Chapter 70

Outside the window, the night was deep and still. Ye Jingqiu let out a sigh, touching the back of her neck for the twenty-fifth time.

She had come to truly understand the saying “one wave barely recedes before another rises.” The knife wound on her arm hadn’t fully healed yet, and that itchy sensation—like new flesh regenerating—had now shifted to her nape.

What was this? Was she too young to be developing a neck problem? Or was this the price of getting stronger—some kind of evolution?

Ye Jingqiu sighed languidly. Fortunately, the itch had been going on for more than a day or two. The little dragon in her pocket cautiously poked its head out from the back seat, then darted into her collar with the speed of lightning, wrapping its tail base around her neck with practiced ease.

Well done. Fish treats for dessert tonight!

Ye Jingqiu casually adjusted her collar, leaning back against the car seat in a tactical retreat. She was just about to stretch lazily when her right hand swung too freely and nearly bumped into Shi Zui, who was meditating with her eyes closed beside her.

Ye Jingqiu quickly pulled her hand back.

She was about to sneak a glance at the captain’s expression when Xie Pingzhi suddenly let out an “oh” from the front seat.

“Wait, the base members’ first-phase report from Bamaw is in. The collapsed villa seems to be a Blood Exchange Array. Details are still being verified. As for those two people you mentioned… huh, nothing? Xiao Qiu, check if the address info you gave is right. The report says they found zilch.”

Ye Jingqiu perked up immediately. She whipped her head around and leaned over the passenger seat. “Let me see, let me see! No way—that address was confirmed coordinates.”

Shi Zui hid the faint smile tugging at her lips and suddenly opened her eyes, her deep black gaze shifting slightly.

Xie Pingzhi pulled up the on-site photos. “Here, look. The house is still there, but it’s completely empty inside. Everything’s a mess.”

“Did Sister Nan-Nan run off with A-Yu when she sensed danger?” Ye Jingqiu muttered to herself, rubbing her head in regret. “Should’ve left a phone number at least! Or even WeChat!”

“No traces of elements or combat detected. Looks like they probably left on their own.” Shi Zui finished reading the page and nodded, relaxing a fraction.

Xie Pingzhi reached back and ruffled Ye Jingqiu’s hair. “Relax, don’t worry. Jiang Zhinan saw you both use Instinct, and Aether’s added her to the watchlist. Don’t sweat it—the Administrative Department will track her down for sure.”

Zhou Xianhui braked and parked the car, nodding. “A-Xie’s right. Xiao Qiu, Captain, don’t stress too much. Let’s get out first.”

They were already at the dock?

Ye Jingqiu shoved her worries aside and hopped out the door. She looked up and couldn’t help but let out an awed “whoa.”

A massive, brand-new ship filled her entire field of vision, like a beached whale dominating the entire dock. The silver-white hull had sleek, flowing lines, exuding the cold sharpness of industrial civilization.

Crew members hurried across the deck, while a helicopter emblazoned with the Exotic Beast Processing Base logo slowly settled into the hangar.

“Balor—six thousand tons displacement. Former naval destroyer, repurposed by the base into our essential sea companion.” Xie Pingzhi clapped Ye Jingqiu on the shoulder. “We’ll be spending the next few days aboard. You love fish, right? Come on, I’ll show you and the captain to your rooms.”

Ye Jingqiu’s eyes widened. “The captain and I are sharing a room?”

Perhaps her tone was too dramatic, because Shi Zui, lugging her gear case, paused and glanced back—not too lightly, not too heavily—before turning away.

“What’re you thinking? This ship’s huge—think we’d cram you two together?” Xie Pingzhi, oblivious to anything off, grinned and tugged Ye Jingqiu toward the gangway.

Zhou Xianhui, with her keen senses, followed languidly. “Doesn’t Xiao Qiu want to room with the captain?”

“No way, no way! Sister Zhouzhou, don’t slander me!” Ye Jingqiu protested loudly, while carefully peering ahead at the captain’s figure. Seeing no reaction from the woman leading the way, she felt an inexplicable pang of disappointment.

Fine. The captain really only had eyes for the job. She probably hadn’t even heard.

Balor was rock-steady on the swelling waves, like a divine needle anchoring the sea. The deck bustled with base members calibrating readings and hanging elemental weapons, combining hydrological and weather data. The initial dive was set for eight tomorrow night—any longer, and who knew how deep that unknown S-rank exotic beast would dig.

