Chapter 148: You Are At Most A Maniac
Chapter 148: You Are At Most A Maniac
“I expected Qinggang would react, but I didn’t expect the reaction to be so big.”
Qin Ran seemed not to realize that Lu Xin was staring vacantly; however, as Lu Xin glanced around in several directions, a woman’s figure had appeared at every intersection nearby.
His expression remained calm, even though he clearly knew the person before him was an Ability User from Qinggang, and that the other party finding this Small Town and finding him meant something significant—he still looked composed at this moment.
He took a bite of corn and smiled as he said to Lu Xin, “You being able to find this place indicates Chen Zhong has fallen into your hands, right?”
After a pause, Lu Xin showed a reaction, his gaze focusing on Qin Ran.
Qin Ran looked at Lu Xin and explained with a smile, “He is an excellent man who doesn’t fear pain, so ordinary people find it hard to make him talk. Also, we had a prior agreement: if he fell into enemy hands and endured for three days, he could confess everything. Yet you found your way here so quickly…” He paused, then added with a smile, “I am very curious, what did you do to him?”
…
“Strictly speaking, I didn’t do anything to him; he confessed voluntarily,” Lu Xin answered honestly. “And you shouldn’t be shocked!”
“You committed such a huge crime in Qinggang, killing so many people; you must have foreseen we would come looking for you.”
…
Hearing Lu Xin’s words, Qin Ran seemed slightly surprised. “You came here for those people from Qinggang?”
Lu Xin also appeared baffled. “So many people died; isn’t it normal for me to come find you?”
Qin Ran hesitated, then gently shook his head.
His expression seemed very strange, as if he found it somewhat laughable and absurd.
After a while, he chuckled and said, “I thought you were pursuing me so relentlessly because you recognized the value of that painting.”
“That painting?”
If Qin Ran hadn’t brought it up, Lu Xin would have almost forgotten about the painting. He paused, then softly explained, “If the painting is still in your hands, I will take it back to deliver the mission later. If not, it doesn’t matter!”
“What matters is you!”
As he spoke, he glanced towards the room behind Qin Ran and said, “But I recall there were seven people in your group.”
“Aside from you and Chen Zhong, there are five more remaining—not a single one can be missing.”
…
Qin Ran’s eyes fixed intently on Lu Xin, as if searching for some hint of mockery or other expression on his face.
But there was nothing; he appeared only serious and peculiarly sincere.
This meant Lu Xin was speaking truthfully.
Consequently, his expression became uneasy. “Little brother, it can’t be that extreme?”
“You chased me relentlessly for over a thousand miles, even directly following me into this place, all for the sake of those few lives?”
…
His tone was filled with incomprehension, and Lu Xin became puzzled by him as well.
His eyebrows knitted tightly. “Those were all living people—over two thousand! How can you be so dismissive?”
…
“Ha ha…”
This time, Qin Ran genuinely laughed, finding it truly amusing. He pointed at Lu Xin as if wanting to say something, but couldn’t help continuing to laugh. After laughing for a while, he added, “Little brother, you’re an Ability User too, right? I remember you’re a Spider-Type?”
“Haven’t you realized that we are different from ordinary people?”
“Things we can achieve are beyond their capabilities—they even struggle to comprehend them!”
“I trust what one person said: To ordinary people, we are like gods…”
“This world under the Crimson Moon belongs to us; we do whatever we please. If you sought me for that painting or because I ambushed you, I could understand. But saying you came for those people…”
“…Ha ha ha!”
…
Watching Qin Ran laugh so joyfully, Lu Xin first reflected on himself.
Did I say the wrong thing?
Did I do wrong?
Then he realized his actions weren’t problematic.
So, he frowned and said, “You ought to read more books…”
“Textbooks state that gods do not exist in this world.”
…
Qin Ran paused, gazing at Lu Xin suspiciously, even more uncertain whether it was teasing or serious.
“To take a step back…”
Lu Xin slowly lifted his head, looking straight at Qin Ran, and said, “Even if they did exist, they wouldn’t resemble how you are.”
“It definitely wouldn’t be someone like me.”
“So, at most, you’re a maniac…”
“…”
As he spoke these words, he lifted his foot and walked forward.
This guy was a lunatic, his laughter grating on the nerves, so it was best to grab him first.
Then, just as Lu Xin stepped forward, Qin Ran’s laughter abruptly ceased. He straightened up, staring coldly at Lu Xin.
Not far away, Mother said softly, “Be careful.”
…
…
At that same moment, intense bursts of fire erupted from the pitch-black rooms behind Qin Ran.
It was the muzzle flash of gunfire.
In that brief light, it illuminated several faces hidden behind the windows—burly figures clad in the same mercenary fatigues as Qin Ran.
The flashes of light flickered first, followed only then by the deafening roar of gunfire.
Then, bullets flew out one after another, speckling the air, weaving into a net.
When tension sets in, everything seems to slow down, yet it happens incredibly fast.
With Little Sister by his side, Lu Xin’s reactions and speed were beyond that of any ordinary person.
He could feel every bullet flying towards him, each bearing terrifying force, sealing off the path ahead.
Avoiding these bullets meant he needed to step back.
But stepping back would let Qin Ran escape.
This was the closest he’d been to Qin Ran since the attack on Qinggang City; he didn’t want to retreat.
…
…
“Go on…”
As Lu Xin resolved not to retreat, his ears caught Mother’s gentle voice.
She had materialized beside Lu Xin, blocking every bullet.
Bullets struck her body one by one, yet her expression remained serene and elegant.
Even tinged with a hint of unmistakable excitement.
Lu Xin stopped hesitating. He lunged forward, reaching out through the smoke-filled air.
His hand shot out, aiming directly for Qin Ran’s spine.
To deal with a Psycho-modified Human, a Puppet-Type Ability User, you destroy the spine.
Qinggang City’s files listed Qin Ran’s ability as “Unknown”.
Lu Xin wasn’t sure of the simplest, most precise way to finish him.
But destroying his spine first certainly couldn’t hurt.
…
…
“Huh?”
When gunfire erupted from the rooms, Qin Ran had already turned to dash towards them.
But he hadn’t expected Lu Xin to be this fast.
From a distance perspective, it seemed Lu Xin had slipped straight through the net of bullets to appear behind him.
Qin Ran seemed genuinely startled. At such close range, no one dared trade blows directly with a Spider-Type Ability User.
In his urgency, he only had time to throw himself to the ground, instantly rolling to return fire.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Multiple bullets shot upwards towards Lu Xin’s body.
But at that moment, Lu Xin’s body twisted in an aberrant manner, jerking rapidly to evade every shot.
Simultaneously, he thrust out the fingers of his right hand, clawing viciously downwards.
His initial target had been Qin Ran’s spine, but as he rolled, his heart became the new mark.
Whoosh!
His hand drove straight into Qin Ran’s chest and wrenched out a pulsating, red heart.
Thump-thump, thump-thump… It was still beating.
The gunfire inside the rooms ceased abruptly, as if those within were stunned.
Qin Ran, sprawled on the ground, curved his lips into a smile the instant his heart was torn out.
Lu Xin seemed to hear his laughter: “Heh heh…”
…
…
Right then, Mother, not far away, shook her head slightly and sighed, ever so quietly.
Lu Xin remembered something. Hastily, he shoved the heart back into Qin Ran’s chest cavity.
It wasn’t squashed yet, so it should still work, right?