When family members are reunited, they should be excitedly embracing and greeting each other, but Yu Hanjiang quickly remembered why he had followed the other person here— Lu Jiuchuan is the Hunter?!
Yu Hanjiang frowned at the other person and asked in a low voice, "When did you come into this world?"
Lu Jiuchuan said, "Three years ago."
Yu Hanjiang stared intently into his eyes: "You really joined the Hunter Organization?"
Lu Jiuchuan smiled slightly and used his slender fingers to unbutton his shirt.
As a soldier, he was always tall and strong, with a perfectly sculpted inverted triangle physique. As his honey-colored chest gradually came into view, a totem appeared prominently on the left side where his heart was!
The eerie tattoos, illuminated by the moonlight, resembled menacing demons.
Yu Hanjiang's pupils suddenly contracted—this pattern was the symbol of the Hunter Alliance members!
Lu Jiuchuan chuckled softly and lowered his voice, saying, "That's right, I became the Hunter in order to survive."
Upon hearing this, Yu Hanjiang's eyes widened in fury. He clenched his fists tightly, staring incredulously at his respected elder brother, and shouted, "Are you insane?! Do you know what the Hunter Organization does? They're all heartless, cold-blooded thugs! You actually turned yourself into a killing machine just to survive?!"
Lu Jiuchuan slowly buttoned up his shirt and said calmly, "The rules of this world are different from those of the real world. I've already been a hero in the real world. Since God has given me a second life, I have the right to choose to live for myself."
Yu Hanjiang's sharp gaze stared directly into his eyes: "Living for yourself, so you slaughter others?"
Lu Jiuchuan laughed: "What do I care about other people's lives or deaths?"
Yu Hanjiang: "..."
The person in front of me is both familiar and unfamiliar.
He came to Card World three years ago. Perhaps this perverse world gradually eroded his humanity, destroyed his will, and shattered his beliefs. The Lu Jiuchuan of today is no longer the "Ninth Brother" that Yu Hanjiang knew. He is no longer the iron-willed soldier who stood tall, saluted his superiors, and resolutely said, "I will absolutely obey orders!"
Yu Hanjiang closed his eyes and whispered, "Do you really think so?"
Lu Jiuchuan nodded: "I brought you here to tell you that if you want to survive in this world, the only way is to join the [ Hunter Organization ]. Everyone who tried to return to reality by clearing the secret room in the card wall has failed and been eliminated."
At this point, his voice took on a chilling edge: "Passing through the secret chamber and returning to the real world is just a beautiful dream the Guardian created for you; it's completely unworkable. Shouldn't you have known long ago that I'm already dead?"
Three years ago, Yu Hanjiang watched as Lu Jiuchuan's body was cremated. In reality, Lu Jiuchuan was indeed dead.
Is what he said true? Challenger still can't go back even after clearing all the secret rooms on the card wall?
Yu Hanjiang's long-held beliefs were challenged like never before at this moment!
The facts are stark: Lu Jiuchuan is now just a box of ashes, buried beneath a tombstone in the martyrs' cemetery. How can Guardian's "going back" possibly lead to that? After Lu Jiuchuan clears the SS-level secret chamber, can those ashes possibly transform back into a person?!
Everyone has always believed the Guardian, but what if the Guardian is lying?
Perhaps everyone has already died completely in reality and been reborn in this world, only to remain here forever, struggling...
Yu Hanjiang quickly calmed down. He stared at Lu Jiuchuan and said, word by word, "Even if what you're saying is true, we can't get through the secret room back to reality. At worst, we'll just die. What's the point of living if you become a murderous maniac just to survive?"
Lu Jiuchuan said coldly, "Everyone has the right to choose how to live."
Yu Hanjiang clenched his fists, wishing he could punch that familiar face flat!
He simply couldn't believe that his respected older brother, Major Lu Jiuchuan, who had undergone rigorous training and performed exceptionally well in the military and became the captain of the Arrow Commando at a young age, would turn into a brutal killing machine for the sake of "survival."
Just how terrifying is Card World that it could cause someone like Lu Jiuchuan to lose his humanity?
