CHAPTER 709: Han Shuo's Counterattack

Andre suddenly lifted his head. He stared straight at Avery with piercing eyes and said, "You're not going to tell me that you had nothing to do with his disappearance, are you?"

"No, I don't deny it. It was indeed me who did it!" Avery admitted calmly. He knew that Andre had not come to this place just to taste his wine. He also knew that the House of Sainte, given their power and influence, would eventually find out the truth after a thorough investigation.

"What exactly do you mean when you say you don't know?" Andre was rather confused by Avery's admission.

"I don't know if the guy is dead or alive because he escaped!" Avery said bitterly before downing a cup of wine.

"Wha... what?" Andre suddenly raised his voice. He stared at Avery and said, "Are you kidding me? You are the head of the Fifth Corps. We all know how strong you are. Bryan is just a little Lowgod. If you did the job yourself, he would either be taken alive or killed. How can there be a third option?"

The look on Avery's face became even more bitter at Andre's question. He shook his head and replied, "Believe it or not, he actually managed to escape. I couldn't make out exactly what kind of energy he was using. Before he escaped, I dealt him a blow he shouldn't have survived. But I still couldn't find his body... That's why I said... I don't know..."

Andre had a doubtful look on his face as he stared at Avery, as if trying to find out if Avery was telling an untruth. After a long while, Andre grinned and said, "I really couldn't imagine that he managed to escape from your hands. But even if you were lying, I doubt you would come up with something as fantastic and ridiculous as this. Well, if that's the case, the investigation will be quite difficult..."

"Lord Andre, don't tell me you're actually going to investigate whether this little pharmacist is dead or alive?" Avery shrugged and said nonchalantly. He poured himself another cup of brandy and drank it.

"If he hadn't helped Carmelita, I wouldn't raise an eyebrow if you killed him a hundred times over!" Andre groaned coldly and continued, "However, this fella is the best shot we have at improving Carmelita's current condition - not just her looks, but even her queer temperament! I have discussed him with you before and told you not to make matters worse. I thought you'd at least do me that honour. Avery, has your House of Lavers become powerful enough to compete with our Sainte family?"

"Of course not!" Avery bowed his head and replied. He continued in a deep voice, "I told my children not to give that man any trouble. But he still blew up three of my shops. Otherwise I wouldn't have taken such drastic measures! It is not all our fault!"

Andre stared at the humbled Avery and gently wrinkled his brow as he said, "You didn't go to get him in person just to get revenge for destroying three energy stone stores, did you? I know that Bryan is a very talented apothecary. I believe that the only reason you are motivated to do the job yourself is because of what is in Bryan's head. You did not want anyone but yourself to have those things. That's why you did it yourself, isn't it?"

Avery fell completely silent after hearing these words.

They had known each other for a long time and knew each other's temperaments well. Just as Avery knew why Andre had come to him, Andre knew that all Avery had to do was nod his head, and someone would do the job for him, to cleanly kill a mere Lowgod.

As the head of the Fifth Corps and a Highgod, Avery's intention behind personally attacking a Lowgod definitely wasn't just murder!

After staring at Avery for a while, Andre sighed and said, "Forget it. Since it has come to this, I will not pursue the case against you any further."

But suddenly Andre's right eye turned dark purple again and he turned into an ice-cold and merciless version of himself. He glared at Avery and warned, "If Bryan is dead, then this whole incident is over. But if he's still alive and you dare touch him again, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

Avery's heart skipped a beat as he saw Andre's eyes change. He immediately understood that Andre's warning this time was no trivial matter, and certainly not as simple as the casual greeting he had given the last time. After weighing his potential gains and losses, Avery nodded and replied, "Understood!"

"Good. Oh, right, even if Bryan is still alive, he can pose no threat to your Lavers family. The little bit of strength he had wasn't enough to hurt any of your family members, so you can relax about that," Andre said as he stood up from Avery's chair.

"All right, it's getting late. So long!" Andre stepped into the empty air and walked away.

As Andre disappeared into the horizon, the corners of Avery's lips curved into a slight smile. His figure blurred and in the next instant he appeared in a secret chamber of the Fifth Corps. He instructed, "Number Four, go to my residence and inform the two ne'er-do-wells that their house arrest is over.

"Yes, my Lord!" a cold voice in the shadows obeyed his command and disappeared just like Number Three.

Cage and Eve, who had been confined to the Lavers residence for four long months, cheered as they learned that they had finally regained their freedom of movement. For Cage and Eve, this pair of siblings who were used to travelling everywhere, not being able to take a step outside the Lavers Residence for four months had nearly bored them to death.

"Brother, this guy has been missing for four months. He is probably finished. Since Father said we were free, that means he has settled the matter with the House of Sainte. Haha, I knew it, those who oppose the House of Lavers never end well! Eve said happily to her brother Cage.

