Returning to the Mysterious Era

Chapter 115 - The Third Time-Travel

The next day, at Cassius's new home in the pale courtyard.

"I'm looking forward to working with you in the future."

"Y-yes."

Two hands clasped together; one belonged to Cassius, who had a faint smile on his face, and the other to a somewhat frightened Hugo.

Standing quietly beside them were four other members of the Shadowless Clan, all looking very uncomfortable. The only person who seemed unfazed was Teresa, who was still in her black dress, holding a box in her hand.

The previous night, the Shadowless Clan members had been scared out of their wits, even losing their shoes in the process. After returning to their base in Baichuan City, they immediately reported Teresa's death, along with their encounter with the Shadow Demon. Before the news could spread, however, Teresa, who had supposedly died a hero, casually strolled back in.

This caused quite a stir, as the entire base went on high alert, fearful that the Shadow Demons had forced Teresa into revealing their location. They suspected the Shadow Demons were lurking in the dark, ready to attack at any moment.

The misunderstanding made the atmosphere tense for a time, but was soon cleared up. What Hugo and the others saw was not a Shadow Demon, but a Covert Martial Arts expert who had surpassed human limits. As for the Shadow Demons' supposed attack on the base... that was going to be next to impossible to do since Cassius had wiped out the squad the previous day.

Although Hugo and the elite members were embarrassed, Teresa came bearing good news: Cassius was willing to sell the captured Sharp Claw-level Shadow Demon for two million Hongli Federation dollars, with the transaction to be completed the next day.

The ferocity and brutality of Shadow Demons were far beyond human imagination. Even if they were defeated, they could escape by merely vanishing into the darkness. Killing a Shadow Demon was not difficult, but capturing one alive was a different story altogether. The fact that Teresa could purchase a Sharp Claw-level Shadow Demon from Cassius was quite an achievement in and of itself.

This simple achievement landed her a promotion without a problem.

Unfortunately, Cassius had other uses for the Red-eyed Shadow Demon, so it wasn't available for trade. Otherwise, that would have been enough to jump two to three levels up, and maybe even get a middle management position at the headquarters.

Teresa shook away the fantasies. She knew the decision wasn't in her hands. Both Shadow Demons had been captured by Cassius, and it was up to him if he wanted to sell them or not.

"Here is the two million, Mr. Li Wei." Teresa stepped forward and handed the box to Cassius.

He accepted it and went inside, returning with a white burlap sack that appeared to contain a human-shaped object. Since the sack had been used to store herbs previously, the sack stunk of a strong medicinal herb scent. Cassius had repurposed it for the occasion.

"Take a look."

He pulled down the sack, revealing an awkward-looking and miserable man bound in chains. He was gagged and his face and forehead were covered in bruises. Upon seeing the sunlight, he instinctively shut his eyes and lowered his head, as if it was too much for him.

Teresa and Hugo examined the man closely. He looked like a normal human, except for his elongated hands and sharp nails. The shadow behind him squirmed and crawled under his body, exuding an evil aura in the darkness. Teresa and Hugo exchanged glances, confirming their suspicions.

She nodded. "No doubt, it's a Sharp Claw-level Shadow Demon."

"Alright, it's all yours."

In the end, Cassius helped them by knocking out the Shadow Demon by chopping his hand down on its neck. Although it was bound in chains, it was better to be safe than sorry. He didn't trust Hugo and the so-called elite members of the Shadowless Clan to do it themselves, fearing they might mess things up.

Five minutes later, a boxy silver van drove away from the residence. Cassius watched for a while before going back inside. He went up to the third floor, took out an herb packet, and got ready to take an herbal bath.

***

"Huff... Huff... Huff..."

It sounded like an ox was panting with the heavy breathing that echoed in the basement. Cassius was in a half-squat horse stance, his toes lightly touching the ground, his head hanging down, and his body slightly leaning forward with his hands pressed together.

This peculiar stance demanded a lot out of his stamina. Sweat dripped from his upper body, soaking his gray training pants. His strong muscles were red, like he was a lobster being boiled.

