Netherworld Retrograde

14: Chapter 7 Human Trafficking_2 14: Chapter 7 Human Trafficking_2 She drove a rugged off-road vehicle, its jet-black body resembling a slumbering giant beast.

Just the vehicle’s height alone was probably over two meters, while Cheese stood at an estimated height of about one and a half meters.

Her petite frame seemed somewhat mismatched with the vehicle.

At this moment, she was waving at Li Yelai.

The combination of a beautiful woman and a large vehicle turned heads of pedestrians passing by.

“I thought you’d drive a sedan or sports car,” Li Yelai commented as he climbed into the passenger seat.

“How could I?

Imagine if during a chase, we encountered a road in poor condition—the chassis would get smashed to pieces.

Processors often drive these types of vehicles,” Cheese seriously inquired, “Are you sure the curse hasn’t been triggered right now?”

“Definitely not, I just passed someone’s balcony, and no potted plants fell,” Li Yelai replied with equal seriousness, nodding his head.

“You’ve even figured out the rules?

You’re really unlucky to be hit by this curse,” Cheese complained, then stepped on the accelerator.

Soon, the two arrived near the East City Branch but did not immediately enter the branch.

Instead, they entered an indoor swimming pool on the ground level.

Li Yelai was puzzled.

Didn’t they say they were going to train on Spiritual Barriers?

Why come here?

Were they supposed to learn to swim before training barriers?

The next second, he saw Cheese taking off her sweatshirt and pants, revealing a white swimsuit that hugged her delicate body beneath.

The pristine swimsuit accentuated impressive curves, also making her skin appear even whiter.

Li Yelai couldn’t help but stare.

“Don’t fall for me, okay?

Several other newbies are being trained too, and you’re the slowest, so I’m going to give you some special coaching,” Cheese said to Li Yelai, passing him a swimsuit with a playful comment, “Now, get undressed.”

After speaking, she sat on a beach chair by the side, watching Li Yelai with the demeanor of a rich woman observing a male model.

“To strip here, that’ll cost you extra,” Li Yelai quipped, making sure not to let the female thug get away with too much.

He found a changing room to put on the swimsuit and came out asking, “Didn’t we say we were going to train on Spiritual Barriers?”

“This is part of the training,” Cheese said casually, sitting back on the beach chair, her fingers interlocked on her fair abdomen, “A Spiritual Barrier is a protection reflexively released by a Spiritual Ability User’s subconscious.

You need to train this subconsciousness to transform it into an active ability in certain situations.

For example, if it starts raining now and you don’t want to get wet, what should you do?”

As soon as she finished speaking, a deluge of water jets sprayed from above in the venue.

Li Yelai was taken aback, only to realize the shower wasn’t wetting him at all.

There was an invisible barrier blocking it.

Droplets collected into streams on the barrier, flowing off it and revealing the round barrier.

Not a single drop touched Li Yelai.

“This is a Spiritual Barrier.

The moment I mentioned rain, your subconsciousness opened up a barrier to protect you—because it refuses to be drenched,” Cheese, also dry, continued from her seat, “Now, try not to refuse the raindrops, instead, think about wanting to take a shower.”

Take a shower?

Li Yelai pondered and nodded silently.

Soon the barrier vanished, and water showered down noisily upon him.

“Good, this is the most basic operation of a Spiritual Barrier, to refuse and accept.

Your will shall fortify or weaken the barrier’s strength,” Cheese went on, “and imagine at this moment, you are suddenly attacked…”

As she said this, she hurled a water vapor ball mixed with paint at Li Yelai.

A thought crossed his mind, and his Spiritual Barrier unfolded once again, creating a dry zone within the water curtain and successfully blocking the water ball’s attack.

The vivid red pigment spread on the barrier and got washed away by the water stream.

Cheese gave a slight nod, “But in sudden emergencies, your opponent won’t give you the chance to react.

Bullets are much faster than this.”

Indeed, if it were a bullet, he’d probably be hit before he could realize and ‘refuse.’ Unless his reaction was faster than the bullet!

“So…

I shouldn’t easily drop the Spiritual Barrier.

I need to stay in a state of refusal?” Li Yelai inquired.

“No, there will always be times when your subconsciousness accepts.

Those are dangerous moments; you must learn more refined techniques,” Cheese said, as she dispelled her own barrier.

Instantly, she was drenched by the rain, her wet hair cascading down, but she tossed a Water Ball above herself without looking.

