Chapter 30: The Lingering Taste and an Unexpected Encounter

Despite the bright sunshine outside, the light spilling into the room failed to lift the shadow from Mo Qiu’s face.

She eyed the several bowls of sauerkraut fish adorning the table, taking a tentative bite from each before ultimately setting her chopsticks aside.

“The flavor remains elusive. What precisely am I doing wrong?”

The unforgettable taste of yesterday’s sauerkraut fish had awakened Mo Qiu to a profound truth: dishes could be utterly delectable even without a generous hand of seasonings.

To Mo Qiu, whose palate was accustomed to soaking even steamed buns in aged vinegar, that particular sauerkraut fish possessed an unparalleled allure. It had, quite literally, flung open the doors to a culinary new world.

Yet, the endeavor to recreate that exquisite flavor proved far more challenging than she had anticipated. Despite toiling through the entire morning, preparing several iterations of sauerkraut fish, not a single one met her exacting standards.

Inevitably, either the sour, spicy, or salty notes would assert themselves too forcefully, completely eclipsing the others, or the dish would lack a certain freshness, leaving an unpleasant fishy aftertaste on her tongue.

‘So Bai Chen’s culinary prowess is truly exceptional…’

Reflecting on yesterday’s events, Mo Qiu had always believed their skills were evenly matched. However, the disparity now seemed stark; despite attempting the very same dish, she found herself utterly unable to achieve a comparable flavor.

Perhaps she should invite Bai Chen over once more, to guide her through the process?

Her focus yesterday had been entirely consumed by the delightful distraction of teasing him, leaving no room to properly absorb the intricacies of preparing the sauerkraut fish.

The moment the thought surfaced, Mo Qiu decisively shook her head, banishing it from her mind.

‘What am I thinking? Shouldn’t I be the one to conquer his palate, not the other way around?’

Her stubborn pursuit of this sauerkraut fish today had originally been intended for Bai Chen. How had it, quite unceremoniously, transformed into a craving of her own?

Mo Qiu gathered the stray wisps of hair from her forehead, securing them before casting her gaze toward the kitchen refrigerator.

Her supply of fish had been depleted; any further attempts would necessitate a trip to the market.

Considering the time, it was nearly opportune to advance to the next phase of her plan.

Confronted by the table laden with her imperfect creations, Mo Qiu found herself unable to simply discard them. Instead, she carefully placed them in the refrigerator, intending to consume them over the next two days.

She vividly recalled a childhood experience, left alone, when discarding unwanted dishes had led to near-starvation in the following days, forcing her to retrieve leftovers from the garbage bin.

The instant the refrigerator door clicked shut, Mo Qiu perceived a subtle presence, her typically lusterless eyes now fixed upon the window.

A wisp of black mist drifted inward, coalescing into a miniature goat that settled gracefully upon the living room table.

“Is there something you require of me?” Mo Qiu inquired, her hands diligently tidying the stovetop.

“Mo Qiu, have you not been acting rather peculiar lately?”

Confronted by Aiqi’s pointed question, the young woman’s hands continued their work at the sink without faltering, her shoulders rising and falling with a steady rhythm.

“And what prompts such an observation?”

“While I do appreciate your particular modus operandi, leading such a leisurely existence is simply not tenable within the Imperial Organization,” Aiqi continued, their voice carrying a note of seriousness. “As a demon handler, it falls within my duties to monitor individuals like yourself.”

“But I have yet to receive any specific assignments…”

“Simply cause a grand disturbance, as is customary,” Aiqi interjected, settling into a languid sprawl upon the table. “Fabricate incidents, incite widespread human panic, and thus harvest their extreme emotions.”

“I, however, do not require sustenance in the manner that you do.”

Having dried her hands, Mo Qiu approached, her gaze drawn to Aiqi’s soft, somewhat flabby underside.

“Has your Erosion Syndrome not manifested?” Aiqi inquired.

“Naturally, it has.”

‘Yet, I am entirely self-sufficient.’

Mo Qiu extended a hand, her slender fingers gently caressing Aiqi’s belly, which proved even softer than she had imagined, making her quite unwilling to withdraw her touch.

