I adopted a child demon from the Gap, and I'm a special agent for the Bureau of Supernatural Ab

Thank you to readers Dingye, Sin Demon King EX, Abnormality, Nothing Book, Yi E Xia, Qi Luo Xing, Wrestling♂Police, Girl's Fate Fruit Grain, and Yu Sheng Lin Qing for their recommendation votes.

I managed to avoid missing it before midnight.

Volume 8 is now finished. To be honest, I wasn't entirely satisfied with this volume, and some readers discussed certain plot issues. But in the end, it managed to end relatively smoothly.

Next up is Volume Nine, "Gray Memories Hidden in the Cracks," where tide sees Li Cheng's past within his soul and recounts the story of saving him. It's a crucial volume in the romance arc, and I hope I can complete it smoothly without any mishaps. Lately, I've definitely felt a significant lack of energy. This is probably the fatigue that follows an initial burst of inspiration, but I will continue to work hard and finish this book well. I also hope that all readers will continue to support me; your support is my motivation to keep writing.

By the way, I'd love more rants! The forums have been so quiet lately, I'm starting to feel like I'm playing a single-player game...

Chapter 198: The Beginning Dream

(The art style of this volume may differ significantly from other volumes; if you are not used to it, you may skip to the final chapter at the end of the volume.)

At the beginning of my memories are happy rural memories, those pleasant years of my first few years of life.

Back then, he was a carefree child who could laugh anytime, anywhere, and never had any worries or sadness. Even when his peers ridiculed him as "the child of a gambler" or "a person without a father," he was never saddened or upset by it.

His grandparents passed away a long time ago, and his mother has been taking care of him ever since. His father, who was often mentioned by the middle-aged women in the village, has never appeared in his life. Of course, he doesn't care about this person who has never existed; for him, having fun every day is enough.

He'd heard from people around him that his mother had moved back to her hometown from the town, and it seemed there was a complicated history involved. But for the little boy, none of that mattered. All he knew was to play all over the mountains and fields every day with a silly neighbor boy, and then go home to eat the delicious meals his mother cooked for him.

The definition of happiness is sometimes this simple.

"Waaah!"

With a startled cry, the boy, who was running too fast on the hard mud, stepped on a protruding rock and fell to the ground while flailing his arms wildly.

An arm reached out from his side and caught the boy just as he was about to fall to the ground, then helped him to his feet.

"Huh? Huh?"

The boy, who had been nervously waiting for a while before daring to open his eyes, was surprised and puzzled to find that he hadn't fallen to the ground. He looked up in astonishment, only to be taken aback by what he saw. Standing before him was a girl of about eleven or twelve, a beautiful young woman with long, flowing purple hair and pale purple eyes.

Wow, you're so pretty!

According to etiquette, the most appropriate thing to say would be thank you, but because he was so amazed by the other person's outstanding appearance, the boy subconsciously blurted out "thank you."

The next moment, he saw the girl standing in front of him suddenly freeze, then a blush quickly spread across her cheeks. But then, the girl's expression suddenly turned cold, she snorted, and flicked his forehead hard with her finger. The force was so great that a loud, crisp sound could be heard.

jump--

"Ouch, that hurts!"

The boy screamed, tears streaming down his face from the blows. Clutching his head, he fled without pausing, while the girl simply stood there, letting him go. However, before he was far enough away, the boy thought he vaguely heard the girl saying something.

"To be so sweet-talking at such a young age, humans are truly annoying creatures."

Huh, what is this older sister saying? Why do I feel a chill?

Ignoring the boy who had already run far away, Xi, who was still standing by the roadside, sighed softly and looked in the direction the boy had gone with a somewhat complicated expression.

I never imagined that Cheng would be so handsome and delicate-looking as a child. He's such a muscular monster as an adult, a rough guy who spends all his time at home shirtless working out. How did he change so much as a child?

Recalling the words that the handsome boy had said to her earlier, "Sister is so pretty," tide couldn't help but blush uncomfortably.

At this moment, tide is in a rather peculiar phase.

Past experiences, memories, and emotions slowly resurfaced, gradually transforming her back into her former self. However, at the same time, the personality and emotions cultivated in those few short months not only did not dissipate or fade, but instead became even stronger.

