Robbery on the Road, Feint to the East

I was about to hail a taxi to go back when a white Buick minivan stopped right in front of me.

The window rolled down, and the driver was Old Shu.

"Get in, I'll give you a ride."

I didn't hesitate, pulled open the door, and sat in the passenger seat.

He's worried I'll lose this thing, isn't he? I thought. He probably didn't just want to give me a ride; it was because of the jade pendant in my hand.

This thing was incredibly valuable, so much so that I didn't even know how to describe its worth.

At the very least, national treasures like the Song Dynasty's Yao Bian San Mu couldn't compare to it.

Otherwise, the Onmyoji from the Island Nation wouldn't have used it as bait to scout ahead.

"That's not it, I'm just going that way. Besides, if I were really worried about losing it, I wouldn't give it to you," Old Shu said with a slight smile, starting the car and driving in the direction of my home.

He knew where I lived. This meant he was probably from the Ninth Bureau too. His position in the Ninth Bureau might even be higher than Xie Yi's, otherwise, he wouldn't have called Xie Yi "Xiao Xie."

"Your friends?" Old Shu glanced at the rearview mirror. I was surprised; he could actually see Eccentric Song and Chu Ge sitting in the back seat.

Their expressions changed slightly too.

"You can see them?"

Old Shu asked back, "Is that strange?"

"Most people can't see them because normal perception dictates they don't exist."

Old Shu nodded. "I'm not exactly normal."

I was suddenly at a loss for words.

"Many people believe psychic energy can't materialize, but that's not true. At least, you've managed it."

Old Shu's words gave me a strange feeling.

To many, I should have been the most severe case of schizophrenia among the mentally ill.

But I knew I wasn't sick because I knew who I was and that I had a complete and correct perception. I had figured it out a long time ago. At first, I had my doubts, even reading many books on psychology and psychopathology.

I was sure I wasn't mentally ill, nor did I have schizophrenia.

They weren't my alter egos; they were independent beings who could exist simultaneously with me. We could communicate and interact like normal people, and they could provide me with the greatest help when I needed it.

This help was substantial.

So far, the only people who could see them, besides Xu Qiuyan, were this Old Shu.

I asked again, a little uncertainly, "You can really see them?"

"Do you think I'm trying to comfort you? There are two grown men in the back seat, and they're both very confident. One of them is a martial arts expert, right?" Old Shu said with a smile.

I fell silent.

"Can you hear me speak?" Eccentric Song asked.

Old Shu actually answered him, "Would you be shocked if I said yes?"

Eccentric Song was indeed taken aback.

Old Shu continued, "I know you have some doubts about their existence. You don't need to worry. Their existence won't affect you in any way. Of course, if you insist on saying there's an effect, it's only the incomprehension of outsiders."

"How others see it has nothing to do with me," I said.

It wasn't that I was being dramatic; that's just how it was.

What outsiders thought or said had nothing to do with me. Besides myself, no one would pay for my life, nor would anyone truly be responsible for my life.

Survival was my own business.

What is life? It's being born and living. It's still my own business. Outsiders just talk, mostly from a place of privilege. How you truly live is just a show for them. If you live well, they'll offer empty praise and feel jealous. If you live poorly, they can get a laugh out of it.

"That mindset of yours is good, keep it up."

I looked at him. "You make me feel very different."

"Mm, many people feel that way."

He was truly confident.

"So, who exactly are you?"

I was genuinely curious.

He smiled. "You'll know later."

At this moment, Chu Ge said softly, "That car behind us has been following us. It's been following since the last three intersections."

I wanted to turn my head to look, but Old Shu said, "Don't look back. Pretend you don't know."

Chu Ge nodded.

Eccentric Song said, "Could it be that Onmyoji again?"

I thought it was very possible.

Old Shu floored the accelerator again, and the car sped up once more. The car behind us was still keeping pace not far behind.

After turning at the next intersection, Old Shu pulled over to the side of the road.

The car that had been following us stopped when we did.

Old Shu opened the car door and got out.

He instructed me to stay in the car.

Chu Ge originally wanted to follow, but Old Shu told him to stay with me instead, clearly intending for Chu Ge to protect me.

I hesitated for a moment before getting out of the car as well. I couldn't let him face danger alone.

Even though this was our first time interacting, he was still from the Ninth Bureau, making us colleagues. If something happened to him, I wouldn't feel right.

As I got out, Chu Ge followed. Eccentric Song was gone; Duan Hongbin appeared instead.

Eccentric Song probably figured Duan Hongbin would be more useful in this situation, so he switched people at the last minute.

Old Shu heard my car door close and glanced back, his brow furrowing slightly. However, he didn't say anything in the end, a smile returning to his face.

He had already walked over to the other car.

It was a black BMW sedan, and four burly men got out.

The leader of the group ignored Old Shu and looked at me behind him. "Hand over what you have."

Old Shu and I stopped about a meter away from them.

"Hand over what?" I asked.

"That box."

I hadn't left the box in the car; it wasn't safe. But it wouldn't fit in my pocket, so I was holding it.

Just as I was about to speak, Old Shu interjected, "Who sent you?"

I was also curious. I had initially thought the person following me might be that Onmyoji from the Island Nation, but I hadn't expected these four men.

"Stop with the nonsense. Just hand it over when we tell you to," the man snapped, his temper seemingly short.

"Slap!" Old Shu raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap.

I was taken aback. Old Shu was really bold, resorting to violence without a word.

The man was stunned by the slap, but then he flew into a rage and threw a punch at Old Shu. Old Shu grabbed his hand, twisted it forcefully, and pinned him against the BMW's hood. The other three men, seeing their leader subdued, looked eager to join in. But as they moved, they found a gun pointed at one of them.

Old Shu held the man down with one hand, and a gun had appeared in the other.

Did the Ninth Bureau issue firearms?

Why didn't Xu Qiuyan and I have them?

That was the thought that crossed my mind at that moment.

"I'll ask you again, who sent you?" Old Shu lowered his gun, pressing the muzzle against the head of the pinned man.

Despite his large build, the man trembled all over as the gun was pressed against him, nearly wetting himself in fear.

"I'll talk, I'll talk."

Old Shu then released him, put away the gun, and took half a step back, allowing the man to stand up.

The men were all subdued now. I figured they were just thugs, the kind who could bully ordinary people but would fold immediately when facing someone tough.

Their initial arrogance vanished. What had been stiff moments ago had completely softened.

"We were just taking money and doing a job," the man said.

"Who gave you the money?" Old Shu asked again.

"I don't remember," the man replied.

Old Shu narrowed his eyes, and I snorted, "How could you not remember?"

The man wore a bitter expression. "I really don't remember at all. I clearly saw his face, but now when I try to recall it, it's like it's been obscured by something."

Suddenly, I thought of the Onmyoji. This was indeed related to him, but where was he? If he knew the Twin Fish Jade Pendant was in my possession, why send others to snatch it instead of coming himself? Was he so confident these guys could take it from me?

Who was he underestimating?

Even without Old Shu, these guys wouldn't have succeeded.

"Call your associate and see what the situation is on her end," Old Shu said.

His words sent a cold sweat down my spine. Could the other party be using a diversion, with the Onmyoji going after Xu Qiuyan?

"How is it?"

I shook my head at Old Shu. "I can't get through. It's probably turned off."

Old Shu said grimly, "Let's go!"

Without another glance at the men, we got back into the car, and Old Shu sped towards our residence.