Chapter 56
The main entrance of the Alliance’s Bureau of Supernatural Safety was marked with a large seal, and even the nearby guard post was cordoned off by police tape.
Xue Qiao frowned, contemplating her next move. After a moment, she strode over to the edge of the police tape in her ten-centimeter heels and shouted, “Luo Yiji, get out here now!”
At first, no one responded. Just as Xue Qiao was about to push past the tape and barge in, two SWAT officers came running out to stop her.
But they weren’t wearing the uniforms of the Bureau of Safety or the regular police force.
Xue Qiao’s sharp eyes quickly recognized their attire as that of a special forces unit under the Alliance government—a sign that things were serious if they were already in combat gear.
Sizing up the two men, Xue Qiao shot them a steely glare.
“What do you think you’re doing? Who are you, and why are you shouting here?” one of the SWAT officers demanded, exuding an intimidating presence that would likely have unnerved others.
But Xue Qiao’s stance only intensified, her response coming as fast as a whip crack. “Just answer me this: which Alliance department issued the warrant for Xing Xu?”
Her question stopped both officers in their tracks. They exchanged glances, unable to respond.
“That combat uniform you’re wearing? I recognize it—Central Police Headquarters, right? I know your commanders well. And don’t think I’m here to name-drop; the reason I know them is because they’ve begged my sister… begged my family to step in and deal with demon infestations. And now look how the tables have turned. An international crime unit targeting an exorcist? So impressive. Are you planning to muscle in on the Bureau’s turf?”
Before the two could respond, Xue Qiao’s words poured out with machine-gun speed, not letting up. “I wake up, and suddenly everything’s upside down. The Alliance’s number one exorcist is now its number one criminal. Everyone’s asking me where Xing Xu is, saying he has to be captured. They even detained my entire product testing team. I went to get them back, but the police wouldn’t release them—and even wanted to detain me! Look, if there’s a charge, let’s handle it in court. But I want to know: how did you convict him without a trial? Who decided he was guilty?”
“Even a tyrant would issue a formal decree, but apparently these days, you can start arresting people without any notice. Who in the Central Police HQ thinks they can wield authority like this? And what’s the story with this police tape? The Bureau might be in a tight spot, but it’s still an operational department with branches in all 133 Alliance regions, plus tens of thousands of exorcist SWAT officers. You can’t just roll in here, throw up some tape, and act like it’s a TV drama. Who’s behind this line? Come out here and let me see you.”
Her words left the two officers visibly unsettled, their expressions shifting as they searched for a response but came up empty. The silence between them showed a hint of guilt.
Though they didn’t know who Xue Qiao was, they were well aware that this perimeter wasn’t exactly following protocol.
The order to seal off the Bureau hadn’t come from the government or the leaders of Central Police HQ—it was Fu Zhuo’s doing.
Fu Zhuo held no official position within the Alliance and wasn’t part of any formal department, but he had come with an urgent mission to investigate demons and their collaborators. Many were forced to step aside for him.
These officers, who belonged to the Central Police, usually operated as the most formidable combat unit outside the Alliance’s military and the Bureau of Safety.
But when the enemy was demonic, they could only fall back and defer to Fu Zhuo, an exorcist.
When they first joined Fu Zhuo in investigating whether Xing Xu had betrayed the Alliance, they hadn’t expected things to escalate this far.
The Bureau had always served as a stable bridge between exorcists and the Alliance government. So long as Luo Yiji stepped in, they hadn’t even considered apprehending Xing Xu himself.
But Fu Zhuo had other plans. Instead of reporting to the Bureau, he immediately tried to arrest Xing Xu.
However, after an extensive search that yielded no results, he eventually returned to the Bureau only to find that Luo Yiji was missing too.
With no one in charge, Fu Zhuo had, by default, seized authority.
To complicate matters, the Bureau’s members refused to cooperate, leaving their stance ambiguous and making the situation more difficult.
