“We can temporarily set aside discussions about the 'Demon Suppression Division.' Regardless of whether it is real or fake, our contact with Ma Guniang is very likely the first recorded instance of official contact with a non-human organization in Great Xia—or even the entire world.”
Ma Mingyuan looked at Qin Yue, who nodded and gestured for everyone to check the tablets next to them.
“During our initial phase, we conducted an investigation into Ma Guniang. Her earliest appearance was during the recently concluded 'Hongxing Mansion Falling Incident.' At that time, the special investigation team had already noticed her presence, created a file for her, and launched an in-depth investigation. Unfortunately, there is no data on her in the 'Sky Eye' system. Our technicians collected evidence at the scene but found no trace samples left behind—no hair, sweat, fingerprints, or anything similar. Running her facial data against the DNA database yielded no results either.”
——Ever since the seventeenth national census, official authorities in Great Xia had utilized the “Sky Eye” system to register ninety-nine point nine-nine percent of the population's data.
It could be said that in this age of electronic eyes, no human could hide from the surveillance network.
Ma Guniang's origins remained a mystery. The complete lack of matching data in Sky Eye actually served as indirect proof of her non-human identity.
“Comrades from the Information Group of the Special Investigation Section have already created a standalone database specifically for Ma Guniang. The moment she appears again, the Sky Eye system will alert us immediately. As for the contact method she mentioned before departing, I believe its authenticity is beyond doubt, but we must carefully choose the right timing before reaching out to her again.”
Qin Yue looked around the room. “Considering her unique nature, I have already compiled all documents concerning Ma Guniang and submitted them to Jingbei.”
At these words, even Ma Mingyuan leaned forward slightly. “Can we confirm its authenticity? I suggest bringing in experts from Jingbei to appraise it.”
The others were bursting with curiosity, yet none dared reach out to touch it carelessly.
This had been handed to Qin Yue by name, so it was technically her personal property. How to handle it was entirely up to her.
Still, Qin Yue would undoubtedly take the main credit this time. So young, yet her life experiences were more thrilling than a novel. She had risen through the ranks on sheer capability, and now she was passing trials set by mysterious non-human entities and receiving ancient manuals. What kind of urban female soldier king power fantasy story was this?
“Judging by the paper quality and print style, this is very likely an original manual from the Song Dynasty. The text is entirely written in Classical Chinese, which might be somewhat difficult for modern people to comprehend.”
In front of everyone, Qin Yue casually flipped open the Small Twelve Bone Forging Method.
“I plan to request permission from higher-ups to bring in experts in classical texts to translate and transcribe it. Even if this book ultimately proves to have no practical cultivation value, it will still serve as valuable research material. Does anyone have any objections?”
“Agreed.”
“Approved.”
“Agreed.”
“No objections.”
Ma Mingyuan smiled and spoke up. “Little Qin, if it really turns out to be usable for cultivation, make us proud and set a good example for our comrades!”
“I'll follow the organization's arrangements.”
Qin Yue looked around at the faces in the room, her thoughts unknown.
“Section Chief Qin, there's news from the hospital.” Just then, Zhang Yue pushed the door open hurriedly, leaning in to whisper in her ear, “The firefighter who fell into a vegetative state during the fire... he's awake.”
Qin Yue's pupils shrank.
...
...
Mornings in the hospital ward were always filled with the smell of disinfectant.
Doctors and nurses in white coats moved between patient rooms, laboring tirelessly like diligent cogs in a machine.
Families carrying fruit baskets and flower bouquets walked with hurried steps, some looking worried, others wearing smiles.
Patients in blue-striped hospital gowns walked slowly down the corridor, supported by their loved ones, their eyes brimming with a yearning for health.
Vibrant lives joined together, forming individual human stories outside the main narrative.
Seven years ago, firefighter Yang Shugao had been trapped in a blazing fire while rescuing others. By the time he was pulled out, he had inhaled too much toxic smoke, suffering severe brain damage that left him comatose.
A patient in a vegetative state for seven years suddenly waking up—even his attending physician called it a miracle.
Qin Yue, however, knew there was another reason behind this miracle.
Fang Zijiang had been deeply interested in Ma Guniang's explanation regarding “dead souls” and “living souls.”
Thus, he immediately cooperated with the fire department to evacuate and demolish the fifty-ninth floor, reproducing Ma Guniang's “yellow chicken pathfinding” method step by step according to the video footage.
To everyone's surprise, before he could even finish the cleanup operation, Qin Yue received news that Yang Shugao had awakened.
And the first thing he asked upon waking was to see “Qin Yue.”
A man who had been in a vegetative state for seven years had woken up and called out the name of someone he had never met.
To an outsider, this entire affair carried a deeply eerie atmosphere.
The ward, normally quiet, was unprecedentedly crowded today.
A severely burned patient covered in tubes lay on the hospital bed.
Beside him stood his comrades in arms who had rushed over upon hearing the news, along with his parents, who wept tears of joy.
“You punk, you slept way too long! You promised to be my son's godfather! If you didn't wake up soon, your godson would be starting primary school!”
“Heh, I thought the squad leader and the guys were pulling my leg! You really slept for a long time!”
“Let me tell you, ignore these bastards. Whenever your name came up, they cried like babies, howling their eyes out! But the second they heard you woke up, they sprinted over without even putting their shoes on properly!”
“Yang Shugao, do you have any idea how many times your brothers bathed you over these seven years? Once you can crawl out of bed, you're definitely buying us a feast!”
“Seriously, that small barbecue joint in front of our fire station? You wouldn't know since you were out, but the owner changed, and the grilled eggplant is ridiculously good now!”
Yang Shugao, having just woken up, still had a look of unfamiliarity and caution toward the world around him.
To him, those seven years were merely a very long, long dream.
“Alright...”
Yet hearing those familiar voices, he couldn't help but crack open his mouth, slowly forcing a smile onto his scar-covered face. “...It... won't... kill... you...”
The flesh on his face had grown back together in strange ways, and his bald head showed no trace of hair growth.
His chest was entirely covered in massive burn scars.
Thick hypertrophic scars stretched across his heart, looking grotesque like a large white spider.
——Though the wounds had healed, the scars remained as a testament to the immense suffering he had endured.
Several of his comrades turned their heads away, unable to bear looking at him.
The once high-spirited young man was now unrecognizable.
Yang Shugao's parents sat beside him weeping silently. Though barely in their early fifties, they looked aged beyond their years.
The joy brought by their son's awakening was quickly replaced by worry for his future.
Qin Yue stood outside the door for a while, waiting until most of the people had left before pushing the door open and stepping inside.
Rate on N.U.
