Chapter 114 Who are you chasing?

The talismans that Shen Mi ordered from Brother Huo were successfully delivered via the clever bird.

It was small, about the size of a palm, and packed in a sturdy cardboard box. But there was one thing that puzzled Chen Mi: the waterproof bag wrapped around the outermost layer of the box had a line of large characters printed on it: "Content contains happy little toys."

Shen Mi stared at those words and remained silent for a long time.

...Is this for preventing theft, or for preventing social death?

If you wrap it up like this, probably no one will dare to take it by mistake.

Shen Mi chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his forehead.

She sighed and carefully wrapped the suitcase with her thin coat, afraid that passersby might glimpse the shameful words on it.

Back home, she sat on her bed, carefully unpacking the package and meticulously counting the talismans that had been sent. Exactly the number she had ordered. Watching the fine runes shimmer with a pale golden light, Chen Mi felt a strange sense of peace.

Now that we are fully equipped, there is no reason to delay any longer.

She decided to go again today—to stake out Huanlong's place and see if she could find any new clues.

Previously, for safety reasons, she always followed Huanlong by blending into the crowd. By taking advantage of the large number of people and the fact that she was on the street, she could conceal herself and slip away as a passerby even if she was about to be discovered.

Now that she had the talisman, she wasn't so afraid anymore. Besides, time was of the essence; the longer it dragged on, the deeper the night would fall, and if Huanlong made any unusual moves, she feared she would find it increasingly difficult to track him down.

Shen Mi put on the dark coat she had prepared beforehand, pulled the brim of the hat down low, and put on a mask. She carefully folded the talisman and put it in the hidden pocket inside her chest, close to her heart. After confirming that her phone was fully charged, she took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and went out.

The night was as dark as ink, and the streetlights lit up one by one, casting their light on the sidewalk like shattered gems. Chen Mi blended into the crowd, her steps light, seemingly just an ordinary person hurrying home after work.

She followed Huanlong, crossing several main roads, and turning into the residential area where she and Jingyuan used to live. Huanlong's gait was as usual, her back view graceful, and she seemed completely unaware of being followed before entering the residential area.

Shen Mi mingled with other residents in the same community and, taking advantage of the greenery, successfully found her apartment building.

Shen Mi stood by the green belt not far away, using the shade of the big trees for cover. She watched intently as Huan Long walked into the building entrance. The door closed gently behind her, the motion-sensor light in the corridor turned on for a moment, and then slowly went out.

She didn't leave immediately; she simply stood there, quietly gazing at the building. The wind rustled through the leaves, making a soft, whispering sound, and the night seemed exceptionally deep to her.

That building faces Jingyuan's residence across the street.

Shen Mi lowered her gaze, suddenly feeling a sense of absurdity that was exactly what she had expected. She remembered that a few days ago, when she learned that Huanlong actually dared to participate in such a public performance as the Luofu Festival, she froze, almost unable to believe it—that high-profile behavior of making a show of force had kept her awake for several nights.

But now, she felt much calmer.

She has learned to remain calm amidst shock and find balance amidst unease. Perhaps fate simply loves to play such absurd jokes, causing those complex and entangled stories to ultimately end in the simplest and most brutal way.

Shen Mi looked up at the top floor of the building. The night was deep, and the windows were silent, like pairs of closed eyes.

She found a secluded spot next to the green belt, squatted down, and prepared to stay there all night. The wind was a bit chilly, so she pulled her coat tighter. Just as she was wondering if she should find something to sit on, she suddenly noticed the motion-sensor light at the building entrance had turned on again.

Huanlong appeared.

The woman had changed her clothes; she wore a black dress with high boots, and a well-tailored trench coat over it. Her makeup was more refined than before, with a darker lip color, and her hair curled with a soft sheen. She carried a small bag in one hand, and looked... completely ready to go on a date.

Shen Mi paused for a few seconds, inwardly cursing:

—Isn't that a bit too much?

She watched his hazy figure disappear into the distance under the streetlights, a strange and inexplicable mix of emotions welling up inside her.

A villainous character is living more freely than the "protagonist." She has no guilty conscience, no pretense of nervousness, and can even go on a date at this critical moment.

Shen Mi thought to herself: How come she seems to be living a more comfortable life than I am? Not only is she not afraid of others discovering that she is an imposter, but she has also completely integrated into the role she is playing.

Huanlong, the cosplay world is truly missing out on a talent without you.

But who does Huanlong want to see?

Shen Mi lowered his body and waited until Huan Long had walked a few steps away before quietly following him.

As night deepened, the night market at Changletian was so lively it was almost overflowing with noise. The vendors' cries, mingled with the aroma of cooking oil and sweet wine, layered into the air, making it somewhat cloying.

Shen Mi hid in front of the barbecue stall, fanning away the thick smoke rolling towards him. In the distance, he saw Huan Long parked at the intersection not far away, looking relaxed, with even a hint of expectant smile on his lips.

She seemed to be waiting for someone.

Not long after, a clear female voice rang out, and then a tall, slender figure in emerald green stepped into the light.

That is precisely—flying through the air.

Shen Mi's heart tightened.

