In the warehouse littered with filth and debris, Qiao Muyi brushed her fingertips over the dark red traces on the dirty white walls, as strands of intelligence gradually took shape before her eyes.

She slowly recalled that this was the site where a follower of the Demon King had been executed.

Qiao Muyi had been very attentive to cases involving the Demon King's Followers, but she hadn't anticipated at the time that it would involve her.

She remembered a male high school student was killed here by someone from Martial Soul Hall. This student had already killed over thirty ordinary people. Before dying, he shouted a prophecy, "On the day of the Demon King's Descent, all traitors shall perish," and then committed suicide in an assault.

This was the most common way Demon King's Followers met their end; it was rarer for them to self-destruct after being subdued. This summarized the brief intelligence Qiao Muyi had received from the Tactical Bureau. However, after investigating the scene with her "Detective's Eye," she also had a general understanding of the male high school student: about 164 cm tall, short, thin, and slightly hunchbacked.

This was a fairly common profile for teenagers in Flourishing Sakura. His family was quite ordinary too. But why did he suddenly gain power? And with that power, how did he find the courage to kill over thirty of his own people?

Killing is not a simple matter, especially for people in a peaceful era; many cannot even face a corpse without feeling fear. People with empathy suffer different degrees of discomfort watching others in pain—they imagine themselves in the other's place suffering. This is why some viewers feel fear, sweaty palms, and an accelerated heartbeat when watching extreme sports videos—they put themselves in the shoes of the person in the video.

Flourishing Sakura certainly had its share of serial killers, but Qiao Muyi didn't believe this high school student happened to be one of those antisocial individuals. Considering his fanatical faith in the Demon King, Qiao Muyi inclined toward the theory that he was infected by an unknown emotional contagion.

This emotion, coupled with newfound strength, made him physically and mentally powerful. His body could rival a Transcendent from Martial Soul Hall, and his spirit was tenacious enough to fearlessly fight to the death with absolute clarity of mind...

It sounded very much like the power of the Demon King indeed.

Qiao Muyi gave a wry smile. Unfortunately, she didn't possess such abilities—her own Demon King was very 'selfish,' unilaterally plundering the negative emotions of all beings to fatten itself up. It certainly didn't enhance others' abilities.

After finishing her inspection, Qiao Muyi turned off the flashlight on her phone and quietly walked out.

No sooner had she stepped out than she saw Ren Suo outside the police line. The Metropolitan Police Department had also set up a cordon there. Ren Suo was softly stroking a girl's head with his right hand, which emitted a faint green light, as he combed through her hair.

Qiao Muyi raised an eyebrow at the sight. She walked over and saw that Ren Suo had also conveniently dragged the body—which she had killed and left in the middle of the road—into a dark spot. So, she casually flicked a white flame at it.

This was a third-turn flame spell she had strengthened, almost comparable to incinerator fire that melted bones. In no time at all, the body was incinerated, reduced to ashes. Qiao Muyi felt nothing. This middle-aged man's actions are so practiced and perverse, he must be a habitual Transcendent offender. Killing him cleanly also prevents environmental pollution and counts as an outstanding contribution to purifying Flourishing Sakura's population.

As Deputy Director of the Lian River Countermeasure Bureau, she might not have the highest cultivation level in Lian River compared to Dong Chengling. However, in actual combat, she, Yu Kuangtu, and Bai Ji were the strongest. Their trio consisted of third-turn Cultivators who had all experienced bloody battles.

The girl in Ren Suo's arms shivered at the scene. She hurriedly stood up, bowed to Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi, and said, "I am Ayane Ogino. Thank you both for your help. If it weren't for you, I might be..."

With a wave of her hand, Qiao Muyi dispersed the white smoke, raising a cold wind that blew the ashes into a nearby drain.

A professional indeed! Ren Suo couldn't help but comment inwardly, seeing Qiao Muyi kill and destroy evidence in such a skillful, interconnected manner.

