Chapter 62: Open Your Heart?

A gaunt man brushed past Zhou Yun.

He drew a crude automatic pistol hidden beneath his clothes and fired at the Gene Thief bishop atop the tower cart.

Boom!!

The smell of gunpowder filled Zhou Yun’s nostrils; flames flared at the corner of his vision; heat spread across his cheeks.

Panicked cries rose from the crowd; the drifting smoke temporarily blocked Zhou Yun’s view.

An assassination? Someone wanted to kill the Gene Thief bishop?

Was this a replay of Shan Chuye, the legendary third-millennium human assassin?

This was the first thought that flashed through Zhou Yun’s mind.

He instantly thought it was reckless—using a crude automatic pistol against a powerful psychic?

The Gene Thief bishop wasn’t so easy to open her heart.

Then, through the thinning smoke, Zhou Yun saw the Gene Thief guard standing far away, draped in a gray-brown robe.

He stood motionless, staring directly at this spot.

Zhou Yun froze, then turned to the gunman beside him.

The assassin hadn’t covered his face; his gaunt features showed no hatred toward the Gene Thief bishop—only tension and worry as he stared at the tower cart.

Fake!

This assassination was fake!

The assassination was arranged by the Gene Thieves themselves!

Why would they stage this assassination?

Could it be—

Zhou Yun’s mind raced, and a sudden idea flashed into his head.

On the tower cart,

the Gene Thief bishop slowly stood up, unharmed, turning her head to look at the assassin who had shot at her.

Amid the stunned gazes of the surrounding residents, the Gene Thief bishop slowly opened her arms.

“The Four-Armed Divine Emperor whispered in my ear, granting me escape from disaster and the strength to spread His gospel.”

“Sinner, how dare you obstruct this sacred duty?”

The moment her voice rang out, a sense of conviction rose in every heart.

“What trick is this?” Mengge subtly pressed his hand to his head, sensing the psychic power woven into her voice.

He noticed that Jeanne and Zhou Yun were unaffected.

“Mind-Whisper.”

A trick like Leina’s—using psychic energy to project will and manipulate minds.

Zhou Yun had long since developed resistance.

Jeanne seemed to as well,

given that her mind had likely been forged by the strongest psychic alive.

Zhou Yun narrowed his eyes, watching the bishop and the assassin continue their performance.

The assassin feigned shock, stepping back several paces, raising his automatic pistol once more toward the Gene Thief bishop.

Boom!!

The bullet screamed toward the Gene Thief bishop.

She merely flicked her sleeve; an invisible wave rippled before her.

The bullet seemed to sink into thick gel, slowing gradually until it hung motionless in midair.

All onlookers held their breath, staring at this near-divine spectacle.

“I am protected by the Four-Armed Divine Emperor, sinner! You cannot harm—”

“Damn it! Bastard! How dare you assassinate the bishop!”

Before the Gene Thief bishop could finish, a roar erupted beside the assassin.

The assassin turned, bewildered—this wasn’t in the script—

and then he saw a sole growing larger, slamming into his face.

Amid the stunned stares of the crowd and the Gene Thief bishop, Zhou Yun burst from the crowd and kicked the assassin in the head.

“How dare you assassinate the emissary of the Four-Armed Divine Emperor!”

“Today you kill the bishop, tomorrow you kill the Emperor!”

“Heretic! You deserve to die!”

Zhou Yun cursed violently as he kicked the assassin’s face again and again, making him howl in agony.

Nearby residents were terrified by Zhou Yun’s fanaticism and dared not approach.

Even the Gene Thief bishop was momentarily stunned; the Gene Thief guard was too far away.

They stared in confusion as Zhou Yun pulled a dagger from somewhere unseen.

Before the assassin could react, Zhou Yun plunged the blade into his neck, pulled his head close to his ear.

“Breathe deep. Breathe deep. Don’t be afraid.”

“Dizziness is normal.”

Zhou Yun whispered softly into the assassin’s ear, then smoothly withdrew the dagger.

The assassin’s pupils dilated; he collapsed to the ground, dead.

“Pah!”

Zhou Yun spat on the assassin’s face and kicked his head.

The air fell into deathly silence.

Jeanne blinked her deer-like eyes in confusion—this was far beyond her prophecy.

Mengge gaped, scanning the crowd like an idiot, utterly baffled by Zhou Yun’s actions.

The Gene Thief bishop was equally stunned—how had her planted assassin died?

Who was this man?

Golden hair, a face radiating authority—even the Gene Thief bishop felt a flicker of fear.

Was he merely a fanatical follower of the Four-Armed Divine Emperor?

The Gene Thief bishop’s thoughts churned, but her gene-enhanced reflexes kicked in.

She stepped forward and shouted loudly:

“A faithful believer has punished the assassin for me!”

“The Four-Armed Divine Emperor will bless him—and he shall be rewarded!”

As she spoke, the bishop turned to Zhou Yun, smiling warmly and nodding to him.

“Faithful believer, when the preaching concludes, I shall hear your devotion.”

“Now, return to the crowd.”

As she spoke, she employed Mind-Whisper.

Zhou Yun was unaffected, but he smiled faintly and returned to the crowd.

“What the hell did you just do?”

Mengge hurried to Zhou Yun’s side and whispered:

“Was the assassination staged?”

He sensed something was off, but the residents didn’t—

they saw only divine spectacle, and grew even more fervent.

Zhou Yun gave Mengge a slight nod, confirming his guess.

Mengge’s expression froze.

He was stunned by Zhou Yun’s speed.

“You realized the assassination was fake, then immediately decided to kill the assassin—making the bishop eat humiliation while believing you’re a fanatical believer?”

Mengge couldn’t help but whistle.

Zhou Yun had acted in the blink of an eye, effortlessly securing a chance to speak face-to-face with the Gene Thief bishop.

His initiative and reaction were too sharp.

Zhou Yun nodded slightly, feigning piety as he gazed at the Gene Thief bishop atop the tower cart.

The bishop began her preaching; her hypnotic voice echoed through loudspeakers carried by her preachers.

“The Day of Ascension draws near! The Great Emissary, the Exalted First Prophet, has arrived in District One!”

The Gene Thief bishop cried out:

“Men and women of faith! The final hour of salvation has come!”

“Embrace our true faith—the First Prophet shall baptize you personally!”

“You shall become the ladder to Ascension; your souls shall be redeemed!”

First Prophet? Emissary? Personal baptism?

Hearing these words, Zhou Yun paused slightly.

The Gene Thief leader is in District One—does he plan to personally inject corrupted genes into new converts?

(End of Chapter)