Chapter 125: 115 Old Gods Association… Making a Comeback! (Seeking monthly tickets, recommendations, and subscriptions)_1
The canteen.
Pei Jinye and Brother Bi were sitting face to face.
Tomato scrambled eggs, chili stir-fried pork, and braised blood-red carp.
There was also a winter melon and river shrimp soup.
This meal was a treat from Brother Bi – it was quite appetizing.
“How do you feel about your first task?” Brother Bi asked, warming himself with a sip of shrimp soup.
“It’s a bit different from what I had imagined,” Pei Jinye shook his head, “I previously thought it would be the more dangerous kind of task.”
Brother Bi chuckled, “When I was about your age, I too wished every case would be a big one. Just think how imposing that would be. But the reality is… behind every big case are the bodies and blood of our comrades.”
Pei Jinye didn’t argue.
In fact, he was quite inclined towards the current stability of his life.
But actually, he was very clear.
That Mr. Han’s investment in him certainly didn’t mean he should just hide away in the background.
But one step at a time, I suppose.
In choosing what to take and what to leave, Pei Jinye merely looked after his own interests.
“How to put it…” Brother Bi said solemnly, “no matter the control, there will always be chaotic times… after all, the law can’t ensure that every Transcendent obeys it. So don’t rush into things when something happens; keeping alive is what’s most important.”
Brother Bi emphasized the attitude of preserving life once again today.
Pei Jinye even began to suspect that this was Mr. Han’s way of testing him.
In any case, regarding these words, he neither denied nor confirmed them.
“By the way, what about that dog?” Brother Bi suddenly asked.
“It’s with Master Zhang,” Pei Jinye replied. “Master Zhang thinks the dog’s breed is not bad and has offered to take care of it.”
“That’s fine,” Brother Bi didn’t care much about such things and asked again, “Is the place where you live far from here?”
“Half an hour by light rail, it’s alright.”
“That’s not too bad,” Brother Bi nodded, “You’ll get 800 for your commuting fee each month. It arrives on the 5th at the beginning of the month. Remember to keep your receipts for business trips, you can get reimbursed.”
Pei Jinye was stunned.
Brother Bi continued nostalgically, “Old Dou told me the same thing back in the day, and I didn’t take it seriously, only to realize later that commuting costs are a huge pit. You might have to travel a lot for just one task.”
After the meal, Brother Bi took Pei Jinye to the station.
The station was not far from the base, a five-minute walk away.
Brother Bi seemed to have something else on his plate and wasn’t going back to the city center, and Pei Jinye didn’t want to always trouble him.
He took the light rail.
He returned a phone call to Tang Huoyang.
Tang Huoyang answered the call and asked for a location right away.
Pei Jinye reported the location, and the two of them met to discuss his uncle’s illness.
After getting off the light rail.
Pei Jinye first went to his rental room to get dressed in disguise, and without informing anyone, he hurried over.
In the room, there were some herbs he hadn’t used up initially, which he could take with him.
If nothing unexpected happens, he would not be coming back here again.
Just as he was about to enter the neighborhood.
Pei Jinye saw a young man in a hoodie walking by with his head down.
He cast a doubtful glance at the man’s retreating figure.
Somehow, he felt the man bore a striking resemblance to the killer at the well.
He turned and followed after him.
The scanner shone on the face.
Well, mistaken identity.
The man’s expression was one of indignation as he looked at Pei Jinye’s Investigation Team badge.
“Be careful on your way back,” Pei Jinye reminded him with a friendly smile.
“… Thanks,” the young man replied awkwardly, cursing inwardly at Pei Jinye’s madness.
Pei Jinye shook his head with a wry smile.
Indeed, one shouldn’t stick one’s nose into others’ affairs.
Since this wasn’t their responsibility anymore, it was time to let it go.
As Pei Jinye entered the neighborhood.
From inside a nearby restaurant’s glass window, a pair of dim eyes silently watched him.
“Little Li?”
The landlady, clad in a black coat, was accompanied by a girl with a playful ponytail.
Pei Jinye didn’t expect such a coincidence and, nodding with a smile, he approached, “Are you heading out?”
