Chapter 5

Clarification

When the three of them arrived, they only drove a small van, and since there was not enough space for six people, Captain Zhang asked Qi Shanglan to take a taxi and bring Lin Qianyou to the station.

In the backseat of the taxi, Lin Qianyou’s wrists were handcuffed with cold metal, but she seemed unconcerned. After all, something fabricated would eventually come to light, and she could simply explain things at the police station. What was bothering her now was the matter with the Land God temple, as well as the glowing police officer in front of her.

The car remained silent for a long time. Her curiosity gnawed at her, like a cat’s claws, making her feel anxious and uncomfortable.

After a long pause, Lin Qianyou finally mustered the courage to turn and ask Qi Shanglan:

“Uncle Officer, I have a question I’d like to ask you.” She spoke with a particularly serious expression.

At this moment, Qi Shanglan was leaning against the window with his eyes closed, resting. With his eyes shut, she could see his thick and long eyelashes, and the clear line of his jaw. Lin Qianyou thought to herself that he was even more handsome than the current hot young stars.

Hearing her, Qi Shanglan furrowed his brows slightly.

“Don’t call me ‘uncle.’ I’m only five months and six days older than you.” He turned his head to look at Lin Qianyou and found her looking at him with a sincere gaze, as if she really had an important question to ask.

Her appearance was already striking—red lips, a perky nose. The dim lights in the car made her palm-sized face look softer.

Qi Shanglan stared at her for a few seconds, his Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbed, and then he found himself saying, almost without thinking: “Go ahead.”

Lin Qianyou finally smiled, then asked, “Well, Brother Officer, I have a question to ask you.”

Qi Shanglan: “…”

“Ask.”

Lin Qianyou, excited, pursed her lips. Her hands, still handcuffed, rested on the seat between them. Then, she suddenly leaned closer to Qi Shanglan, tilting her face up to ask earnestly, “Do you know you’re glowing?”

“…”

Lin Qianyou was so close that she almost touched Qi Shanglan. He froze for a moment before nonchalantly leaning back in his seat.

What is this new type of cheesy pick-up line? Are young girls this direct now when flirting? Does she want me to become her client?

Qi Shanglan frowned and looked down at Lin Qianyou. Their eyes locked. Lin Qianyou’s big, watery eyes stared at him without any attempt to hide her curiosity. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally remembered to answer her:

“Yes, it’s the light of righteousness.”

Lin Qianyou: “…”

“I mean—”

“You—”

“Are you—”

“Human or ghost?”

The car was extremely quiet, and the driver glanced in the rearview mirror a few times, thinking the police had arrested a crazy person.

“What do you mean?”

Qi Shanglan had been researching strange and supernatural things all day, but when Lin Qianyou suddenly asked him like that, he became sensitive and serious.

Could she have figured something out? Or knows something?

But the next moment, Lin Qianyou suddenly pulled back, sighing helplessly. “Forget it, I’m afraid you’ll think I’m crazy if I say it.”

“Brother Driver, please stop looking back. Just focus on driving,” Lin Qianyou reminded the driver.

“Okay, I just thought you two were having a pretty interesting conversation,” the driver chuckled.

Qi Shanglan: “…”

At the Yongning Street Police Station’s information room, Qi Shanglan had watched the surveillance footage countless times.

By the end, his brows were furrowed tighter and tighter.

In the interrogation room, the three had been questioned, and their statements were taken. It was confirmed to be a misunderstanding, and they were released.

“Lin Qianyou, wait a moment,” Captain Zhang called out to her.

Lin Qianyou turned around. “Officer, is there anything else you want to ask?”

“No, no, we just checked the surveillance footage. Did you go to the Land God temple last night?”

“Yes, why?”

“Did you lose anything?” Qi Shanglan, annoyed by Captain Zhang’s rambling, asked bluntly.

“Ah,” Lin Qianyou suddenly remembered she had indeed lost a bag. “I lost a crossbody bag. Did you find it?”

“Yeah, wait outside. I’ll go get it for you.”

As soon as Qi Shanglan spoke, Captain Zhang frowned and shot him a sideways glance. “You don’t make a girl wait outside. No wonder you’ve never had a girlfriend—your emotional intelligence is too low.”

Lin Qianyou was also taken aback. She said, “Ah,” but still obediently pushed open the glass door and sat on the bench outside to wait.

Soon, the glass door was pushed open again.

The evening breeze was soft, and Lin Qianyou’s seaweed-like hair fluttered messily in front of her face. Her striking and elegant face was still clearly visible.

“It’s my bag. Thank you, Brother Officer,” Lin Qianyou tucked her flying hair behind her ear and stood up to take the bag.

Qi Shanglan stood with his back to the light behind him. Though he wasn’t quite used to people his age calling him “Brother Officer,” he politely responded, “You’re welcome.”

Lin Qianyou smiled. “So, can I leave now? It looks like there’s nothing else, right?”

Lin Qianyou looked up at Qi Shanglan, who had been silent for a long time. She thought she was about to be questioned again, but suddenly, she heard him say:

“Have you… heard of Ah Fu?”

—

At the Land God temple in the east of the city, the temple door was sealed with a red tape.

“Why is it sealed off?” Lin Qianyou pointed at the seal and asked Qi Shanglan.

“There’s a tomb robbery hole inside.”

Qi Shanglan tore off a corner of the seal and then pushed the door open.

“Tomb robbery hole?!” Lin Qianyou exclaimed. “How could there be a tomb robbery hole? Is there a grave under here? Are we in a Tomb Raider story?!”

Qi Shanglan gave her an amused and speechless look. “You’ll know if you take a look.”

