**Chapter Four: The Inspector General Wants Water Brother to Confess**
Under the night sky, Huacheng gradually fell into slumber, with lights twinkling from the towering skyscrapers.
A petite figure darted between the tall buildings, occasionally landing on the rooftop of a certain building. After a brief pause, she leaped again, gliding like a bird across a great distance, landing on another high-rise.
Gradually, the tall buildings ahead began to diminish. Before long, only a few low cottages remained, surrounded by looming dark mountains.
Luxianbei continued on toward Baiyanzi Village, and upon recalling the possible attack on Du Sixian by an outside urban legend, she couldn’t help but sigh at the constant troubles.
Sometimes, she even wondered if she was encountering too many troublesome situations too frequently.
In just two or three months, it felt like an eternity, as if she had seen a ghost; even a mediocre online author could write over a hundred thousand words in that time.
The misfortunes and troubles seemed to stalk her like an obsessive lover, leaving her to question whether they were after her body or something else.
In short, it was despicable!
Conversely, her peaceful life was always too fleeting, time passing at a breakneck speed.
She would get out of bed promptly at eight-thirty every morning, wash up, and have breakfast. Afterward, she would either study the alchemical formula of the Great Serpent God or finish the paper left by Professor Ma for personal grievances.
After lunch, she would stroll to the Siye Society to slack off until dusk. In the evening, after dealing with the assorted trivialities of the urban legends in Huacheng, she would lie in bed joyfully playing with Bai Xiaohua until she fell asleep, and then visit the dream world to play happily with her ancestor until the ancestor exclaimed, “I can’t take it anymore!”
Since the end of the final exams, Luxianbei had kept this kind of rhythm.
Looking back now, that peaceful and fulfilling time felt as if it had just happened that very morning.
…
“Wait, it was indeed this morning…” Luxianbei murmured to herself.
“Disaster Lord, what happened this morning?”
On a mountain ridge surrounded by dead trees, a child-like urban legend made of mud approached Luxianbei and asked.
This urban legend had a strange name, “Mangpu,” which originally described a muddy pit similar to a swamp.
However, there had always been a legend surrounding the area that “Mangpu is a sleeping monster that buries people alive if encountered in the wild.” As the night lengthened, this legend inexplicably transformed into reality, manifesting as an urban legend.
“…” Luxianbei fell silent for a moment before expressionlessly responding to Mangpu, “It’s nothing; just take me there, okay?”
“Yes.”
Under Mangpu’s guidance, Luxianbei quickly reached the “pickpocketing” abandoned graves.
These abandoned graves stood prominently in the middle of the road, one of them having partially collapsed, and the door of Du Sixian’s luxury car seemed to have been torn off by brute force and thrown to a far distance.
Scattered around were a few charred spots, exuding residual spirit energy fluctuations from a highly precise spell formula.
In addition, there was an inexplicable residual spiritual energy fluctuation from an urban legend that did not belong to the range of Huacheng, subtly narrating that an outside urban legend had once appeared here.
This was no longer a matter of trespassing into her territory; this was about causing trouble for all the urban legends in Huacheng!
Luxianbei frowned slightly, her mood heavy as her thoughts drifted back to her earlier encounter with Xing Yuan.
————
One week ago.
The day after Luxianbei’s final exam, a black envelope imprinted with the golden mourning owl’s embossed pattern quietly appeared on her desk.
The envelope was left by Gold Horn and Silver Horn, and the letter summarized an invitation to dinner with Xing Yuan.
After reading the letter, Luxianbei muttered to herself, “Could it be a ruse to force a pure girl into signing a contract under the guise of dinner?”
“Could this be a Hongmen banquet?”
However, even though she knew the invitation from the Siye Society Inspector General was likely a trap, she still decided to investigate.
At the end of the letter, Xing Yuan provided two reasons that were hard for her to refuse—how to get her name removed from the Siye Society’s wanted list without signing a contract.
