On the train, Lin Duoduo and Tuoba Wu were sharing snacks and chatting away. Clearly, it was the first time for these two kids to go out with friends like this. Mo Bai Ning was much quieter, leaning back against his seat with his eyes closed to rest. Meanwhile, Tianmiao was playing mobile games.
"Tianmiao, let’s play cards," Tuoba Wu suggested.
"Yeah, Tianmiao, let’s play cards," Lin Duoduo looked at Tianmiao with eager eyes.
"I’ve always dreamed of going out to play with friends one day, playing cards on the little table on the train. I was so envious whenever I saw it on TV," Tuoba Wu said.
The expression in Lin Duoduo’s eyes clearly shared the same sentiment.
"Sure," Tianmiao put away her phone, "but let’s have some penalties. Stick notes, maybe?"
"No problem, no problem. Mo Bai Ning, come play too," Tuoba Wu called out to Mo Bai Ning.
"No, you guys play," Mo Bai Ning replied lightly.
"Don’t be like that, join in," Lin Duoduo persuaded.
"He’s afraid it’ll look bad if he loses to us," Tuoba Wu said, his head held high.
"Alright," Mo Bai Ning sat up straight, his face expressionless.
In an instant, Tianmiao seemed to see the fierce fighting spirit on Mo Bai Ning turning into burning flames.
The four of them started playing cards.
An hour later, Mo Bai Ning said plainly, "Where to put the next one?"
Covered head to toe with notes, Tuoba Wu was speechless: "..."
Lin Duoduo’s forehead was also covered in notes, and she exchanged a silent glance with Tuoba Wu.
Playing cards with Mo Bai Ning and Tianmiao was like being bullied, whimpering, bullied kids, no more, no more.
"Want another go?" Mo Bai Ning asked, his face indifferent.
"No more," Tuoba Wu shook his head.
"Come on," Mo Bai Ning said flatly, his tone lacking any emotion yet provoking.
"No, no, you’re too good, Brother Mo. I admit defeat," Tuoba Wu bowed, looking utterly dejected.
...
Upon arrival, the village chief had already gathered some people to greet them.
"Esteemed Demon Exorcists, thank you for accepting our commission," the village chief said, full of gratitude. The reward they offered wasn’t much, yet four Demon Exorcists came. Such treatment was beyond his imagination.
"When do the magical creatures usually appear?" Lin Duoduo asked.
"Anytime..." The village chief looked troubled, "These creatures have severely disrupted our lives. Now, the villagers are too scared to go outside; they’ve locked themselves up at home to hide. We’ve been urging them not to go out."
"But sometimes, they have to come out, and then bad things happen," another villager said, looking stressed.
"What happens?" Tuoba Wu asked.
"Well..." the villager had just started to speak when a loud call sounded in the distance.
Everyone looked towards the sound and saw a giant goose chasing after a person. The person clutched their head and ran frantically, while the giant goose chased relentlessly. The goose was as big as a cow.
The goose’s feet thumped heavily on the ground.
"A demonized goose?" Tuoba Wu asked, "Then this commission isn’t too difficult."
"No..." the village chief’s face turned pale, "If it were just one demonized goose, we could handle it. The problem is..."
Before the village chief could finish, the ground started to tremble.
"Let’s hide first; the rest is up to you, mighty Demon Exorcists. Thank you," the village chief said, and he and the villagers turned and ran away fast, disappearing.
Turning their heads, Tianmiao and the others saw a vast group of giant geese charging towards them. Their eyes fierce and speed swift, the goose beaks gleamed with a pale blue chill. Poisonous, too! The flock of geese charged aggressively, causing the ground to tremble as if from an earthquake.
"Oh my!" Tuoba Wu’s eyes widened, "This lineup is strong!"