Category: Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 39 – The Girl in the Dream

Falling.

Falling endlessly…

Luo Yan slowly opened her eyes.

No, I can’t open my eyes, something bad will happen…

But… she couldn’t help it.

Where… was she?

Her vision was filled with dark, grayscale images, an endless wasteland, cracked earth…

Countless cries and wails echoed from the horizon, pain and despair spreading as far as the eye could see.

“This is all your fault…”

“All the disasters, all the suffering… because of you!”

“—Destroy you completely, and the world will be saved.”

Ethereal whispers echoed in Luo Yan’s ears. She turned sharply and saw a tall, silent figure.

But she couldn’t see its face…

However, Luo Yan could feel the figure’s hateful gaze, burning into her soul.

“Me?”

Luo Yan paused.

Were those words… directed at her?

She struggled to approach the figure, but her steps were heavy, each movement a struggle.

But Luo Yan persisted, her mind fixated on a single thought: to ask the figure for answers, to ask why.

So many questions…

She might finally get some answers…

She couldn’t… miss this opportunity!

After an unknown amount of time, seemingly both an instant and an eternity, Luo Yan finally reached the tall figure.

But then, she was startled to see that the figure had vanished.

Only a back remained.

A small… dark figure… seen from behind.

“You’re awake,” the dark figure whispered.

Luo Yan felt a strange familiarity in its voice.

“Yes, you’re awake… It seems she and I have failed. All our efforts… wasted…”

“Our sacrifice… meaningless…”

“—Can gods truly… be exiled…?”

Luo Yan stared at the figure, forcing out a few words.

“What… are you saying…?”

The moment she spoke, Luo Yan’s pupils constricted.

Wait…

Only now did she realize why the voice sounded so familiar.

Because her voice… no, the figure’s voice…

Their voices were identical!

“But… we haven’t completely failed.”

The dark figure slowly turned around, and Luo Yan clearly saw its face.

Identical to her own!

Except for the long black hair, the cold, deathly aura, and the completely black eyes, there was no other difference.

The dark-haired girl stood silently, her expression blank.

She looked at Luo Yan and whispered,

“Seeing you now… I know we haven’t failed.”

“So, for us… for you… please live…”

“—Miss ‘Luo Yan’.”

“…This world… is so beautiful… it shouldn’t be destroyed.”

The dark figure slowly dissipated, and the surrounding scenery faded.

“Why?” Luo Yan murmured. “Why… would destroying me save the world?”

“Why… do you want me to live… so that this world won’t be destroyed?”

She still had no answers.

…

The hospital.

Luo Yan felt her consciousness returning to her body, a warm wetness in her eyes as she opened them slightly.

“Am I… crying?”

Her mind was blank.

The memories of the dream vanished like mist, leaving no trace.

“Wow, Luo Yan, you’re finally awake!”

A voice beside her interrupted her thoughts, and a power connected with her, clear vision returning.

—”Eagle Eye.”

“Good afternoon, Hua Qiling,” Luo Yan composed herself and greeted her softly.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, birds chirping outside, hushed conversations echoing in the hospital corridor. It was an ordinary afternoon.

Yet, Luo Yan felt a sense of unreality, strangely unaccustomed to this peaceful atmosphere.

Hua Qiling looked much better, although she was still in bed, the injuries from the electric shock not to be underestimated. She was taking a well-deserved break.

“How long was I out?”

Luo Yan sat up slightly, supporting herself with her hand.

“About… three or four days. You were talking in your sleep the whole time, mumbling things I couldn’t understand,” Hua Qiling scratched her head, a worried look in her eyes. “Was the Flower Street incident really that serious? The doctor said you’re in bad shape…”

“No, it’s just me,” Luo Yan shook her head and said softly.

She had been feeling her body deteriorating.

Even walking was becoming difficult now; she might need a wheelchair soon.

—This day would come eventually; Luo Yan had anticipated it.

Even in the town, her condition had been worsening.

The demonic power was eroding her body, making her stronger, but also bringing unavoidable weakness.

There was no known cure for this, even Dawn, with their extensive research, could only slow down the process.

After all, if there were a cure, the Misters wouldn’t have died.

“What happened at Flower Street in the end?” Luo Yan asked softly.

She had lost consciousness before learning the outcome.

“What else could happen? My dear Miss Luo Yan, you took down the big boss,” Hua Qiling sighed.

“All the Disaster Response Department’s preparations were only useful for the cleanup, and even that was unexpected. Who would have thought it would end so quickly?”

“That’s good.”

Luo Yan relaxed slightly, leaning back against the pillows.

“Good? You’re seriously injured!” Hua Qiling said, exasperated. “Do you know that all you had to do was—”

She stopped abruptly, realizing she had said too much.

“All I had to do was make contact with the enemy, report back to the Disaster Response Department, so they could confirm his… and my… situation, right?”

Luo Yan turned to Hua Qiling, her closed eyes seeing clearly.

“Uh…”

Hua Qiling shrank back.

“I know, Yan City never truly trusted me, but I needed their help to learn more. And the situation was dangerous; delaying any longer might have resulted in civilian casualties,” Luo Yan said softly.

She was a mysterious individual from a disaster zone, possessing a dangerous power.

Even with Hua Qiling and Hua Qingling vouching for her, the Yan City higher-ups hadn’t been at ease until the Flower Street incident was resolved.

Luo Yan understood their caution, but she couldn’t empathize.

Hua Qiling opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Yan City was her home, and Miss Luo Yan was her close friend. She was caught between a rock and a hard place.

She understood Yan City’s intentions, but she was powerless to change them.

Although she was the Director of the Disaster Response Department, everyone knew that the true Director was Li Ping.

Li Ping’s status, however, was too high for such a position, so he had entrusted it to Hua Qiling, his most trusted subordinate, but he still held the true authority.

This was why Hua Qiling, barely in her twenties, could hold such a position.

Hua Qiling had planned to stand by Luo Yan, to not betray either her friend or her city.

Unfortunately, the incident at the research facility had changed her plans. Even though Hua Qiling had wanted to continue the mission despite her injuries, Luo Yan had seen through her intentions and insisted she stay at the hospital.

—It wasn’t just because I wanted to stay by Miss Luo Yan’s side!

“Anyway, don’t worry about that now. The files you requested have arrived, they’re all here!”

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Hua Qiling quickly changed the subject, patting the stack of books beside her.

“Oh? So soon?”

Luo Yan was surprised. She had thought Yan City’s decryption procedures would take longer.

As agreed, Yan City would provide Luo Yan with classified information, including top-secret files on the “Ice Coffin Weapon” and “Primordial Demons.”

She just hadn’t expected their administrative efficiency to be so high.

“They actually arrived a few days ago…”

Hua Qiling touched her nose.

In reality, Hua Qingling had arranged everything before leaving.

The files were ready to be handed over to Luo Yan immediately after the incident, so as not to waste any of her remaining time.

“Alright, please hand them to me, thank you.”

“Eh, you can just read them with ‘Eagle Eye,’ no need to be so troublesome.”

“I want to hold them in my hands, it helps me think.”

“Oh, okay…”

Luo Yan took the files and leaned back against the pillows, pulling out a few books.

She closed her eyes, but her slender fingers gently turned the pages, as if she were reading.

“You don’t actually need to turn the pages…”

Hua Qiling, slightly bored, commented.

With “Eagle Eye Vision” shared, Luo Yan could see the contents without turning the pages.

“It’s just a habit. Reading requires some kind of action,” Luo Yan whispered.

Although the recent mission had been troublesome, and Yan City clearly had ulterior motives, she was satisfied with the reward, and that was enough.

Not only had they provided the files on Yan City’s “Ice Coffin Weapon,” but they had also included all the files on “Primordial Demons,” although limited to Yan City’s access level.

It even included information on the “Witch of Absolute Death” war centuries ago, but it was fragmented and incomplete, as if much had been erased.

This wasn’t Yan City’s doing; the entire Free Federation’s records of this event were incomplete.

The few fragmented pieces of information, including the Sword Saint Sect Master’s heroic deeds, had been obtained from Dawn.

More precisely, all information on the “Witch of Absolute Death” war came from “Mister.”

It was said that this was because anyone who recalled the “Witch of Absolute Death’s” appearance would be sensed by her, even in her slumber, potentially triggering her awakening.

To prevent this, the human leadership had decided to erase those memories.

Of course, this was just speculation, as “Mister” still remembered, although he was reluctant to speak of it.

“After the successful establishment of the first mega-city, ‘Noah,’ nine of the ten Primordial Demons fell into slumber, perhaps fearing annihilation, leaving only ‘Absolute Death’ as the sole darkness shrouding the world.”

“The Twelve Saints, knowing her cruelty, sought a single ark in the vast ocean of despair, sacrificing themselves like moths to a flame, to bury the abyss of despair she had created…”

Luo Yan read through the files, finding the descriptions and wording strange.

“‘Noah’ is a mega-city with strong religious beliefs, so their records are often like this, don’t mind it,” Hua Qiling said, munching on sunflower seeds. “Basically, ten demons were around, nine of them went to sleep for some reason, and the last one, the ‘Witch of Absolute Death,’ was put down after a lot of people died.

“But what’s interesting is, although the Witch of Absolute Death was the last Primordial Demon to be sealed, there have never been any records of her followers…”

“Oh?” Luo Yan put down the files and looked at Hua Qiling, surprised. “Why?”

“Here, it’s written here.”

Hua Qiling casually picked up a thick book and handed it to Luo Yan.

This wasn’t one of the classified files from Yan City, but one of Hua Qiling’s personal collection… a novel.

“Kill That Demon”?

Luo Yan took the book and glanced at the title, her eyelid twitching.

This… was a novel?

Such a strange title… could the contents be trusted?

It seemed increasingly unreliable…

“Don’t mind the weird title, it’s just the author’s strange taste. The story itself is quite interesting, ahem…”

Hua Qiling coughed awkwardly and shrugged. “Of course, it’s not just a novel. It contains some very real and valuable information, at least the historical parts aren’t fabricated.”

Luo Yan’s lips twitched. She couldn’t imagine how reliable this book could be…

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 38 – Eat, Consume, Devour

Yan City Anomaly Management Bureau.

Today, the conference room welcomed an unexpected guest.

Li Ping, unusually, stood to greet him, his expression slightly grave.

“City Lord.”

Before him stood a refined man with short hair. Although his temples were tinged with gray, the sharp lines of his face and body hadn’t been softened by age.

This was Lin Cheng, the current City Lord of Yan City, holding the highest authority.

Yan City wasn’t governed by a council. The position of City Lord was firmly held by the Lin family, who had founded the city, the head of the Lin family also serving as City Lord.

Of course, Yan City had only been established for a few decades, so the position had only passed down one generation. The current City Lord, Lin Cheng, was the second son of the second generation of the Lin family line.

…The reason a second son held the position was because Lin Cheng was the only surviving child of the second generation.

His siblings, and even most of his elders, had perished in the Endless Wasteland, dying while expanding Yan City’s territory.

No one in Yan City questioned the Lin family’s authority, simply because they had paid almost everything to achieve it.

“Brother Li, there’s no need for such formalities between us in private.”

Lin Cheng smiled. Although he was around the same age as Li Ping, both elderly, compared to the frail Li Ping, Lin Cheng was a dashing older gentleman, his attire surprisingly trendy for his age.

He wore a large trench coat, stylish sunglasses perched on his slightly curled, graying hair.

“What’s the matter? I’m quite busy, I don’t have time for idle chatter.”

Hearing this, Li Ping rolled his eyes and sat down.

He had thought it was something important, something requiring a meeting in the conference room.

The situation outside was already chaotic. Besides the anticipated Devil’s minion incident, other, more pressing matters had arisen.

The reappearance of a Primordial Demon’s aura, the deliberate reveal of Dawn’s presence, and the detection of an intrusion at the “Wall of Resentment,” where the “Ice Coffin Weapon” was stored.

These matters were already enough to give Li Ping a headache, not to mention Frick from the Apprehension Department, who seemed to be up to something, or rather… “Noah” headquarters.

Although both were part of the Anomaly Management Bureau, the relationship between the Yan City branch and Noah headquarters wasn’t exactly harmonious, more like a superficial alliance.

“Private matters doesn’t mean it’s not serious business,” Lin Cheng shrugged. “This incident… it’s quite a big deal.”

“…Expected, yet unexpected,” Li Ping murmured.

“It seems the Sword Saint sect is also involved,” Lin Cheng tapped the table lightly. “The current successor, Qin Wen… was she taken in by Old Man Sword?”

“Who else? How old is Qin Wen? That old geezer isn’t looking for a wife at his age, is he?”

When it came to the Sword Saint Sect Master, Li Ping and Lin Cheng’s tones were surprisingly similar.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him,” Lin Cheng sighed. “I can’t believe it… back then, he was an old man, and we were just kids, and now we’re old men, and he’s still an old man…”

Although they called him “Old Man Sword,” the Sword Saint Sect Master was actually their teacher.

Of course, although they were his students, Li Ping and Lin Cheng weren’t members of the Sword Saint sect.

According to the old man himself, he had only taken them on as students to earn some money because he was broke.

—The specifics, however, were unknown.

“Don’t worry about Qin Wen, Old Man Sword said she’s staying in Yan City for a while,” Li Ping stood up. “Enough chit-chat, there are more important matters to attend to.”

