The evil energy controlling Duan Chen instantly dissipated into smoke. Duan Chen abruptly withdrew his hand, and the gate in the illusion also vanished in the mist.
Wu Suowei descended before him like a god.
"Do not be enticed by the Evil God."
Duan Chen was utterly shocked; his casual strike had managed to break the rules of the dream realm.
Evil God, Divine Envoy...
Was it all real?!
"Who, exactly, are you?"
Duan Chen looked into his eyes and once again employed his mind-reading technique.
This time, he saw.
Within Wu Suowei's pale and vacant mental state, a pure white chess piece appeared, resembling one from chess, crowned with authority.
It was a white piece representing the 【King】.
Immediately, Wu Suowei spread his hands in front of him. The white chess piece of the King floated in his palm, as if he had taken it from the depths of his heart.
The white piece slowly drifted before Duan Chen, and Wu Suowei exuded a transcendent, holy aura.
"It chose you."
"...A chess piece?" Duan Chen stared at the white piece, radiating warm spiritual energy, and was immensely shocked.
"This is a battle against the Evil God, a matter of life and death for all humanity..."
Suddenly, a blinding white light tore through the void.
Duan Chen instinctively raised his arm to shield his head.
"Involving rules, was I [silenced]..." Wu Suowei showed an annoyed expression. He was quickly engulfed by the white light and disappeared as a halo.
When he regained consciousness again—
Duan Chen heard a chorus of calls.
"Duan Chen... Duan, Chen..."
Duan Chen moved, and the pain from his wounds made him frown instantly.
"Duan Chen! Duan Chen, wake up, please, don't die!"
The voices grew more continuous. He struggled to open his eyes.
Through the blur, he saw Mi Xue'er's tear-streaked face.
Seeing that he was awake, Mi Xue'er was overjoyed. She excitedly lunged forward and hugged him tightly, her delicate body pressing against his.
A sweet scent filled his nostrils. Mi Xue'er's hair tickled Duan Chen's neck and face, making him feel a bit itchy.
"Duan Chen, you scared me to death. I thought you were dead."
Mi Xue'er realized she had been too forward, released him with a flushed face, and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Cough, how could I die so easily, silly girl."
Duan Chen patted her little head.
It felt good to be cared for; this little girl was quite warm-hearted.
His gaze swept past Mi Xue'er to survey his surroundings. He then discovered he was back in the ruins of the school.
The mirror in the restroom, on which a formation had been drawn, had shattered into powder and scattered everywhere.
The wail of ambulances reached his ears as rescue personnel systematically evacuated the injured students.
But in the crowd, he did not see any sign of Wu Suowei.
"Are you looking for that temporary security guard? I didn't see him. The moment the mirror shattered, only Brother Duan Chen came out alone. Did he... not come out?"
Mi Xue'er trailed off.
Did this mean Wu Suowei had met with misfortune?
The mirror was broken, leaving no exit for anyone trapped inside. Moreover, that overwhelming white light seemed to have been directed at Wu Suowei.
Duan Chen sighed. Wu Suowei was likely beyond saving. He couldn't help but feel a sense of gloom.
But he had risked his life to seal the exit of the sea monster invasion, protecting hundreds of students within the school and the safety of the citizens of Sucheng.
"You fulfilled your duty as an agent..."
"Even as a temporary one."
Duan Chen lit a cigarette and exhaled slowly. The nicotine stimulated his pained brain.
He was severely injured in this battle.
"Officer Duan, thank you for your hard work!"
"Leave the rest of the work to us!"
His companions from the Guild's logistics department lifted Duan Chen onto a stretcher.
Mi Xue'er broke free from a few medical staff and rushed towards Duan Chen, insisting on accompanying him in the same ambulance.
"Kid, your facial injuries need tending to as well."
"Don't call me a kid. You're not that much older than me!" Mi Xue'er frowned and pouted, her pretty little face puffed up with a faint blush, looking very cute.
Duan Chen had also once imagined that if he had a sister, she would be just like Mi Xue'er.
Cute and obedient, pouting when angry, with soft cheeks that made one want to pinch them.
"Heh, then I'll call you Sister Xue'er?" Duan Chen looked at her with gentle, doting eyes.
"Okay, I've always wanted a brother like you, Duan Chen!"
Mi Xue'er sighed inwardly.
She didn't want to be his sister; she wanted to be his woman!
Mi Xue'er recalled the appearance of Duan Chen's ex-girlfriend, Li Wei. She was gentle and virtuous, with long hair cascading over her shoulders. When she smiled, her peach-shaped eyes held a captivating charm.
So, did Duan Chen like alluring women?
Looking at her own flat chest, Mi Xue'er hated for the first time that she hadn't grown up faster.
"I've decided, I'll also apply to the Spirit Hunter Guild and follow Brother Duan Chen to hunt demons and protect our country!" Mi Xue'er's eyes flickered with a resolute gleam.
Duan Chen found it amusing, "Only those with superpowers can become Spirit Hunters. You should focus on your studies."
"I have superpowers."
"What?"
"Money, power."
Mi Xue'er giggled.
And so—
The ambulance took Duan Chen directly to the best hospital in Sucheng: Sacred Heart Hospital.
Via the VIP special channel.
He was admitted to the most luxurious single room.
Five young, beautiful, and shapely nurses attended to him personally.
"Brother Duan, time for your medicine, open your mouth, ah~~"
"Brother Duan, it's time for blood draw, let me roll up your sleeve~"
"Brother Duan, where do you feel unwell? We sisters will give you a massage~"
The renowned divine doctor from Great Jing, 【Third Master Ge】, was flown to Sucheng overnight by private helicopter. People speculated which prominent figure in Sucheng had fallen ill.
Yet, no one knew that all this was because of a humble Spirit Hunter agent—Duan Chen.
As Duan Chen was wheeled into the operating room and met Third Master Ge face-to-face, both fell into a deep silence.
"What wind blew you from the Great Jing district to Sucheng?"
"The wind of money."
"Heh, I thought you were the kind of aloof person who wouldn't be swayed by money."
"They gave too much."
"..."
"..."
"And you? If they had brought you in any later, your wounds would have already healed."
"The atmosphere had built up so much. I said I was fine, but they wouldn't listen."
"..."
"..."
"Shall I symbolically make three cuts on you?"
"That's quite unnecessary." Duan Chen gave a wry smile.
"Oh, don't let me come all this way for nothing. Great Jing to Sucheng isn't a short trip."
Third Master Ge took out his specially made scalpel, its blade gleaming dangerously under the bright lights.