novelraw Chapter 160: Intuition
Chapter 160: Intuition
In the dark, damp underground cave.
When Lei Chen led the purge team members into the lowest level cavern, the scene before them instantly froze everyone in their tracks.
Dozens of ragged, living people were curled up inside an iron cage in the center of the cavern.
Most were already emaciated to the point of being skin and bones.
Deep ligature marks remained on their wrists and ankles.
Their dull eyes stared blankly at the sudden intruders.
A few decomposed corpses were piled in the corner, covered in bite marks.
"They're the missing citizens," Lei Chen said in a deep voice.
At that moment.
Three black shadows slowly descended from the shadows in the cavern ceiling.The leading Aberrant wore a one-eyed mask, clutching an unconscious blond-haired youth in its claws.
It was precisely the missing son of Councilor Lin.
"Take one more step forward."
The one-eyed mask Aberrant pressed its sharp fingernail against Blondie's throat. "And he dies."
Lei Chen immediately raised his hand to stop the team members preparing to fire.
The entire cavern fell into dead silence.
Su Zhan's gaze swept over the barely-alive prisoners.
Everyone was shackled with iron chains.
Kept like livestock awaiting slaughter in this gloomy dungeon.
"Didn't expect this, did you? We can't bear to consume them all at once."
The one-eyed Aberrant dragged its claw across Blondie's cheek. "Especially ones like this... with such tender skin."
Lei Chen's fists clenched until they creaked, but no one dared make a reckless move.
Su Zhan couldn't act either.
Right now, he only felt his mission was pretty much complete.
He was just here for an investigation task.
Reasonably speaking, he only needed to investigate the full story of what happened.
Now he was basically done.
As for stepping forward to risk his life...
Better avoid it if possible.
Work is already tiring enough.
And this rich young master is in their hands—if he dies, who would get blamed?
All effort with no reward.
"Truly didn't expect you to find this place... quite surprising indeed."
The one-eyed mask's sharp fingernail gently traced across Blondie's neck, leaving a thin blood trail. "It seems the Aberrant Purge Division isn't entirely useless."
Blondie didn't struggle at all.
Sigh... not sure if he's unconscious or has resigned himself to fate.
Lei Chen suppressed his fury, voice low: "Enough nonsense. You're surrounded—our people cover this entire mountain. Release him, and I might consider leaving your bodies intact."
"Bodies intact? Commander Lei, have you mistaken the situation?"
The one-eyed mask laughed grotesquely, suddenly tightening its claw.
The unconscious Blondie immediately convulsed in pain. "We're in charge now."
The two other Aberrants behind immediately chimed in.
"Haha, hahaha! Commander Lei's brain isn't working right!"
"Don't understand the situation? Look clearly—this blondie is the real deal!"
The Smiling Buddha Mask kicked the iron cage.
Frightening the prisoners inside into huddling together in terror.
"What do you want?" Lei Chen asked through gritted teeth.
"Simple. You leave immediately. Once we're safe, we'll naturally release this precious young master."
The one-eyed mask tilted its head, leaning close to Blondie's face to sniff. "Tsk tsk, the blood of high-class people really is fragrant."
Su Zhan stood slightly behind and to the side of Lei Chen.
He noticed a thin, weak boy at the edge of the iron cage staring fearfully in their direction.
Wearing the uniform issued by Golden Sun Orphanage.
Probably Dou Dou, the missing child from the orphanage.
"Don't believe them!"
Someone in the cage with a blood-stained face shouted: "They'll never release anyone! Before this—"
Before he could finish.
The Mourning Mask suddenly lashed out with its claw, three bloody marks instantly appearing on the man's face.
"Quiet, emergency ration," the one-eyed mask sneered.
Lei Chen conceded a step: "We can negotiate, but you must first prove the hostage is still alive."
The one-eyed mask laughed as if hearing a joke, yanking Blondie's hair to force his head up: "Come, say hello to your rescuers!"
Blondie weakly opened his eyes, his lips moving as if trying to speak, but only spitting out a mouthful of bloody foam.
"Satisfied?"
The one-eyed mask released him, letting Blondie go limp again. "Now, you have one minute. If you exceed the time..."
It extended a crimson tongue to lick the edge of its iron mask. "We'll start our afternoon tea."
The purge team members' fingers rested on their triggers, but no one dared act rashly.
Suppressed sobs came from the prisoners in the iron cage.
Especially clear in the silent cavern.
Su Zhan remained vigilant.
This standoff was like a tightly drawn bowstring, ready to snap at any moment.
And the first to bleed would definitely be Blondie.
Because he held the most value.
As for those ordinary people...
They weren't even substantial enough as threats.
He hated situations with hostages the most.
Because it made taking action extremely difficult.
Really troublesome.
But just as both sides were locked in stalemate.
At this critical moment—
Three black streaks arrived instantly!
The one-eyed mask's head exploded first.
Jet-black feathers pierced through its brow.
Violent spiritual energy instantly detonated inside its skull.
Shattering it to pieces.
Together with that ugly head, it turned into a mist of blood.
Next was the Smiling Buddha Mask.
It didn't even have time to scream.
The second black feather pierced through its temple.
Spiritual energy rampaged through its body.
Its obese frame swelled even larger.
Then burst apart like an overinflated ball.
Finally, the Mourning Mask had just turned to escape.
The third black feather already nailed into the back of its neck.
The shockwave from the spiritual energy explosion made the iron cage vibrate audibly.
Its upper body directly vaporized.
Only two legs remained standing, smoke rising from the severed ends.
Only then.
Did the sound of folding wings come from the cave entrance.
A black-winged man slowly landed in the center of the bloodbath, giant wings fluttering slightly behind him, the airflow dispersing the stinking blood mist.
He didn't even glance at the three corpses.
Just bent down to pick up the unconscious Blondie.
"Esteemed... sir."
Lei Chen finally snapped out of it, his voice strained.
The black-winged man was silent for a moment, then spoke: "You've done well, finding this place. You share credit for rescuing Young Master Lin. Tell me, who first discovered this place? The Lin family will definitely not treat them poorly."
Everyone's gaze turned to Su Zhan.
Su Zhan didn't even react immediately.
Still marveling at the other's formidable strength.
To make those three Aberrants die on the spot without even time to react.
His strength must absolutely be above Tide Realm!
Only when everyone looked at him did Su Zhan nod toward the black-winged man. "It was me."
The black-winged man nodded appreciatively. "Truly accomplished at a young age. Where others didn't think to look, you did. Keen observation. The Lin family will remember your contribution to Young Master Lin. I specially thank you on behalf of the Lin family...
But now Young Master Lin's condition is poor—I must take him back immediately for examination. We will express our profound gratitude another day!"
Su Zhan nodded, showing understanding.
But since he said that, at the very least he'd give him some money, right?
Sigh, having this much is already psychological comfort for showing up to work.
The black wings suddenly spread wide.
Violent air currents blew, making it hard for everyone to keep their eyes open.
When the wind stopped.
The black-winged man and Blondie had already vanished.
On the ground, three blood-stained black feathers were slowly turning to ash.
"Student Su Zhan, how did you think of this place? We never imagined there was a hidden chamber behind the waterfall."
Lei Chen stepped forward and asked with great interest.
Su Zhan shrugged. "Intuition."
It's not like he could tell them... he'd read "Journey to the West" in his previous life, right?