Chapter 12 What Did You Say To Him

• Lincoln spoke somewhat ambiguously as if there was a hidden message in his words, which I didn't quite grasp.
• Chelsea has hematophobia?
• That is simply ridiculous!
• She looked so fierce when confronting Lilith last night. How can she be afraid of blood?
• But since Old Mr. Zeller had said so, he surely wasn't just saying for nothing. I'll just have to stay alert.
• Without giving it much thought, I unwrapped the cloth pouch he had given me.
• Inside the cloth pouch, there were calligraphy brushes, cinnabar, and several stacks of blank talisman paper. The preparation was quite thorough.
• I once again pulled out that book from my embrace, flipping through it with a heavy heart.
• If things were really as Lincoln suggested, then I was determined to thoroughly study this book no matter what.
• From that day on, my life became simpler.
• During the day at Macroflora Hall, after cleaning, I began practicing the peculiar symbols and strange patterns from that book. Lincoln told me that the book contained some runes and special formations. He hadn't read the book, yet he was able to guide me on some techniques for drawing the runes.
• To put it simply, it was all about the unity of spirit, energy, and soul. While drawing runes, one absolutely couldn't afford to be distracted or multitask; otherwise, the success rate would be extremely low.
• In the evenings, I would return to the condominium. Once it got dark, I seldom ventured out, preferring to stay indoors drawing or watching television.
• My days were simple, and Chelsea's days were even more so.
• During the day, she mostly stayed at home, languidly passing the time. However, she would perk up as evening approached. Every night, she would venture out for an hour or two, maintaining a consistent routine.
• She didn't have many friends, nor did she have a job. She was a complete homebody.
• Over the course of a month, we gradually became familiar with each other, and I was occasionally able to share a few laughs with her. Of course, it was inevitable that she would often tease me, leaving me flustered many times. It seemed as if my composure crumbled in her presence. She seemed to take great delight in this, treating the act of teasing me as a daily pastime to alleviate her boredom, which left me feeling quite helpless.
• Over the course of that month, I made remarkable strides in my rune-drawing abilities. I successfully created several distinct types of runes, much to Lincoln's surprise. He openly acknowledged my unique talent.
• During that month, Lilith never showed up, and there were moments when I couldn't help but miss her. The man who had caused me trouble at the hotel previously also vanished, making my days pass by peacefully.
• On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as per usual, I left the traditional medicine clinic in the evening and returned to the condominium.
• Tonight was the night of reunion, a time I used to spend with my grandfather in the past years. This year, however, I was left alone.
• Back at the condominium, I found Chelsea still lounging on the couch, engrossed in her TV show. With a smile, I suggested, “Chelsea, it's Mid-Autumn Festival today. How about we go out for a meal?”
• Chelsea narrowed her eyes at me, her expression a mix of amusement and curiosity as she asked, “Does this count as a date? Are you trying to hit on me?”
• The smile on my face became somewhat forced. I shook my head helplessly, just about to say something when Chelsea suddenly sprang up from the couch, swiftly retreating into her own room.
• “Let me change my clothes!”
• Not long after, Chelsea, dressed casually, emerged from her room. With an air of confidence, she hooked her arm through mine and said with a smile, “Let's go!”
• The softness against my arm sent an unexpected ripple through my heart. Instinctively, I tried to withdraw my arm, but she held onto me tightly.
• “What's the matter? Are you afraid your wife will misunderstand?” Chelsea's eyes flashed with mischief as she spoke. “Or do you think I'm too ugly and I can't be seen with you in public?”
• I gave a bitter smile, choosing not to say anything more.
• After leaving the condominium, we headed toward the commercial street in the city center.
• The shops lining the streets were brightly lit and festooned with decorations, attracting a large crowd of pedestrians. Among them, there were quite a few couples like Chelsea and me, walking together in an intimate manner. Although I felt a bit awkward inside, my body was honest. The envious and jealous gazes from some passersby made me feel somewhat elated.
• Just like a couple, we spent a considerable amount of time strolling around the commercial street before eventually stepping into a rather upscale restaurant.
• Normally, I would never step foot into a restaurant like this because my wallet was rather thin.
• But that day was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and having a beautiful companion by my side made it worth splurging a bit.
• A meal that cost several hundred had indeed left a dent in my wallet. However, what struck me as odd was that Chelsea didn't seem to be particularly interested in the food here. She merely tasted a little of everything, but she did drink quite a bit of alcohol.
• After a hearty meal and drinks, Chelsea and I, slightly tipsy, left the restaurant. We were joking and laughing as we headed toward the condominium.
• As we approached the condominium complex, Chelsea's steps faltered slightly. With an enigmatic smile playing on her face, she turned to look back.
• “You've been following us all the way? Aren't you tired?”
• Hearing Chelsea say this, I was taken aback for a moment. I quickly turned my head to look.
• A man was leaning under a large tree by the side of the road.
• It was the same middle-aged man who had attacked me at the hotel a month ago. He was looking at us with a chilling gaze, his face slightly twisted in a menacing manner.
• However, he didn't approach us. His gaze, as it fell upon Chelsea, bore a distinct wariness as if he knew better than to mess with her.
• “Kid, did your grandfather give you a book before he disappeared?” The middle-aged man's voice was deep and stern. “Hand that book over to me, and I assure you, I won't bother you again!”
• A chill ran through my heart when I heard that.
• A month ago, while at the burial clothing shop, a girl in red had approached me, claiming to want something that my grandfather possessed, which likely referred to this book I was currently holding.
• Lincoln had mentioned that this book was tied up in some significant matters. Even though I wasn't sure what exactly the book was implicated in, I was definitely not going to hand it over to this guy so easily.
• I was on high alert, nerves strung tight, my hand subconsciously slipping into my pocket.
• During that month, I meticulously crafted several talismans. However, I hadn't put them to the test yet, so I wasn't sure about their effectiveness against him.
• At that very moment, Chelsea, who was by my side, smiled. Her smile carried a hint of mischievous charm.
• In an instant, she vanished from my side.
• Immediately after, I heard the outraged roar of that middle-aged man.
• Chelsea, traversing a distance of ten or so meters, had already appeared before the middle-aged man like a phantom.
• Her hand clamped directly onto the middle-aged man's throat. The man struggled, but he couldn't break free.
• It seemed Chelsea had said something, but I couldn't make it out from this distance. The middle-aged man's struggling movements suddenly froze, and the surprise and anger on his face quickly turned into sheer terror. As he looked at Chelsea, it was as if he saw something extremely horrifying.
• Subsequently, Chelsea released the middle-aged man. The man, too terrified to utter a sound, turned and ran, disappearing into the darkness.
• Fortunately, there weren't many people around at that time. Otherwise, the ghostly speed at which Chelsea had just moved could have frightened quite a few.
• Curiosity piqued, I turned to Chelsea, asking, “What on earth did you say to him? How did you manage to scare him like that?”