Chapter 236: Demon God |
When the logistics team arrived, Kou Ruonan and Lu Hai tied up the woman and brought her into the café, where everyone gathered around to examine her.
Guan Shan sat next to White Night, narrowing his eyes. "'The Church of Unity'... It seems the Qin Deguang incident isn't over yet."
White Night, who was familiar with the incident, pondered, "Another 'indoctrinator'? Taking advantage of survivors' psychological vulnerabilities? 'The Church of Unity' is expanding its activities more frequently. I wonder what their end goal is."
Zhao Keji, understanding the situation, asked anxiously, "Am I being targeted by the people who created that apartment?"
His voice trembled. The apartment-turned-monster had left a deep scar on his psyche.
In that incident, he lost two close roommates and endured a real-life horror game experience. Even now, he couldn't fully recover, often seeing the faces of his dead roommates in his nightmares.
Although the Special Security Group had sent psychologists to help him, and his daily life wasn't affected, the loss of his friends was a constant shadow. He lived in a daze, haunted by the fear of becoming a monstrous creature himself.
Guan Shan nodded, comforting him, "But don't worry. Qin Deguang's tragedy happened because he wasn't on the Special Security Group's radar. You're now a key protected individual, and you won't be in any danger."
"Look, this 'Church of Unity' member is already taken care of."
Kou Ruonan, curious, asked, "I heard 'Church of Unity' members have their own 'unification' objects, like Qin Deguang chose the apartment. What's hers?"
White Night, stroking his chin, studied the woman. "I guess... it's her hair."
The woman was startled, her expression changing drastically. "How did you know...?"
White Night chuckled. "Just a guess."
"You're well-groomed and meticulous, but your hair, though seemingly permed, is natural and unkempt. I even noticed it doesn't smell like shampoo, only your perfume."
"A well-kept woman would pay special attention to her hair. If not, it must be because it's her 'desired object.'"
Guan Shan: "..."
Even knowing White Night was serious, sniffing hair for clues seemed a bit perverted.
However, his logic was actually built on speculation. For White Night, all his guesses and questions could be automatically "unlocked" by his ability within its limits, providing him with direct answers.
Judging by Kou Ruonan and Lu Hai's perplexed expressions, White Night was indeed "unusual."
Lu Hai suddenly felt a sense of danger, wanting to speak but then hesitating, sensing it wasn't very dangerous...
He was confused and stayed silent.
The woman's expression shifted between shock and horror, but mostly fear.
Her fear didn't last long. In the next moment, her expression turned resolute. She gritted her teeth, and countless strands of hair burst from the ground and the sofa, attacking everyone.
The sight was horrifying, like a scene from a ghost movie.
Especially the hair emerging from the sofa, creaking as it grew longer, as if someone were buried inside, and the hair kept growing out.
The woman had used her hair to infiltrate the sofa and the ground while she was tied up, preparing for this attack.
"Ah!"
Kou Ruonan and Lu Hai were startled. The hair attacked with lightning speed, as hard as steel. Kou Ruonan tried to block it with her telekinesis but only managed to slow it down slightly. She realized the woman was at least C-rank!
The hair slashed their arms and faces, and more strands were coming, clearly aiming to kill.
But someone moved faster—much faster.
Guan Shan, who had been sitting nearby, sprang into action. A black and red-patterned long knife appeared in his hand. He stepped onto the coffee table, pivoted his wrist, and the blade cut through all the hair effortlessly.
Simultaneously, he severed one of the woman's arms.
"Thud!" Blood sprayed across the sofa.
The woman was stunned, then felt the searing pain. Her face contorted as she opened her mouth to scream, but Guan Shan backhanded her with an elbow.
The force broke her facial bones and dislocated her jaw, rendering her unable to close her mouth. The intense pain silenced her as she collapsed on the sofa, convulsing in her own blood.
It all happened in an instant.
When the hair fell to the ground, everyone else finally snapped out of it, staring dumbfounded as Guan Shan wiped the blood off his knife.
Guan Shan frowned and muttered, "No simulation? Strange..."
When he saw the woman attacking, he instinctively aimed for a lethal blow, but then remembered she had value, so he settled for cutting off an arm.
Only now did he realize the simulation hadn't activated...
Was he too quick, or did she lack the intent to kill him? Guan Shan pondered, concluding that his speed probably outpaced the simulator's response. It was a good thing, actually. Not triggering the simulation at every little threat would make life more normal, especially as he interacted with more Espers, many of whom would have ill intentions. Constant simulation activations would be disruptive.
"..."
White Night's eye twitched. His coffee was still steaming, but now a severed arm lay in front of him, the blood steam fresher than the coffee.
He turned to see his two members, frozen and trembling on the sofa, completely dumbfounded.
It seemed there was no mistake in calling him the "Demon God." This guy was terrifyingly brutal! But now wasn't the time for awe. White Night quickly set his cup down and stood, calling for someone to clean up and tend to the woman, then reassured Kou Ruonan and Lu Hai. "It's alright. This is just a small scene. Battles between Espers are hundreds of times more intense. If you can't handle this, how will you face greater dangers? Look, Zhao Keji here is just a regular person, and he's braver than you two!"
Indeed, Zhao Keji showed no fear, instead looking at Guan Shan with admiration.
Kou Ruonan, still shaken, tried to regain her composure and said, "Well, she attacked first... Guan Shan was saving us."
Lu Hai nodded quickly. "She harmed others first. She deserved it."
"Don't move."
At this moment, Guan Shan stopped the logistics team's medics. He walked over, grabbed the woman's hair, and lifted her up, staring into her eyes. "From now on, you have one chance to tell me everything you know."
He pointed at White Night. "This guy can tell if you're lying. You just experienced that. The medics are right here. If you talk, I'll save you and let you join the Special Security Group for protection."
"But if you lie once, you'll bleed out in five minutes."
Guan Shan smiled. "Now, your choice."