First Fight

Why was Ou Xiangrong at Songhai University? And why was he with Xu Yingying?

How dare he show up at Songhai University? He was wanted by the authorities. Was he simply bold, or was there something wrong with his head?

Zhang Yuanqing tensed all over and stopped. Turning to his classmates, he said:

"Go on ahead. I need to make a call."

He'd call for backup first. Walking over to the side of the road, he pulled out his phone and dialed Li Dongze.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently switched off."

The automated message said the phone was off.

He tried Guan Ya's number next, but her phone was off too.

Were they in a meeting? Coordinating an operation? Or were they lying low somewhere near Songhai University? Various guesses flashed through Zhang Yuanqing's mind.

If it's the last one, then I don't need to do anything. But if I can't reach them because they're in a meeting, there's no way Ou Xiangrong will stay at Songhai University for long. It'd be a shame to miss this chance.

With that in mind, Zhang Yuanqing opened his contacts and called Wang Tai.

Thanks to his habit of socializing, he'd saved Wang Tai's number too, even though the guy didn't like talking or socializing. Whenever Zhang Yuanqing tried to strike up a conversation, Wang Tai always wore the same micro-expression: "Get lost. Leave me alone."

"What is it?" Wang Tai's listless voice came through the speaker.

"I saw Ou Xiangrong, the killer who murdered Zhao Yingjun. You know about that case, right?"

"Yeah. But why are you calling me? You should contact the Squad Leader." Wang Tai's tone was as calm as ever.

Shouldn't you be saying something like 'Holy shit, that's awesome'? You're way too calm. Zhang Yuanqing grumbled to himself, then said:

"I can't reach the Squad Leader or Old Driver."

"Who's Old Driver?"

"That's not important." Zhang Yuanqing briefly explained what was happening, then asked, "Can you contact the Spirit Realm Walkers from the other teams?"

"Sure." Wang Tai tapped away at his keyboard and said:

"I pulled up the case files on Zhao Yingjun. He kept a lot of college girls, and one of them went to your school. Her name is Xu Yingying. Based on what you told me, I'm guessing he's trying to find a way in through the women around Zhao Yingjun."

So Zhao Yingjun was Xu Yingying's sugar daddy. No wonder a security officer came to my place yesterday. Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood.

Wang Tai continued:

"Ou Xiangrong is a Level 3 Bewitching Demon. He's imbued with evil power. He was badly wounded in yesterday's ambush, so he's much less dangerous now, but you still can't take him on.

"I've thought it through. The right move is to keep an eye on him and wait for official backup. You can use your Night Roaming skill to harass him, but don't get into a prolonged fight, or you'll die horribly."

He might not be good with people, but he was dependable. Zhang Yuanqing pretended to admire the scenery while using the crowd to follow Ou Xiangrong and Xu Yingying from a distance.

"Are the Squad Leader and Sister Guan Ya coordinating something nearby?" Zhang Yuanqing asked hopefully.

"No. Xu Yingying is just an ordinary college student. She's not important. Ou Xiangrong, on the other hand, is already a little mentally unstable," Wang Tai said. "Your classmate is as good as dead."

Given Ou Xiangrong's cruelty, he wouldn't leave her alive.

Just then, Zhang Yuanqing saw Ou Xiangrong "put his arm around" Xu Yingying and lead her into the underground parking garage beneath the main building.

The two vanished from sight as they walked down the steep ramp.

"They went into the garage. I'll call you back. Let the other teams know as soon as you can."

Without waiting for a reply, Zhang Yuanqing hung up.

It was quiet here, so he couldn't use passersby as cover like before. If he followed them into the underground garage, they'd definitely notice him.

Zhang Yuanqing thought for a few seconds, then took off his backpack and tossed it into the roadside greenery. He drew on the Lunar Power within him, and illusory black mist burst out with a bang, forcibly erasing his figure.

Once he'd activated Night Roaming, he dashed into the underground garage.

With the Red Dancing Shoes and Night Roaming, even if he couldn't beat Ou Xiangrong, he could still escape.

It was worth the risk.

Xu Yingying might be materialistic and money-grubbing, but she was still a living person.

If he could help, Zhang Yuanqing wouldn't just stand by and let her die. Besides, the sooner he dealt with a lunatic like Ou Xiangrong, the sooner things would be peaceful again.

He didn't need to worry about hiding his footsteps. Night Roaming concealed the sounds he made, and even the heat from his body.

