Die, Replay, Repeat

Chapter 31: Zhao Hao's Spiritual Power

The following morning, Fang Xiu was jolted awake by a ring from his phone. It was Zhao Hao.

"Xiu! Xiu! You won't believe it. I've discovered my spiritual power!" Zhao Hao exclaimed enthusiastically from the other end.

"Power? What kind of power?" Fang Xiu asked, his voice steady.

"Well, you're in for a surprise. I didn't notice my ability before because it only comes to life from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Last night, I was awake, and right at 11, the power revealed itself."

Fang Xiu asked, "What did you find out?"

Zhao Hao teased, "Now, Xiu, dont be envious when you hear this. Your power might be impressive, but mine? I believe every guy would want this. I played around with it all night, and trust me..."

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Fang Xiu ended the call, clearly not interested.

Soon after, his phone rang again, Zhao Hao on the other line.

"Xiu, why did you..."

"If you're just going to go on and on, then please, let me get some sleep."

Zhao Hao sounded hurt, "Listen, after 11 p.m., I transform! I become way more good-looking, and my fitness level goes up. My muscles stand out even more."

Fang Xiu responded dryly, "That's your power? Really?"

But before he could hang up, Zhao Hao quickly said, "Hold on, hold on! That's not everything. Sure, I look better and fitter, but there's more to it. The main thing is... um, in the sexual department. Let's just say I became super impressive. I tried it out, and, wow, it's like this super strong pillar, holding up so much weight, like a hundred kilograms..."

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Once again, Fang Xiu disconnected without hesitation. While he had some hopes that Zhao Hao would unlock an incredible power, this wasn't quite what he had in mind.

Turning handsome, gaining muscles, and what? It sounded more like something from a movie he'd rather not mention.

Fang Xiu muttered, "Figures. How could someone like Zhao Hao, who conquered his fears with those kinds of movies, gain any truly unique abilities?"

Powers like these often connect to one's soul and reveal deep inner wishes. What someone wishes for deeply might just show up in the real world.

As for why Zhao Hao's power only appeared after 11 p.m., Fang Xiu had an inkling.

_'Maybe it's related to whatever Zhao Hao daydreams about every night at that hour. But the specifics? Only Zhao Hao himself knows.'_

Suddenly, a soft voice interrupted his thoughts, "Honey, breakfast's ready."

It was his sweet "wife," gently reminding him. Fang Xiu's face remained unchanged as he got up to prepare his own breakfast. Though his "wife" constantly talked about breakfast, she had never once made it herself.

Fang Xiu sighed internally.

_'This damn Specter. She's really something.'_

Right then, a sleek black car discreetly pulled up by the curb beneath Fang Xiu's apartment building.

Inside were a man and a woman. The man appeared to be in his thirties and donned a sharp black suit and gold-rimmed glasses. He gave off an impression of confidence and seriousness.

Beside him was an elegantly beautiful woman. She was attractive and looked dainty was dressed in a black uniform-like dress. Beneath that, she wore sturdy black stockings (which weren't the kind to rip easily). On her feet were high heels with detailed patterns. Given her tall stature and cool aura, the look didn't seem overdone. Instead, it had a sophisticated and graceful touch.

Their names were Shen Lingxue and Li Wenhao, members of the Investigation Bureau.

Li Wenhao was busy with a black earpiece linked to a machine. After a while, he took it out.

Beside him, Shen Lingxue asked in a steady voice, "Were you able to catch their conversation?"

He nodded, "Based on what I heard, they sound like regular people who had some spiritual awakening at the Willow Hill Specter Zone, transforming them into psychics."

"Do you know about their special power?"

"Fang Xiu's power wasn't discussed on the call. But from what Zhao Hao said, it seems promising."

She replied, "I hope so. The Investigation Bureau is in need of more hands. If Fang Xiu has good psychic power and clears the psychic contamination check, he might get an offer."

"What about Zhao Hao?"

Mentioning Zhao Hao made Li Wenhao pause, showing uncertainty in his eyes. It seemed tricky for him to put into words.

Shen Lingxue looked a bit impatient, "What's the matter? Out with it."

"Understood," Li Wenhao responded, giving her due respect.

From their interactions, it was clear that Shen Lingxue ranked higher. This wasn't unexpected. Shen Lingxue was gifted with psychic powers, whereas Li Wenhao was just a regular person.

The Bureau, always cautious about a psychic's mindset, often paired them with a non-psychic superior. This helped in keeping them grounded and ensuring they didn't go astray.

The aim was noble, but in reality, the psychics often held more influence due to their unique abilities. If a disagreement arose, the matter would be escalated to senior officers for judgment.

There's a pattern in these pairings: male psychics usually have female superiors and the other way around. This mix is thought to balance energies, decreasing the chances of disagreements.

Li Wenhao started, picking his words, "From what Zhao Hao shared, his skill is a bit... unusual. Every night from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., he turns exceptionally good-looking, his muscles stand out more, his overall fitness peaks, and the main boost is his sexual capabilities."

Shen Lingxue's expression faltered, replaced by evident distaste at the mention of " sexual capabilities."

"Seriously? With such a... unique skill, he might be better off in some nightclub," she said with a hint of scorn. "The Investigation Bureau isn't a place for those with questionable skills and tainted souls. Additionally, we should keep a close watch on Zhao Hao. No telling what he could be up to with that sort of power."

Li Wenhao nodded, a quiet sigh escaping him. The gap in Shen Lingxue's perspective towards Fang Xiu and Zhao Hao was wide and clear. One was being eyed for a potential role, while the other wasn't just dismissed but seen with suspicion.

It wasn't necessarily about Fang Xiu being more valuable; rather, Zhao Hao's peculiar power seemed to cast a shadow over his reputation.

She motioned forward, "Come on. Fang Xiu should be our first stop."