Eldritch Horror Theatre

”So, Mr. Bookstore Owner, are you interested in going together to subdue demons and eradicate evil?”

Inside the Restricted Zone, Yuan Shan watched Fu Qian with a smile.

”Can I say I’m not interested?”

”No.”

Before Fu Qian even finished asking, Yuan Shan answered.

”You have to come with me.”

”Did you really think I’d let you out of my sight while I leave the base?”

’I knew it.’

Fu Qian sighed.

Everything he had said earlier had merely chipped away a fraction of Yuan Shan’s wariness.At best, his standing had bumped up from ’I’m going to slap you to death’ to ’I’ll spare your life and see how you behave.’

He had a track record of breaking into the Night Watchers Base. During such a sensitive time, how could Yuan Shan possibly let him out of her control!

With the base lacking a Demigod to oversee it in her absence, if he truly harbored ill intentions, he could easily cause a massive disaster.

Yuan Shan might look easy to talk to, but she was the regional director of the Night Watchers in Shangjing—someone holding the power of life and death over the transcendent world.

She would never take such a risk. There was no room for negotiation.

The silver lining was that he had planned to go anyway; asking was just a gesture to keep up appearances.

After all, he was currently playing the part of an aloof, otherworldly expert. Acting too eager would only raise suspicion.

”Let’s go. I’m actually a bit curious myself.”

”That’s more like it.”

After reinforcing the seal once more, Yuan Shan brought the Old Man over to stand guard. She gave a few brief instructions before signaling Fu Qian to follow her out.

They did not return the way they had come. Instead, they took a narrow stone corridor.

Heading steadily upward, they eventually emerged above ground. Fu Qian found himself in an empty hall surrounded by black stone architecture.

The Black Spire in the center of the base!

Fu Qian’s mind stirred as he guessed his current location.

Sure enough, the underground complex stretched in all directions. There was far more than just one passageway.

Yuan Shan had likely taken a shortcut here to intercept him last time.

”Keep an eye on him. Don’t act rashly; wait for me to get there.”

’Wait, am I forgetting something?’

Listening to Yuan Shan issue orders on her end, Fu Qian frowned as a thought struck him.

’Wen Li is still waiting outside Yuan Shan’s office!’

’Whatever, I’ll just let her stay there.’

Right now, there was no safer place in all of Shangjing.

...

The location Poker Face provided was extremely remote.

Their journey was swift as wind and lightning. Just as they were about to reach their destination...

The previously smiling Yuan Shan suddenly underwent a drastic change in expression.

’A situation?’

Fu Qian frowned, immediately picking up the sounds of a battle echoing from the distance.

Yuan Shan sprinted ahead at once. Fu Qian followed closely behind, only to find a chaotic melee unfolding.

Aside from Poker Face, Fu Qian spotted a familiar figure—Chen Xing, the family head who had intervened during the banquet.

Surrounded by a ring of onlookers, the two were working together to engage Henrik in fierce combat.

Perhaps out of fear of catching his allies in the crossfire, Chen Xing held back from using the ability that had slowed down everyone’s movements last time.

Despite being covered in wounds, Henrik was still fast as lightning. His attacks were exceptionally fierce, forcibly suppressing the two Tier 4 transcendents.

Aside from Poker Face and the team Chen Mingda brought, several new faces had joined the perimeter. They were likely reinforcements brought by Chen Xing.

’The vitality of a Demigod is truly terrifying!’

Fu Qian marveled from the sidelines.

Even after suffering such grievous wounds earlier, Henrik still possessed an imposing presence.

”Stand back!”

Facing the three entangled in combat, Yuan Shan took two steps forward and raised her hand, her expression completely blank.

In the next second, a massive black net materialized out of thin air, blotting out the sky as it enveloped Henrik.

’It can be activated that fast?’

Fu Qian was quietly amazed.

His previous clash with her had made him intimately aware of just how difficult this technique was to deal with.

Witnessing this scene, the surrounding crowd froze for a moment before erupting into cheers.

Yuan Shan’s arrival was undoubtedly a massive shot in the arm for everyone, instantly lifting the heavy atmosphere.

Hearing Yuan Shan’s voice, Poker Face and Chen Xing immediately retreated.

The giant black net draped over Henrik in the center of the battlefield, then rapidly tightened.

”Ahhhh!”

Unexpectedly, amidst a piercing roar...

The intangible, shadow-like black net was forcibly torn open by Henrik, ripping a massive hole right through it.

However, before he could break free from his restraints, another giant net descended over him.

Yuan Shan remained expressionless, denying Henrik any chance to tear it again.

One massive black net after another layered over him. Soon, he was thoroughly bound, tightly wrapped into a thick Cocoon.

He finally crashed to the ground, with only his head left exposed.

”What happened? Didn’t I tell you to hold off on attacking?”

Yuan Shan didn’t rush forward to check on him. Instead, she glanced at the retreating Poker Face.

”We really were following from a distance.”

Poker Face looked somewhat embarrassed.

”We didn’t expect him to suddenly turn around and attack us. We had no choice but to act early.”

’Is that so?’

Yuan Shan said no more. She simply nodded and turned to Chen Xing.

”Thank you for your hard work, family head Chen.”

”He murdered numerous disciples of the Chen Clan. It was my inescapable duty.”

Chen Xing’s fierce eyes burned with hostility. He coldly watched the still-struggling Henrik, his killing intent palpable.

”I am deeply sorry for that.”

Yuan Shan didn’t say anything else and walked straight toward the restrained Henrik.

Seeing his twisted, deformed body and the dense, horrifying wounds covering it...

...a flicker of pain flashed through Yuan Shan’s eyes, even though she always seemed to carry a bright smile.

Henrik’s struggles had ceased. He stared blankly at Yuan Shan, his body trembling uncontrollably.

”Henrik...”

Yuan Shan called out softly, trying to communicate with him.

But before she could say another word, Henrik suddenly clutched his head and let out a tragic, bloodcurdling howl. He immediately resumed his frantic thrashing.

”Careful!”

Poker Face rushed forward at the first sign of trouble, intent on stopping Henrik from doing anything erratic.

Amidst his endless thrashing, Henrik’s body began to undergo a violent transformation.

His torso stretched and distorted, nearly shedding all resemblance to a human as countless sharp bone spikes erupted from within his flesh.

The sheer power bursting from his desperate death throes sliced through the Demigod Grade restraints on his body, revealing the continuously peeling flesh beneath.

Regaining his freedom and dragging his collapsing body, Henrik lunged directly into the crowd behind him. Screams erupted all around.

In the next moment, the entire area became abnormally sluggish, as if plunged into thick syrup.

Chen Xing, who had been watching him the entire time, stepped into his path.

The sudden activation of his ability inevitably affected Henrik, despite him looking like a demonic god. It delayed him for a brief, critical fraction of a second.

It was a tiny margin, but it was enough.

Chen Xing flashed forward and, with a bizarre motion, delivered a vicious strike straight to Henrik’s skull.

A crisp cracking sound rang out. Henrik, already an arrow at the end of its flight, finally crashed to the ground.

A series of pops, like bursting bamboo joints, echoed from head to toe as his body could no longer hold itself together, crumbling inch by inch.