Chapter 144: The Corpse Demon Calamity

"How did you let him escape?" Shen Qingdai demanded sharply.

At this moment, with Shen Yan missing, her own safety was no longer guaranteed. Could she really stay at the Paranormal Investigation Bureau for the rest of her life?

Yun Haifan did not look pleased either. Inside the room sat Li Changqing, Bai Chuan, Hu Xiong, Huang Jiayi, and Chen Cheng.

Yun Haifan turned to Huang Jiayi, his voice grave: "With so many people surrounding him, and Mr. Chen Cheng accompanying you, you still let Shen Yan escape? Huang Jiayi, what exactly are you good for?"

Yun Haifan did not yet know the specifics, but the mere news of Shen Yan's escape was enough to infuriate him. Huang Jiayi felt awkward. If he shifted the blame to Chen Cheng, what if Chen Cheng was petty? But to shoulder the responsibility himself... he felt unwilling.

Chen Cheng sat in a chair and said calmly, "It was my negligence that allowed him to escape. It is my responsibility."

Yun Haifan's expression softened considerably. He shot a glare at Huang Jiayi, wondering why the man hadn't explained the situation first. Clearing his throat, Yun Haifan said, "My words were a bit harsh just now. It was a battlefield; the situation changes in an instant, and minor errors are understandable. Furthermore, we didn't fully understand Shen Yan and didn't know he wasn't a monster. Therefore, this cannot be blamed entirely on Mr. Chen; the First Bureau failing to provide full details to Mr. Chen is the primary reason."

"I will find him and kill him with my own hands," Chen Cheng said calmly.

"Mr. Chen, please don't dwell on it," Yun Haifan said, turning his gaze to Shen Qingdai and Zhang Xun'er. "The two of you, now that Shen Yan has escaped, do you know of any secret hideouts he might have?"

Zhang Xun'er shook her head. "Even if we knew his secret hideouts, he likely already suspects we have betrayed him. Why would he go there?"

"Sigh." Yun Haifan felt a headache coming on. "Let's leave it at that for now and see what the General Investigation Bureau decides."

With that, he looked at Zhang Xun'er and Shen Qingdai. Whether these two monsters could leave safely depended entirely on Yun Haifan's whim. Before sending Shen Qingdai over, the General Bureau had stated that it would be up to Yun Haifan to decide whether to release them based on their behavior.

"You are free to leave," Yun Haifan announced.

Zhang Xun'er breathed a sigh of relief. The Paranormal Investigation Bureau had kept its word.

"However, I must remind you both," Yun Haifan added, "if you harm anyone, you will eventually fall into our hands."

"Please rest assured. I will take my parents to live in the deep mountains in the north and care for them until the end," Zhang Xun'er replied. She had never been attached to the bustle of city life; she had only come to the Madelent District for the superior medical care. Now that her parents were in good health, she was ready to leave.

***

Zhang Xun'er stood up, glanced at Shen Qingdai, and strode away. After hearing Yun Haifan's decision, Huang Jiayi frowned slightly but said nothing, rising to escort Zhang Xun'er to pick up her parents.

Zhang Xun'er was gone, but the other one...

"I'm not leaving," Shen Qingdai said, shaking her head. "Shen Yan hasn't been found or killed yet. Your Bureau is responsible for my safety!"

Huh. Most monsters were desperate to leave, yet this girl refused. Yun Haifan, encountering such a situation for the first time, was surprised. "Miss Shen, if you don't leave, do you intend to stay at our Bureau?"

"Since you were willing to let me go, it shows you are people of your word. You previously said you would protect my safety," Shen Qingdai said, her eyes darting around. "I can go to the Investigation Headquarters. That is the safest place, and you won't have to worry about me running out and causing trouble."

"I..." Yun Haifan had never seen such a request. He cleared his throat. "I will report this to Headquarters and let them decide."

"Thank you all for your assistance," Yun Haifan said with a smile. "The three of you should rest for the night and head back tomorrow."

The matter was temporarily resolved. With Shen Yan on the run, he would be unlikely to cause any major trouble in the near term.

The next morning, at the parking lot, Yun Haifan personally came to see off Li Changqing, Hu Xiong, Bai Chuan, and Tang Xiaoyu.

"Thank you all for your help," Yun Haifan said with a smile. Then, as if recalling something, he added, "You might have your hands full when you return to Nanlin City."

"Oh?" Hu Xiong asked, curious.

"I heard that many evil beings are gathering near Nanlin City. Someone who observed the stars claimed that an 'Evil Star' will descend upon Nanlin City in about half a month. They intend to fight over it," Yun Haifan said. "The General Bureau is reportedly monitoring this as well; perhaps they will send people to investigate."

Near Nanlin City? An Evil Star? Hu Xiong couldn't help but curse, "Which son of a bitch is spreading such nonsense?"

If those evil beings truly converged on Nanlin City, the city's defenses would be no match for that horde of monsters.

"Thank you for the warning," Bai Chuan said, frowning slightly.

"In any case, be careful. We'll meet again if fate permits," Yun Haifan said with a smile.

As they drove out of the First Bureau building, Hu Xiong continued to grumble. Beside him, Li Changqing remarked, "Why worry about it? As long as the Evil Star doesn't fall into the city center, if it lands in the suburbs, let those monsters fight to the death among themselves. What is there to fear?"

"That makes sense," Hu Xiong thought to himself. Those monsters were going to fight anyway; as long as the bastards killed each other far away, it would be fine. With that thought, he felt much better.

Li Changqing and Tang Xiaoyu sat in the back. Shen Qingzhen was dead, and Shen Yan was unlikely to seek revenge on Li Lin or Li Qingxue. His focus would surely be on Shen Qingdai and Zhang Xun'er; it wouldn't come down to him or his family. He couldn't help but hum a little tune.

It was nine o'clock in the evening when they returned to Nanlin City. They grabbed a meal at a restaurant before Hu Xiong drove Tang Xiaoyu and Li Changqing home.

Upstairs, Li Changqing lay on the sofa and said, "The problem with Shen Yan's monster group is finally solved. We can focus on making money now!"

Tang Xiaoyu was very happy. "What should we do next?"

"First... hiss."

Suddenly, a sharp pain erupted in Li Changqing's chest, slowly creeping up to his neck. Sensing something was wrong, he rushed to the mirror. The black line on his chest had now crossed his neck.

Oh no. The Corpse Tribulation had arrived.

Li Changqing's expression turned grave. The corpse energy within him began to spiral out of control.