Qiao Muyi looked at Lingyin and said, "I'll spare you the boring platitudes. We are tourists who came to visit Tokyo and haven't found a place to stay yet. Having killed this villain for you, I'm not sure what to do next. Could you help us find somewhere to stay and take shelter for a few days?"

Ayane Ogino was slightly taken aback but then delighted—she had been worrying about how to close the distance with him, and the reason had just presented itself.

Even if that were not the case, just the fact that this Transcendent girl had helped her kill the pervert and even cleanly disposed of the evidence was enough for Ayane Ogino not to refuse her request.

Besides, repaying a favor is only right. They had practically saved Lingyin's life, and now all she needed to provide them was a place to stay, which seemed like a great deal indeed.

She turned, hugged Ren Suo's arm, and said very earnestly, "No problem, there's an empty room at my place where you two can stay. However, I live in Saitama Sakado, which is a bit far from Tokyo..."

"It's okay," Qiao Muyi said. "Sakado is only about forty minutes from Ikebukuro on the Tobu Tojo Line."

She saw Lingyin clinging completely to Ren Suo, her posture like that of lovers—the kind who are sickeningly sweet in the throes of new romance. Qiao Muyi narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "My friend here is a bit shy, and he also doesn't speak Japanese very well. How about..."

Doesn't speak Japanese? Is he from Mysterious Country then?

However, Lingyin's heart felt no disappointment. Instead, she resolved to use every trick in the book to keep this man—she never minded being proactive in pursuing a partner.

In fact, among the couples she knew, about half had the woman take the initiative, and half the man. After all, many people met at social gatherings, and if they came across someone they liked, they would naturally make a move. Otherwise, the good ones would be snatched away.

"I felt an instant connection with him and wanted to be his friend. And right now, I'm still a bit scared. I can only feel at ease when I'm hugging your friend. His scent and voice give me a great sense of security. Please, let me walk with him for the time being."

Ren Suo blinked, unable to understand Japanese. He could only guess the content of their conversation by recalling the plot, and asked, "What are you talking about?"

Qiao Muyi glanced at him and said, "She says you haven't bathed and you smell a bit rank."

Ren Suo stammered, aghast, "I didn't wet my pants!"

Qiao Muyi didn't bother to correct his specific interpretation of 'rank,' merely snorted coldly and urged Lingyin to lead the way. Ren Suo didn't mind—he knew that Qiao Muyi's mood had dipped slightly.

While playing the game, Ren Suo had thought Young Master Mu's mood drop was due to ruining his "Drawing Sword to Save People" plan. But, translated into reality, Ren Suo noticed that the person they saved was a girl, and Qiao Muyi was also a girl. How would they perform "Drawing Sword to Save People"?

Therefore, in the plot, the one who could really draw his sword to save someone was Ren Suo!

If Ren Suo had truly chosen the traditional healing method and drawn his sword to save someone, Qiao Muyi's mood would have definitely dropped significantly. The reason wasn't hard to understand: I'm on the run, and you're off to the side romancing some girl and warming her bed?

This taunt was as effective as a group of upperclassmen lounging in the shade with cantaloupes and sodas while freshmen toiled under the scorching sun during military training. The upperclassmen might even bring handheld consoles to play "Beach Volleyball" and "Dead or Alive" right there. Naturally, the freshmen would curse for a bald dean to appear and obliterate the GPAs of these idiotic seniors.

But since Ren Suo had already treated the girl with magic, and Qiao Muyi was still somewhat upset, Ren Suo let it slide. It would increase again soon anyway.

They had walked for over ten minutes from a place with neither village ahead nor shop behind, finally reaching Hyakudai Station. They swiped their cards to enter the subway on the Yurakucho Line and caught one of the last trains.

There weren't many passengers on the train. After they changed to the Tobu Tojo Line at Wako-shi Station, the number of passengers dwindled even further—because by now, they were leaving central Tokyo and venturing into the neighboring Saitama Prefecture.

