Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 183: Three People

Lu Xiaohe’s mother loved eating eggplants.

When Lu Xiaohe was young, her mother’s favorite saying was, “Eggplant stir-fry is better than meat.” At that time, her mother’s skill in cooking eggplant fried rice was extraordinary. The tender yet chewy eggplant mixed with the flavorful rice absorbed the juices, creating a wonderful texture and delicious taste. Steamed eggplant with garlic was also flavorful, and her mother called it “chicken leg”.

At that time, the family wasn’t well off. But looking back, Lu Xiaohe never felt that they were poor. Her childhood was frugal yet carefree.

She loved her home.

So Lu Xiaohe studied hard, aiming to get into the top university and pursue the best major, hoping that her parents could have carefree days in their later years.

Unfortunately, the road of scientific research was long, and she had not yet completed her studies when her mother fell ill unexpectedly. For a disabled researcher, Shian was the fastest way for her to obtain a large amount of funding legally… If it weren’t for this, she might have continued her research within the university and directly entered a reputable research institute.

Fate could be so ironic.

Amidst the rumbling sound of the range hood, Lu Xiaohe finished stir-frying the eggplants. “Dad, please serve the rice!”

Her father responded and entered the kitchen. Father and daughter tacitly prepared the meal. Lu Xiaohe carefully arranged the rice next to the stir-fried eggplants and placed it on a tray. She made a “V” shape with red chili peppers, admiring it happily, and poured a cup of grape infused water—her mother disliked drinking plain water, always complaining it tasted bitter.

With just a little bit of sugar, her mother would happily drink it.

“I’ll take it to Mom and keep her company for a while,” Lu Xiaohe said with a smile. “Dad, make sure you don’t finish all the dishes; leave some for me.”

“I can’t promise that.” By now, her father had already sat at the dining table, his face marked with many wrinkles, but filled with a smile.

Lu Xiaohe carried the tray, made a silly face at her father, and then used her shoulder to push open the door to the bedroom.

Her mother’s bedroom was separate, made spacious to bring her comfort. Despite being small, the room was well arranged.

Inside, the table was filled with books and a gaming console, the floor was clean, and the windowsill was adorned with thriving green plants. It was deep autumn, and the leaves outside had a golden-red hue, complemented by the clear blue sky, resembling a beautiful painting. The air in the room was fresh, carrying only the scent of plants, occasionally accompanied by the chirping of birds outside the window. In such an environment, the otherwise old room exuded a charming ambiance.

Lu Xiaohe stepped on the dancing rays of light on the floor and greeted with a smile, “Mom—”

In the next instant, she nearly dropped the tray.

There was no one on the bed.

Trembling, Lu Xiaohe set down the tray. The aroma of the stir-fried eggplants filled the air, but it only churned her insides. Her eyes quickly scanned the room, trying to find any trace of her mother.

There were indents on the bedsheets and pillow, showing where someone had lain. Her mother’s slippers were neatly placed by the bed. The window had only a palm-width gap, impossible for a person to pass through. Not to mention her mother was too weak to move independently, and there was no toilet in this room, only a chamber pot. There was no reason for her mother to suddenly leave.

The bedroom door was the only normal exit, leading directly to the living room… She and her father had been in the living room just now, and the bedroom door was slightly ajar, untouched.

Lu Xiaohe felt a chill run through her body. In that moment, her thoughts nearly froze.

How could this be?

She wanted to call out to her father, but her throat refused to produce a sound. Staggering, Lu Xiaohe rushed to the wardrobe, opened its doors, and frantically searched. The wardrobe, under the bed, behind the curtains.

She wished so much for her mother to suddenly appear from somewhere, smiling and saying, “Did I scare you?” Even if it was a cruel joke… Please, let it be a cruel joke.

But there was no one in the room.

Lu Xiaohe collapsed by the edge of the bed; the scent of her mother still lingering on the bedding and pillow. She fought back the panic-stricken tears, tremblingly took out her phone, and dialed Yin Ren’s number.

“Hello, Xiao Yin.”

She instinctively used the familiar nickname for help, even though she knew the person on the other end of the call stood at the pinnacle of the metaphysics.

“I can’t find my mom.” Her voice choked. “I can’t find my mom.”

The usually composed rear commander couldn’t hold back the tears this time.

……

Half an hour later, Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo were already standing in Lu Xiaohe’s home. The stir-fried eggplants in the tray had turned cold, while the police officers came and went, conducting routine investigations.

Since finding Zhong Chengshuo, Yin Ren’s expression had never been this grim.

He circled around the bright bedroom, his gaze incredibly focused. Zhong Chengshuo looked at Lu Xiaohe whose eyes were red from crying. After a few seconds of hesitation, he gathered his courage and expressed his opinion.

“We will find her,” he said. “I understand that you must be very worried.”

Just like when he was trapped in the underground morgue, the fear of “never knowing Yin Ren’s situation”. Whenever he recalled that feeling, Zhong Chengshuo felt his chest filled with sour, bitter soil.

Lu Xiaohe sniffed and forced a smile. “Just because you said that, I believe that you’re a real flesh puppet.”

Zhong Chengshuo: “……”

Zhong Chengshuo decided to change the subject. “Since it involves a Shian employee, Shian will directly intervene in this case without the need for police contact or scrutiny of liaison personnel. Yin Ren has already reported it to the higher-ups, and the investigation team will officially start the investigation today.”

The dazed look on Lu Xiaohe’s face instantly vanished, as if she had been abruptly awakened from a dream. “I want to be involved!”

After speaking, she seemed to remember something, and her expression dimmed slightly. “But only a B-level investigation team has the authority to investigate missing cases directly related to Shian personnel…”

“Our Unit 9 is at the B-level.”

Yin Ren finally finished investigating the entire room, his tone unusually serious.

“And this time, this case will have higher-level backup support from Shian… Xiaohe Jie, there are faint traces of Evil Force in this room, and the aura is still fresh.”

“Impossible!” Lu Xiaohe immediately refuted. “Things in my mom’s room haven’t been moved for a long time, and she hasn’t bought anything new recently. Absolutely—”

She stopped halfway, and a few traces of ferocity suddenly appeared on her face. Before Yin Ren could speak, Lu Xiaohe rushed out of the bedroom and pounced on her father.

She grabbed her father’s lapels tightly. “Dad, what did you say you sought from your friend?! Get the clothes or bag you used for it, quickly!”

The incident had just occurred, and Father Lu’s clothes were in the living room. In a matter of minutes, Yin Ren got the answer.

“It’s the ‘silk pouch charm’ you mentioned, no doubt about it.” He fumbled with Lu Xiaohe’s father’s coat pocket; his expression solemn. “There’s a very faint smell of Evil Force. It can corrupt people if in close contact, but it wouldn’t trigger Shian’s alarm.”

Father Lu clenched his hands in his hair, his expression half blank, half agonized. As an ordinary person who had no exposure to metaphysics, he didn’t have much understanding of these things, but he could vaguely sense his responsibility.

“It’s my fault,” he murmured, his lips dry and thin, tightly pursed. “My daughter is clearly involved in this, and I still brought things home without thinking. It’s my fault, all my fault. Daughter, blame me.”

Lu Xiaohe just looked at the cold food on the table silently, her face devoid of expression. She seemed to want to stop herself from crying, but she had to repeatedly wipe away the tears with the back of her hand.

“I… I should have told you earlier…” Her voice was hoarse, barely audible, and her body continued to tremble slightly.

“It’s like this, Mr. Lu.”

