Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

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Chapter 173

What is the experience of dating a male god like?

If you were to ask Dong Zhi this question, his answer would probably be that after being around the male god for a while, all pretense and decorum are eventually lost.

Because the two of them had basically done everything that couples would do. Even the spiritual intercourse, which ordinary people couldn’t achieve, had been experienced countless times. Compared to physical pleasure, this exploration of the spiritual realm was even more endless and exhilarating. It felt as though every nerve ending had been lovingly caressed, making one tremble and weaken all over. If you combine this spiritual intercourse with physical actions, the effect was simply magnified.

Dong Zhi couldn’t adequately describe this feeling with mere words, but each instance certainly brought the two of them closer. The term “soulmate” wasn’t just a descriptor of a close relationship for them. Now, even if they were thousands of miles apart, while Dong Zhi may not know exactly what Long Shen was doing, he could still sense any intense emotions or imminent dangers Long Shen might face.

After all, his body was utterly destroyed back in the abyss of hell. The body he now inhabited was reshaped for him by Long Shen.

In other words, Dong Zhi had indeed died. Because his power was greater than that of Su Huan or Xiao Zhao, it would undoubtedly destabilize the balance of the world, and the underworld messengers must have seen through this, hence their insistence on detaining him.

Could it also be that because Long Shen gave him a portion of his power, it resulted in the lingering demonic qi within him after returning from the abyss?

Seeing Dong Zhi holding him and remaining silent, Long Shen, slightly puzzled, tilted his head and then pushed him down onto the bed. Due to the position, Dong Zhi’s T-shirt rolled up, revealing a portion of his fair waist, slender yet taut with muscle, that was very appealing to the touch.

As soon as Long Shen touched him, Dong Zhi’s eyes became hazy. Trying to regain his focus, Dong Zhi protested, “No cheating!”

Just now, when Long Shen touched him, he silently infused his qi into Dong Zhi, almost enchanting him.

Dong Zhi realized that his once aloof and reticent master was now more playful than before. Thinking back to the mischievous things Long Shen wrote in that notebook, perhaps he was never really aloof to begin with; it was just a misperception on Dong Zhi’s part.

“Master, when will the demonic qi within you be completely expelled?” Dong Zhi, his mind in a whirl, couldn’t help but grab Long Shen’s wandering hand.

Dong Zhi was unsure if Long Shen’s heightened desires after returning from the abyss were due to the influence of the demonic qi, as he was particularly interested and frequently took the initiative.

Long Shen: “I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. It can’t control my mind and soul. Why?”

The corner of Dong Zhi’s mouth twitched. “So you can always blame the demonic qi for anything you do in the future.”

“No,” Long Shen pragmatically responded, freeing his hand from Dong Zhi’s loose grip and resuming his advances.

Before Dong Zhi’s reasoning could collapse completely, he heard Long Shen murmur, “Isn’t this what you like?”

Since when did he start liking this?! Confused, Dong Zhi was then swept up into a tumultuous consciousness, unable to speak any further.

The next afternoon, Dong Zhi finally managed to leave his soft bed, only to find out that Long Shen had already gone out and returned.

He brought back good news. According to the information provided by Deng Bin, Captain Yin and his team managed to retrieve surveillance footage of Deng Bin’s whereabouts on Nanyun Road that day. The timing indeed coincided with the incident involving Su Huan. Thus, Deng Bin now had an alibi. Although there was also footage of a shadowy figure impersonating Deng Bin entering and leaving the Deng residence, when compared, the chances of Deng Bin being exonerated greatly increased.

However, the Su family was convinced that Deng Bin was the murderer of their daughter and refused to let the matter rest. They repeatedly confronted the Deng family. This had surpassed Captain Yin’s responsibilities, and the police could do nothing about it.

Long before Deng Bin was captivated by Su Huan’s appearance, deeply desiring to marry her, the seeds of their tragic fate were already sown. If it weren’t for Deng Bin’s shallow infatuation with Su Huan’s beauty without truly understanding her character, and if it weren’t for Su Huan’s own restless heart being swayed by Ao Yin’s manipulation, their situation might have merely resulted in a divorce at most. It wouldn’t have escalated to the devastation of their family. Dong Zhi felt that even though Deng Bin wasn’t the killer, he was still partly to blame for the tragedy.

Eventually, the conflict between the two families was settled with the Deng family compensating the Su family a large sum of money. Two years after his release, Deng Bin remarried. This time, he chose someone from a similar background. The woman had also been divorced. However, their marital relationship wasn’t harmonious, leading to another divorce after a few years. All of this gossip was later relayed to Dong Zhi by Deng Po after chatting with Kan Chaosheng. Regardless, Dong Zhi and his team had completed their duties regarding this case. Anything else wasn’t their concern.

Chang Qing, in the end, didn’t express interest in joining the Special Administration Bureau. The day after the case was resolved, he left a short message saying that he was continuing his travels, then checked out and left.

For several years, Dong Zhi neither saw nor heard from Chang Qing. It wasn’t until many years later, on the night Kan Chaosheng became a true dragon and the heavens sent down thunder, that Dong Zhi, Long Shen, He Yu, Zhong Yuyi, and others hurriedly went to protect him, assisting the young jiao through the ordeal. In the flash of lightning that illuminated the earth, Dong Zhi thought he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure not too far away. Silently guarding and assisting from beneath the trees by the lake, it faintly resembled Chang Qing, someone he had interactions with in the past.

Throughout the spring and autumn years, everyone continued to move forward, never ceasing their journey of growth.

As for the current Kan Chaosheng, he was sent back to Wuzhiqi Well under Huaishui. All his snacks and communication tools were confiscated, and Long Shen didn’t leave him a single penny.

Climbing out of the well, soaking wet, Kan Chaosheng found himself face-to-face with an octopus.

The octopus excitedly said, “Big brother, you came to see me! Did you bring me a phone?”

Kan Chaosheng: …Sorry, I’m penniless right now, only a lowly jiao.

The Wuzhiqi clearly had “I knew you would come back” written all over his face, pointed at the octopus, and said, “Want to become a disciple? You’d have to call him senior brother.”

Kan Chaosheng jumped up. “Why? I’m clearly his elder brother!”

The Wuzhiqi laughed. “If you had taken the initiative to stay with him back then, wouldn’t that make you his senior brother? Yet in the end, you still came back after making all those detours.”

Kan Chaosheng: …

The octopus, confused, asked, “So, big brother has to call me senior brother?”

Wuzhiqi: “What are the rules for new disciples?”

The octopus replied to Kan Chaosheng, “Every morning you have to massage the master’s shoulders 500 times, tell bedtime stories about the outside world in the evening, and play cards with him when he’s bored on weekends. If you win, you practice breathing exercises 500 times. If you lose, you stand on your head for a day.”

Kan Chaosheng wailed, “Boss, I’d rather serve 20 years unpaid!”

Unfortunately, his cries only echoed in the cave, unheard by those above.

Long Shen and Dong Zhi, meanwhile, continued their journey south to Yangcheng.

On the way, Dong Zhi made a detour to Hezao Mountain to pay respects and report his activities over the past two years to his nominal master, assuring him that his name, Dong Zhi, had made its mark in the cultivation world. Given time, people would know about his master, Fang Yang, and the Hezao sect, which was also part of his heritage. Master Fang Yang, who never had a disciple in his lifetime, would surely rest in peace knowing that his only student had accomplished so much. Deep down in the afterlife, the old master must surely be resting in peace with a smile.

The last time was interrupted by unexpected events, and with various trivial matters that later occupied him, only now did Dong Zhi remember the magical mirror that Long Shen had used to capture dark souls. He inquired about Tang Jing’s recent situation.

Long Shen shook his head. “He’s been constantly searching for a way to resurrect Ming Xian. I haven’t been in touch with him for quite some time.”

He took out his phone and dialed a number.

Considering Tang Jing should currently be deep within the mountains, it was doubtful if the call would go through due to bad reception. However, they were in luck. After a few rings, the call was answered, and although the connection was choppy, it was indeed Tang Jing.

Tang Jing’s voice sounded tired, but there was an underlying serenity. “Actually, I haven’t been practicing for quite a while. Now, traveling with Ming Xian across mountains and rivers, I’ve found the peace I once felt.”

“Can Ming Xian be brought back to life?” Dong Zhi asked, posing the question that weighed on his heart.

Though he barely had any interactions with Ming Xian, their initial encounter was under the ancient tombs of Yinchuan, where weapons clashed, and sparks flew. Dong Zhi held Tang Jing in high regard and couldn’t bear to see him exhaust himself over resurrecting Ming Xian. Naturally, he hoped for a positive outcome for them.

“I don’t know.”

Tang Jing sat on the ground cross-legged with the guqin across his lap. He gently plucked its strings, his gaze filled with tenderness and care.

Perhaps, initially driven by guilt and wanting to make amends, he experienced the profound pain that humans yearn to escape. However, their intertwined fates couldn’t easily be separated for a dispassionate analysis.

“The guqin is gradually being restored. Maybe one day he will come back; it could be in a few years, decades, centuries, or even longer. But I think, I will wait.”

His words were meant for Long Shen and Dong Zhi, for himself, and for the guqin. “Since I’ve started this, I will definitely wait for an outcome.”

Dong Zhi felt a pang of disappointment but was also filled with a glimmer of hope.

“Tang Jing.”

“Hmm?”

“Ming Xian will surely come back. He has a thing for looks, how could he bear to leave such a handsome guy like you to someone else?”

“That’s a good point!” Tang Jing laughed heartily. His cheerful laughter from the other end of the line sounded like the same playful person who was once cosplayed in women’s clothing.

---

The author has something to say:

This concludes the extra chapters. For updates regarding the publication, please follow me on Weibo. I’d like to thank all the readers for accompanying Dong Zhi on his journey from the train heading to Changchun, helping him step into a new world, grow, chase after his male god, and evolve from an ordinary individual to a qualified member of the Special Administration Bureau. Maybe he’s just like the inconspicuous person next to you, silently guarding the world alongside Long Shen.

The green mountains remain unchanged, the clear rivers flow continuously, Dong Zhi and Long Shen are always there, always happy. By the way, an early Happy New Year to everyone! May the upcoming year be filled with prosperity, health, and contentment~~

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Kinky Thoughts:

This marks the end of the extras. If you did, please consider supporting the author by buying the raws. You can use Google Chrome with their auto translate and this guide on how to buy novels on jjwxc. Remember, only with your (financial) support can artists continue to produce more great works.

I also like to thank everyone for your comments, encouragement, help with my translations, and ko-fi donations. It in part fuels my motivation to release so frequently.

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<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary ||

Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

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Chapter 172

A group of people crossed the shore. They had to walk a long way before reaching the edge of the reserve to find any sign of human habitation.

Xiao Zhao was shivering from the cold. Kan Chaosheng, however, was too lazy to walk and decided to coil around Xiao Zhao’s neck, killing two birds with one stone. However, with Kan Chaosheng’s fur damp, Xiao Zhao shivered even more. Dong Zhi had no choice but to light two sunlight talismans and place them on both sides of Xiao Zhao’s shoulders.

Having had his soul taken out and his body possessed by Su Huan, Xiao Zhao was weaker than usual. Dong Zhi used the flames from the talisman to stimulate the yang energy in Xiao Zhao, and soon enough, his complexion improved.

From the start to the end, Long Shen was always holding onto Dong Zhi’s wrist, not even letting go when he saw him take out a talisman, making Dong Zhi operate with just one hand.

Dong Zhi found it odd, even more so by the actions of the yin ghost that tried to detain him earlier. He suddenly remembered the scene in the abyssal hell and was slightly shocked.

Everyone was exhausted and not in the mood for idle chatter. Xiao Zhao, with the support of Chang Qing, barely managed to keep up with the rest of the group. After walking for more than two hours, they finally made it out and met the night shift staff of the reserve.

Seeing them looking disheveled and carrying strange items, like swords and a cat, the staff almost mistook them for poachers. Long Shen showed his ID, explaining that they were police officers chasing a suspect and had already contacted the local police to verify their identity.

The staff member was skeptical and asked, “Where’s the suspect then? Did you not catch him?”

Long Shen casually pointed at Xiao Zhao.

Xiao Zhao: ……

He felt he should play along and pretended to be fierce, shouting, “Even if you catch me, it’s useless! I’ll be out in a few years!”

Probably used to seeing criminals, his act was quite convincing. Chang Qing looked at Long Shen, then at Xiao Zhao, realizing he should play the role of the arresting officer, and gave Xiao Zhao a slap on the back of his head. “Be honest!”

This almost made the already weakened Xiao Zhao fall.

Captain Yin quickly arrived with reinforcements. Three hours later, they finally changed into clean clothes and sat in an office with a warm air conditioner, as if the events on the lake were just a dream.

After Long Shen introduced himself, Captain Yin became serious. The Special Administration Bureau was mysterious and had vast authority. Captain Yin had never expected someone of such high rank from the bureau to be involved. Seizing the opportunity, Captain Yin spoke passionately for five minutes, expressing his gratitude.

Dong Zhi briefly explained the events after they got the book. Captain Yin was flabbergasted. If not for his knowledge of the Special Administration Bureau mysterious cases, he would have thought Dong Zhi was telling a fantasy story or was trying to trick him.

“So, the illustration book is gone?” Captain Yin looked disappointed. “From my personal standpoint, I believe you, but there’s surveillance footage of Deng Bin entering and exiting the house. Unless it can be proven that it wasn’t him in the footage or he has an alibi for those two hours, it would be tough to clear his name.”

In other words, the bizarre story involving a monster called an Aoyin, who manipulated people’s minds through a book and Su Huan becoming a vengeful spirit after death, couldn’t be used as evidence.

