Otherworldly Affairs Office-Chapter 58: A Small Gathering Before the Festival

Pei Yan was quite idle. After being hammered by Xia Yu and others at the dorm, he found his days very leisurely. It was so idle that he thought the investigators had forgotten him. Without tasks or training, even when he occasionally met Hu Wenjun at the bureau, he always seemed busy, giving him a few reminders to take care of his body, not to leave the bureau, and then hurried away.

Pei Yan couldn’t remain idle; he had to keep himself busy. As that day drew nearer, his mood grew increasingly restless. He had to stay busy to forget the sense of loss and emptiness in his heart.

After resting for three days, Pei Yan went to the training ground. The two Jiezhi Spaces had been removed, and Instructor Miao and the others were nowhere to be seen. He had no choice but to engage in combat training after completing his regular physical training, recalling the scenes taught by the instructors in his mind, and laboriously hitting the sandbag to complete one attack motion after another.

Occasionally, when resting, he would sit cross-legged and imagine the ancient breathing and internal viewing techniques from novels, trying to communicate with his inner source, hoping to trigger its external release. Unfortunately, every time he connected with his inner source, intending to move it throughout his body, he would get overwhelmed by a warm, comfortable feeling, eventually dozing off with drool at the corner of his mouth.

After Pei Yan persistently trained on his own for four days, Instructor Miao appeared before him, looking at him with a slight sweat on his forehead after a long run, and asked with a smile, "Why persist with these trainings with your abilities?"

Pei Yan picked up the towel hanging around his neck, wiped his face, and said, "Xia Yu, although not a great coach, was right in saying that skills are something personal that no one can take away. I can’t be useless without abilities."

"That’s quite right! Actually, after you returned, Old Hu approached me to resume your training. I didn’t immediately agree because I wanted to see if you would seek improvement on your own. If a person can’t discipline themselves and is only pushed forward by others, their achievements will stop there. I’m quite satisfied with your performance," Instructor Miao said, patting Pei Yan on the shoulder, a rare compliment.

Pei Yan’s eyes lit up, and he excitedly asked, "Then will you continue to train me next?"

Faced with Pei Yan’s excitement, Instructor Miao shook his head regretfully and said, "I would love to, but there are some matters in the troops, so I have to go back. Instructor Zhao, who came with me, will stay to continue your training, from combat to shooting to vehicle driving. This training process will last until March next year. If you have tasks during this period, the training time will be extended. I have already applied for a Jiezhi Space training ground for you, and you can start using it today."

"Great! Thanks, Instructor Miao!"

In the following days, Pei Yan was fully immersed in training. During the day, he not only received lessons from Instructor Zhao but also occasionally sparred with Xia Yu and had practical combat drills with Ye Jiumu and Wang Wenze, greatly improving his combat level. At night, back at the dormitory, he would activate his helmet ability, watching various combat teaching videos recommended by Xia Yu.

What delighted him more was that during this time, he unexpectedly received three big boxes sent by Engineer Li. When he opened them and saw the contents, Pei Yan’s smile was wide and joyful.

After a month and a half of training, he had already mastered the basic driving skills, and his combat techniques became more refined. Even his previously poor shooting skills were just barely passing after sufficient bullet practice.

Yet, despite Pei Yan’s intentional or unintentional forgetfulness, that day inevitably approached! New Year’s.

Apart from the personnel remaining on duty, most people in the bureau were ready to go home for the festival. Wang Wenze, who always said his home was in the capital for work, had prepared New Year’s goods early and was rushing home. Even Instructor Zhao granted Pei Yan a ten-day leave to return to the troops and celebrate the New Year with comrades.

Three days before New Year’s Eve, the bureau held a party. At this party, Pei Yan met Wang Wenze’s so-called "Chuunibyou" youth nicknamed the "Commander," Jiang Feiyang. He was a short, cute chubby guy wearing a coat printed with "Dream Back to the Great Tang," walking around the crowd very noticeably.

More eye-catching than him was Ye Jiumu’s older brother, Ye Ruozai. Although twins, they had completely dissimilar names. Pei Yan only realized later that the names were drawn from the phrase "If love lasts forever, why be concerned with morning and evening." Their parents must have a quirky sense of humor.

Maybe because of their different naming styles, even though they were twins, Ye Ruozai, in stark contrast to his brother’s flamboyance, stood calmly with long hair simply tied at the back. He exuded a serene, refined aura that attracted the gazes of the bureau’s young girls, including Xia Yu, who feigned nonchalance.

Pei Yan glanced at Xia Yu, then at Ye Jiumu, who was quietly tuning his bass beside her. He seemed to have a sudden revelation, looking back at Wang Wenze, who had just finished cuddling with Liang Qian. Seeing his expression, Wang Wenze stuffed a grilled chicken wing into his mouth, saying, "Seeing and not speaking keeps friendships good."

"You knew already?" Pei Yan bit on the chicken wing and asked quietly.

Wang Wenze, picking up a shrimp ball and chewing, said, "How could I not know? Those two fools think no one else knows."

"Does Jiumu’s brother know, too?"

Wang Wenze shook his head and smirked, "His brother is different from us. These things aren’t even in his mind, understand? He genuinely has innate talent. If you must compare, his brother is more like someone from that Daoist Plane, wholeheartedly seeking the way. If the bureau hadn’t repeatedly tested and verified his identity, I’d suspect he was secretly reincarnated by a great being from the Daoist Plane."

Just then, Jiang Feiyang, whom he had just met, leaned over and added, "Let me tell you, Xiaopei. Wenzhe always says I’m a Chuunibyou. I am, I admit that, but that...." He nodded towards Ye Ruozai and said, "He’s truly gone Chuunibyou-gone-mad. He’s realized his ability to think he’s genuinely a cultivator seeking the way, quite the talent."

"Don’t say that about Jiumu’s brother; he’s a bit distinctive, but quite good as a colleague and brother," Wang Wenze intervened, coughing lightly to stop Jiang Feiyang when he spoke excessively.

Jiang Feiyang, a bit disgruntled, raised a middle finger at Wang Wenze, saying, "Wang Shenpo, you take all the words, good and bad. I’m just chatting here."

Then, Wang Wenze nudged Pei Yan beside him, "Go on stage; Ye Jiumu’s waving at you!"

"Oh, sure!" Upon hearing this, Pei Yan turned to look at Ye Jiumu on stage and, spitting out the chicken bone from his mouth, ran up. During this leisurely time before the festival, he officially joined Ye Jiumu’s interdimensional band at his invitation. Unfortunately, the mysterious drummer Shangxing had not returned, so the three of them had only managed a few basic rehearsals.

As one of the main acts of today’s party, Pei Yan and Ye Jiumu stood on either side of the main singer, Xia Yu, holding their instruments, and under the cheers and applause from the audience, the two slowly strummed their guitar strings.

In the flickering lights, a song titled "Angel in Disguise" emerged from Xia Yu’s slightly hoarse voice, instantly captivating everyone present.

Cutting away the delicate nerves

Will it make it easier to sleep?

My heart has a gray prison,

Containing a slew of shouting dark thoughts

Removing the hardened temper freёweɓnovel_com

Will it make it easier to understand?

You can knock me down hard,

But don’t even think about making me beg.

Nodding his head, stepping to the beat, strumming the guitar strings, Pei Yan enjoyed the last peaceful gathering before the Spring Festival amidst Xia Yu’s decadent yet slightly hysterical singing.

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