Chapter 53: Undercover Visit
Today, Cao Bin, Jiang Hong's master, showed rare concern for his disciple's internship.
[Disciple, how's it going at the Exorcism Commission?]
Jiang Hong: [Master, I'm going on a business trip to Guangzhou.]
Cao Bin: [Oh? Which department are you in now?]
Jiang Hong: [Assistant to An Jie.]
Cao Bin: [???????]
The previous night, Jiang Hong had a series of bizarre dreams - playing dodgeball with Lu Xiu and Chen Zhen using Suddenly's head, and the Scripture of Everything opening a cosmic backend filled with blue screen errors. The next day on the plane, he was so tired he dozed off for nearly three hours, neglecting his duty to "take good care of the leader." An Jie, sitting beside him, watched movies on the in-flight entertainment system, completely focused.
Lu Xiu sat behind Jiang Hong and An Jie, with no interaction with An Jie throughout the flight, as if they were strangers.
"Ah! It's so warm!" Jiang Hong arrived in the warm spring of Guangzhou, shedding his down jacket for a comfortable long-sleeved sweatshirt.
Jiang Hong's last visit to Guangzhou was in autumn. Although the city didn't have significant seasonal changes, this spring was unusually cool due to a recent cold snap.
An Jie put on a pair of Google glasses, similar to Chen Zhen's, and signaled Jiang Hong to hail a car. Jiang Hong had already booked one in advance, leading An Jie to their reserved hotel with a garden.
Anjie, unexpectedly, was very easy to serve — Jiang Hong often forgot there was someone beside him, as Anjie hardly ever spoke, usually sitting quietly unless Jiang Hong bothered him.
"Boss, what would you like for dinner tonight?" Jiang Hong asked.
"Anything," Anjie replied calmly.
"Where are we going later? To the Exorcism Committee?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.
Anjie: "..."
Jiang Hong: "?"
"Tell me," Anjie said, "what's the most important aspect of investigating incognito? What is it, huh?"
"Incognito?" Jiang Hong replied.
"Undercover! It's undercover!" Anjie nearly lost his temper.
Jiang Hong immediately said, "Oh, so how do we go about this undercover investigation?"
Anjie, no longer wanting to engage with Jiang Hong, remained silent, so Jiang Hong didn't press further.
In the hotel.
"Wow—" Jiang Hong exclaimed, "This bed is huge! Sorry... Boss, this is your bed."
Used to dormitory and standard hotel beds in Beijing, Jiang Hong instinctively lay down on Anjie's bed, then quickly sprang up.
"Go rest," Anjie said expressionlessly. "I'll call you if needed. Don't wait for me for dinner."
Jiang Hong quickly agreed, took his room key, and rolled back to his own room, marveling at its large bed, big enough for two of him and Lu Xiu.
"Where are you going?" Lu Xiu's voice suddenly asked.
Jiang Hong, singing in the shower, was startled by Lu Xiu, remembering he had left Lu Xiu's room key at the front desk.
"I visited Principal Xiang's home," Lu Xiu said. "Cao Bin asked me to fetch something."
Jiang Hong asked, "Does he live in Guangzhou?"
Lu Xiu replied, "The principal's wife is from Guangdong. What about you guys?"
Jiang Hong explained that Anjie likely had his plans, to which Lu Xiu suggested, "Let's head to the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee later."
Jiang Hong eagerly agreed. After both had showered and changed clothes, they set off for the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee.
In the south, trees seldom shed leaves in autumn and winter. Instead, they drop tender bud casings in spring, accompanied by the bright sunshine, stirring a certain indescribable, restless emotion in one's heart.
The moisture from the Pearl River nourished the city. The pedestrians, different from those in Beijing or Xi'an, added to the city's busy yet leisurely atmosphere. Elderly men and women sunbathed at storefronts, office workers sipped drinks through straws while waiting for buses, all contributing to the city's laid-back vibe amidst its hustle.
"I quite like the south," Jiang Hong said, holding onto a handrail and speaking to Lu Xiu. "Staying in the north for too long makes me yearn for the south, and living in the south makes me miss the north."
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong and reached out to tuck the dragon scale pendant hanging from Jiang Hong's neck back inside his collar.
"You must like Lhasa the most, right?" Jiang Hong asked.
A person's birthplace is often their most cherished homeland, but Lu Xiu replied, "No, I'm fine anywhere."
Lu Xiu kept surveying the surroundings while riding the bus, including the route and a young couple listening to music with headphones.
"I always feel Guangzhou is a bit different from other cities," Jiang Hong said.
As the bus sped along the south road of the Pearl River, Lu Xiu, gazing out the window, raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's different?"
When a seat became available, Lu Xiu sat down and had Jiang Hong sit on his lap. They both looked out the window. Jiang Hong couldn't quite put his finger on it, prompting Lu Xiu to ask, "Intuition? The local vibes?"
