Chapter 184: Two Monsters
Chapter 184: Two Monsters
“They’ve come, two of them.”
Sensing the twisted mental power coalescing beneath the building, Drunkard’s expression grew graver. She lowered her voice, speaking to Lu Xin: “I’ve enveloped the entire building with my ability, so they can’t pinpoint my apartment. They’re patient, searching floor by floor. Tonight won’t be easy to fend them off, but their existence is limited—each manifestation lasts only about three to four minutes.
“From my observations, unlike ordinary Psychic Entities, these have strong purposefulness. Clearly, someone is controlling them!
“I suspect the controller is hiding nearby. That’s where you come in…
“While these Psychic Entities search for me, go outside and scout. My estimate is the controller shouldn’t be far. If you can find them, or determine how they operate, our job here is done…”
“…”
Lu Xin finally understood why Drunkard had requested Spider-Type support. He gave a slight nod.
“Be careful!”
Then he picked up his bag, quietly pushed the door open, stepped into the living room, and called softly: “Little Sister.”
The surroundings were utterly silent; there was no response.
Only in Drunkard’s parents’ room could faint, unconscious smiles be seen on the faces of the couple, deeply asleep thanks to alcohol.
“Finally, someone calls Wu Gege ‘Little Sister’…”
“…”
Little Sister hadn’t followed him again. That kid is really misbehaving…
With no movement after his call, Lu Xin grew anxious.
During the last Ghost capture, Little Sister hadn’t been very cooperative.
This time, she hadn’t even shown up yet.
He was here for support; Drunkard’s plan had to take priority. Spotting the source of the two Psychic Entities within these minutes was the critical task. Yet, that troublesome girl was missing at the crucial moment…
…With such a work ethic, how is she supposed to survive in society?
…
Worried for Little Sister’s future, Lu Xin tiptoed out the door and headed straight down the hall.
The hallway had a side window. Lu Xin climbed out through it.
Drunkard lived on the twelfth floor. Looking down, darkness yawned, dizzying and deep.
Even without Little Sister, Lu Xin could borrow her abilities. He took a deep breath, his body entering an unnervingly calm state. Every part of him seemed held in perfect, strange balance. Clenching his backpack with his teeth, both hands pressing against the wall, he swung his body forward, leaving the narrow ledge of the window behind. Suspended, he clung flat against the building’s exterior surface.
He had to admit: while his body could achieve this, his mind was terrified.
Let go even slightly, and it would all end like a smashed watermelon.
“Three to four minutes…”
He silently chanted the timeframe to himself, a reminder, then began sliding directly downward.
His shadowed form spiraled down the sheer wall like a spider, reaching the ground level swiftly. Veering around the corner, he peered out.
Under the curved arc of the Crimson Moon in the sky, two massive Monsters clung to the façade of the residential complex.
One stood three to four meters tall, body bloated and limbs spindly.
Most horrifically, it lacked a head. Instead, a gaping mouth yawned grotesquely from its abdomen. Strung around its torso, however, was a ghastly “necklace,” fashioned from seemingly fresh, bloodied human heads.
These heads were horrifyingly alive—eyes blinking, lips smacking eagerly—acting as grotesque sentinels for the Monster.
The other resembled a creeping, vine-like bug. Flat against the building’s surface, it extended upwards, inch by painstaking inch. It branched numerous times, each tendril tipped with a distinct eye pressed close to various windows, peering relentlessly into the apartments within.
…
“So this is how they’re searching for Drunkard?”
Lu Xin immediately confirmed Drunkard’s judgment.
These two Psychic Entities were indeed searching for her, likely under external control.
Ordinary, feral Psychic Entities act only on Instinct—Contaminating, attacking, and devouring anything living they encounter.
Feral Psychic Entities would have indiscriminately laid siege to the entire building, the whole complex, without the methodical, floor-by-floor search these two exhibited.
They were being purposefully directed. But where was the puppetmaster?
Lu Xin scanned the distance, recalling the two Monsters appeared to approach from two distinct directions.
Following both paths backwards logically, their point of convergence should be the controller’s location.
Mind made up, Lu Xin drew his pistol. His body slightly arched, he exploded forward into the night, leveraging the shadows.
The paths within Drunkard’s complex were curved, looping around the central buildings like an embrace. Streetlights dotted these winding lanes. Lu Xin ignored their crossing points, sticking to the outer arc as he dashed forward. His grip on his gun was iron-tight, chamber loaded, safety off. He’d shoot immediately upon encountering anything remotely suspicious.
Using Little Sister’s borrowed speed, he’d traversed most of the complex within mere seconds.
Yet he saw nothing.
The compound lay empty, profoundly dark under the gaze of the Crimson Moon. Only the silhouettes of towering buildings stood visible. Utterly still.
Lu Xin frowned, straining his eyes to see further.
His mind raced. Given the streetlights extinguished along their path, the two Psychic Entities had come via separate paths. Logically, the controller should be at the junction of those routes.
Meaning the highest probability was the southeast corner gate of the complex.
But focusing intently on that spot… it, too, revealed nothing.
Even the small Security Booth stood quiet; two Security Guards were inside, chatting and smoking, utterly oblivious to the terror that had entered their domain.
…
“Huff…”
Lu Xin paused in the shadows, remaining unseen by the guards.
He forced himself to stay completely calm. Little Sister was still absent. There was no one with whom to discuss options.
Approximately one minute had passed. By now, Drunkard might well be locked in psychic combat with those two Monsters. His window—his job—was to find the controller within this timeframe and neutralize him.
Yet he saw absolutely no one. Should he just give up?
Discontent churned within him. Lu Xin took another slow, deliberate breath, consciously steadying his emotions.
His time in the Special Clean-up Department, dealing with various incidents, had subtly changed his temperament. At least he no longer simply panicked or grew flustered when facing trouble.
Since Little Sister was fooling around elsewhere, and this matter wasn’t severe enough to involve Mother or Father, he would solve it himself.
He pondered: what would Mother do if she were here?