chsdbacks Chapter 103 I'm Here to Collect a Debt
Chapter 103 I'm Here to Collect a Debt
An indescribable chill suddenly gripped the eight managers present.
The moment Lin Bei's gaze swept over them, a sense of panic from the depths of his soul suddenly exploded!
The sensation wasn't visual; it was more like an invisible, cold, bloody tentacle that silently wrapped around their hearts and suddenly tightened.
They were no longer the high and mighty demon hunters, but trembling prey targeted by some ancient beast. Every pore screamed the same command: Run! Immediately! Right now! Get away from the owner of that gaze!
This absurd idea sent chills down the spines of the eight men, and cold sweat broke out on their backs.
How could this be? Who are they? They are the rulers of the Rose House, top hunters who have fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Every individual's resume is stained with the blood of demons; they climbed to the pinnacle of power and secured their positions of authority by stepping over the corpses of their peers. Fear?
That was something they used to give to others, not something they should have felt themselves.
But at this moment, the feeling is so real, so intense, and undeniable.
This Lin Bei... just who is he?!
A huge question mark weighed heavily on everyone's minds. How could a single glance evoke such a chilling, almost murderous feeling in these seasoned hunters, hardened by countless battles? This completely overturned their understanding of "power."
Almost simultaneously, the eight men, relying on the willpower honed through decades of life-and-death battles, forcefully suppressed the surging fear, pushing it back into the darkest corner of their hearts. Now was not the time to explore this eerie feeling!
Right now, there's something far more deadly and urgent than personal feelings—did the bearded man reveal that secret, the existence of the "master" in the basement, to Lin Bei before he breathed his last?
It was Dong Li who made the move.
He was the youngest of the eight, yet he was also widely recognized as the most ruthless and merciless.
Deep within his seemingly calm eyes lurked a venomous chill.
He was born with hearing far exceeding that of ordinary people, a talent that was once his lifesaver. When the screams of evil spirits tearing apart his family and devouring his loved ones echoed through the night sky, it was this extraordinary hearing that allowed him to detect the barely perceptible escape route, making him the sole survivor of that massacre.
This talent became the foundation for his later life at the Rose House.
After joining the Rose House, he combined this talent with his unpredictable and deadly skill in throwing hidden weapons, and made great achievements in the mission of hunting evil spirits. In the end, he rose to the ranks of the ten managers at an astonishing speed.
However, time is merciless.
The fleeting satisfaction brought by power ultimately cannot withstand the decline of physical functions. Dong Li was horrified to discover that his keen hearing, which he relied on for survival, was quietly deteriorating with age.
The fear of losing power and the anxiety of losing it gnawed at his nerves day and night.
It was this deep-seated fear that made him one of the first among the ten to succumb to the evil and accept corruption. He also naturally became the ruthless executioner who dealt with internal "traitors" and "out-of-touch" individuals.
When the bearded man stood motionless and silent in front of Lin Bei, the alarm bells in Dong Li's heart were already ringing wildly.
He knew the bearded man well; although he had joined their ranks, his inherent arrogance and self-importance had never disappeared.
In Dong Li's view, this was a bomb that could explode at any moment, an absolutely unstable factor.
The silence of the bearded man, in Dong Li's interpretation, had only one answer: betrayal! He must have secretly reached some kind of deal with Lin Bei, and possibly even with the missing Lady Rose. This silence was a way of conveying crucial information in a subtle and imperceptible manner!
In that moment of doubt, Dong Li's still-developing ears caught a few words from the bearded man's mouth, which were extremely faint and almost breathy—"Secret Room"!
It was like a thunderclap exploding in his ears!
Without the slightest hesitation, Dong Li's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He flicked his fingers almost imperceptibly from his sleeve, and a thin needle, gleaming with a cold, dark blue light, pierced the back of the bearded man's neck with perfect precision, accompanied by a soft sound as it tore through the air!
The movements were lightning fast, ruthless, and decisive, leaving the bearded man no chance to explain or react.
The bearded man's massive body crashed to the ground, his face frozen in disbelief and astonishment.
The hall was deathly silent, with only the stench of blood permeating the air.
However, Dong Li felt no relief despite his successful strike. His hearing had deteriorated, and he couldn't hear clearly enough to determine what else the bearded man had said before and after mentioning the "secret room."
Has more crucial and potentially fatal information, such as keywords like "basement," "adult," and "sacrifice," already been leaked to Lin Bei?