Yin Ren interrupted Lu Xiaohe’s murmurs and looked sincerely at Mr. Lu.

“I am Xiaohe Jie’s colleague at Shian. She helped me a lot before, and we made an agreement that I would help her with her mother’s illness. I have some ancestral remedies that are very effective.”

Yin Ren’s tone was serious and calm, carrying a convincing power. At this moment, he didn’t have his usual ease on his face; instead, he had a bit of an aura of the rumored Great Celestial Master.

“Later, due to personal matters, I kept delaying it. If I had fulfilled my promise earlier, Mrs. Lu wouldn’t have encountered such a situation. I will take responsibility and absolutely find her.”

Yin Ren emphasized the word “absolutely,” and Lu Xiaohe looked at him with a complex gaze.

“You…”

“I should be responsible for this matter, and I will take responsibility for it,” Yin Ren declared firmly.

The pain on Mr. Lu’s face eased a bit, and he tightly held his knee, nodding vigorously.

……

In the afternoon, at the Special Investigation Unit 9’s office in Shian Campus.

The news of the “Competition Victory Award” arrived slower than the equipment. However, Lu Xiaohe was distracted this time, and even the shiny new equipment couldn’t make her smile.

On the large screen wall, densely packed information was displayed, covering the entire space. It was even more overwhelming than when they were investigating the case of Zhong Chengfeng.

Despite it being a day off, there was no sign of fatigue from overtime in the room. Ge Tingting sat solemnly at her desk, and even Huang Jin’s expression was serious as he crossed his arms, looking rather unpleasant.

“…This is our first task after being promoted to B-level, a case involving multiple missing people. It’s something we’ve always been good at, right?”

Lu Xiaohe attempted to liven up the atmosphere like before, but her voice was hoarse, making it uncomfortable to listen to.

“These cases have a very obvious commonality: the missing individuals are all females and have come into contact with a certain amount of Evil Force corruption before disappearing. The data characteristics of the Evil Force at the disappearance scenes are highly similar. Other than that, they don’t have many other common points.”

She tapped the keyboard heavily, and three brief summaries appeared on the screen:

[Meng Huai, female, 21 years old at the time of disappearance, former head of the Emergency Management Department at Shian, a promising Ghost General. An excellent cultivator.]

[Zhong Chengfeng, female, 26 years old at the time of disappearance, criminal investigator in the Criminal Investigation Support Division of the Haigu Public Security Bureau. Inclined towards the science post.]

[He Huan, female, 54 years old at the time of disappearance, unemployed. Mother of Lu Xiaohe, who’s an employee at Shian. No apparent inclination.]

“These are the three cases we will be investigating together. Our mission is to uncover the fundamental causes of these cases…”

Lu Xiaohe paused in her tone.

“…and find the whereabouts of the missing individuals.”

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 182: Multiple Disappearances

Sunken Society Haigu Branch.

Wei Huaqian looked at the room full of “products” in front of him, revealing a rare expression of difficulty.

Those products were discreetly colored talismans, ranging from heavily ethnic wooden carvings to common national-style ornaments, and even foreign-style “amulets”. There were almost no repeated styles. These trinkets didn’t look expensive, and their audience covered people of all ages and genders.

This was the scene he had long anticipated, but now that the first step of the plan was about to begin, Wei Huaqian found himself uncertain.

One careless move could result in a complete loss. Considering his age, if this ritual didn’t succeed, he wouldn’t have a second chance. Perhaps the group of “suppliers” with unclear ties to the Other Side would continue to cooperate with Sunken Society, but that would no longer concern Wei Huaqian.

He knew that now was not the time.

The research in Gengsheng Town hadn’t reached a proper conclusion, and there was the issue of Zhong Chengshuo’s missing body. The situation in Shian was still not entirely clear, and Xiang Jiang had yet to fully replace Fu Xingchuan’s position. This was simply not a good time to initiate the plan.

“If you continue to hesitate, you’ll never have a chance like this in your lifetime.”

Shen Mo casually picked up an exquisitely embroidered silk pouch amulet and waved it in front of Wei Huaqian.

“When Shian catches up with the progress of Sunken Society’s research on the ‘Other Side,’ this set of cards in your hands is useless. Instead of hesitating, it’s better to make a bold move. Once you succeed, you’ll purely profit—becoming a true Charon, which has always been your goal, right?”

“You’re comfortably giving advice while standing there, ‘old senior’.”

Wei Huaqian’s expression turned unpleasant.

Shen Mo was in his sixties but still maintained the appearance of someone in their thirties. Most of the time, he immersed himself in the Other Side, experiencing minimal physical deterioration. Wei Huaqian, on the other hand, was different. In recent detailed physical examinations, his body had shown various unfavorable signs.

The success of the ritual would be nothing but icing on the cake for Shen Mo. If this attempt failed, he could wait another thirty years and still have an easy time.

Wei Huaqian took the silk pouch from Shen Mo’s hand and said in a cold tone, “Although the corruption source in these items have been carefully balanced and their effects are not significant, it’s better if you don’t touch them randomly… You have been urging me to act earlier all this time. Besides speculation, do you have any concrete evidence?”

Shen Mo retracted his hand and shrugged. “No, I don’t. It’s just I came from Shian, so I have some knowledge about how they work.”

Wei Huaqian stared at Shen Mo for a while.

“…I won’t report the initiation of the ritual to headquarters. Let’s make a compromise. I’ll start with Haigu as a pilot.”

“Haa, you’re indecisive.” Shen Mo shook his head and left the room.

Wei Huaqian’s gaze remained fixed on Shen Mo’s figure until he disappeared at the doorway. Finally, he took out his phone and made two calls.

The first call was to the contact group of Sunken Society on the Nightwalkers’ side.

“The items are ready. Disperse them according to the old method but make it cleaner this time. The deadline is one week. Within that week, all these trinkets must find their owners.”

After speaking, he had no intention of listening to the reaction on the other end of the call. He immediately dialed the second number.

“Hello, it’s me. Mr. Qiu isn’t available? …Well, Mr. Le will do too. I’m just here to inform everyone as agreed.”

Wei Huaqian caressed a wooden talisman carved into a cartoon rabbit in his hand as he spoke in an icy tone.

“The ritual will begin in Haigu. I hope everyone will cooperate. If all goes well, the ‘Divine Descent’ you expect will be fully realized.”

……

Inside a private room of a hot pot restaurant, four people looked at each other.

The red broth in the pot was boiling, filling the air with the fragrance of chili and beef fat, but unfortunately, no one at the table touched their chopsticks.

Sitting at opposite ends of the square table were Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo, while on the other side were Li Nian and Fu Xingchuan in disguise. Today, Fu Xingchuan wasn’t wearing his usual long robe and earring. Instead, he dressed extremely plainly and low-key. He even tucked his long hair under a hat, and with his scruffy, pale face, Comrade Fu Xingchuan resembled a fugitive on the run.

“…That’s how things are.”

Yin Ren kept glancing at the limp beef and lamb rolls on the plate, his heart bleeding.

“Now that we have the results of your experiment, many things make sense. The only thing we need to supplement here is the one thing I remember—the chaotic rabbit and the black sea it was connected to is the person beside me.”

Zhong Chengshuo earnestly nodded in agreement.

“Information sharing is crucial,” the former “Black Sea Rabbit” added politely. “After all, my research time is limited afterward, and I still need research support from Shian’s side.”

Li Nian nodded expressionlessly, while Fu Xingchuan stared deeply at the boiling hotpot, fiddling with the menu for a while. “This restaurant doesn’t have rabbit heads? What a pity.”

