Translator: Xena
Chapter 83’s a bit long (12k characters) so I plan to translate it in one go then update all parts next week. Thank you!
When Jian Xie appeared in front of Wen Heshu, the latter’s eyes lit up immediately.
The other party was already wearing a SWAT uniform. Although they were covered up very tightly, with even their trouser legs tucked into their boots, the stretch of pale wrist caught people’s attention and stood out conspicuously against the all-black background.
After a while, Wen Heshu suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
Only then did he belatedly realize that he was unconsciously staring at the person without even hearing what he was saying.
“……”
It was related to the mission.
There was a reason he wore those clothes, and this realization brought him back to his senses.
Jian Xie didn’t seem to care at all, and repeated in a calm voice, “I don’t think we should wait until it held the concert. It’d be too late by then.”
The two had met up and drove to the largest dedicated venue in B City, which could accommodate tens of thousands of people at the same time. Every flashing dot in the sky above the venue was not just decoration, but also 360 cameras broadcasting live nationwide. Any small movement could be unintentionally broadcasted on the big screen.
It was here that the star was set to hold a large-scale concert.
This inadvertently increased the risks of the mission.
“This puts the advantage in its hands.” Jian Xie spoke with unusual boldness, “It is very likely that it’s making preparations behind the scenes right now. We can take it away directly.”
Upon hearing this, Wen Heshu frowned.
…..What do you mean ‘take it away’?
Just barge in backstage in full view of everyone?
Surely there can’t be any way to get it to just call off the concert and come along with us on its own.
After all, there’s less than half an hour left before the concert starts.
Actually, he had already taken everything Jian Xie had mentioned into account.
However, gaining access to the backstage area without arousing suspicion was no better than taking action directly during the concert.
Even though he was wearing a SWAT uniform, his role was limited to only maintaining order inside and outside the venue. Anyone wanting to enter the backstage area would still be subject to strict security check.
Unless—
The next moment, Wen Heshu’s breath hitched.
Unbeknownst to them, a young man had silently appeared beside them, leaning against the wall with his head slightly tilted, looking nonchalant.
A human shadow, too dense for the sunlight to penetrate, fell across the ground before him.
He actually has a… physical form.
Noticing their gazes, Qin Zhuo smiled, straightened up, and said lazily, “I got it.”
He was only talking to Jian Xie.
It was like a ferocious beast that has been completely tamed.
Then, the young man, who was nearly 1.9 meters tall, walked past Wen Heshu as if he wasn’t there. He brought with him a chilling aura that went straight to the bone, causing Wen Heshu to shiver involuntarily.
This special treatment was probably only given to Jian Xie.
As they passed each other, the unbridled storm nearly tore him apart on the spot.
He only came to his senses after confirming that the other person had walked a certain distance away.
His bones were all stiff, like a corpse that had just crawled out of its grave.
Wen Heshu turned around with difficulty. Only when he saw the other person’s tall figure disappear around the corner did he unconsciously breathe a sigh of relief.
“……”
He turned around again and was surprised to find that Jian Xie was also staring at Qin Zhuo’s back the whole time.
Jian Xie didn’t know why he was staring either.
There was this… indescribable feeling, as if something was off, but he was overlooking it.
“…This method is very effective.” After a long pause, Wen Heshu said, “Indeed, if it were him, I believe the other party would follow without hesitation.”
They probably wouldn’t even hesitate.
As far as Wen Heshu knew, although they had some complaints about his favoritism towards a human, it was only a matter of being puzzled about it. They did not believe that he was really interested in humans.
But if the evil god were to appear before them, what would happen to those monsters who worship power?
It probably wouldn’t have any objections even if it was made to kneel down. It might even tremble with reverence and gratefulness.
It was an absolutely attractive lure.
If even he could see it progressing like that, then the evil god himself must have been even more aware.
But what Wen Heshu never expected was that he would actually allow Jian Xie to do this. A decision that bore no resemblance to the capricious and reckless evil god he had imagined.
“It was It’s own suggestion.”
Jian Xie’s original idea was a bit simpler and more direct.
Wearing this SWAT uniform, and with the reality-distorting effect of [Lonely Hell], he could create a path where there was none, making it easy to lure the monster out.
Jian Xie did not object to Qin Zhuo’s proposal.
It was because after the other kissed him, he lazily promised that he would have a body soon.
Thinking about the other party’s subsequent attempts to take control, he awkwardly touched the back of his neck.
There was a clear bite mark there.
…He don’t know why the other liked the back of his neck so much.
Upon hearing his words, Wen Heshu’s expression changed several times. He looked both surprised and uncertain.
Jian Xie had no idea what he was thinking.
But he didn’t give him any time to explain.
“I have a question that requires an outsider’s perspective.” He said bluntly, “Because of my personal background, I actually don’t have as much experience in this area as you do.”
Wen Heshu responded without hesitation, “He really likes you.”
Even if he had a sliver of doubt about their relationship before, there wasn’t a trace of it left now. He didn’t believe the evil god would go to such lengths for a human he was merely interested in.
