Chapter 42 - 39: Taboo Association vs. Evil Crow

Chapter 42: Chapter 39: Taboo Association vs. Evil Crow

Yang Xiao shuffled toward "Bai Litang," swaying like a zombie.

"How dare you forget the Manager. You should die a thousand, ten thousand times!"

His hand, clad in the Ghost Shadow Gloves, swept carelessly among the guests.

One shadow after another was grabbed in his hand, one after another was swallowed into his belly, and one guest after another collapsed in their seats.

After devouring so many shadows, the feeling of his soul being stretched to its breaking point was truly awful.

Although the wounds on Yang Xiao’s body had already healed, the tearing pain remained.

The dual agony of soul and body was a torment that, if used as a form of torture, would make one beg for death.

But Yang Xiao was a monster, a madman. It was his nature. He acted as if he didn’t feel any of this pain at all.

Or perhaps, to Yang Xiao, this suffering was nothing compared to the grievance the Manager had endured.

That was the Manager who had granted him his carefree nature, the one willing to shelter his shadow!

’That damn Crow, how dare it!’

A sinister, cold smile hung on Yang Xiao’s lips. As he walked, he extended his left hand.

"So, before you return to the Manager’s side, I’ll have to make you suffer a little."

A dozen or so Shadow Ghost Hands shot out from Yang Xiao’s body, clawing viciously at "Bai Litang."

He couldn’t yet skillfully control so many shadows. Some of the Shadow Ghost Hands slammed into tables and chairs, which shattered as if they were made of paper mâché.

Xia Li and the other Vampires, except for the one guarding Wang Lei, also charged at "Bai Litang."

In an instant, the scene descended into utter chaos.

The shrieking of the Crow, Yang Xiao’s crazed laughter, the battle cries of the Vampire shareholders, the sound of shattering tables and chairs...

The fake masters in attendance finally witnessed real Magic, a real battle between Extraordinary Beings.

They were dumbfounded, their eyes wide, feeling as if they were trapped in a nightmare.

...

In truth, if Jiang Chaosheng knew what Yang Xiao was thinking, he would have definitely said, ’That’s really not necessary.’

The Evil Crow had sealed its own memories and set up a perception-blocking ward in Pingchuan County to protect the descendants of the Wang Family.

This act might have been a betrayal of the Manager.

But the one it betrayed wasn’t Jiang Chaosheng, but the previous Manager—Li Qinglian.

A hundred years ago, Jiang Chaosheng hadn’t even been born.

...

The once-luxurious banquet hall was now a field of ruins.

Dust and glass fragments settled on the guests’ shoulders and hair.

They wanted to run, but they were trapped by the Shadow Magic Yang Xiao had cast and couldn’t leave at all.

They could only watch, forced to witness this grand battle of Extraordinary Beings.

The expensive suits and formal dresses worn by the Vampire shareholders were all in tatters.

If not for their inherent noble air, one might have mistaken them for beggars.

At this moment, with the help of the Shadow Ghost Hands, the shareholders captured "Bai Litang."

A look of bliss appeared in "Bai Litang’s" eyes.

’Is it finally over?’

’Can I finally die?’

’Will I finally be free from the torture of that terrifying Crow?’

From his chest, the Evil Crow’s furious voice emerged:

"If Master Hei hadn’t lost my Hiding Device, you trash think you’re worthy of catching me?!"

In truth, this battle was quite unfair to the Evil Crow.

First, both the Vampires and Yang Xiao had an Undying Body.

Second, compared to the Evil Crow, Yang Xiao and Xia Li were complete newcomers still in the Newbie Village.

But these two Extraordinary New Players from the Newbie Village each had top-tier, meta-defining gear. It was completely unreasonable.

Xia Li’s [Cain’s Seal] was a Curse personally cast by God.

Although Yang Xiao’s [Ghost Shadow Gloves] were a bit inferior, his combat talent was terrifyingly high.

Third, the Evil Crow wasn’t skilled in combat to begin with.

It had lost the Hiding Device it once used for possession in battle.

Using the mortal body of "Bai Litang" to fight so many Supernatural Creatures was truly exhausting.

After a long moment, the Evil Crow sighed:

"This, too, is fate."

Xia Li glanced at Yang Xiao, a look of appreciation in her eyes.

"It was a pleasure working with you."

A grin spread across Yang Xiao’s lips.

"Not bad yourself."

A Vampire dragged Wang Lei before them.

"Mother, how should we deal with this person?"

Wang Lei was already scared senseless.

