# 393
Chapter 393 – Bajie at the Window
“Sister Lan, are you hungry? I saw snacks in that convenience store—want me to buy you some?”
“Sister Lan, that outfit looks amazing on you; with your aura you outshine every TV star by miles!”
“Wow, Sister Lan, your skin is flawless! Honestly, the maids back home can’t even compare!”
“Sister Lan, do you know much about Rolex?”
“……”
Baili Pangpang hovered beside Jialan, unclasping one of the dozen Rolexes on his wrist and holding it against her arm, shaking his head repeatedly.
“No good… this Rolex isn’t worthy of you—let’s pick another!”
With that he casually tossed the watch into the nearby lake; a splash, and it was gone…
Cao Yuan: …
Baili Pangpang caught Cao Yuan’s stare and instantly placed hands on hips. “Old Cao, why are you sneaking glances at me?”
Cao Yuan pondered. “I’m estimating how many days you’d need to drive the Baili Group into bankruptcy once you’re in charge…”
“?”
Before Baili Pangpang could retort, the gray mouse scurrying ahead of them suddenly twitched, as though it had caught a scent, and darted off in a new direction.
The trio exchanged looks, identical delight flashing across their faces as they hurried after it.
……
Gusu Central District.
A certain tower, twenty-third floor.
The building was filled with small and mid-size company offices; the onetime hive of white-collar workers and bosses now stood empty.
Dark night pressed against the sky. Neon from the Southern Gate across the way spilled through the huge French windows into the corridor, while overhead lights flickered. Inside an ordinary web-company office, a blood-soaked man lay weakly in a corner.
His right leg had completely petrified; everything below the calf had shattered off, the stump caked with congealed blood.
“Captain Qin…”
By the floor-to-ceiling window, pale-faced Molly pulled her gaze from the road outside, bracing herself on her tachi as she inched toward Qin Kai.
“I saw Sun Luan enter this building.”
Qin Kai, collapsed nearby, gave a helpless smile. “That kid can smell blood from blocks away; even under Bell Cranel’s control his instincts remain—finding us was only a matter of time…”
“Captain.” Molly reached his side, voice firm. “We can’t stay. I’ll carry you out.”
Qin Kai shook his head. “No—while I’m here Sun Luan will keep coming… Leave on your own. With the Purification Talisman protecting you, the mental pollution can’t touch you. Get outside the fog and report upstairs—under no circumstances must Team Phoenix enter!
Every member of Team Phoenix carries a trace of phoenix blood, and those two have curse-type relics targeting that exact bloodline. Once they step in, they’re doomed.”
Molly frowned. “But if I go, Sun Luan will kill you!”
Clenching her teeth, she braced on her tachi and started for the door.
“I’ll knock Sun Luan out first, keep you safe, then head out of the fog!”
“Zheng Zheng’s sonic blast already damaged your organs; you can’t beat him.” Qin Kai lowered his voice. “Listen—don’t worry about me. I’m just an ordinary garrison captain. Weigh me against an entire special squad— which matters more? You know the answer!”
Molly kept walking. At his words her lips tightened, stubbornness gleaming in her eyes.
“So what? You’re our captain; I won’t let you die at a teammate’s hand! When Sun Luan wakes up he’d kill himself in apology…
The last Gusu squad captain gave too much. This time—I won’t let you follow the same path!”
Qin Kai’s gaze trembled at her words, sorrow crossing his face.
“Captain Han Shaoyun…”
Lights flickered overhead as Molly pushed open the glass door and started down the corridor. Behind her, a tiny gray mouse silently followed.
Beep, beep, beep… ding!
“Twenty-third floor.”
The mechanical voice echoed from the shaft; Molly’s body stiffened.
The elevator beside her slid open. Inside stood a young man in a dark-red cloak, blood-colored Straight Blade in hand, eyes vacant. He sniffed the air, stepped out, and his hollow gaze fixed on Molly. The blade lifted; a weird crimson spread from his neck across his body.
“Church of the Ancient Gods… all… must die…” a rasp whispered from his throat.
“Sun Luan!” Molly shouted, voice echoing through the empty floor. “Snap out of it! We’re not Church of the Ancient Gods—we’re your teammates!!”
The blood-covered Sun Luan raised his head slightly, stared at her, and croaked:
“…Die!”
Whoosh—!
He blurred, a scarlet after-image slashing toward her throat in an instant.
Molly swung her tachi, the blade vibrating at a mysterious frequency to meet his Straight Blade.
Boom—!!
The shockwave shattered floor tiles around her and blasted a nearby window into glittering shards that rained into the night.
But Sun Luan was already gone.
The next moment he reappeared silently behind her.
Anticipating it, Molly spun, sweeping her tachi across while leaping back.
His blade seemed to liquefy, sliding through her guard and slicing toward her chest.
Still slowed by internal injuries, she was a hair too late; the crimson Straight Blade solidified after passing her tachi and cut her shoulder, leaving a long gash.
Staggering, Molly braced on her sword, paler than before, blood seeping from her lips.
That strike had reopened wounds; she felt strength ebbing…
“Sun Luan…” She clenched her teeth, fury blazing in her eyes.
He advanced like a zombie, raising his dripping blade.
Bang—!!
A blinding golden light burst through the shattered window behind her, streaking past to plant itself between them.
Startled, Molly looked back.
In the hazy night stood a man wearing a Zhu Bajie mask, back to the gusting wind, long sword in hand, walking slowly forward.