Author: Kinky

Criminal Psychology Ch280

Kinky1 Comment

Author: 长洱 / Chang’er

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 280

“Since I don’t know your name, I can only use ‘you’ to address you.

I represent the provincial governments of Jiangxia, Zhelin, and Cheng’an. As per your request, I am officially responding to your letter in an official capacity.”

The female anchor spoke in a calm and not very loud voice, yet in the old and dim underground space, it swept through like a breeze. The people slowly moving in the subway station seemed to be inspired, as they all simultaneously lifted their heads. In the bright studio, the female anchor also lifted her head. With a solemn demeanor, she steadied her breath before saying, “We agree to some of your demands.”

The people in the station couldn’t believe their ears, and the quicker ones started exchanging surprised looks with others around them.

In fact, those who were protected by the government every day found it difficult to believe deep down that the organization meant to ensure their well-being and prosperity would one day compromise and remove their protection, leaving them exposed to the sinister intentions of the opposition. Naturally, some people began to vent their anger.

“Motherfuckers!”

“They’re spineless!”

However, just as the crowd was about to get excited, the female anchor’s voice sounded just right again.

“But please do not misunderstand. By ‘some’, we mean that since you possess the ability to arbitrarily take innocent lives, we agree to participate in the voting game arranged by you, to decide certain matters by public opinion. However, we cannot agree with the way you’ve constructed the game. Therefore, I have a new proposal.”

After emphasizing the word “I,” the news footage changed accordingly.

It revealed a much brighter landscape than the studio, with green mountains and muddy rivers. You could almost feel the long wind brushing through the mountains. As the wind blew, the camera descended and focused on a majestic and solemn cluster of dark gray buildings.

Surrounded by green mountains and with muddy water in the front, it was the Min River No.1 Prison.

Many viewers couldn’t immediately recall the name of the prison, but they could still recognize it from its distinctive architectural style. The dim subway station erupted in suppressed gasps, resembling the sound of the murky waters of the Min River hitting the rocks.

Fang Aizi also looked up; the young girl had already found a seat to sit cross-legged. At this moment, she had taken out a roll of lemon-flavored hard candy from her pocket and put two pieces in her mouth.

The old-fashioned hanging color TV displayed the pace of a movie as the scene faded out and then faded back in.

The magnificent scenery became tiny, and the smallness originated from the pale-yellow light source in the dim space. It was a pitch-black and narrow room, with walls built from square cement bricks, smooth and well-lit, exuding the cold and ruthless atmosphere typical of a prison’s solitary confinement cell.

In the room, there was a small hanging lamp, and beneath it sat four men.

One was burly, another was dark-skinned, one had tattoos covering his head, and the last one resembled a thin black cat.

All four men were wearing prison uniforms, sitting silently under the lamp, facing the camera with indifferent expressions.

The off-screen voice of the female anchor resounded once again as she continued to read the letter.

“These four individuals were randomly selected from prisoners at Min River No. 1 Prison, and coincidentally, they symbolize four very emblematic criminals: a swindler, a robber, a thief, and a murderer. I have no intention of explaining in detail the reasons for their imprisonment, but if the game proceeds smoothly, all their case files will be made public online, and anyone can freely access them. Therefore, my proposal is as follows: in order to avoid causing greater harm and casualties, I suggest that the three provinces concentrate their voting on these four individuals. Each person with a registered residence and residence permit in the three provinces will have the right to vote with their real names—one person, one vote—to decide the life or death of these four individuals. The voting period will be 24 hours. If, after 24 hours, the voting result indicates that the four individuals should be executed, I will personally carry out their executions, as a substitute for the planned poisoning operation in any city. If the result is the opposite, you may continue your poisoning activities in the manner you desire.”

The female anchor paused after reading the letter while her cold gaze scanned the audience below, giving everyone a moment to think. She struck the right balance, as if she had practiced it a thousand times, suppressing any foul language that might have been uttered by the people.

“I believe that the minority replacing the majority scheme is more reasonable for the following reasons: First, as previously mentioned, it can gradually reduce unnecessary casualties. Second, your proposed plan could easily lead us to sacrifice a certain city, guiding the votes towards that city. However, once you accept my proposal, my government and I will not interfere with the citizens’ choices. Second, quality is more important than quantity, and extreme situations can better expose problems and raise awareness of deeper issues.”

The female anchor’s tone remained calm, reciting the reply letter with the ordinary tone of reading an instruction manual. “Of course, I think a fairer approach would be to raise the stakes. I wonder if you would consider changing it to: If the four criminals are voted to be executed, you will provide a complete treatment plan for the neurotoxin and related agents to our side.” At this point, she once again gazed significantly at the camera, though her tone was as calm as the person who wrote the letter. She continued, “These proposals are merely my humble opinion, and all decisions should be made by you. If you agree to some of my proposals, please launch the new voting system on your website at exactly 12:00 GMT. We will synchronously launch the online and offline voting procedures one minute later, and voting will be conducted in a real-name system—one person, one vote. The voting results will be broadcast live to ensure fairness.”

“Please believe in our sincerity, and I hope you will carefully consider and reply.

Sincerely,

Lin Chen.

September 3, 2016.”

Without giving the audience any time to comprehend their emotions, the female anchor calmly turned the letter over and displayed it in front of hundreds of millions of viewers.

Indeed, it was a handwritten letter, with the words “Hongjing Municipal Police Bureau, Jiangxia Province” written in red at the top of the stationery. The entire content of the letter was handwritten with a fountain pen, just the length of a high school student’s essay.

The handwriting was elegant, just like the person himself. The director also happened to focus the final live shot on the two words “Lin Chen” and the personal seal.

If the original letter was like blazing fireworks, then this reply was like a refreshing breeze in the mountains.

The entire letter was well-organized, well-reasoned, and without any provocative tone. Even the text format matched the one used by the sender, making it appear more like a straightforward instruction manual.

However, only a small group of people who knew Lin Chen’s whereabouts were aware that this letter wasn’t an instant reply. Long before Lin Chen entered Hongjing Detention Center, this handwritten letter had been sent urgently from Hongjing and arrived at Yongchuan TV Station before the Meicun Clothing Market incident occurred.

In other words, several hours ago, Lin Chen had already made a corresponding reply to a letter he would never have seen.

Therefore, when the National Yongchuan TV Station ended the BREAKING NEWS broadcast, most viewers’ first reaction was to start counting down. However, the officials in the Hongjing Municipal Bureau were different. Xing Conglian stood in the glass room, and everyone outside looked at him incredulously, as if they wanted to burn holes in his old face.

This made Xing Conglian want to stay in the glass room, but Shen Heming patted his shoulder and said, “Let’s go out together.”

As soon as the glass door was pushed open, all kinds of miscellaneous inquiries squeezed in through the gap.

“Lao Xing… Is Lin Chen…” the public opinion expert probed.

“Still in the detention center?”

“Yes.”

“Then… Did someone else write the reply letter?”

“He wrote it himself.”

Xing Conglian said indifferently, but before he could finish his words, the entire hall erupted into incredulous exclamations again.

“Consultant Lin… knew in advance?”

“This is too incredible.”

“But… Four prisoners… This is too audacious!”

“Minister Shen?”

The police officers whispered to each other, discussing the matter among themselves.

This should have been a moment that made Xing Conglian proud, but as he looked at the officers, who seemed visibly relieved, his brows involuntarily furrowed.

This was the change brought about by Lin Chen’s letter, relieving everyone from the dilemma they were facing temporarily and taking the burden off their hearts because someone had taken responsibility in their place.

However, he knew very well that this was just the beginning—a brief calm before the storm. When everyone woke up to the reality of the situation, they would understand the magnitude of the problem.

At this moment, the usually cold and strategic expert suddenly spoke up. “How does he know that the other side will agree?”

Xing Conglian’s gaze pierced through the crowd and fell on the person’s face. Smart people always grasp things earlier.

The person paused and added, “He also revealed our backup plan. Although this might facilitate the other side’s acceptance of his plan, fundamentally, it still confines us to a passive position, which isn’t right.”

Xing Conglian looked at the cold and confident eyes, not saying anything.

……

While the discussions within the police station were concerned about Xing Conglian’s reputation and Lin Chen’s accurate predictions, on the crowded platform of the underground subway station, no one cared about such matters. It was always terrorists holding hostages to threaten the government, but now the situation seemed to have reversed, with the government holding hostages to threaten the terrorists. This sudden reversal of the plot unexpectedly swept away the oppressive atmosphere, as if the old ventilation system had been reactivated. People picked up their backpacks and resumed their activities and conversations.

“Is that Lin Chen a member of the police?”

“It seems like it.”

“Is he crazy?”

“I don’t know…”

“What level is the police at now? Is that reply letter a joke?”

“Huh?”

“The bad guy wants us to pit all the cities in the three provinces against each other. Focusing on these four criminals, isn’t this a distraction tactic? Do they really think the bad guy will agree?”

“Yes.”

Passersby ignored the short-haired girl sitting cross-legged nearby and didn’t even spare her a glance. This time, the girl didn’t refute anything; she simply crushed the hard candy in her mouth.

The same discussion was taking place in the subway carriage that had already departed the platform.

A girl with a ponytail wearing the Fengjing School uniform gritted her teeth, as if she hadn’t recovered from the humiliation she had just experienced. She had to say something to ease her anger.

“Hmph, the government’s think tank can only come up with such a rotten idea. They really believe that just by changing the plan, the mastermind will agree? I never thought they could be so stupid,” she said coldly. “Besides, this is a morality war, or even a battle for public opinion. If they really go through with this, the law will be nonexistent. Innocent people will be executed, and anyone can be sacrificed. It makes me sick.”

The girl next to her, who had been meekly nodding, also added, “But I think… it’s not a bad idea to have just four criminals. After all, one of them is a murderer. To put it bluntly, if they die, they die.”

The girl with the ponytail raised an eyebrow half-heartedly and said nonchalantly, “Think about it this way, even you think it’s no big deal for four criminals to die, not to mention others. Do you really think the bad guy won’t realize something so simple? How could he agree?”

“Yeah, I also think it won’t work.”

“They’re really dumb. It would have been better to go with that ‘induced voting’ plan. They are just a bunch of clueless pigs, wasting opportunities!” The girl with the ponytail was deeply disappointed and wished she could criticize them for thousands of words.

However, she didn’t realize that, within the time it took to read a letter, the atmosphere on the subway train had returned to normal.

People chatted, read novels, pointed at their phone screens, and whispered to each other, no longer troubled by the difficult choices they were forced to face.

……

The television was still on, but Shen Lian was focused on observing Lin Chen.

She could see it in his serene gaze—the hand that held the water glass, the hand that wrote that letter. Because she was a lunatic, only she could truly comprehend the madness concealed within that seemingly ordinary letter—a madness that even made her shudder.

“You really betrayed your own teammates, Lin Chen. I really underestimated you. I’m sure those fools are now relieved after being deceived by you.”

Lin Chen took a sip of tea, shaking his head helplessly. “Yes.”

“So, you’re really going to play it like this?” She knocked on the table unusually, asking Lin Chen with surprise.

“Yes.”

“And you’re really capable of killing those four prisoners?”

“Of course, the prison is equipped with a lethal injection drug.”

“Why, why can you come up with such a simple and interesting thing? It’s too interesting.”

Shen Lian sighed, the chains on her wrist jingling with her movement.

But what surprised her even more was that Lin Chen actually answered her question seriously.

“Because I’ve considered too many solutions. Whether it’s public opinion control or induced voting, there are many ways to unite people. The power of the state authorities is stronger than I imagined.”

“Then why don’t you use those methods to pass this off easily?”

“Because no matter how I think about it, it feels wrong.” Lin Chen gently stroked the edge of the cup. “The choice should not arise from inducement; it should come from the heart to be sincere. Since our fundamental difference lies in our differing views on human nature, I shouldn’t lose my courage.”

“Seeking courage from a low-probability event, you’re so naive and cute.”

“You mentioned probability, and that’s right.” Lin Chen spoke slowly but sincerely. “After all, psychology is a science, and in a way, the game he designed is a psychological test. Since it’s a test design, I’m more professional in this aspect than him.”

Although Lin Chen said “more professional”, Shen Lian understood very well that he meant a lot more professional.

She sarcastically smirked and patiently listened as Lin Chen continued, “The problem with his test design lies in the insolubility of the results. It’s unsolvable for us, but isn’t it the same for him? Therefore, I changed the test structure to better detect the psychological traits of the group targeted by this test and eliminated the significant interference from the government’s influence. I thought I did a decent job, don’t you think?”

Looking at Lin Chen’s confident and frank expression, Shen Lian smiled. “Indeed, not bad.”

Upon receiving praise, Lin Chen’s face, which had been slightly lowered, suddenly lifted, and his eyes were clear, as if he could see through people’s hearts.

“So, do you think he will agree with my changes?”

In that moment, Shen Lian felt as if she was being pierced by that gaze, and she finally realized that Lin Chen had been looking at her all along, but he wasn’t really looking at her.

She was just a pawn, a chessboard, a springboard, a link… She was the medium through which Lin Chen and that person engaged in their remote confrontation.

He was looking at him through her; as long as she was here, Lin Chen would never leave this small room.

Realizing that she had the privilege of witnessing such a great battle, Shen Lian trembled with excitement.

“Why wouldn’t he? Thank you for coming up with such a despicable game. This is exactly what he wanted!”

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Evil As Humans Ch237

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Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 237: Humanity

Zhong Chengshuo was still in Yin Ren’s palm. Apart from the mutated eyeballs and the abnormal black circle on top of his head, his appearance hadn’t changed at all.

Yin Ren was slightly surprised. He had never seen Zhong Chengshuo truly utilize his essence before. At most, he indirectly used the power of his essence to scare a few murderers or ignite the Karma Lantern. At this moment, the essence remaining within Zhong Chengshuo’s body was highly active. Just this small portion that hadn’t merged completely made the red light of Fear completely obedient.

…It was understandable. Zhong Chengshuo had always been rational and restrained. Unfortunately, the instinct deep within living beings could only be brought out in a state of madness and chaos.

Zhong Chengshuo was dressed in a white linen shirt, with loose cuffs. His glasses were still perched on his nose, and the three black pieces on his head gave off an almost inorganic, non-human feeling.

Unfortunately, his ears were bright red, disrupting the solemn atmosphere. Under the illumination of the Karma Lamp, this person’s earlobes were almost glowing on their own. However, Zhong Chengshuo stubbornly continued to compose himself, looking straight ahead, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Yin Ren stifled a chuckle.

Without the bone-deep pain, his body felt as comfortable as lying on a cloud, giving him a rare opportunity for contemplation. Since madness could lead Zhong Chengshuo to find a path, perhaps rationality could also guide him in the right direction.

Yin Ren folded his arms, and countless wings quietly sprouted eyeballs, gazing around…

The people who were originally moving in their respective spaces turned their bodies and began walking in unison toward Yin Ren’s location. Countless gazes pierced through Yin Ren like sharp arrows. Their faces contorted with expressions between gentleness and pain; especially Zhong Chengshuo’s—the most abundant images in the illusions—their speed of convergence was astonishing.

Yin Ren closed his eyes and focused on tracing the flow of power around him. The wind, the scent, the direction where the Karma Lantern’s red light was most concentrated…

There was a problem with the flow of power. As expected, Love was preparing to leave this place. It hadn’t fully emerged yet and lacked sufficient strength. Naturally, it didn’t want to confront the two gods head-on. Love clearly knew the way out, but for some reason, its birth was being obstructed, and its progress was slow.

Now Love was in a dilemma, at the point of a desperate struggle. If it were Yin Ren, he would definitely launch an explosive attack once and for all, disregarding everything, to be born!

They must crush Love here, or there would be endless trouble in the future.

Yin Ren took a deep breath, pushing away the interference of pain, and a vague conjecture emerged in his mind.

“Zhong Chengshuo, use the lamp to protect yourself. You’ve consumed a lot, and now you need to regain your strength.”

This time, Zhong Chengshuo lifted his head. “Once I stop, the contamination of Love will return.”

“I know.” Yin Ren looked at the crowd closing in from all directions, answering firmly.

“Do you have confidence?” Zhong Chengshuo asked as the gray crowd continued to gather, becoming denser.

“No,” Yin Ren said. “I only have a rough idea that needs verification.”

Zhong Chengshuo fell silent. Below, numerous “selves” had already reached out their hands and forcefully tore at the cluster of wings. Wherever the illusions made contact, the corruption of Love spread once again.

“…I believe in you,” Zhong Chengshuo said. He then closed his eyes and said no more.

“I do too.” Yin Ren raised the small figure of his lover, tilting his head forward and gently touching Zhong Chengshuo.

Unlike before, Zhong Chengshuo didn’t touch his forehead. Through the red veil, Zhong Chengshuo slightly raised his head and gently kissed the enormous monster.

“I do too,” Yin Ren replied once again, even though the other party hadn’t said anything.

Immediately, Yin Ren gently lifted his palm upward. A clean set of wings separated from the mass of wings and caught Zhong Chengshuo like a mattress, floating towards safety.

