Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 161: Clues

Wu Sheng and Qian Ai were also heading back to the Cheng family’s residence, so they joined the procession of monks along the way.

Leading the monks was the abbot of the Guajia Temple, Master Yan Yi.

Not just any family could request the presence of the abbot from the Guajia Temple, but the Cheng family was a prominent household in Tianjin, and naturally, their funeral arrangements had to be conducted with dignity and propriety.

“This is the situation. I wonder what Master thinks?” After introducing himself and successfully joining the monks, Wu Sheng shared with Master Yan Yi the story of Old Master Cheng’s supposed “false corpse”.

Master Yan Yi, with his long white hair and eyebrows, looked wise and spirited. His gaze was insightful yet serene. “Death ends all entanglements.”

He spoke only these words and then remained silent.

Death ends all entanglements?

So, does it mean that anything happening afterward has nothing to do with Old Master Cheng?

Is this implying that the “false corpse” was the work of the living?

Or is there no implication, and it’s merely a statement from a Buddhist perspective?

Wu Sheng’s mind was filled with various “interpretations”, but he couldn’t come to a conclusion about which was correct. Master Yan Yi, looking straight ahead and focusing on the journey, obviously had no intention of elaborating further.

For some reason, Wu Sheng always felt that there was something more hidden in Master Yan Yi’s eyes besides wisdom and serenity. But being inexperienced himself, he found it impossible to see through an old monk who had lived twice as long as he had.

Qian Ai walked beside Wu Sheng, occasionally turning his head to look at Wu Sheng, then at Master Yan Yi, and back again, finding the conversation between the experts too difficult to understand.

Following them was a young monk who had been with the group for some time.

Xu Wang had noticed the two men at the front of the procession from the start. Appearing out of nowhere, getting cozy with the abbot, and then mysteriously joining the procession seemed key to some quest.

Deciding quickly, he sneaked to the front of the procession, hoping to overhear their conversation for clues to a mission or to meet up with teammates.

But as soon as he got close, he heard a thrilling story about an old man’s corpse rising in the fog and dashing through the streets.

He didn’t understand the sentence later spoken by Master Yan Yi, but the thoughtful silhouette of Mr. Glasses always felt both strange and familiar to him.

Sneaking to the side to get a better look at Mr. Glasses’ thoughtful profile, his feeling of familiarity grew stronger.

Perhaps his staring was too obvious, as Mr. Glasses sharply turned his head toward him.

Their gazes met in the air, sparking a connection.

Wu Sheng adjusted his glasses, scanning the nosy young monk from head to toe with an X-ray-like gaze.

Swallowing nervously, Xu Wang instinctively touched his head, unsure if it was out of nervousness or something else.

Wu Sheng observed the young monk’s rosy cheeks and white teeth for a while but ultimately focused on his bald head.

Resisting the urge to cover his entire head, Xu Wang felt warmth under Wu Sheng’s touch, not resisting it.

Wu Sheng tilted his head slightly and smiled at him, with a little joy, a little pride, and a little… interest.

The next second, Wu Sheng suddenly pulled Qian Ai out of the group and led him into a small alley.

Master Yan Yi, focused solely on moving forward, didn’t notice that the two accompanying laymen had left the group.

“What are you pulling me here for? Aren’t we going back to the Cheng family?” As soon as they entered the alley, Qian Ai finally got a chance to speak and immediately asked.

Wu Sheng gestured for him to be quiet with a “shh” and indicated to wait.

Qian Ai could hardly calm down but still waited.

Less than thirty seconds later, a figure nimbly entered the alley.

Wu Sheng saw the young monk peeking in, smiled slightly, opened his arms, and waited for an embrace.

Qian Ai was baffled, and even more so when the young monk, instead of running into Wu Sheng’s arms, stood firm and asked proudly, “Be diligent and cautious?”

Wu Sheng responded smoothly, “Study diligently and innovate.”

The young monk then laughed, looking like he wanted to jump in, but hesitated upon noticing someone else standing nearby.

Unable to resist any longer, Wu Sheng, who had his arms already open, moved them to pat the young monk’s head.

Xu Wang, having his head frozen all the way, found Wu Sheng’s touch quite warm and didn’t resist.

After patting a few times and feeling somewhat satisfied, Wu Sheng introduced, with a smile, “This is Lao Qian.”

Hearing this, Xu Wang was taken aback, then looked at the man beside him, who indeed seemed like a teammate, and immediately became curious. “Who have you transmigrated into?”

Hearing this tone, Qian Ai finally realized. “Captain?”

The suspects were only three: Xiao Xue, Xiao Kuang, Xu Wang. Combining this with the advisor’s affectionate gaze, the answer was clear.

“Wait.” Qian Ai remembered something. “Did you two just exchange a code? That diligence and innovation thing?”

“Yes,” Xu Wang said matter-of-factly. “How else could I be sure of his identity?”

Qian Ai: “But when did you guys come up with this code?”

Xu Wang: “No need to come up with it. You should know it too.”

Qian Ai: “Where would I know it from?!”

Wu Sheng: “It’s our high school motto.”

Xu Wang: “You forgot?”

Qian Ai: “……”

He had never remembered it to begin with!

So, that’s why some could be class representatives, and he was just an ordinary member; there were reasons for everything…

The three quickly exchanged information, with Xu Wang having little to share, so it was mostly Wu Sheng talking, with Qian Ai adding details.

While talking, Wu Sheng pulled Xu Wang into his arms, occasionally patting his head as if he was a mascot.

After finishing, Wu Sheng looked down at the captain in his arms and gave his transmigration a fair assessment. “You’ve gotten smaller.”

Xu Wang: “……”

The young monk was indeed shorter and slimmer than Xu Wang, so in terms of both age and physique, he had “gotten smaller”, but… it felt awkward to hear!

Xu Wang, never one to be outdone, immediately retorted, “You’ve become…”

And then there was no follow-up.

The person Wu Sheng had transmigrated into, Mr. Bai, was handsome, broad-shouldered, and tall, with an aura of a returned student, even having a scholarly and abstinent filter. No matter how one looked, he was attractive, leaving Xu Wang at a loss for words!

Qian Ai couldn’t stand it anymore and quietly left the alley.

Whether it was Mr. Bai holding the young monk or the advisor hugging the captain, it caused him immense distress on this chilly night, even more so than Old Master Cheng’s false corpse.

……

When the three rejoined the procession of monks, they had arrived at the Cheng family’s front gate.

The Cheng family’s courtyard was brightly lit and noisy—it was in chaos.

Old Master Cheng’s false corpse and disappearance over the wall had caused a commotion, and Wu Sheng thought this as he entered, only to find the situation even more complicated—Old Master Cheng’s body had been returned by a group of rather unfriendly-looking people and was lying on the ground inside the courtyard. Instead of moving Old Master Cheng back to the memorial hall, the Cheng family was confronting the group that had returned the body.

Perhaps they were too frightened to touch it, fearing the corpse might come back to life again.

“Master Jiu, does your Fushou Gang intend to ruin our Cheng family?” The man standing as the head of the Cheng family was naturally Cheng Xiaonan. He was dressed in Western pajamas with a Chinese-style cloak thrown over, which was rather a unique look. He was probably woken up by the servants and hastily put on the cloak before coming out to investigate.

Compared to Cheng Xiaonan, the man known as Master Jiu appeared much more composed. “Mr. Cheng, we were just walking down the street when your family’s Old Master fell from the sky. We recognized him and immediately brought him back respectfully. Your words might cool the hearts of the Fushou Gang brothers.”

“Ying Jiu! Stop your crocodile tears!” From the Cheng side, a woman in her late twenties, surrounded by servants and dressed more neatly, spoke up sharply. “For what happened to Second Master, the Cheng family and the Hai Gang have a bone to pick with you!”

Master Jiu’s smile faded, but he remained calm, exerting a sense of pressure without anger. “I have told Old Master Cheng before, and I will say it again today.” He looked around the courtyard as if addressing everyone. “The matter of Second Master Cheng has nothing to do with the Fushou Gang. We also want to find out who harmed him…”

“And,” his last words were directed solely at the woman, “don’t make me say it a third time.”

The woman still looked resentful but hesitated and ultimately didn’t speak again.

“Sir…” The gatekeeper leading the monks into the courtyard finally found a gap to speak.

This broke the deadlock.

Cheng Xiaonan immediately ordered some braver servants to carry Old Master Cheng back to the memorial hall, then warmly greeted Master Yan Yi, calling for the tea server to come over. Eventually, the tea server led the monks to rest in the side courtyard, discussing the next day’s rituals with Master Yan Yi along the way.

Taking advantage of the chaos as the monk procession moved again, Wu Sheng quietly instructed Xu Wang to keep an eye on Master Yan Yi—he had a feeling Master Yan Yi knew something.

Thus, Xu Wang, with a mission, followed the monks and disappeared in the direction of the side courtyard.

Qian Ai also took the opportunity to return to the memorial hall, carrying out the task assigned by his advisor—to inquire about the Cheng family’s situation from the servants; the more detailed and gossipy, the better.

Soon, only the Cheng family, the Fushou Gang members, and Mr. Bai were left in the courtyard.

Both groups were large, leaving Wu Sheng, a lone figure, immediately standing out and attracting all eyes.

Wu Sheng had no choice but to offer an awkward smile and explain to the Cheng side. “I went to chase the Old Master but didn’t catch up. Instead, I ran into Master Yan Yi and followed him back.” He then turned to Master Jiu, feeling he should say something, but couldn’t find the words.

Master Jiu watched him for almost a minute, finally realizing that Wu Sheng might not start the conversation and gracefully stepped forward. “Mr. Bai.”

Wu Sheng was taken aback. His first instinct was to ask, “Master Jiu knows me?” but immediately realized that would give him away and quickly went along. “Master Jiu.”

The two “acquaintances” nodded at each other, and the situation seemed to shift from a three-way standoff to a two-party alliance. Cheng Xiaonan, in his unique mix of Western and Chinese attire, couldn’t stand it any longer and cleared his throat. “Mr. Bai, everything you wished to know has been fully explained by the Cheng family.”

The implication was clear: You can leave now.

Wu Sheng, however, looked innocently puzzled and rooted to the spot.

“Mr. Cheng,” Master Jiu said with a light smile, taking control of the conversation. “It’s late and chilly. Let’s not talk here in the courtyard.”

Cheng Xiaonan’s face turned as dark as the night, matching the surrounding darkness.

But Master Jiu remained leisurely, adding insult to injury. “The great Cheng family can’t even spare a cup of hot tea?”

……

Wu Sheng, riding on Master Jiu’s coattails, entered the Cheng family’s living room for the second time.

Why did Old Master Cheng’s body end up in front of Master Jiu? And what was Master Jiu’s purpose in staying? With so many mysteries, Wu Sheng could only wait and see how things unfolded.

The Cheng family mansion was a blend of Chinese and Western styles. The front courtyard retained the old house’s appearance, but as one walked further in, a Western-style building emerged, rivaling the grand mansions of 5^th Avenue.

The women had returned to the inner quarters, leaving only Cheng Xiaonan to entertain them in the small building’s living room.

Wu Sheng found that Master Jiu indeed had the demeanor of a major figure in the underworld—he had only brought one person into the living room, leaving the rest of the Fushou Gang members outside. He was domineering when necessary yet showed perfect manners when appropriate—truly a formidable character.

The person Master Jiu brought in was a young man in his early twenties. He looked handsome, with fair skin and a facial injury, but dressed very decently… almost exactly like Master Jiu.

He didn’t sit down but stood next to Master Jiu, silent yet impossible to ignore.

As soon as they were seated, tea and some whiskey were served.

Cheng Xiaonan lifted his glass and casually asked the guests, “You don’t mind, do you?”

As the host preferred whiskey and didn’t force anyone to join him, the guests naturally had no objections.

So, two drank tea and one drank whiskey, with occasional awkward attempts at conversation, creating a momentarily harmonious scene.

That was until Wu Sheng saw a half-face appearing and disappearing outside the window.

Finding an excuse, Wu Sheng left the small building for a hidden spot where visibility was poor to meet up with his teammate.

Wu Sheng: “Did you find anything out?”

