“Oh, I see now.”
After hearing Yan Qi’s response, Hu Mengqing showed an expression of sudden understanding and said.
“Alright, enough about that. I’m off. See you tonight.”
“Okay, Xiao Qi. Please be careful while you’re working.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pay close attention to my own safety.”
With that, ending this brief, deliberately arranged morning encounter, Yan Qi said goodbye to Hu Mengqing and continued on his way to the Fangfeng City Supernatural Affairs Bureau headquarters.
Leaving Hu Mengqing alone there, watching him slowly disappear from her sight.
……
“Sorry about that, Sister Shen. I ran into something today that held me up a bit. I’m not late, am I?”
After getting off the bus, Yan Qi had dashed to the Supernatural Affairs Bureau as fast as he could. He’d finally arrived at their fifth squad’s office. He looked up at Shen An’an, who was sitting in her chair reading a mission briefing, and asked.
“Don’t worry, Xiao Qi, you’re not late today. You got here right on the last minute before our shift check-in.”
Hearing Yan Qi’s voice beside her, Shen An’an put down the mission papers, looked up with a sweet smile, and answered him like that, trying to put him at ease and stop him from worrying about being late.
“Good, glad I’m not late. So, Sister Shen, what missions am I doing today?”
Confirming he wasn’t late and had thus saved today’s wages, Yan Qi immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Then he quickly asked Shen An’an what his tasks were for the day.
Hearing his question, Shen An’an glanced at the mission sheet she’d just received and couldn’t help but furrow her brow. But knowing she couldn’t assign him anything else, she simply said to Yan Qi.
“Xiao Qi, the mission you have today is pretty much the same as yesterday’s.”
“What do you mean, ‘pretty much the same’? If I remember correctly, yesterday I did three missions with Zhao Liang.”
After hearing Shen An’an’s reply, Yan Qi asked, a little confused.
“That’s right, Xiao Qi. Yesterday you did complete three of our squad’s missions with Zhao Liang. And the mission I’m giving you today is exactly the same as the first one you did yesterday. That’s why I said they’re pretty much the same.”
“Exactly the same? Sister Shen, what do you mean by ‘exactly the same’?”
After hearing Shen An’an’s answer, Yan Qi blinked and then asked further.
At that, Shen An’an quickly replied.
“It’s exactly the same as the mission you and Zhao Liang did together yesterday, where you eliminated a vengeful spirit in a red dress.”
“A vengeful spirit in red? Sister Shen, do you mean I have to go eliminate another ghost like that again today?”
After hearing Shen An’an’s answer, Yan Qi asked again, sounding a bit unsure.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”
Getting Shen An’an’s confirmation, and remembering the vengeful spirit in red he’d encountered yesterday, Yan Qi couldn’t help but lower his head and think for a moment. Then he looked back up at Shen An’an and asked.
“Sister Chen, has there been a lot of these strange supernatural beings appearing in Fangfeng City recently—things like ghosts that are very threatening to ordinary people but not that tough for supernatural being?”
Hearing Yan Qi’s question, Shen An’an paused for a second, recalled the messages she’d seen in the internal group chat over the past few days, and then nodded, answering him.
“Yes, Xiao Qi. There really have been quite a few supernatural beings like ghosts appearing in Fangfeng City recently.”
“Really? Then it looks like things are heading in the direction I really didn’t want to see.”
“What direction you really didn’t want to see?”
Hearing Yan Qi mutter to himself, Shen An’an couldn’t help but ask curiously.
Hearing her question, and knowing that most supernatural being still weren’t aware of the strong connection between the appearance of ghosts and the emergence of Abyssal Rifts, Yan Qi thought about how she’d always been good to him and decided he didn’t need to tell her the truth and add to her worries. So he looked at her and answered.
“Oh, nothing. Just some rambling I do when I’m bored.”
“Really?”
Shen An’an said with an obviously skeptical look. But seeing the resolute expression on Yan Qi’s face, as if he absolutely wouldn’t casually share what he knew, she didn’t press further. She just casually said that one word.
“Alright, enough of that. Sister Shen, I’m going to go rest for now. When today’s partner shows up, make sure you come get me, okay?”
“Okay, I got it. When he arrives, I’ll notify you right away.”
“Mm.”
……
“Are there any other ghosts here?”
Watching the ghost that Yan Qi had just blasted into oblivion with his lightning techniques, and not sure if there were any more in the area, the not-very-bright young woman who was also a member of the fifth squad and Yan Qi’s partner today couldn’t help but ask him.
“Don’t worry, there aren’t any other ghosts here.”
Yan Qi, who could confirm through his abilities that there were no ghosts nearby, answered his partner for the day.
“That’s good. Those ghosts are really terrifying. They actually have supernatural powers that can affect people’s souls and create illusions to make them commit suicide.”
After hearing Yan Qi’s answer, today’s partner visibly relaxed. Remembering the information they’d gathered from the nearby residents, she couldn’t help but say that to herself.
“Enough about that. Sister, we need to leave here now.”
“Mm, I know.”
“Come to think of it, we still have one more mission left, don’t we?”
Knowing that a single team in their squad could usually only complete three missions a day, and recalling the ghosts he’d just been eliminating, Yan Qi had been so busy fighting that he couldn’t remember exactly how many he’d taken out. So he asked the not-very-bright young woman beside him.
“Mm, we’ve only completed two of our missions today. There’s still one left to finish.”
Hearing Yan Qi’s question, the not-very-bright young woman answered.
“Got it. Then let’s hurry up and finish this last mission. Once it’s done, we can report back and then each go home to rest.”
Remembering his promise to Hu Mengqing from this morning, Yan Qi said just that.