“No signs of a beast tide yet, but the base is mobilizing manpower just in case. Balor is just transport; the combat vessels are still undergoing final checks at the military dock.” Xie Pingzhi sighed.

This was the Instinct Department’s biggest puzzle so far. If an S-rank exotic beast had surfaced and dived deep, the beast tide should’ve been upon them by now. Why were people still sunbathing on beaches, fleeing the northern chill?

Sadly, S-rank samples were rare since the base’s founding. They could only proceed step by step, wary of rash decisions.

In the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the vast, boundless ocean was called the Return Ruins, hiding countless exotic beasts in its depths. At base HQ, Ying Tian and Yi Fengyan had opened the Kazni Temple to review files on the other nine S-rank exotic beasts, hoping to ID it before tomorrow’s dive.

But perhaps—and this was the hope of everyone at the base—it was just an A-rank exotic beast with exceptional elemental prowess.

“Here we are. Didn’t want to room with the captain? Neighbors work, right?” Xie Pingzhi knocked on a cabin door, her tone teasing.

Ye Jingqiu resigned herself to her teammates. She sighed and nodded, but before she could speak, the door to the cabin on her left swung open. Zhong Qing, gripping her scabbard, bumped right into the group in the corridor.

“Ah… long time no see?” Zhong Qing paused mid-close, then slowly smiled and greeted them. Without a care, she handed the scabbard to Xie Pingzhi. “Perfect timing. Check if the modified mouth makes drawing easier?”

Zhou Xianhui tactically retreated. “I’ve got something to handle—heading back first.”

Ye Jingqiu fanned the flames: “You two can chat slowly here!”

Shi Zui nodded by way of farewell: “Goodbye.”

In an instant, the three scattered like startled birds, the door opening and closing behind them. A moment later, the corridor stood empty.

Xie Pingzhi, who hadn’t even had a chance to speak: “……”