Following Yin Ren’s instructions, Zhong Chengshuo concentrated on the red light around himself, like a tiny flame beside an enormous creature. The dissipation of Zhong Chengshuo’s power stopped there, and he let out a long breath, nervously looking down.

With no red light suppressing them, the eyeballs on every white heart opened wide in an instant.

The phantom versions of people no longer approached like zombies but charged at Yin Ren from all directions. They reached out their arms, their fingers clawing randomly, as if trying to tear Yin Ren apart alive. Shouts and wails filled the air, making a buzzing sound in people’s heads. Every time the illusions tore and scratched, they left behind a trail of white corruption.

Like an anthill when a flood came, these illusions wrapped layer upon layer, with the newcomers trampling over the previous ones, all in order to tear off another piece of flesh. Yin Ren’s body was large, now resembling a statue drowned in dust, with the vibrant red gradually being covered by a pale gray.

Zhong Chengshuo watched everything calmly.

The lingering effects of Love’s corruption still raged within him, and he tightly held onto his own arm, waiting in place.

He believed that Yin Ren would never joke about his feelings. Zhong Chengshuo forced himself to watch, with the Karma Lantern in his hand ready at any moment. As long as Yin Ren gave any signal for help, he would immediately dispel that darkness.

But Yin Ren himself remained as quiet as a statue, allowing the overwhelming crowd to pounce on him.

……

Yin Ren scrutinized the people rushing towards him.

The villagers of Yin Village were at the forefront—their distinct features were clearly visible, and they were all familiar faces he had glimpsed from afar.

And they were all faces that died in the flames that night. Their hair became disheveled, their bodies covered in dark stains of blood, and their white hearts pounded as if on the verge of bursting.

Why? Why?

Tears of blood flowed from their eyes, and their mouths grew wide, spewing similar syllables from the black void within.

“Great Master, you promised to protect my family…”

“Great Master, you could have saved my parents…”

“Great Master, we’ve been waiting for you. Why didn’t you come?”

People vomited the anguish of “betrayal”, smashing countless expectations rooted in reason and logic. They climbed and tore, layer upon layer, gradually enveloping everything in darkness.

The corruption from Love spread wildly on Yin Ren, and the previously pitch-black cluster of wings turned almost entirely white, growing malformed hearts. With the arms that reached out, corruption crawled up Yin Ren’s cheeks.

Within the dominance of Love, it erased the darkness and dimmed the red, turning everything into a marble-like whiteness.

Love clashed within Yin Ren’s heart. Each impact brought self-blame, pain, despair, and regret. Familial affection, friendship, love… The diverse forms of love transformed into a sea of suffering, squeezing both his physical and mental being. Yin Ren’s body seemed as if it would collapse in the corruption from Love at any moment.

In the gaps of the white hearts, Yin Ren continued to observe.

The people were close enough, and he could see them clearly. The patchwork clothes worn by the elderly in Yin Village, he had helped mend them. The dark-colored clothes of the children, stained with blood, he knew every knife mark and crease… Every detail was exactly as he remembered. Looking up, there were no blurry faces or illusions masquerading as the real ones. There were no baseless expressions of love and hatred.

Love hadn’t lied; these illusions were born from his own heart.

…This is truly, wonderful.

Through the gray veil, Yin Ren lowered his head.

“Why?” In front of him, at the closest distance, several Zhong Chengshuos were accusing him in unison. “I don’t want to see you hurt. I’m willing to die for you.”

“You know all of this, yet you still risk yourself…”

“The person I love wouldn’t blame me for something like this.” The corruption spread to Yin Ren’s head, and his words became slow.

“Zhong Chengshuo surely understands that I wouldn’t make him suffer for no reason. Unless he becomes a madman driven solely by love…”

The cluster of wings, covered in hearts, struggled to move and touched the “Zhong Chengshuo” who was murmuring softly.

A faint light ignited in the darkness, a spark amidst endless pain.

“…He will figure it out. I just need to experience controlled pain like he does, to coax out some hidden instincts.”

The trembling cluster of wings pressed against the phantom’s face.

The eyes and hair remained black, and the white oversized linen shirt remained unchanged. But like a drop of paint falling into clear water, the phantom’s skin acquired a warm tone, and its lips revealed a faint blood color.

The phantom ceased its accusations, gradually closing its mouth, and a touch of red appeared at its ears.

“I can’t represent any emotions, nor create a space like the Primordial Elementals.” Countless clusters of wings fluttered, and Yin Ren’s voice contained a hint of laughter. “Love, you’re right. Humans will always be humans, with limitations…”

Half of Yin Ren’s face was now covered by the deformed hearts, as if parasitized by a sea squirt.

“…Haha.” But he laughed as if he had told a funny joke.

Crack.

A crack appeared on the hearts on Yin Ren’s cheek.

The countless illusions that enveloped Yin Ren froze completely. The shouts and curses of the people ceased as if muted, and they continued to stare at Yin Ren, their faces carrying a sudden realization as if waking from a dream.

“My loved ones…”

Centuries ago, facing the enemy’s cavalry, the men of Yin Village picked up their farming tools, and the women sharpened their knives. They bravely charged forward to protect their loved ones with their own blood.

But they didn’t foolishly pray until the end.

They also left him an apple.

“My friends…”

Huang Jin attached a face that didn’t belong to him, stepping into danger for the sake of the person he loved. Ge Tingting protected the child who saved her life until the end. Fu Xingchuan repeatedly charged to the frontlines, while Hu Tao put away all her madness and showed him a final smile.

“Mom and Dad won’t blame me, right?” The question she left him held no trace of blame or complaint.

She let go of all attachments.

“My love…”

The grotesque rabbit climbed up the mountain cliff, the handsome youth on a bicycle stopped in the rainy night, and the resurrected “Fear” gave him a gentle kiss. From human to evil, to evil to human, to finally standing side by side as gods.

“Regardless of the future, I hope we’ll always be the best accomplices.”

Zhong Chengshuo blew out the candles at his birthday party, making a solemn wish.

“…Every person I remember in my heart is not a fool who can be swayed by Love.”

Yin Ren’s thoughts spread throughout the entire space, filled with a strong killing intent.

As soon as his words fell, countless colors exploded throughout the entire space.

With Yin Ren at the center, the black-and-white world transformed into a vibrant explosion of colors. The fruits on the offering plate at the entrance of Yin Village became vivid, Shian’s fountain reflected a beautiful blue, and Zhong Chengshuo’s home was bathed in warm sunlight, becoming incredibly cozy.

People stumbled back to their rightful places, their expressions gradually coming alive, and the twisted madness vanished without a trace. In this colorful world, the white hearts on their chests beat slower and slower, and their vertical eyes weakly closed.

‘Success,’ Yin Ren thought.

In life, actions were intertwined with complex causes and effects. The so-called “love” couldn’t dominate the entirety of a person’s heart, nor should it ever.

Though he didn’t represent any emotions, nor could he create a metaphysical space, his advantage never changed; compared to those Great Primordial Elementals, he would always understand humans better…

…”True humanity”, this was the corruption belonging to “Yin Ren”.

From this point on, the final puzzle piece of his abilities fell into place. He was no longer the so-called “cub”.

“Zhong Chengshuo!” Yin Ren shouted loudly.

Not far from him, that small red spot instantly expanded. Within nearly infinite space, the same twilight arrived. The pure white corruption on Yin Ren once again peeled away, becoming food for the clusters of wings.

[Even if you can suppress, you cannot decipher…]

The voice of Love weakened considerably, but it still carried an exasperating calmness.

[…Huh?]

Just as it was leisurely refuting, those illusions moved.

“What the hell is this place!” “Let us go back—” “What the hell is happening!” The villagers of Yin Village chattered noisily.

“So many of me; they should all be illusions.” The various Zhong Chengshuos looked at each other. “A trick from Yin Ren’s enemy?”

After a brief moment of chaos, they gradually made the same decision.

People picked up the weapons at hand and began to destroy everything that didn’t conform to normalcy. The entire colorful space burst into countless fragments, collapsing rapidly. The colorful “snowflakes” scattered and grew larger as they descended. The red veil swept over, and a storm surged within the entire space.

“Watch closely. This is the version of them that I know.”

Yin Ren spoke in a deep voice. He floated in the air with a murderous aura. The hearts in the people’s chests were lifted by the strong winds, swirled around Yin Ren, and then disappeared into the sea of dark wings.

His four arms spread out completely, and the pitch-black feathers surged and condensed, forming the deadly sickles once again.

“Zhong Ge, the situation is almost over. Help me find the weak points.”

The blades emitted a dim red light, much thicker than before. They scattered in all directions, exuding a dense and ominous aura.

“…Let’s completely destroy this goddamn place.”

The red light flickered madly, tearing the heavens and earth into fragments along with the illusions. Under the gradually crumbling colors, the pale essence of Love once again revealed itself. The pitch-black wings entangled with each other as the red veil spun wildly around, enveloping countless curses filled with killing intent.

“Tsk!!!”

In an instant, the pitch-black blade pierced through that massive heart.

……

In the human world, The New Pedestrian Street in Donghe District.

Sun Qi’an’s body shook, and she vomited a mouthful of blood. She raised her bloodied hand with a face filled with disbelief.

Across from her, Huang Jin lost consciousness and was lying on Fu Xingchuan’s bone roc. Fu Xingchuan was covered in blood with a deep wound visible on his face, and he seemed on the verge of passing out from blood loss.

“At a time like this…” She delicately furrowed her brows.

“But… it’s not over yet…”

The author has something to say:

But it’s almost over! Miss Love.

Xiao Yin and Xiao Zhong have finally reached their max level (…

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Full Server First Kill Ch20

Kinky3 Comments

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 20: Talented Actor

Magic candles burned on the candlestick. Instead of flames on their wicks, there were floating white orbs of light.

Knight Eugene sat at his desk with a golden bird perched on his shoulder. Eugene scratched the bird’s feathers with a faint smile on his face.

“Captain… Sir Eugene, are you listening?”

“Of course,” Eugene replied.

The knight reporting sighed. “Upon investigation, the son of Chef Gbagbo Kurt, apprentice Daniel Kurt, disappeared twenty-three days ago. His last sighting was delivering food to the City Lord of Whitebird City.”

“The meal was a blueberry cheesecake tart from the Egret Restaurant, reserved in the name of Margaret Swain. Miss Swain specifically requested thick cheese and honey instead of sugar. According to the restaurant, only Lord Swain eats like this.”

“What did Swain say?”

“He claimed he never received the meal and never saw anyone from the Egret Restaurant,” the knight responded. “He seemed distressed and kept asking if we had new leads.”

“Guilty or not, he’d act like that.” Eugene smiled. “Don’t be deceived.”

“Yes!”

They were lucky, Eugene thought. Just yesterday, Chef Kurt came to them—the grieving father arrived at the church requesting the highest requiem ceremony.

The top requiem ceremony cost sixty gold wheels. The church priest would place the deceased’s bones into a silver vase engraved with divine symbols and pray for them. Afterwards, a relative of the deceased would choose a gold wheel and engrave the exact time of death on it.

The gold wheel symbolized the sun. It was believed that by engraving the exact moment of passing on the sun, the soul would never fall into darkness.

For this, the priest would perform the “Bone Questioning” technique to get the exact time of death, down to the second. The technique was very intricate, making the high-level requiem so expensive.

When the results came out, there was an uproar.

The time of Young Kurt’s death had been revised. On the day he died, the last person he sought was the City Lord. This was intriguing.

“Have you brought up the reason for revisiting Young Kurt’s case to the City Lord?” Eugene asked.

“We informed the City Lord that there was an issue with the time of death, and it needed further investigation.”

“Good job. People make mistakes under pressure. Make sure to strengthen surveillance on the City Lord’s mansion. And don’t relax the investigation on the Mad Monk.”

Eugene dismissed the knight.

Looking back, the clues about Young Kurt’s case were too coincidental.

Without the Bone Questioning, they wouldn’t have revisited Young Kurt’s whereabouts. Only the top requiem ceremony used the technique. It was so expensive, few commoners would apply for it.

According to Kurt, he had mortgaged his property at a low price, and with the ten gold wheels given by the City Lord, he barely had enough money.

As for why he suddenly wanted to hold the requiem ceremony for his son, Kurt claimed his son appeared in his dreams, and given his recent streak of good luck, he wanted the best for his son.

While it wasn’t uncommon for parents and children to have mysterious connections, Eugene had his doubts…

The gold bird suddenly cried out and circled in the air, creating a ring of light. A letter appeared out of thin air.

Eugene swiftly opened the letter, quickly scanning its contents before placing it on the table.

Under the bright light, the black text stood out—

[Before Gbagbo Kurt came to the church, he had a brief conversation with Nol and Teest in the market area. Their behavior was normal. A stray child ran away from the scene but had no contact with the three.]

[Detailed report:]

[The identities of Nol and Teest are unclear, but they are not part of the “Saints”. They have been touring Whitebird City, spending lavishly and politely, without any suspicious behavior.]

[The two always travel together and are intimate. More than twenty young women tried to approach them but were rejected. According to hotel staff, they might be in a same-sex relationship.]

[Current speculation: Judging by their appearance and behavior, Teest might be the illegitimate child of Duke Alva and therefore doesn’t have a surname; Nol is his commoner lover, and they are on a journey.]

[These two don’t seem very suspicious. Suggesting to suspend the investigation.]

Eugene stood up, leisurely walking to the window. The gold bird returned to his shoulder. Through the night, he looked in the direction of the City Lord’s mansion.

“A noble illegitimate child and his lover? Hmm… It doesn’t feel like it.”

……

The City Lord’s mansion, main residence.

Nol never imagined that he would become a double-door refrigerator one day.

Before setting out, Teest thought it was also inappropriate to expose his height and build. He tore up a pile of bed sheets and wrapped Nol so tightly that one could ride a horse on his shoulders. Teest even lovingly modified Nol’s boots, so that when worn, Nol stood nearly two meters tall.

Finally, donning an extended, decayed black robe and wearing a goat-bone mask, Nol looked like a genuine monster… even though he already was one.

Nol had to admit that this appearance was indeed more intimidating—

Upon seeing him, Lord Swain instinctively took a half-step back.

“May everything be eternal,” Nol said in a raspy voice from a corner of the City Lord’s reception room. “You’re late, Swain.”

At this moment, the clock had just passed midnight. Teest, hidden by invisibility magic, vanished his presence and stood right behind the doubled-sized Nol.

“May everything be eternal. I was startled to find a note on the table… I thought…” Lord Swain, gazing at the blue flames in the mask’s eyeholes, spoke with an unstable tone.

It was a bone hand that Nol had sent to write the note. It was a convenient method, albeit with ugly handwriting. But did it matter? Would Lord Swain dare to complain?

“I’ve never heard of this form of contact before.” The City Lord exhaled slowly, regaining his composure quickly. “I need to verify your identity.”

“Sure, verify my identity,” Nol responded sarcastically. “Consider who is speaking—nine days ago, you assured us in the name of the Great Eternal Son that the plan was foolproof. And now? To date, no one has discovered the so-called death scene you mentioned, and you’re even posting notices all over the city.”

Nol’s tone was casual, but he was extremely cautious. With limited information, he needed to control the conversation’s direction— better to accuse than to be accused.

Then, Nol noticed Teest behind him, trembling slightly. That kid was probably holding back his laughter, which was quite annoying.

On the other side, Lord Swain didn’t suspect anything amiss. Sweat formed on his brow. “I’m sorry, My Lord. It’s just the protocol… No one informed me…”

“I didn’t come here to listen to your explanations,” Nol growled, recalling typical lines from game villains. “If you must ramble, I’d rather hear an explanation about another matter.”

Now, quickly explain about Margaret’s case and discuss that mysterious plan.

However, Lord Swain’s face turned pale in an instant. He drew a circle on his chest and slightly bent his back.

“Ever since the Investigation Knights arrived, I haven’t been in contact with any followers in the city, nor have I contacted the Demon Lord again.”

With a dry throat, the City Lord continued, “I don’t know where the leak is, but the Investigation Knight came to me today… I swear, I never meant to hide anything. I just didn’t expect you to come so quickly.”

After a moment of silence, Nol scoffed. “Where’s your reflection on this?”

Hurry up and explain in detail. He had no idea about this matter.

Teest seemed interested too, standing straight up and sneakily peeking over Nol’s shoulder. The two were so close that Nol could feel Teest’s warm breath.

Lord Swain gritted his teeth. “I shouldn’t have given that fatso those gold wheels! For some unknown reason, he insisted on holding the most expensive requiem ceremony for his son. Damn it, aren’t they in need of money?”

“They found out that the time of death didn’t match,” Nol whispered.

He wasn’t sure about the details of the requiem ceremony, but given the one problem with Young Kurt’s death, it wasn’t hard to guess.

“Yes, I somehow fooled them for now, but that Eugene will definitely become suspicious,” the City Lord replied.

With a bitter tone, Lord Swain continued, “Margaret’s remains are also missing, and they won’t leave anytime soon. My Lord, for the sake of our plan, I need…”

“You need our help,” Nol sneered. “How incompetent.”

