Chapter 25: Where Did This Assist Come From?

Inside the Longde Hotel, in the main hall.

Facing a dozen men and women wearing ill-intentioned smiles.

The brute and the two psychics behind him turned pale. Had this 'Night General' called for backup so quickly? When exactly had they been discovered?

Why were there over a dozen Handlers in a single restaurant?

Were you all here for a team-building exercise?

While his mind roared in fury, the brute’s hands suddenly wrenched free, attempting to shake off the waiter and bolt for the door.

He was a Second-Awakened psychic of the True Martial Path, possessing immense physical strength and a significant advantage in close-quarters combat!

But his body suddenly froze.

Because, as the waiter's eyes flickered, he saw a colossal monster dozens of meters tall suddenly appear, swinging a fist directly toward his immobile self. The sensation of bone and flesh being crushed caused him to let out a scream of absolute terror.

In reality, he had merely been glanced at by the waiter before collapsing to the ground in agony. The pain from the hallucination was transmitted one hundred percent to his brain's perception. The mere sensation of being crushed was enough to strip him of all combat capability.

Spirit Eye Path, Phantom Eye.

The two rogue psychics behind the brute didn't even care about their comrade's safety; they turned and fled immediately.

However, they saw a female guest closest to the door rise elegantly, lift a heavy marble dining table with one hand, and swing it directly at them.

Their hearts leaped into their throats as they hurriedly reinforced their psychic barriers, intending to tank the blow and burst through.

Yet, when the tabletop struck their barriers, a massive force bypassed the shield and acted directly upon their bodies. A powerful shockwave exploded inside them!

True Martial Path, Internal Strike.

The violent impact caused them to vomit blood on the spot; one collapsed, falling into immediate shock.

The other endured the discomfort, pivoting mid-air to perform a sky-step, intending to smash through the second-floor glass and escape through the wall.

However, the moment he leaped, a short male guest suddenly appeared before him, throwing a punch directly into his face.

He was slammed straight back to the ground, unable to rise again.

Nether Path, Shadow Step.

Then, a group swarmed forward, binding the three of them like cocoons.

"Came out to help Doll hold down the fort, didn't expect to earn merit points too!"

"As expected of the Night General! His luck is truly unmatched!"

"What Night General? We should call him 'Night the Mob-Spawner'!"

"Next time we encounter a certain fugitive, let the Night General wander around more while we lurk behind him. Then nothing will go wrong!"

"Two First-Awakened, one Second-Awakened. If the Night General gets isolated and cornered, the consequences would be unpredictable."

"And today, they just happened to stumble upon them. It's a good thing we stepped in; if we had interrupted Doll's rare date, they probably wouldn't have survived."

The Handlers joked amongst themselves; they had gathered here specifically for Doll's date.

They hadn't expected to run straight into three rogue psychics. Weren't these just walking merit points?

***

On the other side, in an exquisite private booth on the second floor.

Li Yelai seemed to faintly hear screams.

Since becoming a psychic, his physical strength had increased significantly, and even his hearing had become much sharper.

But when he focused his attention again, only beautiful singing drifted from outside.

'Did I mishear?'

Li Yelai didn't dwell on it and continued chatting with Doll.

Doll was very active on forums and group chats, and she was quite lively when communicating via signboards—she seemed like a social butterfly.

But when she removed her doll suit and faced Li Yelai with her true face...

She appeared nervous and awkward.

Perhaps because she hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time, her whispered words were entirely different from the Doll online; she had turned into a social recluse.

But Li Yelai could understand; his dining partner had likely not communicated with anyone like this for many years.

The fact that she could now slowly and clearly articulate her words was already the result of private practice.

If one goes a long time without speaking, the ability to use language gradually withers away.

He wondered how many nights she had spent practicing in front of a mirror.

At the same time, Li Yelai learned some bad news: even a Handler of Doll's caliber could not completely erase the influence of a curse.

How was his sister's curse to be solved? Would the anti-psychic helmet still be useful?

Li Yelai pondered this in his mind.

Just then, a small, pale hand rotated a dish covered in red oil toward him. It looked like Spicy Mouth-Watering Chicken.

Beside him, Doll's face was filled with excitement and shyness.

"This... is delicious!"

As a veteran Handler, Doll naturally had no shortage of money. But having spent years stationed in the branch, every outing was essentially a mission, and no one could look her in the eye.

Consequently, she usually ate in the branch cafeteria and then returned to her room to dine.

