Inside the bar, Chandler, sprawled on a table, felt his heart thumping, as if a thousand alpacas were stampeding through his mind.
He never expected that as soon as he stepped out of the bar, he would see Peter engaged in an exaggerated battle with a demon, even defeating the demon in just a few rounds.
He had only seen such things in movies and comics.
Overwhelmed with pressure, Chandler quickly ran back into the bar and resumed feigning unconsciousness in his original spot.
However, what he didn't expect was that Peter, this mysterious and terrifying guy, would re-enter the bar after killing the demon, and now he was right in front of him, staring intently at him!
Due to fear, his body trembled uncontrollably, making him appear as if he were having a nightmare.
Damn it!
Calm down!
He absolutely had to pretend to be unconscious and not reveal any flaws; if Peter discovered anything, he would definitely be silenced.
Damn it... he just wanted to peacefully work until retirement and go to Hawaii, not get involved in anything. Let the more responsible Police handle demons and Superman. Why did he have to encounter this?
Amidst his trembling, agonizing wait, Peter, who had been silent, suddenly shook his head and said, "He's probably really asleep," then turned and left.
Only after Peter's footsteps completely faded did Chandler dare to cautiously lift his head and look towards the bar entrance.
He exhaled a breath of relief, his heart churning with shock.
What kind of monster is Peter, anyway?!
At the same time, residents near the bar also cautiously emerged.
Due to the cover of night and the speed of the actions, no one saw Peter's face.
Looking at the aftermath of the fight on the ground, the residents were all stunned. Had some monster appeared in Smallville?
Meanwhile, Peter stood on the street, watching a large number of Police cars heading towards the salon club.
He knew Chandler was awake, of course.
The reason he didn't expose him was because he knew the other party was a master of feigning ignorance.
However,
Staring at the messy scene in the distance, his expression grew serious.
The demon's escape this time probably wouldn't end peacefully.
If an alien spaceship were to arrive with a baby capable of magic, dealing with such a demon wouldn't be so troublesome.
After some random thoughts, he turned and left.
The next day, at breakfast.
"Dad, did you say we should take a temporary leave?"
Mark looked at Peter in surprise.
"Yes, not just you, but Clark too. Both of you need to take leave and stay on the farm for the next two days."
"Wh-why?"
Mark asked, puzzled, "Did something happen?"
"I suspect..."
Kelly, next to him, helped Star-Lord remove food residue from his mouth and said to Peter, "...it's related to what happened at the salon club last night, isn't it?"
"Dad, was that you?"
Mark looked at Peter in surprise; he had also heard about the incident at the salon club last night.
"No, of course not me, it was that demon, though I destroyed his physical body."
Peter put down his cutlery and said to them, "But he won't disappear easily. He's very interested in your soul, John, so for your safety, you must stay home."
Hearing Peter say the demon was interested in his soul, Mark nodded gloomily.
"Alright, Dad, I'll stay home."
Mark took a couple of bites of his tender fried egg, then suddenly remembered something.
"Dad, there's an event at school today."
"What event?"
"Choir practice."
Mark said excitedly, "Dad, I'm part of the choir, and Clark is too. We have practice tonight, our first practice."
"You never mentioned this before, John."
Peter's eyebrows twitched.
"Because I used to be a reserve member, but Miss Catherine agreed to let us join today."
"You like to sing, John?"
Peter had never noticed before that this boy liked to sing.
He thought that compared to singing, Mark was most suited for public speaking.
In his previous life, he had heard many of this boy's speeches. With an enthusiastic audience, Mark would excitedly clench his fist and shout, "God bless the United States of America." Even he would be infected by that fervent atmosphere.
"No, actually, I don't really like it."
Mark shook his head, "I just hope Dad won't feel embarrassed."
Peter asked, puzzled, "Embarrassed? Why would I feel embarrassed? John, if you don't sing well, shouldn't you be the one who's embarrassed?"
"No, Dad, what I mean is, if other parents are sitting there watching their children perform during the Thanksgiving holiday show, and Clark and I don't have any performance, you'll definitely look a bit bad."
"Uh..."
Peter hadn't expected the "embarrassment" Mark was referring to to be this kind of embarrassment.
Feeling a little touched, he gently stroked Mark's head.
"So, John, you think it would be a pity if you didn't go to practice, right?"
"Yes, Dad."
Peter picked up his coffee, then gently put it down again, "Maybe we can all go to your choir practice together—me, Kelly, and Star-Lord."
Mark, who had been a bit dejected, immediately brightened when he heard Peter would attend his performance practice, but he quickly calmed down again.
"But, Dad, didn't you say we had to be careful of the demon?"
