"Xiao Qi, don't just eat vegetables, have some ribs too!" Auntie picked up a rib and placed it into Lin Qiye's bowl.
Lin Qiye smiled. "Thanks, Auntie."
"Today is a great day, so eat more. Don't make Auntie pinch pennies!"
"I got it, Auntie. Ah Jin, you should eat more too. You're still growing..."
Ah Jin?
Ah Jin!!
Lin Qiye called out a couple of times, looking at Yang Jin, who appeared lost in thought.
"Ah? Oh, I'll eat now!" Yang Jin snapped back to reality and scratched his head.
"This kid, how distracted can he be? Not eating meat even when it's in front of him?" Auntie shot Yang Jin a look before adding more meat to his bowl.
"Ah Jin must be stressed with homework," Lin Qiye said with a smile, picking up the bone he'd just finished chewing on, scanning the room with a puzzled look on his face.
Auntie also snapped back to the moment and remarked, "Strange, where's Xiao Hei Lai? Normally, he's always the first to show up when there's food. Now, with bones to chew, and not a peep from him?"
As if hearing his name, Xiao Hei Lai peeked his head out from the balcony and barked.
"Woof—!"
Lin Qiye waved the bone in the air, signaling for Xiao Hei Lai to come over and eat, but the little dog looked at the bone, then back outside, seemingly hesitant.
"This little thing, what's wrong with it today?" Auntie wondered aloud.
Lin Qiye hesitated for a moment, then stood up, holding the bone, and walked toward the balcony. He patted Xiao Hei Lai's head gently and spoke softly, "What's the matter with you? Hmm? Is there something outside?"
Lin Qiye tossed the bone to the ground and, while Xiao Hei Lai focused on it, turned toward the window.
In the vast blackness of the night, beyond the downpour, there was nothing.
Not even lights from the other buildings in the distance; the world seemed eerily quiet, drowned in the endless rain.
"Strange, there's nothing out there..." Lin Qiye muttered, about to turn away when suddenly, he heard a few tapping sounds from outside, like someone knocking on the window.
Turning back, Lin Qiye noticed a small bat outside the window. It seemed drenched by the rain, repeatedly flying into the glass, apparently seeking shelter from the downpour.
Lin Qiye's eyes slowly lit up.
Speaking of which, the ability to communicate with nocturnal creatures, which the Star Dancer had gifted him, had never been put to use. What a rare opportunity to try it with a bat...
He stood quietly by the window, watching the bat.
"Xiao Qi! What are you doing there? Come back to the table, the food will get cold!" Auntie called out as she noticed Lin Qiye standing still, lost in thought.
But Lin Qiye remained like a statue, not moving.
Just as Auntie was about to say something more, Lin Qiye suddenly snapped back, his eyes trembling!
He rushed to the door, quickly put on his shoes.
"Xiao Qi, where are you going?" Auntie asked, puzzled.
"I just remembered something, I have to go out for a bit," Lin Qiye replied, his voice urgent.
"You're being silly. It's dark out, and the rain's so heavy. What are you going out for?"
"I have something important to do," Lin Qiye answered, already halfway out the door.
"And the food?"
"I'll eat when I get back!" He smiled, though it was strained. "Don't worry, it's just a small thing. Once it's done, I'll be back. After all, it's rare to have such a delicious meal, I wouldn't waste it."
He closed the door quickly and dashed down the stairs.
As Lin Qiye hurried away, Auntie suddenly realized what was happening. She rushed to the door and shouted downstairs.
"Silly child! It's raining so hard, take an umbrella with you!"
But Lin Qiye's steps grew more distant, and no reply came.
Auntie sighed, walking back to her seat, suddenly feeling that the meal had lost its flavor.
Yang Jin, on the other hand, sat quietly, staring out at the heavy rain, lost in silence.
...
In the rain.
Crunch, crunch, crunch!
Zhao Kongcheng flicked his lighter a few times, the sparks flaring up only to be snuffed out by the falling rain.
He grunted in frustration, cigarette dangling from his mouth. His luck today... was terrible.
Jie—!!
Not far from him, the Ghost Face King stood like a demon in the rain, its presence oppressive and terrifying.
The Ghost Face King was much larger than a regular ghost-faced entity. It was so massive, it looked like a small mountain from a distance.
Unlike normal ghost-faced beings, which moved on all fours like animals, the Ghost Face King stood on two feet, towering upright. If you ignored its pale, grotesque face and its long, blood-red tongue, it almost resembled a human.
But despite its terrifying appearance, the Ghost Face King's body was covered in deep, gruesome wounds, each one seemingly carved into its flesh, leaving a trail of blood.
Zhao Kongcheng looked at the injuries on the Ghost Face King, clicking his tongue.
"Captain is impressive... even wounded it so badly. Guess he was going easy on me during our training..."
The monsters from the Chuan realm were absurdly strong, even when injured.
Zhao Kongcheng muttered as he reached for his shoulder, gripping the handle of his straight blade, slowly drawing it out.
The blade's faint blue glow cut through the rain, humming softly.
A heavy rain, a cigarette, a cloak, and a straight blade.
The Ghost Face King's eyes gleamed with a bloodlust that sent a shiver down Zhao Kongcheng's spine!
In an instant, they both moved!
Zhao Kongcheng, blade in hand, shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, eyes sharp, filled with killing intent!
His speed was fast, but the Ghost Face King was faster!
Its enormous body tore through the downpour, its ghostly white face contorting in twisted delight, like a hunter unable to contain its excitement as it closed in on its prey!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
When their figures collided, a shower of sparks erupted as their blades and claws clashed. The sharp sound of metal meeting metal rang through the air, echoing over the rain-soaked ground.
Zhao Kongcheng was a master in close combat, his three strikes precise, aiming for the Ghost Face King's critical spots. Yet, with blinding speed, the monster blocked them, pushing him back.
By the third strike, Zhao Kongcheng was sent flying by the Ghost Face King's terrifying strength, crashing onto the muddy ground.
The gap between them was too vast.
One was a mythical creature from the Chuan realm, with Forbidden Wasteland and terrifying physical prowess; the other was just a mere human, relying on skill and experience.
Zhao Kongcheng spat out the wet cigarette from his mouth, grumbling as he stood up from the mud.
"Damn it, so what if it's a mythical creature? Does being strong make you invincible?"
The Ghost Face King had no interest in fair combat. It roared loudly, its voice booming like thunder!
Roar!!
From the ground, a massive, grotesque face began to manifest, forming around the Ghost Face King, its malice filling the air...
Zhao Kongcheng's expression instantly turned grim.
"Forbidden Wasteland Sequence 176, Ghost Face Earth Manifestation."