"I know my mom can be verbally harsh, sob sob, but for the sake of our relationship..."
Yue Qingqing interrupted Jun Feifei hastily, "You’ve got it wrong."
She explained, somewhat amused and frustrated, that while it’d be easy to destroy the Wood Carving now, this action was too risky and could easily alarm the enemy.
Instead, it could make the evil cultivator take precautions.
Lan Li had no idea where she had found this thing, and if the other party’s first attack had failed, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t have other plans.
Yue Qingqing usually had class at school and would definitely have moments when she couldn’t pay attention.
So, not only should she not destroy the Wood Carving, but she also needed to put it back where it was, acting as if nothing had happened.
Only by playing the long game could they lure out the bigger fish behind this.
Seeing Yue Qingqing’s analytical approach, Jun Feifei finally felt at ease.
She walked over to Yue Qingqing’s side with great care.
"So, what do we do next?"
Yue Qingqing put the Wood Carving back and said seriously, "I don’t know, we should ask for help."
Jun Feifei: "..." With your serious facade, I’ve really bought into your deception.
As someone utterly lazy at heart, Yue Qingqing would usually try to think of a solution herself when faced with problems.
Now her approach had become much more straightforward.
From having trouble and calling the police, it had changed to having trouble and calling her senior brother.
As it happened, her senior brother Yan Sinian was off today, so Yue Qingqing used Jun Feifei’s home phone to call him.
But the line was busy.
At the same time, Yan Sinian was receiving a call from Cui Wu.
"Senior Yan, we really need your help."
Cui Wu’s voice carried an unmistakable weariness, clearly indicating how busy he had been lately.
The Supernatural Management Bureau used to be one of the most laid-back departments.
Now Cui Wu, as the director, was as busy as a corporate slave.
Yan Sinian didn’t respond, and Cui Wu pleaded, "I know you’re reluctant to take action, but the situation is quite serious this time. Our investigators who were sent out are trapped inside, and we’ve no idea whether they’re dead or alive. We can only trouble you now."
Yan Sinian’s indifferent voice came through the phone, leaving Cui Wu speechless and sighing deeply.
"It really is a last resort. Our Bureau is short-staffed, and last time at your end..."
Cui Wu was trying to recall the last encounter with Si Xi to possibly invoke some camaraderie, but Yan Sinian remained unmoved.
"Mr. Cui, each to their own duties. I’m just a doctor; this isn’t within the scope of my responsibilities. The reason I contacted you last time was that the incident involved ghosts, and it also counted as a work mistake on your part for not detecting and dealing with it promptly. That’s why I reached out to you."
"But it doesn’t mean I’m some kind of external aid for your department, at your beck and call. I have my own life to live."
Cui Wu had nothing to say; he had realized from their first meeting that Yan Sinian was a tough nut to crack.
You could persuade some righteous cultivators with grand appeals to duty and reason.
But Yan Sinian chose to remain detached from affairs that didn’t concern him.
Moreover, he was right; he had just happened to be involved in two incidents because they fell into his lap, not because he wanted to take action voluntarily.
He had his principles, and if Cui Wu pressed any further, he was likely to just hang up the phone.
"I’m sorry for bothering you."
"Mm." Yan Sinian put down the receiver.
He had another consideration for refusing.
He didn’t want these special department folks to rely on him or even his junior sister whenever they encountered trouble in the future.
Yan Sinian could choose to ignore it, but his junior sister always had a soft heart, and if she got entangled, she might feel obligated to agree.
It was better to nip their hopes in the bud early.
On the other side, Cui Wu massaged his brow, feeling an intense headache.
In recent days, every time he thought about his missing subordinates, it felt as if his heart was being fried in a pan.
But to rashly send more people to investigate could potentially repeat the tragedy, resulting in them vanishing without a trace again.
After much thought, only Yan Sinian, who happened to be in Zhuancheng and was highly skilled, seemed reliable.
Too bad he had been outright rejected.
Cui Wu braced himself, realizing that if it came down to it, he would have to put aside his current cases and personally make the trip.
Just as Cui Wu was getting ready to pack, the telephone rang abruptly.
"Send someone to explain the situation."
Yan Sinian was concise, and Cui Wu’s narrow eyes immediately squinted into a smile.
Ah, some people may appear indifferent and heartless, but in reality, they still care for the greater good.