Chapter 6: The Dragon Guard and the Bratty Detective
The next morning, Ye Feng stood before a dilapidated brick building on 4th Street. The sign above the door read "River City Municipal Archives – Closed for Renovation." The windows were boarded up, and a "Do Not Enter" tape fluttered in the wind.
"Subtle," Ye Feng muttered.
He checked the heavy iron coin Commander Lin had given him. It felt warm in his palm.
He walked up to the rusty metal door and knocked.
No answer.
Ye Feng sighed. He held up the coin to the peephole.
Click. Whirrrrr.
The rusty door didn't open. Instead, the ground beneath his feet suddenly rumbled. A section of the sidewalk lowered like an elevator platform.
"Going down," Ye Feng braced himself.
The platform descended rapidly into darkness. After ten seconds, bright white lights blinded him.
He stepped off into a massive, high-tech underground facility. It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. Cultivators in black tactical gear were sparring in glass chambers, analysts were shouting at holographic screens, and the air hummed with the density of a high-grade Spirit Array.
"You're late. By thirty seconds."
Ye Feng turned. Leaning against a pillar was a young woman. She wasn't Commander Lin. She looked about Ye Feng's age, maybe younger. She had short, choppy brown hair, big expressive eyes, and was blowing a bubble with pink gum. She wore a modified Dragon Guard uniform with the jacket tied around her waist.
[Target: Su Su]
[Identity: Dragon Guard Rookie / Genius Detective]
[Cultivation: Body Refining Stage 6 (Peak)]
[Secret (White): She is Commander Lin's younger sister, but she hates being compared to her. She is currently trying to look 'cool and mysterious' to intimidate the new recruit.]
Ye Feng suppressed a smile.
"Traffic was bad," Ye Feng shrugged. "Are you the receptionist?"
Pop. The bubble gum burst over her nose.
Su Su peeled it off, glaring at him. "Receptionist?! I am Su Su! The ace detective of Unit 7! I solved the 'Sewer Ghoul' case last month! Show some respect, rookie!"
"Okay, Detective Su," Ye Feng nodded. "Where's the Commander?"
"She's busy interrogating a demon worshiper. I'm your handler for the entrance exam," Su Su huffed, turning around. "Follow me. And don't touch anything. If you break it, you pay for it. And since you look poor, that means you sell your organs."
Ye Feng followed her through the bustling base.
"So," Su Su glanced back at him. "I heard you killed Butler Liu. A Stage 7 veteran. With a Stage 4 cultivation."
"He was old," Ye Feng lied smoothly. "And he slipped on the grass."
Su Su rolled her eyes. "Right. And I'm the Tooth Fairy. Listen, the Commander thinks you have potential. I think you're a liability. The Zhao family is already putting pressure on the police chief to find Liu's killer. If you fail the exam today, we throw you out, and the Zhaos will skin you."
"Encouraging," Ye Feng said.
They arrived at a heavy steel door labeled "Simulation Room 3."
Su Su swiped her card. "Go inside. The test is simple. Survive for 5 minutes."
"Survive against what?"
"You'll see." Su Su shoved him inside and slammed the door.
Ye Feng found himself in a white, empty room about the size of a basketball court.
Beep.
A mechanical voice echoed. [Combat Simulation Initiated. Difficulty: Hard. Enemy: Cyber-Wolf (Stage 5).]
The floor in the center of the room opened up. A metallic beast rose. It was shaped like a wolf, but made of gleaming steel plates and glowing red wires. Its eyes were camera lenses. Its claws were serrated vibro-blades.
"A robot?" Ye Feng frowned. "I expected a demon."
The Cyber-Wolf didn't wait for introductions. It roared—a sound of grinding gears—and pounced.
It was fast. Faster than Butler Liu.
Ye Feng activated Thunder Step.
Zap.
He vanished in a flash of blue static, reappearing five meters to the left. The Wolf's claws tore gouges in the metal floor where he had just stood.
"Fast," Ye Feng noted. He drew his Astral Thunder Sword. The broken blade hummed.
Up in the observation booth, Su Su watched the screen, chewing her gum furiously.
