Chapter 831: Familiar Face

At this moment, in a upscale residential complex in a bustling district of Dazhuang City.

Zheng Yaoyao, just after hanging up the phone, was beaming with excitement; she had thought Li Yi would never return after vanishing that one time, yet after years had passed, she had now received a call from him.

She silently thanked her luck that she hadn't changed her number, or she would have missed this call entirely.

"Li Yi should arrive in Dazhuang City soon—I need to get ready quickly." Zheng Yaoyao immediately began tidying up and dressing, determined to present her best self to meet this friend from another world.

Yet just as she was selecting clothes from her wardrobe,

suddenly,

a low rumble echoed across the calm sky, followed moments later by a familiar voice in the living room.

"So this is your new home? Looks good—you must've made a lot of money these past years."

Hearing the voice, Zheng Yaoyao, who had been choosing clothes in the bedroom, jolted in surprise, then realized—she rushed out and stared wide-eyed at Li Yi sitting on the sofa.

She couldn't believe it: Li Yi, who had just been speaking to her on the phone, had appeared in her living room barely seconds later.

She hadn't heard any knock at the door, nor any window breaking—she didn't even know how he had gotten in.

"Y-you got here so fast?" Zheng Yaoyao exclaimed in shock.

Fortunately, having known Li Yi before, she was aware of his extraordinary abilities and had some mental preparation; anyone else would likely have fainted.

"My cultivation base has improved significantly since then, so travel is faster now—no need to be so startled. After all these years, everyone changes." Li Yi spoke calmly.

Zheng Yaoyao patted her chest, steadied her breathing, then finally took a good look at Li Yi.

His face was unchanged—still young, still handsome—but his height had increased, his build now taller and more muscular, covered with numerous lightning-like markings like tattoos, adding a wild edge to his presence.

"You haven't aged at all," Zheng Yaoyao noticed the blind spot, speaking with both surprise and envy.

Time had left no mark on Li Yi, yet it had transformed Zheng Yaoyao from a youthful girl into a mature woman.

"Cultivators don't age easily," Li Yi said. "Why are you still in Dazhuang City? Didn't I advise you to return to your hometown and hide? Aren't you afraid of ghosts?"

Zheng Yaoyao replied: "I did go back home to hide. After two years, I heard no more reports of ghostly incidents in Dazhuang City. After another two years, I dared return to work here. Once I confirmed there was no real danger, I bought a house and settled down."

Li Yi fell silent: "It seems some changes have occurred in this world during the years I was gone—changes I didn't know about. But this is likely a good thing; otherwise, ordinary people like you couldn't live so peacefully."

The most direct way to judge whether a world suffers calamity is to observe the daily lives of its city dwellers.

If ordinary people live well, the world is peaceful and tranquil.

Conversely, if World #36 truly teemed with ghostly incidents and malevolent spirits, its citizens would live in hardship—not in such calm stability.

"I've always inquired about ghostly events, but I have no abilities and can't gather much information, so I probably can't help you with this," Zheng Yaoyao said apologetically.

Li Yi said: "It's fine—I came just to see a familiar face. As long as you're still alive, that's enough."

He never expected to gain any useful information from Zheng Yaoyao.

"By the way, after all these years, have you still not married? I only sensed your aura here—you're clearly living alone. That won't do. You're not young anymore; you should settle down soon. Youth doesn't last long."

Zheng Yaoyao rolled her eyes: "Even people from other worlds pressure you to marry? Just the other day, my mom tried to set me up with someone—I turned them down. Forget it. Li Yi, we've finally met after so long—let's go eat. Wait a moment, I'll change clothes and we'll go."

"By the way, after all these years, haven't you married yet? I only sense your aura here—you must live alone. That won't do; you're not young anymore, you should settle down soon. Youth is fleeting."

Li Yi didn't refuse; he had just crossed over and wasn't in good condition—he needed a few days to rest.

With excitement, Zheng Yaoyao quickly applied makeup, changed into a sexy outfit, then stepped out with Li Yi.

Though years had passed, seeing Li Yi again filled her with unwavering trust.

