GRMFBS CH45

The post didn’t have much traction at first. The matter was confined to Beiling City, so few were involved. But once “Just Saved the World!” chimed in with such a provocative reply, the thread exploded.

The comments below were a mess of outrage.

OP:

@Just Saved the World! You don’t seriously think your sixth-place ranking on the leaderboard reflects your true strength, do you?

Gu Jiancheng was in a foul mood, or he wouldn’t bother with such posts. Tch, of course I don’t think I’m sixth. I’m number one!

OP:

@Just Saved the World! You’re in Beiling City right now, aren’t you? Don’t you dare run!

49F “Just Saved the World!”:

Wait for you to catch the first anomaly? I’d be stuck here till New Year’s.

Zhan Yan was skimming the post. The OP’s use of “again” in the title was clever.

He recalled scrolling through Deep Shadow’s gossip feed, a string of anomaly cleanups. Deep Shadow had just DM’d him to buy info on Beiling City anomalies. No missions to earn points, so he spent his own—such dedication, and yet he’s a wanted fugitive.

Zhan Yan hadn’t scrolled far when he saw Deep Shadow’s taunting reply. That audacity was peak him—mocking everyone, no wonder he’s legendary!

Could Deep Shadow’s triple-wanted status be from mocking all three factions?

The thread grew with onlookers fanning the flames. Zhan Yan got bored and stopped reading. Using “Beiling City” and “anomaly” as keywords, he found five active anomaly reports in the gossip system, bundled them, and sent them to “Just Saved the World!”.

Points hit his account instantly.

Approaching Science: “Since you paid so fast, here’s a bonus tip.”

“The Anomaly Affairs Bureau is active in Beiling City too.”

“Don’t get caught.”

Or who else would he fleece for points?

Just Saved the World!: “Heh.”

Zhan Yan: …

Whatever. Just a rich chuunibyou, right?

Exiting the gossip system, Zhan Yan lay on his bed, rubbing his head.

Phew… he’d been scrolling gossip feeds too much lately. That’s it for today; he couldn’t handle more. He needed a sugar boost.

Thinking it over, he opened his phone and messaged Gu Jiancheng: “You still at the cafeteria?”

Gu Jiancheng: “Nope, want anything?”

Zhan Yan: “I’m craving fruit candy from the store.”

By evening, everyone but Bao Qingshan was back in the dorm. Bao Qingshan had skipped afternoon classes and hadn’t been seen all day.

Duan Hong, ever the worrier, said, “Where’s Lao Bao off to now?”

Zhan Yan, munching candy, replied, “No clue. He’s skipped class a bunch this semester, hasn’t he?”

Duan Hong sighed. “Every two or three days. He didn’t used to be like this. Something up with him?”

Zhan Yan, still eating candy post-dinner, felt less drained. He opened the gossip system to check on Bao Qingshan’s recent activities but couldn’t scroll.

Not enough sugar? He unwrapped another candy, about to pop it in, when Gu Jiancheng grabbed his wrist.

“Yan Yan, are you addicted to sugar?” Gu Jiancheng asked gravely.

Zhan Yan blinked, glancing at the table. The jumbo pack of fruit candy Gu Jiancheng bought was already half gone. Okay, that’s a lot.

He hadn’t tracked how much he ate, just kept checking if the gossip system was back online. If not, he’d eat more.

But last time, a single slice of his brother’s sickeningly sweet bread had restored him. That slice had more sugar than half this candy pack.

Something felt off, but before he could dwell on it, Gu Jiancheng’s handsome face leaned closer.

“Too much sugar’s bad for you. Your constant tiredness might be from blood sugar spikes,” Gu Jiancheng said earnestly. “Cut back and get out more.”

Zhan Yan considered. “I’ll ease up on sugar. Morning workouts should be enough.”

Sugar seemed more psychological; it barely helped the gossip system. He could quit. But getting out more? No time.

Gu Jiancheng looked at him eagerly. “I think getting out is important too.”

Zhan Yan got it, chuckling as he patted Gu Jiancheng’s wrist. “Morning workouts are one-on-one time, aren’t they?”

Gu Jiancheng: But morning workouts don’t count as dates!!!

…

Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau.

Nie Yu burst into laughter.

Nie Ling, her brother, eyed her, wondering if overtime had driven her mad. Maybe she needed a vacation.

“Look what I found!” Nie Yu, beaming, pushed her desk, sliding her chair back, her ponytail swishing. “Approaching Science! This guy’s hoarding points to trade for a thunder talisman! He thinks lightning’s cool!”

“He’s not a fan of the Chongming Demon King—he’s our captain’s fanboy!” Nie Yu spammed messages to their captain.

Ji Yueming: “Hm?”