"No, no," Jiang Hong realized the distinction, saying, "That's it, there are a lot of couples in Guangzhou."
As the bus made its stops, they watched the waiting students, many of whom were uniformed couples. In Beijing, Jiang Hong often saw couples too, but their behavior wasn't as openly affectionate as in southern cities, perhaps due to cultural differences.
Lu Xiu had expected Jiang Hong to make some insightful observations, but was speechless to find him only noticing others in love.
"Let's get off," Lu Xiu said.
They rode the bus around half the city, arriving in front of a row of old-style houses, with a sign reading: Yulan Alley.
Jiang Hong curiously asked, "Is the entrance here?"
Lu Xiu hummed in affirmation and led Jiang Hong into a Sha County snack shop. The owner glanced at them, but Lu Xiu confidently walked straight into the kitchen.
The kitchen was full of greasy smoke and burn marks on the walls. Pots lay haphazardly beside the stove outside of dining hours. This was the most unusual entrance Jiang Hong had ever seen, as Lu Xiu pulled open a metal cabinet in the kitchen.
"The entrance in Guangzhou is old-style," Lu Xiu explained. "Locals are quite nostalgic."
Speaking, Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong squeezed into the metal cabinet, tightly pressed together.
"Hey, hey," the owner of the Sha County snack shop came down and said, "Young man! Only one person at a time, this is a single-person path."
Lu Xiu ignored him and casually closed the door.
"These young people nowadays..."
Inside the dark cabinet, Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu could only hear each other's breathing. Jiang Hong felt Lu Xiu's heart beating vigorously, the dragon's heartbeat much stronger than a human's.
"I'll do it," Jiang Hong said. "What needs to be done?"
Lu Xiu reached out, found a ring, and Jiang Hong pulled hard, but it didn't budge.
After waiting a while, Jiang Hong gave up. Then, Lu Xiu turned the iron ring and casually slapped the wall, revealing a glowing magic circle. It lit up their faces, and as they infused it with spiritual power, there was a "buzz"—
Lu Xiu suddenly disappeared.
Jiang Hong: "................"
But a second later, Lu Xiu reappeared.
"Forgot." Lu Xiu wrapped his arms around Jiang Hong's waist, and this time, both were absorbed by the magic circle.
They experienced a whirlwind of sensations, followed by Jiang Hong exclaiming, "Wow!"
Light, omnipresent light, gentle and bright.
It was another Yulan Alley. At the end of the alley stood a six-story building with a sign reading "Guangdong Provincial Exorcist Committee Office." The sides were lined with magnolia trees, about to bloom, with buds ready to open.
The alley was also filled with shelves of daffodils, their fragrance refreshing. A banner on the side read: "4th Guangzhou Exorcism Committee Daffodil Cultivation Contest."
This was Jiang Hong's second official visit to an Exorcism Committee. The Guangzhou Exorcism Committee resembled the one in Xi'an, with stores on either side of the building, both fashioned like convenience stores. On the left was a magical artifact convenience store, and on the right, a self-service supermarket for various exorcism materials.
Jiang Hong wanted to explore the stores but was pulled back by Lu Xiu. At four in the afternoon, the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee was empty, with only an old man as the gatekeeper.
Jiang Hong glanced at the old man's work badge, which read "Qu Zhineng."
"From Beijing, huh," Old Qu commented as he checked Lu Xiu's introduction letter. "There's no one in the office today; they've all gone out."
Lu Xiu asked, "What about the leaders?"
Old Qu replied, "They've gone out too. What do you need? Is that an introduction letter from Fang Yilan? How's that girl doing in Beijing?"
"She's our director," Jiang Hong responded.
Putting on his glasses, Old Qu scrutinized the letter and remarked, "Sending such young exorcists, huh."
Lu Xiu looked around the empty Guangzhou Exorcism Committee and asked, "Where did they all go?"
Old Qu answered, "To investigate the earthquake. They split up to examine the ley lines. Ah, what can they really find out?"
Understanding the situation, Lu Xiu gestured to Jiang Hong to wait in the Exorcism Committee. They went upstairs and looked down to see the scenery outside, unhindered by any magical barrier. The nearby Pearl River, with the spring breeze, was refreshing.
Curious, Jiang Hong stood outside an office on the second floor and peered in. One room, perhaps left in a hurry, had forgotten to draw the curtains, but the door was locked. Inside, there was a map of the ley lines in Guangdong Province on the table. He motioned for Lu Xiu to see, and Lu Xiu glanced back.
Jiang Hong asked, "What are we supposed to investigate?"
Lu Xiu replied, "We need to find out who in the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee is an undercover agent sent by Yinghuo."
Jiang Hong said, "I can't even recognize everyone here. Do you have any leads?"
