171: Chapter 171 Bystander: This cosplay is so accurate!

The atrium of Hang Lung Plaza was usually noisy and crowded.

But when Jiang Chen led the silver-haired girl, who seemed to have walked right out of a 2D anime scroll, into this area, the noisy waves of sound were instantly severed as if by an invisible blade. Immediately after, an even louder surge of exclamations, eight decibels higher than before, erupted.

"Holy crap! This beauty... is this something a human can actually grow?"

"This hair! These red eyes! This cold, aloof temperament! She's practically my dream girl!"

"Which anime is this character from? How come I've never seen her before? But this level of accuracy is just insane, she even acts out that 'regarding all living things as ants' gaze so perfectly!"

The crowd gathered toward the center rapidly, like iron filings attracted to a magnet.

Countless mobile phones were raised, flashlights flickered frantically, and the click-click sounds of shutters merged into one, making it even livelier than the press conference just now. Passersby whispered excitedly to each other, and a few old masters with DSLR cameras were even kneeling on the ground in excitement, looking for the right angle.

In their eyes, this was nothing more than a top-tier Cosplay show.

But in the eyes of Jiang Wanqiu, this was a long-planned—siege.

"Clang—"

A metallic trill, extremely faint yet hair-raising, came from her waist.

Jiang Wanqiu's body tensed instantly, like a fully drawn powerful bow. Her red eyes, which had previously been curiously observing her surroundings, were now narrowed into dangerous slits, locking tightly onto the dense crowd around her.

In her cognitive system, this behavior—being surrounded by a large number of unidentified personnel, all of whom held those "glowing black boxes" aimed at their target—had only one explanation: This was the precursor to a concentrated fire attack!

"Father God, be careful!"

Jiang Wanqiu lowered her voice, speaking at a rapid pace, an instinct honed from countless life-and-death battles: "So many enemies... at least several hundred!"

"That black box in their hands must be some kind of light-based targeting device! Those white lights (flashes) just now were probing attacks!"

"I knew it, these mortals have ill intentions!"

As she spoke, her right hand reached behind her waist as fast as lightning.

Hidden there was the high-frequency vibration dagger that could cut iron like mud, a gift from Jiang Chen. Although she was wearing a cute JK uniform and showing off her fair thighs, at this moment, the aura of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood erupted from her, causing the temperature of the surrounding air to drop by several degrees.

"You dare raise weapons against Father God? You're courting death!"

Jiang Wanqiu's heels lifted slightly, her center of gravity sinking. This was a standard starting stance for an assault. In just 0.1 seconds, she would be able to charge into the crowd like a black bolt of lightning, stirring up a bloody storm in this shopping mall.

"No, no, no! My dear ancestor!"

Jiang Chen had been keeping an eye on her, and seeing this posture, his soul nearly flew out of his body in fright. He grabbed Jiang Wanqiu's hand, which was already gripping the hilt of her dagger, and used his other hand to wrap around her shoulder, forcibly suppressing her tense combat stance.

"Relax! Relax a bit!"

Jiang Chen leaned into her ear, sweating profusely in his anxiety: "Those are mobile phones! They are cameras! They aren't weapons!"

"They aren't targeting me, they are... uh, they are worshiping you!"

"Worshiping?"

Jiang Wanqiu paused, her killing intent slightly restrained, but her eyes were still full of suspicion. "Holding that kind of glowing box up to your face, you call this worship?"

"Yes! That's the rule of the Divine Realm!"

Jiang Chen spouted nonsense with a straight face, his tone so certain it allowed for no doubt: "Think about it, in the Divine Realm, when mortals see a beautiful and powerful Divine Envoy, they can't help but want to record this sacred moment so they can venerate it day and night after they return."

"That flash is the tearful light of their excitement; that black box is the vessel that carries their faith."

"Look at their eyes, do they look like they want to kill? That is clearly them lusting... cough, I mean, it's admiration!"

Jiang Wanqiu turned her head, half-believing and half-doubting, and re-examined the surrounding crowd. Sure enough. The eyes of those mortals held no killing intent; instead, they were filled with a kind of fanaticism and... adoration? Especially those few photographers kneeling on the ground taking pictures; they did indeed look quite pious.

"So... is that how it is?"

Jiang Wanqiu let go of the dagger, her tensed body finally relaxing. She smoothed her skirt in some embarrassment, a blush flying onto her cheeks, and muttered softly: "The rules of the Divine Realm are truly strange... You scared me, I thought I was about to go on a killing spree."

