Chapter 124

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 124: Title

If Ghost in Red and the others had merely been exploring the vicinity, they should have returned by now.

Their continued absence could only mean one thing.

—They must have ventured deep into the jungle… Qiao Feiyu mused. Yang Xingyu’s recklessness might be expected, but for the red-clad senior to follow suit… His thoughts were interrupted as someone nearby waved at him.

"Feiyu, we’ve found something. Come here."

Approaching the group, Qiao Feiyu greeted respectfully, "Professor Qiu."

The researcher’s gaze shifted to the translucent figure behind him. "Mingyu," Professor Qiu smiled, "How’s your condition these days? Any improvement?"

"Greetings, Professor. I’ve been maintaining stable form."

As head of Scientific Research Division 6 specializing in soul and ghostly energy studies, Professor Qiu had previously enlisted Mingyu’s help for non-invasive spectral research during the spirit’s early days at the Special Bureau.

"What have you discovered?" Qiao Feiyu inquired.

"Our spiritual energy readings show lower concentrations here than in urban areas," Professor Qiu adjusted his glasses. "Contrary to all established patterns."

The mention of scientific principles during this Awakening of Spiritual Energy era carried inherent irony, yet humanity’s pursuit of order persisted. Division 6’s work bridged ancient energies with modern methodology – while spiritual energy remained newly charted territory, its interactions with technology revealed emerging patterns of predictability.

"Urban zones always trailed mountainous regions in spiritual density since the Awakening began," the professor continued. "Even with cultivated energy flora boosting city levels, they can’t match natural reserves from spiritual veins or…" he hesitated, "…those anomalous Lost Spaces where reality itself warps under concentrated energy."

Qiao Feiyu’s gaze met approaching footsteps. Captain Yuan’s weathered face appeared between the trees.

"Jungle investigation becomes necessary then," Qiao Feiyu concluded.

The military officer nodded curtly. "Where’s your team? Weren’t you all together?"

"Scouting the perimeter. They’ll return shortly." Noting the captain’s frown, Qiao Feiyu added, "Their capabilities ensure safe extraction from any encounter. We’re still distant from the target zone, aren’t we?"

Captain Yuan’s jaw worked silently before grunting, "Your responsibility."

As the officer withdrew, Qiao Feiyu sighed. The Special Bureau tolerated extraordinary individuals’ quirks, but this expedition’s military observers wouldn’t overlook Yang Xingyu’s team’s unstructured movements. Survival capacity mattered little to those valuing discipline over individual prowess.

Meanwhile, Yang Xingyu trudged through dim foliage, spiritual energy pulsing from his fingertips. The jungle’s unnatural silence pressed against his enhanced senses, yet revealed no tangible threats. His recent ascension to the Innate Realm left spiritual vision shimmering unpredictably – along with the unintended overwhelming pressure radiating from his form. Each step crackled with unstable power, newborn energies resisting precise control.

Ordinary animals could detect danger from over a dozen meters away and flee. As for insects, they all curled up trembling when he passed, falling utterly silent without even a chirp.

The jungle floor lay carpeted in decaying leaves that stuck to his boots with gluey squelches at every step.

Yang Xingyu pulled out his phone – no signal.

Seems tonight’s hunt would yield nothing. He decided to fully deploy his spiritual vision’s web for the first time in this deserted area, expanding a fifty-meter diameter net woven from spiritual energy.

"Hmm?"

He suddenly opened his eyes and strode toward the anomaly detected by his spiritual awareness, halting after a dozen meters beneath a tree whose trunk measured forty-five centimeters in diameter.

Having trekked nearly a kilometer into the jungle at moderate speed, Yang Xingyu now studied the squirrel hole hollowed out two meters up the trunk.

"Strange, nothing seems amiss," he murmured, tilting his head back. His night vision, enhanced by moonlight, revealed the hole’s weathered edges.

While ordinary Practitioners used spiritual eyes to perceive souls by concentrating energy in their pupils, spiritual vision spun energy into an observational net – a meticulous second sight missing no detail.

Available from the Innate Realm onward, this ability evolved into true spiritual awareness upon reaching Tier One, becoming as instinctive as breathing. Yang Xingyu trusted this energy-woven perception more than fallible human eyes.

After sheathing his Long Knife, he scaled the tree using sturdy branches as footholds. The squirrel hole’s entrance barely exceeded his palm size, yet his probing hand discovered surprising depth within.

"Ah!" His fingers closed around something. Withdrawing his arm revealed pine nuts, strange seeds, and thumb-sized fruits. Yang Xingyu stared at the haul. Had he truly robbed a squirrel’s pantry?

Contemplating restitution, he reached back inside while channeling spiritual vision through the cavity. The energy net suddenly highlighted an amorphous shape in one corner.

Got you! His hand shot toward the target lightning-fast – only to jerk back with stinging fingers.

"Damned living creature!" he hissed through clenched teeth, refusing to release his grip despite the pain. When he finally yanked free, a fluffy squirrel dangled upside-down from his fist.

Yang Xingyu froze in astonishment. A real squirrel? Why hadn’t it fled the commotion? Then he noticed moisture on his hand.

Blood stained his palm – not his own. The captured squirrel’s left leg bore a fresh wound, matted fur clotting with scarlet. Had he torn existing injuries?

As the listless creature hung with drooping tail, Yang Xingyu debated conservation statutes. With a resigned sigh, he descended. Leaving this bleeding rodent meant delivering it to the God of Death.

Unnoticed by him, the squirrel slowly turned its head to stare at his face with peculiar intensity.

…

"Red-clad Senior, did something happen?" Qiao Feiyu eyed Yu Yue’s drained appearance behind the ghostly woman. "Yu Yue seems…"

"Nothing occurred," came the cool reply tinged with inexplicable disappointment.

"Senior merely gave me guidance." Yu Yue’s radiant eyes belied her spiritual exhaustion.

Qiao Feiyu’s tension eased. Being mentored by the Ghost in Red explained everything.

Crashing through foliage, Yang Xingyu approached the group. "Old Qiao! Red-clad Senior! Since when does Mingyu get fresh air? Thought you’d keep him jailed in that jade pendant forever."

"Watch your wording." Qiao Feiyu’s leg shot out as a living tripwire, his expression stormy.

Yang Xingyu hopped over the obstruction, grinning. "Truth hurts? You basically imprison Mingyu daily!"

His companion’s gaze dropped to the bloody bundle. "You actually attacked wildlife? I thought that was a joke!"

"Attacked? This injured squirrel was dying when I found it!" Yang Xingyu adopted a saintly tone. "Merely practicing lifesaving charity."

The Ghost in Red’s glacial voice cut through: "It breathes still."

Mingyu observed silently, brow furrowed.

"Oh! Poor thing!" Yu Yue rushed for the medical kit. "We’ll patch it up!"

As Yang Xingyu settled on a log awaiting her return, the squirrel’s beady eyes remained fixed on his face, unblinking.