Chapter 66

In this world, there is always someone rejoicing while others despair.

As Yue Yin eagerly counted her gold coins, the Paranormal Incident Management Department was having a hard time. Captain Li and his team huddled outside the building, with Xiao Jun nudging him, asking, “Captain, what’s up with the Vice Minister lately? He’s been having us monitor international incidents daily. Are we expecting a major conflict among ability users?”

Even Yu Yu, who was usually the Vice Minister’s devoted admirer, looked frustrated. “The Vice Minister’s been in a bad mood recently. He lashes out at us over the smallest things and keeps threatening to dock our pay if we slip up.”

The others chimed in, “Isn’t he supposed to be stationed in the capital? When is he coming back to City B?”

The past ten days had been rough. The Vice Minister seemed to be on edge, snapping at everyone and everything. He looked as if the world was on the brink of destruction, scowling at anything in sight—even street dogs.

Yu Yu, who had caught a glimpse of some confidential documents, speculated, “Could it be because the higher-ups rejected his vacation request? I saw his application once—he wanted to go to a place called… Su… Surina?”

Captain Li lit a cigarette and replied, “Not sure.”

He glanced inside, adding thoughtfully, “I’ve got a feeling he’ll be stationed in City A from now on.”

Meanwhile, the Vice Minister sat in his office, reviewing the information sent over by the international organization. The latest update stated that after the mist dissipated, the island of Surina had vanished into the vast ocean as if it had never existed.

Fortunately, most of the tourists had been rescued. Although the investigation team suffered heavy losses, three members survived. Compared to the expected outcome of complete annihilation, Bo Jingyun believed that this was a show of mercy from the one in charge.

Looking at the photo and details of Yue Yin on his desk, Bo Jingyun read that the international organization had flagged her as a suspect, preparing to launch an operation to capture her. They also sent a message to the Paranormal Incident Management Department demanding an explanation, suspecting that Yue Yin was an ability user dispatched by their country and calling for accountability.

The email was filled with formal accusations and arguments. As a powerful and diplomatic individual, Bo Jingyun had a hundred ways to provide explanations, deny evidence, or discredit the testimonies of the two surviving ability users.

But he was tired of it all.

Fiddling with his pen, he casually replied to the email: “Go ahead.”

An immediate response came—a question mark—and a moment later, his phone rang.

Answering it, Bo Jingyun listened to the fake pleasantries on the other end for a few seconds before interrupting, “She’s an S-level ability user. We can’t control her. If you have any means to capture or seal her—or even kill her—I’d be truly impressed.”

The response on the other end instantly stopped, as though the speaker had been choked into silence.

After a long pause, the international representative finally asked, “Really? An S?”

Bo Jingyun replied nonchalantly, “She’s stronger than I am. You’re welcome to give it a try. If you manage to detain her, I’d be very grateful.”

With that, he hung up, remaining utterly composed.

In Surina, nearly everyone worshiped the Thousand-Faced Moon, and Yue Yin had specifically traveled there. This latest incident might have been orchestrated by the local cult or Yue Yin herself.

Yue Yin hadn’t left with the investigation team but stayed behind. Because of the mist surrounding the isolated region, Bo Jingyun didn’t dare to venture in recklessly.

He frowned, repeatedly reviewing the information in his mind, trying to decipher Yue Yin’s real motive for going to Surina. Over the past week, he had considered countless possibilities but still had no answer.

As soon as the Jiang family’s private plane took off, Bo Jingyun was notified of their return. By the time they landed, he was already waiting.

Yue Yin was not surprised to see him. Her phone had been buzzing non-stop with messages from the Parnormal Incident Management Department and the Metaphysical Society since she’d boarded the plane. During her time on the Surina island, both Bo Jingyun and the Chairman of the Metaphysical Society had sent her multiple messages.

Bo Jingyun observed Yue Yin and, before he could begin questioning, she spoke directly, “Surina Island is no more. They have fulfilled their purpose. The thing you’re worried about won’t happen.”

