Chapter 21: Sorry, I Don’t Understand Human Nature
On the vehicle,
Jiang Yan had intended to play with his phone, but...
Zhao Yinman sat in the seat, turned her head, and her crimson eyes were fixed on him.
Staring—
“Is there something on my face?” Jiang Yan asked, puzzled.
“No… because you smell nice.”
Zhao Yinman shook her head, her crimson eyes watching him as if he were a rare treasure.
What nonsense was “smell nice”?
He never wore cologne.
Jiang Yan sniffed himself and detected no scent, completely baffled.
Realizing her words were odd, Zhao Yinman apologized:
“Sorry, I’m not very good with human nature.”
“Not good with human nature?”
Was that an appropriate way to describe herself?
Jiang Yan had no response and the atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
Although she was very beautiful, he had always been the one being approached since childhood, and he didn’t like initiating awkward small talk.
Jiang Yan turned his gaze to the scenery rushing by outside the window; the car moved fast, yet the ride felt smoothly steady.
No wonder people said “drive a BMW, ride a Benz”—the experience was absolutely premium.
He had little interest in cars and only recognized a few famous brands, but he knew that Maybach was synonymous with luxury and likely cost millions.
Could official History Walkers really be that wealthy?
Facing that question, Ba Lie replied without turning his head:
“History Walkers have many ways to earn money. The bounty for eradicating diseased domains is one part. There are also voluntary missions such as flood control, rainfall inducement, and helping infrastructure open mountain tunnels.
Use of supernatural power depends on the individual. It can destroy life or improve the environment, serving the public.
Furthermore, extracting historical relics or skills from mutated creatures is very hard, but if one is strong and dexterous enough, one can attempt to remove their mutated supernatural organs.
Although the failure rate is high, it relies less on luck. Whether for official channels or the black market, these fetch good prices.”
“Black market?” Jiang Yan exclaimed.
“Of course. Otherwise how would unofficial History Walkers or sects develop?”
Ba Lie said casually: “As long as you aren’t selling humans as resources, aren’t doing evil, and aren’t interfering with the modern world’s development, the authorities won’t bother with you. Such things can’t really be banned. It’s better to regulate and tax… you know.”
Jiang Yan nodded and suddenly realized that the rice he grew with his Blessed Land Rice Spell, which could strengthen physical constitution, might be valuable.
But it could entangle him with the Rice God of Wealth Church, causing unnecessary trouble.
He decided it was better to understand the supernatural world more before acting.
The Maybach continued on; Jiang Yan had expected they’d head to a remote mountain or a mysterious base like in the TV shows.
But the Maybach made a few turns and arrived at a tech park in the central area of Pan’an County.
Right in the heart of the zone.
Earlier, Jiang Yan had heard his mother say on the phone that the developer of this plot was crazy—its prices were outrageously high and few companies moved in.
It had become a local joke.
Unexpectedly...
They were still too young.
The Maybach slowly stopped in front of a newly built modern building with four large characters displayed: “Qing Shi Technology.”
“In this day and age, it’s best to hide in plain sight—make city‑folk move to the mountains, no signal, no power, and full of snakes, insects, rodents. People run out in days.
Packaged as a company, it still provides decent jobs for newcomers, making it easier to please their families.”
Ba Lie explained a bit and swiped his card to open the gate.
“Director Ba, you’re here!”
Before Jiang Yan could clearly see the layout inside, a young man emerged, his hair balding like a programmer’s, with a slim build, deep dark circles under his eyes, and the look of too many late nights—he carried the exhaustion unique to modern overworked types.
For now, he could be called “Tech‑Tired Bro.”
Tech-Tired Bro looked numb and yawned as he said:
“That freakish thing has already gone mad, nearly buried me alive. If we don’t suppress it soon, the whole of Pan’an County might experience an earthquake. Forget it, I still have to work overtime at night—let’s all go down together.”
After saying that, Tech-Tired Bro turned and walked inside.
Ba Lie couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you going?”
“You’re already here, so what’s left for me to do? Of course, I’m going to catch up on some sleep. Remember to include my overtime pay. If even you can’t handle it, then I’ll just treat this company as my coffin.”
With that, Tech-Tired Bro lay down on a sofa and closed his eyes, not forgetting to casually place a piece of paper over his belly button.
There was a faint sense of madness unique to the overworked.
