I Went Crazy Killing in the World of Gods and Demons - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Ling Fang wanted to chase after the passerby to return the coins, but in his current “disabled” state, no matter how anxious he was, he could only inch forward on the ground.

He looked even more pitiful now.

Late at night, there weren’t many people on the street, but almost every passerby who came by offered their share of compassion. As they left, their faces wore the satisfied smiles of having done a good deed for the day.

Ling Fang’s face darkened.

When Yu Wei arrived at the overpass, he saw Ling Fang lying on the ground, guarding a small pile of coins and paper money, motionless and lost in thought.

“Minister, what are you thinking about?”

Yu Wei walked over, and Ling Fang snapped out of his daze, his expression unreadable as he said, “Nothing much. Just thinking about how to deal with Xie Qingling.”

Yu Wei nodded. “That girl really is too reckless.”

But after a moment’s thought, he added, “Still, I think it’s not so bad for a young person like her to be so daring, bold, and unafraid to take risks. She’s sharp and energetic, often using risky moves, but they often yield surprisingly good results.”

“Risky moves? Surprising results?” Ling Fang snorted coldly. “I just hope she doesn’t get herself killed.”

Frowning deeply, he seriously pondered how to properly discipline Xie Qingling next.

Though he was young, the way he furrowed his brows and thought made him seem far more mature than his age.

Seeing him so burdened with worry, Yu Wei patted his shoulder sympathetically. “Troublemakers are hard to handle. I understand.”

Ling Fang: “…” He was a talented young man, not some old nanny.

As for Xie Qingling even troublemakers were easier to deal with than her!

“Enough joking. Hurry up and take me back,” Ling Fang murmured, gazing at the moon hanging high in the sky. “We should be able to make it back to the office before Xie Qingling returns.”

He still had a little time to consider exactly how to punish her.

As he thought about it, Ling Fang narrowed his eyes slightly.

Yu Wei lifted the stiff-limbed Ling Fang and carried him on his back.

Noticing the handful of money clutched in Ling Fang’s dangling hand, Yu Wei couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer and asked, “Minister, what’s this?”

Ling Fang: “…”

He muttered, “Earned a little extra income for the department.”

Under the bright, moonlit sky, rain suddenly began to fall in the suburbs.

With a rumbling sound, the rain poured down in buckets within moments.

The rain came so abruptly, carrying a hint of unreasonableness. Xie Qingling, completely unprepared, was soon drenched like a drowned rat.

In such weather, staying under the old locust tree was clearly unsafe. So Xie Qingling had no choice but to walk back through the rain to that desolate street.

If only there were a small inn nearby still open for business, where she could book a room for a few hours that would be perfect.

It would take Ye Anran and the others about half an hour to drive from the city to here. With the sudden rain making the roads harder to navigate, that time might even be longer.

During this period, she could only wait in the rain for Ye Anran and the others to arrive. It seemed a bit miserable.

Xie Qingling felt that what she needed right now was a hot shower to wash away the chill and exhaustion.

Even as a Spirit User, she was still bound to a mortal body one that could catch a cold or fever.

Moreover, after confronting the Red Wedding Dress, a lingering Yin energy had taken root within her body. Xie Qingling felt that she absolutely needed a proper period of rest to fully recover.

After walking for about ten minutes, Xie Qingling finally returned to that desolate street.

To her disappointment, there wasn’t a single 24-hour hotel or inn nearby.

Due to the impending demolition news, many shops in the area had relocated early, making the street even more deserted.

The rain continued to pour down relentlessly.

By now, Xie Qingling was completely drenched. Her skin, pressed tightly against her wet clothes, broke out in goosebumps from the cold.

Having just struggled on the brink of life and death, and now feeling both cold and hungry, Xie Qingling suddenly wondered if a monthly base salary of only fifty thousand was perhaps a bit too low.

Could she ask the department head for a raise when she returned?

