Chapter 7

In this world, all information related to "Nen" is kept confidential.

Therefore, ordinary people know nothing about "Nen."

Even if they witness Nen users employing special abilities, they would only regard Nen users as beings like psychics, paranormal agents, or superheroes.

Phenomena once caused by "Grudges" are deemed to be the result of ghosts or spirits.

Mo You has no shadow.

If the woman noticed this, she would definitely consider Mo You as a ghost or spirit.

Footsteps echoed within the temple.

Mo You faced the main gate, slowly retreating to the courtyard, his peripheral vision catching the woman crawling on the ground.

Night, mountains, and a monster.

And a woman who had fled to the temple for help in a panic.

Such a scenario had never played out in this sparsely visited scenic area.

Not to mention, there had never been any reports of "murders" or "accidental deaths."

But precisely on the second day after he learned "Wrap" and awakened his "Nen ability," such an incident occurred.

Was it a coincidence, or was there another reason?

Mo You pondered silently in his heart.

If it weren't for the confidence "Wrap" and "Soul Resonance" gave him, he wouldn't know how to deal with the current threat.

In front of "Nen," ordinary people are truly powerless.

Now, he could use this so-called "monster" to practice, provided he had a way out.

Actually, speaking of a monster...

Although he couldn't get more information from the woman, based on the scale and intensity of the "aura," the other party was most likely a Nen user with some basic skills.

Mo You had a plan and retreated to the courtyard, stopping to ask, "What's your name?"

"Monica Hope."

The woman lay on the ground, gasping for breath, and answered weakly.

"Monica, right? I need you to stay here and not move. Can you do that?"

Throughout the process, Mo You's gaze never left the "aura" in the darkness.

As he retreated from the front door to the courtyard, the "aura" moved toward him at a noticeably faster speed, revealing a clear intent to attack.

Before making contact, it was uncertain whether the owner of the "aura" was specifically targeting Monica or was an indiscriminate attacker driven by the desire to hunt and kill.

But whether it was the former or the latter, he needed Monica to serve as "bait."

He made this decision without any psychological burden, as the trouble was brought about by Monica.

"What... you, you want me to stay here and not move?"

Monica stared at Mo You, thinking she must have misheard.

The screams of her companions still echoed in her ears. Asking her to stay here and not move was no different from sending her to the tiger's mouth.

"Yes."

Mo You spoke succinctly, then slowly looked at Monica.

From the moment he opened the door, this was the first time his gaze rested on Monica's face.

There was only one choice.

Although Mo You didn't explain, Monica, with a survival instinct stronger than that of an ordinary person, could read some vague information from Mo You's calm, unflappable gaze.

Her mind began to work at an unprecedented speed.

Bait!

Monica instantly understood her value in this situation.

She could voluntarily stay as bait to assist this young man in dealing with the monster that had harmed her companions.

Or she could refuse to stay, and this young man would abandon her, leaving her to struggle and wait for death in the courtyard like a pitiful insect.

What choice was there?

Monica slowly came to her senses and, without needing to ask, said in a nearly desperate tone, "Okay, I'll stay here and not move."

"You're very smart."

Mo You gave Monica a deep look.

That desperate will to survive, even grasping at a single straw, was not meaningless.

In return, he would do his best to keep Monica alive if the situation allowed.

"Your decision has been recognized by the Perception. Your current visible aura capacity limit +10%."

Mo You was about to turn off the excess lights when that genderless voice sounded in his mind again.

After the last syllable of the voice faded—

Mo You could clearly feel that the "aura" he could release from his body had increased.

"Was this because of the decision?"

Mo You's eyes changed.

The first time was because his outstanding appearance pleased the "Perception," and the second time was because his decision to leave Monica in the courtyard as bait was recognized by the "Perception."

What exactly is this Perception?

Mo You's thoughts moved, and his steps halted.

He thought of the bizarre disaster from beyond the world's borders and another answer he had subconsciously rejected.

The current situation didn't allow him to delve deeper, but what he could confirm was—

The existence of Perception was beneficial to him.

Putting these thoughts aside, Mo You quickly turned off the excess lights in the temple.

In just a moment, the entire temple, except for the courtyard where Monica was, was plunged into darkness.

The remaining light, like a spotlight on a stage, shone on the helpless Monica.

Mo You hid in the darkness of the corner, waiting for the "aura" to arrive.

Not long after.

Footsteps sounded outside the temple gate, ascending the steps, then crossing the threshold—

Coming in broad daylight.

In the corner, Mo You's pupils slightly contracted.

In this pitch-black night, the glow of Nen was as conspicuous as the moon.

In other words—

Mo You, who was at the gate earlier, could see the other party in the night, and the other party could naturally see Mo You standing at the gate.

So, knowing there was a Nen user here, they still chose to enter through the main gate.

Was it simply because of their confidence? Or were they a well-rounded type skilled in both offense and defense?

Mo You's thoughts raced.

After a few moments, the footsteps grew closer.

Finally, a figure emitting "aura" entered the courtyard and walked straight toward Monica, seemingly unaware of Mo You's presence.

But how could Mo You naively think the other party hadn't noticed him?

Monica, curled up in the center of the courtyard, trembled violently with fear.

Mo You, hidden in the darkness, quietly observed the newcomer.

The other party was a tall, slender man covered in blood, leaving a trail of blood with each step.

The blood on the man's body must have come from Monica's companions.

But compared to the amount of blood, the "aura" on the man was different from what Mo You had observed earlier, clearly more abundant and powerful.

This was enough to show—

The other party indeed knew there was a Nen user here and had taken a serious attitude.