Jiang Nuo did not give the order immediately. Instead, she leaned lazily against Si Yan's chest and observed Mikazuki Shunsuke's expression. Suddenly, she flicked a red rope from her sleeve and wrapped it around his neck.
"Well!"
Mikazuki Shunsuke quickly broke the illusion, shouting, "What are you trying to do!"
Jiang Nuo blinked and smiled innocently.
"Didn't you say you'd cooperate with us? Si Yan was killed by Sano Kurotsuki. If you kill him, I'll believe you."
"Otherwise..."
The red rope that had just landed instantly flew up, loosely encircling Mikazuki Shunsuke, as if it would make a move at any moment.
"You die."
With a smile, Jiang Nuo spoke in the coldest tone, raising an eyebrow at him with amusement in her eyes.
"Damn Hua Country! How could you kill our warriors?! I will not allow it!"
No way! Mr. Mikazuki Shunsuke will never give up on Sano! The Hua Country's scheme will not succeed!
However, Mikazuki Shunsuke clearly disappointed the expectations of Wa Country netizens, and didn't even look at Sano Kurotsuki's pleading eyes.
He hesitated for only a few seconds before using illusion magic to kill Sano Kurotsuki, who was on the verge of death but could still be saved.
Sano Kurotsuki couldn't believe that he had died at the hands of the chairman he trusted most. His eyes were wide open, and he died with his eyes wide open, unable to close them in peace.
Jiang Nuo laughed like a villain, "Aren't you afraid that Sano Kurotsuki?"
He tossed out several hidden blades, dismembering the corpse. Meeting Mikazuki Shunsuke's surprised gaze, he shrugged and explained, "Just in case. If you turn it into a consciousness, I'll be at a huge loss."
" Jiang Nuo!" Si Yan--
Su Yi's urgent shouts came from outside the church.
Jiang Nuo's smile faded, and she Si Yan quickly walked out, waving to her, "Here!"
Su Yi ran over, hands on her hips, panting. There was blood on her lips, indicating that she had also been through a fierce battle. Her mouth tasted of blood as she spoke.
Her eyes reddened, and her tone was complicated.
" Qi Lin... has gone mad."
Jiang Nuo: "Huh?"
Si Yan frowned, vaguely guessing what was going on.
Su Yi explained to them what had happened in the garden.
After Jiang Nuo and the others entered the church, Qi Lin, Su Yi, Mikazuki Hexi went to the underground garden and entered according to the map drawn up by Jiang Nuo.
They were both exploring underground Dragon Vein, both encountered sprites, and both met with demons.
Mikazuki Shunsuke couldn't help but ask, "Where 'Hexi? Is she injured? What does the demon look like?"
Su Yi scoffed, her tone indifferent, "She ran faster than anyone else."
"The demon god... is neither male nor female, and can even transform into our appearance... its true form is terrifying."
Si Yan's tone was deep, "The 71st Demon God, Dantalion..."
Su Yi took a deep breath and continued, "Although Qi Cang is Blood Demon, his soul is severely damaged and he has no physical form, so he was heavily suppressed during the fight."
"To protect Qi Lin... he grabbed the Demon God and sank into the dark river, disappearing without a trace."
"We watched helplessly as Qi Lin returned to the inn, completely lost and unresponsive to anyone calling him, only talking to himself."
Jiang Nuo frowned, sensing that something was amiss.
"I fought that demon god Ander, and it didn't have all the power of a demon god; it was very weak."
"Given Qi Cang's abilities, he shouldn't be unable to defeat them... There's more to this story."
Everyone was filled with doubts, and could only return to the hotel to discuss them in detail.
--
Inside the hotel, everything was as before.
The owner hadn't returned yet, and the little girl was nowhere to be found. A few scattered guests, all wearing masks, were very quiet.
Mikazuki Hexi rushed into Mikazuki Shunsuke's arms, their eyes blurry with tears, as if they had been greatly frightened, and all the arrogance they had shown when they first arrived was gone.
"Uncle, can we withdraw from the competition and go home?... This place is terrifying, more terrifying than any case I've ever handled."
The idea of avenging Lin Yu had long been forgotten by Mikazuki Hexi.
The little girl cried and sobbed, but when no one cooperated, she gradually stopped crying.
"Where is Qi Lin?" Su Yi asked her.
Mikazuki Hexi slowly reached out and pointed to the corner.
"After you went to find him, he went and sat over there without saying a word to me."
Only then did everyone notice that Qi Lin was sitting blankly on the swing, with his back to them.
The swing swayed back and forth, and his body swayed along with it.
[Aaaaaah!! Why is Brother Qi Lin sitting on the swing?!]
"Oh my god, that's terrifying. Has he really gone crazy?"
Si Yan's heart skipped a beat, and she coldly scolded, " Qi Lin! Get down here immediately."
Qi Lin showed no reaction and continued to sway.
Si Yan quickly walked over, went around to the front of the swing, and reached out to stop it.
Qi Lin slowly raised his head to look at him, his face pale, his expression blank, and he was muttering to himself.
Jiang Nuo read the lips; it was... Qi Cang's name.
With two fingers held together, he lightly touched Qi Lin's forehead, and a flash of golden light appeared.
"Puff..."
Qi Lin suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and the Demonic Qi dissipated.
He took a deep breath, his body went limp and he almost fell, but Jiang Nuo caught him in time and helped him upstairs with Si Yan.
The Half-Corpse Soul stood guard outside the room to prevent anything else from breaking in.
After spitting out the blood clots, Qi Lin felt much better, but he was still absent-minded, constantly calling out his lover's name in his mind.
" Qi Lin, listen to me," Jiang Nuo's tone became more serious, " Qi Cang's abilities couldn't possibly be inferior to the Demon God; there must be another reason."
"Calm down first, and recount what happened when Qi Cang disappeared, as well as the changes in your body."
Upon hearing Qi Cang's name, Qi Lin was drawn in, and his eyes cleared considerably. Only then did he belatedly realize that his body was cold, and Su Yi quickly grabbed a blanket to cover him.
"The little sprite disappeared as I went deep underground. I was probing the Dragon Vein by the river when Qi Cang suddenly said there was danger nearby, and then... I was sucked into the dark river by a force."
Su Yi grabbed me, but...
Su Yi chimed in, her expression complicated, "But what I saw was him walking into the river on his own, no matter how much I called to him, he wouldn't stop."
Mikazuki Hexi quietly interjected, "I thought this guy had gone mad and was going to jump into the river."
Qi Lin shook his head, his expression dejected.
"I didn't hear anything, and then a monster emerged from the water. It grew my face and asked me... what I imagined Qi Cang should look like."
" Qi Cang was furious upon hearing this. His illusory soul appeared and fought the monster. I... I could sense that the monster's target seemed to be me."
"Yes... Also, Qi Cang's power can still be used by the river, but it was severely suppressed after being lured into the dark river by the monster. I want to help him... but I can't move."
As Qi Lin spoke, tears streamed down his face. He hugged his knees tightly, his heart feeling as if it were being squeezed and then released, leaving him on the verge of suffocation.
"After he dragged the monster into the river, I lost contact with his soul and could no longer hear his voice."