Lu Xiu: "No."
Lu Xiu usually had a plan, but he didn’t show it in front of Jiang Hong. Whenever he revealed a plan, it inevitably led to Jiang Hong's endless questions and the need to explain everything in detail.
Jiang Hong suggested, "Would investigating their offices be useful? If Lian Jiang were here, maybe he could get through the walls."
Lu Xiu replied, "We don’t need that guy. What do you want to see? Just take a casual look outside."
Saying this, Lu Xiu pressed his hand against the large glass window, and the curtains in the offices started to open one by one.
Jiang Hong was a bit nervous and glanced back at the gatehouse. Old Qu downstairs hadn’t noticed them. Jiang Hong asked, "Can I take pictures?"
Lu Xiu hesitated for a second and then nodded, "Go ahead and take pictures."
Jiang Hong discreetly picked up his phone and began photographing the leaders' offices, showing a nervous expression like a thief.
Lu Xiu remarked, "No need to be so tense, but do you think it will be useful?"
Jiang Hong replied, "Maybe there are some clues. I'll take the photos and look at them closely later..."
Lu Xiu used magic to open the curtains of the offices on the second, third, fourth, and fifth floors in succession. Jiang Hong took photos through the glass windows of each office, wondering if there might be any suspicious magical artifacts or decorations that could point to a Yinghuo spy.
On the sixth floor, at the very end, the curtains of one office opened with a "whoosh," startling Jiang Hong.
Inside that office, the snow-white walls were covered with the word "death" written everywhere – in black on the walls, red on the floor, and splashed with bright red paint on the office desk. Next to it stood a dressing mirror, covered with a coat.
Jiang Hong exclaimed, "Ah!"
He jumped up in alarm and clung to Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu looked puzzled, being clung to by Jiang Hong, and turned to look inside through the window.
"Oh my god, it's so creepy—" Jiang Hong regretted his curiosity. In broad daylight, the office was ominously dark, sending chills down his spine as he looked inside from outside.
"Let's get down," Lu Xiu said, steadying Jiang Hong. He tried the office door, which was locked. He looked up at the door, noted there was no nameplate, and after a brief moment of thought, placed his hand on the doorknob, channeling spiritual power into it.
"Don't go in," Lu Xiu instructed. "I'll check it out..."
"Don't..." Jiang Hong clung tightly to Lu Xiu's leg, so Lu Xiu gave up, took a photo with his phone, and after a moment of scrutiny, pulled the curtain closed.
Jiang Hong, pale-faced from the array of "death" characters, was startled by a voice suddenly sounding behind them.
"What are you doing?!"
"Ahhhh—" Jiang Hong screamed in a second scare, seeing a tall figure in Hanfu with the robe covering the feet, seemingly floating towards them.
Lu Xiu shielded Jiang Hong behind him and answered, "Nothing, just looking around."
The tall figure, not resembling a native of Guangdong, said displeasedly, "The Exorcism Committee is not a place for casual strolling! Get out!"
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and Jiang Hong realized it wasn't an illusion. The previously sunny spring day was now clouded over, and the "energy" from all around was flowing towards Lu Xiu. In that moment, Lu Xiu seemed to open invisible scales all over his body, releasing an immensely strong pressure!
"No, no, no," Jiang Hong quickly put his earlier fear aside, now more afraid that Lu Xiu would tear down the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee. He immediately grabbed Lu Xiu's hand, saying, "Don't be angry, don't be angry."
The tall figure also realized something was amiss and stepped back. Then someone hurriedly ran upstairs, panting, saying, "Oh! You've arrived! Sorry, sorry—! Two handsome guys! So charming!"
It was a chubby lady in her fifties, dressed in work attire, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, heavily made up, yet somehow appearing very approachable. She approached them, apologizing, "Please, please, I'm so sorry."
When Jiang Hong held Lu Xiu's palm, it was as if the fierce beast was soothed, and he retracted his aura.
"I am the director of the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee, my surname is Liao, Liao Fang." The chubby lady smiled and invited them into her office, then scolded the tall figure, "Go make some tea!" She quickly explained to Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong, "I'm so sorry, he's an intern, a newcomer."
The tall and sturdy young man in Hanfu, with his robe trailing on the ground, moved back and forth like a floor-cleaning robot. His work badge read "Lu Didi." As Jiang Hong was distracted, Liao Fang whispered something mysterious to Lu Xiu, who made an "Oh" expression, seemingly letting go of the intern's indiscretion.
Jiang Hong: "??"
Lu Xiu gestured to Jiang Hong not to ask anything and turned to Liao Fang, "What findings have you gathered about the earthquake?"
Liao Fang replied with difficulty, "The exorcists are all out today, and we haven't reached any conclusions yet. Can you wait a little longer? We're planning to work overtime and have a meeting tonight to analyze the data."
