Fang Yuan spread her hands innocently toward Jiang Qiehuo, blinking her eyes, practically writing the words "I am innocent" across her face.
Well, she really was innocent.
When she walked out of Central Park, she happened to receive a call from Wang Wei. On the other end, Wang Wei clung tightly to the question of where she had gone last night. Surely she couldn't say she went to dig up a grave, burn it, and leave a message on someone's tombstone, right?
Of course she couldn't!
Who goes around boasting about doing good deeds anyway? Nowadays, it was all about doing good deeds without leaving a name.
So she shifted the topic, saying she had gotten a call from Jiang Qiehuo, who said she was coming to find her.
She put on a big show of tears and played pity, saying Jiang Qiehuo was coming to kill her, that she was scared, and that she needed the protection of an inspector big sister.
Who could have known that Jiang Qiehuo would actually show up?
She had merely called to chat, nothing more.
There was no holding back a loose tongue.
So Fang Yuan never held hers back.
Just that "innocent."
Jiang Qiehuo was so furious her nose was practically crooked.
Her fingertips dug into her nails, about to scrape out the powder beneath them, when she saw that Fang Yuan had already raised a hand, ready to snap her fingers.
Jiang Qiehuo: "..."
Her movement stopped.
"I didn't kill anyone, Fang Yuan did!"
Jiang Qiehuo glared at Wang Wei with a face full of fury.
"Are you inspectors' brains made of tofu, so easily fooled? Can't you tell she's lying?"
Wang Wei held her down expressionlessly. "Say whatever you have to say at the Inspectorate. If you're truly innocent, the Inspectorate will give you justice."
As she spoke, she made to escort Jiang Qiehuo toward the car on the curb.
Jiang Qiehuo feigned cooperation, intending to use her phantasmic incense the moment she got into the car and away from Fang Yuan.
When that time came, everyone in that car would die.
Not a single one left behind.
"I'll just let you all die in a dream of suicide."
She cast her eyes down, her long eyelashes concealing the surging murderous intent in her gaze.
Yet at that moment, Fang Yuan's voice suddenly rang out.
She called out to Wang Wei.
"Lady Inspector, if you arrest her, you might die."
Wang Wei did not relax her grip on Jiang Qiehuo; instead, she pressed down even harder.
"I know. But this is human society. As long as one is in human society, even a Candidate of the gods must abide by its laws."
She turned her head, her face completely devoid of fear.
"This is my original aspiration."
"I cannot look up to gods like the rest of you do. To me, gods deserve respect, but I do not revere them."
"I respect the descent of the gods, I respect their bestowal of blessings, and I respect all of their actions."
"But I live in a world of humans, where there are laws belonging to humans. Here, humans will always be superior to gods, prior to gods."
Fang Yuan raised a single eyebrow and cheerfully reached out, placing her hand over Wang Wei's.
"In that case, please take me to the Inspectorate as well while you're at it."
Wang Wei froze for a moment, but quickly realized what her choice signified.
Fang Yuan choosing to tag along meant at least she could save Wang Wei's life from Jiang Qiehuo's hands.
Wang Wei felt a bit grateful. "Thank you."
She pushed Jiang Qiehuo into the car, and Fang Yuan slid in right beside Jiang Qiehuo.
Qi Shan sat in the driver's seat. Seeing Fang Yuan enter, he offered an explanation specifically: "Sister Lin Xu is busy with the graveyard case, so she didn't have time to host you. She asked me to pass along her apologies and hopes you can visit her when you have time."
Wasn't that just a roundabout way of telling her—I'm currently wiping your ass and covering up the wonderful deeds you did?
Fang Yuan wiggled her fingers. "It's fine, totally understandable. I'll try my best to visit her before the 【God Selection】 begins."
Qi Shan scratched his head with a silly grin, said no more, and started the car.
Jiang Qiehuo closed her eyes, deciding to bide her time.
As long as the Inspectorate hadn't convicted her, this matter wouldn't reach her parents' ears.
Fortunately, Meng Ying had recently moved out with her on the pretext of taking her along to hone their 【Blessings】, and had even instructed her parents not to disturb them.