Qian Ai: “I did. The woman who shouted at Master Jiu earlier is Second Master Cheng’s wife, Hai Huiping, the daughter of the Hai Gang leader. She has an older brother, Hai Yunlong, the young leader of the Hai Gang.”

Wu Sheng: “Hai Gang?”

Qian Ai: “Yeah, an organization similar to the Fushou Gang, you know.”

Wu Sheng: “……”

Qian Ai: “Cheng Xiaonan’s wife died years ago, leaving no children; Cheng Jiming, that is, Second Master Cheng, died last year, leaving behind a ten-year-old daughter and Hai Huiping, the stepmother.”

Wu Sheng: “Stepmother?”

Qian Ai: “Yeah, his daughter was with his first wife, who died of illness before he remarried Hai Huiping.”

Wu Sheng, having a rough understanding of the Cheng family’s current situation from Xue Qingshan, knew the Cheng family now consisted of a master, a widow of the second master, and a daughter of the second master.

But since Xue Qingshan and the Cheng family hardly interacted and Du Jinnian didn’t talk much about the Cheng family, further information was scarce.

“How did Cheng Jiming die?” The confrontation in the courtyard earlier was what Wu Sheng was most concerned about. Both Cheng Xiaonan and Hai Huiping mentioned Cheng Jiming’s death was related to the Fushou Gang, but Master Jiu insisted it wasn’t. The key phrase here was “caused his death.”

There must be more to Cheng Jiming’s death.

“Ah?” Qian Ai opened his mouth. “How did he die…?”

A second later, the servant “Zhuzi” disappeared.

A little more than ten minutes later, he returned.

Qian Ai: “I managed to find out through indirect questioning. He was kidnapped, and a ransom was demanded!”

Wu Sheng: “By the Fushou Gang?”

Qian Ai: “That’s what the Cheng family says, but it seems the Fushou Gang denies it. Anyway, the Cheng family paid the ransom, but Cheng Jiming still died. His body had been discarded on a common grave for who knows how long… Quite tragic.”

Wu Sheng fell silent.

“From what they say, the Hai Gang made noise for half a year, but in the end, they didn’t really act against the Fushou Gang.” Qian Ai sighed. “You’d think Cheng Jiming, being the Hai Gang’s son-in-law and dying so miserably, the Hai Gang would react, right?”

Wu Sheng shook his head. “It’s not about enduring; it’s about having to. Didn’t you see the exchange between Hai Huiping and Master Jiu? If they really clashed, the Hai Gang couldn’t handle the Fushou Gang, and they might even suffer more losses.”

Qian Ai, looking at the occasional reflective glasses in the darkness, genuinely admired, “Advisor, you’re too into your role.”

From his demeanor to his lines, everything perfectly matched the era of the Republic of China. How did he manage that?

“By the way.” Wu Sheng, too focused on the mission, unusually ignored the praise. “What about Old Master Cheng? How did he die?”

Qian Ai: “……”

A second later, the servant “Zhuzi” disappeared.

Fifteen minutes later, he returned.

Qian Ai: “Illness… He died of illness…”

Wu Sheng: “Take your time, catch your breath.”

Qian Ai: “After Cheng Jiming died last year, he fell ill and had been bedridden until now. He probably couldn’t hold on anymore.”

Wu Sheng: “What illness?”

Qian Ai: “There wasn’t any specific illness; it was just a big blow from his son’s death, and then he just declined day by day. But…”

Wu Sheng: “But what?”

Qian Ai: “A servant said it was due to evil spirits.”

Wu Sheng: “What does that mean?”

Qian Ai: “He just mentioned it in passing; I didn’t get to ask in detail.”

Wu Sheng: “……”

Qian Ai: “……”

Wu Sheng: “……”

Qian Ai: “Okay, I’ve noted this question. Advisor, do you have any other questions? Can you write them down for me, so I can ask them all at once?”

Wu Sheng felt a bit guilty, but many questions arose based on newly acquired information, and he really couldn’t help it.

Fortunately, that was about it.

“Just three questions: one, why do they say Old Master Cheng was haunted by evil spirits; two, who in the Cheng family was closest to Du Jinnian; three, how long did Du Jinnian stay at the Cheng family two days ago, and when did he leave?”

This time, it took less than ten minutes for Qian Ai to return, either because his indirect questioning skills had improved dramatically or because the servants were inspired to unleash their gossiping spirits, offering information without needing to be prodded.

Qian Ai: “Last winter, not long after Cheng Jiming was buried, Old Master Cheng slipped in front of his own door, possibly due to his age and fragile bones, and never got up from bed again. The reason for the fall was water spilled by a servant in front of his door, which turned to ice. In the end, they couldn’t find who was responsible. Coupled with Cheng Jiming’s tragic death, rumors began that the Cheng family was cursed by evil spirits, leading to continuous misfortune. Now with Old Master Cheng’s death, the rumors seem even more believable…”

Wu Sheng: “The second question…”

Qian Ai: “I was just getting to that. Du Jinnian was closest to Cheng Jiming. When Cheng Jiming was alive, he often visited, but after his death, Du Jinnian almost stopped coming.”

Wu Sheng: “But he came two days ago.”

Qian Ai: “Yes, he did come, and he spoke with Cheng Xiaonan in the living room where you were sitting. At that time, Old Master Cheng had just passed away, and the Cheng family was in disarray. Cheng Xiaonan didn’t entertain him for long before continuing with the funeral arrangements.”

Wu Sheng: “And then? Did Du Jinnian leave?”

Qian Ai: “I don’t know.”

Wu Sheng: “You don’t know?”

Qian Ai: “Externally, they said Du Jinnian left after having tea, but according to the servants, no one saw him leave the Cheng family.”

Wu Sheng: “What does that mean? Did the man just vanish into thin air? Vanish inside the Cheng family mansion?”

Qian Ai: “Yes.”

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 160: The False Corpse

When Kuang Jinxin emerged from the secret path in the rockery with his master, fog had descended on the Cheng family’s large courtyard.

The fog made the old house eerily cold, and the sight of white mourning fabrics everywhere made it feel even more chilling.

Carrying a square, large box on his back, Kuang Jinxin followed his master through the rockery towards the courtyard wall, resembling a saint wearing holy robes, intending to slip away unnoticed.

They had already succeeded.

The box was filled with antiques and calligraphy paintings. Although Kuang Jinxin wasn’t deeply versed in these items, the fact that his master chose this box over rooms full of silver and jewelry made it clear to him which was more valuable.

However, there was something strange.

His master was as familiar with the Cheng residence as if it were his own home. Not a step was wasted; they went straight into the secret passage and into the “wealth center” of the house. Moreover, upon entering, his master didn’t search around but locked onto this box immediately, instructing him to carry it and leave without a second thought.

The goal was too specific, the route too clear.

“Who’s there?” Suddenly, a voice questioned from the bushes nearby.

Startled, Kuang Jinxin instinctively paused, only to see his master had already scaled the wall in a flash.

Kuang Jinxin had no time to sweat; he dashed to the base of the wall, hoping to use his momentum to kick off it and climb up…

As Qian Ai rushed out, he saw a young man with a large box on his back clumsily climbing the wall, moving so slowly and with such difficulty that he almost wanted to help lift him.

He had been driven here by the smell of the latrines, seeking a breath of fresh air in this idyllic spot, only to stumble upon unusual footsteps as he entered the bushes.

The sight before him made it clear. “Stop, thief—”

Shouting out a phrase in old-style slang, Qian Ai immediately felt as if he were transported back to the Kaifeng Mansion, as if the spirits of dynastic warriors and the legendary figures Zhang Long and Zhao Hu* were by his side. With a tiger’s stride, he charged forward and, without a second word, grabbed the leg of the little thief!

*They are bodyguards and investigators of Justice Bao, responsible for carrying the guillotine once Justice Bao sentences the criminal to death.

Kuang Jinxin had almost reached the top of the wall, about to succeed, when he felt a sharp pain in his ankle.

Looking down, he saw a dark face with bright eyes, fierce like a little tiger.

My apologies.

Kuang Jinxin silently apologized in his mind before kicking out at the face to avoid eye contact.

Qian Ai had anticipated the thief to pull his leg back, not expecting a kick. Caught off guard, he took a direct hit. Pain aside, hitting the face was a no-go, fueling his anger. He blurted out without thinking, “Fuck, you really kicked—”

At this exclamation, Kuang Jinxin froze.

Looking down again, the face seemed familiar.

“Qian Ge?” Kuang Jinxin murmured softly, unsure, and just as he voiced this, his master, already over the wall, pulled him down.

These words, mixed with the noise of his landing, puzzled Qian Ai, swirling in the foggy confusion.

Criminal record?

Lots of money?

Qian Ge*?

*Clarity: Hearing Kuang Jinxin say “Qian Ge”, Qian Ai is going through his brain thinking about what he had just heard (as if he had misheard it): criminal record [qian ke] (前科), lots of money [qian duo] (钱多).

In this world, except for Xiao Kuang, no one else would call him Qian Ge. But… could it be such a coincidence? And even if it was indeed Xiao Kuang, how could he recognize Qian Ai at a glance? The word “fuck” wasn’t his alone to use; the captain, the advisor, Xiao Xue—anyone could have said it.

Qian Ai looked up at the wall, tempted to jump over and ask for clarity.

But the fading footsteps beyond the wall told him the thief wasn’t alone, and they had already escaped far.

“What are you doing here?!” A middle-aged man came over, cursing. “One less person by the memorial hall makes an odd number. Breaking the rules and causing trouble, can you afford that?”

Qian Ai looked away, smiling apologetically, not because he was easygoing but because he had grown immune to the man’s nagging after waking up and having to listen to it 80% of the time.

This man was a tea server hired by the Cheng family, skilled in managing both joyous and sorrowful events, knowledgeable in all rituals and customs, from preparing the body to funeral procedures, orchestrating each step.

On the way back to the memorial hall, the tea server’s constant chatter, mainly complaints, became clear to Qian Ai—they had visitors for mourning.

“I’ve never seen such disregard for rules. Who mourns before the body is prepared? And at this hour, the sons in mourning need rest too. Who’s to ‘accompany the wake’? Who’s to ‘thank for mourning’…”

Qian Ai, half-understanding, nodded along, knowing agreement was usually safe.

Returning to the spirit shed, they found a young man in a Western suit and gold-rimmed glasses paying his respects to the portrait of Old Master Cheng.

The tea server’s demeanor softened, despite the breach of etiquette, welcoming the visitor and guiding him through the mourning process.

After the ceremony, before the tea server could escort the visitor out, the young man asked, “Can I have a moment to speak with you?”

The tea server was stunned for a moment and didn’t understand what he meant, but he still followed him to the side.

Qian Ai stood still, unable to hear the conversation between the two, but his eyes never left the young man.

For some reason, he felt that the young man’s gesture of pushing up his glasses was particularly elegant, wise, composed, and, well, pretentiously cool. But it wasn’t just any pretentious coolness; it was a kind that exuded an irritating air, a vibe that was both annoyingly familiar and itching.

“Zhuzi…” Suddenly, a servant beside him tugged at his sleeve.

Qian Ai’s rare moment of inspiration was interrupted, and he looked over irritably. “What?”

The servant was pale with fear, looking in the direction behind them. “Do you see that… Is that… the old master… floating?!”

The last words were uttered in such a fright that they didn’t even sound human anymore.

A chill ran down Qian Ai’s neck, and he immediately turned around to follow the servant’s pointing direction.

Then, he felt a chill from his hair down to the soles of his feet.

In the depths of the mist, a figure was floating, occasionally moving into less dense fog, revealing a dead face under the moonlight.

Qian Ai glanced at the “person” floating in the distance, then back at the portrait in the memorial hall, going back and forth, back and forth… Wasn’t this Old Master Cheng, who was supposed to be lying on the leisure bed in the memorial hall?

“It’s a false corpse*! Ahhhhh!” Another servant at the memorial hall screamed out, not sure who made such a noise, echoing through the silent Cheng family courtyard like a mix of firecrackers, skyrockets, flashbangs, and magic bullets.

*Ancient superstition, where it is said that when a person dies, there’s still a breath of air left in them, which can possess an animal that disturbs their corpse. The corpse will temporarily resurrect but can’t sustain itself and will then officially die (thus calling it a false (resurrected) corpse).

