"Where on earth did he dig up that family bucket—?" the Gem Witch muttered inwardly.
On one side stood the masked witch in her gorgeous, alluring dress, the gem-studded belt beneath her slender waist glittering brightly, her vibrant cape flaunting in the wind.
On the other side was a masked eccentric wearing an oversized KFC family bucket on his head, dressed in the red-and-white uniform of a KFC employee.
The two styles were poles apart, yet in a weird way, somehow bore a vague resemblance.
This "Grandpa KFC," at first glance, looked like an authentic KFC server—
No, a server wouldn't clap a family bucket over his head. This person was practically a KFC bucket spirit come to life!
Yet looking closer, the clothes were wrinkled and clung to him like a bodysuit—they didn't fit him at all!
In the Gem Witch's experience—it looked "stolen."
The Gem Witch recalled catching a glimpse of a nearby KFC fried chicken shop during her escape. Could this guy have snatched the family bucket and red-and-white uniform from over there—?
Even though he was her "lifesaver," the visual impact of his getup was so overpowering that the Gem Witch didn't know whether to be grateful, vigilant, or entirely at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
Yet this utterly absurd, freewheeling style stirred a bizarre sense of déjà vu.
For no reason at all, she thought of that advertisement: "West City Mass Graves! New housing development! A century-old prestigious residence! Infinite appreciation potential, down payment only seven figures!"
Because someone had once torn down the banner fabric from that ad to craft an utterly cursed, abstract cloak, hiding his face to appear before her.
That was a person who was very important to the Gem Witch.
When she thought of this, the gaze she cast at the newcomer grew profound.
Her eyes flickered behind her mask. The Gem Witch observed this unfathomable uninvited guest from a distance, an indefinable nuance swirling within her eyes.
*Weng—*
Bai Zhou suddenly felt uneasy all over, a chill washing over him.
The sensation came abruptly and vanished just as quickly.
Yet in the Gem Witch's vision, three flames visible only to her had already appeared atop "Grandpa KFC's" head, right shoulder, and left shoulder.
The flames flickered, dim and faint. The weak embers were not particularly blazing, yet they were remarkably tenacious.
They were called the "Three Yang Fires of the Body."
Such flickering, dim embers indicated that the spirituality within his body was not vast, at least falling far short of the Level 5 caliber she had anticipated.
Quite the opposite, in fact—it barely reached Level 2 or Level 3.
Yet the resilient vitality within the flames showed that the spirituality within him contained pre-natal essence—a trait found only in Level 4 Extraordinaries who had touched upon the mystery of "Essence"!
So, this was a Level 4 Extraordinary who had been gravely injured, leaving him with little spirituality?
The Gem Witch reached a preliminary assessment, yet found it unbelievable.
Could a mere gravely injured Level 4 Extraordinary unleash a strike like the one just now?
The deadly killing intent and sharp ferocity she had felt firsthand when surrounded by that blade-light had made the Gem Witch think an advanced Level 5 Extraordinary had arrived.
Even in her prime, handling such a slash would have required considerable effort.
And she was no ordinary Level 5 Extraordinary—
She was a Level 5 Destined! A Trickster!
The Gem Witch's eyes darted with suspicion and uncertainty over this "Grandpa KFC," observing the purple-gold saber rested against his shoulder.
There was no doubt this was a top-tier extraordinary weapon. Even in the hands of a Level 6 Titled Extraordinary, it would be considered luxurious. Moreover, the secret technique used to swing it was undeniably extraordinary.
So who on earth was this sacred being?
Because of the strange thought that had flitted through her mind, the Gem Witch took a few extra looks at the Three Yang Fires of the Body on Grandpa KFC.
Everyone's Three Yang Fires were different, just as everyone looked different. But just like seeing countless people every day without paying attention to whether a passerby's hair was slightly wavy or straight, the minute differences between Three Yang Fire features were not easy for the Gem Witch to remember.
By the time she had realized how important that person was and wanted to firmly memorize his flame characteristics, he had already vanished into the vast crowd of the ghost market.
Yet from the general similarities in the flames' color and shape, the Gem Witch arrived at a vague, preliminary judgment—
Could the "Grandpa KFC" before her and the mysterious man who repaired her wand in the ghost market be the same person?!
