Chapter 40: Ting’an Branch

Inside the black van, Xueqiu sat quietly beside Xia Yin.

She scanned the interior, confirming a fact:

This wasn’t the same Wuling Hongguang from last time.

Oddly, why had she thought it was?

Xueqiu let the thought go, closing her eyes for a brief rest.

But in under thirty seconds, Xia Yin shook her awake.

“Hey, don’t sleep. We’re almost there. Though, if you want to nap, let Madam President carry you—don’t count on me.”

Xia Yin clutched his rod bag, stuffed with foam to fill the gaps around his longsword.

Each time the van hit a speed bump, Xueqiu heard faint rustling.

She stared at him for two seconds to confirm he was talking to her.

In the front passenger seat, the beautiful girl with a kendo-style ponytail didn’t glance back or acknowledge Xia Yin’s teasing, focusing ahead like Su Xi, who was driving.

“Five minutes to Ting’an Branch. Instead of useless chatter, brief her on where we’re going,” Ou Ziyun said.

“Oh, sure, I wouldn’t dare defy our noble, elegant board chairman’s daughter, the great Madam President…” Xia Yin’s dead-fish eyes didn’t shift, but he turned his gaze to Xueqiu.

“If I’m explaining, just ask what you don’t get, Snowball. Like, should we hit the convenience store near the entrance for snacks or settle lunch first? That place is like a mine—supplies come every couple of weeks.”

Xueqiu smoothed her slightly messy hair.

Over the months, she’d considered tying it into Ou Ziyun’s high ponytail, Su Xi’s short cut, or even Chisaki’s twin tails…

“No need. I like long, dark hair, but yours is white, so just long and straight… bah, anyway, it’s fine as is, right?”

Despite the hassles of long hair, Xueqiu took his advice.

“Are all Academy vehicles like this van?” she asked suddenly.

She’d been curious since boarding.

Compared to “What’s the Investigation Team like?” or “Is it dangerous?”, this question was trivial.

“This van? A Wuling Hongguang, or… you mean this one, right?” Xia Yin met her sea-blue eyes. “Want the truth? The truth is…”

“Is?”

“No money.”

Xueqiu blinked.

She’d expected profound answers—like Xia Yin extolling the van’s advantages, mentioning Contract-related features, or reciting its deep historical significance with a somber tone.

But… no money?

“I told you, right? The last one was a five- or six-year-old junker. This one’s probably older,” Xia Yin grumbled.

“If the school had more budget, I’d ride a Rolls-Royce or Bugatti with two Desert Eagles strapped to my waist.”

“It’s not about the school,” Ou Ziyun said from the front, staring into the rearview mirror, unfazed. “These years, Shadow Ghost breaches are fewer than twenty years ago. They’ve shifted focus to exploring Youdu ruins.”

Youdu ruins?

Xueqiu’s first thought was an archaeology team.

Maybe the “Spiritual Academy Youdu Investigation Team” wasn’t as scary as it sounded.

“Yeah, exactly. That’s why it’s boring. The Qingtan incident was just months ago, Javier’s still not caught, and Antidote…” Xia Yin rambled. “Who knows where they are? Maybe planning to invade the Academy. If they do, now’s the time—everyone’s on break, and we’re off to the Investigation Team.”

Xueqiu caught “Javier” again, now with “Antidote.”

“Javier” sounded foreign.

In these months, she’d met more foreigners than in her previous eighteen years—Carlos, Bing Shi Nagi, Chisaki Takanotsume…

Who was Javier? What was Antidote?

Xueqiu meant to ask, but before she could, the van stopped.

“Alright, get out, let’s move,” Su Xi said eagerly.

Silent the whole ride, playing dedicated driver, she was bursting now.

Xueqiu gently opened the door.

She’d avoided looking out, fearing carsickness and distracted by Xia Yin.

The van stopped in a remote spot.

No bustling traffic or skyscrapers—just scattered old houses.

Morning sunlight bathed the van.

Nearby, Xueqiu saw an elderly man hobbling with a cane.

“Let’s go. Did you contact the Ting’an Branch? What if it’s like Qingtan and everyone’s dead? I don’t want another murder scene,” Xia Yin said, dragging his suitcase, two bags slung front and back.

“You can’t enter Youdu without reporting. Brother Xia, you’ve been in your comfort zone too long to forget that,” Su Xi teased, taking Xueqiu’s luggage like a caring sister.

Xueqiu scanned the area.

It felt like a rural enclave or suburb.

Either way, it was close to the “entrance” they mentioned.

Led by Ou Ziyun, the four weaved through alleys, stopping at a dead end.

Beside it stood an aged three-story house.

The first floor had a metal shutter and iron door, the upper floors no balconies, windows shut tight, curtains drawn.

Like the owner was never home.

“This is it? The nearest entrance?” Xia Yin asked, his rod bag accidentally hitting Xueqiu as he turned.

He apologized, briefly halting his endless complaints.

Xueqiu saw it—this was likely their destination.

The house, like the convenience store when she entered the Academy, was unassuming.

Even this street, this district, saw few people by day.

August’s sun was harsh, unlike the Academy’s mild climate.

Beep—

Following the sound, Xueqiu saw Ou Ziyun making a call.

Ten seconds later, it connected, mahjong sounds in the background.

Five seconds after, the mahjong stopped, the call ended, followed by two minutes of silence.

Then, the door opened.

The small metal door beside the shutter creaked open, a scruffy, bald man poking out half his head.

Unaccustomed to sunlight, he shaded his eyes.

Ou Ziyun didn’t waste words, pulling out her student card.

The man rubbed his eyes, his panda-like gaze scanning the four until a heavy yawn escaped, and he nodded.

Xueqiu caught the strong stench of cigarettes and alcohol on him.

ps: Saw some reader comments—many are still in high school. Not sure what to wish, but here’s to scoring 100 points above your expected results!
As always, begging for monthly tickets, tips, and rants. Heading to pitch my editor for a recommendation—hope I win (crossed out).