He dared not think about it further. He wished he had never met this person, and wished he could always regard Lu Jiuchuan as a hero in his heart.
Yu Hanjiang's intense emotional fluctuations were quickly transmitted to Xiao Lou through the Telepathic Connection.
Xiao Lou's gentle voice echoed in his mind: " Captain Yu, don't be sad, calm down."
Xiao Lou could empathize with his thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Xiao Lou knew he had met his older brother, who had joined the Hunter Organization and become a serial killer.
For a policeman like Yu Hanjiang, who hates evil as if it were his enemy, the fact that his closest brother has become the kind of ruthless killer he despises in this world is a blow that most people cannot bear. If it were Xiao Lou, he would definitely be devastated.
Memories kept churning in Yu Hanjiang's mind—
When they were little, Lu Jiuchuan taught him how to play with electric airplanes, took him to climb walls and trees, and to catch fish in the water. The two of them were caught and beaten up when they got home... In their youth, they sweated together on the basketball court, learned shooting skills at the shooting range, and went camping in the wild with their tents...
The year Lu Jiuchuan was admitted to military academy, Yu Hanjiang personally saw him off. Looking at his dashing older brother in his military uniform, he smiled and gave him a perfect military salute... When Yu Hanjiang was admitted to police academy, Lu Jiuchuan took leave and invited him to dinner, his eyes full of trust and encouragement...
Each memory is heart-wrenching.
Yu Hanjiang felt a lump in his throat; he didn't know how to face his elder brother.
Xiao Lou noticed that his emotions were very unstable and immediately asked in his mind, " Captain Yu, do you believe your brother?"
Yu Hanjiang paused for a moment, then said, "Of course I believed him before..."
Xiao Lou said, "You believed it before, but what about now?"
Yu Hanjiang fell silent.
Xiao Lou's voice was calm and gentle: "Three years can indeed change a person. But I think a person's nature won't change that much. For example, a psychopathic killer won't suddenly become a philanthropist, and a kind and upright soldier can't simply become a serial killer just to survive. You're being influenced by your subjective emotions, and with your excitement, you might make the wrong judgment. Calm down first, think carefully, and see if there are other possibilities?"
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Yu Hanjiang's head, instantly sobering him up.
Soldiers undergo the most rigorous training. In the real world, Lu Jiuchuan would rather die than betray his beliefs, and even calmly sacrificed himself in the end. The rules of this world do indeed differ from reality, but how could human nature change so drastically?
There must be a reason for this.
At this moment, Yu Hanjiang calmed down completely, and his mind became clear again.
He was so shocked by the sudden encounter with Lu Jiuchuan that his mind went blank; he was truly "blinded by his own involvement." Fortunately, Xiao Lou snapped him out of his daze.
Yu Hanjiang looked at the man in front of him and said, "Is there something you're struggling with... Ninth Brother?"
The familiar address startled Lu Jiuchuan slightly. He raised an eyebrow and said, "You were just looking like you were about to beat me up. Why the sudden change in attitude? What could be wrong with you?"
Yu Hanjiang said decisively, "I should believe you. We've known each other for over twenty years, and you're not the kind of person who's afraid of death. You must have some reason for joining the Hunter Organization, or some other purpose."
The two looked into each other's eyes and remained silent for a long time.
Lu Jiuchuan asked in a low voice, enunciating each word clearly, "After seeing the Hunter symbol on my body, do you still dare to believe me?"
Yu Hanjiang calmly said, "A symbol doesn't mean anything. I could draw one on my chest right now. But a person's nature won't change so completely—as long as you are still Lu Jiuchuan, I will believe in you."
He paused, stared into Lu Jiuchuan's eyes, and said, "You would never be so cowardly as to let yourself degenerate into a devil."
Lu Jiuchuan suddenly laughed.
His appearance was inherited from the Lu family's excellent genes, and he was very charming when he smiled. Since he was a child, many girls had secretly given him love letters. At this moment, he was smiling, but his eyes were filled with complex emotions, as if they were surging with turbulent waves.
After a moment, Lu Jiuchuan's smile faded, and he looked at his younger brother seriously: "You're too naive. In this world, no one can be easily trusted."
