Chapter Twenty-Six: Gathering Data from the Abyssal Touch

"Well then, we'll take our leave," Yu Ashiya said with a slight bow.

"If Miss Kiryu experiences any more discomfort tonight, please contact us immediately," Zi'ang Chen added.

"Alright." Norika Hoshino's complexion had clearly improved. "Thank you both so much for this."

She truly couldn't comprehend why the problem was solved just by these two men walking around her apartment. Yet, seeing Maki Kiryu sleeping soundly on the sofa, she didn't want to press for details... As long as Maki could rest peacefully, that was enough.

Leaving the Riverside Apartment, Yu Ashiya led Zi'ang Chen toward the subway station and asked casually, "How did you solve it?"

"I entered her subconscious," Zi'ang explained. "She—"

"Stop! That's enough," Yu Ashiya interrupted quickly. "No need for details. I don't want to raise my spiritual awareness any further."

"Then I'll skip the specifics," Zi'ang said seriously. "Just the essentials: she wasn't troubled by a supernatural entity, but rather cursed by someone."

Yu Ashiya was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I see. Looks like we can sell Miss Hoshino the anti-curse package."

"I'd advise against that," Zi'ang said in a low voice. "The curser's methods are exceptionally sophisticated."

"A demon worshipper?" Yu Ashiya asked in surprise.

Zi'ang shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

"Let's not dwell on that," Yu Ashiya said, clapping his shoulder warmly. "Thanks to you, this case was resolved so smoothly. As usual, we'll split the payment—transfer to your account?"

"That's fine," Zi'ang replied offhandedly.

He had no interest in money; all he wanted was the spark.

"By the way, it's only four in the afternoon," Yu Ashiya suggested. "Shall we go for a drink?"

"Uncle Yu, how about heading back to the office?" Zi'ang said. "I need to borrow your basement for a bit."

"Sure, I just renovated it the other day," Yu Ashiya replied with a cheerful grin.

In the subway car, Yu Ashiya stared out the window, bored, while Zi'ang Chen pondered Neko's words:

"...So I suggest you bury this matter in your heart and don't investigate further, or you will certainly die."

But I'm a peacekeeper! How could a peacekeeper abandon the pursuit just because the criminal is vicious?

Oh, I've already been suspended. Well, that's that.

He unlocked his phone again and saw a slew of new messages.

There were comforting words from colleagues, warnings from his supervisor not to jump ship—"I'm still trying to persuade the chief"—and 99+ unread messages from Rina Tsukimi...

99+? What on earth?

Opening them, Zi'ang saw that most were trivial complaints.

……

[Bunny Never Gives Up]: Senpai, senpai, senpai, senpai, sen, sen, senpai! /cute

[Bunny Never Gives Up]: Ugh, seriously! Who leaves their guest at home to look after their little sister, then runs off to enjoy themselves?

[Bunny Never Gives Up]: If you don't reply soon, I'm going into your room! I'm going to check your browsing history and dig into your hard drive for your study materials!

[Bunny Never Gives Up]: Don't get cocky just because you leave my messages unread! /knife/knife/knife

[Bunny Never Gives Up]: Senpai, I'm bored to death! Right now, I'm walking around your living room completely naked!

At this, Zi'ang couldn't help but grimace.

"What's wrong?" Yu Ashiya asked, noticing the twitch at the corner of his eye.

"It's nothing," Zi'ang sighed. "Just a guest at my place."

[Any Urban Legends?]: At least wear some clothes in someone else's home, please. Just because Xiao Zhu can't see you doesn't mean you can ignore public decency.

The reply came instantly.

[Bunny Never Gives Up]: So only messages like that can drag you out of ghosting, Senpai?

[Any Urban Legends?]: I just finished a case and saw your messages.

[Bunny Never Gives Up]: What case (ears perked)? I want to help investigate too!

[Any Urban Legends?]: It's already over...

[Bunny Never Gives Up]: Where are you, Senpai? I want to come join you!

"If you have a guest, do you need to head back?" Yu Ashiya asked with a hearty laugh. "Shame, I was hoping to treat you to dinner."

"No need to rush, Uncle Yu," Zi'ang explained. "This guest is my apprentice from work."

"Male or female?" Yu Ashiya asked.

"Female, but that's not the point," Zi'ang sighed. "She got into trouble with our boss because of me and was suspended too."

"Tsk," Yu Ashiya said knowingly. "So, you're going to make it up to her?"

"I can't just leave her to fend for herself," Zi'ang nodded.

"Bring her along to the office then," Yu Ashiya said expansively. "I'll pay both your salaries for as long as you're suspended."

"Uncle Yu, you're really generous."

"Why wouldn't I be? You just solved today's case for me. By industry standards, the agency takes half—I'm making a profit," Yu Ashiya laughed.

Zi'ang knew that in this line of work, the true scarcity was clients. Since the field was shrouded in secrecy, advertising was impossible; getting a client was nearly a miracle—no matter how powerful you were, if no one knew, you'd still go hungry.

If Rina Tsukimi didn't want to work for Public Security anymore, bringing her to Uncle Yu's agency was a good option—at least she wouldn't have to worry about making a living.

So he sent the agency's address to Rina Tsukimi, but as soon as his finger tapped send, a sudden realization hit him.

Wait a minute, isn't she the daughter of a high-ranking bureaucratic family? Does she really need a job?

Back at the detective agency, Yu Ashiya led Zi'ang to the basement. It covered about five or six hundred square meters, with a shooting range, life-sized wooden dummies, and punching bags—a perfect place for combat training.

"The gun cabinet's right there. Take as many rubber bullets as you need—they're all legal," he said nonchalantly. "Try not to wreck the dummies; the bags, do as you like."

"Thanks, Uncle Yu," Zi'ang replied politely.

"No thanks needed. Employee benefits," Yu Ashiya said, pulling out his phone. "I'll have my secretary order takeout for everyone. What do you want to eat?"

"Pork cutlet on rice will do."

"I'll let you know when it arrives."

With that, Yu Ashiya went upstairs. Zi'ang looked at the punching bag ahead, taking a deep breath.

He activated the Touch of the Nether Abyss.

His left hand, palm upward, jerked upwards. In response, a deep blue hole opened on the floor before the punching bag.

From the hole emerged a thick, towering tentacle—about 2.7 meters high, broad at the base, tapering at the tip, covered in clusters of suckers and holes, dripping with foul, viscous slime. The entire thing was bloated, filthy, and rotten, enough to nauseate anyone who looked at it.

Zi'ang studiously avoided looking at it, directing it with his mind to lash at the punching bag.

With a single blow, the bag burst apart, its stuffing exploding everywhere, and even the steel frame suspending it twisted and bent toward the center.

Zi'ang: ...

Alright, the power was confirmed.

Even a car parked there would have its roof smashed and be flattened with ease; certainly, anything supernatural would be hard-pressed to withstand such a strike.

Next, he would test its agility and response time.