Indeed, after the Hundred Demons Walk, Luxianbei had made it onto the Siye Society’s wanted list.
She had stumbled upon her name appearing glaringly at the bottom of the list while organizing documents.
This situation was supposed to take a long time to manifest, but somehow, a certain brat had secretly conspired to write a report to the Siye Society headquarters through special channels just the day after her completion of the Hundred Demons Walk.
The letter solemnly outlined her potential danger and listed over thirty ways in which she could pose a threat to the country and even world peace.
To make matters worse, after meticulous analysis by the Siye Society headquarters, it was confirmed that these possible threats were indeed valid, carrying certain risks.
Consequently, the decision was made overnight to add her to the wanted list under the “Disaster” designation.
Luxianbei vowed that if she ever found that brat who sabotaged her, she would definitely lift their skull!
People like her, raised under the red flag and nurtured by the spring breeze, were meant to contribute to socialist construction—how could she be a societal threat?
What nonsense!
On the day of receiving the invitation, at eight o’clock in the evening, Luxianbei arrived on time at the private dining room in the top hotel of the Financial Building.
As she opened the door, a faint smell of perfume wafted in. Looking around, she saw Xing Yuan sitting alone near the door, dressed in a deep V red long dress, lightly made up, and seemingly even styled her hair. It was obvious that she had put considerable effort into her appearance.
Luxianbei, “…”
What is this? What’s going on? This situation seems different from what I imagined!
Those thirty-odd alchemical dirty bombs and over fifty charms I brought shouldn’t go to waste, right?
Thinking this, Luxianbei quietly tightened her oversized coat to prevent any major killing weapon from accidentally slipping out.
It wasn’t reasonable for the King of Urban Legends to meet with the Siye Society Inspector General while carrying explosives.
Seeing Luxianbei’s flustered appearance, Xing Yuan smiled charmingly and said, “Why are you just standing there? Hurry and sit down to eat! Let’s chat while we eat, or the food will get cold.”
As she spoke, she pulled out the chair next to her and lightly patted it, inviting Luxianbei to sit beside her.
Seeing this, Luxianbei paused for two seconds in silence, then quietly walked over to sit down one seat apart. Just as she was about to say something, Xing Yuan shifted closer and sat beside her, leaning slightly forward with a hand casually resting on her thigh.
“…”
Luxianbei looked at the hand wandering on her thigh, then glanced at Xing Yuan’s loving, flirtatious gaze, and those deep valleys that made it hard to breathe. She was momentarily speechless.
What does she want? Is it dinner or is she wanting me?
This Inspector General can’t possibly be like Xu Xian or Ning Caichen, with a special obsession for urban legends, can she? Luxianbei wondered.
At that moment, Xing Yuan broke the awkward silence.
“How old are you this year? Are you in a relationship? Do you have any skincare products you wish for? I can send you a couple of sets later.”
Oh no! The more I hear, the more off it seems! Luxianbei thought silently. She felt that Xing Yuan’s smiling demeanor didn’t seem like someone coming to discuss cooperation, but rather someone here for matchmaking.
Finally, upon hearing Xing Yuan ask “What do you think of me?”, Luxianbei couldn’t help but explode.
She pushed Xing Yuan’s hand away, stood up, stepped back two paces, straightened her posture, and turned her head away, saying, “Sister, don’t do this! I think I can still work hard for two more years!”
This needs to stop; if I let her get away with it, she’s going to pull out some rich woman’s happy series of products, Luxianbei thought.
Seeing Luxianbei’s determined demeanor, Xing Yuan was taken aback before bursting into laughter, “You misunderstood! I’m not interested in you, I’m just… just…”
As she spoke, she blushed.
Watching as the charming, alluring big sister turned shy in an instant, Luxianbei frowned and cautiously probed, “Just?”
“Ahem, I just want to simply learn about Bai Kai’s recent situation.”
