Doomsday Spiritual Artifact Master

Chapter 59.2 – Tongwan Hospital (13)
◎ Bad Seed ◎

 

“Where is he?” Wu Juemin stared intently at the kneeling man.

There was hope! Wu Xianghai’s eyes darted around, attempting to buy some time.

“Once, when I was buying a slot from the intermediary, I saw that person, he was with someone with blue eyes, at, at…”

“Where!” Wu Juemin shouted sharply.

Wu Xianghai’s breath became rapid, the pressure making his mental power run wild, about to explode.

“Manzoni Street, Number 16! The person is there! I’m sure!”

While Wu Juemin pondered the address for a second, Wu Xianghai’s ability suddenly expanded outward, pushing away the few people in front of him.

Wu Juemin realized and punched.

“Bang!”

A severe impact rang out. The ability barrier, released at full strength, surprisingly withstood his attack.

Wu Juemin attacked again, one punch after another, with astonishing destructive power. However, the air barrier tightly wrapped around Wu Xianghai, like an impenetrable cocoon, unable to reach his true self.

“You can’t kill me! You can’t kill me!”

Wu Xianghai laughed manically. He now possessed a defensive ability, and nobody could break his barrier.

“Great stuff, Deputy Captain Maeda’s ability. Hahaha, great stuff!” He described wildly, shouting fearlessly.

Wu Juemin was furious, thinking of Maeda Jiu, a trustworthy teammate who always stood behind him for support. That was his comrade’s ability; how could it be desecrated by such a person?!

With a slight movement of his palm, a highly destructive particle weapon appeared out of thin air. Wu Juemin adjusted the aim, targeting Wu Xianghai.

If this shot went off, the entire house would be leveled.

But a figure rushed past him even faster.

Song Ke leaped high in the air, her weapon slashing with the force of tearing the sky apart!

The ferocious Tang sword chopped down, directly clashing with the barrier. A dazzling light flashed, the air barrier shattered inch by inch, and the blade continued down. Blood splattered as Wu Xianghai’s left arm was severed.

“Ah!!” A heart-wrenching scream resounded.

What did a defensive ability matter? What did an air barrier matter? A metal-type ability could cut through everything!

He was just a vile thief, inherently evil. If Song Ke wanted him dead, there was no way he could survive today.

Wu Xianghai rolled around in a miserable state on the ground. Seeing Song Ke raising her blade again, he raised his voice, babbling incoherently, disregarding everything.

“You can’t kill me, don’t kill me. Maeda Jiu, there’s something he hasn’t had a chance to tell you. Don’t kill me, I’ll tell you!”

This was becoming unbearable.

Song Ke lowered her eyes, her offensive in no way paused.

Never give the enemy a chance to speak; this was a lesson reiterated by her master.

The Tang sword once again chopped towards the barrier, transparent glass shattered, a clear path unhindered, viciously plunging into Wu Xianghai’s mouth!

Same position, same method of death—just how he killed Maeda Jiu, that’s how he died under Song Ke’s blade.

Blood splattered, and Wu Xianghai’s heart burst instantly.

His breathing abruptly stopped, his eyes bulging out, like a dirty rat in the sewer, stomped to death.

Song Ke withdrew the Tang sword, her face covered in bloodstains, expressionless. Another fierce strike, stabbing down.

Completely dead.

The room fell quiet.

Song Ke walked up to Wu Juemin, silent for a long time, unsure of what to say.

Finally, she said, “I’m sorry.”

The one who should have received the apology was Maeda Jiu, but he could never hear it again.

Wu Juemin looked at Wu Xianghai’s body on the ground and spoke coldly, “To enter the Azure Phoenix’s ranks of awakeners, one must not only pass the ability assessment but also undergo a test of character. Both are essential. Therefore, not all awakeners can travel with us.”

“I was wrong. I shouldn’t have taken you with us.”

Song Ke had no words in response.

If it weren’t for Wu Juemin, she might have been trapped on the island in F177, helpless and waiting to die. This captain of the Azure Phoenix had done everything within his power, rescuing civilians and awakeners from different places, leading them all the way to evacuation.

He was undoubtedly a good man, but now, he said he was wrong.

Wu Juemin glanced at her and said coldly, “From now on, don’t see anyone in the team, don’t contact anyone.”

“That’s it. There’s no connection between Azure Phoenix and you anymore.”

Wu Juemin left.

Song Ke looked down at her own shoes, lost in thought for a long time.

“Ke’er…” Lin Youyou called her worriedly.

Song Ke snapped out of it, and when she looked up again, her expression was calm.

“It’s okay, let’s go.”

…

On the hotel’s upper floor, Song Ke sat on the railing, silently looking outside through the floor-to-ceiling window.

She had been in this state for several hours.

Xu Xing peeked at her from behind, hesitant to approach. Instead, he went to fetch reinforcements.

First, he went to find Fang Zhixu. Dr. Fang was lying on the sofa, the back of his hand against his forehead, eyes half closed. He wasn’t asleep, lost in thought about something.

“Hey, lazy old man,” Xu Xing lightly kicked his leg, “Aren’t you a doctor? My dad said you can come up with all sorts of comforting words. Hurry, go talk to my sister.”

Fang Zhixu grunted, “What’s it to me?”

He turned around, his back to Xu Xing, and added nonchalantly, “In situations like this, you have to find your own way out. I can’t do it myself, so how can I advise others?”

Xu Xing felt helpless in the face of his indifference, stomped his foot, and went to knock on another person’s door.

Zhuang Qingyan was in his room scrolling through the display, fingertips sliding rapidly, swiftly perusing a massive amount of data and information. Daylight shone on his profile, his expression especially focused. A night had passed, and Ferrara’s energy had been restored, but artificial intelligence was still absent.