As soon as he rushed into the underground garage, he heard Xu Yingying's trembling voice, choked with sobs:

"I-I don't know where the thing you're looking for is. I was only with Zhao Yingjun for his money. He gave me twenty thousand a month, and all I had to do was be his girlfriend..."

Twenty thousand? Before I got promoted, my monthly salary was only twenty thousand. That's way too easy. Zhang Yuanqing followed the sound and saw Xu Yingying standing terrified against the wall beside the rear of a black sedan. Ou Xiangrong stood to one side, holding a knife.

"Don't tell me you don't know. Don't tell me you don't know!"

Ou Xiangrong's eyes were vicious as he muttered in a deranged voice.

"I'll give you one last chance. Did Zhao Yingjun ever tell you anything about the Holy Grail or the Roster?"

"I-I really don't know what you're talking about." Xu Yingying's eyes were bloodshot, and fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

Ou Xiangrong fell silent for a few seconds. His weary sigh echoed through the underground garage.

A scarlet light shone in his pupils. Beneath his mask, his expression twisted into something wild and deranged. With a hint of mania, he muttered:

"I gave you a chance, but you were useless. I gave you a chance, but you were useless..."

Ou Xiangrong's calloused hand clamped around Xu Yingying's fair neck. His muscular arm lifted her off the ground. Her face turned red, then purple. Her legs kicked wildly as her eyes rolled back.

Ou Xiangrong gave a delighted, feral grin, then raised his knife and pressed its tip against Xu Yingying's chest.

Just as he was about to drive the blade into her heart, the Bewitching Demon's instincts sent him a warning. The hairs on the back of his hand stood on end.

There was no one nearby, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Yet he felt a chill from deep within. An unpredictable danger was drawing close, closing in around him.

A Spirit Realm Walker!

With his wealth of experience, Ou Xiangrong immediately realized that a Spirit Realm Walker was attacking him. Still gripping Xu Yingying by the neck, he flung her hard behind him, relying on instinct.

Slap! Xu Yingying hit the ground hard and rolled several meters before passing out.

Seeing that the attacker hadn't tried to save the woman, Ou Xiangrong took several quick steps back and swung the Willow Blade in front of him.

The sharp blade cut a bright arc through the air. A crisp clang rang out from the empty space ahead, and dazzling sparks flew.

He'd struck the enemy's weapon.

Judging by the feel of the clash, Ou Xiangrong worked out where his opponent was. His leg muscles swelled at once, and he sprang into a crouch before launching himself forward like a released spring.

Thud! Ou Xiangrong's knees slammed into something solid. A muffled groan came from the attacker.

Then a person came flying out of thin air: a young college student in track pants and a baseball jacket, with handsome features and a sunny air about him. He clutched a Brass Pestle about half an arm's length long.

"Night Wanderer?"

Ou Xiangrong understood at once. He understood why last night's attack had come so quickly.

He understood who had been behind the ambush that had nearly killed him.

His mind was already in a bad state. Hatred and viciousness flashed through his eyes, and he felt a powerful urge to kill the Night Wanderer in front of him and get revenge.

Ou Xiangrong leapt into the air, gripping the Willow Blade. His tremendous spring carried him more than ten meters as he viciously pounced on the college student, who was still tumbling.

He came at him with the ferocity of a human-shaped dinosaur.

At the sight, Zhang Yuanqing nearly shouted, "Sorry to bother you! Please spare me, sir!"

He didn't try to get back up. Instead, he kept rolling with the momentum and drew on his Lunar Power, entering Night Roaming once more.

As he rolled, he abruptly vanished from Ou Xiangrong's sight. The Bewitching Demon lost track of him.

After dodging the pounce, Zhang Yuanqing stayed crouched as he raced to a white car on his left. He leaned against a wheel and gasped for breath.

That knee strike had nearly stopped his heart.

"That hurt like hell."

His chest throbbed, turning his face pale. Even breathing hurt. Fortunately, Night Wanderers had strong vitality and considerable self-healing ability, so the injury would soon mend.

But their brief exchange had also shown him how far apart they were in strength.

This Bewitching Demon had keen instincts and plenty of combat experience. His physical strength was terrifying, and he seemed to be a close-combat specialist.

Just then, Zhang Yuanqing heard a thump. Ou Xiangrong had leapt onto the roof of a black sedan a few meters away.