"That's enough. From now on, we must be careful not to talk about him in front of outsiders. Otherwise, if people overhear, we could cause Father unnecessary trouble," Cage scolded. Then he stretched out comfortably and said, "It's been such a long time. Why don't we visit Fort Hassell? The sea fruits found there happen to be ripening at this time of year. I have not tasted this delicacy for a long time..."

"Oh yes, Fort Hassell has the most beautiful scenery at this time of year. Let's take a trip there!" Eve immediately agreed.

Having decided on their holiday destination, the siblings immediately packed their bags, and with a small group of divine guards from the family clan, they left the City of Shadows for Fort Hassell, which was under the control of the House of Lavers. Han Shuo, who had been meditating in his cave, suddenly opened his eyes. With an eerily cold face, he muttered, "Finally leaving the Laver residence...? Avery, I may not be able to get rid of you for now, but your son and daughter who know nothing but causing trouble, I'm doing you a service by relieving you of those burdens! You will be so grateful to me... Hehehe..."

Han Shuo had been in the underground cave for four full months. After experiencing immense pain for the first seven days, Han Shuo managed to stabilise the injuries on his main body. Han Shuo spent the next month nursing his injuries. With the help of his medicinal pellets, Han Shuo was able to reconnect the meridians and bones in his main body.

Thanks to his cultivation of the Indestructible Omen Body, his demonic body had become much more tenacious and forged to be even more abnormally resilient. This was the reason why Han Shuo was able to fully recover from his injuries in just three months after using Demonic Blood Disassembly.

After his recovery, Han Shuo did not rush to leave the underground cave. He dared not show himself in the City of Shadows for fear that Avery would try to assassinate him again.

Having failed the last time, Han Shuo believed that if Avery struck again, he would be even more relentless. Han Shuo might not even get the chance to use Demonic Blood Disassembly. Therefore, Han Shuo stayed in hiding all the time, silently observing the activities of the Laver family. He was like a viper coiled in the dark, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

When Han Shuo saw that Cage and Eve had left the City of Shadows that day, he knew that the opportunity he had been patiently waiting for had arrived.

The journey from the City of Shadows to Fort Hassell took about seven days. Cage, Eve and a group of their House of Laver Divine Guards travelled by airship to reach their destination. Han Shuo knew this was not the time to strike. He used a demon general to track the airship as it left his underground cave and headed towards Fort Hassell.

By using the demon generals in the Cauldron of Myriad Demon , Han Shuo had eyes on every single activity within a ten mile radius. He easily avoided all the divine guards looking for him and left the mountain range without encountering any resistance. He secretly entered Fort Hassell.

On the morning of the eighth day, Han Shuo appeared in a vast ocean to the north of Fort Hassell. This part of the ocean, called "Poseidon's Tears", was one of the most beautiful places to be found near the City of Shadows. At this time of year, the plants in the depths of the ocean would bloom with strange but beautiful flowers. Some of the blossoms and petals would fall off and drift with the current. The sea scene would not only look exceptionally beautiful, but would also be filled with enchanting scents.

Among the flowering sea plants, there was a species with large petals that would produce sweet and delicious fruits. The sea fruit was a seasonal delicacy that gourmets would never miss. Therefore, at this time of the year, this place called Poseidon's Tears would attract large crowds of tourists from the City of Shadows, especially young people.

This year was no exception. When Han Shuo arrived at the sea and spread out his demon generals, he discovered that the tiny islands all over the sea were filled with young men and women. Cage and Eve were on a small island with lush greenery and small but beautiful holiday homes. Colourful sea flowers bloomed in the water all around the small island. It was a beautiful scene.

Fort Hassell was the territory of the Lavers family. As scions of their family clan, they were given the island with the best scenery and views.

For the first three days, Cage and Eve had stayed on the island, never far from the divine guards who had come with them. Han Shuo couldn't find an opportunity to strike.

But on this day, Cage and Eve got bored of staying on the island. They decided to swim and dive around the island and gather some ripe Sea Fruits. As the ocean was the territory of the House of Lavers, the two did not think they were in any danger. They did not allow the divine guards to follow them.

"Brother, let's go our separate ways and see who gets the biggest Sea Fruit!" Eve was enjoying her holiday very much. She had forgotten all the pain Han Shuo had caused her after his apparent death. She threw herself into the ocean's embrace.

Cage agreed enthusiastically. He was thinking of collecting some more Sea Fruit to give to someone he liked when he returned to the City of Shadows.

The young master and the young lady of the Lavers family went in two different directions, towards the regions where the Sea Flowers bloomed brightest...

When Eve landed in the middle of a field of sea flowers, for no apparent reason, she thought of Teng Fei, whom she had once worshipped. Remembering Teng Fei's beauty and tenderness, she felt quite nostalgic. Resentfully, she said, "That wretched rascal. He can't be trusted at important times. Why do I still think of him?"