Lin Qianyou followed him inside. As soon as she entered, she saw Ah Fu squatting on the wooden steps, propping up its chin with its two little chubby hands, looking thoughtful.

As soon as it saw Qi Shanglan and Lin Qianyou enter, it immediately stood up and excitedly waddled over on its little short legs.

“Great God!”

This time, it tried to hug Lin Qianyou’s leg, but Lin Qianyou quickly stepped aside, hiding behind Qi Shanglan. “Don’t come near! Stay there and don’t move!”

Qi Shanglan raised an eyebrow and glanced back at the person who was tugging at his shoulder.

The command of a god must be obeyed. Ah Fu obediently stood in place, lifting its round, childish face to look at Qi Shanglan and the Lin Qianyou behind him.

“That’s it, that’s Ah Fu,” Lin Qianyou said to Qi Shanglan.

“Yeah, I know.”

He crouched down. Lin Qianyou’s hand that had been resting on his shoulder dropped as he moved, and he smiled at Ah Fu, reaching out to pinch its cheek.

“Explain… what’s going on with me, her, and you?”

Lin Qianyou looked down at the large and small, tall and short pair on the ground, suddenly feeling like she wanted to reach out and touch them.

Not Ah Fu, but Qi Shanglan’s head.

His hair looked fresh and fluffy. It must feel really nice to touch.

Lin Qianyou also crouched down, waiting for Ah Fu to explain.

Ah Fu had completely different attitudes toward Lin Qianyou and Qi Shanglan. As soon as it saw Lin Qianyou’s face, it was full of happiness, but when it saw Qi Shanglan, it looked as though it had seen a disaster.

Ah Fu silently moved to the side, but its actions were clearly noticed by Qi Shanglan.

What’s going on? Trying to create opposition? Or is it that I look scary?

“Are you going to talk or not?”

Qi Shanglan suddenly pinched Ah Fu’s chubby cheek, and instantly, it couldn’t move.

“Great God, please let go!” Ah Fu used its two little hands to pull at Qi Shanglan’s big hand, but it was useless.

“I won’t let go. Didn’t you try to avoid me? Well, I won’t let you avoid me.”

“I’ll talk, I’ll talk, Great God, please let me go first.”

Only then did Qi Shanglan loosen his grip, lazily saying, “Go ahead.”

Ah Fu, frightened by Qi Shanglan’s scolding, nervously rubbed its hands, trembling as if it was really scared of Qi Shanglan.

“You’re not ordinary humans. You’re a God, the Land God of Yangcheng, which is the lowest-ranked guardian god. You’re a divine messenger, someone chosen by the Land God to execute the God’s will and tasks. I’m a temple servant, a child who serves the Land God in the temple.”

Lin Qianyou: …

Qi Shanglan: …

“Lowest-ranked guardian god?”

“So, I’m just a tool?”

Both of them spoke almost at the same time, clearly unhappy with their identities.

It was already annoying enough to be something that’s neither god nor ghost for no reason, and now they find out they’re the lowest-ranking gods and divine messengers.

Qi Shanglan frowned in dissatisfaction, and Ah Fu cautiously took a few steps back.

Seeing this, Lin Qianyou nudged Qi Shanglan with her elbow, reminding him not to be so harsh. Then, she smiled at Ah Fu. “Ah Fu, don’t be afraid. I have a question for you.”

“Great God, please ask,” Ah Fu said innocently and sincerely.

Lin Qianyou gently patted its head, smiling warmly as she asked, “Let me ask you, why did we suddenly become gods and divine messengers? What did you mean when you said we haven’t seen each other in a thousand years? Did we know each other thousands of years ago? Is it that magical?”

As soon as she spoke, Qi Shanglan’s frown deepened even more. It was unclear whether he was interested in the question or found it silly and childish.

Gods? Are there really gods in this world? Must be a story for children.

Ah Fu replied, “Yes, Great God, Ah Fu has been your servant for thousands of years. The divine messenger became your servant later, and it’s been almost a thousand years.”

“A thousand years?! But we’re only 23 years old!” Lin Qianyou exclaimed in surprise. Then she asked, “If you said it’s been a thousand years, why did we only meet now? Have we been possessed by gods? Are there really gods in this world?!” She was incredulous, but more than that, she was excited and eager.

After living for 23 years, to be chosen and possessed by a god—it must be the good deeds and blessings from her past life!

As she thought this, she didn’t notice the puzzled look Qi Shanglan was giving her.

“You’re looking very happy?” he suddenly asked Lin Qianyou.

Lin Qianyou was taken aback, turning to look at him. But he was so tall, even when he crouched down, he was still a head taller than her. Looking up at him this way was uncomfortable, so she stood up. Her long, slender legs unexpectedly and abruptly blocked Qi Shanglan’s view.

Seeing her stand up, he averted his gaze and followed by standing up as well.

“Don’t you think it’s lucky to be chosen to be a god? It’s a god, a real god!” Lin Qianyou excitedly explained to him. “Brother Officer, aren’t you happy? Don’t you want to be a god?”

Qi Shanglan’s frown hadn’t loosened. He calmly replied, “Of course, I’m not happy. It’s you who was chosen to be a god, not me. And also, don’t call me ‘Brother Officer,’ it sounds awkward. Call me by my name, Qi Shanglan.”

“Ah? Oh, okay, police—no, Qi Shanglan?”

“Mm.”

“Alright, then you call me by my name too. Haven’t you seen my ID? My name is Lin Qianyou, the Land God of Yangcheng.” She even smiled and extended her hand to shake Qi Shanglan’s hand.

Qi Shanglan: “…”