“The main reason for this open and frank discussion between the two of you is that I have an extremely urgent matter on my hands. Once I resolve this issue, I am more than willing to cooperate with Shian in the research on the Other Side.”

Upon hearing Zhong Chengshuo’s serious tone, Fu Xingchuan finally tore his gaze away from the menu, his eyebrows twitching. “An extremely urgent matter?”

With two ancient Elementals sitting in front of him, fiercer than fierce, he couldn’t quite imagine what could be considered an extremely urgent matter for these two individuals—especially for one of the Elementals who had already solved housing and even had enough remaining life force to outlast a hundred of himself.

The term “extremely urgent” seemed a bit far-fetched for these two troublemakers.

“I must quickly unravel the case of Zhong Chengfeng’s disappearance twenty-eight years ago. My parents made a wish to me, and I promised them. However, they are already advanced in age, and I don’t know how much longer they can wait.”

At this point, Zhong Chengshuo lowered his gaze.

“They are relatively steadfast in their scientific pursuits, and Yin Ren’s healing abilities are limited. If they were to pass away one day, that wish would never be fulfilled. Primordial Elemental research requires a considerable amount of time, so I have to postpone the related studies for now.”

Fu Xingchuan said, “…Having lived for so long, I never thought I would be involved in discussions of this level. You both really give face.”

The anxiety of the “gods” receiving wishes they couldn’t immediately fulfill was something he didn’t understand, nor did he want to understand. Even within Sunken Society, there was no such thing as wish fulfillment as key performance indicators. Fu Xingchuan didn’t know what to make of it for a moment.

It was like the world’s richest person worrying about asset allocation in front of him. Fu Xingchuan’s palm itched, and his hand gradually clenched into a fist.

“But, as it happens, the results of the joint training competition from last time have also been released.”

However, as a composed adult, Fu Xingchuan maintained a calm expression.

“With the incident of the abandoned hospital building, Professor Li fought for it and secured a winning reward for the Haigu branch—two million each, plus eligibility to be promoted to a second-tier investigation team. Since the competition didn’t end normally, the remaining two teams will also receive one million each as a consolation prize.”

Yin Ren suddenly felt that the hot pot became even more fragrant. The Shian duo really knew the current situation. Could it be that this was a special favor for the old ancestors?

However, before his smile could fully bloom, Li Nian’s continuation of the conversation froze him in place.

“It would be too conspicuous to focus solely on Zhong Chengfeng. Instead, we should investigate the disappearance cases from the Divine Descent 28 years ago. There’s more than just Zhong Chengfeng,” Li Nian calmly added.

So it’s more convenient to manipulate, huh? Modern people really don’t cherish the past. Yin Ren’s sense of relief gradually turned into resignation.

However, this was eating with short-hand and a soft-mouth*, so they had to accept their conditions. With a short hand and a soft mouth, the Great Celestial Master had no choice but to spread his palms.

*Idiom referring to manipulating or exploiting someone’s weakness or relying on their inability to resist in order to benefit oneself.

Once they obtained the information, Zhong Chengshuo and Yin Ren’s heads were immediately close together.

There was a picture of a fierce-looking woman with heavy makeup and a wide smile. She looked more like a member of Sunken Society, but the information clearly indicated Shian.

Meng Huai, a former “Black Seal” Minister of the previous generation’s Emergency Management Department, was considered Fu Xingchuan’s senior in terms of qualifications.

She looked quite young.

“Meng Huai also disappeared during the Divine Descent 28 years ago. At that time, she was only twenty-one years old and had just been promoted to the Minister of the Emergency Management Department,” Li Nian calmly introduced. “Unit 9 can use this as a cover to investigate Zhong Chengfeng’s disappearance—based on what I know, they both went missing near the same nursing home.”

After glancing at the smiling Minister Meng, Zhong Chengshuo let out a long sigh. “I understand.”

Fu Xingchuan discreetly glanced at Li Nian several times before finally continuing the conversation. “You have a visible case to investigate, and Lao Li can use Shian’s resources openly. However, you both… ahem, should keep a low profile. Don’t reveal everything to Unit 9 about Zhong Chengshuo.”

Facing two humanoid bombs, he felt a bit uncertain about his words.

Even if he had his own spirit contract to restrain him, with Yin Ren’s strength, even if he were to break the contract, it wouldn’t cause too much damage. If either of the two ancestors became unhappy, it wouldn’t be impossible for them to turn Haigu back into its state from a thousand years ago.

“I understand. We need to be cautious with both Shian and Sunken Society, right?” Yin Ren said seriously, picking up a piece of meat with his chopsticks. “Now that the bonus is in place, everything will work out.”

Fu Xingchuan and Li Nian: “……”

Li Nian: “I will discuss it with the personnel department.”

“Thank you for your understanding.” Zhong Chengshuo lowered his head with a serious expression. “We will also thoroughly investigate Ms. Meng Huai’s case.”

Li Nian nodded lightly, and his hand on his knee twitched slightly.

“Alright, let’s eat quickly.” Fu Xingchuan scanned his old partner with a glance and loudly changed the topic. “If we don’t eat soon, the broth will dry out.”

What so-called genius of the Fu family! Truly a monster. Today, Fu Xingchuan’s mentality is quite calm.

…Perhaps Li Nian was right. Having these two old fellows tied to Shian might not be a bad thing.

In a certain place in Haigu, Lu Xiaohe was humming a song while stir-frying eggplants at home.

She used all the money she earned to treat her mother and hire caregivers, making their home still cramped and poor. However, compared to before, Lu Xiaohe’s face was no longer clouded.

The Great Celestial Master had promised that when the time was right, he would help her treat her mother. Her mother was an ordinary person who believed in ghosts and gods, so there shouldn’t be any issues. Her mother would soon be able to overcome her illness.

Just then, there was a creaking sound, and Lu Xiaohe’s father entered the house carrying two bags of vegetables and fruits. He smiled at Lu Xiaohe in front of the stove and went straight to his wife’s room.

“Wife, take a look.”

He took out an exquisite silk pouch amulet from the inner pocket of his chest.

“I asked a friend to get this from a master. They said it’s very effective!”

---

The author has something to say:

At this point, I can finally reveal that this is a story about a foolish couple (?

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 181: The Same Species

Haigu Municipal Hospital.

Sun Qi’an woke up in the duty room, and her head was a bit sore, possibly due to being too tense these past few days. She sighed as she looked out the window at the rising sun and swallowed a tablet of ibuprofen.

Her phone screen lit up, filled with WeChat messages. Sun Qi’an casually tapped on them, and without exception, they were all from her family.

[Father: An’an, you didn’t come home yesterday. Isn’t it too early for the night shift?]

[Father: Did you switch shifts with someone again?]

Several voice messages followed from her father.

Sun Qi’an opened them and absentmindedly made herself a cup of coffee with hot water. Her father’s voice in the messages rambled on for a long time, mostly about how “staying up late is harmful to your health”. Towards the end, her mother chimed in, her style much more straightforward than Police Officer Sun—

“Daughter, you’re a doctor, so you know better. It’s okay to be busy, but remember to get that tumor in your head checked out in time, even if it’s benign. Be careful not to exhaust yourself to death for nothing.”

“It’s alright, Mom. I just had it checked recently. Once I find a top-notch specialist, I’ll schedule the surgery.”

Sun Qi’an responded with a smile and casually placed her phone by the sink.