Lost in these wandering thoughts, Xie Qingling found a sheltered eaves to shield herself from the wind and rain. Leaning against the wall, she crouched down and waited quietly.

About two or three minutes passed. Before her companions arrived, she first encountered an unexpected gaze.

“Little girl, why are you back here again?” From the second-floor window of the building diagonally across the street a window that had remained lit the pane was pushed open from inside, and a white-haired head poked out.

The old woman looked at Xie Qingling twice before calling out to her.

Xie Qingling glanced around and realized that, without noticing, she had wandered back to the noodle shop she had visited twice before.

The old grandmother truly had sharp memory and eyesight. After just two visits, she had firmly remembered Xie Qingling’s face. Even through the heavy curtain of rain, she recognized her at a glance.

Xie Qingling forced a faint smile with her pale lips and said, “I… I’m waiting for my friend to pick me up.”

Her voice was fragmented, quickly swallowed by the sound of the rain. It was unclear whether the old woman across the street had heard her or not.

Before long, the lights in the opposite house brightened. The warm, orange glow shone in the gloomy rainy night, its hazy reflection flickering through the cold mist and rain.

The old grandmother emerged from the door holding an umbrella. She hurried over to Xie Qingling, sheltering her under the umbrella, and looked down at her with concern. “You poor thing, why are you out in the rain in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”

Xie Qingling replied softly, “I lost something and came to look for it. I lost track of time. My friend will be here soon to take me back.”

The old woman listened, her face full of reproach. “A young girl shouldn’t be wandering outside so late at night. It’s not safe.”

“You must be freezing? Come inside with Granny.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Xie Qingling followed her into the room.

The old grandmother lived alone. The room was small but appeared cozy and comfortable.

As soon as she stepped inside, Xie Qingling caught the faint, refreshing scent of laundry detergent.

“Come, take a hot bath first so you don’t catch a cold.” The elderly woman tossed Xie Qingling a clean towel, then rummaged through her wardrobe and pulled out a set of unworn undergarments and a long, dark blue chrysanthemum-patterned cheongsam meant for a young girl. She looked down at them, a nostalgic tenderness for bygone days softening her gaze. “These are clothes I wore when I was young. An old woman like me can’t wear such fresh styles anymore. Little one, since we’ve crossed paths, I’ll give these to you. Go take a hot shower and change into them.”

Xie Qingling’s desperate wish for a hot bath was finally fulfilled.

She expressed her gratitude warmly, “Thank you, Granny. When I have time later, I’ll come back to thank you properly.”

The old woman waved her off dismissively, as if unconcerned about Xie Qingling’s promise, and simply shooed her into the bathroom to wash away the chill.

Xie Qingling didn’t dare linger too long in the bath. In about ten minutes, she had freshened up completely.

When she emerged, she felt revitalized. Her previously icy skin, now warmed and moisturized by the hot water, glowed with a healthy flush, a stark contrast to the pale, wind-beaten complexion she had sported earlier.

The old woman looked up and examined Xie Qingling in the form-fitting cheongsam, her eyes shining with admiration and satisfaction. “Lovely, truly lovely. You carry a bit of the grace I had in my youth.”

Xie Qingling couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

She folded her soaked clothes neatly, planning to take them with her later.

As for the Red Veil and Embroidered Shoes… she touched them and found them completely dry, without a hint of dampness.

It had to be said, the quality of items from the Red Wedding Dress was truly exceptional!

While she was arranging her things, her stomach suddenly growled with hunger.

A rich, savory aroma wafted from behind her.

Turning around, she saw the old woman approaching with a bowl of wontons.

Floating in the dense, milky-white broth, made from simmered bones, were a few pieces of softened seaweed and dried shrimp. The steaming vapor rose, and through the semi-transparent, thin wrappers, the pinkish-white wontons revealed their fresh, springy meat filling.

With one whiff, the fragrant broth seemed to consecrate her entire being, and Xie Qingling’s stomach rumbled loudly in response.