Yu Hanjiang said, "I know, but you are my elder brother."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jiuchuan's pupils contracted slightly, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
Yu Hanjiang didn't miss his gesture and said in a low voice, "The world has changed, but the soul hasn't. If my judgment is wrong and you really have degenerated into a killing machine, I will deal with you myself next time we meet. But for now, I'd rather trust you one last time."
Lu Jiuchuan chuckled: "Kid, with your skills, you couldn't kill me even if you made a move. You're still too weak!"
The surrounding scenery suddenly changed, and Yu Hanjiang found that Lu Jiuchuan had inexplicably disappeared in front of him, leaving him alone in the enclosed space where the sky and the sea met.
The entire space shattered completely, and Yu Hanjiang, who was standing on the sea, suddenly fell into the sea. When the surroundings returned to normal, he turned around and saw the luminous pearls shining on the Challengers ' escape boats.
Lu Jiuchuan disappeared, and Yu Hanjiang found a card in his palm.
[Special Effects Sign: Absolute Domain ]
Rarity: S
Description: A special effect card that alters the environment; only one of its kind exists, and its origin is unknown.
The cardholder's identity is not visible as the card has been linked.
Usage effect: It can create a 500-square-meter Absolute Domain, and drag up to 10 specified targets into the domain space. The environment and events of this space can be set by the card owner at will - my territory, my rules. You can walk on the sea, fly in the air, walk upside down, and even shoot a movie here.
In an Absolute Domain, anything impossible becomes possible.
Usage restrictions: Can only be activated once every 24 hours, and remains active for 1 hour after activation.
A person in the Absolute Domain can only leave if the card owner leaves or dies.
The card owner can give the card to anyone, granting that person access to the realm. The realm is unaffected by the environment and can be entered across secret rooms and main cities.
Yu Hanjiang held the card, his brow furrowed.
This card has a similar effect to Xiao Lou's " The Peach Blossom Spring," both opening up an independent space. The difference is that the environment of Absolute Domain can be set up by the owner at will, and it is bound to the owner.
The phrase "unknown origin" in the card description puzzled Yu Hanjiang greatly.
This card is Lu
What Jiuchuan left him was the card that had just pulled him into the special space.
Yu Hanjiang put away the card with a complicated expression and said to Xiao Lou, "My brother is gone, without explanation."
Xiao Lou said, " Captain Yu, you can come back first. I've sent Long Sen and Teacher Qu to pick you up."
Sure enough, there was a sound on the water. Yu Hanjiang turned around and saw two heads emerging nearby—it was Long Sen and Qu Wanyue, the couple who had blended into the seawater using the chameleon card, looking like two separate heads floating on the sea. Yu Hanjiang was already used to this; after all, back in Liuxi Village, Long Sen often turned into the color of mud and crawled on the ground, with a head popping up from the ground all the time.
Long Sen asked anxiously, " Captain Yu, are you alright? We've been looking for you around here for a long time, but we can't find you anywhere."
Yu Hanjiang glanced at them and said, "It's nothing."
He followed the two back to the lifeboat, where his teammates were waiting for him. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw him return safely.
Shao Qingge asked, "What's going on? Did you manage to catch up with that Hunter?"
Yu Hanjiang shook his head with a sullen face: "No, he got away."
Xiao Lou was connected to him via Telepathic Connection, and he knew everything that had just happened. However, Yu Hanjiang didn't want to tell the other teammates yet that his brother had become the Hunter, so as not to arouse suspicion.
Yu Hanjiang looked at Xiao Lou and said in his mind, "Thank you. If you hadn't reminded me in time, my mind would have been a mess, and I almost thought he had really fallen into Hunter's ways."
Xiao Lou smiled and said, "You're welcome. Since your brother didn't kill you, he obviously hasn't completely lost his humanity. I'm more inclined to believe that he infiltrated the Hunter Alliance for another purpose. Don't make a hasty decision yet; let's find out more before making any decisions."