After a simple wash-up, Dr. Sun looked into the mirror. The person in the mirror had bloodshot eyes and a slightly pale complexion, with a strand of hair falling down by her ear. Sun Qi’an reached out to adjust it when suddenly her head spun. She held onto the sink with both hands, taking several deep breaths to calm herself.

She knew that something small was quietly nestled in her brain.

In theory, the sooner one dealt with a brain tumor, the better. However, the location of the tumor was tricky, and being benign, the risk of surgery was too great. Aside from occasional absent-mindedness and fatigue, it hadn’t brought any life-threatening consequences. Sun Qi’an had no intention of tiptoeing through life while carrying it.

With cookies placed on the table and coffee set aside, breakfast was considered done. Dr. Sun tied her slightly greasy hair into a ponytail and rubbed her face vigorously. By noon, her night shift would be completely over.

Oh, she needed to confirm with Qianqian’s side. The child’s condition had been improving, and she would be discharged soon.

Perhaps she could also buy a storybook for the little girl while she’s at it. Qianqian loved listening to stories and had asked her to tell one a few days ago. Thinking about the girl gradually regaining her vitality in the hospital bed, Sun Qi’an let out a slightly helpless smile.

A few nights ago…

Wait, that night, what story did she read to that child?

Sun Qi’an stopped in the hallway, her mind blank.

She remembered opening the storybook, but beyond that, she had no recollection. It was as if she had gotten drunk, leaving her mind filled with untraceable blanks.

Perhaps it was because it was late at the time, or maybe she was too tired. Sun Qi’an instinctively rubbed her temples. When you reach your thirties, you tend to forget things subconsciously—like yesterday’s lunch, whether you locked the door before leaving, or even thoughts that were crystal clear just a few minutes ago.

…Well, her mother was right. She should find an opportunity to thoroughly check that small tumor.

Sun Qi’an sighed again and hurriedly walked towards the end of the corridor, just passing by a nurse with a black ID card.

The nurse was carrying a small and delicate biosafety transport box, heading towards the elevator to go downstairs.

Inside that small transport box were only two blood samples—

One belonged to Yin Ren a few months ago, and the other belonged to Zhong Chengshuo a few months ago.

……

The red liquid in the pot kept bubbling, and Zhong Chengshuo held the cooking utensils, carefully timing by the side of the pot.

“Tomato oxtail soup—he insisted on making it himself.” Zhong Youde wiped his sweat off on the sofa, looking at Yin Ren with a complicated expression. “My son rarely insists on doing anything like this over trivial matters. It seems that you two have a good relationship—speaking of this dish alone, he firmly believes that he understands your taste better.”

“It’s great to have a good relationship.” Cheng Xuehua smiled and joined the conversation. “Xiao Yin is handsome and knows how to handle things. Having more sons like him is a blessing for us.”

After saying that, she deliberately stuffed a round and cute persimmon into Yin Ren’s hands.

Yin Ren smiled and set up the fruit platter. Next to the fruit platter, there was already a small and delicate eight-inch cake prepared. The cake was chocolate-flavored and shaped like a log. It was adorned with many fresh fruits that Zhong Chengshuo liked, sprinkled with sugar powder resembling falling snow. The candles with the number “29” were already inserted, waiting to be lit.

Yin Ran seriously doubted if there should be many “0s” after the “29”. At this point, he had given up on the chaotic family hierarchy in this house—the Zhong couple didn’t need to know that the person in the kitchen was older than the city itself.

Next to the birthday cake, several home-cooked dishes were already arranged. The beer from the refrigerator stood at the edge of the table, with a faint mist forming on the bottles. A glass of fresh apple juice for Zhong Chengshuo was placed, emanating a gentle sweetness.

Just before sunset, Zhong Chengshuo carefully carried the tomato oxtail soup, taking small steps to the table.

Considering that Comrade Xiao Zhong was no longer a child, nobody sang a birthday song. Zhong Youde turned on the TV, filling the living room with joyful advertising music and news broadcasts. Cheng Xuehua picked up a lighter and steadily lit the two number candles.

In the dimly lit living room, two small flames flickered gently.

“Make a wish, son,” Cheng Xuehua said with a smile.

Zhong Chengshuo stared at the log-shaped cake for a while, then picked up a plastic knife and skillfully cut it into four pieces—two slightly smaller ones for his elderly parents and two larger ones, each with a candle that swayed gently with his movements.

“I wish for the health and longevity of all our family members,” Zhong Chengshuo solemnly whispered, extinguishing the candle in front of him. The two Zhong elders smiled at each other, their wrinkles easing slightly.

Then, Zhong Chengshuo held the other cake with the candle in both hands and offered it to Yin Ren, with the “9” still burning on the cake.

This time, he hesitated.

Amidst the noisy TV music and the ordinary light of the hanging lamp, Yin Ren looked at Zhong Chengshuo, who was holding the cake—this was the first time he saw a hesitant expression on the man’s face.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but swallowed it back.

After struggling for about half a minute, Zhong Chengshuo still handed over the cake. He leaned slightly forward, lowering his voice to a level only audible to each other.

“I wish that no matter what happens in the future, we will always be the best accomplices.”

With that, Zhong Chengshuo quickly blew out the candle, as if afraid that Yin Ren would change his mind. The cake plate was placed into Yin Ren’s hands, and he blinked, looking at the unexpectedly nervous Zhong Chengshuo.

“I really like you, and I want to make a wish for us to always be in love,” Zhong Chengshuo said somewhat uneasily, turning his head. “But if I make such a wish to you, I won’t know if you like me or if you just want to fulfill my wish.”

However, regardless of anything, they would always be eternal accomplices, Zhong Chengshuo thought seriously. As long as this relationship existed, they would still be able to see each other.

“Ohhh—” Yin Ren elongated his voice softly. “Just that?”

“…”

Zhong Chengshuo’s ears turned slightly red.

“Finding my sister’s whereabouts is my parents’ wish; protecting the safety of those children and their descendants is now our shared responsibility… Your wish, ‘to understand why I fell into the Valley of Remains’, is the only wish that belongs to you.”

“Now I have made a wish to you, and we have exchanged wishes. I like this feeling—Yin Ren, you are the most special one.”

His voice was soft, but the level of seriousness surpassed any previous occasion.

Yin Ren took a sharp breath, his old face slightly flushed. He quickly took the cake plate and took a bite. The cake was made with excellent cream, combining the delicate fragrance of milk with a hint of cocoa’s bitterness. It melted in his mouth, without any hint of greasiness.

“I’ve accepted your offering.”

Yin Ren licked the cream off the corner of his mouth and casually picked up a cherry soaked in alcohol from the cake, stuffing it into Zhong Chengshuo’s mouth. Zhong Chengshuo turned his face, obediently preparing to open his mouth to receive it, but Yin Ren quickly withdrew the cherry and replaced it with a gentle kiss infused with the taste of cream.

Zhong Chengshuo remained motionless, not even subconsciously retreating.

After the gentle kiss, he still received that sweet and vibrant red cherry.

“Tsk tsk.” Cheng Xuehua watched the two of them and shook her head, her tone filled with emotion. “I used to see my son worrying every day, but I didn’t expect him to catch on so quickly.”

“He’s almost there.” Zhong Youde coughed awkwardly. “Hurry up and eat, and after we finish, we’ll take a photo—I specifically got a self-timer camera for this special occasion. We should take a family portrait.”

After dinner, the four of them made space in the living room. The two elders sat on chairs, holding hands tightly. Zhong Chengshuo and Yin Ren stood behind the chairs, with a strand of Yin Ren’s black hair habitually entwined around Zhong Chengshuo’s wrist, tightly bound.