Can’t get to Bai Kai, can’t I start with the people around him?
“…” Luxianbei was silent for two seconds before unhesitatingly distancing herself from Bai Kai, saying, “What Bai Kai? I don’t know him. I’ve never heard that name; you must be mistaken.”
Xing Yuan frowned, “Huh? Aren’t you his mistress?”
“What mistress?! Who’s spreading rumors?” Luxianbei exclaimed.
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Xing Yuan looking at her with a smile on her face, her piercing gaze seeming to look right through her, making her feel uneasy.
Luxianbei, “…”
“Don’t worry, this is still a private chat. I won’t say anything about your relationship with him. If you don’t believe me, I can sign a contract with you.”
Luxianbei squinted her eyes, “Really won’t say anything?”
“Really.”
“Then you sign the contract first.”
Members of the Siye Society are all sneaky and nasty, so I have to be cautious, Luxianbei thought.
Xing Yuan, “…”
Thus, after signing a confidentiality contract with the “unbreakable oath” spell formula, Luxianbei felt relieved and said, “I do know Bai Kai; our relationship is quite good. But why are you asking about him? You don’t happen to have feelings for him, do you?”
“…” Xing Yuan fell silent for a long time, hesitantly scanning Luxianbei a few times before shyly nodding in agreement.
“Mm.”
“Then just spend money! It’s said that in Huacheng, a night out costs twenty-seven thousand.” Luxianbei said seriously.
“No, no, no!” Xing Yuan hurriedly waved her hand, “That’s not what I want! I mean…”
“If it’s not a physical thing, then you want an emotional connection, right?”
Xing Yuan hesitated to speak, then nodded, “Actually, I want him to take the initiative… um, we’re all girls; you should understand.”
God knows we’re all girls! I don’t understand! Luxianbei cursed in her heart and said seriously, “If that’s the case, then it’s quite difficult. Water Brother hasn’t been emotionally invested in years; he doesn’t even get physical anymore, usually just quantity.”
“Based on my speculation, if he’s not gay, then he can’t forget his first love.”
Luxianbei had heard her father say that Water Brother had a yellowing polaroid photo of his first love in his wallet’s secret compartment that he never let anyone touch.
It is said that when Water Brother got drunk, he would hold the wallet and cry his heart out.
It seems Water Brother still couldn’t forget that woman who had scammed him.
Upon hearing this, Xing Yuan was momentarily stunned, her heart feeling as though it had been gripped by an invisible hand, her eyes fluttering as she said, “I am his first love.”
“What the hell! You’re the one who scammed him out of money and affection, the one who eats people without spitting out bones?” Luxianbei exclaimed, getting so excited that her coat slipped a bit, causing several alchemical dirty bombs to tumble out with a clatter.
“…”
Looking at the luminous liquid contained in the glass bottles, radiating an aura that seemed to harbor terrifying power, Xing Yuan’s corner of the mouth twitched.
Luxianbei, “…”
Just as she was at a loss on how to explain herself, Xing Yuan chuckled softly, “Haha, bringing a few bottles of alchemical potions to spice up dinner is quite reasonable! It’s no big deal.”
Luxianbei, “？？？”
This is acceptable? It seems her determination to sleep with Water Brother is quite resolute!
Thus, after a brief exchange, upon learning that the Inspector General wanted Water Brother to confess, Luxianbei quickly reached an undisclosed shady deal with Xing Yuan, happily selling out Bai Kai…
The topic of Bai Kai was discussed at length between the two, while the actual theme of the invitation was concluded in less than ten minutes.
“…So it is like this. If you can guarantee to control the number of homicide-related urban legend attacks within Huacheng as much as possible, I can assure you that as long as you don’t do anything too outrageous, no one from the Siye Society will come to investigate you,” Xing Yuan said.
“What about the urban legends?” Luxianbei countered, “I mean, will there still be people hunting those urban legends?”
