I'm Actually Panicking Because My Heart Doesn't Beat (GL) - Chapter 94

“Guan Xiaoxuan, she’s not a supernatural being.”

The moment Xing Wenjun heard that, she exploded in anger. She grabbed the water cup on the table and smashed it against Xing Tianqing’s forehead. None of the colleagues nearby had time to stop her — they just saw the ceramic cup hit Xing Tianqing’s forehead and then shatter on the side.

“Xing Tianqing!” Xing Wenjun slammed the table and yelled at her, “Guan Xiaoxuan is a supernatural being! You’ve seen the bl00d test reports and the surveillance footage. Why won’t you just sign it?”

In the past two days, Xing Wenjun showed her the bl00d test results of Guan Xiaoxuan, as well as surveillance footage from the orphanage and the bus stop — all proving that Guan Xiaoxuan had connections with the supernatural outside the Bureau.

But Xing Tianqing stubbornly refused to admit Guan Xiaoxuan was supernatural, refusing to sign the report no matter what.

Bl00d dripped down from Xing Tianqing’s forehead. The colleagues from the Supernatural Bureau quickly called medical staff to help bandage her wound, but Xing Wenjun shouted them all away.

“No one is allowed to help her bandage that wound!”

Xing Wenjun shouted angrily, “Even if you die, you have to sign it!”

Xing Tianqing stayed unmoved. Dizzy from the blow, she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, feeling pain all over her body.

But what hurt most wasn’t her body.

She could still remember Guan Xiaoxuan’s smile beneath that block of ice.

At that time, Guan Xiaoxuan must have been in a lot of pain. Xing Tianqing had rarely seen her frown. In her eyes, this 19-year-old girl was steady and sensible. She never caused trouble and never complained no matter how tough the missions were.

Even though she was still a kid, she took every overtime and late-night shift seriously.

She would attend even the boring, tedious meetings on time. After all the dangers she’d faced, Guan Xiaoxuan never gave up. Even after she started working with Xing Tianqing, she never asked for lighter assignments.

A person like that — how could she be supernatural?

Guan Xiaoxuan was more outstanding and reliable than many others.

Thinking about that bitter smile on Guan Xiaoxuan’s face before she died, Xing Tianqing felt her chest ache as if it would explode. Guan Xiaoxuan must have had so much she wanted to say to her — she surely wanted to explain, but was suppressed by her own mother, forced to keep repeating that she wasn’t supernatural.

Xing Tianqing believed her. Even though Guan Xiaoxuan didn’t get the chance to explain, Xing Tianqing knew she was definitely not supernatural.

So Xing Tianqing absolutely refused to sign the report.

Seeing her attitude made Xing Wenjun furious. She had been running on empty for days, and now her vision was darkening.

“Director, are you okay?” a colleague in the room helped Xing Wenjun sit down and asked worriedly. Then, turning to Xing Tianqing with helplessness, said, “Captain Xing, Guan Xiaoxuan is already dead. The case is closed. We all know you can’t accept it right now, but that’s the reality.”

Xing Tianqing didn’t say a word. She just kept her eyes closed.

Guan Xiaoxuan wasn’t supernatural.

She never was, from start to finish.

After sitting for a while to recover, Xing Wenjun sighed deeply and looked at Xing Tianqing.

“If you won’t sign it, then don’t.”

Then she turned to her colleagues with a stern face and said, “Report to headquarters that Xing Tianqing refuses to admit her mistakes, has a very stubborn attitude. She’s hereby removed from the position of Supernatural Squad Captain and suspended pending investigation.”

The people at the Supernatural Bureau were stunned, but looking at the mother and daughter, they just shook their heads and said nothing.

In the week that followed, a lot happened.

Xing Tianqing was removed from her position at headquarters. Deputy Captain Qiu Nan took over the Supernatural Bureau, while Xing Tianqing went home to reflect quietly, seeing no one.

To avoid panic at school and in society, Guan Xiaoxuan’s death was officially ruled an accident.

The news was sent to her school and neighborhood office. Since Guan Xiaoxuan had no close family, her assets and property were temporarily held until relatives from out of town could come claim them.

Meanwhile, Jin Cheng was being closely watched by many, but since he was very clever and often appeared in the media doing charity and attending major events, maintaining many connections, the Supernatural Bureau couldn’t make a move on him for now.

One evening, Jin Cheng stood in the rooftop garden drinking red wine. He noticed a car that had been tailing him for days drive past the gate. He curled his lips into a playful smile.

“How many days has it been since Guan Xiaoxuan died?” Jin Cheng asked the man standing behind him.

“It’s the seventh day,” Lu Wen replied respectfully.

“Then it’s about time.” Jin Cheng put down his glass and stood up. “The supernatural being in the basement must be getting impatient.”

“Yes.” Lu Wen lowered his gaze, his tone calm. “She’s been restless since yesterday, but only in the basement. No one has noticed.”

Jin Cheng raised an eyebrow. Taking a jacket on his way downstairs, he said to Lu Wen, “Let’s go see if my beloved servant can rise from the ashes.”

At the same time,

Guan Xiaoxuan’s consciousness was slowly returning to her body. She felt dazed and unsure how much time had passed. She felt like she was trapped in cold, damp water, wrapped tightly by something that made it hard to breathe.

But Guan Xiaoxuan seemed not to need air. She couldn’t feel her heartbeat or pulse, and breathing felt optional.