The death of the bearded man merely plugged the leak, but could not eliminate the fact that a leak had already occurred.
Anxiety, like a poisonous vine, instantly tightened around Dong Li's heart.
Time is of the essence; we can't delay any longer!
"We must confirm this immediately!" He took a sudden step forward, his gaze like two poisoned daggers, fixed on Lin Bei's face. His voice was hoarse and shrill, carrying an undeniable sense of pressure that echoed through the silent hall:
"You! Lin Bei! You barged into my Rose House today and caused such a scene, what is your purpose?!"
"Madame Rose—where is she now?! Hand her over!"
"And another thing! What exactly did that deadbeat with the bushy beard say to you before he collapsed?! Spit it all out, word for word!"
These three questions, especially the last two, are like huge stones thrown into a calm lake!
If Lin Bei and Lady Rose behind him were to instantly focus their gaze on Dong Li, even the other seven managers beside him would turn their heads to look at him.
Those seven gazes were extremely complex: some were astonished, some were confused, and some were incredulous, as if they were looking at a fool.
The first question is understandable, but the next two... Dongli, are you crazy?!
"Where is Lady Rose?"—Such a direct and blatant inquiry into the whereabouts of the missing leader, in the hall where so many Rose House hunters had gathered, was practically announcing their sinister intentions through a megaphone!
Although eliminating Lady Rose was a pre-arranged plan, she had been operating in the Rose House for many years and had accumulated considerable influence and prestige among ordinary hunters.
Dong Li's blatant questioning is tantamount to announcing to the world: We, the administrators, are the masterminds behind the murder of the lady!
The third question is even more outrageous!
"What did the bearded man say?" — You, Dong Li, didn't even hear what he said clearly. Based on a vague "secret room" and your own conjecture, you didn't hesitate to kill him.
Although everyone has their complaints about the arrogance of the bearded man, in the end, they are all in the same boat now!
One of them was already lost in the secret room, and now that they've just come out, you've taken out another one without saying a word!
Ten people were reduced to eight in the blink of an eye!
Now is the time when manpower is needed, and this is the crucial moment when strength is required to complete the "adult" task!
Have you lost your mind, Dong Li, or do you have ulterior motives and are taking this opportunity to eliminate dissidents?!
A barrage of questioning, angry, and suspicious gazes nearly pierced through Dong Li.
However, at this moment, Dong Li was completely oblivious to the complex gazes and inner turmoil of his companions, even showing a hint of disdain.
In his view, these people were too indecisive, too hesitant, and even... not pure enough!
Since you've already chosen to abandon your human identity and embark on this path of no return with evil spirits, why pretend to maintain the hypocrisy and scheming of humanity?
With things already at this point, and a knife to our throats, what need is there for all those convoluted schemes and tricks? Straightforwardness and force are the fastest and most effective way to break the deadlock!
The offerings demanded by the "master" are all the hunters of the Rose House.
He admitted that the madman's suggestion to double the number of offerings had its merits and would please the "adult".
But deep down he felt that it was not absolutely necessary.
The "master's" initial requirement was for hunters from the Rose House, which means there are enough of them!
No matter how many offerings are made, they are merely icing on the cake, an extra act of "filial piety".
But the harsh reality is that the hunter force they could control and command has been largely destroyed by Lin Bei, piled up like a small mountain of dead dogs!
They no longer have enough manpower or time to go out and capture additional sacrifices!
The most urgent task is to get rid of these "ready-made" hunters who have lost their fighting ability but whose numbers are sufficient to meet the initial requirements, so as to gather enough sacrifices!
Moreover, Lady Rose is of paramount importance on the sacrifice list! Capturing her is the key to completing the "adult's" mission! Rather than engaging in mutual suspicion and intrigue here, it's better to tear off the mask and cut the Gordian knot!
He only wanted to complete the transformation as soon as possible, become one of the evil spirits, and regain the power he had always dreamed of, even surpassing his peak! He was utterly disgusted by the pointless power struggles and scheming of the moment.
As for killing the bearded man?
Dong Li felt there was no need to explain to anyone. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
Any possible oversight could lead to utter destruction. His creed was simple yet ruthless: better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free!
Sacrificing an unstable element like a beard for the ultimate "rebirth" is worth it!
The air in the hall seemed to freeze, oppressively suffocating. The undercurrents among the managers were almost turning into tangible murderous intent. In this eerie moment, when tensions were high and internal conflict could erupt at any moment, one figure stepped forward from among the seven.
