Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 202: Traitor

“Sorry about this, cub.”

As soon as Mr. Le’s words fell, the surrounding oppressive aura dissipated. Yin Ren’s gaze contracted, and he quickly stood in front of Zhong Chengshuo, releasing a formidable Evil Force. In the next moment, it collided head-on with Mr. Le’s Evil Force as they clashed.

A wave of explosions erupted in the peaceful back mountain.

The grating sound of tearing echoed through the sky, completely leveling the nearby area with the surging forces of the two. There was no longer any pavilion or withered trees in place; only a pale expanse of land remained. The four individuals who clashed were pushed away by the force and turned into two figures in the billowing smoke and dust.

As the smoke cleared, Yin Ren’s black hair and red clothes flew alongside Zhong Chengshuo. He floated back behind Zhong Chengshuo while his hands hovered over the man’s shoulders. Countless restraining spirit weapons formed a chain, constantly revolving around the two, creating a spectacular display of blood-colored brilliance.

Meanwhile, several steps away, Luo Chunlei tightly held onto Mr. Le’s long robe. During the explosion just now, Mr. Le undoubtedly protected her. Despite the dense Evil Force lingering around them, the only things evident in the young girl’s eyes were astonishment and an increasingly intense fascination.

“So that’s how it is.”

Looking at the two figures clinging together opposite him, Mr. Le coughed a few times, and he spoke with emotion.

“Zhong Chengshuo, right? No wonder, no wonder. You, a mere cub, hidden under our noses for so many years, only revealing yourself recently… So you’ve been cultivating your own formidable Evil Force.”

Zhong Chengshuo didn’t answer.

He merely reached out his hand and gently touched Yin Ren’s hand resting on his shoulder.

Yin Ren’s lips curled into a cold smile, and his aura surged like a blazing fire on an icy peak. His free hand formed countless seals, turning the sealing techniques that suppressed the Evil Force into barriers. Dust churned, and dull thuds resounded as layer upon layer piled up between the two parties.

If a Primordial Elemental wanted to reveal its true form, relying solely on the mortal realm wouldn’t suffice. Just look at the lesson learned from Dog Thing; at best, they could engage in battles in places like the Archive or the Corpse Cage. Without exception, these places were interstitial spaces between the mortal realm and the Other Side.

As long as the battlefield was forcefully kept in the mortal realm, Mr. Le’s combat strength would be greatly diminished.

Yin Ren’s seals became faster and faster, with countless crimson threads piercing through the heavens and earth, as if stitching this space firmly in place. In this way, even a slight gap couldn’t be created, let alone relocating the battlefield.

“Using a fierce hound as a tool indeed has its uses.”

Mr. Le’s gaze swept over Yin Ren as he reached out to pat Luo Chunlei’s head, letting out a soft sigh.

“Unfortunately…”

In the next moment, a sweet-scented warm breeze swept through the red threads. It was like the most fresh and beautiful flowers, blending the March spring breeze with sunlight, intoxicating anyone’s heart.

However, Yin Ren’s gaze hardened. He waved his red clothes, and his right sleeve danced in the air, enveloping Zhong Chengshuo within his embrace. That warm, transparent breeze effortlessly penetrated Yin Ren’s layers of protection and brushed against his red clothes.

Yin Ren immediately encased his body with his Evil Force, but unfortunately, he was a step too slow.

Under the gentle breeze, the vibrant blood-red clothes disintegrated in an instant. Yin Ren’s exposed skin sizzled, as if immersed in an invisible, strong acid.

But it didn’t hurt.

His right arm’s flesh and skin dissolved, and an inexplicable sense of joy surged through his nerves, piercing directly into his mind. It felt like an overdose of painkillers, and Yin Ren felt like he was floating on cloud nine. He couldn’t even summon any fighting spirit, let alone murderous intent.

Even though he put up a strong defense, that sense of joy permeated every pore, flooding his nerves like warm water. In the dizziness of joy, Yin Ren felt like every pore was opening up.

Forget it, forget it. Happiness is what matters most.

In life, isn’t this fleeting moment of joy what we all seek?

The operation of his techniques gradually slowed down, and Yin Ren’s grip on Zhong Chengshuo’s arm became increasingly loose, on the verge of letting go. Zhong Chengshuo silently took out his phone and pressed a certain audio clip—

“Is work more important to you than me?” A certain person’s voice was clear and loud.

Yin Ren’s movements instantly froze. He forced himself to take out a sheet of talisman paper and slapped it against his forehead with a loud smack. The crisp sound was earth-shattering, and the talisman paper still bore a few red fingerprints tinged with shame.

Produced by Huang Jin, it was an enhanced version of the Tranquility Talisman developed by the Great Celestial Master, capable of treating all overwhelming emotions.

After completing all of this, Yin Ren breathed a sigh of relief with lingering fear. Mr. Le was indeed not to be underestimated. Fortunately, they had made sufficient preparations in advance. Otherwise, if they kept falling into the same pit, his title as the Great Celestial Master would be forfeited.

Everything happened in just a few seconds. Mr. Le on the opposite side casually said, “Oh,” with evident interest—

The fierce ghost glanced at the blood-drenched wound on his right arm and bit down on Zhong Chengshuo’s shoulder and neck. Several streams of blood flowed down Yin Ren’s mouth and seeped into the depths of Zhong Chengshuo’s shirt. At the same time, wisps of white smoke emanated from the wound on Yin Ren’s arm, rapidly closing up.

Zhong Chengshuo remained calm, as if he had lost his sense of pain. Although Yin Ren was clearly sucking his blood, he merely turned his head and rubbed his cheek against the man’s black hair.

In the next moment, the protective barriers surrounding the two became even more complete. Layers upon layers of runes emitted a faint glow, and only the outlines of Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo could be vaguely seen.

“What are they doing?” Luo Chunlei asked curiously.

“Feeding,” Mr. Le leisurely replied, pointing his finger through the empty space. “To raise such a fierce ghost, ‘Anonymous’ always needs to provide it with power.”

The flesh and blood of Primordial Elementals were the purest source of Evil Force, making it the most efficient way to feed fierce ghosts. It was unclear who taught this cub about such knowledge regarding the Other Side…

But speaking of which, the Other Side certainly wasn’t lacking in traitors. At least, in the next second, a certain companion with the surname Qi appeared in his mind.

“The warm-up is about done.” Mr. Le made the final gesture in the empty space. “Cub, it’s time for you to take action. If you linger like this, someone might stab you in the back.”

“…Bring it on.”

The emaciated man closed his eyes; his voice could even be called gentle.

—Boom!

Accompanied by a thunderous tearing sound, the earth trembled slightly. Countless red threads, traversing space under Yin Ren’s control, snapped at the same time, creating a fissure in the sky over ten meters long, even more spectacular than the one in the abandoned hospital building.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Inside the fissure, a peculiar rhythm-like sound could be heard. It echoed in perfect harmony with the sounds Yin Ren had heard in his dreams but was much clearer. After each vibration, the fissure would crack open a bit more, like a pod unable to contain its beans.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fissure continued to expand, resembling a giant mouth. Yin Ren cut his wrist, and numerous blood threads pierced through. Unfortunately, those threads were unable to stitch up the self-opening fissure—

“There are two opponents.” Zhong Chengshuo frowned. “Retreat!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Finally, the gap abruptly collapsed, like a flood bursting through a dam. The surrounding space twisted and distorted, and sharp sounds resounded incessantly. The gap widened like it was being torn and shoved by some force, almost forming a circular shape, like a giant mouth devouring the entire area.

