Chapter 170
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Chapter 170: Mission Accomplished
Half an hour later, they finally arrived at the “Equal Wellness Club.”
From the outside, it appeared to be an ordinary health spa, indistinguishable from countless others across the city.
As Bai Yan approached, he sensed something peculiar—a subtle, invisible barrier. Without his heightened perception from “Mysterious Magic,” it might have gone unnoticed.
“Hm, a protective mechanism,” Bai Yan mused. It was clear the Church of Ruins had precautions in place. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to advertise so openly without being wiped out by the Night Watchers.
“Is this the place?” Maryse asked, her curiosity evident. She glanced around, still unsure if this truly was the cult’s stronghold.
Before they could step inside, four servants emerged from the building. Dressed in fine attire, two men and two women greeted them with polite smiles and a bow.
“Welcome,” one of the women said warmly. “Are you here to experience our wellness services?”
Bai Yan smiled, blending seamlessly into the facade. “Yes. We’ve heard great things about your services. We wanted to see if they live up to the reputation—especially the parts about improving health and appearance.”
The servant nodded, gesturing for them to follow. “Of course, please come inside. You’ll need to register as members first. Here’s a list of our services and membership options.”
Bai Yan accepted the pamphlet, glancing briefly before walking in with Maryse.
Inside, the club exuded tranquility. The décor was simplistic and natural, with artificial mountains and flowing streams creating an atmosphere of peace.
One of the female servants turned to Maryse and complimented her. “Young lady, you’re stunning. In all my years here, I’ve rarely seen someone as lovely as you.”
Maryse smiled sweetly, her voice deliberately childish. “Sister, you’re pretty too.”
Bai Yan resisted the urge to comment, silently observing Maryse’s apparent vanity. It seemed she cared about others’ opinions far more than she realized.
The staff escorted them to separate areas to change. Despite their cordial demeanor, Bai Yan remained vigilant, subtly using his ability to keep track of Maryse and ensure her safety.
After changing into light spa garments—blue for him, red for Maryse—they were led to different wellness treatments. Bai Yan’s sharp senses picked up no trace of anything supernatural. Instead, the services offered—essential oil massages, foot baths, and aromatherapy—seemed perfectly normal.
But Bai Yan knew better.
Through a combination of “Deep Blue World” and his “Connection” ability, he gradually pieced together the truth: the staff were all ordinary people, oblivious to any darker purpose behind the establishment.
“This isn’t their stronghold,” Bai Yan concluded, his smile returning.
After their treatments, Bai Yan and Maryse regrouped in the lounge. He handed her a cold orange juice he’d purchased earlier, his tone casual. “Here, drink this.”
Maryse blinked, surprised by the gesture. “For me?”
She accepted it with a smile, savoring the thoughtfulness. “You’re surprisingly kind, Profligate,” she teased.
Her mood lightened as she sipped the juice, but her curiosity lingered. “I didn’t sense anything unusual. Are you sure this place is connected to the cult?”
Bai Yan shook his head. “It’s not that simple.”
He stepped outside, walking toward the invisible barrier. Extending a hand, he summoned the Fire That Burns Everything. Black flames erupted, consuming the barrier with a fierce intensity.
The sky above them darkened, blanketed in an ominous, smoldering blackness. Maryse stared in awe. “The scent of the Outer God…” she whispered.
As the barrier disintegrated, the ground beneath them shifted.
The true “Equal Wellness Club” was revealed—a sprawling underground complex hidden below the surface.
Inside the hidden headquarters, Manila, a priestess of the Church of Ruins, was conducting a “balance adjustment” ritual.
Two people, one rich and one poor, knelt before her as she prepared to mark them as offerings. But her concentration shattered when she felt the barrier’s collapse.
“An intruder?” Panic flashed
across her face. She turned to
her apprentices. “Sound the
alarm! Evacuate immediately!”
Meanwhile, Bai Yan and
Maryse descended into the
newly revealed complex.
“Profligate, what’s the plan?”
Maryse asked, a hint of
nervousness in her voice.
Bai Yan paused time with Deep
Blue World, swiftly navigating
the unfamiliar terrain while
carrying Maryse. When time
resumed, she found herself in
the heart of the enemy’s
territory.
“Relax,” Bai Yan reassured her.
“We’re here to stop them from
escaping.”
In the evacuation chamber,
cultists hurried to activate a
teleportation array. But before
they could flee, Bai Yan and
Maryse appeared, their
presence stopping everyone in
their tracks.
Manila stepped forward,
gripping her relic. “You dare
desecrate the balance?!”
Bai Yan didn’t flinch. With a
single wave of his hand, he
unleashed the Fire That Burns
Everything. Manila’s head burst
apart, silencing her protests in
an instant.
The ritual collapsed along with
her death. The temporary
gains of those who sought
“fleeting beauty” began to
fade, sparing them the future
price.
“Exploitable mechanics,” Bai
Yan muttered with
amusement. “Kill the
performer, nullify the cost.
Interesting.”
As the remaining cultists
scrambled in fear, Bai Yan
checked his phone.
“Mission accomplished.”
Maryse glanced at him, her
silver eyes gleaming. “What
now?”
Bai Yan smiled. “Now, we
leave.”
Together, they ascended from
the ruins, leaving chaos and
the smoldering remains of the
cult behind them.
