C9 The Temptation of Food Failed!

Congratulations to the host for successfully breaking through to the Diamond Fist and advancing to Level One of the Invincible Diamond Fist.

"Hey, calling headquarters. If you can hear me, please respond." Ye Cheng held a soapbox to his ear and walked backward, hand on his rear, completely ignoring the system's message.

The Supernatural Bureau members who hurried to the scene witnessed the red and white female ghosts fleeing in panic. They promptly reported the incident to Wang Anshi.

Wang Anshi slammed his hand on the table and stood up with force: "Those two female ghosts are no ordinary spirits. He's not only capable of confronting them but also made them run away in terror. He must be the one we've been searching for!"

"Boss, he seems out of his mind. He doesn't look like he's got any real skills. Could it be just a fluke?" one member expressed doubt about Ye Cheng's behavior.

Truth be told, Wang Anshi was also uncertain. The higher-ups had been pressing him to find someone with supernatural abilities, and now that he had finally found one, the guy seemed insane. How could he possibly convince his superiors?

"Tomorrow, let's consult with Dean Chen Yangguang to see if there's any way to treat him."

The next morning, Wang Anshi was already waiting in Chen Yangguang's office. They talked for ages but failed to find the right approach to handle Ye Cheng, leaving them with no choice but to resort to unconventional methods.

The courtyard suddenly filled with people. Ye Cheng peered out the window, convinced these foolish humans were plotting against him. He wouldn't be deceived.

At the sound of footsteps in the hallway, Ye Cheng quickly hid under the bed. The nurse, who entered to find the room empty, panicked, thinking Ye Cheng had escaped and rushed out to raise the alarm.

"Somebody help, Ye Cheng has escaped! Ye Cheng has escaped!"

With a mischievous smile, Ye Cheng crawled out from under the bed. Taking advantage of the nurse's absence, he slipped into the courtyard, evading the security guards' gaze, and stealthily made his way to the canteen.

Drawn by a familiar aroma, Ye Cheng followed his nose to the dean's office and slipped inside unnoticed.

On the desk sat a plate of glistening red braised pork, freshly made and exuding a rich, tantalizing scent that had Ye Cheng drooling.

"Do you want some?" Dean Chen Yangguang emerged from behind the door, gesturing towards the table. "If you're hungry, feel free to take it with you."

A whole plate of braised pork just for him? He wasn't buying it. Usually, he had to plead with his aunt for just two pieces, and now he was being offered a whole plate? It had to be a setup!

Had his identity been compromised?

"Ye Cheng, have you lost your taste for braised pork?" Chen Yangguang asked, his voice laced with amusement.

He did like it, of course, but who knew what else might be in that pork?

Ye Cheng spun on his heel, ready to leave, but Chen Yangguang quickly stepped in front of him. "What's the matter? Why won't you eat?"

"You think I'd fall for such a simple trick? I'm not going to be baited by humans. You won't catch me off guard," Ye Cheng declared.

With a forceful shove, Ye Cheng pushed past Chen Yangguang and bolted outside, thankful to have escaped with his life. Dying because of braised pork would have been an embarrassing way to go, especially for the headquarters.

Once Ye Cheng was gone, Wang Anshi emerged, letting out a weary sigh. "Is there no other way?"

Chen Yangguang was clearly troubled. "Crazy actions are unpredictable. You can never tell what he's thinking or what he might do next. I really think you should just give up."

"Look, with ghosts running rampant, we need someone with supernatural abilities to ensure the residents' safety. From what we've seen these last few days, Ye Cheng is our best bet."

The situation was escalating rapidly, leaving no time to scout for other individuals with special powers. And such people weren't exactly easy to come by.

The bureau had been inundated with calls from terrified citizens who could hear the ghostly wails at night, disrupting their peace.

Faced with mounting pressure from above and the need to protect the public, the Supernatural Bureau was barely keeping it together.

Finding a superpowered individual capable of capturing ghosts was a rare opportunity. They couldn't afford to let Ye Cheng go, even if he was a bit unhinged.

"Actually, there's a tactic you might want to try," suggested Chen Yangguang.

"What's the tactic? Please, tell me quickly."

With a chuckle, Chen Yangguang explained, "Ye Cheng has been quite taken with sci-fi movies lately. He's convinced he's been chosen by an alien headquarters. If you pose as a leader from this extraterrestrial base, he might just follow your lead."

"Alien headquarters?"

Before Wang Anshi could inquire further, a patient draped in a bed sheet appeared at the office door. It was Ye Cheng himself.

Wearing the bed sheet as if it were a cloak of invisibility, Ye Cheng tiptoed into the office. He would have never bothered if it weren't for his unwillingness to part with his plate of braised pork.

Chen Yangguang, recognizing Ye Cheng's antics, subtly shook his head at Wang Anshi as a signal to remain calm.

The office staff discreetly lowered their heads, feigning ignorance of Ye Cheng's presence.

Believing himself unseen, Ye Cheng gleefully retrieved a plastic bag from beneath his sheet and stealthily snagged a piece of braised pork from the plate.

But then he thought, with so many pieces on the plate, surely a few missing wouldn't be noticed. Emboldened, he grabbed several more pieces and popped one into his mouth.

Overwhelmed by the aroma of the pork, Ye Cheng couldn't resist. Cloaked in his makeshift invisibility, he decided to sit and enjoy his meal right there, all the while eavesdropping on their plans for him.

Ye Cheng relished his braised pork, seated comfortably in the office.

The staff struggled to contain their amusement, nearly bursting into laughter. Only Director Chen's prior caution kept them composed.

After polishing off the plate of pork without overhearing any conversation, Ye Cheng found the situation uninteresting and left, still shrouded in his bed sheet.

Once Ye Cheng had departed, Wang Anshi exhaled in relief and asked, "How long has he been like this?"

"Ever since he arrived, he's been this way. But he tends to adopt new personas with each movie he watches. He'll adjust in time," Chen Yangguang assured him.

In the office, the discussion was still underway about how to enlist Ye Cheng's assistance when a staff member clad in the Supernatural Bureau's uniform burst in, gasping for air.

"Director... Director, there's been a terrible incident. We just got a call about a serious homicide in the West District."

"What happened?"

"A few days ago, a girl clutching a doll was found outside an internet cafe in the West District. Then, last night, tragedy struck that very internet cafe. In a single night, everyone who was online there died."

Having regained his composure, the staff member continued, "Upon receiving the report, we tallied the victims. Including the internet cafe manager, a total of twenty-seven people were killed. The higher-ups have issued orders to apprehend the perpetrator immediately."

"Twenty-seven people dead?"