Strangely, although the two completely different ways of thinking were constantly merging within themselves, tide showed no signs of confusion. She remained in a way of thinking that seemed both mature and naive, walking on this dirt road that did not actually exist.

Ah, is this where Cheng's memories begin, where everything started?

With her eyes closed, feeling the tranquil atmosphere and the warmth hidden in the comfortable environment, Xi couldn't help but smile.

Is this the very beginning, the pure and happy beginning of everything?

Although all of this is just a phantom memory of the past, Li Cheng's emotions are clearly contained within this scene, as someone who experienced it all.

"Is it because he's a child that he can genuinely feel happiness? No, it doesn't seem to be entirely that. Is it because Cheng is too naive and too easily satisfied?"

If that's the case, it does match the image of that fool she remembers. Because Cheng has always been like this, finding happiness and contentment simply in caring for her every day, never asking for anything more. This silly, foolish guy, has he always been like this?

But if that's all there is to it, why is there a hint of sadness hidden within this memory?

Opening her eyes, Xi An quietly walked forward, stepping into this scene of memories.

The boy's life was so simple and carefree; he never had to think too much. Every day he spent happily playing with his little follower, searching for all sorts of strange and interesting things and embarking on all sorts of adventures in the mountains, rivers, meadows, and even fields of the countryside.

The boy's mother was a gentle and capable woman. She tended the family's fields and cared for her mischievous child. She didn't seem to have always been a peasant woman, as her mannerisms and manner of speaking were noticeably different from those of the other villagers. Yet, she willingly stayed in this underdeveloped countryside, quietly supporting her family alone.

She would tell stories to the boy, making him the center of attention when the village children gathered to play; she would also teach him various subjects, enabling him to write, read, and even learn some basic elementary school knowledge; she would also make sure he developed good habits, making him the cleanest and most polite child in the village. And from beginning to end, she single-handedly shouldered the entire burden of the family.

It was because of such a mother that the boy was able to maintain his simple and beautiful lifestyle, without having to worry about anything or any problems.

At this point, he probably had no idea what his future should look like.

tide thought this way, but soon, she saw this scene in her memory.

"I've made up my mind. When I grow up, I'm going to study special subjects!"

Standing on the edge of a small pond, the boy, barefoot and holding a tree branch, solemnly announced as he waved it around.

"Special Grade One, oh dear?"

The follower beside him looked somewhat confused and repeated the boy's words indistinctly.

"Hehe, you don't know this, do you!"

The boy, head held high and chest puffed out, recounted to his follower, in vivid detail, some stories his mother had told him the day before. They were stories about the Special Science organization within the Huaxia Alliance, specifically formed to protect the lives and interests of ordinary people and to combat superhuman criminals whom ordinary people could hardly defeat.

The story of the Special Forces, who fought against various powerful enemies to protect civilians and always emerged victorious, deeply captivated the boy. He was especially excited when his mother told him after the story that the Special Forces organization was real.

"I want to become the strongest martial artist and join the Special Science Department. I'll defeat the bad guys and protect the weak! Wait, no, I got it wrong, I mean protect the weak!"

The boy shouted confidently, puffing out his chest, as if he were a powerful warrior receiving a medal on a podium.

"My ideal is to be a messenger of justice."

The boy's followers, shocked by his actions, immediately started clapping, which made the boy's expression of excitement even more intense.

Of course, the boy didn't actually want to protect others or become a champion of justice. He had simply heard about the existence of such an organization from his mother, and felt admiration and envy, which led him to imitate it. In fact, for his somewhat clumsy mind, he didn't really understand what "special science" or "champions of justice" meant; he simply thought it was cool.

But for his future, this naive wish was the beginning of his dream.

…………

Thank you to the readers for their recommendation votes: 妹纸缘衤果粒, 罪恶魔王EX, 樱酱μ'sic, 畸变, 丁爷, 谜之少女A, 大兔子, 羽生林淎, 不在的八, 绞♂警, ~不明生物~, and ●▽●.

I've been stuck for a long time; it's true that the beginning of each volume is always difficult.

