Chapter 909: Threat

Drip

The recording ended.

Inside the hall, all was quiet.

Obviously, even though the operator had already experienced it once, upon hearing the recording, a chill still rose from the depths of their heart, unstoppable.

Did you finally go door-to-door?

Lin An calmly asked the operator; unlike the others who were somewhat panicked, he was unaffected.

They went..

The operator swallowed dryly, recalling last night's scene.

Those who went said that no matter how they knocked, no one answered, and in the end they could only disperse.

Because they weren't sure if it was a prank or if the address had been deliberately given wrong.

Normally, in such cases, we wait for feedback from the family, after all, this kind of situation has happened before...

Under normal circumstances, nobody would believe such ghost stories.

On the other side, Chen Yong, face filled with fear, as if recalling something, gathered his courage and spoke:

I think Xiao Hui really encountered a ghost...

After glancing cautiously at Lin An, he took a deep breath:

The countryside we went to four days ago is my hometown. The shoes in that cabinet are my grandmother's keepsake.

When I was very young, I once saw those shoes; curious, I wanted to take them out, but my grandmother discovered it and angrily stopped me.

She said they were left by someone else...

One day they will be taken away.

Shrinking his neck, he uncertainly continued:

I wonder if the 'someone else' my grandmother spoke of is actually a ghost? After the ghost discovered the shoes were missing, it came looking for Xiao Hui...

His voice choked with tears, Chen Yong seemed to blame himself for not stopping his girlfriend back then.

Sir!? Are you a Daoist? Or perhaps a professional ghost hunter!?

Please, please save Xiao Hui! She might not be dead yet!

Now the person has also disappeared, and this strange event has occurred again.

Especially Lin An's appearance clearly indicates that this world does indeed have some legendary entity.

Looking at Chen Yong, who was afraid yet clung to a sliver of hope, Lin An gave a slight nod, his thoughts racing.

After a moment, he suddenly showed interest, looking at him meaningfully:

So.

Should we go to the countryside next to investigate?

Maybe we can find your grandmother's notes there, or hear from the village elders what legends they know.

But, aren't you afraid?

Huh?

Chen Yong blinked in surprise.

Lin An's question was somewhat unlike normal conversation.

Stammering:

Yes... right...

My grandmother used to be from a wealthy family, leaving behind many things. The legend of the shoes was also told by the village elders, though that was when I was very young.

I don't quite remember...

While speaking, he gathered his courage and clenched his fists:

As long as there's a sliver of hope to save Xiao Hui, I'm willing to take you there! I'm not afraid even if there are ghosts!

Hmm.

Calmly nodding, Lin An sighed sentimentally, his gaze meeting Chen Yong's:

Well fabricated.

If I really followed you, you'd probably have enough confidence to kill me, right?

Chen Yong.

Or perhaps... Yuan Feng.

His pupils suddenly contracted.

Chen Yong, who had been fearful with lingering shock, suddenly froze, then looked bewildered.

Sir... sir, what are you saying....

Bang!

Before his words faded, a palm swept out.

The violent palm wind, bolstered by power, surged like a train impact, whipping up a gale inside the hall that suddenly swept toward Chen Yong's lower body.

With immense force and no reservation, Lin An's strike could sweep an armored vehicle into scrap metal.

In an instant, Chen Yong's expression changed abruptly, his face flushing with panic.

Flee!

Feeling Lin An's blow that could slap him to death, he was filled with bewilderment.

However, his body, having just lunged forward, hadn't even taken half a step before being immobilized by a powerful mental force.

Descent!

Arcane Torrent!

As if already prepared, Lin An gave a cold laugh; his right hand, gripping the sword, instantly slashed again toward Chen Yong's escape route, while the Arcane Torrent gathered in his left hand swiftly swirled above his head.

"Take another step and I'll kill you!"

It was as if bearing a force of ten thousand catties.

Chen Yong's fleeing figure suddenly stalled, stiffening in place.

He couldn't escape; the distance was too close.

He hadn't expected Lin An's true combat power to be even stronger than he imagined.

The eerie pressure almost made him unable to breathe.

The spiritual energy contained in that sword actually gave him the feeling of being about to be pierced through.

Turning his head, he stared fixedly into Lin An's eyes:

"How did you find out..."

"I don't believe I have any flaws!"

"Everything I said is true!"

Giving a light laugh, Lin An slightly shook his head:

"Indeed."

"I really didn't notice any problem, but I just wanted to try..."

"I figured that if you didn't escape Heiyu, you'd probably be staying in this area or afterward."

"From the moment I entered Heiyu, I've been calculating the speed difference between us."

"After accounting for different time flows, in the same direction I haven't seen any traces of triggered or lingering events in the several areas ahead."

"That shows you've been charging straight ahead with a clear goal."

"If you haven't left Heiyu, then going by speed, you're probably around here."

