The incident of the fissures had been brewing for several days before the situation in various countries finally stabilized. Special research teams were formed to investigate the causes behind these mysterious rifts.
The corpses of the monsters were also taken for study, and rumors suggested that the military had captured numerous live specimens—all to understand how these otherworldly creatures differed from known species and how they had arrived in this world.
Today, Ye Chuan received a call from Wang Yanran.
At the moment, he was playing video games with Lan Xiaoke. When his phone rang, he answered without hesitation. "Hello?"
"Ye Chuan, are you home? Can you come to the Superhuman Alliance?" Wang Yanran's voice came through the line.
"The Superhuman Alliance?" Ye Chuan wasn't particularly interested. "What's this about?"
"It's regarding the fissures. If possible, it'd be best if you came."
Hearing it was related to the fissures, Ye Chuan considered it. It wasn’t entirely out of the question—after all, he was curious about how those rifts had appeared in the first place.
Moreover, based on his own speculation, the monsters emerging from the fissures would likely grow stronger over time, possibly even developing unique abilities.
"Send a car for me."
"I'm already at your doorstep."
Ye Chuan: "..."
If she was right outside, why call?
"Xiaoke, open the door." He patted Lan Xiaoke’s thigh.
"Huh?" Lan Xiaoke reluctantly set down her controller and floated over to the door.
Passing by the kitchen, she saw Luo Xi—wearing an apron, her hair tied in a high ponytail—teaching Bai Qianshuang cooking techniques. After staying at Ye Chuan’s place for a few days, Luo Xi had learned about the ghostly roommate. Though initially frightened, a brief conversation had reassured her that Lan Xiaoke wasn’t malicious—just a girl who had tragically choked to death on instant noodles.
The thought made Luo Xi feel a little sorry for her.
Still, Luo Xi couldn’t actually see Lan Xiaoke—she could only vaguely sense her presence, a side effect of her recent exposure to spiritual energy.
When Lan Xiaoke opened the door, Wang Yanran stood outside, greeting them before stepping inside. "Ye Chuan."
"How long have you been here?"
"Just arrived." Wang Yanran seemed impatient. "Can we leave now?"
Realizing she might have sounded too eager, she quickly apologized. "Sorry."
"It's fine." Ye Chuan stood up. "Let me change first."
"Alright."
While waiting, Wang Yanran noticed Luo Xi and Bai Qianshuang.
"Hello, Wang Yanran." Luo Xi had learned about Wang Yanran’s status as a superhuman, but she treated her no differently.
"Hi."
"Where are you taking Chuan? Will he be back for dinner?" Luo Xi asked curiously.
Wang Yanran hesitated for a moment, but considering Luo Xi was Ye Chuan’s girlfriend, she briefly explained the Superhuman Alliance.
"So, an alliance of superpowered martial artists? I guess there’s still so much I don’t know about this world." Luo Xi had once believed supernatural abilities didn’t exist, only to discover not only were superhumans numerous, but they even had an organized regulatory body.
"Have a seat, watch some TV," Luo Xi offered.
"Ah, no need."
"Come on, standing like that isn’t comfortable."
Reluctantly, Wang Yanran sat on the sofa, while Lan Xiaoke scooted over to the other side.
A ghost hunter and a ghost—sitting together awkwardly.
Unable to bear the silence, Lan Xiaoke grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.
A music program was playing, the lyrics drifting through the room:
"That day’s melancholy, melancholy~"
"That day’s loneliness, loneliness~"
Lan Xiaoke frowned at the screen. "What kind of lyrics are these? Might as well sing, ‘That day’s livestream, livestream~’"
"Agreed," Wang Yanran said, the rare moment of shared opinion easing the tension.
After a while, Ye Chuan emerged in fresh clothes. "Let’s go."
"Alright."
After saying goodbye to Luo Xi and the others, Ye Chuan and Wang Yanran left, settling into the car.
As the vehicle rolled onto the road, Ye Chuan lowered the window, taking in the view outside—
The asphalt was webbed with cracks,
Twisted rebar jutted from the ground like broken ribs,
Streetlights leaned crookedly into deformed manholes,
And shattered glass from storefronts lay scattered like jagged icicles.
Everywhere bore the scars of the monsters’ rampage. Yet, in just a few days, order had been restored—Ye Chuan couldn’t help but admire his country’s efficiency in crisis response.
Strangely, some shops had people outside playing cards or chess, as if nothing had changed.
Were they too relaxed?
"This time, the number of monsters was overwhelming. Before, fissures were just isolated incidents," Wang Yanran remarked.
Fortunately, the damage wasn’t catastrophic—just repairs for roads and buildings would take time.
"True. It seems like fissures appeared worldwide. The monsters in uninhabited zones still haven’t been cleared," Ye Chuan said. While urban areas were safe, the wilderness remained overrun.
Clearly, the outside world was no longer secure.
"Superhumans have stepped into the public eye now, so the Alliance is forming monster-hunting squads," Wang Yanran explained.
"What about the military?"
"They’re stretched thin. Both the military and superhumans need to act together."
"I see."
Hours passed. As Ye Chuan observed the ruined streets, the car suddenly stopped.
"What’s wrong?"
"Fallen trees are blocking the road ahead."
Ye Chuan looked forward—a row of massive uprooted trees lay across the path, impassable for vehicles.
"Road-clearing crews are understaffed," Wang Yanran said. With the entire city damaged, priority went to critical areas.
"Just a few trees." Ye Chuan extended his spiritual sense, then stored the entire pile into his spatial inventory.
In the blink of an eye, the trees vanished, leaving Wang Yanran stunned.
"Let’s keep going." Ye Chuan’s voice snapped her back to reality. "Ah—right."
Though burning with curiosity, Wang Yanran held back her questions.
After all, being around Ye Chuan, she had grown accustomed to being amazed.