Eldritch Horror Theatre

”Then I’ll wait for your good news.”

Faced with Fu Qian’s completely empty promise, Sissi stayed silent for a moment. When she spoke again, she raised no objections.

”It also sounds like I ought to give you an extra reward.”

Not only that, but she immediately embodied the virtues of an employer once again.

”The more, the better.”

Fu Qian didn’t stand on ceremony either, directly signaling that she could bring over more bizarre items whenever she wanted.

Although no obvious transcendent elements were visible just yet, this tormented wealthy woman was undoubtedly a special figure in this world.

In fact, if not for that, she likely wouldn’t have gone through that experience and suffered such torment.

Life was both resilient and fragile. Anything excessively special, including talent, could become a poison that corrupted it.

”One last question. Your father doesn’t seem to have played much of a role in your upbringing?”His philosophical reflections on life didn’t interfere with his medical inquiry.

”The reason isn’t very complicated. My father was good to me, too. The only problem... is that he wasn’t just a good father to one person.”

Compared to Fu Qian’s tactful probing, Sissi’s answer was far more blunt.

”After he divorced my mother, I rarely saw him. I saw him even less after she passed away. The last time was three years ago, when he died.”

”You don’t need to express your condolences. This was my choice.”

Moreover, in the next moment, she turned the tables and gave him a peculiar look.

...

”Please rest assured, I haven’t conducted any boring investigations into your background. It’s just that certain things are easily sensed between people of the same kind.”

Before Fu Qian could answer, Sissi immediately explained.

”The very first time I saw you, my first thought was that this person’s parents must also be gone.”

”Or perhaps, the parents of this ’character’?”

Facts proved that Sissi had still vastly underestimated the weight of a healer’s compassionate heart.

Not only did Fu Qian show no displeasure, he even shook his head and played along with a bizarre counter-question.

”You could indeed say that.”

Madam Sissi froze for a split second, but quickly flashed a charming smile, tilting her head as she seriously considered it.

”If you really are an actor, you undoubtedly possess acting skills far beyond anyone else.”

”Thanks for the compliment. That makes perfect sense.”

Fu Qian remained as easygoing and unabashedly immodest as a spring breeze.

”Say, when someone of the opposite sex takes the initiative to seek common ground like this... shouldn’t the polite response be to invite them out for a night stroll to talk about life?”

Yet Sissi still didn’t seem entirely satisfied with his reaction.

She ran her fingers through her long hair, wafting the scent of her recent bath. Her eyes fluttered, and her tone turned downright flirtatious.

”You don’t understand. It’s called professional ethics.”

Unfortunately, Fu Qian had already stood up. He casually toyed with the Crown in his hands, looking entirely ready to leave.

”You can’t date your patients? But you aren’t a real doctor.”

Sissi furrowed her brow, not hiding her vexation at the rejection.

”But I am a real bookstore owner.”

What a pity. Fu Qian’s expression remained flawlessly serene as he gestured out the window.

”The midnight hour has arrived. It’s time for my shop to open.”

...

As expected, Sissi didn’t press to tag along and visit the Midnight Bookstore. Instead, she saw Fu Qian out with a satisfied look on her face.

Waving goodbye, she mentioned she would be heading back tomorrow, and that they would see each other next time.

To this, Fu Qian simply replied with an enthusiastic, ”Lincheng welcomes you.” He couldn’t even be bothered to say, ”Definitely next time.”

The reason was simple. It wasn’t that he was being cold; he had simply played his part to the end.

Madam Sissi had long since achieved her goal.

The night stroll wasn’t important; the act of proposing it was, much like the newly discovered message from earlier.

Beneath that flirtatious facade, Fu Qian was quite certain she was still following his medical advice and practicing, while he was still merely playing the role of a prop.

Of course, he hadn’t left because he minded being used as a tool.

Whether Madam Sissi believed him or not, his claim about professional ethics was completely true. It really was time for him to head back and open up shop.

With the turmoil in Shangjing having just died down, it was best for a mysterious Night Watchers consultant like himself to light a lamp in the dark and hold the fort.

If he just went straight on vacation, Chief Yuan would definitely curse him out.

...

This is starting to look more and more proper.

Back in the Warehouse, Fu Qian gently placed the Crown on the long table in front of him and admiringly surveyed his collection.

The Crown was clearly no ordinary item; it hadn’t suffered any color loss upon arriving in the Warehouse.

The Statue, the Head Cage, the broken Handbell... compared to his previous collection, this new haul undoubtedly looked much more respectable.

Especially when compared to the Bronze Circlet sitting nearby.

Sure enough, attractiveness is justice.

Amidst his praises, Fu Qian directly put on the Emissary.

...

If a night shop wanted good business, regulars were practically a must.

It was obvious that despite his dedication, his highly erratic business hours meant he hadn’t managed to cultivate any yet.

Adjusting the lighting to just the right ambiance, Fu Qian leaned comfortably against the counter, inspecting his injuries while analyzing his current business empire.

The Gift of the Red Moon was truly fitting. Although Chief Yuan’s whipping had been brutal, with this healing buff, his internal and external wounds were nearly fully recovered, leaving no visible traces.

Of course, the same went for the shop’s customers.

It was clear that no one had discovered this late-night urban treasure yet.

But that was fine. Building a business required a flexible mind. If people didn’t come to you, you could always go to them.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the counter. A moment later, Fu Qian answered a call that flared in his mind.

...

”Are you out of your mind? Why do you want to get involved in that?”

The voice that immediately echoed from the other side sounded familiar. It belonged to one of the most devout believers of the King of the Abandoned Prison from the Greed Worm expedition—Laywoman Tooth-Throat.

She was clearly very unhappy, practically roaring at someone else.

”Anjing is clearly plotting some major move, which is why they need to recruit people. Do you really want to be used as a pawn that badly?”

”The point is, I don’t see any benefit to this. What can Anjing give you? A Miracle Potion?”

”You want to drag everyone into taking risks with you, and then have everyone become free test subjects alongside you?”

”Why would I have such a childish thought?”

The figure opposite her finally spoke only after letting her finish her violent outburst.

”A Miracle Potion holds absolutely no value to us, and ordinary transcendent materials and items don’t mean much either.”

The voice was ice-cold. That person sounded far more emotionally stable.

”So what is it? Why?”

Seemingly shocked that the other party still had a clear head, Laywoman Tooth-Throat’s voice finally softened as well.

”But they have one resource that actually means something to us—an intelligence network.”

The person across from her didn’t keep her in suspense, giving the answer directly.

”I just think Anjing might be able to help us find that person who received the boon much faster.”