Chapter 224
Chapter 224
Qin Ying had no idea how access clearances and authority were structured within the Cultural Preservation Bureau, but that didn’t stop her from making an outrageous opening demand.
Deputy Director Chen’s eyes bulged. “Even I don’t have the highest clearance!”
“You can count the number of people in the entire country with that level of clearance on one hand.”
“Think about what rank those people must hold. You sure know how to dream big, young lady.”
Still lying in the hospital bed, Qin Ying gave an innocent shrug. “Starting high is Negotiation 101, isn’t it?”
“You think this is some business deal?” Deputy Director Chen huffed and glared, but he didn’t seem genuinely angry.
“Fine. I’ll pass your demand up the chain, but whether they agree is out of my hands. I don’t have the authority to make that decision.”
“For now, get some rest and sleep.”
With that, he glanced at the Thunderbird nestled beside Qin Ying’s head, then turned and left.
Qin Ying had opened the “Door” again before her mental strength had recovered. That sort of mental depletion couldn’t be replenished with a couple bags of glucose and a few good nights’ sleep.
The Cultural Preservation Bureau’s medicines were mainly intended for physical injuries, so they weren’t much help to Qin Ying. Her head still hurt like hell.
Dean Tan prescribed her some painkillers, and only then could she sit quietly in the infirmary bed and just barely remain conscious.
After giving the Thunderbird some water, she wanted to call Granny Shi and ask her to check on her house.
Wangcai hated humans, but perhaps because it had been born and raised in an underground dogfighting ring, it yearned for freedom and often wandered around the backyard.
When Qin Ying wasn’t home, it was responsible enough to transform into a Huodou and feed the pack of Hou with the flames from its body.
Still, Qin Ying couldn’t help worrying that it might burn the house down.
She picked up her phone, only to discover that its battery had long since died.
Fortunately, she still had her backpack with her, so she pulled out a power bank.
The moment her phone had enough charge to turn on, it began to ring.
Seeing that Granny Shi was calling, Qin Ying’s heart skipped a beat. She thought something had happened.
But as soon as she answered, Granny Shi said mysteriously, “Ah Ying, Xu San’s Wife came looking for you early this morning.”
Xu San’s Wife naturally referred to Third Aunt Xu.
Why would Third Aunt Xu come looking for her?
Before Qin Ying could ask, Granny Shi, who could never keep anything to herself, launched straight into the story.
“Third Aunt Xu asked if you’d gone to Qingzhai Tunnel.”
Qin Ying couldn’t help frowning. “Why would she say that?”
Granny Shi lowered her voice. “Third Aunt Xu said her Xiaoyu woke up before dawn.”
“You know, the little girl who had that incident in the mourning hall.”
Qin Ying couldn’t see how the two things were connected at all.
Fortunately, Granny Shi continued explaining without prompting. “When Xiaoyu woke up, she insisted she’d seen her grandfather follow a pretty lady out of a long tunnel.”
“When Third Aunt Xu and the others questioned her, the girl said the pretty lady had a tiny red mole at the corner of her eye.”
A chill ran over Qin Ying for a moment.
Her voice, however, betrayed no panic as she explained, “Why would I have gone to Qingzhai Tunnel? I was at a team-building dinner with my coworkers.”
“That girl saw me before she passed out in the mourning hall. She probably remembered me from then and started talking nonsense when she woke up.”
Her explanation seemed plausible. Granny Shi sucked in a thoughtful breath, then said, “Anyway, Third Aunt Xu is grateful to you. She brought over some local specialties and two farm-raised geese.”
“Remember to come pick them up from my house.”
Qin Ying murmured an acknowledgment, then asked, “Granny Shi, the puppy I’m raising hasn’t caused any trouble at home, has it?”
“No,” Granny Shi answered immediately. “That little thing’s quite well-behaved and doesn’t bark at all. It’s just not very friendly.”
Sometimes, Granny Shi would spot it wandering around Qin Ying’s front yard, but no matter how she called and coaxed it, it refused to come over. It would simply turn its little backside toward her.
Hearing that nothing had happened with Wangcai, Qin Ying breathed a sigh of relief.
It wasn’t that she had never considered installing security cameras at home, but the chances of the system being hacked were far too high these days.
Once that happened, it would be almost no different from living under someone else’s constant surveillance.
Before hanging up, Qin Ying asked Granny Shi to keep an eye on her house. She then rubbed her temples and ended the call.
Deputy Director Chen looked as though he had no intention of returning anytime soon, so she slipped back beneath the covers and closed her eyes.