Luo Chunlei let out an excited scream as her eyes widened. Yin Ren, with Zhong Chengshuo, quickly retreated but was still swallowed whole.

In an instant, all sounds of wind and bird chirping disappeared, replaced by the silence unique to the interstitial space.

At that moment, the expansion of the enormous gap abruptly halted. The opening to the mortal realm suddenly lost its power, and the space autonomously closed at an astonishing speed.

Amidst the sharp sound of space compression, Yin Ren opened his eyes.

The surrounding grass and trees distorted ceaselessly, flickering like poorly modeled objects in a video game. Further in the distance, the scenery remained the same, faintly revealing the school’s teaching building; except those buildings appeared bright and new, emanating an uncomfortable, icy aura.

There was no doubt that this was the transitional area between the mortal realm and the other side.

Mr. Le and Luo Chunlei were nowhere to be found. In their original positions, only a brownish-red cocoon remained, like a tumor attached to the ground, large enough to envelop a child. Faint, rapid heartbeats could be sensed from within the cocoon; it was likely that Luo Chunlei was inside.

Surrounding the cocoon floated numerous colorful, translucent bubbles. Each one was the size of a fist and resembled the plastic balls in an amusement park, giving a delightful feeling. Each bubble emitted Mr. Le’s aura—could these things be his true form?

The bubbles floated leisurely, resembling soft eggs with constant flickering inside, containing countless fragments of transformation.

Puppies frolicked on the lawn, cats stretching lazily under the sun, birds pecking at sweet fruits on branches, two wet wolf cubs licking each other… Children eating freshly baked pastries at a stall, adults laughing and chatting by a chessboard, kids gathering together chattering and playing games, families gathered around the dining table…

They were so vivid.

Among them, there were also dim ones, exuding a dirty deathly pallor, unmistakably human—kicking at a struggling and screaming animal, confidently spewing rumors, reaching out to steal others’ wealth and efforts, laughing at those around them who had collapsed due to misfortune…

The bubbles continued to float and scatter, with the vibrant ones constantly bursting, producing fragments of indistinct laughter. Among the bubbles that filled the sky, the number of dim-colored ones increased.

Stealing, slandering, insulting, using illegal drugs… even directly trampling upon others.

They were no longer scattered bubbles but had turned into a cluster of rapidly expanding, filthy foam. They proliferated on the surface of the earth like falling snow, seemingly intending to fill the entire world.

Yin Ren cautiously stood in place while numerous red threads formed a net to isolate the erratically flying bubbles outside. He could feel the bubbles lightly touching the threads and then bouncing away effortlessly. Each touch from the vibrant bubbles brought him a fleeting sense of relief.

The successive waves of interference made it difficult to maintain composure and engage in combat.

At the same time, the dirty foam continued to proliferate, piling up along the ground. The surrounding scenery was devoured by the countless bubbles, and the air carried a maddeningly sweet and rancid odor.

“Zhong Chengshuo, quickly!” Yin Ren attached two more tranquility talismans to his body and held Zhong Chengshuo’s neck tightly.

Zhong Chengshuo extended his hand, and a layer of transparent black gel appeared on his right hand. They quickly gathered together, solidifying into a soft and pliable cluster of wings. In the next second, the largest wing suddenly opened, and its edges became hard and pitch black, resembling a small sickle.

Without hesitation, Zhong Chengshuo struck into the void.

The sound of tearing arose for an instant, but the gap created by the cluster of wings quickly closed.

“It’s Shian’s defensive technique.”

Upon seeing the recently perfected spell specifically designed to counter gap attacks, Yin Ren gritted his teeth.

“Damn it, there’s a traitor!”

Simultaneously, all the bubbles floating in the air came to a sudden stop. They rotated from various angles, and their surfaces instantly became murky and wrinkled, resembling flesh.

Black spots of various shapes emerged from these flesh-like balls, resembling pupils as they turned towards the cluster of wings.

[Indeed… this aura… I haven’t felt it in so many years…]

Mr. Le’s sigh reverberated among the different flesh balls.

[It’s a “Fear” cub. Truly a “Fear” cub…]

Those flesh balls desperately crowded towards Zhong Chengshuo.

[You must never go back…]

Boom!

The dirty gray-white foam transformed into a torrent, devouring the two individuals like a crushing force. They spun wildly, centered around Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo. Within the whirlpool, intermittent screams and laughter could be heard. The turbulent, filthy foam continued to surge and rapidly multiply.

It was like a carnival.

Amidst the fluctuating ups and downs, violence and madness permeated the surroundings. The vibrant bubbles were entirely consumed and rotted into a murky gray. All the scenes in the interstitial space were shattered, leaving only the remnants of ecstasy in the world. After an unknown period of time, the bubbles gradually calmed down, resembling the still surface of a windless lake.

A long sigh resonated from an unknown source, filled with a profound sense of nostalgia and regret.

As the bubbles gradually tightened, a black tender sprout suddenly emerged in the center of the murky vortex.

A pair of small wings emerged at the top layer of the foam, flapping lightly twice.

Swish, swish.

It no longer resembled its previous translucent appearance but had turned nearly opaque black.

In an instant, a fierce wind rose, tearing apart the foam. A pure black burst opened up and blossomed passionately like a flower. The wings blended into the darkness, while the darkness surged and countless indescribable, distorted dark streams shimmered on its surface.

[You… Are you about to materialize?!] Mr. Le’s heart sank. The cub had been forced to reveal its true form, and the situation was worse than they had imagined.

The darkness didn’t answer his startled question.

Deep within the darkness, a faint red hue was faintly discernible. This darkness tightly protected the fierce ghost it had nurtured, just as he protected the human cub named Luo Chunlei.

This is impossible.

Mr. Le swung his body, attempting to further crush the cub with his true form. Anything that came into contact with his true form would undoubtedly fall into a state of irrational ecstasy. Whether it was a living creature, an evil creature, or an Elemental, none could escape his influence.

Even the mighty “Fear” lineage, even on the verge of materialization, it was still just a cub!

Why isn’t it going mad?

The young darkness was spinning itself, akin to a meat grinder, destroying the surrounding bubbles. Mr. Le could feel that his true form was being rapidly shredded and consumed on the spot. Apart from biting the enemy, the darkness extended countless wing-like scythes, madly disrupting the surrounding space as if seeking a way out.

Ironically, as the representative of joy, he often felt sorrow.

[Initially, I thought you were “his” successor… I should have let you die in bliss, without any suffering…]

The gray-white foam surged once again, leaving the sky and earth suddenly empty. The bubbles crowded around from all directions and simultaneously burst, disappearing into nothingness. Mr. Le’s aura not only didn’t weaken but grew even stronger.

Without the support of the surrounding bubbles, the mass of darkness fell to the ground, and the wings on its surface curled up in confusion.

And everything around it began to change.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The pounding sounds from the Other Side gradually intensified, and the sky in the interstitial space transformed into a black-gray vortex. Drip, drip. More foam dripped from the vortex onto the ground. The once indistinguishable interstitial space violently fluctuated, rapidly collapsing and turning into a misty gray.

