Chapter 244 - 242: Flying Wheels Across the Sea

Night fell on Harmony Island. Along the coastal beaches, the military was still conducting its search.

The sea could wash away any trace. Although searching at night was twice the work for half the results, if they waited until morning, they likely wouldn’t find a single trace.

Shen Juanzhou held a flashlight, with Yang Shen following behind him. Further away, several other people were also searching for clues with flashlights, and some had even entered the shallow waters to search.

"The fatal wound from the Sailor’s Knife is very strange... Excluding the slim chance that the fatal wound was inflicted during a struggle for the weapon, I’m more inclined to believe there was also something off about that True Gang Realm Pirate Martial Artist."

"Why?" Yang Shen asked.

"Because Liu Xi was very strong... She was extremely skilled at fighting in the water, and she recently had a Curse Engraving inscribed. I don’t think Luo Sheng could have killed Liu Xi in the water..."

"Even if... Luo Sheng might have been hiding his true strength?"

"Yes, even if Luo Sheng was hiding his true strength—unless he was as powerful as someone in the Jade Viscera Realm. So, the truth is likely that the Pirate Martial Artist and Luo Sheng killed Liu Xi together, and Liu Xi took the Pirate Martial Artist down with her in a counterattack."

Yang Shen nodded. "So the Pirate Martial Artist and Luo Sheng might have been working together?"

Shen Juanzhou let out a long breath. "The Rebel Species is a global organization with members in every country. They were the ones who intentionally spread the news about the Noon Realm this time."

"Because every country’s system and situation is different, Europe and Magna may be ’anti-Rebel Species’ on the surface, but it’s not impossible that they’re colluding internally. With so many people on Harmony Island, it wouldn’t be strange for the Rebel Species to have people observing in secret. They might not dare to make any overt moves, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t send people."

"What about Zheng Tao?" Yang Shen asked. "Do you think he was with Luo Sheng?"

"I can’t be sure," Shen Juanzhou said. "But I at least know Zheng Tao definitely helped Luo Sheng cover up some suspicious points. I refuse to believe a veteran detective who spent every day with him wouldn’t have any suspicions."

As he spoke, a flicker of flame erupted on the water’s surface in the far distance, then vanished...

’A boat...?’

Both men looked up, staring in that direction in astonishment. To be honest, the sea was pitch-black at night, and they hadn’t even realized there was a boat out there before.

Harmony Island’s port had only just been established and couldn’t accommodate so many ships from all over the world. As a result, most were scattered in the area around the island, at distances ranging from a few kilometers to several dozen.

Even with Yang Shen’s eyesight, he still couldn’t see clearly in the dark, but the sight of fire made him think of Luo Sheng.

"Let’s go! We’ll check it out!"

Shen Juanzhou nodded. While pulling out his walkie-talkie to notify the others, he took off, running across the surface of the water. Yang Shen followed close behind.

Each time the tips of their toes touched the water, the immense force they generated provided enough support.

Without any external aids or techniques, a person only needed to reach a speed of 108 kilometers per hour to run on water.

If one mastered certain techniques or wore special shoes, this threshold could be lowered significantly.

This was why running on water was considered a basic maneuver for those in the Innate Realm.

When the two arrived at that patch of water, however, they saw no boat, only several bodies floating on the surface.

No, one of them was still struggling!

Unable to stop while running on water, Yang Shen could only snatch him up while still in motion, only to discover it was a gravely injured Zheng Tao.

Zheng Tao’s face was pale, and his right arm was gone. The stump was charred black—clearly Luo Sheng’s handiwork.

"Spit it out! What happened?!"

Zheng Tao gasped for breath, weakly saying, "Luo Sheng... he’s an undercover agent for the Rebel Species... I should have known... I should have known!"

Yang Shen was stunned. Luo Sheng was also with the Rebel Species? Then why did he slaughter the people at the recycling station and kill the fake "Jiang Xingjian"?

No, the earlier suspicious case was Liu Yuankui! If "Jiang Xingjian" was killed because of a power struggle, what about a low-to-mid-level guy like Liu Yuankui?

Yang Shen had later heard from Director Liang that Luo Sheng and Liu Yuankui were classmates back in the day.

He couldn’t have just wanted to kill a classmate for fun, right?

"Where is he?!"

"Stole a Magna speedboat... He’s escaping... to the north..."

’A speedboat?’

Shen Juanzhou caught up, and Yang Shen immediately said, "Don’t we have a warship? It should be able to lock onto a speedboat, right? Can’t we just fire a missile?"

’Send Officer Luo to the heavens, and all our problems would be solved.’

Shen Juanzhou’s expression soured. "Launching a missile isn’t that simple. The approval process is extremely strict. It’s impossible..."

A Martial Artist running on water should be faster than a speedboat, but Luo Sheng had a head start.

Especially since Luo Sheng could also run on water, yet he chose a speedboat. It seemed he was planning to travel a great distance.

Yang Shen hesitated for a moment. At this point, Luo Sheng was basically a ruined man, having gone from a detective to a fugitive.

But he didn’t want Luo Sheng ruined.

He wanted Luo Sheng dead...

This crooked cop was tangled up with the Rebel Species and was still looking for Long Jiu... Yang Shen couldn’t let him get away safely, only to have to play defense against him for years to come.

He tossed Zheng Tao to Shen Juanzhou. "I’m going after him!"

