*Goal #1: Reaching Top 200(Power Stone) in fanfics published within a month.
Will Release 10 Bonus Chapters upon completion. Please vote if you like it :)
PS. Should need about 60 Power Stones during a weekly reset cycle.
Currently: 16/60*
Mouri Ran climbed over the bridge and promptly fell to the ground.
But when she arrived on the scene, Jiangxia Tongzhi had already stopped what he was doing.
From Ran's perspective, Jiangxia was standing next to the corpse—wait, no—standing beside the murderer, who was still very much alive.
He was looking at a kid hiding behind a tree, face calm but clearly a little dejected.
Ran glanced at the boy, who quickly ducked further behind the tree, and guessed the bear child must've stabbed Jiangxia in the heart with his behavior, hurting his fragile little soul.
Kids these days are too much...
Ran walked up to Jiangxia and thanked him. "Thank you for saving that child."
Then, after a beat, she added, "Just… next time you want to be brave, don't go so far. Just subdue the bad guy and let the law handle it, okay?"
Jiangxia: "…"
Images flashed through his mind—Ran smashing a telephone pole with one punch, kicking through a brick wall, launching a Lushan Dragon Ascension Fist that sent a grown man spinning into the stratosphere…
Are you really in a position to say that?
Jiangxia turned his head and looked at Ran's angelic face.
Then at her hand—seemingly delicate and slender.
He swallowed the retort and simply nodded. "Got it."
…
The other three hadn't climbed the bridge but had instead run down the road like normal people.
There was a police station nearby, and by the time they got there, so had the police.
It was Ran's police, of course.
Her reflexes were too fast. Before Jiangxia could even react, Ran was already giving the address to the authorities.
The father, Ogino, who lay on the ground, couldn't be saved. Seeing his grand murder plan crumble, he let out an anguished, bitter wail.
Dr. Ogawa clutched his son tightly. Watching Ogino get shoved into the police car, he looked conflicted, then decided to go straight to the bank to transfer the life-insurance money Ogino had given him. He was scared someone else might come for it next.
…
The next day, Jiangxia returned to the police station.
Just to file a follow-up report.
Also, on the off chance Ogino had developed a little regret in the holding cell, Jiangxia might be able to pick up some lingering murderous aura while he was there.
When he stepped out of the police station, Jiangxia checked his watch. Just past noon—still early.
No exams today. No classes.
His batch of ghost mint had just been planted—no need to rush back home to harvest.
So Jiangxia, as usual, turned toward the detective agency.
Granted, the agency hadn't brought in many cases yet, but fame takes time to build.
Maybe someday, a ghost-carrying client would show up. Or one of his favorite regulars—like that old cat-hunting customer—might drop by again.
Also, there was always a chance to run into a freshly spawned Amuro Toru.
Jiangxia hadn't forgotten the spicy hotpot-scented murderous aura of Dr. Kazuto.
Kazuto Kyosuke's target had been a cop, after all. If Amuro Toru got involved in the case, Jiangxia wouldn't need to do anything except stroll by the police station after Kazuto's arrest, and bam—Xiaobai could siphon off the murderous vibes.
In a civilized society—especially in this world—murderous intent was just lying around waiting to be picked up.
…
When Jiangxia turned onto the office street, he took out his key.
But as he got closer, he saw the door was already open—someone was inside.
Jiangxia stepped across the threshold, puzzled, and looked in.
Toru Amuro was in the office—rare sight.
He'd brought a client with him and was currently pouring them tea.
...Suspicious.
Jiangxia looked the client up and down. No ghosts. No murderous aura.
He was just about to listen in on the commission when Amuro stopped him. "Wait outside for a bit."
"...Okay." Jiangxia nodded and stepped out, closing the door thoughtfully.
The doors and walls here were well soundproofed.
But seriously, you think a few layers of insulation can stop a ghost medium?
There should've been a disdainful snort here.
But Jiangxia kept up appearances. After all, Amuro Toru attracted nosy eavesdroppers wherever he went.
He sat down on the waiting bench and summoned the ghost baby.
The ghost baby obediently climbed onto Jiangxia's shoulder and poked a stick into his ear.
Jiangxia's hearing transferred to the ghost.
Meanwhile, Xiaobai darted over to the door, grunting softly as it slid underneath.
Suddenly, Jiangxia could hear the voices inside clearly.
…
He eavesdropped for a while. It seemed to be a normal commission.
The client's house had been broken into, but instead of valuables, the only thing missing was a piece of pottery. The next day, they found shards of it near their home.
The weird part was, nothing else was touched. The random nature of the theft was creeping the client out.
They called the police, but the cops were stumped.
Later, while venting to a friend at an izakaya, a part-timer overheard and recommended a detective.
That part-timer, of course, was Amuro Toru.
And so, the client was roped in.
