Chapter 220: My Eternal Enemies Are Gambling and Drugs

“Haa—”

Nangong Saye exhaled warm breath, pulling her scarf over half her face.

While adjusting her clothes, she discreetly scanned the surroundings.

Only a few hurried pedestrians walked the empty streets, with no suspicious targets visible.

After confirming she wasn’t being followed, Nangong Saye slipped into a deserted alley.

Unbeknownst to her, a tiny sparrow trailed from above.

Fang Cheng sat by the window with a steaming teacup nearby.

His skin flickered between black and normal hues as he monitored Nangong Saye through shared vision while practicing Mountain God’s Protection.

“Odd. Why’s she here?”

Fang Cheng felt puzzled at encountering Nangong Saye in this location.

Since their last collaboration, they’d kept in touch, occasionally hanging out with Takeda Masumi for meals and drinks.

Their relationship resembled comrades who bonded through fights – close enough for mildly suggestive jokes now.

Seeing Nangong Saye in Aomori Prefecture, Fang Cheng guessed she might be heading to Mechanical City.

This backwater lacked tourist spots, job opportunities, or local specialties, with industries concentrated in neighboring Iwate Prefecture.

The only reason outsiders came was attempting to cross the strait into Hokkaido illegally.

Yet Nangong Saye ran a successful Tokyo auto repair shop with loyal subordinates. Her peaceful life only lacked a man – why risk Mechanical City?

Then again, being a modified human herself, she might have covert ties there.

Though not particularly interested in her affairs, meeting an acquaintance abroad called for sharing a drink or two.

Her earlier behavior suggested trouble too.

Unlike before, Fang Cheng now possessed enough power to intervene when needed.

The sparrow kept tracking from above.

Nangong Saye circled aimlessly through streets – classic anti-surveillance maneuvers Fang Cheng recognized from Takeda Masumi’s training.

She soon entered a shabby inn, mercifully within range to maintain the sparrow link.

Thwack!

As Fang Cheng steered the bird closer, a pebble struck its wing.

A snotty-nosed boy stood reloading his slingshot with ammunition.

The sparrow swooped down before the child.

The boy rubbed his eyes and reached curiously.

Suddenly the bird morphed into a two-meter-tall Tyrannosaurus rex roaring viciously.

“Waaah!”

The little boy burst into tears, trembling with fear.

“Hmph, dare to challenge me?”

Fang Cheng snorted coldly, transforming the Tyrannosaurus rex back into a sparrow that flew to the inn’s second floor.

After pinpointing Nangong Saye’s chosen room, the sparrow shrank into a tiny mosquito.

When Nangong Saye entered and closed the window, drawing curtains against spies, she failed to notice the mosquito slipping through.

The insect ascended to the ceiling fan, shifting into a cockroach clinging to a blade to watch below.

Nangong Saye pulled out her phone.

“I need boat passage to Hokkaido. Price?”

“Timeline and location?”

Fang Cheng’s suspicion proved right – she planned illegal entry.

After hanging up, Nangong Saye exhaled deeply and sank onto the sofa.

As Fang Cheng prepared to keep monitoring, she suddenly stood and began undressing.

Well now, unexpected perks.

But considering their acquaintance, this felt improper.

After two seconds of deliberation, Fang Cheng resolved not to be indecent… though watching couldn’t hurt.

……

Night draped the city.

Fang Cheng faced Tsukikage Hoshi across the hotel restaurant’s western-style table.

The boss lady ate with impeccable grace, her movements beyond reproach.

Fang Cheng stabbed steak chunks with chopsticks, dunking them in Old Godmother chili sauce from the kitchen.

Her reverse Enchantment kept other diners oblivious.

“Need evening entertainment?” Tsukikage Hoshi dabbed her lips after finishing the wine.

Fang Cheng swallowed his ninth free steak. “Boss lady, you…”

She brandished her fork. “One crude joke and I’ll stab you.”

Experience taught her Fang Cheng’s tendency for inappropriate humor.

“Whips and candles? How boring.”

Ignoring him, she listed options: “Arcade, pachinko, bar upstairs. Even party drugs. Three hours till departure.”

“What do you take me for?” Fang Cheng straightened. “I wage war against gambling and drugs. No shady businesses.”

Tsukikage Hoshi rose, suppressing an eye-roll. “Don’t pester me.”

After she left, Fang Cheng devoured his last steak, shed his human skin disguise, and exited.

He bypassed the arcade, tracking Nangong Saye instead.

She’d stayed hidden until 8pm before sneaking out with her suitcase.

Night cloaked her journey toward the strait.

Beyond Aomori Prefecture’s central lights, darkness ruled – perfect for demons and fugitives. Ordinary folk stayed indoors.

Nangong Saye’s black clothes merged with shadows as she dodged sparse cameras and patrols. No Tokyo-style drones here.

After an hour’s trek, the strait’s edge greeted her.