The first to react was that young man. He ignored the tea server and dashed towards the “dead person” floating in the depths of the mist!

Qian Ai, unsure of what came over him, felt a rush to his head and followed suit!

The young man ran ahead, he followed behind, and Old Master Cheng, as if aware of the pursuit, floated faster and faster, eventually even passing over the courtyard wall!

Without saying a word, the young man climbed towards the top of the wall!

Qian Ai was too familiar with this place, having been kicked here not long ago. At that time, he hadn’t had the chance to confirm the look in the eyes and was only left with the imprint of a shoe sole on half of his face. This time, he couldn’t miss the opportunity again—

“Someone used [Team Reunion] on you. If you don’t understand, just ignore me and keep climbing…”

Amidst a string of mumblings, the person already sitting on top of the wall froze.

Wu Sheng was just focusing on questioning the tea server and completely ignored the servants around him. His teammate, who had seemingly transmigrated, blended too well into the darkness of the night, just like the men in black from Detective Conan, with his features entirely merging into the shadows.

But now, he understood completely, his voice was filled with genuine joy. “Lao Qian!”

“Wu Sheng?” Compared to his advisor’s certainty, Qian Ai was still a bit hesitant.

“Who else would chase after the old master’s fake corpse but me?” Wu Sheng sighed. The current development caught him off guard, but time was of the essence. “Hurry up and come over. He’s headed east. Let’s chase together!”

Qian Ai didn’t hesitate at all, immediately joining Wu Sheng to leap over the courtyard wall and chase into the depths of the alley.

During the chase, Qian Ai finally understood Wu Sheng’s mission—to find the missing Du Jinnian.

As for why they ended up at the Cheng residence, it was because the client, Xue Qingshan, mentioned that the last place Du Jinnian was seen before his disappearance was at the Cheng family’s home.

The Du and Cheng families had been friends for generations, with Du Jinnian frequently visiting the Cheng residence. Xue Qingshan didn’t have much interaction with the Cheng family, but he had a good impression of his friend’s friend. Unfortunately, it was at the Cheng residence where Du Jinnian disappeared. Of course, Xue Qingshan had approached the Cheng family, but by then, the old master was already gravely ill. He was received by the eldest son of the Cheng family, Cheng Xiaonan, who confirmed that Du Jinnian did visit that day but left after having a cup of tea, knowing nothing else.

Wu Sheng had then hurried to the Cheng residence to investigate.

By the time all this was explained, Qian Ai was already out of breath, but there was one question he had to ask, “How could you recognize me as the servant at a glance? It could have been the captain, Xiao Kuang, or Xiao Xue, right?”

Wu Sheng glanced quickly at his teammate’s coarse clothes, worn shoes, and the face that read “life is hard”…

“Cough, it was just intuition. It’s very subtle, hard to describe…”

……

In a secluded back alley.

On a dark, murderous night with high winds, the thin fog couldn’t cover the smell of blood.

Hai Yunlong kicked a person towards Ying Jiu, who was tightly bound and had been tortured so badly that there wasn’t a good spot left on him. He was barely breathing, rolling on the ground like a blood gourd.

“Master Jiu, here’s the person back to you. I might have gone a bit too far, but he’s still alive,” Hai Yunlong said with a smile, wiping the blood off his shoe on the ground as if kicking that person had dirtied his shoe.

The brothers of the Fushou Gang standing behind Ying Jiu immediately stepped forward, veins bulging, barely restraining themselves from starting a fight.

Hai Yunlong’s followers immediately mimicked their stance, not giving an inch.

The atmosphere between the two sides became tense.

Until Ying Jiu said calmly, “Thank you, young gang leader.”

Following his words, the person on the ground was quickly put on a stretcher brought by the brothers of the Fushou Gang and carried away for treatment, leaving the remaining brothers on site.

Hai Yunlong tilted his head to look at Ying Jiu for a while, then smirked without a smile. “His life is still there, but my brother’s life—” he suddenly spread his hands, jokingly, “is gone.”

Ying Jiu gave a signal with his eyes.

Chi Yingxue, with his hands tied behind his back, was pushed out.

Ying Jiu touched his sleeve and said calmly, “A life for a life. Our Fushou Gang always abides by the rules.”

Hai Yunlong glanced at Chi Yingxue, then back at Ying Jiu, confused for a half-second.

His followers were collectively confused for several seconds.

These two were dressed almost identically; what was the meaning of this?

Both in long robes, one wouldn’t tell them apart if not for the bound hands of one, as if there were two Ying Jius standing there.

Had Tianjin introduced new rules? Before going on the road, one must dress according to the gang leader’s standard?

While Hai Yunlong’s followers were pondering in confusion, Hai Yunlong had already snapped back to reality, feigning politeness. “I knew Master Jiu was a man of principle.”

With a wave of his hand, two men immediately came up to drag Chi Yingxue towards Hai Yunlong’s side.

Just as he was being lifted, Chi Yingxue somehow broke free from the ropes, slipped out of the control of the two Hai gang brothers like a snake, and lunged at Hai Yunlong!

Hai Yunlong, completely unprepared for this turn of events, didn’t even have time to reach for his gun at his waist before Chi Yingxue had him in a chokehold!

Instead, Chi Yingxue helped him draw the gun, pressing its muzzle to his temple. Chi Yingxue’s eyes swept across the crowd coldly. “If anyone from the Hai Gang or the Fushou Gang dares to step forward, I’ll blow his head off.”

His gaze was cold, and his voice even colder, like a thin blade in the dark night, ready to cut throats.

“Back off!” Hai Yunlong shouted to his brothers, his voice breaking. Gone was his previously imposing demeanor.

The Hai Gang brothers naturally didn’t dare gamble with their young leader’s life.

But the stance of the Fushou Gang brothers was more delicate.

Hai Yunlong glanced nervously towards Ying Jiu.

The Fushou Gang and Hai Gang had never gotten along, but there had never been a major conflict openly. In theory, he thought the Fushou Gang wouldn’t dare act rashly, considering his father’s position above him. If they really did something to him, when his father came with the entire Hai Gang for revenge, things wouldn’t end well for the Fushou Gang.

But what if Ying Jiu acted impulsively? This was the cunning Master Ying Jiu—who knows what he was thinking.

“Let him go,” Ying Jiu finally said, making Hai Yunlong want to cry.

Chi Yingxue tightened his grip. “You let me go, I let him go.”

Ying Jiu nodded without hesitation. “Okay.”

Chi Yingxue smiled—a faint, disdainful smile—as if to say, my escape isn’t because you allowed it, but because I earned it.

Ying Jiu remained expressionless, just quietly watching him.

Chi Yingxue, while holding Hai Yunlong, retreated towards the direction of the Hai Gang brothers, who immediately cleared a path for them.

Hai Yunlong stumbled, finding it increasingly difficult to breathe, pleading continuously, “Brother, don’t strangle me to death. If I die, you won’t be able to get out…”

Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden noise came from the wall, and the next second, a body “plopped” into the alley, landing between the Hai Gang and the Fushou Gang, right in front of Chi Yingxue and Hai Yunlong, with the person’s hand landing on Hai Yunlong’s foot.

Upon closer inspection, this wasn’t a living person at all, but clearly someone wearing funeral clothes!

If not for Chi Yingxue holding him with the gun pressed against him, Hai Yunlong would have jumped up.

The air suddenly froze, and every brother in the alley, regardless of affiliation, stared dumbfounded at the corpse of the old man in funeral clothes on the ground, somewhat bewildered.

They had seen corpses before, in all states of gore, but the sudden appearance of an old man from the sky, especially on such a dark, windy, and foggy night, was a different kind of horror.

Chi Yingxue was the first to snap out of it. Taking advantage of everyone’s shock, he pushed Hai Yunlong and jumped over the wall to escape!

Hai Yunlong, pushed onto the old man, took a while to get up. His legs were weak. Furious, he ordered all the brothers, “Chase!”

A group of people immediately scaled the wall, no longer caring about the unrelated corpse.

……

After jumping over the wall, Chi Yingxue didn’t leave but hid on the roof of a nearby shop, leisurely watching Hai Yunlong and his gang run off. He blew a whistle only he could hear and jumped down from the roof.

To his surprise, a group from the Fushou Gang was waiting behind the house.

As soon as Chi Yingxue landed, he knew trouble was imminent. Turning around, sure enough, Ying Jiu was standing there with his hands behind his back, relaxed, with the Fushou Gang brothers carrying the old man’s corpse behind him.

“I don’t know him,” Chi Yingxue declared first.

“……” Ying Jiu sighed lightly, for the first time feeling his patience wearing thin. “He is Old Master Cheng from the Cheng family, who passed away two days ago.”

Chi Yingxue: “Oh.”

Ying Jiu: “……”

Perhaps unable to watch their leader being tormented any longer, the Fushou Gang brothers burst into action—

“Why waste words with him, Master Jiu? He denies involvement after drawing lots; our Fushou Gang doesn’t harbor such cowards!”

“Exactly, Master Jiu. Just say the word, and we’ll dump him in the Hai River!”

“Before dumping him, strip off those clothes. They look so uncomfortable!”

Ying Jiu raised his hand.

The brothers immediately fell silent.

Chi Yingxue tilted his head, curiously looking at Ying Jiu’s hand. Having witnessed its effect twice now, he had every reason to suspect it had a “mute button”.

“Why did you hold Hai Yunlong hostage?” Ying Jiu suddenly asked.

Chi Yingxue was slow to respond, only realizing Ying Jiu was speaking to him.

“I can’t die.”

“Can’t?” Ying Jiu raised his eyebrows slightly. People usually say, “Don’t want to.”

“If I die, I can’t submit my paper.”

“Paper?”

Chi Yingxue, losing patience with this repetitive conversation style, unilaterally decided they were not suited for dialogue.

Ying Jiu also realized that following the other’s lead in conversation was a dead end and directly brought back the original question. “Why did you, being closer to me, go out of your way to take Hai Yunlong hostage?”

Chi Yingxue shrugged. “I don’t want to pay with my life. You’re at fault. I take him hostage, it’s his loss of face. If he doesn’t hold it against you and you don’t spread it around, this matter will slide. If I took you hostage, it would be both your fault and loss of face, and he could broadcast it everywhere…”

He paused mid-sentence, suddenly zoning out as if just realizing what he had said.

Ying Jiu didn’t catch his lapse, instead showing rare approval. “Kid, from now on, follow me.”

Chi Yingxue didn’t hear Ying Jiu’s words, deaf to everything except his own heartbeat. Was it really him who answered so smoothly? That clarity of thought, that sharpness of vision, that decisiveness in action—it all felt more like… Yan Wang.

He despised thinking because clarity brought back unwanted memories. So, he preferred to be lazy and muddled.

Slowly raising his hand to his chest, Chi Yingxue, feeling the steady heartbeat, suddenly realized something.

The joke he and Chi Zhuolin made might be true—Yan Wang hadn’t left; he just stayed with him in another way.

“Hey, Master Jiu is giving you face. Don’t throw it away!” Someone nearby pushed him.

Chi Yingxue snapped back to reality. “Hm?”

Ying Jiu looked up at the foggy night sky, exhaling softly before looking back at Chi Yingxue. “I said, from now on, stay by my side. Stop being Cat Five.”

The career shift came too fast for Chi Yingxue to follow. “Then what am I?”

Master Ying Jiu: “Master Wu*.”

*Five.

Chi Yingxue: “You’re Master Jiu*, and I’m Master Wu. Wouldn’t I be running ahead of you?”

*Nine.

Master Ying Jiu: “Young—Master Wu.”

Chi Yingxue: “That’s good, sounds younger.”

Master Ying Jiu: “……”

Fushou Gang brothers: “……”

—Cat Five, a low-level thug in the Fushou Gang, was promoted on a starless night.

“Master Jiu.” The brother carrying the corpse asked, “What do we do now?”

Master Ying Jiu, having recognized the corpse as Old Master Cheng, pondered for a moment before saying, “Go to the Cheng family.”