Without waiting for Shen Juanzhou to say more, he exploded with his full speed, carving a straight line across the sea’s surface.

Uncovering the full truth and unraveling the logic behind Luo Sheng’s actions—that was a job for the authorities.

His only responsibility was to come back with Luo Sheng’s head!

"Yang Shen! Don’t be rash! He might be hiding his true strength! He could be at Mid-stage True Gang!"

But Yang Shen was already gone, like an arrow loosed from its string.

Only then did Shen Juanzhou realize... Yang Shen’s speed was far greater than his own!

He didn’t seem like someone at the Middle Stage of Innate at all.

’So you all were hiding your true strength... Am I the only one who’s honest around here...?’

Amidst the fierce sea wind, Yang Shen wasn’t just running on water; he was simultaneously using the Fire Element Escape.

In terms of absolute speed, this method was superior to a simple Water Element Escape. On the pitch-black surface of the sea, he transformed into a streaking meteor!

He passed many anchored ships. Some people, drawn by the commotion, looked out and saw a figure practically flying across the water’s surface.

"Holy shit! Is that a Yanhua Martial Artist? So damn fast!"

"Yanhua Martial Artists are the most well-rounded. They say there’s only one source lineage, but in reality, it encompasses everything..."

"What’s going on? Didn’t the Noon Realm just summon a bunch of people?"

"I don’t know... Wait, someone covered in fire... that couldn’t be the person who burned down the River of Calamity and Pestilence, could it?"

Unaware of the onlookers’ cries of alarm, Yang Shen just kept accelerating.

Magna’s speedboat technology wouldn’t be subpar. A small military craft like that moved like a plane skimming the water’s surface. Who knew how far it had already gotten in the time he’d been delayed.

Yang Shen still felt he wasn’t fast enough. After a moment of thought, a flash of inspiration struck him.

The black power of the Curse Engraving condensed under his feet, finally forming two black roller wheels.

When one’s speed reached its peak, the surface of the water could be tread upon, but it was still no match for a wheeled structure.

After slightly adjusting his balance, Yang Shen simply used his Escape Technique to accelerate, no longer needing to pump his legs.

His speed increased another notch, and his movements became graceful and agile.

With wheels under his feet, Yang Shen leaned forward slightly, carving a swift arc across the sea as he vaulted over waves and tore through the gales.

After racing north for over ten kilometers and gradually leaving the Harmony Island anchorage area, Yang Shen finally picked up a trail.

He didn’t see anything, but the wake in the waves formed a V-shape, as if a vehicle had passed by at high speed.

After another few minutes of pursuit, he finally saw the speedboat ahead.

’He really does have something to hide! He’s not even using his lights. Isn’t he afraid of hitting a reef?!’

At that moment, Luo Sheng, who was driving the speedboat, also saw the trail of his pursuer. He slammed the throttle all the way forward, locking it in place, and then moved to the stern.

Seeing the flames wreathing Yang Shen, Luo Sheng let out a savage grin amidst the howling wind. "Yang Shen! I knew it was you!"

"Is that so?" Yang Shen retorted. "Then you found out too late."

Luo Sheng observed the distance between them, sensing that Yang Shen was much faster than him. He plunged one hand into the churning waves at the stern.

The next moment, a violent plume of steam erupted, and the speedboat under Luo Sheng’s feet accelerated again.

Evidently, for most True Gang Martial Artists, their speed and endurance on the water were far inferior to a speedboat.

He raised his other hand, shaping it like a pistol, and fired a dense barrage of walnut-sized fireballs.

Attacking from the front, he had every advantage, but unfortunately for him, these attacks were useless against Yang Shen.

A black spear materialized in an instant, parrying left and right to deflect every single one.

On the dark sea, it looked like tracer rounds ricocheting off sloped armor.

Yang Shen also tried to interfere with Luo Sheng, but attacking from behind was incredibly difficult. Fortunately, even with his steam-boosted acceleration, Luo Sheng wasn’t able to completely shake Yang Shen.

But at this rate, the chase would go on for a very long time!

But today, he would kill him without fail!

————

Meanwhile, a hundred kilometers away... in the profound darkness of the seabed, ten thousand meters deep.

This was already an unknown domain for humanity. Not a single ray of light could penetrate this place. There was only eternal darkness and all manner of powerful, bizarre Sea Beasts.

A rugged rift valley on the seafloor seemed to lead to the planet’s core, hiding unknown terrors within.

A hundred-meter-long, mountain-like Sea Beast with a ferocious, enormous head patrolled its territory... searching for prey to fill its stomach.

If it were on land, it would stand thirty stories tall...

Suddenly, it sensed a turmoil in the water...

It was like an earthquake, or as if some behemoth was crushing the undersea valley as it ascended.

Driven by instinct, the mountain-like Sea Beast, as an apex predator, feared no challenger. It immediately turned, poised to strike.

Soon... six enormous, golden pupils appeared in the deep-sea rift.

Followed by a ferocious dragon’s head.

Horns like a deer, snout like a crocodile, body like a python, claws like an eagle...

It was vast and serpentine, its length impossible to measure...

The size of its talons alone nearly matched the full size of the giant Sea Beast.

The mere brush of its body made the seafloor tremble and shake.

The mountain-like Sea Beast immediately swiveled its massive head around and began to patrol vigilantly in the direction of its own backside.

As an apex predator, it feared no challenge.

Unless it was a fight it really couldn’t win...