Chapter 711 - 711: Lena
"Those who kill should be prepared to be killed. Yet politicians in your world are such cowards. They will run at the first sign of trouble. Well, not like my world is any different."
Mingyue said with a sigh.
Even in sects, there were always cowardly figures who rose only because of their bootlicking skill.
Alex raised his finger, and an ember of flame appeared.
"At least, with power like this, those bootlickers will never rise to the real top."
Only those who dared to risk their life again and again could reach the peak of power.
This was an irrefutable truth. No matter where everyone started, those who feared would never grow in strength.
"Cultivators call that an inner demon," Mingyue said.
Facing one's own fear was one of the things that blocked progress. Those who failed to do this could even fall into a state of qi deprivation.
Mingyue then looked toward the window and watched the people walking on the road. "Still, even without power, it does not mean people are powerless to change things. It is just that they are not obsessed enough to change it."
"Obsession, huh..." Alex looked toward the people. Some were busy taking videos while the police did their job at the crime scene.
Others were still busy with their own daily lives, only giving it a glance before moving on.
"In your view, which one is more important, talent or obsession?" Alex asked.
Mingyue's eyes turned nostalgic.
"When I first started cultivating, my uncle trained me hard and gave me no time to do anything else.
At that time, everything in my life was for cultivation.
Even though my goal back then was to make them proud of me, it could also be called obsession."
She went silent for a moment, then continued.
"If someone asked me now whether my current result came from talent or obsession, then the answer would be a mix of both.
But if I could only choose one, I would choose obsession.
Without it, no matter how much talent you have, it will all be worthless."
She had seen a lot of heaven-chosen from other sects. They might train a lot and have heavenly talent, yet they still were not obsessed with it.
Only doing what was given to them.
Alex turned silent for a moment as his brain analyzed all kinds of scenarios, then sighed.
"You're right. Even if someone is born without skill or talent, those obsessed with becoming powerful will find a way.
Possessing other bodies, sacrificing other souls, demonic cultivation, dark magic, or whatever people call it, in the end it all comes from obsession to do anything to reach their goal."
Mingyue nodded, then her eyes suddenly turned sharp.
"That woman. Did you feel it?"
Alex focused his senses toward the crowd, and his eyes also narrowed. "It's faint, but she smells like one."
"A vampire? It seems what happened is really related to them," Mingyue mumbled.
They then went back to talking about small things while their senses never left the woman.
The woman had black hair tied behind her back and a calm face that looked ordinary at first glance.
In her hand was a small recording device, while a press badge hung from her neck.
She moved through the crowd naturally, like a real reporter trying to get the first story.
The woman stopped near the police line and showed her badge.
"Lena Vorin, City Seven News."
One of the police officers looked at her and frowned. "We're still investigating. No comment for now."
Lena nodded like she understood, while her black eyes gleaming in red.
But the change is so subtle that everyone around her fail to detect it.
"Of course. I only want to calm the public a little. People around here are already scared.
Some of them are saying this is related to the Black Nail gang. Is there any truth to that?"
The officer's expression moved slightly.
It was only a tiny change, but Alex caught it at once.
Mind suggestion, one of the signature skill of vampire race.
Other may think this is mind trick, but in reality it's more than that.
It's like spread a virus that inject tought directly into someone soul.
The scary part is usually this skill have many weakness, and won't work for cultivator as they could recognize any change on their soul trough their inner world.
Yet somehow she could do it perfectly.
This alone make Alex and MingYue realize they couldn't underestimate her.
The officer crossed his arms. "We did catch some Black Nail members in this district before."
Lena nodded and quickly recorded it.
"So there were already criminal gang traces in this area before today."
"I didn't say that's the cause," the officer replied at once.
"Of course." Lena gave a polite smile. "Only that it is one possible direction."
Mingyue's eyes turned colder. "This is absurd."
Alex nodded.
With just that conversation, she had already completely infected the police officer's soul.
Soon the police would start thinking in that direction. Then the witnesses would repeat it. After that, the public would believe it.
Another officer came over, and Lena turned toward him naturally.
"Officer, some residents told me they saw suspicious men near the alley before the incident. Were they gang members?"
The second officer frowned. "We are checking all possibilities."
Lena gave a small nod, then asked again, "So gang retaliation is not ruled out?"
This time the officer did not answer directly, but his silence was enough.
Lena lowered her recorder and let out a smile.
Then she turned toward two bystanders nearby.
"Please stay calm. The police are already looking into gang activity in the area."
One of the bystanders widened his eyes. "Gang? I knew it. This district has been getting worse."
The other person also nodded. "Must be those Black Nail bastards again."
Mingyue looked at Alex. "With a single tough of her that policeman is doomed."
"Yes. This is not normal mindtrick skill. Even for vampire standard, it's too absurd."
A single talk than she could easily took over a cultivator of trscendent stage, controlling their mind, life and death without they even realizing it.
"I wonder what happen If she trigger that dark seed in the policeman soul. Will he mutate to soul golem?"
Lena then walked a little farther and began speaking into her recorder again.
"Based on current witness statements and local police direction, today's incident may be tied to criminal gang conflict in the lower district..."
Alex almost laughed. "She already decided the truth for them."
Mingyue gave a cold snort. "Let's move."