Chapter 167: An Unexpected Kiss

After Wang Zhenwu left, the tense atmosphere finally dissipated.

About half an hour later, a convoy of vehicles roared in from the distance.

“Finally…”

Gu Qiancheng yawned, turning his head to look at the approaching convoy.

“Cheer up, everyone. We can go home.”

Soon, the convoy stopped in front of them.

Leading the group was Zhao Dongyuan.

As soon as he got out of the car, he said with a smile, “Welcome back!”

“Haha, Old Zhao!”

Du Qiang was the first to greet him, opening his arms and giving Zhao Dongyuan a firm hug.

“You can actually smile? That’s rare!”

“Old Du…”

Zhao Dongyuan patted Du Qiang on the shoulder, his eyes inexplicably reddening.

“It’s good that you came back alive.”

“Alright, alright, no need for the sentimentality!”

Gu Qiancheng walked over cheerfully.

“We won the battle, everyone be happy. Let’s hurry back, clean up, and rest.”

“Makes sense,” the captain of the 23rd Squad chimed in with a smile.

“Let’s head back to Binhai first. We can catch up slowly later.”

The group quickly got into the vehicles.

Lin Mo originally planned to get into the same car as Chu You, but Chu You had a lot to say to the six members of the Night Hunt Squad, so she got into their car instead.

“We’re full. No room.”

Finally, Qing Luan glared fiercely at Lin Mo and slammed the door shut without hesitation.

The door closed, the engine started.

The convoy slowly left the mountainous area, heading towards Binhai city along the bumpy road.

The car was quiet for a moment.

Chu You sat by the window, the scenery outside speeding backward.

Tie Jiang sat opposite Chu You, silently wiping a military knife.

Qing Luan leaned back in her seat next to him, resting with her eyes closed.

Hua Yao fiddled with her fingers, Yu Chan stared out the window, Shadow still huddled in the corner, and Mongoose idly spun a throwing knife in her hand.

“Captain,” Tie Jiang suddenly spoke, his voice low.

Chu You turned to look at him.

“You…”

Tie Jiang chose his words carefully.

“Back then, when Lin Mo… what actually happened?”

This question had been weighing on everyone in the Night Hunt Squad for a long time.

From her being confirmed dead as Chu Qingqian, to now appearing as Chu You, there were too many questions that needed answers.

Chu You was silent for a moment.

The sunlight outside the window shifted on her face, illuminating the subtle changes in her expression.

“I designed it,” she finally spoke, her voice calm.

“From beginning to end, it was my plan.”

The moment the words fell, everyone in the car stopped moving.

“I deliberately exposed my identity in front of Lin Mo, let him investigate me, and finally…” Chu You paused.

“Guided him to kill me.”

Upon hearing this, Hua Yao’s hand stopped moving, Qing Luan opened her eyes, Yu Chan turned her head, Shadow leaned forward slightly from the darkness, and Mongoose stopped spinning the knife.

Only Tie Jiang’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had already guessed.

“Why?”

Qing Luan asked softly.

“Because… I am a Yao…”

Chu You smiled bitterly.

“You all know Mirror Lake, right? He wanted to blackmail me into doing some things. I didn’t want to. For my own sake and for everyone’s good, I had to resort to this desperate measure.”

She didn’t mention the “novel plot” thing, because even if she told them, Tie Jiang and the others probably wouldn’t understand.

“The ability awakened by Qiwutong is Nirvana…”

“Leave a resurrection anchor in the mortal world. When the original body is confirmed dead, Qiwutong will freeze the best physical state, including memories and emotions… and resurrect at the anchor.”

“But this ability has two limitations,” Chu You continued.

“First, it can only be used once in a lifetime.”

“Second, the trigger condition is extremely exacting— it must be a true, unreserved fatal blow, and after resurrection…”

“The divine oracle falls silent.”

She looked out the window, her gaze distant.

“I needed a reasonable death to escape the headquarters’ pursuit…”

“So you chose Lin Mo,” Tie Jiang said.

“Yes,” Chu You nodded.

“He was the most suitable person.”