Then another person came into Eve's mind. Her mood suddenly soured and she cursed, "Since I was born, no one has ever dared to slap me in the face. Serves you right for being dead!"

"Eh?" Eve rubbed her eyes and looked at the person in front of her, somewhat confused. She muttered to herself, "Why am I thinking about him and why hasn't he disappeared from my mind?"

"Miss Eve, I'm glad I'm still in your mind... Hehe..." Han Shuo said to Eve with a suspicious smile. He had previously covered the surrounding sea with Banner of Hallucination.

"He even talks? Hallucinating... I'm hallucinating... It seems that he has really left a big impression on me... That wretched thing..." Eve muttered to herself as she looked at Han Shuo.

"Yes, this is all a hallucination. When you die later, you won't feel any pain!" Han Shuo's smile turned stone cold and the scene around them suddenly changed. The Hallucination Banner was activated.

The countless gods that had been killed by Eve's bad temper were all instantly revived. They were dragging their own guts, rotting from head to toe, dripping with foul blood, or chewing on their broken arms...

"Don't come... don't come any closer," Eve screamed at the top of her lungs. The horrifying scene around her made her shake, scream and cry.

"Oh... you've killed quite a lot, haven't you? Hehe, perhaps even death cannot atone for your evil deeds!" Han Shuo sneered. He did not immediately rush in and take Eve's life. Instead, he coldly watched as Eve cried miserably in her hallucination, slowly being tormented!

Han Shuo waited until Eve was completely terrified - when she had completely lost her mind and was still crying and laughing - before he finally attacked. With a slash of the Demonic Blades, Eve's head detached and rolled off her body. Blood spurted from her severed neck and splattered the blooming sea flowers, giving them an exotic retouch.

Eve's divine soul was collected by Han Shuo. She would soon become one of the demon generals in the Cauldron of Myriad Demon , bound forever to Han Shuo.

"Decent strength, but unfortunately she never really suffered any major setbacks. Her mind was too weak. She can't even resist the hallucination of the Banner of Hallucination. It seems that these members of the great family clans may have great strength, but they lack the strength of mind..." Han Shuo muttered to himself, keeping his hallucination banner away. He continued by silently diving towards Cage.

Back when Han Shuo was in the subterranean world of the Profound Continent, Donna, Bolten, and the others would fall into hallucinations. All of them, even Donna who had terrifying power, were affected by their hallucinations. From then on, Han Shuo understood that even though the members of the great family clan on Elysium might have greater strength than him, their hearts and minds were not as unshakable as his. A heart that was not tempered by constantly facing the possibility of death was weak and easily affected by hallucinations.

Eve was just the latest person to confirm Han Shuo's hypothesis. Soon enough, Han Shuo arrived at Cage's side. Compared to his sister Eve, Cage's mind was a little more stubborn. He did not try to run away from his hallucinations. Instead, he attacked her like a madman.

It was obvious that Cage was also very much affected by the hallucination. He could not tell what was real and what was a product of his own imagination. Han Shuo knew that he could finish off this hallucinating Cage with the energy of his avatars alone.

Hallucinations were imaginary after all. No matter how fast or fierce Cage's attacks were, the hallucination would remain. Only with a heart as firm and resilient as a boulder could one free himself from what existed only in his mind. Obviously, Cage was far from being able to do that.

So Han Shuo just sat and watched as Cage wasted his divine energy on the hallucination. Cage tried to hide the fear in his heart by launching wild attacks. But it was clearly futile.

"Shoo! Get away! I can kill you all again!" Cage shouted sternly to encourage himself as he continued to attack. Gradually, Cage could feel his movements becoming more and more difficult as his head became increasingly dizzy. It was only at this point that Cage seemed to realise something.

But it was too late, because Han Shuo had finally made his move!

Han Shuo suddenly stood next to Cage and threw a fierce blow at his head. Ignoring this, Han Shuo took thirty blows from Cage's weak attacks before his punch landed in Cage's skull.

Splat! Cage's head burst apart, spilling his blood and brain matter everywhere.

Han Shuo then collected Cage's divine soul, removed any evidence that might incriminate him, and walked away satisfied. He did not forget to put away his Banner of Hallucination.

With that, both the son and daughter of Avery Lavers died for Han Shuo!

Although Han Shuo didn't know if Avery would find out that it was he who had murdered his children, he was not afraid. Han Shuo had taken Avery as his most formidable enemy and planned to fight Avery for a long time.

However, there was one thing Han Shuo regretted. From that day on, his relationship with Donna would not be so friendly, and there might even come a day when they would become enemies. Han Shuo had always tried to avoid this situation, but in the end, unfortunately, he could not.