Seconds later, the water ball burst midair, not hitting the rain-soaked Cheese but exploding in mid-flight.

Li Yelai understood the scene – Cheese was ‘accepting’ the rain while ‘refusing’ the Water Ball attack.

“That’s the more refined skill.

Once you master this, your safety increases significantly.

You won’t have to worry about being blindsided,” Cheese explained, “Now it’s about letting your subconscious discern what to refuse and what to accept.”

“To accept while also refusing?” Li Yelai contemplated and nodded slightly.

Then he let go of the Spiritual Barrier, and the rain drenched him once more, closing his eyes.

He recalled the Battlefield where he gained the Overlord Face.

Overlord cradled the dead Red Cloak woman in his arms, walking calmly amidst a sky full of flying arrows, plucking a fluttering flower and placing it beside the woman’s ear.

He re-experienced that feeling, the refusal and acceptance…

And Cheese, seeing Li Yelai with his eyes closed, nodded with considerable admiration.

This involved the subconscious, where using one’s eyes would actually be useless.

At that time, it had also taken her half a month to master this skill.

“I wonder how long he will need,” Cheese thought, while her hands swiftly threw several Water Balls.

The next second, Cheese’s eyes widened, and she involuntarily sat up straight.

Because, right before Li Yelai, who was still being drenched by the rain, the several Water Balls exploded out of nowhere.

Not a single droplet touched him!

She had only demonstrated it once!

Li Yelai had mastered this skill after just one demonstration?

Even the most talented ‘Doll’ had taken ten minutes to master it.

As she watched Li Yelai with his eyes closed, surprise was written all over Cheese’s face.

“Did I succeed?” Li Yelai asked with his eyes closed.

Cheese immediately put away her look of astonishment and calmly responded, “Very good, you’ve succeeded.

Remember this sensation and continue to refine it.”

Li Yelai opened his eyes and asked, looking at Cheese, “Is that considered fast?

Don’t you think ‘this child is terrifying, he must not be allowed to stay’?”

“Dead from laughter, even I passed it in one glance back in the day,” Cheese replied with a light huff.

“Oh…” Li Yelai scratched his head: “How much more progress do I need to catch up with the other new recruits?”

“Progress?

What progress do you need?” Cheese thought to herself with strong sarcasm.

The other new recruits had taken half a month, or even longer, to learn the skill, and you’ve got it in one go.

Why ask about progress?

Suppressing the sarcasm in her heart, Cheese unflinchingly and shamelessly said, “A great teacher produces an outstanding student.

I’ll help you surpass them all!”

…

So, when Cheese brought Li Yelai to find the instructor of this batch of new recruits, the instructor’s eyes nearly popped out.

‘How long?’ the instructor asked with meaningful glances.

Cheese silently held up a finger.

‘One hour?

Holy shit!

Almost catching up with Doll!’

Cheese thought about it but didn’t correct the instructor’s misunderstanding.

After all, when Yang Chen heard the report, he too thought she was bragging.

The instructor was internally surprised but remained expressionless.

He nodded slightly to Li Yelai and then turned to Cheese and said, “Good timing, we’re about to handle a missing child case.

Let’s go together.”

“A missing case requires so many Processors?” Cheese looked at the new recruits and asked, “And isn’t that the responsibility of the Guard Hall?”

“I can’t take new recruits to chase after Sufferers, right?

Not every new recruit has blood on their hands,” the instructor said, glancing at Li Yelai again and responding, “Plus, conveniently, one new recruit’s ability is the tracing of spiritual eyes imprints.

Let them get accustomed to missions early on.”

Saying this, he took out a photo.

In it was a delicate-looking little girl, about six or seven years old.

“She’s been missing for a whole day since yesterday, and the Guard Hall has checked many surveillance videos but hasn’t found her.

It’s suspected to be a kidnapping, but there’s no record of the girl’s entry or exit from Giant City.

She should still be within Giant City.”

As for Li Yelai, he looked at the photo as if he had seen this girl somewhere before.

After pondering carefully, he spoke, “I think, I’ve seen this girl.”

The instructor asked, “When, and where?”

“Yesterday evening, at the entrance of a small alley not far from my apartment complex.

A woman in her thirties was leading her by the hand,” Li Yelai recalled yesterday’s memory.

“Very good!” the instructor sneered, “The human trafficker can’t run now!”