Chapter 85: Carnivores and the Painter of Blood (6)

A qipao spirit, the kind that dares to bite its master and stirs murderous intent in Jack Chen’s heart, was not something he could keep close. Besides, who would take the blame if it remained? Only by letting it escape could the guild president chase after the qipao spirit, proving that the death of Barbaric Butcher had nothing to do with him.

The qipao spirit, unaware of these machinations, saw Jack Chen agree and wasted no time. It instantly dissolved into a spectral form, glanced at Xiao Ke’ai, and slipped through the wall, vanishing into the night.

Jack Chen then turned to Wu Zui and Xiao Ke’ai, who still looked as if they were enjoying a show, and smiled as though eyeing plump prey. “It’s your turn. Are you ready?”

Xiao Ke’ai smiled and replied, “Not yet! Could you wait a little longer?”

(￣▽￣)~*

Jack Chen was speechless.

〖Look at this face. Do I look like a homicidal maniac? You dare to ask me to wait? I was only being polite!〗

(ﾒ｀ﾛ´)/

But before Jack Chen could burst into rage and spill Wu Zui’s blood, Xiao Ke’ai suddenly said, “Ready now!”

With that, she and Wu Zui pressed themselves against the wall behind them. The wall cracked open, creating a large hole, and they ducked through it.

It turned out that when Jack Chen was dealing with Barbaric Butcher, Wu Zui had noticed he wasn’t fighting at full strength. He had signaled Xiao Ke’ai with his eyes to have Commander Cat dig through the wall behind them, preparing their escape route.

Thus, only Jack Chen was left standing in the cold wind...

“Damn it! Hurry up and chase them!” Jack Chen cursed, barking orders at the Hundred Towers.

A swarm of skulls rushed toward the opening, but Wu Zui and Xiao Ke’ai, familiar with the terrain, had already disappeared without a trace.

The game of hide-and-seek seemed poised to begin anew.

However, Jack Chen had no intention of playing further. Upon learning that Hundred Towers failed to catch the two, he ordered it to surround the entire haunted house and dispatched a portion of the skulls to demolish it completely.

As the skulls spun and attacked, the haunted house gradually crumbled into ruins.

Meanwhile, in a corridor, Xiao Ke’ai anxiously told Wu Zui, “Master, Commander Cat says that person has ordered the skulls to start tearing down the house! If we don’t leave now, we’ll be buried under the haunted house!”

“Hmm... We’ve delayed enough. If the nearby spirit investigators aren’t fools, they’ve already sealed the area. Now it’s our turn to gang up on him,” Wu Zui nodded, and the two began their retreat from the haunted house. As soon as they emerged, they saw the skulls swirling about. In the daylight, the skulls looked almost playful, like moving targets.

They were oblivious to the danger that awaited them.

As Wu Zui predicted, a group of spirit investigators—at least three-star—surrounded Hundred Towers and Jack Chen. A barrage of gold bullets riddled the skulls.

Under Jack Chen’s command, all the skulls began spewing black resentment, enveloping him in a dark aura—clearly an attempt to escape. But the investigators, having waited so long to reinforce, were well prepared.

A golden net descended, and the investigators, equipped with thermal imaging and tranquilizer guns, fired needles at Jack Chen. Soon, both he and Hundred Towers, trying to flee by air, were captured in one sweep.

The investigators were elated; this was the first time a high-ranking elder of the Purification Society had been apprehended in China. If the interrogation went well, the rewards would be substantial.

“Yay, Master, that guy got caught!” Xiao Ke’ai flashed a victory sign beside her face, looking delighted.

“Much slower than I expected. Have Commander Cat retrieve the fat man’s corpse from the ruins. He’s from the Purification Society, after all—make sure he doesn’t come back to life with some bizarre trick. Hand everything over to them,” Wu Zui said, glancing at the haunted house now reduced to rubble by Hundred Towers.

“Got it!” Xiao Ke’ai replied, and Commander Cat sulkily shifted into spectral form to fetch the corpse. Before long, Commander Cat, looking thoroughly disgusted, tossed Barbaric Butcher’s body onto the ground.

Just as Wu Zui prepared to leave, a voice sounded.

“It’s been a while. I thought you’d stay in Yan Capital City.”

It was Wang Yichuan, the military spirit investigator, now a five-star awakener.

Wu Zui sensed the powerful magnetic energy radiating from Wang Yichuan and joked, “You broke through? That was fast!”

“You’re even faster. Last time we met, you were still three-star, now you’re four-star. How have you been? Studying cultivation methods?”

