Chapter 101: Making Money!

Chapter 101: Making Money!

Dragon Soar Internet Cafe looked no different from any ordinary cyber cafe.

In fact, business seemed pretty bad.

Dim lighting, a faint smell of smoke, and only a dozen or so active computers—it gave off the vibe of a place barely clinging to survival.

Chen Huai’an glanced at Lin Lingling beside him and asked, "Didn’t you say the bearded guy was coming to meet us?"

"Uh…" Lin Lingling hesitated for a moment, then started walking forward. "Maybe he got held up. No big deal—I’ll take you up."

They climbed the stairs at the back of the cafe to the fourth floor.

The stench of blood hit them immediately.

Lin Lingling’s pupils shrank.

Something had gone wrong.

The two quickened their pace, rushing through the corridor until they reached the only lit room at the end.

The smell of blood was even stronger.

Inside, three sofas were arranged haphazardly. A few people sat there, with the bearded guy in the center, head down, smoking.

On the floor in front of them…

Two mangled corpses.

"BOSS!" Lin Lingling called out as she led Chen Huai’an inside.

Her eyes flickered to the bodies for a split second, then her breath hitched, and a shiver ran down her spine.

The corpses had gaping holes in their heads.

The brain matter was gone, leaving only a hollow cavity. Their faces were twisted into grotesque expressions of pain, blood streaming from their eyes, noses, mouths, and ears. ꞦАＮ𝖔𐌱Ës

They had been Demon Slayers—White-Rank.

One of them was young. Lin Lingling vaguely recognized him.

She remembered…

He used to be a programmer.

They had even gone on a mission together once.

On the night they submitted their mission report, the guy had suddenly confessed to her.

Said he

liked

her.

Said he wanted to have a

football team’s worth of kids

with her.

Didn’t even care that she was underage.

Dude was eight or nine years older than her.

It had been an instant

turn-off

.

But seeing him dead here like this…

She couldn’t help but feel a deep unease.

"You two arrived at just the right time."

The bearded guy snuffed out his cigarette, his face dark.

"The situation is urgent. Some demon has set its sights on us. These two Awakened were killed by it—and then the demon dumped their bodies here as a warning."

"This thing isn’t just hunting us."

"It’s

mocking

us."

"The demons have gotten too bold!"

"Damn right! Once I master breathing techniques, I’ll make them suffer!"

"BOSS, what do we do?"

The Demon Slayers in the room were furious.

Chen Huai’an scanned the room, quietly nodding to himself.

These people walked the razor’s edge, protecting the mortal world from demons.

At least for now, they still had their fighting spirit.

The logical next step?

They would analyze the demon’s abilities.

Identify its location.

Then hunt it down together, proving the Demon Slayers Bureau’s strength, boosting morale, and reinforcing their unity.

Right?

Lin Lingling’s blood boiled with determination.

She clenched her fists and said solemnly, "Boss! Just tell us what to do—we’ll follow your lead!"

The bearded guy crossed his hands on the table.

His eyelids drooped as he looked around the room.

Then, in a deep voice, he said—

"We… run."

Chen Huai’an: "???"

Lin Lingling: "…"

"Brilliant move, Boss!"

"Yeah, a strategic retreat is key. The demon will

never

see it coming!"

"BOSS! THIS ISN’T RIGHT!"

Lin Lingling’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"That demon came knocking on our door, and we’re just going to run away?! We’re Demon Slayers!

And besides, running won’t solve anything—what, are we gonna let it chase us forever?!"

The bearded guy sighed.

He knew Lin Lingling had a point.

But that demon… was not an easy target.

He had spent the entire previous night in the Demon Slayers Bureau headquarters.

Yet, despite tight security, the demon had snuck in undetected and dropped these corpses in his office.

If it could do that…

It could just as easily kill him in his sleep.

He was the strongest one here.

And even he wasn’t confident.

If he brought the White-Rank and Instructor-Level slayers into this fight, he’d just be sending them to their deaths.

Now that breathing techniques had been introduced, it made more sense to lay low.

They just needed time—once they were stronger, demons like this would be nothing.

"Lin Lingling, I understand what you’re saying, but—"

"Understand what?"

A sharp voice echoed from above.

A chilling, deranged laugh followed.

"Ke-ke-ke~ Demon Slayers afraid of demons? Your first instinct is to flee?

How

hilarious

!"

"WHO?!"

The bearded guy’s instincts screamed danger.

Everyone snapped their heads upward.

The ceiling—

Was now covered in a massive black web.

At its center…

A spider the size of a conference table.

Its back faced them.

Then—

Its head twisted a full 180 degrees, revealing a ghastly human face.

The face resembled a mask, its features drawn in red paint—grotesque eyes, a nose, and a grin stretching ear to ear.

"A demon!"

The Demon Slayers drew their weapons.

Some had guns.

Some, like Lin Lingling, wielded blades.

But from the fear in their eyes, it was clear—

This wasn’t just any demon.

"Not a demon," the bearded guy muttered grimly.

"A Lost One."

His eyes darkened as he yanked open a nearby cabinet, pulling out a ridiculously large shotgun and a cleaver-like blade.

Then, he fired.

BOOM!

The spider tried to block with its web.

Taking advantage of the moment, the bearded guy roared—

"This is a Grade D Combatant-Level Lost One! You guys are outmatched—call headquarters! I’ll hold it off!"

"Ke-ke-ke!

You

? Hold

me

off?"

The Lost One lunged, ramming into the bearded guy and smashing him through a wall.

A pained scream echoed through the dust.

"CHEN HUAI’AN, LET’S GO!"

Lin Lingling grabbed his wrist and bolted.

A Combatant-Level threat was way beyond their league.

She had seen too many die.

She wasn’t some reckless newbie anymore.

The other Demon Slayers also fled.

It wasn’t cowardice—calling for reinforcements was their only chance.

Their only hope was that their boss could hold out.

…

"What the hell

was

that?"

In a deserted alley, Chen Huai’an looked at Lin Lingling, who was still panting heavily.

"A Lost One."

Lin Lingling wiped her sweat, then side-eyed Chen Huai’an—who wasn’t even out of breath.

"Technically not a demon. There are two types:

Awakened who gain powers and turn against society.

Awakened who receive twisted, cursed powers and are eventually corrupted beyond recognition."

"So… that thing was the second type?"

"Yeah."

Lin Lingling pulled out her phone, anxious.

"Lost Ones are mentally broken and insanely strong. They’re all high-bounty criminals. I need to call for backup!"

"A bounty?"

Chen Huai’an’s eyes lit up.

His lips curled.

"Meaning… that thing is

worth money

?"

Lin Lingling hesitated, then nodded.

"Of course. They’re wanted criminals. But I don’t know the exact bounty."

"More than demon bounties?"

"Definitely."

"Good."

Chen Huai’an pulled out a talisman.

Fact: He never felt threatened by the wolf demon. It instantly died.

Fact: He never felt threatened by the giant rat demon. It instantly died.

Now: He hadn’t felt threatened by that spider.

Thus—

Conclusion: The spider was about to instantly die.

Chen Huai’an turned and walked back toward the fight.

Lin Lingling gawked.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Chen Huai’an paused, then grinned.

"Making money."

…