"Psyker, huh."
Hearing Old One-Eye's words, Zhou Yun couldn't help but show a curious look toward him.
In the Underhive, psykers were little more than urban legends on the streets.
A terrifying tale to stop children from crying at night, one of the ghouls said to haunt the gutters of the hive bottom, an ominous curse everyone loathed—like they would a demon from a story—yet who had actually seen a psyker with their own eyes?
But Old One-Eye's tone was as if he had seen one before.
"You ought to know what a psyker is, right?"
Old One-Eye put down the rag he was using to wipe glasses, pulled over a stool, and sat opposite Zhou Yun.
"You're much more knowledgeable than most in the Underhive."
Zhou Yun nodded slightly.
Of course he knew what a psyker was.
Most psykers were just pitiful wretches.
Born linked to the Warp, they could wield the powers of the immaterium.
But in return, their souls burned like a torch in the Warp, always at risk of being corrupted, eventually becoming a gateway for daemons to enter realspace.
Because of this, the Imperium had strict control and oversight over psykers.
Those who risked losing control often ended up as fuel for the Astronomican.
But the Imperium was vast, and there were always those who slipped through the cracks, living in the shadows as illegal psykers.
And if Old One-Eye was right, then the Ark Cult's so-called leader was indeed likely to be an illegal psyker…
Or…
Zhou Yun's eyes narrowed slightly.
In the organizational structure of the Genestealer Cults, beneath the Patriarch's right claw was what was called a Genestealer Magus.
A Magus was a powerful psyker who appeared nearly human.
He acted as the Patriarch's proxy, managed the brood, and used his eloquence and cunning to deceive humanity and grow the cult.
Zhou Yun was very suspicious that the so-called Ark Cult leader was just that.
A wily and dangerous psyker.
"This morning someone came looking for you. I brushed them off."
Old One-Eye suddenly cut in, breaking Zhou Yun's train of thought.
"Looking for me?"
Zhou Yun felt a prickle of wariness in his heart.
"What's there to find out about me?"
Unless the Genestealers had discovered that it was him who killed those hybrid neophytes…
But… that shouldn't be. He'd cleaned up the scene thoroughly, and he'd used Warp-free airgun toxins. Even the cult's purestrains would have trouble tracking him.
"It was the Ark Cult. Wearing those linen robes, with the stupid flame-trail ship mark painted on their faces."
Old One-Eye poured himself a glass of crimson foaming liquor and said:
"You piss them off somehow?"
Zhou Yun waved a finger, indicating he had nothing to do with them.
Unless they really were the Genestealer Cult.
"Maybe it's because I sold weapons to the local gangs, and they're holding a grudge?" Zhou Yun joked dryly.
"Could be. Psykers are all a little unhinged." Old One-Eye shook his head solemnly.
"So tell me, what really happened last night?" Zhou Yun probed.
"The Ark Cult launched a surprise attack on our district. The local gangs were caught flat-footed and lost half their turf right away."
Old One-Eye poured the liquor down his throat, wetting his voice before continuing:
"But the local gangs weren't all soft. Knowing the streets gave them the edge to hold the line."
"Who knew some bastard would see the writing on the wall and defect to the Ark Cult, leading them on a flanking route for a sneak attack."
"The Ark Cult cut through like a knife, all the way to the local gang's stronghold gates."
Old One-Eye smacked his lips, poured himself another drink, and went on:
"The rest you already heard."
"With the weapons you provided, the locals were actually holding."
"But then that Ark Cult leader walked alone to the front line, reciting the Lectitio Divinitatus."
"The locals just froze, like they were bewitched. That woman gave a single order, and they obediently dropped their rifles."
Then Old One-Eye's voice dropped as he looked at Zhou Yun:
"The Ark Cult leader claims she came at the Emperor's behest, to bring salvation to all of Asphod. She wants to build a great Ark, to carry all the faithful of Asphod up to the stars, away from the claws of the void's demons."
Hearing this, Zhou Yun's lips twitched faintly.
"Well, the whole city must be so very grateful."
But Old One-Eye shook his head firmly.
"The Emperor taught us all that psykers are shameful sorcerers and agents of corruption."
Zhou Yun rubbed his chin.
The Ark Cult was sounding more and more like Genestealers. Could they really have tracked him down?
But then he felt a strange sensation.
If they really were Genestealers, and they were sure he'd killed their hybrids, then their Purestrain Patriarch would have already sent assassins to exact the Four-Armed Emperor's vengeance.
He should already be ashes on the Golden Throne, or in Khorne's Brass Citadel, or in Slaanesh's Six Circles, or in Nurgle's Garden… by now.
Not still sitting here.
Noticing his expression, Old One-Eye raised a brow and knocked the table.
"You didn't really piss off the Ark Cult, did you? You want to skip town? I can arrange it."
"Other gang turf or the Underhive are both options. I still have connections."
He looked Zhou Yun in the eye and added:
"Of course, it's not free. The Underhive is cheap, other gang turf costs more."
He fished a lho-stick out of his pocket, lit it, and offered one to Zhou Yun.
"Don't smoke." Zhou Yun waved it away. "As for running…"
The faces of Mong and Markit flashed in his mind.
"Not yet. I still need to confirm something."
"You really don't smoke?" Old One-Eye wagged the lho-stick. "My mom always said only idiots, babies, and Sanguinius don't smoke lho. You're clearly no idiot, and you're no baby. So you must be Sanguinius."
"Ha ha ha!"
Old One-Eye chuckled at his own joke.
"Fine, maybe I really am the Angel himself, come to test your loyalty." Zhou Yun grinned.
"I really don't smoke."
The winged figure in the white glow shrugged.
"Even real cigarettes I don't smoke. The Khan smoked hookah once, and Russ kept trying to cut in."
"Shut up, bird-brain." Zhou Yun shot the winged figure a look and smiled. "Show some respect when talking to the Angel himself!"
"You're crazy." The winged figure put on an exaggerated tone.
Just then, the tavern door behind Zhou Yun swung open.
"There you are, Brother Zhou Yun!"
A familiar voice rang out:
"You really had Old Lag searching everywhere!"
(End of Chapter)
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