Chapter 302: Locked from the Inside

After Gray Rat finished speaking, he slammed his hand on the table, grabbed his phone, and stormed out of the study.

Xing Guang watched indifferently as his back disappeared. After a moment, he raised a hand and gently pressed his forehead.

Ever since losing the Gu Insect Master, he had barely any capable people left. The puppet master’s effects were similar to the Gu Insect Master’s, which was why the Star Association was determined to obtain the puppet master Card. This was also Xing Guang’s main reason for coming to Jinnan City.

He just hadn’t expected the Hidden Boss to come to Jinnan City. The controversy over the dismemberment case had long since passed, so he had no idea how the topic had been stirred up again.

“Sigh…”

A long sigh echoed in the study.

The antique clock on the desk went TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Xing Guang sat at the desk, his gaze angled slightly to fall on the curtains to the side.

The seemingly still curtains had tassels at the bottom that were swaying slightly.

He sighed again and said, “Come out. Your breathing is too loud.”

The curtains trembled a few times, and then a tense hand reached out.

The hand sluggishly pushed the curtains aside, and the person behind them slowly walked out. It was Fang Ye.

“You knew I was hiding here…” Fang Ye stared nervously at Xing Guang, his heart pounding.

He had heard everything Gray Rat said. He never would have imagined that his own employer was an Alien Species!

‘I thought this job would set me on the path to success, but instead I’ve come face to face with death. Now that I’ve discovered they’re Alien Species, is there any way for me to get out of this alive?’

‘Should I run?’

‘Or should I kill him?’

‘There are only the two of them in the room. This is the perfect time to strike. If I delay and the other Alien Species comes back, I’ll really have no chance of escape!’

‘But he looks so confident. Is now really the right time to make a move?’

Fang Ye couldn’t help but grit his teeth, cursing himself inwardly: ‘What am I hesitating for?! If I don’t act now, am I just supposed to hope he’ll let me go?! They’re Alien Species! The kind that kill without batting an eye!’

Just then, Xing Guang raised a hand.

Fang Ye was instantly alarmed. His right arm immediately transformed into a spiny fin, and without a second thought, he thrust it toward Xing Guang’s raised hand!

With a sickening squelch, the fin pierced through his palm!

The deadly venom coating the fin’s surface immediately began to spread from the wound up his arm.

Fang Ye froze.

He hadn’t expected to actually land the blow, nor had he expected the other man to have no intention of dodging.

“If I were you, I would have glanced out the window before making a move,” Xing Guang said, his expression unchanged, a hint of pity in his eyes.

A wave of panic hit Fang Ye. He quickly retracted his fin and whipped his head around to look out the window.

More than a dozen people had entered the courtyard outside. The one in the lead was a young girl, and Gray Rat, who had just gone downstairs, was with them, speaking animatedly to her. During their conversation, they both glanced toward the study window a few times, frightening Fang Ye into scrambling back.

Xing Guang materialized a recovery potion, injected it into the wound, and then casually began to bandage it.

Fang Ye was at a loss. He heard the group from downstairs enter the house. Footsteps were coming from the direction of the stairs—they were on their way up!

Xing Guang glanced at him and said coolly, “Go close the door and lock it from the inside.”

Fang Ye’s mind was a blank. He was no match for so many Alien Species on his own. Hearing Xing Guang’s words, he instinctively did as he was told, scrambling forward to shut the door!

BANG!

The study door was shut.

Then came a soft CLICK as the lock was turned.

For the first time, Fang Ye found the sound of a locking door to be so beautiful.

He had a moment of respite, a chance to think. He looked up at Xing Guang, who was in front of the desk, and asked blankly, “Why did you help me?”

The corners of Xing Guang’s mouth curved up, but he didn’t speak. He just gently placed a finger to his lips in a hushing gesture.

The footsteps outside the door were getting closer. Fang Ye’s face was deathly pale as he held his breath.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK—

“Why is the door closed?” Gray Rat complained from outside.

A girl’s soft, thin voice followed. “Mr. Cheng, I’ve brought the people. Would you like to take a look?”

From inside the room, Xing Guang replied, “I’m tired. I’m resting.”

There was a moment of silence outside the door, then the footsteps started up again, but this time they were moving away from the study.

Fang Ye lowered his head and found that his palms were slick with sweat.

“So, tell me, why were you hiding in my study?” Xing Guang asked him.

Fang Ye’s mind was buzzing. After his narrow escape, it was as if every nerve in his body had short-circuited, unable to process Xing Guang’s question.

Xing Guang chuckled. “What, scared stiff? If you’re so afraid of dying, why did you choose to become a Hunter?”

Fang Ye finally snapped back to his senses.

But even after coming to, he didn’t know how to answer.

‘Was I scared stiff? Am I afraid of dying?’

‘Who isn’t afraid of death? Anyone would be scared out of their wits in this situation! After all, with that many Alien Species right outside the door, any normal person would be terrified!’

‘…But if you want to become a hero, you have to have extraordinary courage. Like Feng Ling.’

Fang Ye didn’t know why he was thinking of Feng Ling at a time like this. Perhaps it was because he felt he was close to death and would never be able to achieve his dream.

“Are you thinking about Feng Ling?” Xing Guang asked.

Fang Ye’s heart leaped in shock. He looked up at Xing Guang in disbelief.

“My Card often lets me see many things,” Xing Guang said with a smile. “None of your thoughts are a secret to me. Fang Ye, you’re mourning your dream, aren’t you?”

“…So what if I am?” Fang Ye retorted, gritting his teeth. “You don’t have to put on an act. I know you’ve already killed He Su, and my fate will be the same as his. But the corporation will definitely notice, and the end for you Alien Species won’t be any better than mine!”

Xing Guang’s smile widened. “When did I ever say I was going to kill you? If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t have had you close the study door just now.”

Fang Ye stood by the door, eyeing him with a suspicious and wary gaze.

Xing Guang used his uninjured hand to pick up the teacup on the desk—he had wanted to do this earlier but had his palm pierced by Fang Ye instead.

“Not only will I not kill you, but I will also let you live a good, long life,” Xing Guang said with a smile.

Fang Ye felt there was a malicious intent behind the man’s smile and couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”

Xing Guang took a sip of tea and said unhurriedly, “Because you admire Feng Ling.”

“I… admire Feng Ling?” Fang Ye was confused. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Xing Guang sneered, his eyes churning with thick loathing. “You don’t understand? Then let me explain it to you. It’s because I want you to see just how mediocre, frail, hypocritical, and ignorant this person you admire is. Shattering the pedestal you’ve placed her on would bring me far more pleasure than simply killing you. Do you understand now?”

Fang Ye was stunned. “You… you’re going to kill Feng Ling…”

Xing Guang stood up and slowly walked toward Fang Ye. “I’m not just going to kill her,” he said. “I’m going to utterly destroy her.”

He raised his injured hand and placed it on Fang Ye’s shoulder. Blood seeped through the bandage, staining Fang Ye’s shirt red.

Xing Guang leaned in and whispered into Fang Ye’s ear with a smile, “From this day forward, you are my audience.”