CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: SURVIVOR GATHERING AND INVITATION_1

"YAWN." Wang Linchi stretched and yawned before asking, "I just want to ask, why is the team-building event being held here?"

Watching the shadowy figures writhing on the dance floor and the hostesses waiting nearby, Wang Linchi couldn’t help but grumble. Shouldn’t normal team-building involve hiking or visiting a farmstead? Instead, they’ve set it up in a bar, complete with a crowd hired to dance and hype up the atmosphere.

The cacophony was starting to give Wang Linchi a headache. The whole place throbbed with a THUMP-THUMP-THUMP beat, interspersed with other CRACKLING and POPPING sounds.

"Probably because this place charges the most," Ruan Tian remarked, also finding it hard to adjust. He knew their Director: the more expensive the venue, the more likely it would be chosen. So, picking this place was par for the course.

It didn’t matter if the two of them were uncomfortable, as long as everyone else from the Soul Seed Bureau was enjoying themselves.

"Speaking of which, with this kind of setup, aren’t you worried someone could be bribed to make a move against our Soul Seed Bureau?" Wang Linchi asked. "The Soul Seed Bureau is practically the treasury of Yi Ning Prefecture. With everyone being so careless, aren’t they afraid of being caught with their guard down?"

"What’s there to fear? Even if the Soul Seed Bureau blew up, it wouldn’t have anything to do with us," Ruan Tian said, completely unconcerned. Given the nature of his job, the biggest mistake he could make was sending a form to the wrong person. If someone actually got subverted, it wouldn’t impact him. Ruan Tian had been in this post for two or three years and had long since become a seasoned slacker.

"Things like this have happened before. They just don’t have the capability to actually get anything out of the warehouse," Ruan Tian added nonchalantly. "It happens once or twice a year, always ending in failure. The Soul Seed Bureau has its own security measures, after all."

Besides, it wasn’t their problem to worry about; they weren’t the ones who planned this team-building event.

"Can I leave early? This noise is really getting to me," Wang Linchi asked.

"Sure. If you’re not comfortable, go ahead. I’ll cover for you if anyone asks." Ruan Tian had no plans to leave. For one thing, there was nothing to do back home, and this place had plenty of women. With Wang Linchi gone, he could let loose a bit more. He didn’t need to worry much. As Wang Linchi’s direct superior, approving something like this was no big deal. The truth was, they were both considered slackers in the Soul Seed Bureau, so nobody really paid them any mind.

Hearing that, Wang Linchi naturally decided to leave.

Stepping out of the dimly lit bar, the sunlight seemed somewhat harsh, but the sudden quiet was a welcome relief, making him feel much better.

As my Physique strengthens, my five senses also heighten.

Compared to others, Wang Linchi’s senses were more acute. That was why the clamor had been so uncomfortable. He wasn’t used to such sudden, intense noise, as his daily life was usually much quieter.

"You are... Wang Linchi?" a voice called out.

He had barely taken two steps when he encountered an acquaintance. It was one of the survivors who had fled from Qinghe City to Yi Ning Prefecture with him. Compared to when they first met, the man’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit seemed much improved.

"Chen Lin! I remember you settled down in the town at the foot of the Peacock Sword Sect’s mountain. Are you in the city for some fun today?" Wang Linchi recognized him at once.

The Soul Resemblance he had awakened was called Expertise in Fencing, a Talent-type ability. He was skilled at constructing and repairing all kinds of fences, and his craftsmanship with both wooden and iron ones was excellent. However, his field of employment was perhaps a bit limited. Even a city didn’t necessarily need that many fences. Moreover, people could often build their own, without needing to spend money hiring Chen Lin—especially since hiring an Awakener to repair fences would undoubtedly be costly.

"I came into the city to purchase some materials. I’m a procurement officer in Peacock Third Town now." Chen Lin had clearly changed his line of work. As an Awakener, he certainly wouldn’t be short of job opportunities. Being a procurement officer sounded like hard work, often requiring trips into the city, but in reality, the job was not only easy but also came with significant perks. This was because Chen Lin wasn’t the one actually handling the procurement. He was in charge of managing the temporary laborers—all ordinary people—who did the actual purchasing. But since the authority to settle accounts and verify everything rested with Chen Lin, the kickbacks and illicit profits naturally found their way into his pockets.

"How is everyone else who came with us from Qinghe City doing?" Wang Linchi inquired.

"They’re all doing well. The Peacock Sword Sect has honored its agreement." Chen Lin seemed quite content with his current life. His only frustration was not being able to speak openly about avenging what happened in Qinghe City; otherwise, things were good.

"Mm, that’s good." Wang Linchi realized they didn’t have much common ground, and the atmosphere quickly turned awkward.

"Well, I should get going then," Chen Lin said after a moment of silence.

"Alright, I have things to attend to as well," Wang Linchi replied, also ready to depart.

Just as Wang Linchi had taken a couple of steps, Chen Lin seemed to recall something. "Oh, by the way, there’s a gathering in three days. Do you want to come? It’s for us folks from Qinghe City."

"Why the sudden idea for a gathering?" Wang Linchi asked, puzzled. Logically, everyone was getting on with their own lives. Why would they suddenly decide to meet up? After all, they had been dispersed. The Peacock Sword Sect administered more than just one town; for instance, Chen Lin was in Peacock Third Town, while others might be in the second or fourth. Getting everyone together wouldn’t be simple.

"I’m not too sure. Are you going?" Chen Lin asked.

Wang Linchi shook his head. "No, it’s too far."

He sensed something was off, so he refused without a second thought.

Chen Lin didn’t insist, merely nodding. "It is a bit far, true. I suppose it would just be for some food and drinks anyway."

They were all located in the various towns at the foot of the Peacock Sword Sect’s mountains, so the distances between them weren’t great. For Wang Linchi to travel there from Yi Ning Prefecture, however, would be a different matter. A one-way trip would likely take him the better part of a day, and the return journey another.

With that said, the two of them went their separate ways.

Wang Linchi’s refusal signified a complete break from their circle. If he wouldn’t accept an invitation now, he likely wouldn’t in the future either. Chen Lin seemed to understand this and didn’t press further.

It was understandable, though. After all, Wang Linchi worked for the Soul Seed Bureau and enjoyed the benefits provided by the Court. While the others had settled in and were living comfortably, they were ultimately under the purview of the Peacock Sword Sect. There was a distinct difference in their situations.

When Wang Linchi arrived home and was about to open his door, he noticed something in the mailbox attached to it. He took it out: it was an invitation card. Upon opening it, he found it was indeed an invitation to the gathering of Qinghe City survivors.

They even sent an invitation all the way to my house. This is getting stranger and stranger. Wang Linchi crumpled the invitation into a ball and tossed it into the trash can as soon as he stepped inside.

The whole thing felt far too irregular.

Of course, even if it hadn’t seemed strange, Wang Linchi wouldn’t have gone. It was simply too far.