Am I dead?

Guan Xiaoxuan thought drowsily.

She remembered that night clearly — how she was wrapped in black tentacles, unable to break free or escape.

She looked at Xing Tianqing and felt a heavy ache in her chest.

She wasn’t supernatural, but she did lie to Xing Tianqing about many things. Now that the truth was out, Xing Tianqing must hate her.

But she was already dead.

Being dead, Xing Tianqing should forgive her, right?

After all, the dead are respected…

Dead… dead?

Guan Xiaoxuan slowly opened her eyes. She sensed the damp air, felt her weak heartbeat and pulse, and noticed her body gradually warming.

She wasn’t dead?

Her body was shattered into pieces, unrecoverable — so why was she conscious? Why could she still feel her breathing and heartbeat?

Had she become a ghost?

Puzzled, Guan Xiaoxuan frowned. Darkness surrounded her, and with quiet rustling sounds nearby, she felt herself being pushed and squeezed, moving toward somewhere.

Only a minute or two later, the darkness around her brightened.

Finally, with a ‘pop’ sound, Guan Xiaoxuan, still covered in sticky liquid, fell from a height and hit a hard stone floor.

“It hurts…” Guan Xiaoxuan frowned and pushed herself up from the ground. When she looked around, she was stunned.

Gray-white mist, massive buildings.

This was the altar in the mist, wasn’t it?

How did I get here? I was dead — so why did I come to this altar after dying?

She raised her arm and saw thick, sticky transparent liquid dripping from it, making her feel sick.

What is this stuff? So sticky and slimy, like some kind of slime… disgusting!

Not only her arms, but her whole body was covered in the liquid. When she fell, some of it splattered around, leaving everything wet and sticky.

Frowning, Guan Xiaoxuan sat still, noticing she wasn’t wearing any clothes. Just then, she felt something above her head and instinctively looked up.

Suddenly, her heart felt like it would explode. She saw a pair of golden, horizontal pupils staring at her from under a black shroud.

No, that wasn’t a shroud — it was a huge body!

Guan Xiaoxuan immediately thought of the giant black octopus from the murals in the Sixth Institute, the one that loomed over the sky and looked down at worshippers.

Is this a god?

Is this the God in the Mist???

The golden eyes stared at Guan Xiaoxuan for a long time, then slowly faded away, disappearing completely.

Only then did Guan Xiaoxuan realize she needed to breathe. Her hands and feet tingled as she gasped for air.

What was that thing?

What was that?!

Why was there such a terrifying creature above the altar?

Guan Xiaoxuan felt her whole body start trembling. She was so cold. The chill seemed to spread from the soles of her feet all the way to the top of her head, starting deep inside her heart. It felt like jumping naked into a river in the middle of summer—terrifyingly cold.

“Clack.”

At that moment, Guan Xiaoxuan thought she heard a sound. She quickly turned her head and saw Jin Cheng standing by the altar, dressed in casual home clothes, wearing a teasing smile as he slowly spoke, “Welcome back to this world.”

Seeing someone she knew, Guan Xiaoxuan immediately frowned. “Boss Jin? Why are you here? Didn’t I die?”

“Death is just a point in time,” Jin Cheng said with a hint of regret. “Death is an end, but it’s also a beginning. Death is the start of all things, and the inevitable conclusion for everything.”

Guan Xiaoxuan felt a headache coming on as he started talking mysteriously again.

Jin Cheng smiled, his eyes curved like crescent moons. He took off his coat and handed it to her. “Miss Guan, do you remember the half soul I asked you to sacrifice back then?”

Guan Xiaoxuan put on the oversized coat and looked at him confused. “I remember. Why?”

“The other half of your soul died a week ago,” Jin Cheng explained, spreading his arms wide and giving her a very gentlemanly bow before smiling brightly. “But the half soul you kept on the main side brought you back to life.”

“Let me properly introduce myself again. I’m the Servant of the Divine Master. My name is Jin Cheng.”

“And you,” Jin Cheng pointed at Guan Xiaoxuan, “are the new Servant chosen by the Divine Master. From now on, you’ll follow the Master with me, acting as His representative.”

Guan Xiaoxuan frowned tightly. “Did you bring me back to life with my permission?”

Jin Cheng smiled warmly. “You wouldn’t refuse. After all, you don’t want to die, do you?”

Guan Xiaoxuan said nothing, only staring at him darkly. “What is the Divine Master? What is a Servant? Why did you bring me back? What do you want from me?”

“That question will take a long time to explain,” Jin Cheng said with a smile. “For now, let’s leave this place. You’re already the Divine Master’s Servant, so you can walk freely in the mist without being disturbed.”

“Really?”

“Not only that, I’ll teach you many things,” Jin Cheng said excitedly. “I haven’t had a new colleague for a long time. I’m glad you were resurrected. But…”

He glanced sideways at Guan Xiaoxuan and said, “You can’t use your original identity anymore. You’ll need a new one—and I’ve already arranged it for you.”

Guan Xiaoxuan stopped in her tracks and looked at him, a bad feeling rising in her chest.

Seeing her stop, Jin Cheng turned to look at her too, curling his lips into a smile. “From now on, you are Jin Cheng’s illegitimate daughter, a 21-year-old girl who just returned from studying overseas. Your name is Jin Ni.”