Ke Xue exorcists demons and starts with immobilization

"It's my turn, it's my turn~"

Turning back, Xiao Lan, the martial arts fanatic, was already excitedly leaning over, ready to break the seal that had just been formed...

A few minutes later.

[Triggered the Golden Body set effect, Mana +1... Mana +1...]

The mana Chu Zhong had used to cast the immobilization spell was beginning to recover rapidly.

Ten minutes later, Chu Zhong, feeling slightly dizzy despite having fully recovered his magical power, helped the martial arts fanatic Xiao Lan and Yuanzi wrap themselves in the simple bathrobes provided by the hotel and escorted them back to their room.

Almost forgot, the martial arts fanatic Xiao Lan never knows how to restrain herself. Chu Zhong almost fainted from the high-speed heat wave, just like he did on the rooftop before.

However, in the multiplayer dungeon, even though the martial arts fanatic Xiaolan and the real-life Xiaolan shared the same body, things didn't go much better, and she ended up fainting.

After resting for a while, Chu Zhong recovered and remembered that he hadn't picked up his special items yet, so he went to the mixed-gender bathing area.

The mixed-gender bathing area, as the name suggests, is a hot spring where men and women bathe together.

However, when Chu Zhong entered, he found that only Kogoro and the other men were inside; he didn't see a single woman...

I shouldn't have had any strange expectations.

At this moment, everyone's faces were flushed from soaking in the water, and they were all making a bet: whoever couldn't resist getting up first would lose and have to treat everyone to barbecue that night.

A man is a boy until he dies...

Chu Zhong chuckled inwardly, then threw a freezing spell at everyone, silently blending into the crowd...

Chapter 158 Conan's Illness Returns

In the end, the chubby Jun Omura couldn't withstand the water temperature and was the first to come ashore, losing the race.

The rest of the people were also flushed from the heat. They left the hot spring, wiped off the water, and returned to the changing room to change into the simple yukatas provided by the hotel.

"Chu Zhong? When did you arrive?"

While changing clothes, the others finally noticed that there was one more person.

Chu Zhong only said that he went to the men's bath first, but didn't see anyone for a while, so he went to the mixed bath area, where everyone had already started the competition.

"Looks like we were so engrossed in our soaking that we didn't even notice there was one more person," said Kogoro, prompting the others to agree.

Little did they expect that Kogoro from the dungeon would be Chu Zhong's teammate.

Perhaps because he had been promoted to the leader level, Chu Zhong could sense that the adaptability of the virtual Kogoro was more reliable than that of the real Kogoro.

It gives off a Kogoro 'serious mode' vibe...

After changing into their yukatas, everyone, feeling unbearably hot, hurried to the rest room.

The lounge is located outside the hot spring area, with one side facing the hotel's backyard. It's the perfect place to relax and chat after soaking in the hot spring, and it's also the only way to get from the hot spring to your room.

When everyone arrived at the lounge, Horikoshi Yumi, Ayashiro Noriko, and Conan were sitting on the sofa enjoying the cool air.

As soon as Chu Zhong entered the lounge, he felt Conan's gaze fixed on him, and he looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Chu Zhong knew that Conan was bursting with curiosity, so he immediately looked away and ignored him.

However, while the others were relaxing and chatting, Conan still tactlessly joined in.

"When did Brother Chu go to the mixed bathing area?"

Conan looked like a curious child.

"none of your business?"

Chu Zhong found Conan's feigned innocence disgusting.

"...Because it's strange~"

Conan seemed not to understand human speech, and continued to say that after Chu Zhong said he was going to soak in a hot spring, he went to the men's bath first without even going back to his room.

After soaking in the men's bath for ten minutes without seeing anyone, Conan went to the mixed bath area, but still couldn't find Chu Zhong. So while Kogoro and the others went to soak in the hot spring, Conan started to wait in the lounge.

"So where exactly did Brother Chu go before? And how did he get to the mixed-gender bathing area?"

Conan questioned him under the guise of curiosity, looking at him as if he were a criminal.

"Heh~" Chu Zhong sneered, not answering the question at all.

He has a magic ability to freeze people in place, so how could Conan possibly observe his actions?

Furthermore, unlike the people in the Conan universe, he doesn't have the "must answer Conan's questions" mentality.

Since Conan is just looking for trouble...

Chu Zhong stood up, looking down at him: "Conan, are you having another episode because you're so concerned about my movements?"

"W-What illness?" Conan was stunned for a moment, clearly not understanding.

Chu Zhong coldly reminded him: "You're a scoundrel of spying and invading privacy! Tell me! Did you install listening devices in the bathroom or your room again?!"

Conan quickly shook his head, involuntarily recalling the time he was beaten at the villa, and his little body trembled.

"It'd better not be..." Chu Zhong sneered, "If I find you, I guarantee I won't let you off this time!"

Conan immediately swore to the heavens, "Absolutely not!"

"Whether it's there or not, we'll know by looking at the lockers." Chu Zhong said, grabbing Conan's wrist and heading towards the men's locker room.

Before soaking in the hot spring, one would put their clothes and personal belongings in a locker. Now that Conan is also wearing a yukata, naturally...

"woo woo woo woo--!"

Before he could take two steps, Conan suddenly burst into tears.

And it was clearly fake crying.

This immediately attracted the attention of the others, who all turned their gazes to the two of them.

Chu Zhong sneered inwardly, completely unfazed, and continued pulling Conan toward the men's locker room, saying, "I told you not to rush, my wallet is still in the locker. How am I going to buy snacks without money?"

Upon hearing this explanation, the others assumed that Conan, being a child, was simply being greedy, so they all turned back to continue chatting.