Xing Yuan shrugged, “If they don’t k*ll people!”
“…” Luxianbei hesitated for a long time, taking a deep breath and saying, “I’ll give it a try? But I can’t guarantee anything right now.”
“Understood.” Xing Yuan nodded, “I can give you a year’s time. After a year, as long as the number of homicide-related urban legend attacks in Huacheng decreases to a certain range, we’re good.”
“Mm.” Luxianbei nodded solemnly, “With that said, I’ll take my leave now. As for Water Brother, follow my advice; there should be a good chance of success.”
After saying that, she hurriedly left the hotel and, upon returning home, drafted the “First Edition of Huacheng Urban Legend Management Regulations.”
————
Near Baiyanzi Village.
Luxianbei brought her thoughts back from her recollections, gazing at the abandoned graves ahead.
This area of abandoned graves was, as Du Sixian had said, quite strange.
However, there was something even stranger…
Why did she end up here?
According to Du Sixian, after leaving Baiyanzi Village, she had driven for over an hour, and under normal circumstances, she should have been close to arriving at the town.
Yet this place was less than a kilometer from Baiyanzi Village, right next to the threshing ground of Baiyanzi Village, in a sense, she hadn’t really left the village’s range at all.
Furthermore, the road beneath her feet, though still extending forward within sight, would completely break off when encountering a bend in the water ahead.
“What’s going on with this road? Why are there so many abandoned graves here?”
As Luxianbei spoke, she turned to look at Mangpu beside her but was surprised to find a large group of small urban legends gathered behind her, startling her so much that she trembled slightly.
It was late at night, and suddenly encountering a crowd of dim green, bloody red, and ghostly blue eyes, along with shadowy, eerie figures, who could handle that?
Their spiritual energy fluctuations were so weak that they entered Luxianbei’s spiritual awareness without her noticing it.
And whether it was learned from the local villagers, it seemed they had developed a strange habit.
They were scattered about, wearing the support T-shirts bought from Gu Qiqi, sitting on small stools, and gathering together to gossip and whisper with great interest.
Luxianbei sighed, “…” How come they’re everywhere?
Up until now, she was still somewhat unaccustomed to her special identity as the King of Urban Legends.
As soon as she transformed into an urban legend at night and appeared on the streets, the scene resembled a red-hot star being greeted at the airport, with hundreds of urban legends surrounding her in a strong, watchful presence.
Luxianbei later discovered that this situation arose from some brat spreading the rumor that “the King of Huacheng Urban Legends is a graceful, amiable, elegant big sister.”
A crowd of urban legends heard the rumor, and after seeing her in person, it became harder for her to remove the persona of a big sister, transforming her instead into a beautiful girl.
Consequently, when she decided to hold the “First Session of Urban Legend Scare Training class,” over five hundred applicants poured in, which was why she had to set a high registration fee to reduce the number of participating urban legends to eighty-six.
It was infuriating, so much so that she wanted to hold a second session.
Take from the people and use for the people!
…
“Reporting to the Disaster Lord, I’m not sure why these abandoned graves are here. I only awakened my spirit intelligence last year and don’t know what has happened nearby. But perhaps Old Master Huzi might know,” Mangpu replied.
“Old Master Huzi?” Luxianbei recalled the information about nearby urban legends and frowned, “Are you talking about that catfish spirit? Where is he?”
“Disaster Lord, I’m here! Right here!” a hoarse voice emerged from the crowd of urban legends. Following the sound, an emaciated old man dressed rather human-like, with a long meat beard, approached, twisting his tiny body.
On his face were slippery patches resembling catfish-like skin, scattered like age spots.
“My lord, I’m not a catfish spirit; I’m a shadow eel…”
“Isn’t that just a big catfish that grows by eating animal corpses? Why all the fancy terms?” Luxianbei interrupted, waving her hand.
