The bangle on the Demon Hunter's left hand was a present given to him by the Black Market Dealer after Ye Qi saved his life. Caressing the surface of the bangle and feeling its weight, a thought bubbled up in the young Demon Hunter's mind.
Could it be that Marley is my lucky star? He has not only given me money, experience but also a Hallowed Artefact, I should really thank him when I see him next.
Then, the young Demon Hunter pulled his gaze away from the bangle and questioned the weird wolf, "If this is truly a Hallowed Artefact, why wouldn't my Identify spell work before?"
"Kid, you really thought Hallowed Artefacts are normal magical items? Identify spell, you make me laugh…" the young Demon Hunter could hear the condescending sneer in the weird wolf's voice. However, for the sake of an answer, Ye Qi did not butt in and allow the weird wolf to continue, "Do you know why Hallowed Artefacts are so rare and so much more powerful than normal magical items? That is because each Hallowed Artefacts are bound by the souls of its many powerful users, I suppose you could say, they are the residual artefacts left behind by influential heroes and heroines, Gods and Demons! They couldn't be identified via common magic but requires an awakened bond between the Artefact and its user. In other words, the user has to receive the Artefact's approval!"
This explained why the Demon Hunter headquarters had to hold a celebration to "unveil" the Hallowed Artefact every five years and there was no limitation for attendance! It was not user who selected the Artefacts but the other way round!
Ye Qi who had always been suspicious of the headquarters' charity finally understood the hidden meaning. However, soon another question cropped up in his mind, "Since Hallowed Artefacts are activated via an approved bond between the user and artefact, then how did you help me get this artefact's approval?"
"You're talking to Amon! If this was a Hallowed Artefact formed from the Copper Titan's heart, then probably I wouldn't be able to help you in my current state, but this is merely an Artefact formed from its fingers! Enough question, I have to return to sleep to recover! Remember your promise, I shall await the soul of this Demon Servant!" The weird wolf who finally revealed his name disappeared once more.
Ye Qi started combing the name Amon through his mind, he couldn't remember hearing this name from other Demon Hunters or seen it on any records. However, Ye Qi started to have a newfound respect or rather fear of this Amon, after all, in his current state, he was already able to activate a Hallowed Artefact.
Even though Ye Qi knew the weird wolf's name was Amon, it was useless to help him gain more understanding of this mysterious creature, if anything, the mysteries around the weird wolf had only deepened.
He had signed a contract with this Amon even though he had no idea who the opposite party was. Ye Qi's joy from gaining a new Hallowed Artefact dampened. Considering the amount of cunning showcased by the weird wolf in their two contracts, Ye Qi might have signed his life away without even knowing it. The young Demon Hunter frowned from the fear of unknown and kicked at a pebble on the ground to vent his frustration. John who was returning saw this and took this the wrong way.
John walked to Ye Qi's side and slapped his shoulder, adding, "Don't be sad! We're Demon Hunters, our motto is there might be no tomorrow! Look on the bright side, maybe we can find more clues on Park's body!"
The dark humour weighed down on Ye Qi. Looking at the dead Demon Hunter who was rolled away in a body bag, it was as if Ye Qi was seeing the many Demon Hunters who had laid down their lives for the preservation of this "peaceful era".
Is this how John and I will end up in the future? Wrapped up in a body bag in the middle of nowhere? No! Never! Others might be satisfied with such an ending but not me! I still have my family and friends to take care of, I will never allow this to happen to me! With the help of the system, I will keep on improving until one day, even density will be in my control!
The air of agitation around Ye Qi suddenly dissipated. Looking at Ye Qi who had returned to normal, John's face split into a wide smile, "Wonderful! Accepting death is the final lesson every Demon Hunter must take! Ye, congratulations, I have nothing to teach you anymore! From now on, spread your wings and fly!"
John who once again misunderstood Ye Qi's expression, was happy on the young Demon Hunter's behalf. Little did he know Ye Qi had selected the most difficult path to take. The young Demon Hunter smiled watching the happy grin on his mentor's face. He decided to keep his decision to himself, this was his journey, and he didn't want to worry his mentor over it.
Didn't John always say, a grown man is a man who is willing to shoulder responsibility on his own? Perhaps, it is time for me to grow up!
Using his identity as Special Agent, Ye Qi soon helped Park find a suitable way to deal with his body—since they needed to focus on the quest, both of them decided to keep Park's body at the police station's morgue for now. After the quest was finished, they would cremate the Demon Hunter and bring him back to Tarlin—most Demon Hunter didn't have families, after death, most of them would be cremated and brought back to their branch of origin.
"Ye, the trouble this time might be bigger than we envisioned! I've noticed traces of sulphur around Park's body and this is a common ingredient in demonic rituals! Combined with the four curious deaths in this town, I believe this might be the work of a Demon Servant!"
John said after they returned to the hotel. After all, a Demon Hunter with decades of experience was different from a two month old rookie. Park's death had given John the bit of information he needed to come up with the educated guesses that they were dealing with a Demon Servant.
"We have to be extra careful especially at night, I have a feeling we're already exposed!" John warned Ye Qi before continuing, "When the sun rises, we will go into town to investigate those who are either isolated from the general public or act weirdly or both. We must apprehend this creep before it's too late!"
"Okay!" Ye Qi nodded solemnly and started checking his equipment. This would be his first time coming head to head with a Demon Servant. Thinking about the reward given by the weird wolf for this Demon Servant's soul and the difficulty of this quest, even though he would have John by his side, Ye Qi couldn't help but make sure he was at his tip top form.
The night fog unique to Winter Frost slowly swallowed up Leafless Town. Then, a suspicious dark shadow appeared at the entrance of the hotel.