On the side of the camera, only Yin Ren could see Hu Tao. Miss Fierce Ghost smiled with deep meaning, quietly signaling the moment to take the photo.

“One, two, three—cheese*!”

*Eggplant [qiezi] (茄子). In China, it’s a popular way of saying cheese because, pronunciation-wise, it’s similar to saying cheese in English.

At nightfall, Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo spent the night at the home of the elders. In the darkness, the two of them lay quietly. Despite the lingering sense of repulsion, they still pressed their foreheads together, stubbornly clinging to each other.

“Now that we’ve done what we needed to do, I want to be honest with Fu Xingchuan,” Zhong Chengshuo muttered.

“A thousand years ago, between you and me, it’s necessary for Fu Xingchuan and Li Nian to know. To have a more comprehensive investigation and support, the resources of Shian and its technology and channels are necessary. When I wanted to join Shian, I was counting on those resources.”

Yin Ren glanced at Zhong Chengshuo and narrowed eyes for a while, then raised himself slightly and kissed Zhong Chengshuo’s forehead.

“I understand,” he said. “Don’t worry. As long as we stand together, you will be safe.”

“Mm.” Zhong Chengshuo closed his eyes. “And I also want to get back my phone…”

As he continued speaking, his pronunciation became increasingly unclear, and he fell asleep like that.

With the warmth of their bodies and the gentle warmth of their breaths, Zhong Chengshuo surprisingly slept peacefully. Yin Ren felt it for a while, then withdrew back into the covers, returning to the position with their foreheads pressed together, and closed his eyes as well.

“Good night,” Yin Ren whispered softly.

“Good night,” Zhong Chengshuo, not knowing which nerve was still awake, responded firmly with slurred speech.

The sleeping cap’s pom-pom slipped down the pillow and landed on the edge of Yin Ren’s phone, nestled next to the slumbering Yellow Millet. At some point, in the tranquil darkness, the phone suddenly emitted a dim light.

Yellow Millet emitted a weak snort, glanced towards the screen, and seeing that the thing wasn’t sounding an alarm, quickly collapsed back into sleep.

The dim light remained, and beneath the newly changed lock screen displaying the family portrait, Yin Ren’s phone received a string of message notifications from Fu Xingchuan.

……

Time rewound a bit.

Deep within the basement of Shian Campus, near the facilities controlling the Evil Spirit, lay Shian’s most advanced research lab.

In a corner of the lab, a certain researcher was working overnight. Five blood samples were placed beside her.

To be honest, Miss Researcher had some doubts in her mind—this time, the testing was personally assigned by Minister Li of the Emergency Management Department. The confidentiality level was at its maximum, to the point that she had to take on the testing alone.

She had expected it to be a tough battle, but after all the fuss, they only sent her five samples that appeared to be human blood. However, these two groups of samples, Y-1, 2, 3 and Z-1, 2, originated from two different individuals with a significant time difference—

Y-1 and Z-1 appeared to be internal medical examination samples from Shian, collected nearly a year ago.

Y-2 and Z-2—these two tubes of blood were most likely collected from Haigu Municipal Hospital, a few months ago. Only registered Shian employees would have their samples specifically preserved at the Municipal Hospital.

The most recent one was Y-3, taken just a few days ago, extremely fresh.

Looking at this information, it was evident that these two sets of samples came from two Shian employees. The researcher shivered at the sight of those few tubes of blood. Conducting blood tests with such high levels of confidentiality made her unable to ponder too deeply.

The two sets of blood quietly lay on the shelf, emitting a dim red glow. Under the pale lights, countless machines hummed and diligently analyzed every aspect of the blood.

That night, Fu Xingchuan was lying in bed, sprawled out, when he was abruptly awakened by a phone call from Li Nian. Minister Fu groggily got up and, in a daze, answered his phone—

“Are you available to talk now?” Li Nian’s voice sounded hoarse on the other end.

Fu Xingchuan glanced at the ceiling of his room and replied, “Is it convenient for you to check the time now? Regardless of the results, matters have reached this point… yawn… It’s only test results. We can discuss it tomorrow. The world won’t be destroyed. Now it’s your turn, be careful not to die suddenly, Professor Li.”

“…” Li Nian fell silent for a moment, then his tone turned icy. “The comprehensive analysis results of the blood samples are out.”

“I see.”

Fu Xingchuan wasn’t actually nervous.

The recent incident at the abandoned building prompted Shian Research Institute to work overtime to reconstruct the situation. The existence of the Evil Force coming from a “Primordial Elemental” was now almost certain.

Combining the information provided by Yin Ren and the situation in the memory world, Fu Xingchuan had already deduced that the Evil Force and Evil Spirits were inseparable from the Primordial Elemental. The Evil Black Dog Spirit had absorbed an excessive amount of Evil Force, causing a phenomenon similar to the gestation of a fierce ghost.

However, whether the Evil Force was a “powerful evil creature born from a Primordial Elemental’s corpse” or a “failed birth of a Primordial Element that became stillborn” was still unknown. After all, there was too little information about the Primordial Elemental, and further research was needed.

Comrade Fu Xingchuan remained emotionally stable.

Even if the results were exaggerated, at most it would be “the Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi is an Evil Spirit with reason”. Taking it a step further, “the Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi is an existence above the Evil Spirits”. Over these past few days, Fu Xingchuan had mentally prepared himself for such possibilities.

On the other hand, Li Nian, who was usually calm, was surprised this time, showing that his previous behavior wasn’t due to his personality, but rather his position.

Thinking of this, Fu Xingchuan felt more at ease. “I’m awake now, so go ahead. I’m listening.”

Upon hearing his attitude, Li Nian fell silent instead. Whether it was Fu Xingchuan’s misconception or not, he felt a subtle sense of pity in his old partner’s silence.

“The comprehensive analysis results of the blood samples are out, and it’s not just Yin Ren’s.”

After about ten seconds of silence, Li Nian spoke up.

“Yin Ren asked us to investigate himself and Zhong Chengshuo, so both their blood samples were taken during his examinations at Shian and the hospital. I thought we could investigate them together. After all, you mentioned before that the flesh puppet also entered the memory world.”

“Ah? Oh, I suspect Yin Ren used some method to create an evil creature using Zhong Chengshuo’s remnants, which is a forbidden technique from ancient times and raises significant ethical concerns.”

Fu Xingchuan scratched his head.

“But considering his identity and the issue of the Zhong elders’ retirement, the situation isn’t that serious…”

So, it wouldn’t make much sense to investigate Zhong Chengshuo’s blood samples while he was still alive. Fu Xingchuan just wanted to mention it to this Great Celestial Master after Yin Ren’s results were out.

Li Nian let out two cold snorts.

“To address your concerns, yes, Yin Ren is something above an Evil Spirit. His flesh can deceive regular examinations, but it can’t deceive the specialized experimental equipment for Evil Spirits.”

Fu Xingchuan’s emotions remained stable. “Hmm.”

Whether it was Evil Spirits or something above them, it didn’t really matter since they couldn’t defeat them anyway. Shian had 100 HP, and whether the opponent’s attack was 999 or 999,999, the difference wasn’t significant.

“Zhong Chengshuo is the same thing,” Li Nian added coldly.

“Hmm… Huh?!” Fu Xingchuan instantly sobered up.

He slowly lay back in bed, burying the back of his head into the soft pillow. Fu Xingchuan stared blankly at his own ceiling, unsure if he was dreaming at this moment.

