Chapter 89:
The rain grew heavier. The entire city was shrouded in a hazy mist of water.
Yang Jian and Celeste sat in a 24-hour café.
"The coordinates point to an abandoned sanatorium on the outskirts of the city." Yang Jian said calmly.
Celeste frowned. "But that place was closed ten years ago."
Yang Jian took a sip of coffee. "That's exactly why. They probably thought it was perfect for doing shady things."
He tapped a few times on the laptop on the table. Several red dots marked abnormal heat sources. Underground there, he discovered traces of large-scale activity.
Raindrops pattered loudly against the café's glass windows, blurring the neon lights outside.
They didn't mention the matter again and instead chatted about everyday things.
Yang Jian stirred the coffee in his cup, looking at Celeste across from him with interest.
This woman was a classic female protagonist template — don't ask how he knew.
Who would go out on a mission wearing a full set of tight leather clothes?
He took a light sip of coffee and asked.
"I'm actually quite curious — how do you exorcists usually take jobs? Do you all rely on that demon hunter forum?"
Celeste was momentarily stunned. She tilted her head, seeming to think about how to answer.
"Uh… most are assigned by the Association. Occasionally we also take private commissions."
She sheathed the silver sword on the table. "But something on the scale of Black Crow Pharmaceuticals is a first."
"Sounds pretty exciting."
Yang Jian smiled. "How long have you been in this line of work?"
"I started taking official missions at sixteen."
Celeste took a sip of coffee. "Family tradition."
Although she didn't know why Yang Jian was asking these questions, she still answered honestly.
Yang Jian noticed that when she said this, her fingers unconsciously stroked the silver cross hanging around her neck.
It was an exquisitely crafted antique. A small sapphire was embedded at the intersection of the cross.
It seemed she wasn't lying — it really was a family heirloom.
"I guess your parents were also exorcists?"
Celeste's movements paused for a moment, as if remembering something.
"Yes. They died on a mission ten years ago."
The café suddenly fell quiet. Only the sound of rain and the distant hum of the coffee machine remained.
Yang Jian didn't rush to speak. He simply gently pushed the sugar jar on the table.
Celeste took a deep breath and added two sugar cubes to her coffee.
"At that time I had just entered the Demon Hunter Academy. They took what was listed in the files as an ordinary Level 3 mission."
She stirred her coffee, her thoughts drifting back to the past.
"Later, the scene investigation team found my father's silver sword in the ruins. Half a crow pattern was engraved on the hilt."
"A crow?"
Yang Jian's eyes lit up. He smelled gossip.
"Just like the one tonight?"
"Exactly the same."
Celeste sighed, her tone a little melancholy.
"I've been investigating this mark for years. Until three months ago, I finally got a lead."
She pulled up a blurry photo on her phone. It showed a Black Crow Pharmaceuticals cargo truck. A faint crow logo was visible on the door.
Yang Jian nodded thoughtfully. He had already guessed how things developed.
"So you deliberately took that mission. Weren't you the one who said you came by accident?" Yang Jian teased on purpose.
"I originally just wanted to scout the place." Celeste gave a bitter smile.
"I didn't expect to run into a demon of that level, and even less did I expect to meet someone like you… a non-traditional exorcist."
Yang Jian laughed: "Do you think this line of work has good prospects now?"
"Prospects?" Celeste rolled her eyes.
"Do you know how much a proper exorcism silver sword costs? Holy water is sold by the milliliter! Last time in Rome when I dealt with a blood clan, the holy silver bullets alone cost me a lot of money."
"Wait a second, look outside." Yang Jian interrupted her.
Celeste looked out the window. Her eyes suddenly widened.
Thud!
A black crow suddenly slammed into the glass window. Blood slid down with the rainwater.
Its eyes stared straight at Celeste. Its beak opened and closed strangely, emitting a human voice.
"Girl of the Karstein family, you will die just like your parents!"
Celeste stood up abruptly, her weapon instantly in hand.
