17 – Taking Root

The color and l.u.s.ter of the incomplete Blacklight Virus was more glittering and translucent than that of the complete Blacklight Virus.

Lu Qiu saw the color and couldn’t help but ask the system: ‘Are you sure that this is the genuine virus after being completed?’

The system’s response was

Lu Qiu got instead ridiculed.

“Anyway.” Lu Qiu kneaded what was a gla.s.s vial with a needle. The vial’s volume was only one tenth of the original Blacklight Virus and it would be consumed after injecting two individuals.

“First let’s let the virus find its host.”

Lu Qiu leaning against the wall beside the door threw the gla.s.s vial with the needle into the air.

“System …”

Following the word spoken by Lu Qiu, the gla.s.s vial was suddenly surrounded by black radiance.

Afterwards, two seemingly extremely harmless bees appeared in front of Yang Feng instead of the gla.s.s vial. The incomplete Blacklight Virus capable of bringing about destruction was flowing in their bulging abdomens!

A bee summoned from the Underworld with the ability to draw in the poison from the outside and turn it into its own poison ability.

Requirement: 100 Despair Points

“The are more good stuff in the Underworld, ah.”

Lu Qiu used a portion of the system’s power to directly convert the troublesome needle into this pair of bees.

If Lu Qiu were to directly stab Yuriy with such a thick needle, then it wouldn’t matter how innocent he looked and his disguise would be wasted.

Therefore, Lu Qiu had chosen a covert method.

Wenhan City had a lot of bees … to the point that it wouldn’t be strange if some flew into residential buildings during winter.

No one would suspect that those small bees had something out of sorts stored inside them.

Although the pair of Poison Carrying Bees complied with Lu Qiu’s commands, but they still preserved their fierce nature.

The bees followed Lu Qiu into the living room.

The pair of bees itching to attack rushed at the humans in the living room the moment Lu Qiu issued the order.

But what amazed Lu Qiu … Yuriy wasn’t the first target of the bees?

As an Exorcist, wasn’t Yuriy’s flesh and blood as tasty as that of an ordinary person?

A bee unhesitatingly pounced at the young american man standing in front of Yuriy.

The other bee was the same …

Regardless of the species, a bee could only use it’s venomous sting once throughout it’s life … only once!

Lu Qiu swiftly forced the second bee to stab Yuriy in the neck after the first disobedient bee had attacked the young american man in the neck.

“What was that?”

“It hurts …”

The young american cried out in alarm while Yuriy cried out in pain.

The carca.s.ses of the pair of bees dropped beside their feet.

They’ve completed their mission …

‘System, why didn’t the two summoned life forms listened to me?’

Lu Qiu was very concerned about what had just happened! If he hadn’t acted in time, then the incomplete Blacklight Virus that was up to five times as expensive as the complete Blacklight Virus would have entered the American youth’s body in its entirety.

Lu Qiu hadn’t mentioned his plan to wipe out the Exorcist team!

The virus … in their bodies … desired the most to infect?

Lu Qiu carefully sized up the young american dressed in a black jacket and a light gray hooded sweats.h.i.+rt …

There was nothing redeeming about him. He was neither a Power User nor an Exorcist. Then why?

Lu Qiu put his misgivings at the back of his mind.

“Just ordinary bees …” Lu Qiu went beside the puzzled Yuriy who was covering his wound. He took out a band-aid from his pocket and gave it to Yuriy: “It’s rare to see bees during this season. Exorcist Daren, does it hurt? Please take this.”

“Ah … that … ” Yuriy looked blankly at Lu Qiu after receiving the band-aid …

He’s genuinely a gentle person, ah. Yuriy hurriedly lowered his head, not dating to directly look at the warm smile on Lu Qiu’s face.

This was the first time … that somebody cared … about his injuries …

“How is it?” Lu Qiu then gave Dana a band-aid for her cousin.

“Sigh, it’s ok!” Dana rejected the band-aid and then went to care for her cousin.

Lu Qiu gave the young american man a glance. He didn’t see any sign of him becoming a zombie.

Is this expected of the incomplete Blacklight Virus? It requires so much time to infect ordinary people … what made the virus so fond of this human?

After a simple glance, Lu Qiu didn’t care about him any more.

Anyway, those guys wont survive in this world for long.

The day when he would need strength was not far away!

Lu Qiu saw a purple color emerge on Yiriy’s skin before quickly disappearing.

The Blacklight Virus was already dormant in his body.

The seeds of despair were planted, waiting to take root and germinate!

Next, Lu Qiu needed to ad a ‘catalyst’ to hasten the speed at which the seed germinated.

“Exorcist Daren, is something wrong?”

Lu Qiu discovered that Yuriy had been looking blankly at him.

Was he seen through?

“Ah … it’s nothing.” Yuriy opened the band-aid and inhaled a mouthful of cold air before sticking it to his wound.

Is it about time?

Lu Qiu watched as the sun gradually rose outside. To a Vampire, sunrise was always so annoying.

Nighttime was when the Vampires were active. Daytime was when the humans walked the earth.

The best time to hunt Vampires was during sunrise.

“That …” It seemed like Yuriy had just remembered something and wanted to continue talking with Lu Qiu. Only that …

“Shatter!”

Suddenly, the sound of gla.s.s shattering arrived from the balcony.

The silver haired young woman looked at Stein. She just shook her head, turned around and entered the living room.

“Captain Daren, you’re not even willing to tell me your name? Am I not qualified …”

“The mission.”

