Feng Bo now felt a chill creep into his heart. Everything had been within the realm of his plans, but he had never expected Lan Xiaobu would surpass the Inner Strength Martial Artist and access an altogether new level.
Someone had once told him that in the presence of absolute power, all schemes become farcical. He had scoffed at that notion, believing the development of the Savage Crocodile Gang hinged on the obedience of several Inner Strength Martial Artists, which was not due to his own natural might but rather his cunning mind.
Today, he finally understood that when an opponent's strength reaches a certain height, nefarious plots truly become ridiculous. His well-crafted schemes had not even begun to unfold when the script slipped from his grasp.
No, schemes are not laughable. It was he who had walked into Lan Xiaobu’s plot, misjudging his opponent or overestimating his own strength, failing to treat Lan Xiaobu as a legitimate contender. That knife that struck Lan Xiaobu represented their misconception that he was easily overpowered.
“What do you intend to say?” Lan Xiaobu approached, pulled his short knife from the throat of the gun-wielding man, and casually kicked down two security guards who had lost their legs.
“From today onward, the Savage Crocodile Gang shall be the weapon in your hand, Brother Lan. Wherever you say to strike, we shall.” Feng Bo, completely defenseless, added, “What I excel at is business, and I am willing to use that ability to serve Brother Lan. I cannot even begin to imagine what your future accomplishments will be.”
The eagerness in Feng Bo’s eyes reflected a strong desire to ally with Lan Xiaobu. Regardless of anything else, he simply had to survive first, and they could discuss other matters later. Therefore, he reminded Lan Xiaobu of his defenselessness, not to be overly concerned.
This was his stronghold, and he yet saw a glimmer of hope. The moment he returned to his seat, he could make his escape. If all went well, there might even be a chance for him to eliminate Lan Xiaobu.
Ji Tou, bowing deeply, stated, “From this point on, I also stand with Brother Lan...”
Lan Xiaobu interrupted Ji Tou, “Speak, how many men are within the Savage Crocodile Gang?”
“I’ll take this one….”
Before Feng Bo could finish, Lan Xiaobu cut him off, “Only speak once I ask you. If you interrupt again, I can guarantee you will not speak again in your life.”
Feng Bo knew he ought to find a way to escape, yet before Lan Xiaobu, any plan seemed useless. Despite his desire to step back two spaces and reach his seat, he dared not move or bend down to pull out the surgical knife.
A lifetime of caution turned to folly in this moment, leaving him trapped in an exceedingly perilous zone. He cursed himself for being careless; how could he leave his seat? Even with all Five Ministers present, he could not abandon it. Because he had dulled his senses, believing that he could escape woes merely by distancing himself further from the scene of chaos.
Noticing Lan Xiaobu's gaze land upon him, Ji Tou hastily reported, “The strongest under the gang leader is the Five Ministers, known as the Front, Back, Left, Right, and Center. Following them are ten visible subordinates and ten hidden ones. As for the gang members, they number in the thousands…”
“Forget the gang members. Where are the Five Ministers and the visible and hidden subordinates?” Lan Xiaobu inquired calmly.
Ji Tou replied, “You’ve already slain four ministers; only the Front Minister remains outside. All ten hidden subordinates are present, while two among the visible subordinates were killed by you today.”
“And what is your status? Who are the outsiders and helicopter pilots?” Lan Xiaobu pressed further.
Ji Tou responded respectfully, “I am a hidden subordinate. The security outside and downstairs are ordinary gang members.”
Lan Xiaobu fixed a steady gaze on Feng Bo, “I give you a chance: call back all visible and hidden subordinates as well as the Front Minister.”
Feng Bo, fully coherent at this moment, cupped his fist and said, “Brother Lan, your strength is truly remarkable. This is simple to accomplish, but you must ensure that you do not harm me in the slightest.”
Feng Bo had discerned that Lan Xiaobu was unyieldingly vigilant; he could not afford to take a step back, lest Lan Xiaobu took his chance to kill him.
The flash of Lan Xiaobu's short knife severed one of Feng Bo's arms, and then he turned to Ji Tou, “Can you accomplish what I just said? If so, I will give you an opportunity.”
“I can manage it,” Ji Tou replied, his voice trembling, unable to inquire whether this opportunity would mean his life would be spared.
Cold sweat beaded on Feng Bo’s forehead, as blood poured from his severed limb; he did not dare to staunch it. All that filled his mind were two words: regret.
“Then hurry up and do it,” Lan Xiaobu huffed before plunging the knife into Feng Bo’s other arm.
As Lan Xiaobu moved to target his legs, Feng Bo quickly cried out, “Stop! I’ll do what you said. Just give me a quick end.”
“Too late.” As he spoke, Lan Xiaobu cast a glance at Ji Tou, who, with no hesitation, pulled out his phone and began dialing.
Without the slightest hesitation, the knife in Lan Xiaobu's grip slashed across Feng Bo's neck. In Feng Bo's eyes flashed despair; he muttered, “I deeply regret this.”
Today, he had made several critical mistakes; the first was calling Lan Xiaobu to his stronghold for a face-to-face meeting, even considering Lan Xiaobu a mere ant. The second mistake was straying so far from his seat after seeing Lan Xiaobu evade that knife. Thirdly, despite knowing Lan Xiaobu was decisive in combat, he still thought to preserve his life, failing to see the necessity of fighting to the death with Lan Xiaobu.
He realized he had the capacity to bring doom to everyone in this building, yet now it was all too late.
Feng Bo had never cultivated martial arts, yet Lan Xiaobu sensed a lurking danger in him. Just moments ago, he had seen a strange, remote-controlled object in Feng Bo's severed hand. Lan Xiaobu could not take that chance; Feng Bo had become a gang leader not by luck. He had to eliminate any threats swiftly.
……
(End of this chapter)