"If it were me, as long as I hadn't escaped and was unwilling, I'd definitely use the event layout within the area to look for a chance to kill me."

Huh?

Yuan Feng opened his mouth, his expression freezing.

He never expected that Lin An had remained vigilant from start to finish, and thus, after determining where he might stay, Lin An would attack anyone he saw.

Combined with his earlier action of wanting to kill him without hesitation, he also roughly understood the other's line of thought.

Better to mistakenly kill than to let any escape!

His voice hoarse, he still stared back with some resentment:

"Aren't you afraid... I'm really a key NPC in the event!?"

"I don't buy that reason! If you really suspect anyone you see, why not kill them instead of attacking me!"

Looking at Yuan Feng's expression, Lin An's eyes flickered:

"You still dare to question me? How so—do you still have confidence to escape? Or is your true form not here?"

His expression froze; Yuan Feng neither objected nor replied.

That's right; this body of his shows no anomaly under Lin An's mental scan, thanks entirely to a substitute decoy item.

His true form isn't here; it's just that the cost of shedding this body is too great, and he truly doesn't want to use it until the last moment.

Unconcerned about whether Yuan Feng could escape, Lin An paused a moment, then spoke calmly:

"First, I don't care whether you're alive or dead; even a corpse, I can make him speak and lead the way."

"Second, the time you appeared in the room is off, and the footprints are wrong."

"Someone willing to face ghosts to save his girlfriend—how could he not check immediately after his girlfriend called at midnight?"

"Xiao Hui later dialed the hotline for help, which shows she was terrified to the extreme; as her boyfriend, what reason do you have to only go the next afternoon? Or did you just arrive?"

"Furthermore, there are too few footprints in the room; although there are prints from you entering the door to the bedside, a normal person, panicked upon discovering someone missing, would likely be searching everywhere."

"Wrong!"

After hearing Lin An's so-called loopholes, Yuan Feng couldn't help but retort:

"What about these things is worth doubting?"

"As for the first, I said I'm busy with work; couldn't Xiao Hui, after being terrified, think to call someone more capable of saving her? My place is far from here!"

"As for the second, I just arrived at the room and haven't had a chance to move yet!"

Resentful, regretful.

What Yuan Feng regrets is that he was overconfident, wanting to follow Lin An to lure him to the countryside so he could strike first.

Although he thought Lin An came too fast and he hadn't prepared many details, he also thought it couldn't be so easily seen through.

Regarding the points Lin An mentioned as problematic, he simply couldn't accept them.

"What kind of problem is this? He could obviously explain it! It's far-fetched, really far-fetched!"

Seeing Yuan Feng still fussing over where he went wrong at this point, Lin An gave a half-smile and simply stated the final point:

"Of course, these alone aren't enough to make me suspect you."

"The only real problem is just one thing: the curtains weren't opened."

"The room is so dark; aside from Awakened Ones whose vision is excellent and need no light, a normal person's first reaction would be to open the curtains or turn on a light and then look."

Speaking calmly, Lin An continuously spread his mental power, trying to locate Yuan Feng's so-called true form around him.

Actually, the issue he found is also a stretch; fundamentally, the only reason that lets him act is one point.

Kill mistakenly, then it's just a mistaken kill.

At worst, let the corpse speak.

Being willing to talk this much is purely to make Yuan Feng realize not to play any tricks in front of him.

After hearing Lin An's final reason, Yuan Feng, standing in place, fell silent for a moment:

Well, I admit I overlooked this.

So, what exactly are you trying to do by telling me this now?

I admit I can't kill you anymore, but you can't kill me either.

Stop looking; my true form is far from here.

His gaze fixed on Lin An; he wasn't stupid—since Lin An had stopped attacking and instead said so much, there must be more to follow.

As expected.

Lin An smiled:

Nothing much; I'm just curious what tricks you pulled.

You triggered a Supernatural Incident in the countryside ahead of time? You were waiting for me to come, luring me to my death?

Before Yuan Feng could answer, Lin An's smile faded:

Since it's set up, don't let it go to waste.

Work with me, help me do something. After it's done, I won't kill you, and I'll give you whatever you want.

Otherwise...

The sword tip pressed against Yuan Feng's chest; Lin An tilted his head slightly, his eyes icy cold:

If you dare step out of Heiyu, I'll hunt you to your death! Moreover, believe me—I can make every Awakened One in the Huaxia war zone want to kill you!

Whether official or private, if I wish it, no one in heaven or earth can save you!

Epic Tier equipment, trial points... you should know I can afford this price.

He stiffened in place.

Yuan Feng heard the unquestionable tone in Lin An's voice, and his heart turned icy cold.

Unaware of the Inside Information, he suddenly recalled Lin An's status in the real world.

Three Provinces Commander, the Supreme Commander representing Huaxia's government over the entire Ring River.

World's number one... sitting on Long'an Base, known as the devil Lin An who swindled the wealth of all surrounding countries!