“Wait, since this Sword Saint successor is staying in Yan City, we should give her a position, right?” Lin Cheng stroked his chin.

“The Director of the Disaster Response Department is you… or rather, the younger Hua girl, the Director of the Exploration Department is the older Hua girl, Old Nie from the Oversight Department is irreplaceable, and the Apprehension Department… well… it seems the only position left is Director-General.”

Li Ping: “?”

You want me to resign so you can give my position to her? Why don’t you give her your City Lord position?

“Just kidding, don’t glare at me,” Lin Cheng chuckled, scratching his head. “If Qin Wen doesn’t have an official position, she’s just an ordinary traveler, right? There’s no point…

“It would be a waste of her Sword Saint status!”

Compared to her personal strength, her status as a Sword Saint seemed more significant.

After all, this Sword Saint successor was still young and, having spent most of her time in the Endless Wasteland, was rather naive.

Her social skills were even worse than Luo Yan’s, who had been trapped in Ghost Town.

“I’ve already considered this,” Li Ping said impatiently. “She reported to the Apprehension Department a few days ago. She might be able to get a small team leader position or something from Frick.”

“The Apprehension Department?” Lin Cheng’s eyes widened. “Sending her to the Apprehension Department is like sending her to ‘Noah’…”

“It’s the Yan City Apprehension Department, still under Yan City’s jurisdiction,” Li Ping sneered. “Besides, working under Frick doesn’t mean she has to obey his every command.

“Moreover, the sole successor of the Sword Saint sect… would Frick dare to order her around?”

“So, what I’ve sent is a thorn, a thorn in his side… Although not fatal, it will be quite irritating.”

Lin Cheng thought about it and shuddered.

The old fox was still an old fox, his schemes both subtle and ruthless…

“Damn! You’re ruthless. Does Qin Wen even agree to this?”

“She readily agreed and even praised Director Frick as a capable leader, thoughtful and strategic, although a bit… lacking in judgment.”

“…Except for the last part, none of those words describe Frick.”

“I’m also curious about that.”

Li Ping turned to leave.

But Lin Cheng stopped him.

“One more thing, what about that ‘Calamity Infected’?”

Li Ping paused, then said, “She’s… quite remarkable.”

“You and Hua Qingling seem to be hiding a lot about her, even giving her access to unauthorized, classified information,” Lin Cheng said gravely. “Care to explain? Or should I investigate myself?”

“No need to trouble yourself, City Lord,” Li Ping whispered. “She only has three months left to live. Let her… rest peacefully.”

“Three months…” Lin Cheng’s expression shifted, then darkened. “Alright, I understand.”

His intuition told him that Luo Yan’s presence was a risk to Yan City.

But since even the shrewd Li Ping said so…

Regardless of the truth, they shouldn’t mistreat a young girl nearing the end of her life.

…

Meanwhile, at the Oversight Department.

They also had an unexpected visitor, a man in a wide trench coat and a bowler hat.

“Director Frick?” Old Nie looked at the rarely seen Director of the Apprehension Department in surprise. “What a rare guest. What brings you to the Oversight Department?”

Although also a Director in the Anomaly Management Bureau, Frick rarely interacted with other departments.

The reason for this went without saying.

“Mister Nie, I’m here to check on the follow-up investigation of the ‘Flower Street incident’,” Frick said politely, removing his hat.

“Follow-up…? Oh, you want to see the Devil’s minion’s corpse, right?” Old Nie slapped his forehead, then rubbed his bald head, looking troubled. “But according to regulations, such hazardous materials must be disposed of… The body is already in the incinerator.”

“Disposal” meant incineration, the ashes scattered in the Endless Wasteland.

Although incineration wasn’t foolproof, it was usually the most reliable method.

Yan City didn’t dare keep anything tainted with a Primordial Demon’s power, not even the research-obsessed Oversight Department.

Although they were interested in analyzing the nature of Primordial Demons, they valued their lives more.

—Touching taboos was easier said than done.

“It’s alright, I just want to confirm a few things, Mister Nie,” Frick said calmly.

“You know that Mister Li entrusted this matter to me, and I failed to meet his expectations. I wasn’t able to help at all.”

“Ahem, well, they didn’t really do much either…”

Old Nie, clearly aware of the Disaster Response Department’s inner workings, chuckled.

“Anyway, I want to do what I can. Perhaps I can glean some useful information from the Devil’s minion’s corpse,” Frick’s expression was serious. “Just ten minutes, I won’t stay long.”

“…Ten minutes? Alright, even a bit longer is fine,” Old Nie opened the door for Frick. “I’ll let Li Ping know. Go ahead, the incinerator will be activated soon, just leave before then.”

A request from a fellow Director, and with such polite words, Old Nie couldn’t refuse.

Besides, what could happen in ten minutes?

Or rather, what could possibly go wrong with a Devil’s minion’s corpse?

Before disposal, the Oversight Department had already examined the body and confirmed that there was no residual aura of the “Witch of Envy”; otherwise, they wouldn’t have scheduled incineration so readily.

“Thank you for your understanding, Mister Nie.”

Frick put his bowler hat back on and entered.

As he went deeper inside, the whirring of machinery grew louder, drowning out all other sounds.

The air grew warmer, as if approaching a volcano.

The Oversight Department members didn’t pay much attention to the man in the trench coat, even though they didn’t know who he was.

Anyone who could reach this area must have Old Nie’s approval.

After descending several levels, Frick reached the incinerator at the bottom.

The small, twisted body of an ugly man lay on a metal bed, his flesh interspersed with scraps of bright red cloth.

The man’s grotesque face was withered, covered in a thick layer of cheap powder.

The cloying scent of perfume mixed with the disgusting stench of decay, creating a nauseating combination.

It was a smell that could drive anyone sane mad.

But Frick, his expression unchanged, approached the body, the surrounding barriers offering no resistance.

“As expected… Envy,” Frick reached out and poked the corpse, then brought his finger to his nose and sniffed. “The scent of a demon… unfortunately, already diluted.”

“Heh, if I hadn’t been tricked…”

Frick knew he had been played.

He had realized it when two reports appeared on his desk simultaneously.

The Dawn Cadre’s diversionary tactic, and the intrusion at the “Wall of Resentment.”

If it weren’t for a routine patrol noticing non-regulation boot prints near the Wall of Resentment, they wouldn’t have discovered it.

The entire Yan City was baffled, and this was a major reason for Li Ping’s recent overtime.

But Frick knew who had infiltrated the “Wall of Resentment.”

…It could only be “Mister.”

Because the Ice Coffin Weapon stored within was the “Eldest Mister” of Dawn, officially declared deceased.

Frick had learned this by chance.

While in “Noah,” he had accessed some classified files, including the known abilities of the nine Misters, and their speculated fates and locations.

He had clearly seen Yan City deploy its “Ice Coffin Weapon” during the Ghost Town incident, and it had reminded him of something in those classified files.

To confirm his suspicions, Frick had gone to great lengths to obtain the files on Yan City’s Ice Coffin Weapon, finally verifying his theory.

Although the records indicated only “Peril” level destructive power, it was clear that this was just a fraction of her true power.

Unlike the other “Ice Coffin Weapons,” she was dead.

The Ice Coffin containing her eternally slumbering body was the first, and the true Ice Coffin.

—The “Ice Coffin” was originally a coffin, a containment device created to preserve her dangerous remains.

Its use as a weapon was entirely the Free Federation’s doing, deviating from Dawn’s original purpose.

However, because she was dead, unable to actively use her terrifying power, the resulting destruction was only “Peril” level.

If she were alive and conscious, even a “Destruction” level expert would have to think twice before facing her.

“Perhaps this is why ‘Noah’ carelessly sent her to Yan City?”

But this explanation seemed far-fetched. If even he could recognize the Eldest Mister’s remains, “Noah” should have been able to as well.

As for Yan City?

Just a backwater town.

A newly established mega-city with less than a century of history had no such knowledge. Even if they witnessed the Eldest Mister’s power, they might not recognize it.

“I missed one opportunity, and I don’t know when the next will come,” Frick flexed his left hand, cracking his index finger. “But I can’t wait any longer.”

“I’ve had enough of Yan City and Dawn’s games…”

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he abruptly snapped his index finger.

The broken finger, its flesh mangled and dripping blood, hung precariously.

The crimson blood slowly dripped onto the ugly corpse, seeping into its withered flesh.

“Taboo? Demon?” Frick’s left hand, its index finger broken, slowly reached into the corpse. “To me, it’s just… power to be exploited…”

He scooped out a piece of rotting flesh, brought it to his mouth, and slowly took a bite, chewing thoughtfully.

“Delicious power, disgusting food.”

He scooped out another piece and swallowed it whole, without chewing.

“Unfortunately, the most stable demonic power comes from Demonically Infected, but with the plan failed, I can only make do with this… ‘dead’ demonic power.”

His severed finger twitched, as if regenerating.

“How… unsightly…”

He continued to devour the corpse.

…

“Director Frick, so soon?”

Barely five minutes had passed when Old Nie saw Frick emerge.

“I made some preparations beforehand, so it was quicker,” Frick said, a rare smile appearing on his face, leaving Old Nie looking as if he had seen a ghost.

This usually grim and unapproachable outsider was actually smiling? And he seemed to be in a good mood?

“Did you find something interesting?”

Old Nie asked, intrigued.

“Ah… yes, very interesting,” Frick nodded thoughtfully, then adjusted his bowler hat. “Don’t worry, I’ll compile a report for Mister Li… and for you as well.”

“Oh? I look forward to it.”

Old Nie hadn’t expected Frick to find anything, but since he said so, he offered a perfunctory compliment.

“Well, I won’t disturb you any longer, Mister Nie. If there’s time later… we can chat properly.”

Frick extended his left hand, and Old Nie, out of politeness, shook it.

“Anytime, anytime…”

“Farewell.”

Frick turned and left the Oversight Department.

“Strange, why is his hand so sticky…?”

Old Nie felt a strange stickiness on his hand after shaking Frick’s.

Just then, a member of the Incineration Department poked his head out from behind the door.

“Director Nie, it seems we made a mistake and activated the incinerator prematurely.”

“Prematurely? Well, it’s not a big deal…”

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 37 – “Mister” Zero, Her

As a brief but intense chaos gripped Yan City’s core district, an inconspicuous, hunched figure slowly walked down the street.

No one, neither the ability users from the Anomaly Management Bureau nor the ordinary citizens rushing past, noticed him.

The old man just kept walking.

He passed through bustling streets, crossed the core district’s security lines, and reached the most heavily guarded location in all of Yan City, the place where the Ice Coffin Weapon was stored, a top-secret facility known as the “Wall of Resentment.”

The old man looked up at the familiar building, his lips trembling slightly, memories flooding his mind.

After a long moment, he sighed.

“Long time no see, old friend…”

The guards weren’t dozing. The security at this crucial location was always tight.

This was a weapon capable of destroying the entire city; there was no room for error.

But no one could see the old man, not even the constantly patrolling surveillance drones.

He walked casually towards the main entrance of the Wall of Resentment.

Entering the Wall of Resentment required a series of complex procedures and multiple layers of authentication.

But as the old man approached, the doors silently opened for him.

The guards, as if seeing nothing, allowed him to enter.

The doors closed behind him, and the Wall of Resentment returned to its usual silence, as if nothing had happened.

Dark, cramped, cold.

The Wall of Resentment wasn’t a place for the living. When Yan City was first established, this mysterious structure of unknown origin had been discovered at the construction site.

After research, they discovered it could be used to store the “Ice Coffin Weapon,” and it had been used for that purpose ever since.

But the old man knew that storing the “Ice Coffin” was only one of the Wall of Resentment’s functions.

No one was more familiar with this place than him; those who knew more were already buried in the graves of the past.

The old man’s pace was unhurried, but his expression was unusually tense.

Few had ever seen such an expression on the face of this legendary figure who had lived through two eras, because there was no one left who could evoke such an emotion from him.

—Except for his “brother.”

Dawn’s Ninth Mister, the only confirmed surviving “Mister,” his ability unknown, speculated to be the demonic power of the “Sovereign of Greed.”

Even Dawn’s oldest Cadres, humanity’s most experienced veterans, even the most ancient “Slumberers,” weren’t worthy of being his grandchildren.

Endless greed consumed his body, uncontrollably feeding on “malice,” sustaining his frail form for nearly a thousand years.

But it had also brought him a thousand years of torment.

And yet, this ancient, legendary figure now wore a childlike expression of nervousness.

The long journey finally reached its end. Upon seeing his destination, the tension on Mister’s face melted into relief.

“Finally, I’ve come to see you… Sister.”

“Or rather, Eldest Brother.”

Before him lay a girl with short, icy blue hair, her body wrapped tightly in bandages, only one eye visible.

She lay in the Ice Coffin with her eyes closed, as if asleep.

Her sleeping face was peaceful.

But Mister knew she was dead.

She had died many, many years ago.

As the Eldest Mister, as the first test subject for the “Ice Coffin” device.

Now, only an unchanging obsession remained within this body, driving her unconscious actions.

“Sister…”

Mister approached, his hand trembling as he reached out.

He felt like that little boy from his distant memories, his hand gently held by his sister.

But that was no longer possible.

His outstretched hand was stopped by the Ice Coffin, unable to reach her.

