The alley was a complete mess. Qin Feng expressionlessly took several photos of the scene as proof that he had completed the mission.
The smell of blood and stench still lingered in the air, but he acted as if he had noticed nothing and turned to leave.
As for the workers sprawled on the ground and the mess that followed, the logistics officers of the Special Cases Department would naturally handle it.
He hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address of his apartment complex.
The driver glanced at the young man in an Urban Management Uniform through the rearview mirror. He had been about to make small talk, but wisely kept his mouth shut. The ride passed in silence.
Back in the familiar rented room that reeked of poverty and dampness, Qin Feng clicked the door shut and locked it. The noise of the entire world was shut out.
He threw himself heavily onto the bed. With a thought, a dark blue system panel unfolded before his eyes.
[Host: Qin Feng] [Cleansing Points: 260] [Legendary Armaments: Scissors of Truth (E-Class), Gluttony Stomach (D-Class)] [Origin Enhancement: Spirit Touch Realm (Mid-Stage)] [Acquired Ability: Item Affinity (Passive)]
260 points!
Without the slightest hesitation, he directly opened the [Origin Enhancement] section.
[Spiritual Sense Level: Spirit Touch Realm (Mid-Stage)] [Next Level: Spirit Touch Realm (Late Stage) Required Cleansing Points: 100] [Next Level: Form Observation Realm (Early Stage) Required Cleansing Points: 150]
"The Form Observation Realm lets the eyes clearly see the true forms of urban legends and the flow of energy."
Qin Feng stared fixedly at that description, his eyes growing incomparably fervent.
The perception of the Spirit Touch Realm was ultimately passive and vague, like viewing the world through frosted glass, full of uncertainty.
Only upon reaching the Form Observation Realm could he truly "look directly" at the hidden side of this world with his own eyes!
"System, exchange for Origin Enhancement and raise me directly to the Form Observation Realm!" Qin Feng drew a deep breath. Like a warrior about to charge onto the battlefield, his eyes were resolute.
[Confirm expenditure of 250 Cleansing Points to perform a cross-level Origin Enhancement?] [Warning: This process will inflict an enormous impact on the host's body and mind. Please ensure the environment is absolutely safe.]
"Confirm."
The instant he confirmed it, an energy torrent far more violent and scorching than any before erupted from his heart like a volcano!
"Urgh—!"
Qin Feng's body suddenly arched like a shrimp tossed into boiling oil.
Pain swept through his entire body in an instant, leaving him unable to even scream properly. He could only force out suppressed, beast-like groans from deep in his throat.
This enhancement was no longer a gentle warm current. It was hundreds of millions of red-hot steel needles brutally stabbing into every part of his body.
Tearing, shattering, then savage reconstruction!
His bones wailed, and his muscles spasmed. Amid the agony, he even had the illusion that an invisible pair of giant hands had dragged his soul from his body, while his flesh was kneaded, pulled apart, and remolded like dough.
He did not know how long it lasted. Perhaps a minute, perhaps a century.
When that violent energy finally subsided and transformed into a new power as gentle as jade, slowly merging into his limbs and bones, Qin Feng was soaked through with sweat. He lay limp on the bed, not wanting to move even a finger.
"Next time, I should just level up properly in order."
As the pain receded like the tide, it was replaced by unprecedented strength and clarity.
He slowly opened his eyes.
The world was different.
Countless tiny specks of dust drifted slowly through the air with the currents, their paths crystal clear.
He turned his gaze toward the window.
In the shadows at the street corner, a faint trace of resentment that did not belong to this world seemed to be lurking.
These were sights the old him could never have detected.
This was the Form Observation Realm!
With a thought, the scissors tattoo on the back of his right hand flashed faintly.
"Buzz—"
The Scissors of Truth appeared out of thin air and settled firmly into his hand.
But this time, the feeling was completely different.
When he had held it before, he could feel the cold power contained within it. It had been a reliable weapon.
But now, this E-Class Legendary Armament felt... light and flimsy in his hand, like a toy.
Rather than sighing, Qin Feng's lips curled into an ambitious smile.
