Master Bai! This Celestial Fox Spirit Is Asking For Divorce-Chapter 386: Episode 41.6 The Threat Outside, the Change Within
"A kidnapping incident? Why would a kidnapping incident be a reason for suspending classes?" Shen Yuan asked sharply.
He is now back in the comfort of his home, together with his son, Yanyan.
The boy was in his room, changing back to comfortable house clothes.
While he was in the receiving area, the television was playing the morning news program.
On his phone was a video call from Bai Tingfeng from his office in Baihu Guild.
They are discussing the information that the school guard provided to them.
"You suspend classes due to terrible weather, earthquakes, and even dungeon breaks. But you don’t typically suspend classes just because someone was taken in the city." Shen Yuan pointed out the incredulity of the reason.
"Well, maybe it is not just a simple kidnapping incident." Bai Tingfeng spoke from the other end. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
His eyes are fixed on the monitor, reading the information that has just come in from his information channel.
Shen Yuan scrolled through the Hunter Association emails until a TV anchor’s words caught his attention. He gestured for Bai Tingfeng to hold on and turned up the volume.
[This has just come in. A string of kidnapping incidents shook the City. Several teenagers were abducted today in broad daylight. Xi Weiwei, a rising teen actress who starred in multiple high teen dramas for the past years, Li Da, a popular game streamer under the alias LeeDaFuk, and senior high school student Zhang Licheng are abducted by unidentified awakened individuals when they are on their way to school. The three students are not attending the same school and are said not to be connected in any way, but looking at the timing and the pattern of actions taken by the assailants, authorities believe that these three kidnapping incidents are related.]
Shen Yuan’s expression tightened, and so did Bai Tingfeng.
[Now, a city-wide manhunt for the missing students is ongoing in City B, while the Office of the City Mayor has issued...]
"Holy shit. That is terrible. No wonder classes are suspended." Shen Yuan uttered.
"That checks out the information I just received." Bai Tingfeng said after hearing the news on his phone.
The information in his hand was more detailed than the news provided. It was the full police report, all confirmed and fact-checked before it landed in his hands.
Ever since his husband and son got entangled with the Cardinals, Bai Tingfeng maintained a tight grip on his family’s information resources as a precaution.
Just like what they say, it’s always better to be safe than to be sorry.
Bai Tingfeng read the document, creases on his forehead becoming more prominent.
Shen Yuan watched Bai Tingfeng’s reaction through the black screen.
"Yuan," Shen Yuan jolted a little when Bai Tingfeng suddenly broke the silence. "If I remember it correctly, the Hunter Association had lists of people who are presumed to belong to the mysterious Wei family. Chairman Mao said that they are most likely the future targets of the Cardinals because they bore the blood of the fox spirits..."
Bai Tingfeng’s eyebrows knotted some more. "Is there any chance that this attack is related to them?"
Shen Yuan opened his mouth, intending to answer right away, but paused. "You mean, is there a chance that these poor students are included in my watchlist?"
He looked down, trying to recall his main job in the Special Counterterrorist Task Force. The same reason why Qin Mian, the retired hunter-streamer, is under his wings.
"Yes." Bai Tingfeng nodded. "I was reading the police report, and the way these people behave according to the eyewitnesses, some of the points are the same as the time the Cardinals tried to kidnap Yanyan."
Shen Yuan gasped. "Are you sure?"
Bai Tingfeng hummed yes.
"I can’t say for sure if this is the work of those bastards, but what I am sure about is these three are not on my list." Shen Yuan said with certainty. "My squad members have been diligent in keeping watch at the potential targets of the Cardinals. I will immediately receive a call if the Cardinals try to take them."
Bai Tingfeng remained silent for a moment. "If the Cardinals are not involved, then I guess these kids are still lucky."
Shen Yuan scrunched his face like the Grinch. "The fuck are you talking about? The Cardinals are not the only bad people in the world. We still don’t know what the fates of these teens are."
He then mumbled. "It sucks that the Hunter Association does not get directly involved in non-dungeon issues. I could have found an excuse to join in the hunt."
After the eventful arrest of Lee Jinhyuk, Shen Yuan noticed that Chairman Mao was working very hard to get him out of the field.
