*Boom*
"That's the third explosion, so let's get ready," Yin says.
"Say, compared to the other team, ain't we lackin' a bit in firepower? I mean in addition to the feather lady, they've got one of the Dragons and the Taotie," He Lin says.
"I see, so you're insinuating that I'm not strong compared to them, is that it?" I ask.
"Nah, course not little lady, I'm sure ya' plenty strong," He Lin says while keeping up his carefree expression.
"While I admit that you've got yourself a good poker face, lying is impossible before me. I can, in a literal sense, see lies, moreover, I can also read minds. There is very little that can hide from my view."
"Ah shit, that mean ya' know 'bout--"
"Yes I'm aware that you do have certain books with explicit images on hand at this moment... but why though?" I ask.
"*Sigh* ya' wouldn't understand little lady, if I fall, I need to make sure the last thing I do is get a good look at those melons."
Everyone else is just looking at He Lin as if he's an idiot, actually, that is what most of us are thinking right now. With the notable exception of Cheng Yin who is thinking of a hundred way to torture He Lin after we return. I see why Cordelia has an unusual sense of camaraderie towards her, they're both flat and one should mention the topic in front of either of them.
Thankfully Yin finished her list of torture methods and after a couple of minutes, we rush the front gates of the Cheng residence.
"You questioned my strength, so why don't I show it, Aurelia BEAM!" I shout as a pair of red lasers shine out from my eyes, putting holes in the stomach of the two gate guards and vaporising the gate as well.
"Remind me not ta look into your eyes," He Lin says while avoiding eye contact.
"Is it necessary to shout out your attack name, does that not ruin the element of surprise or is it a requirement to the ability?" Xu Kang asks.
"I just thought it would make the whole scene more amusing so I do it. From what I saw, my ancestors did so as well with similar reasoning."
"Interesting, so you can communicate with your ancestors or perhaps see what they saw. I'd very much enjoy speaking more about this," Xu Kang says.
"Save the useless chatter for later, we've got a job to do, now get moving!" Yin orders.
As we pass through the broken gate, I take out the three storage rings that Cordelia gave me and send out the three Burning Metal Dragons. On the other side of the city, I can see three more of the Burning Metal Dragons standing tall, seems like the other side has also made their move.
Much like when we attacked the manor of the vice-minister, guards began to pour out from the manor, but compared to the response time back then, these Cheng folk are much slower to react. Not to mention much weaker as well. Having seen what went through Yin's mind when he first brought up the supposed disparity in strength between the two assault teams, the reason for our apparent lack of firepower is simply due to the overall weakness of the Cheng family. Supposedly none of the elders is stronger than Cheng Yin and the family head isn't much stronger than her either.
Even so, this is going a lot better than I had thought it would, and I had already thought this would be pretty easy. Although I have a bit of a hard time deciphering whether it's because the Cheng family is seriously that weak, or because the Burning Metal Dragons are a lot more impressive than I gave them credit for... from the looks of it, probably both.
If I'm not mistaken, the only people inside the manor right now are our infiltration team, led by Wei. The Cheng patriarch has long since been brought out and is getting his beaten up so badly by Cheng Yin and the Burning Metal Dragons that I almost feel bad for the old man. But as I hear him plead and apologise for the various deeds he's done, my sympathy for him burns out.
Within just a few minutes, with no one to obstruct them, we see the signal flare from the infiltration team denoting their success and giving us the retreat signal.
"Well, that was easy. Whole thing didn't even take half of half an hour. But you're definitely a lot stronger than ya' look, sorry 'bout the doubt towards ya'. But just what are these... giant metal things?" He Lin asks.
I could give him the complete answer, but I don't think he'd understand, "Keeping it simple, they're Cordelia's automatons. Virtually indestructible and will absorb any fire near it.
"What about that one up in the sky over there? Looks as if it's flying? No, more like gliding. Perhaps I'm mistaken, but it seems to be moving towards the Hong battlefield," Xu Kang says.
Turning around to see what he's talking about, I see what resembles one of the Burning Metal Dragons gliding down towards the position of the Hong residence. If I'm not mistaken that's the Blazing Metal Dragon, the pilotable version of the Burning Metal Dragon. If Cordelia is moving out with that then something must have happened over with the others. I'm a bit worried, but the least I could do is have faith in them... ok that's the last thing I should do when Cordelia is concerned.
"I'm heading over to the Hong residence to make sure everything's alright," I say as I leave Yin and the others behind.