I'm being held captive by a monster

Chapter 290 Malingbu's Weapon
“Mellingbill, your testing of this ability of yours is definitely not limited to these, is it?”

"Tell me about the things you and Qian Qiongzhi did in private."

Lin Xing'an completely ignored what the twins were saying.

He spoke in a cold, businesslike tone.

"...Team leader, what exactly do you want to know..."

When Qian Qiongzhi's name was mentioned, Mai Lingbu's face visibly twitched.

"If you dress a dying person in the clothes of a healthy person, will he die?"

"If you put a dying person's clothes on a healthy person, will they die?"

"Can the [Painted Skin] ability be used on corpses? Can a corpse be turned into a [Painted Skin] and worn by a living person?"

Lin Xing'an said directly.

Don't pretend you don't know.

"You guys were so perverted with Qian Qiongzhi, you must have done all sorts of experiments, right?"

"Don't hide it from me, it won't do you any good."

Before the twins could speak, Lin Xing'an spoke coldly again.

"……us……"

Mai Lingbu first glanced at Mai Yuran.

"Little Bu".

Mai Yuran sighed and nodded to Mai Lingbu.

Mai Lingbo gritted his teeth, got up, and took out a large calligraphy brush from his bag... specifically for writing large characters.

“…What is this?”

Lin Xing'an's brow twitched.

Zhang Guang was also taken aback for a moment, then narrowed his eyes.

"...As for the weapon, Qian Qiongzhi found a senior who infused my gloom into this calligraphy brush."

"That way, even if I'm not around, she can use this brush to turn a person into a 'painted skin'."

Mai Lingbu picked up the brush and raised his arm.

Just like writing, use the soft tip of a calligraphy brush to make a stroke on your arm.

With just a light slash, Mai Lingbu's arm was cut open as if by a knife, leaving a dark slit.

Her arms, too, were widening through the gaps, deflated like a punctured balloon, visibly turning into limp leather sleeves.

Only after his entire arm had turned into a "painted skin" did Mai Lingbu shake his arm.

He restored his arm to its original state.

"what?!"

Her words and actions caused Zhang Guang's expression to change drastically!
"It is now illegal to manufacture weapons without the approval of the committee members and without reporting to the authorities!"

"Qian Qiongzhi is really... utterly lawless!"

Zhang Guang slapped his thigh and said.

"Mai Lingbu, you're saying that Qian Qiongzhi can use your abilities with your weapons?"

Lin Xing'an stared at the calligraphy brush and asked.

You should know that no one but him can control his weapon, "water."

Because the principle behind weapon making is to infuse it with one's own darkness.

"Old Niu the Third".

Before Mai Lingbu could speak, Zhang Guang gasped, "Qian Qiongzhi still hired Niu Laosan."

He frowned and spoke with utmost seriousness.

"Niu Laosan? Minister, can the weapons this person made be used by other people?"

"Yes, only he knows this method."

Zhang Guang nodded and said.

"This Niu Laosan's ability is called [Shadowless Formlessness]. He can turn a person's darkness into unclaimed darkness."

"First, infuse the weapon with gloom, allowing it to acquire the abilities and attributes of its gloomy master. Then, transform the gloom within the weapon into unowned gloom."

"In this way, anyone who infuses their own darkness into it can use this weapon."

"The reason why the entire weapons department of the committee was disbanded was because of Niu Laosan."

"Because of Niu Laosan's method, whoever gets the weapon becomes its master, which indirectly led to several battles within the Taotie."

Zhang Guang waved his hand, signaling Mai Lingbu to bring over the calligraphy brush from her hand.

After taking a moment to feel it, Zhang Guang handed the brush back to Lin Xing'an.

"An'an, inject some Yin energy into it and feel it. Just a small amount, make sure to inject only a small amount."

"……it is good."

Lin Xing'an hesitated for a moment, then injected a trace of it.

"hiss!"

As the gloom entered the brush, Lin Xing'an was first taken aback, then looked at Zhang Guang in surprise.

He could no longer sense his own gloom...

"Minister, this..."

Lin Xing'an added another trace.

Sure enough, the gloom was quickly gone again.

"Yes, that's what makes this weapon so terrifying."

"Because the darkness within this weapon is ownerless darkness, once the user infuses their own darkness into it, the darkness will quickly be assimilated."

"Once the darkness you inject also becomes ownerless darkness, you will no longer be able to use it."

"The only way to improve your level is to keep injecting darkness, which is like adding water to a bottomless pit, causing irreversible damage."

Zhang Guang looked at Mai Lingbu.

