Chapter 75: All Squinting Eyes Are Monsters! (1.5 in 1)
Qin Tun was almost going mad.
When he was captured by the human trafficking organization, he thought he was done for.
By some stroke of luck, he encountered people from the Ability Guild, but they completely refused to help.
Of course.
Qin Tun laughed bitterly.
If it weren’t for the Ability Guild’s tacit approval, how could these organizations act so brazenly!
He looked at the person next to him, who called herself Liu Cheng, her numbness a stark contrast to his frantic fear.
It was as if she had already died, leaving only a shell lingering in the world.
As if she had given up struggling from the start.
Maybe Liu Cheng was right; they had no way to resist.
Living in Ranmu City, Qin Tun knew what kind of organization he had encountered this time.
District 1 was under the Ability Guild’s watch, and the organizations that dared to operate so boldly here either had connections with the guild or had a leader powerful enough.
Like the infamous ‘White Rat.’
Qin Tun was just an ordinary person, unaware of too many details.
He only knew that the leader of this organization was strong and well-connected.
For instance, right now, there were eight ability users just to hold him and Liu Cheng down.
They couldn’t escape.
But Qin Tun didn’t want to give up.
He still had a future; he didn’t want to die here.
“No matter what you ask of me, even if I become your servant, please save me!” he shouted hoarsely, offering the only bargaining chip he had, one that might not even count as a chip. “I can make money for you, a lot of money! Just give me a chance!”
But the nobles’ backs didn’t waver; they had no interest in what was happening behind them.
He was dragged backward by the ability users, while the figures ahead remained as cold and distant as ever, walking away, leaving this place.
Despair gradually spread through Qin Tun’s trembling eyes.
Just then.
“You’re good at making money?”
It was a female voice, slightly raised, unhurried, and carrying a casual tone.
The sudden voice caused the ability users behind them to let out surprised grunts.
Qin Tun instinctively looked at Liu Cheng beside him, but he saw her ashen, indifferent face snap up, looking backward with an attitude that didn’t match her earlier despondency.
Fast, so fast—before Qin Tun could blink, it was over.
The clouds parted, revealing the silver moonlight behind them, and the blade’s gleam, like a crescent moon, flashed and vanished.
“Thud.”
The restraints behind them disappeared, and the ability users holding them collapsed.
Only then could Qin Tun fully turn around.
He saw a figure standing against the moonlight.
Her black hair was neat and sharp, her brows and eyes curved, her eyes forming an arc as if squinted.
Red patterns, like wings, bloomed around her left eye.
She wore a high-collared black dress, the slit hem faintly revealing slender, pale legs.
The dress swayed gently beside her high-heeled boots. Paired with her smile, there was an indescribable elegance.
In her hand was a long blade.
Silver-white, like tonight’s moonlight.
But now, that pristine white was stained with blood.
The red slid down the blade, gathering at the tip.
“Drip.”
The blood dropped, and with a casual smile on her lips, she flicked her wrist, swinging the blade to the right, shaking off the red from the tip.
She seemed like the coldest, most ruthless assassin, yet her smiling demeanor was like the most potent liquor.
Was she talking to me? Qin Tun’s near-blank mind conjured this thought.
Trembling, his body shook uncontrollably.
That sharp blade seemed ready to rise at any moment, and under that smiling face, it could cleave him in two.
Was this saving him?
Don’t kid yourself! This was clearly just a bloodthirsty killer!
A smiling demon!
“I don’t like repeating myself,” she said, her curved eyes seeming to look at him. “Understand?”
Though her pupils were hidden, Qin Tun felt as if, through those squinted eyes, he glimpsed a vortex behind her lids that chilled his heart.
He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but he thought he saw a faint red glow in those eyes, fleeting against the moonlight.
“I... I...” His legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees, unable to make a sound.
When he was captured, when the Ability Guild abandoned him, even during the Eternal Night before this, he had never faced such a sharp blade.
Nor had he ever confronted such malice steeped in killing intent.