"He's fast," she admitted to herself. "His movement technique is high-grade. But speed isn't enough. The Cyber-Wolf learns. Every time you dodge, it calculates your pattern."
Down in the room, the Wolf attacked again. And again. Each time, it got closer to catching Ye Feng.
Slash.
A claw grazed Ye Feng's arm.
"Pattern analysis complete," the robot's voice droned. "Target favors left-side dodges. Initiating counter-measure."
The Wolf lunged, feinting left. Ye Feng moved right—exactly where the Wolf's tail, tipped with a taser, whipped around to strike him.
Ye Feng grinned.
"You think you analyzed me?"
[Eye of Truth: Tech Analysis]
[Target: Cyber-Wolf Mark IV]
[Power Source: Spirit Battery in the chest cavity.]
[Secret (Blue): The manufacturer, 'Hephaestus Corp', cut costs on the thermal insulation. If you hit the exhaust port under its neck while it is venting heat (every 3 attacks), the battery will overheat and explode.]
"Machine," Ye Feng whispered. "You have a factory defect."
The Wolf lunged for the kill.
Ye Feng didn't dodge. He slid under the Wolf.
As the metal beast passed over him, a vent under its neck opened to release steam.
Ye Feng thrust the Astral Thunder Sword upward.
CRUNCH.
The blade pierced the vent. Ye Feng channeled his Qi.
"Burn."
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the room. Smoke filled the chamber.
Up in the booth, Su Su spat out her gum. "No way..."
The smoke cleared.
The Cyber-Wolf lay in a heap of scrap metal, sparking and twitching. Ye Feng stood up, dusting soot off his shoulder.
The timer on the wall read: [00:58].
"He destroyed it in under a minute?" Su Su stared at the screen. "That model cost 2 million credits!"
The door hissed open. Ye Feng walked out, sheathing his sword.
"Did I pass?"
Su Su looked at him, then at the smoking ruin inside. Her face turned red.
"You... YOU IDIOT! You were supposed to survive! Not blow it up! Do you know how much paperwork I have to do now?!"
"You said survive," Ye Feng shrugged innocently. "The best defense is a good offense."
"I hate you," Su Su pointed a finger at him. "I officially hate you. You owe me lunch."
"Deal. Cafeteria food on me."
"I want expensive sushi!"
Just then, slow clapping echoed down the hall.
Commander Lin walked toward them. She had removed her mask, revealing a strikingly beautiful but scarred face. A thin, jagged scar ran from her cheekbone to her jaw, adding to her intimidating aura.
"Excellent work, Ye Feng," Lin said. "You found the structural weakness. Observant."
"Luck," Ye Feng said.
"Luck is a skill," Lin said. She tossed a black ID card at him. "Welcome to Dragon Guard, Unit 7. You are now officially a Private. Your immunity is active. The Zhao family can't arrest you. But..."
She stepped closer, her eyes cold.
"... immunity doesn't stop assassination. The Zhaos have put a bounty on your head on the Dark Web. 5 Million Credits. Every hitman in the city is looking for you."
Ye Feng looked at the ID card. Name: Ye Feng. Rank: Private.
"5 Million?" Ye Feng smirked. "I'm worth more than I thought."
"Don't get cocky," Su Su huffed. "You're still a rookie. Commander, what's his first assignment?"
Lin pulled out a tablet.
"We have a situation. A string of disappearances at the 'Blue Moon' Nightclub. Young women are vanishing. We suspect a Demonic Cultivator is using the club as a feeding ground."
She looked at Ye Feng.
"Ye Feng, you're young and have a fresh face. You go in undercover. Su Su will be your backup outside."
"Undercover?" Ye Feng raised an eyebrow. "As what?"
"A waiter," Lin said. "Or a gigolo. Whatever gets you into the VIP area."
Su Su snorted. "He definitely has the face for a gigolo. Just don't open your mouth, or the clients will realize you're annoying."
Ye Feng ignored her.
[System Mission Triggered: "The Nightclub Nightmare"]
[Objective: Identify and Eliminate the Demonic Cultivator.]
[Reward: 2000 System Points + Low-Grade Spirit Weapon (Random).]
"I'll take it," Ye Feng said.