At the same time, his mind raced, quickly deciding on the most suitable plan to discreetly hand the City Lord over to the Temple of Life.

The City Lord, who was about to be ensnared, held his breath, and the invisible Teest also leaned forward eagerly. It was hard to say whose anticipation was more palpable.

“Since you’ve caught the attention of Eugene Malloy, don’t contact the Eternal Church anymore. From now on, you can only wait for us to contact you,” Nol drawled, having already chosen his scheme.

“As for how to clear the suspicion, it’s simple. Before Margaret ‘disappeared’, she said she met a Mad Monk, so this case was done by the Mad Monk.”

It was just a matter of shifting the blame onto a colleague. After all, they were all from the dark side, so there shouldn’t be any conscience issues. If the Mad Monk became furious and exposed himself, it would be killing two birds with one stone.

Teest went into vibration mode, trying to suppress his laughter again. [Wow, you’re really cunning.] He sent his thoughts through with a tone full of admiration.

Lord Swain paused for a full half-minute. “You mean…”

“You’ve kept so many children’s remains. Just take one out and handle it properly, pretending it’s Margaret. The temple hasn’t caught the ‘Mad Monk’ for so long. One more time won’t make a difference. As long as you make it convincing, they won’t stay here for long.”

“……” Lord Swain frowned, seemingly considering the feasibility.

“I believe our Mad Monk wouldn’t mind.” Nol fanned the flames. “Even if there’s an issue, the church will back you up.”

Lord Swain pressed his lips together. “What if someone takes advantage of this to present the actual body? My Lord, I’m worried someone is deliberately opposing us.”

Congratulations, you’re right. There are many opposing you—Teest and I, Witch Lynn, the Investigation Knights, just to name a few.

“So, do you need me to chew your food and feed you too? One must face God’s trials on their own. Swain, you’re really not up to the task.” Nol took two steps towards the City Lord, his tone as cold as ice. “Of course, you can be hesitant and do nothing… Remember, the entire church is waiting with you.”

The muscles on the side of Swain’s face twitched, and his expression darkened.

Manipulating a cult member using modern workplace tactics shouldn’t be an issue, right? Nol felt a bit guilty, thinking he had turned into the kind of boss he loathed.

However, as long as he could incite Swain to act on his own, there would be plenty of evidence for the knights to seize—even if they didn’t, Nol had countless ways to make it apparent. As for the church’s plan, it was better left to the professionals.

With this, both he and Teest could just pull the strings from the shadows and remain uninvolved.

Nol clenched his fist under his sleeve. If he had a physical body, his palms would be sweaty.

“I…”

Just as Lord Swain began to speak, the bell in the meeting room suddenly rang. Lord Swain gave a slight bow to Nol, placing his left hand over his heart. About two seconds later, he put the inverted bell back in place.

“My Lord, we caught a little girl lurking around the mansion.” The copper tongue inside the bell seemed to have turned into an actual one, moving softly. “How would you like to handle it?”

After glancing at Nol in the corner, Lord Swain suddenly smiled. “Bring her here. I can make use of her.”

After saying this, he flipped the bell back. With his left hand still on his chest, his smile looked somewhat twisted.

“My Lord,” he whispered. “Why didn’t you respond with the church’s greeting?”

The author has something to say:

Theatrical awakening moment! Applause (…

Nol: Damn, why does this guy get work calls in the middle of the night?

Teest: I knew we couldn’t slack off until the end…

————————————

Official seal of the Temple, GET√.

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Full Server First Kill Ch19

Kinky5 Comments

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 19: Mask

The proposal by Teest to “recreate the same wound” was firmly rejected by Nol. Nol spent most of the evening applying heavy makeup to mimic Teest’s injuries. The next morning, he left the City Lord’s mansion with Teest on his back.

After that, Nol only had a street urchin pass a message to the witch, asking her to take care of Margret’s body. Witch Lynn’s response was brief—

[No problem,] she said.

This was the first step of the plan.

Next, they had to wait.

As they anticipated, Lord Swain became more subdued, and there was no disappearance in Whitebird City for the time being. As for killing time, Nol admitted he was no match for Teest. In one night, this guy found out the rankings of all the attractions and restaurants in the city and then dragged him around to visit them one by one.

Ironically, this was probably the first time since Nol came to this world that he had truly rested.

Seven or eight days passed, and they wandered every corner of Whitebird City during the day and shared desserts and fruits in the suite at night. Life was so leisurely that it seemed unreal, as if they were truly on a honeymoon—the two of them always came and went together, and the look in the eyes of the hotel receptionists was somewhat off.

However, their “honeymoon” didn’t include sharing a bed at night.

After dinner, they each returned to their rooms. Nol mainly spent this time thinking about improving the Dragon Corpse Notebook, and as for Teest… He didn’t know what Teest was up to, as the guy was as quiet as the dead.

Judging by the relaxed state in which that guy got up the next day, he probably hadn’t done anything masochistic.

Today, their destination was the most upscale hotel in Whitebird City, and there were many shops with local characteristics nearby.

The sky in the afternoon was incredibly clear. The two of them, carrying bags of different sizes, each took a crunchy peach and sat on a bench near the hotel. The bench was next to a robust oak tree, whose shade blocked the dazzling sunlight, casting dappled light on the ground.

However, not far away, city guards were posting portraits of Margret Swain. She was a pretty young girl with black hair and green eyes, had delicate features, and a round face with a youthful look unique to girls.

But she was no longer in this world. It was just a play by the City Lord, Nol thought. The crunchy peach was fresh and sweet, but he’d lost his appetite.

Maybe they should put some pressure on the City Lord and take action sooner.

No sooner had Nol thought this than there was a sudden weight beside him.

Perhaps the afternoon breeze was too warm, for Teest had fallen asleep at some point. His posture was a bit awkward, and it was clear that Teest wanted to lean against the back of the bench, but his body didn’t cooperate, pressing onto Nol’s shoulder.

Nol didn’t move away. He shifted slightly, allowing Teest to lean more comfortably. Teest smacked his lips but didn’t wake up, emitting the fresh scent of peaches.

These days, Teest seemed like a real “Tahe” Player, the kind Nol hoped for—he left his troubles in reality behind and adventured freely in the beautiful fantasy city.

Nol wished he could greet him openly.

Hey, are you having fun? I hope you like my world.

Everything should’ve been like this. Nol touched the tips of Teest’s hair, which felt cold and smooth, and the reality of it was startling.

…What kind of person are you in reality? Are you studying or working? Do you have family waiting for you?

…Why do you insist on acting alone? Are you like me, fearful of the vast unknown?

Sadly, these were questions that the NPC “Mage Nol” couldn’t touch. If this matter was resolved smoothly, Nol hoped they could have a good talk.

“Hey, it’s you guys! What are you doing here?”

A voice filled with delight rang out. Chef Kurt, in a new uniform, was jogging over.

Teest woke up, shaking his head, and looked somewhat surprised at “Pillow” Nol.

“I’ve been looking for you two recently. Thank the Goddess, the Alva Merchant Group hired me!” Kurt beamed. “It’s all thanks to the two of you. I can’t express how grateful I am.”

“You’re welcome,” Teest replied, taking a bite of his crunchy peach.

“It’s so good to see you both. Lately, I’ve been meeting good people. Perhaps it’s my son watching over me from above.” Mr. Kurt wiped a tear from his eye, speaking softly. “Lord Swain is also a good person… He heard about my son and personally apologized to me. He even gave our family ten gold wheels as a parting gift.”

“I hope you can find Miss Swain. There will surely be a handsome reward!” he concluded.

Indeed, it surely would be handsome. However, compared to a “reward”, Nol thought it would be more like “hush money”, similar to the gold wheels the City Lord gifted Mr. Kurt.

As he was muttering to himself, Teest suddenly poked his back and glanced towards the flowerbed not far away—where the shrubs were densely packed and trimmed into regular spheres. Nol held his breath and felt the unmistakable presence of the breath of the living.

Someone was eavesdropping.

“This is all thanks to Teest,” Nol immediately said. “You two chat. I’ll go buy something to drink.”

He walked to a beverage stall near the bushes and bought three glasses of iced fruit juice. As the vendor was juicing, Nol suddenly walked straight into the bushes.

A small figure jumped like a cat and ran away. Nol recognized that silhouette—Hannah, the leader of the street urchins.

Why was she following them?

What they were doing might not be safe. They might be targeted by the Eternal Church. Not to mention that the Mad Monk might still be in the city. Even if the witch had suspicions about them, she wouldn’t let a child take such a risk.

With many questions in mind, Nol returned. Mr. Kurt and Teest had pretty much finished chatting—considering they didn’t have much to talk about—when Nol handed Mr. Kurt a glass of juice, and the three clinked their glasses together.

“In a short while, I’ll be leaving with the Alva Merchant Group,” Kurt said. “I hope we meet again! If you ever come to Grape Collar, do visit me.”

After the pleasantries, Mr. Kurt didn’t immediately head to the inn. He straightened his collar and walked back the way he came.

[He said he’s been very lucky recently and wants to go to the church to pray for his son,] Teest said, sipping his juice.

[We should also get moving soon,] Nol replied, also sipping through his straw.

Regardless of why Hannah was following them, he couldn’t just lock her up. Rather than wait and worry, it was better to act swiftly.

……

That night.

In a dark and spacious living room, two handsome youths were illuminated by the dim glow of a magic circle, along with a skeleton goat standing in the center. The scene looked quite eerie.

…Provided if one ignored what they were actually doing.

Teest held a black cloak in one hand and a small hunting knife in the other, ripping the edges of the cloak. Nol, on the other hand, was bargaining with the skeleton goat using a fresh cabbage.

“This is top-quality cabbage from a premium hotel,” Nol emphasized. “The leaves still have dew on them. There’s not a single dry spot!”

“Baa—”

“I know, asking for your skull is a bit much. But trust me, I’ll only take half, and it’ll grow back,” Nol tried to convince. “How about two cabbages?”

“Baa baa baa! Baa baa baa!”

“Four, and I’ll give you an extra one. Eat it on the spot? Of course.”

After munching on the four cabbages, the skeleton goat finally yielded. Nol held its coiled horns and separated the upper part of the skull.

The skeleton goat swayed its remaining part of its head and silently sank into the ground.

Nol quickly turned the skull into a mask using a prepared leather cord. Then, he took out fresh pig’s blood obtained from the kitchen and smeared it all over the skull, ensuring every bone crevice was soaked.

Around three in the morning, they finally finished their tasks.

Nol stripped off his clothes and put on the specially modified black cloak Teest made. He pulled up the hood and put on the goat skull mask.

His physical form was dispelled.

Blue flames suddenly lit up in the dark eye sockets of the skull.

“Wow,” Teest sincerely exclaimed.

“I’ll sew some phalanges on the robe later.” Nol finished putting on his skeleton gloves, then turned around. “How does it look, Sir Knight? Any other suggestions?”

“It’s perfect.” Teest touched his chin. “It’s just a bit plain. You need something to awe the City Lord… Ah, wait a moment.”

Teest hurried back to his room and returned with an ancient ruby necklace. It was their treasure obtained from the Lich’s dungeon, belonging to the “Nameless King”.

The old black robe, golden antiques, blood-like ruby, grayish goat horns, and goat bone mask—looking at himself in the mirror, Nol looked like a powerful elite monster. Even as the creator, he couldn’t spot any flaws.

Teest circled around, admiring and making sounds of appreciation.

In his eyes, the withered figure under the black robe quickly became plump. Soft black hair and pale skin appeared next to the goat bone mask. Instead of will-o’-wisps, the eye holes of the skull now had pupils glowing with a faint blue light.

Nol removed the mask, laughing genuinely from the heart. At this moment, he genuinely felt the joy of a “game”.

“That’ll do,” he said with a smile. “The mask smells strongly of cabbage on the inside. I’ll have to soak it in blood… Teest?”

Teest stood in front of Nol. His golden eyes were full of focus, just like the first day they met. This bewitching gaze was brief but intense, like a whip’s crack. It was so sudden that even after Teest hid it, Nol still felt chills for a second.

Then, Teest raised his right hand, slowly reaching out to Nol, moving as gently as if trying to catch a butterfly.

Nol could almost feel the warmth of Teest’s fingertips.

However, just a second before touching Nol’s cheek, Teest diverted his arm to grab the goat bone mask.

“I’ll take care of the cabbage smell,” Teest said, sounding as casual as ever.

The whole series of movements from Teest was so natural that Nol couldn’t help but question himself for a moment—was he overthinking it, or had he experienced an illusion?

Nol was certain that he had never known someone like Teest before. Based on their interactions over these days, it seemed like Teest didn’t know him either. Teest’s reaction just now felt more like he was looking through Nol, focusing on someone else not present.

…Whatever, better not to think about it. After all, it’s his personal matter.

Nol took off his hood, rubbed his face, and decided to add finger bone decorations to his robe.

The next day at midnight, the two sneaked into the City Lord’s mansion again. Behind the secret passage’s wall, Nol donned his hood. The finger bones at the collar clashed together, making a clicking sound—

The show was about to begin.

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Bu Tian Gang Ch154

Kinky1 Comment

Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 154

Dong Zhi was on a road that seemed to have no end.

Both sides were covered with a gray mist, lightly floating yet heavily pressing on his heart, making it hard to breathe.

No matter how fast or slow his steps were, the mist always followed him. At first, he thought it was demonic, but later realized it wasn’t. If he had to describe it, it was like an aura skirting the edges of demonic qi. Not quite demonic, yet filled with numbness and melancholy, much like human negative emotions. Less harmful than demonic qi, but it would subtly invade and permeate, gradually changing a person, making him lose his will to fight, becoming lost, and eventually succumbing here.

This reminded him of the time when he and He Yu went to Yangcheng to save Cheng Hui. They encountered the same gray mist and almost couldn’t get out—if it weren’t for Long Shen’s rescue.

Thinking of Long Shen, his breath caught slightly.

Once, he was just an ordinary person who feared demons and death, but now, trapped in an endless abyss, he felt no fear, for there were things more important than fear to attend to.

Even though his logic told him that Long Shen, corrupted by the demonic qi and sacrificing himself to seal it, might be in great danger, there was still a glimmer of hope in his heart. He hoped that things didn’t turn out for the worst and that Long Shen remained strong, able to suppress the demonic qi, waiting for his arrival.

In the gray mist, a faint light appeared in the distance.

His heart stirred, and he quickened his pace. Any sign of activity in such a place couldn’t be good, but movement meant there was a possibility of a breakthrough. But as he approached the light, he found it was not just one, but a string of lanterns held by people. Some wore shackles and were slowly marching.

The outfits of the officers and prisoners seemed odd, clearly from the early Republic of China era. Everyone looked numb, with lifeless eyes. They all looked at him when he “intruded”. Their dead eyes sent a chill down his spine.

Wasn’t this the same group he encountered when he mistakenly entered the enchantment of the Archfiend Xu Wan in Yangcheng?

Before the thought settled, the lantern bearer had already raised a whip to strike at him. However, he wasn’t the defenseless man from Yangcheng anymore. Without a second thought, his Changshou Sword emerged from its sheath, and with it, he lunged at the attacker. In a moment of shock and fear, his sword light shone down, reducing the group to nothingness, disappearing in a cry.

As the shadows were obliterated, the white light of the sword didn’t fade but intensified. The brightness hurt his eyes, making him involuntarily close them. When he opened them a second later, he found the white light came from a phone held by someone.

Seeing him shielding his eyes, the person hurriedly turned off the light and apologized. “Sorry, I accidentally turned on the flashlight. I’ll turn it off!”

Perhaps his startled stare made the person feel awkward, prompting another apology and a query. “Are you alright?”

He reached back reflexively and found nothing. No Changshou Sword; just the hard back of a seat.

On a late-night train, the outside world whizzed past. The familiar hum of the train and the subtle vibrations beneath him weren’t unfamiliar, but he shouldn’t be here.

“Had a nightmare?” the young man asked. “Want to join us for a card game?”

Dong Zhi pinched himself and felt pain. A deck of cards was spread out on the table, including in front of him. The boy across from him, shuffling the cards, looked a little embarrassed and tried to move the cards away, but he stopped him, causing a bit of a fright.

“…You guys keep playing; I need to go to the restroom,” Dong Zhi said. He then grabbed his backpack and walked out.

He casually found an empty seat and sat down, opened his backpack, and found his wallet, ID holder, clothes, and power bank.

The only thing missing was the rune.

A passenger walked past him towards the restroom at the end of the aisle.

Dong Zhi suddenly jumped up from his seat and grabbed the man.

The man turned his head and looked at him with a puzzled expression. The familiar face made Dong Zhi blurt out, “He Yu?!”

He Yu chuckled. “You know me?”

Dong Zhi stared at him for a moment. Before He Yu could think he was mentally ill, Dong Zhi finally said, “Hello, my name is Dong Zhi.”

He Yu replied, “…Why should I care about your name? Dude, are you okay? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Do you need a stewardess?”