Xu Xing fidgeted on the carpet, reluctantly speaking up, “Uh, could you go and talk to sister?”

He never really got along with Zhuang Qingyan. Strictly speaking, this was the first time the irritable little lion had ever softened, using a somewhat imploring tone to speak to him.

Zhuang Qingyan glanced at him curiously and teased, “What? Worried she’ll keep sinking into despair?”

Xu Xing pouted. Although he didn’t answer, that was exactly what he was worried about.

Zhuang Qingyan turned the wheelchair and changed direction, pressing the pause button. “Rest assured, she’s not as fragile as you think.

“But, it’s time to end the indulgence.”

As he passed by Xu Xing, Zhuang Qingyan flicked his head, saying, “Instead of worrying about your sister, why not focus on improving your abilities? Don’t always hold her back. Are you aiming to become the champion of swimming, or do you want to be a lazy fish that only shouts ‘666’?”

Xu Xing held his head in his hands, yelling in annoyance, “Mind your own business!!”

Zhuang Qingyan chuckled lightly and went to the balcony, passing by Xu Xing.

“What are you thinking?”

The wheelchair stopped behind Song Ke, and he asked in his usual tone.

Song Ke didn’t look back but instead tapped the invisible glass in front of her. This marvelous piece of technology could seamlessly blend into the air, like a barrier. Only when you pressed on it with your fingertips would it slightly reveal itself.

“Wu Juemin sa-said he was wr-wrong,” she calmly recounted. “He said he sh-shouldn’t have taken us to e-evacuate.”

Today was the first day of energy recovery. Looking down from a high vantage point, Ferrara’s streets were desolate, the whole city eerily quiet.

“He told m-me not to c-contact anyone e-else in the t-team.”

“Does this upset you?” Zhuang Qingyan asked.

“Not upset,” Song Ke shook her head. “I’m thi-thinking that m-maybe I was wrong t-too.”

She sighed and counted on her fingers. “I’m very, v-very unlucky, and n-not very s-smart. I-I shouldn’t have kept s-such a close distance fr-from them, br-bringing disasters upon o-others.”

She still remembered back in Hua City when Zhou Anqi called her a star of disaster. Song Ke didn’t take it seriously at the time and just wanted to give her a good slap. But now, she felt her words were prophetic. It seemed like people around her were always unlucky because of her.

“I-I shouldn’t have brought y-you all back. M-maybe wi-without me, things w-would be b-better.”

Her fingers weren’t enough, and Song Ke slumped her shoulders in frustration.

“…I won’t p-pick up people a-again in the fu-future.”

“As for Wu Juemin, I won’t comment; let him solve it himself,” Zhuang Qingyan said. “As for you, don’t take everything on yourself. Maeda’s death was because he encountered a natural bad seed like Wu Xianghai. In a sense, it was his own carelessness that was the fatal cause. It’s not your fault.

“Your luck is a bit lacking.” Zhuang Qingyan smiled. “It’s quite difficult to drag others down. At your young age, don’t be so superstitious.

“As for the people you brought back, let’s start with Xu Xing. There’s no need to say much. Those two coolies were turned around at your whim, yet they didn’t storm off. Even Fang Zhixu, if you were to go back and ask him if he regrets following you, he’d probably just roll his eyes and continue sleeping where he is.

“Their answers are all there for everyone to see. Aren’t you clear about it? No one regrets it.”

“A-and what about y-you?” Song Ke’s clear eyes looked at him.

“Me?” Zhuang Qingyan’s smile gradually widened. “You’re my golden thigh. I haven’t had a chance to hug you tightly, how could I regret it.”

Song Ke was left speechless for a moment. But strangely, her lips couldn’t help but curve upward, and a small dimple showed on her cheek.

Zhuang Qingyan’s gaze lingered on her face for a couple of seconds, and he leisurely added, “However, I agree with the last sentence. Don’t bring people back anymore. Your arms are so thin, and there are too many people to carry.”

Song Ke slowly turned her head, staring at him expressionlessly.

After a while, she hopped off the railing, murmuring to herself as she touched her stomach, “I’m hungry.”

Zhuang Qingyan’s wheelchair followed behind her. “Now that there’s no robot butler, we have to do everything ourselves.”

After walking a few steps, all the terminals, televisions, screens, and projections in the hotel suddenly lit up, displaying the same image.

A middle-aged man with a stern face was seated at a desk, arrogantly delivering a speech.

“I am Lyon, the newly appointed magistrate of Ferrara. I now announce that the artificial intelligence known as ‘Ilya’ has been completely eradicated. From today onwards, Ferrara will enforce new rules.”

“Rule one: Strict entry restrictions will be implemented citywide, expelling unidentified refugees.”

“Rule two: All music performances and entertainment activities are prohibited. Holding large public events must be approved by the City Hall.”

“Rule three: All residents are prohibited from hoarding any form of artificial intelligence. Those found in violation will be severely punished.”

“Rule four:…”

“Rule ten: The ongoing Throne Race Competition will be taken over by the City Hall, and the rules and procedures will be redesigned.”

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Qingyan let out a cold laugh. “Cancel all major events, but conveniently leave the Throne Race. It seems they don’t intend to let go of this lucrative opportunity.”

Song Ke furrowed her brow. “Is he announcing Ilya’s death like this?”

The resistance faction had just succeeded last night, and they hadn’t confirmed the final result yet, but Lyon was in a rush to declare sovereignty. Was Lyon too proud and reckless?

Wouldn’t Ilya make any move?

As they were speaking, a deafening roar echoed from a certain direction within the city.

Song Ke focused her gaze, “Is that the Sycara Theater?”

Just as Lyon was delivering his speech, thousands of zombies surged out from underground beneath the Sycara Theater.