Jiangxia thought it over. Nothing like this came to mind from the original series.
There were a few pottery-related episodes, but the details didn't line up.
…Probably just an organization job. Or maybe the cops.
…
Soon after, Amuro jotted down the client's contact info and saw him out.
Jiangxia retrieved the ghost baby—and his hearing—and stood to help escort the guest. Might as well grab a chance to talk.
As Amuro turned back, he noticed Jiangxia waiting.
Then remembered—oh right, Jiangxia had taken leave yesterday.
Said he was going to the hospital.
So Amuro casually asked, "How'd it go?"
Jiangxia hesitated.
Amuro blinked.
He'd only asked out of politeness—Jiangxia looked fine, so he figured it was just a routine check-up.
But now… why did Jiangxia look like that?
Amuro got nervous. "Something happen?"
…Surely he didn't skip hospital visits for years and suddenly find out he had a terminal illness?!
But Jiangxia shook his head.
"That doctor…" he said slowly, "I think he's killed someone before."
Amuro: "?"
Jiangxia added, "And I have a strong feeling it's not over yet. Something similar might happen again."
Amuro: "..." His sleeves were already half-rolled up, eyes sharp.
Is he okay??Did he remember something bad from his past? Is this PTSD? Hallucinations? Paranoia?
Just in case, maybe get him checked out.
But then Jiangxia said, "And he had a gun in his bag. I'm sure of it."
That one hit home.
Actually, it was Xiaobai who'd seen the gun. But hey, what the ghost sees, Jiangxia sees. Round it up.
"Hmm…" Amuro's demeanor changed as the word "gun" registered.
During psychological interviews, even trained professionals slip. Jiangxia, however, wasn't just any mental patient—he was tangled up with the Organization and had seen real murderers.
Amuro was now taking this very seriously.
The cardiology department at Beika General Hospital was quite famous—plenty of cops went there.
If this doctor really had something to hide…
Still, Amuro kept a straight face.
"You're overthinking it," he said, lowering his sleeves again.
But internally: Check that doctor. Quietly.
"Anyway," Amuro added, "if you're getting weird vibes, that doctor's not right for you. Next time, try a different hospital."
Jiangxia nodded and didn't say more.
If he pushed too hard, it'd get suspicious.
If the undercover agent stopped going, Jiangxia would have to handle the doctor himself.
…
Amuro was swamped today. After a few more words, he added the task to his ever-growing list and left.
Jiangxia was about to lock up when he spotted a magazine rack by the entryway—and froze.
On it was a familiar book.
He pulled it out—it was the detective handbook he'd borrowed from the library when applying for this job.
He'd completely forgotten about it after getting hired.
Beika Library had strict borrowing rules—ordinary citizens only got 14 days.
Jiangxia checked the date. Still within the time limit.
If he missed the return window, who knows when he'd get another random day off within the next two weeks?
Might as well go now.
He glanced at his watch. Still a while before closing.
So he hopped on his motorcycle and zoomed off to the library.
…
Amuro didn't investigate the doctor himself.
He passed Kazuto Kyosuke's info to his subordinates and told them to quietly look into it.
And he emphasized quietly. Even if something shady turned up, it had to be "accidentally discovered." No one could trace it back to Jiangxia.
Otherwise, if Jiangxia reported someone and they got arrested the next day—yeah, not subtle.
Jiangxia wasn't stupid.
…
He arrived at the library in record time. Checked his watch—over half an hour left before closing.
He took off his helmet, hooked it onto the bike, and walked up to the door with the book.
But as he approached—locked.
Already closed.
Jiangxia blinked. He walked to the notice board.
Turns out, it was a holiday. They'd closed two hours early.
Jiangxia stood at the door, book in hand, peering into the dark library. Disappointed.
He was just about to leave when Xiaobai suddenly perked up—it had found food.
The scent was distant, so Jiangxia couldn't sense it directly.
But Xiaobai was definitely looking toward the library.
Which meant… either a ghost or murderous aura was inside.
This library didn't have any anti-theft window bars.
Jiangxia circled around to a hidden corner and found a locked window.
He stopped in front of it and raised his hand.
A few shikigami fluttered out, slipped through the gap, and landed on the floor inside, slowly condensing into a chibi-sized puppet.
Jiangxia debated between two options: throw the ghost baby in, let it use the puppet to scout, or go in himself.
But he remembered—puppet size was linked to the ghost baby's power.
So if he tossed Xiaobai in, it'd only generate a slightly buff toddler at best.
If there was an emergency in the library, that wouldn't help.
So Jiangxia picked option two—go in himself.
He had the Shikigami puppet unlock the window.
Then, Jiangxia slipped inside.
The moment he landed, the puppet crumbled back into paper and vanished into the tattoo on his chest.
Glossary
Ghost baby/Xiaobai: Jiangxia's spirit companion, often used for sensing danger or spying.