# 1541
Chapter 1541
Chapter 1537: An Qingyu's Request
Cao Yuan froze.
"Don't look so surprised. I'm not stupid." Lu Menglei blinked her eyes.
"The calluses on your hands are too thick. That's not something you could develop from practicing swordsmanship as a child. And the aura you give off... someone who got into this school through nine years of compulsory education wouldn't have such a heavy aura of violence. Even some old soldiers who've been on the battlefield might not match you.
I bet you have a mysterious background that you can't just tell anyone about!
Am I right?!"
Looking at Lu Menglei's sparkling eyes, Cao Yuan actually didn't know how to respond.
"I understand. You don't have to answer. You didn't deny it, so I already know the answer."
Lu Menglei hesitated for a moment, glanced around to confirm no one was nearby, then stood on tiptoe and leaned close to Cao Yuan's ear. A whiff of fragrance filled his nostrils.
"Can I join you guys?" she whispered,试探性地问道。
"No." Cao Yuan's refusal was extremely decisive.
Lu Menglei sighed in frustration.
"Then... you really don't have time to come? Any time works!"
Cao Yuan looked at the hopeful gleam in Lu Menglei's eyes, thought for a moment, then sighed heavily. "If I'm doing things during the day... I should be able to come in the evening, but it will be very late, probably around midnight."
"No problem!" Lu Menglei's eyes lit up. "Any time is fine. As long as I can... um... practice with you. I can come anytime!"
Seeing this, Cao Yuan no longer declined. "Then, see you tonight."
"Deal!"
...
Shangjing City, night.
Lin Qiye rubbed his tired eyes as his figure landed on the top of a tall building, gazing down at the neon-lit streets below, and heaved a deep sigh.
"Nothing... what exactly are those Migo looking for?"
Lin Qiye, Chen Han, and members from Night Watch headquarters had searched most of the Shangjing City district. Even the underground areas down to three kilometers had been scanned by Lin Qiye's spiritual sense, yet there was nothing unusual at all.
"Captain Lin, let's call it a day. You've worked hard." Chen Han's exhausted voice came through the headset.
"We'll have to. If this doesn't work out, I'll try 'Miracle, Seek Object' tomorrow... Not sure if it'll be effective."
Lin Qiye removed his headset, checked the time, and vanished into the night sky like a shadow.
Creak—!
Lin Qiye pushed open the courtyard gate. The yard was quite lively. An Qingyu sat by the chessboard under the tree, playing against Jiang Er. Li Yifei, meanwhile, had gotten into An Qingyu's wheelchair and was zooming around the courtyard, letting out excited cheers from time to time.
"Qiye, where have you been all day?" An Qingyu hadn't seen Lin Qiye all day and couldn't help but ask.
"Chen Han asked me to help him with official duties. I spent the day at the Shangjing City garrison." Lin Qiye shrugged helplessly, then changed the subject. "By the way, how are you feeling today?"
"Feels... about the same as yesterday. My computing power hasn't improved noticeably. It might have even regressed a bit..." An Qingyu's brow furrowed.
"It's not regression. You just got ahead of me by one move." Jiang Er consoled him. "Since Qiye is here, why don't you two play for a while? I'll go boil the medicine for you."
Jiang Er left the chessboard and drifted into the house. Lin Qiye walked over to sit across from An Qingyu, picked up a piece, and began playing with him.
"Qiye, I ran into something strange today."
While they were playing, Li Yifei wheeled over, his expression odd.
"Strange thing? Tell me about it."
Li Yifei recounted what happened today. Lin Qiye raised an eyebrow and smiled. "That's the new reserve team on a mission. It's just a remnant spirit from last century. Don't overthink it."
"But she seemed very fixated on me."
"These remnant spirits are all left behind after people committed suicide on the Fifth Teaching Building for various reasons. Maybe what made her harbor lingering attachments was some man who looked like you. Since Fang Mo and the others took her to the Dungeon, this matter is settled."
"I see..."
Li Yifei nodded, his expression one of hesitation.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing... I just felt a bit sorry for her, seeing the way she left."
Lin Qiye's hand holding the chess piece paused. He turned to look at Li Yifei, his expression complex. "Perhaps... these young people have bitter fates. If you really can't let it go, you could try to help her."
"Help her? How?"
"Talk to her clearly and resolve her heart's burden. They're all wandering spirits. If we can help disperse some of their resentment and depression... that would be a good thing."
Li Yifei nodded thoughtfully.
Soon, Jiang Er brought a bowl of hot medicinal soup to An Qingyu. After he drank it, Lin Qiye stood up and said:
"Jiang Er, you can keep playing with him. I'm a bit tired. I'll go sleep first."
"Okay..."
"Hey, I can play too!" Li Yifei raised his hand eagerly. "Jiang Er, sister, you go rest. I'll play with him. Don't worry, I won't let him win too easily!"
Jiang Er gave him a strange look. "Alright... you two play then."
Lin Qiye went to his room to sleep. Jiang Er returned to her coffin. In the courtyard, only Li Yifei and An Qingyu remained, seriously playing chess under the tree.
"Hehe, Qingyu, I'll make my move first?" Li Yifei said with a grin.
Li Yifei had been living with them for so long, so he understood An Qingyu's situation. Back then, An Qingyu had defeated him at No. 6 High School with terrifying deductive reasoning, and it still made him feel somewhat intimidated. Now that An Qingyu's computing power was impaired, he naturally wouldn't miss the chance to get some revenge on the chessboard!
"Okay." An Qingyu smiled shyly.
Li Yifei confidently placed a piece on the board. An Qingyu responded immediately.
Time ticked by. Li Yifei's smile gradually vanished. By the end, beads of sweat were even appearing on his forehead.
"You lose." An Qingyu calmly placed his final piece, saying with a smile.
"You... you're not sick at all?"
Li Yifei stared at the board in disbelief.
"It's not that I'm not sick... it's that you're too bad." An Qingyu couldn't help but say. "Your level is even worse than when Jiang Er played against me using the skill level of an elementary school student..."
Li Yifei: ...
Li Yifei shook his head in frustration. "Fine... I really am not good at this stuff. I'll go back to practicing my guitar..."
"Guitar?"
"Yeah. In two days I have a performance at the welcome party." Here, Li Yifei regained his confidence. "I'm not bragging, but today I played and sang on the street, and over thirty girls asked me for my WeChat..."
While Li Yifei was bragging nonstop, An Qingyu fell into deep thought...
"Li Yifei, can you do me a favor?" An Qingyu suddenly spoke up.
"You want me to help? Tell me! If I can help, I definitely will!"
An Qingyu paused for a moment, then said seriously:
"I want to learn guitar."