Returning to the Mysterious Era

Chapter 276 - The Black Peacock

At 5:30 p.m., in the eastern suburbs of Kura City.

The azure sky was split by streaks of white clouds and resplendent rays of sunset, dyeing the entire sky in hues of gold and crimson. The layers of clouds resembled a vast ocean, while the leaves of the trees around shimmered with light.

The entire plain was bathed in this golden-red glow. A red sun hung in the sky above the endless black road, layering the world in vibrant colors.

A black car sped along the road toward the city. A youthful face with blonde hair could be seen in the rear-right window. His features were sharp, refined, and cold, but despite the delicate and androgynous lines of his face, an inexplicable aura of dominance radiated from him, and the coldness in his gaze surpassed that of ice.

"Huff!" Cassius exhaled deeply through his nostrils. The car was moving so quickly that his exhale looked like a long white trail of smoke. His entire body felt like he had just emerged from molten lava. He felt as though a massive furnace was pumping heat to every part of his body with each heartbeat.

After starting to practice the Golem Covert Martial Arts, Cassius could now engage in daily physical training at any time and any place. He only needed to harmonize the three major frequencies, which would generate a life magnetic field similar to that of a golem within his body. As his mastery and understanding of his Covert Martial Arts increased, Cassius believed that one day he would be able to train as instinctively as breathing or eating.

By then, his Golem Covert Martial Arts would operate around the clock without interruption. He took a deep breath of fresh air through the open window, pressing his hand against his waist. He could sense that the next phase of his body's evolution was about to begin.

Yes—an evolution.

Golem Covert Martial Arts was a technique modeled after the physiology of dark creatures and primarily designed to transform the human body. The enhancement of physical strength through this technique was a step toward becoming a terrifying war machine, akin to a golem.

Of course, this evolution had been modified to better suit human physiology, making it more of a mutation based on the human form. Thus, Cassius wouldn't gradually turn into a dark creature, but instead, his body would take on the attributes of a golem, while his Golem Covert Martial Arts would allow him to retain full control over his changes.

So far, the Golem Covert Martial Arts had already initiated part of Cassius's evolution, enhancing his combat prowess significantly.

① Golem's Second Heart: functionally speaking, the golem heart enhanced the body's circulatory system, like adding an extra pump. This allowed Cassius to unleash even greater bursts of power for short periods. It especially helped his reaction speed, strength, and defense. It also granted him an extra life in certain situations, such as when Feng Liusi pierced his chest in Death Canyon.

② Second Blood Circulation System: similar in function to the golem heart, it enhanced his overall physical abilities.

③ Increased Muscle Density: the restructuring of his muscle fibers granted far more strength than ordinary martial artists. His muscles were tough, flexible, and as hard as metal, providing him with an accelerated regeneration ability.

Moreover, Cassius suspected there were additional evolutions in progress.

④ Three Kidneys: his body processed waste at an incredible speed, giving him very stable fluids and hormones. His body adapted quickly to toxins and harsh environments, and the explosive release of adrenaline significantly heightened his reaction speed.

⑤ Non-Human Lungs: His lungs had doubled their oxygen intake efficiency. One breath of air allowed him to keep fighting. This worked especially well with his Breathless Chain Strike technique, potentially yielding extraordinary results.

Additionally, his bones, tendons, skin, stomach, and even his five senses were evolving.

Cassius was currently in the three-kidney stage, so he could feel a warm sensation in his right kidney. The more he practiced the Golem Covert Martial Arts, the more pronounced the warmth became, as if his magnetic field was resonating with his organs.

Honestly, Cassius wasn't too concerned about these internal changes. Although having two hearts and three kidneys was unusual, this was human evolution, not the transformation into a dark creature. Cassius had actually become more handsome than before, with a refined and chiseled appearance, since practicing Golem Covert Martial Arts. As long as he didn't resemble a monster, other people's perceptions wouldn't change.

Outside the window, the evening breeze gently brushed against his face.

Farms stretched out before him, arranged in neat, yellow grids that blended into the twilight sky. In the distance, a sea of sunflowers glowed in the warm colors of dusk.

As the car continued forward, a few low buildings, likely farmhouses, began to appear along the roadside without any protective barriers.

After a while, the buildings became more frequent. Every now and then, the car passed structures whose rooftops reflected the fading sunlight.

"We're almost there. We’re already in the outer suburbs, so it should only be about one or two kilometers more. I've already booked a hotel close to the Tulip Antique Exhibition hall. That way, we can easily observe the area at all times," Feng Liusi said as he drove. His thick black hair was being wildly tousled by the wind, giving him an untamed look.