Like all international megacities, housing prices in Tokyo were exorbitantly high. Many salaried workers chose not to rent or buy homes within the 23 wards of Tokyo but to live in the surrounding areas to save money, even if it meant longer commutes.

Bordering Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture was a popular choice for residence, with many people willing to commute an hour to work in Tokyo. Ayane Ogino's choice to live in Saitama Sakuho District fit her salary level perfectly.

By the time the trio got off at their station, it was past ten o'clock.

Having spent the whole day wandering from Shinjuku to Adachi, Ren Suo stepped out of Sakuho Station. He found himself facing rows of residences with a distinctly rural vibe, a sight quite unfamiliar to him. Compared to Tokyo, Sakuho District was practically a backwater. Even in this densely populated area near the subway station, there were no stores to be seen, suggesting no significant commercial district nearby. The largest distribution centers for goods were likely just the local Lawson or 7-Eleven convenience stores.

As they passed a convenience store, Qiao Muyi suddenly ducked in and came out with a black bag.

Lingyin's place was a mere six-minute walk from the subway, nestled within a five-story residential building—a height quite common in the area.

Without an elevator, all three of them tiptoed up the stairs.

However, before entering, Lingyin asked them to wait a moment, then rushed inside to tidy up quickly. It seemed she, too, was a typical girl who appeared pristine in public but was messy in private. Ren Suo used to be the same, looking all neat when going out, but turning into a total slob at home.

Therefore, Cloning Techniques could greatly improve one's quality of life and increase happiness. Besides taking on various chores such as those of a cleaner, Ren Suo planned to develop additional features for his clones like massage machines and footbaths...

A few minutes later, Lingyin emerged, blushing, and invited the two of them inside. Her home was a standard Japanese two-room apartment; the living room was covered with tatami mats, and shoes had to be removed upon entering.

Ren Suo hurried to find a power outlet to charge his phone. Watching the battery icon at the top right corner of the screen being filled with green lightning energy, Ren Suo felt as if his lifeline was being extended. Heaven knows how he had survived the boredom during the subway ride by looking at Japanese advertisements in the train.

After chatting with Lingyin for a few moments, Qiao Muyi said, "Xiao Suo, I'm off to bathe."

"Oh, Young Master, take your time."

Qiao Muyi gave Ren Suo a glare, glanced at Lingyin, and thought that with the language barrier, they probably wouldn't have much to talk about, so she went to bathe feeling reassured.

Ren Suo, leaning against a wall and playing with his phone, noticed Lingyin step out of her room, having changed her clothes. She opened the fridge to grab a beer, then took out two large cups from the cupboard. She poured two beers at the coffee table and waved Ren Suo over.

Feeling a bit thirsty himself, Ren Suo went over and sat down cross-legged, politely saying, "Thank you." He picked up his large cup, and as Lingyin gestured for a toast, he raised his cup to clink with hers.

Lingyin, drawing her right arm inward in a graceful arc, clinked glasses with Ren Suo, her posture exuding refinement. At the same time, she subtly showcased her figure. She had already removed her sweater and changed into a white lace blouse with cutouts, accentuating her collarbones and revealing three alluring areas: her smooth neck, delicate wrists, and the tantalizing expanse of her upper thighs.

After taking a hearty sip, Lingyin set down her drink, rested her chin on her hand, and tilted her head slightly to the left by 8 degrees, gazing into Ren Suo's eyes with an adoring look!

The cute killer move, 'Heartbeat 8 Degrees'! An 8-degree tilt is said to be a magical angle that can boost cuteness by 20%, and every guy she had locked eyes with at a social gathering would shyly turn their heads away.

Ayane Ogino was a very proactive girl. The reason she had been single was that she hadn't found someone who made her heart race, but once she spotted her destined partner, she'd pull out every boy-slaying move she had learned and practiced for an all-out assault!

