"I know, I didn't say she wasn't your colleague," Xu Yuqin said with a smile.
Shen Heng fell silent for a moment, unsure of what to say.
"When is she free? Why don't we bring her home to visit?" Xu Yuqin continued.
"There's nothing I can do about it. My company is very busy, otherwise I wouldn't have to go over there later," Shen Heng said.
Hearing this, Xu Yuqin had no choice but to abandon her idea.
Just as she was about to say something, the sound from the television suddenly caught their attention.
"Recently, a five- to six-meter- Ape Form Calamity Beast appeared in Yunshan City, Huanan Province, and it has been causing widespread destruction since Calamity Beast appearance."
"The following are relevant video screenshots..."
The three of them turned to look.
The television screen was switching from a female news anchor to a surveillance camera.
The surveillance footage was taken at night, so it wasn't very clear, but you could still vaguely make out that there seemed to be a factory nearby.
There was no trace of the Calamity Beast at first.
But at one moment, a phantom figure seemed to suddenly appear in the scene.
The figure was not clear; one could only roughly make out that the person was about five or six meters tall.
It didn't move; instead, it lay suspended three to five meters above the ground.
Cross your arms in front of you and rest your head on your hands.
It looks like it's fast asleep.
After a short while, the figure gradually became clearer.
Although it was still faintly visible, its shape was now clearer.
This is a Calamity Beast that looks very much like a giant gorilla, with its entire body covered in a layer of dark red Scalearmor.
" The Gray Rock Mountain Ape...?"
Shen Heng silently watched the images on the television.
Seemingly because nothing changed after that, the video started to speed up.
At a certain moment, with a loud 'boom,' the Calamity Beast crashed heavily to the ground.
The sudden change startled it awake.
It stood up somewhat flustered, turning around in place while its eyes darted around frantically.
Just then, a scream rang out.
It turned out that someone had heard the noise and ran over to check.
The Gray Rock Mountain Ape turned around, roared in the direction the sound came from, and pounced.
The scene pauses after a Gray Rock Mountain Ape turns a corner, and the announcer reappears.
Members of the local Supervision Bureau rushed there as quickly as possible.
"However, due to the overwhelming strength of the Calamity Beast, although they ultimately succeeded in defeating it, they also lost four members of the Calamity Beast Supervision Bureau."
Let us pay tribute to the heroes!
"..."
"Sigh!" Xu Yuqin sighed.
Why are there these monsters? I wish there weren't any!
"And these Supervision Bureau really have it tough, having to fight these monsters all day long..."
Shen Heng withdrew his gaze and continued to gnaw on the pig's trotter as if nothing had happened.
Shen Shuning stood to the side, her eyes slightly lowered, and remained silent.
The New Year's Eve dinner was finished quickly.
After saying goodbye to his mother and Shen Shuning, Shen Heng drove towards the Supervision Bureau.
By the time Shen Heng arrived at the Supervision Bureau, it was already completely dark.
Although it's only a little past six o'clock, winter nights always seem to get dark much faster.
On New Year's Eve, the Supervision Bureau building was empty.
There was only one short-haired girl sitting in the lobby on the first floor with a Tugou.
The girl sat on a stool, resting her chin on one hand and her elbow on her knee.
In front of her, Dahuang was eating his New Year's Eve dinner with his head down.
This is the scene Shen Heng saw when he entered.
" Shen Heng?" Le Gu Nan stood up from the stool. "Why is it you here?"
"I switched shifts with the captain, so it's my turn to be on duty today." Shen Heng walked to the edge of Le Gu Nan.
Shift change?... Le Gu Nan looked at Shen Heng.
Today's shifts are not the usual ones; instead, team leader Wang Hai is on duty, so there is no shift change.
Are you trying to help the captain share the burden?
Le Gu Nan looked at Shen Heng, but instead of exposing him, she nodded slightly.
So, are you going to be here alone tonight?
"Um."
"I see!" Le Gu Nan nodded gently.
Shen Heng glanced at the door, then turned his gaze back to Le Gu Nan.
"Alright, it's getting late. You should head home; your family is probably waiting for you."
Le Gu Nan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, I understand. I'll be going now!"
"Um."
Shen Heng glanced at Le Gu Nan, who was walking towards the door, and then turned his gaze to Dahuang.
He glanced at Dahuang's slightly more lavish food bowl, thought for a moment, then turned and called out:
"Wait a moment."
"Huh? What's wrong?" Le Gu Nan turned around in confusion.
"Is it convenient for you to come? Bring Dahuang along too, let it celebrate the New Year with us!" Shen Heng said.
Upon hearing this, Dahuang straightened up instantly, and its ears perked up as well.
Since it was discovered that he had cultivated and could speak human language.
He has basically only been to two places: the public security comprehensive business park where the Supervision Bureau is located and the mission locations. He hasn't been to other places for a long time.
Looking at Dahuang's expectant eyes, Le Gu Nan then hesitated before glancing at Shen Heng.
"In that case, you'll really be all alone here!"
"Don't worry, I'm fine. But it would be good for Dahuang to celebrate the New Year too," Shen Heng said with a light laugh.
"Waaah, Lord Shen Heng!" Dahuang said, moved.
Shen Heng glanced at Dahuang.
It was a rare treat, the first time I'd ever heard Dahuang call me that with such genuine emotion.
Le Gu Nan's gaze fell on Shen Heng's face. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Okay, then I'll take Dahuang back first!"
"Okay, just bring it tomorrow morning!" Shen Heng nodded slightly.
"Hmm." Le Gu Nan waved to Dahuang, " Dahuang, let's go!"
Shen Heng followed the car to the door, and only turned his gaze away after watching the black car leave.
He turned and walked into the training room.
He slowly raised his hand and began practicing the Threefold Force for the day.
"Click, click..."
The second hand ticked away.
Under the bright lights, only that one figure was still diligently practicing.
At one point, Shen Heng slowly opened his eyes.
He let out a soft breath and turned to look at the wall clock.
After hesitating for a moment, Shen Heng, for the first time in hundreds of days and nights since joining the Supervision Bureau, ended his cultivation voluntarily, not because of anything or any mission.
Shen Heng went up to the rooftop and sat down by the wall.
Before him stretched buildings of varying heights, and lights extending into the distance...
The auditory sensation spread out like ripples.
The laughter of four or five people mingled with the Spring Festival Gala skit on TV;
The little girl was counting her New Year's money in a childish voice;
It was someone's house, I don't know which one, but they were still chopping dumpling filling.
And the bubbling hot pot, the clinking of beer bottles—all these sounds of New Year's greetings...
Shen Heng let out a soft breath, inexplicably recalling the scene of him spending the New Year alone at home in his previous life.
" Hearing Enhancement, and yet another area we're struggling with..."
The winter wind blew quietly.
At one point, Shen Heng lowered his eyes slightly.
The black Porsche had somehow returned to the entrance of the Supervision Bureau and slowly came to a stop...