Curiously, after Tokugawa's stunning victory, the bloodshed in Night City eased. Even the number of jumpers plummeted.
Clearly, Night Corporation had slowed their crackdown on Tokugawa.
If Tokugawa collapsed under Hashiba's pressure like the others, Night Corp would have pounced immediately, carving off a juicy chunk of Takamagahara before Hashiba grew too powerful. But if Tokugawa could grind Hashiba down, bleeding them slowly until the giant slipped into shock, Night Corp had no reason to interfere.
They might even lend Tokugawa gear, subtly propping them up. The best outcome? A split Takamagahara locked in endless civil war—while Tokugawa's home remained right under Night Corp's thumb, docile and obedient.
Corporate games were like that: no eternal allies, only eternal interests.
For Li Pan, though, the Takamagahara war meant nothing. He was a salaryman buried under loans. The warlords could all die for all he cared. The more they tore each other apart, the better.
But with tensions high, even the gangs had pulled back. Daily jobs dried up. Li Pan just skimmed the news, snacked on gossip, and went to sleep.
When he opened his eyes again, he was Li Qingyun. This time, instead of cultivating, he went to the Shangzhen Temple's library to search for records on Taisui and Lingzhi.
Sure enough, every world had some record. And here, the entries were far more detailed—though oddly, the focus felt off.
"Flesh gathered, like ox liver, with two eyes.
Eat it without end—it regrows anew."
"Flesh cluster with eyes, but no stomach or gut. Resembles puffball fungus.
Strange in that it never depletes—yet flavor is meager."
"Meat Lingzhi: non-toxic. Strengthens the center, replenishes essence, sharpens wisdom, cures chest congestion.
Long use lightens the body, prevents aging."
…Wait. That disgusting thing… edible?
And there were hundreds of elixirs listing Taisui or Lingzhi as ingredients.
So this abomination was a treasured species only because cultivators forced it into being?
A familiar voice cut in:
"Man without study is like flesh with eyes—food for nothing."
Teacher Xian had slipped out of nowhere again, opening with his usual cryptic sarcasm.
"Even with talent, if one shirks hard work and idles away, they're no different from meat with eyes."
"Yes, teacher…"
Li Qingyun answered meekly. He knew the old man could read thoughts.
"I saw a Lingzhi in a dream. Not recognizing it, I sought records."
"Oh? To encounter a celestial fungus—that's fate. How many years has it grown?"
"…Tens of thousands, maybe?"
(It was, after all, a demon core dumped from another world. Surely ancient enough.)
"Has it awakened?" Xian seemed intrigued. He reached into his sleeve and revealed—
A mass of jelly-like flesh, translucent green, with snail-like stalks sprouting half a dozen eyeballs.
Li Qingyun froze. So he had a slime too?!
But unlike the black sludge he'd seen, this was emerald, shimmering like living jade. It radiated fragrance—like rain-soaked grass, fresh and pure, invigorating.
"This one's cultivated," Xian explained, handing it over. "Fed on sacred herbs, celestial dew, dragon marrow. It has heard Dao for fifteen hundred years under my seat, gained its own qi, can even breathe and refine essence."
Holding it, Li Qingyun felt its heartbeat-like circulation. A living, awakened thing. His mind sparked:
"Teacher, if mortals ate this… would they truly gain immortality?"
Xian chuckled. "Immortality? Mortal stomachs can't handle lead, mercury, cinnabar—let alone Lingzhi Flesh. Without the proper method, they'd only become flesh with eyes themselves."
…Just like Kiri, sinking deeper into abomination.
Then Xian asked sharply:
"What color was the one in your dream? Red? Purple?"
"…Black. Rotten sludge. Reeked like egg whites mixed with spoiled meat."
Xian's brows knotted. "…Black? Foul? That was a Lingzhi?"
"Yes! Same eyes. It even chanted—'Tek-li-li, Tek-li-li.'"
Li Qingyun mimicked the sound with his tongue.
At that, the Lingzhi in his palm opened its eyes.
Not one. Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. Eyeballs swelling across its jade body, all staring into Li Qingyun's pupils. The gelatinous flesh quivered violently, as if some primordial memory had been awakened.
"Tek-li-li… Tek-li-li…"
SMACK!
Xian slammed his palm down, splattering the fungus into pulp. Green slime spilled between Li Qingyun's fingers, qi dissipating into nothing.
The Lingzhi was dead.
"It had already turned demonic."
He calmly drew a vial, sealed the juices, and tossed it to his disciple.
