Chapter 488: You Betrayed My Trust
Chapter 488: You Betrayed My Trust
Not only Ye Yuqing, but Fang Cheng’s sharper Observation had already noticed the masked driver in black cloak, along with the priest and believers emerging from the church.
This classic situation could be understood by anyone vaguely aware of global conflicts.
Fang Cheng had been particularly vigilant against the Grim Reaper’s second assault anyway.
He cursed inwardly, grabbing Ye Yuqing with his left hand and hoisting the white landlord with his right. Teleportation flashed them away instantly.
The priest and worshippers stood merely seven meters from the vehicle after exiting the church.
“Anla, huakeba!!”
The black-cloaked figure roared the notorious Slogan from inside the car.
Before anyone could react, the entire car detonated.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion transformed the vehicle into a blazing fireball.
The terror-inducing shockwave ripped through the surroundings, devouring everyone within the seven-meter radius.
Nearby greenery and streetlights got shredded while the church’s stained glass exploded into shards.
Even after retreating a hundred meters, Fang Cheng still felt the scorching heatwave battering his face.
That car must’ve been packed with enough explosives to rival a cluster bomb.
Watching the rising flames, Fang Cheng felt relieved. Seven meters would’ve placed them squarely in the kill zone.
While he’d survive unharmed, Ye Yuqing might’ve been injured before activating Tsukimi Narumi’s power.
This second attack from the Grim Reaper clearly outclassed the earlier bus collision.
But such events weren’t random – meticulous Observation granted premonition.
In this world of supernatural powers, unchecked religious power made sectarian conflicts deadlier.
The millennium-old blood feud between the Church and Desert Religion only worsened after entering the 20th century.
Were it not for humanity’s true enemy – monsters – lurking nearby, new crusades would’ve erupted already.
Spotting black-cloaked figures near churches or priests by onion temples? Smart folks knew to flee immediately.
Today’s explosion was minor – extremist believers routinely slaughtered hundreds worldwide like clockwork.
The landlord finally shook off his shock while dangling from Fang Cheng’s grip.
Instead of gratitude, the man clutched his hair while wailing at the ruined church:
“Oh God! This devil’s work! Such cruel means! The Lord shall smite these heretics!”
His hysterics confirmed devout faith, though he wisely avoided approaching the blast site.
Fang Cheng cut through the performance: “Let’s discuss the rental.”
All heresy-related fury vanished as nervousness gripped the landlord, terrified of losing this tenant.
He was a devout worshiper, but even worshipers needed to eat.
After haggling for a while, they managed to slash the monthly rent from 5,000 to 3,000.
Though Fang Cheng wasn’t poor, money didn’t fall from the sky – saving where possible made sense.
The police soon cordoned off the place. Another cycle of religious violence would erupt, but none of that concerned Fang Cheng.
Ye Yuqing stood before reporters, using the English phrases Asaka Akihime had hastily taught her to share a bystander’s perspective.
“I stood right here. The bomb was mere steps away, but I felt no fear. Honestly, I almost laughed…”
Her mask hid the smug grin that would’ve been broadcast worldwide otherwise.
After securing the apartment, Fang Cheng took Ye Yuqing shopping for daily supplies at a nearby supermarket. They moved in immediately.
No hotel return needed – all luggage sat safely in Fang Cheng’s shadow.
With the Grim Reaper’s two daily attacks already spent, vigilance could relax.
The landlord’s key let them enter. Before inspecting the decor, they spotted the charred doll waiting on the living room sofa like unwelcome decor.
Its oversized black eyes watched them with mocking stillness, that eerie half-smile taunting fresh arrivals.
Ye Yuqing snatched the doll and stormed outside.
She’d conquered her fear of its summoned evil spirits, but couldn’t tolerate the blatant disrespect.
Black hellflames erupted from her palm through Tsukimi Narumi’s power, reducing the doll to ash.
These infernal flames suppressed all creatures and foul energies – even positive ones.
This damned ragdoll wouldn’t trouble them again.
Fang Cheng remained skeptical. The doll’s power felt rule-bound – easy to endure, impossible to escape once marked. What he truly envied was Ye Yuqing’s effortless use of Tsukimi Narumi’s power without immediate consequences.
