Qi Qing was stunned.
Sheng Chen helplessly covered his face, "So soon discovered, I knew it, Master, don't underestimate these spirit hunting agents."
Qi Qing also scratched his head sheepishly, "How did you find out?"
At this moment, even Mi Xueer couldn't help but complain, "It's too obvious, Uncle, who would suddenly say 'The food is really bad today' while discussing the weather?"
This metaphor was vivid, and everyone laughed.
"So you were tracking the altar and accidentally found Peach Blossom Pond? Then why were you tracking the altar? As far as I know, very few people know about Mirror City, and even the Spirit Hunting Guild keeps it strictly confidential."
Qi Qing's expression turned serious.
"I was entrusted by an old friend, who has passed away, and I must fulfill his dying wish!"
"Oh?"
Qi Qing shook his head helplessly, "You won't believe me even if I tell you, my friend was a legendary figure."
"How legendary? What's his name?"
"I don't know, anyway, he was very legendary."
Duan Chen inexplicably felt unreliable...
"Never mind that, anyway, Peach Blossom Pond is a place similar to Mirror City, but much smaller. Most of the people there are women. It's a small village built in the Void Realm, and an altar of Mirror City is located below it."
Qi Qing summarized.
"So are we going to Peach Blossom Pond first, or somewhere else?" Mi Xueer was a bit confused.
Sheng Chen tilted his head, "Shouldn't we go find Liu Gang first?"
"What are we looking for him for?"
Duan Chen found it strange.
"That kid's girlfriend is one of those in Peach Blossom Pond..." Those people there were neither heretics nor anomalies, nor humans. Qi Qing didn't know how to refer to them for a moment.
"A woman?" Sheng Chen interjected again.
"Ah, right!"
"If that's the case, why didn't that woman build a nest?" Jia Yunlian asked.
"Because she doesn't have the same strong power as Chu Yue just now, and she can't control the entire community. If she forced it, she might suffer a backlash and perish."
Duan Chen smiled, "I feel like those guys are no different from anomalies."
"No, compared to anomalies, they are actually closer to humans. Besides absorbing vital energy, they also age, get sick, and die. Moreover, most people in Peach Blossom Pond are ordinary people who have married and had children. That woman... I don't know why."
"What happens if they don't absorb vital energy?"
"Nothing will happen. In fact, spiritual energy is just a convenient thing for them. It can prolong their lives, and they can be energetic even without sleep. It's just these things. People in Peach Blossom Pond don't need to cultivate; they will gradually get stronger according to their own circumstances."
"You know quite a lot," Yan Qiuren glanced at him.
Qi Qing gave a sheepish smile.
Duan Chen let out a sigh of relief.
"Let's go back to the security booth for now. Tomorrow, we'll go to Liu Gang's house with him."
"Yes."
Upon returning to the security booth, Qin Ze and Cheng Erhu had actually fainted inside. Duan Chen rushed to check on them.
"It's nothing serious, they were probably drained a bit."
That woman, Chu Yue, probably failed to absorb from Duan Chen and turned her attention to Qin Ze and Cheng Erhu.
"Really..."
Duan Chen didn't know what to say about her. She could live a normal life, but she insisted on causing trouble.
Fortunately, Qin Ze and Cheng Erhu were just a bit weak in spirit and energy; otherwise, there were no other problems.
"Instructor, I just..."
"Enough, I know."
Duan Chen was helpless.
"What do we do now? Should we go after that woman?"
"Not for now."
Avoiding Cheng Erhu, Duan Chen spoke to Qin Ze alone about the current plan.
"Okay, understood!"
This team followed Duan Chen's lead. No one seemed to have nothing better to do than to resist. Except for Yan Qiuren, the others were all old acquaintances. Moreover, Yan Qiuren was now his assistant, so he wouldn't do anything to disobey orders.
[You trust him that much?]
[I read his mind, and it's all true.]
The few of them napped in the security booth for a few hours. At eight in the morning, Liu Gang came to relieve Cheng Erhu.
"How is it?"
"They say it's resolved. I'll check again tonight."
Liu Gang patted his shoulder and smiled, "If everything is really okay, brother, you can continue working the night shift. You need money more than I do."
"Brother Liu..."
Cheng Erhu sniffled. He knew that with Liu Gang's seniority in Jinlin Community, getting a night shift was as simple as offering a pack of cigarettes.
"We're brothers, no need to be polite."
Duan Chen had just woken up and heard their conversation.
"Officer, how is it? Are you injured?"
Liu Gang approached the security booth, lowered his voice, and took out a cigarette from his pocket to offer him.
Duan Chen almost forgot how long it had been since he last smoked. He lit it to relieve stress.
"This is bribery, I'll transfer money to you later."
Liu Gang smiled and sat down next to him, "What are you talking about? I can tell you're a good person, genuinely helping us out."
"Are there people who aren't sincere?" Duan Chen teased.
"No, no, everyone is sincere." Liu Gang smiled, with dark circles under his eyes.
"Haven't been sleeping well lately?" Duan Chen chatted casually.
"I don't know what's going on. I sleep soundly every day, but I just feel a bit tired."
"Very tired?"
Liu Gang shook his head, "No, just a little bit, not particularly tired."
Duan Chen had a feeling he understood.
"How about this, since we're all free, shall we come to your place for a check-up later? Some anomalies crave people's vital energy."
"For free?" Liu Gang was tempted.
"Of course." Duan Chen threw away the cigarette butt and smiled.
"Great! I'll take you there after I get off work. Thank you so much."
Duan Chen hadn't expected Qin Ze and the others to sleep until seven in the evening. He had to wake them up.
"Let's go, let's go check out Little Liu's place."
"Oh... okay, let's go."
The few of them quickly got up and followed Liu Gang, groggily.
His home was also in Jinlin Community, in the last building. It was a small studio apartment.
"My girlfriend is here too, so please officers, don't scare her."
"Don't worry."
When Liu Gang mentioned his girlfriend, his eyes were filled with happiness.
Duan Chen had a hidden worry. After all, he had never seen an example of humans and anomalies living together.
In people's impression, anomalies and the uncanny were unforgivable existences. But as Qi Qing had said, many people from Peach Blossom Pond had integrated into the city and were living normal lives.
"You're hesitating?" Jia Yunlian said softly.
[No, if Liu Gang's girlfriend is harmless, I won't make a move.]
[Don't forget, what you learned from the Spirit Hunting Guild is: eradicate all uncanny and anomalies.]