Otherworldly Affairs Office

Chapter 1100: Apportionment (Part 1)

"No need to check. Even though we cultivators don’t believe that fate is predetermined, at my level, I’m aware of my own lifespan." Elder Cen said casually to Pei Yan, cigarette dangling from his lips."How can it be! How can your source energy and life force be depleted to such an extent?" Pei Yan knew, after probing his energy within, that although the old man appeared vigorous and in high spirits, he was barely surviving. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that his lamp’s oil was running out, and just as the elder said, his time was running short.

"I calculated some stuff, depleted the last of my mental spirit." Elder Cen raised the hand holding the cigarette to stop Pei Yan from interrupting and continued: "There’s no need to say more. The Cen Hall has thought of everything possible, but it’s useless! It’s quite good this way, unlike those old geezers in the Daoist Realm who live aimlessly for so long. My life has been quite exciting, but I came here to make you appreciate the benefits of the Cen Hall, so that when you have differing opinions in the future, you’ll understand its stance and difficulties."

Elder Cen’s open-hearted sharing choked Pei Yan up as he said: "Elder Cen, how can you say that! The Hall’s investment and nurturing of me, and its care for my family, I truly understand in my heart!"

"Ah, I’m not trying to pressure you to repay kindness! In life, you encounter many ups and downs. The journey with whom you end up is something even one cannot guarantee. I can tell you’re a child who values friendships, so this is an extra bond to add on top." Elder Cen smiled warmly at Pei Yan and continued: "Moreover, there are some old fellows of my generation in the Hall who want to see you! Once you finish your family visit, return to the Hall soon; I have some things to speak with you about."

"Don’t worry, I’ll remember this! I’ll go back to the Hall immediately after my visit." Pei Yan nodded in agreement.

"Alright, since you’re back this time, go spend some time with your father. You plan to lay things bare with him this time, right? As long as it doesn’t involve secrets, say whatever you want. Matters requiring confidentiality will have someone specifically communicate with your parents afterward." Elder Cen advised, patting Pei Yan on the shoulder.

"Alright then! I’ll be off! Elder Cen, take care of yourself!" Seeing Elder Cen say so, Pei Yan couldn’t remain much longer. With a nod, he turned to leave, but after a few steps, he suddenly thought of something and ran back, awkwardly asking Elder Cen: "Elder Cen, are the fish in this lake safe?"

The fish here in Jiezhi Space’s lake probably came from Daoist Realm. The fish from Daoist Realm are imbued with Spiritual Qi due to source energy nourishment. If ordinary humans from the basic plane were to eat it, there is uncertainty about how the taste or their parents handling the energy might affect their bodies.

"The Hall would consider such matters. These lake fish are brought from modern fish farms, and they’re safe for consumption. This place is designated for Hall agents and their families for vacation and relaxation. The temporary linkage with the Daoist Realm cultivation space was only due to your time difference problems. Once your vacation ends, the time flow here will match current reality."

Hearing Elder Cen’s explanation, Pei Yan was pleased and asked: "Are there lots of fish in the lake?"

"Ask your dad if there’re many. Even an idiot can fish here; your dad once pulled back half a bucket and got hooked, thinking he was a fishing expert."

His son finished the conversation with the gatekeeper elder and, with embarrassment, sat beside him. Having just cast his rod, he wasn’t concerned about the fish biting, but turned to his son with a smile: "What do you have to say?"

"Ah?"

"No ’ah’! You sent your mom away, left her to your sister, and asked me out alone, means you want to say something, about your job, right? Speak! I can handle whatever it is!" Old Pei put away his smile, waiting for a satisfactory answer from his son.

"Sigh!" Pei Yan let out a long sigh, knowing that sooner or later the matter would be revealed and took the opportunity to clear things up with no one around.

"Dad, I’m actually not a top hacker."

"Hmm, I realized a while ago! That night when you returned and told me, I was fooled, but later I remembered how your computer got a virus in high school, and you needed your cousin to redo the system. What kind of top hacker is that?" Old Pei snorted, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket and putting it in his mouth, saying begrudgingly: "Don’t spin me stories of military kings, not even special forces, nor pilots have family receiving such treatment."

"Dad, do you believe in superpowers?" Pei Yan cautiously inquired.

Upon hearing this, Old Pei’s hand, fetching the lighter, froze mid-air, his eyes widening in awe at his son. At that moment, seeing his dad’s growing belief, Pei Yan extended his finger. Under his father’s astonished eyes, he sparked a flame with his thumb, lighting the cigarette in Dad’s mouth.

Silence! Prolonged silence! Pei Yan watched as his father silently smoked three cigarettes, and he quietly lit all three. After his father’s hand no longer trembled reaching for another cigarette, and with a long sigh said: "When did this start? You mean people at the Hall recruited you after discovering this ability, right?"

"Yes, more or less! It all began with an ATM, but if we delve from the start, it’s a story spanning over ten years. Are you sure you want to hear it all?"

Knowing it would take a long time to tell the story, Pei Yan found the small stool he sat on quite uncomfortable for his tall frame. Since he had begun, he no longer cared and used a space ring to fetch two leisurely chairs. Putting one behind his father, and taking out a little tea table, tea utensils, and cups, he prepared everything and began calmly brewing tea.

Watching his son miraculously pull out all these items, Old Pei finally completely believed him. When Pei Yan boiled cold water from a water bottle in a copper kettle with his bare hand, then handed the freshly brewed tea respectfully to Old Pei, the father received the tea numbly, sipping the tea. With the warm tea flowing through him, the delightful tea aroma pervaded him, calming him after being shocked. Putting down the cup, Old Pei said: "You might as well start from the beginning, today we have all the time for it."

"Ah! Start from the beginning? Then it’ll be about when my sister and I went to that abandoned factory when we were kids."

"Abandoned factory?"

"Yes! It was that glass factory that went bankrupt. You always warned us not to go because it was dangerous, but we’d sneak in and play badminton."

"Oh! Oh! I remember, I remember! Go on!"

"It was summer. Actually, I don’t really remember what exactly happened that day; many things I heard later..."