I will burn books and slay gods.

Morning Star District 36.

Last night, of the thirty Night Watchers sent by headquarters, less than fifteen remained after the crisis of the previous night. Not even half of them were left.

Wang Tiankuo, who came to provide support, learned the whole story from Lin Su, which made him feel extremely guilty.

If it weren't for that phone call, perhaps this crisis wouldn't have resulted in so many casualties, nor would it have forced Team Leader Chen to forcibly raise his cultivation level, ultimately leading to his annihilation.

Meanwhile, Hou Hong, who was still unconscious because his right hand was trapped under the car, survived several hours of intensive medical treatment last night. However, his right hand was completely disabled and eventually had to be amputated.

Because the anesthesia hadn't worn off yet, Hou Hong hadn't woken up.

Old Li and Gong Zhan had not yet informed Hou Hong of Chen Chen's passing.

Anxious, Gong Zhan paced back and forth at the foot of Hou Hong's bed, his face full of worry. Just then, Gong Zhan stopped and turned to ask Old Li a question.

"Old Li, say something!"

"Hou Hong's anesthesia is almost worn off!"

"Should we tell Hou Hong about Chen Chen's departure, someone who might not be able to handle the news?"

The two of them were powerless to stop Chen Chen's departure.

But since this had already happened, what Lao Li was thinking was that since it had happened, he would find out sooner or later anyway, so it was better to let him accept it sooner rather than later, as that would cause him even greater shock and harm.

Old Li was very quiet, peeling tangerines in his hands, which were brought by Wang Tiankuo, who had arrived early.

"Now that it's happened, I believe Old Hou can handle it!"

"Every time we go on a mission, although everyone is hoping for victory, there's no denying that we all have a very clear understanding of the nature of death!"

"No matter who it is, there should only be mourning for a companion, not madness because of their death."

"Didn't you and I both witness Old Chen leave our hands?"

"That's precisely why, since we've both persevered, I also believe in Lao Hou; he can do it too!"

Perhaps because of Lao Li's heartfelt sentiments, Gong Zhan gradually began to believe in Hou Hong, and in everyone else.

Just then, perhaps the anesthesia wore off.

Hou Hong slowly opened his eyes, "Water...water, I want to drink water..."

Upon hearing Hou Hong's words, Old Li quickly stood up, went to the table, poured Hou Hong a glass of warm water, and then went to Hou Hong's bedside.

Similarly, Gong Zhan came to the other side of Hou Hong's bed and helped Hou Hong sit up and lean against the wall.

Old Li brought the water to his lips and said softly, "Drink up, Old Hou."

Hou Hong tried to reach out his right hand to catch the water glass, but then he realized that his right hand was gone.

His pupils trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief.

But he suppressed his emotions, reached out his left hand again, took the water glass, and sipped it.

Upon witnessing this scene, Gong Zhan's eyes were filled with unbearable pity, yet also with guilt.

After Hou Hong drank the water and handed the glass to Old Li, he remained quiet, yet seemed to be jokingly remarking, "My hand... is gone..."

Upon hearing Hou Hong say these words in person, Lao Li and Gong Zhan felt very uncomfortable!

Hou Hong touched himself with his left and right hands, his right hand that was no longer there. He was about to open his mouth, but he didn't know what he wanted to say.

Hou Hong didn't want the organization to think he had become completely disabled because of this incident.

"Old Li, look at me now, do you think the organization will abandon me?" Hou Hong turned to Old Li, staring at him with a resentful look.

"Definitely not. You were injured during a mission. I believe the organization wouldn't do that!" Old Li replied firmly.

Similarly, Gong Zhan, standing on the other side of the hospital bed, spoke up, "Definitely not. Just as Old Li said, you were injured while on a mission!"

At this moment, Hou Hong couldn't help but sneer, "The injuries I sustained while participating in the mission are a disgrace to me. It was my own fault for failing to react in time, which is why I ended up like this."

"My hand, my right hand, is gone."

"I'm already disabled, so why would the organization keep me here to continue fighting alongside you?"

"Perhaps I'll be assigned to logistics, or perhaps I'll be sent to a real mental hospital."

"Perhaps, I will truly be there, growing old alone."

At this moment, after Hou Hong expressed his thoughts, Lao Li and Gong Zhan, who were standing on either side of the hospital bed, couldn't help but keep their mouths shut, not knowing how to comfort Hou Hong who was now lost in thought.

At that moment, the door to the ward was slowly pushed open.

The three of them then looked toward the door, where Wang Tiankuo, the dean of Morning Star District 36, walked in.

However, two men in black uniforms with serious expressions followed him in.

They followed behind Wang Tiankuo, but just then, Wang Tiankuo made way for the two men in black behind him.

The two men in black then walked in unison toward Hou Hong, who was sitting on the hospital bed at that moment.

Upon witnessing this scene, Lao Li and Gong Zhan sensed something was amiss and immediately blocked the men in black from passing!

Old Li and Gong Zhan stared intently at the two mysterious men in black they had never seen before, their expressions serious. "What are you doing here? What do you want?"

The men in black did not intend to resist. One of them turned his head and glanced at Wang Tiankuo, who was standing at the door.

"Old Li, Gong Zhan, you two step back!"

"Don't do that, these two are here to help Hou Hong."

Upon hearing that the man in black in front of them was there to offer help, the two men, with some skepticism, made way for him.

After the two men gave up their seats, one of the men in black politely thanked them, saying, "Thank you."

But this did not make the two men lower their guard. Their eyes were fixed on the other man in black, who was carrying a rectangular black box with a fingerprint lock that he had been carrying when he entered the room.

After the two men in black walked to the bedside, they placed the black box they were carrying on the bed.

The man in black then pressed his thumb on the switch and scanned the device.

"Click."

A crisp sound of a lock being opened reached everyone's ears, and white smoke emanated from the black box, carrying with it a chilling, biting air.

The man in black slowly unfolded the black box.

At this moment, the item in the black box was revealed to everyone. Upon seeing the true appearance of the item, everyone was utterly shocked.

It turned out to be a right hand made of metal, and an unfolded arm skeleton armor, which was displayed from the black box.

"What is this...?" Old Li asked in confusion.

At this moment, the one carrying the black box explained, "This is a concept-level exoskeleton, an auxiliary weapon developed by the organization's secret research chief technology officer, Elk."