Just one bite, it should be fine, right?
The thought popped into Chen Yifei's mind and was difficult to suppress.
He glanced outside the room to ensure no one was around before being inexplicably drawn to tear off a piece of the roasted chicken. After all, it was a disaster, and if any other residents saw him eating it, it would undoubtedly cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
The aroma of roasted meat mingled with the scent of liquor, filling Chen Yifei's nostrils and leaving his mind almost blank. Instinctively, he popped it into his mouth and began chewing.
[Audience Expectation Value +1]
Delicious.
So delicious!
This was a texture Chen Yifei had never tasted before, tender and juicy with a springy bite. Just one bite sent a wave of satisfaction surging from his mouth to the top of his head, leaving him feeling invigorated and all his fatigue washed away.
Chen Yifei's eyes gradually glowed with a strange red light, and he seemed to have forgotten all about the "just one bite" plan. His hands frantically tore at the roasted chicken, shoveling chunk after chunk of juicy meat into his mouth!
He couldn't understand why the shopkeeper earlier had shown no reaction to such a delicious offering.
[Audience Expectation Value +1]
[Audience Expectation Value +1]
[Audience Expectation Value...]
Chen Yifei seemed to have fallen into some bizarre state, with pairs of scarlet eyes opening from the void behind him. The audience squinted at the scene, their eyes filled with amusement and playfulness.
Meanwhile, the shadow centipede, not yet fully dead, let out a shrill scream that echoed through the street.
It could clearly feel its body being torn apart, writhing in agony. Just then, Chen Yifei, finding its screams annoying, casually picked up a jar of fermented liquor from the table and slammed it onto the centipede.
The rich aroma of liquor permeated the centipede's body, and the next moment, Chen Yifei thrust the burning stick he held into its flesh!
Whoosh!
A fierce blaze instantly erupted, engulfing the shadow centipede entirely.
Its life force rapidly faded amidst the flames, its body curling into a tight ball. At that moment, it seemed to sense something, and the dark hole in its charred head "looked" toward the scarlet eyes behind Chen Yifei.
A grating, unpleasant sound arose once more as it struggled to utter a single word:
"… King."
...
The disaster's screams gradually faded, replaced by the raging flames spreading from the liquor shop.
The shopkeeper, halfway to fleeing, stopped in his tracks and looked back at the shop not far away. His eyes were filled with indecision.
The shop was ablaze, and he wondered if the law enforcer was okay. Why hadn't he come out yet? Could he have passed out? Was the monster truly dead... A myriad of chaotic thoughts raced through his mind.
After standing in place for a long time, he gritted his teeth and turned back.
These thoughts were merely excuses for him to return. He had finally gotten a chance to impress a law enforcer, and if he left now, he might never have another opportunity to become one himself.
If Chen Yifei was in trouble, rescuing him would pave the way for a smooth future. If Chen Yifei was fine, he would at worst receive a scolding.
Comforting himself with these thoughts, the shopkeeper approached the flickering shop entrance, about to call out...
The next moment, he froze in place.
At the heart of the flames, a shadow centipede writhed in agony, its screams muffled by the fire. In front of it, a dark figure squatted, frantically tearing off its flesh and legs, stuffing them into his mouth until his cheeks bulged.
Dark green blood dripped from the corners of his mouth onto the ground, and his hands, charred from the flames, seemed oblivious to the pain, making him appear like a greedy thief.
This bizarre sight caused the shopkeeper's pupils to contract in disbelief, and he stumbled backward, his footsteps making a rustling sound.
The predator suddenly paused in his feeding.
In the flickering light, he slowly turned to face the shopkeeper, half a centipede leg dangling from his lips, his pupils glowing with an eerie red light.
He tilted his head, thought for a moment, then broke off the massive centipede head and offered it to the shopkeeper.
His cheeks, stuffed full, mumbled incoherently:
"… Want a bite?"
The shopkeeper's eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.
Seeing the shopkeeper decline, Chen Yifei didn't insist on sharing. He devoured the chicken drumstick in just a few bites, the sound of crunching bone echoing through the air. It wasn't long before the entire roasted chicken was gone, leaving only a few oily stains on the ground.
Chen Yifei belched contentedly.
He stumbled to his feet, the red glow in his eyes gradually fading, and rationality flooding back into his mind. He stared blankly at the empty corner.
"… Finished already?" Chen Yifei frowned, clasping his head in his hands, a deep confusion in his eyes.
What had just happened?
Chen Yifei's mind was blank. His last conscious memory was of taking that first bite of chicken, and then, when he snapped back to reality, the entire chicken was gone. Keep in mind, that chicken was two meters tall!
Chen Yifei looked down at his stomach, which showed no signs of distention or fullness. Instead, there was only a lingering aroma that echoed between his lips and teeth.
Yet, the exhaustion he had accumulated from his battles was gone, and he couldn't help but wonder if his mental strength had... somehow grown stronger?
Chen Yifei glanced at the oily corner, feeling a twinge of guilt, before turning to leave. After hesitating for a moment, he turned back.
Putting away his knife and gun, he picked up a jar of liquor and the burning stick, satisfied, and stepped out of the shop.
"Why is he here?"
As soon as he reached the door, Chen Yifei saw the shopkeeper lying unconscious on the ground.
He called out a couple of times, but the man didn't stir. Chen Yifei scanned the area before reluctantly setting down the liquor jar inside a nearby room, locking the door behind him.
Just as he stepped out of the house, a rustling sound emerged from his walkie-talkie.
"This is Xi Renjie... I've cleared Cold River Street, and the entire western side should be mostly taken care of now." Xi Renjie's voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, hoarse and barely audible, revealing his exhaustion.
"But I think I'm reaching my limit too... Chen Yifei, are you okay?"
Chen Yifei picked up the walkie-talkie and replied, full of energy.
"I'm fine... very fine."