The car fell into a brief silence.

“But do you know,” Hua Yao’s voice trembled slightly, “when we heard the news of your death, we…” She didn’t finish.

But Chu You saw the pain in everyone’s eyes — the pain of betrayal and abandonment, mixed with the grief of losing a close comrade.

“I know,” Chu You’s voice dropped.

“I’m sorry. But given the situation at the time, forgive me for not being able to tell you these things.”

“What about Lin Mo?”

Yu Chan asked softly.

“Does he know?”

Chu You was silent for a long time.

“He doesn’t know,” she finally spoke, her fingers unconsciously tightening.

After she said this, the car was silent, only the roar of the engine and the sound of tires on the road.

Lin Mo’s actions were undoubtedly a thorn in Chu You’s heart.

Before, she didn’t know about Lin Mo’s feelings for her, and she never considered matters between men and women, so when executing the plan, she didn’t think much about it.

But now…

Every time she thought about the scene where Lin Mo killed her without hesitation, Chu You felt a little uncomfortable inside.

“You made him kill you,” after an unknown amount of time, Tie Jiang broke the silence first, speaking slowly.

“And then you bore everything alone.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

Chu You didn’t deny it.

“Captain,” Qing Luan’s voice choked up a little.

“You always bear things yourself like this. You never tell us anything…”

Chu You smiled, a bitter and relieved smile.

“I’m your captain. I can’t implicate you in this kind of thing…”

These simple words made everyone in the Night Hunt Squad teary-eyed.

Yes, because she was the captain.

The captain who would be strictest with them during training, shield them behind her during missions, and smile the happiest at celebrations.

The captain who, even after “dying,” would return to them in another way.

“Alright,” Chu You clapped her hands to break the heavy atmosphere.

“It’s all in the past. Now I’m back, aren’t I?”

Tie Jiang took a deep breath and nodded heavily.

“It’s good that you’re back.”

The others nodded too, tears in their eyes, but more relief from reunion.

The atmosphere in the car finally lightened a bit.

Hua Yao started complaining softly about the troubles they encountered during Chu You’s “fake death,” Qing Luan added details, Yu Chan interjected occasionally, Shadow still silent but with gentle eyes, and Mongoose started spinning the knife again — much slower this time, obviously in a good mood.

Chu You watched them bicker and play, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifting.

This was her team.

Even after experiencing betrayal, death, and separation, once reunited, they were still the same as before.

When the convoy entered Binhai city, it was already past one in the afternoon.

The streets were still bustling, with hurried pedestrians and lively shops — a stark contrast to the collapsed and desperate world of the Dead Realm.

This ordinary sense of life was especially precious at this moment.

The convoy stopped in front of the Binhai Branch building.

Lin Mo, Gao Yuan, and Du Qiang got off with Zhao Gang to submit their mission reports.

Before leaving, Lin Mo glanced back at Chu You’s car.

Their eyes met briefly, then he turned and walked into the building.

“How about we have dinner together tonight?”

Chu You suggested.

“Consider it a… victory banquet?”

“Where to?” Hua Yao’s eyes lit up.

“How about Binhai Grand Restaurant?”

Chu You thought for a moment.

“My treat.”

“Okay,” Mongoose said expressionlessly.

The others nodded as well.

After agreeing to meet at seven in the evening at Binhai Grand Restaurant, the six members of Night Hunt Squad left first.

They needed to go back to their temporary lodgings to wash up, since they had just returned from the Dead Realm, their combat suits were torn and stained with blood and dirt.

Chu You waited in the lobby for a while.

About half an hour later, Gu Qiancheng and Xia Ji were the first to come down from upstairs.

“How are things upstairs?”

Chu You approached.

“Nothing much…”

Gu Qiancheng said quietly, but his eyes glanced at Xia Ji beside him.

“The chief commander should have communicated with the Beifu side. Old Qin didn’t ask anything.”

Chu You sighed in relief.

“…It’s good that Beifu didn’t delve into it.”

“Alright, alright,” Gu Qiancheng said cheerfully.

