Chapter 113: A Civilized Conversation

“Are you two rookies new to being strange walkers? You actually came straight at me without even probing my abilities, foolishly walking to your deaths.” The owner of the Silver Claw maintained the bare minimum of caution, crouched just out of Qi Chen’s projection range, twirling a pistol in his hand as he taunted them.

“Tell me quickly—how did you find me? Who sent you? That way, I can give you both a proper send-off!”

But neither the warm-hearted man nor Qi Chen showed any sign of movement, let alone answered his questions.

A growing anxiety gnawed at the Silver Claw’s mind. He didn’t want to be targeted by the people from Huangshi Town so soon. His big contract was still unfinished, and he well knew his employer was no ordinary figure.

Failing this deal wouldn’t just mean losing money—although he could always dive headlong into the mist and vanish without a trace.

But with such a fortune in hand, how could he be willing to live like a stray dog out in the wilderness?

It was all these two fools’ fault!

“Heh, that guy must be important to you. You didn’t forget to bring him along while chasing me,” the Silver Claw’s eyes suddenly hardened with ruthless intent as he raised his gun and took aim at the warm-hearted man’s figure in the dim alley.

Bang! Bang! Several gunshots rang out. The warm-hearted man’s body trembled, then lay still.

“Speak up! If I’m satisfied, I might even let you take him to see a doctor.”

This time, Qi Chen made a sound, but it was so faint it was almost inaudible.

The Silver Claw frowned, hesitation flickering across his eyes for a moment. But considering the time, he gritted his teeth and took another step forward.

Nothing happened.

It seemed these two really were novices with hardly any experience as strange walkers.

In his judgment, the warm-hearted man looked significantly older and more threatening—perhaps having been a strange walker longer—so he fired a few more shots to be absolutely certain.

To the Silver Claw, Qi Chen was a complete rookie.

Under these many factors, the Silver Claw steeled himself and cautiously closed in on Qi Chen, determined to extract some information from him.

But as he advanced, the Silver Claw’s own strange ability activated simultaneously. A small, ethereal shadow darted out from his body, landing several punches on Qi Chen before unleashing its power again.

“Hmph, let your insides keep revolting. Your life is already counting down. If you don’t want to die in agony from internal chaos, answer my questions quickly!”

Confident he had the upper hand, the Silver Claw lowered most of his guard and stepped right up to Qi Chen. Grabbing him by the collar, he lifted him slightly and pressed his ear close to Qi Chen’s mouth, trying to catch what little sound he was making.

“Hey! Speak!” he demanded impatiently, roughly shaking Qi Chen.

This time, he finally heard the broken voice.

“What do you... want to die?”

“Huh?!” The Silver Claw’s anger flared as he lifted Qi Chen’s face—and what he saw froze him in terror.

Those eyes were filled with a fury that could burn everything to ashes.

“Roar!!!”

A savage roar erupted, and the Silver Claw felt an immense force hurl him into the air. The howling wind lashed against his face, and the crushing weightlessness made him dizzy.

In his peripheral vision, he saw a towering, grotesque figure painted starkly in black and white.

He struck the ground heavily, the dull impact on his back unable to dispel the overwhelming fear that spread across his face.

He couldn’t understand it. Qi Chen, whose insides were tearing themselves apart, should have been utterly incapacitated by such excruciating pain. Why was he still able to command his strange power to counterattack?

Before he could react, blood spilled rapidly within his mouth.

Then, without warning, the giant clenched his fist and slammed it brutally into the Silver Claw’s face.

His nose shattered instantly. He gasped, spitting out several teeth.

Instinctively, he tried to create distance from Qi Chen, but the giant’s speed and strength plunged him into utter despair. This was the first time since becoming a strange walker that he had encountered such raw brutality!

“Die!” With his own strange power unable to kill quickly, the Silver Claw pinned his hopes on himself. He released his diminutive spirit to try and hold the giant back, while he aimed his pistol at Qi Chen and pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang!

The shot rang out, but no bullet fired.

The giant stood firm before him, one palm blocking the gun’s muzzle while the other gripped the Silver Claw’s spirit’s neck tightly.

“What... the hell?!” Unfazed by the exploding gun in his hand, the Silver Claw’s eyes widened as he stared at the giant, staggered by the overwhelming force.

The crushing power the giant displayed far exceeded his expectations. Although his own spirit was not adept at close combat with other spirits, it shouldn’t have been subdued so swiftly!

But the reality was undeniable. His spirit was defeated in the blink of an eye.

Now, the giant’s massive hand squeezed his throat, meaning his very life was in Qi Chen’s grasp.

Crack! Cracks appeared along the giant’s arm as thick, blue veins bulged. The choking sensation surged into the Silver Claw’s brain.

Faced with a life-threatening situation, he ceased resisting and made a wise decision.

Suddenly, Qi Chen’s entire body relaxed. The parts that had refused to obey him moments ago instantly fell back into line.

“That’s better.”

......

......

“You’ve got some patience, kid.” The warm-hearted man, also regaining control of his body, climbed to his feet. He shook his clothes, dislodging several bullet casings.

The Silver Claw had already gone blank, unresponsive to the scene before him.

He had mocked Qi Chen and the warm-hearted man for recklessly attacking without knowing his abilities—but he was no better.

When the two finally lost control of their legs and collapsed, the warm-hearted man used his power to make their clothes more cushioning than bulletproof armor.

The small-caliber pistol shots could only cause them some impact pain, never a real threat to their lives.

“If I don’t bring him into my projection range, I’m afraid I can’t take him down in one go,” Qi Chen said with an innocent smile, turning his gaze to the Silver Claw, still held in the giant’s grip.

“Now, we can talk properly.

Why... did you target the mayor of Huangshi Town?”

......