Chen Xiao waved his hand, and the Mountain and River Diagram flared with light. A colossal pterosaur burst forth, its wings blotting out the sky like something from ancient legend.
Despite its ferocious appearance, the creature was obediently crouched on the ground, utterly tame.
A Yao's jaw dropped. "Huh? Is that... a pterosaur?! And why is it so well-behaved? Do you run a Jurassic Park or something?!"
Chen Xiao took her hand and smiled. "Let's ride."
The pterosaur's broad back easily carried both of them without the slightest crowding. With a powerful flap of its wings, it carried Chen Xiao toward Jiangbei at a speed no car could match — like a private jet cutting through the sky.
With Divine Wind keeping him steady, Chen Xiao was relaxed, letting the wind whip across his face. A Yao clung tightly to him, eyes shut in terror, afraid of falling. For her, it was far more thrilling than a roller coaster.
Chen Xiao teased her, "Since when are you such a coward? Weren't you the first one to charge Maple Leaf Country?"
A Yao punched him in the chest. "Stop bringing that up! I was in a hurry!"
The two chatted idly as they looked down at the apocalyptic wasteland below — corpses, blood, and the clashes of warring factions. Chen Xiao had once struggled to survive there, but now his gaze had already risen beyond it.
By dusk the next day, Chen Xiao recalled the pterosaur and descended onto the roof of Jianghe Building, carrying A Yao with him.
The moment they landed, several powerful auras erupted around them.
Below, a girl in a red hoodie stepped forward and called out coldly, "You've got some strength. Do you even know where you are?"
She was Chai Xiaoyu, deputy captain of the Seventh Squad of Jianghe Delta, under Bee Woman's command. Her patrol team was responsible for guarding core areas, especially the places close to the Mad Ghost Butcher. It was an enviable posting, and normally no one dared trespass here.
Her scouts had already analyzed the two intruders. Her subordinates were eager to act, but she held them back, waiting for more information.
"Captain Xiaoyu," one of them said quickly, "Jingying says the man above is extremely strong — stronger than you!"
Chai Xiaoyu's eyes widened. "Why didn't you say that sooner? Go get Vice Leader Jiang, not Bee Woman! This is a core zone!"
Chen Xiao smiled faintly. "What's this about?"
Chai Xiaoyu frowned. "Do you know whose territory this is?"
Chen Xiao sat on the roof, letting his feet dangle over the edge. "Whose territory it is doesn't matter. What if I want to make trouble here?"
A Yao leaned close and whispered, "Isn't this your territory?"
Chen Xiao raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. He was testing Jiangbei's strength under Jiang Yunhan's management.
"Captain Xiaoyu, he's too arrogant!" one of the guards muttered. "If he knew this was the Mad Ghost Butcher's home…"
Chai Xiaoyu drew her seven-ring saber and gathered her courage. "I'll tell you — this is the Mad Ghost Butcher's residence. If you don't know who he is, I'll tell you his story and scare you to death!"
To her surprise, Chen Xiao only chuckled. "Go on, then. Tell me his story."
A Yao snickered beside him. "You just want people to praise you."
Chen Xiao shrugged. "If you won't, I'll find someone who will."
Chai Xiaoyu could not hear their private exchange and only thought they were country bumpkins who had just arrived in the city. So she began, "The Mad Ghost Butcher is—"
A familiar voice cut her off.
"Don't bother. He knows more than you do."