……

On the main road, two alleys away, Wu Sheng and Qian Ai, having lost track of “Old Master Cheng”, ran into a procession of monks headed to the Cheng family for a ritual the next day.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 159: Tianjin

11/23, Guizhou.

When they stepped into the purple vortex, the five friends simultaneously heard the paid intelligence provided by Mr. Fan echoing in their ears.

[11/23, Owl will send you into a crime scene from the Republic of China era. Most of them are homicides, with the occasional oddity, supernatural tale, or other miscellaneous cases. But the essence remains the same—dispel the fog and uncover the truth.]

To the friends, the words “deductive reasoning” was synonymous with “bonus level”. With Wu Sheng among them, following the deductive path, even if they wanted to be pessimistic, their hearts couldn’t help but bloom with joy. Upon closer inspection, each petal was a test paper, all marked with “correct”, 100 points.

With smiles of confidence, their vision cleared.

A pure white chamber, futuristic, like a space capsule.

The five friends: “……”

The identical scene gave them an instant sensation of time reversal, as if they had returned to the hell inside their minds on 9/23, awaiting the next dark prompt to pop up.

“Click—”

Indeed, it popped up as expected.

Chi Yingxue’s expression was darker than the darkness. Clearly, this setting held no fond memories for him.

The other four companions’ faces weren’t much better. Is this the Republic of China? Is this solving a case? Is this deducing? If Fan Yebai didn’t come up with a “seven-day no question asked + express refund + 10% compensation for every fake” luxury package, they’re absolutely going to give bad reviews to everyone they meet in the Endless Sea!

[Owl: Welcome to the chaotic Republic of China!]

Just as they finished criticizing the seller in their minds, the earpiece’s prompt vindicated Mr. Fan of his grievances.

The group paused, listening intently.

[Owl: The rules are simple. The Dark Agent No. 1 will receive a mission, complete it, and submit their paper. Dark Agents No. 2–5 will ensure their own survival until Dark Agent No. 1 submits their paper. During the process, if they meet each other, Dark Agents No. 2–5 may assist No. 1 in submitting their paper. Remember, first, each person can only use stationery only once—any further use is invalid; second, if any one of the five dies, it’s considered a submission failure.]

[Owl: You have three minutes to choose your Dark Agents. Countdown starts now.]

The friends looked at each other. Obviously, this level had been updated in form and was likely a recent addition, hence Mr. Fan’s lack of timely updates. But the core, still, was Republic of China + puzzle solving.

According to the rules, Dark Agent No. 1 is the absolute key player of this level.

Eight eyes fell on Wu Sheng, almost without hesitation.

With great power comes great responsibility. The advisor didn’t shirk, but he had instructions. “The rules mention ‘if you meet’, indicating we five will be separated. ‘Ensure your own survival’ means No. 2–5 will face dangers, so unless it’s feasible, don’t forcefully try to find me. Ensuring your own safety is the priority.”

Xu Wang nodded for the three companions. “Understood.”

Understanding is one thing, but in the chaotic times of the Republic of China, how could they let their advisor venture alone!

……

Republic of China, Tianjin, 5^th Avenue, Bai Mansion.

“Mr. Bai, I dare not say this money is remuneration. Just take it for some tea. Once you find my brother, I will have a substantial reward!”

The speaker was a young man with a sincere face and a sturdy build, dressed in a traditional Chinese long robe, exuding an air of martial vigor. He cupped his fists and bowed to Mr. Bai, who was sitting on the sofa, and spoke with sincerity; every word was sonorous.

The owner of the mansion, Mr. Bai, a modern and handsome young man with meticulously combed hair and gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, was dressed in Western attire. He stood in stark contrast to the visiting Mr. Xue, as if representing two different worlds.

“Rest assured, Mr. Xue, I’ll take the case.”

After listening to about fifteen minutes of “case presentation”, Mr. Bai had been quietly contemplative, making Xue Qingshan nervous. Now, finally speaking up without any fluff, just a clean and clear “I’ll take it”, it was like a rain shower for Xue Qingshan.

“Then I’ll leave it to you!” Xue Qingshan expressed his immense gratitude as if he wasn’t the one paying but rather receiving money.

Mr. Bai smiled, accepting the client’s pre-emptive thanks, even though he hadn’t started working yet.

After sending off Xue Qingshan, Mr. Bai returned to his study, surrounded by various books and several “investigation notebooks” on his desk. He envied the “contractors” of the Republic of China. In such chaotic times, as long as you have real skills, you could be assertive. If those skills were extraordinary, no amount of money could “hire” you, only “request” your services.

Mr. Bai, a “young detective” from a wealthy family, had set up this Bai Mansion on the most prosperous 5^th Avenue, taking on all kinds of challenging cases—not for money, but as a hobby. Unexpectedly, he made a name for himself. The recent visit from Young Master Xue was out of admiration, bringing enough money to tempt any detective into danger, just to find someone—his sworn brother, Du Jinnian, who had disappeared.

However, at this moment, Mr. Bai wasn’t really Mr. Bai.

Inside his body was the soul of Advisor Wu.

Wu Sheng had calculated everything but didn’t expect this to be a transmigration scenario. It was all because of the similarity to the dark room in 9/23, which made him assume it was still the same as last time—though it was consciousness navigating the challenge, he would still be in his own form.

Now, he turned out to be someone else, and so would his four companions, each with different appearances and identities. Even if they met head-on in the street, they probably wouldn’t recognize each other.

As Wu Sheng pondered, he lifted his arm again.

He entered as Dark Agent No. 1, the sole task executor for this level.

Now, no, as soon as Xue Qingshan arrived, his mission was issued—

[Cheat Sheet]: Accept Xue Qingshan’s commission to find Du Jinnian.

……

Republic of China, Tianjin, by the Hai River, Guajia Temple.

Xu Wang hadn’t opened his eyes yet but first smelled the incense—quiet, solemn, instinctively calming.

This was the only moment of peace he had that night.

Then, he opened his eyes, saw this world, saw the courtyard full of monks, saw himself in monk robes, and in the reflection of the lotus pond, saw his own face—though his lips were still red, his teeth were still white, and he still had lively eyes, they were all entirely unfamiliar.

His emotions surged from then on, wave after wave crashing against the shore, each slap dizzying him with confusion.

Until an older monk came over to scold him. “What are you dazed about? Get moving.”

Xu Wang asked blankly, “Where to?”

As he spoke, the courtyard gradually emptied—the monks who had been in the yard had already left in succession, forming a procession of ascetics on the streets as night fell.

“To the Cheng family,” the monk said, pushing him towards the door. “Old Master Cheng has passed away. Tomorrow is the third day, and a ritual must be performed.”

Xu Wang was confused. “The third day?”

“Three days after death, it’s believed that the deceased ascends to the Lookout Platform to gaze upon their homeland. At this time, chanting scriptures to help the soul transcend lets them know that their family has been waiting for them for three days. Since the deceased cannot return to life, this ritual also serves as their last farewell to their family. When the master performs the fire offering, just follow the other monks in chanting.”

Xu Wang: “……”

What’s a fire offering? His knowledge system was blank in this area!

“Hurry up—” Seeing that the courtyard was about to be empty, the monk pushed him hard on the back.

Stumbling to the doorway, Xu Wang gritted his teeth and jogged to catch up with the procession of monks ahead.

Thinking positively, being a monk in the chaotic times of the Republic of China meant at least there was no risk to his life. The monastery provided sustenance, and even if he couldn’t reunite with his friends, enduring until Wu Sheng completed the task should be possible.

As the night fully descended and the moon rose, the air grew cooler.

Xu Wang looked up at the moon, and as he watched, it turned into Wu Sheng’s face.

He said in his heart, “You better finish the task quickly. These hairless nights are too cold.”

……

Republic of China, Tianjin, the Cheng family.

The night deepened, but the mourning hall still had white candles burning. The filial sons and grandsons had finished their crying during the day, and now only a few servants stood guard. They were all young and sturdy, dressed neatly but plainly, with sun-tanned skin, clearly from humble origins.

Qian Ai was among them.

Upon opening his eyes, he was faced with the mourning hall, and then a breeze blew, flickering the candlelight, illuminating the paper effigies of boys and girls, horses, and sheep, more thrilling than inhaling menthol.

What was truly terrifying was the feeling that he had made eye contact with those two paper effigies of children. He inexplicably felt that the two paper figures were watching him, and once this feeling arose, it couldn’t be erased. No matter how he shook his head from side to side or turned around in place, he felt those pairs of eyes following his every move.

A square-faced servant next to him, tired, noticed his discomfort and muttered in confusion, “What’s up? Possessed by a ghost?”

Before Qian Ai could respond, another round-faced servant disapproved, his eyes full of the will to live. “Brother, isn’t it bad to joke about that here…”

Qian Ai really wanted to give Round Face a thumbs up.

Talking about possession in a mourning hall was simply asking for trouble!

Square Face paused, looking at the mourning hall, white candles, and paper effigies, and fell silent.

But it was too late; he too began to feel the paper effigies watching him, following Qian Ai’s path—swaying his head and turning in circles.

……

Cheng family’s back garden, outside the courtyard wall.

“Master, have you ever thought about changing professions?” A young boy, around fifteen or sixteen years old, handed a grappling hook attached to a rope to the middle-aged man beside him.

“Change to what?” The middle-aged man threw the grappling hook onto the wall, pulled it, and the rope tautened securely.

“Like… stop being a thief.” Both the young man and the middle-aged man were dressed in black. Their heads were covered, and they wore masks, making them unrecognizable to even their own mothers.

“Quit being a thief? And starve?” The middle-aged man leapt up, his movements light, climbing the rope smoothly onto the wall. He then moved aside, lying low on the top of the wall to avoid attracting attention, and urged, “Come up.”

The young man, failing to persuade his master, had no choice but to grab the rope and slowly climb up.

The middle-aged man waited for a long time, only to find that his disciple had climbed just halfway, rendering him speechless. “Tuck in your stomach, take a deep breath, focus on your feet, and use the momentum to lift yourself… I didn’t ask you to swing on a swing!”

The middle-aged man was usually calm and could suppress his temper well, but tonight he was truly frustrated. His disciple, for some unknown reason, had been incessantly nagging along the way, and though he had tolerated his urging to reform, now the disciple couldn’t even climb over a wall. What use was such a useless disciple!

“Have you eaten all I taught you?” Unable to bear it anymore, the middle-aged man reached down and yanked the disciple up.

With the help of the rope and his master’s pull, the young man finally made it onto the top of the wall.

Under the cover of the dark night, master and disciple successfully entered the Cheng family’s property.

With the Cheng family busy with funeral arrangements and the comings and goings of many people focused on mourning, it was the perfect time for “sneaking into the night with the wind and stealing quietly”.

Kuang Jinxin had transmigrated into the body of a burglar’s apprentice. His twenty-three years of law-abiding life were slipping into the abyss of crime.

……

Republic of China, Tianjin, South Market (lawless area).

“Brother, it’s your turn.” As soon as Chi Yingxue opened his eyes, he saw someone handing him a draw tube.

There were six sticks left in the draw tube.

He quickly surveyed his surroundings—a shabby, sweaty-smelling shack and a group of young men with a dubious air but serious expressions. This was clearly an illegal hideout.

“Draw.” The person holding the draw tube urged him.

Chi Yingxue, utterly confused, reached out to draw, then realized something was off. Although this hand was also beautiful, it wasn’t his.

He felt his hair, pinched his face, and checked his chest under the clothes. Indeed, this was someone else’s body.

“What?” The draw tube was nearly shoved into his face. “Hurry up and draw!”

Chi Yingxue, bewildered, randomly pulled out a stick—the bottom of the stick was red.

The air suddenly went quiet.

The people in the room seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but their faces remained tense.

“Brother, accept your fate.” The person put down the draw tube, sighed, and patted his shoulder.

Chi Yingxue frowned, posing his first question after waking up. “Accept what fate?”

The man frowned deeper than Chi Yingxue, his voice dropping. “Drawing the black and red sticks is the rule here. It’s all up to fate. You think you can refuse?”

Chi Yingxue quietly observed him for a moment, deciding not to compromise. “Whether I accept or not, we’ll see. First, tell me, who am I? Where am I? Why do we have to draw? What happens if I draw a red stick?”