Hidden under the blanket, her index finger moved slightly, tracing an infinity symbol.
Even as agony lanced through her skull, black mist billowed before Qin Ying’s eyes.
Following the brightest point of light, she could vaguely make out Han Lie. He had undergone Monstrous Beast Transformation and was crouching in a patch of shade on the crimson gravel.
Qin Ying had shoved everything through the Door without any thought for order.
It had taken Han Lie considerable effort. After undergoing Monstrous Beast Transformation, he had used his Qilin Form and his Sand Lizard mount to bury everything beneath the sand.
The River God was worshipped by the Gutless People and had passed through the Door before.
To the Monstrous Beasts in the box, that vial of Marrow Fluid was no different from Tang Monk’s flesh.
To keep the Monstrous Beasts from seizing itand, more importantly, to avoid attracting the attention of the Fengshan Elite CavalryHan Lie had gone out alone under the pretext of searching for a new place for the Kuxi Tribe to relocate.
He had scattered Shadowgrass Powder all over the dune, barely managing to mask the scent.
Even then, he wasn’t at ease and remained on guard atop the dune day and night.
Qin Ying wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but his sunbaked scales seemed to have lost their luster, and his tail drooped listlessly behind him.
Her heart ached at the sight.
But Qin Ying couldn’t even be sure she wasn’t being watched herself. This was no time to retrieve the test tube.
She sighed inwardly and forcibly withdrew her consciousness from the black mist.
The exertion made her head start throbbing again.
She lay back against the pillow, which was as hard as stone, and fell asleep.
By evening, the blare of a train whistle reverberated through the valley. Qin Ying sat up groggily and looked out the window.
The rear yard of Qingzhai Station was packed with vehicles.
Judging by the commotion, they intended to excavate the site that had been blasted into collapse.
Dean Tan entered with a nurse. After making two trips between Yunlan and Qingzhai, he was so exhausted that dark circles ringed his eyes.
They gave Qin Ying a basic examination and brought her a clean change of clothes.
She used the staff dormitory at Qingzhai Station to wash up. By the time she was clean, she was ravenous and about to find something to eat when Deputy Director Chen arrived.
Who knew where the old man had come from? He was covered from head to toe in dust.
But he had brought Qin Ying dinner.
There were three generous dishes and a large bowl of rich chicken soup topped with a layer of golden fat.
“Eat up. Plenty of meat, eggs, and dairy will help you recover faster.”
After urging Qin Ying to eat, he continued, “We should have arranged for you to return to Yunlan City to recuperate during the day.”
“But we truly need you here.”
The vial of Marrow Fluid Qin Ying had brought out was of immense importance, not only to the Cultural Preservation Bureau but to the entire nation.
They knew how difficult it would be to locate that River God, but they still had to try. Otherwise, how could they possibly accept giving up?
Qin Ying cradled the stainless-steel lunch box containing the soup and blew gently on the chicken fat floating on its surface. “I understand.”
She was the only person who had entered that laboratory hidden within tangled time. If she were one of the higher-ups, she would have made the same decision.
She had blown up the River God to escape the laboratory, and the higher-ups had not held her accountable. They had already been more than reasonable.
After taking a sip of the slightly hot chicken soup, she asked, “Could you give me some Fumigant Powder?”
“Burning it as incense helps me sleep. It’s very effective for recovery.”
Fumigant Powder wasn’t particularly valuable. Deputy Director Chen left and soon returned with several bottles in hand.
Only after Qin Ying finished eating did Deputy Director Chen say solemnly, “The director and I have already spoken to our superiors and argued your case.”
“We can’t authorize the highest level of clearance for you, but… once we’ve verified that the Marrow Fluid is genuine, you’ll be granted Level 8 Clearance.”
Afraid she might not understand what Level 8 Clearance represented, Deputy Director Chen added, “It is second only to the director’s and mine.”
“You’ll be able to access a large volume of top-secret files and participate in certain covert operations.”
“You’ll also be able to mobilize resources within the Cultural Preservation Bureau.”
When Qin Ying neither spoke nor nodded, Deputy Director Chen continued, “In addition, you’ll receive some cash compensation.”
Qin Ying had no expectations whatsoever regarding the cash compensation. One look at the Cultural Preservation Institute’s battered old van was enough to know how tight their budget was.
Still, she wasn’t overly greedy. At last, she nodded. “All right.”
That night, Qin Ying stayed in the staff dormitory at Qingzhai Station.
She lit some Fumigant Powder and slept soundly through the night.
Early the next morning, she set out for Qingzhai Village with Thunderbird.