Regarding the matter of awakening lightning abilities after transformation

Gu Cheng pressed her fair wrist against her cheek and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Are these the members of the Hermit Bureau's Special Operations Team? They all look like internet addicts...

However, their comments were indeed interesting; no matter where they are, netizens are always as silly as ever.

Returning to the data page, Gu Cheng continued scrolling forward.

"Your permissions are insufficient. Please request permission from your superiors or accumulate merit points to unlock the relevant permissions."

It seems that she can only view the crack records within the current year's timeframe; if she continues to scroll down, the aforementioned page keeps popping up.

Merit points... Gu Cheng's current account only has thirty-four merit points, which were mostly obtained from dealing with the two rifts.

When you open other people's accounts, all their achievement points are hidden. Not only their names, addresses, and abilities, but even the simplest thing like their gender is set to private.

It was indeed very strict. The relatively open forum almost made Gu Cheng forget that the Hermit Bureau was also a secretive organization, and the information about its members could not be so transparent.

The reason we were able to find information about Su Wanxi and other team members earlier was because they were all from Lanjiang, and information sharing between them was relatively easy.

I need to find a way to accumulate some merit points... not just for retirement, but also to unlock higher privileges.

Thinking of this, Gu Cheng shut down her computer and slowly stretched her waist.

It's 3:20 now, a little while before 6:00. She took the elevator to the second basement level. Having not practiced for a few days, her handling of the gun had become a bit rusty.

When Gu Cheng walked onto the training platform, there was a man and a woman besides herself.

Qin Kexin was wearing an embroidered white short-sleeved shirt with a pink bow tie at the chest, a light blue striped skirt, white knee-high socks covering her legs, and black leather shoes. Her shapely figure was exceptionally alluring. Zhou Li's attire was relatively simple: a blue tracksuit with a dark leather belt around his waist and a sports bracelet on his wrist; he had a strong and athletic build.

"Hello." Gu Cheng waved to the two of them and greeted them. These past two days, they had been inseparable, as if they were always together.

"Chengzi, you're practicing too? I still have so much to do this week." Qin Kexin puffed out her cheeks and let out a cute moan.

"Me too..." Gu Cheng reflected seriously and realized that she had indeed been a bit lazy these past two days.

Zhou Li had already completed his task; he was simply accompanying Qin Kexin for a walk.

"I'll be going back in a couple of days. I need to finish my mission here as soon as possible!" Qin Kexin isn't a local of Lanjiang. She lives in a small county in a neighboring province. She only came to Lanjiang to go to university.

"Since you've said that yourself, then I won't make an exception for you anymore," Zhou Li said with a smile, implying that he wouldn't let her leave until she finished practicing.

"This time, definitely!" Qin Kexin winked mischievously.

They have such a good relationship... Since Gu Cheng met them, she seems to have never seen the two of them argue.

"Let's go together." She took a deep breath and began today's shooting mission.

Time ticked by, and Qin Kexin didn't get a single break.

When the training ended, Gu Cheng's gaze towards her changed. Was this still the same girl who always complained about being tired and slacked off?

Is this the power of love? Gu Cheng shook her head and put the pistol back into its holster.

"Chengzi, are you free tonight? Come have dinner with us!" Qin Kexin invited her to dinner before leaving.

"No need, I have something to do tonight." Even if she didn't, Gu Cheng wouldn't be foolish enough to disturb their time together, after all, the two were nearing their separation.

"Alright then..." Qin Kexin's tone was somewhat disappointed, but the next second she clung to Zhou Li's arm and walked outside.

After they walked away, Gu Cheng took out a yellow file folder from her bag.

"You should know what to do. Don't be anxious about gains and losses, and don't regret it." Song Shiyan's words echoed in her ears. She closed her eyes and gently stroked the black hair by her ear with her right hand.

"I will..." she said softly, as if admonishing herself.

Section 23, Chapter Twenty-Three: Goodbye

"We've arrived! We've arrived! Don't push, take your time!" The staff member shouted loudly through a megaphone as Qin Jin, dragging his heavy suitcase, was pushed forward by the bustling crowd.

Lanjiang, it had been almost half a year since he last left, and stepping back onto his homeland made him feel particularly at ease, but...

However, no matter how far I looked, I couldn't find that familiar figure.

"Ding..." The call still couldn't get through. Perhaps something really had happened. When the crowd thinned out, Qin Jin gripped the stair railing and sighed silently.

"Hello, are you Mr. Qin Jin?" A clear voice rang out from behind him. He turned around and saw a pretty young girl standing at the entrance of the building. She was wearing a light jacket, and her pale yellow shirt was faintly visible through it. Her long, slender legs were visible under her light blue jeans, and she was wearing clean sneakers.

Gu Cheng gently pulled the travel bag hanging on her shoulder, her lips curving upwards and her eyes sparkling with a smile.

"It's me. What can I do for you?" Qin Jin had never seen her before, yet he felt as if they had known each other for a long time.

"I came here specifically to pick you up." He looked no different from six months ago, only his demeanor had become more reserved. Gu Cheng reached out her fair hand, wanting to take the suitcase in front of her.

Qin Jin didn't let go, but looked at her with some doubt.

"My name is Gu Cheng, and I am Gu Chengyan's friend."

Gu Cheng and Gu Chengyan, Qin Jin carefully pondered these two names.

They both have the surname Gu and similar given names, could she be his younger sister or older sister...?

No, they've known each other for almost ten years and I've never heard of them having any other relatives. They must really just be friends.

