Chapter 30: Come Out and Get Beaten!

This is quite an ironic matter.

The Ripper Gang was originally the Crow Gang, but they renamed themselves the Ripper Gang to ride the hype of Jack the Ripper.

Yet they didn't realize that Jack the Ripper was actually "created" by them.

In the end, Jack the Ripper wiped them out in one fell swoop.

Leaving the hospital, the three of them didn't delay and headed for Gelan Field.

Now we can only confirm Jack the Ripper's true identity through the missing persons records of Gelan Field.

Thus we have completed the mission "Search for Jack the Ripper."

"It's snowing again."

On the way to Gelan Field, the sky once again drifted down gray heavy snow.

By the time Tang Luo and the others arrived at Gelan Field, the gate was already tightly shut.

After all, it was already approaching midnight.

But there's no doubt, this is abnormal!

Gelan Field—let alone at midnight, unless it truly collapses, the gate would never be closed like this.

Even if the small town's order collapses.

The night staff at Gelan Field are still on duty every night.

What's more, these past few days some people, overly worried, have chosen to spend the night at Gelan Field.

You can't drive them away.

The few agents on duty probably felt a bit uneasy in their hearts, so they simply didn't bother to chase them off.

A bunch of people gathered together, making it quite lively.

At least it brings a sense of security, even if only psychological.

Even if it snows, at most they'd leave the door half-open to keep snow from blowing inside.

How could the gate be completely shut?

"Something's happened."

Zhou Zhengguo's face grew solemn as he stopped and stared at Gelan Field's tightly closed gate.

He looked around.

The street was silent and empty, the dim roadside lamps casting their glow.

Buildings on both sides had their doors and windows shut tight.

Only a few windows weren't properly covered, letting a sliver of light leak through the cracks.

Hinting to others that someone was inside.

For a moment, Zhou Zhengguo and Chu Chongtian seemed to hear the sound of snowflakes landing.

Aside from that, there was nothing else.

It felt as if the whole world had left only the three of them.

Everyone else had ceased to exist.

"Hah."

Tang Luo suddenly laughed, stepped past Zhou Zhengguo, and with one palm blasted open Gelan Field's closed door.

The door slammed into the wall, making a crisp sound.

Though indoors, a strange chill wind suddenly hung in the air, blowing outward.

Zhou Zhengguo's hat was blown off.

Chu Chongtian's hood also fell to the back of his head.

By contrast, Tang Luo had switched to a black knit cap, which was unaffected.

Beyond the door, Gelan Field's lobby was empty of anyone.

Yet on the chairs lay objects like water cups.

Obviously, someone had been there before.

Tang Luo didn't linger, walking into the building.

Zhou Zhengguo and Chu Chongtian exchanged a glance, gritted their teeth, and followed, each drawing a revolver and gripping it in hand.

Besides the revolver in their right hand, their left hand also held another melee weapon.

Chu Chongtian held a sword cane—the kind where you grip the handle, pull it out, and a blade is inside.

As for Zhou Zhengguo, he wore brass knuckles.

Walking in front, Tang Luo had both hands empty, with the unspecified thing still stuck in its holster, not even undoing the fastener.

Zhou Zhengguo and Chu Chongtian also didn't feel anything amiss.

Obviously, Master Xuanzang's fist is far stronger than a bullet.

Hmm, when needed we can pull out the unspecified thing and unleash that "Ending Storm"—it'll be plenty in time.

Inside the building, the lights were on, and the view was unobstructed.

Nor were the lights flickering to irritate everyone's eyes.

Entering the nearest room, it was likewise empty of anyone.

But on the table sat a cup of coffee still faintly steaming.

Tang Luo reached out and touched it; it was still hot.

Not long after watching the people of Gelan Field disappear,

Jack the Ripper might still be here……

Or perhaps its possessor is still around?

Zhou Zhen'guo and Chu Chongtian grew increasingly vigilant.

They almost moved, standing back to back.

To ensure they wouldn't be ambushed from behind.

Although using Master Xuanzang's words, they had already been "enlightened".

When suddenly attacked, the "protective shield" would block one or two.

But the protection could only block temporarily.

Their reactions were not fast, at least not as fast as someone possessed by Jack the Ripper.

Moreover, there was also that gloomy aura that left people unable to move.

Under a surprise attack, death could be said to happen in an instant.

Being extra careful is never excessive.

They took a quick look at the first floor, without examining it closely.

Tang Luo headed to the second floor, where the Ge Lan Chang archives were also located.

"Bang bang bang!"

When Tang Luo reached the turning platform of the stairs.

Gunfire sounded from behind.

At the same time came Zhou Zhen'guo's loud shout: "Here they come!"

Zhou Zhen'guo and Chu Chongtian, with their backs to Tang Luo, stood on the lower two steps of the stairs, firing wildly at the first floor.

Tang Luo slightly turned his head and caught a glimpse of a black figure darting through the passageway beneath the stairs.

The speed was such that all the bullets fired from the revolver missed.

"Jack......"

A fleeting figure.

From the direction it vanished came a voice full of utter hatred.

It was not speaking its own name.

Rather, it gave the feeling that it wanted to find the owner of that name, stuff them into its mouth, and chew them to pieces.

That hatred was almost becoming substantive.