“Stop, oh, stop scratching, that tickles terribly!” Aiqi exclaimed, their entire body convulsing.

‘So, even magical creatures are susceptible to ticklishness?’

Mo Qiu’s eyebrow arched slightly, and instead of relenting, she intensified her ministrations, watching with a mischievous glint as Aiqi writhed and twitched across the tabletop.

“I am your superior, cease this at once!” Aiqi protested, laughter bubbling up until they were nearly convulsing.

‘So, you do recall that you are my superior after all.’

‘I was beginning to think you were on the verge of becoming my pet.’ A faint ripple of disappointment coursed through Mo Qiu.

Having finally managed to escape the young woman’s playful grasp, Aiqi stood upright on two hooves, planting their other two firmly on their hips. What should have been an imposing stance, however, appeared utterly doll-like in Mo Qiu’s eyes, owing to their considerable size disparity.

“Even if you require no sustenance, you are still obligated to create a significant disturbance.”

“Why? Is the daily existence of your kind, as magical creatures, truly confined to merely eating, sleeping, and tormenting humans?”

“Ah, but this is something you fail to grasp.”

Aiqi settled back down, speaking with a profound earnestness.

“Indeed, we require your extreme emotions. However, beyond mere consumption, the Imperial Organization’s collection of such emotions serves a singular purpose: for the Emperor.”

The mention of that enigmatic entity once again caused Mo Qiu to purse her lips slightly. “What, precisely, is this ‘Emperor’?”

It was not for lack of trying that she had failed to uncover more about this being. Beyond the knowledge that they served as the supreme leader of the Imperial Organization, all other details remained shrouded in mystery. Even historical records offered no trace of a terrifying magical creature that might be linked to this ‘Emperor’.

“I am merely a demon handler; I lack the capacity to answer your query,” Aiqi responded, shrugging their shoulders. “Perhaps you might direct your questions to the cadre arriving next month; they are sure to have met the Emperor.”

Only demon handlers who demonstrate truly exceptional performance are deemed worthy of an audience with the Emperor, thereby earning the opportunity for promotion to cadre.

Mo Qiu nodded faintly, acknowledging that the investigation into the Emperor would necessitate a more protracted and strategic approach. The memory of the living hell from her previous life caused an involuntary frown to crease her brow.

“Rest assured, I am, as it happens, on the cusp of undertaking a rather significant endeavor today.”

“Oh?” Aiqi’s interest was instantly piqued.

“I guarantee it will be nothing short of spectacular.”

“Then you ought to exercise caution. I encountered Saluk earlier today, and he, too, is brimming with zeal,” Aiqi interjected. “It would be prudent to steer clear of him during your operations.”

Mo Qiu’s expression remained impassive as she nodded, signaling her understanding.

****

Despite being actively engaged in a mission, Bai Chen found himself unable to suppress a cavernous yawn, promptly wiping away the accompanying tears from the corners of his eyes.

Though Zhou Wanchen had successfully cleared his name and returned home, the branch remained convinced of his culpability. Thus, since morning, Bai Chen and Su Wanghai had maintained a discreet vigil, lurking in the vicinity of his residence.

“Hey, who might that person be?”

Su Wanghai nudged Bai Chen’s side, indicating a figure emerging from the apartment building.

Bai Chen initially presumed it was Zhou Wanchen departing, but upon squinting, he recognized a familiar face.

“She appears to be our homeroom teacher.”

Bai Chen rubbed his eyes vigorously, ensuring he hadn’t been mistaken. Their homeroom teacher, Zheng Yuxin, emerged from Zhou Wanchen’s apartment building, swiftly vanishing amidst the bustling crowd.

“Why would she be seeking out Zhou Wanchen?” Su Wanghai queried, a frown creasing his brow.

“…She’s likely conducting a home visit,” Bai Chen replied, shrugging off the implication. “I recall Zhou Wanchen having a daughter, doesn’t he? I believe she attends our school as well.”