“Yes, the awakening qualification hasn’t started yet this year, so I’m taking her to inquire about it,” the landlady said with a smile.
“Qualification identification?” he turned to look at the young girl.
The girl was wearing brown fuzzy boots and was busy texting with her head down.
Pei Jinye recalled what the Governor had said that morning and pondered, “Next week, I guess. The notification should come in the next day or two.”
The landlady was taken aback.
Pei Jinye just smiled, not minding, and said, “I’ve got something else to take care of, so I’ll head back first.”
“Then you be busy,” the landlady regained her composure and left with her daughter.
Not long after, the young girl suddenly raised her phone and said, “Mom, my classmate says the qualification identification is next Tuesday.”
The landlady was skeptical, “How does your classmate know?”
“Her uncle works at the city hall. She said they’re about to send out the notice,” the girl looked up, “Should we still go and ask?”
The landlady hesitated.
But then she thought of Pei Jinye who had mentioned the same thing.
Curiosity crept into her heart.
Little Li actually knew about the assessment time… what exactly does he do?
When they got back home…
The landlady thought about distributing the wedding candies but when she knocked on the door and Little Li didn’t show, she sent a message to inquire, only to learn that Pei Jinye had already left.
The landlady felt an inexplicable sense of regret.
“What’s this?” Tang Huoyang looked perplexedly at the box Pei Jinye was holding.
“Some herbs to take back home,” Pei Jinye replied casually, placing it in the trunk, then patted his hands and asked in a low voice, “How’s the investigation going?”
“Still no leads,” Tang Huoyang shook his head, looking worried.
Pei Jinye consoled, “Take your time. It was your uncle’s choice. I think you should find some time to talk to him alone, and subtly try to find out more.”
“That might work,” Tang Huoyang nodded slowly.
The sedan started.
Dusk settled heavily as they sped along the highway.
An hour later.
Leaving Tang Yulou’s villa.
Tang Huoyang looked at Pei Jinye and asked in a low voice, “Did you find anything today?”
Pei Jinye shook his head, “Nothing for now.”
He glanced at a text message on his phone.
Suddenly, he said to Tang Huoyang, “I’ve got something urgent to deal with today. You go ahead and drop me off. I’ll treat you to a meal when I’m free tomorrow.”
“No problem.”
After dropping Pei Jinye off at the entrance of the residential area, Tang Huoyang waved his hand and drove away.
Father Pei came out from the building’s entrance: “Have you eaten?”
“I won’t be eating; something’s come up,” Pei Jinye checked the time and continued, “Dad, could you take this box upstairs for me? It doesn’t need to be frozen, just sealed for now. I’ll deal with it when I get back this evening.”
Seeing him in such a rush, Father Pei didn’t say much else, “Be careful on your way, watch the road, and don’t charge into trouble if you encounter any.”
“Don’t worry, Dad.”
Pei Jinye waved his hand to signal and then turned back towards the gate.
He received a last-minute notification from Brother Bi. There was a significant incident at the team, and he was meant to gather before nine-thirty. Right now, Brother Bi was on his way to pick him up.
He waited for less than three minutes.
A large jeep came racing and stopped with a beautiful drift right in front of Pei Jinye.
Elementary school students nearby were so stunned they let their spicy strips fall to the ground.
“Get in,” said Brother Bi, tilting his head.
Pei Jinye got into the passenger seat and buckled up. “What’s going on?”
“The team leader didn’t give specifics, but these kinds of operations usually mean we’ve found a big fish. We’ll get you a gun later. If anything happens, run first; don’t rush in. Let the tough ones be at the front.”
Brother Bi’s words were direct and straightforward.
Pei Jinye was momentarily speechless.
That afternoon, because a gang of crazy dogs blocked the door, he very nearly couldn’t resist calling the Night Patrol Department.
A Transcendent Investigator from the Investigation Team, and he had to let the Night Patrol Department take the lead over such trifles.
Was Brother Bi really sent by Mr. Han to test him?
Brother Bi hung the police light on the car and then increased the horsepower, entering emergency speed mode.
“Aren’t you going to fly?” asked Pei Jinye.