Yu Hanjiang admired Xiao Lou's composure. If Xiao Lou hadn't been a clear-headed observer, he might have ended up fighting with Lu Jiuchuan. Yu Hanjiang looked at Xiao Lou gently and said, "My brother left me a strange card called [ Absolute Domain ], which can create an independent space. But the card skill is on cooldown right now, so I can't enter it."
Xiao Lou, connected to his inner world, naturally saw the description in this card.
Creating an " Absolute Domain " pulls up to 10 people in. This card is very strong, especially for team escapes. It can be used similarly to " Peach Blossom Spring " to teleport everyone into the domain for refuge. When a specific target needs to be eliminated, it can be dragged into the domain for a one-on-one fight, making it a versatile card for both offense and defense. More importantly, it can cross secret rooms, inviting others into the domain to speak with you.
Moreover, after each skill refresh, releasing Absolute Domain allows you to freely set the environment you want—ocean, snowfield, desert, city—and switch between them at any time, making it even more flexible than Peach Blossom Spring.
Xiao Lou's eyes lit up, and he said, "This card is like an independent spatial transfer station. No matter which secret room you are in, you can activate this card and enter the domain world left behind by your brother. I think he might be trying to send you a message in this way?"
Yu Hanjiang suddenly realized: "That's right, the domain can transmit clues, otherwise he wouldn't have needed to leave this card for me."
Xiao Lou cautioned, "Don't tell anyone else that your brother joined the Hunter Alliance. Others might worry if they find out. Especially Old Mo, whose team was wiped out by the Hunters, and he's quite hostile towards them."
Yu Hanjiang nodded: "I understand, only you and I know about this."
The teammates around him noticed that Captain Yu had been silent since returning to the lifeboat, exchanging glances with Professor Xiao. Clearly, the two of them had started to ignore the others and have a private mental conversation.
Everyone was already used to it and went back to their seats without a second thought.
Just then, an escape boat arrived— the same boat that Yu Hanjiang and Xiao Lou had rescued earlier. The man in the driver's seat chuckled, "Thank you all. If you hadn't captured those Hunters, our entire team might have been wiped out tonight."
A girl handed over a card, saying, "We don't have anything good to offer, so please take this card. Thank you!"
Old Mo took a look, his expression immediately became complicated, and he turned to hand the card to Xiao Lou.
[ Tool card: Temporary toilet]
Rarity: A
Restriction: Team-only, one card can be used per team.
Description: How can a living person die from holding their pee? But what if there's no toilet? We're all adults, wetting our pants is so embarrassing. This card can create a temporary toilet in any environment to solve the problem of needing to urinate. Automatic flushing, convenient and quick.
Xiao Lou was both amused and exasperated: "This card... is very necessary."
Ye Qi leaned over to take a look and exclaimed, "It's incredibly practical!"
The girl smiled and said, "It's a team-limited card. Our team has two of these cards, and we can't use more than one. I'll give one to you."
Xiao Lou said sincerely, "Thank you, this card is more useful than many S cards."
The man in the driver's seat looked at Lao Mo with a complicated expression and said, "Brother, let's talk. Next time you dye someone's hair, could you please not dye them green?" Someone around said, "Brother, you don't know, he was cheated on by his girlfriend in real life, and he's traumatized!"
Old Ganmo laughed and said, "Sorry... I'll dye it red for you next time?"
Then someone else arrived in a lifeboat and asked about the Hunters: "Where are the other three Hunters?"
Yu Hanjiang calmly said, "All three of them committed suicide."
Everyone sighed with relief, "It's good that they're dead. At least we don't have to worry about being slaughtered in the next secret room." "Thank you all. If you hadn't discovered us in time, we would all be in trouble tonight!"
Seeing the relaxed expressions on these people's faces, Yu Hanjiang and
Xiao Lou also breathed a sigh of relief.
To the east, the sun gradually rose from the sea, and everyone finally saw their surroundings clearly—the two escape boats had been completely destroyed, the sea was stained red with blood, and the bodies of the three Hunters were nowhere to be found, probably having drifted far away.
So much happened that night, but we made it through safely, albeit with some close calls.
After tidying up and having breakfast, the Challenger team continued their journey eastward, facing the rising sun.