Li Hao went to bed very late that night. He exercised extreme caution even in sleepâPanther was assigned to watch the door, the vortex gun laid right next his hand. There was no room for concern about accidental discharge; those driven to desperation would try anything.
Thankfully, the night passed without incident.
Perhaps they were also awaiting the arrival of the rains.
â¦â¦
July 13, 1730.
Yesterdayâs upheaval seemed but a dream. Openlight was as quiet as usual; no one paid attention to last nightâs disturbances from the street next door.
Or perhaps some noticed, but didnât think much of it.
Morning.
Li Hao woke up, washed his face and brushed his teeth, boiled a cup of water and placed the jade sword inside.
A few moments later when the water was cooler, he took a sip. A frown immediately creased his brows.
âThereâs less starry energy this time.â The frown deepened with thought. Compared to yesterday, the water today did seem to contain less starlight. âItâs not a problem if itâs only a little less, the key thing is if this mysterious energy can be replenishedâ¦â
That was what he was most concerned about. Did the jade swordâs energy come from previously formed reserves, or was a certain time interval required between each immersion? If it could recharge, then he had an unending cornucopia!
As for the stone blade, Li Hao didnât disturb it for now. He hadnât taken it out last night due to fear of being followed.
Feeling the warm current circulate through his body after drinking the water, Li Hao swiftly practiced the ape style. Even if it proved ineffective against the scarlet shadow, improving it was always a good thing. He wouldnât let this chance pass him by.
He mused as he trainedâwas it better to steep the jade sword multiple times throughout the day, or just once a day? What was the difference between each brew?
All of this required further experimentation.
He darted adroitly around the room, jumping up and down like a monkey. This time, he practiced fewer times than the night before. Li Hao stopped after the third consecutive runthrough. Although he had stamina to spare, the starry energy outside his body was fully dispersed. This was why he stopped.
What if the scarlet shadow or other supernaturals could also see this energy?
If so, he was a walking billboard. He could already see that Liu Long and the others possessed a faint sheen over their bodies. There was nothing about that aspect of their abilities that they could hide from him.
Iâve met Liu Long before, but didnât discover anything until last nightâ¦
Was it his eyes that couldnât see Liu Longâs glow before, or had the man changed recently? Or was the sword water the reason for his newfound vision?
He knew far too little about his developing circumstances.
âThe world of supernaturals!â Li Hao washed up again and changed into something much more refreshing.
Pantherâs tail wagged eagerly when he poured the rest of the water into the dogâs food bowl. It swiftly licked the bowl dry and looked at Li Hao for more. Meanwhile, the young man sucked in a sharp breath when he studied the little black dog.
âDamn!â The starlight around the dog seemed to be denser than the light around Li Hao. Was this more diffusion and less absorption, or was it the other way around? Did the dog absorb so much that it caused starry overflow?
Li Hao had no idea!
Heâd rather think it was leakage from the dog being unable to absorb it all. Otherwise, the dog trounced him in every aspect when it came to mysterious powers!
âArf arf!â Panther seemed to be indicating for another cup.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Li Hao rubbed its head with a smile. âThatâs it! You can have some next time. Iâm going to work now, so watch over the house while Iâm gone. Keep an eye on anyone who comes. Remember their scent and follow them for a bit if you can, but donât go too far.â
He was quite worried that someone would sneak into his home when he was gone. He wore the jade sword on him and there was nothing else valuable in the house. Granted, the stone blade from last night was also a treasure, but that wasnât at risk of being discovered. It was too bulky to be carried around, yet who would pay attention to a stone in the dog den beneath the staircase?
There was a possibility that passersby would take itâbut really, who would take a rock from a dogâs hideout?
Not even street sweepers would bother with Panthâs bed unless they were bored out of their minds. In conclusion, nowhere was safer than the dogâs den.
Panther would know and locate it if it really did get lost. That was far better than keeping it on him. The jade sword was a pendant, so that was fine. But even the biggest idiot would know something was afoot if the young man carried a rock around.
âArf!â Panth nodded.
It really does understand! Dogâs getting way smarter. Li Hao rose to his feet and walked downstairs.
â¦â¦
Li Hao didnât need to say a word at his regular breakfast spot outside Openlight for the stall owner to hand him several large meat buns and a cup of soy milk. After dropping appropriate payment into the change box, the young man leisurely took his bike to the Inspectorate.
The black car from yesterday was unexpectedly absent. Who knew if itâd given up the chase or resolved to act with more prudence after the events of last night?
Whatever it was, he didnât feel anyone following him all the way to work.
â¦â¦
Silver City Inspectorate. Department of Classified Affairs.
Li Hao was the first to arrive today. As per usual, people streamed in after he quickly cleaned the common areas and boiled some water. Since Chen Na was just as short-tenured as him, she came early as well.
