Chapter 17: Family Background
After working intensely all night, Luxianbei originally planned to skip class and go home to rest for a day, taking advantage of the less strict attendance requirements during exam month like most of his classmates.
However, while the idea was nice, reality was harsh; he wanted to do that, but he couldn’t.
Although the investigation into the “Hide-and-Seek” urban legend had concluded, with the real culprit dead and the compiled files submitted to the Siye Society’s database, things were far from over.
The urban legend event yesterday at Jin Tan Grand Hotel had a considerable number of direct or indirect witnesses. Completely eliminating the impact and preventing the urban legend from spreading wasn’t something that could be accomplished in just one night.
Especially for those who directly participated in the urban legend game, like Yang Yi, after undergoing memory erasure by the Special Action Team, they would need observation for two to three days.
After all, the alchemical potion used by the Siye Society for memory erasure wasn’t infallible.
In addition to potential side effects causing slight spiritual perception in users and increasing the chance of witnessing urban legends in the short term, the individual differences among people might lead to insufficient dosage or ineffective results.
Although the Siye Society had been around for some years, there had only been one case of a person with a special constitution, which was a very small probability event, but it still needed to be guarded against.
In fact, that one case of a normal person who was immune to the potion nearly caused a public panic due to the spread of rumors.
Fortunately, the Siye Society had exceptional control over public opinion, with members carefully selected from expert debaters and PR professionals in the fan circle. Their combination of strange and mysterious analysis helped to prevent a terrible urban legend from being born from public discourse.
Therefore, to prevent such malignant events from recurring, or to prevent Yang Yi and others from encountering an urban legend and getting scared to d*ath, someone needed to secretly observe how they were doing after taking the potion.
Naturally, this responsibility fell on the kind, friendly, and helpful classmate Luxianbei.
It was frustrating for Luxianbei to think that Yang Yi, being reckless, still needed someone else to clean up after him.
If it weren’t for the extra allowance on the line, he would never do it for anything in the world.
But with the allowance, things became negotiable.
After being financially drained by the faulty alchemical potion, Luxianbei was willing to do anything for money.
Of course, Luxianbei was also somewhat worried about Yang Yi and the others suffering from side effects.
After all, there were more than one urban legend within Huacheng University.
However, Luxianbei’s concern was not for Yang Yi, but for the Decapitated Senior.
She often haunted the school, and last time she even appeared in Luxianbei’s class, completely disregarding others’ feelings.
If she happened to be seen by Yang Yi in some corner of the school, with her personality, she would likely be frightened.
Just like when she scared Luxianbei in the boys’ locker room back then…
“Xiao Bei, I’m telling you again, those guys in black robes are very dangerous. You should not continue the investigation. If you happen to run into them, just run away quickly…”
Regarding the dangers of the Hundred Demons Walk, Bai Kai had repeatedly emphasized during his time in Luxianbei’s office, but he still felt uneasy, insisting on escorting Luxianbei to school.
“I got it, I got it, I’m not a kid anymore,” Luxianbei said impatiently. “Don’t you know me, Water Brother? Why would I do something dangerous?”
That was true; this kid was quite different from his parents, and one didn’t know who he took after… Bai Kai nodded thoughtfully. “I’m just worried you get too curious.”
As they spoke, they arrived in front of the Huacheng Folk Culture Research Management Bureau, where they saw Li Xuan driving up.
Seeing Luxianbei, he broke into a gentle smile and approached them immediately.
Noticing this, Luxianbei quietly said to Bai Kai, “Isn’t Qing Jie supposed to be on duty today? What is this brother doing here for no reason?”
Bai Kai rolled his eyes. “In the entire Huacheng Siye Society, he’s the one with the most petty issues; how would I know what mess he’s stirring up today?”
Luxianbei glanced at Li Xuan, who was getting closer, and frowned. “Why do I feel like he’s coming for me again? Can’t we do something about him? Like, puncture his tires?”
Bai Kai gently shook his head, grimacing, “That’s tough! I’ve been a bit tight on money lately; I can’t afford to pay for his tires.”
Luxianbei was taken aback. “Huh? You usually puncture his tires and still have to compensate him?”
“After all, we’re colleagues; it’s better to leave some room for courtesy, so we can meet again later!”
“What do you get out of it?”
“Just the satisfaction!” Bai Kai shrugged. “Tires are relatively inexpensive car components, but changing them is a hassle. I enjoy making him anxious while spending a little money to make myself happy; isn’t that good?”