Brother Bi replied in surprise, “Didn’t you know? Some rich kid had an accident while flying his car and died. I’d rather not if I can help it—only have one life, after all.”
Pei Jinye: “…”
This matter wasn’t really that mysterious.
The car’s intelligent system wasn’t so easy to hack; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to surreptitiously meddle with Wei Xia’s car before.
At the crossroads.
A youth wearing a hoodie inside a passing cab suddenly looked astonished to see Pei Jinye, who just brushed past him on the road.
“Damn! I actually ran into him.”
“Turn around, turn around quick!”
Wu Feng hurriedly told the cab driver to turn.
But the driver said helplessly, “Can’t turn here; I’ll find a place ahead for you. You chasing down your lover or what?”
Wu Feng replied irritably, “Quit your yapping, just drive!”
The driver cursed under his breath.
Ultimately, they were unable to catch up, which infuriated Wu Feng to the point of murderous thoughts.
Twenty minutes later.
Investigation Team’s Base.
The lights were blazing, and even helicopters had been dispatched.
As they entered, Pei Jinye and Brother Bi had already handed over and sealed their communication devices.
Pei Jinye was somewhat startled and looked to Brother Bi, “Is tonight’s operation this big?”
Brother Bi was also a bit anxious and said in a low voice, “Let’s go find the team leader first.”
Xie Zuxin, upon seeing the two men’s arrival, showed no reaction and continued to speak out loud, “Our mission tonight is to cooperate with the Military Department’s operation, sealing off an area codenamed [Area 17]… We have confirmed reports that members of the Old Gods Association have once again entered Da Peng City…”
Old Gods Association…
These three words resurrected a long-lost memory in Pei Jinye’s mind, erupting like a burst of flame.
They had come back…
Pei Jinye felt a trace of nervousness.
He had found Lan Feng’s corpse to impersonate the Demon King.
In the end, both Silver Art and Black Arts were devoured by the explosion’s blazing fire…
It could be said that the Old Gods Association’s members in Da Peng City had almost been entirely eliminated.
So who could these reemerging members of the Old Gods Association be?
Pei Jinye felt his heart tighten.
For some reason, he even believed that they had come this time explicitly for him.
However, the only person who knew his true identity was the Faceless elder.
But Lan Feng was dead…
Who else could know that he was the real Demon King?
Pei Jinye tried to calm his heart as quickly as possible.
“Don’t be nervous,” Brother Bi reminded him softly, mistaking Pei Jinye’s agitation for being new to such large-scale operations.
Pei Jinye nodded.
As Xie Zuxin gave the orders, all the members sprang into action.
It was then that Pei Jinye realized their second group had so many people; just those present were already more than thirty.
“Is the intel accurate?” Pei Jinye asked Brother Bi in a hushed voice as they got into the car together.
“For an operation of this level, it can’t be fake; it’s even possible that we’re onto a big fish,” said Brother Bi anxiously, “Oh right, guns! Damn, almost forgot the most important thing.”
He took Pei Jinye out of the car again, hurrying off to Old Zhang’s logistics department.
That’s when they encountered the Big Black Dog gnawing on meat.
The Big Black Dog didn’t pay much attention to Brother Bi, but as soon as it saw Pei Jinye, it immediately started wagging its tail and trying to ingratiate itself with him.
Preoccupied with the upcoming operation, Brother Bi ignored it.
However, the Big Black Dog, wearing a heavy iron chain around its neck, pathetically rubbed against Pei Jinye’s combat boots.
Pei Jinye stepped back to avoid it, receiving a submachine gun and a silver pistol from Old Zhang.
Old Zhang grinned, “That dog seems really fond of you; you sure you don’t want to take it home?”
Pei Jinye shook his head, “I don’t have the time.”
Old Zhang nodded, “Okay, leave it to me then. Its food comes from the cafeteria leftovers anyway, so it won’t lack anything to eat.”
As soon as Pei Jinye walked away, the Big Black Dog, which had appeared so pitiful before, jumped up to continue devouring meat. After finishing the bone, it hummed and settled into a box nearby to lie down.
Unresponsive to Old Zhang’s calls, the Big Black Dog just gnashed its teeth, playing with its chain, seemingly preoccupied with picking its teeth.