She was the only woman among the ten, apart from the old woman who had already died.
Her figure was similar to that of Lady Rose, both tall and slender, both shrouded in black, and both with a mysterious veil over their faces.
"That's enough!"
Her voice came through the veil, carrying a peculiar, sandpaper-like texture, which unexpectedly broke the tense silence.
"Dongli, you can ask your question later. Everyone, before we start fighting amongst ourselves, shouldn't we take a look over there?"
Her slender fingers pointed to the hunters piled up like a small mountain in the corner of the hall, barely clinging to life.
"The foundations of our Rose House, our former companions, are still groaning in agony. Shouldn't we let the healers treat them first?"
The appearance of this woman caused Madam Rose, who had been hiding behind Lin Bei, to tremble violently!
The hand hidden in the sleeve clenched instantly, the nails digging deep into the palm.
An indescribable bitterness and immense sense of defeat, like an icy tide, instantly overwhelmed her heart.
It's her... Jasmine... How could it be her?!
Lady Rose could hardly believe her eyes.
The person she thought was least likely to betray her had actually become her adversary!
Clearly... clearly it was I who pulled her back from the brink of hell! She gave her a new life, gave her strength, gave her the name "Jasmine" and a place to belong!
This betrayal, more chilling and devastating than the bearded man's defection or Dong Li's ruthlessness, left Lady Rose with a profound sense of coldness and defeat.
Am I really such a failure?
Even she... The immense sense of loss made her almost unable to stand.
The Rose House she had painstakingly built, the companions she regarded as family, fell apart so quickly.
However, just as her emotions plummeted, her gaze involuntarily fell upon the tall, imposing figure in front of her—Lin Bei.
That sturdy back seemed like a barrier that shielded me from all the storms of life. A strange warmth and strength welled up from the bottom of my heart, quickly dispelling the biting bitterness and the chilling defeat.
So what if we fail temporarily?
Lady Rose took a deep breath, her eyes regaining their resolve. "I still have him! As long as Lin Bei is here, what is there to fear, even if I lose the entire Rose House, even if I lose the whole world?"
When she looked at the veiled woman Jasmine again, the complex emotions in Madam Rose's eyes had completely subsided, leaving only an almost indifferent calm, as if she were looking at a complete stranger.
That once deep, almost sisterly bond has now been completely severed by a cold betrayal.
……
If someone were to lift the thin veil from Jasmine's face at this moment, they would surely be terrified by what they saw.
Beneath the veil was not the beautiful face one might imagine, but a chilling sight.
Her left cheek, from her cheekbone to her jaw, looked as if a large chunk had been torn off by some ferocious beast!
The hideous, twisted scars resembled ugly centipedes coiled on the surface, with clearly visible traces of exposed and healed muscle tissue, completely destroying any potential beauty and leaving only horror and nauseating disfigurement.
This scar is a nightmare she can never escape, the root of all her twisted nature.
She has no name.
Her arrival was also different from that of other people who were afflicted by evil spirits.
She was personally rescued by Lady Rose from the filthy mire of You Guo.
When Madame Rose found her, she was lying dying beside a cold alley garbage heap, covered in blood, her left cheek a bloody mess—simply because she had inadvertently angered a tyrannical "distinguished guest" during her visit to the city.
That beast went berserk on the spot, pounced on her like a wild animal, and tore off half of her cheek with its teeth!
What's even more appalling is that afterwards, instead of upholding justice, You Guo thought she was "unlucky" and had "offended an important guest," so he ordered his men to beat her up and then throw her into an alley to die like a piece of trash.
It was Lady Rose who lent a helping hand.
Perhaps out of compassion for a woman struggling to survive in a chaotic world, or perhaps out of disgust at the extreme cruelty, Lady Rose took her back to Rose House and carefully treated her.
They gave her a name that symbolizes purity and fragrance—Jasmine.
Lady Rose personally taught her combat skills, training her to become an excellent hunter, freeing her from the mire of the brothel, and giving her a new identity and power. Lady Rose gave her a second life.
Jasmine's near-death experience, coupled with the immense psychological trauma of having her face disfigured, shaped her extremely ruthless fighting style. She never shows mercy, completes missions swiftly and decisively, and is unafraid to offend anyone, because she has nothing left to lose.
This ruthlessness and efficiency earned her the deep trust of Lady Rose, gradually making her one of Lady Rose's most capable assistants. In the management of Rose House, besides Lady Rose herself, she was the one who was most deeply involved and contributed the most.
