Rhodes Island's Psychologist

Ch 179: A Favor From Lungmen

The sharp contrast between how Lin Ye and Ch'en unsheathed Chi Xiao really shocked Hoshiguma and Swire. Hoshiguma lowers her shield while staring at Ch'en incredulously. Swire, on the other hand, ignores the fact that she's the patient here and grabs Lin Ye's arm, "How did you do it? And what the fuck is that sword?"

"It's Chi Xiao,", Ch'en says coldly, "not some fucking sword."

"Whatever you say. Was that your sword or your ability?", Swire asks the question that Lin Ye also wants to know the answer to. After all, he unsheathed the sword, but nothing happened. On the other hand, when Ch'en unsheathed it, albeit barely moving the blade out of the sheath, it suddenly turned into a killing machine.

Was that the so-called sword energy?

Ch'en falls silent for a moment. Then, she says, "It's Chi Xiao's power."

"Sounds like bullshit." Swire doesn't sound convinced.

Ch'en turns around and ignores Swire's question.

Hoshiguma walks up to Lin Ye and asks, "Dr. Lin, why didn't you use the same power? Of course, I'm more curious about how you managed to pull the sword out. To be honest, I've also tried pulling the sword out before, but I couldn't do it. It felt like a huge suctioning force keeping the blade inside, and no matter how I pulled it, the blade stayed inside.", she tilts her head slightly, "Maybe you're stronger than me?"

Lin Ye's mouth twitches, as he ponders the question. While he doesn't want to admit he's weaker than her, there's nothing he can do to make up for the obvious disadvantage of his race, not to mention that Hoshiguma is taller than him, and she can use that big shield so effortlessly.

He shakes his head, "Of course not. I'm nowhere close."

"Hmm. Then how did you do it?" Hoshiguma is really curious, "Do you have some special talent?"

Lin Ye nods, "Yes, I do. If you can even call it that."

"Oh?"

"Uh, actually, Officer Ch'en already knows.", Lin Ye scratches the back of his head in embarrassment, "I have a natural affinity with pets."

"Ha?" Hoshiguma can't help but think he's joking, "Does that count as a talent?"

Swire asks, "What kind of affinity?"

"I don't need anesthetics when I sterilize a cat, for example." Just to emphasize his point, Lin Ye says, "I'm being honest here."

Swire takes a deep breath and steps away from him, "You told me you're a psychologist in Rhodes Island."

"Yeah, I'm a psychologist now. Before that, I was a vet."

"You're lying."

"What? It's all true. Why would I lie about that?", Lin Ye says, "You can ask Officer Ch'en if you don't believe me."

Ch'en says, "Alright, that's it for today."

"That's it?" Hoshiguma asks.

"Um, we already have the statements."

"Hah?" Then, Hoshiguma finally remembers what the goal of her visit is, and picks her notebook up.

"We should go now. We've already taken up a lot of Dr. Lin's time.", Ch'en says, "I will drive him back myself."

"What?", Swire glares at Ch'en, "You're leaving?!"

Ch'en glances at her, "Why not?"

"We haven't found out why your sword only acts up when you touch it. We don't know if it doesn't accept you as its owner."