Dong Zhi felt this issue was challenging. After all the efforts to bring down the real culprit, Deng Bin was still suspected. It wasn’t like Su Huan’s ghost could testify either.

Long Shen said, “Take me to Deng Bin. Let me try.”

Captain Yin, still skeptical, led Long Shen and Dong Zhi to the detention center.

Right now, Kan Chaosheng was just a cat, which had its privileges as a cat. He didn’t need to follow and rush about, so he could stay here for now and comfortably rest. He was lying in front of the heater, warming up and dozing. His tail swished back and forth. Getting overly comfortable, the tip of his tail hit the heater, and in an instant, his tail was burnt, causing him to jump up and whine.

Idiot. Chang Qing looked at him without speaking, but that word was clearly written on his face.

Kan Chaosheng brandished his claws and shouted, “With me here, you definitely won’t get into the Special Administration Bureau!”

Chang Qing mocked, “You better take care of yourself first. Did you not notice the way Director Long looked at you just now?”

“What kind of look?” Kan Chaosheng became suspicious.

Chang Qing: “A look that says you need to be retrained.”

Kan Chaosheng: “…”

He forgot his grudge with Chang Qing and began to reflect on his behavior since the appearance of Long Shen.

Well, when the Aoyin transformed into a dragon, due to his psychological scars, he didn’t dare revert back to his original form to face it head-on. But he saved Xiao Zhao, and at that time he didn’t know that the dragon wasn’t a real one, but half a dragon. That wasn’t his fault, right?

The more he thought about it, the guiltier he felt. The fat yellow cat curled up into a ball, as if this could save him from disaster.

On Long Shen’s side, Deng Bin still looked dejected. Captain Yin hadn’t told him about Su Huan’s ghost. Regardless of how absurd these matters seem to ordinary people, revealing this to Deng Bin, who was already psychologically fragile, would only confuse him more.

Captain Yin knew that Deng Bin’s family was doing their best to help him. It seemed they even wanted to get a psychiatric evaluation for him. If he was diagnosed with a mental illness, the courts would likely be lenient given the condition when judging the murder. But Deng Bin knew he didn’t kill anyone, so he wouldn’t want to use this as an excuse.

Captain Yin introduced Long Shen. “This is a psychological expert invited by our provincial office. He has some questions for you.”

Without even greeting, Deng Bin just nodded in a lackluster manner.

Long Shen said, “I believe you didn’t kill anyone.”

Suddenly, Deng Bin looked up at him and also noticed Dong Zhi. He became excited.

“You… aren’t you the one from Kunlun Mountain last time?”

Dong Zhi recognized him too. Previously, Deng Bin tried to contact Dong Zhi for help but couldn’t reach him. Yet fate works in mysterious ways.

Long Shen: “During the two hours when Su Huan had an accident, where were you? If we can’t clarify this, you’ll remain a suspect.”

Deng Bin, whose hopes were raised, sank back into despair. He clutched his hair in agony. “I don’t know. I really can’t remember! If I could, I wouldn’t be sitting here now…”

Before he could finish, Long Shen suddenly stood up, walked around the table, and flicked him on the forehead three times.

“Snap!”

To the bystanders, Long Shen’s words sounded faint, but in Deng Bin’s ears, it was as loud as a morning bell or evening drum, deafening.

The chaos in his mind suddenly cleared up. He remembered a prank he played on his parents when he was six and even earlier memories from when he couldn’t speak, lying in his crib and seeing his mother’s smile…

“I remember now!” He shouted. “I went to the suburbs, near Nanyun Road. There’s a forest there, where before the liberation, there was a chaotic burial ground. I don’t know what got into me, but I drove there and parked on the small road outside the forest for two hours, in a daze!”

Captain Yin pondered. “I know the place you’re talking about. It’s indeed desolate around there and probably has no surveillance. But there should be surveillance at the entrance and exit of Nanyun Road. I’ll have someone check it.”

If they find surveillance footage, it would be an alibi for Deng Bin.

For the remaining work, Long Shen and Dong Zhi couldn’t help anymore. When they returned with Captain Yin, the fat yellow cat was sleeping on the sofa with its belly up. Beside him, Chang Qing was playing with his phone, occasionally glancing at the cat with disdain.

“Chaosheng,” Long Shen said.

The fat yellow cat just turned over and continued sleeping.

Long Shen casually picked up a pen from the table and threw it at him, hitting him right on the nose.

Dong Zhi smirked, reminded of classmates who were hit by pens thrown by teachers for sleeping in class.

The fat yellow cat jumped up with a yowl, his face filled with anger, which immediately wilted upon seeing Long Shen.

“Meow meow meow?”

Long Shen: “Speak human.”

The fat yellow cat reluctantly transformed back into a child’s form, but he forgot to retract his tail, which continued to sway behind him.

Idiot. Chang Qing glanced at him, clearly expressing disdain with his look.

“Boss, you’re back. How did it go?”

Long Shen replied, “Pack up. I will send you on your way tomorrow.”

Kan Chaosheng was horrified. “All I did was take a short nap, and now I’m going to be silenced?! Boss, you can’t be so heartless. You picked me up and raised me with your own hands. Our bond should be deeper than yours with Dong Zhi!”

He rushed forward, wrapping his arms around Long Shen’s legs and wailing.

With just one hand, Long Shen easily pulled him away.

“I’m sending you to Huaishui.”

Kan Chaosheng looked puzzled. “Why am I going there?”

Long Shen gave him a slight smile. “I previously neglected to discipline you, which allowed you to be lax in your training. In Wuzhiqi’s place, you should find a quiet environment to study and won’t be easily distracted by the city’s allure.”

Faced with Long Shen’s rare gentle smile, Kan Chaosheng shivered. Remembering his desperate farewell with the octopus, the realization of no phones, no snacks, no internet, he weakly asked, “Can I refuse? How about if you deduct my salary for this year? And next year too? Or I’ll work for free for ten years?”

Long Shen responded, “First, go to Huaishui. After that, you can work for free for ten years.”

Kan Chaosheng’s vision went dark.

Dong Zhi silently lit a candle for him in his mind.

After settling all these matters, the two returned to the hotel.

Dong Zhi stretched. “Finally, we can get some rest!”

He collapsed onto the bed and immediately felt the heaviness of sleep on his eyelids.

Suddenly remembering something, he opened his eyes to ask Long Shen, “Master, you only booked one room, right?”

Long Shen hummed in affirmation, turning away and bending over to retrieve clothes from his suitcase.

Pretending to be serious, Dong Zhi said, “If Captain Yin comes to report to you tomorrow and sees both of us under the same blanket, won’t that leave a bad impression?”

After considering for a moment, Long Shen replied, “That’s true. I’ll ask them to book another room for us.”

As he moved towards the door, Dong Zhi, not expecting him to take the suggestion seriously, quickly jumped up and hugged him from behind.

“Who cares about appearances? After all, Lao Yin has no authority over us. Being overly concerned with others’ opinions will tarnish your brilliant and heroic image, right?”

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<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

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Chapter 171

Some called the underworld the spirit realm, while others called it the netherworld, and westerners called it hell. The names varied, but they all referred to the same place.

This place was quite unfamiliar to Dong Zhi because, after joining the Special Administration Bureau, he hadn’t dealt with it. But in He Yu’s words, they originally existed in different worlds, each performing their own duties. It was best not to interact, because when they did, trouble would ensue.

Dong Zhi now realized that although He Yu often spoke nonsense, sometimes what he said made sense.

For instance, now, as the sound of dragging chains got closer, everyone involuntarily felt their hair stand on end. Dong Zhi even felt as if an unseen force was trying to pull his soul out of his body.

Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder, snapping him back to reality and breaking the intangible control. Turning his head, he saw it was Long Shen.

Dong Zhi secretly felt embarrassed, but Kan Chaosheng and Chang Qin didn’t fare much better. Chang Qing stood motionless with a frozen expression, while the fat yellow cat looked as if it were seemingly drunk, being drawn towards the sound.

“Chaosheng!”

Dong Zhi whispered, grabbing the cat by the scruff and lifting it up. The fat cat struggled a bit before coming to its senses, probably feeling humiliated, and then quieted down in Dong Zhi’s arms.

Long Shen didn’t show hostility and waited silently. Dong Zhi guessed that the force pulling at their souls wasn’t intentional but a natural attraction. Without Long Shen’s intervention, Dong Zhi might have been lost.

He expected to see ghostly figures like those from legends, but despite the sound of chains, there was no figure in sight. Long Shen said, “Use a sunlight talisman.”

Dong Zhi inspired the sunlight talisman. Long Shen reached out and grabbed it as if he were plucking up a flower. The talisman fire jumped at his fingertips. With a light wave of his hand, the talisman fire flew out and hovered in the air, growing brighter, revealing the shadow of a dark figure nearby.

Chains, horns…

Dong Zhi was started after identifying the silhouette.

For there to be shadows, there must be a figure, but there was nothing there.

Not only Dong Zhi, but Chang Qing also stared at the shadow, as if facing a formidable enemy.

The fire between them, previously bright red-yellow, now had a ghostly green hue, like ghost fire, seemingly marking the boundary between the worlds.

The shadow slowly lifted a hand, holding a chain. Dong Zhi thought it wanted Xiao Zhao, who was hiding behind them in fear, but the shadow pointed in another direction.

Dong Zhi was confused. Did it want… him?

Before he could react, the fat yellow cat jumped in front of him, hair standing on end, hissing at the shadow. Long Shen stepped in front of Dong Zhi, protecting him.

“Messenger, thank you for your efforts. I have some lingering souls here, imprisoned by Aoyin. You’ve come at the right time. Take them, ashes to ashes, soil to soil, sparing us the trouble of finding someone to send them off,” Long Shen said as he took out Tang Jing’s mirror. Gray and black mist flew out, drawn towards the shadow’s chain.

From beginning to end, the other party didn’t utter a single word. Dong Zhi didn’t know if it was because of a language barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead or if the entity couldn’t produce human speech in this world. Despite having seen a lot and having encountered many demons and spirits, the scene before him still sent chills down his spine. It wasn’t that the entity’s power was greater than the heavenly demon, but rather the overwhelming pressure emanating from the netherworld, entirely opposite to the world of the living. It conveyed an innate sense of despair and eeriness, capable of chilling one’s emotions to the bone and eliminating any will to fight.

Dong Zhi noticed that Long Shen was still holding onto a grayish-white orb of qi and hadn’t handed it over.

However, the shadow didn’t demand it. Instead, it raised another hand, pointing at Dong Zhi.

If Dong Zhi initially thought that the entity had made a mistake, he now felt confident that this messenger from the underworld indeed wanted to apprehend him. It seemed both Kan Chaosheng and Long Shen had also come to this realization, which was why they stood protectively in front of him.

But why him?

Dong Zhi found it inexplicably ridiculous. He was very much alive and kicking; how did he suddenly become a wandering ghost destined for capture?

Yet, Long Shen didn’t seem surprised. Without shifting his stance, he stated firmly, “This is my apprentice, and he’s still alive.”

The shadow continued to point at him, unmoving.

The standoff persisted.

The sound of chains echoed again, but this time from a different direction. Long Shen’s expression shifted slightly as he released a sudden flare from the sword in his hand, forming an invisible barrier right in front of them. It collided with the oncoming shadow of the chains with a loud bang. The ground beneath trembled, and everyone’s eardrums throbbed with pain, momentarily leaving them deaf.

Dong Zhi was about to use his own sword, but Long Shen, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, restrained him.

“Don’t move. I’ll handle this.”

Dong Zhi halted his actions immediately, not out of blind obedience but because he understood Long Shen well. If Long Shen said so, he had his reasons, and any rash action might be more of a hindrance than a help.

Another shadow appeared, this time without horns, its shape resembling a streetlamp’s shadow stretched out in the night. But this figure, too, held a chain in its hand.

In a deep voice, Long Shen declared, “I am willing to pay any price to protect him. Even if you take him to the underworld, I will upturn that realm and retrieve him without considering the consequences. Can you bear the outcome of opposing me?”

The horned shadow’s chain trembled, reflecting the agitated emotions of its bearer. The slender shadow seemed somewhat calmer, quickly moving towards the horned shadow. The two overlapped slightly, seeming to discuss their strategy in silent communication.

As time ticked on, Long Shen sneered. A dazzling light burst from his sword, causing the two shadows to retreat rapidly, accompanied by the urgent sound of their chains.

It was evident they feared Long Shen’s power. The slender shadow hurriedly gripped its chain to prevent it from shaking further. It then made a gesture of respect towards Long Shen.

Recognizing their compliance, Long Shen’s tone softened.

“Thank you. We still have some unresolved business here. We might need your assistance later on.”

The two shadows left quickly, but the faint sound of their chains lingered, a reminder that they hadn’t gone too far.

Chang Qing sighed with relief.

Being a practitioner, he knew the two shadows weren’t easy opponents. Yet, with just a few words and the display of his sword, Long Shen had forced them to retreat. It was evident that not only was his power formidable, but his origins might also be profound.

He studied Long Shen’s retreating figure, realizing he couldn’t decipher anything about the man.

Not human, not a demon, then what?

Seeing that everyone’s eyes fell on him, Xiao Zhao became uneasy.

“Why are you all looking at me? It’s so cold here. Let’s find a way back quickly!”

Dong Zhi inquired, “Xiao Zhao, are you Xiao Zhao?”

The question was odd, leaving Xiao Zhao both confused. He gave a loud huff. “Who else would I be if not Xiao Zhao?”

Dong Zhi continued, “Then do you know who I am?”

Xiao Zhao quickly replied, “You? You’re Director Dong! I just followed you into the book, was chased by that female ghost, and got trapped in a shadow. Have you forgotten?”

Dong Zhi tried to soothe him. “Calm down. My master has another soul with him that looks just like Xiao Zhao, so we wanted to confirm.”

