MCL CH50

Chapter 50 – One of Many Suitors.

[Hahahaha, easygoing? Really? Hahahaha.]

The voice in Lin Xi’s mind sounded as if it had just heard the funniest joke in the world, but with Lin Xi’s meaningful cold laugh, it instantly fell silent.

However, not everyone seemed to know when to stop.

Actually, from the beginning, the lead hijacker had already noticed Lin Xi’s presence.

After all, in such a chaotic and oppressive environment, that red hair and heterochromatic eyes were just too eye-catching. Though Yan Xingzhou beside him was also outstanding in appearance, Lin Xi was distinctly more captivating and much more likely to attract attention.

Vivid red hair—a physical trait many fire-type ability users shared—plus the ability he used earlier, more than confirmed his attribute.

The hijacker stared directly at Lin Xi. Under the intense visual effect, his initial discontent actually faded somewhat after a moment: “No need for discussion, but we can ‘negotiate’?”

He savored the meaning of the words with interest and stepped over. “So, how do you want to negotiate?”

In no time, he was already standing in front of Lin Xi. But before he could get any closer, someone reached out to block him.

The hijacker’s attention had been on Lin Xi, but now when he looked up, he met Yan Xingzhou’s icy gaze and felt a chill run down his spine.

Such a sudden intervention made his mood even worse. He sneered, “What, a little master from somewhere has to bring a bodyguard everywhere he goes?”

Yan Xingzhou’s gaze was frigid, his fingers in the air already slowly beginning to rise, when in the next second they were caught and pressed in a warm palm.

Lin Xi looked up at the right moment, signaling to Yan Xingzhou to stand down, and with a tug, pulled him behind himself. He then said to the hijacker, “That’s not quite accurate—not a bodyguard. At most, you could call him one of my admirers.”

After speaking, he cast a smiling, raised-brow glance at Yan Xingzhou: “Right?”

“……”

Yan Xingzhou silently averted his eyes, which counted as tacit agreement.

“Oh, so he just follows you around like a lovesick puppy.” The hijacker burst out laughing and reached out to clap Lin Xi’s shoulder. “Forget about him. Now we can finally discuss—”

Before he finished, Lin Xi was already smiling as he spoke, “Of course, here’s how we’ll negotiate.”

He simply sidestepped, nimbly dodged the hand reaching for his shoulder, and with a quick, forceful twist snapped the hijacker’s fingers. The sharp crack echoed through the tense cabin, and even the stifled sobs of terror seemed to pause for a heartbeat.

“AAAAAAAH—!”

The scream of pain split the air, and the sharp stimulus of his broken fingers triggered a burst of electric sparks at his fingertips. “Damn it, you’re looking for death! Fuck, ahhhh—!”

His words were drowned in another heart-wrenching scream.

Before any of the lightning could build, it was completely swallowed by surging flames.

Within moments, the once grotesque and twisted fingers were gradually reduced to charred cinders by the cruel fire.

Releasing his grip, Lin Xi watched the hijacker frantically scramble toward his companions for help. The others, coming to assist, recoiled in panic the moment they touched the flames.

“Help, help me!” The more the hijacker tried to extinguish the flames, the more they seemed fueled by his movement. Soon, the fire spread all over his body. Those beside him, not daring to get too close, kicked him back in fear.

In the narrow aisle of the cabin, the burning figure writhed and struggled endlessly. Lightning danced from his body, but it only fed the flames, making them burn all the fiercer.

Amidst the silence, everyone watched Lin Xi stride over, squat down in front of him.

He looked completely unconcerned, even innocent, his hair hanging down and his subtle smile tinged with a dangerous charm: “So, are you satisfied with this negotiation method?”

Though it was the same face as before, to the hijacker now it looked like the most terrifying demon from hell.

Near death, his pupils constricted sharply and he gasped helplessly like a fish struggling on dry land.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t make any unnecessary moves now.” With a flick of his hand, a little fire passed by, silently burning off the hair beside the faces of several others.

He looked up lazily, his heterochromatic pupils curved just like a gentle, lazy Persian cat: “After all, the reason you all sided with him in the first place was just to survive, wasn’t it?”