"Good," Lin nodded. "Gear up. You start tonight. And Ye Feng? Try not to blow up the nightclub. The owner is a City Councilman."
"No promises," Ye Feng winked at Su Su, who looked like she wanted to strangle him.
That Night - The Blue Moon Nightclub.
The bass was so heavy it rattled Ye Feng's teeth. Laser lights cut through the smoke-filled air. Beautiful women and wealthy men danced in a trance-like state.
Ye Feng, wearing a tight black vest and holding a tray of drinks, weaved through the crowd.
"System, scan."
[Eye of Truth: Crowd Scan Mode]
Data flooded his vision.
[Drunk Student]
[Drug Dealer]
[Gold Digger]
[Cheating Husband]
It was a parade of sins. But no demons.
Ye Feng made his way to the VIP section, guarded by two bouncers.
"Stop," a bouncer grunted.
"Drinks for Table 1," Ye Feng smiled charmingly.
The bouncer scanned him, then stepped aside.
Ye Feng walked into the VIP lounge. It was quieter here. In the center booth sat a man surrounded by three gorgeous women.
The man was handsome, pale, and wore sunglasses indoors. He was sipping a red cocktail.
Ye Feng felt a chill. The Astral Thunder Sword (hidden in his spatial ring) vibrated slightly.
He looked at the man.
[Target: Mo Fan]
[Public Identity: Famous Fashion Model]
[True Identity: Disciple of the 'Blood Puppet Sect'.]
[Cultivation: Qi Condensation Stage 2!]
[Secret (Red): The 'cocktail' he is drinking is not tomato juice. It is fresh human blood harvested an hour ago from a victim in the basement.]
Ye Feng's hand tightened on the tray.
Qi Condensation Stage 2.
That was two realms higher than him. This guy could kill him with a thought.
"Waiter," Mo Fan called out, his voice silky. "Come here."
Ye Feng walked over. "Yes, sir?"
Mo Fan lowered his sunglasses, revealing eyes that were entirely black—no whites.
"You smell... delicious," Mo Fan smiled, licking his lips. "You have a very pure body. Are you on the menu tonight?"
Ye Feng smiled back, his heart racing.
"I'm afraid I'm very expensive, sir."
"Money is no object," Mo Fan stood up, placing a cold hand on Ye Feng's shoulder. "Why don't you join me in the private room downstairs? I have a collection I want to show you."
[System Warning: Lethal Danger Imminent.]
Ye Feng's mind raced. He couldn't fight him here. Too many civilians. And the gap in power was too big.
He needed a secret.
[Target: Mo Fan]
[Secret Weakness (Gold): He is currently in the middle of a 'Molting Phase'. His true body is hidden inside this human skin. If he is exposed to strong UV Light, his skin will melt and his cultivation will drop by 50% for 5 minutes.]
UV Light.
Ye Feng looked up. The club had UV lights, but they were dim. He needed something stronger.
"Downstairs?" Ye Feng leaned in, whispering. "Actually, sir... I have a secret too. I'm not just a waiter."
Mo Fan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I'm actually..." Ye Feng tapped his earpiece. "Su Su! Now! Cut the power and overload the emergency strobes!"
"What?!" Su Su's voice screamed in his ear. "Are you crazy?!"
"DO IT!"
K-CHUNK.
The music died. The club plunged into pitch blackness. Screams erupted from the dance floor.
Three seconds later.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
The emergency strobe lights—high-intensity white magnesium flares—began to pulse rapidly like lightning.
"ARGHHH!"
Mo Fan screamed. It wasn't a human scream. It was the shriek of a banshee.
Smoke began to rise from his skin. His handsome face bubbled and melted, revealing raw, red muscle underneath.
"My skin! My beautiful skin!" Mo Fan howled, thrashing blindly.
Ye Feng dropped the tray.
"Sorry," Ye Feng drew a combat knife (he couldn't use the Thunder Sword in public yet). "But your skincare routine is cancelled."
"I WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!" Mo Fan roared, his aura exploding outward, shattering the glass table. Even at 50% power, he was terrifying.
"Su Su! Get the civilians out! I'm engaging!"
Ye Feng charged into the strobe-lit chaos.
The Gigolo vs. The Skin-Demon. Round One.