"Wanqing, what are you trembling for?"
Wan Xiaolou used her hand to shield from the rain, running under the shelter and looking at her best friend curiously.
"We saw that the bus number was 9, but the little girl said it was 13..."
Wen Wanqing’s lips were tinged with purple, her eyes full of fear, "You look again..."
Wan Xiaolou followed the direction Wen Wanqing pointed in, only to see the bus almost fully swallowed by darkness, barely able to discern the tail end of it.
On it was the blood-red number—444!
Wan Xiaolou’s eyes widened, as stunned as the little girl beside her, "A 444 bus? I seem to have heard a terrifying urban legend about it... They say... once someone gets on it, they’ll go to an unknown place, never able to return."
She glanced at the sky, nearly ready to cry, "But aren’t urban legends supposed to appear at night? Even though it’s raining, it’s still daytime..."
"Who said that urban legends could only occur at night?"
Zhong Shenxiu snickered, "But indeed, darkness does add to people’s fear."
As he spoke, he returned the sun umbrella to the little girl, "Here’s your umbrella, go wait for the next one..."
"Brother Gui... you..."
Wan Xiaolou looked at Zhong Shenxiu, a curse stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
She suddenly remembered that she and Wen Wanqing had almost boarded that 444 bus too!
But what about this Gui Yi?
Apart from tripping up a little girl with a phrase, he hadn’t given the slightest warning—was he watching them head to their demise?
And... reflecting on it now, everyone at the bus station had been acting strangely at the time.
It seemed that bus had blinded everyone’s vision, making them all see the bus number they were waiting for, and therefore, they all got on.
Without a doubt, it was a trap.
And Gui Yi just watched it unfold, watched a crowd walk into the trap, watched her and her best friend walk to their deaths!
"What does your life or death have to do with me?"
Zhong Shenxiu looked up to the sky, striking a classic pose meant to elevate his persona.
Suddenly, he took out his phone and dialed a number, "Angel? I’m at the bus stop outside Purple Cloud Pavilion... There’s been a paranormal event here, yes, remember to bring people to clean up!"
"Mr. Gui Yi, please stabilize the situation; we’ll be there to reinforce you immediately!"
From the other end of the line came Angel’s urgent voice.
She still didn’t know the opinion of the committee members and thought Gui Yi was just an exceptional company employee.
In fact, this was much closer to the truth.
And such an employee would definitely not intentionally mislead her.
If he said there was a paranormal event, then there absolutely was one!
"What paranormal event? Got it wrong, right?"
"This is something that only happens in novels, isn’t it?"
"Urban legends should all be fake, right? Maybe the bus’s display is just broken..."
Wan Xiaolou forced a smile.
"I won’t say much else, but since you’ve managed to survive, let me remind you of something..." Zhong Shenxiu smiled, "When that bus arrives at the station, not only people board, but ’Deceits’ get off too!"
Wen Wanqing bit her lip, "Mr. Gui, could you be more specific?"
"The more you know, the more dangerous it is. The more you interact with me, the more likely the company will take notice and recruit you as an employee."
Zhong Shenxiu chuckled, then suddenly asked, "How about it? Interested in working for our company? We also accept internships for college students, and I feel like our reception hall could use a new front desk."
Wan Xiaolou hastily refused, "We really can’t aspire to the heights where you reside..."
She had finally realized that there might be too great a gap between their statuses, and forcibly attaching herself to him would be anything but good.
Just as Wan Xiaolou was refusing, a sudden alarm sounded all around.
Immediately, the flow of both traffic and pedestrians thinned out, becoming sparse as if traffic control had already started in the surrounding area.
Following that, a large number of Foundation members clad in black uniforms converged from all directions.
In the sky, the sound of helicopter rotors abruptly could be heard as several choppers flew directly over City D, circling overhead.
"We’re doomed, we’ve really stirred up a hornet’s nest now."
Wan Xiaolou nearly collapsed on the ground at the sight.
She was acutely aware that making all this happen with just one phone call required an immense amount of power and influence.
In comparison, her wealthy father was practically no better than an ant.
Several elite troopers descended from the helicopters using ropes and saluted him, "The Wall Breakers Squad reporting for duty. I am Captain Yu Ku, and this is the Deceit Master Luo Su!"
He emphasized the introduction of the man in his thirties beside him.
It was evident that the Foundation took Mr. Gui Yi very seriously, as the response was of a very high level.
"Right... commence the investigation immediately, report any unusual findings at once!"
Zhong Shenxiu nodded and continued to sit on the bench, eyes closed for a restorative break, waiting for the Foundation members to scout out the results in the rain.
Yu Ku gestured towards Wen Wanqing, Wan Xiaolou, and the little girl.
"Let them wait here for now, we must clear the danger before they can leave..."
Zhong Shenxiu suddenly asked with a trace of curiosity, "How do you usually handle those who are aware of the supernatural events?"
Yu Ku answered, "Typically, they are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement to keep the information confidential. In reality... with that kind of memetic shielding, such a document is enough, but the key is to provide a basis for penalties in case of future breaches..."
Due to the memetic shielding and the protection of the Foundation, most people in this world still believed they were living in a safe and intact world.
Little did they know, all of this was only because there were those who shouldered the burdens and marched forward.
Wen Wanqing and Wan Xiaolou exchanged glances, deep in thought.
Moments later, a member of the Wall Breakers Squad returned with a grave expression, "A body was discovered in the green belt 300 meters away – skin completely flayed. Confirmation of a supernatural entity, codenamed ’Skin-Flayer.’ Master Luo Su has gone to investigate..."
Wen Wanqing, with sharp eyes, also saw a few members dressed in white hazmat suits carrying a blood-drenched body out of the green belt, causing her some nausea.
The real world was far too cruel, enough to make one wish to live in childhood forever...
"Let’s go take a look..."
Zhong Shenxiu stood up, leading Yu Ku to a convenience store near the bus stop.
Luo Su was standing at the entrance, while other squad members patrolled the area.
Yu Ku gathered his team, his expression solemn, "Remember the tactics, protect the Deceit Master!"
"There’s no need for all this trouble!"
Zhong Shenxiu suddenly approached a squad member from behind, grabbed his neck, and gave it a shake.
A skin mask, along with clothing, was peeled off all at once.
It turned out that at some point, the Skin-Flayer had swapped out its skin again – it was wearing Yu Ku’s subordinate’s skin!