Mister paused, then, after a long silence, whispered,

“It’s been so long…”

His sister had been sleeping for centuries, while he, the little boy from back then, was now old and frail, the sole witness to that history.

“Sister, you once told me that death is a train that always arrives full, and none of us will miss it,” Mister murmured. “You said that you and the other brothers simply boarded the train a little earlier, and this journey will eventually reach its destination, there’s no need to rush.

“But I, holding my ticket, stand on the platform, watching train after train pass by, unable to find my seat.”

The girl with icy blue hair in the Ice Coffin was identical to the sister in his memories. Looking at her, long-buried memories surfaced.

Joy, sorrow, endings, pain…

As he delved deeper into his memories, familiar figures appeared, standing or sitting beside him, in their past forms.

The lively and cheerful Second Brother, the quiet and reserved Fifth Brother, the honest and dependable Sixth Brother…

The phantoms of his memories gathered around the aged “Nine,” their expressions just as they were back then.

Dawn was originally a family.

They were family to each other.

Lonely and helpless, they only had each other…

Finally, a tall, indistinct figure appeared before Mister, reaching out a hand.

Mister looked at the illusory hand and slowly raised his head.

All the phantoms vanished, along with the tall figure he had been searching for all these years.

“It’s… like this again…”

Mister murmured, looking up blankly.

“But… it’s becoming clearer…

“I think I’m about to find you, Sister.”

Mister shakily stood up, walked to the Ice Coffin, and sat down beside it.

“I can feel it, I’m about to die. I can hear the train, the one with my seat, it’s rushing towards me, and I will finally board it.”

“But before I board, I have to fulfill… my brothers’ last wish, to find that figure.”

The world only knew of Dawn’s nine Misters.

Those more informed also knew that the nine Misters possessed the powers of nine Primordial Demons, incredibly powerful and terrifying, yet also incredibly fragile.

But what no one knew, except for the Misters themselves, was…

Dawn had a tenth “Mister.”

Or rather, a “Zeroth” Mister.

Even the Misters didn’t know who “Mister” Zero was, where she came from, or why she had gathered them, those with demonic powers.

Indeed, it wasn’t the nine Misters who founded Dawn, but one.

“Mister” Zero.

She had found them one by one, those “Misters” who suffered from pain and torment, and brought them together.

She had given them a home, warmth, hope, everything, but in the end…

—She had destroyed it all.

Mister still remembered the moment when all his brothers, including himself, lost control of their demonic powers.

“Dawn City,” the home they had painstakingly built, was destroyed.

And “Mister” Zero had watched coldly, because she was the culprit.

It had all been her plan.

Nine children with demonic powers, a close-knit family, “Dawn City”… they were all just tools for her scheme.

She claimed to want to save the world, but she destroyed everything.

In the end, she vanished without a trace, leaving only the ruins of “Dawn” behind.

Since then, all traces of “Mister” Zero had been erased. No method could uncover her existence.

Their only chance to find her had been during the “Witch of Absolute Death” incident centuries ago, but they had found nothing, only a seemingly meaningless name.

“Luo Yan.”

The name was meaningless. Anyone could be called Luo Yan, but Mister was searching for a specific person, not just anyone with that name.

“We… just want an answer, an explanation,” Mister’s eyes flickered. “It’s alright, soon… we’ll have our answer.”

The only remaining Mister, “Nine,” possessed the demonic power of the “Sovereign of Greed,” manifested as a “morbid craving for malice.”

Driven by this craving, every part of his body fed on malice.

Malice sustained his life, but it also brought him endless torment and pain.

This body, steeped in malice, yet carried a human soul and will.

The fact that “Mister” Nine had endured until now was nothing short of a miracle.

And when his ability activated, he could absorb more malice, amplifying his greed.

Then, he could transform this “greed” into a craving for “truth,” granting him a limited ability to glimpse into the future and the past.

Each use increased the malice within his body, but also strengthened his craving.

In other words, Mister’s final use of his ability, before his death, would be his strongest.

He could even, with his human body, touch upon “Cataclysm” level power.

“I will find the truth,” Mister whispered. “Sister, you just rest peacefully at home… with Mother…”

—Yan City was built on the site of the settlement destroyed by the bandaged girl’s first uncontrolled outburst.

This was her home.

This was why a relatively new city like Yan City possessed such a powerful “Ice Coffin Weapon” from the Free Federation.

—Because Mister had learned through certain channels that his sister’s body was being used as an “Ice Coffin Weapon” by the Free Federation, but no one knew her true identity.

Therefore, Mister had manipulated events, using the Free Federation to send his sister to Yan City, her former home.

The reason Mister had returned to Yan City in his final days was also to be with his slumbering sister.

To be by her side, to uncover the truth of the past before boarding the train of death.

“Wait for me, Sister.”

Mister stood up and walked unsteadily towards the exit of the Wall of Resentment.

“The truth… will soon be revealed.”

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 36 – “Nine”

Meanwhile, the Disaster Response Department at the Anomaly Management Bureau was in chaos.

Although they had anticipated a counterattack from the Devil’s minion and made thorough preparations, they hadn’t expected another aura similar to a Primordial Demon’s descent.

The brief detection of the “Witch of Envy’s” descent had been enough to solidify their decision to deploy the Ice Coffin Weapon.

Now, another similar aura had appeared, and within the core district, no less.

Even though it was also fleeting, Li Ping couldn’t ignore it.

The Disaster Response Department immediately mobilized all available teams, preparing to converge on the location where the aura had appeared—including Flower Street.

At the same time, a level two alert was issued for the core district, and they began evacuating civilians near Flower Street.

Frick, Director of the Apprehension Department, also received the message from Davis and Cheng Hongyuan.

He was shocked to learn that the Devil’s minion had been confirmed to be on Flower Street.

“How…?”

Frick was incredulous, even suspecting collusion between Yan City and the Devil’s minion.

Flower Street was directly managed by several powerful families in Yan City, with strict security. It should have been impossible for an unvetted individual to infiltrate.

However, the “Gold-Melting Kiln” was an exception.

Frick wasn’t a local, and people of his status wouldn’t mention such establishments, so he was completely unaware of it.

“Well, immediately mobilize all available ‘Ruin’ level ability users in the vicinity to provide support!” Frick gritted his teeth, trying to salvage the situation. “I can’t let Li Ping catch me off guard…”

Li Ping had been looking for an opportunity to undermine him, and if this major blunder was discovered and reported to the Anomaly Management Bureau headquarters in “Noah,” Frick’s career would be in jeopardy.

Even if the Yan City Apprehension Department remained under headquarters’ control, the likelihood of him being replaced as Director… was high.

But just as Frick was filled with regret, a short message arrived on his private channel.

It was just one sentence, but upon seeing it, Frick’s anxious expression calmed, replaced by a serious look.

He pondered for a moment, then canceled his previous order and issued a new one.

“All Apprehension Department personnel, immediately proceed to District Three.”

The message was short, just one sentence.

—”Traces of ‘Dawn’ discovered in District Three.”

“After all these days, they’ve finally shown themselves…”

Frick took a deep breath, a smile appearing on his lips.

Compared to some disaster or a Devil’s minion, he was far more interested in Dawn and their “Mister.”

No, not just him.

The Anomaly Management Bureau headquarters in “Noah” felt the same. After all, Yan City was just one of many mega-cities, and a relatively remote one at that.

This remoteness wasn’t geographical, but in terms of its connection to the Free Federation.

The fate of such a mega-city was far less important than information on Dawn’s “Mister.”

“Now, Li Ping can’t do anything to me,” Frick sneered. “What I want… I will obtain.”

Regarding Dawn, besides headquarters’ orders, Frick also had his own agenda.

Having reached his current position, his own strength and value were paramount.

As for the two “young ladies” he had sent to Flower Street… after confirming that Li Ping couldn’t retaliate against him, Frick had completely forgotten about them.

…

District Three, “Slums,” within an inconspicuous small house.

“Where’s Mister?”

Alyxsia stood before Ling Qi and asked gravely.

Although Ling Qi was taller than the blue-haired girl, the difference in their status and strength made her appear timid.

“Mister said he wanted to go for a walk…”

“Why didn’t you follow him?”

Alyxsia frowned, her tone serious. “This is Free Federation territory. If Mister is discovered… no, he can’t be discovered.”

Ling Qi had been taking care of Mister’s daily needs.

It was Mister’s request. He said Ling Qi reminded him of an old friend.

Being able to experience this sense of companionship in his final days made Mister happy.

So, for the most part, Alyxsia and Grifres hadn’t disturbed them, leaving Ling Qi alone with Mister.

But today…

“I’m sorry… Mister… told me not to follow…”

Ling Qi lowered her head and whispered.

Grifres walked over and said in a low voice,

“There’s activity in Yan City’s core district.”

“Yes, I sensed it too,” Alyxsia said. “That’s why I came to discuss it with Mister, but I didn’t expect him to have gone out…”

Grifres was silent for a moment, then said,

“Mister hasn’t left this house, not even his room, since we arrived in Yan City.”

“But now he suddenly wants to go for a walk, and he told Ling Qi not to follow, and didn’t even tell us,” Alyxsia whispered.

“Is Mister planning something?” Grifres said, worried. “I’ve always been puzzled by why he chose to come to Yan City…”

“No one in Dawn knows the answer to that question. Only Mister,” Alyxsia shook her head, then added, “But since Mister doesn’t want us to know, we shouldn’t pry. He… has his reasons.”

“Yes, of course,” Grifres nodded. “But we should still help him, to ensure his plans aren’t disrupted.”

Alyxsia paused.

“You mean…?”

“I’ve searched the entire District Three; there’s no trace of Mister. He must have left,” Grifres’s expression was serious. “We’ll create a diversion, attract the attention of the Yan City Apprehension Department, to prevent them from discovering Mister.”

Alyxsia’s eyes lit up, and she nodded immediately.

“Yes, that’s… all we can do for him now.”

“For Dawn,” Grifres placed his fist over his heart and whispered.

“And… for the last of the Misters,” Alyxsia mirrored his gesture, her voice soft.

Soon after, several Apprehension Department members searching District Three were killed by Dawn Cadres, and the news reached the Apprehension Department headquarters.

…

Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Young Master Liu lay unconscious in a corner, frothing at the mouth.

Luo Yan hadn’t knocked him out for revenge, but because her eyes were still open.

If she wasn’t careful, she could cause permanent mental trauma, or even death.

Knocking him unconscious ensured his survival.

Luo Yan apologized softly to Young Master Liu, then turned to Red Butterfly’s corpse.

After confirming that the grotesque, “Envy”-ridden body was truly lifeless, Luo Yan closed her eyes.

The “Devil’s minion” incident was finally over.

Exhaustion washed over Luo Yan, her mind heavy and drowsy.

Just like after the Ghost Town incident, unfamiliar images flashed through her mind.

And many voices, whispering to her, their words indistinct.

“It seems… I’m truly tired.”

Luo Yan shook her head, dispelling the strange visions.

Focusing her mind, she leaned against the wall and sat down, waiting for rescue.

She was too weak to even walk out the door, let alone down the stairs.

But just then, footsteps echoed from outside, approaching slowly.

“Tap, tap, tap…”

The footsteps were light, the dragging sound indicating a slow, unsteady gait.

“Who is it?”

Luo Yan whispered, gripping her sniper rifle.

Although she had no “Philosopher’s Stones” left, she still had plenty of ordinary bullets.

Physical weakness was one thing, but her power was another. She could still kill a “Ruin” level ability user.

Whether because they didn’t hear her, or for some other reason, there was no response. The footsteps continued, slowly ascending to the third floor.

“Creak…”

The broken door slowly opened. Luo Yan resisted the urge to open her eyes, carefully sensing the newcomer’s aura.

…She couldn’t determine their strength.

Perhaps just an ordinary person, or perhaps someone so powerful that she couldn’t sense them.

Other than that, it seemed to be a man, about 1.7 meters tall, his aura unusually weak.

More importantly, Luo Yan sensed his life force flickering like a dying candle.

“…Sir?”

Luo Yan frowned slightly.

“This is… ‘Envy,’ isn’t it?”

A raspy, old voice echoed, its tone low and muddled.

It was difficult to understand what he was saying.

“Yes, and you are…?”

Luo Yan nodded, but she couldn’t recall ever hearing this voice before.

“Me?” The old voice seemed puzzled, then chuckled. “Some people used to call me Nine, although it’s been a long time… but I’d like to hear it again.”

“Mister… Nine?”

Luo Yan added the honorific out of respect for the elderly.

“Just Nine is fine,” the old man whispered. “A nostalgic title, I never tire of hearing it.”

“Mm… Nine.”

The old man smiled and slowly approached Red Butterfly’s corpse.

“Be careful, Nine,” Luo Yan quickly said. “Although he’s dead, this body still contains powerful demonic power. If you touch it, you might…”

Luo Yan hesitated, not finishing her sentence.

“Die? For me, death has become a luxury, something I long for.”

Hearing Luo Yan’s address, a smile spread across the old man’s wrinkled face. He waved his hand dismissively.

“But don’t worry, I’ve dealt with this kind of power for many years. I’m familiar with it.”

He paused, then turned to Luo Yan.

“However, you… also seem to carry the aura of ‘Envy’.”

“Yes, that’s right.” Luo Yan didn’t hide it from the perceptive old man. “I’m a ‘Demonically Infected,’ possessing a portion of ‘Envy’s’ power.”

