Eldritch Horror Theatre

To think people still stole phones these days—what a heinous crime!

Worse, the technique was entirely crude; a single glance marked him as an amateur.

After tossing the cola, Fu Qian had absolutely no interest in joining the commotion. He pushed his cart and continued his shopping, quietly hiding his achievements and fame.

In the past, even if he wanted to intervene, he likely would have chosen a different method.

Now, however, he had become the type to act rather than waste breath.

A direct hit to the head would have knocked the guy flat, but that would probably draw the police. Since the thief hadn’t actually gotten away with the phone, it would only overcomplicate things.

With his shopping complete, Fu Qian packed three massive bags and left the supermarket with a bountiful harvest.

It was getting late outside, and Fu Qian had originally intended to take a taxi home.

However, he noticed that the moment he stepped out the doors, a certain car had started tailing him.

Amateurs indeed. They didn’t even understand the concept of cutting their losses.Fu Qian abandoned the idea of taking a taxi and kept walking as if nothing was wrong.

The car behind him drove neither too fast nor too slow, following with immense patience.

Looking for a spot without security cameras? Fu Qian instantly grasped the intentions of the people in the vehicle.

After tailing him with astonishing patience for a full kilometer, they all arrived at a Stone Bridge.

This Stone Bridge had been here for as long as Fu Qian could remember. It was originally a major thoroughfare in Lincheng.

Later, however, the highway was rerouted, and this area saw so little traffic that it was basically abandoned. Only a few people taking shortcuts walked this way, and weeds had already begun sprouting from the bridge deck.

Sure enough, they did not disappoint him. When he reached the middle of the bridge, the car suddenly accelerated.

After overtaking him, the vehicle slammed on the brakes, swerved to block the path, and flipped its high beams directly at him.

Truly one of the most obnoxious behaviors known to man!

Looking at the blinding expanse of snow-white light, Fu Qian could not help but sigh.

At that moment, the car doors opened. Five people stepped out one after another, arrogantly blocking his path.

Fu Qian swept his gaze over them. Just as he had expected, they were all quite young, roughly his own age.

They did not look like they lacked money; the stealing was probably just a spur-of-the-moment hobby.

Fu Qian easily recognized one of them as the phone thief from the supermarket. The guy’s arm was still hanging limply at his side; it seemed the hit had been quite heavy.

”That’s him!”

Another person pointed at Fu Qian and yelled.

The phone thief definitely wouldn’t have known what he looked like. This speaker must have been the lookout.

Fu Qian silently made his judgment.

”Bright enough?”

The ringleader appeared to be the guy in the white jacket. After sizing Fu Qian up from head to toe, he asked this strange question.

”It’s alright.”

Fu Qian gave him a look.

Had it been anyone else, they likely wouldn’t even be able to open their eyes right now.

But to his current self, this level of glare was nothing at all.

”Take a good look, then. You might not get to see it later.”

The guy in the white jacket smiled broadly. He waved a hand, and the others quickly surrounded Fu Qian.

”Should I interpret your words to mean I won’t live to see tomorrow’s sun?”

Fu Qian blinked and asked.

”Hard to say.”

The guy in the white jacket shook his head.

”It mostly depends on how well you can take a beating.”

”Alright then.”

Fu Qian looked around to confirm there was no one else on the bridge.

”No need to check, there’s nobody around. This is a pretty excellent spot!”

The guy in the white jacket’s smile gradually turned vicious.

Nonsense, how could a spot I picked not be suitable!

Fu Qian remarked inwardly. At that moment, the wind whistled behind his back; someone could no longer hold back and made a move.

SAN Value minus 1.

Fu Qian did not hesitate. He directly activated the new skill he had just obtained.

Mythical Form exacted too great a price to use, and he originally had no intention of testing it out so soon.

But having test subjects deliver themselves to his door was not a bad thing either.

Whether it was Air Bullet or Visceral Attack, their effects were far too gory.

Scanning his several skills, Fu Qian ultimately activated Commandment Residue.

After thinking it over, this one seemed milder. Plus, with his previous experience to go on, it would be easier to compare the effects.

For a split second, day broke.

Fu Qian never expected the effect to be this exaggerated.

The instant Commandment Residue was activated, a brilliant torch descended upon the earth.

Dazzling golden light stretched in all directions, unstoppably piercing through everything.

Fu Qian felt his body enter a peculiar state, bright and transparent as if he were on the verge of melting.

Praise the sun!

Faced with such a scene, Fu Qian couldn’t help but raise both arms in a Y-shape, striking a classic pose.

Two seconds later, the light faded.

The five people in front of him stood rooted to the spot like fools, their faces blank. It looked like their brains had completely shut down.

The effect really was not bad. Was that the complete form of Commandment Residue?

He could clearly feel a divine, radiant aura wrapping around him just now, even carrying a hint of the high-tier presence of a deformed entity.

Just like that tree on top of the Volcano crater.

It seemed this Mythical Form was not just a simple amplification of power.

Going by Pei Yanqing’s earlier reaction, these guys probably wouldn’t wake up anytime soon.

How long it would actually take for them to recover depended on how strong their resistance was.

Of course, it could also be forever.

However, Fu Qian felt no psychological burden over this.

If you run the streets, you take your beatings standing up.

He picked up the groceries he had set on the ground, stepped around them, and left.

...

”Anomalous flashes reported in the eastern suburbs of the city, suspected to be a UFO—five witnesses suffered mental trauma and are currently receiving treatment.”

The next day, Fu Qian saw this headline in his news feed.

According to the report, those five had stayed on the bridge for an entire night. When they were finally discovered, they were unanimously muttering, ”So bright!”

As for the cause of the incident, opinions varied wildly. Arguments raged over whether it was aliens, a UFO, a laser weapon, or a manifestation of the Buddha.

But absolutely no one suspected it was the work of a human.

Quickly finishing the article, Fu Qian placed his phone on the table and put on his Work Badge.

[Identity verification complete. Today’s work has begun.]

[Warning: Containment Breach]

The Warehouse did not disappoint him, once again displaying a storage capability akin to a sieve.

[Name: Emissary, Designation: 3-0177]

[Today’s tasks have been updated: Enter the 3-0177 Containment Scenario and complete Containment once again.]

Finally, a mission starting with a 3!

For a moment, Fu Qian felt immensely comforted.

Based on his past experiences, items starting with a 3 should be the relatively simple kind. He probably wouldn’t face any particularly tricky situations and could relax a bit—right?

[Entering the 3-0177 Containment Scenario: Shangjing]

[...4%... 6%... 10%... 18%... 34%... 66%... 100%. Containment Scenario loading complete.]

[As the largest city on the West Coast, Shangjing gathers a vast number of transcendents and is one of the regions under the strictest supervision by the Night Watchers.]

[However, on this day, an item hidden deep away by the Night Watchers was inexplicably stolen, triggering a chain reaction.]

[Find the stolen Blood of Thorns before the Night Watchers do.]