Chapter Three: Return to the Supernatural Bureau

Director said, “Li Shucheng, Li Yi, impressive. At eighteen, you were sent by that Fang mosquito to train at my Paranormal Bureau’s Special Investigation Division. By twenty, you earned a seat on the Folklore Affairs Council through sheer ability, becoming an outstanding Yin-Yang master, and now you’re the head of the Special Investigation Division, an excellent intelligence officer. Remarkable. You infiltrated the Divine Physiognomy Sect for three years and managed to return alive—you’re definitely the first. After you went missing, we searched for you for an entire year without success; I thought you had been sacrificed. Where were you during that year? And where is that thing? I know you must be aware.”

I replied, “Where was I? After risking my life and coming back, I returned to Chengyang City, right in Sunshine Community. If it weren’t for this car accident, you probably would have forgotten about me, right?”

The director said, “With your talents, how could the organization forget you? But after that explosion, most of our people were assassinated. I had to use every connection available just to locate your community. The person I sent to pick you up... I didn’t expect them to be taken out before they arrived.”

I said, “I know. He died right outside my door.”

The director asked, “What did he say?”

I answered, “He seemed to say something about the Divine Physiognomy Sect…”

At that moment, the director suddenly coughed a few times and said, “Well, everyone should get back to their own work!”

Liu Shan said, “Divine Physiognomy what?”

The director said, “The Ma Yi Divine Physiognomy. Let me give Li Shucheng a quick lesson on how to read faces.”

Liu Shan then remarked, “Fine, fine, we’ll get back to work. Seriously, it’s just face reading, why all the secrecy? What the hell am I doing here? They didn’t even give me a proper explanation before kicking me out. So thankless.” With that, he left.

At that point, the office was left with just the director and me.

The director said, “Don’t mind him; he’s always like that. Just get used to it. Continue.”

I asked, “Sir, why don’t you want others listening in, especially that Liu Shan?”

Lowering his voice, the director said, “Did you just say Divine Physiognomy Sect?”

I replied, “Yes, why? You were the one who asked me to infiltrate them. Why can’t I talk about it?”

The director whispered, “Keep your voice down! Never mention the undercover mission in the Divine Physiognomy Sect to anyone, especially Liu Shan. Not a single word. It’s best to keep it buried deep inside.”

I whispered back, “Why? I heard he’s the deputy director?”

The director continued, “Yes, Liu Shan is indeed the deputy director of the Paranormal Bureau. But to guarantee your absolute safety, no one unrelated to the mission is allowed to know. You’re a seasoned veteran; you should understand our strict approach. When you first joined, the first thing you learned was confidentiality. All information you have must remain absolutely secret. ‘Don’t tell your parents above you, nor your wife and children below.’ You know that better than anyone, right? Whether you share that information or not, it absolutely cannot be given to anyone. The same applies to him, despite his deputy director status. Now, fill out this form to reinstate your former position as Special Investigation Division head. After that, work with peace of mind and consider the undercover mission never happened. Oh, and I arranged to bring your Suiyi Residence here, so you have a place to live without worries. The place I found is in the villa district along Phoenix Avenue in the East City District, right on the boundary of the Paranormal Bureau’s direct control zone.”

What else could I say? I obediently followed orders and began moving. The scene was quite something—over twenty strong men moved everything out, spending the entire afternoon. Suiyi Residence was left basically an empty shell. A large group accompanied me—some were old clients, others new neighbors, and some were the police officers who often “invited me for tea and chats.” They couldn’t arrest me nor let me go because of my situation, so they just stalled.

My new home, as the director said, was at the far edge of Phoenix Avenue in East City District, Chengyang City—the boundary of the Paranormal Bureau—No. 1 Phoenix Avenue, a two-story suite. I estimated the space was less than half the size of surrounding villas, but the price was easily eight figures. A new plaque was hung, costing me quite a bit.

