A Wandering Youth

Глава 32

“I’ve known for a while that something was wrong with you, but I kept telling myself not to overthink it or misunderstand, because how could Uncle Zhang, whom I’ve known for two years, be such a heinous devil! It seems I was wrong…” Tears welled up in Ling’er’s eyes. This was the first time she had called him Uncle Zhang, and it was probably the last.

"You suspected something was wrong with me all along?" Zhang Guoqiang struggled to sit up; it seemed he really was injured.

Chang Xiao, Elder Ji Dian, and Kuang Ao stared silently at Zhang Guoqiang.

“Yes! Uncle Zhang used to be a man who was not afraid of difficulties. You would never have given up on Qingluo’s case so easily. Even if the higher-ups were pressing you, you would rather resign than give up. But this time you actually gave up on your own initiative, and I started to suspect you! Moreover, when you first saw Leizhu’er and Hu Yishiba being arrogant, you frowned. It wasn’t because they were simple-minded, but because you could tell that they were no ordinary people, right?”

"right……"

"You're not mistaken, you're the Half-Crazy Hermit?" Ling'er continued to press.

“You…” Zhang Guoqiang stared at her in surprise.

"If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place! The painting you gave to Yu Xiao has your calligraphy on it. Although I've never seen your calligraphy before, you often showed me case summaries when we were working together. How could I not recognize your handwriting?"

"Hahaha..." Zhang Guoqiang, who was just on the verge of death, suddenly stood up, looking nothing like someone who had been injured.

"Is this all the strength you have? It's such a waste that they died at your hands!" Zhang Guoqiang's face was contorted.

"Of course this isn't our full strength. How could you possibly be Zhang Guoqiang?" Chang Xiao glanced at him coldly and stepped in front of Ling'er.

"Laugh, who else could he be but Zhang Guoqiang?" Ling'er tugged at his sleeve, puzzled.

Hu Yishiba also said, "Who else could it be but the God of Wealth?"

"Of course he's not a god of wealth!" Kuang Ao stepped out from behind, his arrogant expression making it hard to believe he was the same guy who used to threaten to slit his own throat or drink poison.

"Oh? Then tell me who I am?" A powerful force emanated from Zhang Guoqiang, causing everyone present, except Chang Xiao, to frown. "Inspector, I didn't expect your spiritual power to be so strong. Should you thank Qingluo or those innocent hunters?" Kuang Ao coldly raised his head.

Zhang Guoqiang was taken aback. He hadn't expected the other party to recognize his identity, even though this person also came from the Extreme Domain.

"What? Inspector? Wasn't he dead?" Eighteen was a little taken aback seeing Kuang Ao so cool for the first time, and poked him in the back.

"Hey! Let your brother have a good time! Okay?" Kuang Ao rolled his eyes at Shi Ba and whispered.

"Oh..." Eighteen nodded blankly.

"The Western Inspector is dead. Is it your turn next?" the arrogant man continued coldly.

"Hung up? What does that mean?" The Eastern Inspector looked at everyone.

"I actually missed you last time, Eastern Inspector!" Chang Xiao took a few steps closer to Zhang Guoqiang. His seemingly calm smile revealed a hint of worry. He had always thought that the Eastern Inspector's abilities were on par with the Western Inspector, but it seemed he had underestimated him! He never expected that the Eastern Inspector would have such strong spiritual power. This time, things are really troublesome.

"Who can tell me who he really is?" Ling'er couldn't hold back any longer. Who else could the person in front of her be but Zhang Guoqiang? If it really wasn't him, then where was the real Zhang Guoqiang? Could it be...? Ling'er shuddered. No way! Uncle Zhang couldn't be dead!

“Ling’er, just as you thought, the real Zhang Guoqiang is dead. His body has simply been taken over by Dongfang,” Chang Xiao explained.

"How could Uncle Zhang die..." It turned out that Uncle Zhang, who was a close friend despite the age difference, was not a demon after all. Thinking of this, Ling'er felt a little relieved.

