He Li's impassioned speech failed to rally everyone, as they understood Susan better than he did. Once Captain Susan declared she was in charge, others had no room to interfere.
Seeing their dejected expressions, He Li sighed deeply. "These youths are too immature to strategize with," he lamented. "My money, is it all going to go down the drain just like that?"
He Li's sighs and groans were noticed by Bai Fei, who smiled and offered comfort, "Don't worry, the captain won't act recklessly."
He Li nodded silently, already picturing a certain street reduced to ruins, and his hard-earned "silver" slipping through his fingers.
His heart ached!
The group dispersed listlessly, each returning to their duties. He Li sat in his usual spot and began practicing his breathing techniques.
It was a bit boring.
He Li even started to miss his time in the psychiatric hospital. He remembered the "Jiangnan Fist Saint" from Bed 3, the "Wuli River Saber King" from Bed 4, the "Great Archmage" from Bed 7, and the "Northwest Hammer King" from Bed 11. Playing with them had been quite amusing.
And the院长 (Dean), always burdened with work, his hair turned white before he was fifty, his face gaunt. He was the only one who truly understood him.
Of course,
The person he missed the most was Doctor Lu. That collarbone... tsk tsk...
"Hoo..."
He Li let out a long breath and gave a wry smile, "I really am crazy, to be reminiscing about life in a psychiatric hospital."
In the evening,
He Li finished work as usual and walked to the Dadong vegetable market to buy groceries. He had a faint premonition that Zhang Qiling would come looking for him again.
"One roasted chicken leg, four roasted chicken gizzards."
He Li loved roasted chicken legs and gizzards, but he loved mixed pig's head meat and soy-braised beef even more. Just as He Li paid,
"It's getting foggy."
Suddenly, a clear, distant voice echoed in He Li's ear.
He Li spun around abruptly, scanning his surroundings. However, apart from the pedestrians, there was no one suspicious.
But the voice he had just heard had definitely reached his ears, as if spoken right beside him, or perhaps from the sky. He Li was certain he hadn't misheard.
He Li vigilantly surveyed the area, including the rooftops of the surrounding buildings.
"Here you go."
The boss's voice sounded from behind him as he handed over the plastic bag containing the chicken legs and gizzards.
As He Li took the bag, his phone rang.
"Hello, Sister Jiang..."
"He Li! Central Overpass! Bai Fei and Tao Xue are already there!"
"Got it."
The next moment, He Li leaped from his spot, instantly standing on the roof of a five-story building, then swiftly darted away, the plastic bag in his hand rustling in the wind.
On the Central Overpass,
Bai Fei was holding a deformed car with both hands, slowly placing it on the ground. With one hand, he tore open the car door. Seeing the driver trapped in the driver's seat, he tore off the entire car roof to rescue the driver.
Not far away,
A woman watched Bai Fei with a smile, her eyes crimson, flickering with danger and amusement.
"A Level 5 Spirit Warrior, second stage of the Gene Lock. If your spiritual power advances two more levels, you'll reach the Spirit Infusion Realm. Truly a genius dual-ability user."
Bai Fei placed the blood-covered driver aside. Police officers immediately took him away and quickly retreated.
Bai Fei turned to face the woman, his brow furrowed. This woman was clearly a demon. Just by landing here, the air pressure alone had overturned a car.
A humanoid demon, possessing self-awareness, capable of perceiving him as a dual-ability user, and knowing his Spirit Warrior level and Gene Lock.
She was... a Level 2 Demon!
Bai Fei pursed his lips, exhaled softly, and stepped towards the woman. As he walked, Bai Fei flicked his hand, and a snow-white battle saber appeared in his grip.
The woman watched Bai Fei approach, her crimson eyes filled with excitement.
"Manifestation type! A weapon, then? Does your saber have any special abilities? Fire, lightning, or frost?"
"Do you know? I've killed many Spirit Warriors and ability users, but never a dual-ability user. You're the first, a memorable one!"
The woman spoke with manic fervor. As she spoke, she extended her arm, which then exploded. Blood transformed into countless blood threads, lashing out towards Bai Fei.
Clang, clang, clang!
Bai Fei swung his saber to block, then dodged the blood threads sideways, his spiritual power erupting as he charged towards the woman.
Clang!
Bai Fei's saber stopped beside the woman's waist, blocked by a blood thread.
Immediately after, the woman kicked Bai Fei fiercely. Bai Fei held his saber with both hands, slashing downwards, blocking the attack while using the force to create distance from the woman.
Clang!
Bai Fei was sent flying backward. He flipped twice in the air before landing on the ground.
After a brief exchange, Bai Fei realized that he couldn't deal with the entire demoness by himself.
If it were a Level 3 demon, he would be fine. But this woman was clearly a Level 2 humanoid demon, her strength and abilities far surpassing those of Level 3 or 4 demons.
Heh... How fortunate I am, to encounter a Level 2 demon.
Bai Fei flicked his saber. He looked calmly at the woman in front of him. The next moment, a layer of azure light, his spiritual power, enveloped the gleaming saber.
The reason dual-ability users were highly regarded was their ability to fuse spiritual power and abilities, unleashing immeasurable power.
For instance, Bai Fei's manifestation ability, the battle saber, would become even sharper with the amplification of spiritual power, and the saber would also serve as a medium for his spiritual power.
Bai Fei took a deep breath, then vanished from his spot. The next moment, he appeared to the woman's right, slashing horizontally.
Clang!
After being blocked,
Bai Fei vanished again, appearing behind the woman. Holding his saber with both hands, he slashed diagonally upwards.
The woman's expression turned astonished. She was surprised that Bai Fei dared to engage in close combat with her.
Swish!
The woman was cut in half by Bai Fei's saber, her upper body exploding, splattering blood that hung suspended in mid-air.
Seeing this, Bai Fei didn't hesitate. He leaned his body back, pushed off with his legs, and slid backward.
The airborne blood droplets were connected by blood threads, re-forming the woman's body.
Bai Fei stood up, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Are you the demon from that villa?"
The woman raised her hands, tidied her short hair, and did not answer Bai Fei's question. Instead, she said, "You're not the one who broke my ability. Where is he? That young man with the fragrant blood."
This Level 2 demon was after He Li!
Bai Fei's expression remained impassive. He didn't speak, merely raising his saber.
"Dual-ability user, your combat power is formidable. Ordinary individuals are no match for you, but you are still too weak before me," the woman said with a smile.
Then,
She raised her hand, extended a finger, and pointed at Bai Fei.
Swish!
Bai Fei froze. He looked down at his shoulder, pierced by a blood thread.
When did it happen? How did she launch the attack? He hadn't seen it, nor had he sensed it.
Bai Fei dared not think further. He directly swung his saber to sever the blood thread, then rapidly retreated, creating distance from the woman.
...