Demons were the enemy, and with both the formidable exorcist Xing Xu and Bureau Chief Luo Yiji suspected of betraying humanity, Fu Zhuo—though neither the strongest nor weakest—was the most suitable option in their absence.
The Alliance entrusted him with temporarily leading the Bureau’s exorcist SWAT team to track down the demons, but the Bureau’s personnel wouldn’t cooperate.
In frustration, Fu Zhuo escalated the issue to the Alliance, requesting a warrant for the global apprehension of both Xing Xu and Luo Yiji.
The Alliance government had yet to respond, reluctant to make any drastic decisions. After all, Luo Yiji hadn’t been missing long, and the government preferred to wait for his return before taking further steps. At this stage, they merely sought confirmation of Xing Xu’s stance and a better understanding of the true danger posed by the demon Ye Xiyao.
Fu Zhuo couldn’t wait. This might be the only chance in his life to be in the spotlight, so he ordered the Central Police Headquarters to arrest everyone who had ever been in contact with Xing Xu and interrogate them.
This, of course, was what alerted Xue Qiao.
“I’m the one who put up that police tape and sealed off the Bureau of Safety. I am now the Alliance’s appointed Exorcism Operations Commander, and every action I take prioritizes the interests of the Alliance and humanity’s safety. Do you have any objections?”
Just as Xue Qiao was facing off with the two SWAT officers, Fu Zhuo strode out of the building, flanked by a team of men.
Xue Qiao took one look at him and snickered, “Pfft.”
Fu Zhuo stood stiffly across from her, his expression icy. “What’s so funny?”
“I just think you look familiar,” Xue Qiao replied, smirking.
“You think you can curry favor with me by pretending to know me?” he snapped.
“No, no,” she interrupted him with a grin. “If I recall, it was you who begged Luo Yiji a few years ago to set up an Exorcism Division with you as the head. He rejected you outright, didn’t he? Said that with Xing Xu around, there was no need to waste resources on a whole division to fight demons.”
Her laughter cut off whatever Fu Zhuo had been about to say, and then she ruthlessly recalled his most humiliating history. “After that, embarrassed, you worried that everyone thought the Bureau of Safety didn’t value you and that you were inferior to Xing Xu. So you started writing complaint letters to the Alliance government, accusing Xing Xu of embezzling exorcism subsidies. You even accused Luo Yiji of blocking the creation of your division just to help Xing Xu pocket all the money. So, what came of it? Has the government even looked at your letters after all these years?”
Fu Zhuo’s face was black with rage. “I reported him, but I lacked evidence, so the Alliance couldn’t convict him. But now, the evidence is ironclad. Even without my complaints, the Alliance government is fully aware that Xing Xu and Luo Yiji are colluding and corrupt!”
Xue Qiao laughed so hard tears formed in her eyes. She dabbed them away and said, “Do you realize how fed up the Alliance government is with you? The officials who have to read your emails pass them around, trying to get out of it. No one wants to look at them because they’re so long and pointless—just baseless accusations and insults, like some school kid tattling. In the end, the government just forwards the letters back to the Bureau of Safety, where Luo Yiji has to deal with them. He’s tired of you too, but he’s a bigger person with a good temper and respects your exorcism skills. That’s why he’s put up with you without cutting you off. But look at you now.”
Her mocking expression enraged Fu Zhuo, who nearly reached for his gun, but the SWAT officers nearby held him back. “Mr. Fu, we gave you that gun for self-defense, not to threaten civilians.”
“Civilian? She’s Xing Xu’s accomplice!” Fu Zhuo barked.
Xue Qiao sniffed the air and wrinkled her nose. “What’s that? Smells like jealousy.”
Fu Zhuo struggled against the hands on his shoulders. Although the SWAT officers seemed to be trying to calm him, he realized he was being physically restrained.
It finally dawned on him that something was wrong. He looked at Xue Qiao and asked, “Who exactly are you to Xing Xu?” Then he turned to the SWAT officers. “Do you know her?”
If they didn’t, why would they restrain him, especially given his position as the mission commander?