The sound of high heels clicking on the ground echoed with a ‘tap,’ and the demon took a step toward him, the tip of her long blade pointing downward.
It was as if death were closing in, and she could, at any moment, with that smiling face, raise her blade and end his life.
Qin Tun’s throat felt blocked, unable to utter a single word!
Finally, her footsteps stopped.
“It seems I can’t expect much from civilians.” She spoke as if lamenting, then her curved brows and eyes turned toward the orange-haired nobles who had faced her since she made her move.
“Eternal Night follows first-come, first-served, so I’ll take this organization’s money for myself. You won’t object, will you?”
“After all, it was the former leader who promised you, not the current one.” Her tone was utterly natural, and utterly arrogant.
Qin Tun felt even more suffocated.
What was this Demon doing? Provoking the branch leader of the Ability Guild?!
At that moment, he wished he could just faint on the spot!
Yet the provoked orange-haired youth slowly revealed a smile.
He turned around again, as if completely unconcerned by the disturbance here, just like before.
“Of course, that’s the rule of Eternal Night.” He said, “As long as you can pull it off.”
“Sounds great.” The Demon responded with a smile.
But in Qin Tun’s eyes, on that pale face splattered with blood, her smile widened.
Yet those curved brows and eyes seemed to sink into the shadows beneath her black bangs.
The blade’s edge gleamed under the moonlight, as crows silently circled overhead.
The split expression vanished in an instant, and the Demon returned to her smiling demeanor, turning around as if truly preparing to seek out the ‘White Rat.’
But just as she turned—
“You’re saving me.” Liu Cheng reached out, grabbing the hem of the Demon’s clothing.
Qin Tun nearly choked.
Did this person even know what she was doing?! Why not just let her leave?!
And indeed, the Demon paused her steps.
She turned her head, looking down.
“I’m not saving you.” She said with a smile.
For some reason, the hem slipped from Liu Cheng’s grasp, her movements carrying the cool breeze of the night and the scent of blood.
But the woman, now empty-handed, raised her head.
This woman, who had seemed resigned to death since being captured, had eyes that seemed to glimmer with moonlight.
“You are.” She said, “Will we meet again?”
Qin Tun had no time to wonder why Liu Cheng was so persistent.
He stared fearfully at the Demon’s back, praying incessantly for her to leave, to leave quickly.
And as he wished, the Demon, already stepping into the darkness, did not respond further.
He finally let out a breath of relief.
The crows cawed, and clouds obscured the moonlight.
Red eyes gazed downward from the sky.
It was the three from the Ability Guild who had just left.
The man beside the ad youth, who seemed like a subordinate, spoke up.
“I’ve never seen that woman in Ranmu City before.” He said stiffly, “Leader, this person is suspicious.”
“You think it’s the one from the bounty?” Hearing this, the orange-haired youth laughed. “You think that illusionist would come to Ranmu City and disguise as a woman?”
“Ruye, there’s always a chance.” Another orange-haired man spoke.
He appeared older, likely the ad youth’s elder.
“That’s true.” The ad youth, called Ruye, still seemed unconvinced. “Even if it’s the illusionist, there’s no way they’d come here so quickly.”
“Ranmu City—at least that old hag is SS-rank.” As he spoke, his smile faded.
The crows circled in the sky, vanishing into the horizon.
...
They couldn’t see through her illusion.
Confirming this, Li Li let out a sigh of relief.
She wouldn’t do anything pointless.
Encountering nobles in Eternal Night was rare, so she had to do something.
At the very least, this time she confirmed that not every Lin clan noble had x-ray vision to see through her lies.
This would greatly aid her next moves.
She had appeared in person, true, but her probing was cloaking reality with a layer of illusion.
And the nobles’ conversation confirmed this—they hadn’t deduced much from her ability, only making subjective assumptions.
Feeling a bit more relaxed, Li Li toyed with the long blade in her hand, walking toward District 3.
After a few steps, she glanced at her high-heeled boots.
Then slowly revealed a mischievous smile.