The roomful of young men: “……”

The one with the draw tube, now pale with anger, threw the draw tube down, ignoring him, and walked out the door. “Master Jiu, the red stick has been drawn. It’s Cat Five.”

Chi Yingxue: “……”

Is this a code name? A mission name? A gang name?

“Cat Five, don’t hold a grudge against your brothers.” Two hands, one on both sides, each grabbed his arms. Before he could react, someone came up behind him, binding his hands firmly behind his back.

Oh, so Cat Five was his name here. Truly… there couldn’t be a more unpleasant name.

And the clothes were ugly too.

Chi Yingxue looked down at himself, then up at a room full of “demons and monsters”. His fanciful imagination of the Republic of China era’s charm was shattered to dust.

The person with the tube returned inside, followed by a very dignified-looking man. He looked to be around forty years old, was tall and slender, and wore a long robe and jacket that looked antique and steady, with exquisite buttons, and the cuffs were embroidered with patterns. His face was handsome—the years had hardly diminished his beauty—but they had deposited an indelible aura of sternness in his brow, and his eyes were sharp, with a hint of ruthlessness difficult to detect.

Upon entering, his gaze fell on Chi Yingxue.

“Whatever your request, just make it. Once it’s done, you can go on your way peacefully. Don’t worry about your family; someone will take care of them.” The man’s voice was cold, and even such gentle words felt chilling to the listeners.

The young hooligans in the room, usually bullies, didn’t dare to meet this Master Jiu’s eyes, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Chi Yingxue, however, felt indifferent.

Wu Sheng had said that since the Owl required No. 2–5 to survive until submission, danger was undoubtedly ahead. Now, as soon as he arrived, he was to be sent off, which fit the scenario perfectly. No problem there.

“Can you agree to whatever I request?” he asked, full of doubt and without a hint of respect in his tone.

The room went pale with fright.

Yet, Master Jiu merely smiled gently, looking quite amicable. “Anything but your life.”

Chi Yingxue nodded, deciding to trust him this once. “Who am I? Where am I? Why do I have to draw lots? What happens if I draw a red lot?”

“……” The barrage of questions momentarily stunned Master Jiu.

“Answering these questions, that’s my request.” Chi Yingxue thoughtfully clarified.

Master Jiu: “……”

The room of hooligans: “……”

The one with the tube said, “Master Jiu, he might have gone mad from drawing the red lot…”

Master Jiu raised his hand.

The person with the tube immediately fell silent.

After a moment of contemplation, Master Jiu answered, “You’re called Cat Five, a member of our Fushou Gang. The Fushou Gang killed someone from the Hai Gang, and now the Hai Gang has come for retribution. The old rule is to draw black and red lots; those who draw a red lot have to die for the gang. Any more questions?”

Chi Yingxue looked at him for a long while, then sincerely said, “Your clothes look good. Can you get me a set too?”

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 158: Extra Chapter – Chi Yingxue

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back to Beijing?” As Chi Zhuolin entered the door, he frowned at the cramped double room in front of him but didn’t ask if he should get a luxury room instead—an obviously face-slapping question. Chi Yingxue had the card that could be swiped for anything. Staying in a standard room could only mean one reason—he wanted to.

“You didn’t tell me, yet you located me precisely.” Chi Yingxue pulled the room’s only chair over.

Chi Zhuolin was about to step forward when he saw his younger brother naturally sit down on it.

He immediately felt at ease, confirming this was indeed his younger brother.

Hanging his coat on the wall, Chi Zhuolin looked around the room. Apart from that chair, there were only two beds with the quilts rolled up into balls.

“Which bed is yours?” Chi Zhuolin asked. He was never the type to stand because there was no chair for him but sitting on someone else’s bed was still somewhat impolite.

“Both are mine,” Chi Yingxue said matter-of-factly, with a childishly domineering tone.

Chi Zhuolin felt a headache coming on.

The key reason he never settled down or had children was Chi Yingxue—taking care of a younger brother was already draining enough, let alone having a child. He definitely didn’t want one.

“How long will you stay in Beijing this time?” Chi Zhuolin picked a relatively less messy bed, flipped the quilt, and sat at the corner of the bed with his back naturally straight, legs crossed, and fingers interlocked on his knee, managing to make the corner of the bed feel like an executive chair.

“A day or two.” Chi Yingxue tilted his chin towards the next room. “Depends on them.”

“So rushed?” Chi Zhuolin originally wanted to arrange some hospitality activities for Xu Wang and others as a regular thank you and reward. After all, this group of travel friends had been with Chi Yingxue for the longest time. Moreover, Chi Zhuolin had investigated; all four had clean backgrounds. He wasn’t too worried about Chi Yingxue hanging out with such people. “Where to next?”

Chi Yingxue opened a pack of fruit gummies on the table, tossing an orange-flavored one into his mouth. “Guizhou.”

“Guizhou?” Chi Zhuolin frowned. “You really think you’re Xu Xiake*?”

*A Chinese travel writer and geographer of the Ming dynasty, known best for his famous geographical treatise, and noted for his bravery and humility. He traveled throughout China for more than 30 years, documenting his travels extensively.

Shaanxi, Anhui, Henan, Chongqing, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Hunan… A map of China appeared in Chi Zhuolin’s mind, half of it already stamped with his younger brother’s footsteps.

Chi Yingxue yawned in boredom, then tossed a second strawberry-flavored candy into his mouth. “Didn’t you say it’s better than loafing around? Traveling is good for the health, and it’s eco-friendly.”

“That doesn’t mean you should never stop traveling.” Chi Zhuolin felt helpless. He just hoped his brother would go out and breathe some fresh air. Now, it seemed like Journey to the West.

Chi Yingxue raised an eyebrow, glancing at him nonchalantly. “Would you rather I stayed in Beijing and annoyed you?”

Chi Zhuolin’s face stiffened, seriously saying, “I’ve never found you annoying.”

Chi Yingxue said, “I find you annoying.”

Chi Zhuolin: “……”

Chi Yingxue laughed, knowing that verbal sparring wouldn’t yield anything substantial, but seeing Chi Zhuolin at a loss for words made him happy. After all, this person always acted all high and mighty, educating him, making every face-to-face feel like he was being looked down on—a real disadvantage.

“You, stop trying to manage me.” Chi Yingxue sat up straight, imitating Chi Zhuolin’s tone and posture, and patted his brother’s shoulder kindly. “Manage the company, manage the property, and if you have any energy left, get married and have an heir…”

“Are you advising me or cursing me?” Chi Zhuolin had just opened a bottle of water, but upon hearing that, he didn’t feel like drinking anymore, fearing he might choke.

Chi Yingxue spread his hands, feigning a look of being wronged despite good intentions.

A subtle feeling swept through Chi Zhuolin’s heart. Although Chi Yingxue was always infuriating, “relationship issues” were never a topic he joked about.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, he scanned the room again, seeing no signs of another person. However, curiosity drove him to launch a sudden attack. “Are you in a relationship?”

Just as Chi Yingxue put the third grape-flavored candy in his mouth, he heard this and swallowed reflexively, sending the candy down his throat.

The candy hadn’t fully softened, stuck in his throat painfully. Chi Yingxue frowned, resisting the urge to grab the water bottle Chi Zhuolin had just opened but hadn’t drunk from, and swallowed a few times to finally get the candy down.

He breathed a sigh of relief and changed the subject. “Yan Wang is gone.”

Chi Zhuolin, calculating his next move, was thrown off by this abrupt statement.

“What did you say?” He asked again, cautiously, afraid he had misheard.

Chi Yingxue looked up at him, calmly stating, “Yan Wang, is gone.”

“Is he… gone forever, or just temporarily…” Chi Zhuolin’s voice trembled with excitement.

“Here.” Chi Yingxue pointed to his chest. “I can’t find him anymore.”

Chi Zhuolin could clearly hear his own heartbeat, thumping like a drum.

In the past, even if Yan Wang was asleep, Chi Yingxue could accurately locate him and even wake him up. More often than not, Yan Wang wasn’t asleep but was struggling with Chi Yingxue in his heart.

So Chi Zhuolin understood the significance of “can’t find”.

But he didn’t understand. “How could it suddenly…”

Chi Yingxue smiled at him, almost ethereally, under the dim light. “Pretend I had a very long dream, and now, the dream is over.”

Chi Zhuolin couldn’t help but feel heartache while touching his brother’s head. “It’s good you’re awake.” These words gave him an inexplicable sense of relief, so he repeated, “It’s good you’re awake.”

Without any concrete evidence, based solely on Chi Yingxue’s lips barely touching, Chi Zhuolin chose to believe, or rather, he hoped more than anyone that it was true.

That brother, who always switched between personalities, was both heart-wrenching and alienating. Despite reading countless psychology books, despite constantly telling himself that the other personality was also his brother, it was hard to truly accept.

He found it difficult to regard Yan Wang as his brother, and Yan Wang never treated him as a brother either.

The matter of treatment stalled due to Chi Yingxue’s resistance. Although he scoffed at some psychologists’ approaches, “treatment” itself was the only method Chi Zhuolin could rely on.

“So,” Chi Yingxue propped his head with one hand, smiling at Chi Zhuolin, “you don’t have to feel indebted to me anymore.”

Chi Zhuolin’s brows slowly furrowed, as if puzzled.

Chi Yingxue looked at him indifferently. “Back then, when you were at the boarding school, you didn’t understand why I was afraid of him, but you still sent me letters within your capabilities. Strictly speaking, you don’t owe me; instead, I owe you.”

Chi Zhuolin finally understood, but his frown deepened, and his tone grew heavier. “Do you think my treatment of you now is to make up for the past?”

Chi Yingxue lightly raised an eyebrow, as if to say, “Isn’t it?”

Chi Zhuolin gave him a sidelong glance without mercy. “You’re overthinking it. Back then, I was powerless. I couldn’t even speak up at home. Even if I knew how he treated you, what could I do besides suffer with you?”

“Listen clearly.” Chi Zhuolin looked at him firmly, with an authoritative tone in his voice. “I treat you well for one reason—you’re my brother.”

Chi Yingxue was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. “Then give me half of the family wealth, and we can go our separate ways. You won’t have to deal with me as a burden anymore.”

“I refuse.” Chi Zhuolin didn’t hesitate for a second, refusing outright and confidently. “No matter how much I give you, with the way you only spend without earning, you’ll end up homeless.”

Chi Yingxue smirked. “You still can’t bear to let me go.”

Chi Zhuolin snorted. “I gave you that card with no limit. You’re welcome to try and spend all my money.”

A mischievous glint flashed in Chi Yingxue’s eyes. “Don’t regret it when the time comes.”

Chi Zhuolin looked at him and elegantly smiled. “If your spending can catch up with my ability to earn money, then you win.”

“……” Chi Yingxue finally understood how his teammates felt when he was overly confident.

Chi Zhuolin’s gaze inadvertently fell on the gummies on the desk. He was about to lecture Chi Yingxue on eating less sweets when he saw him suddenly lower his eyes, exhaling softly.

“Sometimes, I feel like he’s gone forever.” Chi Yingxue’s voice was low and distant. “And sometimes, I feel like he’s never left…”

Chi Zhuolin’s heart tightened, clearly understanding “he” referred to Yan Wang.

“You just said you couldn’t find him…” Chi Zhuolin’s words were cut off by Chi Yingxue suddenly looking up.

The gaze that met his was direct and sharp, like a knife.

Chi Zhuolin’s heart sank. He was too familiar with that expression. “Yan Wang…”

The person opposite him smirked, first with a mocking curve, then the smile could no longer be restrained and turned into genuine pride. “Just kidding.”

“……” Watching Chi Yingxue turn back into himself in an instant, Chi Zhuolin didn’t know whether to be angry or relieved.

But one thing he was sure of—this was definitely retaliation for his grand statements about earning money!

“Knock, knock—”

The unexpected knocking on the door interrupted the “tender moment” between the brothers.

Chi Zhuolin, puzzled, watched as Chi Yingxue got up, naturally walked over, and opened the door without asking.

“The captain sent me to call you out for supper. We found a particularly delicious place nearby…” Kuang Jinxin’s voice paused upon seeing Chi Zhuolin inside, surprised. “Mr. Chi?”

