Chapter 148: Live Streaming the Hunt

Chapter 148: Live Streaming the Hunt

"Just call me directly if there's anything you need in the future."

Lu Qian had thought Lu Xiaozhao would come up with some constructive suggestions, but it turned out he was here for this trivial matter.

Lu Xiaozhao whined, then remembered something and asked, "Brother, all the gold watches in our warehouse were sold out last time. Should we restock?"

Lu Qian always found Lu Xiaozhao to be a bit of a fool, not looking much like him either. He suspected his parents had picked him up from a dumpster, and with this thought, he lifted his eyelids to look at him. "Those money-losing items were finally sold off. I'd have to be crazy to restock. Mechanical watches are all the rage now. Who in their right mind would buy a big gold watch? If they get stuck with it, will you take responsibility?"

But Lu Xiaozhao suddenly leaned in excitedly. "Brother, no, there are so many people online asking for the same demon-repelling watch you have!! We'll lose out if we don't sell them!"

Stunned for a moment by this revelation, Lu Qian asked, "What?"

He himself found the watch to be disgustingly tacky. Who would buy such a thing?

Lu Xiaozhao urged, "Log into your live streaming account and you'll see. I only found out when I came back."

Since defeating the female ghost at the noodle shop, Lu Qian had been busy recuperating and hadn't had time for live streaming. He turned on his computer and tried several times before remembering his password and logging in.

As soon as Lu Qian opened the app, he saw that his inbox was nearly bursting with 999+ private messages, all similar in content, uniformly begging for the same demon-repelling watch. They asked when he would put it back on sale, and some even offered ten times the price. The rest of the messages were filled with exaggerated flattery.

Lu Xiaozhao chattered away beside him, unable to hide his excitement. "Brother, you didn't know, but a video of a noodle shop owner surviving an encounter with a wanderer in the middle of the night went viral. During his live stream, he said he owed his survival to buying your demon-repelling watch. You killed the female ghost in his shop with style!! Now everyone wants the same watch!"

Lu Qian stared blankly. "? ? ?"

He wasn't sure if he had a natural knack for trending topics, but since registering his account, he hadn't live-streamed many times, yet each time he ended up on the hot list. Even during this period when he hadn't touched his computer, the top trend was still related to him.

Lu Xiaozhao maneuvered the mouse and clicked on the first video in the trending list. It was a slightly blurry surveillance footage clip, accompanied by crude narration, with virtually no technical merit. Yet, its views numbered over three million. The title was particularly eye-catching:

#About That Time I Met a Wanderer at Midnight and Survived#

In the normal world, the impact of this text was equivalent to #About That Time I Met a Monster at Midnight and Was Saved by Ultraman#. It was absurd and ridiculous in every way.

Many netizens' first reaction upon seeing the title was "Too far-fetched," for ordinary people encountering wanderers meant certain death, unless they were armed or had special abilities. But despite their skepticism, they couldn't resist clicking in.

The video was clearly extracted from surveillance footage, so blurry that faces were unrecognizable. It showed the noodle shop owner inviting a young man inside to avoid the rain after closing, when someone knocked on the door.

At this point, the video split into two screens. On the left was the scene inside the shop, and on the right, outside. Through the external surveillance camera, netizens could clearly see a black-haired female ghost standing quietly outside. Her face, white like peeling plaster, and her dark, empty eyes were eerily terrifying under the blurred surveillance quality, set against the backdrop of lightning and thunder, making viewers' hair stand on end. The chat was filled with screams.

"Holy shit! They actually met a wanderer, is the boss still alive?!!!"

"This female ghost looks so familiar!! Isn't she the one who killed Hammer Brother and Little Lu?!!"

Seeing this comment, Lu Qian's eyelids twitched, his head full of question marks. When did he get killed by a female ghost??

This comment sparked a realization among netizens, who excitedly followed up:

"Brother! You've got sharp eyes, she's the wanderer who came in to kill! Hammer Brother and Little Lu are gone, how did the noodle shop owner survive?! Could he be some kind of master in disguise?"

"The greatest masters hide in plain sight. I'm reminded of the Sweeping Monk; the more powerful someone is, the less remarkable they seem."