"Indeed, it's not simple. I was afraid of attracting your attention, so I deliberately abandoned my own body and entered this wretched carcass, but I didn't expect you to still find out," the Eastern Inspector said with a self-deprecating laugh.

"Shut up! You have no right to say that!" Ling'er shouted angrily. How dare he say that Uncle Zhang's body was a stinking carcass! She was furious and decided to settle all old scores and new grudges at once. Ling'er drew the Silver River from her waist. Ever since Lei Zhu'er gave the Silver River to her, she had rarely used it. This time, she was going to avenge those innocent people who had died!

"You think you can take me on?" the Eastern Inspector scoffed.

"Master, don't be impulsive!" Hu Yi pulled Ling'er back and then used his telepathic ability to say: "Call Sister Zhu'er here immediately."

Ling'er looked at Hu Yi, puzzled, and asked using her telepathic abilities: "Is it necessary? There are so many people here. Let alone Chang Xiao, either Senior Brother Yi Lin or Senior Brother Chun Yuan are masters among masters. Would they be afraid of a mere Eastern Inspector? Although I've never fought him..."

Hu Yi's voice came: Listen to me! I've never asked you for anything before, this is the first time. Quickly call Sister Zhu'er over. No one here is his match, except for Chang Xiao, who broke his seal!

Ling'er was still somewhat skeptical, but since Hu Yi said so, he must have his reasons. So she nodded, stepped back, and said, "Fighting with you would dirty my hands!"

At this moment, Yi Lin and Chun Yuan both breathed a deep sigh of relief when they saw Ling'er leave. What was the Hunter Emperor up to? He actually summoned Swift Lightning Uncle back to Hunter Headquarters at this critical juncture!

"I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty." Chang Xiao stepped forward, crimson flames emerging from his hand. He understood Hu Yi's thoughts and couldn't help but secretly admire his quick thinking. What he needed to do now was to distract the Eastern Inspector so that Ling'er could quickly notify Teardrop, Wolf King, and the others to come to their aid.

Seeing Chang Xiao's fierce approach, the Eastern Inspector frowned. Although most of the opponent's power was sealed, he was still the Dark Commander, the Dark Commander who single-handedly pacified the Extreme Domain! However, he was betting that the Dark Commander wouldn't break the seal! Oh no! I can't sense Zhu'er! Ling'er used her telepathic ability to communicate with Hu Yidao.

How could that be? Wasn't she with the wolf king?

Will he kill Zhu'er...? Ling'er broke out in a cold sweat.

Absolutely impossible!

"Then why can't I sense her?" Hu Yi comforted him. "Master, don't worry! The Wolf King wouldn't kill Sister Pearl! She's the Holy Maiden of the Nuwa Clan. Besides, when you were in the Realm of Light, didn't Eighteen and I also fail to sense your presence?"

I hope she's alright. By the way, why did you insist on calling Zhu'er back? Are we all so many of us no match for one Eastern Inspector? Ling'er watched Chang Xiao and the Eastern Inspector fighting in the arena. It was clear Chang Xiao had the upper hand. If that was the case, why was Hu Yi so nervous?

It's not that we can't beat him, it's that we can't eliminate him.

"Can't eliminate him? What do you mean?" Ling'er asked, puzzled.

As you can see, with Chang Xiao's current abilities, killing him would be a piece of cake. But if we kill him now, it would only mean we're helping him again. In that case, his soul will find another host.

Why? Back then...

"Master, you want to ask why nothing happened to you back in the Extreme Domain, right?" Hu Yi interrupted.

Ling'er nodded.

Back in the Extreme Domain, when they were almost at their wits' end, Chang Xiao finally broke his seal, using his terrifying power to annihilate the souls of the cult leader and others. Sister Zhu'er once told me that he would never break the seal again unless he wanted you to regain your memories. Judging from the current situation, besides Sister Zhu'er, only one other person can destroy his soul.

Who is this person?

Wolf King!

That's like saying nothing at all! So? You mean if we can't find Pearl now, we'll be in big trouble?

"Wow! After all this talk, you finally understand!" Hu Yi shook his head.

What should we do? Quickly, find Pearl!