Xiao Zhao made a frustrated yet comical face. “This is my body. What’s there to confirm? Never mind, ask your questions, Director Dong!”

Dong Zhi didn’t know Xiao Zhao well since they had only met today. He could only ask a few casual questions, all of which Xiao Zhao answered accurately.

Chang Qing began to become suspicious. “Could the soul with your master be that of Su Huan or someone else’s?”

Though Su Huan had turned into a vengeful ghost, she might still have a sliver of conscience.

At that moment, Kan Chaosheng let out a hiss, and unexpectedly lunged at Xiao Zhao. With a push from its hind legs, the fat yellow cat agilely leapt towards Xiao Zhao’s head. Its two front claws were fully extended, appearing as though it was about to scratch Xiao Zhao’s face like a patchy cat would.

Xiao Zhao was taken aback and instinctively tried to dodge backward. However, having soaked in the water for a while, his legs were weak, and he could only instinctively shield his face.

Dong Zhi narrowed his eyes, and with a mere thought, the Changshou Sword emerged from its scabbard, shooting straight towards Xiao Zhao’s forehead!

The blade’s light moved extremely fast, showing no mercy. It wasn’t a mere test; it was truly intended to put Xiao Zhao in a life-threatening situation!

Xiao Zhao screamed in alarm, no longer caring about anything else. His body slumped to the ground, and a wisp of black mist emerged from his back.

At this moment, the flame that had been hovering in the air quickly darted forward, enveloping the black mist. The black mist roared and howled, seemingly about to break free from the flame, but then the sound of the iron chain approached, securing it to the ground below!

The black mist seemed to be tightly restrained by the chain, shrieking but unable to break free. Eventually, it was slowly drawn away by the chain.

Long Shen released the pale mist, which autonomously floated towards Xiao Zhao’s body, gradually seeping in.

After a while, Xiao Zhao finally slowly regained consciousness.

Being a tall and burly man, after all the turmoil, he had lost all his strength and could only manage to sit up with the help of Chang Qing.

Chang Qing asked Dong Zhi and Long Shen, “How did you determine he was the real Xiao Zhao?”

Dong Zhi replied, “Men and women react differently when facing an attack. Most men will choose to actively strike back at the opponent, like slapping the cat away. However, most women, who cherish their faces, would instinctively shield it first. Of course, not everyone reacts this way, but the only suspects now are Su Huan and Xiao Zhao. Xiao Zhao is a police officer. He would surely choose to counterattack. Only a beautiful woman like Su Huan would have the reaction we just witnessed.”

Chang Qing was speechless. He felt he couldn’t possibly observe as meticulously as Dong Zhi.

Seeing his thoughts, Dong Zhi reassured him, “Actually, when I first joined the Special Administration Bureau, I was even less adept than you. Everything was honed over time.”

Chang Qing replied with his usual tone, “I never said I wanted to join the Special Administration Bureau!”

But by saying so, it was clear he was tempted.

Dong Zhi chose not to expose him.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

---

Chapter 170

Although Dong Zhi was still temporarily confused, wondering why they were previously inside a book and now suddenly seeing a dragon—and Long Shen, who was originally on a mission to find the book’s owner, had unexpectedly appeared here—the most pressing issue at the moment was not to seek answers but to deal with the dragons before them.

Apart from the dragon that was entwined with Long Shen, there were nine other shadow dragons formed from light, acting as the primary dragon’s avatars, all of which were swooping down on them. Clouds move with dragons, and winds with tigers. The dragon’s motions stirred the clouds into huge whirlpools, creating even bigger waves, blocking everyone. Blades of wind covered the sky, slashing countless marks on them.

The power of the shadow dragons was unexpectedly strong. Comparing them with past enemies, Dong Zhi realized they were on par with the heavenly demon avatar that Song En tried to resurrect. Although Dong Zhi was now much more powerful than before, he was still facing multiple shadow dragons. Chang Qing took on three, while Dong Zhi was left to deal with the remaining six.

As for Kan Chaosheng…

A big yellow cat was bobbing in the water; its front paws clutching Xiao Zhao’s collar, while its hind legs and tail flailed desperately. Only because he wasn’t an ordinary cat could he drag along a grown man’s body. Still, it was quite a struggle, with the cat grumbling constantly.

Kan Chaosheng had an obsession with the fact that a jiao was inferior to a dragon; every time a dragon appeared, he refused to transform back into his sea serpent form, just like the last time on Changbai Mountain.

Despite the vast size difference, the dragon in combat with Long Shen couldn’t kill him. Furthermore, Long Shen seemed unafraid of the huge waterspouts, slicing through them effortlessly with his sword. Over time, the silver dragon grew impatient and transformed into a tiger-like beast, attempting to strike Long Shen from above—a momentary gap in his sword’s defense.

A massive force bore down, dimming the radiant sword light. Looking over, Dong Zhi could barely make out the combatants, both swallowed by the swirling waves. As he was momentarily distracted by looking at Long Shen, a shadow dragon lunged from behind, passing directly through his body.

A chill surged in Dong Zhi’s heart; a metallic taste rose in his throat. His sword, bereft of its protective aura, dimmed instantly. The other five shadow dragons, seeing their vulnerable prey, swiftly closed in, seeking to tear him apart.

While Long Shen was dealing with the main dragon and Chang Qing still had two shadow dragons to fend off, with Kan Chaosheng being of no help, Dong Zhi realized he had to save himself.

In the eyes of the six shadow dragons, Dong Zhi was as good as dead, his soul seemingly more appetizing than previous prey.

Yet, this “easy prey” resisted. Six talisman fire shot from mid-air towards the shadow dragons. At the same time, clouds rolled in the sky, lightning struck, and amidst the brilliant flashes, the shadow dragons writhed and howled, instantly losing all their momentum.

Chang Qing, initially considering aiding Dong Zhi, was taken aback seeing him summon lightning. He realized he had underestimated Dong Zhi’s capabilities and remembered how Dong Zhi had spared him back in the office.

He once felt inferior due to his half-demon nature. Later, after acquiring skills, his inferiority gradually transformed into arrogance. However, once he ventured out, he realized that there are always people better than oneself, and there’s always a higher sky beyond the sky.

However, Dong Zhi stumbled upon a peculiar issue.

True dragons wouldn’t fear heavenly thunder, as such thunder was only effective against evil and malevolent beings. Considering the shadow dragons were heavily affected by the thunder to the point of near-death, it suggested that the dragon fighting with Long Shen wasn’t a true dragon either.

If it wasn’t a dragon, then why was Kan Chaosheng just now intimidated by its presence and dared not transform into his jiao form?

Under the heavenly thunder, the shadow dragons were enveloped in thunderous light, their figures gradually turning transparent as they wailed in agony. At that moment, the beast fighting Long Shen also let out an angry roar, abandoning Long Shen to pounce towards Dong Zhi!

The beast was incredibly fast. In less than two seconds, it had moved from several meters away to right in front of Dong Zhi. It was then that Dong Zhi noticed that the beast, which resembled a tiger, had a face that looked human.

The lightning illuminated the facial hair on the beast’s face, but its eyes were filled with human-like resentment. Moreover, a smile appeared on its face, making it look exceptionally eerie. It was such an unsettling sight that Dong Zhi felt it was even worse than any zombie or other hideous creature he had ever seen.

Compared to it, although the Heavenly Demon was terrifying, no matter what its true form looked like, it at least had a face that could enchant people. However, the monster in front of him seemed to embody the greatest malice in the world. Just one glance from it was enough to make someone despair to the point of wanting to do nothing and even prefer death.

When the monster’s shadow approached, Dong Zhi had just lifted his Changshou Sword when immense pressure bore down on him. His wrist was forcibly bent downward, making it impossible to raise his sword. In a matter of seconds, not only did the monster’s claws reach out for him, but its vividly red, thick tongue also licked towards his face. Dong Zhi could already feel a stinging pain on his face, as if it were being scratched by needles.

The gusting wind abruptly stopped!

The beast was swept up by a ray of light. Dong Zhi found himself embraced by Long Shen, as waves of water gushed over him, blocking his breathing. However, Long Shen quickly tightened his grip, and Dong Zhi could feel the breath coming through Long Shen’s mouth.

Huh?

Dong Zhi struggled to open his eyes, feeling a bit dazed due to his earlier injuries. He allowed himself to be embraced by Long Shen, who shielded him from the surging waves with his body. Subconsciously, Dong Zhi embraced Long Shen’s back; although weak, their entangled bodies seemed perfectly in sync to the onlookers.

“Fuck, when did the boss get so open about his feelings? Public displays of affection can kill you! Why do I have to save him? He’s so heavy. What does he eat, rocks?”

The big yellow cat looked up and was dumbfounded for a few seconds before pushing Xiao Zhao toward the shore, mumbling to itself in meows that no one understood.

Xiao Zhao couldn’t respond either.

Another spectator, Chang Qing, didn’t have the energy to worry about Dong Zhi at the moment. As soon as he saw the beast thrown into the air, he leapt up to engage it in battle.

Weakened by Long Shen, the creature was nowhere near as strong as before and couldn’t even transform back into its dragon form. But while dodging Chang Qing’s attacks, it glared at him with eerie green eyes and spoke human words.

“Why do you help humans kill me when you are a demon? I can give you power and make you stronger.”

“I despise demons,” said Chang Qing coldly, slashing down mercilessly. The creature screamed and fell heavily to the ground, attempting to flee but was quickly surrounded by a ring of fire.

“Let me go! Tell me what you want, and it’s yours. You’re after the murderer, right? I know who it is! Just let me go!” it wailed.

At that point, Dong Zhi and Long Shen walked over.

“Isn’t this thing a dragon?” Kan Chaosheng said, having never seen such a pathetic dragon.

Long Shen replied, “It’s a half-dragon, a mix of a dragon and an Aoyin*.”

*Monster found in Chinese mythology commonly believed to attack and devour humans. It has a long tongue and likes to eat human brains.

The Aoyin was documented in the “Classic of Mountains and Seas”, a mythical creature that resembled humans, fed on them, and was good at deceit and illusion.

Dong Zhi found that the information he had crammed for the Special Administration exam actually came in handy. At least he didn’t need further explanation from Long Shen and immediately understood the origin of the Aoyin.

Being a half-dragon, it inherited the dragon’s mighty power, but it couldn’t fully eliminate the cruel and bloodthirsty traits of the Aoyin. Ultimately, to most powerful non-human beings like dragons and the Aoyin, fragile humans weren’t to be protected. Just as humans could dispose of the lives of animals like cats, dogs, rabbits, and turtles at will, humans were also just disposable animals to these mythical creatures.

Only beings like Long Shen and Tang Jing, who were created by human hands and imbued with the spirit of heaven and earth, would consider it their duty to protect worldly peace, possessing a great love even more noble than most humans.

As for Kan Chaosheng, Dong Zhi suddenly understood why Long Shen had kept him in Group 2: to watch over him and prevent him from straying off the path, unlike the Aoyin, who acted recklessly until it met its match.

As the Aoyin tumbled through the flames, ghostly qi wafted out from the fire, hastily dispersing in all directions.

Dong Zhi looked at these ghostly qi in surprise, roughly understanding the situation.

This Aoyin, with half-dragon bloodline, might be seeking the power to survive, or perhaps it wanted to become stronger. But under the constraints of modern societal rules, where it couldn’t freely kill and eat, it devised a method. Through a blank book, it allowed those who browsed the book to glimpse their deepest desires, then slowly corrode them. Like Su Huan, it would lure her soul completely into the book, then produce Shadow Ghosts to kill her, either to eat her heart and brain or to devour part of the dead’s soul. In any case, this would satisfy its hunger, and then it would leave the soul of the deceased to lure the next victim.

Before Su Huan, others had already died. And before their discovery, who knew how many crimes the Aoyin committed in secret, resulting in so many spirits now escaping in haste.

After all, the world was vast, and the Special Administration Bureau wasn’t omnipotent. There were always oversights.

But the heavens were just. The Aoyin couldn’t escape forever.

Long Shen waved his hand, and the majority of the wailing souls were sucked into a peculiar mirror. A small portion managed to flee quickly and soon disappeared from sight.

At first glance, the mirror seemed familiar to Dong Zhi. He quickly remembered it seemed to be Tang Jing’s magic weapon.

He wanted to inquire about Tang Jing’s well-being, but now wasn’t the time. Chang Qing slashed down with another sword, piercing through the Aoyin. The flames spread, turning this monster into ashes.

Long Shen didn’t stop it, for considering the Aoyin’s killing spree, even if brought back to the bureau, the outcome would be the same.

Dong Zhi looked around and found they were by a large lake. There was no sign of human activity or even buildings around. It likely was some nature reserve, which was why their earlier commotion went unaddressed.

It was still dark, with a grayish-blue hue covering the sky, even eerier than the complete darkness of night.

Yet, in the distance, there was the sound of iron chains rattling. It seemed like someone was dragging a long chain across the ground.

Dong Zhi felt a stir in his heart and was about to speak when Long Shen silenced him.

Looking at Chang Qing and Kan Chaosheng, both man and cat were intently listening to the sound of the chains with a solemn and silent expression.

Xiao Zhao, lying on the ground, stirred and finally came to his senses.

“Where is this… It’s so cold,” he murmured weakly.

It was no surprise that, for a detective with skills superior to an average person, facing monsters like the Aoyin and fierce spirits like Su Huan rendered him useless. Furthermore, Su Huan swapped bodies with him and confined him to a shadow, making him drenched in water like a drowned rat. Only now has he escaped the danger.

Dong Zhi was relieved to see Xiao Zhao awaken.

