He handed Luo Yingbai the materials he had collected about Lou Miao: “I have a similar thought. Lou Miao and Hu Weichao likely knew each other. Lou Miao threatened Zhu Linya and facilitated Xia Zheng obtaining that watch, all as an act of revenge.
“
Luo Yingbai asked, “Are you saying that Xia Zheng probably knew the watch belonged to Zhu Linya and was after the watch? Do you think… he knew she had killed someone?”
Xia Xianning said meaningfully, “If he didn’t know, why would he want that watch?”
They exchanged a glance, and Luo Yingbai whispered, “What kind of relationship do Zhu Linya and Xia Zheng have, for him to want to find her weakness in this way…”
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock at the office door. Xia Xianning said “Come in,” and a police officer named Chen Qin from the Special Investigation Unit entered. Xia Xianning asked, “What is it?”
Chen Qin said, “A document.”
He held out a piece of paper to Xia Xianning.
At that moment, Luo Yingbai suddenly jumped up from his seat and shouted, “Something’s not right!”
Almost simultaneously, Xia Xianning kicked Chen Qin, catching him off guard and hitting his chin. Chen Qin fell back but immediately bounced up and threw a punch at Xia Xianning.
Xia Xianning grabbed his wrist and twisted it back. Chen Qin took the opportunity to kick towards his abdomen, but Xia Xianning performed a backflip, his right leg coming down and striking Chen Qin’s neck.
Luo Yingbai noticed his bloodshot eyes and vacant expression, seemingly unresponsive to the blows.
Sensing something was wrong, he quickly opened the drawer and pulled out a gun.
While Xia Xianning was restraining Chen Qin, Luo Yingbai aimed and fired. A white light burst from the gun, and Chen Qin was shot in the forehead, black smoke erupting from his body as he collapsed.
This was a special exorcism gun that would have no effect on ordinary people. Luo Yingbai said, “He was possessed by demonic energy!”
Simultaneously, alarms blared throughout the Special Investigation Unit, and someone outside shouted, “Peng Xuan has escaped! Another monster bird is loose!”
Hearing this, Xia Xianning rushed out of the office to the corridor window.
A massive monster bird was circling in the air, with people shooting from nearby windows, but the bird’s body seemed made of steel, impervious to bullets.
Luo Yingbai, after moving the unconscious Chen Qin to a safer corner, followed Xia Xianning out, shocked by the sight of the bird.
“Four black wings, five-colored tail feathers, and it breathes fire—what is this thing?” Xia Xianning replied grimly, “Peng Xuan definitely escaped, and they must be chasing him. This monster is not from the Special Investigation Unit. Since even you don’t recognize it, it’s most likely an evil creature created by Peng Xuan!”
Luo Yingbai was stunned, his first instinct to pursue, but repeated calls to Wei Shou went unanswered, suggesting they were likely intercepted en route.
Besides the monster bird, several fierce ghosts were running wild in the corridor. Luo Yingbai threw out yellow talismans, turning them into black smoke.
When he turned back, Xia Xianning was already standing on the windowsill.
“What are you doing?” Luo Yingbai asked.
Without looking back, Xia Xianning said, “Don’t worry. There’s a restriction on Peng Xuan that I placed—he can’t escape. I’ll catch this thing first, then go after Peng Xuan.”
Luo Yingbai paused, with more ghosts appearing nearby. “Okay, be careful. I’ll deal with these and then come help you!”
Xia Xianning nodded, giving Luo Yingbai a deep look. “You be careful too.”
He then opened the window and fired three shots into the sky.
The surrounding people stopped attacking the monster bird on cue. Xia Xianning seized the moment, leaping from the ninth-floor window.
In a chorus of gasps, Xia Xianning barely grabbed the monster bird’s claw, then bent and pushed off its body, springing up again and managing to ride on the bird.
Lo Yingbai stood there, feeling slightly relieved only after seeing that Xia Xianning had succeeded, then turned and ran towards the other end of the corridor.
Lo Yingbai needed to seal the guard room first. He quickly sealed the guard room and summoned Cang Ling Yueyi, intending to draw his knife and go support Xia Xianning. At that moment, an arm suddenly stretched out from behind, covering his hand and pressing down, pushing the knife back into its sheath.
Lo Yingbai’s heart sank. He clearly remembered that there should have been a wall behind him just now—so where did this hand come from? A low laugh came from behind. Lo Yingbai struck back with his elbow, breaking free from the hand, and took a step forward, drawing his knife and turning around. With a light “cha” sound of the blade leaving its sheath, Cang Ling Yueyi was already positioned at the neck of the person behind him.
“…Ge Panming?” he said. Before him was a face he had never seen before. This person had an extremely delicate and beautiful face, with smooth and soft facial lines. However, the cold and hard look between his eyebrows diluted this softness, making him not appear effeminate, but giving an unusually sinister feeling.
This was the first time Ge Panming had revealed his true appearance. With Lo Yingbai’s knife at his neck, he showed no panic, instead raising an eyebrow and slowly curving his lips. “Do you know me? Do you remember?” Ge Panming stared at him intently, enunciating each word: “Ming, Lang.” His complexion was extremely pale, his lips extremely red.
The vivid color contrast gave Lo Yingbai an almost visceral sense that this person had just drunk blood. A strange feeling flashed through his mind, but his face remained expressionless as he lowered his knife, saying, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Ge Panming’s gaze flickered, and Lo Yingbai continued, “I can recognize you because among the people I know, there’s no other pervert who doesn’t dare show their true self, always appearing as a phantom to cause trouble.”
Ge Panming suddenly laughed, sighing, “Still not understanding my words. How will you ever find and kill me? I’m getting impatient.” Lo Yingbai said, “If you want to die quickly, I suggest you commit suicide.” Ge Panming sneered, “Useless.” As he spoke, he raised his hand, seemingly about to touch Lo Yingbai’s neck. Without a moment’s hesitation, Lo Yingbai swung his knife upward to chop at Ge Panming’s wrist, shouting, “Move!” Ge Panming spread his fingers, gripping the back of Lo Yingbai’s knife, and laughed softly, “You’re much less polite now than before. Did you learn this from Xia Xianning?” Unarmed, he pushed Lo Yingbai’s knife back, the blade nearly slicing past Lo Yingbai’s nose. His strength was extraordinary.
Lo Yingbai let go of the knife and leaned back, simultaneously throwing three yellow talismans that flew towards Ge Panming. Ge Panming dodged the knife and sidestepped the talismans. Lo Yingbai took advantage of his movement to strike Ge Panming’s wrist and reclaim his knife. At that moment, a cold light flashed on the knife, and Cang Ling Yueyi’s small figure appeared in front of Lo Yingbai, spreading his hands to protect him and glaring fiercely at Ge Panming.
For some reason, Ge Panming stepped back several paces upon seeing him. Cang Ling Yueyi now held a long knife identical to his own body, pointing it at Ge Panming and shouting threateningly, “What are you doing? I’ll kill you!” Ge Panming’s expression was extremely strange. Lo Yingbai placed his hand on Cang Ling Yueyi’s shoulder, saying, “It’s okay, go back.”
