"Borrowing money is out of the question. Borrowing items is out of the question. Borrowing materials is out of the question. Borrowing walkthroughs is out of the question." Zhang Yuanqing shut every door in one breath, then said warmly, "My dear guild member Asano Ryo, how may I help you?"
Met with such an abrupt, cold reception, Asano Ryo was too embarrassed to speak for a while. Only after a long pause did she say with a mix of grievance and nervousness:
"It's like this. A few days ago, a traitor emerged within the Thousand Cranes Group. He stole a treasure from the organization, broke through our encirclement, and snuck into Huaxia.
"The Thousand Cranes Group would like to ask Lord Yuanshi for help in capturing him. If successful, we will pay a reward of one hundred million Fusang yen, with one condition: this matter cannot be leaked to anyone, including the Five Elements Alliance."
*This is asking me to take on private work. A hundred million Fusang yen is roughly five million RMB. The reward from Baihui Club hasn't arrived yet, and I've been tight on cash lately...*
Zhang Yuanqing did not agree immediately, having detected something amiss. He asked:
"It seems that traitor who snuck into the mainland carries some secrets. It's understandable that you don't trust the Five Elements Alliance, but why ask me for help? You could easily request Heaven's Punishment to dispatch agents to secretly apprehend him.
"With the capabilities of Heaven's Punishment, even on another country's soil, they can handle things smoothly. Even if exposed, Heaven's Punishment is so dominant that there would be no worry about secrets leaking, and the Five Elements Alliance might even help."
The Orderly organizations around the world maintain a relationship of mutual competition and cooperation.
Though the Five Elements Alliance and Heaven's Punishment put on a show of discord due to political frictions, once subjected to external pressure, the two organizations could easily form an alliance.
If Heaven's Punishment sent agents to capture someone, the Five Elements Alliance might not even intervene—at most asking for details and sending personnel to supervise.
Asano Ryo did not answer immediately. Instead, she covered the receiver and whispered, "Sensei?"
After a dozen seconds or so, the girl's soft, melodious voice sounded again:
"Lord Yuanshi, we believe you are a warrior of noble character. It is like this: the item stolen by the traitor is of paramount importance to the Thousand Cranes Group. The Thousand Cranes Group does not wish Heaven's Punishment to know about this."
Pausing, she added urgently:
"If you agree to help, I will fly to the mainland tomorrow morning to meet with you in person. Until then, we hope you will keep tonight's conversation confidential."
*Of paramount importance to the Thousand Cranes Group, yet they don't want Heaven's Punishment to know...* Pondering, Zhang Yuanqing said:
"Before you come, you need to make some preparations. Bring the traitor's dossier, as well as things containing DNA like bloodstains or fingernails. At the same time, relay my words to your superiors: I must know everything and understand the risks involved, otherwise I won't help you."
Silence fell on the other end, as though the receiver was being covered again. A few seconds later, Asano Ryo said:
"Understood!"
The call ended. Holding his phone, Zhang Yuanqing frowned in thought.
In this matter, the risk he had to shoulder did not come from the traitor—after all, Huaxia was the home turf of the Five Elements Alliance. The real danger he had to face came from the Thousand Cranes Group or Heaven's Punishment.
Making a bold assumption: what if the so-called traitor was merely a trap that didn't even exist, aimed at quietly luring out Yuanshi Tianzun?
Then Asano Ryo would smash a cup as a signal, and three hundred axemen from the Thousand Cranes Group and Heaven's Punishment would pour forth, slaying the Five Elements Alliance's peerless genius, Yuanshi Tianzun, beneath her pomegranate skirt.
Although the probability was not very high, he had to be on guard.
*I should ask Guan Ya. The Fu family is both a local Spirit Realm clan and deeply entangled with Heaven's Punishment. With her discernment and knowledge, if there's any foul play, she should notice it before me.*
Zhang Yuanqing's body dissolved into dreamy starlight, vanishing from the room.
In the next second, he stepped into Guan Ya's room.
The room, filled with constellation ornaments, plush dolls, and stickers, was empty. From the bathroom came the rushing sound of water.
Scattered across the bed were a T-shirt, shorts, and underwear.
*The seasoned driver is taking a shower? Heh heh, let's shower together...* Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly unbuttoned his pants. Just then, the sound of water stopped, and Guan Ya's voice came from inside:
"Who is it? Yuanshi?"
