Savoring the ramen in his mouth, Wen Wen suddenly felt a pang of reflection.
Supernatural abilities didn’t have to be used solely for combat. If the monsters from the inner world weren’t so obsessed with slaughter, there might be more superhumans like Master Barrelwood—individuals who channeled their powers into pursuits unrelated to battle but far more meaningful.
To Wen Wen, that seemed like the kind of life superhumans *ought* to live.
How many of them truly enjoyed bloodshed, if not forced into it by circumstance?
Just then, an old man entered the ramen shop. The moment he stepped inside, Kyogoku beside Wen Wen stiffened imperceptibly. Wen Wen turned his head, then cracked a grin.
The old man was bald, narrow-eyed, hunched, and leaning on a cane—all the hallmarks of a powerhouse…
He was the Sin-Ender of the Sakura Sector, revered by its superhumans as the *Sword God* and *Shinobi Oni*—a master who had pushed both swordsmanship and ninjutsu to their absolute limits.
Taking the opportunity, Wen Wen struck a deal with Sakuraba Issei. From this day onward, the Foundation would be allowed to expand into the Sakura Sector, provided it didn’t disrupt the Hunter Association’s operations there.
Once everything was settled, Sakuraba led Kyogoku Kuura out of the ramen shop.
The two shared a master-disciple relationship, and Sakuraba was furious that Kyogoku spent all his time at comic conventions instead of training. He was determined to "educate" the younger man properly upon their return.
Left alone in the shop, Wen Wen sat back in his chair, pondering whether there was still any point in maintaining his hidden identity.
At least four of the Hunter Association’s top-tier Sin-Enders already knew who he was. And the Association had its own independent intelligence division—the *Investigators*—whose information-gathering skills were second to none.
*"For all I know, every high-ranking member of the Hunter Association might already be aware of my identity. Maybe I’m the only one still pretending otherwise."*
After weighing his options, Wen Wen decided to keep up the charade for now. He’d cross the bridge of exposure when—or if—the Association confronted him.
With that settled, he left the ramen shop and followed the asylum’s signal to find Chu Wei drinking alone at a bar.
*"You’re here? Come, have a drink!"* Chu Wei slurred, his face flushed red.
Wen Wen frowned at the sight of his drunken state.
Ever since Chu Wei discovered he’d become a hybrid of vampire and zombie—on top of his existing immortality—he’d been consumed by dread.
The fear of turning into an unstoppable monster, compelled to harm others, had taken root in his mind.
With a sigh, Wen Wen reached over and *popped open Chu Wei’s skull like a lid*.
A moment later, Chu Wei regenerated, all traces of alcohol gone from his system.
*"I worked so hard to get drunk, and you just reset me. Now I have to start over."* Chu Wei laughed bitterly.
Wen Wen pulled out a jug of industrial-grade alcohol. *"Drink this. Hits harder."*
Chu Wei opened his mouth, as if to say something, but no words came out.
*"You’re a seasoned demon hunter and a containment officer of the asylum. What’s with this pitiful act? If you’re not embarrassed, I am."* Wen Wen eyed him with undisguised disdain.
Chu Wei slumped further, his voice tinged with resignation. *"The bloodlust of a vampire is uncontrollable. Zombies are even worse. I’m a fusion of both now—I have no idea what’ll happen to me."*
*"If you want to understand your condition, that’s simple."* Wen Wen yanked him to his feet. *"I’ll take you for a test. If you really turn into a monster beyond control, I’ll lock you up in the asylum so you can’t hurt anyone."*
*"But if you don’t develop those urges, then snap out of it and go back to being your old self."*
Before Chu Wei could respond, Wen Wen dragged him across two blocks to an empty lot, where an unusual experiment unfolded under Woye City’s night sky.
First, Wen Wen tied Chu Wei up. Then, he plucked an eighteen-year-old girl and a soft-skinned, plump man from the city streets.
Both were hypnotized to forget the night’s events afterward, and they’d be compensated for their time.
Next, Wen Wen induced a state of starvation in Chu Wei.
Lacking any vampiric or necrotic abilities himself, Wen Wen resorted to *physical methods*—specifically, emptying Chu Wei’s digestive tract.
The process, carried out by puppets, was… *visually unappealing*.
Once that was done, Wen Wen drained some of Chu Wei’s blood, leaving him weak and ravenous.
Finally, he hit Chu Wei with a mental shock, temporarily scrambling his thoughts, before untying him.
Small cuts were made on both the girl’s and the man’s necks—potential meals for Chu Wei’s altered instincts.
The girl catered to vampire tastes, while the man’s tender flesh suited a zombie’s palate. Even if Chu Wei were picky, he’d have to choose one.
On the side, Wen Wen prepared a giant bucket of fried chicken and a tub of cola as alternative options.
Now, in a state driven purely by instinct, would Chu Wei opt for normal food—or the flesh of the living?