Chapter 43: Invisible One

As the footsteps drew nearer, Long Yin’s expression shifted rapidly. Under no circumstances could they allow themselves to be exposed. Then, as if making up his mind, he looked to Yuan Shaolin and asked, “Can you break through their blockade in one minute?”

“I can break through, but I can’t conceal my identity,” Yuan Shaolin replied, his slender phoenix eyes narrowing as he studied Long Yin’s demeanor. “Do you have a solution?”

“We’ll have to risk it and see,” Long Yin said, shaking his head. From the spatial pocket, he produced a card. Yuan Shaolin was taken aback. “A tool card?” Long Yin gazed at the card with utmost gravity. Everything hinged on this moment. Yet, even after careful consideration, he couldn’t be sure if the card would perform exactly as he had calculated. “It’s a one-use card. If its effect matches my predictions precisely, it will be quite fantastical.”

“Magical properties?” Yuan Shaolin realized Long Yin was about to gamble it all. Leaning against the wall, Yuan Shaolin murmured, “Two more minutes and we’ll be surrounded.”

Long Yin drew a deep breath, locking eyes with Yuan Shaolin. “Do you trust me?”

Yuan Shaolin’s heart clenched, his thick, dark brows furrowing tightly. He growled in a low voice, “I truly don’t understand you—do you actually trust me?” Long Yin’s eyes brightened at the rebuke. “My trust in you is beyond doubt. Now, crouch down!” Yuan Shaolin obeyed, crouching. Long Yin’s slender hand pressed to Yuan Shaolin’s forehead, and his spiritual power flowed forth. “Don’t resist me.”

There was still a trace of anger in Yuan Shaolin’s eyes, but as Long Yin’s spiritual force touched his mind, surprise overtook him. Had they not trusted one another, this action could have ended in mutual harm. Steadying his mind, Yuan Shaolin opened himself to Long Yin’s power. A faint smile flickered in Long Yin’s eyes as he swiftly shared the card’s principle, the process of its creation, and its astonishing, magical effects. When his hand finally left Yuan Shaolin’s forehead, Long Yin announced, “This is the ideal outcome. The card has never undergone star-level assessment—let’s call it Stealth No. 1 for now.”

Yuan Shaolin reviewed the card’s effects repeatedly, his spirit shaken to its core. Such a card would revolutionize the world of cards—it was clearly a tool card, yet its effect was that of a magic card. His throat felt parched, his heartbeat erratic. “A new type of card?”

Long Yin blinked. Yuan Shaolin inhaled sharply. “Should I activate it?” Unaccountably, he felt a surge of excitement. To be the first tester of a new card system—if it succeeded, his name would surely be recorded in history.

The pounding footsteps were now right outside. Yuan Shaolin held the card before his eyes, channeling his power through his right hand into the card. Instead of the usual blue glow, a streak of gold flashed across his vision. The tool card dissolved into a cloud of smoke. Yuan Shaolin watched in astonishment as the guards entered, their expressions puzzled. Their eyes swept over Yuan Shaolin and Long Yin several times, yet they showed no reaction. Yuan Shaolin was stunned—even though the card promised absolute invisibility, experiencing it firsthand was still shocking.

Long Yin tugged at his sleeve, reminding Yuan Shaolin of his presence. Looking at the child again, Yuan Shaolin felt the world was suddenly unreal. Long Yin pointed to his wrist and pursed his lips, indicating their time was almost up—they had to leave. Yuan Shaolin crouched. Long Yin climbed onto his back, his arms looping around Yuan Shaolin’s neck. Despite the thin, angular frame, Long Yin felt the back was solid and safe.

The guards, unable to see them, merely paused in confusion and quickly departed. Yuan Shaolin carried Long Yin away silently, toes barely touching the ground as he moved in swift leaps. Long Yin whispered in Yuan Shaolin’s ear, his voice barely audible, “The surveillance room.”

Inside the surveillance room, chaos reigned. The unknown intruders had vanished under the security cameras—vanished completely. Not even the most advanced thermal sensors detected anything. Did living people turn to ash in an instant? Even if they hid from the eyes, they couldn’t fool the instruments. Beads of sweat rolled down the supervisor’s forehead. Usually calm, his face now betrayed panic as he pressed the boss’s number and stammered in disbelief, “Boss, the unknown intruders—they—they’ve disappeared!”

Disappeared? Sasaki set down the phone, his brows deeply furrowed. He was determined to see just how they had vanished!

When Sasaki arrived at the surveillance room, the staff replayed the footage frame by frame. Sasaki’s expression grew grave, then darkened. “You missed the best chance to catch them!” He pointed to the frame in which the two vanished from the screen. “They were still inside then. The eye deceives, but I never expected they’d fool the instruments as well.”

Sasaki was visibly unsettled. Something with such absolute concealment was perfect for covert infiltration. Whoever wielded it would make him lose sleep. If they had used this method from the beginning... Sasaki shuddered, a chill running through him. “Activate the ultimate defense system. Find the intruders, no matter what!”

The surveillance supervisor’s gaze shifted, his voice trembling. “Yes, the ultimate defense system is online!” He rapidly issued commands across the console.