She had never eaten food from a restaurant like this before.

Thus, upon tasting delicious dishes for the first time, she would immediately recommend them and push the dish toward Li Yelai.

"Thanks... it is indeed good." After tasting a piece, Li Yelai nodded.

"It's just that my tongue feels a bit numb..." Doll stuck out her pink tongue.

The booth contained a large round table, and Li Yelai and Doll sat side by side.

As Doll turned her body to look at Li Yelai...

Under the table, her fair, slender legs shifted, unintentionally brushing against Li Yelai's right leg.

Doll could even feel the warmth of Li Yelai's calf through the fabric.

A flash of panic crossed Doll's face, as if she wanted to pull her legs back, but in the end, she didn't move. She pretended nothing had happened, remaining quietly pressed against Li Yelai's right leg.

Her face flushed red once again.

The physical contact, the rosy complexion, and the pink tongue lent her face a hint of charm.

Unfortunately, Li Yelai didn't notice any of this. After thinking seriously for a moment, he responded, "Since you like spicy food, shall we go for hotpot next time? There's a place that claims to be authentic from the Sichuan Megacity."

Doll's eyes lit up; she had keenly captured the key point.

'Next time.'

"Can we... eat together again?" Doll leaned in and asked cautiously, her voice laced with anticipation.

As she leaned closer, Doll felt her warm breath brushing against Li Yelai's face.

While feeling shy, she quietly pulled back just a tiny bit.

"Of course, it's no big deal," Li Yelai nodded. "Next week—no, how about once a week? You can decide the time."

After all, even the investigators from Headquarters had suggested he interact more with Doll; he was currently the only person unaffected by her curse. If he didn't pay attention to her, she would be too pitiful.

Li Yelai couldn't imagine what would happen to Li Yunyan if he wasn't there to look after her.

In short, he had to prevent the worst-case scenario.

For Li Yelai, accompanying someone for a meal wasn't difficult; instead, he had gained a dining partner. Perhaps he could even apply for some funding for this.

"Mm-hmm! Next time, it's my treat!" Doll chirped, her eyes full of joy.

Soon, after they finished eating, Doll put her bear suit back on and left the booth with Li Yelai.

This left the disguised Handlers waiting in the hall feeling quite disappointed.

They say that after a full meal, lustful thoughts arise, but after their meal, the two seemed unchanged.

Under the disappointed gazes of the Handlers, the pair left the Longde Hotel.

***

Afterward, Li Yelai dropped Doll back at the East City Branch. He then went to the branch to pick up his Crimson Longblade and practiced the "Eighteen Single-Handed Flips."

Of course, he did not use his abilities. Misfortune was too terrifying; he would not use such power unless absolutely necessary.

After multiple battles and training sessions, Li Yelai had thoroughly absorbed the experience from the illusions.

He could now completely master the Eighteen Single-Handed Flips and the Overlord's Halberd Throw.

However, the Crimson Longblade was ultimately a polearm, which differed slightly from a spear or a halberd.

Some moves were not quite applicable, so Li Yelai had to adapt them himself.

In the evening, as Li Yelai was leaving the branch, he received a strange text on his official communicator.

[Mr. Night General, you participated in an operation to capture rogue psychics and successfully apprehended three hunter-psychics. You have earned four merit points.]

Looking at the message, Li Yelai was utterly bewildered.

Where did this assist come from?

He had only had a meal with Doll today and then went back to the branch to train.

How had he participated in an operation to capture rogue psychics?

Had he accidentally racked up three assists while being dazed?

Could it be that while he was treating Doll to dinner, she turned around and took down three rogue psychics? Because he had eaten with her, it was considered... an assist?

That didn't make sense either. If that counted, wouldn't the Handler Department's cafeteria be flying high?

Besides, when they left just now, Doll had said goodbye to him. It shouldn't be her...

Though he was confused, Li Yelai could find no one to answer him.

In the end, he could only let it go; after all, getting extra merit points was a good thing.

Then, he saw a second message.

It was from Cheese. For the past two days, she had been preparing for her third awakening ceremony.

That is, calmly observing her Soul Well and being ready to take medication at any time.

Now that she had found the right moment to expand her Soul Well, she notified Li Yelai of her successful Third Awakening.

"Xiao Ye, you've got a big thigh to cling to from now on! Hahahaha!" Cheese sent a smug emoji.

She had obtained a highly offensive ability: Spirit Speech!

From now on, she would never have to be so passive again.