As she spoke, she walked towards Old Master Huzi, and as she passed a three-tailed squirrel, she casually snatched the wild fruit from its hands and stuffed it into her mouth.
The three-tailed squirrel looked at its empty paws and then at Luxianbei’s figure, its small face scrunching up in displeasure.
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“Yes, yes, what the Disaster Lord says is correct,” Old Master Huzi quickly agreed.
“Mangpu said just now that you know the reason these abandoned graves appeared here?” Luxianbei asked, “Speak up!”
Old Master Huzi respectfully bent slightly and replied, “Reporting to the Disaster Lord, these abandoned graves were left when Baiyanzi Village repaired the road a few years ago.”
“At that time, the villagers were repairing the road, planning to block the river and build a bridge, which ended up angering the River God, leading to the d*ath of several people…”
“Wait!” Luxianbei interrupted with a frown, “River God? Is it an urban legend? I don’t remember such an urban legend existing within the range of Huacheng. What does it look like?”
“This…” Old Master Huzi bent slightly again and explained, “Replying to the lord, I have only heard of this River God; I have never seen it. Moreover, it is not an urban legend of Huacheng.”
Goodness, doesn’t that lead us straight to the culprit? Luxianbei’s eyes lit up, and she asked, “Then if it’s not from Huacheng, where is the River God from? Do you know its usual hiding places?”
Old Master Huzi looked not far away, at the quietly flowing dark river in the darkness, his expression complex as he said, “It is said that this entire river is the River God’s territory. Its movements are unpredictable, and no one, not even urban legends, know where it will appear.”
Upon hearing this, Luxianbei frowned and fell into contemplation.
Since the River God’s movements are erratic, with no one knowing where it would appear, then why did it appear near Baiyanzi Village?
There must be other reasons behind this.
While contemplating, she scanned the surrounding urban legends impassively and asked, “Do any of you know anything else? Speak up!”
As soon as her words fell, the group of small urban legends, staring at Luxianbei’s cold face, were stunned into silence, momentarily hushed.
“Disaster Lord, please don’t be angry. They are timid and haven’t seen much of the world.”
“Am I looking angry?” Luxianbei turned to ask Mangpu.
Mangpu glanced at her face, hesitated for a few seconds, and nodded.
Dammit, I can’t expect them to expect me to smile at them, Luxianbei sighed, “I’m really not angry. Feel free to speak; anyone who shares useful information will be rewarded with half an urban legend core!”
Though coaxing with half an urban legend core was a bit painful for Luxianbei, Du Sixian’s safety was more pressing.
“…”
After another moment of silence, finally, one urban legend resembling a straw hat came forward timidly and said, “I, I know. I saw that lady meet the River God.”
“Oh?” Luxianbei tilted her head, “Do tell!”
The straw hat urban legend squirmed a bit and whispered, “I saw a boat, a bl**d-red boat…”
————
When Du Sixian encountered the River God, the riverbank area was extraordinarily tranquil, like the eye of the storm, where all sounds vanished.
Amidst this heart-stopping silence, a few lights suddenly appeared in her line of sight.
Those lights wobbled and drifted along the riverbank before quickly reaching near the abandoned graves, at which point Du Sixian realized that it was a group of strangely dressed people carrying two rows of lanterns.
Those people wore black robes, the long robes obscuring their faces and bodies, leaving only their pale hands visible.
Following shortly, accompanied by the sound of gongs, a bl**d-red ship suddenly entered view, towering above Du Sixian and her car, making them seem as small as a chicken egg.
Upon the ship stood many individuals dressed in extravagant clothing, with pale faces, moving stiffly as they waved their arms toward both riverbanks.
Such a large ship should not have been able to navigate such a narrow river. Rarely was it seen even in rivers or lakes, yet here it mysteriously appeared, like a ghost ship suspended on the river surface, passing through the dense fog and silently approaching, casting an eerie red light that flooded the entire river with the color of bl**d…