Despite the lack of anomalous data, all search personnel were mobilized. Every passing second felt like torture to Sasaki—he had shed the drunken persona entirely, now clad in imposing attire. His hair was slicked back, shining and neat, his beard meticulously shaved. The slight protrusion of his forehead and his upturned chin, paired with his striking features, gave him an air of mature steadiness. In recent days, his dealings with powerful figures had only intensified his deep charisma.

Sasaki stared intently at the screen, lips pressed thin, the gravity in his gaze growing with every passing moment. He was their boss—no matter how unsettled he felt, he would not let it show. He had to lead this team and catch the intruder!

“Clack!” An energy card of six stars dropped before Sasaki. His pupils contracted instantly, the hands behind his back clenched tight. Amidst the tense atmosphere, this anomaly drew attention. Sasaki casually crouched to pick up the card, tossing it onto the worktable. “Heh, just thrown in a moment ago.” Trying to mask his inner panic, the staff understood instantly. Despite his composed facade, Sasaki could no longer maintain calm; he muttered under his breath, “Damn it.”

“Search—turn the building upside down, dig three feet underground if you must, but bring me the intruder!” Sasaki shouted with a hint of agitation. “A reward for whoever catches them!”

Kicking the surveillance room door in frustration, Sasaki stormed out.

After closing the door, he quickly activated devices in all four corners to block any probing signals. Still unsatisfied, he took out a small box once used to block detection, wiped his brow, and with a tremor of excitement said, “Young master, come out.”

Long Yin appeared on the sofa, lounging lazily, his eyes brimming with amusement and mischief. “Uncle, you’re still as annoyingly clever as ever!”

Sasaki grinned. “Young master, you’re still as monstrously talented as ever!” He glanced around. “And you, young man—how much longer do you plan to hide?”

Long Yin stood atop the sofa, fumbling around. When he touched Yuan Shaolin’s arm, he hugged him, then turned to Sasaki with a playful grin, “Uncle, come on—free chance to touch a handsome guy!”

The next moment, Long Yin was lifted into the air. He shrugged at Sasaki. “He’s a bit cold.”

Seeing Long Yin’s expression, Sasaki couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “I never expected you’d meet someone you couldn’t handle!”

When all three sat at the table, raising their teacups together, Sasaki still couldn’t get used to seeing the cups float in midair. Long Yin looked on, helpless. “This card failed. Whether the invisibility duration is shortened or extended, it’s a failed creation.”

The cups paused in midair, then tilted, tea draining away slowly.

Sasaki had been shocked by the card’s effect at first, and remained so. After considering, he suggested, “Could it be because you intervened?”

The cup dropped from Long Yin’s hand—a revelation. He drew a deep breath and pressed his hand to Yuan Shaolin’s forehead once more. Soon, Yuan Shaolin’s figure gradually appeared.

“It really is because of me,” Long Yin said in astonishment, staring at his hand, then bowed his head in thought. “How could this be?”

Yuan Shaolin saw Sasaki’s mouth gape, then nodded.

Sasaki looked at Long Yin in surprise. “Young master, when did you get your hands on the ace of the Wanderers’ Alliance?”

Long Yin was completely absorbed in the card, not noticing Sasaki’s question. Sasaki shook his head, then fixed Yuan Shaolin with an appraising gaze. “As far as I know, Your Highness Lin disdains entangling himself with others. What’s your intention this time?”

Under Sasaki’s razor-sharp gaze, Yuan Shaolin met his eyes calmly. “I have no obligation to explain myself to you.”

Sasaki moved instantly, but Yuan Shaolin was equally swift. The two closed in, blocking and parrying, their eyes cold as ice. When no answers were forthcoming, Sasaki sneered, “If I keep you here, I’ll get the truth out of you eventually!”

Yuan Shaolin’s lips curled in derision. “If you have the ability to keep me!”

“What are you two doing?” Long Yin, his thoughts interrupted, used his spiritual power to force them apart, sighing in exasperation. “Enough fighting among ourselves!”

Yuan Shaolin snorted coldly at Long Yin. “I am not one of your family.”

Sasaki was about to explode again, but Long Yin blocked him, even more helpless. “You may not see yourself as one of us, but we see you as family. Uncle, he won’t harm me!”

Sasaki frowned deeply. “Young master, are you sure?”

Long Yin leaped over and hugged Yuan Shaolin, nodding fervently at Sasaki. “I like him—don’t hurt him!”

There was a flicker in Yuan Shaolin’s eyes. With the child clinging to him, his feelings grew more complex. He looked down at Long Yin and spoke coldly, “I don’t like you.”

Long Yin blinked. “As long as I like you, that’s enough!”

Sasaki watched their exchange with a sullen face, sensing a strange, indefinable tension—not dangerous, yet dangerous all the same. His card-beast intuition made him uneasy, convinced these two would be entangled in complex ways in the future.

Rubbing his brow, Sasaki walked over and lifted Long Yin down. Long Yin grinned at him, “Uncle, you’ve transformed from a drunkard to a charismatic gentleman!”

“Young master, tell me your purpose here!” Sasaki set Long Yin on the sofa, surveying the room. “You gave me quite a scare this time—I’m still not calm. All these devices run on six-star energy cards, you know!”

Long Yin put away his playful expression, sitting cross-legged on the sofa. Then he revealed his purpose. “I need a batch of trustworthy card-makers.”