Die, Replay, Repeat -
Chapter 88: 3000 Spiritual Coins
The subordinate looked troubled and said, "Director Wang, we don't have the full picture yet. After all, they are injured and currently receiving treatment. I didn't ask for details. The only one with minor injuries is Agent Shen. Although she's physically fine, she seems deeply traumatized and unwilling to answer my questions. She just bandaged her wounds quickly and rushed home."
Wang Dehai's expression tightened. "Shen is an experienced agent and has dealt with many Specter incidents. If even she's suffered such a trauma, this must be a serious incident."
The subordinate hesitated and then added, "Well, it might not be much related to the Specter incident. The thing is... it seems Investigator Shen has lost her hair."
Director Wang was startled. "What did you say? Shen is bald? How did she suddenly become bald? Never mind, I can't get any information from you. As long as they are safe, that's fine. Let them rest today, and I'll visit them tomorrow."
The next day, Fang Xiu had just woken up in the hospital bed when he saw Wang Dehai arrive in a hurry.
Seeing Fang Xiu covered in bandages, a look of concern appeared on Wang Dehai's face. He quickly approached and said, "Hey, hey, don't get up. You're injured. We don't stand on ceremony here in the bureau. Just lie down."
Before Wang Dehai could finish, Fang Xiu had already gotten out of bed and calmly looked at him, and then he turned and walked into the bathroom. Wang Dehai's outstretched hands froze in place.
He thought to himself, _'Don't get angry. Psychics are all weirdos like this. I'm used to it.'_
After mentally preparing himself, Fang Xiu came out of the bathroom, and Wang Dehai seemed to regain his composure and posture as the Bureau Chief. He briefly asked about Fang Xiu's health, then began asking about the Blackwater Village incident.
Fang Xiu didn't hide anything. He directly told him about Wang Erni, the Specter, and the puppeteer, Wang Yanran.
Wang Dehai's expression grew more serious as he listened, especially when he heard about the Bright Club's involvement. He seldom looked angry, but this time he did.
"What? People from the Bright Club dared to openly attack the Investigation Bureau agents? What are they trying to do? Start a rebellion?"
"What? You say you stole their Specter Gadget first and even killed a core member? Oh, then it's fine."
"What? You used the power of the Specter Gadget? How severe is the psychic contamination? Lin! Hurry and get a spiritual incense from the Bureau, no, make it two."
Soon, Fang Xiu received two spiritual incense and 3000 spiritual coins as a reward. Since the Hair Specter was a Class B, the reward for resolving such a Specter was 1000 spiritual coins.
Fang Xiu's privilege of doubled rewards meant that he received 2000 spiritual coins for resolving the incident. However, since the Blackwater Village incident was not just a singular Specter event but also involved a second-tier psychic and interference from civilian forces, the final reward was increased to 3000 spiritual coins.
The value of spiritual incense is also high. One stick has an official price of about 100 spiritual coins, but in the black market, the price can double or even triple. This item is lifesaving; when a psychic is on the verge of losing control of their Spiritual Energy, they would be willing to spend all they have for just one stick.
Fang Xiu really got lucky this time. The reward from the Investigation Bureau, along with the spoils from Wang Yanran enabled him to afford an assassin to kill the Bright Club's chairman. However, as he had said before, when he could afford to take the life of the Bright Club's chairman, he would be ready to take on the job himself.
He had already killed a second-tier psychic, so it should be easy for him to handle the chairman of the Bright Club, too, because the guy was also a second-tier psychic.
His victory this time was partly because Wang Erni was still inexperienced in combat, but he had faced more than just Wang Erni in the fight. She had teammates, a real strong one. It was a one-to-two battle, yet Fang Xiu was the winner.
Moreover, after this battle, Fang Xiu's awakened Spiritual Energy reached 10%, enabling him to harness more power from his scalpel and with the help of the Hair Specter, his strength had increased. With his ability to try things again and again, he could definitely take the chairman of the Bright Club down.
Fang Xiu knew that the Bright Club must be eliminated. After he killed Lin Ziyang, Wang Yanran, and stole the bronze candlestick, he was already a wanted man of the Bright Club. If he didn't put the Bright Club down, they would come for him.
Fang Xiu wasn't particularly interested in killing; his interest was in Specters. Now, however, he didn't seem to have a choice.