“According to the report, both Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo’s blood samples exhibit excessively stable ‘Evil Force’ characteristics at the cellular level, with significantly higher cellular activity compared to existing Evil Spirits.”

“The nature of the Evil Force in both sets of cells is extremely similar, but their manifestations differ greatly. If we had to say, it’s like two distinct individuals of the same race.”

“The Evil Force of Zhong Chengshuo is fused with the cells on a physical level, and the internal power cannot dissipate or be separated. The cells also have difficulty regenerating under various stimuli. Apart from the deeply hidden Evil Force system, his physiological characteristics are no different from those of ordinary organisms… According to these results, he shouldn’t be able to actively use any spells and can only retain some special instincts.”

“Yin Ren’s Evil Force is quite interesting. His body seems to be constructed with the support of arcane arts. His flesh exhibits strong arcane characteristics and is similar to the flesh of an Evil Spirit. It can function as an independent source of metaphysical-related power.”

Fu Xingchuan remained silent.

After waiting for a while without getting a response, Li Nian continued on his own, “What’s interesting is that Yin Ren’s blood sample has undergone obvious changes. From the time he joined until a few months ago, the Evil Force characteristics in his cells rapidly matured. On the other hand, Zhong Chengshuo’s blood sample shows no changes, and the Evil Force characteristics have always been mature.”

At this point, Li Nian emphasized the pronunciation of “always”.

Fu Xingchuan still didn’t make a sound.

Li Nian said, “I’m calling 120.”

Fu Xingchuan said, “… Wait a moment.”

His voice was almost fearful.

“If I didn’t misunderstand.” Fu Xingchuan swallowed nervously. “Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo are from the same race, and both are dangerous species above Evil Spirits.”

“Yes.”

“Yin Ren possesses formidable arcane abilities, I know… The problem is Zhong Chengshuo. Does the ‘special instincts’ you mentioned include growing a head?”

“If there is sufficient external nourishment and stimulation, his cells can regenerate completely.” Li Nian’s tone remained calm. “But, as I mentioned before, he indeed cannot use magic…”

Fu Xingchuan closed his eyes in despair.

There was no need to guess. That so-called flesh puppet was most likely Zhong Chengshuo himself. In the abandoned hospital incident, there were enough Primordial Elemental corpse to play driftwood. With ample external nourishment and stimulation, Zhong Chengshuo’s head could be replaced daily.

No wonder Yin Ren stuck to that flesh puppet every day. Fu Xingchuan felt a mix of joy and sorrow.

He was glad that the Great Celestial Master’s sanity was still intact and he hadn’t turned into a pervert as Fu Xingchuan had feared, manipulating his lover’s remains and creating an evil spirit out of them. But he was saddened by the fact that the Great Celestial Master’s lover was indeed an anomaly, and one who disguised it perfectly.

Those so-called talented young individuals were nothing but two troublemakers. Thinking back to the time when he sacrificed his holidays to guide these two in battle, Fu Xingchuan once again pitied his lost vacation.

“Anyway, that’s the situation. Those two…” On the other end of the phone, Professor Li continued speaking in a hoarse voice.

“Li Nian, have you not been sleeping enough?” Fu Xingchuan interrupted desolately. “They’re still partners. Can’t you see the problem there?”

“Go on,” Li Nian’s calm tone contained a hint of weariness.

“The only weakness of the science posts is physical strength, and it seems that Zhong Chengshuo is not lacking in that department. So now we have combined the strongest shield with the strongest spear—they’ve become intertwined.”

An immortal science post immune to magic and an Evil Spirit warhead proficient in various forms of magic—it was difficult to say which one was more dangerous. When Fu Xingchuan joined the ranks of Shian, the level of natural disasters he dealt with was equivalent to hurricanes and floods, but this pair of partners was akin to an asteroid colliding with Earth, surpassing the scope of normal human handling.

As Fu Xingchuan immersed himself in the grief of being deceived by these two powerful individuals, Li Nian suddenly burst into laughter.

Goosebumps ran down Fu Xingchuan’s body as he instantly stood up. Could it be that his former partner had gone mad due to excessive stress?

“The strongest spear and the strongest shield—isn’t that a good thing?” Li Nian said, enunciating each word.

“Fu Xingchuan, have you been asleep for too long? You handled things perfectly fine in Gengsheng Town before.”

“What?”

“If we can’t control them no matter what, then there is only one thing we can do…”

On the other end of the radio waves, Professor Li absentmindedly toyed with his ring, gazing at the moon outside.

“…Trust them, support them, and continue being their ‘allies’.”

Next, there happened to be a perfect opportunity.

---

The author has something to say:

Xiao Zhong is 29 years old! Even though it’s a fake 29 years old (laughs).

Xiao Yin: Clearly older than me, pointing and lecturing.gif.

---

Kinky Thoughts:

This cake tastes like dog food.

---

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

Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

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

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Chapter 180: New Wishes

A few days later, Yin Ren found an excuse and took Zhong Chengshuo to leave Haigu’s Municipal Hospital first.

However, since that day, Yin Ren started to appear and disappear mysteriously. Due to his surface identity as a flesh puppet, Yin Ren didn’t take Zhong Chengshuo along, so he couldn’t take proactive actions.

When Yin Ren wasn’t around, he could only wait obediently at home.

The residence in Ping’an Manor remained the same. Zhong Chengshuo sat on the edge of the bed, feeling restrained, his hand touching the edge of the bed. This had been his accustomed way of life for many years, but now it had become quiet to the point of unbearable.

The scenes from the world of memories continued to linger in his mind.

Zhong Chengshuo had never known that he used to be so enormous. In the past, his perception and cognition were limited. Now, he tried to recall earlier experiences, which was like asking an adult to reminisce about their infancy—a version where perception was completely disconnected.

No matter what, he couldn’t remember.

He was like a baby abandoned in a deserted world, not knowing why he was born, where he came from, or what he was supposed to be.

Zhong Chengshuo walked to the wardrobe, struggling for a moment, and pulled out a pack of cheese-flavored potato chips from the drawer. He chewed them slowly, one piece at a time. The crispy sound echoed in the room, and the rich and slightly salty cheese flavor mixed with the roasted potato aroma quickly spread between his lips and teeth.

Unfortunately, this familiar taste couldn’t calm Zhong Chengshuo down.

To be honest, up until now, Zhong Chengshuo only knew that he was a Primordial Elemental. As for things about the Other Side, he couldn’t recall anything.

But he knew that Yin Ren could probably guess—it seemed highly likely that the incident of the Divine Descent a thousand years ago was caused by him.

His true form shattered into pieces, blood splattered everywhere, giving birth to six Evil Spirits in succession, directly propelling the prosperity of evil creatures to its peak. It was easy to verify, simply by utilizing the highest-level Shian’s laboratory and comparing the nature of the Evil Spirit’s power with his own flesh and blood.

The suspense in this matter wasn’t significant.

If it were the previous Zhong Chengshuo, he would definitely be excited about this. Whether it was from the perspective of researching the Divine Descent or tracing his own origins, it was a great advancement.

But Zhong Chengshuo couldn’t feel happy now.

…If the legend of the Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi was accurate, Yin Ren’s deranged mother was likely corrupted by Evil Force, leading to a distorted mind. Yin Ren, as a baby, absorbed an excessive amount of Evil Force and descended into the world as an evil in human form.

Accompanying him was the lingering pain of corruption and the destined loneliness of wandering in the wilderness.

All of this was caused by the Divine Descent he triggered a thousand years ago.

What would Yin Ren think about all of this?