Chapter 2, Section 199: A Warm Dream

Warm sunlight shines on the quiet village.

tide sat on the edge of a small hill, swinging her little feet, gazing at a quiet, inconspicuous house on the edge of the village below.

Although everything presented before her eyes at this moment is already over, merely a false reenactment, deep within her memory, it can manifest in a way that conforms to common sense—that is, what Xi sees and experiences right now, and she can even interact with the people in these memories.

Of course, tide knew very well why she had entered Li Cheng's memories: to find the madman who intended to take Li Cheng's body. However, that person's will was hidden within Li Cheng's consciousness. Xi wasn't the type to excel in memory or soul-related matters. Although she could manipulate things with her almost omnipotent talent, fundamentally, the girl living in the abandoned land was more skilled in these things.

However, it's impossible for tide to invite that person over now.

In short, in order to completely eliminate the opponent, tide must review all of Li Cheng's memories from beginning to end, find the hidden anomalies, and awaken Li Cheng's own consciousness, which is currently dormant within his memories.

As for whether there was a faster or more efficient way, tide wasn't considering it at the moment. Beyond saving lives, she also personally wanted to know what Li Cheng's past was like.

The boy who made the wish seemed to take his words very seriously. He began to make certain changes in his daily life, running, doing push-ups, sit-ups... Although he didn't know exactly what level of skill was required to be called a martial artist, the boy, who simply believed that as long as his physical fitness improved, he could become a martial artist, began his training journey.

Compared to the arduous, painful, and potentially life-threatening path to becoming stronger that true martial artists employ with various body-forging techniques and medicines, the boy's current behavior seems almost childishly endearing. However, Xi, who knows exactly what the boy will become in the future, cannot laugh at his actions.

He was so cute as a child, and now he's already planning to become a muscular old man? Isn't that a bit of a waste?

But if Cheng hadn't chosen that path, he wouldn't have become a martial artist and would be in the same situation he is in now, right? Thinking about it that way, it really does feel a bit wasteful.

Lost in her thoughts, tide watched as the boy finished a long run under the setting sun and ran back home, panting heavily.

Life in the town was always monotonous, lazy, and repetitive. The boy's change was just like a pebble splashed into the water, producing no particular reaction.

However, for the boy's younger brother, who was physically weaker than the boy, being dragged to exercise with him every day was truly unbearable.

Then one day, when the mother noticed the boy's unusual enthusiasm for exercise, she asked him about it and learned what he was thinking.

"Mom, why do you seem a little unhappy?"

After learning of the boy's wish from him, the mother, who had been smiling gently, showed a slight look of surprise and then fell silent.

"Is it wrong for me to do this?"

The boy became hesitant because of his mother's silence.

“…No, how could that be?” The mother reached out and gently stroked the boy’s head, smiling once again. “Wanting to protect others, wanting to become a protector, that’s a very admirable and worthy wish.”

"So, does Mom support me?"

The boy's face lit up with joy again, and he couldn't help but jump up and down.

"But... wanting to protect others means taking on their pain, getting hurt, feeling pain, and perhaps even..."

"Mother?"

Somewhat puzzled by his mother's renewed silence, the boy curiously looked up and saw his mother's somewhat dazed expression.

"Mom, I'm not afraid of pain! Even if I were to fight a bad guy, I wouldn't be scared at all. I never cried when I got a shot!"

Although he didn't know what was going on, the boy, instinctively hoping to see his mother smile, hurriedly spoke without much thought. He even puffed out his chest and pretended to be a little dazed.

"Pfft-"

Seeing the boy's somewhat silly actions, the mother couldn't help but laugh, and the gloom on her face eased a little. But just as the boy was about to continue making his mother laugh, she pulled him into her arms and hugged him gently.

"As a mother, I am extremely happy that my child has such aspirations. My child is truly kind, brave, and an outstanding young man. Just for that alone, I am very proud. Really, Cheng, I am so proud of you."

The boy's cheeks flushed slightly. He hadn't expected his mother to praise him so earnestly, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.

"But it is precisely because I am your mother that I do not wish you to have such ambitions."

To the boy's surprise, his mother then said something completely opposite.

"Mother?"