Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Terrifying

　　After the rain, the sky cleared up, and Tianhai City once again regained its usual hustle and bustle.

　　Except for Queen Avenue.

　　”Sure is quiet, not a single person on the streets. It’s completely different from downtown,” Yuan Xiaoling remarked.

　　She remembered saying something similar when she first came here, but this time it wasn’t awkward silence— it was genuinely quiet.

　　The sky had just turned dark, and the moon hadn’t fully brightened yet. At this hour, Queen Avenue usually wasn’t bustling with activity, but at least there were some pedestrians.

　　Today, there wasn’t even a ghost in sight.

　　Even the bouncer at the bar was down to just one guy.

　　”What happened today? So few people,” Yuan Xiaoling asked her good friend, “Not even anyone drinking in the hall.”

　　”Hmm, is that so?” Ah Lan forced a laugh, looking like she wanted to wipe sweat off her forehead any second, “Maybe everyone’s busy with work.”

　　Ting Ting didn’t dare say a word, occasionally sneaking glances at Bai Ling before quickly averting her eyes, fearing her small actions would be noticed.

　　Only after Bai Ling entered the guest room did they relax a little.

　　”You still ask why we weren’t told earlier,” Ah Lan whispered, “She’s terrifying!”

　　Yuan Xiaoling blinked, “How weren’t we told? And didn’t you know from the start? She does it once a day, twelve hours each time— isn’t that scary enough?”

　　”Not that thing!” Ah Lan rolled her eyes but then became curious, “Is it really twelve hours every time?”

　　”Uh… sometimes.”

　　”That sounds pretty scary too…”

　　Ting Ting couldn’t bear it anymore and interrupted them, “Let’s get serious. Yesterday, a late-third-tier, an early-third-tier, and two late-second-tiers all died at her hands! The whole Tianhai circle is talking about it!”

　　Yuan Xiaoling was slightly shocked, “Everyone knows already?”

　　Word spreads fast, huh?

　　”We’re the intermediaries for various commissions, plus those three were regulars, so many people knew them here,” Ah Lan said, “In fact, after they took the mission, many people were paying attention.”

　　Then they learned of the trio’s brutal deaths along with their client.

　　When did such a fearsome individual appear in Tianhai City? Everyone who frequented the bar was terrified and figured they’d better stay indoors for a few days.

　　”There’s nothing we can do,” Yuan Xiaoling couldn’t help but sigh, “That’s life or death.”

　　While she chatted outside, Luo Zou Cheng inside wasn’t having such a great time.

　　Luo Boss wasn’t scared by Bai Ling’s power; he’d already been scared of that from the beginning. His mood was worse than ever because he’d been helping Bai Ling investigate Yunhai Company’s intelligence, only to uncover many things he himself didn’t know, such as—

　　”Tianhai City has quite a number of Spiritual Energy Manipulators under the control of the Haitian Yise Chamber of Commerce. The Yunhai Company you’re investigating is also a member of the chamber, with at least ten manipulators under their command.”

　　Luo Boss felt terrible. He thought he was doing well as an intermediary, with countless Spiritual Energy Manipulators coming to his bar. While he might not have covered the entire Tianhai City, he assumed he had most of them. But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be less than thirty percent.

　　In Tianhai City, fifty percent of the Spiritual Energy Manipulators worked for big companies— more money, stability, and leisure. About thirty percent served as mercenaries in bars, enjoying freedom and adventure. The remaining twenty percent or so used their abilities to earn a modest living, like Liu Laoxian from the funeral goods store.

　　Bai Ling’s reaction was very calm as she countered, “Are you just finding out now?”

　　Luo Zou Cheng’s face twitched, making him feel even worse.

　　Silent for a while, he finally sipped his tea to calm down and gestured for the beauty assistant beside him to bring over the documents.

　　”I had someone look into Yunhai Company’s situation over the past twenty years, including the early factory operations. I didn’t know what exactly you needed, so I brought everything.”

　　Some official paper documents and a USB drive.

　　…

　　The few people outside the door had initially been discussing how powerful Bai Ling was, but due to Yuan Xiaoling’s initial comment, the conversation gradually veered off course.

　　”Do you think her strength correlates with her terrifying reputation?” Ah Lan asked.

　　Ting Ting frowned, “I doubt it. Isn’t she Inner Stone of the Mind, not Reinforcement Foundation Stone?”

　　”Reinforcement Foundation Stones are just more obvious, but other types can strengthen the body too,” Ah Lan asked, “What do you think, Xiaoling?”

　　Yuan Xiaoling nodded in agreement, “It’s possible.”

　　She herself had been reinforced by Water Dragon LORD, so Bai Ling had no reason not to reinforce herself.

　　Confirmed: Cheating!

　　A while later, Bai Ling came out, and Yuan Xiaoling immediately saw the data and USB drive in her hand.

　　”Let’s go.”

　　Looks like she got what she wanted.

　　Seeing Bai Ling’s indifferent expression, Yuan Xiaoling knew she definitely didn’t thank anyone, so she quietly turned to Ah Lan:

　　”Please thank Luo Boss for me.”

　　After leaving the bar, Yuan Xiaoling thought tonight she wouldn’t escape the lover’s hotel again. She was ready to relax her body and prayed silently that Bai Ling would forget the sentence that scared her during the day.

　　There could be other stuff too…

　　But Bai Ling didn’t head to the hotel; instead, she dived into the car and sped off on the highway.

　　Yuan Xiaoling looked at the direction they were heading and curiously asked, “Are we going back to the villa?”

　　The Zhang family villa.

　　”No computers at the hotel.” Bai Ling was concise.

　　”Electricity… yeah, there really aren’t.”

　　This time, Ning Ning restrained herself and didn’t mention the existence of “e-sports hotels.”

　　With powerful Spiritual Power guiding the way ahead, Bai Ling floored the gas pedal, reaching the Zhang residence in just twenty minutes.

　　Currently, there wasn’t a single person left in the Zhang family villa. The sign on the gate hung limply on the lock, with no lighting inside. The weeds in the small garden looked particularly eerie under the moonlight, making it seem somewhat like a haunted house.

　　After turning on the lights, Yuan Xiaoling ran back to her room, sprawled on the bed playing with her mobile phone. There was no computer in this room, so Bai Ling went to the study to check the information on the USB drive.

　　Her dorm roommate sent a message of concern—

　　[Gu Hui: Xiao Ning, you haven’t been to school for a while, neither has Bai Ling. Ever since you two hooked up, it seems like you’re always together.]

　　[Qiao Lili: Did you get laid again and can’t get up, forcing you to rest at home?]

　　As always, Gu Hui was tactful, while Qiao Lili was straightforward.

　　Yuan Xiaoling couldn’t help but feel不服气 (unfair) at the moment. She glanced back first to confirm Bai Ling wasn’t in the room, then picked up her phone… but after thinking for a moment, she put it down, got up, and closed the door.

　　Alright, everything’s set. She pounced back onto the bed and started typing furiously—

　　[I’m forced to rest? It’s her who’s forced to stay!]

　　[I can responsibly tell you both that not going to school and staying at home were all Bai Ling’s decisions, none of my doing.]

　　[She lasts half an hour, drives me crazy. Who can’t handle half an hour?]

　　[I threw five bucks at her face, telling her to add an extra session. If she dares to add, then fine.]

　　In the study, Bai Ling plugged in the USB drive, and twenty years of Yunhai Company’s records appeared on the screen.