The old man was silent for a moment, then whispered,

“I hope you can reach the ending you desire, no matter what happens…”

Hearing this, Luo Yan understood that he also knew about “Demonically Infected.”

“Living” or “dying,” each Demonically Infected desired a different outcome.

Some longed for release, others for peace.

“I will live,” Luo Yan nodded.

“Living is good, very good,” the old man sat down beside Luo Yan, his legs trembling. “But sometimes, death is also a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, I carry too many burdens… I can’t, and I don’t dare, to enjoy such beauty.”

“But you are still alive.”

Luo Yan whispered.

The old man paused, then chuckled.

“You… remind me of an old friend.”

“Oh? Really?” Luo Yan said, surprised. “Another old gentleman said the same thing to me.”

She was referring to the Sword Saint Sect Master, who had also said he felt like he had met her before.

“Perhaps it’s fate, or perhaps I’m nearing the end, and I keep recalling the past… and that old friend,” the old man sighed.

“But it’s been too long… so long that I’ve forgotten her face, forgotten everything about her, so long that I’ve searched for her my entire life, but found nothing…

“I apologize, perhaps I miss her too much, and I mistook you for her.”

“It’s alright,” Luo Yan said softly.

Just then, the noise outside grew louder.

Several teams from the Anomaly Management Bureau were approaching Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Luo Yan’s communicator hadn’t survived the blood mist, so she had given it to Qin Wen, who had left earlier. Therefore, the outside world didn’t know what was happening inside.

“I enjoyed our conversation,” the old man stood up and looked up slightly, a flicker of remembrance in his clouded eyes. “But I must go now, to meet someone I want to see but can’t, someone I now have to meet.”

“Who?”

Luo Yan asked curiously.

The old man didn’t answer, simply smiling faintly.

He slowly walked out of the VIP room, his gait unsteady.

Soon after, Qin Wen, leading a Disaster Response team, stormed into Spring Breeze Pavilion. After a frantic search, they finally found Luo Yan sitting in the VIP room on the third floor.

Luo Yan was so weak that she couldn’t even speak. When Qin Wen rushed in and embraced her, she collapsed into her arms, unconscious.

Qin Wen held the unconscious Luo Yan, her heart pounding, until she saw Luo Yan’s long eyelashes flutter with each breath, and she finally relaxed.

“Sleep well, Miss Luo Yan.”

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 35 – A Moment of Spring

“The Witch of Absolute Death.”

One of the ten Primordial Demons, the last one recorded in human history to be sealed.

Centuries ago, all of humanity—even sworn enemies like Dawn and the Free Federation—had joined forces to fight this terrifying being.

After countless casualties, the “Witch of Absolute Death” was defeated and sealed once more.

But…

“Absolute Death? Traitor?” Luo Yan heard the terrified whispers of the “Witch of Envy’s” will fragment before it was annihilated. “And… the power of the ‘Witch of Absolute Death’?”

Luo Yan felt a coldness in her chest, where the Higanbana tattoo—”Death”—was located.

Was this the Witch of Absolute Death’s Demonic Offering?

But why would it be on her?

However, the “Witch of Envy” could no longer answer Luo Yan’s questions. The power of “Death” had completely erased the lingering will fragment.

Luo Yan had learned that the Forbidden Technique “Manjusaka,” which she somehow controlled, was a Life-type power.

And the “Witch of Absolute Death,” among the ten Primordial Demons, controlled the power of Life.

Now, this long-standing mystery was finally solved.

“I seem to possess the Demonic Offerings of two Primordial Demons…”

The slightly cold “Death” seemed to respond to Luo Yan, confirming her guess.

Having erased the “Witch of Envy’s” will fragment, “Gungnir” fulfilled its purpose and slowly dissipated.

Luo Yan’s target hadn’t been Red Butterfly, but the “Witch of Envy” controlling her body.

With the destruction of the will fragment, Red Butterfly finally regained control of her body.

She watched in horror as the silver-haired girl effortlessly destroyed the “Lord,” her soul almost leaving her body in fright.

That was the “Lord”! Even just a weak fragment of her will, it still possessed immense power!

Even the “Lord” had been so easily defeated… how could she possibly be a match?

Red Butterfly, regaining her senses, had no intention of dying for the “Lord.” The wound in her chest wasn’t fatal.

The moment she regained control, she leaped away, fleeing the scene.

“Trying to escape?”

Luo Yan locked onto the Devil’s minion, but her condition wouldn’t allow her to keep her eyes open any longer.

She slowly walked towards the entrance of Spring Breeze Pavilion, where she had left her sniper rifle, “Overlimit.”

—Anticipating this situation, just like in Ghost Town, Luo Yan had left her valuable weapon by the door.

Unfortunately, her dress was now tattered and torn from the blood mist’s corrosion.

Combined with her pale skin and bloodless lips, only her silver hair remained pristine.

Luo Yan looked incredibly frail, her aura weak, as if on the verge of death.

But even so…

Red Butterfly didn’t dare gamble, gamble that Luo Yan didn’t have one last attack left.

Powerful auras, ranging from “Calamity” to “Ruin” level, were rapidly converging on Spring Breeze Pavilion, forming a encirclement ring.

Davis, who had gone for help, hadn’t disappointed Luo Yan, bringing several Apprehension Department members who were on missions nearby.

And Qin Wen, through the Disaster Response Department, had also mobilized several disaster response teams, who were currently on their way to Flower Street.

“How… how can I escape…?”

Red Butterfly seemed trapped.

And she could feel her body, reshaped by the power of “Envy,” beginning to collapse.

Without sufficient power or sustenance, she wouldn’t last much longer, even if she wasn’t killed during her escape.

Luo Yan picked up the sniper rifle, her eyes closed, and calmly walked back into Spring Breeze Pavilion.

She wouldn’t give Red Butterfly a chance to escape. A Devil’s minion’s final, desperate struggle could cause unnecessary casualties.

Her breathing technique sensed that there were few life signs remaining in Spring Breeze Pavilion, and with the lingering demonic power, her senses were sharper than ever, almost on par with “Eagle Eye Vision.”

“He’s… on the third floor, right?”

Luo Yan’s breath hitched. Her power was still immense, but her body was incredibly weak.

Every step drained her remaining strength.

But she continued walking resolutely, towards the third floor.

Her clear footsteps echoed in the empty Spring Breeze Pavilion, filling Red Butterfly, hiding in a VIP room on the third floor, with terror and despair.

“Why isn’t she coming up to kill me…?”

“Is she torturing me?”

“Making me struggle in the abyss of despair, with no escape…?”

“What a cruel person, what a vicious woman…”

But even knowing this, Red Butterfly was helpless. She didn’t dare show herself, not even a hint of her aura.

Just then, Red Butterfly heard a faint whimpering and a rustling sound.

“Who?” Red Butterfly’s pupils constricted. “Is there anyone else alive in Spring Breeze Pavilion?”

She followed the sound and saw a monstrous corpse, its body covered in tumors, clutching a large burlap sack in a corner of the VIP room.

Inside the sack was the arrogant Young Master Liu.

The bodyguard who had been protecting him, even transformed into a monster, remained loyal until the very end.

Young Master Liu, completely unaware of what had happened, struggled within the sack, cursing under his breath.

“A living person!”

A look of delight appeared on Red Butterfly’s face. She hadn’t expected a glimmer of hope in this desperate situation.

If she absorbed this person’s life force, although her chances of escape were still slim, it wasn’t completely hopeless.

“Damn it! You filthy servants, let me out!”

Young Master Liu, stuffed in the sack, had no idea what was happening outside.

He had shouted himself hoarse, but no one responded, not even with an insult.

Just as he was starting to tire, he saw the sack slowly opening, the bright light making him squint.

Amidst the blinding light, he saw a flash of crimson.

“Who…?” Young Master Liu was about to yell, then he saw a breathtakingly beautiful face before him and was instantly mesmerized. “So… so beautiful…”

“Oh? Am I… beautiful?”

Red Butterfly smiled seductively, seeing her previous target, Young Master Liu.

Yes, she was beautiful.

How could she be ugly…?

She, so beautiful, deserved the “Lord’s” favor, deserved everything in the world, not this desperate escape.

“Beautiful… beautiful…”

Young Master Liu’s face was flushed, practically drooling.

So this was Red Butterfly…

Truly a rare beauty…

Except… her chest was a bit flat.

But otherwise, perfect!

All the other beauties he had seen before were nothing compared to Red Butterfly.

He even regretted wasting time posturing earlier.

Such a beautiful night, how could he delay?

Young Master Liu, completely oblivious to the corpse and the strange surroundings, only wanted to throw himself at Red Butterfly.

“Beautiful… good,” Red Butterfly chuckled, then slowly unbuttoned her torn red dress. “Without ‘Gu Seeds,’ I’ll have to use this method to absorb your power…

“But it doesn’t matter, you have such delicate skin, I’ve had my eye on you for a while.

“I’ve been wanting… to devour you.”

Although her words were terrifying, Young Master Liu didn’t notice, thinking she was simply being playful.

“Come on then, devour me!”

He laughed excitedly and began to undress.

But halfway through, he froze.

His expression changed from ecstasy to confusion, then to horror.

“What… how…?”

“Y-You… you’re a man?!”

“Indeed, for now, I am still male,” Red Butterfly—or rather, he—said dreamily. “I want to become the Lord’s Apostle, but the Lord… only accepts women.

“Therefore, for the Lord, I want to become a woman. I learned to wear makeup, I learned to dance, I am more womanly than any woman, I am the most beautiful woman in the world, no one can deny it!”

His voice turned mournful. “But… the Lord keeps rejecting me… but it doesn’t matter, soon, very soon, I will regain the Lord’s favor, obtain more of the Lord’s power…

“And it all starts… with you…”

The completely naked Red Butterfly approached Young Master Liu, who scrambled backward, clutching his half-removed clothes.

Only now did he see the hellish scene around him, the blood-soaked corpse in black.

“Did… did you kill them?”

Young Master Liu’s nose was running. Red Butterfly chuckled and pushed him to the ground.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you, I will…

“Love you.”

…

Luo Yan, reaching the second floor, frowned slightly. She sensed the previously faint aura on the third floor suddenly intensify.

And another, vibrant life force appeared, around “Calamity” level.

“A survivor in Spring Breeze Pavilion?”

Luo Yan was as surprised as Red Butterfly.

She wanted to hurry and rescue the survivor, but her weakened body wouldn’t allow it.

By the time she reached the third floor, the survivor’s life force was incredibly faint, barely clinging to life.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t save you,” Luo Yan thought apologetically. “But I will avenge you.”

She loaded another “Philosopher’s Stone” into the sniper rifle and approached the VIP room.

Too weak to silence her footsteps, she continued walking resolutely.

Inside the VIP room, Young Master Liu huddled in a corner, clutching his clothes and trembling, tears streaming down his face.

He hadn’t expected to be… with another man…

But at least the man was beautiful, more beautiful than a woman.

Young Master Liu tried to console himself with this thought.

Red Butterfly stood beside him, satisfied, feeling the power surging through his body.

Now, it was enough.

After absorbing Young Master Liu’s essence and all his spiritual energy, although he hadn’t fully recovered, he now had enough power to activate the “Gu Seeds.”

“All the dormant ‘Gu Seeds’… it’s time… to reclaim my power…”

A sinister grin appeared on Red Butterfly’s face, a foul, malevolent aura erupting from his body.

At the same time, this aura appeared throughout Yan City, awakening the dormant “Gu Seed” monsters, who began to rampage, gathering more power for Red Butterfly.

“HAHAHAHA… I survived!”

Red Butterfly’s laughter was almost manic as he felt the surge of power.

But his joy was short-lived.

The power… receded.

The moment the “Gu Seed” monsters appeared, small teams from the Disaster Response Department emerged and quickly eliminated them.

The ordinary people and ability users who had been implanted with “Gu Seeds” were all wearing devices created by the Oversight Department, instantly destroying the activated “Gu Seeds” within them.

—This was why the mission to hunt the Devil’s minion had been assigned to the Apprehension Department, and why the Disaster Response Department had been mostly absent.

Because… Li Ping had already made all the necessary arrangements, deploying the Disaster Response Department personnel throughout the city.

Even if the mission to hunt the Devil’s minion failed, even if he unleashed his final, desperate attack, the Disaster Response Department was prepared to contain the damage and minimize casualties.

With all his escape routes blocked, Red Butterfly’s manic joy turned into utter despair.

Just then, a familiar silver-haired figure appeared at the VIP room door, walking towards him step by step.

Red Butterfly froze, unable to move.

Luo Yan raised her sniper rifle, aimed it at him, and whispered once more,

“—How ugly.”

Ugly…

Red Butterfly looked up numbly and saw Luo Yan’s face, her cherry-blossom pink eyes slowly opening.

“So… this is beauty…?”

He whispered.

A flower of death bloomed instantly, extinguishing Red Butterfly’s life.

As the crimson figure fell, all color faded.

Red Butterfly, the dazzling Flower Queen of Flower Street, lost the beauty granted by “Envy” in her final moments.

What remained on the ground was a short, ugly man with garish makeup, a sight that made one want to vomit.

…And Young Master Liu, witnessing this, promptly threw up.

“Still alive?”

A melodious voice echoed beside Young Master Liu, but before he could see who it was, he was knocked unconscious.