“Approaching Science, isn’t that the super-fast info-type superhuman?”

Her intel hadn’t been updated, so her impression of Approaching Science was still stuck at the initial stage.

She’d been swamped lately. As the head of the Anomaly Affairs Bureau’s main team, her role wasn’t just leading missions and charging in. Tianshis were heavy artillery; most tasks didn’t require her direct involvement, but she had to assign them, oversee action plans, and monitor execution.

Nie Yu: “He’s worked with us since then. The Wan Yao Alliance keeps trying to poach him.”

“I uploaded all this to our independent clearance group’s database.”

The Bureau’s database was finely segmented. Basic access ranged from F to A levels, with higher clearance unlocking corresponding data.

Beyond that, there were departmental divisions. Research and field ops data were typically siloed to counter bizarre anomalies, ensuring one compromised high-clearance agent wouldn’t leak everything.

The most unique was the independent clearance groups. These restricted data to a few relevant individuals, accessible only to group members. Set up for interdepartmental collaboration, the data wasn’t always critical but facilitated communication.

Ji Yueming hadn’t had such tasks lately, so she hadn’t checked her group’s messages.

Ji Yueming: “Haven’t looked yet.”

“Ning Xi’s been dumping tons of tasks on me.”

Ning Xi: “Pipe down. Stop itching for field ops, and I’ll cut your workload.”

Nie Yu: …Pfft.

Nie Ling, in the chat group with her, watched the two big shots bicker.

The captain had an issue from a major battle twenty-six years ago, but she had no sense of restraint, always ready to go all-out. Those who cared about her tried to keep her hands-off.

Recently, with the No. 2 Glitch Anomaly surfacing, the captain was getting restless again.

The deputy director buried her in minor tasks that didn’t require field ops but needed oversight, forcibly keeping her desk-bound.

Ji Yueming: “Seven teams in the Bureau, and he’s shoved half the tasks onto ours.”

“You youngsters don’t know how to fight for your perks.”

“Overtime pay, vacations—don’t you ever protest?”

Ning Xi: “Overtime pay’s with finance; I’ll approve. Vacations come after this rush.”

“Keep an eye on your captain. Don’t let her run wild.”

“That Approaching Science—if you can recruit him, I’ll clear your tasks.”

Ji Yueming: “Heh.”

“Having my team babysit me and expecting me to do your dirty work?”

“Was it you who stole my steamed bun last time?”

Despite the banter, Ji Yueming checked Approaching Science’s file.

Wow, a real newbie, clueless about supernatural basics, even asking the Domain about mental contamination.

Looking back at his cautious, wary first contact with the Domain, there was a cute newbie vibe. Suddenly, he seemed adorable!

This clueless fanboy, barely stepping into the supernatural world, stumbled into the massive Unnamed Anomaly, handled it well, acted upright, and was obsessed with points—just to buy her thunder talisman!

But the supernatural world was dangerous. Forum basics were scattered and incomplete, and without formal training, an info-type like him was vulnerable to contamination.

Her Tianshi sense of duty kicked in!

As a revered senior idolized by a newbie, how could she watch him stumble blindly in the dark?

Ji Yueming registered a forum account and sent Approaching Science a DM.

After, she messaged Ning Xi about business: “What’s the situation in Beiling City?”

Her younger son was studying there! Things were stable now, so she stayed put, but once No. 2 Glitch Anomaly showed, no one could stop her!

Ning Xi barred her from going but kept her informed. Holding her back now was strategic, but if it came to it, he’d rather not fight Ji Yueming.

“No need to worry. I’ve got Kusong Stream folks helping,” Ning Xi replied.

“Isn’t Kusong Stream all about seclusion?” Ji Yueming asked. “Why’d they come out?”

Kusong Stream’s cultivation was unique, focusing on “intuition”—an illogical method.

Ji Yueming had seen their matriarch track a slippery fugitive:

“Reckon there’s somethin’ off in that nook.”

And she found him.

In an era where divination and deduction failed, Kusong Stream’s “intuition” was invincible in some ways!

Their help was crucial for locating No. 2 Glitch Anomaly. But their “intuition” cultivation had steep requirements, so they usually stayed hidden, rarely emerging unless absolutely necessary.

Ning Xi: “Their new heir thinks they should blend into the city. They’re studying in Beiling City now.”

Ji Yueming: “Oh! Same city as my son.”

“You know he’s at Beiling Agricultural University, right?”

Ning Xi, deadpan: Yep, know your son’s a star student.

…

That night, when Zhan Yan logged into the supernatural forum, he found a DM from someone claiming to be a “Tianshi.”

He knew the real Tianshi wasn’t even registered!

Approaching Science: “Heh, scammer.”