Ji Yanshuang listened carefully, then nodded in a daze.

“Sis, thank you.”

She reached out to hug her sister but added, “But next time, don’t just trust anyone in a panic.”

Then, she turned to Bai Xiaoxiao. “Big Sis, just now you said something about being an insider. What do you mean by that?”

The conversation continued.

—Meanwhile—

Baiyao Ancient Town – A Traditional Inn

Inside an antique-style inn, a woman in black gauze sat cross-legged on the bed—

Blood suddenly spurted from her mouth.

A towering, burly man pushed the door open.

“Ling Gu! What happened?!”

The woman shook her head. “It’s nothing serious. My spell was broken, and I lost a medicine primer.”

The burly man sat beside her, his face filled with concern. “There are plenty of medicine primers. If you lost one, so be it. Just tell me—who hurt you? I’ll kill him.”

“I don’t know his name. Only that he’s an intern investigator from 749, with a single star on his shoulder. Don’t act recklessly—we can’t afford to ruin our plans. The Flying Centipede ritual will be completed in a few days, and we need stability. We’ll deal with this later.”

The burly man’s fierce eyes softened as he gently wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“Don’t worry, Ling Gu. I’ll listen to you. I won’t cause trouble.”

—

749 Bureau Headquarters

Lu Ding and Yan Feifan returned to submit their mission report.

By now, it was already night.

For ordinary people, the night meant rest—but for 749, their stage was just being set.

Monsters were more active at night—

And for Cultivators of Qi, night vision was a basic skill.

That’s why 749 investigators operated mostly at night.

As the two approached the mission hall, they slowed their steps.

Yan Feifan, walking behind, gradually lowered his head, his footsteps faltering.

Lu Ding turned to look at him. “What are you doing? Let’s go.”

“Lu… Lu Bro, I, uh, need to use the restroom. Can you go ahead and submit the mission first? Or maybe wait for me?”

Though puzzled, Lu Ding nodded. “There’s no reason to submit a mission alone. I’ll wait. Hurry up.”

“Oh! Thanks, Lu Bro! I’ll be quick.”

Just as Yan Feifan was about to dash off—

A strong arm suddenly wrapped around his shoulder.

“Why the rush, Feifan Bro?”

Yan Feifan stiffened. “I… I just need to use the restroom, Brother Sun.”

Sun Changming twisted Yan Feifan’s body to face the mission hall.

“You’re already at the mission hall, and now you want to pee? Hold it in.”

He looked inside the hall and called out, “Hey, Lao Du! Weren’t you looking for Feifan Bro? Look who I found!”

Inside the hall, a young man—scrolling through his phone—turned around.

His expression twisted into a fake smile as he slowly walked down the steps.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Feifan Bro. Where the hell were you today?”

Lao Du pocketed his phone, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“You were making a racket this morning—didn’t you know I had a mission last night and hadn’t slept? And why haven’t you washed the clothes yet? Who are you saving them for—me?”

Lu Ding, standing nearby, was speechless.

Even at 749, there’s still bullying?

Then again—wherever there were people, there would be conflict.

Awakening one’s powers wasn’t limited to model students; anyone could awaken.

It was inevitable that some bullies would make their way in.

But if someone thinks they can push around someone useful to him—

Then they’re dead wrong.

Yan Feifan looked at Du Guang with pleading eyes.

“Brother Du, I was out on a mission today… I’ll wash them tonight, okay?”

At that moment—he desperately hoped Du Guang would show him some dignity in front of Lu Ding.

Just as he had told Lu Ding earlier—he wasn’t good at fighting. His position in his four-person dorm was at the very bottom.

Chores like cleaning, washing clothes, and other tasks naturally fell on him.

Because he was the weakest.

He had gotten used to it—his parents had always told him, “Being taken advantage of is a blessing. We’re poor—don’t fight, don’t make trouble.”

This mindset had shaped his timid personality.

But today—for the first time ever—he felt the urge to fight back.

Lu Ding was on another level—

He had absolute power, absolute talent. He was practically untouchable.

Yet, someone like him had joked around with him, praised him, and treated him as an equal.

Yan Feifan didn’t know what Lu Ding was really thinking—

But he had already considered Lu Ding his first true friend in 749.

And he didn’t want his friend to see him in such a pathetic state.

But his hope was in vain.

Du Guang raised his hand—

Yan Feifan knew what was coming.

That insulting, condescending slap to the back of his neck—

But this time, he was ready to fight back.

If Du Guang dared to humiliate him in front of Lu Ding—

He’d fight to the death!

—Except—

Before Du Guang’s hand could land—

He was sent flying.

Lu Ding stood still, calmly lowering his leg after kicking Du Guang away.

In the corner, Du Guang almost folded in half from the impact.

Lu Ding’s cold voice rang out.

“The hell are you putting on a show for?”

Then he turned to the guy still gripping Yan Feifan’s shoulder.

“Let go. Now.”

In that moment, despite the dim night—

In Yan Feifan’s eyes, Lu Ding stood bathed in light, shielding him from the darkness.

Who said white moonlight had to be a woman?

The young man immediately let go and stepped back. “Lu Ding… this has nothing to do with me.”

Lu Ding smirked. “You know me?”

“Good. That makes this easy.”

Before the guy could react—

Lu Ding slapped him across the face.

He spun three full times in the air before crashing to the ground.

“You know me, and you still dare to bully my assistant? From now on, you and Du Guang will wash his clothes. Understood?”

The young man clutched his face and nodded frantically. “Y-yeah, I’ll do it! I’ll wash them!”

Lu Ding turned to Du Guang. “And you?”

Du Guang’s face twisted in humiliation.

He clenched his teeth, rage flickering in his eyes—but right now, he had no choice.

Despite his anger, he nodded stiffly.

A breeze swept through the area.

In that instant—Du Guang looked up—

And saw darkness.

A huge, clawed paw reached out from the abyss, shredding the darkness like tearing through fabric.

Behind it—

A massive, bloodthirsty maw gaped wide.

Lu Ding’s voice was low and commanding.

“Go ahead. Look at me with that expression again.”

Du Guang shrank into the corner, legs kicking against the floor in a futile attempt to back away.

But the wall behind him left him nowhere to run.

Trembling, he raised his hands in surrender. “I give up! I give up! I meant nothing by it, really! I’ll clean the dorm, I’ll wash the clothes…”

Lu Ding genuinely couldn’t understand—

Why did some people insist on glaring at those stronger than them?

Were they trying to prove how ‘unyielding’ they were?

This wasn’t bravery—it was stupidity.

And more importantly—

If someone doesn’t submit, why is no one finishing the job?

What kind of half-assed bullying is this?

Lu Ding turned away and started walking up the steps.

“Still need to pee?”

Yan Feifan quickly followed. “Nope, Lu Bro! Let’s hand in the mission.”

Lu Ding smirked. “Damn lazy donkeys. Next time, pee before we go.”

“Got it, Lu Bro!”