Confronting the Source

Yao Jing was utterly bewildered when he was yanked from the monster’s maw.

‘What in the world are you doing, brother? I was in there, striking at its vitals, and you decided to hold me back.’

He had intended to loudly rebuke her, but the unfolding scene forced him to swallow his words.

As dark clouds shrouded the moonlight, the already dim street grew even more profound in its gloom.

Scattered streetlights were swept away by a single flick of the serpent’s tail.

The roaring monster fixed its gaze upon the new challenger before it.

‘That thing… it’s gotten even bigger, hasn’t it…’

[Shadow] continuously flowed towards Xiu Lan’s right hand.

Facing the grotesque monster, she advanced head-on, neither dodging nor evading.

Though her figure was slender and small, it exuded the towering presence of a giant capable of supporting heaven and earth.

“Swoosh!!”

As if sensing the newcomer’s threat, Huang Siying’s arm stretched out like rubber.

It tore through the air with a series of explosive cracks, lunging towards Xiu Lan.

To Yao Jing’s astonished gaze, this attack, powerful enough to pierce a building, failed to inflict any damage.

The flowing shadow gathered before Xiu Lan, forming a shield.

She tilted her head, then seized the monster’s intercepted arm.

“Snap.”

A strength far exceeding her delicate frame erupted from her grasp.

Accompanied by a shriek of agony, the monster was forcibly pulled towards Xiu Lan.

“Hmm… did it break?”

Casting aside the arm she had ripped from Huang Siying’s body, Xiu Lan’s thoughts stirred.

The shadow flowed towards her feet, and with a single leap, she effortlessly landed on the monster’s back.

“Hiss… hiss…”

The monster thrashed its body wildly, attempting to dislodge its foe.

Yet, no matter how it contorted itself, Xiu Lan remained steadfastly attached to its back, like a magnet.

“Quiet down.”

Apparently annoyed by the monster’s antics, the grey-haired girl stomped her foot in exasperation.

This caused immense pressure to bear down on the colossal serpent, forcing its body to crash violently against the ground.

Faint cracks could be seen radiating outwards from beneath it.

“Crunch, crunch.”

The arms that had stubbornly resisted Yao Jing’s efforts for so long now piled onto the ground from Xiu Lan’s hands, like wheat cut down by a scythe.

Unable to endure the incessant torment, “Huang Siying” resolved to make a final, desperate stand.

He concentrated his remaining strength in his tail, bringing it down from behind Xiu Lan with immense wind pressure.

Without turning or moving, the girl, as if prescient, caught the attacking serpent’s tail.

Then, with an understated flick, she sent the entire serpent monster spinning several times through the air, tracing an elegant arc before it crashed onto the ground.

Concurrently, the shadow flowing from Xiu Lan’s hand traveled along the tail, moving inexorably towards its head.

Wherever it passed, it left devastation akin to a locust plague.

The once slick skin shriveled and wrinkled as if life itself had been stripped away by the flowing shadow.

The aura of death emanating from the shadow caused “Huang Siying” to writhe madly.

With another “snap,”

he deliberately severed his own tail.

“Hmph, trying to escape!”

Brandishing his greatsword, Yao Jing, who had long been observing the battle, blocked the monster’s path.

He drew back, mimicking a bowling stance, and faced the fleeing “Huang Siying” with a sinister grin.

“Sorry, but this place is already full—”

The greatsword swung out, its blade crashing violently against the serpent’s head.

The roar of a human and the shriek of a monster intertwined.

“Hah… hah…”

Trapped between escape and agonizing blows, the monster’s newly regenerated head was once again severely wounded.

It slumped into a brief state of paralysis, lying weakly on the cold ground, hissing in agony.

“Thump-thump-thump.”

Footsteps gradually drew nearer.

Before it stood the hunter, wielding his greatsword.

Behind it, the grim reaper pursued relentlessly.

With a wolf at its front and a tiger at its back, did “Huang Siying,” with its lingering shred of intellect, finally comprehend the depths of despair?

“Let’s end this.”

She did not make him wait long.

Indifferent words escaped Xiu Lan’s lips as she extended her right hand, and the shadows on her body once more converged there.

“I’m sorry.”

She uttered a soft apology, and a single tear traced a path down her cheek.

Xiu Lan swung a punch at the monster; without any hindrance, it effortlessly pierced the serpent’s defenses.

Immediately thereafter, like a famished tiger, the ravenous shadow surged inward through the wound, consuming its very being.

It didn’t even have time to shriek in agony.

By the time Yao Jing registered what had happened, “Huang Siying’s” colossal body had been reduced to nothing more than a hollow skin, devoured by the shadows.

It was precisely like the death state of those bloodthirsty fiends.

What on earth had happened to this creature?

‘At this thought, Yao Jing secretly heightened his vigilance.’

