Eldritch Horror Theatre

Despite his best efforts to hide it, Brother Gray Hat was clearly getting anxious.

After all, even the most masterful tracking skills were useless when the target just hopped on a train and left.

And on the other end of the communicator, Taylor was probably even more frantic.

Watching the notebook get carried away right before his eyes was absolutely unacceptable to him.

As a matter of fact, Fu Qian really did have the Abyss Notes on him.

While its contents were chaotic, he found parts of it rather interesting—perfect for staving off boredom during the journey.

Furthermore, even though Yuan Shan had confirmed the notebook’s ability to verify the ”truth,” Fu Qian wasn’t in any rush to write in it.

Gulade’s people had possessed the notebook for over a thousand years. It was hard to guarantee they hadn’t left behind some sort of failsafe.

Taylor’s reaction didn’t betray anything of the sort, but the man might not know everything anyway.

If he actually wrote his own information in it, there was no telling when it might leak.Fu Qian silently enjoyed Brother Gray Hat’s reaction. Only when the train was about to depart did the man finally make a move.

He rushed forward, forcefully squeezing through the half-closed doors to get on board.

Taylor had clearly given absolute orders not to let him out of sight, no matter what.

Fu Qian shook his head, sensing the man’s intense determination.

Once on the train, Brother Gray Hat quickly adjusted his state and regained his previous composure.

As for having an extra tail on this trip, Fu Qian didn’t particularly care.

After all, while the guy was fairly strong, dealing with him would be effortless.

”Ah! I’m sorry!”

Just then, a pleasant fragrance wafted over. Fu Qian felt a soft body bump against him, and at the exact same time, a foot stomped heavily on his.

Retracting his gaze, Fu Qian looked over and saw a young woman with neat, short hair. Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she looked at him apologetically.

As the train lurched into motion, she seemed to have lost her balance, collapsing against him and mercilessly stomping on his foot.

”It’s fine.”

Fu Qian replied calmly to her apology.

”Right, thank you... How should I address you?”

Despite Fu Qian staring at her, she was in no hurry to stand back up. She simply tilted her head up to look at him, asking with a smile.

”Fang Xun.”

Fu Qian shook his head inwardly.

If he remembered correctly, she had just traded seats with someone to move over here.

Combined with this entire routine, it looked exactly like an elaborate attempt to pick him up!

That is, if it weren’t for the dagger currently pressed against his back.

”Don’t move.”

Before Fu Qian could say another word, the short-haired woman leaned close to his ear, as if whispering a secret.

”I think you know exactly which is faster: your gun or my blade.”

”It looks like your blade is faster.”

Fu Qian agreed weakly. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Brother Gray Hat, who had already taken a seat, was watching them in shock and uncertainty.

The man could definitely tell the short-haired woman was a transcendent. At this moment, he was likely reeling from the assumption that Fu Qian had an accomplice meeting him here.

”Dangerous items aren’t allowed on the train, you know!”

The short-haired woman continued to murmur softly into his ear, but the sharp tip of her dagger never strayed from his heart.

A moment later, she pressed her entire body against his, slipping her hand straight into his coat.

The intimate gesture was undeniably eye-catching.

But judging by the looks on the surrounding passengers’ faces, they were all thinking the exact same thing: Damn pretty boys get all the luck!

Having successfully confiscated his weapon, the short-haired woman gave a subtle signal.

A moment later, a middle-aged man with graying temples stood up from a nearby seat and quietly walked over.

”I told you there was something wrong with this kid.”

After the middle-aged man sat down in the empty seat beside them, the short-haired woman smiled smugly. At an angle where only the three of them could see, she flashed Mercy, the revolver she had fished out of his coat.

It looked like they were an older-younger duo, and the older one was at least a Mid Tier transcendent.

Fu Qian evaluated them silently.

To run into two transcendents just by taking a train was quite unexpected.

Ordinary trains weren’t equipped with transcendent plainclothes marshals; these two were most likely vigilantes.

”This...”

The middle-aged man scrutinized the gun in the short-haired woman’s hand, his expression turning quite solemn.

The man clearly had a good eye, instantly recognizing that the weapon was no ordinary item.

”We are Night Watchers.”

The next moment, he bluntly declared their identities.

”Given your suspicious behavior, we need to verify that you won’t pose a threat to the safety of the other passengers.”

”Who are you, and why did you bring a weapon on board? You’d better give us a clear explanation.”

Not expecting her partner to use such a serious tone, the short-haired woman looked momentarily puzzled, but naturally chimed in anyway.

”Illegal possession of a firearm is a felony.”

They really are Night Watchers.

Fu Qian wasn’t surprised in the least.

Moreover, when the man mentioned his suspicious behavior, he seemed to shoot a glance at Brother Gray Hat, who had been the last to board.

So it was this idiot who exposed me!

He had been wondering how someone as low-profile as him could be targeted so quickly.

Fu Qian shot a freezing glare at Brother Gray Hat, causing the man’s hair to stand on end.

The next moment, he simply pulled out a card and handed it over.

It’s a good thing they’re Night Watchers.

The card was the Special Transit Permit that Yuan Shan had given him previously. According to her, it carried very high authority.

It should be more than enough to serve as a gun permit, right?

”This is...?”

While the short-haired woman was still looking at what Fu Qian handed over in confusion, her partner inhaled sharply.

”I’m on official business for Chief Yuan of Shangjing. Uninvolved personnel are to step aside.”

Fu Qian let out a cold scoff and growled in a hushed voice.

He was just borrowing Yuan Shan’s name to avoid a conflict with her colleagues. Surely she wouldn’t mind?

What?

Realizing what Fu Qian had just said, the two Night Watchers were instantly stunned.

They naturally knew of Chief Yuan Shan of Shangjing. Was this person a fellow Night Watcher operating on her direct orders?

The middle-aged man fell silent for a long moment before finally reaching out to take the card from Fu Qian’s hand.

The Night Watchers evidently possessed a special method for verifying the card’s authenticity. The man quickly returned it and shot his colleague a meaningful glance.

”Xiaozhi, it seems it really was a misunderstanding.”

”How is that possible?”

The short-haired woman looked momentarily lost.

”Is he really a Night Watcher?”

”I’m not.”

Before the middle-aged man could say anything, Fu Qian answered in complete honesty.

The middle-aged man drew a sharp breath.

Hearing him say that, the middle-aged man’s expression grew even more unsightly.

Him not being a Night Watcher was actually more problematic. Carrying a Special Transit Permit while not being an internal operative—the nature of his mission was likely extremely sensitive.

Had the two of them just stumbled onto something they shouldn’t know about?

”I apologize for the offense. We’re on a mission ourselves. Xiaozhi thought you looked suspicious, so she decided to test the waters.”

The man quickly explained.

”You did nothing wrong. And it’s true I looked suspicious.”

Fu Qian waved a hand, gesturing for him not to worry about it.

”You’re heading out on a mission. Are you pressed for time?”

”Not really. The fact that we’re taking the train means it’s not too urgent.”

The short-haired Xiaozhi patted the seat beneath her and chuckled.

Seeing that he was fairly easy to talk to, she relaxed.

”That’s good.”

Fu Qian nodded. Pointing off to the side, he spoke in a soft voice.

”I have a tail following me. I’d appreciate it if you could assist me with him.”