"Sniff... Huff... Sniff... Huff... Sniff... Huff..."

His breathing gradually accelerated; starting from normal to high-speed, like some high-end fan, eventually merging into a continuous flow. A faint white mist blew out of his nostrils.

"Ha."

Cassius's eyes flew open as he exhaled a breath of turbid air. His raised toes settled back on the ground as he straightened his body. His muscles contracted and released, flinging off sweat in a misty spray. He glanced at the top right corner.

[Elephant Soul Incomplete: Bug Bite 43.2% (Total Three Stages)]

Since returning from the time-travel era, the progress bar of the Elephant Soul had increased by about 0.1%. It was a slow and arduous process.

Cassius's current level was somewhere between the second and third stage. He still had a considerable way to go before reaching 66%. He estimated that once he exceeded 66.7%, the third node of accelerated blood flow would likely be activated. With three nodes circulating simultaneously, his Covert Martial Arts would run automatically, even during his sleep. Though not as efficient as him actively practicing, it had the advantage of constant improvement.

He had already experienced some of these benefits. With two nodes activated, a gentle warmth circulated through his body, accelerating his healing and blood supply.

Although not as effective as activating the three nodes, it did help him recover from a gunshot wound within a day. This was the hidden benefit of the two blood nodes.

Cassius twisted his neck and walked over to the exercise equipment. He unlocked the iron lock, removed the chains from the Shadow Demon, and tossed them aside.

"I'm going to give you one chance to get past me and through the curtain. If you can do that, I'll let you go." Face expressionless, he moved several steps away from the partition curtain.

On the opposite end, the Red-eyed Shadow Demon stood up. In the dim basement, his light red eyes looked like a beast's as he stared at Cassius. Voice hoarse and grating, he croaked, "Really?" n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Why would I lie to you? Of course, I'm telling the truth." Cassius grinned. His white teeth sent chills down the Shadow Demon's spine.

Thud! Bang!

"Ugh!"

A few minutes later, the Shadow Demon was dragged back to the exercise equipment like a dead dog.

Cassius wrapped a metal chain around it and then squatted down. He was disappointed. "I gave you a chance, but you're so useless..." He gently hit the Shadow Demon's left cheek. "Better luck next time."

Cassius slowly rose to his full height and patted his chest. His rock-hard chest muscles had two or three white crisscross marks from the Shadow Demon furiously slashing its claws at him. They weren't bleeding at least.

The Red-eyed Shadow Demon was quite strong, at least comparable to a pugilist. The only reason why Cassius dared to let it loose was because he was confident in his higher realm. He wasn't doing it to humiliate the demon; he just needed a sparring partner.

He hadn't encountered any pugilists at his level in the real world, possibly due to the suppression of the Dao of the Covert Martial Arts by technological development or some other hidden reason.

The other reason why Cassius fought with the Shadow Demon was to understand it better. Knowing your enemy was the key to any victory. It wasn't just one or a couple of Shadow Demon; they were a large group hiding among humans. As someone who had been parasitized by them, Cassius knew it was only a matter of time before they came for him, and he knew he needed to be ready when that day came.

At 2 p.m., Cassius lay on a reclining chair, on a small balcony of a yellow house, basking in the warm sunlight. The sky was a pure blue. Music drifted in from the room in the distance where a black vinyl record spun on the table. It was a newly popular record in the Hongli Federation, a twelve-inch disc capable of holding multiple songs.

A gentle breeze brushed his face as Cassius, dressed in casual clothes, took out a bronze ring from his pocket, his eyes flickering slightly. The ring glimmered faintly in the sunlight.

His thoughts were clear. The second manifestation of the Shadow Demon had passed, and the third was two months away, but Cassius couldn't wait that long. He was planning to enhance his strength through another time-travel session. With sufficient lingering attachment energy and the Wind Elephant Tusk Pendant’s third time-travel as a backup, he had no problem undertaking another journey.

He eyed the top right corner of his vision.

[Lingering Attachment Energy: 5.4]

Feeling assured, he slowly raised his hand. A drop of blood fell on the bronze ring.

