27: Shadow Assassin, An An's Secret

Abandoned corridor.

This was the only way connecting the bio-laboratory to the spaceship docking point.

Because of years of disrepair, most of the lighting system in the corridor had long been broken.

Only a few emergency lights were still hanging on, emitting a dim, unstable glow that stretched the group's shadows long and cast them onto the mottled metal walls, like a group of clawing ghosts.

The air was filled with the smell of old machine oil, mixed with a faint stench drifting from afar.

"Phew... finally out."

Tang Xiaoxiao carried the heavy centrifuge. Although this weight was nothing to her now, the oppressive environment still made her feel uneasy.

She set the centrifuge down on the ground and wiped away the non-existent sweat from her forehead.

"That Tyrant just now... was really scary."

"Yeah."

Lin Qinghan walked behind, pushing a hover-cart filled with data.

Her gaze was constantly scanning the surroundings vigilantly. Although the Tyrant was dead, in this kind of abandoned area, who knew what else was hiding.

"But the Captain is even scarier."

Ye Hongyu chimed in.

She walked beside Gu Pingsheng, the fanaticism of the recent battle still lingering in her eyes.

"He wiped out that big guy with one punch... tsk tsk."

Su Ruan hugged the rabbit, skipping ahead in the lead.

"Brother is the best! Ruan Ruan loves Brother the most!"

Gu Pingsheng walked in the middle of the team.

The shadow cloak on his body had already been put away; he was only wearing his black combat suit.

His expression was calm, his gait leisurely.

It was as if he had just returned from grocery shopping, rather than having just solo-killed a Tier 4 Lord.

"Don't let your guard down."

He reminded them faintly.

"This is a public area; all kinds of monsters and demons are here."

Before the words fell.

"Whoosh—!"

An extremely subtle sound of breaking air suddenly rang out in the silent corridor.

Fast.

Too fast.

So fast that even an S-rank Awakened like Lin Qinghan didn't react in time.

One only saw a black shadow shooting out from behind a pile of abandoned containers on the side.

Heading straight for Gu Pingsheng's heart!

It was a pitch-black dagger.

The blade was coated with blue poison, clearly a deadly toxin that kills on contact.

"Watch out!"

Lin Qinghan's pupils shrank, and she subconsciously wanted to wave her blade to block it.

But it was too far away.

It was too late.

Tang Xiaoxiao was still standing there, dazed, several meters away.

Seeing the dagger about to pierce into Gu Pingsheng's back.

The corner of the attacker's mouth had already curled into a cruel, ferocious grin.

He had been lurking here for a long time.

Watching this group return fully loaded, watching that leading man completely unguarded.

As long as he killed him, these supplies, and those few top-notch women, would all be his!

However.

Just when the tip of the dagger was less than a centimeter away from Gu Pingsheng's clothes.

A sudden change occurred.

The shadow under Gu Pingsheng's feet.

That shadow, which had originally stretched, deformed, and remained lifeless with the light, suddenly moved.

It wasn't the kind of movement that followed the body.

Instead, it twisted and expanded eerily, like a living creature.

"Swish—"

A hand.

A pale, slender hand that seemed boneless.

Reached out from the shadow without any warning.

Just like a ghost hand reaching out from the abyss of hell.

That hand accurately grabbed the attacker's wrist.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of bone breaking.

The attacker's wrist was instantly crushed, presenting an eerie ninety-degree bend.

The dagger clattered to the ground.

"Ah—!!!"

The attacker let out a shrill scream.

But the scream only lasted for half a second.

Because that pale hand, after crushing his wrist, moved upward.

It grabbed his throat.

"Gurgle..."

The attacker's eyes were about to pop out.

He struggled desperately, kicking his legs wildly.

But that hand was like iron pliers, unmoving.

Furthermore, it had astonishing strength.

"Who... gave you permission..."

A cold, hoarse voice, seemingly carrying ice shards, came from the shadow.

"To touch him?"

As the voice fell.

That hand suddenly tightened.

"Snap."

The attacker's neck tilted to one side.

It broke.

The corpse slumped to the ground like a pile of mud.

Only then.

Did the group clearly see the figure that had emerged from the shadow.

Thin and small.

Wearing an oversized black hoodie, the hood pulled very low, covering most of her face.

Only a pale chin was exposed, along with a pair of eyes flashing with cold light in the shadows.

An An.

The little transparent person in class who had no presence, and whose name many people couldn't even recall.

At this moment.

She was holding a pitch-black dagger (not the one from the attacker, but her own).

There was no blood on the dagger.

Because it was too fast.

So fast that the blood hadn't even had time to flow out.

"Is... is this An An?"

Tang Xiaoxiao's eyes widened, her jaw almost dropping to the ground.

She never expected that this girl, who usually spoke softly and didn't dare to make a sound even when bullied, would have such a terrifying side.

That "shadow killing" move just now was even scarier than a horror movie!

Lin Qinghan was also stunned.

She looked at An An, a trace of wariness flashing in her eyes.

As an S-rank Awakened, she hadn't even noticed An An's presence at all.

If An An had ambushed her just now...

The consequences would be unimaginable.

"There are two more."

