Bo Ting never expected things to happen so suddenly.
When the headpiece was removed, he was completely stunned.
What was going on?
How had the headpiece just fallen off by itself?
And… it was over.
There was no denying it now!
He stiffly turned around, opening his mouth to explain.
The next second.
The robed figure opposite him recoiled a step as if it had seen something utterly inconceivable.
Bo Ting: …
Sure, he was an air conditioner, but hadn’t it already guessed that?
Why was its reaction so exaggerated now?
Bo Ting twitched the corner of his mouth. If the timing and situation had been right, he would have retorted.
Even more critically, the voices from outside rang out again. It sounded like a game had ended, and several young people were approaching arm-in-arm, humming tunes.
Bo Ting drew in a sharp breath. In his panic, he snatched up the headpiece and swiftly hid inside a storage compartment with a quick spin.
As for the robed figure opposite him… he had no time to deal with it.
Was there anything more important right now than hiding his air conditioner identity?!
The Copper Splitter was now immersed in profound terror. After seeing that completely human face, its scalp went numb.
The anomalous power on its body uncontrollably tore apart and shattered, twisting its face as if something beyond its consciousness had invaded it.
At that moment, it began to solidify and stiffen like a real copper statue…
No.
This wouldn’t do.
It couldn’t stay here!
One more glance at the other… and it would die.
For the first time, the Copper Splitter clearly realized this.
After the clamor of humans rose in its ears, it used its last bit of strength to vanish rapidly from the restroom, not daring to leave even a trace.
The young people who had just finished a game and come to the door found it a bit odd.
“Huh?”
“Didn’t we just hear someone talking?”
“Where’d they go?”
“Probably left.”
Another youth in a frog costume chimed in, and the two entered the restroom.
The noise around his ears gradually quieted until the people had left. Only then did Bo Ting breathe a sigh of relief and cautiously emerge.
He put the familiar shark head back on, but this time, it offered no sense of security at all.
After all, someone other than Mr. Xu had seen his true form.
This was bad.
If he’d known the offline PK would involve removing his plush head for a sudden reveal, he wouldn’t have come.
But what was done was done. Bo Ting could only cling to a sliver of hope now, praying the other thought he was crazy and had seen wrong.
Right, what about that hacker?
After coming out, Bo Ting glanced around and realized he hadn’t seen the other at all. His expression darkened:
Had it left?
…
Xu Qinglai noticed that Bo Ting’s state was off after returning from the game hall, specifically manifesting as:
“Mr. Xu, is there any way to make someone think they’re crazy?”
Xu Qinglai: …
What kind of weird question was this?
He pressed his temple lightly and reviewed Bo Ting’s message again.
“There probably is.”
“But it depends on the target.”
Generally, psychics and anomalies could interfere with perception, causing cognitive confusion.
In the broad sense, that was akin to mental issues surfacing.
But it depended on the target.
Interfering with A-grade or lower ability users and anomalies was easiest. Otherwise, the difficulty ramped up.
“Is that so?”
Bo Ting was somewhat delighted. He hadn’t expected such an ability actually existed.
Didn’t that mean he could find the Copper Splitter and make it think that day had been a hallucination, a cognitive glitch?
But just as the excitement bubbled up, Bo Ting realized this still needed a professional. Even if there was a way, he couldn’t do it.
Sigh.
So he could only… wait?
Wait and see if the other reported him?
But he’d been the one acting spooky. Reporting him wouldn’t be appropriate, right?
He hadn’t even fully committed to the act.
Bo Ting sat on the sofa, mulling it over, then decided to lay low. His expression turned serious.
“Mr. Xu.”
“I probably won’t be going out for the next few days.”
“Let’s grab a meal in a couple days.”
He’d dodge the risk for now.
Xu Qinglai paused, a bit surprised, and lowered his eyes slightly:
“Did something happen?”
Bo Ting felt a bit awkward and didn’t plan to say he’d been seen in his air conditioner true form.
After all, cough, he hadn’t even told Mr. Xu about going to the game hall today. Better leave it.
So he mumbled vaguely.
“Not really.”
“Just feeling a bit tired these days. Want to veg out at home for two.”
Xu Qinglai nodded. Though he could tell it wasn’t the full truth, he didn’t call him out.
“Alright.”
It was good for Bo Ting to stay home for two days.
If he went out tomorrow, the Resurgence Management Office would get even more on edge.
Thinking of that, Xu Qinglai raised an eyebrow slightly.
…
The Resurgence Management Office was indeed on high alert.
The two Rebirth of Fire members they’d captured weren’t just small fry—they were also Copper Splitter devotees.
The dual identities offered tons of intel to interrogate.
In just one day, the office had a list of their accomplices—over fifty people.
All tied to the Copper Splitter and Rebirth of Fire.
He Chengfeng came out, still puzzled.
“How’d he spill so easily?”
