167: Chapter 167 Who is the Demon?
"He... he just left?" Dean stared wide-eyed, pointing at the spot where Qin Ming had vanished. "Without even saying another word of goodbye?"
Sam spread his hands helplessly. "It seems so."
"Wait." Dean suddenly realized a grave problem. He whipped his head around, shouting at the empty air, "Hey! Boss! You dragged us all the way to Louisiana, and now you just pat your butt and leave? How the hell are we supposed to get back?! Our car is still parked on the street back there!"
There was no response, only Megan's muffled sobbing.
Sam sighed and walked to the door. "Looks like we'll have to find a car or try our luck hitchhiking on the highway."
No sooner had he spoken.
"Zzz—"
In the corner of the living room, a dusty old CRT television suddenly emitted a burst of electrical static.
Immediately after, the black screen suddenly lit up, emitting a pale, blinding light.
Dean and Sam were instantly alert, both reaching for their lower backs.
The next second.
Two pale, skeletal, and ice-cold palms suddenly reached out from the television screen without warning.
The hands moved with incredible speed, accurately grabbing Dean and Sam by their jacket collars.
"What the hell is this!" Dean was shocked and was about to transform.
Dean and Sam only felt their vision go dark.
"Thud! Thud!"
Two muffled sounds.
Dean and Sam fell heavily onto the hard asphalt road.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Dean was dazed from the fall. He pushed himself up from the ground and cursed, "Damn it!"
Before his cursing finished, he looked up and saw the familiar black car body in front of him.
It was the Chevrolet Impala they had parked on the street.
Dean rubbed his sore neck and walked around his beloved car. After confirming that not even a bit of paint was scratched, he let out a long sigh of relief.
"Alright." Dean patted the hood and smirked. "The method was a bit rough, but this kid's after-sales service is truly impeccable. Five-star review."
Sam opened the passenger door and sat inside. While straightening his crumpled clothes, he turned to look at his brother.
"Where to next, Dean?"
Dean pulled open the car door and slid into the driver's seat with agile movements.
He took the car keys from his pocket, expertly inserted them into the ignition, and gave them a sharp turn.
"Vroom—!"
The old-fashioned V8 engine let out a powerful, low growl, like a black panther being awakened.
Dean gripped the steering wheel and glanced at the rearview mirror.
In the mirror, deep within his pupils, a faint spark of dark red, violent fire flickered.
"Where to?" Dean shifted gears, a reckless, roguish smile typical of a hunter appearing on his face.
He suddenly slammed his foot on the gas.
"Exorcising demons while bringing Dad back, of course."
The black Impala's tires screeched against the road, creating a cloud of white smoke. Accompanied by the roar of the engine, it merged into the bustling yet treacherous night.
The space distorted slightly.
Qin Ming appeared directly in his bedroom.
Before he could take off his jacket, the bedroom doorknob turned with a click.
Emma pushed the door open and walked in, wearing a pair of cotton children's pajamas.
"Where have you been all day?" Emma closed the door behind her, her eyes fixed on Qin Ming.
"Went for a strawberry sundae, but didn't get any." Qin Ming casually tossed his jacket onto a chair and collapsed straight onto the large bed, letting out a long sigh.
Emma walked to the bedside, looked down at him, and raised an eyebrow. "Who was so blind as to not even let you have a sundae?"
"A bartender at some crappy bar. Not only did he not serve my strawberry sundae, he even kicked me out." Qin Ming rested his hands behind his head, his tone flat.
Hearing this, a morbid and extremely sweet smile curled at the corners of Emma's mouth. "That person will definitely have nightmares."
"He already has." Qin Ming rolled over. "I took something from him and left a bit of psychological trauma for the bartender in his shop. Alright, I'm tired. Going to sleep. Bye-bye."
Seeing this, Emma didn't ask further. "Goodnight, brother."
The door was gently closed.
The next morning.
Sunlight spilled through the window onto the dining table.
Robert was in the kitchen frying eggs with burnt edges, rambling about the meetings he had today.
Qin Ming bit into a piece of toasted bread, slung on his backpack, and headed out the door.
After walking two blocks and turning past a traffic light.
A flashy black convertible sports car braked sharply at the roadside, the tires screeching against the asphalt.
The door opened, and Lucifer, wearing a crisp Armani custom suit, strode onto the sidewalk and blocked Qin Ming's path.
Qin Ming stopped.
Lucifer looked down at the kid with the backpack, his eyes full of frustration and anger.
"It's you, isn't it?" Lucifer shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned forward, his presence intensely oppressive. "The one who stole my wings and scared my bartender into washing his brain with hand sanitizer and getting hospitalized—that was you too, right?"
Qin Ming looked up at him and silently swallowed the toast in his mouth.
"I don't know." Qin Ming blinked his clear, big eyes. "Who are you, mister? Don't block my way to school; I'm going to be late."
Lucifer's eyes twitched at being called "mister."
"Still playing dumb?" Lucifer gritted his teeth and moved half a step closer. "Yesterday afternoon on that street, that nauseating scent of Dad's was definitely coming from you!"
Lucifer had spent half the night tracing the remnants of the divine aura before finally locking onto this elementary schooler.
This made him feel greatly insulted.
Qin Ming didn't respond.
His gaze bypassed Lucifer and landed on the female detective, Chloe, who had arrived behind him.
Qin Ming immediately took two steps back. "Officer Chloe!" Qin Ming shouted. "This person is so scary! He's blocking me and won't let me leave!"
Chloe came over, pulled Qin Ming behind her, and looked at Lucifer warily.
"Lucifer, what kind of madness is this?" Chloe's brow furrowed. "What are you doing to a child?"
Lucifer grew anxious and pointed at Qin Ming behind Chloe, shouting, "Chloe, don't be fooled by his appearance! He's the one who broke into the warehouse and stole my wings!"
The air was silent for three seconds.
Chloe looked at Lucifer as if he were an idiot.
"Lucifer, did you get too high last night and haven't sobered up yet?" Chloe took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. "Are you telling me that you're now accusing this child of breaking into a gang-guarded territory alone, bypassing security, and running off with those damn wings of yours?"
Lucifer was left speechless. "No, he must have used some kind of supernatural means..."