Chapter 202: Entering the Tiger's Den

Snow-white paper pages extended from the floorboards, slowly wrapping around Jian Changsheng's body, sealing him within them as if in a coffin.

A flicker of despair rose in Jian Changsheng's eyes.

He had thought that after being rescued by Chen Ling, the two of them could fight together, or at the very least, use the Dripping Blood Demon to escape. But he never imagined that, after all the twists and turns, he would still fall into their hands.

This Puppet God path was simply too powerful for outsiders, an entity they were currently incapable of handling. He figured that if he was captured, Chen Ling would likely not escape either.

The white paper pages completely enveloped Jian Changsheng's form, transforming him back into a paper figure. As the hunchbacked man casually drew two red eyes on it, the figure fell into complete stillness.

The hunchbacked man slung the paper figure onto his back and fixed his gaze once more on the building across the way.

"Still not caught... Do I need to intervene personally?"

As he watched the distant residential buildings gradually light up, his brow furrowed involuntarily. His intuition told him he needed to catch the fleeing "rat" as soon as possible.

He set off towards the opposite building.

Among the dilapidated buildings, a paper figure moved silently, like a weightless phantom.

A minute earlier, it had lost track of Chen Ling. Even after searching through several abandoned rooms nearby, it found no trace of any living being. It was as if Chen Ling had simply vanished into thin air.

However, it was certain that Chen Ling had not left the residential building, as he could not have escaped the notice of its main body outside.

Its vacant gaze swept over an abandoned kitchen. After confirming no one was there, it proceeded to the next room. Only when its form had completely moved away did an old, empty bottle in the corner by the window tremble slightly.

Chen Ling's heart sank to the bottom.

From his vantage point, he could see everything happening in the building across the street, including Jian Changsheng being instantly counter-killed. Chen Ling was almost certain that the opponent was far beyond fourth-tier.

Chen Ling and Jian Changsheng were both second-tier. Even with more skills, they couldn't defeat their opponent. Chen Ling could only temporarily hide using his Twisted Drama God path ability, but this was not a long-term solution, as the opponent's main body was now heading towards this building.

Thus, Chen Ling had only two paths before him: either seize the moment of their inattention and immediately flee outside, though the chances of success were uncertain; or, continue to disguise himself here and gamble that they wouldn't discover him.

Chen Ling felt the second option might be more feasible. After all, his shapeless ability to disguise himself as an object was unique to him in the entire world. Others would hardly suspect an empty bottle standing in a corner, so continuing the disguise seemed the safest bet.

Chen Ling's mind raced. Just as he was about to execute his cautious strategy, a more radical idea suddenly leaped into his mind.

If others couldn't imagine he could transform into an object, could he exploit this fact to gamble for a much greater possibility?

Chen Ling wanted to find his heart but had no effective leads so far; the doctors at Wen Shilín's clinic likely couldn't provide any information about it either. Now, an opportunity to directly reach the mastermind behind the organ trade lay before him.

The hunchbacked man wanted to know the whereabouts of Wen Shilín and Lin Yan, so he would certainly not kill Chen Ling here. Instead, he would take him back to shatter his soul and search for evidence. Perhaps, with his shapeless ability, there might be room for maneuver during that interval?

The moment this thought appeared in Chen Ling's mind, he was somewhat startled by it. The plan was simply too audacious, too risky. He knew he didn't have enough audience expectation value right now; if he died, it would be a major problem.

Yet, the idea lingered stubbornly in Chen Ling's mind. His long-calm, hollow chest seemed to rediscover a familiar thrill and sensation of beating.

The last time he felt this way was on his journey to the Ancient Arsenal, when he risked infiltrating the Usurpers.

Tap—tap—tap…

He heard familiar footsteps approaching from downstairs. The hunchbacked man was drawing near, and he had little time left to hesitate.

Inside the empty, deserted building, a figure carrying a paper person slowly stopped. His gaze swept over the intricate rooms around him, and he spoke calmly:

"Search for him."

As soon as he spoke, white paper figures automatically unfolded from behind him. Like wandering ghosts, they quickly dispersed into the rooms in all directions.

If one paper figure couldn't find Chen Ling, then a dozen would search together. This many paper figures could completely scour the entire floor, leaving Chen Ling no chance to maneuver or hide.

The man idly twirled a sticky note in his hand, standing quietly in place. His peripheral vision, however, already covered every window and doorway around him. Should anything exit the building, he could instantly transform the sticky note into a deadly weapon, crippling it in a flash.

Just then, the man seemed to sense something, and he raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking to the side.

In the gloomy gap between the houses, a flash of gunfire erupted!

Bang—!

A whistling bullet tore through the air, heading straight for the hunchbacked man's brow!

Before the bullet could come within half a meter of the man, a sheet of white paper unfolded like an umbrella in front of him. The bullet hit the paper surface, deflected off, and left no mark whatsoever.

"A gun, really?" the man remarked unhurriedly. The umbrella-like paper shield in front of him quickly folded back into a sticky note, falling into his palm. Then, he flicked his finger!

Having failed with one shot, Chen Ling, hidden in the shadows, his face grim, turned to flee towards the nearest window. But just as he took a step, the sticky note, slicing through the air, automatically folded into the outline of a paper figure and slammed him hard against the wall!

Under the immense force, the wall exploded into rubble, and Chen Ling's body was sent flying backward.

Simultaneously, the paper figure's dense pages wrapped around his body like slithering snakes. Before his body even touched the ground, they had encased nearly all of him, leaving only his head to be slowly consumed.

A hunchbacked figure slowly walked towards him.

Chen Ling could no longer move his body. He could only roll his eyes, watching as the hunchbacked man stopped in front of him, his drooping eyes gazing indifferently, and a hoarse voice spoke:

"Where are Wen Shilín and Lin Yan?"

Chen Ling gave a cold smile. "Who are they? I've never heard of them."

Chen Ling's answer was no surprise to the hunchbacked man. He casually glanced at Chen Ling, and the remaining paper pages completely encased him, forming a slightly trembling paper figure.

The hunchbacked man took out a pen and drew two red eyes on the paper figure's head, saying calmly:

"Once we return to the Guild, even if you don't speak... I have ways to make you talk."