“Don’t dwell on this. Everything will work out… Instead of overthinking, why not think about other things, like—”

“Since we won a hard battle, how about a get-together tonight?”

Chu You nodded.

“I was just talking to Tie Jiang and the others. Let’s have dinner together, how about that?”

“Sounds good,” Gu Qiancheng smiled.

“Senior here loves a lively crowd.”

“Then it’s settled,” Chu You rolled her stiff neck.

“Wait a moment. Lin Mo will drive home later, so we can give you a ride.”

“No need at all.”

Hearing this, Gu Qiancheng shook his head like a rattle drum.

“Xia Ji and I have plans this afternoon. We’re going out.”

Chu You was taken aback.

“Going out? Where?”

“Just… wandering around…”

Gu Qiancheng said vaguely, but his smile was suspicious.

“Just relaxing.”

Chu You looked at Xia Ji, only to find the girl had lowered her head, her ears red as if about to bleed.

Alarm bells immediately sounded in Chu You’s heart.

“Gu Qiancheng,” Chu You squinted.

“You’re over thirty. Still trying to feast on a young girl?”

“Oh, the way you put it.”

Gu Qiancheng wasn’t annoyed at all; instead, he smiled even more brightly.

“Age isn’t the issue. What matters is spiritual compatibility, right, Xia Ji?”

Xia Ji’s head dropped even lower, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum.

“Mm…”

Chu You rubbed her forehead.

This girl was done for. She seemed to have fallen for him.

She wanted to say more, but Gu Qiancheng was already pulling Xia Ji towards the entrance.

“We’ll be off then, junior. You should get some rest too.”

“See you tonight!”

Watching their retreating figures, Chu You couldn’t help but sigh.

Xia Ji was still too naive.

That old fox Gu Qiancheng could easily sweet-talk her into a daze with just a few words.

But… Chu You was also puzzled.

When did those two start taking a liking to each other?

Before she could think further, footsteps came from behind.

Chu You turned around and saw Lin Mo coming out.

He had changed out of his combat suit, wearing a simple black tracksuit.

His hair was still a bit damp, as if he had just showered.

“Done with the report?”

Chu You asked.

“Preliminary debrief is over. The detailed written report is due in three days.”

Lin Mo walked up to her.

“Where are the others?”

“They all went back. We agreed to have dinner tonight,” Chu You said.

“Do you want to come too?”

Lin Mo nodded.

“Okay.”

The two walked out of the branch building side by side.

The afternoon sun was a bit glaring, and Chu You instinctively squinted.

They silently headed towards the parking lot.

Lin Mo’s car was still that old beat-up car resembling a VW Santana, unmistakable in the lot.

Get in, fasten seatbelt, start the engine.

A series of smooth, natural actions.

The car drove out of the parking lot and merged into the traffic flow.

The car was quiet for a moment.

Chu You leaned back in the passenger seat, turning her head to watch the street scenes rapidly recede outside the window.

Lin Mo was also suddenly silent, both hands firmly on the steering wheel, eyes fixed straight ahead, his jawline a bit tense.

Twenty minutes later, they finally arrived at the residential area.

“We’re here.”

Lin Mo parked the car and turned off the engine.

“Mm.”

They got out and walked into the building one after the other.

The hallway was dim, the sound-activated lights flickering on with their footsteps, casting pale light.

Chu You walked in front, fumbling in her bag for the keys.

Her footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway, Lin Mo’s footsteps followed behind, unhurried.

When they reached her door, Chu You inserted the key into the lock, turned it.

The lock made a slight click.

She pushed the door open and was about to bend down to change shoes when a scorching heat suddenly enveloped her from behind.

Lin Mo’s arms wrapped around her waist, not too hard, but not to be resisted.

His chest pressed against her back, his body heat seeping through the thin fabric, burning.

Chu You’s body stiffened.

The keys fell from her hand, landing on the floor with a clear clatter.

Before she could react, Lin Mo had turned her around and pinned her against the wall by the entrance.

His movements were forceful and quick, but didn’t hurt her.

“Lin Mo, you—”

Chu You’s words were cut off.

Lin Mo.

Kissed her.