After all, their styles of doing things were also strikingly similar—
"Um..." Composing her expression, the Gem Witch tested the waters with a solemn, low voice: "The eight yuan and twenty-seven cents you owe me in the Reflected Ruin Realm... have you paid me back yet?"
"...?"
Bai Zhou gave a sudden jolt, his body stiffening almost imperceptibly.
*Eight yuan and twenty-seven cents?*
*You still remember that?!*
*—Wait, no, how did she recognize me!*
Thoughts raced through Bai Zhou's mind in horror as he pondered how to react.
And here he had deliberately borrowed a clean, empty family bucket and a server uniform from a closed KFC nearby just to avoid being recognized.
As for why KFC—
Naturally, Bai Zhou judged others by himself and thought the white-bearded grandpa grinning toothily on the KFC bucket carried the intimidation of an evil god, just as the black-robed elders of Wancheng wore hideous, terrifying masks during exorcisms.
Besides, he had just eaten KFC's family bucket at Fang Xiaoxia's place and knew the thing could fit over a head.
Bai Zhou hadn't even dared poke holes in the bucket for his eyes, staying completely "in the dark" inside the bucket, observing her entirely through his "Mind's Eye."
—And she could still see through him?
*Are you also the eldest disciple of Wancheng's Grand Hypnotist Archmage, with some special eyes?*
"Her eyes are very special," Crow spoke up faintly from the side, resolving Bai Zhou's doubt.
*Really?*
Bai Zhou blinked his eyes behind the family bucket.
Crow pondered for a moment, then continued, "If my senses aren't mistaken, this witch has likely awakened an instinct known as the 'Wisdom Eye.'"
*An instinct?*
Bai Zhou shuddered. Just as enlightenment struck him, he suddenly realized the crux of the matter.
—According to Crow, it was as hard as scaling the heavens for an Extraordinary to awaken an "instinct," and named instincts were the exclusive privilege of the Destined.
Instincts like his "Seek Fortune and Avoid Misfortune," "Mind's Eye," and the recently awakened "Companion Lightning" were rare, precious instincts even among the Destined.
Then, this Gem Witch—
"I know what you're thinking."
Crow nodded. "And I'm telling you you're right. This Gem Witch... is very likely a Destined!"
"The instinct she awakened is most probably a pair of 'Wisdom Eyes' capable of seeing through the strength of others' spirituality!"
Crow spoke cautiously, but her tone was resolute, making Bai Zhou's breathing behind the bucket grow somewhat heavy.
A Destined!
Aside from Crow and himself, Bai Zhou had never met another Destined in reality.
What Fate Principle did she have? Which Destiny Sequence did she walk? What features did that pathway possess?
All kinds of curiosity rose in Bai Zhou's mind, but he immediately felt a chill, wondering how much of him she had seen through—
"'Wisdom Eye' is an advanced instinct on par with the Mind's Eye, possessing boundless growth potential. To awaken it, talent and opportunity are both indispensable."
Crow explained, "In the world observed by the Wisdom Eye, every person possesses three fires upon them, named the 'Three Yang Fires of the Body,' situated on top of the head and on the left and right shoulders."
"The fire atop the head symbolizes that deities reside three feet above one's head, shielding the mortal vessel from foul corruption."
"The fire on the right shoulder is called the nameless fire; it illuminates the right half of the body, working symmetrically with the fire on the left shoulder to illuminate the entire form."
Regarding this, Crow casually shared a few secret tidbits that made Bai Zhou feel an eerie chill: "Therefore, in certain sects and organizations, weak Extraordinaries typically avoid wearing hats when heading out at night, lest they suppress the fire on their heads."
"Senior Extraordinaries say that if you feel afraid, scratching your scalp a few extra times can bolster your courage."
"There's also a saying that when walking at night in the Reflected Ruin Realm, one must never look back—or if you must, never turn with sudden force—for fear of snuffing out the nameless fire on your shoulder."
"Furthermore, you must never suddenly slap someone on the shoulder while walking. Doing so could 'put out their fire,' startling them and inviting misfortune—just as anomalies that prey on humans like to pat people's shoulders to extinguish their fires beforehand."
