Chapter 24: Twenty four spirits, a petal

The Water Jellyfish Commander stared at the graceful silhouette beside Ning Li, sinking into deep thought.

Even though it was just simple short sleeves and long pants, it still couldn’t conceal the unique aura emanating from that person.

An aura so unforgettable that a single glance would leave an impression for life—

He had only ever seen it on one person before.

That person was the Empire’s Ming Yue, the spiritual pillar of countless people.

But he had been dead for five years.

So, it should just be a similarity in the aura from behind.

As the trusted Personal Guard Chief of the Commander, he knew better than anyone: that person was indeed dead. 

No misunderstandings, no miracles—dead through and through. 

The only regret was that the body had never been found, a thorn in someone’s side.

Otherwise, everything would have settled by now.

The doubts that had surged in the Water Jellyfish Commander’s mind ebbed away like the tide.

He sneered coldly.

The original had died saving ordinary people; this counterfeit wouldn’t last much longer. 

It seems this kind of aura is a sign of a short life.

The Water Jellyfish Commander ordered, “Capture Ning Li alive. The one beside her—kill!”

“Yes!”

The murderous intent from behind felt almost tangible; even at a distance neither too far nor too close, Ning Li sensed it sharply.

She quickly allocated the tasks, “The lead is yours, I’ll take the other two, agreed?”

Her new teammate held a grudge against the Water Jellyfish Commander. 

Though she wasn’t exactly on good terms with him either, she was happy to leave the opportunity to deal with the Commander to this ally.

It was the first time Yin Que had heard such words from a Guide.

Guides only had support abilities, no offensive power. 

Against Sentinels, they had no way to fight back. 

That’s why one of the tenets of the Sentinel Spirit was that Sentinels must not harm Guides.

Protecting Guides was an unshirkable duty for Sentinels.

“You can assist me.” 

As for those three Sentinels, I’ll take care of them.

Ning Li, who had no aptitude for support as a Spirit Entity, murmured, “Maybe next time.”

She was vague, “I won’t confront them directly. I’ll kite them like a kite in the wind, wait for you to finish off that Water Jellyfish, then help me.”

During last night’s discussion, she had proactively asked the new teammate if he had any issues facing the Water Jellyfish Commander.

He said no. 

Though this was their first collaboration, trust had to exist.

Ning Li was willing to entrust that trust.

All online information about Yin Que had been blocked, including photos. 

So she did not know that he had appeared suddenly at age fourteen, and at twenty became a Commander.

 Though his career as Commander lasted only four years, he had accumulated ten years of battlefield experience.

Even if his Spirit State had reverted to its initial level, dealing with a Personal Guard squad leader was no problem.

After all, at fourteen, he had already been able to defeat the then Personal Guard Chief.

“Xiao Hei, hit them!”

“Knock them down!”

Yin Que still felt uneasy, but Ning Li was already sprinting towards the suburb.

There was no wilderness in the Forbidden Zone, only sparsely inhabited suburbs. 

The suburbs had abandoned buildings, and nearby were construction debris of stones and steel bars, but no workers were around. 

It was a good place to fight.

She turned back to taunt the Water Jellyfish Commander with a smile, then headed for the abandoned building.

The Water Jellyfish Commander still cared more about the new person beside her. 

He ordered in a deep voice, “You two go after her. Do not kill—capture her alive.”

As for himself…

He fixed his gaze on Yin Que.

Let him experience the thrill of defeating the counterfeit!

Even if it was just a counterfeit with a similar figure and aura, easily defeating the opponent would also give him an indescribable sense of accomplishment!

The Water Jellyfish Commander’s two subordinates set off.

But as soon as they moved toward Ning Li, they were cut across the neck by a weapon that appeared out of thin air.

For Yin Que, this attack wasn’t fierce; he held back. 

Yet it still shocked the three nearby Sentinels into silence.

A fatal wound for ordinary people was only enough to temporarily incapacitate a Sentinel from acting or speaking. 

With timely treatment, there would be no lasting harm.

Two Sentinels clutched their wounds tightly, gasping, unable to speak. 

Their eyes showed terror—they were caught off guard.

Even when facing Abnormal Species, they never felt such fear.

What kind of weapon could be so sharp as to easily pierce the Sentinel’s skin defense?

Sentinels were not ordinary humans. 

Their skin was harder, and their vitality stronger. 

But they were not invincible. 

They were more prone to mental frenzy and needed regular Spirit Sea grooming by Guides.

Ordinary blades could not cut their skin!

The Water Jellyfish Commander’s eyes sharpened as he looked at the weapon that wounded his two subordinates.

When he clearly saw its shape, his eyes widened like copper bells, his lips trembled in shock, his body swayed from fear, and his mind went blank.

That was…

That was…

It was actually a petal!

That weapon was a petal! 

An extremely familiar petal!

Every citizen of the Empire would recognize this petal!

This petal came from the famed and renowned Cosmic Rose.

Unlike ordinary roses, the Cosmic Rose’s colors were indescribably magnificent, possessing a power that easily dazzled and enchanted. 