The empty gray-white color rushed in from all directions, and the foam coalesced into gigantic human legs that walked incessantly around.

Men’s legs, women’s legs, children’s legs, elderly legs.

Walking incessantly, step by step.

The darkness roiled with bubbles the size of adults. The mountain-like giant legs casually stepped down, causing the bubbles to emit a music-like, melodious scream. One of the legs stepped on the wings that had emerged from the darkness, causing the cluster of wings to instantly shatter into minced meat.

Amidst the intense pain, all the extended wings suddenly retracted.

In the ethereal heights of nothingness, within the dense fog above those legs, Mr. Le’s voice could faintly be heard.

[Apologies.]

He said.

……

Outside the gap, small cracks had just appeared, but they were instantly sealed by sealing techniques, and the space quickly returned to its original state.

In the area where Yin Ren was located, Xiang Jiang’s sealing techniques enveloped layer upon layer. Not only could evil qi not escape, but even Evil Force couldn’t seep out. If the gap that had just opened was an exit, it was sealed shut, and these seals could be likened to pouring concrete. It was sealed tightly on the outside as well.

Confirming that there were no loopholes, Xiang Jiang withdrew his hand and turned around.

Behind him, Xiang Hai’s back had the wings of a butterfly spread wide. Fierce ghosts covered the sky, and ghosts from the nearby areas continuously gathered. They numbered in the thousands and were swept up by the Evil Force, forming a formidable army of spirits.

Compared to when he was in Gengsheng Town, the wings on Xiang Hai’s back had grown several times larger. The butterfly wings, adorned with countless faces, gently fluttered, and bloody tears flowed from the faces. Amidst the wailing of women and children, scales resembling the palms of elderly hands rose up.

Those emaciated hands opened their five fingers, and the sharp fingertips pointed straight ahead, directed at the person in front of Xiang Jiang.

“To be honest, I’ve always wanted to say that your brother resembles a ‘Ghost General’ more than I do. It’s a pity that if you had been following me all along, we could have formed a duo like Heibai Wuchang*.”

*Two deities in Chinese folk religion in charge of escorting the spirits of the dead to the underworld. As their names suggest (Black and White Impermanence), they are dressed in black and white, respectively.

Fu Xingchuan straightened his coat, his tone filled with emotion.

Xiang Jiang snorted as a cold smile appeared on his face.

“Xiang Jiang, I thought you were just young and confused for a moment. I thought you were just burdened by inner struggles and chose to be passive and unproductive… I thought you really cared about innocent, ordinary people. We gave you a chance, more than once. Even before you set foot here, you could have turned back.”

Fu Xingchuan’s fingers twitched, and between his fingertips, the yellow talisman automatically stirred without wind, emanating a scorching fighting spirit. His face still wore the usual smile, but his eyes held no trace of humor.

“At first, I thought if you were colluding with that banal group, Sunken Society, you might have some hope of being saved. Honestly, when you sat in my position and I couldn’t find any communication from you to the outside, I was somewhat happy. Who would have known… Haa.”

Fu Xingchuan halted his words and let out a long sigh. His burgundy coat continued to burn, transforming into a blood-red long robe.

“…Why, of all things, did you choose to collaborate with the Other Side?”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 201: A Set Up

Schools, like hospitals, were considered special places. The current situation was unclear, and Li Nian couldn’t mobilize the same manpower that surrounded the hospital like before. He could only do his best to deploy several teams to evacuate crowded areas near the school and cut off all access routes to the school.

Xiang Jiang, on the other hand, commanded various special task forces to set up sealing arrays around the school. Although Xiang Jiang had never directly fought against a Primordial Elemental, he had made significant progress in “sealing gaps and corruption”.

Before the protective measures could be fully prepared, a Shian police car honked, attempting to enter the school area.

At a glance, Li Nian recognized the license plate of that car.

He waved off the staff and approached personally. “…Fu Xingchuan, have you gone mad?”

“Good morning, Lao Li. Want some fried dough sticks? I have one left.” Fu Xingchuan rolled down the car window.

He wasn’t wearing a red uniform and was dressed casually, with a breakfast bag in his arms. “I was actually going to ask what madness you’re up to, wandering around outside for no reason… Or did Unit 9 cause trouble again? There’s no need to mobilize the Emergency Management Department for that, right?”

Li Nian neither took the fried dough stick nor responded to his remarks.

Fu Xingchuan glanced at the surrounding sealing measures and made clicking sounds with his tongue, expressing sentiments like, “Only witness the laughter of newcomers, but never see the tears of the old¹” and “It’s heartbreaking to be this cautious²”.

¹Proverb conveying the idea that people often focus on the positive and happy aspects of new or unfamiliar situations, while ignoring or being unaware of the challenges, hardships, or difficulties faced by those who have been through similar experiences before.
²Saying that conveys the sentiment that investing a great amount of effort, time, or resources into preparing for something can lead to emotional distress or anxiety.

“There’s a suspicious situation, and there may be a gap risk. Xiang Jiang and I happen to have some free time, so we came to take a look around.”

Li Nian pressed the veins on his forehead while his gaze swept toward the back seat of the sedan—Sun Qi’an and Zhang Hejun were sitting there, wearing identical expressions of confusion.

“Ah, gap risk?” Fu Xingchuan patted the steering wheel and raised his voice. “Hey, Dr. Sun, it’s not appropriate to go back to school now. Why don’t you persuade Xiao Zhang to wait another day if she has any questions? She still needs to take care of her health. It’s not urgent.”

Without hesitation, Sun Qi’an turned around. “Hejun, the authorities are still investigating. Shall we go back for now?”

Zhang Hejun stared at the school gate, not answering.

“It was against the rules for you to come out this time. But you kept insisting, so the hospital made a concession by having me accompany you.” Sun Qi’an sighed. “Considering your physical condition, in case… if your parents start causing trouble later, it won’t be easy for me either.”

“I want to see Luo Chunlei. I must see her.”

Zhang Hejun finally responded.

“I have hallucinations every time I close my eyes. In those hallucinations, she keeps throwing dirt at me, sprinkling it all over my brain… I have to talk to her face-to-face. I must see her…”

Zhang Hejun’s eyes were wide open, unblinking like a cold-blooded animal. Her gaze was directed into emptiness, and her tone carried a peculiar excitement typical of a patient, sending chills down one’s spine.

Seeing this, Sun Qi’an shook her head helplessly.

“See?” Fu Xingchuan shrugged at Li Nian. “I went to the hospital to check on my leg, and I saw this little girl rushing out like she had gone mad. To be honest, her case doesn’t have much direct relation to the corruption source. I thought since I had nothing else to do, I would bring her here.”

“Her physical recovery is going well, but there are some issues with her mental state. If it continues like this, something might happen, and the hospital can’t do much about it. Minister Li, can you make a compromise?” Sun Qi’an tidied her slightly messy hair and turned to Li Nian.

“And what about Luo Chunlei’s safety? She’s still a minor, and this behavior is simply reckless.” Li Nian pointed out directly.

“We’ll let her into the school, and she’ll come out later. Mr. Fu and I will keep an eye on her.” Sun Qi’an stepped out of the car, lowering her voice. “We won’t let them meet for sure. Bringing her here is just an attempt to calm her down… Look, this is the certificate from the hospital.”

Li Nian observed it for a while.

“Li Nian.”