"Based on these principles, a certain cult even bred sinister curses and counter-curses specifically designed to blow out a person's yang fires, catching them completely off guard!"
Watching the Gem Witch in the distance, Crow explained in a hushed tone, "These 'Three Yang Fires of the Body' directly reflect the quantity and strength of the spirituality within the body. If the flame is too dim, walking through the Ruin Realm easily invites adverse influences."
"Coincidentally, in the occult circles of the Western Federation, there is a similar concept, which they refer to as an 'aura' or 'human glow.'"
"Rumor has it that when powerful Extraordinaries have exceedingly surging spirituality and towering fire, their Three Yang Fires can even bloom like flowers, linking together to form a halo of radiance that hovers behind their heads, impervious to all arts!"
"However, because the Three Yang Fires of ordinary people and regular Extraordinaries are too weak to be seen by the naked eye, one requires Wisdom Eyes to discern them."
"If you two have met before..." Crow narrowed her eyes slightly. "I believe she used the Wisdom Eye to observe the Three Yang Fires on you, recognizing you through the shape of your fires."
"However..." Crow hesitated again. "The Three Yang Fires evolve alongside a person's growth, and subtle differences are difficult to distinguish—unless you were exceptionally important to her, so much so that she memorized every inch of your flame's characteristics long ago."
Just as an adolescent girl changes drastically over time, someone truly important can still be recognized after years apart—that was roughly the principle.
As she spoke, Crow turned to look at Bai Zhou, an inquiring edge in her gaze.
*When did you get acquainted with this charming masked witch?*
Even by Crow's standards, the Gem Witch was undeniably a beauty, one in ten thousand.
Combined with her provocative lace mini-skirt attire, and her current pose like a swan arching its neck—frail and pitiable yet holding onto haughty pride—even the moonlight seemed to flatter her allure. Even Crow found her captivating and touching.
Let alone Bai Zhou...
Yet Bai Zhou beside her was single-mindedly agonizing over how to fool the Gem Witch.
—Beauty? What beauty? She was a creditor whose fists were bigger than sandbags! The kind with blue skin, fangs, three heads, six arms, and an appetite for human flesh!
He had blown up that antique wand of hers—presumably a family heirloom—like a hand grenade. How could he dare let her recognize him—?
*Wait, Crow just said the shape of the fires?*
Jolted awake by Crow's words, Bai Zhou realized his internal spirituality had expanded beyond recognition compared to when he first met the Gem Witch. The two were as different as clouds and mud; the shape of his fire naturally wouldn't remain static.
Even if he had been injured both times, how could an injured mule be compared to an injured tiger?
Even if the flame traits were similar, Bai Zhou believed she had no reason to be one hundred percent certain of his identity. At most, she was probing.
With that in mind, Bai Zhou came up with a plan.
"Money? Eight yuan and... how many cents?"
"I've searched my memory of my several decades of life, and I don't recall ever owing anyone such petty change—the price of a basket of steamed buns! Not even enough to add a bowl of jellied tofu!"
"Grandpa KFC" flew into a rage, tightening his grip on the purple-gold saber. "Just what on earth are you talking about?! I saved your life, and you actually demand money from me?"
"I haven't the faintest idea what you're rambling about—I have never seen someone so utterly shameless!"
"This—" Seeing Grandpa KFC fly into a towering rage, the Gem Witch indeed grew uncertain.
When Bai Zhou had fallen silent earlier, the Gem Witch thought her probe had succeeded, but Bai Zhou's furious outburst now provided a perfect explanation for that silence.
Saving someone's life only to be slapped with a false accusation demanding pocket change—how could someone in this world be so unscrupulously ungrateful?
It sounded just like a good Samaritan at a hit-and-run who rushed the victim to the hospital, only to be falsely accused of being the culprit. Anyone would freeze on the spot in stunned bewilderment.
—The Gem Witch felt so rotten!
Besides, that made sense—even injured, this man was a Level 4 Extraordinary who had seemingly awakened pre-natal essence.
Whereas the person she had been searching for had spirituality as faint as a candle flame, as if a single gust of wind could blow it out. He clearly looked like a weak Extraordinary with zero achievements along the extraordinary pathways, to the point where the Gem Witch had once assumed he was a raw novice who had just stepped into the extraordinary world.
