Chapter 11

The courtyard of the Mountain God Temple had somehow turned into an argument hall.

Ying Lei stood on top of a stone bench dramatically.

“The Great Wilderness is collapsing!”
Wen Xiao crossed her arms.
“That’s bad.”
“It’s catastrophic!”
“Still bad.”
“You don’t understand!”
Pei Sijing looked unimpressed.
“We understand. You’re just loud.”

Ying Lei looked personally attacked.

“When the Baize Token disappeared, Grandfather used his own divine power to seal the Heaven and Earth Gate.”
His voice became serious for once.
“The barrier kept the Great Wilderness alive.”
“But over the years…” he continued, “…certain demons secretly reopened cracks within it.”

Zhou Yi Chen frowned.
“So demons have been crossing into the human world.”

Ying Lei nodded.
“Small ones for now.”
A pause.
“For now.”
“Grandfather knows the seal won’t hold forever,” Ying Lei said quietly.
“That’s why he allowed me to come here.”
Wen Xiao sighed.
“So now we have another disaster.”
“Exactly.”
The discussion continued for another half hour.
Mostly because Ying Lei enjoyed talking.
And because Zhao Yuanzhou kept interrupting him.

Eventually Wen Xiao rubbed her temples.
“We need to return to the Bureau.”
Everyone stopped.
“Oh.”
“…Right.”

Zhao Yuanzhou immediately looked at Ying Lei.
“Hand it over.”
Ying Lei blinked.
“Hand what over?”
“Your treasures.”

“You can’t just ask people that!”
“I just did.”

Ying Lei looked deeply offended.
After a long moment-
He reluctantly reached into his sleeves.
And pulled out…
A cabbage.
Then another cabbage.
Then several carrots.
Then a bundle of onions.
The group stared.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Ying Lei puffed out his chest proudly.
“My dream is to become the greatest chef in the Three Realms.”

Zhao Yuanzhou pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Not vegetables.”
“Oh.”
Ying Lei looked disappointed.
After another long moment-
He finally sighed dramatically and produced a small bronze artifact etched with ancient symbols.
Everyone immediately felt the spiritual energy radiating from it.

“The Shan Hai Inch Realm.”
Wen Xiao’s eyes widened.
“The legendary artifact?”
Ying Lei hugged it protectively.

“The temple’s greatest treasure.”
Zhao Yuanzhou immediately reached for it.
Ying Lei slapped his hand away.
“No.”

Ying Lei explained while clutching the artifact.
“With the Shan Hai Inch Realm, I can transport everyone directly to another location.”
Bai Jiu gasped.
“That’s incredible.”
“It is.”
“Can we use it?”
“No.”
“…Why?”

“Because only the owner can activate it.”
Bai Jiu deflated instantly.
Everyone looked at Ying Lei.
Ying Lei looked at everyone.
“No.”

Zhou Yi Chen stepped forward calmly.
Ying Lei immediately became nervous.
“…What?”
“You said your dream is becoming a chef.”
“Yes.”
“Come work for the Demon Investigation Bureau.”

Silence.
Ying Lei blinked.
“…What?”
“We need cooks.”
“We do?”
“We absolutely do,” Bai Jiu interrupted immediately.
“The food is terrible.”

Ying Lei looked tempted.
Very tempted.
“…You’ll hire me?”

Zhou Yi Chen nodded once.
“You’ll be paid.”

Ying Lei nearly cried.
“MY TALENT HAS FINALLY BEEN RECOGNIZED!”

Moments later-
The Shan Hai Inch Realm activated.
Ancient light exploded outward.
The world folded in on itself.
And everyone vanished.
At that exact moment-

Back at the Demon Investigation Bureau.
Fan Xing stood silently while Zhen Mei was in the middle of another lecture.

“Your Bureau continues to disappoint-“
Light flashed.
The entire team suddenly appeared in the courtyard.
Covered in dust.
Vegetables.
And one very excited mountain spirit.
Everyone froze.
Zhen Mei stared.
The group stared back.
A long silence followed.
Then Bai Jiu waved.
“…Hello?”
Zhen Mei’s face turned black.
Absolutely black.
He looked like he wanted to arrest everyone on principle.
Instead he turned sharply.

His cloak whipped dramatically behind him.
“Let’s go.”
The soldiers immediately followed.

Zhen Mei left looking furious enough to chew iron.

That evening!

The Water Demon Case was officially closed.
The Bureau was safe.
For now.
The atmosphere was lighter than it had been in months.
Which naturally meant Zhao Yuanzhou immediately caused trouble.
Standing in the center of the courtyard, he spread his arms grandly.
“To celebrate.”
Everyone became suspicious.
“I invite all of you to my residence outside the capital.”
Bai Jiu cheered instantly.
“Food!”
Ying Lei cheered louder.
“Food!”
Wen Xiao looked interested.
Then everyone turned toward Zhou Yi Chen.

The Bureau leader crossed his arms.
“I won’t go.”
Dead silence.
Zhao Yuanzhou looked wounded.
“…Why?”
“I don’t drink.”
“You can watch us drink.”
“No.”
“I’ll prepare tea.”
“No.”
“I’ll prepare desserts.”
“No.”
“I’ll personally-“
“No.”
“You haven’t even heard the offer.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You accepted a date.”
The courtyard instantly became silent.
Wen Xiao slowly turned.
Pei Sijing slowly turned.
Bai Jiu slowly turned.
Ying Lei dramatically gasped.
“…A DATE?!”

“That is not the point.”
Zhao Yuanzhou smiled innocently.
“It was a lovely date.”
“It was not.”
“We watched stars.”
“You kidnapped me to a cave.”
“Romantically.”
“STOP SAYING THAT.”

While behind them-
The rest of the Bureau watched with expressions ranging from amusement to second-hand embarrassment.
Ying Lei finally leaned toward Wen Xiao and whispered,
“They’re definitely a couple.”
Wen Xiao sighed.
“At this point, I’m too tired to argue.”