Chapter 16 I Recognized You!
“Sir, why don’t we go back? Perhaps your so-called calamity has already passed, but you just don’t know it yet.”
“That’s right, with your extraordinary abilities, how could a mere calamity affect you?”
“Yeah! Everyone in Peach Source misses you, and there are seven or eight pairs of newlyweds waiting for you to host their weddings!”
…
Juemeng sat on the ground hugging her knees, and from the side, her calves looked straight, poking out from her oversized T-shirt, pale and tender.
Listening to the group of magpies chattering in front of her, she frowned and waved her hand, saying, “Alright, alright, didn’t I leave some power in Peach Source when I came out? For something like hosting weddings, you can just ask Yuan Ye!”
“One month!”
Juemeng held up a finger to the group of magpies. “Go back and tell everyone that if nothing happens after a month, I’ll go back!”
————
Luxianbei returned to University City and asked the driver to stop when they were a little distance from Jingyi Apartment.
After getting out of the car, he turned and entered a jewelry store by the street, buying dozens of thumb-sized glass vials to separate the calamity water.
As soon as Luxianbei opened the door at home, he saw Juemeng sitting on the balcony, quietly speaking to a group of birds.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, the birds, as if startled, flapped their wings, darkening the sky, and flew into the distance.
Seeing Juemeng turn around blankly, Luxianbei tilted his head and asked, “What are you doing?”
“Uh, feeding pigeons!” Juemeng dodged Luxianbei’s scrutinizing gaze.
“Are your pigeons black?”
“……”
Juemeng squinted her eyes a little, nodded seriously at Luxianbei, and said, “Maybe it’s because those pigeons have darker hearts.”
Luxianbei, “……”
Do I really look that easy to fool? Those are clearly magpies!
Forget it, she’s been alone at home all day and must feel bored; it would be inhumane not to let her chat with her kind.
Thinking this, Luxianbei shrugged and turned to head upstairs.
Watching Luxianbei’s retreating figure, Juemeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but soon felt a twinge of emotion in her heart.
The feeling of being supported by someone else is really unpleasant; I’m a grand deity, even if a bit outdated, but when have I ever suffered such grievances?
In the next month, I need to find an excuse to say my injury has healed, help that girl Lin Yiqi finish her business, and then it’ll be about time to leave. I’ve been out having fun for long enough.
Unless…
Unless Luxianbei kneels down, hugs my thigh, promises to offer me sacrifices and plenty of vouchers every day, begging me not to leave!
Just thinking about Luxianbei, who always made her angry to the point of her divine form trembling, kneeling at her feet in the near future, crying and begging her to stay, made her chuckle like a bird.
“Gah gah gah—!”
At that moment, Luxianbei had finished packing his gear into his guitar bag, put on his coat, and headed downstairs.
“What are you grinning about?”
Juemeng glared at Luxianbei and said, “I thought of something happy.”
“What happy thing? Did your wife have a baby?”
“Your wife just had a baby!”
“When did you give birth? I didn’t know!”
“Can you act a bit more dignified?!”
Isn’t it just that during the alliance, I almost mispronounced the spell? Why do you keep bringing it up… Juemeng glared angrily at Luxianbei, threw her hands in the air, and launched a counterattack.
“What happened to my Urban Legend core?”
“It’s been so long, and all you do is freeload off me; you haven’t even brought back an Urban Legend core. Are you addicted to freeloading?”
Tsk! Stinky Sister, despicable woman, extremely ugly face! Every time I can’t argue back, you bring this up! Luxianbei cursed inwardly and slunk into the bathroom.
Luxianbei wasn’t particularly good at anything; in fact, he had all sorts of messy flaws. His only redeeming point was that he kept his word and took action.
Every time he asked Juemeng a question, although she would dawdle, she would ultimately answer patiently. In contrast, he had agreed to help her collect Urban Legend cores, but so far had only gathered two, one of which was poisonous.