Since it was worship, then they were her own people. As an Empress, when facing the adoration of her subjects, one naturally had to display the appropriate demeanor.

Thus. Jiang Wanqiu took a deep breath and instantly switched modes. She lifted her chin, recovering that noble and cold, aloof posture. Her red eyes swept over the crowd with indifference, and the corners of her lips curled into a faint arc—neither close nor distant—perfectly interpreting what was meant by "God's Contempt."

"Wow—!!!" The surrounding crowd boiled over once again.

"That's amazing! That gaze! That cold smirk! She is practically the Queen herself!"

"Is this really just a cosplayer? This aura is stronger than a celebrity's! I feel like my heart stopped just now!"

"Miss, look at me! Look at me once! I'm willing to work like an ox or a horse for you!"

A bold boy couldn't help but rush up, holding his phone and shouting: "Beauty! Can we take a photo together? I'm your fan!"

Jiang Wanqiu frowned. Fans? What was that? Some kind of low-level follower? She subconsciously looked at Jiang Chen, her eyes filled with inquiry: Can I kill this guy?

Jiang Chen hurriedly squeezed her palm, signaling her to stay calm. "Sure." Jiang Chen blocked him slightly and said to the boy with a smile, "But don't get too close, she... cough, she has a bit of social anxiety and isn't used to interacting with strangers."

"Got it! I understand! It's the cold and aloof persona, right!" The boy was so excited he was dancing around, making a peace sign from a meter away, "Thanks, boss! Wish you a hundred years of harmony!"

With this interaction, more and more people gathered around. Although everyone was enthusiastic, perhaps deterred by the faint, lingering dangerous aura on Jiang Wanqiu, no one dared to really get handsy; they just crowded around taking photos like crazy and posting them on their Moments to show off.

Jiang Chen protected Jiang Wanqiu, struggling to squeeze out through the crowd. As he walked, he sighed. This is what it means that beauty is justice. Even if one is a murderous female demon, as long as she is good-looking and wears a JK uniform, she can still leave this group of modern people completely infatuated.

However. Just as the two were about to walk out of the mall entrance, preparing to go to the parking lot. A harsh whistle sounded, extremely abruptly from the side. "Whew—"

The sound was frivolous, lewd, and carried a nauseating, greasy feeling. The crowd automatically split to open a path. Several social youths with dyed yellow hair, wearing tight pants and slip-on shoes, walking with a swagger, were blocking the entrance while smoking, looking at them with ill intentions.

The Tattooed Man in the lead had eyes that unscrupulously swept back and forth over Jiang Wanqiu's long, fair thighs, and he even stuck out his tongue to lick his lips, revealing a mouthful of teeth stained yellow by smoke.

"Yo, this chick is top-tier." The Tattooed Man blew out a smoke ring, reached out to block their path, and said in a flippant tone: "Which club did this new headliner come from? Dressed pretty excitingly, huh."

"We brothers have nothing to do tonight, how about... coming to have a drink with us?" "Don't worry, brother has money, I definitely won't let you accompany us for nothing."

As he spoke, he actually reached out with his dirty hand, unaware of the death awaiting him, wanting to touch Jiang Wanqiu's cheek. The surrounding passersby frowned one after another; some wanted to call the police but were held back by their companions, as it was clear this group were habitual offenders in the vicinity, and no one dared to provoke them.

The air fell silent in that instant. Jiang Chen stopped. He looked at the Tattooed Man, his eyes becoming somewhat strange, even carrying a trace of pity. These days. Why are there always people who think their lives are too long?

He could feel that the "well-behaved kitten" beside him, whom he had just calmed down, had changed—the aura on her body had changed. That wasn't killing intent. That was the rage from the top of the food chain after being offended by an ant.

"Father God." Jiang Wanqiu's voice was very soft, as light as a breeze. She did not look at the Tattooed Man but turned to look at Jiang Chen, her eyes clear to the point of being frightening: "In the Divine Realm... this kind of trash, who not only doesn't worship but dares to reach out with dirty hands toward a Divine Envoy. They shouldn't... be within the scope of protection, right?"

Jiang Chen was silent for a second. Then. He let go of Jiang Wanqiu's hand and even took a step back, extremely considerately, clearing out space for her to act.

"Well..." Jiang Chen looked at the Tattooed Man, who was still frantically testing the waters on the edge of death, and sighed: "They are not. As long as you don't kill them, do whatever makes you happy."