Chapter 90: Shocking Appearance

After a series of battles, Su Xiao felt slightly fatigued, so he leapt onto a concrete beam to rest temporarily; being up high reduced the chance of being spotted, guarding against ambushes.

Wiping the blood from his hands, Su Xiao lit a cigarette and sat on the beam, three meters above ground, holding his long blade.

But less than five minutes passed when hurried footsteps approached—the Aogiri Tree ghouls had returned.

Su Xiao sighed helplessly and jumped down from the beam.

“This path is blocked.”

With that, Su Xiao charged toward the terrified ghouls.

…

Beneath the Aogiri Tree base, three figures hid: Fang Cun Gongshan, the shopkeeper of Anding District; Heisei Dabin, Ru Jian Xuan; and the adorable little girl, Di Kou Chushi.

“Xuan, what’s the CCG’s movement?”

The shopkeeper spoke; he was now wearing Aogiri Tree attire.

“The CCG split into four squads—three are offensive units, one is holding the rear. The rear squad… no, that’s not even a squad—it’s just one person.”

That one person has sealed off the back exit; only one Aogiri Tree member has passed through. Everyone else has been wiped out.

Currently, the CCG holds the advantage.”

After hearing Ru Jian Xuan’s report, the shopkeeper fell silent for a moment.

“One man holding the back exit? Is he human?”

Ru Jian Xuan stared at the shopkeeper in surprise.

“Of course he’s human—how could there be a ghoul in the CCG?”

The shopkeeper gave a bitter smile. Of course there were ghouls in the CCG—but some things he couldn’t say, things too dangerous.

“If he’s human, then it can only be one of two people. Looks like a ‘God of Death’ has arrived—I wonder if he’s black or white.”

“If he’s white, there’s still room to negotiate. If he’s black, we’ll have to fight to the death.”

The shopkeeper stood, his crimson eyes appearing.

“No choice—we need to buy time for Dong Xiang and the others. Xuan, take Chushi and leave first. Also, notify Dong Xiang and the rest—if we can’t rescue Jin Muyan within ten minutes, prepare to retreat.”

Watching the shopkeeper walk away, Ru Jian Xuan’s lips moved, wanting to say something, but not knowing how to begin.

“Sister Xuan, will the shopkeeper be in danger?”

Chushi’s small face twisted with worry as she stared at the retreating shopkeeper.

“No, the shopkeeper is strong.”

Ru Jian Xuan patted Chushi’s head, forcing a smile.

In the CCG, being crowned “God of Death” meant one could single-handedly drive out SSS-class ghouls—how could Ru Jian Xuan not worry for the shopkeeper’s safety?

Without the shopkeeper, Ru Jian Xuan would still be a mad “stray dog,” hunting humans. He rescued her from being a ghoul and restored her humanity.

What worried Ru Jian Xuan even more was that the shopkeeper hadn’t eaten fresh human flesh in a long time, causing his RC cell concentration to drop.

“Chushi is scared—over there, someone very dangerous seems to be.”

Chushi’s slender finger pointed toward a direction—toward where Su Xiao stood.

…

Meanwhile, the main battlefield raged fiercely; CCG investigators and Aogiri Tree ghouls clashed inside the abandoned building.

In a chaotic corridor, Ya Men Gangtai Lang gripped two long-handled greatswords, breathing heavily.

Before him lay two corpses—S-class ghouls, the Ping brothers.

“Master Zhenhu, you were right—never give up until the final moment. Before avenging you, I won’t die.”

As Ya Men prepared to rest briefly before rejoining the main force, he suddenly heard a strange sound.

Looking up, he saw a dark shadow flying past the window, racing toward the roof—its shape vaguely humanoid, unnaturally tall, at least two and a half to three meters.

“What is that?”

Ya Men felt a sudden dread.

…

After a grueling battle, the CCG’s main force finally cleared most of the Aogiri Tree ghouls.

Emboldened, the CCG investigators, led by Special Class Investigators Shen Yuan Xingji and Hei Pan Yan, stormed the roof.

According to prior thermal scans, the rooftop was packed with ghouls.

But when Shen Yuan Xingji arrived with his team, the rooftop was empty—not a single soul remained.

“This is Shen Yuan. I’ve reached the roof, but the Aogiri Tree bastards aren’t here. Something feels off.”

Shen Yuan Xingji and Wan Shou Zhai reported the situation.

Inside the command vehicle, Wan Shou Zhai smirked—he’d received reports earlier of multiple hidden explosives within the Aogiri Tree base, all now dismantled.

“This is just Aogiri Tree’s little trick. If no one’s here, forget it—prepare to withdraw. This wasn’t a full-scale battle; it was just bait.”

Wan Shou Zhai relayed this via Bluetooth earpiece to Shen Yuan Xingji.

It was true—Aogiri Tree had never intended to fight the CCG.

More precisely, Aogiri Tree lacked the resources to fight the CCG. The CCG was far more complex than it appeared.

“Then withdraw. We’ve driven off many ghouls, but more importantly, we’ve reclaimed District 11.”

At this, Shen Yuan Xingji’s face lit up with joy.

“Shen Yuan.”

Ya Men Gangtai Lang had somehow arrived on the roof.

“Ya Men, you’re alright?”

Shen Yuan Xingji looked at Ya Men with concern—their relationship was good.

“Shen Yuan, I just saw…”

“Boom!”

Before Ya Men could finish, a massive crash echoed as something enormous slammed onto the roof.

“Huh?”

Shen Yuan Xingji and the others turned toward the sound.

“What’s going on?”

Inside the command vehicle, Wan Shou Zhai saw on his screen an object falling onto the roof.

After Wan Shou Zhai’s question, a long silence followed.

“Ah Wan—it’s him. The One-Eyed Owl.”

Shen Yuan Xingji’s voice was low.

Through the green screen before him, Wan Shou Zhai clearly saw the rooftop scene.

Wan Shou Zhai shed his usual lazy demeanor, one hand pressing his earpiece, eyes icy cold.

“Shen Yuan, keep only the elite who face death without flinching. The rest, even if they waste their lives, won’t buy enough time.”

“Engage him with the fewest, most elite personnel. Give me five minutes. That’s all.”

Wan Shou Zhai immediately switched channels and contacted Su Xiao.

“Baiye, are you still at the back exit?”

The earpiece crackled with noise.

“Yes, but I’m busy right now.”

Su Xiao dodged a incoming Hézi, then slashed its owner to death with one stroke.

“Forget the back exit—need support on the roof. The One-Eyed Owl has appeared. Shen Yuan and the others are preparing to fight—they won’t stand a chance.”

Su Xiao, who had been fighting a dozen ghouls, froze in place.

The ghouls stared at him in terror, trembling violently; some, with severed limbs, lay writhing on the ground, moaning.

“Understood. I’ll reach the roof as soon as possible.”

“Thank you.”

The call ended. Su Xiao bent down, tore off a strip of cloth, and wiped Long Zhan Shan.

“Disappear from my sight within ten seconds.”

Hearing Su Xiao’s words, the dozen ghouls scattered like birds and beasts. They had started with over thirty companions—now only fourteen remained.

Su Xiao confirmed the direction and began moving toward the roof.