# 238
**Chapter 238: The Phone Call**
"So, every special squad has a different function?" Lin Qiye asked.
"Exactly." Wen Qimo nodded. "The reason squads 001 to 004 are called special is because their roles differ from regular stationed teams.
For example, 004—the Mask Squad—specializes in hunting powerful mysteries that appear in certain cities and are beyond the local Night Watch’s ability to handle. In a sense, their missions are the heaviest.
003’s Phoenix Squad focuses on cases involving mysteries from the fog outside Great Xia. These are usually extremely dangerous, with bizarre Forbidden Ruins. When no new foreign mysteries appear, they assist the Mask Squad.
002’s Spirit Medium Squad targets ultra-dangerous non-mystery entities—like the gods of the Church of the Ancient Gods and the top seats of the Believers."
Lin Qiye waited, but Wen Qimo said nothing more. Puzzled, he prompted,
"And 001?"
"No idea. That squad is shadowy, rarely seen by Night Watch. Beyond a few top brass, almost no one knows where they are or what they do. They almost never recruit; the last new member joined over a decade ago."
Lin Qiye nodded thoughtfully.
"Of course, these divisions aren’t absolute—just priorities. After finishing their own tasks, every squad must help the Mask Squad purge powerful mysteries across Great Xia."
After a brief chat, Lin Qiye rose and swept the cabin with his mental power, scouring every corner of the plane for Bell Cranel.
Passenger cabin, cargo hold, engines—even the fuel tanks—he checked them all, but the tiny bug had vanished without a trace.
After several sweeps the plane began its descent. Through the window he saw dozens of ambulances waiting, their flashing lights brightening the dim airfield.
In the cockpit, An Qingyu flew like a veteran pilot, bringing the aircraft down smoothly.
Once it stopped, Xiao Hei led the clean-up team aboard to remove the bodies from first class and evacuate Wen Qimo before letting the passengers off.
Leaning by the cockpit, Lin Qiye watched passengers disembark while still scanning each one mentally for Bell Cranel.
Just then An Qingyu stepped out, having shed his blood-torn black coat for a clean white shirt. With his black-rimmed glasses he looked like an ordinary high-schooler.
"Really not coming back to Night Watch? After this merit, the higher-ups won’t pursue the corpse-theft. You could live above ground," Lin Qiye said.
An Qingyu smiled. "Night Watch isn’t my scene. I’m just a nut who likes dissecting corpses."
"Plenty of nuts in Night Watch."
"I don’t trust them." An Qingyu shook his head. "Still, thanks for not arresting me. I owe you."
He waved and blended into the passengers heading down the stairs.
By the time Lin Qiye stepped off, silence had returned. The plane’s lights were out; he descended the empty stair alone. Overhead, the stars blazed.
He’d taken two steps when a familiar voice rang out.
"Qiye!"
Startled, he turned. Six figures stood nearby; Hongying waved wildly and yelled at the top of her lungs:
"Qiye, you’re awesome!!"
She curved her fingers over her head, tilted, and grinned, forming a heart for him.
Lin Qiye laughed and walked over. "Sis Hongying, so loud—you’ll bring security."
"Don’t care." Her eyes sparkled. "That mid-air leap to kill the pub boss—so cool! Can you teach me?"
Chen Muye pulled the excited Hongying back and met Lin Qiye’s eyes, full of praise.
"This time, Team 136 really struck gold..."
Lin Qiye scratched his head, embarrassed.
"Details later when we’re back." Chen Muye dragged Hongying away. "Let’s roll."
Two steps on, his phone rang.
He paused, pulled it out, saw the line of asterisks, frowned, and let go of Hongying.
"You guys get in the car; I need to take this."
He waved them off and walked into the darkness.
Lin Qiye and the others headed for the vehicle. Hongying slung an arm around his neck, pestering him to teach her the move.
Far off, Chen Muye glanced at their banter, turned, and answered.
"Commander Ye, this is Chen Muye."
"..."
Standing by a dim wall, he listened, fists clenching tighter...
He drew a ragged breath, closed his eyes, voice hoarse:
"Understood."
...
Outside Cangnan City.
A carriage raced along the highway, overtaking a Porsche. The page boy driving glanced back, stuck out his tongue.
In this era a carriage on the highway was bizarre, yet nearby drivers seemed blind, continuing on their way.
The carriage was ghostly, half-ethereal, passing through a truck beneath everyone’s noses—cameras couldn’t record it either.
Ring-ring-ring...
The boy pulled a phone from his robe, spoke a few words, expression odd.
"Master, Commander Ye wants us back."
"Back? Where?" Master Chen’s voice came from the cabin.
"Back to Cangnan."
"We just left—why return?" He sounded reluctant. "Hand me the phone."
The boy passed it. Master Chen exchanged words, then fell silent.
"Turn around. Back to Cangnan."
His heavy order came from within the carriage.