Luxianbei nodded thoughtfully, feeling as if he had just unlocked a new way to torment others.
“And besides, you really can’t puncture them today. Didn’t you see that guy already invested and replaced his tires with explosion-proof ones?” Bai Kai added.
Hearing this, Luxianbei’s gaze drifted to the sports car parked at the alley entrance, and he noticed that the tires were indeed slightly wider and thicker than regular vehicles, looking particularly sturdy.
While Luxianbei sneakily observed the tires, Li Xuan had already reached them, smiling as he began his performance.
“I heard our substitute agent accomplished great things last night?”
“Two urban legends with spiritual wave levels of C+ and one illegal spiritual ability user at level B were all dealt with under your seamless cooperation with the Special Action Team; impressive!”
“When I first took over the Siye Society, even handling a D-Rank urban legend was quite challenging; you’ve really surpassed your predecessors! Congratulations!”
“This…” Luxianbei glanced at Li Xuan and said very seriously, “Uncle, have you considered that this might be due to your own lack of talent?”
Li Xuan’s mouth twitched slightly, ignoring Luxianbei and patiently continuing, “Congratulations aside, I’ve also heard that Agent Luxianbei used several spell formulas last night that don’t belong to the Siye Society?”
“Could you tell me where you learned those formulas? If possible, I’d like to learn from you!”
Members of the Siye Society weren’t prohibited from using spell formulas other than the standardized ones. This was actually why the Special Action Team didn’t say much when they saw Luxianbei using those spell formulas.
However, for those with unknown origins, prior reporting and explanation of reasonable sources were required.
But before Luxianbei used the formulas taught by Qing Ji, he hadn’t reported them, and afterward, no one questioned him, which was quite unreasonable.
So…
If others don’t dare to manage it, I will! If others won’t do it, I will!
Handling urban legend events isn’t a walk in the park; aside from necessary combat power, the most important thing is rules, rules, and more rules!
If everyone behaved like Luxianbei, the atmosphere of the Huacheng Siye Society would eventually turn chaotic, and then how would they handle urban legends? Li Xuan thought vehemently.
Luxianbei sized Li Xuan up and tilted his head, expressionless. “Do you really want to learn?”
“Of course,” Li Xuan said. “I have always been quite interested in spell formulas.”
“While as a blossoming flower of our great nation, I understand your intentions, but…” Luxianbei frowned. “This matter is a bit complicated.”
“What’s complicated about it? Do you have some unspeakable source for those spell formulas?”
“Not really.” Bai Kai, who had been silent at the side, couldn’t resist interjecting, “Xiao Bei’s spell formulas are ancestral and can only be passed down to direct descendants. If you want to learn, you have to acknowledge him as your godfather!”
“You… Hmph! In that case, let’s forget about it this time!”
Li Xuan pointed at Bai Kai, then shot an angry glare at Luxianbei, huffed, and left in a huff.
“…”
Having such a wastrel like Bai Kai in the Huacheng Siye Society was troublesome enough. Now, with another rule-breaking Luxianbei, it was infuriating!
But did he really think saying that would make me believe it?
I’ll just send the on-site video to my master and see what happens. Our Dachunyang Palace has countless treasures and is proficient in thousands of spell formulas; surely someone will know the origins of those ghostly formulas!
As Li Xuan walked into the Huacheng Folk Culture Research Management Bureau, he pondered angrily. He hadn’t walked far when he heard a strange noise coming from the alley.
He paused, as if remembering something important, then suddenly turned to look towards the alley, only to see Luxianbei and Bai Kai, each holding a key, scratching away at his beloved car on either side, then hastily leaving the scene.
“Screeech—!”
The strange sound not only made one’s teeth ache but also broke one’s heart.
Those two long scratches seemed to burn onto Li Xuan’s heart, instantly causing him to clench his fists.
In the past, Bai Kai used to puncture tires secretly; now, with Luxianbei as a partner, it had escalated to openly vandalizing?
Fuming, Li Xuan thought, but before he could explode in anger, the two culprits had realized and bolted.
“That guy saw us! Xiao Bei, hurry… uh? When did you…”
Bai Kai was taken aback, seeing Luxianbei who had somehow already run out of the alley.
“Water Brother, why are you still dawdling!? Run already!”
Bai Kai, “…” How did Xiao Bei run faster than me?
Thus, at Luxianbei’s call, the two of them ran like thieves, jumping into Bai Kai’s car, and vanished from Li Xuan’s sight in an instant.
————
One hour later.
