The immortal is beside me

Chapter 1 The Immortal is by my side

"Zhou Qing! It's really you!"

In the restaurant, Qin Jiajia looked at the "blind date" in front of her, and the corners of her mouth rose unconsciously.

This is her third blind date.

Before this, she had been forced to meet two people under the strong pressure of her second aunt. The whole process was chaotic and full of smoke and fire. Specifically, she said, "How can we not get along with each other when they have such good conditions? You are too picky." "There is no such thing as suitable or unsuitable personality. It's all cultivated." "Why refuse so quickly? It won't lose you a piece of meat if you have more." She was exhausted both physically and mentally.

She had originally made up her mind that if she was introduced to a blind date again, she would refuse it sternly with all her might, even crying, making a fuss, and threatening to commit suicide. She would never add anyone as a friend even if it meant falling out with her relatives. However, when she saw the third piece of information pushed by her second aunt, she changed her mind in an instant.

That was her college classmate, Zhou Qing.

"It's been three years since we last saw each other since graduation, right? It's a small world to be able to bump into each other like this."

She said, her words full of joy: "When I think about it, time flies. I remember the first class meeting of my freshman year, when I first saw you. At that time..."

In her impression, Zhou Qing at that time was not a very sociable person. He could not type on the computer, scan WeChat QR codes, and even spoke Mandarin a little fluently. His daily behavior patterns were like those of an elderly widower who had been without Internet access for ten years.

Considering the other party's self-esteem, she did not ask about Zhou Qing's background, but based on various signs, she guessed that this classmate was most likely from a remote and poor village with no internet access, and might even be relying on scholarships to go to school.

Perhaps it was her sympathy for the poor student, perhaps it was her sense of responsibility as a class monitor, or perhaps it was her small town background that made her feel a sense of sympathy for him. In short, for the past four years, she has always helped him intentionally or unintentionally, from small things like teaching him to type to big things like secretly applying for financial aid for him, doing everything she can to help this lonely old man restore his connection.

Over the past four years, her efforts have yielded results in two areas.

First, this person will no longer add the default smiling emoticon when sending WeChat messages.

Second, he became her closest "friend" during her four years in college.

Now that we're reunited, we can't help but feel a lot of emotion. After chatting about the past, the topic naturally turns to recent developments.

"Are you still in the same unit as before?"

"Yes, it's still there." Qin Jiajia held up her face and said, "After all, it's a regular position. Unless there are special circumstances, there will definitely be no changes. Besides, I've been awarded the Outstanding Employee Award for three consecutive years. From what the boss said, I should be promoted soon, and I'll even get an apartment."

"Is that so?" Zhou Qing nodded. "This is worthy of your hard work over the years. Congratulations."

“No, it’s just luck.”

She modestly evaded the question, but her tone was rising. Qin Jiajia tried hard to maintain her composure, but her beaming expression betrayed her inner thoughts.

Nationwide, Liangzhou City's job system is notoriously difficult to secure, yet the benefits are renowned for being excellent. For a young woman from a small town with nothing, nothing, and no money, this job was enough to make her a legend among her relatives, a story that would spread throughout the neighborhood and bring glory to her family's ancestral graves.

For her, this was undoubtedly a boost of confidence. Compared to the admiration from her family, Zhou Qing's praise was even more unexpected.

As they chatted and laughed, the dishes they ordered arrived one after another. Chopsticks crossed the table, and the topics of conversation also changed.

"Just talking about me. I remember that you, Zhou Qing, worked as a library administrator, right? My second aunt told me that you've been transferred to the neighborhood office on Jianguo Road now?"

There was a hint of hesitation in her words: "Is this a civil servant or a public institution? What exactly does it do?"

"It's just a service for the people. I interact with the people in the community and help them solve their daily problems." Zhou Qing answered as he picked up some food. "It's not a staff position. I signed a labor contract at the time, which was renewed every six months."

The curve of Qin Jiajia's mouth narrowed. She had heard before that Zhou Qing had been drifting since graduation, changing jobs several times in just two or three years, all of them low-level jobs that only elderly people would do. Now that she had confirmed it from his own mouth, she found it even more incredible.

Originally, it sounded like a unit like the Street Office had no future, but now it can't even get a stable job. What's the difference between this and moving bricks on a construction site?

Oh no, moving bricks might earn you more than this.