As netizens speculated wildly, the "master" they spoke of, the shop owner, had already opened the roller shutter and faced the female ghost. In the video, he was seen scrambling back in terror. As the ghost's red tongue was about to wrap around his neck, a bolt of lightning suddenly intervened.

"Zzzzzt—!"

No one expected that the one to act would be the young man quietly eating dumplings nearby. A golden demon-repelling sword appeared in his hand, and he engaged the female ghost in battle in the cramped restaurant, causing viewers' hearts to race. When the man pierced the ghost's skull with his sword, shattering her spirit, the screen was filled with dense chat messages, the netizens' shock almost palpable.

"Holy shit!!! He's a special ability user?!!! The boss was incredibly lucky, having a special ability user in his shop!!!"

"I thought the boss was a hidden king, but the most powerful one was eating dumplings next to him!"

"The boss reaped what he sowed!"

"This guy is so damn cool!! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!"

"In short, impressive!!!"

The video ended with a selfie from the noodle shop owner. Wearing a flour-covered apron and a gold necklace around his neck, he proudly waved the gold watch on his wrist, his voice rough and hearty.

"That day, I was lucky to meet Streamer Little Lu. Otherwise, I would have been eaten by the female ghost. I owe him an apology; I cursed him for selling fake goods before. This demon-repelling watch really does bring safety. He left in a hurry that day without giving me a chance to thank him. Remember to come to my shop for dumplings next time, free for life!"

The noodle shop owner loved live streaming in his spare time, his homepage filled with chatter and snippets of daily life. He probably posted the video casually, barely editing it, yet it unexpectedly became a hit on the platform, topping the hot list for days.

Little did he know, his final words stunned the netizens. Someone asked uncertainly,

"Streamer Little Lu? Is the Little Lu he mentioned the one I'm thinking of??"

"Mentioning the demon-repelling watch, it's likely true. My god, I thought Brother Little Lu had been killed by the female ghost long ago since he hadn't streamed for so long, but he's still alive?!"

"QAQ Isn't the key point that he has special abilities and can kill ghosts? Holy shit, no wonder Brother Little Lu is so cocky, he's got the skills to back it up!!"

"Ahhhhhh! Men who can kill ghosts are so damn cool!!"

"(Strangling myself) Where can I buy his demon-repelling watch, quick!! Put up the link ahhhhh!!"

"Once, a six-hour gold watch was placed before me, but I didn't cherish it. Now, I'm willing to pay sixty hours, but it's already sold out (thunderbolt)"

Lu Qian skimmed through the comments, finally understanding what had happened. He asked incredulously, "Why do netizens say I'm dead? Who spread the news?"

Lu Xiaozhao whispered, tattling. "Brother, you haven't been online during this time. Some unscrupulous marketing account said you were killed by the female ghost. Many fans mourned and sent chrysanthemums in your comment section. No matter how the noodle shop owner explained, they wouldn't believe him. Go live now!"

Lu Qian replied, "...Why should I go live?"

To prove he wasn't dead?

Lu Xiaozhao stated matter-of-factly, "Of course to sell watches. With your current popularity, you've broken eighty thousand followers. Selling products would be a piece of cake!"

Lu Yan pondered for a moment but declined: "We can talk about selling the watch later."

Netizens were drawn to the demon-repelling watch, but Lu Yan knew better than anyone whether it could actually repel demons. The noodle shop owner's incident was at most a coincidence. He and Xiao Zhao had been so poor that they couldn't afford meals, which was why they sold fake goods out of desperation. Now that they had more financial leeway, there was no need to resort to deceit.

More importantly, what if their livestreaming side gig was discovered by their benefactor?

Don't be fooled by Phantom only hiring him for companionship; Lu Yan could swear on all his assets that this person had a heart smaller than a needle's point. They didn't even allow others' numbers in his phone, let alone seeing him livestreaming and selling goods elsewhere. It would be a matter of seconds before he lost his meal ticket.

Lu Yan casually grabbed a pack of cigarettes, nonchalantly placing one between his lips. "Now that we have an audience, let's do some legitimate business. Do you really plan to deceive people for the rest of your life?"

Xiao Zhao scratched his head. "Brother, but I don't know how to do anything except deceive people."

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Yan made a decision. "Since netizens like watching wanderers, why don't we start a new account and livestream hunting wanderers at night? What do you think?"

