I’m Really Scared
Chapter 161: Not an Esper

With Li Zhiying leading the way and the steep mountain road ahead, Guan Shan drove the car behind her. His view was limited to Li Zhiying's lower legs, so he couldn't help but notice her perfectly clean shoes. The dirt road was so muddy, yet her shoes remained spotless.

Guan Shan had already learned how to open a private channel with his headset. This channel connected him to Bian Jie and Lin Shuman. Without showing any emotion, he brought up this point and asked Bian Jie, "Didn't you say there were no signs of Esper activity? What's going on?"

Guan Shan wouldn't doubt his own boss, but he was wary of another shape-shifting creature like the one from "The Church of Unity."

Bian Jie responded cautiously, "There was nothing before. Once we get to the village, I'll use the energy level detector to be sure. We need to avoid alerting anyone prematurely."

"Now!" Guan Shan insisted. "Report to the base and check immediately. If we wait until we get there, we might have to deal with more than just one enemy."

Given his recent experiences, Guan Shan prioritized his safety above all else. The incident with Huo Ni had left him deeply shaken. The world of Espers was far more dangerous than just fighting monsters, and he couldn't afford to be careless.

Bian Jie, though not entirely understanding why Guan Shan used the term "monster," decided to follow his instructions since his task was to assist Guan Shan. He performed a series of quick and discreet checks.

"What's the result?" Guan Shan asked tensely.

"Nothing," Bian Jie replied.

Bian Jie showed him the device, pointing to the zero on the display. "Zero. The energy level reading is zero, indicating a normal person with no Esper abilities."

"If you don't trust me, you can have Miss Lin check as well. She should have her own detector."

Despite the logical conclusion, Guan Shan, still wary, asked Lin Shuman to verify with her detector. She got the same result, confirming that there were no energy levels detected from Li Zhiying.

Reluctantly reassured, Guan Shan continued driving toward Baihe Village. Bian Jie found Guan Shan's behavior somewhat neurotic. Guan Shan had earned a reputation as a formidable Esper, having survived an encounter with Huo Ni, who had impersonated one of Wuhao Team's strongest members. Yet, he seemed excessively afraid of encountering another Esper.

Guan Shan, still feeling uneasy, relied heavily on his intuition, which had often saved him in dangerous situations. He had learned to trust his instincts, and something about this situation felt off.

Before Li Zhiying arrived, Guan Shan had sent his Shadow Clone to Baihe Village to scout ahead. The village appeared even more rundown than Han's Village, with roughly the size of a school playground, dirt walls, low houses, and piles of straw and firewood. The village had an almost timeless quality, lacking any modern conveniences.

Among the various nooks and crannies, Guan Shan's Shadow Clone spotted more of the peculiar stone statues, clearly used in some form of ritual worship. There were bowls and partially burned incense, further adding to the village's ancient feel.

As the Shadow Clone scouted the area, Guan Shan overheard a conversation between two men, one of whom seemed to be the village chief.

"Is everything ready? This is the biggest event I've organized since I took office. It must be perfect, flawless, do you understand?" the chief asked.

"Yes, sir. Everything is ready. But about that teacher, Li, should we be concerned?" the other man responded.

"Do you really need to ask? Just stall her as we did before. Can't you see?" the chief replied impatiently.

"I'm just worried. She promised to help build houses and a school for the village," the other man said nervously.

"Are you tempted by that? Do you want to leave? Don't forget our mission," the chief retorted sharply.

"No, no, that's not it. I'm just thinking about the village's benefits. Can't we use her identity for more leverage?" the man suggested.

The chief snorted. "Anyone can promise us the moon. She's just a teacher. What background could she possibly have? In a few days, another one will come along. Just handle it quickly so we can report back to the envoy."

"Yes, sir," the man replied, clearly intimidated.

Guan Shan pieced together some information from this conversation. The village chief, named Ba Dian, and his son-in-law, Ba Jiang, were involved in some significant event related to their traditions and had plans for Li Zhiying.

They also mentioned a figure called "the envoy," who seemed to play a crucial role in their activities. This envoy inspected their work, making Guan Shan wonder about his identity and the village's mysterious practices.

After relaying this information to Bian Jie and Lin Shuman, they continued their journey. Upon reaching the point where the road narrowed, they had to abandon the car and proceed on foot. Guan Shan noticed Li Zhiying's car, covered in a thick layer of dust, indicating it hadn't been moved in a long time.

Guan Shan, feeling uneasy, decided to follow Li Zhiying quickly as she led the way into the village. He needed to ensure her safety and uncover the village's secrets.

As they entered Baihe Village, the sense of foreboding grew stronger, and Guan Shan knew he had to stay vigilant.