Chapter 174: Target Appears

Yue Sheng, suburbs of the Provincial Capital.

The night deepened, and the suburban streets were not as bustling as those in the city center.

Streetlights stood alone, occasionally pedestrians hurried by, or a few cars passed, stirring a gust of cold wind.

A black off‑road vehicle bearing the word "Public Security" slowly drove into an urban village.

Its wheels rolled over the pitted cement road, splashing fine droplets.

Four people sat inside—two men and two women—all wearing what appeared to be ordinary Public Security uniforms, but the lining was embroidered with hidden Civil Affairs Bureau patterns, a special attire.

In the driver's seat sat a man of about forty, his temples already tinged with a touch of frost, yet his gaze remained as sharp as an eagle's, and a few old scars marked his knuckles.

The passenger seat was occupied by a man in his early thirties, his features resolute, his jawline hard as if cut by a knife.

He was leaning over a tablet, its screen showing a satellite map of the urban village, with several red dots marking locations of abnormal energy fluctuations.

The two women in the back seat had markedly different demeanors.

The one by the window, about thirty, her long hair casually tied in a ponytail, was watching the old buildings passing outside, her eyes calm as water, as if admiring the night scenery.

A slightly fierce scar on the right side of her face gave her delicate beauty a few extra hints of murderous aura.

The other woman of the same age held a phone, repeatedly watching a blurry surveillance video, her brows tightly knit.

"Captain," the woman holding the phone suddenly looked up, her voice calm and certain: "I'm sure."

She tapped the screen lightly, pausing the video at a frame—on it, a young man stood deep in an alley, a twisted Black Shadow faintly looming behind him, and his pupils glowed a strange red in the darkness.

"This is definitely not a Heavenly Authority, nor is it the cultivation path of our Xia Guo," she said, handing the phone to the passenger man: "I think it's a case of an evil spirit possession."

She paused, then added, "It may be from the West, or perhaps from Southeast Asia."

"I personally think it's the work of a Demon."

Listening to her explanation.

The captain in the driver's seat—Zhang Yu gave a slight nod: "Understood."

"Prepare for the worst, and also, Chen Rong, go contact the Church in the Provincial Capital and have them send someone over."

"More people, more effort."

"Hmm." Chen Rong nodded, exited the video and dialed the Church's dedicated line, briefly mentioning the possible Demon appearance, then a shout came from the other side:

"What?! Demon?!! Alright, alright."

"We're coming right away!"

This is a performance.

Especially in Xia Guo, a Demon appearing is as rare as winning the lottery!

After learning the location, the Church hung up.

Not long after, the off‑road vehicle stopped in front of an unremarkably old residential building.

Zhang Yu turned his head to the passenger man and said, "Yiqing, this time the tactics are different; later you and your sister watch the left and right, watch the Exorcism Heavenly Bestowed Artifact, and if anything happens, don't hesitate, use it immediately!"

"Chen Rong, stay here and receive the Church's people; we'll go scout the situation first."

"If anything happens, notify us immediately, understand?"

Because Chen Rong was the only one among the four who had awakened a Heavenly Authority, and it was a defensive type, it was better to have her stay and wait for the Church's people than to leave her behind.

Now we must first verify whether that person is still here, lest we make a wasted trip.

Wait for the Church's people to arrive, then attack together.

Having heard his orders, Li Yiqing and his sister Li Changle, who sat in the back, nodded:

"Understood."

The three stepped down from the off‑road vehicle.

Chen Rong remained in the vehicle, watching Zhang Yu and the others walk toward the residential building.

The five‑story old building stood silently in the night, all windows dark hollows, no trace of light leaking out.

A cold wind howled out from the stairwell entrance, swirling fallen leaves on the ground, producing a rustling sound.

The dim yellow lights in the stairwell flickered, as if they could go out at any moment, swallowing the whole building in darkness.

If this were used for a horror film, the atmosphere would be off the charts.

Zhang Yu inhaled deeply and was the first to step into the hallway.

The moment he entered, a bone‑piercing chill hit his face, making his exposed skin instantly break out in gooseflesh. He quickly activated the Lian Qi Method, circulating Qi within his body to dispel the chilling darkness.

Behind him, Li Yiqing and Li Changle followed closely, the three maintaining a coordinated guard formation as they ascended.

First floor, second floor, third floor…

With each floor they passed, they inspected carefully, yet found nothing unusual. Until—

Fourth floor.

The 404 door number glared especially bright in the dim light.

Zhang Yu halted, thinking to himself: Jianshe Road No. 4, fourth floor, 404… meticulous.

He turned back, exchanged a glance with the Li siblings, then raised his hand to knock—

Click.

The door opened by itself.

Zhang Yu's hand froze mid‑air.

The darkness seeping through the doorway seemed viscously solid.

The next second, the living‑room light suddenly flared on!

The blinding WhiteLight made the three instinctively squint.

After adjusting to the light, they saw the full layout of the living room—

The vast space was empty, with only a crimson sofa placed in the exact center.

On the sofa sat a young man in a plain T‑shirt and jeans, looking about twenty.

He wore a gentle smile, squinting his eyes, looking like the neighborhood big boy.

Of course, one must first ignore his two teeth that look like a Vampire's.

"My guests, welcome to your arrival."

Zhang Yu and the other two did not go in; instead they all stepped back a step.

Zhang Yu said in a deep voice:

"Do you know that unlawfully occupying another's body is illegal?"

The young man nodded, "I know."

"I have studied the law of your Xia Guo."

"But."

He grinned, showing an innocuous smile, his jet‑black eyes laced with a hint of mockery:

"Your human laws cannot control me."

"Won't you come in and sit?"

When Zhang Yu heard his words, he knew Chen Rong's conjecture was probably correct; after gesturing a departure signal to Li Yi and the other, he shook his head:

No, we..........

"That's not up to you."

Before he could finish speaking, the young man cut him off, opening his mouth to emit a strange sound wave.

At the moment Zhang Yu and the other two heard the sound wave, their gazes grew dazed, and they involuntarily walked toward the room, finally kneeling on one knee and whispering to the young man:

"I have met Wang."