Keep Comforting the Child to Build Trust

The afternoon arrived.

What Bai Jun had mentioned in the morning was quickly followed by personnel from headquarters coming to take him away for investigation in the afternoon—even though he hadn’t fully recovered yet.

After all, Bai Jun had been the one in charge during the first attack by the Night King, which had resulted in countless casualties.

Then, during the second expedition into the forbidden zone, even more lives were lost, and Bai Jun had shouldered the responsibility.

It was hard for those above not to suspect that Bai Jun might have some major issues.

Otherwise, how could two large-scale operations end in such disastrous defeats? These outcomes were completely at odds with Bai Jun’s previous track record.

Before leaving, Bai Jun privately asked Gu Yan for a favor.

He requested that Gu Yan look after Lin Yinyin and reassure his sister, Bai Qionglan, not to worry about him.

Gu Yan naturally gave a serious and affirmative reply over the phone.

Once Bai Jun was gone, Lin Yinyin was stripped of her position as department head.

The Peace Faction was left utterly leaderless.

Lin Yinyin was confined to the Jianghai branch by headquarters, awaiting the results of Bai Jun’s investigation.

A member of the inspection team was assigned to keep watch over her, ensuring she didn’t try to flee.

At the Jianghai branch, Lin Yinyin, devoid of her usual vigor, crouched guiltily outside Bai Jun’s office door.

In the distance stood a man in a black uniform and sunglasses.

Though his eyes weren’t fixed on Lin Yinyin, her every move was within his perception.

A moment later, the black-uniformed man seemed to sense something. He glanced briefly in Lin Yinyin’s direction before looking away again.

Inwardly, he noted—The young master of the Leng Family, huh?

No threat.

Meanwhile, Gu Yan had already approached Lin Yinyin. He reached out and placed a hand on her head. "Boss, what are you doing crouching here? Bai Jun’s already left."

"...L-Little Gu..."

Hearing his voice, Lin Yinyin looked up, her eyes flickering with a brief spark of joy before it was drowned by overwhelming guilt and sorrow.

Her eyes reddened, and tears began to fall in rapid succession. "Wahhh... it’s all my fault!"

"I couldn’t protect everyone. Even though I have such strong power, when it really mattered, I couldn’t save anyone!"

"WAAAAHHH!!"

As she spoke, Lin Yinyin burst into loud, unrestrained sobs. "Bai Jun’s definitely going to be killed by those villains at headquarters!"

Somewhere on the road to headquarters...

"?"

Bai Jun suddenly lifted his head. Why did he inexplicably feel a chill run down his spine?

"Bai Jun, you’ve really gotten yourself into trouble this time," said the escort sitting beside him, a friend who handed him a cigarette and lit it for him.

Bai Jun took a drag and sighed helplessly. "Don’t even mention it. First the Night King, then those ancient demons... and worst of all, so many people died."

"Both the sects and our department lost too many high-level combatants in this incident."

He clenched his fist, his expression filled with self-blame and frustration. "Maybe I’m just not cut out for this job."

The escort patted Bai Jun’s shoulder. "Don’t be too hard on yourself. Going back to headquarters isn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, constantly looking after a monster must be exhausting."

Bai Jun fell silent for a moment before turning to the man with a serious gaze. "The department head isn’t a monster."

"Tch, fine, fine. I won’t argue with you."

"Listen, though..."

The escort leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Rumor has it that to deal with the demons and the Night King, the higher-ups are planning to revive the Century-Old Anti-Demon Weapon Project..."

"You guessed it—the same project that turned your department head into what she is now."

Unable to say more, the escort patted Bai Jun’s shoulder again and leaned back.

Bai Jun’s heart clenched at the words. His fists tightened.

Anti-Demon Weapons...

Lin Yinyin...

Suddenly feeling suffocated, Bai Jun rolled down the window.

His thoughts drifted back to when he first joined the Peace Faction...

["Bai Jun, if you call me ‘department head,’ I’ll protect you for life!"]

["If anyone bullies you, just tell me—I’ll teach them a lesson!"]

["Bai Jun, I’m recommending you to be the head of the Jianghai branch. Now you’re a department head too!"]

["Bai Jun... everyone says I’m a monster..."]

Sighing softly, Bai Jun whispered to himself, "I’m sorry, Department Head."

"I wanted to protect you forever, but... I’m just not strong enough."

"Soon, there’ll be more people like you. But what can I even do?"

"Stand against the department?"

"Can I... really do it?"

The current head of the Martial Arts Department leaned toward the Radical Faction.

A society where everyone practiced martial arts was only a matter of time.

So were the Anti-Demon Weapons.

If there was anyone who could shatter this twisted system or prevent it from happening...

Who would it be?

For some reason, Bai Jun’s mind flashed to Gu Yan.

Despite only being at the Xiantian level in strength, Gu Yan’s unyielding resolve during both operations had left a lasting impression on everyone.

Gu Yan...

Stubbing out his cigarette, Bai Jun’s eyes filled with trust.

Department Head... I leave her to you!

...

...

Back at the branch...

Gu Yan’s lips twitched. "What nonsense is this? Since when is Bai Jun going to be executed?"

"Stop crying, Boss."

He crouched down and extended both hands toward Lin Yinyin, smiling as he said, "You're no longer the Director. You don’t have to keep forcing yourself to act like an adult."

"The secret to happiness in life is not doing things you don’t like."

"Come on, boss, tell me what you really want."

Lin Yinyin lifted her head and looked at Gu Yan. His expression was gentle and sincere—unlike the fake kindness worn by those at headquarters.

Gu Yan... gave off a warmth that was comforting.

Even the silver energy in the air seemed to whisper, [Gu Yan is a good person.]

Gu Yan... was just like that kid Bai.

She could trust him.

And... she wasn’t the Director anymore.

Did that mean she didn’t have to pretend to be an adult? Lin Yinyin stared blankly at Gu Yan.

No one had ever said something like that to her before.

Everyone always told her, "Lin Yinyin, you’re the Director. You’re the crystallization of human wisdom, the hope and future of mankind."

Bai Jun treated her well too, but even he would remind her, "You have to act like a Director. You can’t indulge in childish treats."

But Gu Yan... understood her. He told her she didn’t have to keep up the act.

Gu Yan...

She pursed her lips lightly, then reached out and placed her hand over Gu Yan’s clenched fist.

Then—

Lin Yinyin took a deep breath, her face flushing with shyness as she stammered, "I... I... want..."

Meeting Gu Yan’s encouraging gaze, she faltered and withdrew her words at the last moment.

Lowering her head and pulling her hand back, she murmured, "I want a lollipop."

"Hey, coming right up."

Gu Yan chuckled, then clasped his hands together. "One’s not enough, is it, boss?"

He rubbed his palms up and down—and something miraculous happened.

Whoosh!!

Like a rain of candy, countless lollipops and assorted sweets poured from Gu Yan’s hands.

In moments, they piled into a small mountain.

"!!! Wow!!"

Lin Yinyin instantly forgot her earlier hesitation, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the candy mountain. "Amazing!"

"Pretty cool, huh?"

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Happy now?"

"Happy! You’re the best, Little Gu!"

"Glad to hear it. Boss’s happiness is my happiness."

Gu Yan watched as Lin Yinyin lost herself in the joy of candy.

But when his eyes flickered to the space between her brows, a trace of indifference surfaced in his gaze.

Hmm...

So the core is in the forehead.

How should I extract it?

And...

That inspector over there is another problem.

Looks like I’ll have to wait for the right moment.