Not far away, Xiang Jiang impatiently interjected.

“Fine, go ahead.” Li Nian stepped back from the car. “You can move around within the campus, but you’re not allowed to enter classrooms, the playground, or the back mountain. Fu Xingchuan, keep an eye on them.”

“Got it.” Fu Xingchuan stepped on the accelerator.

Li Nian watched the black sedan slowly move forward and head towards the school gate. After a while, he faintly saw Fu Xingchuan rolling down the car window and talking to the security guard.

Fu Xingchuan’s maroon jacket was slightly wrinkled, indicating that he hadn’t had time to change clothes yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon.

As usual, Fu Xingchuan was investigating the corruption source near the school, diligently fulfilling his duties as a consultant. However, he couldn’t dress too conspicuously while patrolling the streets, so he wore this maroon outfit.

At least that was how Mr. Fu was dressed when Li Nian arrived. At that time, the two of them met in a noisy private room of an internet café, looking as if they were about to engage in some illicit activities. Li Nian subconsciously searched for the color red and glanced at Fu Xingchuan three times without stopping.

“Yin Ren contacted me suddenly, using a strand of hair.”

Fu Xingchuan dragged his old partner into the conversation without beating around the bush.

“There’s a large Elemental inside the school, and there seem to be other Elementals cooperating outside the school. Sun Qi’an and Zhang Hejun from Haigu Municipal Hospital… well, they have some ‘unfavorable background’.”

Li Nian: “…”

It was known that the Evil Spirits were monsters formed from the remains of a Primordial Elemental, and Shian had to exert all its strength to control them. It was also known that two powerful Elementals were lurking near the school, and Qi Xin, who was wandering outside, had not been found yet. Including the deceased Mr. Qiu, there were enough Elementals who had descended to form a table of Mahjong.

At this point, what else could their Haigu branch do?

Li Nian suddenly felt an eerie calmness. “Go on.”

“According to Yin Ren, the Elemental he killed before represented ‘Disgust’, and Qi Xin represents ‘Sorrow’. If his information is correct, the Elemental in the school represents ‘Joy’, and the external cooperation is most likely…”

“’Love’,” Li Nian completed the sentence. It was the missing piece of the four classifications separated by Shian from emotional data. Fantastic! The four leaders from the Other Side came to inspect.

“So, why did Yin Ren contact you?” Professor Li politely swallowed back the words, “What use do you have?”

“It’s similar to Mr. Qiu. These bastards just poked their fingers over here. Their true bodies are still on the Other Side, and the avatars here are not invincible.”

Fu Xingchuan lowered his duckbill cap, wearing a mischievous smile on his face.

“If they could truly be invincible, why would they specifically target this school and set up a trap for Yin Ren and the others?”

In a split second, Li Nian realized.

Humans didn’t have the means to kill these Elementals, yet Mr. Qiu died unexpectedly, spreading fear to the Other Side. Before dealing with external threats, those Primordial Elementals wouldn’t let go of the “unknown kind” lurking in the shadows.

And Unit 9, this unfortunate group—especially the two cunning individuals who weren’t entirely human—always represented Shian’s frontline in dealing with imminent crises. They were also present when Mr. Qiu died. Even if the unknown Elemental wasn’t part of Unit 9, it was closely related to Shian.

If he was an Elemental from the Other Side, he would probably come up with the same plan.

Boldly showcase the school as a special area, openly declaring one’s existence. Shian’s investigative team would undoubtedly relay the message, and sooner or later, that hidden Elemental in Shian would notice the information.

They wanted to lure that highly aggressive “unknown kind” out into the open.

Seeing Li Nian’s changing facial expression, Fu Xingchuan slyly winked and cleared his throat, “Our esteemed Professor Li is indeed quick to react. Impressive, impressive.”

“…” Li Nian rubbed his face. “Speak up. What other ideas do those two have?”

“It’s simple. Go along with the Other Side’s intentions.” Fu Xingchuan’s smile gradually faded. “But I called you here for another matter—”

“Xiao Ge and Xiao Huang volunteered… Ah, no, Xiao Ge volunteered to be the bait. She said if the Elemental doesn’t find any flaws, they’ll be more cautious. To ensure that everything goes smoothly, it’s best for them to sell a flaw.”

The expressions of “approval” and “disapproval” mixed together in Fu Xingchuan’s eyes, engaging in a passionate dispute.

“And to confirm Yin Ren’s speculation, probing is necessary.”

“If the Other Side doesn’t have ill intentions towards Yin Ren and the others, they wouldn’t disturb Shian’s ‘patrol sentinels’. If they do have ill intentions, it could potentially cause an incident and escalate the impact. There is a risk of death for the bait.” Li Nian muttered to himself. He naturally knew what these young people were thinking, and Professor Li felt his headache worsening.

Fu Xingchuan chuckled bitterly. “So, that’s why I came to find you—reporting is secondary. The Great Celestial Master needs to prepare protective spells, and the small shop doesn’t have the ingredients.”

“You’re using me as a delivery person?”

“And also, ah… Xiao Zhong and Xiao Yin have worked so hard. We can take advantage of being associated with a big tree and enjoy the shade while bringing a net along the way.”

……

Yes, since yesterday, Li Nian’s headache hadn’t stopped.

At this moment, he watched the car disappear into the campus while his face grew longer.

“Our protection isn’t enough! Surrounding security comes first. Sort that out before discussing anything else!” He turned around, raising his voice. An A-level special task force hurriedly ran in the direction Li Nian pointed, earnestly performing their spell.

“It’s almost done.” Xiang Jiang’s hazy pupils turned towards Li Nian.

“It’s far from enough. You yourself said to be careful with the accident rate. I see that the southwest corner is still lacking.” Li Nian glanced at him sideways. “It’s surrounded by residential areas, and the type of disappearances those two had is very dangerous. This was your own judgment.”

“I also said that those two lives are also up to fate.”

Xiang Jiang’s expression was extremely grim.

“You can continue hesitating here; I’ll take my team in to investigate first.”

“…Fine, you can go.”

Li Nian closed his eyes, and his expression was tinged with bitterness.

“But as partners, I suggest you stay. You said you want to follow the rules, so carry it through to the end.” Professor Li emphasized each word. “Of course, it’s not mandatory.”

Xiang Jiang didn’t answer.

He tugged at his asymmetrical windbreaker and walked towards the school without looking back.

The sun rose, and the sky turned pale. A faint mist emanated near the school, gliding along the ground, hazy like a dream. When Li Nian opened his eyes, Xiang Jiang had already disappeared from his sight.

Li Nian raised his head and saw a group of drones flying towards the back mountain.

“…Forget it.” He sighed at them.

These unmanned drones were slightly smaller than birds, gliding through the morning sky and quickly reaching the back mountain.

The back mountain was supposed to have a water pavilion, but the pond was dry. A bit of muddy soup accumulated at the bottom, and it looked more like an ordinary construction site. The pavilion was partially built, with sparse vegetation and piles of soil between construction materials, resembling countless mounds.

Haigu Secondary School once planned to develop and build on the back mountains, but funding issues arose when half of it was already constructed, leaving the construction awkwardly halted. The students loved this unfinished style. Even though the school strictly prohibited it, students still frequented the area from time to time.

The place where Zhang Hejun was buried alive wasn’t far from here.