“She…is the Alliance’s wealthiest person,” someone informed him. “Xue Qiao, head of Qiashou Technologies.”
“Wealthiest?” Fu Zhuo was momentarily taken aback, but another realization dawned on him. “Wait, doesn’t that make her Xing Xu’s aunt? What are you waiting for? Arrest her immediately! We need to interrogate her to find out where Xing Xu is!”
But no one moved.
Xue Qiao even stepped closer, tossing her hair with a wry smile. “I have a question for you. If you’re so sure Xing Xu’s guilty, why are you wasting time sealing off the Bureau of Safety instead of just going after him?”
Fu Zhuo opened his mouth to respond, but Xue Qiao beat him to it. “Are you going to say you can’t find him? That’s impossible. With today’s technology, you could pinpoint Xing Xu’s location within ten hours using a grid search. The issue isn’t that you can’t find him; it’s that you don’t dare to try. Because you know you’d lose.”
“Stop trying to twist my words!” Fu Zhuo retorted. “It’s because Luo Yiji instructed his subordinates to refuse to cooperate with us. Otherwise, I would have launched an exorcism operation by now!”
Xue Qiao regarded him for a moment, sighing in disappointment. “So, because they wouldn’t help you, you suddenly forgot how to do your job as an exorcist?”
“You’re just twisting things,” Fu Zhuo replied, visibly flustered. “This has nothing to do with Luo Yiji! Both that demon Ye Xiyao and Xing Xu are dangerous, and it would take everyone in the Bureau of Safety to even try capturing them. What could I accomplish alone? I need a solid plan, or I’d be walking straight into a trap like an idiot!”
Xue Qiao’s expression shifted into one of disbelief. “Huh? If I remember correctly, whenever a powerful demon showed up, the Bureau of Safety would just send Xing Xu to handle it. And no matter how strong the demon was, he’d be back soon after, problem solved… Don’t tell me you can’t do the same?”
The barely concealed smiles of the SWAT officers around him seemed to stab at Fu Zhuo. He hurried to defend himself, “That’s because Xing Xu has the Demon-Slaying Array! Without it, he wouldn’t be much stronger than other exorcists!”
“Oh, I see.” Xue Qiao nodded. “So you can’t catch the demons because they’re too strong. You also can’t catch Xing Xu because he has the Demon-Slaying Array. You can’t capture anyone, can’t defeat anyone, but you got this rare opportunity from the Alliance government and just had to do something with it. So you decided to seal off the Bureau of Safety to show off, didn’t you?”
Fu Zhuo snapped back, “Nonsense! What you’re saying now is obstructing official duties. Instead of talking, you should just tell me where Xing Xu is.”
Xue Qiao smirked, “You’re getting flustered.”
Fu Zhuo retorted, “I am not.”
Xue Qiao turned to the others. “See? He’s flustered, but he just won’t admit that, with or without the Demon-Slaying Array, he’s no match for Xing Xu.”
“Why you—!” Fu Zhuo’s anger got the best of him, but before he could lash out, a government delegate stepped forward to mediate. “Calm down, Mr. Fu. It’s good that you’re here, Ms. Xue. Frankly, we don’t believe Xing Xu would betray humanity, either. We think he may have been influenced or threatened by a demon. We’d need to hear from him directly to clarify. Can you help arrange a call with him?”
Fu Zhuo sneered. “She wouldn’t dare. She’s probably here to spy for Xing Xu.”
Xue Qiao almost took off her high heel to throw at him. “Look at you, you petty little man! How did the Alliance even pick someone like you?”
Fu Zhuo ignored her, still insisting that Xing Xu was a threat. “You’re deflecting and deliberately provoking me to disrupt our operation. I think you and Luo Yiji are just covering for Xing Xu and that demon. Enough talk! I’ll haul you in right now!”
Xue Qiao snapped at him, “Who the hell do you think you are? Try me!” She rolled up her sleeves, strode over, and slapped him, following up with a swift kick. Her moves were so smooth, it was clear she’d done this before. Fu Zhuo barely had a chance to fight back, not because he was chivalrous but because the government officials subtly held him back, leaving him defenseless.