"Yeah, that's good too." She tried her best to control her expression. "The workload at this kind of unit isn't usually heavy, right? So what do you do in your spare time?"

He probably just wanted to have an income first, and then study for a certificate privately. She secretly made up for him in her heart.

"I don't know what I'm doing. If someone calls me, I'll play cards or chess with them. If no one is around, I'll go home and play some games." The other person obviously didn't notice her thoughts. "The Heroic Spirit Alliance and Fate God, those are the two I've been playing lately."

Qin Jiajia's words were stuck in her throat. After pondering for a long time, she finally couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Have you not made any plans?"

"Intend?"

"Competition is so fierce out there these days. Many large companies are laying off employees at the drop of a hat. Smaller companies have even less security. What if, I mean, something happens to your job in the future? What will you do?"

"Then we can change it later." The listener seemed completely oblivious to her concerns. "The bigger the place, the more rules and regulations there are. Now that I have free time, I'll just do it for now."

"But it's not good to drift like this all the time. I should make some plans and get some insurance."

Qin Jiajia tried her best to be patient and said, "There are many opportunities in big cities. It wouldn't hurt to use your spare time to get a certificate or get a job as a general manager. I've met a lot of people in my work over the past few years. I can help you ask for any direction you want to develop in."

"Thank you, but I really haven't thought about that." Zhou Qing smiled. "Life is unpredictable. No matter how much you plan, it can't keep up with the changes in things. Instead of thinking about those things, I just want to enjoy the present moment."

The tone was as calm as ever, not affected at all by Qin Jiajia's words.

During college, she was attracted by Zhou Qing's calm temperament, which was why she persistently lent a helping hand and even had a vague affection for him. If she hadn't missed several hints, the relationship would have been broken long ago.

But now, she felt that what was in front of her was no longer window paper, but a ball of cotton, and she couldn't punch it with any force.

Qin Jiajia looked at the man in front of her. It was not until then that she realized that Zhou Qing was wearing a tasteless sweatshirt and slightly old sweatpants. His facial features were full of lazy expressions as if he had just woken up. He did not look like a young man in his early twenties, but more like a decadent retired old man.

At this moment, she suddenly felt that the person in front of her was very ordinary, so ordinary that he would hardly attract anyone's attention if thrown into a crowd.

It turned out that he was not that dazzling, it was just his own memory that gave him a halo.

"Carpe diem. Well, that's not bad."

A feeling of frustration rose up her throat, and even the food in front of her tasted like chewing wax. She took a few bites without any appetite, quietly took out her cell phone to pay the bill, and then found an excuse to pick up her bag and leave.

Walking out of the restaurant, Qin Jiajia took a deep breath to cool down her hot brain.

In her opinion, since she had worked so hard to get out of her hometown, she must take root in a big city and make a name for herself, or at least live a stable and decent life, so as to live up to her family's expectations and more than ten years of hard study.

She had thought that Zhou Qing, a poor student, would work harder. However, the facts proved that in the past few years, he had become like a capybara lying flat on its back, a pile of mud dried in the corner.

What is more lethal than the white moonlight is the rotten white moonlight.

What is more deadly than the rotten white moonlight is that even though you know that the other person has fallen, you still can't help but feel a little moved when looking at him.

She suddenly became angry for no reason, stood on the street with her arms folded, and sulked at herself.

But this burst of anger didn't last long, as it was interrupted by the vibration of the phone in her pocket. She glanced at the caller ID, her face suddenly changed, and she quickly picked up the phone.

A calm female voice came from the microphone: "Xiao Qin, we will hold an emergency meeting later. Come to the office now and I will explain the situation to you."

"Okay Director Li, I'll be there right away."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Jiajia took a deep breath and shook the unpleasant "blind date" experience out of her mind.

Just let that piece of mud continue to lie there! Concentrating on one's own career is the right path in life. This dog man will only slow down her sword-drawing speed!

She opened the app and hailed a taxi to her workplace. An hour later, she appeared in front of the door of the company's conference room. Her clothes were neatly adjusted and her makeup was more refined. She had once again turned into her usual convincing white-collar worker appearance.

"Director Li, I'm here. What was the meeting you were talking about?"

She adjusted her expression and asked the woman in formal attire at the door.

Hearing her voice, the department leader named Li Yulan raised her head, her eyes behind the glasses as sharp as a knife.

