Sylvia Blue kept apologizing over and over. Although Ma Yongjie's hands had already recovered, his face was pale, still haunted by lingering fear. That last blow had shocked even me.
If Ma Yongjie had reacted a moment slower, he would have been sent flying dozens of kilometers away. The entire courtyard was utterly destroyed; those violent forces had erupted in an instant. Now, the surrounding area was shrouded in baleful energy, covering the whole yard. We could only wait for Entity 001 to wake up and clean up the aftermath.
I only told Ma Yongjie Sylvia Blue's name, saying he could just call her Sylvia. I didn't mention why she was here or her identity, and Ma Yongjie didn't press for details.
Sylvia Blue acted like a child who'd done something wrong, respectfully placing a cup of tea in front of Ma Yongjie, still trying to make amends.
"It's alright, little sister. I'm not seriously hurt, and I suppose my face did scare you a bit."
Sylvia Blue stuck out her tongue, gave an awkward smile, and darted into the house. Then I heard Entity 001's roar.
"How long are you planning to sleep?"
Still in pajamas, Entity 001 picked up Sylvia Blue and carried her outside, looking dazed as he took in the changes to the courtyard.
"What happened to my home? Why does it look like this now?"
After a while, the atmosphere finally calmed down following my introduction. The courtyard was restored by Entity 001's power. Ma Yongjie stared in awe at Entity 001, while Sylvia Blue grinned at Ma Yongjie.
"Maybe you could make your face look a bit more normal. Do you even remember what you used to look like?"
Sylvia Blue asked. Ma Yongjie shook his head, then after thinking for a while, nodded. He asked Agent Seven to bring out a laptop, and typed 'male model' into the search engine. Soon, countless images appeared.
The scene grew lively as Sylvia Blue and Entity 001 argued over which face Ma Yongjie should choose. Ma Yongjie looked torn, unable to decide.
"I think something ordinary would be fine."
Agent Seven chimed in. Ma Yongjie nodded, and then Entity 001 reached out, staring at a picture of a man in his thirties on the screen—an ordinary, square-faced man with short hair, neither handsome nor ugly.
Gradually, under a flash of bright white light, Ma Yongjie's uneven cheeks began to transform, becoming identical to the face in the picture. He picked up a mirror, checked his reflection, and nodded in satisfaction.
"This ability is really convenient."
"I want to go too."
When Entity 001 learned we were going to a banquet at Peacock Tower tonight, he immediately brightened up.
"You stay home. Sylvia, you keep an eye on him."
I glanced at Sylvia Blue beside me. She wanted to go too, but I didn't want her exposed to these factions any more than necessary. Sylvia's power simply shouldn't exist in this era.
Peacock Tower, the only five-star restaurant on Shifu Avenue, was more than thirty kilometers away from us. Even by car, it would take at least an hour to get there, and that's if traffic was light. If it was congested, it could take two hours or more.
We set out early, just after three o'clock, with Ma Yongjie and Agent Seven. Entity 001 and Sylvia Blue watched us leave, their eyes full of longing and resentment.
"Remember to bring us something tasty when you come back."
I smiled helplessly, and just as I was about to leave, Sylvia Blue called out one last time.
The driver thought we were tourists since we didn't look local, and kept chatting about all sorts of places in City A. Aside from Ma Yongjie chiming in occasionally, Agent Seven and I stayed silent.
Traffic wasn't great. It took us an hour and a half to finally reach Shifu Avenue. After getting out, we headed straight for Peacock Tower.
When we arrived at Peacock Tower, what was usually a bustling street felt eerily deserted. There wasn't a single person in sight—the entire restaurant had been reserved, with bodyguards stationed outside. All around the street, people lurked in the shadows, and inside Peacock Tower, it was nearly empty.
Led by the bodyguards, we went up to the third floor and entered a large private room. Inside was only the man I'd met yesterday—no one else.
"If you're hungry, I can have them bring out the food first. We can talk after we've eaten."
"The person you said I know—who is it, exactly?"
This was what I was desperate to know right now.
"They'll be here soon."
Soon, the table was filled with dishes—a whole spread of fine food. We didn't touch our chopsticks, just waited.
"If they don't show up, I'm leaving. I don't have time to waste here."
It was already six o'clock. I stood up immediately, and just then, the door creaked open.
"Sorry, I was late because of traffic, Zhang Qingyuan."
In that instant, both Ma Yongjie and I stared in shock at the man before us—a man in his fifties, wearing a loose gray trench coat, smiling, with stubble on his chin that hadn't been shaved clean.
"Shi Jian."