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 34 – Dark Fate

“Get out of the way?”

Confusion flickered in the bodyguards’ minds, quickly replaced by horror and disbelief.

Tentacles erupted from their chests, piercing their hearts.

Only the leader reacted in time, unleashing a burst of electricity that destroyed the tentacle aimed at him.

But he could only save himself. His companions died instantly.

Although he quickly destroyed the other tentacles, it was too late for his comrades.

Meanwhile, Luo Yan didn’t hesitate.

Even with the bodies of the guards blocking her path, she loaded a Philosopher’s Stone into the sniper rifle.

“Forbidden Technique—Manjusaka!”

The Philosopher’s Stone dissolved, replaced by a dark energy swirling at the muzzle, slowly drifting towards the gore on the stage.

Everything in the dark energy’s path, including the bodies of the guards, withered and turned to ash.

—This was why Luo Yan was reluctant to use “Manjusaka.” It easily caused collateral damage, especially with so many civilians present.

The bodyguard leader narrowly avoided “Manjusaka,” then watched in horror as his companions’ bodies were consumed by the dark energy. He could barely control his expression.

But he didn’t have time to grieve; a greater danger emerged.

As “Manjusaka” reached the center of the stage, transforming into a dark flower bud about to bloom, a blood-red mist suddenly filled the air.

The dark flower was silently consumed, becoming part of the blood mist.

Luo Yan was all too familiar with this scene.

The final moments of Ghost Town had played out in an identical blood mist.

“Get away from the mist!”

Luo Yan shouted, pushing the weakened Qin Wen back as she stepped forward.

“Miss Luo Yan!”

Qin Wen cried out, wanting to help.

But she quickly realized that as she touched the blood mist, her soul and will trembled, unable to withstand it.

“I’m fine. I dealt with this before, in Ghost Town,” Luo Yan took a deep breath and removed her blindfold. “Go and inform the Disaster Response Department. I’ll hold them off here.”

“…”

Qin Wen didn’t hesitate and immediately turned to leave.

She knew that staying here would be pointless.

To save Miss Luo Yan, she had to bring reinforcements.

“Miss Luo Yan, you have to hold on…”

The bodyguard leader hadn’t even processed the sudden change, the events defying all his previous experiences.

After a brief moment of confusion, he found himself enveloped in blood-red mist.

“What… what’s happening…?”

As he took a terrified breath, he felt his body changing.

“Why… am I growing tentacles…?”

He looked down at his trembling hands.

Countless thin tentacles emerged from beneath his fingernails, and his pores oozed bloody tendrils, twitching restlessly, seemingly draining his life force.

“Sever your arms and leave this place.”

Luo Yan’s voice echoed in his ear, and a strange power dispelled the anomaly in his soul, stopping the transformation.

The bodyguard instinctively looked up, but before he could see anything, he was struck, stumbling backward, narrowly escaping the blood mist.

“Don’t look at me, leave now.”

The cold, clear voice echoed again. The bodyguard forced his swollen eyes open, only seeing the back of a girl in a lolita dress and a cascade of striking silver hair.

The silver-haired girl walked towards the depths of the blood mist, her figure disappearing into the crimson.

“What’s going on…”

Although completely lost, the bodyguard leader remembered Luo Yan’s words.

He gritted his teeth, unleashed his lightning ability, incinerating his mutated arms, and fled Spring Breeze Pavilion.

“Such a pity…”

“Such a fine flesh sacrifice…”

A seductive voice echoed from the center of the stage. The scattered flesh on the ground began to wriggle, coalescing into a crimson figure.

Torn red clothes clung to the flesh, revealing glimpses of fair skin, an inhumanly beautiful face, every smile and gesture captivating.

And above the crimson figure, something familiar to Luo Yan hovered.

A stone eye.

Not the Witch of Envy’s Demonic Offering, the “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement,” but the stone casing that had once contained it.

When Mrs. Natalie had unleashed the Offering and summoned the remnant of the Witch’s will, the stone eye had shattered.

But unexpectedly, the remnants of “Envy’s” power within the stone fragments had been absorbed and utilized by Red Butterfly.

Of course, this alone wasn’t enough for Red Butterfly to become a Devil’s Apostle capable of summoning the true “Witch of Envy.”

But the current situation…

“Unexpected, unexpected! Sword Saint Qin Wen, your power can’t kill me! With the Lord’s blessing, I am invincible!”

Even Red Butterfly hadn’t expected to survive such a terrifying attack.

And she had become even stronger…

Unfortunately, the flesh sacrifices she had intended to absorb had been annihilated by “Sword Saint Qin Wen,” and the bodyguard leader, after absorbing only a small amount, had been rescued and escaped.

“It doesn’t matter, absorbing your power will do…”

Red Butterfly’s smile turned sinister as she approached Luo Yan.

“Even if you somehow stole the Lord’s power, it doesn’t matter. The Lord is on my side, the Lord… also wants you dead…”

In Red Butterfly’s vision, the silver-haired figure became clearer. “Sword Saint Qin Wen”… hadn’t escaped.

On the contrary, she was also approaching.

“Oh? Not fleeing, but coming towards me?”

Immersed in the unprecedented power of “Envy,” Red Butterfly was incredibly confident. Even a “Peril” level ability user from Yan City would be no match for her now.

Let alone a mere “Sword Saint Qin Wen”?

“You…”

“Sword Saint Qin Wen’s” voice echoed softly.

The silver-haired girl’s figure became clear, and Red Butterfly finally saw the face of the Sword Saint she hated so much.

But the first thing she saw were those familiar cherry-blossom pink eyes.

Cold, indifferent.

Luo Yan opened her eyes, looked at the crimson figure, and frowned slightly.

“—How ugly.”

Ugly?

Hearing this, Red Butterfly’s heart sank. Something felt wrong.

Why would she call her ugly?

Her current appearance, her current form…

No one in all of humanity could compare!

Everyone was obsessed with her, everyone adored her…

How could she, blessed by the “Lord,” be ugly?!

Impossible!

And…

“Sword Saint Qin Wen, how can you also possess the Lord’s power?”

Red Butterfly gritted her teeth, jealousy surging in her heart as she looked at those beautiful pink eyes. “And… so pure…”

“Qin Wen?” Luo Yan paused. “I’m not Qin Wen.”

“…Not?” Red Butterfly’s unease intensified. “Wait, then who are you…?”

“My name is Luo Yan.”

Luo Yan raised her hand slightly, a soul spear materializing—the fate-piercing “Gungnir” that Grifres had used, although much weaker.

As a mind-related ability user, Luo Yan was also capable of using mind-related Forbidden Techniques. And during her final battle with Mrs. Natalie, she had, with the help of the demonic power, comprehended “Gungnir” and could now replicate it.

However, she could only use it with her eyes open; otherwise, her mental strength wasn’t enough to sustain the technique.

Her other equipment, including her lolita maid dress, was being eroded by the blood mist, slowly dissolving. “Gungnir” was her only weapon.

“Luo Yan!”

This name amplified the unease in Red Butterfly’s heart. The Lord’s whispers echoed in her ear, filled with frenzy.

“It’s her! It’s her! Kill her! Kill her!”

This frenzy consumed Red Butterfly; she couldn’t resist the Lord’s will.

Countless crimson tentacles erupted from her body, lashing out at the small, silver-haired figure.

But at the same time, Red Butterfly clearly sensed that she was no match for this girl.

Although this mysterious girl who called herself “Luo Yan” only had a “Difficulty” level aura, she felt a greater threat from her than even Sword Saint Qin Wen!

“This move again, ‘Witch of Envy’?”

The scene of flailing tentacles reminded Luo Yan of Ghost Town, of those bittersweet memories. “But this… should have ended already.

“It shouldn’t… reappear…”

“Luo… Yan…”

Through Red Butterfly’s mouth, the remnant of the “Witch of Envy’s” will roared with hatred and madness.

However, her hatred wasn’t directed at the Luo Yan before her, but at the name “Luo Yan.”

This wasn’t the same will fragment Luo Yan had encountered at the end of the Ghost Town incident; this one was even more incomplete.

Reduced to a single obsession: to kill anyone named “Luo Yan.”

This obsession empowered Red Butterfly, but upon encountering Luo Yan, it completely consumed her.

“No… I can’t… I have to escape—”

Red Butterfly’s soul regained clarity. She realized she couldn’t fight this silver-haired girl.

But it was too late…

She could no longer control her own body.

The remnant of the “Witch of Envy’s” will controlled her, transforming her into the crimson monster, its size constantly expanding.

The slain flesh puppets slowly coalesced, forming a grotesque, humanoid shape, as if recreating the moment of Ghost Town’s destruction.

However…

“I promised Mrs. Natalie that I wouldn’t let this tragedy happen again.”

Luo Yan slowly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the demonic power she had wielded before returned, filling her body.

At the same time, the highest level alert sounded in the Yan City Anomaly Management Bureau, indicating the possible descent of a Primordial Demon within the city.

However, although Luo Yan’s power was comparable to her peak in Ghost Town, her aura was even weaker.

Her skin was deathly pale, almost blending with her silver hair, creating a figure of pure white.

Extreme frailty and extreme power, these contradictory qualities coexisted within Luo Yan, yet somehow, harmoniously.

“Luo Yan… kill…”

The “Witch of Envy’s” will fragment roared hysterically, the crimson figure lunging towards Luo Yan, countless flesh monsters charging alongside it.

A hellish scene unfolded before Luo Yan, but her expression remained calm.

“I defeated you once, I can defeat you again.”

Luo Yan raised her hand slightly and, with a clumsy motion, grasped “Gungnir” and casually tossed it.

At the same time, the “Death” mark on her chest glowed faintly, dyeing “Gungnir” with a dark hue.

“Gungnir” flew through the air, seemingly slowly, yet inevitably, piercing the crimson figure’s heart.

But the heart wasn’t this twisted monster’s weak point.

Its weakness… was the darkness.

“Gungnir” was merely a vessel for this darkness.

The crimson figure froze, unable to move.

The surrounding blood mist began to rapidly dissipate, and the flesh monsters instantly collapsed into puddles of sludge.

Everything seemed to freeze, only the voice of the “Witch of Envy’s” will fragment echoing, filled with disbelief.

“This is…”

“That unforgivable traitor…”

“—The power of Death!”

A mocking laughter seemed to echo in the air, a response to the Witch of Envy’s earlier taunt.

“We… haven’t lost yet.”

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 33 – The Sword Slaying Formation

Qin Wen glanced at the foolish Young Master Liu, then down at the crimson figures on stage, her eyes narrowing.

“This is our chance!”

Clearly, Young Master Liu’s words had broken the stalemate.

This dancer, called “Red Butterfly,” must be the Devil’s minion, using the power of “Envy” to influence the audience’s adoration.

So now, with Young Master Liu’s command, would “Red Butterfly” reveal herself?

Or would someone else expose her?

Young Master Liu’s appearance had tilted the scales.

“This idiot is actually useful…”

Qin Wen thought, her opinion of the foolish young master improving slightly.

Young Master Liu suddenly sneezed, a look of displeasure appearing on his face. His tone became impatient.

“What, this lowly courtesan dares to ignore me?

“Or do you think dancing for these peasants is more important than keeping me company?”

Young Master Liu spoke without restraint, his disdain for commoners evident, leaving Davis speechless.

She had never met such an arrogant and domineering person…

But then again, although Young Master Liu was the heir to the pioneering Liu family, he was still just an heir.

And considering they were in this kind of place… his behavior was almost expected.

The audience, already in a state of frenzy, ignored Young Master Liu’s insults, continuing to chant “Red Butterfly” hysterically.

However, one of Young Master Liu’s bodyguards on the third floor, possessing the ability to silence sound, suppressed all noises except for his master’s voice.

Red Butterfly was cursing Young Master Liu inwardly, while also frantically searching for Sword Saint Qin Wen.

If she could locate her, there might still be a chance.

Although Young Master Liu had silenced the crowd simply to show off, this action inadvertently helped both Luo Yan and Red Butterfly.

With the main source of interference gone, they could focus on sensing each other’s presence.

Qin Wen stared intently at the crimson figures on stage. If any of them made a move, her twelve swords would strike instantly.

Which one is it…?

Qin Wen hesitated, but Red Butterfly didn’t dare move a muscle.

—Although the other crimson figures on stage were actually her flesh puppets.

Indeed, there wasn’t a single living person on stage.

But…

Sending a flesh puppet out to die?

No, after the first kill, Qin Wen would quickly realize this and attack all the puppets, including her main body.

And if she didn’t know Qin Wen’s location beforehand, she wouldn’t be able to counterattack effectively.

Then… even with the power granted by the “Lord,” she would likely die.

Therefore, Red Butterfly was also searching for Qin Wen, hoping to find her before she realized the truth about the dancers on stage.

However, Qin Wen could afford to wait; Red Butterfly couldn’t.

The continued silence on stage angered Young Master Liu.

His expression turned cold, and he waved his hand impatiently.

“Which… which family does this… Red Butterfly belong to? Find some excuse to shut them down! How dare they ignore me! Do they still want to operate in the ‘Gold-Melting Kiln’?!”

Young Master Liu’s voice wasn’t loud, but due to the silence, it was audible throughout the venue.

The anxious madam backstage finally couldn’t take it anymore. She rushed out, her plump body waddling as she climbed onto the stage.