Li Yelai complained inwardly: *You've had a big thigh to cling to before, too.*

But he still sent his congratulations.

"Thanks! I'm glad I can still brag to you," Cheese replied with a sentence that left Li Yelai feeling somewhat strange and puzzled.

The following two days were quite peaceful.

Li Yelai settled into a routine of moving between the antique shop, the family apartments, and the East City Branch.

This was actually the daily life of a non-on-duty Handler.

As for certain patrol missions that could earn merit points, Yang Chen hadn't assigned any to Li Yelai.

He believed Li Yelai still needed to continue training to build a solid foundation.

Because, in a few days, in October...

It would be the turn of the First Team Handlers to descend into the Black Prison to guard Taboo Objects.

Li Yelai would also participate.

Of course, he would stay with the other First, Second, and Third-Awakened psychics in the upper half of the Black Prison—the first and second levels.

They would be guarding Ding-grade and Bing-grade Taboo Objects.

Powerhouses like Yang Chen would guard the lower half, suppressing B-grade Taboo Objects that might attempt to escape or lose control at any moment.

As long as they passed the month safely, the entire team would receive merit points.

This was one of the stable ways for Handlers to earn merit points.

For this reason, Li Yelai specifically asked Doll to help deliver meals to Li Yunyan while he was guarding the Black Prison.

However, on the third day of eating with Doll...

While Li Yelai was reading history books in the antique shop, he suddenly heard a sharp ringing. He was momentarily confused, then immediately realized it was an alert from the official communicator!

Li Yelai opened it.

Coordinates: XX Street, XX Building, Old Town.

This was an emergency call. Just like when Li Yelai encountered the Black Umbrella, an alert like this would trigger a notification for all Handlers in the vicinity.

'Something happened there?' Li Yelai's heart tightened. This place was just over two kilometers from the antique shop, not very far, but it was a difficult area to catch a taxi. He would likely have to run.

After a moment's hesitation, Li Yelai grabbed his Big Black Umbrella, took verbal leave from the shop owner, and rushed out the door.

When he had encountered danger before, his colleagues had immediately provided support.

Now that it was his turn to help others, he naturally would not shrink back.

After running only a few hundred meters, Li Yelai heard the screech of brakes as tires left prominent marks on the asphalt.

Frowning, Li Yelai saw a car slam to a halt beside him.

In the driver's seat, a young man in casual clothes shouted at him, "It really is you! Get in, quick!"

"Spark?" Li Yelai was startled. The newcomer was none other than his new comrade-in-arms who had fought alongside him back then, Spark.

His arm had been severed by a Void Creature at the time, and it was said he had been recuperating after getting it reattached. Later, he had joined the Second Team!

He hadn't expected to run into him like this.

Li Yelai didn't delay and jumped into the car.

Spark floored the accelerator, and the engine roared once more.

"Do you know what's going on?" Li Yelai asked.

"I don't know. I only know that the one who sent the signal is a teammate of mine, 'Motor.' We're on good terms; he's the one who invited me to join the Handler Department." Spark drove rapidly down the highway. "He's a policeman. He was originally going to investigate a missing person case, but for some reason, he suddenly sent out this distress signal."

"Could he have encountered a victim?" Li Yelai thought of 'Doctor Wang.'

"Not sure. We should be the fastest to arrive. Let's just go rescue him first." Spark grinned. "I'm a bit scared on my own, but with you here, I've got confidence."

Spark remembered that evening when Li Yelai had provocatively challenged the monster like a hero.

Even with Spark's competitive temperament, he couldn't help but admire Li Yelai's courage and strength.

Soon, the vehicle arrived at the scene.

It was a residential building. A police car was parked nearby, but there were not many pedestrians.

Instead, a figure had already appeared below the residential building.

Judging by the communicator on his wrist, he was clearly an official Handler as well. And his awakening count was not low; he was quite strong!

But he didn't go upstairs. Instead, he looked at the two of them with an expression that was both numb and sorrowful.

"Which one of you is Spark?" he asked softly.

"I am!" Spark responded.

"Good. Go. End him. Fulfill his last wish," the stranger said flatly.

"What last wish? You..." Spark froze, his face turning deathly pale.

After his initial shock, Li Yelai also fell into silence.

He understood what the Handler meant.

Spark's friend, that 'Motor'... had become distorted.

Li Yelai suddenly understood what Cheese had said earlier.

*(I went to deliver hardware today, sorry I'm back late)*