He’d barely needed to do anything extra. Once Mu Feng woke and realized he was at the Resurgence Management Office, he’d gone half-mad.
He confessed crimes without prompting, freaking out even the ability users used to evil god cultists.
Lu Jingshan pondered:
“Didn’t he initially want to see Captain Zheng?”
“Maybe Captain Zheng said something?”
But on other points, he agreed with He Chengfeng. If the guy had this epiphany earlier, he wouldn’t have worshipped the Copper Splitter.
As they talked, they reached the office and handed over the list.
Zheng Shangyun nodded and quickly assigned tasks.
Seeing Lu Jingshan and the other lingering curiously, he twitched his mouth slightly.
“Want to know what Mu Feng demanded right after waking?”
Lu Jingshan gave a dry laugh.
“Just asking.”
“Gotta verify if what he said is true.”
What if it was all fabricated?
Zheng Shangyun glanced over.
“Mostly true.”
“When he woke, his only demand was that we not hand him over to that Taiping Luxury Garden resident.”
Mu Feng didn’t know Bo Ting’s identity but trembled as he mentioned the shark head. Zheng Shangyun had brushed it off with a promise.
Lu Jingshan choked, surprised at the simplicity:
“This guy’s no pushover.”
“Scared witless like that?”
He Chengfeng shot him a glare.
“Don’t know who was babbling nonsense on first meeting and got the guy an ID. Got the nerve to mock others.”
Lu Jingshan: …
Fair point, but hadn’t that been to placate “Bo Ting”?
Still, he grew more curious: what exactly had Mu Feng endured at Taiping Luxury Garden?
Seeing the topic veer, Zheng Shangyun coughed and reined it in.
“Alright, go make arrests ASAP.”
“One more thing: keep tabs on Lena City.”
“Per Mu Feng’s intel, the Copper Splitter’s main body is there.”
“Taiping Luxury Garden likely took its bank card. It won’t let that slide.”
At that, everyone in the office sobered. Anything involving anomalous gods was no small matter.
And the Copper Splitter was one of the most listed in Resurgence Management Office records since revival.
Born from greed for wealth, it was naturally hyperactive.
“Don’t worry, Captain Zheng. We’ll stay on it.”
They assured him and left the office one after another.
Zheng Shangyun shook his head. He’d just relaxed a bit when Taiping Luxury Garden’s file gave him heartburn again.
What was this guy up to?
…
Bo Ting: …
Bo Ting wanted nothing to do with it.
He just felt like he was living in constant paranoia.
Day one: he searched online—no posts about air conditioners coming alive.
Day two: monitored the net again—no hits on the term.
By day three, Bo Ting sighed in relief.
So, had he overthought it?
Had that spooky hacker convinced itself otherwise after leaving?
Hahaha, who sane would believe they’d seen an air conditioner hopping around one second and gone the next?
False alarm. Bo Ting fully relaxed, scooped up the cat casually, and opened his phone to the best news—today, his insurance had passed the waiting period and activated!
Meaning, no more worries about money vanishing from his account.
Cough.
He was a… millionaire now?
Bo Ting pinched his cheek, still feeling unreal.
Tang Yuan meowed twice, tilting her head oddly at his action.
Bo Ting rubbed her face. After she jumped away in terror, he stretched and decided to head out.
Since nothing was wrong, no need to worry. Perfect time to meet Mr. Xu!
Three days without seeing each other.
What kind of bros went that long?
After getting up and tidying, Bo Ting messaged Mr. Xu.
“Mr. Xu, you around today?”
“I’m heading out.”
Xu Qinglai was in a meeting when his phone buzzed. He picked it up, surprised but with easing brows, and replied:
“At the company.”
Hm?
Was Mr. Xu busy?
Bo Ting was caught off-guard, thinking maybe skip it and celebrate the insurance alone.
Then he saw the reply pause.
“If you want to come, I’ll have Uncle Sun pick you up at Yunhe Convenience Store.”
Xu Qinglai eyed the chat. Only after sending did he realize he didn’t mind exposing his human life to Bo Ting.
Odd—he felt no distance with this guy.
Xu Qinglai pondered.
Bo Ting was surprised. He hadn’t expected Mr. Xu to send someone.
But thinking of the enthusiastic Uncle Sun, he didn’t refuse:
“Sure.”
“Heading downstairs now.”
He carefully reapplied the shark head.
To prevent another absurd accident, Bo Ting glued an extra layer around the edges.
Once securely fastened, he tested a lift.
Good—definitely not coming off.
Solutions outnumber problems, after all.
Bo Ting smiled, phone in hand, and went downstairs.
The complex residents had fully accepted his new look these days.
Especially Upstart Bro, who complimented every meeting.
“This headpiece looks sharp.”
“Little Bo, looking handsomer.”
Bo Ting smiled sheepishly.
“Same old me.” At most, a tad richer.
Money really made people handsome, huh.
