Informed

Outside Shengri Manor.

Jiang Xun had left in a hurry before, and now he was returning just as quickly. The only difference was that he had left with An Ye, but now he returned alone.

Oh, and there were two extra cups of milk tea in the car.

The moment he drove into the manor, he felt a strange sense of unease. His sharp sixth sense made him feel as if he were being watched, a sensation like needles pricking his back!

“What is going on?”

The young man rubbed his arms, which had suddenly broken out in goosebumps, and frowned as he scanned his surroundings. However, even after stopping the car and observing warily for a while, he found nothing out of the ordinary.

Was it just that too many things had happened today, making his nerves overly sensitive?

Jiang Xun felt it was inexplicable, but remembering he had important business to attend to, he could only push that subtle feeling to the back of his mind.

He drove into the manor, found a random spot to park, and immediately took the two cups of milk tea to look for the others.

These two cups were the “Ice and Fire Milk Tea” that had recently taken Yujing by storm. Jiang Xun didn’t know what that fellow posing as Professor Zhou was up to, or why he had specifically mentioned this drink.

But following the principle that it was better to be safe than sorry, he had gone to the nearest outlet to buy them immediately.

Acquiring these two cups had been no easy feat. That “Ice and Fire Milk Tea” shop was even more popular than expected; even late at night, there was a long queue. With time being tight, he obviously couldn’t afford to waste it there, so he eventually had no choice but to buy them from a scalper at a high price.

Jiang Xun wasn’t worried about the money, but he realized that if there really was a problem with this milk tea, the trouble would be immense!

Although Ice and Fire Milk Tea hadn’t been in Yujing for long, no one knew exactly how many cups had been sold recently. If every single cup had an issue…

Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.

As for whether there really was a problem, Jiang Xun couldn’t figure it out for the moment.

The only thing he found strange was the mouthfeel—there was indeed a sensation of alternating cold and heat, but it was nowhere near as exaggerated as the online marketing claimed. Aside from the texture, it tasted like ordinary milk tea in every other respect.

However, even though Jiang Xun hadn’t found a problem, he still brought them back. He was a combatant, not a researcher; just because a human tongue couldn’t taste a problem didn’t mean precise instruments wouldn’t find one!

Coincidentally, because of the demon’s descent, Shengri Manor was currently equipped with many instruments specifically designed to detect abnormal factors.

He planned to hand the milk tea over to them for study and, while he was at it, explain the situation regarding “Professor Zhou” in detail. Oh, and the succubus.

Lost in thought, Jiang Xun walked into the brightly lit villa hall. He looked up, only to lock eyes with a girl on the stairs who had stopped and turned around due to the noise behind her.

“Succubus…?”

The young man doubted his own eyes for a moment, almost wanting to walk back out and re-enter. But before he could react, the demon on the stairs—who seemed significantly shorter than before—brightened up. She immediately broke into a smile and greeted him.

“Officer Jiang? What a coincidence! I was just wondering if you were back!”

She ran down the stairs, the crimson mist surrounding her trailing behind like the hem of a dress.

But as she drew close, she stopped.

“No, the scent on you is too strong. My desire keeps urging me to devour you.”

“…”

Watching the demon retreat back upstairs of her own accord, Jiang Xun didn’t know what to say for a moment. However, seeing the succubus suddenly reminded him of what he had been forgetting all along.

He had felt something was off before, a nagging sense of awkwardness, but he couldn’t for the life of him figure out what it was.

Now he realized that everyone had actually ignored this succubus!

Even with his ocular techniques, he had subconsciously felt she was normal, devoid of any eeriness—just an ordinary female.

These fellows were truly terrifying, playing everyone like puppets in the palm of their hand.

So she had never left? Why was she suddenly looking for him? What did she want?

A multitude of thoughts flashed through Jiang Xun’s mind in an instant, but he remained outwardly calm. Mainly because… panicking was useless.

Although this succubus looked extremely strange, her strength was beyond doubt. Even at his peak, he wouldn’t be her match, let alone in his current state.

Staring at the demon opposite him, Officer Jiang quickly calmed down. Of course, having had several prior contacts helped.

“Is there something you need from me?”

The young man looked up slightly at the girl on the steps. Su Mian was very direct; after blinking to suppress her restless appetite, she asked without any nonsense: “Officer Jiang, do you know who set up the ritual currently enveloping Yujing?”

“What did you say?”

Even with Jiang Xun’s temperament, he was stunned for several seconds. But he reacted quickly. Combining previous clues and oddities, he immediately understood the succubus’s meaning. “You mean the entirety of Yujing is currently covered by a ritual?”

“Yeah, didn’t you know?”

Jiang Xun didn’t answer. His brow was tightly furrowed. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly headed upstairs rapidly.

This gave Su Mian a start.

“Wait!”

The sweet scent rushed toward her, and her hunger for food instantly flared up. She had to retreat several steps before finally bringing it back under control.

However, Jiang Xun’s target wasn’t her. He continued upstairs, leaving Su Mian, who had wanted to say more, with no choice but to shut her mouth and follow him.

Upon reaching the third floor, the young man finally turned toward one of the rooms.

This was where he had received treatment earlier. Because his injuries were severe and caused by a demon, the higher-ups had rushed over some magic potions for a quick recovery. To avoid affecting ordinary people, this area far from the plaza had been chosen.

If Jiang Xun remembered correctly, Zhi Yuan, who was also seriously injured, should be in the room next to them. He didn’t hesitate; he walked straight to the door and rang the bell.

The crisp chime rang, and less than three seconds later, the door was opened from the inside. A black-haired girl wearing an eyepatch and sporting a chuunibyou vibe poked her head out. It was Zhen Zhu.

“You’re back? Captain Jiang, you left so suddenly before. Did you find something?”

She thought Jiang Xun had come to discuss the matter of “Professor Zhou,” which indeed had been one of his goals, but now he had something far more important.

The young man didn’t answer her directly, only glancing inside. “Is it convenient to come in and talk?”

“Come in.”

There was nothing in the room that couldn’t be seen.

Zhi Yuan had lost too much blood due to the use of a relic, but after some treatment, she had regained consciousness, though her face looked quite pale.

She had been leaning against her pillow playing with her phone, but she looked up at the sound of the door. Seeing Jiang Xun enter behind Zhen Zhu, she spoke: “Captain Jiang Xun, your injuries are quite severe too. Is it really okay for you to be running around like this?”

“That doesn’t matter.”

Jiang Xun shook his head. He set the milk tea he was carrying to the side, and his dark eyes landed on Zhi Yuan and Zhen Zhu, who had walked over to sit on the chair next to her. His voice was solemn.

“There is something far more important I need to know right now.”

The two girls quickly sensed the shift in atmosphere.

They exchanged a look before Zhi Yuan spoke, blinking in confusion.

“What is it?”

“About the ritual currently shrouding the entirety of Yujing!”