“Hey, hey! Enough fighting! Let’s talk this out!”
The officials and officers around them didn’t actually step in to stop her. It wasn’t favoritism; Fu Zhuo had simply been insufferable from the start. He’d barely completed any of his tasks and had instead left a mess for others to deal with, including sealing off the Bureau of Safety, which could lead to significant consequences. If Luo Yiji was innocent, whoever authorized the shutdown would have a lot to answer for. With Fu Zhuo pushing the Central Police to carry out his orders, they all secretly resented him. Seeing Xue Qiao finally knock him down was satisfying.
Despite being a woman, Xue Qiao’s punches and kicks were unexpectedly powerful, and Fu Zhuo saw stars. Eventually, his rage pushed him to break free from their grasp, drawing his gun and pointing it at Xue Qiao’s forehead. “You’re dead!”
“Wait! Don’t use a gun!”
“Fu Zhuo, that’s going too far!”
Xue Qiao’s mind went blank, shocked that Fu Zhuo would actually threaten a civilian with a gun. She instinctively shut her eyes, only to hear a sudden, intense noise—not a gunshot.
When they came to their senses, they saw Fu Zhuo on the ground, his face pressed into the dirt and his gun, warped by some unknown force, lying at his side. No one saw how it happened, but Fu Zhuo lay there, pinned to the ground by an invisible weight, struggling but unable to rise.
He was conscious, but it was as if he were crushed by a ton of bricks. “Who’s stepping on me?!” he yelled.
No one was.
In broad daylight, it looked as if he’d seen a ghost.
“What’s going on?” someone asked.
“I don’t know… He just suddenly collapsed.”
Xue Qiao kicked Fu Zhuo’s head lightly with her foot, but he still couldn’t get up.
“Demon! It must be a demon!” Fu Zhuo flailed like a fish out of water. “A demon is after me! Someone get the exorcists from the Bureau of Safety!”
His panic spread, and even Xue Qiao felt a pang of fear. She knew that, despite his behavior, Fu Zhuo’s exorcism skills weren’t bad—otherwise, the government wouldn’t have assigned him to lead this mission. But now, some invisible force seemed to have him in a vice grip, rendering him helpless. If a demon was involved, what chance did ordinary humans stand?
As they prepared to alert the exorcists at the Bureau of Safety, Luo Yiji, absent for days, finally strolled over, casually joining the scene.
The crowd rushed up to him.
“Director Luo, you’re finally here!”
“Thank goodness! We needed someone to take charge.”
“Director Luo, could you see what’s going on with Fu Zhuo?”
Xue Qiao gave Luo Yiji a nudge. “Hurry up and check on him!”
Luo Yiji walked over to Fu Zhuo, looked down at him, and hesitated before frowning thoughtfully. But he said nothing definitive.
“Director Luo,” one of the onlookers asked, “you have the most experience with demons. Do you think he was attacked by a demon? Or maybe possessed?”
Despite her dislike of Fu Zhuo, Xue Qiao was concerned. “What’s going on? Tell us!”
She grew impatient and smacked Luo Yiji on the back of the head.
Everyone gasped in horror, drawing a collective breath: “!!!”
Luo Yiji seemed unfazed by the slap, rubbing the back of his head as if used to it. “It’s not demonic energy; otherwise, the Bureau’s alarms would’ve sounded.”
“Then how did he fall like that?” Xue Qiao smacked him again. “Explain yourself already!”
Luo Yiji rubbed his head helplessly, “Can you stop hitting me every time you get anxious? There are people watching.”
The others chimed in, “It’s okay, we didn’t see anything.”
Luo Yiji sighed, “He’s not hurt, it’s just that—”
Before he could finish, Fu Zhuo, still lying on the ground, shouted, “Don’t let him fool you! My body isn’t injured; it’s my soul that’s restrained! Only a demon could do this! Luo Yiji must be in league with them! They’ve immobilized me to control the whole Bureau of Safety! Admit it, Luo Yiji—you got mad because I pointed a gun at Xue Qiao, so you used your demon powers! You may fool them, but you won’t fool me.”
