FI CH19: A Moment’s Strategy

He Zhenling stares at him for a few seconds.

Then, with a press of his fingertip, the TV screen resumes playing:

Midnight Theater: Watching alone at home is so thrilling!

Note: Some scenes contain jump scares and bright flashes. Not suitable for those with heart conditions or epilepsy.

…

Lin Su: …This kind of midnight! This kind of thrill!

He Zhenling looks at him. “I picked it from the account you gave me. What did you think it was?”

Lin Su, clutching snacks, saunters over, seizing the moral high ground. “Then why’d you hit pause?”

“…” He Zhenling lets out a dry, “Heh.”

The video has passed the opening credits.

They sit in front of the sofa, Lin Su setting down snacks and drinks, shaking his head. “A supernatural video with such a clickbait gimmick.”

He Zhenling taps a finger on the coffee table.

Xuenima silently appears at his side: [Weren’t you both hooked by it?]

Lin Su, dead serious: “As if.”

He starts watching the video with calm composure.

This episode is about exploring an abandoned village.

The footage begins in the afternoon, a group searching for an ancient temple site called the “Ghost Temple.”

At first, everyone is on edge, jumping at the slightest rustle.

But as the sun sets and the “Ghost Temple” remains elusive, they relax, chatting and laughing casually. Some even grow impatient, suggesting they head back.

By now, dusk has fallen, and a chilling breeze sweeps through the desolate woods.

One person says they need a bathroom break, so the others wait in place.

The camera “zzt” flickers briefly.

The waiting group keeps joking. As time drags on, the missing person doesn’t return, and someone finally senses something’s off, saying, “It’s been too long. Should we check on them?”

The group grabs flashlights and searches.

There’s no phone signal in the abandoned village. After a long sweep with no sign of the person, the mood grows heavy. Another half-hour of fruitless searching, and they decide to head back. But as they return to their starting point, a creepy, chilling scene unfolds—

The missing person is kneeling less than twenty meters from where they started.

Their face is ashen, repeatedly bowing to something above.

Someone shouts their name, rushing to pull them up, but the kneeling figure violently shakes them off, muttering incoherently, continuing their frenzied worship.

As others approach, the camera suddenly tilts upward. Behind the kneeling figure, a ghastly white silhouette flashes, faintly revealing a smiling face.

“Ah!!!” A scream erupts from behind the camera, followed by violent shaking. In the dim light, flashlight beams sweep chaotically, the footage veering into the distance—

Snap. The screen cuts off.

…

In the brightly lit living room, He Zhenling pauses the video, saying flatly, “People from the Heavenly Masters Association?”

Lin Su, tearing open a second bag of chips, tilts his head. “You know them?”

“No, I saw their emblem.”

Just in case, they’d carry some ritual tools.

He Zhenling adds, “Fake video?”

Lin Su, intrigued, asks, “How’d you tell?”

He Zhenling pulls up the “ghost” frame. “This figure’s build,” he rewinds slightly, “matches this person. The ‘ghost’ appears exactly when they’re absent from the shot.”

As expected of the Oversight Association’s president—sharp observation.

Lin Su: “That’s it?”

He Zhenling, unfazed: “Also, ghosts living in such remote wilderness usually don’t smile.”

Lin Su: “…”

Xuenima marvels: [What an insulting angle!]

Lin Su glances at him pointedly. “What, you’re Ghost-Hater McGee?” Rich-hater.

He Zhenling, cold and ruthless: “I don’t care about their feelings. No idea.”

…

The brutal topic drops.

Lin Su pulls up a few more videos—ghostly armies, haunted abandoned buildings… Most are staged, no real entities involved.

They’re mostly folk horror tales, grounded in everyday life, great for clicks.

Not all are fake—some exorcisms and divinations are real. But lacking shock value, they get no attention.

“Can you tell which association they’re from?”

“Can’t,” He Zhenling says. “The Heavenly Masters Association emblem is standard. Only their licenses show specific affiliations.”

Lin Su thinks, Fine. “So, what’s your take, Oversight Officer?”

The title makes He Zhenling’s fingers twitch.

He pauses for a few seconds. “Generally, as long as they’re not harming anyone or scamming, this kind of thing… counts as entertainment, I suppose.”

So, no clear violations yet.

“Put it under monitoring for now, follow up later.”

Business done, He Zhenling stands to leave.

Lin Su straightens on the sofa, about to say “Don’t let the door hit you,” when the man turns back: “You called me here just for this?”

Lin Su nods. What else?

He Zhenling, all business: “This could’ve been discussed over the phone.”

Lin Su narrows his eyes: Oh…

After a beat, his expression softens, eyes lowering. “Actually, I just wanted to steal a few extra glances at you while everyone’s gone.”

“…”

Silence lingers for a few breaths.

As Lin Su prepares to drop the act, a shadow suddenly looms.

Looking up, he sees He Zhenling leaning in, sleeve rolled up, revealing a forearm braced beside him. Deep-set eyes and breath close enough to feel.

Lin Su’s breath catches for two seconds: …?

Then, a faint chuckle, barely audible. “Heh…”

He Zhenling looks at him, enunciating, “You’re being a bit too flirty.”

With that, he pushes off with a long arm, grabs his jacket, and strides out.

The door clicks shut.