Dong Zhi lowered his voice. “Are you guys heading to Changchun on this trip? There’s a demon on this train. Be careful!”

He Yu, tall and sturdy, could easily deal with Dong Zhi, but surprisingly couldn’t break free. He looked at Dong Zhi with a skeptical eye, and his expression became sour. “I’ll call the police if you continue like this!”

The two locked eyes for a moment, then Dong Zhi let him go and slowly said, “Sorry, I just woke up and mistook you for my friend.”

“Whatever!” He Yu waved his hand generously and walked away without looking back.

Dong Zhi watched his retreating figure in a daze.

He began to wonder if he had fallen into an illusion where past events would repeatedly play out, trying to break down his defenses. But he also had an even scarier thought—

Encountering monsters on the train, seeing a bone dragon on Changbai Mountain, the hard work to join the Special Administration Bureau, meeting a group of likeminded individuals, being taught by Long Shen, and fighting demons. Could all of this just be a long dream he had on the train?

After waking up from the dream, the world was still the same ordinary world, without any fantastic tales. He Yu didn’t know magic, and Long Shen wasn’t the Long Yaun sword.

He unconsciously drew a symbol on the table.

The core of the sunlight talisman.

If all this was truly an illusion, could even the runes be figments of his imagination?

Dong Zhi slowly clenched his hand, suddenly stood up, and walked in the direction where He Yu had left.

After walking through a few carriages, he finally found He Yu.

With him were several others, one of whose faces made Dong Zhi’s heart skip a beat.

Perhaps it was the strange way Dong Zhi was standing, but the group quickly looked up.

He Yu: “You again?”

Under Long Shen’s gaze, Dong Zhi forced a smile. “Sorry, you look so much like a friend of mine. I… I miss him a lot, so I got a bit emotional.”

He had intended to act pitiful in any way to stay and slowly figure out the situation, but the moment he spoke, without any need to feign emotion, tears started flowing.

He Yu was taken aback and, seeing Dong Zhi’s innocent face and heartbroken expression, couldn’t bring himself to accuse him of lying, quickly saying, “Please don’t cry. Let’s talk calmly!”

“Let’s sit down and talk,” Long Shen finally said.

The voice was as familiar as when they first met on the train, making Dong Zhi’s tears flow even more.

He Yu clumsily handed him a tissue.

As Dong Zhi thanked him, he noticed Long Shen was also looking at him, with a calm expression that wasn’t hostile but indifferent. Feeling a shiver, Dong Zhi quickly looked away.

“You look a lot like an old friend of mine. We played together since we were kids, but he died. I miss him so much that seeing you reminds me of him. I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but get emotional,” Dong Zhi quickly crafted an excuse.

He Yu skeptically asked, “Then how did you know my name?”

Dong Zhi pretended to be shocked. “My friend’s name was He Yu too! Is that your name as well?”

He Yu scratched his head. “This is so weird!”

Dong Zhi quickly apologized. “I didn’t mean to bring bad luck. It’s just a huge coincidence!”

“There are many coincidences in the world,” Long Shen said, “but meeting is destiny.”

Feeling embarrassed, Dong Zhi replied, “Thank you. My name is Dong Zhi. I just quit my job and am heading to Changchun for a trip. What about you?”

“Quit your job?” He Yu exclaimed in his typical surprised manner. “You look like a student!”

Long Shen replied, “We’re colleagues from the same company. We’re on vacation and heading to Changbai Mountain.”

Dong Zhi pointed at Kan Chaosheng, who was snacking and playing games, and laughed. “Is he your colleague too?”

A hint of a smile appeared on Long Shen’s face. “He’s my nephew.”

He gently patted Kan Chaosheng’s shoulder. “Say hello.”

While continuing his game, Kan Chaosheng gave a tiny nod. “Hello, brother!”

Dong Zhi glanced at Long Shen and coughed lightly. “You can call me uncle. What game are you playing?”

“The Great Wasteland!” Kan Chaosheng replied without looking up.

At that moment, Long Shen suddenly said, “I’m going to take a walk. Chaosheng, don’t run around. He Yu, can you watch him for me?”

He Yu, who was about to play a game, nodded upon hearing this. Seeing Long Shen stand up, he quickly went over to sit next to Kan Chaosheng.

Dong Zhi was pondering whether to stay or find an excuse to join Long Shen when Long Shen asked, “Coming with me?”

Dong Zhi quickly looked up, seeing Long Shen looking at him. Without much thought, Dong Zhi immediately agreed and followed behind Long Shen.

The two walked through a carriage. Long Shen passed the restroom without stopping. Dong Zhi wasn’t sure where he was headed and didn’t feel right asking. He just followed until they reached a deserted corridor with lights casting mottled shadows, making it secluded.

Suddenly, Long Shen grabbed Dong Zhi’s wrist, and before Dong Zhi could react, he was pinned against the carriage wall.

“You’re here for me, aren’t you?” The two were so close that their breaths mingled, and their noses nearly touched.

Dong Zhi gazed at the approaching Long Shen, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. He felt that the current Long Shen was very different from when they first met.

Back then, Long Shen seemed like a frosty, untouchable alpine flower. How could he now be showing such a mischievous smile?

“What if I say ‘yes’?”

“Then you’ll get what you want.”

Long Shen replied, making a dominant move. Dong Zhi exclaimed in surprise and quickly grabbed Long Shen’s shoulders to stop him.

“What are you doing?”

“You asked for it. Why act so innocent now?”

Long Shen chuckled and moved to kiss Dong Zhi, quickly entwining their tongues and leaving Dong Zhi speechless. Tears formed in Dong Zhi’s eyes as the intense encounter overwhelmed him. Still, a sliver of sanity allowed him to push Long Shen slightly away.

“Stop…”

“You’re all weak, but still talking tough?” Long Shen teased. Dong Zhi took deep breaths, seemingly struggling to differentiate dreams from reality.

“Who are you, really?”

Long Shen raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you still don’t know my name? Let me introduce myself. I’m Long Shen. The He Yu you met earlier? He’s my younger brother.”

“What do you mean, ‘younger brother’?” Dong Zhi opened his eyes wide. Isn’t he your subordinate?

Long Shen sneered. “He used to mix with me in my past ventures. Now, he’s assisting me in some small business. Is that clear? Why are you prying into my life? If it weren’t for your enticing appearance, I wouldn’t bother with you at all!”

With that, he made another intimate gesture. Dong Zhi grunted, grabbing Long Shen’s wrist and pulling in the opposite direction.

“You’ve got some skills,” Long Shen remarked, impressed. After a few exchanges of moves, Dong Zhi made a move that forced Long Shen to retreat a few steps. “Where did you learn that?”

Dong Zhi, staring at Long Shen’s playful smile, suddenly felt a surge of anger.

“You’re not Long Shen.”

Everything about him, from his face to his demeanor, was exactly like Long Shen’s, except his personality.

Confused, Long Shen chuckled. “If I’m not Long Shen, then who am I? My ID clearly states my name. Or have you mistaken me for someone else? An old lover, perhaps?”

Wrong.

It’s all wrong.

Dong Zhi’s mind was in turmoil.

Logically, he believed this to be an illusion created by demonic influences playing on one’s innermost desires. Yet another voice told him this was the real world. That there were no monsters or demons, that Long Shen’s identity and the current scene were simply reality.

“Long Shen…” Dong Zhi’s voice quivered, startling Long Shen. “Tell me, Kan Chaosheng isn’t really your nephew, is he? He’s actually a jiao that has cultivated for 500 years and just transformed into a human, right?”

Long Shen looked at him as if he were crazy. “So it wasn’t that you mistaken me for your lover. You just escaped from a mental hospital!”

“Such bad luck!” Long Shen dusted off the ash on his clothes. After all that commotion, his mood had deflated like a sponge. He had no interest in indulging the other’s madness any longer and turned to leave.

The other party didn’t chase after him. But after a few steps, Long Shen inexplicably stopped and looked back.

Dong Zhi stood there in a daze; his eyes reddened. Although there were no tears, he radiated a sense of despair.

“Hey, are you okay?” Long Shen couldn’t help but ask.

Dong Zhi didn’t respond.

Cursing under his breath, Long Shen left without looking back.

Returning to his seat, Long Shen found his mind still lingering on the previous scene, unable to focus.

He Yu, who was playing a game, took a moment to glance at him, puzzled. “Boss, are you alright?”

Hearing this, Long Shen became even more irritated and stood up to leave. He walked back to where he had been earlier, and surprisingly, Dong Zhi was still there, in the same posture.

Without saying another word, Long Shen grabbed Dong Zhi’s wrist and found a nearby seat.

“Wait for me here.”

He left after saying this. Before long, Long Shen placed a bottle of water and a box of food on the table.

“Eat.”

Tears welled up in Dong Zhi’s eyes, but he also wanted to laugh.

“Thank you.” He accepted the water and pushed the box of food back. “I’m not hungry. You eat.”

Long Shen frowned. “Laozi bought food for a stranger maybe once in 800 years, and you dare to reject my kindness?”

The moment he spoke, he was full of roguish charm. Dong Zhi had never heard Long Shen refer to himself as “laozi”. Besides feeling uncomfortable, he also found it amusingly absurd, as if the world had become unreal.

He forced himself not to care about these details, took a few sips of water, and his mood became much calmer.

“Take this!”

Long Shen threw him a business card. Dong Zhi picked it up and read it: Long’s Designs, Chairman.

The absurdity hit Dong Zhi again. Seeing Dong Zhi staring at the card, Long Shen couldn’t help asking, “You didn’t approach me with a fake excuse, did you?”

Dong Zhi shook his head. “Has someone done that before?”

Long Shen smirked. “Of course. Given my charm, many have. You’re the only one I’ve entertained!”

Dong Zhi: “Should I feel honored?”

Long Shen grinned mischievously. “No need. Just let me take the lead.”

Even though he said this, he did nothing aggressive. Instead, he bought Dong Zhi water and food. Dong Zhi suddenly said, “Would you believe that besides someone having the same name as He Yu, there’s also someone with the same name as you?”

Long Shen: “What’s so strange about that?”

Dong Zhi: “I met them on a train.”

The story began on a train to Changchun. The appearance of that Long Shen was like the brightest star in the night sky, revealing a vast universe to him. Maybe because the story was so bizarre but captivating, Long Shen listened intently, only interjecting when he heard about Dong Zhi’s imminent death curse and confession, “He didn’t accept you out of pity.”

Dong Zhi: “How do you know?”

Long Shen scoffed. “Male intuition! You’re too close to see it. Based on his character, he would never like someone out of pity.”

Dong Zhi laughed. “Yes, I realized that later.”

Long Shen then asked, “What happened next?”

Dong Zhi: “After that, we went to Southeast Asia and dealt with the person who cursed me. The real conspirator then emerged. He went to Japan, while I went to the U.S. for an international conference.”

Long Shen: “Your story is too drawn out. Readers will get bored.”

Dong Zhi chuckled. “But you’re still listening, right?”

Long Shen tried to light a cigarette but saw the no-smoking sign and put it away. “You found a patient listener. What then?”

Dong Zhi said, “Then, Otowa Yasuhiko, the person I mentioned to you earlier, in order to deal with him, Long Shen actively drew the demonic qi into himself. Taking the opportunity, he used the Four Symbols Star-Setting Lamp to completely annihilate him. However, just before Otowa Yasuhiko died, he had already set a trap. He had someone destroy the seal on Kunlun Mountain, break the formation’s focal point, and release the beast, the Phoenix, that was sealed beneath it, thereby fully opening the passage to the abyssal hell.”

His voice gradually deepened. “Upon hearing the news, everyone rushed over. We struggled for days and nights, with many making the ultimate sacrifice. Yet, the gap still couldn’t be sealed. In the end, he chose to absorb the demonic qi, jumped into the abyss, using his own power to mend the rift, allowing others to seal the passage. By the time I arrived there, I witnessed the very moment of his noble sacrifice. The story ends here.”

Long Shen snorted coldly, criticizing without courtesy. “How stupid! I detest these stories of self-sacrifice to save the world! If I were him, I would never do such a stupid thing. With his looks and abilities, wouldn’t it be better to live a carefree life with his lover? Why choose to face danger?”

Dong Zhi replied, “If he hadn’t acted, the demonic qi and demons from the abyss would have invaded our world. Then, no one would be safe.”

Long Shen scoffed. “That’s a problem for later. Maybe the crisis would have been resolved before that. You said there were many people present. Surely, someone else could have stepped up. Why did it have to be him? If it were me who had done so much for the agency and got nothing in return, who would stay? It’d be better if you changed the ending!”

Dong Zhi asked, “How would you change it?”

Long Shen, lounging back and raising an eyebrow, suggested, “End everything in Japan, let Otowa Yasuhiko die at the hands of your character, Long Shen. Let him earn great merit and be promoted upon his return. How about that?”

Dong Zhi shook his head. “Then it wouldn’t be him.”

“Boring!” Long Shen pouted. “Waste of a protagonist who shares my name. If you don’t take my advice, no one will read this story!”

He grabbed a business card from the table and handed it to Dong Zhi. “Bet you a dinner that if this story ever gets published, I’ll treat you!”

Dong Zhi: “And if it doesn’t?”

Long Shen: “Then, how about a date?”

Dong Zhi couldn’t help but laugh. Long Shen clicked his tongue. “A smile suits you better. Ever thought about it, fantasy writer?”

Dong Zhi replied, “I’m an artist.”

Taking out his drawing board and pencils, he told Long Shen to stay still. With just a few strokes, he sketched the scene of Long Shen gazing out of the window. Even in its rough form, the essence of Long Shen was captured.

“I’m giving this to you as a thank-you for listening to my story.” Dong Zhi offered the sketch.

Long Shen shook his head. “It’s a good drawing, but it’s not me.”

Dong Zhi was puzzled. “It’s you.”

Long Shen responded, “It’s the Long Shen from your story, not me.”

Dong Zhi was taken aback, and the two stared at each other silently.

“I think I need to wake up from this.”

This was another Long Shen, another chapter of life. Perhaps the beginning was tempting, but it was definitely not what he desired.

Long Shen smirked. “You should wake up from your story! Let’s reintroduce ourselves. I’m Long Shen, the owner of Long’s Design Company. My net worth might not make Forbes’ list yet, but I can afford to take care of a young artist. Interested?”

“My master wasn’t as smooth-talking or flirty as you. If I hadn’t met him, I might have preferred someone like you. But since it is him, it can only be him.”

Dong Zhi slid the card back. “Any other Long Shen is an illusion. No matter how beautiful the beginning, I don’t want it. This should end.”

He removed a protective charm from his neck.

This protective charm was given to him by Long Shen, and he has always worn it. When the Changshou Sword and sunlight talisman were not with him, and when he encountered a completely different Long Shen and unexpected events, for a moment, Dong Zhi truly believed that everything was just a long and beautiful dream.

Until he found the charm around his neck.

It was this charm that gave him the belief to continue dealing with this world.

“Attack!”

With a fierce shout, Dong Zhi formed the unmoving sunlight seal with his hands and threw the spell at Long Shen. However, it paused in mid-air, shining brightly, and took the shape of the charm itself.

Under Long Shen’s surprised gaze, the shape of the charm grew larger, and its brightness intensified, eventually illuminating the entire space and blocking out all sight.

Wherever he looked, there was only emptiness, as everything ceased to exist.

After an unknown amount of time, the light slowly faded.

Dong Zhi opened his eyes.

Deep down, he was somewhat uneasy, fearing that he would still see that train, that Long Shen, and that completely different story and beginning, and he no longer had the only proof of his encounters with Long Shen.

His vision was filled with a gray mist, and he felt pain below his knees. Looking down, he saw dark, flowing qi gnawing at his clothes and skin.

These were low-level demons called Sneaky Yaksha, which Dong Zhi had encountered before.

Seeing these creatures, he was relieved. Reaching behind him, his heart leaped with joy.

His Changshou sword was still there!

Without hesitation, he drew the sword from its sheath, its radiant blade slashing fiercely at the demons!

……

Long Shen’s body trembled slightly.

On one side of his face, which looked evil, a hint of anger emerged. Blood dripped from his eyes, looking terrifying. Even the demonic qi around him seemed fearful, not daring to approach.

The other half of his face remained calm and serene, eyes closed.

“Why doesn’t he continue the life that was shaped for his personality and hobbies?” Mara asked.

Long Shen slowly opened his eyes and said, “Because it’s fake.”

Mara laughed. “What’s real, and what’s fake? What I gave him was also real. Even if his body gets devoured by demons, his consciousness can forever remain in that world, completing that beautiful life. I’ve never seen a human refuse my kindness.”

Long Shen also had a faint smile.

“Because, he is Dong Zhi.”

……

Kunlun Mountains, Lengele Gorge.

“It’s been two days,” Song Zhicun said.

Without his reminder, everyone realized it.

Master Zhang sighed with exhaustion and said, “Seal the breach.”

He Yu closed his eyes, having no position or ability to object.

Everyone had held on until the very last moment. The formation was on the verge of collapsing and could no longer be maintained. The absence of Long Shen and the others meant their chances of seeing daylight again were slim.