Yang Jian raised a hand to press on her trembling shoulder. His eyes glowed red. The magic from the Dark God Book activated instantly.
Through a layer of glass, his voice still pierced clearly: "Scram."
The crow let out a shrill scream and spontaneously combusted into ashes in the rain.
The customers in the café looked at them in terror.
By the time the crow had completely turned to ashes, most of the customers in the café had already fled.
The waiter hid trembling behind the counter. The cash register was still open, with bills scattered everywhere.
Celeste stared in shock, somewhat unable to process what had just happened.
"Time to go."
Yang Jian tossed down a few bills and picked up his coat.
Celeste stood still: "They mentioned my parents."
"So we should go take a look even more."
Yang Jian pushed open the glass door and looked at her: "Or are you scared?"
"How could I be scared?" Celeste took a deep breath and showed a confident smile.
In the rain, Yang Jian suddenly became interested and asked: "You mentioned holy silver bullets earlier — how much are they?"
"Fifty dollars each!"
Celeste opened the car door. Rainwater dripped from her long hair onto the seat.
"And I use an average of twenty rounds per mission!"
Yang Jian started the car and nodded: "Looks like you exorcists have it pretty tough too."
"Yes. Otherwise why would I take that damn forum job?"
Celeste fastened her seatbelt. "Next month's rent still isn't covered."
The car drove into the rain curtain. Yang Jian suddenly asked.
"If your parents' matter really is related to the Black Crow Cult, what do you plan to do?"
Celeste looked at the blurry scenery outside the window. Her fingers gently stroked the family crest on her silver sword.
"Make them pay with blood for blood."
The windshield wipers drew regular arcs across the glass. Yang Jian didn't reply. He simply turned on the car stereo.
An old-school rock song played, drowning out the clamor of the heavy rain.
"By the way,"
Celeste suddenly turned her head. "What is that red-eyed ability of yours?"
"Ability? That's magic." Yang Jian replied with a straight face.
Celeste: "..."
The car drove toward the sanatorium on the outskirts in silence.
The rain grew heavier. Lightning in the distance split the night sky like a sword.
The car bounced along the muddy mountain road. Raindrops hitting the roof sounded like some eerie drumbeat.
"So where do you exorcists usually live?"
Yang Jian kept one hand on the steering wheel and used the other to turn down the stereo volume.
"You don't all live in gloomy old castles like in the movies, do you?"
Celeste was checking her silver bullets. "I rent an apartment in the old district south of the city."
She paused. "Although a werewolf moved in next door last month, at least the rent is cheap."
Yang Jian raised an eyebrow: "Werewolf neighbor?"
"It's okay. It's just a bit noisy on full moon nights."
Celeste skillfully loaded her pistol. "Last time he bit up all the underwear I had hanging on the balcony. He compensated me a few hundred dollars."
Yang Jian couldn't help laughing: "The interpersonal relationships in your line of work are quite special."
"Compared to that," Celeste suddenly turned to look at him.
"Who exactly are you? That kind of power is not something an ordinary exorcist can possess."
The car headlights illuminated the rusty iron gate of the sanatorium ahead. Yang Jian slowed down.
"Would you believe me if I said I'm an alien just passing through?"
"Be serious."
"We'll talk about it later. First let's deal with this guy." Yang Jian was halfway through speaking when he suddenly stepped on the brake.
"Who?" Celeste was a little confused.
Suddenly
A pale hand slapped against the windshield with a smack!
It was a person wearing a hospital gown — if it could still be called a person.
Its neck was twisted at an impossible angle. Its mouth was split all the way to its ears, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth.
"Zombie?" Celeste had already drawn her gun.
"No, it's a ghoul."
Yang Jian rolled down the window and signaled Celeste to shoot. "Low-level demon, usually used as cannon fodder."
Bang!
Celeste blew the ghoul's head off with one shot. "Watchdog. I know."
She deftly pushed open the car door. "Looks like we've arrived."
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