Inside, the central hall was filled with antiques from my old shop. To the left was a counter; to the right, a door. Overhead were no fewer than ten surveillance cameras, monitoring the shop from every angle without blind spots. Two fire sprinklers hung on the ceiling, one left, one right. On the counter sat a cash register, a bill counter, a landline phone, and my old laptop, with a swivel chair behind. On the wall hung a sign saying, “You are under surveillance; please mind your behavior.” Through the door on the right was a staircase. To the left and opposite the stairs were doors—the left door led to a bathroom with a shower; the opposite door was empty, with only electrical panels, water meter, and gas meter on the wall.

Upstairs was the living room. To the left stood a large sofa and coffee table; across the wall was a big network-connected TV. On either side of the sofa were doors; the left led to a study with a desk, a bunk bed, and a three-tier bookshelf filled with my old books. There was a computer desk with a new desktop computer and a new router. The right door opened to the dining room connected to the kitchen. Further right was a balcony with a retractable clothes rack. Behind the sofa was the bedroom area with four rooms, each containing one window, one large bed, two nightstands, a desk, and a chair, along with ceiling lights, switches, and outlets. I carefully inspected every room but found no visible cameras, though hidden ones might be possible. I’d have to investigate thoroughly when I had time.

From this layout, I decided the downstairs would serve for business dealings and receiving guests; upstairs would be for bedrooms and my private space. No one else was allowed upstairs without my permission; they could only move about downstairs.

All the glass in Suiyi Residence was tempered, fully bulletproof and impact-resistant. The balcony glass was welded shut with iron bars.

The director handed me a large bunch of keys—two for each room and four for the main door. He also gave me a stack of documents: property deed, household registration, updated ID card, the Special Investigation Division officer’s ID for the director’s position, and a seal representing the highest authority of the division. He warned that the house was for residence only, not to be mortgaged or sold, as the property was registered under the Paranormal Bureau’s name. He made sure I understood I was now essentially a guest under their roof. But considering my current financial situation, there was no way I could afford a house in this city. Reluctantly admitting it, I was indeed dependent on others.

After opening, locals came to support the business, making it lively. In the first few days, I had to buy all sorts of daily necessities, restock goods, clean up, and pay exorbitant bills for water, electricity, gas, internet, phone, TV, and property management. After that, I began a relaxed life.

I got up around seven in the morning, washed up, ate, opened the shop until noon, ate again and rested; from two in the afternoon until after six in the evening, I worked again. Then I read, surfed the internet, watched TV, and slept. Sundays were off; I slept in, spending time with my bed and phone.

Of course, training and study couldn’t be neglected. When the Paranormal Bureau had missions, I had to take the lead—I couldn’t live off the public treasury without earning. Though called “open for business,” I was basically just sitting the counter, fortune-telling, divination, at most going out for feng shui consultations. I also lowered my prices. Since I was now on a government salary but idle most days, my monthly pay was only three thousand yuan. Without the director’s permission to keep the shop open, I wouldn’t have survived. Now my clientele had grown. Besides some old customers, new ones mostly came from the villa district. One old customer told me the old shop had turned into a convenience store. I just smiled and didn’t mind.

A few months later, trouble quietly paid me a visit...

Reader’s Q&A.

Q: Author, what is your dream?

A: Everyone has many dreams growing up, but only one or a few can truly be realized.

When I was called “little brother” as a child, I wanted to be a “well-feeling” astronaut to see if space was as wondrous as in the books. But due to my limitations, this dream could only be fulfilled through the family telescope.

As an older brother in middle school, with some knowledge foundation, I wanted to study the culture of Yi Jing, inspired by Lam Ching-ying’s films. Although the Book of Changes is easy to understand but hard to master, I have never given up.

In high school, as a directing and acting art exam student, I dreamed of becoming a director and actor, but that dream ended in university.

In college, by some twist of fate, my major became drones, so I dreamed of being a drone pilot, but that dream stayed forever in my university days after graduation.

Now, as “uncle,” I want to be a good online writer, because in literary creation, I can do anything I want yet cannot achieve in real life, and I can create a whole new world with my works.