“Prepare to seal!” Song Zhicun gritted his teeth and shouted.

Two days was his final limit. He had to ensure the safety of everyone here and the entire world.

The jade tablet from Mount Longhu had been delivered. Serving as a replacement for the Phoenix’s guardian instrument, it floated at the center of the formation, shining brilliantly. As the formation activated, the tablet “came to life”, its brightness intensifying like brilliant stars. It slowly descended, eventually turning into a huge rock, sealing the pit completely.

<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Evil As Humans Ch236

Kinky3 Comments

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 236: Gesture of God

[You’re not Zhong Chengshuo.]

A surge of thoughts, like crashing waves, gushed out from the colossal creature. Its gigantic eyeballs rolled up, and the deep black pupils were like black holes on the white monster.

[You’re Zhong Chengshuo’s lover. You are Yin Ren. You are the Fear cub—no, not the Fear cub—you were originally another offspring, just like me… So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is.]

The reaction of Love was swift, but Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo were even quicker.

Red veils fluttered, and red lights ignited. The brilliant, fiery red engulfed the white monster in an instant. Love was momentarily restrained by the authority of “Fear”. At that moment, Yin Ren charged straight at the abnormal giant eye. Under the red veil, his wings fused into massive black wings, transforming into a scythe-like structure—they drew a series of explosive sounds in the air, flying towards the center of the giant eye.

The red light of Fear greatly weakened the mobility of Love. It shifted its massive body, barely evading a bit. The black scythe struck the heart, slicing off a large chunk of flesh. The nearby scythes instantly returned to the form of wing clusters, tearing and devouring the pale flesh.

It was delicious but hard to eat.

Yin Ren tasted a similar repulsive sensation to that of Zhong Chengshuo. It stimulated his taste buds like an overdose of chili peppers. He struggled to devour it, and in one fell swoop, hundreds of scythes were swung out.

The red veil danced, and white feathers splattered. Yin Ren disregarded everything, slashing at Love’s wings and body. The wing clusters also ignored the pain, frantically devouring the maimed body of Love.

“Fear” rendered the movements of Love incredibly sluggish. Its once eerie and sacred appearance was nearly hacked into a pile of snow-white flesh. It tried its best to dodge, ultimately managing to preserve only its heart and eyes.

Quick; he had to be quick—even faster.

Opportunities were rare, and the nights were filled with dreams. Yin Ren didn’t want to give it any chance to counterattack. He unleashed his fastest attack speed, forcibly devouring one-third of Love’s massive body.

But as he relentlessly attacked, the surrounding fog grew thicker.

Finally, Yin Ren swung his scythe once again, but Love didn’t dodge.

It slightly adjusted its posture, and the giant eye turned toward Yin Ren once more. The fog surged, and the surroundings abruptly changed, transforming into an extremely spacious void. The maimed body of Love emitted a sticky sound as it suddenly burst into countless flesh masses, shooting in all directions.

Yin Ren’s movement faltered.

Love’s white space was coming. The ability that only he and Zhong Chengshuo hadn’t mastered—Yin Ren didn’t know how to use it yet, and as for Zhong Chengshuo, he probably couldn’t use it either, at least not at first.

In the next second, the two were engulfed by countless illusions.

Countless scenes piled up before Yin Ren—The grayish-white Yin Village appeared faintly in the mist, and the villagers wore smiles, energetically preparing for the ritual to welcome the gods. Boys and girls with big doll masks laughed and played, running through the village. The evil creatures once led by the Great Celestial Master floated peacefully in the sky while the members of Huajisi strolled outside the village.

The various scenes merged and overlapped, contradictory yet harmonious, as if fragmented memories were cut and reassembled into a palace.

Yin Ren remained suspended in mid-air.

Above the village and army of evil creatures was an inverted version of the Shian Campus. The cafeteria staff wandered around with pots and bowls, and familiar faces from Shian basked in the sun by the pool.

Surrounding Yin Ren were the peaceful estate of Ping’an and the residence of the Zhong family.

Room after room lost its color, transforming into scattered spaces. Hu Tao secretly watched on the tablet in the living room; the elderly couple chatted and laughed in the living room; Zhong Chengshuo busied himself in the kitchen, shifting to diligently brushing his teeth in the bathroom, then quietly reading at the desk.

Then Zhong Chengshuo was in the bedroom. He leaned over and gave him a good morning kiss. Although there were no colors, Yin Ren could even discern the warmth of the other’s breath and the faint sunlight on his eyelashes.

Countless scenes, countless acquaintances.

They moved around Yin Ren with their most vivid appearances, each with a beating white heart embedded in their chests. Those hearts had beautiful pairs of eyes wide open, looking at him from all directions.

“Master.”

“Great Celestial Master.”

“Xiao Yin.”

“Yin Ren.”

They called out to him with cheerful voices.

Suddenly, Yin Ren felt a heaviness.

At some point, hundreds of white masses had grown on his wing clusters. The tips of the small wings were stained with white spots, and the meat chunks shaped like hearts were slowly growing on him. Once the eyes opened, countless delicate arms sprouted around the white hearts, reaching out to the next target.

Under the red veil, they resembled the spots on poisonous mushrooms, rapidly increasing and spreading, bringing waves of hot and comforting affection.

Amidst the dance of the red veil, a cold snort sounded from the darkness beneath it.

Countless black spells condensed around Yin Ren, arrow-like, piercing through each familiar figure, directly hitting the eyeballs on their hearts. Yin Ren didn’t even spare those that had grown on his own body.

Blood flowed profusely. The people he had loved stared with wide eyes; their faces twisted with expressions of betrayal as their lifeless bodies crashed onto the ground.

But Yin Ren only felt anger.

If Love had used these earlier, maybe they would have been effective against him. But now, Love still wanted to use such childish tactics against him.

Countless arms protruded from under the wing clusters, digging into the corpses to extract their hearts—

The cherished villagers of Yin Village turned into white bones, and the lineup of evil creatures had long since dissipated. The members of Shian were striving in the mortal world, while the person he deeply loved was clenched in his hands. As for Hu Tao… she was a victim of Love.

Yin Ren repeatedly watched the horrifying scene of Zhong Chengshuo’s death. Even though it pained him emotionally, Yin Ren knew what he had to do.

The wing clusters moved swiftly, and the sound of tearing and squelching echoed as Yin Ren captured those white hearts. Under the red light from Zhong Chengshuo, they emitted a layer of red, as if soaked in blood.

But when those wing clusters bit down, they found nothing but emptiness.

The white hearts turned into mist once again and returned to the bodies. They wobbled to their feet, moaning and groaning in pain for a moment before tenderly calling out.

The vertical eyes on those hearts curved slightly, as if smiling.

The surrounding scenes were boundless and unchanging. Only Yin Ren grew another layer of white hearts on his body, accompanied by rapidly whitening wing clusters. He had to endure the pain and remove them—one by one, the milk-white hearts with black wing clusters were severed by Yin Ren, oozing crimson blood. The cut chunks of flesh merged into the ground, swiftly devoured by Love.

Yin Ren curled up cautiously. Countless black-red runes floated around him as he continuously severed the “infection” on his own body, desperately thinking of a strategy.

[Even if you’re not deceived by illusions, when you see them, you will be reminded of them. Your affection for them cannot be eradicated.]

The gentle voice of Love resonated in his heart, sounding somewhat like Zhong Chengshuo.

[Even the most rational person cannot deceive their own heart… After all, humans are humans, and there are limits…]

Unlike the violent attacks of the other Great Primordial Elementals, Love infiltrated and assimilated without exception, making it particularly terrifying. It aimed to corrode the enemy completely in an eternal cycle.

This was the result of the fear induced by Zhong Chengshuo. As a soon-to-be-born powerful god, “Love” shouldn’t be underestimated.

To deal with this deadly space, he had to possess a similar level of power. However, with the infections on his body being cut off and regrowing, the intense pain made Yin Ren unable to focus his energy. Instinctively, Yin Ren crossed his arms and firmly protected Zhong Chengshuo in his chest.

Suddenly, Yin Ren felt a peculiar sensation in the palm of his hand.

Warm, slippery, with a slight pulsation.

…Could it be?

A chill ran through Yin Ren’s heart. He slightly opened his hand and discovered a white heart at the back of Zhong Chengshuo’s neck.

It was like a strange bud, twitching rhythmically. The lantern in Zhong Chengshuo’s hand was clearly dim and unstable. Yin Ren raised his eyes and noticed many white spots in Zhong Chengshuo’s originally pitch-black eyes.

“Does it hurt?” Zhong Chengshuo tilted his head back, softly asking. “It must be very painful…”

Yin Ren had never seen such a delicate expression on Zhong Chengshuo’s face—when it came to emotions, Zhong Chengshuo always carried a simple and gentle clumsiness like that of raw wood. But now, he seemed intoxicated, and there was a certain abnormal vagueness in his features.

“I don’t like seeing you in pain,” Zhong Chengshuo murmured, his brows tightly furrowed.

This was bad.

Yin Ren knew he had intense emotions, and he had fallen into numerous emotional pitfalls in the past. From the “Innocent Thoughts” to Qi Xin, he had deliberately trained himself to resist emotional manipulation.

But Zhong Chengshuo hadn’t.

Zhong Chengshuo, by nature, was always rational and stable, and he was confident in this aspect. Moreover, nothing had ever been able to affect him. Zhong Chengshuo was like a blank sheet of paper. Neither cursed spirit weapons nor evil creatures, nor even the Great Primordial Elementals, could achieve that.

…But beings of the same level as a “god” might be able to.

“Yin Ren.” Zhong Chengshuo leaned against one of Yin Ren’s fingers, holding it tightly. The lantern dangerously tilted, causing the flame to flicker even more. “Yin Ren, it hurts a lot, doesn’t it? Eat me…”

Yin Ren: “…”

The “Innocent Thoughts” version of Zhong Chengshuo unexpectedly didn’t exhibit any aggressiveness. Love had devoured his rationality, and Zhong Chengshuo had developed an obsession with the idea of “letting his lover eat him to heal”. Tirelessly, he called out to Yin Ren.

“Eat me, eat me now.” He held onto Yin Ren’s finger tightly, repeating persistently.

Yin Ren: “I won’t eat.”

“You should eat. My taste won’t be any less than Satisfaction.” Zhong Chengshuo was erratically offering himself.

“I won’t eat, even if I die.” Yin Ren emphasized. “Listen carefully, Zhong Chengshuo. I won’t eat, even if I die. I’m still waiting to go home with you.”

Zhong Chengshuo paused for a second, revealing a dazed expression of being struck heavily. “But you’re in pain.”

“I can’t help you, whether it’s with this lantern or the definition of our species. I can only assist, watching you take the lead. I don’t like seeing you hurt. I should be your shield…” Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes became less pitch-black, and some chunks of flesh flipped out from his eye sockets, showing signs of swelling and growth.

“Yin Ren, I want to do something for you, anything… Why won’t you eat me?”

Yin Ren somewhat understood Zhong Chengshuo’s horror when he had consumed the “Innocent Thoughts” in the past. Lowering his head, he looked down at his bewildered lover in his palm. He had no doubt that if he could find his mouth, Zhong Chengshuo would definitely try to climb inside.

Swish, swish. Yin Ren once again severed the infected parts on his body caused by Love. Amidst the intense pain, he suddenly had a somewhat bad idea.

“You just said you’re willing to do anything for me, right?” Yin Ren raised his hands high, his thoughts gentle.

Zhong Chengshuo nodded vigorously.

“In that case…” The beautiful monster leaned down, and his thoughts were like the whispers of a demon. “Without harming yourself, solve this problem of easing my pain—can you do it?”

Zhong Chengshuo froze, and even the white in his eyes stopped spreading.

He stood motionless in place, completely stiff. Yin Ren couldn’t help but think of the black rabbit that was like a stone statue when they had first met.

Alright, he’s restrained now. Satisfied, Yin Ren raised his head and continued to contemplate strategies amidst the intense pain.

A few minutes later, he felt an itch in his palm.

“Ah… Ah…”

Zhong Chengshuo looked up, revealing a suddenly enlightened smile.

“Yes, that’s right. In addition to healing, I can also… I can prevent new wounds from forming. But I can’t do it now, I can’t. I shouldn’t be unable to do it.”

His tone carried a mixture of confusion and obsession.

“In theory, ‘I’ should be able to do it.”

Just as Yin Ren was about to say something, a sense of oppression suddenly burst from his palm.

Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes were no longer speckled with white. The pitch-black color returned, spreading incessantly. The snow-white heart behind his head exploded, giving birth to numerous black droplets.

Yin Ren’s vision briefly went dark.

When his perception returned, Zhong Chengshuo’s eyes no longer had any whites. There was only darkness mixed with countless patterns, where the essence of Fear rapidly surged. Above Zhong Chengshuo’s head, a pitch-black perfect circle slowly took shape, floating about a fist’s height above his skull.

Without thickness, it was like a layer of pitch-black shadow floating in the air.

The erosion of Love had weakened, but Zhong Chengshuo was clearly still in a state of confusion. He muttered words that Yin Ren couldn’t understand, tightly gripping onto the bone lantern.

With the whisper completed, he raised the lantern a little higher.

The blood-red light that had originally filled the sky, like all-natural radiance, now came to life and began converging towards the center of the lantern. The soft and faint light gathered together, shining brilliantly like the setting sun.

In the next instant, the golden-red light sphere split into thousands of golden-red light rabbits. They had strange and bizarre forms as they hopped towards the pale contamination on Yin Ren’s body. In less than half a minute, the rabbits took their places one by one, gently leaning against the contaminated cluster of wings. The soft red light was like pearls, illuminating the dark wings.

The expansion of the white spots came to an abrupt halt. The hearts gradually withered and dried up, the arms became brittle and snapped, and eventually, they were scattered into ashes by the cluster of wings.

Fear, the most primal and powerful emotion, theoretically had the ability to overpower everything.

Including “Love”.

Zhong Chengshuo raised the lantern higher and higher, and more red light gushed out from it, enveloping the two of them. Not long ago, the red light was simply sprinkled indiscriminately. Now, it flowed out of the lantern obediently, bowing down at Zhong Chengshuo’s feet.

Yin Ren’s pain, indeed, stopped.

The author has something to say:

Love-stricken Xiao Yin went crazy.

Xiao Zhong: (dodging) (resisting)

Love-stricken Xiao Zhong went crazy.

Xiao Yin: “You’re willing to do anything for me? Then solve this problem first.”

…Maybe this is the difference in experience (no offense).

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Evil As Humans Ch235

Kinky4 Comments

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 235: Placing A Bet

Haigu, The New Pedestrian Street, Donghe District.

Fu Xingchuan stood in mid-air, facing his former junior—Xiang Jiang, who was once seen as the “successor of the new generation”.

Xiang Jiang tightened his grip on his younger brother’s hand, and his facial expression twitched. “Fu…”

Fu Xingchuan clearly had no intention of exchanging pleasantries with him. With a raised hand, dozens of fire dragons roared and blasted towards Xiang Jiang like projectiles. Xiang Jiang swallowed the words he was about to say, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

Xiang Hai also waved his hand, and a torrent of corpses surged out from a sewer outlet. They gathered in front of them, forming a shield. When the raging fire met the rotting corpses, the smell of burnt flesh instantly filled the air.

“The so-called ghost generals are nothing more than corpse servants who can control ghosts. You don’t have the advantage,” Xiang Jiang said softly.

Beside him, Xiang Hai clenched his fist, causing the foul-smelling corpses to writhe continuously. Facing the bodies of his former villagers, Xiang Hai had an eerie innocence on his face, as if the pile of corpses before him was some kind of toy.

Having had enough fun, he opened his fingers again, pointing towards Fu Xingchuan.

“Kill,” Xiang Hai ordered softly.

Xiang Jiang formed hand seals with both hands, and the surrounding evil qi surged. Evil creatures within a radius of hundreds of miles stirred in response, all converging towards their direction. The nearby fierce ghosts boiled with excitement, and for a moment, evil qi surged like a torrential downpour, resembling naturally tilted dark clouds.

The myriad of evil creatures collided with Fu Xingchuan’s fire web, screaming in agony as they turned into fireballs. The frenzied fierce ghosts were suppressed by various members of the team on the ground, and only about half of them stood before Xiang Jiang. Xiang Jiang’s expression remained unchanged as the fierce ghosts entangled themselves around the corpses commanded by Xiang Hai, forming a layer of foul-smelling water film on their surfaces.

They screamed and laughed, with deformed shadows embracing deformed corpses. For a moment, it seemed as if a flower of human corpses exclusive to nightmares blossomed before Fu Xingchuan.

It extended its dark red petals straight towards Fu Xingchuan, aiming to devour its target.

Fu Xingchuan’s movements never ceased.

“The red-clothed old man’s corpse at eleven o’clock.” Professor Li’s instructions came through his earpiece. “It allows me to see most clearly, and the power there is the strongest.”