Immediately after, the tall, curvy seasoned driver emerged wrapped in a bath towel, her damp hair bundled in a towel, her charming, heart-shaped face flushed a delicate rosy white.
Standing by the bathroom door, she shot Zhang Yuanqing a side-eye worthy of a meme, looking at him stripped down to his boxers, and snapped:
"What are you trying to do?"
"Ah, you're done? Why didn't you wait for me?" Without blushing or batting an eyelid, Zhang Yuanqing pulled his pants back on, concealing the towering tent.
The seasoned driver scrutinized him, walked over to the desk, pulled out an ergonomic chair, sat down, and asked:
"What's up?"
Zhang Yuanqing hadn't hidden his thoughts; her Insight could easily read his mind.
"There's something I want to discuss with you..."
Getting dressed, he told Guan Ya about Asano Ryo's call for help.
Crossing her long legs and folding her arms across her chest, Guan Ya leaned back in the chair, her long, straight brows knitting together as she said slowly:
"The Thousand Cranes Group has always been a vassal of Heaven's Punishment, appearing to be their most loyal lackey on the surface. However, no one in this world is willing to be a lackey forever. As far as I know, the current leader of the Thousand Cranes Group, Kobe Ichiro, is deeply ambitious. Unlike his predecessors, who were content to grovel, he has always wanted to expand the Thousand Cranes Group and gain more of a say."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "So motivation-wise, it's completely plausible."
Guan Ya hummed in agreement.
"As for a motive to harm you, although Heaven's Punishment is overbearing, the likelihood of them actively hunting you down without a conflict of interest is very low. The Thousand Cranes Group has even less reason to do so.
"Still, caution is paramount in everything. You can have Asano Ryo come to Fujia Bay for an in-person meeting. That way, we have sufficient control and don't need to fear any surprises. Besides, I can listen in from the side—if she lies, I'll be able to tell.
"When you take action, remember to use Star Physiognomy and the Great Astrolabe to divine the situation. If you're still uneasy, have Fu Qingyang or Lingjun escort you in secret."
Zhang Yuanqing turned her words over in his mind and nodded in deep agreement.
"I was thinking the same thing. Then let's do that."
First, he sent Asano Ryo a text message: "Meet tomorrow morning."
Then he scooped Guan Ya up from the desk, threw her onto the bed, and pressed his muscular frame down on her.
Guan Ya hooked her long legs around his waist, clamping him tightly. With their bodies pressed flush against each other, Zhang Yuanqing found himself unable to move.
Guan Ya giggled softly. "Go on, move."
Locked down, Zhang Yuanqing said helplessly, "Sister Guan Ya, it's not good to keep teasing me like this. Aren't you afraid I'll cheat on you?"
"Nope. If you cheat, I'll know with a single glance," Guan Ya said with total confidence.
Precisely because everything was under her Insight, she tolerated Xie Lingxi and Queen's various antics.
Zhang Yuanqing grew a little sulky. "I'm going back to sleep."
Guan Ya didn't let go. Instead, she hooked her long legs even tighter, pulling his head against her chest and asking with a teasing smile:
"Mad?"
"No."
Guan Ya thought for a moment and said, "Once you reach Level 6, I'll take you back to the Fu family."
Before Zhang Yuanqing could speak, she sighed:
"To the Fu family, Level 4 isn't enough to turn heads. My mother certainly won't like you, and some people in the Fu family might not want to see us together. I don't want you to be humiliated for nothing.
"When you reach Level 6 and possess combat strength like Fu Qingyang did back then, the Fu family won't object anymore. If anyone is blind enough to jump out, you can just suppress them directly."
Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment, then said, "But my head is painfully swollen right now."
"And?"
"A handjob."
Half an hour later, Zhang Yuanqing returned to his room fully satisfied. He showered, changed into pajamas, and after a moment's thought, retrieved the Cat King Speaker. Entering Night Ward, he whispered:
"I want to know the Demon Lord's true identity."
Having said that, he deactivated Night Ward and played music on his phone.
When the song ended, static crackled from the speaker...
Zhang Yuanqing focused intently, waiting and waiting, only to find that aside from static, there was no information whatsoever.
"Is there nothing, or do you just not want to tell me?" Zhang Yuanqing gave the Cat King Speaker a slap, packed it into his newly bought fanny pack, and shoved it back into the drawer.
***
The next day, at nine in the morning.
After finishing breakfast, Zhang Yuanqing received a call from Asano Ryo, saying she had arrived at the gate of Fujia Bay Villa.
He immediately called the security guard to let her through.