Beneath the profound darkness of the night, the two stood one in front and one behind the desiccated corpse, their expressions starkly different.

“Let’s go,” Xiu Lan stated calmly, withdrawing her hand without allowing Yao Jing any further time to ponder.

“Go where? Huang Siying is dead. Are you expecting me to take you back to the bureau?”

Failing to grasp Xiu Lan’s abrupt shift in thought, Yao Jing reiterated that the monster was dead.

To his surprise, the person before him regarded him with a look of disdain.

‘Wait, how can I discern an expression from a mass of black mist?’

“Aren’t you going to resolve the source of this problem?”

“Huh?”

“If you’re still a man, then hurry up and follow me.”

…..

……

– Yao Ge, the address you gave is a bit far out, in the suburbs. We should arrive in about an hour.

– Thanks, Little Wang. Next time I’m free, I’ll treat you to a big meal.

“I didn’t realize you were quite so popular.”

Seated inside the vehicle, observing the fading night outside the window, Xiu Lan couldn’t help but strike up a conversation.

This was a specialized enforcement vehicle of the Order Maintenance Team.

Though it resembled a compact car externally, its interior utilized spatial technology.

The specific technology varied by model, yet even the smallest iteration could accommodate over ten people.

It was notorious among various thugs and criminals, commonly referred to as a “van” (TL Note: A “van” or “bread car” in Chinese slang refers to small, often unmarked vehicles used by law enforcement or gangs, known for their ability to carry many people, often for arrests or abductions, hence the fear among criminals).

After all, one could never tell how many people might spill out of such a seemingly small car.

“This is my personal charisma, you know?”

Yao Jing crossed his arms, confidently declaring, “My popularity is far greater than you imagine.”

He had not only borrowed a car but also personnel, all without providing any explanation.

‘Wasn’t this considered using public resources for private gain?’

Even Xiu Lan knew they were helping at the risk of disciplinary action; it wasn’t something that could simply be brushed off as “high popularity.”

Yao Jing inquired, “Now, it’s time to talk about your situation.”

“Xiu Lan.”

“Huh?”

“You can call me Xiu Lan.”

Xiu Lan looked directly at the man before her.

His indistinct features created an immense sense of pressure for Yao Jing.

She stated, “It’s a good time for us to speak frankly and openly.”

‘I can’t shake the feeling that our roles are reversed.’

“A misconception.”

[Life-Devouring Hound]

This was the true name of the monster Xiu Lan had encountered.

It had taken residence within that body at an unknown time, devoid of consciousness or knowledge, merely following its instinct to consume life.

In circulating myths, it was believed to be an emissary of the Underworld Dragon, the [Dragon of Demise].

Ancient peoples considered it an omen of death; its appearance heralded strife and calamity.

The process of being devoured by it within the consciousness space was, in essence, a method of power transfer.

The [Shadow] she usually wielded was merely a trickle of its power.

After awakening in the consciousness space, Xiu Lan had gained access to the complete [Shadow].

Using this immense power, she had effortlessly hunted down “Huang Siying.”

In short, her cheat code had been activated (TL Note: “Wàiguà” is a Chinese term referring to a cheat or hack in games, implying a sudden, powerful, and often unfair advantage).

“So you’re saying there’s a huge monster hidden inside you?”

Yao Jing narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Xiu Lan.

This person truly dared to say anything; shouldn’t a normal person keep such things secret, as a trump card?

“Yes, it was supposed to be dormant, but it suddenly awakened, and the reason is…”

Xiu Lan produced an empty vial.

“The Mutual Aid Society’s inhibitors have a major problem, and that’s what we need to address next.”

“Ah, the sheer number of these things that have passed through your hands alone is countless. Heaven knows how many doses that so-called [Mutual Aid Society] has distributed.”

Lounging lazily in his seat, Yao Jing showed none of the enthusiasm Xiu Lan had expected.

“Judging by Huang Siying’s condition, there should still be room for intervention if they haven’t taken a large amount of inhibitors within a short period.”

“However, instead of wasting time collecting the doses, it’s better to strike directly at the root cause.”

“I’ve already contacted the usual liaison for inhibitor supplies; we can use him as a breakthrough point,” Xiu Lan said.

“Have you noticed that your personality has changed? Is this confidence brought by power, or arrogance?”

Yao Jing shrugged, “I suggest you take some time to pay attention to yourself. I wouldn’t want to see you in a mental asylum one day.”

“It doesn’t matter what happens to me.”

Xiu Lan gazed out the window.

Just as Yao Jing had said, countless doses of the inhibitors had passed through her hands alone.

Any of those people could suffer an incident at any moment because of this ticking time bomb.

‘Was this atonement?’

‘Perhaps…’

Inside the silent carriage, the hour hand moved to six o’clock.

They had arrived at their destination.