"Remember: never speak Taisui's true name. Once awakened, it can't be contained. Throw this to the sea if you won't use it."
"And the ones already awakened…?"
"Destroy them."
"…Any… technical method? Or what about mortals who've eaten it?"
"Rotten demon fetus. Chop it up. Eat it yourself if you must."
He tossed a bamboo scroll into Li Qingyun's arms:
"Taisui is no mortal thing, but Heaven's aberration.
Beyond Five Elements, outside Three Realms.
Once fallen into demonhood, no ordinary method can bind it.
The technique: Burning-Heaven, Shattering-Earth, Nine-Star Annihilation, Southern-Ming Divine Fire…"
The name alone took half a minute to recite.
"…Teacher, nothing simpler?"
But Xian was already gone.
Li Pan awoke, sighed. That Daoist "Great Art" could incinerate worlds—if he could even use it. Not practical. Better to keep grinding levels honestly. Three, four, eight turns—step by step.
For now, the thirty-five million mattered more.
So the next day, he finalized the deal with 0113. Sample sent for testing. Meanwhile, the company signed with Saitō Inn, renting an outer hot spring villa as the "Jar Warehouse" for a year. The "Fountain of Youth Jar" project was officially closed: specimen secured, controlled, delivered.
The company rewarded him three Silver Keys. With the "bedsheet" and "vase" cases, Li Pan now had five in total.
And once 0113 confirmed the sample, the shipment would net him thirty-five million and two more keys.
He'd need a keychain soon.
He delegated tasks: Yamazaki scouting Hakone's seal arrays, Rama and Ah Qi handling shipment. The sample, vacuum-sealed, was ferried by shuttle to a space elevator in the South Pacific, then launched to orbit, bound for 0113.
The logistics chain was long—Earth orbit, Mars sling, asteroid customs, deep-space handoff, stargate transit—but it would arrive. About a month end-to-end. Insurance and escorts mandatory. Piracy always a risk. But with Company's own fleet, the process was secure enough.
After finishing the paperwork, Li Pan sipped coffee—until the fax buzzed.
A résumé.
Photo attached.
Shiranui Kiri. Former Onmyō Corps sealing jōnin. Former Gokurō Academy instructor. Retired. Applying for a temp position. Approved by HQ.
Li Pan nearly choked. Not even a fake name? Obviously infiltration—to steal the sample.
But it didn't matter. The shipment was gone. The thirty-five million was his. Even the gods couldn't take it now.
So he called her in for an interview.
Kiri walked in as a perfect corporate office lady—blouse, skirt, stockings, heels.
Li Pan's gaze was shamelessly predatory.
"Well, well. Miss Shiranui. Dressed like this, I almost didn't recognize you."
Hair neat, makeup flawless, she was every inch the professional infiltrator again. No shame, only poise. She crossed her legs and smiled sweetly.
"Likewise, Manager. You look so refined in a suit. But you're good without one too—strong, forceful. I haven't fainted like that in ages."
The word faint made Li Pan twitch, memories of eyeballs in jars creeping up. He rolled his eyes.
"Cut the crap. What, got the twelve million ready?"
Kiri giggled, pressing her chest with a shake.
"Oh Manager, how rude. I've thought it over. You were right. I've abandoned the Evil God's Demon Eye. From now on, I seek only your guidance."
"…Huh?"
Her eyes burned as she leaned forward, cleavage drawing his gaze.
"I wasted twenty years chasing the Demon Eye, breaking seals, only to reach the level of a lowly chūnin again. But you? In under two months, you've risen from an ordinary man to a fifth-level super-soldier, rivaling jōnin."
She inched closer, foot sliding beneath the desk, pressing firmly into his weak spot.
"Onmyō Corps is dead. Takamagahara is dying. Gokurō cast me out. Shiranui's legacy passes to my daughter. From today, I live for myself alone. Please take care of me… Manager."
Li Pan swallowed. "Take your foot back. We can talk properly."
She only pressed harder, adding her other leg with a smirk.
"What's left to hide? You know what kind of woman I am. Your company needs staff. I'm no stranger to infiltration, PR, counseling, or… fieldwork. I'm very professional. Why not let me show you what I do best?"
"You—! Don't push your luck! This is harassment!"
And so, Li Pan signed Shiranui Kiri's paperwork. She was hired on the spot.
.
.
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⚠️ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD — I'm Not a Cyberpsycho ⚠️
The system says: Kill.Mercs obey. Corporates obey. Monsters obey.One man didn't.
🧠💀 "I'm not a cyberpsycho. I just think... differently."
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