Chapter 76

After listening to Shang Jianyao's words, Jiang Baimian immediately grasped the key points:

Indeed, I also feel that Qiao Chu's charm isn't that great anymore.

Although he is indeed handsome and tall, he doesn't have the kind of charm that makes people fall head over heels at first sight. Moreover, he is cold and has a terrible personality, and the longer you spend with him, the more you start to dislike him.

All these feelings were previously vaguely hidden in the depths of Jiang Baimian's heart, occasionally surfacing, but now they were directly exposed in her mind, like sand revealed when the tide recedes.

She muttered to herself:

No wonder I always felt something was off based on the chip, and instinctively tried to arm myself and keep my distance from Qiao Chu...

Beside her, Bai Chen also heard what Shang Jianyao said. After a series of expressions, he said:

The more I think about it, the more I find it strange... How could we have been so eager to please Qiao Chu and followed him to this incredibly strange and dangerous city ruins?

There are 'High-Level Heartless' here, deformed terrifying creatures, incomprehensible regular 'maintenance' mechanisms, mysterious laboratories, and unknown things that emit earth-shattering roars, making it more terrifying than any city ruins Bai Chen has ever been to.

Yes, yes, Long Yuehong nodded frequently, I am a person with normal sexual orientation, yet I occasionally felt that if it were Qiao Chu, it might not be so bad, ugh...

As he spoke, he felt nauseous.

Are you pregnant? Shang Jianyao looked at Long Yuehong, not sure if he was serious or pretending.

Without waiting for a response, he continued:

This might be some kind of ability?

Jiang Baimian spat:

Are you saying Long Yuehong has the ability to get pregnant, or that Qiao Chu has the ability to charm?

Charm, yes, it should be that.

And all abilities have their limits. As long as you don't become a 'Year-Holder' in folklore, the range, number of targets, and degree of effect all have upper limits.

Ah, right, I remember when I wanted to go downstairs to relieve myself, Qiao Chu wouldn't let us, only allowing us to do so on the same floor and in the same unit. Also, just now he said, when we reach the end of the corridor, don't turn the corner immediately, report first.

This means his ability's range doesn't exceed thirty meters.

And the number of targets, it's clearly not just one person, no, one creature, but anyone who enters the corresponding range is automatically charmed?

After listening to Jiang Baimian's analysis, Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and others felt even more terrified, deeply realizing the abnormality of their previous behavior, which they had considered normal at the time, as if they were bewitched.

Scary, truly scary. Just as Long Yuehong sighed, he suddenly noticed a problem: Hey, weren't we just feeling extremely terrified, unable to even straighten our bodies?

How are we now having a discussion?

Shang Jianyao answered seriously:

Because what we saw and felt before were just illusions.

Once you don't take them to heart and ignore the past, you won't be affected anymore.

Illusions... Long Yuehong recalled that Shang Jianyao had mentioned this before.

He became a bit panicked and asked:

Shouldn't we first break free from the illusion? What if those 'Heartless' take the opportunity to attack?

That's true. Jiang Baimian raised her left hand holding the flashlight, thinking about slapping herself to 'wake up'.

After a second of serious thought, she decided it might hurt a bit and instead aimed her gun at the writhing mass of flesh to disrupt the 'Heartless' creating the illusion.

At that moment, the mass of flesh they saw suddenly disintegrated, revealing a male 'Heartless' struggling to stand up.

At the same time, they heard a light clank.

The female 'Heartless' tried to get up and attack the 'Old Adjustment Team' with a sharp dagger she had somehow found, but she fell back due to the pain in her lower body, dropping the dagger to the ground.

Her expression became extremely distorted, and she forced herself to sit up, reaching into the tattered blanket.

Soon, she held a wet and dirty baby from between her legs.

The baby's navel was still connected to a pale, fleshy umbilical cord.

Wah!

A clear cry echoed in the room.

Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and others, who should have shot, didn't pull the trigger.

The female 'Heartless' quickly cut the umbilical cord and held the baby in her arms.

Then, she turned her body to keep the 'baby' away from the intruders.

Her expression was fierce and wary, her eyes, which had been dull, now moist, showing a hint of pleading.

Wah! Wah! Wah!

The baby's cries continued, and the female 'Heartless' repeatedly bowed, making a low, moaning sound, as if pleading for something.

The four members of the 'Old Adjustment Team' fell silent, neither responding nor shooting.

After a few seconds, Shang Jianyao turned his head and looked at Jiang Baimian:

Leader...

Before he could finish, Jiang Baimian sighed deeply and said to the female 'Heartless':

You can go.

She then thought for a moment, not caring if the other could understand, and pointed at the air in front of her:

Can you create an illusion for us again?

As she spoke, she turned the gun's muzzle to the ground and took a few steps forward, kicking the dagger away.

