As the special vehicle slowly drove out of the Otherworld Investigation Bureau office building, Pei Yan finally understood what the so-called "certain things" were. Today, he was to undergo his first comprehensive medical examination since entering the bureau, and this was also his first time leaving this small place since he arrived.
Observing for the first time from an outside perspective the outside of the bureau where he had been living and training hard for over four months, Pei Yan realized it didn't look like a government office at all. It was more like an office building rented by a small company, a ten-story old building that seemed so inconspicuous among the tall, innovative buildings in the capital.
It wasn't until later that Pei Yan learned that the bureau's public facade was indeed that of an e-commerce company, specializing in importing wine and offering part-time wedding planning services and graphic design studios. Surprisingly, they were actually operating and even paying taxes?
The team accompanying Pei Yan on his trip today could only be described as a grand entourage. Besides Instructor Hu, there were Wang Wenze, Elder Lin, and the person who had lifted his bodily ability restrictions that day. From Wang Wenze, he learned that this person was named Wenlin.
At the same time, he enjoyed unprecedented treatment usually reserved for department-level leaders: a special examination pathway set up just for him, no queuing, with all medical staff dedicated to his arrival.
From basic physical check-ups like height, weight, body temperature, spine, and limbs, to internal medicine, heart rate, heart sounds, lung auscultation, neurological exams, then to surgery, lab tests, color ultrasound, ophthalmology, ENT, etc., under Hu Wenjun's guidance, Pei Yan was almost whisked from one department to another. By the end of the day, he was so dizzy he nearly stumbled into the gynecology department.
An amusing episode occurred during the examination when a nurse, intending to draw blood, found the needle vanished without a trace the instant it pierced his skin, leaving behind only an empty syringe and her dumbfounded expression.
Standing nearby, Elder Lin quickly pulled the young nurse out of the medical room, and it was unclear how he managed the situation with her. Facing Hu Wenjun's questioning, Pei Yan innocently raised his hands, indicating it was absolutely not intentional.
Wenlin, standing to the side, placed his hand on Pei Yan's back, instructing him to relax and not use internal energy to resist his power. As a burning sensation spread from his back, Pei Yan once again felt the disconnection from his internal energy source.
He turned his head, looking at Wenlin in horror, only to see him smile and say, "This is exactly what I do. Don't worry; I'll undo it for you when we get back to the bureau."
Pei Yan nodded in understanding. At this point, Elder Lin returned to the medical room, and by his side was not the young nurse from before, but an older head nurse. Without a fuss, she expertly drew out a needle and calmly inserted it into Pei Yan's forearm. However, this time, it seemed Wenlin's seal failed, as the needle disappeared again as soon as it pierced the skin.
"How could this be? Wenlin!" Hu Wenjun looked at his colleague, astonished. His ability had never failed before.
Wenlin was equally perplexed, pulling up a chair next to Pei Yan and lifting his shirt, pressing his cold hand on Pei Yan's lower back, causing him to squirm reflexively.
"Don't move!" Wenlin barked coldly. After a while, he looked up at Elder Lin and said, "I did lock his powers. It shouldn't be like this!"
"Perhaps this is his body's self-protection mechanism, and this ability has already permeated every part of his body," Elder Lin said calmly, pinching Pei Yan's shoulder as he analyzed.
Never did Pei Yan think he had such an ability. Scratching his head awkwardly, he said, "So, what should we do? Maybe you should try to jab me when I'm not paying attention?"
"Let's postpone this examination for now. I'll contact them to make a needle from a different material so we can do the blood test at the base the next day," Elder Lin finally decided.
By evening, after a day of hustle and bustle, Pei Yan, exhausted, sat in the business car returning to the bureau. Catching his longing gaze out of the car window through the rearview mirror, Hu Wenjun and Elder Lin exchanged smiles before pulling over and saying to Pei Yan with a grin, "Today, you get a day off. Go out and have dinner with Wang Wenze, and have some fun. Remember to be back by ten tonight and don't cause any trouble. Wang Wenze has money on him, so off you go!"
Pei Yan's head shot up in disbelief as he asked Hu Wenjun, "Really?"
"Feeling too tired to go out? Then we'll head back to the office!" Hu Wenjun said, pretending to start the car.
"Go, go, go! Long live Instructor Hu!" Pei Yan shouted as he jumped out of the car in high spirits, pulling Wang Wenze along as they vanished into the crowd.
Closing the car door, Wenlin watched the two run further away and asked, "Is this really okay?"
"He needs to relax. After months of training, he knows limits, and besides, didn't you put a seal on him? Wang Wenze won't let anything happen. Let's head back," Hu Wenjun assured.
Half an hour later, sitting in a private room at a hot pot restaurant, Pei Yan looked at the dishes Wang Wenze ordered and asked, "Brother Wang, isn't this a bit much? Can the two of us finish it all?"
"Hmm? Who said it's just the two of us? People are coming over to introduce you to some peers. We basically train in groups and everyone knows each other. You're the only one training alone, and after four months in the bureau, you barely know a few folks. That's not good; it makes you seem unsocial. And another five servings of duck blood for me," Wang Wenze, not even looking up from the menu, responded, a toothpick in his mouth.
"Oh!" Pei Yan nodded in agreement. It was true; his life at the bureau was a monotonous routine between the dormitory, cafeteria, and training ground. Besides the instructors, he only knew the cafeteria lady, Wang Wenze, and Xiaoyu, who interrogated him initially. This thought made him genuinely look forward to the upcoming dinner.
Five minutes later, the private room door opened, and Pei Yan quickly stood up to greet them, but upon seeing the person, he sat back down disappointed—an acquaintance!
Xiaoyu took off her coat and hung it on the rack, then sat down boldly and tapped the table. Wang Wenze immediately took up the teapot, pouring her a cup of hot tea and offering it with a bow, "Here, Miss Xia, have some tea."
"Mm, Xiaozhazi, not bad," Xiaoyu accepted the cup unceremoniously, blowing on the steam before drinking.
Leaning back in his chair, Pei Yan teased, "Brother Wang, I didn't know you'd already sold yourself into servitude!"
Getting into the act, Wang Wenze put on a pitiful face, brushing his sleeves and responded with a wry smile, "What choice do I have? I lost a bet to her, and for a month whenever I see her, I have to serve her as if she's a lady."
"What, don't you submit? How about we bet again, and if you lose, I'll be your leg-massaging maid for two months!" Xiaoyu boldly placed her teacup on the table, raising an eyebrow and challenging Wang Wenze.
Wang Wenze quickly waved his hands, "No, don't! Letting you give leg massages? Only Pei Yan with mechanical legs could take that. My small bones couldn't hold up; you'd take me apart."
Laughter rang out in the private room. Just then, the door was pushed open again.
"Hey, I just got your WeChat message and came over. Is it this lively? Hope I'm not too late!"