Chapter 27: Phantom Demon

I mulled over this suspicion in my mind for a long time before voicing it to them.

“Tell me, do you think it’s possible that Sun Wenwen isn’t actually dead?”

As soon as I spoke, Su Wanyi was the first to protest.

“That’s absolutely impossible. Sun Wenwen’s corpse is still at our forensic center.”

Lin Weiyan asked, “Why do you think that?”

Feng Zimo, unfamiliar with the details, nonetheless commented, “She’s lost her heart—how could she be alive? Even a demon can’t survive without a heart.”

Only Xiaoling, in her adorable, childlike way, chimed in, “Big brother, Xiaoling supports you.”

I walked to Xiaoling’s side, gently patting her head.

Then I turned to Su Wanyi and said, “Can you take us to the forensic center?”

“Of course I can, but you still haven’t explained why you think Sun Wenwen isn’t dead,” Su Wanyi replied.

“No need to rush. We can discuss it after we’ve seen the body.”

Hearing this, Su Wanyi nodded reluctantly. “Alright then.”

As we descended to the third floor, I glanced at the time—10:21. There were two minutes left until the time of the mysterious employee deaths.

I suggested, “Let’s check the workshop first.”

“What’s the point? We’ve already inspected it countless times,” Su Wanyi said.

As we walked, I asked, “Have you figured out the cause of those employees’ sudden deaths?”

Su Wanyi shook her head. “No... not yet.”

Upon hearing that, I continued, “Have you noticed that all their deaths occurred at the same time?”

“What? The same time?” Su Wanyi questioned, puzzled.

I nodded; clearly, they hadn’t picked up on this detail.

“Enough, this isn’t the time for explanations. When we have time, I’ll tell you everything.”

By now, we had entered the workshop. It was shrouded in darkness, the lights switched off.

But I was intimately familiar with the place—after all, I’d spent nearly a year here.

Leading them effortlessly, I brought them to Production Unit One. There were ten seconds left until 10:23.

I told everyone to observe carefully, especially Feng Zimo and Lin Weiyan, whose powers of perception far exceeded mine and Su Wanyi’s.

Second by second, time passed. Nothing unusual happened.

Had I imagined it all?

I was just about to leave when a chilling wind swept from behind.

The windows were all tightly shut—I’d checked them earlier.

We stopped and turned to look.

Su Wanyi fainted instantly at the sight.

If it weren’t for all I’d been through recently, I likely would have collapsed as well. Even so, my scalp tingled, and every hair stood on end.

Behind us, countless bats hung upside down from the ceiling.

And dozens of corpses, their blood-soaked hands outstretched, advanced toward us in eerie silence.

Among them, I recognized several familiar faces.

“Are they... zombies?” I exclaimed.

Feng Zimo shot me a glare. “Zombies? Can’t you tell it’s a Phantom Demon?”

I shook my head. I truly didn’t know.

“What’s a Phantom Demon? Is it powerful?”

“What do you think? Ranked thirteenth in the Demon World.”

With that, my nerves tightened.

“Seriously? Are you trying to scare me?”

Lin Weiyan, her face grave, said, “No wonder Elder Jiang and I got nowhere earlier—it was a Phantom Demon.”

“Do I stand any chance against it?” I asked.

“Chance? Don’t be ridiculous. If we make it out alive, consider it a victory,” Feng Zimo told me.

But I couldn’t fathom why such a formidable Phantom Demon would appear here.

Lin Weiyan cautioned me, “In a moment, you take Su Wanyi and Xiaoling and retreat. Feng Zimo and I will cover you. Remember?”

Her warning convinced me: this was real trouble.

I nodded to show my understanding.

Suddenly, the swarm of bats launched themselves at us.

With a flash, the Crimson Dawn Sword appeared in Lin Weiyan’s hand.

“Run!” she ordered.

I hoisted Su Wanyi onto my back, grabbed Xiaoling’s hand, and bolted.

Feng Zimo and Lin Weiyan stayed behind to shield us.

Countless bats were sliced in half by the Crimson Dawn Sword, yet more kept coming.

The blood corpses quickened their pace, blocking my escape like ghosts.

I rapidly channeled the Nine Palaces Shadow Arts within, unleashing streaks of purple lightning.

A few corpses were struck down, only to rise again moments later.

“Why won’t they die?” I cried.

“You fool! If they won’t die, just run! If you wait any longer, it’ll be too late!” Feng Zimo urged.

At the same time, he kicked the nearest blood corpse.

I wanted to flee, but these corpses wouldn’t let me pass. Sweat poured down my face.

“Black Dragon, are you there? Come help!” I called.

“Yes, master.”

With that, the Black Dragon shot from my pinky finger.

A roar, like thunder, echoed through the workshop.

The Black Dragon rampaged, crushing innumerable bats and blood corpses.

At this rate, it seemed they’d soon be wiped out.

Relieved, I couldn’t help but give the Black Dragon a thumbs-up.

But just as I thought victory was within reach, disaster struck.

A masked man appeared before me, his build unmistakably male.

Lin Weiyan came to my side and whispered, “That’s him. He’s the Phantom Demon.”

Upon hearing this, I immediately called to the Black Dragon, “Black Dragon, finish him!”

The Black Dragon, obedient as ever, rushed forward without hesitation.

The man vanished, then reappeared on the Black Dragon’s back. A flash of cold light—he stabbed a short sword into the Black Dragon.

A howl of agony erupted as the Black Dragon began thrashing wildly.

Seeing it suffer, I couldn’t hold back, unleashing the Nine Palaces Shadow Arts with all my might.

But my current strength could not harm the Phantom Demon.

Feng Zimo and Lin Weiyan, of course, didn’t stand idle. They charged forward, forcing the Phantom Demon off the Black Dragon’s back.

I hurriedly summoned the wounded Black Dragon back, then charged in barehanded.

Only when I was close did I realize what it meant to be a moth to the flame, or an ant against a cart.

The Phantom Demon lifted his leg and kicked me, sending me flying.

Dizzy, I crawled up from the floor, struggling to comprehend what had happened.

Shaking my head, I realized I’d been kicked by the Phantom Demon.

Gritting my teeth, I shouted and charged at him once more.

Ah...