13. The Twin-Blade Killer

Amid the heart-wrenching screams, the five gang members were torn to pieces by [Wu] and the delusional Seven, reduced to fragments.

Qi Ming crouched down as a faint glow emanated from Seven’s hand, enveloping the unconscious Xiaoxue and healing her wounds.

“From now on, no one will dare bully you again. Don’t be afraid anymore.”

Xiaoxue’s facial features softened as she closed her eyes, the resentment lodged deep within her chest finally released, bringing her a sense of peace.

The delusional Seven reverted to toy form, and [Wu]’s figure vanished into the swirling snow.

Qi Ming leaped up, Seven soared toward the horizon, disappearing from everyone’s sight.

“It’s over…” Yamazono and Kishida exhaled deeply, the fourfold ambush had terrified them enough.

Vice Captain Saijo Nagi stared silently at the corpses of the five gang members.

“I’ll go check on the child,” Emi said, concerned about Xiaoxue.

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“The feeling of soaring through the sky isn’t bad… but the energy consumed in two minutes of transformed combat is more exhausting than two hours of guerrilla fighting in human form,” Qi Ming said, slightly breathless after undoing his transformation.

Nearby lay Xiaoxue on the ground. With the danger passed, the villagers returning home deliberately avoided him, as if he were a venomous snake.

No one dared to bully Xiaoxue anymore, nor approach her.

“Are you alright?” Emi was the only one who stepped forward and shook Xiaoxue awake.

Compared to the sorrowful expression she once wore, Xiaoxue now smiled sweetly: “I dreamed of my mother. She and Seven helped chase away the bad people.”

Emi was momentarily speechless. Qi Ming approached and greeted, “Miss Xiaoxue, Team Member Emi.”

“Brother, you are…” Xiaoxue was stunned upon seeing Qi Ming.

She longed to ask, like Jia Baoyu seeing Lin Daiyu, “Brother, have we met before?”

“Team Member Qi Ming,” Emi said, a little reserved.

She thought Qi Ming was an arrogant and talented person, tense with other team members, and difficult to get along with.

“Miss Xiaoxue, would you like to go out and see the big city, study, and get into a good university?” Qi Ming wanted Xiaoxue to leave behind those who looked at her with prejudice.

“But my mother is here…” Xiaoxue looked toward the endless snow-capped mountains, her eyes filled with reluctance.

Qi Ming’s gaze grew deep, as if able to pierce the softest parts of one’s heart. “Alright, I’ll go talk to the village chief.”

Emi, sensing Qi Ming’s intentions, was surprised. She hadn’t expected the usually aloof Qi Ming to be so considerate of the girl’s feelings.

Worried about Xiaoxue, she followed quietly and lowered her voice to ask Qi Ming, “Is it because if mishandled, the disappearing monster might reappear?”

Qi Ming nodded, “That is a concern.”

Xiaoxue picked up the shrunken Seven toy and led the way, with Emi and Qi Ming following behind.

Villagers they passed fell silent, casting fearful and loathing glances.

A child tried to speak to Xiaoxue but was immediately pulled away by parents whose expressions darkened.

Xiaoxue’s situation had changed—yet somehow remained the same.

Seeing this, Emi also thought Xiaoxue should go somewhere no one knew her and start anew.

At that moment, a rush of wind came from behind. Qi Ming snapped to attention and swiftly turned to kick.

The attacker was flipped twice and a half in midair by the kick, landing on the ground with scarlet eyes filled with suspicion and doubt as it stared at Qi Ming.

“Alien!” Emi’s face changed upon recognizing the intruder. She shielded Xiaoxue and drew her Victory Heppa Gun.

The alien had antennae atop its head. Its deep black body contrasted sharply with a silvery-white face, and its hands were equipped with sharp blades.

This was the Zaruk Seijin, who appeared in episodes three and four of Ultraman Leo.

A ruthless extraterrestrial, infamous in the original series for a midnight massacre that dismembered the Umeda Tsuu siblings’ father and MAC team member Suzuki. It seemed it had just targeted them.

But wouldn’t it be afraid of [Wu] coming out to fight it desperately?

However, from its behavior, [Wu] seemed unable to defeat it either…

Emi immediately pulled the trigger. The laser from the Victory Heppa Gun struck the Zaruk Seijin’s right arm as it dodged left.

Wounded, the Zaruk Seijin roared in fury, raising its left blade to strike them down.

Qi Ming stepped forward, blocking its attack path.

Sensing his calm and unshaken aura, the Zaruk Seijin grew even more wary. After hesitating for a moment, it retreated and disappeared into the night.

Qi Ming did not give chase, inwardly reflecting on how perilous this world was—just a few steps and one could run into a vicious alien.

Could the subtle gaze that had been secretly observing him in the Misty Wind Mountain have belonged to the Zaruk Seijin? Was it attempting to strike when he was vulnerable?

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Emi comforted the still-shaken Xiaoxue while looking at Qi Ming. “Thanks to you, Team Member Qi Ming.”

Judging by the fierce whoosh from his earlier kick, this Qi Ming had real skill.

Qi Ming casually replied, “No need to thank me. Your reaction was good, you helped.”

As a foreign guest, he seemed unaware of Japanese etiquette… I’m your senior, yet he talks like that.

But compared to his interactions with Yamazono and Kishida, this was already quite polite.

Emi took out her PDI communicator to report the situation to the team, casting a shadow over Saijo Nagi and the others.

Just as one wave subsided, another rose. Attacks came more frequently.

Kishida said, “They’re coordinating quite well.”

Yamazono began his sarcastic remarks again, asking Qi Ming how he claimed to have fought two monsters alone earlier but now let an alien escape.

“Yamazono, your stupidity is always so creative,” Qi Ming retorted, “Don’t you realize there’s a cause-and-effect relationship between these two events?”

Even his body felt fatigued after continuous fighting.

Unlike Shingo Manaka, who overworked himself to exhaustion, Qi Ming knew his limits.

In this perilous world, he had to maintain at least a passing condition at all times to be able to fight any sudden threat.

“This alien is very dangerous. Be extra cautious,” Qi Ming warned, recalling its bloody history in Ultraman Leo.

“How is it dangerous? It’s fine after you kicked it, and it ran away?” Yamazono shot back, with Kishida thinking Qi Ming was just making excuses.

Emi shared her feelings: “This alien ambushes, is highly intelligent, and can judge when to retreat. I also think we need to be more vigilant.”

Danzou Moroboshi recognized the Zaruk Seijin immediately upon seeing the footage from Emi’s helmet camera.

It was a terrifying creature. Fortunately, Qi Ming was here; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He said, “I also believe Team Member Qi Ming’s judgment is correct. You must not let your guard down and should quickly track this alien’s whereabouts.”

Hearing the captain’s words, Yamazono fell silent once more.