ACIFITFDB – Chapter 25

Qin Xian said, “So that’s why you police couldn’t keep up, and you had to go to Fanggu Village alone? Oh right, you were going to save your companion, how is he?”

Speaking of this, Huang Dehui’s expression softened a little. “He was saved, just a bit traumatized mentally, but at least he didn’t lose any limbs. Sigh, I can only tell him to try and move on… We’ve already cleared all related videos from the internet.”

Qin Xian then remembered what this police officer had been through.

“Mmm… it’s good that he’s alive.”

Huang Dehui nodded. “That’s thanks to you. Without you, not only him, but I might have been trapped there too. I’ll treat you to a meal when I have time, please do me the honor and come!”

Qin Xian looked at Huang Dehui’s honest, broad face and kept a watchful eye. “If it’s just you, then maybe. You can’t bring anyone else.”

Huang Dehui guiltily rolled his eyes and gave a dry laugh. “Of course, of course…”

Qin Xian smiled knowingly and continued to ask, “So, what’s happening with Fanggu Village now?”

“This afternoon, the chief reported to the city bureau, and the bureau sent many people over. All the villagers who participated in the live stream will be arrested, and the surviving victims will be unified in treatment and appeasement before being sent back.”

“That sounds good, but there’s still a big problem. Even Aunt Zhou was just a streamer. What about the platform? A platform that allows such live streams is definitely not normal, and what about the viewers in the chat? Some of those viewers are Grotesque beings, and some are likely living humans.”

“That is indeed a serious problem. I asked about it, but the leadership said that the registration locations for those live-streaming platforms are all overseas. It’s very troublesome for us to track them down. Now, we’re trying our best to block them through the firewall to minimize contact with Chinese citizens.”

“Overseas…”

“Some places overseas are even worse than us.”

Qin Xian had encountered foreigners when he was trapped in the Infinite Stream world.

The Infinite Stream world had pulled in people from all over the globe, but people from different regions cleared the scenarios separately. They would only mix together in the final stage to determine the ultimate winner.

So now, whether it’s domestic or international, Grotesque beings will appear.

Huang Dehui said, “However, many of the Grotesque beings here are similar to legendary ghosts and monsters. The Grotesque beings overseas are a bit different. Some people on the internet are now saying they’ve encountered demons, vampires, sea monsters, and zombies.”

“That’s right, the form of the Grotesque beings is related to human consciousness and emotions. But this scene is truly a dance of demons… Some countries overseas have no ability to eliminate Grotesque beings, and it’s likely that some countries will become playgrounds for Grotesque beings entirely.”

Qin Xian thought about that scene and felt that the current situation was more serious than he had imagined.

“Forget it, I won’t think about it anymore. What’s the point of rushing? As long as society hasn’t collapsed, I’m going to get some late-night snacks.” Qin Xian was very calm.

Huang Dehui was speechless for a moment, but after thinking it over, he asked, “Are you sure you can have a peaceful life? Didn’t you just encounter two people attacking you with guns today? Why would they attack you?”

He guessed that many people would want to kill him right now.

Qin Xian sighed, “Why didn’t I wear a mask? Or, why am I not just a common face…”

Many Players knew what he looked like.

The Path of Communicating with Ghosts probably wasn’t targeting him recently; it might have started a month ago, but he just hadn’t appeared…

Huang Dehui looked at his perfect profile, which could grace a magazine, and recalled the treatment he received in Fanggu Village. He felt like crying… After about ten seconds, he tentatively asked, “How about you join us? You won’t have a peaceful life anyway…”

“No.”

Seeing his displeased expression, Huang Dehui thought for a moment and then asked with concern, “Can you handle it? The enemy might be able to use Grotesque beings, and special abilities…”

“I can probably handle it. I’ll be more cautious from now on. What I’m more worried about is whether my neighbors will be affected.”

Although he rarely interacted with others, some of his elderly neighbors had watched him grow up, had good relationships with his parents, and treated him well.

They were old, and if they were caught in danger, they could lose their lives…

Huang Dehui blinked and stared intently at Qin Xian.

Qin Xian felt a chill from being stared at and asked, “What are you doing? What’s with that look?”

Huang Dehui smiled. “Nothing, you really are a good person.”

Qin Xian immediately waved his hand. “No, it’s just that we’ve been around each other for a long time and developed some feelings. It seems I should move out for a while and visit occasionally.”

“Still not joining us? We can provide staff dormitories, and you won’t have to pay any rent. Plus, there’s a free cafeteria.”

Honestly, Qin Xian was tempted for a moment. But the word “work” stopped that thought in time…

Huang Dehui scratched his head and continued to persuade him. “Although I can’t decide, but… it’s very likely that the higher-ups will agree to commission you for help. You can choose to accept or refuse. You’ll also be given generous compensation after the task is completed.”

Qin Xian lowered his eyes to think.

