Chapter 46: An Unforgettable Interrogation
The sterile, fluorescent-lit lobby of the New Eridu Public Security bureau offered little comfort, but at least they weren't behind bars. Thanks to Zhu Yuan's personal guarantee and a rather 'special' explanation from Qingyi, the duty officer had begrudgingly agreed to wave off the immediate impounding of their highly questionable vehicles. Dealing with undocumented, bizarrely modified motorcycles was always a bureaucratic nightmare, and the officer seemed all too happy to pass the buck.
However, they weren't entirely off the hook. Wise and Belle had to fill out a mountain of paperwork, leaving behind their detailed identity information and contact details. They signed a formal agreement promising to either complete the proper registration procedures or provide concrete proof of the vehicles' legal origins within a strict one-week deadline. To top it off, they were mandated to attend a grueling traffic safety education seminar.
By the time they finally stepped out of the NEPS station, the cool night air of New Eridu washed over them. They had only been subjected to simple registration and a stern lecture, avoiding any actual lockup. The streets were already sparse with pedestrians, the neon signs flickering against the dark sky. It was well past ten o'clock.
Wise and Belle turned to the two officers, their postures practically sagging with relief.
"Thank you so much! Zhu Yuan! Qingyi!" Belle bowed repeatedly, her hands clasped together. Her voice still carried the lingering tremor of someone who had narrowly avoided a disaster. "You've saved our skins again!"
"It was nothing," Zhu Yuan replied, waving a hand dismissively. The harsh streetlights highlighted the dark circles under her eyes. She turned her head away, raising a hand to cover her mouth as she let out a quiet, exhausted yawn. "It's getting late. Hurry back, and drive slowly on the way."
Wise stepped forward, his expression earnest. "I really don't know how to thank you two. How about... I treat you to a meal another day? You pick the place, anything you want!"
Zhu Yuan's posture instantly snapped straight, her exhaustion vanishing behind the rigid mask of a disciplined officer. She sternly shook her head. "Absolutely not! As public servants, this is exactly what we are supposed to do. We cannot accept private invitations or gifts. Remember this lesson well. From now on, abiding by the law will be the best thanks you can give us!"
Her tone was sharp, decisive, and left absolutely no room for argument.
Wise and Belle exchanged a helpless glance, momentarily speechless. They knew Zhu Yuan was a woman of unshakeable principle, but they still felt indebted.
Belle's eyes darted around as her mind raced, and suddenly, a bright idea struck her. "Then... how about this! From now on, whenever you come to our video store, all your rentals and purchases will be permanently twenty percent off! No, wait, fifty percent off! Just consider it a super discount for our most valued old customers. That doesn't break any rules, right?"
Zhu Yuan frowned, her lips parting to immediately refuse this thinly veiled form of bribery. But before she could speak, Qingyi smiled, stepping closer and gently tugging at her partner's sleeve.
"Zhu Yuan, the little store owners are just being sincere," Qingyi said, her voice light and teasing. "Besides, renting a few videotapes doesn't cost much anyway. At most, we'd be buying some snacks and drinks. It falls completely within the scope of reasonable social interaction. It's not a violation of protocol. How about we accept?"
Zhu Yuan looked at the expectant, bright-eyed siblings practically vibrating with hope, and then at Qingyi's calm, smiling gaze. The strict officer finally let out a long, defeated sigh.
"...Fine. This is an exception," Zhu Yuan compromised, rubbing her temples. "But fifty percent is entirely too much. Thirty percent off is enough."
"That's great! Thank you, Zhu Yuan! Thank you, Qingyi!" The siblings beamed, the heavy weight in their chests finally lifting completely.
Just as Wise and Belle turned around, ready to wave goodbye and mount their strange motorcycles, Qingyi's gaze caught a subtle glimmer. Under the dim, yellow glow of the streetlights, the jade pendants hanging from Wise's waist and Belle's neck seemed to catch the illumination, radiating a soft, warm luster. The ancient, complex patterns carved into the stone looked extraordinarily out of place in the modern, metallic sprawl of New Eridu.
"Oh? Wise, Belle, wait a moment."
Qingyi called out, her curiosity piqued. She took a deliberate step closer, her eyes narrowing as she examined the ornaments. "Your jade pendants... they look very unique. I haven't seen you wear them before. Are they new purchases?"
"Oh, this?" Wise looked down, generously untying the cord from his belt. He naturally held it out to the approaching officer. "It wasn't bought. It was a small farewell gift from a friend who came to help us out today. He said wearing it would ensure our safety and bring good luck."
Qingyi reached out. The very second the smooth surface of the pendant touched her fingers, a jolt of surprise registered across her internal systems. The warm, delicate sensation against her fingertips was startling.
This was absolutely not the texture of ordinary jade. It felt alive. It was more like a wondrous, ancient vessel containing a gentle yet terrifyingly vast energy.
She tilted the pendant toward the streetlight, carefully tracing the carved patterns with her eyes. The lines were deep, flowing with a natural elegance that seemed almost organically formed rather than cut by tools. A heavy, indescribable sense of protection and ancient weight radiated from the core of the stone.
This was certainly not a trinket carved by a common craftsman in some back-alley market.