Zhong Chengshuo painfully swallowed two energy bars for breakfast and slowly walked towards the pavilion. The seating area of the pavilion was covered in floating dust, so Zhong Chengshuo looked around for a while and decided to stand upright beneath the pavilion.

Yin Ren, as usual, completely sealed off his aura and stuck to Zhong Chengshuo’s back like a spirit.

Before long, Luo Chunlei appeared.

She wasn’t wearing a school uniform but a pricey-looking dress. With her left hand holding a thermos cup and her right hand gripping the phone hidden in her bedroom, her fingers swiftly danced across the screen. Her shoes were polished to a shine, but after taking a few steps in this place, they quickly became covered in dust.

[Good morning, I’m livestreaming now.]

Yin Ren lowered his head, and Dog Thing quickly displayed the messages from that anonymous group.

[After Brother Cockroach dies, those who doubted me should livestream themselves eating cockroaches 😘.]

After typing that, Luo Chunlei stopped in front of a patch of withered grass, adjacent to a dead decorative tree. She locked her phone, and a sweet smile bloomed on her face.

“Alright, I’ve informed my parents.”

Luo Chunlei’s killing intent wasn’t particularly strong. At this moment, it seemed that she still thought everything in front of her was just a game.

“Come here. I buried the evidence under the tree… What? Do you expect a girl to dig it up herself?”

As she puffed up her cheeks, a dissatisfied expression filled her face.

A childish and clumsy trap. Zhong Chengshuo scanned the patch of grass with a calm expression. He only made a sound of acknowledgment and obediently walked over.

As soon as his right foot touched the patch of grass, the ground beneath him suddenly gave way. In the next moment, everything spun around.

Beneath the grass was a deep pit left from construction.

Zhong Chengshuo almost instantly reached out with his hands and clung tightly to the uneven walls of the pit. The collapsing grass fell to the ground, revealing the tangled steel bars at the bottom of the pit. The steel bars were thin and sharp, even more dangerous than the previous elevator shaft.

Luo Chunlei didn’t waste any words. She immediately unscrewed the thermos cup and poured the scalding hot water onto Zhong Chengshuo’s hands. Zhong Chengshuo clenched his lips, executed a beautiful somersault, and voluntarily jumped into the thicket of steel bars. The thorny steel bars surrounded him, but miraculously, Zhong Chengshuo emerged unharmed. He lifted his head and looked straight at Luo Chunlei.

She casually kicked the loose soil at the edge of the pit, causing it to fall down with a rustling sound.

“Wow, this angle is really nice—actually, I really wanted to take some photos, but if I post them in the group, it would be troublesome as evidence.”

Luo Chunlei kicked the soil a few more times and squatted down at the edge of the pit. Judging by her expression, she was genuinely troubled by this.

“Your expression isn’t as entertaining as Zhang Hejun’s back then. She was so scared that her face turned pale—people’s faces can actually turn that pale. It’s especially thrilling.”

With another kick, a large pile of soil fell down.

“Do you know you’re killing people?” Zhong Chengshuo disregarded the piles of soil embedded with steel bars.

“Of course I know, and I also know that I won’t be caught. Even if I were caught, I’m not even fourteen yet.”

Luo Chunlei seemed to be wary of Zhong Chengshuo’s words as she panted and pushed out a wheelbarrow from the debris, starting to pile up soil at the edge of the pit.

“Besides, my family is wealthy. My parents run around doing errands, and they can’t imprison me anyway.”

Her smiling face could be described as innocent.

“…My parents once told me that life is precious.” Zhong Chengshuo reached out and touched the nearest steel bar. The sharp end lightly grazed his skin. “You—”

“No way, you want to lecture me now?”

Luo Chunlei laughed even more.

[Hilarious, Brother Cockroach is going to die, and he still wants to preach to me.] She held up her phone with hands covered in dirt.

“I know what you want to say—you want to say that when I grow up, I’ll regret these things and lose sleep at night. You want to say that when I become vulnerable and get bullied, I’ll understand the feelings of Zhang Hejun and you.”

[Moral bitches will always be moral bitches.]

“Haha, you crack me up. Look at those adults. Do the kind-hearted ones become rich or take advantage of others? They’re constantly feeling down and upset over this and that, unable to live well themselves but constantly worry about others. Let me tell you, people like you are the ones who get eliminated through natural selection.”

Zhong Chengshuo remained silent, tilting his head slightly. His eyes were fixed on Luo Chunlei, who was in a good mood.

[It’s not interesting to sacrifice heroically. I will definitely make him cry w.]

Luo Chunlei squatted down. “Let me tell you what I’ll be like in the future. I’ll eat whatever I want and buy whatever I want. Even if I don’t work, I’ll live better than my stupid classmates. Why should I make myself feel miserable? Am I doing it just because I’m full?”

“If I’m unlucky and get bullied in the future, I’ll only hate the people who bully me, right? What does that have to do with me bullying you? I don’t care about your feelings. Whoever makes me feel bad, I won’t let them off easily. It’s that simple.”

She made a grimace at Zhong Chengshuo in the pit.

“Only the pitiful ones who get bullied would dream of waiting for others to realize their mistakes. When I’m old and think of you, my impression will definitely be like, ‘Wow, I’m more amazing than most people. I could deceive a group of adults when I was a child’.”

“The teacher always said to live happily, and this is how I live the happiest.”

[It feels so refreshing to speak my mind. When I was with Sister Cockroach, I couldn’t speak so openly, missing out on so many dramatic effects]

Next, Luo Chunlei paused for a long time. She looked at Zhong Chengshuo at the bottom of the pit expectantly. Her eyes were fixed on his lips, unblinking.

“My parents once told me that life is precious.”

“Not again.”

“…But I don’t consider your life within the realm of ‘precious’. Well, I’ve made up my mind, I won’t save you either. From now on, take care of yourself.”

[Oh, a little twist~]

Luo Chunlei clicked her tongue. “Fine, so you have superpowers, what do you think? I know about it anyway. Well, I… I…”

Under her gaze, Zhong Chengshuo reached into his pocket and pinched Yellow Millet. With a pop, the illusion dissipated.

The adult Zhong Chengshuo adjusted his glasses and looked at Luo Chunlei with eyes devoid of warmth. And behind him floated the most beautiful “ghost” Luo Chunlei had ever seen in her life.

With his long hair flowing and a smile in his crimson eyes, Yin Ren wrapped his arms around Zhong Chengshuo’s neck; his chin resting on his lover’s shoulder. The red robes around Yin Ren fluttered, exuding a strong ghostly aura.

The temperature dropped suddenly, and white vapor formed around Luo Chunlei’s mouth and nose. Two hands emerged from under Yin Ren’s ribs, hugging Zhong Chengshuo’s waist tightly, effortlessly lifting him out of the deep pit.

The two of them gently stopped in front of Luo Chunlei, only two or three steps away from her.

Her opponent suddenly transformed into two adult men. After a moment of confusion, Luo Chunlei shuddered and instinctively took a step back. She took a deep breath and, without hesitation, pulled out the compact mirror, fiercely smashing it onto the ground.

“Save me!” Luo Chunlei screamed. “Kill them to silence them!”

The mirror instantly shattered into countless pieces, each reflecting the pale red dawn. In the next moment, numerous cracks appeared in space, accompanied by a burst of vacuum suction, and the school janitor with heavy eye bags stepped out of the rift, coughing miserably.

