Chapter 55: The Aftermath of the Attack

Bai Chen’s vision nearly swam with blackness; it had barely been ten minutes since he’d left Mo Qiu’s side, yet something like this had already transpired.

What in the world had happened?

As his parents’ faces flashed through his mind, Bai Chen swiftly slapped himself, forcing his thoughts back to clarity.

Once calm, Bai Chen narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the area around the bloodstains.

The electric scooter hadn’t been toppled, and he hadn’t heard any commotion from upstairs, suggesting the incident hadn’t been large in scale.

With a cat ear lying on the ground and the unidentifiable bloodstains, someone had undoubtedly been injured; he fervently hoped it wasn’t Mo Qiu. Could it truly be her?

After the incident at the Midsummer Night Restaurant, Bai Chen knew Mo Qiu wasn’t incapable of resistance, yet she often allowed herself to be hurt. Even if she did fight back, her soft, feathery slaps likely posed little threat.

Bai Chen then cast his gaze further afield, sprinting forward to crouch and examine the marks on the ground.

Extending a finger, he slowly traced the edges of the marks, involuntarily holding his breath.

He knew these marks intimately; they were the tell-tale sign left behind when something charged forward with explosive power from its legs.

Humans typically couldn’t accomplish such a feat, meaning it had to be a demon creature!

“Demon creatures again.”

Bai Chen bit down hard on his lower lip, a murderous intent blazing in his eyes.

If the demon creature had come for him, Bai Chen wouldn’t have been so enraged. But why did they always choose to attack those close to him?

His parents were gone, and he had once sworn never to let demon creatures snatch anyone else from his side. Yet now, they were targeting Mo Qiu!

‘What was this? Was it a deliberate provocation against him? Were there eyes lurking in the shadows, watching his misfortune unfold?’

Bai Chen pushed himself to his feet, his steps unsteady as he returned to the electric scooter.

Suddenly, his foot struck something, and Bai Chen’s eyes widened. He quickly bent to pick it up.

It was a plastic pearl, caked with mud from rolling on the ground.

‘I remember Mo Qiu’s clothes had these,’ he thought, glancing around again. Sure enough, he spotted other plastic pearls. They lay scattered like beacons in a fog, guiding Bai Chen in a definite direction.

Bai Chen stood frozen for a moment, then let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“That’s right, Mo Qiu is merely reclusive, but she isn’t foolish.”

After his brief laugh, Bai Chen’s expression hardened with resolve. He then broke into a run, following the trail of scattered plastic pearls.

The old district’s roads were far from wide, yet their winding, intricate complexity was no less than that of the city center. With the buildings all resembling one another in style and color, Bai Chen felt as if he had stumbled into a labyrinth.

Fortunately, he still had the clues Mo Qiu had left behind. As the pearls’ spacing grew wider and wider, Bai Chen nearly took a wrong turn.

The final pearl lay almost ten meters from the previous one, so far that he nearly missed it entirely.

Beyond that point, there were no more pearls, but Bai Chen no longer needed them to guide his way.

Standing before him was a long-abandoned, derelict house, from within which came the heavy thud of something crashing to the ground.

Bai Chen’s heart plummeted. Without a moment’s thought, he charged forward.

The door, violently kicked open, slammed into the wall with a shriek before collapsing entirely. Yet, even these sounds were less jarring than the sight that greeted Bai Chen.

He had found them: Mo Qiu and the demon creature.

The maiden in the maid outfit lay sprawled on the ground, her braids undone and obscuring most of her face. Her maid dress was torn, a long gash in the skirt revealing a thigh clad in white suspender stockings.

Hearing the commotion, Mo Qiu turned her head, her hair falling away to reveal half of her face, swollen and oozing blood.

Witnessing this scene, Bai Chen’s face darkened to a thunderous scowl, his gaze fixing on the demon creature before her.

It was a bizarre-looking entity, with an elongated, gaunt frame and limbs so thin they seemed disproportionately long for its body. It appeared to have almost no flesh on its bones, draped instead in tattered scraps of what resembled rotten clothing.

Bai Chen’s sudden entry didn’t draw its attention; it remained fixated on Mo Qiu, its bulging eyes filled with malevolent fury.

“Mis…take…death…all…you…”

The demon creature’s shriveled lips couldn’t conceal its teeth, a mouthful of decaying fangs from which saliva drooled.