Yin Village was a good village. If Yin Ren had been born normally, he would have lived a peaceful and fulfilling life as a mortal. He would have lived during the most stable period of the Gong Dynasty, without experiencing the wars that would occur hundreds of years later. He wouldn’t need to distance himself from the mortal world, seal his former companion with his own hands, or witness the agony of Yin Village’s destruction.

He wouldn’t have to personally end his own life when his body was on the verge of collapse.

…Faced with all of this, what would Yin Ren think?

These past few days, Yin Ren had been consciously avoiding him. Was it because he couldn’t overcome the hurdle in his heart and needed to contemplate alone?

Zhong Chengshuo took out the tub of spicy crayfish-flavored potato chips and opened it. The Evil Fruit silently flowed on its surface. Its dark red streams of light that were strangely beautiful, enough to make one’s heart tremble.

This was an Evil weapon created by Yin Ren’s own hands, forged through a blood oath.

It carried the ominous blood of the Great Celestial Master and an Evil Spirit, yet it became a cursed weapon that repelled all unwelcome intentions to kill and do harm, cursing all “murderers” in the world.

Zhong Chengshuo pressed his fingertips against the blade and slowly closed his eyes, as if touching a lover who was not by his side.

The emotion called fear gradually spread, but this time it came in fragmented and gentle waves, like a soft thorn that incessantly scratched at the depths of his heart.

Just as Zhong Chengshuo was carefully savoring this delicate and subtle emotion, the bedroom door suddenly opened without a sound. Zhong Chengshuo, deeply absorbed in his thoughts, jolted, narrowly avoiding cutting his finger on the Evil Fruit.

Instinctively, he backed against the corner of the wall, tensing his body vigilantly.

Then he saw Yin Ren with a peculiar expression.

It was deep autumn, and Yin Ren tucked his long hair under a hat. He was dressed in a dark red hoodie, giving him a rather modern appearance. At the moment, his hands were behind his back, and his facial expression was indescribable—it contained a mixture of satisfaction and anticipation, with a hint of subtle cunningness.

“Oh, what’s this? Turns out it’s the Evil Fruit.”

Yin Ren stretched his neck to take a look at the potato chip tub.

“You were so secretive; I thought you were hiding something particularly exciting.”

“Like the special items hidden in your room… such as the two erotic books that Lu Xiaohe found on your bookshelf?” Zhong Chengshuo carefully pondered, his voice trailing off.

The small trace of smugness on Yin Ren’s face instantly turned into bitterness.

Listening to Zhong Chengshuo’s recounting, the Shian group must have witnessed the heroic battle where the Great Celestial Master swept through the Gouluo army. Yin Ren didn’t know how long the impact would last; he only knew that there would be a moment when it would end and that it wouldn’t be enough to erase Lu Xiaohe’s wonderful memories.

“It’s… It’s only natural!” Yin Ren’s face turned slightly red.

Zhong Chengshuo nodded, carefully observing Yin Ren. He squeezed out the emotional intelligence he had accumulated for a long time, trying to perceive any trace of Yin Ren’s desire to distance himself.

Meanwhile, Yin Ren looked up and down at him. For a moment, it seemed as if they were competing to see whose gaze was more penetrating.

“…Forget it.”

Yin Ren succumbed to that particularly earnest gaze.

He cleared his throat, walked up to Zhong Chengshuo, and finally extended the hand that he had been hiding behind his back. In Yin Ren’s slender fingers rested a moderately thick package. It was wrapped in gray-black gift paper with a rabbit pattern on its surface, tied with a crimson ribbon.

“Tomorrow is your birthday, and Uncle and Auntie have confirmed it.”

Yin Ren exhaled.

“We’re going to have dinner at your parents’ place tomorrow. This gift is quite special; you should open it first.”

Zhong Chengshuo stared at Yin Ren in a daze, still holding the Evil Fruit in his hand, frozen in place.

Yin Ren tilted his head and looked at him for a while before suddenly realizing something. “I understand. You’re probably thinking about the events in the world of memories and believe that the Divine Descent you triggered altered my life. You think I’m upset with you because of that. Have you been thinking that I’m avoiding you these past few days?”

Zhong Chengshuo slowly turned his head away, no longer meeting Yin Ren’s eyes directly.

Yin Ren sat on the bed. His expression contorted for a moment, but he couldn’t hold back his smile. He grabbed the pillow and blanket from the bed and quickly arranged a soft makeshift altar. Then, he placed the gift box on top.

Immediately, he snapped his fingers, and a flame appeared in the air. Zhong Chengshuo’s computer, as if on its own, turned on and started playing a randomly selected tranquil music composed of natural elements.

“I have existed within your body; I know your state at that time. The Divine Descent was undoubtedly not something you intended. Why should I feel displeased with you for something you couldn’t control? …But then again, I do genuinely desire a mortal life.”

Yin Ren sat cross-legged in front of the soft makeshift altar. He took off his hat, and his long hair flowed like water on the bed sheet.

“However, the experiences of being the Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi are equally precious to me. And at this moment, I am experiencing the best life that a mortal can have—I have no worries about food and clothing, good health, the company of my loved one, and a long future ahead.”

Zhong Chengshuo stood silently in place, his eyes behind his glasses blinking.

“Now, I offer this tribute for a wish.”

Yin Ren blinked slyly, and stood up, nearly collapsing the altar. He grabbed the delicately wrapped gift box and handed it to Zhong Chengshuo with one hand.

Zhong Chengshuo awkwardly took the box with both hands and looked at Yin Ren.

“My wish is for my beloved to like it—even if you don’t, please don’t tell me.”

Zhong Chengshuo’s throat bobbed, and he pressed his lips together. The radiance of the Evil Fruit flowed slowly as he gently cut open the ribbon of the gift. The wrapping paper with a rabbit pattern was carefully unwrapped by Zhong Chengshuo, without tearing it anywhere.

Inside the package was a hardcover notebook.

The surface of the notebook was jet black, giving it a business-like style. The paper inside was thick, and the craftsmanship was excellent. Zhong Chengshuo carefully opened the cover and found that the first page had the title “Compendium of the Primordial Elementals” neatly written, with a rabbit wearing glasses drawn below the title.

Zhong Chengshuo’s finger paused slightly, and he turned to the next page.

It was Yin Ren’s handwriting.

To be fair, Yin Ren’s handwriting wasn’t particularly mature, but he wrote with great seriousness. The handwriting was neat and pleasing to the eye, without any mistakes. Page after page, it recorded the “suspected Primordial Elementals” that the Great Celestial Master Zhong Yi had encountered during his hundred years in the mortal world.

Appearance, habits, characteristics, modes of communication… Yin Ren succinctly recorded them in plain language on the pages, even adding simple illustrations for each one.

Zhong Chengshuo quickly flipped through the pages, and after more than half of the notebook, the remaining pages were blank. And at the interrupted position, there was a drawing of Gao Mengyu’s “cat”.

That was where it all began.

“You said you like books.” Yin Ren touched his nose. “This will definitely become a book. Let me show you.”

Zhong Chengshuo’s grip on the notebook tightened slightly, and for some reason, his throat felt a bit dry.

“Still half empty,” he murmured, unfamiliar emotions flowing through his blood.

“Yeah, still half empty. We’ll perfect it together, great scientist.”

Yin Ren stood up completely, crossing over the makeshift altar of bedding and opening his arms.

Zhong Chengshuo took two steps forward and responded to the embrace. He buried his face in the crook of Yin Ren’s neck, savoring the person’s scent.

“Happy birthday.” Yin Ren’s chest trembled.

