Mission Complete! Heart of a Ghoul!

Several minutes later.

"You!"

"How could you—!"

Xu Yan staggered backward. The two Scorpion-Tail Kagune on her back were battered and riddled with notches, and one had been severed outright!

Yet after fighting her for so long, Xilin had suffered only a shallow cut on her cheek!

She's... so strong!

Run! I have to run!

Sensing mortal danger, Xu Yan turned and fled.

Xilin merely raised the Lightless Sword, took a deep breath, and let a faint golden glow spill from her lips.

"Where my blade points, the Holy Light follows!"

With those words, she struck.

An invisible sword strike swept through the air. Xu Yan froze midflight as golden cracks spread across her pale skin.

"No... no! I haven't had my revenge..." she screamed. Before she could finish, her body exploded with a deafening bang, scattering pieces everywhere!

In the end, only a heart and a Scorpion-Tail Kagune hit the ground.

"What..."

After dealing with the ghoul, Xilin followed Bai Xuan's instructions. She picked up the heart and Scorpion-Tail Kagune, then left the scene.

Only when she had vanished from sight did the Police Officers begin to recover from their shock.

"Who was that woman?"

"No idea! She has to be an extraordinary, right? No normal person could do that!"

"Could she be from the Investigation Bureau?"

"Probably! Who else would be that strong?"

"Are people from the Investigation Bureau... really that strong?"

"..."

As the others talked, Liu Qian slowly got to her feet. Still shaken, she felt nothing but admiration and gratitude for the Female Knight.

"Liu Qian, are you all right?"

Another squad arrived. A black-haired woman hurried over to Liu Qian and asked with concern.

"I'm fine, Bai Yu. A Female Knight saved us."

"A Female Knight?"

"Yeah, let me tell you..."

[World Mission: Ghoul Eater (Completed)]

[Mission Reward: Character Trait—White Dove (Green). Your strength has increased slightly!]

[White Dove (Green): You have exceptionally keen perception of undead entities, including ghouls, spirits, zombies, and jiangshi.]

[Refresh Scroll +1]

By then, Bai Xuan had returned home through the Teleportation Array.

After turning in the mission, his strength rose slightly to E+, and the World Book's Legend charge gained around 20% rare energy.

"Not a bad reward." Bai Xuan smiled, pleased with what he had earned. He could clearly feel the increase in strength. One punch from him now could kill his former, weaker self.

If I keep growing like this, I'll become the strongest among the Anomalies sooner or later!

Then he turned to Xilin. "Thanks for the effort, Xilin."

Throughout the fight, he had watched from a distance.

With his current strength, rushing in would only have gotten him killed. He could join the fighting himself once he grew stronger.

"It is my duty," Xilin replied evenly, without a trace of emotion.

Bai Xuan found himself wondering again: Is Xilin really a Succubus? Why doesn't she show even a flicker of emotion?

After a moment, he looked at what the ghoul had dropped: a heart and a section of Scorpion-Tail Kagune.

Xilin's Lightless Sword had smashed the other section to pieces. Only this one remained relatively intact.

As for the heart, it was still beating faintly for some reason, as though a trace of unnatural life lingered inside it.

[Scorpion-Tail Kagune (Green): Can be crafted into a Ghoul Weapon using the World Book. Requires a little blood.]

[Xu Yan's Heart (Blue): The ghoul Xu Yan craved the flesh and blood of beautiful women. Her body has been destroyed and her life extinguished, but her heart remains. Eating it grants a portion of her power.]

"..."

Bai Xuan frowned.

Eat a ghoul's heart? I'll pass for now. Maybe another time.

The Scorpion-Tail Kagune, though, was worth using.

He immediately placed it in the World Book to craft a Ghoul Weapon.

[Crafting Ghoul Weapon. Time required: 12 hours!]

The instant crafting began, Bai Xuan's vision blurred and his face went white as a sheet.

"Hiss—"

He sucked in a sharp breath and slumped weakly onto the sofa.

What happened to "a little"?

At least it wasn't going to kill him.

"What's wrong?"

Xilin sensed that Bai Xuan was depleted and asked quietly.

"Nothing. Just feeling a little weak." Bai Xuan waved a hand, took a can of Cola from the nearby fridge, and gulped some down.

It wouldn't help, but at least cold Cola tasted better than sugar-free Cola.

Xilin saw this and silently walked over to his side, removed her bracers and gloves, and revealed a pair of hands as white as jade.

She gently placed both hands on Bai Xuan's chest. A faint golden glow rose from her palms.

Warmth enveloped Bai Xuan at once, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.

His blood and vitality hadn't returned immediately, but much of the discomfort gradually faded.

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah, thanks." Bai Xuan smiled. Holy Knights really are reliable!

Just then, his phone buzzed.

He took out his phone, and his gaze sharpened as he read the message—Bai Yu had finished her mission and was on her way home!

Bai Xuan immediately looked up at Xilin, who was still healing him, and fell into thought.

Hmm...

How am I going to explain Xilin's existence to Sis Yu?

"A blonde Female Knight in armor?"

Bai Yu was driving, taking Liu Qian home.

"Exactly!" Liu Qian nodded vigorously, her voice brimming with excitement. "That monster was taken down in two sword strikes—swish, swish! She was incredible! Like someone straight out of an Epic!"

"Was she from the Investigation Bureau?" Bai Yu asked.

"I asked around. The Investigation Bureau hadn't even arrived! Those people are always a step behind!" Liu Qian gritted her teeth.

"They can't help it. The Investigation Bureau has always been short-staffed. Until they arrive, we Police Officers have to hold the line," Bai Yu said calmly.

"Ugh. I'd barely transferred to Ninghang City when this happened. I should've listened to my aunt!"

Liu Qian sighed regretfully. "Five years at a desk would've been great! I could've gotten into Ideal City that way too... Instead, I might lose my life during these three years on the job!"

She and Bai Yu were classmates. Liu Qian had become a Police Officer in Ninghang City to earn the right to move to Ideal City.

Bai Yu said nothing in response to Liu Qian's lament.

Qualifying to live in Ideal City was part of why she had become a Police Officer too.

Of course, Liu Qian's aunt held a senior position in the Investigation Bureau, so Liu Qian only needed to serve three years. Ordinary Police Officers had to serve ten before they could take their families to Ideal City.

"We're here."

"Thanks. See you tomorrow."

"Mm."

After saying goodbye, Bai Yu drove straight home.

It was already midnight when she arrived.

"Hm?"

She saw that the light was still on in Bai Xuan's room. "Bai Xuan, are you still awake?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm taking a shower."