Ren Suo, who had just finished his beer in one gulp, noticed Lingyin's eyes fixed on him without blinking. He paused, then propped his head up and tilted it slightly to the right by 8 degrees to meet her gaze.

Ignoring my advance and even thinking of counterattacking?

This was the first time Lingyin had encountered such a situation. Should she keep the eye contact or shyly look away?

However, as soon as she met Ren Suo's serious gaze, she felt her heart tremble and couldn't help but turn away, avoiding his stare.

Then she heard Ren Suo chuckle and say, "I WIN!"

Lingyin blinked in confusion. Did he think she was playing a 'staring game' where the first person to turn their head or blink loses? Didn't you see how cute I was just now? Weren't you captivated? You thought it was some sort of game? Yet, that's also kind of adorable.

Lingyin didn't launch another attack and silently finished her beer. Then she hummed softly before turning her head and rapidly closing the distance towards Ren Suo at Mach speed!

The cute killer move, 'Love Closeness'! When a boy turns to see a beautiful girl suddenly appearing right in front of him, and so close, it almost invariably sets his heart racing and his imagination running wild.

However, as Lingyin edged closer, she realized that Ren Suo hadn't turned his head at all but was intently focused on his phone, merely humming through his nose in response to her call.

The beautiful girl is calling you, and you won't even turn your head!? And how long is that charging cable for your phone? It's almost two meters! Is it really okay to play on your phone while it's charging?

For the first time, Lingyin doubted her judgment of her own attractiveness. Was she not the beautiful girl she thought she was? But that couldn't be. Since middle school, she had always been among the cutest girls in her class, and the suitors expressing interest in her could have nearly filled Toshimaen. Although Lingyin disliked using such evidence, the fact that even that Transcendent maniac had made a move on her proved her charm. Besides, Xiao Suo was from the Mysterious Country. Aesthetic standards are pretty much the same across East Asia, so there shouldn't be any difference in taste.

At that moment, the sound of the bathroom door opening was heard, and Lingyin reluctantly sat back down.

Although 'Young Master Mu' had said that she and 'Xiao Suo' were just ordinary friends, Lingyin keenly sensed her displeasure at her approach to Xiao Suo. Therefore, she didn't dare to boldly challenge 'Young Master Mu's' wrath—after all, 'Young Master Mu' was an expert in a one-stop service of killing, arson, and erasing all traces of a crime.

But Lingyin wasn't afraid. As long as Xiao Suo fell for her, Young Master Mu would have no choice but to sulkily accept defeat, right?

Qiao Muyi came out and saw the two of them around the round table as if nothing had happened, so she took out a packet of something from her plastic bag and tossed it to Ren Suo. "Go take a shower."

Ren Suo caught it and found it was a pack of men's underwear sold in convenience stores.

He and Qiao Muyi both hailed from the south; they could make do without changing outerwear, but underwear had to be changed daily—no particular reason, just habit.

Then, Qiao Muyi remembered something and asked, "By the way, Lingyin mentioned there is only a master bedroom and a secondary bedroom here. Xiao Suo, how do you think we should allocate them?"

Without a second thought, Ren Suo said, "Of course, Lingyin gets one room, Young Master Mu gets another, and I'll sleep in the living room!"

Qiao Muyi glanced at Ren Suo and asked, "Really? Really? But you could also sleep with us. You see, Lingyin seems very keen on sleeping with you, and as for me, if you beg me, maybe I'll agree too?"

Ren Suo thought to himself, Hehehe, all these little plans are already noted in 'Xiao Suo's Secret Diary.' If I sleep with Lingyin, you'll get angry; if I sleep with you, you'll be embarrassed and angry—neither is a good thing. So he said righteously, "That won't do! Caution is paramount when we're out. We're strangers in this place, and I need to stand guard in the living room. How could I brazenly fight you ladies over a bed?"