Luo Yiji turned to Xue Qiao, surprised, “He pointed a gun at you?”
Xue Qiao nodded. “Yep.”
Luo Yiji shrugged, “Well, then he won’t die in vain.”
Fu Zhuo blinked in confusion. “What? Die? Luo Yiji, what do you mean? Explain!”
Luo Yiji looked down coldly. “Fu Zhuo, as an exorcist, can’t you feel it? The force binding your soul has nothing to do with a demon. You provoked the wrong person, and now you’re facing the consequences.”
Xue Qiao laughed out loud, “So he ticked me off and got cursed? Am I that powerful?”
Luo Yiji sighed, rubbing his temples, “Sure, if you want to think of it that way.”
But Fu Zhuo shouted, “Stop twisting things! I’m reporting this to the Alliance right now—you at the Bureau won’t get away with this!”
Xue Qiao raised a foot to shut him up, but Luo Yiji casually said, “Go ahead.”
Everyone watched as Luo Yiji dialed a number, and the Central Police officers and Alliance representatives leaned closer. When they saw the contact name on the screen, they exchanged glances.
As the phone rang, Luo Yiji switched on the speaker. “Go ahead, report whatever you want,” he said to Fu Zhuo. “This is the Council Representative for the Alliance Government’s highest assembly.”
Since Fu Zhuo wasn’t an official government agent, it took him a second to process what that meant.
Someone helpfully explained, “The Supreme Council only convenes for matters concerning all humanity and the Alliance. This is the Representative’s direct line…meaning they’re in a meeting right now, and Luo Yiji is letting them hear you firsthand.”
Xue Qiao smirked, “Looks like all the Alliance leaders are on this call. Congrats, Fu Zhuo. Rare opportunity.”
“Really…?” Fu Zhuo’s nerves didn’t show; on the contrary, he raised his voice, determined to make his case.
He launched into his claims: that Xing Xu was colluding with demons, that Luo Yiji was covering for him, that a demon had bound his soul, and that the demon named Ye Xiyao, along with Xing Xu and Luo Yiji, intended harm to humanity. He demanded the deployment of military forces for defense.
Fu Zhuo mixed a little truth with a lot of speculation, making statements based on nothing but his own imagination. The Alliance representative almost interrupted him several times to prevent him from misleading the Council, but Luo Yiji stopped him. “Let him finish,” he whispered.
The representative finally spoke up, frustrated, “We never actually planned on issuing a warrant for Xing Xu. We only wanted an experienced exorcist around in case something went wrong. But this Fu Zhuo… he’s caused most of this mess! With no proof, he went straight to capturing people. Even if Xing Xu and Ye Xiyao are innocent, his behavior could drive them away. He shouldn’t be allowed to mislead the government!”
Luo Yiji gave a dry smile, “If you knew that, then why help him seal off my Bureau?”
Looking embarrassed, the representative replied, “Out of desperation, really. Human weapons are useless against demons, but an exorcist is invaluable.”
“There are plenty of private exorcist groups. Funny you chose one who holds a grudge against Xing Xu,” Luo Yiji said with a touch of sarcasm. “Did you have that police tape ready long in advance?”
The representative hurriedly replied, “Let’s not jump to conclusions! The Alliance doesn’t doubt the Bureau. We didn’t specifically pick an exorcist with a grudge—it’s just…he was the only one willing to come.”
That part was true, and Luo Yiji let out a rueful chuckle, “Fair point; few would risk crossing Xing Xu.”
Xue Qiao interrupted them, frowning at Luo Yiji. “What’s going on? Are we just letting Fu Zhuo report? Have you lost your mind?”
Luo Yiji countered, “If I’m so clueless, why aren’t you stopping him?”
Xue Qiao shot him a glare, “Because I’m trying to be polite.”