“Red Butterfly…”

The madam wanted to drag Red Butterfly away, forcing her to accompany Young Master Liu.

The “Gold-Melting Kiln” was, after all, a shady establishment. A single word from the Liu family, the second most powerful faction on Flower Street, could decide its fate, let alone the heir himself.

The madam was almost in tears. This was her life’s work; she couldn’t let it be destroyed.

So, after climbing onto the stage, she walked directly towards Red Butterfly—although she didn’t know the other dancers were flesh puppets, she clearly recognized the real Red Butterfly.

Red Butterfly, possessing the power of “Envy,” had infiltrated the area with the weakest oversight in Yan City.

And with this madam’s help, she had become the most sought-after courtesan on Flower Street.

She wasn’t here just to bask in the adoration; she was also using this opportunity to spread her “Gu Seeds,” creating and controlling numerous flesh puppets.

Given time, once activated, even if they couldn’t overthrow Yan City, they could cause significant damage, even worse than the “Ghost Town” incident.

But now, the madam who had guided her, who had brought her all this, was about to lead her to her doom.

“My dear Red Butterfly…” The madam waddled towards Red Butterfly, reaching out with her plump hands as Red Butterfly’s eyes widened in horror. “Go and keep Young Master Liu company…”

“You fool!”

Red Butterfly felt a surge of killing intent, but it was too late.

“Finally… found you.”

At that moment, both Qin Wen and Luo Yan identified Red Butterfly among the crimson figures.

Luo Yan slightly opened her eyes, the power of “Fear” descending upon Red Butterfly.

Cherry-blossom pink eyes, with sinister black vertical pupils, opened in Red Butterfly’s mind, forcing her demonic aura to leak out.

Luo Yan hadn’t used this ability casually before because, for ordinary people, it was practically a death sentence.

If she made a mistake, innocent people would be harmed.

But now, Luo Yan finally made her move, confirming Red Butterfly’s identity as the Devil’s minion they had been hunting!

Twelve swords of varying designs instantly appeared around Red Butterfly, their invisible sword energy pushing everyone else back, including the madam, who stumbled several meters away.

Red Butterfly, realizing she had been exposed, immediately tried to control her flesh puppets, but she couldn’t move, paralyzed by the “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement” in her mind.

“Have you heard of the Sword Saint’s sword?”

Qin Wen suddenly asked softly.

“…I think I’ve read about it,” Luo Yan replied after a moment of thought.

“Now, you can witness it firsthand.”

Qin Wen closed her eyes, her surging spiritual energy causing the air to stagnate.

Twelve swords formed a circular formation, Red Butterfly trapped in the center.

“Forbidden Technique, Sword Slaying Formation—Annihilation!”

Her soft words unleashed a terrifying power.

The air in Spring Breeze Pavilion instantly heated up, but this time, the heat wasn’t from the excited audience, but from—

Sword light.

Beams of sword light, too fast for the naked eye to follow, filled the formation.

In less than a second, hundreds, thousands of sword strikes flashed within the formation, a dense web of light piercing the trapped Red Butterfly.

The intense sword energy even heated the surrounding air, creating an unbearable heat.

Blood trickled from Qin Wen’s orifices. Using a Forbidden Technique was incredibly taxing, but she had no choice.

This was the only way to ensure the Devil’s minion’s complete annihilation.

If she gave him a chance to breathe… the activation of the Gu Seeds would result in a catastrophic disaster.

Meanwhile, Luo Yan had already taken out the sniper rifle from her back, expertly assembling it and aiming at the “Sword Slaying Formation.”

The moment the Sword Saint’s power dissipated, she unleashed all the spiritual energy bullets in the magazine, targeting the crimson figure amidst the fading sword light.

—Luo Yan hadn’t used a “Philosopher’s Stone” because she couldn’t control the range of “Manjusaka.”

There were too many people around; she couldn’t risk harming innocent bystanders.

All of this happened in a flash. From the moment the madam exposed Red Butterfly by reaching for her, to the descent of the sword formation and the barrage of spiritual energy bullets, only a few seconds had passed.

Young Master Liu, who had just turned around theatrically, waiting for the madam to bring Red Butterfly to him, was suddenly tackled to the ground by his bodyguards.

“Assassin!”

The bodyguards shouted, stuffing the still-confused Young Master Liu into a bag.

It was a portable emergency bag made of high-strength protective material. Although it looked like a burlap sack, it could withstand a “Ruin” level ability user’s attack for half an hour.

The madam’s legs turned to jelly. Knocked to the ground by the sword energy, she couldn’t even stand up.

The frenzied audience members suddenly snapped back to reality, the scene erupting into the chaos typical of a disaster event.

Screams and cries filled the air as everyone scrambled to escape Spring Breeze Pavilion.

“Miss Davis, please help evacuate the crowd,” Luo Yan said, turning to the stunned Davis. She had replaced her blindfold.

“And ask your partner to come here, and call for backup—although I don’t know why you’re considered a ‘Ruin’ level ability user, you’re clearly too weak.”

Although she had been told this before, Davis didn’t retort this time, simply nodding repeatedly.

“Yes, yes, yes, no problem…”

She hurriedly began guiding the crowd out, also contacting Cheng Hongyuan, who was waiting outside, and requesting backup from headquarters.

“Is it not over yet?”

Qin Wen frowned slightly, her aura weakened.

Having just used a Forbidden Technique, her combat strength was significantly reduced.

But she was still capable of fighting, unlike Grifres, who had collapsed completely.

This was due to her “Seven Apertures Sword Heart,” her “Magnetism Control” ability.

This ability allowed her to control swords telekinetically and use a weaker version of the “Sword Slaying Formation,” with reduced power and side effects.

“My intuition tells me it’s not,” Luo Yan replied gravely, touching the “Philosopher’s Stone” in her pocket, hesitating whether to load it into the sniper rifle.

The crimson figure on stage had been torn to shreds, the ground covered in gore and fragments of red cloth. Even with the vitality of “Gu Seeds,” it was impossible to survive such injuries.

However… when dealing with a Primordial Demon, she couldn’t be too careful.

Just then, several men in black jumped down from the third floor, landing before Luo Yan and Qin Wen.

—Young Master Liu’s bodyguards.

Young Master Liu was still stuffed in a bag, being guarded by one of the men, in case of another attack.

“Who are you, daring to openly murder people in Yan City?!”

The leader of the men in black said coldly, a ball of electricity forming in his hand. He was clearly a “Ruin” level ability user.

The other bodyguards were also on high alert, their auras indicating they were at least high-level “Calamity” level.

Such a group, even in Yan City, was considered a formidable force.

After Luo Yan and Qin Wen caused such a commotion, their previous life hack was no longer effective.

Minimizing one’s presence wasn’t the same as invisibility.

However, all the bodyguards’ attention was focused on the 1.9-meter-tall Qin Wen; no one noticed the petite Luo Yan.

“I… am here to hunt a Devil’s minion,” Qin Wen said, slightly breathless.

“A Devil’s minion?” The leader frowned, and the other bodyguards couldn’t help but glance back at the stage. “Are you saying ‘Red Butterfly’ is a Devil’s minion?”

“Yes.”

Qin Wen nodded.

“Are you ability users from the Disaster Response Department?” The bodyguard’s expression turned serious. “Show me your identification.”

“…No,” Qin Wen replied.

Although they were working for the Disaster Response Department, they didn’t have any identification.

From being assigned the mission to entering Flower Street, confronting and killing “Red Butterfly,” everything had happened too quickly.

They hadn’t even completed the standard procedures for external assistance, let alone received official identification.

Yan City’s bureaucracy was efficient, but also somewhat cumbersome.

“I’m sorry, but in that case, I have to detain you,” the leader said gravely. “You can’t leave until we receive an explanation from the Disaster Response Department…”

“Wait!” Luo Yan suddenly spoke, raising her sniper rifle. “Gentlemen—”

“What are you doing?!”

Realizing they were being aimed at, the bodyguards instantly activated their abilities, ready for battle.

But then they heard Luo Yan’s next words.

“Hurry—”

“And get out of the way!”

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 32 – Phantom of the Stage

“Huh?”

Backstage at Spring Breeze Pavilion, Red Butterfly suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest, a fleeting vision of terrifying eyes staring at her.

But the feeling vanished instantly, like an illusion.

This coincided with the moment Luo Yan used her ability.

“Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!”

A frenzied roar echoed in Red Butterfly’s mind, tearing at her thoughts.

The image of the silver-haired girl intensified, almost consuming her memories.

This near-loss of control only lasted for a brief moment before Red Butterfly recovered.

“The Lord’s will is growing more and more urgent…”

Red Butterfly could feel the power of “Envy” within her surging restlessly, as if being pulled by some force.

The “Lord” had granted her this power to kill the silver-haired girl in her visions.

But after so long, Red Butterfly hadn’t even dared to approach her…

“And Sword Saint Qin Wen is still looking for me.”

Red Butterfly took a deep breath. Although she didn’t know why Qin Wen possessed a portion of the “Lord’s” power…

There was no doubt that she was no match for her right now.

“I have to accelerate my plans… After absorbing Young Master Liu’s essence, I’ll activate all the ‘Gu Seeds’!”

Otherwise, the power of “Envy” would begin to consume her. She wasn’t a “Demonically Infected”; these powers belonged to the Witch of Envy.

Fortunately, thanks to that unlucky mercenary, Red Butterfly had planted many “Gu Seeds” throughout Yan City.

But these “Gu Seeds” were still dormant, requiring a substantial amount of power to activate.

Once activated, at least several ability users and hundreds of ordinary people would instantly become flesh puppets under her control.

“If it weren’t for that damned Sword Saint Qin Wen ruining my trap, I wouldn’t have been reduced to this…”

The thought made Red Butterfly grind her teeth in anger.

Just then, the madam’s voice called out from outside the room.

“My dear Red Butterfly, the performance is about to begin!”

A sinister look flashed across Red Butterfly’s face, quickly replaced by a charming smile.

Her red dress swaying, she moved gracefully towards the door.

“Coming, Mother…”

…

Spring Breeze Pavilion, first-floor audience.

Thanks to Luo Yan’s ability, the three of them had easily infiltrated Spring Breeze Pavilion.

…Or rather, they had walked right in; no one had paid them any attention.

Upon entering, Qin Wen casually picked up a few enthusiastic audience members and, before they could react, tossed them out the window.

This created a few empty seats for the three of them.

Davis stared in disbelief at Qin Wen’s practiced movements, her control over her strength impeccable.

The ejected individuals hadn’t even fallen, landing on their feet, dazed.

However, these unlucky few couldn’t re-enter; the staff quickly escorted them away from the venue.

Perhaps… this was a blessing in disguise.

“There’s no mistake, this place reeks of that bastard,” Qin Wen wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Although much fainter than in the Endless Wasteland, it’s the same aura.”

“I don’t sense anything unusual at the moment,” Luo Yan whispered.

The familiar feeling from the town’s church had only flickered for a moment before being suppressed.

Davis, however, was trembling. She suddenly realized that these two… weren’t just playing pretend.

Luo Yan’s ability before entering, and Qin Wen’s display of strength, indicated they were far more than just… a young lady and her bodyguard.

“Excuse me, Miss Luo Yan…” Davis swallowed hard and whispered, “Can… can you see?”

“Yes, I can,” Luo Yan turned slightly and replied softly. “But because of my ability… I can’t control it very well, so I have to resort to this.”

“What is your ability… if you don’t mind me asking?” Davis mustered her courage and asked. “And your true strength…?”

Asking about someone’s ability and strength directly was usually considered rude.

However, at this moment, Davis’s mind was buzzing, her thoughts muddled.

As for the “Difficulty” level strength indicated in the mission file… well, the moment Luo Yan opened her eyes, it was clear that was false.

“My ability is mind-related, it’s difficult to explain,” Luo Yan replied seriously. “As for my strength, it’s usually ‘Difficulty’ level, but during combat, I can reach about ‘Ruin’ level.”

With the sniper rifle, without using “Manjusaka,” that was indeed her approximate level.

“R-Really ‘Ruin’ level?”

Although she had suspected it, hearing Luo Yan admit it still shocked Davis.

If that was the case…

“The Devil’s minion they’ve been tracking… it might be true!”

“What’s wrong, Miss Davis?” Qin Wen noticed her unusual behavior and frowned slightly. “You’ve been acting strange since we arrived…”

Luo Yan also looked at Davis curiously.

“Because, because I…”

Davis wanted to cry. Who would have thought she would be tricked by her own Director?!

This was supposed to be a simple babysitting mission, a shopping trip, but it turned out they were actually hunting a Devil’s minion!

And Cheng Hongyuan was waiting outside. She, a “Calamity” level ability user, couldn’t possibly handle this alone!

They needed at least a small team, led by a “Ruin” level ability user!

But now, Davis’s problem was how to confess that she had lied…

She stammered for a moment, then said,

“I think… my strength might not be enough… perhaps we should call for backup from the Apprehension Department…”

“Now?”

Luo Yan frowned slightly.

“I’m afraid… it’s too late.”

Qin Wen looked towards the center of the stage, her eyes narrowing.

Just then, all the lights went out, leaving only a few dim lanterns flickering on the stage.

“You can sense it too, right, Miss Luo Yan?”

Qin Wen said in a low voice.

“It’s a domain,” Luo Yan whispered.

