Chapter 93: The Hunter’s Truth and a New Path

What is this?

Bai Yu looked at the badge in her hand, which had some exquisitely shaped patterns.

It bore a striking resemblance to Morpheus’s Whisper, Bai Yu’s weapon, sharing a similar ingenious design.

“It’s a Hunter’s badge, a symbol of becoming a Hunter.”

Stella offered a wry smile, knowing full well that Bai Yu’s spiritual core was that of a Witch, inherently an object of disdain for Hunters.

Yet, Stella herself did not share this view; her sole targets remained the fallen Dominators, believing that the fault lay not with those who possessed spiritual cores.

“A Hunter’s mark? Why give this to me?”

Bai Yu was somewhat taken aback, acutely aware that the Hunter Guild specifically hunted Arcanists like her, those with spiritual cores.

Although she didn’t understand their reasons, Bai Yu had no intention of infiltrating their ranks as a double agent; such a perilous endeavor was not her style.

“Xiao Yu, do you wish to become a Hunter?”

Stella inquired.

“No, not at all. They all want to kill me, after all.”

Bai Yu felt a touch of exasperation; she had no desire to walk willingly into a trap or court death, as that was simply not her way.

“Indeed, just as I suspected.”

Stella shook her head.

“Becoming a Hunter doesn’t necessarily mean joining the Hunter Guild. ‘Hunter’ is a broad profession, though it has fallen into disrepute due to the excessive scale of the current Hunter Guild.”

Bai Yu remained unmoved by Stella’s words, seeing no personal need to become a Hunter.

“My original purpose in becoming a Hunter was to eliminate those Dominators, those who have fallen due to possessing Dark Spiritual Cores.”

“Dark Spiritual Cores?”

Bai Yu questioned, hearing of this distinction for the very first time.

“Precisely. Individuals with such spiritual cores have a significantly increased probability of becoming Dominators. However, this doesn’t mean it’s an absolute certainty. The Hunter Guild has been blinded by hatred.”

Stella elaborated, helping Bai Yu grasp the situation more clearly.

Though she had never encountered an Arcanist truly fallen into a Dominator, she understood that such beings must be exceedingly dangerous.

“My family was murdered by a Dominator, and so was your father. That is why your mother and I became Hunters.”

“My father?”

Bai Yu’s eyes widened abruptly, her voice laced with disbelief.

“You didn’t know? It seems Tianyu never told you anything. Still, you have the right to know the truth.”

Stella said with a sigh of resignation.

Bai Yu’s heart swelled with shock and a surge of anger; she had always believed her father’s death was merely an accident.

“Who killed him?!”

A furious expression contorted Bai Yu’s face. Despite the passage of so much time, she found herself unable to let go of the pain.

“It was also a Dominator, but your mother has already killed them.”

Hearing this, Bai Yu’s emotions eased somewhat.

“I’m telling you this because I want you to know the truth of the matter. Your mother would never tell you. Please, don’t tell her I was the one who spoke; I don’t want her to dislike me.”

Stella pleaded helplessly, her expression quite pitiful.

“Understood.”

Bai Yu sighed.

“If one becomes a Hunter outside of the Hunter Guild, will they be hunted down by them?”

Bai Yu put away the badge, her decision already made.

“Exactly. That’s why I said the Hunter Guild has completely strayed from its original purpose. That’s also why I left.”

“I accept.”

Bai Yu declared resolutely. After all, she was already targeted by those people; adding a little more trouble wouldn’t make much difference.

Stella’s face lit up with a satisfied expression.

“I knew it.”

As if finally shedding a heavy burden, she prepared to hand over the pistol she carried to Bai Yu.

“How can a Hunter be without a firearm? I’ve retired now, so take this.”

Bai Yu observed the pistol, scarred with the marks of battles and the passage of time.

However, Bai Yu did not accept it, instead pushing it back with a gentle hand.

“No need, I already have one.”

Bai Yu produced Morpheus’s Whisper from her storage bracelet.

“What is this?!”

Stella stared at the gun in Bai Yu’s hand, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Is there something wrong with this gun?”

“Where did you acquire this?”

Stella composed herself, her heart racing; she never expected to see this weapon reappear in her lifetime.

“A spiritual entity resembling an old man gave it to me.”

Bai Yu spoke truthfully, as it wasn’t a significant secret.

Stella pondered deeply, eventually letting out a sigh.

“Keep it safe. I never thought anyone could truly break this gun’s curse. Perhaps you truly are a born Hunter.”

Stella felt a surge of excitement, seeing in Bai Yu’s existence the dawn of a new era for Hunters.

No longer bound by the Hunter Guild, but truly born to eradicate evil.

‘A Witch Hunter, then.’

Stella couldn’t help but marvel at such an unusual combination.

“Mm.”

Bai Yu put away her gun, noting that Stella indeed knew a great deal.

“I have nothing else to give you. Since you’ve chosen to be a Hunter outside the Hunter Guild, follow your own principles.”

Stella was no longer saddened by Tianyu’s rejection; Bai Yu’s presence had given her a new concern, a new hope.

“Oh, right, let’s exchange contact information. I have a few more things to send you that will be very useful.”

Stella said with a mysterious smile.

It wasn’t until Stella sent the information that Bai Yu truly understood what it was.

It was yet another trading platform, named Shadow Stitch. According to Stella, it functioned as a global black market.

Unlike official government platforms like the Dragon Summer Investigation Bureau, this was more akin to a private syndicate’s sales platform.

The black market was reportedly controlled by several high-ranking, unknown Arcanists.

Stella knew only this much.

While it lacked many official safeguards, it offered significantly more operational flexibility. Bai Yu realized that many items she would acquire in the future would need to be monetized here.

However, transactions on this platform could only be conducted through special arcane methods, and a substantial service fee was deducted.

Bai Yu understood this, as using other transport methods would likely lead to fraud.

“This is a huge help!”

Bai Yu exclaimed excitedly. She had been wondering how to sell the items in her possession, and now the solution had arrived!

After all, having just purchased Heaven’s Cauldron, she currently owed Mo Lan a staggering debt of three billion Dragon Summer coins.

“It’s nothing. After all, I’ll be living at your place soon.”

“Be careful when buying and selling things on there. Don’t use other transport methods; if you get scammed, I can’t help you.”

“I understand!”

Bai Yu, of course, understood; she was quite clever.

Stella winked at Bai Yu, then lay down on the bed.

Bai Yu didn’t disturb her, quietly leaving the room. She decided Stella would need some time to recover from the rejection.

Stepping out, Bai Yu gently closed the door behind her.

Just then, a pair of hands suddenly rested on Bai Yu’s shoulders.