Chapter 177: Return to the South Sea

Chapter 177 -174: Return to the South Sea

South Sea, Antique Shop Zero.

Helian hugged his knees, curled up at the entrance.

Sensing Helian’s distress, Xiaobai also sat quietly, keeping him company.

Suddenly, Xiaobai barked toward the end of the street, its tail wagging excitedly.

Helian raised his head and looked down the street.

A man in a black suit and a black trench coat was strolling toward them.

When Helian saw him get closer, he pursed his lips.

“Master, Little Master Hei is dead.”

Jiang Chaosheng froze for a moment. His eyes darkened, but he quickly composed himself and continued walking into the antique shop. As if he couldn’t care less about the news of Evil Crow’s death, he said nonchalantly:

“I see.”

Helian shouted after Jiang Chaosheng’s retreating figure:

“Sir, Second Master and Sister Meiting are here. They’re waiting for you in the shop.”

Jiang Chaosheng didn’t reply, simply walking into the main hall.

At the tea table sat a voluptuous and beautiful Jin Meiting.

When Jin Meiting saw Jiang Chaosheng arrive, she quickly stood up.

“Master.”

Jiang Chaosheng paid her no mind.

His gaze fell upon the shadow imprinted on the wall.

The shadow on the wall bowed with clasped hands toward Jiang Chaosheng.

Jiang Chaosheng frowned.

‘How did he end up like this?’

Jin Meiting lowered her head.

“Sir, I want to go contain the Taboo Item at Twenty-Fourth Middle School.”

Jiang Chaosheng walked toward the back room, intending to put the Ghost Gate Needle given by Niu Lang on the shelf.

Jiang Chaosheng said as he walked:

“You can’t handle it.”

“Evil Crow is dead!!”

Jiang Chaosheng turned around, his brow furrowed.

He saw Jin Meiting’s tear-filled eyes.

Jin Meiting was already choking back sobs.

“Sir, I have to go to Twenty-Fourth Middle School! I want to avenge Evil Crow!”

‘At first, I really hated Evil Crow.’

‘That guy… he stole my stockings, stole my undergarments.’

‘I really, really hated that stinking, lecherous Crow!’

‘But, he was my only friend in Antique Shop Zero.’

‘When I was at my most lost, it was Evil Crow who encouraged me to step out of Antique Shop Zero and prove to Jiang Chaosheng that I wasn’t useless!’

‘Without Evil Crow’s advice, I would have been a vase in Antique Shop Zero for my whole life, only able to watch helplessly as Su Daji snatched Jiang Chaosheng away!’

Jin Meiting cried out, her voice breaking with anguish:

“Sir! I know you’re afraid I can’t handle that Taboo Item, but I want to go!”

Jiang Chaosheng asked:

“Even Evil Crow and Yang Xiao fell at Twenty-Fourth Middle School. What makes you think you can contain the Spear of Destiny?”

At his words, Jin Meiting dropped to her knees with a thud. She looked up, her beautiful face streaked with tears.

“I—I’ve been trying so hard, but you’ve never spared me a single glance.”

Jin Meiting gave a bitter smile.

“In your heart, I must still be just a vase trying to please you with my looks, right?

But I… I’ve been trying and trying.”

Jiang Chaosheng narrowed his eyes.

‘It’s true. I’ve never really paid any attention to Jin Meiting.’

‘It has nothing to do with her looks or her personality. It’s simply because… she’s useless.’

‘In the past, if Jin Meiting had poured her heart out like this, I would have been completely unmoved. I probably would have just found her baffling.’

‘But gradually, after spending so much time with the sentimental members of the Taboo Association, my mindset seems to have shifted slightly.’

A hint of confusion appeared in Jiang Chaosheng’s eyes.

‘For instance, hearing about Evil Crow’s death made me feel… uncomfortable.’

‘For instance, seeing Yang Xiao’s tragic state, I felt a sense of pity.’

‘If this had happened in the past…’

‘Evil Crow’s death would have meant nothing more than losing a Taboo Item.’

‘Yang Xiao losing his cultivation would have just meant I needed to find another capable subordinate.’

Jiang Chaosheng said:

“Then prove it to me.”

Through her tear-blurred eyes, Jin Meiting saw Jiang Chaosheng looking at her.

She wiped her tears, her vision cleared, and she looked up at Jiang Chaosheng, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

‘She had never seen such a gentle look in Jiang Chaosheng’s eyes.’

‘Maybe it wasn’t gentleness. Perhaps that was just her imagination.’

‘But this gaze was infinitely better than his usual icy demeanor!’

Jin Meiting asked dazedly:

“What?”

Jiang Chaosheng’s voice softened slightly:

“Then prove to me that you’re not useless.”

With that, Jiang Chaosheng turned and walked toward the back room.

‘Jin Meiting didn’t know what she was feeling.’

‘Was it the satisfaction of finally being noticed?’

‘Was it excitement from her master’s gentle tone?’

‘She didn’t know.’