Li Xuan sat in the office, staring fixedly at his mobile phone screen, waiting for his master and fellow disciples to analyze the results of Luxianbei’s spell formulas.
Soon, accompanied by a series of notification sounds, he hastily opened the chat app, initiating a video call, where an elderly Taoist with white hair and a youthful face appeared on the screen.
However, to Li Xuan’s surprise, he was met with a round of harsh scolding.
“Brat, who told you to investigate that kid in the video! Hurry up and stop your dangerous behavior!”
Li Xuan, “???”
“Wait, Master, I’ve looked into that kid’s background. He has been an ordinary person for three generations; how did I make a reckless move?!”
“And he’s been causing trouble in the Siye Society, disrupting the rules; I can’t ignore it!” Li Xuan said, looking wronged as if he were a child reporting to a parent.
“Unworthy disciple, unworthy disciple! You’ve driven me to anger! Disrupting the rules? That’s his family heritage; don’t provoke him anymore! If you keep bothering him, don’t call yourself a disciple from Dakunyang Palace!”
“Why not? Master, you have to tell me why!”
“There’s no why! That’s what your ancestor said. If you want to know, go ask him!” The old Taoist waved his sleeve and disappeared from view.
Immediately, a young Taoist took the phone, saying to Li Xuan earnestly, “Nephew, don’t make your master angry anymore; just do as he says, okay?”
“From that video you brought back, you’ve thrown Dakunyang Palace into chaos; the ancestors are now locked in Chongyang Hall discussing it!”
“Alright, let’s leave it at that for now! We’ll talk later…”
“Beep—!” The young Taoist hung up the video call.
Li Xuan, “…”
That day, Dakunyang Palace unexpectedly closed its mountain gates for over a week.
Those in the know said that after reviewing Li Xuan’s video, the Chief Priest regarded it as a great threat and announced that he would go into seclusion that very day.
This left everyone in Dakunyang Palace believing that a terrifying urban legend with a grudge against the palace was about to attack their mountain gates.
But what no one knew was that the Chief Priest had recognized the few self-created spell formulas used and erroneously thought that his childhood was tricked into using a “three-color centipede to promote growth and subsequently attract girls” scheme again…
————
At Huacheng University.
During the break.
After an inattentive class, Luxianbei rushed over to Yang Yi’s side. Before he had the chance to sit down, he noticed Yang Yi spaced out.
His expression was as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
The members of their small group noticed Yang Yi’s strange demeanor and turned to look, only to also wear the same ghostly expression.
Luxianbei, “…” What on earth did the Special Action Team do to them? Why do they all look like idiots?
Typically, after taking the “amnesia potion,” ordinary people would experience a small gap in memory. Although this gap was not long, if not handled properly, fueled by human curiosity, someone would inevitably delve into the truth.
Thus, the Special Action Team would kindly prepare a small story for them, generally about some minor accident, and place the potion users in a hospital, so when they woke up, they could narrate this small story to them, filling in the missing portion…
Wait a minute, this plot feels a bit familiar; I’ve seen this somewhere before?
As Luxianbei was musing, someone suddenly spoke, interrupting his thoughts.
“Lu, Luxianbei, are you a person or a ghost?!” the green tea sister trembled and asked.
While sulking, he expressionlessly pointed at the ground, “What nonsense are you talking? Don’t I have a shadow? Does a ghost have a shadow?”
Noticing Luxianbei’s shadow cast on the ground, the others felt relieved and let out a collective sigh.
After a moment, Luxianbei interjected, “But it’s also possible I’m a walking corpse.”
Everyone gasped, their faces paled, and their hearts tightened.
“Just kidding, don’t take it too seriously. Do you all remember what happened last night?” Luxianbei said seriously.
“Of course we do. We went out together, got drunk, and you insisted on driving us back. As we were near the city bypass river, you shouted ‘high energy ahead’ and floored it, sending us right into the river,” Yang Yi recounted.
“Yeah, when we woke up and didn’t see you in the hospital, we thought…” the naive one hesitated.
“Exactly, it scared the hell out of us,” Jacob said, patting his chest. “Lu, I never want to ride in your car again for the rest of my life.”
Luxianbei, “…”
The old brothers from the Special Action Team really can weave tales; I don’t even have a driver’s license; how could I drive?
But actually, that’s fine…
Luxianbei glanced around at Yang Yi and the others, slightly curling his lips.
At least they had completely forgotten about last night, and I would have no problem getting my allowance.
Perfect!
(Today’s writing got a bit stuck, so there’s a slight decrease in updates~)
