Chapter 142: Cruelty, Helplessness, Illusion

Tucked the blanket around Emma.

Louis changed into a hooded black robe, concealing his figure and especially shielding his piercing eyes to dampen his overwhelming presence.

Though this maneuver had some effect, it was not perfect.

After Louis got into the car, he noticed Yulunca and the driver constantly glancing at him.

“Watch the road.”

Louis calmly reminded them, then closed his eyes.

The driver quickly turned back, puzzled by his own behavior today—he kept feeling as if the Young Master was watching him.

Louis clearly understood the situation.

It was because he had just broken through; his overflowed spirit was hard to control precisely, causing his aura to shift—scientifically speaking, his spiritual magnetic field had changed, standing out sharply against the ordinary, stable ambient magnetic field, naturally drawing more attention.

Once his spirit stabilized, this would no longer happen.

For now, let’s carefully sense the spiritual power.

Louis focused, and felt as if he had gained additional senses, like tentacles, able to perceive the environment within five meters and even move or manipulate objects—though not heavy ones.

It seemed unimpressive, but that was because his physical body partially blocked the spread of spiritual power; if his Primordial Spirit left his body, his perception range and the weight he could manipulate would likely increase further.

The car sped down the road, while objects inside floated, spun, rose, and descended—Yulunca stared, wide-eyed; Americans could never resist such things.

Superhero films had already emerged and carried considerable influence; though not yet as deeply embedded in popular culture as after the millennium, they had clearly made a strong impression on American youth.

So seeing Louis’s actions, it was hard not to associate them with superpowers.

Though Yulunca knew the truth—that Louis’s ability was not a superpower but a technique learned and cultivated—he still equated it in his mind with superpowers.

“Young Master, we’ve arrived.”

Because the apartment was in the next neighborhood, though somewhat isolated, the distance was short, so they arrived quickly.

Louis opened his eyes; white light flashed briefly within them, and the world before him changed.

Spirit Eyes Technique: Perceives Yin and Yang, penetrates illusion and reality.

Louis saw.

He saw within the apartment building something emitting an inexplicable power—half black, half white. Though confined only to this building, its strength was not weak, merely not spreading outward.

The thing was on the top floor.

“Strange object. Must be cautious.”

Louis stepped out of the car; with a thought, the trunk opened, and Lao Mo Gu appeared again, gripping a fire axe as he walked toward the apartment.

Louis followed slowly behind, circulating magic power within him, ready to act at any moment.

As soon as he entered the apartment, Louis saw an old woman watching TV in one room—but she seemed deaf, the TV volume turned up loud.

After glancing a few times, Louis followed Gu Yi upstairs.

Creak—creak—

The stairs, clearly old, groaned with every step Gu Yi took, a sound that made one’s teeth ache.

Or perhaps Gu Yi was just too heavy.

At the top floor, a life-or-death battle raged.

Thud!

A baseball bat struck the woman’s head; blood spurted like a water gun, yet the woman clung tightly to Maria’s leg as if nothing had happened.

She even leaned in and bit down hard.

Maria—no, now she was Ailan—her face twitched, but she made no sound; instead, she let out a sharp, manic laugh.

Her eyes were bloodshot; she swung the baseball bat faster and faster.

Left! Right! Left! Right!

Thud! Thud! Thud!!

A dozen heavy blows in succession.

She shattered the skull, splattered brain matter, crushed the ears; the woman screamed in hysterical agony.

But the arm remained locked to Ailan’s leg like iron, making every step she took excruciatingly difficult.

The next second.

In Ailan’s hateful gaze, her wounds began healing at visible speed—ears restored to full roundness, brain matter turned moist, skull mended, broken leg repaired, scalp and hair regrew…

Amber’s consciousness also returned; she looked at Ailan, the terrifying woman who had nearly killed her multiple times, and gave a bitter smile: “You won’t get past me.”

Ailan took a deep breath. She hadn’t wanted to go this far—but now, she had no choice.

Bitch! Fast regeneration, huh?

What if I dismember you?

Though it would take more time, she had no alternative; unless she dealt with this thing, she couldn’t reach that room.

Damn it!

This way, Maria’s task assigned to her would likely fail—and she’d definitely be scolded, even mocked, by that bastard!

Bitch! It’s all your fault!

Ailan’s gaze grew even more terrifying.

