Chapter 13: Drawbacks and the Demon Heart

As for Yang Liuqing’s expectation that Chise Liequan would lead an attack, that was impossible.

Those who have seen a ghost and still aren’t afraid of the dark aren’t suited for this line of work.

Just making a living. Whoever wants to risk their life can go ahead.

After selling information about Yang Liuqing, Chise Liequan canceled the task he had taken and returned all the money advanced by the other party, completely cutting ties.

Reason? He casually wrote “gout attack.”

Whether the other party believed it or not, he himself believed it.

The reason was that he had nearly been killed by a junior — truly too embarrassing.

No sooner had he withdrawn the task than Yanjing received the news.

Inside a very large siheyuan, a clear, cold female voice rang out.

“Family Head, the Hound has withdrawn the task and the deposit.”

In the pitch-black room, a pair of eyes slowly opened.

“Reason?”

Then, a deep male voice sounded.

“Said it was a gout attack.”

Upon hearing this, the man was silent for a long time.

“Are you sure?”

“That’s what the Dark Web says.”

“Who’s in Goose City?”

“Du Huangfeng, Daoba, and Quanba.”

The clear female voice spoke three codenames.

“Tell them to bring back the Magic Potion at all costs.”

“Yes, Family Head.”

The clear female voice accepted the order and withdrew.

“That Hound fellow is a coward; it means there’s an expert protecting the other party. Troublesome, very troublesome…”

The deep male voice gradually faded away.

At this moment, traffic control across the country was unprecedentedly strict, with some areas even imposing temporary curfews.

Anyone could see that this was a measure to prevent the Mini Game from spiraling completely out of control.

The impact of the Magic Potion Battle had already exceeded most people’s expectations.

Taking precautions and implementing control in advance was absolutely necessary.

“Strange, why can’t I get full?”

In Xiaoya Bay, Goose City, after escaping from the plaza area, Yang Liuqing found a shopping mall about to close down and liquidate to rest.

Just now, she had emptied a bag of food, but still felt very hungry.

As if a starving ghost had taken up residence in her stomach.

“Master, it’s because of us.”

Ke Ling reached out and wiped the breadcrumbs from the corner of her mouth.

“???”

Yang Liuqing was completely confused.

‘How could my stomach have anything to do with you?’

“Xiao Qingqing, our binding with you consumes your energy.”

Ke Li stated the main reason.

“In other words, you need to eat three portions to balance it out.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Yang Liuqing put a hand to her forehead.

‘Made me think I was having a second growth spurt.’

“No wonder you’re not interested in food — turns out I’m eating for you.”

Ke Ling gently shook her head.

“Master, allow me to correct one point. We’re not uninterested in food. We’re just not interested in this low-quality food.”

“Xiao Qingqing thinks we’re like you, able to eat anything.”

Ke Li shrugged.

“Makes it sound like I’m eating trash…”

Yang Liuqing stuffed the plastic wrapper in her hand into the convenience store bag.

“By the way, when I was fighting Chise Liequan, how could he not see you?”

“That’s because the Hound’s Spiritual Perception is too low to sense our presence. Of course, part of the reason is that we deliberately lowered our presence. After Phasing, he’s even less able to perceive us.”

Ke Li explained.

“I see, so you can freely adjust your presence.”

When Yang Liuqing had the two go shopping in the convenience store, if their presence was too low, the clerk might see a bunch of items floating around.

“Since this ability is so convenient, why didn’t you take the chance to give Chise Liequan a slash?”

“Master, this ability isn’t as convenient as you imagine. Once we attack, the other party can immediately sense the real power. Also, this is Master’s battle. We can’t interfere.”

Ke Ling said seriously.

“Xiao Qingqing is overthinking it. A sneak attack isn’t that easy. Especially against an expert of this level.”

Ke Li poked Yang Liuqing’s cheek with her little finger.

“Besides, we’re limited by your own level; the strength we can display isn’t high.”

“Is it that troublesome?”

Yang Liuqing felt a headache coming on.

She had previously thought that Ke Ling and Ke Li were her trump cards.

‘Looks like I was thinking too much.’

The Community of Fate also has a primary and secondary.

As the primary, if her strength was insufficient, the secondary twin sisters naturally couldn’t display their true power.

She needed to grow herself first.

‘To think of it the other way, one person’s effort can yield triple the returns — pretty amazing.’

‘Yeah, Community of Fate, awesome!’

Yang Liuqing was excited by this.

“Master, what do we do next?”

Ke Ling poured a bucket of ice water on her at the most appropriate moment.

“…Just wing it.”

Yang Liuqing immediately deflated.

Time waits for no one. She couldn’t grasp a future too far away.

If the current crisis couldn’t be solved, where would there be any future?

Chise Liequan’s escape earlier meant her original plan had to be thrown out and rebuilt.

In that moment, how could she think of something better?

She could only take it step by step.

The problem was, she couldn’t see where the road was.

“If only I hadn’t sunk the Dafei.”

Ke Li felt some regret.

At the time, to avoid pursuit, she casually cut the [borrowed] Dafei in two.

‘If it had been left intact, at least there would be one more option.’

Now the plaza area had become a high-risk zone.

The periphery of Xiaoya Bay was likely blocked by various forces holding key routes, making escape difficult.

Staying here would soon mean being hunted down as the circle tightened.

Even if she kept moving, with Chise Liequan or someone with similar abilities on the other side, no matter where she fled, she would be tracked.

A safe hiding place existed only in dreams.

Combat was unavoidable.

Either surrender meekly and let someone eat her heart, or fight to the death.

The only thing Yang Liuqing was thankful for was that the authorities had stepped in to blockade and control.

What was originally a hopeless situation had become a narrow escape.

“I have a question.”

Yang Liuqing looked at Ke Ling and Ke Li.

“When the Game Administrator said ‘eat’, it doesn’t mean my entire body, right?”

“Master has finally noticed something amiss.”

Ke Ling showed a relieved expression.

“The Game Administrator said that to give Master a layer of protection. In reality, all they need to do is dig out Master’s heart and eat it. The Magic Potion is concentrated there.”

“I knew it.”

Yang Liuqing felt relieved.

Normally, she couldn’t be completely eaten by another person.

If it had to be done that way to take the potion, the other person would die from overeating.

There must be some organ that was transformed by the Magic Potion.

Within 24 hours, eating that organ would allow the potion to be taken.

“That person definitely didn’t intend to protect me. It’s purely to increase the game’s difficulty.”

Yang Liuqing smiled bitterly.

Knowing that the Magic Potion was in the heart would make it impossible to ensure she survived to the end.

Participants only needed to use any means necessary to kill her and take her heart to easily complete the task.

This information gap made capturing her alive the primary condition.

“Exactly. Capturing alive is far more difficult than killing.”

Ke Li nodded.

“Even if someone catches Xiao Qingqing, others will fight over her.”