Lu Didi placed the tea heavily in front of them, spilling some of it. Lu Xiu, without even glancing at him, continued to question Liao Fang, "Any preliminary conclusions?"
Liao Fang shook her head with difficulty, "This morning, someone from your Beijing headquarters already visited. It seemed to be someone under Minister Anjie. Our guys took them to the epicenter, but with experts inspecting the site and outsiders present, you know how it is – the progress gets slowed down with all the back and forth."
The entire Guangdong Province is not typically prone to earthquakes, being far from the two major seismic belts. Even minor tremors can trigger vigilance among many departments.
After pondering, Lu Xiu didn’t pursue the earthquake topic further and changed the subject, "You haven't submitted your reports yet."
"Ah, yes, yes," Liao Fang said with a smile. "We were supposed to fax them over these past few days, but we forgot with the earthquake happening."
Liao Fang hurried to her desk and took out a file bag marked "Confidential."
"Give it to me," Lu Xiu said, "I’ll take it back to Chen Zhen."
Liao Fang hesitated visibly for a second, her expression suggesting it might be inappropriate, but Lu Xiu preempted her unspoken objection, "What’s inappropriate about it?"
"No, no," Liao Fang replied with a smile, "just didn't want to trouble you."
Liao Fang handed the file bag to Lu Xiu, who immediately opened it and began to examine two forms. Liao Fang’s expression changed, and Jiang Hong guessed Lu Xiu wasn't supposed to see this document. Yet, he fully embraced his role as Chen Zhen's envoy, disregarding protocols and checking the files first.
"Alright," Lu Xiu said after reviewing the documents, tucking the file bag away. "I will come again tomorrow. Have the materials ready for a report by two o’clock in the afternoon."
Liao Fang could only reply, "Thank you for your efforts."
Liao Fang stood up, personally escorting them downstairs. Lu Xiu waved his hand, indicating there was no need for further escort.
"What's this?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.
"Staffing chart," Lu Xiu replied. "Fang Yilan mentioned the other day that Guangzhou's chart hadn't been submitted yet, so I bluffed her."
"How would Director Fang know?" Jiang Hong wondered.
Lu Xiu explained, "Before she was promoted and transferred to Beijing, she was in charge of the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee. Liao Fang was personally promoted by her."
Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong left Yulan Alley and each grabbed a shared bicycle. Lu Xiu asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"
"I want clay pot rice," Jiang Hong immediately responded. "I know a place that serves delicious clay pot rice. Follow me."
Riding their bikes along the riverside, Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong headed to Hui Shi Jia for clay pot rice. Guangzhou's eateries start to get crowded from five-thirty, and Jiang Hong had to take a number and wait behind thirty-some tables with Lu Xiu in the waiting area.
"I wonder what happened in that office," Jiang Hong whispered. "There must be something fishy about it."
"That's why I took their staffing chart," Lu Xiu said, taking advantage of the waiting time to examine the chart again. "By looking at the personnel movements, we can roughly understand what happened. Something must have occurred at the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee, but it was concealed."
"Oh, I see!" exclaimed Jiang Hong. "You're so smart, Teacher Lu, how come you're so smart?"
Jiang Hong rested one hand on Lu Xiu's shoulder, casually playing with his ear. Lu Xiu said, "It's innate, please show some respect for your teacher."
Jiang Hong laughed heartily. Lu Xiu pointed out a name on an "in-service" staffing chart marked "retired due to illness." The name was "Zhao Yan," gender indiscernible from the name, and the position was "Head of the Archives Department."
"That office belongs to Zhao Yan," Lu Xiu added. "Now we just need to find out where he is and ask about the situation; we're likely to get a clue."
Jiang Hong asked, "But how can you be sure that this Zhao Yan is the owner of that office?"
Lu Xiu put the staffing chart back into the file bag and replied, "Because after walking around the sixth floor of the Driven Committee, I noticed that office was the only one without a classification sign. And in the entire building, there is no Archives Department, only an Archives Room."
Wow, Jiang Hong hadn't expected that Lu Xiu would find a clue in just one afternoon. It seemed that Chen Zhen was right to send him here.
"That's amazing," Jiang Hong said admiringly. He hadn't expected Lu Xiu to remember all the doorplates just by walking around once. "You should become a detective."
Lu Xiu said, "If you hadn't suggested opening the curtains, we wouldn't have discovered this clue. You're quite smart too, my young friend." He patted Jiang Hong on the head as he spoke.
Jiang Hong: "..."
But just then, a figure blocked the last ray of the setting sun over the Pearl River.
The exorcist named Lu Didi appeared before them, as if out of thin air.
"Are you two from the Discipline Inspection Committee?" Lu Didi asked. "I have something to say, a complaint to make! I can't take it anymore!"