Bai Chen retained fragmented details about Zhou Wanchen, remembering them with particular clarity because his daughter was a classmate. To date, however, they had yet to encounter Zhou Wanchen’s daughter, as the man had already sent her to a safer location for refuge.

Noticing Su Wanghai’s continued solemn expression, Bai Chen emitted another yawn. “Don’t overthink it; it’s undoubtedly a mere coincidence.”

As he finished speaking, another yawn escaped him, prompting him to rub his heavy, sleep-deprived eyes.

“What has gotten into you today?”

From the very outset of their mission, Su Wanghai had observed that Bai Chen’s mental state was far from optimal. He appeared utterly fatigued, perpetually yawning, and sported prominent dark circles beneath his eyes.

“I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Hmm, I distinctly recall you leaving work with me last night. Are you suggesting you snuck back to some girl’s place again…?”

“What utter nonsense are you spouting?” Bai Chen retorted, shooting him a sharp glare. “I simply couldn’t fall asleep.”

“Could it be that you’re lamenting your failure to spend the night at the beauty’s abode?”

“Scram, scram, scram!”

Bai Chen, disinclined to engage further, merely stretched his limbs.

Indeed, Mo Qiu played a significant role in his sleeplessness the previous night.

Upon returning home, he discovered that the lingering effects of his visit to her place were surprisingly potent. Lying in bed, he found his mind incessantly replaying the moments they had shared.

Cooking side-by-side, sharing an evening meal, and even the vivid image of Mo Qiu emerging from her bath.

One scene after another, they cycled ceaselessly through his mind, and with every closed eyelid, the young woman’s captivating, yet lifeless, eyes would invariably materialize.

Such persistent thoughts rendered peaceful sleep impossible. Bai Chen even found himself picking up his phone, staring at the chat window for an extended period. He typed out numerous messages, only to delete them all, ultimately sending not a single word.

To message someone at two or three in the morning felt, to him, utterly thuggish.

Bai Chen even resorted to counting sheep, tallying over two thousand before a hint of drowsiness finally claimed him. Yet, by then, it was nearly six o’clock, and he had barely managed two hours of sleep before being rudely awakened by a call from the branch office.

From that moment until now, well past noon, Bai Chen had not managed to close his eyes again.

‘Can we still share sauerkraut fish together?’

Recalling Mo Qiu’s parting words from the previous night, Bai Chen found himself staring blankly up at the sky.

The azure expanse, if draped in a muted veil, would indeed bear a striking resemblance to her eyes.

‘I hope your words were not merely fleeting pronouncements.’

“Hey, Zhou Wanchen has emerged!”

Su Wanghai’s exclamation jolted Bai Chen to full alertness, causing him to almost leap to his feet.

Their gazes converged, and true to expectation, they spotted the furtive figure, clad in a trench coat.

“Where is he headed?”

“Uncertain. Follow him.”

Zhou Wanchen, hands tucked into his pockets, maintained a brisk pace, as though propelled by some urgent matter.

Bai Chen and Su Wanghai, in turn, trailed cautiously behind, alternating their surveillance to avoid detection.

After following him through a convoluted route for some time, just as the two began to suspect they were being led on a wild goose chase, Zhou Wanchen’s pace finally slackened.

“What is he doing?”

“Isn’t this the wet market? Did he really take such a roundabout way just to buy groceries?”

“No, that’s not right.” Bai Chen, sharp-eyed, caught a glimpse of his profile. “He appears to be waiting for someone.”

Zhou Wanchen’s expression seemed tense, certainly not indicative of a casual shopping trip.

“Ha, I knew this scoundrel was trouble!” Su Wanghai declared, rolling up his sleeves in righteous indignation. “Just watch me apprehend him and his accomplices, then give them the full interrogation treatment!”

“Hold on!”

Bai Chen suddenly seized his arm.

The previously drowsy Bai Chen’s eyes widened instantly upon spotting that familiar figure also appearing nearby.

‘I’ve mistaken someone… No, it’s definitely her.’

Bai Chen would never mistake those lusterless eyes of hers.

‘Why, of all places, is Mo Qiu here?’