“Whether they are supernatural creatures or humans, many are entangled with Boss Pi.”
“Once certain entities obtain great power and noble status, they become increasingly greedy. They want everything—power, youth, longevity... and they want a perfect face to match it all. Simple plastic surgery just won't cut it.”
The Clown's voice was full of mockery.
“Boss Pi deals in this one-of-a-kind 'boutique' business.”
“So, you understand,” the Clown said, spreading his hands.
“If Boss Pi wants to have some fun in Amber City, he only needs to let out a little word, and plenty of 'people' will proactively flock to help him. They are all 'clients' who want something from him.”
Hearing this, Yue Shi looked the Clown up and down. “Is your current image 'bought' from Boss Pi too? Are you wearing someone else's skin?”
“No, no, no!” the Clown hastily denied, touching his own face. “This is 100% original! A naturally handsome man, born this way!”
“Then why are you helping Boss Pi deal with us?” Yue Shi pressed.
“Because... it's fun, of course!” The Clown returned to his ecstatic state, chuckling away.
“With Boss Pi personally stirring up trouble on such a lively stage, how could I not join in? Watching the play isn't nearly as fun as being on stage yourself!”
So he was just a fun-seeker!
Yue Shi criticized him silently.
However, this guy's words weren't necessarily true.
Beside him, Bai Wanyang had completely lost his wits. His eyes were hollow, and his face wore the same exaggerated smile as the Clown. Occasionally, he would even clap his hands unconsciously.
Yue Shi didn't bother with the changes in Bai Wanyang. Regardless, the man's supernatural power would save his worthless hide; being a bit of an idiot for a while wouldn't be a major issue.
“Why tell me so much, even revealing Boss Pi's 'business'? What's in it for you? You don't look like the helpful type, my honest Mr. Clown,” Yue Shi said, his gaze narrowing slightly as he engaged in seemingly casual conversation.
The Clown split his painted mouth into a wide, heartless grin. “Benefit? Does everything have to be done for a benefit? Are you someone who believes in profit above all else, and thus you're projecting your own thoughts onto me?”
Yue Shi nodded. “You're right.”
Seeing him admit it so bluntly, the Clown laughed even more heartily. “I'm used to human hypocrisy, so someone like you is truly rare. You dare to face your own despicable and filthy side without making excuses to hide it. I like it!”
Yue Shi: “???”
“I'm telling you all this for the sake of balance. One-sided stomps are too boring. Only when the two sides are evenly matched and trade blows does the play become interesting. Only then is the fun big enough!” The Clown gestured wildly.
“I'm giving intel to the weaker side to increase their chips in the fight!”
The Investigation Bureau was actually being treated as the weaker side?
Yue Shi's eyes narrowed slightly. Things were becoming more and more interesting.
However, the Clown's words weren't to be trusted. Who knew how much of what he said was true? What if the 'fun-seeker' persona was just another performance?
Just then—
The exaggerated expression on the Clown's face vanished instantly, replaced by a twisted look of terror. His voice became sharp and piercing: “Drive! Fucking drive!!”
The change came without warning. Yue Shi was startled but didn't move.
However, the Clown's words weren't just for Yue Shi; Bai Wanyang heard them too. Despite having lost his mind, his body twisted with eerie flexibility. One hand grabbed the steering wheel while his foot slammed the accelerator.
The engine let out a roar, and the car lunged forward. The Investigation Bureau members in the car behind didn't know what was happening, but they instinctively started their engine and followed.
“What kind of fit are you throwing?” Yue Shi's face darkened. He was about to stop Bai Wanyang when he saw the Clown clutching the back of the front seat, staring out the window in shock.
Yue Shi followed his gaze—
In the pitch-black night, a tall, burly figure stood in the wasteland. The man wore a white coat so dirty its original color was unrecognizable. He had a square face, a rugged appearance, and hair as messy as a bird's nest.
The moment Yue Shi saw the man clearly, his eyes widened.
“The director of Qingshan Sanatorium?!”
The director had actually left the sanatorium's supernatural domain and appeared here?
Thoughts flashed through Yue Shi's mind. Was the director after the bunch of keys he had taken? Or...
He looked at the terrified, neurotic Clown. It was more likely that this guy had done something bad at the sanatorium and lured the director out!
“Oh, darling, we're in big trouble! Accelerate! Faster!” the Clown screamed hysterically in the back seat, nearly bouncing out of his chair. His previous composed and playful image was gone, replaced by nothing but fear and panic.
The car bumped and raced across the wilderness. Yue Shi remained very calm. When he had visited Qingshan Sanatorium last time, he had been very wary of this director.
But things were different now. He had bypassed Rank 3 and directly became a Rank 4 transcendent, giving him plenty of confidence. Even if he couldn't defeat the director, escaping should be no problem at all.
Bai Wanyang sat in the passenger seat, still grinning foolishly, controlling the vehicle in a distorted posture and pushing the speed to the limit.
In the rearview mirror, the director's figure was quickly distanced and grew smaller. The Clown breathed a slight sigh of relief, slumping into the back seat and panting heavily.
Yue Shi took the chance to ask, “What exactly did you do? Why are you so scared?”
The Clown forced a smile that looked worse than crying. His eyes flickered as he said vaguely, “Nothing, I just don't like dealing with mental patients...”
As soon as he finished speaking—
The car's speed began to drop without warning.
“What's going on?” the Clown jumped, his eyes scanning the front. “Out of gas? Did you hit the brakes?!”
Yue Shi shook his head. No one was braking, and the fuel gauge was normal.
It wasn't just their car; the vehicles following behind also slowed down one after another, as if they had fallen into an invisible marsh.
The Clown looked nervously behind the car. Not far away, the tall figure in the dirty white coat was approaching step by step at a steady, uniform pace.
The distance between the two sides was constantly closing. The smile that usually stayed on the Clown's face had completely vanished. Following some law of conservation, a sinister smile slowly spread across the director's face.
Yue Shi understood. It looked like the director was here for the Clown.
What on earth did this guy do?
Did he lock the director in a stall and feed him shit?
The car was still sliding forward, but the speed was suffocatingly slow. The engine roared in vain, but the tires could only maintain a snail-like crawl, slower than an old lady crossing the street.
Seeing the director's figure getting closer and closer, the Clown's tension became almost tangible. Unwilling to sit and wait for death, he let out a strange cry and swiped his right hand forward, unfolding a brilliant, illusory Kaleidoscope Veil in front of him.
Rate on N.U.