"Hey, Saint Feinan, can you stop checking yourself in the mirror already? I've nearly crashed several times because of the light reflecting from your mirror! We almost ended up in a ditch!" Feng Liusi complained.

"Mind your own business," Saint Feinan, sitting in the passenger seat, raised an eyebrow.

"You're sixty-two years old, yet you’re still acting like a kid. You're so vain, it's unbearable!" Feng Liusi snorted.

"What would you know? When I was young, I was the most handsome man in the village. Can't I reminisce a bit? It's not like you, who was never that attractive to begin with. Even now that you’re a middle-aged man, there's not much to admire." Saint Feinan retorted sharply.

"Oh really? Well, that's because I never cared about appearances..." Feng Liusi began to argue.

The two men started bickering and throwing insults at each other. In the backseat, Cassius crossed his arms, coldly watching the two men, one in his sixties and the other nearing seventy, bickering like six or seven-year-old children. It seemed that life vibration energy truly had profound effects. It had subtly rejuvenated them by altering their life magnetic fields. It had even removed the sluggishness of old age.

It was like seeing old trees sprout new leaves, with their minds becoming as lively and youthful as their bodies. It was amidst their noisy chatter that the Ring Dream car entered Kura City, heading toward the northern district.

As the second-largest city in East Sea County, Kura City had a bustling, metropolitan atmosphere with a thriving economy. The streets were wide and smooth, with little to no trash, indicating regular maintenance. Streetlights lined the roads with trees, and every so often a bronze-colored trash bin or black-and-white bench would come into view.

Bustling shops lined the streets. The buildings were stacked together like pieces of a puzzle, adding to the lively, everyday vibe. Evening was setting in, and the air was filled with the aroma of food, a mixture of stewed meat and vegetable soup, along with the warm scent of freshly baked bread.

Cassius touched the bridge of his nose and silently closed the window. The energy consumed by his body's evolution through Golem Covert Martial Arts had left him a little hungry. But when he glanced at the two men in front of him, whose faces showed no signs of hunger, Cassius rubbed his thumb against his fingertip. Combat artists could go long periods without eating, since similar feats could be accomplished by even Pugilists at the mastery level. They only ate regularly to maintain optimal energy and satisfy their cravings.

Feng Liusi and Saint Feinan probably weren't hungry, so Cassius decided to eat alone. He suddenly spoke up: "Tell me the address of where we're staying. I'll grab something to eat first and take a look around the Tulip Antique Exhibition hall. I want to get a feel for the place."

"Alright." Feng Liusi nodded and gave him the address before pulling over. Just as Cassius was about to get out, two voices spoke in unison.

"Grab something for me too”

“Just get me the same as you."

Cassius turned to find Feng Liusi and Saint Feinan exchanging glances, then both looking back at him. He couldn't refuse, but found the situation a bit odd as he nodded.

When he stepped out of the car, he realized something. It made sense. After all, the life vibration energy's strengthening of their life magnetic fields had a lingering effect. Since their bodies were feeling younger, they naturally needed more nutrients.

The two of them were probably hungrier than usual. With their youthful mindsets and the novelty of being in a different region, they likely wanted to try the local delicacies.

The twilight sky was fading as the sun dipped halfway below the horizon, casting a red glow across the sky. Cassius looked back at the busy streets teeming with people. He pulled out a pair of sunglasses and put them on.

Fifteen minutes later, the eyes of people in line widened in surprise as they watched the blond young man at the register buy most of the food and pack it into a giant food bag. Finally, he pulled out a large Hongli Federation note and leisurely left. When they looked at his somewhat thin and slender back, it made people wonder if he could possibly finish all that food.

However, it's also possible that he was buying for his entire family.

A young man who was dressed like a student walked up to the register and ordered his usual favorite snack, "Boss, give me a portion of fried pork leg with onions, and don't forget to add extra seasoning."

"We're out of pork leg," the boss replied honestly.

"Then what about the vegetable squid rolls?"

"Those are gone too."

"What! Then do you have fish and chips?"

"Ah, we do, but...sorry, only half a portion left."

"..."

A blond youth, dressed in a black hoodie, slowly walked toward the Flower Season Hotel. He wore sunglasses, and his expression remained unchanged, radiating a cold aura that warned strangers to stay away.

After turning down two streets, the road ahead suddenly widened to become a main avenue of the city. The arrangement of streetlights and protective trees became more orderly, giving off a sense of cleanliness.