Only someone like Luxianbei would have the nerve to keep asking Juemeng questions when he couldn’t produce anything.
————
In a corner, the various Urban Legends residing in the apartment quietly observed Luxianbei and Juemeng quarreling, whispering among themselves.
“Mafun, why aren’t they getting married?” said Sleep Dress hesitantly.
“Hmm…” Mafun pondered for two seconds and replied, “Maybe the civil affairs bureau doesn’t allow Urban Legends to marry?”
“Bullshit, what do you know?!” The Eye had been growing more inflated and irritable lately.
Ever since the Coat divided the Great Serpent God’s Urban Legend core among the various Urban Legends in the apartment for them to absorb, while their powers increased, their internal negative emotions were also trending upwards.
As for why the Coat distributed the Urban Legend core to them…
First, because that was the Urban Legend core of a mythological species; even if it had been tainted and worn down over countless years, the energy contained within was still terrifying for non-level Urban Legends.
It couldn’t absorb it alone.
Second, it felt that since everyone was helping the great witch, enhancing their overall strength was still necessary.
Although these Urban Legends in the apartment had yet to be used effectively.
“Simply put, they’re cowards! If it were me, oh! I’d just go for it—forcefully push through; we’d probably have a kid by now!”
“Brother Eye, mind your words!” False Teeth warned, “If someone hears, you’ll be in for a beating, and it’ll be an indiscriminate girls’ fight.”
“Am I afraid?” The Eye puffed up. “I’m not the same as before; I feel full of power now!”
“That’s right, I feel like I need to vent. Let’s go tonight and exterminate the cockroaches and rats in the community storage room! There can only be one Urban Legend organization in Jingyi Apartment Complex, and that is us… us…”
“Tsk! Hurry up, think of a name for us, or else we’ll be nameless.”
“……”
After a moment of silence, the Urban Legends suddenly began talking all at once.
“I say let’s call ourselves, ‘With a kn*fe in Hand, Screw Them!’”
“Vulgar, I propose, ‘Witch Holy Society.’”
“Sweet… Sweet Little Witch Tea Party…”
“How about ‘Offering Calamity for a Beautiful World’?”
…
Thus, unbeknownst to Luxianbei, an Urban Legend organization led by him was taking shape in the dark corners.
————
Entering the bathroom, Luxianbei immediately locked the door, then stood on the toilet, rummaging through the ceiling and found three bottles of calamity water. After some hesitation, he put one bottle back.
Two should be enough; if used sparingly, he could sell them in the Ghost Market to gather enough materials for the first complete formula.
If I get a bit stronger, I can absorb more knowledge from the Great Serpent God; it’s simply perfect!
Luxianbei thought as he shoved the two bottles of calamity water into his guitar bag, zipped it up, and left the bathroom, planning to head to the edge of University City to meet his Urban Legend counterpart at the half-finished building before it got completely dark.
As he passed through the living room, Juemeng was already sprawled on the sofa, starting a new round of teaming up with her friends, while the little companions in the kitchen huddled near the sink, murmuring about something.
What are they up to?
Forget it! I’m not home; if they really stir up trouble, it won’t fall on me.
Thinking this, Luxianbei shrugged nonchalantly and called out to Juemeng, “I’m heading out; you can handle dinner yourself!”
“Go on, go on!” Juemeng waved her hand dismissively, turning her attention back to the new game she had picked up.
“I’m telling you, today’s final boss in this dungeon is based on the ancient, very powerful deity Jumang; it’s definitely going to be very difficult!”
“We really need to cooperate well today and try to clear it within three attempts!”
This move is… praising herself, then killing herself? Doesn’t she feel spooky at all? Luxianbei thought sarcastically as he grabbed his keys and left.
————
“Mm~ Uh~!”
As night fell, another sweet m*an echoed in the half-finished building at the edge of University City. Before long, a tall girl in a contrasting red and white coat gasped as she walked out of the dark building.
Luxianbei raised his hands and observed her thoughtfully.
