Chapter 173: Old Chu Has a Story Too?
He hung up the phone.
Lin Yi rushed into the bathroom.
The moment he entered, he was stunned by the scene before him.
A large basin of water had frozen solid again.
And it was even more solid than the one from yesterday.
’Water... I need water...’
It was that same psychic voice, its childlike tone once again echoing in Lin Yi’s mind.
"I don’t have time to change your water now. Just wait a little longer. I have to go out!"
After saying that, Lin Yi washed his face and brushed his teeth.
Then he hurried out.
’Water... Come back! I need water... Quick, give me water...’
The childlike voice grew increasingly frenzied.
Then, the ice in the basin let out a series of CRACKING sounds.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface of the ice.
Slowly, it began to show signs of melting.
A moment later, when the door clicked shut, the childlike voice seemed to grow calm again.
’Huh?’
...
Lin Yi took a car to the meeting point he’d arranged with Wei Nan.
He found Sun Tao, Hu Quan, Li Xuewen, and Zhou Qi were all waiting for him there.
Lin Yi got out of the car. The moment he saw them, he noticed their grim expressions.
"Let’s hail a taxi!"
Zhou Qi said with a frown.
No one said a word. They just nodded.
They hailed two taxis from the side of the road and headed straight for Shen Mengyi’s home.
No one spoke for the entire ride, and the mood was somber.
Finally, they arrived at Shen Mengyi’s uncle’s house and called for her to come out.
The moment they saw Shen Mengyi, they saw she was dressed in plain white.
Her eyes were red and swollen, a clear sign she had just been crying.
She wore a smile, as if trying to hide her grief.
As she trotted downstairs and saw Lin Yi and the others, she said with a faint smile, "Senior Brother Lin, what are you all doing here?"
Seeing Shen Mengyi force a smile made Lin Yi and the others feel even worse.
"The results are coming out tomorrow, so we came to see how you are."
"What’s wrong? Have you been crying?"
Wei Nan asked with a smile.
Shen Mengyi quickly averted her gaze, trying to hide her expression.
"Of course not... I just woke up. Senior Brother Lin, you all didn’t come over just to ask me that, did you?
You could have just called. Why go through the trouble of coming in person?"
Seeing how hesitant everyone was acting,
Zhou Qi stepped forward. "Forget it, I’ll say it. Shen Mengyi, we’ve all heard about what happened to your brother."
"He was a hero and an inspiration to us all... If you feel like crying, just cry. Don’t hold it in.
From now on, if you ever need anything, just let us know."
"Every single one of us will be there for you!"
As Zhou Qi finished, Wei Nan nodded.
"He’s absolutely right. Just think of us as your big brothers from now on. Don’t feel awkward about it!"
"That’s right, we’re all from the same school. We’ll go to the New District together and attend Martial Arts University together in the future!"
"If anyone bullies you, just tell Senior Brother Lin. He’s a great fighter!"
Lin Yi: "..."
One after another, they offered words of comfort to Shen Mengyi.
At that moment, Shen Mengyi’s composure finally broke.
Tears streamed down her face like a broken dam.
She quickly wiped the tears away, nodding through her sobs. "Okay... I won’t cry. Actually... before my brother went on his mission, he already had a feeling..."
"He told me a lot of things, and gave me instructions for what to do..."
"I’ve actually been prepared for this for a while. If... if I can get into a Martial Arts University this time, Senior Brother Lin... I want to go to Xingwu University with you. In the future, I want to become a Demon Hunter, inherit my brother’s dream, and slay demons..."
Hearing this, Lin Yi gave her a long, deep look.
He nodded and said, "Alright. We’ll go to Xingwu together. We’ll become Demon Hunters together."
"Count me in! I’m going to Xingwu too!" Wei Nan quickly added.
At that, everyone couldn’t help but laugh.
Zhou Qi, Sun Tao, and Hu Quan exchanged a look.
"If you’re all going to Xingwu University, I guess I’ll go too.
When I really think about it, going to Dragon Tiger University doesn’t seem that great, and I wouldn’t feel free being a Daoist!"
"If we all join the Demon Hunting Bureau, slay demons, and fulfill Senior Shen Yuzhe’s last wish, wouldn’t that be more meaningful than being a Daoist?" Zhou Qi said with a grin, wiping the corner of his eye.
At that, Sun Nan, Hu Quan, and Li Xuewen looked at each other.
"Well, if that’s how it is, then let’s not even consider anything else.
Let’s make a pact today. Everyone who gets a high enough score goes to Xingwu University!"
