Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Shen Yan carefully inspected the dried fish upon arrival, confirming its integrity before signing. However, after the delivery, the Weird Trash Can remained eerily still at her doorstep, making her uneasy. Had she overlooked something?

She glanced down at the package in her hands and suddenly recalled that Ying Yuanxing had few packing bags left, the extras having come from the JoyBuy app. After this batch of dried fish sold out, he wouldn't have enough.

Had Ying Yuanxing instructed the courier to collect the packing bags?

With classes to attend, Shen Yan couldn't constantly monitor Ying Yuanxing's livestream. So, based on his consistent frugality and the Weird Trash Can's peculiar stillness, she deduced this possibility.

"Sorry, please wait a moment. I'll give you the outer bag right away," Shen Yan apologized, hurrying back inside to find a plate for the dried fish.

In truth, she was mistaken. The Weird Trash Can had been savoring the aroma of the dried fish and was about to leave when Shen Yan spoke. The packing bag itself wasn't important, but if there were any leftover crumbs clinging to it—assuming Shen Yan didn't clean it too thoroughly—it could still enjoy them. After all, the delivery was complete, and a few scraps wouldn't violate the agreement.

As the Weird Trash Can waited eagerly, Shen Yan returned with the packing bag, which held only a few dried fish crumbs.

As a viewer of Ying Yuanxing, Shen Yan had adopted his habit of avoiding waste. Moreover, at ten Weird coins for a hundred grams of dried fish—equivalent to ten yuan per gram at the previous exchange rate—not a single crumb could be wasted.

If not for worrying that the Weird Trash Can might grow impatient waiting outside, she might have even washed the bag with water.

Holding the packing bag, Shen Yan hesitated, eyeing the tightly shut trash can lid. Opening it herself felt risky.

With a *thud*, the lid flew open on its own. Though the Weird Trash Can didn't speak, its message was clear: *Hurry up and put it in.*

Relieved, Shen Yan whispered a thank you before carefully dropping the bag inside. The lid slammed shut, and the trash can flickered before vanishing.

After closing her door, Shen Yan couldn't help but share the incident in the livestream chat.

"Just had a Weird Trash Can deliver my order. I had no idea they'd collect packing bags. Good thing I realized in time and didn't keep it waiting."

"But the Weird Trash Can was actually pretty nice—it opened for me when it saw I was scared to. If only other Weirds were that considerate."

"Huh? They take back the bags? I didn't know that. When I heard knocking, I just grabbed my package, and the trash can was already gone."

"I saw mine, but it just flung the package at me and ran—way ruder."

"Same. Wait, someone's knocking now, but they're not saying anything. Let me check…"

"Dude, isn't that a bit too bold? Normally, deliveries call or announce themselves. Knocking without speaking is terrifying. Don't overthink it."

"Agreed! Be careful!"

"Anyone know them? Should we call the Dawn Bureau?"

"...Thanks for the concern, guys. I'm back."

"Glad you're okay! Who was it? Silent knocking is terrifying."

"Well... you called it."

"Seriously? A Weird?"

"Yep, a Weird Trash Can. The lid popped open when I opened the door, with a packing bag stuck to it. Remembering the chat, I grabbed my bag and tossed it in."

"And then?"

"Then it left."

"Must've forgotten before. If you've already received your order, it might come for yours soon. Better have your bag ready."

"Glad I kept mine."

"Same."

"Scary. I almost tossed it, but my mom said the bag looked sturdy, so we kept it. Can't imagine how terrifying it'd be if the Weird Trash Can showed up and I didn't have the bag."

"I looked at other streams—no mentions of packing bag collections."

"Probably because they sold less. The top shop only sold a few dozen at higher prices, so no need to recycle. But with Ying Yuanxing selling nearly a thousand at ten Weird coins each, reusing bags makes sense. Getting more from the city would be too much trouble."

Jiang Hua was far more nervous than he let on in the chat. The moment he saw the Weird Trash Can, he thought he'd broken some taboo and was about to die.

Fortunately, the packing bag on the lid jolted him back to his senses. Remembering Shen Yan's message, he quickly handed over the bag. The Weird Trash Can took it and left, allowing him to finally relax.

Soon, more viewers reported encounters with Weird Trash Cans collecting bags. Thanks to the heads-up, no one panicked—they simply handed the bags over.

Only a few wondered if they'd missed an announcement. Why hadn't Ying Yuanxing mentioned this? But with the Weird Trash Can at their door, they didn't dare question it. It was just a bag—not worth causing a scene over something so small.

