Chapter 82

Chapter 82

The group traveled upstream by boat.

Gradually, the view before them opened up. Rolling mountain peaks no longer hemmed in the riverbanks. They could hear the roar of car engines and smell gasoline drifting from the roads.

At last, they had returned to bustling human society.

The small boat drew up to the bank and stopped.

After everyone disembarked, Ling Fang retrieved the paper boat and folded it back down to its original form. It looked the same as before, except that the creases were now more numerous and haphazard, and the paper itself looked worn and fragile.

Apparently, this cursed item also had a limited number of uses.

Several people were already waiting on the riverbank.

They wore dusty gray-blue work uniforms, the kind of nondescript clothing worn by workers all over the city.

“Director Ling,” one of them said. “Director Yang sent us to take you back.”

Ling Fang nodded. “Thank you. My legs aren’t working properly at the moment, and my team members have all suffered some injuries.”

They were from the Logistics Department.

In situations like this, the Logistics Department displayed a level of professionalism far beyond the ordinary. Ling Fang needed to say only one sentence. After exchanging glances, they knew exactly what to do.

They sprang into action. More people quickly appeared along the bank, along with a line of four long vehicles that resembled ambulances. Carrying stretchers, they loaded Ling Fang and his three team members into the vehicles.

The interiors even contained basic medical equipment and looked no different from ordinary ambulances.

Unable to move, Xie Qingling was placed on a temporary stretcher and subjected to another examination.

The examiner’s technique was textbook-perfect and highly practiced.

“The subject’s vital signs are stable. Nothing serious.” After delivering that verdict, the examiner put the equipment back in its place and sat ramrod straight.

Xie Qingling blinked. The Logistics Department really was incredible, she thought. They truly had experts in every field.

The vehicle returned to the office in silence.

Xie Qingling was carried by stretcher back to Room 206, which belonged to her. The others received the same treatment.

Back in familiar surroundings, Xie Qingling finally relaxed. Her eyelids grew heavy as drowsiness washed over her.

Before long, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

–

When Xie Qingling woke the next day, she stretched by reflex.

Only after loosening her stiff limbs did she belatedly realize that her curse was gone!

She could move!

She no longer had to lie there like a motionless invalid!

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

Delighted, Xie Qingling immediately rushed into the bathroom, washed herself thoroughly, and changed into fresh, clean clothes. Only then did she leave Room 206, brimming with energy.

Following her usual routine, Xie Qingling first went up to the third floor. She intended to present offerings and light incense at the deity shrines, just as she always did.

But when she reached the third floor, she discovered that someone had already taken care of the daily offerings.

It was probably the Logistics Department’s work again.

With nothing left to do, Xie Qingling went straight back downstairs for breakfast.

In the first-floor lobby, Shen Huaizhou and Dai Xingyu were back in their usual clothes. They sat at a small table, leisurely eating breakfast.

The table held a lavish spread that included, but was by no means limited to, soup dumplings, soup-filled buns, rice balls, bread, steamed rice cakes, nuts, milk… and much more.

“Come over and have breakfast.” Dai Xingyu beckoned to her.

Xie Qingling, long accustomed to making a meal of a few random buns, blinked and wondered if she was dreaming.

She walked over, stuffed a slice of buttered toast into her mouth, took a sip of coffee, and swallowed before asking, “Why is everyone so relaxed? And did some Snail Maiden move into the Department? Since when is breakfast this lavish?”

“Well, would you look at that?” Dai Xingyu tipped his chin, signaling for Xie Qingling to look beyond the broad floor-to-ceiling windows. “There’s your Snail Maiden.”

Xie Qingling followed his gaze and saw a woman in a perfectly tailored suit, her silhouette ethereal as an immortal maiden’s.

The immortal maiden let out a furious roar.

Xie Qingling immediately confirmed her identity.

Yang Liuqing.

At that moment, Yang Liuqing wore a different-colored bone-conduction earpiece on each ear. She held a phone in her right hand and pinched a cigarette between the fingers of her left, looking tremendously busy.

Xie Qingling guessed what had happened.

During the days when the entire Operations Department had been away, Yang Liuqing must have taken the Department’s burdens onto her own shoulders.

The Operations Department, Logistics Department, and Administration Department had all taken orders from her alone. No wonder she had gone so berserk that even a passing dog might have earned two slaps.

Just looking at her made Xie Qingling’s scalp prickle in sympathy.

Still, Yang Liuqing was a woman. No matter how fiery her temper, she was undeniably more attentive and considerate in the way she handled things.

Looking at the breakfast prepared by the Logistics Department, Xie Qingling wanted only to sing their praises: Long live Director Yang! Long live the Logistics Department!

“Where’s the Director? Didn’t he come back? Why is Yang Liuqing still covering for him?” Xie Qingling sat down beside Dai Xingyu and Shen Huaizhou, eating as she spoke.

“No idea. I got up early today, but I haven’t seen him.” Dai Xingyu shook his head.

Shen Huaizhou shook his head as well.

Now that he had let down his hair and put on a dress, his presence was impossible to ignore. He had reverted to his former aloof demeanor and hardly seemed inclined to speak.

Xie Qingling nodded and continued eating.
“All right, Brother Shen and I are heading out on patrol.” Dai Xingyu waved to Xie Qingling. “You stay behind today.”