It was another blazing hot day. The fashionable inspector was a bit sleepy this morningâpossibly the result of a poor nightâs sleep. She yawned widely and grumbled when she saw Li Hao, âHey Li Hao, this isnât how we do things! How come you didnât take me with you when you investigated a case last night?â
âYou know about that?â
âNo duh!â Chen Na yawned. âOf course I do, the law enforcement team mobilized last night!â
Sheâd naturally learned of what happened given the degree of disturbance. Chen Na swung her head back and forth to clear the cobwebs. âDid you bump into the killer?â
âNope.â Li Hao shook his head. âI just felt that someone was following me.â
âHow exciting!â Curiosity seized Chen Na as sheâd never been part of a major case. âThen the files you showed me before really were murders?â
Li Hao inclined his head. âMore likely than not.â
âThen this is going to be a huge deed of distinction!â The young woman grew more animated. âLi Hao, credit will go to you first if we ferret out the person behind it all. This case might promote you to a second rank inspector!â
She was envious, but more so regretful that Li Hao could participate in a major case. Chen Na wasnât the type to like twiddling her thumbs on the sidelines.
âWe donât even have any clues yet,â Li Hao replied noncommittally.
Chen Na thought for a bit, then whispered, âDidnât we plan on making a trip to my family home tomorrow? Are we still going? If we go, will we be followed? I say, if we catch the killer by working together, will I get to share the credit as well?â
Theyâd agreed yesterday to visit Chen Naâs ancestral home and ask about the folk song. Unfortunately, unwanted and dangerous attention swiftly locked onto Li Haoâeven the scarlet shadow had appeared! Therefore, he hesitated over their proposed course of action.
He flicked a glance at his colleague and said, âForget it, weâre not going anymore. Itâs too dangerous since weâre both rookies. We should lay low for a bit.â
He didnât want to drag Chen Na into this; anything involving the supernatural field was too hazardous. As for the folk song, he was in no hurry to get to the bottom of that. There was much more clarity on that situation now, he could look into it after the scarlet shadow was eliminated.
âHuh? Weâre not going anymore?â Chen Naâs face fell, she really wanted to participate in a major case! âCâmon, Li Hao, letâs go! Whatâs there to be afraid of? We can tell the law enforcement team if youâre that worried. Think about it, we can be bait and maybe get the killer!â
There was obviously certain risk at play, but all they needed to do was to tell the enforcers, no?
âLetâs wait and see!â
More people filtered into the area as they conversedâquite a few of them knew whatâd occurred last night. Big sis Yu came in blustering, âNow donât lose your marbles, Little Hao! Stay far away from dangerous cases like those. Classified Affairs is a place of light workload, low danger, and high pay. Where else can you go to find such a good job? Be a good lad and stay in this department, donât get involved in the enforcement teamâs affairs!â
âThatâs right, Little Hao, listen to your ole brother here as well. Donât stick your nose into these things. Thereâs nothing in it for you, to say nothing of the danger.â
ââ¦â¦â
The crowd was enormously concerned about one of their youngest and offered a string of warnings. Most were rusty with investigations after being stationed at Classified Affairs for such a long time. Likely no one was willing to take an opportunity to join the front lines.
Li Hao neither refuted nor debated anyone. He kept nodding with a pleasant look on his face.
Just look at him, so unfortunate as to be unwillingly dragged into all of this!
â¦â¦
The group didnât stop until Wang Jie walked through the front doors.
âLi Hao, in my office!â The department head called out before heading in.
Li Hao waited for a moment before following his supervisor.
â¦â¦
Inside the office.
Wang Jie carefully looked Li Hao over and smiled, pressing his hands down. âSit!â
Li Hao gingerly sat down.
âDonât be so reserved,â Wang Jie chuckled. âYou wonât have an easy time of things in the enforcement team if youâre so uptight.â
The young man raised his head.
âThe law enforcement team called me last night and said they want to transfer you over. Liu Long seldomly asks for people and he did it himself this time. I canât say how rare this is and it means that he places a lot of importance on the request! Looks like youâve entered his line of sight because of the self-immolation cases, Li Hao! What do you think?â
In all honesty, Wang Jie couldnât refuse. He also felt that Li Hao wouldn't be able to refuse either. Of course, if the young manâs teacher was as close to Li Hao as people said he was, then he would still be able to refuse if he really wanted to.
Liu Long of the law enforcement team was much higher ranked than Wang Jieâhe truly held the reins of power!
Hence, Wang Jie wanted to hear Li Haoâs thoughts about the matter.
The young man thought for a bit and lowered his head. âSir, I want to go! Classified Affairs is great and I really like it here, but you know I joined the Inspectorate for one reason⦠to get revenge for my friend!â