Mai Lingbo shook his head and waved his hands.

“Minister, Qian Qiongzhi forced us to do this.”

"We've wanted to destroy this thing for a long time."

“If we wanted to hide it, we wouldn’t have brought it out voluntarily.”

She said quickly.

"Being caught manufacturing weapons without authorization is already a huge deal."

"Moreover, this weapon of yours was made by Niu Laosan."

Zhang Guang snorted coldly, gripped the brush with both hands, and made as if to break it in half.

"Don't!"

Lin Xing'an raised his hand to stop Zhang Guang.

“Minister, I think that since everyone can use this weapon, it might have some amazing effects.”

"This gives us at least another tool in our search for the Sixteenth Month."

"In these extraordinary times, having more means means having more protection."

"It's fine if we destroy it after we find the sixteenth month."

He looked at Zhang Guang and said.

There was a tacit understanding between them.

How could something so valuable be destroyed?!

Qian Sen had absolutely no idea that Qian Qiongzhi had secretly hired Zhu Laosan to make weapons!
Having this calligraphy brush is equivalent to having a huge handle on Qian Sen!

When it comes time to run for committee member, it can definitely be used as a trump card, just like "the coordination department and Taoyuan's connection".

Of course, it certainly cannot be destroyed.

But we still have to put on a show...

“…An’an, do you know how big a responsibility this is?”

"Minister, I'll keep this safe! It's none of your business, don't worry."

Lin Xing'an said with great confidence.

"Minister, I'm willing to break the law if it means finding Sixteen Months!"

"...Okay, but it must not be used unless absolutely necessary!"

Zhang Guang then released his grip and gave Lin Xing'an a deep look.

Lin Xing'an also breathed a sigh of relief.

“Mailingbu, you two tell me, what did Qian Qiongzhi do with this pen?”

He waved the calligraphy brush in his hand and asked.

"Yes, it was all done by Qian Qiongzhi."

Mai Yuran nodded repeatedly, then sighed silently.

“Team leader, Qian Qiongzhi has personally tested all the questions you just asked.”

"She has tried everything: living people wearing the masks of the dead, and the dead wearing the masks of the living."

"They even...killed many gluttonous ghosts."

"She felt it was just for fun, just for having some fun."

She gritted her teeth and said.

Zhang Guang's eyes flashed with intense light!

The value of these twins is somewhat beyond his imagination...

He was well aware that the twins held a great deal of dirt on Qian Qiongzhi.

But I didn't expect to hold so many...

Unauthorized use of weapons to kill gluttonous demons, even torturing and murdering them...

Any one of them would give Qian Sen a headache!
"The results of it?"

Lin Xing'an asked, his eyes also flickering.

"A severely wounded gluttonous ghost wearing the disguise of a healthy gluttonous ghost is like a gluttonous ghost infected with the plague wearing the disguise of one who is not infected with the plague." "The wound will worsen and become more and more serious, but it will stop when it reaches the point of death."

"As long as you don't take off your mask, you won't die."

"But wearing it for a long time can lead to the ingraining of one's personality and memories."

Mai Lingbu took a deep breath and, no longer hiding anything, spoke directly.

"continue."

Lin Xing'an rubbed his chin, pondered for a moment, and nodded.

“A healthy gluttonous ghost, dressed as a severely wounded gluttonous ghost, will suffer for them, will die for them…”

"But as long as you take off your mask before you die, you'll be fine."

"Then... the dead gluttonous ghosts, my current level is not high enough to turn them into [Painted Skin]."

"Putting a living person's 'painted skin' on a dead gluttonous ghost is of no use."

At this point, Mai Lingbu also glanced at Mai Yuran.

It was as if a scene had come to mind.

"I probably understand."

Lin Xing settled in.

"In the experiments, we've put human and animal masks on gluttonous ghosts. Have you ever tried... putting gluttonous ghost masks on animals?"

He looked up and asked.

Mai Lingbu and Mai Yuran both shook their heads.

"No one wants to be sacrificed and controlled by humans or animals."

"Moreover, this involves ethical issues."

"Is a human or a beast shrouded in the gluttonous demon's armor truly a human or a gluttonous demon?"

Zhang Guang spoke up for them from the side.

"……Too."

Lin Xing'an pursed his lips and let out a soft breath.

Then he looked at Liu Yang, who had been waiting for a long time.

"So, what's the route you smelled this time?"

"...Just like last time, you were in the air before you arrived."

Liu Yang subconsciously pushed up his glasses and rubbed his nose.