Besides, given Ying Yuanxing's thrifty nature, recycling packing bags made perfect sense.

Humans accepted the oddity with mild confusion, while among the Weird Trash Can community, some were happy to let others handle deliveries. Smelling the dried fish without being able to eat it was torture.

When asked for previous delivery addresses, they handed them over without a second thought.

Thus, Weird Trash Can No. 1666 diligently worked, collecting a mountain of packing bags. Each bag had only a few crumbs or a trace of oil, but with so many combined, the taste became overwhelmingly rich.

Finally, No. 1666 indulged in the dried fish he'd craved for so long. Normally, he'd gulp down unwanted trash in one go—quick and efficient.

But this was different. This was a treat he'd worked hard to get. He nibbled slowly, savoring the crispy, fragrant fish with not a hint of fishiness. Though the crumbs carried little Weird Qi, they were strangely tempting.

No. 1666 happily chewed contentedly, noting the lack of impurities in the Weird Qi but not dwelling on it. Unlike other Weirds, his kind ate whatever was thrown into trash cans. Their food always had impurities—just varying amounts. The concept of purity was foreign to them.

In the middle of his meal, a notification arrived: one of his deliveries was being returned, and he needed to retrieve it immediately.

Most couriers would rage at work interrupting a meal—let alone a Weird. No. 1666 darkly checked the notice, eager to teach the buyer a lesson once the job ended.

Weird Trash Cans weren't known for their intellect, but this interruption truly angered him.

The address jogged his memory—this was the first buyer who'd given him a packing bag. Without her, he'd never have thought to collect crumbs this way.

His fury eased slightly, but this small favor only bought her one free pass.

Teleporting to Shen Yan's door, No. 1666 sensed another Weird's presence—faint, almost dissipated. Weak.

But to Shen Yan, this "weak" Weird was a nightmare come true.

After finishing homework late at night, she'd been about to sleep when footsteps echoed in the living room. At first, she thought it was her mother—until she remembered her mom was staying at the factory tonight.

So who—or *what*—was out there?

Listening closely, Shen Yan realized the steps were light, only noticeable in the dead silence. They moved methodically, as if searching. Peeking through the door crack, she saw a pitch-black, barely humanoid Weird.

Its senses seemed dull, but it wasn't slow. It rummaged through the living room, clearly hunting for prey. Soon, it reached the kitchen. Through the gap, Shen Yan watched it devour a live chicken, its form solidifying slightly.

She quickly texted the Dawn Bureau for help but knew rescue might take too long. At this rate, hiding wouldn't save her—she had to act.

Shen Yan didn't dare to casually send messages in the group chat, as they could easily incite panic—and too much panic could draw more supernatural entities.

Moreover, she'd been buried in homework for so long without hearing any unusual noises outside. Perhaps it was just her unlucky home that had encountered a supernatural entity.

Shen Yan's guess wasn't wrong. So far, only her home had been invaded by the entity. However, the old building was saturated with negative energy. Once this supernatural entity triggered chaos, it could easily draw in others.

Spotting the JoyBuy app on her phone, Shen Yan recalled the Weird Trash Can entity and the textbook's description of it: it could devour any living thing that enters the trash can, and it had a certain deterrent effect on lesser entities.

If she could call forth the Weird Trash Can entity, maybe it could intimidate the intruder. As for the consequences of doing so, Shen Yan couldn't afford to think about that right now.

She hit the return button without hesitation. The app alerted her that a courier was en route to collect the item, and soon after, a follow-up notification flashed—the courier had already arrived at her door, asking her to bring out the goods.

She stole a glance at the supernatural entity scouring the next room. Shen Yan quickly plotted her escape. The only problem was that she had locked the front door, so unlocking it would cost her precious seconds—meaning she had to move fast.

One, two, three…

Shen Yan burst out, gripping the dried fish she intended to return. She felt like the wind itself—maybe fast enough to outrun the supernatural entity. But the icy dread crawling up her spine told her the creature wasn't slow either.

With one hand, she fumbled with the lock open while pressing down the door handle with the other, throwing her weight against the door. An icy touch grazed her shoulder before she collided with a solid metal trash can—so hard and unyielding that her skull throbbed from the collision.

At least the chill behind her had vanished. Instinctively, Shen Yan hid behind the Weird Trash Can entity and peered inside. The entity's face contorted into something even more monstrous, its features melted and writhed, making her gasp.

She had watched other livestreams and seen terrifying supernatural entities before, but only now did she realize how different it was to witness one in reality. No wonder authorities urged citizens to watch supernatural horror streams—otherwise, if you froze in fear face-to-face with one, you were dead.

