Chapter 33: The Strange and Peculiar Creatures of Spirit City

Even though it was the middle of the night, as a second-tier city in the entire country of Huaxia, the nightlife had not yet ended, so Ruan Miao quickly found a restaurant.

It was a high-end western restaurant with a Mi Eight Zero three-star certification, and most importantly, it was open twenty-four hours, so it hadn’t closed even at this late hour.

After entering the restaurant, Ruan Miao chose a seat in a corner. A thoughtful waiter came over and handed her the menu.

“What shall I eat?” she wondered aloud, her eyes scanning the endless variety of dishes. Unconsciously, she swallowed, then began to order.

Feng Tianlin, in the form of a doll, sat beside her and fixed his gaze unwaveringly on the entrance.

“Feng Tianlin, do creatures like you need to eat?” Ruan Miao turned her head and whispered very quietly.

But Feng Tianlin didn’t answer her question. Instead, he said coldly, “I sense the presence of another of my kind. He’s moving this way.”

“What?” Ruan Miao was stunned. She stopped ordering and handed the menu back to the waiter. Only after the waiter walked away did she look at Feng Tianlin. “Another of your kind? There are more like you?”

Feng Tianlin shot her a look. “I’ll explain the matter of sinister resurgences to you when there’s time.”

As he spoke, someone came in at the door—a figure dressed in a black coat, with a black-and-white striped scarf covering half his face, making his features impossible to discern.

The moment this person stepped into the restaurant, everyone inside became dazed except Ruan Miao, who was unaffected thanks to her Nightmare Mark.

“In a moment, don’t make a sound. Understand?” Feng Tianlin whispered to Ruan Miao, seeing that the sinister being was clearly here for him.

Ruan Miao naturally wouldn’t defy Feng Tianlin’s order. She nodded and fell silent.

The newcomer moved with extreme slowness, but kept advancing toward Feng Tianlin. With each step, his aura grew sharper, making one instinctively afraid.

Soon, the sinister being stood by Feng Tianlin and Ruan Miao’s table. He pulled out a chair opposite them, sat down, and stared at Feng Tianlin for a long time.

“So you’re the Nightmare Doll?” The being actually spoke, his voice hoarse as if forced from his throat, unpleasant to hear.

Feng Tianlin was surprised—he hadn’t expected another sinister creature in this world to speak. He himself could speak thanks to a skill and his past life as a human, but how could this one do it?

“You can talk?” Feng Tianlin used his doll voice, voicing the question in his heart.

“Can’t you?” the sinister being responded.

This left Feng Tianlin speechless. Right, if he could speak, why shouldn’t others?

With that, Feng Tianlin decided to change the subject first. “What do you want with me?”

This made the sinister being pause. “You don’t know?”

Feng Tianlin was also taken aback. “How would I know why you’re looking for me?”

“Well, I heard that Tianjing City was taken over by a powerful being of our kind, so I wanted to see just how strong this one was.”

Tianjing City had been taken over by another sinister being? Why didn’t he know?

Feng Tianlin grew more puzzled. He heightened his senses and asked with confusion, “Oh? Where is this other being?”

At this, the sinister creature slammed the table. “Doll! Still playing dumb? You have two subordinates with you—one D-rank, one E-rank. Even though your own aura only shows E-rank, do you think I’d believe that? Do you think I’d let down my guard just because your subordinates are low level?”

As he spoke, the being’s aura surged, far surpassing D-rank—it was at least C-rank, possibly even B-rank!

Feng Tianlin remained unflustered and immediately spent thirty thousand terror points to upgrade his Disguiser ability from Level 5 to Level 7.

With Disguiser at Level 7, Feng Tianlin cloaked his aura in overwhelming strength—he could make it as strong as needed.

Under the intense pressure, the sinister being collapsed into his seat, his exposed eyes round with disbelief.

Good heavens, what level was this? So much stronger than a B-rank—A-rank? No, even A-rank couldn’t be this powerful. Could it be… the legendary S-rank?

No wonder this being could dominate Tianjing City and stand against the entire Huaxia Bureau of Sinister Investigation. Impressive!

Now, the sinister creature dared not make a single move. He just sat opposite Feng Tianlin, and the atmosphere became awkward.

Feng Tianlin, seeing the being staring at him, grew a bit uneasy. Had his cover been blown?

But in the next moment, the sinister being suddenly said, “As expected of the mastermind behind Tianjing City—your power is truly terrifying.”

What? The mastermind behind Tianjing City? Was he talking about him?

Feng Tianlin was utterly shocked. When had he become the mastermind behind Tianjing City?

But now was the perfect time to put on airs, and Feng Tianlin wasn’t about to miss the chance. “Hmph, tell me—what do you want from me?”

The sinister creature glanced at Ruan Miao, seeming troubled. “Could you ask her to stop drawing? It’s making me very uncomfortable.”

He could sense Feng Tianlin’s aura on this human, so he dared not act rashly. Otherwise, if an ordinary human tried such a thing, he’d have devoured her already.

Feng Tianlin looked at Ruan Miao and saw that the pretty girl had somehow produced a piece of paper and was sketching away, completely absorbed.

“Ruan Miao! Stop drawing,” Feng Tianlin hurriedly scolded her. If this being actually attacked him, things would quickly spiral out of control.

Though Ruan Miao was reluctant, she could only put down her pen and notebook, looking aggrieved.

Seeing Ruan Miao stop drawing him, the sinister being finally explained his reason for seeking out Feng Tianlin. “I’m the local leader of sinister beings around Ling City. I heard that a fellow called the Nightmare Doll took down Tianjing City’s Sinister Investigation Bureau, turning the city into a playground for our kind.

Although Tianjing City is just a small city, I’d never heard of anyone else daring to do such a thing. The other leaders are all cowards in comparison, so I admire you. I sent people to Tianjing City to spread the word, hoping to meet you.

Didn’t you come here because you received my message?”

After hearing his explanation, Feng Tianlin was more confused than ever. Local leader? Tianjing City is a playground for sinister beings? He came because he got the message?

“Yes, I did receive your message. I came to ask for your help,” Feng Tianlin feigned calm, responding coolly.

What else could it be but a ploy to gather information?

“There’s something you can’t handle?” The sinister being was stunned. B-rank was already the peak of Ling City’s power. Someone of Feng Tianlin’s supposed level could act without fear.

“I come from ancient times,” Feng Tianlin said off the cuff, hoping this would cover his ignorance as he probed for more information.

To his surprise, the sinister being nodded knowingly, as if it were only natural. “Oh, I guessed as much.”