A few minutes later, an extended black sedan pulled up slowly outside the compact villa.
The door opened, and Asano Ryo stepped out of the vehicle. Looking around the courtyard, she saw Yuanshi Tianzun, whom she had not seen in a while. He was as handsome as ever, his demeanor blending the aloof mystery of a Starlord with the sinister nobility of a Night Walker.
A pure, sweet smile blossomed on Asano Ryo's delicate face. She jogged into the courtyard, clasped her hands over her lower abdomen, and bowed deeply:
"Lord Yuanshi!"
Zhang Yuanqing scrutinized the girl from the island nation. She was dressed in a youthful, forest-style white skirt—clean and crisp—paired with square-toed leather shoes and over-the-knee socks.
A red bow was pinned to her cascading hair, and she carried a small leather bag in hand.
"Just you alone?" Zhang Yuanqing smiled.
"Because my teacher and the leader hold different statuses and are closely watched by various parties, it was inconvenient for them to come. Thus, they entrusted me to visit Lord Yuanshi." Seeming to remember something, Asano Ryo hurriedly turned back and signaled the driver to fetch bags of gifts from the trunk.
"I brought local specialties from the island nation for Lord Yuanshi," she said with earnest solemnity.
It was clear she was trying hard to be diplomatic and maintain her image as a "representative of the Thousand Cranes Group."
"Let's go inside first."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded, leading Asano Ryo into the screening room. After instructing Queen to serve tea and water, only the three of them were left in the well-soundproofed room.
"This is my girlfriend. You met her in the killing trial, so no need for introductions," Zhang Yuanqing said.
Asano Ryo naturally recognized Guan Ya. Hearing that she was Lord Yuanshi's girlfriend, she breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that a girlfriend meant one of their own.
"I didn't report your matter to the Five Elements Alliance. Now, I'd like to hear the details," Zhang Yuanqing got straight to the point.
Formulating her words for a moment, Asano Ryo said:
"The traitor is the vice leader of the Thousand Cranes Group. His Spirit Realm ID is Edo Swordsman, a Level 5 Swordsman. He stole a crucial item—the key to Takamagahara."
"What kind of place is Takamagahara?" Zhang Yuanqing found the name somewhat familiar.
Asano Ryo straightened her posture and explained solemnly:
"In the myths and legends of the island nation, Takamagahara is the celestial realm where the gods reside, ruled by the supreme Amaterasu Omikami. I believe Lord Yuanshi knows that ancient myths are more or less related to Spirit Realm walkers."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded, not interrupting.
Asano Ryo continued in a soft voice:
"Ever since the birth of Spirit Realm walkers, the Thousand Cranes Group has been studying ancient myths. We discovered that the so-called Takamagahara is very likely a settlement where ancient superhumans gathered.
"They ruled over ordinary people from high above, dividing ancient island society into three tiers: 'Takamagahara', 'Ashihara no Nakatsukuni', and the 'Land of Night'.
"Among them, Takamagahara is the most mysterious—a place where only superhumans could live and travel. Over the past century or more, the Thousand Cranes Group has been searching for its location. From unofficial histories, orthodox records, and materials from Huaxia, we caught glimpses suggesting that Takamagahara might be a Spirit Realm. This is not mere speculation; there is actual evidence."
She paused, then shook her head:
"Explaining it as a Spirit Realm isn't entirely accurate. It should be a grotto-heaven and blessed land established by ancient cultivators, requiring specific means to enter. If we can enter Takamagahara, we might obtain the legendary Three Sacred Treasures."
"Are you completely certain Takamagahara truly exists? What evidence do you have?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
Asano Ryo nodded vigorously:
"Ten years after the end of World War II, the island nation's government excavated a piece of jade from an ancient tomb. At first, everyone thought it was an ordinary cultural relic—until a high-ranking member of the Thousand Cranes Group saw it and discovered that the patterns on it were identical to the recorded insignia of Takamagahara."
Saying this, she opened her leather handbag and pulled out a document.
Drawn on the document was a bowl-sized disc of round jade, intricately carved with magnificent flame and cloud patterns. In the center was a totem.
A black bird resembling a swallow soared high with spread wings, leaving behind two eggs below its forked tail.
The totem was highly abstract, brimming with the charm of ancient civilization.
Just then, Guan Ya, who had been observing quietly the entire time, let out a soft exclamation of surprise:
"I've seen this totem before—at Qinfeng Academy."
Chapter 403