Jin Meiting slammed her forehead to the ground.

“Tomorrow, if I die, please use that Succubus Seal to find a new vase.”

Her myriad emotions were channeled into the sound of her forehead striking the floor and that single, final-sounding sentence.

Jiang Chaosheng gave no reply, simply continuing toward the back room.

Jin Meiting stood up and ran swiftly out the door.

‘In this battle, I must use all my strength and every trick I have.’

‘I’ll prove I’m not useless! I’ll let Evil Crow see that this “vase” can avenge him!’

‘If I die, I’ll die on the path to proving my worth, with no regrets!’

…

In the back room, Jiang Chaosheng walked to the shelves.

He placed the Dragon Pearl on a shelf.

The Jing River Dragon King had exhausted too much of its power and fallen into a deep slumber.

Jiang Chaosheng gently stroked the Dragon Pearl.

“Rest well.”

The dim Dragon Pearl emitted a faint white glow, as if responding to Jiang Chaosheng.

Jiang Chaosheng placed the Ghost Gate Needle on the shelf.

This Ghost Gate Needle was originally subdued by Niu Lang, not contained by the Manager.

Therefore, putting this Ghost Gate Needle back in the antique shop now counts as newly containing a Taboo Item.

According to the new rules of Antique Shop Zero, for every two Taboo Items contained, one can comprehend the secrets of one Taboo Item.

In other words, once the Taboo Item from Twenty-Fourth Middle School is contained, he can comprehend another Taboo Item.

Jiang Chaosheng paced the back room.

Yang Xiao’s shadow was imprinted on the wall, motionless.

Without Evil Crow’s constant chattering, the antique shop was eerily quiet.

Jiang Chaosheng suddenly muttered to himself:

“I’m still a little weak. The next Taboo Item I comprehend will be the Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun.”

‘The Penalty Fire Flintlock Gun, with the Olympus Divine Fire hidden in its barrel, is very powerful.’

Jiang Chaosheng continued to pace the back room, lost in thought.

‘To deal with the Spear of Destiny, I’ll need to prepare some Taboo Items that can counter it.’

‘Once I’ve gathered everything, I’ll head to Twenty-Fourth Middle School.’

‘I can’t just let that headstrong Succubus actually die at Twenty-Fourth Middle School.’

…

「Dusk Bar, the Witch Association’s meeting point.」

Jin Meiting sat on the main sofa, one leg crossed over the other. Her gaze was somber as she spoke:

“As soon as it’s light and the students start arriving for school, we’ll make our move.”

There were two reasons for this.

First, according to Evil Crow’s intelligence, it was clearly more advantageous for the Witch Association to act during the day.

Second, the Witch Association had not yet had time to recruit its seventh Witch.

Jin Meiting could inscribe the Succubus’s Evil Mark on a total of six mortals.

She couldn’t bear the thought of losing this upcoming, all-out battle simply because they were short one Witch.

They had already found many candidates for the seventh Witch, but there was no time for careful selection now. They could only pick the one closest to them.

The closest candidate was a fan of the Lazy Witch, Su Yubo.

A rather pitiful high school girl.

The Witches were very excited.

There was not a trace of fear for the Spear of Destiny in their eyes, only the excitement of sacrificing themselves for Dusk.

Jin Meiting looked at the newly joined Greedy Witch.

She remembered this woman. She was the proprietress of the coffee shop next to the antique shop.

‘I saw her once, from a distance.’

‘Fortunately, Xu Wei only saw my side profile.’

‘And as my power has grown, my features have become even more beautiful.’

‘So Xu Wei doesn’t recognize me; she just thinks I look a little familiar.’

Jin Meiting lifted her chin.

“Are you afraid?”

The Greedy Witch hastily leaned forward, her voice zealous:

“For my Lord, Dusk!”

The languid voice of the Seductive Demoness piped up:

“For Dusk, no one would be afraid.

Besides, the mere Spear of Destiny, the mere Holy Son God, are nothing but defeated foes of my Lord Dusk.”

The other Witches chimed in with their agreement.

Jin Meiting rose to her feet and announced:

“Our final sister is at Twenty-Fourth Middle School.

Let the Witch Association’s first holy war be her welcoming ceremony.”

Truthfully, if it were possible, Jin Meiting would have wanted Li Mingyue to be the final Witch.

But that stubborn girl would never betray the Anomaly Administration Bureau, not even for the Master.

However, Li Mingyue still had other uses.

‘Before we move out tomorrow, I’ll notify Li Mingyue that there’s an anomaly at Twenty-Fourth Middle School.’

Jin Meiting wanted to use the power of the Anomaly Administration Bureau.

The Witch Association’s greatest advantage was not its powerful combat strength, but its countless connections.

Those believers had long ago woven a web of connections for the Witch Association from all walks of life.

Jin Meiting tilted her head back, pressed her palms together, and said with pious fervor:

“For Dusk!”

The other Witches all followed suit:

“For Dusk!”