However, this supernatural entity clearly feared the Weird Trash Can entity, lurking just past the threshold, no longer charging forward—though its gaze remained fixed on Shen Yan with predatory hunger.

Clearly, the moment the trash can entity vanished, it would strike.

Having seen the supernatural entity's speed, Shen Yan knew that if the Dawn Bureau didn't arrive before the trash can entity left, she'd never outrun it. And capture meant death.

Just then, the trash can lid opened—apparently, returning the item only required placing it inside.

Her screen lit up—a Dawn Bureau agent's message. ETA: three minutes. "Hold on," it read.

Three minutes. Shen Yan stared at the supernatural entity inside. Without the Weird Trash Can entity, three seconds would be a lifetime.

"Hello, got a packing bag? I need to pack the item before returning it," she asked slowly, stalling for time. The only way to stall was to manipulate the return procedure.

A second later, a bag drifted out of the trash can. Shen Yan grabbed it, surprised to find it unexpectedly clean—spotless.

But only about ten seconds had passed. Three minutes meant a hundred eighty heartbeats—how could she stall for that long?

Taking a deep breath, she carefully unfolded the bag and prepared to place the dried fish inside. She froze mid-motion—she hadn't even thought of a way to delay, yet she was already about to finish packing.

Unbeknownst to her, the supernatural entity's gaze had shifted from her to her hands.

For an entity fading from existence, the Weird Qi on the dried fish was like a flare in the void—impossible to ignore. Though consuming Shen Yan would grant some energy, it was scraps next to the concentrated Weird Qi.

Even with the Weird Trash Can entity's intimidating presence, the creature's hunger overrode its fear and lunged forward.

Blindsided, Shen Yan barely twisted aside at the last second, her feet tangled in her panic. Instinctively, she grabbed something nearby to steady herself—just barely avoiding the supernatural entity's attack.

But before she could sigh in relief, she realized her hands were on the Weird Trash Can entity, her fingers slipping inside.

Her thoughts short-circuited. She recoiled, expecting her fingers to have been devoured—yet they were unharmed. However, the dried fish she'd been holding seemed to have slipped into the abyss.

Realizing the return was finalized—her protection vanishing—Shen Yan turned and ran. Even if she couldn't outpace the supernatural entity, what if a miracle happened? Maybe, just maybe, she'd make it.

Every second counted. She had done her best to stall, and she trusted the Dawn Bureau's staff were racing to save her.

A shrill shriek erupted behind her, followed by a loud *bang*—then silence.

Shen Yan recognized the *bang* as the trash can lid slamming shut. But the earlier sound… had that been the supernatural entity's scream?

Against her better judgment, she glanced back. A single arm was caught in the trash can's lid, the exposed hand still clutching the dried fish, struggling—yet slowly being dragged inside, like a mouse swallowed by a snake.

Still shaken, Shen Yan stared at the bag of dried fish. For some reason, a surge of courage compelled her to try and retrieve it.

But the moment she moved, the Weird Trash Can entity accelerated its devouring. In seconds, the dried fish reached the edge of the lid.

"I'm canceling the return!" Shen Yan shouted.

The lid clamped down hard, shearing off a large chunk of the dried fish before sealing shut.

Staring at the now one-third-depleted bag, Shen Yan picked it up from the ground, her emotions tangled. Was it just her, or had the Weird Trash Can entity deliberately taken a bite out of her dried fish?

As the trash can flickered, Shen Yan quickly added, "Take this packing bag back too!"

The lid opened, and she tossed the bag inside.

Once the Weird Trash Can entity vanished, Shen Yan hesitated—too afraid to go back inside, yet too scared to stay in the hallway. After a moment's deliberation, she returned home and called the Dawn Bureau to report the situation.

Less than a minute later, rapid footsteps echoed outside. Peering through the peephole and spotting the Dawn Bureau's uniforms, Shen Yan exhaled in relief and let them in.

"Captain, the Weird energy readings are off the charts—a Class D Weird, though it seems close to dissipating. The threat level isn't too high," one officer murmured after scanning the area with a device.

"Use the gourd to absorb the residual Weird energy," the captain ordered. "Then inspect the rest of the building and cleanse the negative energy."

Once instructions were given, the captain turned to Shen Yan.

"Miss Shen… you said the Weird Trash Can entity helped you by devouring that Weird? You're sure it didn't just escape?"

Though the captain tried to soften his tone, an edge of urgency remained. If a Weird had gone into hiding, it would be extremely dangerous—they couldn't rely solely on Shen Yan's account.