Fu Xingchuan remained calm while his ten fingers firmly held the Eight Trigrams symbol. Eight ghostly shadows surged towards the direction indicated by Li Nian. The crimson ghost burst, and the mixture of ghost and corpse was firmly struck. Decaying flesh fell down with a crackling sound, turning into a shower of corpses filled with evil qi.

The three individuals in the sewer weren’t spared and were drenched by it.

“This… is human flesh?”

Sun Qi’an grabbed a piece of flesh from above her head. The piece of skin still had some hair on it, emitting a strong stench.

“No, I can’t stay here. They need a doctor outside.”

Huang Jin couldn’t be bothered to waste words. With a swift chop of his hand, he knocked Sun Qi’an unconscious on the spot.

Currently, they were underground, affected by the evil qi to a lesser extent. If it weren’t for wanting to stay informed about the situation outside, Huang Jin would have sent Yellow Millet to block the manhole.

“So, we’re just going to wait?” Ge Tingting held the unconscious Dr. Sun, and her face was filled with worry.

Within the narrow hole, the sky occasionally turned red from the clashes of spells. Explosions mixed with the wailing of fierce ghosts created a sound that weighed heavily on the chest.

The dense evil qi leaked only slightly into the underground, causing Ge Tingting and Huang Jin’s faces to turn pale. Whenever they opened their mouths, thick white mist would be expelled. The temperature nearby continued to drop, and if this continued, they might freeze to death.

But leaving might be even more dangerous—all the evil creatures near Haigu were drawn to this location, and who knew what might come up from the sewer. Now, with Sun Qi’an in tow, it was inconvenient for them to move.

Ge Tingting didn’t like waiting in place, but she couldn’t think of a better solution at the moment.

Huang Jin forced a smile. “Let’s wait. We’re not at a level where we can intervene in that kind of battle. Surviving is already a victory.”

If the Emergency Management Department couldn’t stop the fierce ghost twins, Huang Jin could start considering the design of an urn.

“But we still need to make some preparations.” Ge Tingting scratched her head frantically. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

“All the support that can be mobilized has arrived. Yin Ren and the others are on the Other Side. In this unfortunate situation, we can’t abandon the school hospital and the others,” Huang Jin said, sitting cross-legged on Yellow Millet, playing with his own spirit weapon carving knife.

Time passed minute by minute, and the circular sky at the hole’s opening seemed to go mad. The clouds churned frantically, and beams of sunlight intermittently emerged and disappeared from the broken clouds. Strong winds blew in all directions, and countless random objects rolled across the ground—from milk tea cups and snack bags to intact souvenirs and fruits. Huang Jin’s head spun from being hit, while Ge Tingting leaned forward to protect the unconscious Sun Qi’an in her arms.

Just then, something else fell from the sky.

A charred human skull tumbled down Yellow Millet and plopped into the sewage. Huang Jin finally couldn’t help but move his body, cautiously climbing a few steps up the ladder and peering outside.

As soon as he stuck his head out, his scalp was almost shaved off by the cold wind.

The situation outside couldn’t be clearly judged for the time being. The members of the Emergency Management Department were desperately trying to contain the disaster area, preventing the surging evil qi from leaking outside.

Fu Xingchuan still guarded the sky. His upper body was covered in blood, his braid had come loose, and his shoulder-length hair danced wildly on his shoulders. Originally, eight of the strongest fierce ghosts were supposed to be guarding him, but now there were only six left. However, Fu Xingchuan’s condition wasn’t too bad—countless skeletons gathered to form a giant roc, and the skeletal bird floated in the sky, providing him with a foothold.

The situation for Xiang Jiang and Xiang Hai opposite him was even more precarious. The forms of the two fierce ghosts became blurry, with one having charcoal-black fragments on his shoulder and the other’s left leg rotten up to the knee, while evil qi surged madly.

Most of the corpse clusters in front of them had dissipated, leaving only two giant hands hanging lifelessly beside them. Behind the twins, there were still countless ghostly shadows, as if a mass of black smoke had gathered.

And above their heads, the enormous vortex of dark clouds continued to expand.

“The #1 Ghost General—worthy of the title,” Xiang Jiang commented without emotion. “Truly, cough, no mercy.”

Fu Xingchuan moved his lips, but in the end, he didn’t reply. By his side, the fiery red flames began to gather once again.

“So difficult to kill,” Xiang Hai complained. “Brother, this is so difficult to kill. When can we leave this place?”

“It’s okay, we’re almost ready,” Xiang Jiang said, placing his hand on his younger brother’s shoulder.

Huang Jin initially intended to retreat, but this statement made him stay at the scene. Almost ready? What do you mean, almost ready? Sunken Society couldn’t enter now, and these two brothers could only engage in a battle of attrition here. They may be difficult to deal with, but the situation was still under Shian’s control.

What exactly…

Huang Jin’s mind hadn’t turned the corner when he saw something shoot out from the swirling dark clouds. It was as fast as a bullet, and Huang Jin only had time to catch a glimpse of a white silhouette.

With a soft sound, it pierced through Fu Xingchuan’s chest.

Bright red blood splattered in an instant, staining the attacking object. It was a white arm, slender like that of a child but with a tangible presence.

Fu Xingchuan’s fighting instinct was terrifying. The moment he sensed the presence, he tried his best to dodge and avoid a critical hit. Then he tightly closed his eyes and roared at the people on the ground, “Don’t look!”

His voice carried a technique, revealing a fierce and intense aura.

Fu Xingchuan was severely injured. How would the situation develop? What would happen to Haigu? Would the people he cared about be safe? What should he do?

As he saw Fu Xingchuan’s red robe stained with blood in the blink of an eye, countless questions almost overwhelmed Huang Jin’s mind. Without Yin Ren, without Zhong Chengshuo… Now, he had no way out.

He had to find a solution. Haigu couldn’t descend into chaos—at least not now!

Ah, that’s right.

He couldn’t look at the true form of Love. Huang Jin numbly thought. But he had already seen it, so why was he fine?

Could it be…

Huang Jin suddenly wore an extremely ugly smile, and he turned his gaze towards the twins in the sky, the smile on his lips growing wider. Great, it was Xiang Jiang and Xiang Hai who triggered this event. How wonderful.

‘It’s really strange,’ Huang Jin thought. Even in such an absurd situation, he had considered everything, yet he forgot to consider escape and the outcome. Perhaps he had been irritated by those noisy colleagues for too long, and he had become a little foolish as a result.

This time, he would take the initiative.

Huang Jin raised his carving knife and forcefully stabbed it into his own palm.

In an instant, fresh blood smeared the Tranquility Talisman. The Tranquility Talisman was countered by the newly applied blood, instantly changing its properties.

“Go—!!!”

Huang Jin raised his hand, and a freshly created Emotional Amplification Talisman shot towards Xiang Jiang and Xiang Hai. Before the talisman could touch the two of them, it instantly exploded into fragments. Xiang Jiang and Xiang Hai couldn’t resist in time and ended up being slightly affected.

“What kind of Divine Descent is that!” Huang Jin directly carved a series of talismans on his own arm, splattering blood everywhere. “Let me show you what a ‘Divine Descent’ truly is!”

When he saw Love’s arm, he didn’t have any special reaction. It was likely because he had been possessed by a Primordial Elemental in a proper manner, granting him some protection.

After all, when the Great Primordial Elemental possessed him, it had to use his eyes to see.

So, he only needed those two ghosts to be influenced slightly. Huang Jin knew their obsessions, understood their hatred, and also grasped the original emotion that caused all of this:

Sorrow.

Within a small range, a large amount of profound and visible grief gathered.

“Qi Xin!”

Just as Love was about to deliver a fatal blow to Fu Xingchuan after pulling out his arm, Huang Jin shouted loudly, stretching out his arm covered in spells of the Other Side.

“Look at me—!!!” Blood surged out from the wound, splattering in the wind. Huang Jin roared with all his might, his originally gloomy face looking solemn and fierce.

He didn’t know if Qi Xin would come. If the ghosts were affected by the Emotional Amplification Talisman, their power would only become stronger. If this move failed, he would definitely meet his end here…

But this was his last glimmer of hope.

……

Everything seemed to slow down as Love’s fingertips left Fu Xingchuan’s chest, gathering power, and then stabbed forward again. And at the moment when the blood-stained fingertips touched the blood-stained fabric, its wrist was tightly grasped by a hand.

That hand was still adorned with vibrant bloodstains; its five fingers were steady, making a cracking sound as it squeezed the arm.

Huang Jin lifted his head once again, with two traces of red appearing at the corners of his eyes. He swung Love’s arm away, and dense Evil Force suddenly exploded, forcefully pushing back the arm for more than ten steps.

“What a troublesome human.” Qi Xin clicked her tongue, slapping Fu Xingchuan’s chest with her palm, and the flesh and skin quickly closed under it. “Not even afraid that I wouldn’t come…”

Fu Xingchuan swallowed a mouthful of blood. “You’re… Sorrow…”

Qi Xin smirked without smiling. “Thank you both. Now that I have a falling-out with this guy, I can only bet on those two to win.”

After speaking, the Huang Jin version of Qi Xin turned around and protected Fu Xingchuan. “Forget it. When the chips are in your hands, you’ll have to place your bet sooner or later, right, Love?”

She shouted the last sentence towards the sewer.

In the depths of darkness, there came a faint sigh. Ge Tingting watched as Sun Qi’an opened her eyes, and a gentle smile appeared on her face. In a daze, Ge Tingting almost thought she saw her mother.

In the blink of an eye, Sun Qi’an disappeared from her embrace.

Ge Tingting hurriedly instructed Yellow Millet to float upwards. That amiable female doctor was now suspended in front of Xiang Jiang and Xiang Hai. She stood gracefully, looking towards “Huang Jin” and Fu Xingchuan on the opposite side with eyes filled with regret.

Behind her, among the clouds, more arms desperately tore open the vortexes and squeezed into the mortal realm. Ge Tingting’s head began to spin, and Yellow Millet swiftly extended a small tentacle, forcefully covering her eyes.

“My body will be born soon, while you’re here as a pitiful substitute.”

Love manipulated Sun Qi’an and spoke with a voice as gentle as water.

“Sorrow, you have ultimately chosen the wrong path. Go back. This is your last chance… Ah!”

Mid-sentence, Love suddenly furrowed her brows, and a hint of pain appeared on her face.

“Do you think I’m foolish? Do you think I won’t look at any situation and let humans come and go as they please?”

Huang Jin’s version of Qi Xin sneered.

“Don’t speak so confidently, fool.”

……

The Other Side.

As planned, the human team led by Shian quickly attracted the attention of the Elementals. Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo circled around to the rear.

Ensuring there were no obstacles around, Yin Ren instantly reverted to his original form. He held Zhong Chengshuo’s hand in his palm with one hand while the remaining three hands cast spells simultaneously, opening a narrow passage on the giant hemisphere.

The moment it was destroyed, the white passage quickly restored itself. Yin Ren wouldn’t miss this opportunity; he darted through the narrow path like an arrow, leaving behind a trail of red silk.

In this manner, while destroying and advancing, Yin Ren swiftly slipped into the interior of the giant hemisphere.

Just as he had expected, this place was also pure white. However, the space here formed a massive spherical shape. The upper half was the pristine white they had arrived in, while the lower half was a shallow, transparent state, allowing a faint view of the chaotic scenery outside.

The lower half of this “spherical egg” seemed to have forcefully embedded itself in the interstitial space of chaos. The bottommost part of the sphere emitted a swirling grayish-white color, spinning into a dazzling vortex.

Something was squeezing its way into the vortex.

That thing was connected to numerous thread-like “umbilical cords” that criss crossed towards the outer wall of the sphere. Amidst the entanglement of these cords, Yin Ren could vaguely make out the shape of that thing.

Yin Ren couldn’t quite describe what that thing “was”.

Its body roughly resembled the torso of an infant, with no discernible gender. The neck of the torso and the positions of its limbs lacked a normal structure, with only white wings woven from slender arms.

At first glance, it appeared as if someone had severed the head and limbs of a human baby, neatly inserting snow-white pigeon feathers into the cut openings. The “child” assumed a curled-up position, as if sleeping within the confines of a maternal womb, with the white wings tightly guarding something against its chest.

Thump, thump, thump.

That was a beating snow-white heart. Countless blood vessels coiled around, leading towards the infant’s body, while a large vertical eye adorned its surface, tightly shut.

Yin Ren: “…”

For the first time, he felt that his own form was perfectly normal. He had some psychological barriers about consuming something like this.

Zhong Chengshuo, sensing Yin Ren’s hesitation, carefully nudged his palm. At the same time, the peculiar embryo seemed to sense something as well. The vertical eye on its heart suddenly opened wide, and its pitch-black pupils swirled as it gazed at Yin Ren.

Amidst the pure white monstrosity, a single speck of black appeared.

A mass of red silk surged around Yin Ren as he swooped down, his pitch-black wings covering the sky.

“Hello there, Love.”

The author has something to say:

The Paw Patrol has accomplished a great feat. (Huang Jin: ?)

However, Love isn’t so easy to fight against——

Kinky Thoughts:

Huang Jin is so handsome. This is your chapter!

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Criminal Psychology Ch279

KinkyLeave a comment

Author: 长洱 / Chang’er

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 279

It was a river meandering through the green hills.

During the rainy season, the river surged and roared, but between the narrow green mountains on both sides, it appeared as a turbid and narrow stream.

Like an old man’s runny nose, it exuded decay and a pungent smell.

This was the initial impression of the Min River, not because of the river itself, but due to the surrounding buildings.

Looking up, one could see the crisscrossing power lines spanning the sky and the towering concrete walls. Approaching the prison, the only thought that filled one’s mind was awe. This was the Min River No. 1 Prison, where over 95 percent of the province’s serious offenders were incarcerated. Most of them would never breathe the air of freedom again.

However, Yan Guiqiu was different from those people; he was among the fortunate five percent. He was a thief, to be precise—a habitual thief, and being in and out of detention centers was nothing new to him. But being locked up in the Ming River No. 1 Prison was a first for him.

To be honest, he was skilled at his craft, and he never got too greedy while stealing. Getting caught this time was purely due to bad luck. While trying to evade the owner of the house he was robbing, he had the sudden idea to jump onto the outdoor air-conditioning unit. Unfortunately, he slipped and fell from the fifth floor, only breaking his leg.

The judge probably thought that if he could survive such a fall, they might as well give him the maximum sentence and let him “recuperate” in prison.

Today marked Yan Guiqiu’s 350th day in No. 1 Prison, which meant that in less than a week, he would be released after completing his sentence. Perhaps due to excitement, he ate a bit too much for lunch and couldn’t fall asleep during nap time. In the afternoon, during outdoor time, he limped around the playground.

The most formidable troublemakers in the entire prison were at the parallel bars in the northeast corner, while the second most difficult character, the black boss, was at the base of the southwest wall. Yan Guiqiu took one glance and decided on his walking route. Prisoners of his rank needed to be discreet and cautious during their outdoor time, trying their best to go unnoticed, much like black mice.

Around the tenth minute of his walk, a commotion appeared at the parallel bars in the northeast corner. Two prison guards were talking to a troublemaker there. Yan Guiqiu watched for a moment, then changed his direction.

He lowered his head and massaged his leg, but when he looked up again, he suddenly realized that the black boss was nowhere to be seen from the southwest corner.

Yan Guiqiu had a bad feeling about this; two big shots being taken away without any apparent reason wasn’t a good sign. Just then, someone tapped his shoulder.

He turned around and saw someone standing behind him—smartly dressed, with cold and stern eyes.

It was a face he had never seen before.

……

The more people there were, sometimes, the quieter it got.

The subway carriage was packed with commuters and students returning from school, crammed together with the distinct smell of egg waffles, leather, and resin seats. The air was stifling, and the atmosphere in the carriage seemed to have been crushed by some earth-shattering news, leaving it in absolute silence. No one was talking, and everyone was glued to their phones.

The sound of the television mounted on the wall was turned extremely low, leaving only the suppressed noise of the train wheels rolling on the tracks.

A girl wearing a Fengjing school uniform was squeezed into the corner by a group of commuters. She tried to make herself smaller between the door and the seats.

Although they all took the same subway, her classmates kept their distance from her. After all, no one wanted to commute with a “criminal” like her.

Her face was pressed against the closed subway door, and outside the window was a dark tunnel. She closed her eyes and seemed to doze off. With her short black hair trimmed thinly, she looked more like a cool young boy, but she was indeed a girl.

The silence and oppressiveness continued.

After passing through a dark and gloomy tunnel, shiny billboards appeared on both sides. The girl’s fair face was illuminated with various colors.

Perhaps it was the sudden appearance of bright lights, or maybe because the train had finally stopped, bringing a trace of flowing air into the stuffy subway carriage.

The silent carriage started to stir again. The commotion had no specific reason; it arose from the restlessness of each individual.

The high school students, squeezed into the aisle, began to talk, whispering and exchanging messages on their phone screens.

You didn’t even need to listen; just by looking at their expressions, you could tell what they were talking about.

“Do you really have to vote? Where would you choose to go?” The girl with a ponytail finally finished scrolling through her Weibo and pulled the handrail while asking the person next to her.