Jian Xie: “…”
Jian Xie’s lips twitched: “That’s not what I wanted to ask.”
Wen Heshu: “…”
“How many of the monsters you’ve encountered are worth a second chance?” He’d only been exposed to the supernatural world for a month. In this short time, Jian Xie encountered some monsters that left him with no desire to even waste words on them, but there were also some that were no different from humans and, apart from their monster status, were not actually very aggressive.
For example, Dr. Li, Wu Qinghe, and his neighbor.
That was why, when he first got the dagger, his original plan to use [Eight Cold Hells] to drag all the monsters in and send them all back to hell when his abilities increased suddenly became less humane.
Based on the examples he saw so far, these monsters were certain to die once they enter hell.
“……”
Even though he had prepared himself mentally, Wen Heshu hadn’t expected the question to be so serious.
He paused for a moment, then frowned.
“…You know Cheng Li, and he should have told you that the investigators’ judgment criteria are very rigid, and he himself is a prime example of this.” Wen Heshu pondered slowly, his expression impassive, before giving his answer, “There is a certain probability that this applies in monsters as well.”
Jian Xie asked, “So, what do you mean by that?”
“Maybe because my experiences with monsters have been different, I don’t hate them as much as Cheng Li does.” Wen Heshu frankly stated, “Some of them really aren’t worth tracking down.”
That certain group of monsters lived more like humans than humans do.
If it weren’t for his precise intuition as an A-level investigator, he wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference between them and ordinary people with his naked eye.
Of course, this only applied to monsters within Special A-level.
After all, monsters of other levels lacked rationality and were likely only driven by the desire to eat, which was not only extremely vile but also utterly disgusting.
Jian Xie adopted a thoughtful expression.
Then, Wen Heshu noticed that he was looking him up and down, as if scrutinizing him.
“I have something I want to show you.”
Jian Xie suddenly spoke up.
He put down the shoulder bag he had been carrying since they met, unzipped it, and took out a black box.
He placed it on the ground.
However, the moment Wen Heshu saw it, his mind went blank, his scalp tingled, and he quickly retreated to create some distance between himself and the box.
This unusual behavior made Jian Xie look up at him and frown.
Wen Heshu was unaware of his current expression.
He simply closed his eyes tightly, refusing to meddle in matters beyond his control.
“I am not allowed.” He said, “I know some props… weapons, that have their own consciousness, that choose their own masters, and that are extremely resistant to other beings.”
At this point, Wen Heshu took a few steps back, tactfully creating some distance between them.
“I am not qualified.”
He added, “But I could feel a heart beating inside the box—”
Wen Heshu felt a chill run down his spine.
The box was alive.
“Perhaps you can tell me what you can tell me or what you want me to know later. I’m leaving now. Call me if you need anything.”
Wen Heshu was indeed full of questions about everything regarding Jian Xie, but he was also very happy that he had passed Jian Xie’s test.
But after coming into contact with numerous top-tier A-level props, he realized one thing—
Curiosity often led to terrible disasters.
Especially in a context where exceeding one’s level and abilities could lead to alienation or madness, one must be even more cautious and keep one’s desire for curiosity in check.
Seeing the other party leave, Jian Xie frowned.
He hadn’t expected that this unopened black box alone would cause a top-tier investigator to voluntarily give up and leave.
No wonder Qin Zhuo said that this was not just a gift, but also a return to its rightful owner.
Because in his hands, the box was no different from an ordinary storage box. He carried it in his schoolbag, where it lay close to his skin through a layer of cloth. Sometimes he would take it to class. He spent more than a month with it like this and never felt anything wrong.
He had been accepted.
If even a top-tier A-level investigator, supposedly the strongest in the Bureau, couldn’t get close, then this became further proof that it truly was a part of hell.
……
A thought ran through him.
Jian Xie suddenly sensed a huge fog approaching.
If even Wen Heshu could only observe from afar, then what role has he, who has been perfectly in sync with it from beginning to end, been playing?
Suddenly, a crisp clicking sound rang out.
Jian Xie immediately turned his gaze toward the source of the sound.
The box’s clasp automatically popped open, releasing a wisp of black mist.
It seemed like an invitation for him to take a look.
Jian Xie: “…”
Does this mean the “story-line animation” is over?
After all, he had enough strength to pick up the third dagger, but it didn’t react at all in his hand before.
That was the legendary [Wandering Hell].
Jian Xie hadn’t forgotten that before coming to B City on a mission, he had entrusted Dr. Li to take care of his neighbor.
He had a premonition that if he wanted his neighbor to break free from his transformation and finally say goodbye to his homeroom teacher in human form, he needed the third dagger.
Without thinking further, he opened the box.
It seemed to have been waiting for a long time. The moment Jian Xie saw it, he didn’t even have time to touch it, it turned into ashes right before his eyes and was blown away by the wind.
The next moment, Jian Xie was plunged into darkness.
