Chapter 428 Memorial Site

In the past, I also hid my identity as a superpowered person, which was based on my lack of understanding of the strange world and my suspicion that my mysterious superpowers might disappear at any time.

Even so, I set a time limit for myself. If I hadn't achieved anything in the field of ghost story investigation before graduating from university, I would not hesitate to expose my superpowers to attract the attention of official organizations.

Zhu Shi is the complete opposite of me. She understands the supernatural world and the source of her power, and there's no rule in the witcher community that forbids revealing one's true identity to the general public. Despite this, she is still reluctant to expose her true identity.

Did she feel that revealing her immense power would attract uncomfortable looks from her friends, or did she feel that letting her friends know that she was doing "bloody and ruthless" work in another world would disrupt her originally warm and relaxed daily relationships? Although I have never built such relationships and it is difficult for me to emotionally empathize with her, I can still imagine and reason.

I won't criticize Zhu Shi's choice, but it might be necessary to remind her a thing or two: "In the future, if you really want to keep your friends away from disaster, simply giving them a few amulets won't be enough. Xiao Qiao has already entered this world, so you'd better be honest with her about your situation; that would be more convenient."

"To put it another way, I'm afraid Xiao Qiao has already realized your secret to some extent. Your fiancé is me, a superpowered person who understands the strange world, and you once gave her a truly useful talisman—even if she didn't see through you before because of her preconceived notions, she probably won't be like that now."

"From some of the judgments she made after encountering the ghost story, it can be seen that she is just easily swayed by negative emotions in terms of personality, but in fact she has a lot of ideas in her mind."

Zhu Shi let out a breath and said, "I understand. I will find a time to tell her the truth later, and I will also try to teach her the basic common sense of the strange world. It would be best to recommend her to Luoshan Academy... Even if she cannot master the power of demon hunting, at least she will not be easily disturbed by strange things during her four years of study at the academy."

Judging from my observation, it's probably very difficult for Junior Qiao to become a Witcher. She lacks the talent. At best, she'll become an agent in Luoshan, or a Grey Citizen.

In ancient times, when the supernatural and the common world coexisted, a few ordinary people, though not qualified to become witchers, gained knowledge of the supernatural world through unexpected events. They were like lost souls caught between black and white, and were therefore called "Greys." If they were willing to serve the wandering patrols or the Impermanent Ones of Mount Luo, they could become underworld messengers (an ancient term for agents).

In the hierarchical system of formation, existence, decay, and emptiness, they correspond to the level of "emptiness".

"It's good that you know what you're doing," I said. "So what are you going to do tomorrow? Are you also planning to come with us to the abandoned construction site?"

"With you by Xiao Qiao's side, that's enough. I plan to lie in wait on the periphery and see if I can observe any more clues."

Zhu Shixian pointed to his eyes and continued, "In addition, I also need to report this incident to Wuchang, who is in charge of Xianshui City. According to Xiao Qiao's statement, the dozen or so 'victims' brought by that mysterious man may be distributed throughout Xianshui City, and even several surrounding cities have been affected."

"Isn't that you, the one in charge of Xianshui City?" I asked, surprised.

“I’m only responsible for patrolling the area around Xianshui University. I have to go to school every day, how could I possibly be in charge of the security of the entire city?” Zhu Shi said. “And that Wuchang isn’t just in charge of Xianshui City either. He’s in charge of several surrounding cities, he’s a Wuchang of a certain rank. But he should be transferred away soon.”

"Why is that?" I wondered.

“Because he is in the transcendentalist camp,” Zhu Shi said. “Xianshui City and its surrounding cities were originally neutral zones, so there were both worldly-minded fickle people like me and transcendentalists like Lu Chan in the past.”

"Now that you have become the Great Impermanence who stands up for the social order, Saltwater City and its surrounding cities are all considered your territory by everyone. Therefore, the demon hunters of the transcendentalist camp will consciously transfer and leave after finishing the remaining work at hand, so as not to be killed by you."

“Lu Chan once told me that they originally had a plan to control the local government behind the scenes, but because you suddenly rose to power, they all scattered like birds and beasts.”

I hadn't heard a single word about this before.

Perhaps after I become the Great Impermanence, there will be even more dramatic changes that I am unaware of, caused by my existence.