Instantly, a cold, numbing sensation spread through his body in response to the ring. Cassius blinked, and everything around him seemed frozen, like insects trapped in amber. A falling leaf hung suspended in the air.

Buzz...

It was like being struck by a hammer. Cassius's head shook violently.

The world spun, the colors blurring together as if water had been poured over a delicate oil painting. Cassius clenched his right fist, struggling to maintain his sanity against the dizziness.

Whoosh~

A strong gale swept through the city, leaving a twisting trail in the rain and mist. Raindrops hit the gray-bricked streets, creating a thin haze hovering above the ground. Lightning shattered the sky, thunder rumbled, and dark clouds covered Nington City.

Fifty years ago, July 7, Year 106 of the Hongli Federation. East Sea County, Nington City, Lise Street.

This was the bustling East Sea County. Decades ago, multiple ports were built, leading to a booming economy. This was especially the case twenty years ago when stable sea routes were established, and wealth flowed into East Sea County. All kinds of luxury goods were shipped here.

Nington City, though not the core city of East Sea County, ranked third or fourth in economic development, making it quite prosperous. The most noticeable features of the city were its tall buildings with tea-colored glass exteriors, giant product or celebrity billboards, and towering smokestacks. It also had numerous theaters, churches, stock exchanges, and exquisite mansions. Here, the rich enjoyed their power.

A large ball was being held in Jasmine Mansion on Lise Street. Hosted by Charles Roche, the boss of Coflen Company, he had invited some socialites to attend. As the men and women in formal attire danced to the music, bright chandelier lights cast down on them, their shadows shifting and moving across the polished floor. The shadows of gentlemen and socialites seemed to merge together.

Seated on a yellow sofa at the side, a beautiful girl in a red dress looked uneasily at the dance floor. She was alone tonight, and did not have a dance partner, making her feel out of place. She glanced to her right, at the edge of the dance floor.

A young, handsome man was quietly watching ahead, a glass of red wine in hand. He wore a well-fitted casual suit that accentuated his tall, strong figure. His face was fair and handsome, with slicked-back hair revealing a full forehead.

The man exuded an air of elegance and authority. His name was Charles, the twenty-year-old millionaire and owner of Coflen Company.

Today was his birthday party. He didn't seem to have any family, and invited many of Nington's elite for company. Among the guests were many unmarried, beautiful women hoping to catch the attention of the single millionaire. However, his aloof personality made approaching him difficult—or so the girl thought.

Charles walked over and offered his hand. "You don't have a dance partner tonight, do you, Miss Emily? May I have this honor?"

"Oh... of course." Excited, Emily hopped up and stretched out her hand.

Soon, the dance floor welcomed a new pair of dancing figures, and they became the highlight of the night. The party ended a half hour later, and the guests left, leaving only Emily and Charles behind in the hall. The two stood by the window, listening to the rain as they sipped wine. They gradually warmed up to each other.

Flash!

A bright lightning bolt cut through the dark sky. In the dim hall, Charles's shadow was cast on the floor, resembling a black bat gnawing and sucking blood.

Rumble!

Thunder roared like cannons. In the rain-soaked night, a man holding a black umbrella and a bag walked toward the mansion.

Dressed in a black suit with a wide-brimmed hat covering most of his face, he gave off an enigmatic aura. His leather shoes splashed in the water as he approached the mansion's side wall. He glanced around and pulled something out of the bag.

A bronze and silver mechanical crossbow.

The edges were thick, with intricate patterns carved on the metal surface, and a barrel-like rotary drum hanging underneath. The drum was filled with silver bolts glinting in the light. The corner of the mechanical crossbow had a small inscription in cursive script: "Frenzy Steam."

The man looked down, then froze.

Splash...

Rain poured down, creating a mist that blurred everything around him. Raindrops drummed on the umbrella, making a series of pitter-patters. The umbrella tilted back slightly, revealing a pair of cold, indifferent eyes.

"Hellsing, Blood Race, Hunt, Black Rain Manor..." he murmured to himself, gently weighing the crossbow in his hand. "And Frenzy Steam..."