“You’re okay…”

He stopped mid-sentence. Earlier, Xiao Zhao’s soul was forced out by Su Huan and they had captured it. But amidst their chaos battling the shadow dragons, they hadn’t been able to attend to Xiao Zhao’s soul, unsure if it returned to his body.

How could they be sure that this Xiao Zhao was the real one?

Seeing everyone staring at him, Xiao Zhao sneezed and looked uneasy.

“What’s wrong?”

The sound of chains grew closer, and no one could pretend to ignore it.

Long Shen furrowed his brow. Dealing with the Aoyin hadn’t caused such a reaction, but now he genuinely felt it was a tricky situation.

“Master?”

“Someone from the underworld is here,” Long Shen stated.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

---

Chapter 169

Instead of saying they were in a book, it would be more accurate to say they were in a den of ghosts.

As the Shadow Ghost that had swapped bodies with Xiao Zhao was exposed, the meeting room instantly filled with the wailing of countless ghosts.

The lights on the ceiling flickered on and off, mirroring the darkness outside, where there was no moonlight. The atmosphere was reminiscent of a ghost story, particularly one about vengeful spirits who died unjust deaths.

Indeed, the room was filled with eerie, overlapping apparitions and countless chilling voices that seemed to recount their tragic lives, wishing to vent all their resentment on the few people present.

When these ghostly qi lunged at Chang Qing, he used his sword to fend them off. However, when the mass of spirits was split into smaller forms by the sword’s power, they brushed against his face and body, leaving a stinging sensation. When Chang Qing touched the affected areas, his fingers were sticky with red.

He was a practitioner, and if these ghostly qi could inflict such harm on him, one could only imagine what they would do to ordinary people.

Xiao Zhao’s body and shadow were torn apart. While the shadow was protected behind Dong Zhi, the body faced even more aggressive ghostly qi. Shadow Ghosts came at them from all directions, trying to devour the shadow behind Dong Zhi. Dong Zhi formed a barrier with his sword, surrounding Xiao Zhao’s shadow, preventing any ghostly qi from approaching.

He threw talisman fire which multiplied and illuminated the area, driving back and annihilating the malevolent spirits, leaving the rest to flee in every direction.

Xiao Zhao sat on a nearby sofa, his head slightly bowed. His mouth was stretched into an exaggerated smile, but his eyes emitted a chilling green glow.

Dong Zhi and Chang Qing knew that this wasn’t Xiao Zhao, but a ghost possessing his body. The real Xiao Zhao had been banished into the shadow, and if they allowed this ghost to continue possessing him, Xiao Zhao’s vitality would soon be extinguished, and his soul would be lost.

“Why aren’t you trying to kill me anymore?” Xiao Zhao chuckled eerily. The chilling sound almost made Dong Zhi want to cover his ears.

Chang Qing approached menacingly with his sword. “Do you think I won’t do it?”

“I can destroy this body before you kill me, ensuring he never returns!” the ghost retorted menacingly.

Dong Zhi quickly intervened, trying to negotiate.

“My friend, possessing Xiao Zhao’s body won’t help you. He’s a single guy, and moreover, he’s a police officer who constantly faces danger. Why would you want to occupy such a body? How about this: You return his body, and I’ll help you cross over to the other side.”

The ghost snorted. “Cross over? So I can be reborn? Can you greet King Yan and promise I’ll be reincarnated into a wealthy family next time? Otherwise, I’m not going!”

Dong Zhi sarcastically replied, “Why not just ask to be reborn as the son of the US president?”

The ghost glared. “Can you make it happen?”

Dong Zhi was at a loss for words. “Brother, every world has its own rules. If I could do what you’re suggesting, why would I be here catching you? Wouldn’t it be better for me to just kick back, relax, and live the easy life of a trust fund kid?”

The ghost’s voice suddenly soared several pitches, becoming even more shrill. “Why is it that some people are born with everything they want, while I can only be looked down upon and overshadowed by others? They don’t have to put in any effort; they can just rely on their family’s connections to get into a good university. Growing up in a poor family, what could I possibly do? Did I ask for this? Why is it so unfair? Why?”

A thought flashed through Dong Zhi’s mind, and he blurted out, “You are Su Huan!”

The ghost suddenly fell silent.

Taking advantage of its momentary daze, Dong Zhi quickly said, “Su Huan, do you know that you were murdered? Your husband, Deng Bin, has been taken in as a suspect. If we can’t find evidence to exonerate him, he might be convicted of murder!”

Of course, Dong Zhi was just spouting nonsense, but his goal was to get a reaction from the ghost.

As expected, the ghost chuckled sinisterly. “Then let him die!”

The voice was filled with deep resentment, making it hard to believe these were Su Huan’s true feelings. According to what Dong Zhi knew, while the couple often had disagreements, it hadn’t escalated to divorce, let alone murder. If it were true that Su Huan’s desire for Deng Bin’s death stemmed from him slapping her on the street on the day of her demise and this desire remained unchanged even after her death, that would be quite an exaggeration.

However, the ghost’s response confirmed that she was indeed Su Huan, Deng Bin’s wife.

Dong Zhi asked, “Fine, let’s say you two had a broken relationship and you deeply resent Deng Bin. But you were murdered. Don’t you want to find the real killer? Do you remember how you died?”

Su Huan, or rather, the spirit possessing Xiao Zhao murmured, “How did I die?”

It sounded both like a question and a rhetorical one.

She seemed lost, trying hard to recall.

“Deng Bin liked me, pursued me. He came from a wealthy family, and being with him was prestigious. Friends envied me for marrying into wealth. But after marriage, he changed. He felt my family’s poor background tarnished his reputation. Whenever my parents visited, he would show his displeasure. Eventually, they stopped coming… When we attended banquets, his friends felt I was lucky to marry him. I even overheard some women gossiping about how I clung to Deng Bin and how my educational background was a disgrace to him. Could I choose the family I was born into?”

Su Huan’s expression shifted, revealing anger and bitterness.

“Deng Bin himself wasn’t academically gifted. If not for his privileged birth, would he have had such a smooth life? If I was born into a family like his, would I even care about Deng Bin?”

“Every month after receiving my salary, I send half of it home. With what’s left, I have to pay rent and buy food. I also want to purchase luxury products like Dior, Givenchy, and La Mer, but I can only afford them once or twice. For the rest of the month, I have to be frugal and save on meals. But those women! They aren’t as pretty as me, yet just because their parents are wealthy, they can afford the most expensive skincare products. They travel around the world every day, watch shows in Paris, ski in Switzerland. The makeup that costs me a month’s salary, they can buy half the store’s stock of handbags without batting an eye…”

Tears rolled down Xiao Zhao’s face, looking somewhat comical but also revealing the deep despair within.

“This world is so unfair. I resent it so much!”

This sentiment expressed by Su Huan wasn’t unique. Many people might grumble about life’s unfairness but would move on and work hard. However, Su Huan, being exceptionally beautiful, was constantly judged based on her looks and family background, which only amplified her sense of injustice.

“You know the world is unfair. I saw your body in the hospital. Despite being dead for over 24 hours and frozen, your beauty was still striking. Do you know how rare such natural beauty is? I’ve seen celebrities like Han Qi and Hui Yiguang without makeup, and they weren’t much more beautiful than you. So, what about those less fortunate in looks and unable to afford surgeries? You always focus on those better off than you, but have you considered those worse off?” Dong Zhi retorted.

Su Huan gave a bitter smile. “What’s the use of being beautiful when you have no power or influence? Being beautiful and poor is even scarier. I was once harassed by thugs when I was in school, and I was too terrified to attend for months. My parents couldn’t do anything except accompany me to school. If I had Deng Bin’s family background, would those thugs dare approach me? You can’t possibly understand! I resent being born poor. I resent all the injustices!”

Chang Qing suddenly said, “I can understand.”

The dim and eerie light cast a large shadow on Cheng Qing’s face.

“I’m half-demon, with the bloodline of a monster. When I was younger, I couldn’t control it; my appearance would sometimes reveal my nature. My mother was actually afraid of me, which is why she fled far away to work in the South. Back then, I often felt hatred—hate that she gave birth to me in the first place. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have to face all this. So, I also hate all demons; they shouldn’t exist in the first place. Once I’ve exterminated them all, incidents like this will never happen again,” Cheng Qing said calmly, as if narrating someone else’s story. “But just now, I suddenly realized that maybe I don’t hate her as much as I thought. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have appeared before me.”

Su Huan’s expression changed, remaining silent, making it hard to figure out what she was thinking.

Dong Zhi sighed and finally said, “The notion that all people are born equal is bullshit—an intoxicating illusion. Some are born intellectually challenged, some are geniuses; some are beautiful, some are ugly. And let’s not even talk about family background. But since you are born, you have to strive to live. You can’t go back to the womb, can you? Look at yourself; you’ve tormented yourself into this state. Are you happy?”

Su Huan started laughing. “Happy? Why shouldn’t I be? If I’m not having a good time, I don’t want anyone else to either. If I can drag someone down with me, I’m absolutely thrilled! And this book can give me everything; whatever I want, I can get it here!”

As they spoke, the shadow of Xiao Zhao began to tremble more violently, its color gradually fading. Dong Zhi became anxious.

He almost extinguished the hope that Su Huan would voluntarily leave Xiao Zhao’s body, as she was full of resentment and wouldn’t heed any advice.

They had no choice but to resort to force.

He gave Cheng Qing a look, indicating they should subdue Su Huan and force her out of Xiao Zhao’s body.

Su Huan, having turned into a vengeful spirit, was extremely perceptive and immediately sensed their intent. She let out a chilling laugh and suddenly lunged—not at them but at the table.

A pair of scissors lay on it.

She was going to commit suicide!

If she couldn’t have it, neither could anyone else!

Dong Zhi, not knowing if Su Huan was originally so extreme or had been influenced by the book, was sure he couldn’t let her do it. With a thought, he already had his Changshou Sword in hand, flashing like lightning.

Cheng Qing also acted, thinking his movement was fast enough, only to find Dong Zhi was faster. His sword light flickered and arrived in front of Su Huan, knocking the scissors away and blocking her path. Cheng Qing arrived just in time to trap Su Huan from both sides!

Dong Zhi used a Sunlight Talisman, aiming it at Su Huan. She let out a wail, and a dark mist rose from her head. A massive figure appeared behind her and swallowed the mist.

Cheng Qing turned around sharply to see a black jiao twisting its body. The jiao transformed into a child’s shape since the room couldn’t accommodate its large size. Kan Chaosheng had awoken at some point, waiting to coordinate from behind them.

After swallowing Su Huan’s spirit, his expression soured, and he spat it out.

“Yuck, how could something taste so bad?”

Just then, the ground shook violently, a black fissure appearing at the center of the room and expanding quickly, sucking in everything. Su Huan’s spirit was the first to be drawn in, followed by Xiao Zhao’s trembling shadow. Dong Zhi acted quickly, grabbing hold of him as both were inevitably sucked in.

The fissure finally closed, leaving the room in a dark void, as if a book had been shut, locking everything within, never to return.

But Dong Zhi and the others didn’t end there. They all heard a massive water sound.

Not the sea, not a waterfall, but a waterspout connecting heaven and earth, sucked them in. They spiraled in mid-air uncontrollably, all except for Kan Chaosheng.

For him, water was second nature. If a jiao drowned, it would be the biggest joke since the creation of the world. He roared lowly, transforming into his magnificent original form, caught Dong Zhi with his mouth, and flew out of the waterspout’s range.

Cheng Qing, dizzy from the spinning, without thinking, threw Xiao Zhao toward the black jiao and grabbed the jiao’s tail to fly out.

“Damn it, don’t grab my tail. It’s for steering!” Kan Chaosheng roared.

Before he could regain his composure, several gigantic creatures charged straight at them. At first glance, these creatures looked similar to Kan Chaosheng’s original form, but Dong Zhi was immediately startled to realize they weren’t water jiaos but real dragons. In front of the might of the dragons, Kan Chaosheng trembled out of instinct, losing control of his body, and accidentally flung Dong Zhi and the others away.

Dong Zhi quickly summoned his Changshou Sword, managing to stabilize himself mid-air, and grabbed onto both Xiao Zhao and Kan Chaosheng, who had transformed back into a big yellow cat.

“Just look at yourself! Isn’t it just a dragon? After all, you’re almost a fully transformed dragon yourself!” Dong Zhi scolded in anger.

The cat, soaked and looking like a drowned rat, meowed angrily at him, though it was unclear if it was arguing or just putting on a show.

A dragon’s roar resounded, causing everyone to shiver slightly. An inevitable sense of fear welled up within them. Dong Zhi had seen a dragon before, but it was a bone dragon and was dead. Now, in front of them, was a living, breathing dragon.

The might of a dragon dominated the four seas, and all creatures bowed before it. Dong Zhi suddenly realized that this saying wasn’t just about the majestic appearance of a dragon. Perhaps Kan Chaosheng’s earlier fear was involuntary, for Dong Zhi felt the same now. He knew he should muster up courage, but fear automatically surfaced in his mind.

However, not everyone felt this way.

Not far from them, someone was battling a silver dragon. The silver dragon roared and spiraled, spewing water that transformed into massive tidal waves. These waves were enough to change the expression of any creature between heaven and earth. However, the person moved effortlessly amidst the massive body of the dragon, seemingly leisurely, without being at a disadvantage.

After watching for a good five or six seconds, only one thought crossed Dong Zhi’s mind. ‘Damn, my master is the coolest person in the whole world!’

---

<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

---

Chapter 168

Chang Qing stared intently at Dong Zhi, as if trying to see if a flower would emerge from his face.

“You claim to be real. What’s your proof?”

Dong Zhi: “I don’t have proof, but don’t you all realize where the problem lies?”

Chang Qing: “An illusion?”

Dong Zhi: “How could there be so many illusions? You all are practitioners. How could a mere illusion trap you? We are probably inside that book now.”

