The sign at Daddy Xiao's resort house reads "City's Backyard, Spiritual Retreat," and every plant and tree inside is meant to help guests relax.
But now, the atmosphere at this leisurely paradise is so tense that it could snap at any moment.
The scenic villas have been turned into offices for Chief Huang, and the hot spring spa below has become a temporary command center for communication.
Phones ring non-stop, and whether it's field work or logistics, no one dares to close their eyes for even a moment. Everyone is on edge, fearing that the situation will spiral out of control.
"The heads of various local branches have all been instructed," at sunset, Xiao Zheng went to report to Chief Huang. The young master was still on vacation, but his stubble was active, growing thick and surrounding his face, making it appear smaller.
"The principle is to not use force actively, and absolutely not to allow any accidental harm to ordinary people. In areas where conditions permit, they are now rushing to make echo sound-proofing devices. I have instructed them to deploy as many as they can, starting with areas with dense forests and grass, such as mountainous and rural areas. In places with too many echoes, such as forests, each district has already sent out Storm teams to organize the residents."
Chief Huang took a few sips of strong tea and asked, "What about those two? Still unable to contact them?"
Xiao Zheng shook his head. "They agreed to come back before dark, but there's been no word from them. Not only that, but the entire Biquan Mountain branch has lost contact. It seems like all communication signals have been blocked, and the service providers are conducting maintenance. I've already sent people from nearby branches to investigate."
"Let's think positively," Chief Huang reassured him. "If only the Biquan Mountain branch lost contact, we would be helpless and worried. At least now we know that those two have gone there, so we can be a little more at ease. And if they suddenly went to Biquan Mountain at this time, they must have discovered something."
Xiao Zheng was about to say something when his ulcer was accidentally touched by his tongue, causing a sour sensation that made him gasp for cold air and almost shed tears.
"Chief Huang, how can I be like you and always think positively?"
"Wait until you're older, then it will be better."
As you grow older, you will understand that time cannot be reversed, the past cannot be regained, and the things we lose will never come back. Every step we take is filled with the heartbreaks of our lives. But what else can we do besides moving forward with our heads held high and ignoring the pain?
"There are always more solutions than difficulties, young comrade." Chief Huang reached into the small refrigerator beside him and tossed him a bottle of cooling tea. "Normally, we must guard against leaks, but once a secret is leaked, it's like spilled water, impossible to retrieve. We must make other plans. The Mirror Flower Water Moon Butterfly scandal is a serious matter, and we must bear the consequences. All we can do now is try our best to salvage the situation."
Xiao Zheng struggled to swallow the cold tea, feeling like it was just a diluted version of traditional medicine - bitter and astringent, produced purely to take revenge on society.
He sighed weakly, "Well, I think the situation is under control now. The True Nature Sect doesn't have that many people, and they can't come up with any new tricks besides spreading false rumors. It shouldn't be worse than it is now..."
Ping Qianru rushed in, her eyebrows on fire, "Chief Huang! Director Xiao! There's an emergency!"
Xiao Zheng replied with a grunt.
Chief Huang looked at Xiao Zheng with affection and took out a bottle of quick-acting heart-saving pills from his pocket, asking Ping Qianru, "What's going on? Slow down and tell us."
Ping Qianru's voice was hoarse, "The Echo Sound's audio has changed!"
At Chiyuan--
On a mountain slope overlooking the grand canyon, the withered trees were entwined by soft vines, and the entire half of the mountain was covered in lush green leaves.
Suddenly, a person emerged from the dense greenery.
It was Luo Cuicui, who used to only be able to transform his nails and hair into green vine tendrils. But now, he had become half-plant herself, and it was hard to tell whether vines had grown on his body or if a person had sprouted from the vines.
The drooping vines pulled at his features, distorting his face and making him look like a corpse that had been hanging for thousands of years.
"I bet they're all after me now, aren't they?" Luo Cuicui muttered to himself. "I mean, my ability is usually pretty useless, just cutting a few green leaves to use as decoration. But now, it even leaves behind an energy trace for them to track me. Ha, it's better to have nothing at all like you."