In reality, that person was a lopsided prodigy whose achievements in rune studies had shocked even the old advisor of the Armory—he clearly couldn't be the same person as this saber-wielding man who looked exceptionally skilled at lopping off heads—
It was merely a coincidence in the color and shape of the flames. Such things weren't unheard of.
It seemed she had wanted to find that person so desperately that she had lost her head for a moment—
"I misunderstood... I mistook you for a very important old acquaintance—"
Realizing what she had just done, the Gem Witch was instantly overcome with shame.
Proud as she was, her cheeks flushed with visible crimson. Coughing twice, her eyes darted nervously from side to side, not daring to meet the benevolent eyes of the white-bearded grandpa on the family bucket.
*It worked!* Amid the witch's stammering apologies, Bai Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, simultaneously stunned that Crow's words had proven spot-on down to the letter.
Why had Crow been so certain the Gem Witch was a Destined?
Why was she so sure the instinct was the "Wisdom Eye"?
And how did she know so much about the Wisdom Eye—?
At this moment, Bai Zhou deeply understood the saying that having an elder in the house is like holding a treasure—especially in the mysterious world, where such knowledge was worth far more than gold!
"Forget it, none of that matters."
Finally, Bai Zhou waved his hand. The Gem Witch, who had been struggling to piece together sentences and stammering dry apologies, felt as though granted a grand pardon and let out a long, slow breath.
"So, how did you provoke these cockroaches?"
Bai Zhou raised a hand toward the headless corpses on the ground and inquired, "These black-clad thugs don't usually mobilize."
"—Did you get on the wrong side of the people behind them?"
"Cockroaches? Black-clad...?"
The Gem Witch's attention was instantly drawn, her spirits lifting. "You really do know them!"
Bai Zhou nodded. "I have some bad blood with them—so I want to know what happened to you."
"—If it's convenient for you to share."
The enemy of an enemy is a friend.
With nearly thirty heads serving as a pledge of allegiance, and facing the inquiry of her lifesaver, the Gem Witch hesitated, measured her words, and selectively revealed part of the truth.
"..."
The more Bai Zhou listened, the weirder he felt.
The Gem Witch, who had been hunting down a certain wanted criminal surnamed Bai, heard about last night's incident and had nothing better to do, so she went to investigate Yuanmeng Middle School in reality?
Naturally, she came away empty-handed.
Yet the moment she stepped out of the middle school, she fell into an exceedingly perilous, layered ambush?
A group of Black Warriors had been lying in wait there for her, as if they had anticipated her arrival—accompanied by a Level 6 Titled Extraordinary?
—Where did this unlucky scapegoat come from?
Bai Zhou took a deep breath. Beside the sheer horror in his chest, hindsight hit him like a lightning bolt, making him realize what had actually transpired.
That "certain wanted criminal surnamed Bai"—wasn't that himself?!
Outside Yuanmeng Middle School, there was an ambush laid by the Major!
Without question, the Major had been aiming for him!
Or rather, aiming for "Senior Zhou"!
Bai Zhou's heart pounded wildly. A sudden chill grazed the back of his neck, cold sweat soaking his spine.
No wonder the Major hadn't made a move against "Bai Zhou" tonight—the focus of his target had shifted entirely to "Senior Zhou."
In fact, Bai Zhou had indeed planned to make another trip to Yuanmeng Middle School tonight to carry out a secret investigation—only to run into the Gem Witch near the school grounds.
If he had arrived two minutes earlier, or even thirty seconds earlier—
Bai Zhou remained silent, a creeping terror gripping his heart.
—Unwittingly, the Gem Witch had cleared the minefield for him, absorbing an enormous round of bombardment in his place!
And that Level 6 Titled Extraordinary—
"He was terrifying!"
Mentioning that entity, lingering dread still haunted the Gem Witch.
"Disorderly, chaotic, abstract, powerful, and utterly unfathomable."
"He called himself a 'Master Painter' and wore a mask composed of chaotic lines and patterns."
Her voice paused for a moment. The Gem Witch took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice:
"He said... his name was Picasso."
"—The Master Painter, Pablo Picasso!"
Chapter 161