A thought crossed Chang Qing’s mind, reminding him of the sight of his long-deceased mother.

“So, it’s a book that realizes one’s desires?”

Dong Zhi corrected, “More like a book that amplifies the desires of the heart.”

Xiao Zhao rubbed his swelling bump, grimacing, “What are you both talking about?”

Since the case began, the book had become an essential clue, hovering around the deceased. Even Captain Yin felt that Su Huan’s death might be related to the book. This was even more obvious to Chang Qing and Kan Chaosheng, but they never expected that the book could literally pull someone inside it.

“Whatever you desire, the book will grant it. Each page of the book probably acts as a portal. The more you desire, the more you’ll be pulled into the next portal,” Dong Zhi speculated.

Chang Qing nodded. He had the same guess, which was why he had stopped Xiao Zhao from leaving the conference room earlier. The moment they stepped out, they would likely enter another space, making it even harder to find others.

“How did you enter here?” Kan Chaosheng asked.

Dong Zhi: “Master sent me in.”

Kan Chaosheng cheered, “Boss Long is here! If he’s around, there’s no problem we can’t solve!”

Dong Zhi selectively explained the situation to Xiao Zhao in simpler terms, but Xiao Zhao remained in disbelief.

“We are clearly still in the conference room. We haven’t gone anywhere!”

Dong Zhi: “Every space in the book is created from your memories. If the memory is clear, the details are sharp. If the memory is vague, the details become blurry. You said you went downstairs to buy cake, but you can’t recall the details of the journey, can you?”

Xiao Zhao: “What about the other colleagues?”

Dong Zhi: “They’re also illusions. Don’t think about anything now. Just stand at the door and look outside. You’ll see nothing.”

Xiao Zhao did as told and was stunned. Stepping out of this room should lead to the department’s common office area, which always had someone on duty even at night. It shouldn’t be empty like now.

Tonight, it should have been Tan Jie’s shift. Just as the thought came to him, he saw Tan Jie waving at him from around the corner.

“Xiao Zhao, haven’t you left yet? Come help me!”

He instinctively stepped forward but was suddenly pulled back. When he looked again, Tan Jie was gone.

Chills ran down Xiao Zhao’s spine.

“Weren’t you told not to get distracted?” Dong Zhi remarked.

Xiao Zhao quickly responded, “I won’t think about it anymore! I promise!”

Chang Qing asked Dong Zhi, “How did you get in?”

Dong Zhi: “My master sent me in. He’s now investigating the origin of the book.”

Chang Qing: “Any leads?”

Dong Zhi: “Before Su Huan, another victim had borrowed the book and later died in a car accident. Su Huan wasn’t working in the library then. Another librarian had processed the book borrowing. Captain Yin found that librarian. With my master there, there shouldn’t be any problems. Let me first get you out of here.”

Xiao Zhao grew impatient as Dong Zhi kept looking at the ground. “Director Dong, how do we get out?”

Dong Zhi, looking amused, replied, “I don’t know. My master didn’t tell me. But since we’re here, there’s no use panicking. Let’s sit and think.”

Xiao Zhao took out his phone to call for help but found no signal.

Kan Chaosheng, frustrated, suddenly transformed into a large yellow cat. He sprinted around the office, jumped up and down like a cat with its tail stepped on, howling away. He then transformed back to human form mid-air and grumbled. “There’s truly no way out. This isn’t an illusion; there’s no boundary!”

Xiao Zhao, with eyes wide open, watched him change from man to cat and back to man, thinking he was still dreaming.

“Don’t bother, we’re idle anyway. Let’s play a game of ‘Truth or Dare’!”

Dong Zhi sits cross-legged on the sofa with his sword beside him. His relaxed posture made it seem as if he was casually hanging out with friends at home.

Kan Chaosheng was frustrated. “Look at the time! Why are you playing games? We should be thinking of ways to get out of here!”

Dong Zhi raises a finger. “One game. Once we get out, I’ll put in a good word for you in front of Master, saving you half a month’s bonus.”

Kan Chaosheng: “Oh, in that case, let’s play a few rounds.”

Chang Qing: “…You’re the most shameless demon I’ve ever met, a disgrace to the demon world.”

Kan Chaosheng, getting angry upon hearing this, was quickly held back by Dong Zhi, who then explained the rules of the game.

The four of them would roll dice. The one with the lowest score had to answer a question from the person with the highest score within two seconds. If they couldn’t or refused to answer, they had to do something for the other party. A simple little game.

The four sat in a circle.

Xiao Zhao, puzzled, asked, “Where did the dice come from?”

Dong Zhi flips his hand, revealing three dice in his palm. “I brought them.”

Kan Chaosheng curiously asked, “Why do you carry dice around?”

Dong Zhi: “To play with Boss Long. I had planned to have a fun bet with him today.”

Kan Chaosheng excitedly forgot about their predicament. “What’s the bet? I want to play too!”

Dong Zhi: “The loser removes an article of clothing. Want to play?”

Kan Chaosheng: “…”

Dong Zhi rolled the dice on the coffee table, scoring 17 points. “Alright, your turn.”

Kan Chaosheng found the game boring, constantly mumbling to himself. Chang Qing, however, was calm. He rolled a 12. Xiao Zhao got a 9, and Kan Chaosheng got the lowest, a 6.

According to the rules, it was Dong Zhi’s turn to ask Kan Chaosheng a question.

“Not many people know about my affairs with Boss Long. Why, the last time Master and I returned to the special bureau, even the doorman gave us a second look? Did you spill the beans?” Dong Zhi twitched a little when mentioning this.

Seeing this, Kan Chaosheng quickly sold out He Yu. “I didn’t say anything! It’s He Yu with his big mouth. He starts conversations saying, ‘I’ll tell you a secret, don’t share it with others’, and then he spills everything. I overheard him last time!”

Dong Zhi: “…..”

They continued the game. This round, Chang Qing got the highest score, while Xiao Zhao got the lowest.

“What’s your favorite food?” Chang Qing casually asks Xiao Zhao.

Xiao Zhao: “Spicy hotpot.”

Chang Qing nodded. “Continue.”

In the next round, it was Xiao Zhao scoring highest, with Dong Zhi lowest.

Xiao Zhao asked Dong Zhi, “Director Dong, what do you desire most?”

Dong Zhi: “Oh, there’s a lot. I’m quite greedy.”

Xiao Zhao laughed. “That kind of answer breaks the game rules! Give a specific one!”

Dong Zhi: “I want to be with someone.”

Xiao Zhao: “A crush?”

Dong Zhi smiled. “We’re already together now, so I don’t have any other desires.”

Xiao Zhao chuckled. “Really? You’re so easily content?”

In modern cities, everyone sought similar things. Yet many hustled their whole lives without achieving them. Some were born privileged, while others worked a lifetime without matching the starting point of the privileged. Desires made people restless, leading to resentment and demons within.

Even Xiao Zhao, a police officer, had aspirations like promotions, raises, and romance. So he found it hard to believe Dong Zhi had no desires.

As they chatted, Kan Chaosheng sensed something amiss. Xiao Zhao’s face was slightly turned to Dong Zhi, but his shadow on the floor wasn’t.

The room was lit, casting distinct shadows of the four on the floor or walls. However, Xiao Zhao’s shadow was oddly turned another way. It was subtle and eerie, but Kan Chaosheng noticed.

Before he could speak, Chang Qing silenced him. “The game isn’t over. Sit tight!”

Kan Chaosheng glared at Chang Qing, wanting to retort but only managing a growl. Chang Qing patted his head, and the fat yellow cat fell asleep on the sofa.

Dong Zhi glanced at them but remained silent.

Throwing the dice again, Xiao Zhao had the highest score, while Chang Qing had the lowest.

Xiao Zhao scratched his head. “I don’t know what to ask.”

Chang Qing said, “You can ask about my background.”

Xiao Zhao was puzzled. “What’s so special about your background?”

Chang Qing slowly replied, “You all saw it earlier. The lady named Chang is my mother. She was just a regular woman born in the mountains and had no special abilities. She passed away early. However, my father was a demon.”

Dong Zhi was also surprised. “So that’s why you can recognize the true form of some demons?”

Chang Qing: “Yes, that’s why I’m extremely sensitive to the aura of demonic creatures. And I suspect that the owner of this book is a half-demon.”

Dong Zhi asked Xiao Zhao, “What do you think?”

Xiao Zhao, feeling lost, responded, “How would I know?”

Dong Zhi grinned. “Don’t you?”

Feeling overwhelmed by their cryptic stares, Xiao Zhao stood up unwittingly. “Of course I don’t!”

Dong Zhi pointed to the floor. “You’ve stood up, so why is your shadow still sitting?”

Before the words had settled, Chang Qing had already made his move!

He charged at Xiao Zhao swiftly. Xiao Zhao, anticipating this, roared and astonishingly leapt onto the ceiling, clinging to it tightly. His eyes turned blood-red, and he began to cackle eerily. The Changshou Sword swung, but the figure on the ceiling vanished instantly, leaving only the shadow on the floor.

Chang Qing approached the shadow, lifting his sword to strike, but was held back by Dong Zhi.

“That’s the real Xiao Zhao!”

Chang Qing was startled.

If a person had a shadow, they were alive; if not, they were a ghost. Xiao Zhao, being alive, had a shadow. However, the Shadow Ghost had stolen his shadow and switched places with him, inhabiting his body and imprisoning the real Xiao Zhao within the shadow.

The Shadow Ghost wasn’t an ordinary ghost. It was a ghost with grievances that had been trapped and refined, making it more challenging and terrifying than regular ghosts.

The book created a unique space for it, and within this realm, it was invincible. Unless it was killed, Dong Zhi and the others would never escape.

In his heart, Chang Qing had to admit that Dong Zhi’s observations were acute. Although he noticed something off about Xiao Zhao, he hadn’t realized that the real Xiao Zhao was inside the shadow.

Since descending the mountain, Chang Qing had been making a living by fortune-telling and advising on Feng Shui. Even when encountering Kan Chaosheng, a jiao with five centuries of cultivation, he was unimpressed. However, in front of Dong Zhi, he genuinely realized the hidden talents among ordinary people.

If the apprentice was this powerful, how impressive must Dong Zhi’s master be?

The shadow on the floor struggled ceaselessly, as if crying out silently.

Dong Zhi shouted, “Xiao Zhao, I know you’re in pain now, but only you know where your body is. We need to retrieve it!”

The shadow quivered violently upon hearing this, seemingly understanding. It laboriously raised a hand, pointing to the right.

Dong Zhi and Chang Qing instantly looked up, seeing a conspicuous reflection on the ceiling.

However, at the same time, they felt a chill on the back of their necks, as if someone had blown cold air on them. Dong Zhi’s hairs stood on end, realizing that there was more than one Shadow Ghost!

---

<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

---

Chapter 167

The world was neither small nor large. Dong Zhi never thought he would meet Zhang Xing here.

The girl he once encountered on the way to Changbai Mountain and experienced a terrifying night with had, after recovering from her injuries, returned to her peaceful life, becoming a regular urban white-collar worker, hustling for a living like many others.

On the other hand, Dong Zhi chose a path drastically different from hers.

Zhang Xing naturally had no idea what Dong Zhi had been up to these past two years. Though they exchanged contact information, it really was just as novels describe: a fleeting encounter. After leaving Changchun, they never met again. Zhang Xing, who had confessed her feelings and was rejected, held back from reaching out due to the intricate feelings women sometimes have. She still harbored feelings for Dong Zhi, yet she held back until this chance encounter.

Seeing her delighted reaction, Dong Zhi suddenly realized that it had only been two years. Yet it felt like he had lived half a lifetime of ups and downs.

“How have you been?” he asked, shaking hands with Zhang Xing.

She had expected a warmer reception from him. Seeing his subdued response, her enthusiasm waned a bit. “I’m good. I’m on vacation, visiting with friends. What about you?”

Dong Zhi simply replied with a smile, “Same here.”

The conversation seemed to be drawing to a close, as Zhang Xing sensed that Dong Zhi wasn’t inclined to continue. Nonetheless, she couldn’t help but say, “Where are you working now? I’m in Beijing. If you’re free, we can meet for tea. After all, we’ve faced life and death together, haven’t we?”

Her playful tone masked the awkwardness.

Just then, Long Shen walked over. “If you don’t mind me joining.”

Dong Zhi introduced, “This is my friend.”

Long Shen interjected, “Mm, boyfriend.”

Dong Zhi: ……

Zhang Xing showed an indescribable expression while giving an awkward smile. “Nice to meet you.”

Using the excuse that her friend was waiting, she quickly excused herself, with no further interest in catching up. Her exit was hasty, almost like a retreat.

Dong Zhi found the situation amusing, “Master, you scared her.”

Long Shen asked, “Did you want to have tea or dinner with her?”

Dong Zhi shook his head. “Not at all.”

Meeting friends for tea or a meal was enjoyable, but an encounter with someone like Zhang Xing, whom he wasn’t close to, would just be awkward.

Long Shen: “Then you should thank me.”

Dong Zhi replied, “I’ll pretend I didn’t know you did that on purpose.”

Long Shen: “It’s the demonic qi’s fault.”

Dong Zhi almost laughed out loud. Lately, every time Long Shen did or said something that might tarnish his image, he’d blame it on the demonic qi. But no one knew for sure if the demonic qi inside him had been fully dispelled. Long Shen claimed it hadn’t, and Dong Zhi chose to believe him.

It was the apprentice’s duty to maintain the noble image of their master.

Long Shen gently wiped a smear off Dong Zhi’s temple.

“What’s this?”

Dong Zhi noticed the faint gray mark and its faint fishy smell.

“It must be from the Shadow Ghost.”

He then shared his recent findings on Su Huan’s body.

