Two Zhao Shengshens

At Teacher Zhao's home, apartment 8-5, unit two, building five of City Garden.

A middle-aged man with graying temples, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, crouched beside a corpse that had died a gruesome death. His eyes were closed as he carefully sensed something.

"Something's wrong. How could Su Yang's teacher have such a powerful Sequence Ability fragment in his body?"

"This Sequence Ability fragment is practically as powerful as a Demigod!"

"But... which Sequence Ability did this fragment come from? Why is its aura so strange?"

Zhao Shengshen had been in the room for a long time. He had originally planned to leave once he finished inspecting it.

But for some reason, just as he was about to leave, he had inexplicably sensed the aura of an immensely powerful Sequence Ability fragment coming from Su Yang's teacher.

It was this suddenly appearing aura that had made Zhao Shengshen stay there for several hours.

The fragment was exceptionally powerful, even more so than the Sequence Ability within Zhao Shengshen himself.

For such a thing to appear in an ordinary person who had not awakened a Sequence Ability was simply inconceivable!

Even stranger, Zhao Shengshen could not tell which sequence the ability fragment belonged to!!

"Could Su Yang's teacher have some other secret?"

"No, a Sequence Ability fragment this powerful can't be left out in the open. If it fell into the hands of the Fierce Ghosts, the consequences would be unthinkable!"

Zhao Shengshen rose, solemnly took out his phone, and made a call.

A few seconds later, the call connected.

The background noise on the other end was extremely loud, making Zhao Shengshen frown.

"Old Wang, why are people at the bureau still drinking and singing at a time like this? Hurry and tell the brothers to get ready and prepare to gather over here!"

"I found a Sequence Ability fragment on the deceased that's as powerful as a Demigod!"

Without waiting for a reply, Zhao Shengshen hung up.

He put his phone back inside his jacket and muttered a few words.

"Can't those people tell when it's appropriate? Someone's dead, and they're still drinking! Have I been too indulgent with them?"

"Forget it. I'll take another look around Su Yang's teacher's home and see if there are any other valuable clues."

Shaking his head, Zhao Shengshen walked toward the living room of Teacher Zhao's home.

At the Soul-Reaping Bureau, Old Wang put down his phone in confusion.

"What does he mean? Gather? Someone's dead?"

"What's Old Zhao talking about? He didn't even say where we're supposed to gather."

Balding Old Wang scratched his head. Zhao Shengshen had spoken so vaguely that he couldn't make heads or tails of it.

Even so, he walked into the crowd and switched off the sound system in the Soul-Reaping Bureau's bar.

The bureau members who had been singing and dancing energetically on the dance floor stopped when the music suddenly cut out, exchanging bewildered looks.

"What's going on? Where's the music?"

"What happened? What happened?"

"I don't know!"

Old Wang climbed onto a table and coughed lightly a couple of times, drawing everyone's attention.

"Brothers, the director just called me and said someone's dead."

"On top of that, the director found an immensely powerful Sequence Ability fragment!"

"Let's hurry and get ready for battle!"

Old Wang's words were like a stone stirring up a thousand waves, and the Soul-Reaping Bureau members' faces filled with shock.

"Someone's dead? What happened?"

"A Sequence Ability fragment appeared? Looks like something big is about to happen!"

Although the Soul-Reaping Bureau members didn't know what had happened, Old Wang's words made them realize how serious the situation was.

They put down their glasses, composed themselves, and gathered around Old Wang.

Old Wang, who possessed [Teleportation Domain], had planted an "Anchor" on everyone in the Soul-Reaping Bureau, and Zhao Shengshen was no exception.

—Old Wang could instantly teleport them to the side of anyone on whom he had planted an "Anchor."

Seeing that everyone was ready, Old Wang took a deep breath, and his aura changed.

A yellow formation appeared beneath everyone's feet, and a white light slowly appeared before their eyes.

But the yellow formation beneath them soon vanished—the teleportation had been interrupted.