We left the student cafeteria and walked side by side on the green path. It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and we could see some classes in the teaching building. I wondered if Zhu Shi had any classes coming up; it seemed she wasn't planning to go back to class and wanted to decide on tomorrow's plans with me first.

I told her my speculations about the mysterious man Xiao Qiao had encountered. After thinking about it, she said she needed to make a phone call, so she took out her phone and went to the side to contact him. Out of courtesy, I didn't eavesdrop on the call. However, when she returned, she recounted the conversation herself.

“I can roughly guess what the mysterious man’s background is. But just to be on the safe side, I still checked with Lu Chan. That mysterious man is at least not one of your followers,” she said.

"My followers?" I don't know how the topic got to that point.

"The reason why the unfinished building you split up a few months ago hasn't been demolished by the local government as a dangerous building is because the local government knows that it's a place where strange events have occurred and doesn't dare to send people near it casually," Zhu Shi said. "And recently, another reason has emerged: haven't your somewhat radical followers dug up every detail of your past life? That unfinished building that was split up is now regarded as a memorial building for your first foray into the strange world."

"Look, many religions keep the obvious traces of divine intervention as sacred objects, right? The gods worshipped by the Luoshan Demon Hunters don't need those traces to prove their existence; they often come out on their own to perform miracles. Now there are cameras and such, and the Great Impermanence don't care if they are photographed. So their culture in this regard is actually weaker, but it still exists."

"Did you often practice your fire abilities in the wild during your high school years? Those traces seem to be unearthed in large quantities now... uh, 'unearthed' isn't quite right, anyway, they've been discovered in large numbers by your followers, and they're being frequently circulated and discussed among them recently..."

Listening to her description, I reflexively got goosebumps. Although I don't mind people digging into my past, and I don't think I've done anything I can't admit to others, the feeling of being "stalked" by countless people still makes me feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

Being able to calmly accept the scrutiny of countless people is probably proof of a strong mind, so I wouldn't forbid others from doing so.

After thinking for a moment, I asked, "But it seems that the unfinished building isn't being used much by those believers anymore?"

Otherwise, it wouldn't have been used as a party venue by that mysterious man.

“Because that unfinished building is very close to the university. Your followers don’t know if their god still plans to continue attending school normally. If it affects your life and angers you, that would be bad,” Zhu Shi said.

Not knowing whether the god I believe in will continue to go to school... this is a truly speechless worry.

Zhu Shi seemed to be trying to suppress a laugh, but he managed to keep his expression straight and continued, "So they've taken some reinforcement measures for that dangerous building and left it idle, planning to use it properly after you graduate."

"Originally, two detectives were left there to patrol, to prevent homeless people and children from using the place to relieve themselves. But I don't know if it's because the incident happened too late, right in the gap of patrol time, or because that mysterious man did something behind the scenes, but the reports from those two detectives over the past ten days have all been normal."

The other party was a strange person suspected of having brainwashing abilities, so it was only natural that the two agents could not report the correct information to their superiors; they were lucky to have survived.

The question is why the other party chose the abandoned construction site where the split-up unfinished building was located as the meeting place. Did he not know the special nature of that place, or did he have other plans?

That place holds special sentimental value for me, and it would be best if it could be properly preserved. If that unfinished building is eventually demolished, I will accept it as a natural progression. But if it's used as a tool for some kind of conspiracy, that's a different story.

"So, Zhu Shi, based on your judgment, what exactly is the background of that mysterious man?" I asked. "Is he from Peach Blossom Spring or the newly established Humanitarian Division?"

"You should have guessed it by now, right?" Zhu Shi said.

I said cautiously, “The mysterious man’s actions match some information I’ve gathered at the Luoshan headquarters over the past month. However, I haven’t been active in the supernatural world for very long, so I might be ignorant, and there are probably many more cases that match. Your experience is far greater than mine, and I want to get confirmation from you.”

Zhu Shi nodded knowingly and replied, "Although Xiao Qiao didn't see the contents of the white book that the mysterious man took out, and probably didn't even see the title... if nothing unexpected happens, the cover of that white book should say 'The Peach Blossom Spring'."

(End of this chapter)