Happiness Residential Area

Jiang Mian stopped short, nearly stepping into a puddle of murky water.

She wasn't a child. She knew exactly what those sounds meant.

But knowing that and actually encountering a scene with not the slightest bit of discretion were two different things. It was her first time seeing something like this.

She'd heard this area was a mess, but this much of a mess... She'd really had her eyes opened. For a moment, she almost felt as if she'd transmigrated all over again.

So this is what they mean by "happy" residential area?

She couldn't help making a sarcastic remark to herself. She glanced at the sign at the entrance to the alley. Number One...

It looked like... she had no choice but to go in?

Thinking of the possibility of witnessing something that would burn her eyes, she stirred her thoughts, and a barrier of Gale instantly enveloped her.

With the slightest push off the ground, she vanished from the spot like a gust of wind.

Beneath an awning in the alley, a heavily made-up woman tugged up the stockings on her legs and straightened her skirt. She turned and was about to leave.

"Wait."

The man beside her pulled on a shabby work jacket. Dark circles hung beneath his eyes, and he looked as if he hadn't had a decent night's sleep in ages.

"What is it? Want to go again?"

The woman turned around. Seeing the slightly greenish look in the man's eyes, she assumed he wasn't satisfied yet and held out her hand.

"That was only the price for one round, okay..."

Even so, she muttered to herself that she'd barely had time to react before he finished. Was there something wrong with him?

Well, the price was still the same either way. She wouldn't lose out no matter what he said...

"Heh..."

The man let out a hoarse chuckle and reached for the woman's forearm.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Seeing his hands start to travel up her arm, the woman hurriedly tried to shake him off, but his grip only grew stronger.

At last, the woman realized something was wrong. That wasn't the look of someone who hadn't had enough. He'd clearly lost his reason.

This man in front of her... was an Aberrant!

"Y-you, stay back!"

She screamed and struggled desperately to pull her arm free, trying to escape.

But the man's strength was terrifying. There was no way she could break free.

His fingernails gradually sharpened, and a nauseating green glow spread across them. They looked both repulsive and dangerous.

By now, fear had completely taken hold of the woman. She trembled all over, helpless as the man's mutated hand caressed her skin.

Suddenly, a breeze stirred around them.

In a daze, the woman thought she glimpsed a shadow, like an illusion.

"H-help!"

The words burst from her instinctively.

The mutated man abruptly turned his head. Only then did he notice the shadow passing nearby.

His muddled mind could barely support a coherent thought, and he made his decision almost instinctively:

Kill this outsider for interrupting his enjoyment of his prey!

In the curtain of rain, Jiang Mian tilted her head slightly.

With the barrier shielding her, she'd completely concealed her presence. If she merely passed by, this Aberrant gone berserk wouldn't notice her.

She hadn't wanted to get involved...

Never mind. It would only take a second.

The man snarled and lunged at her.

Jiang Mian didn't dodge or retreat. At a thought, a faint heat seemed to rise through the curtain of rain.

Before the man could reach Jiang Mian, he felt a sudden burning heat inside him and instinctively clawed at his chest.

But his fingernails had already mutated into sharp claws. With that swipe, he tore his own shirt open, exposing skin mottled with black spots.

Before he could do anything else, a tiny orange-gold flame suddenly sprang up from somewhere on his body.

In almost an instant, it blazed fiercely, leaping high and engulfing him completely.

He didn't even have time to struggle before he turned into wisps of ash, washed away by the rain.

The woman stared at the scene, dumbfounded.

To kill a berserk Aberrant so effortlessly... How powerful did an Awakened have to be?

Perhaps the sheer terror she'd just felt had triggered some physical response. Mustering her courage, she looked up at Jiang Mian.

Jiang Mian's face was completely hidden in the darkness beneath her hood, but two streaks of burning, dark gold showed where her eyes should have been.

"Th-thank you..."

The woman's lips trembled. Remembering what had just happened, she began shaking all over again, unable to stop herself.

Jiang Mian paid her no attention. She didn't even look her way as she continued deeper into the alley.

After walking a short distance, Jiang Mian took a pair of gloves from the inside of her raincoat and put them on.

To avoid any mishaps, she'd wrapped herself up in layer upon layer as long as it didn't interfere with her movements. She was afraid of being recognized.

Besides her black long-sleeved shirt and pants, she wore ankle boots she rarely put on, tucking the cuffs of her pants inside. It made her look much more neat and brisk.

She checked the time. It was almost eleven.

She hadn't had time to scout the place in advance this time. She'd have to complete the deal quickly and leave just as quickly.

For some reason, she had a bad feeling...

Jiang Mian couldn't help quickening her pace. Soon, she reached the other end of the alley.

The alley's exit was beside a bar. Its garish sign was eye-catching enough that, for a moment, she even wondered if she'd come to the wrong place.

"Over here."

A deliberately lowered, deep voice came from behind her. She instinctively recognized it as Du Biao's.

Oh? He actually came in person?

Jiang Mian turned around. Du Biao stood at the bar's back door, warily surveying his surroundings.

She didn't say anything. She simply set off toward him.

After entering, Jiang Mian followed him through a narrow passage and into an empty storeroom.

A few cardboard boxes were stacked inside, along with a set of cleaning supplies and an old table.

Du Biao took a box from one of the cardboard boxes nearby and set it on the table.

"Five Type Three Inhibitors. Want to check them?"

Jiang Mian ran her fingers over the box's clasp.

With a click, the box opened.

Inside lay five neatly arranged Inhibitors, glowing with a faint blue light. The packaging was easily the most careful she'd seen yet.

She nodded and took a small pouch from an inner pocket in her raincoat.

Du Biao took it from her and pulled the opening apart just enough to peek inside. The old bills were stacked neatly.

He didn't count them. He simply tucked the pouch into his coat.

"All right. Next time... there probably won't be a next time. I've about reached the end of the road in this line of work."

Jiang Mian raised her head slightly, but only the outline of her mask showed beneath her chin.

"You... be careful too. Things have been very unsettled lately."

A hint of emotion entered Du Biao's voice.

This woman did like to haggle, but whatever price they agreed on was what she paid. She never made trouble during their in-person trades.

Honestly, she was much easier to deal with than those customers who were always going back on their word.

In the current environment, that was quite rare.

Seeing that Jiang Mian didn't reply, he shook his head, pocketed the money, and prepared to leave.

"Wait."

Jiang Mian's cool voice came from behind him. Du Biao's heart jumped, and he turned around.

"You've been targeted by someone."