“It seems like a targeted act, but the victims might be randomly chosen,” Long Shen mused, echoing Dong Zhi’s thoughts.

Dong Zhi said, “That’s why I left the book with Kan Chaosheng for the time being.”

Understanding immediately, Long Shen asked, “As bait?”

Dong Zhi admitted, “It’s a bit risky, but without this, it’d be hard to lure out the real culprit.”

The book was the key to the entire case. Chang Qing had said he’d seen vague shadows in the book and was curious about the illustration book, suggesting a connection between him and the book or its owner. Dong Zhi knew that without him around, Chang Qing’s curiosity would get the best of him, and he’d investigate the book.

“I’ve secretly told Kan Chaosheng to keep an eye on Chang Qing’s movements,” Dong Zhi said with some uncertainty. “But I don’t know if Kan Chaosheng can handle the task.”

“He must learn to grow up. The world won’t wait for him.”

Long Shen said, “If I were you, I’d do the same.”

It was the best affirmation and praise. Long Shen looked at the young man in front of him, whom he had personally mentored. The young man had already become exceptionally outstanding, just as he had once hoped.

Or perhaps, Dong Zhi had always been immensely talented. It’s just that his potential had been buried amongst the masses for over two decades. Once given the opportunity and put through refinement, he immediately transformed into a dazzling and remarkable being.

……

After Dong Zhi left, Chang Qing picked up the illustration book, flipping through it and studying it intently. Kan Chaosheng started to complain about being hungry. Out of courtesy as a host, Xiao Zhao went out to buy them some afternoon tea. Before the food arrived, Kan Chaosheng had no choice but to lounge on the sofa, eating sunflower seeds and casually chatting with Chang Qing.

“Hey, why do you hate demons so much?”

Chang Qing looked up at him. “How can you lie down, eat, and talk without choking?”

Kan Chaosheng hummed. “That’s skill. I could swallow an entire cow in one bite. What’s a sunflower seed compared to that?”

“Demons shouldn’t exist. If they want to cultivate, they should do it discreetly and avoid crossing paths with me. If they do meet me, I will capture them,” Chang Qing replied coldly.

Irritated, Kan Chaosheng sat up and stared at him. “On what grounds? With your skills, you can’t even beat Dong Zhi, and you talk about capturing demons? Don’t make me laugh!”

Chang Qing ignored him, focusing on the book. Provoked, Kan Chaosheng suddenly lunged, trying to snatch the book away. But Chang Qing was faster, and in the blink of an eye, they began to scuffle inside the conference room.

Using the book as a weapon, Chang Qing threw it at Kan Chaosheng, who dodged. The book struck Xiao Zhao, who was just entering the room with the snacks.

Chang Qing and Kan Chaosheng: ……

Xiao Zhao was left dazed by the impact, almost dropping the takeout.

Chang Qing pursed his lips, extending a hand to Xiao Zhao to help him up.

Xiao Zhao, having a good temperament, surprisingly didn’t get angry. He smiled wryly and said, “That’s evidence. Can you not use it to fight? Do you want me to get scolded by the boss?”

Chang Qing reached out to help him up, saying, “I’m sorry.”

“Forget it, forget it!” Xiao Zhao felt helpless, thinking to himself that he shouldn’t have left the two of them alone together. He bent down to pick up the book, and seeing that it wasn’t damaged, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, someone opened the conference room door; it was Captain Yin. Behind him was a woman in her thirties or forties. Despite her plain attire and traces of hardship, it was clear she had been quite beautiful in her youth.

“Everyone’s here!” Captain Yin said with a smile. “This lady is a witness from another case we’re currently working on. Since we’re all occupied right now, could you chat with Ms. Chang until we’re ready to take her statement?”

Xiao Zhao agreed, and after Captain Yin left, he felt a bit puzzled, wondering about the supposed big case their team was handling.

However, Chang Qing seemed struck by lightning, staring blankly at Ms. Chang. He only snapped out of it when Kan Chaosheng gave him a hard slap on the arm.

Kan Chaosheng sneered, “Lost your mind?”

Xiao Zhao made small talk with Ms. Chang and offered her the snacks he bought. Kan Chaosheng’s eyes lit up, and he started eating without hesitation, making himself at home. Ms. Chang, however, seemed a bit uneasy, smiling politely and refusing, saying she’d just have some water.

“May I ask, where are you from?” Chang Qing softly inquired, his voice shaky.

“My hometown is deep in the mountains, a place you’ve never heard of. I used to work in the south,” Ms. Chang replied with a noticeable accent. Xiao Zhao couldn’t place it.

However, Chang Qing asked, “Is that place called Zhuiyang?”

Ms. Chang was visibly taken aback; her expression a mix of astonishment and delight. “You know it? Are you from there as well?”

Chang Qing closed his eyes for a moment, suddenly stood up, and snatched the cake from Kan Chaosheng’s hand, hurling it against the wall!

“Have you gone mad?!” Kan Chaosheng exclaimed angrily, raising his hand to strike.

Chang Qing firmly held onto his hands and said deliberately to both him and Xiao Zhao, “We’ve been ensnared.”

Having been in the Special Administration Bureau for so long, Kan Chaosheng had a keen sense of crisis and quick reflexes. He immediately ceased his actions upon hearing this.

“What do you mean?”

Chang Qing: “We’ve been pulled into an illusion.”

Kan Chaosheng looked around suspiciously. “What illusion? I don’t feel anything.”

“It’s because you were completely distracted by the food,” Chang Qing responded irritably. “It might have started when I threw the book or when Xiao Zhao picked it up.”

Xiao Zhao, looking perplexed, asked, “What are you talking about?”

Chang Qing pointed to the woman beside him and said, “She’s my mother. She died when I was seven years old.”

Xiao Zhao quickly turned his head to look at the woman, the sudden movement causing an unsettling cracking sound in his neck.

The woman looked at them, bewildered. “Sir, you must be mistaken. I have a son, but he’s only six now…”

“When I was six, she left me to work in the south and later died. If she were still alive, she wouldn’t look like this or be this age,” Chang Qing said with clenched fists, gritting his teeth, and breathing heavily. “Now I understand what’s wrong with that book. It can peer into the deepest desires of one’s heart and make them a reality.”

Kan Chaosheng sneered. “Then why didn’t it fulfill my wish?”

Chang Qing: “What were you thinking about when Xiao Zhao went to buy snacks?”

Kan Chaosheng: “… Blueberry cake.”

The snack that Chang Qing had taken and thrown away was a blueberry cake.

Chang Qing: “You never told him, so how did he just happen to buy what you wanted?”

Kan Chaosheng was left speechless.

Xiao Zhao was utterly confused by their conversation. He felt like he understood parts of it, but also as if he understood nothing. “What are you guys talking about? The cake is fake? I personally went out to buy it!”

Chang Qing: “Where did you buy it from?”

Xiao Zhao: “At the corner store downstairs. No, wait, they sell milk tea, not blueberry cakes…”

He suddenly paused, struggling to recall where he had purchased the blueberry cake from. And he remembered that he actually intended to buy spicy hot pot, a dish he loved and often shared with his colleagues during their night shifts.

“Something’s wrong!” Xiao Zhao suddenly exclaimed, turning to open the door.

His colleagues outside were eating the blueberry cake he had bought. They looked at his horrified face in confusion.

“Are you alright?”

Xiao Zhao weakly shook his head, puzzled about why he had bought the blueberry cake.

A colleague, Tan Jie, said with a grin, “I gave some of the cake to Xiao Song. She heard you bought it and wanted me to give you her WeChat. She said she wanted to thank you. You know what that means, right? Do I need to say more?”

Xiao Song was the renowned beauty in the office, whom Xiao Zhao had long admired. He stared at Tan Jie, feeling surreal. Was this real?

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Behind him, Kan Chaosheng’s angry shout pulled Xiao Zhao’s attention back. He turned around and was almost scared out of his wits to see Chang Qing drawing a sword to strike the woman!

She was so frightened that she couldn’t speak. Kan Chaosheng lunged at Chang Qing, trying to stop him. The office immediately erupted into chaos.

Others rushed in to intervene. Some called for their supervisor, while others tried to separate the two. Everyone present was a detective with good physical skills, but none were a match for Chang Qing. Xiao Zhao thought Chang Qing had gone mad.

Even with suspicions, resorting to violence was extreme. Xiao Zhao tried to pull the woman to safety. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a colleague who seemed to be smiling.

A cold shiver ran down his spine, and he quickly turned his head. The person beside him wasn’t smiling anymore and anxiously said, “Aren’t you going to help get her out of here? Do you really want them to kill someone in the station?”

It was a typical reaction. Xiao Zhao responded and began pulling Ms. Chang out.

However, Chang Qing yelled out, “Don’t go out!”

Xiao Zhao’s foot was already outside. Hearing this, he hesitated. A colleague reached out to push him, urging, “Why are you standing there? Are you really listening to his nonsense?”

His body involuntarily tilted outward. Suddenly, a force from behind pushed him forward. Xiao Zhao stumbled and fell back into the meeting room. At the same time, a blinding light flashed by his ear. Before Xiao Zhao could react, the light had already entered Ms. Chang’s body!

Ms. Chang screamed in agony. Everyone felt a darkness before their eyes and a strong vibration beneath them, causing all to fall to the ground.

Catching his breath, Xiao Zhao saw Dong Zhi coming from behind him, holding a sword.

“How come you guys can’t handle things just because I stepped out for a moment?” Dong Zhi sighed.

Xiao Zhao rubbed his eyes. They were still in the meeting room. Ms. Chang and the colleagues who were pulling them apart were gone. Outside the window, it was dark. The quiet was occasionally broken by the sound of a car passing by, like any ordinary night.

Seeing Chang Qing’s guarded expression, Dong Zhi laughed. “Are you guys okay? You don’t think I’m fake too, do you?”

---

<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

---

Chapter 166

After a while, Xiao Zhao finally spoke, trying to sound calm, but his voice trembled slightly.

“Could it be due to the lighting or camera angle?”

Dong Zhi glanced at him. “You already know the answer, why deceive yourself?”

Upon close examination, a faint shadow could be seen from the potted plant beside Deng Bin, but Deng Bin himself cast none. Xiao Zhao remained silent.

Chang Qing suddenly said, “I’ve seen that Deng Bin before. There was nothing wrong with him.”

Dong Zhi nodded to Xiao Zhao. “Captain Yin’s intuition and experience are indeed impressive; this case indeed requires the involvement of the Special Administration Bureau.”

Looking at Dong Zhi, Chang Qing, and Kan Chaosheng, Xiao Zhao felt a mix of unease. A youth even younger than him, a child, and an outsider who joined halfway seemed an unlikely trio to handle this. He hesitated. “Director Dong, should we get more backup?”

Dong Zhi grinned. “Do I seem untrustworthy?”

Xiao Zhao laughed awkwardly. “That’s not what I meant…”

Dong Zhi patted him. “Don’t worry, my master got held up in Beijing. He’ll join us soon.”

The title ‘master’ sounded reassuring. Xiao Zhao felt a weight lift off his chest. Kan Chaosheng, however, grew tense, rapidly processing whether he had made any mistakes recently. Dong Zhi, reading his expression, said, “You let Deng Po see Meika’s true form on the train, didn’t you?”

Kan Chaosheng defended, “Meika was at its smallest size and I covered it with a blanket! That incident was unavoidable!”

Dong Zhi: “Then you revealed your identity to Deng Po.”

Kan Chaosheng: “That was to capture human traffickers; I was doing a good deed!”

Dong Zhi: “And then you got caught by Chang Qing, requiring my rescue. Chang Qing even discovered your true form.”

Kan Chaosheng: …

Chang Qing added, “In short, you’re unprofessional.”

At this time, Captain Yin then approached, asking Dong Zhi if they should inspect Su Huan’s body.

Dong Zhi pointed at the guidebook and told Xiao Zhao, “We’ll have another look at this book when my master arrives. Don’t pack it away yet.”

Xiao Zhao nodded. “Understood.”

Chang Qing inquired, “Can I stay to examine the book a bit more?”

Dong Zhi asked, “Found something?”

Chang Qing shook his head. “I feel there’s more to this book. Maybe there’s something to discover.”

The two locked eyes, sensing hidden secrets, but neither revealed more. Dong Zhi agreed to Chang Qing’s request but instructed Kan Chaosheng and Xiao Zhao to assist and, implicitly, to keep an eye on him. Once Dong Zhi left, Chang Qing began perusing the peculiar illustration book.

Though there wasn’t much to see. Dong Zhi had flipped through it multiple times, each page blank without exception. Chang Qing felt there was a key—a catalyst—within the book. Su Huan may have acquired this key, revealing the book’s secrets, leading to her murder.

But what was the secret? He ran his fingers across the book’s unique texture, deep in thought.

Dong Zhi followed Captain Yin to the identification center. Su Huan’s body was once again taken out from the freezer. The forensic expert in charge was a young, professional woman, showing no discomfort while examining the corpse. Seeing Captain Yin, she looked slightly impatient, probably tired of repeatedly explaining her findings.

Dong Zhi didn’t trouble her further, “Dr. Chen, we’ll examine it ourselves for now.”

Dr. Chen blinked. “You don’t need an overview?”

Dong Zhi smiled. “Not for now.”

Captain Yin introduced. “This is a colleague from our affiliated department. Due to the case requirements, he’s here. You can go on with your work; we’ll handle this.”

Hearing him speak in such a mysterious manner, Dr. Chen slightly curled her lips beneath her mask, assuming Dong Zhi was here for an official inspection from a higher department. Captain Yin, out of courtesy, probably felt obligated to bring him here. As for Dong Zhi looking so young, she speculated that he might have some influential backing or connections that allowed him to be promoted quickly, a phenomenon not too uncommon.