"You are her master! If you can't even contact her, what can I do?" Hu Yi rolled his eyes at Ling'er. All eyes were fixed on Chang Xiao and the Eastern Inspector; this was a duel that couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.

"Damn it! This is like a toad crawling on your foot, it'll bite you and disgust you!" Eighteen cursed angrily, when will this fighting ever end?

Upon hearing this, the Eastern Inspector coldly chuckled, "If I hadn't been so eager for quick success and fallen into your trap, you wouldn't even have had the chance to be helpless!" He inwardly blamed himself, blaming himself for his haste and impatience; now, all his efforts were likely in vain. But how could he bear to abandon this body and find another host? Would he be so lucky as to encounter a member of the Nuwa clan and obtain her inner core? Would he be able to absorb the hunter's spiritual energy so easily? Therefore, he wouldn't make this move unless absolutely necessary.

Everyone present was thinking about what to do next.

"Ling'er, I can't contact the wolf. Call Zhu'er right away." Chang Xiao's voice rang in Ling'er's ears.

You...you can use telepathy with me? How is that possible? Ling'er stared in astonishment at Chang Xiao, who was still attacking.

There's no time to explain now; we don't have much time left. Call Pearl here. Quickly.

I can't sense Pearl either!

Good heavens! What on earth are they doing?

Can't you kill the Eastern Inspector?

All I can do right now is kill Zhang Guoqiang's corpse again! Unless, I break my own seal.

Then what are you hesitating for? Quickly break the seal! Do you want him to continue harming humanity?

No! I'd rather let him go than break the seal. Ling'er, I can't care about the world, I love you.

Ling'er was stunned by his words. She hadn't expected him to say those three words to her at this moment. The words she was about to say in response stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter a single one. A familiar feeling washed over her.

"Lord Dark Commander, I beg you to avenge me and Yu Xiao!" A female voice filled with grief and indignation rang out; it was Qing Luo.

"Qingluo, what brings you here?" Ling'er asked in surprise. She had deliberately left Lan Lei at home because she was afraid that Qingluo would lose control if she saw the murderer who killed her.

"I will avenge Yu Xiao!" Qing Luo's already pale face was now completely devoid of color, and her teeth were chattering, whether from anger or excitement, it was hard to tell.

"Your wishes are probably not going to come true!" Qingluo's arrival forced the Eastern Inspector to make a choice. As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood. If he loses his gamble and the Dark Commander really goes all out and breaks the seal, then he will be the one who suffers.

The Eastern Inspector was emitting a crimson light, and two bat-like wings sprouted from his back.

"Oh no!" the arrogant exclaimed in alarm upon seeing this. "Xiao, be careful! He's about to turn demonic!"

Chang Xiao frowned deeply. He wasn't afraid of him becoming a demon, but he was afraid that after becoming a demon, his physical body would shatter and he would have to find another host! How easy would it be to find him again then?

The Eastern Inspector unexpectedly halted his attack. After all, he had chosen to transform into a demon to escape danger, not to provoke the Dark Commander and force him to break the seal. "Not bad! For a mere bastard like you to actually know how to transform into a demon, that's quite impressive!" He sneered, looking at the arrogant man with disdain. The hierarchy among demons was extremely strict, and lowly beings like him, mixed with humans, were always discriminated against! However, he never dreamed that just one sentence would ruin him!

The disdain in the eyes of the Eastern Inspector enraged everyone present, including the arrogant one.

"What did you say?" the arrogant man said, enunciating each word clearly, his voice not loud, yet it sent chills down one's spine, filled with a murderous aura. Everyone has a weakness, and unfortunately, those two words were his weakness.

The Eastern Inspector was startled, a sense of fear rising from the depths of his heart for some unknown reason. This angered him; how could he, a noble of the demon race, fear a bastard? So he said, "What else are you but a bastard?"

"You will pay the price for those words!" The arrogant man sneered, then closed his eyes. When he opened them again, everyone saw a pair of icy blue eyes! His shirt seemed to have been disassembled, drifting off his body piece by piece! A pair of black wings, like those of the night sky, sprouted from his back! And his bare upper body was covered with strange patterns.