Receiving Heige’s message that he had arrived, An Heyu hurriedly arranged the homemade desserts on Heige’s table, preparing for their conversation later when he could slip a few to Heige.
After finishing, he greeted the members of the Tide branch and went to meet Li Li.
But when he reached the entrance, he didn’t see the familiar black cloak or navy-blue jacket.
He saw the back of a figure in a long dress.
An Heyu was well-mannered, so though he was cautious, he spoke first: “Miss, are you here by mistake?”
“I can have someone escort you home safely.” He said.
As if hearing his words, the figure turned around.
An Heyu saw a face that seemed familiar yet different.
Squinting eyes, smiling, a red wing-like pattern at the corner of her eye, her makeup carrying a familiar flamboyant air.
Her frame was slender, but she exuded a sharp beauty.
Like a flower blooming on white bones.
She smiled: “Really?”
Something’s off, An Heyu thought.
Because her eyes were closed, her features softened, and with the makeup and the pattern covering much of her face, An Heyu didn’t recognize her immediately.
He felt something was wrong but couldn’t pinpoint it: “Of course, this place is very dangerous. It’s best for you to leave soon, miss.”
“Dangerous?” The other seemed oblivious. “Will you protect me then?”
At the same time, she stepped forward, closing the distance between her and An Heyu.
“...” An Heyu hadn’t expected the other party to ask such a question, and he became even more vigilant. “Don’t come any closer.”
“Otherwise, I’ll kill you,” he said.
Then he saw the lady in front of him tilt her head, unclear if she was frightened.
“I’m so scared,” she said, her smiling expression never changing.
But at that moment, An Heyu seemed to sense something, and his rather cold expression began to crack.
If he were wearing glasses, they might have shattered along with his cracking expression, like in a 2D anime.
“...” It seemed to take him great effort not to say something loudly.
Finally, he said, “Stop teasing me.”
At the same time, Li Li opened her eyes, revealing a red color that An Heyu was very familiar with.
She looked at him with a mischievous smile, her playful intent unmistakable.
“Then let me in to sit, Little Red.”
That familiar tone made his heart skip a beat.
Her identity revealed, Li Li’s appearance began to change, reverting to her Heige disguise.
She pushed up her sunglasses, took two steps, then turned back to ask An Heyu, who was still standing in place, “Why aren’t you moving?”
An Heyu, with a thoughtful expression, said, “I’m thinking about something.”
“Hm?” Li Li asked.
“Is there anything you wouldn’t dare to do?” An Heyu asked sincerely.
He couldn’t understand how Heige could act so naturally in front of him, teasing him like that!
Or perhaps this was just standard behavior for an illusionist?
Li Li answered his question just as sincerely, “Guess.”
In the end, he didn’t guess.
Li Li followed An Heyu inside and sat at the table he had prepared for her.
Before her were various desserts, with a cup of milk tea nearby.
An Heyu stood to the side, adopting the posture of a subordinate.
Noticing her gaze, he said, “You probably like sweet things, right?”
Recalling the events of the day, Li Li didn’t know what to say for a moment.
She felt like An Heyu had misunderstood something, like thinking she didn’t eat properly or something...
No, in the manga world, she really didn’t eat properly.
Li Li felt wronged.
In the real world, she ate properly—three meals a day, and her roommate even brought her food.
After all, the real-world her couldn’t function like a perpetual motion machine.
“You made these?” She felt she didn’t even need to ask; only Mother Hen would put in such effort.
Sure enough, An Heyu nodded, explaining, “I used to enjoy baking to relieve stress.”
No wonder it looked so professional.
Li Li inwardly marveled.
Li Li admitted she loved eating little cakes and such, but eating these desserts in the middle of the night gave her a sense of guilt.
Still, she was curious about the taste, so she took a single bite before putting down the spoon.
It was like a polite acknowledgment of An Heyu’s hard work.
But in An Heyu’s eyes, it clearly meant something else.
He saw the black-haired youth in front of him take a small taste and quickly put down the spoon.
The dim lighting and candlelight illuminated the person’s pale face.
