Chapter Twenty-Two: What Is Called Strategy

Step step!

The man struck by the child's sinister power moved like a puppet, jerking uncontrollably toward Qi Chen, who was leaping erratically through the crowd. At this moment, so many around Qi Chen had fallen into abnormal cognition that the child's line of sight was heavily disrupted. To ensure his final blow would strike true, the mastermind behind the attack advanced along with his weapon.

"This is about right," he whispered, holding himself at the edge of his ability's range. With his head lowered, the child's eyes rolled upward, locking a cruel gaze onto Qi Chen amid the throng. The poor soul ensnared by the child's Confusion Blade was nearly upon Qi Chen!

"Crash into him!" The child commanded, pressing the illusory curved blade to his lips—a signal for the assault.

Under the effect of the sinister power, the cognition-twisted man staggered blindly toward Qi Chen, colliding into him headfirst. Their figures overlapped for a moment. The child hurriedly rubbed his eyes; at the critical instant, he hadn't seen clearly, as he had stepped aside, letting others with abnormal cognition block his view.

Yet he was certain: his weapon had definitely touched Qi Chen.

Sure enough, "rookie" Qi Chen, now back in sight, suddenly halted. No longer flailing wildly, he sat down with a thump, head bowed, tracing shapes on the ground with his fingers—and his back was turned!

"It's harvest time!" The child's lips curled into a savage smile. Time was short; he had meant only to stir up some chaos and leave East City Warehouse swiftly.

Yet he had stumbled upon Qi Chen, and after some observation, greed took root.

If he left empty-handed, or worse, lost a carefully selected weapon, even returning to the Mist wouldn’t save him. But if he could take down a member of the Department of Sinister Affairs, he’d have room to maneuver.

His hand slid to his lower back, pulling aside tattered clothing to reveal a short knife, its blade gleaming coldly as it slid from its sheath.

Closing in, the distance between the child and Qi Chen shrank. Qi Chen showed no sign of awareness, still shaking his head and drawing on the ground.

"Who says my Confusion Blade has no killing power?" Cold gleams danced in the child's eyes; his expression grew brutal. Just a few meters from Qi Chen, he raised the silver blade.

Bang!

He lunged forward, driving with all his strength! The sharp blade aimed straight at Qi Chen’s spine.

But a gray-white phantom surged from Qi Chen’s body even faster, its black-and-white face