Chapter 53: Undercover Visit
Today, Cao Bin, Jiang Hong's master, showed rare concern for his disciple's internship.
[Disciple, how's it going at the Exorcism Commission?]
Jiang Hong: [Master, I'm going on a business trip to Guangzhou.]
Cao Bin: [Oh? Which department are you in now?]
Jiang Hong: [Assistant to An Jie.]
Cao Bin: [???????]
The previous night, Jiang Hong had a series of bizarre dreams - playing dodgeball with Lu Xiu and Chen Zhen using Suddenly's head, and the Scripture of Everything opening a cosmic backend filled with blue screen errors. The next day on the plane, he was so tired he dozed off for nearly three hours, neglecting his duty to "take good care of the leader." An Jie, sitting beside him, watched movies on the in-flight entertainment system, completely focused.
Lu Xiu sat behind Jiang Hong and An Jie, with no interaction with An Jie throughout the flight, as if they were strangers.
"Ah! It's so warm!" Jiang Hong arrived in the warm spring of Guangzhou, shedding his down jacket for a comfortable long-sleeved sweatshirt.
Jiang Hong's last visit to Guangzhou was in autumn. Although the city didn't have significant seasonal changes, this spring was unusually cool due to a recent cold snap.
An Jie put on a pair of Google glasses, similar to Chen Zhen's, and signaled Jiang Hong to hail a car. Jiang Hong had already booked one in advance, leading An Jie to their reserved hotel with a garden.
Anjie, unexpectedly, was very easy to serve — Jiang Hong often forgot there was someone beside him, as Anjie hardly ever spoke, usually sitting quietly unless Jiang Hong bothered him.
"Boss, what would you like for dinner tonight?" Jiang Hong asked.
"Anything," Anjie replied calmly.
"Where are we going later? To the Exorcism Committee?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.
Anjie: "..."
Jiang Hong: "?"
"Tell me," Anjie said, "what's the most important aspect of investigating incognito? What is it, huh?"
"Incognito?" Jiang Hong replied.
"Undercover! It's undercover!" Anjie nearly lost his temper.
Jiang Hong immediately said, "Oh, so how do we go about this undercover investigation?"
Anjie, no longer wanting to engage with Jiang Hong, remained silent, so Jiang Hong didn't press further.
In the hotel.
"Wow—" Jiang Hong exclaimed, "This bed is huge! Sorry... Boss, this is your bed."
Used to dormitory and standard hotel beds in Beijing, Jiang Hong instinctively lay down on Anjie's bed, then quickly sprang up.
"Go rest," Anjie said expressionlessly. "I'll call you if needed. Don't wait for me for dinner."
Jiang Hong quickly agreed, took his room key, and rolled back to his own room, marveling at its large bed, big enough for two of him and Lu Xiu.
"Where are you going?" Lu Xiu's voice suddenly asked.
Jiang Hong, singing in the shower, was startled by Lu Xiu, remembering he had left Lu Xiu's room key at the front desk.
"I visited Principal Xiang's home," Lu Xiu said. "Cao Bin asked me to fetch something."
Jiang Hong asked, "Does he live in Guangzhou?"
Lu Xiu replied, "The principal's wife is from Guangdong. What about you guys?"
Jiang Hong explained that Anjie likely had his plans, to which Lu Xiu suggested, "Let's head to the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee later."
Jiang Hong eagerly agreed. After both had showered and changed clothes, they set off for the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee.
In the south, trees seldom shed leaves in autumn and winter. Instead, they drop tender bud casings in spring, accompanied by the bright sunshine, stirring a certain indescribable, restless emotion in one's heart.
The moisture from the Pearl River nourished the city. The pedestrians, different from those in Beijing or Xi'an, added to the city's busy yet leisurely atmosphere. Elderly men and women sunbathed at storefronts, office workers sipped drinks through straws while waiting for buses, all contributing to the city's laid-back vibe amidst its hustle.
"I quite like the south," Jiang Hong said, holding onto a handrail and speaking to Lu Xiu. "Staying in the north for too long makes me yearn for the south, and living in the south makes me miss the north."
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong and reached out to tuck the dragon scale pendant hanging from Jiang Hong's neck back inside his collar.
"You must like Lhasa the most, right?" Jiang Hong asked.
A person's birthplace is often their most cherished homeland, but Lu Xiu replied, "No, I'm fine anywhere."
Lu Xiu kept surveying the surroundings while riding the bus, including the route and a young couple listening to music with headphones.
"I always feel Guangzhou is a bit different from other cities," Jiang Hong said.
As the bus sped along the south road of the Pearl River, Lu Xiu, gazing out the window, raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's different?"
When a seat became available, Lu Xiu sat down and had Jiang Hong sit on his lap. They both looked out the window. Jiang Hong couldn't quite put his finger on it, prompting Lu Xiu to ask, "Intuition? The local vibes?"