The Soul-Reaping Bureau members looked at Old Wang in confusion.

"What happened? Why did the teleportation stop halfway?"

"Old Wang, why do you look like you've seen a ghost? What's going on?"

Old Wang's face was deathly pale, and his body trembled uncontrollably, as though he had suffered a terrible fright.

Under their questioning gazes, Old Wang said in a trembling voice,

"I sensed two Anchors..."

"There are two directors!!"

Two directors?

Old Wang's words pierced everyone's hearts.

A deathly silence fell over the Soul-Reaping Bureau.

The next moment, the Soul-Reaping Bureau's door opened.

A figure walked into the Soul-Reaping Bureau.

Seeing everyone crowded around Old Wang and staring at him in utter terror, the figure looked puzzled.

"What's wrong with you? Weren't we having a party today? How did you all stop in the time it took me to eat a bowl of wontons?"

"Keep the music playing and keep dancing!"

The newcomer was none other than "Zhao Shengshen"!

The Soul-Reaping Bureau's Nineteenth Jurisdiction in Muyang City.

At Ren Yexue's home.

Several large plates of leftover food sat on the glass table on the terrace.

Although the dishes had gone cold, they still gave off an enticing aroma and remained a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

"Whew! I'm stuffed. I never knew you could cook like this!"

Su Yang patted his bulging belly and praised Ren Yexue.

He didn't know who had secretly altered this world or what their purpose was.

But after getting through to his grandma on the phone, Su Yang felt much more at ease.

The people he cared about were unharmed and still by his side!

As for why he still retained his memories, Su Yang guessed it was probably because of the Dead Man's Book.

He knew full well that, before such mighty power, he could not stir up any waves with his strength alone.

He, Su Yang, was no more than a First-Tier Sword-Bearer who had only just awakened a Sequence Ability.

There were countless people in the Soul-Reaping Bureau stronger than him!

So Su Yang made up his mind to wait until daybreak and ask Zhao Shengshen about the details.

Ren Yexue beamed with pride at Su Yang's praise. "Of course! Whenever I'm home alone, I always cook for myself!"

Su Yang let out a satisfied burp and looked beyond the terrace.

A light rain had begun to fall at some point.

Threads of rain cut through the orange lamplight as they poured down, while the aroma of the dishes slowly drifted to Su Yang's nose.

The light fell on Su Yang and Ren Yexue, casting their overlapping shadows on the wall.

One light, one shadow, two people, a few gusts of wind, and a thousand threads of rain.

Su Yang gazed at the view beyond the terrace, somewhat lost in thought.

He turned his head, a touch of bewilderment in his eyes.

"Ren Yexue, suppose that one day you didn't remember me, and you discovered that your old memories were all jumbled up."

"We hadn't spent two years together, I'd never explained those problems to you, we hadn't shared so much of our daily lives, never played around together so many times, never wished each other good night and good morning for hundreds of days..."

"If we'd only known each other for a month, would you still cook for me like this?"

Ren Yexue lay on the glass table, listening quietly to Su Yang.

The more Su Yang spoke, the more the corners of Ren Yexue's mouth lifted, two little dimples playing mischievously on her cheeks.

The rain grew heavier, splashing onto the white sundress she wore and soaking through to her fair skin.

"Of course I would!"

"What about you, Su Yang? If you found out everything we'd been through before was fake, would you still be the way you used to be?"

"Would you still patiently explain problems to me, gently share your daily life with me, and do everything you could to fight against Fate?"

Ren Yexue's eyes reflected the soft lamplight, and her gaze grew gentler as she looked at Su Yang.

Su Yang was taken aback. He hadn't expected Ren Yexue to ask him that.

After thinking carefully for a moment, Su Yang nodded.

"I probably would. After all, you're so pretty."

Su Yang's words made Ren Yexue laugh, and her bare little feet kept kicking at the hem of her white dress.

"Then it's a promise, Su Yang!"