"...Are you sure? Are you sure it's...this route?"

Lin Xing'an picked up the map.

Looking at the crooked and messy strokes, he frowned and asked.

"……Sure."

Although still somewhat hesitant, Liu Yang nodded.

"Okay, Liu Yang, what you smelled is correct."

"I deliberately circled around in the air before I came here."

After staring at Liu Yang for a long time, Lin Xing'an said with a smile.

Liu Yang also visibly breathed a sigh of relief!
"Xiaoyang, you have to believe in yourself!"

"In actual combat, you are our radar, and you must have 100% confidence in yourself!"

Even if you make a mistake, you can't hesitate!

Lin Xing'an patted Liu Yang on the shoulder and said.

"Understood!"

Liu Yang nodded heavily.

He looks much more confident now.

"Captain, shouldn't you learn about my abilities?"

Mai Yuran raised her hand and spoke.

"You... it's all written very clearly in the materials. There's nothing I want to ask. Let's talk about it in the actual combat later."

Lin Xing'an waved his hand.

"Ok!"

Mai Yuran sat obediently next to Mai Lingbu.

"I have a pretty good understanding of everyone's abilities."

"Then, let me introduce myself again."

"My ability is the E-level [Tide], which is just a passive skill that continuously restores my stamina."

Lin Xing'an looked at everyone and said without any hesitation.

There was no surprise or doubt on anyone's face.

"Of course, as for how I circled around in the air before I arrived..."

Lin Xing'an gently raised his hand.

It was as if a hole had been opened in the air.

The clear water gradually surrounded Lin Xing'an.

Under Lin Xing'an's control, the water flow changed into various shapes.

Or it could transform into wings and flap them to make Lin Xing'an take flight.

Or perhaps, like a magic carpet, they would be trampled under Lin Xing'an's feet.

“This is my ‘weapon,’ and it has been legally registered.”

Lin Xing'an snapped his fingers.

The water around him exploded instantly.

But the water droplets disappeared into the air the instant they scattered.

Wow! Captain is amazing!

"The captain is amazing!"

Mai Yuran and Mai Lingbu clapped their hands and said.

Seeing this, Liu Yang, who was standing nearby, quickly clapped his hands as well.

Lin Xing'an ignored them and looked at Zhang Guang, who was already itching to make arrangements.

"Minister, we've gotten to know each other pretty well."

"Okay! It's 8:30 now, let me say a few words first!"

Zhang Guang clapped his hands and glanced at the time.

"Everyone, let me emphasize this again."

"The purpose of Lin Xing'an and I in establishing this special operations team is only one: to find the killer of Sixteen Month."

"Under this goal, I will grant you the maximum authority."

"In other words, I want you to achieve this goal by any means necessary!"

Zhang Guang emphasized the phrase "by any means necessary" with extreme force!
His gaze then swept over the four people in front of him.

"Very well, I won't say anything more."

"I believe everyone is aware of the extremely urgent situation we are in right now."

"We also know what killing Sixteen would mean for everyone."

Zhang Guang's phone vibrated.

After glancing at it, he frowned, his expression darkening, and hung up the phone.

He then took out a map of the northern city from his bag.

"This is the map in my office."

“I’ve circled seven places above.”

Zhang Guanggang unfolded the map on the table and covered the corners with a teacup.

His phone rang again.

This time, Zhang Guang didn't even look at it and immediately turned off his phone.

"Minister, these areas are..."

Lin Xing'an tilted his head and asked with a frown.

A feeling of unease settled in my heart.

Whether it was a coincidence or Zhang Guangzhen had indeed discovered some clues...

The hiding place in June, that densely populated old neighborhood...

He had already been circled by Zhang Guang...

But what worried Lin Xing'an the most was that the place where Teacher Ju and the others lived was among them...

The cat and Lin Xing'an had discussed how to hide in the 16th month.

In a place with such a high density of confused people, unless Zhang Guang is 100% certain, even if they devote themselves entirely to the search, they will absolutely not find Sixteen Months.

But it's different with Ms. Orange...

They simply lived a low-key life there, without making any deliberate attempt to hide themselves.

So once Lin Xing'an is sent to find...

We will definitely find it...

“These are the places I’ve analyzed over the past few days that I suspect are hiding or gathering people and animals, or even places where the Sixteen Months are hiding.”

Zhang Guang took a deep breath and said.

"Minister, what's your analysis?"

"If you have doubts, why don't you send those action teams outside to check it out?"

Looking at the area drawn on the map, Mai Lingbu asked directly with some doubt.

(End of this chapter)