Chapter 572: A Chilling Encounter in Heichao City

Smack!

Two newly promoted individuals clasped hands, locking eyes with grave expressions.

It had all the air of a high-level meeting.

Xia Chong clutched her hands, her gaze openly scrutinizing Lu Xin, her face set as if someone owed her money.

Lu Xin, in turn, observed Xia Chong closely.

He couldn’t help but recall their collaboration in Central City—Xia Chong had once captained Central City’s Special Pollution Cleanup Department Special Operations Team. Even her youthful face and perpetual icy expression were unmistakable.

Besides, Lu Xin distinctly remembered that her ability was somehow linked to ‘doors.’

No wonder as soon as she pushed open the door, a bizarre, malevolent chill instantly filled one’s mind.

The moment he saw her, Lu Xin instantly had two thoughts:

First, how could she be standing bare-legged in winter? Doesn’t she feel cold?

Second, by swinging the door open like that, wasn’t she worried someone might lob a beer bottle at her?

……

“Mr. Single Soldier, I’ve come because I have something important to discuss with you,” she declared.

Though short in stature, Xia Chong’s presence was undeniable. After a formal, leader-level meeting with Lu Xin, she lowered her hand, met his eyes intently, and spoke in a low, serious tone, making the atmosphere feel oppressively charged.

Lu Xin paused, and before he could speak, Han Bing raised his head in cautious alert.

Wearing a grave expression, he answered on Lu Xin’s behalf, “What’s happening in Heichao City has nothing to do with us…”

“?”

Xia Chong blinked in surprise before replying, “I’m not asking about that.”

“In fact, I personally support what you’ve done in Heichao City. A city like that needs a wake-up call,” she stated.

“……”

Han Bing shifted slightly and said, “Thank you for your support.”

“But…”

She quickly clarified, “This matter still has nothing to do with us.”

Xia Chong fell silent, shooting Han Bing a puzzled glance, and he met her look with calm resolve.

An unspoken spark seemed to ignite between them.

“Isn’t that enough…”

Observing the escalating tension, Lu Xin quickly stepped in as mediator with a smile: “This is Captain Xia Chong of Central City’s Special Pollution Cleanup Department Special Operations Team—seems she’s been promoted? Now a Major, perhaps? And this is Han Bing from Qinggang’s Intelligence Analysis Department, serving as our support team’s intel officer for our visit to Heichao City. Shall we sit down and talk?”

Han Bing and Xia Chong nodded in agreement, extending their hands. “Hello,” they said.

“Hello.”

“……”

They then sat together—one with an icy demeanor, the other with vigilant eyes.

Gecko watched gleefully from the side, utterly forgetting the appointment he’d arranged with Brother Qun.

Since Xia Chong had come to see him, Lu Xin naturally assumed the role of a gracious host. Once they were seated, he cheerfully said to the waiter:

“Bring my friend a bowl of noodles and a bottle of beer.”

“……”

Xia Chong glanced at the untouched Stinky Tofu Braised with Flesh Buds on the table and shook her head, “No need.”

“True, the noodles are just average.”

Gecko immediately chimed in enthusiastically, “Let’s have a beer; the brew here is pretty good…”

As he spoke, he picked up a bottle, flicked off the cap with a swift gesture, and promptly handed it over.

Xia Chong gave him a quizzical look and remarked, “I can’t drink during a mission.”

“Alright…”

Gecko’s face fell with regret.

Lu Xin, clearly appreciating Xia Chong’s principles, smiled and asked, “What mission are you on? Does it involve Heichao City?”

“Not exactly. We happened to be passing through on account of another mission.”

Xia Chong looked up at him and said, “As soon as we entered the city, it was clear that your ability users from Qinggang helped resolve the special pollution incident here. We hadn’t planned to meet because of mission confidentiality, but now that our mission has hit a snag, I decided to come and see you, hoping to get your assistance…”

“Assistance?”

Lu Xin, ever the warm-hearted man, quickly nodded, “Alright.”

“?”

Both Han Bing and Xia Chong exchanged odd glances as they looked at Lu Xin.

Xia Chong even paused before asking, “Aren’t you going to ask what our mission is?”

Lu Xin was taken aback, unsure of what he had done wrong.

He tentatively inquired, “So, what mission are you on?”

Meanwhile, Han Bing observed Lu Xin’s expression, which now seemed tinged with regret.

He was clearly all at sea…

……

Upon hearing Lu Xin’s question, Xia Chong fell silent for a moment, as if weighing how to explain.

After a brief pause, she said, “It’ll take some time to explain. I’ll have them prepare for something else first.”

She then raised her hand and waved toward the distant rooftop.

Gecko caught sight of this and discreetly nodded to Han Bing.