The old chairman has been very accommodating to Bai Tingfeng’s demands to keep him away from stress. It looked and felt fake and forced, especially when he knew that Chairman Mao was the type who would set up a challenge just so he could use him.
And for once, the celestial fox spirit actually wanted to be used.
"I am getting bored..." Shen Yuan whispered. He didn’t realise that his mumbling was clearly transmitted through the phone.
"Hey, pregnant," To his surprise, Bai Tingfeng called him. His baritone voice is hard and authoritatively hot. "Don’t get funny ideas. Stay at home. I didn’t pamper you for days just so you could run wild for one day. Leave this to the police."
Shen Yuan puffed his cheeks like a naughty kid who had just been caught red-handed.
"I know. I will stay at home with our son and refine the mortal essence that you provided me for the past few days." The sly celestial fox said with a clear underlying meaning.
This time, it was Bai Tingfeng’s turn to get flustered. "Good. Strengthen your body and take good care of our baby."
"Yes. Yes." Shen Yuan stuck his tongue out. But then he became serious, a touch of playfulness hiding behind his gaze. "Tonight... there will be another massage session, right?"
Bai Tingfeng smiled at the camera. "Of course."
Suddenly, the sound of knocking and the door opening was heard from Bai Tingfeng’s end. "Guildmaster, they are ready for you."
Shen Yuan heard Assistant Su say.
"Yuan—"
"I know, it’s bye for now." Shen Yuan quickly said. "Break a leg out there, Master Bai. Show them who is the boss."
A pleasing-sounding laugh sounded from Bai Tingfeng’s pink, arching lips. "Okay, Master Shen. I love you."
Shen Yuan mischievously rolled his eyes, "As you should. And for the record, I love you, too."
The couple wrapped up the call and resumed doing things in their lives.
Bai Tingfeng busied himself with the matters of the Baihu Guild.
Back home with Yanyan, Shen Yuan’s mind still churned over the news. The boy was in his room, oblivious to the tension his father felt.
However, since adults always protect the children from things that may hurt them, Shen Yuan perfectly hid the matter of the serial abduction from his son.
Shen Yuan and Yanyan stay indoors.
The weather is still terrible, so they settled themselves hanging around the gym, where Shen Yuan sat on a yoga mat, meditating—or should he say trying to refine the essence he collected for the past few days.
The essence was already converted into the form of energy, so he doesn’t mind doing meditation around his son.
His conscience was clean.
And he needed strength more than anything
There’s a serial kidnapper in town. Would you still waste your time and energy internally debating what is right or not instead of making yourself powerful?
Hell no!
So, consolidating his body became the focus of the celestial fox spirit. He was hoping that Bai Tingfeng’s energy would be enough for him to break through and gain access to his powers.
Meanwhile, Yanyan played ball with his pet panda. They are playing pass-the-ball, but they mostly slapped the ball to each other, so it is debatable if it is accurate to call it that.
Boink! Boink! Boink!
Amidst the sound of a bouncing rubber ball, Shen Yuan found it a bit hard to concentrate.
But since Chairman Mao once said that it is beneficial for him to improve his mental strength while pregnant, he powered through the distracting sound.
Because of his hectic schedule and issues that he focused on, it’s been a while since Shen Yuan meditated like this.
It took a long while before Shen Yuan’s mind finally calmed down, blocking all the distractions from the outside world.
Within his consciousness, the energy Bai Tingfeng poured into him had already condensed into a solid, glowing sphere.
Shen Yuan tightened his focus and broke the sphere down in a slow but steady space. The crease on his forehead became even more pronounced when he finally started moving the refined energy through his entire body.
"Hmmm..." Shen Yuan moaned in discomfort.
Yanyan looked worriedly at his Daddy but didn’t dare to intervene. He was aware of what to do and what not to do when his parents were in the middle of training.
Instead, Yanyan sat on the corner.
The panda and the boy stopped playing and watched Shen Yuan with concern and curiosity.
"Hmmm!" Shen Yuan groaned, suddenly doubling over as his nine foxtails unfurled from his back.
Yanyan’s mouth fell open. "Daddy... what’s happening?!"
The panda scampered back, unsure whether to play or hide.
Something was definitely wrong with Daddy... and Yanyan had a feeling this was only the beginning.
