Chapter 36: The Fog

"What is this?"

Ning Zhibai frowned slightly as he examined the chunk of meat inside the box.

He reached out to lightly touch it and felt a cool sensation at his fingertips, accompanied by a slight tingling. He quickly retracted his finger and scratched the back of his neck.

"It’s said to be ’Ancient Meat.’"

Ning Wantong glanced at it and replied, "Zhang Chun’s father is a hunter in the mountains; this piece of Ancient Meat was dug out from there, specifically saved for you. It is said that eating it can aid in advancing one’s martial skills."

"At my age, taking such things is no longer of any use,"

Ning Zhibai shook his head with a smile and replaced the lid, "Take these to Young Master Su, who is full of vigor and might find a use for them."

Ning Wantong had just reached out to take it.

Suddenly, Ning Zhibai staggered, as a wave of dizziness struck him.

He almost fell, but Ning Wantong quickly reached out to support him, preventing a fall.

"Father?"

Ning Wantong put the box aside, her face filled with worry.

"No harm, no harm…" Ning Zhibai chuckled, looked up at the sky to see a faint white line amidst the clouds, suggesting that fog was likely settling over the town.

He didn’t think much of it, merely explaining, "Perhaps it’s because of the pot of strong tea I had just now. While it can keep one alert, it’s actually somewhat harmful to the body. I must be cautious with it in the future."

Ning Zhibai began to reflect, as was characteristic of him.

"You…"

However, he saw that the concern on Ning Wantong’s face was gradually changing into horror. She covered her mouth, as if about to scream.

Ning Zhibai was puzzled.

He felt an unbearable itching where he had previously scratched his neck.

He scratched again, but found no relief.

Ning Zhibai frowned slightly, scratching repeatedly, his fingers gradually exerting more effort until something tore with a ripping sound.

He spread his fingers open to reveal a horrifying sight of blood-red in his palm.

It was a whole piece of flesh from his neck that had been brutally torn off, and surprisingly, no fresh blood oozed out.

Because the flesh just torn off was covered with a layer of white mycelium, which was absorbing blood and swelling, turning into soft, dandelion-like down, though it was pink in color.

Hiss!

Ning Zhibai unconsciously rubbed his hand.

The soft down floated into the air, fading in color, until it turned into a hazy white mist.

"Hehehe…"

Staring at the mist in front of him, Ning Zhibai chuckled foolishly.

White saliva even began to secrete from the corner of his mouth, dripping down to his chest, soaking his shirt.

"Ah!!!"

Ning Wantong’s face contorted in fear as she finally screamed.

She turned to flee outside, seeking help in the streets, but she had only run five or six meters.

"Thump!" she fell desperately to the ground, red spots quickly appearing on her fair skin.

The red spots rapidly joined up into a dense and terrifying pattern, enough to make anyone with a fear of clusters faint.

Ning Wantong dared not scratch.

But the intense itching made it impossible for her to control her hands.

Soon…

A vast amount of "mist" began emanating from her body.

From afar, it looked like she was enveloped into a constantly writhing, white cocoon.

*

*

*

"Mmm!"

With her eyelashes fluttering softly, Su Li’s eyes opened.

Her beautiful, clear pupils reflected the pink mosquito net hanging over the bed.

Su Li tightened her blanket.

Planning to sleep a bit longer, enjoying the rare peace.

But just as she was about to close her eyes again, she quickly realized something was wrong.

Who am I?

Why am I here?

What exactly happened last night?



Hiss...

Su Li felt her brain was completely blank; her delicate eyebrows gradually furrowed as she carefully thought it over, and some fragmented images began to slowly emerge in her memory.

That’s right!

Last night, she had planned to investigate Su Heng’s solitary yard.

In the basement of the yard, she found the dismembered remains of a demonic beast, and just as she was about to continue her investigation, she turned around and bumped into the owner!

Damn it, how did Su Heng suddenly come back at that moment?

It couldn’t be that he was purposely scheming against her, could it?

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And then...

It seems they even had a bit of a conflict afterward.

Her master had said she was a rare genius that the Demon Suppression Bureau had not seen in a hundred years, with an unlimited future ahead. She must have won then!

But why can’t she remember anything that happened afterward?

"Goo goo~ goo goo!"

Bird chirps resounded from outside the window.

Su Li tilted her head.

She saw Su Heng sitting on a small stool, legs spread wide in an imposing manner. His left hand held a knife, and his right hand held an apple, which he was peeling.

He peeled the apple, cut it neatly, and placed the slices on a fruit plate on the low table in front of him.

The white, tender slices of apple were neatly arranged on the fruit plate on the small table in front of him, and Su Heng took a slice and handed it to Su Li.

"Xiaoqing!"

Su Li’s expression turned serious as she slapped Su Heng’s hand away.

"Xiaoqing, do you mean that female ghost who always follows you around?" Su Heng asked in return.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Su Li nodded frantically.

However, Su Heng did not continue to respond, and seeing this, Su Li felt a blankness in her mind and slowly collapsed onto the bed.

...

In the Demon Suppression Bureau, Xiaoqing and Su Li were disciples from the same cohort.

Both joined the Demon Suppression Bureau at the same time and received training together, developing a close relationship.

However, during an outing for a mission with an elder, Xiaoqing had an unfortunate encounter, got ambushed by a demonic creature, and was severely injured.

Helplessly,

An elder from the Demon Suppression Bureau used a Secret Technique to prolong her life.

As a result, Xiaoqing was transformed into a shade, subject to many restrictions.

That’s also why, in everyday life, Xiaoqing always carried an umbrella to shield herself from the direct rays of overly strong sunlight.

She had already promised to take care of Xiaoqing for life.

But now...

But now...

Su Li leaned against the headboard, overwhelmed with sorrow, and her clear eyes filled with tears.

"Little Li," a slender and fair hand waved in front of Su Li, causing her to widen her eyes and turn her head to see a red-clothed young girl appearing beside Su Heng.

She looked astonished.

Looking at Xiaoqing beside Su Heng, then back at Su Heng sitting on the stool.

"You..." Su Li clenched her teeth, her facial expression becoming dangerous.

Su Heng raised his hands, his face bearing an innocent expression.

"I never said she had an accident," Su Heng defended, "You were the one who imagined that just now."

"You deserve to die!"

Su Li screamed, punching Su Heng in the chest.

Su Heng didn’t dodge or resist, and instead of hurting Su Heng, Su Li ended up causing her own hand to ache from the blows.

All she could do was grit her teeth and wave her hand, reluctantly choosing to give up.

She looked at Xiaoqing beside Su Heng.

Their eyes met.

"Pfft!"



Su Li suddenly broke into laughter and reached out to tightly hug Xiaoqing’s neck.

The two of them cooed over each other for a while before they noticed there was still Su Heng, like a giant third wheel, beside them.

"Ahem!"

Su Heng coughed twice, spoke seriously, "Just now, Xiaoqing told me some things about the Demon Suppression Bureau."