“Xiao Qi, how did you do that? I mean, I didn’t see you do anything else after you struck her with that lightning bolt.”
Zhao Liang, still a bit fuzzy on exactly how Yan Qi had defeated the red-clad ghost, couldn’t help but ask her with genuine curiosity.
“It’s simple, Brother Zhao Liang. The ghost’s supernatural star level was way lower than mine. She tried to use her powers to affect my soul—attempting to create illusions to scare me to death—but because of that, she suffered a severe backlash. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have vanished so quickly.”
“I see. But how did you know that this particular ghost’s power was specifically about manipulating the soul and creating hallucinations?”
“I secretly asked someone on my phone earlier, back when you weren’t paying attention, Brother Zhao Liang. Someone who’s encountered ghosts before.”
“And who has that kind of insight?”
“It’s a colleague of my sister’s from the Free Life Association. That older sister who really loves her edgy, delusional act—Si Yexing.”
Yan Qi answered, looking straight at Zhao Liang.
“Oh, her. Alright then, that clears it up for me.”
Hearing that Yan Qi had gotten her information from Si Yexing, Zhao Liang felt a wave of understanding wash over him. He muttered the words to himself, feeling the matter was settled.
Listening to Zhao Liang’s mumbling, Yan Qi knew perfectly well in her heart that she had just told a little white lie.
The reason she knew the specifics of the ghost’s supernatural ability wasn’t because she’d called up her duplicate on the phone earlier.
It was because she had previously tapped into the power of her “Electronic Diva” persona to extract a vast amount of intel related to supernatural forces from databases all across the globe.
That included detailed information on ghosts—those peculiar entities that occasionally manifest due to a specific phenomenon known as Spirit Energy Tides.
If she hadn’t been armed with that kind of rock-solid information, Yan Qi would never have dared to stand there and let the ghost hit her with its full supernatural force, just like she had done.
“A ghost… appearing because of a Spirit Energy Tide, huh?”
Yan Qi’s gaze lingered on the spot where the red-clad ghost had finally disappeared. Recalling the intel she’d dug up long ago, she thought to herself, an unshakable feeling settling in her gut—like a storm was brewing on the horizon.
——-
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, the sun hung high in the sky, marking the arrival of high noon.
“Director Bai, may I ask you a few things?”
Dao Yan took a sip of the now-cooled boiled water from her cup. After setting it down, having just received a significant data dump from her main body, she lifted her head and directed the question toward Bai Yuling, who was seated not far away.
“Hmm? What would you like to ask, Miss Dao Yan?”
Hearing Dao Yan suddenly speak up, Bai Yuling—who had been sitting on the couch chatting with them while waiting for her subordinates to deliver the investigation results—paused for a second. Without overthinking it, she invited the question.
“Director Bai, have there been any sightings of ghosts around Windbreak City recently? You know, those peculiar supernatural entities?”
“Ghosts? You mean those relatively weak supernatural presences that occasionally pop up in our reality due to Spirit Energy Tides?”
Bai Yuling sought clarification, wanting to ensure they were talking about the same phenomenon before answering.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m referring to, Director Bai. The same supernatural entities you just described.”
Dao Yan replied with a firm, affirmative tone.
Having received confirmation, Bai Yuling lowered her head in thought for a moment. Realizing this wasn’t exactly a state secret and that these independent supernatural practitioners had been cooperating with them for a long time, she saw no reason to hide it. She raised her head and answered.
“Yes, Miss Dao Yan. The type of ghost you’re describing has indeed been appearing sporadically here in Windbreak City over the past few days.”
“In that case, your Supernatural Affairs Bureau must be well aware of what these sporadic ghost appearances signify, right?”
“Yes, we’re very aware. The emergence of ghosts signals a thinning of the veil between the Abyss and our reality. It suggests a possibility that an Abyssal Rift of Level Three or higher could open up right here in Windbreak City.”
“Then has the Windbreak City branch of the Supernatural Affairs Bureau made the necessary preparations to deal with it?”
“Rest assured, Miss Dao Yan. We’ve already reported this matter to our superiors, and relevant preparations are already underway. If the predicted Abyssal Rift—one large enough to allow Level Three Abyssal Beasts through—does indeed appear here, I’m confident the consequences won’t be too severe.”
“That’s good to hear. Director Bai, do you have any intel on the most probable timeframe for when this Level Three Rift might appear?”
“Miss Dao Yan, I’m afraid our bureau isn’t very clear on that specific detail. Our detection capabilities regarding the Abyss are rather limited. I sincerely apologize.”
Bai Yuling spoke with a note of genuine regret in her voice.
Seeing the truthfulness written all over Bai Yuling’s face, Dao Yan decided not to press further.
“Alright then. If you don’t know, Director Bai, I won’t push the matter. Thank you for answering my previous questions.”
“No need to thank me, Miss Dao Yan. It’s part of my job. If I may ask though… how did you come to know that ghosts have been active in Windbreak City recently?”
After assuring Dao Yan that thanks weren’t necessary, Bai Yuling’s own curiosity got the better of her.
“That information came from me, the Great Death God herself.”
It wasn’t Dao Yan who answered. Instead, Si Yexing spoke up from the couch. She had long since removed the black cloak she’d been wearing and set it aside, revealing her impeccably proportioned figure and the gorgeous purple Lolita dress she wore underneath.
“Ah! It was you who told Miss Dao Yan about the ghosts, Miss Yexing? Well, that does make sense, considering the unique nature of your supernatural abilities.”
Hearing Si Yexing’s declaration, Bai Yuling was momentarily surprised but quickly found it plausible, given the other woman’s well-known connection to the spiritual realm.
“Director, may I come in?”
A knock came at the office door, followed by the voice of a bureau member stationed outside.
Recognizing the voice, Bai Yuling knew that the investigation she had ordered earlier that morning must have yielded some results. She promptly called out.
“Come in.”
Given the go-ahead, the bureau member at the door didn’t hesitate. He quickly pushed open the door to the director’s office and stepped inside, carrying the freshly compiled investigation report in his hands.