"This meeting is impromptu. Some important information will be announced at the meeting. The leaders of our seven subordinate groups will be present." An impromptu meeting involving three departments?
The word sent a shiver through Qin Jiajia's heart. Her unit, the Environmental Investigation and Sanitation Bureau (or ENSB), was primarily responsible for investigating social unrest and coordinating efforts to prevent chaos. Every meeting within the department meant a disaster or accident.

She had only seen joint meetings of the seven groups in historical archives, and the corresponding scenarios were earthquakes of magnitude 8 or above, severe floods, and large-scale nuclear leak alerts, all of which were major disasters involving more than one million people.

"What can I do for you?" She subconsciously straightened her back. "Set up the venue? Organize meeting documents? Or receive the leaders? I'll prepare it right away..."

"No, the situation this time is more special than usual." Li Yulan's voice was slightly lowered. "You don't have to do the secretary work this time."

Qin Jiajia saw a strange look in her leader's eyes, and she keenly realized that there was something else behind his words.

What the leader said next also confirmed her guess.

"I have specially recommended you to my superiors. After approval, you are allowed to know the content of this meeting. You will attend the meeting with me later."

Li Yulan held her shoulders. "With your original rank, you shouldn't have access to information of this level. This is a special exception I'm making because of your abilities. You must seize this opportunity. Do you understand me?"

Just like a drop of hot oil falling into ice water, Qin Jiajia felt the blood in her body boiling in an instant.

An unprecedented major event, an information channel specially opened to her, even if this channel is only opened a little, is enough to subvert her entire life.

This was a clear sign of her chance for promotion, a sign that she had one foot in the core department. She had struggled for so long in this cold city, drinking ice for years, all for this moment of dawn.

"Thank you for your trust in me," she said in the most respectful tone she could muster. "I will do my best."

Seemingly very satisfied with her performance, Li Yulan nodded slightly, turned and walked towards the meeting room behind her.

"Come with me later. You don't need to speak at the meeting. Just take notes. Write down every detail. No matter what you hear, don't ask questions or question it. Just remember it."

Qin Jiajia nodded in response, watching Li Yulan turn around, put her hand on the door handle and gently push it open.

The moment the door opened, a cold wind seemed to blow in. Inside, a long table sat with several leaders seated on either side, all with gloomy expressions. The heavy atmosphere seemed to solidify, reminding her of the "stern and murderous aura" depicted in old martial arts novels.

Each of these individuals could decide her fate with a single word. Having worked in the department for so many years, Qin Jiajia considered herself battle-hardened, but the scene still left her feeling daunted. Trying her best to suppress her frantic heartbeat, she obediently followed the director to the corner seat, waiting anxiously.

"Everyone is here. Without further ado, let's get straight to our topic for today."

As the people at the table nodded, Li Yulan walked to the front of the table and turned on the projection screen behind her.

"Everyone here should have heard about the recent 'Transcendent' incident."

"Recently, a series of incidents attributed to supernatural forces have occurred frequently around the world. Without relying on any external forces, the protagonists of these incidents have demonstrated numerous abilities that subvert the laws of nature, including but not limited to creating fire out of thin air, interfering with the consciousness of others, and causing natural changes... and so on."

"These people are called wizards, sons of gods, and Yin-Yang masters around the world... But in the Chinese context, we call them 'immortal cultivators.'"

Just from this opening, Qin Jiajia felt like her worldview had undergone a magnitude 10 earthquake.

Immortal cultivators? Supernatural powers? This was the "major incident" the department was facing?
While she was trying to process all this, the speech on stage continued.

"Based on our experience dealing with them, most cultivators have very different mindsets from ours. While some are willing to maintain good relations with the government after communication, there are also some extreme individuals who treat human life as worthless. For example, these few we discovered earlier..."

Li Yulan turned around and clicked on the slide behind her.

Photos appeared on the screen one after another. Most of them were captured by surveillance cameras, clearly showing a group of fire and mine control experts. If it weren't for this high-level department meeting, Qin Jiajia would have thought she was watching an urban fantasy TV series.

"Immortal cultivator number 762 is able to trigger celestial thunder phenomena and use them to strengthen himself. He was first discovered in southern Jin Province, where he triggered a widespread thunderstorm that affected the power systems of Yongji City and Ruicheng County..."