He was no longer wearing the gray school uniform but instead a long gown resembling a comedian’s outfit, and his feet were clad in a pair of worn-out cloth shoes.

“Joy,” Zhong Chengshuo said with a confident tone.

The man took a few breaths and revealed a faint smile, ultimately acquiescing.

Zhong Chengshuo didn’t act recklessly. He stood upright on the barren land, assuming a vigilant posture. Behind him, Yin Ren’s ghostly aura grew so dense that it was suffocating. The ground around them frosted, and the once yellowed grass withered and turned black, crumbling into dust.

The might of the thousand-year-old Ghost King quietly revealed a glimpse of his power.

“Kill them quickly!” Luo Chunlei rushed over and grabbed the janitor’s sleeve. “We agreed that you would send them back, and I will personally bury them!”

The janitor, Mr. Le, lowered his head and glanced at her. He reached out his withered and cracked hand, gently patting the head of the young girl.

“Yes, I will kill them,” he said. “You are the one I have chosen, and I will protect you well.”

With that, he turned to Zhong Chengshuo. His gaze became particularly complex. Despite being born of “Joy”, the sadness in his eyes resembled that of a human.

“Sorry about this, cub.”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 200: Performance

[Your attempt to eradicate evil for the people has failed again lol. Where’s the livestream? http://www.]

[I was at the scene. Brother Cockroach vomited a ton of blood. I heard it’s nothing serious and he’ll be back to class tomorrow.]

[Did you guys notice? Our female warriors make a lot of noise but do little. Sister Cockroach and Brother Cockroach are both fine. Who was it that said we will see it in the news~~~?]

[Who asked her to make a big deal out of this 3D stuff? But maybe the Cockroach family just has strong vitality. 👍]

……

In the dimly lit room, chat bubbles popped up on the screen like boiling water, quickly emerging from the bottom. Faced with the sarcastic remarks of the group, Luo Chunlei unexpectedly remained calm and didn’t reply. Until—

[I get it, so we’re just going to let this matter end like this? Can’t keep the promise? If you can’t fulfill what you’ve promised, as a female warrior, you should at least say a few words.]

Luo Chunlei: [When did I say it’s going to end? Do you really think exterminating the Cockroaches can be done in a day? ❤️]

Yin Ren’s gaze shifted from the phone, and he looked out at the night sky through the window.

While the school infirmary was empty, he secretly infused some Evil Force into Zhong Chengshuo’s body. Zhong Chengshuo’s physical injuries were obviously not as severe as losing his head, and he quickly returned to his original state. In Yellow Millet’s illusion, the young Zhong Chengshuo was lying peacefully on the bed, dutifully devouring energy bars—it was “Zhang San’s” condition, and he wasn’t supposed to eat today.

Yin Ren broke off a small piece of Shian’s specially made energy bar, which was full of chocolate and sugar. He quite liked it, and as Zhong Chengshuo ate more, his face became increasingly wrinkled.

“Are you sure you won’t return to the base tonight?” Zhong Chengshuo swallowed the last bite of food and asked quietly.

“I’ve discussed it with Lu Xiaohe. Starting today, I must…”

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of knocking echoed, and Yin Ren frowned, quickly moving to the corner of the room. Zhong Chengshuo immediately closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, conscientiously furrowing his brows.

Knock, knock, knock. The knocking sound continued persistently, as if determined not to stop until it woke someone up. After a while, Zhong Chengshuo finally answered with a hoarse voice, “Come in.”

Luo Chunlei turned on the lights with a “snap”. She was dressed formally, holding a small bouquet of flowers, and her eyes were swollen from crying. Making sure only Zhong Chengshuo was in the room, she gently closed the door and locked it with a click.

Zhong Chengshuo “struggled” to sit up, weakly leaning against the head of the bed. “What’s the matter?”

Luo Chunlei didn’t answer immediately. She casually picked up the vase from the medical office desk, inserted the newly bought flowers into it, and placed it on Zhong Chengshuo’s bedside table. After completing all of this, she plucked two petals from the prettiest flower, squeezed them in her hand, and kneaded them.

The bouquet was delicate and expensive, with a slightly mature aesthetic that resembled her mother’s taste.

“Are you happy now?” Luo Chunlei pulled over a chair and sat down angrily.

“What are you talking about?” Zhong Chengshuo skillfully pretended to be ignorant.

“My parents know about your situation and insist that I improve our relationship. They are keeping a close eye on me now, and even the teachers are paying extra attention to me. I can’t do anything.”

Luo Chunlei crossed her legs and spoke with the air of reciting a prepared script.

“I’m just unlucky; my good intentions resulted in bad outcomes. You’re generous; have a little mercy on me—”

“Are you implying that you had nothing to do with tampering with the soda?”

Luo Chunlei snorted. “Of course not. I’ve only just come back. Where would I even get poison? Let me tell you, it’s probably the culprit who harmed Zhang Hejun. They found out that both of us were investigating, so it was a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.”

Zhong Chengshuo: “……” If he were a hot-headed teenager, he might have been led astray by this girl.

However, in reality, no one would go through such trouble to harm a child. The victim hadn’t even died yet, and they were already coming up with excuses. It didn’t make much sense.

At this moment, all he could do was silently observe Luo Chunlei’s performance.

“Don’t you understand? I just gave you the lead on Wu Cheng, and now this happens.” Luo Chunlei wiped her eyes, and her voice was filled with vivid resentment. “It’s the violent gang in our school. They want to harm us!”

She even included herself in this fantasy story. According to the usual plot, the boy and girl should shake hands and work together to find the culprit.

Unfortunately, Zhong Chengshuo was skilled at treating atmosphere as irrelevant.

“That’s just your speculation.” Zhong Chengshuo adjusted his glasses. “I will investigate on my own.”

Luo Chunlei clenched her fists, almost crushing the flower petals in her hands.

Zhong Chengshuo coughed at the right time. “Or maybe you have more clues for me? According to your logic, telling me about Wu Cheng had serious consequences. Classmate Luo, you better take care of yourself.”

“I can see that you don’t really want to find the culprit! Everyone is going crazy now, and we are being targeted. They will never let us off the hook… Tomorrow morning at 6:30, I’ll be waiting for you at the water pavilion near the back mountain. I’ve hidden the evidence there,” Luo Chunlei said resentfully.

“If you don’t come, I won’t leave.”

Zhong Chengshuo looked at her expressionlessly.

“And I know you’ll come for sure!” She finally left these words and ran away, seeming pitiful and aggrieved.

Zhong Chengshuo immediately looked at Yin Ren, but Yin Ren shook his head and remained by the bedside. Only a strand of hair followed her as she rushed down the stairs. The resentment and anger on her face vanished, leaving only a radiant smile.

The corridor was empty. She secretly took out a compact mirror with a hint of satisfaction on her face. “I’ve set it up just as you said.”

“Since they can deceive Wu Cheng with their superpowers, I can’t poison him either. So what should I do… I’m willing to gamble. As long as I can personally take action, it’ll be fine.”

“Hmm, I understand. There won’t be any problems. What? Look at the ceiling?”

Luo Chunlei’s expression stiffened, and she suddenly looked up. In the darkness, she saw a dark red eye. It seemed like it wanted to retract, but the girl caught sight of it.