Acting on instinct, Qingyi mobilized a faint trace of her own internal energy, attempting to probe the depths of the artifact. The moment her energy touched the jade, it was like dropping a tiny pebble into a boundless, lightless ocean. Her probe vanished instantly, swallowed without a single ripple.
The only thing returned to her was a deep, heart-stopping tranquility that made her breath catch.
"This... is truly good jade." Qingyi forced her voice to remain steady, suppressing the turbulent shock echoing through her mind. She calmly handed the pendant back to Wise, but her playful demeanor had completely evaporated. Her tone was heavier, more serious than the siblings had ever heard it.
"Wise, Belle, listen to me carefully," Qingyi instructed, her eyes locking onto theirs. "The value of these two jade pendants is absolutely far beyond your imagination. They are rare treasures in this world. As the old saying goes, 'An innocent man becomes guilty the moment he holds a treasure.' You two must be extremely careful."
She watched the bewildered, slightly alarmed expressions spreading across the siblings' faces and emphasized her point with a sharper tone. "From now on, keep them hidden. Wear them close to your skin, beneath your clothes. Do not easily show them off, and never play with them in front of others."
She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "And never, under any circumstances, casually tell anyone about their true origin. You want to avoid unnecessary covetousness and the deadly trouble that follows it. Do you understand?"
Seeing Qingyi's solemn expression and sharp gaze, Wise and Belle realized she wasn't exaggerating. She was genuinely concerned for their lives.
The two quickly nodded, their faces pale and serious. They spoke in unison, "We understand! We will definitely keep them hidden, wear them close to our chests, and we won't tell anyone!"
"Good. Hurry back now, and be sure to stay alert on the road. Drive slowly," Qingyi nodded, stepping back to give them space.
"Got it! Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, goodbye!" The siblings offered one last wave of thanks before starting their engines. This time, they drove away at an extremely obedient, cautious speed, slowly disappearing down the dark street leading away from the Public Security bureau.
Watching the two strangely shaped, unlicensed motorcycles vanish around the distant corner, Zhu Yuan finally turned to look at her partner. Qingyi was still standing perfectly still, her brow furrowed slightly as she stared at the empty road.
"Those two jade pendants..." Zhu Yuan asked, her voice low. "Are they really that special? I thought they were just two pieces of high-quality antique jade."
Qingyi finally retracted her gaze. A hint of lingering disbelief still danced in her eyes. "Mm... very special," she whispered.
"Although they look like nothing more than excellent ancient jade to the naked eye, when I held that piece just now, I felt as if it contained a calm, vast ocean of energy. It was completely unfathomable..." Qingyi shook her head slowly. "With my meager cultivation, I couldn't even glimpse a fraction of its true depth. These two little store owners... the friends they associate with are truly extraordinary."
She turned to Zhu Yuan, a complex light in her eyes. "Their 'little secrets' are probably much more dangerous, and much bigger, than we previously imagined."
Zhu Yuan rubbed her chin thoughtfully, processing the tactical implications. "So?"
Qingyi's lips slowly curved into a playful, highly curious smile. "So? When you have some free time off duty, we should go and sit in their video store on Sixth Street more often."
She looked back toward the direction the siblings had fled. "I have a feeling that the stories and 'surprises' hidden inside that small video store are going to become very, very interesting."
Meanwhile, across the vast expanse of the multiverse, Lumine and Paimon had finally returned to the temporary settlement of the People of the Springs.
The chaotic, exhausting, and thrilling events of the day had finally drawn to a close. The moment they entered their tent, Paimon face-planted directly into the softest pillow she could find. Within seconds, she was already snoring softly, completely dead to the world.
Lumine sat by the entrance of the tent, looking out at the vibrant, starlit night sky of Natlan. The warm breeze carried the scent of sulfur and blooming flora. She rested her chin on her hand, recalling the sheer absurdity of her experiences in the Zenless Zone Zero world. A quiet, genuine smile graced her lips.
Kachina's battles in the Night-Warden Wars would officially conclude by tomorrow. The timing was perfect; she would be right on schedule to pick the young warrior up. Feeling a deep sense of satisfaction mixed with the heavy pull of physical fatigue, Lumine finally lay down on her own bedroll, quickly slipping into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Rewind time to just before the Astral Express crew was teleported.
Inside the observation car of the Astral Express, the atmosphere was thick with a suffocating tension. The usual comforting hum of the train's engines did little to ease the anxiety filling the room.
Pom-Pom, the fluffy Conductor of the Express, was pacing frantically back and forth across the gleaming floorboards. Their heavy boots clicked rapidly against the wood, and their iconic large ears twitched erratically with every sharp turn.
Every few seconds, Pom-Pom would stop and look up at the completely empty area in the center of the carriage, their small face twisted in pure distress.
"Why haven't they come back, Pom-Pom... It's been so long, Pom-Pom..." the Conductor muttered softly, wringing their paws together.
This was the very first time that Stelle, Dan Heng, and March 7th had teamed up to venture into a completely uncontactable alien world.
Before departing, the three of them had sworn up and down that they would focus on their safety and watch each other's backs. But ever since those three blinding blue lights representing the teleportation sequence had flashed and faded, the Express's communication consoles had been dead silent. They had completely lost contact.
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