“Get some proper rest,” Shen Huaizhou said.

Although Xie Qingling was no longer paralyzed, she had still suffered serious injuries in the battle against the River God.

Ye Anran’s treatment had kept her life out of danger, but the vitality she had expended would take time to recover.

Xie Qingling watched them leave.

Outside the villa, Yang Liuqing finally finished her call and pushed the door open.

She paused when she saw Xie Qingling, then assigned her work as naturally as could be. “You’re awake? Then hurry up and get to work. Several days’ worth of files are piled on the desk. Don’t forget to process them later.”

“…All right.”

Xie Qingling sniffed and caught the faint scent of tobacco.

Before she could say anything, Yang Liuqing lowered her gaze to the lit cigarette between her fingers and asked, “Do you mind? If you do, I’ll put it out.”

“I don’t mind. But you should try to smoke less. It’s bad for your health,” Xie Qingling reminded her.

Yang Liuqing nodded and took a deep drag, exhaling a cloud of smoke. She explained, “I don’t smoke often, only when I’m under a lot of pressure. My record is three packs in a single day. Usually, I don’t even like the stuff.”

“Want one?” Yang Liuqing started to offer Xie Qingling a cigarette.

Xie Qingling shook her head. “No, thanks. I don’t smoke.”

“Good for you. If you don’t smoke, never start. This stuff is addictive.”

Xie Qingling nodded.

Yang Liuqing’s expression abruptly changed. She tapped her headset and roared into it, “You don’t know how? You don’t know how to climb a mountain? Didn’t I tell you ages ago to prepare professional climbing equipment and ropes?”

“What, did you think you could fly across rooftops and run up walls?”

“You want to force your way up without preparing the right equipment? Are you trying to get yourselves killed? Is that it? You might as well carry coffins on your backs when you go on missions! Then if you die, they can bury you on the spot!”

“Why haven’t you told the supplies team to prepare everything yet?”

“Too slow? Then request a helicopter!”

“The Logistics Department is conducting one final sweep of the mountains to make sure they’re ‘clean.'” After ending that part of the call, Yang Liuqing raised her head and smiled at Xie Qingling. “You’re the new recruit, right? Your Director asked me to keep a closer eye on you for the next few days.”

“…”

What?

There was so much information packed into that sentence that Xie Qingling needed a moment to process it.

“Our Director… isn’t here?” she asked tentatively.

“Your Director went to headquarters this morning to make his report. He’s in the Old Royal City. I’ll be filling in for him for the next few days.”

Xie Qingling asked without thinking, “Does it have something to do with the River God incident?”

Yang Liuqing turned her head. Beneath her blunt bangs, her innocent, downturned eyes sharpened as she studied Xie Qingling for several moments. Then she said, “That’s right.”

“But don’t ask anything else. Your clearance isn’t high enough, so I won’t tell you.”

Xie Qingling nodded in understanding.

Yang Liuqing’s working style truly was nothing like Ling Fang’s.

Ling Fang looked forceful but was actually fussy and long-winded. He anticipated every possibility and gave them warnings about matters both large and small. Beneath Yang Liuqing’s delicate appearance, however, she acted swiftly and decisively, with blunt and straightforward efficiency.

Xie Qingling asked no more questions. She returned to her workstation and opened the documents Yang Liuqing had prepared for her.

They concerned special incidents that had accumulated while she was away from Future City. The Logistics Department had already handled the cases, but the files had yet to be sealed and archived afterward.

As she flipped through them, Xie Qingling came across the file on the River God’s Wedding incident.

According to the information Chen Yinghui had sent back, a preliminary investigation of the scene had uncovered four accomplices besides the village chief. All were able-bodied men from the same village and clan.

In addition, after the villagers began reporting on one another, thirty more people connected to the River God sacrifices were identified. All of them had been placed in handcuffs and were awaiting trial.

Including Crazy Wang, who was already dead, thirty-six culprits in total had been accounted for.

She hoped the departed souls beneath the earth would know and finally rest in peace.

Xie Qingling lowered her head and continued processing documents. It took her only one day to clear the entire backlog, and she even found time to help Yang Liuqing, effectively becoming her assistant.

After a full day of work, Xie Qingling gained a profound understanding of the Logistics Department’s responsibilities.

Strictly speaking, they handled far more than logistics. In practice, the Logistics Department did everything. They could even stand in for the Operations Department.

Yu Wei and Ye Anran returned that evening.

They both slept deeply and did not recover their energy until the next day.

For the next two days, Xie Qingling remained at the office, helping Yang Liuqing manage the affairs of all three departments. The work was even more exhausting than patrol.

Yang Liuqing’s name for her had already changed from “new recruit” to the much more affectionate “Lingling.”

On the third day, Ling Fang finally returned after his long absence, looking travel-worn.

Freed at last, Yang Liuqing rushed out of the office without a backward glance, as though a ghost were chasing her.

Ling Fang unfastened the clasp on one of his leather gloves, then snapped it closed again with a click-clack.

“Don’t leave after work tonight. I’m calling a meeting.”

Xie Qingling: “…”

Once every member of the Department had assembled, Ling Fang said with a cold, exceedingly solemn expression, “The main purpose of today’s meeting is to deliver a notice.”

“Pay attention. What I’m about to tell you is classified at the highest level. Listen carefully and don’t miss a single word.”