"Join the Demon Hunting Bureau and hunt demons together in the future?"
"Yeah, it’s settled then!"
"See you at Xingwu University?"
"Yeah! See you at Xingwu University!"
The sound of hearty laughter made Shen Mengyi feel much better.
She looked at her friends, her eyes glistening with tears.
In that moment, she was so glad to have these friends.
She was also grateful that they would be by her side on the journey ahead.
Amidst their laughter, Shen Mengyi’s gaze secretly drifted to Lin Yi.
She thought to herself, ’Brother, you can rest easy. I’m not alone. I have Senior Brother Lin and the others. In the future, I’ll be just like you. I’ll join the Demon Hunting Bureau and become a Demon Hunter...’
...
「That afternoon.」
「Wushan County Hospital.」
Several medical personnel were pushing a hospital bed downstairs.
On the bed lay Chu Zhengxiong...
"Fuck, easy there! I’m a patient, can you be a little gentler?"
"Are you guys even medical professionals? You have no gentle touch at all! You there, Old Yang, get me a cigarette! Quick!"
Chu Zhengxiong hollered the whole way.
Clearly, his spirits had made a full recovery.
To recover to this extent in just a day and a night...
With a constitution like that, was there any need to worry about him?
Nearby, Qin Zhaoxue, Mo Yanfeng, and Han Bin, all of them wrapped in bandages to varying degrees, watched Chu Zhengxiong with amused smiles.
"Look at the state you’re in, and you’re still thinking about smoking? Just deal with it!" Yang Yong refused, his face cold.
This wasn’t the first time.
Ever since the old man left yesterday, Chu Zhengxiong had been relentlessly pestering him for a smoke.
Yang Yong had refused several times, but he was relentless.
Just as Chu Zhengxiong was about to say something else,
an accompanying nurse said coldly, "You’re that injured, and you still want to smoke? No smoking in the ambulance!"
"No, I won’t smoke in the ambulance! Just let me finish one to get my fix, and then you can push me on. Can’t you? Just one! I swear I won’t ask for another after this!" Chu Zhengxiong’s tone suddenly softened.
He was practically begging.
But the medical staff completely ignored him.
They pushed Chu Zhengxiong straight onto the ambulance.
"You monsters... you won’t even let me have one cigarette! Do you have any humanity at all?
This is abuse! You’re abusing me..."
"Alright, can you act a little more mature? You’re a grown man. What’s all this fuss about?"
Just then, Mo Yanfeng hobbled over, one leg lame, leaning on a crutch, his arm in a sling.
At his words, Chu Zhengxiong shot him a glance and fell silent.
Seeing this, Yang Yong, Han Bin, and Mo Ya exchanged a look.
"It’s true what they say, there’s a lid for every pot. Only Old Mo can shut him up!" Yang Yong said with a laugh.
Han Bin and Mo Ya both nodded.
"I know, right? I’ve been wondering, why is Old Chu so afraid of Mo Yanfeng? Don’t tell me those two are..."
Instantly, a spark lit up in the eyes of Yang Yong and Han Bin.
They looked at Mo Ya as if they had just understood something profound.
Just then, Qin Zhaoxue walked over with a smile.
"Don’t let your minds wander. The reason Captain Chu listens to Brother Mo is because Brother Mo’s sister is..."
"Shut up, Qin Zhaoxue! You shut your mouth right now! Keep talking nonsense and I’ll deal with you later! Don’t say another word!"
Suddenly, Chu Zhengxiong roared from inside the ambulance.
Qin Zhaoxue froze, obediently falling silent.
But her unfinished sentence had naturally piqued the curiosity of Yang Yong, Han Bin, and the others.
After the medics closed the ambulance doors,
Yang Yong sidled up to Qin Zhaoxue. "Quick, tell us. Who is Old Mo’s sister?"
Han Bin and Mo Ya also crowded closer.
Every one of them looked like a curious cat.
Gossip was written all over their faces.
Qin Zhaoxue quickly shook her head. "Captain Chu won’t let me. I can’t tell you!"
"Coach Yang, I have to call Xiaoyi. You all get in the vehicle first."
With that, Qin Zhaoxue quickly pulled out her phone.
Its screen was covered in a shocking web of cracks.
She had just gotten it back from the repair shop that morning.
She hadn’t even had time to get a new screen protector before they had to depart for Xinghai City.
Watching Qin Zhaoxue walk aside to make her call, Yang Yong and Han Bin exchanged a look.
"We have to investigate this. Dig deep into it. Old Chu has secrets..."