"I think..."
Peter looked at Mark, "Compared to the demon's threat, no parent wants to miss their child's first time."
Evening, Smallville Elementary School.
As the Thanksgiving holiday show approached, almost all students remained at school for program rehearsals.
Peter, holding Star-Lord, sat in the auditorium seats, with Kelly and Mark beside him.
Clark and his parents also came to watch their son's practice performance.
After Clark greeted Peter, he searched the venue for Lana.
But after searching for a long time, he still didn't see Lana, so he had to sit down dejectedly.
Teacher Martha McConner proactively came over to greet Peter.
Teacher Martha's youthful and beautiful attire attracted many people's attention.
Peter stood up and shook her hand, "You're absolutely radiant today, Teacher McConner. Any secret?"
"The secret is, I'm Don McLean's secret lover."
(Don McLean: American folk singer from New York.)
Martha smiled and joked with Peter.
But upon seeing Kelly holding Star-Lord next to Peter, her expression changed slightly.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Peter, she hurried away.
Once Martha McConner left, the program rehearsal was about to begin.
"What's the first act?"
Peter asked Mark.
Mark scratched his head and said, "I don't know. I remember it should be a play."
Soon, the announcer announced that the first rehearsal act was a scene from "Hamlet," performed by fifth graders Erica Durrence, Anne O'Toole, and others.
As the stage lights dimmed, the main curtain slowly closed.
Immediately following, a strangely toned monologue emanated from within the stage.
—
"To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?
Death, sleep, Death, a part of night,
Sleep, perchance to dream, when we have shuffled off
This mortal coil, we no longer suffer."
—
The curtain slowly opened, and the lights illuminated the stage.
The cruel scene on stage made everyone stare with wide, shocked eyes!
Three female students in theatrical costumes were tied with their hands and hung from a shelf on the stage.
The bruised and battered girls wailed faintly, and blood dripped onto the stage from their legs.
Parents witnessing this scene immediately covered their children's eyes.
The school official, realizing an accident had occurred, rushed onto the stage at top speed, trying to figure out what had happened.
Peter watched the scene on stage, a bad feeling rising within him.
With a "bang," the teacher who had just run onto the stage was struck by an unseen object and heavily slammed down into the Great Hall below.
A scream immediately erupted from the crowd, and parents with students quickly fled outwards.
Kelly, holding Star-Lord, immediately stood up and asked Peter in shock, "What happened?"
"I don't know. You take Star-Lord and leave here first."
Peter escorted Kelly and Star-Lord away, with Mark following closely behind them out of the Great Hall.
Fortunately, the emergency exits and main doors of the Great Hall remained clear, preventing any stampede.
Soon, Peter led Kelly, Star-Lord, and Mark into the hallway.
As they were about to leave, they suddenly heard footsteps behind them.
"Peter Patrick, why are you leaving in such a hurry?"
A female voice, mixed with a harsh rasp, entered their ears.
Peter turned his head and found a girl in an exquisite evening gown standing before him.
The slightly plump girl with an eerie aura had bright red lipstick on her lips and smiled as she watched Peter.
Undoubtedly, the girl in front of him was possessed by a demon.
Mark saw the girl in front of him and exclaimed in disbelief, "It's you! How is this possible?"
"Who is he, John?"
Peter asked with a frown.
"Allison Mack. Clark and I saw her just yesterday."
Mark looked at the clearly abnormal girl in front of him, "She wasn't like this then."
"John, have you forgotten me? We even had a heart-to-heart in the mirror. It's a pity you ultimately broke our pact. What a shame, we were so close to completing the transaction."
"You... you're that demon!"
Mark's expression changed, "You deceived Allison Mack and took her soul!"
The demon, in the girl's voice, said, "No, I never deceive. This is an exchange of equal value. I helped her get revenge. Those girls who bullied her were punished, hung in the auditorium to be mocked and utterly despised by everyone."
"This is the exchange. Allison chose Death, not survival."
"So..."
Peter interrupted him, saying coldly, "You hung them in the auditorium to spread fear, didn't you? It seems fear is what strengthens you."
"You're so clever, Patrick."
The demon let out a cackling laugh, "Your interesting soul ranks second only to Constantine's. I must have you."
"Then we'll see if you end up with survival or Death."
Peter looked at Kelly, "Kelly, take Star-Lord and leave."
"You!"
Kelly wanted to say something, but ultimately gritted her teeth and immediately transformed into a White wolf, carrying Star-Lord and leaving at top speed.
"Dad!"
Mark stood in front of Peter with a serious expression, "You be my shield, and I'll be your sharp spear. Let's fight together!"
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