Wang Yichuan humbly engaged the two in small talk.

“Speaking of which, now that you’re five-star, haven’t you dealt with the anomaly in Haishan yet?” Wu Zui suddenly recalled their first ghost mission—he’d never forgotten Haishan. Even now, he doubted he could resolve the anomaly; its body was simply too massive.

“Haishan... I’ve been there. That anomaly is far more complicated than we imagined. Its power is beyond my ability to handle. Honestly, it was pure luck we escaped last time!” Wang Yichuan’s face was full of nostalgia, the joy of his breakthrough gone.

“What’s so complicated?” Wu Zui and Xiao Ke’ai asked, curious.

“First, the level. Haishan isn’t a five-star anomaly—it’s seven-star, same as the whale anomaly that attacked Binhai. And because of the whale’s self-destruction, it absorbed a huge amount of resentment, and may evolve at any moment.

Besides our magnetic containment field, there are other things around Haishan preventing the anomaly from escaping. If we attack rashly, it could cause major problems.” Wang Yichuan spoke solemnly.

“That serious? We were lucky to get out alive!” Xiao Ke’ai covered her mouth, shocked.

“Did you stop me just to tell me this? Anything else?” Wu Zui stared into Wang Yichuan’s eyes, his gaze penetrating.

“Uh... that obvious?” Wang Yichuan’s expression stiffened, muttering under his breath.

“Well, it’s nothing major, really—I just wanted to borrow a bit of your blood. If we go back to Haishan, with that seven-star anomaly, there’s a good chance we’ll need to escape. Hollow bullets might not work, so please help out. I’ll pay you, of course!”

Seeing Wu Zui’s face grow cold, Wang Yichuan quickly explained his terms.

“Trade? What’s your offer?” Wu Zui asked, voice low.

He wasn’t unwilling, but if one asked, more would follow. If word got out, his little body wouldn’t have enough blood for everyone!

“...How about a spatial singularity? It’s an ability only five-star investigators gain after learning cultivation. Anyone with a singularity can instantly transfer to a preset location—even break through confinement of the same level. It’s perfect for escape.”

Knowing Wu Zui and Xiao Ke’ai’s reckless work style, Wang Yichuan offered the most suitable item. Used wisely, the spatial singularity was as good as an extra life.

“All right! Give us a dozen or so, preset in Yan Capital City,” Wu Zui said, considering Xiao Ke’ai’s safety as he extended his right hand.

Wang Yichuan’s offer was indeed tempting.

━Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━

“A dozen or so!!! Are you trying to kill me? One person can only have one, and the preset location can’t be too far, otherwise it doesn’t work!” Wang Yichuan nearly had a heart attack at Wu Zui’s outrageous demand and finally recovered enough to complain.

“So many restrictions! Then set it in the military camp in Binhai’s north district. That’s the safest place in Binhai now! Binhai is far enough, right? If not, forget it. If it doesn’t get us far, the ghosts will catch up anyway,” Wu Zui frowned. He hadn’t expected so many limitations, but reaching Binhai’s north district instantly was acceptable. As for whether Xiao Ke’ai could enter the camp, that was up to Xiao Anguo.

“That can be done... By the way, you won’t renege, right?” Wang Yichuan asked excitedly, then suddenly realized something.

“I won’t!” Wu Zui answered firmly.

Seeing Wu Zui had no intention to bleed first, Wang Yichuan resignedly said, “Fine, fine, extend your arms.”

Wu Zui and Xiao Ke’ai complied. Wang Yichuan grasped their arms, magnetic energy swirling around them, then coalesced into a blue sun-like emblem.

After finishing the spatial singularity, sweat beaded Wang Yichuan’s temples—he was clearly exhausted.

“Disciple, give him your half bottle of blood. I’ll get you a new one when we’re home,” Wu Zui said, patting Xiao Ke’ai, who was engrossed in poking at the blue mark on her arm.

“Alright!” Xiao Ke’ai nodded, retrieved her half bottle of blood, and reluctantly handed it over.

【Swindler! Only this much!】

Wang Yichuan’s mouth twitched as he took the half bottle of blood in a mineral water container, silently cursing.

Wu Zui ignored Wang Yichuan’s inner complaints. Confirming there were no other matters, he left with Xiao Ke’ai.

According to Jack Chen, the three-hundred-pound man attacked them because the qipao spirit needed something from Xiao Ke’ai to empower itself.

If so, the spirit Jack Chen deliberately released might return for trouble. The two needed to prepare, heading to the Detective Bureau to exchange for items specialized against spirits!