"It's not that you've become weaker. I've just become too strong. Looks like upgrading you needs to be put on the agenda too."
Just then, the phone in Qin Feng's pocket suddenly chimed and lit up.
It was a notification from the "Underworld" app.
[Joint Investigation Commission (D-Class) has been verified on-site and exceptionally upgraded—"Human Meat Buns" has been completed.] [Rewards issued: 50 Contribution Points, cash yuan.] [Your account ending in 6688 has received: RMB.00 yuan.]
"That efficient?"
Looking at the eye-catching string of fives and four zeroes in the text message, Qin Feng grinned silently.
Including what he had earned earlier, he now had 65 Contribution Points and 10 Cleansing Points.
More importantly, he had money!
This was much faster than delivering food.
Rubbing his chin, a strange thought suddenly occurred to him.
Wasn't this basically... "exorcism delivery"?
"Underworld" was the platform, with one "order" after another posted on it.
He was the delivery rider, rushing to the location designated by the "customer" after accepting an order.
Except instead of delivering food, he was sending those troublesome "urban legends" on their way.
Once the order was completed, it was "five-star rating, delivery successful." Come to think of it, there really was not much difference. It was even more exciting than delivering food.
He was still immersed in this amusing new self-image when a crisp, urgent doorbell suddenly rang.
"Ding-dong—ding-dong—"
Qin Feng frowned. Who could it be at this hour?
He got up and walked behind the door, peering outside through the peephole.
The person standing outside was someone he had not expected.
His landlady, Liu Yan.
She wore a tasteful dress, light makeup, and her hair had been carefully styled. Yet her face still carried a sickly pallor, while her eyes held a mixture of gratitude, lingering fear, and a trace of embarrassment that was difficult to detect.
Qin Feng opened the door.
"Qin Feng, you're finally back!" Liu Yan visibly relaxed upon seeing him, her voice slightly excited.
"Liu... Sister Liu?"
"I was just discharged from the hospital today. I wanted to come thank you right away, but I knocked for ages and you weren't here."
Liu Yan lifted the exquisite fruit basket in her hand, her eyes utterly sincere. "Qin Feng, what happened that day... thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I might already have..."
She did not continue, but the fear in her eyes was real.
"It was nothing." Qin Feng waved a hand.
"It may have been nothing to you, but to me, you saved my life!" Liu Yan shook her head, her tone exceptionally firm. "I don't like owing people favors. So I thought about how I could repay you."
She took out a set of keys from her handbag, placed them on the table, and pushed them toward Qin Feng.
"Sister Liu, what is this?"
"The two-bedroom apartment next to mine has been empty all this time. I never rented it out because I thought it was too much trouble." Liu Yan looked at Qin Feng, leaving no room for argument. "You should move in there. I won't charge you rent, and I'll cover all the utilities too! You're a college student. How can you live in a place like this?"
Qin Feng was completely stunned. Looking at the keys, he did not know how to react for a moment. This happiness had come too suddenly.
"This... this is too valuable. I can't accept it."
"You have to accept it!" Seeing that he was about to refuse, Liu Yan grew anxious. She stepped forward and grabbed his arm. "Qin Feng, just pity me, okay? Every time I close my eyes, I see what happened that day. I'm scared... I'm really scared living alone. If you live closer, I... I'll feel safer."
Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes were filled with pleading.
This was not merely repaying a favor. It was also dependence born of a need for security.
Seeing her like this, Qin Feng could no longer bring himself to refuse.
"...All right."
A brilliant smile immediately blossomed across Liu Yan's face, softening her sickly complexion and restoring some of her usual beauty. "That's great! Come with me now. I'll show you the apartment!"
Without giving him a chance to object, she pulled Qin Feng to Room 502 on the fifth floor of the next building.
As the door opened and the lights came on, a bright, spotless living room came into view, along with soft fabric sofas, polished wooden floors, and immaculate appliances.
Liu Yan had already arranged for someone to clean the place earlier that day. She had only been waiting for Qin Feng to agree.
Compared with his dark, damp rented room, this place seemed like another world.
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