The old woman said, “You look both hungry and tired. I made you a bowl of wontons. These are handmade by me we don’t sell them in the shop. I only make them when my granddaughter comes home on break. You’re in luck today.”

“That girl didn’t come back, so I secretly cooked her wontons for you instead.”

Perhaps it was the scalding heat of the freshly cooked wontons, or maybe the swirling steam stung her eyes, but Xie Qingling who wouldn’t even flinch before a fierce Spirit felt her nose tingling with emotion.

She accepted the bowl with both hands and murmured, “Thank you, Granny.”

One wonton after another, the filling a blend of fresh minced pork and shrimp melted on her tongue, releasing a rich, savory flavor.

Xie Qingling was so overwhelmed by the deliciousness she nearly swallowed her tongue. “This is incredibly tasty, thank you, Granny! I’ll come to your shop to eat more often when I have time!”

“Won’t you bring friends along?”

“Yes, yes, of course I will!”

The old lady smiled cheerfully, then her eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of a red mark on Xie Qingling’s neck. She squinted and frowned, asking, “What happened to your neck? How did you get hurt?”

“Got injured accidentally while working.” Xie Qingling instinctively touched her neck.

The old lady frowned deeply. “What kind of job is so dangerous? You’re out so late at night are you working? You should find something safer, an office job. It’s easier; don’t risk your life for money.”

She rummaged through her cabinets looking for ointment. Watching her busy figure, Xie Qingling said, “I was just thinking earlier that this job seems too stressful, but now I feel it’s worth it.” Some things need to be done by someone, and I happen to be suitable.”

“Besides, if it weren’t for this job, I wouldn’t get to eat such delicious wontons either.” Xie Qingling hurriedly ate them, one after another, slurping.

The old lady shook her head and muttered something under her breath that Xie Qingling couldn’t quite catch.

She only managed to find a box of band-aids and handed them to Xie Qingling to apply. Watching Xie Qingling devour the food, the old lady momentarily saw her own granddaughter sitting there.

She couldn’t hold back her nagging: “You young people, wandering the streets so late. Aren’t you afraid of running into… unclean things? Ah, you youngsters are just too bold.”

“I am afraid, of course I am,” Xie Qingling laughed.

Not of ghosts, but of ghosts causing trouble.

A while later, the low rumble of a motorcycle engine came from the street outside, just as Xie Qingling finished washing the bowls and chopsticks she’d used in the kitchen.

She glanced out the window and saw Shen Huaizhou leaning against his motorcycle waiting for her. Turning back to the old lady, she said, “Granny, my friend is here to pick me up. Thank you for having me tonight.”

“Ah, well then… be careful on your way home.”

Xie Qingling nodded, gathered her damp clothes, gave the old lady a final nod, and stepped out into the rainy night.

Shen Huaizhou’s motorcycle was parked by the roadside. When Xie Qingling appeared, his gaze lingered on her cheongsam for a moment longer than necessary before he tossed her a black raincoat and said succinctly, “Get on.”

The motorcycle soon started up and sped off. As they rode, the rain gradually lightened, but the air grew noticeably colder.

Xie Qingling sneezed violently, her head feeling heavy, her nose tingling more intensely, and her throat feeling scratchy.

Shen Huaizhou said, “Didn’t expect it to rain halfway. Should’ve brought the car to pick you up.”

Xie Qingling rubbed her nose. “It’s fine, I’m not that delicate. Saving time is what matters most Achoo!”

Shen Huaizhou, sitting in front, rolled his eyes unceremoniously. After a pause, he said, “Getting sick might not be so bad.”

“Why why’s that… Achoo!”

“You can play pitiful with the department head. Might get you out of writing that self-criticism report.”

Xie Qingling: “…”

At that moment, she had a foreboding that things were taking a slightly unfortunate turn.

Suddenly, she didn’t want to go back anymore.