Chi Yingxue turned to look at Chi Zhuolin. He didn’t say anything and just silently looked at him.

Chi Zhuolin correctly interpreted the silent message to leave. He gracefully stood up, took his coat over his arm, and walked to the door. “You guys eat. I’m heading back.”

Kuang Jinxin glanced between Chi Yingxue and Chi Zhuolin, unsure of the situation but politely offered, “Why not join us?”

Chi Yingxue pulled Kuang Jinxin into the room with one arm and pushed Chi Zhuolin out with the other. “He has work to do at the company.”

“Oh.” Kuang Jinxin nodded blankly, then his gaze turned to a respectful send-off for Chi Zhuolin.

Chi Zhuolin felt a pang of self-pity, but seeing Chi Yingxue and Kuang Jinxin getting along well, he couldn’t help but feel happy and relieved that his brother was making friends.

After watching Chi Zhuolin disappear in the elevator, Kuang Jinxin turned back to continue discussing the supper plans with Chi Yingxue, only for the latter to stretch out his hand and close the door.

Kuang Jinxin was just there to pass a message and was planning to leave, but Chi Yingxue’s action of closing the door subtly changed the atmosphere.

Equally strange was Chi Yingxue, who, after closing the door, remained silent, all emotions hidden under the shadow of his eyelashes.

“What’s wrong?” Kuang Jinxin asked softly, sensing it had something to do with Chi Zhuolin.

What had the brothers just talked about? Yan Wang? Something in their childhood? A series of question marks popped up in Kuang Jinxin’s mind, along with those dark nightmares from the 9/23 level.

Suddenly, he was embraced.

A simple, solid hug.

“Don’t move. Let me hold you for a while.” Chi Yingxue’s voice came from above, sounding distant.

Kuang Jinxin stayed still, letting Chi Yingxue hug him without reciprocating.

He could clearly feel that Chi Yingxue didn’t need his response. The person holding him just needed something to hold—something warm, be it him, Kuang Jinxin, a doll, or a pillow.

Kuang Jinxin heard two heartbeats, one steady and strong, belonging to Chi Yingxue, and one rapid and chaotic, his own.

Chi Yingxue originally didn’t plan to say anything. He had already said too much to Chi Zhuolin, feeling empty now and just wanted to hold onto something to ease the emptiness.

But the room was too quiet—so quiet that Chi Zhuolin’s words came back to haunt him.

[Are you in a relationship?]

A question Chi Yingxue had never considered was jokingly brought up by Chi Zhuolin.

It was as if a gummy had been thrown into the bottom of his heart, slowly melting. The sweetness was tingling, making it irresistible.

“Xiao Sijin.” Chi Yingxue suddenly spoke. He was still embracing him, his chin gently resting on top of his head, as if intending to continue this hug to the end of time. “Have you ever had a girlfriend?”

“No.” Kuang Jinxin turned his face to look at the wall beside him, where faint gray spots were easily overlooked, mistakable for pristine whiteness.

“What about a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Do you want to?”

“Yes.”

“Then…”

“But I don’t want to be with you.”

Chi Yingxue pulled away and raised his eyebrows in displeasure. “Am I that bad?”

The tranquil and warm embrace was thus concluded by its initiator with a hasty full stop that seemed out of place with the process. Or perhaps, he never cared about these things.

“You’re not bad; you just never seem to know what you want.” Kuang Jinxin tried to smile at him but didn’t succeed. Embarrassment flickered in his eyes, yet he continued speaking, thankfully with a steady voice. “You just want someone to accompany you. It doesn’t matter who, as long as they’re with you.”

Chi Yingxue was puzzled. “So, I chose you.”

Kuang Jinxin sighed, not knowing how to make him understand. “Dating requires mutual affection, like the captain and Sheng Ge.” He tried to soften his voice, hoping Chi Yingxue wouldn’t get angry and would listen. “Wanting someone’s company out of loneliness isn’t the same as liking them.”

Chi Yingxue fell silent, but the temperature in his beautiful eyes was dropping.

He was angry.

Kuang Jinxin was frustrated.

Actually, Chi Yingxue’s personality was quite simple: agree with him, and he’s happy; oppose him, and he gets irritable, especially when he’s unwilling to compromise or temper his mood.

But this matter was different from others; he couldn’t just agree with him.

Otherwise, Chi Yingxue might feel better, but then Kuang Jinxin would truly be trapped.

Chi Yingxue only wanted companionship and could only offer companionship, but Kuang Jinxin wanted more. Knowing it was unattainable yet still falling for it was too painful.

Kuang Jinxin was selfish; he didn’t want to suffer.

“I, the captain, the advisor, and Qian Ge—we will all be with you,” before the temperature in Chi Yingxue’s eyes hit rock bottom, Kuang Jinxin said. “Even if we leave the Owl, we will always be friends.”

Chi Yingxue blinked gently, his emotions unclear under the dim light.

“Xiao Sijin, do you know what I hate most about you?” He finally spoke, his voice softer and almost tender than Kuang Jinxin’s.

Kuang Jinxin froze.

Chi Yingxue slowly uttered the word, “Hypocrisy.”

A pang of inexplicable pain hit Kuang Jinxin.

Chi Yingxue continued on his own. “Even when facing people you dislike, you can say a bunch of nice things. It’s as if everyone is struggling in the mire, and only you stand on the shore, pitying them.”

“Actually, you might have cursed them countless times in your heart, but the nice words coming out of your mouth seem particularly sincere and credible.” He stepped back, scrutinizing Kuang Jinxin’s face, and finally nodded. “Yeah, it’s because of this face of yours—too upright, too misleading.”

Kuang Jinxin blinked, his gaze a little lost and slightly shrinking.

Reason told him that Chi Yingxue was just angry because he was rejected—that his words shouldn’t be taken to heart.

But emotionally, he thought that maybe this was Chi Yingxue’s true feelings—that this was how he saw him.

“Knock, knock, knock, knock—”

A careless knock on the door made Kuang Jinxin shudder.

But he quickly reacted, swiftly turning to open the door.

Outside was Qian Ai, who immediately complained upon seeing Kuang Jinxin open the door. “How come you couldn’t even call someone out!”

After saying that, he slowly noticed Chi Yingxue standing in the entrance as well, pausing for a moment, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two. “What’s going on with you two? If there’s something to talk about, do it over dinner. Why stand here?”

“Oh, Mr. Chi came over. He just left.” Kuang Jinxin, unable to fabricate a lie, resorted to the truth as a deflection.

“Chi Zhuolin?” Qian Ai’s attention was indeed diverted. “Why didn’t you ask him to join us?”

Before Kuang Jinxin could answer, Qian Ai had already figured it out himself. “I get it. The boss must be busy.”

“Alright, hurry up and change. We’ll wait for you in the lobby downstairs.” After speaking to Chi Yingxue and Kuang Jinxin, Qian Ai considerately pulled Kuang Jinxin, who had already changed, out with him, naturally expecting him to come downstairs with himself, who was also ready.

Chi Yingxue looked at Qian Ai’s hand on Kuang Jinxin’s shoulder, frowning unconsciously.

Unaware, Qian Ai closed the door with a “bang”, considerately locking it from the outside for his teammate.

This meal, Chi Yingxue ate without taste, occasionally glancing at Kuang Jinxin, who was just eating silently. Until the meal ended and they returned to the hotel, Chi Yingxue still hadn’t caught a single glance from him.

---

Kinky Thoughts:

This marks the end of the third volume. Just one more to go.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 157: Choice

“Ten years ago?” The man repeated the time point, a flicker of something passing through his eyes.

Xu Wang nodded solemnly. “Ten years ago, in the Owl.”

The man slightly narrowed his eyes, taking a serious look at Xu Wang for the first time, but soon he laughed, shaking his head. “How old were you ten years ago? I don’t remember encountering a kid there.”

Xu Wang stared at him steadily. “At the hospital’s main entrance, you stabbed a zombie that lunged at you, but after stabbing it, you felt it was strange because it seemed to have hit something before it lunged at you.”

The man was startled, his gaze becoming somewhat distant as if drifting to that faraway, many details now blurred, old scene.

“Later, you made it to the third floor of the infectious disease department, and you went to scout the situation inside the office…”

Xu Wang continued. These things that he had completely forgotten for ten years, once revisited, became clearer by the day. The details he remembered now were even more, and more precise, than when he first recalled them.

“You gave the vaccine to the old doctor, but were bitten by another male doctor, leading to a total defeat. You ran away, not even bothering to take care of your [Soul Painter]…”

“Were you there?” The man, no matter how incredulous, had to believe it now. The process of breaking through that night, apart from him and his teammates from that year, there couldn’t possibly be a fifth person who knew. That detail about the zombie seeming to hit something, if not specifically pointed out, even he himself had forgotten.

“Yes,” Xu Wang said. “I was.”

After a moment of thought, the man connected all the abnormal details. “That thing the zombie hit…”

“Was me,” Xu Wang confirmed for him.

The man’s brow furrowed in confusion. “You were in the Owl, yet we couldn’t see you. Why?”

Xu Wang said, “Because I shouldn’t belong there. I wasn’t one of those breaking through, but that day I was inexplicably sucked in. It was as if the Owl…”

“Had a bug.” This time, the man finished the sentence for him.

Xu Wang froze, and it took him a while to find his voice again. “Could it be that night, you also…”

The man shrugged, smiling. “It seems that night wasn’t just a turning point in my fate alone.”

The two parties involved talked in riddles, leaving their thirteen companions utterly confused. A companion surnamed Wu understood everything but wasn’t satisfied with such vague and ambiguous descriptions of “that night”.

Yue Shuai, Wang Duanran, and their teams were just there to buy information but ended up sitting down to listen to a story from ten years ago. Chi Yingxue, Kuang Jinxin, and Qian Ai, although aware of their captain’s connection with the Owl, now found this connection intersecting with the information seller and thus had to start from the beginning with the rest of the group.

Fortunately, the narrative of “that night” was still relatively clear—

Xu Wang accidentally entered the Owl and witnessed the total defeat of Mr. Fan’s team—the seller, out of politeness, concealed his name. Then another team broke in, succeeded, and afterward, Xu Wang conversed with the Owl, receiving the fragmented “help me”, before being ejected back to reality, henceforth suffering amnesia.

But the story actually continued.

After that team succeeded and left the Owl, Mr. Fan, who had previously run away, wasn’t ejected back to reality because of the other team’s success. The reason was likely related to Xu Wang’s “accidental entry”, both due to the Owl’s instability. Obviously, his lingering was also “abnormal”. Perhaps this “abnormality” allowed the Owl, which had failed to communicate successfully with Xu Wang, to find him again.

Whether it was from learning from the failed conversation with Xu Wang, perfecting its algorithm in a short time, or applying some kind of patch, in any case, this time, the Owl’s expression was clearer.

[Owl: Help me, close the path that connects here with the outside.]

This was the first sentence spoken by the Owl to Mr. Fan.

Inside the room, with the door shut tightly, it was extremely quiet—so quiet that even the sound of a feather landing on the carpet could be heard.

The Owl had a bug ten years ago?! Xu Wang took advantage of this bug to take a tour?! The Owl changed its tone, speaking of things unrelated to breaking through the levels?! And knowing to find a second person after failing to make it clear with Xu Wang?!

This series of shocks had already frayed the nerves of everyone present, but all of it paled in comparison to the last—

“It’s possible to close the path—?!”

This was more exhilarating than leaving the Owl ahead of time. Leaving early was like running away, but closing the pathway was like achieving world peace!

Mr. Fan was about to continue when he was suddenly shouted down by a dozen people in unison. He closed his mouth, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face, and subtly moved his swivel chair backward.

“To be precise, it’s possible to seal the path of the first thirteen levels.”

Xu Wang asked, “What about the last ten levels?”

“It didn’t say.” Mr. Fan shook his head. “It only asked me to help cut off the path of the first thirteen levels. Once successful, all the challengers of the first thirteen levels would be freed and no longer need to enter the Owl.”

“And what about the world within the Owl of the first thirteen levels? Will it be destroyed?” Xu Wang suddenly thought of many faces, like Xiao Dingche from 3/23, Xiao Huang, Xiao Bai, Hei Momo from 4/23, Xiao Hungry from 5/23, and so on. Even though he knew logically that these were just NPCs, Xu Wang couldn’t treat them as data that could just be reset and disappear.