There was a low but wide rectangular building in the distance. Its warm tones and flat shape resembled a gigantic mushroom. There were no sharp edges, and the exterior was sleek and smooth.

It seemed to feature many designs with French windows. What stood out most was the large sign on top of the building that read "Tulip Antique Exhibition." A horizontal tulip flower beneath the letters connected all the characters together.

There was a large elliptical gray-white square in front of the exhibition hall, complete with a fountain, statues, flowerbeds, and seating areas. The white tiles reflected a faint reddish hue under the sunlight.

Half of the area was open, while the other half was cordoned off with what looked like police tape. Officers in blue uniforms patrolled back and forth, and a few cold, stern men in black lurked in the shadows. An open-air parking lot within the restricted area displayed rows of luxurious, uniquely styled cars.

Cassius's eyes moved continuously behind his sunglasses, as if scanning every hidden corner and the shadows of alleyways.

He continued along the sidewalk, not pausing for a moment. The breeze blew, making the hem of his hoodie and his golden hair flutter.

Cassius murmured to himself, "One, two, three..."

By the time he reached the front of the Flower Season Hotel, he had counted up to twelve pairs of eyes watching him from the shadows. Three or four auras were quite familiar. They were dark creatures, members of the Blood Spirit Society, and Dead Blood... old acquaintances indeed.

Cassius's lips curled into a slight smile of anticipation. He climbed the steps and into the hotel. Hotels in this era were already highly developed. Marble floors shone so brightly that one could see their reflection in them. The circular red oak reception desk was staffed by five uniformed girls, all wearing professional smiles of gentle warmth.

One of the girls led Cassius to the third floor, where a dark red soft carpet lined the hallway, and a faint floral fragrance filled the air. The walls were adorned with portraits of people, though they seemed a bit strange. Most of the figures were nude, showcasing strength and beauty. Their pale skin and muscular bodies intertwined in the paintings. The wallpaper featured intricate gold and red patterns, combined with soft lighting, creating an oddly glamorous and ambiguous atmosphere.

What kind of bizarre hotel did Feng Liusi pick?

Cassius raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly uneasy.

"Sir, this is room 3-104."

The receptionist walked over and knocked on the door. They heard a rustle inside before the finely crafted door opened. The one who opened the door was none other than Saint Feinan, his silky black hair tied in a braid resting on his left shoulder. His handsome face exuded an air of elegance and gentleness.

Further inside, Feng Liusi seemed to have just taken a shower, with a white towel wrapped around his waist. His strong, muscular body was covered in scars, and his chest was thick with body hair.

"You've arrived?" he asked, drying his hair as he looked toward the door.

"Yes," Cassius replied, taking off his sunglasses with a strange expression.

The pretty receptionist beside him had an even stranger look on her face. She glanced at Cassius's delicate features, then at Saint Feinan's elegant handsomeness, and finally at Feng Liusi's wild strength.

Her gaze shifted to the 3-104 door plaque. In that moment, the girl's face inexplicably turned as red as a tomato.

She stammered slightly, "S-sir, this is room 3-104. I... I'll be leaving now, I don't want to disturb you... Enjoy yourselves," she left with one final remark and ran off as fast as she could.

Cassius’s face darkened as he walked inside. Saint Feinan leaned against the doorframe, rubbing his chin, looking curiously at the girl's retreating figure. Cassius placed the large bag of food on the table.

"Feng Liusi, what kind of hotel did you book? The layout here feels...off," Cassius said as he walked toward the window.

"Oh, it's a couple's hotel. The Blood Vulture organization holds a small share in it, and it's located in the best spot near the exhibition hall." Feng Liusi began quickly putting on his clothes.

"Well..." Cassius lifted the curtain and stopped mid-sentence. The room's view perfectly overlooked the front and rear of the Tulip Antique Exhibition, as well as the square. Some buildings stood between the hotel and the exhibition hall, blocking the view from other rooms.

"Fine, let's eat. I bought three portions; it should be enough."

Cassius turned back and headed toward the table.

"Right, fill up and get to work," Saint Feinan said, closing the door and walking over.

Cassius suddenly looked up, clearly understanding the implied meaning. He turned to Feng Liusi, who was now fully dressed.

"The Blood Vulture organization just sent intel. They’ve located several outposts of the Blood Spirit Society in Kura City." Feng Liusi handed over a document before sitting tt the table. He sipped from a cup of hot red tea in one hand while tearing at a fried pork leg with onions in the other.

His voice, though muffled by food, carried a murderous tone that echoed through the room. "Once we're full, we start the slaughter tonight!"