But Amber, lying on the floor, was utterly fearless. This woman was indeed terrifying; in their fight, Amber had been completely overpowered, her neck twisted multiple times, feeling the agony of near-death—but in the end, under the god’s protection, she had recovered.

As long as Jiali hadn’t been consumed, she would never die at this woman’s hands.

She knew well: the god protected her so frequently only to make her hold off this woman—clearly, Jiali was vital to the god; otherwise, the god wouldn’t shield her so fiercely.

The god would replace servants as easily as it had killed the previous ones—with no protection at all.

But she didn’t care. If she consumed Jiali, and then four more people, her uncle could be revived! Even better—if she consumed Jiali, the Mo God might revive her uncle directly!

So no matter what, she couldn’t let her pass!

Amber gritted her teeth and tore a chunk of flesh from Maria’s leg, mouth dripping with blood; then, using her restored leg, she pushed with all her strength, trying to hurl Maria down the stairs—she had the god’s protection and wouldn’t die, but Maria might not!

But Ailan’s killing skills had surged; she saw through Amber’s intent instantly, enduring the searing pain in her leg, and kicked straight into Amber’s eyeball.

Splat!

Fluid from the eyeball sprayed out.

“Aaaahhhhh!!”

Ailan went berserk at the arm still gripping her leg, swinging the bat at the neck—once! Twice! Three times!

“Ha~ Ha~ Ha~”

Gasping for breath, seeing Amber regenerate too quickly to be dismembered, Ailan was utterly speechless.

She thought she was ruthless enough—but facing this irrational supernatural monster, she felt utterly powerless.

Damn it!

Why the hell is this monster my problem?

Where the hell is Louis?!

“Excellent regeneration. Where did this monster come from?”

A voice rang out. Louis, following Gu Yi, had reached the top floor and was staring at Amber.

Amber looked at Louis and Gu Yi, her face filled with fear; she released her grip and tried to rise to block them.

“Gu Yi, drain her dry.”

Boom!

Gu Yi instantly pinned Amber down; his sharp fangs easily pierced her delicate skin as he greedily sucked the warm, sweet blood.

“Come on, Ailan. Where are Madison and the others?”

Louis looked at Ailan; with his current vision, he recognized her immediately as Maria.

“This way.” Ailan, before Louis, had none of the resentment she’d harbored moments ago; she dared not utter another word.

Thud!

Amber’s room was kicked open; the two stepped inside.

But the scene within stunned them.

…

In a daze, Jiali felt as if she lay on a hard wooden board, uncomfortable—but under some mysterious force, she soon felt a deep comfort.

And vaguely, she dreamed of her mother.

A different mother.

Kind, gentle, considerate, affectionate.

Exactly as she had imagined her mother to be!

A series of new lives—from childhood to elementary school, from student days to adulthood, from adulthood to marriage—unfolded before her like a dream.

Making her feel immersed—no, this was her real life!

“Good child, you’re tired, aren’t you? Come here, Mama will tell you the story of Cinderella.”

“You bad children, get away! Come, Jiali, Mama will protect you. Remember, if anything happens, tell Mama.”

“Religion? Why believe in religion? Child, do whatever you want—Mama supports you, because I believe in my child.”

“Jiali, who’s this? Louis? Your boyfriend? Wonderful.”

“Ha ha, Jiali, look at your daughter—so beautiful, just like you.”

“Jiali, slow down, Mama can’t keep up with you.”

“Cough… cough… Jiali… let Mama touch your face… so good, you’re still so young. Mama’s old, sigh.”

Looking at her aged mother, Jiali could no longer hold back her tears: “Mama, you’re not old, you’re not old—you’ve always been beautiful. You’re the best mother.”

Lying on the hospital bed, "Margaret" smiled faintly with relief, her rough hands—worn from years of toil—gently caressed Jiali’s cheek. “Jiali, Mother can’t bear to let you go.”

“Mother, I don’t want to let you go either.”

Jiali stopped crying and touched her mother’s face.

“Jiali, come with me. I truly can’t leave you behind.”

“Together? Together… go?”

Jiali’s spirit wavered.

She didn’t want to go, but she truly couldn’t bear to part from her mother.

She wavered. She hesitated. She struggled.

Yet her mother’s hands had already, without notice, encircled her neck—and began to tighten.

Jiali felt nothing. Her mind was filled with those warm, cherished, longed-for memories.

“Mother, I…”

At that moment, faint voices echoed at her ears—as if someone were calling her?

“Jiali… Jiali…”

(End of Chapter)