Xiao Zhao's legs went weak at the suggestion, causing him to fall to the ground in fright. Stuttering, he said, "T-this...this is too dangerous, isn't it?!"

Lu Yan asked, "Just tell me, will people watch or not?"

At the question, Xiao Zhao instantly perked up, his eyes shining. "Of course people will watch; it's so exciting. But brother, why don't we use our current account and register a new one instead?"

Lu Yan dismissed the question with a casual response. "My account has been used for fishing; I'm afraid it might be discovered."

The main reason was that the username was too lowbrow, and he had previously livestreamed selling fake goods. It was better to start a new account from scratch. After all, his skills were evident, and he wasn't worried about attracting fans.

Xiao Zhao couldn't help feeling guilty. Lowering his head, he whispered, "Brother, it's all my fault. You work so hard every day, yet I can't help you with anything..."

Lu Yan ruffled his hair. "Who says you can't help? Tonight, while I hunt wanderers, you'll livestream and hold the camera beside me. Remember to make me look handsome, okay?"

Xiao Zhao was taken aback. "!!!"

...

As everyone knows, Devil City is synonymous with poverty and chaos. However, many years ago, before Sky City appeared, it once boasted the most prosperous streets and skyscrapers. The ruins of those buildings stood silently in the darkness, their endless rooftops and fallen signboards silently narrating the cruelty of time.

Traveling straight northwest, the outermost area was known as the Contaminated Zone, where the city's lowest rungs gathered—homeless, murderers, robbers. They were like packs of hyenas and vultures, swarming at the scent of blood.

Wanderers feared the sun and thus roamed at night, while they were demons unafraid of sunlight.

Xiao Zhao carried the livestreaming equipment, trembling as he walked down the deserted street. The dilapidated buildings around him seemed particularly menacing in the darkness. Cold winds wailed through, emitting sounds akin to ghostly cries.

Xiao Zhao was almost in tears. "Brother, why do we have to livestream here? Wouldn't it be enough to just walk around the streets downstairs? I've heard that the Contaminated Zone is full of vicious criminals. If we encounter a robber, we're done for."

Lu Yan calmly walked ahead. "If you're not afraid of wanderers, why fear robbers?"

Their neighborhood was generally peaceful, with wanderers appearing infrequently. Since they were going to livestream today, they might as well go big. Lu Yan's abilities had reached the third stage, and he had ample points. Self-preservation should be more than sufficient.

Despite Xiao Zhao's small courage, he loved parkour in his free time, scaling walls and jumping over buildings effortlessly—a natural outdoor cameraman.

Xiao Zhao muttered, "Humans are the scariest when they kill each other. Wanderers don't have as many devious tricks as humans."

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow and countered, "How so? Are you not human?"

Xiao Zhao replied, "I'm a college student."

Lu Yan responded with a pause. "Alright then."

In the past, they had been online fraudsters. Appearing on camera was too risky, so they wore masks. Dressed in black at midnight, they looked scarier than ghosts from afar.

Xiao Zhao spent a long time selecting a suitable location to start the livestream. He set up the equipment and turned on the fill light, aiming it at the nearby skyscraper. Directly opposite was an abandoned amusement park, with roller coaster tracks sprawling in the sky and a Ferris wheel reduced to a mere silhouette. One could still faintly discern its former glory.

It was said that this was the highest landmark in Devil City. When the morning sun rose, the dim sky contrasted against the endless ruins, creating a sense of despair akin to the end of the world. This attracted many bloggers to check in, but only during the day. Those who came at night were mostly dead.

At nine o'clock in the evening, Lu Yan opened the livestream using his newly registered account. His title was simple and explosive—

"Nighttime Hunt for Wanderers in the Contaminated Zone, Dare You Come?"

Who was so audacious?!

This was the thought that popped into many netizens' minds upon seeing the title. They subconsciously checked the ID and found a new streamer named "Demon Exorcist," whom they had never seen before. Was this just a ploy to attract attention and gain popularity?

Many netizens rolled up their sleeves and clicked into the livestream, ready to give the streamer a virtual beating and teach them a lesson. However, before they could unleash their criticism, what greeted their eyes was the landmark Ferris wheel of the Contaminated Zone, right next to the abandoned Sun Building. Their jaws dropped in shock—

Holy crap, this streamer actually went to the Contaminated Zone?!

