Outside the hotel lobby, the autumn air was crisp and the sun shone brightly. Gentle sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow across the interior.
But Qin Yue could only hear the sound of her own heavy breathing.
Ma Guniang was standing very close. Although there was a smile on her face, it felt unsettling. Her glass-like eyes remained perfectly still, their clarity bordering on the eerie.
She looked like an exquisitely crafted doll. Upon closer inspection, she carried a non-human chill.
“Forget it, forget it.”
The corners of the blue-robed woman's mouth curled upward. She tilted her head slightly, but her dark eyes remained fixed on Qin Yue.
“You little ones are so boring. You get scared out of your wits after just a bit of teasing, and your conversation is quite dull.
“You’re a bit clumsy with your words, little one, but you make up for it with diligence. It hasn’t been long, yet I can see you’re already on the verge of condensing a qi sense.”
“I must thank you for the Small Twelve Bone Forging Method you gave me last time, Senior Ma. As for the firefighter who was saved, he has fully recovered and officially joined our Special Incident Investigation Section.”
Qin Yue steeled herself and continued her inquiry.
“Senior Ma, you said I smell like the hungry ghosts of the Underworld—what did you mean by that?”
“The Underworld has the Yellow Springs Path and the Yin Yang Road. The Yin Yang Road is what separates the living world from the afterlife. The living can walk it to descend into the Underworld, and dead spirits can use it to crawl from the Gates of Hell back to the human realm.”
Ma Guniang seemed to be in a good mood as she explained slowly.
“There is a type of evil spirit within the Gates of Hell. In life, they committed too many sins; in death, they are sent to hell to be punished, becoming hungry ghosts. Their throats are as narrow as needlepoints, their bellies burn like fire, and they love to devour souls and flesh. That scent on you...”,
“It reminds me of the past, the stench of blood splattering when I would execute those hungry ghosts.”
Qin Yue’s heart hammered against her ribs. She felt as though she was on the verge of grasping something, yet she couldn't quite pin it down.
Before Ma Guniang appeared, she had been preparing to participate in the Yellow River Trial.
On the surface, the Yellow River Trial was a government-hosted assembly for disciples from various northern families to compete and exchange knowledge. In reality, it was a battle for the right to enter the Western Xia Imperial Tombs.
Not long ago, a large number of black dog-like monsters had suddenly appeared in the Western Xia Imperial Tombs. They were impervious to blades and bullets and possessed immense strength, requiring heavy firepower to be suppressed.
However, along with these dog-like monsters, a type of glowing plant had been brought out.
Researchers discovered that this plant was unlike anything seen before and did not belong to any known species on Earth. Its cells were extremely active and appeared to contain large amounts of taxol-like substances. Extracts from the plant were proven to be effective in treating cancer and tumors.
The authorities speculated that a transformation similar to the one at Qingmeng Mountain in Xixiang had occurred beneath the Western Xia Imperial Tombs, leading to the mutation of the underground flora. The black dog-like monsters were likely related to this change as well.
The government had dispatched multiple teams to explore the underground palace, but all had ended in failure, with many comrades sacrificing their lives in the process.
Out of necessity, the authorities decided to collaborate with the various families to jointly explore the Western Xia Imperial Tombs.
But for Ma Guniang to appear here at this specific time...
Could it be related to the Yellow River Trial?
Had she come for the anomalies in the Western Xia Imperial Tombs?
If she was also after something in the tombs, could they ask for her assistance—
Just as Qin Yue was about to ask, her heart lurched. Her sixth sense screamed a frantic warning, cutting off the words before they could leave her throat.
Ma Guniang’s eyes shifted sluggishly. As if guessing what Qin Yue was thinking, her expression became one of mocking amusement.
“I’m tired.”
She made no mention of the previous topic, her tone flat.
A cold, damp breath escaped the blue-robed woman's lips. When it touched Qin Yue’s hair, it instantly froze into a strand of ice.
The hotel lobby, which had been calm and windless moments ago, suddenly grew dark, as if a gray filter had been draped over the world.
An inexplicable, wicked wind swirled through the room, and a layer of pale frost crystallized beneath Ma Guniang’s feet.
An invisible pressure bore down on her. Qin Yue felt her stomach churn. She gritted her teeth, barely managing to maintain her composure.
“Very well. Everything you need has been prepared. Please follow me.”
The temperature in the air finally returned to normal. Looking again, Ma Guniang had reverted to the smiling young woman from before.
Qin Yue was not deceived by the facade. She silently led the way, escorting Ma Guniang alone into the elevator and up to the rooftop presidential suite. She did not dare to overstep again.
Ma Guniang seemed satisfied. she floated into the room, no longer paying any mind to Qin Yue behind her.
...
Qin Yue stared at the closed door. Feeling that uncomfortable, chilling aura slowly dissipate, she gripped the weapon at her waist and cautiously backed away. It wasn't until the elevator began its descent that she finally exhaled a long, heavy breath.
When Qin Yue reappeared, the officers from the Special Incident Investigation Section immediately surrounded her with concerned questions. She merely shook her head wearily.
“First, notify the hotel management. No one is allowed to go to the top floor to disturb her. Our people will deliver meals three times a day. Do not make contact and avoid all communication.
“Also, notify the local heads of the Xiaoning district. Tell them they must take this seriously to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings. Cancel all surveillance and tracking. Remote observation only.”
She had been reckless this time!
She had naively assumed that the patience of such a powerful being was something that could be casually tested.
From the moment the other party appeared until just now, none of her demands had been met.
Therefore, the other party felt insulted.
How could she have taken it for granted that Ma Guniang would be willing to act as a government enforcer?
Was it because of that Small Twelve Bone Forging Method, or because of some hollow title like little demon suppressor?
A non-human being like her was free and unconstrained, acting solely on whim. Even the spirit medicine she gave last time was likely just a sudden act of kindness.
The government's reputation simply carried no weight before such non-human creatures.
Fine beads of sweat suddenly broke out on Qin Yue’s forehead.
Though every move and gesture of the other party seemed no different from a normal person, her essence was fundamentally different.
Even though this Ma Guniang of unknown origin had shown goodwill toward the authorities in the past,
Qin Yue could not guarantee that she harbored absolute goodwill toward humanity.
In their interactions, even the slightest mistake could be seen as an offense, inviting a lethal disaster.
With the matter settled, the other guests in the hotel remained oblivious, unaware of what had just transpired. Everything seemed to have returned to normal.
It was as if Ma Guniang’s anger had been nothing more than a fleeting shadow.
Yet the brows of those in the know were drenched in sweat. Only after confirming the danger had passed did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Regarding the matter of the Mountain Lord of Nanyun, although the authorities had tried to keep it quiet, that being’s travels had been so grand that they had caused a month-long stir in the southwest. It was impossible for others not to know.
While the government currently chose to tacitly accept that being's existence, there were many private voices of strong opposition, believing that humans and non-human creatures could never truly coexist in peace.
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