"No..." Conan wanted to say something more.

But Chu Zhong immediately cast a spell to immobilize him, silencing him.

Once the immobilization period ended, Chu Zhong had already dragged Conan into the men's locker room and grabbed the back of his neck with his large hand.

Her slender neck was completely gripped by a large hand, as if it could be snapped with a gentle twist.

"If you don't behave... hehe..."

Chu Zhong chuckled coldly twice.

"Waaah..." Conan let out a soft sob, his eyes filled with fear and tears welling up, his body trembling uncontrollably.

He was clearly genuinely frightened.

I never expected Conan to be so easily frightened...

Chu Zhong quickly realized that the "Emotional Therapist" title must have taken effect.

I was just thinking that since it's just a dungeon anyway, and Conan isn't a 'specific character,' it doesn't matter if he dies; he'll revive when the dungeon ends.

So he really will take action, and the probability is not low. He conveys his brutality to Conan, letting the latter know that this is not a joke.

But he didn't say he would definitely take action, so why is Conan so afraid?

Could it be that……

Chu Zhong immediately searched Conan's yukata pocket, found the locker key, checked the number, and opened the locker.

After a quick search, my suspicions were confirmed: Conan had indeed brought another patch-type listening device!

"Conan, what do you have to say now?"

Chu Zhong temporarily revoked his title of "Emotional Therapist" and questioned him.

"Um..." Conan, with tears streaming down his face, was anxious to explain, but when he opened his mouth, no sound came out.

Because Chu Zhong was choking Conan, his words were forcefully cut off by Chu Zhong's large hand as soon as Conan spoke.

"Behavior inappropriate for his age, an excessive enthusiasm for reasoning, and thinking that doesn't match his appearance..."

Chu Zhong smiled faintly: "Shinichi Kudo, your acting is really bad."

Upon hearing this, Conan was struck dumb, as if by lightning.

Chu Zhong also released his grip, pausing deliberately for a moment.

When Conan recovered from his shock, he looked up in a panic, as if to explain something.

Chu Zhongcai continued, "If I hadn't heard from the uncle that Shinichi Kudo appeared at the crime scene at the same time as you a few days ago, I would have really suspected that you were Shinichi Kudo."

Conan, who was about to explain with the same reason, immediately shut up.

"However, judging from your reaction just now, you definitely have a close relationship with Shinichi Kudo... Tell me, did Shinichi Kudo send you?!"

Conan, clearly not an idiot, quickly backed down: "That's right, Shinichi sent me, and he even got Professor Agasa to make me a gadget..."

"The main concern is that Sister Lan will be taken away by Brother Chu, so..."

Conan attributed all the actions to the mastermind behind it all, 'Shinichi Kudo,' while cautiously observing Chu Zhong's expression.

"As expected..." Chu Zhong sneered, "When you get back, tell Shinichi Kudo that Ran is already mine, and tell him to stop daydreaming!"

Seeing that Chu Zhong didn't seem to suspect anything, Conan nodded hurriedly, "I'll tell Shinichi-nii-san..."

Then, Chu Zhong stroked the patch-type bugging device he had found, "As for Conan, you..."

Conan quickly said, "I really didn't eavesdrop..."

"I know," Chu Zhong interrupted, "I didn't punish you because you behaved relatively well this time."

Four circular, patch-type listening devices were glued to a small, smooth piece of plastic, filling it exactly, proving that Conan was not lying.

"But don't try anything funny in front of me in the future. It's none of your business what Xiaolan and I do."

"Did you understand?!"

Chu Zhong had had enough of Conan's charade and self-righteousness in front of him, so this time he decided to be more direct.

"..." Conan, who had narrowly escaped death, nodded hurriedly, not daring to utter a single word of 'no'.

One minute later,

Chu Zhong led Conan out of the locker room, bought a snack from the vending machine in the lounge, and tossed it to the latter.

"Thank you, Brother Chu..." Conan thanked him loudly as instructed, to prove that Chu Zhong's previous words to everyone were not false.

A short while later, Ran and Sonoko, who had been resting in their room for twenty minutes, returned to the lounge.

"By the way, does everyone want to go to the recreation room and play ping pong?"

At this moment, the bald detective Nakamichi Kazushi suggested, "I remember the last time we came to a gathering, we played for several hours and it was hard to tell who was winning."

Except for Horikoshi Yumi, who wanted to go back to her room to rest, everyone else agreed to the suggestion and headed towards the hotel's recreation room.

However, Conan fell down one after another along the way, falling three times in less than half a minute, bumping his forehead and causing it to swell up, which attracted the attention of everyone.

"Little friend, what's wrong with you?"

Faced with concerned looks, Conan awkwardly waved his hand, "I don't know who threw the stone on the ground. I accidentally stepped on it and slipped."

In fact, Conan had a suspect, but that person was behind him, and it really was that person who threw the stone, so it was impossible for him not to hear anything...

"Remember to watch where you're going when you're walking."

That's all the other people could say.

Conan knew this principle, of course. After falling once, Conan stared intently at the floor in front of him, but as he walked, a small stone would appear under his feet, and he would fall again and again...

Little did they know, this was an exclusive dungeon item that Chu Zhong had obtained from the mixed-gender bathing area.

"Hot Spring Stone": If thrown and hits the target, it will definitely trip them up.

There are many stones in the mixed bathing area, but the number of effective exclusive items is limited. After Chu Zhong obtained ten, he could no longer put the remaining stones into his inventory.

Since these are free items that will disappear once the dungeon ends, Chu Zhong plans to use these stones to give Conan a little punishment.