Shen Yan hesitated. She couldn't claim absolute certainty—after all, she'd been fleeing when she heard the noise. By the time she looked back, all she saw was the Weird's arm trapped in the trash can.

The captain nodded understandingly. "If you're unsure, walk me through everything again—slowly, in detail. Don't leave anything out."

Shen Yan complied, recounting everything from noticing something amiss, to her escape, to grabbing the trash can for support, witnessing the Weird's arm, and finally the Weird Trash Can entity taking a chunk of her dried fish.

The captain's eyes gleamed with interest. Nothing stood out in Shen Yan's initial account—until she mentioned reaching into the trash can without being devoured. That was where things got strange.

"So, you dropped the dried fish into the trash can?"

"Yes."

"And the Weird's hand was also holding the dried fish?"

"Yes."

"Captain, this building needs a thorough cleansing. Otherwise, it won't be long before more Weirds are drawn here," another officer reported, handing over a form without bothering to shield it from Shen Yan.

"Fine. Draft an application, and I'll sign it," the captain said after reviewing the document.

Shen Yan brightened. A full building cleanse was expensive—either requiring residents to hire cleaners or waiting for the government's scheduled rotation. According to the list, their building had a long wait ahead. Getting it done early would make things much safer.

Noticing her smile, the officer glanced at the detector's readings—the positive emotional energy had risen slightly. And this was just from Shen Yan knowing about the cleanse. If the whole building found out, the increase would be even greater.

"Miss Shen, what do you know about this dried fish?" the captain pressed. At this, Shen Yan had plenty to say. She immediately launched into the story of Ying Yuanxing's fishing, selling the fish, their popularity, and even the hay's unexpected success.

"This dried fish might be highly attractive to Weirds," Shen Yan said seriously, then suddenly recalled a detail. "Wait, I remember now—that Weird seemed to be lunging at me, but when the dried fish fell into the trash can, it followed right in."

This was a split-second observation during her escape. Had it not happened so quickly and had she not strained to remember, she might have forgotten it entirely.

Honestly, if that Weird hadn't rushed into the trash can, Shen Yan doubted the Weird Trash Can could've swallowed it.

"Miss Shen, we'll probably need to run tests on this dried fish. How much does it cost? We'll compensate you," the captain said, staring thoughtfully at the dried fish before finally looking up at Shen Yan.

"No need, no need! If you want it, just take it," Shen Yan waved her hands repeatedly. Though reluctant, she knew the dried fish probably held some secret that might even help humanity.

Besides, Dawn Bureau had rushed over to protect her and even arranged a free deep-cleaning for the entire building—how could she take their money?

Shen Yan refused, but the captain insisted. When he argued it'd be against regulations, she finally relented and named a price of ten Weird coins.

After Dawn Bureau left, Shen Yan soon spotted a 20-Weird-coin deposit transferred to her JoyBuy account.

She immediately called to inquire and was told that since the dried fish was sold out, Dawn Bureau had treated this as a rush order from civilians. For items priced under fifty Weird coins, they paid double.

She hung up, exhaling quietly but also felt warmth in her heart. Lying in bed, she expected sleeplessness but drifted off unknowingly.

She was jolted awake by cheers outside her door. Fortunately, having slept well, she didn't feel any headache.

Listening for a while, Shen Yan learned that the government had notified residents about the upcoming building-wide cleanup—and also disclosed yesterday's Weird incident, a necessary step to avoid online rumors of unfair governance.

Hearing both announcements, the old building's residents had first panicked—since aside from Shen Yan, no one had known about the Weird—then sighed in relief, as its appearance had caused no casualties.

The deep-cleaning removed their lingering fears, stopping a mass exodus and preventing the building's value from plummeting further. Now, with the cleaning, property prices might even rise. Even if they didn't plan to sell, who wouldn't be happy about higher home values?

Listening to the laughter outside, Shen Yan felt her mood lift. Opening the JoyBuy app, she saw Ying Yuanxing had listed some dried fish trial packs. In a flash, she emptied her account—all thirty Weird coins—to buy them.

Before, Shen Yan bought dried fish out of curiosity and to support Ying Yuanxing's business. Now, she believed it could save lives.

If it could summon the Weird Trash Can, tossing the dried fish as bait could trick it into eating other Weirds with proper timing.

Even if not, given yesterday's Weird's obsession with the dried fish, throwing it could buy her more escape time.

From other livestreams, Shen Yan knew similar-functioning Weird items cost hundreds at minimum, with uncertain effectiveness. At just ten Weird coins, where else would you get that kind of deal?