An An ignored everyone's gazes.

She turned her head and looked at the shadows on the other side of the corridor.

Her voice remained cold, without a hint of fluctuation.

"Get out."

"Or... should I invite you?"

There was dead silence over there.

Clearly, the remaining two attackers had been scared silly by the scene just now.

They had originally thought it was a fat sheep.

But they didn't expect to kick an iron plate.

And a thorny one at that.

"Run!"

Someone don't know who yelled.

Two black shadows darted out from their hiding spots, fleeing in two different directions.

The speed was very fast.

Clearly, they had also awakened speed-type talents.

"Want to run?"

An An sneered.

Her body suddenly sank.

Just like a drop of ink falling into water, she instantly melted into the shadow on the ground.

Disappeared.

The next second.

The attacker on the left who was running wildly suddenly paused.

A black light suddenly shot out from his shadow.

"Pfft!"

The dagger pierced in from the chin and came out from the top of the head.

One-hit kill.

Immediately after.

The attacker on the right met the same fate.

He didn't even see who the enemy was; he only felt his neck go cold.

His vision began to spin.

Finally, he saw his own headless corpse still running forward.

Triple kill.

From the start of the ambush to the end of the battle.

It took less than ten seconds in total.

Three Awakened, all dead.

And the ways they died were more miserable than the last.

The corridor returned to dead silence.

Only those few emergency lights were still buzzing.

An An's figure reappeared behind Gu Pingsheng.

She put away her dagger.

She pulled her hood, hiding herself back in the shadows.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Only those eyes were still staring fixedly at the corpses on the ground, as if confirming whether they were really dead.

"An An... you..."

Tang Xiaoxiao swallowed, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

Is this still that An An?

This is simply a god of slaughter!

"A-rank talent · Shadow Stealth."

Gu Pingsheng's voice broke the silence.

He turned around and looked at the thin, small figure behind him.

There was no surprise on his face.

Nor fear.

Instead, there was a faint smile.

"And, it's well-developed."

"To be able to use shadows to this extent, it seems you haven't put in little effort."

An An's body stiffened.

She raised her head, looking at Gu Pingsheng through the gap in her hood.

The coldness in her eyes instantly dissipated, replaced by a kind of panic and...

Helplessness.

Just like a child who did something wrong and was discovered by their parents.

Or like a thief who hid their favorite toy, only to be exposed.

"I... I didn't mean to hide it from you..."

Her voice changed.

It was no longer that cold, hoarse killer voice from just now.

But changed back to that soft, timid voice from usual.

Even carrying a hint of trembling.

"I just... just wanted to protect you..."

"I know."

Gu Pingsheng nodded.

Of course he knew.

From the moment he left the spaceship, he had felt an extra presence in his shadow.

Although it was very weak and well-hidden.

But in front of him, who had his perception enhanced by the Hand of God, it was still impossible to hide.

The reason he didn't point it out.

Was that he wanted to see what this little transparent person wanted to do.

He didn't expect.

She gave him a big surprise.

Shadow Stealth.

This is a top-tier assassin talent.

Especially in this complex terrain, it is simply an unsolvable existence.

And...

Looking at her killing technique just now, it was clearly not her first time.

That ruthlessness, that decisiveness.

She had definitely seen blood.

"Why didn't you move to the upper level?"

Gu Pingsheng asked.

With her strength, she was fully qualified to apply to join the combat team and move into a luxury suite.

Eat steak, drink red wine, sleep in a soft bed.

Instead of being like this, hiding in the shadows like a ghost.

An An lowered her head.

Her fingers twisted the corner of her clothes.

"In the shadows... it's safer."

She said softly.

"And... here, I am closer to you."

"I want to... always watch you."

"Only in the shadows can I... block knives for you anytime, anywhere."

Gu Pingsheng was stunned for a moment.

Immediately, a strange feeling surged in his heart.

This girl...

Is a bit yandere.

But.

He liked it.

In this apocalypse, normal people often don't live long.

Only lunatics, only paranoids, can live better.

Moreover, this kind of lunatic who is absolutely loyal to herself and even willing to turn into a shadow to guard him.

Is an invaluable treasure.

"Very good."

Gu Pingsheng reached out.

Under the surprised gazes of the women, he gently patted An An's hood.

"Since you like staying in the shadows, then stay there."

"However."

"You don't have to be sneaky in the future."

"You are my shadow."

"And also my blade."

"Whoever dares to stretch their claws toward me, you chop it off for me."

An An suddenly raised her head.

In those eyes that were originally a bit panicked, a brilliant light instantly erupted.

That was the joy of being recognized.

The satisfaction of being needed.

It was even more... the fanaticism of finding the meaning of survival.

"Yes!"

She nodded vigorously.

Although her voice was not loud, it carried a firm, unwavering determination.

"Whoever dares to touch you..."

"I will kill them."

"Kill them all."

Gu Pingsheng smiled.

He smiled very satisfactorily.

He withdrew his hand and turned to continue walking forward.

"Let's go."

"Going home."

This time.

In his shadow, there was an extra presence.

A cold, dangerous, yet reassuring presence.

That was his shadow assassin.

And also his sharpest fangs.