Chapter 36: Chapter 35: The Shadow’s First Battle

"Ugh!!!"

Hu felt an arm wrap around his neck, choking him. As his breathing grew difficult, he glanced down and saw two pitch-black arms.

’What is this?!’

He had thought a Sheriff had grabbed him from behind, but these arms—utterly black, with no pores or hair—were more like a monster’s than a human’s!

"GACK... COUGH!"

Hu struggled desperately. Terrified, he hammered at the black arm with his right hand, which was fitted with a Finger Tiger, hoping the pain would force it to let go.

But how could he know that the Shadow felt no pain? No matter how hard he struck, the Shadow’s arms remained locked tight around his neck.

Sitting in the car, Guan Tong watched as the Shadow he controlled put the vicious criminal in a rear-naked choke.

It was a simple yet effective fighting technique he had once seen on TV, capable of rendering someone unconscious in a very short time. He never thought it would come in so handy.

In just a few seconds, Hu’s face went from pale to ashen, then to purple. Finally, foam trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes rolled back as he passed out completely.

Only then did Guan Tong get out of the car. He looked at the unconscious thug on the ground and frowned slightly.

’This guy must be a dangerous person.’

He had thought he could just wait in the car and identify Xu Xiaotian, but he hadn’t expected such a ruthless criminal to suddenly appear.

Guan Tong withdrew the Shadow and was about to check on the two Sheriffs the thug had knocked down. Just then, Li Meng rushed out from the construction site gate with several men, shocked by the scene.

"What happened?!"

Guan Tong said, "A criminal disguised as a Sheriff escaped and took two Sheriffs down in a surprise attack. When he was about to attack me, I managed to knock him out."

Li Meng listened as he first checked on his two colleagues. He breathed a sigh of relief when he confirmed their lives weren’t in danger.

Then, he walked over to the unconscious thug, flipped him over to see his face, and exclaimed in shock, "Shen Zuohu!"

"Director Li, you know this thug?"

Li Meng nodded, his voice grave. "This bastard was locked up over a decade ago for running an organized crime ring. He must have been released late last year. I can’t believe it’s been less than a year and he’s already back to his old ways!"

As he spoke, Li Meng seemed to realize something and looked up at Guan Tong in amazement. "This Shen Zuohu is known for his savagery. I remember you’re just a student, right? To think you could knock him out... It seems you’re more than meets the eye."

Guan Tong didn’t respond to that, instead changing the subject. "Director Li, what’s the situation inside the construction site?"

Li Meng stood up. "It’s all over. A few who violently resisted arrest were shot and killed. The rest are in cuffs. The kidnapped victims are fine, just knocked out and haven’t woken up yet. Your friend should be among them. You can go and identify him."

"Okay."

"I’ll have someone transport my injured colleagues and the victims first. As for this Shen Zuohu..." Li Meng said with a cold smile, "If I don’t interrogate the hell out of him and dig out everything he’s known since the day he was born, I’ll be a disgrace to this uniform!"

Hearing this, Guan Tong thought that Director Li, who looked quite scholarly with his glasses, was actually a man of passion.

"As for you..."

Li Meng looked at Guan Tong, rubbing his chin.

"Technically, you assisted in the capture of a major suspect. According to the department’s regulations, you’re entitled to a reward from the Sheriff’s Department. But money is pretty useless these days, and as for Gold... the department really can’t afford to give that out..."

Guan Tong shook his head. "I don’t need a reward. I just hope Director Li can solve the case quickly and find out why this Shen Zuohu was kidnapping High Spirit Users and what his motive is. After all, I’m also involved in this case."

Li Meng nodded. "Alright, let’s leave it at that for now. I’ll have someone contact you to come to the station when there’s news. In this major case, you’re both a victim and a key contributor to its resolution. Once the investigation is complete, you deserve to know what happened."

Afterward, Li Meng took all the captured criminals back for an immediate, round-the-clock interrogation. Guan Tong, meanwhile, followed in a car with the unconscious Xu Xiaotian to the hospital.

At the hospital, a doctor examined Xu Xiaotian and concluded he had likely been given a sedative. It would be at least a few hours before he woke up.

So, Guan Tong waited at the hospital. A little over three hours later, Xu Xiaotian groggily woke up.

"Guan Tong...? Where am I?"

"The hospital. Have you forgotten you were kidnapped?"

The keyword "kidnapped" snapped Xu Xiaotian to full alertness. After Guan Tong told him what had happened, he was overcome with gratitude.

"Guan Tong, no, Tong! Thank goodness you notified the Sheriff’s Department in time, or I would’ve been a goner! From now on, you’re my big brother!"

"Alright. You need to be more careful in the future. Things like your Psychic Power level and items should really be kept secret," Guan Tong said. "After all, don’t wish others harm, but never let your guard down." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Right, right! You’re right!" Xu Xiaotian nodded profusely. "I’ve learned my lesson this time. Sigh, next time someone asks nosy questions, I’ll just play dumb!"

Guan Tong checked the time. "If you’re okay, let’s head back to the hotel. Get some rest and calm your nerves. I expect the Sheriff’s Department will call you in to give a statement later."

On the way back, Xu Xiaotian explained in detail how he was kidnapped. He recounted everything, from being drawn into conversation and tricked, to the arrival of the criminal’s accomplices, and his own failed escape attempt.

When Guan Tong heard that Xu Xiaotian had used instant noodles as a weapon, he thought the kid was pretty quick-witted. If the driver hadn’t avoided the attack, he might have actually escaped from them.

"It’s too dangerous outside. I’m never going out casually again." Back at the hotel, Xu Xiaotian still looked shaken.

"Tong, I’ve decided! Before I register at the Capital Academy next month, I’m going to be a shut-in just like you and stay in my room without going anywhere!"

"...While you’re idle in your room, you can practice using your Psychic Power and develop your Instant Noodles Items," Guan Tong said. "That way, your upper limit will increase faster."

"Okay, I’ll go back to my room and lie down for a bit. My poor heart is still pounding like crazy!"

Xu Xiaotian returned to his room, and Guan Tong swiped his key card to enter his own, Room 306.

He sat at the desk, reflecting on the day’s events.

He couldn’t say it was heart-stopping, but it was definitely stimulating.

What satisfied Guan Tong was that the "Shadow’s" performance in its first real combat situation met his expectations. This proved that his development path for it was the right one.

’The functions of the materialized Shadow are completely linked to me. This means if I want the Shadow to become stronger or faster, I need to strengthen myself in those areas through training.’

’But the Shadow has an advantage over me: it feels no pain, itches, or fatigue. And it’s practically unkillable... As long as I can continuously supply it with Psychic Power, it can recover quickly even if it’s sliced in half.’

Based on these characteristics, a vague plan for how to further strengthen the Shadow began to form in Guan Tong’s mind.