One ghostly eye and two human eyes silently confronted each other in the darkness.

Luo Chunlei didn’t scream or shout; instead, excitement filled her eyes. “What the hell. I thought it was a person.”

After saying that, she continued to gaze with interest at the ghostly eye, and that carefree joy once again adorned her features. Once she confirmed that the eye had disappeared into the shadows, Luo Chunlei hummed a tune and walked into the corridor, heading towards the school gate.

Even with streetlights, the school gate remained dim. The holly bushes were pruned into round shapes and were concealed by the darkness, resembling heads scattered in the flower beds. Luo Chunlei couldn’t help but reach out her hand, dip it into the lamplight, and draw smiling faces on those “heads”.

“Luo Chunlei, stop.”

At the moment when Luo Chunlei was about to leave the campus, a familiar voice came from behind her.

In the shadows, a semi-transparent “Zhang Hejun” wore a wry smile. Half of her body was submerged in the holly bushes. She lowered her head, and her hair covered most of her face. But the voice undoubtedly belonged to Zhang Hejun herself.

“You shouldn’t have touched those things, let alone listened to their commands. It’s not too late to stop now.”

Luo Chunlei halted her humming. She squinted her eyes and looked at the girl she had almost killed. After a few seconds, she rolled her eyes and let out a contemptuous sigh.

“Oh, are you a ghost?” Luo Chunlei clapped her hands, showing no trace of guilt on her face. “Let me think, let me think. You’re almost dead, and your soul left your body?”

The apparition in front of her fell silent.

“As classmates, I’m sincerely warning you. Don’t go to the back mountain.” After a pause, “Zhang Hejun” sighed gently. “I do dislike you, but you might also be influenced by the ghost in the mirror. I… I don’t think you should die because of something like this.”

Under the dim streetlight, the shadows on Luo Chunlei’s face deepened, giving her a peculiar and aged appearance.

“Haha, you’re hilarious. This is my genuine superpower—my dad knocked on my head, so I can see you guys. Where does this ghost influence come from?”

Luo Chunlei laughed, and the shadows on her face deepened even more.

“Oh, but someone is now a ghost themselves and can see ghosts, right? Comparatively speaking, I’m not that special~ Little Roach, if you’re not dead yet, remember to die quickly!”

“Zhang Hejun” shook her head, and her figure finally dissipated.

At the same time, Yin Ren in the school infirmary opened his eyes.

“You don’t plan to save her forcibly,” Zhong Chengshuo stated.

“If Fu Xingchuan were here, he would probably follow the rules.” Yin Ren sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against Zhong Chengshuo’s stomach. “But there are some paths you can only choose for yourself—I am an evil, remember?”

“I remember. What about Lu Xiaohe…”

“She won’t make any mistakes.”

Yin Ren stretched lazily on his lover’s stomach.

“I trust her.”

……

“Two members’ equipment from Unit 9 went offline. Lu Xiaohe from Unit 9 didn’t submit a report, and it was only discovered during the headquarters inspection.”

Xiang Jiang slammed the report on Li Nian’s desk.

“They were just investigating a minor corruption source, and Unit 9 ended up like this? The rear commander knew but didn’t report it?”

Li Nian unscrewed the thermos, took a few sips, and said with no discernible emotion, “I didn’t realize you cared so much.”

“Ge Tingting and Huang Jin are both black seals, theoretically under my command. I am responsible for their situation.” Xiang Jiang’s face grew stern. “This is the first mission of Unit 9 as a B-level investigation team, so naturally, I have to keep an eye on them. It’s almost the end of the year. Do you want the accident rate to increase again?”

Li Nian averted his gaze while his tone remained unchanged. “If Lu Xiaohe didn’t report, then Unit 9 may have their own plans. That’s just their style. The regulations allow a tacit approval period of twenty-four hours, so let’s stick to that.”

Xiang Jiang: “…It’s not just a simple disappearance of the signal! The magical markings on their phones were all deactivated. Even evil spirits couldn’t erase them so cleanly.”

Behind him, Xiang Hai exhaled with a bloody ghostly aura.

“What? The magical markings were deactivated?”

Li Nian stopped his tea-drinking motion, and his brow furrowed slightly.

He quickly scrolled the mouse and pulled up today’s report from Unit 9, quickly reading it. Xiang Jiang crossed his arms as his gaze followed the movement of Li Nian’s mouse, occasionally turning towards Professor Li’s face.

“Indeed, something seems off. Lu Xiaohe’s report to me is a mess.”

Several minutes passed, and Li Nian finished reading the report carefully.

“Alright, I’ll contact Lu Xiaohe and ask Fu Xingchuan to go to the school.”

“Fu Xingchuan? Theoretically, I’m your partner. Why can’t I go?” Xiang Jiang sneered. “Ge Tingting and Huang Jin are just involved employees, not important at all. If Fu Xingchuan goes, who knows what conclusions he might draw… He’s more skilled than anyone when it comes to sacrificing minor characters for the greater good.”

“He’s like half your teacher, so watch your tone.”

Li Nian’s expression turned cold.

“Consultant Fu is powerful and convenient to mobilize, so that’s why he should go. If you, as the minister, are still so concerned, you can come along. Just remember to submit a report, and I’ll sign it.”

They stared at each other across the office desk for a long time.

Li Nian maintained his poker face as usual, while Xiang Jiang’s usually lifeless features showed a hint of anger, making him appear more alive.

“I’ll provide a detailed investigation request tonight,” Xiang Jiang said, each word deliberate. “After that, I’ll take full command and responsibility for the Haigu Secondary School area. Is that okay, Minister Li?”

“It’s in line with procedures,” Li Nian answered softly.

Xiang Jiang snorted and immediately began filling out the report. Li Nian glanced at him and connected to Lu Xiaohe’s communication channel.

“Where are Ge Tingting and Huang Jin?” Li Nian got straight to the point.

Lu Xiaohe replied, “They went out and are not here.” Her voice sounded cold, with a drawn-out tone at the end.

“Their communication is completely cut off, and the magical markings malfunctioned. It’s the highest level of danger—disappearance… Lu Xiaohe, did you confirm according to the regulations and on time this afternoon?”

“My mother also had the highest level of disappearance.” Lu Xiaohe’s tone was flat. “It hasn’t been twelve hours since those two disappeared.”

“Lu Xiaohe.” There was a hint of warning in Li Nian’s tone.

“Well, they went out and are not here. It’s after work hours now. If there’s something, contact me tomorrow.”

After saying that, she abruptly ended the call.

“…It seems I have to go with you.”

Li Nian tightened his grip on the thermos slowly.

“The situation there seems off. Let’s set up protection in the area and ensure safety before making contact.”

Xiang Jiang raised an eyebrow in response.

“Do you need a specially deployed task force? If not, I’ll arrange it myself.”

Midway through writing the application, Xiang Jiang suddenly asked.

“No, you arrange it.”

……

Early the next morning.

Beeping electronic notifications sounded. Lu Xiaohe had stayed up all night making her eyes sore and dry. She poured the remaining energy drink into her throat.

The devices of Huang Jin and Ge Tingting once again showed a location signal; this time at the water pavilion near the back mountain. Lu Xiaohe wiped her face and looked at the two strange talismans attached to the monitor.

Two peculiar talismans silently adhered to a powered-off monitor. Their vermilion marks were bright, like blood.