With excited anticipation, Zheng Yaoyao quickly applied her makeup, changed into a sexy outfit, and stepped out with Li Yi.

the two left the residential complex and walked along a busy street.

"Hey, Li Yi, what have you been doing these past years? Can you tell me?" Zheng Yaoyao asked curiously as they walked.

"Fighting, cultivating, fighting, cultivating—nothing special," Li Yi replied. "Your world has calmed down, but mine hasn't—it's still chaotic, swarming with demons and monsters. Without strong power, you can't survive."

"Oh, that's terrifying?" Zheng Yaoyao was astonished. "Then why go back? Just stay here. I've got plenty of rooms—why not live with me? No rent."

"Ah, that terrifying?" Zheng Yaoyao exclaimed in surprise. "Then why go back? Just stay here instead. I have plenty of rooms—why not move in with me? And I won't charge you rent."

If she could keep Li Yi in this world, it would be perfect.

Li Yi said: "Home is hard to leave. Not everyone abandons their homeland to wander far away. I'm trying to save my own home."

"You must be exhausted," Zheng Yaoyao sighed. She could imagine Li Yi traveling endlessly, battling enemies, striving to cultivate—all these years, still unfulfilled.

"My hardships mean little," Li Yi said. "But this world without ghostly phenomena is truly peaceful—I've rarely seen such tranquility."

His tone revealed his fondness for this world's current state.

Yet Li Yi understood: ghosts still existed here, hidden like icebergs beneath the surface, unseen by ordinary eyes.

"If you like it here, come often—or stay longer. I've got nothing else to do; I can take you sightseeing, show you around," Zheng Yaoyao smiled.

"If only I could be so idle," Li Yi shook his head slightly.

Zheng Yaoyao, seeing this, changed the subject.

But as the two passed a traffic light, Li Yi suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Zheng Yaoyao asked immediately, curious.

But soon, she noticed Li Yi's gaze, heavy and focused, fixed on the opposite side of the crosswalk.

But soon, she noticed Li Yi's gaze, heavy with concern, fixed on the other side of the crosswalk.

On the other side of the road, beneath the traffic signal, stood a woman—slender, wearing a red qipao, her feet clad in red high heels.

She radiated an eerie, unconventional beauty.

"Who is that?" The question flashed through Zheng Yaoyao's mind—but instantly, a feeling told her this woman was not ordinary.

"Who is that woman?" The question immediately flashed through Zheng Yaoyao's mind—but soon, a certain feeling told her the woman was extraordinary.

A terrible suspicion rose in her mind.

At that moment, the woman in the red qipao smiled faintly—looking this way. No, precisely—looking at Li Yi.

"Looks like we're not eating," Li Yi said. "I have to leave for a moment."

"It's fine—meals can wait. Your matter is more important," Zheng Yaoyao nodded seriously, then whispered: "Be careful. Stay safe."

"It doesn't matter; we can eat anytime. Li Yi's matter is more important," Zheng Yaoyao nodded seriously, then whispered, "Be careful. Stay safe."

The red light ended. The green light turned on. Pedestrians surged across the street. Li Yi stepped into the crowd.

Zheng Yaoyao did not follow—she knew this was no business for an ordinary person. She wisely stayed put.

The woman in the red qipao remained motionless, still smiling.

But as people flowed past, during a brief moment when sightlines were blocked, the woman on the other side vanished—and with her, Li Yi, lost among the crowd.

Both disappeared in broad daylight, unnoticed by everyone except Zheng Yaoyao. Seeing this, Zheng Yaoyao looked up at the sky.

Though sunlight shone brightly, she felt an inexplicable chill run through her body.

She understood Li Yi's disappearance—he was from another world, possessing supernatural power. But that woman in the qipao wasn't from another world.

"Is this a ghostly incident?" Zheng Yaoyao shivered involuntarily.

After so many years without such events, she had believed ghostly phenomena had vanished entirely from daily life—yet now she realized true supernatural horror had been lurking beside her all along, invisible to ordinary eyes.

For so many years, nothing like this had happened; she'd assumed supernatural events had vanished entirely from daily life. Yet the true supernatural had been lurking nearby all along—just invisible to ordinary people.

(End of Chapter)