It's Dangerous Here, So We'll Clear Out First

Throughout the drive, Zhao Shengshen didn't say another word to Su Yang.

The director kept a smile on his face, swaying constantly to the loud, rousing music in the car. He looked completely absorbed in it.

But to Su Yang's terror, Zhao Shengshen drove faster and faster, until he was racing wildly through the city!

Several times, Su Yang wanted to speak up and urge Zhao Shengshen to slow down.

Mr. Director, could you slow down a little? Speeding is against the law! You're a public figure, too, so it doesn't look good...

But Su Yang held back. What if this was part of the process of awakening a Sequence Ability?

Though Su Yang knew that was unlikely...

Finally, after speeding through the vast city for more than ten minutes, Zhao Shengshen brought the car to a stop.

Even after stopping, he looked as if he hadn't had his fill, as though the ride hadn't been thrilling enough.

"We're here. This is it, the Soul-Reaping Bureau's branch. Get out!"

Su Yang staggered out of the car, his stomach churning like a storm-tossed sea. He rushed to the side of the road and took several deep breaths of fresh air before he felt a little better.

"Mr. Director, if you'd gone any faster, I might have thrown up in your car."

Su Yang shot Zhao Shengshen a resentful look, then turned to look around.

"Where's the Soul-Reaping Bureau? Why can't I see anything?"

Zhao Shengshen had driven to the city center, where there were several large commercial districts.

At this hour, the bars and KTVs were open for business, and the city's night wanderers were out and about.

Aside from the brightly colored bar signs and the clamor of the bars reaching their ears, there were no other buildings with their lights on.

Zhao Shengshen walked over to Su Yang, patted him on the back, and pointed at a sign ahead.

"You can't handle much, can you? I wasn't even driving that fast today! Look, the Soul-Reaping Bureau is right there. Didn't you see that huge sign?"

That wasn't fast? The wheels were practically smoking!

Su Yang grumbled inwardly and looked where Zhao Shengshen had pointed.

Sure enough, there was a huge illuminated sign there, impossible to miss in the dark.

"Soul-Reaping Bureau... Bar?!"

After reading the words on the sign, Su Yang stared in bewilderment.

There, in big characters on the sign, were the words: Soul-Reaping Bureau Bar!

It stood there openly, right in the very center of the city.

"Wait! Mr. Director, are you saying the Soul-Reaping Bureau is a bar?"

Zhao Shengshen seemed very pleased with Su Yang's expression and burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! That's right! What do you think? Surprised?!"

What was a surprise?

What was a fucking surprise?

What was a fucking, fucking surprise?

This was a fucking surprise!

He had thought the Soul-Reaping Bureau was a secret organization hidden in the night, silently protecting the human world. Who could have imagined it was a bar?!

I'm a drunkard, but I have to protect the world?

(That's a good book title. If only I knew how to come up with titles, this book probably wouldn't be doing this badly, would it?)

"Mr. Director, this..."

"How come I don't remember there being a bar called the Soul-Reaping Bureau in the city center?"

Zhao Shengshen smoothed his beautifully styled slicked-back hair, looking rather pleased with himself.

"Heh, I have my Sequence Ability to thank for that!"

"My Domain can plant suggestions in people's minds. Only people with Sequence Abilities can see this bar. Ordinary people just think it's an ordinary grocery store."

"Come on! I'll take you to awaken your Sequence Ability!"

The smile on Zhao Shengshen's face grew even wider as he strode toward the noisy bar.

Su Yang opened his mouth silently, wanting to say something, but couldn't get a word out.

"This really is..."

"Mr. Director really is... you can't judge a book by its cover!"

Shaking his head, he followed Zhao Shengshen.

At the entrance, Zhao Shengshen threw the bar doors open, and Su Yang, following behind him, saw what lay inside.

Rows of dazzling night lights, tables piled high with glasses, a floor as black as ink, a brilliant starry ceiling, and a bar counter stocked with famous liquors.

There were also people enjoying the music, their faces alight with excitement.

If he hadn't already known this was the Soul-Reaping Bureau, Su Yang really would have thought it was an upscale bar in the city center.

When the people inside saw Zhao Shengshen enter, they raised their glasses to him.

"Mr. Director is here!"

"Good evening, Mr. Director!"

"Mr. Director arranged tonight's gathering. I hear someone's joining us. Is it the one behind him? He looks so young!"

"I wonder which Sequence he's from? I can't wait to find out!"

"Welcome, welcome! Now that you've joined the Soul-Reaping Bureau, we're all family!"

After Zhao Shengshen opened the bar doors, everyone inside turned their eyes to the entrance, and the elegant music stopped.

With hundreds of people gazing at him so eagerly, Su Yang didn't dare step inside for a moment. This was his first time ever entering a bar!

Seeing Su Yang's hesitant look, Zhao Shengshen pulled him through the doors of the Soul-Reaping Bureau.

"What are you standing there for? Can't you see everyone's waiting for you?"

Then, with a bang, he locked the doors.

Immediately afterward, the director pulled Su Yang into the center of the bar and enthusiastically introduced him to everyone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to formally introduce tonight's star!"

"Our Soul-Reaping Bureau's young Sword-Bearer—Su Yang!"

As soon as Zhao Shengshen finished speaking, gasps rang out from the crowd.

"A Sword-Bearer? This young man is actually a First Sequence holder?"

"Our Soul-Reaping Bureau has another Sword-Bearer! That's wonderful! The pressure on us has eased considerably!"

"Boo-hoo-hoo, I, a Second Sequence ability holder, finally don't have to risk my life on the front lines anymore!"

Listening to the gasps and exclamations from the crowd, Zhao Shengshen abruptly changed tack.

"But! Our young Sword-Bearer has yet to awaken his Awakening Sequence Ability!"

"Tonight, he will transform from an ordinary person into a powerful First Sequence holder!"

"And you will all witness this moment with me!"

He hasn't awakened his Awakening Sequence Ability yet?

Everyone's expressions froze for a moment, then their eyes took on a playful look.

If he hadn't awakened his Awakening Sequence Ability yet, things were about to get interesting...

Standing among the crowd, Su Yang clearly saw the change in their expressions.

What's going on?

Is there something wrong with not having awakened my Awakening Sequence Ability yet?

"All right, Su Yang! It's time for you to put on a show!"

"Everyone, get ready to release the Maiden's Soul!"

Zhao Shengshen turned and smiled at Su Yang, patting him on the shoulder, his eyes full of encouragement.

"It's going to get dangerous here in a moment, so we'll clear out first!"

"Old Wang, use your Sequence Ability! Get us out of here!"

A voice in the crowd answered Zhao Shengshen, "Sure thing! Hold steady!"

Before Su Yang could react, everything went white before his eyes.

When he looked around again, the vast bar was empty. Only Su Yang remained standing where he was.

Su Yang was dumbfounded.

What did that mean?

What did they mean, it would be dangerous here, so they were clearing out first?

What about me? Do you think I'm not afraid of danger?

Just as Su Yang was about to call out to Zhao Shengshen, the temperature of the surrounding air suddenly plummeted!

The smell of blood slowly spread through the air.

Su Yang's breath caught as a chill touched the skin at the back of his neck!

The chill spread across more and more of his skin, from his neck to his back, and then to his thighs.

Something had climbed onto Su Yang's back!