When they finally arrived at the dormitory, he immediately pulled Wang Chenghao up.
Wang Chenghao rubbed his drowsy eyes and was about to scream at the top of his lungs when Qin Ye covered his mouth.
"It's me."
Wang Chenghao nodded, still in shock. Whoever saw a person covered in blood standing in front of them at night would be scared out of their wits, okay?
It wasn't because he was a coward.
"We're leaving right away …"
"Huh?
Where to? "Wang Chenghao was reluctant to leave, but his mind was already filled with countless possibilities.
His drowsiness was immediately dispelled.
"It doesn't matter where we go. The further the better!"
Wang Chenghao nodded and packed up his things. He didn't even dare to take his bedding.
Ten minutes later, Qin Ye and Wang Chenghao boarded a taxi and drove towards the city center.
Qin Ye forced himself to stay awake as the car drove further and further away.
The driver couldn't help but shiver, "What the hell? Why is it so cold?"
"You won't feel cold if you drive faster." Qin Ye responded calmly.
He had already changed his clothes, and there was no trace of blood on them.
He stared out of the window with bloodshot eyes, only to see hundreds and thousands of Yin spirits flying in the opposite direction of their car. All of them … were drifting in the direction they had come from!
They're summoning all the Yin spirits in the city … Qin Ye clenched his fists.
It's almost five o 'clock now, and they won't be doing anything else.
But tomorrow … the day after tomorrow, the entire city would usher in a new phase of supernatural activity!
Even the superficial peace and tranquility of the City of Salvation would be shattered.
All of the Yin spirits carried a red lantern in their hands. Their feet remained motionless, and their bodies drifted in the air.
The lantern was inscribed with the word "Cao" in black ink.
Dragons gathered in the sea from all directions.
Qin Ye finally shut his eyes when it was five o 'clock sharp.
His first priority was to recover his strength.
After some time, he was shaken awake. Wang Chenghao looked at him with concern, "Brother Qin … how are you?
Do you need to go to the hospital? "
They had already arrived at the city center. It was 5.30 p.m., and the sky was already beginning to brighten.
He shook his head, "No need … get me a room. Let me rest for a while."
After getting a room, he slept for eight hours straight.
It was already 2.00 p.m. by the time he woke up.
His physique was different from that of ordinary people. By the end of the night, his wounds had already healed significantly.
He leaned back on the bed and mulled over his thoughts.
What to do?
There was no way Qin Ye would let go of a single shard. The first shard had allowed him to survive the great collapse of Hell, so what about the second shard?
Cao Youdao had already shed all pretense of cordiality with Cao Youdao, and the shard of King Yanluo's Seal had been exposed. Tonight … Cao Youdao was bound to conduct a massive search of the entire city!
That's right. Their Yin energy levels weren't strong enough to allow them to sense each other's presence. After all, Soul Hunters were only county-level officials.
But … Cao Youdao had seen his face.
And Yin spirits … weren't afraid of physical objects.
In other words, no matter where he hid, the Yin spirits wouldn't care whether or not he was obstructed. After all, they didn't have a physical body to begin with.
Even if he hid in the cupboard, he could still pass through the wall.
There was nowhere to run!
"What's even more troubling is the fact that this would trigger a series of chain reactions. If the Yin spirits were to revolt, the mortal realm would have no choice but to suppress them. There's no telling how many citizens would witness these supernatural incidents with their own eyes, and there would be innumerable clean-up efforts to deal with the aftermath. The Special Investigations Department would definitely be mobilized on all fronts …" Qin Ye sighed softly, "Not a single place would be safe."
"Cough cough …" At this moment, a weak and hoarse voice rang out.
Qin Ye froze, "Arthis?
Are you awake? "
However, there was no answer.
Several minutes later, Arthis' feeble voice rang out once more, "Do you know something …"
"I'm filled with regret right now. Why did I tie myself to you …"
Qin Ye was displeased, "You're lucky."
The two of them were already used to each other's throats. But this time, Arthis didn't respond. Several seconds later, she responded hoarsely, "Do you know about antelopes?"
Without waiting for Qin Ye's response, she continued, "Whenever a tiger hunts an antelope, it will desperately try to ram its horn against its prey … cough cough … but before it can do so, it will always run away."
"Do you understand what I mean?
Before it erupts, its first reaction isn't to retaliate, but to evade … cough … that's right … I understand you. You've been hiding in the mortal realm for far too long.
You don't dare to obtain a property certificate, you don't dare to take the driver's license test … and you don't even dare to possess any form of identification … cough cough … this has already become your first instinct … Whether it's the Wang Family's female ghost, the Assassin of the Underworld, or even this incident, you've only considered taking the initiative to attack when you're completely out of options … "
Qin Ye's cheeks heated up. He didn't know how Arthis had suddenly understood him so well. The fact that she was peeling away these thoughts that were hidden in the depths of his heart made him feel incredibly ashamed.
Arthis didn't continue speaking. Her voice was soft as a gossamer, "Then … do you know how Hell's illustrious reputation came about?
Why was it that the Assassin of the Underworld's first reaction when he sensed that you were an Emissary of Hell? "
Qin Ye pursed his lips and shook his head. He didn't understand why Arthis had suddenly changed to a completely irrelevant topic.
Arthis' voice was calm, "Cough cough … two hundred years ago, the seven great evil spirits of Yunchuan Province rebelled.
Seven local Soul Hunters perished in battle. Two Anitya Hellguards were sent to reinforce them, and not a single one of them retreated … "
"130 years ago, an incarnate revenant appeared in the mass grave of Nanjiang Province. Five Anitya Hellguards nearby perished in battle, and an Infernal Judge was injured … not a single one of them retreated …"
"Back then … I'd already encountered an evil spirit when I was only a Soul Hunter … If not for the fact that I was blessed with great luck, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to take charge of the Province of the Great Heavens …"
Qin Ye's face grew redder and redder. These words were like flames that burned his face.