"It has nothing to do with me! Nothing at all!

It’s all the Crow’s fault! The Crow caused all this..."

Wang Lei suddenly remembered something. As if grasping at a lifeline, he widened his eyes in expectation.

"That’s right! It really has nothing to do with me! It’s all my great-grandmother’s fault!

She’s the one who brought the Crow home! If you want to cause trouble, go find my great-grandmother!"

Yang Xiao and Xia Li glanced at each other, both seeing the disgust in the other’s eyes.

’How can a person be so pathetic?’

Yang Xiao glanced at Wang Lei and said jokingly,

"Your great-grandmother is already dead. You expect us to dig her up out of the ground?"

Wang Lei swallowed hard and hurriedly said,

"Her grave is in Pingchuan County. I can take you there to dig it up."

"Silence!"

A cloud of blood mist suddenly burst from Bai Litang’s chest. The Evil Crow’s head emerged, staring daggers at Wang Lei.

"How dare you disrespect Cuicui! She is Master Hei’s woman!"

A terrifying, bone-chilling killing intent, vast as an ocean, crashed down on Wang Lei.

Only then did Wang Lei realize that the meek and subservient Crow possessed such terrifying might!

In the past, the Crow had never spoken so loudly to anyone in the family.

The suggestion of digging up his great-grandmother’s grave had touched the Crow’s raw nerve.

The Evil Crow opened its beak and let out a sharp cry, filled with absolute fury.

A bizarre and wicked Soul Attack slammed directly into Wang Lei.

Wang Lei’s body went limp. He collapsed to the ground, lifeless. He was dead.

But it wasn’t over.

’Someone who insulted Cuicui couldn’t possibly be allowed to die so easily.’

’So what if he was Cuicui’s descendant?’

It, the Evil Crow, was a creature of evil from Yin World Luoyang Slope to begin with.

It had looked after the descendants of the Wang Family for a hundred years because of a single promise.

But insulting Cuicui was far more serious than breaking that promise.

The Evil Crow opened its beak and, with a great inhale, swallowed Wang Lei’s soul into its belly.

It could clearly hear Wang Lei’s soul wailing, begging for mercy, and screaming.

The Evil Crow was long accustomed to such sounds; its heart felt not the slightest ripple.

A minute change occurred on its body.

A brand-new black downy feather grew out.

Naturally, this tiny change did not escape the eyes of Xia Li and Yang Xiao.

Xia Li’s pupils contracted sharply. When she looked at the Evil Crow again, her gaze held a new layer of dread.

’The Evil Crow’s entire body of black feathers... they’re all made from living souls!’

’No wonder it’s called the Evil Crow. It’s evil enough!’

Xia Li suppressed her shock and looked at Yang Xiao.

"I should take the Evil Crow to the Manager and report back."

Yang Xiao glanced at the seated guests, a smile on his face.

"My work here isn’t done yet."

Xia Li chuckled.

"Alright."

...

「South Sea, Antique Shop Zero.」

Xia Li brought the Evil Crow inside.

The moment the Evil Crow entered Antique Shop Zero, the seal on its memories was broken.

It remembered everything.

The Evil Crow stared in astonishment at the young man sitting behind the counter.

’He’s a complete stranger.’

’Is he the new Manager?’

It flew to the counter and landed on its surface, staring unblinkingly at Jiang Chaosheng.

A long time ago, it had always stood right here, listening to the Managers’ chatter.

Returning a hundred years later, the familiar feeling was still there.

Jiang Chaosheng’s hand gently stroked the Evil Crow’s feathers.

’So this is a naturally born Supernatural Creature?’

Shock appeared in Xia Li’s eyes.

’The terrifyingly wicked Evil Crow is as docile and obedient as a pet in the Manager’s presence!’

Jiang Chaosheng glanced at Xia Li.

"You’ve worked hard."

Xia Li quickly averted her gaze and bowed slightly.

"Serving you, and serving the Taboo Association, is both my duty and my honor."

If anyone else had been present, their jaws would have dropped in astonishment.

The Female President of World Dream, a figure as proud and aloof as an iceberg, was being so humble to a young man?

Jiang Chaosheng nodded lightly.

"You may go."

Xia Li didn’t dare to linger. She bowed again and left Antique Shop Zero.

Jiang Chaosheng gazed out the window, murmuring,

"Nine more to go."

The Crow, standing on the counter, saw that Jiang Chaosheng was completely ignoring it and couldn’t help but ask,

"Where is Li Qinglian?"

...