"Immortal cultivator number 4201 was first discovered in Laos, intending to sacrifice thousands of people in order to achieve enlightenment. After being discovered by the local government, he managed to escape the military crackdown and cross the border into..."

"There are also numbers 6492, 7926, and 11580."

"Based on the intelligence we have so far, the behavior these individuals have exhibited is sufficient to be classified as a major destabilizing factor in society. We have already initiated repressive procedures against them, but..."

Li Yulan suddenly paused when she said this. Qin Jiajia didn't know if it was an illusion, but she seemed to see the lines on her face twitching slightly.

"However, before we take action, a special person appeared in Liangzhou City."

Having said that, Li Yulan picked up a brown paper bag with a "Secret" seal on it and pulled out several paper documents from it.

"Number 25892. Originally discovered in Liangzhou. His abilities are unknown, his origins are unknown... Everything about him is a mystery."

"The only thing that is certain is that all the immortal cultivators I described above died at his hands."

When she said this, Li Yulan's tone suddenly became low, and a sense of oppression swept through the whole place, making Qin Jiajia dare not breathe.

"A month ago, a violent spiritual energy fluctuation occurred in the suburbs of Liangzhou City. When we arrived at the scene, we discovered the remains of the aforementioned individuals. Investigations revealed that he was the only person to have entered or exited that area during the time period of their deaths."

"Over the next month, we tried to contact and communicate with him, and then we discovered a shocking fact."

Li Yulan licked her lips, as if she didn't believe what she was going to say next.

"Unlike the high-profile cultivators who generally act like immortals, No. 25892 is just like an ordinary person in his daily life."

"His thinking patterns are extremely similar to those of modern people, and even his behavior is almost the same as that of ordinary people. Not only does he live a normal life, he even forged an identity to attend university, rented a house in this city after graduation, and changed jobs several times."

"According to the intelligence we've gathered so far, he's been known to various identities, including, but not limited to, worker, librarian, and liquor salesperson... Aside from that conflict a month ago, he's never displayed his extraordinary abilities. Even his classmates and colleagues haven't discovered his true identity."

After the words fell, the whole place fell silent. Everyone lowered their eyes, deep in thought.

"What is his purpose?" someone broke the silence.

"I don't know." Li Yulan shook her head. "His existence is too unique to conduct an in-depth investigation. On the surface, he seems to be wholeheartedly pretending to be an ordinary person, attempting everything an ordinary person would do. As for why he does this, no one can explain it."

"So, what's your negotiation plan now?" another specialist asked. "Since we've been communicating with him for a month, we should have found some breakthroughs, right?"

"As I said earlier, his unique nature makes it difficult for us to conduct an in-depth investigation. Moreover, it seems that he doesn't want anyone to disturb his current life."

Li Yulan gave a wry smile. "We've tried many times before, but most of them were unsuccessful. Only during the last negotiation two weeks ago did he show interest in the two video games 'League of Heroes' and 'Fate God' that the negotiator mentioned by chance, and he said he would try them later. This is the only clue we have now."

Not to mention the specialists at the table, even Qin Jiajia in the corner was stunned by what she heard.

A cultivator with extraordinary strength can turn people into ashes with just a flick of his finger, and even the evil cultivators that people are afraid of can be killed by him.

Such a person is now hiding among the countless people in Liangzhou City, living an ordinary life, and even fighting against the Heroic Alliance and the God of Fate.

Hey! This information is a bit too fragmented!

"It's hard to believe, but this is all the progress we've made so far."

Li Yulan shook her head slightly. "We've gathered you all here today to discuss the next steps in our negotiations with No. 25892. This is a matter of great importance to all of us, and indeed, to everyone in Liangzhou City."

Having said that, she put down the paper document in her hand and pushed it in front of everyone.

"Here is all the information currently available regarding No. 25892. It is now open to all departments. I hope you will share your insights."

The document was exposed face up in broad daylight. Qin Jiajia, who was sitting in the corner, couldn't help but look up out of curiosity.

Printed on the document was a blurry side-on photo of a man dressed like a retired old man in a tasteless sweatshirt and sweatpants.

"Extraordinary person number 25892, male, resides in Liangzhou, abilities unknown, background unknown, rating: Unable to be rated."

"Current name: Zhou Qing."

(End of this chapter)