Chapter 21
Chapter 21
The detailed information Lu Xingshan sent had already revealed Peng Haiyang’s methods to Qin Lan.
Although Peng Haiyang was a 2-Star Anomaly Hunter, his primary offensive tools were the three cursed artifacts he possessed.
His Talent had no offensive ability and served only to confine targets.
His usual fighting method was to trap an opponent with [Confinement Field], then activate all three cursed artifacts in succession and release their anomalies to attack.
“Interesting. From the way you talk, you actually intend to kill me instead?”
“Do you not understand your situation?”
Peng Haiyang sneered.
“I’m a 2-Star Anomaly Hunter. You’re a novice who just earned his license.”
“I read your file. An F-rank Talent, and you barely passed the exam by teaming up with an A-rank rookie… Heh. You probably struggle against even a single 1-Star anomaly on your own.”
This was the advantage of teaming with Xue Chuan.
Aside from Lu Xingshan and Luo Yue, who watched the examination feed, and the participants inside the instance, every outsider believed Qin Lan had passed only because of Xue Chuan.
The 4-Star cursed artifact Xue Chuan drew had indeed played a major role, but Qin Lan could have cleared the instance himself.
Peng Haiyang was now suffering from that information gap.
[Confinement Field]
A translucent barrier appeared and enclosed Qin Lan.
The barrier formed a crystal-clear hemisphere like an enormous bubble, covering an area with a twenty-meter radius.
Outside, cruelty filled Peng Haiyang’s face.
“I spent years accumulating Bureau points, then used them all to exchange for these cursed artifacts. Now you can experience true despair!”
He swiftly produced a dried Severed Finger, a pipe, and a tattered burial shroud.
Dense curses surged as three anomalies gradually took shape.
Qin Lan stood at ease without the slightest fear, watching the artifacts activate with curiosity.
“Two physical anomalies and one nonphysical anomaly…”
He identified their types at a glance.
A gaunt but hulking zombie crawled from the earth with a harsh roar.
To either side floated a mass of black fog and an old man wearing a burial shroud.
“They don’t feel as strong as the Slit-Mouthed Woman.”
After observing them, Qin Lan reached his conclusion.
An anomaly’s power was reflected in the intensity of its curse.
Even the Slit-Mouthed Woman’s corpse had radiated more curse power than any of these three anomalies.
Peng Haiyang laughed as though he could already see Qin Lan’s miserable fate.
“Frozen with terror? Ha-ha-ha!”
“These three anomalies will tear you apart in moments. I can’t wait to see you dying–”
Bang!
That was the sound of Qin Lan knocking the zombie’s head off with one strike.
He stared at his crowbar, then at the empty space above the zombie’s neck, looking puzzled.
“Wait. It’s that fragile?”
Then he remembered.
“Oh. My Strength increased again.”
After the noodle shop owner’s “warm hospitality,” Qin Lan’s attributes had risen another step. He was significantly stronger than when he killed the Slit-Mouthed Woman, producing this one-hit kill.
“This… This is impossible…”
Outside the barrier, Peng Haiyang stared stupidly, wondering whether he was still asleep in bed.
What kind of F-rank novice Anomaly Hunter smashed a 1-Star anomaly’s skull with one swing?
The last person with an achievement that terrifying was now drinking tea in the Anomaly Hunter Bureau director’s office.
Qin Lan ignored Peng Haiyang’s thoughts and walked toward the old man in the burial shroud, crowbar in hand.
“Old bastard, you’re far too old to parade around dressed this seductively. Walking the streets like that is an offense against public decency!”
“But don’t worry. I’m famous for respecting the elderly and caring for the young…”
[Baton Secret Art: Three Strikes, Three Guards]
Another muffled impact sounded. Qin Lan sidestepped the old ghost’s lunge and smashed the crowbar into his knee.
“I was once a mighty anomaly, until I took a baton to the knee…”
The old ghost in the burial shroud screamed and fell, clutching his knee as he rolled across the ground. Then another strike smashed into his face.
Qin Lan swung the crowbar, his gaze sharp.
“Second strike, the mouth — prevent begging!”
“Third strike, the head — stop thinking!”
The clean three-hit combination killed the 1-Star anomaly on the spot.
“Now for you…”
Qin Lan looked toward the trembling mass of black fog.
Outside the barrier, Peng Haiyang had gone completely numb.
He reached down and found only wetness.
“Is that sweat? No. Of course not… Why would an opponent like this make me sweat?”
“I fucking pissed myself…”
Peng Haiyang’s face had transformed from complete confidence to deathly pallor, reflecting an unimaginable inner journey.
He watched Qin Lan dispose of the three 1-Star anomalies one by one as though beating stray dogs.
It was easy to imagine the miserable fate awaiting him.
“He’s practically Superman… Does someone like that really have only an F-rank Talent? I’d believe A-rank!”
Peng Haiyang wanted to cry. He hated himself for accepting this assignment.
But he did not dare run.
The moment he turned away, the [Confinement Field] would lose its support and collapse.
Given the Speed Qin Lan had just displayed, he could catch Peng Haiyang within five seconds and beat the shit out of him with two strikes.
Peng Haiyang’s Curse Codex also emphasized his Talent.
Combined with the fact that he had spent almost all his Bureau points on cursed artifacts, his personal combat ability was extremely weak.
“How long can you maintain this barrier?”
Qin Lan finished off each anomaly, scattering all three and forcing them back into their respective cursed artifacts. They could not be used again for some time.
Then he walked to the edge of the Confinement Field and tapped it with his crowbar. The barrier was exceptionally sturdy.
Qin Lan tried attacking while consuming curse energy, but the earlier battle had left him almost empty. What little remained could not break the barrier.
“Quite the turtle shell.”
Qin Lan cursed in dissatisfaction.
Despite his pale face, Peng Haiyang forced himself to sound calm.
“Heh. My Talent can last a very long time. Stop wasting your strength!”
“Even a 2-Star anomaly would struggle to break it quickly…”
Qin Lan answered calmly,
“But you can’t leave either, can you?”
“I only need to wait. Once your stamina drains away, the barrier will collapse on its own.”
Peng Haiyang staggered as Qin Lan exposed his weakness.
What terrible luck!
How did this bastard know his weakness so clearly?
Who had leaked the information?
…
Far away, inside an office in the Safe Zone, Lu Xingshan stroked his chin and muttered hesitantly,
“Was that against regulations? The information was confidential…”
Then he shook his head.
“Whatever. I’m the highest authority in the Bureau. No one can investigate me.”
…
Several minutes later, Peng Haiyang finally reached his limit and collapsed.
The Confinement Field vanished with him.
He scrambled up awkwardly and begged repeatedly.
“I was wrong. I was wrong…”
“Please, please spare me… I lost my senses for a moment and believed the Qian Group…”
Weeping, Peng Haiyang knelt and slammed his forehead against the ground.
The ordinarily aloof 2-Star Anomaly Hunter had abandoned all dignity. To preserve his life, he groveled like a dog.
Qin Lan strolled over and smiled.
“Is that so?”
“If I had knelt and begged while trapped inside your barrier, would you have spared me?”
Peng Haiyang raised his terrified eyes.
“I–”
Bang.
“See? Even you don’t believe it.”
Qin Lan shook his head with a sigh.
Then he looked at the cursed artifacts scattered across the ground.
“Next comes the inventory of stolen goods… No, the spoils of war.”