Over the years, he rarely dared to show off his chess skills in public. When friends asked about it, he would always say he didn’t know how to play—until he t Qu Muzhi.
He was a rare opponent who could match him evenly and even exert pressure on him. The two would often engage in fierce battles, ending in draws. According to Nalan Shuo, their chess skills were so bad that even a dog would shake its head.
This match lasted nearly an hour and ended with Yang Xiao’s victory. Monts later, Yang Xiao slowly stood up and cupped his hands with a smile at Qu Muzhi, who was still frowning at the chessboard. "Brother Qu, thank you for letting win."
"Next ti, I’ll win it back. Our skills are separated by just a thin margin. I made a wrong move—if only you’d have let undo one piece, I would have defeated you." Qu Muzhi picked up the chess piece in his hand and pushed it towards Yang Xiao, signifying his surrender.
In Nalan Shuo’s eyes, these two were top-tier figures in both strength and talent. But when God opens a door for you, He also shuts a window in return—Yang Xiao and Qu Muzhi’s chess talent seed to be in the negative.
After clearing the chessboard, the two sat opposite each other, drinking tea. Qu Muzhi hesitated briefly and finally spoke about the concern weighing heavily in his heart. "Director Yang, there’s sothing I need to tell you. I’ve received notice from the Provincial Office that in a week, I’ll officially assu the role of Director of the Luming Bureau, and temporarily act as Captain of the Luming Investigation Team."
"Congratulations, Director Qu," Yang Xiao replied without much surprise. After all, in Rongcheng, the only people qualified for the position were either him or Qu Muzhi. Since he had declined the role, it naturally fell to Qu Muzhi.
This was also the reason why Director Nalan had been displeased with him lately.
Qu Muzhi’s face didn’t show much joy but instead bore a aningful expression as he stared into Yang Xiao’s eyes. "The best candidate was actually you. The Provincial Office favored you most; I rely benefited from your refusal."
"Don’t say that. We’re friends. Moreover, with your reputation as Captain Qu, being a Director should be more than manageable."
Yang Xiao’s words weren’t just empty flattery. The title "Demon Rakshasa Qu Muzhi" carried significant weight in the Rongcheng area, widely recognized as the number one captain in the city. It’s important to know this recognition extended beyond just the Patrol Defense Office—it applied to all factions in Rongcheng.
Even people in Xiang Ma Town trying to act tough would na-drop Qu Muzhi. If anyone managed to escape Qu Muzhi’s pursuit by sheer luck, they’d gain considerable respect among the Evil Cultivators.
"I originally didn’t want to do this, but I need this position, Yang Xiao. I owe you a favor now." Qu Muzhi’s tone was serious.
Yang Xiao could roughly guess that Qu Muzhi’s ambition to climb higher was undoubtedly related to his father. But since Qu Muzhi didn’t bring it up, Yang Xiao wouldn’t ask.
After saying what needed to be said, Qu Muzhi left and went to rest in the adjacent room. Lately, he had been coming to accompany Yang Xiao every night.
Though he called it companionship, in reality, it was protection. With the two working together, even a Ghost-level Apostle wouldn’t necessarily gain the upper hand.
The next morning, Yang Xiao received a phone call from Yun Qi City. Yang Cha sounded incredibly anxious on the phone, telling him that Tong Han had gone missing during his brief absence over the last few days.
It was only then that Yang Xiao realized Tong Han hadn’t just taken leave—she had skipped class and returned ho. After explaining the situation to Yang Cha, he finally stopped worrying. Yang Xiao then shared that Sui Chengguo had fled to the border. With the two of them thousands of miles apart, besides silently praying for Brother Sui, there wasn’t much else they could do.
These days weren’t particularly busy. Nalan Shuo had delegated crucial tasks to others, aiming to give Yang Xiao more rest. Affairs within the Action Bureau were being handled by Fu Qingzhu and Qu Muzhi, leaving Yang Xiao practically idle.
The matter with Tong Han was also settled, thanks to the help of his good brother Fu Qingzhu. Under the cover of night, she was discreetly escorted out of the city and sent to Xiang Ma Town, where Ling Yanyu had already received word in advance.