Her straightforward answer struck at the very heart of Bo Jingyun’s concerns, leaving him momentarily stunned.

“Purpose?” Bo Jingyun recalled the reports from the international organization about the surviving members of the investigation team, his heart sinking as the implications began to dawn on him.

Countless conspiracies raced through his mind: the hundreds of out-of-town tourists who had recently been sent back might be part of a covert plan by the Secret Order to spread their faith…

And those missing, deceased ability users on the island? They could very well be sacrifices offered by Yue Yin’s followers as part of a ritual…

The Vice Minister’s head swirled with theories, but when he finally looked up, he was met with Yue Yin’s amused gaze.

She smiled and said, “It’s all just to meet me.”

“The lifelong desire of every devotee is to stand before their god and witness her glory.”

As she spoke, Yue Yin’s hands were tucked into her pockets. The wind at the airport lifted her hair, bringing with it a faint salty scent of the sea.

Bo Jingyun stared at her in silent bewilderment.

Strangely, apart from the shock of their first encounter—an image of corpses piled high in a sea of blood—at that time, he had only felt fear, thinking of Yue Yin as a powerful, slaughter-hungry evil god.

Since then, Yue Yin had roamed the grounds of his high school daily. Though he remained vigilant, it wasn’t so much her immense power, but rather her unpredictable nature, that made her feel like a walking nuclear bomb.

But at this moment, after so many deaths and an aimless conspiracy, he found himself seeing a trace of what mortals might call divinity in her.

Yue Yin looked at him and suddenly asked, “Why are you afraid of me? I never intended to destroy this place.”

Yue Yin admitted that many of her colleagues thrived on plotting and deceit, relishing the annihilation of worlds and the breakdown of entire races, engaging in tedious nightmare-chasing games.

But she wasn’t like them.

Despite her frightening appearance—an ocean of gray sludge with numerous bizarre heads—Yue Yin would much rather spend her time enjoying a plate of grilled cold noodles than plotting or killing.

“I haven’t harmed anyone here,” Yue Yin said. “So relax.”

Bo Jingyun wasn’t surprised she could read his mind; humans were nearly transparent before gods.

Yet when she voiced his worries aloud, it stirred something indescribable within him.

Yue Yin smiled kindly and said, “I am an unknowable being. Mortals have glimpsed countless forms of mine, but even those aren’t a fraction of my true self. Don’t try to study me. The closer you get, the closer you come to madness.”

“There’s no need to be so serious. Just take it easy.”

She reached into Jiang Suliu’s luggage and pulled out a plush toy shaped like a fish-man. She stepped forward, tiptoed, and placed it in Bo Jingyun’s hands.

With a twinkle in her eye, she said, “Here’s a souvenir for you.”

Bo Jingyun’s feelings at that moment were hard to describe—complex and murky, but mostly peaceful.

All the anxiety, wariness, and fear he’d felt towards this uncontrollable evil god were soothed in that instant.

For the first time, Bo Jingyun was convinced that Yue Yin harbored no ill will towards humanity.

Yue Yin didn’t linger. After handing him the toy, she got into the car with Jiang Suliu and drove away. Bo Jingyun didn’t try to stop them.

He stood there, watching their backs fade into the distance, before finally lowering his head to look at the plush fish-man in his hands. It was a bluish-green creature, with a gaping mouth and bulging, lifeless white eyes. Ugly, yet somehow endearing.

It was such a strange toy, yet Yue Yin had gone to the trouble of bringing it all the way back from Surina, just to give it to him—an adversary, a devotee of an opposing god.

And she did all this simply to help a confused, anxious, and even slightly insane human feel more at ease.

The wind blew gently, carrying her words to his ear: “Don’t try to study me. The closer you get, the closer you come to madness.”

Bo Jingyun was certain that, in that moment, she genuinely wanted to avoid causing him harm.

He looked at the fish-man plush and, for the first time since learning Yue Yin’s true identity, allowed himself a light, carefree smile.

He might even be starting to like this evil goddess.