Chapter 26: The Truth Revealed, A New Journey Begins

The sudden appearance and departure of the man in black left Mao Yu more certain than ever that a mastermind was pulling the strings. The Black Snake Gang was merely a pawn; the true enemy remained hidden in the shadows. A dark, unsettling anxiety clouded his mind, and Mao Yu felt as though he had fallen into a colossal spiderweb, struggling only to find himself increasingly ensnared.

In the days that followed, Mao Yu began an exhaustive investigation. He visited various gangs, attempting to pry information from them, but he hit a wall at every turn. These groups either remained tight-lipped or deflected the conversation, as if paralyzed by some deep-seated fear. Even Zhang Biao and Wang Hu, previously so arrogant and domineering, had become meek as mice, trembling and afraid to utter a single word.

"Is this it? Am I to just give up?" A sense of helplessness welled up within him. The trail was like a kite with a snapped string, vanishing without a trace. He locked himself in his room, replaying every detail of his encounter with the man in black, searching for a breakthrough.

"Brother Mao, don't push yourself too hard." Mao Ling entered carrying a bowl of hot soup, her voice laced with worry. During this time, Mao Yu had been investigating day and night, and he had visibly thinned. Feng Yao stood at the doorway, wanting to speak but hesitating, her eyes filled with concern.

"I'm fine," Mao Yu said, forcing a faint smile as he took the soup and drank it down. "I must find the mastermind and seek justice for the innocent victims." A flash of resolve ignited in his eyes.

Mao Yu pulled himself together and decided to change his approach. He began to categorize every faction and event he had encountered, trying to uncover a hidden pattern. He organized all the information and pinned it to the wall, analyzing and re-evaluating it repeatedly.

"Wait, this..." Mao Yu suddenly pointed to a photograph on the wall. It depicted an inconspicuous emblem he had previously overlooked. "I’ve seen this mark somewhere before..." He suddenly realized that this very emblem had appeared on the cuffs of Butler Lin's sleeves!

Could it be?

Mao Yu stood up abruptly. "Feng Yao, we're going to your house!"

Mao Yu pulled Feng Yao along, racing toward the Feng estate at breakneck speed. Along the way, Feng Yao was full of suspicion but found it difficult to ask. Upon arriving at the estate, Mao Yu walked straight to Butler Lin, grabbed his wrist, and flipped back his sleeve.

The emblem was right there, unmistakable.

"Butler Lin, what do you have to say for yourself now?" Mao Yu’s tone was icy, his gaze sharp as a blade.

Butler Lin’s expression shifted violently, and he stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence. Under Mao Yu’s relentless pressure, he finally confessed: he had been acting on orders from a veteran family of superhumans, manipulating the Black Snake Gang and other small factions to spread rumors and slander Mao Yu. Their goal was to stifle Mao Yu's rise and maintain their family's dominance in the City of Superhumans.

"A veteran family, resorting to such despicable tactics!" Mao Yu was incensed. He decided to bring the matter to light, ensuring everyone saw the true face of this family.

At the Assembly of the Superhuman Alliance, Mao Yu exposed the conspiracy before all the superhumans. He presented all the evidence, including Butler Lin’s testimony and the trade records of the Black Snake Gang, leaving the family speechless. The surrounding superhumans were in an uproar; they had never imagined that such a supposedly prestigious family could be capable of such filth.

"Mao Yu, you are spouting blood!" the patriarch of the veteran family roared in desperation.

"Whether I am spouting blood, everyone knows the truth in their hearts," Mao Yu sneered. "You thought your actions were flawless, but the net of justice is wide, and though it lets nothing slip through, it catches all."

With the conspiracy fully exposed, the surrounding superhumans looked upon Mao Yu with reverence. Single-handedly, he had unmasked the dark forces hidden within the City of Superhumans, upholding justice and fairness.

Watching Mao Yu shine on the stage, Feng Yao’s eyes were filled with love and pride. She walked over to him and hugged him tightly. "Brother Mao, you were amazing!" Mao Ling stood nearby, smiling happily, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Surrounded by their affection, Mao Yu felt the warmth of home and a surge of strength. However, this was only the beginning. The patriarch of the veteran family turned pale with rage, his eyes glinting with malice. He waved his hand sharply.

"Kill him!" the patriarch screamed hoarsely.

Before the words had faded, a group of superhumans clad in black tactical gear appeared behind him, each exuding a powerful, murderous aura. These family elites were ruthless, wielding bizarre abilities—some controlled metal, some commanded fire, others possessed invisibility. They were like a superhuman version of the Avengers!

"Brothers, grab your weapons! Take them down!" Mao Yu did not back down. With his command, the superhumans who followed him charged forward with shouts of battle, turning the scene into a clash of titans.

The fighting was fierce, with various abilities flying through the air like a massive light show. The sounds of clashing metal, roaring flames, and explosions echoed incessantly; one might have thought they were watching a Hollywood blockbuster.

Mao Yu led the charge, darting left and right, his abilities seemingly enhanced, displaying terrifying power.

"Brother Mao is a beast!" Mao Ling cheered loudly, dazzled by the display. Although Feng Yao remained calm on the surface, she was internally stirred, feeling immense pride in Mao Yu's heroism.

In the heat of the battle, an elite superhuman suddenly launched a sneak attack on Mao Yu from behind. Just as the strike was about to land, in a split second, Feng Yao flashed in front of Mao Yu, taking the fatal blow for him.

"Feng Yao!" Mao Yu cried out, rushing to catch her.

"I'm fine..." Feng Yao said weakly, "You must win..."

This sight pushed Mao Yu past the point of fury. He roared, a powerful energy erupting from his body, and a dazzling light enveloped him. He unleashed his strongest ability—the "Thunder of Heavenly Judgment." Bolts of lightning rained down from the sky, striking the elite superhumans with surgical precision, throwing the entire battlefield into chaos.

"Holy cow, Brother Mao is defying the heavens!" Mao Ling covered her mouth, shocked.

In the end, led by Mao Yu, they achieved an overwhelming victory. The elites of the veteran family were beaten and routed, fleeing in disgrace. Their conspiracy had failed completely, and their reputation in the City of Superhumans plummeted, turning them into a laughingstock.

After the battle, Mao Yu stood on the smoke-filled field, accepting the cheers and respect of the crowd. He had become a hero of the City of Superhumans, his name etched into the memory of all.

After the victory banquet, Mao Yu, Feng Yao, and Mao Ling sat together, beginning to plan their search for the legendary superhuman treasure.

"It is said that the superhuman treasure is hidden in an ancient ruin..." Feng Yao said slowly, looking over the documents in her hands.

"I know that place..." Mao Ling interjected, "I heard my grandfather talk about it when I was young..."

Mao Yu looked into the distance, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He knew that a new journey was about to begin, and in the struggle for the superhuman treasure, he would write a new legend.

"Let's go," Mao Yu stood up, his gaze firm. "We are going to..." He paused, looking toward a faint, distant mountain peak, "...Soul-Breaking Mountain!"