I glared coldly at the man before me. His nickname was Old Stone, Director Shi Jian of the Ghost Burial Squad. He'd vanished with the squad during the last incident, yet here he was now.
"Old Stone, didn't I tell you to take the elevated highway? You wouldn't listen, and now you've been stuck in traffic for an hour."
An older woman's voice came from the doorway. We looked over—she was about the same age as Shi Jian, her skin well cared for, barely a wrinkle in sight. Though she was in her fifties, she still carried an air of elegance.
"Got it, senior sister. Next time I'll listen to you."
"You can start eating now. I'm heading out."
The man sitting across from us stood up. Old Stone nodded at him, then he and the woman he called senior sister took seats across from us.
"Well, Zhang Qingyuan, there are some things I can't say out loud. Let's sit down and eat first—I'll introduce you. This is my senior from police academy, Li Xue, and she's the former director of the Ghost Burial Squad."
I sat down with a cold laugh. Shi Jian immediately began pouring drinks and urging us to eat. With a bang, I propped both feet up on the table.
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"Let's skip the pleasantries, Shi Jian. I have no appetite for this meal, and I doubt Zhang Qingyuan would feel any different."
Shi Jian's smile faded. Suddenly, the door swung open and rows of armed bodyguards entered. Among them was the man I'd let go yesterday, glaring at me with rage.
"You—you killed five of our people yesterday. We didn't even..."
"So what?"
Anger surged through me, and I began to float. Instantly, the bodyguards who'd entered were pinned to the walls by baleful energy.
"Even if ten thousand more came today, it wouldn't matter. I'd kill every last one of them."
A hand pressed down on me—Ma Yongjie nodded at me.
"All of you, get out. Clear the area. I told you not to bring so many people. Unless you want to die."
The bodyguards left. I stared silently at Old Stone, who looked ashamed. Li Xue stood up and fixed her gaze on me.
"I'll be blunt. We're here today to invite you to join our department. If you do, it'll make your work much easier in the future. As for that young girl, you'd best stay out of her affairs."
"What if I insist on getting involved?"
With a whoosh, I was already in front of Li Xue, glaring fiercely at her.
"Zhang Qingyuan, will you listen to me first?"
I stared coldly at Shi Jian, then spoke.
"I'm not Zhang Qingyuan. If you have something to say, say it to the real Zhang Qingyuan. Right, Old Ma? Looks like we've found a clue at last. Zhang Qingyuan should be moved to tears, and your old Ghost Burial Squad subordinates too, Shi Jian."
Suddenly, I realized something—a faint tremor of power had reached me. Something had happened at Entity 001's courtyard. I roared, and in an instant, baleful energy violently destroyed everything around us.
Wails echoed; those lurking next door who refused to leave were skewered like meat on the surge of baleful energy. I stared silently at Li Xue.
"Getting angry won't help. That girl isn't there anymore—that was our goal. You..."
I let out a cold laugh, then spoke slowly, word by word.
"No matter how many you send, it won't matter. Even if all thirteen Golden Masks of the Immortality Society came, they wouldn't be a match for the one in that courtyard. Because that place is home to a monster that doesn't belong to this world."
"Let it go, Zhang Qingyuan. Sit down and let's talk this through."
Ma Yongjie called out. I quietly sat down, and Agent Seven smiled and stood up.
"First, tell us—what kind of department are you?"
Li Xue said nothing, her face grave. I noticed a small earpiece in her ear; she pulled it out and angrily threw it to the floor.
"Fine. Everyone we sent has been wiped out. You win, Zhang Qingyuan. But I must remind you: our roots run deep, embedded in the heart, and in the face of this vast power..."
"That's enough, senior sister."
Shi Jian lit a cigarette, shaking his head in helpless resignation.
"Zhang Qingyuan, I'm sorry things turned out this way. There's nothing left to discuss. If you ever get the chance, tell Qingyuan I did things I can't undo. All the Ghost Burial Squad members who vanished—they're dead. Tell him not to waste his time searching anymore. If one day he wants revenge, I'll be here waiting. I'm not going anywhere."
I let out a cold laugh.
"Tell him yourself. I have no obligation to relay your message. And remember—this world isn't yours to control. Pass that on to the Immortality Society, too. I'm not Zhang Qingyuan, and I won't be as gentle as he was."
With that, I turned away, raising a hand.
"What are you going to do?"
"Destroying this city would be easy for me. I don't care how many people die. Remember my words—don't provoke me."
With a thunderous roar, a massive wave of baleful energy shot skyward. In an instant, everything around Peacock Tower, except where we stood, was reduced to ash.
"This is a warning. Stay away, or I won't hold back. I'll erase City A from the map forever!"