Shang Jianyao and others followed into the room but showed no intention of attacking.

The female 'Heartless' hesitated for a moment, either understanding Jiang Baimian's words or creating better conditions for leaving, and let out a low growl again.

Shang Jianyao and others saw green trees and abandoned cars appear before their eyes, as if they had been teleported to the street outside.

Indeed, once we return to reality, we automatically feel that Qiao Chu is very charming and want to follow him. Jiang Baimian felt the change in her heart and said with a serious expression.

If it's automatic charm, why weren't the two 'Heartless' affected? Bai Chen raised his doubt, Qiao Chu said even a Nightmare Horse, a non-human creature, wanted him, right?

Shang Jianyao immediately emphasized:

I said that.

Bai Chen realized he had been somewhat 'brainwashed' by Shang Jianyao and quickly changed his words:

My point is, even a Nightmare Horse, a non-human creature, was charmed, let alone human 'Heartless'.

Maybe it's because she was giving birth, and all her emotions were focused on that. Long Yuehong guessed.

Jiang Baimian nodded:

It seems Qiao Chu's charm has a strength limit, so he didn't dare to be too vicious or hostile on the way, for fear of the charm failing.

Without waiting for others to speak, Jiang Baimian continued:

We can't waste time. Now we need to think of a way to avoid being charmed when we return to reality.

We haven't left the corresponding range yet.

Shang Jianyao immediately responded:

I'll give it a try.

Good. Jiang Baimian was most excited to see what this 'Awakened' could do.

Shang Jianyao then turned his head and looked at Bai Chen:

Lend me your mirror.

Bai Chen, though puzzled, took out the palm-sized mirror box he carried and handed it to Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao opened the mirror box, looked at his reflection, and his eyes gradually darkened:

You like Qiao Chu;

Many people like Qiao Chu;

You can't have him;

So?

Shang Jianyao's expression instantly twisted, becoming extremely sinister.

He quickly answered his own question:

So, I can only kill him.

If I can't have him, no one else can.

These two sentences were said with intense killing intent and unwavering determination.

... Jiang Baimian's mouth opened slightly, speechless.

Can it be like this? Long Yuehong blurted out.

He felt a bit more fear towards Shang Jianyao, afraid that one day he might also deceive him into doing something disgusting.

Bai Chen was also a bit stunned, and only when Shang Jianyao returned the mirror did she subconsciously ask:

Why don't you use your ability on us?

In the illusion, I can only affect myself. Shang Jianyao smiled and answered, Once we break free from the illusion, I will use my ability on you one by one to prevent you from stopping me.

Wow, even the starting point of thinking has changed. Jiang Baimian didn't say more, afraid that any word might wake Shang Jianyao up, making him no longer influenced by the 'Clown Detective' ability.

She raised her right hand and fired a shot at the wooden chair in her memory.

With the sound of the shot and the resulting changes, the four members of the 'Old Adjustment Team' simultaneously broke free from the illusion.

At this moment, the male 'Heartless' and the baby had disappeared, leaving only a trail of blood leading to another exit of the room.

The female 'Heartless' stood at that exit, not yet far away.

Seeing Shang Jianyao, Jiang Baimian, and others regain consciousness, her eyes, which were still dull, bent her back again, as if bowing to them.

Then, she turned and ran out of the room, disappearing into the opposite corridor.

Her recovery ability is really strong... Jiang Baimian's focus occasionally shifts like Shang Jianyao's.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao walked to her side and said:

Leader, look:

You like Qiao Chu;

Many people like Qiao Chu;

You can't have him;

So?

Jiang Baimian's expression changed several times, and she finally answered fiercely:

So, I have to knock him out and drag him back!

Shang Jianyao neither agreed nor disagreed, using the same method to make Bai Chen and Long Yuehong have the desire to attack Qiao Chu.

Of course, their sources of attack desire were different, one wanting to force it, the other having a psychological twist due to inferiority.

After completing the preparations, Shang Jianyao patted the side of his assault rifle and said with a smile:

Now our team can be called the 'Heartbreak Alliance'.

Jiang Baimian rolled her eyes and emphasized:

Later, we can't let Qiao Chu get too close. He is also an 'Awakened' and must have other abilities.

As soon as he appears at the corridor entrance, we will immediately open fire. Yes, each person targets a different part, forming a crossfire network.

Okay. Shang Jianyao and others responded quietly.

After checking again, Jiang Baimian picked up the radio on her utility belt, pressed the button, and said:

We have reached the end of the corridor and encountered a 'High-Level Heartless' and two ordinary 'Heartless'.

The 'High-Level Heartless' was giving birth and didn't attack us much, directly fleeing from here.

A few seconds later, the radio transmitted Qiao Chu's cold voice:

Wait for me to come over.

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