She didn’t know if it was an illusion, but she felt that the burning power within her was beginning to stir again during this Urban Legend transformation.
However, that power was temporarily suppressed by something, unable to spread throughout her body, only struggling near her eyes.
It was as if small hands were knocking in her mind, shouting, “Let me out, let me out!”
She had a feeling that soon, that power would break free from its shackles and return with even greater ferocity.
Collecting her thoughts, she walked a few steps away from the construction site of the half-finished building, suddenly stopping to look down, frowning.
Her long, pale legs were peeking out from beneath the coat’s hem.
The autumn night wind blew, making her thighs feel chilly, a coldness invading her clothes.
“……” Luxianbei pursed her red lips and after two seconds of silence, said with a sigh, “Coat, can you get me something that wraps up tightly? It’s really cold.”
Understood! The Coat shivered slightly and then began to move, transforming into a white shirt paired with a black pencil skirt professional outfit and adding black tights to wrap around Luxianbei’s body.
Luxianbei looked down and frowned, “Where did you learn all this? Can’t you get me something convenient for movement, with a design that’s plain and makes it look completely uninteresting?”
“……”
After a few seconds of silence, the Coat moved its clever little mind, understanding Luxianbei’s meaning, and then transformed again into a blue and white striped student sports uniform.
Luxianbei looked down and saw that the athletic uniform still couldn’t hide her body’s lines, raising her brows in discontent.
Clearly, it was already covered up tightly, yet it felt even more suggestive?
It always reminded her of the plot where a beautiful teacher secretly wears a student’s uniform and engages in all sorts of peculiar plays…
Forget it, forget it; it’ll have to do for now. Who knows what trouble may arise if I change it again!
She thought, shaking her head in disappointment, squatting down to take out the calamity water from her guitar bag, rolling up her sleeves, and dividing it into several small glass vials.
It’s unknown if it’ll be dangerous going to the South Suburb Slaughterhouse, so it’s always good to be prepared with a few tricks up my sleeve.
This calamity water might have miraculous effects.
It’s time to experience being a rich player, using money to smash people! Luxianbei thought.
—————
Huacheng, near University City.
A taxi slowly drove on the empty road.
Zhang Shan had been starting and ending his shifts much earlier than usual lately, mainly because his live broadcast station had become popular.
Since launching the “Taxi Driver and the White-Haired Female Ghost” series, the audience in his live stream had skyrocketed, and even studios had contacted him, wanting to adapt his stories into comics or short videos.
However, he had turned down all those studio offers; he knew very well how terrifying that white-haired creature was, and he was already satisfied with things as they are.
One mustn’t live too inflated, and it’s essential to maintain a degree of respect for the unknown.
However…
Why haven’t I encountered her lately? If this goes on, my inspiration will easily dry up! Zhang Shan pondered with some frustration.
On the thirty-sixth day without seeing the white-haired creature, he thought of her!
The thought suddenly flashed in his mind, and Zhang Shan was startled. He snapped back to reality and slammed on the brakes, parking the car by the roadside, vigorously slapping his cheek to dispel that thought.
How unlucky! Old Zhang, are you losing your mind? Who would think of meeting an Urban Legend at night?
Just as he was about to restart the car, suddenly the rear door was pulled open by someone, and when he turned to see who it was through the rearview mirror, he discovered a beautiful girl with an almost bewitching appearance sitting in his backseat.
The girl had soft white hair and wore a student uniform, which highlighted her bewitching aura with a touch of purity.
As he observed her through the mirror, Zhang Shan suddenly recalled the lead character in an old movie, not because she looked like her, but because there was a similar both innocent and desirable feeling.
And that movie was called “A Chinese Ghost Story”…
“Uncle, please take me to the South Suburb Slaughterhouse,” the girl said expressionlessly as if she didn’t recognize him at all.
Zhang Shan, “……”
Don’t think I don’t know who you are; even if you’ve changed your appearance, that guitar bag you’re carrying with who knows what ghastly contents is way too familiar to me!