That was just too much.

~~~

By the time Ye Jingqiu got settled and stepped out again, night had fallen completely.

The open beach wasn’t far from here, so leaving the cabin offered a view of distant floating lights. For many, this hour marked the start of nightlife, the city’s wild energy poised to burst forth unrestrained.

No one knew that in waters just tens of kilometers away, a dive that could seal their fate was about to commence.

Ye Jingqiu didn’t want to disturb the captain, so she treaded lightly. She scratched absently at her slightly reddened nape. The crew on deck hustled about without pause. Even with the express route between Bangkok and the base, no one dared slack off with such a dire threat looming.

Maybe Team One’s casual chatter had lulled her into thinking the mission was no big deal. But to everyone else, plunging nine hundred meters was tantamount to racing the Grim Reaper. One tiny slip in their quartet’s coordination, and the crushing pressure would leave no whole bodies behind.

Someone stood by the railing, her silhouette tinged with quiet melancholy. Ye Jingqiu glanced up in mild surprise—it was Zhong Qing.

Huh? She’d figured A-Xie and Zhong Qing would squeeze in one last date before the storm.

“It’s Xiao Qiu? Can’t sleep either?” Hearing footsteps behind her, Zhong Qing turned with a soft smile, the hem of her pale clothes fluttering in the sea breeze.

Ye Jingqiu stepped up to join her at the rail. “Actually, I came out to snap a few photos for my geography homework.”

“You hadn’t mentioned it, I might’ve forgotten you’re still a student.” Zhong Qing studied Ye Jingqiu’s clear features, then asked abruptly, “You’re eighteen this year?”

Ye Jingqiu nodded solemnly. Zhong Qing smiled at once, though the expression barely touched her eyes.

“I started school early. At eighteen, I was already in college—and dating a girlfriend to boot.” Zhong Qing’s voice eased as she turned back to the sea, offhand as ever.

Ye Jingqiu’s heart lurched. No way, no way. Miss Zhong’s tone was so bold and breezy… was this a mutual stand-in crush?!

“Ah, th-then… how’d you two meet?” Ye Jingqiu bit back “how’d you break up” just in time, inwardly cursing herself.

Who the hell chats like that?

“Work-related, sort of. I met her mother first, then spotted her at a banquet.” Zhong Qing draped her right hand over the rail, her voice warming with reminiscence. “She really stood out. Her eyes were stunning—bright and captivating.”

Ye Jingqiu thought, game over. With that tone, I’d buy a tale of lingering obsession and fated reunion.

For her teammate’s shot at true love, Ye Jingqiu steeled herself to probe deeper, gushing, “Love at first sight?”

“Maybe. She was direct from the jump—first words out of her mouth were asking for my number, hoping we could be friends.”

“Sister Zhong, you gave it to her?”

“No.” Zhong Qing’s smile turned knowing. “I asked what kind of friends she had in mind. And this dashing free spirit her mother raved about? She blushed.”

Ye Jingqiu sneered inwardly. What a shy little innocent. Swap in our A-Xie, and she’d shower the compliments before going straight for the kill!

“So she was shy, deep down?”

“Not exactly. She handled wine and small talk like a pro. But sometimes she’d space out in the silliest way.

“After we got together, we took a sea trip in weather like this—chilly. I swapped into a thinner nightgown in the cabin on purpose. She froze the second she saw me, shrugged off her jacket, and hurried over. I figured she’d kiss me. But—”

Zhong Qing let out a chuckle. “She just draped it over my shoulders. ‘It’s cold,’ she said. ‘Don’t catch a chill.’”

Ye Jingqiu: “……”

Done for. A-Xie’s playbook was all flair—no room for “silly.”

“Hey, is it cool I’m spilling all this? Captain Shi might think I’m a bad influence.” Zhong Qing leaned on the rail, half-joking, her tone a shade warmer than usual.

“The captain encouraged me to start dating early! No worries!” Ye Jingqiu fibbed boldly before pressing, “So… what happened next?”

Zhong Qing’s smile held steady. “Next? In the end, she died.”

Ye Jingqiu blanked out, brain short-circuiting. “I… uh… sorry. Sorry.”

Dead white moonlight confirmed.

“No apologies needed. My fault, too. If I’d stood firmer back then, maybe…” Zhong Qing eyed her steadily, then pivoted. “Enough about me. Xiao Qiu, you ever dated?”

“High school was brutal. No time.” Ye Jingqiu waved it off.

“Crush, then?”

“N-none!”

Zhong Qing’s smile turned enigmatic. “Ever wonder if you’d fall for girls… or boys?”

Ye Jingqiu froze. No easy answer there. Liking someone… she’d never really pondered it.

“Girls, I think.” She mulled it over gravely. “Yeah. Gut feeling!”

Gut feeling?

Zhong Qing gazed toward the distant shore, laughing softly. Gut feeling. She almost regretted dying now—wanted to see this girl’s face once her memories returned in full, recalling tonight. Would she panic like before?

Sadly, she never would.

The farthest place was the estuary of the Chao Phraya River. A long time ago, she had abandoned Xie Pingzhi there. Half a year ago, she had prepared herself there to meet her again. And soon after, she would sleep eternally with her there.

A pure white figure suddenly appeared on the coast—it was time. Zhong Qing understood immediately and quietly observed Ye Jingqiu’s expression without batting an eye.

Sure enough, Ye Jingqiu was stunned for a moment. She rubbed her eyes and turned her head as if doubting her own existence. “Sister Zhong, did you see anyone just now?”

Zhong Qing feigned confusion. “Huh? What do you mean?”

Maybe she had just been seeing things…

Ye Jingqiu shrank back a little. She suddenly felt an inexplicable chill down her spine. She withdrew her hand from the railing and said hesitantly in a low voice, “Maybe I was seeing things. Well, Sister Zhong, I’ll head back first. You should rest early too.”

Zhong Qing nodded with a smile. “Alright, good night.”

“Good night.”

She watched Ye Jingqiu’s figure disappear down the corridor before speaking again, her voice drifting like the wind:

“Good night. This time, someone probably won’t wake up again.”

*

Ye Jingqiu hurried along as if being chased. Vaguely, she kept feeling that something was off somewhere. She slammed the door shut with a bang and wailed inwardly that it would have been better to share a room with the captain.

At least then she wouldn’t be alone in the room, feeling like there were people everywhere.

Just then, a crisp ding rang out, and the TV screen in the room suddenly flickered on without warning. Ye Jingqiu jumped in fright. She looked up, ready to turn it off, but the moment her gaze landed on the screen, her pupils shrank sharply!

The person on the screen was all too familiar—it was Jiang Zhinan, Jiang Zhinan with her eyes blindfolded and being shoved toward the edge of a high platform.