95: Chapter 95 Assassin, Chen Qing
South of Ningyang City.
A tide of demon beasts surged majestically toward the city walls, yet a single figure charged straight toward Cuiyu Camp against the flow, leaving a trail of demon beast corpses in her wake.
Some demon beasts that couldn't stop in time tried to trample over the corpses, only to be dismembered by residual sword qi. Soon, the bodies piled high, shocking the Beast Tamers atop the city walls.
Chen Qing sped along, her white T-shirt billowing in the wind and her long hair fluttering, a complex look in her eyes.
A vibration buzzed in her pocket.
She pulled out her phone to look, a flash of disgust crossing her eyes, but her rapid pace had already come to a halt. With a casual swing of her sword, she cut down the nearby demon beasts.
The call connected.
The sinister voice of Jin Yulong, Vice President of Mingyue, rang out.
“Chen Qing, where do you think you're going?”
“It's none of your business.”
“Demon beasts are everywhere outside the city. It's very dangerous for a person to go out alone.”
“Are you spying on me?”
“I'm just reminding you. Without the antidote, you'll die even if you run to the ends of the earth, and it will be a slow, agonizing death. Don't throw your life away for some pointless sentimentality.”
Chen Qing swung her longsword, unleashing violent sword qi that shredded the pouncing demon beasts within a dozens-meter radius into countless pieces. Her tone grew even colder than before.
“Get to the point! Say one more unnecessary word and I'll kill you when I get back.”
“Hahaha~ Don't get so worked up, it was just a joke. How could someone who crawled out of hell have such trivial emotions?”
Jin Yulong laughed, then changed the subject: “However... all the defensive forces are currently at the city walls. It's the perfect opportunity for you to strike. Don't miss it.”
Chen Qing narrowed her eyes and said nothing. She silently hung up and continued rushing toward Cuiyu Camp, her aura growing even more violent and fierce along the way.
Some oncoming demon beasts were terrified by this murderous aura; their eyes snapped into clarity as they tried to dodge, only for their vision to flip upside down.
Their heads had fallen off.
Soon, Chen Qing arrived at Cuiyu Camp. The place had been overrun by demon beasts. Destroyed buildings, vehicles, and human remains were scattered everywhere. Only a blood-stained stone monument bore the words 'Cuiyu Camp.'
Seeing this scene, Chen Qing felt a sudden surge of anxiety. She looked around, searching for the figure that matched the photo Li Yu had sent her.
Her arrival attracted the attention of the demon beasts.
Beasts that hadn't managed to snatch any flesh charged at her from all directions. It was this charge that exposed the last remaining corner of a ruined house to Chen Qing's view.
Someone was there!
Chen Qing’s aura exploded as she brandished her longsword. Several blades of sword qi flew out like streaks of light, clearing a large area of demon beasts.
She herself arrived at the precarious corner.
A sweep of sword qi slaughtered all the demon beasts in the vicinity. She saw more than thirty people huddled inside, protected by a few individuals who looked like instructors and teachers.
“Where is Li Meng?”
Chen Qing scanned the group but didn't see her. Her brow furrowed, and her cold gaze glared at the crowd.
The people hadn't even processed their narrow escape before being terrified by that look. As the crowd shifted, they revealed a blood-covered, unconscious girl at the very center.
“Xiao Meng... she was clawed by a demon beast while trying to save everyone.” The Female Teacher explained the situation, her eyes filled with astonishment as she looked at Chen Qing.
“Big sister, please save Li Meng! She’s barely breathing!”
“Yes, we beg of you.”
“...”
The other students spoke up one after another—some out of genuine concern, others pretending to be close. Everyone looked at Chen Qing with curiosity.
Everyone knew about Li Meng’s family situation.
Her father died early, her mother was seriously ill and required high medical fees every month, and her brother was just an Intern who had just entered society after graduating from a technical school.
One could say they were even worse off than an average family. How could such a family know an expert like the woman before them?
One person, one sword—she hadn't even summoned a beast—and she had fought her way all the way to the camp to find her.
This level of strength was at least Gold rank.
Chen Qing ignored them and walked straight to Li Meng. A thick smell of blood hit her nose. With her experience, she could tell at a glance how dire Li Meng's condition was.
Just as the others thought she would immediately begin treatment, they saw Chen Qing grab Li Meng by the collar, hoist her up, and sling her over her shoulder.
The wound on her stomach spurted dark blood from the pressure, and the girl let out a low moan of pain.
Everyone watched in a daze, unable to understand what was happening.
An ominous feeling welled up in the teacher's heart. She hurriedly chased after Chen Qing, blocking her path and shouting, “What are you doing? Where are you taking her!”
“Go back and tell her brother that if he wants her to live, he should come find me alone and have his will written.”
After Chen Qing finished speaking, she carried Li Meng around the Female Teacher and walked straight out. When the teacher tried to stop her, she was kicked aside. When her beast tried to intervene, Chen Qing kicked it into unconsciousness as well.
A Silver-rank beast was utterly defenseless before Chen Qing.
The Female Teacher clutched her stomach and spat out some bile, shouting unwillingly, “Who exactly are you?”
“...The assassin, Chen Qing.”
With those words, Chen Qing's figure vanished. She was so fast that the teacher couldn't even see her clearly, and the other students hadn't even recovered from the sudden turn of events.
They thought a savior had arrived, but it turned out to be an assassin.
The demon beasts surrounded them again, but before they could get close, several artillery shells exploded among them. An elite City Defense Bureau team appeared.
These were the real saviors.
...
Inside the incubation room.
Li Yu made several phone calls in a row.
From initially going unanswered to being hung up on and then the phone being turned off directly.
The unease in his heart grew stronger. His fingers holding the phone trembled slightly, and his nostrils flared as his breathing became heavier.
He put the phone in his pocket, then paused. He took the phone back out and pulled a slip of paper from his pocket. On it was a line of crooked handwriting: '9 PM tonight, the Abandoned Feed Factory in the West of the city.'
“What is this? Who left it?”
Li Yu frowned.
It wasn't surprising that he didn't recognize it. For one, he had never seen Chen Qing's handwriting; secondly, Chen Qing had been found for him by Supervisor Song. Out of trust for Supervisor Song, he hadn't doubted Chen Qing.
Thirdly, after spending the last few days together and Chen Qing saving him several times, Li Yu had come to believe that this Guardian might look cold, but was actually quite a good person.
Buzz, buzz, buzz~~~
The phone vibrated. Li Yu didn't have time to look and hurriedly answered, shouting, “Is that Chen Qing?”
“Hello, I am the captain of the City Defense Bureau's Fifth Squad, responsible for the rescue mission at Cuiyu Camp. Is this Li Yu?”
Li Yu composed himself and said, “I—I am. Sorry, I thought it was a friend.”
“I'm afraid she's not a friend anymore.”
“What do you mean?” Li Yu pressed.
“A young woman calling herself the assassin Chen Qing killed some demon beasts at Cuiyu Camp and then abducted your sister, Li Meng. Your sister is seriously injured, and her situation is very grim...”
Li Yu didn't hear whatever the City Defense Bureau captain said next. His mind went blank, occupied by a few words.
Assassin.
Abducted.
Sister seriously injured.
How could this be...
While he was in shock, the white light that had been accumulating inside the incubation pod suddenly erupted, enveloping the entire incubation room in a sea of white.