She wasn’t in a rush to leave and stood to the side, arms crossed, watching them examine the body.

To her surprise, Dong Zhi, who appeared as if he had just graduated not long ago, didn’t bat an eye when facing the body that had been frozen for a while and bore a somewhat horrific look. He even bent down closer to the corpse’s head, as if he wanted to kiss it.

Although Su Huan was a beauty in life, one that even the rich second-generation Deng Bin found stunning, her body was now rigid and discolored, with post-mortem lividity showing. Seeing his action, Dr. Chen’s complexion slightly changed, almost as if he wanted to desecrate the body.

But Dong Zhi’s expression was solemn and absolutely serious, making Dr. Chen immediately discard that thought.

When she saw him bend down again to inspect the body’s chest, she couldn’t help but say, “There are two fatal wounds on her. One is in the heart. When we found the body, her heart was missing. It seemed as if someone had gouged it out and then yanked it away, and the wound is jagged…”

“Not from a blade.” Dong Zhi interrupted.

Dr. Chen raised an eyebrow. “Are you a forensic expert too?”

Dong Zhi: “I’m not.”

Dr. Chen: “Then you shouldn’t have interrupted me.”

Dong Zhi smiled. “Sorry.”

Dr. Chen pursed her lips. “Indeed, the wound doesn’t seem to be from a sharp weapon. It’s as if it was torn open by some animal’s claw and then forcibly removed.”

This made it even stranger, as both surveillance and the scene suggested this theory was impossible.

As Dong Zhi straightened up, Captain Yin, with a hint of expectation, asked, “How is it?”

His reaction was also odd, making Dr. Chen give him a few more glances.

Dong Zhi: “There’s no demonic qi, so it’s not a demon. But it could be a spirit. As of now, I can’t confirm. From my perspective, Deng Bin is indeed not the culprit. However, my opinion can’t serve as evidence. You should still proceed according to your protocols.”

Dr. Chen: ??? What the hell are you talking about?

Yet, surprisingly, Captain Yin seemed to understand and even looked a bit disappointed.

“All right, but thank you anyway. At least you’ve pointed us in a new direction.”

Dong Zhi: “It would be best if you could find out who had contact with that book before Su Huan and who brought it to the library. That’s the key. If it indeed was a spirit, the murder might not be due to any grudge. It could be random selection.”

Captain Yin sighed. “The problem is we can’t trace the origin of the book. The library has no record. We’re comparing it with donations or purchase channels, but it takes time.”

Dr. Chen was utterly confused. Every word they spoke was in Chinese, but when combined, she couldn’t understand at all.

While Captain Yin and Dong Zhi were talking, Dr. Chen suddenly noticed a slight tremble in the shadow beneath Captain Yin’s feet.

The room’s lighting was strong, casting distinct shadows on the floor. Depending on the light’s angle, the shadows sometimes stretched long and sometimes overlapped with the person’s figure. But the shadow under Captain Yin seemed restless, and when he had his back to it, it even moved its fingers.

As Dr. Chen’s gaze darted between the shadow and Captain Yin, she realized the shadow moved its fingers, but Captain Yin stood still, making no movements.

Even though it was daylight outside, she felt her mouth dry up and her limbs go weak, as if she’d been soaking in hot water for too long. Yet, her limbs were also icy and stiff, and her heart was racing uncontrollably.

“Yin…”

Hearing Dr. Chen’s weak voice, Captain Yin turned around, puzzled. “What’s wrong? Dr. Chen, you look pale.”

She was speechless because, as Captain Yin moved, his shadow remained still, seemingly back to normal. However, even though Dong Zhi was facing them, the shadow behind him slightly turned its head, looking in Dr. Chen’s direction.

“Your shadow!” she finally exclaimed.

Dong Zhi’s expression changed instantly, from casual to sharp and focused. Dr. Chen suddenly realized he might have noticed the anomaly long ago but hadn’t shown any sign of it.

She had barely finished speaking when she saw Dong Zhi swiftly dodge and then leap up, propelling himself off the wall and returning to his original position. His speed was so fast that Dr. Chen couldn’t even register it, much less describe the series of movements in a split second. The shadow, seeming just as caught off guard as she was, was struck by talisman fire, releasing a shrieking sound that hurt her eardrums.

Instinctively covering her ears, Dr. Chen realized it was of no use. The sound seemed to penetrate every barrier. She felt dizzy and lost her balance, collapsing backward. The sound of shattering glass surrounded her as she saw the black shadow, rather than being destroyed by the flame, emerge from the floor, taking on a three-dimensional form as it lunged at Dong Zhi.

Captain Yin, with his extensive experience, was more composed than she was. Facing this unimaginable situation, he quickly drew his gun and fired at the shadow.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three shots echoed. All hit the shadow, but to no effect. The bullets lodged into the wall behind it.

The shadow let out a creepy laugh, suddenly expanding several times its size, and lunged at Dong Zhi as if to swallow him whole. But Dong Zhi stood firm. He flung his sword case into the air, pressed a button, and caught the sword that sprung out. With a swift move, he sliced through the shadow. The sinister laughter ceased, and the glint of the sword obliterated the shadow entirely.

People from outside, drawn by the noise, rushed in. Even though it was a day off, the commotion had surely alerted the few on duty. They looked in disbelief at the bullet holes in the wall, shattered windows, and the trio inside the room, almost assuming a shooting had just taken place.

Gasping for breath, Captain Yin identified himself, dispersed the crowd, and called his team to clean up.

Dr. Chen, still on the floor, stared at Dong Zhi, unable to snap out of her shock until he offered his hand to help her up.

“Need a hand?”

Without a word, she took his hand and stood up, feeling her legs trembling.

“Can you explain what just happened?”

Dong Zhi blinked. “Do you have gloves? The kind you use for examining bodies?”

Regaining her composure, Dr. Chen handed him a clean pair. Dong Zhi wore them and carefully probed the chest cavity of Su Huan’s body. After a moment, he pulled out a thin black strand.

“Is that hair?” Dr. Chen leaned in for a closer look.

“More like fur,” Dong Zhi said. “Used to control the Shadow Ghost.”

Seeing their confusion, he elaborated, “That black shadow, called a Shadow Ghost, is a type of demon. It’s not very powerful, but it can change its shape. When controlled, it can be manipulated like a puppet to do anything.”

Captain Yin asked, “Including murder?”

Dong Zhi replied, “Perhaps. But the one controlling the Shadow Ghost is the real culprit.”

He then reassured them, “But there’s no more danger here, rest assured.”

Initially, he thought this would be a simple case. Now it seemed more complicated.

Of course, no matter how challenging, it wouldn’t be harder to deal with than Mara. He has even braved the depths of hell, so this case in front of him is just a minor puzzle.

The phone rang, and Dong Zhi picked it up, speaking briefly. His expression transformed from serious to relaxed in an instant. Yet throughout, he exuded an air of composed confidence, as if no challenge was beyond him.

Dr. Chen should have been astounded by the unbelievable scene she’d just witnessed. However, she was so distracted that she didn’t even have time to indulge her own curiosity. Seeing Dong Zhi about to leave, she hastily said, “Director Dong!”

Dong Zhi turned back to her, and Dr. Chen cleared her throat. “Could I possibly have your contact information? There might be opportunities for collaboration in the future.”

She spoke earnestly, but Captain Yin, being experienced in such matters, could immediately discern her underlying intentions.

Dr. Chen was a renowned beauty within the city’s judiciary system, with countless admirers, so a woman of her caliber always had the luxury of choice. After dismissing so many suitors, who would have thought she’d find her interest piqued now?

Dong Zhi smiled. “If you need anything, contact Captain Yin. He knows how to reach me.”

To her astonishment, Dr. Chen found herself encountering a man who seemed immune to her charms—a man whose phone number she couldn’t even obtain. Then she heard Dong Zhi say, “I need to pick up my girlfriend. I’ll leave things here for both of you.”

Captain Yin knew that Dong Zhi was actually going to pick up his master, not a girlfriend. Recognizing that Dong Zhi wasn’t interested in Dr. Chen and was using this as an excuse, he just nodded. “Go ahead!”

After Dong Zhi left, a downcast Dr. Chen asked Captain Yin, “Why are all the good men taken? Am I always a step behind?”

Barely stifling his laughter, Captain Yin jokingly replied, “It just means others have a faster investment eye than you!”

Dr. Chen sighed deeply.

Instead of heading to the airport, Dong Zhi went straight to the agreed-upon hotel. Long Shen had already checked in and was waiting for him in the hotel lobby.

Among the crowd, Dong Zhi’s eyes instantly found Long Shen. Sensing Dong Zhi’s gaze, Long Shen looked up, their eyes meeting.

Dong Zhi hastened his steps to greet him.

“Dong…Ge?” A voice nearby uttered uncertainly.

Turning his head in the direction of the voice, Dong Zhi saw a familiar face. He was puzzled for a few seconds, but quickly remembered. “…Zhang Xing?”

---

The author has something to say:

PS: Zhang Xing is the girl who was with Dong Zhi at the beginning of the story, up on Changbai Mountain.

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<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

---

Chapter 165

Waste text was a script for communicating with ghosts and deities, and there wasn’t just one type. There were several, with different versions for ghosts, monsters, and gods. Today, some unknown families may still passed down these scripts, but almost no one understood them in their entirety. Dong Zhi only started to grasp them after reading the notebook from Long Shen, and then hearing more about waste text from him.

Upon hearing the term waste text, Captain Yin had no particular reaction, but Chang Qing exclaimed.

“It’s the script that communicates with the spirit world?”

Dong Zhi nodded. “Can you read it?”

Chang Qing: “No, but I sensed you could, so I pretended to be surprised for your sake.”

Dong Zhi: …

He turned to Captain Yin. “Have you searched the library and the victim’s family home?”

Captain Yin: “We have, including the cafe the victim frequented. No one has seen the book.”

He added, feeling somewhat frustrated, “The book doesn’t seem related to the case at all, but we found this inconsistency during our investigation. We’ve been stuck and just want some answers.”

Dong Zhi understood. “Sometimes, an initially irrelevant clue may later become pivotal. Have you looked into the person who borrowed the book before Su Huan?”

Captain Yin: “We did but found nothing substantial. The victim had a simple family background, and the person responsible for his car accident had no connection to him. It all seemed accidental, but there’s one odd detail. The library’s records show that he borrowed the book but never returned it. Friends and family claim they never saw the book. Yet, strangely, the book was later borrowed by Su Huan, which means—”

Dong Zhi interjected, “The book returned itself.”

Captain Yin nodded, running a hand through his thinning hair with a bitter smile. “Right. If not for that, we wouldn’t have thought of bringing you in.”

Dong Zhi said, “You take the lead on the case. I’ll follow the book’s trail.”

Although the Special Administration Bureau had the authority to take over a case midway, Dong Zhi had no intention of usurping Captain Yin’s efforts. Grateful for Dong Zhi’s consideration, Captain Yin now looked at him with newfound respect. “Thank you, Director Dong.”

The two shook hands.

Dong Zhi said, “I’d like to visit the crime scene and then the library where the victim worked. You can just assign an assistant to guide me.”

Captain Yin promptly agreed and had a young detective named Xiao Zhao assist Dong Zhi throughout the case.

Xiao Zhao, new to the force, was intrigued by the Special Administration Bureau, observing Dong Zhi with a mix of curiosity and restraint, clearly wanting to ask if he could show some magical tricks.

At this moment, Kan Chaosheng returned, first giving Chang Qing a disdainful look, then handing Dong Zhi the information he had gathered.

Upon close observation, Dong Zhi realized that Chang Qing hadn’t lied. Chang Qing’s master had credentials as a Taoist priest and had always been practicing deep in the Taibai Mountain. Chang Qing had followed his master since childhood, and although he grew up in modern society, he was mostly isolated from modern civilization. It was not until his master advised him to venture outside that he traveled from Shaanxi to Huai’an, getting into various humorous situations along the way. This also explained why he had never heard of the Special Administration Bureau.

Clearing him of suspicion, Dong Zhi said to Chang Qing, “If you can assure me that you won’t act rashly or hurt Kan Chaosheng, I can unshackle you. But you must stay with me for the next few days until this case is closed.”

Chang Qing, puzzled, asked, “Now that monsters can roam freely and even join government agencies, won’t that blur the lines between humans and monsters and create chaos?”

In front of Xiao Zhao, Dong Zhi didn’t want to elaborate. As it was lunchtime, Dong Zhi asked Xiao Zhao to take them to a nearby restaurant. While Xiao Zhao was ordering food, Dong Zhi told Chang Qing, “As I’ve said, as long as one abides by the law and morality, any species can live in modern society. Apart from Kan Chaosheng, there are many others like him in the Special Administration Bureau. We have special duties, like another domain of public servants.”

Chang Qing nodded. “I understand.”

He glanced at Kan Chaosheng and said, “I’m sorry.”

Kan Chaosheng sneered and turned away, ignoring him.

When Xiao Zhao returned, they stopped discussing monsters. After lunch, they arrived at the residence of Deng Bin and Su Huan, which was the murder scene that was sealed off by the police. The body had been removed, but the bloodstains remained. It looked chaotic, and had any of Deng’s family been present, they would’ve been terrified. Yet none of the four individuals, including the childlike Kan Chaosheng, seemed affected.

Xiao Zhao explained, “The rest of the place is clean. Only the living room was the scene. The victim didn’t struggle much. The blood appeared after her death when her heart and brain were extracted.”

After examining the scene, Dong Zhi found no anomalies, especially no familiar demonic qi, implying Su Huan’s death might not be related to any demons. He asked, “After Su Huan’s death, where did Deng Bin go? Did you check the surveillance?”

