"Yes, yes, right here."
At the shop owner's call, the moving company employees began carrying large cardboard boxes into the store one by one.
There was a lot to move, and it would take several trips.
During the third trip, Zhou Donghai felt a sharp pain in his lower back.
He couldn't help but lean against the truck to rest.
"Old Zhou, can you still manage?" a colleague asked.
Zhou Donghai quickly replied, "Yes, yes, I can!"
Then he stepped forward and, with the other person, lifted a large cardboard box.
He didn't know what was inside, but it was heavy.
After taking just two steps, he felt another sharp pain in his lower back.
He frowned, and in a moment of inattention, his foot suddenly slipped.
The box he was holding tilted.
"!!!"
Just as Zhou Donghai's heart sank, worried about damaging the contents,
A black figure appeared in his peripheral vision.
Immediately after, a hand wearing a black fingerless glove reached out.
And lifted the tilting box.
"Thank you, thank you."
Zhou Donghai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly expressed his gratitude.
He steadied himself, and after taking the box, the hand retracted, and the person left without a word.
"Thank you!"
Looking at the retreating figure dressed all in black, with a hood pulled up,
Zhou Donghai, fearing the person hadn't heard, called out again.
"Old Zhou, if your back is giving out, don't push yourself. Find a new job."
The colleague in front advised, "If that young man hadn't lent a hand just now, that box would have definitely fallen."
Zhou Donghai's back was still breaking out in a cold sweat.
While carrying the goods, he forced a smile,
"It's just to make a living... Don't worry, I'll definitely go to the hospital when I get back!"
"You promise?"
The colleague asked doubtfully, "Don't let me get hurt by it too."
Zhou Donghai: "I promise, I promise. I'm sorry about that."
However, that young man just now...
Was there something on his face?
That pattern... was it a lion? A tiger?
A tattoo?
Zhou Donghai shook his head and didn't dwell on it.
He refocused his attention on the work at hand.
...
Not far away.
The young man in black, with his hood pulled up, lowered his head slightly, pulling the hood lower.
Concealing the Qilin pattern that had suddenly appeared on his face.
...
...
Putting aside the various heated discussions in the human world for now.
On the other side, time rewound to the underworld.
"Master, I'm back—"
Looking at the figure running in from the entrance of the Eighteenth Hall.
Jiang Lin suddenly felt that he couldn't let the mechanical sphere continue like this.
Just as he was about to speak,
From the kitchen space in the courtyard, a team member walked out.
Holding a plate of slightly burnt shredded potatoes, they floated towards the Eighteenth Hall.
As Jin Yang entered the hall, he immediately noticed the unusual quietness.
He looked up.
He saw that the Captain and Xu Nan were both silent, with words caught in their throats.
And on the other side...
"Pfft—"
Too surprised, Jin Yang couldn't help himself.
In the center of the hall,
The mechanical sphere, dressed in a maid outfit with long black stockings, stood there brazenly.
Hearing the sound, it couldn't help but glance sideways at Jin Yang.
"What, you have a problem with my new outfit?"
"No, no..."
Jin Yang quickly shook his head.
He didn't have a problem.
Recently, everyone in the Eighteenth Team knew.
The Captain had gained a beautiful companion, and they seemed to be quite close.
It was rumored that her true form was a robot?
It sounded quite exciting.
However...
Jin Yang's gaze fell on the mechanical sphere.
Tall, with long hair casually draped over her back.
Fair, tender skin, and undeniable beauty.
The maid outfit she wore was a short black dress with a white apron.
Revealing a pair of straight, slender legs encased in black stockings.
The entire 'person' appeared obedient and pure, yet exuded a hint of sexiness.
Just standing there casually, she possessed an irresistible allure.
It had to be said, both her figure and her appearance.
Were very nice!
'So the Captain likes this type...'
Jin Yang thought, quickly averting his gaze.
Beautiful she may be.
But she was someone close to the Captain, and no one in the entire Eighteenth Team dared to provoke her.
He strode up to the Captain and respectfully said, "Captain, this is my practice homework for today."
Jiang Lin glanced at the shredded potatoes, "Not bad, much more even than last time."
Jin Yang's eyes lit up, and he said with a little excitement,
"Actually, after getting used to outputting ghost qi, I find it quite convenient."
"My control over ghost qi has also improved significantly compared to before."
Jiang Lin nodded slightly, "Keep up the good work."
Jin Yang: "I will, Captain!"
He would redouble his efforts after returning!
After seeing Jin Yang off, Jiang Lin looked at the mechanical sphere again.
The latter excitedly leaned forward.
Spinning her skirt, she asked, "Master, Master, what do you think?"
"Is it pretty, is it pretty?"
Indeed, calling him Master felt right with a maid outfit.
And when facing a man, black stockings were essential!
The mechanical sphere thought gleefully.
"..."
Beside them, Xu Nan silently lowered his head and took out his small notebook.
He listed a row of book titles, preparing to recommend them to the mechanical sphere later.
It was time to change her reading list.
Jiang Lin looked at the mechanical sphere, who was constantly showing off her new outfit, and paused:
"Are you... too idle recently?"
"Seven-Colored Egg isn't here, and no one is taking you on missions anymore, right?"
The mechanical sphere blinked: "Eh?"
Master's tone... seems not good?
Before it could react, it saw its Master turn to Xu Nan:
"Xu Nan, haven't you encountered a bottleneck in your cultivation recently?
Starting tomorrow, go out and take on some missions with the mechanical sphere to practice."
"Understood, Captain Jiang."
Xu Nan nodded obediently, "I also feel it's time for me to go out and train. Cultivating without applying it makes it hard to identify problems."
"Eh?"
The mechanical sphere looked at its Master, then at Xu Nan.
Wait, wait, wait, wait? You just decided like that?
What about being the pampered darling?
What about 'if you're good, I'll buy you a whole street'?
This, this isn't like in the books!
Could it be that it hasn't been alluring enough?
The mechanical sphere looked at its own figure and its little skirt.
It was clearly perfect!
"Did I read a fake book?"
The mechanical sphere was confused.
...
After discussing the mechanical sphere's matter, Jiang Lin remembered the system's prompt sound from earlier.
He stood up and said, "I need to go out for a while. Be careful when you go out on missions."
Xu Nan, Mechanical Sphere: "Understood, Master!"
"Understood, Captain Jiang!"
After leaving the hall,
Jiang Lin went to the kitchen space and the arena to inform the members of the Eighteenth Team.
By now, the daily training of the Eighteenth Team no longer required his constant supervision.
Cooking with ghost qi was indeed difficult at first.
But with the practice over these past few days, the team members had basically become familiar with this method of ghost qi output.
And they understood the benefits of this practice.
Without him saying anything, they all came to practice on time every day.
Moreover, as far as Jiang Lin knew,
Many team members continued to practice even after completing their daily training here, and even hired relevant teachers for guidance.
Therefore, even if he were to be away for a few days, the operation of the Eighteenth Team would be completely fine.
...