Lin Feng stood in a dimly lit corner of the city. The only light came from a broken street light flickering above him. Before him were three figures: two men with hard eyes and rough hands, and a woman, her back to the cold brick. The fear in her every movement seeped from the lines etched on her face.
He watched them with detached curiosity while he stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. It wasn't the brash filth and despair of the streets that chewed on his mind tonight-he was here for something different.
"Let's see," Lin Feng said so quietly he wasn't sure if he would be heard, but of course, he appeared crystal clear in the silence before him. "Tonight I came to see if human souls can be absorbed or not."""
As Lin Feng observed the scene unfolding before him while standing in the trifling alley, a thin calculating smile unfurled on his face. His voice was low, almost mocking as it broke into the anxious thrall.
"If I can absorb human souls… I'd hit the jackpot. When Bo City is destroyed, thousands will die. The streets will be littered with corpses-so much power, just waiting to be harvested."
He let the thought linger, eyes glinting with cold anticipation. "If it works, I could grow stronger than anyone ever imagined… all from the chaos to come."
One thug laughed, tugging at her sleeve. "No one's coming, girl. Just give up."
The other grinned, reaching for her collar.
Lin Feng took a step forward, slowly becoming visible through the darkness. He wore a cold, hard, bone-white mask that hid all his features, only the slits where his eyes were looked out into the darkness with empty glints.
The men were startled, and they froze. "What the hell are you supposed to be?" one shouted, trying to sound bolder than he felt.
"Get the hell away, freak," the other snarled. "Unless you want some trouble."
The woman looked at Lin Feng with teary eyes and desperate hope. "P-please, help me," she said, her voice trembling with dread.
But Lin Feng's eyes were cold and unfeeling. "I won't harm you, lady." he stated nonchalantly, devoid of any emotion towards her plea.
Without saying another word, Lin Feng raised his hand while shadows twisted and battled at his feet, and an unnatural cold mist began to form in the alley with him as the core.
"Mist of Fear."
The fog receded, erupting the two men. Their courage evaporated as the spell took hold- screams billowed from their mouths, terror sliced through their eyes as they saw their worst fears. Their body convulsed and melted to the ground as it became a convulsing mess on the ground.
The woman cringed and sobbed, but Lin Feng ignored her. He stepped over the two men, and crouched down, used his palm to feel the head of each man, feeling for the unmistakable rush of a fragment of soul.
Nothing. No surge of power, no reward.
He straightened, a flicker of regret passing through his eyes behind the mask. "So, even killing humans yields nothing. It seems I can't absorb human souls-or perhaps only mortal souls are useless. More testing is needed."
'If I could take souls of humans, I would start manslaughter hah but alas seems I cant do that'
He glanced at the stunned woman, then turned away, his voice a soft, chilling whisper. "When Bo City crumbles, I won't be able to harvest the souls of all these people… what a waste."
With that, Lin Feng left the place, leaving the women on the ground trembling with fear with the things that had just transpired just now as the only witness.
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The girl stood up in the alley, her legs still wobbly from the ordeal, she looked around with a dreamy look. She pressed her hand to her chest, in which her heart was beating fiercely and as she stared at the place where the man who just saved her went, it beat even more faster..
He's so cold… so strong… she thought, a blush creeping up her cheeks. He didn't even look at me, but he saved me anyway. That mask… that voice… he's like a hero from a story. No, not a hero-a dark avenger! So tall, so mysterious… Her mind spun with fantasies, her fear replaced by a giddy infatuation.
She rose shakily to her feet, brushing dust from her skirt, her lips parting in a soft, awestruck smile. Every step away from the alley felt lighter, as if she were floating. He saved me… even if he said he wasn't here for me. I have to see him again. I have to!
With one last, longing glance over her shoulder, she melted into the night, her heart full of foolish hope and a new obsession for the masked stranger who had changed her fate.
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Bo City Magic School – Student Council Chamber
Mu Qingxue stood at the head of the long table, her expression icy and composed, but her eyes sharp with concern. Around her, the senior members of the student council murmured anxiously, glancing at the stack of reports and the projection of city maps dotted with red markers.
"Another body was found this morning," one council member said, voice tense. "Same as the others-face twisted in terror, no visible wounds, but the same face as if he had seen something he was afraid of. The city guards are also scared of these cases now."
A water mage leaned forward, biting her lip. "That's the fifth case this month. And it's not just students even low-level mages from the slums, too. It's like someone is hunting them."
Mu Qingxue nodded, tapping the table to call for silence. "The evidence points to curse magic. Only a curse mage could cause this kind of psychological collapse and magical disruption."
A fire mage scowled. "But who? There aren't supposed to be any curse mages in Bo City, not since the last crackdown. And this isn't just some novice-whoever's doing this is skilled. The victims' minds are shattered before their bodies even hit the ground."
Mu Qingxue's gaze hardened. "We can't ignore this. If someone is using curse magic to hunt students and mages, then everyone here is at risk. We'll coordinate with the city guards, but we need our own patrols. No one walks alone at night. And if anyone sees or senses anything-especially dark mist or hallucinations-report it immediately."
A light mage, pale and nervous, raised her hand. "Should we try to bait the attacker? If it really is a curse mage, maybe we can force them to reveal themselves."
Mu Qingxue considered, then nodded. "We'll discuss a plan. But remember: this isn't a duel. Whoever is behind this is dangerous, and we don't know their limits. Be careful. And stay together."
As the meeting wrapped up, the atmosphere in the room felt charged. Outside, there were already sensational rumors circulating - a curse devil hunting Bo City, students disappearing, and mist that brought only misery and death.