Mr. Fan hesitated for a moment, obviously having never considered this question, and finally laughed helplessly. “I never asked the Owl, so I can’t answer you.”

“How can the pathway be closed?” Wu Sheng asked politely, bringing the topic back to the “core”.

Wang Duanran and Xu Wang’s team members perked up their ears while their minds recalled the broken relief and the uneventful night at the airport.

Although Captain Yue’s army hadn’t experienced it, they had heard Xu Wang recount it, so they were equally tense.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Fan sighed softly. “Sorry, I don’t know that either.”

The whole room was momentarily stunned.

Wang Duanran was frustrated. “Then is there anything you do know?”

Mr. Fan smiled. “How to leave the Owl early.”

Fifteen companions: “……”

What makes a good seller? If they say they’re selling oranges, they definitely won’t sell apples.

“You need to collect the badges from levels 1–13, then successfully submit them at level 13. After submitting, the Owl will take you to the ‘Wishing Room’ and tell you it can fulfill one wish under certain conditions as a reward for entering the last ten levels. But you shouldn’t make a wish; instead, clearly say the following command—I want to talk to the Owl. Repeat three times, and another Owl will appear, and then you can choose to end everything and leave early.”

Yue Shuai asked, “Another Owl?”

Mr. Fan explained, “This is just my own distinction. I always felt that the Owl giving various rules and hints during the challenge and the Owl that spoke to me that night isn’t the same, even though their voices are exactly alike.”

Wu Sheng wondered. “Is it possible they are the same, but the usual Owl is restricted, and a bug awakened some autonomous consciousness, or part of its awakening caused that night’s bug?”

Mr. Fan: “……”

Wu Sheng continued, “But we’ve been through so many levels for so long without encountering any bugs again, nor have we heard from other challengers about such bugs. Is it possible it’s been fixed, and even if we reach level 13, we can’t trigger it with the command?”

Mr. Fan: “……”

Wu Sheng: “Mr. Fan?”

Mr. Fan replied, “My friend, if you need me for an academic seminar, the price will be different, and I don’t promise I can provide a light of rational wisdom.”

Wu Sheng was about to say more but was gently tapped on the leg.

Turning his head, it was Xu Wang.

He directed Wu Sheng’s gaze around the room to the bookshelves filled with books.

“The Lady of the Camellias”, “Wuthering Heights”, “Jane Eyre“, “Gone with the Wind“, “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame“, “The Thorn Birds“, “Norwegian Wood“, “Love in the Time of Cholera“… If one had to find a book unrelated to love, it would only be the one on the desk—”Think and Grow Rich“.

Wu Sheng’s eager heart for scientific exploration settled down.

With this seller, one could either talk about love or money.

“Mr. Fan, the Owl asked you to help it seal the path, but you didn’t agree, so it gave you a second option, which is to help you leave the Owl early?” Gu Nian finally spoke, sensing a logical issue here.

If it was as Wu Sheng said, that the Owl has awakened some level of autonomous consciousness, then after being rejected, shouldn’t the most common response be to try persuading again? Even if persuasion fails, one could just give up and look for someone else. Why then offer a method to leave early? It’s like, if someone refuses to help you, you still give them a “reward”. That’s too strange.

“I agreed.” Mr. Fan lightly tapped the armrest of his seat, a ripple crossing the calm lake of his eyes.

Fifteen companions were stunned.

“I agreed at that time to help it close the paths,” Mr. Fan continued. “It asked me to collect all the badges, reach level 13/23, and, after submitting my paper, not make a wish in the Wish House. Say, ‘I want to talk to the Owl’ three times, and it will appear, then tell me the specific method to close it.”

The fifteen companions were even more confused.

This was exactly the same as the method to leave the Owl early!

“I did as it asked. I really wanted to close the Owl at that time. Trying it wouldn’t cost me anything, and the worst outcome would just be to continue with the levels…” Mr. Fan looked out the window, the sunlight on his face outlining his distinct features but also reflecting the slight mockery in his eyes. “But when I reached level 13, after calling out the Owl in the Wish House, it offered me another choice.”

“Close the Owl or leave early.” Wu Sheng probably understood the direction and outline of this past event.

Mr. Fan withdrew his distant gaze and looked at him. There was a difference in the degree of discomfort between self-examination and being exposed.

Wu Sheng, who never understood these subtleties and had no intention of blaming others, looked at him calmly, so calmly that it was almost dry.

Mr. Fan laughed, suddenly feeling at ease. “When I wanted to close the Owl, I had nothing to lose. But once I had something to lose, I no longer had a reason to fight to the death…”

“I chose to leave early, and the Owl satisfied my wish. So when you ask me how to close the paths, I really don’t know. That’s information only those who chose option A would know.”

Xu Wang asked, “Did anyone choose A?”

Mr. Fan: “I can only say, the teams that bought information from me almost all chose B.”

Yue Shuai: “Almost?”

Mr. Fan: “There were teams that chose it.”

Fourteen companions: “…”

Qian Ai: “When did another option pop up! If you keep squeezing information out like toothpaste, do you believe I won’t complain to the consumer association about you!”

Mr. Fan: “The option is to continue with the challenges, complete all levels, then leave.”

Qian Ai: “Then what’s the point of buying information from you? A million just thrown away!”

Mr. Fan: “If they’re willing to fight, I can’t stop them.”

Qian Ai: “……”

The world of the wealthy is too hard to understand!

……

“Achoo—” Fan Peiyang, who was listening to the report, sneezed out of nowhere.

Zheng Luozhu stopped talking and asked with concern, “Boss?”

“It’s nothing.” Fan Peiyang waved his hand, leaning back in his chair. “Continue.”

Zheng Luozhu: “That’s all the related information.”

Fan Peiyang leaned on the desk, crossed his hand, and rested his chin on it. After pondering for a moment, he said, “Alright, I got it.”

Without needing Fan Peiyang to speak further, Zheng Luozhu tactfully left and considerately closed the door behind him.

After the thirteenth level, every level had to be carefully calculated, and every second couldn’t be taken lightly. Fortunately, the daunting task of strategizing was on the boss, and he just had to follow orders.

The leaderboard was opening tonight again, and their team, just entering the last ten levels, would surely still be out of the rankings.

Zheng Luozhu didn’t have any particular obsession with this, but he felt that the boss, used to looking down from the top of the leaderboard, would mind more.

This was definitely the Owl’s fault.

Who could have expected that the leaderboard for the first thirteen levels and the last ten levels were completely separate systems, not affecting each other or seeing each other? And teams that entered the last ten levels, regardless of whether they succeeded or failed in submitting their papers, wouldn’t go back to the first thirteen levels. Thus, they thought they were the best in the entire owl until level 13/23. But once they entered the last ten levels, reality gave them a harsh slap.

The phone suddenly vibrated in the pocket.

Zheng Luozhu hurriedly answered, knowing without looking who it was.

“Come in again.” Over the phone came the boss’ 108^th summon.

“Okay.” Zheng Luozhu had a grin on his face, but inside he was crying.

What information does he want to ask about this time? Should he just give a full summary? Report for three to five hours? Otherwise, if the boss thinks of something new, can’t he just call him once? It wasn’t a waste of time and energy, but a waste of legs, having him run back and forth. His legs were getting thinner!

……

Three teams of fifteen friends left the villa and directly booked a nearby resort hotel.

The suburban environment was really nice, especially at night, with the cool breeze and the bright moon.

The fifteen friends didn’t waste the good times, eating, drinking, and sleeping as they should, and by the time the moon was high, they were all spirited. Some were splashing in the swimming pool, some were drinking alone under the moon, some were lifting barbells in the gym, and some were quietly contemplating life in their rooms.

But this time it wasn’t Advisor Wu, but Captain Xu.

“What’s wrong?” It was rare to see their captain in deep thought. Wu Sheng, originally planning to go for a swim, sat back down by the bed, asked this curiously.

Xu Wang frowned at him. “It’s too strange.”

Wu Sheng froze, pointing at himself. “Me?”

“Not you. Your handsomeness is very standard,” Xu Wang said, always looking through a moonlight filter. “I mean, the Owl is too strange. If it wanted Mr. Fan’s help, why offer a second choice?”

Without that “early departure” second option, the help might have been secured!

“I thought you were pondering some profound problem.” Wu Sheng pulled him over, naturally leaning against Xu Wang’s back, wrapping his arms around him. He rested his chin on his shoulder and leisurely said, “Think of the Owl as a program—a self-repairing program—then this issue becomes understandable.”

Just as Xu Wang was about to indulge in this warm embrace, he heard something about “programs” and “self-repairing”, and suddenly, the tender moonlit scene before his eyes changed into a classroom full of desks and chairs.

The one hugging him from behind was Wu Sheng’s spirit. As for the speaker, he was up front, lecturing at the blackboard.

“A part of the Owl’s awakening gave it autonomous consciousness, to converse with you and Mr. Fan, even setting a command at level 13 that could summon it. But for a set program, such awakening is definitely a bug, either to be eliminated by external forces or to be patched by its original algorithm searching for the bug.”

Xu Wang struggled to turn his head back toward him. “The Owl did… the second option?”

“Right.” Wu Sheng couldn’t help but rub his face, saying, “The Owl’s self-repair couldn’t erase the awakened consciousness. It could only forcefully add a second option given by the repair function to the choices provided by the awakened consciousness.”

Xu Wang felt warmth on his back, but his heart felt a chill. “It figured, no one would choose the harder option.”

“Mm.” Wu Sheng hugged him tighter. “These are just my guesses, but if you consider the issue with the relief panel, the Owl’s self-repair feature should be spot on.”

Xu Wang understood Wu Sheng’s point and said no more.

Assuming it was indeed the damage to the relief panel that caused the inability to enter 10/23, then one day later, everything returned as usual, which fits the logic chain of “self-repair feature” perfectly.

“Oh right.” Wu Sheng suddenly remembered something. “Fan Yebai.”

Xu Wang didn’t understand. “What?”

Wu Sheng said, “Mr. Fan’s full name.”

Xu Wang was surprised. “How do you know?”

Wu Sheng said, “The Speed Submission Ranking list, 12/23, Du Yin, Fan Yebai, Li Dian, Mu Yixuan, Peng Ye, with a time of 09:46:58. On the entire list, there’s only one with the surname Fan. I think it should be him.”

Xu Wang: “You think?”

Wu Sheng: “I think.”

Xu Wang: “Hmm, then it must be.”

Five minutes later.

Xu Wang: “You should have told me at the time.”

Wu Sheng: “What?”

Xu Wang: “His full name. It might have been useful for getting closer and negotiate a better price.”

Wu Sheng: “The three-level guide is a version from ten years ago. Costing a million to package is indeed a bit steep.”

Xu Wang: “Exactly!”

Wu Sheng: “Mm.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Wu Sheng: “……”

Xu Wang: “Do you think that book “Think and Grow Rich” can really make you rich?”

Wu Sheng: “He’s indeed living a good life.”

Xu Wang: “How about we also buy the book and study it?”

Wu Sheng: “Qian Ai has already placed the order.”

Xu Wang: “……”

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

---

Chapter 156: Mysterious Man

“Relief panel.”

Wu Sheng and Gu Nian, two teammates separated by dozens of meters without any prior communication or coordination, almost simultaneously uttered these words.

“The one that Wangwang shattered?” This had been on Xu Wang’s mind.

“Definitely.” Qian Ai became more convinced the more he thought about it. “Besides that, we haven’t encountered any other abnormalities!”

“So, that relief panel… is it the switch for the Owl?” Kuang Jinxin was scared by his own guess, uncertainly looking at Wu Sheng.

Chi Yingxue also glanced over, not at Wu Sheng but at the phone in his hand, checking the time. “Did they enter?”

Wu Sheng instantly understood his meaning, as this was also what he intended to verify.

A voice invitation was sent again to “Commander Yue.”

The five friends listened to the tone of the voice invitation uninterrupted, with no response until the invitation ended automatically.

The answer was clear—Captain Yue’s team had entered the Owl as usual, cutting off all external contacts.