Lu Xiaohe weakly smiled, reaching for the communication button. Her movements were shaky, and she accidentally knocked over the stack of beverage cans, which scattered and rolled around with a clattering noise.

“What’s wrong?” Yin Ren’s voice came through, accompanied by chewing sounds.

“The devices of Huang Jin and Ge Tingting suddenly lost their response, and they didn’t come back last night. Their location just appeared near the back mountain. There might be something going on.”

Lu Xiaohe glanced at the label “Shian Public Channel” and cleared her throat as she spoke in an icy tone.

“They didn’t come back? Why didn’t you tell us yesterday?” Yin Ren stopped chewing, and his voice instantly became louder.

“I thought you had arranged it. Are you sure you want to discuss this now?”

“Never mind, how far is the water pavilion near the back mountain from here?” Yin Ren’s voice suddenly turned serious, mixed with just the right amount of urgency. “That girl caused trouble again last night and said she would go to the back mountain in the morning—”

“It’s right at the water pavilion near the back mountain.”

“…We’ll get prepared on our end and go there. You should quickly report the situation.”

“Understood,” Lu Xiaohe responded indifferently.

Finally, she ended the communication, wiped the sweat off her forehead, and looked at the two talismans.

Beside those two talismans stood a movable blackboard, covered in densely written words:

[1. When in contact with others, there will be sudden intense emotional fluctuations within five minutes, lasting for more than 30 minutes. √

2. Emotional fluctuations lead to a large number of negative thoughts about current work. √

3. Negative thoughts specifically involve strong hatred and suspicion towards team members and colleagues. √

All of the above are applicable, and it is highly suspected of being affected by psychic interference. It is best to act according to the affected style and immediately contact the most hated companion privately and explain the situation. Remember, companions around you are always more trustworthy than strangers.]

[Companions around you are always more trustworthy than strangers.]

These words were repeated over and over, filling every corner of the whiteboard. The handwriting started becoming incredibly messy, resembling a child’s practice, but then those sentences became neater and bolder, indicating that the writer had exerted more force. The subsequent ink faded, and the writing turned into a suspicious reddish-brown blood color.

“This is the first time I’ve been affected… It feels like hell.”

Lu Xiaohe extended her bandaged right index finger, tore open a packet of bread, and took a fierce bite. She glanced at the task assigned to Shian on the public channel, then opened a can of energy drink.

“A fragile mental state really isn’t suitable for staying up all night.”

She swallowed the soft bread and couldn’t help but close her eyes. The image from yesterday at noon seemed to still be before her eyes—

After communication from the hospital was cut off, Lu Xiaohe’s heart sank into an abyss. She quickly skimmed through the janitor’s information and closed the page, but the intense hatred toward Yin Ren was like a potent poison, constantly corroding her nerves.

Pain and worry filled her mind. She didn’t want to do anything, didn’t want…to be affected.

Her current state absolutely couldn’t be affected.

Lu Xiaohe gritted her teeth and struggled to stand up, picking up the pen next to the whiteboard.

She almost squeezed out all of her rationality before she could summarize the current situation. During the writing process, the surging rejection seemed to grip her brain, forcing her to abandon writing and immerse herself in the worry for her loved ones.

[Companions around you are always more trustworthy than strangers.]

But Zhang Hejun’s description of the characteristics was so accurate…

[Companions around you are always more trustworthy than strangers.]

However, Yin Ren’s attention wasn’t currently focused on exploring the Other Side, which was also a fact. The promise to save her mother was merely a verbal agreement…

[Companions around you are always more trustworthy than…]

She wrote it countless times until the ink of the marker ran out. Lu Xiaohe tightly grasped the pen, gasping for breath. Sweat covered her whole body, making her look as if she had just crawled out of water.

She bit her fingertip hard, using the pain to forcefully write the last word.

[Trust.]

The entire whiteboard was filled with words. Lu Xiaohe pressed the communication device with trembling hands. Just as she was about to speak, she saw the mark of “Shian Public Channel” and swallowed the unspoken words.

“Yin Ren, come to the base. Your signature is needed for the incident involving the puppet being poisoned.” Lu Xiaohe suppressed the trembling in her voice and spoke with a flat tone.

On the screen, she opened the janitor’s information again and forced herself to read it repeatedly.

“A signature?”

Not long after, Yin Ren swiftly returned to the base. He deliberately displayed his figure, hovering in the air without any proper form.

“I’m here. Where are the documents? I need to sign them quickly and go…”

Before he could finish speaking, the young Yin Ren’s red eyes suddenly turned, locking onto Lu Xiaohe.

“It’s rare to see killing intent in you.” Lord Ghost King floated in front of Lu Xiaohe. His previously relaxed tone vanished.

Before Lu Xiaohe could reply, Yin Ren directly pressed his hand against her forehead. Seeing the real person suddenly appear in front of her, hatred surged within her, and Lu Xiaohe instinctively wanted to dodge. However, under the strength of that hand, her feet felt as heavy as a thousand kilograms, and she became like a stone sculpture, unable to even move her fingers.

Yin Ren muttered an obscure and unintelligible spell in a low voice, and a warm white light gradually lit up around them, as gentle as the morning sun.

In the next moment, Lu Xiaohe felt as if she had stepped from a stuffy and foul-smelling room to the outdoors. A cool breeze blew, and the hatred and pain instantly dissipated. Her drowsy mind became much clearer in an instant.

Those poisonous emotions seemed to be separated by a thick barrier. They could still touch her heart, but they could no longer interfere with her thoughts.

“…A thousand years ago, your current state would be the standard ‘losing control’ state, the kind that can be fatal.”

After the spell was completed, Yin Ren didn’t show a relieved expression. He leaned closer to Lu Xiaohe’s face, gently sniffing the air around her. His voice became more serious.

“But there are no traces of magic nearby. The technique was too clean. Lu Xiaohe, tell me everything about who you just interacted with, what they said, and what they did. Don’t leave out a single word.”

Lu Xiaohe took a long sigh and opened the refrigerator, taking out two bottles of chilled drinks and casually tossing one to Yin Ren.

“Coincidentally, I was planning to do that.”

Lu Xiaohe pressed the cold drink against her temple, still feeling a lingering fear.

“Oh, right. Remember to contact Ge Tingting and Huang Jin later. I don’t dare to use the public channel, in case it alerts the enemy…”

“I saw them just now. They were heading towards the cafeteria. Don’t worry, I guarantee that I can stop them before they leave the cafeteria.”

Yin Ren stood in front of her, instantly transforming back into an adult appearance. His long black hair flowed like water, and his oversized school uniform transformed into a dark red robe. The once Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi had a solemn expression on his face as he moved his hands intentionally or unintentionally, as if performing finger gestures.

“Now you can speak. Remember, don’t leave out any details.”

……

Another round of beeping sounded, interrupting Lu Xiaohe’s hasty recollection. She leaned back in her chair—

The marker representing Yin Ren had moved to the water pavilion near the back mountain, in close proximity to the markers representing Ge Tingting and Huang Jin. Although she couldn’t be detected, that girl named Luo Chunlei was most likely also at the scene.

“It’s time.”

Lu Xiaohe clenched her fists tightly and then slowly released them. She took a deep breath and sent out the drones. They would patrol around the back mountains and capture any changes, then present their data in front of her.

“Make sure to win, all four of you.”

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