Bang—!
The bullet tore through the air, emitting a deafening roar.
This was Duan Chen's answer.
Sun Xiaoxiao, agile as a cat, dodged, but the bullet still grazed her thigh, tearing through the air and kicking up a mist of blood.
"Hee hee hee~~ Then I'll play with you a bit more!"
The girl laughed with a touch of yandere madness, seemingly immune to pain.
Fierce gunfire echoed repeatedly in the space. Protected by the monster Kong Ning, Sun Xiaoxiao still took several shots. However, the more she bled, the more bizarrely she smiled.
"Brother Duan Chen, you're still so amazing. I really, really want to have you~ But I can't let that slut Mi Xue'er have you."
Boom—!
A spirit bullet shattered the monster Kong Ning, and with it, Sun Xiaoxiao exploded.
Clink.
The hairpin fell to the ground. Hong Ying unleashed flames, and suddenly a blur flashed from the ruins and dust, leaping into the flames and grabbing the hairpin.
"I can't beat you, Ning Ning. It seems we need to become stronger, stronger, and stronger."
Bloody and mangled, Sun Xiaoxiao giggled and, trailing flames, rolled into another room.
"Pursue."
Duan Chen uttered the word coldly. Hong Ying instantly transformed into a ball of fire and flew after her.
However, the room was empty.
On the ground lay a puddle of water, an inch deep. In the water was a strangely shaped mirror. Its surface, like at school, was adorned with red runes visible only to spirit hunters. Ripples spread outwards.
It seemed Sun Xiaoxiao had escaped through the mirror, and this mirror was her backup plan.
Duan Chen's expression darkened, and he felt intensely frustrated.
Damn it, she escaped too quickly.
He cautiously approached the mirror. However, as the runes spun, the mirror gradually melted in the water, eventually merging with it and vanishing without a trace.
No wonder those sea monsters appeared and disappeared without a trace; they had such convenient teleportation devices.
Li Wei was still waiting upstairs to be rescued, and Duan Chen couldn't risk it now.
He recorded the melting process of the mirror and sent it to the guild's research department for study.
The only consolation was that although Sun Xiaoxiao had escaped, the dozens of hearts she had hunted were all lost in the fierce battle. At least no new sea monsters would be able to infiltrate.
Hong Ying, understanding his intent, incinerated them into ashes.
The smell of roasted meat immediately filled the air, sickeningly.
Duan Chen's face was grim.
This was no longer a personal feud between him and Zhong Xingwen; it was about the one called 'Evil God.'
............
The Divine Hall, before the chessboard.
Wu Suowei flashed a triumphant smile, while Silhouette's face was contorted with fury.
"I told you long ago, your cheap tricks wouldn't work on Duan Chen."
"Hmph! Damn god, don't get too pleased with yourself. That little girl is just a new recruit recruited by 03. Duan Chen, as a seasoned senior agent, it's normal for him to be unable to defeat her!" Silhouette retorted.
"This round is all out in the open. Zhong Xingwen is nothing but trash; he won't last a single move against Duan Chen."
"That's hard to say. You know, people who lack strength tend to resort to dirty tricks. Otherwise, how do you think Zhong Xingwen climbed to the position of second-in-command in the Zhong family... Heh heh heh, have you forgotten that young man surnamed Mi from back then was also one of your top generals, yet he still fell into his hands."
Silhouette looked at the board with anticipation. A patch of mist cleared, revealing all movements within the abandoned factory.
Duan Chen, single-handedly, was clearing out countless lurking sea monsters and demonic creatures. Hong Ying had already exceeded her limit and reverted to her phoenix hairpin form.
And this man was like an invincible God of War.
Everywhere he went was stained with blood, wreckage, bullet holes, and sword marks. His steps never wavered, as he fought his way towards the rooftop.
"Duan Chen is different." Wu Suowei also recalled that unpleasant memory, his gaze deepening slightly.
............
Time reached 3 PM.
Inside the abandoned factory, the water bathing Li Wei had already reached her chest.
The icy water was like sharp daggers, piercing deep into Li Wei's body.
She seemed to be having a chaotic nightmare. In her dream, she and Duan Chen were still walking hand in hand on the flower-strewn path of their school, watching the envious glances of passing students, feeling like the happiest woman in the world.
Suddenly, a black mist surged. Duan Chen tightly gripped her hand, and Li Father's scolding voice boomed like thunder.
She became timid, pained, and let go of Duan Chen's hand.
She looked at Duan Chen's disappointed eyes in the black mist. Those eyes, like a devil's, saw through her completely.
She felt like she was walking naked in a snowstorm. She regretted it, wanting to get closer to Duan Chen, but she lacked the courage to charge into the black mist until Duan Chen disappeared.
Zhong Xingwen walked out of the mist, holding gold in his hands, a smile on his lips, but his heart was an empty void.
From within the void came the shrill screams and wails of those decapitated girls.
Li Wei wanted to run but found she couldn't move!
Her hands were immobile, her legs were immobile, and even breathing felt heavy and difficult!
"Please let me go, I beg you..."
Li Wei knelt on the ground, pleading with Zhong Xingwen, tears falling like rain, evoking pity.
The gold in Zhong Xingwen's hand transformed into a chainsaw, dripping blood. It was the blood of those decapitated girls, and she would be next...
"My dear darling, who told you not to listen and to see my secret."
Zhong Xingwen's gentle, gentlemanly smile turned sinister. The black trees in his eyes flourished, terrifyingly, unlike a human's.
"Duan Chen, save me!!"
Li Wei called out to the rapidly receding black mist, filled with regret. In her heart, only Duan Chen could be called upon for help.
Panic and stinging pain made her eyes snap open, her consciousness gradually returning.
To her horror, she found herself bound in a giant water tank. Her skin had become wrinkled and pale from prolonged immersion in water, and her body had almost lost all sensation.
Zhong Xingwen stood before her, glaring at her through the glass.
"You're at death's door, and you're still calling out another man's name in your dreams..."
Zhong Xingwen gritted his teeth, his eyes almost spitting fire.
"Originally, considering we shared a bed for two years, I thought if you repented, I might spare your life... Hmph, you shameless bitch, you truly deserve to die."
Li Wei's face turned ashen. She was too weak to argue.
Who could she blame? Only herself.
"However, let me give you some good news. Your ex-boyfriend is here to save you." Zhong Xingwen snorted, unable to fathom how he had laid so many traps and summoned so many demons, yet none could kill this one man!
What, Duan Chen is coming to save me?
Li Wei couldn't believe her ears. They were no longer connected. Would Duan Chen really come to save her?
A tear rolled down her cheek. She strained to look towards the door, then helplessly let her head fall again.
The water pressure crushed her heart. She was so cold, so cold, her consciousness continuously drifting away.
Li Wei felt as though she was about to die.
Just then—
Bang!
A gunshot. The bullet flew towards Zhong Xingwen, who quickly dodged behind a steel pipe and roared in the direction of the shot.
"Damn it, you're here pretty fast!"