During this period, Yang Xiao awaited the investigative results of the Jingping Town incident while also practicing driving. Before long, he reclaid the keys to his black luxury SUV from the reluctant Xi nxiu, finally becoming its rightful owner.
However, peaceful days lasted only a few brief monts. One day in the office, Yang Xiao suddenly received a ssage from Lu Youdao, asking him to et at the training ground at 9 p.m. that night.
Yang Xiao arrived as promised. The training ground was the sa as always—deserted and silent. The rusty iron gate was half-open, and in the dim yellow light, Lu Youdao’s terrifying face flickered faintly.
Without much unnecessary talk, Lu Youdao limped ahead, leading Yang Xiao to a gray, marble-like door. He inserted a bronze key into the lock, and with the sound of chanical clicks, the stone door slowly opened a crack.
Shifting his body aside, Lu Youdao made space, signaling for Yang Xiao to enter. Yang Xiao understood his intention. He had been to this room before—a spectral space tainted by the Resentful Eye, harboring a horrifying Fierce Ghost in the darkness within.
"Go in," Lu Youdao rasped, his voice hoarse, as though he had no sentint for anyone except Nalan Shuo.
Inside the room, all was pitch black. As Yang Xiao stepped in, he instinctively took out the Ghost Lantern.
It was a habit of his to glance back. Indeed, the door he had entered from disappeared as expected. Simultaneously, an unsettling aura erged nearby, weaving through the shadows—fleeting yet palpable.
With the ghostly green glow dispelling the darkness, the circular target pattern beneath him progressively revealed itself. He was standing at the center-most ring.
Anyone who entered this room would be locked into the target’s center, a feature tied to the Ghost’s abilities.
"Crack..."
"Crack... crack..."
Bone-fracturing sounds echoed behind him. Clutching the lantern, Yang Xiao turned abruptly, only to see a figure appearing on the edge of the inky darkness—the outer rim of the target.
The figure faced away from him, enveloped in a thin black mist. Its body was grotesquely twisted, as though victim to a severe car accident.
The warped body was gradually straightening. Before long, Yang Xiao was shocked to discover that the clothes it wore were ones he had once worn. Furthermore, its physique and silhouette bore a striking resemblance to his own—about 70-80% similar.
Last ti, the Ghost had mimicked Nalan Shuo. This ti, it had transford into him!
In the next mont, the Ghost began moving, taking a step toward him.
But sothing bizarre occurred—the Ghost seed to move forward while still facing away, its toes pointed directly at Yang Xiao.
Spiritual power poured swiftly into the Ghost Lantern as Yang Xiao concentrated its green light into a protective barrier to block the Ghost’s approach.
After much effort, the Ghost stopped moving halfway between the seventh and eighth rings. To describe it accurately, it halted at "seven and a half."
Yang Xiao distinctly rembered that during the last encounter, the Ghost had advanced beyond seven and a half rings, stopping closer to the eighth ring. This ant that compared to his forr self, his spiritual strength had improved.
Yang Xiao dared not let his guard down. This would undoubtedly be more dangerous than their last confrontation—then, he faced Nalan Shuo’s Heart Demon; now, he faced his own.
"Crack... crack crack..."
The familiar scenario resud—the Ghost began to turn around. Being seen by the Ghost’s face, or gazing upon the Ghost’s face, would invite great trouble. The pivotal mont had arrived for Yang Xiao. Not only did he need to repel the Ghost’s advancent, but he also had to expend energy preventing it from turning—a dual challenge demanding imnse skill and force.
This ti, the Ghost was even more formidable. Yang Xiao’s body wasn’t fully recovered, and in the critical mont, he decided to take a gamble. Since hindering the Ghost’s turn was futile, he would turn instead—keeping his back to the Ghost might just break the stalemate.
There was no ti to hesitate. Yang Xiao shielded himself in green light and swiftly turned. The next second, the scene before him chilled him entirely.
A figure appeared in front of him, utterly silent, as though it had been waiting there all along.
Its hands raised, covering its eyes. The pale face faced Yang Xiao, nearly nose-to-nose.
Through the twisted gaps between its fingers was a single eyeball, bloodshot and filled with veins.
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