Lin Su: “…”

The living room falls silent for several seconds. Xuenima’s glow flickers, slowly emerging: [So, what exactly were you trying to pull by calling him here…?]

Lin Su snaps out of it, leaning back.

He grabs a cat-shaped pillow, patting it contentedly. “Obviously, I’m after some fun.”

“Look, what a thrilling peaceful night.”

Xuenima: […]

It feels like it’s the one getting thrilled!

The next day is Friday, and there’s school.

Lin Su turns in his homework.

As soon as he sits down, the class monitor, Chen You, sneaks over. “Heh, did you watch those videos after you got home yesterday?”

“Watched a bit.”

“How was it?”

Lin Su savors the memory. “Pretty thrilling.”

A voice chimes in his mind: [Heh…]

Chen You, taking advantage of the empty seat in front, plops down, brimming with excitement. “I heard there’s a live stream tomorrow afternoon.”

Lin Su raises an eyebrow. “Live stream?”

“Yeah, ‘cause a bunch of people are questioning if their videos are special effects or staged!”

Lin Su: Seems there are plenty of sharp-eyed folks like him.

Chen You doesn’t catch his silence, about to ramble on, when a notebook smacks his head—whap! He turns to see the academic officer standing nearby.

“Class monitor, stop tempting Lin Su. He hasn’t finished his makeup homework.”

The academic officer hands over a worksheet. “You only did the front—forgot to flip it?”

Lin Su: “…”

In his mind, he calls out: …Mud Horse.

Normally, his spiritual consciousness does his homework. At night, while he sleeps, Xuenima writes. During the day, while he’s in class, it naps in his mind.

A faint voice responds: [I couldn’t finish! You were out for days—do you know how much high school homework piles up?]

“…”

Lin Su sighs, telling the academic officer, “I’ll finish it over the weekend, turn it in Monday.”

Considering his “frail condition,” the officer nods leniently and leaves.

Once she’s gone, Chen You sighs dramatically. “Guess you’re missing the live stream tomorrow. Heard it’s in Xun City—a family’s real-name request for help, super legit.”

Lin Su’s eyes flicker. “Is it?”

Seeing his interest, Chen You says, “I’ll record it for you, you can watch later.”

The front-row student returns, and Chen You hurries back to his seat with a quick greeting.

A white glow pulses: [What about the homework? Can you whip up some high-IQ paper puppets?]

Lin Su, unfazed: “What, you think I’m Nüwa?”

[…]

“Go sleep. I’ll figure it out.”

The white glow sinks into his consciousness.

Lin Su thinks, then pulls out his phone, messaging Black and White Impermanence: Can you guys do high school homework?

*[Black]: ? Haha.

*[White]: You realize how long we’ve been dead?

Lin Su: “…”

Fair point. By that logic, no underworld help either. He mentally scans his options, landing on He Zhenling:

Oversight Officer, what’s the butler doing at your place?

*[Ling]: Making Wensi tofu. What’s up?

Lin Su’s gaze lingers on “Wensi tofu” for a few seconds… unsure if it’s the butler’s own flair or He Zhenling’s new torture method.

*[SleepTillNoon]: Lend him to me.

*[Ling]: When?

*[SleepTillNoon]: Tonight, my place.

The other side goes silent for a full half-minute.

Lin Su adds: Not for the stuff we’ve done before.

*[Ling]: Heh!

No objection means consent.

Seeing the homeroom teacher enter, Lin Su pockets his phone and starts mouthing along to the morning reading.

Summer brings sweltering heat.

After a PE class in the afternoon and a class meeting in the evening, Lin Su returns home feeling drowsy.

Mud Horse was right—his body’s still far from recovered.

At home, he takes a shower.

Then he releases Xuenima, who’s slept all day. “I’m gonna nap. Keep watch outside.”

Xuenima emits a sleepy glow: [Mhm.]

Soft light brushes his cheek. Lin Su’s long lashes flutter twice before he sinks into deep sleep, his shallow breaths rising and falling in the quiet room.

Seeing him asleep, Xuenima transforms.

It becomes Ama and heads off to write homework.

…

At eight sharp, the butler appears at the door.

Dressed in a tailcoat, hair slicked back, he knocks with utmost readiness for his new task.

Knock knock. The door opens—

Before he can speak, a tall, imposing middle-aged man appears, his features faintly resembling Lin Su’s. Their eyes meet, and the man seems momentarily stunned.

The butler recovers in half a second. “You’re… Mr. Lin?”

“…” Xuenima: “Mhm… yes.”

“And Lin Su is your…”

The man quickly composes himself, saying steadily, “My esteemed son.”

Butler: “…”

“I’m the hired help your… esteemed son requested.”

The man turns. “Come in.”

They walk to the living room in silence.

The butler, unsure of his task, eyes the enigmatic figure ahead. “May I ask where your son is?”

“Napping.”

More silence.

The man sits at the table, writing furiously. The butler ventures, “And you’re…”

Xuenima, expression grave, doesn’t look up. “Finishing his homework while he’s asleep.”

Author’s Note:

Butler: What kind of family is this! Terrifying!

Xuenima: Coolly writing.

Lin Su: zzzZZZ…

“Steal a few extra glances” boomerang: See Chapter 15.

Wensi tofu: Requires precision knife skills, cutting soft tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ham, and chicken breast into threads finer than hair.