Everyone present, including Chang Xiao, was taken aback! Was this the same arrogant, jovial person they always were?

"How...how...is this possible? You actually have royal blood...?" The Eastern Inspector said in utter terror. Back then, how much effort did he and the leader put into killing the Demon Emperor? Although they succeeded, each of them lost half their lives. Now, he was the only one left. How could he not be terrified?

Arrogantly flapping its wings, it floated in mid-air, coldly staring at the once-arrogant Eastern Inspector: "So, it seems you were the ones who killed my father too?" Although he had long suspected them, he had never had any evidence. Today, he unexpectedly found his father's killer! Because no one had ever seen his father turn into a demon, except for the murderer.

"Although he doesn't treat me as his son, he is still my father!" The arrogant man glanced sideways at the trembling Eastern Inspector and slowly approached him. Fear made him forget to dodge. When the arrogant man placed one hand on his head, he let out a miserable scream, but he couldn't struggle and just lay there! Ling'er and Qingluo felt their hair stand on end when they heard the scream. Was this too cruel?

A crimson, semi-transparent humanoid figure slowly emerged from Zhang Guoqiang's body. The Eastern Inspector's soul twisted and turned, appearing to be in great pain!

"Brothers, can I borrow your foxfire and Samadhi Fire?" Kuang Ao said to Hu Yi and Shi Ba. The two were stunned by what they were seeing and threw over a ball of flame without thinking.

"Laugh, and your Dark Flame too," the arrogant man continued.

Upon hearing this, Chang Xiao frowned and said, "Is it really necessary to go to such lengths?"

"Yes! I'll settle both old and new scores!"

Seeing this, Chang Xiao didn't say anything more, but simply tossed a ball of crimson flame in front of him.

Seeing this, Kuang Ao threw out a ball of flame with his other hand and silently chanted a spell. The four flames, which were just floating in the air, slowly moved closer together until they merged into a white ball of light the size of a fist!

Arrogantly holding the ball of light in his hand, he chuckled wickedly, "If Sister Pearl were here, and with her sacred flame, it would be even more exciting for you!"

As the orb of light approached the soul of the Eastern Inspector, his screams grew even more agonizing, sending chills down the spines of everyone present. Moreover, wherever the orb passed, the previously red and transparent areas completely vanished. As the orb continued to move, the Eastern Inspector gradually disappeared...

When the Eastern Inspector completely disappeared, Kuang Ao fell to the ground with a "bang," startling everyone awake. They quickly came over to check on Kuang Ao's condition.

"Brother! You were just enjoying your moment of glory, how could you die like this?" Shiba cried, tears streaming down his face.

"Shut your crow's mouth! Who said he's dead?" Hu Yi punched Shi Ba on the head!

"Xiao, how is he?" Ling'er stared anxiously at Chang Xiao, who was taking Kuang Ao's pulse.

"He's fine. He's just too tired and fell asleep!" Chang Xiao's words brought a sigh of relief to everyone. This guy actually fell asleep! There were still so many questions we hadn't asked!

Chang Xiao stood up, walked to Zhang Guoqiang's body, took out a small black bottle from his pocket, and then said with a smile, "Qingluo, I have a surprise for you!"

Qinglu sighed sadly, "A surprise? What could be a surprise for me?" Although she had avenged herself, Yuxiao would never return. For a woman who valued love more than life itself, this was perhaps more cruel than death. "Could it be? Could it really be…" Qinglu's face turned deathly pale. She had suffered too many blows. Every time she was filled with joy, thinking she would see Yuxiao again, she was met with heartbreak and tears. She no longer hoped for anything—not because she didn't want to, but because she dared not…

Chang Xiao didn't say anything upon seeing this. He opened the bottle, and a wisp of green smoke slowly drifted out, gradually forming a human shape. Although he looked haggard, he was still a man with a dignified bearing.

"Is...is it the Jade Flute?" Ling'er stared at Qingluo nervously, she could almost feel herself trembling slightly.