Vol. 5 Chapter 30: Eliminating Hidden Threats
Chapter 30: Eliminating Hidden Threats
"I can feel that part of my body has completely dissipated." The black water ball hidden in Lu Li's hood spoke in a soft, sticky voice, filled with unspoken anger and frustration. Although it had willingly discarded that part of its body, its dispersal still enraged Dark River.
"Wasn't this the plan all along? You had to disappear in most people's eyes and sever ties with me," Lu Li said indifferently, holding an umbrella. His current actions were peculiar; he was randomly taking buses or subways, but it seemed as though he had a purpose.
It was like an aimless journey where he casually switched transportation, and the surrounding place names became unfamiliar. Eventually, Lu Li chose to stop at a small town. He looked around the unfamiliar town and began to walk inside.
"Is this the place?" Lu Li's heart stirred. The ultra-thin bat wings attached to his back vanished, and he opened his oil-paper umbrella, drawing some attention from the town's residents.
His shoulder-length hair was simply tied into a ponytail. The gray hoodie and black casual pants, coupled with the odd oil-paper umbrella, made him noticeable. Additionally, his face, deliberately altered, appeared particularly attractive.
A seven or eight-year-old boy glanced curiously at Lu Li before running into a house and shouting, "Mom, what are we having for lunch?"
"You little glutton, I bought some meatballs. I'll cook them for you soon," a middle-aged woman replied, raising the bag in her hand. Inside were some meatballs. The boy cheered at the sight of them, creating a scene of domestic bliss—if you ignored the meatballs.
Lu Li looked at the meatballs, sensing something wrong with them. He said, "Those meatballs seem expired. You'd better not eat them."
The warm domestic scene was instantly disrupted. The middle-aged woman glared at Lu Li angrily.
"You outsider! Xiao Zhou's meatballs are famous around here. They may look odd, but they're absolutely delicious!" she retorted, walking toward the kitchen with the meatballs.
"Xiao Zhou's, huh?" Lu Li chuckled. He didn't expect the person to be so bold, blatantly making those into meatballs. He glanced at the boy playing inside, seeing the malicious aura enveloping him.
It seemed they had eaten these meatballs more than once. Although cannibalism might appear harmless, it harbored significant dangers. Listening to the boy's silent screams, Lu Li was almost certain that, without intervention, the boy would grow up to be violent and mentally unstable.
But that was none of his concern. Instead, he had obtained the information he wanted. The meatball maker was his target. He pulled out his phone and searched the nearby map, finding Xiao Zhou's shop clearly marked. Lu Li walked leisurely toward his destination, his presence gradually fading, his steps growing increasingly strange.
Given Lu Li's current attire, he should have attracted much attention, but the townsfolk couldn't see him unless they specifically searched for him.
On the way, Lu Li adjusted his facial muscles, altering his appearance slightly. The oil-paper umbrella also changed shape under his shadow magic. Although there were some similarities, the current Lu Li couldn't be linked to his original identity.
After all, he was here to kill. Looking up, he saw the sign of Xiao Zhou's shop. He walked over and knocked on the door, hearing a timid "Coming" from inside.
Comparing the voice with Zhou Qian's, Lu Li confirmed there was no mistake. A black spear materialized in his hand, and he thrust it through the door, the shadow spear piercing Zhou Qian.
Lu Li crashed through the door, seeing Zhou Qian in an apron, pierced through the shoulder by the shadow spear. Blood sprayed from his wound like feeding snakes, attacking Lu Li.
Lu Li twisted the spear, tearing Zhou Qian's wound and releasing a mass of shadow thorns. Shadows rose from under Lu Li, blocking the blood snakes. Zhou Qian's body emitted a blood-red light, some of his blood vanishing, a red laser shooting toward Lu Li.
It seemed to be Zhou Qian's ability. The laser pierced Lu Li's shadow, but he disappeared, reappearing with his umbrella like a spear, stabbing at Zhou Qian.
Zhou Qian's blood condensed into a crystal-like red armor, and two blood-colored machetes formed in his hands, one chopping at Lu Li's umbrella, the other at his head. At the same time, wounds opened on Zhou Qian, blood flowing out like tentacle threads toward Lu Li.
Unexpectedly, Lu Li canceled the magic on the umbrella, its weight returning. Holding it with both hands, he smashed Zhou Qian's machetes away, the umbrella striking Zhou Qian like a truck, sending him flying and crashing into the wall.
The blood crystal armor saved Zhou Qian's life; otherwise, the blow would've shattered him. Lu Li lightened the umbrella with magic, nullifying Zhou Qian's tactics.
Walking towards the pinned Zhou Qian, Lu Li noticed a meat grinder not far away. Zhou Qian, seeing Lu Li approach, raised his hand, a blood-red glow appearing, and Lu Li felt his blood trying to seep out.
With a thought, Lu Li controlled his blood. "Any other tricks? If not, it's time to die."
The accumulated anger fueled Lu Li's original sin structure, burning Zhou Qian. Clenching his teeth, Zhou Qian refused to scream or beg.
Understanding he couldn't escape and had no chance to counterattack, Zhou Qian chose his death. Breaking free from the wall, his body burning, he activated the meat grinder and jumped in. The grinder sparked and caught fire.
Sensing Zhou Qian's life extinguish, Lu Li quietly left. The ensuing fire would destroy everything, perhaps leaving some meatballs behind.