Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Fate of Liu Anran

“So, when do you plan to make your move?”
“Right now. I can't wait another second—my father is still waiting to be buried.”

...

In Qianyou Town, inside a villa far more lavishly decorated than any of its neighbors, Liu Anran was savoring a fine wine in comfort.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Hearing the knock, Liu Anran frowned. He was an illegitimate son with no relatives or friends, and at this late hour, none of his underlings would come looking for him. Still, thinking that one of them might be in some kind of trouble, he walked over to open the door.

“Who is it?” he called.

“It's me.”

He had just reached for the door when Wang Hui’s voice came from outside, making him freeze instantly. Wang Hui! Given all that had happened, it would hardly be surprising if Wang Hui was here to kill him. Remembering Wang Hui's display of strength last time, Liu Anran knew that if he let him in now and things went badly, his chances of survival would be slim.

With that thought, Liu Anran smiled awkwardly and took a few steps back. “Wang Hui, how did you find my house?”

But after he spoke, there was no response for a long time.

Puzzled, he reasoned that perhaps Wang Hui had left, and turned to go back to his seat.

But just then, another voice came through the door.

“I’m not Wang Hui. I am his father. I came here to apologize to you.”

At that, a chill ran through Liu Anran’s entire body. Was this some kind of joke? Wang Hui’s father had committed suicide—how could he possibly show up here now? Although fear clawed at him, reason told him it was impossible. It must be some prank of Wang Hui’s.

Furious, he shouted, “Wang Hui? What are you playing at?”

But this time, there was no reply at all.

Liu Anran could only assume that Wang Hui had given up after his prank failed. Frustrated, he headed back to the living room—only to see a figure there.

He hurried over and saw Wang Hui sitting on the sofa, head bowed, silent and motionless.

“What the—! How did you get in?” he blurted.

Wang Hui, as if hearing his words, slowly raised his head and looked at Liu Anran.

Their eyes met, and Liu Anran nearly collapsed on the spot.

What kind of eyes were those? Vacant, lifeless? No, they were the eyes of a dead man.

“What do you want? I warn you, don’t try anything, or I’ll kill you!” Even now, Liu Anran refused to take Wang Hui seriously, threatening him with bravado.

But Wang Hui showed no reaction at all. Instead, he slowly gazed up at the ceiling.

Liu Anran, curious despite himself, followed his gaze, but the ceiling was bare—nothing there.

What was Wang Hui after?

He was about to question him and send him away when he realized the sofa was now empty. Wang Hui was gone.

Something was very wrong.

Though it was autumn, Liu Anran’s villa was well-insulated, yet a bone-chilling cold crept through him, from his scalp to the soles of his feet.

The silence in the room only amplified the terror lurking in his heart.

He moved slowly, swallowing hard. The next moment, he dashed for the door as fast as he could.

He wanted to get out.

Even at this hour, there would be people at bars or nightclubs—he desperately wanted to lose himself in a crowd, to escape his fear.

But as he reached the door, he stopped short.

He stared at the doorknob, suddenly afraid to open it. Wang Hui had been outside just a moment ago, but then appeared in the living room out of nowhere. Now that he’d vanished from the living room, what if he was outside again?

He decided to check through the peephole.

Opening it with trembling hands, he peered out—but at a single glance, he recoiled in terror and collapsed to the floor, shivering violently.

He had clearly seen a blood-red eye staring back at him!

What now?

Fumbling desperately, he pulled out his phone to call the police. His hands shook so badly it took him ages to get it out.

But when he looked down, the phone screen was black, reflecting only his own terror-stricken face—and behind him, a towering red figure stood, ready to strike at any moment.

He screamed, threw his phone aside, and fled madly toward a window, smashing it with his fist and leaping out.

Watching Liu Anran’s frantic escape, Xiao Zi merely smiled faintly.

Using Ghost Shadow Steps, she instantly appeared beside Liu Anran and, without the slightest effort, entered his body, seizing control.

“Die. I’ll make sure your death is as disgraceful as possible.”

...

“Did you hear? Last night, Liu Anran was running naked through the streets for no reason.”
“Is that all? He’s completely vanished—no one’s found him yet.”
“If I were him, I’d disappear too. His streaking video is all over the internet—it’s total social death.”
“...”

While his classmates gossiped, Wang Hui sat quietly in his seat, smiling.

As for Liu Anran’s fate? Who could say?

Curiously, no one in the class seemed to know that Wang Hui had spent several days in prison. Apparently, Liu Anran had never mentioned it—perhaps he felt guilty.

Wang Hui had already buried his father. Returning to school was merely to complete the task Xiao Zi had given him.

At that moment, Si Liren approached, her expression calm, and looked at Wang Hui’s smiling face.

“Wang Hui is dead, isn’t he?” she said softly.

“I’m right here in front of you. Do you really think I’m dead?”

“Why did you come back to school?”

“Oh? Why shouldn’t I?” Wang Hui replied, bemused, even with a hint of amusement.

“I’ve already investigated—you killed several Spirit-Tamers, didn’t you? But don’t underestimate them. Two formidable individuals from the Grand Xia have recently arrived in Maoguo. They’re disciples of the Grand Elder of the ‘Refinement Sect’—the same elder who, with a single move, destroyed both the Skull General and the Forbidden Domain at the Daxia–Wushang border.”

“And what does that have to do with me?” Wang Hui’s smile grew ever more innocent.

“You should know, we’re on the same side. When your god granted you power, didn’t he tell you? Our common enemy is humanity. Even if you act alone, we are not your enemies.”

This time, before Wang Hui could reply, Si Liren turned away. After taking a few steps, she glanced back. “Even if you don’t say it, I know why you’ve come back to school. You must have sensed it too—someone very interesting has arrived.”

With that, she left on her own.

Only after Si Liren had gone did Wang Hui look utterly bewildered.

“Boss, what’s with that girl?”

“No idea. Her aura is strange, just like an ordinary human’s. She’s not one of my kind, but as she said, she’s not an enemy either.”