In fact, Gecko had already signaled both Han Bing and Lu Xin, though only Han Bing seemed to understand while Lu Xin remained oblivious.

Sharp as ever, Gecko had noticed that shortly after Xia Chong’s arrival, strange individuals had appeared atop nearby buildings. Behind a nearly shuttered window stood figures clad in full-body tactical gear made of an unfamiliar material. Even their helmets were sealed tight—a smooth, gapless black cap with a distinct high-tech look.

They looked nothing like living beings, silently watching Xia Chong and her group as if they had surrounded them.

It wasn’t until Xia Chong waved that they quietly dispersed without a trace, vanishing as if they’d never been there.

“Are these people with that short-legged, rather exhibitionist little girl?”

Lu Xin noted it too, silently pondering the thought without voicing it.

“That’s the Negative Zero Unit.”

After greeting them, Xia Chong, aware that Lu Xin and the others had already noticed, stated plainly.

“Negative Zero Unit?”

Gecko feigned curiosity and asked, “What exactly is that?”

“It’s a new type of weapon,” she explained.

Xia Chong continued, “You might have heard that to assist the high-wall cities in handling Forbidden Zone matters, the Research Institute agreed to supply some new weapons. This includes a few novel plasma weapons, but primarily, it’s the Negative Zero Unit. For more details, you’ll have to ask the relevant personnel—I can’t disclose everything here.”

“Oh, I see.”

Since they didn’t volunteer more information, Lu Xin, curious, asked, “In that case, why not invite them over to join us?”

Xia Chong was momentarily taken aback and shook her head, “Thank you for the kind offer.”

“But they’re not like us—they won’t be joining us.”

“They just stick to the rules. Even if I come to see you, they follow along just to confirm you’ve agreed to our request before they feel at ease. I send them off so they can start preparing for their mission.”

“……”

“Wait, you haven’t agreed yet, have you?”

Han Bing couldn’t hold back any longer and interrupted.

“?”

Xia Chong glanced at Han Bing, then at Lu Xin, and with certainty said, “He already agreed.”

“Before even asking about our mission…”

“……”

Han Bing was left speechless, casting a look of mild reproach at Lu Xin.

“Before I tell you about the mission…”

After a long pause, Xia Chong finally addressed Lu Xin, “I’d like to ask first—how did you resolve the special pollution incident in Heichao City? That might be connected to my mission.”

“Well…”

Lu Xin, unsure if it was wise to speak, glanced at Han Bing.

Feeling the pressure, Han Bing nodded slightly, signaling that it was okay to share.

After all, Xia Chong was asking about the ‘special pollution’ in Heichao City, not the current ‘Terror of the Dark Demon’ incident.

Convinced he wouldn’t misspeak, Lu Xin smiled and recounted, “Our solution was actually quite simple. First, our intel officer analyzed the Heichao City incident and devised an extensive investigation plan. After gathering materials, we deduced that the city’s insomnia issue was linked to Black Grass. Then we deliberately left a loophole to lure them in…”

“When they found us, we discovered a clue about our adversary, and capitalizing on the city’s collective unconscious frenzy—since polluted individuals naturally gravitate toward the contamination source—we located the real source of the pollution…”

“…and then we fixed it.”

“……”

After finishing his account, he looked at Xia Chong seriously and nodded, signaling he was done.

Xia Chong’s expression froze for a moment. “That’s it?”

“Yep.”

Lu Xin replied confidently, “It’s pretty simple, isn’t it?”

After a long pause, Xia Chong silently nodded, “It really is that simple…”

Both Bi Xu and Han Bing looked a bit bewildered by Lu Xin’s explanation.

Han Bing wondered inwardly if his mission report was too complicated compared to Mr. Single Soldier’s.

Gecko mused, “It is pretty simple…”

“If even a short, well-proportioned, and surprisingly formidable little girl can venture into a monster’s lair to gather intel and come out unscathed—maybe even abduct a sample—and if, when battling mental monsters, her entire team mobilizes to suppress them completely, and finally, when she finds the source of the mental pollution, manages to hide the entire city with just a few moves…”

“Huh? How did the Captain manage to hide the whole city back then?”

“Forget it. That doesn’t seem important…”

“……”

While each of them pondered, Xia Chong was also deep in thought.

Before speaking, she glanced at siblings Ye Xue and Ye Xiaoyu. Both were instantly frightened by the expressionless young lady; they quietly took their plates and moved to the next table, while a few would-be sycophants shuddered and slipped away.

With a frown, she noted that within four meters, the area was now empty.

“Then perhaps your handling of Heichao City’s special pollution does indeed connect with our mission.”

After a moment’s thought, Xia Chong said firmly, “In that case, it won’t affect our mission if I tell you.”

“We are investigating a series of soul trade cases.”

“Someone is using this method to create a real-life hell.”