Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin walked toward “Paradise Entrance” under the gradually darkening sky.
“Liar… Didn’t you say you knew who the Heavenly Sheep was? Why didn’t you tell that tiger-headed guy?” Qiao Jiajin asked.
“Compared to that Earth Tiger… I trust Chen Junnan more. There are some things I want to ask him.”
“Handsome guy?” Qiao Jiajin nodded slightly after hearing this.
The two turned a street corner and immediately saw an old woman leading a child.
The old woman wore a kind smile, her stiff gaze fixed on Qi Xia.
Qiao Jiajin found it odd… Were there elderly people in this place?
Just as he was about to say something, Qi Xia spoke first: “Fists, let’s go.”
Qiao Jiajin froze for a moment, then silently nodded.
The two walked past the old woman and child as if they hadn’t seen them at all.
Only after they had walked some distance did the child speak up: “Granny Ma, aren’t you going to ask them anything?”
“No need,” the old woman shook her head. “Neither of them has an ‘Echo’ or ‘Tao.’ Better to ask the resident ‘Zodiacs’ here.”
“But wasn’t that huge sound last time at night?” the child asked. “Would the ‘Zodiacs’ even know?”
“Hmm, you’re right…” The old woman sighed. “Guess we’ll have to find participants after all… As expected, none of the people on the train can be relied on…”
“So who should we look for?” the child asked innocently.
“Well, there is one good place…”
The old woman thought for a moment, then took the child’s wrist. In the blink of an eye, the two vanished.
—
Qi Xia kept glancing back until he was sure no one was following them before finally relaxing.
“Liar… What was that about?” Qiao Jiajin asked. “There are old folks and kids here?”
“I don’t know, but something’s definitely off,” Qi Xia whispered. “Their ages… It’s just too strange…”
“Yeah… They shouldn’t have made it out of the interview room…” Qiao Jiajin muttered.
“Not just that…” Qi Xia said. “I can’t imagine what crime a naked child could’ve committed… Maybe… they don’t actually look like that?”
“You mean… they’re disguised?” Qiao Jiajin asked.
“Probably not that simple,” Qi Xia shook his head. “Right now, the priority is to ask Chen Junnan how much he knows about the ‘Heavenly’…”
The two quickened their pace, heading toward “Paradise Entrance.”
—
In an instant, the old woman and child appeared outside a prison at the edge of the city.
Though the prison looked dilapidated, a sentry post was lit by an oil lamp, where a long-haired man in a leather jacket stood guard.
He raised his head slightly, eyeing the old woman and child with confusion.
Unfazed, the old woman stepped forward.
“Greetings. I’m ‘Mao Mu’ Liu Ershiyi. And you two are…?” the long-haired man asked cautiously.
“Oh dear…” The old woman waved her hand. “No need to be nervous. We’re here for business.”
“Business?” The man studied them, still puzzled. “Regular clients?”
“Of course, of course. I’ve done business with you before… Is the person in charge here?” The old woman’s kind smile sent a chill down the man’s spine. “I’d like to speak with them.”
“The person in charge…?” The man nodded. “Follow me.”
He turned and opened the heavy iron gate, leading them inside.
The three crossed the prison yard and entered the building.
One by one, the long-haired man unlocked the inner security doors, guiding the pair deeper into the prison.
The doors, long deprived of power, were mostly for show—rusted iron gates creaked open, revealing the prison’s heart.
As they walked down the cell-lined corridor, the old woman subtly glanced around. Many people in black leather jackets sat on their bunks, watching her warily.
Men and women, dozens of them—far more than she remembered.
A leather-clad man lounging in the hallway spotted the long-haired man and hurried over.
“Ershiyi, what’s up?” he asked.
“Shiyi-ge, they’re looking for the boss,” the long-haired man replied.
The man called Shiyi-ge nodded. “Guests? I’m ‘Forget Sorrow’ Luo Shiyi. If you have business, you can discuss it with me. Which year are you from?”
“Shiyi?” The old woman frowned. “You’re not qualified. Get someone under ten.”
“Not qualified…?” Luo Shiyi’s expression darkened. “You dare say Luo Shiyi isn’t good enough? Then what the hell are you?”
Before the words fully left his mouth, the old woman was already beside him—so fast no one saw her move.
She tilted her smiling face up, her voice hoarse: “Child, take a good look. What do you think I am?”
Luo Shiyi’s eyes widened as he stumbled back.
“You… you’re…” His blood ran cold. “‘Heavenly’?”
The atmosphere froze.
Then, an eerie voice broke the silence.
“Shiyi, show some respect.”
Luo Shiyi and Liu Ershiyi immediately stepped aside as a very short figure approached—a young dwarf man, his proportions balanced, a grotesque scar marking his left cheek like an animal bite.
“Wu-ge,” the two greeted in unison, bowing slightly.
The old woman’s smile returned at the sight of the dwarf. “Ah… Qian Wu…”
“Heavenly Horse,” the dwarf—Qian Wu—nodded impassively. “‘Zodiacs’ rarely do business with us.”
The mention of “Heavenly Horse” made the nearby onlookers tense.
“Well, here we are,” Heavenly Horse chuckled. “Little Tiger and I came just for you.”
“Yet I remain skeptical,” Qian Wu replied. “Can our ‘business’ even succeed?”
“Little Qian, what kind of attitude is that… So disrespectful to your elders.” Heavenly Horse rubbed her back. “Can’t you be a bit warmer?”
“We only care about payment,” Qian Wu said flatly. “I don’t see how ‘Zodiacs’ can pay us.”
“Do we even need to pay?” Heavenly Horse grinned. “Little Qian, we could always just… threaten you.”
“Oh?” The dwarf smirked. “Did I mishear? Did you just say ‘threaten me’?”
The moment the words left his mouth, every person in the cells stood up. They opened their doors and slowly stepped into the hallway.
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