I Have a Book of Mountains and Seas

Yun Xingyan, head of the Criminal Investigation Brigade at the Huning City Public Security Bureau, believes in neither ghosts nor gods, neither Buddha nor beauty filters, and neither retouching nor Photoshop.

He's been called the most brutally blunt straight man Huning City has ever seen, and ever will see. Such a waste of a face made for the spotlight.

No matter what beauty someone introduces him to, when Yun sees the photo and then meets her in person, his first words are always, "The dog behind you looks more real than you do with that beauty filter on," or, "Miss, you must've spent a lot on that nose. You should get it fixed; your implant's about to shift."

Yun firmly believes in the principle that "All ghosts and monsters are paper tigers, and superstition is backward nonsense!" He even forces his team to stick to it, banning good-luck charms, goldfish, and feng shui from the office.

Can't solve a case? Look for objective reasons within yourselves! If you're not up to the job, don't blame the road! Everyone's working overtime!

Every starving member of the team shares one unshakable belief: Unless some girl is born with nothing but a pair of eyes, their captain is definitely going to remain single from birth until the grave.

Then a sweet-smiling, elegant little beauty falls from the sky, bringing along his household and all kinds of bizarre "pets," including Bi Fang, Xiang Liu, Lu Wu, Cheng Huang, and nine-tailed foxes. They grind Captain Yun's worldview into the ground.

As they grind away, a tiny spark catches, and before long that spark sets the whole prairie of Yun Xingyan ablaze.

What no one knows is that this tiny spark is a red thread Mo Biejun guarded for a thousand years, with the stubborn resolve to keep going until he shattered the wall in his path.

A phone number only those fated to connect can get through to, a case involving hikers who've been disappearing for seven or eight years, and one bizarre, uncanny case after another: beneath them all, monsters and spirits are stirring, and every clue points to Mo Biejun.

Captain Yun waves a hand. "Bring this Mo Whatever-His-Name-Is in for questioning! Anyone with a name that pretentious is obviously up to no good!"

Mo Biejun, the supposed no-gooder, steps into the interrogation room like a spring breeze.

Everyone gasps: "Good heavens! A beauty like a figure in an ink-wash landscape! A gentleman as warm and polished as jade! It's not that the interrogation room is unworthy of this beauty. His presence has brought splendor to the interrogation room and even to the entire crime-ridden Criminal Investigation Brigade!"

When Yun Xingyan sees Mo Biejun, his heart gives a jolt. This naturally flawless beauty leaves him unable to deliver any of his usual idiotic opening lines. All he can think is: Why would someone so beautiful break the law instead of doing something else?

In the interrogation room, Yun Xingyan puts on his usual interrogation face: fierce and menacing. "Talk! Where are the missing people? Where are the bodies?"

Mo Biejun's eyes are full of seductive affection. He answers softly and without holding anything back: "The people? The ones who died? Their bodies were eaten."

But the only thing Yun Xingyan can think is: He's trying to seduce me.

Years later, Yun Xingyan rushes out of the kitchen wearing an apron. "Honey, what do you want to eat today?"

Mo Biejun opens the Classic of Mountains and Seas. "Hmm... Let me check the recipes. Haven't you been sleeping poorly lately? I'll go catch you a Ran Yi!"

The divine beasts and spirits: "Well, well! The thousand-year-old iron tree has finally blossomed again! Let's get to it!"

Yun Xingyan: "What are those things?"

Mo Biejun: "Just some new breeds of cats and dogs."

Yun Xingyan x Mo Biejun

A cocky, carefree, devoted straight-laced cop gong x a gentle, easygoing beauty shou who runs a strange little shop

One of the Tales Untold series

Supporting characters: various spirits and divine beasts from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Su Ji, Di Xin, the Lord, Qin Ye

Some divine beasts are vicious and may eat people. Please read with caution.

Theme: Justice will always triumph over evil