"No, no," Jiang Hong realized the distinction, saying, "That's it, there are a lot of couples in Guangzhou."
As the bus made its stops, they watched the waiting students, many of whom were uniformed couples. In Beijing, Jiang Hong often saw couples too, but their behavior wasn't as openly affectionate as in southern cities, perhaps due to cultural differences.
Lu Xiu had expected Jiang Hong to make some insightful observations, but was speechless to find him only noticing others in love.
"Let's get off," Lu Xiu said.
They rode the bus around half the city, arriving in front of a row of old-style houses, with a sign reading: Yulan Alley.
Jiang Hong curiously asked, "Is the entrance here?"
Lu Xiu hummed in affirmation and led Jiang Hong into a Sha County snack shop. The owner glanced at them, but Lu Xiu confidently walked straight into the kitchen.
The kitchen was full of greasy smoke and burn marks on the walls. Pots lay haphazardly beside the stove outside of dining hours. This was the most unusual entrance Jiang Hong had ever seen, as Lu Xiu pulled open a metal cabinet in the kitchen.
"The entrance in Guangzhou is old-style," Lu Xiu explained. "Locals are quite nostalgic."
Speaking, Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong squeezed into the metal cabinet, tightly pressed together.
"Hey, hey," the owner of the Sha County snack shop came down and said, "Young man! Only one person at a time, this is a single-person path."
Lu Xiu ignored him and casually closed the door.
"These young people nowadays..."
Inside the dark cabinet, Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu could only hear each other's breathing. Jiang Hong felt Lu Xiu's heart beating vigorously, the dragon's heartbeat much stronger than a human's.
"I'll do it," Jiang Hong said. "What needs to be done?"
Lu Xiu reached out, found a ring, and Jiang Hong pulled hard, but it didn't budge.
After waiting a while, Jiang Hong gave up. Then, Lu Xiu turned the iron ring and casually slapped the wall, revealing a glowing magic circle. It lit up their faces, and as they infused it with spiritual power, there was a "buzz"—
Lu Xiu suddenly disappeared.
Jiang Hong: "................"
But a second later, Lu Xiu reappeared.
"Forgot." Lu Xiu wrapped his arms around Jiang Hong's waist, and this time, both were absorbed by the magic circle.
They experienced a whirlwind of sensations, followed by Jiang Hong exclaiming, "Wow!"
Light, omnipresent light, gentle and bright.
It was another Yulan Alley. At the end of the alley stood a six-story building with a sign reading "Guangdong Provincial Exorcist Committee Office." The sides were lined with magnolia trees, about to bloom, with buds ready to open.
The alley was also filled with shelves of daffodils, their fragrance refreshing. A banner on the side read: "4th Guangzhou Exorcism Committee Daffodil Cultivation Contest."
This was Jiang Hong's second official visit to an Exorcism Committee. The Guangzhou Exorcism Committee resembled the one in Xi'an, with stores on either side of the building, both fashioned like convenience stores. On the left was a magical artifact convenience store, and on the right, a self-service supermarket for various exorcism materials.
Jiang Hong wanted to explore the stores but was pulled back by Lu Xiu. At four in the afternoon, the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee was empty, with only an old man as the gatekeeper.
Jiang Hong glanced at the old man's work badge, which read "Qu Zhineng."
"From Beijing, huh," Old Qu commented as he checked Lu Xiu's introduction letter. "There's no one in the office today; they've all gone out."
Lu Xiu asked, "What about the leaders?"
Old Qu replied, "They've gone out too. What do you need? Is that an introduction letter from Fang Yilan? How's that girl doing in Beijing?"
"She's our director," Jiang Hong responded.
Putting on his glasses, Old Qu scrutinized the letter and remarked, "Sending such young exorcists, huh."
Lu Xiu looked around the empty Guangzhou Exorcism Committee and asked, "Where did they all go?"
Old Qu answered, "To investigate the earthquake. They split up to examine the ley lines. Ah, what can they really find out?"
Understanding the situation, Lu Xiu gestured to Jiang Hong to wait in the Exorcism Committee. They went upstairs and looked down to see the scenery outside, unhindered by any magical barrier. The nearby Pearl River, with the spring breeze, was refreshing.
Curious, Jiang Hong stood outside an office on the second floor and peered in. One room, perhaps left in a hurry, had forgotten to draw the curtains, but the door was locked. Inside, there was a map of the ley lines in Guangdong Province on the table. He motioned for Lu Xiu to see, and Lu Xiu glanced back.
Jiang Hong asked, "What are we supposed to investigate?"
Lu Xiu replied, "We need to find out who in the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee is an undercover agent sent by Yinghuo."
Jiang Hong said, "I can't even recognize everyone here. Do you have any leads?"
