Chapter 15: You
The gang leader stared dumbfounded at the rust-red dagger pressed against his throat.
The dagger wasn’t sharp, but it was caked with dark red blood, twisted iron rust like runes, and streaks of corrosion, radiating an eerie, sinister aura.
Combined with the words of the man who had suddenly appeared behind him.
It was coated with lethal corruption toxin—any contact, however slight, would turn flesh into pus, even corrupting the soul and preventing it from returning to the Golden Throne.
The gang leader couldn’t help swallowing hard, trembling as he turned his head to look at the man behind him.
Then, his pupils shrank violently, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
What a horrifying face—hawk-eyed, tiger-mouthed, carved from volcanic rock deep within the darkest abyss, like a lion crouched in shadow.
The gang leader suspected that if he so much as twitched against this man, the dagger would turn him to pus and drag him into the realm of demons.
Not just the gang leader—even nearby gang members and hive workers were terrified.
Appearing like a ghost, claiming the dagger had blasphemous power, his face so cold and terrifying it made knees buckle.
Cultist! He’s a cultist!
The gang members suddenly felt their legs go weak.
In the hive, the most dangerous things were never criminal gangs, but blasphemous cultists.
The gang leader gasped, staring at the dagger at his throat, and stammered out:
“Don’t rush, don’t rush. Let’s talk this through.”
Seeing the paralyzed gang members and hive workers, Zhou Yun himself felt a momentary numbness.
He’d only intended to seize the gang leader and use the Anywhere Ring to enter the PDF base.
But now, the effect was far too strong.
Zhou Yun noticed the looks directed at him—they were the eyes of people seeing a cultist.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not a cultist.”
Zhou Yun spoke calmly:
“I only want to enter the PDF base. I ask you not to block me.”
“Look at this face full of righteousness—do I not seem loyal?”
Saying this, Zhou Yun leaned his face close to the gang leader.
The gang leader’s expression twisted, his legs shaking uncontrollably.
Yes, yes, you’re not a cultist, sir.
Only a cultist could appear like a phantom; only a cultist’s dagger could carry soul-corrupting poison.
The gang leader glanced at the crimson dagger at his throat, paused, then nodded fiercely:
“Yes, yes, you’re right.”
“You clearly aren’t a cultist—your face radiates righteousness and loyalty to the Emperor.”
“Look at this… this lion-like face—it looks utterly sincere, with not a single secret.”
Zhou Yun nodded in deep agreement.
His face was modeled after Primarch Leman Russ—how could it not look loyal?
“You’re cooperating well. I’m satisfied.”
Zhou Yun patted the gang leader’s shoulder approvingly, then waved toward the shadows beyond.
Mong and Malkit emerged, cloaked in brown robes, their faces hidden.
Nearby gang members quickly cleared a path for them.
Mong walked to Zhou Yun’s side and gave him a stiff nod.
Zhou Yun signaled Mong to take the dagger and help hold the gang leader, then led them both to the foot of the rubble mound.
He reached into his clothes and, hidden from view, pulled the Anywhere Ring from his fourth-dimensional pocket and pressed it against the rubble.
“Go through,” Zhou Yun signaled to Mong and Malkit.
“Go through?” Mong said, dazed and blank.
He hadn’t kept up with Zhou Yun’s thoughts at all—everything had happened suddenly: Zhou Yun seized the gang leader, brought them to the rubble mound, then pulled out a golden ring taller than a man and clamped it to the wall, where a black hole instantly formed.
“Go through and you’ll be inside the PDF base.” Saying this, Zhou Yun stepped through first.
Malkit followed immediately. Mong hesitated, shoved the gang leader aside, and stepped through after them.
Instantly, the scene before him swirled—when his head emerged from the ring, he stood in an open, empty space.
He blinked, realizing he had passed through the rubble mound and now stood before the PDF base.
Before him lay a dilapidated PDF camp, its walls painted with the crest of Viceroy Flax.
Mong still looked bewildered as he watched Zhou Yun slip the golden ring back into his clothes.
He fell silent for a moment, slowly processing what had just happened, then muttered:
“You’re not a cultist, are you?”
Zhou Yun glanced at Mong with disdain: “You’re a cultist and you dare accuse me?”
“Forget it. With your competence, calling you a cultist is a compliment.”
Zhou Yun shook his head—he never imagined he’d be called a cultist by one.
Though he had no true loyalty or faith in the Emperor, he certainly hadn’t turned to the warp’s phantoms.
These two Nurgle worshippers were accusing him of being a cultist.
“Family, who understands? This annoying cultist,” Zhou Yun muttered under his breath, dripping with sarcasm.
Mong shook his head: “My brother and I are not cultists. We came for the sake of all Asford.”
“Heretics never think they’re heretics,” Zhou Yun shrugged.
“Aren’t you the same?” Mong retorted.
“Enough, Mong. Without Leman Russ’s help, we wouldn’t have gotten in so easily,” Malkit interjected.
He still sounded slightly awkward saying the name Leman Russ.
Zhou Yun gave him a slight nod: “My goal is the weapons in the warehouse. If you plan to perform any blasphemous sorcery, wait until I’m done.”
“You’re going to carry the entire warehouse’s weapons yourself?” Mong said, surprised: “Are you planning some blasphemous sorcery?”
“Ah, you misunderstand us—we’re here only to retrieve some documents,” Malkit shook his head.
Hearing this, Zhou Yun nodded: “Fine. If you’re looking for files, see if you can find me a map of Sector Eight.”
“Of course,” Malkit smiled and nodded.
With that, the three walked toward the entrance of the PDF base.
Just before entering, Malkit slowed slightly, falling half a step behind Mong and Zhou Yun.
Then, in a whisper barely audible, he chanted a seven-syllable incantation.
(End of Chapter)
(End of Chapter)
End of Chapter