Those who saw it would instinctively use the most beautiful words in the world to describe, admire, and be intoxicated by it.

After completing its mission to injure two Sentinels, the petal withered and dissipated before the three shocked Sentinels’ eyes.

Yet the scene remained deeply etched in their minds.

The Water Jellyfish Commander muttered tremblingly, “How could this be…How is this possible…No, this can’t be…”

His transparent Spirit Entity, a Water Jellyfish, swayed beside him—not in a usual way, but trembling, fearful, as if facing a high-level Sentinel, knowing defeat, begging for mercy.

A certain lord’s trusted nemesis was really not dead…

But how could that be?

If this person wasn’t dead, where had he been for five years? 

Why hadn’t he appeared?

While the Water Jellyfish Commander’s mind was in turmoil, Yin Que was already strolling up to him.

He wore no Commander uniform, but still stood tall and unyielding, making ordinary white short sleeves and pants radiate an aura beyond normal people.

He was like a spear piercing directly into the Water Jellyfish Commander’s vision.

“Who is the current Commander?”

The Water Jellyfish Commander found his thoughts numbed.

This was one of the most terrifying talents of the Cosmic Rose—

Copying.

Yin Que…had copied his Spirit Entity’s ability!

This power in Yin Que’s hands was multiplied many times over! 

The original owner of the talent was defeated, falling to his own Spirit Entity’s power! 

He had no resistance at all!

The Water Jellyfish Commander heard his own voice involuntarily sound,

“…”

After hearing the name, Yin Que was not surprised.

“Where are Pei Yujiu and Ting Rui?” 

Those two were his most trusted Personal Guard Chief and Vice Commander.

The Water Jellyfish Commander’s eyes showed fear. 

He wanted to stop himself from speaking, but couldn’t. 

Helplessly, he revealed everything he knew.

If he had once been proud of his Spirit Entity, now he was utterly desperate.

When controlling Ning Li, Yuanzi, and Zhao Lan, he had thought everything was under his control. 

He was complacent, ignoring those Guides.

But when he himself was controlled, he knew how unbearable it was to have one’s thoughts manipulated!

“…Dead…whereabouts unknown…” 

The Security Bureau’s public message was that Pei Yujiu was missing, and Ting Rui had gone back home to farm.

When Yin Que heard that Pei Yujiu was dead, he clenched his right hand, veins faintly bulging.

He lowered his gaze, stared at the man, and asked word by word, “How did he die?”

The Water Jellyfish Commander closed his eyes, “He…was controlled…after Spirit Entity possession…Ancient Wild Beast…wild strike…beaten to death…”

Ancient Wild Beast…

It was actually an Ancient Wild Beast!

Qi Sigui hated him so much! 

Hated him so deeply he couldn’t tolerate his subordinates! 

Even wanted to humiliate them! 

But why?

In his memories, Qi Sigui was a gentle elder brother, a like-minded comrade, a friend who supported his ideals and beliefs! 

They had once sworn together to end the chaos, eliminate Abnormal Species, and restore peace to the world.

But why…had they come to this point?

In all the years with Qi Sigui, he never sensed a hint of the man’s ambition!

Qi Sigui’s acting skills were so good, he fooled everyone!

Yin Que calmed himself before continuing, “Tell me everything you’ve done.”

The Water Jellyfish Commander despairingly confessed all his years of rampant profiteering, suppressing poor Sentinels, manipulating Guides, deserting the front lines as a coward, and targeting Ning Li and her friends over the Beads left by Yin Que.

He knew. 

It was over.

He could not survive under the eyes of the Former Commander, who never tolerated incompetence.

Everything he did was the Former Commander’s greatest abhorrence.

“Did any of your two subordinates take part?”

Under the terrified, desperate, pleading eyes of the two subordinates, the Water Jellyfish Commander revealed their deeds thoroughly as well. 

Even in death, he would drag two others down with him. 

Moreover, his thoughts were no longer his own, forcing him to tell the truth.

“One more question. Does Qi Sigui know the person who picked up my Beads?”

“This kind of…minor character…how could…be noticed by the Commander…”

Qi Sigui always cared only about results, not process.

The process naturally had countless subordinates handling it; he only cared about the final outcome.

Inept subordinates would be punished.

So the Water Jellyfish Commander was among the highest to know of Ning Li’s existence.

Until now, he had wanted to deal with it himself, never daring to tell the Personal Guard Chief, never letting Qi Sigui and his subordinates know the Beads had gone missing in the hands of a Guide. 

The consequences of revealing this would be severe—meaning his incompetence, blocking his advancement forever.

“So, currently only you and your few subordinates know.”

“…”

After naming those three subordinates, his vision blackened. 

This brief life came to an end.

In his final moments, memories flashed rapidly like a carousel…joyful, painful, exciting, fearful…finally, the image froze on Yin Que’s handsome, cold face.

He never regretted what he had done.

He only regretted that Yin Que was not dead, and that he could never see the day when Qi Sigui and Yin Que faced off again…