Chapter 4: Quest Complete! The Ghoul’s Heart
Several minutes later.
“You—!”
“How is this possible—!”
Xu Yan staggered backward, panic etched deep across her face. Of the two scorpion-tail Kagune unfurled behind her, one was shredded, the other severed entirely.
In stark contrast, her opponent—Serene—stood nearly unscathed, marked only by a thin, blood-red line slashed across her cheek.
This woman… She’s a monster!
Run! I have to get away!
Xu Yan felt death closing in. She spun and bolted, driven by raw desperation.
But Serene only raised the Sword of No Light, her movements deliberate and unhurried. She drew a steady breath, a faint smile—touched with golden light—playing on her lips.
“Where my blade points, so follows the Holy Light.”
As her words faded, she struck.
A sword arc, invisible and formless, swept forth. Xu Yan, still mid-sprint, suddenly froze—her pale skin split by golden cracks that raced across her body.
“No… No! I haven’t had my revenge—!” she shrieked, her voice shrill with terror. But before the words could finish, a thunderous boom split the air. Her body erupted, splintering into a rain of flesh and bone, fragments scattering in all directions.
All that remained was a single, still-beating heart and a severed scorpion-tail Kagune, thudding heavily to the ground.
“What the—?”
The constables nearby stared in disbelief. The monster—a ghoul who had slaughtered two full squads—had been destroyed like some insignificant insect by this armored knight!
After dispatching the ghoul, Serene, following Bai Xuan’s instructions, stooped to retrieve the heart and the Kagune. Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Only once her figure had vanished did the constables snap out of their stupor.
“Who was that woman?”
“No idea! She must be an Anomaly, right? There’s no way a normal person could do that!”
“Maybe she’s with the Investigation Bureau?”
“Could be! Only someone from the Bureau would be that strong!”
“Are the Bureau’s people really that powerful…?”
“…”
As the crowd buzzed with speculation, Liu Qian slowly pushed herself up, still shaken. Awe and gratitude welled up inside her for the knight who had just saved her life.
“Liu Qian, are you alright?”
Just then, another squad arrived. A black-haired woman rushed over, eyes filled with concern.
“I’m fine, Bai Yu. A woman knight saved us.”
“A woman knight?”
“Yeah, let me tell you what happened—”
…
【World Quest: The Ghoul of the Corpse-Eaters (Completed)】
【Quest Reward: Character Setting—White Dove (Green). Your Strength attribute has increased slightly!】
【White Dove (Green): You possess an acute sense for undead entities, including ghouls, revenants, zombies, and jiangshi.】
【Refresh Ticket +1】
By now, Bai Xuan had already returned home via the teleportation array.
After submitting the quest, his Strength stat ticked up to E+. The Book of Worlds also gained about 20% Legendary Charge—a rare energy required to summon new legends.
“Not a bad haul,” Bai Xuan mused, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. He could feel the surge of new power coursing through him. With a single punch, he could flatten the weakling he once was.
If I keep growing like this, it’s only a matter of time before I become the strongest Anomaly.
He glanced at Serene, who stood quietly nearby. “You did well this time, Serene.”
During the battle, Bai Xuan had kept his distance, observing from afar.
With his current abilities, charging in would’ve been suicide. Better to wait until he was stronger—then fight on his own terms.
“It was my duty,” Serene replied, her voice calm and utterly devoid of emotion.
Once again, Bai Xuan couldn’t help but wonder: Is Serene truly a succubus? Why does she never show the slightest emotion?
He shook the thought away, turning his attention to the items the ghoul had dropped: a heart, and a scorpion-tail Kagune.
The other Kagune had been sliced to ribbons by Serene’s Sword of No Light—only this one remained intact.
As for the heart… For some reason, it still twitched faintly, as if some sinister vitality lingered within.
【Scorpion-tail Kagune (Green): Can be used in the Book of Worlds to craft a ghoul weapon. Requires a small amount of blood.】
【Xu Yan’s Heart (Blue): The ghoul Xu Yan feasted on the flesh and blood of beautiful women. Her body is destroyed, her life extinguished, but her heart remains. Consuming it will grant you a portion of her power.】
“….”
Bai Xuan frowned.
Eat the ghoul’s heart? …Maybe not. That can wait.
But the Kagune—that was worth putting to use.
He tossed it into the Book of Worlds to begin crafting a ghoul weapon.
【Ghoul Weapon Crafting: Estimated Time—12 hours!】
As the process began, Bai Xuan’s consciousness wavered. His face turned deathly pale, cold sweat beading on his brow.
“Hiss—”
He sucked in a sharp breath and collapsed weakly onto the sofa.
So much for ‘just a little blood’…
At least it wasn’t fatal.
“What happened to you?”
Serene noticed his depleted aura and asked softly.
“It’s nothing, just feeling a bit drained,” Bai Xuan waved her off, grabbing a can of Coke from the fridge and chugging it.
Didn’t really help, but cold Coke still tasted better than the sugar-free stuff.
Serene watched him for a moment, then silently came to his side. She slipped off her wrist guards and gloves, revealing hands as pale and flawless as jade.
Gently, she pressed her palms to Bai Xuan’s chest. A faint golden light shimmered from her hands.
A soothing warmth washed through him, indescribably comfortable.
His vitality wasn’t fully restored, but most of his discomfort faded away.
“Feeling better?”
“Yeah. Thanks.” Bai Xuan smiled, genuinely grateful. Paladins really were reliable.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the message, and his eyes widened—Bai Yu’s mission was over. She was on her way home!
Bai Xuan immediately looked up at Serene, who was still tending to his wounds, and fell into deep thought.
Hmm…
How the hell am I supposed to explain Serene to Yu-jie?
…
“A blonde knight in armor?”
Bai Yu was driving Liu Qian home.
“That’s right!” Liu Qian nodded eagerly, excitement bubbling in her voice. “That monster? She took it down in just two swings! It was incredible—like something out of an epic!”
“So she’s with the Investigation Bureau?” Bai Yu asked.
“I checked—none of the Bureau’s people had even arrived yet. They’re always a step behind!” Liu Qian grumbled, grinding her teeth.
“Well, can’t be helped. The Bureau’s always short-staffed. Until they show up, it’s up to us constables to hold the line,” Bai Yu replied calmly.
“Sigh—first week in Ninghang City and I get thrown into this mess. Should’ve listened to my aunt!”
Liu Qian let out a long sigh, regret coloring her tone. “Five years at a desk job would’ve been so much easier. I’d still get into Ideal City… Instead, three years as a constable and I might not even make it out alive!”
She and Bai Yu were classmates, both having come to Ninghang City as constables to earn the right to move to the legendary Ideal City.
Bai Yu didn’t respond to her complaints.
Part of her own reason for becoming a constable was to qualify for residency in Ideal City as well.
Of course, Liu Qian’s aunt held a high post in the Investigation Bureau, so Liu Qian only had to serve three years. The rest had to put in ten before they could bring their families along.
“We’re here.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow.”
“Mm.”
After dropping Liu Qian off, Bai Yu drove straight home.
It was nearly midnight when she returned.
“Hm?”
She noticed the light still on in Bai Xuan’s room. “Bai Xuan, you’re still up?”
“Ah? Oh, I’m just taking a shower.”