In reality, she trusted Luo Yiji and knew he wouldn’t betray Xing Xu, though she didn’t understand why he’d let Fu Zhuo ramble on during a Council call.
A few minutes later, she understood why.
“—Therefore, I demand immediate support from the Alliance to capture the demon and their collaborators!” Fu Zhuo concluded, raising his head eagerly, waiting for a response.
“What a prime example of incompetence,” came a mocking voice from the phone’s speaker. “Sending someone like this to a mission—is he even useful?”
Fu Zhuo froze, and Xue Qiao did as well.
The voice was unfamiliar to most, but Xue Qiao recognized it instantly. It was Xing Xu.
“Even without any real problems, he finds a way to create them,” said another voice, Ye Xiyao’s. “If we’d arrived even a moment later, we’d already be listed as wanted.”
Fu Zhuo, finally realizing who was on the other end, was about to curse but was cut off by a third voice.
“Even if you’d been late, the Alliance wouldn’t have believed such groundless accusations. Sending him was a last resort. Humans are powerless against demons without exorcists, who are rare and mainly concentrated in the Bureau. Of the exorcists we could reach on short notice, Fu Zhuo was the only capable one. Originally, we hoped he would meet with Director Luo Yiji to strategize. But in just one night, he’s managed to shut down the entire Bureau.”
Though Fu Zhuo didn’t know the identity of this new speaker, he felt a chill as he realized he’d dug himself into a deep hole.
The speaker continued, “Fu Zhuo has clearly gone out of his way to create conflict between the Alliance and you two. Please trust that neither the Alliance nor humanity wishes to be your enemy.”
The phrasing emphasized the divide between “us” and “you” and underscored how critical the situation had become. Everyone realized that Ye Xiyao and Xing Xu must be present in the Council’s meeting.
“I believe we’ve reached an agreement before this call,” the voice continued, “so let’s not be swayed by baseless provocations.”
There was a pause on the other end, then the sound of Xing Xu passing the phone to Ye Xiyao.
Ye Xiyao spoke smoothly, “Yes, we’re already settled on the main points. As for the Demon-Slaying Array, it no longer exists, and that’s largely my responsibility. If humanity requires any assistance with exorcisms in the future, I’m more than willing to help.”
Xing Xu: “And me?”
Ye Xiyao: “You’re responsible too.”
Xing Xu’s voice sounded cheerful. “Alright.”
As soon as he finished, thunderous applause erupted from the phone, signaling a large audience at the meeting.
Fu Zhuo, however, was still in disbelief. He shouted into the phone, “Wait, what? How can you believe a demon’s word?! They’re demons!”
But no one acknowledged him.
A voice on the other end simply said, “Fu Zhuo, although you were commissioned by the Alliance for exorcism, your actions have severely breached protocol, even inciting conflict. You must face trial in the Alliance Court and are expected to cooperate.”
The call ended, and at the same moment, the binding sensation on Fu Zhuo’s soul was released. Dazed and confused, he was cuffed by the officers next to him.
Just a second ago, he had been on the verge of toppling the Bureau of Safety and Xing Xu, primed to become the most celebrated exorcist. Now he was headed to court. The whiplash was too sudden, and he couldn’t process it.
Fu Zhuo: “No, no, it can’t be… Even if Xing Xu didn’t ally with demons, they should’ve come here first to report. Why would the Alliance let them into the Grand Council meeting?!”
Luo Yiji initially ignored him, but Xue Qiao, equally curious, chimed in, “Yeah, how did they end up there?”
Unlike most people, Xue Qiao knew Ye Xiyao was definitely a demon. The Alliance allowing a demon into the highest council meeting, with Ye Xiyao declaring his commitment to human exorcism—left her thoroughly baffled.
Luo Yiji: “The Alliance wouldn’t let a demon attend such a meeting. But what if…they’re not demons?”
Fu Zhuo: “Impossible! What just happened to me could never have been done with human means. Who but a demon could restrain a soul like that?”
Luo Yiji chuckled. “A god.”
Fu Zhuo dismissed him. “You’re out of your mind! This is a setup—you’re all complicit!”
