Huang Yiyi and Xu Zijun were taken by Chen Xiao to two separate basement rooms that had long since fallen out of use. The air was stale and cramped.
Chen Xiao entered Huang Yiyi's room first.
It was bare to the point of austerity — only a wooden plank bed and a dim incandescent bulb hung overhead.
"What's your name?"
"Huang Yiyi."
"Tell me about Magic Capital. Tell me about Destiny Group."
Chen Xiao leaned against the wall and looked at her. Huang Yiyi was visibly tense, cold sweat beading at her collarbone under the pressure of his gaze.
"Ma..."
"Are you scared of me?"
Chen Xiao cut her off with a faint smile and stepped forward, casually brushing the dust from her shoulder.
Huang Yiyi froze.
She had just watched Wang Shuo be cut cleanly in half. Chen Xiao's sudden gentleness only made her even more afraid.
"I'm easy to get along with. Don't be nervous. Just tell the truth."
Huang Yiyi nodded stiffly. "I don't know Destiny Group's core secrets. I only know the public information about Magic Capital. That doesn't count as betrayal."
She continued quickly, "Our leader — the founder of Destiny Group — is Su Jian. He's extremely strong. No one has ever survived a direct fight with him."
"You're lying. If he's that strong, why would he seek my cooperation?"
Huang Yiyi hurriedly shook her head. "We don't know why he approached you, but he really is powerful — maybe even immortal. I don't know what talent he has, but I swear I'm not lying."
Chen Xiao said nothing and waited for her to continue.
"Besides him, Destiny Group has gathered many top awakeners from all over the country. On the surface, there are eight SSS-level awakeners. The second-in-command is even more terrifying — he has countless talents, including a powerful rule-based ability... That's all I know."
Chen Xiao nodded, not pressing further.
"Tell me about yourself. I'm curious."
Huang Yiyi blinked. "Introduce myself? I'm from Magic Capital. Before the apocalypse, I ate anglerfish — lantern fish. They're ugly, but delicious..."
Chen Xiao interrupted, "What's your talent?"
Huang Yiyi answered immediately, "SSS-level reconnaissance talent, Faint Light Irradiation. It's how I detected your absurd strength. And an A-grade rule talent, Light Charm. Anyone trapped in my light for a few minutes falls into a charmed state. But the light is too obvious, so it's hard to use."
Chen Xiao immediately understood.
This was the glow that had enveloped Jianghe Building.
Anglerfish naturally used light to lure prey, and this charm talent was exactly what he needed. If it could evolve to S-rank, it would transform completely — and solve his loyalty-check problem.
It was a perfect gift.
Seeing him lost in thought, Huang Yiyi asked nervously, "Mad Ghost Butcher... Chen Xiao... will you kill me?"
Chen Xiao sneered. "Of course. The moment you tried to charm me, you were already dead."
Huang Yiyi went pale. "I can submit! I'll take your orders! My ability is useful!"
Chen Xiao laughed. "Jiangbei Delta doesn't lack reconnaissance talents. And I never use charm to get what I want. What use is your ability to me? Huang Yiyi, are you delusional?"
Huang Yiyi bit her lip. "Even if my talent is useless... I'm a woman. And I'm beautiful enough for the apocalypse..."
Chen Xiao cut her off mercilessly. "Sorry. The women around me in the apocalypse are far above your level."
It was the truth.
The women close to him were all top-tier in both talent and looks. Huang Yiyi was beautiful, but not nearly special enough. Chen Xiao's deliberate rejection was part of the process — the more pressure she felt, the better the odds of forcing a useful result.
Huang Yiyi was speechless.
She knew full well about Tang Shirou, Jiang Chuxue, and even Bee Woman. The Mad Ghost Butcher's life was far more luxurious than anything in the pre-apocalypse world, surrounded by beauties beyond comparison.
Chen Xiao summoned a two-meter bone knife. Silver light gleamed coldly along the blade.
Terror and helplessness flooded Huang Yiyi's face.
"Chen Xiao, I'm really useful! I'll do anything!"
Chen Xiao chuckled softly, and the bone knife dissolved into stardust.