Ou Xiangrong's cruel eyes swept across the underground garage. His voice was cold:

"A Night Wanderer from the Taiyi Sect shouldn't be in Songhai. Are you a Night Wanderer from the Five Elements Alliance?

"Hmph. You're only a Level 1 Night Wanderer, yet you dared to ambush me. Let me think. A Level 1 Night Roaming skill lasts no more than twenty seconds. How long can you hide?"

Ou Xiangrong was certain his opponent was a Level 1 Night Wanderer. If he were Level 2, Ou Xiangrong wouldn't have had the upper hand in their exchange.

And if he were Level 3, Ou Xiangrong would be the one trying to escape.

Wounded and weak, he couldn't beat a Night Wanderer of the same level. Night Wanderers and Bewitching Demons were both top-tier professions.

Twenty seconds? You give me too much credit. I've got ten at most. Zhang Yuanqing crouched beside the tire and held his breath.

This guy's absurdly strong, and he hasn't even used any Bewitching Demon skills yet. Let me think about what those skills are.

He recalled the information about Bewitching Demons on the official forum.

At the Transcendence Realm, this Evil Profession had tremendous killing power. After killing someone, they entered a Berserk state and became even more formidable in combat.

Also, once a fight began, a Bewitching Demon could Mark their opponent in a special way. Even if their prey escaped, they would pursue them relentlessly.

Finally, there was the core Transcendence Realm ability—Bewitch.

Bewitch was a form of mental control. Used actively in combination with their overwhelming close-combat skills, it was nearly impossible to counter.

Just then, the ten seconds ran out, and his figure took shape.

In the next instant, a rushing sound tore through the air beside him. Zhang Yuanqing's heart clenched. He knew Ou Xiangrong's attack was coming. He didn't even dare look. He threw himself forward and rolled, turning invisible once more.

Bang!

A roundhouse kick caved in the side of the white sedan. Its alarm blared through the garage.

Ou Xiangrong scanned his surroundings with a cold gaze, staying on guard as he tried to provoke his opponent:

"From the look of you, you're a student at Songhai University, right? Do you know that if Spirit Realm Walkers expose their identities, their families get dragged into it too? Now that I know you're a student, I can take my time tracking you down, then kill you and wipe out your whole family."

After saying this, Ou Xiangrong tightened his grip on the Willow Blade and silently counted down, waiting for the rookie to reveal himself or attack.

He's insane. Zhang Yuanqing's heart sank.

He knew Ou Xiangrong was trying to goad him, but that didn't stop him from getting angry. He also couldn't help feeling deeply wary.

Zhang Yuanqing hid behind the rear of another car, his mind racing as he tried to figure out how to handle his enemy.

His instincts are terrifying. If I can't kill him in one hit, I shouldn't risk sneaking up on him. But I can't stay hidden forever. I've got enough stamina for two more uses of Night Roaming at most. After that, I'll have to run, and there's no way the officials can get here that quickly.

If I let him escape, Grandmother and the others will be in danger too.

The Bewitching Demon has three skills: Berserk, Mark, and Bewitch. The first doesn't matter unless he kills someone. He's probably already Marked me, but Night Roaming can block his perception.

The real threats are his close-combat ability and Bewitch. Damn, if only it were nighttime.

As his thoughts flashed by, Zhang Yuanqing had already come up with a plan.

He'd have the Red Dancing Shoes deal the damage while he, its useless owner, provided support and looked for a chance to ambush Ou Xiangrong.

It was a good chance to test how well this rule-based item performed in a fight.

Bang! Ou Xiangrong leapt onto the roof of a car again, looking down over the underground garage.

He counted the seconds, waiting for his enemy to leave Night Roaming. Suddenly, he heard eerie footsteps behind him.

The unexpected footsteps echoed through the empty garage. Even the experienced Ou Xiangrong tensed and instinctively spun around, knife in hand, taking a guarded stance.

Then he saw where the eerie footsteps were coming from.

A brand-new pair of Western-style red dancing shoes stood three meters away. They rose and fell in the still, empty space, as if an invisible person were marching in place.

The sight was eerie enough to make an ordinary person's legs go weak and send them screaming.

A supernatural item?

The moment Ou Xiangrong saw the red dancing shoes, a line of information appeared in his field of vision:

[Would you like to dance with me? If so, please march in place.]

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Chapter 29: First Battle