This kind of arrangement might be feasible. It would be comfortable for him, without restrictions on his freedom. If he didn’t want to take a job, he could simply refuse, and he’d still get paid.

“How about it? Consider it? I’ll bring my leader to your place tomorrow to discuss it?”

Qin Xian was about to nod when he suddenly remembered that there was a ferocious dog at home, and immediately refused, “No, I have a dog at home that bites people.”

Huang Dehui didn’t care at all. “Oh, we’re not afraid of dogs. Our police dogs are also very fierce, it’s fine.”

But thinking of Tangyuan’s abnormality, Qin Xian said decisively, “No, it might really tear your flesh off…”

Huang Dehui gasped and frowned. “You… you’re keeping a large dog without a license? That won’t do, brother.”

Qin Xian was speechless. “It’s not a large dog, just a mongrel I picked up a few days ago.”

After thinking about it, he added, “It just doesn’t like people coming into the house, and it’s quite obedient.”

Huang Dehui spread his hands. “Alright then, how about we meet at a restaurant tomorrow? I also wanted to treat you to a meal.”

Seeing this, Qin Xian didn’t want to drag it out any further and nodded in agreement.

After the incident was investigated, the two attackers were immediately locked up by the police. Qin Xian finally returned home a little after eleven o’clock at night.

As soon as he got home, Tangyuan came out from behind the sofa like last time, standing about two meters away without a sound, its tail wagging.

Qin Xian walked over and patted the dog’s head, watching the black fur slide through his fingers. He recalled how he first found Tangyuan.

If someone had been watching him since that day, could Tangyuan have been deliberately placed there? The alley was unusually dark that day, and the dog had whined for so long without anyone noticing.

As far as he knew, there were two households in his building who were very enthusiastic about rescuing stray animals, and one elderly lady had even adopted eight cats and two dogs at home.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at Tangyuan’s swirling forehead.

Was there a conspiracy? There was only one way to find out.

“Chirp chirp.”

Hearing the sound, Tangyuan subconsciously raised its head, its ears also swiveling towards him.

Qin Xian squatted down and said to the dog, “Come, shake paws.”

He held out his palm.

But Tangyuan seemed not to understand. It lowered its head, sniffed Qin Xian’s palm, and then looked up at Qin Xian again.

Seeing this, Qin Xian tapped his own palm and repeated, “Come on, put your paw on it, shake hands.”

Tangyuan tilted its head in confusion, not moving for a long time, just staring at Qin Xian’s palm.

“Stupid dog.” Qin Xian spat out two words emotionlessly, and reached out to grab the loose skin on either side of the dog’s mouth, pulling it outwards forcefully.

The skin immediately stretched long, squeezing Tangyuan’s eyes into narrow slits. The dog’s entire head widened by a large margin, looking very amusing.

Qin Xian shook the stretched skin, even fanning it up and down, looking extremely comical. Tangyuan remained still throughout, allowing him to knead it.

After more than ten seconds, it shook its head and broke free.

Qin Xian then reached out and grabbed the dog’s ears. The tips of its ears were cool because they were far from its heart, and he could fold them down at will, making the dog have floppy ears.

Tangyuan remained motionless, showing no resistance. It even squinted its eyes, appearing sleepy.

Seeing this, Qin Xian let go and sat directly on the sofa, taking off his shoes and sticking his bare feet under the dog’s belly.

“Warm my feet for me.”

The temperature under the dog’s belly was very high, warm and cozy, like wearing fuzzy slippers.

Qin Xian sat on the sofa, propping his face with one hand, observing the dog’s reaction.

Tangyuan looked down at its owner’s feet. It didn’t refuse. Instead, it adjusted its posture and continued to press Qin Xian’s feet under its belly.

However, after looking down for a while, it suddenly lowered its head, sniffed Qin Xian’s instep, and then stuck out its tongue.

Qin Xian recoiled as if shocked and pulled his feet back immediately, staring at it in disbelief.

“What are you licking? Do you have some kind of special fetish?!” Qin Xian got off the sofa, grabbed the dog’s head, and shook it.

Tangyuan panted with its tongue out and then leaned in to lick Qin Xian’s cheek again.

Qin Xian directly pinched the dog’s mouth, trapping the tip of its tongue in front of its lips.

“Mmm mmm!”

Perhaps it hurt to bite its own tongue, Tangyuan whined a couple of times.

Qin Xian didn’t speak, but just smiled and stared at it. The incandescent light cast shadows on his face, and his eyes lit up gold again. This golden light had not dissipated, and after a while, blood began to drip from the corners of his eyes.

The blood trickled down his face, but even so, his expression remained smiling, looking exceptionally terrifying.

Tangyuan seemed to sense danger, flattened its ears, and made a submissive sound from its throat, looking very wronged.

Qin Xian snorted, wiped the blood from the corners of his eyes, and said softly to Tangyuan, “You better be a real dog. If I find out otherwise, you’ll be a dog that barks ‘woof woof’ for the rest of your life.”