Chapter 22: Han Lingling’s "Bloodline Suppression"

Chapter 22: Han Lingling’s "Bloodline Suppression"

In the corridor, Duan Ming stood side-by-side with Chen Feng, looking toward the school gate in the distance with a sigh. Despite knowing that a ghost spirit intrusion had occurred at the school, many parents and teachers were still gathered there, kept at bay by staff from the Bureau of Strange Investigations.

"Perhaps Lingling is there, too."

"Are you very close with Han Lingling?" Chen Feng asked.

"Not particularly; she’s always bullying me."

Just then, from the end of the corridor, a voice suddenly rang out...

"Duan Ming!"

Duan Ming turned back to see a graceful figure sprinting toward him.

"Han Lingling! How did you sneak in?!"

"Ugh! Let go! Let go! You’re crushing me! I can’t breathe!"

Duan Ming frantically patted the arms wrapped tightly around his neck, his face turning a deep shade of crimson. Only then did Han Lingling let go. When her face was revealed, it was clear her eyes were already red and swollen. Even with tear tracks on her cheeks, her natural beauty remained striking.

"It’s good you’re okay, it’s good you’re okay," she whispered, gently patting her own chest. Then, she launched herself at him again, pulling him into a tight embrace.

"Han Lingling! Han Lingling! Easy, easy, easy—I’m dying! Yueh~"

As he begged for mercy, Duan Ming felt the grip on his neck tighten even further.

"What did you call me?"

"Sister, sister, sister—is that better? You’re crushing me, let go!"

In an instant, his neck was free, but at the same time, his ear was mercilessly pinched.

"Has your courage grown, kid?"

Duan Ming replied, "My courage hasn't grown, but..."

"What did you say!"

"Ow, ow, ow! Lingling, please, just spare me."

Seeing Duan Ming desperately pleading, everyone present couldn't help but cover their mouths to hide their laughter. Even Luo Yulong and Zhou Xiangfu stopped their bickering. Who would have thought that the guy who had just been laying waste to everything could be so thoroughly "bloodline suppressed"?

Noticing the others, Han Lingling realized her lack of composure and hurriedly let go, her face flushing slightly.

Duan Ming rubbed his ear bitterly and asked testily, "Lingling, why did you come here? Do you know how dangerous this is? If you had arrived a few minutes earlier, I don't know what might have happened if I'd been distracted."

"And how did you know I had already come out?"

Han Lingling looked a bit guilty, whispering, "I... I didn't know. I was just worried about you. I promise I only wanted to come in and take a look—just one look. I would only have been at ease if I knew you hadn't come out yet. So, I took advantage of the Bureau staff not paying attention and snuck in."

"Mom and Dad are already gone; I can't lose you too." As she spoke, she began to tear up again.

Duan Ming felt a warmth in his heart. "Sister..."

Just then, a light cough interrupted the tender moment. Luo Yulong approached with Zhou Xiangfu, maintaining his slow, measured pace.

"Have you considered it?"

Duan Ming was puzzled. "Considered what?"

As he spoke, he felt his shirt hem being tugged from behind. Han Lingling’s voice came through. "Duan Ming, who are they?"

"Oh, that guy is Luo Yulong. He says he’s from the Esper Association. See that guy next to him with a hole in his head? That’s his contracted ghost spirit."

*Pfft!* A jet of blood sprayed from the back of Zhou Xiangfu’s head.

Han Lingling boldly examined the man in ancient attire, her eyes lighting up. "Hey, Duan Ming, look! It’s an ancient ghost!"

"Just a cheap imitation," Duan Ming said with a curl of his lip. "Look at his shoes—I have a pair just like them at home."

*Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!* Zhou Xiangfu felt a bit dizzy.

Luo Yulong glanced over with a subtle shift of his eyes, and seeing that Zhou Xiangfu didn't have an extreme reaction, he let out a silent sigh of relief. He turned to Duan Ming and asked, "Have you decided whether to join the Esper Association?"