“Fuck me, why are you so loud? And why are you asking me before telling me your own answer?”

“I’m just asking, but I think the most correct way is to abstain from voting.” With the gradually noisy atmosphere in the train compartment, the girl’s voice grew louder. “If everyone abstains from voting, then everything would be fine.”

The other person lowered their voice and said, “If you don’t vote, you’re giving the decision-making power to the psychopaths. That’s what he said.”

“Do you just believe everything he says? Do you really want to vote? Making a choice means indirectly killing someone. No one has the right to decide on someone else’s life.” The girl’s voice grew louder again, impassioned.

As if someone pulled the emergency brake on the noisy atmosphere, the surroundings suddenly quieted down. The passengers pretended to be busy with their own things, but it seemed like they were all stealing glances at the girl who was speaking. Perhaps sensing the attention of those around her, the girl became even more courageous, and she continued her advocacy. “This is a moral game; he wants us to kill each other. It’s impossible to solve, so the best choice is to do nothing and avoid making mistakes!”

In the stuffy and oppressive subway space, the girl’s words resonated.

Every person who heard her words on the subway had their own thoughts, but nobody would discuss morality and law with a young girl on the subway, as it didn’t concern them. So, the only one who would challenge the girl was another girl—a confident and sharp young girl.

In the next moment, someone in the corner between the seat and the train door spoke up.

She said, “That’s not right.”

Her voice was calm yet refreshing, and the passengers instinctively turned to look, only to see a slim girl pressed in the corner.

Her hair was very short, and her eyes were amber-colored. When she slightly narrowed her eyes and lifted the corners of her lips, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth.

The girl with the ponytail who was criticizing pursed her lips, as if she felt insulted. “Fang Aizi!”

“Uh, that’s me,” Fang Aizi said while straightening her posture and adjusting her backpack hanging lazily on her arm.

The girl with the ponytail shivered, as if feeling some kind of conspiracy or something else in the air. She mixed her words, saying coldly, “What were you saying just now? I didn’t hear clearly!”

“I said you’re wrong,” Fang Aizi repeated.

“Why am I wrong?”

“You don’t have the qualifications.”

“Why do you say I don’t have the qualifications?!” The girl with the ponytail was still angry. “Everyone has the freedom to express their opinions. Why don’t you let me speak?”

“Because not everyone has the qualifications to make others stop and listen to what they have to say,” Fang Aizi paused and said calmly, “at least you don’t.”

“You sound like you have the qualifications. Who do you think you are, a bad girl who has been in a juvenile detention center?”

“I certainly don’t.” Fang Aizi felt bored quarreling with this girl. “But I believe that if she makes a choice, it’s her choice. You can’t criticize others for indirectly killing someone just because it doesn’t align with your views. Killing is a serious accusation.”

“You make such a good point. Then what do you suggest we do in the current situation?” The girl with the ponytail gritted her teeth and asked again.

The train announcement sounded, indicating that the train was about to arrive at the station, knocking on everyone’s stifling and suppressed hearts.

All eyes turned to the girl again, but this time, it wasn’t out of gossip or curiosity. They genuinely wanted to hear something useful from her.

However, they were disappointed.

The girl furrowed her brows in thought, and in the end, she shook her head earnestly and said, “I don’t know.”

“You still don’t know!” The girl with the ponytail retorted, raising an eyebrow.

Fang Aizi didn’t say anything further.

Their hope of getting an answer was shattered, and the passengers’ moods became somber and gloomy once again.

They were just ordinary people.

As ordinary people, they had ordinary loved ones, friends, and mentors. They had various ordinary concerns and ties to this city or that city. Therefore, when faced with the need to make a decision, they truly didn’t know how to choose, not even as resolutely as a high school girl.

The dilemma of indecision tormented everyone; the air grew tense again, but the areas outside the train windows finally started to brighten.

The train came to a stop, the guardrail opened, and the doors opened. The girl with short hair, carrying her backpack, slowly walked off the train, following the somber crowd.

But suddenly, as if realizing something, she didn’t look back, nor did she look at anyone else. She just gazed up at the old-fashioned lights on the old subway platform and said, “But I think there will always be someone who knows what to do.”

The girl’s voice was as clear as water, and in the dim underground space, the television screens slowly lit up.

On Yongchuan TV, the female anchor sat quietly at the news desk and slowly pulled out a piece of ordinary stationery from an old leather envelope, bearing the header of the Hongjing Municipal Bureau.

She lowered her head to look at the stationery, then raised her head, and with slightly parted lips, she calmly said, “Hello, I hope this letter finds you well.”

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Criminal Psychology Ch278

KinkyLeave a comment

Author: 长洱 / Chang’er

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 278

Hongjing Detention Center.

In the dreary interrogation room, the program of the open letter recitation by the female anchor from Yongchuan TV came to a temporary end.

A fresh glass of water was refilled in front of Lin Chen.

“Your government is even ‘braver’ than I imagined,” she almost admired. “I can’t tell anymore who the real sociopaths are.”

“Of course, it’s still you guys.” Lin Chen could only respond helplessly, using a tone of not daring to compete with her.

“What’s your next move?” Shen Lian asked curiously, then smiled. “Since you’re here, it seems you have no intention of leaving, which means you have been prepared from the beginning.”

Lin Chen held the glass of water without giving any committal response.

“Wow, let me guess, are you so hypocritical that the next step is to play the sacrificial tactic?”

This was probably the most relaxed and exciting moment for Shen Lian since she met Lin Chen again. When a woman was excited, she tended to be talkative. “I have an idea; do you want to hear it?”

“Please speak.”

“In this way, considering various economic and population factors, select one city from nearly 20 cities in the three provinces that is most suitable for sacrifice and control. Manipulate the accounts to disguise them as willing sacrifices from the local residents and induce everyone to cast their votes for that poorest and most backward city. When the results are out, wow, the spirit of voluntary sacrifice of humanity triumphs over the wicked sociopaths, successfully breaking the deadlock. And after the incident, you can write some brilliant reports—it will be so magnificent. What do you think?”

Shen Lian asked Lin Chen this way.

Holding the water glass, Lin Chen looked at the lady in front of him, who rarely showed her claws. He replied with four words, “This is not beautiful.”

He answered.

……

Not beautiful.

It referred to the means not being beautiful, the matter not being beautiful, and human nature, which was also not beautiful.

Lin Chen was an idealist, and this was a fact that Xing Conglian had long understood clearly.

Therefore, when he heard the solution he had once proposed being spoken by this strategy expert, Xing Conglian felt himself being severely mocked. For a moment, he couldn’t find the words to respond.

“Will this plan be seen as the government compromising with the sociopaths?”

“I think it’s feasible, and it can turn the tables on them.”

“But after the voting ends, won’t the sociopaths become desperate?”

“They will only ruin themselves by breaking the rules they set. They will become a laughingstock.” The strategy expert spoke coldly. “I’m 70% sure.”

Everyone in the small glass room started to discuss this plan seriously.

Xing Conglian knew better than anyone the feasibility of the plan. The only way to counter selfish human nature was through the great spirit of voluntary sacrifice.

If they manipulated a batch of accounts using Wang Chao, they wouldn’t have to worry about the risk of exposure.

But Xing Conglian thought it was indeed not beautiful to do it this way.

He looked at the people in the glass room and also at those outside the glass room, who seemed to have sensed something and cast clear gazes at him. He felt as if he had returned to his earliest and youngest days, when he hadn’t seen so much darkness and bloody killings, when he was full of passionate persistence and trust in this world.

Trust, that was extremely important.

Xing Conglian finally made up his mind.

He raised his left hand, not too high, and looked at everyone. He spoke his words with solemnity. “I don’t agree.”

All the eager discussions in the glass room came to a halt.

Except for Minister Shen and a young man fiddling with a computer, the others in the room couldn’t fully comprehend the unwavering determination contained in this short phrase.

Shen Heming fell silent.

However, since the young man standing in front of the glass panel raised his hand to express his stance, he had to stop and listen to the other person’s words seriously.

So, he also raised his hand and said to the others in the glass room, “Everyone, leave, except Xing Conglian.”

……

National Yongchuan Television Station.

The skyrocketing viewership ratings and the banging on the door complemented each other. Deputy Director Zhao Ren stood in the main control room outside Studio 1.

In front of the main control station, dozens of televisions were playing various programs, and the dense electrical noise made people’s heads ache. Zhao Ren picked up the intercom on the table and shouted inside, “Tell the security not to knock randomly. I haven’t been kidnapped!”

His irritable voice was transmitted through the earpieces to every staff member. Soon, Zhao Ren heard a chorus of complaints through the earphones.

“Are you going through menopause, boss?”

“Lower your volume; I’m going deaf.”

Zhao Ren didn’t bother responding to these insolent remarks. He lowered his head to watch Yongchuan TV, which was broadcasting weather news, and then glanced up at the clock above the main control station. Only five minutes left until the agreed time, but his phone remained silent.

To make matters worse, his assistant came over with an urgently prepared video file and asked anxiously, “The things that Consultant Lin requested are all ready, but there’s still no word from the higher-ups. Are we really going ahead with the original plan?”

“And what else?” Zhao Ren replied with impatience.

“Although the satellite broadcasting truck and positions are set up at the Min River, should we ask them to withdraw if it doesn’t work out?”

“Scram!” Zhao Ren cursed.

However, his assistant, as stubborn as a rock, refused to leave. “Boss, didn’t Consultant Lin say that if they can’t persuade the higher-ups, we shouldn’t take matters into our own hands? This is a big responsibility we’ll be taking!”

Zhao Ren raised an eyebrow and said coldly, “Responsibility, huh? I love taking responsibility the most.”

……

People left quickly.

During the process, there were some slight doubts, but both he and Xing Conglian had such expressions that no one dared to speak up.

The glass door closed again, and Shen Heming looked at Xing Conglian and asked, “Conglian, do you really want to stand and talk to an old man like me?”

Xing Conglian didn’t sit down immediately. He casually reached into his pocket, took out a flattened box of cigarettes, and then sat down next to Shen Heming, offering him the cigarettes.

Shen Heming didn’t care about the row of “wooden stakes” standing outside the glass room. He picked up the cigarette, and Xing Conglian took out a lighter and respectfully lit it for him.

Then Xing Conglian began to speak in a low voice, speaking quickly and systematically. Shen Heming listened silently throughout.

After 15 seconds, Xing Conglian stopped narrating.

15 seconds. Indeed, it was very short.

But within this time, Shen Heming felt unprecedented ups and downs in life.

At first, he thought Lin Chen’s plan was really clever, avoiding traps and minimizing losses. He should have readily agreed without hesitation.

Then he felt anxious; at his age, there were few moments when he was overwhelmed by fear in an instant.

He began to speculate on possible outcomes and then realized the source of his anxiety: he and the young strategist both fundamentally lacked a deep sense of trust in people.

This was their biggest difference from Lin Chen.

Shen Heming took a deep breath and finally felt a sense of inexplicable shock. He didn’t know where this shock came from, but he hoped that Lin Chen was right.

After blowing out a smoke ring, Shen Heming looked at Xing Conglian with a burning gaze, as if he were eagerly waiting for his answer.

“Is this not the same brand of cigarettes?”

Holding the cigarette butt, Xing Conglian slowly turned it around, and it was empty, with only a very ordinary white cigarette.

Xing Conglian was stunned, as if he didn’t expect Shen Heming to play him like this. So he said somewhat irritably, “That brand is expensive.”

The young man had moss-green eyes, deep and serene. This was the impression Shen Heming had of him when they first met.

At that time, Xing Conglian was still very young, but of course, he wasn’t considered old now either. Shen Heming had asked for assistance from the international organization that Xing Conglian represented during the evacuation of nationals. They effortlessly completed the communication work that would have cost countless manpower and resources.

He stood on the deck of the returning ferry, looking at the devastated foreign territory ahead and the fellow countrymen huddled together on the ferry behind him. At that time, Xing Conglian stood on the coastline and waved at him.

Shen Heming could never forget that scene.

Amidst the blue sea and sky, a handsome mixed-race youth stood tall in the wind, covered in dirt, looking exhausted, but his green eyes were deep and calm, like mountains and seas.

At that moment, Shen Heming thought that despite humans constantly fighting against each other, there was still goodwill between them. Malice was real, and so was goodwill.

As Shen Heming recalled this memory, Xing Conglian interrupted him, “What do you think?”

Shen Heming said, “In theory, I should trust your judgment since you have a lot of experience dealing with difficult problems. But while your plan seems to minimize losses, it also has the potential to lead to irreparable consequences. I need to ask, why did you agree?”

“The reason I agreed is the same as yours,” Xing Conglian said firmly.

Shen Heming sneered, “Is that so?”

Xing Conglian searched for words and thought for a moment before saying, “According to Lin Chen, his plan minimizes losses, and it is easier for superiors like you to accept.”

“Why do I feel uncomfortable hearing you say that?” Shen Heming asked.

“You feel uncomfortable because, deep down, you don’t agree with the term ‘superiors’. It often implies a lot of coldness and calculation, deception, and the use of state force to maintain social stability. In short, it’s not a good term.” Xing Conglian paused. “Lin Chen said that too.”

“What else did Lin Chen say?” Shen Heming asked, somewhat annoyed.

“He said that if you feel uncomfortable with the term ‘superiors’, it means you don’t truly agree with the other plan deep down. You have an idealistic nature, and you hold immense trust and goodwill towards the world. Because of that trust, you dare to take a risk. Of course, I don’t entirely agree with his view, but whatever he said, it applies to me too.”

Shen Heming furrowed his brow, “He is indeed better at talking than you.”

Xing Conglian earnestly nodded. “He also wanted me to tell you that if you doubt that the sociopath won’t agree to his plan, it’s because he understands him better than you. What the man wants is not killing or bloodshed; all he wants is to expose the ugly side of everyone’s hearts, to make people lose hope in human nature. So, a fairer and more effective game that aligns with his goals is bound to be accepted.”

Shen Heming fell into contemplation; what Lin Chen said was indeed enough, yet still not enough to persuade him.

He turned around and saw Wang Chao, who was ready with a laptop in hand, standing outside. He also noticed the various expressions on the faces of the people around the young man—excitement, earnestness, worry, and determination. Suddenly, he realized that he really wanted to find something beyond “benefits” and “gains”.

With this in mind, Shen Heming finally countered Xing Conglian, “You’ve said it all. What else can I say?”

Xing Conglian gazed at him, gradually unfolding a smile, and said firmly, “You can say, let’s go with this plan.”

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Sendoff Ch69

Kinky3 Comments

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

Chapter 69: Broken Horse

Seeing the dagger, the leader on the ground chuckled in pain. “It would have been better if you had just watched from the sidelines. Protecting an insignificant fool, you’re just digging your own graves…”

However, the following scene nearly made him bite his tongue.

Yin Ci maintained his grip on the dagger with his two fingers, and sword qi surged around him, leaving deep sword marks in the mud. Although he had no inner force, the bursting killing intent was no less than that of the dagger.

Immediately, he let out a cold snort and exerted force with his shoulder and wrist. The dagger flashed with a cold light as he flung it back to its original trajectory.

The frosty blade shattered the wind, faintly producing a sound of breaking through the air.

When masters faced off, they could tell each other’s capabilities with a single move. Intimidated by the returned dagger, the faint and blurry aura from afar instantly dissipated, leaving no trace.

The three “bandits” looked as if they wanted to grind their teeth, but Su Si coldly smirked as he pressed their acupoints one by one, then dislocated their jaws and pulled out three bloody venomous fangs. Seeing that the leader was losing too much blood, Su Si grabbed a handful of still warm wood ashes and applied them directly to the man’s wound.

The “bandits” mixed their saliva with blood, and their eyes filled with resentment.

On the other side, Shi Jingzhi was ready to seek revenge. Unexpectedly, Yin Ci immediately counterattacked and frightened away the formidable opponent that had come. As a result, Shi Jingzhi’s spirit deflated quite a bit.

Ignoring the three men at his feet, he turned to Yin Ci with a dejected expression. The latter gave him a faint smile, and the previously brooding and sinister aura vanished without a trace.

Su Si and Yan Qing were accustomed to this. However, Jin Lan’s impression of the Kushan Sect was still stuck on the temporary sect formed in the Ghost Tomb in order to “make up the numbers”. He only knew that Shi Jingzhi could barely fight, but in the span of about a month, the Kushan Sect had gained another truly formidable master.

Not to mention the person who threw back the dagger had an otherworldly demeanor, leaving everyone breathless, there was also the exquisite and exaggerated beauty of the current Sect Master’s face. Even the newly dressed servant-like member looked as enchanting as a peach blossom, unlike an ordinary person.

…The number of suspicious members in the sect had increased.

The group of people looked so refined that it was frightening, and they happened to be squeezed in a desolate and dilapidated house in the remote wilderness, with gloomy and rainy weather. No matter how one looked at it, it seemed like the beginning of a supernatural story. Jin Lan quickly took a step back, and his instinct to exterminate demons and evil made his heart pound.