She pointed at the rising sun and left without bothering with Stein.

Stein swept everything on the balcony with his rapier to vent his dissatisfaction. Looking at her rear view, the smile that was always on his face twisted somewhat.

“Yuriy!”

Yuriy hastily stood up from the couch after hearing Stein’s soft call. He rushed towards the balcony before looking submissively at him …

The smile on Stein’s face along with the slowly rising sun as a background, this scene had a sense of serenity to it.

But in the next moment, Stein raised his hand and heavily slapped one side of Yuriy’s face. He fell on the floor, with blood flowing from the corners of his mouth along his face and dripping down.

Yuriy didn’t protest nor resist after falling on the floor but rather looked fearfully at Stein standing in front of him …

“It’s … still not time to rest, alright?”

Stein narrowed his eyes opened slightly, revealing yellow pupils like a beat’s.

The feeling they gave off was that of a sword pressed against one’s neck.

“Little Yiriy, as a Hierophant, I’ll be quite troubled if you get too close to those civilians and neglect your duties. You’re puny and don’t have the qualifications to be a hero.”1

Yuriy clutched his red and swollen cheek. He didn’t dare to look straight at Stein and instead looked sideways.

I’m not a hero … not an outstanding Exorcist but rather a bottom feeder.

I got carried away. 

Everyone was looking at Yuriy. Their gazes stabbed like needles.

Like a clown.

The silver haired young woman never looked back nor glanced at Yuriy.

As expected, still too puny, ah. Yuriy clenched his teeth. If he were slightly stronger … slightly stronger …

Yet a rapier was pressed against the tip of Yuriy’s nose, a genuine sword!

“Your gaze, I feel like it’s disrespectful towards G.o.d. Is this the behavior of a Hierophant?”

Stein had detected the unwillingness in Yuriy’s eyes.

“I…”

But in the next instant, Stein kicked Yuriy in the chest. Without any strength to resist, Yuriy flew in the air before falling on the floor.

Stein still had the same smile on his face as he watched Yuriy fall on the floor.

“Have you forgotten what I’ve previously taught you? What else should I do? I’ll be quite distressed if you forget.”

Stein waved his sword as he watched Yuriy struggle to get up from the floor.

“I haven’t … Stein Daren …” Yuriy clutched his chest that was just just kicked. The pain was difficult to endure, but he could only bear with it.

If he exposed his dissatisfaction, then that man would continue with his torment … without the strength to resist, Yuriy could only bear with it.

Without strength …

Distracted, Yuriy felt his heart beating violently. A scarlet radiance streaked deep within his eyes.

What … is this feeling? Yuriy couldn’t understand. A trace of a dangerous thought had flashed trough his mind just a moment. The thought of killing Stein …

Could it be? Impossible …

Yuriy shook his head.

He stood up, went beside the corpse of the dead woman before using some kind of extraordinary method to examine her wound and determining the direction in which the attacker fled.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly as he silently watched the scene.

The planted seed taking made Lu Qiu somewhat expectant.

On the other side, Stein had noticed the rather happy smile of Lu Qiu.

With his beast-like instinct, Stein felt Lu Qiu to be somewhat strange.

“Civilian …”

“Stein Daren!” Yuriy suddenly spoke at this very moment: “I found the whereabouts of the Vampire. He’s nearby. We might still chase up to him if we go now.”

“Really? Well done. Little Yuriy, you’re qualified to be a loyal dog. It’s about time for us to set out and hunt the creature that defiled G.o.d’s brilliance. Everyone, follow behind my, but don’t wander around. I can’t guaranty your safety if you wander around.”

After being interrupted, Stein didn’t continue to find trouble with Lu Qiu and went outside together with the silver haired young woman.

“Sigh …” Yuriy sighed in relief as if he had just saved Lu Qiu’s hide.

Yuriy still could feel Lu Qiu’s kindness towards him as he touched the band-aid on the back of his neck.

“That …” Just as he was about to continue talking with Lu Qiu …

Yuriy became distracted …

As if a stranger.

Lu Qiu turned and went to catch up with Stein.

Without even looking once at Yuriy.

Yuriy opened his eyes wide …

Reporter Dana and her cousin looked at Yuriy somewhat hesitatingly before Dana finally pulled her cousin by his arm and they went to catch up with Stein …

Only Yuriy was left inside

That … was the reality.

The reality, ah!

Without strength …

In this cruel world.

One couldn’t even make friends and would get abandoned.

Yuriy could understand it … no matter Lu Qiu or Dana, they were but ordinary people and could only survive by following a formidable Exorcist like Stein.

He was just a nuisance without any use.

Even tough Yuriy knew that …

But tears of disappointment still slid down from the corners of Yuriy’s eyes …

‘Do you want strength?’ This sentence was incessantly repeated by a tempting voice from somewhere in the shadows and rang beside Yiriy’s ears.

Yuriy raised his head and swept the room with his gaze … but he couldn’t find anyone.

Now was not the time to think about weird things …

He wiped his tears and then went to catch up with the others. He submissively walked in the rear, not daring to speak with anyone.

And Lu Qiu?

He bit his lips so hard that he nearly drew blood.

Just to suppress his excitement.

Next, the moment Yuriy’s fear was converted to hate was the moment this team would disappear from this world!

1 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierophant

Translator’s ramblings: the poor fellow. Sometimes this story feels too d.a.m.n good, too many feels and fears, so relatable.