Invisible energy fluctuations spread from the stage, enveloping Spring Breeze Pavilion.

The air seemed to grow warmer, but this wasn’t caused by the domain, but by… the audience.

Everyone’s expressions were filled with an eerie fervor, their eyes practically bulging as they stared at the stage.

The air around them grew hot with their excitement.

“What is this…?”

Davis also sensed the change, but she wasn’t affected, perhaps because she was still under the influence of Luo Yan’s ability.

Amidst the rising heat and the intense gazes, the stage floor slowly opened, revealing a flash of crimson.

“Here she comes!”

Qin Wen instinctively summoned her swords, but Luo Yan stopped her. “Wait…”

“Why?”

Qin Wen’s voice was urgent.

“Just watch.”

Luo Yan pointed towards the stage.

Qin Wen looked and her pupils constricted.

“How…?”

Several figures in red, dancing gracefully, emerged from the opening in the stage.

“Red Butterfly! Red Butterfly! Red Butterfly!”

The audience erupted in cheers, further disrupting Luo Yan’s already unsteady breathing.

“Sorry,” Luo Yan said, her expression slightly pained. “I… can’t sense any difference between them.”

“…”

Qin Wen was silent for a moment. “I can’t tell either. They all carry a faint demonic aura, it’s difficult to identify the main body…”

But there was no doubt that their target, the Devil’s minion, was among them.

“Miss Davis, can you sense any difference?”

Luo Yan “looked” at Davis and asked softly.

“Ah!” Davis, startled by the sudden question, stammered, “I, I’m not very good at that…”

“This is troublesome,” Qin Wen frowned. “We only have one chance. If we fail to take her down, it will be dangerous.”

“The domain carries the aura of ‘Envy.’ She’s planning something,” Luo Yan added. “And there are also the ‘Gu Seeds’ hidden somewhere. If we fail, she’ll definitely activate them.”

“Why not just kill everyone on stage?” Davis suddenly blurted out.

But the moment she said it, she saw two strange gazes fixed on her.

“…Sorry, that was inappropriate.”

Davis realized her mistake and covered her mouth.

“I don’t want to harm the innocent unless absolutely necessary,” Qin Wen said gravely. “But if there’s no other choice… I will mourn for them.”

Meanwhile, on stage, the figures in red continued to dance, their alluring curves and fair skin tantalizingly revealed beneath their flowing robes, drawing cheers and excited screams from the audience.

However, Red Butterfly, despite her graceful movements, was trembling, her heart pounding in her chest.

“No, she’s here…

“Sword Saint Qin Wen is here!”

Using the power of “Envy” to rewrite souls and consciousness, Red Butterfly had perfectly concealed her demonic aura.

Only when she used her ability or the “Gu Seeds” would it leak slightly.

As Red Butterfly cast her “Envy” domain, influencing the audience’s fervor, she sensed something amiss.

The domain… had been breached…

Although not completely broken, a void had appeared, a place unaffected by “Envy.”

Only Sword Saint Qin Wen, also possessing the power of “Envy,” could do this!

But by the time Red Butterfly realized this, it was too late to escape.

Turning and fleeing now would be a direct admission of her identity as a Devil’s minion.

Fighting back directly?

No, she wasn’t a match…

Perhaps activate the Gu Seeds prematurely?

In her current injured state, she could only activate the Gu Seeds within twenty or thirty ordinary people.

Even the previous Qin Wen, let alone the current one with the power of “Envy,” could easily handle that.

Moreover…

Activating the Gu Seeds would immediately expose her.

And Red Butterfly only knew there was a void in her domain, not its location.

In other words, Luo Yan and Qin Wen couldn’t find the real Red Butterfly, and Red Butterfly couldn’t pinpoint their location either.

They were in a delicate stalemate.

However, this stalemate was soon broken.

“HAHAHAHAHA…”

A loud, boisterous laugh suddenly erupted from the audience above, even louder than the cheers.

Startled by the noise, Luo Yan and the others instinctively looked up.

A young man in a pink suit, his hair slicked back, casually tossed aside a megaphone, a flower of unknown variety in his mouth, striking a strange pose, a mischievous smile on his lips.

At the same time, the surrounding cheers were suppressed by some force, gradually fading.

“Someone used an ability to silence the sound,” Davis quickly realized. Despite her inexperience, she was still a member of the Apprehension Department.

But this Young Master Liu seemed… different from what she had imagined… a bit eccentric…

Well, thinking about it, anyone who frequented such establishments couldn’t be considered a “normal” man.

“Truly worthy of her reputation… what was her name again?”

“Red Butterfly, Young Master.”

“—Excellent! Miss Red Butterfly, an interesting woman. You have caught my attention. Very good, very good.”

Young Master Liu chuckled, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. “Stop dancing, come up here and keep me company.”

The figures in red on stage stopped dancing but remained in place, none of them approaching him.

“Keep your grandpa company…”

Red Butterfly cursed inwardly.

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 31 – Spring Breeze Pavilion

“…It feels… familiar,” Luo Yan whispered.

“Hm?”

Qin Wen’s expression turned serious. She knew Luo Yan possessed the same “Witch of Envy” power as the Devil’s minion.

Perhaps, with her own senses failing her, Miss Luo Yan’s intuition was more reliable.

When Qin Wen first encountered Luo Yan, she had clearly sensed the demonic aura because, at the time, Red Butterfly hadn’t yet mastered the “Witch of Envy’s” power.

But now, Red Butterfly had not only merged with the power of “Envy” with the help of the Witch’s will, but she had also spread a large number of “Gu Seeds,” creating flesh puppet seeds.

Although these “Gu Seeds” hadn’t yet activated, they still carried a faint demonic aura.

Qin Wen had tracked these faint auras to Flower Street’s “Gold-Melting Kiln,” but because of this, she couldn’t pinpoint the exact location.

“It’s like… something I sensed in the town…”

Luo Yan frowned slightly, trying to recall.

“Perhaps… in the church?”

Qin Wen had only heard the general story of “Ghost Town,” not the full details, so she didn’t know about the church.

However, this didn’t prevent her from understanding.

“So, it’s related to the Devil’s minion?” Qin Wen asked.

Luo Yan hesitated.

“I’m not sure. Let’s go and see.”

Qin Wen nodded and strode towards the location Luo Yan indicated.

She held Luo Yan’s hand, preventing her from getting lost in the crowd.

Davis followed behind them, her face full of worry, exasperated by the two young ladies’ apparent lack of caution.

Walking so casually in the “Gold-Melting Kiln”…

Didn’t they notice the numerous gazes directed at them?

However, with Qin Wen’s imposing 1.9-meter height, and Luo Yan using her life hack to minimize her presence, most of the attention fell on Davis.

Even her Apprehension Department uniform couldn’t prevent it; after all, the uniform itself was… a certain type.

She hadn’t understood a word of Luo Yan and Qin Wen’s conversation, only that they seemed to be heading somewhere.

Wherever it was, as long as this ordeal ended quickly…

Davis followed them absentmindedly.

“There seem to be a lot of people,” Luo Yan said, sensing the complex mix of auras and the cacophony of sounds, her breathing technique struggling to keep up.

She moved closer to Qin Wen, her smaller frame practically nestled against Qin Wen’s side.

Lowering her head slightly, Qin Wen could see Luo Yan’s striking silver hair resting against her shoulder.

Resisting the urge to reach out and touch it, she said,

“They all seem to be heading in the same direction you sensed the anomaly, the crowd is very dense.”

“Crowds are troublesome,” Luo Yan’s expression was slightly troubled. “My ability isn’t easy to control, and it’s difficult to sense my surroundings with just the breathing technique.”

Qin Wen thought for a moment.

“Should I carry you?”

“Eh? Would that be too much trouble…?”

Luo Yan asked instinctively.

“Miss Luo Yan, this is your problem. You always think being helped is a burden to others.”

Qin Wen effortlessly lifted Luo Yan onto her back, as if she were a small doll. “Actually, being able to help a close friend, even just a little, is a joyful thing.”

“…Sorry.” Luo Yan didn’t know how to respond.

“Why apologize, Miss Luo Yan?” Qin Wen chuckled softly. “Close friends, we’re close friends! —Right?”

“Close friends…?” Luo Yan repeated softly. “Yes, I understand.”

“The crowd is getting larger, something doesn’t feel right.”

Qin Wen observed the people around them, their expressions unusually excited, almost fanatical.

As if under the influence of some power…

And as the crowd grew denser, the Devil’s minion’s aura intensified.

There might be a connection.

“Should we ask someone?” Luo Yan suggested.

Qin Wen nodded, grabbed a man who was excitedly pushing through the crowd, and lifted him by the collar.

“What’s happening up ahead?”

She was at least a head and a half taller than the man, and with her ability user’s strength, lifting him was effortless.

“Hey…!”

The man, suddenly lifted into the air, was instantly enraged.

But as he was about to yell, he looked up and saw Qin Wen, and his anger deflated.

It wasn’t that Qin Wen was ugly. She was… pleasant to look at.

But her 1.9-meter height and murderous aura were rather intimidating.

“B-Because Young Master Liu has booked the entire venue, and everyone who can grab a seat can watch Miss Red Butterfly’s performance…”

The man stammered, wondering inwardly why a woman would be interested in this…

“Red Butterfly? A performance?”

Qin Wen blinked. That was it?

So many people crowding together just to watch a performance…

Davis, who had caught up to them, saw Qin Wen casually interrogating a passerby and twitched her lips.

But she also overheard the man’s answer and explained to Qin Wen,

“She’s probably a courtesan, or something. Rarely seen in public, and now there’s a chance to see her for free, so these people don’t want to miss it.”

Davis paused, then snorted.

“Men are all like this.”

“…?”

The innocent Qin Wen and the naive Luo Yan were confused.

“What’s a courtesan?”

“What about men?”

They both asked questions Davis couldn’t answer easily.

“Forget it, since we’re already here, let’s go and take a look,” Davis sighed. “It’s not like you two have anything better to do…”

She had finally realized that these two had a knack for navigating the “Gold-Melting Kiln,” while she was the only one suffering.

This place… was truly… something.

Qin Wen released the man and nodded seriously.

“Yes, I’d like to see this so-called courtesan. To attract such a large crowd, she might be connected to the Devil’s minion.”

Luo Yan agreed. “Yes, I sense an unusual aura from these people, as if they’re being controlled.”

“…”

Davis was silent for a moment. These two were still playing their detective game.

She sighed.

“Sure, whatever.”

…

Meanwhile, Spring Breeze Pavilion was packed.

Despite its name, Spring Breeze Pavilion wasn’t a pavilion, but a small theater, its audience seats divided into three levels.

The first level had the most ordinary seats, the further back, the worse the view of the stage.

The second level was slightly higher, offering a clear view of the entire stage, but the seats were the same as the first level.

The top level, of course, was the VIP area, with private rooms, luxurious seating, and dedicated service staff.

And once the doors were closed, what happened inside was completely private.

…The purpose of such a design in this kind of establishment was anyone’s guess.

Barely ten minutes after the announcement, all one thousand seats on the first level and six hundred seats on the second level were filled.

When Luo Yan and Qin Wen arrived, they could only see a few staff members desperately trying to hold back the crowd pushing against the partially closed doors.

“It seems there are no seats left,” Davis said hesitantly. “Miss Luo Yan, should we just leave?”

“Why leave? If there are no seats, we’ll just go in,” Qin Wen said, puzzled. “Don’t worry, I’m experienced.”

Experienced…

Davis wanted to facepalm. Just what had this bodyguard done in the past…?

“We can’t force our way in, we’ll alert the target,” Luo Yan interjected, her expression serious. “Qin Wen, you can sense it too, right? The Devil’s minion’s aura is getting stronger.”

“Yes,” Qin Wen nodded. “The larger the crowd, the stronger the aura. Could it be that he…”

Looking at the dense crowd, Qin Wen shuddered.

While hunting this Devil’s minion in the Endless Wasteland, she had witnessed him transforming people into flesh puppets.

Countless tiny worms, devouring flesh and bone, accompanied by horrifying screams, filling the victim’s body until it became a monster controlled entirely by the worms, nothing but an empty shell remaining.

Back then, the Devil’s minion had been weak, able to transform only a few people at a time, and his control was poor, the process noisy and impossible to hide.

But what if… he had obtained enough power from the “Witch of Envy” to transform dozens, or even hundreds, of people at once?

Or if he could control the worms to lie dormant… until the right moment, absorbing them all at once?

Either scenario would result in a catastrophic loss of life.

Qin Wen wouldn’t hesitate to slay demons, but she couldn’t bring herself to harm ordinary people who could still be saved, even if they were controlled by a Devil’s minion and on the verge of becoming flesh puppets.

“Therefore, we can’t be discovered before we find the Devil’s minion’s main body,” Luo Yan said seriously, the current situation reminding her of the irreversible tragedy in Ghost Town. “We only have one chance to strike, we can’t hesitate.”

They were lucky they hadn’t launched a large-scale operation. At least for now, the enemy didn’t know they were close.

“But if we don’t force our way in, how do we get inside?”

Qin Wen looked at the staff members blocking the entrance, troubled.

“Simple, just another life hack,” Luo Yan snapped her fingers. “But to use it on you, I need to look at you.”

The power of “Envy” was to rewrite souls and consciousness. Using it on herself was fine, but using it on others required the “Eye of Fear, Envy, and Defilement.”

