Chapter 46: The Ghost
Xu Bai paused, then said, “As you can see, I’m not a Demon Hunter.”
The Demon Hunters tensed, their auras flaring slightly.
“But I don’t consider myself a demon either,” Xu Bai continued, unfazed. “I’m human, or I was.”
Although her true heritage was still a mystery, and the possibility of her being a demon was high, she had never truly seen herself as one.
She was human, a human knight, the Xu Bai who had died in Saint Noyes.
A lonely young man turned girl, but still, at her core, him.
The Demon Hunters, despite their hatred for demons, weren’t hostile to all who wielded demonic power. After all, they themselves wielded it, albeit at a great cost.
Uncle Lin had known this, understood that the Demon Hunters wouldn’t necessarily be hostile to Xu Bai. That’s why he had insisted on bringing her along.
“Miss Bai, I’m willing to believe you were once human,” their leader said, his voice deep. “But you are still dangerous.”
Demons had brought centuries of suffering and ingrained fear to humanity, not easily forgotten or forgiven. Even Demon Hunters weren’t readily accepted by ordinary humans.
Xu Bai didn’t reply, her gaze shifting to the fight between Lin Yan and Glaimond.
Lin Yan’s eyes were now bloodshot, only a sliver of black remaining in the center of her pupils. A bloody mist seeped from her skin, her veins bulging.
Xu Bai recognized the secret technique and knew Lin Yan’s current state.
“…Why go this far…?” Xu Bai sighed softly, turning to the Demon Hunter leader. “I want to help my friend. Will you stop me?”
Although her tone was calm, the Demon Hunter leader felt a sudden pressure, the suppression of a higher-ranking demon bloodline.
The other Demon Hunters instinctively aimed their weapons at Xu Bai, but their leader raised a hand, stopping them, his voice strained.
“Miss Bai, we are not allied with Glaimond. As long as you are not with the Abyssal Demon Realm, we will not interfere.”
He didn’t question whether she was a demon; the bloodline suppression was evident.
The gray-haired girl was not only a demon, but a high-ranking one, her bloodline powerful enough to suppress most others.
Even within the Abyssal Demon Realm, there was a clear hierarchy among the numerous demon races.
The disparity in power between different classes was vast. The weakest demons were only slightly stronger than humans.
The high-ranking demons were the core of the Abyss, wielding immense power, enough to suppress the combined forces of elves, beastkin, and humans.
But this only reinforced the Demon Hunter leader’s belief in Xu Bai’s words: that she was, or had once been, human.
High-ranking demons were too arrogant to coexist peacefully with humans, let alone consider them friends—it was unheard of.
Moreover, if this girl truly intended to fight them, none of them would survive.
“Thank you.”
Xu Bai nodded, walking towards the center of the fight, her hand reaching for the dagger at her waist.
Instead of activating her Demonic Runes, she followed Lin Yan’s example, activating the secret technique, [Bloodfire Ascension].
She knew the technique, but it hadn’t been very useful to her before.
It enhanced speed and strength, but at the cost of limiting her psychic circuits.
But now, unwilling to use her demonic powers, it was the perfect solution.
Another clash, the impact of Lin Yan’s spear and Glaimond’s sword cracking the floor.
If they weren’t controlling their power, focusing it on each other, the Clock Tower would have been destroyed several times over.
Lin Yan staggered back, gripping her spear, preparing for another attack, when a small, pale hand rested on her shoulder.
“Miss Lin Yan, you’ve fought well. Leave the rest to me.”
“Bai…”
Lin Yan turned to see Xu Bai’s eyes, also bloodshot, but with pale blue veins.
She instantly understood. Bai was using the same technique.
“[Bloodfire Ascension]…”
“Is it you…?”
Lin Yan’s enhanced state instantly dissipated, tears of blood streaming from her eyes.
Just like him, appearing at her side in the most difficult battles, his quiet voice saying, “Leave it to me.”
He always found a solution, no enemy he couldn’t defeat.
Released from the strain of the technique, Lin Yan’s body went limp, her consciousness fading.
“Rest well, Miss Lin Yan.”
Hearing those words, Lin Yan closed her eyes, finally able to relax.
Xu Bai gently lifted Lin Yan into her arms. Although the sight of her small frame carrying the much larger Lin Yan was slightly comical, no one laughed.
Glaimond’s eyes widened as he saw Xu Bai’s transformation. He hadn’t expected her, a demon, to know a human secret technique. He began to doubt his earlier assessment.
“Could she… be a Demon Hunter after all?”
“No, impossible! Such a pure demonic bloodline… she can’t be a Demon Hunter!”
But despite Glaimond’s shock, Xu Bai’s expression remained calm, just like his had always been.
She carried Lin Yan to safety, then, holding the dagger Lin Yan had given her, pointed it at Glaimond.
“Your opponent is Bai, of Saint Noyes.”
“Saint… Saint Noyes?”
Glaimond was speechless, his gaze fixed on Xu Bai, as if trying to see through her.
“Are you him?”
“No, that’s impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
“Bai, who are you…?”
“Who am I?”
Xu Bai looked down at her small reflection in the polished marble floor, pale and beautiful, a self-deprecating smile touching her lips. “I’m a ghost. A ghost that doesn’t belong in this world.”
Her memories were lies, her past meaningless.
But now, she had a purpose.
“Come, Glaimond. Show me the true extent of your ‘Authority.’”
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