“I…will…slay…”

It raised an arm, its sharp claws poised to strike the girl on the ground.

Bai Chen moved faster, intercepting its attack. He sprinted forward, blue electrical arcs dancing in his hand, and delivered a direct blow to its face.

The demon creature’s body was sent flying, crashing to the ground like a disjointed puppet.

‘So weak…’

Bai Chen didn’t stop there. Clenching his hands into fists, he slowly advanced.

“Mis…kill…you…”

The demon creature’s face twisted towards him, muttering incoherent words. Low-level demon creatures were no different from beasts; one of its caliber likely acted purely on instinct.

Blue lightning crackled around Bai Chen’s hand. He raised his fist, striking the demon creature’s face again and again.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

His fists were drenched in blood, his fingers aching excruciatingly, yet Bai Chen still didn’t cease. His bloodshot eyes glared at it, delivering punch after punch, unleashing all the strength in his body.

‘Die! All of you, just die!’

The blue lightning pulsed, tearing the demon creature’s skin, exposing the flesh and bone beneath.

The electrical arcs dancing in Bai Chen’s eyes grew ever more intense, gradually eclipsing his pupils.

‘You all deserve to die, deserve to die! Why won’t you just perish?!’

‘I will… I will slaughter them all…’

“Bai Chen.”

‘Don’t bother me.’

“Bai Chen?”

‘Anyone who dares to stop me, I’ll slaughter them.’

“Bai Chen!”

‘You seek death too!’

Bai Chen whirled around abruptly, his fist lashing out, carrying a sharp gust of wind and splatters of blood.

Yet, upon seeing Mo Qiu’s face clearly, Bai Chen’s movements abruptly halted, and the electrical arcs in his eyes dissipated.

What had just transpired? Bai Chen stood stunned.

The demon creature’s face was a pulpy, bloody mess, its life clinging on by sheer, tenacious vitality.

Gazing at his own handiwork, Bai Chen’s expression twisted into one of horror, and he collapsed to the ground.

‘What had I just done? Not only did I act like a bloodthirsty maniac, but I also attacked Mo Qiu?!’

Utterly drained, he couldn’t even stand, unable to believe his own hands were drenched in blood.

“Bai Chen.”

A different kind of warmth emanated beside him, the girl’s vacant eyes close by.

“Are you alright?”

“…I’m fine, just a little exhausted.” Bai Chen rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry, did I scare you?”

Mo Qiu pursed her lips, remaining silent.

‘She was scared, wasn’t she?’ Bai Chen sighed inwardly.

“You should go first; I’ll call someone to handle this.” Bai Chen looked up as he spoke. “Do you want me to call a car for you?”

He desperately wanted her to leave his side; Bai Chen couldn’t guarantee when he might lose control again.

Before he could finish, Mo Qiu sat down beside him, opening her arms and pulling him into an embrace.

The sudden warmth startled Bai Chen once more, making him hesitate to touch her with his blood-stained hands.

“Mo Qiu?”

“It’s alright now, it’s over.”

Mo Qiu gently stroked the back of his head, her voice soft.

The warmth from her felt like a pair of large hands, gently enveloping Bai Chen’s body and soul, calming his frantically beating heart.

‘So comfortable, so familiar.’

Bai Chen closed his eyes. How long had it been since he’d felt such a warm embrace?

The warmest embrace Bai Chen had ever known was his mother’s. Now, he was experiencing it anew from this young girl.

After regaining his composure, Bai Chen gently pulled away, his gaze shifting, afraid to meet her eyes.

“I put you in danger again,” he said with a bitter smile.

“It’s alright. Bai Chen, you’re willing to save me because you don’t dislike me, right?”

“How could I?”

Bai Chen’s voice grew fervent.

“I won’t dislike you. I will protect you.”

“Really?” Mo Qiu’s tone was hesitant.

“More real than any pearl,” Bai Chen replied with a serious expression.

“That’s good then.”

Mo Qiu looked at him, then spoke again.

“Bai Chen, you worked so hard, I should give you a reward.”

“What?”

Before he could react, the girl leaned in again, her rosy lips gradually drawing closer.

‘Wait, it couldn’t be…!’

She extended a finger, touched her own lips, then lightly tapped his.

“There.”

“…That’s it?”

For some inexplicable reason, Bai Chen felt a pang of disappointment.