A casual smile curved their lips, glancing at him as if praising his skill.
But that was all.
Then their gaze shifted to the Tide member standing in front.
The agent from Ranmu City, voluntarily offering the information they’d gathered over years of lurking to their “leader.”
And that little cake seemed to have fulfilled its purpose, quietly casting a long shadow in the candlelight.
An Heyu felt that the other party didn’t actually want to eat but had taken a bite just to not let his efforts go to waste.
No, that was the truth.
He looked at the youth listening to the Tide agent, wanting to say something.
Like, you need to eat properly, staying fed is important, not eating is bad for your health.
In the end, he held back.
After all, there were more pressing matters.
“Ranmu City’s leader, Lin Ran, SS-rank mimicry-type,” the Tide member said. “Ranmu City’s branch leader, Lin Ruye, Lin Ran’s child, S-rank mimicry-type.”
“Lin Ran’s two cousins, S-rank mimicry-type.”
“There’s a mysterious S-rank in District 13, ability type unknown; everyone who’s seen them is dead.”
“Besides that, the Ability Guild has eight A-rank ability users, all under Lin Ruye’s command,” the member concluded. “Lin Ruye and Lin Ran are at odds. Lin Ran has stayed in the highest tower of the Lin clan for six years without appearing.”
There were other minor details, like the relationships between the districts.
But even with this vague information, a lot could be inferred.
“One SS-rank, four S-ranks, eight A-ranks,” An Heyu summarized. “With our current strength, there’s no way to break through head-on.”
That was putting it mildly; in truth, there was no chance of victory.
After all, they only had one S-rank, An Heyu, and for A-ranks, including Li Li, there was just this Tide agent and two former leaders from District 3.
Ranmu City’s setup was indeed that of an established noble faction.
Li Li’s finger twitched, and she thought of Zhusheng City, another old noble faction.
She wondered how many beatings Little Corgi had taken these days.
Li Li felt that Yiming getting beaten was practically inevitable.
“We won’t consider confronting them for now,” Li Li said rationally.
But earlier, she’d made bold threats to the ad orange-haired youth, Lin Ruye, about crushing the White Rat, so she had a justified cause.
No point in wasting it. Leaning back in her chair casually, she asked, “Do you know about the White Rat in District 1?”
“I know,” the Tide member said cautiously. “Their leader is called the man closest to S-rank, a domain-type ability user, and a member of the Ability Guild.”
“Any connection to the Lin clan?” An Heyu seemed to catch on and asked further.
"Five years ago, he worked for the Lin clan," a member of Tide replied.
An Heyu looked thoughtful.
After their brief meeting ended, he said to Li Li, "You want to learn about the Lin clan through the leader of 'White Rat'?"
Hearing this, Li Li nodded without hesitation.
Exactly, that was her plan, and she had anticipated it.
Initially, she thought that organization might know some insider information, especially since they seemed very familiar with the Ability Guild.
She just didn’t expect them to be this useful.
"Got any plans for tonight?" Li Li asked casually.
She stood up from her seat and left the meeting room.
An Heyu, thinking she had something in mind, followed her steps.
After a moment’s thought, he said, "Nothing."
Then he heard Li Li ask, "Do you prefer long skirts or short skirts?"
The corridor’s lights were dazzling, and An Heyu almost instantly grasped the implication behind her words.
But if possible, he didn’t want to choose either.
"Heige," he recalled a recent moment and said seriously, "Even if my face risks exposure, just give me a mask. There’s no need to go that far to change my appearance, really."
"Alright, short skirt it is," Li Li said nonchalantly, as if she hadn’t heard him, raising her hand to point toward District 1. "Let’s go, to 'White Rat.'"
An Heyu: "...."
Once again, he felt that urge to say something but ended up speechless.
Finally, he said helplessly, "Can I at least request to keep wearing a cloak?"
He admitted he wasn’t as bold as Heige.
He needed the cloak—it could at least shield him from the short skirt.
So why was it already decided to be a short skirt?