Duan Ming was even more confused. "The Esper Association? Why would I join that thing? It’s all about life and death, and I’d like to live a few more years."

Han Lingling, shocked, secretly gave Duan Ming a thumbs-up.

Duan Ming added, "Besides, I’ve already joined the Bureau of Strange Investigations."

The thumbs-up immediately turned into a pinching gesture, twisting hard at Duan Ming’s waist.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Han Lingling, what are you doing!"

Han Lingling glared with her beautiful eyes. "Who told you to join the Bureau of Strange Investigations? Didn't we agree that after this one time, you wouldn't enter the Spirit World again? Can't we just live a normal life?"

Duan Ming hissed, rubbing the sore spot on his waist, and explained, "Lingling, you don't understand. I'm a civil servant now—it's an iron rice bowl! Plus, the monthly salary is tens of thousands; it's enough for us to live comfortably for the rest of our lives."

"That’s still not okay!" Han Lingling immediately vetoed it. "No matter how much money it is, you still have to face ghost spirits. It’s too dangerous, I won't allow it."

"It's really not dangerous. I just solved one earlier; if you don't believe me, ask them," Duan Ming said, pointing toward the classroom.

"Besides, Captain Chen Feng here has already promised me that he will only assign me low-level missions from now on. There’s absolutely no danger, don't worry."

Chen Feng, hearing this, thought to himself, *What a pro.*

*Good grief,* he thought. *I thought he wanted to earn more money, so I let him take on more missions, and now it’s turned into only taking low-level ones? Even the authors at Qidian wouldn't dare write it like this, right?*

But on the surface, he smiled and stepped forward, confirming, "Yes, Duan Ming is still young and lacks experience. Naturally, our Bureau of Strange Investigations won't let our investigators throw their lives away for nothing. Safety is our top priority."

"See?" Duan Ming said, looking smug.

"Really?" Han Lingling was skeptical.

"Really!" the two said in unison.

"Still no." Han Lingling shook her head painfully. "It’s too dangerous, I don't want you to go."

Then, she suddenly looked up. "Does your Bureau of Strange Investigations have administrative positions?"

"Yes!" Duan Ming and Chen Feng replied instantly.

Duan Ming immediately perked up. "Lingling, you don't know this, but Captain Chen Feng and I have a bond deeper than life itself. Once I’m officially on staff, I’ll have Captain Chen Feng pull some strings and get me transferred to an administrative office."

"Right, Captain Chen Feng?"

"Ah, yes, yes, yes!" Chen Feng also abandoned his dignity, patting his chest. "I’m quite influential in the Bureau. Even the Director gives me a bit of face. With me leading the way, transferring someone to an office job is a breeze."

Han Lingling was stunned.

*Luo Yulong from the Esper Association is still standing right there,* she thought. *Is it really appropriate to talk about pulling strings right in front of him?*

However, she only had a superficial understanding of such things, and seeing that Luo Yulong didn't react, she didn't say anything more.

Luo Yulong, of course, wasn't going to say anything. He was still counting on Duan Ming joining the Esper Association. Even though he had been scooped up by Chen Feng first, in his view, it was only a matter of time before Duan Ming acquired a contracted ghost spirit, and surely, he would have to join the Association eventually.

Thinking this, he smiled slightly, folded his hands behind his back, and walked away with his slow, measured pace.

Oh, wait—there was still Wang Tao. He turned back briefly, gave a few instructions to Wang Tao, and then made a stylish exit.

With the biggest figure gone, Chen Feng began to issue orders.

"Meng Qian, go notify the school that the situation has been resolved."

"Xu Haoran, go to the school gate and tell the guys the quarantine has been lifted."

Afterward, he turned to Duan Ming. "Dinner together tonight?"

Duan Ming shook his head. "No, you guys go ahead."

"I want to go home and eat what my sister makes."