The reason she betrayed Lady Rose was simple to the point of cruelty, yet also profoundly painful—jealousy.
It was a poisonous fire powerful enough to devour the soul.
Every time she saw Lady Rose's flawless, radiant face, every time she felt the amazed, admiring, and even awe-inspiring gazes directed at her, the hideous scar on her face would sting as if burned by fire!
That was the cruelest reminder and mockery of her once unparalleled beauty! Lady Rose's beauty, like a mirror, clearly reflected her ugliness and wretchedness at this moment.
She was once the top courtesan in Youguo, possessing stunning beauty and enjoying the vanity of being adored by millions.
Now, if she were to inadvertently reveal her true face beneath the veil, all she would receive in return are terrified screams, disgusted avoidance, and malicious snickers. This enormous disparity, day after day, year after year, gnaws at her heart like countless poisonous insects.
The venom of jealousy had already seeped into her very bones, growing ever stronger. When the whispers of the evil spirits came, promising that after the transformation would grant her powerful regenerative abilities, not only easily restoring her former beauty but also achieving eternal immortality, so that she would no longer have to worry about her appearance being ruined... this temptation was nothing short of the last straw a drowning person would grasp at for Jasmine, who was trapped in the inferno of jealousy.
She was corrupted by this sweet poison almost without hesitation.
However, looking at the chaotic hall before her, and at the hunters who had once fought alongside her but were now groaning in pain from their injuries, Jasmine felt a complex and indescribable emotion welling up inside her.
She did not object to the demon's demand to sacrifice all the hunters of the Rose House—this was the price she paid for her rebirth.
But deep down, she seemed to still harbor a lingering attachment to the "house" she had poured her heart and soul into and which had sheltered her, or rather, a stubborn reluctance to see it destroyed so painfully and unsightly. She didn't want these hunters to suffer additional, pointless torment before finally reaching the altar of death.
So she stepped forward. Not to mediate the imminent conflict between Dong Li and Lin Bei, nor to quell the undercurrents among her companions. Her purpose was simple: before the final judgment, to ensure that the mountain of wounded received treatment, so that they would suffer less on their final journey.
This was perhaps the only small act of pity she could offer, and also a farewell to the traces of her past in this place.
Faced with Jasmine's seemingly "untimely" yet irrefutable suggestion, none of the other managers present, whether harboring ulterior motives or feeling anxious, dared to voice their opposition.
After all, maintaining a semblance of order and a "considerate" attitude towards subordinates is not entirely unnecessary before things settle down.
Under Jasmine's calm but slightly hoarse command, the Rose House physicians who had been waiting outside the hall were quickly summoned in.
Some hunters with minor injuries or who had not been affected by Lin Bei also quietly joined in. The group carefully moved the bodies that were pressing down on the wounded, as if dismantling a cruel tower made of flesh and blood.
Groans and suppressed cries of pain echoed in the hall, mingling with the heavy breathing of the porters.
The injured were carried one by one onto stretchers and quickly and orderly sent to the medical clinic at the rear.
The shocking "hill" in the center of the hall gradually disappeared, leaving only large patches of still-dry dark red bloodstains and a strong smell of blood, silently telling the story of the tragedy that had just occurred.
When the last seriously injured person was carried away, the hall became empty again, but the oppressive atmosphere did not dissipate; instead, it became even more somber.
The medic and the hunters who had been helping retreated, and the gate closed again, isolating them from the outside world. The remaining eight administrators refocused their attention on the center of the arena—Lin Bei and his two mysterious companions behind him.
An invisible killing intent spread once again, and the air seemed to solidify into lead.
The standoff, after a brief interlude, has resumed.
In this suffocating silence, Lin Bei finally moved.
He slightly raised his eyelids, and those eyes that had once terrified eight managers were now as calm as a deep pool, carrying a hint of mockery, a hint of impatience, and an air of self-righteous arrogance.
He spoke, his voice not loud, yet clearly carrying to every corner of the hall, answering the first of Dong Li's three menacing questions:
"reason?"
Lin Bei's lips curled into a cold, sharp smile, as if he had heard an extremely ridiculous question.
"It's simple! I'm here today to collect my debt!"
He pointed a finger at the eight managers present, his tone suddenly rising, filled with undisguised anger and sarcasm:
"You! You Rose House!"
"You owe me 300 gold coins."