The price had been prepaid: service in life, soul ownership after death. At least Tsukimi Narumi didn’t demand extra like stingy Iyaya.
Nightfall proved Fang Cheng right. The burned doll reappeared indoors.
Ye Yuqing snorted and ignored it. Fang Cheng simply nailed it to the wall for dart practice – he had hundreds to spare.
Leaving it loose risked sleepless nights. Though they could stay awake for weeks, conserving energy mattered before facing the Gates of Heaven.
They took watch shifts. Fang Cheng guarded the first half, alert for doll-summoned spirits and midnight Reaper strikes. The hours passed uneventfully.
Ye Yuqing’s turn came. She camped in the living room gaming, occasionally hurling javelins at the pinned doll-target between rounds.
As the clock neared four in the morning, an eerie atmosphere filled the two-story apartment.
All outside noises seemed to disappear, and the temperature dropped to bone-chilling levels.
“Finally!”
Ye Yuqing threw down her phone, strapped on her armguards, and charged forward with black flames blazing in her eyes.
After searching the apartment, she found the evil spirit in the second-floor living room.
The female ghost had jet-black long hair, her upper body crawling out of the TV while her lower half remained trapped inside.
Noticing Ye Yuqing’s arrival, the ghost began preparing to fully emerge and attack.
But Ye Yuqing moved faster – she grabbed the ghost’s hair and yanked her completely out of the television.
The ghost: “……”
When she tried to resist, Ye Yuqing delivered a brutal beating that would make any spirit weep.
Ten minutes later, the ghost lay sprawled on the floor, staring up with terrified eyes.
Dear God, after decades of haunting, this was the first time she’d encountered such madness.
Who’s the real ghost here?
Since when do humans out-scare spirits?
Though Ye Yuqing wanted to burn the ghost immediately, Fang Cheng had ordered her to keep captured spirits contained – the Evil Spirit Doll could only summon five evil spirits at once.
Capture five, and the doll became harmless.
But Ye Yuqing had other plans. Hands on hips, she stared at the cowering ghost before breaking into a grin that grew more twisted by the second.
The ghost shuddered violently, feeling like she’d seen daylight hauntings for the first time.
Fang Cheng woke refreshed next morning, only to freeze in shock upon entering the living room.
Ye Yuqing sprawled on the sofa gaming, while the female ghost hunched nervously beside her clutching another phone.
“Help me gank top lane!”
“Don’t let him escape!”
“Useless! Can’t even secure a kill!”
When the enemy top laner escaped their ambush, Ye Yuqing smacked the ghost’s head hard.
The spirit covered her head with both hands, emitting pitiful whimpers.
Noticing Fang Cheng, Ye Yuqing shoved her foot into the ghost’s lap.
The ghost immediately began massaging her feet.
“Meet my new minion!” Ye Yuqing announced cheerfully. “Well-trained, isn’t she?”
It had taken hours of “instruction” the previous night.
At least this flat-chested ghost wouldn’t tempt Fang Cheng’s wandering eyes.
Fang Cheng could only give a thumbs-up: “You’re a damn genius.”
While Ye Yuqing continued “training” her ghost after breakfast, Fang Cheng received a call from Victor.
“Survived yesterday’s explosion, I see. Lucky bastard.”
Victor admitted he’d planned daily check-up calls to see how long Fang Cheng would last.
“How’d you know?” Fang Cheng demanded, suspecting surveillance.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Victor snorted. “Saw your girlfriend’s grandstanding on the news.”
Religious conflicts fell outside Homeland Security’s scope – he’d learned everything from media reports featuring Ye Yuqing’s boasting.
Fang Cheng chuckled. “Think I’m lucky? Come join us then.”
Victor nearly hung up. Moving in with someone marked by the Grim Reaper? That explosion would’ve killed him yesterday.
Their conversation revealed three more external personnel had died after opening invitation letters.
Six deaths in two days from thirty-odd people – catastrophic attrition.
Before ending the call, Victor’s voice turned icy: “I trusted you, Fang. You’ve betrayed that trust.”