His gaze drifted away, and he coughed dryly, "It's not like I wanted to be …"
Arthis' voice rose sharply, "But you've taken the Emissary of Hell's seal!
And you've even paid the price for your survival! "
Every word was like a thunderclap that completely shattered the last of Qin Ye's pretense.
"All living beings in this world have their own responsibilities!
The responsibility of an Emissary of Hell is to assist the mortal realm in its proper functioning!
Good and evil must be repaid in accordance with the Heavenly Dao. But you!
You've taken the Emissary of Hell's seal, and yet you're still trying to drag out an ignoble existence! "
"Do I want to?!!"
Qin Ye shot to his feet abruptly. Just like a fuse that was slowly burning to the end, even the most damp of explosives would eventually ignite into sparks.
He grabbed the soul sphere and bellowed angrily, "I'm just an ordinary person!
Yes!
I can eat the taisui fungus and not die!
I can resurrect infinitely!
However, death was also painful!
I'm afraid!!
Every time I resurrect, I'll be reborn with a brand new set of memories. Will I still be me if I forget my past?! "
"I run?!
Do you think I'll be able to beat them if I don't run?!
The graphics cards of Soul Hunters and Netherworld Operatives are different, alright?!
I nearly died a horrible death at the Fenglai Hotel!! "
"Have you ever told me how to increase my strength?!"
"Then have you ever taken the initiative to ask me about it?!!"
Arthis' voice grew even louder, and then she began to cough violently. Wang Chenghao blinked vacantly and tried to leave.
Qin Ye stared at him with bloodshot eyes, and then casually delivered a karate chop to Wang Chenghao. Wang Chenghao didn't even have the time to shout out, before he fainted on the bed once more.
What kind of person is this?!
Have you ever considered the feelings of your cervical vertebrae?!
The soul sphere trembled. This was the first time that the two of them had shed all pretense of cordiality and openly exposed each other's shortcomings. Qin Ye's chest rose and fell rapidly.
Arthis gasped for breath, "You've always asked me about how to solve the problem … what methods are there … but you've never … cough cough … you've never asked me about it!
You've never asked me about how you can become stronger!! "
"Cough cough … you don't have the mindset of an Emissary of Hell, the perspective of an Emissary of Hell, or the mentality of an Emissary of Hell … If you continue like this, it's only a matter of time before you're forced into a corner by an even more terrifying evil ghost … and when that happens, you'll realize that your horns have long since become blunt …"
"Hell has already been emptied out, and evil ghosts are everywhere in the mortal realm … I'm afraid that a great supernatural outbreak is just around the corner in the next few years … cough cough … it's not impossible to muddle through and live on without purpose … but if you continue like this … it's only a matter of time before you're torn to shreds by the swarm of evil ghosts!!"
"Even if I avoid Cao Youdao, there'll still be Li Youdao.
If not for the fact that our lives are bound together, I wouldn't even care if you died!! "
Dead silence.
Man and soul sphere glared at each other.
Neither gave the other any leeway.
The thoughts hidden in the deepest recesses of their hearts were slowly unraveled. Shame and anger intertwined, and neither spoke a single word.
Qin Ye heaved a sigh of relief and sat down on the bed.
His eyes were somewhat bloodshot as he stared at the soul sphere. Several seconds later, he rubbed his temples and panted viciously, "How do I become a Soul Hunter?"
Arthis' voice was like a flickering candle in the wind, "200 merit points … cough cough …"
"Tonight … Cao Youdao is bound to conduct a massive search of the entire city. Do you have any ideas under such circumstances?"
"Think … on your own!"
Arthis panted, "If you can't think of a way, you'll have to find a way to leave the City of Salvation and find a remote mountain or forest to linger on … I'll also have to find another host so that I won't have to live in constant fear and trepidation!"
"If you can't even reach 200 merit points … you won't live long enough to collect all the shards of King Yanluo's Seal!"
Her voice came to an abrupt halt.
There was silence.
The veins on Qin Ye's forehead throbbed several times, before he finally called out reluctantly, "Arti?"
No response.
"It's easy for you to talk."
He snorted and continued viciously, "A single vengeful apparition is worth 20 merit points. It's not as though the gates of Hell are about to open, and there's a huge concentration of Yin spirits around.
By the time I run all over the place to gather up the remaining 180 merit points, my head would already be rolling on the ground! "
"Bloody hell … can't you leave me some face?
I've never experienced something like this before. Don't you know that humans need some time to mentally prepare themselves?
People like you … would've been branded by the Obliterating Heart Cannon in ancient times … It's only because I've got a good temper that I've allowed you to stab me in the back. "
Qin Ye grew silent.
Arthis's words weren't pleasant to the ears. In fact, they had even exposed a side of Qin Ye that he didn't want to be exposed the most.
That said … he had to admit that these words were the best life-saving talisman in an era of great change.
The world was changing. If he didn't abandon his old experiences, they would be abandoned by the world.
He slapped his face hard and took several deep breaths to calm himself down.
Qin Ye's eyes flickered brightly as he fell into deep thought.
This was the scene that greeted Wang Chenghao the moment he woke up.
The rays of the sun shone into the room, gilding the young man beside the bed with a layer of golden light. His deep gaze … Wang Chenghao rubbed his neck and probed, "The Thinker?"
Qin Ye sighed with melancholy, "I'm thinking about whether I should take responsibility for you."
Wang Chenghao was instantly horrified, "I have something to say …"
"Don't say."
Wang Chenghao gulped nervously and muttered under his breath, "Bloody hell …"
He casually touched his buttocks, only to find that nothing was amiss.