Zhou Kexin felt helpless. She couldn't chase after Yin Yang to talk to him, as that would break her persona and likely alert Mr. Qi.
She had come this time specifically to report to Yin Yang, but she hadn't expected Mr. Qi to be there. This completely derailed her plans.
As they spoke, Yin Yang returned with the book and handed it to her.
“Here, this is the book you wanted.”
Zhou Kexin had no choice but to take the book, bid Mr. Qi goodbye, and leave the bookstore.
Creeeak, creeeak.
Zhou Kexin gritted her teeth, her grip tightening on the book. Who would actually want to read this garbage, she wondered?
Just then, that familiar chill surfaced again.
Looking down at the cover, she saw two words clearly written there.
‘Continue.’
She froze.
‘Continue? Does he already know about Qi Xing’s murder?’
‘But the Qi family has kept that news strictly under wraps. How could he know?’
‘Could it be...’
Recalling Yin Yang’s terrifying strength, Zhou Kexin shuddered.
She was seventy percent certain that Yin Yang was the one who had killed Qi Xing!
The chill gradually faded, and the word ‘Continue’ vanished from the cover, leaving not a single trace behind.
...
Inside the bookstore.
Mr. Qi sipped his coffee while Yin Yang continued reading. Lin Zhen watched Mr. Qi with concern.
In her memory, Mr. Qi was a very kind man who always had a smile on his face. Seeing him so disheveled today meant something major must have happened.
Could it be because of that transcendent item she sold him?
What if the expert's appraisal was wrong, and it wasn't actually a transcendent item?
At this thought, Lin Zhen became a bit defensive.
All sales are final, no returns or exchanges!
Whatever the case, a refund was out of the question. She already planned to use that money to open a coffee shop!
“Phew, thank you for the coffee. It really was delicious.”
After finishing the cup, Mr. Qi regained a bit of his spirit.
Lin Zhen smiled and waved it off as she took the empty cup.
“Mr. Qi, I don't know what you're going through, but as long as you're still here, everything will pass.”
“Yes.”
Mr. Qi smiled and agreed.
Ting-a-ling~
The door opened again, and Uncle Huang, the security officer, walked in. When he saw Mr. Qi, his expression immediately became serious.
“Xiao Zhen, where’s your dad?”
“He’s in the back having tea. What’s wrong, Uncle Huang?”
“That wanted poster we put up on your notice board earlier? You can take it down now.”
“Did they catch the criminal?”
“No, the suspect is dead!”
Uncle Huang’s expression grew even more solemn.
“Based on the time of death, there's no way he could have committed the subsequent crimes.”
“In other words, the real killer is still out there!”
“You all must be extra careful when walking at night. Even during the day, don't talk to strangers who approach you.”
“Alright, Uncle Huang.”
After a few more words of caution, Uncle Huang went to the back to find the store owner.
Mr. Qi frowned instinctively upon hearing this.
“A murderer?”
“Yeah.”
It was Yin Yang who answered him.
“Uncle Huang put up the wanted poster a few days ago, saying Wang City hasn't been peaceful lately and that we should be careful.”
“I didn't expect that the real killer would still be at large.”
Mr. Qi’s frown deepened as he asked, “What did the deceased look like?”
“I wouldn't know that.”
Yin Yang lowered his head back to his book, then added as if in passing, “If you ask me, the killer might not even be human. Maybe it's a transcendent item or a transcendent?”
“I read in a book once that some promotion rituals for transcendents require hunting their own kind.”
“Instead of focusing on investigating ordinary people, there might be a higher chance of finding something if you checked the transcendents at the Security Bureau.”
Mr. Qi smiled and shook his head.
“You’re being too idealistic. Why would transcendents who are up to no good ever register with the Security Bureau?”
Yin Yang thought for a moment, then gave a sheepish smile.
“True. I guess professional matters should be left to the professionals.”
According to official law.
Transcendents below Sequence 6 were required to report their travels and any changes in their city of residence.
In the eyes of the authorities, being a transcendent was equivalent to carrying a weapon.
For example, if a transcendent assaulted an ordinary person, even with bare hands, it was still considered assault with a weapon.
Furthermore, Security Bureau personnel would often conduct follow-up visits and surveillance.
After all, every transcendent had a chance of losing control. To the Security Bureau, these individuals were like ticking time bombs; how could they not keep an eye on them?
Of course, even with these rules, there were bound to be some unregistered residents.
Take the Qi family, for instance. Everyone in Wang City knew they definitely had transcendents, yet in the Security Bureau’s files, not a single member of their family was listed as one.
“What you said has actually given me some ideas.”
Mr. Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The cats have their ways, and the rats have theirs. Information that the Security Bureau couldn't find didn't mean it couldn't be found through an underground assembly.
Yin Yang looked surprised by his words. “Given you ideas? Mr. Qi, are you so wealthy that you're thinking of becoming a bounty fugitive hunter?”
Mr. Qi smiled but didn't explain further, turning to leave the bookstore.
Seeing this, Yin Yang tapped the table lightly, and a dark shadow followed silently after him.
Lin Zhen was busy arranging snacks at another counter, completely unaware of anything unusual.
...
Even as the preeminent family in Wang City, the Qi family didn't have much contact with those underground transcendents.
As the saying went, the vast majority of transcendents were ticking time bombs, and no one knew when they might explode.
This was especially true for those not registered on file. They were a motley crew from all walks of life, and there was no telling if a cultist was among them.
If they tried to convert you and you refused, they might kill your whole family. If you did believe them, well, you might be better off if they just killed your whole family.
Therefore, anyone with status generally kept their distance from these underground transcendents.
Having grown accustomed to being fine porcelain, they were naturally unwilling to be placed next to crude earthenware jars. If there was any collision, the loss wouldn't be worth it.
When Mr. Qi returned home, he shared this idea with his eldest brother, Qi Hai.
Qi Hai’s reaction was lukewarm, which told Mr. Qi that his brother was likely already working on it.
Since they were children, their father had often been away from home, and the three younger brothers had been raised almost entirely by their eldest brother.
No matter the situation, his brother was always one step ahead of them without exception, and this time was no different.
“Is there anything I can do to help, Big Brother?”
“Someone is clearly targeting our Qi family lately. It’s not safe out there, so you should stay home for now.”
“But Old Fourth...”
“I will handle Old Fourth’s matter!”
The middle-aged man took a deep breath. “Old Third, if something happens to you as well, I truly won't be able to take it.”
Mr. Qi stood up. “I understand, Big Brother!”
...
Leisurely Bookstore.
Yin Yang slowly looked up, a corner of his mouth curling into a smile.
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