Was only 10/23 affected?

Was it really because Wangwang destroyed the purple relief panel?

Is this closure temporary or permanent?

Until the early morning, when the delayed flight finally took off, Xu Wang’s team still hadn’t clarified the answer.

So, they decided not to fly after all—just as the flight began to board, they decisively left the airport.

Of course, they still had a tail following them.

“Could they have realized they were being followed and deliberately ditched us…” Kong Lizhe, having stayed up all night with eyes like a rabbit’s, realized for the first time that tracking someone was more draining than going through checkpoints; indeed, it was tough being the bad guy.

Jiang Dachuan leaned against the SUV window, his head bumping against the glass with every jolt of the vehicle, barely maintaining alertness. “Canceling their flight just to ditch us? The cost is too high.”

Kong Lizhe: “They bought the badge handbook. Do you think they care about the cost of a plane ticket?”

Gu Nian closed his book and raised his head. “Dachuan is talking about the cost of time.”

“At this time, you can still read a book?” Chen Guan glanced at the novel in Gu Nian’s hand. Just the words on the cover gave him a headache.

Gu Nian sighed. “Sometimes I read to calm my mind, and sometimes it’s because I can’t calm down.”

Chen Guan: “…Can we speak in plain language?”

Gu Nian smirked, no longer showcasing his linguistic artistry but getting straight to the point. “They probably want to wait and see if this ‘inability to enter’ is temporary or permanent.”

Chen Guan was frustrated. “If it’s permanent, how long are we supposed to wait?”

“If everyone thought like you, scientists wouldn’t need to experiment, and scholars wouldn’t need to research, since it’s all unknown anyway.” Wang Duanran glanced at him. This companion was only good in physique and efficient in fights without nonsense; otherwise, with his brutish nature and thick-headedness, he wouldn’t hire him even if the other paid him.

“Are you cursing me in your mind again?” Chen Guan squinted, his eyes full of wild intuition.

“No, you haven’t reached my heart,” Wang Duanran corrected decisively. “At most, I’m just grumbling about you in my stomach.”

“……” Being in debt, Chen Guan couldn’t physically retaliate or verbally rebuke, so he resorted to stomping on his foot instead.

“Fuck!” Wang Duanran inhaled sharply as if in pain, trembling as he held his shin, his face showing a “how dare you” shock.

Chen Guan looked at him, utterly unmoved internally. “Boss, I just stepped on your sneaker.”

Xu Wang and his team didn’t return to the city center but stayed in a hotel near the airport. They planned to contact Yue Shuai after settling down, but his voice invitation came first.

As soon as they connected, Captain Yue’s voice boomed like thunder. “You’re sending me voice messages after midnight?!”

It took Xu Wang a while to calm down the “shock”, and then they started discussing the relief panel, also learning about Yue Shuai’s situation.

As they guessed, Yue Shuai had entered the Owl at midnight as usual, but because he was in Zhengzhou, which had no levels, he entered the Endless Sea. They didn’t search for treasure or go to the Flying Island, drifting at sea all night—everything was normal.

“We just don’t know the situation with the other levels.” After sharing information, Xu Wang casually mentioned.

“Give me five minutes.” Yue Shuai unexpectedly cut off the voice call.

Five minutes later, they reconnected.

Yue Shuai: “1/23, 4/23, 7/23, 8/23 are all normal, not closed.”

Xu Wang was stunned for a moment, then quickly asked, “Are all the other levels closed?”

“No,” Captain Yue honestly said. “I don’t know anyone at the other levels.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Yue Shuai: “Don’t be disappointed. My social circle will continue to expand…”

Xu Wang: “No, it’s already quite expansive, really.”

Wu Sheng’s plan was to wait three days. If there was still no movement after three days, regardless of whether the closure was temporary or permanent, they would set off for Zhengzhou again. After all, that was where the important matters were. Things that were visible and could be discussed clearly, at least not as murky as it was now.

However, that night, the call of the Owl arrived as scheduled.

Xu Wang’s team entered 10/23. Wang Duanran’s team entered the Endless Sea—they had lost the qualification to enter 10/23.

The level was still the same; the Endless Sea was still the Endless Sea—nothing had changed.

It was like a game where the server suddenly announced maintenance for a day, and the next day, it reopened, everything as usual.

Once again emerging from the Owl, the five members of Xu Wang’s team no longer engaged in any futile discussions or hesitations—discussions without results could only be speculation—and directly bought tickets to fly to Zhengzhou.

Wang Duanran’s team, persistent as ever, followed closely behind.

Thus, in the crowded economy class, the two teams met—specifically, Chi Yingxue spotted Wang Duanran.

Originally, Young Master Wang wanted to buy first class or business class tickets, but there were no seats left, so he had to settle for economy class. For safety, he chose the two least popular rows of seats.

His choice was correct at first, keeping a distance from Xu Wang and the others, and everyone wore baseball caps, so during boarding, the chaos allowed them to successfully take their seats. Once seated, they pulled their caps down over their faces, making it impossible to recognize anyone.

But, Chi Yingxue was the exception.

As the plane had finished climbing and entered steady flight, Chi Yingxue stood up to go to the restroom. Passing by the row where Wang Duanran was sitting, he glanced over, his gaze locked on.

For no reason, he felt that the figure was very familiar, even though the person was sitting very low and hugging their arms, with a baseball cap covering their face. But a man who had once played with him, not just any person sitting there, but even if turned to ashes in there, he could blow them away in the midst of a crowd with a single breath.

“Hey.” Chi Yingxue was never one for politeness in his vocabulary, directly reaching over to lift the baseball cap and tapping it lightly but firmly against his forehead. “Stop pretending to sleep.”

With three seats in a row and Wang Duanran sitting in the middle, he never expected Chi Yingxue to really reach in. So, when he opened his eyes, his first reaction wasn’t to look for Chi Yingxue, but to turn his head and glare at the employee next to him who was reluctant to protect his boss!

Kong Lizhe, with his baseball cap pulled down, continued to pretend to sleep, as if his life depended on it.

In the same row, sitting by the window, Jiang Dachuan tilted his head slightly, making the baseball cap on his face more stable.

Chi Yingxue only had eyes for Wang Duanran. Once he saw the person react, he immediately narrowed his eyes slightly. “Why are you following us?”

“Who-who’s following you! We’re going to the Endless Sea!” Wang Duanran didn’t care how flawed his excuse was; he responded first.

Chi Yingxue frowned in confusion. “We?” Looking around, he expressed confusion. “The other four are also on the plane?”

Jiang Dachuan by the window: “……”

In the same row, separated by an aisle, Gu Nian and Chen Guan: “……”

Kong Lizhe silently opened his eyes, peering through the gap in the baseball cap. He watched the slender arm in front of him, considering whether to bite down hard or assert his presence.

……

At 30,000 feet, Xu Wang moved next to Wang Duanran, and the two team leaders spoke openly.

Inside the levels, everyone is an opponent, but once outside, they are all unfortunate souls chosen by the Owl, all wishing to end it all early. When two people have a common pursuit, the lines can be united.

Especially since this interest isn’t exclusive—Yue Shuai, when buying intelligence, mentioned that although one million isn’t a small amount, if it’s truly possible to leave the Owl, there won’t be a shortage of buyers. In this way, wouldn’t the value of the intelligence decrease due to the increase in competitors? His original intention was to bargain, but unexpectedly, the seller guaranteed with their ID card and household registration book that this method of leaving early is parallel and independent for every team, with no competition whatsoever. That is, if Team A leaves using this method, Team B can also use it without their chances of success being affected by Team A’s departure.

Based on all this, bringing another team into the fray isn’t a bad thing; it can even help share the cost.

Especially with a classmate as generous as Wang Duanran—

“1 million, right? I’ll pay for it all, but I’ll only take a third of the share. The information we buy will be shared among our three teams.”

Xu Wang suddenly felt that even without the fateful connection, Chi Yingxue could still spot Wang Duanran in the vast economy class—they both radiated the same aura; an aura called “wealthy light”.

The final plan was to share the cost among the three teams, but since it was decided on the plane, they hadn’t had the chance to inform Yue Shuai. Thus, Captain Yue, who ran to the airport to pick them up, only left five seats, not expecting to pick up ten people.

He and Wang Duanran’s team had never interacted, not even encountering each other inside the levels, but after a brief introduction from Xu Wang, understanding they were coming together to buy intelligence, he immediately went forward, shaking their hands warmly with an overwhelming friendliness.

Xu Wang, seeing Wang Duanran’s reflection in his eyes, always felt that the reflection was slowly turning into 333,333.

Wang Duanran, who usually liked to judge people snobbishly, wasn’t accustomed to this kind of warm welcome, reminiscent of a tropical island. He quickly lost to Yue Shuai’s enthusiasm. On the way back to the hotel, they talked about everything and anything, even though they weren’t in the same car, using WeChat voice chat.

Xu Wang finally understood how Yue Shuai could probe four levels in five minutes—the complicated network of relations within the Owl.

When they arrived in Zhengzhou in the afternoon, Yue Shuai met with the seller at seven that evening.

Yue Shuai went to the meeting alone to prevent the seller from seeing there were three teams and then possibly asking for more money.

The rest of the companions waited in the hotel, and it wasn’t long before Yue Shuai returned. The seller’s intelligence was just a sentence—”Go to Beijing and find a person; he will tell you the method to leave early.”

It turns out this person was just a middleman!

But there was no need to pay anymore; just by taking the address he provided and finding that person in Beijing, the information would be directly disclosed.

After discussing among the fifteen companions, they agreed this process was acceptable. Since that person had already left the Owl, he couldn’t go to the Endless Sea anymore. If he wanted to do business within the Owl, he must find a middleman still inside the Owl. And if he directly told the middleman the specific method, then the middleman could bypass him and operate independently.

The next day, the three teams, holding the slip of paper, flew to Beijing. After landing, they went straight to the address on the slip.

The closer they got to the solution, the more nervous they became. The more nervous they were, the more prepared they were, only to realize upon reaching the destination that their entourage was a bit too large.

Fifteen young men, tired from continuous travel, stood imposingly in front of a grand iron gate. Even if the gate was exquisitely crafted and grand, it seemed like it could shatter at any moment.

A young man in his twenties who answered the door was nearly scared by their presence. If it weren’t for Xu Wang and the others promptly showing the slip, he probably would have called the police.

This was a detached villa hidden in the suburbs of Beijing. Following the navigation, Xu Wang and his team nearly got lost. But the villa’s interior was beautifully decorated—not just lavishly but with taste and cultivation.

The young man led them to a door on the second floor, knocked, and then turned to leave before the door opened.

Xu Wang, watching his back, realized he had overlooked a problem—matters within the Owl weren’t to be discussed with outsiders. So, could someone who had left the Owl talk about it with outsiders? Or was it only with those who had experienced the Owl themselves or, like them, were still inside the Owl?

As he pondered, the door opened.

The entire second floor was quiet, with only their fifteen people and the person inside. It was so quiet that they could hear the ticking of a clock from the first floor.

The door silently opened, revealing a man in his forties, dignified and well-dressed. His tall figure and broad shoulders meant he was never meant to be meek. Instead, even his smile exerted a pressure.

Xu Wang thought that if this man were ten years younger, leading a team through all 23 checkpoints would have been possible.

If he were ten years younger…

Xu Wang suddenly froze, taking a closer look at the man’s facial features.

“He didn’t tell me he sold the information to three teams,” the man said with a smile, half serious, half teasing. “Come in.”

Clearly, the man didn’t mind, nor did he plan to settle scores with the middleman.

The group entered one by one. The room was an elegant, serene study, spacious, and bright. Even with so many people entering at once, it didn’t feel cramped.

Wu Sheng took a few steps and noticed Xu Wang hadn’t followed. Turning back, he saw his captain still standing at the doorway.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, concern evident in his eyes.

“I’ve seen him before.” Xu Wang said.

Wu Sheng didn’t understand at first. “Huh? Seen who?”

This back-and-forth drew the attention of all their companions, as well as the man.

Xu Wang’s gaze was fixed on the man’s face.

“I saw you ten years ago,” he said to the man, with more certainty than when he was speaking to Wu Sheng.

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