“……”
Ba Lie was speechless and choked up, quickening his pace as he walked straight into the elevator. Jiang Yan and Zhao Yinman followed closely behind.
After verifying their identities in the elevator, they quickly reached the ninth basement level.
Ding!
As the elevator doors opened, the sight before Jiang Yan made his pupils contract sharply.
‘This is…’
On the walls, floor, and ceiling were countless eyeballs half a meter in length, covered with grayish-brown stone-like layers, constantly wriggling and crawling.
It was like stepping into a beholder’s nest from a horror story—enough to make anyone with trypophobia drop dead on the spot.
Gurgle gurgle.
Their arrival seemed to trigger a trap. Each stone eye rotated its eyeball to look directly at them.
Boom!
The ground shook violently.
The east side cracked open, and sharp stone pillars rose and surged toward the elevator entrance, ready to skewer them.
Bang!
However, just as the menacing spikes neared Ba Lie, they suddenly shattered, turning into swirling dust that scattered through the air.
The wind stirred by the impact made his robe billow, revealing his sinewy, coiled muscles.
“Haven’t eaten, huh!”
Ba Lie grinned savagely and strode forward.
No matter how many stone spikes surged toward him, they all shattered one foot before reaching him, as if there was an invisible barrier.
“This is…”
Jiang Yan narrowed his eyes as the Ash Lamp flame deep in his consciousness flickered.
Buzz!
The world before his eyes shifted. He faintly saw countless thin threads forming arm-like shapes spreading from Ba Lie’s spine—fluttering like silken robes, eerie yet beautiful.
Creak creak creak!
As Ba Lie drew closer, the eyes erupted in fury.
The surrounding metal walls and wooden furniture began to petrify at a visible speed, creating what seemed to be a man-made underground cave.
At the same time, a mysterious force began suppressing the spiritual power in Jiang Yan’s body, slowly corrupting it.
Thankfully, the Skill Offspring within him remained unaffected.
But Jiang Yan wasn’t unfamiliar with this sensation. He had just experienced it recently…
The Borderland of Desolation!
“Don’t let it expand its Domain.” Ba Lie’s voice rang out.
“Bind!”
A soft whisper came from beside Jiang Yan.
Zhao Yinman raised her right hand. Between her fair index and middle fingers was a yellow talisman. Her crimson hair rose wildly, fluttering in the air.
Hiss hiss!
The yellow paper instantly ignited, transforming into countless sparks that became flaming chains whirling forth, wrapping around the eyeballs.
Creak creak creak!
The stone eyeballs suddenly swelled. Sparks burst in every direction, and the flame chains creaked under the strain, threatening to snap at any moment.
Each of them emitted an aura no weaker than that of the Large Rat Guards!
Zhao Yinman remained calm.
With a graceful flip of her hand, she drew out another talisman inscribed with mysterious patterns and chanted softly:
“By the decree of the Celestial Master, the talisman serpent becomes a nail. Banish evil, seal curses, and imprison the underworld for eternity!”
“Talisman Serpent Nail!”
Hiss hiss!
The talisman flew up, transforming mid-air into a yellow paper serpent. Its head flicked its tongue, jaws wide open, as sharp yellow paper fangs pierced into the stone eyes’ pupils.
With a crunching sound,
Black ink-like runes spread from the puncture sites—tiny symbols like little serpents slithered rapidly over the creatures’ bodies, silencing the once-raging stone eyes.
By now, Ba Lie had reached the end of the corridor.
Before him stood a bank-grade metal vault door, a third of it already shattered and petrified.
He placed his hand on the stone and said softly, “Good child, put on your clothes and sleep peacefully.”
‘Clothing Art—Sleep in Robes!’
As his words fell, Jiang Yan saw a mysterious dark golden spindle appear behind Ba Lie, spinning endlessly. Numerous silken arms began to weave like a multi-armed celestial weaver crafting gorgeous cloud brocade.
Rustle rustle!
In the blink of an eye, black cloth strips radiating a deep sense of slumber were woven and spread through the air, surging into the sealed room like a tide.
Very soon,
More than twenty stone eyeballs began to flutter their eyelids, slowly closing them. Their bodies melted and retreated into the chamber like baby swallows returning to their nest.
The petrified area vanished completely, leaving only the pitted and dented metal walls.
“It’s done—follow me!”
Ba Lie stepped across the vault door. Jiang Yan and Zhao Yinman followed right after.