He ignored the enemies and looked at Yan Qing, his expression filled with terror. Could it be that your Kushan Sect is really not from some demonic sect?

Yan Qing slowly turned away, avoiding that inquiring gaze.

On the contrary, Shi Jingzhi recovered from his grief and pain, and kindly spoke up. “Brother Jin, this group of people who came is undoubtedly ill-intentioned. There must be a reason behind it. May I take a look at the medicinal herbs?”

Jin Lan didn’t know whether he should be grateful or on guard, his tone drifting. “Y-You can take a look. Senior Sister entrusted me with this task, and there’s no need for any concealment.”

As he handed over the medicine box, his gaze even swept toward the other three people behind them, as if trying to find the tail of a monster.

Shi Jingzhi took it in stride, leaving behind an even brighter smile, and then proceeded to examine the medicinal herbs.

As Jin Lan had said, the box of medicine contained only medicine—precious medicinal herbs that could be purchased anywhere in the world—without any extraordinary items like the Ice Peak Snake Lotus. There was nothing unusual mixed in the herbs, and the box, though made of expensive materials, showed no signs of hidden compartments.

This box of medicine was just as orderly as Shi Zhongyu herself.

“These are all mildly nourishing medicines.”

Shi Jingzhi carefully sniffed them and sealed the medicine box back in its original state.

“The Taiheng Sect is indeed wealthy and powerful. This box of medicine is worth at least seven to eight hundred taels of silver.”

Jin Lan chuckled absentmindedly.

Shi Jingzhi: “However, the quantity of medicine is quite large, and these medicines don’t target specific ailments. They can only be used to sustain life. Is someone in your sect seriously ill?”

Jin Lan looked away and fell silent.

“These three men are assassins from the Chigou Sect. They have scorpion tattoos on their bodies.” Su Si rummaged through the clothes of the three men. “Their skills are not particularly refined, likely belonging to the lowest level. They disguise their identities by traveling in groups of three, secretly accompanied by a skilled master. This is a typical assassination technique of the Chigou Sect.”

As a fugitive former young Patriarch of the Chigou Sect, he was more than willing to expose them.

Although they weren’t qualified to know Su Si’s identity, upon hearing his words, the three assassins could still guess that he was a former insider of the Chigou Sect. The three men immediately became anxious, writhing on the ground, and their resentful gazes turned into disdain.

Su Si pretended not to see them. “Even if they are the lowest-level assassins, they are more than capable of killing this young man. Although the Chigou Sect is a demonic sect, they have their own rules and would not engage in such a boring act of robbery. I believe the target is not the medicine but the life of this young man.”

“Nonsense! I, Jin Lan, have no enemies and hold no position. Why would they need to go to such lengths to kill me? Moreover, even if I fail to deliver this box of medicine, it wouldn’t truly affect that person—”

As he spoke, Jin Lan hastily closed his mouth and looked at the ground.

Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci exchanged glances.

Yin Ci: “Su Si, do you have any confidence in getting these three men to talk?”

“It’s impossible. If we used any torture methods to extract information, the ‘Red Scorpion Foot’ wouldn’t dare accept such a hefty payment. Rules are rules. Even if Matron Wuxue herself were here, these three would not betray their client.”

“I suppose so.”

Even if these three men lied, there was no way to verify it. Seeing that the rules he had established were closely followed, Yin Ci didn’t know whether to feel gratified or resigned.

“These three individuals do seem to have some principles. Since our sect’s information cannot be exposed, let’s give them a quick and painless end.”

Jin Lan, after all, came from a reputable sect, and he quickly interjected, “There’s no need for that. Let the Taiheng Sect handle it. If I don’t return on time, Senior Sister will definitely send someone…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Su Si swiftly snapped the necks of the three assassins, silencing them instantly.

Jin Lan took another step back, pressing himself against the wall.

…This was undoubtedly a demonic sect.

It wasn’t until the sound of horses coming from outside that Jin Lan remained pressed against the wall, resembling a raised mural.

As Jin Lan had said, the Taiheng Sect had indeed sent people to find him. However, the two who arrived weren’t ordinary members but influential figures in the Taiheng Sect—Shi Zhongyu, the senior disciple, and Qu Duanyun, a top-ranked member of the Taiheng Sect.

“Senior Sister!” Seeing his savior, Jin Lan hugged the box tightly, finally feeling a sense of returning to the human world from the realm of demons.

When he turned his head, the four members of the Kushan Sect had already put on their Nuo masks, transforming from ethereal immortals to monstrous demons. Shi Jingzhi boldly unfurled his “Medicine Cures Illness” banner, deliberately indicating his identity.

Jin Lan: “…” Why wasn’t he treated this way?

Shi Zhongyu, dressed in sturdy clothing, had an unpleasant expression. As soon as she saw the banner, she promptly dismounted and respectfully greeted Shi Jingzhi, “Sect Master Shi.”

Qu Duanyun remained seated on his horse. “Shi Jingzhi of the Kushan Sect?”

Shi Jingzhi maintained his composure. “Indeed.”

“I am Qu Duanyun. I’ve heard much about you.” Unlike the troubled expression of Shi Zhongyu, Qu Duanyun politely smiled and dismounted.

Through the Nuo masks, Yin Ci silently assessed Qu Duanyun.

This person had sharp eyebrows and a commanding presence, appearing to be a typical member of the Qu Clan.

A hundred years ago, Taiheng’s Qu Tinglei, along with Yan Budu, Kongshi, and himself, were collectively known as the Four Greats. Qu Duanyun was the direct disciple of Qu Tinglei and ranked among the top ten of the younger generation in martial arts. He was polite and had a good reputation, no less than Shi Zhongyu.

It was rumored that he was highly favored within the Taiheng Sect and had basically been designated as the future Taiheng Sect leader.

Yin Ci swept a glance out of the corner of his eye. Indeed, Su Si had already hidden behind Yan Qing, using his Sword of Compassion to half-conceal himself—his whole being on the verge of exploding. Yan Qing was clearly familiar with Qu Duanyun’s identity and considerately stepped forward, making his friend appear more inconspicuous.

“Senior Sister, Senior Qu, why have you both come?” Jin Lan finally regained his senses, feeling surprised by the attention he was receiving.

“I was on my way to the Qu Clan’s residence, but since you haven’t returned for a long time, we decided to look for you,” Shi Zhongyu said with a stern face. “You smell strongly of blood. How did you end up in such a sorry state?”

“Don’t stand here asking questions.” Qu Duanyun mediated. “It’s damp outside. Let’s go to the branch of my family’s residence first, find shelter from the rain, warm ourselves by the fire, and have some tea while we talk.”

Shi Zhongyu pursed her lips, remained silent for a while, and eventually sighed in agreement.

Half an hour later, at the Qu Clan’s branch residence.

The branch was conveniently located near this wilderness, adjacent to a small grove of trees, offering a serene and tranquil atmosphere. The room had been warmed by a brazier, devoid of annoying dampness, with a faint scent of pine in the air.

The furniture in the room was ordinary in material but elegant in design. There were no pretty maidservants in the courtyard; only a few kind-hearted and gentle old servants, and the tea and snacks were of ordinary style.

This place was different from the simple direction of the Jianchen Temple but emitted a similar pure aura.

At the table, Jin Lan rambled on, recounting the details, while Shi Zhongyu didn’t even touch her tea, allowing it to slowly cool down.

“Jin Lan isn’t capable enough. Thank you, members of the Kushan Sect, for your help.” She lowered her head and expressed her gratitude on Jin Lan’s behalf.

Qu Duanyun shook his head and replaced Shi Zhongyu’s cup with a hot one. “So, it was the Chigou Sect causing trouble. That old hag suffered a loss in the matter of the treasure map and is still trying to provoke us like this… Sect Master Shi, your two disciples won’t join us for tea? I’m not that formal here.”

“No need. Our sect’s White Goose Demon was frightened earlier and needs care.” A twitch appeared at the corner of Shi Jingzhi’s mouth.

Joking aside, those two youngsters, one being a descendant of the Yan family and the other the former young Patriarch of the Chigou Sect, wished they could hide hand in hand in the kitchen stove. If Qu Duanyun discovered their identities, the next generation’s conflict between the righteous and the evil in the martial world could start ahead of schedule.

Qu Duanyun didn’t insist. “Alright, later on, I’ll have someone prepare some warm meals to drive away the cold and deliver them separately to them.”

Jin Lan’s situation was already suspicious, and the appearance of the two remarkable individuals from the Taiheng Sect made the strangeness of the matter double. Unfortunately, Shi Zhongyu transformed into a gourd with a saw-toothed mouth*, while Qu Duanyun kept diverting the topic and didn’t mention anything about the medicinal ingredients. Shi Jingzhi could only temporarily give up on probing.

*Metaphor for someone who is silent.

The people from Taiheng were honest but not foolish. Clearly, something inconvenient to disclose had happened within the Taiheng Sect. If they were to press for answers, it would only waste the hard-earned goodwill.

“In fact, the purpose of our sect’s visit to Taiheng this time is twofold.” Shi Jingzhi began following the prepared script. “I obtained a rubbing left by Miss Shi at the Jianchen Temple. However, there happened to be some matters at the Jianchen Temple, making it inconvenient to have it delivered promptly, so I have decided to personally bring it here.”

Shi Zhongyu didn’t delve deeper and absentmindedly responded, “Mm, thank you, Sect Master Shi.”

“And the other matter is that our sect is planning to head north to visit a member of the Mishan Sect. However, the northern region is vast and bitterly cold, and it would consume too much time to travel back and forth. So, I would like to borrow some Arrow Horses…”

Creak.

Shi Zhongyu pushed back her chair and stood up. Surprisingly, she completely changed her previously despondent appearance, gripping the table with both hands and staring intently. “The members of the Mishan Sect have always been reluctant to see people. How do you expect to find them?”

Shi Jingzhi: “Venerable Juefei knows someone who is acquainted with a senior from the Mishan Sect and helped us write a letter of introduction.”

Shi Zhongyu showed a hint of relief on her face. “I—”

“Senior Sister,” Qu Duanyun warned.

Shi Zhongyu didn’t back down. “What’s wrong? This is a stroke of luck. It’s just borrowing some Arrow Horses; it can’t be considered ‘needlessly wasting manpower and resources’, right? This time, I won’t involve others. I’ll go by myself.”

Qu Duanyun shook his head and looked helpless. “Sect Master Shi is still here; let’s discuss this matter later.”

“Sect Master Shi isn’t someone who is greedy and forgets loyalty. He is trustworthy, and I saw it with my own eyes.”

Shi Zhongyu gritted her teeth.

“Duanyun, even if you don’t believe him, you should at least believe in the Buddha Heart Formation of the Jianchen Temple and the discerning eye of Venerable Juefei… That Venerable is most knowledgeable about cause and effect and wouldn’t help someone with just a casual request. Before, when I wanted to seek help from Venerable Juefei, didn’t you stop me with this reason?”

“That’s different. Besides, even if we find someone from the Mishan Sect, they may not have a solution. Senior Sister, please calm down—”

Jin Lan kept his head lowered and dared not make a sound.

Shi Jingzhi put down his teacup decisively. “Enough with the evasiveness. Just speak up. What illness has afflicted your sect’s leader?”

The two individuals from Taiheng froze in mid-action.

“Others may not be able to tell, but I have… come across very similar medicine. Those medicines are used to prolong life, a ‘life and death soup’. Those who use this method to prolong their lives are usually afflicted with strange illnesses, on the brink of death, with no other prescriptions to take, and can only rely on this to sustain their lives.”

“If it’s your elders, friends, or relatives of the two of you, the expenses would truly be immense. Taiheng isn’t lacking in resources, but they wouldn’t squander them for personal reasons. I won’t mention Jin Lan, but the two of you are being secretive about it as well, so it’s not difficult to guess.”

Qu Duanyun pressed his forehead and looked bitter. “Senior Sister, I’ve told you not to bring up this matter anymore.”

“This time, you invited me to your family’s branch residence precisely because of the instructions from the elders and to privately discuss this matter with me, right? Sect Master Shi has connections, and I didn’t intend to hide it.”

Shi Zhongyu spoke frankly.

“That’s right. Our sect leader suddenly got ‘Broken Horse’, and the sect’s renowned physicians are helpless. If we don’t quickly find the root cause, even the life and death soup won’t sustain them for long.”

“Broken Horse?” Shi Jingzhi asked curiously.

Qu Duanyun let out a long sigh. “It’s an internal term within Taiheng. Even the strongest and most valuable steed, once its leg is broken, can only wait helplessly for death. Our sect leader, despite being spirited and energetic until a few days ago, couldn’t withstand the onslaught of the illness.”

“In that case, if it’s a matter concerning the sect leader, why did you stop Miss Shi from saving them?”

“Sect Master Shi is not aware of everything. The ‘Broken Horse’ is not uncommon. Even in the mortal world, when an elderly person gets injured or falls ill, it is a hundred times harder to save them than an ordinary person.”

Qu Duanyun shook his head.

“Everyone has their own destiny. Even if we were to save Sect Master Qi and restore his consciousness, his vitality has been greatly damaged, and he won’t live much longer. The cost of this matter is enormous, and ultimately, it is bound to be futile. The elders are considering the best interests of the sect, which is why they sent me to persuade Senior Sister.”

“At the very least, Sect Master Qi should regain consciousness and make the decision himself.”

Shi Zhongyu’s tone was icy.

“Sect Master Qi is highly respected. For decades, he has managed our sect very well. Now that he is in trouble and we haven’t even identified the cause of his illness, do you expect us to give up on him? My Shi Clan has some savings. If you think the expenses are too great, I will use my own money to cover them.”

“Senior Sister, you are too stubborn. Your approach will only harm the overall situation. Even if Sect Master Qi wakes up, he will surely give up. He values Taiheng too much to jeopardize others for his own sake… Our sect has already invested a lot in the treasure map matter and is unable to handle both issues.”

Shi Zhongyu sneered. “Such lofty selflessness. Duanyun, I will make myself clear. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. I will use my own money, and if anyone has a problem with it, they can tell me themselves.”

Qu Duanyun furrowed his brow slightly, and his tone became stern. “Sect Master Qi’s life is his life, and Jin Lan’s life is his life. If it weren’t for your insistence, our sect members wouldn’t be traveling the same fixed routes every day and attracting the attention of the Chigou Sect.”

“If it weren’t for the assistance of several individuals from the Kushan Sect today, we would have barely managed to retrieve Jin Lan’s body. Can the Shi Clan afford these lives?”

Shi Zhongyu’s face turned pale, and she clenched her fist, causing veins to pop out on her fair hand.

“If I can’t find out the truth during this trip to the Mishan Sect, I will apologize publicly and leave Taiheng. If any of my sect members die during that time, I will personally go to each door and kowtow.”

“But saving Sect Leader Qi is our duty, and on this point, I, Shi Zhongyu, will never back down.”

Shi Zhongyu stood tall with a straight back. As a refined woman, she exuded an unyielding aura, appearing like an immovable rock. Qu Duanyun remained silent; his face filled with helplessness.

Yin Ci finally understood the subtle atmosphere between the two earlier. However, as an outsider, he genuinely didn’t care about Sect Master Qi’s life and death. Compared to the internal disputes within Taiheng, he was more concerned about another matter—

While Abbot Juefei was cursed and burned alive by yang fire on the front foot, shortly after, Sect Master Qi fell seriously ill. If it weren’t for Shi Zhongyu’s stubbornness, forcibly snatching someone from the hands of King Yama, Taiheng’s leadership would have already changed hands.

Qu Duanyun was still young—not to mention whether he could gain the support of the majority—his experience was incomparable to the elder generation’s Sect Master Qi. In this way, Taiheng wouldn’t be as tragic as the Jianchen Temple, but it would still suffer a severe blow, losing much of its former prestige.

Was it just a coincidence?

Shi Jingzhi clearly didn’t want to get involved in this matter. He simply cleared his throat and said, “If Miss Shi is willing to lend Arrow Horses, our sect is also willing to accommodate Miss Shi.”

“Then it’s settled. There’s no time to waste. We’ll leave tomorrow. Jin Lan, go back and inform the people around you that from now on, when delivering medicine, there must be a minimum of three escorts. Don’t stop the life and death soup. I will bring back a solution.”

Shi Zhongyu said coldly, no longer looking at Qu Duanyun.

“I’ll send a message to prepare the Arrow Horses.”

Qu Duanyun didn’t stop her and sighed. “…I understand.”

After Shi Zhongyu left, Qu Duanyun finally let out a sigh of relief. He turned to Shi Jingzhi. “Originally, I was here to be a host, but it turned into a conflict within our own ranks. Please forgive me, Sect Master Shi.”

He anxiously scratched his head.

“Senior Sister has a point. Sect Master Qi has treated us well, but given the current situation… Haa, during this trip to the Mishan Sect, please take good care of Senior Sister. I, Qu Duanyun, hereby express my gratitude in advance.”

Qu Duanyun respectfully lowered his head and bowed.

Shi Jingzhi looked at him for a moment, then returned the bow, giving a flawless response.

“I will do everything in my power.”

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