Chapter 37: Gu Kunling’s Power

Chapter 37: Gu Kunling’s Power

But I was already bound, unable to move.

The net was tough. I struggled against it several times and could not break free. Cutting it was no use either.

I did have a small knife on me.

But the threads simply would not cut. I had no idea what material they were made from—whatever it was, it wasn’t in my knowledge base.

All I could do was watch helplessly as Zhu Zhaojie traded blows with that mist-shaped figure.

At least I had penetrating-wave ability, so I could still see the two of them fighting. Without it, I probably would have seen only Zhu Zhaojie throwing punches at empty air.

I couldn’t just sit there watching them fight, though. If the parasitic host called in reinforcements, we’d be finished.

Gu Qiutang had told me once that Soul Hunters were elite people too—that they had long since achieved human-brain interconnection and consciousness teleportation. Her accomplices could already be on their way.

I hurriedly activated my same-frequency sensing and electromagnetic-wave modulation, pushing everything I had into disrupting the parasitic host.

I sent thoughts hammering at her: I am the Court Chief. My name is Zhang Xiao. My name is Zhao Xirui…

I ran through every elite-person name I’d heard at the temple, one after another.

It worked—a little.

The interference rattled Zhu Zhaojie until she couldn’t help glancing toward me. That was all the mist-shaped figure needed. One crack of the Soul Hunter Whip and Zhu Zhaojie crumpled, knocked cold.

Then the mist-shaped figure reached over and dug the Wisdom Capsule out from the back of Zhu Zhaojie’s neck.

Zhu Zhaojie went limp all at once, like a patient whose last strength had given out, and folded to the ground.

The mist-shaped figure walked up to me and untied the net. “Move quickly,” they said. “Her accomplices will be here soon.”

Then they vanished without a trace.

I hauled Zhu Zhaojie up and ran for the park exit as fast as I could. I didn’t stop until I hit the main street, where I flagged down a taxi. Only then did I let myself breathe.

I told the driver to head for Mingguang Bridge. Gu Qiutang had mentioned a safe house there.

A safe house was one of the resistance organization’s hidden outposts scattered in various places—stocked with basic supplies and medical provisions, shielded against electronic detection.

I got Zhu Zhaojie there quickly.

Then I called Zhu Shiqing and handed her over to his care, telling the two of them to lie low there for the time being.

By then Zhu Zhaojie had regained consciousness. She was lying on the bed, her face tight with pain. But when she saw Zhu Shiqing, a faint smile crossed her face, and she managed to call out:

“Dad.”

That long-absent word broke Zhu Shiqing completely. Tears spilled down his face and he kept answering her, over and over.

I said, “Zhaojie took a bad hit this time. Let her recover here for now—I’ll need you to look after her. Don’t go out unless you have to. Give it some time, and I’ll find a way to ease her pain.”

Zhu Zhaojie had probably come back to herself. Fighting through the pounding in her head, she gave me a small nod. I went over and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Trust me. You’re going to be all right.”

Then I left the safe house and went straight home.

Given the Sweepers’ detection capabilities, tonight’s fight with the parasitic host would not have gone unnoticed—the Soul Hunters and Sweepers both would know about it. If I was home and they couldn’t locate Zhu Zhaojie, that was the safest arrangement for both of us.

I didn’t know whether there were other trackers on her. Fortunately, the safe house had shielding. Even if there were, they shouldn’t be able to lock onto her under normal circumstances.

That night moved slowly.

I slept deeply, though. The biggest threat that had been hovering beside me for so long had finally been dealt with. Something loosened in my chest.

I wasn’t afraid of the Soul Hunters coming after me—hiding would be…