"What happened to Gu Chengyan? I haven't been able to get in touch with him."

"He... I'll tell you later. It's not convenient to talk about it here. Let's go first." Gu Cheng shook her head and explained with some hesitation.

"Okay." A sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in Qin Jin's heart, but he remained calm and did not voice it.

"I can carry it myself." Hearing him speak, Gu Cheng's hand hovered in mid-air before helplessly withdrawing it. The two got into the taxi in silence.

"To Huaixin Road," she told the driver, put down her bag, and sat down in the back seat next to Qin Jin.

He fastened his seatbelt, and the engine started, making a series of noises. From the moment he got in the car, Gu Cheng's gaze had been subtly fixed on him, a subtle feeling that made Qin Jin feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Ahem, is there something on my face?" he coughed and asked.

"No..." Gu Cheng turned her head to look out the window, her fingers gripping the cushion turning slightly white.

Don't be anxious about gains and losses, and don't regret it... Gu Cheng leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes, and cleared her mind.

Fortunately, the awkward atmosphere didn't last long. The train station was close to the suburbs and only a 20-minute drive from Huaixin Street.

Qin Jin insisted on paying the fare before he would follow Gu Cheng upstairs.

Why was she so skilled? Watching the girl open the door and walk into the kitchen with practiced ease, Qin Jin couldn't help but wonder to himself.

The rented room had been unoccupied for almost a month, and a thin layer of dust had settled on the dining table and wardrobe. A light touch with a finger left a faint white mark.

Once the water boiled, Gu Cheng took two clean glasses from the cabinet, rinsed them briefly, placed them on either side of the dining table, and poured boiling water into each.

The two sat facing each other, and warm bubbles floated from the bottom of the cup to the surface, eventually disintegrating into the air.

"Now can you tell me where Gu Chengyan is?" This was the question Qin Jin had been wanting to know.

"I hope you're mentally prepared, and that you can stay calm no matter what you hear next... Ah!" As she spoke, Gu Cheng reached out and touched the teacup, her fingers turning red from the scalding hot cup.

Qin Jin nodded, his body tense.

"Gu Chengyan is dead." The girl said calmly, blowing a few breaths of cool air onto her fingertips.

"Dead...what does that mean?" Qin Jin didn't react, frowning and muttering to himself.

"Take a look at this." She took a file folder out of her bag and handed it to Qin Jin.

After removing the packaging line, there were several thin sheets of paper inside.

Death certificate and household registration cancellation certificate issued by the Lanjiang City Public Security Bureau...

These reports were passed back and forth between Qin Jin's hands, and he remained silent, clutching the corner of the paper tightly.

“He…” Gu Cheng bit her lip, unsure how to comfort him.

"A car accident? If that's all there is to it, I don't believe it." After a long silence, Qin Jin put down the things, forced a smile, and tried his best to control his emotions.

"To see a person alive or dead is to see their body"—this is a principle that has existed since ancient times. He never imagined that someone who could smile and talk just six months ago would suddenly disappear, and then one day in the future, have their death announced by a single file.

Such a death is too frivolous; no one wants to believe it.

"Who exactly are you?" he asked Gu Cheng, leaning forward. His tone was no longer gentle; it was even somewhat aggressive.

"I am his friend..."

"Don't lie to me, you know this place very well." From the moment Gu Cheng walked in, Qin Jin knew that their relationship couldn't just be that of friends.

She definitely lived here, and for quite a while, perhaps with Gu Chengyan.

"Are you two lovers? Getting married soon and want to surprise me?" He seemed to have found a possibility and started rambling on and on.

"No... but we're kind of good friends, by all accounts." Gu Cheng stirred the boiling water with a spoon, her tone complicated.

"So, where is he? In the bedroom? Listening to our conversation?" Qin Jin stood up and staggered towards the bedroom.

When I opened the door, there was nothing there; the blankets and clothes had all been neatly arranged.

"..." Gu Cheng put down her spoon and silently followed behind him.

“If you don’t believe me, I can take you to Zhongshan Hospital tomorrow, or to his grave.” She didn’t know what she was feeling when she said these words, but once they were out, there was no going back.

"Take me there now."

"Tomorrow, it's too late now." The public cemetery is not open to the public at this time, and Gu Cheng also hoped that he could use the night to calm down.

Qin Jin turned around and stared intently at her, at a loss for words. He wanted to curse, but the girl's resolute gaze stopped him.

"I'm sorry, I lost my composure." After a while, he loosened his clenched hands, his voice hoarse.

"It's okay... I understand." Gu Cheng reached out and pulled Qin Jin back to the dining table.

Various documents were scattered on the table, making Qin Jin feel a little dizzy.

"You should go back first, come find me tomorrow, or I'll come find you..." He lost the will to continue the conversation and just wanted to be alone.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything rash." After drinking the warm water in his glass, Qin Jin opened his suitcase.

"Here, take this." He took out a bag from the innermost compartment; it was beautifully packaged and stood out from the other items in the box.

"Thank you." I clearly told you not to buy it anymore... She thought it was too expensive and not worth the price, but Qin Jin insisted on bringing it every time he came back.

"No need to thank me, consider it a return gift for welcoming me." He said, his eyes slightly red, without caring at all.

"...You should have the key. Gu Chengyan paid six months' rent upfront."

"Okay." Qin Jin would come over to stay with them every time there was a holiday, and the rent would be split between the two of them. He didn't expect Gu Cheng to know even these things.