“Your wish has come true. This is the first wish I have completely fulfilled.”

Zhong Chengshuo mumbled in a muffled voice.

“…I’ve never liked anything this much before.”

And I’ve never liked someone this much either.

Yin Ren patted his back. “Speaking of that, I always felt that it’s a pity to give up the wish for ‘having apples every day’. Zhong Ge, let’s make a deal. Can I change it?”

“Hmm?”

“I prefer your dad’s style of making wishes.” Yin Ren murmured. “I also have someone important to me. They fell from somewhere, severely injured, trapped in a narrow space, barely clinging to life. If it weren’t for their luck, they would have died there in pain and confusion.”

“Their situation couldn’t have been caused by a mere ‘accidental’ fall. I want to uncover the truth and find out who is behind all of this.”

“Please use this wish to replace the wish for ‘having apples every day’.”

Zhong Chengshuo tightened his arms, and the jet-black notebook lay quietly on the edge of the bed.

“…Alright,” he said softly.

……

Haigu Municipal Hospital.

In the hospital room, a slender little girl leaned against the head of the bed with her bright eyes looking towards her parents by the bedside.

“Tell me a story!” she pleaded, smiling and acting spoiled.

“What story do you want to hear?” Her mother gestured for her husband to fetch some water, while she sat down beside the bed.

“A story about ‘Death’,” the girl said. “The doctor lady told it before, and I want to hear it again!”

Her mother flipped through the storybook she held in confusion. It was a picture book titled <The Little Red Wolf>, and it didn’t contain any elements related to ‘Death’.

“What did that doctor lady tell you?” her mother asked softly, as she put away the storybook.

Maybe that doctor brought her own storybook, so as not to trouble others. After all, there are only a few fairy tales. Once she figured out which one it was, she could buy it later.

The little girl furrowed her brow, trying hard to remember for a while.

“A long time ago, there was a country with day and night. The residents were born during the day and died during the night.”

“Then, a hero appeared. The hero discovered that the night was the incarnation of Death. To pursue a better world, the hero gathered companions, and together they vanquished Death.”

“Death disappeared, and the night disappeared too. Everyone obtained eternal life and would no longer die due to aging.”

The girl’s mother thought for a moment but couldn’t think of any fairy tales that matched. However, the content of this story was simple and ordinary, and it was possible that the doctor had improvised it to encourage the patients.

“It has a good ending,” she said, stroking her daughter’s head.

“No.”

The little girl shook her head.

“She said the story doesn’t have an ending yet.”

---

Kinky Thoughts:

Well, as always, everything in previous arcs connects to each other. The cat was to explain about the “gaps” of the Other Side, and Feng Qi and Ge Tingting’s case was to hint about why Zhong Chengshuo was given the alias ‘Death’. Given how Yin Ren is part of Zhong Chnegshuo, it makes sense why he’s the dragon.

For those confused by the events, here is how things unraveled.

1,000+ years ago, Zhong Chengshuo descended into the mortal realm, triggering the Divine Descent of a thousand years ago. This gave rise to many Evil Spirits and evil beings. One of them was Yin Ren, whose mother was affected by the Evil Force from the Divine Descent and went crazy. She eventually gave birth while being corrupted by Evil Force, essentially birthing an evil in human form. This explains why Yin Ren could live for so long and is so powerful (enough to seal the other Evil Spirits).

Time fast forward, and Yin Ren eventually became known as the Great Celestial Master revered by many, and bestowed the name Zhong Yi by the Emperor (though in reality he was just a normal semi-human with normal mortal desires). The orphans he saved eventually created Huajisi, which is now known as Shian.

Near the end of the Gong Dynasty, the Gouluo army invaded and destroyed Yin Village, Yin Ren’s hometown. This triggered the event that led to the birth of Shian’s Evil Spirit. Yin Ren had left an evil dog there to guard the town. Seeing the villagers being slaughtered, it went crazy. The Gouluo army had brought a source of corruption which was then eaten by the evil dog, transforming it into an Evil Spirit.

Before the Evil Dog Spirit could transform, Yin Ren arrived and sealed it away, creating the Evil Fruit, which was the blood oath between him and the Evil Dog Spirit.

With this last seal, Yin Ren exhausted almost everything and was nearing the end of his life. He returned to his hideout, the Valley of Remains, which in modern times is where Haigu is, and to his little hut that he built in the mountains. The hut is built on the edge of a large expanse of darkness, which is basically what Zhong Chengshuo is.

During his time alive, Yin Ren would return to this hut to rest and encounter a black “rabbit” that Zhong Chengshuo sent out. Eventually, the black rabbit learned many things in the mortal world through Yin Ren, and they developed a connection.

In the last moments of Yin Ren’s life, the Gouluo army was able to trace him to his hideout and intend to steal his Evil Fruit (thinking it could command the army of evil spirits). To protect the orphans, Yin Ren created an altar and offered half a red apple as sacrifice to make a wish.

Seeing that he ate the apple that Yin Ren offered, Zhong Chengshuo was determined to grant his wish. Eventually, the Gouluo army who invaded the Valley of Remains was wiped out, and Zhong Chengshuo preserved Yin Ren’s corpse because he hadn’t “learn” enough yet about the mortal world. He gives the dying Yin Ren half of his power, but it wasn’t enough to revive him (yet).

This leads to the events of modern times. Zhong Chengshuo’s serial killer parents offered their own baby as a sacrifice, allowing Zhong Chengshuo to invade the dead baby’s body. Before he could grant their “wish” they were captured by the police, and he was adopted by his police parents. Determined to carry out part of Yin Ren’s wish for him to “learn about the human world” he grows up as a “human” that is Zhong Chengshuo.

This arc is now over. Summary below.

In order to learn more about what Zhong Chengshuo is and the Great Celestial Master’s past, they decided to enter Yin Ren’s memories via magic similar to the Archive. Using Shian’s Evil Spirit as part of the power source and to help fill in gaps of Yin Ren’s memories, they could do this.

In the meantime, Sunken Society had their own plans as well. Shen Mo, a Charon, planned to invade Shian’s Evil Spirit’s memories and “rewrite” them, triggering the Evil Spirit to go mad. Unfortunately, he was met with Shian forces that were also there from Yin Ren’s memories.

In the memory world, Zhong Chengshuo was sent into Yin Ren’s shell, Zhong Yi, while Yin Ren was sent to Zhong Chengshuo’s shell. Events started to unfold where the past was revealed (which you can read the summary above).

Eventually, the past is uncovered. Yin Ren turns out to be an evil that was affected by Evil Force from Zhong Chengshuo’s Divine Descent thousands of years ago. Zhong Chengshuo is a Primordial Elemental from “the Other Side” that somehow fell into the human world.

Now with this past revealed, they plan to investigate more on the Primordial Elementals and why Zhong Chengshuo fell to the human world in the first place, triggering the Divine Descent.

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On a side note, there’s a lot of allusion here to the underworld. Zhong Chengshuo is seen as ‘Death’, his alias as ‘King Yama’ (the king of hell), and the Charon, which is the ferryman of Hades.

My theory is that the Other Side is similar to the underworld (but not in the sense that it’s literally the underworld but more like a different dimension). As the ferryman, the Charon can cross between both sides, which is why those with the Charon ability can enter and leave the ‘Other Side’. 

Also how funny Yin Ren called Zhong Chengshuo Zhong Ge before because of their “age” in the modern world but in actuality, Zhong Chengshuo is really older than him. Now the Ge is actually applicable… but rather it should be more like Zhong Lao, since it seems he’s much older than just Ge.

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