# 1678
Chapter 1678: Burn Through
The sun set behind the western mountains.
After Hu Jia left, another limping woman clutching a jade token burst through the study door with joy, stumbling and laughing as she rushed outside.
"It's done! I'm a member of the Bureau of Evil Suppression too!"
As her voice faded into the distance, a figure in a winter-green robe emerged from the study. He glanced at the empty courtyard and spoke with some exhaustion:
"Wu Quan, is this the last one?"
"Mm." Wu Quan nodded. "The peak of interested talents coming to test themselves after hearing about the Bureau's establishment has basically passed. Starting tomorrow, the number of applicants should decrease significantly. Qiye, you can rest now."
"Over the past few days, how many people have we recruited?"
"Two 'Jian' realm, four 'Chi' realm, two 'Chuan' realm, three 'Hai' realm, two 'Wuliang' realm—thirteen people in total. Among them, three are registered as high-risk Forbidden Ruins, two as ultra-high-risk, and one… Wangxu."
Lin Qiye hummed in acknowledgment. "Having Hu Jia is considered a gain… but with just these people, we're far from eradicating the evil. The Bureau needs at least another twenty years of development to barely meet the Marquis's expectations."
As the two spoke, a figure with crimson hair pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in briskly.
"Are you two done yet? I'm starving to death!" Chloe's expression showed clear displeasure.
"Almost."
Lin Qiye sighed helplessly at her voice. He and Wu Quan walked out of the gate. Wu Quan raised his finger, and a heavy stone lock slid shut the gate. Then together they headed toward the Xiuwu Fang.
Since the battle side by side a few days ago, Chloe's relationship with Lin Qiye and Huo Qubing had clearly become much closer. Huo Qubing had already gone out of the city to find a suitable location for the Bureau's headquarters. With nothing to do, she could only come find Lin Qiye to pass the time.
"You want to go to Xiuwu Fang to watch people dance. Why not ask those missionaries to take you in instead of finding us?"
"They are my Believers after all. If they follow me to places like that all the time, they'd be corrupted." Chloe shrugged. "Besides, if they found out their Saint goes to Xiuwu Fang every day, how am I supposed to found a religion later?"
"…" Lin Qiye seemed to recall something. "By the way, I invited a guest tonight."
"Who?"
"You'll find out later."
Lin Qiye, Wu Quan, and Chloe entered the Xiuwu Fang. They walked familiar paths to a private room on the second floor. A few days ago, Huo Qubing had already sent someone to make arrangements with the owner here. So even without her hood and veil, no one obstructed Chloe's passage.
Not long after the three sat down, a figure pushed open the door and entered, looking somewhat uneasy.
"Hu Jia, sit beside me." When Lin Qiye saw the person, he smiled slightly and patted the seat next to him.
"Oh… yes!"
It was as if Hu Jia had never been to a place like this before. He didn't dare let his gaze linger on the other dancers. After bowing to Chloe and Wu Quan, he walked directly to Lin Qiye's side and sat down, his cheeks slightly flushed.
"Who's he?" Chloe asked while eating a pastry.
"Hu Jia, a new member of the Bureau of Evil Suppression." Lin Qiye gave a brief introduction, then turned to Hu Jia. "Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"Thank you, Lord Lin, I'm not hungry yet." Hu Jia lowered his head.
"Don't be shy. Everything you eat here is paid for by the Bureau."
"Um… then some crispy cakes for me, please."
Lin Qiye nodded and ordered some food. Meanwhile, Chloe's gaze remained fixed on Hu Jia.
"A new recruit… and yet you value him so much that you brought him specifically to meet us?" Chloe asked curiously. "Is he also part of your plan?"
"More or less. Right now it's just an idea. It depends on his own willingness."
"Is he special too?"
"Mm, very special."
The exchange between Lin Qiye and Chloe left Hu Jia completely confused. He asked uncertainly:
"Lord Lin, what plan?"
"I'll explain the details after the Marquis returns."
"Oh…" Hu Jia nodded. "Lord Lin, is the private matter you mentioned earlier related to this plan?"
"No, that's something else."
Lin Qiye turned to look at Hu Jia. "Use your ability. Enter my mental world again."
During the testing, Hu Jia had agreed to help Lin Qiye with a private matter. But considering there were still many people in line waiting after that, Lin Qiye had asked him to come to Xiuwu Fang in the evening instead. On one hand, there would be more time; on the other hand, it would give him a chance to meet Chloe and the others ahead of time.
Lin Qiye already had some plans for Hu Jia's [Mind Walker].
Hu Jia nodded. He blew on the stone flute once more. When both he and Lin Qiye had immersed themselves into the mental world, Chloe, who was sitting nearby, raised an eyebrow in surprise and fell into deep thought.
Lin Qiye's vision blurred, and he found himself back on the streets of Cangnan City. Hu Jia stood respectfully beside him. Streams of traffic flowed past them, yet it seemed no one noticed their presence.
"Hu Jia, look up."
At Lin Qiye's words, Hu Jia raised his head. As the disguises of this mental world gradually peeled away, he saw two blazing suns hanging high in the sky, like a pair of magnets slowly revolving around each other. A terrifying light and heat instantly filled the entire space.
Under their scorching heat, this modern city began to melt away. The congested traffic stalled on the roads. The edges of the tall buildings began to visibly distort…
At this moment, Hu Jia felt as if he were standing inside a Mountain of Fire. Every inch of his body was scalding. He immediately averted his eyes, as if looking for even a moment longer, his eyes too would be burned through.
His heart was shaken to the core!
When he had come here for the first time, those things had definitely not been there… Ever since acquiring [Mind Walker], he had entered many mental worlds, but he had never encountered anything like this.
"What is that?" Hu Jia shielded his eyes from the sunlight and couldn't help but ask.
Lin Qiye stood calmly on the road, his gaze fixed on the pair of revolving suns. He spoke slowly, "That is my Forbidden Ruins."
"Forbidden Ruins?"
"My ability. The last time you came, I hid them away so as not to interfere with you demonstrating your own ability… Now, you are the first person besides me to see them."
"In this world… there actually exists such a terrifying ability?" Hu Jia's eyes were full of shock.
Lin Qiye did not answer. He turned to look at Hu Jia and asked in return: "Tell me, what do you see?"
"I see two suns…"
"And what else?"
"And else?" Hu Jia was stunned. His gaze swept across his surroundings, as if realizing something. "They're… about to burn through your mental world?"