Chapter 3: Trust Me, I'm a Mind Demon
Time passed swiftly. At a park in Hedong, Le Ping City, Lu Li, dressed in casual attire and carrying a satchel, listened to a group of elderly women chatting after finishing a round of square dancing. They had just enthusiastically performed "The Most Dazzling Folk Style" and were now taking a break.
One of the women, massaging her back and waving her dance fan, wore a storytelling expression and said, "Ah, dancing helps a bit now. Last year, I was bedridden in the hospital. The illness wasn't cured, and the money spent was like water flowing away."
"Isn't that the truth? Going to the hospital nowadays is like being skinned alive. You spend money for nothing, and the illness doesn't even get better," another woman chimed in. "That hospital is a mess. Didn't they kill someone before, causing the family to riot?"
"I heard it was because the patient wasn't supposed to eat chicken, but the family insisted on feeding chicken soup and killed the patient. Then they blamed the hospital," another woman, more informed, added.
"I heard the hospital used expensive medicine, which doesn't go well with chicken soup. Cheaper medicine wouldn't have caused any issues. Isn't it just the hospital being greedy and killing people for money?" the previous woman retorted.
As the argument heated up, the first woman pointed at a small truck slowly pulling into the square and scolded, "Hey, this is our dance area. Why are you parking here?"
The other two women immediately abandoned their budding argument, united against the young man who had parked. They unleashed a barrage of scolding, making him blush and apologize profusely. The elderly women seemed to enjoy the act of reprimanding, their words flowing ceaselessly.
Finally, after the women relented, the young man parked elsewhere and hurried over to Lu Li, sweating profusely. "Hello, are you 'Strange Light' from the forum? I'm Zhou Qian. About what we discussed earlier..."
"I really need a blood module, but I don't have any game points left. Can you lend me the module? I'll repay you with equivalent points after my next mission..." Zhou Qian rattled on nervously, scratching his head and looking shy like a naïve neighborhood boy.
Lu Li observed him carefully. The young man wore old clothes, his hands covered in calluses from frequent work. His shy face still had some pimples, indicating his youth. His constant head-scratching revealed his anxiety—or perhaps excitement.
Smiling kindly, Lu Li glanced around before speaking warmly, "This isn't a very private place. Let's find somewhere quieter to talk. It's not good to handle these things here."
Nodding eagerly, Zhou Qian followed Lu Li towards the "suburbs" of Hedong. This "suburb" wasn't far from the city, but due to a landslide a few years ago that resulted in several deaths, the residents felt unsafe and moved away. Later, a construction company took over the land to develop real estate, but the project was halted due to financial issues, leaving the area as an overgrown wasteland.
This place was a popular spot for illicit activities at night. Lu Li often heard about classmates from different grades sneaking there. Passersby frequently found discarded condoms, and a flashlight beam would reveal hurried movements. But now, during the daytime and with the school on vacation, the area was deserted.
All the while, Zhou Qian continued to assure Lu Li of his gratitude and promised to repay him after the next mission. Reaching the overgrown area, Zhou Qian looked at Lu Li with expectant, excited eyes. Lu Li smiled, reaching into his satchel to retrieve a white crystalline object.
As Lu Li handed the crystal to Zhou Qian, he smiled back, shyly accepting it. "Thank you so much!" Zhou Qian expressed his gratitude before suddenly drawing a knife to stab Lu Li. Lu Li, seemingly prepared, blocked the attack with a dagger.
"I knew it wouldn't be that easy. I hope you won't die too quickly so I can enjoy the hunt longer," Zhou Qian said, his face flushed with excitement. He discarded the fake module—a piece of polished glass—and attacked Lu Li fiercely.
Lu Li deftly parried Zhou Qian's wild swings with precise movements, skills he had honed from studying assassins and Claw Ghouls. The assassin's knife technique focused on lethal precision, while the Claw Ghoul's claws were as sharp as daggers, making Lu Li's close combat skills formidable.
Zhou Qian's knife work, learned from a previous mission, was crude but fueled by his enhanced physical strength and bloodlust. After exchanging a few blows, Lu Li discerned Zhou Qian's pattern. Moving fluidly, he evaded Zhou Qian's attacks and threw his dagger at his opponent's back.
Zhou Qian's shirt tore open, revealing a gushing wound. The blood, moving like a living creature, formed into a new knife and lashed out. "Blood manipulation?" Lu Li remarked. "Didn't expect you to be an aberrant type. But now that you've shown your power, let me introduce you to my Mind Demon."
A mask emerged from Lu Li's chest, floating outside his body. A massive shadowy figure materialized in front of him—a monstrous form clad in black with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp claws.
"A Mind Demon type with close combat abilities? You're an excellent prey!" Zhou Qian exclaimed with excitement. His shoulders burst open, releasing more blood that formed multiple whips. His excitement reached a peak.
"Ah! Such a thrilling hunt! No need to hold back then!" Zhou Qian's face reddened with exhilaration as he unleashed a barrage of blood whips, each strike wild and erratic.