Suddenly, she understood why Huanlong had dressed up so elegantly tonight. She had been in Luofu for some time now, and in order to continue her disguise for a long time, it was time to find someone who was very familiar with Tingyun to test whether she could pass the test.

And this person was none other than Yu Kong, who had watched Ting Yun grow up. Shen Mi, observing their conversation, felt that Huan Long had passed the test.

Yu Kong patted Huan Long's shoulder with a smile, his tone as natural as if they were old friends reunited. Huan Long smiled back, her expression gentle yet somewhat nonchalant, as if they were chatting about something private and lighthearted. They walked side by side toward the night market, their steps in sync, chatting and laughing from time to time. Huan Long even reached out and linked arms with Yu Kong, appearing quite intimate.

Shen Mi followed in the crowd, his footsteps almost disappearing into the background.

The bright lights of the night market swayed on the ground. She hid in the crowd, straining her ears to try and catch a word, but the bustling night market drowned out everything in its noise.

Yu Kong walked up to the stall, smiled and said a few words to the stall owner, then casually rubbed Ting Yun's fox ears. She gave a few instructions in a light tone, then turned and walked towards another stall, clearly to buy something.

Huanlong remained standing in the same spot, looking down and fiddling with the ornament on her wrist. Her movements seemed casual, yet they conveyed a sense of waiting.

Just then, a figure emerged from the bustling crowd.

The man wore a crooked hat, very ordinary clothes, and carried a worn-out wine jug. His steps were unsteady, and from behind, he looked like an ordinary drunkard. But for some reason, Huanlong's expression suddenly changed—the casual smile vanished instantly, replaced by the seriousness of a leader.

As the "drunkard" brushed past, he slightly tilted his head, his lips seemed to twitch, and he muttered something under his breath.

Shen Mi was too far away to hear anything. She held her breath, quietly changed her angle, and pressed her body almost against the wooden pillar that provided cover, her eyes fixed on the interaction between the two, not daring to blink.

Huanlong's lips parted slightly, as if she were giving instructions. Then she immediately changed her expression, as if she had finished explaining what she needed to say. She switched back to her "after being hit on by a drunkard" look, covering her nose with disgust, as if she had smelled some pungent alcohol odor, complaining to Yu Kong who was about to return.

In just a few seconds, the man received the next instruction, turned around and left, and the crowd swallowed him up again.

The moment she turned around, the "drunkard's" face came into Shen Mi's view, and her breath hitched.

When Yu Kong handed Huan Long the sweet soup that Ting Yun had been longing for, Huan Long had already regained her smile, took it, and casually took a sip. The two continued strolling through the crowd, disappearing side by side into the depths of the night.

Shen Mi stared in the direction the "drunkard" had left, a slight tightness in his chest.

She felt like she'd seen that person somewhere before.

That sense of familiarity was not an illusion, but rather like a scratch blurred by time, so profound that it could not be ignored.

She hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and chased after the drunk man in the direction he had disappeared.

Shen Mi followed the direction the person was heading. The noise of the night market gradually faded behind her, and the light dimmed little by little.

At first, the crowd was sparse and there were fewer lanterns at the stalls, but as you walked further, the surrounding light seemed to be swallowed up, and even the air was covered with a layer of gray fog.

Her heart tightened, but she still refused to stop. The feeling of "almost catching up" was so clear, as if just one more step forward would unravel all the mysteries.

However, the next moment—

"Chen Mi!"

Someone grabbed her wrist with such force that she almost stumbled. A familiar presence wafted from the darkness, and she looked up sharply to see Ren's face appear in the shadows.

His expression was gloomy, and the bloodshot eyes were especially noticeable in the dim light.

"What are you doing?" His voice was low and hoarse, filled with suppressed anger. "You almost fell off the building and didn't even realize it?!"

Shen Mi froze, her gaze shifting downwards—the "path" beneath her feet was actually a half-suspended wooden plank, with bottomless darkness beneath it. Only then did she realize that she had reached the edge of Chang Le Tian.

The blade yanked her back sharply, the force almost tearing her arm off. The suspended wooden plank trembled slightly in the wind, the air currents rising from the bottom of the abyss ruffling her hair and gradually bringing her back to her senses.

It was at that moment that she truly felt a sense of lingering fear.

—She was just one step away from falling into that lightless abyss, leaving not even a trace of her remains.

"What are you doing?!" Ren questioned in a low voice. His tone was cold and sharp, yet a suppressed tremor was faintly revealed.

Shen Mi's lips moved slightly, but no sound came out. Her mind was still sluggish, her thoughts like water stirred by the wind, floating and sinking uncertainly, even the image of that "drunkard" from before seemed to have been blown away by the night wind.

Ren stared at her for a long time, as if to confirm whether she was fully awake, before slowly letting go of her hand.

“This is a common trick used by the fox-people,” he said in a deep, steady voice, “often used to conceal their tracks and mislead others.”

The night breeze passed between the two, its coolness mingling with the silence.

Shen Mi raised his head and met those unfathomable eyes. His heart tightened inexplicably, pounding so hard it almost erratically—an ominous premonition was creeping into his heart.

Blade's gaze turned cold, his tone carrying an almost imperceptible pressure: "Chen Mi, are you chasing after someone?"

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Author's Note: [Pigeon][Pigeon][Pigeon][Pigeon] I'm late today.