"We haven't made a mistake!"

Chu Chongtian shouted, propped his crutch under his arm, and prepared to reload.

Zhou Zhen'guo continued to hold his gun, having deliberately kept three rounds left in his revolver.

If Jack the Ripper attacked then, it could also be blocked.

This is the seasoned experience of the gods and demons walking.

Always keeping a means of counterattack.

Unlike the young Chu Chongtian, who would expend it all at once.

Just when everyone's attention was focused downstairs.

Above, suddenly some sounds came.

A figure fell from the gap between the stairs, its body twisted oddly, like a snake.

It lunged at Tang Luo and the others.

There was another one?

Moreover, this time the target was finally no longer Zhou Zhen'guo, Chu Chongtian, and the others.

But Tang Luo himself!

When the sound rang out, the figure had already reached the top of Tang Luo's head.

The hand gripping the dagger traced a afterimage and stabbed straight at Tang Luo's forehead.

It also no longer clung to the characteristic of disemboweling.

Faced with this sudden attack, it truly qualified as an ambush.

Tang Luo's right hand moved, responding instantly, as if there were no intermediate process.

He appeared out of thin air before the assailant, like grabbing a basketball with one hand, and seized his head.

Then Tang Luo turned his body.

He shoved the assailant's whole body into the nearby wall.

The assailant's upper half sank completely into the wall.

The tremendous force and impact made his already twisted body appear even more bizarre.

"Finally daring to act—good, keep it up."

Tang Luo spoke.

As a very "specialized" person, he disliked opponents who liked to lurk in corners and sneakily cause trouble.

They didn't even have the courage to face him head‑on, yet claimed they wanted to eat Tang Seng's flesh.

Disgraceful!

Fortunately, the tactic of waiting by a stump for a rabbit has consistently worked.

There were also the strategies of leisurely awaiting labor, the self‑injury ploy, and fishing—tactics used in the Journey to the West.

In the gods and demons game, they also apply.

Jack the Ripper had been lurking for so long that he finally couldn't resist striking at Tang Luo.

Good, this made Tang Luo very pleased.

At last—come out and get beaten!

Black aura surged from Tang Luo's outstretched palm.

The bitterly cold aura, like waves crashing on shore, struck Tang Luo's palm and arm.

Like spray shattering on rocks, it broke apart.

Perhaps after several years, or a decade or more, there might be some gain.

But now, it has no effect.

Kaitangshou Jieke didn't flee; it seemed to continue possessing this person, struggling desperately.

Tang Luo clenched his fist.

The struggling stopped; the dagger in his hand turned into a wisp of black smoke that drifted away.

"He ran away again."

Tang Luo withdrew his hand.

The possession ability is still quite troublesome.

He can't really fight, but he's top-notch at running away.

Such a troublesome guy, excellent at fleeing—I've encountered his like before.

White Bone Spirit.

Cowardly as a dog, yet his lingering spirit won't dissipate.

The current Kaitangshou Jieke is vastly different in strength from that.

But essentially, it works in a similar way.

Fortunately, having done it once means a second time will follow.

Tang Luo believed Kaitangshou Jieke would no longer endure as before.

After taking the first step, the second and third steps become simple.

Continuing upstairs, Zhou Zhen'gu and the others glanced at the corpse embedded in the wall, then followed Tang Luo.

They still maintained a wary back-to-back stance.

Although moving like this on the stairs is inconvenient.

But they aren't Tang Luo.

The one who can, with one hand, cause the Ripper to possess someone, has the ability to seize and press into the wall.

By the way, this corpse also had no blood flowing out.

Does this count as another trait of those currently possessed by the Ripper?

Arriving at the archive room, they opened the door, turned on the lights, closed the door, and Zhou Zhen'gu and Chu Zhongtian immediately began searching.

They looked earnest, like examinees in the college entrance exam.

They thought.

If they could confirm Kaitangshou Jieke's true identity.

Then this mission would likely be completed.

Tang Luo didn't participate, leaning against the wall by the door.

Having him act as bodyguard instead let Zhou Zhen'gu and Chu Zhongtian relax completely.

They threw themselves wholeheartedly into the search.

No need to worry about the Ripper's sneak attacks.

The archive room had only a sealed window the size of a head.

Unless the Ripper possessed an infant, it couldn't slip in here.

The only place an attacker could enter was the door beside Tang Luo.

Judging from the earlier situation.

The Ripper wasn't as strong as the two had initially imagined.

Facing Grand Master Xuanzang, it was still like a chick, utterly powerless to resist.

All set!

As long as we find the list, further verification will confirm the Ripper's identity and complete the mission!

Hope is right before our eyes.

"Found it!"

Five minutes later, Chu Zhongtian shouted loudly.

They hadn't found the Ripper's true identity, but had uncovered related cases of missing persons in the town over the past few years.

Not many—over thirty cases.

Of those, sixteen had bodies recovered and were finally confirmed as deaths.

The rest remain marked as "missing".

Except—one of them.

The missing person returned suddenly a year after someone filed a report.

And this person's appearance coincided with half a month before Kaitangshou Jieke began his killings.

"Kaitangshou Jieke, we've found you!"

"It's Gelin·Blei!"

Chu Zhongtian shouted the person's name.