Lu Xiu: "No."
Lu Xiu usually had a plan, but he didn’t show it in front of Jiang Hong. Whenever he revealed a plan, it inevitably led to Jiang Hong's endless questions and the need to explain everything in detail.
Jiang Hong suggested, "Would investigating their offices be useful? If Lian Jiang were here, maybe he could get through the walls."
Lu Xiu replied, "We don’t need that guy. What do you want to see? Just take a casual look outside."
Saying this, Lu Xiu pressed his hand against the large glass window, and the curtains in the offices started to open one by one.
Jiang Hong was a bit nervous and glanced back at the gatehouse. Old Qu downstairs hadn’t noticed them. Jiang Hong asked, "Can I take pictures?"
Lu Xiu hesitated for a second and then nodded, "Go ahead and take pictures."
Jiang Hong discreetly picked up his phone and began photographing the leaders' offices, showing a nervous expression like a thief.
Lu Xiu remarked, "No need to be so tense, but do you think it will be useful?"
Jiang Hong replied, "Maybe there are some clues. I'll take the photos and look at them closely later..."
Lu Xiu used magic to open the curtains of the offices on the second, third, fourth, and fifth floors in succession. Jiang Hong took photos through the glass windows of each office, wondering if there might be any suspicious magical artifacts or decorations that could point to a Yinghuo spy.
On the sixth floor, at the very end, the curtains of one office opened with a "whoosh," startling Jiang Hong.
Inside that office, the snow-white walls were covered with the word "death" written everywhere – in black on the walls, red on the floor, and splashed with bright red paint on the office desk. Next to it stood a dressing mirror, covered with a coat.
Jiang Hong exclaimed, "Ah!"
He jumped up in alarm and clung to Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu looked puzzled, being clung to by Jiang Hong, and turned to look inside through the window.
"Oh my god, it's so creepy—" Jiang Hong regretted his curiosity. In broad daylight, the office was ominously dark, sending chills down his spine as he looked inside from outside.
"Let's get down," Lu Xiu said, steadying Jiang Hong. He tried the office door, which was locked. He looked up at the door, noted there was no nameplate, and after a brief moment of thought, placed his hand on the doorknob, channeling spiritual power into it.
"Don't go in," Lu Xiu instructed. "I'll check it out..."
"Don't..." Jiang Hong clung tightly to Lu Xiu's leg, so Lu Xiu gave up, took a photo with his phone, and after a moment of scrutiny, pulled the curtain closed.
Jiang Hong, pale-faced from the array of "death" characters, was startled by a voice suddenly sounding behind them.
"What are you doing?!"
"Ahhhh—" Jiang Hong screamed in a second scare, seeing a tall figure in Hanfu with the robe covering the feet, seemingly floating towards them.
Lu Xiu shielded Jiang Hong behind him and answered, "Nothing, just looking around."
The tall figure, not resembling a native of Guangdong, said displeasedly, "The Exorcism Committee is not a place for casual strolling! Get out!"
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and Jiang Hong realized it wasn't an illusion. The previously sunny spring day was now clouded over, and the "energy" from all around was flowing towards Lu Xiu. In that moment, Lu Xiu seemed to open invisible scales all over his body, releasing an immensely strong pressure!
"No, no, no," Jiang Hong quickly put his earlier fear aside, now more afraid that Lu Xiu would tear down the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee. He immediately grabbed Lu Xiu's hand, saying, "Don't be angry, don't be angry."
The tall figure also realized something was amiss and stepped back. Then someone hurriedly ran upstairs, panting, saying, "Oh! You've arrived! Sorry, sorry—! Two handsome guys! So charming!"
It was a chubby lady in her fifties, dressed in work attire, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, heavily made up, yet somehow appearing very approachable. She approached them, apologizing, "Please, please, I'm so sorry."
When Jiang Hong held Lu Xiu's palm, it was as if the fierce beast was soothed, and he retracted his aura.
"I am the director of the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee, my surname is Liao, Liao Fang." The chubby lady smiled and invited them into her office, then scolded the tall figure, "Go make some tea!" She quickly explained to Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong, "I'm so sorry, he's an intern, a newcomer."
The tall and sturdy young man in Hanfu, with his robe trailing on the ground, moved back and forth like a floor-cleaning robot. His work badge read "Lu Didi." As Jiang Hong was distracted, Liao Fang whispered something mysterious to Lu Xiu, who made an "Oh" expression, seemingly letting go of the intern's indiscretion.
Jiang Hong: "??"
Lu Xiu gestured to Jiang Hong not to ask anything and turned to Liao Fang, "What findings have you gathered about the earthquake?"
Liao Fang replied with difficulty, "The exorcists are all out today, and we haven't reached any conclusions yet. Can you wait a little longer? We're planning to work overtime and have a meeting tonight to analyze the data."