That instruction had been given back then because they were going to kill someone, but luckily she had made that excuse.
Jiang Qiehuo relaxed slightly, leaning against the back seat with her eyes closed.
A warm hand slid down the back of her hand and covered her entire palm. Jiang Qiehuo jolted in surprise and tried to twist back to pin the hand down, but the other person's strength was clearly greater than hers—no matter how hard she tried, it didn't budge at all.
With a smile hanging on her face, Fang Yuan pried open her clenched fist finger by finger. Her slightly rough fingertips brushed against Jiang Qiehuo's nails.
"Your nail art looks so nice! Where did you get it done? Should I get one too?"
Jiang Qiehuo's expression turned dark. She twitched her fingertips slightly, and Fang Yuan's fingertips slid along her nails down to her finger pads.
The moment she touched the powder trapped beneath the nails, a faint, lingering fragrance drifted into her nose, and Fang Yuan found herself back at Hero Square.
"Can you choose the setting for your illusory dream yourself?"
Fang Yuan's gaze swept across the nine divine statues, finally landing on Jiang Qiehuo, who was standing with her arms crossed, staring coldly at her.
"I can make you dream whatever dream I want."
"You touched my phantasmic incense on purpose. What do you want to say to me?"
Fang Yuan leaned in with a grin under Jiang Qiehuo's wary gaze.
"If someone pulled into your illusory dream dies in the dream, do they die in reality too?"
Jiang Qiehuo took a small step back. Fang Yuan was standing far too close, making her feel deeply insecure.
Although dying in her illusory dream wouldn't affect her real-world condition, the vibe Fang Yuan gave off was simply too bizarre.
It was a strange, inexplicable sense of pressure.
"Yes. What, do you want to make a deal with me?"
Fang Yuan's eyes curved in a smile. "I really hate being someone else's blade—whether knowingly or being used, I hate it."
"So I originally intended for you to die at the Inspectorate under the pretense of committing suicide to atone for your crime."
Jiang Qiehuo's gaze sharpened slightly. She silently sized up Fang Yuan, her fingertips curling into fists.
"But I changed my mind. There's another matter I've gotten a lead on, and I need your phantasmic incense."
Jiang Qiehuo glanced at the relaxed Fang Yuan, her clenched fists loosening slightly. "You want to form an alliance with me?"
"I don't form alliances. I want you to be my blade."
"If you refuse, then you'll die at the Inspectorate committing suicide to atone for your crime. If you agree, I'll help you get out of the Inspectorate."
"I can do it, Jiang Qiehuo. I have more than two 【Blessings】."
Fang Yuan raised her right hand with a beam, pressing her middle finger against the pad of her thumb.
Snap!
With a crisp snap of her fingers, Fang Yuan returned to the car and withdrew her hand.
The car slowly pulled up to the entrance of the Inspectorate. Fang Yuan was the first to open the car door and step out.
Wang Wei escorted Jiang Qiehuo out of the car, with Qi Shan following closely behind, his palm resting on the sidearm at his waist.
A crowd of onlookers had gathered outside the Inspectorate.
Upon seeing the face of the hot-search protagonist appearing live right before their eyes, they all pulled out their phones in unison.
Fang Yuan trailed unhurriedly behind, waving to the surrounding crowd and throwing up a peace sign.
"Isn't she that Candidate of the God of War from the news who jumped off a building and died, but then resurrected? I think her name is Fang Yuan."
"Oh, your info is outdated! She doesn't just have one 【Blessing】, I heard she has two."
"What do you mean two? Isn't it five?"
"What do you mean five? Isn't it ten?"
"Who cares how many! Either way, she's the most special candidate for godhood. She's definitely going to become a god in the future. Oh my god, I snapped a picture of a future god!"
"Doesn't that mean this photo will become a rare collector's item!"
"Holy crap, Grandpa! I took a picture of a future god!"
Fang Yuan blew a few kisses with a smile toward the raised phones, walking into the Inspectorate amid a chorus of screams and chatter.
Rate on N.U.