But why does she seem to have grown up during just over a month of absence? Has she become even stronger?
Yes, that’s it; in the past, whenever I mentioned her, she would appear. Now, just the thought crosses my mind, and there she is. She must have become more formidable.
As Zhang Shan was thinking, he started the car, driving toward the outskirts of University City. He hadn’t gone far when he heard a soft voice from the backseat.
“Uncle, it’s so quiet; it’s boring. Do you want to hear an Urban Legend story?”
“……”
Zhang Shan was silent for a moment, nodded, and said, “Go ahead, but you still have to pay after the story; business is business.”
You’re not the same anymore, and neither am I!
Luxianbei, “？？？”
What is she implying?
Am I the kind of person who wouldn’t pay for a ride?
I just want to contribute to his live broadcast career!
Luxianbei thought inwardly, expressionless, “Alright, remember to help me get a few invoices.”
The Siye Society reimburses official personnel commuting costs up to 1850 every month; she felt a loss if she didn’t collect that money.
The Siye Society’s benefits should be taken advantage of!
“Well, I’m going to start telling the story! This tale begins in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, when Emperor Ai of Jin was obsessed with alchemy and Taoist magic, leading many lords to imitate him. Among them was a king from the southwest who sent a warrior with young boys and girls to the mountains to seek out immortals…”
All the while, Luxianbei narrated her experiences in the Bamboo Slips Illusion, blending them with the knowledge of the Great Serpent God into a story, engagingly recounting it.
As he listened to those bizarre and unheard-of legends, Uncle Zhang’s mind gradually sketched out a new chapter for the “Taxi Driver and the White-Haired Female Ghost” series.
————
Uncle Zhang was so engrossed that when he came back to reality, he had unknowingly driven the car to within less than a hundred meters of the South Suburb Slaughterhouse. As he snapped back, a cold sweat abruptly soaked his back.
d*mn it! If I had been a second later, would I have driven inside? Zhang Shan thought.
I actually drove to the entrance? Impressive! As expected of Uncle Zhang; I can do what others cannot! Luxianbei thought.
The two were lost in their own thoughts, and the car fell silent for a few seconds.
Then.
“Service charge, ninety-seven!”
“Uh… okay, let me scan the QR code.” Luxianbei said as he took out his phone, leaning forward to scan the QR code next to the driver’s seat, and casually pulled out a three-hundred-yuan invoice.
Zhang Shan, “？？？”
He opened his mouth to say something but realized that the culprit had already exited the car, running towards the South Suburb Slaughterhouse, and soon her figure was swallowed by the night.
Outside, it was dark and eerily quiet; despite being near wasteland, there wasn’t even the slightest rustle of wind, insects, or birdsong.
Zhang Shan swallowed hard, silently turning on the car’s player and playing a song “DEJAVU,” his gaze hardening as he gripped the steering wheel, then quickly turned the car around, ramping up the speed.
The second vehicle god of Huacheng was reconnected.
————
Luxianbei thought she would be the first to arrive at the South Suburb Slaughterhouse, aside from the suspicious man she had encountered in the afternoon; she expected to be the first reviewer to arrive.
But she was not prepared for the fact that when she walked the roughly hundred meters to the front of the South Suburb Slaughterhouse, there was already someone waiting there.
It was a girl with blonde hair in twin tails, wearing a JK uniform; her skin was a sensually tanned wheat color, and the bottom of her top was tied in a tight knot, exposing her flat abdomen. Under the Christmas check skirt, her long legs were wrapped in black knee-high cotton socks.
I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere… Luxianbei squinted her eyes at the girl. Just then, the girl noticed her presence as well, froze for a moment as if facing an enemy, then suddenly revealed a sly and provocative smile.
Seeing that smile, Luxianbei’s mind lit up, and she pointed at the girl, shouting, “Oh—! I recognize you! I’ve figured you out!”
“？？？”
The girl’s smile instantly stiffened, freezing in place.
You could even recognize me?