This short moment of crushing strength was more than enough to show everyone the disparity between the two sides. After Lin Xi’s words, with his real strength still uncertain, no one dared move.

In the cabin, only the scorched man’s groans echoed.

Faintly, it was as if the smell of roasted meat began to fill the air—making everyone’s faces grow even more unpleasant.

“A—agree—”

A weak voice squeezed out from between his teeth. The look in the hijacker’s eyes was blank, his necrotic flesh losing all strength as the trembling words hung in the air, “Anything… I’ll do whatever you say… save me… save me…”

“I thought you’d choose such a sincere attitude.” Lin Xi’s eyes flickered with a hint of satisfaction, and, with a nonchalant flip, all the creeping flames abruptly extinguished, leaving only wisps of smoke from the charred body. He idly crushed out the last wisp of flame in his hands, slowly stood up, and smiled as he looked around: “So, regarding the current outcome, I assume there are no further objections, right?”

Despite the genuinely gentle smile, the surrounding atmosphere plunged into dead silence.

Lin Xi, in good spirits, clapped his hands. “Very good. Then it’s settled so happily.”

Everyone present: “……”

Happily… really?

A voice quietly sounded from the back, “Um, do you want me to try healing him?”

Lin Xi looked back and recognized the healing-type girl from earlier.

He looked at her with interest and smiled: “Do you want to treat him?”

The girl hesitated, but eventually nodded. “I’ll try.”

“Mm, go ahead then.” Lin Xi very gentlemanly stepped aside, making a gesture of invitation.

After watching her pass by, he turned, “Now what, not happy again?”

Yan Xingzhou’s stare was so obvious—it had been on Lin Xi the whole time, but finally now he spoke: “You shouldn’t have drawn all the attention to yourself.”

“But, that’s the only way to properly hide your whereabouts, President Yan.” Lin Xi knew exactly why Yan Xingzhou was annoyed, strolled over, neatly fixed his tie, and—with eyes meeting—whispered so only the two of them could hear, “Our act of becoming enemies hasn’t even started, can’t let it be ruined so soon. Your only job is not to let anyone else notice you. Leave the rest to me, alright?”

“I have no problem,” Yan Xingzhou replied, “but are you sure that now, with things as they are, others won’t notice me?”

Lin Xi paused briefly, hand stilling as he was about to smooth out Yan Xingzhou’s shirt. What had just happened meant he was the center of attention now; obviously, everything he and Yan did was being watched.

But the pause only lasted a moment. Lin Xi naturally withdrew his hand: “It’s fine. In everyone’s eyes, you’re just one of my many suitors—”

He chuckled lightly, adding, “One of many.”

Yan Xingzhou was noncommittal: “It’s an honor to have such a title.”

Lin Xi raised his eyebrows silently, about to count the number of ability users for the next step, when he felt the plane start to vibrate beneath his feet.

All the recent chaos already had people on the brink. Now, with the sudden feeling of weightlessness, terrified screams erupted everywhere.

As the sensation grew, it felt as if the entire cabin was floating upward, carrying everyone with it.

Lin Xi felt himself pulled into a broad, warm embrace. Not only did he not struggle—he even snuggled closer, unbothered by the surrounding chaos.

This weightlessness lasted for more than three minutes. After a final, violent jolt, the plane finally stabilized.

As the darkness that had been fading for the past few seconds receded, the passengers realized they had actually been deep underwater. Now, the aircraft had fully resurfaced, allowing them to see their surroundings.

Blue.

An endless, cerulean world.

“Oh…” Lin Xi, who had been curious about how the massive impact force on a plane dragged into a rift while flying was dispersed, finally had his answer.

A brief silence fell.

So it was a special-A-class water-type contaminant.

In a way, it was, as always, terrible luck—after all, it was the natural counter to fire-types.

Lin Xi silently called out, “Hey.”

[Hmm?]

The voice in his head responded to the summons.

Lin Xi gazed out the window, genuinely moved: “Now it’s basically certain, we really are just cosmically incompatible.”

[…………]
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