“Isn't this a bit too casual?” Yun Yao said.
“In the past, those old fogies would argue for half a day over a code name for any fixer above prism grade. It was like a dialectics meeting, where they’d bring out all sorts of evidence to prove from every angle that those individuals had the ability to refract the world’s brilliance.”
“It’s been less than a day since you reported the matter of the Dark Gold Rose, Chief, and they just decided it so casually!?”
“We’re talking about a luminous prism grade fixer. Only four have appeared since the association was founded. Every word that comes out of their mouths is enough to shake the entire world.”
“Elder Hei, tell me, is this reasonable?”
The strong-featured old man pondered for a moment. “Could the association have made a mistake, or is there some hidden context we aren't aware of?”
Bai Zhou snorted, leaning back against the wall with his hands behind his head. He casually propped his legs up on the coffee table.
“No matter what hidden circumstances there are, it makes no sense. The Chief has worked so diligently for all these years; everyone in the association knows the Chief’s reputation.”
“Those stingy old men are just being greedy—they weren’t even willing to grant you a title.”
“Exactly! Those guys on the battlefield tremble at the mere mention of the Chief’s name. Why is the association being so double-standard for someone who just popped up?”
“There’s definitely an inside story!” Yun Yao waved her fist, as if seeking justice for her superior.
“What even is this ‘Dark Gold Rose’? I’ve never heard of them before. One-shotting a small fry? I could do that too!”
“Hey, Yun Yao, that’s enough!” Bai Zhou, who felt he was being subtly mocked, looked displeased.
Seeing the sparks of conflict between the two in the room again, Chihong stood up.
The bickering pair looked in terror at their Chief, whose face was clouded with irritation.
A moment later, Bai Zhou and Yun Yao were kneeling obediently in front of the coffee table, each sporting a swelling lump on their head, looking like children who had been punished for misbehaving.
“It just feels so unfair,” Yun Yao muttered.
“The Chief has handled so much, and yet those old geezers act like they haven't seen a thing.” Bai Zhou turned his head away.
Section 6 had once been on the brink of dissolution. Almost all of their predecessors had fallen in battle at the hive city. During the Eight-Spider Hive Mother's resurrection incident, in order to buy time for the association and preserve as much of the remaining force as possible, the people of Section 6 had used their lives to keep the stolen spark alive.
The old man looked at Chihong, a hint of relief flashing in his weathered eyes.
At that time, the association had collectively decided to disband Section 6. Without a doubt, for the entire world, this was incredibly heavy and demoralizing news; it meant that many more bringers of fire for civilization were gone forever. Then, a short-haired girl only eighteen years old stood up. She withstood all the pressure and led a group of children, each with their own flaws, resolutely onto the battlefield. They were active on the front lines of the fight against urban legends, making a name for themselves. She became known as the Red Rose of the Battlefield.
Chihong’s expression softened slightly.
To her, the members of the team were more than subordinates; they were family. She had watched these flawed children slowly grow and shed the painful marks of their childhoods.
“Don’t say such things. Honor is not something given by others; it is something that holds warmth and weight in your own heart,” Chihong said. “In certain matters, it is enough to have a clear conscience.”
“Though I don’t know what the association’s stance is, being scared off by a few words from that person is not the style of Section 6.”
“The operation regarding the Black Abyss White Flower must continue. At the very least, before more lives are lost due to her going out of control, we must move forward.”
“Bringers of fire for civilization, huh?”
Xu Xiaoyou, listening to all of this, whispered the words to herself. She thought of the people from the Dawn Society, butterflies flying toward the flame just to keep the spark alive.
She didn't believe words alone could convince the members of Section 6. Anya going out of control was a fact, and their differing positions destined them to be enemies. Perhaps one day, they would face each other in a direct confrontation.
If possible, she didn’t want to be enemies with these people. The world always needed some idealists.
Without disturbing the people in the room, Xu Xiaoyou walked away along the porch, her slightly lonely silhouette disappearing under the mercury-like moonlight.
Late at night, the rain stopped. The guest rooms in the courtyard were silent. There was no moonlight outside the corridor, only a pitch-black darkness where you couldn't see your own hand. The swaying branches looked like ghostly hands reaching in, occasionally tapping against the glass when caught by the wind.
With nightfall, the Siren King's audio, the ominous weather, the mysterious ghostly shadows in the valley, and the eerie Mermaid Town—what kind of trials would the members of the Paranormal Explorers face next?
“Hard work, everyone. You can rest for today.”
After filming the final scene of the day’s script, the director ended the recording and spoke to everyone in the main guest room. The surrounding crew members broke into applause.
“The results from today’s shoot are excellent. If we can maintain this, this episode will definitely be a huge hit.”
“I’m going to take a bath. I’m soaked and it feels miserable.”
Amy’s sleeves hung down like those of a little zombie as she shook her hands and spoke.
“If you want a bath, there are hot springs and a sauna in the courtyard. Want to try them?” Kim Jung-han suggested.
Amy rolled her eyes at him. “Do you really expect us two girls to squeeze into a hot spring with a bunch of old men? Everyone knows what you're thinking. Xin, let’s ignore him and go bathe.”
With that, Amy took Tang Xin’s hand and skipped away.
Kim Jung-han looked toward John, who immediately felt a chill. “I have no interest in soaking in a hot spring with the same sex either. Go by yourself.”
“None of you know how to enjoy yourselves,” Kim Jung-han said, spreading his hands helplessly.
After returning to the room, seeing Tang Xin filling a wooden bucket with hot water, Amy suddenly emptied the bucket. She tilted her head mysteriously and said:
“Who says we don’t know how to enjoy life? Xin, use this for your bath.”
As Amy spoke, she reached toward the side. Tang Xin’s eyes widened slightly. No one knew how Amy had managed to pull several cases of spring water, which were far larger than the handbag itself, out of her bag.
“This is?”
Tang Xin picked up a bottle. The glass was exquisitely carved without being ostentatious, and the lettering on the label was brief: ‘Lanroll.’ It was a luxury brand of spring water specifically for artists, often selling for a dozen points of inspiration per bottle.
She had heard that some artists used this kind of spring water even for bathing when traveling or filming shows, claiming it had beauty-enhancing and skin-protecting effects while improving sleep quality.
“Isn't this a bit too luxurious?” Tang Xin said. One bottle cost over a dozen points of inspiration, which was enough for several weeks of her usual food expenses.
Amy spread her hands and poured a bottle of the spring water into the wooden bucket. “I’ve already prepared everything. You won’t reject me, right, Xin? This spring water isn't drinkable; it has no other use besides bathing or washing your face.”
“Each bottle is very expensive. You wouldn't want to turn me down, would you?” Amy said, blinking her eyes.
For some reason, Tang Xin felt that Amy was intentionally hiding some information in her words.
It was the same earlier in the hotel lobby; the girl had shown a clear reaction when hearing about matters related to the Mermaid Miracle.
Rather, the fact that the other girl had appeared on the island and participated in this variety show in the first place was shrouded in many doubts.
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