episode_0053

Upon seeing the results of this simulation, Xu Nian was filled with disbelief.

She would die!

She would meet a gruesome end after this banquet.

Because the enemy possessed the power of bewitchment, capable of turning her Emotion Artifact against her.

In a direct confrontation, she stood no chance—the gap in strength was too vast.

Using her Emotion Artifact would only play into the enemy’s hands.

Xu Nian instinctively clutched her chest.

Her heart thumped rhythmically, but she had no idea what secrets it held.

Humans die without a heart.

The same goes for demons.

And the enemy intended to carve open her chest and steal her heart.

In truth, the enemy didn’t even know where the object was hidden within Xu Nian—they would simply dismember her piece by piece until they found it.

The mere thought of this scene sent a wave of nausea surging to her brain, making her gag.

What should she do? What should she do?

But in reality, as long as her Emotion Artifact wasn’t bewitched, the power of the Soul-Sealing Death Lantern would be enough to subdue this Emotion Master.

Right?

There was no need to hesitate any longer.

This time, the reward was clear:

“Forge a deep bond of friendship with your Emotion Artifact.”

Without delay, Xu Nian retrieved a square case from her cloth bag. Pressing a button and giving it a slight shake, the case began to transform.

Once fully assembled, a pitch-black soul lantern settled into Xu Nian’s hands.

How to light it?

The moment she held it, all the necessary knowledge flooded her mind, telling her exactly what to do next.

She pricked her finger, wincing at the sting, and smeared her blood on the wick. Instantly, the lantern ignited with an eerie black flame.

The fire burned, inch by inch devouring the surrounding light.

Xu Nian’s gaze fixed on the weeping girl as the flame in her lantern flickered faintly.

The space around the girl was swiftly swallowed whole.

Trapped in an endless void of darkness, the girl vanished from sight.

Yet she was still there.

Wrapped in terror, she could go nowhere.

The girl’s mournful cries grew louder, piercing through the void and reaching the real world.

A four-star Emotion Artifact could suppress her to an extreme degree—even a one-star difference was enough to completely seal off all her methods.

An Emotion Artifact, in a way, was the crystallized remnant of an official Emotion Master’s power.

Though limited in function, its strength was undeniable.

In other words, the one controlling her now wasn’t Xu Nian—but a four-star Emotion Master of the Fear Path.

But it was still an inanimate object, lacking the agility of a true Emotion Master.

With the right approach, it could be influenced.

The girl channeled all her power into disrupting Xu Nian’s control over the artifact.

But…

It was useless.

“I knew I couldn’t do it.”

She was stunned. Her ability had failed. By all logic, her weeping should have stirred the artifact’s pity.

The girl truly seemed immobilized by Xu Nian’s control.

Sealed away by the lantern in Xu Nian’s hand.

But…

Could Xu Nian sustain this control indefinitely?

She wouldn’t last that long.

And…

Glancing at the chaos around her…

What about this mess?

Would the witnesses speak of tonight’s events?

Would they turn on Xu Nian midway?

How would they treat the Xu family in the future?

The rogue Emotion Master might have acted recklessly, but she had still brought Xu Nian immense trouble.

“Cold Owl.”

Just as Xu Nian was frantically thinking, a chime rang out.

Instantly, the crowd settled into calm.

Soon, two figures emerged from the throng.

The two official Emotion Masters Xu Nian had met yesterday!

“We really do keep running into each other.”

Xu Nian was taken aback.

They had arrived far too quickly!

Shouldn’t officials usually drag their feet before showing up?

Su Qingya was equally shocked. She had just freed her legs from the solidified concrete and was about to act when the two strode onto the scene.

The man offered no explanation, merely flicking his wrist. A case in his hand transformed into a pair of gauntlets that wrapped around his fists. With a swing, flames erupted around his hands.

That was his Emotion Artifact.

It seemed he, too, was a Combat Path specialist.

“Lock me in as well.”

A single glance at Xu Nian’s lantern told him everything.

Without hesitation, Xu Nian fixed her gaze on him, and tendrils of fear-laced darkness began coiling toward him.

The man was fully engulfed.

Even then, Xu Nian didn’t relax, maintaining the Death Lantern’s hold.

“Alright, extinguish the lantern.”

After a moment, Cold Owl spoke.

“But—”

“It’s handled.”

The news surprised Xu Nian, but she finally pinched out the flame.

So fast.

What Path was that man on?

His strength was terrifying.

The moment the flame died, two figures materialized from the empty void.

The man lit a cigarette, his foot resting on a bruised and handcuffed girl who seemed to have long since passed out.

Seeing the lantern extinguished, he grabbed the cuffs and dragged the Emotion Master toward the exit.

“You two, come with us.”

Summoned, Xu Nian and Su Qingya had no choice but to follow.

There was no denying it—the man had done them a huge favor. They owed him a debt too great to refuse.

As soon as they stepped outside, the familiar chime rang again.

Xu Nian glanced back and saw the banquet hall had returned to tranquility, the guests chatting as if nothing had happened.

Truly the strongest Support Path—so convenient.

Mass control, mass amnesia—it spared them so much trouble.

“Was she after you two? What secrets do you hold that would make a three-star Mercy Path Emotion Master personally intervene?”

The man shoved the captive into a police van, then stood downwind, exhaling smoke.

Pale tendrils wreathed his face before drifting away into nothingness.

Su Qingya shook her head blankly.

Xu Nian followed suit.

The secret of her heart was not for anyone’s ears.

“Seems she was after you.”

The man’s eyes locked onto Xu Nian.

“Why assume it’s me?”

“I’ve been in this line of work for years. Your act doesn’t fool me—and I’m not that stupid.”

Su Qingya immediately moved closer to Xu Nian, her expression wary.

“Relax. I couldn’t care less about your secrets. What interests me is why that lantern is in your hands.”

Xu Nian’s heart skipped a beat.

“What lantern?” Su Qingya had no idea what he was talking about.

She genuinely didn’t know.

The man ignored her, keeping his eyes on Xu Nian.

“Did you not know that only official Emotion Artifacts come in cases like that? For portability and regulation.”

“Yesterday, the Soul-Sealing Death Lantern we requisitioned for a mission vanished without a trace. Two Emotion Beasts escaped because of it. The girl in charge of the artifact was heartbroken.”

He took a long drag.

“Know why we got here so fast?”