A pair of soft leather shoes stepped on the branches and leaves on the ground, making a "rustling" sound as they approached him.
Without turning around, Luo Cuicui shouted out the identity of the person behind her, "Right, Director Gong?"
The person lifted the green curtain of the plants and walked out from the forest. He appeared to be around sixty years old, wearing glasses with a long and thin face. He looked refined and scholarly, and one could vaguely see that he had a decent appearance when he was young.
However, a pair of deep and long wrinkles extended from his mouth to his chin, as if they were cut by a knife, adding a touch of fierceness to his face. This was actually the former director of the aftermath department, Gong Chenggong, who had been mysteriously comatose for a long time.
Gong Chenggong was both a participant and a 'victim' of the Mirror Flower Water Moon Butterfly incident. The Bureau had believed that he was not deeply involved in the incident and had been lured by some high-ranking field agents. Later, when he fell into a coma, they thought it was due to some powerful individuals who feared he would reveal their secrets, until he disappeared in front of a group of elites.
Everyone knew he wasn't a good person, but no one ever considered him a serious villain. After all, Gong Chenggong was just an ordinary person. How much could an ordinary person really accomplish?
He was probably just greedy and took advantage of the situation to make some money.
The idea of using butterflies to cover up the number of deaths was definitely not his own - he didn't even have the authority to make decisions like that.
"What are traces? With your current level of ability, Brother Luo, I don't believe they can find you through those old traces," Gong Chenggong said, looking down at his outstretched hands.
To his surprise, there was a faint electric light flashing in the palms of this "ordinary" person. Gong Chenggong lowered his head, buried his face in his palms, and took a deep breath, intoxicated.
"When Chiyuan is completely unsealed, I will soon no longer be an 'ordinary' person."
The mountains surrounding the Chiyuan Grand Canyon have been covered with mutated plants, and they are closely watching the invisible altar deep in the Chiyuan.
As the night cools, the stars turn blood red, and the dense forest steams with a thin mist, like a poisonous haze. The Chiyuan Canyon was extremely quiet, with plants from all over the world growing wildly, yet it remained still and maintained its original appearance, like the calm eye of a typhoon.
As the sunset faded and stars filled the sky, a dark red light seemed to flow over the top of the canyon, sealing the restless earth with the ancient aura of a divine bird, firmly suppressing the fires.
A white figure emerged from the mist, with a tall and slender figure and a handsome appearance.
It was none other than the 'Jiu Xun' from the Bureau.
Jiu Xun nodded to Luo Cuicui and Gong Chenggong from afar, and then reached out to grab a gust of wind. The wind swept up the surrounding fog, swirling like a tornado in his palm. Before it could grow larger, a burst of fire erupted from the Chiyuan, dispersing the air current.
"The Vermilion Bird's bones sealed it for three thousand years, and now only the remnants remain. Yet, it still stands tall and unbreakable, formidable as ever."
Jiu Xun withdrew his hand, licking the burn on his hand, and laughed before turning to Luo Cuicui. "My 'Great Strategist,' can you give them another push?"
Luo Cuicui's face, shiny with oil, habitually displayed a pleasing smile. "That's my specialty."
However, he was not just good at flattery and paddling. As an experienced member of the aftermath team, he was responsible for operating the Echo Sound Radio before the arrival of the powerful spiritualist Bi Chunsheng.
Although the Echo Sound Radio seemed simple and crude, it required a great deal of technical expertise, as no one possessed the overwhelming spiritual power of the heavenly demon.
To properly modify someone's memory, it takes a lot of guidance and skillful techniques.
Sometimes, it even takes ten days or more to repeatedly reinforce suggestions and carefully adjust them on a target, just to ensure their safe return to normal life without any hidden dangers.
It's a very painstaking process.
But when it comes to logistics, this effort is nothing.
After all, they are just the "cleaning crew" who follow behind the heroic field agents, charging into battle and getting covered in dirt and grime.
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