Lu Didi placed the tea heavily in front of them, spilling some of it. Lu Xiu, without even glancing at him, continued to question Liao Fang, "Any preliminary conclusions?"
Liao Fang shook her head with difficulty, "This morning, someone from your Beijing headquarters already visited. It seemed to be someone under Minister Anjie. Our guys took them to the epicenter, but with experts inspecting the site and outsiders present, you know how it is – the progress gets slowed down with all the back and forth."
The entire Guangdong Province is not typically prone to earthquakes, being far from the two major seismic belts. Even minor tremors can trigger vigilance among many departments.
After pondering, Lu Xiu didn’t pursue the earthquake topic further and changed the subject, "You haven't submitted your reports yet."
"Ah, yes, yes," Liao Fang said with a smile. "We were supposed to fax them over these past few days, but we forgot with the earthquake happening."
Liao Fang hurried to her desk and took out a file bag marked "Confidential."
"Give it to me," Lu Xiu said, "I’ll take it back to Chen Zhen."
Liao Fang hesitated visibly for a second, her expression suggesting it might be inappropriate, but Lu Xiu preempted her unspoken objection, "What’s inappropriate about it?"
"No, no," Liao Fang replied with a smile, "just didn't want to trouble you."
Liao Fang handed the file bag to Lu Xiu, who immediately opened it and began to examine two forms. Liao Fang’s expression changed, and Jiang Hong guessed Lu Xiu wasn't supposed to see this document. Yet, he fully embraced his role as Chen Zhen's envoy, disregarding protocols and checking the files first.
"Alright," Lu Xiu said after reviewing the documents, tucking the file bag away. "I will come again tomorrow. Have the materials ready for a report by two o’clock in the afternoon."
Liao Fang could only reply, "Thank you for your efforts."
Liao Fang stood up, personally escorting them downstairs. Lu Xiu waved his hand, indicating there was no need for further escort.
"What's this?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.
"Staffing chart," Lu Xiu replied. "Fang Yilan mentioned the other day that Guangzhou's chart hadn't been submitted yet, so I bluffed her."
"How would Director Fang know?" Jiang Hong wondered.
Lu Xiu explained, "Before she was promoted and transferred to Beijing, she was in charge of the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee. Liao Fang was personally promoted by her."
Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong left Yulan Alley and each grabbed a shared bicycle. Lu Xiu asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"
"I want clay pot rice," Jiang Hong immediately responded. "I know a place that serves delicious clay pot rice. Follow me."
Riding their bikes along the riverside, Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong headed to Hui Shi Jia for clay pot rice. Guangzhou's eateries start to get crowded from five-thirty, and Jiang Hong had to take a number and wait behind thirty-some tables with Lu Xiu in the waiting area.
"I wonder what happened in that office," Jiang Hong whispered. "There must be something fishy about it."
"That's why I took their staffing chart," Lu Xiu said, taking advantage of the waiting time to examine the chart again. "By looking at the personnel movements, we can roughly understand what happened. Something must have occurred at the Guangzhou Exorcism Committee, but it was concealed."
"Oh, I see!" exclaimed Jiang Hong. "You're so smart, Teacher Lu, how come you're so smart?"
Jiang Hong rested one hand on Lu Xiu's shoulder, casually playing with his ear. Lu Xiu said, "It's innate, please show some respect for your teacher."
Jiang Hong laughed heartily. Lu Xiu pointed out a name on an "in-service" staffing chart marked "retired due to illness." The name was "Zhao Yan," gender indiscernible from the name, and the position was "Head of the Archives Department."
"That office belongs to Zhao Yan," Lu Xiu added. "Now we just need to find out where he is and ask about the situation; we're likely to get a clue."
Jiang Hong asked, "But how can you be sure that this Zhao Yan is the owner of that office?"
Lu Xiu put the staffing chart back into the file bag and replied, "Because after walking around the sixth floor of the Driven Committee, I noticed that office was the only one without a classification sign. And in the entire building, there is no Archives Department, only an Archives Room."
Wow, Jiang Hong hadn't expected that Lu Xiu would find a clue in just one afternoon. It seemed that Chen Zhen was right to send him here.
"That's amazing," Jiang Hong said admiringly. He hadn't expected Lu Xiu to remember all the doorplates just by walking around once. "You should become a detective."
Lu Xiu said, "If you hadn't suggested opening the curtains, we wouldn't have discovered this clue. You're quite smart too, my young friend." He patted Jiang Hong on the head as he spoke.
Jiang Hong: "..."
But just then, a figure blocked the last ray of the setting sun over the Pearl River.
The exorcist named Lu Didi appeared before them, as if out of thin air.
"Are you two from the Discipline Inspection Committee?" Lu Didi asked. "I have something to say, a complaint to make! I can't take it anymore!"