Xiao Zhao looked uneasy. “The footage shows him leaving the underground parking elevator. But there’s a blind spot after he exits, and we couldn’t find any more footage of Deng Bin until we located him at the club.”

Dong Zhi asked about the timestamps for Deng Bin at the club.

Xiao Zhao said, “No issues there. He was seen entering and exiting after the crime.”

Dong Zhi noticed that Xiao Zhao seemed to have more to say, so he remarked, “If you have any opinions, feel free to share.”

Xiao Zhao hesitated. “In fact, all the clues are pretty clear. Deng Bin is indeed the prime suspect. That illustration book or whatever it is, has nothing to do with the case.”

In other words, he didn’t think this case would have any mysterious or supernatural twists. It was just a typical case of a broken marriage, where an enraged husband committed murder. The act of extracting the heart and brain, though gruesome, wasn’t unprecedented in murder cases. It just showed that Deng Bin had a dark soul, was cold-blooded, and possessed an antisocial personality.

Just then, both Dong Zhi’s and Xiao Zhao’s phones rang almost simultaneously. Dong Zhi answered and saw his master’s name on the display. Despite being at a crime scene, a smile tugged at his lips.

“Master.”

“It’s me.” The familiar voice of Long Shen said, “I saw the pictures you sent. Those waste texts might not have a specific meaning.”

“What do you mean?” Dong Zhi asked.

Long Shen elaborated, “It doesn’t point to a particular meaning. It’s like a random combination of Chinese characters. But I guess it might be a talisman written in waste text, meant to seal the book.”

“So, there might be something in the book?”

“Maybe. The pictures are blurry, and I can’t see clearly. Be careful. I’ll come over later.”

Dong Zhi wanted to say more but felt it inappropriate given the company. He was about to hang up when Long Shen made a remark, causing Dong Zhi to blush and end the call quickly. He noticed Xiao Zhao looking anxious.

“What’s wrong?”

Xiao Zhao looked nervous; a reaction unexpected from a trained professional. Hearing his next words, Dong Zhi understood the concern.

“The book… it’s back!”

Dong Zhi and his team had initially planned to inspect the corpse. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, they hurriedly left the crime scene and headed to the library.

The book Xiao Zhao mentioned was an illustration book once borrowed by Su Huan before her death. After Su Huan’s death, the book disappeared. The police had checked the library and found no record of the book being returned. But just recently, a librarian, while arranging new books onto the shelves, accidentally discovered the book.

Since Captain Yin had shown them a photo and inquired about it previously, the librarian immediately recognized it and notified the police.

When Dong Zhi and his team arrived at the library, the book was already taken out separately, waiting for them on an office desk.

Chang Qing, upon seeing the book, exclaimed with surprise.

Dong Zhi asked, “What’s wrong?”

Chang Qing stopped Kan Chaosheng from reaching out to touch the book and frowned, saying, “I thought I saw a vague shadow moving on the cover, but when I blinked, it disappeared. I don’t think I was seeing things.”

Kan Chaosheng retorted with disdain, “What you’ve said is as good as saying nothing!”

Chang Qing stated seriously, “I have an innate intuition about supernatural beings. This book must be related to one.”

But when Dong Zhi opened the book, everyone was stunned.

It was completely blank, with no content.

“Could it be written with invisible ink?” Xiao Zhao speculated. “Or maybe, a glow-in-the-dark one?”

“No.” Dong Zhi touched the pages. They didn’t feel like paper but more like fabric, an odd texture.

“Did we find any record of the book’s donor or buyer?” he inquired.

Xiao Zhao shook his head. “No record.”

Chang Qing suddenly leaned closer and sniffed. “Do you smell that? A scent coming from the book.”

Xiao Zhao replied, “It’s sweet, like a perfume. I thought it was the fragrance from the librarian who greeted us earlier.”

Kan Chaosheng sniffed vigorously. “It has a fishy scent.”

Suddenly, a wild thought occurred to him. “What if the murderer is hiding inside the book?”

A thought struck Dong Zhi. “Where are the surveillance photos of Deng Bin leaving his house after the murder? Bring them quickly!”

Xiao Zhao was puzzled, but seeing Dong Zhi’s urgency, he drove back to retrieve them.

Half an hour later, Dong Zhi, looking at the photos, took a deep, chilling breath.

“Is there something special about the photos?” Xiao Zhao leaned in, still noticing nothing.

Dong Zhi pointed at the image of Deng Bin and said, “He has no shadow.”

There should have been a light near the entrance of the surveillance area. The dim light at the time was casting a slanting light on the doorway. As Deng Bin came out of his house, hands in his pockets, walking naturally, in every single sequential photo, Deng Bin had no shadow.

Xiao Zhao felt more than just a chill in his heart; he began to question his entire worldview and beliefs that he had held for decades.

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<<< || Table of Contents || Lore Glossary || >>>

Author: 梦溪石 / Meng Xi Shi

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

---

Chapter 164

Just in case, Dong Zhi decided to bring Chang Qing along.

The latter remained relatively calm, not shouting or attempting any futile resistance.

Dong Zhi said to him, “Let us deal with this case first, then we will address your issue.”

Chang Qing nodded. “Fine, I want to see how you handle it.”

Captain Yin frowned, hesitant to speak. In the end, he didn’t stop Dong Zhi from bringing Chang Qing into the office.

In reality, while the Deng family was making efforts everywhere for Deng Bin, the police had also been investigating, and they had more leads than the Deng family knew.

The deceased, Su Huan, was Deng Bin’s wife. Her parents were small vendors in the market, supporting her education with their modest income. Unfortunately, Su Huan missed the college entrance exam cutoff by just one point. Considering her family’s financial situation, she didn’t retake the exam but instead took a job at a private company where she met Deng Bin.

Su Huan was very beautiful and had many suitors. However, Deng Bin stood out among them. After a passionate courtship, they naturally got together and married. After their wedding, the Deng family arranged for Su Huan to work in a library. She wasn’t satisfied with this job, feeling that the Deng family placed her there out of concern that she might embarrass them elsewhere. Deng Bin had taken her to a few banquets, where some looked down on her and made fun of her behind her back. The differences in their lifestyles led to more conflicts and eventually intense arguments.

“Su Huan’s social circle was simple—basically just home and the library. Occasionally, she would visit her parents on weekends. We investigated her relationships and found no enmity. As for Deng Bin, he doesn’t have an identical twin, so there’s no chance of impersonation. Moreover, even if someone tried to impersonate him, they couldn’t fake the fingerprints found on the murder weapon at the scene. Therefore, Deng Bin is indeed the prime suspect.”

Captain Yin concluded.

On hearing this, Deng Po’s father became anxious and wanted to speak, but he was pulled back by his son.

Normally, families weren’t allowed to attend criminal investigations. It was only at Dong Zhi’s request that Captain Yin made an exception. However, if they interrupted, they would surely be thrown out.

While Deng Po’s father was agitated, Deng Pp was more astute and timely stopped him.

On the other side, Dong Zhi asked, “Were there any discrepancies found?”

Captain Yin nodded. “There were no footprints from the murderer at the scene.”

Dong Zhi: “Can you be more specific?”

Captain Yin’s assistant said, “We inspected the scene and questioned the maid of Deng Bin’s house. We found out that the house was cleaned just before the murder. Before Deng Bin and Su Huan returned home, there were only footprints of the maid and Su Huan, no third person’s footprints. Even if the murderer entered without shoes, there were no footprints outside or inside the door.”

Dong Zhi understood.

Unless the murderer could fly, it’s impossible to leave no trace. But if the murderer could fly, why would they be careful about footprints but leave fingerprints?

Having been a detective for many years, Captain Yin had solved numerous cases, including some strange ones that were hard to explain. A decade ago, when he was still learning from his seniors, he heard about the existence of the Special Administration Bureau. Outsiders knew nothing about this mysterious department, while insiders rarely mentioned it. Calling them wasn’t easy, and once they were involved, they would take over the case. Captain Yin wouldn’t ask for their help unless absolutely necessary.

This time, since the investigation had hit a dead end, Captain Yin had no choice but to reluctantly request assistance from experts. However, Dong Zhi’s youth surprised him.

It was said that despite his young age, Director Dong’s rank was equivalent to that of a seasoned detective like himself. At first, Captain Yin was skeptical, but after seeing Dong Zhi subdue Chang Qing so easily, he was convinced.

“Did you find anything else?” Dong Zhi continued to inquire.

Captain Yin nodded. “Regarding Su Huan, we found that she rarely borrowed books from the library despite being a librarian. However, a week before the murder, she borrowed a book from the library, which has not been returned to date. We haven’t found that book in her home or at her workplace. Strangely, the book was donated to the library last year. Before Su Huan, only one person had borrowed it, named Huang Zai.”

Everyone from the Deng family was puzzled about the connection between a book and the murder, but Dong Zhi knew that Captain Yin must have a reason for bringing it up.

“Is this related to Huang Zai?”

Captain Yin shook his head. “Huang Zai is dead. He died six months ago in a car accident while jaywalking. The car was speeding and crushed him instantly.”

A chill ran through everyone present.

Captain Yin looked at the Deng family. “The book’s title is ‘Illustrated Guide’. We called you here to ask if any of you have seen that book.”

Deng Po’s parents exchanged glances and both said, “Never seen it. When we visited her home, we never saw Su Huan reading. She seemed to prefer playing on her phone, especially a game she recently downloaded.”

This was typical behavior for young people, and Su Huan was no exception.

It was as Captain Yin expected, but he still seemed slightly disappointed. At that moment, Deng Po said, “The last time I spoke to my uncle, he mentioned that Su Huan was constantly clutching a book and even took it to work. She barely played on her phone. I joked with him about her sudden change in behavior.”

Captain Yin’s eyes lit up. “Anything else?”

Deng Po thought for a moment. “Oh yes, my uncle also mentioned that she appeared to be in a daze while reading. She didn’t flip the pages for a long time, just stared at one page. He asked her about it once but got no response. They were having a cold war then, so he didn’t think much of it.”

Captain Yin probed further. “Did he notice the content on that page?”

Deng Po shook his head. “He didn’t mention it. I guess he didn’t really pay attention.”

Captain Yin took a deep breath, stood up, and shook their hands. “Thank you for your cooperation. Please ensure the confidentiality of our conversation today.”

Deng Po’s father urgently spoke up for his brother. “Officer, Deng Bin is innocent. I’ve watched him grow up, and I know he wouldn’t kill.”

Most families of suspects would believe their loved ones were innocent.

Captain Yin responded with a professional smile. “Rest assured, we’ll do our utmost to solve this case. We won’t accuse an innocent person nor miss a guilty one.”

Knowing that the police wouldn’t promise them anything at this stage, the Deng family left. Deng Po’s mother looked at Chang Qing and hesitated. “Can Mr. Chang Qing come with us?”

Dong Zhi replied with a smile, “Sorry, but he’s suspected of obstructing official duties and can’t leave with you. We will handle him lawfully. Given his actions, he might face a fine or administrative detention at most. Don’t worry.”

Chang Qing remained expressionless, as if Dong Zhi wasn’t talking about him.

After the Deng family left, Dong Zhi, Captain Yin, and Kan Chaosheng sat down again in the conference room.

Captain Yin motioned for his assistant to take Chang Qing away, but Chang Qing said, “I can help you solve the case.”

Dong Zhi raised an eyebrow.

Chang Qing continued, “I’ve been practicing in Taibai Mountain and am unaware of the customs outside. I didn’t know that monsters could roam freely, so I captured that snake.”

Kan Chaosheng bristled. “You’re the snake! Your whole family is made of snakes!”

Chang Qing replied indifferently, “Aren’t they both creatures that haven’t turned into dragons? Only when one becomes a real dragon are they not considered a monster.”

Recognizing that Dong Zhi was the one in charge, Chang Qing addressed him directly. “I can naturally see the true forms of some monsters. I’m sure I can be of assistance.”

Dong Zhi said, “But I doubt your ability. Clearly, I’m a human, yet you just claimed otherwise.”

Chang Qing looked at him with a puzzled expression. “I don’t know why, but there’s something odd about your aura. I can’t quite place it.”

Dong Zhi inquired, “Who is your master?”

Chang Qing gave him the name. “He has spent time at Qingniu Cave Taoist Temple and holds a Taoist certificate. You should be able to verify that.”

Dong Zhi turned to Kan Chaosheng. “Can you check it out?”

Kan Chaosheng replied, “Don’t you need me to keep an eye on him?”

Dong Zhi earnestly said, “No need. I feel that compared to him, your dwindling bonus is in greater peril.”

Kan Chaosheng: …

Captain Yin’s assistant followed Kan Chaosheng out, leaving three people in the conference room.

Dong Zhi felt it would be safer to keep Chang Qing close, so he addressed Captain Yin without sending Chang Qing out. “Did you discover any other clues earlier, but it was inconvenient to mention in front of the Deng family?”

Captain Yin replied, “Yes. Although Deng Bin was unaccounted for two hours during the time of the murder, when we arrested him at the club, he was calmly playing billiards with friends. His demeanor wasn’t consistent with someone who had just committed a murder, unless he has an extremely cold, antisocial personality. But his past behavior doesn’t support this. Also, the lie detector indicated multiple times that he was truthful, and even if it isn’t admissible as evidence, it’s still a reference.”

“Then there’s that book.” Captain Yin produced a series of photos taken from the library’s CCTV footage showing Su Huan putting the book in her bag. It took a lot of time and effort to find this particular frame.

After enlargement, the photos were still somewhat blurry, but you could roughly make out the characters on the cover.

“Other than the word for ‘Illustration’, it’s impossible to make out the other characters,” Captain Yin said. “In the library’s records, there’s only mention of these two words.”

“I know what those words are.”

Dong Zhi looked up solemnly. “This is ‘waste text’, a script for the dead and deities.”

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