"You're really going to sleep in the living room? Not going to cozy up with us?" Qiao Muyi said.

Ren Suo decisively shook his head. "Mmm, I love sleeping in the living room the most!"

"Then you can sleep in the living room." Qiao Muyi glanced at him and then turned to chat with Lingyin. As long as Ren Suo didn't foolishly request to sleep with Lingyin, Qiao Muyi would let him be.

What if he asks to sleep with me? Qiao Muyi felt a mix of relief and slight regret in her heart. Normally, Ren Suo was quite silly, but this time he suddenly became sensible and immediately asked to sleep in the living room, giving Qiao Muyi no reason to lose her temper.

There was no conversation that night; everyone was quite tired. Lingyin helped tidy up the guest bedroom and provided Ren Suo with pillows and blankets. After they all bathed and freshened up, they turned off the lights and rested.

Qiao Muyi lay in bed, recalling the events of the day.

Ren Suo's trust.

Ren Suo's help.

Ren Suo's smile.

Courage and happiness gradually filled her heart. With these beautiful feelings, she began to perform a special secret technique to purify the negative emotions that were suffocating her...

「The next day.」

Early in the morning, Lingyin had to go to work at Toshimaen amusement park, as she was scheduled for the morning shift. She had actually overslept—the previous night's events and the people she encountered had given her so much stimulation that she forgot she still had to go to work in reality.

She left the keys for the two of them and hurriedly said goodbye before leaving. After Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi finished washing up, they started their investigation trip for the day.

"To this place?" Qiao Muyi looked at the spot Ren Suo had marked on the mobile map and asked with a hint of suspicion.

"Exactly, this is where we're going. You have to trust my intuition," Ren Suo said confidently.

Qiao Muyi looked at the map; the place Ren Suo was pointing at... was not an investigation site at all, but a tourist attraction!

"Why are we going there? Shouldn't we be investigating clues as soon as possible?" Qiao Muyi asked.

Ren Suo shook his head. "We need to balance work with rest. We've made significant progress investigating two places continuously yesterday. If we push too hard, you'll break down. Let's enjoy ourselves during the day to unwind, and we can continue the investigation at night."

Although Ren Suo's words made little sense, Qiao Muyi had sensed last night that creating more joyful memories could indeed speed up the purification of her negative emotions, so she readily accepted the suggestion.

They took a train from Sakuho Station. Since it was a workday, the train was packed with commuters heading to Tokyo early in the morning, leaving Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi no choice but to stand in a corner.

At the next station, many more commuters flooded in, instantly making the train carriages even more crowded. It turned out that those sardine-can-like train scenes from the cartoons really did exist.

However, Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi had boarded early, securing a relatively good corner spot. Qiao Muyi had her back to the train wall, with Ren Suo facing her, effectively shielding her from the crush of passengers. After all, a crowd of office workers was no match for a Third-turn Cultivator, even one of Ren Suo's modest strength.

Qiao Muyi watched Ren Suo, who was slightly taller than her, protect her from the crowd. She also remembered how he had considered her mental health today, suggesting a day out at a tourist spot to relax. Her heart softened, and she said in a low voice, "We'll spend quite some time commuting, so let me teach you a bit of Japanese. Take out your phone, and I'll help you find study materials."

"There are other people on the train, is that okay?" Ren Suo asked.

"It's fine." Qiao Muyi slipped her arm around Ren Suo's waist, pulling him closer. She looked up into his eyes and said, "Pay close attention and listen..."

In the crowded carriage, the two of them were very close. Moreover, to teach in a low voice, Ren Suo had to lean in slightly to listen closely to Qiao Muyi's voice.

Qiao Muyi's orchid-soft breath tickled Ren Suo's neck. When their eyes met, he noticed that her charming, fox-like eyes, though sparkling with laughter, also held a heart-stirring gentleness and seriousness that he found captivating.

Ren Suo couldn't help but turn his head away, avoiding Qiao Muyi's gaze.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.