He could have been a good person who focused solely on killing Specters for the benefit of humanity, but he was constantly pushed into a corner. To protect himself, he had no choice but to pick up the slaughter knife.
"Fang Xiu, I will give you a satisfactory solution regarding the Bright Club, but currently, our vice-captain Bai Qi is seriously injured, and captain Yang Ming is on a mission. I will send them to the Bright Club in some time," said Wang Dehai.
Fang Xiu calmly nodded, not really considering Wang Dehai's words, as he had already decided to take action himself.
"For now, don't do anything and focus on healing. I've arranged for some cell repair fluids from the Bureau for you. A few injections and you'll be ready to leave the hospital in a week. The file for the Blackwater incident has been updated to Grade B+, code-named 'the Hair Specter.' All these will be recorded in your file as honors that will stay with you for life. The Investigation Bureau will never forget any hero. Remember to rest well, play games, watch anime, and enjoy some light-hearted videos. Just relax."
After that, Wang Dehai quickly clarified, worried about causing misunderstandings, "Don't get me wrong. The rapid increase in your Spiritual Energy might seem like a good thing, but in the long run, it poses a risk. A sudden surge in Spiritual Energy means you've internalized a lot of Specter power, increasing the risk of losing control. In your young people's terms, it's like cultivating too quickly and risking a Qi deviation, which could lead to side effects."
Fang Xiu showed no reaction to the mention of deviation. Wang Dehai, used to the quirks of psychics, made some awkward small talk before leaving.
Soon after he left, Zhao Hao, hobbling on crutches and with a plastered foot, came in excitedly. "Xiu, you should have seen the nurse who gave me an IV. She was so pretty, and her nurse outfit… If only she wore white stockings... Ah, her hands were so soft and smooth. I deliberately moved around just so she would touch me more."
Fang Xiu glanced at the needle marks on Zhao Hao's hands, realizing that his side effects had manifested. The old Zhao Hao was weird, but not to this extent.
Then, Zhao Hao sneakily took out a piece of spiritual incense, about as thick as a little finger and dark red in color. "Xiu, Director Wang gave each of us a third of a spiritual incense stick, saying that our Spiritual Energy had grown too fast, and that might bring side effects. But I think he's overreacting. I feel fine. Hey, I heard this incense is valuable. I was thinking of selling it for cash to get a sports car and impress girls. What do you think?"
"I suggest you keep it for yourself," Fang Xiu replied, shaking his head slightly. Zhao Hao's obsession with girls had indeed worsened.
"Right, Xiu, do you have a spiritual incense? Since it was divided into three parts for us, do you get none? If you don't, I can give you mine," Zhao Hao offered.
"I have some already," Fang Xiu responded. In fact, he had two, but he didn't mention that. Bragging about such things wasn't necessary.
"I knew it. You were the key to our survival; of course, you'd have spiritual incense. But take mine too, Xiu. Using the Specter Gadget can worsen psychic contamination, and I don't want you to run out. Actually, I secretly lit my spiritual incense."
Zhao Hao then whispered, "This incense doesn't suit me. Lighting it was so uncomfortable. It felt like being in a state of emptiness, like after... after lots and lots of sex. Everything felt meaningless, you know the feeling, right? Even when the nurse came to give me an injection, I couldn't get it up."
Fang Xiu didn't quite understand why getting an injection could turn Zhao Hao on.
Zhao Hao, seemingly eager to prove his point to Fang Xiu, took out a lighter and re-lit the spiritual incense.
Soon, thin wisps of blue smoke began to drift around the hospital room. As they breathed, the smoke from the spiritual incense entered their nostrils. The scent was somewhat pungent.
With the incense taking effect, Zhao Hao's originally lewd expression gradually turned serene and listless, as if he had lost all interest in life.
On the other hand, Fang Xiu frowned. He felt as if his spirit was being contaminated. It was as though twenty monks were surrounding him, chanting and urging him to let go of his hatred. This only made him more irritable, even to the point of wanting to kill a couple of Specters to lift his spirits.
"Enough, put it out," Fang Xiu said.
Zhao Hao extinguished the spiritual incense and quickly became excited again. "See, Xiu? I wasn't lying. This spiritual incense really isn't pleasant. Once it's lit, life seems to lose its flavor."
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