“Look at me?” Qin Wen immediately recalled her near-death experience from a single glance and shook her head vigorously. “No, no, let’s just force our way in…”

“You won’t die from a single glance.”

“I will!”

“Don’t worry, I can control the intensity, it’ll be fine.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes, I promise,” Luo Yan nodded, then turned to the confused Davis. “Miss Davis, come here as well.”

Davis, completely lost, pointed at herself. “Me? What for…?”

“Look into my eyes.”

Luo Yan whispered, then slightly lifted her eye mask.

Her eyes were closed beneath the mask. She opened them slightly, just a sliver.

A wave of unknown terror descended, but Luo Yan carefully controlled its range.

The surrounding crowd only felt a sudden chill, a bone-deep coldness and tremor.

But because they hadn’t looked directly into Luo Yan’s eyes, that was the extent of the effect.

Qin Wen and Davis, however, felt the full force of the fear, like falling into a bottomless abyss.

Less than a second later, Luo Yan closed her eyes and replaced her eye mask.

“Done.”

“Phew, that scared me. I thought it would be like last time,” Qin Wen patted her chest. With her willpower, this level of fear was nothing. “Is that all?”

“Yes, but it will only last for about an hour,” Luo Yan replied, then turned to Davis, who was unusually quiet. “Miss Davis, are… you alright?”

“I’m… fine…”

Davis forced herself to appear calm, but the sweat on her forehead betrayed her.

She hadn’t even registered what she had seen, only realizing afterward that she was trembling all over.

A mark of “fear” was now deeply imprinted in her mind, as if those terrifying eyes were constantly watching her.

Luo Yan’s so-called “control” was relative to a “Ruin” level ability user.

But Davis wasn’t “Ruin” level; she could barely withstand it.

Fortunately, Luo Yan hadn’t meant any harm; otherwise, Davis would be unconscious on the ground.

And the “fear” mark wasn’t a big deal; only Luo Yan could trigger it.

“Are you okay?”

Qin Wen looked at Davis’s slightly distorted expression and asked, concerned.

“I’m fine…”

“Good, time is of the essence, we have to hurry,” Luo Yan whispered. “I can’t use this ability casually, it will worsen… Anyway, let’s go.”

Her condition was deteriorating.

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 30 – An Unpleasant Place

“Why?” Luo Yan asked, curious, stopping in her tracks.

Davis and Qin Wen also looked at Cheng Hongyuan questioningly.

“Because… this place isn’t suitable for you,” Cheng Hongyuan stammered.

He couldn’t just say that this was… Flower Street’s most well-known, yet unspoken-of, area…

Almost everyone in Yan City knew about this place.

However, in Flower Street’s official layout, this place didn’t exist.

Davis, being a foreigner, like Frick, only knew Flower Street as a strictly managed shopping district.

She didn’t know that beneath this strict management, a deliberately overlooked loophole existed.

The locals called this place—”The Gold-Melting Kiln.”

A place of sensual indulgence and extravagant spending… a brothel.

Such a place shouldn’t be seen, and it certainly wasn’t somewhere a young lady should set foot.

But Cheng Hongyuan couldn’t bring himself to say it directly, especially with Davis present.

If she asked how he knew…

It would be very troublesome…

Under the questioning gazes of the three women, Cheng Hongyuan felt immense pressure.

“What kind of place is it?”

Davis sensed something amiss from Cheng Hongyuan’s expression, her voice sharpening.

“It’s…”

Just as Cheng Hongyuan was about to give in and reveal the truth, a commotion erupted nearby.

Startled, they all turned to look.

A group of stern-faced men in black were jogging towards them, pushing through the crowd and forming a line.

Behind them, a black private car slowly approached.

—Being able to use a private vehicle clearly indicated an important figure.

In most cases, Yan City prohibited the use of private vehicles.

But there were always exceptions, a select few who enjoyed such privileges.

Hua Qiling had simply chosen not to use this privilege, but that didn’t mean others would do the same.

In the New Era, some carried the burden, and some were the burden.

“Who is that?” Qin Wen asked, puzzled. “Such a grand entrance…”

“Is it because they discovered traces of the demon here?”

Luo Yan asked in a low voice, her expression serious.

Cheng Hongyuan twitched his lips. This young lady was taking this detective game a bit too seriously…

He sighed and said,

“Most likely Young Master Liu. Only he would be so ostentatious, and only he would come to this kind of place…”

“What kind of place?”

Davis’s eyes narrowed, a woman’s intuition telling her that this wasn’t a good place.

And Cheng Hongyuan’s evasiveness…

She had a suspicion, and it was likely correct.

“It’s…”

“The red-light district?”

Davis’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“…Yes.”

Cheng Hongyuan avoided her gaze.

“Have you been here before?”

Davis grabbed his ear.

“No, no, never… Everyone in the city knows about it, but I’ve never been here…”

Cheng Hongyuan winced, then, turning his head, he saw Luo Yan’s innocent, confused expression.

“What’s a red-light district?”

Qin Wen blinked and asked.

“A red-light district… isn’t a suitable place for us?” Luo Yan pondered for a moment. “It’s not suitable for ‘women,’ right?”

“That’s… correct…”

Under Davis’s murderous gaze, Cheng Hongyuan wanted to run and hide, but he had to explain to Luo Yan.

“Specifically… underage girls… are even less suitable…”

Qin Wen argued that Luo Yan didn’t look “adult” at all.

“So adult men are suitable?”

Davis said coldly.

“…Not really suitable either.”

Cheng Hongyuan wanted to disappear.

At the same time, Young Master Liu finally emerged from the car, surrounded by men in black, and swaggered into the “Gold-Melting Kiln.”

However, due to the crowd, Luo Yan and the others couldn’t see his face clearly.

“Is there a penalty for underage girls entering?” Luo Yan asked. “Perhaps I should request permission from Elder Li Ping. He would agree.”

“She… she can even talk to Director-General Li?!”

And not just “Director-General” or “Elder Li,” but a more casual yet respectful “Elder Li Ping.”

Davis and Cheng Hongyuan exchanged glances, seeing the seriousness in each other’s eyes.

It seemed this young lady’s background was even more significant than they had imagined…

“Miss Luo Yan, do you really need to go in?”

Davis released Cheng Hongyuan’s ear and asked seriously.

“Qin Wen, are you certain there’s a demonic aura inside?” Luo Yan turned to Qin Wen.

“Of course, my senses are never wrong,” Qin Wen puffed out her chest.

“It seems we have to go in then,” Luo Yan picked up her communicator. “I’ll just tell Elder Li Ping. It’s a bit troublesome for him, but—”

“No, no, no!” Seeing that Luo Yan was actually about to call Li Ping, Davis and Cheng Hongyuan panicked and quickly stopped her. “No need to ask for permission, you can go in directly.”

They almost had a heart attack seeing Luo Yan dialing Li Ping’s number.

If she called and told him she wanted to enter a brothel, the Director-General would probably have an aneurysm.

But this young lady was so insistent, and from the current situation, stopping her seemed impossible.

“How about this, I’ll take you two inside, Cheng Hongyuan will stay outside,” Davis said, patting Cheng Hongyuan’s shoulder.

After careful consideration, this was the only solution.

“But didn’t you just say it wasn’t suitable for underage girls…?”

Qin Wen asked, puzzled.

“Ahem, ahem…”

Cheng Hongyuan coughed loudly, interrupting Qin Wen’s question.

Davis glared at him, then said,

“Because it’s… an unpleasant place, not suitable for decent people.

“But if you insist on going in, I’ll have to accompany you.”

“Just you…?” Luo Yan frowned slightly. “Will that be enough?”

They might have to face not only the Devil’s minion, but also his flesh puppets.

Although Qin Wen was confident she could handle them, she couldn’t guarantee minimizing the damage.

“It’s enough, enough, she’s very strong,” Cheng Hongyuan quickly interjected. He couldn’t stand this awkward atmosphere any longer.

“In that case, alright,” Luo Yan nodded. “Mr. Cheng Hongyuan, please stand guard outside. Miss Davis, we’ll go in.”

“Yes.”

Davis and Cheng Hongyuan nodded vigorously.

They had finally managed to navigate this tricky situation…

Although this young lady was incredibly strange, lost in her own world, and incredibly stubborn…

She was also surprisingly polite for someone of her apparent status.

She spoke softly, was very courteous, and incredibly beautiful…

If only she wasn’t so… eccentric…

Seeing the young lady’s enthusiasm, Davis and Cheng Hongyuan could only sigh inwardly. This mission was truly unusual.

Who would have thought a shopping trip would lead to a brothel…?

Davis glared warningly at Cheng Hongyuan.

Cheng Hongyuan could only offer a wry smile, then stepped aside, indicating he wouldn’t follow.

“However, Miss Luo Yan, entering a place like this, in that outfit… isn’t it a bit too conspicuous…?”

Davis hesitated, then asked.

“It’s alright, I have some… life hacks,” Luo Yan replied. “If that’s not enough, I can amplify it.”

“…What?”

Davis didn’t understand, but she soon would.

For some reason, her gaze, which had been on Luo Yan, involuntarily shifted away.

Davis knew that Luo Yan was still within her field of vision.

But a strange force seemed to be compelling her to ignore the young lady.

Only by focusing all her attention could she maintain eye contact with Luo Yan.

And this was only because she knew Luo Yan was there. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have noticed her at all.

“Even ability users around ‘Calamity’ level can’t detect me.”

An ethereal voice echoed, seemingly coming from nowhere and everywhere at once.

“Is this her ability? A mind-related ability user… truly bizarre…”

Except for Grifres from Dawn, almost all mind-related ability users employed such strange and unpredictable methods.

“In that case, I’m relieved,” Davis composed herself and stepped forward. “Miss Qin Wen, Miss Luo Yan, please follow me.”

…

Flower Street, “Gold-Melting Kiln.”

Seductive music drifted from an Eastern-style building.

Women danced gracefully, an intoxicating fragrance filling the air, their soft voices echoing.

Although this form of entertainment dated back to the ancient times of the Old Era, resources were scarce in the New Era, leaving little room for developing new entertainment technologies.

This human-centric form of entertainment was very popular among those with the leisure time and resources to enjoy it.

Like… Young Master Liu.

“Why do I have a bad feeling…?”

Red Butterfly sat in a room on the top floor, a room exclusively hers. Even the madam needed her permission to enter.

This woman in red, who had only recently entered this profession, was the hottest commodity in the “Gold-Melting Kiln.”

Many sought her company, paying exorbitant prices just to watch her dance, and even more to drink with her.

As for a night of passion… only Young Master Liu could afford it.

But now, Red Butterfly felt an inexplicable anxiety, a sense of impending danger.

But when she used her scattered “Gu Seeds” to investigate, she found nothing.

The bustling crowd seemed normal, nothing unusual.

“Could it be that Sword Saint Qin Wen has found me?” Red Butterfly frowned. “No, if she had, she wouldn’t be so patient…

“Knowing her, she would have stormed in already! Or at least tried to get close to me…”

Qin Wen’s reckless nature was well-known in the Endless Wasteland, striking fear into the hearts of Devil’s minions.

Especially those she targeted, her relentless pursuit was their worst nightmare.

Red Butterfly was unfortunately one of her targets.

She had considered hiding in a mega-city before, but ordinary Devil’s minions couldn’t hide for long.

Only those who were… special… could.

If Red Butterfly hadn’t been near Yan City and hadn’t accidentally obtained a portion of the “Witch of Envy’s” power, allowing her to suppress her aura, she would have been exposed by now.

“No, I’m not strong enough yet, I’m no match for her… Lord, please forgive your humble follower…”

Red Butterfly pressed her hand to her chest, a strong urge to kill rising within her.

She could feel the Lord urging her, pushing her to kill that slender figure in white.

The Lord seemed impatient…

“Red Butterfly—”

The madam called out from outside.

Red Butterfly parted the curtains and saw the madam’s oily face, her voice trembling as she shouted,

“Come down quickly, Young Master Liu is waiting for you in ‘Spring Breeze Pavilion’!”

“So soon?”

Red Butterfly frowned slightly and glanced at the sky.

The setting sun hadn’t yet touched the horizon, casting a golden glow on the street.

“So impatient… Well, it’s better to finish him quickly and recover my strength.”

Red Butterfly licked her nails expectantly and replied with a smile, “Coming, Mother…”

She opened the window and gracefully jumped down, her red dress fluttering in the air, drawing gasps from the pedestrians below.

The madam was startled, but when Red Butterfly landed safely beside her, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“My dear, you scared me to death…”

“Hee hee.”

Red Butterfly chuckled.

But just then, she felt an intense, almost suffocating gaze upon her, her heart tightening, her breath catching in her throat.

However, the feeling was fleeting, vanishing instantly.

Red Butterfly looked around nervously, but found nothing unusual.

“What’s wrong?”

The madam asked anxiously.

“Nothing, it’s nothing…”

Red Butterfly lowered her head slightly, a flicker of fear in her eyes.

What was that…?

“Good, good,” the madam sighed in relief, then took Red Butterfly’s hand. “Let’s go, Young Master Liu is waiting.”

“Mm.”

Red Butterfly suppressed her unease and let the madam lead her away.

…

“What are you looking at, Miss Luo Yan?”

Qin Wen turned to Luo Yan, who had suddenly stopped, her blindfolded eyes fixed on something.