A flurry of "666" comments flooded the screen.

"Dude, you're amazing. You dare to go to such a dangerous place; you're not afraid of being eaten by wanderers."

"I advise the streamer to hurry home. The Contaminated Zone isn't a joke. There are many vicious criminals inside. If they encounter someone alone, they'll grab them and cook them to eat. Starving people will do anything."

"To gain popularity, you're risking your life. You're so stupid that I can't bear to watch."

"One can only say that your courage is commendable."

The comment section was overwhelmingly pessimistic. However, the streamer never revealed their face. Instead, they stood aside, stretching their arms and legs, seemingly warming up for the hunt. Dressed in black, they wore an incredibly tacky gold watch on their wrist, which nearly blinded viewers under the fill light.

Some viewers stared at the screen for a long time before realizing something was amiss:

"Hold on, this gold watch...it looks so familiar???"

"Holy crap, it's the demon-repelling watch! This hand looks too much like Xiao Lu's, doesn't it?!"

"It can't be. Doesn't he already have an account? Why use a new one for the livestream? Could it be that the new streamer is deliberately riding on his popularity?"

As the comment section buzzed with speculation, Lu Yan noticed that the number of viewers in the livestream was sufficient. Finally, he greeted the camera:

"Hello, I'm Streamer Xiao Lu. Today, I'm doing an outdoor livestream challenge to see if I can hunt a wanderer in the Contaminated Zone before dawn. The game is about to begin."

If netizens had any doubts about the identity of this new streamer before, when Lu Yan's voice came out, those who had watched his previous streams immediately recognized him. The comment section erupted in a wave of excited screams:

"Aaah! He's that esper who's been trending for the past two days! QAQ I was too narrow-minded; with such incredible abilities, what's the big deal about venturing into a contaminated zone!"

"It's really Xiao Lu with his eight-pack abs, the noodle shop guy's savior!!"

"Husband, why aren't you in bed with me at this late hour, but instead running off to such a dangerous place like the contaminated zone (angry)"

"Xiao Lu, aren't you selling watches anymore?! I've been waiting to get my hands on one of your demon-repelling watches!"

News travels fast online, especially since Lu Yan has recently been in the spotlight. When word got out about his midnight live stream hunting wanderers, the number of viewers in his live stream skyrocketed at an alarming rate. Netizens showered him with gifts and rewards, the screen filled with dazzling effects that dazzled the eyes.

Compared to his previous two lucky breaks that brought him fame, this time, Lu Yan had truly established a fan base. As he signaled Xiao Zhao to carry the equipment and follow him, he walked deeper into the contaminated zone. The sound of his sneakers crunching over the uneven rubble path was unusually loud.

Before coming here, Lu Yan had done his homework. He clipped a microphone to his collar, ready to narrate for his audience: "We're now inside the contaminated zone. If we keep going forward, we'll reach the famous Blackstone Street. Many bloggers have come here to check in, and they all claim to have encountered wanderers, and..."

Before Lu Yan could finish his sentence, a sudden commotion of footsteps echoed above them. Out of nowhere, several mysterious figures appeared on the rooftop of a nearby building. They leaped across the roofs at breakneck speed, leaving only afterimages behind, making their presence particularly jarring in the empty contaminated zone.

Lu Yan paused abruptly, thinking they might be wanderers. However, through the high-definition lens of the camera, he clearly saw that these people were wearing crisp black military uniforms, with guns holstered at their waists, exuding an air of discipline and seriousness, like a well-trained squad.

Strange, wasn't it said that no one dared to set foot in the contaminated zone at night?

Just as Lu Yan was pondering this, someone in the comment section posted:

"They seem to be an esper team from Sky City. They all have stars on their shoulder patches, so they're probably at least second-stage espers. Broadcaster, maybe you should move to another location. They don't allow civilians around when they hunt espers. It wouldn't be good if you got caught in the crossfire."

Espers also had ranks. While humans were still figuring out how to activate their esper abilities, second-stage espers were already extraordinary beings in the eyes of ordinary people. The netizens weren't aware of Lu Yan's strength; they just instinctively felt it would be better not to provoke this group.