Chapter 193: An Yan, You Can

"Miss Lin, Master Fuli seems to particularly enjoy his current attire."

As the time gradually approached three o'clock, everyone began to leave the Hai Linglong, and after arriving at the parking lot, Lin Shu went to retrieve her car. Lin Ying and Lin Bingyun stared at the little fox, their expressions turning peculiar.

The little fox stood upright on its hind legs, facing a full-length mirror provided by the club for guests to groom themselves.

Slung across its chest was a saddlebag, tightly secured by straps so that it clung firmly to the fox's front. The little fox preened proudly, turning in circles before the mirror. After a while, it reached into the bag with its tiny paw, pulled out a black box, and thrust it straight forward—suddenly, a burst of white electric light erupted.

"Zzzzz—"

Sparks danced at the tip of the stun device. After hovering it in the air for a moment, the little fox quickly retracted its paw and shoved the stun device back into its saddlebag.

"No wonder it's me—my moves are pure cool!" An Sheng's cheeks lit up with delight as he let out a soft, cooing sound.

The stun device's power held little meaning against a spiritual beast's physique, but An Sheng found the thing utterly novel—like picking up a straight stick by the roadside and swinging it around.

An Sheng naturally knew that mimicking Western movie agents in front of the mirror felt awkward.

But damn it, he really was handsome!

No wonder spiritual beast novels always feature them—even albino red foxes are strikingly handsome.

"Master Fuli, it's time to head back."

A black business car slowly pulled up. Lin Ying called out to the little fox, who was still having fun.

"Coming!"

Hearing the call, An Sheng dropped back onto all fours and dashed toward Lin Ying's arms, grinning as he flopped onto her forearm with a crisp, cooing sound.

"It's fine to step directly on my clothes—I'll change them when we get home."

Watching the little fox lift its tiny paws to avoid stepping on her clothes, Lin Ying sat down in the back seat of the black business car and smiled slightly.

"Ying ying." The little fox waved its paw, indicating it wasn't that rude a fox.

The business car gradually moved forward, heading toward Zhangxizhen.

Sitting in the executive seat, Lin Ying paused, then spoke to the little fox: "Master Fuli—"

"Ying?"

An Sheng, who had been adjusting the car's tablet to browse videos, glanced over curiously, puzzled by Lin Ying's sudden call followed by silence.

"The chairman of Xin Hao Group may have some connection with the Anquan Bureau. It has extensive knowledge of spiritual beasts and related matters—and just now, it subtly revealed an important piece of information to me."

"According to industry norms, delivery mules only know three things: the quantity of goods, the time, and the pickup and delivery addresses. They don't know anything else," Lin Ying said to An Sheng with a complex expression.

"In other words, information about the White Snake could not have come from the delivery mules. The source of the White Snake's intelligence is likely an official agency—in plain terms, the Hedgehog is asking you, through me, whether you'd like to take the civil service exam."

"Ying?" An Sheng stared at Lin Ying, bewildered. What the hell did you all talk about while I was gone?

Seeing Master Fuli's utterly confused expression, Lin Ying sighed and spoke again:

"I don't know the specifics, but based on the Hedgehog's hint, the invitation to take the civil service exam may have come from the 【Pest and Disease Control Expert Group】."

"You can think of them as humans and spiritual beasts paired together to handle spiritual beast-related incidents. I've seen such teams at the Dongxiang Research Institute—but they were blown to bits by fungal parasites wielding RPG rocket launchers."

An Sheng: "..."

RPG ground bombardment? What kind of Chen Nian behavior is this?

An Sheng's existence—or even the existence of the Golden Hedgehog—cannot remain completely hidden under high-resolution satellite surveillance. For high-intelligence spiritual beasts living secretly in the city, someone will inevitably make contact and file reports.

Depending on the assessed level of danger, different handling protocols are applied.

Based on their unique traits, some spiritual beasts that can perfectly integrate into human society may receive special invitations from official agencies.

The Golden Hedgehog had clearly received such an invitation, which is why it understood the process and informed Lin Ying.

But judging by the Hedgehog's plump, well-fed appearance, it clearly never took part in the civil service exam.

The Golden Hedgehog relayed messages for the official agency, yet, for its own interests, subtly hinted to Lin Ying about the exam process and the agency's name.

【Pest and Disease Control Expert Group】.

Also known in the spiritual beast research circle as the "Lumberjacks."

Lumberjacks differ from Forest Rangers—though both are subordinate to the Anquan Bureau, their duties are distinct.

Forest Rangers primarily track and interact with spiritual beasts in mountainous areas, building trust and intimacy before providing them with general education.

Lumberjacks, however, partner with their own spiritual beasts and enter cities to violently suppress spiritual beasts clearly intent on chaos.

Using spiritual beast power to subdue spiritual beasts—that is the work of the 【Pest and Disease Control Expert Group】.

Jiule City has never experienced spiritual beast disturbances, and due to its coastal location, no Lumberjacks are stationed there.

But since the fungal parasites escaped, experts from the 【Pest and Disease Control Group】 have arrived in Jiule City for consultations.

Someone had submitted information about Master Fuli and the White Snake for their review.

The spiritual beast partnered with the Lumberjack watched the video and shook its head like a rattle.

Me? Are you kidding me? If I go in there, I swear, our medical insurance card will be drained until it sparks.

That fox in the video smashed a concrete dam by swinging a crocodile around—he'd treat you and me like badminton shuttlecocks the moment he stepped out of the video!

Me?

Go to hell with your grandma's arthritic leg!

………

The matter of the White Snake was far-reaching. After learning a little, An Sheng didn't stay long at Lin Ying's home—he returned to his own house before four a. .

He had promised Yu Xueqing he'd come home early to help with her livestream the next morning—he couldn't stay out all night.

As for the White Snake or whatever—it could wait. When he had time, he'd ask the King Cobra in the mountains.

"Wait! What did the Hedgehog just say? There's a White Snake near Jiule City?"

Just as he lay down on the bed, hugging the beautiful saddlebag he'd just received, treading firmly on the mattress, and leaning against Yu Xueqing's arm to sleep, An Sheng drifted off thinking about the White Snake—and then connected it to the King Cobra, the apex of serpents.

Then—

An Sheng jolted upright, eyes wide, a dreadful feeling rising in his chest.

White Snake, I hope you're the King Cobra!

In Xia Dong, July, August, and September are the King Cobra's mating season.

"The White Snake is a spiritual beast, even if it's an apex—but the King Cobra is also an apex spiritual beast!"

"Given the King Cobra's snake-eating nature and gluttonous personality—"

"Could it have swallowed the White Snake?"

An Sheng, who had been ready to sleep, suddenly felt wide awake—his fox fur stood on end.

But after glancing at the time and then at Yu Xueqing, who was asleep, he thought for a moment and snuggled back against her.

The last time he saw the King Cobra was nearly half a month ago.

If the White Snake were still alive, it would still be alive—if it weren't meant to live, it would've been dead by now, possibly even reincarnated and hatched again.

Forget it. Let it be. I'll head to Sheshan tomorrow evening to ask around.

(End of Chapter)