Luo Yiji patted Fu Zhuo’s shoulder. “You’ve never seen it, so you don’t believe it, which is understandable. Just be cooperative during your trial, and maybe you’ll get out early enough to see what gods look like.”
Fu Zhuo scoffed. “I’m here to exorcise demons. Why would I end up on trial?”
“Exorcism alone wouldn’t land you in court.” Luo Yiji laughed. “But abusing authority, mixing personal and public matters—those have consequences.”
With that, Luo Yiji ordered Fu Zhuo to be taken to the interrogation room. As Fu Zhuo was led away, yelling about his “special mission” and demanding to be unshackled, Luo Yiji ignored him, leaving him for the Alliance Court to deal with.
When he and Xue Qiao went inside, Xue Qiao couldn’t hold back her questions, though Luo Yiji kept shushing her, saying they’d talk in his office.
Once in the office, Xue Qiao locked the door immediately. “I’ll keep this brief. Just one question.”
Luo Yiji poured her a glass of water, and after gulping it down, she leaned in, lowering her voice. “Was that call just now a setup? Are you out of your mind, going along with Fu Zhuo’s madness?”
Luo Yiji: “…”
Rubbing his temples, he replied, “If Fu Zhuo believed it, why can’t you? You’re cautious.”
Xue Qiao: “So was it real or not?”
Luo Yiji: “It was real. They were really in the council meeting.”
Xue Qiao let out a sound that was half a laugh, half a cry of disbelief. She grabbed him by the collar. “Second question.”
Luo Yiji, gasping, “Let go! You’re choking me!”
She held on and demanded, “Who is this ‘god’?”
Luo Yiji looked at her, exasperated. “Who would be angry enough to act when Fu Zhuo pointed a gun at you?”
She froze, then released him. “Oh my god… but… wasn’t he in the council meeting? How could he intervene with Fu Zhuo from there?”
“Gods can pull off impressive feats like that,” Luo Yiji shrugged.
They shared a silent, wide-eyed look, before Luo Yiji tried to turn and leave, but Xue Qiao stopped him with a slap.
Luo Yiji yelped, clutching his head. “Why are you hitting me again?”
Xue Qiao: “Can you just say everything at once?! You’re like a toothpaste tube!”
Luo Yiji: “…I just woke up not long ago; my head’s still spinning. I was going to explain slowly.”
Xue Qiao: “Forget slow. Start talking—no more one-word answers.”
Seeing no way to escape, Luo Yiji sped through the events of last night, detailing everything he’d witnessed.
He expected Xue Qiao to react with shock, especially at the divine connection shared by Ye Xiyao and Xing Xu. But when he finished, she simply said, “…Wait, they’re dating?!”
“Uh,” Luo Yiji stammered, not comfortable with the topic. Thinking she might disapprove, he added, “Xing Xu’s almost thirty; he can make his own decisions.”
Xue Qiao snapped her fingers. “Go get me some water.”
Luo Yiji handed her a glass, and she downed it in one go. Then, tossing the glass aside, she said, “Where do you think they should have the wedding?”
Luo Yiji: “?”
Ignoring his shock, she took out her phone, tapping a few buttons, then announced, “Done.”
Luo Yiji’s eyes widened in alarm. “What did you just do?”
Xue Qiao grinned. “Ordered some gifts for our dear Xiyao. When are they coming back?”
Luo Yiji: “What… What did you buy?”
Xue Qiao explained, “Clothes, shoes, that sort of thing. I met Xiyao once—he’s a beautiful kid, and I know a designer brand that suits him perfectly.”
Relieved, Luo Yiji sighed. “Good, just clothes… Wait, how do you know his size?”
Xue Qiao shrugged, “It’s a luxury brand; size doesn’t matter.”
Luo Yiji stared, horrified. “You bought the entire brand for Ye Xiyao?!”
Xue Qiao’s face was practically glowing with excitement. Her eyes gleamed red with delight.
“Heh heh heh… My money is finally serving a purpose!”
