The Eldritch Files

Li Moxi struggled to his feet. Facing the dark muzzle of the gun, his pale face held nothing but a grim harshness.

The situation seemed unchanged, yet at the same time, it had completely transformed.

What hadn’t changed was that the Four Heavenly Kings still had their mission. Zhao, Wang, and especially Li Moxi, still had to see it through—a mission that included killing Song Chushi and cooperating with Abyssal Studio.

On the surface, it was still three against two.

What had changed was that the power dynamics were entirely different. They still couldn’t understand how Song Chushi was able to suppress their Crimson—an ability that defied all logic. But Song Chushi’s threat level had undoubtedly risen by another level, or perhaps even several.

But now, Song Chushi didn’t even turn to look at them. He was so arrogant he seemed to consider the Four Heavenly Kings beneath his notice.

TAP... TAP... TAP...

The sound of footsteps broke the dead silence. A slender figure carrying a black briefcase walked over. It was Han Su.

The four Independent Investigators all turned their gazes upon him, especially Zhang Chiguo and Li Moxi.

”Uncle Zhang!”

Han Su slowly walked forward and greeted Zhang Chiguo first, deliberately ignoring the blood covering him and his tattered clothes. ’The image of Zhang Chiguo biting off that ear... I probably won’t be able to forget that for a long time.’

But when his gaze fell upon Li Moxi, he was silent for a moment before letting out a sudden, cold laugh.

”Mr. Moses, it looks like you’ve taken quite a hit. So you’re the most pathetic one of the Four Heavenly Kings after all.”

No one understood better than Han Su why Zhang Chiguo had targeted Li Moxi as the weak point, but that didn’t stop him from twisting the knife.

”You...”

Li Moxi did indeed react strongly to that. He still remembered how certain he’d sounded when explaining his theories on combating Mysterious Power to Han Su. Now, two red blotches bloomed uncontrollably on his cheeks as he spoke in a strained voice:

”How did you get out?”

”...”

”She seemed to have discovered something, so she decided to come have a chat with me personally.”

Han Su said calmly, ”And the members of that studio of yours weren’t willing to let me out, so I killed them.”

As he finished, a slight smile even touched the corners of his mouth. ”After all, we all have our own objectives. They died carrying out your orders; I killed to clear the obstacles in my path. So, Mr. Moses, you should be the one who understands me best, shouldn’t you?”

He spoke lightly, but that simple sentence made Li Moxi—already heavily injured and kept alive only by the power of the Devil’s Kiss—stumble and spit out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Beads of sweat broke out on his pale face. His pupils quaked, and for a moment, he completely lost control.

He couldn’t even put his feelings into words.

”They’re here!”

There was no time for small talk. Song Chushi, who had been gazing up at the night sky, suddenly spoke in a low voice.

Han Su nodded as well, turning his head to look up at the night sky.

He, too, could feel an immense pressure descending upon the city from above.

For a fleeting moment, it even caused the city lights to distort. Unseen, the air above Qinggang’s tallest building seemed to blur. It was the projection of a bizarre structure: Abyssal Studio, attempting to enter reality.

Han Su stood motionless on the ground as he recited Zero Sequence Cipher Spell Number 07: ”The Night Itself.”

The shadows all around him suddenly gained Activity, as if secret ripples were spreading outward from his feet. Then, accompanied by a chorus of whispers, they flowed back to him.

Han Su’s pupils constricted slightly. Through the shadows, he learned that four tall figures in Sacrificial Robes had appeared outside Qinggang City. They were preparing to establish reality anchors to stabilize Abyssal Studio’s manifestation.

’So they really came. And the moment they arrived, they set up a massive containment field. Are they afraid I’ll escape?’

He turned to look at Song Chushi. ”What’s the plan, exactly?”

Song Chushi said, ”The first objective is to stop their plan. And you are the key to that objective.”

”The city is in chaos. The minds of everyone who just witnessed the Crimson’s power will be in a state of temporary confusion. That will allow you to blend into the crowds and escape. They won’t be able to find you unless they’re ruthless enough to slaughter every last person.”

”I don’t know why they’re so certain that capturing you will solve all their problems, but as long as we can get you away, they won’t get what they want.”

”Of course...”

He suddenly raised his hand, pointing the gun’s muzzle at Li Moxi. ”We need to get rid of this guy first.”

Li Moxi wasn’t afraid of death, but his expression grew even more pale.

”So, even shattering the Mirror World and letting ordinary people see the Four Heavenly Kings’ mysterious clash was part of your plan?”

Han Su glanced at Song Chushi. ’This man really doesn’t waste a single ounce of effort,’ he thought. But he just gave a slight shake of his head.

”Is there more?”

”That depends on how they perform...”

Song Chushi looked toward a certain part of Qinggang—an unremarkable-looking building in the Central District that, according to the city’s layout, was situated at its absolute center.

At his prompting, Han Su’s focus shifted. His Spiritual Power captured a conversation hidden within the night—a dialogue between the Priests surrounding the city and a certain will inside that building.